..::Football III::..

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Casillas: Madrid cannot be that bad in semi-finals

Iker Casillas has warned his fellow Real Madrid team-mates that they cannot play so poorly in the Champions League semi-finals after edging past Borussia Dortmund despite losing 2-0 at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.

The Blancos started well but Angel Di Maria's saved penalty gave the hosts the momentum they sorely needed, with Marco Reus scoring twice afterwards in the first half to set up a nail-biting second period for both sets of fans.

Carlo Ancelotti's men were defending a 3-0 lead from the first-leg and, despite being second best throughout the game, they were able to prevent the Schwarzgelben scoring the third goal they needed to take the game into extra-time.

Casillas believes that Madrid made it unnecessarily hard for themselves and has demanded that mistakes are erased from their performances if they want to win La Decima this season.

"We suffered more than we should have," the goalkeeper told reporters after the game.

"The goals were from our mistakes. At 2-0 down and with a missed penalty a lot goes through your head.

"We can’t make errors like that in the semi-finals. Maybe it's good for us to get a wake-up call like that from time to time. It's better that it came tonight."

Madrid were joined in the last four by Chelsea, who defeated Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, while Barcelona or Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich or Manchester United will also be entered into the draw.

 

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Destro handed four-match suspension

In-form Roma forward Mattia Destro has been suspended for four matches after appearing to strike Cagliari's Davide Astori.The incident, which was missed by match referee Davide Massa and his fellow officials, occurred in the 33rd minute of the Serie A contest at the Stadio Sant'Elia on Sunday.

Destro scored a hat-trick in Roma's 3-1 triumph and has now netted seven goals in his last five matches, but the Giallorossi will be without him for four games after a video review of the clash between the 23-year-old and defender Astori revealed wrongdoing on his part.

Serie A's governing body have handed him a three-game ban and an additional one-game sanction for the number of yellow cards he has accumulated following a caution three minutes before half-time in Sardinia.Destro has scored 13 goals for Roma this season and is considered to have an outside hope of a place in Italy's squad for the World Cup in Brazil.

However, Destro's transgression may see him fall foul of Italy's code of ethics set by coach Cesare Prandelli, who reserves the right to refuse to call up any player who performs an action he does not approve of.Rudi Garcia's side will have to rely on the likes of Gervinho, Adem Ljajic and club legend Francesco Totti to provide the goals in Destro's absence as they aim to reduce the eight-point gap to Serie A leaders Juventus.

The capital club have just six games to overhaul that deficit and face the defending champions in the penultimate round of the campaign, which will mark Destro's return from suspension.

 

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Fabregas: Atletico are one of the strongest teams

Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas believes Atletico Madrid are currently one of the strongest teams in the world, however, according to the midfielder, the Catalan club have the players capable of beating los Colchoneros.

The two teams are set to meet in the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, and, with the score at 1-1 after the first meeting, Fabregas knows there is everything to play for.

"I think Atletico are one of the strongest teams today," Fabregas told reporters. "They have no pressure from the public to win the game.

"It will be a very difficult match, but we have the team to beat Atletico. We have to compete hard and we have the players that are more than capable to do that."

Fabregas, who has made eight appearances and scored one goal in the Champions League this season, is enjoying his football at the Camp Nou but has acknowledged that nobody’s place in Gerardo Martino’s starting XI is guaranteed.

"I have played in my position for three years and I feel comfortable and free, but tomorrow I do not know if I will play in this position or if I'll play at all,” the midfielder added.

"There are 14 or 15 players who can play, so we will have to wait and see. The coach hasn’t said anything, but we are very motivated and tomorrow will be an important game for us."

Barcelona have played Atletico four times this season but they are yet to beat the capital club, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by Fabregas and his team-mates.

"We don’t enjoy playing Atletico. They have a very well-defined style. Tomorrow we have to play like Barcelona more than ever. We need to score if we want to remain a big club and move to semis."

Although he has suggested it may benefit Barca, the 26-year-old added that he doesn’t believe that Atletico will be severely disadvantaged by the absence of top-scorer Diego Costa as they have "great players" in other positions.

"Obviously, we prefer Diego Costa not to play, but still Atletico have great players who do things well without Costa.

"We have to compete with the same commitment and not think about it. Tomorrow we have to be strong, show that we are the Barcelona and control the game."

 

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Koke: There’s more to Messi than just goals

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke believes Lionel Messi brings more than just goals to Barcelona and has praised the Argentina international for being a team player.

"Messi is not only about goals,” the midfielder told AS. “He also makes the team play well."

Atletico are set to play the Catalan side on Wednesday in the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final, with the score currently level at 1-1 after the first meeting.

"In Barcelona we played a great game and we must continue in the same way: defend well, stay tight and do well on the counterattack. And above all be a group, which is what characterises us."

The Spanish side are currently leading the Primera Division and the 22-year-old is delighted with his side’s current form but has urged his team-mate’s to avoid complacency in order to continue in their rich vein of form.

"From time to time, you stop and think and say, ‘we're doing something great’," Koke added. "It's very nice, but this is not over. We must continue on this line. The team is doing something amazing."

The Spain international also paid tribute to his coach, Diego Simeone, who he says made him the player he is today.

“Simeone is very important to me. But not just for me, for all my team-mates. He came at a time when the team was not good.

“He changed our whole mindset. We started thinking positively and playing every game like it was a final.

“I'd say it's the coach who has influenced me. He gave me confidence from the day he arrived and has made me the player I am.”

 

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Rooney trains ahead of Bayern Munich clash

Wayne Rooney took part in full training on Tuesday morning ahead of Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final second leg with Bayern Munich.

The 28-year-old forward was initially a major doubt for the clash on Wednesday evening with a toe injury but, after missing United's 4-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, the striker is in line to return for the second leg in Germany.

Meanwhile, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola is convinced the England international, along with Antonio Valencia, will feature against his side.

"He [Rooney] is going to play. 100 per cent," said the Spaniard.

"He is going to play I bet you a big big glass of beer. I believe he is going to play, and Valencia too. Rooney is going to play. He is a big player."

David Moyes' men head into the fixture at the Allianz Arena having secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg and the Scot is also boosted by the return of three other senior players.

Ashley Young, Patrice Evra and Jonny Evans all joined Rooney in training on Tuesday, while Ryan Giggs, who missed the win over Newcastle, also took part. Marouane Fellaini and Rafael both missed Tuesday's session.

Bayern, meanwhile, have a number of squad concerns of their own, with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez suspended and Xherdan Shaqiri injured.

 

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'Costa is Atletico's Messi' - Simeone

Diego Costa is Atletico Madrid's version of Lionel Messi, according to coach Diego Simeone, but he fears that the striker will not be fit to face Barcelona in Wednesday's Champions League clash.

The Vicente Calderon will play host the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final between La Liga's top two, with the Rojiblancos arguably holding the advantage as they held the Catalans to a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou in the opener.

Costa picked up an injury in that game and, despite being rested in the 1-0 weekend win over Villarreal, may not have recovered in time to play a part in the crucial European tie leaving Adrian Lopez to fill his boots up front for the hosts.

"Diego Costa for us is like Lionel Messi for Barcelona or Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid," Simeone told reporters on Tuesday.

"If Diego Costa is fit, he plays. If he is a little less than 100 per cent, he will be on the bench. Otherwise he'll be out. We will have a look at Diego Costa in training later.

"If he doesn’t make it, Adrian Lopez will play. If Adrian plays I am sure he will play a great game for us. We have rotated some players in the last few games which is important to keep the team fresh.

"This will be a passionate game between two teams with different styles."
Atletico hold a one-point lead over Barca in La Liga's title race and, should the Spanish giants remain tussling until the end of the campaign, the final game of the season for these two teams is against each other and would be a mammoth match.

 

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'I am dreaming of England' - Belhanda still craves Arsenal move

Dynamo Kiev playmaker Younes Belhanda says he still dreams of playing in the Premier League, with his preference being a move to Arsenal.

The 24-year-old, who starred for Montpellier as part of the side that lifted the Ligue 1 title in 2011-12, had often been linked with a transfer to England before moving to the Ukrainian capital last summer.

But Belhanda is already thinking about leaving Dynamo and would love to join Arsenal, who boast a host of French players including former team-mate Olivier Giroud, though admits he would settle for Newcastle.

"How long will I stay at Dynamo? I don't know. If I have opportunities to go higher, I will seize them," Belhanda told France Football.

"I am dreaming about England. Every player wants to play in England one day. I have to experience that.

"My favourite club? Arsenal, of course. It is the club of Frenchmen. Newcastle as well, but they are a step below. Manchester City and Liverpool are exciting too.

"There are so many clubs with big histories. That is England."

Since moving to Dynamo, Belhanda has scored just five goals in 16 league matches and registered only three assists in an underwhelming debut season.

 

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Lahm: Bayern will stay true to own style against Manchester United

Philipp Lahm has insisted that Bayern Munich will not change their style in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester United on Wednesday.

The Bavarians enjoyed the majority of possession in last week's reverse fixture at Old Trafford, but failed to create many chances and were ultimately indebted to Bastian Schweinsteiger for claiming a 1-1 draw.

Nevertheless, Lahm has made it clear that Bayern will stay true to their own philosophy when they tackle United again, this time at the Allianz Arena.

"We all look forward to games like these. We'll go into the game absolutely determined to reach the semi-finals," the versatile defender said at a press conference.

"And we will do what we always do. Through our own possession, we do not let anything happen to our goal.

"We have spoken about the goal we conceded in Manchester. As a team we are very good in zonal marking. Normally.

"So, of course, we have spoken about this and trained on it during the week. Manchester had only one chance."

Lahm then went on to admit that former Borussia Dortmund playmaker Shinji Kagawa could cause Bayern problems, but stressed the Japan international is not United's only attacking threat.

"Kagawa is a danger, as is every other United player," the Bayern captain warned.

 

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Nani 'likely' to leave Manchester United this summer, says agent

Manchester United winger Nani is "likely" to leave the club this summer, according to his agent.

The Portugal international has featured in just 11 matches under new United boss David Moyes this season, despite signing a five-year contract back in September.

The Portuguese has been widely tipped as one of several players to leave the Red Devils at the end of the season and his agent has done nothing to quash those suggestions.

"Nani is a very important player and at this time the only thing I can say is that he is likely to leave Manchester," Andrea Pastorello told Violanews.com.

Pastorello was speaking to a Fiorentina fan website following reports linking the winger to the Serie A club, who are believed to be leading the race for the Portuguese.

Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who moved to Old Trafford at the same time as Nani in 2008, is currently on loan in Florence and Pastorello says any future talks between the clubs could involve both players.

“The problem for Fiorentina and other Italian clubs is the player’s salary," he added. "But we will evaluate all bids.

“Our relationship with United is great. Fiorentina have to speak with Manchester United about Anderson and maybe there will be an opportunity to talk about Nani, too.”

 

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Guardiola: Manchester United will park the bus again


Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola expects Manchester United to sit back in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

The Premier League champions held the Bavarians to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last week with a rather defensive strategy and the Spaniard is expecting his Red Devils counterpart David Moyes to employ similar tactics in the return.

"I think they will sit very deep. They play very defensively and always look to counter – it is something they do very, very well," Guardiola said at a press conference.

"It's never easy against English teams. United are a very big team. Before the first game, everybody was talking about Bayern, but now people know that Manchester can win in Munich.

"But we're playing at home. That's an important factor. If we win, we are through. If not, we are out. It will come down to small details. Our players know, after the experience in Manchester, how United play. My players know their strength and weaknesses. "

Guardiola then went on to discuss the possibility that the tie will be decided by spot kicks and stressed that the mental aspect of the game could play a major role.

"Penalties are less about technique and more about courage," the former Barcelona boss mused. "It is all in the head."

Bayern will be without key players such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Javi Martinez and Thiago Alcantara due to suspension and injury and Guardiola admitted that he has limited options to choose from.

"We only have 14 first-team players so I have not got too many options," the former Spain international confessed.

 

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Moyes: Rooney will definitely face Bayern

Manchester United manager David Moyes says Wayne Rooney will "definitely" face Bayern Munich, with the striker willing to take a pain-killing injection if needed.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined with a toe injury since the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, missing the 4-0 league win over Newcastle, but has been winning his battle to be fit.

Rooney returned to training on Tuesday ahead of the Allianz Arena clash, with Pep Guardiola earlier revealing he was convinced the striker will play, and Moyes says United are desperate to include him.

"He'll definitely play. We'll do everything we possibly can [to get him on the pitch]. He's happy to take an injection to play which I think shows you his feeling about the game and the club."

"We wouldn't do anything medically wrong. We take advice from the doctors who advise us. Everybody knows the character Wayne is and he is determined to play. If he is determined we'd be mad not to let him do so."

United head to the Allianz Arena having earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Old Trafford seven days ago, but Moyes is keen to have more of a hold on the second leg and expects his squad to improve in Germany.

"I'd like to have more possession and have a bigger effect on the game, and my plans are to do that. But they were also my plans in the first game as well," Moyes continued.

"You have to respect your opponents and on the night they did some good things. But I expect us to play better and I believe we can. To get through, we will have to.

"It's the hardest game for us so far. Both teams have top players. We're almost treating it like a cup final. My focus is on getting through. The players are ready and focused. We're relishing it."

 

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UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals 2nd Leg Fixtures 2014.04.09

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals 2nd Leg Fixtures 2014.04.09

AGG

{1-1}

Bayern Vs Manchester United

AGG

{1-1}

Atletico Madrid Vs Barcelona

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Good Luck Manchester United!Last second 1ka wenakam fight karamu!

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Bayern Vs Manchester United Line-Up

Bayern Line-Up

Manuel Neuer
Dante
Jerome Boateng
Philipp Lahm
David Alaba
Franck Ribéry
Arjen Robben
Mario Götze
Thomas Müller
Toni Kroos
Mario Mandzukic

&

Manchester United Line-Up

David De Gea
Patrice Evra
Phil Jones
Chris Smalling
Nemanja Vidic
Michael Carrick
Danny Welbeck
Darren Fletcher
Antonio Valencia
Shinji Kagawa
Wayne Rooney


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Mission Impossible?

Good Luck Manchester United!

 

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Half Time

Bayern 0 Vs 0 Manchester United

Still in the game!
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Half Time

Atletico Madrid 1 Vs 0 Barcelona
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Full Time

AGG

{4-2}

Bayern 3 Vs 1 Manchester United

Bayern Goal(s)

Mario Mandzukic 59'
Thomas Müller 68'
Arjen Robben 76'

&

Manchester United Goal(s)

Evra 57'
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