Classic Barca-PSG Clash Highlights CL Return in Most Challenging Year
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QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Ravichandran Ashwin sets Chennai alight as England stare at defeat PAGE 14 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 FIFA SecretARY-GENerAL, DeputY SecretARY-GENerAL Visit Al BAYT, LusAil STADiuMS Nasser Al Khater, CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, welcomed Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary-General, and Mattias Grafstrom, FIFA Deputy Secretary-General, on tours of Lusail and Al Bayt stadiums to discuss latest plans and preparations for Qatar 2022. Classic Barca-PSG clash highlights CL return in most challenging year DPA BERLIN Faltering Liverpool THE coronavirus Champions League resumes this midweek with mouth-watering last 16 seek inspiration first leg contests on the pitch coming after further logistical DPA the last few weeks,” he told the challenges in hosting the pan- LONDON club’s website. continental competition amid “We’ve been playing well the global pandemic. LIVERPOOL will be hoping a but not getting the results so In other years Tuesday’s change of scenery can get their it’s about turning those perfor- headline encounter between season back on track when mances into results and that’s Barcelona and Paris Saint- they face RB Leipzig in the first probably what we need to look Germain, a repeat of their re- leg of their Champions League at most,” he said. markable tie at the same stage last 16 clash on Tuesday. in 2017, would hog headlines. Three successive defeats has After three straight Instead the wisdom of play- left Liverpool out of the Premier ing at all is being questioned by League title race, a far cry from Premier League defeats, some as three matches in the last season when they romped to Liverpool will hope the first knock-out round had to their first title in 30 years. Champions League brings be moved to neutral venues be- Injuries to key players, a change in fortune. cause of coronavirus rules. including Virgil van Dijk, Joe The first of those is also on Gomez and Joel Matip, have The tie with Leipzig is be- Tuesday when RB Leipzig host taken their toll on the side, ing played in Budapest and 2019 winners Liverpool in Bu- with the balance of the team Alexander-Arnold said the dapest as German authorities upset by midfielders being switch to European competi- won’t let Juergen Klopp’s side moved into the back line. tion could inspire them. “In into the country. Klopp could use new sign- situations like this you want Wednesday has Porto v ing Ozan Kabak in defence, the opportunity to put it right Juventus and Sevilla v Borus- while Nat Phillips could also as soon as possible,” he said. sia Dortmund while reigning come in, which would allow champions Bayern Munich (From L to R) Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, Italian midfielder Alessandro Florenzi, Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, captain Jordan Henderson to Klopp dismisses fears have another week off before French forward Kylian Mbappe and French defender Presnel Kimpembe attend a training session at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on move back into midfield. Meanwhile, Liverpool man- meeting Lazio. Monday, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match against FC Barcelona. (AFP) Much will depend on the fit- ager Juergen Klopp dismissed Barcelona have taken time ness of Fabinho, who missed the suggestions that he has had to click under new coach Ron- weekend defeat at Leicester, but enough of the job, insisting he ald Koeman and the domestic PSG will be out for revenge after seeing a the club has been keen to stress is embracing the challenge of title is already beyond them. 4-0 first leg home lead sensationally this week that they will pull to- his first sticky patch since he But Lionel Messi is regain- gether to regain top form. took over at Anfield in 2015. ing form and Gerard Pique’s overturned 6-1 in Spain four years ago. “It’s been a tough period A banner was placed out- potentially quicker than ex- for many reasons,” striker Mo side the club’s stadium over pected return from injury to benches after clashing on Ital- Salah said on social media. the weekend in support of fortify a leaky defence has giv- ian pitches in the six seasons “We are champions and their manager. en them a boost. the Portuguese played with we will fight like champions, “I’m okay,” he told a press PSG will be out for revenge Lazio, Parma and Inter Milan. until the very end. We will not conference on Monday. “We after seeing a 4-0 first leg home Borussia Dortmund allow this season to be defined had a training session before, lead sensationally overturned meanwhile have won just by the recent results we’ve we had an analysis meeting 6-1 in Spain four years ago. once in their last six domes- had. That is my promise to all and both were really positive On that occasion Neymar tically to lose touch with of you.” Full back Trent Alex- and I am preparing to flying orchestrated the Barca come- the Bundesliga Champions ander Arnold said he feels the to Hungary for the for the first back but a groin injury rules League spots and interim recent results do not reflect time in my life. We are abso- him out of a first meeting Today’s Matches coach Edin Terzic is in des- the performances. lutely okay and ready to go. against his former side. Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino with Paris perate need of improvement. “Everyone talks about a “The banner was nice, I Paris coach Mauricio Po- Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe on Monday. (AFP) Barcelona v Dortmund’s visit to Seville bad spell and a dip in form don’t feel that I need special chettino, appointed in Decem- Paris Saint-Germain starts a crucial eight-day run and stuff, but I feel person- support in this moment but ber, believes last year’s semi- German politician and season’s run to the last four. which includes a derby visit ally we’ve performed well in it’s nice. I don’t need a break.” finalists can go for it again even health expert Karl Lauterbach, “We know that we need a (11pm) to Schalke and German Cup when faced with a “team that’s said: “All of us are supposed top performance against Liv- RB Leipzig v Liverpool quarter-final trip to Borussia built to win,” like Barcelona. not to travel ... and I don’t un- erpool,” Nagelsmann said. Moenchengladbach. “Of course we need some derstand why we should be “We want to give our all in our (11pm) “We’re on the road to re- clear structures and ideas on making an exception for an ‘home tie’ in Budapest and put covery,” insisted Mats Hum- how to attack and how to stop professional circus.” ourselves in a good position for mels after Saturday’s 2-2 draw Barcelona getting at us,” he Lars Klingbeil, secretary- the second leg.” Ronaldo returns to his home with Hoffenheim. “We want to told UEFA.com. “But we al- general of Lauterbach’s Social Liverpool will check on the country while Juve’s Brazilian play in a much more active and ways trust in the players to Democrats (SPD) agreed, tell- fitness of Fabinho before nam- defenders Alex Sandro and Da- aggressive way off the ball. do their work in the best way ing broadcasters RTL/ntv: “It ing their line-up after the Bra- nilo tackle their former club. “Such things don’t happen possible and get a positive out- would be a stronger signal,” if zilian missed the weekend de- “This defeat will not dis- overnight. We’re working on come.” Leipzig v Liverpool, “was post- feat at Leicester which all but pirit us. Let’s hold our head this in training, and I’m 100 Pochettino himself has poned or cancelled. ended their hopes of retaining up and think about the Cham- per cent sure that you will see it recovered from Covid-19 and “It can be dispensed with the Premier League. pions League,” Ronaldo wrote before the season is out.” said his experience “taught at this time. The competition There is also a doubt over on Instagram after a 1-0 loss Sevilla are without winger me to become a better person must not come first,” he said. James Milner, who came off at Napoli on Saturday held the Lucas Ocampos who has an an- ...(and) how to be more respon- But the game will go on with a hamstring issue. Bianconeri eight points off the kle injury and left back Marcos sible while enjoying what we giving youthful Leipzig coach Porto welcome Juventus Serie A top. Acuna is also expected to miss RB Leipzig players including German goalkeeper Philipp Tschauner do.” Whether or not football is Julian Nagelsmann a chance to for a clash between current na- Home coach Sergio Con- the game although coach Julen (centre) take part in a training session on the eve of the UEFA Cham- being responsible in playing at test himself against compatriot tional champions and two-time ceicao and Andrea Pirlo will Lopetegui hopes right back Je- pions League round of 16 first leg match against Liverpool at the all is another matter. Klopp as he seeks to match last continental winners. Cristiano face each other from opposing sus Navas will be fit. Puskas Arena in Budapest on Monday. (AFP).