Soccer Capsules - International: No time for Liverpool to relax as United visits
LONDON (AP) — With Manchester United visiting Anfield on Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Liverpool's players have no time to sit back and congratulate each other on their League Cup semifinal win over Manchester City.
Liverpool reached its first final since 2007 on Wednesday when it completed a two-legged win over the Premier League leaders, but Dalglish now wants to prevent a repeat of last season's FA Cup — when United knocked Liverpool out in the third round.
"We've got to Wembley. That's all we've achieved so far," Dalglish said. "We've not been there for a while, so I think that in itself is an achievement. But that's not where our ambitions stop.
"We want to continue and do as well as we can between now and the end of the season."
That means reviving the Reds' league form, but only after trying to end United's run of three straight victories in the pick of the weekend's 16 FA Cup matches.
United kicked off that streak with a 3-2 FA Cup win at Manchester City but heads into a run of tough fixtures including Premier League matches against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham with several injury concerns.
Nani and Phil Jones were both substituted because of injury against Arsenal, with the Portugal winger possibly out of action for two months with what may be ligament damage or a broken metatarsal.
With Nemanja Vidic out for the rest of the season and Rio Ferdinand's fitness still patchy, there is little chance that stand-in skipper Patrice Evra will be rested against Liverpool.
The game will be the first between the traditional rivals since Evra's accusation that Luis Suarez racially abused him resulted in an eight-match ban for the Uruguay forward.
"It wouldn't be a consideration," United assistant manager Mike Phelan said. "Patrice Evra is a football player, who plays for Manchester United. If he is fit, he is considered to play like any other player."
Elsewhere, Chelsea's travels to Queens Park Rangers for the first match between the west London rivals since John Terry was charged by police for racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand in October.
Terry has denied the charge but the clubs released a joint statement to fans appealing for calm and warning supporters that they face punishment if they indulge in offensive chanting.
"Discrimination has no place in football or society," the clubs said. "Both clubs enjoy fantastic support. However we would remind fans that, while we want to hear their passion, it's a fact that hatred and abuse is not what being a fan of QPR or Chelsea is about."
Arsenal hosts Aston Villa in another all-Premier League encounter on Sunday. Sunday's other match in football's oldest competition features Sunderland hosting local rival Middlesbrough.
Tottenham heads to Watford on Friday, when Everton hosts Fulham.
On Saturday, it's Blackpool vs. Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton vs. Swansea, Brighton vs. Newcastle, Derby vs. Stoke, Hull vs. Crawley, Leicester vs. Swindon, Millwall vs. Southampton, Sheffield United vs. Birmingham, Stevenage vs. Notts County, and West Bromwich Albion vs. Norwich.
Out of Copa, Madrid turns to league title chase
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Barcelona, Real Madrid will now turn its focus to breaking its rival's three-year reign at the top of the Spanish league, beginning with a home game against last-place Zaragoza on Saturday.
A win over struggling Zaragoza could increase Madrid's lead to eight points over second-place Barcelona, which plays at Villarreal later in the day.
Madrid captain Iker Casillas said his team has been bolstered by outplaying Barcelona during Wednesday's 2-2 draw, even if the Catalan side advanced to the Copa del Rey semifinals.
"We know we deserved more," the Spain goalkeeper said. "We are sad but also happy with the image we gave. People were saying that Barca was a notch above us, but it is clear that the two teams are a lot closer.
"Now we have to think about the league and the Champions League."
Despite remaining winless in its last nine visits under Jose Mourinho to Camp Nou stadium, Madrid played its best game against the European champions since the arrival of the Portuguese coach two years ago.
Madrid had several chances to go ahead before Barcelona scored two goals, and then fell one short of overturning the knockout series after a strong second-half comeback. Barcelona's 2-1 victory in the first leg, when Madrid's ultra-defensive stance backfired, proved decisive in ending Madrid's hope of repeating as Copa del Rey champions.
Mourinho's future at the Spanish powerhouse has come under question after he was jeered by his fans last week when reports emerged of strife within the squad over the opening-leg game plan.
But even after his team's excellent attacking performance, the former Chelsea coach, who turned 49 on Thursday, was steadfast in his defense of his strategy.
While not criticizing his coach's decision making, Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso recognized that the opening loss to Barcelona ultimately decided the series.
"The result from the Santiago Bernabeu weighed heavily on this game," Xabi said. "We have to go forward now one game at a time. We are in a fantastic position in the league."
Madrid routed Zaragoza 6-0 with a hat trick by Cristiano Ronaldo in the season opener. And with Zaragoza winless in its last 12 matches and without an away victory this season, another big goal haul for Madrid is possible.
Barcelona will have to overcome its thin front line in its visit to 17th-place Villarreal.
Midfielder Andres Iniesta (leg) and forward Alexis Sanchez (shoulder) joined striker David Villa and midfielder Ibrahim Afellay on the sidelines after picking up injuries during the win over Madrid.
"The series against Madrid is over, now we have to play a game at Villarreal that could directly influence the league race," said Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, adding that the team is not worried about its accumulation of injuries.
"That's why we have the youth squad," the former Arsenal captain said. "It doesn't matter if there are only 14 or even nine of us (from the first team healthy), we won't look for excuses and we'll always look ahead."
Barcelona beat Malaga 4-1 as Lionel Messi scored a hat trick in southern Spain last weekend, but that was an exception in a season marked by the champions dropping points away from home.
Villarreal is coming off a 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon, its first victory under coach Jose Molina.
On Sunday, Malaga hosts Sevilla with both Andalusian clubs needing to jump start their respective campaigns for a top-six finish and a spot in European competition next season. Malaga hasn't won in six games, while Sevilla hasn't won in five.
Atletico Madrid is at Osasuna on Monday seeking its third straight win under coach Diego Simeone. Since the arrival of the former Argentina midfielder, Atletico has yet to concede a goal in three games and striker Radamel Falcao has scored five.
Also this weekend, it's: Rayo Vallecano vs. Athletic Bilbao; Espanyol vs. Mallorca; Real Betis vs. Granada; Real Sociedad vs. Sporting Gijon; Levante vs. Getafe; and Racing Santander vs. Valencia.
-- Joseph Wilson
Valencia eliminates Levante from Copa del Rey
VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Valencia advanced to a meeting with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinals after beating Levante 3-0 thanks to Pablo Piatti's double on Thursday for a 7-1 aggregate score.
Piatti, who has had a subdued role for Unai Emery's side since his arrival this summer from Almeria, played his best game of the season.
The Argentine forward provided a constant threat for the visitors at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium and drew various fouls from Levante's frustrated defense. Piatti saw his bouncing shot go wide moments before laying off for Aritz Aduriz to net the 25th-minute opener.
Five minutes later Piatti ran onto youth player Juan Bernat's throughball and slotted home Valencia's second goal to put the series against its crosstown rival beyond doubt before halftime.
Levante played from the 72nd with 10 men after recent signing Oscar Serrano received his second booking for fouling Piatti, who then capped the victory in the 86th by drilling in a rebound of a chance he had created for Aduriz.
"We looked to put together a squad (today) without our regular starters, but that we trusted would play for the team and to win," Emery said. "We did just that without losing any players and keeping a clean sheet."
Levante missed injured forward Juanlu Gomez and playmaker Jose Barkero as it failed to make a serious challenge to overturn the 4-1 loss in the first leg.
Barcelona eliminated Real Madrid on a 4-3 aggregate score after a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou on Wednesday. Valencia hosts the European champions next week in the first leg.
"We know it will be tough, but we also know it is possible," Emery said. "We are definitely going to try."
Athletic Bilbao opens the other semifinal with a visit to third-tier Mirandes, which has ousted three straight topflight clubs.
Juventus' supremacy faces a test against Udinese
ROME (AP) — Juventus was somewhat of a surprise winner of the Italian league's symbolic winter title, and the team's supremacy will immediately be tested when it begins the second half of the season by hosting third-place Udinese on Saturday.
Juventus is unbeaten but holds only a one-point lead over defending champion AC Milan, with Udinese three points back and surging Inter Milan six points behind.
The winner of the winter title has gone on to win Serie A the past seven years, but the league hasn't been this competitive in years, and Juve hasn't really contended since before the 2006 Italian match-fixing scandal.
"The winter title has only symbolic value," Juventus coach Antonio Conte said. "Now we've got to be even better to repeat ourselves in the second half of the season. We need to be at 120 or 130 percent."
However, Juventus has three key players questionable with injuries. Forward Mirko Vucinic has an inflamed right knee and attacking midfielders Claudio Marchisio and Simone Pepe each have swollen ankles.
If those players are absent, starting positions could open up for 37-year-old Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero and midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, who both scored in a 3-0 win over 10-man Roma on Tuesday that put the Turin team into the Italian Cup semifinals.
For Del Piero, who has seen limited playing time lately, it was his first goal of the season.
"Del Piero is always a solution for me, never a problem," Conte said.
Newly signed forward Marco Borriello is another option in attack.
For Udinese, everything revolves around 34-year-old captain Antonio Di Natale, who has led the league in scoring the past two seasons with a combined 57 goals and again tops the chart this season with 14, lying level with Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
During their first meeting before the holiday break, Juventus played to a 0-0 draw at Udinese, handing the small northeastern club its only blemish of an otherwise perfect record at home.
"We're going to have to run, run and run some more if we want another positive result, because that's what they do a lot of and they're organized in every area," Di Natale said.
Udinese is also missing a few key players, with Kwadwo Asamoah playing for Ghana at the African Cup of Nations and fellow midfielder Giampiero Pinzi out with a calf injury. Mauricio Isla, another midfielder, is questionable with a left thigh problem.
Still, having never finished higher than third, Udinese is clinging to its title aspirations.
"Dreaming doesn't cost anything, but it's going to be very difficult," Di Natale said.
Also this weekend, Milan hosts Cagliari and Inter visits Lecce.
Milan is singing the praises of Ibrahimovic after the Sweden striker scored twice in a 3-0 win over Novara last weekend, although the Rossoneri still seem interested in signing Carlos Tevez from Manchester City before next week's transfer deadline.
Inter's eight-match winning streak in all competitions was snapped with a 2-0 Italian Cup loss to Napoli on Wednesday, although Claudio Ranieri's squad has still won seven straight in the league.
In other matches, it's: Catania vs. Parma; Fiorentina vs. Siena; Cesena vs. Atalanta; Genoa vs. Napoli; Palermo vs. Novara; Roma vs. Bologna; and Chievo Verona vs. Lazio.
-- Andrew Dampf
AC Milan beats Lazio 3-1 to reach Italian Cup semi
MILAN (AP) — AC Milan responded well to an early score from Djibril Cisse and edged Lazio 3-1 to advance to the Italian Cup semifinals on Thursday.
After Cisse put Lazio in front five minutes in at the San Siro, Robinho equalized for Milan in the 15th, Clarence Seedorf put the Rossoneri ahead three minutes later, and second-half substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed the victory in the 84th.
Aiming for its sixth title in the competition, Milan will next face Serie A leader Juventus, while Napoli meets Siena in the other semifinal.
Defending champion Inter Milan was eliminated by Napoli 2-0, Juventus beat Roma 3-0 and Siena edged Chievo Verona 1-0.
Both Milan and Lazio began with their top strikers — Ibrahimovic and Miroslav Klose, respectively — on the bench. Still, scoring was not a problem early on.
Cisse was left unmarked to volley home from the center of the area, having also scored at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in the Serie A opener in September.
Robinho also used a volley to find the target, after Alexander Merkel redirected a cross from Ignazio Abate.
Seedorf's goal was a display of skill, with the former Netherlands international dribbling by a defender at the edge of the area before launching a precise shot into the top corner just beyond the reach of outstretched goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.
In the 63rd, Milan protested in vain for a penalty when Dias took a swipe at the head of Mark van Bommel.
Klose replaced Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi seconds later and Ibrahimovic came on in the 69th for Merkel, who appeared to injure his right knee.
In the 73rd, Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia tipped a potential equalizer from Cisse over the bar and Urby Emanuelson then sent a throughball to Ibrahimovic, who collected it near midfield, raced in all alone toward the goal and easily beat Marchetti.
Klose's only chance came in added time when the veteran Germany forward missed just wide.
Bayern frustrated by persistent Bundesliga rivals
BERLIN (AP) — Despite spending freely on new players last year, Bayern Munich has found itself caught up in the closest Bundesliga race in 20 years.
Four teams are separated by only one point for the first time after 18 games since 1991-92. Bayern leads defending champion Borussia Dortmund and in-form Schalke on goal difference, while Borussia Moenchengladbach is a point behind.
"You could put four dice with the respective club logos in a cup, shake, and whoever comes out first will be German champions," said Udo Lattek, the former Bayern, Moenchengladbach and Barcelona coach.
After losing to Moenchengladbach 3-1 last weekend, Bayern is hoping to get back on track when it hosts Wolfsburg on Saturday.
Wolfsburg has been the only side to rival Bayern's spending this season, paying out a reported €27.2 million ($35.4 million) for eight players in January to make up for a disappointing first half to the season.
"You could see their potential," Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said about his new players after a 1-0 win over Cologne last week.
Also Saturday, Dortmund hosts Hoffenheim and Schalke visits Cologne, while Moenchengladbach travels to Stuttgart on Sunday.
Bayern lost its opening game of the season 1-0 to Moenchengladbach and responded by winning its next 10 games in all competitions, scoring 28 goals and conceding none.
"There was a real song and dance (after the first loss to Moenchengladbach) and it'll happen again this time," director of sports Christian Nerlinger said. "Once we're out on the field, we'll give the same answer as last summer."
Jerome Boateng is likely to start in central defense for Bayern after Daniel van Buyten broke a metatarsal in the loss to Moenchengladbach. The Belgian defender will be out for two months.
"We have enough quality in defense," said Boateng, who has mostly featured at right back. "I'm always delighted when I get to play in the center. Every player has a favored position, and mine's center back."
Boateng knows that Bayern will have to quickly recover its early season form to keep its rivals at bay.
"As we saw back then, we're capable of playing better football than now," Boateng said. "We have to watch ourselves and turn the corner."
Bayern will be able to count on French winger Franck Ribery, who returns from suspension and is likely to start despite a minor back problem.
Bastian Schweinsteiger should also play after shaking off a knee problem. The Germany midfielder has only recently returned from a broken collarbone.
"If we show what we can do we should take the three points," Schweinsteiger said Thursday.
Wolfsburg has only claimed one point from 14 Bundesliga games in Munich, but welcomes back top scorer Mario Mandzukic from injury. The Croatian is keen to add to his eight goals.
"We needn't be afraid. These days we can beat anyone, even Bayern," Mandzukic said. "I'm fired up for this game."
Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski, who scored twice in Dortmund's 5-1 rout of Hamburg, will start again in place of the injured Mario Goetze, who has been ruled out for two months because of a pubic bone injury.
"For Mario and for us it's a big blow," said Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc. "We have to try and compensate for his absence as well as possible."
Schalke also has its injury concerns, with captain Benedikt Hoewedes ruled out for two weeks after breaking his cheekbone in the 3-1 win over Stuttgart.
Spanish striker Raul Gonzalez has been unable to train since Tuesday due to a calf problem.
"Raul is being looked after. We'll have to see how it looks for him on Saturday," Schalke coach Huub Stevens said.
Stuttgart has reinforced its forward line with the signing of Vedad Ibisevic from Hoffenheim, and the Bosnian is likely to start against Moenchengladbach, which hasn't won in Stuttgart since December 1994.
Also Sunday, Mainz hosts Freiburg.
In the rest of Saturday's games, Werder Bremen hosts Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV visits Hertha Berlin, and Augsburg hosts Kaiserslautern in a relegation battle.
Nuremberg gets the weekend's action under way at Hannover on Friday.
-- Ciaran Fahey
PSG players focus on ending Brest's unbeaten run
PARIS (AP) — While Paris Saint-Germain tries to lure a star name, the team's current players are focusing on ending Brest's unbeaten home record in the French league on Saturday.
Despite PSG's massive spending spree and newly acquired financial clout, the French leaders are only three points ahead of Montpellier, and will be under constant pressure until they opens up a significant gap at the top.
Midfielder Clement Chantome says the hope of seeing PSG slip up gives opposing teams and fans some extra motivation.
"People are waiting for us everywhere we go, you saw that in the French Cup," Chantome said. "Brest is unbeaten at home so we know what to expect. They will be well organized and try to catch us on the break."
Although coach Carlo Ancelotti has won his first three games in charge, PSG only asserted its advantage in the second half of those games and has yet to find a slick playing style that demanding fans expect — given an outlay of around €90 million ($129 million).
Despite such clout, PSG has failed in three successive attempts to sign a big-name player.
David Beckham stayed with LA Galaxy, then striker Alexandre Pato pledged his future to AC Milan and, finally, PSG's sporting director Leonardo admitted defeat in his bid to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City.
The pursuit of such stars seems a bit unreal to Chantome.
Having joined PSG at the age of 12 and made his way through the club's youth team ranks, he has experienced the rare highs and crushing lows at PSG more than most over recent years.
The 24-year-old midfielder made his debut in the 2006-07 season, when PSG was battling against both relegation and a hooliganism problem among its own fans. It finished in 15th place as Lyon won yet another title.
The following season saw more of the same misery, with PSG staying up only on the last day and tensions between players and fans escalating to such an extent that riot police were once deployed to protect players at training.
Although this was not so long ago, for Clement it feels like a different lifetime.
"There have been big changes. When you've been fighting against relegation, or stuck in mid-table ... now it's nothing like it was in previous years," Chantome said. "PSG is ambitious, has different objectives and wants to win titles."
PSG is reportedly close to signing central midfielder Thiago Motta from Inter Milan. Although getting a starting place in PSG's team is only going to get harder for Chantome, he bears no grudge.
"I like all these changes. I've seen a lot of things here and now it's looking good," said Chantome, who has played 191 games for PSG. "It's a pleasure to see this happening to the club."
Like PSG, Montpellier has won its last three games and will be looking to keep the pressure on with a win at struggling Nice on Saturday.
Marseille, meanwhile, has won five and drawn one of its last six league games, to climb up to seventh place following a terrible start to the season.
Marseille is nine points behind PSG and, to stay in contention, must win Sunday's match away to Rennes, which is one point ahead of Marseille in fifth spot. Lyon is fourth and defending champion Lille is third, seven points behind PSG.
Coach Didier Deschamps may start Brazilian striker Brandao, who scored in last Sunday's French Cup win against Le Havre — his first goal since returning to Marseille on loan from Gremio.
"It was moving to feel the support of the crowd," Brandao said. "I'm also a Marseille fan, so I feel like I'm coming home."
In March last year, an investigating judge filed preliminary charges of rape against Brandao but released him from custody pending further investigation. He was authorized to leave France but required to attend any judicial hearings.
A woman alleged she was raped by Brandao after they returned from a nightclub. He says they had consensual sex.
When asked about the court case this week, Brandao would only say "I'm here to talk about what happens on the field."
In Saturday's other matches, it is: Auxerre vs. Nancy; Lorient vs. Sochaux; Lyon vs. Dijon; Toulouse vs. Caen, and Lille vs. Saint-Etienne.
Olivier Kapo returns for Auxerre, eight years after leaving the club.
The 31-year-old forward, who joined this week, scored 19 goals in 120 league games in his previous spell with Auxerre, playing the provider role in a fruitful partnership with Djibril Cisse that lasted for six seasons.
Evian hosts Bordeaux, and Valenciennes faces Ajaccio in Sunday's other games.
-- Jerome Pugmire
African Cup
Ivory Coast joins Equatorial Guinea in African Cup quarters
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — African Cup favorite Ivory Coast beat Burkina Faso 2-0 to become the second team to guarantee a quarterfinal berth, while Sudan recovered from two defensive mistakes to draw 2-2 with Angola on Thursday.
"We're going to the quarters! We're going to the quarters!" the Ivory Coast players sang in their changing room.
The results left Angola well placed to secure the other last-eight spot from Group B on Monday, while Sudan must beat the eliminated Burkina Faso in its last match to have any chance of qualifying.
Salomon Kalou opened the scoring for Ivory Coast in the 16th minute and Bakary Kone headed in a late own goal to ensure Ivory Coast joined co-host Equatorial Guinea in the knockout round.
Sudan rallied twice to salvage a draw against Angola. Manucho scored both goals for Angola, while Mohamed Ahmed Bashir was twice on target for Sudan.
Burkina Faso's early elimination prompted an angry rant from Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte, who said "primitive" failures to register players for the tournament hampered the team's chances and left his future in doubt.
"I'm not sure I will stay, but it doesn't just depend on me," said an animated Duarte. "A lot of things occurred in the tournament which are not normal. It's primitive that Burkina Faso doesn't know how to naturalize players. I lost three players 15 days before the Cup of Nations."
Ivory Coast sealed a quarterfinal spot with a match in hand after an improved performance, but still failed to hit the heights expected of a team packed with English Premier League players.
"I'm satisfied with the spirit of the group, though it's true that there are a lot of things to improve," Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui said.
Kalou, who pulled up with an apparent muscle strain in the second half, opened the scoring with a left-footed volley after a cross found its way to him in the box.
Ivory Coast labored to create many meaningful chances, with Gervinho wasting several opportunities and Didier Drogba well shackled by the Burkina Faso defense.
Moumouni Dagano headed against the top of the bar after rising above Kolo Toure in the 72nd minute as Ivory Coast rode its luck to stay in front.
That was scant consolation to Duarte. "It was an incredible injustice that we lost this match," the Burkina Faso coach said. "Burkina Faso played a great match, had a great attitude, but they scored two goals. Football is like that. What more can I say?"
Bakary Kone headed a deep free kick into his own net in the 82nd minute to ensure Ivory Coast avoided a nervy finish without entirely silencing the critics.
"It's very important to get through the next round. Our objective is to finish in first place in the group," Zahoui said, adding that he hoped Kalou's injury would not prove too serious. "I hope he will recover soon because he is a very important player for us."
Sudan has realistic chances of making the quarterfinals, too, after a spirited performance to draw 2-2 with Angola.
Angola took the lead thanks to a glaring error from Sudan defender Nagm Eldin Abdalla.
Manucho robbed the ball as the defender tried to turn and advanced into the box to drill a low shot into the corner for his second cup goal.
Ahmed Bashir rose above the defense to send a glancing header just inside the post for Sudan's equalizer and the team's first goal in the finals since 1976.
Sudan defender Nazar Hamid committed another error when he brought down Djalma in the box for Manucho to score his second from the penalty spot in the 50th.
"I'm trying to minimize the small mistakes of our inexperienced defenders playing against high-quality strikers," Sudan coach Mohamed Abdallah said. "I think we are improving."
Angola then made a blunder of its own at the back as Jose Vinguidica failed to clear and Ahmed Bashir hooked into the net in the 73rd to level for the second time.
"We made a mistake and Sudan took advantage to score," Angola captain Andre Macanga said. "It's a very fair result. We depend on ourselves, there's still a long way to go in this tournament."
Regardless of the Sudan result against Burkina Faso in the final group match, Angola will make the quarterfinals if it avoids defeat against Ivory Coast.
"We will keep fighting. Our objective as always is to try to do better," Angola coach Lito Vidigal said.
On Friday, Group C resumes with Niger vs. Tunisia and Gabon vs. Morocco.
-- Mark Walsh
Chance of a lifetime for Botswana amateurs
FRANCEVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Sixteen players in the Botswana squad at the African Cup of Nations are only semiprofessional, while striker Jerome Ramatlhakwane doesn't even have a club at the moment.
Another two members enjoying Botswana's first trip to a major tournament play second-tier football in South Africa, and captain Dipsy Selolwane is the only one who's ever played outside Africa.
And yet Botswana and not highest-ranked Ivory Coast or Ghana was Africa's team of the year for 2011. And without a goal-line clearance from Ghana's John Boye and a desperate foul by his fellow French league professional John Mensah, Botswana's amateurs could have had a draw against Africa's four-time champion in the continent's top tournament this week.
"This is definitely the year of the underdog," Selolwane said.
Unexpected wins from Zambia and Equatorial Guinea at the African Cup have rammed that home. Even so, the gap between Botswana's amateurs — some of whom play for army or police teams — and their Group D rivals like Ghana's English Premier League striker Asamoah Gyan, Mali's Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita and Guinea and German Bundesliga pair Mamadou Bah and Ibrahima Traore is surely too great. Surely.
"It's a learning curve for our team at this tournament, it's our first time, but we aren't that far behind the big teams," Selolwane said. "On the pitch we're not far from those big guys. They (Ghana) have guys who play in the top leagues in the world but they didn't beat us 5 or 6-0."
It was 1-0, and could so easily have been 1-1 as 10-man Ghana clung on at the end in Franceville. Botswana's opposition at the African Cup all have players playing in foreign lands and professional leagues. Some of them, like Keita, for the world's best teams.
Botswana has just a handful of players with fully professional contracts, including Selolwane, who has played Major League Soccer in the U.S. The rest, like defender Mompati Thuma of the Botswana Defence Force team — who kept Gyan scoreless on Tuesday — are still hoping for their big break and are "basically amateurs," Selolwane said.
"What they earn is nothing to write home about, so this is their chance to maybe play in South Africa or even Europe.
"The six professionals bring experience and leadership but the team being mainly playing in Botswana is our good luck charm. It helps bring the team together. The pros are just one of the guys."
Even after the narrow loss to title contender Ghana at Stade de Franceville, Botswana won't accept just qualifying for the tournament is enough for such a humble group. They have greater ambitions.
"We can't work so hard through qualifying and in the tournament not to think about the quarterfinals," Selolwane said. "But we're going to enjoy the moment as well."
Selolwane said the group was enjoying every moment and had "no problem" adjusting to the tournament. Even the security checks, so often an inconvenience for football's biggest stars, were good.
"We feel well looked after everywhere we go," he said.
Looking after Botswana's preparations for the Cup of Nations is another figure who relies on skills outside of football to survive.
Coach Stanley Tshosane, Botswana's inspiration, is a former army officer turned football tactician — and expects discipline and dedication from his group.
"Well, you know he has got a military background so that should tell you something about what he's like," Selolwane said, laughing. "But he's cool and he can joke around as well. The crucial things is that he brings the guys together."
Next up for Botswana is Guinea, which Selolwane said beat his team heavily the last time they met in a two-legged qualifying tie.
But this is the year of the underdog. And Botswana may just be the biggest underdog of them all.
"Guinea hammered us home and away the last time we played them in qualifiers a few years back so we have to be smart about the game," he said. "But there's always a chance."
-- Gerald Imray
Senegal crashes out of African Cup of Nations
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — Senegal's players looked shell-shocked as they trudged off the field following their 2-1 loss to Equatorial Guinea, some with tears in their eyes.
Senegal's team, packed with European-based players boasting Champions League experience, were beaten by a group of journeymen footballers, largely unknown even in Equatorial Guinea.
The result on Wednesday eliminated Senegal and earned Equatorial Guinea an unexpected quarterfinal place.
"We have nothing to reproach ourselves for because we gave everything. We just didn't succeed," Senegal captain Mamadou Niang said. "The first 20 minutes of the match against Zambia were decisive, we were completely disorganized. We got it together after 20 minutes, but it was already 2-0 and it was a bit too late. We really have a lot of sadness and disappointment."
Senegal had been warned.
On Tuesday, Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui asked his players to be "very humble" at the African Cup and not be sidetracked by problems, like dressing rooms that are like "microwave ovens."
"Even the team of Equatorial Guinea that everyone was dismissing has won its (opening) game," Zahoui said. "All the big teams of this tournament should expect to suffer."
Ivory Coast, preparing in Malabo to face Burkina Faso in its second group match, faced a tricky opponent in Sudan in its opener.
Didier Drogba's first-half header earned a narrow win for Ivory Coast, but the team received criticism for failing to impress against its lowly ranked opponent.
Afterward, Zahoui suggested his star players were too accustomed to the pampered atmosphere at their European clubs and need to tough it out when coming to Africa.
"My main desire is to ask the players to be careful — you are not in your clubs any more," Zahoui said. "When you play in Europe you have referees with a certain way of doing the job, great quality pitches ... but here we are in an African environment. We play in the heat with referees who do the best they can — it's a very particular context. You leave your clubs and all their comforts behind."
Senegal's players looked extremely uncomfortable as they toiled against Equatorial Guinea.
None symbolized the team's struggles more than striker Demba Ba, who has scored 15 goals for Newcastle in the Premier League so far this season but has misfired at the African Cup.
Ba should have given Senegal a nerve-calming lead in the 22nd minute at the Estadio de Bata but miscued his finish wide from penalty-spot distance.
It proved a key moment with Equatorial Guinea uoyed by reaching halftime level, and Iban Iyanga headed his team in front in the 62nd minute.
Nonetheless, Senegal coach Amara Traore refused to question his players' focus after the loss.
"We prepared very well for this game and we had many opportunities," he said. "We were just unlucky. I am very happy for my players, they gave everything."
While Ba will return to his club assured of a coveted profile and big pay checks, Equatorial Guinea's players are making the most of cup fever.
"It is an important victory. Today is an historic day in the life of this country," Equatorial Guinea captain Juvenal Edjogo-Owono said. "The fans are very excited and I am very proud to be part of this piece of history."
Unlike most of Senegal's players, Edjogo-Owono will return to a modest career in the Spanish second tier when the tournament finishes. His teammates, most of them born outside Equatorial Guinea, have similarly low-key backgrounds at clubs in leagues as far afield as Brazil, Oman and Turkey.
That perhaps explains why the Equatorial Guinea players are making the most of their moment in the limelight, while nothing seemed to go right for Senegal.
After days of bright sunshine, a tropical downpour caused the pitch to become waterlogged before the match against Equatorial Guinea, forcing the start to be delayed by more than an hour.
The torrential rain left a sodden surface that was unhelpful to the fast, attacking football favored by Senegal's pacy forwards. Niang said that forced a move to unusually direct tactics.
"We tried to put the ball in the opposing half and then support to find chances," he said. "I think that was pretty successful, but then you have to score and we didn't know how to do that."
Now Senegal's only objective is to salvage some pride against Libya in its final match.
"We will try to play as hard as we can and beat Libya, for our honor, for our pride," Niang said.
-- Mark Walsh
Malaria distracts Morocco ahead of must-win game
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Morocco faced a tough task to stay alive in the African Cup of Nations even before reserve goalkeeper Issam Badda was diagnosed with a mild form of malaria and leading striker Marouane Chamakh was hit by fever and a stomach illness.
Having lost to Tunisia in its Group C opener, Eric Gerets' team faces a buoyant Gabon which will be boosted again by a stadium of rowdy home supporters in Libreville on Friday.
Morocco, meanwhile, has been demoralized by a disappointing result against its North African rival and health worries over Badda and Chamakh. Forward Oussama As-Saidi is definitely out of the second match with injury, too.
Another loss and the talented Moroccans would match Senegal's surprising elimination from the tournament. The atmosphere was "tense" in the camp, coach Eric Gerets said on Thursday.
Badda had to receive a blood transfusion a day earlier at a Libreville hospital after being diagnosed with Type 3 malaria, while Chamakh underwent a series of tests after being seen by a doctor.
Both were recovering but Morocco's on-field form also needed some help after a careless display was punished by the Tunisians at Stade de l'Amitie.
"It's normal to be tense. It's the most important tournament in my life as a trainer," Gerets said. "We have come here with big ambitions and you see there are things lacking to get to where we want to be. So, I can say I have some concerns."
Gabon's 2-0 win over Niger in front of its loud, colorful and fiercely loyal home fans put the co-host in high spirits, but also warned of its ability to play slick, attacking football. A repeat of that intimidating atmosphere on Friday could carry Gabon to a place in the last eight — just like co-host Equatorial Guinea.
Morocco, meanwhile, missed chances against Tunisia and has yet to show the form that caused many to tip Gerets' team to go far.
"We know its going to be a tough match, a difficult match, maybe even more difficult than the match against Tunisia," Gerets said.
While Chamakh missed training on Wednesday he was expected to be available for the Gabon match. Badda will stay with the team and his scare wasn't on the players' minds anymore, captain Houssine Kharja said, who probably didn't expect to field questions on malaria in the buildup to a match.
But such is the unique nature of the African Cup.
"No we are not afraid, no. We know you can catch malaria here like you can get it elsewhere," the midfielder said. "We are taking our medications ... we've taken all the precautions.
"It's a small episode which is now past and so our main concern now is the match with Gabon, to qualify. We are totally focused on our African Cup."
Tunisia plays Niger in Group C's other match on Friday.
Trabelsi: Niger match more important than Morocco
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi says Friday's game against Niger is much more important for his team's African Cup of Nations hopes than the opening Group C win over Morocco. Trabelsi said on Thursday "everything rests on this game" with the group underdog at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tunisia surprised Morocco 2-1 in Libreville on Monday to join co-host Gabon at the top of the standings, but warned his team against the danger of getting too far ahead of itself.
Trabelsi said his first act after the victory was "to calm everybody down" and tell them they had "won a battle, but not the war."
Niger hopes to recover from the double blow of being outplayed by Gabon and losing teenage midfielder Amadou Moutari to a broken leg in its first game.
Gyan leaves Ghana session early with ankle knock
FRANCEVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Asamoah Gyan's right ankle injury was not a problem after the striker left training early, a Ghana team spokesman said on Thursday.
Gyan had ice applied and the ankle strapped on the edge of the pitch soon after the warmup and walked back to the nearby team hotel. Ghana media officer Opuku Afriyie said later the injury was not serious.
Gyan had only just recovered from a right hamstring problem to play on Tuesday in a 1-0 win over Botswana in Group D.
Ghana plays Mali and Botswana faces Guinea in the group's second round of games on Saturday at Stade de Franceville.
-- Gerald Imray
FIFA Capsules
Blatter, Murdoch meet after FIFA-Fox World Cup TV deal
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA President Sepp Blatter met with News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch on Thursday, weeks after their organizations signed a $425 million broadcast deal.
Murdoch later wrote on Twitter that he'd been "with the big chiefs of soccer," describing FIFA as an "amazing organization."
Murdoch's American network Fox Broadcasting Company agreed last October to pay FIFA a reported $425 million for U.S. television rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Murdoch also owns British newspaper The Sunday Times, whose 2010 investigation into alleged bribery during bidding for those tournaments prompted FIFA to suspend six of Blatter's serving and former executive committee colleagues.
FIFA dismisses reports of split with Milla
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has denied a split with Roger Milla despite reports the Cameroon great was dropped from its Football Committee, then resigned as a goodwill ambassador.
FIFA says in a statement "there was apparently a misunderstanding" over Milla's status.
Milla reportedly told African media he lost his committee seat due to a dispute with Cameroon football federation president Mohammed Iya, who FIFA appointed to its 2014 World Cup organizing committee.
FIFA's website no longer lists Milla, voted Africa's best player of the 20th century, as a member of the advisory panel, which includes Pele and Michel Platini.
However, FIFA says "Roger Milla will keep his position in the FIFA Standing Committees and will also continue to be an ambassador."
Elsewhere
Swiss club Xamax bankrupt, Chechen owner arrested
NEUCHATEL, Switzerland (AP) — Stricken Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax slipped from crisis into shame and near-oblivion Thursday, as its Chechen owner was arrested hours after declaring the club bankrupt.
Bulat Chagaev was detained by authorities in Geneva, who had been investigating him for suspected fraud, to prevent "financial mismanagement."
Hours earlier, Xamax said it would file for bankruptcy, then was formally declared bankrupt by a court in the state (canton) of Neuchatel.
The two-time Swiss champion, whose honorary president is Sepp Blatter, will drop out of the Swiss Super League midseason.
Blatter has no formal links to the disgraced current management, though a longtime friend and adviser of the FIFA president is leading a prospective ownership group which wants to revive Neuchatel Xamax's name next season as a fourth-tier amateur team.
Xamax's season of turmoil on and off the field entered a terminal phase last week when the Swiss League revoked its license because of suspected fraud and a failure to prove it could meet its financial obligations. Its debts are estimated at between 8 and 10 million Swiss francs ($8.7-10.9 million).
Chagaev's arrest was requested by prosecutors in Geneva, where his trading company has an office.
"His provisional arrest was ordered after a hearing held this afternoon. Another hearing is already scheduled for (Friday)," Geneva authorities said in a statement.
Xamax accepted its increasingly inevitable demise in a brief statement on its website.
"The board of directors of Neuchatel Xamax has decided today to file for bankruptcy, because of the withdrawal of its license and the financial position of the company," the statement said. "The board also decided to immediately release the players from their obligations to the business."
The club had launched an appeal Monday to regain its license to play matches, claiming that the league's disciplinary commission acted beyond its powers. Xamax's prospects dimmed Wednesday when it failed in two attempts to receive court injunctions against the league.
The club was scheduled to face a bankruptcy hearing in Neuchatel on Friday, forced by a creditor who also tried in November to bring the club down.
It was at that hearing that Chagaev's legal team submitted an alleged fraudulent Bank of America letter which purported to prove he had $35 million in a New York account.
Prosecutors in Neuchatel and Geneva are investigating the suspected fraud.
Xamax was scheduled to resume its league program after the winter break on Saturday Feb. 4 at home to Lausanne Sport. It was fourth in the 10-team top division though was likely to drop to ninth having appealed against points deductions imposed by the league for failing to pay salaries and breaking administrative rules.
Xamax coach Victor Munoz and a reduced squad of players returned this week from a training camp in Dubai unsure about their futures.
Munoz, a former Barcelona and Spain midfielder, previously coached Chechen club Terek Grozny, which plays in Russia's top division. Terek Grozny's chairman is Ramzan Kadyrov, a football fanatic and president of the Chechen republic.
Chagaev formally took control of Xamax last May, and arrived claiming that Kadyrov was "like a brother" to him.
However, Chagaev was reported to have fallen out of favor with Kadyrov as Xamax descended into turmoil with a succession of sporting directors, coaches and players fired.
Xamax is the first Swiss top-tier club to drop out midseason since Servette collapsed with debts in 2005.
English soccer player to avoid Twitter predictions
LONDON (AP) — Predicting the outcome of soccer matches on Twitter could land players in trouble, with English soccer authorities concerned about inside betting information.
Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton used Twitter on Thursday to claim that the English Football Association had warned him not to provide opinions about the outcome of matches.
The FA regulations warn players that they cannot bet on games in competitions in which their club is involved or "pass inside information on to someone else which they then use for betting."
On Sunday, Barton correctly predicted to more than 1.1 million followers ahead of Sunday's Premier League matches that Manchester City would beat Tottenham and Manchester United would win at Arsenal.
According to Barton, the comments raised alarm bells at FA headquarters, although the governing body declined to comment.
"Just received my weekly warning letter from FA headquarters, this time regarding me tweeting about predicting the weekend's Manchester double," Barton wrote Thursday on his verified Twitter account. "According to the FA, I am not allowed to give my opinion of possible results in case that is seen as insider information. These people are so out of touch with reality it's untrue.
"What difference does my opinion of the outcome of a match have on the result? None."
The FA rules warn players: "You should be aware that the passing of information would not just be by word of mouth — the rule applies equally to emails or social networking sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter)."
But Barton believes the FA has not come "to grips with the change that's happening in the world around them," claiming that he has "probably" received 30 letters from the organization since he started tweeting in July 2010.
The midfielder first revealed in October that the FA told him to moderate his online comments.
"The FA came to hush me down or make me not have an opinion," he said.
While using Twitter to transform his image since being jailed in 2008 for assault in a street fight, Barton also used the platform to attack the hierarchy at former club Newcastle and criticize Neil Warnock after he was fired as QPR manager this month.
-- Rob Harris
Redknapp says he can't fill in team sheets
LONDON (AP) — Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp denied tax evasion to police by insisting he "couldn't even fill a team sheet in."
A tape recording of the interview was played at Redknapp's court trial where he is accused of hiding $295,000 of transfer bonuses in an offshore account.
Redknapp told officers he had not seen his pay slip in years, saying: "You talk to anybody at the football club. I don't write. I couldn't even fill a team sheet in."
Redknapp, who along with co-defendant Milan Mandaric denies tax evasion charges relating to their time at Portsmouth, described himself as "utterly disorganized."
"I am not going to fiddle taxes, I pay my accountant a fortune to look after me," Redknapp said in the June 2009 police interview.
"He writes all the checks for me and my wife," the 64-year-old manager added. "He pays my bills. He runs my life basically."
Redknapp's bank adviser, Alan Hills, recalled in court on Thursday how Redknapp made "disastrous" business decisions and lost 250,000 pounds (now $392,000) trying to invest in Oxford United at an undisclosed time.
Redknapp's lawyer, John Kelsey-Fry, used the example to deny prosecution claims that Redknapp was a "hardheaded businessman".
Mandaric is accused of paying $145,000 into Redknapp's Monaco bank account in May 2002 — a bonus prompted by Peter Crouch's sale from Portsmouth to Aston Villa — and another $150,000 two years later.
The prosecution case is that the Redknapp and Mandaric, who is now chairman at third-tier club Sheffield Wednesday, were trying to dodge paying income tax and national insurance.
Redknapp managed Portsmouth, which is now in the second tier, from 2002-04 and returned to Fratton Park in 2005 after a brief spell at its rival Southampton before moving to Tottenham in 2008.
Bayern tricks fans into 'liking' it on Facebook
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich tricked its fans into "liking" the team on Facebook, promising them a "spectacular new signing" Thursday if they logged on to the social networking site to watch the announcement in a news conference.
Bayern had said on its website that it would present a new striker at 2 p.m. local time, and directed fans to go Facebook to watch it live. Once they were logged in, the fans were made to "like" Bayern's page in order to view the proceedings.
But instead of learning who would be striker Mario Gomez's backup, they were instead presented with a promotion entitled "The New FCB Star."
"Dear fans, you probably already noticed that we did not sign a new player. This app is for our fans to show the importance of you for our club," Bayern said.
The move has lead to a backlash from fans, with thousands leaving uncomplimentary comments on the club's Facebook page.
Bayern, which leads the Bundesliga and plays Wolfsburg on Saturday, said the whole thing was "a bit of fun for our fans."
"Each Bayern fan is the 'spectacular new signing,' our 12th man!" Bayern said on its website.
Bayern's desire to raise its profile on Facebook follows the German national football team's announcement last month that it had reached 1 million fans on the site. The team's fan page is trying to compete with England's national team.
Al-Jazeera acquires more rights for French league
PARIS (AP) — Qatar-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera has bought up the television rights to screen a majority of the French league matches in France over the next four season seasons.
The French Football League (LFP) said in a statement Thursday that Al-Jazeera has acquired rights for an additional six live league games per round on pay-per-view, as well as a weekly football TV show. No financial details were given, although French newspaper L'Equipe reported that the deal was worth €240 million ($315 million).
The broadcaster already had rights to two games per round, while Canal Plus has previously showed the rest. Canal Plus retained the rights to two matches per week.
Al-Jazeera's deal continues its buying spree of sports media rights in France. It already has bought international rights to screen French league games and French rights to show the Champions League for three seasons. Al-Jazeera has Middle East and North African rights for the Champions League.
Barcelona's Iniesta out for 2-3 weeks with injury
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona says midfielder Andres Iniesta will be sidelined for three weeks with a muscle tear in his left thigh.
Iniesta was injured in the first half of Barcelona's 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Wednesday. Barcelona advanced 4-3 on aggregate score.
Barcelona also lost forward Alexis Sanchez during the game with a shoulder injury that will keep him out for one-to-two weeks.
Both players will miss Saturday's Spanish league match at Villarreal and the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals next week against either Valencia or Levante.
Barcelona is already without striker David Villa, midfielder Ibrahim Afellay and defender Andreu Fontas because of long-term injuries.
QPR signs defender Onuoha from Man City
LONDON (AP) — Queens Park Rangers has signed defender Nedum Onuoha from Manchester City. The 25-year-old Englishman, who has been a fringe player at City, joins the Premier League club on a 4½-year contract.
QPR manager Mark Hughes says Onuoha "did very well for me at Manchester City and played a number of games, probably more than under any other manager."
Hughes added that Onuoha is "very versatile. He can play center back or right back, and has good pace. He is a very good addition to the squad."
QPR also bolstered its defensive options earlier this week by signing Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo on loan from AC Milan until the end of the season. QPR is two points and two places above the relegation zone.
Relegation rule in Turkey to remain unchanged
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's football federation has voted against a proposed rule change that would have prevented teams found guilty of match-fixing from being relegated.
Delegates voted down the proposal in a tense emergency session on Thursday. Turkish courts have charged 93 people, including Fenerbahce President Aziz Yildirim, in a match-fixing scandal that affected 19 leagues games last season. Their trial opens on Feb. 14.
Fenerbahce, which was barred from the Champions League and could lose the Turkish league title, was among the clubs that opposed the rule change.
The emergency session came amid increased UEFA pressure on the federation to act against teams involved in the scandal.
Ukraine says it can house Euro 2012 fans
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials are playing down any problems with accommodating up to 700,000 fans during the European Championship in June.
Markian Lubkivsky, the head of the Euro 2012 organizing committee in Ukraine, said on Thursday that "Ukraine has enough rooms."
Ukraine, however, has received many complaints that hotel rooms are either unavailable or too expensive.
Officials have had to resort to measures such as putting up tents for fans and remodeling student dormitories. Even so, a hostel bed in the eastern city of Kharkiv may cost about €250 ($330), according to organizers.
France faces Iceland, Serbia in Euro 2012 warmups
PARIS (AP) — France will play Iceland and Serbia in friendly matches as part of its preparation for the European Championship later this year.
France's football federation said Thursday that Laurent Blanc's team will face Iceland in Valenciennes on May 27, and Serbia four days later in Reims.
France also has a final friendly game on June 5 in Le Mans, although that opponent has yet to be decided. It takes on co-host Ukraine, England and Sweden in its group at Euro 2012.
France and England play their opener in Donetsk on June 11, and France stays there to face Ukraine four days later, before its final Group D match against Sweden in Kiev on June 19.
Lille signs Cetto on loan from Palermo
LILLE, France (AP) — Lille has signed central defender Mauro Cetto on loan from Italian team Palermo until the end of the season.
Lille announced the deal on its website Thursday, adding that it has an option to sign the 29-year-old Argentine on a permanent basis when his loan spell ends.
Lille has been looking to shore up its defense since Marko Basa injured his shoulder two weeks ago. Basa will be out for up to three months.
Cetto knows the French league well, having previously played for Nantes and Toulouse, where he was captain. He played only seven league games for Palermo this season.
Striker Costa joins Rayo Vallecano on loan
MADRID (AP) — Striker Diego Costa has joined Rayo Vallecano on loan from Spanish league Atletico Madrid until the end of the season. The 23-year-old Brazilian player scored eight goals last season, his first with Atletico.
Costa injured ligaments in his right leg last year and has yet to play a game this season, although he has already trained with his new club. Costa says "I am not fully fit after six months on the sideline, but I am feeling well."
The promoted Rayo is 13th in the league standings, three points above the relegation zone. The team hosts Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Young Boys lets Sutter discuss move to Blackburn
BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Swiss club Young Boys says Switzerland defender Scott Sutter has left its winter training camp in Spain to open contract talks with Blackburn.
Young Boys says in a statement that it won't block Sutter from fulfilling his dream to play in the Premier League. The 25-year-old Sutter was born in England but is eligible to represent Switzerland through his Swiss father. He played two international matches in 2010.
Despite being third in the Swiss League, Young Boys allowed Switzerland defender Francois Affolter to join Werder Bremen on loan this week. Blackburn is 18th in the 20-team Premier league and has faced a seasonlong battle against relegation.
Argentine striker Bobadilla to join Young Boys
MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AP) — Borussia Moenchengladbach says Argentine striker Raul Bobadilla is moving to Swiss club Young Boys. Moenchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl says the 24-year-old Bobadilla found it hard to establish himself as a starter in the opening half of the season, "so the transfer makes sense for him at this time."
Bobadilla scored eight goals in 59 Bundesliga games for Moenchengladbach.
Moenchengladbach says it received several offers for the striker, including from Bundesliga rivals. Bobadilla previously played for Zurich club Grasshopper.
Olympiakos signs goalie Carroll for 18 months
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek champion Olympiakos has signed former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll in an 18-month deal. The 34-year-old Carroll transferred for an undisclosed sum from Greek club OFI, where he quickly emerged as a standout player.
Olympiakos have fallen five points behind main rival Panathinaikos in the title race and face Rubin Kazan in the round of 32 in the Europa League on Feb. 14.
Lorient signs defender Gassama from Lyon
LORIENT, France (AP) — Lorient has signed defender Lamine Gassama from Lyon on a 4½-year deal. The 22-year-old Senegal international came through the youth ranks at Lyon and broke into the first team three seasons ago, but played only 17 league games at right back.
Lorient announced the deal on its website and did not give any financial details.
