Cristiano Ronaldo conceded he is not ‘100 percent’ despite his goal spree for Portugal but always ready to play as injury-hit Juventus head to Atalanta on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run this season to stay top of Serie A.

Juventus visit fifth-placed Atalanta before hosting Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next week.

Maurizio Sarri’s side are just one point ahead of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan after 12 matches, with Lazio and Cagliari eight points adrift of the leaders in joint third.

Atalanta have gone three league games without a win and will be eager to get back into the Champions League berths, as they sit two points off fourth place, before next week’s trip to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Atalanta’s fortunes have slipped following the thigh injury suffered to Colombian star Duvan Zapata, who scored six goals in six Serie A matches before being sidelined for their last five league games.

As Atalanta sweat on Zapata’s return, Juventus will be without full-back Alex Sandro, who picked up a thigh problem playing for Brazil, with Blaise Matuidi recovering from a rib injury.

Ronaldo had said he was not be at his best physical form, with Sarri saying the Portuguese star has a “little knee problem”.

But the 34-year-old wants to make amends after storming off when he was substituted in Juventus’s last game against AC Milan.

“In the last three weeks, I have played at a slightly reduced capacity,” Ronaldo conceded after his goal spree for Portugal.

“I don’t like to be replaced, no one does,” added Ronaldo. “I tried to help Juve even when injured.”

Full-back Danilo, who scored his first goal for Brazil during the international break, warned: “The games after the international break are never easy, let alone against Atalanta, a team who are doing well.

“We can’t make mistakes or underestimate them.”

Inter will be looking to make it a perfect seven league games on the road this season as they travel to Torino, before their European trip to Slavia Prague.

Conte’s side face a tough task against the Andrea Belotti-powered Torino, who ended their six-match winless run against Brescia last time out, and are in 11th position.

Serie A runners-up Napoli are in crisis, having slipped to seventh, and desperately need a result at 14th-placed AC Milan, who are themselves floundering.

Cagliari and Lazio will look to continue their strong form at lowly Lecce and Sassuolo respectively.

Roma have a chance to move into the Champions League places as the look to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Parma at home against tailenders Brescia.

One to watch:

Carlo Ancelotti’s Serie A runners-up last season head for AC Milan amid reports he has two games left to save his job.

Napoli have gone four games without a win in Serie A to sit seventh.

The southerners have 19 points — 13 behind leaders Juventus — their worst tally after 12 games since the 2011-2012 season when they finished fifth.

After being held 1-1 by Salzburg in the Champions League, they travel to Liverpool next week in a key game for the former Chelsea, AC Milan and Real Madrid boss.

Key stats:

100 – Torino captain Andrea Belotti’s Serie A goals

29 – Juventus’s unbeaten run against Atalanta — 23W, 6D

13 – Points between Juventus and last season’s runners-up Napoli

6 – Inter have won six in six on the road so far this league season.

5 – Years since AC Milan last beat Napoli

Fixtures

Saturday (all times GMT)

Atalanta v Juventus (1400GMT), AC Milan v Napoli (1700), Torino v Inter Milan (1945)

Sunday

Bologna v Parma (1130GMT), Verona v Fioretina, AS Roma v Brescia, Sassuolo v Lazio (1400), Sampdoria v Udinese (1700), Lecce v Cagliari (1945)

Monday

SPAL v Genoa (1945)

Source: AFP

France’s ostracized striker Karim Benzema has fired back at the head of the French Football Federation, who declared this week that the Real Madrid star’s international career was over. 

Though a fixture of Real Madrid’s squad for the past 10 years, Benzema has been excluded from the French national team since 2015 over his alleged involvement in an attempt to blackmail a former teammate.

Earlier this week, his coach at Real Madrid, French football legend Zinedine Zidane, called for Benzema’s four-year exile to be ended, describing him as France’s “best” striker.

But Zidane’s plea was promptly dismissed by Noël Le Graët, the head of the French Football Federation, who told French radio that Benzema’s days with Les Bleus were over.

On Saturday, the player hit back at Le Graët, writing on his Twitter account: “Noël I thought you didn’t interfere with the decisions of the France coach.

“Please understand that I and I alone will call an end to my international career.”

The 31-year-old striker, who is of Algerian origin, added that Le Graët should let him play for another country if he thinks he is done with France.

Benzema was placed under formal investigation in 2015 for his alleged part in the attempt to blackmail teammate Mathieu Valbuena. The case is still pending.

France’s coach Didier Deschamps has maintained that Benzema’s omission is in the best interests of the French squad, who won last year’s World Cup without him.

The striker has scored 9 goals in 11 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid already this season.

“He has always wanted to play for France,” Zidane said this week of his player.

“He is the best and I think he should definitely have a place in the national team,” Zidane added. “Football-wise, there is no debate.”

Source: France 24

Manchester United are shock contenders to sign Ajax’s £50million-rated keeper Andre Onana – just two months after handing David De Gea a new £350,000-a-week contract.

Ajax have slapped a huge asking price on the Cameroon international after United joined Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain in asking to be kept informed of any plans to sell the 23-year-old.

Spurs have lost skipper Hugo Lloris for the season with a dislocated elbow.

But United made De Gea one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League in September after spending the last 12 months desperately trying to convince the Spaniard to sign a new four-year deal.

Onana has become one of Ajax’s most prized assets after helping the Amsterdam giants win a Dutch league and cup double last season.

The Cameroon international also helped Erik ten Hag’s side to the semi-finals of the Champions League, beating the likes of the Real Madrid and Juventus before their exit to Spurs.

He joined Barcelona at the age of 13 after impressing at Samuel Eto’s soccer school.

He moved to Holland in the summer of 2015 but has recently spoken of his ambition to play in England.

United’s interest has shocked officials at Ajax, where former United keeper Edwin van der Sar is chief executive.

Onana is under contract at the Amsterdam Arena until June 2022 after extending his current deal with the Eredivisie club at the end of March.

However, despite his claims he is happy at the Dutch giants, the 23-year-old recently admitted he would be interested in a move to the Premier League.

Source: The Mirror

Deaths in police custody is a long-standing and controversial issue which has once again been placed under the spotlight with the news that the police officer who tasered former premiership footballer Dalian Atkinson in 2016, resulting in Atkinson’s death, will be charged with murder

While campaigners will welcome the charges leveled against officers involved, activists are mindful of the fact that police officers almost never face jail.

Ultimately those highlighting deaths in custody want a system of justice which applies to all, including the police, and those meant to uphold the law

Activists and campaigners will be hoping that the Dalian Atkinson case, results in justice for Atkinson’s family, and that the officer involved receives a custodial sentence. For decades, those affected have been demanding that the government take action arguing for a legal system which ensures justice for all.

Source: Presstv

Gabonese international Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has been named new skipper for English Premier League side, Arsenal; the club website confirmed late Tuesday.

The forward will be taking over the title from fellow teammate, Granit Xhaka, who was stripped off the captaincy following an incident with Arsenal fans weeks back.

Speaking to the press, manager Unai Emery said the club had four captains of which the first was Aubameyang. “We have now Aubameyang, Hector, Lacazette and Ozil – they are the four captains, and first is now Aubameyang.”

The player recently celebrated being the fastest to score 50 goals for the North London side. He joined Arsenal in 2018 for a then club record transfer fee of 56 million pounds according to reports.

He has 40 league goals so far. 22 of which won him joint top goal scorer last season along with Liverpool duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. He has nine and a goal in Europa and Emirates Cup respectively.

Source: Africa News

Borussia Dortmund’s 14-year-old sensation Youssoufa Moukoko has become the youngest-ever player to score in the UEFA Youth League.

The Cameroon-born starlet was on target just eight minutes into BVB’s Youth League clash with Inter Milan on Wednesday afternoon, making him the youngest player to score in the competition by well over a year.

The previous record of 16 years and 30 days was jointly held by Ajax’s Youri Regeer and Christos Liatsos of Olympiacos. Moukoko will only turn 15 on 20 November.

The teenage phenomenon has been making waves ever since he joined the BVB youth setup three years ago, thanks to his outstanding ability and prolific scoring record. After he netted an eye-watering 50 goals in the 2018/19 campaign, he was promoted to the U19s at the start of this season.

Moukoko has already turned out for the Germany U16s, while senior coach Joachim Löw is also keeping a curious eye on the progress of a player who has admitted that his ambitions are to “become a professional with Dortmund, conquer the Champions League with the club and win the Ballon d’Or.”

Source: Bundesliga

Italian Serie A champions Juventus have come from behind to earn a two to one victory against Lokomotiv Moscow in Group D clash at the Allianz Stadium. 

The Russian side took a shock lead when Aleksey Miranchuk fired the ball into the roof of the net form close range in the first half. 

The Old Lady regrouped after the break and they got on the scoresheet when Argentina striker Paulo Dybala scored with a beautiful curling shot from edge of the in the 77th minute.

Only two minutes later, Dybala tapped the ball home from a rebound to complete a dramatic victory for the hosts.

With the result, Juventus stay level with Spanish club Atletico Madrid on seven points at the top of the group while the two sides look well-placed to reach the knockout stages. 

The 33-year-old was allegedly a victim of racist abuse and violent conduct from fans of the visiting team in Saturday’s cup qualifying match

The FA Cup fourth qualifying round match between non-league side Haringey Borough and National league outfit Yeovil Town did not end well as both teams walked off the pitch because of reported racist abuse directed at Douglas Pajetat.

The Cameroon goalkeeper was said to have been racially abused by Yeovil Town fans and he was also hit by objects thrown from the away end of the stadium.

Haringey Borough FC@HaringeyBoroFC

Sorry for the late update but wanted to make sure we gave correct information.

Game has been abandoned following racial abuse. Horrendous afternoon.

It must be said that 99.9% of @YTFC fans are also disgusted by what’s happened as much as we are.

One club, one community

The encounter at the Coles Park Stadium was stopped in the 64th minute after Rhys Murphy fired the visitors ahead from the spot.

Source: Goal.com