What makes Neymar, Messi, Van Persie, Balotelli and Hazard different from the rest?
Ryan Giggs demonstrated his enduring value to Manchester United with the opening goal in a 2-0 home win over Everton on Sunday that put his side almost out of sight in the title race.
Chelsea enjoyed some much-needed home comfort with goals from Juan Mata and Frank Lampard securing a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
Premier league Leaders Manchester City piled the pressure on Manchester United with a 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday to move five points clear of their neighbours.
Arsenal handed the Premier League initiative back to leaders Manchester United on Saturday with a limp performance in a goalless home draw against a Sunderland side who had lost their previous four games.
Edin Dzeko shone to give 10-man Manchester City a battling 4-3 victory at Norwich City but leaders Manchester United also won as own goals and more controversial refereeing marked the last Saturday of 2012.
Manchester City comfortably beat Fulham 3-0 to move three points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table as snow engulfed northern England in freezing conditions Saturday.
Robin van Persie's stoppage-time free kick snatched a 3-2 victory for Manchester United in a pulsating derby at champions Manchester City to send them six points clear at the top of the Premier League on Sunday.
Stunning hat-tricks from Dimitar Berbatov and Robin van Persie moved Manchester United and Arsenal ahead in the Premier League title race as strikers took the spotlight on Saturday.
Manchester United moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after an extraordinary 4-3 victory at Reading. Third-placed Chelsea surrendered a half-time lead to lose 3-1 at West Ham United while Arsenal were humbled 2-0 by Swansea City.
Skipper Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-3 in a remarkable Premier League match at Stamford Bridge but Manchester City stayed top of the Premier League with a 3-1 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa has said he was relieved to score his first goal for the club, and added that he would like to score as well as make more goals for the team, especially in the absence of injured Wayne Rooney.
Germany took a big step towards the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Wednesday when two classy first-half strikes from Mario Gomez secured a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands who are in serious danger of elimination.
Swansea City turned on the style to beat Arsenal 3-2 and deny Thierry Henry a magical return to the Premier League and Mark Hughes made a losing start as manager of struggling Queens Park Rangers.
Swansea City beat Arsenal 3-2 to deny super-sub Thierry Henry a magical return to the Premier League and Mark Hughes made a losing start as manager of struggling Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.
Arsenal subdued a spirited Leeds United to reach the FA Cup fourth round with a 3-1 victory in a lively third-round replay at Elland Road on Wednesday.
The English Football Association will investigate Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor's conduct during Saturday's 4-2 Premier League win over Arsenal.
Arsenal's miserable end-of-season form continued on Monday with a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers leaving them still short of securing third place in the Premier League.
Arsenal's title hopes took another blow when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Liverpool on Sunday after an astonishing finale in which both teams convert stoppage time penalties.
Arsenal's title hopes took another blow when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Liverpool on Sunday after an astonishing finale which saw both teams convert stoppage time penalties.
Barcelona suffered a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal and AS Roma's miserable run continued with a 3-2 home loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League last-16 first-round matches on Wednesday.
Newcastle United produced an astonishing fightback to draw 4-4 at home to Arsenal on Saturday after trailing 4-0 with just 26 minutes gone in the Premier League on Saturday.
Dimitar Berbatov scored his third hat-trick of the season as leaders Manchester United maintained their unbeaten Premier League record with a 5-0 drubbing of Birmingham City on Saturday. Arsenal moved into second place with a 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium.
Round up of the Champions League matches played on Wednesday.
Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor was handed a three-match ban for violent conduct by the English Football Association on Thursday.
Arsenal are likely to use Cesc Fabregas in an advanced role to add more bite to their attack in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
The Netherlands advanced to a second-round meeting with Slovakia in ominous style on Thursday when they beat Cameroon 2-1 to make it three wins out of three and secure top spot in Group E. After wins over Denmark and Japan, the Dutch were already assured of progress and the victory secured with goals by Robin van Persie and Klaas Jan Huntelaar guaranteed top spot.
Live updates from the matches at the football World Cup in South Africa.
Netherlands needed a lucky own goal and a late strike by Dirk Kuyt to get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 win over Denmark in their Group E match at Soccer City on Monday.
New blood and a change of formation paid dividends for France as debutant Mathieu Valbuena netted the winner in a 2-1 World Cup warm-up win over Costa Rica on Wednesday.
Luis Suarez warmed up for next week's FA Cup final with a hat-trick in Liverpool's 3-0 win at Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday while high-flying Newcastle United were thumped 4-0 at lowly Wigan Athletic.
Diego Maradona enjoyed a winning start as Argentina coach with victory over Scotland on Wednesday while Marcello Lippi equalled a world record in charge of Italy. Among the pick of the other friendlies in Europe, a late header from captain John Terry earned England a 2-1 win against old foes Germany, European champions Spain swept Chile aside 3-0 and Robin van Persie's brace helped the Netherlands beat Sweden 3-1.
Arsenal will be seeking new players in the January transfer window because of Robin van Persie's long-term injury, manager Arsene Wenger said on Tuesday.
Captain William Gallas and striker Emmanuel Adebayor scored second half goals to earn Arsenal a 2-0 win at Twente Enschede in their Champions League third round qualifier on Wednesday.
Danny Welbeck and Jesse Lingard both scored twice as English champions Manchester United got their first win of the David Moyes era with a 5-1 victory over an A-League All Stars team at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
Manchester City passed the first big test of their "big four" credentials on Saturday when they beat Arsenal 4-2 to make it four wins out of four while Chelsea maintained their perfect record with a 2-1 win at Stoke City.
Manchester United beat Porto 1-0 while Arsenal trounced Villarreal 3-0 in second leg quarter-final matches in the Champions League to make the grade.
A controversial late winner by William Gallas earned Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Hull City in their FA Cup quarter-final on Tuesday and set up a last four showdown with Chelsea at Wembley. The other semi-final will be between Manchester United and Everton.
A second-half goal by Robin van Persie gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances