..::Football IV::..

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Super Salah sees off De Bruyne to scoop PFA Player of the Year prize

Mohamed Salah’s stunning season at Liverpool, which has delivered 41 goals, has seen him named the PFA Player of the Year for 2017-18.Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne finished second in the voting, with Tottenham striker Harry Kane coming in third.

Acquired for £36.9 million in the summer of 2017, the Egypt international has made a remarkable and record-breaking impact during a second stint in England.

A previous spell at Chelsea which saw him struggle to prove his worth has been quickly erased from the memory by a dazzling debut campaign at Anfield.Those exploits have now been recognised by his peers, with Salah taking the top prize at the 45th PFA Awards at Grosvenor House in central London on Sunday evening.

He had faced fierce competition for a prestigious prize, with De Bruyne having enjoyed an eye-catching campaign with Premier League champions Manchester City.

His Etihad Stadium team-mates Leroy Sane and David Silva had also been in the running after helping to restore domestic dominance for the Blues.Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea and Kane completed the six-man shortlist.All were worthy contenders, but Salah has emerged victorious after enjoying the most consistent of seasons.

He marked his competitive Reds debut with a goal against Watford on the opening weekend and has not looked back.His 46 outings across all competitions have seen him find the target 41 times – with 31 Premier League efforts enough to have him leading Golden Ball and Golden Shoe races.

Salah is also chasing down the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award, with it possible that he could emulate a double achieved by former Liverpool icon Luis Suarez in 2013-14.

He has already matched the Uruguayan’s best return across a Premier League campaign and is chasing down the Reds’ record single-season haul of 47 achieved by Ian Rush in 1983-84So impressive has he been this term that he has already raised the English top-flight bar by becoming the first man to be named Player of the Month on three occasions.

There could be more of those honours to follow, while the 25-year-old can be expected to clean up at Liverpool’s end of season awards.A Champions League crown is also there to be shot at by the only Reds star to have made the 2017-18 Premier League Team of the Year.

Salah is joined in that selection by City quartet De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero, Spurs trio Kane, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen, De Gea and Chelsea full-back Marcos Alonso.

 

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Congratulations Salah!

Meh season eke pattama form ekaka inne​

 

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Man City's Sane takes PFA Young Player of the Year award

Manchester City winger Leroy Sane has been rewarded for a spectacular season in England with the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Sane, 22, signed for City from Schalke in 2016 for a fee of £37 million.
The Germany international impressed in his first Premier League season, and made the PFA shortlist for the best young talent in 2016-17. But he has gone one better this season, beating team-mates Ederson and Raheem Sterling to take the award.Sane has made 28 appearances to date in the league, scoring nine goals to help City stroll to the title with five games to spare.

In all competitions the winger has scored 13 times in 45 games, proving a valuable option for City across the forward line as Pep Guardiola's men took the Premier League by storm. A total of six players were shortlisted for the PFA award, which has been presented annually since 1974 to the best talent aged 23 or under.

As well as the City trio Tottenham's Harry Kane was in consideration, but his 37 goals in all competitions were not enough to earn him the prize he previously lifted in 2014-15. Kane finished second in the voting to Sane, with the German's team-mate Sterling finishing third.

Sane's win cuts a run of three straight seasons where a Spurs star has received the award, after Dele Alli was named Young Player of the Year for two consecutive years in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The shortlist was completed by Marcus Rashford of Manchester United and Fulham's teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon.

Sessegnon makes his own piece of history, as the 17-year-old became the first player from outside the English top flight to be nominated for Young Player of the Year.

 

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Congratulations Sane!

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Atletico Madrid 0 Real Betis 0: More concerns for Simeone ahead of Europa League

Atletico Madrid will take indifferent form into their Europa League semi-final trip to Arsenal after a 0-0 home draw with Real Betis loosened their grip on second in LaLiga.

Three days on from a troubling 3-0 defeat at Real Sociedad, Diego Simeone found few answers at the Wanda Metropolitano as a toothless display sees them head to London with a solitary victory from their last five competitive outings.They could well have been forced to stomach a first LaLiga loss at their new home had Betis midfielder Javi Garcia made the most of two clear chances either side of half-time.



Instead, Atletico had to settle for denying the away side what would have been a club-record seventh successive victory, leaving the door ajar for Real Madrid to close to within one point of them when they visit Leganes on Saturday.Equally frustrating will be the realisation their remote title hopes are almost over, they have just four games more to play and trail Barcelona by 11 points.

But of more immediate concern is the need to address a second lacklustre showing in as many matches, with Fernando Torres falling short of convincing in his audition to partner the benched Antoine Griezmann at Emirates Stadium.


Simeone recalled Torres to spearhead the attack as a switch to a three-man defence hinted at experimentation ahead of the trip to London.

While the early evidence was of a more purposeful performance than that which raised alarm bells at Sociedad, it was not until Torres wound back the clock in the 24th minute that Atleti threatened an opener.The 34-year-old deftly took Juanfran's low cross in his stride, skipped around Marc Batra and dinked over Dani Gimenez, only to see a fast-retreating Aissa Mandi head his goal-bound attempt off the line.

Betis otherwise looked comfortable throughout the opening 45 minutes, although their hopes of securing a sixth successive clean sheet appeared to suffer a setback when Gimenez limped off with an apparent thigh problem, the goalkeeper replaced by understudy Pedro Lopez.

The half should have ended on a much brighter note for the visitors as they twice went close to breaking the deadlock, Ryad Boudebouz drawing a sharp near-post save from Jan Oblak before an untracked Garcia wastefully fired the wrong side of the upright.

Both sides continued to let opportunities slip after the interval as Vitolo got a volley all wrong, while Garcia somehow conspired to produce an air swing when left completely unmarked in the box.Betis continued to grow in confidence and saw Cristian Tello's low left-footed strike agonisingly shave the outside of Oblak's post with 20 minutes remaining.

Saul Niguez then tested the woodwork himself, crashing a fine curling effort against the crossbar, but it was to be the closest his team came to a winner as even the injection of Griezmann failed to stir sustained pressure.Quique Setien's men could well have snatched three points had Oblak not been one of Atleti's few fine performers, the shot-stopper preventing Antonio Barragan from sneaking an effort inside his near post.

In truth, a lack of cutting edge was evident across the pitch, the end result proving more palatable to Betis, who appear safe in fifth and on course for Europa League group stage qualification.

 

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I have no problem with Mourinho, says Man United star Pogba


Paul Pogba has denied that his relationship with Jose Mourinho has broken down, and affirmed that he is content with his role in the Manchester United team.Pogba was signed by Mourinho for a then-record £89.3 million from Juventus in August 2016 to return to Old Trafford for a second spell.The France international, however, has endured mixed fortunes this season, and has spent time on the bench in 2018 as his form has dipped.

But Pogba has been back on song for United's last two matches, a 2-0 Premier League win at Bournemouth and 2-1 FA Cup semi-final success over Tottenham at Wembley, and brushed off reports of a spat with his boss.

"I have no problem with him, and I don't think he has a problem [with me]," he told Canal Football Club ."He put me in as captain and he has given me responsibilities in a great club like United. I am a player, and I like to give the best of myself.

"He is the coach, he has to make decisions and I am a player, I accept them, I have to answer on the pitch."Pogba also dismissed the suggestion that his benching led him to ponder his future. "I don't think so. A coach makes his choices for the team, not for one player, he takes me out and puts someone else in," he added.

"It is only because he is looking for something else, and the players must accept that.""Does Mourinho pick his team depending on their haircuts? Maybe it was the case for Romelu [Lukaku] or [Marouane] Fellaini!"

Pep Guardiola recently caused a stir by claiming that Pogba had been offered to Manchester City in January by his agent Mino Raiola - but the player is not concerned by such reports.

"Right now I am at Man United and I am thinking solely about the present, the FA Cup and the coming World Cup," he said. "I am not thinking about transfers or any of that."

 

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'Well deserved’ - Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp salutes Salah on PFA award


Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised Mohamed Salah after winning the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

The Egypt international saw off competitions from Manchester City trio David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Leroy Sane as well as Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea to nick the prize.The attacker has been in a terrific form since joining the Anfield outfit, scoring 41 goals and contributing 11 assists across all competitions.

Reacting to the feat during his press conference ahead of AS Roma game, Klopp said: Fantastic. I’m really happy for him. He can be really proud of that, it’s a fantastic achievement.”

“I think if all the other players vote for you that means the most to all players. I didn’t speak to him afterwards because obviously, he was in London yesterday.“But he will be back today and then I can tell him what I want to tell him face to face. It’s great. But he knows the season is not finished so far.

“There are a lot of things to come but I’m sure it’s a nice boost for him. And I really have to say, in a season like this when Kevin de Bruyne plays a season like he played, it makes it even more special. If anybody else would have voted, not the players, then I think it’s different.

“But the players know how difficult it is to score that many goals and to be involved in that many goals. So I really think it’s well deserved.”

Salah will be looking to continue the impressive form when the Reds take on his former club Roma in Tuesday’s Champions League game. semi-final clash.

 

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Alves: I'd return to Barcelona tomorrow if they called


Paris Saint-Germain full-back Dani Alves said he would return to Barcelona tomorrow if the La Liga giants contacted him.Brazil international Alves left Barcelona for Italian champions Juventus in 2016 after winning 23 titles at Camp Nou.

Alves joined Ligue 1 powerhouse PSG in 2017 but the 34-year-old refused to rule out a Barca comeback, despite the circumstances behind his departure.

"Barcelona is my home," he told Globo TV. "It's impossible to say that I wouldn't return."I would come back tomorrow if Barcelona were to call me."Alves, who has helped PSG to Ligue 1 and Coupe de la Ligue glory this season as the French champions seek a domestic treble, added: "If I were to say that I didn't leave there feeling hurt then I'd be lying.

"I left hurt because I think I fought hard to create a great history at Barcelona. I left with 23 titles in eight years."I finished up giving them more great results and then they ended it without respecting my story.

"They wanted me to have a farewell and I told them no, because I consider that place my eternal home and when a place is considered your home you don't have to say goodbye."What's the point in a farewell if you're going to come back?"

 

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Oliver set to referee FA Cup final following Buffon drama


Michael Oliver is set to referee the FA Cup final, and has revealed he was humbled by messages of support after experiencing a "weird few days" in the aftermath of Juventus' controversial Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.The Durham official was the centre of attention after awarding a late penalty to the hosts in the second leg of the quarter-final tie at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Oliver's decision to blow for a foul by Medhi Benatia on Madrid substitute Lucas Vazquez led to a furious reaction from Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was sent off for his vociferous protestations, later telling Mediaset Premium that the referee must "have a garbage bin instead of a heart."




Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the spot to send the holders through, with Oliver and his wife subsequently the target of death threats and social media abuse from upset fans.“It was a weird few days. But it was nice that so many people, both within the game and outside the game, were keen to offer their support. It was quite humbling actually and it meant a lot," he told the Football Association's official website.

“I had people coming up to me in the street and people from inside the game were sending me messages of support. It’s a nice thing to know I’ve got that backing.”
The FA has handed Oliver the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United on May 19.

He will be assisted by Lee Betts and Ian Hussin, with Lee Mason the fourth official. Neil Swarbrick, meanwhile, will make history as the first video assistant referee at an FA Cup final.

"I was very proud and humbled to receive the phone call," Oliver added."When you start out, taking charge of the Cup Final is not something you even think about. As your career progresses it becomes a realistic target but it’s not a call you ever expect to take. This opportunity only comes around once in a referee’s career.

"It’s funny how things work out because the 1994 Final between Manchester United and Chelsea is the first one I remember watching. And now here I am taking charge of those two teams in an FA Cup Final 24 years later."

 

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De Gea's best season yet? Man Utd keeper sees himself hitting new heights


David de Gea has starred for Manchester United over several seasons, but the Spain international feels he has hit new heights in 2017-18.As the Red Devils toiled in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the 27-year-old remained a model of consistency as he became the first man to land three successive Player of the Year awards at Old Trafford.

He has seen big-money additions help to lift some of the burden on his shoulders, but he remains a standout performer and is on course for a first Golden Glove after keeping 21 clean sheets across the current campaign.

De Gea was also named on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award, while making the Premier League Team of the Year for a fifth time.Quizzed by Premier League Productions on whether he considers this to have been his best season to date, United’s reliable last line of defence said: “Yeah, I’m pretty pleased with my performance. It’s been a fairly complete, all round set of performances from me.

“I’ve felt good, felt fit and in good form physically throughout the season. Let’s hope that these last few games to go before the end of the season continue the form, then leading into the World Cup, which is an important time for Spain.” De Gea’s efforts in 2017-18 have helped United to edge their way towards a runner-up finish in the Premier League and to within touching distance of more major silverware in the FA Cup.

Progress is being made at Old Trafford, with Jose Mourinho having returned a “winning mentality” to the squad following difficult spells under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

“We’ve got a great manager,” De Gea added.
“He’s very experienced, he’s won everything there is to win in the game. What he is really good at is transmitting his winning mentality to the group.“However, at the end of the day, it’s down to ourselves – the players on the field. It is us who make the saves, create the chances and score the goals. So, as a group, we’ve got to get that level of consistency and quality throughout the season.”

De Gea has been able to maintain his standards, with his 17 shut-outs in the English top-flight leaving him two clear of Manchester City’s title winner Ederson in the race to secure Golden Glove honours.

 

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Bayern powerless to prevent Lewandowski leaving for Real Madrid, warns Effenberg


Bayern Munich will have to "open the doors" for Robert Lewandowski should the Poland international tell them he wants to leave for Real Madrid, according to Stefan Effenberg.

Lewandowski has been strongly linked with a move to La Liga in recent months, signing with renowned agent Pini Zahavi reportedly in order to make the transfer happen.As revealed by Goal, Bayern have insisted they see no reason to sell Lewandowski and would see such a move as weakening themselves given the Polish striker is among the finest attackers in world football.

But Effenberg, who enjoyed two spells at Bayern in the 1990s and early 2000s, says they will have to let Lewandowski get his own way if he does tell them he wants out.

"I understand that some other English team is also going for him," Effenberg told AS. "When Robert says he wants to leave, the club will have to open the doors."What he wants is to win the Champions League and at Bayern he has every chance of doing it."

Bayern host Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday and Effenberg spoke of his admiration for the Spanish side's centre-back Sergio Ramos, who he believes has been crucial to their successes in recent years."I would not have liked to face him," Effenberg said of Ramos. "I do not lie when I say that Madrid would not have won so many titles without Ramos.

"The same goes for [Toni] Kroos. His signing for Madrid helped him to give the final pass to the world's elite."Ramos, Kroos and Cristiano [Ronaldo] form a backbone that, being one hundred percent, will require Bayern to get the most out of themselves.

"They [Madrid players] are all good. [Dani] Carvajal, for example, he already amazed me when I saw him at Leverkusen, but in Madrid even more so. Cristiano is very good, yes, but they have others too."

 

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Batshuayi interested in Dortmund talks as Chelsea approach planned


Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi is interested in discussing a summer permanent move to Borussia Dortmund, Goal understands.

Batshuayi moved to Germany on loan in January after only making four Premier League starts at Chelsea in 18 months following a £32 million transfer from Marseille in 2016.

The Belgium international grew frustrated over his lack of chances under Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and he rejected loan offers from clubs in England, France and Spain prior to joining Dortmund.




The Bundesliga's efforts to secure an option to buy on their loan deal were rejected outright in January by Chelsea, but Batshuayi’s nine goals in 14 games have only strengthened Dortmund’s resolve to make a deal happen.

Chelsea will likely wait until after the World Cup to begin talks and could ask for as much as £50 million, as they aim to profit on the growing value of their loan star.
The Blues may still prove to be difficult negotiators for Dortmund, who will hope to convince the west London club to cash in on their asset ahead of a likely summer of turbulence at Stamford Bridge.

It is unclear which figures will be involved in resolving Batshuayi's future with a new manager and technical director expected to come in for Conte and Michael Emenalo respectively.

Dortmund recently reiterated their intent to have a discussion with Chelsea as their CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, spoke after the club's recent 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.“The interest to sign him is basically there," Watzke told BILD. "Chelsea have two strikers with Giroud and Morata anyway. But first we have to wait and see who will be Chelsea’s coach next season. Then we’ll see.”

Batshuayi’s form on loan will see him make Belgium's squad for the World Cup, with the 24-year-old expected to have recovered from the ankle ligament damage that ended his Bundesliga season.

 

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'Man Utd have been good, not great' - Neville sees signs of promise under Mourinho


Manchester United have not enjoyed a “great season”, admits Gary Neville, but they have been “good” and shown further signs of progress.The Red Devils lifted three trophies during Jose Mourinho’s debut campaign at Old Trafford, with the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League captured.

Returning to Premier League title contention was the target for 2017-18, but arch-rivals Manchester City have established domestic dominance with a league and Carabao Cup double.

United can, however, still wrap up a runner-up finish and FA Cup glory – having booked a final date with Chelsea in that competition – and Neville believes there is cause for optimism.The Red Devils legend told Sky Sports: “For United, is it a great season? No. But it is a good season because the momentum is still going as they have the opportunity to win the FA Cup and finish second, which would be progression.

“The importance of getting another medal round the necks of the players should not be underestimated in terms of keeping building and challenging Manchester City next season.”

Mourinho will be expected to close the gap on City in 2018-19, but that will be no easy task.The Portuguese has already admitted as much, with Pep Guardiola expected to be as busy in the summer transfer market as the rest of his Premier League rivals.

“Can we improve next season? Let’s try,” Mourinho said after guiding United to the FA Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday.“Whether Manchester City keep this level or improve this level, only they can say. But if they’re going to invest on top of the team they already have, it will be difficult for all of us.

“In this moment, I don’t even think about next season, or the cup final, I think about our next game, Arsenal, because we need one point to finish in the top four and we need seven to finish second. And we deserve to finish second. We have to finish second.”

 

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Liverpool 5 Roma 2: Salah shines but late comeback offers Giallorossi hope

Liverpool seized control of their Champions League semi-final tie against Roma with a 5-2 first-leg win, although a late revival from the Italian side offers hope of a second-leg comeback.Mohamed Salah scored twice and set up goals for Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, who added another to make it 5-0, before Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti struck in the space of four minutes late on.

Roma must now match the exploits of their remarkable quarter-final comeback against Barcelona if they are to win the tie.Liverpool were arguably second best in the opening half-hour but a blistering strike from Salah against his old club set Jurgen Klopp's side on their way.

Salah added a second just before the break, becoming the first Liverpool player to hit 10 in a single European campaign, before turning provider for Salah and Firmino as Roma failed miserably to deal with the hosts' attack.Firmino nodded in the fifth from a routine set-piece but Eusebio Di Francesco's men snatched two away goals in the dying minutes to offer some hope of salvation.


The home side lost Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 17 minutes in after he hurt himself challenging Aleksandar Kolarov, who nearly snatched the lead soon afterwards, with Loris Karius fumbling his fierce strike onto the crossbar.

Mane wasted a great chance one-on-one with Alisson, firing over the bar from 12 yards, but the miss seemed to galvanise Liverpool. Salah saw a shot beaten away by the Roma keeper and Mane turned in an Andrew Robertson cross only to be denied by the offside flag.

There was no such problem for Salah 10 minutes before the break, though.Firmino fed him just inside the area to the right, Roma's defence stood off, and he curled a stunning strike into the far top corner.Roma suddenly looked vulnerable at every Liverpool attack and Dejan Lovren should have made it 2-0 as he headed off the crossbar when unmarked six yards from goal.

But Salah made no mistake with a sumptuous second in the 45th minute, racing through onto Firmino's pass before clipping a clever finish over Alisson.

Roma's high defensive line was being brutally exposed but they seemed not to learn their lesson 11 minutes after the break. Salah escaped a close offside call to race into the area and squared the ball for Mane, who this time showed composure to side-foot into the bottom corner. Five minutes later, Liverpool had their fourth. Salah again raced onto a simple ball down the right, skipped beyond Juan Jesus and scuffed a cross to the far post, where Firmino tapped in.

The Brazilian then rose unmarked to head his second and Liverpool's fifth in the bottom corner of the net from Milner's cross in the 78th minute.What looked to be a memorable win was tarnished nine minutes before the end, though, as Dzeko pulled down Radja Nainggolan's fine pass before burying a finish beyond Karius.

Perotti then fired a penalty high into the net after James Milner blocked Nainggolan's shot with his arm, giving Roma hope of a second-leg turnaround that had looked practically impossible with 80 minutes played.

 

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UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 1st Leg Fixture 2018.04.25

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 1st Leg Fixture 2018.04.25

Bayern Vs Real Madrid

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UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 1st Leg Fixture 2018.04.25

Bayern Vs Real Madrid

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Bayern Munich 1 Real Madrid 2: Asensio seals smash-and-grab win for Zidane's men

Marco Asensio's half-time introduction proved decisive as Real Madrid pickpocketed a 2-1 win at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Bayern overcame the early loss of Arjen Robben through injury to lead when Joshua Kimmich caught Kaylor Navas with a rasping finish before the half-hour mark.Zinedine Zidane's European champions never truly recovered their defensive poise from that point, even after Marcelo clattered home a 44th-minute equaliser.

Full-backs were the heroes in both first-half goals, but an awful error by Bayern left-back Rafinha allowed Asensio, on for the struggling Isco, to hand Madrid a significant second away goal. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had scored in every match in this season's competition, had a strike ruled out for handball – an advantage that would have further flattered Zidane's men after a strangely error-strewn encounter at the Allianz Arena, where Robert Lewandowski's pursuit of a 40th goal this season went awry in untimely fashion.

Thomas Muller was unable to contort himself to convert Lewandowski's hooked cross during the opening minute, setting the tone for a frantic start that continued until Robben pulled up.The Bayern winger made way due to a problem with his right leg and the pace of the game settled following Thiago Alcantara's introduction.

The first clear chance fell Madrid's way when Dani Carvajal darted in behind James Rodriguez – playing against his parent club – for Lucas Vazquez's return flick and shot too close to Sven Ulreich.There were questions over Ulreich's opposite number Navas in the 28th minute when Kimmich latched on to James' incisive pass and clattered past the Madrid goalkeeper at his near post.

Bayern then lost centre-back Jerome Boateng to a hamstring injury, but it was Madrid ailing in defence – Navas rushing out to deny Franck Ribery one-on-one as a heavy touch undermined the veteran Frenchman.Muller had a shot deflected behind at close quarters by Sergio Ramos and Marcelo's rasping drive into the bottom-right corner after he seized upon the loose ball from Carvajal's header certainly came against the run of play.

Lewandowski and Muller had further chances as Madrid floundered under set-pieces in first-half stoppage time and the latter was heroically denied in the goalmouth by a combination of Raphael Varane and Ramos in the 51st minute after Ribery twisted past Casemiro.

Zidane introducing Asensio in place of Isco put Madrid on a clear path of trying to exploit the counter-attack, but that tactic seemed questionable as Muller streamed into space behind Marcelo to cross and his defensive colleagues muddled clear from Lewandowski's header.However, the Madrid coach's call soon looked inspired.

Rafinha's dreadful pass across midfield set Asensio scampering into the Bayern half. Lucas' return pass left him with work to do, but the 22-year-old clipped an assured finish beyond the advancing Ulreich.Navas had responded well to his earlier setback and stood firm to deny Ribery in the 63rd minute.

Muller was unable to scramble home when Javi Martinez rose at the back post as another cross caused havoc in the Madrid box before the tireless Ribery had a drive deflected wide in the 70th minute.Ronaldo then furiously patted his shoulder to protest after the officials spotted he used his arm to control a lofted pass before steering an effort past Ulreich, who denied substitute Karim Benzema with his boot inside the final 15 minutes.

Lewandowski clipped wide from 10 yards in the 88th minute, concluding an uncharacteristically wasteful outing that leaves Bayern facing elimination by Madrid for the third time in five seasons.

 

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Bale assured by Zidane that Real Madrid are still 'relying' on him despite bench duty


Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has insisted that he will be relying on Gareth Bale late in the season despite leaving the attacker on the bench against Bayern Munich.Bale was an unused substitute as Madrid recorded a 2-1 win over Bayern in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.The Wales international has made just five appearances – three of those starts – in Europe's premier club competition this season.

But Zidane says Bale still has a role to play late in the season for Madrid, although there has been plenty of speculation over the 28-year-old's future.

"I have to make choices and I've got some very good players in the squad," he told a news conference."There are some players who are performing well at the moment.

"There are still more games to come and I'll be relying on him. It's not true that I don't play him."Former Tottenham star Bale has been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League, either at Spurs or their domestic rivals Manchester United.He has also been mooted as a possible transfer target for Bayern, with the door being left open to a potential switch to Germany.

 

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Heynckes: We gave Real Madrid two goals


Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes felt his team gifted Real Madrid their 2-1 win in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.After Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern the lead at Allianz Arena, goals from Marcelo and Marco Asensio helped two-time reigning champions Madrid to an away win.
The Bundesliga champions failed to clear the ball on Marcelo's goal, while Rafinha's turnover led to Asensio's second-half strike.

Heynckes lamented the way Bayern conceded and his side's inability to make the most of their chances, giving them work to do ahead of next week's second leg."We gave Real Madrid two goals with clear mistakes," he told ZDF.


"We had a series of chances that we did not take advantage of, so it is not surprising that we lost."Bayern had more shots and dominated possession, but they face a huge task heading to the Santiago Bernabeu.Heynckes believes the opportunities his side created gives them hope of reaching the final.

"The team have created so many chances against Madrid," he said."We have nothing to lose in Madrid and we can play freely there."It remains to be seen how undermanned Bayern are for the second leg after Arjen Robben, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez came off injured.

Heynckes is hopeful over the availability of Robben and Martinez, while Boateng could be sidelined with an apparent hamstring injury.