I've been following this thread for a while now and got admitted for the August 15th cohort. Please add me to the group. Thank you .

From http://www.soccergz.com

Claude Puel’s first game in charge of Leicester was a memorable one with Leicester easily dispatching Everton 2-0 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Foxes made a fast start to the game and opened the scoring after a swift break that Jamie Vardy was on the end of.

They quickly doubled their lead with a moment to forget for Jonjoe Kenny, who turned the ball into his own net on the half-hour mark, which, in the end, proved enough to see Puel’s men over the line.

Leicester started the brighter side and gave Everton an early warning sign through Demarai Gray. The winger drove at the Toffees back line and unleashed a low strike from 25-yards out, but it flashed just wide of Jordan Pickford's post.

They continued to press and almost had an opener after Vicente Iborra flicked Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick into the path of Wes Morgan, but the centre-back’s strike was well blocked by Ashley Williams, who got there in the nick of time to save his side.

Gray then broke down the right and cut back for Chilwell, but he couldn’t get over his effort and smashed the ball over the bar.

The hosts finally netted an opener following a sublime counter-attacking move. Wilfred Ndidi cleared a Leighton Baines free-kick, allowing the Foxes to break with Gray, who made a lung-busting run down the right flank, beating Davies and Rooney, before playing a delightful ball into Mahrez. The Algerian calmly squared for Jamie Vardy to easily tuck home and give Leicester a deserved lead.

Everton had a glorious chance to equalise midway through the half when Wayne Rooney picked out the run of Aaron Lennon in behind the Leicester defence. The winger squared for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but he couldn’t sort his feet out in time to tap in and the chance went begging.

And the young striker was left to rue his mistake as Leicester quickly went on to double their lead. Gray whipped in a harmless cross from the left and Kenny, in his attempt to clear the ball, miscued it completely and sliced past Pickford into the net.

The visitors responded well and could have been awarded a penalty when Christian Fuchs brought down Lennon in the box, but referee Andre Marriner waved play on.

They came close to pulling one back through Kevin Mirallas, who twice fired just wide, but Everton ultimately couldn’t find a goal before the first period drew to a close.

David Unsworth’s side continued on the front foot after the restart, with half-time substitute Oumar Niasse having the first opportunity of the second 45. Rooney clipped a ball over the top for the forward at the back post, but his first touch let him down, allowing Kasper Schmeichel to come out and collect.

Both side were limited to audacious overhead kicks, with Vardy, Niasse and Phil Jagielka all trying their luck, and long-range strikes throughout much of the second period.

The hosts finished with purpose and could have added a third in the dying minutes. Vardy broke down the right and found Iborra with plenty of space in the box, but he made a mess of it and scuffed a shot wide.

Leicester closed out the game with ease to hand Puel the perfect start to his tenure at the King Power, but does the result suggest Unsworth is not the right man to succeed Ronald Koeman as Everton manager?

http://www.soccergz.com/claude-puel-off-to-a-perfect-start-with-win-over-everton

From http://www.soccergz.com

Catalan minnows Girona shocked giants Real Madrid on Sunday as they came from behind to claim a 2-1 win at the Estadi Montilivi.

All the talk pre-match was about whether the perilous political situation in Catalonia would in any way impact the game but as soon as the whistle went all that was forgotten as both sides served up an entertaining display of football at the Estadi Montilivi.

The home side started well and had a vociferous appeal for a penalty turned down when the ball appeared to strike Karim Benzema on the arm after just six minutes.

Not to be disheartened by the decision, Girona continued to press, forcing visiting goalkeeper Kiko Casilla to be alert at his near post following a clever free kick.

The hosts were inches away from taking a shock lead after 11 minutes when Manchester City loanee Pablo Maffeo, who famously kept Lionel Messi quiet in the Catalan derby earlier in the season, cut onto his left foot down the right and sent a curling effort towards the far corner, only to see it crash back into play off the post with Casilla beaten.

Just second later though, Girona were given a harsh lesson in football as Real countered with menace. Karim Benzema spun past his man on halfway before feeding Cristiano Ronaldo on the left, the Portuguese cut inside and shot at goal from the edge of the box and whilst Yassine Bounou in the home goal was equal to the shot, he could only palm the ball as far as Isco, who made no mistake from six yards to hand Girona the lead.

Despite the setback, Girona responded well, with Portu causing panic in the box after a good ball in from the right, before Cristhian Stuani almost capitalised on a loose back-pass from Sergio Ramos.

After a spell of pressure from the hosts, Real managed to wrestle back control with Ronaldo testing Bounou with a snapshot following Benzema’s pullback from the right, before the Portuguese returned the favour, slipping the France international in behind, only for him to fire harmlessly over the bar.

As quickly as Real regained control they lost it again, Girona once again went within inches of finding the net as Portu guided a fantastic header towards the far post after Aday Benitez’s cross from the left, only to see it bounce back off the woodwork with Casilla once again beaten.

Raphael Varane had to be alert to make a fantastic last-ditch challenge just before half-time as Portu looked to race away. That challenge maintained Real’s advantage at the break, but it also cost them Varane who had to be replaced for the second 45.

Real could have extended their lead just after half-time when Isco’s got to the byline down the left. Penalty box pinball ensued and the carnage ended with Benzema's flick being cleared off the line by Juanpe with more than a hint of handball.

That decision increased in importance just three minutes later as Girona drew level. Pons drove for goal from midfield and when his advance was stopped, the ball dropped to Cristhian Stuani who danced inside Nacho before firing home from 12 yards.

That led to raucous celebrations in the stands and the party was stoked up once again four minutes later as the hosts took a shock lead.

Stuani was involved again as his effort was palmed away by Casilla and Maffeo hammered the ball back towards goal, with Portu flicking home from all of a yard despite looking like he had come from an offside position.

It could have been three after 67 minutes when Stuani was put in but his effort drifted just wide of the far post after he lifted the ball over the onrushing Casilla.

Ronaldo wasted a chance to draw ‘Los Blancos’ level when he headed straight at Bounou after meeting a long ball from deep.

The visitors were throwing the kitchen sink at Girona at this point with Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez playing as auxiliary wing-backs, but they struggled to create anything of any real note as Girona maintained their discipline.

Bernardo Espinosa, Marc Muniesa and Juanpe headed away a barrage of crosses in the closing stages and when they were breached by substitute Lucas Vazquez, they were saved by the offside flag. Replays showed that the officials got this one spot on with the winger a good two yards offside when being played in by Isco.

Girona weathered the storm in the end to beat Real in the first ever league meeting between the sides. Real must now dust themselves down ahead of the trip to Wembley in the Champions League in midweek.

http://www.soccergz.com/girona-beat-madrid-as-they-make-history/

Valverde: 'We are lucky to have the best player in the world'

http://www.soccergz.com/valverde-we-are-lucky-to-have-the-best-player-in-the-world/

After Barcelona battled to a win over Athletic Bilbao, coach Ernesto Valverde sung the praises of Lionel Messi once again.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde praised the “incredible” Lionel Messi after the star forward helped his side to a hard-fought win at Athletic Bilbao.

Messi struck in the 36th minute before Paulinho sealed a tough 2-0 win for Barca, who were tested at San Mames on Saturday.

The Argentina international had released Jordi Alba down the left before getting on the end of a return pass to net his 12th LaLiga goal of the campaign.

Valverde was again full of praise for the 30-year-old, who has 16 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions this season.

“Messi could have scored another goal if the post hadn’t got in the way, but he’s incredible,” he said.

“He can make the difference at any moment. It was a spectacular goal.

“We’re so lucky that the best player in the world plays for us.”

Barca are four points clear atop LaLiga after winning nine of their opening 10 games, conceding just three goals.

Valverde was relieved to come away with three points against a club he played for and coached.

“It is important to win difficult games. Athletic caused us lots of difficulties,” he said.

“They raised the intensity and the ball spent more time closer to our goal than we got it to theirs. But we have shown why our defensive record is so good.”

http://www.soccergz.com/valverde-we-are-lucky-to-have-the-best-player-in-the-world/