On Sunday, 30 November 2008, Chelsea and Arsenal meet for the 33rd time in the Premier League. According to Infostrada, Chelsea have won six, Arsenal 15 and there have been 11 draws. Arsenal have more PL wins (15) and more PL points (56) against Chelsea than any other team in Premier League history.
Best Premier League records against Chelsea
Club P W D L GF GA Pts
Arsenal 32 15 11 6 47 34 56
Liverpool 33 12 7 14 36 42 43
Blackburn Rovers 29 11 8 10 35 38 41
Manchester United 33 9 14 10 40 43 41
Aston Villa 33 9 10 14 31 39 37
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Franck Ribéry goals in Bayern Munich go for history
Franck Ribéry has carried resurgent Bayern München by scoring at least once in each of their last six Bundesliga matches. If the mercurial Frenchman nets at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, 29 November, his scoring run will be worth a top 10 listing in German top flight history.
Greece’s Theofanis Gekas was the last player to score in at least seven successive Bundesliga matches, according to Infostrada.
The league record is 10 and was set by 1. FC Köln’s Klaus Allofs in 1984.
Bayern remain unbeaten in Bundesliga matches in which Ribéry has scored. He has found the net in 16 different matches of which Bayern have won 15 and have drawn one.
Scoring in most successive Bundesliga matches of club
# Name Club Start date End date
10 Klaus Allofs 1. FC Köln 21 Apr 1984 08 Sep 1984
9 Gerd Müller Bayern München 24 Aug 1968 19 Oct 1968
8 Gerd Müller Bayern München 27 Sep 1969 15 Nov 1969
8 Gerd Müller Bayern München 06 Dec 1969 28 Feb 1970
8 Roy Makaay Bayern München 23 Apr 2005 27 Aug 2005
8 Theofanis Gekas VfL Bochum 10 Mar 2007 05 May 2007
7 Uwe Seeler Hamburger SV 30 Nov 1963 15 Feb 1964
7 Friedhelm Konietzka Borussia Dortmund 02 Jan 1965 06 Mar 1965
7 Dieter Müller 1. FC Köln 24 Sep 1977 12 Nov 1977
7 Rüdiger Abramczik Schalke 04 25 Nov 1978 17 Mar 1979
7 Rudi Völler Werder Bremen 20 Nov 1982 05 Feb 1983
7 Anthony Yeboah Eintracht Frankfurt 22 May 1993 28 Aug 1993
7 Fredi Bobic VfB Stuttgart 04 Nov 1995 17 Feb 1996
7 Roy Makaay Bayern München 28 Feb 2004 10 Apr 2004
6 Franck Ribéry Bayern München 25 Oct 2008 TBD
Greece’s Theofanis Gekas was the last player to score in at least seven successive Bundesliga matches, according to Infostrada.
The league record is 10 and was set by 1. FC Köln’s Klaus Allofs in 1984.
Bayern remain unbeaten in Bundesliga matches in which Ribéry has scored. He has found the net in 16 different matches of which Bayern have won 15 and have drawn one.
Scoring in most successive Bundesliga matches of club
# Name Club Start date End date
10 Klaus Allofs 1. FC Köln 21 Apr 1984 08 Sep 1984
9 Gerd Müller Bayern München 24 Aug 1968 19 Oct 1968
8 Gerd Müller Bayern München 27 Sep 1969 15 Nov 1969
8 Gerd Müller Bayern München 06 Dec 1969 28 Feb 1970
8 Roy Makaay Bayern München 23 Apr 2005 27 Aug 2005
8 Theofanis Gekas VfL Bochum 10 Mar 2007 05 May 2007
7 Uwe Seeler Hamburger SV 30 Nov 1963 15 Feb 1964
7 Friedhelm Konietzka Borussia Dortmund 02 Jan 1965 06 Mar 1965
7 Dieter Müller 1. FC Köln 24 Sep 1977 12 Nov 1977
7 Rüdiger Abramczik Schalke 04 25 Nov 1978 17 Mar 1979
7 Rudi Völler Werder Bremen 20 Nov 1982 05 Feb 1983
7 Anthony Yeboah Eintracht Frankfurt 22 May 1993 28 Aug 1993
7 Fredi Bobic VfB Stuttgart 04 Nov 1995 17 Feb 1996
7 Roy Makaay Bayern München 28 Feb 2004 10 Apr 2004
6 Franck Ribéry Bayern München 25 Oct 2008 TBD
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Xavi Hernández reached 100 in Europe
On Tuesday, 4 November, FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández Creus played his 100th European match. He is the fifth Spanish player to reach this total.
Xavi is the first FC Barcelona player to play 100 matches in European competition for the club, according to Infostrada.
Spanish players with at least 100 European matches
Total Name Played for Years
124 Raúl Real Madrid (124) 1995 - …
110 Fernando Morientes Real Zaragoza (7), Real Madrid (61), AS Monaco (12), Liverpool (11), Valencia CF (19) 1995 - ...
103 Fernando Hierro Real Madrid (103) 1989 - 2003
100 Xavi FC Barcelona (100) 1998 - ...
100 Manuel Sanchis Real Madrid (100) 1984 - 2001
Raúl and Morientes can add to their totals later this week.
Matches per competition – Spanish players with at least 100 matches
Total Name UCL CC/CLQ CWC UEFA ESC
124 Raúl 119 2 0 0 3
110 Fernando Morientes 89 11 5 1 4
103 Fernando Hierro 68 9 4 20 2
100 Xavi 80 6 0 13 1
100 Manuel Sanchís 31 27 6 35 1
UCL – UEFA Champions League, CC/CLQ – Champions Cup/Champions League qualifying, CWC – Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA – UEFA Cup, ESC – European Super Cup.
100+ European matches for one club
Total Player Nation Club
167 Paolo Maldini ITA AC Milan
131 Oliver Kahn GER Bayern München
124 Raúl ESP Real Madrid
122 Ryan Giggs WAL Manchester United
121 Roar Strand NOR Rosenborg BK
117 Giuseppe Bergomi ITA Internazionale
116 Alessandro Costacurta ITA AC Milan
116 Javier Zanetti ARG Internazionale
113 Paul Scholes ENG Manchester United
112 Roberto Carlos BRA Real Madrid
112 Gary Neville ENG Manchester United
110 Jamie Carragher ENG Liverpool
107 Alessandro Del Piero ITA Juventus
103 Fernando Hierro ESP Real Madrid
101 Bülent Korkmaz TUR Galatasaray
100 Xavi ESP FC Barcelona
100 Manuel Sanchís ESP Real Madrid
Maldini and Strand can add to their totals on 6 November.
Xavi is the first FC Barcelona player to play 100 matches in European competition for the club, according to Infostrada.
Spanish players with at least 100 European matches
Total Name Played for Years
124 Raúl Real Madrid (124) 1995 - …
110 Fernando Morientes Real Zaragoza (7), Real Madrid (61), AS Monaco (12), Liverpool (11), Valencia CF (19) 1995 - ...
103 Fernando Hierro Real Madrid (103) 1989 - 2003
100 Xavi FC Barcelona (100) 1998 - ...
100 Manuel Sanchis Real Madrid (100) 1984 - 2001
Raúl and Morientes can add to their totals later this week.
Matches per competition – Spanish players with at least 100 matches
Total Name UCL CC/CLQ CWC UEFA ESC
124 Raúl 119 2 0 0 3
110 Fernando Morientes 89 11 5 1 4
103 Fernando Hierro 68 9 4 20 2
100 Xavi 80 6 0 13 1
100 Manuel Sanchís 31 27 6 35 1
UCL – UEFA Champions League, CC/CLQ – Champions Cup/Champions League qualifying, CWC – Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA – UEFA Cup, ESC – European Super Cup.
100+ European matches for one club
Total Player Nation Club
167 Paolo Maldini ITA AC Milan
131 Oliver Kahn GER Bayern München
124 Raúl ESP Real Madrid
122 Ryan Giggs WAL Manchester United
121 Roar Strand NOR Rosenborg BK
117 Giuseppe Bergomi ITA Internazionale
116 Alessandro Costacurta ITA AC Milan
116 Javier Zanetti ARG Internazionale
113 Paul Scholes ENG Manchester United
112 Roberto Carlos BRA Real Madrid
112 Gary Neville ENG Manchester United
110 Jamie Carragher ENG Liverpool
107 Alessandro Del Piero ITA Juventus
103 Fernando Hierro ESP Real Madrid
101 Bülent Korkmaz TUR Galatasaray
100 Xavi ESP FC Barcelona
100 Manuel Sanchís ESP Real Madrid
Maldini and Strand can add to their totals on 6 November.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Marseille - PSV Eindhoven preview: Holland team have arrived in Marseille
On Monday afternoon, PSV arrived in Marseille, where they will meet Olympique on Matchday four in the Champions League. The plane, with, among other people, the 19-man squad on board, landed at Aéroport Marseille Provence, after which the groups from Eindhoven withdrew to their hotels.
PSV coach Huub Stevens will hold the customary pre-match press conference at 6.30m. The PSV first-team squad will train on the pitch of the Olympique Marseille stadium from 7pm. Olympique Marseille coach Erik Gerets will take his players through the motions at the La Commanderie training complex at 5pm. On arrival in France, the players, coaching staff, club officials, sponsors and media representatives went to their hotels.
PSV squad: Andreas Isaksson and Cássio Ramos; Eric Addo, Jan Kromkamp, Dirk Marcellis, Erik Pieters, Francisco Rodríguez, Carlos Salcido and Mike Zonneveld; Ibrahim Afellay, Otman Bakkal, Jason Culina, Edison Méndez, Timmy Simons and Stijn Wuytens; Balázs Dzsudzsák, Danny Koevermans, Danko Lazovic and Stefan Nijland.
PSV Press
PSV coach Huub Stevens will hold the customary pre-match press conference at 6.30m. The PSV first-team squad will train on the pitch of the Olympique Marseille stadium from 7pm. Olympique Marseille coach Erik Gerets will take his players through the motions at the La Commanderie training complex at 5pm. On arrival in France, the players, coaching staff, club officials, sponsors and media representatives went to their hotels.
PSV squad: Andreas Isaksson and Cássio Ramos; Eric Addo, Jan Kromkamp, Dirk Marcellis, Erik Pieters, Francisco Rodríguez, Carlos Salcido and Mike Zonneveld; Ibrahim Afellay, Otman Bakkal, Jason Culina, Edison Méndez, Timmy Simons and Stijn Wuytens; Balázs Dzsudzsák, Danny Koevermans, Danko Lazovic and Stefan Nijland.
PSV Press
Liverpool – Atlético Madrid preview: Atlético is already to take on Liverpool
After earning an important victory in league play over Gregorio Manzano’s Real Mallorca on Saturday, Atlético de Madrid has their minds set on Champions League. Around 11 am, the ‘rojiblanco’ expedition took off from Madrid Barajas Airport, headed for Liverpool. The city where the Beatles are from will welcome the almost 3,000 Atlético supporters who will make the trip to cheer on their team for two days.
Before their departure from Terminal 3 towards the United Kingdom, the team was received by many fans, who made their way to the airport to hunt down an autograph or take a photo with their idols. Almost two hours after taking off, Atlético de Madrid arrived in Liverpool around 12:10 pm (English time). Upon their arrival, the footballers and the coaching staff went directly to the Hotel Marriot Liverpool, which will serve as their headquarters until kick-off time.
Along with the first squad, and as is usual on most of the trips, Mr. Enrique Cerezo (Chairman of Atlético de Madrid), Mr. Miguel Ángel Gil Marín (Managing Director), Don Lázaro Albarracín, Vice-President of the Social Department, Mr. Antonio Alonso (Vice-President of the Commercial Department), Mr. Fernando García Abásolo (Vice-President of the Economic Department), Óscar Gil (Board Member), Mr. Jesús Gil Marín and Mr. Miguel Pérez (Shareholders), Mr. Clemente Villaverde (Director) and Mr. Emilio Gutiérrez (Director of Marketing and Communication) also travelled with the squad.
They all wanted to accompany the team in its arrival in British lands to watch the team take on Liverpool (it should be recalled that the match played at Estadio Vicente Calderón ended in a one-all draw) and go up against an old ‘friend’ of Atleti in Spanish international striker Fernando Torres. It will doubtlessly be a special match for the player from Fuenlabrada and for all of those who shared so many years at the Atlético organization with him.
Atlético Madrid Press
Before their departure from Terminal 3 towards the United Kingdom, the team was received by many fans, who made their way to the airport to hunt down an autograph or take a photo with their idols. Almost two hours after taking off, Atlético de Madrid arrived in Liverpool around 12:10 pm (English time). Upon their arrival, the footballers and the coaching staff went directly to the Hotel Marriot Liverpool, which will serve as their headquarters until kick-off time.
Along with the first squad, and as is usual on most of the trips, Mr. Enrique Cerezo (Chairman of Atlético de Madrid), Mr. Miguel Ángel Gil Marín (Managing Director), Don Lázaro Albarracín, Vice-President of the Social Department, Mr. Antonio Alonso (Vice-President of the Commercial Department), Mr. Fernando García Abásolo (Vice-President of the Economic Department), Óscar Gil (Board Member), Mr. Jesús Gil Marín and Mr. Miguel Pérez (Shareholders), Mr. Clemente Villaverde (Director) and Mr. Emilio Gutiérrez (Director of Marketing and Communication) also travelled with the squad.
They all wanted to accompany the team in its arrival in British lands to watch the team take on Liverpool (it should be recalled that the match played at Estadio Vicente Calderón ended in a one-all draw) and go up against an old ‘friend’ of Atleti in Spanish international striker Fernando Torres. It will doubtlessly be a special match for the player from Fuenlabrada and for all of those who shared so many years at the Atlético organization with him.
Atlético Madrid Press
Sporting Lisbon - Shakhtar Donetsk preview: Shakhtar arrive in Lisbon
Shakhtar’s away Champions League group stage match against Sporting Lisbon will be shown live on TRK Ukraina. Transmission of the event begins at 21:30 (Kyiv time).
Russian channel NTV+Nash Futbol will show the clash again on 5 November at 06:00 and 19:35 (Kyiv time).
Plane with Shakhtar players onboard landed at the Lisbon international airport at about 22:00 (Kyiv time). The Portuguese capital met the orange-and-black outfit with pleasing temperature, same as it was in Donetsk as they were leaving the city - +12C.
Having completed all obligatory customs procedures the players and the staff were taken to a hotel.
FC Shakhtar Press
Russian channel NTV+Nash Futbol will show the clash again on 5 November at 06:00 and 19:35 (Kyiv time).
Plane with Shakhtar players onboard landed at the Lisbon international airport at about 22:00 (Kyiv time). The Portuguese capital met the orange-and-black outfit with pleasing temperature, same as it was in Donetsk as they were leaving the city - +12C.
Having completed all obligatory customs procedures the players and the staff were taken to a hotel.
FC Shakhtar Press
Anorthosis - Inter preview: "A win and we're through"
José Mourinho briefed the Italian and Cypriot press in Nicosia ahead of Tuesday's Champions League Matchday 4 clash against Anorthosis Famagusta.
He said: "We know that we'll be through if we win tomorrow, and this is our first objective. The Champions League is a risky competition. You have to be careful not to slip up or make things complicated for yourself. But we know what to do. Our goal is first place.
"We face a tough opponent who prepared very well for the first match and created problems for us. So we're not expecting it to be an easy game. Anorthosis have won every game in front of their fans. They have beaten strong opponents so they will try to create problems for us too, but our goal is to win and we always go on the pitch to win."
Mourinho's 4-2-4 formation and tactics in Saturday's match against Reggio Calabria raised a few eyebrows in the Italian press. "I know that for many of you critics I should have inserted some defenders after Patrick Vieira's second goal," explained the coach, "but this isn't my football and, as I have already said many times, Italy won't change me, so I preferred to continue with a very offensive formation and this is why we won the match in the end."
The Inter coach also commented on the form of several players. On Ibrahimovic, he said: "I don't understand why everybody worries about Ibra's condition. Physically and psychologically Zlatan is a strong player who is very extremely well for the team. He played splendidly in Reggio Calabria and was involved in all the moves. I'm sure that if I put him on the bench one day, all the critics would be ready to underline my mistake. But I don't choose according to what the critics say, so if a player is in form, like Zlatan is, he plays."
On Julio Cruz: "Julio is with us and he'll go on the bench. It's important for the team to have a player of his quality and experience."
On Adriano: "I think that Adriano will get more playing time if he wants to, like he did before when he did very well. He's not with us for this match but there are two more Champions League games and I'm convinced he'll be with us if he wants to."
On Quaresma: "I wasn't worried before when he had a few negative games, and I'm not worried now after his positive performance in Reggio Calabria. I have known him for a long time, he has enormous potential."
Press FC Inter
He said: "We know that we'll be through if we win tomorrow, and this is our first objective. The Champions League is a risky competition. You have to be careful not to slip up or make things complicated for yourself. But we know what to do. Our goal is first place.
"We face a tough opponent who prepared very well for the first match and created problems for us. So we're not expecting it to be an easy game. Anorthosis have won every game in front of their fans. They have beaten strong opponents so they will try to create problems for us too, but our goal is to win and we always go on the pitch to win."
Mourinho's 4-2-4 formation and tactics in Saturday's match against Reggio Calabria raised a few eyebrows in the Italian press. "I know that for many of you critics I should have inserted some defenders after Patrick Vieira's second goal," explained the coach, "but this isn't my football and, as I have already said many times, Italy won't change me, so I preferred to continue with a very offensive formation and this is why we won the match in the end."
The Inter coach also commented on the form of several players. On Ibrahimovic, he said: "I don't understand why everybody worries about Ibra's condition. Physically and psychologically Zlatan is a strong player who is very extremely well for the team. He played splendidly in Reggio Calabria and was involved in all the moves. I'm sure that if I put him on the bench one day, all the critics would be ready to underline my mistake. But I don't choose according to what the critics say, so if a player is in form, like Zlatan is, he plays."
On Julio Cruz: "Julio is with us and he'll go on the bench. It's important for the team to have a player of his quality and experience."
On Adriano: "I think that Adriano will get more playing time if he wants to, like he did before when he did very well. He's not with us for this match but there are two more Champions League games and I'm convinced he'll be with us if he wants to."
On Quaresma: "I wasn't worried before when he had a few negative games, and I'm not worried now after his positive performance in Reggio Calabria. I have known him for a long time, he has enormous potential."
Press FC Inter
Barcelona – Basel preview: “We aren’t in the last 16 yet”
Josep Guardiola doesn’t want his side to be over-confident against Basle and says they could have a nasty surprise if they don’t concentrate and take the game seriously.
Josep Guardiola is not having his head turned by good form in the League and the Champions League. After training this Monday, he said the team needs to keep up its commitment if it wants to beat Basle and qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League. “We aren’t in the last 16 yet and we haven’t beaten Basel yet,” said the Barça manager. “If we think tomorrow’s game will be like the one a fortnight ago, we could be in for a nasty surprise, and we’ve got to remember who our opponents are and give them the respect they deserve. I don’t want to win five nil. All I want the players to do is to keep on as they have done so far.”
Guardiola is pleased that his side is top of the League, but once again pointed out that the competition has only just started. “We are top, one point ahead of Vila-real and two above Real Madrid, and I’m happy about that,” he said. “We must be doing something right to be on top, but there’s still a long way to go. I’m very pleased with the image the players are giving, as that’s the most important thing.”
Guardiola highlighted the fact that the entire squad and coaching staff are going to Navarra to attend the funeral of Juan Carlos Unzué’s father as a sign of the unity to be found in the dressing-room. “I’m happy with what the players have done here,” he said. “When the father of someone you work with so closely and for so long dies, it’s quite normal that people will want to go to the funeral. It’s nothing extraordinary and you’d find it in any workplace. The club’s provided us with a plane and we’re all going to Navarra.”
FC Barcelona Press
Josep Guardiola is not having his head turned by good form in the League and the Champions League. After training this Monday, he said the team needs to keep up its commitment if it wants to beat Basle and qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League. “We aren’t in the last 16 yet and we haven’t beaten Basel yet,” said the Barça manager. “If we think tomorrow’s game will be like the one a fortnight ago, we could be in for a nasty surprise, and we’ve got to remember who our opponents are and give them the respect they deserve. I don’t want to win five nil. All I want the players to do is to keep on as they have done so far.”
Guardiola is pleased that his side is top of the League, but once again pointed out that the competition has only just started. “We are top, one point ahead of Vila-real and two above Real Madrid, and I’m happy about that,” he said. “We must be doing something right to be on top, but there’s still a long way to go. I’m very pleased with the image the players are giving, as that’s the most important thing.”
Guardiola highlighted the fact that the entire squad and coaching staff are going to Navarra to attend the funeral of Juan Carlos Unzué’s father as a sign of the unity to be found in the dressing-room. “I’m happy with what the players have done here,” he said. “When the father of someone you work with so closely and for so long dies, it’s quite normal that people will want to go to the funeral. It’s nothing extraordinary and you’d find it in any workplace. The club’s provided us with a plane and we’re all going to Navarra.”
FC Barcelona Press
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