Real Madrid top “rich list”

Real Madrid have topped the league table of football’s richest clubs for the sixth successive year.

The Spanish giants became also became the first club to break through the €400million (£363m) barrier in a single year, according to Deloitte’s Football Money League.

Real’s arch rivals Barcelona have taken second spot in the list, ahead of Manchester United who fall to third.

Dan Jones, partner in the sports business group at Deloitte, said: “Real Madrid’s 10% increase in revenue to €401m (£342m) came despite a relatively disappointing season domestically and in Europe. Broadcast income provided Real with its largest increase in revenue and at €161m is now greater than the total revenue of all but the top 10 Money League clubs.

“Barcelona’s unprecedented on-pitch success, winning a domestic double and the Champions League, helped drive a revenue increase by €57m, the largest absolute increase of any Money League club, to €366m.”

Manchester United earned a total of €327m, marginally up from €324.8m last year.

The list, based on clubs’ revenue excluding transfer fees, also sees Arsenal overtake Chelsea with the Gunners recording a 7 per cent rise in revenue to £224m compared to their London rivals’ £206m – a 3 per cent fall in revenue.

Jones added: “Chelsea’s revenue has dropped because last season was a bit worse than usual on the pitch, they had frozen season ticket prices and there was not a lot going on in big new commercial developments.

“Arsenal have the advantage in matchday income with a new 60,000-seater stadium and they made the semi-finals of both the Champions League and the FA Cup.

“All the English clubs were impacted by the continuing depreciation of the pound against the euro and the scale of this is shown by the fact that if exchange rates remained at their June 2007 level, United would be top of the money league table.”

The top 20 was again dominated by Europe’s “big five” leagues, with five clubs coming from Germany, four from Italy and two each from France and Spain.

There are seven English sides in the list - Liverpool are seventh, Tottenham are 15th, Manchester City 19th and Newcastle 20th.

The Top 20

1 Real Madrid (Spain)

2 Barcelona (Spain)

3 Manchester United (England)

4 Bayern Munich (Germany)

5 Arsenal (England)

6 Chelsea (England)

7 Liverpool (England)

8 Juventus (Italy)

9 Internazionale (Italy)

10 AC Milan (Italy)

11 Hamburg (Germany)

12 AS Roma (Italy)

13 Lyon (France)

14 Marseille (France)

15 Tottenham Hotspur (England)

16 Schalke (Germany)

17 Werder Bremen (German)

18 Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

19 Manchester City (England)

20 Newcastle United (England)

Chelsea v Manchester City Preview

" What you looking at?"

All eyes will be on John Terry and Wayne Bridge at Stamford Bridge tommorrow lunch-time as Chelsea host Man City.

The pair will come up against each other  for the first time since allegations of an affair between the former England captian and Bridge’s ex-girlfriend surfaced.

Bridge declared himself as unavailble for England citing his postition as ” divisive and untenable” within the squad.

The major talking point will be the pre-match pleasantries with many speculating that Bridge will refuse to shake Terry’s hand.

Roberto Mancini’s men will have to reverse the form book if they are to even score at The Bridge. Paul Dickov was the last City player to manage that feat back in December 2000.

Team News:

Both sides will look to bounce back from midweek defeats with weakened line-ups.

The league leaders will be without goalkeeper Petr Cech after he tore a calf muscle in the San Siro with Portugese stopper Hilario is set to  deputise.

Frank Lampard will start after missing the last domestic game at Molineux while Yuri Zhirkov, Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien and Deco will all miss out.

The Sky Blues will be without suspended duo Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Adebayor both of which are serving bans for violent conduct.

However Carlos Tevez returns from compassionate leave after the premature birth of his daughter in Argentina.

Possible Starting Line-ups:

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hilario, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, Belletti, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba

Manchester Cty (4-5-1): Given, Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Zabaleta, Ireland, Bellamy, Tevez

One To Watch: Carlos Tevez

Sky Bet Odds: Chelsea 4/9 Draw 16/5 Man City 13/2

Detour Prediction: 2-0

Capello has selection headache

With injury to Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge’s withdrawl the door is wide open for English left backs to steal a march to this summers World Cup.

England manager Fabio Capello is casting a keen eye over left-backs Stephen Warnock, Leighton Baines and Joleon Lescott ahead of the World Cup.

After the news of Wayne Bridge making himself unavailabe for selection, promising left-backs all over the country are queuing up to impress Capello.

First choice Ashley Cole is crocked with a broken ankle and set to be out until Chelsea’s last game of the season against Wigan on 9th May. This will leave him with just a month to regain full fitness and rediscover the form that lead to him being touted as the best left back in the world.

Choices

There is no shortage of Englsih left-backs playing at the highest club level, the Premier League.

Stephen Warnock of high-flying Aston Villa is just one of the names to have been thrown into the equation. Warnock always had ambitons of representing his country and hopes to impress Capello in this Sundays Carling Cup final against Manchester United.

He said: “All I can do is concentrate on my form for Aston Villa and hopefully that is enough to impress the manager.

I always felt that if my form was good enough and if I could push Wayne Bridge as hard as I could I would be happy with that.

But obviously with the events that have unfolded, then possibly it opens the door and you never know what could happen.”

Leighton Baines, of Everton, is also eyeing a place in the squad yet isn’t getting too far ahead of himself.

He said: “We’re all aware Ashley Cole’s injury means there’s a space in the next few squads for a left-back.

It’s only right all of us will be thinking about the possibilities. If England comes along it would be fantastic, but I’m realistic enough to know there are other left-backs who are ahead of me’

Joleon Lescott can also fill in at left back if needs be.  The Manchester City player has played at left back before yet prefers, and suits, playing at centre back. Lescott has been struggling for fitness since joining the sky blues in the summer for £24 million but hopes to get back on track.

He said: “All I can do is work as hard as I possibly can in training and take my chance when it comes. With so much at stake here and the World Cup coming at the end of the season, I obviously want to be playing regularly.”

Bookies Favourite

It remains to be seen who will start at left back against the USA in Englands opening fixture, its Capello’s choice yet the bookies rarely get it wrong. SkyBet still have Ashley Cole as the favourite.

Ashley Cole: 1/3

Stephen Warnock: 6/1

Leighton Baines: 8/1

Joleon Lescott: 12/1

Mourinho has advantage going back to Stamford Bridge

Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan were able to edge his former side Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie last night. Read more

Makelele set for retirement

Veteran Paris St Germain midfieder Claude Makelele  has announced he plans to retire at the end of season.

Read more

Steve Bruce sets target for next two games

Sunderland Manager Steve Bruce has set his side a target of winning the next two games if they are to turn around this seasons terrible run of form. Read more

Everton v Manchester United Preview

Wayne Rooney returns to his first club in the form of his life.

Rooney who netted twice against Milan on Tuesday is hoping to fire Man Utd back to the top of the Premier League against the Toffees.

Once a Blue...

Rooney’s boss Sir Alex Ferguson has labelled tomorrow’s early kick off as a “massive game.”

United have an excellent record against Everton but the Scotsman knows the trip to Goodison Park will be tough: “The crowd are always very noisy and they will make that noise felt tomorrow.

He added: “But we have experienced that many times before.

“It is a massive game for us, we recognise that.”

Everton enter the game also in a rich vein of form after disposing of league leaders Chelsea last time out.

Ferguson said: “Beating Chelsea shows Everton’s potential, so if we could get one, a positive result would be very important.”

Team News

Sir Alex is set to name a similar line up to the one that started in the San Siro.

Rio Ferdinand and Nani will miss out due to suspension allowing Nemanja Vidic and Antonio Valencia to come in.

While Everton have suffered a fresh injury blow to captain Tim Cahill who limped off against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

His absence along with the news Marouane Fellaini will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury leaves David Moyes short in midfield.

However Steven Pienaar and John Heitinga both return after suspension.

Possible Starting Line-ups:

Everton (4-5-1): Howard, P.Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Arteta, Osman, Pienaar, Bilyaletdinov, Donovan, Saha

Man Utd (4-3-3): Van Der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Valencia, Park, Rooney

One to watch: Louis Saha

Sky Bet Odds: Everton 7/2 Draw 5/2 Man Utd 4/5

Prediction: 1-3

Sunderland defeat sets up Sunday showdown

Sunderland will face a battle for survival on Sunday after Portsmouth came from 1-0 down to win 3-1 at Fratton Park. Read more

Shearer’s return fails to inspire the Toon…so what now?

Like the arrival of Superman at a time of distress, Shearer’s coming to St. James’ park had given the Newcastle United fans hope, belief and a sense of relief.

If anyone deserved the managers job it had to be Shearer, the clubs most famous player and record goal scorer.

But unlike Superman, he does not fly, and more importantly, he does not have the ability to transmit his own prolific footballing skills into the Toon’s current players. Read more

Alan Shearer gets Toon job

Alan Shearer has been instated as Newcastle United’s part time manager for the remaining eight games of the Premier League season.

Shearer has accepted the Geordie faithfuls SOS call to save their club, his club, from the unbelievable fears of championship football.

Newcastle do have a major fight on their hands as they currently sit precariously in the relegation  zone. Read more

Next Page »