Diego Costa strike hands Chelsea win at Liverpool, Juan Mata bails out Man United

Chelsea maintained their unbeaten run in the Premier League on Saturday after Diego Costa scored in the 67th-minute to hand them a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool had taken the lead through Emre Can's deflected shot only for the Blues to level through Gary Cahill, who scrambled the ball over the line shortly after. Simon Mignolet's efforts to keep the ball out were in vain after goal-line technology was used to confirm the goal.

Costa completed the comeback after some fine work by Cesar Azpilicueta and though the Reds showed no signs of giving up - with a penalty claim turned down when Gary Cahill leaned his arm towards a Steven Gerrard strike from the edge of the box - Chelsea hung on find through five minutes of stoppage time to claim a vital victory.

The defeat was Liverpool's third in seven days, while Chelsea preserved their four-point lead over Southampton.
Manchester City lost further ground as they required a double salvo from Sergio Aguero to spare their blushes against QPR.
Manuel Pellegrini admitted the champions were in the midst of a crisis of confidence following their midweek Champions League defeat to CSKA Moscow, and QPR seemed determined to increase City's misery at Loftus Road.

Charlie Austin scored the opening goal after finding the City net for the third time after 21 minutes. He had two strikes ruled out in the space of 30 seconds just eight minutes in, but each time the visitors' shambolic defence was reprieved.

QPR's lead lasted just 11 minutes, however, as Sergio Aguero pounced for the visitors - pulling the ball down before twisting and turning Steven Caulker and tucking it in.
City pressed but 14 minutes from time Austin's effort was turned into his own net by Martin Demichelis. Aguero was not done, though - City's talisman striking an 83rd-minute equaliser to rescue his side.

Juan Mata stepped off the bench to score the winner as Manchester United returned to winning ways despite a lacklustre display against Crystal Palace.
Just four minutes after coming on for Adnan Januzaj, the United midfielder curled a deflected shot past Julian Speroni to hand Louis van Gaal's men a 1-0 win.

The result was a welcome one for United fans and their manager, who had not won any of his previous three matches.

But in truth, he will still feel a bit of the lousiness he spoke about at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Southampton retained second spot in the table thanks to Shane Long's brace securing a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, while West Ham and Aston Villa shared a stalemate and Burnley finally snatched their first win of the season at the 11th attempt - seeing off Hull City 1-0.

Manchester City Eye Signing Of Top Arsenal Target As Yaya Toure Poised For January Exit

City set for changes in midfield this winter.
Manchester City are prepared to lose star midfielder Yaya Toure to Paris Saint-Germain this January, and could sign Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira as a replacement, according to the Daily Mail.

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The Premier League champions are seemingly ready to let Toure go after the Ivory Coast international’s severe dip in form this season, with Manuel Pellegrini already thinking about players he can bring him to bolster his midfield options.

City look in need of changes after a poor start to the season, and there’s no doubt Khedira could make an excellent signing if the club can beat off competition for his signature.
The German international is also wanted by Arsenal after refusing to sign a new contract at the Bernabeu, and it looks likely that he will either move for a cut-price fee this January or on a free transfer at the end of this season.

City’s search for a new midfielder could also see them make a move for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in the summer, with Pellegrini recently hinting that he could be interested in the veteran Reds star.
Th 34-year-old is another player who could be a free agent as he stalls on committing his future at Anfield.

Manchester United to bid for Gerard Pique

 
Manchester United are plotting a surprise £20 million bid for Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique, who has emerged as Louis van Gaal’s number one transfer target.

This is according to the Daily Star, who understand that United officials are confident of luring the Spanish World Cup winner back to Old Trafford. The 27-year-old spent four of his formative years with the Red Devils before returning to the Camp Nou in 2008 for £5 million.

United source confirms Van Gaal's interest
A United source confirmed to Starsport: "The manager knows he still needs to strengthen his defence and he would love to sign Pique.
"He is a former United player so he knows the club and Pique is a player he can build his defence around. Signing him from Barcelona won't be easy though."

Question marks over Pique's status at Barcelona
While Pique has started in Barcelona’s previous two matches - against Rayo Vallecano and Eibar - he was left out in the two matches prior to that, against Granada and the crucial Champions League group stage clash against Paris Saint-Germain, leading to questions being asked about the defender’s future.

Pique, though, insists that his heart belongs in Barcelona - and he wants to stay with his boyhood club for as long as possible. He recently told reporters: "You never know what the future holds, but right now, I love this city, I love the people in the club, and most importantly, I love the institution. I don't see myself leaving."

United must offer Pique a pay-rise
The Spain international currently earns around £110,000-a-week at the Camp Nou, so United would need to offer him a considerable pay rise to convince him to return to Old Trafford, where he endured frustration as a youngster.

Pique made a total of 23 appearances for the Red Devils, but struggled for first-team opportunities because of the rock-solid defensive partnership comprised of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
Pique would eventually head back to Barcelona before landing his hands of every major trophy - including four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues - while cementing his status as one of European football’s best centre-backs in the process.

Van Gaal's other options & Shakira
With Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels seemingly off limits - and Ron Vlaar and Ryan Shawcross, of Aston Villa and Stoke City, not at the same world-class level - Van Gaal has turned his attention to Pique as he looks to recruit a top-level centre-back to partner Phil Jones.
But United officials may also need to convince the player’s superstar partner, Shakira, that Pique should come back to Manchester. The Colombian singer is reportedly unconvinced that a return to England is in the family’s best interests.

QPR v Aston Villa

This week’s Monday night feast sees two out of form sides face off at Loftus Road as bottom of the league QPR host Aston Villa, who are fresh from a tough run of fixtures.

QPR’s return to the top flight hasn’t started in the way they had hoped. Sitting in 20th place after 6 defeats in 8 matches and 18 goals conceded – the highest in the league – with their only victory coming against Sunderland in August.

Aston Villa had a strong beginning to the season with 10 points from 4 games, including a victory over Liverpool, but an extremely tough run of fixtures against the rest of last season’s top 5 has seen 4 defeats in consecutive matches. The defence saw only 1 goal conceded in the opening 4 matches, showing a sign of hope for Aston Villa as they begin to match teams around them in the league.

Key Players

Bobby Zamora

The player that sealed QPR’s promotion with a late goal in May’s play-off final was an unlikely torment for Liverpool last weekend.

Not expected to feature much this season due to his increasing years, Zamora’s performance against Liverpool showed that he can play his part for QPR in their bid against relegation. The former West Ham and Fulham striker was a willing runner until his legs could give no more after 70 minutes and he created 4 chances including Leroy Fer’s miss from 11 yards. Zamora was made the second highest amount of passes in the attacking third (16) with only Raheem Sterling making more.

If QPR want a result on Monday night, Zamora will have to produce another hardworking performance for his side.

Tom Cleverley

If Aston Villa line up in a 4-3-3 as expected, the midfield will be a key area that they should and could control. With Delph out injured, the responsibility will be with another midfielder. Cleverley will look to take that mantle as he continues to return to the form of when he broke to the United team after a successful Wigan loan.

His role was never known in Manchester, but the 25 year old is having an influence on the side making an average 3.2 tackles – the highest by far in the Villa team – and 2.2 interceptions per match so far this season (16 and 11 overall respectively). Noting his passing was a strong area of his game – Cleverley said he would be appreciated in Spain – the England international has a pass accuracy of 88.5% and has made an average of 45.2 passes a match, 63.6% if you include his one appearance for Manchester United.

Interesting Statistics

• Joey Barton has made 14 tackles and created 13 chances in his 4 appearances in the league showing how much he’s missed by the team.
• 4 of QPR’s 6 goals have come from set pieces, while 1 has been an own goal. More chances need to be taken from open play if they are to stay up.
• Although things look troublesome at QPR, they are still a point better off than they were at this point of the season two years ago.
• Despite creating 44 chances this season, Aston Villa have only scored 4 goals – the last coming on 13th September.
• Andreas Weimann has scored two goals from two shots on target this season and they have both been winners. (via FourFourTwo)

Team News

Ferdinand, Barton and Onuoha will all have late fitness tests before Monday’s match, while Rob Green could return from illness. The game looks to come too early for Jordan Mutch though who is suffering from a hamstring injury.

There will be late fitness tests for Baker and Senderos, but massively bad news for Aston Villa is Fabian Delph being ruled out until the end of the calendar year after having surgery on his shoulder this week.

Prediction

QPR are in desperate need for a win, but last week’s frantic final minutes against Liverpool could leave a devastating effect on the morale in the team. Villa will hope to return to the form they opened the season with and a trip to Loftus Road is one of the kinder grounds to do that. With these balancing out, a draw could well be on the cards.

Mourinho unhappy with decisions

Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea: Jose Mourinho unhappy with decisions

 

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho felt certain decisions went against the league leaders as Manchester United snatched a late draw at Old Trafford.

The Blues took the lead through Didier Drogba, before Robin van Persie equalised in stoppage time moments after Branislav Ivanovic was dismissed.

"The red card, I saw that coming," said Mourinho after the 1-1 draw.
"If I have to speak about [that] I have to speak about the penalty Ivanovic should have been given."
But he added: "I don't want to speak about the penalty on Ivanovic [when the Serb appeared to be wrestled over in the area by Chris Smalling] and the accumulation of yellow cards [for Chelsea].
"I don't want to speak even about throw-ins. If I want to speak I will speak too much - you know I will speak with my heart and get into trouble."

Chelsea face a fine of £25,000 for picking up more than six yellow cards in one match. United were fined the same amount in 2008  for picking up seven bookings in a game at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho was, however, positive about his side's display and said they had undergone an "evolution" since he took charge of the west London club for the second time at the start of last season.

Drogba scored his second goal of the season, having netted against Maribor on Tuesday

Asked whether champions Manchester City's defeat at West Ham on Saturday had benefited his side, the Portuguese said: "We don't look to others, we look to ourselves.

"Old Trafford is one of the most dangerous fixtures we have. The result is not the result we want, but the way we performed means we don't need to look to others," he said, with Chelsea six points ahead of City and four clear of second-placed Southampton.

"Don't forget we have also played away at Manchester United and Manchester City.
"We are going in a good direction."
After an even first half, Chelsea dominated, with Eden Hazard going close before Drogba scored.
"The second half was much better," added Mourinho.
"From the start of the first half we showed we wanted to win. In the second half we didn't give them the chances they wanted. To come here to Old Trafford the way we did - it was fantastic by my boys."

Robin van Persie Safe Man UTD

 

• Drogba scores first league goal since March 2012
• It is his first league start in two and a half years
• Chelsea have won seven of nine league games
• Man Utd four unbeaten at Old Trafford

Robin van Persie's equaliser deep into injury time gave Manchester United a point and kept Chelsea within range of their Premier League title rivals after a dramatic Old Trafford finale. 

Didier Drogba's header, glanced in off Van Persie early in the second half, looked to have extended Chelsea's lead at the top of the table to six points until a thunderous conclusion in front of the Stretford End.
In scenes reminiscent of days gone by at the Theatre of Dreams, Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Angel Di Maria as United applied late pressure.

Di Maria's resulting free-kick saw Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois save brilliantly from Marouane Fellaini but Van Persie was on hand to thrash home the rebound and spark wild celebrations around Old Trafford.
Blues manager Jose Mourinho turned away in disgust as Van Persie scored, frustrated that the victory his side deserved for controlling long periods had slipped away in a chaotic conclusion.

Drogba scored his second of the season, having netted against Maribor on Tuesday

The Portuguese's side remain four points clear of second-placed Southampton - and, perhaps more significantly, six points ahead of last season's champions Manchester City - but this is a result that will almost have the after-taste of defeat, even though Chelsea's unbeaten run continues.
Without injured top scorer Diego Costa, the old warrior Drogba stepped into the breach and, when United did threaten Chelsea's defence, keeper Courtois was faultless. The Belgian was powerless to prevent Van Persie's leveller.
Despite the late concession, Chelsea looked ominously powerful and carry all the hallmarks of the team to beat this season.

Match facts
Manchester United have not lost at Old Trafford since being beaten by Swansea on the opening day.	After nine games, United have one point fewer than at this stage last term under David Moyes.
Chelsea remain the only undefeated team in the Premier League this season.	Chelsea have gone eight games without defeat away from home in the league (W6, D2).

For United manager Louis van Gaal, there will be pleasure in showing the resilience and fighting spirit of old to earn a point - but also the reality that Chelsea showed him how much ground they still have to make up, despite that £150m outlay this summer.
Blues striker Diego Costa's "little chance" of playing turned out to be no chance as his lingering hamstring strain ruled him out while United, without suspended captain Wayne Rooney, were also missing the injured Radamel Falcao.
The old friends, and on this day foes, Van Gaal and Mourinho were in no mood to hold back and it was only the finishing touches that were missing in an enthralling first half that saw chances for both sides.
Courtois saved superbly from Van Persie after the Dutchman was played through, and home keeper David de Gea also excelled to save with his legs after Oscar's pass found Drogba only 12 yards out.

Van Persie's goal was his fourth in eight Premier League appearances

There was one highly contentious moment when Ivanovic was dragged to the floor by Chris Smalling as they chased Cesc Fabregas's delivery into the box but referee Phil Dowd gave nothing.
Chelsea increased the tempo and power at the start of the second half and it was only another fine save from De Gea that stopped Eden Hazard as he ran clean through and looked certain to score.
There was no let-off, though, as Drogba escaped his marker - who mystifyingly was the diminutive Rafael - and headed in off Van Persie at the near post. The striker's attempted headed clearance was flimsy at best.

Drogba will hope the goal is not taken off him after Van Persie's unwitting intervention as it will otherwise go down as his first Premier League goal for Chelsea since he scored against Stoke in March 2012.
Scenting the chance to kill their hosts off, Willian forced De Gea into an athletic save and Ivanovic's bustling run into the area ended with a shot flashed across the face of goal.
United were looking to Van Persie to create a spark but he found Courtois in his way once more after creating space inside the area.
Then came that Ivanovic red card, the scramble in front of the Stretford End and United had their point courtesy of Van Persie.

Manchester United welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford

Manchester United will be looking to prove their own title credentials when they welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford for the Super Sunday live clash.

New United boss Louis van Gaal has this week confidently proclaimed that the 20-time top-flight champions are ready to mount another title challenge, despite making a far from impressive start to life under the Dutch supremo.

A battling 2-2 draw at West Brom on Monday night was not enough to move Van Gaal’s men back into the top four, and United sit 10 points behind Chelsea after just eight games.
A seemingly favourable start to the season was supposed to give Van Gaal the platform to get off to a positive start, but just three wins from eight - form not helped by a number of high-profile defences errors - has seen the woes experienced under David Moyes' reign continue.
Injuries, especially at the back, have certainly hindered United’s progress, but with key figures returning to fitness, Van Gaal will be well-equipped to go toe-to-toe with a talented Chelsea outfit.

The Blues have been in imperious form so far this season, and sit top of the pile - a spot they do not look like relinquishing, even at this juncture of the campaign.
The signings of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have added further quality to a squad already blessed with myriad abilities, and both have hit the ground running since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
The visitors are favourites to earn victory in Manchester, and history suggests that is the most likely result. United have won only six of their last 22 Premier League games against Chelsea.

Chelsea have also kept clean sheets in their last two Premier League games at Old Trafford. They have not kept more than three clean sheets in a row there since a spell of five between 1968 and 1972.
Team news
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal must decide whether to recall Radamel Falcao to the starting line-up.
The Colombia hitman was on the bench against West Brom, but may be recalled as Robin van Persie continues to struggle for form.

Angel di Maria should be fit after shaking off a minor thigh injury sustained last time out but Wayne Rooney is still suspended while Jonny Evans and Paddy McNair are doubtful. 
Striker Costa could return from a hamstring injury and illness for Chelsea.
Fellow forward Loic Remy (groin) is out, while midfielders John Obi Mikel (foot) and Ramires (groin) could return alongside Andre Schurrle, who has recovered from illness.
Full-back Cesar Azpilicueta is banned for the first of three games following his dismissal at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Cheryl Vs Simon Cowell

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Simon Cowell have always had a turbulent relationship.

But on Saturday night's episode of The X Factor, the tension between them grew increasingly uncomfortable to watch.

It all started when she criticised the music mogul’s act Jay James following his rendition of Adele's Skyfall.

Awkward: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Simon Cowell had yet another row on Saturday night's episode of The X Factor

Cheryl and Simon bicker, and Dermot apologises to Jay James

'The production saved you tonight,' Cheryl told the aspiring singer.

'If you're going to sing a song by Adele, you need more suave and passion in your performance.

'I didn't feel that at all. Sorry.'

The Crazy Stupid Love singer's comments didn't sit too well with Simon, who stepped in to defend his act.

'Just to remind you, sweetie,' he said condescendingly. 'This is a singing not an acting competition.'

Not impressed: Presenter Dermot O'Leary apologised for the judges' behaviour

Wrong move? The trouble started when Cheryl laid into Simon's act Jay James, claiming she 'didn't feel' his performance

His words infuriated Cheryl who stuck her hand in his face.

'Fine, but don't you ever criticise nay of my acts in the future. Now, talk to you act!'

The cameras then shot back to presenter Dermot O'Leary and Jay, who seemed shocked that his performance could have triggered such a row.

'Wow, somebody woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning,' Dermot said.

'I'm sorry you had to watch them argue like that. It's like watching my mum and argue.'

He tried his bets: Jay took to the stage and sang Skyfall by Adele - however Cheryl believed he didn't have enough suave

Oh dear: Simon didn't take too well to his employee criticising his act

Clearly feeling sympathetic for Jay as his performance had been overshadowed by the feuding judges, Dermot accused Cheryl of splitting hairs with regards to her critsim.

However, that didn’t stop the star from bickering with Simon again.

Later on in the episode, Cheryl claimed to feel sick and asked Louis Walsh to swap seats so that she didn't have to be next to Simon.

As soon as she moved, she said that her 'nausea' had disappeared.

The awkward exchanges made uncomfortable viewing for those watching at home. So much so that even celebrities were taking to Twitter to complain. 

Cheryl takes a jab at Simon over his comments on Lola's dress

Over the top? Cheryl asked Louis if she could swap seats with him so that she no longer had to be near Simon

Awkward: Louis obliged and sat next to Simon while Mel B looked uncomfortable

Unhappy customer: Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison wasn't a fan of Cheryl and Simon's bickering

Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison tweeted: 'Does anyone else think the atmosphere between Cheryl and Simon is just plain awkward?! @TheXFactor.' 

Brian McFadden was a little harsher with his words when he took to the social networking site.

'Think Cheyrl's ponytail is wound too tight. Brat,' he said.

'Whatever's going on behind the scene chezza needs to leave it there. Doing herself no favours. @TheXFactor.'

After the show wrapped up, Cheryl also took to her Twitter accounts to justify her actions.

The singer explained that she was just having 'one of those nights'.

Still sounding a little bitter, she then added: 'You can't tell other judges' acts they didn't perform a song as well as they could or should have. 

'When somebody remotely has an opinion on Simon's acts, he responds with "It's not an acting completion". Don't give it if you can't take it! Right?'

Sound advice: The rowing was even too much for the likes of Brian Mcfadden

Ouch: The former Westlife star didn't have very kind words to say about Cheryl

Backlash: Viewers at home didn't take too kindly to Simon and Cheryl's behaviour towards each other

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is simply light years ahead of Apple's iPhone

Out of this world: Why the blazingly fast new Galaxy Note 4 is simply light years ahead of Apple's iPhone

Samsung Galaxy Note 4                              £599                                   ★★★★★

Despite Apple’s best efforts, iPads are still the best tablets in the world. 

Last week, the company took the best of the bunch, iPad mini, and shot it through the foot with an update where they added a fingerprint sensor and little else, and whacked £100 on the price tag for the mini 3.

Even so, I’d still buy iPad mini over any rival – albeit while cursing Apple underneath my breath.

Even so, I’d still buy iPad mini over any rival – albeit while cursing Apple underneath my breath.

+4

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is blazingly fast, bright, colourful, and the ‘Back’ button and home button are located off the screen, which gives you more space to do stuff.

An official introduction to the Samsung GALAXY Note 4

There are some fields, though, where Apple is the still very much the new boy at school – namely, big phones, an area the fruity tech giant dipped its billion-dollar toes into earlier this year with the giant six-inch Apple iPhone 6 Plus.

Sadly for Apple, the school bully, Samsung, has swaggered up and walked off with its lunch money without even making an effort.

Next to the Galaxy Note 4, iPhone 6 Plus looks like a bodged-together mess. 

Samsung has been making huge phones for years – greeted at first with ridicule, then grudging acceptance, before finally being granted the ultimate accolade of Apple producing its own knock-off.

But the 6 Plus really isn’t fit to shine Galaxy Note 4’s bovver boots.

There’s always a Marmite element to really big phones – maybe more so than there is to the brown sludge itself.

I’ve spent the last fortnight having people looking at me like I’m holding a flatscreen television as I ostentatiously doodle on the Note 4’s six-inch slab of a screen. God only knows what people are doing behind my back as I talk on it.

It weighs 176g, and is 8.5mm thick, which at least ensures it won’t bend into a boomerang shape in your pocket, unlike those (slightly laboured) videos of bendy iPhones, where desperate bloggers destroy their pride and joy in the hope of a few microseconds of fame.

But if you can overcome your quite natural human revulsion at the thing’s size, it’s a delight.

The screen is the first bit I’d wave at Apple fanatics who dare to opine that their Johnny-come-lately phone is in any way a match for the great-grandchild of the phone that invented the ‘phablet’ market. 

Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus’s jaded HD screen isn’t fit to hold a candle to the eyeball-searing 2560 x 1440 pixel screen here. This thing is sharper than most 60in televisions, but it fits in your pocket.

OK, it only just fits in your pocket, but if you keep trying, you’ll get it in there. If you’re looking for a big, detailed screen for browsing proper websites on (not the cut-down mobile versions), there’s really little that can beat this. 

It’s blazingly fast, bright, colourful, and the ‘Back’ button and home button are located off the screen, which gives you more space to do stuff.

Fish out the built-in stylus, and you can instantly take a screenshot, doodle notes over it then email the result to Apple fans saying, ‘Nyah nyah nyah’. Or something equally childish.

Add to that a truly splendid, metal casing (a first for Samsung), a blazingly fast processor, and built-in pedometer and heart-rate monitor, and you have, for my money, the best phone on Earth at the moment. Apple’s 6 Plus doesn’t come close.

I’d really nearly caved in and bought an iPhone for the first time in half a decade. But having tested this giant metal beast, I won’t.

Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus might keep the fanboys happy –but if you bother to put it side by side this one (which Apple fans won’t), there’s only one winner.

Real Madrid v Barcelona: The biggest game in club history?

La Liga El Clasico: Real Madrid v Barcelona
Venue: Bernabeu Stadium Date: Saturday, 25 October Kick-off: 17:00 BST Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website

Ronaldo. Messi. Neymar, Suarez and Rodriguez.

In the unlikely scenario that any Real Madrid v Barcelona contest ever needed revving up, there it is: on 25 October, a single match starring the two best players in the world, the World Cup's leading scorer, four of the five most expensive players in history and the debut of the most controversial footballer of his generation.

And all this without the injured Welsh star Gareth Bale.
An occasion like no other before? Hype can make giddy fools of us all, and this is a fixture that has never lacked subplots or superstars.
From the era of Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas in the 1950s and 60s through to Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona in the 1970s and 80s, these are clubs accustomed to foreign stars at their fulcrum.

Madrid defined themselves a decade ago by their galacticos, the annual superstar arrivals under spendthrift club president Florentino Perez. Either side of the new century Barcelona built title-winning teams around their own imported heroes: Michael Laudrup and Bernd Schuster; Romario, Patrick Kluivert and Ronaldinho.

Real Madrid defeated Barca 4-2 in a memorable El Clasico in 2005 - with Michael Owen scoring

The arms race has accelerated before. Nine years ago we witnessed an equally star-studded Clasico collision, when Madrid's 4-2 win at the Bernabeu saw David Beckham, Raul, World Cup winners Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos plus Michael Owen pull apart a Barca side decorated by Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
So why the feeling this week that Saturday night in Madrid might outstrip them all, even with the caveats that history brings?

Real Madrid v Barcelona: El Clasico in numbers

Part of it is the supporting cast, in which Argentine World Cup finalist Javier Mascherano, Xavi and Iniesta on one side and World Cup winner Toni Kroos and Luka Modric on the other, could all play decisive roles. Part of it is the challenges both sides face - Barca in rebuilding from a barren last season, Champions League winners Madrid in maintaining a continental pre-eminence while also waging a successful campaign on home soil.
Then there is the fascination with Suarez, a grinning contradiction capable of both brilliance and brutality, a street-hustler talent risen to high society, a repeat offender that some wanted banned for far longer after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini and others cannot wait to welcome back.

 

 

On its own his return to first-team football would eclipse all other plotlines this weekend. In South American tandem with Messi, supposedly player of the tournament in Brazil last summer, and Neymar - who threatened to be - you have the sort of fantasy combination that usually only comes from the computer console.

Beyond the individual stars there are wider battles to savour. La Liga versus the Premier League, Spain's grand old giants against Europe's foreign-owner oligarchs, fantasy versus financial logic.
Even as La Liga continues to haemorrhage home-grown talent to those other leagues, with current internationals like David Silva, Diego Costa, Juan Mata and Cesc Fabregas all in the Premier League, even as its other clubs struggle with mounting debt and shrinking attendances, the glittering line-ups in Madrid on Saturday night reflect a sporting and commercial wealth that no other modern-day club fixture can match.

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson:
"Ronaldo and Messi are, if anything, better than last season. It is so hard to call but I would go for Real to edge it this time. It will be full of absolutely everything - quality, intensity and lots of incident. It is becoming an unmissable event."

To the rest of Spain, mired in recession, a quarter of its working population on the dole, youth unemployment running at more than 50%, this El Clasico is extravagance from another world.

Current champions Atletico Madrid ran up £141m in unpaid taxes in their frantic attempts to reach footballing parity. Even so they lost top scorer Costa and star defender Filipe Luis to the bigger wages

X

on offer at Chelsea. Deportivo La Coruna, another club who once broke the hegemony in winning the league in 2000, are now just broke.

The average attendance of 14 of the 20 top-flight teams this season is less than 24,000. More than half of La Liga's teams spent less each on players this summer than Suarez will earn in six months (£5m).
To those with noses pressed against the window, the illogical attraction of this game is reminiscent of Dallas and Dynasty to recession-hit 1980s Britain: never mind the nasty real world, take shelter in the fantasy one.

El Clasico stats
Lionel Messi is the all time leading goal scorer with 21 goals in El Clasicos	Real Madrid's biggest league win against Barcelona is 8-2 in Feb 1935
Barcelona's biggest league victory vs Real Madrid is 7-2 in Sep 1950	When playing at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid have won 51 of 84 league El Clasicos (D - 15, L - 18)

To the Premier League, with its global revenues in 2013-14 of £3bn twice that of La Liga, there is another clear message. You might have your own heavyweight clash this weekend in Manchester United v Chelsea, but who has the finest parade of talent?

According to the latest Forbes list,  Madrid (valued at £2.1bn) and Barcelona (£2bn) are the two richest clubs in the world, worth approximately £350m and £250m more respectively than Manchester United at £1.75bn, and with values four times those of Chelsea and Manchester City.

All three of those English clubs pay big fees and huge wages. Yet even United's summer splurge cannot match the largesse exemplified by Barcelona in their deal for Neymar, when the Catalonians paid £34m in compensation and fees just to the player's father, £8m to his son for signing and a further £9m a year in wages, let alone the actual transfer fee to former club Santos.

This match is so dense with brilliance because these two clubs are operating on a different economic paradigm.
When you operate a simple football club, you require winning players. When you want to be a global brand, you need superstars.
Looking back 40 years, 60% of Barcelona's revenues came from memberships. Today, according to club vice-president Javier Faus,  those supporters in situ account for less than 10%. Shirt sponsorship, kit deals and television revenue provide both the funds and justification for these superstar ensembles.

Ronaldo has just gone past 100m Facebook followers.  Messi has 70m, in addition to 30m Twitter followers. Wayne Rooney, Britain's most followed footballer,  has less than a third of that.
This match is simultaneously a reflection of the rise of sport's celebrity culture and key component.
Barca's official Facebook page  has had 77 million likes, Real Madrid's 75m. Manchester United's has had 60m, Chelsea's 37m.
On Twitter, Real Madrid have more than 13m followers,  Barcelona 12.9m. Manchester United and their cross-town rivals City 3.5m and 2m respectively.

Tournament	Games	Real Madrid victories (goals)	Draws	Barcelona victories (goals)
Champions League	2	0 (1)	1	1 (3)
Copa de la Liga	6	0 (8)	4	2 (13)
Copa del Rey	34	12 (65)	7	15 (66)
European Cup	6	3 (12)	2	1 (7)
League	168	70 (274)	32	66 (265)
Supacopa	12	6 (25)	2	4 (17)
Total	228	91 (385)	48	89 (371)

This is how clubs extend themselves in the brave new world and how they hope to spread their appeal to new markets. Hence the big names. Hence the hype around this perfect showcase. Hence the 17:00 BST kick-off, timed perfectly to attract early risers in South America, the wealthy benefactors of the Middle East (Real's shirt sponsor is the Emirates airline, Barcelona's Qatar Airways) and the big-spending supporters in Asia.

None of which, of course, guarantees that these particular 90 minutes will justify the pre-match anticipation.
Great line-ups do not always equal great football, as at least six of the last seven World Cup finals demonstrate; not since Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in 1986  has there been a contest to match the occasion.

Which FA Cup final would you rather watch again - the tedious stalemates of 2007 or 1996, when the most star-studded teams in the competition (Manchester United and Chelsea, United and Liverpool) provided the most prosaic of conclusions, or the see-sawing thrills of 2014 or 2006 when the respective line-ups of Liverpool v West Ham and Arsenal v Hull promised little more than a straightforward stroll?

You could keep going from outside football's narrow confines: the showdown between Denman and Kauto Star at the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup being in the end all about Imperial Commander; the rugby World Cup final in 2011 between a rampant New Zealand and cavalier France ending in the lowest-scoring final in the competition's history.

Then again, this is El Clasico, and this is a chapter with myriad storylines.
In just three weeks last season we saw Messi's hat-trick in Barca's 4-3 win at the Bernabeu and Bale's extraordinary goal to win the Copa del Rey. Few will be expecting anything less this time than the rich cast promises.

World Cup 2022: European clubs want May date for Qatar finals

Europe's biggest football clubs could ask world governing body Fifa to play the Qatar 2022 World Cup in May.

Qatar won the right to stage the World Cup in 2010 but an inquiry over moving games from the hot summer months has been ongoing for more than a year.



The European Club Association (ECA), which includes Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, discussed May 2022 as a potential date.
The ECA believes a tournament in spring would cause minimum disruption.

What is the European Club Association?
Representative body made up 214 European top football clubs
Formed in 2008 by 16 founder members including Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid
Also includes Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain
Each of Uefa's 53 national associations is represented by at least one club
Chaired by former West Germany player Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

However, the body that represents Europe's biggest football leagues insists the tournament must be played in the "summer period" as planned.

The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) is made up of 21 leagues including the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and League Un in France.

"The EPFL considers that any re-scheduling of the World Cup would be damaging to the domestic competitions and the leagues' business and sporting interests," EPFL chairman Frederic Thiriez said.
Questions were raised almost immediately after Qatar won the right to host the tournament about the Gulf state's suitability, given the intense heat the country experiences in June and July, the traditional time slot for the tournament.

Qatar 2022's organisers have always insisted they can play host in the summer, pointing to their plan to use air-cooling technology to lower temperatures within stadiums and fan zones.
And this week, Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who led Fifa's technical commission which assessed each bid for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, also suggested an earlier tournament, with games kicking off in the early hours of the morning.
 
Fifa announced a consultation process last October given rising safety concerns over playing matches at a time of year when temperatures often exceed 40°c.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter reiterated earlier this week that the tournament should be moved to November and December 2022.

Qatar win right to host 2022 World Cup

"We cannot play the World Cup in summer," said Blatter. "The date which is the most convenient is the end of the year because to play at the beginning of 2022 is when the Winter Olympics take place."
Blatter has provided assurances to the International Olympic Committee that there will be no clash between the World Cup and Winter Olympics, which is due to take place in either Kazakhstan or China in February 2022.

The focus among world football officials up until now has been on halting domestic football leagues in order to play the tournament in November and December.
However, that proposal is believed to be unpalatable to many in Europe given the disruption it would cause to fixture lists and to the lucrative Uefa Champions League.

An artist's impression of one of the proposed 'air-cooled' stadiums in Doha

With more than 75% of players at this year's World Cup in Brazil registered with European clubs, the ECA is a significant and strong voice in the current negotiations.

All three dates that are currently under discussion (June/July, November/December and January/February) present significant issues to European clubs.
Following a board meeting held in London earlier this month, the ECA is now seriously considering pushing May as their preferred solution.

Temperatures in Qatar during May are about 35°C, rising steadily as the month goes on.
One source close to the talks told BBC Sport that such heat levels could prove acceptable to Fifa, given similar temperatures at previous World Cups such as Mexico in 1986, USA in 1994 and Japan/South Korea in 2002.

Breaks in play to allow players to drink water and cool down because of high on-field temperatures featured at this summer's Brazil World Cup.
However, they are unlikely to be necessary in Qatar because of planned stadium air-cooling which organisers claim will lower temperatures within grounds to about 23°C.World Cup 2022: Pundits debate Qatar 2022 alternative date.

The development of carbon neutral stadium-cooling technology was a key legacy pledge for Qatar 2022 and it is thought likely that the bid committee is open to a May schedule.
Fifa's 'calendar taskforce' - which is considering the issue - met last month in Zurich. The next meeting is due to take place in early November with representatives from global broadcasters expected to attend.
The taskforce, which is led by Fifa vice-president Shaikh Salman, is due to announce the conclusion of its discussions and a timetable in March 2015.

Luis Suarez admits he is getting help to stop biting opponents

Luis Suarez says he is getting help in order to control his "impulse" to bite.
The striker, 27, who will make his Barcelona debut against Real Madrid on Saturday, was banned for four months for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup.

Admitting he had a problem, Suarez told the Guardian Weekend magazine: "It is like an impulse, like a reaction.

"I believe I am on the right path now, dealing with the people who can help me, the right kind of people."
Suarez's attack on Chiellini was the third time the Uruguayan had bitten an opponent.

Luis Suarez controversies
June 2014	Banned for four months from any football-related activity, plus nine international matches, for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini
April 2013	Apologises for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and receives a 10-game ban
Dec 2011	Given eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra
Nov 2010	Given seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while playing for Ajax.
July 2010	Handles on the line to deny Ghana a winner in the last minute of extra-time in the World Cup quarter-finals. Asamoah Gyan misses the resulting penalty and Uruguay win the shootout to reach the semi-finals.

He had previously done the same to PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in 2010, and Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic when he was a Liverpool player in 2013.
"Everyone has different ways of defending themselves. In my case, the pressure and tension came out in that way," he added.
"There are other players who react by breaking someone's leg, or smashing someone's nose across their face. What happened with Chiellini is seen as worse.
"I understand why biting is seen so badly."

Uruguay's 1-0 victory over Italy at the World Cup in June, when he bit defender Giorgio Chiellini, is the last time Suarez played a competitive game of football

Suarez, however, remains unrepentant about his clash with Manchester United's Patrice Evra in October 2011, when he was found guilty of racial abuse, banned for eight matches and fined £40,000.
"I know I was wrong with the biting but I was accused of racism without any proof," Suarez said.

Chelsea's Diego Costa has a 'chance' of starting at Man Utd

Diego Costa could start Chelsea's Premier League showdown with Manchester United, despite a virus which required hospital treatment.

The Spain international, 26, has been recovering at home and ordered to train in isolation because of the illness.

Yet according to manager Jose Mourinho, the striker has a chance of featuring at Old Trafford on Sunday.

"Everything has happened to him," said Mourinho. "But he has a little chance of playing. We are trying."
With Loic Remy definitely out of the United game because of a groin injury sustained in Chelsea's Champions League win over Maribor, the Blues could do with £32m Costa being fit and available.

Costa's Chelsea campaign
Burnley 1-3 Chelsea - scored, booked
Chelsea 2-0 Leicester - scored
Everton 3-6 Chelsea - scored two, booked
Chelsea 4-2 Swansea - scored hat-trick
Chelsea 1-1 Schalke - failed to score
Man City 1-1 Chelsea - booked
Chelsea 2-1 Bolton - failed to score
Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa - scored
Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Chelsea - failed to score
Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal - scored

The frontman has scored nine goals in seven Premier League games despite a persistent hamstring problem, but has missed the last two matches.
Mourinho added: "Diego was injured and then he had to go to the hospital with a viral situation that we didn't manage to resolve without him being in hospital over one night.

"The problem is that being ill obviously didn't help his recovery process because we didn't want him at the training ground. The medical staff were going to meet him at his house."
John Mikel Obi, Ramires and Andre Schurrle could all return after injury and illness, but Cesar Azpilicueta begins a three-match suspension after being sent-off at Crystal Palace.

Suarez debut vs Real confirmed

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has confirmed Luis Suarez will make his debut for the club against Real Madrid, but he declined to reveal if the Uruguayan will start on Saturday.

Suarez, a £75 million summer signing from Liverpool, is cleared for El Clasico action after spending the past four months serving a ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.


Enrique said: "He will have some minutes for sure, how many I cannot say.
"It is a big thing for him, to join up finally with the team and get some minutes.”

Enrique conceded he is unsure how the striker will perform on his return to competitive football.
"Each case is totally different," said the former Barca and Real midfielder.

"It depends a lot on the personality of the player."
Meanwhile, Enrique said his table-topping charges will approach the upcoming fixture with the same mentality they have had all season.

"We will be coming out against Madrid with the same attitude we have shown all season.
"We'll go for the game from the start, look to have control of the ball in their half. We will see if we're capable of that or not."

Barcelona Transfer News: Xavi Turned Down Potential Shock Move to Bayern Munich

Barcelona midfielder Xavi was reportedly offered the opportunity to join Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich during the 2014 summer transfer window, but he opted to continue his career with the Catalan giants.  

According to Mundo Deportivo (theDaily Mail's Adam Shergold), the Bavarians were willing to double his current wages, but Xavi's answer was a clear no. The veteran midfielder has spent his entire career with Barcelona, and at the age of 34, he had no interest in embarking on a foreign adventure.

Bayern instead chose to sign Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso to strengthen their midfield.

The midfield general was rumoured to be on his way to the Major League Soccer during the summer, as the arrival of Ivan Rakitic was seen by some as a sign Luis Enrique believes Xavi's best days are behind him.

According to the New York Post's Brian Lewis, he could still be on his way to New York City FC, opting against signing for the team in 2014 because they've yet commence play in the MLS. A source close to Xavi said:

Xavi will stay at Barça this year. (Marca) reported the possibility to sign with NYC, but in the last hours Xavi has decided to stay at FCB.

He wants to play and at NYC won’t do it until 2015. And at FCB he earns a lot of money. Much more at FCB than NYC.

One of the greatest passers of this generation, Xavi was instrumental to the success of the Blaugrana under Guardiola and the rise of the Spanish national team, winning two European titles and the 2010 World Cup.

While he was never the quickest or most physically imposing player, his tremendous vision and passing ability has extended his career. Xavi can let the ball do the work, while the rest of his teammates find open lanes for him to exploit.

The 34-year-old is expected to be a leader in Barcelona's dressing room this season, and while he likely won't feature as much on the pitch as he once did, his skills as a distributor can still prove vital against defensive teams pulling up a double wall in front of their own box.

Those same passing skills would have given Bayern Munich an added attacking dimension, although the German champions signed the next best thing in Alonso, a gifted passer of his own.

The Bavarians likely won't return with an offer in the January window, so don't expect the Barcelona youth product to leave the club before the 2015 summer window.