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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: PSG oust holders Bayern despite home defeat; Chelsea also through DPA Berlin

Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 at home against Bayern Munich on Tuesday but still dumped the ti- tle holders out of the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals. Former PSG player Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting headed home for Munich in the 40th minute but it wasn’t enough after they lost 3-2 at home a week ago. PSG’s Neymar was denied by the woodwork but their dream of a first-ever Champions League title continues. The tie was a rematch of last year’s final which Munich had won 1-0. Chelsea meanwhile reached the last four for the first time since 2014, losing 1-0 against Porto from Mehdi Taremi’s late bicycle kick but going through 2-1 overall. Chelsea next play record win- ners Real Madrid or compatriots Liverpool, who meet Wednesday at Anfield with Realo 3-1 up. PSG will be up against Manches- Bayern Munich’s Austrian defender David Alaba (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentinian FC Porto’s Iranian forward Mehdi Taremi (2R) heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League ter City or Borussia Dortmund, with midfielder Angel Di Maria during their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match at the Parc quarter-final second leg match against Chelsea at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Pep Guardiola’s City taking a slen- des Princes stadium in Paris on Tuesday. Bayern won 1-0 but PSG progressed into the semis on a 3-3 Seville, Spain, on Tuesday. The match ended goalless but Chelsea progressed into the semis on der 2-1 lead to Germany. aggregate on away goals. (AFP) a 2-0 aggregate. (AFP) Al Sadd, Foolad Khouzestan set for enticing AFC Champions League clash in Riyadh Al Rayyan coach Laurent Blance and player Yacine Brahimi speak to the media ahead of their AFC Champions League Group E match AFC against India’s FC Goa at Fatorda, Goa, on Tuesday. Riyadh

Al Sadd SC of Qatar and Islamic Republic of Iran’s Al Rayyan, Goa Foolad Khouzestan FC will be looking to secure an ear- ly advantage when the two in bid to make clash in Group D of the 2021 AFC Champions League at King Fahd International history in Fatorda Stadium at 9pm on Wednesday. AFC Al Sadd, coming off a Fatorda (Goa) dominant domestic season which saw them lift the Qa- India’s FC Goa are set to tar Stars League title unbeat- make their AFC Champions en, will be aiming to main- League bow when they face Al tain that form as they look to Rayyan of Qatar in Group E at add to the AFC Champions 8pm on Wednesday. League title won in 2011. History will be made at Foolad will be heading the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru into the match with full con- Stadium in Fatorda, when fidence after their emphatic hosts Goa become the first 4-0 win over UAE’s Al Ain FC Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez and player Pedro Miguel address a press conference on Tuesday on the eve of their AFC Champions League Indian side to play in the AFC in the playoff just three days Group D clash against Foolad Jouzesta of Iran at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Champions League group ago to qualify for the group stage, while Al Rayyan will be stage for the fourth time in “We are really happy to pare for this match, but we “We are in a difficult Al Sadd to secure as many looking to make the knockout Al Rayyan players during a train- their history. be here in the Group Stage,” will still be competing 100 group, but we are ready to points as they can. stage for the first time. ing session in Goa. Foolad’s last appearance said Spaniard Noble. “We percent tomorrow. compete and excited to be “We need to get points Head coach Juan Ferran- in the Continental tourna- are really motivated to com- “There is no pressure on here,” said Xavi. from the very beginning. do, who has the likes of Ivan and remain focused through- ment was back in 2015, pete in the tournament, and us. Our players know their “We have in front of us We need to win and not get Gonzalez, captain Edu Bedia out the match. where they missed out on we are confident we can do a job very well and are disci- an Iranian club, Foolad, who a draw. We are Al Sadd, we and Jorge Ortiz at his disposal, “It’s a historical match for progressing to the knockout good job.” plined. I think the pressure have a good coach and play- are a winning team and this will be banking on home ad- Indian football to compete in a stage after finishing third in Noble admitted Foolad is on the team that has more ers. They did really well in is our mentality from the vantage at a venue where they tournament of this calibre. We their group, with a 1-0 defeat had little time to fully analyse to lose.” the playoff against Al Ain.” beginning. We have to show have been dominant in the In- worked very hard in training, to Al Sadd proving costly. their Group D rivals, but said Noble’s compatriot Xavi The 2021 edition will see our best level and attack, this dian Super League (ISL). we have a lot of ambition and Much, however, has that wouldn’t stop the Iran will be leading Al Sadd in a record 40 clubs participat- is my philosophy. Missing from their roster we’re definitely excited. To- changed with head coach Je- Pro League side from giving the tournament for the third ing, which means only the “More so because even is striker Igor Angulo, who morrow we will try our best to sus Javier Noble at the helm, everything they have against consecutive year, the Qatar group winners and three best with 12 points, we can still be won the ISL Golden Boot in play our best game forward,” with former Iran interna- formidable opponents. champions eager to make up runners-up from each region out of the competition. Our his first year in India scoring said 32-year-old Bedia. tional Javad Nekounam as “We would have liked to for last year’s Round of 16 will advance to the Round of target is the first position in 14 goals from 21 games, and Al Rayyan, who finished his assistant. have had more time to pre- exit. 16, and Xavi is looking for the group.” it will be up to forwards Dev- third in the 2020-21 Qatar Stars endra Murgaonkar and Ishan League, will be making their Pandita to fill the void left by 12th appearance in the Conti- the 37-year-old Spaniard. nental showpiece having not ad- “This match is the most vanced to the knockout stage in important moment for the all their previous appearances. club and Indian football. We “My team has prepared are working hard because we well for this match against FC know about the opponents Goa and they are ready. This and their level of football,” will be my first time coming said Ferrando. here and playing in this stadi- “It will be an intense um,” said head coach Laurent match against Al Rayyan and Blanc. “We will give our best the physical conditions are as and it’s good to be here.” important as the psychology “I want my team to play and mentality of the players. their best in this competition. The most important thing is to This season is going to be very maintain that level of concen- tough considering the rest tration for every game.” days between the matches. FC Goa captain Edu Bedia “We all have our targets echoed his coach’s comments and ambition but our focus is and stressed that his team- on Goa FC and they are not an Al Sadd players during a training session at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. mates will have to stay strong easy team to beat.”