Alonso Starts 'The Real Deal'

SPORTS Thursday, May 4, 2017 23 Totti to retire at end of Higuain season Monaco Nabil Dirar’s ball that the veteran goalkeeper Monacoonzalo Higuain scored both goals as an held easily. imperious Juventus beat Monaco 2-0 in In the 16th minute the same trio were Gtheir Champions League semi-final first leg involved again, Dirar surging down the right yesterday to take a huge step towards next and delivering a teasing ball to the near post Roma’s forward from Italy month’s final in Cardiff. that Mbappe diverted towards goal, with Buffon Francesco Totti Both of Higuain’s goals came from Dani Alves saving superbly. Rome assists, with the Argentine hitman rounding off Buffon, playing his 149th European game at oma club icon Francesco a breathtaking team move to open the scoring the age of 39, started his career before Mbappe Totti will retire at the end just before the half-hour mark and converting was born. But he remains one of the world’s best ofR the season when the 40-year- the second from close range after the break. and shortly after he was there to turn the ball old’s contract expires, new While the second leg in Turin next Tuesday behind after Radamel Falcao met another Dirar sports director Monchi said on will be no formality, Juventus have never lost a delivery with a terrific leap. Wednesday. two-legged European tie to French opposition Juve are a slick side, sound defensively but “I want him here right by and so impressive were they at the Stade Louis with an awesome attacking arsenal of their own my side. He is Roma. He can II that it is hard to imagine Monaco recovering. and it was they who opened the scoring on 29 teach me what Roma is,” said Higuain, who now has 31 goals this season, minutes in stunning fashion. Monchi at his unveiling in received applause from all around the ground Paulo Dybala was involved initially before the role, adding the captain as he came off to be replaced by Juan Cuadrado Dani Alves, now nearly 34, surged into the box, will remain at the club in a late on after a clinical display that showed just holding off Kamil Glik and cutting the ball back management position. why Juve paid 90 million euros ($98m) to sign for Higuain to sweep home. “There is an agreement in him from Napoli last year. Higuain bounded over the advertising place. This is his last season In contrast Monaco, having won their hoardings and across the running track to but then he continues in previous 13 matches at the Stade Louis II and celebrate with the away support, before Juve management.” been so thrilling going forward all campaign, retreated to ensure they held their lead into the “I want Totti to explain to could not find a way through the brilliant away break. me what Roma is, to make me defence. Although Monaco had glimpses of goal after understand what he knows,” They will now need something very special the restart, with Falcao firing straight at Buffon, added the Spaniard Monchi, next week if they are to make it to a first they were also their own worst enemies. who won credit for his sports Champions League final since 2004. When Thomas Lemar lost possession in his director role at Sevilla, who Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri raised own half and went down hoping for a free- won the Europa League in eyebrows with his team selection as he ditched kick, referee Mateu Lahoz let play continue and 2014, 2015 and 2016. his favoured back four, bringing Andrea Marchisio ran in on goal only to see Danijel The striker Totti has Barzagli into a three-man defence in an attempt Subasic save his shot. played all his professional to thwart Monaco’s prolific attack. But when Tiemoue Bakayoko was hustled off career at Roma and is The tactic worked, although the absence of the ball by Dybala, Juventus seized their chance. a hugely popular the marauding left-back Benjamin Mendy from Alves delivered a hanging ball from wide on the figure, making the home side also played into their hands. right and Higuain escaped the attentions of Glik his debut in to apply a first-time finish. 1993. Brilliant Buffon Buffon then intervened to stop Monaco Monaco did grow into the game after a slow getting a goal back, producing a majestic save start and teen sensation Kylian Mbappe was in the last minute to tip over Valere Germain’s Juventus forward from Argentina Gonzalo first to test Gianluigi Buffon with a header from header from a Joao Moutinho free-kick. (AFP) Higuain reacts after scoring the team’s first goal Alonso starts ‘the real deal’ Chicago the 101st Indianapolis 500. supported by Andretti just a unique feeling,” Alonso wo-time Formula One “I felt good,” Alonso said Autosport, the IndyCar team said. champion Fernando after his first laps over the owned by former F1 racer “You have to go flat out in AlonsoT made his first IndyCar 2.5-mile (4km) oval. “Now I Michael Andretti. the corners. It’s not the same in test at the Indianapolis Motor need a couple more laps to While he has tested in a the simulator and in a real car... Speedway yesterday, getting a start feeling the car because at simulator ahead of his first work so far has been good, but now I taste of the famed oval ahead the moment the car is driving on the track, Alonso found it think starts the real deal.” of his appearance in the famed itself, I’m not driving the car.” no match for the experience of Alonso has 32 wins and 97 May 28 race. Alonso will make his taking the corners at top speed. podiums in F1, his most recent The 35-year-old Spaniard IndyCar debut in a Honda- “The feeling in the simulator triumph coming at the 2013 is skipping this year’s Monaco powered entry from McLaren, is quite realistic and you have Spanish Grand Prix. He won Grand Prix, a race he won in the team for which he drives the first impression of how it’s the F1 drivers championship in McLaren’s Spanish driver Fernando Alonso 2006 and 2007, to compete in in F1, that is prepared and going to be, but the real car is 2005 and 2006..

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