..::Football III::..

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Falcao: Tevez is Serie A's only champion

Former Roma star Falcao believes Juventus striker Carlos Tevez is the only "champion" of international reputation currently playing in Serie A.

The Argentine striker currently tops the goalscoring charts in Italy's top flight after an impressive first season with the Bianconeri following his move from Manchester City.

Falcao feels significant investment in Italy's top flight is needed in order to attract more players of Tevez's standing and bolster the standard of the competition.

"The only champion of international character in Italy is Tevez, and that makes a difference. We need new sources of revenue to compete with La Liga, the Bundesliga and Premier League," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But I still prefer [Serie A], as many Brazilians do. For me, it has preserved its charm."

The former Brazil interntional also hit out at question marks over the ability and commitment of Mario Balotelli, insisting the AC Milan striker can be one of the leading lights for Italy at this summer's World Cup.

"For me, Mario is a champion. Full stop. I don't judge the man, I don't know him. But his talent is unquestionable," he said.

"Italy, I think, has many other players who can make a difference, like [Gianluigi] Buffon, [Daniele] De Rossi and [Andrea] Pirlo. Italy have everything for a great World Cup: the usual great defence, and in addition, the desire to play football."

Finally, Falcao tipped Bayern Munich as the favourites to claim this season's Champions League, but admitted he would be supporting Real Madrid and former Giallorossi team-mate Carlo Ancelotti.

"There are some crazy ties in the quarter-finals, it's impossible to make a prediction. If I have to say, then Bayern. But I'll be rooting for Ancelotti's Real Madrid. I have so many memories with my friend Carletto," he added.

 

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Pirlo: I'm happy to end my career at Juventus

Juventus veteran Andrea Pirlo has suggested he would be happy to end his career with the Turin club.

The 34-year-old, who has never played for a club outside of Italy, has said he had contemplated opportunities outside of his homeland in the past, but the playmaker was content with life at Juventus Stadium.

"In recent years I have assessed chances to have an experience abroad, but in the end I'm fine here," Pirlo told Sky Sport.

"I think this is the best place for me to continue playing football.

"It's [Antonio] Conte's third year but the hunger to win is always the same. The formation and style of play has changed but our substance has remained the same.

"We have gained experiences and knowledge, things that have helped us to get the results we have.

"I always play to win, I always have big targets in mind.

"We are out of the Champions League but now we need to concentrate on the Europa League.

"The more targets you have, the greater the will to win."

Juve face third-placed Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday, and are closing on a 30th Scudetto, and third in succession.

Pirlo said their huge buffer on Rafael Benitez's men was irrelevant heading into the weekend's clash.

"We know where we want to get to. Napoli are a great team, the 20 point difference between the teams will count for nothing on the pitch.

"In the reverse fixture with Napoli we played very well. It was a huge game but we went out onto the pitch to win, like we always do."

Pirlo's Italy are World Cup-bound in mid-year, and he said he was pleased his nation's FA showed faith in coach Cesare Prandelli by renewing his contract.

"Prandelli's renewal? We are happy, he has done very well and it was right to give his project continuity," he said.

 

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'Bring on Bayern' - Moyes ready for Munich challenge

David Moyes insists his Manchester United side are ready for the challenge of Bayern Munich in the Champions League following Saturday's 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

The Red Devils claimed their first win in the league at home since January as goals from Juan Mata, Chicharito and two from Wayne Rooney ensured the hosts would come from behind to defeat Paul Lambert's side at Old Trafford.

Moyes, who had earlier witnessed a plane fly over Old Trafford carrying a banner with the words 'Wrong One - Moyes Out', is now relishing Tuesday's meeting with Champions League favourites Bayern. He told BT Sport: "I'm really looking forward to it. The Champions League quarter-finals.

"At the start if you said we'd get to the quarters then great but we want to be in the semi-final and then the final.

"But we've got a big tough game against probably the best side around. But bring the challenge on and coming to old Trafford is not easy for any side.

"I've been saying all the time I've been here the crowd have been great. We didn't start well but the crowd were great. Every fan I bump into they tell me they know exactly what it's like at Man United.

"The fourth goal is the type I've been looking to score. Adnan [Januzaj] weaving away and it was a great cross. You want to be excited by the football you see and the fourth goal excited me."

On Rooney, Moyes added: "He's a top player and he's been great since the start of the season.

"I said after the game if you keep scoring two goals a game then it's going to give us a great chance of doing much better. His form and the way he's playing has been great."

Moyes also hailed Mata's performance after the playmaker scored his first goal for the club since becoming the club's record signing after joining from Chelsea in January.

He continued: "Everyone knows what he's capable of but he needed a goal because it's a big part of his game and it's a reason we signed him because he scores goals.

"He's been instrumental in a lot of our good play and I think he's played really well in recent weeks.

"I took over from Sir Alex a great team who were champions. But we need to add to it.

"All the players I seem to talk to are really keen to join Manchester United let's hope it comes to fruition in the summer time."

 

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Aston Villa win 1kath 1kkama Moyes ta thibba pressure 1kak tikak withara ease una.Habai ithin Bayern kiyanne Aston Villa newei nehKohomath meetawada godak tough match 1kak balaporotthu wenna puluwan.

Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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Real Madrid 5-0 Rayo Vallecano: Ronaldo & Bale help Blancos bounce back in style

Cristiano Ronaldo's opener and Gareth Bale's double aided Real Madrid's damage limitation with a 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano following back-to-back losses in La Liga.

Real's push for a 33rd league crown suffered a damaging week as their 4-3 Clasico defeat to Barcelona was quickly followed by a 2-1 loss at Sevilla on Wednesday, but Bale - who received considerable criticism for his midweek display – provided the perfect answer by scoring twice on Saturday.

With championship rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid having both won earlier in the day, it was an emphatic response from the Blancos.

Carlo Ancelotti called for focus after the defeat in Seville and the hosts settled any early nerves with a 15th-minute goal; Ronaldo tapping in from Bale's pass.

The second arrived in the 55th minute as Dani Carvajal scored his first La Liga goal and Bale added number three, ending a run of six Real matches without scoring.

Bale doubled his personally tally for the match with 20 minutes to go, netting after a delightful run from his own half, and Alvaro Morata grabbed the final goal with just over 10 minutes to go, lifting Real to within three points of Atletico.

Ronaldo started for the hosts despite slight concerns over a knee issue, while Ancelotti was also able to call upon Sergio Ramos once again following his controversial sending off in the Clasico.

Real threatened from the start and almost took a third-minute lead as Ronaldo played a clever square pass into the danger zone for Karim Benzema, but he fired straight at Ruben.

They were successful in beating the goalkeeper 12 minutes later, though, as Ronaldo latched on to Bale's precise reverse pass before bursting into the area and coolly slotting into the bottom-left corner.

Benzema should have doubled their lead with 26 minutes on the clock as he looked all set to tap Bale's low cross in from point-blank range, but his touch deserted him at the crucial moment.

Bale was presented with a great opportunity seven minutes before the break, but after racing through on goal, he stumbled and fell when shaping to shoot.

Rayo looked lively at the start of the second half, with right-winger Jose Carlos looking particularly dangerous, but the hosts effectively put the match beyond Paco Jemez's men in the 55th minute.

Bale produced a pin-point low cross into the area for Ronaldo and the Portugal star unselfishly played a first-time pass back to the advancing Carvajal, who subsequently stroked past Ruben.

Rayo almost hit back immediately, but Atletico-owned Saul Niguez could only head Carlos' corner on to Diego Lopez's right-hand post.

With 20 minutes left, Bale struck twice in quick succession: first tapping in Angel Di Maria's assist, before netting a brilliant second, bursting all the way from his own half to confidently find the net from just inside the box.

Just in case the result was in any doubt, substitute Morata grabbed the fifth with an audacious curling effort from distance, giving Ancelotti the response that he had demanded.

 

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AC Milan 3-0 Chievo: Kaka double in 300th game as Rossoneri bag another win

Kaka starred in his 300th game in an AC Milan shirt by scoring a double as the club's bagged their second win in a row with a 3-0 result at home to Chievo.

A lively start saw Milan take the lead through Mario Balotelli's close-range volley, before captain Kaka got on the end of Keisuke Honda's wonderful cross and applied a cool finish.

Kaka added a third just after the break, rolling back the years to brilliantly curl home from just inside the box.

Chievo had the chance to respond when Cristian Zaccardo brought down substitute Cyril Thereau in the box, only for the striker to send the resulting spot kick against the crossbar.

The result comes as a significant boost to Milan’s slim hopes of European qualification, while Chievo remain just three points away from the relegation zone.

Clarence Seedorf's side were buoyed by a hard-fought 2-0 win at Fiorentina in midweek and wasted no time in asserting their dominance.

The hosts were ahead within four minutes when a teasing Adil Rami cross found Balotelli, who expertly guided the ball past Michael Agazzi.

An all-action start from Milan was nearly rewarded with a second goal just a minute later, after Adel Taarabt shook off several defenders to sting the palms of the keeper.

The visitors had not tasted victory over Milan in the last 14 league meetings and nearly pulled one back through Simone Bentivoglio, who forced a smart save from Christian Abbiati after Urby Emanuelson's mistake on the 15-minute mark.

Milan looked to have taken their foot off the gas as the first half wore on, but doubled their lead after 27 minutes, when Honda's exquisite chipped pass found Kaka, who produced a great first touch before rolling into the net.

Honda should have got on the scoresheet himself just before the break, after Balotelli squared to the Japan international, who inexplicably fired high and wide from close range.

A slow start to the second half was brought to life after 10 minutes, when Honda's powered header was well saved by Agazzi, before a poor defensive clearance found Kaka, who curled a stunning effort into the top corner.

Chievo nearly pulled one back in bizarre circumstances after 62 minutes, as the Milan defence failed to deal with Bentivoglio’s low corner, which was allowed to run before coming back off the post with Abbiati scrambling.

Balotelli and Adel Taraabt both had chances to extend the home side's lead late on, before Chievo were handed the chance to pull one back when Thereau was brought down by Zaccardo.

The substitute dusted himself off to take the resulting penalty, only to send it cannoning off the bar and away, completing a miserable night for the visitors.

 

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Evian 1-0 Monaco: Carvalho handball costs Ranieri's men

Monaco were downed by a belligerent Evian-TG side who converted a late penalty to deservedly beat the high-flying side 1-0 on Saturday.

Throughout the first half the hosts impressed with impeccable organisation as action in the final third from the second-placed Ligue 1 side was minimal.

In the second half, Claudio Ranieri's men perked up somewhat - with James Rodriguez guilty of a glaring miss - but the hosts, who had claimed Paris Saint-Germain's scalp at the Parc des Sports earlier this season, were gifted a penalty late in the game when Ricardo Cavarlho handballed inside the box.

Former Monaco defender Cedric Mongongu stepped up to put les Rouge et Blanc to the sword from the spot kick, with Monaco unable to fashion a reply in the dying minutes of the match.

The loss keeps Monaco in second - well clear of third-placed Lille but 12 points behind leaders PSG - while Evian will be hoping that the hard-fought win helps to keep them afloat as they hover on the edge of the relegation zone.

Les Croix de Savoie started as they meant to go on by keeping Monaco quiet in the opening stages, with the visitors taking 10 minutes before Lucas Ocampos' deflected shot looped from 25 yards on to the top of the net.

The clash continued to work in Pascal Dupraz's men's favour. Although they did not dominate possession, they restricted the hosts' chance creation and counterattacked with menace and pace.

One of the best opportunities of the opening 45 minutes was only really a half-chance, such was Evian's effective neutralising of les Rouge et Blanc's attackers, as Daniel Wass headed down for Clarck N'Sikulu with just under half an hour gone but Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic pounced to block as he shot.

Wass threatened again a few minutes later but his pot-shot from distance dribbled harmlessly wide.

A lofted ball forwards to Dimitar Berbatov as half-time lingered was met by the Bulgarian on the volley first time from 15 yards, but it skidded wide as the visitors remained frustrated by Evian's organisation.

Less than two minutes later, though, the former Manchester United forward forced a save from Jesper Hansen after weaving into the box and shooting straight at the hosts' shot-stopper.

The largely ineffective Ocampos was hauled off by Ranieri at half-time and they should have been ahead on 50 minutes.

Substitute Valere Germain crossed for Rodriguez but somehow the former Porto forward failed to convert from five yards, getting the ball stuck under his feet.

Monaco looked the better team as the second half wore on, seeking to wear out the spirited hosts, but their persistence waned in the final 20 minutes and the balance swung in Evian's favour

Nicolas Benezet, brought off the bench in the second half, drove powerfully across the 18-yard box before skimming a fierce effort just over the bar, then not long afterwards a corner flew dangerously across the face of goal as Evian pressed for an unlikely winner.

Their golden chance came with just eight minutes to go as Cedric Barbossa dummied in the area to send one Monaco defender flying then Carvalho carelessly flung his arm out in a bid to block the Evian subtitute's shot only for the referee to penalise him by giving a penalty.

Mongongou converted against his former club with consummate calm, sending Subasic the wrong way, before helping the defensive ranks hold on for all three points at the Parc des Sports.

 

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Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Atletico Madrid: Costa & Koke put Rojiblancos back on top of La Liga

Atletico Madrid returned to the top of La Liga as goals from Diego Costa and Koke fired them to a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

With Barcelona beating Espanyol earlier on Saturday, Diego Simeone's men needed to win at San Mames to return to the summit, and goals from the Spanish pair duly provided the maximum haul.

Ernesto Valverde's side threatened to end Atleti's run of four straight league victories in just the sixth minute as Iker Muniain punished slack Rojiblancos defending with a neat lob.

However, Costa restored parity with a cool finish for his sixth goal in five games across all competitions as the teams reached half-time at 1-1.

Costa had claims for a penalty turned away early in the second half when he was tripped by Aymeric Laporte, who was later sent off, but it failed to derail the visitors who moved ahead 10 minutes after the break through Koke's close-range header.

The result means Atleti hold a one-point advantage over Barcelona, with seven games left to play, though Real Madrid also remain in the hunt, while Bilbao remain in the last Champions League spot.

The hosts made an electric start with the opening goal in just the sixth minute.

Mikel San Jose's long ball caught the Atleti defence off guard and Muniain reacted quickest before delicately lofting over Thibaut Courtois from the edge of the box.

Atleti went in search of the leveller and Costa almost provided when he sprung the offside trap to collect Koke's intricate throughball, but was foiled by a smart save from Gorka Iraizoz.

Costa was proving difficult for the home defence to handle and he levelled the scores after 22 minutes.

Ander Iturraspe's poor pass was picked off by the Spain striker who easily outpaced San Jose before applying a cool left-foot finish across Iraizoz.

Raul Garcia then wasted a great chance to put Atleti ahead when he shot wide at the back post following good work from Filipe Luis.

Bilbao proved equally wasteful at the other end. Markel Susaeta ghosted between the Atleti defence to meet Artiz Aduriz's flick but headed past the onrushing Courtois and agonisingly wide of the post.

Atleti continued to create the better openings in the second half and Costa dragged an effort wide from the edge of the box shortly after the restart.

The visitors then had claims for a penalty in the 50th minute when Laporte tripped Costa in the area, but referee Jose Teixeira was unmoved.

That decision almost proved more controversial as at the other end Oscar de Marcos robbed Diego Godin of possession on the edge of the box but he fired his effort wide.

Atleti punished that miss in the 55th minute, however, as Koke played in Filipe before he continued his run into the box to head home the deflected cross.

The visitors threatened late on, Gaizka Toquero seeing penalty appeals waved away before Courtois produced a stunning save to deny Aduriz.

There was still time for controversy as Laporte was sent off for a second bookable offence after tripping Costa, though the visitors were unhappy as Cristian Rodriguez was through on goal and could have added a third.

However, it did not cost Atleti, who remain on course for a first title since 1996.

 

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Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City: Flamini helps Gunners restore some pride

Manchester City missed an opportunity to go top of the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Saturday.

Chelsea's shock 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace earlier in the day meant victory for City would see them sitting at the summit on goal difference.

And that looked set to come to fruition as David Silva deservedly broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, with City dominating the first half at Emirates Stadium.

However, a rejuvenated Arsenal emerged after the break, and Mathieu Flamini pulled the hosts level to boost their own flagging title hopes.

City are now two points adrift of leaders Chelsea, over whom they have two games in hand, and one behind Liverpool, who have played one game more than Manuel Pellegrini's men. Arsenal, meanwhile, are three points further back in fourth.

Pellegrini stuck with the XI that so memorably triumphed 3-0 over local rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, and the visitors looked hungry to pick up where they left off, Jesus Navas curling an effort just beyond the left-hand post from 18 yards in the opening few minutes.

Tomas Rosicky went down under the challenge of Pablo Zabaleta in the penalty area 12 minutes in, but referee Mike Dean waved away Arsenal's protests, with replays suggesting that it was probably the correct call.

Silva's opener capped a swift counter-attacking move from City – the Spaniard tapping home from close range after Edin Dzeko had rifled an effort against the left-hand post.

Flamini, whose late own goal cost Arsenal in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City on Tuesday, soon had the ball in the back of the net at the other end as a lively first-half continued, but his strike, which bounced over the head of visiting goalkeeper Joe Hart, was rightly ruled out for offside.

Samir Nasri – booed and heckled throughout on his former stomping ground – was next to have a pop at goal, but his tame attempt was comfortably collected by Arsenal stopper Wojciech Szczesny.

The match lost some of its pace and flow as the opening period progressed, with niggling challenges threatening to turn it into an ill-tempered affair.

The face of the game changed eight minutes into the second half when Flamini atoned for his midweek misfortune by diverting Lukas Podolski's cross into the back of the net from a central position in the penalty area, drawing Arsenal level with his second goal since returning to the club last year.

Podolski scored and provided an assist on Tuesday and he almost repeated that achievement on Saturday, but Hart did just enough to keep out his powerful drive on the hour mark.

Arsenal were unable find a winner, but a point against the title favourites will come as a relief to manager Arsene Wenger, who has endured a difficult week after marking 1,000 games in charge with a 6-0 defeat at Chelsea last weekend.

 

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Martino: With Messi the story always ends the same

Tata Martino never had any doubt that Lionel Messi would bail out Barcelona in Saturday's crucial Liga clash at Espanyol.

The Blaugrana looked set to squander the opportunity to overhaul Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga but their talismanic No.10 coolly converted from a penalty with just 13 minutes to go to send the reigning champions two points clear.

"With Messi on the pitch the story almost always ends the same way," Martino told reporters.

"Winning here is important because it was a derby. You always have to win these matches, so we value the victory very much.

"All of the remaining games are very difficult. They are seven cup finals."

Martino's sentiments were echoed by centre-half Javier Mascherano, who feels that Barca cannot afford to drop a single point between now and the end of the season if they are to hold onto their title.

"I know full well that we have picked up three valuable points," the Argentine added. "It was a derby. We know that they're never easy.

"In addition, Espanyol are a team that makes you play at full strength, as they always play well against the big teams.

"At this stage of the season, a derby win only makes us stronger. But it does not change anything: we have got seven games left and to be champions we will have to win them all.

"But every game is different. We have to go one game at a time."

Meanwhile, Martino took time out to send a message of support to goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who saw his season ended by injury in midweek.

"We dedicate this win to him," he stated. "This team is accustomed to bad news and how they choose to respond is to work hard in the field."

 

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Galliani: Kaka can leave Milan in the summer

Adriano Galliani has revealed that Kaka can leave AC Milan in the summer due to a clause in the midfielder's contract regarding Champions League football.

The Brazilian only returned to San Siro last summer having spent four years at Real Madrid, where he had fallen into obscurity alongside the likes of Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric.

Kaka's comeback season happens to have coincided with the worst Milan season in recent memory as Massimiliano Allegri was axed in January with the Rossoneri languishing in midtable while Clarence Seedorf's arrival has not heralded the instant turnaround some fans might have hoped.

Galliani, who himself has been under pressure from fan groups to step down over poor signings in recent transfer window, admitted that the 31-year-old is permitted to leave as bagging elite European football is well beyond Milan this campaign.
"It’s very simple," the club CEO told Sky Sport. "Kaka has a contract until June 30 in 2015, but if we don’t qualify for the Champions League then he has a clause allowing him to leave.

"We will discuss it, but I firmly believe he will stay."Before Milan's clash with Chievo on Sunday, Kaka insisted that he has no plans to leave the Rossoneri in the summer by suggesting his 300th game for the club will be far from his last.

"There is always so much talk about the future," the Brazilian told the club's website. "I said I’d like to play in America, but there is time. I see myself in the Rossoneri shirt and hope to continue for a long time."

 

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Wenger pleased with Arsenal's response to 'nightmare' week

Arsene Wenger was buoyed by Arsenal’s response to a "nightmare" week after his side came from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchester City on Saturday.

Mathieu Flamini cancelled out David Silva's first-half strike to salvage a point for the north London club against the Premier League title favourites at the Emirates Stadium.

And Wenger revealed his satisfaction with the way his squad has bounced back from the 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea last Saturday and the 2-2 draw against Swansea City on Tuesday.

"We went through a nightmare last week and you could see with the 2-2 against Swansea the team was on the floor," he said. "Despite that, we responded very well today.

"We were a bit nervy at the start, but even at 1-0 down you could see the team was ready for a fight.

"We could have won it in the second half, but overall it was a game of quality between two good teams.

"With the players we have out, and what we have seen today, I think it is remarkable."

The result leaves Arsenal five points adrift of leaders Chelsea, and Wenger refused to rule out his side's chances of clawing their way back into the title race.

"We have to fight until the end of the season, because everybody can beat everybody," he added. "Mathematically, we are still in there, but it is not in our hands."

 

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Klopp: Dortmund needed that win

Jurgen Klopp believes Borussia Dortmund "needed" to beat 10-man Stuttgart on Saturday ahead of their midweek visit to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final stage.

Marking his 300th Bundesliga game as a coach, the Schwarzgelben boss had little cause to celebrate the occasion in the opening 20 minutes as his side fell 2-0 behind.But he was rescued by a Marco Reus hat-trick, with the second goal coming from the spot after Georg Niedermeier's dismissal for the hosts, and Klopp felt that Dortmund were good value for the win despite the poor start."It was the worst possible start for us," he told the club's official website.

"Perhaps we needed those two goals to respond. In the second half we were great and kept going. We have exploited the red card and deserved to win."We definitely needed the result. Now we need to continue. We have games that are never that far away from each other and didn't want to lose and have a bad feeling in the Champions League.

"In Madrid there will be major problems we have to deal with, as they always cause problems for anyone that goes there. Real is a big favourite."First of all though, the guys have to recover as they are very tired after this intense game in Stuttgart."

The result moves Dortmund back up to second after Schalke had displaced them with Friday's 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin.

 

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'Booing Ronaldo makes no sense' - Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti has criticised Real Madrid fans who booed Cristiano Ronaldo in the club's emphatic 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

The Portuguese winger scored the opener early on but was subject to abuse from some of the Santiago Bernabeu supporters for selfish play when he could have passed.

Ancelotti cannot comprehend why the Ballon d'Or winner was booed and also criticised abuse aimed at goalkeeper Diego Lopez, with some Madrid fans wanting Iker Casillas playing between the sticks in La Liga instead.

"I said before that I understand us being booed because sometimes that's what we deserved," he told reporters after the win. "Now, though I cannot understand it, because we made a great effort.

"Booing Cristiano makes no sense. As for Diego Lopez, I hope he was not hurt by the boos. Ronaldo's okay, he's not injured. He just had a little cut to the knee - nothing dangerous.

"On Wednesday we need a great atmosphere - both us and the fans dream of Champions League success. The team had a good attitude tonight and it will serve us well for the next game."

Borussia Dortmund are the team visiting the Bernabeu in midweek in the quarter-finals of the elite European tournament.

 

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Kaka: It was a dream 300th game

AC Milan captain Kaka was thrilled with his matchwinning performance in the 3-0 win over Chievo on Saturday in his 300th appearance for the club.

The Brazilian midfielder struck either side of half-time, after Mario Balotelli had given his side an early lead at San Siro, to seal a second consecutive Serie A win.
It was a night to remember for Kaka, whom Milan chief Adriano Galliani had revealed could be leaving the Rossoneri in the summer, and he was delighted following his performance and subsequent standing ovation when he was substituted.

"The goal means many things," he told Sky Sport. "It is a special moment for us, tonight was an important achievement for me to play 300 games and it went better than I could've expected. I am very happy."

Two consecutive wins have helped to ease some of the pressure on coach Clarence Seedorf and his team, while also keeping their faint hopes of European qualification alive, and Kaka insisted that despite a difficult campaign there are no problems in the dressing room. "Football is wonderful and painful precisely because it changes so quickly," he said. "I said last week our locker room was not divided and people could see that tonight.

"We had two wins and a draw now, so these are results that will help us to end the season on a high."

 

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Worker dies at World Cup stadium

A construction worker has died following a fall at World Cup 2014 venue Arena Corinthians on Saturday.

Sao Paulo Fire Department confirmed that a labourer had been rushed to hospital and it was later confirmed that the Fast Engineering employee, named as Fabio Hamilton da Cruz, had passed away.

Reports varied about whether he fell from eight metres or 15 metres, but his injuries were too severe for medical attention to save his life.

The Arena Corinthians is scheduled to stage six games at this summer's World Cup in Brazil, including the opening game between the tournament hosts and Croatia, as well as England's meeting with Uruguay.

The venue, though, has already been touched by tragedy, with construction workers Fabio Luis Pereira, 42, and Ronaldo Oliviera dos Santos, 44, having died during an accident in November 2013.

There have also been deaths during work on the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus and the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in Brasilia.

 

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Thawath worker kenek marila

R.I.P​

 

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'Sky is the limit for Atletico' - Koke

Atletico Madrid matchwinner Koke has insisted that "the sky is the limit" for the club after they won 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to retake the top of La Liga.

The Rojiblancos had been temporarily displaced following Barcelona's 1-0 win at local rivals Espanyol, but goals from Diego Costa and Koke ensured that Iker Muniain's opener was cancelled out at San Mames.

Although he stressed optimism about Atletico Madrid's season - in which the Champions League and the league title are both realistic goals - he refused to talk silverware until the very end is in sight.

"The coach has already spoken about it," the 22-year-old attacker told reporters when asked about winning the Primera Division in 2013-14. "Until there are five games left, we won’t talk about the title.

"The sky’s the limit for Atleti. Every game is a cup final. On Tuesday we have a cup final and on Saturday we have another.

"We knew that we were coming to a difficult ground and it was the game we expected it to be. Diego Costa was going to get space and we found it.

"Diego Costa is terrific. We’ve seen that from the start of the season and let’s hope he continues that way."

Atletico will travel to Camp Nou for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Barcelona on Tuesday.

 

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Barclays Premier League 2014.03.30 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2014.03.30 Fixtures

Fulham Vs Everton

Liverpool Vs Spurs

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[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga 2014.03.30 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.03.30 Fixtures

Real Valladoid Vs Almeria

Osasuna Vs Real Sociedad

Villareal Vs Elche

Valencia Vs Getafe​