FC Barcelona VS Real Madrid (3-2) All Goals & Match Highlights -Super Copa 2011

Can't get enough of them? Catch more on Barcelona and Real Madrid on 12BET.com

El Clásico @ 12BET.com

EL CLASICO (EL DERBY ESPANOL) 

The capital of Catalonia vs. The capital of Spain meet at least twice a year in 'El Clasico'. Catalonia is a region in the east of Spain which feels independent and one of the ways in which it expresses that is through it’s football club FC Barcelona. Between World War II and the dictator’s death in 1975, Franco’s regime suppressed the use of the Catalan language and the show of Catalan symbols. Franco’s favorites Real Madrid against the blaugrana from Barcelona is more than just a match between the two biggest clubs in Spain.

Wigan Athletic are ready to hand Hugo Rodallega a new deal to keep him at the club.

The Colombia striker will be the most high-profile name left at the DW Stadium once Charles N'Zogbia completes his move to Aston Villa.

And Latics owner Dave Whelan is keen to avoid losing another star before the new season starts.

Rodallega has scored 22 goals since arriving in Lancashire in January 2009, and the 26-year-old has been linked with Arsenal and Everton.

Japan VS USA FIFA Womens 2011 finals

For those who haven't watch the game...here it is...

Japan hailed as Queens for FIFA Women's World Cup 2011

http://youtu.be/eyZx7hm4lhg

Japan (W) (N) -vs- USA (W)                                     0-0     1-1

Japan (W)(ET) (N) -vs- USA (W)(ET)                       0-1     1-1

Japan (W)(PEN) (N) -vs- USA (W)(PEN)                 0-0     3-1

Japan scores late, ties World Cup

A defensive breakdown gives Japan a goal in the 80th minute of the World Cup. End up with a 1-1 tie score.

 

 

 

 

 

Who will reign queens of Germany 2011?

 

Four year long years of waiting is finally over with the world’s elite women footballers gathering to contest the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.  FIFA.com wants to know who you think will win the tournament.

===============================================

www.12bet.com

Argentina advances to Copa America quarterfinals

Argentina's Sergio Aguero, second from right, scores during a Copa America group A soccer match against Costa Rica in Cordoba, Argentina, Monday, July 11, 2011.

Sergio Aguero scored in first-half stoppage time, and again in the 52nd minute following a pass from Barcelona star Lionel Messi, and Argentina beat Costa Rica 3-0 on Monday to earn a spot in the Copa America quarterfinals.

Argentina joined Chile, Venezuela and Peru in the quarterfinals, after those teams booked their places on Sunday.

USA through after thriller

The two quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™ played on Sunday proved to be a real test of nerves for players and fans alike. After both France and Japan needed an additional 30 minutes to qualify on Saturday, it was the turn of USA to draw out the suspense by taking their game against Brazil into extra time. And just like Les Bleues, their upcoming semi-final opponents, the North Americans required penalty kicks to see off their resolute rivals.

Up next: France (W) (N) -VS- USA (W)

Who will Prevail?!?

http://www.12bet.com/



DID YOU KNOW?

Paraguay Female Fan

• Paraguay has been runners up in the competition on five occasions.

• The last time the Paraguayan national side met Brazil, it succumbed to a 2-1 defeat in qualification for the 2010 World Cup two years ago.

• Striker Salvador Cabanas, who was horrifically shot in the head in January 2010, is an honorary member of the squad as he steps up his rehabilitation in the hope of a return to football.

• In the last 10 fixtures, Paraguay has won five, drawn three and been defeated on two occasions.

Brazil Copa America 2011 home kit

 

 

Did you know?

* Brazil is the reigning champion of the Copa America, beating Argentina in the final four years ago in Venezuela.
* Captain Lucio won his 100th international cap against Venezuela last weekend, becoming only the fourth Brazilian to reach the century milestone. 
* In the South American nation's 23 man squad for the tournament, Robinho is the player with the most international goals, grabbing 25 in 87 appearances.

SINSHEIM, GERMANY - July 02: Carli Lloyd (C) of USA celebrates with her team mates after scoring fer team's third goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Group C match between USA and Columbia at Rhein-Neckar-Arena on July 02, 2011 In Sinsheim, Germany. 

German FIFA Women’s World Cup TV audiences continue to impress

Ten days before the kick-off of the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011™, the milestone of 75 per cent of tickets sold (670,000) was reached. Now in the first week of the competition, it is the number of TV viewers in Germany that is the hot topic.
Whilst Germany’s opening game against Canada broke new records for a women’s football game in the host nation, last night’s match between Germany and Nigeria saw a combined average audience of 16.6 million people watching the game, representing over 50 per cent of all those watching television in the evening.

The large majority of the average audience was generated by ARD, attracting an average of 16.4 million viewers to their coverage. This beats the previous record only set on Sunday for the Germany v Canada match by 6 per cent.

Furthermore, last night’s viewership was the highest ever TV audience for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ outside of China and the United States. To put these exceptional figures into context, a combined average of 18.96 million viewers watched the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ in Germany.

These remarkable ratings were also 30 per cent higher than any other programme broadcast yesterday on German television.

In the other match from yesterday, over 4.6 million viewers on average in Germany tuned to see France defeat Canada 4-0. This represented nearly a quarter of all television viewers in the market, ranking itself also in yesterday’s Top Five domestic TV audiences.

“Tangolero” - The official mascot of the 2011 Copa America

 

• BUENOS AIRES, June 30, 2011 - During today's presentation in Buenos Aires, Santander Bank presented the name Tangolero as the name for the official mascot of the 2011 Copa America. Tangolero is a flightless bird, and a native animal in Argentina. The choice of the mascot represents cultural traditions in Argentina, in dance (tango) and in soccer (goalkeeping). Giving the mascot a name is one of Santander Bank’s rights as sponsor of the competition.
  After a vote, in which more than 6,000 employees, journalists, students and clients of Santander Bank in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay and Peru participated, the name Tangolero was the most popular. Following name considerations and a final vote Tangolero won over five other proposals.
  Today in Buenos Aires, Santander Bank presented its social responsibility initiative "Solidarity Santander Goals" which it plans to undertake throughout the football competition in Latin America. Santander Bank, the official bank sponsor of the Copa America, will also donate $ 1,000 for every goal scored during the Copa America to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the tournament's official charity.
  The money raised will go toward projects promoting early childhood education in Latin America. This will strengthen Santander Bank’s regional commitment to education and to soccer using the slogan "Your passion, our commitment." In the previous edition of the Copa America 86 goals were scored in 44 games.
  As the main sponsor of the Copa America, Santander Bank will grant the top scoring player in the competition the ‘Santander Trophy’.  After the World Cup, Copa America is on the same level as the Euro Cup and is one of the most important competitions for national teams in the world.
  The Copa America is held every four years and is the most watched football competition on the continent.
  It is broadcast on free TV in almost every country of the Americas. During the 2007 edition there was coverage in over 200 countries around the world, more than 25,000 hours of broadcasting and a global cumulative audience of over 500 million viewers.

Jackson named Groundsman of the Year

Lee Jackson, Head Groundsman at Manchester City, has been named Barclays Premier League Groundsman of the Year.

Handed out by the Playing Surfaces Committee, the Barclays Premier League Groundsman of the Year award is designed to recognise the importance of the quality of pitches, acknowledges head groundsmen and their staff, and is the top honour for playing surfaces in the Barclays Premier League.

The award is part of Barclays' end of season Premier League awards: Player of the Season, Manager of the Season, Golden Boot, Golden Gloves and Community Sports Award.
It is the first time Lee has won the award, which he scooped ahead of four other highly commended groundsmen: Paul Ashcroft (Arsenal), Darren Baldwin (Tottenham), Jonathan Calderwood (Aston Villa) and Dougie Robertson (West Ham).
The award was determined initially using marks from referees and match delegates for each game, that were then followed by detailed pitch inspections and a review of management operations. These visits were carried out in late March and early April.

====================================

Catch more of English Premier League on 12bet.com

E nglish Premier League top scorers

May 1 (Reuters) - English Premier League top scorers on
Sunday
 21 Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United)
 19 Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
 15 Robin van Persie (Arsenal)              

Darren Bent (Aston Villa)
 14 Peter Odemwingie (West Bromwich Albion)
 13 Florent Malouda (Chelsea)               

Andy Carroll (Liverpool)
 12 Clint Dempsey (Fulham)                  

Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)                   

Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)    

Kevin Nolan (Newcastle United)          

Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur)
 11 DJ Campbell (Blackpool)                 

Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
 10 Samir Nasri (Arsenal)                   

Johan Elmander (Bolton Wanderers)       

Salomon Kalou (Chelsea)                 

Fernando Torres (Chelsea)               

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)        

Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland)
  9 Charlie Adam (Blackpool)                

Frank Lampard (Chelsea)                 

Tim Cahill (Everton)                    

Nani (Manchester United)

 

(Compiled by Infostrada Sports; Editing by Tom Pilcher)

================================================================

Catch more on English Premier League on www.12bet.com

AFC Challenge Cup Pre-Qualifying Match 2011: Philippines VS Mongolia Leg 2 Game Highlights

12bet.com The second leg for the AFC qualifying game between the Philippine team Azkals and Mongolia’s Blue Wolves just kicked off few hours ago that was held at Ulan Bator, Mongolia. 12bet.com Despite the score of 2-1 in favor of the Blue Wolves, team Azkals enjoyed an aggregate 3-2 lead because of their 2-0 win during the 1st leg in Bacolod, Philippines last month. 12bet.com

Azkals tighten their defense at the second half thus preventing the Wolves to score towards the end of the game. 12bet.com They were able to seal their win then and would advance to the next round facing Myanmar of the 21st of this month. At the early part of the game, Azkals’ James Younghusband scored at the three-minute mark. However, the Blue Wolves equalized counter attacked with a goal from Donorov Lumbengarav at the 22nd minute. 12bet.com

The Wolves got a free kick at the 33rd minute and their very own Bayasgalan was able to have the goal through the follow up kick. Ed Sacapaño blocked it but the ball slipped thus giving Bayasgalan the chance for the follow up. 12bet.com

The 12bet.com Azkals were not used to the cold weather in Mongolia as they came from a winter free, tropical country. Nevertheless, they practiced in the coldest area of the Philippines and even had another one in Japan.

 www.12bet.com

Serie A Preview: Cesena - Juventus

Luigi Del Neri's side will aim to put an end to their run of three defeats in a row in the league by winning at relegation-threatened Cesena...

By Subhankar Mondal

 PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Cesena: Antonioli; Santon, Pellegrino, Von Bergen, Lauro; Caserta, Colucci, Parolo; Giaccherini, Jimenez; Bogdani

Juventus: Buffon; Sorensen, Chiellini, Barzagli, Traore; Krasic, Marchisio, Aquilani, Pepe; Matri, Del Piero

DID YOU KNOW?

• Cesena are currently stationed in 17th place in the Serie A table with 28 points from as many matches. They are level on points with third-from-bottom Lecce.

• The Seahorses last won against Juventus in Serie A in November 1987. It was a 2-0 victory in Turin.

• Massimo Ficcadenti’s side have drawn five of their last six encounters with the former Italian and European champions at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi.

• The promoted team have scored more than one goal in a game at home just once – it came in their 2-0 victory over Milan in Week 2 of the season.

• Cesena are the only team in Serie A this season not to have had a substitute score a goal in any game.

• Juventus are currently seventh in Serie A with 41 points from 28 matches, 10 points behind fourth-placed Lazio.

• The Bianconeri are on a three-game losing streak in the league and have failed to score in any of those defeats.

• Luigi Del Neri’s side have won just five of their 14 away league encounters this campaign, scoring 17 goals and conceding 13 in the process.

• The Old Lady went five games without scoring in the league in December 1998.

• Juventus have won just once on the road in their last six attempts and have lost thrice.

LAST MEETING

November 7, 2010: Juventus 3-1 Cesena
Juventus fell behind to a Luis Jimenez goal after 11 minutes but restored parity just after the half-hour mark when Alessandro Del Piero found the target from the penalty spot. Things then turned from bad to worse for the Seahorses, as Maximiliano Pellegrino was sent off just four minutes from the half-time interval and Fabio Quagliarella doubled the Bianconeri’s lead. Vincenzo Iaquinta added the cherry on the cake on 87 minutes.

ITALY SERIA Cesena-VS-Juventus

FT.HDP 12bet.com
0-0.5  1.990
           1.950

      

Newcastle VS Botlon Wanderers - preview

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will make a late decision on striker Peter Lovenkrands.
The Dane limped off with a thigh injury after scoring in the 2-0 win at Birmingham last time out, but was due to train on Friday.

Nile Ranger and Shefki Kuqi are on standby if Lovenkrands fails to make it.
Midfielder Danny Guthrie will miss out with a hamstring problem, while Shola Ameobi (fractured cheekbone) hopes to resume full training wearing a protective mask next week.

Defenders Steven Taylor (hamstring) and Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) both return to the squad after lengthy lay-offs, but Stephen Ireland and Dan Gosling (both knee), Alan Smith (ankle) and Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg) remain on the sidelines.

Striker Daniel Sturridge returns to the Bolton squad having missed the last two games as he has been cup tied.
Jussi Jaaskelainen will return in goal ahead of Adam Bogdan who was used for the FA Cup ties, while defender Gretar Steinsson could be available after being out for the last month with a knee injury.

But the Magpies game is too soon for fellow full-back Jlloyd Samuel despite a reserve run-out this week following a six-month lay-off with a ruptured thigh.

Newcastle             -0.5   2.160

Bolton Wanderers          1.800

FT.HDP on 12BET.com

www.12bet.com

West Bromwich Albion VS Wolverhampton Wanderers
                                                                   20 Feb 2011 8PM (GMT+8)



12bet.com West Bromwich Albion host neighbours 12bet.com Wolverhampton Wanderers who have lost their last four on the road.

 

West Brom team news

West Brom will be without midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu for their derby match against Wolves. 12bet.com
Mulumbu has a minor hamstring strain, picked up during last Saturday's match against West Ham United.
Head coach Roy Hodgson 12bet.com said he had no other injury concerns ahead of the match.

Wolves team news

Full-back Ronald Zubar is Wolves' only fresh injury doubt. Zubar suffered a swollen ankle during Wolves' 2-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend - a result which pushed them to the bottom of the table.12bet.com
If Zubar is ruled out, then Kevin Foley is the obvious candidate to replace him.
12bet.com Stephen Hunt is unlikely to have recovered from the calf injury which saw him miss the defeat against the Gunners.
But fellow midfielder Dave Edwards could be back in contention after recovering from a groin problem. 12bet.com

 

Squads

West Bromwich Albion:  12bet.com Carson, Cech, Ibanez, Morrison, Barnes, Brunt, Reid, Myhill, Fortune, Dorrans, Shorey, Thomas, Zuiverloon, Meite, Odemwingie, Fortune, Tchoyi, Scharner, Thomas, Cox, Vela, Tamas, Olsson, Jara.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: 12bet.com Hennessey, Hahnemann, Zubar, Foley, Stearman, Berra, Elokobi, Hammill, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis, O'Hara, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher, Craddock, Ward, Jones, Edwards.

WBA-vs-Wolves   FT.1X2      www.12bet.com
1.95
3.89
3.29

Chelsea vs. Everton (4th Round FA Cup Replay)


Time: 12:30PM GMT (7:30 AM EST)

What could have been more dull than the first half of the original 4th round match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park? I don't know, but I expect this one to give that a run for its money. Chelsea aren't going to deploy Fernando Torres here, so they might actually score. The winner of this match gets to play Reading at home in the 5th round. Now that's a prize worth fighting for.

Pick: 1-0 Chelsea.

www.12bet.com 

Road to the final 

The 12bet.com UEFA Europa League comprises three qualifying rounds, a play-off round, a group stage and five knockout rounds.

Qualifying
In matches in the three qualifying rounds and the play-offs, clubs play two matches against each other on a home-and-away basis. The club which scores the greater aggregate of goals qualifies for the next round, with 12bet.com away goals and then penalties used to determine the winner in the event of a draw.

Group stageThe 38 play-off round winners join the ten losers from the UEFA Champions League play-offs. 12bet.com The clubs are split into 12 groups of four teams, playing home and away against each of their pool opponents between September and December. 12bet.com Two sides from each section advance, proceeding into the round of 32 alongside eight third-placed teams from the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Knockout phase
From the last 32 until the semi-finals, clubs play two games against each other on a home-and-away basis with the same rules as the qualifying and play-off rounds applied. 12bet.com In the last 32, group winners and the four third-placed sides from the 12bet.com UEFA Champions League with the best records are seeded, guaranteeing they will play the second leg at home. Teams from the same group or the same association cannot be drawn together. From the round of 16 onwards the draw is free.12bet.com

Final
12bet.com  The final is decided by a single match, which this season will be played in Dublin on Wednesday 18 May.

Visit http://www.12bet.com/ for UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

 

Newcastle sign free agent Kuqi 

 

Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of Finland international striker 12bet.com Shefki Kuqi until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old, who was a free agent after his contract with 12bet.com Championship side Swansea was terminated by mutual consent last month, could go straight into the squad for Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Blackburn Rovers, one of his former clubs.

He has been drafted in to provide back-up to strikers Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger following the £35m departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool, Xisco's loan move to Deportivo la Coruna and Shola Ameobi's fractured cheekbone.12bet.com

Physical Presence

We needed another option up-front, because we're a little light there due to the temporary loss of Shola, and 12bet.com Shefki will provide us with something different," Pardew told the club's official website.

"He's match fit and knows the 12bet.com English game well having been in the country for the best part of ten years. 12bet.com He is ready straight away and that's what we wanted.
"Shefki is a good, honest pro who will give us a strong physical presence from the bench." 12bet.com

English Premier League action on www.12bet.com

Juventus beat 2-1 at Palermo; Napoli loses 2-0

ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer 

Published: 04:47 p.m., Wednesday, February 2, 2011

 Juventus forward Alessandro Matri reacts after missing a scoring chance during the Serie A soccer match between Palermo and Juventus, in Palermo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. Photo: Antonio Calanni / AP

ROME (AP) — Juventus' winless streak reached four matches with a 2-1 loss at Palermo on Wednesday that dropped the struggling 27-time champion into eighth place in Serie A. 12bet.com

Former Juventus striker Fabrizio Miccoli put Palermo in front seven minutes in with a shot under the legs of Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, then Giulio Migliaccio doubled the lead in the 20th with a header off a corner.

12bet.com Juventus argued for a penalty to no avail despite a clear handball by Palermo defender Cesare Bovo in the 34th, and Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio took his anger out over the missed call to cut the lead in half two minutes later with a shot that went by four defenders.

"There were fouls that were not awarded and a penalty not given that was devastating," said Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri. 12bet.com "We want respect. It's not that they need to give us all the penalties, but at least the clear ones."

Second-place Napoli lost 2-0 at Chievo Verona, 12bet.com which scored goals through Davide Moscardelli and Gennaro Sardo. AS Roma was held to a 1-1 home draw by Brescia, which equalized in the 69th through Brazilian striker Eder after Marco Borriello had put Roma ahead.

AC Milan, which drew 0-0 with Lazio on Wednesday, 12bet.com holds a five-point lead over Napoli, with Lazio seven points back and Roma nine points behind in fourth.

Five-time defending champion Inter Milan, which has played two fewer matches, is 10 points back entering its game at Bari on Thursday. 12bet.com

Also Wednesday, it was: Cesena 1, Catania 1; Fiorentina 1, Genoa 0; Parma 0, Lecce 1; Sampdoria 0, Cagliari 1; and Udinese 1, Bologna 1.

Juventus, which is 13 points behind Milan, has not been able to overcome a series of injuries that have decimated its attack, taking out Fabio Quagliarella, Simone Pepe and Luca Toni.

Juve signed Alessandro Matri as the transfer window closed Monday, and the former Cagliari forward played from the start but his best chance unluckily hit Bovo's heel in the 48th.

Juventus also lost 2-1 to Udinese at the weekend, and was eliminated 2-0 by Roma in the Italian Cup quarterfinals last week following a 0-0 draw with Sampdoria.

12bet.com "We deserved more, but now we've got to start over," said Del Neri, who is in his first season with the Turin club. "We've got to make it clear that there needs to be more attention paid to Juventus right now by the refereeing department."

Exciting Italy Serie A matches...check them out @ 12BET.COM

 

 

 

England FA Cup

FA Cup review - Sat 29th Jan

A review of Barclays Premier League sides in FA Cup fourth round action.  

 

FA Cup holders 12bet.com Chelsea earned a 1-1 draw and a fourth-round replay with 12bet.com Everton after substitute Salomon Kalou came to their rescue at Goodison Park.

12bet.com Louis Saha had headed the Toffees in front just after the hour mark, but Kalou's precise finish 15 minutes from time earned Chelsea a replay in a hard-fought encounter.

Everton were rewarded for a good spell of pressure when Saha got behind John Terry and rose highest to powerfully head home a Leighton Baines corner in the 62nd minute. 12bet.com

The visitors hung in there though and Seamus Coleman was denied from close range by a combination of Terry and Michael Essien before Chelsea were level.

 12bet.com Sub Kalou picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired a low angled shot just inside Tim Howard's far post.

====================================================
In another all-Barclays Premier League early match, Robert Pires' first goal for Aston Villa helped them continue their recent dominance over Blackburn Rovers in cup competitions with a 3-1 win at Villa Park.12bet.com

12bet.com The former Arsenal star restored Villa's lead after Ciaran Clark's opener had been cancelled out by Rovers substitute Nikola Kalinic.

Nathan Delfouneso further increased Villa's lead, and even the red card after 62 minutes for defender Nathan Baker for a challenge on Junior Hoilett failed to halt their progress.

Forgotten men Stuart Parnaby and Kevin Phillips were the heroes as 12bet.com Birmingham City carved out another cup day to remember by coming from two down to beat local rivals Coventry City 3-2 and reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The Blues were on a high after booking their place in the Carling Cup final in midweek but they were brought back down to earth as Marlon King and Richard Wood put the visitors two up with 26 minutes gone.12bet.com

David Bentley reduced the deficit before half-time with a stunning strike from 25 yards for his first Birmingham goal and, after a sustained spell of pressure, two goals in six minutes from Parnaby and Phillips midway through the second half completed the turnaround.

Check out FA Cup matches on http://www.12bet.com/

 

Liverpool end away woes at Wolves

Sat, 22 Jan 14:43:00 2011

Kenny Dalglish finally got the first victory of his second spell in charge of Liverpool with a 3-0 Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.


Fernando Torres gave the Reds a deserved lead on 36 minutes with a simple tap-in after Raul Meireles had beaten the offside trap, before the Portuguese doubled the advantage with a stunning strike just after half-time. Torres then added a third in injury time.

The win ends Liverpool's woeful run of five straight away defeats and lifting them, temporarily at least, into the top half of the table. Wolves remain in the bottom three.

English Premier League

Champions gets ready for knockout rounds

Published: Thursday 20 January 2011, 13.00CET

With the UEFA Champions League round of 16 next on the agenda, the new edition of Champions magazine warms up for the latest meeting of FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC. 

Issue 45 of Champions magazine previews the much-anticipated round of 16 match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC.

Overcome at Camp Nou in last season's quarter-final, the English club are confident that, on form, they have what it takes to win this year's rematch. For Barcelona boss Josep Guardiola, meanwhile, Arsenal are the last side he would have wanted to face. We assess either team's chances of success in a tie that represents the purists' dream.

This edition of Champions also celebrates the UEFA.com users' Team of the Year 2010 featuring six players from Barça; it profiles midfielder Jack Wilshire, Arsenal's bright young thing, asking if he is England's first total footballer; and it listens in on Albert Ferrer and Pedro Rodríguez as Blaugrana past and present discuss life at Camp Nou.

Staying with the round of 16, we focus on 16 players that could make the difference between delight and despair when the ties unfold in February and March.
Chelsea FC midfielder Frank Lampard is eager to go one step further than in Moscow in 2008 by adding a UEFA Champions League winners' medal to his collection. In an exclusive interview, he tells Champions that being over 30 makes zero difference to his attitude and determination to keep playing at the top.

His England team-mate Wayne Rooney opens up on the players he loved to watch as a youngster and what reaching this season's final at Wembley would mean to him and the Manchester United FC supporters.
Former Italy forward Roberto Baggio gives a rare interview in which he talks candidly about his glorious career – his battles, joys and successes, dropping out, and why now is the right time to return as part of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) technical staff. He sums up his philosophy saying: "I have never really been satisfied by the easily scored goal."

The man touted as a future AS Roma and Italy captain, Daniele De Rossi, retraces his journey from ball boy and Francesco Totti fan to Giallorossi crowd favourite. Over in Madrid, meanwhile, we catch up with the Argentinian international dazzling the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu: Real Madrid CF's left winger Ángel Di María – a quiet man with big talent.

Champions travels to Tallinn to speak to Estonia's football pioneers whose goal is making inroads in the UEFA Champions League. Valencia CF coach Unai Emery is already enjoying life in Europe's premier club competition and he guides us through his typical day and footballing views.

The Portuguese game comes under the spotlight in Dossier, we examine the rise of the long-range shot and recall the man who gave away the European Champion Clubs' Cup. Plus: Hugo Lloris, Bixente Lizarazu, the Sami Khedira/Bastian Schweinsteiger double act, and much more.

http://www.12bet.com/index.aspx 

©UEFA.com 1998-2011. All rights reserved.

Soccer newsbits

Alvaro Negredo on Liverpool radar as Reds weigh up £17m bid for Spain striker

By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 11:18 AM on 12th January 2011

 

Liverpool are considering a bid for Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, according to reports in Spain. 

The AS newspaper claim that the Reds are prepared to offer around £17million for the 25-year-old forward. 

A strong, quick attacker with a superb left foot, Negredo has six goals for the season.

He made his Spain debut in October 2009 but was left out of the squad for the World Cup in South Africa last summer.

Check Sevilla FC on http://www.12bet.com/index.aspx