Bologna 1-1 Inter Seria A Italy -24hfootball.info

Inter had fortune on their side for the equaliser, which came six minutes into the second half. Jonathan's strike from inside the area was heading across goal before a touch off Frederik Sorensen diverted it past Gianluca Curci and into the net.

The home side made two changes from their 2-1 defeat against Atalanta, with Cesare Natali and Diego Perez named among the starting XI, with Inter-owned duo Diego Laxalt and Jose Crespo missing out.

Inter coach Walter Mazzarri was forced into two defensive alterations due to Andrea Ranocchia's suspension and Walter Samuel's thigh injury.

Hugo Campagnaro and Juan Jesus were the men chosen to replace them, with Mazzarri also without Cristian Chivu (foot), Mauro Icardi (hernia) and Diego Milito (thigh) due to injuries.

After a low-key start, the hosts went ahead against the run of play after 12 minutes following a succession of Inter corners.

Jonathan Cristaldo carried the ball down the right wing before calmly playing in Kone, who beat the helpless Handanovic with a neat finish from inside the penalty area.

Bologna had conceded an average of two goals a game in their opening 12 matches and Rodrigo Palacio almost capitalised on their defensive frailties two minutes later when he forced Curci into a smart save with his knees.

Palacio should have done better with his header from Juan's cross after 35 minutes as Inter got into their stride and the visitors wasted a golden opportunity to level two minutes before the break.

Both Saphir Taider and Alvaro Pereira failed to turn the ball home from tight angles after Curci failed to deal with Jonathan's teasing delivery.

Bologna were on the back foot and Fredy Guarin hit the crossbar with a free-kick with the final kick of the half.

It came as no surprise when Inter drew level six minutes into the second half courtesy of a Jonathanstrike that required a decisive deflection off Sorensen's boot to beat Curci.

It was Inter's 30th league goal the season and Guarin looked set to make that 31 but he could only shoot over from inside the area after 70 minutes.

Inter piled on the pressure as they went in search of a winner and Juan struck the crossbar with a left-foot strike in stoppage time, but Bologna secured a point which leaves them a point above the relegation zone.

Bale spoke to Beckham and Owen ahead of Real Madrid move

Gareth Bale has revealed he contacted David Beckham and Michael Owen for advice when completing his world-record move to Real Madrid.

The Wales international was involved in a protracted transfer saga this summer, with Los Blancoseventually spending a reported €100 million to lure him away from Tottenham.

And Bale has revealed that he spoke to the likes of Beckham and Owen, who both previously played for Real Madrid, as well as Steve McManaman and Jonathan Woodgate ahead of his move.

Asked if he had spoken to the former Madrid players, he told reporters: "All of them. David Beckham texted to wish me good luck and stuff. It was very nice and I appreciated it.

"He trained at Tottenham with me for a while, so I know him quite well anyway and it’s nice of him just to give a text and a call.

"I know Jonathan Woodgate from my time at Tottenham, so I speak to him now and again. I met Steve McManaman when I did an interview and we spoke for a bit.

"They have been in this situation as well. They give good words of advice, I take it on board and it’s helping me a lot out here."

The 24-year-old has also insisted that he has never discussed his transfer fee with current team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. 

"The amount that was paid is not ­something I think about. I just want to concentrate on the football," he said.

"The transfer fee or the money paid is nothing to do with me. I just want to be the best player I can be. There is no rivalry with Cristiano, nothing has been said about the fee at all. We get on very well and since day one he’s been amazing to me. He’s helped me a lot on and off the pitch.

"Cristiano has just given me encouragement in every game, given me confidence and he’s helped me along with his ­experiences when he first came. He’s been brilliant."

Livorno 0-2 Juventus

A goal each from Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez secured a comfortable 2-0 win for Juventus against Livorno on Sunday.

The home side battled bravely for an hour until the Spanish striker volleyed home from Paul Pogba's cross, before teeing up Tevez to drill home a second with fifteen minutes left to play.

The result sends defending champions Juventus to the summit for the time being, with unbeaten Roma not playing until Monday.

Antonio Conte's men have now kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league and are two points ahead of Rudi Garcia's charges.

Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, who had to gain Fifa clearance to play after pulling out of both of his country's recent friendlies, stepped into a makeshift Juventus defence, with Stephan Lichtsteiner, Andrea Barzagli and striker Sebastian Giovinco all out injured, while Leonardo Bonucci and Angelo Ogbonna were suspended.

Livorno made four changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Inter last time out, with Andrea Coda, Leandro Rinaudo, Leandro Greco and Innocent Emeghara coming in for Giuseppe Gemiti, Nahuel Valentini, Alfred Duncan and the suspended Paulinho.

After a quiet opening 20 minutes, Llorente had the visitors' first clear-cut opportunity, heading over the crossbar from a Simone Padoin cross.

Emeghara pulled the trigger from the edge of the penalty area at the other end five minutes later, but his effort was deflected high and wide for a corner.

Paul Pogba forced Livorno goalkeeper Francesco Bardi to tip over his crossbar on the half-hour mark with a powerful drive from 20 yards, but Juve were struggling to find their flow against a disciplined home defence.

And the hosts almost broke the deadlock three minutes later, but Emeghara's chipped attempt drifted wide of the target amid suspicions of offside.

Kwadwo Asamoah fancied his chances from distance, but the Ghanaian saw his effort pushed around the post by Bardi eight minutes before the interval.

Greco went into the referee's book after 53 minutes for simulation in the penalty area after a collision with Vidal, but replays suggested it was a harsh decision.

Juve went ahead in the 63rd minute as Llorente met a Pogba cross from the right to send a right-footed volley into the top right-hand corner of the net from the centre of the penalty area.

Tevez drilled just wide of the left-hand post as the visitors went in search of a second, but Livorno were holding firm as they clung onto the belief that they could still take something from the encounter.

However, Tevez killed off any lingering hopes that remained for the hosts as he fired home a low effort from 16 yards after good work in the area by Llorente, before Pogba struck the post in the dying minutes as Juve finished strongly.

Manchester City 6-0 Tottenham

The result means City maintain their unbeaten home record this season, also launching them into the top four.

The hosts opened the scoring after only 13 seconds through Jesus Navas, with a Sandro own goal and Sergio Aguero’s close-range strike leaving them comfortably ahead at the break.

A second from Aguero was followed by Alvaro Negredo's fifth in the league this season, before another Navas goal in injury-time heaped further humiliation on Tottenham.

The win moves City into fourth place in the table - ahead of Southampton on goal difference - while Tottenham drop two places to ninth.Andre Villas-Boas' side were barely able to test Costel Pantilimon in the City goal as a lacklustre performance added to the disappointment of their thumping defeat.

City made five changes to the side beaten by Sunderland before the international break, with Navas starting in the league for the first time since the Manchester derby in September.

Erik Lamela - one of six changes for Tottenham - was handed his first Premier League start for the visitors, with Hugo Lloris also returning to the starting line-up.

But the France international did not enjoy a good start to the game as City posted the joint-quickest goal of the Premier League campaign.

A poor clearance from Lloris went straight to Aguero 20 yards from goal and, although his shot was saved, the loose ball was met by Navas, who lofted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Lamela then nearly levelled as Spurs slowly began to settle into the game - but they were unable to turn their possession into goals and were caught out again in the 34th minute.

Fernandinho capitalised on another clearance from Lloris to release Samir Nasri on the left, before he in turn lifted the ball to Aguero.

The Argentinian’s effort was pushed away by Lloris but the ball dropped to Negredo, whose acrobatic follow-up found the net via deflections off Younes Kaboul and Sandro.

City extended their lead four minutes before the break as Navas fired a low cross into the six-yard box and Aguero slotted home from six yards.

And five minutes into the second half, Aguero doubled his tally with his 14th goal in 11 matches. Yaya Toure was the creator, powerfully brushing his way past Kyle Walker before rolling the ball square and leaving the Argentine the simple task of converting.

Negredo then made it five after an outrageous piece of skill saw him beat Michael Dawson on the edge of the penalty area.

The Spaniard flicked the ball through the defender's legs following a pass from Fernandinho and emphatically fired past Lloris.

Tottenham were unable to muster a reply and conceded a sixth in stoppage time when a raking long ball from substitute James Milner provided Navas with a one-on-one he coolly converted.

AC Milan 1-1 Genoa (24hfootball.info)

Genoa had Thomas Manfredini dismissed for a tug on Mario Balotelli nine minutes from the break, but the striker failed to take advantage with the resulting penalty as his tame effort was saved.

Milan have not tasted victory in Serie A since October 19, while Genoa are now unbeaten in four.

Balotelli returned to Milan’s attack after a suspension, with Daniele Bonera making his first appearance of the season, replacing Philippe Mexes, who was injured in the warm-up. The visitors brought Mario Sampirisi and Davide Biondini in for Juraj Kucka and Isaac Cofie.

Sulley Muntari had the opening chance of the match for Milan after just three minutes, forcing Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin to unconvincingly fumble the ball wide from distance.

And the hosts were ahead a minute later when Kaka brought the ball down superbly form a pin-point Nigel de Jong pass before slotting under Perin from eight yards.

But Genoa were handed the opportunity to level matters after eight minutes when Urby Emanuelson carelessly tripped Sime Vrsaljko in his own area to concede a penalty.

Former Milan striker Gilardino made no mistake with the spot, firing it straight down the middle as Christian Abbiati dived to his right.

Balotelli attempted a spectacular effort midway through the half, controlling the ball with his chest before firing an overhead kick straight at Perin, and the former Manchester City striker looked dangerous throughout the opening 45 minutes.

Genoa's Thomas Manfredini was given his marching orders for hauling the 23-year-old to the ground in the penalty area after 36 minutes, but Balotelli was left red-faced as Perin outfoxed him to save his effort down the middle.

The miss was Balotelli's second in his career from 12 yards, although both have come this season.

Milan adopted a patient style of play at the beginning of the second half, but clear-cut chances were few and far between before De Jong fired straight at Perin from 20 yards after 58 minutes.

As the hosts began to turn the screw, Milan drew two superb saves from Perin – the first a tip over the crossbar from an Alessandro Matri header and the second low dive to his right to deny Kaka.

Genoa were riding out the storm, but only just. Valter Birsa had an effort tipped around the post by Perin 10 minutes from time, before Kaka fired an effort narrowly over the crossbar.

With time rapidly running out, Birsa headed agonisingly wide of the target and Cristian Zapata scuffed wide as Genoa clung on for a hard-fought point.

Victory all that matters for Barcelona

Andreas Iniesta insists victory over Granada was all that mattered despite the Spaniard scoring his first league goal of the season in Barcelona's 4-0 win.

Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez and Pedro all scored in the rout on Saturday for a much-changed Barca side, who had Lionel Messi, Victor Valdes, Xavi and Jordi Alba among those out through injury.

And Spain international Iniesta stressed it was vital to continue winning ways despite the Blaugrana's injury problems. 

"We have to win our games. They are all the same. There is no room to relax or time for mistakes. The team did well," the 29-year-old told reporters after the match. 

"The team that came together has done enough in the end. The schedule is as it is and we have to be careful to be at our best.

"When we get to April or May then hopefully we will all be available so as to make the team stronger.

"The important thing today is not that I have scored [a first League goal of the season], but that we have left with a good feeling."

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

A strikerless West Ham side threatened to pierce the Chelsea defence with as much ease as such a description would suggest on Saturday evening, as the visitors came away from Upton Park as 3-0 victors following the day's closing Premier League encounter.Frank Lampard thundered in a 21st-minute penalty to open the scoring for Jose Mourinho's side, with his second goal, eight minutes before full-time, marking his fifth in as many appearances against his old club.

Those two strikes sandwiched Oscar's 34th-minute effort as Chelsea claimed their first Premier League win in three matches.

Lampard's penalty came after Guy Demel's underhit backpass let in Oscar, who was brought down by goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, before Oscar himself made it two with a low effort from the edge of the box.

Lampard doubled his tally late on, converting from the edge of the box after Jaaskelainen parried Eden Hazard's shot, leaving West Ham without a win in five league matches.

Both sides made one change from their previous outings a fortnight ago, Joey O'Brien replacing the injured Razvan Rat for the hosts, while John Obi Mikel came in for Willian in the Chelsea midfield.

After a scrappy start to the game, the visitors were gifted the lead midway through the half.

Under no pressure, Demel's weak backpass towards Jaaskelainen was seized upon by Oscar, who went to ground under the goalkeeper's sliding challenge, referee Chris Foy showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Lampard stepped up and smashed the kick high into the roof of the net to end his longest run without a league goal for Chelsea.

Thirteen minutes later Oscar tormented the hosts again, the Brazilian picking up Eden Hazard's clever flick before driving forward and rolling the ball into the bottom left-hand corner from 20 yards.

Jaaskelainen produced a fine save to deny Samuel Eto'o three minutes before the break, flying high to his left to parry the Cameroon international's curling shot behind.

Chelsea started the second half strongly, Gary Cahill seeing his header cleared off the line by Mark Noble in the 52nd minute before Oscar turned Cesar Azpilicueta's cross wide shortly afterwards.

The hosts ought to have reduced the deficit in the 64th minute when substitute Mohamed Diame jinked past three defenders on the byline before his deflected cross ran to fellow replacement Modibo Maiga, but the substitute turned the ball a foot wide of the post from six yards.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes, Hazard tested Jasskelainen from an angle and the rebound fell perfectly to Lampard who made no mistake with a first-time strike.

Demba Ba saw an injury-time goal chalked off for offside but the points were already in the bag for Chelsea, who move up to third in the Premier League, while West Ham are just one place above the relegation zone.

Borussia Dortmund 0-3 Bayern Munich

The midfielder – who made the switch to reigning champions Bayern for a €37 million fee in the close-season – came off the bench to light up a tepid encounter between the title rivals and break the deadlock before Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller added late goals to produce a scoreline that flattered the visitors. 

Both sides were missing key players for the fixture, with Dortmund particularly hindered with their regular back four all unavailable. 

In a first half bereft of chances, Robert Lewandowski, who was also linked with Bayern in the transfer window, wasted the best opportunity when he fired over from close range. 

Gotze's neat finish after 66 minutes finally brought the game to life before Robben and Muller also netted late on to extend Bayern's unbeaten Bundesliga record to 38 matches and open up a seven-point gap over Dortmund, last season's runners-up. 

Jurgen Klopp handed a debut to centre-back Manuel Friedrich with Dortmund's usual back four missing from the starting XI. Franck Ribery was absent with a rib injury for Bayern, while Gotze was only named as a substitute against his former club. 

Klopp's charges started brightly and Lewandowski should have hit the target when he fired his shot on the turn over the crossbar when unmarked in the area. 

The hosts continued to look lively and Marco Reus broke clear of the defence shortly before the half-hour mark and stung the palms of Manuel Neuer with a left-foot strike. 

Bayern had shown little going forward until good work on the left from Robben led to Mario Mandzukic's acrobatic effort being beaten away from Roman Weidenfeller. 

The same combination then nearly handed the away side the lead against the run of play on 38 minutes, but Mandzukic failed to make clean contact with Robben's teasing cross into the six-yard area. 

The first half came to an end in tempestuous circumstances as Mandzukic reacted angrily to a late challenge from Kevin Grosskreutz, with the latter lucky to avoid a red card when he appeared to aim a headbutt at the Croatian. 

Neither side was able to put their stamp on the second half, until Pep Guardiola introduced Gotze to a chorus of boos from the home fans. 

And the substitution paid dividends on 66 minutes when the Germany international controlled Thomas Muller's pass from the right and finished to the far corner with the outside of his boot to silence the jeers. 

Dortmund pressed for an equaliser with Henrikh Mkhitaryan firing wide from close range and Reus' low drive forcing a superb reflex save from Neuer. 

However, Bayern ended the game as a contest in the 85th minute when Robben broke clear of the Dortmund defence and applied a sublime chip over Weidenfeller. 

And there was further cause for Bayern celebration just two minutes later. Robben sprayed the ball to Philipp Lahm and his centre was turned home by Muller as Bayern secured their first triumph in Dortmund since 2009.

Barcelona 4-0 Granada

Barcelona cruised to victory against Granada without Lionel Messi to extend their winning run to five league games.

First-half penalties from Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas had Barca on cruise control before Lucas Alcaraz's men were reduced to 10 men following Manuel Iturra's second yellow card early in the second half.The Blaugrana took advantage of the extra man when Alexis Sanchez struck in the 71st minute and Pedro completed the rout a minute from time at Camp Nou, making light work of Messi's enforced absence.

Barca's victory was their fifth in succession and their 13th in 14 overall in La Liga, while the setback for Granada came as a blow after winning three of their past four matches.

Barcelona made six changes from the 4-1 win over Betis a fortnight ago with Messi (hamstring) and Valdes (calf) among a host of absentees for Martino, while Granada showed three alterations from their 3-1 win over Malaga.

The hosts went close in the 14th minute as Roberto reacted smartly to parry Neymar's free-kick from the left.

But Barca did not have to wait long for the breakthrough as six minutes later Fabregas was brought down in the box by Dimitri Foulquier and Iniesta stepped up to plant the subsequent spot-kick into the bottom right-hand corner.

Granada almost responded in spectacular fashion four minutes later, Piti driving forward and unleashing a thunderous effort from 25 yards that cannoned off the crossbar and behind to safety.

Jose Pinto, called in as replacement for Valdes, held Piti's 25-yard free-kick on the half-hour mark, before Barca doubled their lead five minutes before the break, again from the penalty spot.

Fran Rico brought down Iniesta as he prepared to shoot and this time Fabregas took responsibility, burying his spot-kick high into the top left-hand corner.

Five minutes into the second half, Pedro wasted a glorious chance to put the result beyond doubt, blazing the ball over from 10 yards with the goal gaping after Roberto had palmed a low cross into his path.

But the Barca winger would continue to frustate the visitors and his run was abruptly halted by Iturra just after the hour mark, which earned the midfielder a second yellow having already been booked in the first half.

Despite being reduced to 10 Granada's Allan Nyom should have halved the deficit moments before Barca's third, drilling the ball straight at Pinto from close range.

And it was to prove costly as the hosts broke at speed with Neymar sliding a pass for Alexis to finish with minimum fuss.

In the final minute, Fabregas countered down the left and squared for Pedro, who slid in to convert from eight yards to cap another impressive Barcelona performance.

Arsenal 2-0 Southampton

Arsenal got back on track with a 2-0 win against Southampton, with goalkeeper Artur Boruc entering into the spirit of pantomime season at the Emirates Stadium.

Following their dispiriting defeat to Manchester United before the international break, Arsene Wenger's Premier League leaders started brightly against their high-flying opponents, with Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey both hitting the post.They led midway through the first half when Olivier Giroud capitalised on an inexplicable error from Boruc, who tried to dribble past the France international only to get himself in an awful tangle.

An impressive collective response was typical of a Southampton side who remain third in the table - for the time being - but Giroud completed his brace and made it 10 goals for the season from the penalty spot after Jose Fonte pulled back Per Mertesacker at an 85th-minute corner.

Southampton were dealt a blow ahead of kick-off, which was delayed by 15 minutes due to disruption on the Piccadilly line, with news that centre-back Dejan Lovren was ruled out due to illness. Jos Hooiveld came in for his first Premier League appearance of the season.

Theo Walcott returned to the Arsenal bench following two months out with an abdominal injury, while Mertesacker was back at the heart of defence following his midweek goalscoring heroics for Germany at Wembley.

Wilshere replaced the suspended Mathieu Flamini in midfield and almost opened the scoring after 10 minutes when his deft, lofted effort bounced back off the post and into Boruc's grateful arms.

The same upright was tested via Ramsey's audacious backheel from Mesut Ozil's cross - but Boruc's post could not save him after a moment of madness in the 22nd minute.

Upon receiving a routine backpass from Nathaniel Clyne, he loitered terribly before an embarrassing attempt to turn Giroud resulted in the Frenchman stroking the ball into an unguarded net.

Southampton forced Wojciech Szczesny into his first save of the match after 32 minutes when Mikel Arteta miscued a clearance and Adam Lallana's speculative left-footer was pushed over. The Arsenal goalkeeper then reacted superbly to thwart Jay Rodriguez's snap shot.

Luke Shaw struggled through much of the first half with a leg problem and was replaced by Steven Davis, with James Ward-Prowse reverting to right-back and Clyne filling Southampton's vacant left-back slot.

The reshuffle did not interrupt the visitors' momentum as they resumed brightly and Lallana thudded a drive into Szczesny's chest, meaning eyebrows were raised when the same player made way for Dani Osvaldo in the 52nd minute.

Having laboured under Southampton's trademark high press, Arsenal responded impressively and Ozil cleverly engineered space in the area to test Boruc at his near post.

Osvaldo called Szczesny into action at the end of a driving 74th minute run at the other end.

Walcott was afforded a rapturous reception on his introduction and might have given Arsenal breathing space when he fired wide on the break before Giroud ensured a four-point lead at the summit with his composed spot-kick.

Stoke 2-0 Sunderland

Charlie Adam was in the thick of the action in the first half, opening the scoring on the half-hour mark before being involved in the incident that saw Wes Brown sent off nine minutes before half-time.

Brown was adjudged to have recklessly tackled the former Liverpool midfielder and was given his marching orders. 

Steven N'Zonzi, having set up the opener, doubled Stoke's lead nine minutes from the end as Mark Hughes' men made the most of their numerical advantage to record a first Premier League win since the end of August.

The result moves Stoke three points clear of the relegation places and drops Sunderland to bottom.

Hughes made one change to his Stoke starting line-up, with Glenn Whelan coming in for Wilson Palacios, while Sunderland manager Gus Poyet named an unchanged team from the one that garnered a 1-0 win over Manchester City prior to the international break.

It was Sunderland who were first to find their rhythm. Adam Johnson and Emanuele Giaccherini combined to set up Jack Colback, whose shot was blocked, before Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic brilliantly denied Steven Fletcher from a one-on-one opportunity.

Despite the clever passing of Adam and some neat touches from Peter Crouch, Stoke struggled to create a meaningful chance until breaking the deadlock after half an hour.

N'Zonzi raced on to Geoff Cameron's long punt forward, held it up and stroked the ball back to the onrushing Adam, who stroked into the bottom corner from just inside the box for his third goal of the season.

Things got considerably worse for Sunderland on 35 minutes when Brown appeared to have made a fair sliding challenge on Adam, but referee Kevin Friend adjudged that the 34-year-old defender had dangerously fouled the Scot in the process and sent him off.

Stoke enjoyed much of the possession at the start of the second half.

However, both Jonathan Walters and Crouch failed to connect with an inviting Cameron cross, before Adam burst through the midfield but failed to keep his shot down.

Johnson found space on the edge of the opposition box on 70 minutes, but the winger, who scored a fine strike for Manchester City against Stoke in the 2011-12 season, dragged his shot wide.

Begovic had to be alert to race from his line and, with an outstretched leg, clear the ball ahead of the advances of Fletcher. The Bosnia-Herzegovina international caught the Scotland striker in the process, but Sunderland’s appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Sunderland were enjoying a good spell of pressure, but were hit on the counter-attack with nine minutes remaining. Adam fed Couch, who slid the ball between two defenders for N'Zonzi to clip it homeand become Stoke's 10th scorer in the Premier League this season.

Most of my grey hair is from this week

Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp says "80 per cent of his grey" hair was caused by how his side's injury crisis worsened ahead of Saturday's clash with Bayern Munich.

The German giants saw Mats Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer pick up injuries on international duty to leave them without any of their first-choice defenders.

And Klopp has spoken of the grief that this week has caused him, while dismissing Bayern's own injury worries, with Franck Ribery missing out thanks to a rib problem.

“I've picked up 80 per cent of my grey hairs this week,” the 46-year-old joked at a press conference.

“The situation is not great, especially when one is in such a phase with eight games left until Christmas. But we already had a little time to get used to the idea.

"Well, you have to say that every single team in this world would miss a Franck Ribery, no doubt about that.

"On the other hand, the replacement might be Mario Gotze, plus [Thomas] Muller and [Arjen] Robben on his side. Then they have [Mario] Mandzukic, Toni Kroos and so on and so forth. The problems Bayern have are bearable.

"Franck Ribery is an outstanding player who is going to be replaced by another outstanding player."

Klopp was reluctant to discuss his plans for restructuring his line-up to compensate for the absences, instead imploring his team to give their all on the pitch in order to challenge Bayern on Saturday.

"I have complex considerations. But I did not intend you to communicate the ideas,” he noted.

“We will have to play an exceptional game to put the opponent in out of the way before problems arise."

I'll be back to normal soon

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is confident that he will be back firing on all cylinders upon his return from a thigh injury that is set to keep him sidelined until 2014.

The Argentine superstar was ruled out for the rest of 2013 with a hamstring tear – his fourth muscular injury of the calendar year – but pledged to remain calm throughout the process, despite itching to get back to action.

“I’m calm because I know this is a normal injury but it’s hard to be out of the field until January,” he said to the Perros de la Calle programme on Metro. “However, I know that I’ll return and I’ll play as usual.”

With the World Cup less than eight months away, Messi talked up Argentina’s chances of taking the spoils in Brazil, where he feels that the team is due for a reversal in fortunes after disappointments in their last few outings in major international tournaments.

“The candidates [for the 2014 World Cup] are always the same: Germany, Brazil, Spain, France, despite the play-off, and Argentina too, obviously,” he continued.

“Argentina are always a candidate, despite how it reaches the World Cup and moreover now with the makeup of the team. We have time until the World Cup begins and I think we’ll improve and we’ll grow up as a team.”

“We’ve played the Copa America [2011] and World Cups [2006, 2010] without reaching the objectives we wanted to, and qualification for South Africa [in 2010] was really hard for us.

“However, this World Cup qualification has been really different and we’ve qualified before the end of the competition. That brought people close to the team.”

I want to make history at Napoli

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain is aiming to “make history” with his new club following his good form since his big-money move from Real Madrid in July.

The Argentine striker was signed for a fee of €37 million to replace Paris Saint-Germain-bound Edinson Cavani and has hit the ground running at San Paolo, with eight goals in his first 14 games for the club.

And with Napoli only four points off Serie A leaders Roma in third and in contention to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League, Higuain believes that the time has come to get the Partenopeiback to the top of the football landscape.

“I’m here to win and make history for the club,” he said at a press conference. “We are not yet top, but I’m sure that we will get there soon. I’ve come to Naples for the project.”

The 25-year-old also took time to praise coach Rafa Benitez and the Napoli fans, who he felt gave him the motivation to challenge for honours.

“The coach gives me confidence and I find it good to play on this team,” he continued.

“It’s [also] great to play for the fans, who live football. I’m very happy, and I have to think about doing as well as I did before to make our fans happy.”

Napoli host Parma on Saturday in the league, before traveling to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, where a point could see them qualify for the round of 16.

While Higuain understands that both games are crucial to the club’s push for silverware, he maintains his belief that he should take each fixture one game at a time.

“We think about Parma first, where we have to win to stay [in contention] for first place, then we will focus on the challenge of Dortmund, which is very important.

"It is true that the championship is long, but we need to win so that we go to Dortmund with hope.”

The striker concluded by reassuring fans about his physical condition, despite suspicions of injury and fatigue after exertions in the United States midweek on international duty with Argentina.

“We have made a long journey for many hours and are a little tired, we even played in a no-good pitch [versus Ecuador]. We are, however, always available to the coach. My foot problems are also better now, it seems okay.”