Update (from Spectator): As can be seen from these pictures, the Premier League title race appears to be back on.... And this is why we love English football.
Good morning mates. Today is another day packed full of footie. As seasons move into the final third, title races are tightening, Euro berth races are more intense, and so are relegation battles. It is quite simply squeaky bum time.
In England, Man U looks to recover against Fulham from the thrashing it suffered last weekend at the hands of Liverpool. Chelsea and Arsenal look to continue their form against Spurs and Newcastle respectively. The marquee matchup occurs on Sunday as Villa looks to regain form against Liverpool and stay in the race for the final CL spot with Arsenal. Liverpool wants to continue its astounding form.
Germany's title race is great. Top five teams separated by only 6 points and two through four tied on points, while The Hoff has cooled and looks to get back into the race. La Liga has Barcelona looking to wrap its fingers around the throat of the league championship again and Real Madrid hopes to stay in touch with Barca. The big Serie A match is Roma v. Juve. Roma needs a victory to maintain hopes for a CL spot next year and Juve needs the win to keep its hopes up for a league title.
Select games after the jump
England (All Times ET)
Saturday
(8:45 am) Portsmouth v. Everton
(11:00 am) Blackburn v. West Ham
(11:00 am) Fulham v. Man U
(11:00 am) Stoke City v. Middlesbrough
(11:00 am) Tottenham Hotspur v. Chelsea
(11:00 am) West Brom v. Bolton
(1:30 pm) Newcastle v. Arsenal
Sunday
(9:30 am) Wigan v. Hull
(11:00 am) Man City v. Sunderland
(12:00 pm) Liverpool v. Aston Villa
Bundesliga
Saturday
(10:30 am) Bayern Munich v. Karlsruhe (Bayern tied in second on 45 points)
(10:30 am) Stuttgart v. Hertha Berlin (Hertha sits in first and Stuttgart wants to get back in the CL race)
(10:30 am) The Hoff v. Hannover 96 (Hoff is struggling and down to 4th)
(10:30 am) Arminia Bielefeld v. Wolfsburg (Wolfsburg tied in second on 45 points)
Sunday
(12:00 pm) Schalke v. Hamburg (Hamburg tied in second on 45 points)
La Liga
Saturday
(5:00 pm) Sevilla v. Valladolid (Can Sevilla continue its charge up La Liga?)
Sunday
(12:00 pm) Real Madrid v. Almeria
(12:00 pm) Osasuan v. Espanyol (6 point relegation match)
(2:00 pm) Barca v. Malaga
(4:00 pm) Mallorca v. Atletico Madrid
Serie A
Saturday
(3:30 pm) Roma v. Juventus (Roma's CL dreams will take a big hit)
Sunday
(10:00 am) Inter v. Reggina (Can Inter maintain in match with cellar occupants?)
(10:00 am) Genoa v. Udinese (Genoa sits in 4th)
(10:00 am) Fiorentina v. Siena (Fiorentina in 5th on GD)
(3:30 pm) Napoli v. AC Milan (Meelan in 3rd 12 points adrift)
In England, Man U looks to recover against Fulham from the thrashing it suffered last weekend at the hands of Liverpool. Chelsea and Arsenal look to continue their form against Spurs and Newcastle respectively. The marquee matchup occurs on Sunday as Villa looks to regain form against Liverpool and stay in the race for the final CL spot with Arsenal. Liverpool wants to continue its astounding form.
Germany's title race is great. Top five teams separated by only 6 points and two through four tied on points, while The Hoff has cooled and looks to get back into the race. La Liga has Barcelona looking to wrap its fingers around the throat of the league championship again and Real Madrid hopes to stay in touch with Barca. The big Serie A match is Roma v. Juve. Roma needs a victory to maintain hopes for a CL spot next year and Juve needs the win to keep its hopes up for a league title.
Select games after the jump
England (All Times ET)
Saturday
(8:45 am) Portsmouth v. Everton
(11:00 am) Blackburn v. West Ham
(11:00 am) Fulham v. Man U
(11:00 am) Stoke City v. Middlesbrough
(11:00 am) Tottenham Hotspur v. Chelsea
(11:00 am) West Brom v. Bolton
(1:30 pm) Newcastle v. Arsenal
Sunday
(9:30 am) Wigan v. Hull
(11:00 am) Man City v. Sunderland
(12:00 pm) Liverpool v. Aston Villa
Bundesliga
Saturday
(10:30 am) Bayern Munich v. Karlsruhe (Bayern tied in second on 45 points)
(10:30 am) Stuttgart v. Hertha Berlin (Hertha sits in first and Stuttgart wants to get back in the CL race)
(10:30 am) The Hoff v. Hannover 96 (Hoff is struggling and down to 4th)
(10:30 am) Arminia Bielefeld v. Wolfsburg (Wolfsburg tied in second on 45 points)
Sunday
(12:00 pm) Schalke v. Hamburg (Hamburg tied in second on 45 points)
La Liga
Saturday
(5:00 pm) Sevilla v. Valladolid (Can Sevilla continue its charge up La Liga?)
Sunday
(12:00 pm) Real Madrid v. Almeria
(12:00 pm) Osasuan v. Espanyol (6 point relegation match)
(2:00 pm) Barca v. Malaga
(4:00 pm) Mallorca v. Atletico Madrid
Serie A
Saturday
(3:30 pm) Roma v. Juventus (Roma's CL dreams will take a big hit)
Sunday
(10:00 am) Inter v. Reggina (Can Inter maintain in match with cellar occupants?)
(10:00 am) Genoa v. Udinese (Genoa sits in 4th)
(10:00 am) Fiorentina v. Siena (Fiorentina in 5th on GD)
(3:30 pm) Napoli v. AC Milan (Meelan in 3rd 12 points adrift)
Posts
244 comments:
1 – 200 of 244 Newer› Newest»Norwich have a tough trip to Birmingham today. I'd be happy with a point. A loss could hurt.
How do you NOT mark Crouchaldinho on a set piece into the box??
Spartak v Spurs - C'mon, meteor!
Crouchy's eating nachos! Crouchy's eating nachos!
delayed kick for Spartak v Spurs. Perhaps Hiddink ate some bad borscht?
Uhhhhh.... so why is the Chelsea Spurs game on FSC delayed a half hour?
Why is the KO delayed?
Glad to see we are all full of info this morning.
BBC is mentioning rumors of a "suspicious package" outside of White Hart Lane.
Looks like there was maybe some sort of incident outside the stadium
http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2009/03/21/sports/OUKSP-UK-SOCCER-ENGLAND-TOTTENHAM-DELAY.php
Yeah, it's something outside. Arsene was right.
Dammit, now you are doing it to me. I won't play Andrew's game.
I blame Abramovich
Heh.... I am the champioooon of the UF comments! Come try to take my crown, I dare you!
BBC lie text says a car may be the "suspicious package".
/No meteor jokes here.
Well seeing as how I can't find a feed of the Man U v. Fulham game, I'm watching John Oliver on Comedy Central. That dude is hilarious!
I'm serious, man - I think Roman pissed off the Russian Mafia.
And here is the tie-in... John Oliver is a Liverpool FC supporter.
That should have been Live Text, but oh well.
Budesliga has started slowly this week. Only match with multiple goals so far is Hoff-Hannover at 1-1. HT soon there.
Get in! Exeter up 1-0.
Fulham!
Red for Scholes too
Get in!!!
Scholes got the red for blocking a goalbound shot with both hands. C'mon Fulham!!
Ha ha, slowpoke.
down goes Spectator!
HT in Germany
Cottbus 0-0 Cologne
Hoff 1-1 Hannover
Stuttgart 0-0 Hertha
Dortmund 0-0 Werder Bremen
Bayern 1-0 Karlsruhe
Leverkusen 1-1 Frankfurt
Arminia Bielefeld 0-1 Wolfsburg
Still undecided between Cologne and Werder.
And Accrington equalize against Exeter. Blah!!
Hey I knew you posted first!! I was adding more info. :)
Blackburn have conceded.
A likely story.
Mad Jens and co. take the lead over Hertha right out of the break. Voronin is going to need to get his chest in the game.
@Umlaut: Andrew's game? Like Ender's game, but better?
What's Portuguese for "Le Sulk"? Ronaldo is quite the twat...
ManUre look like a mid-table team at best right now...FFC is controlling the action, and look like the only team that showed up ready to play.
Uh oh, Norwich down.
Repeated playing of Andrew's game may make me bash my head into a wall, putting me in a coma, so that part's kinda the same.
Also, based on Ferdinand and Evans' performance, Vidic is probably the player of the year in the EPL
German games are heating up. Koln up 2-0 on Cottbus. Stuttgart put a second past the leaders. Wolfsburg up 2-0 on Bielefeld and Dortmund have taken the single goal lead on Bremen.
Yeah, the Bundesliga is the most exciting league this year. 5 clubs have legit shots of taking home the title.
SAMMMMMMMMMY...SAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMY
GET IN. F#$K YOU REF. GET IN 1-1
CAMON NORWICH!!!
Agreed. Come on Norwich.
Wow FSC just showed the Scholes handball.... What a sloppy play!
And GET IN NORWICH!
Shwarzer is GIANT in goal, saving two sure goals back to back!
I picked up Danny Murphy in fantasy this weekend. That is the first time one of my new fantasy pickups hasn't totally shit the bed.
How much time is left in the United game? I kinda just got up.
15 plus added...
MODRIC!
Its upside down day in the prem today!
@Adam - I really hope that doesn't apply to the Arsenal - Newcastle game.
Sky sports Soccer Saturday is a lot of fun, so much yelling and the host is so dramatic.
5 plus added to go...cmon FFC
C'MON FULHAM!!!
I'll be back for the Gunners match. Spec, will you be here to trump every observation I make? Any other takes for Andrew's game?
2-0!!!!!!!!! Gera
GERA!!!!!
and rooney is OFF!!!!!! Holy shit SAF is going to turn purple after this one...
Yes, Fulham, yes. Bring Man U back into the pack. Good on you, Cottagers.
Oh god this just keeps getting better. Now Rooney's off
Me too Sarah, I'm a little nervous now with the way everythings going today.
@Adam, Sarah, et al. - I'm ansty about today's match. Gunners can make up significant ground, and put some distance between them and Everton and Villa. This is a critical, critical day. Not that you guys didn't already know that.
Bad day for runty red-heads at the Cottage.
If Arsenal and Liverpool win I will be happy as hell.
Oh, Fulham. I love you.
And yes, I'm nervous about the match too. We've been so unpredictable lately, so I have no idea what to expect.
Best part of Man U loss.... Two weeks until they play again thanks to internationals. So two weeks of "Man U's Epic Collapse" stories in the British media.
Meanwhile, Exeter wound up losing. Dammit.
I really don't want Stoke to stay up this year, I wish Boro could have won that one, but I guess you can't play Liverpool every day.
yes......1-1. great point City. Plymouth and Forest lost. 2 point away from zone now. What a result....Up the City, Bryan Gunn is a god!
@Teek: Amazing that Southgate still has a job!
wow...what a save by gomes.
Gomez with a great save! And Lennon with a shocking play on the other end.
Wait, why am I rooting for Spurs? Ugh!
because chelsea is the root of all evil.
i can't believe lennon just blew that.
Ballack could not look any more 'toast' if he were actually mad of bread singed brown by an electric device.
Holy shit and Danny Murphy scored? I swear to god, the man just has some strange knock for beating United. I love him to bits.
how did that not go in for chelski?
i have no idea but i'm not complaining
Wowee zowee what a day!
Okay, no Michael Owen for Newcastle.... This should be a walk in the park for the Arsenal, and yet I somehow have a feeling it will be a slog.
I have faith in RVP and Arshavin.
O/U on missed sitters from Bendtner is 3. I'm taking the over
Over.
Other league round up
Falkirk demolished Inverness CT 4-0. Rangers gave up a two goal HT lead at home to draw 2-2 with Hearts. Hamilton-St Mirren and Hibs-Aberdeen both finished at 0-0. I hate my club.
Bundesliga leaders Hertha Berlin did end up losing to Stuttgart by the 2-0 scoreline. Bayern are in second after a 1-0 win over bottom Karlsruhe and Wolfsburg are in third after their 3-0 away win. Hoff and Hannover played to a 2-2 draw. Hoff are really struggling anymore.
Greetings, all. The kid's in bed for a (hopefully) 2 hour nap, the wife's out of town, and the beer's cold. I just now saw the results of this morning's games. Anyone know how Deuce did?
I know he fought off food poisoning to play, I don't know about how he did.
80 minutes, yellow card for fantasy purposes.
Decent shot by Bendtner. He's got the under so far.
Holy shit, Bendtner got that on goal.
This game has to open at some point, right?
Deuce started on the left wing, was pretty active, but nothing more impactful than a few speculative 20-25 yarders before he was pulled after 80+. Announcers mentioned he had food poisoning during the week, which might explain his lack of greater impact...(I missed the first 15 or so, so I can't speak to the early minutes)
Spectator, how do you do that?
That could have been a hand ball. Came of Bendtner's head into the defender's elbow. No protests, though.
And then a corner screwed out of bounds.
@Goat: Because I AM THE CHAMPION of the UF comments. (heh)
I think it's funny how the announcer thinks that Rosicky is coming back.
Oh yeah.
He must be the only one. The rest of us have given up.
Screw you, Duff.
My goals in Iraq is down and justin and his television aren't helping. Any suggestions?
I'm confused. I thought Almunia was the vice captain.
Duff? More like Muff, amiright?
FSC, Andrew.
I don't think Rosicky actually exists.
@Lennon's Eyebrow: He's a mythical creature, like that Brazilian center mid Arsene thinks he has.
Damn RVP's chocolate leg
I honestly can't even remember watching Rosicky play for Arsenal. I remember him from the World Cup, and I remember being happy we signed him, but that's about it.
And I'm having major stream issues too, sorry.
PK, Andrew. SAVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hahaha.... Newcastle blows. That was a crap penno call, terrible shot by Martins.
That was a bad penalty
Almunia!
Martins saved.
PK was on Almunia after he dropped a high ball and tackled the NUFC player that was on the ball.
@Umlaut: really? That's pretty damn phenomenal. I won't do it today, but I'll keep it in my pocket for a rainy day.
Damn this sustained pressure. I don't like it.
Yes, Almunia! That should kill NUFC's confidence, right?
Yeah. Lemme find the link.
Taylor with the nice block there
Just me or is this game unusually quiet? Does someone need to wake up the Geordies?
@Andrew
at that link it may tell you to join the audience or some shit but just click that and it'll work
@ Andrew- FSC Broadband for when Mesopotamia is not meeting you needs.
How soon until Owen is in MLS?
Oh jesus Taylor with a shiver to Arshavin.... deserves a red.
How is that not a card?
Red for that, come on. Yellow at least. He sized up Arshavin (which is tough to do).
Thank you, Clichy.
Halsey sucks. Should be a YC, minimum.
Thanks for the help fellas. I managed to get a stream. C'mon Gunners!!
Nuke showing some good pressure, which makes me nauseous.
Is there any reason they keep showing these near-suicidal Newcastle fans? I kinda get that Newcastle isn't very good this year
NCFC's fans, at least, are feeling it. Come on Arsenal.
These ads on this stream are confusing. One just offered me cheat codes for a movie.
Oooooh nice run by Arshavin! You know, for all the jokes about his short height, he has a low center of gravity and great ball control. Love the signing.
Teeknuts, every time they show a Newcastle fan I'm reminded of that picture of the fat, shirtless dude with NUFC tattooed on his ample belly standing next to Mike Ashley. It's not a pleasant image.
He's like Barry Sanders.
Newcastle's players sure are clumsy lummoxes. No wonder they're in the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is being Arsenal.... sigh.
I can see him giving Vidic and Ferdinand trouble if they meet in the CL
Future Arsenal signing Bassong is coming off.
Oh and that shot of some Geordie's dress up as Mexicans with sombreros and mustaches. What???
Yeah, I'm pretty thrilled we shelled out the extra cash to Zenit this summer for Arshavin and we wound up taking more than 2 points from our first 8 games and then he didn't sign for our rivals and help them reclaim champions league football. Thanks Levy.
@Teeknuts: Too bad he's cup tied and can't play in the CL this year. Bummerz.
Hmm that would be a problem. Well when they meet at Old Trafford then. Also, if I moved to Newcastle, would is there some law that says I would have to shave my head?
Only peer pressure. And lice.
Here's the picture I'm thinking of:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q274/dale_toon/beefy__mike_ashley.jpg
Hopefully it will get stuck in your head too. If you actually cut and paste it, that is. I can't do the linky thing.
Stephen Taylor with a couple very good saves.... Arsenal turning the screw at the end of the first half. Definitely something to build upon for the second half.
Yeesh. Was that really necessary?
It was the only way to get it out of my head and into yours.
Is this like The Ring, where I need to show that to someone else to avoid horrible nightmares?
We've used that photo before. It got similar reactions.
Ha ha. Nova is drubbing UCLA. UCLA sucks it up one game after I wanted them to.
I just switched over to the Colaship game, and I believe it is safe to say that if you are ever to be lost at sea, a Reading away jersey would be the shirt of choice. Its a shade of orange that I believe can be seen from low earth orbit...
There's no avoiding the nightmares.
Is that game really still 0-0?
I move that that pic never been shown here again. I was just about to eat. So much for that.
@Teek - unfortunately for you, we've all seen it already, and there are no "tagbacks." You need to email to some unsuspecting schlub.
still 0-0, doesn't seem like much of a game to watch, though. Granted, that's only watching a few minutes here and there - I might have missed the good parts...
Who's liveblogging the Crew game tonight?
That gets a yellow?
Can we get a gif of Rooney throeing the ball, getting his red, then punching the corner flag on the way out?
I was just kidding about the Crew game. There's no need to fight amongst yourselves over who gets to do it.
c'mon, Goat - you didn't enjoy my Sounders v Red Bull liveblog?
That was almost a horrible mistake by the defender, he was lucky there
NYK, unfortunately I missed most of it. Your liveblog, not the game.
Get rid of Diaby. Can't do a thing with the ball if the last third.
HAHAHAHAHA The Useless Dane!
GET IN NICKLAS!
Wait, Bendtner? You're joking right?
I've always loved that Bendtner kid.
Never mind
Thank Jeebus Diaby didn't send that ball in.
That's something right there. Entertaining match.
&^(*&^@*^%$@&^$%*&
Martins equalized... Gallas cleared it right into his feet. 45 seconds between goals.
Is Gallas credited with an assist on that one?
Is Taylor hurt?
Screw you defense.
Okay, if NUFC now has zero central defenders playing, Arsenal should be able to score, right?
It seems like ManU and Newcastle have somehow switched places today--Newcastle appears to be unable to get a card while ManU gets two reds.
ABOU DIABY!
Fuck yeah.
And, uh, good job on Diaby.
Reading should have just given up a PK, but the ref says it was a millimeter outside the box. It was defender's 2nd YC, so Reading down to 10, still 0-0
And to answer my own question: yes. Diaby with a great goal on a give and go straight down the middle!
That was great build up to the goal. Impressive.
Where all you Diaby haters at now?
DIABY AND BENDTNER?!?!?!111!!?!?!
If you'll now excuse me, I'll be preparing for the doomsday.
Right here, Goat. I owned up to it.
Me, I'm just a Diaby disliker.
sweet mullet on that Geordie
Michael Owen has 25 minutes to get an injury after running his mouth this week. Think it will happen?
3-1
I'm just kidding. I still hate Bendtner and Diaby.
michael owen scores right? he always scores coming back from injury.
steven taylor off...arsenal should get another goal.
speak of the devil. nasri.
So they replaced an injured player with someone who's gonna get injured?
And now the rout is on finally! Nasri with a goal off RvP assist.
Nasriiiiii :D
SAMIR NASRI!
Nasri on the other hand
I don't even think I had gotten around to hating on Nasri yet. Slow down Arsenal. I can't keep up.
Couple of nice saves there.
harper with some nice work.
Once again, nice play leading to the goal. Jesus, Harper made at least 3 good saves there
Harper has actually had a great game.
Shay wouldn't have Given up Nasri's goal...
/tip your waitress
Oh, and: JUMP!
So its bizzaro prem day for Arsenal fans in a different, but good way, Diaby and Bendtner, WTF
Arsenal really could be up five or six goals right now.
Goddamn, Harper. Some top notch stuff from him today.
harper again. he'll get a nice workout this half...although he already has.
another fantastic save from Harper there, but RvP has had a great game.
damn, they just unintentionally shouted out "Avoiding the Drop"
Any idea how many times you guys have gone over 200 comments?
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