Dinamo Zagreb have been ordered to play their next home European match behind closed doors following racist behaviour by their fans in the Europa League game against Benfica, UEFA said on Monday.

Dinamo Zagreb fans will not be permitted to attend the club’s next European home game. ANTONIO BAT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The Croatian champions were also fined €20,000 ($22,000) while an on order to play a second game behind closed doors was deferred for a probationary period of two years.

The club were fined a further €47,000 for the setting off of fireworks and throwing of objects by fans and for blocked stairways.

Zagreb won the Europa League round-of-16 home match 1-0 but were beaten 3-0 after extra-time in the return in Lisbon and eliminated.

Dynamo Kiev were ordered to close part of their stadium for their next home European game following a pitch invasion in the match at home to Olympiakos in February. UEFA said fans also set off fireworks and threw missiles.

Malmo and Chelsea were fined €58,000 and €13,000 respectively following incidents at their round-of-32 match in February.

Source – ESPN

The Arsenal midfielder says the club is ready for a fight to close the season with rivals lurking.

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Mesut Ozil says Arsenal are happy to be above Tottenham as the Premier League race heats up.

The Gunners topped Newcastle on Monday to leap over their London rivals into third place.

Spurs currently sit third in the league, having been seen as a competitor for Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race earlier this year.

But now Arsenal are above their fierce rivals, and Ozil is more than happy to be in pole position for a Champions League spot heading into the final months of the season.

“Our aim is to get into the top four. Of course we’re happy that we’re in front of Tottenham. It’s always a big competition with them,” Ozil said following Monday’s win.

“If we play like today, we have a few more games in front of us and we want to win them. We want to take all the points to get into the top four at the end of the season.”

Ozil is seemingly more involved now than he was earlier in the season, having had to work his way into manager Unai Emery’s graces.

The German put in a solid shift in Monday’s victory, and he says he’s looking to push on more in the season’s final weeks.

“We are very happy. Our aim tonight was to take the three points and we played very well,” he said.

“Congratulations to the whole team. We are very happy.

“My work is to give everything on the pitch, like today. I only want to help my team-mates to win the game.

“I think we played very well as a team, not just me. It was a team effort. As I said, congratulations.

“I think we are now third. It was a long time that we had to wait for a game, so now we can go and relax at home now.”

Next up for Arsenal is a visit to Everton on Sunday before a battle with Napoli in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Source – Goal.com

The Reds returned to the top of the Premier League thanks to yet another dramatic 90th-minute winner at Anfield, in Sunday’s clash with Tottenham.

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Liverpool held a night of championship boxing on Saturday, but the most important blow of the weekend was struck on Sunday.

It came via the shin of Toby Alderweireld, just as Anfield seemed ready to throw in the towel.

There are wins and then there are wins. There are wins which thrill and excite, wins for the purists and the aesthetes and the artists.

Then, there are these kind, the kind that put you through the mill, drag you to rock bottom and back up again. The ones which test you, terrorise you, torment you. And when they’re over, these wins feel like the best kind, the ones you’ll remember all your life.

The long and the short of it is that Liverpool are back on top of the Premier League, that they beat Tottenham 2-1 in a game they simply had to win.

That, though, doesn’t even begin to tell the story of what could turn out to be a huge, huge afternoon in this tightest of title races.

The roar which greeted the final blast of referee Martin Atkinson’s whistle said more than any match report or colour piece ever could. It was one of relief as much as joy, Liverpool somehow escaping with all three points after the most tortuous of second halves.

Alderweireld’s misfortune was their gain, the Belgian’s own goal breaking Spurs hearts in front of the Kop, just as the clock ticked past 90 minutes.

On the public address system, it was announced as a Mohamed Salah goal. It wasn’t, but nobody cared. It was the biggest Liverpool have scored this season.

It had looked like the day the dream would die. Klopp’s team had led through Roberto Firmino’s first-half header but had lost control of proceedings after the break. Lucas Moura’s equaliser, 20 minutes from time, was no more than Tottenham deserved.

The Londoners should have gone on and won it. How big was the moment, eight minutes from the end, when Moussa Sissoko ran at Virgil van Dijk. The Frenchman had Son Heung-Min to his right, Van Dijk blocking the pass.

He ran straight for goal, taking aim with his left foot. His shot was wild, over the bar. Liverpool, somehow, lived to fight another day. Van Dijk, who had marked Son and challenged Sissoko to score, deserves immense credit. Sissoko has not scored a goal in three years. Know your enemy.

Hearts were in mouths soon after, too, as Dele Alli curled for the top corner, missing by a matter of inches. Had either of those two chances gone in, it would surely have been Manchester City’s title. That’s how fine the margins are right now.

And then, and then.

A corner. Cleared. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross to the back post, Mohamed Salah finding space where there had hitherto been none. His header was firm, pushed out by Hugo Lloris into the retreating Alderweireld, the ball squirming across the line.

Bedlam!

It was the third stoppage-time winner Liverpool, the Premier League’s ultimate fighters, have scored this season. Alderweireld will get an invite to their end of season party if the Reds can finish the job between now and May.

They’ll need to improve on this showing but, in theory, they have negotiated their toughest remaining test. Not many sides will play as well as Spurs did here. Liverpool, surely, will not play as sloppily again. They had their warning here, and emerged unscathed. Sometimes, it just feels like your name is on a trophy.

At the end, Klopp headed for the Kop. His fist pumps had more meaning than usual, and no wonder.

He won’t get a bigger win as Liverpool manager. Well, until Friday at Southampton, at least. Liverpool fans will be getting ready to go through it all again, but the outcome here made it all feel worthwhile.

Source – Goal.com

The France legend concedes his side are struggling play to their potential with no silverware to play for.

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane admits it is hard to motivate his side after they needed a last minute goal from Karim Benzema to beat bottom side Huesca.

Benzema’s spectacular 89th-minute strike made it two wins from two since Zidane returned to the club earlier this month.

However, Real were far from their best at the Santiago Bernabeu against a side seven points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table with just five league wins this season.

Juan Camilo Hernandez gave Huesca a shock early lead before Isco and Dani Ceballos put Los Blancos in front midway through the second half.

But Xabier Etxeita levelled for Huesca with 14 minutes left and they looked on course for a memorable point before Benzema’s late intervention.

Speaking to reporters after the game Zidane defended his team’s performance, conceding it is hard to get the maximum out of his players given they have little to play for this season.

Real are currently third in the table, 12 points behind leaders Barcelona who look all but certain to claim their 26th La Liga crown.

“Obviously, we can play much better than we did today. But I’m happy for the victory and the efforts. Huesca deserved more than a defeat,” said Zidane.

“The changes? I tried to build the best possible team to win, and today it was important to make changes after the international break.

“Anyway, it’s impossible to win a title nowadays with just 13 players in your squad. And to make it clear: I’m not trying to keep everybody happy.

“It’s hard to motivate the team when you know you are not going to win any title this season.”

Zidane sprung a surprise before kick-off by selecting his son Luca, to make just his first appearance for the club since the final game of last season.

Zidane defended his selection after the game, revealing that Thibaut Courtois was injured and Keylor Navas was rested.

“I’m happy for Luca’s first victory with Real Madrid,” he added. “Courtois wasn’t fine, and I wanted to give some rest to Keylor. I think everything was all right”.

Source – Goal.com

The Spaniard’s men are aiming to become the first English side to win all four major trophies in a single season.

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Pep Guardiola believes his Manchester City side are in perfect shape to become the first English side to win a quadruple.

City have already lifted the Carabao Cup, while they will face Tottenham in the Champions League quarter-final and also take on Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup semi-final.

Guardiola’s side return to Premier League action this weekend, facing relegation-threatened Fulham on Saturday before Liverpool – two points ahead of City but having played one game more – face Tottenham on Sunday.

The City boss has often been reluctant to speak about the possibility of a quadruple this season but with the feat becoming more realistic, he has admitted his side are in perfect shape to make history.

“It is what it is, it’s perfect,” Guardiola said of his side’s position as the calendar nears April.

“We are privileged to be in all the competitions almost at the beginning of April and to fight for the title. It’s an incredible experience.

“I don’t know how many teams in Premier League history have been in this position fighting for four titles. We are and it’s nice and it’s good.

“I think they are fresh mentally and in the legs and we are going to try.”

City are in a tight race with Liverpool for the Premier League championship, as they aim to become the first team to retain their title since Manchester United in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Guardiola though, is insisting that his side can’t worry too much about Liverpool’s results, with the two sides still fighting for honours both in Englandand Europe.

“My experience is not to look at the neighbour (Liverpool) too much because it’s a huge mistake,” Guardiola said.

“They’re in the Champions League as well but when you look at them you can be distracted, then maybe you are the first to drop points.”

Source – Goal.com

The Mexico winger’s sensational form for PSV has seen him linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Manchester United.

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Hirving Lozano would secure a dream move if a mooted transfer to Manchester United came off, according to the president of his former club Pachuca.

Lozano left Pachuca for PSV in 2017, going on to star in his maiden season in the Eredivisie, as well as impressing for Mexico at World Cup 2018.

The 23-year-old has continued that form into this season, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists across all competitions.

United are among a host of major European clubs linked with making a move for Lozano, and Pachuca president Jesus Martinez has revealed the Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the winger.

“What I can say and guarantee is that Hirving has had a Manchester United scout watching him since he was 16,” Martinez told ESPN Deportes.

“They have his whole record. They have everything: videos, goals, behaviour, qualifications. They are one of the clubs with the best scouts and professionals in that area.

“My ultimate dream would be to see [Lozano] at United and Hector [Herrera] at Atletico Madrid. It would be my dream and theirs.”

Martinez is the latest Pachuca figure to discuss United’s persistent tracking of the Mexican. Sporting director Marco Garces said this week that the Old Trafford outfit rate him highly and “know exactly the level he can reach”.

Meanwhile, new Mexico coach Gerardo Martino has been singing his praises, saying he expects him to reach the top of the game.

“I think Hirving has had an influential time in Holland and shown he can be a player who is incredibly valuable and can make the jump to the biggest clubs in Europe,” he said.

“It’s clear. I think from the analysis side of the player, he’s absolutely ready.”

Lozano’s contract with Eredivisie leaders PSV runs until 2023 and the attacker will be in action on Sunday when his side face second-placed Ajax.

Source – Goal.com

Juventus have pulled off a “great coup” by signing Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey from Arsenal, says AC Milan and Italy legend Franco Baresi.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has won 58 caps for Wales, scoring 14 goals

Ramsey, 28, has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Juventus at the end of this season.

Baresi, who won three European Cups with Milan and a World Cup with Italy during his illustrious career, believes Ramsey will thrive in Italy.

“I’ve seen him play. He’s obviously a great player,” he said.

“I think Juve has really landed a great coup there and I’m sure he’ll be able to adapt to Italian football.”

Ramsey, who joined Arsenal from Cardiff City in 2008 for a fee of around £4.8m, held preliminary talks with Barcelona and also received an offer from Paris St-Germain before agreeing to join Juventus.

He will be the highest-earning British player ever based on basic salary – having signed a four-year contract worth £400,000 a week – and joins a Juve side which has won seven consecutive Serie A league titles.

Ramsey already has some experience of playing in Italy, having scored for Arsenal in their 2-0 Europa League win away against AC Milan last season.

That was one of the displays which caught the eye of former centre-back Baresi, who was voted Milan’s player of the 20th century and had the club’s shirt number six retired in his honour.

The six-time Serie A winner hopes his former club and others can close the gap on Juventus next season.

“Juventus has owned Serie A in the last few years so it’s important to see what the other teams can do in terms of growing,” said Baresi.

“Teams like Inter, Roma, Milan, Lazio and Napoli are definitely all growing at the moment.

“Champions League qualification will be very important for Milan this year. It brings in money, it brings in opportunities for investment and chances to progress so it’s important.”

Source – BBC News

The France international joins compatriot Benjamin Pavard in agreeing a move to the Allianz Arena ahead of the 2019-20 season.

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Bayern Munich have completed a club-record €80 million (£68m/$90m) deal to sign Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez.

The full-back, who was part of the France team to win the 2018 World Cup, has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga champions having completed a medical over the international break.

He becomes the second defensive reinforcement to have agreed to join Bayern this summer, with international team-mate Benjamin Pavard also on his way to Bavaria from Stuttgart after a €35m (£31m/$40m) deal was agreed in January.

“Today is a very important day in my football career,” Hernandez said in a statement released by his new club. “Bayern Munich is one of the best clubs in Europe and the world. I am proud to be able to fight for all titles for Bayern in the future.

“I would like to thank Atletico, the management, the coaches, my team-mates and the fans for a wonderful 12 years. Atletico will always be part of me. Now I’m happy that I’m taking the next step at Bayern.”

Hernandez leaves Atletico having formed a key part of their defence under Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital.

Since making his debut for the Rojiblancos in 2014 he has made 110 appearances for the club, though he will play no further role for Simeone’s side this season as he requires knee ligament surgery.

“In our sports medical examination, we found damage to the inner ligament of the right knee, which must be repaired surgically,” Bayern club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt revealed.

“In my experience, Lucas Hernandez will be available to FC Bayern for the start of the 2019-20 Bundesliga season.”

Hernandez, who can also play at centre-back, has made 15 appearances for his country and played every match for Didier Deschamps’ side as they lifted the World Cup for the second time in Russia last summer.

“I am very happy that in Lucas Hernandez we have been able to sign one of the best defensive players in the world and a world champion,” said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

“Lucas can be used both in central defence and on the left of defence. In addition, Lucas will continue our tradition of outstanding French players and strengthen our team.”

Hernandez’s arrival continues Bayern’s rebuilding project after an indifferent campaign for the giants of German football.

A sluggish start to the season under new manager Niko Kovac saw them slip behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race, though Bayern have since made up a six-point gap since the winter break and top the table on goal difference with eight matches to play.

In the Champions League, however, they failed to make the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2011 following a last-16 defeat to Liverpool.

Those disappointments, combined with an ageing squad that is set to lose Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery this summer, means Hernandez is unlikely to be the last new addition to the Bayern squad ahead of next season.

Source – Goal.com

The Portugal star insists he is “calm” after suffering an injury in Monday’s draw with Serbia.

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Cristiano Ronaldo insists there is nothing to fear after suffering a hamstring injury in Portugal‘s 1-1 draw against Serbia on Monday, adding that he is “not worried” about it going forward.

Portugal hosted Serbia in Lisbon for Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier, having drawn their opener in a scoreless effort against Ukraine.

But the day was marred by an early Ronaldo injury as the Juventus star pulled up with an apparent hamstring issue in the first half.

He was removed in the 30th minute of the match, but Ronaldo himself insists that the issue is a minor one that doesn’t have him concerned heading into some vital matches with Juventus.

“I’m not worried, because I know perfectly my body,” Ronaldo said following Monday’s draw.

“It happens, it’s football. Who’s out there risks it. I’m calm, because I know I’m going to be back well in one or two weeks with no problem.”

Ronaldo’s assessment will be received as good news by Juventus, who are set to face Ajax in the Champions League semi-finals.

Juventus will go toe-to-toe with the Eredivisie side on April 10 in the first leg of that semi-final clash in Amsterdam before returning to Turin for the second leg six days later.

If Ronaldo can recover in that “one or two” week timespan, it would have him back in time for those clashes after previously leading Juve to that round with a hat-trick against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Round of 16 battle.

Before facing off with Ajax, Juventus do face a trio of Serie A matches at the conclusion of the international break, having already amassed a 15-point lead on second-place Napoli.

Juventus are set to return to action on Saturday against Empoli before facing off with Cagliari three days later. Focus will then turn towards AC Milan on April 6 ahead of the trip to the Netherlands for the Champions League semi-final first leg.

With the Ronaldo injury, Portugal ended up settling for a 1-1 result on Monday, with Dusan Tadic’s early opener cancelled out by Danilo Pereira’s 40th-minute equaliser.

Source – Goal.com