TEAM NEWS: Kaka to start for injury-ravaged Real Madrid against Celta

Brazil star Kaka will start for Real Madrid as they look to pick up three home points against Celta.

The playmaker starts alongside Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time in a Blancosteam severely affected by the last round of international fixtures.

The former AC Milan man was on top form for his country over the past week, scoring against both Iraq and Japan as the friendly opponents were blown away 6-0 and 4-0 by the South Americans. 

. Injuries to Marcelo, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Coentrao have left Madrid extremely short in the full-back department, so midfielder Michael Essien is drafted in to play on the left side of defence. On the other flank, 19-year-old Frenchman Raphael Varane is Mourinho's choice. 

Gonzalo Higuain also makes a return to the first team in an attack-minded formation.

For the visitors, late fitness tests for Nacho Insa and Andres Tunez saw the former fail to make Saturday's clash. The defender, meanwhile, weas declared fit to play and will start in the middle of the back four. 

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Varane, Ramos, Pepe, Essien; Alonso, Modric; Ozil, Kaka, Ronaldo; Higuain.
Substitutes: Di Maria, Benzema, Nacho, Adan, Callejon, Carvalho, Albiol. 

Celta (4-3-3): Varas; Mallo, Cabral, Tunez, Lago; Oubina, Alex Lopez, Bustos; Augusto, Aspas, Krohn-Delhi.

Substitutes: Park Chu-Young, Toni, Bellvis, Varas, Bermejo, Lucas, Samuel. 

Magic Mata the kingpin of unstoppable Chelsea midfield

It was mesmeric, majestic, magical. It was Mata. Chelsea’s Spanish genius has been in glorious form throughout the season so far, but his performance in the 4-2 win at Tottenham on Saturday was the kind that makes your jaw drop.
Not only did Mata score two goals with superb finishes, but he was the lynchpin as Chelsea dominated the game to extend their unbeaten record in the Premier League this season and remain top of the league.

With Chelsea losing 2-1, it took a special talent to inspire the comeback. First Mata drilled the visitors level in the 66th minute from the edge of the penalty area, then two minutes later he latched on to Eden Hazard’s pass to convert past Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

As if that was not enough, he then proceeded to pick out two wonderful passes for Fernando Torres before providing the assist for Chelsea’s fourth, turned into an empty net by Daniel Sturridge.

Mata’s is unquestionably in the same league as the likes of David Silva and Santi Cazorla as Spanish stars take English football by storm with their technical abilities.

The 24-year-old instantly adapted to life at Chelsea last season ground out their way to European glory, but it is in this new-look, free-flowing side that he really shines.

Alongside Eden Hazard and Oscar, he forms a key part of the most frightening midfield in the country, one that showed again against Spurs that it can tear apart almost any opponent.

Chelsea are now, ironically, playing in the style demanded of Andre Villas-Boas by Roman Abramovich when he was employed in 2011. 

It is Roberto Di Matteo, however, who is reaping the rewards of the owner’s ambition, and Chelsea have already established something of a cushion at the summit of the table with 22 points from their first eight fixtures.

And in Mata they have a player who will surely be a serious contender for player of the year if he can continue in this form. Comfortable receiving the ball in almost any situation, his skill, trickery and vision were simply too much for Tottenham. It would be for most teams.

He already has 18 goals and 30 assists in 63 games for Chelsea, and has been worth every penny of the £23.5 million spent by Villas-Boas to sign him from Valencia. 

But his technical ability would mean nothing without exceptional workrate, and without team-mates who can make the most of his talents.

All the pieces of the Chelsea’s midfield jigsaw are fitting into place right now, with John Obi Mikel in fine form as the holding midfielder and Ramires’ box-to-box energy and pace, which is most devastating on the counter-attack.

Chelsea will, surely, hit a bad patch at some point, but right now they are like an unstoppable train, and Mata is the man driving them on.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi to grace National League Super Four matches

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has assured the board of the Nigeria National League that he will personally watch all the matches in the Super Four which begins on Sunday in Abuja.

Promoted clubs like Bayelsa United, Nasarawa United, Nembe City and El-Kanemi will battle for honours from Sunday to know who is the best club in that division.

Nigeria National League Chairman, Emeka Inyama told Goal.com that the board of the lower league is excited with the decision of the Super Eagles coach to see the games because it will afford him the opprtunity to also know that good players abound in the lower league.

"It is a thing of joy that Keshi is coming to watch the games. We are happy because we know we have good players that can also make the Super Eagles squad.

"A lot of people think good football is not played in the National League. But they will be surprised to see the level the game has turn into.

"I am happy for the players because this is the opprtunity they have been waiting for.

"I know they will give their best in the four matches that will be played. This is the tonic they need to showcase what they can when there is a level playing field.

City Deny Fabregas, Busquets

Say they are not planning to buy Barca duo, Manchester City has denied its alleged interest in Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fàbregas after rumours to this effect were echoed by the media. The English club distanced itself from this alleged interest in a public statement.

The club's statement read: "There's no basis to these claims and the club has neither made nor is it planning to make an offer for these players".

he claims referred to insisted that Manchester City had made contact with both players in an attempt to sign them to the English club.

Barcelona president, Sandro Rosell talked about the matter on Tuesday and said: "They're trying to undermine us".

"Manchester City can make an offer for Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Leo Messi or Victor Valdes, but it won't do them any good", Rosell said. "The players are happy here - they know they're at the best team in the world", the president concluded.

Agbim: Eagles’ll Rule Africa Again

Super Eagles reserve goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim believes that with the rate at which Coach Stephen Keshi is handling the senior national team, the Super Eagles will soon reclaim its lost glory on the continent.

The Warri Wolves goalkeeper who said playing under the former Mali national team handler has improved his game, strongly believes that Nigeria will excel at the Nations Cup holding in South Africa next year.

“I am happy to be given the opportunity to play under Coach Stephen Keshi and I can confidently tell you that my game has really improved since I started playing for the national team,” begins the goalie.

“With the way the coach is handling the Super Eagles, I am sure that in the nearest future the Super Eagles will be a team to watch. I am also sure that we are going to do well at the coming Nations Cup".

Agbim who could not feature in last Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Calabar said he believes that his time will soon come.

“I don’t feel pained not playing in that match because I know that my time will soon come".

Swiss Embassy Frustrates Peter Edibe

Nigeria’s joy at having one of its referees being in consideration for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil may be punctured following the continued frustration of Peter Elgam Edibe by the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria.

Despite a valid letter from world football-governing body,FIFA, among other relevant documents that have been provided by the well-travelled and highly-respected Assistant Referee, the Swiss Embassy is insisting that his application for entry visa into that country for an official FIFA Assistant Referee Course and Fitness Test has come too late.

“I have all the necessary documents and even a letter from FIFA saying they will take care of my cost of travel, accommodation and insurance in Zurich. But the Swiss Embassy is proving difficult. I have the note verbale and everything that is necessary to convince them.

“I don’t want to miss this Course because it will determine those who will be considered for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals,” said Edibe.

The letter from FIFA, dated 3rd October 2012 and addressed to the Visa Section of Switzerland Embassy on Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Abuja was signed by Christina Collenberg, Director of Human Resources and Services.

It reads in part: “Mr. Peter Elgam Edibe... a FIFA Assistant Referee will be required to travel to Switzerland for an official FIFA Assistant Referee Course and Fitness Test in the period of 24 October to 3 November 2012.
“FIFA will cover the cost of travel arrangements and insurance for his stay in Zurich.

“We would be grateful if you could be of assistance in issuing a single entry visa for Mr. Peter Elgam Edibe so that there will be no impediment for him attending the Course.”

FIFA has already sent Peter Edibe a valid return ticket to travel to Zurich through Frankfurt, Germany Wednesday, 24 October 2012.

Kanu: Eagles Can Win Nations Cup

Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu says he has strong belief that the senior national team can win the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa but was quick to advice coach Stephen Keshi to prepare very well.

The former Inter Milan of Italy striker who was at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar last Saturday to support the Super Eagles beat the Lone Star of Liberia 6-1 to qualify for the Nations Cup, said he was impressed with the result.

“It was a good result and we need to maintain it because I have seen some talented players in the team and I am sure that with time, this team will be great in Africa,” says Kanu.

“Going by what the coach, I mean Stephen Keshi has done so far, we have a team that can win the Nations Cup. All we need to do is to make sure that we prepare very well for the Nations Cup.

While praising the senior national team for erasing the memory of missing out from the last edition of the Nations Cup, he said he will continue to support the team.

“I have been there before and I did my best for the country.

I got all the support I needed and now that I am not playing again, I will do my best to support the team.
Kanu said the Super Eagles should also have it at the back of their mind that Nigerian will be waiting to receive the Nations Cup trophy.

It would be recalled that the former Arsenal FC of England striker was part of the country’s Atlanta ‘96 Olympic Games winning team in the USA.