Hamilton takes Cavs take 2-0 his first lead over Hawks Monaco16 F1 pole 17 SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2015 Valencia seal CL place, Eibar, Almeria relegated

MADRID: Valencia sealed their place in next season’s Champions League as Eibar and Almeria were relegated on a dramatic final day of the season. Deportivo La Coruna came back from 2-0 down away at champions Barcelona to spoil a homage to Hernandez at the Camp Nou and stay up with a 2-2 draw along with Granada who held Atletico 0- 0 at home. That point was enough to ensure Atletico go straight into next season’s Champions League group stages in third, whilst Valencia twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Almeria and secure fourth. Eibar’s remarkable first season in the top flight didn’t have fairy tale ending as they were relegated despite just a second win in 20 matches 3-0 at home to Cordoba due to their inferior head-to-head record with Deportivo and Granada. also secured European football for next season in the Europa League thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Villarreal. Eibar looked SPAIN: Barcelona players, with their children, pose with their trophy after winning the Spanish League title, at the set to survive for much of the day as end of their Spanish La Liga last round soccer match against Deportivo Coruna. —AP after they went in front against already relegated Cordoba, Lionel Messi gave Barca the lead at a Camp Nou in celebratory mood as Xavi made his 505th and final Liga appear- Van Gaal expects De Gea to stay ance. The Catalans dominated for large : Manchester United manager best of interest of the player. “It’s a medical question. I have swaths of the game and looked to believes goalkeeper David De Gea will remain at Old spoken with (England manager) Roy Hodgson a month ago have sealed the Galicians fate when Trafford despite uncertainty over his future. during an international break. was also invited to Neymar unselfishly squared for Messi De Gea has a year left on his contract at and the squad, then I convinced Roy not to take him,” he said. “I to make it 2-0 on the hour mark. has been widely expected to join Real Madrid at the end of have now spoken to Gareth Southgate and also my doctor the current season. has spoken to the doctor of the Under-21 team. However, Lucas Perez gave The 24-year-old Spain international has already rejected “I have read I’m the winner of this debate, but that’s not Deportivo hope with a stunning the offer of a new deal at United and had appeared des- true because Luke Shaw is the winner. Luke is a great talent. strike into the top corner seven min- tined to move back to his home city. It was maybe too much this step from Southampton to utes later and Salomao struck 14 min- After last week’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, van Gaal said he United and we have to protect him. “It’s important that the utes from time to cap a remarkable didn’t think he could persuade De Gea to remain at United. medical department, managers are agreed that we can pro- fightback. De Gea is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to rele- tect him and develop him to the greater talent. Granada also secured their top gation-threatened Hull City with the hamstring injury which “Also Roy Hodgson and Gareth Southgate and flight status for a fifth consecutive forced him off against the Gunners. Manchester United’s manager shall take benefit. But the season as they and Atletico played However, when asked if ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor winner is Luke Shaw.”—AFP out a bore 0-0 draw that suited both Valdes would be a suitable replacement the Dutchman sug- parties. gested perhaps De Gea will not leave after all. Valencia’s hopes of a return to the “I believe still that David De Gea will stay,” Van Gaal told Champions League were given an reporters.”I want to play him against Hull City on Sunday almighty fright by Almeria as they because I have to put my strongest team. twice went in front in the first-half. “Is Valdes ready to replace him? I have said already I can Thomas Partey’s free-kick sneaked only say if David De Gea is gone. David has trained today for past Diego Alves at his near post after the first time and we have to wait and see tomorrow. nine minutes, but, as so often this “I think De Gea is a better goalkeeper. It’s also our last season, Nicolas Otamendi came to match of the season. I think you have to put out your Valencia’s rescue with a powerful strongest team because it’s very important for Hull. “First we have to see if De Gea is leaving. Then we shall talk about the header to equalise. other things.” Van Gaal also revealed he will speak to a num- Jonathan Soriano put Almeria ber of players at United who face uncertain futures in the back in front and then missed a huge next few days. Holland striker , on-loan chance to make it 3-1 moments later. Monaco forward Radamel Falcao and youngsters Adnan The visitors responded once more Januzaj and James Wilson are all thought to be vulnerable. before half-time as Sofiane Feghouli “I shall talk with them maybe tomorrow,” he said. “We tapped home from close range and, have a farewell drink after the match. I have the Monday to with both teams chasing the winner, talk, and I already have this week to talk. You have to wait Paco Alcacer coolly slotted past and see how these talks develop in who is staying or going Ruben Martinez 11 minutes from away.” United are boosted by the return of captain Wayne time. Rooney for the KC Stadium clash after the England striker Valencia’s victory rendered Sevilla’s recovered from a dead leg. 3-2 win at Malaga meaningless as United left-back Luke Shaw is likely to miss out with con- they finished a point back in fifth. cussion, while midfielder is also absent with However, the Andalusians can still a calf injury. Shaw was left out of the England Under-21 qualify for next season’s Champions squad by coach Gareth Southgate this week after an injury- League should they retain the Europa hit first season at United following his transfer from League against Dnipro Southampton. LONDON: Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper Dnipropetrovsk on Wednesday. And van Gaal claimed it was the correct decision in the David de Gea gestures in this file photo. —AFP Meanwhile, Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has turned down an Matches on TV (Local FIFA candidates invite from Barcelona to travel to Berlin to see his former side play Timings) targeted in blackmail Juventus in the Champions League final. scam — report English Premier League “No, no, no, I will stay here,” he said SINGAPORE: Two men who launched challenges to Sepp on Friday in Munich when asked Everton v Tottenham 17:00 Blatter for the leadership of world football body FIFA have beIN SPORTS 5 HD about his personal invite from been targeted in an attempted blackmail scam, a report said Newcastle v West Ham 17:00 yesterday. Prince Ali bin al Hussein and Michael van Praag, Barcelona for the June 6 final in beIN SPORTS who has now pulled out of the race, were both approached Germany’s capital. Arsenal v West Bromwich 17:00 by Kenya-based conmen who said Blatter had gathered sensi- The 44-year-old steered Barcelona beIN SPORTS tive information about them. SPAIN: FC Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez holds up the trophy after winning the Spanish to the 2009 and 2011 Champions Aston Villa v Burnley 17:00 beIN SPORTS Singapore’s The New Paper and Dutch daily De Volkskrant League title, at the end of their Spanish La Liga last round soccer match against League titles during his four-year Deportivo Coruna at the Camp Nou stadium. —AP Chelsea v Sunderland 17:00 said the men demanded money to hand over the information reign as head coach. Barcelona are on beIN SPORTS from what they claimed was a smear campaign orchestrated course to win the treble under new Crystal Palace v Swansea 17:00 by Blatter. According to The New Paper, Jordan’s Prince Ali, coach having already beIN SPORTS who is now Blatter’s sole challenger in next week’s FIFA vote, Spanish League results/standings won the Spanish league for the 23rd Hull City v Man United 17:00 and van Praag both confirmed approaches. time. beIN SPORTS “We have had a number of individuals coming forward Levante 0 Elche 0; Malaga 2 (Javi Guerra 67, 90+2) Sevilla 3 (Reyes 52, Banega 55, Vidal 62); Athletic Bilbao 4 (Aduriz Leicester v QPR 17:00 with similar allegations,” a spokesman for Prince Ali was quot- 25-pen, 60, Iraola 28, Benat 36) Villarreal 0; Barcelona 2 (Messi 5, 59) Deportivo La Coruna 2 (Lucas 67, Salomao 76); Barca will play Bilbao at home in beIN SPORTS the Spanish Cup final on May 30 and ed as saying. “Our approach has been to try and set up meet- Granada 0 Atletico Madrid 0; 2 (Bueno 42, Morcillo 64) Real Sociedad 4 (Vela 19, Castro 21, Agirretxe Man City v Southampton 17:00 ings with these individuals so we can assess them and the 73, Elustondo 75); Eibar 3 (Arruabarrena 6, Navas 11, Capa RodrÍguez 34) Cordoba 0; Celta Vigo 3 (Hugo Mallo 38, could seal the treble a week later in beIN SPORTS 4 HD information they are giving for ourselves.” Cabral 58, 77) Espanyol 2 (Sergio Garcia 23-pen, Stuani 48); Almeria 2 (Thomas 9, Soriano 37) Valencia 3 the Champions League final at Stoke City v Liverpool 17:00 (Otamendi 28, Feghouli 45, Alcacer 80). beIN SPORTS The conmen said the director of an India-based security Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. company put together a surveillance report on Prince Ali for Spanish La Liga table before yesterday’s late match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Guardiola’s Bayern will be crowned Italian League submission to Blatter’s daughter, Corinne. German league champions on But when contacted by The New Paper, both the investi- Barcelona 38 30 4 4 110 21 94 Levante 38 9 10 19 34 67 37 Empoli v Sampdoria 13:30 — champions Getafe 37 10 7 20 30 57 37 Saturday for the 25th time following beIN SPORTS 1 HD gator and Corinne Blatter denied all knowledge and said they Real Madrid 37 29 2 6 111 35 89 Granada 38 7 14 17 29 64 35 their home match against Mainz at Udinese v Sassuolo 16:00 had been set up. “I do not know who is behind it but it is Atletico Madrid 38 23 9 6 67 29 78 Deportivo 38 7 14 17 35 60 35 the Allianz Arena. beIN SPORTS clearly intended to damage my father’s reputation,” Corinne Valencia 38 22 11 5 70 32 77 Eibar 38 8 8 24 31 55 35 Bayern were beaten 5-3 on aggre- Cesena v Cagliari 16:00 Blatter was quoted as saying. According to the report, the beIN SPORTS Sevilla 38 23 7 8 71 45 76 — relegated gate by Barcelona in the Champions approaches by email appeared genuine but details such as Villarreal 38 16 12 10 48 37 60 Almeria 38 8 8 22 35 64 32 Parma v Hellas 16:00 the investigator’s phone number and email address were Athletic Bilbao 38 15 10 13 42 41 55 — relegated League semi-finals having lost the beIN SPORTS first-leg 3-0 at the Camp Nou but won wrong. “I have no idea who would want to set me up, espe- Celta Vigo 38 13 12 13 47 44 51 Cordoba 38 3 11 24 22 68 20 Chievo v Atalanta 16:00 cially on such an elaborate scam as this,” the investigator, who Malaga 38 14 8 16 42 48 50 — relegated the return 3-2 in Munich. Having won beIN SPORTS Citta v Fiorentina 16:00 was not named, told The New Paper. “I have never worked for Espanyol 38 13 10 15 47 51 49 Note: Top three qualify automatically for the Champions 14 titles in four years at Barcelona, Ms Corinne Blatter in any way.” Van Praag received an email Rayo Vallecano 38 15 4 19 46 68 49 League, fourth goes into the play-offs. Fifth and sixth beIN SPORTS 3 HD Guardiola has won five in his two sea- which stated: “Some time in late August 2014, Sepp commis- Real Sociedad 38 11 13 14 44 51 46 carry Europa League places. The bottom three sides are sons in Munich with a year left on his AC Milan v Torino 21:45 Elche 38 11 8 19 35 62 41 relegated. beIN SPORTS 3 sioned some espionage work on you fearing you might stand current contract.—AFP against him in future.”—AFP