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There has been widespread bitterness in Nigeria over the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. However one of the leading football aficionados in Nigeria, Dudu Orumen, actually believes his countrymen have been spared the embarrassment of seeing their team walloped at the continental showpiece given the quality of competition on display.

Writing on Godwindudu-orumen.com, the outspoken and hard-hitting lawyer, journalist and football administrator observed:

"Proceedings at the 2015 African Cup of Nations opened in Equatorial Guinea on January 17 without Nigeria, the 2013 Winners, whose exit at the qualifying stage shocked unsuspecting supporters of the Super Eagles. Weep not fans because the Eagles would have been roundly trounced had they gone to the competition.

"Group matches live on TV showed there are no more minnows in African football. All the contestants have so far put on show top quality football and competitiveness that would have embarrassed the Super Eagles famed for slow motion football, poor positional play, naive defending and a toothless attack.

"It is sad that history keeps repeating itself in Nigeria's football. The Super Eagles won the tournament in 1980 but were shambolic in the 1982 edition in Libya. Winners again in 2013, Super Eagles sit at home courtesy of dreadful coaching, poor choice of personnel, tactics and game plan by its coaching crew.

"Consolatory however is that we did not go to Equatorial Guinea to enter the record books with scandalous and humiliating score lines from defeats from well prepared and battle-ready oppositions out there at the AFCON.

"Thank you Congo and South Africa for throwing the Eagles out and saving Nigeria monies that would have been wasted on estacodes and match allowances."

So what do you think? Would the Super Eagles have survived in Equatorial Guinea or are we better off without the possible heartbreak?

Africaplays.com

The African qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will begin in October, while the road to the next African Nations Cup finals gets under way in June, the Confederation of African Football confirmed on Thursday.

The 52 African nations expected to enter the World Cup qualifiers will go through three preliminary rounds starting in nine months time after the draw in St Petersburg on July 25.

That will narrow the field down to the final 20 teams, who will be spilt into five groups each containing four sides, with the victors of those round-robin pools claiming a place at the finals.

CAF also confirmed the format of the qualification campaign for the next Nations Cup in 2017 that has yet to have a host after Libya was stripped of their status due to ongoing civil unrest in the country.

In a change from past tournaments, the host country will participate in the qualifying stages, though their matches will be considered friendlies and no points awarded.

The 52 nations will this time be divided into 13 groups containing four sides each, with the top team in each pool advancing to the finals, as well as the two best runners-up.

The exception will be the group of the host country, from which only one team will be eligible to advance.

The hosts for the 2017 finals will be known on April 8 after the CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Cairo. The draw for the qualification groups will be done directly after that announcement.

Reuters

Source: Africaplays.com

1. THERE ARE STILL MINNOWS IN AFRICAN FOOTBALL

But none of them is in Equatorial Guinea. Game after cagey game the hitherto labeled underdogs have surprised. Five draws in eight games and just one clean sheet shows how close the battles have been.

2. PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG IS READY TO WIN AFRICA OVER

Gabon skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (pictured) has said he wants to emulate the successes of continental legends Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o. On the balance of his swashbuckling display against Burkina Faso, the Borussia Dortmund star seems well on course. He never seemed to leave second gear as he tormented the Stallions, scoring one goal and creating another in a 2:0 over Burkina Faso.

3. GABON MAY SURPRISE

The Panthers faced the formidable strike force of Burkina Faso and came out with the only clean sheet of the round. Not only did they pose a serious threat going forward, they were mean at the back. A very balanced team, they boast the key ingredients of the modern African game - power, pace and skill. The young 2012 team is maturing.

4. GHANA HUMAN

It is almost unthinkable for Ghana to go home after the first round of the AFCON, but the competition in Equatorial Guinea is tough. The Black Stars played some delightful football and had Senegal in a daze before fizzling out and being overrun by the Teranga Lions. They were however unlucky to concede a last-minute winner and must now get the points they need to survive from Africa's top side Algeria and a desperate South Africa. Not an enviable task.

5. YAYA NEEDS MORE

Four-time African player of the year Yaya Toure usually bulldozes his way past opponents outside Africa with speed, power and skill, qualities that are neutralised in the African game. So the Manchester City giant would need to rethink his game if he wants to lead the Elephants to glory in Equatorial Guinea.

6. GROUP D TOUGHEST

Prior to the tournament many thought Group C to be the Group of Death and Group D essentially a two-team group, with Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon the favourites. In reality the underdogs Guinea and Mali were arguably the better sides and pretty unlucky not to win their opening games against the big two.

7. WELL DONE EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Given the short notice the hosts had to prepare for the tournament, they have done an outstanding job. Senegal coach Alain Giresse deserves credit for openly praising the facilities at a time when the grumbling of Congo coach Claude Le Roy was beginning to pull dark clouds over the fiesta.

8. SPECTATORS

Again the Equatoguineans deserve credit for filling up the stands in virtually every game. The packed stadiums have immensely helped the atmosphere during games.

9. NO EBOLA NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

Equatorial Guinea where only given the rights to host the tournament two months ago when originally designated hosts Morocco wanted the tournament postponed for fear of the spread of the Ebola virus. So far the Equatoguineans have taken stringent steps to ensure the deadly virus is not brought in, or identified quickly. So far there is no news of the disease, which is good news for everyone.

Africaplays

Winners

Arsenal
After three years of Manchester rain, finally sunlight shone on Arsene Wenger. You don't need to worry about the zip on your coat when you're basking in the warm glow of redemption. Finally Arsenal's players did their manager proud in a big game.

You can, and damn well should, read a great deal more about Arsenal's triumph at the Etihad in 16 Conclusions right here, but it would be remiss not to briefly reiterate that praise at the top of this section. It is too long since Arsenal appeared here.

This was a victory for sense and sensibility, each Arsenal player carrying out their job to wonderful precision, and with discipline and awareness. David Ospina, Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud each merit individual praise, but every Arsenal player performed above the level they have so far reached this season, with the exception of Alexis Sanchez. That his side were able to triumph without their star performer in centre stage will only further please Wenger. One-man team accusations are usually based on nonsense, but this disproved the suggestion entirely.

"We had that consistent discipline for 90 minutes which is needed in big games," said Wenger after the game. "We looked in control away from home and we finally got a big win in a big game away from home. What is pleasing is that reinforces the belief of the team. To feel that you can do well is very important."

It is that word 'team' that best describes Arsenal's performance yesterday, the noun so often missing from their dismal displays in the biggest games. It's amazing what can happen when each player sticks to their task in the attainment of a greater goal. Now don't let it all go to waste.

Chelsea
A weekend to savour for Jose Mourinho. After his Chelsea side swatted aside Swansea with no little swagger on Saturday, the Portuguese was able to sit back and watch his closest title rivals get soundly beaten by an Arsenal side who Jose has bettered by a 10-0 aggregate since his return to England. Chelsea have been allowed to hold the title in one hand again.

"It was a perfect game - everything went in our direction," Mourinho said of the performance in south Wales, and you will find no dissenters here. Chelsea have taken their frustrations out on officials, ballboys and "campaigns" in recent weeks, but this time it was the opposition who felt their wrath. At times it was embarrassing.

Swansea committed a series of individual errors, but Chelsea were ruthless to the point of bullying during the first half. They raced into a 4-0 lead before the break, before understandably taking foot from pedal. January still contains four more matches in three different competitions.

The final one of those fixtures is the home game against Manchester City. By the end of their next league assignment, Chelsea could be eight points clear at the top. Then they truly would feel like champions elect.

Francis Coquelin
To repeat the line from yesterday: 'If this felt like a redemption for the team, no player personifies that more than Coquelin, the infamous debutant during the 8-2 loss at Old Trafford in August 2011. This was his first match in Manchester since that dismal day.'

Well done young man. Well done indeed.

Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew is not a man for whom smugness comes with difficulty, but he would be forgiven for an extra wink at everyone he meets this week. Whilst his former club have still failed to appoint a replacement, stuck in John Carver purgatory, Pardew's Crystal Palace tenure could not have started better.

The comeback against Burnley on Saturday was the first time Pardew has turned around a two-goal deficit to win in the Premier League, encompassing spells at West Ham, Charlton, Newcastle and now Palace. He has gained 16 points from losing positions in the league this season, six more than any other manager.

Joining Palace always felt a nice fit for Pardew. Whatever his record in south London, he will not be missed at St James' Park, but it must be pleasant to feel loved again. Palace's away support chanted his name during the latter stages of Saturday's game. It's amazing what being rid of Neil Warnock will do for the mood.

Such is the dirge in the Premier League's bottom half, Palace have now rocketed up to 12th, just one position behind Newcastle. They are still just four points ahead of 19th, but survival now looks like a strong probability. Three weeks ago it was little more than a possibility.

Eljero Elia
Everything Ronald Koeman touches turns to gold. Eljero Elia arrived in England dubbed as 'the Dutch Balotelli' by certain sections of the press. They really do love a tired moniker.

Elia's relationship with Werder Bremen had soured, showing a reported lack of interest in training and fines for late-night speeding offences. As if to encapsulate everything negative in the modern footballer, his response to crashing his £300,000 sports car was to take a selfie next to it, and he missed Bundesliga matches during his time at Hamburg because of a severe infection through a badly applied tattoo. Is this a parody?

There is little doubting Elia's talent. He was Bert van Marwijk's first substitute in the 2010 World Cup final, and has been bought for significant money by Hamburg, Werder Bremen and Juventus. "He just needs confidence from the coach and we need that kind of player," was Koeman's assessment. "I'm happy to have Elia in the team."

Elia was fantastic at St James' Park on Saturday evening. His pace and skill continuously troubled Newcastle's defenders, scoring more than once in a league game for only the third time in his career. Two shots, two shots on target, two goals.

The most striking aspect of Elia's display came in the celebration to his opening goal, sprinting 50 yards in order to hug Koeman on the sideline. It was a touching embrace.

"The feeling for the first goal was like a dream come true," the winger said after the match. "I want to thank Koeman for giving me the chance to play for Southampton. He was the only one that believed in me."

You can notch this up as another likely success story.

Tottenham's Resilience
The late win against Sunderland was the tenth point Spurs have won in the 88th minute or later this season, four more than any other side. Mauricio Pochettino will understand the potential unsustainability of that habit, but will also be more than happy to celebrate its continuation.

Christian Eriksen
In a discussion over which player is most crucial to their team's success, there would surely be nominations for Alexis Sanchez, Sergio Aguero and Charlie Austin. But when discussing Tottenham, Harry Kane may be the first name on the lips of the uninitiated. That's utter rot.

Kane has been surprisingly superb, of course, accounting for the shortfall in contributions from both Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado. But to underplay Christian Eriksen's impact would be criminal. If Kane is the PR campaign, the good news story and the poster boy for a new and improved Spurs, then Eriksen is the engine and creative force. His late finish against Sunderland was the tenth point his goals have earned Spurs this season.

- No Tottenham player has scored more PL goals this season than Eriksen.

- No Tottenham player has created more chances - Eriksen has 52 and the next best contributor has 30.

- No Tottenham player has made more passes - Eriksen's 1110 is almost 400 more than his nearest rival.

- No Tottenham player has made more touches - Eriksen has 500 more than anyone else.

Spurs made an awful lot of mistakes in the summer of 2013, but the purchase of Eriksen for £11m offsets much of that woe. Like Santi Cazorla and David Silva, he is exactly how I want my footballers to be: Quietly, but undoubtedly, magnificent.

Cesc Fabregas
Only four players in Premier League history have provided more than 15 assists in a Premier League season; against Swansea on Saturday Cesc Fabregas reached that total after 22 matches. Steven Gerrard managed 13 last season, the most in the Premier League, but with two strokes of his brush Fabregas eased past this total with more than 40% of the season remaining.

Add in his two goals, and Fabregas has directly contributed to a third of Chelsea's league goals this season, second only to Diego Costa, the supposed final piece in Jose Mourinho's jigsaw. The most amazing thing about Fabregas' signing is that it ever felt like a luxury purchase.

Oscar
"I played well in the first couple of games back, I didn't score, but now I have and I am more confident," said Oscar in September. "I have scored two goals, but I want to score 15 this season. That would be good."

It seemed an optimistic ambition, but Oscar suddenly appears more dangerous in front of goal. He has six goals in 18 league games this season, and is on a wonderful run of three goals and five assists in his last nine matches, overshadowing even Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas in that regard. The Brazilian's goals against Swansea made it consecutive goalscoring matches for the first time since October 2013.

It is 16 months since Jose Mourinho publicly told Juan Mata than Oscar was his preferred No. 10. Long after the frenzy has died down, it has proven to be an erudite decision. Mourinho doesn't get too much wrong.

Diego Costa
He's scored 17 goals in 19 matches, and he's younger than Sergio Aguero, which makes us doubt all we know about the concept of time and ageing. Further evidence to suggest that Chelsea just got things A-Okay last summer.

Liverpool strikers
Within the space of little over an hour, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert had doubled the amount of goals contributed by Liverpool strikers this season. Lambert now leads the way with two.

It was an opportune time for both forwards to score. Such is Brendan Rodgers' total lack of faith with Mario Balotelli (he last started a league game on November that Borini and Lambert must step up to the plate if Liverpool's top-four hopes are to continue. The news that Lille striker Michael Frey will miss at least three months through injury means that Divock Origi will surely stay in France until the summer.

Much like Manchester United, Liverpool are currently winning the majority of their matches without ever managing to hit their straps. That habit offers both positive and negative connotations, but Rodgers will certainly take it for now. Two strikers scoring in the same game for the first time since Luis Suarez left will also leave a lingering feeling of contentment.

Manchester United
Winners for the result, following a run of two points from three league games, a necessary victory given the performances of those around them. Seven of the top eight won this weekend, Manchester City the only exception.

However, win does not equal triumph. As I wrote on Saturday, Louis van Gaal's tactical choices still merit further scrutiny. There were vocal chants of discontent from away supporters at Loftus Road during the first half, and Van Gaal's loyalty to 3-5-2 raises equal amounts of anger and amusement amongst fans. Seeing Angel Di Maria labouring as a forward certainly brings a tear to the eye. This is the Premier League's biggest waste/waist since Jeff Winter.

It feels as if Manchester United's season will lurch one way or the other in the next few weeks. Either Van Gaal will find a happy solution to his side's sluggish displays, the grip on a top-four place tightened, or United will finally be thoroughly punished for their tedious mediocrity. Upcoming home games against Leicester, Burnley and Sunderland should add their own assistance.

Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll
Ten goals and eight assists between West Ham's two renaissance men this season, both continuing their campaigns for a place in Roy Hodgson's plans. Andy Carroll has added a poaching element to his game this season, whilst Stewart Downing seems rejuvenated to the point of miracle.

As an aside, hopefully West Ham supporters who booed their team off at half-time felt sheepish by the end of the game. Your team is seventh in the Premier League in mid-January, four points off the Champions League places. Have some bloody patience.

Seb Larsson
Seb Larsson's superb equaliser was his 11th free-kick goal in the Premier League. Only David Beckham (15), Gianfranco Zola (12) and Thierry Henry (12) have more. Larsson is the closest thing to a specialist in the division.

Ben Mee
It's taken five months, but finally Burnley's Ben Mee scored his first Premier League goal. Having that 'Ben Mee, shake me, anyway you want me' line rattling around my brain has not been good for the soul.

Losers

Manchester City
Anaemic, bereft of spark or creativity, and let down by their captain, the champions were woeful. When Manuel Pellegrini needed a response, all he got was meek waving of a white handkerchief.

City have been typically wonderful in attack for much of this league season, but their defence has been a continuing source of concern. Despite only three teams conceding fewer league goals than Pellegrini's side, the counter to that statistic is that they have allowed the opposition to score two or more goals on 12 occasions in all competitions, 38% of their 32 matches. It just won't do.

Go here to read more over a poor day for City in general, and Vincent Kompany, Fernando and Jesus Navas in particular.

Aston Villa
Each week seems to bring a new record, a novel way of describing just how dire Paul Lambert has made Aston Villa in front of goal. At least now we have some statistical neatness: Villa have scored exactly one goal for every two PL games. Urgh.

Courtesy of ESPN's Dale Johnson comes this nugget: The highest ranked team in England to score the same or fewer league goals as Aston Villa is East Cowes Victoria of the Wessex League (level ten). Sexy.

Derby County currently hold the record for the fewest goals in a Premier League season, scoring 20 in 2007/08 when they managed only 11 points. Lambert's Villa are currently on course to 'beat' that. Sheesh.

John Carver
Having spent much of the last fortnight talking up his capability for the Newcastle job, John Carver has done a very passable impression of a man that doesn't deserve it. Newcastle lost their third successive match against Southampton on Saturday.

Supporters will be hopeful that the last chance of Carver landing the gig on a full-time basis has now been extinguished. To them he will be forever tainted by the Alan Pardew and Mike Ashley brush.

Carver was legitimately upset by the lack of a late penalty awarded for handball against his side on Saturday: "Unfortunately, sometimes big decisions like that can make big differences to people's livelihoods and futures." Forgive us for putting away our small violin, John, but at any other club you wouldn't even be considered. Sorry.

Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe had scored on each of his career debuts before Saturday, but no longer. There were flickers of a possible working relationship between Sunderland's new signing and their record signing (Steven Fletcher), but not enough to warrant the fanfare.

In the Daily Telegraph last week, Luke Edwards wrote that Defoe is 'the best January signing ever', so take that Nemanja Matic. He described Defoe as 'the closest thing you can get to guaranteeing goals in English football', a speculative suggestion given that Defoe a) left England for the comparative backwaters of MLS, and b) did so after scoring twice in his last 30 league appearances for Tottenham.

Defoe may well prove to be the signing Sunderland's survival bid needs, but the fear is that his tendency to hang on the shoulder of the last man and finish instinctively require him to be at the peak of his powers to succeed. Defoe was caught offside four times in the first 23 minutes of his debut, and failed to have a shot on target. The best statistic was that he attempted just five passes, and two of those were kick-offs.

A work in progress, would be the fair conclusion. But progress is difficult when you're so clearly in decline.

Gus Poyet
Said Gus Poyet after the arrival of Jermain Defoe on Friday: "It's not very often we're in a position where we can bring in a player of the quality of Jermain Defoe. But we've got him here, and we have to use him in the right way now.

"There are no excuses now. I am responsible; whatever happens from this point onwards, is down to me."

We'll be lodging that last line in the back of our minds, Gus, if you don't mind. We've heard this schtick from you before. It's now one win in 12 league games, and nine points from a possible 36.

Adam Nunn
There has probably been too much now said about the accused drop in refereeing standard this season, but allow me one more little gripe. How on earth could assistant Adam Nunn think that Jan Vertonghen was offside here (and Chris Foy doesn't cover himself in glory either)?

Football365

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Serie A is proving very competitive this term but some players are floundering. As a result, Goal has picked the most disappointing players of the season so far and arranged them in a 4-3-3 formation to be overseen by the worst coach of the current campaign. Agree with our selections? Let us know below!

ANTONIO MIRANTE (Parma) | He's been given hardly any protection by those in front of him, but Mirante has undeniably been one of Parma's most disappointing performers this season, as evidenced by the fact he has already conceded 30 times in just 13 games.

DANIELE BONERA (AC Milan) | Only fielded as a last resort by AC Milan boss Filippo Inzaghi this season, Bonera has justified his reputation among Rossoneri fans as an 'accident waiting to happen' with a succession of dreadful performances and unforced errors.

RAUL ALBIOL (Napoli) | The Spaniard's campaign started terribly with a shocking showing in Napoli's collapse at Athletic Bilbao, and has got progressively worse from there. Albiol has gone from a defensive lynchpin to a weak link in a matter of months.

NEMANJA VIDIC (Inter) | Expected to be one of the signings of the season, the former Manchester United captain has instead been one of its biggest flops. Inter wanted to build their defence around the Serb but he's now been relegated to the bench after a series of costly individual errors.

ASHLEY COLE (Roma) | Big things were also expected of Ashley Cole after his arrival on a free transfer from Chelsea, but the former England international was roasted by middling wingers on a weekly basis before losing his starting berth to Jose Holebas.

FRANCESCO LODI (Parma) | Entrusted with the responsibility of running the Parma midfield following his arrival on loan from Catania, Lodi betrayed Roberto Donadoni's faith in him with a string of ineffective displays before being dropped.

YANN M'VILA (Inter) | It was thought that the once highly-rated midfielder would kickstart his career at Inter but neither Walter Mazzarri nor Roberto Mancini have shown any faith in the Frenchman, whose most noteworthy contribution so far was an angry reaction to being replaced against Roma.

MAREK HAMSIK (Napoli) | It didn't seem possible but the Napoli attacking midfielder has actually managed to perform even more poorly this season than last. For so long one of the stars of Serie A, the Slovak now looks lost and out of his depth.

UAN ITURBE (Roma) | Roma were enthused after beating Juventus to the signing of Juan Iturbe - but the Giallorossi are not smiling anymore. The former Verona starlet has failed dismally to justify his €22 million transfer fee and cannot even get in Rudi Garcia's starting line-up at the moment.

FERNANDO TORRES (AC Milan) | Hailed as a worthy recipient of AC Milan's prestigious No.9 jersey after joining on loan from Chelsea, Torres has proven more like Luther Blissett than Marco van Basten. Just one goal in 10 appearances says it all.

RODRIGO PALACIO (Inter) | One of Inter's most reliable performers over the last two seasons, the Argentine seems to be suffering the most severe of World Cup hangovers, having found the net just once this season.

WALTER MAZZARRI (Inter) | Mazzarri arrived at Inter last year as one of the most respected coaches in Serie A. However, after being sacked just 11 games into his second season at Inter, he departs as something of a laughing stock, with his ridiculous excuses having provoked amusement among everyone who doesn't support the Nerazzurri.

Goal

Chelsea were in front with just two minutes on the clock at the Britannia Stadium on Monday night when John Terry rose highest to force home a Cesc Fabregas corner.

Stoke threatened briefly in the second period but Fabregas sealed victory for the visitors with 13 minutes left.

The result means Jose Mourinho's men pull three points clear of Manchester City.

Stoke had already dished out beatings to Arsenal and Man City this season, but were dealt a major blow inside two minutes as Terry gave Chelsea the lead.

Fabregas whipped a dangerous corner from the right into the danger area and the Chelsea skipper determinedly out-jumped his marker Geoff Cameron to power a header into the net.

Terry has now scored 35 top-flight goals and is Chelsea’s joint 10th top scorer in the history of the Premier League.

The early goal silenced the home crowd as the visitors confidently stroked the ball around midfield, with Eden Hazard causing real problems on the left flank.

Phil Bardsley took matters into his own hands on 20 minutes and received a booking for a wild lunge on Hazard by the touchline that visibly enraged Chelsea boss Mourinho on the sidelines.

The booking seemed to spark the hosts into life and Steven N’Zonzi forced Thibaut Courtois into a save after his 20-yard shot took a deflection.

Diego Costa always looked a threat on the break for Chelsea and he should have doubled the lead on 31 minutes when sent clear by Nemanja Matic, but he dragged his shot wide of the upright.

Substitute Charlie Adam injected plenty of life into the Stoke midfield when he was introduced in the second half and he missed a great chance to level the game on 71 minutes.

Usually so clinical with his left foot, Adam skewed a shot wide of the post from 20 yards after the ball had broken to him very kindly on the edge of the area.

It was a missed chance that proved costly for the hosts as Fabregas wrapped up the points on 77 minutes.

The brilliant Hazard picked out the former Barcelona man with a fine pass inside the area and two touches later, the ball was in the net. It may not have been Fabregas' most clinical strike, but his rather scuffed effort wrong-footed Asmir Begovic and the ball trickled into the far corner.

Costa should have got his name on the scoresheet when he was released by Andre Schurrle with six minutes left but Begovic did well to deny the striker.

The night was soured slightly for the league leaders when Hazard had to be replaced in injury time by Kurt Zouma after suffering a kick on his heel from Jon Walters, but Chelsea saw the job through with ease.

Player Ratings

Chelsea: Courtois (; Ivanovic (7), Cahill (7), Terry (, Azpilicueta (7); Mikel (7), Matic (; Willian (7), Fabregas (7), Hazard (; Diego Costa (7).

Chelsea subs: Schurrle (6), Drogba (6), Zouma (6).

Stoke: Begovic (6); Bardsley (6), Shawcross (6), Muniesa (6), Pieters (6); Cameron (6), Nzonzi (6); Walters (6), Bojan (7), Arnautovic (6); Crouch (5)

Stoke subs: Diouf (6), Adam (7), Assaidi (6)

Man Of The Match: Matic




Football365

Arsenal return to the scene of one of the most miserable lowpoints of last season's campaign on Sunday as they travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool. In February, the Gunners were humbled 5-1 and had shipped four goals after just 20 minutes as a ruthless, title-chasing home side, led by Luis Suarez, steamrollered their befuddled opponents in an incredible opening salvo.

The two sides are much changed this season, with Arsenal now leaning on the exploits of their own explosive South American showman, while the Merseysiders are struggling to adapt to life after their so-called 'SAS' attack was disbanded; Suarez has now taken on the role of Lionel Messi's wingman at Barcelona while Daniel Sturridge has been sidelined indefinitely.

Goal takes a look at how these two new-look teams match up and the key battlegrounds where Sunday's clash could be won and lost…

When Liverpool and Arsenal last met, there was a noticeable difference in the pace and urgency of the two sides' midfields and attacks. The Merseysiders pressed relentlessly, forcing errors, while the Gunners played at a much slower, more methodical tempo. It resulted in one of Arsenal's biggest defeats of the season, and that midfield core has not been reinforced at all in the intervening time.

Having opted against signing the mobile, aggressive destroyer his side so obviously needed, Arsene Wenger goes to Anfield with few options to choose from. A raft of injuries means the likes of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are unavailable, but the biggest absence could be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

"We cannot afford to lose him at the moment," noted Wenger after the 21-year-old was withdrawn against Newcastle at the weekend. The youngster, who could yet be fit courtesy of a pain-killing injection, has transitioned from speedy winger to midfield dynamo, and has brought an energy and directness to the centre of Arsenal’s spine.

"He's got the pace to go past a player, is very strong on the ball and has really impressed over the past few weeks," Arsenal legend Ray Parlour exclusively told Goal. "His form will be key to Arsenal's top-four ambitions this season, that's for sure, especially with injuries to the likes of Wilshere and Ramsey… which could see Oxlade-Chamberlain moved further back alongside Flamini to increase the pace in central midfield."

In February's meeting, Liverpool's midfield completed 100 per cent more tackles and interceptions than Arsenal's – Steven Gerrard, on his own, completed as many challenged as the Gunners' entire midfield – and Mesut Ozil was particularly unable to cope with the hosts' tough-tackling pressing game, committing two errors that led to goals. No Arsenal player was culpable of more in a single game last season.

Brendan Rodgers's current setup – a 3-4-3 formation with Jordan Henderson and Lazar Markovic in the wing-back roles against Bournemouth – risks overwhelming Wenger's usual two-man holding pivot, especially if they press as they did at Dean Court, which is why the acceleration, mobility and tenacity of Oxlade-Chamberlain will be so important.

NO.1 PROBLEM
Is Jones a legitimate replacement for Mignolet?

Quite why Rodgers finally decided to axe Simon Mignolet against Manchester United is something of a mystery. The Belgian has undoubtedly made a number of high-profile errors this season – his most recent coming at the end of November against Ludogorets – though appeared to have been backed by his manager and had been solid, if unspectacular, as Liverpool collected seven points from a possible nine in the Premier League prior to Sunday's defeat.

He has been helped little by a backline that has committed six errors leading to goals – only Everton have managed more – though none of his own mistakes have directly resulted in goals for the opposition. Meanwhile, over the last three seasons, no goalkeeper has made more saves than Mignolet's 294.

Perhaps, then, his dropping was more to do with style than performance. A good shot-stopper from range, Mignolet has saved 90% of efforts from outside the box, but that drops to a rather more miserable 52% for shots taken inside the box, which could be problematic against Arsenal, who have scored the third most goals from inside the area (27) in the division.

Bruce Grobbelaar, meanwhile, accused the keeper of being "worse than Dracula because at least Dracula comes out of his coffin now and then" and the fact that 19 keepers have caught the ball more often than Mignolet is testament to his lack of command over his penalty area.

But is Brad Jones really a better option? One of the key themes of United's win was how dominant David de Gea was, and how ruthless his team-mates were at the other end, but the opposite was true of Liverpool.

The Australian looked every bit the back-up keeper, was easily beaten on three occasions (his 50% save percentage is some way down on Mignolet's season average, while he let Dan Gosling's effort squirm through his fingers against Bournemouth) and he showed little to suggest he can command his area any better than the Belgian. Arsenal will fancy their chances against both keepers.

RODGERS'S ATTACKING DILEMMA
The pace of Sterling vs Mertesacker or height of Lambert vs Debuchy?

Liverpool's frontline is an infinitely paler shade of what it used to be, with Daniel Sturridge injured, Mario Balotelli misfiring and Rickie Lambert struggling to adapt to an attack that was once a fusion of pace, movement and trickery. The former Southampton frontman, at his best, is a bullish battering ram, but his one-paced immobility has seen Rodgers look for alternatives.

Against Manchester United, and in the League Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth, he opted to have Raheem Sterling lead the line. The 20-year-old's speed and intelligent running was a constant worry in both games, but at Old Trafford he appeared bereft of the natural, predatory instincts that a leading man requires.

Admittedly it did not help that David De Gea was in such formidable form, but he failed to score with any of his four shots on target (the second-most a player has managed in a league match at Old Trafford in over a decade). No Premier League player has had more on-target efforts without scoring this season.

The possibility of a makeshift Arsenal back four could, therefore, see Lambert return to Rodgers' thoughts. Peter Crouch was such a thorn in the side of the Gunners (no player has won more headers against them this season) and Liverpool's own towering frontman would likely fancy his chances against Mathieu Debuchy should the Frenchman be picked at centre-back again.

Debuchy, though, is deceptively good in the air (winning 5.8 headers per game this term, comfortably Arsenal’s best), while Lambert has never scored against the north Londoners.

Rodgers is likely to keep faith in Sterling and his new striker-less formation, then, and the fact that De Gea was United's man of the match says much about how well Liverpool attacked against United – even if they lacked the necessary end product.

That requisite killer touch was more in evidence against Bournemouth, though, with Sterling ending his barren run with a brace. The formula that was so successful against the Championship outfit could pay particular dividends if Arsenal's defensive line is as high as it was in the same fixture last term, where Sterling scored twice, and the England starlet's startling speed and fancy footwork will cause Per Mertesacker major problems.

CHILEAN WIZADRY
Is there any way Liverpool can stop Alexis Sanchez?

It is quite incredible how rapidly Alexis Sanchez has developed into a talisman for Arsenal. "It's difficult to find examples of people who have settled in so quickly. My memory is not perfect, but I can't think of a quicker one," noted Wenger. In fact, the Chilean ranks joint third for combined goals and assists (14) in his first 15 Premier League matches. Only Sergio Aguero and former Derby County man Francesco Baiano (both 15) have managed more.

He is, unquestionably, Arsenal's danger man, and has more than twice as many goals as his next most prolific team-mate (Olivier Giroud, with four goals) and more than twice as many assists as his next most creative team-mate (Santi Cazorla, with two assists). How Liverpool must wish they had been able to lure the former Barcelona man to Anfield during the summer.

Instead, Alexis will line up on the right wing against a Liverpool left side that has been incredibly vulnerable this season. Dejan Lovren, the left-sided centre-back, and Alberto Moreno, who has struggled to live up to his price-tag save for a brilliant goal at Tottenham, have committed two errors leading to goals apiece this season.

Lovren and Moreno have shown little understanding together, with massive gaps appearing between the two, and Antonio Valencia exposed the Spaniard’s attacking nature to create United's opening goal at the weekend.

Alexis has been rampant this season, and it was a trademark dash down the left, followed by a pin-point cross, that produced Arsenal's opener against Newcastle. The 25-year-old is always looking to exploit the space behind and in between the full-back and the centre-back, and few back-lines feel more vulnerable to that than Liverpool’s.

He is also a fabulously hard-working player too. He presses relentlessly, forcing errors and winning the ball (something Liverpool's error-prone left flank could buckle against), while only Mathieu Flamini (38) and Calum Chambers (32) have completed more tackles than Alexis's 29. His pace (he clocked the fifth fastest speed at the weekend, 34.6km/h) will worry an often ponderous centre-back pairing.

Rodgers may look to force Alexis back into his own half on Sunday, and he trialled Markovic at left wing-back against Bournemouth in midweek - he would offer even more attacking threat than Moreno. Equally, wing-backs are most vulnerable against wingers who stay high up the pitch and sticking with a back three could backfire spectacularly.

If Liverpool keep Alexis quiet, though, they will have snuffed out an often solitary spark of imagination in the Arsenal ranks and could come away with three points.

Goal

10) Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille)
Gignac feels like the ultimate close-but-just-not-quite striker, not dissimilar to Olivier Giroud at Arsenal. There are moments when he looks the real deal, before then falling short of those moments of majesty.

Since scoring 24 Ligue Un goals for Toulouse in 2008/9, Gignac managed only 30 more goals in 113 league games until the beginning of last season, but does now seem to have found form again. He has more goals than Zlatan this season.

Finally, you can marvel at just how much Gignac looks like a cross between Yohan Cabaye and MK Dons manager Karl Robinson here.

Perfect for: Newcastle, Southampton, Spurs.

9) Dani Alves (Barcelona)
Probably the best attacking full-back in the world over the last decade, Dani Alves would be far higher up our list if he wasn't turning 32 before next summer - and the end of his Barcelona contract - arrives.

"I am moving to England next year," Alves told Rio de Janeiro's O Globo newspaper in October. "I am going to play in the cradle of football. This will be my last year at Barcelona."

Just to confuse you, five days later Dinorah Santa Ana told Spanish radio that such thoughts were a little hasty. "His future is uncertain. Right now, we're not negotiating with anyone - not with Barca nor any other club," she told Catalunya Radio. "We would like to stay here, mainly because our children are here. No one has told us that they want him to go."

Santa Ana, you should probably be told, is Alves' agent and ex-wife. Read into that what you will.

Perfect for: No-one really needs him, but that doesn't mean they won't want him.

Yevhen Konoplyanka (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
Winger Yevhen Konoplyanka has been flirting with the Premier League for the best part of three years, but he downright snogged Liverpool last January. A deal with Dnipro appeared complete, only for the Ukrainians to pull out at the last minute.

Soon Konoplyanka will be available for nothing, with Manchester United and Internazionale also reportedly showing a passing interest. He has impressed on both wings for club and country, and boasts great pace, trickery and long-range shooting. The latter was displayed impressively against England in September 2012.

Perfect for: Tottenham and Everton.

7) Sergio Romero (Sampdoria)
The World Cup saw a few goalkeepers dramatically enhance their reputation. Manuel Neuer made the Ballon D'Or top three, Guillermo Ochoa earned a move to Malaga, Keylor Navas joined Real Madrid, David Ospina moved to Arsenal and Thibaut Courtois cemented his place as Chelsea's No. 1.

Which all leaves Sergio Romero, World Cup final goalkeeper and Sampdoria want-away. The Argentinean's contract expires next June and he has made it pretty clear that he is off outta Genoa. With 54 caps for Argentina and just 27 years old, there really isn't much to dislike.

Perfect for: Liverpool, Spurs (if Hugo Lloris leaves)

6) Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus)
Juventus full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner might just be my shout for Europe's most underrated player. The 'Swiss Express' is a wonderful attacking right-back.

Since joining from Lazio in 2011, Lichtsteiner has remained largely unheralded, perhaps unsurprising in a team now boasting Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo. He is also humble and modest, blaming himself personally for Switzerland's World Cup exit.

Now 30, the defender probably has one more big move in him, but his fitness and stamina have never been in doubt. The Premier League's biggest clubs could do a lot, lot worse.

Perfect for: Manchester United, Liverpool

5) Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Before the season started, bookmakers offered their odds on the top Champions League scorer, and included any player at odds of 300/1 or less. Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian striker Luis Adriano didn't even merit a mention, but he's now the 2/1 second favourite behind Lionel Messi.

Evidently Adriano's total was assisted by the presence of BATE Borisov in Shakhtar's Champions League group, but he has also scored 24 goals in 38 league matches in Ukraine and is No. 47 on the list of highest-ever goalscorers in the European Cup, with 20. He also recently made his debut for Brazil, and will get his chance to impress against Bayern in the CL last-16.

Perfect for: Everton, Spurs, Newcastle

4) Fabian Schar (FC Basel)
With Arsene Wenger conceding that Laurent Koscielny's latest injury might tempt him into the transfer market, supporters would almost be forgiven for wishing the Frenchman delay in his recovery, should it signal Fabian Schaar's arrival at the Emirates.

In an age when defenders are moving for obscene fees (a summer transfer back four of Eliaquim Mangala, David Luiz, Luke Shaw and Mehdi Benatia sets you back a cool £145m), Basel defender Schar represents incredible value for money.

He's 22, he's quick, he has Champions League experience and he's available on the cheap. Just bloody do it, Arsene.

Perfect for: Arsenal, Arsenal and, er, Arsenal

3) Nigel de Jong (AC Milan)
De Jong has long held a special place in our hearts. We have great respect for a player who will happily say "that's what I think of your laws on hefty challenges". "Oooh, that isn't in the rulebook. Who's in charge here?" "Guilty. Get a new rulebook."

De Jong also has a magical quality, in that no matter what month or year you choose, he's always 30. Every website claims that he was still 29 three weeks ago and joined Manchester City at the age of just 24, but that simply must be witchcraft.

Anyway, the Dutchman has been wallowing in Milan, a city of lost footballing glory; someone surely must rescue him. You can hand him a four-year contract and then sell him for a tidy fee, just after he's turned 30.

Perfect for: Liverpool, Arsenal.

2) Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke)
Huntelaar hasn't quite reached the mythical status of Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao, but Tottenham supporters have heard rumours of the Dutchman's arrival at White Hart Lane more times than they would care to remember. A quick Google search brings up results from November 2012, June 2009 and October 2014 to name but three, and only three days ago Huntelaar's name was mentioned in passing.

If there was a time to sign the striker, it is now. Schalke have been publicly discussing a new contract for Huntelaar for three months, but no news has been forthcoming. Is the 31-year-old looking for a change of scene?

Whoever does sign the striker may be in for a treat. Rarely has a striker scored so many goals (288 in 453 club games in four countries) and yet flown so easily under the radar. He also has 39 goals for the Dutch national team at a quicker rate than Robin van Persie, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert and Marco van Basten. Wow.

Perfect for: Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City.

1) Sami Khedira (Real Madrid)
It isn't often that one of Europe's finest defensive midfielders becomes available, let alone on a free transfer, let alone let alone on a free transfer at the age of 27. Signing Khedira should be at the top of every big club manager's shopping list in January, even if he won't arrive until July.

A title winner in Germany and Spain. A double domestic cup winner. A Champions League winner. A UEFA Super Cup winner. A World Cup winner. For free.

The worry for Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal (who seem to be the top three candidates to woo the German to England) is the desire of Real Madrid to sign Marco Reus from Borussia Dortmund, leading to talk of a swap deal. Which probably means Bayern Munich will swoop in at the last second to ruin all our fun.

Perfect for: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool.


Football365

Jose Mourinho is arguably the most quotable coach in modern football. The Chelsea boss is always raising eyebrows with his quirky comparisons and, after his latest amusing analogy of there being "sharks in the ocean" of the Champions League last 16, Goal has counted down Mourinho's 20 maddest metaphors ...

20. "No," Mourinho responded when asked after last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle if he would defend a slender lead in a similar fashion. "You may as well put a cow in the middle of the pitch. And then stop the game because there was a cow."

19. After Barcelona complained about having to take a coach to Milan due to travel disruption caused by an Icelandic volcano eruption in 2010, the then Inter boss said: "The way they are, tomorrow we will probably read I am to blame for the volcano. Maybe I have a friend in the volcano and I am responsible for that."

18. “I am not concerned about how Chelsea are viewed morally,” Mourinho rambled in his first stint at Stamford Bridge. “What does concern me is that we are treated in a different way to other clubs. Some clubs are treated as devils, some are treated as angels. I don’t think we are so ugly that we should be seen as the devil and I don’t think Arsene Wenger [and Co.] are so beautiful that they should be viewed as angels.”

17. "Look, I’m a coach. I’m not Harry Potter," Mourinho said after drawing 0-0 with Real Mallorca on his competitive Real Madrid debut. "Harry Potter is magical, but in reality there is no magic. Magic is fiction and football is real."

16. "I am prepared," he said after signing Sami Khedira in his first transfer window as Real Madrid coach. "The more pressure there is, the stronger I am. In Portugal, we say the bigger the ship, the stronger the storm. Fortunately for me, I have always been in big ships. FC Porto were a very big ship in Portugal, Chelsea were also a big ship in England and Inter were a great ship in Italy. Now I’m at Real Madrid, which is considered the biggest ship on the planet."

15. Mourinho on squad rotation during his first spell at Chelsea: "If you have at home one Bentley and one Aston Martin, if you go all day everyday in the Bentley and leave the Aston Martin in the garage you are a bit stupid."

14. "It's like having a blanket that is too small for the bed," Mourinho said when Chelsea were in the midst of an injury crisis at the end of the January transfer window in 2007. "You pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. I cannot buy a bigger blanket because the supermarket is closed. But the blanket is made of cashmere.

13. "If you have no eggs, you have no omelette," Mourinho's infamously veiled criticism of Roman Abramovich's transfer policy began in 2007. "In the supermarket, you have class one, class two and class three eggs. Some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So, when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot get there, you have a problem." He was sacked shortly afterwards.

12. Referencing his famous egg metaphor, Mourinho described his Chelsea team at the start of last season as: “Beautiful young eggs, eggs that need a mum, in this case a dad, to take care of them, to keep them warm during the winter, to bring the blankets and to work and improve them and one day we'll arrive in a moment when the weather changes, the sun rises, we break the eggs and the eggs are ready to go for life at the top level.”

11. "Claude Makelele is not a football player – Makelele is a slave," Mourinho said in criticism of the midfielder being called up to the France squad despite having announced his international retirement. "He’s played the biggest game you can, the World Cup final, and now wants to retire but the coach told us if he is not playing for France, he is not playing for Chelsea. We know the rules. You are a slave, you have no human rights."

10. "The title race is between two horses and a little horse that needs milk and needs to learn how to jump," Mourinho said after Chelsea defeated Manchester City in February this year. "Maybe next season we can race."

9. "Barcelona is a cultural city with many great theatres," Mourinho started, in reaction to a young Lionel Messi getting Asier del Horno sent off for Chelsea in 2006. "And this boy has learned very well. He’s learned play-acting."

8. "Sometimes you see beautiful people with no brains. Sometimes you have ugly people who are intelligent, like scientists," Mourinho said ahead of a Champions League clash with Barcelona in 2006. "Our pitch is a bit like that. From the top it's a disgrace but the ball rolls at normal speed."

7. "If you go hunting with a good dog, you hunt more. If you go with a cat, you hunt less but you're still hunting," Mourinho responded when asking about Gonzalo Higuain's injury, meaning he would be starting Karim Benzema.

6. "If I wanted to work quietly, I would have stayed at Portugal,” Mourinho said at his first press conference as Chelsea boss – the same one he coined the term 'special one'. “In Portugal we have pretty blue chairs, the Champions League, God and then, right after him, me.”

5. “It was a goal that came from the moon - from the Anfield stands,” Mourinho said after Chelsea were defeated by a ghost goal in the 2004-05 Champions League semi-final. “The best team lost. Liverpool scored, if you can say that they scored, because maybe you should say the linesman scored.”

4. "Young players are a little bit like melons," Mourinho mused in 2007 towards the end of his first stint at Chelsea. "Only when you open and taste the melon are you 100 per cent sure that the melon is good. Sometimes you have beautiful melons but they don’t taste very good and some other melons are a bit ugly and, when you open them, the taste is fantastic. The bridge is a difficult one to cross and they have to play with us and train with us for us to taste the melon."

3. "The one with 30 years experience has never won anything; the one with three years has won a lot," Mourinho wrote in his newspaper column in February 2005, regarding Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira. "The one with a 30-year career will be forgotten when he ends it; the one with three could end it right now and he could never be erased from history. This could be the story of a donkey who worked for 30 years but never became a horse."

2. “As we say in Portugal, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal,” Mourinho said, famously coining the term 'parking the bus' after drawing 0-0 with Tottenham in 2004. “I would have been frustrated if I had been a supporter who paid £50 to watch this game because Spurs came to defend. There was only one team looking to win, they only came not to concede; it’s not fair for the football we played.”

1. "I think he is one of these people who is a Viewer," Mourinho said of Arsene Wenger in 2005. "He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea. I don't know if he wants my job, I don't know. He loves Chelsea."

Goal

Coaching legend Giovanni Trapattoni has warned fellow Italian Mario Balotelli that he will look back on his career and realise he has wasted it.

The striker joined Liverpool this summer from AC Milan in a €20 million return to the Premier League, having left Manchester City 18 months earlier.

The ex-Inter striker failed to impress consistently at San Siro, despite a flying start, and by the end of his spell back in Milan the general frustration surrounding Balotelli sped up his transfer to Anfield.

Again, however, Balotelli has fallen short of expecations. Since his arrival he has only scored twice - once in the Champions League and once in the Capital One Cup - leading many to question why Brendan Rodgers thought the Italian could fill Luis Suarez's boots.

And Trapattoni, who has trained his fair share of world-class talents and egos during his 40-year coaching career, believes that the 24-year-old will eventually regret his antics on and off the field.

"I do not know how Balotelli's career will pan out in the future," the former Juventus and Bayern Munich boss told La Nazione. "But I know that when he hangs up his boots he will realise the many opportunities he has wasted."

Balotelli has missed the last six games for Liverpool after picking up an injury in November, suffered while training with Italy's squad for the first time since Antonio Conte was handed the international reins.

While sidelined the Italian has still managed to make the headlines, however, causing controversy by leaving a post on his Instagram deemed by some to be racist, resulting in an FA investigation.

Goal

Paris Saint-Germain fans were stabbed in two separate incidents in Barcelona on Wednesday, Catalan police have confirmed.

The Ligue 1 champions were beaten 3-1 at Camp Nou as Barca sealed top spot in Group F at the expense of their opponents, who qualified for the last 16 as runners-up.

On Thursday, Catalan police announced that some PSG supporters had been attacked close to the stadium and had been admitted to hospital.

A statement released by the police confirmed that the first incident occurred at around 23:00 local time on Carrer de Felipe de Paz, close to Camp Nou.

According to the release, "a French citizen" was stabbed "by two individuals dressed in dark and with a balaclava".

A short time later, a group of three supporters were attacked, one of whom had to be transported to hospital after being stabbed.

"The police are working to clarify the exact circumstances of the incident and arrest those responsible," the statement concluded.

The incidents come hot on the heels of Spanish authorities looking to clamp down on football-related violence after a Deportivo La Coruna fan was killed ahead of their fixture at Atletico Madrid last month.


Goal

The line-up for the last 16 in the Champions League was confirmed on Wednesday and all the clubs will be eagerly awaiting Monday's draw in Nyon.

There will be two pots: one with the group winners and another with the teams who came second.
No team can play a club from their group or any side from their own association.

Group Winners

Real Madrid - can play: Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Schalke, Shakhtar Donetsk

Atletico Madrid - can play: Basel, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Schalke, Shakhtar Donetsk

Barcelona - can play: Juventus, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Manchester City, Schalke, Shakhtar Donetsk

Monaco - can play: Juventus, Basel, Arsenal, Manchester City, Schalke, Shakhtar Donetsk

Borussia Dortmund - can play: Juventus, Basel, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk

Bayern Munich - can play: Juventus, Basel, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk

Chelsea - can play: Juventus, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen, Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk

Porto - can play: Juventus, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Schalke

Runners-up

Juventus - can play: Real Madrid, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Chelsea, Porto

Basel - can play: Atlético Madrid, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Chelsea, Porto

Bayer Leverkusen - can play: Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Porto

Arsenal - can play: Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Monaco, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Porto

Manchester City - can play: Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Porto

Paris Saint-Germain - can play: Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern, Chelsea, Porto

Schalke - can play: Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Monaco, Barcelona, Porto

Shakhtar Donetsk - can play: Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Chelsea

Seeded group winners will be away in the round of 16 first legs on 17/18 and 24/25 February and at home in the return matches on 10/11 and 17/18 March.

Goal

Iker Casillas believes that Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid are Real Madrid's principal rivals for this season's Champions League, revealing that he only sees Barcelona as a threat in La Liga.

Carlo Ancelotti's men currently sit top of the Primera Division, while they have made a perfect start to the defence of their European title, having won all five of their games to date in Group B ahead of Tuesday's final fixture, against Ludogorets at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Casillas is expecting another three-way fight for La Liga, with titleholders Atletico and last season's runners-up, Barca, but he does not view the latter as a major contender for Madrid's continental crown.

“I think we will have to go right until the end to fight for the league," the goalkeeper is quoted as saying by AS. "We hope we can win it because we are going really well at the moment.

"But our main rivals in Europe? Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid."

Casillas admitted that he is also hoping to land the Club World Cup, with Madrid set to leave for Morocco after Friday's Liga clash with Almeria.

"We are going with the aim of becoming world champions," he added. "We have done well this year and what better way is there to put the icing on the cake?"

Looking further ahead, Casillas is desperately hoping that he will still be in the Spain squad by the time Euro 2016 rolls around, as he is determined to make amends for his role in his country's disastrous World Cup campaign in Brazil, with the then reigning champions having bowed out at the group stage.

“I feel great and if coach Vicente del Bosque thinks it appropriate that I am called up to the squad, I would be delighted," he stated.

"To represent my country is very important to me and an experience like Euro 2016 after the World Cup also gives you a chance to take away the thorn of what happened in Brazil."

Goal

English champions Manchester City are reportedly pressing ahead with plans to complete the signing of Nigerian teen sensation Kelechi Iheanacho.

The 2013 U-17 World Cup best player is highly-rated by City boss Manuel Pelligrini and is said to be currently training with the club's first team as they push for a work permit.

"Kelechi Iheanacho has been in England training with the first team of Manchester City," a source told Sl10.ng.

"When Argentina met Portugal in November, the Argentina national team trained with a shadow eleven, not the regulars you see on television, and Iheanacho was among those selected."

The process has apparently been slowed because the young playmaker has not made any appearances for his national team after being controversially ignored by Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi.

However City are said to be considering invoking the league's special talent clause to get the permit.

"We are optimistic that Iheanacho will get a work permit, that is what everyone is looking forward to. He should be able to prove his mettle and break into the first team," added the source.

"Manuel Pellegrini wants him which is important.

"He has to be considered as a special talent to get a work permit. Man City are not prepared to loan him to another team.

"They don't have a Plan A, B or C for Iheanacho. The club want him."

On the international front, Iheanacho is in the Nigeria U-20 team and has also recently been called up by the U-23 coach Samson Siasia.

Africaplays

at least he said he is sorry

Crimean football clubs were Thursday banned by UEFA from taking part in Russian championships starting from January 1, the governing body's secretary general Gianni Infantino announced.

"The Russian football federation cannot organise matches in Crimea without the agreement of UEFA and Ukraine," said Infantino.

The strategic peninsula of Crimea, long home to Russian military bases, was annexed from Ukraine by Russia in March, sparking the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War.

The separatist uprising has cost the lives of over 4,300 people since April.

Source:AFP

Nigeria international Juwon Oshaniwa has expressed regret following the Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations ouster.

The African champions bungled their chance of defending the trophy they won in South Africa after playing a 2-2 draw against South Africa at the Akwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo.

According to the Ashdod SC defender, the Cup of Nations blackout is a sad tale and has apologized on behalf of his Eagles' teammate for letting the country down while assuring that the team will bounce back soon.
"We are all yet to recover from the shock of our inability to qualify for the Nations Cup but that is football for you," Oshaniwa told Goal.

"We must forget about our ouster and think of what we should do to ensure that we do not have a repeat of what befell us this year.

"We as players will always be ready to wear the country’s jersey and also portray our nation well we are so that no one speaks abusively of it. We are sorry about our inability to qualify and we promise to do our best to ensure that it doesn’t repeat itself again next time,” he concluded.

Source:Goal