Today's EPL Results:
Arsenal 1 Everton 0
Today was the 125th anniversary of Arsenal's existence at The Emirates.
The Gunners edged out a 1-0 win at The Emirates with a goal from striker and captain Robin Van Persie in the 70th minute. Alex Song chipped a great through ball towards him and he struck a clean volley past Tim Howard to break the deadlock. Both teams had chances and it was an entertaining match.
FACT: Mikel Arteta faced his old club Everton who he left in August for the first time.
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| Arsene Wenger congratulates his captain Robin Van Persie after scoring the only goal in the match. Bolton Wanderers 1 Aston Villa 2 This match came from the Reebok Stadium as relegation strugglers Bolton hosted middle of the table club Aston Villa. Midfielder Marc Albrighton broke the deadlock for the away side after 33 minutes. Captain Stilyan Petrov made it 2-0 to Villa in the 39th minute to give them the lead at the break. Striker Ivan Klasnic pulled one goal back in the 55th minute but it was not enough for Bolton to salvage a point at home. In the end, Aston Villa took all three points deservedly and move up to 8th place in the table with 19 points. Bolton go down to 20th in the table with 9 points. FACT: Bolton have only got 9 points this season from 15 matches. FACT: Defender Gary Cahill played against his old club Aston Villa after his one match ban was lifted (vs Tottenham last week) Liverpool 1 QPR 0 Luis Suarez scored the only goal of the match for Liverpool in the 47th minute as they edged out a 1-0 win at home against QPR. Liverpool move up to 6th place in the table with 26 points and QPR move down to 13th place with 16 points.  Manchester United 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 This match came from Old Trafford as European casualty Manchester United hosted relegation strugglers Wolves. Nani opened the scoring for the home side after cutting inside two defenders and hitting a low drive from 22 yards out past the keeper in the 17th minute. Nani passed the ball to Wayne Rooney in the 27th minute who shot the ball low into the corner of the goal out of Hennessey's reach. In the second half, Matt Jarvis whipped a cross into the box and Stephen Fletcher scored from a header which flew past keeper De Gea. In the 57th minute, Luis Valencia cut inside the box for United, crossed the ball to Nani who tapped in to make it 3-1. 5 minutes later, Valencia crosses the ball into the box again to Rooney who steadied himself to volley from 13 yards out to make it 4-1. United will feel happy that they took their chances, put pressure on rivals City (in 1st place) and could have scored more. Attendance: 75,627 FACT: Wolves have not beaten United at Old Trafford since 1980. FACT: Wayne Rooney has scored his first goal since September. FACT: Stephen Fletcher has now scored 5 goals in his last 6 matches. Norwich City 4 Newcastle United 2 This match came from Carrow Road as middle of the table Norwich faced 5th placed Newcastle. Norwich pressed and pressed Newcastle from the start and in the 38th minute, they got their reward from a corner which Wes Hoolahan scored a header from to make it 1-0. In the dying seconds of the first half, a ball by Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye to inform Demba Ba, who cooly slotted the ball through goalkeeper John Ruddy's legs to equalise for the away side. In the 60th minute, a Norwich corner waw taken and Grant Holt headered the ball but although keeper Tim Krul denied him the first time, he took a powerful follow-up header and scored to make it 2-1. Swansea City 2 Fulham 0 West Bromwich Albion 1 Wigan Athletic 2 Real Madrid vs Barcelona: El Clasico SPECIAL  Teams: Real Madrid: Casillas, Diarra, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Alonso, Khedira, Ozil, Di Maria, Benzema, Ronaldo. Barca: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Fabregas, Sanchez. My prediction is a Barca win with Xavi and Fabregas getting at least 1 goal each. Madrid will work hard but Barca will prove why they are the defending Champions of Europe. This is arguably the BIGGEST match in World football and one of the only matches in the La Liga which decides the destination of the title every year. Expect drama, injuries, lots of shots, flying tackles, lots of cards (red and yellow), good passing and controversy. 0: Here we go in Spain as Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Bernabeu. 1: It is pouring down with rain with a soaky pitch.... 1: INCREDIBLE START. Goalkeeper Victor Valdes with the ball at his feet.... he passes the ball to a Barca defender.... his pass is intercepted by striker Karim Benzema who is able to prod the ball into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box. What drama!!! 6: A mistake by Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos..... Messi is in on goal.... he shoots... OUTSTANDING SAVE!!! by Casillas with his right hand to deny the striker... 9: Madrid's Mesut Ozil tries to turn past defender Eric Abidal but he is having none of it. 14: Madrid forward Angel Di Maria goes down injured after twisting inside the Barca box and looks in some discomfort. 16: Good news for the home side as Di Maria looks to have recovered from his mild injury. 20: Cristiano Ronaldo with the ball for Real... he cuts past the Barca defence and shoots from 20 yards out.... punches away by goalkeeper Victor Valdes. 22: Diarra fouls Barcelona's Fabregas on the edge of the area... Free-kick taken by Xavi... BEATEN AWAY!!! by Casillas. 24: Jose Mourinho's plan to make his men pressure Valdes when he has the ball at his feet is working as he is nervous on the ball against the attackers. 26: Bad tackle by Madrid's Xabi Alonso on Lionel Messi. Yellow card given. 27: Barca forward Alexis Sanchez has been booked also. Yellow card given to the forward. 28: Barcelona full-back Dani Alves is on the floor after a clash with Madrid full-back Marcelo. Drama.... 30: Great through ball by Lionel Messi to Alexis Sanchez inside the box.... he has plenty to do but takes a strike eventually..... GOAL!!! The shot was beyond Casillas' reach. 1-1. Game on here! 34: Foul by Alves on Alonso. He stuck his leg out and is lucky not to be booked.... 36: Sanchez is now on the floor after being clipped by Pepe. It's all blowing up now!!! 36: Lionel Messi is booked after arguing over Pepe's foul on team-mate Sanchez. 44: Foul by Lionel Messi on Xabi Alonso.... The referee is coming over and has had some thinking time... He has already been booked... The referee changes his mind and keeps his cards in his pocket. Big call made by the referee there. We could have seen the first red card of the match here.... 45+1: The referee blows the whistle for the end of the first-half here. A superb start from Real Madrid with a goal inside the first minute but Barca have levelled. There has been three yellow cards and could have been more... 46: The referee blows the whistle for the start of the second half. 48: Booking given to Barcelona defender Pique who brought down Ronaldo from 20 yards out. 53: Xavi with a shot... deflected off full-back Marcelo... the ball goes past the reach of Casillas after spinning back off the post.. Freak goal for Barca but they will take it as they are now ahead for the first time in the match. 58: Real Madrid SUB: Kaka ON Mesut Ozil OFF 60: Lionel Messi with the ball.. he runs at full-back Marcelo.... but is denied. 61: Lassana Diarra with a foul on Iniesta.... He gets a yellow card for holding up him in a dangerous position. 62: Sanchez with a shot for Barca from an acute angle..... GOOD SAVE!!! by Casillas. 62: Foul by Pepe on striker Lionel Messi..... Yellow card given as he halted Messi's progress. Was that needed...??? 63: Real Madrid SUB: Sami Khedira ON Lassana Diarra OFF Smart substution by Mourinho as Diarra has already been booked.... he cannot afford to go down to ten men... 64: Xabi Alonso with a good ball to forward Cristiano Ronaldo..... he heads the ball.... WIDE!!! Poor header by the former Manchester United player... he could have equalised for Madrid. 66: Barcelona counter-attack.... Dani Alves with the ball at his feet... cross taken.... diving header from Fabregas.... GOAL!!! Surely that is game over for Madrid! 3-1. 69: Yellow card brandished to defender Sergio Ramos after a bad tackle on Lionel Messi.... 74: A great run by Alves...... who crosses the ball into the box for midfifielder Xavi...... header... JUST WIDE!!! 78: Barcelona SUB: Seydou Keita ON Cesc Fabregas OFF Fabregas has been on fire tonight... with a big contribution to Barca's link up play... Job well done.. 83: Barcelona SUB: David Villa ON Andres Sanchez OFF 84: Kaka with an effort on goal for Madrid..... GOOD SAVE!!! by Valdes... Corner to Real.... cleared away by the Barca defence. 88: Run by Barca's Iniesta.... pass to Alves but the pass is intercepted by full-back Pepe. 89: Barcelona SUB: Pedro ON Iniesta OFF 90: The offical signals three minutes of stoppage time to be added on. 90+3: The referee blows the whistle for full-time here. A huge result for Barcelona after going 1-0 down but what a disappointing night for Madrid. They made the dream start with Benzema opening the scoring in the 1st minute but failed to build on their slender lead and allowed Barcelona to come back at them and Barca showed why they are European champions and took all three points.  |
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