..::Football III::..

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Zubizarreta: Barcelona can't just focus on PSG

Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has hailed Paris Saint-Germain as "a great team" but feels it would be a mistake for Luis Enrique and his troops to presume that the French champions are the only team standing between them and top spot in Champions League Group F.

The two sides met in the quarter-finals of the 2012-13 tournament, with the Blaugrana scraping through on goals.

Most pundits believe that the pair wil cruise into the last 16 of this season's competition, having been drawn in a group alongside Ajax and APOEL, but Zubizarreta is not understimating the threat posed by the supposed 'underdogs'.

"When you come to this draw, you know you are always going to be drawn against a big team," the former Barca goalkeeper is quoted as saying by his club's official website.

"If you get over-confident, any team in the Champions League will make it hard for you. We’re going to be facing three very different styles of football

"We’ve played PSG before. It’ll be a great game. They’re a great team both in terms of individuals and as a unit.

"But this group isn’t just about PSG. Ajax have shown us before how good they can be. APOEL fight hard.

"Some very big teams have already found out just what a difficult opponent they are in Europe.

“These are games where every team has the right to dream. We have our dreams, and they all have their own."

 

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Hummels: Dortmund expect to progress to Champions League last 16

Mats Hummels says Borussia Dortmund are confident of progressing to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Friday's draw for the group stage of Europe's premier club cup competition pitted the German outfit against Arsenal, Anderlecht and Galatasaray.

BVB faced the Gunners in last season's competition, with both sides scraping into the knockout stage at the expense of Napoli, after all three sides had finished with six points from six games.

Hummels believes that BVB, who finished as runners-up to Bayern Munich in 2013, have sufficient quality to make the last 16 once again this term.

"With Anderlecht and Galatsaray we have drawn new and interesting teams," the centre-half mused. "Arsenal, somehow, are a part of our Champions League experience.

"But we expect from ourselves to progress."

Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp also acknowledged his side's familiarity with Arsenal but was more intrigued by the unknown quantities in Group D.

"We will meet familiar and new faces," the 47-year-old coach stated. "I have never been to Anderlecht and Istanbul before.

"We did not wish for an opponent ahead of the draw, so we will take it as it is. On Saturday, we will start collecting information about these teams, but we know Arsenal best, that is for sure."

Meanwhile, BVB midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is particularly excited about his side's home-and-away clashes with Galatasary.

"Because of my Turkish roots, matches against Turkish opponents are something special for me," the Germany international explained.

"Arsenal is a top team and these matches will give us and our fans the possibility to meet some guys from the national team again. It will be emotional.

"And everybody who followed Anderlecht a little recently know, how they have great talent and quality."

 

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Bayern new-boy Benatia relishing Roma return

New Bayern Munich signing Mehdia Benatia has expressed his joy after the Champions League handed him an immediate return to Roma.

The Morocco international only sealed a reported €28 million move to the Allianz Arena on Thursday and was overjoyed when his new club came out in the same group as his former employers just over 24 hours later.

"I am so happy with the draw," Benatia enthused. "I wished for us to play Roma so badly so I could see my friends again. Those will be wonderful matches."

Bayern and Roma will also have Manchester City and CSKA Moscow to contend with in Group E and Philipp Lahm was quick to point out that Pep Guardiola's men will have their work cut out in reaching the last 16.

"That is not an easy group," the Bavarians' skipper stated. "We play three very good teams, including the English champions, Manchester City.

"These are tough tasks, especially away from home."

However, Bayern attacking midfielder Thomas Muller is optimistic that the German titleholders have enough quality to progress to the knockout stage.

"This is a challenging group," the Germany international staged. "This will be no walk in the park, but we are optimistic we will go through.“

Bayern winger Arjen Robben is also looking forward to some mouth-watering match-ups in Group E.

"We got wonderful opponents," the Dutchman added. "Of course it will be difficult again. But there are great nights ahead of us and we are looking forward to them."

 

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Kagawa in talks with Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund are in talks to re-sign Manchester United forward Shinji Kagawa.The Japan international was an integral part of the Dortmund side that won back-to-back Bundesliga titles, prompting a €21.4m million move to Old Trafford in 2012.

Kagawa struggled to acclimatise in his first season despite contributing towards United’s 20th league title, while injuries allied to a chronic loss of form and confidence saw him restricted to making just 30 appearances in all competitions under David Moyes last season.After running the rule over his squad in pre-season and the early part of the Premier League campaign Louis van Gaal has deemed Kagawa, who is likely to have made his final United appearance in the embarrassing 4-0 defeat against MK Dons in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, surplus to requirements.

United have already spent over €163.5m million in the transfer market this summer on Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw and Goal understands they will make a renewed push to sign Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal as well as Ajax defender Daley Blind.

The Old Trafford giants are looking to trim their squad as a result of their record summer outlay and are willing to listen to offers for the likes of Kagawa and Javier Hernandez, while Danny Welbeck could also depart before the close of the window.

Dortmund, who on Thursday were drawn in the same Champions League group as Arsenal, are keen to take Kagawa on a season-long loan with a view to buy.
Jurgen Klopp’s side finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last season and lost key striker Robert Lewandowski to their fiercest rivals earlier this summer.

 

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Tottenham 3-0 AEL Limassol (agg 5-1): Spurs cruise through in Europa League

Goals from Harry Kane, Paulinho and Andros Townsend gave Tottenham a comfortable 3-0 win over AEL Limassol on Thursday evening and sealed their progression into the group stages of the Europa League.

Spurs came into the match with a slender 2-1 aggregate advantage having come from behind to triumph in Larnaca, but AEL provided nowhere near as stern a test this time around on Thursday.

First-leg goalscorer Harry Kane had a 13th-minute penalty saved by substitute goalkeeper Pulpo Romero, who was on the field after Karim Fegrouche took a heavy blow to the face in bringing down Kyle Naughton for the spot kick. But Kane did eventually break the deadlock in the 45th minute.The impressive Paulinho set up Kane and gave Spurs ample breathing space with a goal of his own in the 49th minute.

Andros Townsend pressed his claims for a place in coach Mauricio Pochettino's first-choice XI by converting a 66th-minute spot-kick as the former Southampton boss extended his perfect start in charge of the north London club to four matches.
Pochettino made five changes to the side that contested the first leg, while AEL were unchanged from the XI that took the lead in Cyprus before losing 2-1 on the night.In the sixth minute, Fegrouche tore out to clatter through Naughton on the left-hand corner of AEL's box, leaving referee Miroslav Zelinka with little option other than to point to the spot.

A seven-minute delay followed as Fegrouche received treatment for a nose injury and concussion, but Zelinka's leniency in only handing him a yellow card meant he was replaced by Romero, who saved with his feet as Kane's penalty lacked height.
Romero got the better of Kane once more after the Tottenham youngster drove at the visiting defence in the 19th minute.Mousa Dembele dragged wide from the edge of the box as AEL offered precious little in terms of attacking threat, while Kane erred once more in the 37th minute, lifting over left-footed from Aaron Lennon's back-pass.

The England Under-21 striker was finally on target as the first half ticked down, slotting home after Paulinho pounced on a slack pass from AEL captain Marios Nikolaou.Paulinho got himself of the scoresheet four minutes in the second half to put the tie beyond doubt.

Pochettino's trademark pressing style was in evidence as Spurs relentlessly harried their opponents, Vladimir Chiriches decisively dispossessing Diallo Guidileye on the edge of the area for the Brazil international to finish.AEL's Carlitos got back to head Lennon’s instinctive chip wide as Paulinho again caused problems, before Townsend succeeded where Kane failed.

Edmar Silva handled Naughton's cross and Townsend - named in Roy Hodgson's England squad on Thursday despite failing to make Tottenham's matchday 18 against QPR last weekend - stroked coolly into the bottom corner as Romero went the wrong way.Romero stopped Kane at close quarters in the 77th minute and turned away rasping drives from Townsend and Ben Davies as AEL flagged in the final stages.

By contrast, Tottenham brimmed with confidence and will be welcomed by few in Friday’s group-stage draw.

 

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Inter 6-0 Stjarnan: Kovacic hits hat-trick in San Siro slaughter

A hat-trick from Mateo Kovacic saw Inter cruise into the Europa League group stage with a 6-0 demolition of Stjarnan on Thursday.

Leading 3-0 from the first leg in Iceland last week, the Serie A giants were in complete command of the tie and the gulf in class was evident at San Siro as Inter advanced 9-0 on aggregate.

Youngster Kovacic opened his Inter account by scoring twice in five first-half minutes - the second a wonderful individual effort - as Inter built on their first-leg advantage in the opening period.

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo also netted his first for the Milan club when he added a third two minutes after half-time and Kovacic completed his treble with an effort from distance.

Kovacic was replaced by Mauro Icardi shortly afterwards and the Argentinian added a brace himself to complete the rout.

The win will come as a welcome boost for Walter Mazzarri and his men ahead of their Serie A opener at Torino on Sunday.

Inter made a dominant start and came close to an opener in the 12th minute when Osvaldo headed Yuto Nagatomo's left-wing delivery against the crossbar.

Osvaldo had another chance a minute later, but this time the Italy international was denied by a superb last-ditch block.

Inter eventually took the lead in the 28th minute when Kovacic pounced on a loose ball inside the area to prod home from six yards.

If his first was scrappy, Kovacic's second goal was anything but.

After evading two desperate challenges on a surging run towards goal, the Croat dinked an impudent finish over the onrushing Ingvar Jonsson in the 33rd minute.

Following his toils in the first half, Osvaldo got his reward at the start of the second with a fine glancing header from another pinpoint Nagatomo cross.

The Japan international was the creator again in the 51st minute, storming away down the left before finding Kovacic, who fired into the bottom right-hand corner from 18 yards to complete his treble.

Osvaldo broke clear in search of his second three minutes later, but this time he was denied by a sprawling Jonsson.

Icardi added further gloss to the scoreline in the 69th minute with a fine turn and shot that arrowed low inside the right-hand post.

The forward rounded off the scoring 10 minutes from time by holding off a challenge and lifting the ball over Jonsson, completing a dominant Inter performance.

 

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Hull City 2-1 Lokeren (agg 2-2): Tigers knocked out despite Brady double

Hull ran out 2-1 winners over Lokeren in the Europa League play-off round on Thursday but were eliminated from the competition on away goals.

A 1-0 defeat at the Daknamstadion last week proved to be costly for the Premier League side, who won the second leg on Thursday courtesy of a goal in each half from Robbie Brady but they were second best for much of the game and missed out on a place in the group stage.

Brady handed Steve Bruce's side a dream start when he gave them an early lead to level the tie on aggregate, but Jordan Remacle deservedly equalised just after half-time to restore the Belgian side's advantage.

Hull were then fortunate to be given a penalty when Denis Odoi was penalised for handball, but appeared to be outside the area, and Brady held his nerve to score from the spot.

The home side had Yannick Sagbo sent off for a foul on Giorgos Galitsios 19 minutes from time as their challenge faded, with the Yorkshire club's maiden European voyage coming to an early end.

Bruce made three changes to the side beaten in Belgium last week, with Curtis Davies, Jake Livermore and Ahmed Elmohamady replacing Harry Maguire, George Boyd and Paul McShane.

Having kept Hull at bay in the first leg, an unchanged Lokeren were behind after only five minutes of the second leg.

And it was a goal that could have been avoided, with Brady on hand to bundle the ball home after Maynor Figueroa's cross was not dealt with by goalkeeper Davino Verhulst.

Hull were living dangerously and Swiss defender Mijat Maric rose highest to meet the resulting corner, but his header was off target.

Bruce's men were fortunate to be in front at the break and they failed to heed the warning as Killian Overmeire tried his luck with a venomous strike that was tipped over the crossbar by Allan McGregor, but Lokeren were not to be denied a minute later.

Scotland keeper McGregor was at fault for the only goal of the game in the first leg, but there was nothing he could do to keep out Remacle's drive from the edge of the penalty area after a corner was not properly cleared.

Lokeren's joy was short-lived, though, as Hull were awarded a penalty 10 minutes into the second half when Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan pointed to the spot after consulting with a linesman, who adjudged Odoi to have handled Elmohamady's cross in the area.

The visitors felt aggrieved with the decision as they believed Odoi was outside the box and coach Peter Maes was sent to the stands for his protests. Brady sent Verhulst the wrong way with his effort from 12 yards to bring Hull level on aggregate once again.

Nill De Pauw spurned a great chance to make it 3-2 on aggregate, firing straight at McGregor, but Hull's chances of progressing suffered a major blow when Sagbo was shown a straight red card.

Tom Huddlestone had a shot blocked on the line right at the death and the final whistle sounded immediately after to bring their European adventure to a halt.

 

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Thohir confirms Inter pursuit of Lavezzi

Inter president Erick Thohir has confirmed that Inter are hoping to sign Ezequiel Lavezzi before the close of the transfer window - but pointed out that negotiating with Paris Saint-Germain is never easy.

Nerazzurri boss Walter Mazzarri is reportedly keen to be reunited with the Argentina international, with whom he worked at Napoli.

Thohir has now admitted that he would like to bring the winger to San Siro but argued that Inter are still in good shape ahead of the new Serie A season.

"Let's see," the Indonesian told reporters on Thursday. "Negotiating with PSG is never easy.

"The market is not closed. We can still do something. But I'm convinced that we have a good squad capable of competing both in the Europa League and in Italy; the right mix of youngsters and veterans."

Inter, who finished fifth in Serie A last season, kick off their 2014-15 campaign at Torino on Sunday.

 

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Robben: I don't know who Benatia is!

Arjen Robben has admitted that he has never heard of new Bayern Munich team-mate Mehdi Benatia.

After losing Javi Martinez to a serious knee injury, the German champions agreed to pay Roma a reported €37 million transfer fee for the Morocco international.

However, even though Benatia established himself as one of the best centre-halves in Serie A last season, Robben has now confessed that he is unfamiliar with the 27-year-old defender.

"Honestly, I do not know him," the Netherlands international told reporters. "I only know that he comes from the Roma

"But the club will know why they got him. Javi is a great loss, so we needed a replacement."

Meanwhile, former Chelsea and Real Madrid winger Robben admitted that joining Bayern was the key moment in his career.

"For me, it was a very important decision to come to Munich," he mused.

"I was previously at top clubs such as Real Madrid or Chelsea and obviously also had good times there.

"But I've only reached my top level in Munich. I have developed myself over the years as a player and as a person. I am very happy."

 

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Ronaldo: I pushed myself too hard last season

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he pushed himself too hard last season - and that Portugal paid the price.

The Ballon d'Or holder was plagued by thigh and hamstring injuries during the closing stages of the 2014-15 campaign but he still managed to play a key role in his club's Champions League triumph.

However, Ronaldo struggled at this summer's World Cup in Brazil and the 29-year-old has now admitted that he had nothing left to give after helping Madrid win 'La Decima' (their 10th European Cup).

"I wasn't fully fit and I pushed it," the forward admitted. "But it went well for me at club-level.

"Things were more complicated with Portugal. Things can't always turn out ok. I've learned from what happened with my injury.

"But I don't regret doing it because I got to play for Real Madrid - who pay me and give me everything."

Ronaldo's exploits with Madrid last season saw him rewarded with Uefa's Best Player in Europe but the former Manchester United man did not feel like his 2013-14 campaign was anything special.

"In terms of individual and team honours but if you look at the last six or seven years, I've played at more or less the same level," he reasoned.

"But I'm obviously thrilled because this year I had the most individual and team success; it was a dream year."

 

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Hernandez told he can leave Manchester United

Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez has been told he is surplus to requirements and can leave the club in the next few days.

The Mexico international held talks with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward on Thursday afternoon where he was told he does not feature in the plans of manager Louis van Gaal.

Woodward, who broke similar news to Rio Ferdinand earlier this summer, arrived at Carrington at midday and discussed various terms with Hernandez, including any pay-off due to the player under the terms of his contract.

United had been looking to recoup around €19 million six months ago but are now willing to settle for a much lower fee in order to move Hernandez on before Monday's transfer deadline.

Having moved to Old Trafford from Guadalajara in 2010 Hernandez quickly established himself as a firm favourite among United's fans, scoring a number of important and sometimes unusual goals.

He scored with his face in the Community Shield win against Chelsea four years ago, and later in the Premier League season converted with a backwards header against Stoke City.

With a goal every 130 minutes he has the fourth best minutes-to-goals ratio in Premier League history behind Sergio Aguero, Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

But he could not break into the team under David Moyes last season and struggled to find any consistency, sparking rumours that he would be sold this summer.

He attracted interest from Atletico Madrid and Inter earlier in the year as those two clubs cast their nets far and wide, while Southampton were also rumoured to be suitors.

Hernandez now has little over four days to find himself a new club as his time at Manchester United comes to an end.

 

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Beating Barcelona will be tough - PSG president

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi admits topping Barcelona in the Champions League group stage will be difficult.

The Parc des Princes outfit were paired with the Spanish club as well as Eredivisie winners Ajax and Cypriot side APOEL in Group F but, despite this challenging pool, the Qatari chief insists that it is his side’s aim to win it.

"We are going to try to win this group, even if it will be difficult," he explained to the media. "It’s not easy but it’s not very difficult."

Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations have seen the Parisians forced to cut back on their spending this summer, while their squad for the competition will be reduced from 25 to 22 as a further punishment.

However, Al-Khelaifi has not ruled out more movement before the September 1 transfer deadline as PSG aim to become European champions for the first time in the club's history.

"I don’t know if there will be another transfer. I can never say never. Anything is possible."

PSG were eliminated from the competition by Barca at the quarter-final stage two years ago, when they were held 2-2 at Parc des Princes before drawing scoreless at Camp Nou, thereby seeing them go out on away goals.

They were also eliminated at the last-eight phase in 2013-14, this time to Chelsea as a late goal from Demba Ba condemned Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co. to an exit.

 

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Champions League draw in full: Real Madrid face Liverpool, Barcelona versus PSG

group E pattama gamek yayi

 

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Arsenal open to more signings, insists Wenger

 

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group E pattama gamek yayi

Ow machan City,Bayern & Roma
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