Ribery and Rafinha set for return

Bayern Munich will have winger Franck Ribery and defender Rafinha back in the squad for the visit of Hamburg SV this weeked

Franck Ribery is set for a return to action in Bayern's clash with Hamburg,

The pair had been out injured for the last few weeks as Bayern struggled on their return to league action.                     

The German champions, who will be without the suspended Jerome Boeteng, had been near flawless in the first half of the campaign, but have managed just one win in their three league games since the return from the winter break.

However Pep Guardiola has been boosted by the pair’s return and he has confirmed they are both set to go straight into the squad.

"Franck Ribery and Rafinha are back and they trained with the team," Guardiola told a press conference.

"They are fit and they are an option."                             

Bayern are eight points clear of second-placed Wolfsburg but after their poor start to the year Guardiola is concerned by his side’s style of play.

With the Bundesliga action coming thick and fast and the Champions League resuming this week – Bayern face Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16 - the former Barcelona coach has called on his team to make vast improvements.

"I am not concerned about my strikers, more about our playing style," Guardiola added.

"What is important is to create more scoring chances and the creation of our plays are important. Not just how many kilometres we cover.           

"If we play the way we have in the first three games (of the year) then we will have problems in the Bundesliga and we won't have any chances in the Champions League."

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Arsenal v Middlesbrough preview

Transfer window signing Gabriel could make his debut in defence when FA Cup holders Arsenal play Middlesbrough in Sunday's quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.

Gabriel: Could debut for Arsenal on Sunday

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) is out for around two weeks, while forward Alexis Sanchez may not be risked after taking a blow to the knee in the midweek defeat of Leicester.

England international Jack Wilshere could return following a lengthy absence after ankle surgery, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) Mikel Arterta (ankle), Abou Diaby (calf) and Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) are all still out.

Middlesbrough are missing Dani Ayala for the cup clash with Arsenal, with boss Aitor Karanka revealing the defender could be out for "three or four weeks" following the injury he picked up against Blackpool.

Adam Forshaw is also absent due to being cup-tied, while Tomas Kalas will not feature due to the nature of his loan deal.

George Friend is expected to be fit, along with Ryan Fredericks and Emilio Nsue, who is back from his Africa Cup of Nations exploits with Equatorial Guinea.

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Warburton 'to leave in summer'

Manager Mark Warburton will leave Brentford at the end of the season, according to Sky sources.

Mark Warburton: Brentford manager expected to leave in the summer

The promotion-chasing Championship club were expected to make a statement about Warburton's future on Friday afternoon, but that is now expected on Monday.

Warburton has been one of the great success stories of the season. He guided the Bees into the Championship last season, and they have exceeded all expectations by challenging for promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

It was reported on Tuesday that the 52-year-old will not have his rolling contract renewed at the end of the campaign, even if he leads the side into the top flight.

And Brentford executives reportedly met with Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez last week to discuss the possibility of him taking over as manager in the summer.

Brentford responded to the reports by releasing a statement which did not refute the claims and also indicated they were concerned about the possibility of losing Warburton to a bigger club.

The statement read: "Given Mark's increasing profile within the game, we recognise that he will deservedly have turned the heads of other clubs. As with every other sensibly run club, we plan for various possible eventualities.

"We are a progressive club who do talk to other people within the game to learn about other ways of doing things, and to consider novel strategic approaches to the game."

Warburton himself told Sky Sports News HQ: "The club have made a statement and everything is contained within that statement.

"For me, my only focus is obviously the team. The team is focused and there are 17 games to go now."

On Wednesday the club's owner, Matthew Benham, tweeted: "It has been a very difficult 24 hours. I will try to explain the situation more in the next couple of days.

"I've been a genuine fan since 1979 and try to honestly act in the best long-term interests of the club."

The situation is now expected to be explained in full on Monday, with Warburton expected to depart in the summer.

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C Palace v Liverpool preview

Crystal Palace defender Pape Souare could make his debut in the FA Cup fifth round against Liverpool on Saturday after the Senegalese had a work permit application approved.

Pape Souare: In line for his debut

Souare joined from Lille last month and has been cleared to play in the game at Selhurst Park but Eagles captain Mile Jedinak remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

Yaya Sanogo (hamstring) and James McArthur (thigh) are also struggling to be fit in time while Shola Ameobi is still regaining fitness and unlikely to feature.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is likely to be missing from the squad to face Crystal Palace after reports emerged that he will be sidelined for two to three weeks with a hamstring problem.

With Lucas Leiva already out for at least a month with a thigh problem it means Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen are likely to be paired in central midfield.

Forward Raheem Sterling, who missed the midweek league win over Tottenham with a foot injury, has to be assessed while youngster Jordon Ibe is cup-tied.

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Arsenal v Middlesbrough preview

Transfer window signing Gabriel could make his debut in defence when FA Cup holders Arsenal play Middlesbrough in Sunday's quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.

Gabriel: Could debut for Arsenal on Sunday

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) is out for around two weeks, while forward Alexis Sanchez may not be risked after taking a blow to the knee in the midweek defeat of Leicester.

England international Jack Wilshere could return following a lengthy absence after ankle surgery, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) Mikel Arterta (ankle), Abou Diaby (calf) and Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) are all still out.

Middlesbrough are missing Dani Ayala for the cup clash with Arsenal, with boss Aitor Karanka revealing the defender could be out for "three or four weeks" following the injury he picked up against Blackpool.

Adam Forshaw is also absent due to being cup-tied, while Tomas Kalas will not feature due to the nature of his loan deal.

George Friend is expected to be fit, along with Ryan Fredericks and Emilio Nsue, who is back from his Africa Cup of Nations exploits with Equatorial Guinea.

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Real v Deportivo preview

Real Madrid entertain Deportivo La Coruna at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening looking to get back to winning ways after their defeat in the derby last weekend.

Graphic

That setback - Madrid were thrashed 4-0 at Atletico – has cut Real’s lead over arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of the table to just one point, with the champions now only four points adrift in third.

Carlo Ancelotti has demanded a reaction from his players when they take on mid-table Depor, with the Italian blaming his side’s recent poor form on a drop in "intensity, attitude and concentration" since they won the Club World Cup in December.

The European champions finished 2014 on a record-breaking 22-match winning streak, but in 10 games since Christmas they have suffered a friendly defeat to AC Milan, lost to Valencia in La Liga and seen the defence of their Copa del Rey title ended by Atletico.

The fall-out from that humiliation has been intense, from club president Florentino Perez holding a supposed 'crisis' meeting with the players to speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo - who has been lambasted for his performance in the derby and for his 30th birthday celebrations just hours after the final whistle - could be sold.

However, the players now have a chance to answer their critics, and Ancelotti is expecting a good response at what he believes could be crucial stage of their season.

"It's been a frustrating week,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “This is a motivation for the players and we expect to see a reaction in tomorrow's match.

"Since the final of the Club World Cup, our intensity, attitude and concentration has lowered a bit. I don't know if that's normal, but that's what has happened.

"We have dipped a bit but we still have time to bounce back. I have faith that that will happen. This squad fills me with confidence and I'm sure that we will be competitive yet again.

"We are in a key week. What happens in these days is going to help determine what could happen in the future."

The home side will be without defender Sergio Ramos and midfielders James Rodriguez and Luka Modric through injury, although centre-back Pepe could feature after returning to training on Friday.

Watch Real v Deportivo on Sky Sports 5HD at 5pm on Saturday.

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Tranmere snap up McGahey

Tranmere have confirmed the signing of defender Harrison McGahey on loan from Sheffield United until the end of the season.

Harrison McGahey: Heading to Prenton Park

The 19-year old has made 22 appearances for the Blades in all competitions this season after joining from Blackpool last summer.

Manager Micky Adams told the club's website: "Harrison is a versatile right-sided defender and we look forward to having him at the club."

The Preston-born defender, who had spells with Blackburn and Liverpool in his youth, left the Seasiders following their financial troubles.

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Valencia a small club compared to Bayern Munich, says Bernat

The Spain international is thoroughly enjoying life in Germany and admits he was surprised when Pep Guardiola came calling

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Juan Bernat has stressed that he has no regrets over his decision to leave Valencia for Bayern Munich ahead of the 2014-15 campaign.

The 21-year-old has developed into an important first-team player at the Bundesliga champions since his summer move and he is delighted to be part of a club of Bayern's stature.

"Up to now my move to Bayern really has been like a dream. Valencia are a small club compared with Bayern," Bernat told the official Bayern website.

"At the age of just 21 I took the plunge to move to a new country, a new league and it’s turned out brilliantly for me being a regular first choice in such a great team. It’s exceeded all my expectations. I just hope it carries on.

"It was a great honour when Bayern contacted me and it made me feel really proud when Pep [Guardiola] rang me to ask if I could imagine signing for Bayern.

"And, of course, I was a bit surprised as I was only 21 and playing my first season at left-back.

"There were no problems with my club Valencia as my contract only had a year to run. Most people shared my excitement and they gave me a good send off."

Bernat has made 29 appearances in all competitions so far this term, scoring once in the process.

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No contract talks with Guardiola - Rummenigge

The Bayern Munich coach's contract expires in 2016 but the chairman has revealed there is no intention of discussing a new deal until the season is over

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Bayern Munich will not open contract talks with Pep Guardiola until the end of the season, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed.

The Spanish coach's current deal expires in June 2016 and the lack of progress on a new deal has stirred up a lot of speculation surrounding his future at the Bavarian giants.

The club chairman has since revealed that he has spoken to Guardiola about a renewal, but the former Barcelona boss has no interest in discussing the matter while the campaign is still ongoing.

"I talked to him about it two weeks ago," Rummenigge told ESPN. "The result of this discussion was that I won't ask him again while this season is running. We will talk afterwards and then we'll see.

"I am pretty relaxed because I think we can offer him a very good team. I believe he likes the city, the club's culture and life in Munich.

"My general impression is that he feels settled in Munich, so we'll see. I don't know what his final decision will be. We are happy with him and we hope he feels the same way about the club and will renew his contract."

First-team players Dante, Philipp Lahm, Xabi Alonso, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are all over 30-years-old, but Rummenigge has no worries that the squad is in need of a massive injection of youth.

"We have some players now who are in the autumn of their carees and are in their 30s," he added. "But I don't think we're in a critical phase. I still enjoy watching Robben play. Over the last two years he was playing at an incredibly high level.

"Of course we have to care about keeping the right balance. But I am convinced we can do it and we will replace them properly some day."

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Bayern Munich - Hamburg Preview: Ribery and Rafinha back in the frame

Leg injuries which the pair sustained have healed and they are set to feature against a team which held them to a stalemate earlier in the season

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David Alaba is glad that Franck Ribery and Rafinha are back in the first-team picture at Bayern Munich as they prepare for Saturday's Bundesliga match against Hamburg.

The duo were back in training on Monday to boost a Bayern side who have faltered since the mid-season break, with three games yielding just four points.

Ribery and Rafinha have missed all of those matches, the Frenchman having sustained a thigh injury and the full-back having damaged ankle ligaments.

But with those injuries behind them and a week of training under their belts, the two look set to feature as Bayern seek to reassert their authority in the league.

"We want to move on up. We'll prepare well this week and then hopefully give our fans at the Allianz Arena something to shout about," defender Alaba told the club's official website ahead of the 100th meeting between Bayern and Hamburg.

"It's good to have Franck and Rafa back. We need them as they're both very important players."

Bayern will not need any reminding of the difficulties that Hamburg can pose, with September's Bundesliga meeting ending goalless.

Pep Guardiola's side did have more joy the following month in a DFB Pokal clash that ended 3-1 to the visitors at the Imtech Arena.

Ribery was on the scoresheet in that match, as indeed was Alaba, and Bayern are generally used to beating Hamburg.

Last term they did it three times, scoring 12 goals in the process - the same number they racked up in just two games the season before.

Hamburg have to go back to 2009 for their last win over Bayern, with their last victory at the Allianz coming two years earlier.

But Josef Zinnbauer might prefer to reflect on more recent history, as his first game at the Hamburg helm was the stalemate against Bayern.

He has also guided his side to back-to-back victories, which has lifted them four points clear of the bottom three, and only three points shy of seventh-placed Hoffenheim.

And there is belief among his charges, with Croatian forward Ivica Olic predicting a shock.

"I think we can cause an upset," he told Sport Bild. "But even a draw would be quite special."

Bayern's lead at the Bundesliga summit is eight points and they have won nine of their 10 home league matches in this campaign, conceding just three goals.

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Ramsey confirmed as QPR boss

QPR have confirmed the appointment of Chris Ramsey as head coach until the end of the season.

Chris Ramsey: Will remain involved with the Academy

The club's former head of player development is promoted in the wake of Harry Redknapp's resignation and will be assisted by Kevin Bond and Kevin Hitchcock.

Les Ferdinand, recently made director of football at Loftus Road, will oversee the three coaches and a QPR statement said he will have "a presence on the training ground for the remainder of the campaign".

"This is a great privilege and an honour for me," said Ramsey, who took charge for Rangers' first away win of the season at Sunderland in midweek. "I am excited about leading the club between now and the end of the season.

"I will still be involved in the running of the Academy for the rest of this season and beyond. Continuity is very important when it comes to the development of young players, which is something I am very mindful of."

Sky sources understand QPR owner Tony Fernandes considered five candidates for the permanent job - including a "dream" target thought to be Real Madrid assistant boss Paul Clement - before settling on Ramsey in the short-term.

Fernandes told the club website: "A lot has been written and said about the position, including by myself, but the decision has been taken to defer the permanent appointment until the end of the season.

"We spoke to many individuals who were interested in the role, one of whom I was quoted on as being a dream, but none of them were right to take the club forward at this time for a variety of reasons, whereas we firmly believe Chris is.

"We are keen for the position to be a long-term appointment that will play a major role in shaping the future on-field progression of QPR. For that reason, it is vitally important that we get the right individual."

Ferdinand said: "I’ve been liaising closely with the Board over the last week or so regarding the position and it became apparent that Chris is the best man for the job at this time.

"He will have a huge part to play in the long-term future of this club at all levels, and we are confident that Chris, supported by the backroom staff, will be able to deliver our goal of Premier League survival."

Rangers are outside the Premier League's bottom three on goal difference only and go to Hull - one place and one point above - in their next game on February 21.

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