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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 SPORTS Only ‘perfect’ Milan will beat Barca, says Allegri MILAN: Only a “perfect” AC Milan will allow the depleted Serie A giants to emerge with an “impor- tant” result from their Champions League Group H clash with Barcelona, says coach Massimiliano Allegri. Barcelona visit the San Siro today and are widely expected to capitalise on the Rossoneri’s domestic woes to secure their third successive win in the group having already beaten Ajax (4-0) and Celtic LONDON: Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla (from left) take (1-0). In what may be construed as part in a training session at the club’s facilities in London Colney. Arsenal are due to a boost for the hosts, the Spanish play Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League Group F soccer match today. —AP giants were held to a scoreless draw by Osasuna on Saturday-the Euphoric Arsenal wary of first time Barcelona had failed to score in the league since January 2012. But in spite of welcoming Dortmund reality check Brazilian playmaker Kaka back from a month on the injury sidelines, LONDON: Arsenal are turning the toughest successive time last season, Arsenal paid Milan are far from being able to looking Champions League group into a the penalty for finishing behind Schalke in field their strongest side against walk in the park so far and they would take their group, getting drawn against eventu- the Catalans. a huge stride towards their customary al champions Bayern Munich in the first Barcelona will make their fourth place in the last 16 with victory over knockout round. visit to the San Siro in as many sea- Borussia Dortmund today. Schalke and Bayern both won at the sons, having accounted for the A dazzling 4-1 victory over Norwich City Emirates stadium last season and Italians in the group stages in 2011, CARNAGO: AC Milan’s Brazilian forward Kaka (center) takes part in a training session with teammates on at the weekend, in which Mesut Ozil scored Dortmund, who are tucked in behind in the quarter-finals in 2012 and in the eve of the Champions League football match between AC Milan and Barcelona today at the San Siro twice, kept Arsenal on top of the Premier Bayern in second spot in the Bundesliga last season’s last 16 knockout Stadium. —AFP League and had fans and commentators after a 1-0 win against Hanover, will be con- phase. Having seen his side routed alike drooling over the quality of their dis- fident of following their lead. 4-0 in the second leg at the Nou and number one ‘keeper Christian Amelia, who was rested on half against Udinese. play. Early days it may be, but with 10 wins Juergen Klopp’s side suffered an open- Camp last March, Allegri admitted Abbiati are among six players miss- Saturday when third-choice Martino, meanwhile, made light and two draws from their last 12 matches ing day defeat in the Champions League it would require a perfect perform- ing through injury. Brazilian Gabriel, not included in of Saturday’s slight setback by his in all competitions, including Champions against Napoli when Klopp was sent to the ance to score an upset against Milan had hoped for Balotelli to Allegri’s Champions League squad, side. “I would be worried if I saw a League triumphs over Marseille and Napoli stands after a furious outburst at an official. Gerardo Martino’s team. return in time for Udinese follow- won plaudits for his performance. deterioration in the performance in Group F, there is talk of something spe- Klopp, who will serve the second game “It will be a very difficult match. ing a three-game league ban but Four other first-team regulars of the team, but I didn’t see that,” cial brewing in north London. of his two-match touchline ban on Tuesday, We need to be perfect if we are to he was diagnosed with a thigh are unavailable, including versatile said Recent seasons have seen mediocre is highly regarded across the continent and get an important result,” said the problem shortly after Italy’s final defender Mattia De Sciglio. “It is obviously a big week with starts for Arsenal but this time, after an his two Bundesliga titles and a run to the Italian coach after Milan’s 1-0 home World Cup qualifier against Although Kaka believes “the team firstly Milan then Madrid (next opening day defeat, they have raced out of Champions League final attracted plenty of win over Udinese. Armenia. is getting stronger and stronger”, weekend), but I am not annoyed the blocks with the signing of Ozil seem- interest from Premier League clubs, accord- Despite a dominant perform- “According to our medical staff, he knows the importance of a because I am happy with the per- ingly the catalyst for some breathtaking ing to the 46-year-old. ance on Saturday, when impressive it will be difficult for Balotelli and strong collective performance hav- formance of the team.” performances. With record signing Ozil fit- However, he says he has unfinished Slovenian Valter Birsa provided a Abbiati to be ready in time for ing re-joined Milan on a free trans- Tuesday’s referee for the ting into the Arsenal midfield like a silk business in Dortmund. “There were some superb match-winner on 22 min- Tuesday,” club vice-president fer from Real Madrid. match will be Felix Brych, the glove, Aaron Ramsey unable to stop scor- England clubs that called and wanted to utes, Milan could not be hosting Adriano Galliani was quoted as say- “We need to be a solid group if German official who awarded the ing, Jack Wilshere at his best and Santi speak with me,” he was quoted as saying in Barca at a worst time. ing by Sky Sport Italia earlier we’re to win.... as individuals we ‘ghost goal’ of Stefan Kiessling in Cazorla back from injury, manager Arsene the Daily Mirror newspaper. “But there was Striker Mario Balotelli, who won Sunday. can’t do it,” said Kaka, who is Friday’s Bundesliga match Wenger has the look of the cat that got all no reason to talk. and scored a late penalty against Abbiati will be replaced by expected to start on the bench between Bayer Leverkusen and the cream. “In life you have to be at the right place Ajax to secure a draw last time out, number two goalkeeper Marco having come on late in the second Hoffenheim. —AFP Last season’s runners-up Dortmund at the right moment. I am in Dortmund pose a considerable threat to the feeling of with all I have. Definitely for the next cou- euphoria sweeping the Emirates stadium ple of years.” but victory would be a huge psychological Midfielder Marco Reus and defender boost, according to Mikel Arteta, another of Marcel Schmelzer both returned to action Atletico Arsenal’s midfield gems. against Hanover after injuries - a boost for “We have two very difficult games com- Klopp whose side have three points from look to ing up against Dortmund,” Arteta told their opening two games in Group F after a Arsenal’s website (www.arsenal.com). “After win against Marseille. that, we will know exactly where we are in “With a view today, the Hanover win bounce back the group. They are a very good side and was a game that pushed us forward,” Klopp they are doing well in their own league. told reporters. “Especially for those players Winning the first two games makes a differ- who had only trained twice before VIENNA: Atletico Madrid will be looking to ence and now we have a massive game at Hanover. So we will be a further step for- regain their winning ways today when they home. “If we win that one we are almost ward when we face Arsenal.” Dortmund will face Champions League rookies Austria Vienna there. I think this is going to be a crucial be without long-term injured Lukasz who are still chasing their first group stage one.” Pszczek, captain Sebastian Kehl and play- goal. Despite reaching the last 16 for a 13th maker Ilkay Guendogan.—Reuters After 10 wins in 10 games in all competi- GERMANY: Schalke head coach Jens Keller (center) talks to his team during a training tions this season, Diego Simeone’s Atletico suf- session prior the Champions League Group E soccer match against Chelsea today. —AP fered their first defeat on Saturday, going down 1-0 at Espanyol. Schalke rely on Boateng, But they travel to Vienna with a comfortable lead in Group G and should face little danger youth against Chelsea from a team that is still in awe of making it this far, let alone confident of winning a game. BERLIN: Schalke 04 are hoping new sign- and players have seen on many days in ing Kevin-Prince Boateng as well as training. Physically you can change as “The fact we could have become leaders (of teenagers Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer your life moves on but quality is perma- La Liga) is just an anecdote,” Atletico captain can power the Germans past Chelsea nent and we’ve seen that finishing in Gabi said after Saturday’s loss. “We will go to today as they look for their third win in training for a good few weeks now and it Vienna with the winning mentality we have, three games in their Champions League was good that the supporters got to see because if we win if could be decisive for qual- group.