SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2014 SPORTS Badu dents Verona’s Europa League hopes

MILAN: Ghanaian substitute Emmanuel Badu hit an injury-time equaliser for Udinese in a 2-2 draw at Verona yesterday to potentially scupper the home side’s chances of Europa League quali- fication. Verona, one of six teams chasing two of ’s three places in the competition, had provisionally sneaked into the Europa zone after goals by Luca Toni, from the spot, and Emil Hallfredsson had given them a 2-1 lead by the 54th minute. Veteran striker reduced arrears for the northeners on 56 minutes amid what was a pulsating and balanced game at the Bentegodi stadium. But barely five minutes after replacing defen- sive Allan in the 87th minute, Badu brought the Andrea Mandolini’s men back down to earth by firing a daisycutter past Verona ‘keeper Rafael in the first minute of injury time. Instead of moving up to sixth, Verona remain ninth on 54 points, the same as Milan, who are eighth, and seventh-placed Parma, ahead of their respective matches away to Atalanta and Torino. Emmanuel Badu Juventus secured their third consecutive scudetto last weekend and are away to Roma, Italian Serie A results/standings second and 11 points adrift, today. A win would see Antonio Conte’s visitors amass 99 points and Verona 2 (Toni 14-pen, Hallfredsson 54) Udinese 2 (Di Natale 56, Badu 90+1). thus beat Inter’s Serie A record of 97 for their title-winning 2007 season, with one game in the Playing later season remaining. Inter v Lazio Roma are assured of the second automatic Champions League qualifying spot while Napoli, Playing today away to Sampdoria on Sunday, will play in next Atalanta v Milan, Bologna v Catania, Cagliari v Chievo, Livorno v Fiorentina, Sampdoria v Napoli, Sassuolo v Genoa, season’s competition if they successfully negoti- Torino v Parma, Roma v Juventus. ate the qualifying stages. Fiorentina, in fourth, have secured the first Europa League spot but Italian Serie A table after yesterday’s early match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): are away to a Livorno side today fighting for its top-flight survival. Juventus 36 31 3 2 76 23 96 Sampdoria 36 12 8 16 43 54 44 Inter, in fifth, host Lazio in their final home - champions Udinese 37 12 7 18 43 54 43 game of the season later Saturday knowing Roma 36 26 7 3 72 23 85 Genoa 36 10 11 15 38 46 41 defeat would deal a huge blow to their chances Napoli 36 21 9 6 67 36 72 Cagliari 36 9 12 15 34 49 39 of qualifying for the Europa League. Fiorentina 36 18 7 11 62 42 61 Sassuolo 36 8 7 21 38 68 31 Chievo 36 8 6 22 31 53 30 Inter, Italy’s last Champions League winners, 36 14 15 7 57 36 57 Bologna 36 5 14 17 27 55 29 Torino 36 15 10 11 55 45 55 in 2010, missed out on Europe altogether this Catania 36 6 8 22 30 64 26 season after a dismal showing in the previous Parma 36 14 12 10 55 45 54 Livorno 36 6 7 23 39 74 25 campaign. AC Milan 36 15 9 12 54 46 54 Top three qualify for Champions League. Fourth and This season, the sixth-placed finisher in Serie Verona 37 16 6 15 61 63 54 fifth for Europa League. Sixth also for Europa League A will also qualify for the Europa League via the Lazio 36 14 11 11 52 50 53 after Italian Cup was won by Napoli over Fiorentina. Messi urges Barca to Italian Cup, won by Napoli over Fiorentina last Atalanta 36 14 5 17 40 48 47 Bottom three are relegated. foil Atletico title party week.—AFP MADRID: Four-time World Player of the with Barcelona and in the Champions Year Lionel Messi has urged his Barcelona League final against Real Madrid on May Juve sight records as Europa, teammates not to miss out on the second 24. Diego Godin is also suspended for Los chance they have been gifted to retain Rojiblancos, but right-back Juanfran their La Liga title. returns from suspension having missed the relegation dominate League Barca seemed all but out of the title race defeat at Levante. after conceding a last-minute equaliser to However, forward Adrian Lopez still draw 2-2 at home to relegation-threatened believes home advantage should be MILAN: Champions Juventus could break more match will also serve as a yardstick for next sea- three fans. Napoli have since been handed a Getafe last weekend. enough to edge his side closer to the title. Serie A records with a win at Roma today as a son, to show that we still give 100% even when two-game stadium ban which means they will However, leaders Atletico Madrid subse- “We know that we are very strong at home six-team battle for Europa League places, and there’s nothing to play for. “Only by playing well play their final match of the season, at home to quently lost 2-0 away at Levante, whilst in front of our own fans,” he said on Friday. the relegation fight, continues in Italy. can you beat the top teams in the league.” Verona, and the first home game of next season, Real Madrid have drawn twice against “It is a key game. With all that we are play- Juventus claimed their third consecutive Although Juventus and Roma have qualified behind closed doors. Valencia and Valladolid in the past week to ing for to get three points on Sunday scudetto without kicking a ball last weekend for the Champions League group stages, uncer- Napoli and Fiorentina, the latter fourth and leave them in third place, four points adrift would be a huge step forward. “We know when closest challengers Roma crashed 4-1 at tainty reigns at both clubs. Garcia, barely 10 already qualified for the Europa League, will of Atletico with just two games to play. the atmosphere will be incredible. The fans Catania. months after arriving at the Olympic Stadium, is have nothing but pride to play for when they Barcelona remain three points adrift of are going to be very excited having Antonio Conte’s men then celebrated their reportedly mulling his future as he awaits con- visit Sampdoria and Livorno respectively today. Diego Simeone’s men themselves, but will watched what has been a great season for 30th official title with a 1-0 win at home to firmation that the club will invest in players for But for six teams sitting below them the sea- win the league if they win their two us and it could end in a great and happy Atalanta which handed the Turin giants a record next season. son is far from over. Because Napoli and remaining games away to Elche on Sunday way for everyone.” David Villa is likely to 31st win of the season and broke Inter’s previ- Conte, whose side crash out of the Fiorentina are already qualified for Europe, the and then when Atletico visit the Camp Nou replace Costa with Raul Garcia moving for- ous record of 30 (2007). Champions League at the group stages, is set to Europa League spot usually offered to the Cup on the final weekend of the season. ward from the midfield role he has Inter’s 97-point tally for their title-winning hold talks with clubs chiefs in the coming days. winners (Napoli) will go to the team that finish- “We are in a better position today than deployed in recent weeks to make space season in 2007 is also there for the taking. Juve “Next week, after the Roma game, we’ll be es sixth. we were a few weeks ago,” said Messi. “We for the return of Arda Turan. have amassed 96 and with two games remain- sitting down with Conte to talk about his future With two games remaining, six teams can can see that we have an opportunity to win Real Madrid need to win away to Celta ing could become the first champions to finish at the club,” said Juventus CEO Beppe Marotta. still mathematically finish in fifth or sixth with the league. We need to take advantage of Vigo to maintain any hope of catching on 100 points or more. Juventus prevailed 3-0 at Napoli secured third place and a place in the Parma and Milan (54) and Verona and Lazio (53) this moment and not let it escape.” Gerardo Atletico, but are likely to be without a host home against Roma earlier in the campaign but qualifying stages of the Champions League only three and two points adrift of fifth-placed Martino’s men are sure to face a tough task of first-team regulars, including Cristiano the Bianconeri have twice suffered defeat on when closest challengers Fiorentina were Inter (57) respectively, with Torino sixth on 55. this weekend, though, as Elche are in need Ronaldo. their travels to top four sides, away to Fiorentina stunned on Tuesday as visitors Sassuolo claimed Sassuolo’s midweek win pushed them two of points themselves as they sit just three The current World Player of the Year (4-2) and then Napoli (2-0), this season. And a precious 4-3 away win that could help stave points clear of the drop zone and a home win points above the relegation zone and have limped off with a minor muscular problem after the ignominy of last week’s 4-1 reverse in off relegation. against Genoa would prove another huge yet to be beaten at home in nine league less than 10 minutes into Real’s 1-1 draw , coach Rudi Garcia expects Roma to make However Rafael Benitez’s men, 3-0 winners boost. games so far in 2014. with Valladolid on Wednesday and is amends in what is the Giallorossi’s final home over Cagliari the same night, are in danger of But with only six points separating them Barca will again be without the injured unlikely to be risked with the Champions game of the season. finishing their season, and beginning next, on a from basement side Livorno, relegation for the Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Neymar, League final against Atletico just two “Today we’ll thank the fans for the support low note. Napoli’s Cup victory over Fiorentina bottom three sides could ultimately be decided although all three are hopeful of being fit weeks away. they’ve given us this season,” said Garcia. “The last Saturday was marred by the shooting of on the final day of the season. —AFP for the potential title decider against Pepe and Angel di Maria also picked up Atletico next weekend. injuries against Valladolid, but Gareth Bale However, should Barca fail to win this should return after missing the trip to the weekend, Atletico can mathematically seal Jose Zorilla with a knock. Wenger eyes Arsenal improvement their first title in 18 years with victory over At the bottom, Osasuna could join Real Malaga at the Vicente Calderon. Betis in being mathematically relegated NORWICH: Arsene Wenger admits and injuries began to take their toll. club’s nine-year trophy drought, ing for the official confirmation that Atletico have injury worries themselves should they lose away to Espanyol and any he still has more work to do in the In the end, Arsenal were relieved to the campaign will be regarded as a their three-year stay in the Premier as top scorer Diego Costa looks set to miss two of Getafe, Valladolid and Almeria win close-season before Arsenal will be seal a top-four finish and qualified success. League is at an end. out due to a hamstring injury, which could when they face Sevilla, Betis and Granada at the level required to win the Champions League qualification for But Wenger, whose side face The Carrow Road club’s relega- yet endanger his participation in the clash respectively.—AFP Premier League again. the 17th successive year. Hull City at Wembley on May 17, tion was effectively sealed this Wenger’s side led the table for Should Arsenal, who end the concedes more improvements are week when Sunderland beat West long periods of the season, but fad- season at Norwich City on Sunday, needed if Arsenal are to sustain a Bromwich Albion, leaving third- ed badly as the pressure mounted add FA Cup success and end the title challenge next season. bottom Norwich three points Hibs face fight for survival The Gunners go into the final behind Albion with a vastly inferior round of matches seven points goal difference. It would take a GLASGOW: Hibernian face a battle to stay because of where we’ve finished and we adrift of leaders Manchester City mathematical miracle for Norwich in the Scottish Premiership after a 1-0 just haven’t put enough goals in the back and seven points clear of Everton in to beat the drop and the focus now defeat at home to Kilmarnock in their final of the net. fifth, and Wenger said: “We have to switches towards who will be hand- game condemned them to 11th position “We’ve got 10 days now until the first continue to develop as a team. We ed the job of leading the Canaries and a relegation play-off. play-off match and we’ll work on it, we’ll have bridged a big gap from last in the Championship next term. Terry Butcher’s side needed to win at work very hard. “It’s hard to look forward to season and we want to be better Neil Adams was put in charge Easter Road on the final day to leapfrog these games because it feels like you’ve next season. for the final five games of the sea- Killie and secure their top-flight status after been slapped in the face, and I can only say “How can we do that? We have son when the club dispensed with a terrible run of results. sorry to the Hibs fans because we’ve put hard work in the summer to the services of Chris Hughton. However, former Rangers striker Kris them through the wringer, and we’re put achieve that. “My team has shown a But the news that Malky Mackay, Boyd fired past Ben Williams in the 44th through the wringer on the sidelines as remarkable mental stamina and a former Norwich player, is now minute for his 22nd goal of the season to well because it just would not go in.” consistency in their attitude and I available after ending his legal seal safety for Kilmarnock. Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston am very proud of the way they action against Cardiff following his Hibs have won just once in their past 18 thought his side deserved to win. “It was responded. “We are looking at dismissal earlier in the season has matches and are in real danger of joining nervy but you could see how much it some aspects where we can immediately seen the Scotsman Edinburgh rivals Hearts in relegation to the meant to them. They are always a threat improve internally and we will work linked with the job. Championship. from set pieces but we defended well,” very hard during the summer to do However, Adams, the former The Easter Road side will now face a Johnston said. “Kris Boyd is a massive player that.” youth team coach, is keen to two-legged play-off final against either and his experience is invaluable. Now I Jack Wilshere will return to the remain involved with the first team. Hamilton Academical, Falkirk or Queen of hope to start planning for next season.” Arsenal squad for the first time in “I have got my fingers crossed and I the South on May 21 and 25. City rivals Hearts, who would have fin- over two months after the England am hopeful that I am able to carry Hibernian boss Butcher apologised to ished three points above Hibs if it hadn’t midfielder broke his foot on inter- on in some capacity, hopefully as the Hibs support, who vented their anger been for their 15 points deduction for national duty, but Alex Oxlade- the manager, if that was not to be outside Easter Road after the defeat. “We entering administration, finished the sea- Chamberlain remains sidelined then obviously I would have to look have to keep going, we’re not relegated, son with a 1-1 away to St Mirren. with a groin injury. French midfield- at it as and when,” he said. we’ve got two games left that can ensure In yesterday’s other match Ross County er Abou Diaby could make his first “I don’t know what is going to we stay in the Premiership,” Butcher said. claimed seventh spot with a 3-2 win away start for the north London club in happen, but it is something I am “The last four games the players have to Partick Thistle, who finished tenth. over 15 months after recovering comfortable doing, I feel I am been totally committed, and they’ve played The final games will be played on from a serious knee injury. suited to it, and have the skill set very well. They played well again today but Sunday, with champions Celtic entertaining to do it. “I made the step up to once again it’s Hibernian nil. Scottish Cup finalists Dundee United and NORWICH NEED A MIRACLE first-team football and it is some- “It’s soul-destroying, it’s disappointing, Aberdeen hosting Motherwell in a decisive While Wenger focuses on a thing you don’t want to step back it’s heartbreaking, we’re all devastated game for second place.—AFP Arsene Wenger bright future, Norwich are prepar- from.”—AFP