UEFA president Michel Platini expects Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho to be punished for his clash with Barcelona’s Tito Vilanova.

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The Argentine gave Pep Guardiola’s side the lead late in the first half and the club’s most recent signing opened his account to secure victory close to the end

Lionel Messi’s goal late in the first half and Cesc Fabregas’ slick volley gave Barcelona a 12th title under Pep Guardiola and a second already in 2011-12 as the Catalan outfit beat Porto in the Uefa Super Cup in Monaco on Friday evening.
Messi, named European Player of the Year at Uefa’s Champions League draw on Thursday, scored in the only competition in which he had previously failed to score after he latched on to Fredy Guarin’s shocking pass-back six minutes before the interval.

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Reigning champions Atletico Madrid were dumped out of the UEFA Europa League last night in the group stages. While, Champions League hopefulls, Manchester City secured top spot in Group A after drawing 1-1 with Juventus.

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UEFA Champions League winners from last season Inter Milan reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup after beating Asian Champions Seongnam Ilhwa 3-0. Pachuca beat Al Wahda on penalties to secure the 5th place in the competition.

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African champions TP Mazembe last night shocked their South American counterparts SC Internacional with a 2-0 win in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup. They will now play either Inter Milan or Seongnam in the final of the competition.

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"It is absurd to say that this is the best Barcelona team ever"…This was Pep Guardiola’s refuting statement when asked if he thought this was the best Barcelona team in history.

I wasn’t around when Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan, Alfredo Di Stefano led Real Madrid or for that matter Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona were dominating world football, but I can certainly say that in my era as a football fan, I have never seen any team play scintillating football week in and week out.

This influential style of Barcelona’s play dominance is the reward for years of hard work brought in by Barcelona’s former manager Cruyff and inherited by Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola. The team feeds on the rich chemistry amongst its players namely Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Busquets Puyol, Pique and Dani Alves.

And hence thinking about Dani Alves leaving for Manchester City makes my blood boil!

What goes on behind close doors is something we’ll have to wait for but certainly what are the bosses at FC Barcelona thinking? How can they afford to see Dani Alves leave?

The rift seems to be Dani Alves’ contract talks. Alves, 27, is out of contract in 2012 but wants a bumper pay hike. Talks have broken down several times with Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu warning that he would not break the wage structure of the squad.

I would love to see Barcelona improve his contract and put forth a worthwhile offer, not the crazy money Dani Alves wants something that would make him stay at the club.

On Dani’s part, I do not know how he could possibly want to leave a brilliant Barcelona side for Manchester City who cannot offer Champions League football with no guarantees next season either.

With no immediate replacement available if he does happen to leave this winter Barcelona would be the eventual losers. Fingers crossed he would be Barcelona colors in the years to come!

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and midfielder Emmanuel Eboue picked up injuries in their Champions League match against Braga.

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Uefa says it will study the match referee’s report before deciding to charge Real Madrid players Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos for appearing to get intentions red cards in their match against Ajax.

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Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he is to blame for Man United’s stuttering start to the season. He said his rotation of United’s line up had held his team back from achieving consistency.

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Chelsea needed a late winner from Florent Malouda to maintain their 100 percent record in the Champions League. But Ancelottic wasn’t impressed.

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