NNewew VVisionision SPORT Tuesday, April 2, 2013 43 Qatari eyes top seat in PSG on big test FIFA circles Big spenders host Barca in Champs League SINGAPORE Today, 9.45pm, SS3 Having successfully navigated Euro Champions League Qatar’s unlikely bid to land PARIS the quarter-finals PSG v Barcelona the right to host the World in 1995, they beat Cup, ambitious if somewhat Qatari-backed Paris St. Ger- Barcelona but anonymous lawyer Hassan Al main’s mission to be con- much has changed Thawadi now wants a seat on sidered one of Europe’s top since. PSG have V FIFA’s powerful executive clubs faces its toughest test been absent while committee. yet when they host Barcelona Barcelona have been The 34-year-old Qatari in an intriguing Champions crowned European champi- acknowledges his first task is League quarter-final first leg ons three times. to make introductions as he on Tuesday. heads into an AFC election Barcelona, having recovered Beckham has belief against the experienced from a first-leg stumble in Thiago Silva said the tie was Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin their last-16 tie against AC Mi- “the game we all were dream- Ibrahim Al Khalifa, whom he ing about” and the expen- “How to beat lan to qualify for the last eight them is the describes as a ‘dear friend’. 4-2 on aggregate, are widely sively purchased trio will “I have to focus on people have to raise their level question. We considered favourites to win will need to stay focused getting to know me and find the trophy for the fourth time to the heights if PSG are out who I am. A lot of people to stand any chance of and the coach will prob- in eight seasons. ably set up specific tactics might think of Qatar 2022 PSG, who saw off Valencia winning. and that’s all they know about Latest signing David to block the best team in the in the last 16, believe however world.” me,” Al Thawadi told Reuters that this could be a turning Beckham, who joined them in Singapore on Sunday after on a five-month deal in Janu- point in their climb to the Vilanova is back meeting with the country’s peak of the European game. ary, believes they can meet football association. these expectations. While PSG will bank on The wealthy French club, Ancelotti’s tactical “With some federations, under experienced coach “This club have high aspira- they don’t know who I am.” tions. We want to go as far as expertise, his Bar- Carlo Ancelotti, are on course celona counterpart Al Thawadi’s low profile for their first domestic title for we can in all competitions,” comes from not being a mem- the former England captain Tito Vilanova could 18 years as well as being in return to the dugout ber of the Qatari Football the last eight of the Champi- told reporters. Association (QFA) and there- “Or course, it will be hard, for the first time ons League after an 18-year after two fore not part of the continen- absence. but very exciting too,” added tal governing body, the Asian Beckham. months They go into Tuesday’s tie, in New Football Confederation (AFC). however, as underdogs for the PSG’s chances were boosted Having prevailed despite the when Ibrahimovic was freed York first time this season — and receiv- laughs and sniggers when he will do well to survive it. to face his former club after first pitched the idea of a the two-match ban imposed ing can- Qatari fund QSI has set PSG cer treatment World Cup in the desert, how- a tough agenda of winning following his dismissal at ever, there must be few obsta- Valencia was halved. during which the Champions League within his assistant cles he views as unsurpassa- five years, having bought the “It changes the deal,” mid- ble. field Clement Chantome said. Jordi Roura club last year and poured has been in He has zigzagged across huge amounts of money into Ibrahimovic had a mixed Asia in recent weeks to meet year-long spell at Barca but charge. transfers to build a team Vilanova and greet with numerous made for Europe. said facing them again would member associations ahead of not pose any problems for flew back to Centre back Thiago Silva, Barcelona the elections in Kuala Lumpur front man Zlatan Ibrahimovic him. on May 2, when Sheikh “I have already played last week and forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, and took Salman will also be standing who all signed last year, have against Barcelona since I left for AFC president. and the game will be special training been key in helping PSG on Friday His tour has also seen him reach this stage, and at least for everybody here,” said the meet with FIFA President Swede, who faced his former but did not they have a good omen on travel with Sepp Blatter, although the their side. team mates in the group stage PSG’s Ibrahimovic and Beckham (left) feel they have the arsenal to stop Messi and influential Swiss told him he with AC Milan in 2011. the side on his Barcelona side when they meet in the Champions League quarter-final tonight The last time they reached Saturday. remained neutral in the vote between the two candidates. Juventus confront high-flying Bayern in high spirits TURIN season on Saturday when they ter a seven-year wait, Juventus month when, having won 3-1 flattened Hamburg 9-2. have been happy to accept the at Arsenal in the first leg of Juventus will enter Tuesday’s They need two more points underdogs’ role, saying they their last-16 tie, they froze in heavyweight clash with Bayern from six games to wrap up cannot match the brash Bavar- the return and lost 2-0, surviv- Munich with smiles on their their 23rd German league title. ians’ spending power. ing by the skin of their teeth faces, an 18-match unbeaten Italian champions Juventus Yet, in European terms, they thanks to the away goals record in Europe behind them come into the game with a have looked more impres- rule. and no concerns about the Ba- nine-point lead at home and sive than their opponents. Al- Bayern have reached varians’ nine-goal demolition well on course for a 29th Serie though Bayern are a fearsome two of the last Cham- of Hamburg. A title. prospect on their day, they are pions League finals Tuesday’s quarter-final first “We’ll head to Munich with prone to sudden lapses es- and lost them both. leg is a match where the a spring in our step knowing pecially at the Allianz Arena Champions League can live that we’ve done our job on the which hosts the first leg. up to its hype, with teams who domestic front,” said Juventus They lost last season’s Cham- have dominated the season in coach Antonio Conte after his pions League final at their own Germany and Italy respectively side won 2-1 away to bitter ri- stadium, beaten on penal- and share 50 domestic titles vals Inter Milan on Saturday. ties by Chelsea after a 1-1 between them. “We’ll head there to keep draw, and were knocked Today, 9.45pm, SS5 Bayern, who won 4-1 in Tu- alive our dream and to test our out by Inter Milan at home Euro Champions League rin when the teams last met mettle in the European arena, two seasons ago, losing 3-2 Bayern v Juventus in the 2009/10 season, have and we’ll do it with a smile.” in front of their own fans after a 20-point lead at the top of winning the first leg 1-0 away. the Bundesliga and produced Bayern’s omens at the Allianz Bayern suffered another bout Juventus coach Conte (left) and Bayern Winger Arjen Robben celebrate their respective their most emphatic win of the Back in the quarter-finals af- of Allianz jitters earlier this league victories over the weekend. The two lock horns in the Champions League tonight