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. 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 at the , 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 (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. 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 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 : 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 ’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 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. First-half strikes from ons PSG. cross in stoppage time. Victory takes Atletico a off the bench at the weekend. Morgan Amalfitano and Giovanni Sio left The capital club cruised to a 3-0 victory point clear of Real Sociedad as all of the top five “In all honesty, we come into our own Rennes on course for a first win in nine at Bordeaux on Friday with Edinson Cavani- in La Liga won this weekend. when it’s a 50-50 game,” said Tuchel, his matches, but Valentin Eysseric set up now up to 25 league goals this season- thoughts echoed by goalkeeper Roman Anastasios Dosis to pull one back on the scoring either side of an Angel Di Maria ROUTE ONE Buerki. “Today, we play against a different hour mark. effort. —AFP In Las Palmas, the hosts were the better side opponent with a different way of playing,” the Eysseric then raced clear as Nice caught for the majority of the 90 minutes, but were Swiss international added. Rennes on the counter-attack to equalise caught out by a simple route one move as nine minutes from time with the visitors Correa latched onto Vicente Iborra’s flick on to JONAS, JIMENEZ FIT AGAIN salvaging a point in the absence of an slot home his first La Liga goal. A first home Greece striker Kostas Mitroglou scored unwell Mario Balotelli. Matches on TV league defeat of the season spoiled Jese twice as Benfica eased past Arouca 3-0 on Rodriguez’s home debut after signing for his However, Lucien Favre’s side, who (Local Timings) Friday to remain one point clear of Porto at topped the table at the start of the year, home town club on loan from Paris Saint- the top of the Portuguese league. Germain for the rest of the season. have won just twice in their last seven UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Today’s fixture at the Estadio da Luz will be WARSAW: This file photo taken on matches to leave aspirations of upstaging Jese had the first big chance just seven min- the first meeting between Benfica and September 14, 2016 shows Dortmund’s Paris Saint v Barcelona 22:45 Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain looking utes in, but placed his weak shot too close to Dortmund since the first round of the 1963/64 Portuguese defender Raphael Guerreiro increasingly remote. “I think it’s a good beIN SPORTS Sergio Rico who made a comfortable save. Las European Cup, a tie the German club won 6-2 during the UEFA Champions League group point. We were squeezed like lemons, and Benfica v Dortmund 22:45 Palmas were made to rue a series of missed on aggregate. Benfica, European champions F football match Legia Warsaw v Borussia chances just after the break as Rico parried they did it very well,” Favre said of the home beIN SPORTS in 1961 and 1962, advanced with the fewest Dortmund at the Legia stadium in Warsaw. side’s suffocating tactics. “Psychologically David Simon’s volley before Alen Hallilovic points (eight) of any team to this season’s Dortmund’s Portuguese defender Raphael it’s important to come back from 2-0 down curled wide. However, for all Las Palmas’ pretty knockout phase and are looking to reach the Guerreiro will take part in the Champions ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE to 2-2. At the end we could have even done football, they were caught out by one simple quarter-finals for the third time in six years. League match Benfica vs Borussia more but they also had chances on the Aston Villa v Barnsley 22:45 long ball as Iborra flicked on Rico’s goal kick and Dortmund’s record-breaking 21-goal haul Dortmund today. —AFP Correa raced through to finish. counter... if you concede a third, it’s all over.” beIN SPORTS Later, strugglers Nantes upset Marseille Norwich City v Newcastle 22:45 3-2. Goals from Diego Carlos and Mariusz beIN SPORTS Stepinski in the first 20 minutes put Nantes Angry Ranieri hints at dropping underperformers in control. Preston North v Birmingham 22:45 Bafetimbi Gomis halved the deficit three beIN SPORTS LONDON: Leicester City’s beleaguered manager two problems - we concede and we don’t score. tie at Millwall, followed by the first leg of their minutes after the restart, his shot helped Leeds United v Bristol 22:45 Claudio Ranieri suggested he is ready to drop Everybody tries to say something positive to Champions League round of 16 against Sevilla. past Nantes keeper Remy Riou by a deflec- beIN SPORTS some of the players who won them the Premier help each other. But after, we go back (to losing “Now there are a few matches in front of us tion off the right post. Marseille’s chances Sheffield v Blackburn Rovers 22:45 League title as the Italian seeks to stave off rele- games). “I always question myself but then I so we have to find a solution very, very soon,” he of getting something out of the match gation just one season later. always say ‘come on, together we can do some- said. “There are two matches in front of us, one were made that much harder two minutes beIN SPORTS The champions have yet to win-or even thing good’.” Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, who in the FA Cup and one in the Champions League later when Adrien Thomasson foiled Wolverhampton v Wigan 22:45 score-in six league matches in 2017 and were last year both signed new contracts reported in but our mind is on the . Yohanne Pele at close range. beIN SPORTS beaten 2-0 by fellow relegation strugglers the British media to be worth 110,000 pounds “It is important to be strong. Now it is 10 The south coast club’s defensive frailties Derby County v Cardiff 22:45 Swansea City on Sunday. The latest setback ($137,368.00) per week, have underperformed hours without scoring a goal and we have to were exposed again when Lucas Lima fired beIN SPORTS leaves them just one point above the relegation this season and could find their places under find a solution because it is not possible (that) in a free-kick which hit the post, Sala get- zone with the club seemingly free-falling into threat, along with another of last season’s lead- everything is wrong this season. ting the rebound in the back of the net but Fulham v Nottingham 22:45 the Championship. ing lights, Danny Drinkwater. “The machine is not broken but when you the effort was disallowed for a foul by beIN SPORTS When asked by reporters if he had been too Leicester’s astonishing decline could see don’t play at a maximum level it is a difficult bat- Carlos on Pele. On the hour Morgan Brighton & Albion v Ipswich 22:45 loyal to the players from last season, Ranieri said: them become the first English champions to be tle. We stick together. I’m confident with my Sanson crossed to Gomis who headed in to beIN SPORTS “I could be. Of course it is difficult when you relegated from the top flight since Manchester players because it only takes one moment for it give the visitors renewed hope. Gomis had Rotherham v Huddersfield 22:45 achieve something so good, you want to give City in 1938. On Sunday Ranieri suggested the to turn.” Last week the Italian received a vote of to come off shortly after with an injured them one chance, two chances or three chances. relegation fight will take priority over the confidence from the club, who said he had their knee. Marseille, who remain in sixth place, beIN SPORTS Maybe now, it is too much. Champions League and FA Cup, both of which “unwavering support” but British bookmakers bossed the closing stages but Nantes, one Reading v Brentford 23:00 “Of course I must change something because competitions they remain involved in. have him at short odds to be the next Premier point off the relegation zone before kick- beIN SPORTS it’s not possible to continue in this way. We have On Saturday they face an FA Cup fifth-round League manager to be sacked. -—Reuters off, held on to jump five places to 12th.