Tuesday, January 1, 2019

The Week that was (in Football (Soccer)): Review of the top Leagues in Europe-part 38 (Week of December 25-December 31, 2018)


Note:
The purpose of this section is to summarize the week in question, it is not meant to give a full statistical analysis of the matches.
We live in a viral age and all that information can be accessed.
I welcome all contributions from anyone, even for the Leagues that I did not cover.

I.  England

Diary:
Tuesday, December 25, 2018:

-Jermain Defoe has after a decade finally received a medal from Tottenham’s League Cup win in 2007/08. He had left the club during the season to Portsmouth but had already played enough matches in the competition to warrant a medal. (Source The Sun online)
Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

-Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) has been linked to Chinese side Dalian Yifang for a January transfer. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Arsenal Manager Unai Emery has apologized after kicking a water bottle that accidentally hit a Brighton supporter. (Source Sky Sports online)


Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-Tottenham Manager Mauricio Pochettino stated that theclub will activate a year-long extension to the contract of Toyt Alderweireld. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) has hit out at the man-management style of Jurgen Klopp. He is interested in a return to the Spanish League. (Source Fotball Espana online)

-Brian Athol Jordan, a former professional player from the 50s and 60s (with a major spell at Rotherham) passed away aged 86. (Source Wikipedia online)

-The FA chose not to take any action against Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah who appeared to feign a foul to win a penalty in their matchvs. Newcastle . (Source Daily Mail online)

-Arsenal Manager Unai Emery has been charged with improper conduct for kicking a water bottle during yesterday’s match vs. Brighton. (Source RTE Soccer online)

Friday, December 28, 2018:

-Peter Denis-Hill Wood, the former Chairman of Arsenal (1982-2013) has passed away aged 82. (Source BBC Football Online)

-New Manchetser United Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stated that under-fire duo Alexis Sanchez and Romely Lukaku, must step up and revitalize themselves.  (Source Sky Sports online)

-Simon Francis (Bournemouth) will be out injured for the rest of the season. (Source Reuters UK online)

-Joe Cole has been appointed as Chelsea’s Technical Academy Coach. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Chelsea Manager Maurizio Sarri stated that Eden Hazard’s future should be clarified. (Source Sky Sports online)

-England Captain Harry Kane was given an MBE, while Manager Gareth Southgate was given an OBE. (Source Daily Mail online)

-According to Bild, Christian Pulisic (Dortmund) is set to join Chelsea at the end of the season. (Source Bulinews online)

Saturday, December 29, 2018:

-Sheffield Wednesday Fernando Forestieri claimed that he did not know of legal proceedings agisnt him and that was why he did not attend court. He was facing charges due to a  brawl after a match. The arrest warrant for his failure to attend court has been dropped. (Source BBC Football Online)

-In their won over Huddersfield, Fulham Manager Claudio Rabieri expressed his anger at Aboubakar Kamara for insisting on taking a penalty (and missing) when the designated player was Mitrovic.   (Source BBC Football Online)

Sunday, December 30, 2018:

-

Monday, December 31, 2018:

-Former Liverpool star from the 60s and 70s, Peter Thompson passed awaya aged 76. (Source BBC Football online)

-Fulham are to take action as Aboubakar Kamara was subjected to racial abuse on social media following his penalty miss vs. Huddersfield. (Source Sky Sports online)

-Josep Guardiola has described Liverpool as the best team in Europe. (Source BBC Football online)

-Arsenal Manager Unai Emery has been fined 9,000 Euros for accidentally kicking a water bottle on a Brighton fan. (Source L’Equipe online)



Photo From: L'Equipe, December 30, 2018
(December 29, 2018, Liverpool 5-Arsenal 1)



Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 28, 2018 
Rajiv van La Parra
-
Huddersfield
Middlesbrough
Loan
vi.nl
December 27, 2018 
Ramadan Sobhi (Egypt)
-
Huddersfield
Al-Ahly
Purchase
Kicker.de
December 31, 2018 
Mason Holgate
Defender
Everton
West Bromwich Albion
Loan
Sky Sports
December 31, 2018 
Samir Nasri (France)
Midfielder
Free Agent
West Ham
Contract until end of season
Sky Sports


Contract Extensions
Date
Player
Position
Club
Expiration Year
Online Source
December 27, 2018
Jan Hoekstra
Goalkeeper
Groningen
2022
vi.nl
December 28, 2018
Declan Rice
-
West Ham
2024
RTE Sport 


English Premier League Matchday (December 26-December 27, 2018):

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:
Fulham 1-Wolves 1 (Ryan Sessegnon 74 / Romain Saiss 85)
Burnley 1-Everton 5 (Ben Gibson 37 / Yerry Mina 2, Lucas Digne 13, 71, Gylfi Sigurdsson 22 pen, Richarlison 90)
Crystal Palace 0-Cardiff 0 (-)
Leicester 2-Manchester City 1 (Marc Albrighton 19, Ricardo Pereira 81 / Bernardo Silva 14)
Liverpool 4-Newcastle 0 (Dejan Lovren 11, Mohamed Salah 48 pen, Xherdan Shaqiri 79, Fabinho 85)
Manchetser United 3-Huddersfield 1 (Nemanja Matic 28, Paul Pogba 64, 78 / Mathias Jorgensen 88)
Tottenham 5-Bournemouth 0 (Christian Eriksen 16, Son Heung-min 23, 70, Lucas Moura 35, Harry Kane 61)
Brighton 1-Arsenal 1 (Jurgen Locadia 35 / Pierre-Erick Aubameyang 7)
Watford 1-Chelsea 2 (Roberto Pereyra 45 / Eden Hazard 45, 58 pen)

Thursday, December 27, 2018:
Southampton 1-West Ham 2 (Nathan Redmond 50 / Felipe Anderson 53, 59)

Top Goalscorer:
Pierre-Erick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 13 goals


Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Liverpool
19
16
3
0
43
7
36
51
2
Tottenham
19
15
0
4
42
18
24
45
3
Manchester City
19
14
2
3
51
15
36
44
4
Chelsea
19
12
4
3
37
16
21
40
5
Arsenal
19
11
5
3
41
25
16
38
6
Manchester United
19
9
5
5
  37
31
6
32

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

English Premier League Matchday (December 29-December 30, 2018):

Saturday, December 29, 2018:
Brighton 1-Everton 0 (Jurgen Locadia 59)
Fulham 1-Huddersfield 0 (Aleksandar Mitrovic 90)
Leicester 0-Cardiff 1 (Victor Camarasa 90)
Tottenham 1-Wolves 3 (Harry Kane 22 / Willy Boly 72, Raul Jimenez 83, Helder Costa 87)
Watford 1-Newcastle 1 (Abdoulaye Doucoure 82 / Salomon Rondon 29)
Liverpool 5-Arsenal 1 (Roberto Firmino 14, 16, 65 pen, Sadio Mane 32, Mohamed Salah 45 pen / A.Maitland-Niles 11)

Sunday, December 30, 2018:
Crystal Palace 0-Chelsea 1 (N’Golo Kante 51)
Burnley 2-West Ham 0 (Chris Wood 15, Dwight McNeill 34)
Southampton 1-Manchester City 3 (Pierre Hojbjerg 37 / David Silva 10, James ward Prowse (own goal) 45, Sergio Aguero 45+)
Manchester United 4-Bournemouth 1 (Paul Pogba 5, 33, Marcus Rashford 45, Romelu Lukau 72  / Nathan Ake 45+)

Top Goalscorer:
Pierre-Erick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 13 goals


Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Liverpool
20
17
3
0
48
8
40
54
2
Manchester City
20
15
2
3
54
16
38
47
3
Tottenham
20
15
0
5
43
21
22
45
4
Chelsea
20
13
4
3
38
16
22
43
5
Arsenal
20
11
5
4
42
30
12
38
6
Manchester United
20
10
5
5
  41
32
9
35

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

II.  Italy
Diary:
Tuesday, December 25, 2018:
-AC Milan have appealed to Triunal of Arbitration in Sport (TAS) for Financial Fair Play sanctions levied by UEFA against them. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Juventus Manager Massimiliano Allegri stated that Cristiano Ronaldo would not start the upcoming match vs. Atalanta as he is being rested to be in shape for March. (Source Corriere dello Sport online)
Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

- Radja Nainggolan is repotedly dissatisfied at his treatment at Inter and willing to return to Roma. (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Manchetser United have reportedly made a bid for Douglas Costa, but the player does not want to leave Juventus . (Source Football Italia online)

-During the Inter-Napoli match, Mauro Icardi struck the Napoli post straight from the kick-off. (Source Calciomercato online)

-The Inter –Napoli match was marred by the racist chants from Inter fans directed at Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. Napoli Manager Carlo Ancelotti stated that the team asked three times for the match to be stopped due to the chants. Koulibly was sent off late in the match. There was also violence off the field, as four Napoli fans were stabbed and one Inter fan was killed. (Source BBC Football / Calciomercato online)

Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala apologized to Kalidou Koulibaly for the racits chants of the Inter fans. Cristiano Ronaldo offered support on Isntagram for Koulibaly. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Due to the events of the Inter-Napoli match, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina had contemplated suspending the upcoming League matches but the matches are to go ahead. (Source Calciomercato online)

-After their respective ending-offs vs. Inter, Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Lorenzo Insigne have been suspended two matches each. (Source La Gazzetta dello Sport online)

-Due to the events of the Inter-Napoli match, Inter has been given two match stadium ban. Their Curva Nord will be banned for three matches. (Source La Gazzetta dello Sport online)

-Stipe Perica (Frosinone) has reportedly turned down an approach from French club Guingamp. (Source Transfer Market Web online)

-Inter fans are banned to attend this weekend’s match at Empoli after a ruling by the Florence Prefecture. (Source Football Italia online)

Friday, December 28, 2018:

-Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero stated that he would shave his head like Nainggolan if his team defeated Juventus in the weekend. (Source Football Italia online)

-Leonardo, AC Milan’s Technical Director, was reportedly considered by the owners to take over as Manager but he refused. (Source Football Italia online)

-Napoli are to appeal the two-match bans of Koulibaly and Insigne. (Source Football Italia online)

-In the ongoing racism debate in Italy, Roma Manager Eusebio Di Francesco as well as AC Milan Manager Gattuso are backing Carlo Ancelotti in stopping matches when racist chants  occur. Juventus Manager Allegri is opposed to stopping matches but urges preventive measures. At Inter, there are calls to symbolically appoint Asamoah as captain, but Inter Manager Spaletti believes this would just be a symbolic gesture and not enough. (Source Corriere dello Sport online)

-Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado had surgery on his left knee. (Source Football Italia online)

Saturday, December 29, 2018:

-Radja Nainggolan has been re-integrated into the Inter Team. (Source RTBF.be online)

 -Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria) is the first player David Trezeguet in 2005 to score in nine consecutive Serie A matches. (Source Football Italia online)

-Gonzalo Higuain (AC Milan) ended a goal drought of two months (866 minutes). (Source Reuters UK online)

-Juventus have set a new points record in the Serie A (with 20 teams) by earning 53 points. (AS.com online)

Sunday, December 30, 2018:

- Diego Maradona is the latest to offer support to Napoli’s Koulibaly. (Source Tuttosport online)
    
- Inter Manager Luciano Spalletti stated that Radja Nainggolan has 3-4 priorities ahead of Football (Source RTBF.be online)

Monday, December 31, 2018:

-


Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 28, 2018 
Brayan Pereyra (Colombia)
-
Lazio
Free Agent
Contract Rescinded
L’Equipe


Contract Extensions
Date
Player
Position
Club
Expiration Year
Online Source
December 25, 2018
Fabio Quagliarella
Striker
Sampdoria
2020
RTBF.be


Italian Serie A Matchday (December 26, 2018):

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:
Frosinone 0-AC Milan 0 (-)
Fiorentina 0-Parma 1 (Roberto Inglese 45)
Atalanta 2-Juventus 2 (Duvan Zapata 24, 56 / Berat Djimsiti (own goal) 2, Cristiano Ronaldo 78)
Bologna 0-Lazio 2 (Luiz Felipe 30, Senad Lulic 90)
Cagliari 1-Genoa 0 (Diego Farias 45)
Sampdoria 2-Chievo 0 (Fabio Quagliarella 47, Gaston Ramirez 59)
Roma 3-Sassuolo 1 (Diego Perotti 8 pen, Patrik Schick 23, Nicolo Zaniolo 59 / Khouma Babacar 90)
Torino 3-Empoli 0 (Nicolas N’Koulou 44, Lorenzo De Silvestri 49, Iago Falque 75)
SPAL 0-Udinese 0 (-)
Inter 1-Napoli 0 (Lautaro Martinez 90)

Top Goalscorer:
Krzysztof Piatek (Genoa) 13 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) 12 goals


Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Juventus
18
16
2
0
36
10
26
50
2
Napoli
18
13
2
3
34
15
19
41
3
Inter
18
11
3
4
30
14
16
36
4
Lazio
18
9
4
5
27
20
7
31
5
Sampdoria
18
8
5
5
31
  21
10
29
6
AC Milan
18
7
7
4
24
  19
5
28


P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point



Italian Serie A Matchday (December 29, 2018):

Saturday, December 29, 2018:
Juventus 2-Sampdoria 1 (Cristinao Ronaldo 2, 65 pen / Fabio Quagliarella 33 pen)
Chievo 1-Frosinone 0 (E.Giaccherini 76)
Empoli 0-Inter 1 (Keita Balde 72)
Genoa 0-Fiorentina 0 (-)
Parma 0-Roma 2 (Bryan Cristante 58, Cengiz Under 75)
Lazio 1-Torino 1 (Sergej Milinkovic-Savic 62 / Andrea Belotti 45 pen)
Sassuolo 2-Atalanta 6 (Alfred Duncan 51, 57 / Duvan Zapata 19, Papu Gomez 42, Gianluca Mancini 54, Josip Illicic 74, 86, 90)
Udinese 2-Cagliari 0 (Ignacio Pussetto 39, Valon Behrami 57)
Napoli 3-Bologna 2 (Arek Milik 15, 52, Dries Mertens 88 / Federico Santander 37, Danilo 80)
AC Milan 2-SPAL 1 (Samu Castillejo 16, Gonzalo Higuain 64 / Andrea Petagna 13)

Top Goalscorer:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) 14 goals
Krzysztof Piatek (Genoa) 13 goals


Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Juventus
19
17
2
0
368
11
27
53
2
Napoli
19
14
2
3
37
17
20
44
3
Inter
19
12
3
4
31
14
17
39
4
Lazio
19
9
5
5
28
21
7
32
5
AC Milan
19
8
7
4
26
  20
6
31
5
Roma
19
8
6
5
34
  24
10
30


P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

III.  Spain

Diary:

Tuesday, December 25, 2018:
-Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey has clarified his comments that he was not happy at the club. He stated he is satisfied where he is but that he wants to be more important at the club. (Source  AS.com online)

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

-Asier Garitano has been dismissed as Real Sociedad Manager. He has been replaced with Imanol Alguacil. (Source AS.com online)

Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-Lionel Mesi has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s challenge (to join him in Italy) by stating that he does not need a change, he is at the World’s best club, he does not need a new club nor competition for new challenges.  (Source Footnews.be online)

Friday, December 28, 2018:

-Former Paraguayan striker and Real Madrid player from the 60s, Juan Bautista Aguero passed away aged 83. (Source Realmadrid.com online)

-Luka Modric has reportedly refused a new offer from Real Madrid and may leave for Inter at the end of the season. (Source Football Espana online)

-Aitor Elizegi was elected as the new President of Athletic Bilbao. (Source Football Espana online )

-Brazilian Defender Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo) revealed that he had a medical with Barcelona for a potential transfer , but instead they chose Jeisson Murillo. (Source Marca online)
 Saturday, December 29, 2018:

-Barcelona defender Gerard Pique’s Group, Kosmos, are the new owners of FC Andorra. (Source L’Equipe online)

Sunday, December 30, 2018:

-Barcelona have denied breaching any rules in trying to sign PSG’s Adrien Rabiot.   (Source Sky Sports Online)

Monday, December 31, 2018:

-Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, currently on loan from Real Madrid at Leganes would like to remain at the club until the end of the season. (Source AS.com online)


Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 27, 2018 
Brahim Diaz (Spain)
-
Manchester City
Real Madrid 
Purchase
Marca


Contract Extensions
Date
Player
Position
Club
Expiration Year
Online Source
December 27, 2018
Victor Laguardia
Defender
Alaves
2020
L’Equipe
December 27, 2018
Fernando Pacheco
Goalkeeper
Alaves
2023
L’Equipe

IV.  Germany
Diary:


Tuesday, December 25, 2018:
-Shinji Kagawa has criticized his club Dortmund for their treatment of him during his injury. (Source Fox Sport Asia online)

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

-

Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-Rafinha (Bayern Munich) hinted that this was probably his last season with the club. (Source Sport Bild online)

Friday, December 28, 2018:

-

Saturday, December 29, 2018:

-

Sunday, December 30, 2018:
-Bayern Munich have made a second bid for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi. (Source Sky Sports online)

Monday, December 31, 2018:
-Bayern Munich’s second bid for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi was rejected by the club. (Source Bleacher Report online)


Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 27, 2018 
Sebastiean Rode 
-
Dortmund
Frankfurt
Loan
Bulinews
December 30, 2018 
Kevin Akpoguma
Defender
Hoffenheim
Hannover
Loan
Sport Bild
December 30, 2018 
Nicolai Muller
Winger
Frankfurt
Hannover
Loan
L’Equipe
December 30, 2018 
Alex Meier
Striker
Free Agent (formerly of Frankfurt)
St Pauli
Purchase
Bulinews
December 30, 2018 
Philipp Tschauner
Goalkeeper
Hannover
Ingolstadt
Loan
Kicker.de

V.  France
Diary:
Tuesday, December 25, 2018:

-Kylian Mbappe (PSG) was named French Player of the Year by France Football Magazine. (Source L’Equipe online)

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

-Lyon fans elected Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes as their player of the year. (Source Maisfutebol online)
Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-
Friday, December 28, 2018:

-Former France Manager Roger Lemerre was named as Manager of Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel.  (Source L’Equipe online)

Saturday, December 29, 2018:

-

Sunday, December 30, 2018:

-The French Justice is to examine Anthony Limbombe’s transfer from Club Brugge to Nantes that involved alleged kick-backs to Belgian Agent Mogi Bayat. Bayat’s Lawyer Jean-Phillipe Mayence has denied the charges.  (Source RTBF.be / Walfoot.be online)
Monday, December 31, 2018:

-Olivier  Dall’Oglio was dismissed as Dijon Manager after six and a half years. David Linares has replaced him in the interim.  (Source L’Equipe online)



Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 28, 2018 
Didier N’Dong
Midfielder
Sunderland
Guingamp
Purchase
Sky Sports
December 28, 2018 
Kieran Dowell
-
Everton
Sheffield United
Loan
Sky Sports
December 28, 2018 
Alexander Kacaniklic (Sweden)
-
Nantes
Free Agent
Contract Rescinded 
L’Equipe
December 28, 2018 
Gen Shoji (Japan)
Defender
Kashima Antlers
Toulouse
Purchase
L’Equipe
December 29, 2018 
Chaker Alhadur
Defender
Caen
Chateauroux
Purchase
L’Equipe
December 29, 2018 
Papy Djilobodji (Senegal)
Defender
Free Agent (formerly Sunderland)
Guingamp
Purchase
L’Equipe

VI.  Holland
Diary:


Tuesday, December 25, 2018:
-

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

-
Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Mahmoud has reportedly turned down an offer from Ajax and sigend with Al-Ahly. (Source Voetbalzone online)
Friday, December 28, 2018:

-Jaap Stam was named as the new manager of PEC Zwolle. (Source vi.nl online)

Saturday, December 29, 2018:
-

Sunday, December 30, 2018:
-Dick Helling, former Testar and Ajax player from the 70s, has passed away aged 68 (Source vi.nl online)

Monday, December 31, 2018:
-


Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 31, 2018 
Kaj Sierhuis
Striker
Ajax
Groningen
Loan
vi.nl
December 31, 2018 
Mateo Cassierra
-
Groningen
Ajax
Loan return
vi.nl
December 31, 2018 
Vince Gino Dekker
-
Az
Free Agent
Contract Rescinded
vi.nl
December 31, 2018 
Ogulcan Sadiroglu
-
AZ
Free Agent
Contract Rescinded
vi.nl
December 31, 2018 
Azor Matusiwa
Midfielder
Ajax
De Graafschap
Loan
vi.nl
December 31, 2018 
Michael de Leeuw
Striker
Chicago Fire
Emmen
Purchase
vi.nl

VII.  Scotland
Diary:

Tuesday, December 25, 2018:
-Australia Manager Graham Arnold has reportedly apologized to Tom Rogic for him missing out on the Rangers-Celtic match. (Source RHFC online)

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

-Timothy Weah (PSG) has been linked with a loan move to Celtic in the Jnauary transfer window. (Source The Guardian online)

-Aberdeen Manager Derek McInnes has called Hearts Manager Craig Levein as ‘irrational and childish’ for saying that the Aberdeen manager was ‘crying his eyes out about referees’.. (Source BBC Football online)

Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-
Friday, December 28, 2018:

-

Saturday, December 29, 2018:
- Rangers have won an Old Firm clash for the first time since March 25, 2012. (Source Footnews.be online)

Sunday, December 30, 2018:

-

Monday, December 31, 2018:
-Jack Hamilton (Livingston) had his red card vs. Dundee changed to a yellow card after appeal. (Source BBC Football online)

Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 28, 2018 
Ryan Bowman
-
Motherwell
Exeter City
Purchase
BBC Football


Contract Extensions
Date
Player
Position
Club
Expiration Year
Online Source
December 29, 2018
Ross Millen
Defender
Kilamarnock
2020
Sky Sports


Scottish Premier League Matchday (December 26, 2018):

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:
Aberdeen 3-Celtic 4 (Stevie May 24 pen, Sam Cosgrove 63 pen, Lewis Ferguson 90 / Scott Sinclair 6, 76, 88, Odsonne Edouard 86 )
St Mirren 0-St Johnstone 1 (Anthony Watt 89)
Dundee 0-Livingston 0 (-)
Hearts 2-Hamilton 0 (Steven Naismith 18, A.Sutchuin-Djoum 44)
Motherwell 0-Kilmarnock 1 (Jordan Jones 40)
Rangers 1- Hibernian 1 (Alfredo Morelos 25 / Darren McGregor 86)

Top Goalscorer:
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) 12 goals


Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Celtic
19
13
3
3
46
13
33
42
2
Rangers
20
11
6
3
42
16
26
39
3
Kilmarnock
20
11
5
4
30
19
11
38
4
Aberdeen
20
11
3
6
32
23
9
36
5
Hearts
20
10
3
7
25
26
-1
33
6
St Johnstone
19
9
4
6
23
24
-1
31
P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

Scottish Premier League Matchday (December 29, 2018):
Saturday, December 29, 2018:
Rangers 1-Celtic 0 (Ryan Jack 31)
Dundee 0-St Johnstone 2 (Scott Tanser 1, Liam Craig 58)
Hamilton 1-Motherwell 2 (Dougie Imrie 17 / Tom Aldred 21, 77)
Kilmarnock 2-St Mirren 1 (Stuart Findlay 4, Jordan Jones 11 / Alfie Jones 22)
Livingston 1-Aberdeen 2 (Ryan Hardie 89 / James Wilson 71, Alan Lithgow (own goal) 85)
Hibernian 0-Hearts 1 (Oliver Lee 28)
Top Goalscorer:
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) 12 goals


Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Celtic
20
13
3
4
46
14
32
42
2
Rangers
21
12
6
3
43
16
27
42
3
Kilmarnock
21
12
5
4
32
20
12
41
4
Aberdeen
21
12
3
6
34
24
10
39
5
Hearts
21
11
3
7
26
26
0
36
6
St Johnstone
20
10
4
6
25
24
1
34
P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point


VIII.  Portugal

Diary:


Tuesday, December 25, 2018:
-

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:
-According to Nani (Sporting CP), Messi, Neymar  and Cristiano Ronaldo were more deserving of the Ballon D’Or than Luka Modric. (Source Marca online)

-Edson Farias (Feirense) will be out injured for weeks. (Source Maisfutebol online)

-David Simao (Boavista) will be suspended for matches and fined 919 Euros for a series of insults to officials in their match vs. Moreirense in the 14th round. (Source Maisfutebol online)


Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-Chiquinho (Moreirense) was voted as the player of the month of November. (Source A Bola online)    

Friday, December 28, 2018:

-Bruno Fernandes was named ‘A Bola’s Player of the year. (Source A Bola online)

-Vitor Murta has been elected as the new President of Boavista. (Source MaisFutebol online)

Saturday, December 29, 2018:
-Former Portugal and Benfica great Antonio Simoes was assaulted in the city of Praia at Cape Verde. (Source A Bola online)

Sunday, December 30, 2018:

-

Monday, December 31, 2018:
-

Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 25, 2018 
Luyz Phellype
-
Pacos de Ferreira
Sporting CP
Purchase
Maisfutebol
December 26, 2018 
Aleksandar Isailovic (Serbia) (16 years old)
Striker
Valladolid
Benfica
Purchase
Maisfutebol
December 26, 2018 
Marcelo (Brazil)
Defender
Sporting CP
Chicago Fire
Purchase
A Bola
December 26, 2018 
Michel Douglas (Brazil)
Striker
Aves
Vila Nova
Loan
Maisfutebol
December 26, 2018 
Erik Nascimento (Brazil)
Striker
Guarani
Aves
Purchase
Maisfutebol
December 27, 2018 
Zackarias Faour (Sweden)
Striker
Manchetser City
Leixoes
Purchase
Maisfutebol
December 27, 2018 
Danny
Midfielder
Maritimo
Free Agent
Contract Rescinded
A Bola
December 27, 2018 
Ibson (Brazil)
Midfielder
Maritimo
Free Agent
Contract Rescinded
A Bola
December 28, 2018 
Fernando Andrade (Brazil)
Striker
Santa Clara
Portto
Purchase
A Bola
December 28, 2018 
Rafael Barbosa 
-
Sporting CP
Pacos de Ferreira
Loan
Maisfutebol
December 28, 2018 
Elves Balde
-
Sporting CP
Pacos de Ferreira
Loan
Maisfutebol
December 28, 2018 
Ruben Macedo
-
Porto
Chaves
Loan
Maisfutebol
December 29, 2018 
Inacio (Brazil)
Defender
Porto
Guarani
Loan
A Bola
December 29, 2018 
Pedro Pinto
Midfielder
Setubal
Arouca
Loan
A Bola
December 30, 2018 
Salvador Agra
-
Cadiz
Benfica
Loan return
Maisfutebol
December 31, 2018 
Lucas Marques (Brazil)
Midfielder
Chapecoense
Santa Clara
Purchase
Maisfutebol



Profesional Contract
Date
Player
Position
Club
Online Source
December 29, 2018 
Jefferseon (Brazil) (18 years old)
Striker
Maritimo
A Bola


Portugal League Cup (December 28-29, 2018):

Portugal League Cup –Group A

Friday, December 28, 2018:
Aves 1-Benfica 1 (Mama Balde 49 / Haris Seferovic 70)
Rio Ave 1-Pacos de Ferreira 1 (Wenderson Galeno 52 / Miguel Rodrigues (own goal) 31)

Portugal League Cup –Group B

Friday, December 28, 2018:
Tondela 2-Nacional 1 (Icaro 3, Chicho Arango 85 / Giorgi Arabidze 20)
Setubal 0-Braga 4 (Paulinho 53, 59, Wilson Eduardo 76, Pablo Santos 88)

Portugal League Cup –Group D

Saturday, December 29, 2018:
Feirense 1-Sporting CP 4 (Tiago Silva 24 pen / Raphinha 5, Bruno Fernandes 22, Bas Dost 60 pen, Luis Machado (own goal) 67)
Maritimo 0-Estoril 1 (Sandro Lima 16 pen)

Portugal League Cup –Group C

Sunday, December 30, 2018:
Belenensses 1-Porto 02 (Reinildo Mandava 4 / Moussa Marega 53, Soares 63)
Chaves 3-Varzim 1 (Niltinho 34, William Oliveira 70, Marcao 76 pen / Ruster 37)

IX.  Belgium
Diary:
Tuesday, December 25, 2018:
-Ruud Gullit has expressed an interest to manage Anderlecht. (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Waasland-Beveren goalkeeper Davy Roef (on loan from Anderlecht) will not play in the upcoming match vs. his parent club as he receives his salary from Anderlecht and per rules can not play against them. (Source Jupiler Lewague App online)

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

-
Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-

Friday, December 28, 2018:
-

Saturday, December 29, 2018:

-Moussa Djenepo (Standard Liege) was named as Mali’s player of the year . (Source RTBF.be online)

-Giorgi Chakvetadze (Gent) was named as Georgia’s player of the year . (Source RTBF.be online)

Sunday, December 30, 2018:
-

Monday, December 31, 2018:

-

Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 27, 2018 
Carlinhos (Brazil)
-
Standard Liege
Guarani
Purchase
Footnews.be
December 27, 2018 
Andres Sarmiento (Colombia)
Striker
Mouscron
Free Agent
Contract rescinded
Footnews.be
December 27, 2018 
Diego Montiel (Sweden)
Midfielder
Orgryte
Beerschot-Wilrijk
Purchase
Footnews.be
December 231, 2018 
Thomas Kaminski
Goalkeeper
Kortrijk
Gent
Purchase (verbal accord)
Walfoot.be




First Division A League Matchday (December 26-27, 2018):
Wednesday, December 26, 2018:
Cercle Brugge 0-Eupen 1 (Mamadou Fall 17)
Kortrijk 4-Zulte-Waregem 2 (Ilombe Mboyo 65, 73, Christophe Lepoint 71, Teddy Chevalier 89 / Urho Nissila 42, Hicham Faik 59)
Ostend 1-St Truiden 1 (Laurens De Bock 33 / Jordan Botaka 4)
Antwerp 2-Mouscron 1 (-Dieumerci Mbokani 23 pen, 57 / Yannis Mbombo 64)
Charleroi 0-Standard Liege 1 (Paul-Jose Mpoku 31)
Genk 3-Gent 1 (Mbwana Samatta 23, Sebastien Dewaest 47, Bryan Heynen 86 / Dylan Bronn 6)

Thursday, December 27, 2018:
Lokeren 0-Club Brugge 1 (Ruud Vormer 69)
Anderlecht 3-Waasland-Beveren 0 (Nany Dimata 9, 90, Sebastiaan Bornauw 51)

Top Goalscorer:
Ally Samatta (Genk) 14 goals
Nany Dimata (Anderlecht) 12 goals
Ivan Santini (Anderlecht) 11 goals

Table
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Genk
21
14
6
1
49
19
30
48
2
Club Brugge
21
12
5
4
48
22
26
41
3
Antwerp
21
11
5
5
30
24
6
38
4
Standard Liege
21
10
6
5
33
22
11
36
5
Anderlecht
21
10
4
7
37
27
10
34
6
St Truiden
21
8
9
4
32
24
8
33

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Point

Diary (extra):

Tuesday, December 25, 2018:

-UEFA named the UCL ‘Breakthrough Team 2018’ as follows: Vlachosimos (Benfica), Skriniar 9Inyter), De Ligt (Ajax), Robertson (Liverpool), De Jong (Ajax), Aour (Lyon), Arthur (Barcelona), Vlasic (CSKA Moscow), Cengiz Under (Roma), Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven), Sancho (Dortmund). (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Spanish Manager Quique Sanchez Flores has been appointed as the new Manager of Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua. (Source BBC Football online)

-Syria have named their squad for the 2019 Asian nations Cup. (Source Fox Sports Asia online)
Squad:
Syria final 23-man squad for AFC Asian Cup 2019:
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma (Al-Wahda), Mahmoud Al-Youssef (Al-Jabalain), Ahmad Madania (Al-Jaish)
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih (Al-Ahed), Moayad Ajan (Al-Jazeera), Jehad Al Baour (Al-Riffa), Omar Midani (Pyramids), Amro Jenyat (Al-Shabab), Hussein Jwayed (Al-Zawra’a), Nadim Sabagh (Tishreen), Abdul Malek Anizan  (Al-Jaish)
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas (Mahmoud Al Mawas), Mohammed Osman (Heracles Almelo), Osama Omari (Qatar), Tamer Haj Mohamad (Ohod), Ahmad Ashkar (Al-Jaish), Youssef Kalfa (Al-Hazem), Zaher Midani (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya), Khaled Al Mobayed (Al-Wahda), Fahd Youssef (Al-Sailiya)
Forwards: Omar Kharbin (Al-Hilal), Omar Al Soma (c) (Al-Ahli), Mardik Mardikian (Al-Jazeera)

-Danish International Nicki Bille was shot with a shotgun in an attempted murder after a fight with three people. He was shot in the forearm. (Source Mirror.co.uk online)

Wednesday, December 26, 2018:

-Former Brazil International Maicon has come out of retirement after two years to play for Criciuma (where he was formed). (Source A Bola online)

-Luka Modric was named the sportsman of the year in his native Croatia. (Source L’Équipe online)

-India Manager Stephen Constantine has named his squad for the 2019 Asian nations Cup. (Source Fox Sports Asia online)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru), Amrinder Singh (Mumbai City), Vishal Kaith (Pune City)
Defenders: Pritam Kotal (ATK), Sarthak Golui (Pune City), Sandesh Jhingan (Kerala Blasters), Anas Edathodika (Kerala Blasters), Salam Ranjan Singh (East Bengal), Subhasish Bose (Mumbai City), Narayan Das (Delhi Dynamos)
Midfielders: Udanta Singh (Bengaluru), Rowllin Borges (NorthEast United), Anirudh Thapa (Chennaiyin), Vinit Rai (Delhi Dynamos), Halicharan Narzary (Kerala Blasters), Ashique Kuruniyan (Pune City), Germanpreet Singh (Chennaiyin), Jackichand Singh (Goa), Pronay Halder (ATK)
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Chennaiyin), Sumeet Passi (Jamshedpur), Balwant Singh (ATK)

-Stefan Savic (Ateltico Madrid) was named Montenegro’s of the year for the third straight year. (Source Maisfutebol online)

-Former USA U-20 and recent LA Galaxy Manager Sigi Schmid passed away aged 65. (Source USSoccer online)

-Former Republic of Ireland Internarional Gary Breen has criticized current Manager Mick McCarthy’s attempts to recruit non-Irish player Nathan Redmond (Southampton). (Source extra.ie online)

Thursday, December 27, 2018:

-Vietnam have named their squad for the 2019 Asian nations Cup. (Source Fox Sports Asia online)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Dang Van Lam (Hai Phong), Nguyen Tuan Manh (Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN), Bui Tien Dung (FLC Thanh Hoa)
Defenders: Do Duy Manh (Hanoi), Que Ngoc Hai (Song Lam Nghe An), Bui Tien Dung (Viettel), Doan Van Hau (Hanoi), Ho Tan Hai (Becamex Binh Duong), Nguyen Thanh Chung (Hanoi)
Midfielders: Luong Xuan Truong (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Nguyen Huy Hung (Quang Nam), Nguyen Trong Hoang (FLC Thanh Hoa), Ngan Van Dai (Hanoi), Nguyen Phong Hong Duy (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Tran Minh Vuong (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Pham Duc Huy (Hanoi), Do Hung Dung (Hanoi), Phan Van Duc (Song Lam Nghe An)
Forwards: Nguyen Van Toan (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Nguyen Cong Phuong (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Ha Duc Chinh (Shb Da Nang), Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi), Nguyen Tien Lien (Becamex Binh Duong)

-Iran Manager Carlos Queiroz has named his squad for the 2019 Asian nations Cup. (Source Fox Sports Asia online)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo)
Defenders: Ramin Rezaeian (Al-Shahania SC), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny), Majid Hosseini (Trabzonspor), Mohammadhossein Kananizadegan (Machine Sazi), Pejman Montazeri (Esteghlal), Vouria Ghafouri (Esteghlal),  Ehsan Haji Safi (Tractor Sazi), Morteza Pouraliganji (KAS Eupen)
Midfielders: Omid Ebrahimi (Qatar’s Al Ahli),  Ahmad Nourollahi (Persepolis), Masoud Shojaei (Tractor Sazi), Ashkan Dejagah (Tractor Sazi), Vahid Amiri (Trabzonspor), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal)
Forwards: Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan), Karim Ansarifard (Nottingham Forest), Saman Ghoddos (Amiens), Mehdi Taremi (Al Gharafa), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis),  Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Brighton),

-Japan Manager Hajime Moriyasu has named his squad for the 2019 Asian nations Cup. (Source Fox Sports Asia online)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Shuichi Gonda (Sagan Tosu), Daniel Schmidt (Vegalta Sendai)
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Red Diamonds), Genta Miura (Gamba Osaka), Sei Muroya (FC Tokyo), Sho Sasaki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Sint-Truiden)
Midfielders: Genki Haraguchi (Hannover 96), Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe), Wataru Endo (Sint-Truiden), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Takumi Minamino (Red Bull Salzburg), Junya Ito (Kashiwa Reysol), Shoya Nakajima (Portimonense), Ritsu Doan (Groningen), Hidemasa Morita (Kawasaki Frontale)
Forwards: Yuya Osako (Werder Bremen), Yoshinori Muto (Newcastle United), Koya Kitagawa (Shimizu S-Pulse)

-Luka Modric was named the Balkan Athlete of the year organized by Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) and including other Balkan Nations News agencies. (Source Sky Sports online)

-UEFA named the Europa League ‘Breakthrough Team 2018’ as follows: Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Junior (Betis), Aidoo (Genk), Cisse (Olympiakos), Fornals (Villareal), Havertz (Leverkusen), Lo Celso (Betis), Gacinovic (Frankfurt), Minamino (Salzburg), Jovic (Frankfurt), Sarr (Rennes). (Source Walfoot.be online)

-Argemtine Manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto was named as the new Manager of LA Galaxy. (Source Massive Report online)

-Phillipines Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has named his squad for the 2019 Asian nations Cup. (Source Fox Sports Asia online)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Nathanael Villanueva (Kaya FC-Iloilo), Michael Falkesgaard (Bangkok United), Kevin Ray Hansen (Horsens)
Defenders: Alvaro Silva (Kedah), Carli de Murga (Ceres-Negros), Daisuke Sato (Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe), Stephan Palla (Buriram United), Luke Woodland (Suphanburi), Adam Tull (NA), Curt Dizon (Ceres-Negros), Paul Mulders (Ceres-Negros)
Midfielders: John-Patrick Strauss (Erzgebirge Aue), Iain Ramsey (Sukhothai), Manuel Ott (Ceres-Negros), Kevin Ingreso (Ceres-Negros), Stephan Schrock (Ceres-Negros), Miguel Tanton (Ceres-Negros), James Younghusband (Davao Aguilas), Mike Ott (Ceres-Negros)
Forwards: Jovin Bedic (Kaya FC-Iloilo), Phil Younghusband (Davao Aguilas), Patrick Reichelt (Ceres-Negros), Javier Patino (Buriram United)

-Former Brazil star Zico stated that Lionel Messi does not need the World Cup to be considered an all-time great. (Source Sportskeeda online)

Friday, December 28, 2018:

- The Liberian Football Federation has lifted its ban on Christopher Wreh. He had been suspended for insulting match officials during a League match in August. (Source BBC Football Online)

Saturday, December 29, 2018:

- Former Isareli striker Yehoshua Glazer passed away aged 91. (Source Wikipedia Online)

Sunday, December 30, 2018:
 -Argentina Federation President Claudio Tapia hinted that Lionel Messi is to make his National Team comeback for the 2019 Copa America. (Source Marca.com online)

Monday, December 31, 2018:

-

Transfers
Date
Player
Position
From
To
Type
Online Source
December 27, 2018 
Laurent Ciman (Belgium) 
Defender
Free Agent
Toronto FC
Purchase
RTBF.be
December 27, 2018 
Robinho (Brazil) 
Striker
Sivasspor
Istanbul Basaksehir
Purchase
BBC Football
December 28, 2018 
Lennart Thys (Germany)
-
Erzurumspor
Free Agent
Contract Rescinded
Kicker.de
December 30, 2018 
Hernanes (Brazil)
Midfielder
Hebei China Fortune
Sao Paulo
Purchase
Walfoot.be



International Friendlies:

Thursday, December 27, 2018:
Qatar 0-Algeria 1 (Baghdad Bounedjah 60)
India 0-Oman 0 (-)
Bahrain 1-Lebanon 0 (-)


Friday, December 28, 2018:
Jordan 1-China 1 (-)
United Arab Emirates 0-Kuwait 2 (-)
Iraq 1-Palestine 0 (-)

Saturday, December 29, 2018:
Bahrain 4-North Korea 0 (-)
Sunday, December 30, 2018:
Oman 0-Australia 5 (Andrew Nabbout 10, Chris Ikonomidis 14, Awer Mabil 24, Milos Degenek 59, Jackson Irvine 89)

Monday, December 31, 2018:
Palestine 1-Kyrgyzstan 2 (-)
Phillipines 2-Vietnam 4 (-)
Saudi Arabia 0-South Korea 0 (-)
Qatar 1-Iran 2 (Hassan Al Haidos 43 pen / Mehdi Taremi 17,  Sardar Azmoun 46)

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