..::Football II::..

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Nasri dismisses Mancini criticism

The former Arsenal star has hit back at the Italian after he recently claimed that he would like to "punch" the midfielder for his inconsistent form this season
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has dismissed suggestions from Roberto Mancini that he has only given "50 percent" this season.

Mancini recently joked to reporters that he would like to "punch" the midfielder, who has been beset by poor form throughout City's unsuccessful defence of the Premier League title. But, while Nasri admits has been some way below his best of late, he insisted that his manager's sentiments were lost in translation.

"Mancini has shown a little proof of bad faith when he said he wanted to punch me," he told French sports broadcaster beIN Sport. "I've not had a good season, I know it, I'm aware of that. I am the first to be self-critical. But it's not true that I'm playing at 50 percent."

He added, "I think the coach still doesn't handle English very well and sometimes uses expressions that aren't really suitable."

Nasri took a further swipe at Mancini by expressing his belief that Arsene Wenger is the best coach he has worked with during his career.

"Arsene Wenger is the greatest coach I've worked with," Nasri stated. "If I'd worked with Wenger at Manchester City, maybe I would have avoided some problems. Arsene Wenger is the one who understood me most, with whom I had the greatest affinity. I'm very grateful to him as he signed me after perhaps my worst season at Marseille when I had a bout of meningitis. He played a huge role in my career."

 

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Reus: Isco is a genius

The Borussia Dortmund ace has voiced his admiration for the gifted youngster, and has stressed that Malaga will not be pushovers in their Champions League last eight encounter Borussia Dortmund attacker Marco Reus has taken the time to praise Malaga star Isco ahead of the teams Champions League quarterfinal tie.

The Spain international has developed into one of the most sought-after players since joining Malaga from Valencia in the summer of 2011, and his rise to prominence has not gone unnoticed in Germany.

"Isco is a genius. He is a natural and a huge talent," Reus was quoted as saying by AS.

The gifted attacker then went on to single out Martin Demichelis as another key player for the Liga side, while stressing that Malaga cannot be underestimated.

"I also know Demichelis, who spent several years at Bayern Munich and has a lot of quality. Malaga have a great team that can trouble a lot of opponents," Reus explained. "They are having a superb season, despite some internal struggles. They won against AC Milan and eliminated a strong team like Porto."

The first leg of the quarterfinal tie between BVB and Malaga takes place at La Rosaleda on Wednesday.

 

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UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg Fixtures 2013.04.03

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg Fixtures 2013.04.03

Malaga Vs Dortmund

Real Madrid Vs Galatasaray

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St Pauli Goalkeeper Scores Header v Paderborn

Niyama goal Header 1ka!

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[මුගටියා]

St Pauli Goalkeeper Scores Header v Paderborn

Niyama goal Header 1ka!

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patta

 

[MR.BILLA]

Ada Champions League matches bro thiyenneWorldcup Qualifiers naha​

OW EKA DANNAWA BRO RAA NIDIMARALA OKA BELUWA....!! ANDIMATA KEWA BARCA...

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Barcelona: Last-gasp Matuidi strike keeps French side alive

Bayern Munich 2-0 Juventus: Alaba and Muller net as German giants produce dominant display

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Messi suffers hamstring injury

 

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Walcott: I'd trade appearances for trophy with Arsenal

 

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St Pauli Goalkeeper Scores Header v Paderborn

Niyama goal Header 1ka!

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patta

 

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Half Time

Malaga 0 Vs 0 Dortmund
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Half Time

Real Madrid 2 Vs 0 Galatasaray


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Full Time

Malaga 0 Vs 0 Dortmund​

 

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Full Time

Real Madrid 3 Vs 0 Galatasaray

Real Madrid Goal(s)

C.Ronaldo 09'
Benzema 29'
Higuain 73'
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[Wolverine GTR]

Malaga 0-0 Borussia Dortmund: Gotze guilty as visitors rue missed chances

There were chances aplenty in La Rosaleda but no goals, as Malaga held Borussia Dortmund to a 0-0 draw that means its dream of going all the way in the Champions League stays very much intact.

Jurgen Klopp's men wasted ample opportunities to take a healthy lead from the first leg of this quarterfinal, Mario Gotze one of the prime culprits, and will be disappointed to go back to Germany with the tie still hanging on a knife-edge.

Buoyant after downing Porto to advance to the quarterfinals, Malaga was determined to keep its Champions League fairytale alive and came out in aggressive fashion against the German champions. Javier Saviola had an excellent early chance for the hosts. Played in with a lovely flicked pass from Joaquin, the Argentine turned well in the box but could not find the target as he slammed into the side netting.

Despite pressure at the start from the Andalucians, it was Dortmund which posed the bigger threat as it attacked fluidly on the counter. A long ball was flicked on by Robert Lewandowski into the path of Mario Gotze, who easily broke the offside trap and advanced on Wilfred Caballero before being denied by the keeper. The young No. 10 had a similarly golden chance just minutes later, once more failing to beat the veteran shot-stopper after being fed by Marco Reus.

The next BVB man to curse his luck in front of the net was Kevin Grosskreutz, who spurned a wonderful opportunity after 29 minutes. The midfielder was in the right place to slot Lukas Piszczek's low cross home after more intelligent approach play from Lewandowski, but with Caballero scrambling to cover his left post the shot slipped wide, sparing Malaga.

The Boquerones also threatened in front of their own fans, most notably with a corner that required a sterling Dortmund effort to keep the ball out. Weligton's initial header was well-saved by Roman Weidenfeller, but the rebound was steered towards the empty net and it was Gotze who popped up at the far post to head away from danger.

Following the entertainment of the first half, it was no surprise to see Dortmund charge straight back on the offensive when the game recommenced. Gotze's pull-back took a substantial deflection in the box, steering it into the path of Lewandowski, who looked destined to score. The Poland international's usually razor-sharp instincts in front of goal failed him, however, and the result was a pathetic scuffed effort that once more let Malaga off the hook.

Gotze was guilty of missing a couple of glorious efforts before the break, and the playmaker's rotten luck continued as another shot failed to hit the mark. Streaking through to meet a well-placed through ball, he had little angle to aim at but would still have been disappointed not to test Caballero as his shot flew past the right-hand post to keep the score level.

At the other end, meanwhile, Isco appeared with a thundering half-volley that required Weidenfeller to send the ball away with his fists.

Malaga and Dortmund continued to press until the very final whistle, but despite hatfuls of excellent chances for both teams across the clash, there was no separating the two combatants as time was called on an entertaining goal-less draw.

The Germans perhaps shaded the encounter but having failed to net an away goal, they will be nervous about greeting the Boquerones in the second leg with the game still open for either side.

 

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Real Madrid 3-0 Galatasaray: Attacking trio leave semis in sight for Mourinho

Real Madrid has one foot planted firmly in the Champions League semis after a commanding 3-0 victory over Galatasaray in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie on Wednesday.

A superb opener from Cristiano Ronaldo and a close-range second from Karim Benzema put los Blancos in the driving seat with a 2-0 lead at the Bernabeu before the half-hour mark.

And though Galatasaray showed some promise, Madrid was always the superior side, and Gonzalo Higuain came off the bench to nod home a third in the 73rd minute to make the second leg at the Ali Sami Yen little more than a formality, barring a monumental collapse from Jose Mourinho's men.

Benzema was preferred to Higuain up front, while Michael Essien replaced Alvaro Arbeloa at right back, and captain Iker Casillas was excluded from the squad altogether.

With only nine minutes on the clock, Madrid was ahead. Mesut Ozil was the architect, slipping in Ronaldo with a superb through ball, which was matched by an exquisite lob over Fernando Muslera and into the far side.Didier Drogba had a chance to respond after shaking off Raphael Varane with a powerful turn and squaring up to goal, but the Ivorian rather snatched at his shot and sent it high and wide.

There was real ebb and flow developing to the game, and the sprightly Ozil was denied from the edge of the ox by Muslera, no long before Drogba’s swerving effort from distance was met with a safety-first punch from Diego Lopez.

But only one side was able to make its chances count, and Madrid gave another lesson in clinical finishing just before the half-hour mark. Essien’s cross was plucked from the air exquisitely at the far post by Benzema, who was then left with a simple tap-in.

Galatasaray, to its credit, or perhaps because it had no other option, kept pushing forward. Burak Yilmaz missed from close range after Drogba had bettered Sergio Ramos, and Emmanuel Eboue tested Lopez with a low drive following a one-two with the Ivorian striker.

But the hosts’ forays forward meant that the possibility of a third Madrid goal always existed, and after a cheap foul by Dany Nounkeu at the corner of the box, Ronaldo dipped the resulting free-kick onto the roof of the net shortly before the break.But in sharp contrast to the enterprise that marked the first half, the second period progressed with a far more measured tempo from Madrid, which, with a two-goal advantage in hand, seemed content to make the visitors chase the game by holding onto the ball.

And with 17 minutes remaining, substitute Higuain all but put the tie to bed by guiding a header into the back of the net from Xabi Alonso’s free kick into the box.

Ronaldo’s acrobatic attempt at a fourth was blocked by Eboue, who had initially allowed the Portuguese space for the shot, but Mourinho's men had long done their job, and played out the remaining minutes in control to set up what looks like a straightforward second leg.

 

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Gibson: Bale is not Spurs' only threat

The Irish midfielder looks set to go up against the Player of the Year contender on Sunday but he is adamant that David Moyes's side will not be making any special plans for him Everton midfielder Darron Gibson says that Tottenham attacker Gareth Bale is "unbelievable" but insists that his side will not focus solely on the Welshman in their upcoming clash.

David Moyes's side travels to White Hart Lane for its match on Sunday and the former Manchester United man believes that Spurs have Bale to thank for many of their wins this season.

The Irishman highlights Seamus Coleman's previous performances against Bale as a reason for optimism, though, before adding that Andre Villas-Boas has a number of impressive players at his disposal.

"I think [Bale] has been unbelievable. He's won games for Spurs on his own," Gibson told Everton's official website. "It's good for English football and it's good for Spurs but hopefully he is not good on Sunday against us. I think he is up there with the best in Europe at the minute.

"Seamus has dealt with him quite well the last two times he has played against him. He's a great player and I don't think there is one particular way of stopping him.

"We're good as a team defensively and we work hard for each other, so hopefully we will be alright. They've got great players in the squad and players coming off the bench as well, so I don't think we are going to go into the game just focusing on Gareth Bale.

"It took them a while to get going but they are in great form at the minute but, if we play the way we have been and the way we did against Manchester City, I think we will do well."

 

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Bayern Munich monitors Kompany after Mancini feud

The runaway Bundesliga leader is keeping an eye on events at the Etihad Stadium in the hope that the Belgium defender's situation changes and he becomes available for transfer Bayern Munich is monitoring Vincent Kompany's situation after the Manchester City captain's public feud with manager Roberto Mancini.

The Belgium defender felt the wrath of his boss at the end of March after turning out for his country despite missing City's previous eight matches with a calf injury.

And, although Bayern is well aware that the 26-year-old is keen to stay at the Etihad Stadium, they are waiting in the wings should the situation change.

Kompany is well known in Germany, having spent two seasons at Hamburg before moving to City for £6 million in 2008.

Ironically, he moved to the Imtech Arena as a replacement for Bayern-bound Daniel Van Buyten, the man whom he would likely oust from the Roten line-up should the Bavarians lure him away from England.

Pep Guardiola, who will take over from Jupp Heynckes at the Allianz Arena this summer, is a longtime admirer of Kompany and would support any move by the club's hierarchy for the Belgian.

But the path to a transfer remains obscured by the fact that Kompany is settled in the northwest of England, having married his Mancunian girlfriend in 2011 and enrolled at the local university.

The Belgian has very much bought into Abu Dhabi group's long-term project at Eastlands and remains a prominent figure in Mancini's dressing room, frequently acting as the intermediary between City's playing staff and the club's coaching setup.

Speaking after he signed a new six-year deal with the Premier League champion in July, Kompany enthused: "Man City as a project is not just a project of the owners or the people employed by the club; it is also my project.

"I have been here since the beginning and I have seen everything at the club change inside and out. I have the feeling that I have contributed to it too. It is good to know that I can be at City for another six years. It is a compliment that the club feels so highly of me."

Barcelona, Guardiola's former club, has also been linked with Kompany in the past and is also thought to be keeping tabs on the former HSV star.

 

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Gotze admits frustration at missed chances

The 20-year-old has spoken of his regret at squandering three gilt-edged opportunities as Borussia Dortmund drew 0-0 with Malaga in Champions League stalemate at La Rosaleda Borussia Dortmund star Mario Gotze has admitted frustration at his inability to convert chances as the German champion drew 0-0 with Malaga in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

Jurgen Klopp's men had a handful of opportunities to take an away goal into the second leg of the quarterfinal next week, with three falling to the 20-year-old, but some wasteful finishing saw Malaga keep a clean sheet at La Rosaleda.

Gotze was denied two times within five minutes when one-on-one with Willy Caballero in the first half, and he also lashed wide from a great position a few yards out in the second period."I could've helped the team out a great deal by scoring at least one goal,” he told reporters after the match. “It’s a shame that I wasn’t able to do that. We still have to be satisfied with the result and we still have a return leg.”

But teammate Ilkay Gundogan defended his compatriot, and insisted the misses will not be dwelled upon.

"We showed a good performance for an away match and created several decent chances,” the Turk said. “Mario had three or four [chances] and he usually puts at least one of those away. It wasn't meant to be but it was also important to keep a clean sheet."Goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller also emphasized the importance of keeping a clean sheet, adding: “We can be satisfied with 0-0.

"Our goal was to keep a clean sheet. It’s a shame we didn’t score. I’m satisfied nonetheless. Nothing is decided yet but we can set things straight at our home ground.”

Dortmund face Malaga in the second leg of the quarterfinal next Tuesday at the Westfalenstadion.