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January 14, 2020 Barcelona sack Coach, Ernesto Valverde

Barcelona sack Coach, Ernesto Valverde

Spanish champions Barcelona have sacked their coach Ernesto Valverde and appointed Quique Setien as his replacement, the club announced on Monday.

The decision to remove Valverde was confirmed following a board meeting that lasted more than four hours at Camp Nou on Monday afternoon.

Barca are top of La Liga but have won only one of their last five matches. Valverde is the first coach the club has sacked mid-season since Louis van Gaal in 2003.

“FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde have reached an agreement to terminate the contract that united both parties,” read a club statement released on Monday night.

Setien will be presented in a press conference at Camp Nou at 2.30pm local time (1330 GMT) on Tuesday.

“Barcelona and Quique Setien have reached an agreement for the latter to become first team coach until 30 June 2022,” the club said.

His first game in charge will be at home to Granada on Sunday. Barcelona play Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League next month and Real Madrid in the league at the start of March.

Setien has made no secret of his admiration for the stylistic traditions of Barcelona, with the 61-year-old also renowned for favouring an exciting, offensive mode of football.

As a former player of Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander, he was circled as a potential Barca coach during a particularly successful period in charge of Real Betis.

Setien led Betis to a sixth-place finish in 2018 and qualification for the Europa League but, despite overseeing a thrilling 4-3 victory at Camp Nou early the following season, results tailed off.

January 10, 2020 Premier league preview:

Premier league preview:

Premier league preview: ARSENAL VS CRYSTAL PALACE

 10th place arsenal will be seeking a win at Selhurst park as they face 9th place crystal palace in the match day 22 of the English premier league on Saturday.

Arsenal’s last win against the eagles was since January 2018 and the last three matches between both sides have seen double 2-all draws and a 3 – 2 win in favour of palace.

Though crystal palace boast of the fourth best defensive record after Liverpool, Leicester city and Sheffield united with just 23 goals conceded in 21 games, the match still seems to be open ended as both teams have scored 23 goals against each other since 2017.

Arsenal, who are currently facing trying times will hope to score goals and not concede as much as possible.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are currently on a 2 match winning streak which gives them a lot of confidence going into this game, we can only hope that this confidence is shown in the score line because at the end of the day, tactics is one of the major ingredients that determines the outcome of a game.

On team news, both teams seem to be interested in signing ranger’s midfielder, glen kamara, which comes as a result of the facts that bothe team’s need to strengthen their midfield if they are to make it to the top six before the end of the season.

TOTTENHAM VS LIVERPOOL

If this is not considered as the biggest and toughest fixture this weekend, then pulses should be checked.

Liverpool have been on their best form since the past year and definitely might see Tottenham as another wall to break down in queat for their feat to equal arsenal’s unbeaten run of the 2003/2004 season.

The current form of the Africa’s best footballer of the year, Sadio Mane is non to be compared with, coupled with the fact that the head coach, Jurgen Klopp actually rested some of the senior players in the FA cup tie against everton, where he fielded mostly youth players, gives him a clear chance to unleash a fully conditioned senior team against a not so good Tottenham side.

Tottenham seem to be struggling at the moment, having a winless three game run, even against teams one would have expected them to be too good for like Norwich, Southhampton and Middlesbrough.  

Liverpool have won their last three encounters with Tottenham under their former manager, Mauricio Pochettino, and will look to show their dominance against the the team under Jose Mourinho.

With Christian Eriksen’s uncertain future at spurs, it is very likely he might not feature in the encounter which might pull a sigh of relief from the opponents.

MANCHESTER UNITED VS NORWICH

Manchester united who seem to be inconsistent on the premier league table this season will be slugging it out against relegation-threatened Norwich city, who are winless in their last five games.

Though, Manchester united beat Norwich in their earlier encounter this season, they have a bad record when facing smaller teams as we have seen them lose to teams like Bournemouth and Watford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have to consider his options very carefully going into this match as Paul Pogba and Scott Mc Tominay remain on the side line while Harry Maguire has not been confirmed fit for the match.

Daniel Farke would currently be under immense pressure and would be giving his all going into this match and would hope to harp on the red devils current injury predicament.

EVERTON VS BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

Carlo Ancelotti’s everton side would welcome Graham Potter’s Brighton who are currently 14th on the table after fighting the relegation battle for three game weeks.

Ancelotti might see this as an opportunity to stamp the fact that he is a world class manager after winning two out of his first four matches with the blues.

To be fair, he lost to top side Liverpool and Manchester city, which he can take pride in losing to because the goal margin were very slim.

Now against Brighton, he would look to vent out all is managerial master class to get a strong win in this match, but Brighton are no push over. They beat Everton in their earlier encounter in the season so they feel like they might have a go against the club no matter who manages it.

Brighton would be looking to field the likes of Neil Maupay and Jahankbakhsh, even though their stongest full back, Dan Burn is out with a shoulder injury.

All the major names should feature for the Toffees even thogh they still have Alex Iwobi and Andre Gomes on the sidelines due to injuries.

A win for everton will see them go 9th place from 11th if Crystal Palace and Arsenal fail to win their respective matches.

LEICESTER CITY VS SOUTHAMPTON

The 9-nil win at the St Mary stadium will forever linger in the mind of Ralph Hasenhuttl as they face Leicester city at the king power stadium on Saturday.

Previous records show Leicester always having the upper hand against the saints and given the form they have been on currently, it is only logical that we expect a win for them in that match.

But to be logical, the foxes will be missing their Talisman, Jamie Vardy in the match, hence, we might not be expecting the magnificent quality of attacking variety which gives Southampton a chance in the game.

An Unlikely win for Southampton will see them move up 10th on the table if Everton and Arsenal lose their respective matches.

CHELSEA VS BURNLEY

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea will be having a match battle against burnley to their greatest advantage as the have less worries on their injury list, and now with Ngolo Kante back, one can only spell doom for any opposition.

Callum Hudson Odoi and Ross Barkley were used during the Efl cup match against Nottingham forest but are under pressure to keep their places as in-form Pulisic and kovacic as well as Jorginho were rested in that encounter.

I5th placed Burnley who are currently facing a three match losing streak in the premier league would be banking on the confidence gotten after defeating Peterborough in the EFL cup against a well-rested Chelsea side.

Chelsea have not been consistent over their last couple of games and would seek to wipe off the shame as they had a disappointing draw away to Brighton.

A win for Burnley gives them a possibility of moving to 11th place.

WOLVES VS NEWCASTLE

Wolverhampton Wanderers who are currently on that part of the table they ended their last season campaign with will be seeking a win against Newcastle to end their two game losing streak.

Newcastle as well are not left out as they have lost their last three games and would look to end this gory run.

Their last encounter ended in a one-all draw which leaves the game open ended.

Serena Drops Set Before Reaching Auckland Quarters

Serena Williams rallied from a set down to beat Christina McHale at the WTA Auckland Classic on Thursday, but said it was just the workout she needed.

With her focus on winning a 24th Grand Slam at the Australian Open, Williams said she needs all the court time she can get after a long off-season since losing September’s US Open final.

It took the top seed two hours to put away the 27-year-old McHale and advance to a quarter-final with Germany’s Laura Siegemund, who ousted teen prodigy Coco Gauff in the second round.

Williams was broken three times before losing the first set 3-6 but recovered to take the next two sets 6-2, 6-3 in the all-American affair.

January 9, 2020 NPFL Roundup: Akwa extends unbeaten run to five games

NPFL Roundup: Akwa extends unbeaten run to five games

Akwa United extended their unbeaten run in the Nigeria Professional Football League to five games after a 1-0 home win against Wikki Tourists in Uyo.

 Friday Ubong scored the decisive goal on the half hour mark. The win moved the Promise Keepers to the fourth position in the NPFL table.

Leaders Plateau United suffered a 1-0 defeat against Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium with Joseph Atule, netting the decisive goal after 13 minutes.

Elsewhere, Lobi Stars and Rivers United recorded 1-0 wins against Adamawa United and Nasarawa United to level up with Plateau United at the top of the NPFL standings.

Ezekiel Tamara hit the back of the net five minutes after the break as Lobi Stars edged out their hosts Adamawa United 1-0 at the Pantami Stadium.

Rivers United recorded a slim 1-0 win against Nasarawa United at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt courtesy of Ossy Martins 15th minute strike.

Enugu Rangers recorded their second win of the NPFL season, defeating their rivals FC IfeanyiUbah 3-1 win at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Olawoyin bagged a brace in the encounter for the Flying Antelopes, while Kenechukwu Aug got the other goal. Ekene Awazie scored IfeanyiUbah’s only goal of the game.

Despite the win, Salisu Yusuf’s Rangers remain bottom of the NPFL table with nine points from 10 games but with three games in hand.

At the Agege Stadium, MFM defeated Dakkada 1-0.

Nnamdi Mejuobi scored a spectacular goal with an overhead kick two minutes after the break to hand the hosts all three points in the game.

Sunshine Stars enjoyed a comfortable evening courtesy of a 2-0 win against Jigawa Golden Stars at the Ondo State Sports Complex.

Mohammed Suleiman and Wasiu Jimoh were on target for the Owena Waves in the game.

Ridwan Agbabiaka scored three minutes before the break as Warri Wolves beat Heartland at the Warri City Stadium.

Abia Warriors and Kano Pillars battled to a 0-0 draw at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Plateau United maintained top spot in the table with 24 points, same as Lobi Stars and Rivers United who occupy second and third positions respectively but have inferior goal differences.

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