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      Juventus 1 Arsenal 1: Miedema nets as Gunners stay top of Champions League group by denying Juve a win in Turin

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      JONAS EIDEVALL praised Vivianne Miedema’s fighting spirit after Arsenal survived a scare against Joe Montemurro’s Juventus. Just as it looked as if the Gunners’ were in for another unfortunate night after their loss Manchester United, the striker netted to seal a 1-1 draw. 
      Vivianne Miedema ensured Arsenal shared the spoils with Juventus in their third Champions League Group C gameCredit: Getty
      The Arsenal striker netted a 61st-minute equaliser against JuveCredit: Getty
      Miedema’s second-half equaliser saw the WSL’s all-time top scorer net for the first time since bagging a brace against Tottenham at the Emirates in September. 
      Her goal on Thursday night came three weeks after she was granted time off for rest by club and country before the Gunners’ 4-0 defeat of Leicester on November 6. 
      The Netherlands star was also absent from her nation’s 2-0 and 4-0 friendly defeats of Denmark and Costa Rica. 
      Of Miedema being given time off for a recharge, Arsenal chief Eidevall said: “I think it’s always (about) striking the balance with freshness and having continuity in the training and playing.
      “You obviously need to strike that balance.”
      On the Arsenal ace’s first goal in the Champions League group stages, Eidevall added: “I’m very pleased with her goal. 
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      “You could see that Viv was really fighting hard today together with the team on the pitch and that’s what we need. 
      “You could see in tough moments in the game, where we kept thinking positively, we kept thinking about the next action, we kept thinking team first and that was really pleasing to see.”
      Arsenal, who have been battling with injuries with skipper Kim Little and Beth Mead, among their key players crocked, had the majority of shots on target.
      Stina Blackstenius was through on goal twice in the first half forcing a top drawer block from former Gunners goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in the 38th minute. 
      And Caitlin Foord forced another last ditch save earning a corner in the opening moments in the second half.
      But Eidevall’s side were caught with a counter-attacking sucker punch with Juve taking the lead at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
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      And they did so with a clinical finish from Miedema’s Netherlands team-mate Lineth Beereynsteyn who was put through by Cristiana Girelli. 
      But Arsenal, eager to ensure they did not fall to a second match loss in five days, hit back in the 61st minute. 
      Frida Maanum’s corner-kick found Miedema who headed home before Peyraud-Magnin denied Foord a dramatic late winner.
      The 1-1 finish ensures Arsenal remain top of Group C before their December 7 clash with Juve at the Emirates. 
      And it denied former Gunners’ boss Montemurro the chance to get one over his old club who hope to return to winning ways in the WSL against Everton next Saturday.
      Lineth Beerensteyn put Juventus 1-0 up in the 52nd minuteCredit: Getty More

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      Katie McCabe says Beth Mead injury is ‘a massive loss’ for Arsenal and pays tribute to former boss Joe Montemurro

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      KATIE MCCABE says Arsenal will do their utmost to support Beth Mead after admitting it was ‘devastating to see her sustain an ACL injury. The Gunners forward, 27 is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering damage to a knee ligament last Saturday. 
      Katie McCabe says Arsenal’s players are rallying around Beth Mead following her anterior cruciate ligament injuryCredit: Getty
      Arsenal are yet to confirm how long Mead will be sidelined as a result of her ACL injuryCredit: Reuters
      The WSL star, who won the Euros Golden Boot after helping the Lionesses win the tournament in July, was forced off by injury during Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United at the Emirates. 
      Her club, who play Juventus in Italy tonight, will also be without skipper Kim Little and forward Lina Hurtig. 
      The duo are also sidelined due to injuries along with defenders Leah Williamson and Rafaelle.
      The centre-backs are currently working their way back to fitness. 
      The Gunners hope to complete a hat-trick of Group D wins in their third Champions League group stage game.
      McCabe, 27, told reporters: “It’s devastating for (Beth) coming off the pitch with an injury like that. She’s been so important for us over the last few years. 
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      “The high she was on at the minute in terms of her personal achievements, having such a good Euros and a great start to the season for us.”
      Mead, who netted six goals at the Euros and finished as the WSL’s third highest scorer last season, has made an impressive start to this term. 
      The Arsenal star notched up three goals and four assists in seven top-flight appearances and a brace during the Gunners’ 5-1 demolition of Lyon in October.
      McCabe added: “She’s going to be a massive loss, but we’ve got a fantastic medical team at the club and they’ll be doing their utmost to try and get her back (to full fitness).
      “Beth has got great support in our team and we’ll be rallying around her for sure.”
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      Arsenal’s game against Juve will see the club’s players go up against former boss Joe Montemurro, 53, for the first time since he left the Gunners at the end of the 2020-21 season. 
      Since then the Australia-born head coach guided his side to a trophy treble with the club winning a Serie A title, the Italian Cup and the Italian Women’s Super Cup last season. 
      Juve, who reached the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League, are currently unbeaten across all competitions this term. 
      Under Montemurro they have gone eight games unbeaten at home in Europe this season.
      McCabe has made 100 appearances for the Gunners since her 2015 move from Irish side Shelbourne.
      And she credits her former Arsenal boss for believing in her talent during her early years at the club. 
      The Republic of Ireland star had at one stage considered leaving the WSL title chasers after a 2017 loan spell at Glasgow City. 
      However the Gunners offered her a contract extension and the versatile winger has flourished ever since. 
      Arsenal’s players are due take on a Juventus side managed by their former boss Joe MontemurroCredit: Getty
      McCabe added: “I’m looking forward to seeing him because I’ve not seen him in a while. 
      “I’ve got the utmost respect for Joe and how he helped me grow as a player within the Arsenal set-up when I came back from loan. 
      “He’s a big, big part of my career.” More

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      Emma Hayes praises Cuthbert’s commitment after Chelsea thwart Real Madrid in Europe before WSL duel with Leicester

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      ERIN CUTHBERT may not like it when fans say she ‘only scores bangers’. But her stunning effort helped Chelsea stay top of their Champions League group by overcoming a stubborn Real Madrid side.  
      Erin Cuthbert has notched up one goal and one assist in two Champions League appearances this termCredit: Getty
      Sophie Ingle opened the scoring for Chelsea as the Blues netted twice against Real Madrid at KingsmeadowCredit: Alamy
      It was a hardfought 2-0 result in a game at the WSL leaders’ Kingsmeadow home that until the 67th minute looked on course to end as a stalemate. 
      That was until Sophie Ingle broke the deadlock for the hosts before Cuthbert put the win beyond doubt with a Champions League goal of the season contender. 
      And Hayes believes the Scotland star’s strike is a fine example of her commitment to Chelsea’s cause with her side chasing their first trophy win in the tournament.
      Hayes, 46, whose aces take on Madrid in Spain next month, said: “I don’t think there was a blade of grass she didn’t cover. She was outstanding. 
      “There was a tenacity to her performance that we’ve all come to expect, but by signing her contract, for me that confirms her commitment to the club.”
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      Chelsea went close to opening the scoring in the first half with Niamh Charles’ cross causing problems for Madrid keeper Misa Rodriguez. 
      Just as it looked as if the duel would end as a scoreless draw, Ingle sparked fresh life into the game powering home a 67th-minute header following Cuthbert’s delivery and Millie Bright’s flick-on.
      And the Scotland ace doubled the Blues lead from the right touchline with her strike flying over Madrid keeper Rodriguez and into the back of the net.
      It was a hell of a finish that saw the WSL leaders, who play Leicester on December 3, notch up their first win against a Spanish club after seven attempts. 
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      And Hayes, who strengthened her ranks with some impressive summer signings including ex-Lyon centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan, believes this is the best team she has managed to date. 
      The Chelsea chief added: “I thought two years ago we had a decent amount of experience, but this team is on another level.
      “I’ve said it before, this is the best team I’ve had.”
      Emma Hayes and her Blues will play Leicester City in the top tier before a December 8 clash with Madrid in SpainCredit: PA More

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      Who is the Uruguay vs South Korea referee Clement Turpin at Word Cup 2022?

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      THERE will be a familiar face in the middle for Uruguay’s opening World Cup game against South Korea.Clement Turpin is a hugely experienced referee and was in charge for the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid last season.
      Turpin is only 39 but has over 10 years’ experienceCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Who is Clement Turpin?
      Turpin is one of the most experienced whistlers heading to this summer’s tournament.
      The Frenchman began in the National league in 2006, taking just two years to reach Ligue 1 and the highest rung in the domestic ladder.
      In 2010 he was given Fifa listed status, meaning he could branch out into Europe.
      Since then he has reffed in 2014 and 2018 World Cup qualifiers and was in the middle during Euro 2016 in his home country.
      Turpin was in the middle for last month’s Europa League finalCredit: PA
      You may recognise Turpin from the Europa League final in Gdansk last year, where he was ably assisted by Jérôme Brisard and Benjamin Pages.
      Those two assistants have worked with the Frenchman for years.
      Ahead of the 2021 match between Man Utd and Villarreal he said: “I feel very proud.
      “Not only for myself, but also for my assistants, who have accompanied me for a number of years, and for all referees in France.
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      “I never said to myself that I would referee a European final one day.
      “From the start, I preferred to set myself small targets and challenges along the way.
      “I’ve never had a particular role model as a referee, but I’ve watched other referees and taken little bits of what they do and incorporated them into my own refereeing.”
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      Millie Bright relishes Real Madrid battle and backs calls for more away ends in the Women’s Super League

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      MILLIE BRIGHT hopes to see more away ends in the women’s top tier following the intense atmosphere at Chelsea’s last game in Europe.And the Blues vice-captain, 29, is relishing taking on Caroline Weir for the first time since the Scotland star’s July move to Real Madrid.
      Millie Bright says away sections in women’s football are important for momentum in the gameCredit: Getty
      The fans of Albanian side Vllaznia created a raucous atmosphere when their team took on Chelsea at Kingsmeadow in OctoberCredit: Getty
      Tonight Chelsea will play their first Group A game against Real Madrid whose squad includes Caroline WeirCredit: Alamy
      Bright was speaking ahead of Chelsea’s first-ever Women’s Champions League group stage clash with Madrid this evening.
      The Group A game at Kingsmeadow comes four weeks after the Blues trounced Albania side Vllaznia 8-0 at the ground.
      Despite the score their opponents’ enthusiastic away fans provided raucous support throughout the encounter.
      The Albanian club’s fans had been allocated a section behind a goal at the Blues’ fortress which their supporters had pretty much filled.
      Bright said: “I think every player will agree that we want that in the women’s game.
      “It’s intense, but that’s what you want games to be like.
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      “It can change the game and can sway momentum for or against.
      “The fans enjoy it, and it shows what football in Europe is all about and we want to bring that to the WSL as well.”
      Uefa’s Women’s Champions League regulations stipulate that clubs competing in the competition should ‘make at least five per cent of the total capacity of their stadium available exclusively to visiting supporters in a segregated, safe area’.
      However, in the women’s domestic game in England, separate sections for away fans are not offered by all clubs.
      Some away visitors have had to set up accounts on the websites of the home teams their clubs are playing in order to buy tickets.
      And some visiting supporters have found themselves sitting with home fans rather than having the option of a designated section.
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      It is an issue that a number of supporters groups, including Manchester United Women’s Supporters Club, hope to see addressed with the introduction of away ends.
      On Saturday more than 1,000 Red Devils supporters were clustered in a section of the Emirates cheering their team’s 3-2 defeat of Arsenal in the league.
      Chelsea boss Emma Hayes and Ian Wright are among the leading figures in the sport who back the idea of away sections at WSL games.
      Hayes, 46, said: “It’s probably the thing I’ve screamed for the most, I’ve wanted the most.
      “I’ve always felt we have to separate into certain sections, it creates atmosphere. For fan safety, it has to be that.
      “Watching the Man Utd-vs-Arsenal game and seeing the Man Utd fans there in their numbers; this is what has to happen going forward.
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      “Everything that’s happening is a notch up from where the game has been.
      “I think that inevitably this time next year it won’t be a conversation we’re having because I imagine those things will be in place.”
      This evening will see Chelsea take on Real Madrid for the first time ever in the Champions League.
      The Liga F giants, currently third in Spain’s top tier, have lost just once in 12 games across all competitions this season when they fell to a 4-0 home defeat against Barcelona this month.
      Everybody knows Caroline’s technical ability and the magic that she can perform, but we’re just focusing on ourselves.Millie Bright on Caroline Weir
      Tonight’s game will see Weir, 27, in action against Chelsea for the first time since the Blues beat her former side Man City in the FA Cup final in May.
      Bright added: “She’s a wonderful player and she’s gone to a new level since she has been out there
      “Everybody knows her technical ability and the magic that she can perform, but equally, we’re just focusing on ourselves.
      “We know Real Madrid’s threats but equally, we know us and we’re just ready for the game.
      Weir has notched up four goals and three assists in seven games for Real Madrid in Spain’s top divisionCredit: Alamy
      “We’re expecting them to be aggressive with great energy and an attacking presence.
      “We’ve got to be switched on defensively. It’s going to be an interesting game.
      “I think it’s going to be a feisty (game) and certainly one that we’re ready for.”
      Chelsea vs Real Madrid can be watched live from 8:00 pm tonight on DAZN’s YouTube channel More

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      What is a semi-automatic offside and will it be used in the World Cup 2022?

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      OFFSIDE calls has been one of the major talking points at the winter World Cup in Qatar – but it’s not all down to the referees.FIFA have reportedly spent the last three years testing its semi-automatic offside tool.
      Referees can now get assistance from the semi-automatic VAR tool
      And it has now been in use at the 2022 World Cup on multiple occassions.
      But what is the semi-automatic offside tool?
      What is a semi-automatic offside?
      The semi-automatic offside tool is a piece of technology being introduced to make VAR decisions quicker and more accurate.
      It will be done by a system using computer tracker of 29 body parts of each player, combined with a microchip inside the ball.
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      This is expected to determine the positions of the players at the exact moment the ball has been played.
      So in the case of an offside situation, the video operations room will receive an automated alert alongside an automatic selected point and an instant drawn lines within seconds of the incident.
      Match officials will then have to validate the proposed selected kick point and the drawn offside line before VAR communicates the final decision on the pitch.
      Extra VAR officials will be in charge of calling offsides with the algorithm providing a 3D animation to explain a call in a average of 25 seconds.
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      And that illustration is then available on the giant screens within the stadium and for TV viewers to take a look at in the next stoppage of play.
      Has it been used in the World Cup?
      The 3D animation was deployed in the first match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.
      Enner Valencia’s opening strike was ruled out for offside within the first three minutes of the match.
      Argentina also saw THREE goals disallowed in their shock defeat to Saudi Arabia courtesy of the semi-automatic VAR.
      Where else has it been used?
      The semi-automatic offside technology was initially meant to be rolled out for the opening fixture of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
      However, UEFA have stolen a march on FIFA as it was deployed in the Super Cup fixture between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt.
      Karim Benzema’s goal was ruled out due to the semi-automatic VAR systemCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      And now, it has been revealed that they will use the new tool in this season’s Champions League.
      What has been said?
      FIFA’S head of refereeing mentioned that: “There is a talk of robot referees, it looks good but it’s not true. On-field referees will continue to be decisive.
      “Semi-automatic offside will only be used when a player who is offside touches the ball. If there is interreference in play, it will be the referee’s decision.”
      UEFA’S refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti also had a say and he believes that the semi-automatic offside technology will be beneficial to the match officials, players and fans.
      Rosetti said: “We are constantly looking for new technological solutions to improve the game and support the work of the referees. 
      “This innovative system will allow VAR teams to determine offside situations quickly and more accurately, enhancing the flow of the game and the consistency of the decisions. More

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      Pep Guardiola agrees new two-year deal with Man City that will keep him at the club until 2025

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has agreed to a new two-year deal at Manchester City that will keep him at the Etihad until 2025, according to reports.The Spaniard joined City in 2016 and in six years has won nine major trophies, including four Premier League titles.
      Guardiola has agreed a new two-year deal with CityCredit: AP
      City have also made a Champions League final under Guardiola, but they lost the 2021 all-English affair 1-0 to Chelsea.
      And they’ll have until 2025 to win their first European crown under the iconic manager, as, according to The Athletic, City have reached an agreement with Guardiola to extend his stay for another two years.
      The deal will be structured as an initial one-year deal, with both the club and manager holding an option for a further season. 
      That means either side can choose to part sooner if they wanted.
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      The structure is the same as the contract he signed in November 2020.
      His existing contract at the Etihad was set to expire at the end of this season.
      Guardiola is making back-to-back visits to Abu Dhabi, where owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak are based.
      He was in the Middle East over the weekend for the Grand Prix and will return again for a warm weather training camp with some of his squad early next month.
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      Guardiola, 51, said earlier this month that he considered it unlikely he will find a better club to manage than Manchester City.
      He said: “(Would I) stay in another place for seven years? No, I don’t think so. It is difficult to find what I have here as a manager.
      “To be a manager for a long time you need to be so supported. The results help a lot, that is undeniable. In this world they sack you, they fire you, we know that.
      “But, at big clubs, part of the success of the manager is the chairman, the sporting director especially, the CEOs and all the people here.
      “It goes to the media, fans and players. There is stability. This is why I think only in few clubs this can happen.”
      City are currently trailing Arsenal by five points in the Prem after 14 games played.
      Arsenal have lost just one game this season with the defeat coming against Manchester United. More

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      Mauricio Pochettino sensationally hints at taking Man Utd job from Erik ten Hag and reveals why summer move failed

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      MAURICIO POCHETTINO has hinted he could still become Manchester United manager.The Argentine, 50, was heavily linked with the job earlier this year, even before being sacked by Paris Saint-Germain.
      Pochettino missed out on the Man Utd job in the summerCredit: The Mega Agency
      Ten Hag has made a positive start to life at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
      But the role ended up going to Dutchman Ten Hag following his impressive spell at Ajax, with United handing him a three-year deal.
      And he has made a decent start to life at Old Trafford, with Man Utd heading into the World Cup break in fifth place in the Premier League.
      Yet that has not stopped Pochettino from speculating about eventually taking over in the future, insisting he did not in the summer due to the timing of the vacancy.
      Speaking about the Man Utd job in an interview with Radio Marca, he said: “Football is timing.
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      “It’s the moments for it to coincide and for that marriage to happen.
      “Sometimes it’s just a matter of timing. I don’t believe that trains pass just once.”
      Pochettino first arrived in the Premier League with Southampton in January 2013.
      In his first full season at St Mary’s, he guided the south coast side to an eighth place finish.
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      And his impressive impact saw Tottenham come calling as they hired him to succeed Tim Sherwood.
      Thus began a superb five-year stint at Spurs in which Pochettino helped Tottenham to qualify for the Champions League every year from 2016 to 2019 – including a second place finish in the Premier League.
      He also led them to the Champions League final in 2019, before they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
      Pochettino was then dismissed towards the end of 2019 after a run of poor results.
      After 14 months out of the game, Poch returned to football in January 2021, joining Paris Saint-Germain following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.
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      He missed out on the Ligue 1 title at the end of his first campaign as Lille were crowned French champions.
      Poch did manage to win the league last season, but that could not save him from being dismissed as PSG’s Champions League last 16 exit to Real Madrid ultimately cost him his job. More