Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan

Burnley signed Chelsea's Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana on loan until the end of the season on Saturday. (X/@BurnleyOfficial)

Short Url

https://arab.news/gcrn7

Updated 13 January 2024

AFP

January 13, 2024 16:22

Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan

Fofana is Burnley’s first signing of the January window as the Clarets battle to avoid relegation
He spent the first half of the season on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin

Updated 13 January 2024

AFP

January 13, 2024 16:22

LONDON: Burnley signed Chelsea’s Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana on loan until the end of the season on Saturday.
Fofana is Burnley’s first signing of the January window as the Clarets battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The 21-year-old was in the stands at Turf Moor on Friday to watch Burnley’s 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Luton.
Fofana spent the first half of the season on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin, scoring two goals in 17 games.
He caught the eye of Chelsea after netting 24 times in 65 appearances for Norwegian side Molde but has yet to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.
Burnley are looking to improve an attack which has managed only 21 goals this term, second lowest in the Premier League ahead of only Sheffield United.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany hardly sounded confident that Fofana will help solve that problem.
“I would love to be able to only present players with proven numbers but it’s not the market we’re in at all,” he said.
“To go and find someone who will out-perform consistently Lyle Foster and Zeki Amdouni I don’t think is realistic but we have to strengthen the unit.
“He does have speed, he does have the ability to link up play and he does have talent. He’s scored a lot of goals, maybe not in Germany but at his previous clubs, and he can help us.
“But if you’re expecting someone to come in who scored 25 goals in the Bundesliga recently it’s not in the realm of possibility.”
Fofana added: “I have seen a couple of games already and I think this is the right place for me to make the next steps.
“I have known about Burnley for a long time, they have been in the Premier League before this season and the champions (of the Championship) last year and I’m now looking forward to now being a part of this team.”

Topics: Chelsea David Datro Fofana Burnley

Dortmund holds on with 10 men for 1st away win in Bundesliga

Updated 23 December 2024

December 23, 2024 00:42

Dortmund holds on with 10 men for 1st away win in Bundesliga

Dortmund climbed to sixth ahead of the league’s winter break, but it’s not where the club aspires to be after a shaky start to the league

Updated 23 December 2024

December 23, 2024 00:42

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund held on after Pascal Groß’ sending off to beat Wolfsburg 3-1 for its first Bundesliga away win of the season on Sunday.
Donyell Malen got the visitors off the mark with a volley to a corner in the 25th, three minutes before Julian Brandt played in Maximilian Beier to score Dortmund’s second goal. Beier, who scored with the outside of his boot in off the left post, celebrated with a throwing-dart gesture.
Beier returned the favor for Brandt to score Dortmund’s third two minutes after that.
Despite the commanding lead, the visitors were second-best for long periods thereafter as Wolfsburg improved dramatically.
Coach Ralph Hasenhüttl made two changes at the break, including sending on Lukas Nmecha to face his brother Felix Nmecha, who was playing for Dortmund.
Denis Vavro pulled one back in the 58th, four minutes before Groß was sent off for a foul on Lukas Nmecha when the Wolfsburg forward was through on goal.
The home team pushed hard but Dortmund managed to hold on to ease the pressure on coach Nuri Sahin.
“A 3-0 lead should mean you can get through the game with confidence,” said Brandt, who complained about his team’s drop in performance. “We’re to blame for that. It’s not good, we need to play more confidently, we need to grow up.”
Dortmund climbed to sixth ahead of the league’s winter break, but it’s not where the club aspires to be after a shaky start to the league.
“We’ll try a reset and to play better in the new year,” Beier said. “It can’t be our goal to be sixth.”
Bochum celebrates
Bottom club Bochum defeated relegation rival Heidenheim 2-0 for its first win of the season.
“When we play like we did today it means there are lots of possibilities for the next 19 games,” said Bochum coach Dieter Hecking. “From that point of view I’m also glad we won because I couldn’t have handled many more games without a win.”
It was the visitors’ seventh straight Bundesliga defeat, the culmination of a busy schedule after clinching European qualification from its league debut last season and the offseason loss of star players like Jan-Niklas Beste, Tim Kleindienst and Eren Dinkci.
“We’re at the end of another ‘English week’ (with midweek games) again,” Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt said. “Everyone did their best, but we have to be honest – it wasn’t enough.”

Topics: Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund Wolfsburg

Mbappe back from ‘bottom’ as Real Madrid down Sevilla

Updated 23 December 2024

AFP

December 23, 2024 00:16

Mbappe back from ‘bottom’ as Real Madrid down Sevilla

Mbappe, back after a brief absence with a thigh injury, scored for Madrid in midweek as they won the Intercontinental Cup

Updated 23 December 2024

AFP

December 23, 2024 00:16

MADRID: Kylian Mbappe said he had bounced back from hitting rock bottom after helping Real Madrid thrash Sevilla 4-2 on Saturday to move second in La Liga above stuttering rivals Barcelona.
After Atletico Madrid beat Barca on Saturday to claim top spot at Christmas, Carlo Ancelotti’s side also took advantage with a comfortable home win which leaves them a point behind the leaders.
Madrid coach Ancelotti said ahead of Sevilla’s visit that Mbappe’s adaptation period had ended following his summer switch from Paris Saint-Germain and the French forward proved the coach right with a strong performance and his 14th goal of the season across all competitions.
Fede Valverde also netted a brilliant effort from range, with Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz on the scoresheet for the hosts too, the latter assisted by a clever Mbappe pass.
Isaac Romero and Dodi Lukebakio scored for Sevilla, although they were thoroughly outplayed on veteran defender Jesus Navas’ final game for the club.
“I think that we know each other better, my arrival changed a lot of things, and now, as the coach said, the adaptation is over and I feel very good in the team,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.
“We can see on the pitch that I click better with my team-mates and now we’re all playing better.”
Mbappe, back after a brief absence with a thigh injury, scored for Madrid in midweek as they won the Intercontinental Cup.
It was welcome relief for the forward after missing two penalties in recent weeks against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao, as well as suffering criticism for his form.
“I know I’ve got much more in my legs than I’m showing, but in the last games I’ve played better,” Mbappe added.
“The Bilbao game was good for me, I hit the bottom, I missed a penalty and it was a moment to realize that I have to give everything for this shirt and show my personality.”
With Vinicius Junior suspended, Mbappe took the reins and broke the deadlock in the 10th minute as Madrid brought the ball out from the back and worked it to Rodrygo on the left flank.
The Brazilian squared to Mbappe on the edge of the area, who took one touch to control, another to set himself and with his third, smashed a fierce effort past the helpless Alvaro Fernandez.
“I think (Mbappe) has been self-critical, he’s come out of a situation that could have been complicated for him,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“Yesterday I said his adaptation period was over, today he showed it, sometimes I’m not wrong.”
The coach said Madrid had found their footing after struggling at times in the first half of the season.
“We’re running a bit more, playing with more intensity, we’re doing things well again, as we have to do — they’ve been complicated months,” Ancelotti added.
Madrid’s second, 10 minutes later, was even better, with Valverde firing a screamer into the top corner from over 30 yards out after a short corner.
Ancelotti’s side were in full flow and the third followed in the 34th minute when Lucas Vazquez crossed for Rodrygo.
Sevilla hit back within a minute, with Romero nodding home from Juanlu Sanchez’s cross.
Madrid stretched their lead after the break with Mbappe dinking a superb pass through for Diaz to finish clinically.
Sevilla brought on Navas after the hour mark and he was applauded by the Santiago Bernabeu, with this his 705th and final appearance for the club, far more than any other player.
Madrid and Sevilla players together gave the retiring Spanish great — a World Cup winner in 2010 and two-time Euros champion — a guard of honor at the start of the game.
Navas, 39, won four Europa Leagues and two Copa del Rey trophies with Sevilla, but his final appearance ended in disappointment for the Andalusians.
Lukebakio pulled one back late on for Sevilla as Madrid were able to finish an impressive year, in which they became Spanish and European champions, with positive vibes.
“Today was a spectacle, I haven’t seen anything like that in my life at an away ground, it was crazy,” an emotional Navas told reporters.
“I was thinking of all the moments that I’ve lived through, the joys I’ve given to my Sevilla and my national team.”

Topics: La Liga Kylian Mbappe real madrid Sevilla

Troubled Manchester United humiliated by Bournemouth

Updated 22 December 2024

AFP

December 22, 2024 16:29

Troubled Manchester United humiliated by Bournemouth

Second successive flop for Amorim’s side following 4-3 League Cup quarterfinal exit at Tottenham
Bournemouth win came a year after securing first ever victory at Old Trafford

Updated 22 December 2024

AFP

December 22, 2024 16:29

MANCHESTER: Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday as Ruben Amorim lost for the fourth time in his nine games in charge of the troubled Old Trafford club.
It was a second successive flop for Amorim’s side following their 4-3 League Cup quarter-final exit at Tottenham on Thursday.
Bournemouth took a first-half lead through Dean Huijsen before Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo netted after the interval to complete a dismal afternoon for Amorim, who replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.
A year after securing their first ever victory at Old Trafford, Andoni Iraola’s Cherries triumphed by the same scoreline as they inflicted the biggest blow of Amorim’s short reign.
Huijsen became the latest player to capitalize on United’s woeful set-piece defending, before a Kluivert penalty and a Semenyo strike sealed a stunning win that brought boos from the home fans at full-time.
The result leaves United marooned in 13th over Christmas and marked an alarming fall from grace after last Sunday’s 2-1 derby win at Manchester City.
Amorim had always warned there would be bumps in the road but this fourth defeat in his ninth match in charge further underlined the issues at hand.
Marcus Rashford’s absence from a third consecutive matchday squad had dominated the pre-match discussion as Amorim made six changes.
United offered little attacking threat without Rashford and their glaring deficiences at the back were ruthlessly exploited by a Bournemouth side who are now up to fifth place.
Tyrell Malacia was furious to be adjudged to have fouled Adam Smith and Huijsen easily beat Joshua Zirkee to head home the resulting free-kick from Ryan Christie in the 29th minute.
Amorim brought on Leny Yoro for Malacia at half-time and soon made two further changes, with Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho replacing Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte.
The changes made no difference and Noussair Mazraoui conceded a careless penalty when he brought down Kluivert in the 61st minute.
The Netherlands international stepped up to send Andre Onana the wrong way as he stroked home from the spot.
United’s capitulation was complete two minutes later.
Kobbie Mainoo’s pass was cut out and Bournemouth broke as Evanilson slipped in Dango Ouattara, whose cutback was driven home by Semenyo.
Jubilant Bournemouth fans chanted “Man United, it’s happened again” in reference to last year’s victory, while the dejected home supporters flooded toward the exits.

Topics: football soccer England Premier league Manchester United AFC Bournemouth

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 03:31

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Lazio rebounded from a dismal 6-0 thrashing at home to Inter Milan by winning at lowly Lecce 2-1
Bologna had a penalty saved but won at Torino 2-0

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 03:31

MILAN: Mario Balotelli almost scored his first goal back in Serie A while Napoli returned to the top after withstanding a late siege from Genoa to hold on for a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Balotelli returned to Serie A after more than four years in October and has made six appearances totalling just 57 minutes.

The 34-year-old was sent on with seven minutes remaining against Napoli and almost had an immediate impact as Andrea Pinamonti’s glancing header clipped Balotelli’s knee but goalkeeper Alex Meret managed to push it off the post.

It was one of several decisive saves by Meret in the second half as Genoa came out fighting after going into the break two goals down following headers from Frank Anguissa and Amir Rrahmani.

Pinamonti got Genoa back into it six minutes into the second half with a fine finish into the bottom right corner but the home side went on to suffer its first defeat since hiring Patrick Vieira as coach last month.

It was also Genoa’s first match since coming under the ownership of Romanian businessman Dan Șucu.

The loss left Genoa 13th in Serie A but only two points above the relegation zone.

Napoli moved a point above Atalanta, who host Empoli on Sunday.

10-men Lecce almost hold out

Lazio rebounded from a dismal 6-0 thrashing at home to Inter Milan by winning at lowly Lecce 2-1 but it was far from convincing despite Lecce playing the entire second half with 10 men.

Lecce’s chances of getting something from the match appeared to evaporate on the stroke of halftime.

Taty Castellanos’ first shot was parried brilliantly by Wladimiro Falcone and his follow-up was cleared off the line by the hand of Lecce defender Frédéric Guilbert, who was shown a straight red card.

Castellanos fired the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner.

Tete Morente volleyed Lecce level five minutes after the break and it seemed as if the 10 men were going to hold out for a point but substitute Adam Marusic — who had only just come off the bench — scored the winner three minutes from time.

Lecce almost leveled in stoppages but Mohamed Kaba’s header came off the crossbar.

Lazio moved to fourth while Lecce remained two points clear of the drop zone.

Bologna had a penalty saved but won at Torino 2-0.

Topics: Serie A Mario Balotelli Napoli genoa

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 03:22

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Leverkusen resume their league defense at Borussia Dortmund on Jan. 10, while Bayern visit Borussia Mönchengladbach on Jan. 11
Brazilian goalkeeper Kaua Santos endured a game to forget as his Eintracht Frankfurt was shocked by 10-man Mainz 3-1

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 03:22

BERLIN: Florian Wirtz starred and Patrik Schick scored four goals as Bayer Leverkusen routed Freiburg 5-1 on Saturday to keep the pressure on Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich over the winter break.

Wirtz, who has yet to extend his Leverkusen contract, set up a hat trick for Schick and scored his seventh league goal of the season.

Leverkusen dominated but needed patience before Schick broke the deadlock with a chip over the goalkeeper right before the break.

Wirtz, who’d played Schick through, score after the break when he displayed brilliant close control to elude a defender before firing the ball inside the near post from a narrow angle.

Vincenzo Grifo pulled one back four minutes later, but Wirtz floated in a precise cross for Schick to head Leverkusen’s third in the 67th, then laid the ball back for Schick to fire Leverkusen’s fourth in the 74th.

“For a striker, it’s a dream to have this player behind you,” Schick said of Wirtz.

Schick scored again with a header to a corner three minutes later — the only goal that didn’t involve Wirtz.

Leverkusen stayed four points behind Bayern after its eighth straight win across all competitions.

Leverkusen resume their league defense at Borussia Dortmund on Jan. 10, while Bayern visit Borussia Mönchengladbach on Jan. 11.

Frankfurt goalkeeper’s woes

Brazilian goalkeeper Kaua Santos endured a game to forget as his Eintracht Frankfurt was shocked by 10-man Mainz 3-1.

Frankfurt had 34 shots at goal compared to nine by the visitor, which played with a man less from the 21st after captain Nadiem Amiri was sent off for catching Ellyes Skhiri’s right ankle with his studs.

Santos had already conceded an unfortunate own goal. The ‘keeper played out a short pass to Skhiri, who was immediately under pressure from two Mainz players. Skhiri sent the ball looping back toward Santos, who deflected it onto the crossbar, from where it rebounded back off Santos’ arm and in.

Mainz’s Paul Nebel then scored with a deflected shot for 2-0, and Santos was at fault again when a botched pass invited another Mainz attack. Nebel grabbed his second goal in the 58th.

Rasmus Kristensen, who struck the crossbar in the first half, scored Frankfurt’s consolation in the 75th.

“We were already there for Kaua as a team on the field,” Frankfurt defender Robin Koch said of Santos’ bad day. “He’s a young player, these things happen. But he’s a good guy, he’ll come out of it and the same will help him with his development.”

Regular goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and reserve Jens Grahl were out with illness.

Stuttgart stunned at home

Johannes Eggestein fired promoted St. Pauli to a 1-0 win at Stuttgart, last season’s runner-up. Stuttgart had won their last four games across all competitions.

Union Berlin’s winless run stretched to nine games across all competitions as Bo Svensson’s team slumped to a 4-1 defeat at Werder Bremen.

Holstein Kiel ended their five-game losing run by routing Augsburg 5-1, and Borussia Mönchengladbach won at Hoffenheim 2-1.

There were tributes with silences before all the games for the victims of an attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg the night before.

“There are always more important things than football,” Freiburg coach Christian Günter said.

Topics: Bundesliga Bayer Leverkusen Freiburg Bayern Munich

Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan

Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan

Middlesbrough stun Chelsea flops to take League Cup semifinal lead

Wolves inflict Christmas misery on Chelsea

Dortmund holds on with 10 men for 1st away win in Bundesliga

Dortmund holds on with 10 men for 1st away win in Bundesliga

Leipzig lose ground on Bayern, Dortmund and Leverkusen win

Musiala saves Bayern from Klassiker defeat in draw at Dortmund in Bundesliga

Mbappe back from ‘bottom’ as Real Madrid down Sevilla

Mbappe back from ‘bottom’ as Real Madrid down Sevilla

Atletico snatch late win at Barca to top La Liga

Bellingham and Mbappe strike as Real Madrid beat Girona

Troubled Manchester United humiliated by Bournemouth

Troubled Manchester United humiliated by Bournemouth

Son scores direct from a corner as Tottenham beats Man United 4-3 in the English League Cup

Tottenham joins list of top Premier League teams to lose at Bournemouth as fans jeer Postecoglou

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Balotelli hits first Brescia goal in defeat to Napoli

Record-breakers Atalanta maintain Serie A lead as Napoli lurk

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Leipzig lose ground on Bayern, Dortmund and Leverkusen win

Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen struggling to maintain heights of last season

Latest updates

Lebanon’s prime minister urges US, France to help expedite Israeli withdrawal

Zelensky says North Korea could send more troops, military equipment to Russia

KSrelief to host 4th Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum in February 2025

Muslim World League chief meets Pope Francis in Vatican City

Saudi wildlife center releases 66 endangered animals in King Khalid Royal Reserve

Recommended

2024 Year in Review: Can Lebanon recover from the depredations of Israel-Hezbollah war?

What Israel’s capture of Syrian territory as Assad fell signifies for the Middle East

How Damascus residents reclaimed their city after Bashar Assad’s chaotic downfall

Search form

Print Edition

Search form

Search form

You are here

Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan

Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan

Related

Dortmund holds on with 10 men for 1st away win in Bundesliga

Related

Mbappe back from ‘bottom’ as Real Madrid down Sevilla

Related

Troubled Manchester United humiliated by Bournemouth

Related

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Related

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Related

Latest updates

Recommended

Search form

Print Edition