FC Barcelona are seven points back in the title race as they travel to face Osasuna in the Spanish Primera Division (La Liga). The match will take place at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 14:00 EST (USA Eastern), 19:00 GMT (UK time), and 20:00 CET (Central Europe).

Osasuna v FC Barcelona TV Listings

The match will be televised on GolTV (USA/Canada), C+ (Spain/Poland/Sweden/Finland/Norway), Canal 9 (Denmark), Digi Sport (Romania), Sky Sports 4 (UK), Sky Calcio (Italy), Sport TV2 (Portugal), Sport 2 (Hungary/Czech Republic/Slovakia), Sport 5 (Israel), SuperSport (Africa), and Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East)..

Osasuna v FC Barcelona United Preview

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola

“We’re in an extreme situation, the only good result is victory. We have to move forward with a fighting spirit, effort, and belief.”

“when you get to a final it always reinforces you. We started with six titles; we won three, in the other [competition] we’re in the final and we have two more competitions to close out the season. We have to keep doing our work to maintain people’s faith in us.”

“it’s one of the hardest tests we have left this season … we went there a month ago to play in the Cup, and it wasn’t easy. In fact, it’s always been difficult for us in that stadium.”

“January was a tough month, we played against great teams without much rest. Once we reached our goal [Cup final], the team trained well, what I say made me optimistic.”

“he’s not ready. The wound on his knee and stitches need to heal correctly, if not, we run the risk of losing him for two or three weeks. He is getting better, we’ll see how his injury evolves and if we can bring him with us to Germany.”

Team La Liga Stats

Upcoming La Liga Fixtures

Osasuna v FC Barcelona Prediction

Barcelona wins 2-0

Osasuna v FC Barcelona Betting Odds

Osasuna win – 17/2

Draw – 4/1

Barcelona win – 1/3

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Osasuna v FC Barcelona – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – La Liga – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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AC Milan can go top of the league table as they travel to face 4th place Udinese in the Italian Serie A. The match will take place at the Stadio Friuli Udine, Italy on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 EST (USA Eastern), 17:00 GMT (UK time), and 18:00 CET (Central Europe).

Udinese v AC Milan TV Listings

The match will be televised on Fox Soccer Plus (USA), C+ (Spain/Poland/Denmark/Finland/Norway), Sky Calcio (Italy), Digi Sport (Hungary/Romania), Sport TV3 (Portugal), SuperSport (Africa), TV4 Sport (Sweden), Sport 1 (Netherlands), and Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East).

Udinese v AC Milan United Preview

AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri

“We need to get back putting points on the table. We’ve lost three of the last five games but the team is fine, the injured players are slowly coming back and of course when things are going bad you see the situation as worse than it really is. Udinese is a tough team to face; they have players who cover a lot of ground with good technique so it’ll be a difficult match as always.

Tactically it’ll be difficult we’ll have to be patient but most of all we’ll have to be a bit more attentive and when we push forward, we’ll have to keep an eye on the defense as well.  Sometimes, maybe because of over confidence we create dangers for ourselves that can be avoided.

There’s definitely no crisis as we’re still on course for all three trophies and so right now, we have to talk less and work hard, concentrating on what happens on the pitch and the rest will take care of itself. We haven’t started any arguments. There have been some comments made from Juventus that I’ve heard and read but I won’t speak of that.

We have to get back to getting results, thinking only of what happens on the pitch and not of past defeats and having the inner strength that comes from still being in all three competitions. Ibra made a mistake in that situation with Aronica and he paid for that little ‘exchange’ but I don’t think it’s right to go on and on about it because up until then he had behaved impeccably and he’ll come back even more serene.

There aren’t many changes to be made. At the moment, we need a bit more attention and to play well technically. Against Juventus, we let in two goals on the counter attack in what was our best moment in the game and we could have avoided that. It could be time for Maxi Lopez to start; I have to decide about that.

Pato, Nesta and Boateng should be back for the game against Arsenal. Abbiati will be available. Flamini started playing with the ball today and he’s in decent form. I’ll put him in a couple of practice games and we’ll see how he does but physically, he’s okay.”

“Maybe we need to be a bit more careful because sometime you fall victim to over confidence and in some moments you can be made to pay for that. We shouldn’t be thinking about Juventus because they’re ahead of us and if they keep on winning, there’s nothing we can do. Maxi Lopez is not yet ready for a full 90 minutes.

He’s working hard and he’s integrating himself well. He’ll be useful from here to May. We have even more determination and ager than Juventus when we look for the win and the anger and the attention have be used in equal doses.  In some cases we’ve been made to pay a high price for taking our eye off the ball.

Going and saying what I think of what Chiellini did would make no sense and wouldn’t serve any purpose. We don’t create problems with the referees and we won’t in the future. It sometimes happens that in the last 15 minutes of the game we’ve played with a different formation but the lack of results doesn’t depend on that, it depends on much more important things.

I’m happy with Robinho, looking at the numbers he moves well and gives us continuity.  Compared to last year, he’s a few goals behind and little by little he’s getting back in form. Pirlo is a Juventus player. He and the club made a choice at the end of the season and to come back and talk about past questions would be futile and would lead to nothing. We have to face up to the situation.

If we don’t have Ibrahimovic for the net few games we have other players who will want to make sure that we don’t miss him. Lately, it’s always been the same players on the pitch, a game every three days, like at the start of the season. At the month we have to try and play our games a bit differently because the players on the field have different characteristics to the ones that are not available.

There’s a lot of desire to get a result and when it doesn’t come, the team has to close up, like they did against Napoli when down to 10 men. We have to cut out the lapses in concentration that are making us concede goals at the moment. I’m sure that at the end of the season, Milan will be fighting with Juventus for the title.”

Udinese manager Fracesco Guidolin

“Ibrahimovic is a crucial player for Milan but Milan are packed with talent, they are the Italian champions and in terms of quality, they have the best side in Serie A.

“I’m sure they can push though any absence.”

Team Serie A Stats

Upcoming Serie A Fixtures

Udinese v AC Milan Prediction

1-1 Draw

Udinese v AC Milan Betting Odds

Udinese win – 29/20

Draw – 2/1

AC Milan win – 9/5

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Udinese v AC Milan – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – Serie A – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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Newcastle United have won four of their last five league matches as they travel to face third place Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. The match will take place at White Hart Lane in London, England on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 EST (USA Eastern), 17:30 GMT (UK time), and 18:30 CET (Central Europe).

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United TV Listings

The match will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel (USA), Rogers Sportsnet (Canada), C+ (Spain), Digi Sport (Romania/Slovakia/Czech Republic), LIG TV (Turkey), Sky Sport (Italy), Sport 1 (Israel), SuperSport (Africa), TV3 (Sweden), TV2 PL (Norway), and Abu Dhabi Sports (Middle East).

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Preview

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp

“It’s great to be back.”

“It (the trial) knocked me for six.

“I haven’t felt so good for the last couple of days. I went down with the flu. I was a bit low but I feel good today (Friday). It was always a case of things were going well on the pitch, but I always had that other thing hanging over me – that was a problem for me. Thankfully it’s gone now so we will move on.”

“I’m just getting on with my job. I am trying to pick a team for Newcastle and then for next week at Stevenage.

“All my focus is just on Tottenham. It’s been hard to get where we are and this is my job. This is what I get paid to do.”

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew

“It’s a game where tactically we have to be astute and make sure we stay in the match.”

“Spurs play some fantastic football, and in Gareth Bale they have perhaps the best player in the Premier League in terms of effective ability.

“They make it very difficult for you, they retain the ball and Scotty Parker has improved them considerably.

“So it is tough opposition, but the one thing we’ve done all year is surprise people, and hopefully we can surprise people again.

“They are not in our sights – they are way past us. But we are just nagging away and that’s where we should be because we are a big club.

“This game isn’t the be all and end all for us. After this one Cabaye and Cheick Tiote come back into our squad and that will make us considerably stronger. But this is still a game where the squad must rise to the challenge.”

“I think it will be very doubtful that we will see Leon (again this season), and that is a shame for us because he has been great.”

“We have lost three or four players to long-term injuries, and have been a bit unlucky with that.Steven Taylor, (Sylvain) Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi and now Leon, so we have been unlucky on that front.

“We’ve also lost Ryan Taylor I think for this weekend, so it is really disappointing.

“But in terms of the players we do have available, they are in good form and we can take that into Spurs.”

“It’s a big game in the Premier League.”

“We’ve got ourselves in a great position, although we have some injuries so there are a few out. But we are still going to go there in good heart and hopefully get the right result.

“We can only go and do the best job we can do. We are a strong team and we are in good form, so we just have to take that into the arena.”

Team EPL Stats

Upcoming EPL Fixtures

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur wins 3-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Betting Odds

Tottenham win – 4/9

Draw – 10/3

Newcastle win – 6/1

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Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – EPL – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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The Black Cats have won their last three league matches as they host 6th place Arsenal in the English Premier League. The match will take place at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 EST (USA Eastern), 15:00 GMT (UK time), and 16:00 CET (Central Europe).

Sunderland v Arsenal TV Listings

The match will be televised on Fox Soccer Plus (USA), Rogers Sportsnet (Canada), C+ (Spain), Digi Sport (Romania/Slovakia/Czech Republic), LIG TV (Turkey), Sky Sport (Italy), Sport 1 (Israel), SuperSport (Africa), TV3 (Sweden), TV2 PL (Norway), and Abu Dhabi Sports (Middle East).

Sunderland v Arsenal Preview

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

“We go into a period that will decide our season. I think it is that important because in one week we play three games in three different competitions.

“In every single competition we are, of course, in a position where we want to win our games.

“It did not come off [last season] because one big disappointment can have a consequence on the next one.

“It makes me confident [this time] because I feel the team has the mental strength and a fantastic attitude on a daily basis. And from what we have learned from last year.”

“I felt that Sunderland were a bit unlucky at the start of the season with Steve Bruce.”

“Sometimes when a team has a recent negative history they lose confidence, and a new manager coming in with the experience of Martin O’Neill always helps to boost the side. They are a good team and I am not surprised.

“I don’t know too much what he has done on a daily basis but he has improved their results.

“They have done well and we are doing well. We have rebuilt our confidence and it is important that we go there in a positive mind and that we come back with three points.”

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill

“Arsenal scored seven goals last week and are in decent form. It’s always a tough game.

“We have a bit of confidence ourselves and will go into the game with plenty of respect, but hopefully no great fear.

“We can only deal with the game in front of us and try to get that won if we can. Then we will look to the next one. That is the best approach.”

“Confidence has been a major thing. Who knows how you get it – perhaps winning football matches, which is very important.

“Perhaps it’s players getting back on the training ground and gaining confidence from doing things they’ve been used to doing before.

“It is probably eking out victories in front of crowds; we’ve been able to do that, so confidence should be high at the moment.”

“The general view is that the city of Sunderland lives for football, which is great. It’s a proper footballing area.

“The club itself is really important to [the fans], and if we win a couple of football matches it lifts everyone’s spirits. If we’re down in the doldrums, it seems to reflect on the city.

“It’s gone very well indeed. I’m reluctant to tell you that we’ve solved every single problem – far from it – but it’s nice to win a few games.”

Team EPL Stats

Upcoming EPL Fixtures

Sunderland v Arsenal Prediction

1-1 Draw

Sunderland v Arsenal Betting Odds

Sunderland win – 12/5

Draw – 12/5

Arsenal win – 11/10

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Sunderland v Arsenal – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – EPL – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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Chelsea are unbeaten in their last five league matches as they travel to face 11th place Everton in the English Premier League. The match will take place at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 EST (USA Eastern), 15:00 GMT (UK time), and 16:00 CET (Central Europe).

Everton v Chelsea TV Listings

The match will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel (USA), Rogers Sportsnet (Canada), LIG TV (Turkey), C+ (Finland/France), Digi Sport (Romania/Hungary), Setanta Sports (Ireland), Sport 1 (Israel/Russia), Sport TV1 (Portugal), SportKlub (Croatia/Serbia), SuperSport (Africa), TV2 Sport PL (Denmark), Viasat (Sweden), and Abu Dhabi Sports (Middle East).

Everton v Chelsea Preview

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas

‘At the moment it has been very good, very positive. There is greater empathy and motivation for next year’s project. That was what was transmitted to me.’

‘There is greater empathy and motivation for next year’s project. That was what was transmitted to me.

‘In the past years there was a pattern of managers shifting and in the end you have to agree that from 2004 Chelsea has been massively successful, the best period of Chelsea’s history and hopefully we can progress that within this three-year range with me here.

‘When we set out with this team we believed in being ready for four trophies. We had a transfer window open and didn’t do any market activity apart from Gary [Cahill] and are confident still in trying to reach the objectives we have for this season with this team and then move on to next year.’

‘He knows a lot, Roman is a very informed person, on European and English football,’ said the 34-year-old. ‘It is good to have an opinion, even regarding what we think about next year and what players might be of interest to us.

‘We have to find the right targets. Getting Oriol Romeu at five million Euros was fantastic, and you couldn’t say he is not up to Premier League standard, so it is possible but normally you prefer to take top talent that takes less time to adapt and can play straight away.

‘[He asks about] the running of training and what we are doing on the exercises. When I was here [before] he was almost a “salute” relationship and nothing else – now it is more active and I think very positive.

‘He is a good person to share knowledge with, he asks questions and I try to give answers on what I do. It is like a normal club president and manager relationship, nothing different from that.’

Everton manager David Moyes

“You always want to play well and win the games, that doesn’t change and it would be nice to do it again. We’ve tended to be better in the second half of the season for whatever reason that is, but let’s hope this is a bit of a run we’re on and we can keep it going.

“Chelsea are a really tough team to beat and they’ve got good players, so it’ll be a really tough game for us. But we’ve always felt that we could compete against the better teams so we want to try and show that.

“I know we lost down there [in October] and we lost in extra time of the League Cup, but I think over the piece we’ve done okay against Chelsea.”

“Over the years, we’ve always sort of embraced these games because we’ve always been seen as the underdogs a little and we’ve always tried to come out with a bit of bulldog spirit and show people what we’re all about.

“We’ve always tried to put on a show if we can and try and do something for the supporters, especially when we’ve come up against sides that have built their teams costing many millions and with some great players.

“But when you cross the white line, nobody’s talking about that – they’re only thinking about the players who are out there.”

“I think it’s always hard when you take over a big club with big expectations. And that’s what Chelsea have. And I think they’ve got a really good team Chelsea.

“They look as if they’re trying to change some bits of the way they play and I think they’re trying to change some players around, so that takes time. It’s always difficult because people want instant results all the time and it doesn’t always happen in football, it doesn’t always work that way.”

“It’s always good when John Terry’s not in the side because he’s an excellent player and he’s a great captain.”

Team EPL Stats

Upcoming EPL Fixtures

Everton v Chelsea Prediction

1-1 Draw

Everton v Chelsea Betting Odds

Everton win – 9/4

Draw – 23/10

Chelsea win – 5/4

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Everton v Chelsea – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – EPL – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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Celtic have not lost a league match since early October as they host 10th place Inverness in the Scottish Premier League. The match will take place at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 EST (USA Eastern), 15:00 GMT (UK time), and 16:00 CET (Central Europe).

Celtic v Inverness TV Listings

The match will not be televised.

Celtic v Inverness Preview

Celtic manager Neil Lennon

“It doesn’t seem like 100 games – it seems like a lot more. We have crammed so much in. There have been some great highs and some very bad lows.

“But that’s life at Celtic for you - I’m sure it’s life at every major club. I thoroughly enjoy the job and the challenges that lie ahead.

“You are never comfortable because you ever only one adverse result away from a crisis, if you want to call it that, and some things get blown out of proportion.

“What I’ve been able to do is keep a level mood, going through the bad spell, and now we’re going through a good spell, just staying on a plain which suits the players and me best.

“I think there’s a general good feeling around the club at the minute but that comes with results.

“Ultimately, when you’re involved with one of the major Glasgow clubs, you’re judged on silverware and that’s our main aim this year. And then by the end of the season, you can judge it then.”

“Inverness are a good side. Terry Butcher will have them well motivated and they have caused us problems here in he past.

“From last week, they will be hoping to play better and have more impact on the game and it is up to us to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

Inverness manager Terry Butcher

“We’re looking for more spirit from the players, more hunger and desire, and more togetherness as well.

“If someone does make a mistake, we need someone to bail them out and make sure they do to their team-mates what they would like done to themselves.

“I’m sure we’ll get back to that. I’m sure we’ll do well down there – you generally get an opportunity to play and get some time on the ball.

“We want to show them how well we can play.”

Team SPL Stats

Upcoming SPL Fixtures

Celtic v Inverness Prediction

Celtic wins 3-1

Celtic v Inverness Betting Odds

Celtic win – 2/9

Draw – 5/1

Inverness win – 12/1

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Celtic v Inverness – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – SPL – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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Rangers look to close the gap in the title race as they travel to face Dunfermline in the Scottish Premier League. The match will take place at East End Park in Dunfermline, Scotland on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 07:00 EST (USA Eastern), 12:00 GMT (UK time), and 13:00 CET (Central Europe).

Dunfermline v Rangers TV Listings

The match will be televised on Setanta Sports (Africa/Australia), Rogers Sportsnet (Canada), Orange Sport (Poland), ESPN (UK), ONE Sport (Israel), Sport TV2 (Portugal), SportKlub+ (SE Europe), Sport 1 (Hungary/Romania/Czech Republic/Slovakia), and Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East).

Dunfermline v Rangers Preview

Rangers manager Ally McCoist

“We have to keep asking questions and keep winning games.

“Everybody at our club knows the importance of that.

“It’s a massive game for us on Saturday for a number of reasons, coming back off the defeat in the cup and having to maintain our league challenge.”

“We had a very good performance there earlier in the season on what was a good day, but to counter that they made it very difficult for us at Ibrox.

“The thing that Jim’s squad has is real great and determination. They knew it would be difficult for them when they came up to the SPL but they’re making a real fight of it.

“That will make it a difficult game for us and coming off the back of a disappointment at the weekend we have a lot to prove on Saturday.”

McCoist has clearly been impressed enough by the set up at East End Park despite the SPL new boys finding themselves at the foot of the table.

“It’s important for Kyle, like anyone, to play. He wants that and he had a spell at Partick Thistle where he was playing on a regular basis.

“One thing we wanted was for him to sign a new contract here before he went to get experience of playing and now he’s gone to a very good club to do that.

“He feels he wants to educate himself and bring himself on by playing in the SPL and it was the natural step up from his spell at Partick Thistle.

“We want him to come back as a stronger and more educated player that can hopefully break in to the first team and stay there.

“We hope it will be an experience for him and I’ve said before that I’m not averse to the boys going out on loan.

“You look at some of the boys who have done it before and it’s certainly been a benefit, with Allan McGregor and Charlie Adam two that spring to mind.”

Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre

“Anytime an Old Firm team loses a game it is all about the Old Firm rather than how well Dundee United played. I thought Dundee United played really well. I am sure that Rangers will not be happy with the way they played but United were excellent and all credit should go to them for their performance rather than it was a case of ‘the Old Firm weren’t at the races’.

“United started well and made sure that they were right at it from the first whistle. For all Rangers troubles at the minute, they are a good side and they have good players. Obviously things have not gone their way in the last couple of weeks losing some key players but we have got to look after ourselves and try and get a result.”

“You have to put pressure on yourself to go and get results. We are in a dog fight for our lives here and we have to make sure that we pick up as many points as we can and that’s what we will be trying to do.”

“They scored against the run of play, then they dominated the game and we scored against the run of play. That was the story of the first half really. The second half could have gone either way with both teams having really good opportunities to score.

“The performance at Aberdeen was good and we deserved more out of it. At Motherwell we got what we deserved but at Kilmarnock we were excellent. So in our recent performances we have not been far away and I think it is important to remember that we have picked up four points from Killie in the last three weeks. Kilmarnock were a top six side for a wee while there so we are not too far away.

“There’s no doubt that adding players has put us in better shape. We had good players here but we needed help and the new arrivals can provide that.”

“Anytime you perform well against the Old Firm – we did it at Parkhead as well – you have to weather the storm. You need to defend well and your goalkeeper needs to play well. Nothing changes on that front, you need to grow into the game and it is important that you do not concede early.”

“He is still in a fair bit of discomfort so it is not looking likely but then with back spasms there can be dramatic improvements so we will just have to wait and see.”

Team SPL Stats

Upcoming SPL Fixtures

Dunfermline v Rangers Prediction

Rangers win 2-0

Dunfermline v Rangers Betting Odds

Dunfermline win – 10/1

Draw – 4/1

Rangers win – 2/7

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Dunfermline v Rangers – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – SPL – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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Manchester United can go top of the table with a win as they host rivals Liverpool in the English Premier League. The match will take place at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 07:45 EST (USA Eastern), 12:45 GMT (UK time), and 13:45 CET (Central Europe).

Manchester United v Liverpool TV Listings

The match will be televised on ESPN2 (USA), TSN2 (Canada), LIG TV (Turkey), Digi Sport (Romania/Hungary/Slovakia/Czech Republic), C+ (Finland/Poland/France), Sky Sport (Italy), Sky Sports 2 (UK), Sport 1 (Israel/Russia), Sport TV1 (Portugal), SportKlub (Croatia/Serbia/Slovenia), SuperSport (Africa), Viasat (Sweden), and Abu Dhabi Sports (Middle East).

Manchester United v Liverpool Preview

Man Utd manager Alex Ferguson

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish

“It is a huge game. Everyone looks forward to it on both sides and it is important for both clubs to get something from the game.”

“For us, we know we are capable of getting something as we’ve done it, we have beaten them twice and drawn once at Anfield so that gives us a bit of encouragement.

“But anything we want from the game we will have to earn it on the day and we will work as hard as we have done to get the previous results and see if we can get success.

“We know what we have had to do in the past. We have the utmost respect for what they have achieved and what they have got and we will do our best to repeat the performances we have put on against them.

“There is a lot you can take into it, but on Saturday you only get out of it what you put into it.

“It is a fantastic place to go and play, but it is even more enjoyable when you walk away with a positive result.”

“We know they’re an excellent side who came back from 3-0 at Chelsea last week,”

“That will give them a lift even though they only got a point, so we know what we’re up against.”

Team EPL Stats

Upcoming EPL Fixtures

Manchester United v Liverpool Prediction

Manchester United wins 3-2

Manchester United v Liverpool Betting Odds

Man Utd win – 5/6

Draw – 13/5

Liverpool win – 10/3

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Manchester United v Liverpool – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – EPL – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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Below are predictions for all the EPL matches on February 11, 2012. Times listed are GMT or local UK time.

English Premier League Match Predictions

Saturday, 11 February 2012

Man Utd v Liverpool, 12:45 – Man Utd wins 3-2

Blackburn v QPR, 15:00 – QPR wins 2-1

Bolton v Wigan, 15:00 – 0-0 Draw

Everton v Chelsea, 15:00 – 1-1 Draw

Fulham v Stoke City, 15:00 – Fulham wins 1-0

Sunderland v Arsenal, 15:00 – 1-1 Draw

Swansea v Norwich, 15:00 – Swansea wins 2-1

Tottenham v Newcastle, 17:30 – Tottenham wins 3-1

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English Premier League Match Predictions – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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Below are predictions for all the La Liga matches on February 11, 2012. Times listed below are GMT or local UK time.

Spanish Primera Division (La Liga) Match Predictions 

Saturday, 11 February 2012

Racing Santander v Atletico Madrid, 17:00 – Atletico wins 2-1

Osasuna v Barcelona, 19:00 – Barcelona wins 2-0

Real Betis v Athletic Bilbao, 21:00 – 1-1 Draw

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Spanish Primera Division (La Liga) Match Predictions – 11 February 2012 – The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

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FC Barcelona are seven points back in the title race as they travel to face Osasuna in the Spanish Primera Division (La Liga). The match will take place at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 14:00 EST (USA Eastern), 19:00 GMT (UK time), and 20:00 CET (Central Europe).

Osasuna v FC Barcelona TV Listings

The match will be televised on GolTV (USA/Canada), C+ (Spain/Poland/Sweden/Finland/Norway), Canal 9 (Denmark), Digi Sport (Romania), Sky Sports 4 (UK), Sky Calcio (Italy), Sport TV2 (Portugal), Sport 2 (Hungary/Czech Republic/Slovakia), Sport 5 (Israel), SuperSport (Africa), and Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East)..

Osasuna v FC Barcelona United Preview

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola

“We’re in an extreme situation, the only good result is victory. We have to move forward with a fighting spirit, effort, and belief.”

“when you get to a final it always reinforces you. We started with six titles; we won three, in the other [competition] we’re in the final and we have two more competitions to close out the season. We have to keep doing our work to maintain people’s faith in us.”

“it’s one of the hardest tests we have left this season … we went there a month ago to play in the Cup, and it wasn’t easy. In fact, it’s always been difficult for us in that stadium.”

“January was a tough month, we played against great teams without much rest. Once we reached our goal [Cup final], the team trained well, what I say made me optimistic.”

“he’s not ready. The wound on his knee and stitches need to heal correctly, if not, we run the risk of losing him for two or three weeks. He is getting better, we’ll see how his injury evolves and if we can bring him with us to Germany.”

Team La Liga Stats

Upcoming La Liga Fixtures

Osasuna v FC Barcelona Prediction

Barcelona wins 2-0

Osasuna v FC Barcelona Betting Odds

Osasuna win – 17/2

Draw – 4/1

Barcelona win – 1/3

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AC Milan can go top of the league table as they travel to face 4th place Udinese in the Italian Serie A. The match will take place at the Stadio Friuli Udine, Italy on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 EST (USA Eastern), 17:00 GMT (UK time), and 18:00 CET (Central Europe).

Udinese v AC Milan TV Listings

The match will be televised on Fox Soccer Plus (USA), C+ (Spain/Poland/Denmark/Finland/Norway), Sky Calcio (Italy), Digi Sport (Hungary/Romania), Sport TV3 (Portugal), SuperSport (Africa), TV4 Sport (Sweden), Sport 1 (Netherlands), and Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East).

Udinese v AC Milan United Preview

AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri

“We need to get back putting points on the table. We’ve lost three of the last five games but the team is fine, the injured players are slowly coming back and of course when things are going bad you see the situation as worse than it really is. Udinese is a tough team to face; they have players who cover a lot of ground with good technique so it’ll be a difficult match as always.

Tactically it’ll be difficult we’ll have to be patient but most of all we’ll have to be a bit more attentive and when we push forward, we’ll have to keep an eye on the defense as well.  Sometimes, maybe because of over confidence we create dangers for ourselves that can be avoided.

There’s definitely no crisis as we’re still on course for all three trophies and so right now, we have to talk less and work hard, concentrating on what happens on the pitch and the rest will take care of itself. We haven’t started any arguments. There have been some comments made from Juventus that I’ve heard and read but I won’t speak of that.

We have to get back to getting results, thinking only of what happens on the pitch and not of past defeats and having the inner strength that comes from still being in all three competitions. Ibra made a mistake in that situation with Aronica and he paid for that little ‘exchange’ but I don’t think it’s right to go on and on about it because up until then he had behaved impeccably and he’ll come back even more serene.

There aren’t many changes to be made. At the moment, we need a bit more attention and to play well technically. Against Juventus, we let in two goals on the counter attack in what was our best moment in the game and we could have avoided that. It could be time for Maxi Lopez to start; I have to decide about that.

Pato, Nesta and Boateng should be back for the game against Arsenal. Abbiati will be available. Flamini started playing with the ball today and he’s in decent form. I’ll put him in a couple of practice games and we’ll see how he does but physically, he’s okay.”

“Maybe we need to be a bit more careful because sometime you fall victim to over confidence and in some moments you can be made to pay for that. We shouldn’t be thinking about Juventus because they’re ahead of us and if they keep on winning, there’s nothing we can do. Maxi Lopez is not yet ready for a full 90 minutes.

He’s working hard and he’s integrating himself well. He’ll be useful from here to May. We have even more determination and ager than Juventus when we look for the win and the anger and the attention have be used in equal doses.  In some cases we’ve been made to pay a high price for taking our eye off the ball.

Going and saying what I think of what Chiellini did would make no sense and wouldn’t serve any purpose. We don’t create problems with the referees and we won’t in the future. It sometimes happens that in the last 15 minutes of the game we’ve played with a different formation but the lack of results doesn’t depend on that, it depends on much more important things.

I’m happy with Robinho, looking at the numbers he moves well and gives us continuity.  Compared to last year, he’s a few goals behind and little by little he’s getting back in form. Pirlo is a Juventus player. He and the club made a choice at the end of the season and to come back and talk about past questions would be futile and would lead to nothing. We have to face up to the situation.

If we don’t have Ibrahimovic for the net few games we have other players who will want to make sure that we don’t miss him. Lately, it’s always been the same players on the pitch, a game every three days, like at the start of the season. At the month we have to try and play our games a bit differently because the players on the field have different characteristics to the ones that are not available.

There’s a lot of desire to get a result and when it doesn’t come, the team has to close up, like they did against Napoli when down to 10 men. We have to cut out the lapses in concentration that are making us concede goals at the moment. I’m sure that at the end of the season, Milan will be fighting with Juventus for the title.”

Udinese manager Fracesco Guidolin

“Ibrahimovic is a crucial player for Milan but Milan are packed with talent, they are the Italian champions and in terms of quality, they have the best side in Serie A.

“I’m sure they can push though any absence.”

Team Serie A Stats

Upcoming Serie A Fixtures

Udinese v AC Milan Prediction

1-1 Draw

Udinese v AC Milan Betting Odds

Udinese win – 29/20

Draw – 2/1

AC Milan win – 9/5

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Newcastle United have won four of their last five league matches as they travel to face third place Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. The match will take place at White Hart Lane in London, England on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 EST (USA Eastern), 17:30 GMT (UK time), and 18:30 CET (Central Europe).

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United TV Listings

The match will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel (USA), Rogers Sportsnet (Canada), C+ (Spain), Digi Sport (Romania/Slovakia/Czech Republic), LIG TV (Turkey), Sky Sport (Italy), Sport 1 (Israel), SuperSport (Africa), TV3 (Sweden), TV2 PL (Norway), and Abu Dhabi Sports (Middle East).

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Preview

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp

“It’s great to be back.”

“It (the trial) knocked me for six.

“I haven’t felt so good for the last couple of days. I went down with the flu. I was a bit low but I feel good today (Friday). It was always a case of things were going well on the pitch, but I always had that other thing hanging over me – that was a problem for me. Thankfully it’s gone now so we will move on.”

“I’m just getting on with my job. I am trying to pick a team for Newcastle and then for next week at Stevenage.

“All my focus is just on Tottenham. It’s been hard to get where we are and this is my job. This is what I get paid to do.”

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew

“It’s a game where tactically we have to be astute and make sure we stay in the match.”

“Spurs play some fantastic football, and in Gareth Bale they have perhaps the best player in the Premier League in terms of effective ability.

“They make it very difficult for you, they retain the ball and Scotty Parker has improved them considerably.

“So it is tough opposition, but the one thing we’ve done all year is surprise people, and hopefully we can surprise people again.

“They are not in our sights – they are way past us. But we are just nagging away and that’s where we should be because we are a big club.

“This game isn’t the be all and end all for us. After this one Cabaye and Cheick Tiote come back into our squad and that will make us considerably stronger. But this is still a game where the squad must rise to the challenge.”

“I think it will be very doubtful that we will see Leon (again this season), and that is a shame for us because he has been great.”

“We have lost three or four players to long-term injuries, and have been a bit unlucky with that.Steven Taylor, (Sylvain) Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi and now Leon, so we have been unlucky on that front.

“We’ve also lost Ryan Taylor I think for this weekend, so it is really disappointing.

“But in terms of the players we do have available, they are in good form and we can take that into Spurs.”

“It’s a big game in the Premier League.”

“We’ve got ourselves in a great position, although we have some injuries so there are a few out. But we are still going to go there in good heart and hopefully get the right result.

“We can only go and do the best job we can do. We are a strong team and we are in good form, so we just have to take that into the arena.”

Team EPL Stats

Upcoming EPL Fixtures

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur wins 3-1

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Betting Odds

Tottenham win – 4/9

Draw – 10/3

Newcastle win – 6/1

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The Black Cats have won their last three league matches as they host 6th place Arsenal in the English Premier League. The match will take place at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 EST (USA Eastern), 15:00 GMT (UK time), and 16:00 CET (Central Europe).

Sunderland v Arsenal TV Listings

The match will be televised on Fox Soccer Plus (USA), Rogers Sportsnet (Canada), C+ (Spain), Digi Sport (Romania/Slovakia/Czech Republic), LIG TV (Turkey), Sky Sport (Italy), Sport 1 (Israel), SuperSport (Africa), TV3 (Sweden), TV2 PL (Norway), and Abu Dhabi Sports (Middle East).

Sunderland v Arsenal Preview

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

“We go into a period that will decide our season. I think it is that important because in one week we play three games in three different competitions.

“In every single competition we are, of course, in a position where we want to win our games.

“It did not come off [last season] because one big disappointment can have a consequence on the next one.

“It makes me confident [this time] because I feel the team has the mental strength and a fantastic attitude on a daily basis. And from what we have learned from last year.”

“I felt that Sunderland were a bit unlucky at the start of the season with Steve Bruce.”

“Sometimes when a team has a recent negative history they lose confidence, and a new manager coming in with the experience of Martin O’Neill always helps to boost the side. They are a good team and I am not surprised.

“I don’t know too much what he has done on a daily basis but he has improved their results.

“They have done well and we are doing well. We have rebuilt our confidence and it is important that we go there in a positive mind and that we come back with three points.”

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill

“Arsenal scored seven goals last week and are in decent form. It’s always a tough game.

“We have a bit of confidence ourselves and will go into the game with plenty of respect, but hopefully no great fear.

“We can only deal with the game in front of us and try to get that won if we can. Then we will look to the next one. That is the best approach.”

“Confidence has been a major thing. Who knows how you get it – perhaps winning football matches, which is very important.

“Perhaps it’s players getting back on the training ground and gaining confidence from doing things they’ve been used to doing before.

“It is probably eking out victories in front of crowds; we’ve been able to do that, so confidence should be high at the moment.”

“The general view is that the city of Sunderland lives for football, which is great. It’s a proper footballing area.

“The club itself is really important to [the fans], and if we win a couple of football matches it lifts everyone’s spirits. If we’re down in the doldrums, it seems to reflect on the city.

“It’s gone very well indeed. I’m reluctant to tell you that we’ve solved every single problem – far from it – but it’s nice to win a few games.”

Team EPL Stats

Upcoming EPL Fixtures

Sunderland v Arsenal Prediction

1-1 Draw

Sunderland v Arsenal Betting Odds

Sunderland win – 12/5

Draw – 12/5

Arsenal win – 11/10

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Chelsea are unbeaten in their last five league matches as they travel to face 11th place Everton in the English Premier League. The match will take place at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 EST (USA Eastern), 15:00 GMT (UK time), and 16:00 CET (Central Europe).

Everton v Chelsea TV Listings

The match will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel (USA), Rogers Sportsnet (Canada), LIG TV (Turkey), C+ (Finland/France), Digi Sport (Romania/Hungary), Setanta Sports (Ireland), Sport 1 (Israel/Russia), Sport TV1 (Portugal), SportKlub (Croatia/Serbia), SuperSport (Africa), TV2 Sport PL (Denmark), Viasat (Sweden), and Abu Dhabi Sports (Middle East).

Everton v Chelsea Preview

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas

‘At the moment it has been very good, very positive. There is greater empathy and motivation for next year’s project. That was what was transmitted to me.’

‘There is greater empathy and motivation for next year’s project. That was what was transmitted to me.

‘In the past years there was a pattern of managers shifting and in the end you have to agree that from 2004 Chelsea has been massively successful, the best period of Chelsea’s history and hopefully we can progress that within this three-year range with me here.

‘When we set out with this team we believed in being ready for four trophies. We had a transfer window open and didn’t do any market activity apart from Gary [Cahill] and are confident still in trying to reach the objectives we have for this season with this team and then move on to next year.’

‘He knows a lot, Roman is a very informed person, on European and English football,’ said the 34-year-old. ‘It is good to have an opinion, even regarding what we think about next year and what players might be of interest to us.

‘We have to find the right targets. Getting Oriol Romeu at five million Euros was fantastic, and you couldn’t say he is not up to Premier League standard, so it is possible but normally you prefer to take top talent that takes less time to adapt and can play straight away.

‘[He asks about] the running of training and what we are doing on the exercises. When I was here [before] he was almost a “salute” relationship and nothing else – now it is more active and I think very positive.

‘He is a good person to share knowledge with, he asks questions and I try to give answers on what I do. It is like a normal club president and manager relationship, nothing different from that.’

Everton manager David Moyes

“You always want to play well and win the games, that doesn’t change and it would be nice to do it again. We’ve tended to be better in the second half of the season for whatever reason that is, but let’s hope this is a bit of a run we’re on and we can keep it going.

“Chelsea are a really tough team to beat and they’ve got good players, so it’ll be a really tough game for us. But we’ve always felt that we could compete against the better teams so we want to try and show that.

“I know we lost down there [in October] and we lost in extra time of the League Cup, but I think over the piece we’ve done okay against Chelsea.”

“Over the years, we’ve always sort of embraced these games because we’ve always been seen as the underdogs a little and we’ve always tried to come out with a bit of bulldog spirit and show people what we’re all about.

“We’ve always tried to put on a show if we can and try and do something for the supporters, especially when we’ve come up against sides that have built their teams costing many millions and with some great players.

“But when you cross the white line, nobody’s talking about that – they’re only thinking about the players who are out there.”

“I think it’s always hard when you take over a big club with big expectations. And that’s what Chelsea have. And I think they’ve got a really good team Chelsea.

“They look as if they’re trying to change some bits of the way they play and I think they’re trying to change some players around, so that takes time. It’s always difficult because people want instant results all the time and it doesn’t always happen in football, it doesn’t always work that way.”

“It’s always good when John Terry’s not in the side because he’s an excellent player and he’s a great captain.”

Team EPL Stats

Upcoming EPL Fixtures

Everton v Chelsea Prediction

1-1 Draw

Everton v Chelsea Betting Odds

Everton win – 9/4

Draw – 23/10

Chelsea win – 5/4

TO WATCH THE MATCH CLICK HERE

Por AP News Sábado, 11 de febrero de 2012

NUEVA YORK (AP) Jeremy Lin superó en anotaciones a su rival Kobe Bryant, ayudó a los Knicks a sacudirse el dominio que tenían sobre ellos los poderosos Lakers y al final se esforzó por afirmar que sólo había sido un partido más.

Pero no fue así.

Lin demostró la noche del viernes que no es una maravilla que brilla sólo una semana y que tiene por delante una gran carrera en la NBA.

Por su parte, Kobe tendrá que aguardar la revancha para la próxima temporada.

Lin tuvo la actuación más sobresaliente de su notable semana, anoto 38 puntos, la cifra más alta de su carrera, y superó en este renglón a Bryant, en la derrota que los Knicks de Nueva York le propinaron el viernes por la noche por 92-85 a los Lakers de Los Angeles.

Todavía hace poco más de una semana, Lin estaba en el sótano de la banca de los Knicks, pero ahora condujo al equipo a su cuarta victoria consecutiva, cifra con la que Nueva York igualó su racha triunfal más prolongada de la temporada.

Sus dos tiros libres a 52 segundos del final en medio de los gritos de la multitud de ¡Jugador Más Valioso! ¡Jugador Más Valioso! frenaron la remontada final de los Lakers y le permitió superar a Carmelo Anthony como el máximo anotador en un partido de los Knicks esta temporada. Lin era jugador de Harvard y no fue reclutado por equipo alguno de la NBA.

No busco ver este partido como algo diferente , expresó Lin. Sólo intento garantizar que cuando salga a la cancha juegue tan duro como pueda e intente hacer todo lo que pueda para ayudar al equipo a ganar .

Lo único que logramos esta noche son cuatro victorias consecutivas. Intentaremos ir por la quinta mañana. No me preocupaba mostrar nada a nadie. Estamos creciendo como equipo e intentando aprovechar el impulso , apuntó.

Iman Shumpert agregó 12 puntos para los Knicks, que todavía no han recuperado a Anthony ni a Amare Stoudemire.

Pero tienen a Lin, el base al que otros dos equipos rechazaron en diciembre y que no había recibido su oportunidad en Nueva York hasta que otros tres jugadores no pudieron hacer el trabajo.

Bryant terminó con 34 puntos, pero tuvo un inicio terrible y acertó sólo 11 de 29 disparos de campo.

Pau Gasol tuvo 16 puntos y 10 rebotes, en tanto que Andrew Bynum, convocado al Juego de las estrellas, anotó uno de ocho intentos de triple y logró 13 rebotes en el partido, que puso fin a una racha de nueve victorias de los Lakers sobre los Knicks.

Cuatro de esas victorias ocurrieron en el Madison Square Garden, donde los aficionados solían vitorear a Bryant.

Ya tienen ahora un nuevo favorito y ¿quién habría adivinado que sería Lin?

Creo que es una gran historia , expresó Bryant. Creo que se trata de un testamento a la perseverancia y el trabajo duro. Un buen ejemplo para los chicos en todas partes , apuntó.

La noche anterior, Bryant dijo que no conocía el juego de Lin. Ahora, Bryant se despertará con titulares de la prensa deportiva en los que se dirá que Lin lo derrotó en la arena más famosa del mundo .

El escolta argentino de los Spurs, Emanuel Ginóbili, dijo en Twitter: No se puede creer lo que está pasando en Nueva York y la NBA con Lin .

¡Impresionante. Si no conocen la historia, síganla! ¡Clap Clap! , afirmó Ginóbili.

En otro partido de la noche del viernes, los Clippers de Los Angeles derrotaron por 78-77 a los Clippers de Filadelfia. Blake Griffin y Chris Paul contribuyeron al triunfo cuando los Clippers más lo necesitaban.

Paul consiguió 24 puntos, incluido un disparo de 5,18 metros (17 pies) cuando faltaban 3,2 segundos para el final y que dio la victoria a los Clippers. Griffin aportó 16 unidades y 11 rebotes.

En la última posesión del balón de los Clippers, Paul envió el pase a Griffin, pero el balón le rebotó entre las piernas. Griffin buscó la pelota y dio el pase a Paul, quien de manera soberbia anotó sobre el brazo extendido de Andre Iguodala, de Filadelfia, uno de los mejores defensores de la liga.

En otros resultados de la jornada, Chicago 95, Charlotte 64; Toronto 86, Boston 74; Atlanta 89, Orlando 87, en tiempo extra; Miami 106, Washington 89; Milwaukee 113, Cleveland 112, en tiempo extra; Detroit 109, Nueva Jersey 92; Portland 94, Nueva Orleáns 86; Dallas 104, Minnesota 97; Memphis 98, Indiana 92; Oklahoma City 101, Utah 87.

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Por AP News Sábado, 11 de febrero de 2012

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, EE.UU. (AP) Russell Westbrook anotó 28 puntos el viernes y Kevin Durant tuvo 19 puntos para darle al Thunder de Oklahoma City derrotaron 101-87 al Jazz de Utah.

El Jazz parecía determinado a limitar la ofensiva de Durant -tuvo apenas 10 intentos de campo-, pero Westbrook encontró el espacio para llegar a la canasta y creó algunos rompimientos rápidos con cinco robos de balón.

Serge Ibaka anotó 16 puntos y consiguió 11 rebotes y Kendrick Perkins agregó 10 puntos y 10 tableros.

Los hombres de la pintura del Jazz frecuentemente ayudaron a Westbrook y Durant, permitiendo al Thunder superar 46-32 al Jazz en rebotes conseguidos.

Al Jefferson lideró a Utah con 20 puntos mientras que Raja Bell y Gordon Hayward sumaron 13 puntos cada uno, pero el Jazz dejó escapar su quinto partido en los últimos seis.

Una vez que las reservas de Utah llegaron a estar a 78-73 a principios del cuarto período, el Thunder respondió con una racha de 7-0 coronada con una bandeja de Nick Collison.

El Thunder finalizó su gira con un registro de 3-2.

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Por AP News Sábado, 11 de febrero de 2012

LONDRES (AP) Se suponía que el primer partido en ocho años de Roger Federer en la ronda inicial de la Copa Davis tendría otro desenlace.

Sorpresivamente, el 16 veces campeón de torneos Grand Slam sucumbió el viernes 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 ante John Isner y Estados Unidos sacó una ventaja de 2-0 frente a Suiza en el Grupo Mundial.

En busca del único trofeo de gran calibre que nunca ha ganado en el tenis, Federer recibió una andanada de poderosos saques y resonantes devoluciones del estadounidense de 2,06 metros (seis pies y nueve pulgadas) de estatura, que silenciaron a las 7.000 personas en el Forum de Friburgo.

Pienso que jugó excelente , afirmó Federer. Jugó fuerte y envió saques magníficos cuando tenía que hacerlo. Simplemente perdí un par de oportunidades más de las que él dejó ir y eso me costó el partido .

Finalista derrotado en 2011, Argentina tuvo pocos problemas frente a Alemania, cuyos días de gloria en que ganó el título en tres ocasiones con Boris Becker y Michael Stich se ven más lejanos que nunca.

David Nalbandian repuntó para derrotar 2-6, 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (5) a Florian Mayer y Juan Mónaco venció 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 a Philipp Petzschner en Bamberg, Alemania. Los argentinos buscan su primer título tras haber tropezado en cuatro finales.

Suiza no ha ganado en el Grupo Mundial desde que Federer decidió no acudir a la primera ronda en 2005. Este año la nación alpina pasará apuros para modificar esa estadística después que Mardy Fish superó 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 9-7 a Stanislas Wawrinka en el emocionante primer partido.

La dupla estadounidense integrada por Mike Bryan y el adolescente Ryan Harrison enfrentará en dobles el sábado a Federer y a Wawrinka, medallistas de oro en los Juegos Olímpicos de Beijing en 2008.

El viernes se disputaron siete de las otras series de primera ronda de la Copa Davis. Con ventaja de 2-0 se ubicaron Serbia (ante Suecia); Austria (frente a Rusia); España (contra Kazajistán) y la República Checa (ante Italia). Croacia y Japón empataron 1-1, al igual que Canadá y Francia.

El campeón defensor España no extrañó mucho a Rafael Nadal, pues el ex número uno Juan Carlos Ferrero y Nicolás Almagro pusieron a los anfitriones en camino a su 22da victoria consecutiva en casa y la 24ta sobre arcilla al barrer a Kazajistán.

Ferrero, campeón del Abierto de Francia de 2003 y jugando en la Davis por primera vez desde septiembre de 2009, remontó en el quinto set y derrotó 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4 a Mijaíl Kukushkin.

Más tarde en Oviedo, Almagro dio cuenta de Andrey Golubev por 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Nadal y David Ferrer han ayudado a España a ganar tres de los últimos cuatro títulos pero ahora no están, por lo que el nuevo capitán Alex Corretja se vio obligado a elegir un equipo totalmente nuevo.

En los otros duelos, el austríaco Andreas Haider-Maurer derrotó 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-2 al ruso Alex Bogomolov Jr., y Jurgen Melzer superó 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 a Igor Kunitsyn en Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

En Ostrava, República Checa, Tomas Berdych y Radek Stepanek ganaron sus partidos para los anfitriones. Stepanek venció 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 a Andreas Seppi y luego Berdych dio cuenta de Simone Bolelli por 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

De local en Hyogo en su regreso al Grupo Mundial después de 26 años de ausencia, Japón se puso al frente cuando Go Soeda repuntó hasta derrotar 6-7 (3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 a Ivan Dodig, pero luego Ivo Karlovic venció 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 a Kei Nishikori para igualar la serie.

Sin el número uno del ranking Novak Djokovic, que descansa después de su consagración en el Abierto de Australia, Serbia tuvo pocos problemas en Nis frente a un visitante al que venció 4-1 la temporada pasada.

Janko Tipsarevic le ganó 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 a Filip Prpic, y Viktor Troicki derrotó 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 a Michael Ryderstedt.

En Vancouver, Canadá, Milos Raonic derrotó 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 a Julien Benneteau para darle a Canadá un empate 1-1 contra Francia. En el primer juego, el francés Jo-Wilfried Tsonga se impuso 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 a Vasek Pospisil.

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Por AP News Viernes, 10 de febrero de 2012

CLEARWATER, Florida, EE.UU. (AP) El ex campeón mundial Muhammad Alí y cientos de personas más recordaron el viernes al entrenador de boxeo Angelo Dundee como un maestro de la motivación que dejó un legado de amabilidad en su carrera.

Dundee, integrante del Salón de la Fama que murió la semana pasada a los 90 años, ayudó a Alí a llegar al máximo nivel del boxeo.

El ex campeón de los pesados entró al Centro Cristiano Countryside, donde se llevó a cabo el funeral, por una entrada cerrada al público. Se sentó en la primera fila frente al féretro, colocado en un escenario adornado con flores, fotos, cuadros y un par de guantes de boxeo rojos en una butaca. La ceremonia duró 80 minutos.

Lonnie Alí habló en nombre de su esposo, aquejado por el mal de Parkinson.

Solía llamarnos todo el tiempo y decirnos que ser amables no cuesta nada… Era como su mantra , afirmó. Siempre que veíamos a Angelo tenía una sonrisa en el rostro. Siempre fue un tipo feliz .

El promotor Bob Arum fue uno de los que recordó a Dundee, quien dijo fue una de las personas más amables que conocí en mi vida .

Dundee murió el 1 de febrero en su apartamento en la zona de Tampa Bay. Un familiar dijo que fue hospitalizado recientemente por un coágulo sanguíneo y pasó breve tiempo en un centro de rehabilitación antes de volver a casa, donde sus familiares lo acompañaron cuando murió.

Mejor conocido por ser el entrenador de Alí durante la mayor parte de la carrera del ex campeón de los pesados, Dundee era un gran motivador que entrenó a otros 14 monarcas mundiales, entre ellos Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Carmen Basilio y el cubano naturalizado mexicano José Mantequilla Nápoles.

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Por AP News Viernes, 10 de febrero de 2012

PARIS (AP) La alemana Angelique Kerber sorprendió el viernes y venció 6-4, 6-4 a la favorita Maria Sharapova para avanzar a las semifinales del torneo de la WTA en París.

Kerber le rompió el saque tres veces a la rusa en el primer set y remontó una desventaja de 3-1 en el segundo.

Es fantástico, es mi primera victoria contra una de las cinco mejores , dijo Kerber. Sabía antes del partido que no tenía nada que perder, así que salí e intenté jugar mi mejor tenis desde el primer punto .

Kerber enfrentará en semifinales a la ganadora del partido entre la belga Yanina Wickmayer y la alemana Mona Barthel.

La checa Klara Zakopalova también avanzó, con un triunfo 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, sobre la alemana Julia Goerges. Su próxima oponente será la segunda favorita francesa Marion Bartoli, que venció a la italiana Roberta Vinci 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2).

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