Bale´s seven-year itch, Liverpool´s penalty streak – the Premier League weekend´s quirky facts

Friend earned 32 caps for Canada between 2003 and 2011 and the 39-year-old former forward, who is chief executive of Canadian Premier League team Pacific FC, marvelled at Davies impact.

It s unbelievable, Friend told Stats Perform News. I can certainly tell you sitting here in Canada, being part of the Canadian game currently with the Canadian Premier League which I m involved in and really trying to grow the game, what he s done singlehandedly as a Canadian player at his age, it s going to be very hard to repeat for any young Canadian.

If you told me a year-and-a-half ago that we were going to have a young Canadian winning the Champions League and starting, we all would ve laughed. His growth in the last couple of years has honestly been a joy to watch as a former nat…

David Martin said his father Alvin was in tears as the West Ham legend celebrated his son s Premier League debut in a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper made a string of crucial saves to help the Hammers end a seven-game winless streak and he admitted the experience of keeping a clean sheet in the top flight of English football was a surreal experience.

Martin, who previously represented teams such as Leicester City, Milton Keynes Dons and Millwall, joined the Hammers in June as cover for Lukasz Fabianski and Roberto.

His father Alvin, who captained West Ham to their highest-ever league finish in 1986, was in the stands at Stamford Bridge and David Martin revealed emotions were running high at the final whistle.

We we…

Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane has been advised to accept a move to Real Madrid, should such an opportunity arise in the near future, as relayed by .

The 27-year-old striker as a product of the Spurs academy, and having had a number of loan spells away from the club, he became a full-time member of the first team in 2013. He has so far scored 205 goals in 312 appearances for Spurs in all competitions, adding 44 assists into the mix as well.

But in all that time, he wasn t able to help his team win a major trophy. They came closest in 2019 when they reached the Champions League final, but ended up losing it to Liverpool.

And Jonathan Woodgate, who spent three years at Real Madrid as well as three years at Spurs, has told Kane he should swap north London for Ma…

Inter moved top of the Serie A table with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Fiorentina in Friday s clash at Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The Nerazzurri had failed to win at Fiorentina in the league in six attempts since 2014 but goals from Nicolo Barella and Ivan Perisic put an end to that run.

Barella s sublime opener after 31 minutes was added to by Perisic s close-range finish in the second half, but only after Giacomo Bonaventura had struck the crossbar for the mid-table hosts.

That proved enough as Inter, who were without suspended head coach Antonio Conte, moved a point above Milan having played a game more than their bitter rivals.

 0-2 

— Inter (@Inter_en)

An off-balance Barella was denied by a superb Bartlomiej Dragowski reaction ear…

FIFA has issued a criminal complaint over suspected criminal mismanagement in a museum project set up by the governing body s former president Sepp Blatter.

The complaint has been lodged with Zurich s cantonal prosecutor in relation to the Haus zur Enge  project following an investigation by external experts.

FIFA s complaint was made against Blatter, who resigned as president in 2015 amid a corruption scandal, and other persons in relation to activities relating to the agreements that were signed in relation to the facility .

Football s governing body say the project for the museum in downtown Zurich is set to cost them half a billion Swiss Francs that could and should have been channeled into the development of global football .

A FIFA statement said…

Market: Fenerbahce win

Odds: 2/5 @

Looking to extend on their recent purple patch in midweek, a high-flying Fenerbahce will welcome Antalyaspor to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Starting with the hosts, although Fenerbahce might need a real miracle in their bid to dethrone Galatasaray next month, the Yellow Canaries are enjoying an eye-catching flurry. Last seen putting in a thumping display as they booked their spot in the final of this season’s Turkish Cup thanks to a 3-0 aggregate romp against Sivasspor, Jorge Jesus’ men are riding a real wave of momentum. Despite suffering Europa League heartbreak at the hands of Spanish outfit Sevilla prior to March’s international break, the former Benfica boss has seen his squad come roaring back in…

Milan head coach Stefano Pioli claimed his side did not deserve to lose against Napoli, dismissing any suggestion the Rossoneri s fitness levels have dropped.

Napoli headed to San Siro having lost consecutive league games but were ahead inside five minutes when Eljif Elmas managed his first league goal since early November – Napoli scoring their quickest top-flight goal against Milan since November 2012.

Visiting goalkeeper David Ospina was rarely called upon in a somewhat sedate affair, though Franck Kessie saw a stoppage-time finish ruled out by VAR for offside against Olivier Giroud, who was on the floor in the build-up to the midfielder s opportunity.

Napoli held on for back-to-back league clean sheets against Milan for the first time since 2015, as Lucia…

Paulo Dybala is out of contract at Juventus at the end of this season.

The two parties are expected to resume talks next month.

In the meantime, some top clubs are monitoring Dybala s availability.

TOP STORY – LIVERPOOL IN FOR DYBALA MOVE

Liverpool have reached to Juventus with a move for Argentina international Dybala, claims Tuttomercatoweb.

The Reds are looking to capitalise on Dybala s contract situation although Manchester City and Inter are also interested in the 28-year-old.

Dybala has been with the Bianconeri since 2015 but is yet to agree terms on a new contract.

 Contacto Meunier: el lateral derecho que quiere Xavi Informa

— MARCA (@marca)

ROUND-UP

Marca reports that Barcelona…

Barcelona take on Girona in the Catalan derby this weekend and will be out to avenge their defeat from earlier this season as both sides battle for second place in LaLiga, says Xavi.

Girona won 4-2 in Barcelona when the teams met in December, which put Michel s side top of the standings.

Although Real Madrid now look set to win the title and Barca have moved into second, Xavi still wants payback against their neighbours in this away clash.

There is no challenge with Michel, but there is a challenge of revenge for the first half of the season, Barca boss Xavi said at his pre-match press conference.

They were very forceful, we didn t adjust well, we didn t defend well in the box. It s not a personal challenge but as a team.

Girona, the season s s…

According to a recent report from ESPN, Paris Saint-Germain are set to revive their interest in Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar.

The 27-year-old, who has been at the club since back in 2017 when he made the switch over from Sampdoria, has been an important figure for Inter ever since then with over 200 appearances to his name.

However, there’s been rampant speculation as of late that indicates his time in Italy may be coming to a close paving the way for something new in his career.

PSG haven’t been afraid to put out feelers in the past and given the resources they have at their disposal, they’d almost be foolish not to do so, because just about anyone could be tempted by their financial offerings.

Skriniar still has plenty of time left at the …