Lopetegui expects Mayoral departure after Mariano arrival

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Lopetegui expects Mayoral departure after Mariano arrival

Real Madrid head coach Julen Lopetegui expects striker Borja Mayoral to leave following the signing of Mariano Diaz, but there will be no more arrivals. Mariano rejoined Madrid after spending a single season at Lyon, where he scored 18 Ligue 1 goals, pushing Mayoral down Lopetegui's list of forward options. Sevilla have been linked with a move for Mayoral after their deal with Lyon for Mariano collapsed when Madrid became interested in resigning the striker. Mayoral, 21, started three LaLiga games last season and scored three times, hitting the net a further three times in the Copa del Rey. Lopetegui, though, accepts Mayoral will want to move ahead of Friday's transfer deadline after seeing another striker arrive, which will limit his opportunities to play. "Borja is still our player but he has several alternatives to go out and it is likely that he can look for an assignment and that today he can close [a deal]," Lopetegui said.  "That's probably the best thing for him and we respect that. He wants to go with Mariano coming and it's better for him. "He is a guy who has worked well with us and may have the opportunity to have more minutes. Mariano is here and we are delighted because he can help us. "Now with Mariano, the Real squad is closed. We will get the maximum out of what we have, that's what we're dealing with, but it would not be a bad thing if the markets in the future closed a little bit earlier." Bravo, @NavasKeylor! #UEFAawards #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/NR4Jk7kLnt — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 30, 2018 Keylor Navas was named UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season at a ceremony on Thursday. The Costa Rica international has started both of Madrid's LaLiga games this season, ahead of new arrival Thibaut Courtois, and Lopetegui is still offering no clues as to his preferred goalkeeper. "I'm not going to say who's my starter goalkeeper," Lopetegui said ahead of Saturday's home game with Leganes.  "I have great solutions in that position. I have full confidence in every one of my keepers."

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FIFA 19: All of the new features added by EA Sports this year

Dream Team FC

FIFA 19: All of the new features added by EA Sports this year

New fan cinematics

Selfies are here, fans in the crowd can be seen taking selfies with each other and filming the game, both in pre-game cutscenes and during games.

The crowd now also rock some pretty hefty custom banners, with flags of clubs and countries waving in the background.

Although this won’t be drastically changing the gameplay… it’s nice to see some appreciation from the fans when you score a worldie.

FIFA 19 is getting with the times as fans in the crowd now take selfies

New team cinematics 

In order to create a more authentic experience, FIFA 19 has added a load more cinematics.

We will get to see the players getting off the bus when arriving at a stadium, as well as players getting jitters in the tunnel before a big game.

A team photo is also taken with mid-game cut scenes of players warming up whilst the crowd films.

Drawing teams

In an interview with USGamer, FIFA 19 creative director Matthew Prior spoke about career mode and how changes would be seen by players.

“There’s a big update in the sense that the Champions League is in there” Prior adds that, “this time, career mode is the most authentic its ever been.”

Prior hinted that there would be a whole user interface overhaul to reflect the new league.

UEFA Champions League draw cinematic scenes are going to be a real treat

Along with some key cinematic additions that would bring a realistic feel to the career mode.

Prior added there would definitely be a Champions League and Europa Leauge draw cinematic.

Transfer cinematics

When transferring players in career mode you will now get a nifty cinematic, a small but welcome addition which makes bringing a new player into the team feel more rewarding.

Goalie upgrade

Goalkeepers will now have player specific animations when taking penalties.

Although, don’t expect to see any flossing and dabbing unless Petr Cech decides to switch up his pre-penalty ritual.

FIFA 19 Standard and Champions Editions are available to pre-order from GAME and Amazon

Brand new training mode

EA Sports have decided to bless FIFA fans with a new trailer for the Journey: Champions, the third and final instalment of EA’s popular story mode.

Not only that, but footage has surfaced online of a new training feature within the mode.

And it looks a lot like piggy in the middle…

Players can practice passing a ball around the circle with a defender in the middle trying to tackle them.

This will be a great way to practice the new ball mechanics in FIFA 19.

Ultimate team recognition

A brilliant change has come to Ultimate Team in the form of banners.

Your team’s name will now appear on banners in the crowd with fans going wild supporting your dream football team.

In both Ultimate Team and Kick-off mode this year, crowds will also sport huge banners of players and slogans.

All new banners have been added to Kick-off mode and Ultimate Team

Serie A and Leauge 1 full licensed

Not only are we getting the Champions Leauge and the Chinese Super Leauge in this year’s FIFA, but players will also get to play as their favourite teams in the Serie A and Leauge 1 fully licenced for the first time ever.

This is huge news for fans of the English and Italian leagues, especially now Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus has been confirmed.

Dozens of new stadiums have been added

Brand new stadiums

FIFA 19 is going all out in delivering a full experience when it comes to the La Liga league.

Giving fans of Spanish football every stadium bar one.

Barcelona FC still has a contract with Pro Evolution Soccer, meaning their stadium Camp Nou will not be featured in FIFA 19.

Despite this the whole Barcelona side have been face-scanned, world-renowned Lionel Messi hasn’t been cut off this time.

Check out the full La Liga trailer below.

The Journey: Champions has not one but three playable characters

Fans of The Journey have previously followed primarily Alex Hunter’s story as he grew from an amateur player to a pro, with EA recently announcing Hunter would be joining Real Madrid in FIFA 19.

Hunter’s sister Kim Hunter and his best friend Danny Williams will be playing a much larger role in this year’s FIFA.

They have all been given a separate story that will eventually intertwine together.

Hunter and Williams are both striving for the Champions League Trophy

The Champions League is the focus and it’s likely we will see Williams and Hunter face off in the finals for the trophy.

It has also been confirmed that the three protagonists will cross paths with ‘some of the world’s most famous footballers’.

Neymar Jr. will play a role in The Journey: Champions

The likes of Neymar Jr., Alex Morgan, Paulo Dybala, Kevin De Bruyne, and more will play a part in the story.

Check out the trailer below.

THESE ARE THE CHEAPEST PLACES TO BUY FIFA 19 – PICK IT UP HERE:

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Ajax returns to Champions League after 4 years away

Football – Inquirer Sports

Ajax returns to Champions League after 4 years away

AMSTERDAM — Four-time European champion Ajax qualified for the Champions League group stage on Tuesday for the first time in four years, while AEK Athens and Young Boys Bern ended even longer absences. Ajax went to Dynamo Kiev with a 3-1 lead and that was the final aggregate result after the Dutch team was held […]

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FIFA 19: It looks like three massive teams are missing from this year’s game

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FIFA 19: It looks like three massive teams are missing from this year’s game

FIFA 19 fans may not be able to play with three of the world’s biggest football nations.

Brazil, Croatia and Uruguay were missing from the team select menus in the FIFA 19 beta, which was first spotted by FIFA website Fifaultimateteam.it before being picked up by a number of YouTubers.

Although the Liga do Brazil is included, it appears EA may have struggled to acquire the licence for the countries.

This means you won’t be able to play with them on kick off or seasons.

Alex Hunter returns in FIFA 19

Even though this is the beta version of the game, should there be a licensing issue, there’s a very slim chance EA would resolve it in time for release on September 28.

It’s not the first time countries have been missing from the series. In fact, 12 key international teams were absent from last year’s game.

Serbia and Croatia were omitted in FIFA 18, as well as big Asian countries such as South Korea, Iran and Japan.

From the CAF, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, and Morocco were not included while Costa Rica and Panama were missing from the CONCACAF region.

CONMEBOL’s Peru wasn’t in the game either.

EA did however add the teams to the World Cup mode – although it seems as though some of their usage may have been tied to a time-sensitive licence that didn’t extend beyond the competition.

FIFA 19 is once again powered by the Frostbite engine

FIFA 19’s demo is fast approaching with all signs pointing to an early September release.

Using that as a guide, we’ve pulled together everything you need to know about the FIFA 19 demo.

How many teams will be in playable in the demo?

There will nine teams to choose from in the demo.

These are as follows:

Bayern Munich Juventus PSG Man City Man United Borussia Dortmund Real Madrid Atletico Madrid Tottenham Hotspur

Amazingly, Dortmund were only just added to the roster after the German team dumped PES and switched allegiances to EA.

It’s not known yet what stadiums will feature, but we’re almost certain there won’t be nine of them.

The demo will likely offer offline play with up to two players – and may include a playable section of The Journey, although no details have been confirmed.

There are also a host of new gameplay features and tweaks set to arrive to this year’s game.

Here are the most important.

Neymar was a big part of the FIFA 19 trailer

Will I be able to play online?

No – the demo will be offline only.

Will The Journey be included?

Highly unlikely – but perhaps a trailer may make the cut.

Tactics

Game plans have been introduced this year – which are set up before a match.

Here, you can set what tactics your team has depending on certain situations – such as if they’re 1-0 up or losing a match.

Once you have made the plans, simply assign to a D-pad press and you’re good to go.

Unlike last year, when it was hard to see if a tactical option had been executed, there’s now a clear toggle for on-the-fly instructions.

We’ve seen this before

You’re also now able to adjust your team’s width and depth, as well as instruct your full backs what kind of runs to make in attack or your centre back to cover certain areas of the pitch.

There’s greater control over your team’s defensive style, too – with new settings: “pressure after possession loss,” “constant pressure,” “drop back,” “balanced,” and “pressure on heavy touch.”

Sounds great!

Sweet spot

If you tap Circle or B just as your foot hits the ball, you massively increase the chance of striking it into the top corner.

It’s all about timing, so get it wrong and you’ll be punished with a scuffed shot.

Revised mini-map

A simple but welcome change.

One team will now have triangle icons, the other will have circles – so it’s easier to see who’s who.

Graphics look to have been tweaked and improved Champions League

EA has got everything from the Champions League logo including the commentary team, Derek Rae and Lee Dixon.

It’ll also have its own mode and the ability to create custom tournaments. Amazing.

Europa League

This was slightly overshadowed by the Champions League announcement, but yes the Europa League will also be in FIFA 19.

Expect the full broadcast package, too.

General gameplay 

Passing has been re-worked to feel more natural, while an active touch system allows better first touches from different parts of the body.

It also opens up the possibility of a feint attack – where, as the ball approaches, you can shift your weight one way, before going the other.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be on the cover of FIFA 19

Stepovers, too, are reportedly easier to pull off and look more convincing – making it harder for your opponent to defend against.

Finally, 50/50 battles over a loose ball will now take into account more variables than last year – such as reaction time.

NOW CHECK OUT THE FIFA 19 TRAILER BELOW.

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While Ronaldo remains scoreless, Napoli impresses again

Football – Inquirer Sports

While Ronaldo remains scoreless, Napoli impresses again

ROME — While Cristiano Ronaldo is still figuring out how to score past Italian league defenders, Napoli is picking up right where it left off from last season. Only two rounds of Serie A are completed but Napoli is again shaping up as Juventus’ top challenger. The southern club has come from behind to win […]

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Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE SCORE: Latest updates from the Premier League match

Football news - transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures | The Sun

Watford vs Crystal Palace LIVE SCORE: Latest updates from the Premier League match

CRYSTAL PALACE look to get back to winning ways as they travel to in-form Watford following their 2-0 loss at Liverpool.

The Eagles have an excellent record at Vicarage Road having not lost there since 2009.

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Martinez sets MLS single-season scoring record, Atlanta wins

Football – Inquirer Sports

Martinez sets MLS single-season scoring record, Atlanta wins

ATLANTA — Josef Martinez broke the MLS season goal recordwith his 28th, giving Atlanta United the lead in the 74th minute in a 2-1 victory over Orlando City on Friday night. Martinez ran past the defense for a through ball, cutting back his defender and chipping it over Joe Bendik. Martinez briefly looked back at Bendik […]

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Ex-Brazil football boss gets 4 years in prison in FIFA probe

Football – Inquirer Sports

Ex-Brazil football boss gets 4 years in prison in FIFA probe

NEW YORK — A former South American football official convicted on corruption charges in the sprawling FIFA bribery scandal was sentenced in federal court to four years in prison on Wednesday. Jose Maria Marin, a former president of Brazil’s soccer federation, also was ordered to forfeit $3.3 million and pay a $1.2 million fine in […]

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Asian Games: Forget Lionel Messi, China's 'Nine-Goal Diva' Is World's Hottest Striker

Latest Football News, Football Info, Sports News Updates - NDTVSports.com

Asian Games: Forget Lionel Messi, China's 'Nine-Goal Diva' Is World's Hottest Striker

Wang Shanshan earned that nickname from Chinese fans and media when she plundered nine goals in a dizzying 29 minutes after coming off the bench.

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Lewandowski hits out at Bayern bosses

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Lewandowski hits out at Bayern bosses

Robert Lewandowski slammed Bayern Munich's management for leaving him with "no protection" earlier in the year but said the club's supporters convinced him to stay. The 30-year-old striker reflected on the reaction to his failure to score as Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in last season's semi-final, and said the club failed to defend him against criticism. Lewandowski has since bounced back, scoring four goals in Bayern's first two competitive games of the 2018-19 season, but he was unreserved in his comments about the club's handling of him. "In April, May everyone criticised me," Lewandowski told Sport Bild. "And I felt no protection from the club, felt alone. 30 x #LewanGOALski zum 30. Geburtstag! @lewy_official Euer Favorit? #FCBayern #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/T3QWb5yqNM — FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) August 21, 2018 "I scored no goals in two or three important games and suddenly everyone was saying: open fire against Lewandowski! "I did not see anyone who supported me at the time. Neither of the club bosses defended me. "I did not feel well in Munich in those moments. In this time it did not fit anymore." A hat-trick in Bayern's 5-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFL-Supercup silenced Lewandowski's critics, and he followed that up with the winning goal in a 1-0 defeat of Drochtersen/Assel in the DFB-Pokal. He said it was the support of the club's fans, rather than its management, that ensured he remains a Bayern player and strengthened his resolve to stay. "I noticed in Munich that the fans support me," said the Poland international. "I realised that they still want me here. "I will never strike, never mess with the club. "I'm not wasting any thought on another club now."

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Usain Bolt not expecting special treatment as football trial begins

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Usain Bolt not expecting special treatment as football trial begins

Olympic champion Usain Bolt has joined training with the Central Coast Mariners with ambitions of landing a contract.

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No Cristiano Ronaldo, No Zinedine Zidane, No problem As Real Madrid Start La Liga With Victory

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No Cristiano Ronaldo, No Zinedine Zidane, No problem As Real Madrid Start La Liga With Victory

Real Madrid got their La Liga campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory at home to Getafe on Sunday in their first league outing since the summer departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Zinedine Zidane.

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TFC draws lowly Earthquakes; running out of time to pick up points

Sportsnet.ca

TFC draws lowly Earthquakes; running out of time to pick up points

• Toronto FC 1 (Janson 59’), San Jose Earthquakes 1 (Wondolowski 77’)
• TFC settles for a draw against last-place team in MLS
• Reds now nine points out of a playoff spot in the East

Toronto FC continues to be its own worst enemy.

Badly needing a victory on Saturday to keep pace with the teams ahead of them in the standings, the Reds came up short against the last-place side in MLS, as they were held to a 1-1 road draw by the San Jose Earthquakes.

Forward Lucas Janson, recently signed on loan from Argentine club Tigre, scored in his MLS debut for TFC. Chris Wondolowski replied for San Jose.

TFC (6-12-6) moved up from 10th to ninth in the Eastern Conference, but is now nine points back of the Montreal Impact, who hold down the sixth and final playoff berth in the East. The Impact beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 at home on Saturday. Toronto has two games in hand on Montreal.

With only 10 matches remaining in the regular season, and the gap with Montreal widening, Toronto is slowly running out of time to get back into the thick of the playoff race. If it’s going to make a move, it has to happen now, and next week’s home contest against the Impact is set up as the biggest game of the MLS season for the Reds. If they lose that, you’d have to think there is no way back for them. A win, on the other hand, could swing the momentum in their favour as the battle for the final playoff spot in the East heats up.

TFC had to make do without defender Chris Mavinga and forward Jozy Altidore, who were both suspended on Saturday. The Reds were also missing midfielder Victor Vazquez (knee) and fullback Auro Jr. (hamstring).

Coach Greg Vanney rotated his squad by giving rare starts to veteran defender Jason Hernandez, and young Canadians Jay Chapman and Jordan Hamilton. Sebastian Giovinco and Gregory van der Wiel started on the bench before entering the game as second-half substitutes.

[radioclip id=4177555]

Janson played through the middle just behind fellow forward Hamilton, effectively linking up with Jonathan Osorio and Marky Delgado in the attacking third. He was Toronto’s best player through the opening 20 minutes, but then grew quiet for the rest of the half before scoring the opening goal of the game.

Toronto dictated the pace of the match at first, but its defence looked wobbly and tentative as the half wore on. San Jose laid siege upon the Reds’ penalty area right up until the halftime break, and finished the opening 45 minutes with nine total shots, compared to just one for Toronto.

Goalkeeper Alex Bono made a pair of fabulous saves midway through the half, first denying San Jose’s Valeri Qazaishvili, and then parrying a powerful one-timer by Magnus Eriksson from 14 yards out.

A C C E S S D E N I E D @Alex25Bono#TFCLive | #SJvTOR pic.twitter.com/dzVIUc3QVU

— Toronto FC (@torontofc) August 19, 2018

Moments later, defender Justin Morrow was forced to make a crucial goal-saving block on an Earthquakes shot after Bono couldn’t hold on to the ball.

The home side continued to turn the screws on the MLS Cup champs after the halftime break, with Danny Hoesen flashing a shot from the edge of the six-yard box just over the crossbar.

Toronto captain Michael Bradley delivered a dangerous free kick to the far post that San Joe goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell flapped at, but the angle was too acute for Hamilton as his header looped over the crossbar.

Vanney made a double substitution in the 58th minute when he brought on Giovinco and van der Wiel. A minute later, the newcomers combined on a pretty passing play started by Bradley, with van der Wiel delivering a ball to the back post for Janson to tap into an empty net and give Toronto the lead.

How’s that for your first start in a TFC uniform?

Lucas Janson finishes off a great move for the second half lead#TFCLive | #SJvTOR pic.twitter.com/sRJMqaQyr2

— Toronto FC (@torontofc) August 19, 2018

Osorio nearly doubled the Reds’ advantage just moments later, but his shot hit the post, and Giovinco couldn’t convert on the rebound.

Janson left the game in the 66th minute, replaced by defender Drew Moor, as Vanney looked to lock things down. But San Jose exploited a huge space down the right side as Wondolowski broke in on goal off the wing. His first shot was tame, but Bono couldn’t control it, and Wondolowski chipped the rebound over the TFC goalkeeper. It was Wondowloski’s ninth goal in 14 career games against Toronto

NOTES: The all-time series between these teams is dead even, with five wins apiece and five draws in 15 meetings… TFC returns home to host the Impact next Saturday, and then heads out west again for a match against the Portland Timbers on Aug. 29. That road trip is followed by back-to-back home games against Los Angeles FC (Sept. 1) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (Sept. 15).

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Leinster picked off by Falcons

Sport: : BreakingNews.ie

Leinster picked off by Falcons

Leinster 17 Newcastle Falcons 42

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Ex-Portugal boss appointed as South Korea head coach

Football – Inquirer Sports

Ex-Portugal boss appointed as South Korea head coach

SEOUL, South Korea— South Korea has appointed ex-Portugal manager Paulo Bento as head coach of the national team. The 49-year-old Bento is charged with leading the national team to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and replaces Shin Tae-yong, who was not offered a new contract in July after South Korea’s group-stage exit at the […]

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Whitecaps’ defensive woes rear ugly head in loss to TFC

Sportsnet.ca

Whitecaps’ defensive woes rear ugly head in loss to TFC

TORONTO — As Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic begrudgingly reached into the net to grab the ball following Toronto FC’s fifth goal of the night, there was dismay on the players’ faces.

After a hard-fought 2-2 draw at home in the first leg of the Canadian Championship, Vancouver was trailing 4-0 in the return game at BMO Field after 53 minutes. The Whitecaps pulled back two consolations before ultimately falling 5-2 on the night and 7-4 on aggregate.

“I think sometimes you have to give the opposition team credit,” said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson in his post-match press conference. “This time, I think, irrelevant of the last-minute goal [in the first leg], I think Toronto probably deserved to win the trophy because they were the better team tonight. They scored five goals and their players were on.”

However, irrespective of the attack, the defence has been Vancouver’s Achilles heel all season long. The Whitecaps have now conceded 55 goals in 28 games in all competitions in 2018, with just three clean sheets in that span.

#VWFC clean sheets (all competitions) under Robinson:

2018: 3 in 28
2017: 10 in 47
2016: 10 in 42
2015: 16 in 44
2014: 13 in 40

— Peter Galindo (@GalindoPW) August 16, 2018

Even Kendall Waston, a stalwart defender for the Whitecaps since 2014, was lost for words as to why the team’s defensive form has declined.

“You never know why. Obviously [people] are always going to see the defence when the [opposition] scores. But it’s not the defence every time. Everything comes from all of us, so when we win, everybody wins. When we lose, everybody loses.”

As the first half continued, TFC was notably exploiting Vancouver’s left flank. The opening goal via Jozy Altidore was created down that side, and Sebastian Giovinco was thwarted on two occasions before Altidore’s strike as well.

Apparent before, but #TFC has so much space & superior numbers to bypass #VWFC's midfield.

TFC has also exploited the right very often (as seen below), leading to a few quality chances (including the first goal). pic.twitter.com/ytTSQwm2mX

— Peter Galindo (@GalindoPW) August 16, 2018

Eventually, Toronto had freedom across the pitch, although the majority of their passes into the box were generated on the right.

Toronto FC’s pass map, via MLSSoccer.com.

“They pull you one way and then obviously try and switch the play,” Robinson explained when asked about TFC exposing Vancouver’s left side. “They leave two forwards up the top so you always have to keep the full-back tucked in. You can’t go two-for-two against any top player in this league. We knew it was a challenge for us. … Good players manage to pull you around the pitch sometimes and that’s certainly what happened a few times today.”

Robinson also pointed out the two earlier misses by Yordy Reyna, via a diving header, and Alphonso Davies. However, apart from a sizzling strike from distance, Davies was largely held in check by Toronto.

Now Vancouver’s focus shifts to MLS and the playoff chase. The Whitecaps are currently two points adrift of sixth-place Real Salt Lake with 10 matches remaining.

Luckily for the Whitecaps, all but two of those games are against Western Conference opponents. They face the West’s basement dwellers, the San Jose Earthquakes, in back-to-back matches to close out the month of August, so there are certainly opportunities to climb the standings.

However, even the Earthquakes, currently bottom of the league with 16 points, own a better defensive record than the Whitecaps. San Jose has conceded 43 goals to Vancouver’s 47 in MLS.

Over the past four seasons, 49 goals conceded is the upper limit for playoff teams.

The defensive woes are quite bizarre, considering the Whitecaps have been known to be a defensively stingy side under Robinson. Vancouver has dealt with a slight amount of bad luck defensively, as evidenced by expected goals allowed (xGA) – an advanced analytic used to determine the quality of a shot.

According to metrics from American Soccer Analysis, Vancouver’s xGA is 38.6, compared to its actual goals allowed of 44 (not counting own goals). This demonstrates that the defence has conceded slightly more often than expected.

However, the Whitecaps are also slightly outperforming their expected goals (xG), so it does balance out somewhat.

Vancouver will dedicate these final two months towards the hotly contested playoff battle in the Western Conference. However, if anything is going to derail their hopes, it will be the defence, which has flattered to deceive in 2018.

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Paddy Jackson: Once I got out on the pitch, I felt like I just came out of my shell

Sport: : BreakingNews.ie

Paddy Jackson: Once I got out on the pitch, I felt like I just came out of my shell

Paddy Jackson says he’s thrilled to be back playing rugby and his debut for Perpignan last week was like his “first game.”

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Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny set for Marseille move after falling down pecking order under Unai Emery

Dream Team FC

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny set for Marseille move after falling down pecking order under Unai Emery

Mohamed Elneny could be heading out of the Arsenal exit door, according to reports.

The 26-year-old midfielder appears to have fallen out of favour at The Emirates since Unai Emery’s arrival this summer.

Mohamed Elneny could be heading out of the Arsenal exit doorGetty

And The Mirror claim Marseille are weighing up a swoop for the Egyptian international.

The transfer window for English clubs to sign players closed last week.

However the European one remains open until the end of the month and the French side are believed to be considering making a move for Elneny.

Lucas Torreira and Mateo Guendouzi have increased the competition for places in the middle of the park since joining the Gunners.

The Egyptian looks like he will struggle for match action under new boss Unai EmeryGetty Mohamed Elneny is wanted by French side MarseilleGetty FIFA 19 Standard and Champions Editions are available to pre-order from GAME and Amazon

The latter started Sunday’s Premier League opener against Manchester City alongside Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka with Torreira coming off the bench.

Elneny was an unused sub in the 2-0 defeat and it looks like his chances of match action could be limited.

His contract was due to expire in 2020 but he penned a new four-year deal back in March.

That move helped to protect his value, which could lead to Arsenal deciding to cash in within the next fortnight if Marseille come knocking for the anchorman.

Elneny revealed earlier this year he had refused an opportunity to leave the Gunners in order to commit his future to the club.

He said: “There were some clubs interested in me because I was not playing enough games and maybe they thought they could sign me or even have me on loan.

“I heard about this in the news just like everyone else and I was not interested at all.

“I spoke with the people here at the club and I told them, ‘I don’t want to leave. I want to fight for my position.’

“I trust myself, I have a dream to pursue and I am not going to give up on it. I dream big and this is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I want to stay. The club welcomed my decision to stay and that was the end of it.

“People were saying, ‘You aren’t playing enough games, maybe you should leave or go on loan somewhere’ but I wanted to prove myself.”

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Messi earns 33rd title as Barcelona wins Spanish Super Cup

Sportsnet.ca

Messi earns 33rd title as Barcelona wins Spanish Super Cup

TANGIER, Morocco — Lionel Messi won his 33rd title with Barcelona on Sunday to become the most successful player in the Catalan club’s history.

Barcelona beat Sevilla 2-1 in the Spanish Super Cup as Messi overtook Andres Iniesta, who had 32 titles when he left this summer for the Japanese league.

Ousmane Dembele scored a late winning goal with a blistering strike from outside the area. The 21-year-old France winger stunned Sevilla’s defence with a right-footed shot that hit the underside of the crossbar in the 78th minute.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen secured the win when he saved a penalty kick from Sevilla substitute Wissam Ben Yedder in the 89th after Ter Stegen fouled former Barcelona forward Aleix Vidal.

Pablo Sarabia opened for Sevilla in the ninth, when the video assistant referee overruled an offside call in the first use of VAR in Spanish competition.

Gerard Pique equalized three minutes before halftime when he finished off a free kick by Messi that hit the post and ricocheted off the back of goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik — and again off the upright — before falling to the Barcelona defender.

While Barcelona dominated possession, Sevilla went close to going back in front when Franco Vazquez’s glancing header hit the top of the goal-frame in the 62nd before Dembele took his winner.

A year ago, Barcelona broke their own transfer record to sign Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in August for a fee of 105 million euros (now $120 million) that could rise to 147 million euros. But his first season at Camp Nou was limited by injuries as Dembele struggled to replace the hole left by Neymar after he went to Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said that he hoped that Dembele’s goal is a sign of better things to come this season.

"We have placed lots of hope (in Dembele)," Valverde said. "He has an amazing ability to break down defences with his speed. He is a very young player and we hope that little by little he makes progress."

Former Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal debuted for Barcelona as a late substitute.

The Super Cup is played between the previous season’s league and Copa del Rey winners. Since Barcelona won both competitions, Sevilla played the match as the Copa runners-up after losing 5-0 in last season’s cup final to Barcelona.

Played in Tangier, Morocco, this was the first Spanish Super Cup held outside Spain and the first time it was played as a single match, instead of a two-leg series.

Sevilla played the match, which serves as a curtain raiser for the Spanish league season, in the middle of its playoff to qualify for the Europa League’s group phase. Sevilla faces Zalgiris on Thursday after winning their first match 1-0.

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Liverpool vs West Ham LIVE SCORE: Latest updates from Premier League match at Anfield

Football news - transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures | The Sun

Liverpool vs West Ham LIVE SCORE: Latest updates from Premier League match at Anfield

LIVERPOOL open their Premier League season at home to West Ham.

The Reds finished last campaign in fourth place, while the Hammers ended up 13th.

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Small steps enable Guardiola to see the bigger picture

Sport: : BreakingNews.ie

Small steps enable Guardiola to see the bigger picture

Pep Guardiola claims simply winning matches, not more titles, is his chief motivation as champions Manchester City begin their title defence.

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Alexis Sanchez heads out for pre-match buzz cut at hairdressers before Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Leicester

Football news - transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures | The Sun

Alexis Sanchez heads out for pre-match buzz cut at hairdressers before Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Leicester

ALEXIS SANCHEZ stepped up his preparation for the Premier League curtain-raiser against Leicester by giving himself a short back and sides.

The Chilean has been bang in form during pre-season after finally being allowed to enjoy a summer break.

Alexis Sanchez has a new haircut for the Premier League curtain-raiserZenpix

Alongside the likes of Paul Pogba, boss Jose Mourinho will turn to the former Arsenal ace to be one of his main men this season.

And he is certainly ready to stand out on the pitch by popping into Manchester on the morning of the big kick-off to get a fresh trim for the occasion.

The Red Devils take on the Foxes tonight hoping to put critics behind them and kick-off with a winning start.

Sanchez looked in good spirits and gave a thumbs up and a big smile to the camera even after the club’s frustrations on transfer deadline day.

The 29-year-old urged the club to spend money on a “big player” in order to mount a title charge. 

The Chilean was all smiles for the camera ahead of the Leicester clashZenpix Sanchez has been on fire in United’s pre-season this seasonZenpix He will be hoping to be United’s stand-out figure this seasonZenpix

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Jose Mourinho will look towards Sanchez to star for United this seasonGetty - Contributor

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But Mourinho was left with nothing after a last-ditch move to land defender Diego Godin collapsed.

The Portuguese boss was furious after giving vice-executive Ed Woodward a transfer shortlist of six names including Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Yerry Mina, Toby Alderweireld and Jerome Boateng.

Woodward and Co opted to block three of the deals including Maguire’s because they thought he was way overpriced by Leicester.

Boateng’s injury record counted against him and United chiefs were unwilling to pay the sky-high agent fees involved for Colombia’s Mina.

 

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It’s far from done: Celtic’s McGregor hopeful after home draw against AEK Athens

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Paul Pogba Keen To Leave Manchester United For Barcelona: Reports

Latest Football News, Football Info, Sports News Updates - NDTVSports.com

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Davies the difference again for Whitecaps in draw with NYCFC

Sportsnet.ca

Davies the difference again for Whitecaps in draw with NYCFC

Despite a rotated lineup, the Vancouver Whitecaps managed to pick up a vital point in the Bronx after drawing 2-2 with New York City FC on Saturday.

Even though NYCFC dominated the majority of the match, a couple of substitutions early in the second half helped swing the momentum of the game for Vancouver, which led to the decisive equalizer.

Here are three thoughts from Saturday’s game…

Robinson’s early changes make the difference

Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson seldom throws on a substitute before the hour mark of a game. But after conceding an early goal in the second half, Robinson had to react.

Down 2-1, Robinson quickly hauled off Bernie Ibini for Alphonso Davies. He also swapped striker Anthony Blondell for Erik Hurtado, who provided more pace up front, and a willingness to close down the opposition defence.

Davies was especially key. The NYCFC spent the first half camped inside the Whitecaps’ half of the pitch, but once Davies came on, the back line had to retreat in order to nullify the threat.

Before he checked into the match, the Whitecaps registered just two shots in the opening 53 minutes. Vancouver mustered another six after Davies’s inclusion.

NYCFC’s failure to convert more off the team’s 22 shots was an obvious factor. But the addition of a livewire like Davies in the final third is what the Whitecaps were sorely missing. Eventually, more space opened up for the attack and it worked out.

Lack of midfield cohesion still hurting Whitecaps

Yes, the Whitecaps usually rely on a structured defence and a counter-attacking system. However, when that same back line is allowing two goals per game this season, maintaining control in the midfield can alleviate some of the pressure.

Unfortunately for Vancouver, this is seldom the case.

The midfield’s passing was quite erratic and had issues bypassing NYCFC’s press. There was an improvement in the second half but it was still lacking.

Combined pass map for Russell Teibert (31) and Felipe (8), via MLSSoccer.com.

Teibert is not exactly a distributor but Felipe is a very strong passer. However, both players were pretty far apart from one another and the team in general lacked any sort of disciplined shape, as seen below.

Whitecaps average positioning, via SofaScore.

This, in turn, allowed NYCFC to dictate the tempo while Vancouver’s defence was essentially under siege.

NYCFC was wasteful with its finishing, but that won’t always be the case. If the Whitecaps are in a similar situation on Wednesday against Toronto FC, they might not be as fortunate.

Marinovic magic

The final result might have been a lot different if Stefan Marinovic didn’t make a crucial save early in the match.

In the opening moments of the game, Maxi Moralez picked out Jo Ings Berget with a cross into the box. The Norwegian striker won the header and appeared to have the opener, but Marinovic managed to get down in time and parry the ball out of harm’s way.

Marinovic to the rescue! #NYCvVAN pic.twitter.com/0hm63vkX2g

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 5, 2018

Had the Whitecaps conceded after a few minutes, the complexion of the game could’ve been completely different.

Marinovic hasn’t been in stellar form since his return from injury, but perhaps that highlight-reel save will spur him on in these final 11 matches of the regular season.

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Chelsea And Manchester City Lock Horns In Community Shield

Latest Football News, Football Info, Sports News Updates - NDTVSports.com

Chelsea And Manchester City Lock Horns In Community Shield

Sunday's Community Shield is set to feature various youngsters and fringe players as FIFA World Cup 2018 stars ease their way back into club action.

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LAFC’s Mark-Anthony Kaye out 4-6 months after ankle surgery

Sportsnet.ca

LAFC’s Mark-Anthony Kaye out 4-6 months after ankle surgery

LOS ANGELES — Canadian midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye will be out four to six months following surgery scheduled for next Monday to repair a fractured ankle.

Los Angeles FC says the 23-year-old from Toronto, who was having a breakthrough rookie season in MLS, sustained a medial malleolus fracture in his left ankle.

"Mark has shown great progress this year and has been a key contributor throughout the first half of the season," LAFC GM John Thorrington said in a release. "We know he will work hard to come back and build on what has been a fantastic start to his LAFC career."

The Canadian international had started all but one regular-season contest for LAFC with two goals and five assists in 1,582 minutes.

Kaye was hurt 16 minutes into LAFC’s 2-2 tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 26. Advancing on the Galaxy penalty box, he tried to pull the ball back to avoid Galaxy midfielder Perry Kitchen. The Galaxy player appeared to clip his leg and Kaye’s ankle rolled on the turf.

Kaye went down in obvious pain clutching his lower left leg. A foul was called on the play.

The young Canadian, not putting any weight on his left leg, was eventually helped off the field in near tears by two trainers.

The former York University player spent time with Toronto FC II in its inaugural USL season in 2015 before playing the next two seasons with Louisville City FC of the USL.

He signed with expansion LAFC in February.

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FIFA 18: Can you lose the title after celebrating winning it early on Career Mode?

Dream Team FC

FIFA 18: Can you lose the title after celebrating winning it early on Career Mode?

Picture the scene – your team has just played the penultimate game of the season and is 99 per cent guaranteed to win the Premier League.

They’re so confident they even celebrate in their home stadium in front of thousands of cheering fans – on FIFA 18 Career Mode, anyway.

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But what about that remaining one per cent? What happened if, against all odds, the team in second place clawed it back and pipped them to the league?

This could get awkward

In other words – could they still lose the title, even though they already celebrated it?

YouTuber CaniSports decided to find out, using a rather ingenious Career Mode experiment.

Despite his team – Arsenal – celebrating the Premier League win early, he points out that Man United can still win the league.

The Red Devils just need to score 10 goals or Arsenal need to lose by 10.

The game has failed to recognise that Man U can still theoretically catch the league leaders

United’s opponent is Watford – and they’re playing at home, so they have a few elements in their favour.

They should be winning this game.

If they don’t, there could be something in place in the system that tells the game that because Arsenal has already celebrated the win so Man U can only draw or lose.

But that seems unlikely.

To ensure there’s a big enough goal difference, CaniSports then hammers home 20 own goals against Arsenal’s final opponent, Huddersfield.

It’s all going wrong for Arsenal

Elsewhere, United win their game 4-1.

Man U do a job against Watford

So, does the game – despite allowing Arsenal to do the celebrations early – recognise that Man United have actually won the league?

It turns out – yes. Big time.

Man U are crowned the Premier League champs – so Arsenal’s celebrations meant absolutely nothing.

Well, this is awkward.

Let’;s hope EA fixes this in FIFA 19.

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