Weekly Soccer News, January 17, 2011
Barca 'extraordinary' but focused
Barcelona's 13th straight league win has ensured they head into the second half of the La Liga season with a record-breaking points haul at this stage and a four-point advantage over second-placed Real.
Two goals from David Villa plus strikes from Andres Iniesta and Pedro eased the Catalans to a 4-1 win over Malaga as they chase their third straight Spanish title under coach Pep Guardiola.
But Guardiola vowed to ensure the record-breakers would keep their feet firmly on the ground after another dazzling display.
"We still have to go to the Santiago Bernabeu, to Villarreal, to Valencia and Sevilla," he warned.
"But if we manage to play with the same intensity we have shown in the first half of the championship, we will have a great chance.
"It has been an extraordinary first half of the season."
Grant out, O'Neill in?
It is being reported in England as only a matter of time before Avram Grant is replaced at the helm of West Ham United.
The likeable Israeli, who oversaw Portsmouth's relegation from the English top flight last year, has suffered another tumultuous season in the Premier League with West Ham's 3-0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday keeping them bottom of the table.
Former Aston Villa and Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is the hot favourite to replace Grant at Upton Park.
O'Neill was the manager when Aston Villa briefly sat atop the Premiership table in late 2008, but the Northern Irishman left just days before the start of the current campaign after failing to agree on the club's targets with owner Randy Lerner.
Dzeko eyes league double
Edin Dzeko is eyeing a second league title in three years - albeit in different countries – after making his debut for Manchester City following his £27 million move from Wolfsburg.
Dzeko grew into his forward role alongside Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez over the weekend, and played a key part in Yaya Toure's goal in the home side's nervy 4-3 victory over improving Wolves.
The Bosnian striker, who shot Wolfsburg to the Bundesliga title in 2009, told ESPN: "Naturally it takes time to build a top club and to make history, but I'm a competitive person and wouldn't be joining City if I didn't see them as true contenders for the Premier League this season.
"I'm no expert on English football, but one look at the table tells you it's a very open title race this time, with at least five clubs in with chance of going all the way. It will be tough, but it is achievable."
Ruud decision final, say Hamburg
Hamburg will not allow Ruud van Nistelrooy to rejoin Real Madrid despite the Dutch veteran striker's eagerness for a return to the Spanish capital.
"We will not let him leave," the German club's director of sport, Bastian Reinhardt, said on Sunday. "He will see out the end of his contract, the decision is final."
Real striker Gonzalo Higuain is out for the next four months with a back injury, with Jose Mourinho's chasers now four points behind champions Barcelona in La Liga.
'Lion of Vienna' Lofthouse dies
Former England international Nat Lofthouse OBE has died peacefully in his sleep aged 85.
Lofthouse made over 450 appearances for Bolton Wanderers, scoring 255 goals for the club between 1946 and 1960, and was also chief coach, chief scout, caretaker manager and president at the Trotters after his retirement.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside told the club's website: "Nat undoubtedly is a Bolton Wanderers legend. He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us. We will miss him but we will celebrate his life, his legacy and great times that he brought to Bolton Wanderers."
Compiled by Marc Fox
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