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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 SPORTS PREVIEW Emery, PSG look to get one over Barcelona at last PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona “Every time we play Barcelona we go in the first leg of their Champions League out believing we can win, but things don’t last-16 tie today with their Spanish coach always go the way we want them to go. Unai Emery desperate to improve his awful What is for sure is that we are working hard personal record against the Catalans. and we are convinced we will have our part Emery was brought to the French capital to play,” said Cavani, who turns 30 on the last year as the successor to Laurent Blanc day of the game. in order to help take PSG to the next level The French champions have beaten in Europe after four consecutive quarter- Barcelona in the recent past, claiming a 3-2 final exits in the Champions League. win in the group stage in September 2014. But finishing second in their group They are also a formidable proposition behind Arsenal exposed PSG to a tougher at the Parc des Princes, having lost just draw in the first knockout round and now once there in Europe in the last decade, they must beat the Spanish champions — albeit that was against Barcelona two years the second leg will be at the Camp Nou ago. Emery will be unable to utilise veteran next month-just to make it to the last eight midfielder Thiago Motta, the ex-Barcelona again. Emery, the former Sevilla boss, has player, due to suspension. Meanwhile, one come up against Barcelona 23 times in his winger from Angel Di Maria, Lucas Moura coaching career and won just once, in La and January signing Julian Draxler will have Liga last season. to settle for a place on the bench. Paris, meanwhile, have been knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona VIDAL OUT twice in recent campaigns, losing in the Barcelona travel to France buoyed by a quarter-finals in 2013 and again in 2015 to crushing 6-0 win at Alaves in La Liga at the Lionel Messi, Neymar and co. weekend in which Luis Suarez scored twice. “For me this is a good opportunity,” That result means Luis Enrique’s side Emery told reporters at the Parc des Princes have now lost just once in 22 games yesterday. although it was overshadowed by an awful “It is an important moment in the sea- ankle injury suffered by right-back Aleix son because it is the Champions League Vidal which rules him out for the rest of the MADRID: Atletico Madrid’s forward Fernando Torres (L) runs with the ball as Celta Vigo’s Argentinian defender Facundo Roncaglia falls down which is a very clear objective for the club season. Javier Mascherano and Arda Turan during the Spanish league football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs RC Celta de Vigo at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on and it is against Barcelona. are sidelined too, although one man who Sunday.— AFP “We want to be playing against the best could feature is Rafinha, who was named in teams in Europe and the world. I carry the the squad but will need a mask to protect a responsibility, but we need to be positive, broken nose. SOCCER have confidence in the team, and confi- Barcelona are still fighting on three dence in our own ability.” fronts, keeping alive the prospect of anoth- There is certainly a new-found confi- er La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions dence at the Parc des Princes after a fine League treble to match those achieved in Griezmann seals Atletico start to 2017 which has seen them win 10 2009 and 2015. and draw one of their last 11 games in all “It’s not really something we talk about competitions. amongst ourselves but all the players have They are fresh from a 3-0 victory at it in mind,” the club’s former PSG defender fightback, Sevilla third Bordeaux in Ligue 1 on Friday, in which Lucas Digne told AFP. “As long as we are still Edinson Cavani scored twice to take him to in every competition, it is very important. 33 goals in all competitions this season. This club is born to win trophies.” —AFP MADRID: Antoine Griezmann sealed a thrilling Earlier, Sporting Gijon breathed life into their Villarreal’s Champions League hopes faded, Atletico Madrid comeback from 2-1 down with bid for survival with a 2-0 win at Leganes to though, as they were held 1-1 at home to four minutes remaining to beat Celta Vigo 3-2 move to within two points of survival. Malaga to slip six points off the top four. —AFP and move into fourth in La Liga. Sevilla remain four points ahead of Atletico in third as they moved within three points of lead- ers Real Madrid thanks to substitute Joaquin Dortmund strive Correa’s winner 10 minutes from time in a 1-0 win at Las Palmas. Real lead Barcelona by a point at the top, but also have two games in for Benfica remedy hand over their title rivals. “It was a thrilling and emotonal game with a LISBON: Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas in the group stage was founded largely on lot of errors, but with two teams looking to win,” Tuchel hopes the return of the Champions thumping 6-0 and 8-4 wins over Poland’s said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. “The team League will provide the jolt his inconsistent Legia Warsaw, while they triumphed 2-1 over was calm and understood there was the chance side need ahead of today’s visit to Benfica in Sporting in Lisbon in October. to equalise and, after the equaliser, the crowd the first leg of their last-16 tie. Veteran Brazilian forward Jonas, who pushed us on for the winner.” Atletico’s top four The Germans tormented opposing scored 32 times in Portugal last season, will hopes look set to take a huge blow as they once defences and finished above European cham- make his first appearance in Europe this sea- again nearly paid for their profligacy from the pions Real Madrid in Group F after setting a son after missing the group stage with an penalty spot. An error from Atletico ‘keeper new group-stage goals record, but they have ankle injury. The 32-year-old has netted eight Miguel Angel Moya handed Gustavo Cabral an failed to reproduce their best form domesti- goals in all competitions since his return from early opener for Celta. cally. Dortmund, who won their lone a four-month lay-off in mid-December. Fernando Torres responded with a sensation- Champions League title in 1997, fell an alarm- Mexico international Raul Jimenez made al looping effort into the far corner. However, for ing 15 points behind Bundesliga leaders his first appearance of the new year last week- the third straight game, Atletico failed to convert Bayern Munich following Saturday’s shock 2-1 end, coming off the bench against Arouca fol- a spot-kick when Torres smashed the bar mid- loss at bottom side Darmstadt. lowing injury, and warned of the challenge way through the first-half. Celta also hit the post PARIS: PSG’s head coach Unai Emery, left, and Edinson Cavani attend a press confer- “I never got the feeling we really got going,” facing the hosts. before the break through Jozabed in an enter- Tuchel said after Dortmund saw their nine- “It is going to be difficult as any Champions ence at the eve of the Champions League soccer match between Paris Saint Germain taining end-to-end encounter played in torren- and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, yesterday. — AP match unbeaten run snapped, albeit a series League match. We have to be at our best,” said tial Madrid rain. However, John Guidetti looked that included just three victories. Jimenez, while Peru international Andre to have delivered the telling blow when he slot- “We were simply a long way below our lim- Carrillo was confident Benfica’s home support ted home Daniel Wass’s cut-back 12 minutes it and we have to admit they (Darmstadt) would provide a considerable boost to Rui from time. Yet, Atletico responded in style as deserved to win.” Vitoria’s side. The second leg in Germany is Nice lose ground, Yannick Carrasco’s crashed home a volley from Dortmund fielded three teenagers at scheduled for March 8. —AFP 25 yards to give the hosts hope. Darmstadt, with 18-year-old Dzenis Burnic And just two minutes later Kevin Gameiro’s making his German league debut in the Marseille beaten cushioned header was swept home by absence of injured defensive duo Marcel Griezmann for his 16th goal of the season. Schmelzer and Lukasz Piszczek. “We turned it round because we are a team But Tuchel predicted Tuesday’s clash in PARIS: Nice’s fading Ligue 1 title aspira- On Saturday, Kylian Mbappe netted a that gives our all in every moment and you saw Lisbon would elicit a strong response from his tions suffered a costly setback as they fell hat-trick while Radamel Falcao struck twice that today,” Griezmann told BeIN Sports Spain. players, with Ousmane Dembele, Andre five points behind leaders Monaco despite as Monaco thrashed Metz 5-0 at home to Gameiro should even have added a fourth when Schuerrle and Shinji Kagawa all in contention rallying from two goals down in Sunday’s 2- stay three points clear of reigning champi- he hit the underside of the bar from Carrasco’s to return to the starting line-up after coming 2 draw at Rennes.

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