Fenerbahce vs Arsenal August 21, 2013

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Arsenal travel to Istanbul for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier with Fenerbahce. Arsene Wenger’s team suffered a disappointing 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa on Saturday and pressure is on the Arsenal manager and his team to gain a positive result in Turkey before the return leg at the Emirates next Tuesday. If Arsenal do qualify it will be the sixteenth season in a row that Arsene Wenger has led his team into European football’s elite competition.

Unlike their opponents, Fenerbahce have been busy in the transfer market bringing in Emmanuel Emenike, Michal Kadlec and Bruno Alves. However, manager Ersun Yanal will be disappointed with his team’s 3-2 loss in their opening league fixture against Konyaspor having led the game 2-0. Behind the scenes The Super Lig club could yet be thrown out of the Champions League if they win their tie against Arsenal as they await a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding accusations from Uefa of match-fixing.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm

The need for complete focus could hardly be more acute. With Champions League football generally worth around £25 million, Wenger agreed on Tuesday that this two-legged play-off was “the most important” game of Arsenal’s entire season.
“We fought very hard last season to be in the top four and the game has a vital importance,” the manager said. “To be part of the top level, for us, is the most important. All the rest are the consequences of it. It will be a very hot atmosphere as it always is in Turkey. You always have an opportunity to show your personality.”
The omens ahead of tonight are mixed. Arsenal are seeking to extend their participation in the group phase of the Champions League to 16 consecutive years and, in that time, they have previously come through five play-off matches at a combined aggregate score of 24-3.
It is arguable, though, whether they have previously faced such dangerous opponents amid such a backdrop of negativity back home. As well as the supporters’ anger over Arsenal’s inactivity in the transfer market, injuries and form are a major concern.

PAST MEETINGS

Arsenal 0 Fenerbahce 0, Champions League, November 2008

Fenerbahce 2 (Silvestre og, Guiza) Arsenal 5 (Adebayor, Walcott, Diaby, Song, Ramsey), Champions League, October 2008

STATS…

Arsenal have won all five of their Champions League qualifiers (2011, 2009, 2008 , 2007 and 2006) They have also won all ten legs in these five ties.

Fenerbahce have never beaten Arsenal having lost two and drawn two of their four matches. Their biggest loss coming the last time they played Arsenal at home, losing 5-2 in 2008.

Arsenal’s home loss to Aston Villa was their first opening day defeat in twenty years.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa August 21, 2013

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Chelsea got the second Jose Mourinho era underway with a victory on Sunday, and they'll look to make it six points from two fixtures when Paul Lambert's side comes to town tomorrow. The Blues will be heavy favorites at home, and here's everything you need to know in advance of the season's second game.

The opening performances earned standing ovations, so can either Chelsea or Aston Villa provide a fitting encore?
Chelsea's first-half dismantling of Hull prolonged the feelgood factor prompted by the return to the dugout of Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese praised the "fantastic quality" of the performance - although his continued pursuit of Wayne Rooney shows he will never rest on his laurels.
Chelsea inflicted a club record 8-0 defeat on Villa in the corresponding fixture last season, but Mourinho is wary of the visitors following their 3-1 win at Arsenal.
"It's not such a big surprise because Aston Villa can do that to any one of us," he said.
"They are a team with qualities to play away, to play the counter-attack game they played at the Emirates. They are a good team."

Villa head to Chelsea earlier than planned owing to the Blues' Uefa Super Cup commitments at the end of the month.
The date for the re-arranged fixture has annoyed Villa as it comes either side of games against Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, victory at the Emirates has left Paul Lambert's side confident they will give a far greater account of themselves than last December's meeting.
Captain Ron Vlaar said: "We all know what happened last year, so we want to put that to rest.
"We learnt a lot and we still have to learn a lot, but mentally we have become a stronger team."

Date/Time: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 19:45 BST, 2:45 pm EST, 11:45 am PST. Thursday August 22, 2013 at 00:15 IST. Use this time zone converter to figure out when the game is starting wherever you happen to be.

Venue/Location: Stamford Bridge, London, England

PSV Eindhoven vs AC Milan August 20, 2013

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PSV Eindhoven have not won the Dutch title since 2008 – and on 9th December of that year, played in their last Champions League game, a 3-1 home defeat against Liverpool. Until last season, PSV were Holland’s biggest spending club. This strategy though led to nothing more than a pair of Dutch Cups and considerable losses. Moreover, unlike their biggest rivals Ajax, Feyenoord or Twente, the Philips-backed club have lacked a productive youth academy.

When, last January, talented youngster Riechedly Bazoer swapped PSV’s academy for Ajax’s, looking for “more guarantees for the development of my career”, it was clear that something had to change for the Eindhoven side. The appointment of Phillip Cocu as coach was the first step. It had been the same story at Ajax, who four years ago chose Frank de Boer, a man, like Cocu, with limited coaching experience, but for whom the club is like a second home.

PSV Eindhoven have conceded just twice en route to winning all five of their competitive games so far this season, with the Eredivisie runners-up now hosting AC Milan at the Philips Stadion. With the Serie A season not kicking off until next weekend, Milan are yet to play a single competitive game, perhaps handing the Dutch side an early match fitness advantage.

The PSV revolution began in the transfer market and went onto the pitch. Four regulars were sold (Kevin Strootman, Dries Mertens, Jeremaine Lens and Erik Pieters) and four veterans were released (Orlando Engelaar, Wilfried Bouma, Atouba Hutchinson and the retired Mark van Bommel). Cocu switched his predecessor’s 4-2-3-1 system into a 4-3-3 and showed no fear in playing, against NEC, one of the youngest starting elevens (20.42 years on average) in Eredivisie history. For the game against Milan however, Cocu can also count on the experience of Dutch international Stijn Schaars and former Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung, although the pair are still working hard to bring their fitness up to speed.

Philips Stadion, Eindhoven

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Match Date\Time: Tuesday, 8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET

Projected PSV Eindhoven XI: Zoet; Arias, Rekik, Bruma, Willems; Maher, Hiljemark, Wijnaldum; Jozefzoon, Locadia, Depay

Projected AC Milan XI: Abbiati; Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant; Montolivo, de Jong, Nocerino; Boateng, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

Manchester City vs Newcastle United August 19, 2013

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Manchester City start Premier League life under Manuel Pellegrini by hosting Newcastle United on Monday evening. Both sides are looking to bounce back from last season's disappointment, with City failing to defend their Premier League crown and Newcastle falling from fifth to 16th.

City have been quiet but confident in their transfer dealings so far, and starts are expected for new arrivals Fernandinho, Álvaro Negredo and Jesús Navas. Stevan Jovetić -- who joined this summer from Fiorentina --should also be involved, even if only from the bench. Defender Matija Nastasić is City's only likely absentee, struggling with an ankle injury.

City’s new manager Manuel Pellegrini will be making his home debut in front of a packed house in Manchester, with Newcastle aiming to get off to a good start in one of the most daunting venues in the league.

Pellegrini has bought big this summer, with Fernandinho, Alvaro Negredo, Stevan Jovetic and Jesus Navas all arriving for over $135 million. All four of the new men are expected to start for City, with their defense set in stone after an impressive season at the back in 2012-13 City kept more clean sheets, 18, than any other team last year and also conceded just 34 goals.

But these new signings will give them an extra impetus up front.

As for Newcastle, it has been a turbulent summer at St. James’ Park after Joe Kinnear was controversially appointed in the front office. Owner Mike Ashley has placed Kinnear above manager Alan Pardew and Newcastle’s fans aren’t happy with the situation in the North-East. Star striker Papiss Cisse is back on the pitch after threatening to walk out of the club following a money-lending company became the Magpies shirt sponsor. Cisse has put his religious dispute to one side and will now lead the line.

As for injuries, Sergio Aguero has overcome a knee complaint and should feature but Matija Nastasic is still out with an ankle injury. While Newcastle have fitness doubts over Davide Santon (hip), Steven Taylor (toe) and Jonas Gutierrez (hamstring)
Newcastle's only summer signing, Loïc Rémy, is definitely unavailable, with the former Queens Park Rangers striker still hampered by a calf injury. Ryan Taylor's long-term knee injury continues to rule him out of selection, while Jonás Gutiérrez faces a fitness test to determine whether he's fit to play.

Manchester City injuries and suspensions

Out: None. In doubt: Matija Nastasić (ankle).

Newcastle United injuries and suspensions

Out: Loïc Rémy (calf), Ryan Taylor (knee). In doubt: Jonás Gutiérrez (hamstring).

Match Date\Time: Monday, 8 p.m. local, 3 p.m. ET

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England

WWE Summerslam 2013 August 18, 2013

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WWE’s 2013 edition of the SummerSlam pay-per-view is approaching fast, and the excitement from wrestling fans across the world is through the roof.

There is an entertaining undercard full of intrigue, but it will be the main events that force the casual supporters to order the show. With Daniel Bryan challenging for John Cena’s WWE Championship and Brock Lesnar fighting CM Punk, this will be a great PPV.
As the WWE’s second-largest show of the year approaches, we have all the latest information fans will need to get them even more excited for Sunday’s SummerSlam extravaganza.

Oh it’s real. It’s damn real. SummerSlam is here. Less than 12 hours away from the second-biggest pay-per-view of the year for the WWE and there are more questions to be answered than a college entrance exam.

WWE Summerslam 2013

SummerSlam -- one of WWE's 'Big Four' pay-per-view events and the one that the organization would like to think is their second biggest -- takes place on Sunday night. The PPV portion of the card gets underway at 8 p.m. ET. Thanks to the magic of the internets, you can easily watch SummerSlam live on your computer, as well as on your TV or at a bar.

And as you can tell, this writer is as excited as a kid at Hanukkah and Christmas.

Four main event matches and plenty to wet our whistle for the night. The WWE has done a good job of promoting its card, but in my opinion, it still missed the boat on a few things like having all of the promotion’s titles defended. I would hope the battle between the McMahons tonight and the impending title change between John Cena/Daniel Bryan/Randy Orton is more than enough to make up for the gaffe.

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

When: Sunday, August 18 at 7 p.m. ET