Friday, January 30, 2009

Wembley, Munich´s Fussball Arena, Lansdowne Road and Bucharest´s National Stadium chosen for 2011 and 2012 finals

London, Munich, Dublin and Bucharest have won the right to host Uefa club competition finals in 2011 and 2012.

The Champions League final will be held at London’s Wembley stadium in 2011, and at Munich’s Fussball Arena in 2012.

The final of the Europa League – formerly the Uefa Cup – will be held at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road in 2011 and Bucharest’s National Stadium in 2012.

The venues were approved at a meeting of the Uefa executive committee in Nyon, Switzerland yesterday.

Wembley beat Munich’s Allianz Arena and Berlin’s Olympiastadion to the hosting rights, in a decision that had been expected, reports the AFP news agency. AFP says Uefa had delayed a decision on the 2011 venue to give the UK government time to push through an exemption on tax rules for players appearing in the final.

Wembley’s success meant that London-based English Premier League club Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium lost out on hosting the 2011 Europa League final to Lansdowne Road. Chairman of the FA, Lord Triesman, said, "As Wembley has been chosen to host the Champions League final this means the Emirates Stadium can't stage the 2011 UEFA Europa League final. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Arsenal for all their valuable support during the bid process and recognise the very strong bid that they put together."

FC Barcelona succeed 5000 league goals

Four months ago, it was Real Madrid time.

Now, FC Barcelona is just two goals shy of scoring their 5,000th goal in the Spanish top flight. They can reach the milestone when they travel to Racing Santander on Sunday.

Barcelona’s first ever goal in the Spanish top flight was scored 80 years ago by Manuel Parera in a match at Racing Santander in February 1929.

Most goals in La Liga - clubs
Goals Club Matches

5040 Real Madrid 2440
4998 FC Barcelona 2440
4191 Athletic Bilbao 2440
3983 Atlético Madrid 2292
3897 Valencia CF 2342
3240 RCD Espanyol 2304
3161 Sevilla FC 2086
2853 Real Sociedad 2036
2524 Real Zaragoza 1834
2041 Celta de Vigo 1508

Milestone goals for FC Barcelona in La Liga
# Name Match Date

4000 Guillermo Amor Valencia CF - FC Barcelona 4-1 09 Mar 1996
3000 Enrique Castro Quini FC Barcelona - CD Castellón 4-3 24 Jan 1982
2000 Pedro Zaballa CF Barcelona - Valencia CF 4-0 12 Jan 1964
1000 Marcos Aurelio CF Barcelona - UD Lérida 6-1 22 Oct 1950
1 Manuel Parera Racing Santander – FC Barcelona 0-2 12 Feb 1929

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Luca Toni is on fire: Hamburger SV – Bayern München

On Friday, the German Bundesliga continues after the winter break. Luca Toni can enter an elite list of scoring in most successive matches in the German league. If the Italian nets for Bayern München at Hamburger SV his scoring run will be worth a top 10 listing in German top flight history, according to Infostrada.

In 2007, Greece’s Theofanis Gekas was the last player to score in at least seven successive Bundesliga matches. His streak ended after eight matches. The league record is 10 and was set by 1. FC Köln’s Klaus Allofs in 1984.

Earlier this season Bayern’s Franck Ribéry scored in six consecutive Bundesliga matches.

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 Luca Toni Bayern München 09 Nov 2008 TBD

Saturday, January 24, 2009

The match of the week: Liverpool – Everton

Liverpool play host to Everton in an FA Cup fourth round tie on Sunday. It will be the 21st time that the two clubs have met each other in the competition which makes it the most frequently played FA Cup fixture.

Liverpool have won nine and Everton have won six of the previous 20 matches with five draws also being played.

They last met each other in the fifth round in 1990/1991, a tie which had two replays and the resignation of Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish between the first and second matches.
Liverpool and Everton have met each other in 16 different editions of the FA Cup including this season which is also a record, according to Infostrada.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also play each other in this year’s fourth round. They have met each other 15 times which gives their tie a place in the top-10 most frequently played.

Most matches played in FA Cup (including replays)
# Match Years (#)

21 Everton - Liverpool 1902 (2), 1905 (2), 1906, 1911, 1932, 1950, 1955, 1967, 1971 (2), 1977, 1981, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991 (3), 2009
19 Everton - Sheffield Wednesday 1893, 1895, 1896, 1906, 1907, 1921 (2), 1937, 1947, 1954, 1965 (2), 1966, 1986, 1988 (4), 1990
18 Arsenal - Chelsea 1915, 1930, 1931, 1939, 1947 (3), 1950 (2), 1952 (2), 1973 (2), 2001, 2002, 2003 (2), 2004
16 Arsenal - Liverpool 1913, 1923 (2), 1927, 1936, 1950, 1963, 1964, 1971, 1980 (4), 2001, 2002, 2007
16 Newcastle United - Nottingham Forest 1892, 1908, 1921 (2), 1931, 1955 (3), 1967, 1974 (2), 1985 (2), 1991 (2), 1997
16 Chelsea - Sheffield Wednesday 1913 (2), 1932 (2), 1939 (3), 1966, 1967, 1968 (2), 1973, 1975, 1994 (2), 1999
15 Nottingham Forest - West Bromwich Albion 1892 (3), 1898, 1904 (2), 1958 (2), 1963 (2), 1973 (3), 1978, 2004
15 Aston Villa - West Bromwich Albion 1885 (2), 1887, 1892, 1895, 1914, 1924, 1925 (2), 1926, 1932, 1957 (2), 1990, 1998
15 Bolton Wanderers - Preston North End 1886, 1888, 1890, 1921, 1932 (2), 1958, 1959 (3), 1964 (2), 1965, 1966 (2)
15 Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur 1899 (2), 1923, 1926 (2), 1962, 1968 (2), 1979 (2), 1980 (2), 1997, 2008, 2009

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Liverpool – Everton preview: the match of the week

On Monday, Everton travel to Anfield Road to meet Liverpool in another Merseyside derby, hoping they can build on their recent good form and win their first league match away at Liverpool since 1999.

Everton have won their last three Premier League away matches which equals their longest away winning record in the Premier League era and the longest in 23 years since they won four consecutive top flight matches from November to December 1985.

The Toffees have not conceded a goal in their last five PL matches, which is their joint third longest streak and only two matches shy of their all-time record of seven clean sheets set between November and December 1994.

Everton conceded their last Premier League goal on 7 December when they lost 2-3 at home against Aston Villa.

Longest clean sheets streaks in English top flight - Everton
# Start date Match that ended streak

7 01 Nov 1994 Everton - Sheffield Wednesday (26 Dec 1994) 1-4
6 29 Mar 1986 Oxford United - Everton (30 Apr 1986) 1-0
5 13 Dec 2008 Still running
5 20 Oct 1984 Norwich City - Everton (24 Nov 1984) 4-2
5 20 Apr 1985 Nottingham Forest - Everton (11 May 1985) 1-0
5 18 Jan 1986 Everton - Chelsea (16 Mar 1986) 1-1
5 03 Jan 1988 Tottenham Hotspur - Everton (09 Mar 1988) 2-1
5 27 Oct 2002 Newcastle United - Everton (01 Dec 2002) 2-1
5 14-Jan-1893 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Everton (18 Mar 1893) 2-4

Longest winning away streaks in the Premier League (started 1992/1993) - Everton
# Start date Match that ended streak

3 27 Oct 2002 Newcastle United - Everton (01 Dec 2002) 2-1
3 11 Sep 2004 Chelsea - Everton (06 Nov 2004) 1-0
3 30 Nov 2008 Still running
2 31 Dec 2005 Wigan Athletic - Everton (31 Jan 2006) 1-1
2 01 Jan 2008 Blackburn Rovers - Everton (02 Feb 2008) 0-0
2 25 Feb 2008 Fulham - Everton (16 Mar 2008) 1-0
2 23 Aug 2008 Hull City - Everton (21 Sep 2008) 2-2
2 29 Oct 2008 Wigan Athletic - Everton (24 Nov 2008) 1-0

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Manchester United – Chelsea, the match of the week

Today, Manchester United can stretch their streak of clean sheets to eight matches when they host Chelsea in the Premier League.

Chelsea hold the record of 10 consecutive clean sheets in the English top flight.
Manchester United have already equalled their own club record of seven clean sheets, which was set between May and August 1997.

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar can stretch his clean sheet record to 763 minutes, which would be the third longest streak in the last 10 years.

Van der Sar needs 22 minutes without conceding a goal to overtake Peter Schmeichel’s club record for Manchester United in the last 10 years.

Consecutive clean sheets – English top flight
# Club Last match before streak Match that ended streak

10 Chelsea Arsenal - Chelsea (12 Dec 2004) 2-2 Norwich City - Chelsea (05 Mar 2005) 1-3
8 Liverpool Liverpool - Oldham Athletic (26 Dec 1922) 2-1 Blackburn Rovers - Liverpool (12 Mar 1923) 1-0
8 Arsenal Coventry City - Arsenal (17 Jan 1998) 2-2 Arsenal - Newcastle United (11 Apr 1998) 3-1
8 Liverpool Fulham - Liverpool (22 Oct 2005) 2-0 Everton - Liverpool (28 Dec 2005) 1-3
8 Chelsea Liverpool - Chelsea (20 Jan 2007) 2-0 West Ham United - Chelsea (18 Apr 2007) 1-4
7 Manchester United Arsenal - Manchester United (08 Nov 2008) 2-1 Still running
7 10 other occasions

Goalkeepers with most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal – Premier League since 1998/1999
Minutes Name Start date Match that ended streak

1025 Petr Cech 12 Dec 2004 Norwich City - Chelsea (05 Mar 2005) 1-3
827 Petr Cech 20 Jan 2007 West Ham United - Chelsea (18 Apr 2007) 1-4
762 José Manuel Reina 22 Oct 2005 Everton - Liverpool (28 Dec 2005) 1-3
694 Peter Schmeichel 05 May 1997 Manchester United - West Ham United (13 Sep 1997) 2-1
689 José Manuel Reina 12 Nov 2006 Blackburn Rovers - Liverpool (26 Dec 2006) 1-0
673 Edwin van der Sar 08 Nov 2008 Still running

Friday, January 9, 2009

Raúl González arriving to 500th match, goes for Manuel Sanchís

On Sunday, Real Madrid captain Raúl is likely to make his 500th Primera División appearance when his club travels to RCD Mallorca.

Raúl will become the sixth player in Primera División history to reach this milestone. Former Athletic Bilbao, FC Barcelona and Valencia CF goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta holds the record with 622 Primera División appearances, according to Infostrada.

Furthermore, Raúl will become the second player to represent Real Madrid 500 times in a league match. Manuel Sanchís holds the record with 523.

Most matches in Primera División
# Name Clubs Era

622 Andoni Zubizarreta Athletic Bilbao, FC Barcelona, Valencia CF 1981-1998
543 Eusebio Real Valladolid, Atlético Madrid, FC Barcelona, Celta de Vigo 1984-2002
542 Francisco Buyo Sevilla FC, Real Madrid 1980-1996
523 Manuel Sanchís Real Madrid 1983-2001
504 Miguel Soler RCD Espanyol, FC Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla FC, Real Madrid, Real Zaragoza, RCD Mallorca 1983-2003
499 Raúl Real Madrid 1994-2009
497 Fernando Hierro Real Valladolid, Real Madrid 1987-2003
483 José Maria Bakero Real Sociedad, FC Barcelona 1980-1996
482 Loren Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Burgos CF 1984-2001
479 Joaquin Sporting Gijón 1977-1992

Most matches in Primera División – Real Madrid
# Name Nation Era
523 Manuel Sanchís ESP 1983-2001
499 Raúl ESP 1995-2009
461 Carlos Santillana ESP 1971-1988
439 Fernando Hierro ESP 1989-2003
428 Francisco Gento ESP 1953-1971
417 José Pirri ESP 1964-1980
414 José Antonio Camacho ESP 1973-1989
404 Míchel ESP 1984-1996
370 Roberto Carlos BRA 1997-2007
363 Chendo ESP 1983-1998

Friday, January 2, 2009

Chelsea seems to be the champion… of the year

Chelsea lead the FA Premiership table for the 2008 calendar year, having accumulated 86 points in 38 league matches since January 1st. according to Infostrada, the Blues have finished ahead of Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Premier League ranking 2008 calendar year
Rank Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points Goals Diff.

1 Chelsea 38 25 11 2 86 74 - 20 54
2 Liverpool 39 24 12 3 84 69 - 29 40
3 Manchester United 36 24 8 4 80 72 - 21 51
4 Arsenal 38 20 11 7 71 67 - 38 29
5 Aston Villa 38 18 11 9 65 69 - 47 22
6 Everton 38 18 10 10 64 47 - 36 11
7 Wigan Athletic 37 14 10 13 52 38 - 36 2
8 Portsmouth 38 14 7 17 49 40 - 53 -13
9 Fulham 37 12 11 14 47 35 - 39 -4
10 Blackburn Rovers 38 11 13 14 46 45 - 56 -11
11 West Ham United 39 12 9 18 45 41 - 61 -20
12 Sunderland 38 13 5 20 44 37 - 49 -12
13 Bolton Wanderers 38 12 7 19 43 36 - 50 -14
14 Tottenham Hotspur 38 10 12 16 42 45 - 50 -5
15 Middlesbrough 38 10 12 16 42 42 - 49 -7
16 Manchester City 38 11 8 19 41 56 - 61 -5
17 Newcastle United 38 9 12 17 39 44 - 66 -22
18 Hull City 20 7 6 7 27 28 – 37 -9
19 Stoke City 20 5 5 10 20 18 - 33 -15
20 West Bromwich Albion 20 5 3 12 18 16 - 35 -19
21 Birmingham City 18 3 7 8 16 24 - 31 -7
22 Reading 18 4 2 12 14 12 - 24 -12
23 Derby County 18 0 4 14 4 10 - 44 -34