Nasri returns to give City Euro boost

Manchester - Samir Nasri celebrated his return from injury by capping Manchester City's fightback in a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday that provided the perfect boost ahead of their crunch Champions League quarter-final.

Manuel Pellegrini's side are slight favourites to go through after drawing 2-2 in the first leg at Paris Saint Germain, but they will not want to rely on winning the competition for the first time to guarantee playing in the Champions League again next season.

They therefore need to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and thanks to Nasri's close-range effort on his first start since September, City pulled four points clear of Manchester United before they play at title-chasing Tottenham on Saturday and to within two points of third-placed Arsenal.

However, the sight of Argentina striker Sergio Aguero limping off in the second half at Eastlands after being caught on the back of his foot was a concern for Pellegrini with the PSG clash looming on Tuesday.

City started with five changes to the side that drew in Paris as Pellegrini rested a number of players ahead of the second leg in Manchester.

But despite the shuffling of resources, City would not have expected to go behind after just five minutes to a West Brom side with only one win in their last 10 away Premier League games.

They had put together a solid run of just one defeat in six games to pull away from relegation danger but Stephane Sessegnon's goal was only the 12th Tony Pulis' side had managed away from home in the league all season.

Sessegnon's second of the campaign was perfectly struck on the half-volley past Joe Hart from 20 yards following a James McClean cross after an impressive West Brom break-away, sparked after referee Michael Jones had blocked an attempted pass from Pablo Zabaleta to gift possession to the visitors.

With City desperate not to drop more points after losing three of their last four home league games they needed an instant response and got it via the penalty spot just 13 minutes later.

Aleksandar Kolarov was a constant threat going forward and after he was tripped in the box by Sessegnon, Aguero drilled home his 18th league goal of the season from the penalty spot.

But that didn't trigger a major shift in power as West Brom defended in numbers to frustrate a City side again looking short of inspiration and substitute Craig Gardner dragging a shot wide in the nearest either side came to adding a second goal before half time.

Aguero tested Ben Foster nine minutes into the second half but City might have given away a penalty of their own when Eliaquim Mangala clumsily jumped into Sandro and with an hour gone Pellegrini reached for his big guns to try and force the issue.

Kevin De Bruyne and the fit again Yaya Toure were sent on and De Bruyne immediately made his presence felt, stretching the West Brom defence and playing a part as City went ahead as he played in Jesus Navas to set up Aguero.

Aguero's effort was blocked but French midfielder Nasri was on hand to cap his comeback from a serious thigh injury by tapping in his second goal of the season.

Aguero could have secured further breathing space with a chance saved by Foster.

But City were almost denied the victory they badly needed ahead of their big European night when McClean was inches away with a stoppage-time effort.

Read More

Pirates up to sixth in PSL

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates exacted revenge on Free State Stars with a 1-0 win in a PSL clash at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. 

Victory moves the Buccaneers up to sixth on the log standings, Stars remain eighth. 

Pirates have been devastating in attack of late and after nine minutes they were a goal up. Free-scoring Tendai Ndoro continuing were he left off last week - Makola with a neat flick to play in his teammate who made no mistake - firing past Johnny Mathole. 

The Buccaneers dominated the first-half with the woodwork coming to Ea Lla Koto's rescue on two occasions. 

Ndoro saw his left-footed rocket canon off the crossbar two minutes after his opener with Thabo Matlaba denied by the up-right in the 34th minute. 

The hosts broke up-field and after Makola slipped in Matlaba the the former Stars fullback guided his shot onto the post, Sifiso Myeni pounced onto the rebound, but was denied by Mathole - the Stars goalkeeper with a super save. 

Stars looked a better side after the break and were only denied a point by Brighton Mhlongo who made a reflex save to keep out a rasping drive from Danny Venter ,late in the second-half. 

Victory for Pirates keeps the heat on the top five with Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs now within their reach. 

Read More

WHO'S HE TALKING TO

ALENKHE EMMANUEL'S BLOG

Read More

OMG.!!! What do u think about this image

Dont she looks okay

Read More

Gareth Bale settles in to the Real Madrid rollercoaster after a dramatic week in La Liga

The Welshman enjoyed his best week in Spain since his record transfer from Tottenham, contributing two goals and four assists against Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano

Two months into his Spanish adventure, Gareth Bale understands one thing loud and clear.

Wherever he goes with Real Madrid, somebody will remind him how his heavy pricetag marks him out. Warming up before kick-off on Saturday in Vallecas, home of Rayo Vallecano, the lowest-budget club in Spain's top tier, Bale was welcomed by a banner, displayed by the home fans. "We're poor," it read, "but we're proud, and we've got balls like fists."

Suburban Vallecas and the city-centre Santiago Bernabéu arena stand barely seven miles apart. Yet Real and Rayo are first and third-world, economically.

The combined cost to Madrid in transfer fees of the front three in their line-up, Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo stretches towards £220 million. That's about 32 years' worth of Rayo's current annual budget.

Rayo are the club who practically bit off the hands of Swansea City last year, when offered £2 million for their then top goalscorer, Michu; a club where salaries for many players went unpaid for months and months during Michu's last season there; where the idea of a ground constructed with spectators behind both goals is a luxury postponed until deep into never-neverland.

Read More

Plies And Rico Love Have Enough Music For A Whole Album After 'Faithful

Plies has a way with the ladies. The Fort Myers, Florida, native is no Romeo, but his raw lyrics connect with his female fans on songs like "Shawty" or 2008's "Bust It Baby (Part 2)," where he nicknames his lover "wet wet."

On his latest Rico Love-produced "Faithful," Plies adds on to his discography of sexually explicit sweet nothings. The #1 Goon promises of sexual healing and financial security. "Whatever she want is paid for," Plies raps, while Rico backs up his sentiment on the hook

Read More

Lady Gaga's Mustache Totally Got In Good With The American Mustache Institute On the kickoff of Movember, Dr. Adam Paul Causgrove of AMI says some 'staches are worn on the heart.

November 1 marks the first day of Movember, that glorious time of year when men save some dough on razors and grow a luscious, flowing mustache to raise awareness for prostate cancer. But dudes aren't the only ones getting facially follicular: Lady Gaga has recently been seen sporting a 'stache.
Dr. Adam Paul Causgrove, of the American Mustache Institute, wants Mother Monster to know that the facial hair advocacy organization is behind her 100 percent.
"The American Mustache Institute believes that if one wants to embrace the sexually dynamic mustached American lifestyle, then nobody should hold them back," Causgrove said, echoing Gaga's "Born This Way" message of yore. "We also say that not every mustache is worn on the upper lip. Some are worn on the heart.... The mustache appendage that Lady Gaga is using right now is a great way to show solidarity with fellow mustached Americans. We support her wholeheartedly with this endeavor."
We saw Gaga in full furry regalia at an ARTPOP listening party at the Berghain Club in Berlin on October 24.

Read More