Infostrada Live

REVIEW: Ibrahimovic sets personal best

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:01:40 +0200

FOOTBALL - Paris Saint-Germain beat Stade Brest 3-2 on Saturday. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice and has now scored 29 goals this Ligue 1 season. Ibrahimovic is first player in 23 years to reach 29 league goals in the French top flight.

In 1989/90, Jean-Pierre Papin was the last to achieve this feat, when he totalled 30 goals for Olympique Marseille that season.
The last non-Frenchman to reach 29 goals in the France top flight is Delio Onnis in 31 years ago, when he scored 29 as an Argentinian playing for FC Tours (1981/82).
Ibrahimovic is the third Swede to score 29+ goals in a French top flight season following Gunnar Andersson in 1951/52 (31) and 1952/53 (35) and Egon Jönsson in 1956/57 (29).
The last player to score 29+ goals for PSG in a single top flight season in Carlos Bianchi in 1977/78 (37 goals.
Ibrahimovic has never before scored that many league goals in one season.
Last season, he scored 28 Serie A goals for AC Milan, which was a new personal best for the Swede in that league season.

PREVIEW: Nadal facing Federer in Rome final

Sat, 18 May 2013 22:08:48 +0200

TENNIS - Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both reached the final in the ATP Masters Series in Rome on Saturday. Nadal has reached the final in Rome for a record eighth time.

Nadal can beat Federer for a record 20th time in ATP men’s singles matches. Nadal is also on 19 wins against Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer.

This is Nadal’s 35th Master Series final. Federer will play his 34th. Novak Djokovic is closest by these players on 24 finals.

Nadal has won 23 Masters Series tournaments, Federer is on 21 wins. Andre Agassi is closest by with 17 wins.

REVIEW: Atlético trump Real in Copa final and trophies

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:54:01 +0200

FOOTBALL - Atlético Madrid stunned crosstown rivals Real Madrid 2-1 in extra time in winning their 10th Copa del Rey in club history. They also trumped Real in another aspect. Since José Mourinho’s arrival in Madrid in the summer of 2010, Atlético Madrid have won four major trophies against Real Madrid’s three.

REVIEW: Cristiano Ronaldo scores in another Copa final

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:13:04 +0200

FOOTBALL - According to our statistics friend @2010MisterChip Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the following Real Madrid players by scoring in at least two Copa del Rey finals: Prast, Sánchez Neyra, Lazcano, Hilario, Pruden, Puskás, Pirri and Santillana

TWITTER QUIZ: Friday, 17 May

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:01:00 +0200

FOOTBALL - Today’s question: QUIZ - Which is the only country to have won two penalty shooutouts in the same FIFA World Cup?

Today’s answer: Argentina

Association quiz answer: Mario Kempes was born in 1954 in Argentina. His clubs included Valencia CF and River Plate. He was the top scorer at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Points earned in today’s quiz:

5 - @G_o_s_h_a

4 - @evadl

3 - @sportzeloot

2 - @Sportnerd

1 - @iHermaan

Weekly final standings:

@sportzeloot wins via tiebreaker, having provided the quicker association quiz answer (14 May 14:09 vs 14 May 14:27)

29 - @sportzeloot (8 bonus points via association quiz)

29 - @G_o_s_h_a (8 bonus points via association quiz)

18 - @poirot986 (6 bonus points via association quiz)

14 - @evadl (6 bonus points via association quiz)

9 - @babeljaro (8 bonus points via association quiz)

8 - @Marie-Thérèse (8 bonus points via association quiz)

6 - @CoquelinFrancis (6 bonus points via association quiz)

6 - @DimJeTong (6 bonus points via association quiz)

6 - @Yusuf_Official (4 bonus points via association quiz)

4 - @matuts22 (4 bonus points via association quiz)

3 - @LEENxVVAC

2 - @RJStroo

2 - @Sportnerd

1 - @DjeehanParma

1 - @planetcycling

1 - @iHermaan

TWITTER QUIZ: Thursday, 16 May

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:58 +0200

FOOTBALL - Today’s question: QUIZ - Which team has featured in four Copa Libertadores finals, each time in a year ending in ‘6’ (as in, for example, ‘2016’)?

Today’s answer: River Plate

Want to guess the association? Click this Link.

Points earned in today’s quiz:

5 - @G_o_s_h_a

4 - @sportzeloot

3 - @poirot986

2 - @Yusuf_Official

1 - @babeljaro

Weekly standings:

18 - @sportzeloot

16 - @G_o_s_h_a

12 - @poirot986

4 - @evadl

3 - @LEENxVVAC

2 - @RJStroo

2 - @Yusuf_Official

1 - @DjeehanParma

1 - @planetcycling

1 - @babeljaro

TWITTER QUIZ: Wednesday, 15 May

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:01:00 +0200

FOOTBALL - Today’s question: QUIZ - Argentine born goalkeeper Ramón Quiroga once famously conceded six goals in a World Cup match in which year?

Today’s answer: 1978

Want to guess the association? Click this Link.

Points earned in today’s quiz:

5 - @sportzeloot

4 - @poirot986

3 - @LEENxVVAC

2 - @G_o_s_h_a

1 - @evadl

Weekly standings:

14 - @sportzeloot

11 - @G_o_s_h_a

9 - @poirot986

4 - @evadl

3 - @LEENxVVAC

2 - @RJStroo

1 - @DjeehanParma

1 - @planetcycling

BREAKING: Longest Bundesliga coaching stint ends

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:52:06 +0200

FOOTBALL - Thomas Schaaf will step down at Werder Bremen following the 2012/2013 season, his 15th in succession at the club. When he embarked on the current campaign Schaaf broke the Bundesliga record of 14 consecutive seasons in charge of the same club. That record was held by Otto Rehhagel (1981-1995), remarkably enough also at Werder Bremen.

TWITTER QUIZ: Tuesday, 14 May

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:01:11 +0200

FOOTBALL - Today’s question: QUIZ - In which year did ‘Das Wunder von Bern’ take place at the Wankdorf Stadion?

Today’s answer: 1954

Want to guess the association? Click this Link.

Points earned in today’s quiz:

5 - @sportzeloot

4 - @G_o_s_h_a

3 - @poirot986

2 - @RJStroo

1 - @planetcycling

Weekly standings:

9 - @G_o_s_h_a

9 - @sportzeloot

5 - @poirot986

3 - @evadl

2 - @RJStroo

1 - @DjeehanParma

1 - @planetcycling

ANALYSE THIS: Wigan’s ‘great escape’ was exception rather than rule

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:32:00 +0200

FOOTBALL - FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic travel to Arsenal on Tuesday probably needing to win their last two matches to have any hope of survival in this year’s Premier League. There has been some media focus on their finish to last season’s competition but that run of five wins in their last six matches was an extremely rare occurrence for the club during their eight Premier League seasons.

Summing up the points per six matches for the whole of Wigan’s stay in the Premier League reveals that they average 6.57 for every six match sequence. The five wins in six matches recorded at the end of last season was one of three periods in eight seasons in which the club have produced a significantly better run of results than their average. They have also had three periods during those eight seasons in which a significantly poorer run than average was recorded. These can be seen in the graphic below, or by clicking on the link to see the full version:

Click here to see the full size version of the graphic

The three periods of good form for Wigan Athletic show no pattern with one near the beginning of the season, one in the middle and one at the end. Last season’s final six matches were also not the best run that Wigan have had in the Premier League. The club recorded six successive victories back in October and November 2005, their first season in the top flight. During that six match run, Wigan played only teams outside the eventual Premier League top six that season. Last season’s run was more spectacular though as it contained victories against three of the eventual top five including Manchester United and at Tuesday’s opponents Arsenal.

This season, Wigan have never recorded more than 10 points from any six match sequence, something that has only happened in one of their other seven Premier League campaigns. That was back in 2009/2010 when Wigan took 36 points, avoiding relegation because three teams failed to amass more than 30. That total of 36 is their lowest in the Premier League but they are currently below even that and will need to win both of their remaining fixtures to survive.

TWITTER QUIZ: Monday, 13 May

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:01:00 +0200

FOOTBALL - Today’s question: QUIZ - Rafael Benítez won his first major European cup competition as a coach of which team?

Today’s answer: Valencia CF

Want to guess the association? Click this Link.

Points earned in today’s quiz:

5 - @G_o_s_h_a

4 - @sportzeloot

3 - @evadl

2 - @poirot986

1 - @DjeehanParma

Weekly standings:

5 - @G_o_s_h_a

4 - @sportzeloot

3 - @evadl

2 - @poirot986

1 - @DjeehanParma

ANALYSE THIS: Newcastle United on target for one of biggest declines

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:01:07 +0200

FOOTBALL – After 36 matches of this Premier League season, Newcastle United have taken 25 points fewer than they did from the same 36 fixtures last season when they finished fifth. Declining so much from one season to the next is relatively rare and has only occurred 15 times in the past 31 seasons and just once since 1995/1996.

Perhaps not surprisingly, eight of the clubs whose points total declined so much were relegated that season. The other seven had all finished in the top five the previous season but this is not necessarily enough as Ipswich Town found in 2001/2002 when they went down a season after finishing fifth.

If Newcastle United join this group at the end of the season, they will be the third team, after Leeds United and Ipswich Town, to have suffered such a decline more than once. The Magpies were relegated 24 years ago, a season after finishing eighth in Division One with 56 points. Their decline of 25 points left them bottom of the league a season later.

In a week where the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson has made big news, one further point arises from the table below. Manchester United’s points total fell from 81 to 51 in Ferguson’s second full season in charge. A season later, United dropped a further three points and two more places to 13th on 48 points. At that moment, Ferguson had won nothing at United although the 1990 FA Cup was won a week later. In 1991, United rose to sixth position and they never again finished outside the top three in the subsequent 22 seasons.

REVIEW: FC Barcelona claim 22nd La Liga title

Sun, 12 May 2013 00:09:27 +0200

FOOTBALL - By holding Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw, RCD Espanyol have helped city rivals FC Barcelona to their 22nd La Liga title and their fourth in the last five seasons. Spanish league titles since La Masia, FC Barcelona’s youth academy, reopened in 1979: Real Madrid (13), FC Barcelona (13), others all less than three.

PREVIEW: Portugal awaits battle of the undefeated teams

Sat, 11 May 2013 20:50:38 +0200

FOOTBALL - On Saturday, the penultimate matchday of the 2012/2013 Portuguese Liga Sagres season features the top two ranked teams, FC Porto and Benfica, who are both still undefeated, facing each other. Should this match be drawn, it becomes very likely that FC Porto complete an undefeated season and miss out on the championship. This has occurred once in the Portuguese top flight. In 1977/1978 undefeated Benfica came second.

REVIEW: FA Cup winners Wigan not yet safe in league

Sat, 11 May 2013 20:34:02 +0200

FOOTBALL - Wigan Athletic have won the 2012/2013 FA Cup. They are still not safe from relegation in the Premier League. No top flight club has ever won the FA Cup final and been relegated in the same season.

REVIEW: British continue recent domination of time trials

Sat, 11 May 2013 19:31:23 +0200

CYCLING - Alex Dowsett and Sir Bradley Wiggins finished first and second respectively in Saturday’s individual time trial in the Giro d’Italia. Before July 2012, British riders had never recorded 1-2 finishes in individual time trials in Grand Tours. Now, this feat has been achieved three times in the last 10 months.

REVIEW: Lampard becomes Blues' all-time top scorer

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:30:14 +0200

FOOTBALL - Frank Lampard scored twicetoday to become the outright highest ever goalscorer in Chelsea’s history with 203 goals, moving one ahead of Bobby Tambling (202). Lampard scored his 164^th and 165^th PL goals – the outright-fourth most of any player in the PL era. Lampard scored his 12^th and 13^th PL goals against Aston Villa – more against them than any other team he has faced in his career.

ANALYSE THIS: Chelsea nearly there, Arsenal to join them?

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:15:24 +0200

FOOTBALL – A further fortnight has passed since we last looked at the race for the Champions League places in England and Chelsea and Arsenal are still in pole position. Chelsea’s chance has strengthened and they are almost there whilst Arsenal’s chance of a top four spot has increased slightly. Tottenham Hotspur are still the outsiders.

Our predictive model, the Euro Club Index now gives Chelsea a 96% chance of a place in next season’s Champions League. The probability of Arsenal joining them has increased marginally from 73% to 75%. It is Tottenham Hotspur whose chances have suffered dropping from 53% two weeks ago to 29% now.

In terms of six match form, Chelsea are having their best period since mid-January which is why their position has strengthened. Tottenham Hotspur’s form still lags behind the other two as can be seen in the graphic below:

Click here to see the full size version

TWITTER QUIZ: Friday, 10 May

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:01:00 +0200

FOOTBALL - Today’s question: QUIZ - Which country finished in fourth and third place respectively in its first two appearances at the FIFA World Cup?

Today’s answer: Austria

Association quiz answer: Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Vonlanthen, Otto Baric, Thomas Linke and Austria can all be associated with Red Bull Salzburg.

Points earned in today’s quiz:

5 - @sportzeloot

4 - @poirot986

3 - @evadl

2 - @Yusuf_Official

1 - @babeljaro

Weekly final standings:

28- @sportzeloot (8 bonus points via association quiz)

18 - @poirot986 (6 bonus points via association quiz)

10 - @evadl (4 bonus points via association quiz)

10 - @G_o_s_h_a

9 - @babeljaro (8 bonus points via association quiz)

8 - @DimJeTong (8 bonus points via association quiz)

8 - @Tijmenl (8 bonus points via association quiz)

8 - @Marie-Thérèse (8 bonus points via association quiz)

8 - @Yusuf_Official (6 bonus points via association quiz)

5 - @StuartOHara83

4 - @JeremyInson

3 - @benny_berger

2 - @Tijmenl

2 - @michielschrijft

2 - @jaymingupta

2 - @Sachk0

1 - @HCE__

1 - @_TheLibero

1 - @MemetcanKutlay

1 - @lupin5

TWITTER QUIZ: Thursday, 9 May

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:01:04 +0200

FOOTBALL - Today’s question: QUIZ - Which player won a UEFA Cup with one team before winning 5 Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with Bayern München?

Today’s answer: Thomas Linke

Want to guess the association? Click this Link.

Points earned in today’s quiz:

5 - @StuartOHara83

4 - @JeremyInson

3 - @benny_berger

2 - @Sachk0

1 - @lupin5

Weekly standings:

15 - @sportzeloot

10 - @G_o_s_h_a

8 - @poirot986

5 - @StuartOHara83

4 - @JeremyInson

3 - @evadl

3 - @benny_berger

2 - @Tijmenl

2 - @michielschrijft

2 - @jaymingupta

2 - @Sachk0

1 - @HCE__

1 - @_TheLibero

1 - @MemetcanKutlay

1 - @lupin5