4 SATURDAY VISION, MARCH 9, 2019 GOOAL! GOOAL! SATURDAY VISION, MARCH 9, 2019 5 EUROPEAN FOOTBALL PREVIEWS EUROPEAN FOOTBALL PREVIEWS ITALY SPAIN GERMANY Koulibaly makes Loew’s act unsettles Bayern top brass

BERLIN team coach, indicated that national team took place on appearances between Septem- his family happy Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels November 19, 2018. ber 10, 2017 and January 2, 2018 ayern have and Thomas Muller were no “The fact that the players and without even mustering a shot ROME out to bring the 46 people to released a strong- longer a part of his plans in the the public were informed three on target- let alone scoring or to take in the team’s HANDS OFF B build-up to Euro 2020. months later, just ahead of im- creating a goal- before returning ly worded statement Germany have been in a peri- apoli are keen to match against Juventus. portant matches for FC Bayern to Munich for a second bite of Flights, dinner and a hotel criticising the timing of od of soul-searching since their in the fight for the Bundesliga the cherry in summer 2018. revive their BARCELONA dent Florentino Perez after Ajax N were all paid for by the Sene- Joachim Loew’s decision dismal exit from the 2018 World title against VfL Wolfsburg and But Sanches is approaching knocked his side out of the title campaign against galese, with friends, family and to prematurely end the Cup, and Loew explained “this a few days before the decisive a return to his all-conquering Champions League with a 4-1 Sassuolo on Saturday relatives all enjoying an all-in- arcelona President is the year for our new begin- second leg in the round of 16 performances of 2016. win and 5-3 on aggregate. international careers of clusive weekend in Italy. Josep Maria Bar- ning” as he axed the trio with a of the Champions League next with Kalidou Koulibaly B What is more painful for the three of the club’s star Koulibaly purchased each combined 246 caps. Wednesday against Liverpool, out to play a key role. tomeu has spoken about fans is that the 4-1 hammer- players. Bundesliga fixtures person’s flight tickets, as well as The trio were part of the 2014 irritates us.” The defender is looking at the future of Ivan Rakitic ing happened at the Santiago Loew, the Germany national all of their transport to the hotel World Cup-winning team but Bayern added their “surprise” Saturday, 5.30pm getting a decent result after at the champions. Bernabeu. and then on to the stadium. that the announcement took Dortmund v Stuttgart the 2-1 defeat against leaders Speaking ahead of the team’s Real endured their 4th consec- In addition, the 27-year-old BUNDESLIGA place on the same day Loew (Sports Focus) Juventus. La Liga game against Rayo utive home defeat this season TABLE German coach Joachim Loew reserved a room at the Borgo made an unannounced visit to Unfortunately, the defeat Vallecano on Saturday, for the first time in the 21st Pos Team P W D L F A Pts Saturday, 5.30pm Antico di Santa Lucia in Naples the Germans crashed out of the Bayern’s training ground. came before a group of people Bartomeu said the Croat will see century as Ajax defeated the 1 FC Bayern Munich 18 16 2 0 46 9 50 Bayern v Wolfsburg close to the player. for a dinner that was hosted 2018 World Cup in the group “It was important for me that I his contract expire in 2021. champions of Europe. 1. Dortmund 24 16 6 2 58 27 54 (World Football) immediately after the game. 2 Bayerb Leverkusen 18 12 1 5 34 19 37 could personally tell the players Koulibaly selflessly splashed Bartomeu told Inter and Their four defeats include a stage, their earliest exit in 80 Saturday, 5.30pm The only downside to the 32. Bayern Munich Borussia Dortmund 2418 17 10 3 45 40 56 22 27 54 33 and the bosses at Bayern about Manchester United, strongly Barca to keep Ivan Rakitic defeat against Girona, two losses years. weekend was the game’s final 4 G M’Gladbach 18 10 3 5 35 21 33 my thoughts and plans,” Loew Leipzig v Augsburg interested in signing him before against Barcelona and a defeat 3. Leipzig 24 13 6 5 43 20 45 With crucial games coming up, Serie A fixtures result. transfer target of Barcelona and H explained. (Sports Premium) the contract expires, to look against Ajax- which saw them 54. Borussia SchalkeMonchengladbach 04 24 18 13 9 4 7 5 35 43 28 30 43 31 against Wolfsburg in the Bun- Saturday, 8pm, SS8 At the same time, Piotr Ziel- Juventus. G desliga on Saturday followed Saturday, 5.30pm elsewhere. crashing out of all tournaments 65. FrankfurtVfL Wolfsburg 2418 11 9 73 6 29 47 22 30 40 30 inski is close to sealing a new “We’ll talk about [his signing by Liverpool in the Champions ˆ Renato Sanches was just Parma v Genoa “There is no rush to extend in the span of a week. 7 H Hertha Berlin 18 8 4 6 27 21 28 Freiburg v Hertha contract with Napoli, according later this month,” Barcelona 6. Leverkusen 24 12 3 9 43 35 39 18 when he made the move to Saturday, 10.30pm, SS8 Rakitic’s contract,” Bartomeu While Barcelona knocked League next week, Bayern (Sports Arena) to reports in Rome. said. 8 Mainz 05 18 8 3 7 27 32 27 Bayern Munich from Benfica Chievo v AC Milan said. them out of the Copa Del Rey 7. Wolfsburg 24 11 6 7 39 31 39 questioned why Low decided to Saturday, 8.30pm Zielinski has been an impor- De Ligt and De Jong are 9 G FC Augsburg 18 7 4 7 23 27 25 as a freshly minted UEFA Euro Sunday, 2.30pm, SS8 “His contract expires in 2021, semifinals, the defeats against 8. Hertha Berlin 24 9 8 7 37 34 35 make his decision known now. tant part of Napoli’s midfield among the most promising 10 H Hanover 96 18 6 3 9 26 32 21 2016 winner with Portugal, but Mainz v M’adbach we’ll discuss this issue in the Girona and Barcelona in La Liga “Basically, we do not comment Bologna v Cagliari this season, featuring 35 times players of Ajax who kicked Real 119. HoffenheimH Werder Bremen 2418 8 5 105 68 22 47 37 36 3420 was unable to recapture the (World Football) right moment.” also mean that they are now 12 on sporting decisions of the Sunday, 5pm in all competitions for Carlo out of the Champions 1210. BremenH Stuttgart 2418 8 5 94 79 31 39 35 35 33 19 form that had earned him the Sunday, 5.30pm “Those interested in digning points behind league leaders national coach, the nomination S’pdoria v Atalanta Ancelotti’s team, scoring 5 times. League on Tuesday by beat- tournament’s Best Young Player H’enheim v N’emberg the player before his contract Barcelona. 1311. DusseldorfG Hoffenheim 2418 9 4 46 118 36 31 42 42 31 18 of the squad of the national Sunday, 5pm, SS8 The current market valuation ing the title holders 4-1 at the team is solely the responsibility prize. expires should forget doing so Despite sacking former coach 1412. MainzH 05Frabkfurt 2418 8 4 6 10 8 21 27 29 38 30 18 (World Football) of the Polish player is around 60 Santiago Bernabeu for a 5-3 of Joachim Loew,” the club said The prodigiously gifted mid- Inter v SPAL and devise other plans. , Santiago Solari 15 H SC Freiburg 18 4 5 9 19 33 17 Sunday, 8pm Sunday, 5pm, SS12 million euros, and at the end of aggregate score. 13. Freiburg 24 6 9 9 34 40 27 in the statement. fielder played just 615 min- Reports in Rome indicate that has failed to change things as 16 Hamburg SV 18 4 4 10 33 41 16 Hannover v L’erkusen the month it will be proposed 14. SchalkeG 04 24 6 5 13 25 39 23 utes of senior club football in F’sinone v Torino Inter are in advanced talks to Real are enduring an abys- “However, we believe the to extend the contract, expiring ˆ Real Madrid are up against 17 H FC Nurnmburg 18 1 11 6 21 33 14 2016/17, and his struggles only (World Football) Sunday, 8pm, SS8 sign the midfielder who may mal season considering their 15. Augsburg 24 5 6 13 34 46 21 timing and circumstances of the in 2021, with a robust economic Real Valladolid in the La Liga on 18 Braunschweig 18 3 3 12 10 32 12 continued during an injury-hit Monday, 10.30pm Sassuolo v Napoli see his game time reduced by standards. announcement of this decision adjustment compared to the one Monday but a possible victory 16. Stuttgart 24 5 4 15 24 52 19 loan spell in the English Premier D’seldorf v Frankfurt Frankie de Jong who will arrive Unless Barcelona and Atletico to the players and to the public Sunday, 10.30pm, SS8 million and one hundred thou- could do little to end the frus- 17. Hannover 24 3 5 16 21 55 14 League with Swansea City. at the Nou Camp from Ajax in Madrid miraculously drop is questionable. The last inter- (World Football) F’rentina v Lazio sand euros that he now earns.” tration of fans at the Santiago The midfielder made just 12 the summer. points in the last few months, 18. Nuremberg 24 2 7 15 18 49 13 national match of the German Monday, 10.30pm, SS8 Zielinski signed for Napoli Bernabeu side. Bartomeu did also release an Real will go trophy-less this Roma v Empoli from Udinese in 2016, for a fee The fans have called for the update on Matthijs de Ligt, a season. of 16 million euros. resignation of the club presi- FRANCE SERIE A TABLE LA LIGA TABLE ˆIsco refused to board Real Madrid’s team bus after finding Lille keen on CL place LIGUE 1 Pos Team P W D L F A Pts TABLE Pos Team P W D L F A Pts out he was dropped for the Pos Team P W D L F A Pts 1 FC Barcelona 21 17 3 1 57 13 54 Champions League match 1 Juventus 21 18 2 1 51 15 56 PARIS the UEFA Champions PSG started out the collabora- 1. Barcelona Atlético Madrid 21 26 1718 3 6 12 52 66 14 25 60 54 against Ajax. 1 FC Barcelona 21 17 3 1 57 13 54 2 1. Juventus AS Roma 21 26 15 23 5 3 1 0 5545 1611 50 72 tion with Jordan with their third Striker Mariano Diaz was also League with an away 21. Paris Saint-GermainAtlético Madrid 21 26 17 23 32 1 1 52 79 14 15 54 71 32. Atlético RealMadrid Madrid 21 26 1715 2 8 23 60 38 21 17 53 53 kit for Europe’s premier club 3 2. Napoli Napoli 21 26 13 17 5 5 3 4 4744 2023 44 56 dropped but boarded the bus. ille will maintain their game against Saint-Éti- 2. Lille 27 16 6 5 44 23 54 competition. 3 Real Madrid 21 17 2 2 60 21 53 4 3. AC Milan Fiorentina 21 26 12 13 5 9 4 4 3940 2223 41 48 43. Real Madrid Athletic Club Bilbao 21 26 1315 3 3 58 41 43 27 31 48 42 Lpursuit of a place in enne in the Ligue 1 on But that has since developed 4 3. Lyon Athletic Club Bilbao21 27 13 14 37 5 6 41 45 27 31 42 49 5 21 8 9 4 38 24 33 54. Getafe Villarreal 21 26 11 4 9 6 39 34 22 23 42 37 Sunday. 4. Inter Milan 26 14 5 7 38 22 47 La Liga A fixtures into a full range and has be- 54. Marseille Villarreal 21 27 11 13 45 6 9 39 43 22 35 37 44 6 Torino 21 8 8 5 34 27 32 6 Real Sociedad 21 10 6 5 42 30 36 Ligue 1 fixtures In second place behind lead- 5. Roma 26 12 8 6 49 36 44 5. Alavés 26 11 7 8 27 29 40 Saturday, 3pm, SS7 come popular with a number of 6 Real Sociedad 21 10 6 5 42 30 36 7 Sevilla 21 8 7 6 39 34 31 Saturday, 7pm ers Paris Saint Germain, Lille 5. Saint-Étienne 27 12 7 8 36 33 43 7 Parma 21 8 8 5 32 27 32 6. Sevilla 26 10 7 9 41 34 37 high profile American athletes, 6. Lazio 25 12 5 8 36 27 41 Alaves v Eibar S’asbourg v Lyon cannot afford to falter against 7 6. Reims Sevilla 21 27 810 712 6 5 39 29 34 26 3142 8 G Verona 21 10 2 9 35 34 32 8 Levante 21 7 6 8 22 30 27 majorly boosting the club’s 7. Torino 26 10 11 5 33 22 41 7. Valencia 26 7 15 4 27 21 36 Saturday, 6.15pm, SS7 Saturday, 10pm their opponents in fifth position. 8 Levante 21 7 6 8 22 30 27 9 AC Milan 21 7 7 7 34 31 28 9 Espanyol 21 7 5 9 25 27 26 brand appeal across the Atlantic. 7. Montpellier 27 10 11 6 36 29 41 8. Betis 26 10 6 10 30 32 36 Atletico v Leganes Amiens v Nîmes 9 Espanyol 21 7 5 9 25 27 26 108. AtalantaH Lazio 21 26 7 12 7 5 7 9 5427 37 29 28 41 10 Valencia 21 7 4 10 28 33 25 Basketball stars Ben Simmons, 8. Nice 27 11 7 9 20 27 40 Saturday, 8.30pm, SS7 Saturday, 10pm ˆ Paris Saint-Germain’s growth Draymond Green, Nicolas 10 Valencia 21 7 4 10 28 33 25 119. SampdoriaH Genoa 21 26 7 11 6 6 8 9 4323 33 27 27 39 9.11 Real Sociedad Granada 21 26 9 7 3 8 11 9 19 30 27 27 35 24 Barca v Vallecano Dijon v Reims is to reach new heights with the Batum and Tony Parker have all 11 9. Strasbourg Granada 21 27 79 103 11 8 19 41 27 31 2437 1210. FiorentinaG Atalanta 21 26 7 8 3 12 11 6 4121 32 30 24 36 10.12 Eibar Getafe 21 26 8 7 3 10 11 8 22 34 34 35 34 24 Saturday, 10.45pm, SS7 Saturday, 10pm club preparing to surpass one been seen sporting PSG mer- 1210. Rennes Getafe 2126 10 7 73 11 9 22 35 34 34 2437 13 H 11.13 Leganés Celta de Vigo 21 26 8 6 4 9 11 9 27 27 34 31 33 22 million shirt sales worldwide. 11. SassuoloSampdoria 21 26 5 7 7 10 9 9 3525 41 32 22 31 Getafe v Huesca Monaco v Bordeaux chandise, as have music artists 1311. Nîmes Celta de Vigo 2126 10 6 64 11 10 27 37 34 38 2236 G 14 Osasuna 21 6 4 11 18 34 22 The French champions have 1412. Genoa Cagliari 21 26 4 7 9 9 8 10 3220 41 31 21 30 12. 26 7 12 7 25 30 33 Sunday, 2pm, SS7 Sunday, 5pm Travis Scott, J. Cole and 6ix9ine. 14 Osasuna 21 6 4 11 18 34 22 enjoyed rich success having 12. Angers 27 8 10 9 31 31 34 H 15 Almeria 21 6 4 11 22 40 22 1513. Parma Udinese 21 26 6 8 2 6 13 12 2820 40 32 20 30 13. Espanyol 26 9 6 11 31 39 33 C. Vigo v Betis M’tpellier v Angers 15 Almeria 21 6 4 11 22 40 22 made the bold decision to Kylian Mbappe is one of the 13. Bordeaux 27 8 8 11 26 29 32 G Sunday, 6.15pm , SS7 ˆ 16 14. CagliariChievo 21 26 4 6 6 9 11 11 2316 37 27 18 27 14.16 Girona Malaga 21 26 7 5 610 10 9 19 27 27 34 31 21 Sunday, 5pm collaborate with basketball 16 Malaga 21 5 6 10 19 27 21 Girona v Valencia brightest talents in the world of 14. Nantes 27 8 7 12 31 34 31 17 H Bologna 21 3 9 9 20 36 18 17 Elche 21 5 6 10 19 32 21 St-Étienne v Lille icon Michael Jordan back in 17 Elche 21 5 6 10 19 32 21 15. Udinese 25 6 7 12 21 32 25 15. Levante 26 8 6 12 37 46 30 Sunday, 8.30pm, SS7 football and has been talked of 15. Toulouse 27 6 10 11 26 42 28 18 G Sassuolo 21 4 5 12 22 46 17 18 Real Valladolid 21 4 7 10 24 37 19 Sunday, 5pm September. as a future Ballon d’Or winner. 18 Real Valladolid 21 4 7 10 24 37 19 16. SPAL 26 5 8 13 23 39 23 16. Valladolid 26 6 8 12 20 34 26 Levante v Villarreal 16. Monaco 27 6 8 13 28 43 26 19 H Livorno 21 4 4 13 19 37 16 19 Rayo Vallecano 21 5 1 15 21 51 16 Toulouse v G’ngamp A stunning line of kits and But former Manchester United 19 Rayo Vallecano 21 5 1 15 21 51 16 17. Empoli 26 5 7 14 33 51 22 17. Celta de Vigo 26 6 7 13 36 44 25 Sunday, 8.30pm, SS7 Sunday, 7pm other jerseys including a bas- 20 Catania 21 3 5 13 13 37 14 20 Real Betis 21 2 5 14 18 47 11 - boss Jose Mourinho rejected the 2017. Amiens Real Betis 2127 7 2 45 14 16 18 22 47 42 1125 Sevilla v Sociedad ketball shirt were released. 18. Bologna 26 3 9 14 20 40 18 18. Villarreal 26 4 11 11 27 35 23 Rennes v Caen - ideas to sign Mbappe. 18. Caen 27 3 11 13 22 36 20 Monday, 11pm Sunday, 11pm The designs have seen PSG Mourinho preferred industri- 19. Frosinone 26 3 8 15 19 49 17 19. Vallecano 26 6 5 15 28 45 23 19. Dijon 26 5 5 16 20 40 20 V’adolid v Real shirt sales rise by 470 per cent ous wingers such as Chelsea’s 20. Chievo 26 1 10 15 19 51 10 Marseille v Nice Barca’s Luis Suarez ready to face Rayo Vallecano in the La Liga 20. Huesca 26 5 7 14 26 42 22 in the United States. Willian than flair players. 20. Guingamp 27 4 7 16 18 50 19