European Football Thread

[Crybaby Bunting]

Pep is available

[brenchill]

They could have had 'Arry.

[Crybaby Bunting]

They could still persuade big Sam. He could win the league every year with a team like Barcelona.

[Lineker]

Barcelona have announced Tito Vilanova's operation on his parotid gland had gone "as expected" as the 44-year-old begins a second battle with cancer.

Vilanova, who also had a tumour removed from his throat in November last year, will now start six weeks of chemotherapy.

[Lineker]

Fenerbahce's former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles is suspended for 11 games after being found guilty of spitting at a referee.

Referee Halis Ozkahya accused Meireles of not only spitting at him as he challenged his red card against Galatasaray, but also directing a homosexual gesture in his direction - claims vehemently denied by the player.

[MDK]

Stay classy, Rawwwl

[GoN_]

[Rafael]

Look at that douchebag, Felipe Melo.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Roma destroying Milan.

3-0 inside 30 minutes. Expect there will be quite a few more goals in this one too. So good to watch Roma under Zeman.

Edit: Elsewhere, Madrid are now losing 3-1.

Edited December 22, 2012 by JohnnyPerfect

[Rafael]

Milan is a shadow of its former self. After losing Ibrahimovic and Silva, the team now looks weak, with only El Shaarawy performing well. With Robinho, Pato and Kevin Prince likely leaving this transfer window, the team might find themselves in a fight against relegation by the later stages of the season.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Milan is a shadow of its former self. After losing Ibrahimovic and Silva, the team now looks weak, with only El Shaarawy performing well. With Robinho, Pato and Kevin Prince likely leaving this transfer window, the team might find themselves in a fight against relegation by the later stages of the season.

Nah, that's going over board. Pato seems like he's on his way out, but either way, Milan will be fine. Going through a transition right now, I'd still be very surprised if they don't finish in the top half, I'd expect top 8 if they can get it together in the second half of the season.

4-2 now, been a class game.

Edited December 22, 2012 by JohnnyPerfect

[Lineker]

Iker Casillas was dropped for the first time in 10 years by Real in their loss to Malaga today. Eat your heart out Brad!

[EddieG]

And I'm so glad he did.

[Lineker]

Italian fourth division side Pro Patria have been ordered to play one match behind closed doors as punishment for racist chanting towards AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng.

A friendly on 3 January was abandoned when Boateng responded to abuse by kicking the ball at Pro Patria fans.

The Ghana midfielder then tore off his shirt and walked off the pitch, followed by the rest of the Milan side.

The Lega Pro says the club was fined in in October over "similar incidents".

[GoN_]

Last night Benfica and Porto drew 2-2 and so both teams remain head-to-head at the top of the league, still undefeated. Matic had a hell of a match.

[Lineker]

According to Sky Italy, Guardiola reached an agreement with Bayern Munich.

[Lineker]

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will join the coaching staff of second-tier 1860 Munich to help them climb up the table, the German second-tier club announce.

"Yes, we have an agreement that Sven-Goran Eriksson will join our coaching staff," the club's board chairman Otto Steiner tells reporters after an all-night meeting at the club offices. 1860 Munich are sixth in the table

And Bayern have denied the Guardiola rumours.

[Lineker]

Former Hull striker Jozy Altidore says he will pray for the fans who racially abused him during his Dutch side AZ Alkmaar's 5-0 victory at Den Bosch. "It's disappointing these things still happen in this time we're in, but what are you going to do?" said Altidore. "You just hope that these people can improve themselves. You pray for them."

In Spain, there's an el Classico tonight in the Copa Del Rey. Messi can break another record - this time for most goals scored in a Classico.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Zeman sacked from Roma after the 4-2 loss to Cagliari.

Roma were fantastic to watch under him, without a doubt the most barking mad and extreme system in top level football he employed. But truth be told, Roma were never going to really progress under him, just too extreme.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Balotelli with a storming debut so far for Milan and already has a goal inside 25 minutes.