The midfielder has twice taken on the Juventus forward but will line up opposite the Barcelona icon for the first time in Lisbon this week.

Photo by Getty/Goal

Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka is looking forward to the challenge of taking on Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi after going up against Cristiano Ronaldo.

When he was at Schalke, Goretzka twice faced Ronaldo’s Real Madrid, losing 6-1 in February 2014 and winning 4-3 at Santiago Bernabeu a year later, with both matches part of Champions League last-16 exits for the Bundesliga side.

The midfielder will get his first chance to take on Messi in a professional match when Bayern play Barca in the Champions League quarter-finals in Lisbon on Friday.

However, Goretzka knows it will take a team effort to contain Messi, who was pivotal in getting Barca past Napoli in the last-16 second leg last week.

“After having played Cristiano Ronaldo several times, it’s nice to be able to play against another leading footballer of our decade,” said Goretzka.

“The only way it works [stopping Messi] is collectively. Everyone knows just how gifted he is, he is capable of finding many solutions also in tight situations. We will have to fight back as a team. If one player can actually take away his fun in the game, I don’t know. We just have to fight back as a team and try to play our game.”

Goretzka left Schalke for Bayern on a free transfer in 2018 despite interest from Barcelona, and he feels resisting the lure of Camp Nou was the correct decision.

“Back then I deliberately took a long time. I had a few options to stay with Schalke. I listened to everything and made a conscious decision in favour of Bayern. I have never regretted making this decision,” he said.

The suspension of major football during the coronavirus pandemic means the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League will be played as single games rather than over two legs, with UEFA squeezing in the closing stages of the tournament ahead of the start of the 2020-21 season.

Goretzka believes Bayer Leverkusen‘s Europa League exit at the hands of Inter on Monday was a reminder of how that change has altered the dynamics of European competition.

“This is a knockout game. The right mental mix is always required. Yesterday the Leverkusen game annoyed me because they actually played a good game but were eliminated because of 20 minutes. I had the feeling that they would have progressed over two legs,” he said.

“I think we can beat any opponent. Nevertheless, we know that a very good team is waiting for us with world-class players. We will play with our chests puffed out, like we have over the past nine months. We are already in a positive mood.”

Source – Goal.com

DUISBURG, Germany — Nuno Espirito Santo launched a strong defence of Raul Jimenez after his costly penalty miss denied Wolves the chance to reach a first European semifinal for nearly 50 years.

Raul Jimenez missed an early penalty in Wolves’ loss to Sevilla. Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

The Mexican striker saw his 13th-minute spot-kick saved before a Lucas Ocampos header two minutes from time earned Sevilla a 1-0 win and a date with Manchester United in Cologne on Sunday.

Defeat ended Wolves’ season after 59 games and 383 days but Espirito Santo refused to blame Jimenez despite missing the chance to play in a first European semifinal since the 1972 UEFA Cup.

“Raul is an amazing player,” said the Wolves boss. “All the things he does for the team — the work, the goals, the talent he has is amazing. Raul is a fantastic player.

“Like I’ve said many times, it’s a long journey. We wanted to go as far as we could. We came really close today.

“Everyone is disappointed but we should not ignore the effort of the players. It’s 14 months of hard work — in the Europa League and the Premier League — and we’ve achieved good things.

“The disappointment can not take away from all the good things we’ve been doing.”

Wolves failed to muster a shot on target following Jimenez’s miss but Espirito Santo might have had reason to be aggrieved after replays showed goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was off his line when he saved the penalty and that defender Diego Carlos had encroached into the box before clearing the loose ball.

“I didn’t see the images, honestly,” said Espirito Santo. “I have been asked this before. VAR is there. If that happens we should ask ourselves why they didn’t repeat it. There’s nothing we can do now. Speaking about that now can only make us more frustrated than we are.”

Source – ESPN

Uefa’s solution to a Champions League competition disrupted by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic is a ‘final eight’ knockout tournament played across 12 days in Lisbon.

Manchester City’s players arrived in Portugal on Monday

Football’s reputation is at stake and, according to Europe’s governing body, the staging of future international matches if protocols are not followed.

in Lisbon, all eight teams and their officials, including Premier League side Manchester City, are required to stick to the rules from a 31-page document.

Some of them will make life very different for the elite of European football.

Hotel lockdown

The beaches and sights of Lisbon will be out of bounds, with players only allowed to leave their hotels with prior agreement – and even then they cannot come into contact with anyone outside their group.

In the hotels, players should have private access routes and a private dining area, while food should only be served by the team’s own staff.

Need your pants washing? Clothes and equipment can only be handled by team staff.

Late line-up changes?

The life of a footballer these days involves plenty of tests for coronavirus and the Champions League bubble will be no different.

Tests were conducted before clubs left for Portugal – two people connected with Atletico Madrid have already returned positive results and not been allowed to travel.

Tests will also be carried out in Lisbon the day before each game. Uefa has promised the results will be delivered – at the latest – six hours before kick-off.

But one or two positive tests could lead to some torn-up team sheets and tactical masterplans.

It is worth noting Uefa’s rules stipulate that provided a team can field 13 ‘A list’ players, plus a goalkeeper, games have to go ahead. If a team cannot do that, they would be allowed to bring in any new signings who had not been registered.

Uefa would look at the potential for rescheduling on a case-by-case basis. However, given the Champions League final will not be moved from 23 August, the reality for any team not capable of fielding a side is that they would probably have to forfeit the fixture.

A mirror in front of the toilet

As if coronavirus tests weren’t enough, there are also drugs tests to think about.

Doping control officers would usually observe from close quarters when players produce a urine sample.

But, to enable the officer to watch from a socially distanced position, players will have a mirror set up opposite the toilet – which might be a little disconcerting.

Disinfected transport and VIP exit

Manchester City’s Kyle Walker collects his bag after arriving in Lisbon

Planes and buses must be thoroughly disinfected and, “to minimise contact with the general public”, players will be using VIP arrival areas at airports.

The rules for leaving the bus are less glamorous – you just need to remember to use the central door and not get off at the front.

Pennants yes, shirts no

Fans of pre-match gift exchanges will be relieved – pennants can still be swapped before kick-off. But anyone eyeing up Lionel Messi’s shirt will be disappointed, as players are not permitted to swap jerseys.

Source – BBC News

The Ligue 1 champions’ top scorer had seemed certain to miss out after suffering a nasty knock in the Coupe de France final last month.

Photo by Getty Images

Kylian Mbappe is set for a sensational return to action for Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final clash with Atalanta on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old had been expected to miss out after suffering an ankle injury in the Coupe de France final win over Saint-Etienne on July 24. However, PSG boss Thomas Tuchel has now suggested Mbappe is ready to play a role from the bench.

“If he has a good training session today and nothing extraordinary happens, he will be with the team tomorrow,” Tuchel told his pre-match press conference.

“We are very happy that he is with the group and that we can have the possibility of finishing the match with him.”

If Mbappe does feature, even if only from the bench, it will represent a remarkable change of fortunes for PSG. Tuchel has previously said he thought it would take a “miracle” for Mbappe to be fit in time for the game, as the French champions look to stake their claim for the European crown.

Having Mbappe back eases some of the pressure on Neymar, although Tuchel feels the Brazilian has the mindset and ability to carry the PSG attacking threat if needed.

“I have the impression that there is always a lot of pressure on him, but he likes it,” said Tuchel of Neymar. “He is used to playing with this pressure.

“We are very happy that Kylian is also with the group and that we can have the possibility to finish the match with him, because the two like to play together. Neymar is decisive on the big matches and I am convinced that he can be the key man for us. He has the necessary quality for this kind of situation.”

While plenty of fans saw PSG as having received a favourable draw in Atalanta, Gian Piero Gasperini’s vibrant side are in the last eight on merit and scored 98 goals this season in Serie A.

Having his team as close to full strength as possible would, therefore, be a huge relief to Tuchel, who has already made clear his frustration at finishing the campaign without the likes of Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier, who have left the club.

Mbappe has scored 30 goals and registered 18 assists in 34 games in all competitions for PSG this season, their top scorer ahead of Mauro Icardi and Neymar.

Tuchel is also sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Marco Verratti, who didn’t fly to Portugal with the rest of the squad due to a calf injury.

“There isn’t much time, but we will try everything,” Tuchel said on the Italian.

Verratti has played in all but one of PSG’s Champions League outings so far this season, missing their last-16 second leg against Borussia Dortmund through suspension.

Source – Goal.com

The former Everton and Manchester United striker cannot stop scoring for the Nerazzurri this season.

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Romelu Lukaku’s fine debut campaign at Inter continued when he broke two more records during their Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen on Monday.

The Belgium international swept home the Nerazzurri’s second goal of the night in Dusseldorf to take his tally in all competitions to 31.

In doing so he became the player to score in nine successive Europa League or UEFA Cup matches, breaking the record of eight he previously shared with Newcastle’s Alan Shearer 2005. He is also the first player to score in six successive European matches for Inter.

In an eventful opening 45 minutes, Lukaku also had a role in Inter’s opener after 16 minutes, with his blocked shot landing in the path of Nico Barella, who fired the ball home through a crowd of players.

Lukaku then showed great strength to hold off Edmond Tapsoba, before somehow turning and squeezing the ball home as he was falling to the floor.

Leverkusen brought themselves back into the game before the break when Chelsea target Kai Havertz powered the ball beyond Samir Handanovic from inside the area after a neat one-two with Kevin Volland.

Lukaku is already enjoying the best goalscoring season of his career, having eclipsed the 27 goals he scored for Manchester United in the 2017-18 campaign with two goals during Inter’s Serie A win at Genoa last month.

That double took his away tally for the season to 15, the first Inter player to score that many goals away from home in 70 years, equalling the record set by Stefano Nyers during the 1949-50 campaign. 

By hitting the 30-goal mark, Lukaku also became the first Inter striker to score that many goals since Samuel Eto’o in 2010-11 , when the striker famously netted 37 times just one season as Inter claimed an historic treble.

Should Inter hold on for the win they will face either Shakhtar Donetsk or FC Basel in the semi-finals as they look to end the campaign on a high.

Their season so far has been one of near misses, with Antonio Conte’s side reaching the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia before finishing second in Serie A, one point behind nine-time champions Juventus.

Source – Goal.com

The Italian forward was strongly linked with a move to St James’ Park before the Magpies saw a Saudi Arabian-backed takeover collapse.

Photo by Getty

Ciro Immobile has confirmed that Newcastle approached his agent over a possible transfer earlier this summer, but has pledged his future to Lazio.

Immobile won both the Serie A Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe in 2019-20, after netting 36 goals in the Italian top flight.

His performances over the past 12 months have attracted a long list of potential suitors, including Newcastle, whose current owner Mike Ashley had lined up a buyer prepared to inject £300 million ($393m) into the club.

However, the Saudi Arabian consortium fronted by the country’s Public Investment Fund  pulled out of a pre-agreed takeover at St James’ Park at the end of July, after growing tired of waiting for approval from the Premier League.

The Magpies had already started planning a major squad overhaul ahead of the proposed deal, with Immobile reportedly near the top of their list of targets.

The 30-year-old has now revealed that he did receive word of Newcastle’s interest, and also learned of their desire to bring in a top Italian manager to replace Steve Bruce.

“During the period in which there was talk of the possible purchase of Newcastle by the Sheikh’s fund they called my agent, Alessandro Moggi,” Immobile told Corriere Dello Sport.

“Then the Premier League did not approve that proposal, or the fund withdrew, I don’t remember well. I know they were also looking for an Italian coach, [Massimiliano] Allegri or [Luciano] Spalletti.”

The Lazio striker went on to insist that he plans to see out the remaining years of his career at Stadio Olimpico, having made his peace with a failed transfer to Napoli in 2016.

“I intend to tie myself to Lazio forever. The renewal will be for three years, so the contract will expire in 2025 when I turn 35,” said Immobile.

“Before I arrived at Lazio, contacts with Napoli were frequent, but for one reason or another, we never went any further.

“Naples is the city where I was born, I always follow Napoli with affection, but what Lazio has given me and is giving me is priceless.”

The Italy international added on finishing the season as the highest-scoring forward in Europe: “Crazy, me in front of [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Robert] Lewandowski, if I reread the roll of honour [for the award], I almost do not believe it: [Lionel] Messi, Messi, [Luis] Suarez, Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Messi, Messi, Ronaldo, Messi.”

Source – Goal.com

The Brazilian winger announced on his 32nd birthday that he will depart the Stamford Bridge club.

Photo by Getty Images

Willian has confirmed his departure from Chelsea in an open letter to the club’s fans.

The Brazilian winger’s contract with the London side expires at the end of August, though the club offered him an extension and he has also been linked with a move to city rivals Arsenal.

The 32-year-old has confirmed he will not stay on at Stamford Bridge and thanked the Blues supporters for their affection during his time there.

“They were seven wonderful years. In August 2013 when I received the offer from Chelsea, I was convinced that this was where I had to play,” Willian wrote.

“Today I am certain that it was the best of decisions. There were so many happy times, some sad, there were trophies and it was always very intense.

“Yet, beyond the trophies, I learnt a lot about myself. I developed a great deal, becoming a better player and a better person. With each training session, with each game, with every minute spent in the dressing room, I was always learning.

“I am really grateful to the Chelsea fans for the affectionate way they welcomed me at Stamford Bridge and their support throughout my time at the club. There was also criticism, which is normal, what is important though is that both the affection and criticism drove me to always give my all in every training session, every game, to be constantly improving until my very last minute in a Chelsea shirt!

“The time has now come to move on. I am certainly going to miss my team-mates. I will miss all the staff at the club who’ve always treated me like a son and I will miss the fans. I leave with my head held high, safe in the knowledge that I won things here and always did my best in a Chelsea shirt!

“My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you and God bless you!”

Willian joined Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013 and went on to make 339 appearances for the Premier League side.

He lifted two Premier League titles and won the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Source – Goal.com

With a clash against RB Leipzig set for Thursday, the Spanish outfit have announced that two players have been diagnosed with the virus.

Photo by Getty

Two members of Atletico Madrid‘s travelling party for the Champions League quarter-finals in Lisbon have tested positive for the coronavirus, the club has confirmed.

The news comes as Diego Simeone’s side prepare to face RB Leipzig in the Portuguese capital on Thursday with a place in the final four at stake, with the results of those positive tests potentially putting UEFA’s condensed finale to the season in jeopardy as the European governing body look to conclude their showpiece tournament.

Both individuals, who have not been revealed to be either players or staff members, are currently in self-isolation at home.

“Yesterday, [on] Saturday 8 August, all members of the first team and the club’s traveling party [set to head] to Lisbon underwent PCR tests at the Ciudad Deportiva de Majadahonda as required by UEFA protocol, [in order] to participate in the quarterfinals of the Champions League,” the club confirmed in a statement .

“Among the results known today, two positives have appeared. Both individuals are isolated in their respective homes, and their results were immediately communicated to the Spanish and Portuguese health authorities, UEFA, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the Portuguese Federation and the Higher Sports Council.

“The corresponding action protocol foreseen for these cases has been activated, which requires new PCR tests to be carried out on the first team and members of the expedition to Lisbon and the closest contacts of the positive cases.

“These tests will result in changes to training schedules, and in the structure and development of travel and accommodation in the Portuguese capital.

“The club will coordinate the new schedules with UEFA and as soon as there is a new plan, it will be made public. We request the utmost respect for the preservation of the identity of the two positive cases.”

Atletico have not played since July 19, when they concluded their domestic campaign with a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad, to secure a third-place finish in La Liga.

They were set to return to action this week on the back of their remarkable triumph over Champions League holders Liverpool back in March, when they turned the Reds over 4-2 on aggregate

Source – Goal.com

The line-up for the Champions League ‘final eight’ tournament in Lisbon is complete after wins for Barcelona and Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Manchester City beat Real Madrid 4-2 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarter-finals

Manchester City are the only Premier League side left in the competition and they play Lyon on Saturday, 15 August.

The opening game of the round sees Atalanta take on Paris St-Germain, before RB Leipzig face Atletico Madrid the following day.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich meet for a place in the semi-finals next Friday.

The remainder of the Champions League is being played in a single-leg format, with all games taking place in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.

It all culminates with the final on 23 August.

Istanbul, originally appointed to stage the 2020 final, will now host the 2021 final.

Source – BBC News