Clasico win will give Barcelona a happy Christmas, says Messi

Lionel Messi wants Barcelona to beat Real Madrid in Saturday's (AEDT) El Clasico clash to ensure his side can enjoy a happy Christmas.

Barca head to the Bernabeu with an 11-point lead over rivals Madrid in the La Liga table, and six points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Victory for Ernesto Valverde's men would give Barca an overwhelming lead from last season's champions, who have a game in hand due to their trip to the FIFA Club World Cup.

And Messi, who missed out on this year's Ballon d'Or to Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, is keen for Barcelona to go into the winter break on a high.

Read More: https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/12/19/clasico-win-will-give-barcelona-happy-christmas-says-messi

Henk ten Cate proud of Al Jazira players after giving Real Madrid a fright in Fifa Club World Cup

The Arabian Gulf League leaders led at half time against the Spanish and European champions before goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale took Zinedine Zidane's men to a 2-1 victory.

On the eve of the biggest match of each of his players’ lives, Al Jazira manager Henk Ten Cate joked that they would have to park three buses in front of their goal to stop Real Madrid. And then maybe borrow a couple more, just to give themselves a chance.

In the end, all they actually needed was one Ali Khaseif. While the UAE national team goalkeeper was on the field, nothing that Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Isco, or any other Galactico you could care to mention could find a way past.

Khaseif’s heroism didn’t need a subplot. Fatefully, though, it got one, in the form of a first-half thigh strain. He battled on gamely, repelling everything that came near him, until he could last no longer.

Read More: https://www.thenational.ae/sport/club-world-cup/henk-ten-cate-proud-of-al-jazira-players-after-giving-real-madrid-a-fright-in-fifa-club-world-cup-1.684285

Man Utd star: My heart told me to join Manchester United instead of Real Madrid

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed that he had been in contact with Real Madrid prior to his switch to Old Trafford from Juventus. The France international sealed his Old Trafford return in the summer of 2016 after United paid a then-world-record fee of £89.3m.

Speaking on the ‘Beyond the Pitch’ podcast, the 24-year-old confirmed that he had considered a move to the Bernabeu, but the opportunity to make a comeback with Manchester United changed his eventual decision.

“To be honest, Real Madrid came to me and I was thinking to go there, and I was thinking to go to Manchester United too. But I always felt it in my heart. My heart told me to come back here [Manchester], I don’t know why, I didn’t know what was going to happen. But I did it, and I don’t regret. I never regret my choice,” he said h/t Sky Sports.

Pogba had a mixed first season under Jose Mourinho as he struggled to find the right balance between attack and defence. The Frenchman’s tendency to push forward often left a space in midfield which the opposition could capitalise on.

However, he has made a vast improvement in his second year, although suspension and a hamstring injury have restricted him to just 11 appearances for United across all competitions. The Frenchman has still stood out with his showing, contributing three goals and five assists in the English top-flight.

Pogba is certain to miss the Bournemouth game on Wednesday night as he serves the second game of a three-match suspension, which he received for a rash but yet unintentional challenge on Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin earlier in the month.

Read more: http://www.thefaithfulmufc.com/man-utd-star-heart-told-join-manchester-united-instead-real-madrid/

Messi: Argentina Will Be Stronger At World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Argentina will be a better team at the 2018 World Cup than the one that struggled during the South American qualifying tournament, China's Xinhua news agency reported according to Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi.

The two-time World Cup champions avoided missing football's biggest event for the first time since 1970 when a Messi hat-trick ensured a 3-1 victory over Ecuador in the final CONMEBOL zone qualifier in October.

Argentina has been drawn in the same group as Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria for the June 14-July 15 tournament in Russia.

"We'll be in good shape when we get there because we're still growing," the Barcelona forward told FIFA.com.

"We had to go through something that we didn't expect or deserve because we had earlier matches against Venezuela and Peru that we could have won easily. If we had, then we wouldn't have had to go through what we did at the end.

"We've had four competitive matches with a new coach (Jorge Sampaoli), but the national team's going to change now that the Ecuador game is behind us. We're going to grow and get rid of all the tension and fear we felt because of that match and because of the risk of not achieving our objective."

The 30-year-old admitted the scars left by the team's extra-time loss to Germany in the final of the 2014 World Cup are yet to disappear.

"I don't know if they're ever going to heal," the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said.

"We're just going to have to live with it. It's going to be there forever. The World Cup is a very happy memory and a bitter one too because of how it ended, how it all worked out. But it's always going to be there."

Read More: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/wn/newsworld.php?id=1419378

Real Madrid beats Al Jazira, reaches Club World Cup final

United Arab Emirates champions Al Jazira earned all the plaudits despite losing 2-1 to European champions Real Madrid at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final.

The hosts produced a memorable performance and were 1-0 up at the break before Real Madrid turned the game around with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Goalkeeper Ali Khaseif was called into action early on, making five consecutive saves inside the opening ten minutes. Two Ronaldo headers were repelled by the Al Jazira captain, before he dived low to save Luka Modric's shot from the edge of the area.

Ali Mabkhout came within a whisker of handing Al Jazira the lead in the 20th minute when he latched onto Mbark Boussoufa's pass to go through on goal, but his half-volleyed strike went narrowly wide of the post.

At the other end of the pitch, Casemiro thought he had scored for the Spanish side on the half-hour mark, but after a video review, the referee ruled the goal out to keep the score at 0-0.

Instead, it was the Emirati champions who opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Boussoufa found Romarinho after a swift counter-attacking move and the Brazilian controlled with his left, before finishing with his right foot to put Al Jazira in front at the break.

Khaseif's night-to-remember was brought to an early end when he hobbled off to be replaced by Khalid Al Senani six minutes into the second period.

Al Senani's introduction to the match was, however, not a happy one as he conceded within two minutes of coming on.

Read More: http://www.china.org.cn/sports/2017-12/14/content_50102857.htm

WANTAWAY BARCELONA VETERAN MASCHERANO 'TOO OLD' FOR CSL SIDE TIANJIN QUANJIAN

Will the 33-year-old leave Barcelona for China? The club linked to his services says he's a bit old for them
Tianjin Quanjian have dismissed links with Barcelona veteran Javier Mascherano by insisting he is "too old" for the Chinese Super League side.
Rumoured CSL target Mascherano is tipped to leave La Liga giants Barca, having recently spoke of his time at Camp Nou coming to an end.
With game time hard to come by under Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde, the 33-year-old has been linked with a January move to China, where Tianjin have reportedly made an offer for the Argentina international.
However, Tianjin – now led by former Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa following Fabio Cannavaro's return to Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao – denied those reports, pointing to Mascherano's age.

Read More: http://www.goal.com/en/news/mascherano-too-old-for-tianjin-quanjian/qgj67j33z4ar1nzg1cbocvla5

Wantaway Barca veteran Mascherano 'too old' for Tianjin Quanjian

Tianjin Quanjian have dismissed links with Barcelona veteran Javier Mascherano by insisting he is "too old" for the Chinese Super League side.
Rumoured CSL target Mascherano is tipped to leave LaLiga giants Barca, having recently spoke of his time at Camp Nou coming to an end.
With game time hard to come by under Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde, the 33-year-old has been linked with a January move to China, where Tianjin have reportedly made an offer for the Argentina international.
However, Tianjin – now led by former Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa following Fabio Cannavaro's return to Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao – denied those reports, pointing to Mascherano's age.

Read more: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/wantaway-barca-veteran-mascherano-too-old-tianjin-quanjian