Showing posts with label Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. Show all posts

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Wolfsburg v Real Madrid - Preview

Zidane
Zidane before Wolsfburg match 
Zinedine Zidane says Real Madrid will approach Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Wolfsburg "like a final".

The Frenchman said Saturday's 2-1 win over La Liga leaders Barcelona has already been forgotten.

"We cannot relax. We are not untouchable and Wolfsburg are able to hurt us," said Zidane.

"Wolfsburg have fought hard and deserve to be here. It will be a tough match but we are well prepared."

While Real closed the gap on league leaders and rivals Barca to seven points at the weekend, Wolfsburg lost 3-0 to Bayer Leverkusen, their third game without a win in the Bundesliga.

Seven points adrift of fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach, they are in danger of missing out on next season's Champions League.

"They may have had problems in the Bundesliga, but this is a completely different competition," said Zidane.

"They have a fast attack so we have to be alert."

Zidane is expected to name the same team which started against Barcelona, with Raphael Varane the only injury absentee at the Volkswagen Arena because of a calf problem.

Cristiano Ronaldo's late goal secured a 2-1 win at Barcelona, ending the league leaders' 39-match unbeaten run

Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking said "motivation won't be a problem" for his side, who are appearing in their first Champions League quarter-final.

"We have a big chance to perform on a great stage. Nobody thought we could get this far," he said.

"Real Madrid have a great squad with top-class players. They are one of the favourites for the title and one of the top clubs in Europe.

"But we will try to annoy them and I think my team can do that."

Wolfsburg are without left-back Sebastian Jung, who tore a knee ligament in the previous round against Gent and is out for the season, while midfielder Daniel Caligiuri has a groin problem.

Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg coach
Since we were drawn against Real Madrid, we've been really excited. But is it the biggest match in our club's history? I think there have been other great games, though maybe this is the one with the most attention. It is extraordinary for every one of us and we want to demonstrate why we are still in this competition.

I don't know right now if Naldo will be able to play. We have to talk to the doctor and also the player. He wants to play, but now it's up to me if I trust him. I don't share the speculation that he will definitely play.

Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid coach
It will be a tough match but we are well prepared. We will approach it like a final, we cannot relax: the win against Barcelona is already forgotten. We are in good shape and the team are focused – that is the most important thing for me.

More than anything, I want my players to concentrate on their own strengths. It gets more and more difficult, round by round, but if we work as a team we can win trophies.


Monday, 14 December 2015

Zlatan Puts PSG Top Ligue 1


Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Paris St Germain defeated Lyon 5-1 at Parc des Princes on Sunday to move 17 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, while second-placed Angers could manage only a 1-1 draw against Bordeaux.

PSG, who are in Monday’s draw for the last 16 of the Champions League as one of the second seeds, dominated from the start against Lyon and were 2-0 up inside the first 20 minutes. Ibrahimovic scored from close range in the 11th minute and soon afterwards Serge Aurier met Ángel Di María’s free-kick to head the second.

Jordan Ferri pulled a goal back when his deflected shot from 25 yards wrong-footed the PSG goalkeeper, Kevin Trapp, but the leaders maintained the pressure in the second half.

Edinson Cavani converted a long pass from Di María, Ibrahimovic scored a penalty after being fouled and a late breakaway goal by the substitute Lucas Moura completed PSG’s 15th Ligue 1 win of the season.

Angers had looked set for defeat against Lyon as they trailed to a 40th-minute goal by Diego Rolan. However, their persistence eventually paid off with seven minutes left when Romain Thomas equalised following a corner to stretch their unbeaten run to five games.

Only goal difference separates them from Monaco, who beat 10-man St Étienne 1-0 at the Stade Louis II thanks to an 82nd-minute penalty by Fabinho after Pierre-Yves Polomat had handled. The St Étienne defender Kévin Malcuit was sent off for a second yellow card just after the hour.

In Sunday’s other Ligue 1 match, Ajaccio extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 1-1 draw at Marseille, who had Abdelaziz Barrada sent off for a foul on John Tshibumbu. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half with a Jacques Zoua penalty but Marseille were level before the break through Michy Batshuayi.



Saturday, 12 December 2015

EURO 2016 Finals Draw


The Republic of Ireland have been drawn in Group E at Euro 2016 against world number one ranked Belgium, Italy and Sweden.

Martin O’Neill’s side will open their campaign against the Swedes at the 80,000 capacity Stade de France on Monday June 13th.

Their second match takes place in Bordeaux on Saturday June 18th when they take on Belgium . Their final group game comes in Lille on Wednesday June 22nd where they take on Italy.

Northern Ireland have been drawn with world champions Germany, Poland and the Ukraine.

Wales have been drawn in England’s group alongside Slovakia and Russia.

Group A
June 10: France v Romania, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0
June 11: Albania v Switzerland, Lens, 2.0
June 15: Romania v Switzerland, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
June 15: France v Albania, Marseille, 8.0
June 19: Romania v Albania, Lyon, 8.0
June 19: France v Switzerland, Lille, 8.0

Group B
June 11: Wales v Slovakia, Bordeaux, 5.0
June 11: England v Russia, Marseille, 8.0
June 15: Russia v Slovakia, Lille, 2.0
June 16: England v Wales, Lens, 2.0
June 20: Russia v Wales, Toulouse, 8.0
June 20: Slovakia v England, St-Etienne, 8.0

Group C
June 12: Poland v Northern Ireland, Nice, 5.0
June 12: Germany v Ukraine, Lille, 8.0
June 16: Ukraine v Northern Ireland, Lyon, 5.0
June 16: Germany v Poland, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0
June 21: Ukraine v Poland, Marseille, 5.0
June 21: Northern Ireland v Germany, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0

Group D
June 12: Turkey v Croatia, Parc des Princes, Paris, 2.0
June 13: Spain v Czech Republic, Toulouse, 2.0
June 17: Czech Republic v Croatia, St-Etienne, 5.0
June 17: Spain v Turkey, Nice, 8.0
June 21: Czech Republic v Turkey, Lens, 8.0
June 21: Croatia v Spain, Bordeaux, 8.0

Group E
June 13: Republic of Ireland v Sweden, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 13: Belgium v Italy, Lyon, 8.0
June 17: Italy v Sweden, Toulouse, 2.0
June 18: Belgium v Republic of Ireland, Bordeaux, 2.0
June 22: Italy v Republic of Ireland, Lille, 8.0
June 22: Sweden v Belgium, Nice, 8.0

Group F
June 14: Austria v Hungary, Bordeaux, 5.0
June 14: Portugal v Iceland, St-Etienne, 8.0
June 18: Iceland v Hungary, Marseille, 5.0
June 18: Portugal v Austria, Parc des Princes, Paris, 8.0
June 22: Iceland v Austria, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 22: Hungary v Portugal, Lyon, 5.0

Last 16
June 25 – Match 1: Runner-up Group A v Runner-up C, St-Etienne, 2.0
June 25 – Match 2: Winner D v Third-place B/E/F, Lens, 8.0
June 25 – Match 3: Winner B v Third-place A/C/D, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
June 26 – Match 4: Winner F v Runner-up E, Toulouse, 8.0
June 26 – Match 5: Winner C v Third-place A/B/F, Lille, 5.0
June 27 – Match 6: Winner E v Runner-up D, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 27 – Match 7: Winner A v Third-place C/D/E, Lyon, 2.0
June 27– Match 8: Runner-up B v Runner-up F, Nice, 8.0

Quarter-finals
June 30 –QF1: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2, Marseille, 8.0
July 1 – QF2: Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4, Lille, 8.0
July 2 – QF 3: Winner Match 5 v Winner Match 6, Bordeaux, 8.0
July 3 – QF4: Winner Match 7 v Winner Match 8, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0

Semi-finals
July 6: Winner QF1 Portugal v Winner QF2, Lyon, 8.0
July 7: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 , Marseille, 8.0

Final
July 10: Stade de France, Paris, 8.0



Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Nacho Books Real Place



Real Madrid booked a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after the first-half substitute Nacho Fernández scored to clinch a 1-0 home win over Paris Saint-Germain.

The 25-year-old defender had been on the pitch for fewer than three minutes when he slotted in from a tight angle against the run of play, after Toni Kroos’s shot was blocked in the 35th minute.

PSG will rue their poor finishing, having missed a series of chances, especially in the first half, and went closest to scoring when Adrien Rabiot’s volley hit a post after 37 minutes.

Real have 10 points from four games in Group A while PSG, who suffered their first defeat this season, are in second place with seven.

There was a disruptive start to the game with players receiving treatment for knocks and PSG lost Marco Verratti after 17 minutes with what appeared to be a twisted ankle and he was replaced by the 20-year-old Rabiot.

It was the visitors who found their feet first with a shot from Blaise Matuidi straight at the goalkeeper Keylor Navas and then Zlatan Ibrahimovic, inside the area, stroked the ball a whisker the wrong side of the right post.

The Real full-back Marcelo then limped off after 33 minutes to add to the home side’s injury problems this season, with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema among those unfit to face the French champions.

Nacho made an instant impact by knocking the ball home after a Kroos shot deflected to him off Thiago Silva.

Real responded when Rabiot hit a post with a long-range volley and Edinson Cavani miscued with only Navas to beat in first half stoppage time.

After the restart Ángel Di María was also denied by Navas in front of goal but as the game went on Real were able to take the steam out of the contest and held on for the win.



Saturday, 30 May 2015

Paul Clement Leaves Madrid


Assistant manager Paul Clement has announced he is leaving Real Madrid after the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti this week.

It was widely expected that Clement would follow the Italian out of the Bernabéu after his sacking on Monday and the Englishman took to Twitter on Friday to confirm his departure.

“It has been an honour to have worked with Carlo at the Number 1 Club in the World,” he wrote. “Thank you to all the Players, Staff and Fans. Hala Madrid.”

Clement worked with Ancelotti at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain before the duo moved to the Spanish capital in 2013 and has recently been linked with the vacant manager’s positions at Derby and Sunderland.