SPORTS: Real Madrid - Atlético Madrid
Real Madrid will play Atlético in the final in Milan on Saturday 28 May!
We can't wait..
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 May 2016
Wednesday, 24 February 2016
SPORTS: Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona: Five talking points as Lionel Messi punishes Gunners
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona triumphed against Arsenal
Arsenal's Champions League hopes were dealt a crushing blow as Lionel Messi struck twice to hand Barcelona a 2-0 win in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners defended doggedly and spurned a number of scoring chances before Messi finished off a blistering Barcelona counter-attack for the opening goal after 71 minutes.
He added his second from the penalty spot just 12 minutes later after Arsenal substitute Mathieu Flamini felled the Argentine with his first involvement in the game.
The result leaves Arsenal on the brink of their sixth last-16 elimination in a row. Here, our reporter at the Emirates reflects on the big talking points from the game.
Arsenal's gameplan frustrates Barcelona
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal could have beaten Barcelona in their first leg clash
"I cannot go into a game and think I will just play for a zero-zero. It's against my nature." Despite Arsene Wenger's comments in the build-up to this game, it was no great surprise to see the Arsenal manager set up his side to sit deep, contain Barcelona and play on the counter-attack.
For 71 minutes, the defensive gameplan worked. Arsenal had just 28 per cent of the possession in the first half but they worked tirelessly without the ball and restricted the space in and around their penalty box, with Barcelona's only clear chance of the half coming when Luis Suarez headed narrowly wide just before the break.
Petr Cech needed to be at his best to thwart Neymar early in the second period, but the Gunners continued to frustrate the visitors until a costly lapse of concentration saw them carved open on the break for the opener. Messi's second goal then undid all of their good work.
"They are better than us and everybody knows that but I believe we could have won the game tonight if we had kept the discipline until the end," said a frustrated Wenger, who saw similarities with last year's last-16 defeat. "Like against Monaco, it is exactly the same," he said. "We are caught in exactly the same way."
Gunners misfire in front of goal
Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain misses a glorious chance in the first half
Wenger has repeatedly called on his side to be more "efficient" in front of goal but their lack of composure cost them dearly yet again. Arsenal's profligacy has been a glaring issue throughout the campaign, and the manager spun away in anger as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain shot weakly at Marc-Andre Ter Stegen from eight yards out in the 27th minute.
"We had an unbelievable chance in the first half," said Wenger. "The way we finished our chances was a problem today." Oxlade-Chamberlain was guilty of squandering a fantastic counter-attack with a clumsy touch not long afterwards, but he wasn't the only Arsenal player to fluff his lines.
Aaron Ramsey missed three presentable chances, and the hosts' struggles in front of goal were summed up by a moment shortly before Barcelona's second goal when Olivier Giroud inexplicably passed the ball into an empty space as a threatening Arsenal attack entered the Barcelona box.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar celebrate with Ivan Rakitic at the Emirates
Arsenal's lack of cutting edge contrasted sharply with the ruthlessness of Barcelona's brilliant opener. All three members of their hallowed front three were involved. First, Neymar flicked the ball to Suarez on the left wing, who returned it through Koscielny's legs and the Brazil international then squared to Messi in the box.
The Argentine hadn't scored in his previous six games against Petr Cech, but his composure was remarkable, delaying his shot and deceiving the former Chelsea goalkeeper before dispatching the finish. Suarez hit the post when he probably should have added a third, but by that point MSN had already done enough to all but end the tie.
Messi's brace took the trio's total to 93 for the season in all competitions, and there's still three months of the season to go.
No happy reunion for Sanchez
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez is challenged by Barcelona's Dani Alves
In the formation of Barcelona's MSN, Alexis Sanchez was the casualty, with his £30m transfer to Arsenal coming shortly before Suarez's arrival from Liverpool in the summer of 2014. A reunion with his former club gave the Chilean a chance to prove a point, but he was unable to come up with a decisive contribution.
Sanchez was typically industrious and energetic without the ball, but his recent struggle for form continued. The 27-year-old's evening was made especially difficult by a brilliant performance from Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, but by repeatedly losing possession he invited more pressure on his side at crucial moments.
The statistics showed he won plenty of duels and tackles and ranked second for interceptions, but on a night when Arsenal needed more from their attacking players at the other end, he rarely threatened to make a breakthrough.
Saturday, 20 February 2016
SPORTS: Arsenal 0-0 Hull City: Eldin Jakupovic frustrates Gunners
Eldin Jakupovic made 11 saves in total, the most against Arsenal this season
Eldin Jakupovic made a series of fine saves as Hull City earned an FA Cup fifth-round replay with a goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In Arsene Wenger's 100th FA Cup match, the closest the Gunners came to a breakthrough was when the Hull goalkeeper tipped Joel Campbell's second-half free-kick onto the post.
Jakupovic also kept out Danny Welbeck's deflected strike with a smart stop, while Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all had opportunities too.
Referee Mike Dean waved away two Arsenal penalty appeals in the first half, and Hull withstood heavy pressure in the final stages as Jakupovic punched away Alexis Sanchez's free-kick.
Jakupovic made 11 saves in total, the most by an opposition keeper against the Gunners in any game this season, to ensure a replay is required at the KC Stadium.
Wenger made nine changes from last weekend's 2-1 Premier League victory over Leicester, including a first start of the season for last weekend's match-winner Welbeck.
Hull City's Nick Powell (right) is brought down by Arsenal's Joel Campbell (centre)
Arsenal and Hull are familiar foes having drawn each other in three consecutive FA Cup seasons, including the 2014 final, and a heavily-rotated Tigers side found themselves on the back foot early on.
Mohamed Elneny had a penalty appeal turned down after his half-volley struck Alex Bruce on the arm, while Welbeck headed Walcott's cross straight at Jakupovic.
The Gunners kept the pressure on, with Welbeck, Walcott and Iwobi squandering presentable opportunities, and Steve Bruce's men struggled to escape their own half in the opening 30 minutes.
Harry Maguire was shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean for a dive in the first half
A rare foray into Arsenal territory ended with a booking for Harry Maguire for simulation, before Arsenal had another penalty shout ignored after Welbeck was crowded out in the box.
Laurent Koscielny went into the book for a cynical challenge on Adama Diomande as the Championship leaders improved before the break.
Laurent Koscielny heads on goal
But Wenger's half-time words had a galvanising effect, and only a fine stop from Jakupovic denied Walcott after Kieran Gibbs picked out the forward. Iwobi was the next to go close, but the teenager steered his low shot wide.
Jukupovic was called into action again eight minutes into the second half, superbly tipping Campbell's free-kick onto the post.
Joel Campbell's free-kick gets around the wall but Eldin Jakupovic tipped it onto the post.
Wenger introduced Sanchez and Olivier Giroud as Arsenal turned up the heat, but an inspired Jakupovic continued to frustrate the Premier League side. The Hull 'keeper reacted well to keep out Welbeck's deflected effort and Giroud drew a routine save from the edge of the box.
Hull counter-attacks were few and far between, but David Meyler wasted a good chance to pick out a team-mate when well placed in the Arsenal box.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on for the final stages, but dragged his volley wide after Giroud's knock-down, while Hull substitute Sone Aluko forced David Ospina into a low stop.
Friday, 19 February 2016
SPORTS: Nick Powell forgot about Man Utd match and played FIFA instead
Just 10 weeks ago, the 21-year-old came off the bench as Louis van Gaal's side were knocked out of the Champions League with a 3-2 defeat at Wolfsburg.
A further substitute appearance at United followed before Powell moved on loan to Hull City, for whom he will make his debut in Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Arsenal.
It is clearly a case of out of sight out of mind for the midfielder, who - perhaps fortunately - forgot parent club United were in action against the Danish side on Thursday and instead took to his games console.
"No, I completely forgot - I was playing FIFA, if I was honest," Powell said when asked if he watched the 2-1 loss in the Europa League last-32.
"They've had so many injuries, with Wazza [Wayne Rooney] going out and David [de Gea] was injured before the game.
Louis van Gaal (left) did not have much to celebrate in Denmark
Injuries and a lack of game-time has frustrated Powell in recent years, leading some to write off a player who does not even turn 22 until next month.
"I am massively determined to impress," he said, having recently overcome a hamstring complaint. "I haven't played a proper game in about two years.
Louis van Gaal has blamed the defeat to FC Midtjylland on a growing list of injuries
"Don't get me wrong, I came on against Wolfsburg and Bournemouth but with 20 minutes here and there you can't showcase what you want to show everyone.
"I've not had a run of games in about two years, so if anything I am raring to just prove to people that I am not a lost cause, that I am coming back."
SPORTS: Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and West Ham's Slaven Bilic at odds over FA Cup rule changes
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and West Ham manager Slaven Bilic disagree over reported plans to scrap FA Cup replays.
It has been suggested that the rules of the famous competition should be tinkered with in order to ease fixture congestion, and ideas mooted include moving matches to midweek and/or ditching replays.
But Wenger, whose Arsenal team host Hull City in the fifth round on Saturday, does not think such adjustments are necessary.
"I am now vaccinated by the FA rules after such a long time, so I have become very conservatively English!" said Wenger. "And I am quite a bit nervous about changing the rules, because I like them now.
"I believe as well it looks like we get always more money and we want to play less games. That is a little bit of a contradiction.
"Next season, you have even more money coming in. That means in every single club you will have 25 top level players and I am convinced that all the clubs can compete, with the number of games we have to play, and that there is no real need, for me, to change the rules.
"This is the most traditional competition in England. Let's respect it and keep it as it is."
SPORTS: David de Gea to have scan after injuring knee before Manchester United's Europa League loss to FC Midtjylland
David de Gea will undergo a scan on Friday
David de Gea will have a scan on his injured knee on Friday, according to Sky sources.
De Gea suffered the injury as he warmed up before Manchester United's Europa defeat to FC Midtjylland on Thursday.
The Spain goalkeeper appeared to land awkwardly as he made a routine save in the on-field pre-match preparations and was forced to retire to the away dressing room for treatment.
Despite efforts from the United physio team, De Gea failed to recover in time for the start of the match and was replaced by Sergio Romero in Louis van Gaal's starting line-up.
The United squad returned to Manchester straight after the game and De Gea will be assessed at their Carrington training base.
Van Gaal said after the 2-1 loss: "It happened in the warm-up and we didn't know that, so we will have to wait and see the scan tomorrow.
"Then maybe we can say more but it was a big surprise."
United were unable to name a goalkeeper among their substitutes after taking just De Gea and Romero across the North Sea.
SPORTS: Manchester United have had no bids for Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is injured and could be out for up to six weeks
Manchester United have not received any bids for Wayne Rooney, according to Sky sources.
Recent media reports have speculated the United skipper could be destined for the Chinese Super League as a marquee signing this summer.
With the February 26 transfer deadline day fast approaching for the CSL, a string of big name players have been linked to moves to China.
Rooney suffered a knee injury but played on as United chased a result in the 2-1 defeat at Sunderland
Already a number of high-profile players have opted for a big money move to China, with the biggest outlay so far being the £38m that Jiangsu Suning spent to sign Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira on February 5.
The Brazilian's big-money move to the Far East broke the CSL transfer record for the third time in the space of just 10 days after Jackson Martinez and Ramires had joined Guangzhou Evergrande and Jiangsu Suning for £31.5m and £21m respectively.
Other transfers to have caught the eye this window include former Arsenal forward Gervinho's £13.5m move from Roma to Hebei China Fortune and Fredy Guarin's £9.75m switch from Inter Milan to Shanghai Shenhua.
Total spending this transfer window by the Chinese clubs broke the £200m barrier earlier this week with PSG forward Ezequiel Lavezzi's signing by Hebei China Fortune.
The CSL clubs are each allowed up to five foreign players in their squads - which must include one from the Asian Football Confederation - but can only field four at any one time.
Sports: watch Midtjylland 2-1 Manchester United Highlights (Europa League – 1st Leg)
Manchester United went into their Europa League first leg game against Midtylland with Rooney ruled out for six weeks while David De Gea limped off just before the kickoff.
Romero however settlled in straight away making couple of crucial saves before United took the lead with Memphis Depay scoring but a goal from Pione Sisto brought home team back into the game just before the break. Paul Onuachu scored in second half to get a 2-1 win for Danish side
FC Midtylland 2-1 Manchester United – Match Highlights
[ UEFA Europa League, First Leg ]
Memphis Depay put Manchester United 1-0 up just before the break:
Pione Sisto scored after some good footwork just outside the box:
77′ 2 – 1 Paul Onuachu
[ UEFA Europa League, First Leg ]
Memphis Depay put Manchester United 1-0 up just before the break:
Pione Sisto scored after some good footwork just outside the box:
77′ 2 – 1 Paul Onuachu
First half ended with teams level at 1-1 after goals coming just before the break. Memphis Depay poked home from close range to put United 1-0 up while Pione Sisto made it 1-1 at the stroke of halftime with a deflected shot.
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