Bad Kompany News for Belgium

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Belgium suffered a blow on Saturday when skipper Vincent Kompany was ruled out of the EURO 2016 tournament with his latest in a series of muscular injuries.

"I'll miss the Euros. To me that's very sad news," the 30-year-old Manchester City captain wrote on his Facebook page.

"So I could be standing here, feeling sorry for myself. I could fear for my career, as others may do. I could give up...That is not me."

Kompany has been dogged by a series of injuries for most of the season and the defender limped out of the Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday after just 10 minutes with a groin problem.

In Kompany's absence, it is expected that Chelsea's Eden Hazard is likely to captain Belgium at Euro 2016 which starts in France on June 10.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots will also have a further defensive headache for the tournament as Barcelona centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is also injury prone and features little for the Spanish giants.

Recently, Belgian newspaper Le Soir calculated that in his 13-year career, Kompany has spent 1,045 days in hospital, highlighting his reputation as a player of brittle build.

At Manchester City, he has won the Premier League title on two occasions - in 2012 and 2014.

Kompany has suffered five different injuries this season, appearing in only 22 of City's 57 matches.

"So I remain calm and positive. I will continue to follow my path and I will do so with more conviction than ever," the 70-capped player wrote on Facebook.

"I trust my friends and teammates to do well and do us proud at the next European Championships in France. I am now officially their most fervent supporter and I will be there to support them.

"Written from my hospital bed. Never giving up."

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OSM - Gareth Could Bale Out Real Perez

Bale and Ronaldo Eibar Winners

Gareth Bale's header and Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty eased the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez as Real Madrid earned an unspectacular win at Eibar.

Bale glanced in a Luca Modric cross just before half-time to claim his third goal of the season.

Ronaldo then scored his 16th after Lucas Vazquez was tripped late on.

Real avoided a third successive league defeat for the first time since the end of the 2008-09 season to move six points behind leaders Barcelona.

Benitez had received the backing of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez following his side's 4-0 defeat by Barcelona in last weekend's Clasico.

But the position of the former Liverpool manager would have been placed under further scrutiny had Real failed to beat the smallest club in La Liga and lost more ground in the title race.

Seventh-placed Eibar had lost only twice in the league this season and held their own for long periods.

But despite fielding a makeshift defence missing the injured Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo, Real's lead was rarely threatened once Bale broke the deadlock before the interval.

Ronaldo missed good chances either side of the break when he had just goalkeeper Asier Riesgo to beat.

But he ended his frustration from the spot eight minutes from time after Dani Garcia brought down substitute Vazquez, as Real secured the result Benitez badly needed.

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Atletico Grab Real Draw

Gareth Bale

Atlético Madrid substitute Luciano Vietto scored a late goal to snatch a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid, denying Rafa Benítez’s side the chance to reclaim the lead in La Liga.

Karim Benzema gave Real a great start with his league-leading sixth goal to quieten the Vicente Calderón crowd only nine minutes into the match and the Real goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, protected that advantage by saving Antoine Griezmann’s penalty in the 22nd minute.

But as Real settled for defending instead of seeking a second goal to seal the win Atlético pushed forward and Vietto poked in a cross from his fellow substitute Jackson Martínez in the 83rd minute.

“We had the win in our hands,” Navas said. “This isn’t the result we wanted, but it’s a point and we have to value it. We committed a mistake and in these games errors are paid for dearly.”

Real squandered the opportunity to overtake Villarreal at the top of the table after the leaders lost 1-0 at Levante earlier.

Real are level on points with Celta Vigo in third and Barcelona in fourth after the champions’ 2-1 loss at Sevilla on Saturday. Diego Simeone’s Atlético remain in fifth place, three points off Villarreal’s pace.

“We snatched a point, and tried to get the win, but it wasn’t to be,” the 21-year-old Vietto said after his first goal for Atlético since moving from Villarreal.

Benzema continues to be Real’s most consistent scorer this campaign as Cristiano Ronaldo had a subdued game.

Benzema put Real in front by finding space among four Atlético defenders to head in Dani Carvajal’s cross after the right-back had dribbled past Filipe Luis on the right flank.

Atlético tried to respond through their forward Angel Correa, who went close twice, before Sergio Ramos fouled Tiago Mendes in the area. But Navas judged Griezmann’s intention and parried the shot sent to the goalkeeper’s left side.

Gareth Bale returned from a four-game injury absence as a Real substitute in the 66th minute, but Benítez took off Benzema for the midfielder Mateo Kovacic with 13 minutes to go in a clear effort to hold on to the slim lead.

But Jackson dribbled past Arbelao to the goal-line and Vietto turned the ball into the net.

Jackson almost grabbed a stoppage-time winner but drew a superb save from Navas with a curling strike.

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Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid - Preview

Gareth Bale returns to Real Madrid's squad for Sunday's La Liga derby against Atletico Madrid.

The 26-year-old has missed Real's past three games after injuring a calf during their Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on 15 September.

Real defender Sergio Ramos is also fit to play at the Vicente Calderon after recovering from a shoulder injury.

"The two have trained and will be in the squad. They have been cleared to play," said Real coach Rafael Benitez.

"Match-fitness is another thing and if they start or not we will decide. Even at less than 100% they are two very useful players for us."

Benitez's side, who will be without Colombia striker James Rodriguez, lead Atletico by two points after the first six games of the season.

Real have not won a Madrid league derby for two seasons and were thrashed 4-0 at the Calderon in February.

The game gives Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to indisputably overtake Raul's all-time record of 323 goals for Real.

Ronaldo officially drew level with Raul's total with two goals in Real's 2-0 win over Malmo in the Champions League, though the club have already honoured him.

Atletico will be without midfielder Koke, who has a hamstring injury.

They head into the game after back-to-back defeats by Villarreal and Benfica, but coach Diego Simeone is not concerned.

He said: "It doesn't surprise me at all what is happening to us. We have a lot of young players in the team and the first 10 games were going to be very difficult."

OSM - Curious Case of Sami Khedira

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Atletico Hit Four Past Real Madrid

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Atletico Madrid were in dreamland as they destroyed rivals Real Madrid with a thumping 4-0 win which blew the Primera Division title race wide open.

Tiago Mendes opened the scoring for the champions at a raucous Vicente Calderon after 13 minutes and substitute Saul Niguez doubled the lead with an acrobatic goal just moments after replacing Koke.

Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic added to the goal glut in the second half to leave stunned Real thoroughly humiliated.

The win saw Atletico cut the gap to league leaders Real to four points and gave Barcelona the chance to close it to just one if they win at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

This was the sixth meeting between the two clubs from the Spanish capital this season, with Real not managing to beat their derby rivals since winning the Champions League final last May.

Ancelotti was without four key starters due to injuries to Sergio Ramos, Pepe and James Rodriguez and Marcelo's suspension, but the Italian was able to recall the league's top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo after a two-match ban.

Despite having their first choice front three available, the unfamiliar centre-back pairing of Nacho and Raphael Varane left Real badly exposed at the back, while Fabio Coentrao and Sami Khedira, who had only started two league games each this season before today, did not help matters.

The Portuguese left-back nearly got his side into trouble in the opening minutes by sending Arda Turan to the ground in the area, but the referee waved play on.

A few moments later the defender was powerless to stop Juanfran getting to the byline and finding Mandzukic in the area. The Croatian controlled the ball with his chest and laid it off for Tiago to drive at goal, the ball slipping through the hands of Iker Casillas and over the line.

Despite witnessing a revival in fortunes against their rivals, the Calderon had yet to experience a league win over Madrid in the 21st century. Now the home fans smelled blood and bayed for more.

Guilherme Siqueira eased his way down the left wing to the byline and chipped the ball towards the far post, where Saul conjured an acrobatic scissor-kick which went off the near post and into the net.

Griezmann could have made it 3-0 midway through the first half, but on this occasion Casillas made the save.

Real were mere spectators to the Atletico onslaught and needed half-an-hour before their first incursion into their opponents box, but Toni Kroos' low shot was booted away by Miranda. Real could only manage one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Los Blancos were also fortunate not to concede a penalty towards the end of the half when Khedira appeared to block a shot by Juanfran with his hand in the area, but again the referee stood firm.

Atletico continued their dominance in the second half and could have extended their lead through Griezmann, who hit an overhead-kick on to the roof of the net, and Tiago, who could only send a free header straight at Casillas.

However, the third goal eventually arrived on 66 minutes. Arda spread the play to Saul at the far post and the midfielder headed the ball across goal and Griezmann stuck out a leg to poke it in.

But Madrid's misery was still not complete.

With one minute remaining substitute Fernando Torres careered down the right wing and crossed for Mandzukic to head in goal number four and crown Atletico's heaviest defeat of their rivals since 1987.

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Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is expecting a high-intensity clash when his side face-off against rivals Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first-leg at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Atletico were only a minute away from winning the club's first Champions League trophy against Real last season before a stoppage-time Sergio Ramos goal, followed by three more in extra-time, allowed Carlo Ancelotti's team to run out 4-1 winners. 

Atletico have responded in style to that disappointment by winning four and drawing two of the six Madrid derbies this season - including a 4-0 trouncing of their city rivals at the Vicente Calderon in February.

But Simeone is hoping to draw inspiration from their famous victory against Madrid two years ago in the Copa del Rey final. 

"I am not looking back at the previous games. To play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League is not the same as a league game or the Copa del Rey," he said.

"We have a great game ahead of us and our intention is to play with intensity. I forsee a similar game to the one we played two years ago in their stadium (Copa del Rey final). They played with great intensity and I imagine it will be very similar tomorrow."

Despite ending Real Madrid and Barcelona's 10-year dominance of the Spanish league last season, Simeone insists Los Rojiblancos cannot be expected to compete with the country's powerhouses over a 38-game campaign.

However, under Simeone Atletico have become cup specialists - winning the Europa League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercup and reaching the final of the Champions League for the first time in 40 years.

"In a league campaign of so many games you can see who are the teams with the biggest budget," added the Argentine.

"In a knockout tie the difference is reduced. Tomorrow is the first of two games and both sides have a chance to go through."

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Real Move Clear In La Liga

Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off a week where he was named world player of the year for the third time scoring a double as Real Madrid opened up a four-point lead at the top of La Liga with a 3-0 win away to Getafe.

The visitors had to wait 63 minutes to make the breakthrough before he fired home Karim Benzema's pass to set them on the road to victory.

Gareth Bale then doubled the visitors' lead before Ronaldo rounded off the scoring with a trademark header from James Rodriguez's cross.

Barcelona can cut Madrid's lead back to a solitary point when they travel to Deportivo la Coruna later today.

Perhaps suffering from the after effects of their Copa del Rey elimination to Atletico Madrid in midweek Madrid started sluggishly, but were rarely threatened by a goal-shy Getafe.

The European champions finally started to get going after 20 minutes as Marcelo drove a fierce effort just over on his weaker right foot before Benzema was denied by Jordi Codina.

Isco then tested the Getafe 'keeper with a piledriver from the edge of the box which Codina did well to turn over and Toni Kroos came even closer a minute before the break when he rattled the crossbar from long range.

Codina continued to frustrate Madrid at the start of the second period with good saves from Benzema and James Rodriguez.

However, his resistence was finally broken just before the hour mark with a brilliant team goal as Isco and Rodriguez combined to free Benzema and the Frenchman produced an exquisite piece of skill on the byline to cut the ball back for Ronaldo to slam home.

Just four minutes later it was 2-0 as this time Rodriguez was the provider with a fine low cross that Bale prodded past Codina with the outside of his left foot.

The winning margin could even have been greater for Ancelotti's men as Ronaldo outfoxed Codina with a free-kick that whistled inches past the post with the 'keeper beaten.

Ronaldo wasn't to be denied his second of the afternoon 11 minutes from time, though, as another sumptuous cross from Rodriguez allowed the Portuguese to plant a firm header past the helpless Codina to register his 36th goal of the season.

Getafe failed to force Iker Casillas into a single save, but did come within inches of a consolation goal when Alvaro Vazquez fired against the post from Alex Felip's low cross late on.

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La Cuarta For Real Madrid

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Real Madrid landed their fourth title of the year by recording their 22nd straight victory to win the Club World Cup.

The European champions defeated the Argentinian side San Lorenzo 2-0 in Marrakech on Saturday night to add the global crown to their Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Copa del Rey triumphs.

Sergio Ramos headed the opener after 37 minutes and Gareth Bale scored the second six minutes after the break as Madrid claimed their maiden Club World Cup title.

The goal completed a hat-trick of major championship final goals for Bale, who also netted in the European and domestic cup successes.

Victory also ensured Carlo Ancelotti’s men would end a memorable year still on an incredible winning run stretching back to mid-September.

Madrid almost went ahead after only one minute when Toni Kroos fed Cristiano Ronaldo, whose driven low cross flew across the face of goal, with Karim Benzema just unable to get a touch.

San Lorenzo, the Copa Libertadores winners, adopted a physical approach as they looked to knock their illustrious opponents off their stride.

Ronaldo was unsuccessful with a couple of free-kick attempts as he looked to find his range, but Madrid did not need their star man for the opener.

Bale saw his left-footed effort on the run from a tight angle pushed behind by Sebastián Torrico, but an unmarked Ramos headed home the resulting corner, swung in from the left by Kroos.

Madrid lost Marcelo to injury shortly before the break but it did not put them off their stride. They doubled their lead four minutes into the second half.

An incisive passing move ended with Isco playing the ball into the feet of Bale in the area and, although the Welshman’s shot was weak and straight at Torrico, it somehow squirmed under the goalkeeper and into the net.

San Lorenzo might have pulled one back late on as Juan Mercier’s long-range drive brought a fine diving save out of Iker Casillas, but the Spaniards never looked in trouble as they closed out the game in comfort.

Earlier, Auckland City from New Zealand won the third-place play-off, beating the Mexican side Cruz Azul on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

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OSM - Gracias Campeones....for the Memories

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Bayern Tactics Were Wrong - Lahm

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Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm admitted his side got their tactics horribly wrong in the first half of their Champions League humiliation at home to Real Madrid.

The Bundesliga champions were blown away before the break as Madrid raced into a 3-0 lead, 4-0 on aggregate, thanks to two Sergio Ramos headers and a Cristiano Ronaldo effort.

It was an astonishingly inept display from a side which had been the dominant force in Europe over the past 18 months.

Ronaldo added his second at the death to book Madrid's place in the final.

"We're very disappointed because we set our sights high, but suddenly we were 2-0 down after 20 minutes from two set-pieces," Lahm said on the Bayern website.

"That really leaves a bitter taste. I don't think we played well tactically in the first half. The game was too open.

"It was the opposite of the first leg when we controlled the play. I know they hit us on the break last week, but (on Tuesday) it was end-to-end stuff in the first half.

"That's fundamentally not the way we play our football, but it's what Real really like. It totally played into their hands."

Arjen Robben said Madrid were the "world's best counter-attacking team", but added: "A 4-0 defeat at home is a choker."

Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted the loss exposed the limitations of the Bundesliga champions. They failed to find the net against Carlo Ancelotti's side in 180 minutes of football.

Rummenigge said: "We didn't have quite enough passion to cause our opponents serious problems.

"We were obviously unlucky to go two goals behind to set-plays. After that it was obvious Real would make the final.

"Real have a magnificent team at the moment and our limitations have been exposed to a certain extent.

"You get games like these, but we need to hold our nerve. We've been a little spoiled because we made the final twice in a row, and three times in the last four years.

"Despite the anger you feel welling up inside, I think on days like these you have to stay calm, go home and try to do things better as of tomorrow.

"We need to lick our wounds quickly, because we want a much better performance on 17 May in the DFB-Pokal final against (Borussia) Dortmund."

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