sign in sign up
<<
Home , Aymeric Laporte, Karim Benzema, Marco Sportiello, Red Star Belgrade, Yann Sommer

Established 1961 15 Thursday, March 18, 2021 Sports Real Madrid’s old guard see off Atalanta to reach Champions League last eight Zidane’s side reach quarter-finals for first time in three years

MADRID: Real Madrid avoided another early seen, after they came up short against Manchester Champions League exit on Tuesday by beating City last year and Ajax the year before that, both in Atalanta 3-1 to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate and the last 16. reach the quarter-finals for the first time in three years. marked his return from injury Madrid punish Atalanta errors by converting a penalty after Karim Benzema con- They will be unlikely to benefit from the same tinued his scoring streak by capitalizing on a glaring generosity Atalanta afforded them across the two error from Atlanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello. legs. ’s red card and a late spoiled Sportiello’s scuffed clearance in the first half the Italians’ night in Bergamo and it was individual resulted in Benzema being given an easy finish at errors from Sportiello and then Rafael Toloi for the the Alfredo di Stefano stadium and after an electric penalty that let them down again here. “We started start, Atalanta never really recovered. strong and we were succeeding with our pressing,” pulled one back for the visitors late on but any said Muriel. “It’s a shame because from our two hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed as sub- mistakes came the two goals that cut our legs from stitute fired in a third for Madrid. under us.” ’s side will be in Friday’s draw for Atalanta tore into Madrid early on, with the the last eight and with their old guard fit and firing intensity of their press giving their opponents no again, they will be hopeful of exceeding what are time to settle and could have scored, now dampened expectations of ’s reigning only to fail to connect with Muriel’s cross. The early champions. “We showed tonight how much hunger storm weathered, Madrid found their feet as Kroos there still is in this team,” said Luka Modric. “We began to dictate from deep and the tireless Modric can go far. How far let’s see but today was an popped passes around Atalanta’s midfield. important step.” The lively Vinicius Junior took too long after a Ramos played just over an hour in his second neat one-two with Benzema, who then showed the appearance since recovering from a knee injury youngster how it should be done. Sportiello’s clear- while Benzema’s goal was his eighth in as many ance was tamed by Modric, whose second touch MADRID: Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (R) celebrates his goal during the UEFA games and 70th in the Champions League, making pushed the ball into the box before a third cut the Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Atalanta him only the fifth player to reach that number. ball back to Benzema, who had an open net. at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid on Tuesday. —AFP The 35-year-old Modric and were The goal killed Atalanta’s belief and Vinicius dominant in the absence of the suspended almost added a second after half-time, only to prod . “I feel 27!” joked Modric. “The years on wide after a surging run to the edge of Atalanta’s Ramos whipped into the corner. rebound against the post. Muriel gave Atalanta your passport don’t matter, it’s about what you do six-yard box. But the warning was not heeded and Ramos signaled to the bench that his work was hope by curling in a superb free-kick with eight on the pitch.” How Madrid’s veterans would fare Vinicius raced past Toloi, whose dangling leg made done and he departed shortly after, before Benzema minutes left but in an instant it was gone again, as against more polished opposition remains to be enough contact to concede the penalty, which headed Lucas Vazquez’s cross at Sportiello and the Asensio drove in a third. —AFP

one bad game, (a few) bad minutes Man City cruise can punish you. Now it is the best teams in Europe. The quality every into Champions time is higher and hopefully we can maintain this mood.” Stage set for Ibra’s League last eight De Bruyne and Gundogan were two of a host of first-team regulars return in Milan’s : told his left out by Guardiola for Saturday’s 3- Manchester City players to forget 0 win at Fulham and City looked their previous Champions League refreshed in a fast start. De Bruyne decider with United failures after cruising into the quarter- blasted in the opener from outside the : Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks set to face finals with a 2-0 win over Borussia box off the underside of the bar on 12 Manchester United in AC Milan’s Europa League Moenchengladbach on Tuesday that minutes. Six minutes later a flowing showdown with the English giants tonight as the sealed a 4-0 aggregate victory. The move from back to front saw Phil resurgent ‘Rossoneri’ aim to announce their Champions League is the one trophy Foden release Gundogan in behind return to the big stage. The Swede should be in that has remained elusive to Guardiola the Gladbach defence to score his good spirits after announcing his return to inter- during his five years in Manchester 15th goal of the . national football after nearly five yearsaway on with City failing to ever get beyond “The start obviously helps a lot,” Tuesday, and appears to be winning the race to the last eight under the Catalan. said De Bruyne. “We were patient in BUDAPEST: Manchester City’s Belgian (not pic- face his old club in the second leg of their last-16 But the runaway the beginning and then scoring the tured) scores a goal past Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Swiss goalkeeper clash at the San Siro. leaders will get the chance to break two goals gives us a bit of a cover Yann Sommer during the UEFA Champions League, last 16, second-leg The tie is locked at 1-1, with Milan having the that barrier next month as they knowing they need to come out a little football match between Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Tuesday. —AFP slight advantage thanks to Simon Kjaer’s stop- showed why they are the bookies’ bit more. I think we controlled the page-time away goal in the first leg at Old favorites for the competition with game.” Gladbach have now lost all Trafford last week. another classy performance in seven games since manager Marco has transformed Guardiola’s men into Guardiola has to choose from is Italian media reported on Tuesday that the Budapest, which hosted both legs of Rose announced he will be leaving the the complete team this season as they another reason this could finally be veteran forward trained with the rest of the the tie due to coronavirus restric- club at the end of the season to join remain on course for an unprecedent- City’s year for a major breakthrough Milan squad and should be available for the tions on travel between England and . ed quadruple of Premier League, in Europe. Fernandinho, Oleksandr first time since he left his side’s 2-1 win at Germany. Champions League, FA Cup and Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Roma with a thigh injury at the end of last Early goals from Kevin De Bruyne Rock solid City League Cup. Aguero and were all month. Since then he has made headlines on a and Ilkay Gundogan killed off any Defensive frailties have been the City have now kept seven consecu- introduced off the bench in the sec- different kind of stage, co-hosting the Sanremo hope of a fightback from the Germans cause of City’s previous Champions tive Champions League clean sheets. ond half to give Dias, Joao Cancelo, music festival which is possibly ’s biggest as City recorded a 24th win in their League exits under Guardiola. They “We cannot deny Ruben and John Gundogan, Rodrigo and Bernardo pop cultural event. last 25 games in all competitions. conceded six goals to Monaco over (Stones) make an incredible step for- Silva an early night ahead of With 14 goals in 14 league games, the 39- “What happened in the past is the two legs in 2017, five to Liverpool a ward for the team,” added Guardiola. Saturday’s trip to Everton in the FA year-old was a major reason behind Milan occu- past,” said Guardiola, who won the year later, four to Tottenham in 2019, “But we need everyone. Everyone Cup quarter-finals. By then, City will pying top spot in for large periods of this Champions League twice as coach of and suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to runs a lot, the important thing is to know their next Champions League season and his return to Old Trafford for the first Barcelona but has been unable to last season in a one-off tie in understand we defend with the ball.” opponents. On this form, they are the leg had been highly anticipated before he picked replicate that success with Bayern Lisbon. With no key players missing side to avoid in Friday’s quarter-final up his injury. Coach Stefano Pioli knows that he or City. “In the quarter-finals However, the signing of Ruben Dias through injury, the wealth of options draw. —AFP doesn’t need Ibrahimovic to get past United after a superb display in Manchester last week, and his side could well start the game with their talisman 28, as well as a friendly against on the bench. Ibrahimovic back Estonia on March 31. However to ensure passage to the last eight, Milan will need to turn around a dismal recent in Sweden squad ‘Not done yet’ record at the San Siro which has contributed to The Swede has made headlines over their slipping nine points behind Serie A leaders STOCKHOLM: Zlatan Ibrahimovic the years with cheeky hints that he having been top themselves little will return to Sweden’s squad after an could be returning to the Swedish team. more than a month ago. almost five-year hiatus to play in But things took a more serious turn last World Cup qualifiers at the end of autumn when, after being awarded Milan wobbling March, head coach Janne Andersson Sweden’s Footballer of the Year award Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Napoli was their said on Tuesday. The player, known for an astonishing 12th time in late fourth straight match without a win at the San for his not-so-humble ways, also November, he said that he missed play- Siro, preceded by draws against Udinese and announced his own return, posting a ing for the team. Red and a 3-0 derby thumping at picture of himself on in the “The one who does not miss it, he the hands of Inter. Five defeats in 13 league Swedish team kit. has already finished his career. And I matches in 2021 also has second-placed Milan The highly-anticipated announce- have not finished my career,” he told looking over their shoulders at a series of rivals ment comes just three months before Swedish daily Aftonbladet. for a place in the Champions League, a competi- the European Championship in June- Ibrahimovic and coach Janne tion in which the seven-time European champi- July. The 39-year-old AC Milan striker Andersson then met for talks. ons have not played since 2014. retired from the Swedish squad after Andersson told reporters Tuesday: “I : In this file photo taken on June 22, 2016 Sweden’s forward Zlatan The next few days will also be crucial for the 2016 European Championship, with think we’ll be a better team with Ibrahimovic grimaces during the Euro 2016 group E football match between United’s chances of silverware this season. They 116 caps and 62 international goals. Zlatan, that’s why he was selected.” Sweden and Belgium at the stadium in Nice. —AFP follow their trip to Italy with an FA Cup quarter- Media had speculated about And in a statement he developed final at Leicester City on Sunday, putting their Ibrahimovic’s possible return to the that thought, saying the towering 1.95m season at a crossroads with Manchester City 14 national team, but the Swedish (6foot 4in) forward had been selected can contribute on the pitch, he has has been postponed to June-July 2021 points clear of their local rivals at the top of had refused to “first and foremost because he’s a very loads of experience and can also share due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Premier League. comment until Tuesday, when he was good football player, the best we’ve that with other players on the team,” he first round Sweden will face Spain, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has Marcus announced among the players select- ever had in Sweden.” added. Without “Ibra”, Sweden reached Poland and Slovakia in Group E. Rashford back after the England forward played ed for the qualifiers against Georgia “So it’s of course great that he wants the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals and Andersson said he would announce the the full 90 minutes of their 1-0 win over West on March 25 and on March to come back. In addition to what he qualified directly for Euro 2020, which squad for the Euro in May. —AFP Ham at the weekend. Of the remaining ties, only Rangers’ with Slavia Prague looks to be in the boasting a perfect record after matchday 4 as Record nine-time champions Ahly put poor balance as they will kick off at Ibrox all square at CAF: Sundowns, Lebohang Maboe scored on 28 minutes in a 1-0 recent Group A form behind them to triumph 3-0 1-1 following their draw in the Group B win over TP Mazembe from the over V Club of DR Congo in Kinshasa through goals last week. Wydad, Esperance Democratic Republic of Congo in Pretoria. from Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdy and Steven Gerrard’s side have already been Wydad of Morocco dropped points for the first Taher Mohamed. crowned Scottish champions, although they will reach last eight time in Group C after a 0-0 draw at second-place Not even the most partisan Sundowns support- also have one eye on the derby with Horoya of Guinea in Conakry, but the stalemate did ers could have imagined the team holding a nine- Celtic at the weekend. Four-time European JOHANNESBURG: Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad not prevent them securing a sixth consecutive last- point lead with two rounds remaining, especially as champions Ajax and Roma are both virtually Casablanca and Esperance on Tuesday became the eight place. Esperance of Tunisia completed a five-time champions Mazembe were in the same assured of passage into the next round as they first qualifiers for the CAF Champions League quar- Group D double over 2020 runners-up Zamalek of section. But the Congolese are bottom the standings are 3-0 ahead in their ties with Young Boys and ter-finals, and title-holders Al-Ahly are set to join Egypt by winning 1-0 in Cairo via a 73rd-minute and will be eliminated if they lose away to Chabab Shakhtar Donetsk. —AFP them. Sundowns of South Africa are the only club goal from Libyan Hamdou Elhouni. Belouizdad of next month. —AFP