Real Madrid put Osasuna to the sword, claim 4-1 away win (Match Report)

Goals from Isco, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez handed Real Madrid 4-1 away win over Osasuna as they charge to claim La Liga title from Barcelona.

Los Blancos did struggle for fluidity against Jagoba Arrasate’s side in the opening stages, but they showed their ruthless streak after the break to stretch their La Liga winning run to five games.

The hosts started the brighter of the two sides, with Thibaut Courtois called into action to save from Ruben Garcia inside the opening ten minutes at El Sadar.

And that early pressure brought its reward for Arrasate’s side, as Garcia fired in a corner, and Unai Garcia got in front of two Real Madrid defenders to head home.

Zidane’s side did look to react quickly however, with Gareth Bale bring two saves from Osasuna keeper Sergio Herrera, and the Welsh international played a key role in Real Madrid’s equaliser on 33 minutes.

His deflected strike sat up nicely for Isco, and the Spanish international fired past Herrera from close range.

Skipper Sergio Ramos then sucker punched the hosts, as they looked to react to Isco’s goal, with the veteran defender powerfully heading home a back post corner on 38 minutes.

Osasuna did look to rally after the break, with Inigo Perez firing just over the bar, and Garcia again testing Courtois.

However, Real Madrid kept their nerve to seal the win on 84 minutes, as substitute Lucas Vazquez burst onto Karim Benzema’s lay off.

And Vazquez turned provider for Real Madrid’s fourth goal in added time, as his clipped cross into the box was neatly volleyed home by fellow substitute Luka Jovic.

Photo Credit: Twitter @realmadriden

REVEALED: How Japanese club thwarted Barcelona loan move for club legend Andres Iniesta

Reports have emerged as to how Japanese club Vissel Kobe blocked Barcelona loan move for Andres Iniesta in January.

According to reports from Catalan newspaper Diario Sport, the former Spanish international was approached by the club about a short term deal until the end of the season.

The 35-year old midfielder, who won nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during his time at the Camp Nou between 2002 and 2018, is currently under contract with Japanese side Vissel Kobe.

Football Espana report that Manager Quique Setien did hint at a possible move for the veteran midfielder during the window, however Vissel Kobe blocked the move due to their impending involvement in the Asian Champions League in the coming months.

Iniesta confirmed his commitment to stay in Japan, where he has 18 months left to run on his current deal with Thorsten Fink’s side after being named captain following his arrival in 2018.

Chelsea’s former academy star Boga fires Sassuolo to victory, nets brace in comeback (Match Report)

Chelsea academy graduate Jeremie Boga has re-emphasized his rich vein of form this season after spearheading Sassuolo’s comeback as he earned a penalty and scored the late winning header to conquer SPAL 2-1.

Boga tested Etrit Berisha at the end of a well-worked passing move, then Domenico Berardi blasted over from 10 yards and should’ve done much better.

SPAL took the lead instead, as Sassuolo made a terrible mess of defending a free kick. It was flicked on in the crowd, but Andrea Consigli completely misjudged the situation, rushing out to collide with teammate Pedro Obiang, leaving Kevin Bonifazi free to nod in from close range.

It was almost 2-0 on the counter-attack with Federico Di Francesco’s rising strike beaten away from under the bar by Consigli, then Petagna couldn’t keep his finish on target soon after.

Bryan Dabo had to limp off with a muscular problem, making way for Alessandro Murgia in the SPAL midfield. Sassuolo made a tactical change, bringing on striker Gregoire Defrel for midfielder Hamed Junior Traore.

SPAL remained dangerous on the counter, creating a double opportunity with first Arkadiusz Reca and then Gabriel Strefezza’s deflected attempt.

Nenad Tomovic went in clumsily on Boga and brought him down for an inevitable penalty, which Francesco Caputo coolly converted to equalise.

From then on, it was a frantic scramble at both ends. Caputo almost made the most of a Mattia Valoti error straight away, then Consigli got a fingertip to Federico Di Francesco’s low drive, pushing it on to the base of the upright.

Obiang and Defrel tested Berisha, while the goalkeeper rushed off his line to parry from Manuel Locatelli and Bonifazi risked an own goal with his desperate clearance on a Berardi roll across.

SPAL were clinging on, but in the final minute, Berardi floated a ball to the back post where Boga snuck up behind Strefezza for a delicate header, completing the turnaround.

Photo Credit: Twitter @SassuoloUS

Juventus stunned by Verona despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliant goal (Match Report plus video of Ronaldo’s goal)

Juventus were forced to surrender all the three points at stake as Verona fought back to cause a major upset against their more illustrious opponents from Turin.

Cristiano Ronaldo had handed the Old Lady lead after his solo strike to create an impression it was going to be another routine win. But the hosts had other ideas with Fabio Borini and Giampaolo Pazzini scoring late crucial goals to subject the Serie A leaders a shock defeat.

Ronaldo was among the most disappointed players after the defeat against Hellas Verona. He did not even go to thank the away Juve fans and reportedly refused to take a selfie after the game with a fan.

Hellas are now unbeaten in eight rounds, despite feeling tired from Wednesday’s rescheduled Week 17 fixture against Lazio, holding out for a 0-0 draw at the Olimpico.

It was a very aggressive start from the hosts, as Wojciech Szczesny flew to fingertip a deflected Marco Davide Faraoni cross-shot over the bar, then on the resulting corner Matteo Pessina’s volley flashed just wide, with Amir Rrahmani attempting a back-heel flick at the far post.

Borini also drilled wide, but against the run of play, Juventus rattled the crossbar with a Douglas Costa solo effort out of nowhere at the end of a strong run.

Verona had the ball in the net moments later, when Miguel Veloso’s free kick was floated over the top and Marash Kumbulla only grazed it with his head, surprising Szczesny. However, the goal was disallowed using VAR, much to the chagrin of Kumbulla on his 20th birthday, as his shoulder was offside.

Verona continued to swarm around Juve and the visitors kept getting the best chances, as on 36 minutes Ronaldo’s right-foot curler from the edge of the box bounced off the far post.

CR7 went close again with a similar opportunity, this time wide, with the same fate befalling his acrobatic header on Douglas Costa’s cross.

After the restart, Higuain’s strike was charged down by Koray Gunter’s elbow, but his arm was across his chest. Verona then had penalty appeals for a desperate Cuadrado tackle on Zaccagni, as they both got to the ball at the same moment and collided.

The deadlock was eventually broken by Ronaldo just days after his 35th birthday, becoming the first Juventus player to score in 10 consecutive Serie A games. He started the run from his own half on Paulo Dybala’s pass, completed a give-and-go with Rodrigo Bentancur, sprinted forward, held off Amir Rrahmani and managed to squeeze the right-foot snooker shot into the bottom corner.

Another veteran came off the bench, Giampaolo Pazzini, who immediately tested Szczesny with a glancing header, then Dybala tried and failed to dribble past Kumbulla in the box.

Verona got back on level terms thanks to their high press, forcing Bentancur and Miralem Pjanic into errors, so Borini swept it into the far bottom corner off the inside of his right boot.

Pazzini made a decisive contribution, as he flicked on a long ball for Borini, whose shot was deflected off Bonucci to go wide. On the resulting corner, Kumbulla’s header was deflected on to the crossbar by Bonucci’s raised arm. After viewing it on the VAR on-field monitor, the referee had to award a penalty, which Pazzini coolly converted.

Hellas had turned it all around in 10 minutes, so Juventus laid siege to the Verona box for the rest of the game, but failed to really test Marco Silvestri.