Football news

Edy Reja has always finished second best to Claudio Ranieri but the latter is no longer Roma coach and the Lazio trainer is seeing his chances to end a jinx in the derby.

Lazio are engaged in a tight race for Champions League places next season and Reja reckons victory on Sunday would steer the Blues closer to qualification.

“It would be an important victory for us, not just for qualifying to the Champions League, but also because we are talking about the derby,” Reja said.

“We are very close to a place in the Europa League. That was our initial objective but a win over Roma is fundamental for our position in the Serie A standings.”

BBC unhappy over United snub

The BBC have confirmed they will express their disappointment to the Premier League over Manchester United’s media blackout following Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool.

Alex Ferguson refused to perform any media engagements after watching his side slip to a 3-1 loss at Anfield, with senior club officials furious that Jamie Carragher was only given a caution by referee Phil Dowd for a challenge on Nani.

Ferguson declined to speak with host broadcaster Sky Sports, either before or after his side’s third Premier League defeat of the season, while his assistant Mike Phelan did not carry out his usual post-match engagements with BBC, arranged due to Ferguson’s long-standing feud with the organisation.

Delfouneso heads to Burnley

Young Aston Villa striker Nathan Delfouneso has signed for Burnley on loan until the end of the season, the Championship side have confirmed.

The 20-year-old has found first-team opportunities harder to come by at Villa Park since the January arrival of Darren Bent.

He has now agreed to join the Clarets, who have been on the lookout for a new frontman after Charlie Austin was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a dislocated shoulder.

Delfouneso, who has made 16 appearances for Villa this term, is a regular for England U-21, with many tipping him to earn full international honours in future.

Defoe hoping for Milan chance

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has admitted his frustration at a lack of big-game opportunities this season and is hoping to play a part against Milan tonight.

He is not guaranteed to start, though, and has revealed his slide down the White Hart Lane pecking order has annoyed him.

He said: “It’s been hard. You start to think: ‘What am I doing here?’ I’m used to playing in big games. I’ve played in big games for my clubs and for my country.

“It’ll be a tough game (against Milan). I hope I’m playing and if I can score and win the game then it’ll be great.”

Police detain Marseille’s Brandao

Marseille’s Brazilian striker Brandao was detained by police yesterday after a 25-year-old woman accused him of sexual assault. The 30-year-old player was arrested at his home and taken in for questioning as part of the police investigation into the charges.

The woman on Friday accused Brandao of assaulting her at a motorway stopover as he drove her home from a night club in Aix-en Provence last week.

“OM was informed on Tuesday morning that the player Brandao would not be able to be at the club this day. Marseille will make no comment on this private matter,” a statement read.

Brandao has been at Marseille since January 2009.

Bayern eyeing Napoli’s Zuniga

Bayern Munich are already looking to strengthen their squad for next season and their radar has lately focused on Juan Camilo Zuniga, the Napoli midfielder.

This week Bayern announced that coach Louis van Gaal will leave at the end of the season but transfer dealings will carry on without a hitch.

Zuniga can play on either side of midfield and it seems there was interest for his signature from Lazio and Juventus as well.

Bayern are apparently ready to make a €6m bid for the 25-year-old Colombian.

Zuniga is bound with a contract until 2014. He joined Napoli from Siena in 2009.

Higuain may return next month

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has made a dramatic recovery from the injury he suffered in November and could be fit to play in the Spanish Cup final next month.

The Argentine had been expected to be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a slipped disc at a hospital in Chicago on January 11.

Coach Jose Mourinho is delighted with the effort that Higuain has shown and he knows he can count on him for the final against Barca on April 20 and for the clasico league match at the Bernabeu four days earlier, spanish daily AS said.

AS said he could even be fit for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on April 12 or 13, should Real get past Lyon in the last 16.