Napoli have come out in support of Juan Camilo Zuniga, whose challenge on Neymar ruled the Brazilian out of the FIFA World Cup.
Zuniga s knee connected with the back of the Brazil forward during Colombia s quarter-final, which Brazil won 2-1, last Friday.
Neymar was carried from the field on a stretcher and it was later confirmed the Barcelona man had cracked a vertebra and would miss the remainder of the tournament.
Zuniga insisted it was never his intention to harm Neymar, but the news of the injury has provoked outcry from the Brazil camp, with captain Thiago Silva branding the challenge cowardly .
However, Napoli, who signed Zuniga from Siena in 2009, released a statement on Tuesday to outline their backing for the 28-year-old.
Napoli are sor…
It was another weekend of intrigue in the cinch Premiership.
Saturday saw a thrilling Edinburgh derby with wins for Celtic and Livingston while Steven Davis got his first win as interim Rangers boss on Sunday, as St Johnstone and Aberdeen fought out a stalemate.
Here are five things we learned from the weekend’s action.
Rangers fans demonstrate their despair again
Rangers players have become used to the sound of boos from their own supporters this season and the embarrassing 2-1 Europa League defeat against Aris Limassol in Cyprus on Thursday night was a low point. Early in the cinch Premiership match at St Mirren on Sunday, some Gers fans unravelled banners which read ‘heartless, passionless, leaderless; not fit to wear our colours’ which left no one in d…
Top-scoring defender and Chelsea´s record Premier League appearance-maker – the Opta stats behind Te
Captain, leader, legend is how one banner at Stamford Bridge describes John Terry s legacy at Chelsea.
The 36-year-old centre-back has been a central figure during the club s greatest period, winning 14 major trophies that include four Premier League titles and the 2011-12 Champions League.
Terry s 22-year association with Chelsea is at last set to come to an end, however, with th
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e league leaders announcing on Monday that the club captain has taken the decision to leave at the end of the season.
With the help of Opta, we look at some of the standout statistics behind the career of a player who, while being far from untouched by controversy, will undoubtedly be remembered as a hero to Blues fans.
40 – John Terry has scored more Premier Leagu…
Robbie Keane is relishing the chance to link up with Steven Gerrard once again when the former Liverpool captain makes his LA Galaxy debut later this month.
Gerrard agreed a switch to MLS after 17 years at Anfield in January, and was presented to the club s fans at half time during Galaxy s 4-0 win over Toronto on Saturday – a game that saw Keane net a hat-trick.
The Republic of Ireland international played with Gerrard during his brief spell at Liverpool in 2008-09, and has backed the 35-year-old to have a huge impact in the United States.
I’ve been looking forward to him coming he s been here the last 10 days or so, Keane told Sky Sports.
He s been absolutely brilliant with the players and he s a great lad on and off the field so we re excited…
Barcelona 0-2 Flamengo (0-4 agg): Bruno Henrique brace sets up Libertadores final with holders Palme
Flamengo will face Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras in an all-Brazilian final after Bruno Henrique continued his red-hot form in Wednesday s 2-0 victory at Barcelona.
After scoring a brace in the opening leg, Flamengo star Bruno Henrique scored another two goals to set up a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate triumph over the Ecuadorian side.
Flamengo are unbeaten in their last 17 matches in the Libertadores (W12 D5) – the joint-longest undefeated streak of any team in the history of the tournament, alongside Sporting Cristal from 1962 to 1969 (W8 D9).
Two-time South American champions Flamengo – who last prevailed in 2019 – and holders Palmeiras will meet in the Libertadores showpiece on neutral ground in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo on November 27.
Real Sociedad have made a habit of defeating La Liga s elite sides this term, but face a tough test at Real Madrid on Saturday.
Real Sociedad s chances of doing a first league double over Real Madrid since 2004 have received a significant boost with Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga s leading marksman, set to miss out through suspension.
David Moyes Sociedad travel to Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday looking for a rare double against the European champions.
Of Sociedad s five league wins this season, three have come against Real, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, highlighting their ability.
And while Moyes was not in charge when Sociedad beat Real Madrid 4-2 in August, his players are sure to hold fond memories of a clash that saw them come from two goals down to …
Gerard Pique does not think Barcelona or Real Madrid would have any chance of winning the Premier League in their first season if they were to play in England s top flight.
The Barca defender, 28, feels the level of adjustment would be too great for La Liga s big two, even though they have been dominant on the European stage in recent years.
Madrid won the Champions League in 2014 and Barcelona are the holders of the continent s elite club competition, but Pique, who played for Manchester United from 2004 to 2008, does not think the Spanish heavyweights could achieve immediate success if they played in England.
I think that if Barcelona or Real Madrid goes to the Premier League then the first year of playing there, there is no chance of winning it, the Spain int…
Jim Ratcliffe has pledged to put the Manchester back into Manchester United after submitting a bid to buy the club through his chemicals company, INEOS, also targeting Champions League glory if his takeover is successful.
British billionaire Ratcliffe became the first suitor to formally register an interest in a takeover after the Glazer family announced in November the club had been put up for sale.
On Friday, which represented an apparent soft deadline for offers to buy United, a bid led by Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Al Thani was made public.
Widespread reports then emerged that Ratcliffe had also tabled an official offer for the Red Devils, which INEOS confirmed with a statement on Saturday.
Should Ratcliffe succeed in gaining control fr…
Verdict: Away win
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Bookmaker:
Hajduk Split appear to have missed a good opportunity to keep the tie alive in the first leg and they will have a mountain to climb after the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park. Everton, on the other hand, will be hoping to extend the good run of results and record a morale-boosting win ahead of Sunday’s clash with Premier League champions Chelsea.
Hajduk Split
Hajduk Split had done really well in Europa League qualifying stages before the play-offs, recording 3-1 and 2-0 aggregate wins over Levski Sofia and Brondby respectively, winning three of four legs and keeping as many clean sheets in the process. The Whites were then quite unfortunate to be pitted against heavily reinforced Everton, and they failed to defy th…
The 2018 World Cup inter-confederation play-off is evenly poised after New Zealand held Peru to a goalless draw in Saturday s first leg.
With a ticket to next year s showpiece tournament in Russia up for grabs, neither side could break the deadlock at a sun-bathed Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
Desperate to end their 36-year wait for a World Cup berth, South American visitors Peru largely controlled proceedings but they were unable to make their superiority count despite a scrambling goal-line save from All Whites goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic, who also denied Aldo Corzo in the second half.
New Zealand almost snatched victory at the death when Ryan Thomas unleashed a powerful volley which flashed agonisingly wide of the post.
Oceania champions New Zealand �…