..::Football III::..

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Chiellini: Juventus deserved to beat Monaco

Giorgio Chiellini admitted that Juventus started poorly in their Champions League quarter-final, first-leg clash with Monaco but felt that the Italian titleholders were ultimately good value for their 1-0 win.

The Bianconeri initially struggled to break down their Ligue 1 opponents in Turin, while also looking vulnerable on the counterattack during the opening quarter.

However, Massimiliano Allegri's men gradually took control and earned a crucial first-leg lead courtesy of Arturo Vidal, who slammed home a 57th-minute penalty after striker Alvaro Morata had been felled by Ricardo Carvalho.

Having triumphed 3-0 at Signal Iduna Park in the away leg of their last-16 meeting with Borussia Dortmund, Juventus will be supremely confident of reaching the last four, but Chiellini is warning his team-mates that Monaco at the Stade Louis II will be a far trickier proposition.

"We knew that we would have to face a difficult opponent," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"We got our approach wrong in the first 20 minutes, when we had to suffer their quick counterattacks.

"Then, we improved and the result was deserved. But Monaco are a tough team to play because, unlike Borussia, they don't make the play and just counterattack quickly.

"But it will be the same game as in Dortmund. A 2-1 or 1-0 lead, it doesn't change anything. We're going up against an even tougher team."

Midfield ace Vidal has struggled for both form and fitness this season but Chiellini is hopeful that the Chilean's match-winning goal will serve as a catalyst for a strong finish to the remainder of his campaign.

"Arturo has been doing okay for a while now," the Italy international added. "We're happy that he's scored and we hope that he can be an added value for us the final stage of the season."

Juventus travel to Monte Carlo for the second leg of their last-eight tie with Monaco on April 22.

 

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Luis Enrique: Neymar must accept that I have to make decisions

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insists he did not see Neymar react angrily to his substitution against Sevilla on Saturday but says that every member of his squad must accept that he is the boss at Camp Nou.

Neymar put the Catalans 2-0 up at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan with a fantastic free kick and was proving one of the visitors' most dangerous attacking threats before being surprisingly replaced by Xavi with 16 minutes remaining.

The Brazil international appeared visibly annoyed by his withdrawal but Luis Enrique did not want to be drawn on the issue on the eve of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, first-leg meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.

"I didn't see anything," the Barca boss told reporters at the Parc des Princes.
"I understand that all players want to play and the players should have to understand I have to make decisions."From there, you can speculate about whatever you want."

Luis Enrique also refused to confirm whether Neymar will start in Paris but he did acknowledge that the Selecao skipper has formed a wonderful understanding with fellow forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez."I think they look great," he stated. "They give us so much and give us so much from a defensive point of view. They’re in good form."But I like everything about my team; that’s why we are where we are."

Indeed, Luis Enrique does not believe that the unavailability of the suspended Dani Alves will have a major bearing on Barca's hopes of victory in the French capital.
"Alves is an important player for us, as evidenced by the amount of minutes he plays," he added.

"However, we have a large squad and the options I have available to me offer me reassurances that Dani Alves' absence will not condition how we play."

 

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Luis Enrique: PSG can beat Barcelona without Ibrahimovic

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique does not believe that the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic will hinder Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday's Champions League showdown at the Parc des Prince, pointing out that the Ligue 1 titleholders have already proven that they can beat the Catalans without their star striker.

The two sides were drawn in the same group and PSG defeated Barca 3-2 in the French capital only to ultimately miss out on a top seeding for the knockout stage after being beaten 3-1 in their return clash at Camp Nou.

Luis Enrique thus believes it foolish to read too much into the fact that PSG will be without the suspended Ibrahimovic and a number of injured players for their quarter-final, first-leg clash.

"Paris have several major absentees but let's not forget that they won against us when Zlatan was out, and we won when we met and he played," the Barca coach told reporters on Tuesday.

"So, one never knows the importance of absentees. We had a good game in September, although we lost - we had many chances.

"But we will definitely need to improve defensively. They have a very good squad, and they showed yet again their qualities by beating Chelsea [in the last 16]."
Indeed, Luis Enrique is expecting goals in both legs, arguing that both sides are stronger in attack than they are at the back.

"I think this tie will be open because our teams are actually quite similar," the former Spain international added."Paris can build from the back, play on the counter... there are many threats from this team.

"This should be an entertaining match. I think we will see a lot of goals, but of course I hope we score more than Paris! "This won't be easy of course, as we've had many difficulties against them recently."

 

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No PSG offer for Dani Alves, insists Blanc

Laurent Blanc has denied claims that Paris Saint-Germain have offered Barcelona right-back Dani Alves a contract.

The Brazilian defender's deal at Camp Nou expires in the summer and it looks increasingly unlikely that he will stay with La Liga's table-toppers.

PSG are believed to have held talks with Dani Alves' representatives about him moving to the Parc des Princes but Blanc, speaking ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg with Barca on Wednesday, insists that no agreement has been reached.

"There has not been a concrete offer for Dani Alves," the PSG coach told reporters. "He is a Barcelona player and it would not be the best moment to contact him.

"He has a commitment with Barca, we also do from here to the end of the season and we are not yet in the transfer window."He will not be there Wednesday but he is one of the best right-backs in the world."

Alves stressed on Sunday that he had not yet put pen to paper on any contract and is adamant that he will wait until the 2014-15 season is over before making a final decision on his future.

He will not line up to face PSG this week as he is suspended for the first leg of the quarter-final.

 

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Injury-hit Bayern still world-beaters - Lopetegui

Julen Lopetegui does not think Porto will benefit from Bayern Munich's lengthy injury list in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash at the Dragao.

German champions Bayern are favourites to progress at Porto's expense having once again dominated domestically this season, as well as impressing in Europe.

However, the Bundesliga champions were only able to put three outfield players on the bench in Saturday's win over Eintracht Frankfurt, with the likes of Arjen Robben, David Alaba, Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger all currently sidelined with injuries.

Lopetegui believes Pep Guardiola still has an incredible amount of talent available to him but is hopeful his team - who are unbeaten in Europe this season - can cause an upset.

"Ambition and imagination are two words we have in mind," he told reporters. "I'd like to remind everyone that we didn't win a ticket to this competition - we had to earn it through the play-offs."We are here, proud and happy to be playing among the best teams in Europe at this stage of the Champions League.

"We want to be the best performers tomorrow while maintaining respect for our opponents. We are talking about one of the best Bayern sides in the club's history.

"Bayern have injuries but will still have seven or eight world champions on the pitch. We don't care about the players they don't have. We have to focus on the ones that will play."

Guardiola has paid tribute to the style of football employed by Lopetegui and the 48-year-old returned to the compliment to his former Barcelona team-mate.
"I feel the same way Guardiola does about facing me," he added. "There is a lot of respect between us."Bayern want possession and usually they get it. We have to take good care of the ball, use it perfectly. We have to be great in attack and defence."

Lopetegui has been boosted by the return of top scorer Jackson Martinez, who has been named in Porto's 20-man squad for Wednesday's first leg.

 

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Messi is unstoppable - Blanc

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has described Lionel Messi as "unstoppable" ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tussle with Barcelona.
The Argentine forward has been in incredible form in 2015 and has scored 45 goals in 44 games so far this season to propel the Catalan club to the top of La Liga and into the final of the Copa del Rey.

Messi scored in both clashes with PSG last year, although Blanc is wary of putting all of his defensive eggs in one basket when there are also the likes of Luis Suarez and Neymar to worry about."Lionel Messi is unstoppable," the former Manchester United defender told reporters. "If he scores 40 goals, he's had a bad season!

"But we can't just focus on him. The solution must be collective, man marking doesn't work.

"We will need to be aggressive defensively but in the good sense of the term, to be able to stop their attackers."The coach also piled praise on PSG forward Javier Pastore, who was described by France legend Eric Cantona as better than Messi or Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday.

"Pastore has huge potential and is becoming an important player for us," he said of the Argentine. "He has matured enormously in the last six months."

PSG will be hoping they can replicate their win over Luis Enrique's side at Parc des Princes in the Champions League group stage in Wednesday's tie, with the return leg at Camp Nou to be played six days later.

 

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Muller: Injuries have decimated Bayern's strength in depth

Thomas Muller thinks competition for places within Bayern Munich has been crippled by their current injury crisis.

The Bavarians had only three outfield players on the bench in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, with the likes of Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, David Alaba and Bastian Schweinsteiger among those currently sidelined.

Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at Porto, Muller revealed the detrimental impact injuries have had on the team, yet he hopes that they can use the situation to their advantage."Due to injuries, the competition within the squad has become less existent," the 25-year-old attacking midfielder told reporters.

"It puts our performances more in the foreground. It's now crucial to really become a team together."

Bayern, who won the Champions League two seasons ago, are favourites against the Portuguese side and Muller is excited about getting a chance to shine at the Estadio do Dragao."I've never played against Porto before," the Germany international added. "I'm looking forward to seeing what the stadium is like.

"Porto like to keep use possession to their advantage and are not the sort of team that will pile 10 players behind the ball. We're hopeful we can score a few goals, though.

"We have a strong reputation to uphold and obviously that's our goal for Wednesday."

 

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Manchester United can win the Premier League next season, says Cantona

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona says his former club are capable of winning the Premier League next season.

Louis van Gaal's men are currently third in the table, eight points behind leaders and champions elect Chelsea, following a fine run of six consecutive victories which puts them within touching distance of a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League.

Cantona - who won four Premier League titles at Old Trafford between 1992 an 1997 - thinks Van Gaal can guide United back to the summit next season.

"Sometimes you have a season when you have to lose games and you finish fourth, fifth. But it's a great club. It will be at the top of the table," he said ahead of Wednesday's Laureus World Sports Awards in Shanghai.

"Next year, they can win the league. With a manager from Holland, it seems to be important for Manchester United, because it's the same kind of philosophy for the game: Holland and Manchester United."

The Frenchman also admitted he took great pleasure in watching the Red Devils' victory against local rivals Manchester City on Sunday.

"I was proud and very glad," he added. It's good because now they are the kings of the city. The two clubs are two of the best clubs in England, so it's very important to win this game."

 

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Rooney: Manchester United targeted City's lazy midfielders

Wayne Rooney has revealed that he and his Manchester United team-mates were aware that Manchester City are "not the best at tracking back and defending" before Sunday's derby at Old Trafford.

United ran out 4-2 winners over Manuel Pellegrini's side, with many City players criticised for their lack of work ethic.

And Rooney has claimed that Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal had notified his players of that particular weakness in the build-up to the game.

“We know some City players are not the best at tracking back and defending and tracking runners and we felt we could make them pay for that and we did,” Rooney said.

“We have got players who can score goals from midfield and to be honest we felt that was going to win us the game and it was proved to be.”

Marouane Fellaini was a thorn in City's side all afternoon, and gave United a 2-1 lead in the 27th minute.

The Belgian endured a difficult first season at Old Trafford last term but has become one of the key men in Van Gaal's revived side, and Rooney was full of praise for the former Everton man.

“He is getting used in the right way," Rooney added. "He is a handful for defenders to mark. We like to play out from the back and if teams are pressing us then we have him as an option.

“He is probably the best in world football at bringing the ball down and getting us out of that pressure and further up the pitch. He is being used in the right way by the manager and he is repaying the manager with goals and good performances.

“Last year was awful for him but in fairness he kept his head down worked hard and come through that tough period. He is showing now what he did at Everton and why Manchester United bought him. He is a quality player. He is a different option for us. It is starting to show on the pitch.

“It was tough for him but he had the whole team’s support. We knew he was working hard and it wasn’t just him struggling last season a lot of us were. He was the one who took most of the blame for it. It was hard for him. Thankfully the manager has shown faith in him.

“He is big and he is strong and always a goal threat which he is showing now. He is awkward to mark. It is great for him and we hope it continues.”

 

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'Falcao wasn't enjoying Monaco'

Monaco midfielder Nabil Dirar says former team-mate Radamel Falcao "wasn't feeling well" at the club before he left for Manchester United last summer.The striker moved to Old Trafford on a season-long loan deal but has so far struggled to make an impact having scored just once in 12 starts this term.

It appears unlikely his temporary stay will be converted into a permanent switch and Dirar believes he would've been better off staying in France, despite his unhappiness.

"I think Falcao must be biting his fingers [ruing the fact] he's gone," he told Le Parisien. "Here, he would have played and participated in the Champions League. But he may need more atmosphere."In Monaco, he was not feeling well."

Dirar's side are preparing for their Champions League quarter-final against Juventus on Tuesday and retain an outside chance of winning Ligue 1.

Their progress has come as a surprise following the departure of Falcao and James Rodriguez, who joined Real Madrid, as well as a host of other players.

However, coach Leonardo Jardim has moulded the side into a formidable unit with one of the tightest defences in France and Europe, though Dirar admits it has been a difficult process.

"We talk all the time with Falcao and James, but there was also Mounir [Obbadi] and Manu [Riviere] who left. All these players we have missed. Early in the season, we took a slap, it was hard."

 

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UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals 1st Leg Fixtures 2015.04.15

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals 1st Leg Fixtures 2015.04.15

Porto Vs Bayern

PSG Vs Barcelona

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Serie A Fixture 2015.04.15

Serie A Fixture 2015.04.15

Genoa Vs Parma​

 

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එසේම වේවා මචන්.

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klopp me season eken passe BVB walin yanawalu
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32317833

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 Barcelona: Suarez and Neymar give visitors the advantage

A quickfire brace from Luis Suarez put Barcelona on course for the Champions League semi-finals as they claimed a comfortable 3-1 first-leg advantage in their quarter-final meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.

After Neymar's 18th-minute strike had given the Catalan giants an important away goal at the Parc des Princes, Suarez scored twice in 12 minutes in the second half to help Barca put one foot in the last four.

Having nutmegged substitute David Luiz, the Uruguayan held off Marquinhos and Maxwell to nudge home his first, before outfoxing Luiz again en route to a beautifully-finished strike.

That set the seal on the result and put Barca on the verge of a seventh European semi-final in eight seasons, with Gregory van der Wiel's deflected strike eight minutes from time doing little to offer Laurent Blanc's side hope.

Having fallen behind early on, the French champions were also hit by the injury-enforced withdrawal of captain Thiago Silva - and that loss was keenly felt.
His absence added to the omissions of energetic midfielder Marco Verratti and talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic - both serving one-match bans - and the hosts now face an uphill battle in the return leg next Tuesday.

Following a low-key start, Barca - for whom Dani Alves was suspended - gradually got into their groove and went ahead when Lionel Messi struck Salvatore Sirigu's right-hand post with a curled strike 13 minutes in.

The visitors' persistence was eventually rewarded when Neymar opened the scoring five minutes later - Sergio Busquets dispossessing Adrien Rabiot and allowing Messi an opportunity to craft a perfect throughball.Neymar made no mistake with his finish and PSG were dealt a double blow in the aftermath of the goal, as captain Silva was forced off to be replaced by Luiz.

Javier Mascherano - one of three Barca changes from the weekend Liga draw with Sevilla - produced a last-ditch tackle to deny Edinson Cavani a sight on goal as Blanc's men enjoyed their first spell of sustained pressure.

Despite ending the half strongly, PSG almost fell further behind prior to the break when Suarez dispossessed Luiz, only to shoot tamely at Sirigu.

That momentum continued into the second half as long-range strikes from Javier Pastore and Rabiot caused problems Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

However, Suarez took the game beyond PSG with a sublime first after 67 minutes, as he showed skill and strength to beat three markers and prod past Sirigu - registering Barca's 400th Champions League goal.

Suarez cleverly evaded Luiz again and made it three soon afterwards with the only blow to their night coming when Jeremy Mathieu diverted Van der Wiel's strike past Ter Stegen with time running out.

Mathieu made amends with a timely block from Cavani's strike before the end, helping maintain Barca's two-goal lead ahead of the second leg at Camp Nou.

 

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Porto 3-1 Bayern Munich: Dominant hosts down Pep's men

Porto took advantage of a host of defensive errors to stun Bayern Munich and prevail 3-1 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Bayern came into Wednesday's clash at the Estadio do Dragao as favourites, but a trio of mistakes at the back leaves them with a huge task at the Allianz Arena next week.

In a dramatic start to proceedings, Ricardo Quaresma took full advantage of two glaring errors from Bayern in the opening 10 minutes, first converting from the penalty spot after Jackson Martinez had dispossessed Xabi Alonso and then been felled by Manuel Neuer inside the box.

Quaresma then robbed Dante and produced a calm finish to double his tally and leave visiting coach Pep Guardiola standing aghast on the touchline.

Bayern, missing the likes of Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben, got themselves back into the tie shortly before the half-hour when Thiago Alcantara scored his first goal since February 2014 with a close-range finish.
But Jerome Boateng's second-half lapse in judgement afforded Martinez - back after over a month out with a groin problem - the opportunity to net his seventh Champions League goal of the campaign, leaving Bayern facing an uphill challenge in the second leg.

Porto took the lead in the third minute after Martinez robbed Alonso on the edge of the area and then went down under Neuer's sliding challenge. The goalkeeper was booked despite appearing to get a touch on the ball and Quaresma sent him the wrong way from the spot.

Robert Lewandowski headed over as Bayern almost found an equaliser, only for another defensive slip in the 10th minute to allow Porto in for their second.

Dante miscontrolled to leave Quaresma with a free run on goal and he coolly slotted past Neuer with the outside of his right boot.

A stunned Bayern slowly regained their composure and, after a period of sustained pressure, got their reward in the 28th minute when Thiago converted Boateng's low cross at the back post.

Neuer almost suffered further embarrassment six minutes later when he fumbled Alex Sandro's cross onto the crossbar, before gathering at the second attempt.

The Germany keeper excelled himself 12 minutes into the second half, though, producing a superb reaction save to keep out Boateng's deflection from close range.

But there was little he could do in the 65th minute as Boateng misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing Martinez to control, round Neuer and slot home.

Porto held on to their two-goal advantage in the final stages in a performance that was only soured by cautions for Sandro and Danilo, ruling them out of next Tuesday's return leg.

Bayern, meanwhile, will hope to have at least Schweinsteiger and Ribery back for that fixture as they aim to overturn the deficit following their first defeat on Portuguese soil.

 

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Bayern lata meh danenne Robben & Ribery nathi aduwa thamai​

 

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Atletico under investigation over Ronaldo pitch invader

Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Atletico Madrid after a supporter was able to man-handle Cristiano Ronaldo following Tuesday's Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

The Spanish champions held their city rivals to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Vicente Calderon, but their security operation was questioned after a fan escaped stewards to enter the field of play after the final whistle.

The man reached the side of the pitch and grabbed at the shirt of Ronaldo, who embraced the supporter before security guards arrived to lead the intruder away.

A Uefa statement on Wednesday confirmed the opening of proceedings, adding that Atletico will also be investigated for their "insufficient organisation" in allowing stairways in the stands to be blocked.

The case will be dealt with by the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on May 21.

Atletico will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for next Wednesday's second leg knowing a score draw will be enough to take them through to the semi-finals.

 

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Martinez thrilled with goalscoring return against Bayern

Jackson Martinez says he was delighted to find the net in Porto's 3-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on his return from a one-month lay-off.

The Portuguese side shocked the Germans with an early double from Ricardo Quaresma, with Martinez adding a third after Thiago Alcantara had pulled one back.

And the striker admits it was especially pleasing to score on his return after a troublesome thigh injury.

"These were a couple of difficult weeks for me, as I did not know if I would be able to play," Martinez told reporters after the game. "It is never easy when we return after an injury, but I prepared myself for this moment and everything went great.

"I'm still not 100 per cent fit but with the help of my team-mates I was able to take my chance."

The Colombian skipper went on to praise his side for their efforts, but warned that the job is far from complete.

"We knew Bayern would be fantastic with the ball and that they would have more possession than us, so we had to pressure them high up the field and not concede space in the middle," he added.

"From there we were able to make the most of the chances we created.
"This win fill us with joy, but we know that it does not define who will go through to the next round.

"We still have to play another match, and that will be much harder than this one."
The second leg at the Allianz Arena will be played on Tuesday, April 21.