Pastore: I´m like God in Paris

Fiorentina have one foot in the Coppa Italia final after a dominant away performance saw them record a 2-0 win against ten-men Cremonese in the first leg of the semi-final.

Arthur Cabral s header and Nicolas Gonzalez s penalty wrapped up a comfortable victory for La Viola, who are now unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions.

Fiorentina were much the better team in the first half and took a deserved lead when Cabral rose highest to head home Cristiano Biraghi s cross in the 20th minute.

Gonzalez should have doubled his side s lead before the break, but the winger saw his close-range header expertly saved by Mouhamadou Sarr s save.

Half-time substitute Cyriel Dessers forced a good save from Pietro Terracciano but Fiorentina found their second…

Market: Blackburn Rovers win

Odds: 

Hoping to open Christmas Day in the play-offs, a high-flying Blackburn will welcome Wigan to Ewood Park on Monday night.

Starting with the hosts, putting in yet another dominant display to pick up a 2-0 win away at Bristol City last week, Blackburn s play-off charge has continued to shock many across the Championship. Winning five of their last six appearances and yet to taste defeat since the start of November, Tony Mowbray s men know that another victory over their bitter rivals would see them secure a spot in the top-six on Christmas day. Led by leading marksman Bradley Dack who has continued to enjoy a stellar run of form, the Rovers have won each of their last four matches at Ewood Park, a run that has seen them pick up v…

Ronald Koeman expects to be without Philippe Coutinho for at least three months following surgery to repair a knee injury.

Coutinho suffered damage to the external meniscus of his left knee after coming on as a second-half substitute in Barcelona s 1-1 draw with Eibar on Tuesday at Camp Nou. 

The Brazil international was told he required an operation following further assessment and, while the club has yet to offer a timetable for his return, Koeman has confirmed it will be a lengthy absence. 

Speaking ahead of Saturday s LaLiga fixture away to Huesca, the Barca boss admitted it is a blow to lose another forward option, considering he is also without the services of Ansu Fati. 

It s unlucky because we have so many important players out inju…

Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed that work is ongoing to extend the current contracts of both Leonardo Bonucci and Paulo Dybala.

The Serie A champions sit five points clear at the top of the table after Dybala s double saw Juve come from behind to beat lowly Udinese 2-1 on Saturday, Gianluigi Buffon s error having seen them go behind. 

And, speaking before that match at the Juventus Stadium, Marotta commented that he is keen to tie down the long-term future of the Argentine – signed from Palermo in 2015 – as well as Italy centre-back Bonucci, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea in the January transfer window.

The renewals of Dybala and Bonucci they are two players that have long contracts, Marotta told Premium Sport.

[But] we …

According to , Bayern Munich have submitted a €60million bid for Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey.

Leverkusen are, however, not willing to accept anything under €100million, and with Real Madrid also expressing an interest, they are far more willing to sell to the Spanish giants that to the Bundesliga champions.

The report, written by respected journalist Raphael Honigstein, claims the Madrid club have contacted agent Jorge Mendes in order to explore the possibility of bringing the Jamaican to Santiago Bernabeu.

At the moment, only Bayern have submitted an actual offer and the Bavarians believe Bailey is keen on joining them, but they will have to improve their offer by a lot if they are to get the deal done. Several Premier League clubs are also said to be …

And so, after two head coach sackings, a torrent of boardroom upheaval and the most discussed transfer request of all time, Barcelona return to the scene of the crime.

The scene in terms of the tournament itself, of course. But even after swapping Saudi Arabia for Seville, the memory of last season s Supercopa de Espana semi-final will be enough to bring many a Cule out in a cold sweat.

Barca led 2-1 going into the final 10 minutes of their encounter with Atletico Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City, only to lose 3-2. Ernesto Valverde would never lead them again.

To say Valverde s sacking and its aftermath were shoddily handled would go some way to redefining the notion of understatement.

Club great Xavi was courted before deciding he would rather lead h…

Roma ace Christian Panucci is ready to sign a new contract with the Giallorossi.

The former Real Madrid and Inter defender’s contract expires in June 2009.

We have already spoken to Roma about this in the past, revealed agent Oscar Damiani. At the right moment we will find an agreement.

It is in Roma’s interest too, seeing as from January Panucci could find a new club. But it is clearly not in his intentions to interrupt this marriage with Roma, just as the directors don’t want to lose him.

This is the first time I have seen Christian so in love with the club he is playing for, added Damiani.

I’ve known him since he was a kid and he has played for the biggest sides, but is n…

It has not taken new Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos to make it clear as to which player he is keenest to sign during the transfer window, which reopens in January 2009.

Ramos said yesterday, the day on which he was appointed to take over from Bernd Schuster at the Bernabeau, that his side needed to strengthen its attack. With that in mind, he has targeted Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Even though they have secured the services of Ajax star striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Ramos feels that there is still a void left after the injury suffered by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is expected to be out for the remainder of the season.

…

Bayern Munich look likely to begin their Bundesliga campaign with a bang, while Thomas Tuchel s Borussia Dortmund revolution begins with a stern examination against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Runaway Bundesliga winners in each of the last three seasons, Pep Guardiola s side begin the 2015-16 campaign at home to Hamburg.

Bayern enjoy an aggregate scoreline of 32-3 from six successive home wins against Friday s season-opening opponents in league action and the ongoing malaise around The Dino points to another thumping.

Bruno Labbadia rescued Hamburg from relegation in last season s play-offs, but is immediately under pressure, having overseen DFB-Pokal elimination at the hands of fourth-tier Carl Zeiss Jena.

Though the start of Bayern s campaign appears easy…

Premier League quality told as Swansea City beat York City 3-0 in the League Cup second round.

Despite making 11 changes from Saturday s 1-1 draw at Sunderland, Garry Monk s side proved too strong for their League Two visitors, opening the scoring after just two minutes.

Nathan Dyer s early breakthrough for the 2013 League Cup winners was added to by second-half goals from Matt Grimes and substitute Marvin Emnes as the hosts booked a spot in round three.

Swansea s much-changed line-up still included five of the players that featured in the Wembley triumph over Bradford City who York beat in the first round this season two years ago.

Dyer was one of those, having netted twice at the national stadium, and he opened the scoring from close range after Ed…