Fenerbahçe's interested in move to Spartak Moskva

Though unsubstantiated by either club or player, various news agencies are noting Fenerbahçe attacking virtuoso, Alex(de Souza), is jockeying for a spot with Spartak Moskva. As noted in Russia media outlet Sports Express, the thirty-two year-old midfielder who joined the Turkish side in 2005 after stops with Coritiba, Palmeiras, Flamengo, Parma and Cruzeiro in his native Brazil, is said to be anxious to join countrymen Ibson, Alex and Welliton in Valery Karpin's attack.

Vágner Love strikes for three as CSKA Moscow is perfect

CSKA Moscow completed its perfect run of four victories in the group stage of the UEFA Cup defeating Ligue 1 side AS Nancy-Lorraine 4-3 with Vágner Love accounting for three goals. While the match in northern France was plagued with torrential rain, both sides showed a resolve to attack. Veteran Monsef Zerka gave the home side an improbable lead only five minutes in beating Russian international 'keeper Igor Akinfeev to the inside post. After narrowly missing a header off Yuri Zhirkov's cross a few minutes later, Vágner Love's stunning three-goal effort started as he leveled the match at the twenty-third minute with a powerhouse drive from just over twenty meters. Three minutes past the half-hour mark Koni took the lead as Ramón received Yuri Zhirkov's perfect pass, to which the former Corinthians-man drove to the back of the net. The Vágner Love show continued just past the hour as he collected Turkish capped Caner Erkin's pass and made it 3-1. In a highly uncharacteristic display, CSKA started their holidays, stopped defending and gave up two late goals. Julien Féret brought Nancy within one with eighteen minutes remaining as he accepted a well weighted through ball from Monsef Zerka before tucking the ball in. Up and comer Basile Camerling threw the home fans into delirium as he equalized the match with eleven minutes but once again Vágner Love came to the rescue. With two minutes remaining he gave CSKA the remarkable victory with another blazing strike from twenty-two meters.

CSKA begins its holiday now with the domestic league complete. They will return in February in the next round with a number of possible lineup changes.

Tyne-Tees derby match preview

The fifteenth week of the season has Newcastle off to tangle with Middlesbrough at Riverside in the 120th Tyne-Tees derby. With the Magpies third from the bottom of the table, every match is of critical importance and why this might seem peculiar to say given the clubs position in the table, there is reason for considerable optimism. Last weeks scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge reaffirmed a gritty, never-surrender attitude that defines the club and proof of the clubs positive response to Joe Kinnear. Todays decision to reward him with a full extension of his contract will provide the stability the club need and continue to bond the team.

Standing in the way of success this afternoon is the Gareth Southgate led-Middlesbrough. There is no conceivable reason why Mr. Southgate isn't lauded on a daily basis for his explempary work but incredibly after a stellar playing career, he picked-up in the managerial world with similar abilities and consistently have 'Boro ready to play with the best of the Premier League. While his club is coming off two sub-par performances, first a draw to Everton and last weekends dreadful loss to Bolton they will receive a major boost today as just-in-time for the match their great striker Mido returns from injury. Newcastle must pay particular care with the Egyptian striker as he is one of the most potent attacking options in the Premier League and coupled with Turkish international, Tuncay Şanlı, a fully-fit 'Boro is certainly capable of winning a sport in the new UEFA Europa League

On the injury front Newcastle's Damien Duff and Shola Ameobi are out but both Mark Viduka and Steven Taylor are available. While he shouldn't be expected to see a great amount of playing time, if at all, the impact of Mark Viduka will be enormous and a major emotional lift for the Magpies. As you would expect of this great derby, it will be a spirited affair without a blade of grass given-up easily.

I will report on it as it concludes.

Turkey punishes Austria 4-2

Karel Brückner's Austrian squad lost 4-2 to Turkey at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna on a match bathed in pathetic defending and will surely cause a series of tactical changes. Austria took the lead two minutes before the half hour mark with Andreas Hölzl's (SK Sturm Graz) header. Mehmet Aurélio (Real Betis) leveled the match ten minutes later with Tuncay Şanlı (Middlesbrough) giving them the lead four minutes before the break. Tuncay Şanlı scored two minutes after the break on a defensive miscue by Paul Scharner (Wigan) to double the margin before Andreas Hölzl brought the home side within one at the fifty third minute. However another poor defensive blunder left the 'Boro man in a perfect position to make it 4-2.

Austria
Michael Gspurning - György Garics (46., Marko Arnautovic), Paul Scharner (86., Sebastian Prödl), Martin Stranzl, Andeas Ibertsberger (46., Joachim Standfest) - Andreas Hölzl , Christoph Leitgeb (70., Marko Stankovic), Andreas Ivanschitz, Jürgen Säumel (64., Rene Aufhauser), Christian Fuchs - Rubin Okotie (46., Erwin Hoffer)

Karel Brückner makes big changes for friendly

Karel Brückner has announced his squad list for the Turkey match with a number of surprises. With Werder Bremen's Martin Harnik injured, he also passed on Rapid Wien's striking tandem of Stefan Maierhofer Erwin Hoffer and called up Rubin Okotie from Austria Wein to go along with Marko Arnautovic and Marc Janko. The squad list is as follows:

Goalkeeper: Michael Gspurning (AO Xanthi), Alexander Manninger (Juventus)

Defenders: György Garics (Atalanta Bergamo), Andeas Ibertsberger (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Sebastian Prödl (Werder Bremen), Joachim Standfest (Austria Wien), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow)

Midfield: Rene Aufhauser (Red Bull Salzburg), Christian Fuchs (VfL Bochum), Andreas Hölzl (SK Sturm Graz), Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos), Christoph Leitgeb (Red Bull Salzburg); Jürgen Säumel (Torino), Paul Scharner (Wigan Athletic)

Striker: Marko Arnautovic (Twente Enschede), Marc Janko (Red Bull Salzburg), Rubin Okotie (FK Austria Wien)

Ümit Korkmaz out with injury again

Austria will be without Ümit Korkmaz for the upcoming friendly against Turkey as it was revealed that the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Ümit Korkmaz has re-broke the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. He suffered the same injury during early training in August.