..::Football II::..

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Stoke boss Pulis hopes 40 points will be enough for Premier League survival

The Potters went down to a second consecutive home defeat to see their terrible run of just one win in 2013 continue, and drag them further into a Premier League relegation battle Tony Pulis insists his Stoke side is still confident of reaching the "survival mark" of 40 points to secure its Premier League status after Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United plunged the Potters further into trouble.

An early strike from Michael Carrick and a second-half Robin van Persie penalty ensured the league leaders left the Britannia Stadium with all three points, but the result means Stoke has still claimed just one league win in 2013.

Despite that terrible run of form dragging the Staffordshire side into a relegation scrap, Pulis remains upbeat about his team's chances of getting six more points in its five remaining Premier League games.

"I'd still say 40 points [will mean survival]," Pulis told reporters. "We've got a pretty good goal difference, so for us if we got to 40 points with the goal difference [we would be safe].

"I've just spoken to the players, it's a five-game season, we've got Manchester United out of the way and there's now eight, maybe nine, teams in the scrap. The season starts for us now and it's very important that you remain positive.

"I think we've got good players, we just need a break. Today we've given two sloppy goals away, we got ourselves back into the game against Aston Villa and [Matthew] Lowton smashes one in from 35 yards.

"We just haven't had the breaks and that's what happens on runs like this. The most important thing is that we all stay positive, and it's difficult to do that. What's gone is gone, the important thing is looking to the next game and the next game.

"The first goal kills us. It was a poor goal to concede, the lads have worked well this week and to concede a poor goal [was disappointing]."

 

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Dante: Messi and Barcelona are the world's best

The Bayern Munich defender has urged his teammates to approach the Champions League tie against the Blaugrana with the right mentality despite their top form.
Bayern Munich center back Dante has labeled Barcelona and Lionel Messi as the best team and player in the world respectively.

The German champions face the Blaugrana in the Champions League semifinals later this month, and the former Borussia Monchengladbach man is wary of the task at hand.

“Of course it will not be easy. We know that Barcelona are the best team in the world, with a very modern game system and a touch of the ball that has no comparison," Dante told Lance. "It will be very difficult to play against Messi, the best player in the world. We will have to give all of us, to show solidarity and run a lot.

"Barcelona are a great team who improvise a lot. We need to approach the two games with a great mentality and strive to reach the final.”

Bayern hosts Barcelona at the Allianz Arena on April 23 and travels to Camp Nou eight days later for the return leg.

 

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Di Canio hails Sunderland 'warriors' after emphatic Newcastle derby win

The Italian celebrated in typically animated fashion as his side won the Tyne-Wear clash 3-0, but he admits it will count for nothing if the Black Cats are relegated.
Paolo Di Canio described his Sunderland players as "warriors" and "heroes" after the emphatic 3-0 Tyne-Wear derby victory over rival Newcastle.

Sunderland took the lead in the first half through Stephane Sessegnon, and, after a Papiss Cisse equalizer was incorrectly ruled offside, the Black Cats further strengthened their advantage with exceptional strikes from Adam Johnson and David Vaughan.

Di Canio was full of praise for his side after the game, and he believes his players showed the character needed to stay in the Premier League.

"We had to not be shy, not to only have two lines very close together and not challenge in the 50-50," Di Canion told reporters. "We are here to fight for our future and we did that in the end.

"My players did a fantastic job, they were warriors so they deserve this fantastic result."

The victory moved Sunderland to 15th place, three points clear of the bottom three, but the Italian admitted the win - despite being against the club's bitter rival - would mean little at the end of the season if his side is relegated.

"I won many important games [with Swindon] in the cup, so that was an important moment for the club's history," Di Canio said. "But when you arrive at the top in the Premier League and you win one of the toughest derbies in the world...to do this after many years...we won 3-0, [we scored] three goals, [and kept a] clean sheet. Obviously as a single game [it] is the best and the most important, but it's nothing if we don't stay up."

Di Canio was typically animated in the Sunderland technical area, sliding to his knees in celebration and enjoying the plaudits of the travelling support after the game, but insisted most of the credit must go to his players.

"I wanted to go far, but I couldn't because I am too old," Di Canio joked. "I only have 20 yards in my legs nowadays. There was a good moment with the fans, we were really happy.

"They [the fans] have to sing the players' name because the players worked so hard. I shuttle 10 yards up and down the technical area because I have energy to do this.

"It's more important for my players because they give everything. They were heroes, they did a fantastic job."

 

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Totti: I can reach 300 Serie A goals

The Roma captain has scored 227 times in the Italian top flight and is hoping to hit another landmark before he calls time on his career.Roma legend Francesco Totti says he is determined to score 300 goals in Serie A and become the league's all-time leading goalscorer in the process.

The 36-year-old made his league debut for the Giallorossi 20 years ago and has since found the net a total of 227 times in the Italian top flight.

“If I am in a position to do so, I am convinced that I will reach [300]," Totti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "[If I had played as a striker] I would have reached 300 a long time ago."

His equalizer in Monday's Derby della Capitale drew him level with Dino da Costa and Marco Delvecchio on nine goals in the fixture and Totti said he was honored to reach another career milestone.

"It's the record that I care most about," Totti added.

Should Roma get past Inter in the Coppa Italia semifinal on Wednesday, Totti will have another chance to score against Lazio once more in the competition's final.

Totti assisted on the game-winning goal in Roma's 2-1 victory over Torino on Sunday, a win that keeps Roma in contention for a place in the Europa League next season.

 

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Mourinho didn't see our weaknesses, says Klopp

The Real Madrid boss came to watch Dortmund beat Greuther Furth 6-1 on Saturday and the BVB manager says his side showcased all of its qualities.
Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp believes Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho left before the club showcased its weaknesses against Greuther Furth.

The deposed German champions clash with Los Blancos in the Champions League semifinals later this month and the Real Madrid boss went to see his side's opponents in action on Saturday. BVB triumphed 6-1 at the Trolli Arena and Klopp feels Mourinho's exit when Dortmund was 5-0 up means he did not see anything useful.

"We are no longer in the situation where we want to play well for Mourinho. He will have got some impression, which he cannot use in two weeks, because everything will be different," Klopp told Sky. "But if he wants to see Furth, he is welcome ...

"He left after the 5-0 and didn't see our weaknesses. But if he wanted to see whether [Mario] Gotze can play on the left, he can call me."

Gotze and Ilkay Gundogan netted two goals apiece, with Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski also getting their names on the scoresheet in the lopsided win.

BVB hosts Madrid on April 24 before travelling to Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for the return leg six days later.

 

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Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Real Madrid: Ronaldo reaches 50 for the season in resounding San Mames triumph

Real Madrid's clinical edge told in the end as the club overcame Athletic Bilbao 3-0 at San Mames in their Liga clash on Sunday.

But the scoreline did little to tell the story of the game, particularly the first-half, as los Merengues were put under considerable pressure at times by the intense attacking style that Marcelo Bielsa's team is famed for.

Cristiano Ronaldo reached a half-century of goals for the season and needed only two minutes to break the deadlock in stunning fashion, before heading home another on 68 minutes to provide some much-needed breathing room for his team.

Gonzalo Higuain arrowed home a third goal shortly after his arrival as a substitute to put any lingering hopes of a Bilbao comeback to rest, and restore Madrid's three-point cushion over third-placed Atletico Madrid, which was victorious over Granada earlier in the day.

What the Basques really could have done without was a poor start, but they made just that, when Ronaldo belted a 25-yard free kick right into the top corner of Gorka Iraizoz’s net.

But it was hardly a sign of things to come. Bilbao would soon work onto the front foot through its energetic attacking play that caused the Madrid defense no end of trouble.

Markel Susaeta was growing into the game with every passing moment, and with 19 minutes gone, drifted into a great shooting position on the right, but was denied by Diego Lopez at full stretch.The home side continued to keep Madrid penned back in the first half. The club's attacking players barely saw the ball and were in fact forced into some last-ditch defending – Angel Di Maria teaming up with Xabi Alonso to rob Susaeta from close range.

The Argentine though would almost make headway at the other end just before the interval, driving into the area on the counter and ignoring the option of a Karim Benzema cutback to smash towards goal, but he was thwarted by the crossbar.Ander Herrera would nearly have the last laugh at the very end of the half when he lashed an effort towards the top corner from the edge of the box that shifted inches wide, with Lopez appearing beaten.

Madrid showed signs of improvement early in the second half when Marcelo’s cross was beaten away by Iraizoz, who also recovered in time to stop Benzema’s follow up.

But the visiting side could not quite build on the momentum earned from that opening, and walked a tightrope as the second-half progressed, with Bilbao still harboring the potential to carve the team apart.However, with 22 minutes to go, relief would arrive for Madrid from the head of a familiar source. Alonso’s free kick was met emphatically at the far post by Ronaldo, who soared above Jonas Ramalho to steer home.

Eight minutes later Madrid would put the icing on the cake. Higuain, who had been on the pitch for barely five minutes, angled home a fine effort into the corner after Ronaldo's flick freed him for the shot.

Substitute Jose Callejon could have added a fourth goal late on after wriggling into a great position inside the area, but steered his finish within a whisker of the post.

 

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Zaragoza 0-3 Barcelona: Tello fires double to stake claim for regular start

Barcelona sauntered to a comfortable 3-0 win over a Zaragoza side that never looked like it was fighting for its Liga lives at La Romareda.

Gerard Pique, David Villa, Pedro and Lionel Messi, who was not even among the matchday squad, were all rested for the fixture, but that did not stop the Blaugrana from completely outclassing their opponents. Thiago opened the scoring after 20 minutes before Cristian Tello netted a goal on either side of halftime to leave his team needing just three wins to wrestle the league title from Real Madrid.

Barca's superiority was instantly clear as it got an effort away at the hosts' goal after just 45 seconds. After a brilliant first touch, Tello just could not muster enough bend on his effort to bring it inside the far post.

The Catalan giants did not continue at such an explosive pace, but still monopolized possession of the ball even though a compact Zaragoza defense kept their options limited in the final third; however, with the hosts committing men forward for a corner Tito Vilanova's side broke the deadlock with a goal on the counterattack. Thiago surged forward from deep and after playing the ball wide to Alexis Sanchez, he raced into the box and swept the return pass into the net.

With minimal pressure coming from the hosts the Blaugrana could afford to play at a canter. That they did, until another injection of pace saw them double their lead 19 minutes later.

Thiago bided his time in possession before threading a ball through the defence to put Tello one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The winger shaped to hit the ball towards the far corner but instead guided the ball in at the near post.

Alexis was desperate to continue the form that saw him score twice against Mallorca last weekend but luck was not on his side. Having been denied a first-half goal by the legs of Roberto Jimenez, he then saw his elegant chip come back of the bar shortly after the restart.

The third goal did come soon after, though, and once more it was Tello who struck. With space to run into, he passed Glenn Loovens down the left with a stepover and then rolled the ball into the far corner. Tello was denied a hat trick when Roberto raced out of goal to block the youngster's 69th-minute attempt, but the three points had already been wrapped up.

Barca opens up a temporary 16-point lead over Real Madrid to bring the title well within its grasp, though Madrid will try to push its rival as far as possible by winning against Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday. Zaragoza, meanwhile, ends the weekend in the relegation zone following Deportivo La Coruna's fourth consecutive win.

 

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Roura proud of versatile Barcelona

The 45-year-old coach praised the Liga giants for not relying on their star names to secure victory following the 3-0 win on Sunday Jordi Roura has shared his pride at the way Barcelona's fringe playrs stepped up again to comfortably dispatch Zaragoza on Sunday evening.

The Liga giants coasted to a 3-0 victory without the influence of a number of key players after coach Tito Vilanova named six changes to the side which faced Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the week.

And speaking to reporters after the game, the Camp Nou assistant was full of praise for the strength-in-depth shown to negotiate a "tough" fixture.

Roura said: "We did not think much about resting players because we wanted to win. If we had a midweek game that would been different.

"It is difficult to pinpoint someone today. It was a tough game and Thiago, Song, Tello and Bartra were all fantastic. I praise the whole team. I am very proud of this squad.

"I had said how important it was to win this match. The league is simple now but the priority."

 

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Luiz wants Aguero apology for tackle in Chelsea's defeat to Manchester City

The Brazil international was the victim of a two-footed lunge by the Argentina striker, who had earlier scored the vital second goal to send the 2011 FA Cup winners into the final Chelsea defender David Luiz wants Sergio Aguero to apologize for his two-footed challenge in the FA Cup semifinal defeat to Manchester City.

The Argentina striker scored City's crucial second goal in the match at Wembley but later lunged in at Brazil international Luiz in the 82nd minute.

And Luiz, who also appeared to try and elbow Aguero, believes the match-winner should say sorry for his challenge.

Luiz told reporters: "Many people say to me about this tackle. I didn't see it because it was in the back of me. I cannot speak about that.

"I felt it a little bit. Aguero is a great player and I think he needs to be honest with himself and say: 'I don't like to do bad tackles, I don't like to do that.'

"I forgive everyone in my life. People are happy when Aguero is scoring goals, doing things in the game. Many people have said to me: 'Sorry this is not me and not good for the football.' Many kids see the game, watch the game and want to see good things and not bad things."

And when asked whether he would apologize were he in the Argentine's shoes, Luiz was adamant that he would.

He added: "Of course, I would apologize to everyone. I want just to show people good things – football is beautiful when you play games like that. Both teams tried to win, both created opportunities and tried good things.

"Sometimes in the games people have five seconds, be angry and do things you don't like to do. I think that. I never saw Aguero do bad tackles on other players. I think it was five-second angry and I forgive him."

 

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Mancini: Hart will sit out FA Cup final

With Costel Pantilimon starting in the game against Chelsea, the City manager has revealed that the Romanian goalkeeper will keep his place for the match against Wigan in May.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has revealed that Joe Hart will sit out of the FA Cup final against Wigan, with Costel Pantilimon retaining his place in the competition.

City's second-choice goalkeeper was chosen ahead of Hart in the semifinal win against Chelsea, as the Romanian conceded his first goal in the competition this season in the 2-1 victory.

Mancini, who celebrated reaching another FA Cup final as manager of the Manchester club, says he will stick with Pantilimon for the final against the Latics.

"Pantilimon is there to do what he did, Costel did very well but he's a very good keeper, it's what I expected," he told the club's official website.

"He will stay, we have four weeks to think about it but I think he will play [in the final]. He's worked very well behind Joe Hart and I think for Joe that's very important."

Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero put City two goals in front in the clash at Wembley, before Demba Ba pulled a goal back for Chelsea.

Mancini won the FA Cup final with City against Stoke in 2011, and admits his priorities have changed towards the competition after slipping behind in the Premier League title race.

"We could be disappointed with the Premier League because I think we had another chance to win it if we had worked well last summer but we didn't, we made some mistakes probably," he said. "But now we are a good team, we go to the final and we have chance to get the second position and we have a chance to show we shouldn't be 15 points behind. I think this should be our target now."

 

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Arsenal 3-1 Norwich: Late comeback sees Gunners leapfrog Tottenham

 

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Allegri: Racism in football has to stop

 

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Totti: I can reach 300 Serie A goals

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Chelsea 1-2 Manchester City: Aguero goal ends Blues’ proud FA Cup record

 

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Simeone targets late charge for second place

Following the 5-0 demolition of Granada, the Atletico coach is full of optimism that his side can finish second in La Liga ahead of Real Madrid.

Diego Simeone believes Atletico Madrid can pip Real Madrid to a second placed finish in La Liga following its 5-0 win over Granada.

Los Rojiblancos are three points off their city rivals and the Argentine believes the result against the Andalusian minnows can be the catalyst for a late charge to finish as runners-up.

"We want second place," the 42-year-old coach told reporters. "The team did a great job and now we have 65 points. We were able to take our chances and this made the team to play a more intense game. I am very satisfied with our work."

He added, "We need to win matches and make sure that they do not change in the last few minutes. Today was important and showed a late fight for the highest-possible finish. Although, it is still impossible to say that we have secured Champions League qualification."

 

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Rooney and Van Persie target record points total

The Manchester United pair have challenged themselves to see out this season crowned Premier League champions and beat Chelsea's tally of 95 from its 2004-05 triumph Manchester United strikers Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have set a target to win the Premier League with a record-breaking points tally.

The Red Devils need just seven points from their last six matches to be crowned English champions and could eclipse Chelsea's 2004-05 high watermark of 95 points if they will all their remaining games.

"We are in a great position," Rooney told The Guardian. "We have to make sure we move on and push ourselves over that line.

"The manager [told us before beating Stoke City] that the season started today and we've now got six to go – we have to go for all of them. If we win them all, we get a record in our pockets, so it's a good aim, a nice target for all of us to achieve."

Van Persie added: "We don't just want to try and win the league by getting the points we need, we want to get maximum points now from the games remaining.

"It's important that you keep a run of wins going and that's what we want to do."

 

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Karanka: Ronaldo won Madrid the match

The Portuguese attacker made the difference for the Blancos in a hostile environment, prompting the assistant coach to hail his performance.

Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka has taken the time to praise Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of the Blancos' 3-0 Liga win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

The Portugal international received a hostile welcome at San Mames, but silenced the home crowd with a fine performance as he scored twice and created his side's third goal.

"He did what he had to do and scored two goals that won us the match. He has once again shown the type of player he is," Karanka said at a press conference. "Football is for men and even more so at San Mames. Athletic's players did what they needed to do. Cristiano had the match he had and scored twice.

"Cristiano did well in a tough atmosphere and has once again shown the type of player he is. He did what he had to do and scored two goals that won us the match."

Ronaldo has already netted 31 goals in 30 Liga appearances so far this term.

 

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Roma must take advantage of Inter's struggles, says De Rossi

The midfielder has noted the Nerazzurri's recent problems and is determined to add to them in their Coppa Italia second leg on Wednesday.Daniele De Rossi has urged Roma to take advantage of Inter Milan's struggles when the two sides meet in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal.

The Giallorossi lead the tie 2-1 after the first leg, while the Nerazzurri have continued to suffer in Serie A, with Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Cagliari leaving them seventh in the table.

De Rossi is eager to capitalize on Inter's recent problems, while reassuring supporters that Roma is in good shape ahead of Wednesday's game, in which the winner of the tie will advance to the final against Roma's chief rival, Lazio.

“We’re fine,” De Rossi said to NovaraChannel.tv. “Inter is experiencing their own difficulties as of late because of injuries. Therefore we must take advantage.”

De Rossi also commented on his captain Francesco Totti’s pursuit of Silvio Piola’s Serie A goalscoring record, after the veteran signalled his intention to reach 300 goals before he hangs up his boots.

“With our help, within three to four years our captain could reach the most sensational record in Italian football," De Rossi said. “Totti has now reached an unbelievable tally of goals in the Italian league.

“With all due respect to the undisputed champion (Silvio) Piola, this is probably the most difficult time to score compared to a time when races ended with a lot of goals.”

 

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Lazio 0-2 Juventus: Vidal double edges Conte's men closer to Serie A title

Juventus took another big step towards the Scudetto in the Stadio Olimpico, after the reigning champion picked up a vital 2-0 victory away to Lazio to leave the club tantalizingly close to lifting the 2012-13 Serie A title.

Arturo Vidal was the hero for the Bianconeri, netting twice in the first half during a routine win that leaves the Turin outfit 11 points clear of Napoli at the Italian summit with just six matches left.

After crashing out of the Champions League in comprehensive fashion against Bayern Munich, Juventus was keen to put that disappointment in the rear-view mirror and continue the march to the Scudetto in the Italian capital. Against a Lazio side still in the hunt for a spot in the continental competition, Antonio Conte's men could not have asked for a better start.

Just seven minutes into the encounter, Mirko Vucinic escaped Lorik Cana only to be cut down in the box by a clumsy tackle from the center back. There was no doubt whatsoever about the penalty decision, and Vidal hit with authority to send Federico Marchetti and put his side into the lead. The goal immediately put the visitors in the ascendancy, as Lazio struggled to contain a vibrant attack throughout the first half.

Michael Ciani came to the rescue of his side to block from Claudio Marchisio after the midfielder latched on to Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross, while Vucinic went close to netting as his toe-poke from a low free kick forced an instinctive save from Marchetti. The home side challenged across the pitch, but its offensive efforts lacked clarity and focus and it rarely threatened Gianluigi Buffon between the posts.

Ciani once more saved a second goal when he made a diving intervention to block Vidal's shot, but Juventus was in control and it seemed just a matter of time before they were back on the scoresheet. Minutes after that chance. Vucinic's pass took a somewhat fortunate deflection in the box and, as the Lazio defense hesitated, Vidal took full advantage as he coolly finished past Marchetti. The Biancocelesti were sinking without a trace, and Champions League football looked a distant dream as they went into the break well behind the Serie A pace-setters.

A more determined host team came out for the second 45 minutes, and it nearly pulled one back just after the interval. A looping corner found the net of the stooping Ciani, and Buffon was forced to make an excellent save to keep his clean sheet intact as the ball spiralled towards the bottom-right corner. Instants later, however, Juve should have put the game beyond doubt with a golden chance.

Andrea Pirlo's free kick was saved by Marchetti, but the keeper could not hold on to the ball and it rolled loose with at least three black shirts chasing the rebound. Marchisio arrived first, but he misjudged the bounce, and off balance he sliced his shot well over to the bar in an awful miss.

Lazio was the next team to lament its luck in front of goal. Meeting a perfect cross from Antonio Candreva, Miroslav Klose got his free header all wrong and failed to hit the target.

After a thrilling start to the second period, the match soon lost its urgency with Juventus taking control, stroking the ball around the park and assuring victory. There was no way back for the home team, which slumped to defeat in front of its own fans to move further away from the European dream for 2013-14 and allow Inter and Roma to stay within striking range for a Europa League place.

Lazio remains in fifth place, eight points behind AC Milan for the final qualifying spot for the Champions League.