..::Football III::..

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UEFA Europa League Fixtures 2014.03.13

UEFA Europa League Fixtures 2014.03.13

Basel Vs Salzburg

Porto Vs Napoli

Razgard Vs Valencia

Alkmaar Vs Anzi

Juventus Vs Fiorentina

Lyon Vs Viktoria Plzen

Sevilla Vs Real Betis

Tottenham Vs Benfica​

 

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Sevilla 0-2 Betis: Baptistao and Sevilla seal famous derby win

Sevilla were left stunned as goals from Leo Baptisto and Salva Sevilla saw Betis record a famous 2-0 win over their arch-rivals in the first-leg of their last 16 Europa League on Thursday night.

For Betis, the Europa League offers momentary respite from a domestic relegation battle and La Liga's basement club looked to be relishing the stage as they took a 15th-minute lead at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Atletico Madrid-owned forward Baptistao headed in an inviting cross from Juanfran, but the hosts generally controlled the remainder of the opening period, with goalkeeper Antonio Adan keeping Betis ahead.

Sevilla dominated proceedings after the break but still struggled to find a way past Adan, and Baptistao wasted a glorious chance to double Betis' lead in the 54th minute.A few moments after Kevin Gameiro had headed over from close range, Salva Sevilla netted against his former side to secure the visitors' third win at their bitter rivals since 1996.

Most of the build-up to the fixture focused on Betis' last two trips to Sevilla - in which they conceded a total of nine goals - and the visitors almost suffered a nightmare start.

Just 17 seconds in, Carlos Bacca burst past Jordi Figueras and into the penalty area, but his left-footed effort was saved by the feet of Adan.

The visitors capitalised on that let-off and took the lead after quarter of an hour. Baptistao produced an expertly timed run to get in front of Federico Fazio at the near post to power home a header from Juanfran's right-wing cross.

Sevilla nearly hit back five minutes later as Ivan Rakitic picked out Bacca with a precise lofted pass into the area, but Adan denied the Colombian again, palming his header away.

Both sides spurned glorious chances within one minute just after the hour mark as Cedrick saw his header well saved by Beto, before Vitolo poked Jose Antonio Reyes' cross agonisingly wide.

Betis should have doubled their lead in the 54th minute as Baptistao pounced on Fernando Navarro's slip before shooting straight at Beto.

Half-time substitute Gameiro nearly restored parity two minutes later after a clever turn in the area, but his effort went narrowly wide of the bottom-right corner.

With Sevilla pressing for an equaliser, Betis looked threatening on the break and a last-ditch tackle by Fazio prevented Baptistao from doubling his tally, before Gameiro headed over an open goal from just a few yards out.Salva then silenced the home fans with just over 10 minutes left as he turned on the edge of the area before rifling an unstoppable shot past Beto, rounding off an historic win for Betis.

 

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Olympique Lyonnais 4-1 Viktoria Plzen: Second-half flurry cancels out visitors opener

Olympique Lyonnais scored a flurry of second-half goals to secure a 4-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday.

Plzen drew first blood at the Stade de Gerland after just three minutes through Tomas Horava's low header, but Lyon soon hit back as Gueida Fofana's knee diverted a corner kick past Petr Bolek.

Stanislav Tecl shot wide late in the first half and was made to pay for his miss as Lyon overwhelmed Plzen after the restart.

Alexandre Lacazette drove home Steed Malbranque's inviting through-ball before the veteran midfielder set up Arnold Mvuemba to give Lyon breathing space.

And Fofana popped up after 69 minutes to make the game safe and leave Plzen facing a huge task to reach the quarter-finals when the sides clash again in the second leg next week.

The result stretches Lyon's impressive Europa League record to one defeat in their last 17 games, but they had to dig deep.

The Czech champions enjoyed a great start and took the lead after three minutes when Jan Kovarik's left-wing cross was perfect for Horava to nod past Anthony Lopes.

Remi Garde's Lyon, though, responded well and were back on level terms after 12 minutes when Malbranque's corner was directed in off the knee of Fofana.

Tecl weaved through the home defence and fired a low effort that was easily dealt with by Anthony Lopes as Plzen went in search of a second.

Lacazette flashed a volley wide of Bolek's near post as the game flowed from end to end before Fofana saw his speculative effort saved after 25 minutes.

Bolek had to be alert again when Mvuemba's swerving free kick bounced in front of him but he clawed it away.

Despite being on the back foot, Plzen ought to have regained the lead when Tecl robbed Milan Bisevac, but failed to hit the target.

And the visitors went closer a minute before half-time through David Limbersky's rasping effort that Anthony Lopes did well to tip behind.

Plzen were punished for missed chances early in the second half when Malbranque stole the ball in midfield and, after exchanging passes, slipped the ball to Lacazette, who drove home convincingly.

That goal gave Lyon the opportunity to defend deep and hit on the break, which they did to devastating effect on the hour mark.

Malbranque was again influential, lifting an inch-perfect ball to the onrushing Mvuemba and controlled superbly with his chest before lashing home emphatically.

And Lyon made it four after 69 minutes when Fofana ran on to Lacazette's ball to slam home via a deflection on the edge of the area.

 

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Tottenham 1-3 Benfica: Luisao double piles more misery on Sherwood

Tottenham capped a dismal week for English clubs in Europe with a 3-1 loss to Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash at White Hart Lane.


Arsenal and Manchester City had already crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, and Spurs will need to come from behind for the second time in as many rounds if they are to make the quarter-finals after a disappointing home defeat.

Rodrigo scored the opener on the half-hour mark before Luisao doubled the advantage after the break - both scoring their second goals in as many matches.
With progression looking an unlikely prospect for Spurs after the second strike, Christian Eriksen pulled a goal back with a 64th-minute free-kick, but Luisao dashed Tottenham hopes in the closing stages when he found the net in the aftermath of a Benfica set-piece The result represents Spurs' first home defeat in 12 European fixtures, and Benfica's three away goals leave them with a mountain to climb in next week's second leg.

Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood handed Harry Kane just his second start of the season after openly criticising his side that crumbled to a 4-0 Premier League defeat at Chelsea on Saturday, but both teams struggled to carve out any goalscoring opportunities in the opening stages.

The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession in their opponents' half as the first period progressed, but Benfica goalkeeper Jan Oblak remained unchallenged aside from a Kyle Walker free-kick from which Younes Kaboul was deemed to have impeded the Slovenian goalkeeper.

However, Oblak was almost left red-faced in the 25th minute when he carelessly rushed to the edge of his box to meet a seemingly harmless Kaboul header, but scampered back to jump on the ball after letting it bounce past him.

Despite Spurs' greater share of possession, it was the 2013 Europa League runners-up who drew first blood, as Rodrigo latched onto a defence-splitting Ruben Amorim pass before finding the bottom left-hand corner of the goal with a low left-footed effort.

Eriksen - who returned from a back injury - threaded the ball into the path of Emmanuel Adebayor shortly after the break, but the striker dragged his attempt well wide of the left-hand post before Aaron Lennon directed a tame strike straight at Oblak.Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had to be on high alert in the 57th minute as he tipped over an Amorim effort after Kane had sloppily conceded possession, but it was not long before the visitors doubled their advantage.

From the resulting corner, Luisao shook off his marker to head beyond a helpless Lloris.The two-goal advantage did not last long as Eriksen curled home a superb free-kick shortly afterwards to salvage some hope for the London club.

Benfica looked to have ended Tottenham's chances in the competition in the 84th minute though, as Luisao smashed home from close range after Lloris could only weakly parry Ezequiel Garay's header into the defender's path.

The goal prompted a frank exchange of words between Sherwood and Benfica boss Jorge Jesus but it was the latter who had the last laugh, as his side put one foot in the competition's quarter-finals with a fine away win.

 

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AZ 1-0 Anzhi: Johannsson gives Eredivisie side narrow win

AZ have recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over Anzhi in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 encounter at the Afas Stadium.

The referee awarded the Dutch side a spot kick after an unfortunate handball in the first half and Aron Johannsson fired home from 12 yards to decide the game. Ali Gadzhibekov conceded the spot-kick after handling in the area and it was fitting that AZ's conversion also needed a slice of luck. Anzhi goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov got both hands to Johannsson's effort but saw the shot ricochet off his arm and in.

The Russian Premier League outfit sit bottom of the table and only produced their first win of the league season on Sunday, but they produced an excellent performance that defied their league standing.

After a tame beginning, the game burst into life in the 15th minute as Fedor Smolov was controversially denied for Anzhi. Smolov quickly pounced after strike partner Aleksandr Bukharov had a shot blocked, but his looping header was clawed away by Esteban, who could only palm the ball upwards before scrambling the rebound away.

Anzhi players thought Smolov's effort had crossed the line but their appeals were turned down, before Bukharov stabbed wide from Andrei Eshchenko's cut-back.

AZ took the lead against the run of play, though, after Gadzhibekov handled Jeffrey Gouweleeuw's header in the penalty area with 28 minutes gone.

Johannsson, who has 16 Eredivisie goals this season, converted from the spot but Anzhi kept up the pressure, as Aliyev struck the woodwork with an incredible free-kick.

Aliyev's effort beat Esteban but thudded into the crossbar, and Bukharov then forced a great one-on-one save from the goalkeeper after being played through by Smolov.

Nemanja Gudelj stung the palms of Kerzhakov with a long-range effort before the break but the hosts could count themselves lucky to lead at half-time.

Aliyev went close with two efforts just after the interval, first shooting wide from 18 yards before he fired over from distance, and Nikita Burmistrov was next to test Esteban, with his back-post header from Aliyev's cross well saved.

AZ coach Dick Advocaat was sent to the stands as he grew anxious, but Anzhi tired as the match grew older and Johannsson tested Kerzhakov with a late effort.

One goal was enough for AZ, though, who have now won three matches in a row without conceding.

 

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Basel 0-0 Red Bull Salzburg: Hosts deny in-form Austrians

Basel have recorded a scoreless draw against Red Bull Salzburg in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie at St. Jakob-Park.


The Austrian Bundesliga leaders came into the game boasting a 10-match winning streak in Europe this term but failed to seize the initiative in the last-16 first-leg tie at St Jakob-Park. The competition's leading scorers were unable to break down a stern Basel defence as the Swiss champions denied Roger Schmidt's men a 15th consecutive triumph in all competitions.

Goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who agreed a deal to join Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek, was called into action early on when he tipped Stefan Ilsanker's glancing header round the post.

Matias Delgado should then have done better when he ballooned a strike over following a quick break, while at the other end Dusan Svento again gave Sommer something to think about with a curling effort from inside the area.

As the visitors began to get on top in the game, Sadio Mane felt that he should have been awarded a penalty after turning past Marek Suchy – although referee Ovidiu Hategan disagreed and booked the Senagal midfielder for simulation.

Basel almost moved into the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Giovanni Sio diverted Philipp Degen's delivery over the bar after a speedy counter-attack and Valentin Stocker threatened on the stroke of half-time when fired a shot straight at Peter Gulacsi from close range.

After a quiet first half, Salzburg captain Jonatan Soriano eventually sprung into action shortly after the break, hitting two efforts from distance - one wide and the other comfortably saved - as he sought to maintain his status as the Europa League's leading scorer.

However, in the absence of Alan, the visitors struggled to showcase the attacking qualities that saw them score 36 goals in their previous eight games.

Robert Zulj was unable to convert Kevin Kampl's cross late on as Schmidt's side failed to find the net for the first time since December 2012.

Both sides meet again at the Red Bull Arena on March 20.

 

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Porto 1-0 Napoli: Martinez secures slender first-leg lead

Jackson Martinez fired Porto to a narrow 1-0 win over Napoli in the first-leg of their last-16 Europa League tie on Thursday.

Porto dominated for large periods of Thursday's game, but a combination of an incorrect offside decision that ruled out Eduardo's effort and the outstanding Pepe Reina frustrated them.There was nothing Reina could do, though, to stop Martinez netting the only goal after he reacted quickest to sweep home from 12 yards.

Martinez's 23rd goal of the season in all competitions means Porto travel to Italy for the second leg next week with high hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

The Portistas ended a four-game winless run in all competitions at the weekend with a confidence-boosting 4-1 victory over Arouca and bossed the first half against Napoli with ease.In what was the first European game in charge for interim coach Luis Castro, Porto could have been ahead early on but for a remarkable save from Reina.Carlos Eduardo chipped a delightful ball to Martinez and he met it sweetly on the half-volley, but Reina showed great reflexes to tip away the shot.

The 2010-11 Europa League winners continued to have the better of proceedings, with Steven Defour next to sting the palms of Reina.Castro's men should have been in front after 19 minutes when Martinez's inviting cross was nodded in by Eduardo, only for it to be incorrectly ruled offside.

The pattern of dominance continued in the early exchanges of the second half when Reina produced another superb stop to acrobatically claw away Fernando's rasping 30-yard drive.Ricardo Quaresma scored two goals at the weekend and impressed again but his 50th minute strike drifted wide.

Rafael Benitez is aiming to become the first manager to win the competition with three different clubs and his side finally showed some attacking intent after 52 minutes.

Napoli broke the offside trap and Jose Callejon set up Gonzalo Higuain. His shot was low and powerful but it went through Helton's legs and squirmed wide.The Porto goalkeeper was in action yet again when Raul Albiol was left unmarked from a corner, but his low header was kept out by the feet of the Brazilian.Helton brilliantly denied Higuain and the ball fell to Callejon six yards out, but he could not sort his feet out.

But the game swung the way of the home side after 57 minutes when a corner was only half cleared and Martinez showed great technique 12 yards out to lash home via a deflection.

It somehow stayed as 1-0 to the hosts with nine minutes remaining when Miguel Britos made a last-ditch tackle and his clearance from the floor went cannoned straight at Juan Quintero and onto the post.

 

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Ludogorets 0-3 Valencia: Ten-man Che bag comfortable win in thrilling contest

Valencia made a mockery of being a man down for most of the game to beat Ludogorets 3-0 on Tuesday and stamp one foot in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Barragan's terrific strike five minutes in began what looked to be a routine victory for the visitors, but Seydou Keita's red card as he conceded a penalty threw a potential spanner in the works.

Roman Bezjak stepped up for Ludogrets but los Che shot-stopper Diego Alves leapt to his right to palm away the effort from the spot, then less than 10 minutes later the Bulgarian side were down by two goals when Federico Cartabia turned in a scrappy attack.

The second half was no less entertaining, although the result started to look predictable as Philippe Senderos scored his first goal for the club and Juan Antonio Pizzi's men's third of the night.

Juninho Quixada's sending off with 80 minutes on the clock evaporated any glimmer of hope for a comeback and the hosts will need a miraculous turnaround in the second leg to have any hope of reaching the last eight of the Europa League this season.

Pizzi spent the build-up to the game talking up his side's chances of winning the competition and they got off to a perfect start in Sofia, over 300 kilometres from Ludogorets' usual Razgrad home.

The hosts partially cleared Eduardo Vargas' free kick from the left, but Barragan latched on to the loose ball on the edge of the area and drilled a low half-volley into the bottom-left corner.Ludogorets were handed a lifeline 24 minutes in as Keita was controversially sent off for clumsily denying Bezjak a goal-scoring opportunity in the area, but Alves - a goalkeeper boasting an excellent record when it comes to saving penalties - kept out the subsequent spot kick.

Valencia narrowly escaped again just after the half-hour mark as Virgil Misidjan hit the post after cutting in from the left, and Pizzi's men capitalised by doubling their lead almost immediately despite Ludogorets' numerical advantage.

Alcacer saw his chipped pass deflect into the area and Cartabia met it with a first-time volley, directing the ball into the bottom-right corner.

Ludogorets finished the half well as Marcelinho and Misidjan both went close from outside the area.Stoycho Stoev's men also began the second period in determined fashion, putting Valencia under intense pressure, but the Liga side defended well and restricted Ludogorets to long-range efforts before putting the tie beyond all doubt.

Vargas headed a corner from Cartabia back across the face of goal and Senderos was left unmarked to nod the ball into the bottom-right corner.

Ludogorets' day got even worse with 10 minutes to go as Quixada picked up a red card for seemingly kicking out at the theatrical Joao Pereira, allowing Valencia to see out the closing stages with consummate ease.

 

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Juventus 1-1 Fiorentina: Gomez snatches late draw

A 79th minute strike from Mario Gomez saw Fiorentina snatch a late 1-1 draw at Juventus in the first-leg of their last-16 Europa League tie.

The hosts enjoyed a narrow 1-0 win over the Viola in Serie A on Sunday to maintain their title charge and it looked as though it would be a case of deja vu for Vincenzo Montella's side after Arturo Vidal's early opener.

Both sides had plenty of goalscoring opportunities after that and it was the visitors who took were the more ruthless, with substitute Gomez scoring his first goal since returning from a knee injury in February and set up an intriguing second leg.
In what was a strong start, Juve needed less than three minutes to open the scoring, Vidal firing home from close range after Sebastian Giovinco had done well to chest Claudio Marchisio's powerful cross into his path.

Vidal was in the thick of it again soon after when he flashed an effort wide from distance as Antonio Conte's men made all of the early running.

Stefan Savic was forced to clear Kwadwo Asamoah's delivery from a dangerous position before Alessandro Matri had Fiorentina's first chance - diverting Alberto Aquilani's effort wide of Gianluigi Buffon's right-hand post.That sparked a short spell of pressure from Montella's men - Matias Fernandez forcing Buffon into a smart save with Asamoah required to acrobatically clear the rebound before the onrushing Borja Valero could follow up.

Vidal threatened twice more late in the half - both with headed efforts - seeing the first saved by Neto before the crossbar denied him seven minutes from the interval.
Juve were given a scare early on when Valero dispossessed Angelo Ogbonna in possession and found himself through on goal, before referee Bjorn Kuipers brought play back for a foul on the defender.

With the home side keen to avoid conceding an away goal and Fiorentina eager not to fall further behind in the tie, the tempo dropped somewhat and chances became scarce.

However, Gomez needed only one sight of goal when, after being involved for just 12 minutes, he brought down a long ball and slipped the equaliser past the onrushing Buffon.

 

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Gomez: Many more goals to come

Mario Gomez has promised Fiorentina fans that he will score plenty more goals this season after netting a late equaliser in the 1-1 Europa League draw against Juventus.

Arturo Vidal put the Bianconeri in front in the first-leg of the last-16 tie, but Gomez scored his first goal since returning from a lengthy injury lay-off to set up an exciting second leg.

"Today's goal was an emotional one. I am very happy with it," the former Bayern Munich man told Mediaset Premium.

"I know how important my goals are for this club and for this city. It is not easy to get back after five to six months out of action.

"I feel that my fitness and my power are improving and I will score just like before once I'm in peak condition again."

Gomez then went on to voice his delight with his side's draw and stressed that they never gave up, not even after Vidal's early opener.

"I am pleased for the team, because it was not an easy game in Turin. Juventus are strong opponents. We want to reach the next round. We never gave up and will continue to do our utmost in the return."

The second leg takes place in Florence next Thursday.

 

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FA defend handling of Anelka 'quenelle' case

The Football Association has defended its handling of Nicolas Anelka's 'quenelle' gesture after opting against appealing the length of the West Brom striker's five-match ban.

The French striker performed the controversial salute after scoring in December's 3-3 draw at West Ham in the Premier League and was charged by the FA in January.

However, the governing body confirmed on Thursday that it would not contest the Independent Regulatory Commission's recommendation of a five-match suspension, with director of football governance and regulation Darren Bailey releasing a statement to explain the FA's stance.

Anelka denied the initial charge and defended the gesture by claiming that it was "anti-system" and a dedication to his friend and comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala, as opposed to being anti-Semitic."Nicolas Anelka's use of the 'quenelle' was the first time this gesture had been seen in the English game," said Bailey on the FA's official website.
"We acknowledged from the very outset the unusual nature of this incident and the sensitivities surrounding it, and so wanted to ensure we conducted a proper and thorough investigation.

"Whilst some commentators criticised the time we took to build the prosecution case at the beginning, we hope it is now clear why it was essential to take the time we did to issue the charges. The focus had to be on the investigation.

"Despite the pressure to make public comment at that time, it will never be appropriate for a regulatory body to offer a running commentary on its investigation, as this risks undermining the fairness of its process.

"This was a complex case. It required detailed expert consideration of a range of issues: including the nature of the conduct - a gesture as opposed to the spoken word presenting unique challenges; the controversy over its meaning in France; the developing ideology of the gesture's inventor; and the state of mind of its user.

"The FA placed nearly 200 pages of evidence before the Independent Regulatory Commission and two hours of carefully researched video footage, which we translated from the original French and subtitled into English to make it comprehensible to an English tribunal.

"Ultimately, the Independent Regulatory Commission was persuaded to accept The FA's case against Nicolas Anelka. We acknowledge the careful consideration taken by the Independent Regulatory Commission of the difficult arguments placed before it.

"Its decision makes it absolutely clear that use of this gesture on the football pitches of England will not be tolerated in any circumstance.

"Whilst the FA pressed the Independent Regulatory Commission to impose a harsher sanction on Nicolas Anelka than a suspension of five matches, it is not so far outside the range of sanctions that would have been appropriate in this case to be properly described as unreasonable.

"Prior to The FA charging Mr Anelka, we understand that no other sports regulatory or prosecutorial body in the world had sought to tackle this gesture and the complex ambiguities of its meaning.

"We accept that, even though we are a sports governing body, the extent of public interest in what we do means that we are sometimes required to be in the vanguard of anti-discriminatory and disciplinary action of this type.

"Our response demonstrates that we are prepared to act decisively and expeditiously in addressing these matters head-on."

 

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Lewandowski fit again, confirms Klopp

Robert Lewandowski could return for Borussia Dortmund this weekend having recovered from a knee injury, according to coach Jurgen Klopp.

The Poland striker, who will leave for Bayern Munich at the end of the season, has recovered well from the strain which saw him miss the 1-0 victory over Freiburg last Sunday and returned to training on Thursday.

Lewandowski's 15 Bundesliga goals in 2013-14 mean his return will strengthen Dortmund's attacking options for Saturday's visit of Borussia Monchengladbach, although fellow BVB star Marco Reus is unlikely to feature due to a thigh problem. "Robert Lewandowski has recovered from his injury," Klopp told reporters. "He could be available against Gladbach.

"If nothing extraordinary happens overnight, then Marcos Reus will not be able to be there. Jonas Hofmann could start, he's a very important member of the squad."
Dortmund lost 2-0 against Gladbach earlier in the season and, though Klopp thinks that result was warped considering the performance his team put in, the BVB trainer thinks the visitors have improved since.

"We were incredibly unlucky when we last met them," he added. "Gladbach have been much-improved under Lucien Favre.

"Gladbach are a quality side. Juan Arango, Max Kruse and Raffael are exceptional players."

 

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'Clasico will decide everything' - Busquets

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets expects the clash away at Real Madrid later this month to decide the destiny of this season's La Liga.

The 1-0 reverse at Villarreal last weekend was the reigning champions' third loss in their last six league matches, a run that has seen coach Gerardo Martino's future questioned in some quarters.

The Catalans moved into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 4-1 aggregate win over Manchester City on Wednesday and get back to league action when they host Osasuna on Sunday, but Busquets has already set his sights on the Clasico seven days after that clash.

"We have come from an adverse outcome that makes it tough to win the league, but we still have to go to the Bernabeu and fight until the end," the midfielder told Marca.

"We are four points behind and it seems we cannot fight for the title, but the game at the Bernabeu will decide everything."If we win, we keep fighting, but if we lose then the league will be over."

The Catalans will head to the Santiago Bernabeu third in the table and four points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's leaders, with Atletico Madrid sitting second, if all three times win this weekend.

 

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Netherlands drop out of world's top 10

The Netherlands have slipped out of the top 10 in Fifa's ranking list for the first time in 12 years.

Louis van Gaal's side were beaten 2-0 by France in Paris last week, with the 2010 World Cup finalists looking lacklustre throughout the friendly at the Stade de France.

After a dominant performance in their qualifying group for Brazil 2014, the Dutch have failed to win any of their three games since, having also drawn with Japan and Colombia in November.Belgium have replaced the Netherlands in the top 10 after qualifying for their first World Cup since 2002 under coach Marc Wilmots.

The top five nations remain unchanged in the rankings, with reigning world and European champions Spain continuing to lead the way, ahead of Germany, Argentina, Portugal and Colombia, while Uruguay have leapfrogged Switzerland into sixth.

Elsewhere, Egypt climbed 12 places to 26th, while Bosnia and Herzegovina - who will take part in their first World Cup this year - slipped four spots to 21st. England were another mover in the top 20, rising three places to 12th.

 

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Nesta: This is not my Milan

Alessandro Nesta has lamented the fact that he no longer recognises the once mighty AC Milan with whom he won two Champions League titles.

The legendary defender, who is now part of Montreal Impact's backroom staff, spent a hugely successful decade at San Siro, so he is therefore dismayed by the fact that the club is now facing up to the prospect of going without Champions League football next season.

“This is no longer my Milan,” Nesta told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It is not the club that could spend and think big.

"Today, the resources are not there and the field responds accordingly. For Milan and Italian football."

Nesta watched Milan crash out of this season's Champions League on Tuesday night, losing 5-1 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid.

The 37-year-old added: "It was a heavy elimination, the product of a generational change that failed because of poor choices. But the discourse is wider.

“In the golden years, the presidents failed to invest in youth. And then there was the fact that the clubs were not worried about going bust as the bank always came to the rescue. The Italian economy allowed it.

"But now it doesn’t. And the accounts of football remain in red."

 

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Juventus target Guarin: I was destined to stay at Inter

Inter midfielder Fredy Guarin feels that the collapse of his proposed January transfer move to Juventus was down to "destiny".

The Nerazzurri had agreed to allow the Colombia international to move to Turin in exchange for Bianconeri striker Mirko Vucinic only for club president Erick Thohir to pull the plug on the swap deal at the 11th hour for "technical and financial" reasons.

It was felt that a fan backlash had also played its part but Guarin felt it was merely a question of fate intervening.

"It was a sign, of an important destiny," the former Porto man told Inter's official website. "It was the second time that it happened.

"Even when I arrived at Inter, I had the opportunity to go to Turin and the fact that for a second time I am here, that is something important."What has happened has happened and is in the past. I have always been close to the fans, I feel the things that are done with their heart and I understand them.

"I always look at it as something positive - it's great to see the strength our fans give us, both when they do positively and indeed negatively, because it's always added motivation for me."Although obviously I'm never happy when they're not.

"There are lots of things I want to improve - the first is my consistency on the pitch so I can play a whole game at a high tempo with the right focus."

 

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Ozil hits back at criticism after Bayern Munich defeat

Mesut Ozil has responded to criticism of his performance against Bayern Munich by revealing he suffered a hamstring injury in just the second minute of Arsenal’s clash with the German champions.

The former Real Madrid playmaker was painted as the scapegoat as the Gunners failed to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit, eventually losing 3-1 on aggregate despite earning a creditable draw at the Allianz Arena.

Ozil struggled to make an impact in the opening 45 minutes and was withdrawn at half-time with a hamstring injury that will rule him out of this weekend’s north London derby.

“Now it's clear: during the Champions League match against FC Bayern I suffered a muscle injury in the second minute,” he wrote on his official Facebook page.

“I tried to give my best and played until the end of the first half. Rest assured that I'll be back even stronger!”

Ozil is yet to receive the results of scans that will reveal whether or not he will be able to return in time to make a significant impact during Arsenal’s testing run-in which sees them host Manchester City as well as travel to Chelsea and Everton, while they are also due to face Wigan at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final next month.

Next up for Arsenal, meanwhile, is the north London derby against Tottenham and Goal understands the Gunners will also be without Aaron Ramsey for the trip to White Hart Lane.

The Wales international is believed to be progressing slower than expected from a thigh injury and is not now expected to return to action until Arsenal's Premier League clash with Chelsea.

 

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Arsenal demand explanation from Bendtner over alleged taxi driver confrontation

Arsenal will demand an explanation from Nicklas Bendtner over reports the striker got into an altercation with a taxi driver on Tuesday evening.

According to newspaper BT, the Denmark international "ran amok" during the incident, which allegedly occurred in the Norrebro district of Copenhagen on the same night that the Gunners exited the Champions League to Bayern Munich.

The 26-year-old, who was unable to join Arsenal's matchday squad for the match at the Allianz Arena as he continues his recovery from a knee injury, is said to have whipped the side of the taxi with his belt.

The astonished taxi driver reported the incident to the police, claiming: "I have had drunk passengers in my car for 25 years and I have never seen anything like it."

Arsenal are taking the story very seriously and Goal understands that Bendtner will be required to give his version of events to manager Arsene Wenger, with the club reserving the right to take internal disciplinary action if he is found to have done wrong.

If true, the bizarre incident only serves to reinforce the 'troublemaker' status Bendtner has established during his colourful time with the Gunners.

Earlier this month the Dane, who is unhappy with the lack of first-team opportunities afforded him at the Emirates Stadium and is expected to depart this summer, suggested that a widely-held perception of him as a "psychopath" has dissuaded clubs from signing him.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kallstrom could make Arsenal debut against Tottenham, says Wenger

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that he will make a late decision over whether Kim Kallstrom will be in the squad to face Tottenham on Sunday.

The Swede has not featured since signing for the Gunners on the final day of the January transfer window, having arrived in north London with damaged vertebrae in his back.

But Kallstrom is back in full training following the injury, and Wenger says he will assess the 31-year-old before making a decision on whether to include him in his squad to face Spurs.

The Gunners boss said: "Kallstrom joins the normal training group today [Thursday] and Sanogo, too.

"I will have to decide if Kallstrom is OK to be in the squad on Sunday. I will see how he looks, it is not impossible."

Wenger also confirmed, as revealed by Goal earlier on Thursday, that Aaron Ramsey will miss the north London derby clash.

He added: "We have had to defer his comeback to full training a little so he is not available.

"He is having difficulties in the final stages of his rehab. It looks to be short-term."

Mesut Ozil, meanwhile, who was substituted with a hamstring injury at half-time during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich on Tuesday, has no set date for his return.

Wenger continued: "[Ozil] is out. I don’t know for how long but it is a hamstring injury. There are scans going on."

Finally, the Frenchman revealed he is optimistic that both Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal will be available for the north London derby, easing his concerns at left-back.

"Kieran Gibbs has a test tomorrow [Friday] but I am hopeful that Nacho Monreal will be fit," he confirmed. "They both have a good chance."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pirlo hints at imminent new Juventus contract

Juventus star Andrea Pirlo has insisted that he will put pen to paper on a new contract with the club in the very near future.

The veteran midfielder's current deal expires at the end of the season and he is yet to commit his future to the Bianconeri.

However, he has now revealed that there is been a delay over minor details and assured fans he will still be representing the club next term.

"I still haven't signed. There are little things we are talking about but there is no possibility that I'll go. The announcment will be there shortly," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Things have been busy and we've not had the time to sort it out. We'll fix things once we have a minute, the fans can rest assured."

Pirlo also revealed that he and coach Antonio Conte have an excellent relationship, although he conceded tempers can flare when he is left out of the starting XI.

"The coach and I have always got along well. Sure, sometimes we argue - you'll never see a player leave the filed or sit on the bench with a smile on his face," he said.

"But they are small things. He's one of the best I've had. He's a great coach and I was amazed by his tactical preparation, concentration and ability to stay focused.

"His desire to chase perfection is amazing. He transfers all that stuff into the team well."

Juventus face Fiorentina in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.