Liverpool v Villarreal - Preview

The Kop 

Liverpool midfielder Emre Can will return to the Reds squad for the Europa League semi-final second leg against Villarreal at Anfield.

The Germany international, 22, has missed the past five matches after injuring an ankle in the quarter-final win over Dortmund. 

Liverpool must overturn a 1-0 deficit to reach their first European final in almost a decade.

The Reds, who lost to AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final, are attempting to win silverware in Jurgen Klopp's first season as manager. Since replacing Brendan Rodgers in early October, the 48-year-old German has named strong line-ups during their Europa League run.

Former Dortmund manager Klopp's side were installed as favourites to win Europe's secondary club competition - which would earn qualification for next season's Champions League - after their thrilling win against his old club.

But Villarreal substitute Adrian Lopez's injury-time winner last week gave the Spanish side a slender advantage in the fight to reach the 18 May final.

"If we play our best then we can go to the final," said Klopp. "These players gave me a lot of positive signs about their qualities.

"We are ready. All we did since October was to be perfectly prepared for a game like this. We are not expecting a guarantee to go to the final. We are expecting everything and see what we get for it."

Villarreal have a fully fit squad to choose from, with defender Eric Bailly and forward Leo Baptistao recovered from injuries.

The winners will face either Spanish holders Sevilla or Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, who drew 2-2 in their first leg, in the Swiss city of Basel.

"We come here full of hope," said Villarreal manager Marcelino. "We are going to give everything we have got and enjoy ourselves. We feel we have the capabilities to make it through to the final."

Three years after being promoted back to La Liga, Villarreal have reached a European semi-final for the fourth time, but have never made it to a final.

In contrast, Liverpool have won five European Cups and lifted the Uefa Cup three times before it was rebranded as the Europa League.

However, while Liverpool need to win the Europa League to qualify for next season's Champions League, Villarreal are already assured of a place in Europe's top club competition after securing a fourth-place finish in La Liga.

"Liverpool as a club have an extraordinary squad of footballers when you consider Benteke cost the whole turnover as Villarreal as a club," said Marcelino.

"But this group of players needs to be proud of what they have achieved as we are already qualified for the Champions League. This is an occasion to be celebrated."

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Bayern Feel Cheated - Kalle Rummenigge

Rummenigge 

Bayern Munich feel "cheated" after some tight decisions allowed Atletico Madrid to advance from their Champions League semifinal, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

Playing at home on Tuesday, Bayern won the second leg on Tuesday 2-1 but Atletico advanced thanks to Antoine Griezmann's away goal.

It was a classic counter-attack as Fernando Torres sent Griezmann racing through and the France international, played onside by David Alaba, kept his cool to whip the ball past Manuel Neuer.

Rummenigge said he believed Griezmann was offside when Torres released him through on goal, and also took issue with a penalty given to Atletico that Torres ended up missing.

"We feel a little bit cheated," the CEO said after the game. "The Atletico goal was offside, the foul for the penalty [which Atletico missed] was outside of the box.

"The referee had two matches in the last seven days. I don't know whether those UEFA guys can have too many matches, too. The UEFA delegate told me: 'It's a shame what he did.'"

Bayern midfielder Arturo Vidal insisted his side were still the better team, but the Chilean was left to rue missed opportunities to overturn the scoreline in the second half.

"I don't know why the ball did not want to go in ... with so many chances created in both legs," Vidal said. "I think we were superior in both games. We controlled possession, but didn't seize it.

"They take their opportunities well, and that's why they move into the final. From here to the final they will dream with us. They faced the best team in the world.

Bayern now turn their attention to securing the Bundesliga, where they enjoy a five-point lead over Dortmund with two rounds remaining. They will also face Dortmund in the DFB Pokal final on May 21.

"We are left sad, but we still have two titles that we hope to win. We are still the best team in the world, but sometimes the best doesn't always win," Vidal said.

"Football is sometimes like this. Today the best didn't advance, they were eliminated."

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Atletico Madrid v Barcelona - Preview

Simeone and Atletico - Getty Images

Fernando Torres is adamant he was wrongly sent off in the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona. The Atlético Madrid striker is suspended from Wednesday’s second leg following his dismissal in the 35th minute at the Camp Nou for a double booking, shortly after giving his side the lead.

Barcelona took advantage of having an extra man, Luis Suárez’s second-half double setting up a 2-1 win that Atlético must overturn without Torres at the Vicente Calderón.

“I’m convinced the second yellow card was not a card, I felt a mix of impotence and frustration,” Torres told the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Tuesday, when describing his foul on the midfielder Sergio Busquets.

“When I see it again I see a slip-up. It’s not a kick nor a late tackle. The only argument is that it was an action that could have been avoided. My ambition to make it 2-0 ended up harming the team.

“I’m certain that with 11 players we would have won. The following days after the game were difficult. It took two days to get over what happened. The moments after the sending off were the worst of my career. I just wanted to be alone.”

Torres has two months left on his loan contract with Atlético, his boyhood club for whom he played between 2001 and 2007 until moving to Liverpool. He later played for Chelsea and Milan before returning to Atlético on loan from Milan in January 2015.

Although he did not give details on where his immediate future lay, the 32-year-old said he wanted to emulate the former Deportivo La Coruña veteran Juan Carlos Valerón and the Roma captain, Francesco Totti, by extending his stay with Atlético. “I would love to be the Valerón or Totti of Atléti but today more than ever is not the time to talk about that,” he said.

Diego Simeone

Being Atlético means being tenacious, competitive, never giving up and overcoming difficulties. We know there are better teams than us. But we know we can compete against Barcelona.

We try to improve what we are doing [against Barça] game after game. We will try to find an angle and see if we can get at them and win.

The excitement and enthusiasm around this match is fantastic, but I don't think the Barcelona players will be surprised by the atmosphere because they are used to it.

Koke is a very important player for us. He has great vision. The team has had a freshness and an energy about it of late, and that's down to having a player like him in midfield.

Luis Enrique

We are treating this like any quarter-final – I don't feel it's the biggest match of our season. We have a small advantage and we will try to win here too to make sure of the result. This team was made for matches like this. Yes, it's always difficult against Atlético, but it's all about doing things well, which is what we try to do every match. We'll need to play really well.

There is always room for improvement. It's not fair to think that victories or defeats are because of two or three players. I'm just as guilty for any defeats because I am the coach. I'm very happy with Arda Turan's performances and Gerard Piqué is fine.

Tomorrow will be difficult like any UEFA Champions League tie, particularly so against Atlético since they know us so well. There is no doubt we are going to compete. We love to see the Vicente Calderón full but if there's any team able to play in this atmosphere it is Barça. I hope we can see a great spectacle.

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Barca Widen Lead to Eleven Points

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Lionel Messi continued his impressive run by scoring two goals in Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Eibar, keeping his team unbeaten and maintaining a comfortable lead entering the final stretch of the Spanish league.

A Munir tap-in, two Lionel Messi strikes and Luis Suárez’s well-taken fourth saw off Eibar to send Barcelona 11 points clear at the top of La Liga

Messi scored with a dribble and low finish shortly before half-time and added a penalty in the 76th minute, giving Barcelona a provisional 11-point advantage over Atlético Madrid, who play at Valencia later on Sunday.

Lionel Messi has scored 15 goals in the last 10 matches, and eight in the past four. Munir El Haddadi opened the scoring in the eighth minute after a cross by Luis Suárez, who registered his league-leading 26th goal in the final stages.

It was Barcelona’s 11th successive win in the league and extended the club’s unbeaten run to 36 games in all competitions.

Javier Mascherano’s late booking means he will be suspended for next week’s game against Getafe, while Marc Bartra’s introduction moves him onto 100 appearances for the club.

The latest victory for the Catalans puts them eleven points clear of Atlético Madrid before their tricky trip to Valencia on Sunday night.

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Cristiano Treble Helps Sink Espanyol

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Cristiano Ronaldo rediscovered his best form to answer critics who have suggested his powers are beginning to fade scoring another hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol 6-0 at the Bernabeu on Sunday night.

The Portugal international converted a spot-kick in the 12th minute, before doubling his tally in the dying seconds of the first half and making it three late on.

Karim Benzema had opened the scoring for Madrid after being set up by James Rodriguez, who found the net himself between Ronaldo's first two goals to cap an impressive outing on the right wing.

Sunday's win matched the result in the first meeting between the two teams in Barcelona in September and was a third victory in four games for Zinedine Zidane, whose triumphs as Madrid boss have been similarly convincing.

Madrid remain third in La Liga, but are now trailing second-placed city rivals Atletico by just one point, after Diego Simeone's side lost to league leaders Barcelona on Saturday.

Giedrius Arlauskis' goal had been under siege with Marcelo, Ronaldo and Isco all going close before Benzema struck in the seventh minute. James sent in a superb cross from the right and the Frenchman beat his marker to the ball before heading home for his 18th league goal of the season. 

Madrid immediately started pushing for a second goal and Ronaldo doubled their lead from the spot in the 12th minute, after drawing a foul from Enzo Roco. 

There was no stopping Zidane's men in the opening stages and James piled even more misery on Espanyol when his 16th-minute shot took a deflection off Papa Kouly Diop before finding the net. 

Benzema could have made it four shortly after following an intelligent one-two with Isco, but he aimed just wide from eight yards out. 

Espanyol got their first chance of note shortly before the half-time whistle after a quick break involving Mamadou Sylla and Salva Sevilla, but the latter's attempt was too weak to worry Keylor Navas. 

Ronaldo was not to be denied in the dying seconds of the first half, however, dancing past three opponents before beating Arlauskis with a powerful left-footed shot.

Benzema should have made it five at the hour mark after some good work from Ronaldo down the right, but the striker's header lacked the power and accuracy to worry Arlauskis.

Ronaldo handed the former Lyon man another gilt-edged chance after a good combination with Marcelo down the left, but Benzema once more failed to get his attempt on target.

Madrid kept on pushing for more and Ronaldo nearly got his hat-trick when he lifted a free-kick over the wall, only to see his attempt clip the top of the net.

Ronaldo eventually made it 5-0 in the 82nd minute with his 19th Liga goal of the season to draw level in the Pichichi standings with Luis Suarez. He headed home from close range after a fine cross from Jese, before Espanyol debutant Oscar Duarte beat his own goalkeeper to cap a dominant outing for the hosts.

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Valencia Reach Copa Last Four

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Valencia reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals after a Rodrigo Moreno goal earned a morale-boosting 1-0 second-leg victory at Las Palmas and a 2-1 aggregate win.

The Mestalla side have yet to win in seven La Liga matches under their coach, Gary Neville, and lie 11th in the table but this victory will ease some of the tension surrounding the club.

The game was always in the balance but Valencia worked hard defensively and had the better chances to score with Moreno slotting home after 20 minutes.

“Our fans deserved to enjoy a moment like this,” Neville said. “They have been patient with me and with the team in these past six weeks.”

“It has not been easy for us,” Rodrigo said. “It was important to advance to the next round, it gives us more confidence. We played well in the first leg but didn’t get a good result. Today we didn’t play brilliantly but we advanced, and that’s what was important.”

Sevilla eased into the last four after a Vicente Iborra penalty helped them to a 3-0 second-leg win over second-tier Mirandes and a 5-0 aggregate success.

Sevilla were firmly in charge from the start and went ahead after Sebastián Cristóforo was upended by Ion Vélez and Iborra sent the goalkeeper Raúl Fernández the wrong way with his spot kick after nine minutes.

Mirandes caused little danger and Sevilla could have added to their lead but Yevhen Konoplyanka fired over and Vitolo had a shot beaten away by Fernández in the first half.

They sealed the win after the break when the 20-year-old Juan Muñoz finished clinically after 70 minutes from a Vitolo pass and Coke headed home the third goal in stoppage time.

Sevilla have clicked into gear after a slow start to the season and have suffered only one defeat in 16 games in all competitions, moving them up to seventh in La Liga.

Barcelona reached the semi-finals on Wednesday after knocking out Athletic Bilbao. Real Madrid were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in an earlier round.

Celta Vigo completed the semi-final lineup with a 3-2 aggregate success against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday.

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Torres Pay Offer Highest in World

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Fernando Torres has an offer to become the highest-paid player in world football, his agent José Antonio Martín has said.

The striker is currently on loan at Atlético Madrid from Milan until the end of the season and Martín has called on the Atlético coach, Diego Simeone, to make his position on Torres clear.

“Fernando and Simeone should sit down and talk about it,” he told the Sun.

“The fans of Madrid don’t want Torres to be told no continually. He has an offer that would make him the best-paid in the world. There are nuances. It all depends upon the will of the club.”

Torres has scored only two goals in 16 appearances this season, but Martín believes Atlético fans want the player who began his career at the club to sign a permanent contract.

“The feeling I get is this is something that must be resolved, not between [the club president, Miguel Ángel] Gil Marín or [the technical director] Andrea Berta, but rather between Simeone and Torres, who are friends.

“He must either tell [Torres] ‘I am counting on you’ or ‘I am not counting on you’. The fans want his contract renewed and it is something that can’t be denied.”

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Pundit Neville Shown White Hankies

Valencia’s struggles under Gary Neville continued when they had to come from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw in their Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg at home to Las Palmas.

The former England and Manchester United defender took over as the coach at the Mestalla last month after Nuno Espírito Santo was sacked but has yet to secure a win in La Liga in six attempts. Fans waved white handkerchiefs at the final whistle .

The draw left Neville frustrated but he was upbeat about Valencia’s performance. “When you draw a game at home you are always disappointed,” the Valencia manager said. “But if we play like we did today again we will win matches.”

Valencia fell behind in the 38th minute when the midfielder Wilfried Zahibo headed past his own goalkeeper Mathew Ryan from a free-kick.

Paco Alcácer equalised in the 61st minute with a well-struck shot from just outside the area but the home side were unable to make sustained late pressure count.

Álvaro Negredo fluffed a great chance in the third minute of added time when he failed to connect cleanly with a José Luis Gayà centre, leaving Las Palmas with an advantage for next week’s return leg in the Canary Islands.

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