Champions League : Real Madrid - Dortmund Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp insists that his team is ready and raring to go for their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
Dortmund scraped through to the last four of Europe's most prestigious club competition after scoring two late goals to beat Malaga 3-2 and they were far from at their best against Mainz at the weekend, despite running out 2-0 winners.
But Klopp says that Dortmund, who have failed to defend their Bundesliga title this season, are ready for the first leg at the Westfalenstadion.
"We're playing against the biggest club in the world, we will be ready for Real and
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Category: News Views: 805 Added: SkyDate: 22.04.2013 - 22:09
Europa League : Basel - Chelsea Chelsea will be flying the flag for England when they go away to Basel in their UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday.
English Premier League teams Tottenham and Newcastle United both bowed out at the quarter-final stage, leaving Chelsea as the country's sole representative in the last four.
Chelsea were not entirely convincing as they advanced to the semi-finals courtesy of a 5-4 aggregate win over Russia's Rubin Kazan.
With Chelsea out of contention in the Premier League, UEFA's second-tier competition is their only chance to claim silverware this season.
Category: News Views: 750 Added: SkyDate: 22.04.2013 - 22:04
Europa League: Fenerbahce - Benfica Fenerbahce head coach Aykut Kocaman will be hoping his side refocus quickly ahead of their UEFA Europa League semi-final versus Benfica.
Kocaman's team lost for the first time in 11 matches in all competitions on Sunday when they went down 2-0 away to Genclerbirligi in the Turkish Super Lig and have just four days to recover before they take on Benfica in Istanbul in their semi-final first leg.
Thursday's match will be Fenerbahce's first appearance in the final four of a European continental competition and Kocaman will be stressing the importance of winning their home leg.
In the 12 UEFA Europa League semi-final matches since the competition's name was changed fr
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Category: News Views: 754 Added: SkyDate: 22.04.2013 - 22:02
Alves hails magical Messi Dani Alves has stressed that Lionel Messi has 'magical' importance to Barcelona and is key to the Catalans' chances of success.
The Spanish giants were heading for a Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain a fortnight ago before Messi came off the bench and proved instrumental in Tito Vilanova's side progressing to the semi-finals.
The Argentina international has missed the Blaugrana's past three La Liga games, however, but has been included in the squad to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday and Alves made no attempts in playing down his importance to the cause.
"Messi knows he is the best player in the world and the power he has to change a game around just with his presence out on the pitch," the Brazilian full-back to
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Category: News Views: 966 Added: SkyDate: 22.04.2013 - 08:20
PSG inconsistency stumps Ancelotti Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti said he is at a loss to explain his side's inconsistency, after their 3-0 win over Nice.
The Ligue 1 leaders slumped to a penalties defeat in the Coupe de France against minnows Evian TG but bounced back in style - with goals from Jeremy Menez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Clement Chantome ensuring a handsome victory at Parc des Princes on Sunday.
"We saw a lot of intensity and aggression. It was tough tonight," Ancelotti told Canal+.
"The key was there. I don't know why the team can play as well as they did tonight and as badly as they did against Evian.
"Anyway, it happened. We are happy with how we did tonight."
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Category: News Views: 932 Added: SkyDate: 22.04.2013 - 08:16
Benfica claim local bragging rights League leaders Benfica maintained their unbeaten record with a 2-0 win over Sporting in the Lisbon derby on Sunday.
Goals from Eduardo Salvio and Lima earned bragging rights for Benfica at the Estadio da Luz, while also extending their undefeated run to 26 matches.
Benfica had won six games in succession heading into the derby and they were on track to continue that fine run of form when Salvio pounced on a Nicolas Gaitan pass to open the scoring on 36 minutes.
Lima sealed the result for the hosts' with 15 minutes remaining, sending a volley past helpless goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Benfica remain four points clear of defending champions Porto at the summ
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Category: News Views: 982 Added: SkyDate: 22.04.2013 - 08:14
Boateng subject of racist abuse again AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng was subjected to racist abuse before Sunday's Serie A clash with Juventus in Turin.
The Ghanaian was targeted by certain sections of the home support during the warm-up and responded to the insults by putting his finger over his lips in a silencing motion.
However, it was not until the stadium announcer intervened, calling for those aiming slurs at Boateng to desist, that order was finally restored.
Juventus supporters also displayed a banner during the game which read: "No to racism; yes to jumping", which was a reference to a previous slogan about another Milan player, Mario Balotelli: "If you jump, Balotelli dies".
Category: News Views: 925 Added: SkyDate: 22.04.2013 - 08:13
