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LONDON: Chelsea’s John Terry (center) and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Godin (left) collide during the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match. — AP Atletico sink Chelsea for all-Madrid final LONDON: Atletico Madrid set up a Champions meaning that they could be looking to com- bit as cagey as last week’s first leg. Koke ceded in seven games, but within the blink of intended to give the hosts greater punch in League final against city rivals Real Madrid plete an improbable double when they meet almost gave Atletico a fourth-minute lead an eye they were in control of the tie. attack, but it was his contribution at the other after coming from behind to win 3-1 at their old foes Real in Lisbon on May 24. with a mishit left-wing cross that deceived Former Chelsea Tiago Mendes end that was to prove telling. Chelsea in their semi-final second leg yester- Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, Mark Schwarzer and hit the crossbar, but the picked out right-back Juanfran with a floated Referee Nicola Rizzoli had already ignored day. was denied a reunion with his former employ- teams were generally content to hold each pass to the back post and his volleyed cross an Atletico penalty claim when Turan was After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, former ers Real, with whom he had also experienced other at arm’s length. The tie was on a knife- bobbled between a phalanx of defenders to bundled over by Azpilicueta, but when Costa Atletico striker Fernando Torres put Chelsea semi-final disappointment in each of the pre- edge, but nine minutes from half-time Chelsea Adrian, who swept home. went down after skilfully nicking the ball past ahead in the 36th minute at Stamford Bridge, vious three seasons. The pre-match build-up seized the initiative. Despite Chelsea’s need for goals, it was Eto’o, the Italian awarded a spot-kick. Despite but the London club were to lead the tie for had been dominated by talk about Chelsea’s After Willian ran into a blind alley on the Atletico who began the second half on top, initially struggling to place the ball on the only eight minutes. ultra-defensive display in their 2-0 win at right flank, Azpilicueta followed up with a low with Schwarzer brilliantly tipping over a Turan spot to his satisfaction, for which he was Adrian Lopez scrambled home an equaliser Liverpool on Sunday and Mourinho seemed cross that Torres steered past Thibaut Courtois half-volley and then comfortably fielding a booked, Costa made no mistake with his shot, shortly before half-time and second-half goals determined to continue in the same vein by via a deflection off Mario Suarez. low effort from Tiago. placing the ball into the top-left corner. by Diego Costa, from the penalty spot, and selecting three full-backs. The former darling of the Vicente Calderon In response, John Terry saw a header David Luiz planted a header against the Arda Turan sealed Atletico’s place in their first Fears of a new-fangled defensive configu- made a point of not celebrating, holding his sharply blocked by Courtois, who is on loan at post from a Willian free-kick as Chelsea European Cup final since 1974. ration proved unfounded, as Cesar Azpilicueta hands in the air in apology, but Stamford Atletico from Chelsea, before Mourinho sent pressed for an equaliser, but Turan killed the ’s team are also two wins was deployed as a fairly orthodox right-sided Bridge celebrated with abandon. on Samuel Eto’o in place of Ashley Cole. tie in the 72nd minute by tucking home after from claiming a first title in 18 years, midfielder, but the early stages proved every It was the first that Atletico had con- The Cameroon striker’s introduction was his own header came back off the bar. — AFP

Preview Champions League final is Juventus confident of why I came to Real: Bale MUNICH: Real Madrid’s world think we can pick and choose. overturning 2-1 deficit signing Gareth Bale looked Whoever it may be, I’m sure it will be forward to his first Champions a great final,” said Bale. “All we’ll be PARIS: While they close in on retaining the to open a disciplinary process against their League final after a 4-0 thrashing of doing is concentrating on our game title, Juventus are confident they can Argentinian midfielder Enzo Perez following a holders Bayern Munich on Tuesday and our game-plan and hopefully overturn a 2-1 deficit in the second leg of their clash with Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini in the and said it was exactly why he want- executing it on the day.” ed to join the Spanish side. Europa League semi-final against Benfica today. first leg. The 100 million-euro ($138.17 BIG IMPACT The teams, both two-time European champi- The Italians complained to European foot- million) man, who set up Cristiano Bale has had a big impact since ons in the past, meet at the Juventus Stadium in ball’s governing body, who are due to make a Ronaldo’s record 15th goal of the moving to Spain and his stunning Turin looking to clinch a place in the final, which ruling ahead of the game about whether to season in the competition, told ITV goal against Barcelona this month will be played at the same venue on May 14. punish Perez, who has been one of Benfica’s television Real got what they won the King’s Cup final for his first That is a huge source of motivation for Juve, best players this season. deserved. major honour while Real are also who are looking for a first European title in 18 Benfica sense a conspiracy, with their direc- “You have to do certain jobs for battling for the La Liga title with years and are eyeing a trophy double after beating tor of communication saying: “Benfica wonder if the team in certain circumstances leaders Atletico and Barca. Sassuolo 3-1 on Monday to move to within two UEFA, with this decision, want to guarantee that and everybody put in 100 percent “It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. points of securing a third consecutive Serie A title. Juventus get to the final in Turin.” tonight and put in a performance,” “At the start of the season it’s hard “We are obviously satisfied with the victory Jesus, though, is more concerned with trying said the Welshman, with Ronaldo to imagine. We set out to try and against Sassuolo, but our thoughts move imme- to make sure his team manage to score an away stretching his tally to 16 by the end win every competition we’re in and diately to another important game against goal, and said after the first leg: “We are capable of the night. we’re in a great position now.” Benfica,” said Juve midfielder of scoring in 99 percent of our games, but there “This is why I wanted to come to Bale said nine-times European after Monday’s game, in which he scored as the was one game in which we had to score and we the biggest club in the world - to champions Real had got their tactics Bianconeri came from behind. didn’t. It was in Greece. It’s going to be a great win trophies and to play in massive right in Munich to reach their first “It will be a difficult match, but we already game in Turin.” games,” added the 24-year-old for- Champions League final in 12 years. showed in the first leg that we were up to the That defeat in Greece was a 1-0 loss to mer Tottenham Hotspur player. “They (Bayern) always leave task. We will give everything on the field and we Olympiakos that proved decisive in them failing Bale also paid tribute to Ronaldo space on the counter attack which are counting on the support of our fans.” to advance from their Champions League whose goals followed a headed we like. We have got quick players double by Sergio Ramos in the first and we are able to exploit that,” he Home advantage could be crucial for Juve, group. Juve also dropped into Europe’s second- 20 minutes. “That’s why he’s the added. who have not lost in front of their own fans tier competition after exiting the Champions world’s best player. It’s an honour to “We always have belief in our- since a 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the League, but Valencia and Sevilla have been in play with him and to learn from selves. To get an early goal was very Champions League quarter-finals in April last the Europa League from the beginning. Now him,” he told News. important for us to give us confi- year.Portuguese champions Benfica hold the the two Spanish sides clash in the second leg of “We’ve still got one match to go dence. They were going to come at slight edge thanks to Lima’s smashing late strike the other semi-final with Sevilla defending a 2-0 and hopefully he can score a few us then and we could exploit the at the Estadio da Luz last Thursday, but Carlos first-leg lead thanks to goals by Stephane Mbia more goals.” “We know we have not counter-attack. Tevez’s away goal for Juve could be vital. Jorge and Carlos Bacca. Benfica’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak from Slovenia, celebrates in this file photo. won it yet and have a difficult game “It was a perfect game-plan for Jesus’ Benfica side have been beaten just once Valencia are without on-loan Chelsea mid- in the final against whoever it may us and thankfully we got the win. I in their last 37 matches in all competitions - and fielder Oriol Romeu due to injury and must also deficit to go through with a 5-0 victory after be and we are looking forward to it,” think we played a good game in that was an ultimately inconsequential defeat cope in the absence of the suspended Paco extra-time. he added. both legs and we’re happy to be in to Porto in the first leg of a Portuguese Cup Alcacer, who has scored seven goals in the com- “We need to take a few risks because they Real, who brushed Bayern aside the final now. semi-final that the Lisbon club won - but this is petition this season, including a hat-trick in the are 2-0 up and to turn it around we will have to 5-0 on aggregate, will play either “We’re just focused on each and set to be their biggest test in a long time. quarter-final second leg against Basel. attack,” said Brazilian forward Jonas. “It is a long Chelsea, managed by former Real every game as it comes. We don’t However, Valencia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi time since Valencia were in a final and we know boss Jose Mourinho, or city rivals get carried away with ourselves too BENFICA FURIOUS will take heart from his team’s display in that it will be difficult but we will have our fans Atletico Madrid in the May 24 final easily.” “We are happy to be in the And Benfica are furious at UEFA for agreeing game, when they overturned a 3-0 first-leg behind us.” — AFP in Lisbon. final now, but there is still one step “They’re both great teams, I don’t to go.” — Reuters