TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 SPORTS

SPAIN: Atletico’s coach Diego Simeone and team members gather during a training session at the Vicente Calderon stadium. Atletico Madrid play Real Madrid today in a quarter-final first leg Champions League soccer match. —AP Atletico and Real clash with revenge in mind

MADRID: Last season’s Champions League gate victories over two legs in the Spanish “That will be an important component of boost of their own with the news that Mario ahead of the fit again Miguel Angel Moya finalists Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid Supercup and the Copa del Rey. Yet, it was the game, but there will also be others that Mandzukic will be available after overcom- for Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Malaga and in meet for the seventh time this season in their last encounter in in February we need to utilise.” However, unlike that ing an ankle problem which kept him out of central defence where Jose Maria Gimenez today’s Champions League quarter-final, that was the most embarrassing for Real as most recent meeting at the Vicente their last two games. and Miranda will battle it out to partner first leg with revenge in mind for both. Real Atletico romped to their biggest victory in a Calderon when they were without five first- The Croatian has scored 20 goals since Diego Godin. The draw at Malaga extended took the spoils in Lisbon last May as Sergio Madrid derby for 28 years in a 4-0 rout. “The team regulars, Real are at full strength for signing from Bayern Munich last summer, Atletico’s unbeaten run in all competitions Ramos’s stoppage time header denied last result against Atletico is a motivating the first time in five months. including two in three games against to eight games, albeit with four draws Atletico their first ever European Cup and factor for us,” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos return Madrid at the Calderon. Raul Garcia is also along the way. Most encouragingly for sent the game into extra time when Los “It will be a different game, but difficult as it from suspension after missing Saturday’s 3- expected to recover from an elbow problem Simeone’s men is the return to goalscoring Blancos romped to a 4-1 win. always is against Atletico. 0 win over Eibar which moved Real back to meaning Diego Simeone will also have a ful- form of Antoine Griezmann. The However, the tables have been turned “We come into the game in good form, within two points of Barcelona at the top of ly-fit squad to choose from. Frenchman scored twice at La Rosaleda to this season as Atletico have won four and we are motivated and we will give every- La Liga. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale returned to However, the Argentine has a number of take his tally over the last three games to drawn two of the six meetings so far this thing we have. “I don’t have any doubt that training on Sunday and is expected to fit to key decisions to make, most notably in goal four and move one ahead of Mandzukic at season. That run has included two aggre- it will be an intense game. start. Atletico have received a huge injury where the in-form Jan Oblak kept his place Atletico’s top scorer this season. —AFP PSG banking on momentum

PARIS: Buoyant after their strong domestic per- Both teams have been meeting regularly back Gerard Pique’s loss of possession in midfield formance last week, St Germain will look to recently in the Champions League, with PSG led to the Andalusian club’s late equaliser. overcome the absence of key players including beating Barca 3-2 at home in a Group F game this The stalemate in Sevilla meant Barca’s lead striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in tomorrow’s season before losing 3-1 at the Camp Nou. over second-placed Real Madrid at the top of La Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barca had reached the semi-finals in 2013 by Liga was cut to two points but they remain on Barcelona. eliminating PSG on away goals, drawing 1-1 at course to repeat the 2009 historic treble of PSG beat bitter rivals Olympique de home after a 2-2 stalemate in Paris. “The quarter- Champions League and Spanish league and Cup. Marseille 3-2, thrashed St Etienne 4-1 in the final tie is going to be very different from the Barca’s Brazil right back Dani Alves is suspend- French Cup semi-finals, and won the League Cup group stage. There is a lot more at stake and in ed for tomorrow’s game, with Adriano or Martin final 4-0 against Bastia on Saturday. football no game is ever the same,” former Barca Montoya likely to replace him in the starting line- Even if they will be without the suspended and PSG winger Ludovic Giuly said. up. Pique, however, is unfazed as Barca would Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti and the injured Barca’s 2-2 draw at Sevilla in La Liga on once again bank on their formidable attacking David Luiz, PSG believe they are peaking. Saturday, when they threw away a 2-0 lead, trio. “Do I feel a new momentum? It’s been the prompted renewed concerns about their defen- “I’ve never before seen a relationship like case for a while. We worked physically (during sive frailty, with both the concedded goals down the one between Luis (Suarez), Ney the winter break) and today, in money time, to mistakes from the Barca rearguard. (Neymar) and Leo (Messi). We’re talking we’re good,” said coach Laurent Blanc. “We are Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made an uncharac- about three of the best players in the world,” gaining momentum while last year at the same teristic handling error to let in Ever Banega’s he said. The second leg will be played at the time we were on the way down.” long-range strike before halftime and centre Camp Nou on April 21.—Reuters Drogba dismisses retirement talk

LONDON: Chelsea veteran insisted yester- day he intended to play for at least one more season. The 37-year-old Ivory Coast forward is out of contract with the ITALY: Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri shouts during a soccer match in Premier League leaders at the end of the current cam- this file photo. —AP paign, having returned to Stamford Bridge after two sea- sons abroad. Drogba, asked if he had decided on his future, said: “Yes Juve coach wants I have and it’s not going to be my last season.” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said last week he had still to speak to Drogba regarding his future. focus after Parma shock “We have a lot of talks to do,” Mourinho said. “I don’t know what he wants. “There are people who, during their MILAN: Juventus coach Massimiliano ing Claudio Marchisio with the job of careers, earn the right and the power to make decisions Allegri has called for his team to forget orchestrating play towards lively and not wait for others to make decisions for them. their shock defeat to Parma and turn their Uruguayan front man Roberto Pereyra, like- “What he did at this club for so many years puts him in a focus on beating Monaco in the first leg of ly to play in the ‘hole’ behind Alvaro Morata great position.” Mourinho, then in his first spell as Chelsea their Champions League quarter-final and Tevez. manager, signed Drogba from Marseille in 2004. today. Preparations for what is the Italian Doubts remain over Barzagli, who is The powerful forward scored 157 goals in his initial champions’ most crucial fixture of the sea- nursing a sore calf. Indeed his availability eight-year stint with Chelsea, including the winning penal- son have been far from perfect. At the could determine whether Allegri deploys ty in the 2012 Champions League final shoot-out victory. Enrico Tardini stadium on Saturday a the 3-5-2 formation he has used sparingly However, Drogba has been largely a squad player this Juventus side missing Gianluigi Buffon and this season or the 4-3-1-2 that saw Juve season and made just his fourth league start of the season Carlos Tevez among others failed to con- swipe Borussia Dortmund aside 5-1 on in Sunday’s 1-0 west London derby away to Queens Park vert several scoring chances before con- aggregate in their last 16 tie. Rangers after injuries to Diego Costa and Loic Remy. ceding a 1-0 defeat to a club that entered Either way, Juventus have been impervi- Drogba could start against Manchester United this administration last month after being ous at home in both Serie A and Europe Saturday as Chelsea look to move one step closer to clinch- declared bankrupt. this season and have never lost at home ing the English top-flight title. Although Juve’s title hopes have not against French opposition. In last season’s “It’s difficult when you don’t play and then have to go been affected-they now lead Lazio by 12 Europa League quarter-finals they defeated into these kind of games,” he said. “But I always try to give points with eight games remaining-Allegri 2-1 in Turin to complete a 3-1 aggre- my best. “I tried to give the best of my physical capacity is confident a different Juventus will gate success. against QPR, so if the manager needs me against United emerge today when they will be under Monaco will be without captain Jeremy and Arsenal, I’m ready.” —AFP pressure to seal a first leg victory before the Toulalan after the defender limped off return leg in the Principality. injured in a 3-0 win over Caen on Friday, a “I hope this setback serves us well, result which nonetheless was crucial to although I’m sure that we will see an alto- Monaco’s confidence before they make the Bayern without gether different Juventus on Tuesday,” short trip across the Franco-Italian border. Allegri said after Saturday’s defeat. Monaco are targeting their first semi- “We’re not used to losing. We were a lit- final appearance since the 2003-2004 sea- Ribery For CL tle listless, we lacked bite and aggression. son when they went all the way to the final But now we have to put this display behind before being humbled by FC Porto. q-final first leg us. It would be stupid to let a defeat like Coach Leonardo Jardim said: “I think the this get in the way of our Champions team played very well and now looking BERLIN: Bayern Munich will be without Bastian League dream.” ahead to Tuesday the best thing was for the Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery when they travel to The defeat to Parma, who have entered team was to win, which gives us confidence Porto for tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final first administration and failed to pay their play- and the desire in regards to our away per- leg. Frenchman Ribery is not yet fully fit following a five- ers all season, was Juve’s second reverse of formances.” —AFP week absence with an ankle injury while Schweinsteiger the league season although Juve seemed has had a virus for the past few days. out of sorts in the absence of Buffon, Tevez “Bastian and Franck will not be with us against Porto. and defender Andrea Barzagli. That is bitter,” sports director Matthias Sammer said on Buffon, who had an infection, and Tevez, Matches on TV Monday as the problems started to pile up for the treble- who spent his rare day off at Lake chasing Bavarians. Maggiore, will return to Allegri’s starting (Local Timings) Medhi Benatia, David Alaba, Javi Martinez and Arjen line-up for Tuesday as Juve look to take a Robben had already been sidelined by injuries. Jerome first step towards securing their first semi- UEFA Champions League Boateng, who was rested for Saturday’s 3-0 win over final appearance since 2003 when they Eintracht Frankfurt due to a minor muscle problem, is back in the squad. beat Barcelona over two legs in the quar- Atletico v Real Madrid 21:45 ters. “Those who are with us have our full trust,” Sammer told While influential Frenchman Paul Pogba beIN SPORTS 1 HD reporters ahead of the team’s departure for Portugal later is still sidelined with injury, midfield maes- Juventus v AS Monaco 21:45 on Monday. “The team is hungry.” Bayern are 10 points tro Andrea Pirlo should start on the bench beIN SPORTS 2 HD clear at the top of the Bundesliga and are also through to having recently recovered from injury, leav- the German Cup semi-finals. —Reuters Didier Drogba