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."

post from sitemap

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.

post from sitemap

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.

post from sitemap

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.

post from sitemap

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.

post from sitemap

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.

post from sitemap

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.

post from sitemap