INTER MILAN
VS
BAYERN MUNICH
Thursday, April 29, 2010
After 38 Years Waiting
Inter finally managed to qualify for the champions league finals, despite losing 1-0 at the Nou Camp. total survival strategy adopted coach Jose Mourinho has proved very successful.
a goal of pique can not give you maximum results.
a goal of pique can not give you maximum results.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Olic fires Bayern to Madrid
Ivica Olic netted a hat-trick as Bayern Munich defeated Lyon 3-0 on Tuesday to qualify for the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since they last won the competition in 2001.
The Croatia striker extended Bayern's 1-0 lead from last week's semi-final first leg in Munich in the first half and put the tie beyond Lyon's reach with a pair of strikes in the second period.
This is perhaps the best match of my life, but above all it's a great overall performance by the team. We have to repeat this now in the final itself.Bayern's three-goal hero Ivica Olic
A jubilant Olic said: "It's incredible to win by this scoreline and to have scored three goals. This is perhaps the best match of my life, but above all it's a great overall performance by the team. We have to repeat this now in the final itself."
Lyon were bidding to reach their first ever European final but saw Michel Bastos and Bafetimbi Gomis spurn the best chances that came their way. The hosts had captain Cris sent off midway through the second half after being shown two yellow cards in quick succession.
Bayern, four-time champions, will meet the winners of Wednesday's other semi-final between Barcelona and Inter Milan in the final in Madrid on 22 May. Coach Louis van Gaal will be aiming to become just the third man to guide two different teams to Europe's top club honour, having tasted Champions League glory with Ajax in 1995.
After seeing his side outplayed in Munich, Lyon coach Claude Puel made his attacking intentions clear by naming wingers Bastos, Sidney Govou and Cesar Delgado in his line-up in support of Lisandro Lopez. Bayern's injury problems meant Holger Badstuber had to move into the centre of defence, with 19-year-old Diego Contento taking his place at left-back, but it was the home defence that found itself under pressure first.
With barely two minutes on the clock, Olic robbed Cris wide on the right and centred for Thomas Mueller, but with only Hugo Lloris to beat he clipped his first-time shot narrowly wide from ten yards. Mueller then flashed a cross across goal before Bayern scored the night's first psychological blow when Mark van Bommel drew a foul from Maxime Gonalons that earned the youngster a booking and a suspension for the final.
The goal the Lyon fans dreaded arrived in the 26th minute when Robben's pass down the inside-left channel found Mueller, who teed up Olic to spin away from his marker and score. The noise of the Bayern fans' drums replaced the roar of the home support and they grew even louder when Bastos spurned a superb chance for an equaliser by volleying wide from six yards.
Bayern pressure proves out
Puel introduced Gomis at half-time and the former Saint Etienne striker sent a thumping volley high over the Bayern crossbar when a left-wing cross fell to him at the back post shortly after his introduction. Bastian Schweinsteiger flashed an eye-catching half-volley narrowly over as Bayern looked to kill the game off, before Lloris produced a fine save to push away Robben's low curling effort.
Lyon's evening went from bad to worse shortly before the hour when Cris received his marching orders, picking up two yellow cards in the space of a minute for fouling Olic and then sarcastically applauding the referee's decision to book him.
The hosts responded with a stinging shot from Govou that Hans-Joerg Butt palmed away before Olic killed off any lingering hopes of a comeback by scampering onto Hamit Altintop's pass and beating Lloris with a crisp finish. Olic secured possession of the matchball in the 77th minute when he nodded home Philipp Lahm's cross from the right
The Croatia striker extended Bayern's 1-0 lead from last week's semi-final first leg in Munich in the first half and put the tie beyond Lyon's reach with a pair of strikes in the second period.
This is perhaps the best match of my life, but above all it's a great overall performance by the team. We have to repeat this now in the final itself.Bayern's three-goal hero Ivica Olic
A jubilant Olic said: "It's incredible to win by this scoreline and to have scored three goals. This is perhaps the best match of my life, but above all it's a great overall performance by the team. We have to repeat this now in the final itself."
Lyon were bidding to reach their first ever European final but saw Michel Bastos and Bafetimbi Gomis spurn the best chances that came their way. The hosts had captain Cris sent off midway through the second half after being shown two yellow cards in quick succession.
Bayern, four-time champions, will meet the winners of Wednesday's other semi-final between Barcelona and Inter Milan in the final in Madrid on 22 May. Coach Louis van Gaal will be aiming to become just the third man to guide two different teams to Europe's top club honour, having tasted Champions League glory with Ajax in 1995.
After seeing his side outplayed in Munich, Lyon coach Claude Puel made his attacking intentions clear by naming wingers Bastos, Sidney Govou and Cesar Delgado in his line-up in support of Lisandro Lopez. Bayern's injury problems meant Holger Badstuber had to move into the centre of defence, with 19-year-old Diego Contento taking his place at left-back, but it was the home defence that found itself under pressure first.
With barely two minutes on the clock, Olic robbed Cris wide on the right and centred for Thomas Mueller, but with only Hugo Lloris to beat he clipped his first-time shot narrowly wide from ten yards. Mueller then flashed a cross across goal before Bayern scored the night's first psychological blow when Mark van Bommel drew a foul from Maxime Gonalons that earned the youngster a booking and a suspension for the final.
The goal the Lyon fans dreaded arrived in the 26th minute when Robben's pass down the inside-left channel found Mueller, who teed up Olic to spin away from his marker and score. The noise of the Bayern fans' drums replaced the roar of the home support and they grew even louder when Bastos spurned a superb chance for an equaliser by volleying wide from six yards.
Bayern pressure proves out
Puel introduced Gomis at half-time and the former Saint Etienne striker sent a thumping volley high over the Bayern crossbar when a left-wing cross fell to him at the back post shortly after his introduction. Bastian Schweinsteiger flashed an eye-catching half-volley narrowly over as Bayern looked to kill the game off, before Lloris produced a fine save to push away Robben's low curling effort.
Lyon's evening went from bad to worse shortly before the hour when Cris received his marching orders, picking up two yellow cards in the space of a minute for fouling Olic and then sarcastically applauding the referee's decision to book him.
The hosts responded with a stinging shot from Govou that Hans-Joerg Butt palmed away before Olic killed off any lingering hopes of a comeback by scampering onto Hamit Altintop's pass and beating Lloris with a crisp finish. Olic secured possession of the matchball in the 77th minute when he nodded home Philipp Lahm's cross from the right
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Beckham targets November return
David Beckham could miss the whole of the Major League Soccer season because of the Achilles injury which has already ruled him out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.
The 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy star suffered the injury playing for AC Milan in March and he indicated today that he may not play again until November, with the MLS campaign due to end late that month.
Speaking backstage to the presenters of ABC's The View, Beckham said: "I won't be running for another three months so I'll be playing again in, probably, November."
Beckham added on mlssoccer.com: "This is an injury that is going to take time to heal. I'm only six weeks in after the surgery. I started therapy 10 days ago and just doing that every day. I kind of want to push it but with this kind of injury you can't. You just have to wait for it to heal and then move on.
"At the moment it's just getting the motion back into the ankle, the tendon, because obviously it's still repairing. I can't stretch too much, I have to wear a boot every day. If I haven't got a boot on, which I didn't today for a few interviews, I have to use crutches - it's one or the other at the moment. It's a pain. It's not easy moving around, but I have to protect it."
The surgeon who operated on Beckham in March, Sakari Orava, said at the time that six months was the likely time the player would be out. "It is always so in a normal athlete but in a top-level (athlete) it is difficult to say, sometimes sooner, sometimes later,'' Orava said.
The 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy star suffered the injury playing for AC Milan in March and he indicated today that he may not play again until November, with the MLS campaign due to end late that month.
Speaking backstage to the presenters of ABC's The View, Beckham said: "I won't be running for another three months so I'll be playing again in, probably, November."
Beckham added on mlssoccer.com: "This is an injury that is going to take time to heal. I'm only six weeks in after the surgery. I started therapy 10 days ago and just doing that every day. I kind of want to push it but with this kind of injury you can't. You just have to wait for it to heal and then move on.
"At the moment it's just getting the motion back into the ankle, the tendon, because obviously it's still repairing. I can't stretch too much, I have to wear a boot every day. If I haven't got a boot on, which I didn't today for a few interviews, I have to use crutches - it's one or the other at the moment. It's a pain. It's not easy moving around, but I have to protect it."
The surgeon who operated on Beckham in March, Sakari Orava, said at the time that six months was the likely time the player would be out. "It is always so in a normal athlete but in a top-level (athlete) it is difficult to say, sometimes sooner, sometimes later,'' Orava said.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Injuries don't worry Del Bosqu
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said on Tuesday he was confident his squad would go to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ in good shape despite fitness doubts over stars such as Liverpool forward Fernando Torres.
"There's still a month and a half to go before we get to work and I think there is time for pretty much everyone to be fine," said the former Real Madrid coach, who added that injuries were "part and parcel of things for this stage of the season. I think almost everyone will get there in good shape."
Spain striker Fernando Torres
But he added that "we can't go with five or six men in cotton wool" and so "should someone not make it, there are some great guys waiting in the wings".
On Monday Torres said he felt sure he would recover from knee surgery in time for the finals in South Africa. "The World Cup is the most important thing right now. It has been four years of waiting and if the schedule for my recovery goes according to plan I do not plan to miss it," the 26-year-old wrote on his official website, following surgery on a torn cartilage in his right knee in Barcelona on Sunday.
Torres, whose goal in the UEFA EURO 2008 final against Germany won the tournament for Spain, is set to be out of action for around six weeks. Fellow current walking wounded include Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta and Brazilian-born Villarreal holding midfielder Marcos Senna.
Essien fears finals absence
Michael Essien fears he may not be fit enough to play at this summer's FIFA World Cup™ after resigning himself to the fact he will not return for Chelsea this season.
The Blues yesterday admitted the Ghana midfielder was unlikely to make a late return for their bid to claim the domestic double after injuries have prevented him from appearing for the west Londoners since December.
Essien had hoped to return for this Sunday's home match with Stoke, but after complications in his rehabilitation from a knee injury, the 27-year-old fears he may not even be ready to lead his country to South Africa.
"I am just taking it day by day and if I can make it I will. If not, then I will have sit at home and support the team like every Ghanaian."Essien on the chance that he may miss the finals
"As of now, I don't know," said Essien when asked if he thought he would be fit this summer. "I am just taking it day by day and if I can make it I will. If not, then I will have sit at home and support the team like every Ghanaian. Until I know how the injury improves in the coming days and weeks, it will be difficult to say whether I will make the World Cup or not."
Essien suffered the knee injury while on national team duty at the African Nations Cup in January as Ghana went on to lose in the final to Egypt. The midfielder is central to Ghana's hopes in South Africa, but with their first game against Serbia on June 13 he is reluctant to play unless fully fit.
"Yes it will be [disappointing to miss out], but the World Cup is the best and most difficult football tournament in the world, and I would rather be there fully fit," he added in a statement on his official website michaelessiengh.com before adding: "We will just have to wait and see."
Essien had originally hoped to be back in action in time for Chelsea's home Champions League leg against Inter Milan. But his knee continued to swell up and the player underwent four lots of surgery inside a fortnight.
Almost back before relapse
He began a running programme as a part of his rehabilitation last week, but suffered discomfort in his knee which further slowed his recovery and resigned him to sitting out the remainder of the season. "I will not make the Stoke game and to be honest it is possible my season for Chelsea may be over," he added. "It is still down to the medical team but it looks more unlikely that I will play for Chelsea again this season.
He began a running programme as a part of his rehabilitation last week, but suffered discomfort in his knee which further slowed his recovery and resigned him to sitting out the remainder of the season. "I will not make the Stoke game and to be honest it is possible my season for Chelsea may be over," he added. "It is still down to the medical team but it looks more unlikely that I will play for Chelsea again this season.
"I have been dreaming about coming back and helping the team win a trophy or two like last season but sometimes dreams don't always come true. I am supporting the other guys in different ways at the training ground and I have every confidence that they will deliver.
"The medical team are doing a brilliant job and I can't thank them enough. I started running last week but had to stop because of slight pains I was feeling in my leg. It is a minor setback which I could do without but that is part of the game we play. It has ups and downs and one has to stay focused," he
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Lloris confident of Lyon focus
Their preparations have been disrupted by an 800km coach journey from France, but Hugo Lloris is confident Olympique Lyonnais will be in a positive frame of mind at the Fußball Arena München.
Their preparations have been disrupted by a lengthy coach journey from France, but Hugo Lloris is confident Olympique Lyonnais will be in a positive frame of mind when they emerge at the Fußball Arena München for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
The seven-time French champions faced a road trip of almost 800km to travel to the home of FC Bayern München, although their goalkeeper was keen to downplay its significance at the pre-match press conference. "Our trip was diverting, but now we are happy to be here in Munich and we are looking forward to the game," he said. "'Think positive' is our attitude now. We're keeping concentrated – the preparation and the game are our objectives now. The trip was not a problem."
Bayern have won their last three home games in the UEFA Champions League and have recorded victories in 12 of their last 13 matches in Munich, where they overwhelmed Hannover 96 7-0 on Saturday. "Bayern are a very strong team and we'll have to be at our best here to have a chance at home," Lloris acknowledged. "They came through against Juventus, Fiorentina and Manchester United and showed a lot of character in all those games. They have some very good players, such as Robben and Ribéry. We must be totally concentrated and compact, especially in defence."
Lyon are in the semi-finals for the first time, but the France No1 has no doubt they must surpass their previous performances if they are the reach the final in Madrid. "We'll have to show top performances – twice, against very strong opponents," he said. "Bayern are a strong team with strong individuals, and little details often make the difference in the Champions League. We have to keep our concentration very high. To work as a unit is very important now – if we keep on working together, everything is possible and we can reach our objectives."
The seven-time French champions faced a road trip of almost 800km to travel to the home of FC Bayern München, although their goalkeeper was keen to downplay its significance at the pre-match press conference. "Our trip was diverting, but now we are happy to be here in Munich and we are looking forward to the game," he said. "'Think positive' is our attitude now. We're keeping concentrated – the preparation and the game are our objectives now. The trip was not a problem."
Bayern have won their last three home games in the UEFA Champions League and have recorded victories in 12 of their last 13 matches in Munich, where they overwhelmed Hannover 96 7-0 on Saturday. "Bayern are a very strong team and we'll have to be at our best here to have a chance at home," Lloris acknowledged. "They came through against Juventus, Fiorentina and Manchester United and showed a lot of character in all those games. They have some very good players, such as Robben and Ribéry. We must be totally concentrated and compact, especially in defence."
Lyon are in the semi-finals for the first time, but the France No1 has no doubt they must surpass their previous performances if they are the reach the final in Madrid. "We'll have to show top performances – twice, against very strong opponents," he said. "Bayern are a strong team with strong individuals, and little details often make the difference in the Champions League. We have to keep our concentration very high. To work as a unit is very important now – if we keep on working together, everything is possible and we can reach our objectives."
Barcelona bowed but unbroken
FC Barcelona presented a united front as they assessed their sobering loss to FC Internazionale Milano, admitting temporary defeat before declaring confidence in overturning it.
Defeat is a word that seldom features in the FC Barcelona lexicon yet Josep Guardiola's charges were not afraid to mention it after Tuesday's 3-1 semi-final first-leg loss against FC Internazionale Milano.
Not only was the San Siro setback the fourth reverse of Barcelona's campaign across all competitions, it was also the heaviest defeat of coach Guardiola's two-season reign. Rather than look for excuses, though, the Blaugrana players accepted the outcome in favour of Inter while expressing confidence that their Italian rivals can yet be overcome in next Wednesday's return match at Camp Nou.
Goalscorer Pedro Rodríguez, midfielder Sergio Busquets and right-back Daniel Alves presented a united front in telling UEFA.com that this tie can still be won.
"We started well and were dominating, but then Inter came out of their shells and got their goals, and in the end that was enough," said Pedro. "But we have to stay cool and concentrate on what will be a very tough second leg. We have to come back from this, motivation won't be a problem, and with our fans behind us I think we can do it."
The homegrown forward had temporarily silenced the noisy Interistas when he broke the deadlock after 19 minutes – "it was great play down the wing [from Maxwell] and I managed to get myself into the right position to score from his ball across". However, even after the retaliatory strikes from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito that decided the contest, he remained firm in his opinion that "we'll bounce back".
Busquets, another academy product, repeated the revivalist mantra when he said: "It wasn't the result we wanted but we have home advantage in the second leg and can win the tie – we've done it before. We had the control and the possession but they carried a threat on the break and they scored from a couple of chances after half-time." Indeed, it was between Maicon and Milito's second-half goals that Busquets nearly equalised at 2-2, but his header from a corner was denied by the reflexes of Júlio César.
"
Alves accentuated the positives too, having been reminded that Barça have already beaten the Italian titleholders 2-0 at home in the UEFA Champions League this term. A repeat of that group-stage scoreline would send the Catalans to the final in Madrid, and their marauding full-back said: "
Not only was the San Siro setback the fourth reverse of Barcelona's campaign across all competitions, it was also the heaviest defeat of coach Guardiola's two-season reign. Rather than look for excuses, though, the Blaugrana players accepted the outcome in favour of Inter while expressing confidence that their Italian rivals can yet be overcome in next Wednesday's return match at Camp Nou.
Goalscorer Pedro Rodríguez, midfielder Sergio Busquets and right-back Daniel Alves presented a united front in telling UEFA.com that this tie can still be won.
"We started well and were dominating, but then Inter came out of their shells and got their goals, and in the end that was enough," said Pedro. "But we have to stay cool and concentrate on what will be a very tough second leg. We have to come back from this, motivation won't be a problem, and with our fans behind us I think we can do it."
The homegrown forward had temporarily silenced the noisy Interistas when he broke the deadlock after 19 minutes – "it was great play down the wing [from Maxwell] and I managed to get myself into the right position to score from his ball across". However, even after the retaliatory strikes from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito that decided the contest, he remained firm in his opinion that "we'll bounce back".
Busquets, another academy product, repeated the revivalist mantra when he said: "It wasn't the result we wanted but we have home advantage in the second leg and can win the tie – we've done it before. We had the control and the possession but they carried a threat on the break and they scored from a couple of chances after half-time." Indeed, it was between Maicon and Milito's second-half goals that Busquets nearly equalised at 2-2, but his header from a corner was denied by the reflexes of Júlio César.
"
I don't think it was a fair result, I don't think there was a two-goal difference between the teams," continued the anchorman. "We played well at times, and in other moments it was clear Inter are a great team with great players. We just have to get on with the job. We are confident we can progress."
Alves accentuated the positives too, having been reminded that Barça have already beaten the Italian titleholders 2-0 at home in the UEFA Champions League this term. A repeat of that group-stage scoreline would send the Catalans to the final in Madrid, and their marauding full-back said: "
We have no choice but to go for it. They have the advantage but there are still 90 minutes for us to change all that."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Mourinho expects Inter show of strength
Having endured a 14-hour coach trip, FC Barcelona face another test of stamina against an FC Internazionale Milano side deemed "much stronger" than earlier this term by coach José Mourinho.
FC Internazionale Milano coach José Mourinho believes his side are "much stronger" now than when they faced FC Barcelona in the group stage as the two teams prepare to meet again in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. While Mourinho was happy for Barcelona to be considered favourites ahead of Tuesday's first leg at San Siro, his opposite number Josep Guardiola was concerned too much expectation was being placed on the holders, particularly after a gruelling 14-hour bus drive to Milan.
José Mourinho, Inter coach
Everybody talks about Messi, but football is not an individual sport, though of course he is a player who deserves special attention. I worked with Puyol ten years ago, but he seems to be the same player. He looks like a 21-year-old, not a 30-year-old. Success has not changed him and that's the best thing for a player.
Josep Guardiola, Barcelona coachIt's not just us playing; Inter are as well. They have been Italian champions for four years in a row. It is not the ideal situation for us to travel 14 hours by coach after a league game and before a semi-final against Inter, but you cannot stop a volcano, can you? We decided to use two busses to have more space and I didn't travel with the players because I think it's better for them not to always have their coach with them.
I don't want to think about the league; we are in a Champions League semi-final for the third time in a row and I want to savour it. [Saturday's 0-0 draw at] Espanyol is history. Inter can play in a variety of ways. They have versatile players who do whatever their coach asks. I have no idea which Inter to expect. We want to be ourselves – we have to.
Team news
Inter
Out: Davide Santon (knee), Francesco Toldo (leg)
Doubtful: none
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Walter Samuel, Maicon, Javier Zanetti, Dejan Stanković
• Santon is out until the end of the month after knee surgery.
José Mourinho, Inter coach
Barça deserved to win in November. They are as strong now as they were then, but we are much stronger. I don't mind if the football world considers them favourites, I think we have a 50% chance of playing in the final. What I do not like is to talk about this game as if it were a final; the real final will be played in Madrid. Lyon and Bayern have the same chances of winning the trophy as Barcelona and Inter have.
Everybody talks about Messi, but football is not an individual sport, though of course he is a player who deserves special attention. I worked with Puyol ten years ago, but he seems to be the same player. He looks like a 21-year-old, not a 30-year-old. Success has not changed him and that's the best thing for a player.
Josep Guardiola, Barcelona coachIt's not just us playing; Inter are as well. They have been Italian champions for four years in a row. It is not the ideal situation for us to travel 14 hours by coach after a league game and before a semi-final against Inter, but you cannot stop a volcano, can you? We decided to use two busses to have more space and I didn't travel with the players because I think it's better for them not to always have their coach with them.
Luckily Inter eliminated CSKA so we haven't had to go to Moscow by bus!
I don't want to think about the league; we are in a Champions League semi-final for the third time in a row and I want to savour it. [Saturday's 0-0 draw at] Espanyol is history. Inter can play in a variety of ways. They have versatile players who do whatever their coach asks. I have no idea which Inter to expect. We want to be ourselves – we have to.
Team news
Inter
Out: Davide Santon (knee), Francesco Toldo (leg)
Doubtful: none
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Walter Samuel, Maicon, Javier Zanetti, Dejan Stanković
• Santon is out until the end of the month after knee surgery.
Barcelona
Out: Andrés Iniesta(right thigh)
Doubtful: none
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Carles Puyol
• Zlatan Ibrahimović returned from a calf problem to face RCD Espanyol on Saturday and Eric Abidal has recovered from a groin tear. Weekend results
16/04/10 Inter 2-0 Juventus
(Maicon 75, Eto'o 90+2)
• Juve were reduced to ten men in the first half, but it took until the last 15 minutes for Inter to secure victory in Mourinho's 100th game in charge and Zanetti's 500th Serie A appearance for the club.
• AS Roma beat S.S. Lazio 2-1 on Sunday to regain top spot in Serie A and leave Inter a point adrift with four games remaining.
17/04/10 RCD Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona
• Barcelona's Liga lead over Real Madrid CF was reduced to one point after they had Daniel Alves sent off in a draw at the home of their city neighbours.
• It was only the second time that Barcelona failed to score in the league this season.
Background
• In Inter's first semi-final since 2002/03, they meet familiar opponents from the group stage. The two sides drew 0-0 at San Siro on 16 September and Barcelona won 2-0 at home on 24 November, Gerard Piqué and Pedro Rodríguez getting the goals.
• These teams' other San Siro meeting, in the 2002/03 second group stage, also ended goalless. Zanetti, Puyol and Xavi Hernández all played in that game.
• Inter are yet to score against Barcelona in four competitive matches.
Team Ties
• Mourinho served as an assistant to the late Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal at Barcelona from 1996 to 2000.
• Inter forward Diego Milito, 30, could line up against his 29-year-old brother Gabriel of Barcelona. The Argentinian international siblings played together for two seasons with Real Zaragoza between 2005 and 2007.
Did you know?
• Inter are unbeaten at San Siro in this season's competition and have never lost in seven European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-final home legs.
Read more on the match in the official UEFA Champions League press kit.
Out: Andrés Iniesta(right thigh)
Doubtful: none
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Carles Puyol
• Zlatan Ibrahimović returned from a calf problem to face RCD Espanyol on Saturday and Eric Abidal has recovered from a groin tear. Weekend results
16/04/10 Inter 2-0 Juventus
(Maicon 75, Eto'o 90+2)
• Juve were reduced to ten men in the first half, but it took until the last 15 minutes for Inter to secure victory in Mourinho's 100th game in charge and Zanetti's 500th Serie A appearance for the club.
• AS Roma beat S.S. Lazio 2-1 on Sunday to regain top spot in Serie A and leave Inter a point adrift with four games remaining.
17/04/10 RCD Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona
• Barcelona's Liga lead over Real Madrid CF was reduced to one point after they had Daniel Alves sent off in a draw at the home of their city neighbours.
• It was only the second time that Barcelona failed to score in the league this season.
Background
• In Inter's first semi-final since 2002/03, they meet familiar opponents from the group stage. The two sides drew 0-0 at San Siro on 16 September and Barcelona won 2-0 at home on 24 November, Gerard Piqué and Pedro Rodríguez getting the goals.
• These teams' other San Siro meeting, in the 2002/03 second group stage, also ended goalless. Zanetti, Puyol and Xavi Hernández all played in that game.
• Inter are yet to score against Barcelona in four competitive matches.
Team Ties
• Mourinho served as an assistant to the late Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal at Barcelona from 1996 to 2000.
• Inter forward Diego Milito, 30, could line up against his 29-year-old brother Gabriel of Barcelona. The Argentinian international siblings played together for two seasons with Real Zaragoza between 2005 and 2007.
Did you know?
• Inter are unbeaten at San Siro in this season's competition and have never lost in seven European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-final home legs.
Read more on the match in the official UEFA Champions League press kit.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Handover makes Madrid proud hosts
Handover makes Madrid proud hosts
Published: Friday 16 April 2010, 15.01CET
Host city Madrid has taken charge of the UEFA Champions League Trophy after a handover ceremony in which the silverware was presented to mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardón.
The countdown to the UEFA Champions League final at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium continues apace after one of the stars of the show – the trophy itself – was handed over to the city of Madrid at a special ceremony in the Spanish capital.
With spring sunshine shining through the glass roof of the magnificent Palacio de Comunicaciones in the Plaza de Cibeles, footballing dignitaries joined players past and present to witness the arrival of one of sport's most coveted prizes: the UEFA Champions League Trophy.
In a symbolic act heralding Madrid's role as host city, last season's trophy winners FC Barcelona – represented by honorary president Johan Cruyff and club president Joan Laporta – handed the celebrated silverware to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president, Ángel María Villar Llona, who in turn presented it to Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, mayor of Madrid.
"This city feels deeply honoured and moved at being given the responsibility of hosting the final," said Alberto Ruiz Gallardón. "It is a final that will take place in a magnificent stadium belonging to a team [Real Madrid CF] that has won this competition nine times, so we hope to see an unforgettable game."
The showpiece occasion on Saturday 22 May will the fourth time Madrid has staged a European Champion Clubs' Cup final – the last was the 1980 edition between Nottingham Forest FC and Hamburger SV – and the first in the UEFA Champions League era.
Ángel María Villar Llona expressed the RFEF's pride in helping to meet the challenge of organising what is not just a final, but a week-long programme of activities featuring the Champions Festival (15-22 May), UEFA Grassroots Day (19 May), the Under-18 final/Champions Challenge (19 May) and the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Getafe (20 May).
"This marvellous city lives and breathes football," he told an audience that included Real Madrid favourites Raúl González, Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo. With this UEFA Champions League final also being the first played on a Saturday, Villar Llona – a UEFA third vice-president – added: "One of the priorities has been to allow more families and children in particular to see the game, so we are delighted."
Final ambassador Emilio Butragueño highlighted the importance of the pre-match activities, which will make it an exciting build-up to the big event. "The fans are going to have a lot to enjoy between now and the final," the former Spain forward told assembled guests and reporters. "There will be competitions for the public and the chance to have photos taken with the trophy."
The UEFA Champions League Trophy goes on tour in Madrid from Saturday 17 April until Friday 14 May. The tour begins at 12.00CET in the Puerta del Sol, one of the city's most emblematic squares.
Published: Friday 16 April 2010, 15.01CET
Host city Madrid has taken charge of the UEFA Champions League Trophy after a handover ceremony in which the silverware was presented to mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardón.
The countdown to the UEFA Champions League final at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium continues apace after one of the stars of the show – the trophy itself – was handed over to the city of Madrid at a special ceremony in the Spanish capital.
With spring sunshine shining through the glass roof of the magnificent Palacio de Comunicaciones in the Plaza de Cibeles, footballing dignitaries joined players past and present to witness the arrival of one of sport's most coveted prizes: the UEFA Champions League Trophy.
In a symbolic act heralding Madrid's role as host city, last season's trophy winners FC Barcelona – represented by honorary president Johan Cruyff and club president Joan Laporta – handed the celebrated silverware to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president, Ángel María Villar Llona, who in turn presented it to Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, mayor of Madrid.
"This city feels deeply honoured and moved at being given the responsibility of hosting the final," said Alberto Ruiz Gallardón. "It is a final that will take place in a magnificent stadium belonging to a team [Real Madrid CF] that has won this competition nine times, so we hope to see an unforgettable game."
The showpiece occasion on Saturday 22 May will the fourth time Madrid has staged a European Champion Clubs' Cup final – the last was the 1980 edition between Nottingham Forest FC and Hamburger SV – and the first in the UEFA Champions League era.
Ángel María Villar Llona expressed the RFEF's pride in helping to meet the challenge of organising what is not just a final, but a week-long programme of activities featuring the Champions Festival (15-22 May), UEFA Grassroots Day (19 May), the Under-18 final/Champions Challenge (19 May) and the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Getafe (20 May).
"This marvellous city lives and breathes football," he told an audience that included Real Madrid favourites Raúl González, Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo. With this UEFA Champions League final also being the first played on a Saturday, Villar Llona – a UEFA third vice-president – added: "One of the priorities has been to allow more families and children in particular to see the game, so we are delighted."
Final ambassador Emilio Butragueño highlighted the importance of the pre-match activities, which will make it an exciting build-up to the big event. "The fans are going to have a lot to enjoy between now and the final," the former Spain forward told assembled guests and reporters. "There will be competitions for the public and the chance to have photos taken with the trophy."
The UEFA Champions League Trophy goes on tour in Madrid from Saturday 17 April until Friday 14 May. The tour begins at 12.00CET in the Puerta del Sol, one of the city's most emblematic squares.
Champions League matches to go ahead
Both of this week's UEFA Champions League semi-final first legs will go ahead as scheduled this week despite the current restriction on European air travel due to the volcanic cloud.
The two UEFA Champions League semi-final first legs will go ahead as scheduled this week despite the current restrictions on European air travel due to the volcanic cloud. The refereeing team that has been announced for the match on Tuesday is so far maintained and a backup appointment has been prepared in case it should prove necessary to make a replacement.
Both visiting teams have taken all the necessary steps to rearrange their travel plans to ensure they reach their match venues on time. FC Barcelona are away to FC Internazionale Milano at 20.45CET on Tuesday and Olympique Lyonnais are at FC Bayern München 24 hours later.
A decision will be taken in the coming days about Thursday's two UEFA Europa League matches: Club Atlético de Madrid v Liverpool FC and Hamburger SV v Fulham FC, as well as for the UEFA Futsal Cup finals in Lisbon from Friday. However, Sunday's UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final between Umeå IK and Lyon in Sweden was postponed as the French side were unable to travel. UEFA.com will announce further news as it becomes available.
The two UEFA Champions League semi-final first legs will go ahead as scheduled this week despite the current restrictions on European air travel due to the volcanic cloud. The refereeing team that has been announced for the match on Tuesday is so far maintained and a backup appointment has been prepared in case it should prove necessary to make a replacement.
Both visiting teams have taken all the necessary steps to rearrange their travel plans to ensure they reach their match venues on time. FC Barcelona are away to FC Internazionale Milano at 20.45CET on Tuesday and Olympique Lyonnais are at FC Bayern München 24 hours later.
A decision will be taken in the coming days about Thursday's two UEFA Europa League matches: Club Atlético de Madrid v Liverpool FC and Hamburger SV v Fulham FC, as well as for the UEFA Futsal Cup finals in Lisbon from Friday. However, Sunday's UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final between Umeå IK and Lyon in Sweden was postponed as the French side were unable to travel. UEFA.com will announce further news as it becomes available.
All smiles as fans book seats
Nkoulou hunting the lion king
The 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™ was notable for many things and not least for introducing a certain Rigobert Song to football fans the planet over. At 17, the Cameroon defender became one of the youngest ever players to grace the global stage and now, 16 years on, he can rightly claim to be the king of the Indomitable Lions, boasting more caps than any of his compatriots.
If he is granted the chance to add to his tally in South Africa this summer, Song’s vast experience will no doubt prove a valuable commodity for his exciting young team-mate Nicolas Nkoulou. “I’m happy to be playing alongside him because, a few years ago, I only saw him on television,” said Nikoulou, who at 20 is conscious of the lessons he can learn from the elder statesman. “He’s always talking to me. He tells me to try and do as he does, give everything and be aware that we’re playing for a whole nation.”
Song may well start uttering words of a different nature if he fails to make Cameroon’s travelling party, on the other hand, and that remains a serious possibility given that Nkoulou’s recent emergence has nudged the former captain closer to retirement. The iconic centre-back has been in the game long enough to know that his days are numbered, especially considering his young counterpart’s staggering progress so far.
A starter for Monaco at 19, Nkoulou is no stranger to major international tournaments having appeared in his first shortly after joining the principality club in summer 2008. Nkoulou delayed his Ligue 1 debut for the chance to contest the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament at Beijing 2008 and after spending the opening match on the bench, he came on as a right-back in the second game. He has not left the line-up since.
‘One day I’ll be there too’
Although Cameroon eventually fell to Brazil in the quarter-finals, Nkoulou was assigned to mark Ronaldinho and kept his illustrious opponent quiet throughout. His side may have ultimately fallen short of the mark set by the Samuel Eto’o generation in 2000, winners at the Sydney Games, but the fledgling defender will always savour his memories of the event.
Although Cameroon eventually fell to Brazil in the quarter-finals, Nkoulou was assigned to mark Ronaldinho and kept his illustrious opponent quiet throughout. His side may have ultimately fallen short of the mark set by the Samuel Eto’o generation in 2000, winners at the Sydney Games, but the fledgling defender will always savour his memories of the event.
"He’s always talking to me. He tells me to try and do as he does, give everything and be aware that we’re playing for a whole nation." Nkoulou on Rigobert Song
“It’s the dream of every young player,” explained the Yaounde native, whose skills were first honed by KSA Douala. “When you play a sport, you have idols, dreams and goals. When I watched the Games in 2000, I told myself that one day I’d be there too. Defending my country’s colours in the senior team was also one of my goals.”
That latter objective was met during a friendly encounter with South Africa in November 2008, and Nkoulou continued impressing enough to earn himself selection for Cameroon’s 2010 CAF African Cup of Nations campaign in Angola. Now fielded in his favourite position at the heart of the defence, he went on to become one of the few Indomitable Lions spared criticism as the team limped out of the competition in disappointing circumstances. Beaten 1-0 by Gabon in the group stage and only able to draw 2-2 with Tunisia, their tournament ended with a 3-1 extra-time loss to Egypt in the last eight.
Talent and versatility
Exiting the competition at the same stage was enough to prompt Côte d’Ivoire to part ways with coach Vahid Halilhodzic, but Cameroon opted to retain faith in Paul Le Guen. For his part, the former Lyon coach has stuck with Nkoulou, whose reliability, distribution and versatility mark him out as a special talent. Still preferred in central defence for his country, he operates as a holding midfielder for Monaco, and that ability to shine in a number of roles has helped him contest more than 40 matches in all competitions in what is only his second season in the French top flight.
Exiting the competition at the same stage was enough to prompt Côte d’Ivoire to part ways with coach Vahid Halilhodzic, but Cameroon opted to retain faith in Paul Le Guen. For his part, the former Lyon coach has stuck with Nkoulou, whose reliability, distribution and versatility mark him out as a special talent. Still preferred in central defence for his country, he operates as a holding midfielder for Monaco, and that ability to shine in a number of roles has helped him contest more than 40 matches in all competitions in what is only his second season in the French top flight.
“It’s always preferable to have several strings to your bow,” said Nkoulou. “That’s what makes it possible for me to play a lot. If I wasn’t able to perform in a number of positions, there’s no doubt I wouldn’t have appeared in all those games. I’m young, I’m learning about different positions and I try to give my best whatever the situation.”
It was at centre-back that Nkoulou again stood out during a friendly against world champions Italy in March. With Song not even called up to the squad, his young rival helped hold the Azzurri forwards at bay in a goalless draw, but he is loath to read too much into what was both an impeccable individual display and a solid team performance. “That draw was neither reassuring nor disappointing,” he says. “Yes, they were the world champions, but we won't be resting on our laurels. We’re still a team under construction.”
Cameroon must now ready themselves to face Group E rivals Denmark, Japan and the Netherlands on South African soil, so forging a sturdy defence will undoubtedly be central to those reconstruction efforts. Unfortunately for Song, Le Guen is likely to prefer a modern edifice to a historical monument when he looks to build from the back.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Messi calm in eye of storm
Published: Thursday 15 April 2010
Ask Lionel Messi about comparisons with Diego Maradona and his eyes glaze over, but in one vital respect at least evidence suggests the youngster has the upper hand – temperament.
Published: Thursday 15 April 2010
Messi calm in eye of storm
Ask Lionel Messi about comparisons with Diego Maradona and his eyes glaze over, but in one vital respect at least evidence suggests the youngster has the upper hand – temperament.
With the blossoming of his talent, his natural maturing and his happiness at being in a long-term relationship, Lionel Messi has grown noticeably more at ease, more humorous and more open in his dealings with the media.
But one particular question will still make his eyes glaze, turn the atmosphere chilly and start the countdown to when the FC Barcelona striker is up and out of the door. If the interviewer is daft enough to try to lure the 22-year-old into the tiresome debate about whether he or Diego Maradona is the better footballer or the greatest in history, a verbal dribble will ensue, followed by a pair of clean heels. Defenders suffer the same every week.
However, objective evidence is beginning to give the strongest notice that in one vital respect Messi is Maradona's better; temperament. Yes, the prodigy has shown hints of a fire-and-brimstone temper – including a red card 90 seconds into his international debut five years ago – but he can dominate these flashes.
"
In that period, 27 yellow cards had been shown to players for halting him illegally, as the unstoppable force kept crashing into immovable objects. Yet Messi possesses the self-discipline to avoid retaliation – at club level he averages a booking every ten games or so – and statistics show he commits significantly less than one foul a match.
"
Those who have followed his career since his days with Barcelona B will perceive more acutely Messi's burgeoning confidence and maturity. They will remember the forward's fit of pique after he was denied a place in Frank Rijkaard's squad for the 2006 UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal FC, when the player himself believed he had recovered sufficiently from injury. After the Blaugrana triumph, the teenager refused to celebrate with the team and the trophy on the pitch in Paris.
He is tired of the subject, yet now says: "It was a mistake. I had a rush of blood to the head, but I've learned that you must seize the moment." So when the moment next came, in last May's final against Manchester United FC, Messi did just that – not only ending his record of never having scored a competitive goal against an English side, but heading the decisive second in Rome.
Then there is the hugely increased self-assurance of a young man once so shy that Cesc Fàbregas often jokes "we thought he was mute". Revelling in Barça's Spanish title success at the Camp Nou at the end of last season, Messi used his time in front of the microphone to remind the 98,000 audience of the struggles suffered by injured colleague Gabriel Milito. The voice was loud and strong, the message mature.
His performance at the mic upon returning to the same arena with the UEFA Champions League trophy was a little wobblier, following a long and thirsty day on the open-topped bus around Barcelona. Television clips show his team-mates clasping their heads in astonishment when a dancing Messi promises: "
But one particular question will still make his eyes glaze, turn the atmosphere chilly and start the countdown to when the FC Barcelona striker is up and out of the door. If the interviewer is daft enough to try to lure the 22-year-old into the tiresome debate about whether he or Diego Maradona is the better footballer or the greatest in history, a verbal dribble will ensue, followed by a pair of clean heels. Defenders suffer the same every week.
However, objective evidence is beginning to give the strongest notice that in one vital respect Messi is Maradona's better; temperament. Yes, the prodigy has shown hints of a fire-and-brimstone temper – including a red card 90 seconds into his international debut five years ago – but he can dominate these flashes.
"
Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win," Messi told UEFA.com. "I've always had this ability to get up and get on with it." If conquering his growth hormone deficit was Messi's toughest challenge, keeping his head must also represent a constant test of will for a player fouled about once every 30 minutes in the Liga and UEFA Champions League this season – the foul count is 94 in 37 matches up to early April.
In that period, 27 yellow cards had been shown to players for halting him illegally, as the unstoppable force kept crashing into immovable objects. Yet Messi possesses the self-discipline to avoid retaliation – at club level he averages a booking every ten games or so – and statistics show he commits significantly less than one foul a match.
"
I worked out long ago that the fact people try to kick and foul you comes with the territory when you play the way I do," the Argentinian international said. "At the start of a match, when you are not properly warmed up, it hurts a bit more. But by the time the game is in full flow, you are concentrating so hard on winning that usually you barely notice what has happened."
Those who have followed his career since his days with Barcelona B will perceive more acutely Messi's burgeoning confidence and maturity. They will remember the forward's fit of pique after he was denied a place in Frank Rijkaard's squad for the 2006 UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal FC, when the player himself believed he had recovered sufficiently from injury. After the Blaugrana triumph, the teenager refused to celebrate with the team and the trophy on the pitch in Paris.
He is tired of the subject, yet now says: "It was a mistake. I had a rush of blood to the head, but I've learned that you must seize the moment." So when the moment next came, in last May's final against Manchester United FC, Messi did just that – not only ending his record of never having scored a competitive goal against an English side, but heading the decisive second in Rome.
Then there is the hugely increased self-assurance of a young man once so shy that Cesc Fàbregas often jokes "we thought he was mute". Revelling in Barça's Spanish title success at the Camp Nou at the end of last season, Messi used his time in front of the microphone to remind the 98,000 audience of the struggles suffered by injured colleague Gabriel Milito. The voice was loud and strong, the message mature.
His performance at the mic upon returning to the same arena with the UEFA Champions League trophy was a little wobblier, following a long and thirsty day on the open-topped bus around Barcelona. Television clips show his team-mates clasping their heads in astonishment when a dancing Messi promises: "
We are going to win all these trophies all over again." From another player, it might have been a mistake or a vain boast. But what we have learned with this maturing genius is that he meant it. And that he is capable of fulfilling it. That's how good he is.
©UEFA.com 1998-2010. All rights reserved.
Laporta backs Valdes for Spain
Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes in-form goalkeeper Victor Valdes deserves to be part of Spain's World Cup squad this summer.
Valdes, 28, has yet to win an international cap at senior level but he is making a strong case to be part of Vicente Del Bosque's party to South Africa with some fine performances this season.
Wednesday night's 3-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna saw Valdes keep his 18th clean sheet in 32 league games, and with just 19 goals conceded all campaign he looks on course to win his third Zamora trophy as the leading goalkeeper in La Liga, having also won it in 2005 and last season.
Iker Casillas and Jose Reina are confirmed first- and second-choice goalkeepers for Spain, but Laporta feels Valdes should also be on the plane to South Africa.
"He's the best goalkeeper in the league," he told Canal+. "There's no doubt that he deserves it. I would like to see him at the World Cup in South Africa. Everybody can see it and he deserves this reward."
GettyImagesVictor Valdes is currently third-choice for Vicente Del Bosque
Wednesday night's 3-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna saw Valdes keep his 18th clean sheet in 32 league games, and with just 19 goals conceded all campaign he looks on course to win his third Zamora trophy as the leading goalkeeper in La Liga, having also won it in 2005 and last season.
Iker Casillas and Jose Reina are confirmed first- and second-choice goalkeepers for Spain, but Laporta feels Valdes should also be on the plane to South Africa.
"He's the best goalkeeper in the league," he told Canal+. "There's no doubt that he deserves it. I would like to see him at the World Cup in South Africa. Everybody can see it and he deserves this reward."
Arema, Menang Lagi
Penampilan yang sangat menghibur di tunjukan oleh kedua kesebelasan, khususnya arema yanng mampu mengungguli persijap 2-0 pada babak pertama. tampil tanpa kedua pemain timnas singapura para striker arema tetap saja sangat membahayakan bagi pemain belakang persijap
pada injury time babak keduaa arrema berhasil menambah gol nya lewat pemain pengganti roni firmansyah, 3-0 arema memenangkan pertandingan perdana pada piala indonesia 2010.
pada injury time babak keduaa arrema berhasil menambah gol nya lewat pemain pengganti roni firmansyah, 3-0 arema memenangkan pertandingan perdana pada piala indonesia 2010.
Maria Kalah pada Putaran Pertama Kejuaraan Asia
Maria Kristin (ANTARA/Hermanus Prihatna)
Dalam turnamen yang digelar di New Delhi India tersebut, saat memimpin 17-11 pada game kedua, Maria terkejar sebelum akhirnya menyerah 21-15, 18-21, 16-21 pada pebulu tangkis Hong Kong itu.
Peraih medali perunggu Olimpiade Beijing 2008 tersebut hanya kurang empat poin untuk meraih kemenangan ketika pebulu tangkis Hong Kong itu mengumpulkan tujuh poin beruntun untuk membalik keadaaan dan merebut game kedua.
Pada game penentuan, Maria tidak mampu bangkit kembali dan menyerah setelah bermain selama 56 menit.
Asisten pelatih tunggal Thomas Indratjaja mengatakan pada saat itu Maria kehilangan konsentrasi sehingga banyak melakukan kesalahan sendiri.
"Jadi agak `blank` konsentrasinya, banyak membuat kesalahan sendiri," ujar Thomas.
Nugroho Andi Saputro juga harus pulang lebih awal setelah gagal mengatasi unggulan 15 Andre Kurniawan yang mengalahkannya 21-18, 21-18.
Pada babak 16 besar, Andre, atlet PB Djarum Kudus, bertemu unggulan kelima asal Thailand Boonsak Ponsana yang menang atas pemain Pakistan Wajid Ali Chaudhry 21-16, 21-14.
Kemenangan atas pemain Vietnam Le Ha Anh 21-10, 21-16 juga membawa unggulan pertama Taufik Hidayat maju ke babak 16 besar.
Tumbangkan unggulan keempat
Sementara itu, duet baru ganda campuran Tantowi Ahmad/Greysia Polii meraih kemenangan dalam penampilan perdana mereka, saat pasangan itu menumbangkan Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam.
Pada pertandingan putaran pertama, Rabu, pasangan tersebut mengalahkan ganda campuran Thailand yang menjadi unggulan keempat itu dua game langsung 21-19, 21-14.
Selanjutnya mereka akan berhadapan dengan ganda Vietnam Bao Duc Duong/Thi Hong Gam Thai yang mengalahkan rekan senegara mereka Nguyen Khang Huynh/Nhung Le Ngoc 21-17, 21-17.
Pasangan Devin Lahardi/Liliyana Natsir juga meraih kemenangan awal setelah unggulan kelima itu tanpa kesulitan menundukkan pasangan tuan rumah Tarun Kona/Shruti Kurian 21-9, 21-9.
Pada putaran kedua, Devin/Liliyana akan menghadapi ganda Korea Han Sang Hoon/Jang Ye Na yang menang 21-14, 21-9 atas pasangan India lainnya Jishnu Sanyal/Jyotsna P.
Nasib berbeda dialami ganda campuran Muhammad Rijal/Debby Susanto yang dihentikan pasangan Taiwan Lee Sheng Mu/Chien Yu Chin 18-21, 21-13, 11-21.
(T.F005/I015/R009)
Piala Indonesia 2010
Malang (ANTARA News) - Laga perdana grup E kompetisi Piala Indonesia yang mempertemukan Arema Indonesia dengan Persijap Jepara, Kamis (15/4) batal digelar di Stadion Gajayana Kota Malang karena kondisi lampu stadion yang tidak memenuhi standar.Media Officer Arema Indonesia Sudarmaji, Kamis, mengatakan, pihak unit pelaksana teknis daerah (UPTD) Stadion Gajayana sudah melayangkan surat pada panpel Arema yang memastikan bahwa stadion Gajayana tidak bisa digunakan karena kondisi beberapa lampu stadion mati.
"Semula kami memang akan menjadikan Stadion Gajayana sebagai tempat pertandingan grup E, namun kondisi lampu tidak bisa maksimal dan pihak UPTD sendiri juga tidak bisa memberikan jaminan ketika pertandingan harus digelar malam hari," tegasnya.
Beberapa lampu yang terpasang di empat sudut stadion tersebut mati sehingga penerangan untuk pertandingan malam hari tidak bisa maksimal.
Dari standar kekuatan lampu untuk menggelar pertandingan di malam hari yang minimal 1.200 lux, saat ini hanya tersisa 240 lux.
Karena surat resmi dari UPTD Stadion Gajayana tersebut tidak bisa memberikan jaminan, katanya, maka pertandingan grup E yang semula akan digelar di stadion milik Pemkot Malang itu dipindah ke Stadion Kanjuruhan Kepanjen, Kabupaten Malang.
Sementara Ketua panpel Arema Indonesia Abriadi mengatakan, pada pertandingan perdana dan kedua, seluruhnya digelar di Stadion Kanjuruhan. Namun, untuk pertandingan ketiga Arema Indonesia yang menghadapi Mojokerto Putra (MP) digelar di Stadion Gajayana.
Pada laga ketiga Selasa (20/4) dua pertandingan harus digelar secara bersamaan, sehingga Stadion Gajayana tetap digunakan. Namun, waktu pertandingan juga dipilih sore hari guna menghindari penggunaan lampu.
Pada babak awal Piala Indonesia Arema Indonesia bersama Persijap Jepara, Deltras Sidoarjo, dan MP berada di grup E. Pada pertandingan awal, Kamis (15/4) Arema Indonesia bakal menghadapi Persijap Jepara dan Deltra Sidoarjo menghadapi MP.
Arema Indonesia akan berlaga kembali pada Sabtu (17/4) menghadapi Deltras Sidoarjo dan MP menghadapi Persijap Jepara. Sedangkan pertandingan ketiga (Selasa, 20/4) akan digelar secara bersamaan di Stadion Kanjuruhan dan Gajayana, dimana tuan rumah Arema Indonesia akan menghadapi MP dan Deltras Sidoarjo menghadapi Persijap Jepara.
Selama Piala Indonesia berlangsung, harga tiket pertandingan Arema Indonesia diturunkan. Jika pada pertandingan LSI seharga Rp25 ribu (ekonomi) turun menjadi Rp10 ribu, VIP seharga Rp25 ribu dari Rp50 ribu dan VVIP dibanderol Rp50 ribu dari harga Rp75 ribu.(E009/A038)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Update skor Liga Super Indonesia 14.april.2010
Stadion Tambaksari Surabaya.
pada pertengahan babak pertama koordinasi yang di buat oleh kedua tim sangat bagus,lagi-lagi finishing mereka seperti tanpa tujuan.penampilan bek dari kedua kesebelasan masih sangat displin.
pada menit ke 27 gelandang persitara mboma di gantikan oleh mendeita.
pada menit ke 30 persitara mempunyai peluang dari tendangan bebas, di sebelah pojok daerah pertahanan surabaya, namun masih gagal.
padda menit 32 pelatih persebaya memasukan pemain muda m.andik menggantikan pemain muda lainnya lucky wahyu.
persebaya mendapatkan tendangan bebas di depan kotak pinalti pada menit 38, yang di lakukan oleh pato morales, namun masih menyamping dari sasaran. Di akhir- akhir babak pertama persebaya terus menggempur pertahanan persitara. dan pada menit ke yang sama "43 pemain persebaya mendapatkan kartu kuning juga pemain persitara. persebaya sekaligus mendapatkan peluang dari tendangan bebas yang di lakukan oleh pato morales yang kemudian diteruskan oleh sundulan andi odang yang akhirnya membuat gol, 1-1 persebaya menyamakan kedudukan, hingga akhir babak pertama tetap seri.
permulaan pada babak ke dua, persebaya langsung menyerang, pato morales yang menyesatkan bola ke gawang persitara pada menit 50, 2-1 ontuk persebaya. dan pada menit 56 melalui proses yang bagus, andi odang dapat menyelesaikan umpan terukur dari supriyono, 3-1 persebaya masih unggul. terlalu berhati-hati bermain, pada akhirnya persitara mampu mencuri gol pada menit ke 79 oleh PK Bello. nampaknya pada menit ke 82 dedi mulyadi mendapatkan kartu kuning, akibat melanggar m,andik.
sampai menit terakhir persebaya tetap unggul 3-2, hasil ini sangat berarti bagi persebaya untuk tetap berada pada ISL musim depan.
Sejak menit awal kedua kesebelasan bermain saling menyerang, tetapi pada menit 11 persitara lebh beruntung karena kerja sama pemain tengah, yang kemudian di sodorkan kepada Tantan seorang striker asal jawa barat ini berhasil menghasilkan gol yang sangat bagus, 1-0 untik persitara
pada menit 15 persebaya mempunyai peluang manis lewat sprint seorang andi odang namun masih bisa di antisipasi oleh penjaga gawang.pada pertengahan babak pertama koordinasi yang di buat oleh kedua tim sangat bagus,lagi-lagi finishing mereka seperti tanpa tujuan.penampilan bek dari kedua kesebelasan masih sangat displin.
pada menit ke 27 gelandang persitara mboma di gantikan oleh mendeita.
pada menit ke 30 persitara mempunyai peluang dari tendangan bebas, di sebelah pojok daerah pertahanan surabaya, namun masih gagal.
padda menit 32 pelatih persebaya memasukan pemain muda m.andik menggantikan pemain muda lainnya lucky wahyu.
persebaya mendapatkan tendangan bebas di depan kotak pinalti pada menit 38, yang di lakukan oleh pato morales, namun masih menyamping dari sasaran. Di akhir- akhir babak pertama persebaya terus menggempur pertahanan persitara. dan pada menit ke yang sama "43 pemain persebaya mendapatkan kartu kuning juga pemain persitara. persebaya sekaligus mendapatkan peluang dari tendangan bebas yang di lakukan oleh pato morales yang kemudian diteruskan oleh sundulan andi odang yang akhirnya membuat gol, 1-1 persebaya menyamakan kedudukan, hingga akhir babak pertama tetap seri.
permulaan pada babak ke dua, persebaya langsung menyerang, pato morales yang menyesatkan bola ke gawang persitara pada menit 50, 2-1 ontuk persebaya. dan pada menit 56 melalui proses yang bagus, andi odang dapat menyelesaikan umpan terukur dari supriyono, 3-1 persebaya masih unggul. terlalu berhati-hati bermain, pada akhirnya persitara mampu mencuri gol pada menit ke 79 oleh PK Bello. nampaknya pada menit ke 82 dedi mulyadi mendapatkan kartu kuning, akibat melanggar m,andik.
sampai menit terakhir persebaya tetap unggul 3-2, hasil ini sangat berarti bagi persebaya untuk tetap berada pada ISL musim depan.
Arema Indonesia Bidik Gelar Ganda
Malang (ANTARA News) - Arema Indonesia membidik gelar ganda, juara Liga Super Indonesia (LSI) 2009/2010 dan Piala Indonesia 2010, demikian asisten pelatih Arema Indonesia Liestiadi, Selasa, dengan menegaskan Piala Indonesia bukan ajang "numpang lewat" saja.
"Kami serius mengejar `mimpi` mengawinkan dua gelar sekaligus, sebagai juara LSI 2009/2010 dan Piala Indonesia (copa) 2010. Dengan raihan poin sekarang sekaligus berada di puncak klasemen, kami berancang-ancang merengkuh dua gelar juara sekaligus," tegasnya.
Menurutnya, Piala Indonesia adalah ajang yang cukup bagus, namun belum menentukan apakah di ajang itu tim bakal menurunkan pamian inti atau pemain pelapis.
Yang pasti, lanjutnya, pelatih, pemain dan manajemen sepakat tidak akan main-main di ajang Piala Indonesia dan tidak ingin mengecewakan pendukung setia Arema Indonesia, Aremania dan Aremanita.
Sementara para pemain Arema Indonesia sendiri siap diturunkan di ajang Piala Indonesia.
"Kami tidak ingin membuat Aremania dan Aremanita kecewa. Jadi kami siap diturunkan dalam ajang yang berbeda, bahkan kami bertekad untuk merengkuh dua gelar juara,"tegas kapten tim Arema Indonesia Pierre Njanka.
Arema Indonesia bakal mengawali pertandingan di ajang Piala Indonesia, Kamis ini menghadapi Persijap Jepara, kemudian Deltra Sidoarjo Sabtu (17/4) dan Mojokerto Putra (Selasa, 20/4) di kandang Arema.
Tim berjuluk Singo Edan itu selama melakoni babak penyisihan Piala Indonesia berada di grup E bersama tiga tim itu dan Arema Indonesia ditunjuk sebagai tuan rumah. Tiga pertandingan babak awal itu akan digelar di Stadion Gajayana dan Kanjuruhan Kepanjen.
Tim asuhan Robert Rene Albert itu pernah menjuarai Copa Indonesia dua kali berturut-turut pada 2006 dan 2007, saat masih bernama Arema Malang dengan pelatih Benny Dollo.
http://www.antaranews.com/berita/1271150422/arema-indonesia-bidik-gelar-ganda
"Kami serius mengejar `mimpi` mengawinkan dua gelar sekaligus, sebagai juara LSI 2009/2010 dan Piala Indonesia (copa) 2010. Dengan raihan poin sekarang sekaligus berada di puncak klasemen, kami berancang-ancang merengkuh dua gelar juara sekaligus," tegasnya.
Menurutnya, Piala Indonesia adalah ajang yang cukup bagus, namun belum menentukan apakah di ajang itu tim bakal menurunkan pamian inti atau pemain pelapis.
Yang pasti, lanjutnya, pelatih, pemain dan manajemen sepakat tidak akan main-main di ajang Piala Indonesia dan tidak ingin mengecewakan pendukung setia Arema Indonesia, Aremania dan Aremanita.
Sementara para pemain Arema Indonesia sendiri siap diturunkan di ajang Piala Indonesia.
"Kami tidak ingin membuat Aremania dan Aremanita kecewa. Jadi kami siap diturunkan dalam ajang yang berbeda, bahkan kami bertekad untuk merengkuh dua gelar juara,"tegas kapten tim Arema Indonesia Pierre Njanka.
Arema Indonesia bakal mengawali pertandingan di ajang Piala Indonesia, Kamis ini menghadapi Persijap Jepara, kemudian Deltra Sidoarjo Sabtu (17/4) dan Mojokerto Putra (Selasa, 20/4) di kandang Arema.
Tim berjuluk Singo Edan itu selama melakoni babak penyisihan Piala Indonesia berada di grup E bersama tiga tim itu dan Arema Indonesia ditunjuk sebagai tuan rumah. Tiga pertandingan babak awal itu akan digelar di Stadion Gajayana dan Kanjuruhan Kepanjen.
Tim asuhan Robert Rene Albert itu pernah menjuarai Copa Indonesia dua kali berturut-turut pada 2006 dan 2007, saat masih bernama Arema Malang dengan pelatih Benny Dollo.
http://www.antaranews.com/berita/1271150422/arema-indonesia-bidik-gelar-ganda
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