SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2014 Fit-again Aguero eyes Barca clash

MANCHESTER: Manchester City striker February 18. Aguero, who took his goal tal- games which are very important, and then while Jack Rodwell and Stevan Jovetic Sergio Aguero will use today’s clash ly to 20 for the season against Rovers, we’ll think about Barca. could be back from hamstring problems against Cardiff to step up his return from played for 18 minutes in midweek and “I hope I can play a little bit longer for the League Cup semi-final second leg at injury as the Argentine eyes a Champions Pellegrini may decide to introduce the for- today and take it step by step. “I think we West Ham next week. Solskjaer’s first League showdown with Barcelona. mer Atletico Madrid star from the bench to are doing very well. We have improved a game in charge of the Bluebirds was a 2-1 Aguero scored on his return from eight slowly build his fitness. Pellegrini believes lot since the beginning of the season. We FA Cup win at Newcastle but his team matches out with a calf problem after com- it will take two or three matches for must keep working like that. We are all slipped into the bottom three with a 2-0 ing off the bench in City’s 5-0 FA Cup third Aguero, who suffered his injury in the 6-3 playing very well. “We are building a great home defeat to West Ham last weekend. round replay victory against Blackburn on victory over Arsenal on December 14, to be team and we need to continue trying to The Norwegian made his name as a Wednesday. back to his best. Yet the striker has prom- score more goals.” City take an unbeaten player at Manchester United and another Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko helped ised he will be firing by the time City come run of 16 matches, which has brought 14 former striker, Fraizer City to seven wins and a draw in the up against Barcelona in the Champions wins, into their match against Ole Gunnar Campbell, believes Solskjaer will prove a absence of Aguero, scoring six goals in that League. Before then they have a key trip to Solskjaer’s side and they trail leaders success in Wales. “When I was at run of matches. But City boss Manuel Tottenham and a home match against Arsenal, who host Fulham, by one point. Manchester United Ole was one of the Pellegrini, whose second placed side are Chelsea as they battle for first place in the The 5-0 hammering of Blackburn took best finishers that I’d seen so it’s brilliant to one point behind Premier League leaders Premier League with Arsenal. “Maybe in a them on to 99 goals for the season and have him here as a manager and to be Arsenal, knows the return of Aguero is a week I’ll be on top form,” Aguero said. they will expect to pass that mark with able to pick his brain,” Campbell said. “He’s major boost as the Eastlands outfit try to “Obviously the more you play, the better some ease against the Welsh side. City’s got great footballing ideas. Whoever the overhaul the Gunners ahead of the first leg you feel and against Barca I will be ready. Ivory Coast Yaya Toure is set to manager brings in, I’m sure they’ll be qual- of the Champions League last 16 tie “But we still have time and first we need to return from a minor back problem that has ity signings to make the team even against Spanish champions Barcelona on think about the next Premier League been troubling him for the past two weeks, stronger.” — AFP

SPANISH LEAGUE PREVIEW Real Madrid target 3-way tie at the top

MADRID: Real Madrid can pile the pressure on La Messi scored twice in his first start since a two- Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid by month layoff due to a hamstring injury in the moving into a three-way tie at the top of the Copa del Rey win at Getafe on Thursday. table with a win away to struggling Real Betis However, the Argentine will again not be able to today. Madrid closed the gap on their title rivals link up with Neymar after the Brazilian suffered a to three points last weekend thanks to a hard- sprained right ankle against Getafe. Barca boss fought 1-0 win away at Espanyol, whilst Atletico Gerardo Martino once again praised the work and Barca played out a 0-0 draw at the Vicente done by the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Pedro Calderon. Rodriguez and Cesc Fabregas in his star strike : Former Dutch football player and new AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf waves at All three sides are still competing on three duo’s absence, but admitted Neymar and Messi supporters as he leaves in a car from Linate airport in Milan. Seedorf is taking over as fronts as they progressed into the quarter-finals will be key to his side’s success in the second half coach of AC Milan, replacing . — AFP of the Copa del Rey in midweek ahead of a return of the season. to Champions League action next month. “It is clear that the extent to which Neymar ITALIAN LEAGUE PREVIEW Despite a run of good results, Madrid’s perform- and Messi’s participation is continuous then we ances have failed to convince in recent weeks will have a better chance (to win things). But, the with 91 million euro ($124 million, £77 million) results have borne up well in their absence,” he signing Gareth Bale looking particularly off-color. said. “You plan the objectives for what happens Seedorf’s creed set However, Coach has hailed his at the end of the season and it is clear that Barca side’s competitive spirit to keep themselves in have to win a title because that is what they have the title race. “Now the most difficult part of the done year after year.” Atletico are the last of the for a test season comes because all the matches are title contenders to take the field this weekend as important,” he said. “We don’t always play fantas- they host an in-form Sevilla side who have MILAN: Multiple Champions League winner sacked Massimiliano Allegri, has already spoken at tic football. We have a lot of games right now moved into contention for the fourth Champions Clarence Seedorf begins his second career at AC length with one of Milan’s pivotal, but underper- and to always play well isn’t easy. League place with a seven-game unbeaten run. Milan, this time as a fledgling coach, with the world forming players-striker . “But the team is concentrated, working very And midfielder Tiago is confident that his side of football watching when the Rossoneri host high- Whether Seedorf’s arrival can spark Balotelli to hard and is hungry to achieve things in the can stave off tiredness to continue fighting on flying Verona tomorrow. Seedorf, regarded as the his clinical best remains to be seen-if he does it future.” A win for Real would mean they would three fronts until the end of the campaign. “We most successful player in the Champions League would help corroborate suspicions that Allegri sim- move joint top for the first time since mid- are going to try and we think that we can. We era having won the trophy four times with three ply could not get the best out of the controversial September and Los Blancos will be heavy have a very good group of players and everyone different clubs-signed a two-and-a-half year con- Italy striker. Juventus welcome Sampdoria looking favorites against a Betis side rooted to the foot of will get their chance,” he told the club’s website. tract as Milan coach on Thursday. to make sure they lose no ground on Roma, who the table and without a win in the league 12 “We need everyone to be at their best because it His arrival from Brazil on Tuesday was widely are at home to struggling Livorno today, and wel- games. Barcelona are in action on Sunday as they is not easy to keep competing in two games a welcomed by the red and black half of the city and come defender Andrea Barzagli back to the fray fol- travel to Levante where is expected week. Until now we have responded well and Rossoneri fans are hoping the success Seedorf lowing a one-match ban. Sampdoria coach Sinisa to start. hopefully we can continue to do so.” — AFP enjoyed during a golden 10-year spell with the Mihajlovic is expected to reshuffle his defense to club can be replicated at coaching level. Yet with take on the champions but travels to Turin hoping Milan 30 points behind leaders Juventus and 20 off to see more of the positive mental attitude that has Spanish League table the closest Champions League qualifying spot, seen ‘Samp’ revived since his arrival. Seedorf has a fight on his hands-and his lack of top “I never tell my players they have to win, but MADRID: Spanish league table ahead of the weekend’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, level experience has raised eyebrows. The 37-year- they have to leave everything out on the pitch,” goals for, goals against, points): old, who ended his playing career with Botafogo said Mihajlovic, who took over from Delio Rossi Barcelona 19 16 2 1 53 12 50 Getafe 19 7 2 10 20 31 23 when the Milan offer came up, has already admit- before Christmas when the Genoese were on the Atletico Madrid 19 16 2 1 47 11 50 Espanyol 19 6 4 9 22 25 22 ted: “There’s a lot to do to hoist Milan back to the slide. Fiorentina, meanwhile, travel to crisis-hit Real Madrid 19 15 2 2 53 21 47 Osasuna 19 6 3 10 17 29 21 top.” Catania - eliminated by Serie B side Siena in the Athletic Bilbao 19 11 3 5 32 24 36 Malaga 19 5 5 9 19 24 20 And fellow Dutchmen and former Rossoneri Italian Cup midweek - with new signing Alessandro Villarreal 19 10 4 5 37 21 34 Celta Vigo 19 5 4 10 23 31 19 and both seemed Matri hoping to make his debut. Matri was Milan’s Real Sociedad 19 9 5 5 36 28 32 Almeria 19 5 4 10 21 38 19 sceptical about the appointment. “It’s a risk. We most expensive signing last summer when he Sevilla 19 8 6 5 36 30 30 Elche 19 4 5 10 17 28 18 have to wait and see how Seedorf adapts,” said Van arrived from Juventus but failed to shine with the Valencia 19 7 2 10 26 31 23 Valladolid 19 3 7 9 21 33 16 Basten. Gullit said: “I wasn’t expecting it. Clarence Rossoneri and was snapped up by La Viola who are Granada 19 7 2 10 19 25 23 Rayo Vallecano 19 5 1 13 19 45 16 has no coaching experience and has to prove him- still missing strikers Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Levante 19 6 5 8 18 27 23 Real Betis 19 2 5 12 16 38 11 self.” Reports said Seedorf, who takes over from Gomez. —AFP