SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014 SPORTS How the Champions League Photo of the day last eight shape up

LONDON: UEFA’s four top-ranked teams-Barcelona, Real promising passing game reminiscent of the style he Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea-are on a Champions patented at Barcelona. The Bavarians passed Arsenal to League collision course after being kept apart in the quar- death in the last 16, enjoying a staggering 73 percent of ter-final draw. possession during their 2-0 first-leg victory. Having While Barcelona face an all-Spanish tie against La Liga utilised a 4-1-4-1 system that saw full-back Philipp Lahm title rivals Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid will attempt to redeployed as a holding midfielder, Bayern have reverted avenge their 4-3 aggregate loss to Borussia Dortmund in to a 4-2-3-1 shape since Bastian Schweinsteiger returned last season’s semi-finals. from an ankle injury in February. Holders Bayern, 2-1 victors against Dortmund in last year’s final, will play stuttering Manchester United, with Real Madrid (ESP) v Borussia Dortmund (GER) Chelsea’s tie against dark horses Paris Saint-Germain com- The redoubtable pace of Cristiano Ronaldo and record- pleting the last eight line-up. breaking signing Gareth Bale means that Real Madrid Here, AFP Sports looks at the tactical factors that will remain a formidable counter-attacking side, but coach help to decide which teams make it through to the semi- Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to switch to a 4-3-3 formation finals: has given them better control of the ball in the middle of the pitch. Madrid are also the competition’s top scorers Barcelona (ESP) v Atletico Madrid (ESP) with 29 goals-an impressive 25 of which have come from Barcelona remain the masters of ‘tiki-taka’, but they have open play. Dortmund have gone off the boil domestically lost their crown as the competition’s ball retention kings to since last season, bedevilled by injuries and left for dead in Bayern Munich, who have averaged 65 percent of posses- the Bundesliga by Bayern, but Jurgen Klopp’s team remain sion to the Catalans’ 62 percent. Last year’s arrival of jet- one of the most hard-working in Europe. They have made heeled Brazil star Neymar has encouraged coach Tata more tackles (24.6) and interceptions (19) per game than Martino to adopt more of a counter-attacking style, but any other side still in the competition, according to the Barca’s game is nonetheless still based on patient ball cir- Who Scored website, and conceded fewer shots on goal culation, orchestrated by peerless Spain midfielders Xavi (nine per game) than anyone apart from Barcelona and and Andres Iniesta. Under former player Diego Simeone, Bayern. Atletico have adopted a high-intensity pressing game that Pauls Jonass performs during a training session at Marchetti Racing track in Viterbo, Italy. has made them the most defensively robust side in La Liga. Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) v Chelsea (ENG) —www.redbullcontentpool.com Los Colchoneros also pose a major threat from set pieces (a Since succeeding Carlo Ancelotti as PSG coach, Laurent Barcelona weakness), having scored more goals from dead- Blanc has added a dash of flair to the French giants’ ball situations (eight) than any other team left in the tour- domestic dominance, devising a 4-3-3 system in which nament. Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads the line and record signing Edinson Cavani patrols the right flank. In midfield, Thiago Manchester United (ENG) v Bayern Munich (GER) Motta, Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi respectively sup- Bayern made to United manager David Moyes was accused of regress- ply poise, artistry and lung-bursting energy, while Brazil ing the club to a tactical Dark Age after they lumped 81 captain Thiago Silva imperiously marshals the defence. crosses into the box during a 2-2 draw with the Premier After returning to Chelsea from Real Madrid, manager Jose League’s bottom club Fulham last month. They looked Mourinho was quick to fall back upon the counter-attack- wait for title more like the United of old in the second leg of their last ing style with which he has forged his reputation. No 16 tie against Olympiakos, but Robin van Persie, who Chelsea player has scored more than three goals in the scored all of his side’s three goals in that game, will miss competition, but in Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar and Andre BERLIN: Bayern Munich are poised to have Champions League exit at Real Madrid with striker Ivica Olic equalised for Wolfsburg nine both legs of the Bayern tie with a sprained knee. Since Schurrle, Mourinho possesses some of the swiftest attack- their Bundesliga title confirmed in the next a 3-1 win at home to bottom side Eintracht minutes from time to keep Wolves fifth. arriving at Bayern, Pep Guardiola has instituted an uncom- ing midfielders on the continent. —AFP three days after yesterday’s 2-0 win at Mainz Braunschweig. At the other end of the table, Stuttgart 05 kept them 23 points clear. Teenage midfielder Leon Goretzka gave climbed out of the bottom three with a 1-0 Bayern would have been champions if Schalke the lead when he fired home a long- win at home to 10-man Hamburg. Toulouse leave it late for rivals Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 range shot on 17 minutes. Dutch striker Hamburg took Stuttgart’s place in the had both failed to win, but Dortmund kept Klaas-Jan Huntelaar claimed his 10th goal of bottom three, while new coach Huub the Bavarians waiting with a 3-0 win at the season when he fired home a direct free- Stevens enjoyed his first win in only his sec- thrilling Stade draw Hanover while Schalke cruised to a 3-1 win kick 20 minutes from time to claim his sixth ond game in charge as Stuttgart picked up at home to Eintracht Braunschweig. goal in his last three league games. their first win in ten games. PARIS: Replacement prop Yohan Montes Bayern left it late at Mainz with midfield- crashed over for an injury-time try under er Bastian Schweinsteiger striking with a the posts, converted by Jean-Marc header on 82 minutes before Germany Doussain, to hand Toulouse a thrilling 27-27 team-mate Mario Goetze netted the draw with Stade Francais in Top 14 action European champions’ second four minutes yesterday. Stade Francais looked to have the later. upper hand, having led 27-8 at half-time, Their massive 23-point lead means but Toulouse came storming back in the Bayern are now set to be crowned champi- second period, eventually outscoring their ons with a record seven Bundesliga games hosts at the Stade de France-in front of a left if they win at Hertha Berlin on Tuesday. 63,000-strong crowd-by four tries to three. Bayern fired in 23 shots on goal to “Never would I have thought we were Mainz’s four as they extended their record capable of getting back into this match,” unbeaten run to 51 Bundesliga matches and Toulouse coach Guy Noves acknowledged. earn their 18th consecutive league win. “I found the way the second half played Second-placed Dortmund, who made out completely satisfying. “But we can’t the Champions League quarter-finals in afford to be as lax as we were in the first midweek despite a last-16 second leg home period. We’ve never conceded so many defeat to Zenit Saint Petersburg, enjoyed a points in so little time. How do I explain it? I 3-0 win at Hanover 96. can’t explain it!” Hanover made a bright start when cen- Noves’ Stade Francais counterpart tre-back Andre Hoffmann clattered the post, Gonzalo Quesada was left equally stumped leaving Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp by the result. “I’m trying to understand,” the shaking his head on the sidelines. Argentinian sighed. “We never said ‘our But Dortmund took control when cen- work’s done’, we knew Toulouse would tre-back Mats Hummels fired home just come back out with intent. before the break then Poland striker Robert HANNOVER: Dortmund's defender Erik Durm (right) vies with “We suffered but with a 19-point advan- Lewandowski netted a spectacular second- Hanover's midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt during the German First half goal. tage, we should have shown better game Division Bundesliga football match. —AFP management.” Stade’s Julien Dupuy opened the scoring with a long-range penalty after SUPERB STRIKE Luke McAlister had missed an earlier effort There was nothing on when the 26-year- Not to be outdone, Huntelaar’s replace- Guests Hamburg were reduced to ten for Toulouse. old, who joins Bayern next season, took the ment Adam Szalai netted the Royal Blues men when Turkey midfielder Hakan The feisty scrum-half then sliced ball on the left wing, raced down the flank, third just before the final whistle after Calhanoglu was shown a second yellow between McAlister and Patricio Albacete for cut inside and drilled his shot home despite Benjamin Kessel scored Eintracht’s consola- card, and the subsequent, red on 53 min- a gift of a try he also converted. But the attention of five defenders. There was tion. utes. more good news for Klopp late on as Marco Augsburg were held to a 1-1 draw at VfL Stuttgart scored the winner when Toulouse came firing straight back, centre FRANCE: RC Toulon’s lock Jocelino Suta is lifted by RC Toulon’s play- Gael Fickou pouncing on a loose kick-off Reus celebrated his comeback from injury Wolfsburg, who had ex-Chelsea midfielder Romania midfielder Alexandru Maxim net- ers as a teammate grabs the ball during the French Top 14 rugby by scoring their third in added time having Kevin de Bruyne sent off for a second yellow ted just six minutes after Guinea winger and driving forward, McAlister taking Pascal union match between ASM Clermont Auvergne and RC Toulon, at Pape with him as he crossed the line from come off the bench. card. Midfielder Tobias Werner had given Ibrahima Traore put in a superb cross with the resulting ruck. the Michelin stadium. —AFP Schalke 04 bounced back from Tuesday’s Augsburg a first-half lead before Croatia 69 minutes gone.—AFP It ended badly for the former All Black playmaker, just back after four months out, ond-half with a neatly-taken try by South Doussain making no mistake with the who injured his back in the process and African scrum-half Jano Vermaak after a extras. Celtic inch towards title staggered off after 13 minutes. storming break from Fiji flanker Akapusi Clermont took pole position in the Top “He’ll definitely have a week off,” Noves Qera. Toulouse replacement Joe Tekori 14 on Friday with a 22-16 victory over sec- GLASGOW: Celtic continue to close in on the cleared off the line by Sean Kelly. Mirren forward was crowded out by Virgil said, adding that McAlister thought he had made an instant difference after then tak- ond-placed Toulon, a win that also extend- title as they strolled to a The Hoops were denied again moments van Dijk before he could get a shot away. recovered from a sore back, which he ing the pitch, the towering Samoan setting ed their remarkable four-year undefeated 3-0 win over a plucky St Mirren at Parkhead. later when Griffiths scampered on to a Kris Griffiths made it 2-0 in the 61st minute as likened to a lumbago. up the drive and penalty from which he home record to 74 matches. The win means the Hoops remain 24 Commons through ball and rounded Kello he applied a fine finish to Stokes’ pass to With Dupuy at the heart of Stade’s driv- crashed over for a converted try that Montpellier travel to Oyonnax later points clear of Aberdeen, who have a game only to see his shot headed off the line by round off a good move for the Hoops. ing game, the former Leicester player again dragged his team back to within seven Saturday with the chance to leapfrog Stade in hand, with eight games remaining and are Darren McGregor. Celtic finally made the Commons was inches away from split the defence and a smart offload saw points. Francais into third spot, while regining now four points away from clinching a third breakthrough in the 44th minute when adding a third just a minute later as his half-back partner Jules Plisson over for the In a nail-biting climax, Stade’s Benjamin champions Castres, currently occupying successive championship. Johansen dived to head Griffiths cross past fierce strike cannoned off the post before Paris team’s second try. Macome was sin-binned for a ruck infringe- the last of the six play-off berths, are at had an effort ruled out for Kello for the Norwegian’s first goal for the he slammed the rebound into the side net- Dupuy was again on the mark with a ment with 15 minutes left, and for all that home to Brive. offside before Stefan Johansen gave Celtic club. A good move at the beginning of the ting. penalty to push Stade’s lead to 20-5, soon Toulouse pushed, they could not break Biarritz could be consigned to the drop the lead a minute before the break with his second half saw Commons set up Celtic had the ball in the net again in extended by seven points when lock through a resolute defence. if, as expected, they lose at Perpignan, first goal for the club. Henderson for a chance but the 17-year-old the 86th minute through but Alexandre Flanquart crossed after a break Fijian wing Waisea Vuidravuwalu pro- while Bordeaux travel to Bayonne in a mid- Griffiths made it 2-0 in the 61st minute as didn’t trouble Kello with his weak shot. the fag was up for offside before Stokes by ex-Springbok centre Meyer Bosman and duced a last-gasp, try-saving tackle on table matchup. Today’s game sees Paris he rounded off a great move before Anthony Great work from John McGinn saw him appealed some gloss to the win as he con- a good offload by Pape. Toulouse’s New Zealander Hosea Gear, but side Racing-Metro travel to Grenoble, hop- Stokes added a third in stoppage time. The burst into the Celtic box and roll the ball verted substitute ’ cut- Replacement Doussain pulled back a it was not finished as the pressure finally ing that a win could hoist them into the top Glasgow giants could now seal the champi- into the path of McGowan but the St back in stoppage time. —AFP penalty for Toulouse, who started the sec- paid off and Montes bullocked over, six. —AFP onship away to Partick Thistle on Wednesday night if Aberdeen fail to win at Ross County. Celtic dominated early possession but it Rennes inflict further Lions roar back to snatch victory was St Mirren who carved out the first chance with a superb one-handed save from misery on Marseille JOHANNESBURG: A late Courtnall Skosan try allowed Golden penalties for a 20-point haul. Fraser Forster keeping out Paul McGowan’s PARIS: Marseille’s bid for European foot- Rennes this was a welcome victory, push- Lions to snatch a 23-20 win over Queensland Reds yesterday in a Victory lifted the Lions to 16 points-fourth on the overall strike in the sixth minute. McGowan didn’t ball next season received another major ing them up a place to a comforting six Super 15 thriller at Ellis Park. standings-while a third loss in five matches left former champions have to wait long for another opportunity blow yesterday when struggling visitors points above the relegation zone. But the South Africans had to endure an agonising wait before the Reds in mid-table with 10 points. but when the ball broke to him from a corner Rennes inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Jose Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena the television match official and referee confirmed that the score Cooper kicked a third-minute penalty in perfect South African he blazed his shot over from 12 yards out. A Anigo’s side at the Velodrome. described the defeat as “catastrophic” stood amid suspicions of a double-movement on the ground. autumn conditions and claimed his first try three minutes later. quick breakaway saw Stokes race clear but Abdoulaye Doucoure’s 76th minute when interviewed by French television. Few in a 20,000 crowd at the Johannesburg stadium would Sloppy Lions’ handling allowed the Wallaby playmaker to dart after cutting in from the left he sent a curling goal from a sparkling counter attack left “It’s our fault we are in the position have given the Lions much hope of victory when they trailed by over beside the post and a successful conversion gave the visitors shot wide of Marian Kello’s post. Marseille in sixth place, a yawning nine where we are today,” he added. Rennes’ 17 points approaching half-time. A penalty from fly-half Marnitz a 10-point advantage. Celtic’s first shot on target came after points off the last Champions league spot, goal hero Doucoure commented: “We Boshoff cut the gap to 20-6 at the break and the Lions took con- Early injuries deprived the Reds of full-back Aidan Toua and Scott Brown picked out Griffiths just outside third-placed Lyon, and four points off the knew we could pull off a result here and trol of the second half to score 17 unanswered points. the Lions of lock Franco van der Merwe with Dom Shipperley and the box but the striker’s tame effort was Europa league spot inhabited by Saint I’m happy for the team. Now we have to The Australians, beaten by Coastal Sharks in Durban last week- MB Lusaseni coming off the bench. straight at the ‘keeper. Etienne. Those gaps could well increase fight till the end.” end, contributed to their downfall with indiscipline that led to Boshoff slotted a penalty before Shipperley had a try ruled out Marc McAusland and Josh Magennis with the teams above Marseille enjoying a On Friday runaway Ligue 1 leaders two players being sin binned during the closing stages. because the Lions had handled at a ruck and Cooper kicked the then had efforts blocked by some desper- game in hand. Yesterday’s upset came on Paris Saint-Germain kept up the momen- Replacement prop Albert Anae got yellow carded on 71 min- resulting penalty. ate Celtic defending as St Mirren began to the back of last week’s 1-1 draw with tum on their title defence with a 1-0 win utes and No. 8 Jake Schatz followed him to the sideline soon after. Cooper and scrum-half Will Genia were running the show and assert themselves on the game. Griffiths Reims and a 1-0 loss to Nice. on Lorient’s artificial pitch, Thiago Motta Replacement centre Lionel Mapoe was the other try scorer for the Reds went 20-3 ahead when the playmaker cut inside and had the ball in the net on the half hour It was Marseille’s sixth home loss of the scoring the winning goal. Second-placed the Lions, whose fourth win in six matches mocked pre-season strolled over for his second converted try. mark after Stokes found him with a clever season and Anigo’s out of form team have Monaco host third-placed Lille on Sunday predictions that they would be whipping boys. After several scrums close to the Reds’ try-line failed to deliver pass but the former Hibernian forward’s now gone four games without a win. looking to increase the gap between the Leading Super 15 points scorer Boshoff lifted his total to 107 a try, Boshoff was given a shot at goal which he successfully plant- effort was ruled out for offside. Liam It promises to be a long end of season teams, which currently sits at nine points, with two conversions and three penalties in another flawless ed between the posts. Henderson thought he had grabbed his run in for Marseille who were booed off while Saint-Etienne host Sochaux and goal-kicking performance. The Reds were unable to sustain their pressure after half-time first goal for Celtic on his home debut after their pitch by unhappy home fans. For Lyon in fifth go to Guingamp. —AFP Rival fly-half Quade Cooper was a one-man scoring machine with the Lions giving the Australians a hard time at the scrums, in the ball fell to him following a scramble in for the Brisbane outfit, converting his two tries and potting two particular. —AFP the box but his shot from 10 yards was