Cristiano Ronaldo lauded the impact made by Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane as the Frenchman led the Spanish giants into the Champions League final with a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday.

Brazilian midfielder Fernando's first-half own goal was the only difference between the sides over two legs as Real set up a repeat of the 2014 final against local rivals Atletico Madrid in Milan on May 28.

Zidane replaced the sacked Rafael Benitez with Madrid in crisis in January, but has sparked just Real's second run to the final in the 14 years since he scored the winning goal against...................read more click   http://mybets9ja.com/ronaldo-hails-zi…l-reachucl-final/

Rashidi Yekini continues to remain a cult-hero in Nigeria four years after he passed on, as he still holds the record of being all-time top scorer in men's internationals.

With 37 goals in 58 international appearances for Nigeria at senior level, the legend of Yekini remains a never-ending story.

Of course, Yekini's story of an apprentice mechanic becoming a football superstar was well-etched despite being a late-bloomer in the beautiful game.

Former teammate, Sunday Oliseh, did eulogise Yekini as "one of Africa's best" when the news broke of his sudden death four years ago.

“Rashidi Yekini is definitely one of the best African players and legends to ever walk this earth. Rashidi was full of pace, had a superb shot, could jump very high, was calm in front of goal and was a very loveable person once you got to know and understand him. We lost not only a brother, friend, human being, legend and compatriot, but we also...Read More click

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Pep Guardiola views his three-year reign at Bayern Munich as a failure having again failed to steer the Bavarians to the Champions League final.

But the Spaniard insisted after the Bavarian giants went out to Atletico Madrid on away goals that he has "given his life" to Bayern whom he will leave at the end of the season for Manchester City.

Bayern lost the semi-final first leg 1-0 in Spain, and went out on away goals despite beating Atletico 2-1 in return match in Munich on Tuesday.

Antoine Griezmann's crucial goal for Atletico made the difference as the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate. Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski netted for Bayern on a night when both teams missed penalties in Munich.

Bayern again exited the semi-finals in Europe to Spanish opponents after losing to Barcelona in 2015 and were also dumped out of the last four by Real Madrid in 2014.

Guardiola was asked if he viewed his time in Munich as a failure despite winning five trophies so far, including two German league titles. "Yes, in terms of what we have won," he replied.

"It was my goal to win the Champions League final with......  http://www.9jabet.com/2016/05/04/guardiola-views-…another-ucl-exit/

Real Madrid are bidding to reach their 14th European Cup final as they welcome a Manchester City side in their first semi-final with the tie all square at 0-0.

Real Madrid will be looking to make their wealth of European Cup semi-final experience tell as they welcome Manchester City to the Santiago Bernabéu for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-four tie.

There was nothing between the sides in the first leg at the City of Manchester Stadium on 26 April, the game ending goalless.

While this is a first semi-final in the competition for City, Madrid are in the last four for a record 27th time – they have won 13 and lost 13 of their previous semifinals.

Indeed, this is only City's third European semi-final across Uefa's club competitions, and a first since 1971; they beat FC Schalke 04 5-2 on aggregate in the 1969/70 European Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals, and lost to Chelsea 2-0 over two legs at the same stage of the same competition the following season.

Madrid, meanwhile, are in their 32nd European semi-final; their record is W17 L14. Although they are in a sixth successive Champions League semifinal, they have won only once in that sequence – against FC Bayern Munich in 2013/14, when they went on to.......Read More click

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Atletico Madrid are not seeking revenge for their 2014 Champions League final defeat but instead want to write a new chapter in the club's history with their first European Cup after getting past Bayern Munich.

The Spanish side, who also lost the 1974 European Cup final to Bayern, advanced to the showpiece match on the away goals rule after losing 2-1 on Tuesday for a 2-2 aggregate result.

They got to the final two years ago, losing to Real Madrid, who face Manchester City at the Bernabue in the other semi-final on Wednesday after a goalless first leg.

"We are not out for revenge," said Atletico striker Fernando Torres, who set up the first goal and missed a.................Read More click

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has vowed that his team will rediscover their mojo in time for Thursday's Europa League semifinal second leg at home to slick Spanish opponents Villarreal.

After a 1-0 first-leg defeat, Klopp saw a much-changed side beaten 3-1 by Swansea City on Sunday and goes into the biggest game of his seven-month tenure on the back of the first successive losses of his Anfield reign.

Including a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United, Liverpool have now gone three games without victory in all competitions, but Klopp is confident that they will rediscover their poise when the moment comes.

Reflecting on the defeat by Swansea, he told the Liverpool website: "We played like we played and I saw it for the whole 90 minutes and there was not a lot I enjoyed, to be honest.

"We have to think about it and we have to recover, which is very important, and we will play much, much better than we did on Sunday.

"We have to accept the result, which is what we do, and then we work and we will be ...........read more
         

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Atletico Madrid reached the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons on Tuesday, going through on away goals after a 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich, in which both sides missed a penalty, with the tie finishing 2-2 on aggregate.

Atletico, who will face either city rivals Real Madrid, who beat them in the 2014 final, or Manchester City, who meet in the second semifinal on Wednesday, also spoiled Bayern's treble chances after the Spaniards won the first leg 1-0 last week.

Bayern took the lead with a Xabi Alonso goal in the 31st minute but Atletico levelled through Antoine Griezmann's seventh goal of the competition in the 54th. Robert Lewandowski set up a dramatic finale with his 74th-minute goal but it was not enough.

Thomas Mueller missed a first-half penalty for Bayern and Atletico's Fernando Torres had an 85th-minute spot kick saved as Bayern suffered a third straight elimination by a Spanish team at this stage in their three seasons under Pep Guardiola.

"They were better, but we scored an away goal, which was......Read More click

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Claudio Ranieri warned Leicester City fans, who were still in dreamland on Tuesday following their side's "unbelievable" Premier League triumph, that a repeat next season could not happen.

The Foxes' Italian manager, talking for the first time since Leicester's victory was sealed on Monday evening when nearest rivals Tottenham Hotspur failed to beat Chelsea, said their target now as champions would be a top-10 position.

It was a typical response from Ranieri, who has spent all season dampening down the expectations of supporters only to finally oversee a triumph considered perhaps the most unlikely in the annals of English football.

Ranieri, back at the Leicester training ground and meeting up with his players for the first time since they were crowned champions, described their success as "unbelievable".

He said it was the manner in which they had played "with their heart and soul" that had been the secret of their success.

Yet asked if Leicester could repeat the feat, which had been rated a 5 000-1 shot at the start of the season, in their.........READ MORE

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Denmark International, Kasper along with his Manchester legend father, Peter have joined Ian Wright and Shaun Wright-Phillips in becoming the second father-son duo to win the title.

May 2nd 1993: Peter Schmeichel  won first Premier League title at the age of 29.
May 2nd 2016: Kaper Schmeichel wins first Premier League title at age 29.

Ian Wright and Shaun Wright-Phillips became the first father-son duo to achieve this after Wright-Phillips was part of Chelsea's title-winning side in 2006, while his father won it with Arsenal in 1998.

Leicester City's Thai owners vowed on Tuesday to resist any pressure to sell the much-coveted stars who have propelled them to an unlikely English Premier League victory.

Star striker Jamie Vardy, fleet-footed winger Riyad Mahrez and midfield enforcer N'Golo Kante have caught the eye with outstanding displays and would likely command massive transfer fees if.........read more click http://www.9jabet.com/2016/05/03/leicester-are-no…ell-stars-owners/

Bayern Munich are bidding to avoid losing in the Uefa Champions League semifinals to Spanish opposition for the third season running, although Atlético Madrid have recent form when it comes to German opposition and impressive away last-four performances.

Atlético also hold the upper hand in the tie, scoring the only goal of the first leg through Saúl Ñíguez's fabulous early solo strike.

While Diego Simeone's Atlético have reached the last four for the second time in three years, Bayern are appearing at this stage for the fifth year in a row.

This tie will prompt particularly fond memories for Bayern, who claimed the first of their five European Cups in 1974 with victory against Atlético after a replay – the only time that happened in a final.

Previous Meetings

Before the first leg, the teams had played only twice before, in that 1974 European Cup final – both sides' first. Atlético were seconds away from taking the trophy at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels when Luis Aragonés gave them a 114th-minute lead, only for Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck to level six minutes later.

Two days later, the teams returned to the Heysel Stadium for what would be the only final replay in European Cup history, and this time Bayern ran...........continue reading click 
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Leicester City's Premier League title dream became reality on Monday as their only remaining challengers Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 at Chelsea to complete one of the greatest ever sporting achievements.

The result provoked an outpouring of celebration in the provincial English city and as far away as Thailand and Japan, with Leicester's players having watched nervously on television along with Foxes fans packed into local bars 160km away.

Goals from Tottenham's Harry Kane and Son Heung-min had looked like extending the title race to the penultimate week of what has been an unforgettable season.

Gary Cahill gave Chelsea a lifeline just before the hour, however, and substitute Eden Hazard's superb 83rd-minute equaliser ended Spurs' slim title hopes to the delight of Leicester and their former Chelsea manager, Italian Claudio Ranieri.

As tempers flared at the end of a red-hot London derby at Stamford Bridge, television pictures cut away to Leicester's players celebrating in the living room of their striker Jamie Vardy, whose 22 goals have under-pinned his side's challenge.

Elsewhere in Leicester, the city's biggest ever party began in earnest, with hundreds of fans gathering outside the stadium and........read more
 
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Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri hailed his players' "determination" and "spirit" after their improbable Premier League title triumph was confirmed on Monday.

"I'm so proud," Ranieri said, in comments published on the Leicester website. "I'm happy for my players, for the chairman, for the staff at Leicester City, all our fans and the Leicester community."

The 5 000-1 outsiders, who narrowly escaped relegation last season, were confirmed as champions for the first time in their 132-year history after second-place Tottenham Hotspur could only draw 2-2 at Chelsea.

It was a personal triumph for 64-year-old Ranieri, who had never previously won a top-flight title and whose appointment last year met with derision in some quarters.

"I never expected this when I arrived," the Italian added.

"I'm a pragmatic man. I just wanted to win match after match and help my players to improve week after week. Never did I think too much about where it would take us.

"The players have been fantastic.Their focus, their....read more cilck www.9jabet.com/2016/05/03/ranieri-proud-of…messi-and-others/

Real Madrid will be without Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema for Saturday's trip to Real Sociedad in La Liga but coach Zinedine Zidane is hopeful of having both back to face Manchester City next week.

Ronaldo has missed Madrid's last two games, including the 0-0 draw away to City in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday, while Benzema came off in that match and his club later confirmed he was suffering from a thigh injury.

Zidane admitted it was not worth risking either player against Real Sociedad but indicated both could feature in the semifinal second leg against City at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

"The most important thing for now is that they recover. We can't take risks with Cristiano or Karim, or..............Read More click

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Manchester City will be without playmaker David Silva for two to three weeks, ensuring he will definitely miss Wednesday's Champions League semifinal second leg tie at Real Madrid, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Friday.

Pellegrini expressed his hope that the Spanish international might be fit should City reach the final in Milan on May 28.

The bad news for City came as Pellegrini reiterated his annoyance that having to play a key Premier League match on Sunday against Southampton might affect their European final ambitions.

Silva limped out of the first leg tie at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, with Pellegrini revealing: "He has a small hamstring injury and he'll need two or three weeks to recover." Asked when he might be back, he added: "He'll be able to play the final."

Yaya Toure remains another injury concern for Pellegrini following a muscle injury. "Yaya started working today, we saw the..............read more click

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A "difficult climate" at Emirates Stadium contributed to Arsenal's poor home form this season and eventually led to the team missing out on a chance to win the Premier League title, manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday.

Among the top five teams, fourth-placed Arsenal have the worst home record and disgruntled supporters have voiced their frustrations over the club's failure to finish atop the league for a 12th successive campaign.

Fans from the Arsenal Supporters' Trust, the Black Scarf Movement and Red Action intend to protest at Saturday's clash against Norwich City under the banner of "Time for Change" in how the club is run.

"Some people question this team's character but they have character and attitude and some people who question them have less character than this team has," Wenger told reporters.

"They should not question this team. We have to...read more  http://www.9jabet.com/2016/04/29/wenger-said-diff…rsenal-the-title/

Leicester will be playing Manchester united on sunday with a win they will be champions,

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli will not play again this season after he was given a three-game ban for violent conduct by the Football Association on Thursday.

The 20-year-old, elected England's Young Player of the Year last weekend, was retrospectively punished after punching Claudio Yacob in the stomach during Spurs' 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

He will therefore miss Spurs' final three Premier League games against Chelsea, Southampton and Newcastle United, in which Mauricio

Pochettino's side will look to keep their.......read more click 9jabet.com

Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor stepped down as Aston Villa captain on Thursday and was handed a heavy fine by the relegated Premier League club following his recent behaviour.

The 29-year-old was suspended by Villa after allegedly going on an alcohol-fuelled laughing-gas binge on the day their relegation was confirmed two weeks ago.

"I do not deserve to carry out such a role anymore," Agbonlahor said on Instagram.

"This role was a huge honour to me and it hurts to have lost it."

Villa imposed a "substantial" fine on Agbonlahor and reminded him of his responsibilities to the..........read more
   
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants his side to "throw the kitchen sink" at Villarreal as the Reds look to overturn a first-leg deficit in the Europa League semi-finals.

Adrian Lopez's last-minute goal gave the Spanish side a 1-0 home win.

Klopp opted to leave striker Daniel Sturridge on the bench but promised to go all out for victory in next Thursday's second leg at Anfield.

"If you go out in the semis, then do so kicking and screaming," he said.

Liverpool had produced a disciplined display against Villarreal, frustrating a side that had won all six of their previous Europa League home games