marți, 28 aprilie 2015

City can learn from Chelsea - Clichy

City can learn from Chelsea - Clichy

French full-back Gael Clichy admitted Manchester City can learn lessons from Premier League champions-elect Chelsea's ability to win at all costs.

Chelsea have been described as "boring" as they close to within two wins of the Premier League title under Jose Mourinho, who has defended the club's style of play following Sunday's dour goalless draw...



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Universitario 1 Tigres UANL 2: Visitors overcome early setback

Universitario 1 Tigres UANL 2: Visitors overcome early setback

After conceding in just the second minute, Tigres UANL came from behind to win 2-1 at Universitario in their Copa Libertadores round-of-16 first leg on Tuesday.

Universitario hit the front with an early corner, as Leonardo Castro's flick-on picked out Ignacio Gonzalez at the back post and the Uruguayan defender nodded home, but second-half goals to...



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Bayern's best display against Dortmund - Guardiola

Bayern's best display against Dortmund - Guardiola

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola believes his team's performance against Borussia Dortmund was their best against their rivals since his arrival.

Dortmund advanced to the DFB Pokal final on Tuesday after the clash finished 1-1 through 120 minutes, before Bayern missed four penalties to go down 2-0 in the shoot-out.

Guardiola, whose team had Arjen...



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We are title favourites - Blanc

We are title favourites - Blanc

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc acknowledged his side are now in pole position to win Ligue 1 after a 3-1 triumph over Metz on Tuesday.

PSG - who have won the last two Ligue 1 titles - started Tuesday's match goal difference behind Lyon.

But they won their game in hand, with goals from Marco Verratti, Edinson Cavani and Gregory van der Wiel...



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La Liga Review: Wins for Barcelona and Levante

La Liga Review: Wins for Barcelona and Levante

Barcelona and Levante recorded La Liga wins on Tuesday, while Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad shared the spoils.

The main action took place at Camp Nou as Barcelona fired an ominous title warning to Real Madrid with a 6-0 thrashing of Getafe.

Getafe drew 2-2 with Barca last season and played out a goalless stalemate against the Catalan giants in...



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Bayern Munich 1 Borussia Dortmund 1 (aet, 2-0 pens): Klopp's men win shoot-out to end Guardiola's treble hopes

Bayern Munich 1 Borussia Dortmund 1 (aet, 2-0 pens): Klopp's men win shoot-out to end Guardiola's treble hopes

Jurgen Klopp will end his Borussia Dortmund career with a DFB-Pokal final after they clinched a dramatic penalty shootout win over defending champions Bayern Munich.

After normal time ended with the sides level at 1-1, the extra 30 minutes failed to produce a winner - though Kevin Kampl did see red for Dortmund - and Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer m...



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Hull City 1 Liverpool 0: Dawson the hero as Rodgers' men stumble again

Hull City 1 Liverpool 0: Dawson the hero as Rodgers' men stumble again

Hull City took an important step towards Premier League survival with a 1-0 win over Liverpool that leaves their opponents' chances of UEFA Champions League qualification in tatters.

As in their goalless draw at West Brom on Saturday, Liverpool's pleasing work on the ball was undermined by a lack of end product as Mar...



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Football League Review: Rotherham win sends Millwall and Wigan into League One

Football League Review: Rotherham win sends Millwall and Wigan into League One

Rotherham United guaranteed their Championship status for another season with a 2-1 win over Reading, consigning Millwall and Wigan Athletic to relegation in the process.

Steve Evans' Rotherham, promoted via the League One play-offs last term, would have been safe already but for a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player in a...



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Paris Saint-Germain 3 Metz 1: Blanc's men move closer to title

Paris Saint-Germain 3 Metz 1: Blanc's men move closer to title

Paris Saint-Germain claimed pole position in the Ligue 1 title race after a 3-1 win over Metz on Tuesday sent them three points clear at the top of the table.

The Parisians - aiming for their third successive French crown - started the day goal difference behind Lyon, but PSG's game in hand was always thought to be crucial and so it proved against...



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Serie A Preview: Roma eye much-needed win

Serie A Preview: Roma eye much-needed win

Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic is desperate for his team to turn their form around and end their three-game winless run.

Rudi Garcia's men suffered a 2-1 loss at Inter last time out, leaving them just two points clear of fourth-placed Napoli.

They travel to Sassuolo on Wednesday needing a turnaround in fortunes.

Juventus are almost certain to win the...



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MLS Review: Toronto end drought, Red Bulls stay unbeaten

MLS Review: Toronto end drought, Red Bulls stay unbeaten

Toronto FC ended a four-game losing streak on Sunday with a 2-0 win at Orlando City, while New York Red Bulls came from behind to maintain their unbeaten start in MLS.

Jozy Altidore struck a brace for Toronto, as they claimed their first victory since the opening week of the 2015 season.

The United States striker opened the scoring in the 50th...



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Chelsea to face Sydney in June

Chelsea to face Sydney in June

Premier League leaders Chelsea will head to Australia for the first time in 50 years, with a friendly against Sydney FC confirmed for June.

Jose Mourinho's side, champions in waiting, face the Sky Blues at ANZ Stadium on June 2.

Just three days earlier, Sydney - coached by former Socceroo Graham Arnold - take on another Premier League outfit in T...



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Liverpool can attract players - Rodgers

Liverpool can attract players - Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes his club will be able to attract players even if they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Rodgers' side, held to a 0-0 draw at West Brom on Saturday, are fifth and seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United – although they do have a game in hand.

With Champions League football for next...



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Bayern celebrate three-peat

Bayern celebrate three-peat

Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge labelled Bayern Munich's third straight Bundesliga title a "magnificent achievement" as the players celebrated the 2014-15 championship on social media.

Bayern were confirmed as champions on Sunday after second-placed Wolfsburg lost 1-0 to Borussia Monchengladbach, leaving the Bavarians 15 points clear at the top of...



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Hazard crowned PFA Players' Player of the Year

Hazard crowned PFA Players' Player of the Year

Eden Hazard was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year winner on Sunday, after the Chelsea midfielder's brilliant Premier League campaign.

Hazard has scored 13 goals so far for Jose Mourinho's side, who are bound to win the English top-flight trophy as they carry a 10-point lead into their final five games.

The 24-year-old was the first Belgian...



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Ligue 1 Review: Lens' fate all but sealed, Lyon return top

Ligue 1 Review: Lens' fate all but sealed, Lyon return top

Lens need a miracle if they are to avoid an immediate return to Ligue 2 after succumbing to a 3-0 loss at the hands of high-flying Monaco.

Antoine Kombouare's side are 12 points off Reims, Lorient and Caen with four games remaining but would need to significantly improve their goal-difference of -26 to stay up.

Much of the damage was done by...



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La Liga Review: Hernandez rescues Real, Sevilla up to fourth

La Liga Review: Hernandez rescues Real, Sevilla up to fourth

Javier Hernandez once again spared Real Madrid's blushes as his brace in a 4-2 win at Celta Vigo on Sunday kept the club within two points of Barcelona, while Sevilla moved fourth with victory against Rayo Vallecano.

The Mexican scored the winner in Real's 1-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday and he...



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Paris Saint-Germain v Metz: Injuries prove a frustration for Blanc

Paris Saint-Germain v Metz: Injuries prove a frustration for Blanc

Fresh from hitting Lille for six at the weekend, Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has few concerns other than injuries ahead of their Ligue 1 clash with Metz.

Struggling Metz visit the Parc des Princes on Tuesday still in desperate need of points to avoid an immediate return to Ligue 2 but face an in-form PSG side.

Ezequiel Lavezzi's...



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Serie A Review: Juve made to wait as Parma fight another day

Serie A Review: Juve made to wait as Parma fight another day

Juventus were made to wait for their Scudetto crown while Parma gave themselves a stay of execution from their impending relegation in Serie A on Sunday.

Both look all but certain to finish at opposite ends of the table although Juventus failed to move a step closer as they were beaten 2-1 by rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole.

Matteo Darmian and...



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Barcelona v Getafe: Iniesta keen to maintain momentum

Barcelona v Getafe: Iniesta keen to maintain momentum

Barcelona are approaching each of the last five games of their La Liga season as "a final", according to Andres Iniesta. 

A 23rd Liga title could be on the cards for the Catalan giants in the closing weeks of 2014-15 as Barca, who welcome Getafe to Camp Nou on Tuesday, look to secure the first of a possible three trophies in Luis Enrique's debut cam...



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Celta Vigo 2 Real Madrid 4: Hernandez to the rescue again

Celta Vigo 2 Real Madrid 4: Hernandez to the rescue again

Javier Hernandez's Real Madrid resurgence continued with a vital brace in Sunday's 4-2 win at Celta Vigo to keep the capital club within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.

The Mexico striker netted the crucial winner in Real's 1-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday and he proved decisive once again as Carlo...



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United have opened the door for Liverpool - Van Gaal

United have opened the door for Liverpool - Van Gaal

Manchester United have allowed Liverpool back into the race for UEFA Champions League qualification with their meek 3-0 defeat at Everton, according to Louis van Gaal.

Van Gaal's team were well beaten at Goodison Park on Sunday, with goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas giving Everton a richly deserved victory.

United have...



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MLS Review: Revolution win big as Dynamo, Kansas City draw

MLS Review: Revolution win big as Dynamo, Kansas City draw

Eastern Conference leaders New England Revolution enjoyed a 4-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Jay Heaps' side struck twice in both halves at Gillette Stadium to be ahead of DC United and the Columbus Crew in the conference.

Chris Tierney, Juan Agudelo, Charlie Davies and Scott Caldwell were on the scoresheet for the Revolution.

Tierney opened...



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Blanc: PSG have moved on

Blanc: PSG have moved on

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc believes his players proved they had put their UEFA Champions League exit behind them on Saturday.

Ezequiel Lavezzi netted a hat-trick as the Ligue 1 leaders thrashed Lille 6-1 at the Parc des Princes, just days after being eliminated by Barcelona in European competition.

Blanc said his team had shown they...



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Hazard worth '£100m each leg' - Mourinho

Hazard worth '£100m each leg' - Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told Real Madrid only £200m and one of their best three players would get them Eden Hazard.

Hazard, 24, has helped Chelsea to within touching distance of the Premier League title - sitting nine points clear at the top ahead of Sunday's trip to Arsenal.

The Belgium international has been linked with a move to La Liga...



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Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2: Fernandinho concludes Etihad drama in City's favour

Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2: Fernandinho concludes Etihad drama in City's favour

Fernandinho defied a valiant Aston Villa comeback as Manchester City edged to a 3-2 Premier League victory on Saturday.

Manuel Pellegrini's soon-to-be-deposed champions appeared to be cruising to back-to-back wins for the first time since February after Sergio Aguero and Aleksandar Kolarov put them 2-0 up.

Tom Cleverley’s first Villa goal reduced t...



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Primeira Liga Review: Gil Vicente claim vital win, Estoril and Rio Ave held

Primeira Liga Review: Gil Vicente claim vital win, Estoril and Rio Ave held

Gil Vicente boosted their Primeira Liga survival prospects with a 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Academica in a match where all three goals came from the penalty spot.

Rui Pedro netted the first spot kick for the hosts after 26 minutes but Ruben Ribeiro levelled matters seven minutes before half-time.

Ribeiro ceded responsibilities for Ricardo Cadu to...



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Eredivisie Review: Depay inspires 10-man PSV, wins for Heracles and Utrecht

Eredivisie Review: Depay inspires 10-man PSV, wins for Heracles and Utrecht

Memphis Depay played a starring role as Eredivisie champions PSV twice came from behind to secure a 3-2 win at Excelsior despite being reduced to 10 men.

Luuk de Jong put through his own goal to give Excelsior the lead and, although Georginio Wijnaldum equalised after 68 minutes, PSV were behind again five minutes later.

Nicolas Isimat-Mirin handled...



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Ligue 1 Review: PSG hit Lille for six, Bastia late show stuns Evian

Ligue 1 Review: PSG hit Lille for six, Bastia late show stuns Evian

Ezequiel Lavezzi scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of Ligue 1 with a 6-1 win over 10-man Lille.

PSG went ahead less than 60 seconds into Saturday's match at the Parc des Princes as Maxwell fired home Serge Aurier's cross at the back post before Edinson Cavani raced through to add a second with a delicate chip that...



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Inter 2 Roma 1: Late Icardi strike puts Juve on brink of title

Inter 2 Roma 1: Late Icardi strike puts Juve on brink of title

Mauro Icardi's late winner in Inter's 2-1 defeat of Roma on Saturday put Juventus within touching distance of their 31st Serie A title and increased the pressure on under-fire Rudi Garcia.

Runaway leaders Juve started the weekend needing both Roma and Lazio to lose while also beating neighbours Torino on Sunday to clinch the crown, and Roberto...



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Sevilla focused on task at hand

Unai Emery

Sevilla coach Unai Emery has warned his side against getting distracted by their upcoming match against Real Madrid when they visit Eibar on Wednesday.

The Andalusians are still in the hunt for fourth place, and trail Valencia by two points.

They are also looking to go the entire season unbeaten at their Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan home, with Madrid's visit on Saturday posing the biggest threat to that aim.

And in little over a week Emery's side host Fiorentina in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie, but the coach insisted in a press conference that his side were only concentrating on their trip to Ipurua.

Asked if his side were focusing on the game with Carlo Ancelotti's side, he said: "First of all, that (talk of Madrid) is coming from the press. Secondly, none of the players are answering questions about Real Madrid nor Fiorentina. Thirdly, the three points from the Eibar game are just as important as the points against Real Madrid.

"We can talk about the importance of Fiorentina later. Our bid to get in the Champions League depends on what we do tomorrow at Eibar. If we don't win, the door will start closing on our chances."

The coach also admitted his players are feeling the strain of the fixture pile-up, as their match with Madrid will be their fourth in 10 days.

"There has been an accumulation of demanding games and we need to manage the players well and see how they recover," he said.

"I hope they can all stay fit, but there's a risk of injury. Experience tells us that we need to pay a lot of attention to managing our squad."

And he insisted he was not considering resting players on four yellow cards, such as Carlos Bacca and Jose Antonio Reyes, who would miss the match with Madrid if they earned a booking at Eibar.

"I normally don't think it's important that players on yellow cards could miss the next game," he said.

Sevilla be without influential forward Vitolo and first-choice goalkeeper Beto for the match at Eibar through injury, and both players are fighting to be fit for the clash with Madrid.

Eibar, meanwhile, are still without forward Angel Rodriguez and goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez, while defender Raul Navas is doubtful.

Eibar's defeat 2-0 at Almeria on Sunday saw the Basque side slip to within two points of the relegation zone, although the result was overshadowed by coach Gaizka Garitano walking out of the post-match press conference over a disagreement with local journalists over answering questions in the Basque language.

However, the coach insists he has already put the incident behind him.

He told: "On Sunday night I started to think about the game with Sevilla, watching videos of them and doing my job, which is to try to beat Sevilla. That's the only thing in my head."



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Chelsea's Mourinho can smell title

Jose Mourinho

Chelsea will take another big step towards the Premier League title if they win at relegation-threatened Leicester City today, but boss Jose Mourinho expects their opponents to stay up whatever the result.

Leicester, who were bottom from the end of November until last week, have climbed out of the drop zone after winning their last four matches and Mourinho said he was surprised they were ever there in the first place.

"I was surprised with their bad position. For me they are a good team with good players. We played them very early in the season at Stamford Bridge, and I could immediately feel the quality of the team.

"I am not surprised they are out of the relegation zone. And I won't be surprised when they stay in the division. I think they will survive."

Chelsea's immediate targets are very different from Leicester's with Mourinho's Champions-elect team needing six points to guarantee winning the title while Leicester need as many as possible to avoid a Championship return.

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson was trying to keep his players' feet on the ground following a run of four successive victories. "Results are more important than performances. It's been very satisfying to get four wins and it gives us a realistic chance, but there is still a lot of football to be played.

"Every game now has something riding on it. There's lots left to do. The only thing that matters is that we're out of the bottom three after 38 games. To do that we have to remain focused."



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Juventus vs. Real Madrid : Champions League Preview

Juventus vs. Real Madrid: Champions League Betting TipsReal Madrid overcame a huge hurdle in the quarterfinals to get past an Atlético Madrid side that had gone undefeated in the sides’ last seven matchups. After the jubilation of Javier “Chicharito” Hernández's late goal at the Bernabeu, there will surely be a temptation to breathe a sigh of relief, especially after receiving the semifinal opponent that they Barcelona and Bayern Munich would surely have chosen if given the option.

Juventus vs. Real Madrid - Champions League Semifinals 2015
Match Date: 5 May 2015 (local time)
Venue: Juventus Stadium (Torino)



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Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich : Champions League Preview

Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich: Champions League Betting TipsWhile a two­-legged Clásico would have drawn the world’s attention like nothing else, a tussle between Barcelona and Bayern Munich presents surely the most intriguing of the potential matchups.

Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich - Champions League Semifinals 2015
Match Date: 6 May 2015 (local time)
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)



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Celta Vigo vs Malaga: La Liga Betting Preview

Celta Vigo vs Malaga - Betting Preview La Liga

Celta Vigo vs Malaga
Match Date: 29 April 2015 (local time)
Venue: Estadio de Balaídos (Vigo)

Malaga visits Celta Vigo in an attempt to end its 6-match winless streak. The club’s lackluster performance has been preventing them from exploiting the possibilities of penetrating the league’s top 5.



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Lyon vs Evian Thonon Gaillard: Ligue 1 Betting Preview

Lyon vs Evian Thonon Gaillard: Ligue 1 Betting Tips and PreviewLyon should be wary of Evian Thonon Gaillard’s determination to survive for this could readily upset their title run. Apparently, the interests pursued by both clubs are highly critical and it is quite hard not to expect an exciting match between the two squads.

Lyon vs Evian Thonon Gaillard
Match Date: 2 May 2015 (local time)
Match Venue: Stade de Gerland (Lyon)



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Tottenham vs Manchester City: Premier League Preview

Tottenham vs Manchester City: Premier League Preview

Tottenham vs Manchester City
Match Date: 3 May 2015 (local time)
Venue: White Hart Lane (London)

After falling out of the title race, Manchester City’s consolation is to stay on the 2nd spot and ensure its Champions League qualification. Right now, they are currently tied with yet another online betting favorite, Arsenal. By any means necessary, they need to win against Tottenham.



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duminică, 26 aprilie 2015

Real Madrid must be wary of avoiding another hiccup at Celta

Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema

There was good news from Carlo Ancelotti's pre-match press conference on Saturday: Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are on the road to recovery.

The Welshman is expected to be available for the league match against Sevilla next week and Real's first-choice striker should return to action in the first leg of the Champions League tie against Juventus in Turin on May 5.

The bad news is that alongside Luka Modric, neither will make the trip to Balaidos to play Celta on Sunday. The same situation was true on Wednesday night, when Real Madrid finally got the better of Atletico Madrid at the eighth time of asking of this season, but that was at home. With the semifinals of the Champions League safely reached, Ancelotti's focus will return to the league and the parallels between this year and last will provide the Real manager with a few headaches in Vigo on Sunday.

Late last season, Real travelled to Galicia still in the La Liga title reckoning, albeit only just. One point behind Barcelona and four adrift of Atletico, Real needed both challengers to slip up and both duly obliged: Barca being held at Camp Nou by the unlikely source of Getafe and Atletico showing a few nerves as Diego Simeone's side went down 2-0 at Levante. Unfortunately, a woeful defensive display, a lack of incisiveness in attack and an inspired Celta put paid to Real's hopes anyway; two goals from Charles handed the side -- then managed by Luis Enrique -- all three points.

It was hardly surprising, given the side that Ancelotti put out: Diego Lopez; Alvaro Arbeloa, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Casemiro; Modric, Alvaro Morata, Isco.

The Italian didn't have a lot of choice: Shorn of Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Angel di Maria and Pepe, and with the Champions League final looming, there was a definite sense of inevitability to the match. Real needed their rivals to do them a favour, but played as if they never expected one from the first whistle. 

With the La Liga title race even more finely balanced this time around, Ancelotti will need to ensure there is no repeat of that half-performance. Fortunately his injury list is nowhere near as severe this weekend as it was then -- among the substitutes were a convalescing Bale, Burgui, Raul de Tomas and Willian Jose. Unfortunately for Ancelotti, Celta are playing with as much verve and attacking flair this season as they were last year, and have a taste for the big occasion. So far in 2014-15, Eduardo Berizzo's side have taken three points off Barca -- a 1-0 victory in Camp Nou -- four from Atletico and one from Valencia of the current top four.

Under Berizzo, Celta have built on Lui Enrique's tenure and are playing some glorious attacking football. The summer losses of Rafinha, Jon Aurtenetxe and Inigo Lopez have been mitigated with the signings of Pablo Hernandez, Carles Planes and the continued excellence of Nolito, who this season has been rewarded with a call-up to the full Spain squad and tops the Celta assist charts with 12, also chipping in with nine goals.

Charles, who was hardly prolific last season after winning the Segunda Division Pichichi trophy the year before at Almeria, has gone further off the boil, hitting just three so far. But an unlikely goalscoring saviour has emerged in the form of Joaquin Larrivey, a player for who the term "journeyman" was created. Signed from Rayo on a free at the end of last season, the 30-year-old Argentinean is worth a goal every 177 minutes in the league and offers a physical presence that few defenders enjoy going up against.

Built on a solid midfield, Celta are well-worth their current top-10 status, but the loss of influential defensive midfielder Nemanja Radoja will be keenly felt in Balaidos. However, Berizzo has promised a sellout home crowd that there will be no change of style, despite the potency of the visiting side. "The key to the game is going to be the way we're able to get the ball off them and in which area of the pitch we do that because against this type of team, defending in front of goal for most of the game isn't a good idea. Celta always play at pace and we feel comfortable moving the ball around quickly. We are direct, powerful on the wings and throughout this league campaign we've felt comfortable playing that way," said Berizzo.

Berizzo will be aware that playing that way in the Bernabeu invited a 3-0 defeat, with Ronaldo bagging a hat trick. The Portuguese will be the focal point of Real's attacking play on Sunday, with Chicharito Hernandez likely to start in the middle after an encouraging display against Atletico in midweek. Whether Isco will be shunted out to the left again to accommodate James Rodriguez remains to be seen, but the midfielder has not looked comfortable there in recent matches.

Whatever formation Ancelotti decides to field in Balaidos, the Italian will do well to remind them what happened last year when the title was still mathematically possible: Barcelona's 2-0 win in their city derby on Saturday has opened the gap to five points again and only Atletico present a reasonable chance of Luis Enrique's side being denied three points over the remaining five fixtures.



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Mourinho plays down his supremacy over Wenger

Mourinho plays down his supremacy over Wenger

Chelsea may be two wins away from regaining the Premier League title, but manager Jose Mourinho insists he is taking nothing for granted including his unblemished record against Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The London rivals meet on Sunday with Chelsea 10 points clear at the top of the table. Victory at second-placed Arsenal would mean Mourinho's team can clinch the title by beating Leicester City three days later.

But Mourinho said his unbeaten record in 12 games against Wenger was irrelevant.

"For me, achievement is to win ," he told reporters on Friday. "It's not the other 12 matches that we played before against Arsenal.

"It's a big club with the same objectives that we have in the competitions we play. Because of that always comes a little bit of rivalry.

"He's not my rival. I just feel he's the manager of a big club in the same city where I work and I live."

The relationship between the two managers has often been fraught. During Chelsea's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in October, Wenger appeared to push Mourinho during a touchline spat, something he later said he regretted.

In his first spell at the club in 2005, Mourinho called the Frenchman a "voyeur" who talked too much about Chelsea and more recently described him as "a specialist in failure".

He preferred to talk about his own team, however, including Cesc Fabregas, the former Arsenal midfielder who can expect a mixed reaction at best from the home fans.

"If he has some bad reaction he's more than ready," Mourinho said. "He has made a fantastic contribution to a fantastic season."

Chelsea will wait until after Saturday's training session before deciding whether Spain striker Diego Costa is fit to return from injury.

If not, Mourinho said, he will be ready for the Leicester game. Didier Drogba will play but Loic Remy is not fit.

Something will have to give on Sunday as the leaders have won their last five away games, while Arsenal have won eight games in a row.



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vineri, 24 aprilie 2015

Espanyol vs Barcelona: La Liga Betting Preview

Espanyol vs Barcelona - Betting Preview La Liga

Espanyol vs Barcelona
Match Date: 25 April 2015 (local time)
Venue: Power8 Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat)

After advancing to the Champions League semis, Barcelona turns its focus to extending its lead in La Liga. As of the moment, the online betting favorite cannot afford to be complacent with their 2-point advantage against the aggressive Real Madrid. Everything is possible in football and being lenient might compromise their run in the title race.



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Arsenal vs Chelsea: Premier League Betting Preview

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Premier League Betting Tips and Predictions

Chelsea vs. Manchester United
Match Date: 26 April 2015 (local time)
Venue: Emirates Stadium (London)

Arsenal and Chelsea meet, it is only fitting to expect a down the wire match between the two. The Gunners has never won a game against the Blues and for the last time this season, the squad will attempt to overpower its closest rival.



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miercuri, 22 aprilie 2015

Champs Sevilla clash with Zenit

Champs Sevilla clash with Zenit

Sevilla put their Europa League crown on the line on Thursday with a treacherous trip to Zenit St Petersburg, while two of the other quarter-finals remain on a knife-edge but Napoli are all but qualified after routing Wolfsburg last week.

Sevilla often save their best football for Europe’s second-tier competition, having lifted the trophy in 2006 and 2007, as well as last year when they defeated Benfica on penalties.

They carry a 2-1 first leg lead into their 4,500km trek to the Baltic after late goals from Carlos Bacca and Denis Suarez overturned a first-half opener from Zenit’s Alexander Ryazantsev.

But coach Andre Villas-Boas expects the home crowd and his league leaders to make it a difficult night for their visitors.

“What can really help us is the support of the stadium,” said the former Tottenham handler.

“The atmosphere that the fans are going to create can really encourage the team.” added the 37-year-old Portuguese coach, who won the competition with Porto, when they beat Braga 1-0 in 2011.

Zenit, who became the first Russian team to win the competition when they defeated Rangers 2-0 in 2008, will be boosted by the return of captain Miguel Danny, star striker Hulk as well as defenders Domenico Criscito and Igor Smolnikov, who sat out the match in Spain through suspension.

On the down side, Ryazantsev is now suspended as is Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay after both picked up first-leg bookings.

“We have to score,” said Ryazantsev. “Sevilla showed that they’re really dangerous on the counter-attacks but I think that in St Petersburg they will play a little bit different football.”

Bacca, who grabbed the all-important equaliser in the first match, feels Sevilla’s love for the competition could have a bearing on the outcome. “With Sevilla having won it three times, there is a lot of excitement about playing in this tournament,” he said.



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Rodriguez key to Real's success vs Atletico

James Rodriguez

With Real Madrid facing an injury crisis ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid attention will be on talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to lead them through but James Rodriguez may hold the key.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti will be without playmaker Luka Modric and forward Gareth Bale while striker Karim Benzema’s knee injury may be more serious than first thought and he will also miss the quarter-final, second leg.

As well as the injury absences, attacking fullback Marcelo is suspended for the decider at the Bernabeu with the tie standing at 0-0 from the first game.

Ancelotti must improvise by either playing two, rather than the usual trident, in attack as he has often done in the absence of Bale or by pushing Rodriguez forward on to the right wing to take the place of the Welshman.

Rodriguez has been in impressive form since his return from injury at the beginning of April with Real winning all four league games.

The Colombian stood out in a sluggish performance by Real in Saturday’s 3-1 La Liga win over Malaga when he scored a fine 25-metre goal, won a penalty and provided defensive cover in midfield.

Now, in the absence of Modric, who is set to be the player that Real will miss most against Atletico, it is Rodriguez who can provide similar passing and build-up play.

Ronaldo’s strike against Malaga brought up his 50th goal of the season but he struggled after Christmas without the support from midfield of Modric or Rodriguez.

“The best player was James because he gave a lot of quality to the team,” Ancelotti told a news conference after the Malaga victory.

Atletico will try to take advantage of the absentees to get some revenge for their defeat in last season’s Champions League final and are led in attack by Antoine Griezmann who is in a rich vein of form.

“He has scored important goals all season and is giving a lot to the team,” fellow forward Raul Garcia told reporters.

The Frenchman hit a double in Atletico’s 2-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.

“The final is in the past. It would have been nice to win but this is another match. The team is playing very well and we are in a positive mood,” added Garcia.



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luni, 20 aprilie 2015

Barcelona vs. PSG: Champions League Preview

Barcelona vs. PSG: Champions League Betting TipsThe Spanish outfit should not forgot the Parisiens’ dramatic upset against Chelsea and there’s a strong possibility for them to go for a repeat of their previous feat.

Paris Saint Germain vs Barcelona
Match Date: 21 April 2015 (local time)
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)



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Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid: Champions League Preview

Paris Saint Germain vs Barcelona: Champions League Betting TipsA single, yet, highly important goal is the only thing that Atletico and Real Madrid need. The Madridistas are hoping for Karim Benzema to step up and combine his strength with Cristiano Ronaldo. Meanwhile, many are hoping for yet another stellar performance from Jan Oblak. The squad’s goalkeeper was a key figure in forcing an even steven finish against Real Madrid. The Madridistas, despite its injury will readily capitalize on their home court advantage.

Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
Match Date: 22 April 2015 (local time)
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid)



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Fiorentina vs. Dynamo Kyiv: Europa League Preview

Fiorentina vs. Dynamo Kyiv: Europa League PreviewFiorentina was lucky for snatching a late equalizer during the first leg. Can they still make it during the 2nd leg? Fiorentina must do everything to stop Dynamo from scoring. Otherwise, their chances of advancing to the next stage, will no longer materialize.

Fiorentina vs. Dynamo Kyiv
Match Date: 23 April 2015 (local time)
Venue: Stadio Artemio Franchi (Firenze)



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Napoli vs Wolfsburg: Europa League Preview

Napoli vs Wolfsburg-uefa-europa-league-2014-2015The Partenopei silenced their critics after thrashing the Bundesliga powerhouse and online betting favorite, Wolfsburg. Scoring four (4) massive goals in their opponent’s territory, it is not surprising to see Napoli unleash the scoring machine in them.

Napoli vs Wolfsburg
Match Date: 23 April 2015 (local time)
Venue: Stadio San Paolo (Napoli)



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duminică, 19 aprilie 2015

Copa Libertadores Preview: Cruzeiro boss Oliveira does not fear sack

Copa Libertadores Preview: Cruzeiro boss Oliveira does not fear sack

Marcelo Oliveira is focused on Cruzeiro's Copa Libertadores Group Three showdown with Club Universitario, despite doubts surrounding his future with the club.


Oliveira is reportedly under pressure after Cruzeiro were eliminated by rivals Atletico Mineiro in the semi-finals of the Campeonato Mineiro on Sunday but the Brazilian coach is unfazed by...







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MLS Review: Revs extend unbeaten run, Timbers stun City

MLS Review: Revs extend unbeaten run, Timbers stun City

A second-half comeback saw the in-form New England Revolution overcome Philadelphia Union 2-1 away from home.


Two goals in the space of 12 minutes from Charlie Davies and Teal Bunbury cancelled out Cristian Maidana's 42nd-minute opener at PPL Park as the Revolution extended their unbeaten streak in MLS to five matches.


The Revolution, who opened the...







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CAF Champions League Review: Setif get two away goals, Al Ahly denied late on

CAF Champions League Review: Setif get two away goals, Al Ahly denied late on

CAF Champions League holders ES Setif have given their group-stage qualification chances a boost with two away goals in their 2-2 draw at Raja Casablanca on Sunday.


In what was billed as the biggest match of the round between the reigning champions and three-time winners Raja, the Moroccans were forced to come behind twice in front of their own...







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