Serie A Leaders Juventus chalked up their 20th win of the campaign by dispatching AC Chievo Verona 3-1, before closest rivals AS Roma swept aside UC Sampdoria 3-0.The result in Turin seldom looked in doubt from the moment Kwadwo Asamoah opened his account for the season after 17 minutes. Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio then consolidated the advantage before Martín Cáceres's own goal six minutes into the second half revived Chievo's hopes.Buoyancy soon turned to despondency, however, when Fernando Llorente registered the Bianconeri's third. That took the leaders 12 points clear at the summit, though Roma later reduced the deficit. Mattia Destro put Sampdoria on the back foot close to half-time and added a second before the hour mark, after Miralem
Football Update
Mourinho: Liverpool have a title advantage
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho feels Liverpool’s absence from European competition is a major boon to their hopes of lifting a first Premier League title since 1990. GettyImagesJose Mourinho says Liverpool are genuine contenders. • Kelly: The mark of champions?• Macintosh: Keep Terry out• Hodgson casts doubt on Cole• Marcotti: Managerial methods Mourinho’s side are the current league leaders but Liverpool sit just four points behind, with this season’s title run-in shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted that a lack of European football has been beneficial for his players at his enabled them to stay fresh and focused on the league campaign. And with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal all still involved in the Champions
FIFA Interactive World Cup offers Brazilians the chance to become a world champion
© Getty ImagesThe eventual winners of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ will not be the only world champions crowned in Brazil in July this year with the Grand Final of the record-breaking FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) to be held in Rio de Janeiro on 2 and 3 July. Ahead of this event, FIFA and Presenting Partners Sony PlayStation® and EA SPORTS™ are giving Brazilian football fans the opportunity to secure one of the 20 spots at the Grand Final with a Host Country Qualifier event taking place in Brazil on 24 April 2014. The Host Country Qualifier event in April will be held at a venue to be confirmed very soon and will be contested by a selection of the
Chelsea announce agreement for Basel’s Salah
Transfer news By ESPN staff and Mike Whalley Chelsea have announced that they have reached an agreement with FC Basel for Mohamed Salah. • On the Move: Transfer blog• Thorgan Hazard stays put Liverpool have been chasing a deal for the 21-year-old, who can also play in midfield, for several months, but they are set to lose out on the Egypt international. A statement on the Blues' official website read: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm an agreement has been reached with FC Basel for the transfer of their 21-year-old attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah. "The move is subject to the Egyptian international agreeing personal terms and completing a medical examination." Basel are thought to have been seeking around 12 million pounds for Salah, and Chelsea were in a
Radamel Falcao faces anxious wait over injury
Colombia and Monaco striker Radamel Falcao faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of a knee injury that could put his place at the World Cup finals in doubt. GettyImagesRadamel Falcao is stretchered off. Falcao, 27, suffered the injury following a heavy challenge by Soner Ertek in the 40th minute of Monaco's 3-0 French Cup win at Monts d'Or Azergues Foot on Wednesday. Earlier, he had scored the goal that gave his team the lead at the break. Monaco issued a short statement after the game, which read: "The player Radamel Falcao was hit in the left knee. He must await further tests in the coming days to clarify the exact nature of the injury." Falcao was signed from Atletico Madrid for a
United closer to Juan Mata transfer
Mata seeks clarity over future Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata will hold talks with manager Jose Mourinho to determine his role with the club. Mata seeks clarity over future Manchester United are hopeful of securing a deal for Chelsea's Juan Mata by this weekend, sources at both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge have told ESPN. • Cox: Why can't Mata and Jose get along?• Okwonga: Moyes can think of Swansea• Mitten: Pessimistic about United• Lythell: Mata to Man United makes no sense United officials have remained in London over the last two days to conduct negotiations for Mata and one other "European-based central midfielder" -- believed to be Juventus' Arturo Vidal. While the second deal is still some way off, and may even be for the summer, sources have stated that
Cup successes for Madrid, Roma and City
Copa del ReyReal Madrid CF took a significant step towards the last four of the Copa del Rey after a first-half Karim Benzema strike earned them a 1-0 quarter-final first leg victory at RCD Espanyol.On 25 minutes, Benzema connected with an Álvaro Arbeloa centre that grazed Gareth Bale. Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier struck a post, and he, Benzema and Arbeloa all spurned good chances to double Madrid's lead as the game progressed. Sergio García went close for Espanyol, and captain Iker Casillas denied Jhon Córdoba later on. The result maintains Madrid's 100% record in 2014, and they have also yet to concede a goal in six games this year.The tie concludes in Madrid next Tuesday, with the remaining quarter-final openers