TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 SPORTS Only ‘perfect’ Milan will beat Barca, says Allegri

MILAN: Only a “perfect” AC Milan will allow the depleted giants to emerge with an “impor- tant” result from their Champions League Group H clash with Barcelona, says coach . 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 (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 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 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 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 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. ’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 ’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 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 , 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 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 and 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. it in a game today,” said Holland. ification from the group.” With half a dozen players missing “All strikers like to be scoring goals, it’s Brazilian centre-back Miranda is a doubt for through injury, Schalke coach Jens Keller what helps make them tick, and to get the game due to a muscular strain and striker hinted that he would use a makeshift off the mark is something I’m sure he’ll Leo Baptistao, who scored against Zenit St lineup today. “We have to show a differ- be happy about and hopefully we get Petersburg on matchday one, is also out with ent face against Chelsea,” said Keller after the benefits of that immediately.” an ankle injury. their narrow 3-2 win over promoted Coach Jose Mourinho was not avail- Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday. able in the news conference after he But Atletico will be strengthened by the While he did not know “what kind of was banned from the touchline for return up front of Diego Costa, following a team” he would use, he promised there berating officials during the game. Left four-match European ban he picked up last would be “many young players”. Goretzka back Ashley Cole is a doubt for the season. GLASGOW: Celtic’s Dutch player Virgil Van Dijk (right) takes part in a training session and Meyer, both 18 years old and among match after missing this weekend’s at Lennoxtown Training facility ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group H La Liga’s top goalscorer with 10 goals in Germany’s biggest talents, were on tar- league game and England’s final two football match against Ajax. —AFP nine games, putting him ahead of get against Braunschweig, filling up on World Cup qualifiers this month with a and , the Brazilian-born play- much-needed confidence before the rib injury, while Andre Schurrle also er has also been linked with a call up to the match against Chelsea’s big names. missed the Cardiff match because of a Celtic face make-or-break Spanish national side. Ghana international Boateng, who has leg muscle injury. —Reuters Austria Vienna, last season’s domestic cham- almost single-handedly jump-started Champions League clash Schalke’s campaign to climb back up the pions, but now trailing in mid-table, might table since joining in September, was GLASGOW: Neil Lennon says Celtic’s Group “As I said when the draw was made, we have the home advantage today but will be ruled out with a knee injury on Saturday H clash with Ajax today is pivotal to his are not the runts of litter. We have been facing their most difficult challenge yet. but is expected to return to training on Matches on TV side’s Champions League ambitions. Celtic pretty competitive. “Did we deserve better? The Violets, led by Croatian coach Nenad Monday and Schalke hope he will be fit (Local Timings) host the Dutch champions having failed to Probably. Did we get it? No. There is a lot of Bjelica, secured their passage to the group pick up any points from their opening fix- emphasis on this game and if we can win it, for Tuesday. tures against AC Milan and Barcelona, in brilliant. If we get a point, it means we have stage with a sensational 4-3 aggregate win Schalke, top of Group E on six points, UEFA Champions what is one of the toughest groups in the to go to Amsterdam and win. I think we are against Dinamo Zagreb. are aiming to get at least a draw against competition. The Glasgow giants reached capable of doing that.” But they just scraped a 0-0 draw against 10- Chelsea to stay top of the table. League the last 16 last year and Lennon knows his Ajax were on the wrong side of a 4-0 man Zenit St. Petersburg last time out, after “Obviously Chelsea are the favourites to side need to get some points on the board defeat by Barcelona on match day one losing 1-0 to FC Porto. “Atletico is the toughest win the group,” said Schalke sports direc- Steaua v Basel 21:45 tor Horst Heldt. Schalke have a string of soon if they are to emulate that achieve- before coming close to claiming all three opponent in this group... we can expect a Aljazeera Sport +2 ment. points against AC Milan in Amsterdam with injuries, with top striker Klaas-Jan team that is in extraordinary form,” said mid- Schalke v Chelsea 21:45 “We can’t lose it, put it that way,” said the only a last minute penalty denying them Huntelaar, central defender Kyriakos Celtic manager on whether the match was the win. Frank De Boer lost a host of top fielder Daniel Royer. Papapdopoulos and midfielder Marco Aljazeera Sport +7 a must-win or not. “We are four points team stars in the summer, including Derk “Still, we will try and work something out, Hoeger out. They also had Jefferson Aljazeera Sport 3 HD worse off in the group than we were at this Boerrighter to Celtic, but Lennon, whose we want to perform like we did against Porto Farfan ruled out for some four weeks ear- Arsenal v Dortmund 21:45 stage last season. We have a bit of work to side is also depleted following the depar- and Zenit and irritate our opponent. It will cer- lier this month. Aljazeera Sport +8 do. Home form is important to us, but Ajax tures of Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper, tainly be our toughest challenge yet.” “We have six points on the table and Aljazeera Sport 2 HD are a very good side. knows they will still pose a serious threat to Marko Stankovic, the team’s most prolific Chelsea have only three. They are still the “They will give us plenty to think about, his side in Glasgow. Marseille v Napoli 21:45 striker this season with six goals in nine league favourites but it is them who are under plenty of problems. But we are at home “Siem de Jong is a threat from midfield,” pressure after losing on matchday one,” Aljazeera Sport +6 and I think we will be confident enough to said Lennon. “Viktor Fischer, a young appearances, is hoping to return in time for Aljazeera Sport 5 HD Tuesday after a muscle injury. said Heldt. take the game to them.” winger they got from Alkmaar, is very Chelsea’s Samuel Eto’o scored his first Porto v Zenit 21:45 Celtic sit bottom of Group H but have dynamic and comes in on his right foot. This will be the third time only that Atletico goal since joining the London club in Aljazeera Sport +4 been unlucky not to collect any points so Kolbeinn Sigthorsson is a striker but he and Austria Vienna meet, after two first-round Saturday’s 4-1 win over Cardiff. “It’s Wien v Atletico 21:45 far, losing to two late goals in Milan and a played wide when I saw them against PSV. encounters in the European Cup in 1970. The solitary Cesc Fabregas strike for Barcelona They are a typical Ajax team, they move it always difficult when you change clubs Aljazeera Sport +5 Spanish side won both games. but to change countries and leagues as in Glasgow. “There is a frustration that we quickly and have good pace in wide areas. Aljazeera Sport 4 HD Vienna’s Ernst-Happel Stadium, the site of well increases that,” assistant manager haven’t taken anything from our two They’re definitely a threat going forward.” Celtic v Ajax 21:45 games,” Lennon admitted. Celtic will be without captain Scott Brown Spain’s Euro 2008 triumph, will also no doubt Steve Holland told reporters. Aljazeera Sport +3 “But that is significant in itself, given who is suspended after his red card for kick- bring back memories for Atletico striker David “He’s scored goals at the top level that we played Milan away and Barcelona ing out at in the loss to Barcelona Villa, who scored there in the quarter-final throughout Europe all through his career AC Milan v Barcelona 21:45 at home. When you are disappointed after while Kris Commons is a major doubt after penalty shoot-out but missed the final but I’m sure he’ll still be feeling happier Aljazeera Sport 1 HD that, you obviously have a good team. And picking up a hamstring injury in Saturday’s through injury. —AFP to have that first one under his belt and Aljazeera Sport +9 we think we have a good team. 1-1 draw with Hibernian. —AFP be off the mark. “It’s something the staff