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Home , Glenn Whelan, Joe Hart, Joselu, Miku (footballer)

Nadal and Nishikori Bayern made to set up blockbuster wait for historic Barcelona16 final fourth19 title SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016

Koivu, Wild stay alive with OT win in Dallas Page 17

MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero scores their second goal past Stoke City’s Irish goalkeeper (R) from the penalty spot during the English football match between Manchester City and Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, yesterday. — AFP Man City rout Stoke for Real showdown

in City’s history just four days away, manag- hour under his belt following two games range free-kick which the City goalkeeper to add to his tally as he was also withdrawn er Manuel Pellegrini left Kevin De Bruyne on out with his on-going ankle problem, City pushed over the bar for a corner, from from the firing line after 64 minutes to avoid Man City 4 the substitutes’ bench, left out Fernandinho looked as though they were keen to get which visiting captain any possible late injury scares. And by then and didn’t risk a second game inside a week their business done early to avoid over- volleyed just wide. Joselu also headed a City were 3-0 up as Iheanacho got on the for captain . exerting themselves ahead of next chance wide and it was almost against the scoresheet as Pellegrini was preparing to was also an unused Tuesday’s big night. run of play when City went 1-0 up 10 min- make a change. Pablo Zabaleta, making his Stoke City 0 substitute but the selection did not backfire But Stoke, looking to complete a league utes before half-time when Jesus Navas 300th appearance for City, charged down as City climbed back to third place after double over City for the first time since delivered a corner to the near post, where the right flank and his pull-back was per- securing the Premier League points they 1980-81 following a 2-0 home win in Fernando arrived perfectly to glance a fectly weighted for Iheanacho to side-foot needed to move closer to a guaranteed top- December, mounted a brief threat them- header beyond Shay Given to claim his sec- home his 10th goal of the past Jakob MANCHESTER: Manchester City enjoyed four finish and Champions League football selves. ond goal of the season. That eased the pres- Haugaard. Haugaard had replaced the the perfect preparation for their Champions again next season. sure and when City doubled their lead from injured Given, who was 40 on Wednesday, League semi-final showdown against Real With De Bruyne among those held back CONSTANT PROBLEM the penalty spot three minutes later it was at the break and had earlier saved from Madrid with a 4-0 thrashing of Stoke City at for Europe, teenage forward Iheanacho was Stoke manager , who spent virtually game over. Iheanacho and Yaya Toure. Eastlands yesterday. given a fourth league start of the season. 18 months in charge of City up to City’s forward movement was a constant Stoke also had their chances at 2-0 but a Goals from Fernando, Sergio Aguero, via And he was only inches away from a fourth December 2009, had asked his players for a problem for Stoke’s defence and after bad miss from Joselu and Joe Hart’s fine the penalty spot, and a second-half Kelechi league goal as City made a positive start, response to a run of just one win in six Shawcross pulled back the elusive save from Marko Arnautovic snuffed out any Iheanacho double left City in buoyant collecting a pass from Aguero before curl- games which had all but ended their hopes Iheanacho, Aguero converted his 23rd chance of a comeback before Iheanacho mood before and compa- ing a low shot just wide from 20 yards. of a place in next season’s Europa League. league goal of the season to move one completed City’s win with another assured ny arrive in Manchester. With the first-leg With the fit-again always And after 15 minutes Glenn Whelan behind the total of Tottenham Hotspur strik- finish, rounding Haugaard to slot home 16 visit of Real for one of the biggest matches prominent before he made way with an almost caught out Joe Hart with a long- er . Aguero didn’t get the chance minutes from the end. — AFP

Bale strikes twice to rescue Ronaldo-less Newcastle strike back Real Madrid at Rayo to deny Liverpool MADRID: struck twice to inspire a Real Madrid fightback from two goals down to win 3-2 at former manager Benitez, who led offered the opportunity for his sixth and move top of yesterday. the club to their famous 2005 goal of the season. Without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Real’s title Liverpool 2 Champions League triumph, was Only a well-timed tackle by hopes looked in tatters when early goals from Adrian still ringing around Anfield when Jamaal Lascelles on Roberto Firmino Embarba and Miku put Rayo 2-0 in front. However, Sturridge showed Newcastle that in the penalty area saved Newcastle Bale’s powerful header halved the deficit before half- their opponents meant business. from falling further behind. time and he fired home the winner nine minutes from Newcastle 2 The England striker was well The visitors also survived a loud time after Lucas Vazquez had equalised early in the sec- found in the penalty area by a long penalty appeal when Paul Dummett ond period. Real now lead Barcelona and Atletico ball from Alberto Moreno, and appeared to handle, although Madrid by two points, but they can move back in front chested down the ball with his back Liverpool escaped a claim at the at the top of the table when they host Sporting Gijon MADRID: Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale (R) LIVERPOOL: Rafael Benitez to goal before turning to despatch a other end when Ayoze Perez went and Malaga respectively later yesterday. heads the ball with Rayo Vallecano’s Portuguese for- returned to Liverpool to earn a valu- low shot past Karl Darlow despite down under a challenge from “He is very happy to make the difference,” Real coach ward Tiago Correia during the Spanish league football able point in Newcastle’s battle to the attentions of two defenders. Connor Randall, who was making Zinedine Zidane said of Bale. “When we needed him he match Rayo Vallecano de Madrid vs Real Madrid CF at avoid relegation as the visitors It was his 12th goal from only 15 his home league debut. was phenomenal. He scored two, but even without the Vallecas stadium in Madrid yesterday. — AFP recovered from two goals down to starts in an injury-restricted cam- When Newcastle attempted to speaking about the goals, he played very well.” highest to power home Toni Kroos’s corner 10 minutes draw 2-2 yesterday. paign. Coming with just over a rally, Vurnon Anita blazed well over, Ronaldo was missing for the first time in La Liga this before half-time. Benitez’s side trailed to first-half minute on the clock, it was an early and at half-time the visitors looked season due to a thigh injury, while Zidane also left Madrid suffered another blow before the break, goals from and blow for an improved Newcastle unlikely to improve upon a Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric on the bench with one though, as limped off with a knee injury , but Papiss Cisse side, who were seeking their first wretched record of collecting no eye on their Champions League semi-final, first leg at making him a serious doubt to travel to Manchester in sparked their revival with a goal win at Liverpool in 22 years on the away points since a surprising win Manchester City on Tuesday. midweek. Vazquez replaced the Frenchman and it was soon after the interval and Jack back of a victory over Swansea and at Tottenham in December. However, the visitors got off to a terrible start as they the diminutive winger who brought Real level in unusu- Colback’s first of the season sealed a a promising draw with Manchester However, the picture changed struggled to deal with the difficult conditions caused by al fashion as he powered home a header from Danilo’s vital fightback. City. The home side were playing dramatically three minutes after the a torrential downpour in the Spanish capital. cross six minutes into the second half. Newcastle’s second-half surge with verve and purpose, knowing restart when Cisse headed in a cross Embarba tapped home the opener from close range Rayo struggled to contain the wave upon wave of lifted them level on points with that a win would hoist them into from Anita at the far post. after Bebe’s determined run and cross had opened up Madrid attacks that ensued as Vazquez just failed to third bottom Sunderland and within sixth place, and it was no surprise It could have been worse for the Madrid defence with just seven minutes gone. It connect with Bale’s cross before Jese Rodriguez fired one point of safety, but they remain when Liverpool extended their lead Liverpool minutes later when a swift was 2-0 inside 15 minutes as shocking Real defending straight at Juan Carlos with just the goalkeeper to beat. in 19th place and have played two after 30 minutes. break by Newcastle saw Andros from a corner allow Miku to sweep home his eighth However, it was fitting that Bale was the man to games more than their north-east Townsend shoot over the bar from goal of the season. decide the game as he pounced on a loose pass mid- rivals. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool had PREDATOR 15 yards. Madrid have now won the last 16 meetings between way inside the Rayo half and surged forward before been chasing a fifth successive vic- This time the predator was Liverpool’s riposte, with Benitez the sides stretching back 16 years, but Rayo could have striking low and hard past Juan Carlos for his 18th goal tory in the wake of a resounding 4-0 Lallana, who had already shown now on the touchline directing been out of sight but for a fine flying save from Keylor of the season. win over Everton, but have now some good touches before com- Newcastle operations, seemed to Navas to prevent Bebe’s long-range effort finding the Rayo had the chance to snatch a point in stoppage dropped 17 points from winning pleting a smart passage of passing have brought a third goal only for top corner. In the absence of Ronaldo, Bale took respon- time, but Miku’s shot was deflected over as Madrid reg- positions. play by hitting a superb shot into Firmino to be flagged offside before sibility to drag Madrid back into the game as he rose istered their ninth consecutive La Liga win. — AFP Liverpool’s warm welcome for the top corner when Moreno’s pass bundling home the ball. — AFP