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Yet those expecting an outpouring of emotion from the Liverpool manager – who between 2008 and 2015 guided Dortmund to one of the most successful periods in their history – were left disappointed.

Putting the sentiment of the occasion to one side, Klopp was sober in his assessment of the size of the task facing the visitors in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg. “We’ve said Borussia Dortmund are favourites in this competition and I don’t think there’s anybody that really disagrees with that,” he said. “If we are not good [on Thursday] then it will be easy for Borussia Dortmund.”

Indeed, since Klopp’s departure last summer, successor Thomas Tuchel has revitalised last season’s seventh-placed Bundesliga team, turning BVB into one of Europe’s most feared outfits. Still unbeaten in 2016, the Schwarzgelben – currently second in Germany – underlined their strength with home and away wins over both Porto and Tottenham Hotspur in the knockout rounds.

“Dortmund have a cool way of playing, courageous going forward and aggressive, so it won’t be easy but we’re well prepared,” said Klopp. “If it was easy [to beat Dortmund], one or two teams might have discovered it earlier.”

The return of Klopp, however, presents a new challenge for Tuchel’s men both off and on the pitch. While Tuchel was quick to downplay the off-field significance of his predecessor’s homecoming – “it’s not the first time I’ve welcomed Jürgen back to his old club” – the city of Dortmund seems delighted to have one of its favourite adopted sons back where he made his name.

“[Klopp was] a great coach, perfect for Dortmund,” said Ilias, a Greek who has lived in Dortmund for 27 years and works in a city-centre restaurant. “Everyone loves Klopp. My favourite memory is that game against Málaga in the Champions League [2012/13 quarter-finals] – it was phenomenal.”

Three seasons on and Klopp will tread a familiar path to lead a young, vibrant set of players out at the BVB Stadion Dortmund for a European last-eight tie. This time, though, he heads a Liverpool side showing early signs of embracing the counter-pressing style pioneered by his BVB teams.

As midfielder Gonzalo Castro – one of four players in this Dortmund squad not to have played under Klopp – warned in the pre-match press conference, it is a style that could damage BVB’s hopes of lifting this trophy for the first time. “Plenty of people know how Klopp likes to play and how he played at Dortmund. They’ll attempt to press us early: ball and man.”

Tuchel echoed that caution, saying: “Liverpool have got stronger over the last few weeks, in large part due to Jürgen’s input. They’re very difficult to play against – they defend very high and have outstanding individual quality, particularly going forward.

“Jürgen is a very, very competitive kind of coach, one of the most competitive guys I know. From the moment the whistle blows he wants to win.”

Or as Klopp put it: “During the game nobody has to think about how I feel. Ever since the beginning of our lives we have played against our best friends and have always wanted to beat them.”

source:uefa.com

Fernandinho struck 18 minutes from time as a first leg featuring a saved penalty, freak goals and no little excitement ended all-square.

Fernandinho forced in an equaliser 18 minutes from time as Manchester City’s first taste of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals delivered a night to savour.

Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed the better of proceedings but were never able to cement their dominance: Joe Hart’s early penalty save from Zlatan Ibrahimović was an apt snap-shot. Ibrahimović later got on the scoresheet with a freak goal to cancel out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener, then Adrien Rabiot made it 2-1. But Fernandinho’s riposte ensured City have the edge.

The first leg was breathless, with David Luiz’s yellow card inside 14 seconds a precursor to the frenetic action that followed. Ibrahimović’s 14th-minute penalty miss really lit the blue touch paper, yet even before that only good work from Frenchman Eliaquim Mangala denied Blaise Matuidi when he was put through.

Next came the penalty, Bacary Sagna adjudged to have caught Luiz. Hart, a pre-match doubt, guessed right and Ibrahimović was denied. The determination to make amends was palpable; the striker was suddenly everywhere. One header was comfortably stopped though Hart was helpless when PSG’s No10 curled narrowly over soon after.

De Bruyne soon delivered a sucker punch, however, finishing off a flowing counter after Matuidi was robbed in possession, but there was no refusing Ibrahimović. When Hart rolled a kick out to Fernando on the edge of the area, the Brazilian was seemingly unaware of the lurking threat, with his unsighted pass cannoning off the Swede and into the net.

There was no let-up after the break and Rabiot, once on City’s books, completed the comeback with a tap-in before the hour. Still Paris came, Ibrahimović looping a header onto the bar, and for a while City were just about holding on. Fernandinho was the key for the visitors, though, and proved as formidable in attack as in defence when he forced in a scrappy goal to reward a battling display.

Analysis from Chris Burke at the Parc des Princes

Key player: Fernandinho
A harrying presence in midfield, the Brazilian international was already catching the eye before his contribution to City’s opener, when he carried the ball upfield and waited for the perfect moment to release De Bruyne. Whereas fellow anchor Fernando struggled, Fernandinho brought the Premier League side level on 72 minutes, sniffing the chance to latch onto a loose ball in the box.

Ibrahimović leaves his mark … eventually
Having scored four times against Hart when Sweden beat England 4-2 in November 2012, Ibrahimović was hoping to cause the fit-again City goalkeeper more pain. It was Hart, though, who struck the early blow in their duel with his penalty stop before Ibrahimović nodded straight at him and fired over when clean through. However, the big Swede was not to be denied a fifth consecutive UEFA Champions League outing with a goal, even if his strike was one of the more bizarre from his collection.

Carelessness costs both teams
After a blistering start, City settled into an impressive game plan at the Parc des Princes, with their disciplined midfield keeping Paris at bay and eyeing opportunities to zip forward on the counter. That mature approach brought the visitors their breakthrough, but three minutes later the match was level, Fernando caught napping. As slips go, it could hardly have been more costly – but Paris returned the favour with some lax defending for Fernandinho’s equaliser. It leaves this tie beautifully poised.

source:uefa.com

First-half goals from Ricardo Rodriguez and Maximilian Arnold earned the quarter-final debutants a win that leaves Madrid with plenty of work to do.

Wolfsburg’s first UEFA Champions League knockout campaign could yet extend into the semi-finals as first-half goals from Ricardo Rodriguez and Maximilian Arnold earned a memorable victory against Real Madrid in the quarter-final first leg.

Madrid were on a six-game winning run and duly began in confident mood, Cristiano Ronaldo having an effort chalked out for offside before Karim Benzema burst through in the 14th minute. Diego Benaglio’s outstretched boot came to Wolfsburg’s rescue, Gareth Bale slicing the rebound wide.

The home side made the most of the let-off. Eighteen minutes in André Schürrle was felled by Danilo and Rodriguez stepped up to convert the penalty, ending Keylor Navas’ 738-minute run without conceding in the UEFA Champions League.

With his side behind for the first time in this season’s competition, the Madrid goalkeeper was beaten again seven minutes later. Julian Draxler found Bruno Henrique on the right and Arnold got ahead of Sergio Ramos to sidefoot in at the near post, putting Wolfsburg well on the way to making it five wins from five home games this season.

Karim Benzema headed wide as a stunned Madrid sought a response, Benaglio dealing smartly with a subsequent Toni Kroos effort. Madrid’s hopes were further knocked when Benzema limped off before the break, and they continued to struggle to create clear openings.

Indeed, Wolfsburg might have made it three as they broke out following a brief flurry of Madrid pressure, Henrique leading the counterattack. The Brazilian found Schürrle on the right with only Navas to beat; the shot flashed over.

Madrid came again and Isco cleverly found Ronaldo with the outside of his right foot; the Portuguese looked certain to add to his 13 goals in this season’s competition but Benaglio blocked. At the other end, Navas plunged to his left to keep out Max Kruse’s effort to keep alive Madrid’s hopes, but Wolfsburg will travel to Spain full of hope.

Key player: Maximilian Arnold
Arnold may have had his tongue in his cheek when suggesting “6-0” would be the ideal result for Wolfsburg to take to Madrid for the second leg, yet there were times when the hosts looked like running away with the game. The 21-year-old’s first UEFA Champions League goal put Die Wölfe 2-0 ahead said that facing Madrid represented a dream come true. He can now dream of a place in the semi-finals after his pace and direct running tormented Madrid.

Hecking hailed
Unrecognisable from the team beaten 3-0 by Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, Wolfsburg produced another inspired home performance in the UEFA Champions League, a stage Die Wölfe have more often than not excelled on this term. Orchestrating with intensity from the sidelines, Dieter Hecking – who gave a competition debut to Bruno Henrique and recalled Naldo to his starting lineup after injury – looked exhausted at the end. The coach’s ‘contain and counterattack’ plan worked to perfection and bewildered Madrid, who must find solutions for next Tuesday’s return.

BBC blunted
A frustrating night for Madrid’s front three of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, the French forward going off with a first-half injury. A hard week on the training pitch beckons as they seek to find ways of unlocking Wolfsburg’s tight defence.

source:uefa.com

The club’s junior teams are scheduled to tour Germany in May to play against junior teams across the country.

Sydney Olympic wants to forge a productive relationship with Bundesliga giant FC Schalke 04, which it hopes will underpin Olympic’s junior and youth program so the club can develop talented young players looking for a pathway into elite football both domestically and in Europe, including the Bundesliga.

The NPL club is looking to form a partnership with Bundesliga giant FC Schalke 04, which would involve a significant expansion of the current Olympic youth program currently overseen by three coaches from Schalke’s youth academy.

Details of the partnership are yet to be released, however the association with the German club’s youth coaches has already led to some initiatives, with Olympic announcing upcoming school holiday football camps led by the coaches from FC Schalke’s academy and based on the German Curriculum.

Sydney Olympic junior teams are also scheduled to tour Germany in May, where they will play matches against junior teams from Schalke, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich.

Sydney Olympic was approached for official comment but did not reply in time for deadline. However, on the club’s Facebook page, in a message referring to the football camps, Sydney Olympic president Bill Papas says:

“This initiative is the first step in differentiating Sydney Olympic as a football club which creates a platform of youth development beyond Australia. The football camps running during April (11-13 and 18-20) are inspired by the world-class German football curriculum. Further details on the FC Schalke 04 relationship will be released shortly once arrangements have been finalised.”

For anyone interested in participating in the camps, further information can be obtained from Federico Guzzo, (02) 9787 7890, or email footballcamp@sydneyolympicfc.com

source:neos kosmos

Η Μπαρτσελόνα επικράτησε 2-1 με ανατροπή της Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης στο πρώτο ματς των δύο ομάδων στην προημιτελική φάση του Champions League και πήρε μικρό προβάδισμα εν όψει της ρεβάνς στη Μαδρίτη στις 13/4.

Οι φιλοξενούμενοι προηγήθηκαν στο 25′ με τον Τόρες, ο οποίος αδίκως αποβλήθηκε δέκα λεπτά αργότερα, με την Μπαρτσελόνα να φτάνει στην ανατροπή με δύο γκολ του Σουάρες. Στο άλλος ματς της ημέρας, η Μπάγερν επικράτησε δύσκολα με 1-0 στο Μόναχο της Μπενφίκα, η οποία στάθηκε πολύ καλά και διατήρησε ζωντανές τις ελπίδες της εν όψει της ρεβάνς στην Πορτογαλία.

Μπαρτσελόνα – Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης 2-1
Με τον διαιτητή, Φέλιξ Μπριχ, να αναδεικνύεται σε αρνητικό πρωταγωνιστή της αναμέτρησης, η Μπαρτσελόνα νίκησε 2-1 την Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης στο «Καμπ Νου» και απέκτησε προβάδισμα πρόκρισης στους ημιτελικούς του Champions League, εν όψει της ρεβάνς της 13ης Απριλίου. Ο Γερμανός ρέφερι αδίκησε με τις αποφάσεις του τους «ροχιμπλάνκος» που αγωνίστηκαν με παίκτη λιγότερο για περίπου μία ώρα, λόγω αποβολής του Φερνάντο Τόρες στο 35′.

Από το ξεκίνημα του αγώνα η «Ατλέτι» του Ντιέγκο Σιμεόνε απέδειξε ότι έχει τον τρόπο να περιορίζει την πιο θεαματική ομάδα του πλανήτη και να μπλοκάρει σχεδόν ολοκληρωτικά την τριάδα Μέσι-Σουάρες-Νεϊμάρ. Κατάφερε να κλείσει τους διαδρόμους και να αναζητά την ευκαιρία να φτάσει στο γκολ. Αυτό έγινε στο 25΄ με τον Κόκε να περνάει εξαιρετική κάθετη στον Φερνάντο Τόρες ο οποίος πάνω στην κίνηση έγραψε το 0-1, σκοράροντας για 11η φορά σε 15 ματς εναντίον της «Μπάρτσα».

Δέκα λεπτά αργότερα ο διαιτητής Φέλιξ Μπριχ αποφάσισε να εξαντλήσει την αυστηρότητά του αποβάλλοντας τον σκόρερ με δεύτερη κίτρινη κάρτα (η πρώτη στο 30΄). Για ένα μαρκάρισμα στο κέντρο του γηπέδου, στον Μπουσκέτς που δεν είχε καν «μέτωπο» στην επίθεση. Ενα άγαρμπο μαρκάρισμα, το οποίο όμως σε καμία περίπτωση δεν αγγίζει τα όρια του επικίνδυνου.

Από εκεί και πέρα, οι παίκτες του Σιμεόνε άντεξαν ηρωικά στο συνεχές «σφυροκόπημα» των γηπεδούχων, σε απίστευτες φάσεις όπως το ανάποδο ψαλίδι του Μέσι-λίγο άουτ στο 49΄ και στο οριζόντιο δοκάρι σε σουτ του Νεϊμάρ στο 51΄.

Ο Ομπλακ συνεισέφερε τα μέγιστα με ορισμένες σπουδαίες επεμβάσεις , αλλά δεν μπόρεσε να κάνει τίποτα στο 63΄ όταν δημιουργήθηκε σύγχυση στην περιοχή και ο Σουάρες από πολύ κοντά ισοφάρισε.

Στο 70΄ ο Ουρουγουανός χτύπησε εκτός φάσης τον Φιλίπε Λουϊς, γεγονός που υπέπεσε στην αντίληψη του διαιτητή ο οποίος όμως έκρινε πως η παράβαση συνιστά (απλώς) κίτρινη κάρτα… Αμέσως μετά, ο Σουάρες σκοράρε ξανά με κεφαλιά από σέντρα του Ντάντι Αλβες και έγραψε το 2-1 στο 74΄.

Διαιτητής: Φέλιξ Μπριχ (Γερμανία)

Κίτρινες: Μπουσκέτς, Σουάρες, Μασεράνο – Φερνάντο Τόρες, Κόκε, Γκριζμάν, Ομπλακ, Φερνάντες, Ερνάντεθ

Κόκκινη: Φερνάντο Τόρες (35΄-δεύτερη κίτρινη)

ΜΠΑΡΤΣΕΛΟΝΑ (Λουϊς Ενρίκε): Τερ Στέγκεν, Ντάνι Άλβες, Πικέ, Μασεράνο, Τζόρντι Άλμπα, Μπουσκέτς (80΄ Σέρχι Ρομπέρτο) Ράκιτιτς (63΄ Ραφίνια), Ινιέστα (83΄ Αρντά Τουράν), Μέσι, Σουάρες, Νεϊμάρ.

ΑΤΛΕΤΙΚΟ ΜΑΔΡΙΤΗΣ (Ντιέγκο Σιμεόνε): Όμπλακ, Γκοντίν, Φιλίπε Λουίς, Λούκας Ερνάντεθ, Χουανφράν, Κόκε, Γκάμπι, Σαούλ (90΄ Κορέα), Καράσκο (53΄ Φερνάντες), Γκριεζμάν (76΄ Παρτέι), Τόρες.

Μπάγερν Μονάχου – Μπενφίκα 1-0
Η Μπάγερν επικράτησε 1-0 της Μπενφίκα στο Μόναχο και έχει το «πάνω χέρι» για πρόκριση στους «4» του Champions League. Το γκολ πέτυχε ο Βιδάλ μόλις στο 2ο λεπτό της αναμέτρησης και η ρεβάνς θα γίνει στις 13/4 στη Λισαβόνα.

Με τη συμπλήρωση των πρώτων 100 δευτερολέπτων της αναμέτρησης, ο Αρτούρο Βιδάλ με κεφαλιά από σέντρα του Μπερνάτ άνοιξε το σκορ. Το γκολ μόλις στο 2΄, έδωσε τη δυνατότητα στους γηπεδούχους να διαχειριστούν το παιχνίδι, ενώ από την άλλη οι Πορτογάλοι με τον Μήτρογλου στο αρχικό σχήμα και τον Σάμαρη στον πάγκο, αναζητούσαν ένα εκτός έδρας γκολ.

Η πρώτη ευκαιρία τούς δόθηκε στο 57΄, αλλά ο Νόιερ σταμάτησε τον Ζόνας. Στο 65΄ ξανά ο Βραζιλιάνος πρώτος σκόρερ της Μπενφίκα αστόχησε από πολύ πλεονεκτική θέση κι αυτές ήταν οι δύο στιγμές που ίσως καθόρισαν τον προημιτελικό.

Διαιτητής: Σιμόν Μαρτσίνιακ

Κίτρινες: Ριμπερί, Μπερνάτ – Ζόνας (χάνει τη ρεβάνς), Λίντελοφ

ΜΠΕΝΦΙΚΑ (Ρουϊ Βιτόρια): Έντερσον, Αλμέιντα, Λίντελοφ, Ζαρντέλ, Ελιζέου, Φέισα, Ρενάτο, Πίτσι (90+1΄ Σάμαρης), Γκαϊτάν, Ζόνας (83΄ Σάλβιο), Μήτρογλου (70΄ Ραούλ Χιμένες)

ΜΠΑΓΕΡΝ (Γιόζεπ Γκουαρντιόλα): Νόιερ, Λαμ, Κίμιχ (60΄ Χάβι Μαρτίνεθ), Αλάμπα, Μπερνάτ, Αλκάνταρα, Βιδάλ, Μίλερ (85΄ Γκέτσε), Ντάγκλας Κόστα (70΄ Κομάν), Ριμπερί, Λεβαντόφσκι

ΤΡΙΤΗ
Μπάγερν Μονάχου (Γερμανία)-Μπενφίκα (Πορτογαλία) 1-0
Μπαρτσελόνα (Ισπανία)-Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης (Ισπανία) 2-1

ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ
Παρί Σεν Ζερμέν (Γαλλία)-Μάντσεστερ Σίτι (Αγγλία)
Βόλφσμπουργκ (Γερμανία)-Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης (Ισπανία)

*Οι ρεβάνς θα διεξαχθούν στις 12 και 13 Απριλίου.

Πηγή:in.gr

Ξεκινούν σήμερα, Τρίτη, τα προημιτελικά του Champions League και όλα τα βλέμματα στρέφονται στον ισπανικό «εμφύλιο», στο «Καμπ Νου», μεταξύ της Μπαρτσελόνα και της Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης.

Είναι χαρακτηριστικό, ότι τα τελευταία δύο χρόνια, οι Καταλανοί δυσκολεύονται ιδιαίτερα από την ομάδα του Ντιέγκο Σιμεόνε.

Ετσι οι δύο αναμετρήσεις αναμένονται με ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον, ενώ πολλά θα κριθούν από την κατάσταση που θα βρεθούν στα παιχνίδια αυτά η εντυπωσιακή αμυντική λειτουργία της Ατλέτικο κόντρα στην εκπληκτική επιθετική γραμμή των Μέσι-Νεϊμάρ-Σουάρες.

Παράλληλα η Μπάγερν Μονάχου καλείται να ξεπεράσει το εμπόδιο της Μπενφίκα με τους «αετούς» του Κώστα Μήτρογλου και του Ανδρέα Σάμαρη, να έχουν τον επαναληπτικό στην Λισαβόνα. Συνοπτικά το πρόγραμμα των προημιτελικών, με ώρα έναρξης στις 21:45:

ΤΡΙΤΗ

Μπάγερν Μονάχου (Γερμανία)-Μπενφίκα (Πορτογαλία)

Μπαρτσελόνα (Ισπανία)-Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης (Ισπανία)

ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ

Παρί Σεν Ζερμέν (Γαλλία)-Μάντσεστερ Σίτι (Αγγλία)

Βόλφσμπουργκ (Γερμανία)-Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης (Ισπανία)

*Οι ρεβάνς θα διεξαχθούν στις 6 και 12 Απριλίου.

Πηγή:in.gr

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suárez have scored 107 goals between them this season but after Barcelona’s celebrated trio failed to find the net in the defeat by Real Madrid, Luis Enrique defended them by declaring “they aren’t machines”.

The Barcelona manager said he was not concerned about the physical state of his all-star attacking line despite their below-par display in the 2-1 home defeat on Saturday.

Although Real halted their 39-game unbeaten run, Luis Enrique said he retained full confidence in his side as they prepared to host Atlético Madrid in the first leg of an all-Spanish Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Messi (37), Suárez (43) and Neymar (27) have been scoring for fun but Barcelona’s only goal against Real came from the defender Gerard Piqué.

“They aren’t machines, they are the best players in their position but they aren’t unbeatable or unsurpassable,” Luis Enrique said on Monday. “I think all my players are in perfect condition. We had forgotten what it was like to lose but when you do you remember how difficult it is to win and we all hope the defeat serves as a stimulus to win again. Looking at how we have done in the last few months, I’m optimistic.”

Piqué reaffirmed his coach’s belief in his forwards. “Our three attackers are on another level, from another world. I’m not worried about them at all, it’s impossible for us to have more faith in them, they have brutal qualities and we’re so lucky to have them at Barça,” he said.

He was also adamant Barça would bounce back but said Atlético would pose even more problems than Zinedine Zidane’s men did. “We’re not scared of them but they are having a spectacular season, they are the second best team [in La Liga] and it’s going to be even harder for us than Saturday,” Piqué said.

Diego Simeone’s side have conceded only three goals in eight Champions League games this season, the joint best record in the competition alongside Real. They also have the meanest defence in La Liga, letting in 15 goals in 31 games – 11 fewer than Barcelona.

Atlético pipped Barcelona to the La Liga title in 2014 and knocked them out of the Champions League in the same season en route to the final. They are six points behind Luis Enrique’s side in La Liga and warmed up for their trip to Barcelona by thrashing Real Betis 5-1 on Saturday.

However, Barça have beaten Atlético in all six matches under Luis Enrique. Piqué said: “We’ll see how they approach the game but it’s all down to us, we need to move the ball around quickly and for the fans to put pressure on them. If that happens we’re practically unstoppable.”

Atlético are set for the return of Diego Godin after the defender’s absence of nearly three weeks because of a muscle injury. Stefan Savic, Yannick Carrasco and José María Giménez, who had been doubtful, also made the trip to Barcelona and will be available to play.

“We are feeling strong,” the Atlético defender Juanfran Torres said. “We know that our chances rely on staying alive after the game at the Camp Nou. Then we can try to seal the deal at the Vicente Calderón.”

source:theguardian.com

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Pep Guardiola that he will not find it easy in England and to forget about trying to replicate the success he enjoyed at Barcelona in Manchester.  

The former Manchester United manager believes Guardiola will be a success at rivals City but he is adamant the Catalan is about to walk into the toughest test of his managerial career when he leaves Bayern Munich.

Guardiola, who replaces Manuel Pellegrini as City manager in the summer, won three successive La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, two Copa del Reys and two Fifa Club World Cups during a glittering four year period at Barcelona.

He is also now on course for a third consecutive Bundesliga title with Bayern but Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles, reckons England will provide a level of domestic competition Guardiola has never encountered.

“Pep has got a fantastic work ethic about him,” Ferguson told Sky Sports News. “And he demands that from all his training sessions. So anyone who says they’re not going to work hard won’t last long I’m sure of that.

“He has got great coaching ability there’s no doubt about that. It’s interesting because it’ll be difficult to match what he did at Barcelona.

“Obviously Man City have had a real coup in getting him because he’s an outstanding coach, but Pep won’t find it easy. English football is not easy. Every foreign coach who has come to England will tell you that.

“Arsene Wenger, after a few months [of arriving], he was talking about that. Even Jose we he came, after his first season he realised what he achieved was hard work.

“So, he will be a success I don’t think he’ll ever replicate what he ever did at Barcelona but that was a high standard. They were the best.”

source:telegraph.co.uk

The Socceroos were emphatic in a 5-1 win over Jordan to move to the next round of Asian qualifying

Roos coach stressed that fans and commentators need to hold more belief in his squad’s ability to beat any of the continent’s powerhouses.

Αnge Postecoglou says he is not concerned with who the Socceroos are drawn against in the final phase of World Cup qualifying.

Australia will continue to chart its course into the promised land of a fourth successive World Cup, after a 5-1 thumping of Jordan on Tuesday night ensured they topped their qualifying group.

Sterner tests await in the last stage starting later this year, and FIFA’s perplexing rankings system could throw the Asia champions a curve ball when it comes to seedings against the region’s best teams including Iran, Japan and South Korea.

But after overseeing his improving side to seven wins and 29 goals in eight group games, Postecoglou stressed that fans and commentators need to hold more belief in his squad’s ability to beat any of the continent’s powerhouses.

“We talk ourselves down so I doubt other people will be pumping us up,” he said.

“We’re growing as a team. Twelve months ago everyone is saying ‘Who’s going to score apart from Timmy (Cahill)?’

“Well Timmy’s still scoring, yet we’re getting multiple goalscorers from all over the place.”

Postecoglou believed his side should have scored another five or six goals and admitted he got “pissed off” watching Abdallah Deeb net a consolation for Jordan.

“People are really worried about rankings and seedings and who we’re going to get,” he said.

“I mean, I don’t get it. Just watch what the team’s doing, that should tell you enough.

“We’re not going to be worried about who get in our group.

“We’ve had some tough groups in every competition that we’ve been in.

“We had a tough group in the World Cup, we had Korea in our group in the Asian Cup.

“We’ve had Jordan – who, don’t forget, finished fifth in the last World Cup campaign in the play-off spot – in our group again.

“And we’ve overcome all those things.

“So whoever we get, we get, and we’ll go at them.”

Teams in the next round

Group winners:

Australia
Iran
Japan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Thailand
Uzbekistan
Top four runners-up
China
Iraq
Syria
UAE

source: Neos Kosmos

One of world football’s greatest rivalries resumes when Barcelona host Real Madrid this weekend and we look at the numbers behind the derby.

Barcelona entertain arch-rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou in a Clasico that could well have major ramifications in the race for the Liga title.

Third-placed Madrid head to Catalunya knowing that defeat will see them slip 13 points adrift of defending champions Barca, a difference that should prove too difficult to close in the seven subsequent fixtures.

Here, courtesy of Opta, we take a look at the key statistics ahead of the resumption of one of football’s greatest rivalries:

0 – Barca have never won a league game against Real Madrid when top of the competition and holding an advantage of 10 points or more (D1 L2).

1 – Barca have lost just one of their last seven league games at home against Madrid, winning five. Their only defeat in that run was a 2-1 loss in April 2012.

3.22 – In 171 matches between the two sides, the average of goals scored per game is just higher than three, though the most common result is 2-1 to Real Madrid, which has occurred 18 times previously.

4 – The last four red cards in matches in all competitions between the two teams were all shown to Madrid players.

LUIS ENRIQUE v ZINEDINE ZIDANE

1 – The latest instalment will be the first meeting between Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane in their coaching careers. The latter will be making his Clasico bow in the dugout.

2 – Zidane scored three goals against Barca in all competitions during his time as a player with Madrid, two of those coming when lining up against Luis Enrique.

5 – Luis Enrique and Zidane met five times in all competitions during their playing careers, winning one game apiece).

MSN v BBC

14 – Lionel Messi has scored 14 goals in 19 La Liga matches against Real Madrid, twice as many as Cristiano Ronaldo – though the Portuguese has featured in six games fewer.

20 – Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar have scored a cumulative 20 La Liga goals against Madrid, while Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo have managed just 12 – Bale is yet to register against Barca in La Liga.

38 – Suarez has been involved in more goals (26 goals, 12 assists) than any other player in La Liga this season, Ronaldo is second with 28 strikes and nine assists.

source:theworldgame.sbs.com.au