Dazzling Draxler Stuns Real Madrid

Wolfsburg - Getty Images

Wolfsburg stunned an out-of-sorts Real Madrid by comfortably beating the Spanish team in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

The hosts were awarded a controversial penalty when Casemiro was deemed to have fouled Andre Schurrle, and Ricardo Rodriguez converted from the spot.

Real were poor defensively and a rapid attack ended with Bruno Henrique setting up Max Arnold for the second.

The visitors created little, but should have been awarded a penalty early on.

Defeat was Real's first in a Champions League quarter-final since 2004, and leaves the 10-time winners needing a vastly improved performance in the return leg at the Bernabeu next Tuesday.

The Spaniards last overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit in European competition in 1987, when they beat Red Star Belgrade in the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hecking said his players would try to "annoy" Real, and the questionable penalty awarded by referee Gianluca Rocchi would certainly have irked the Spaniards.

But despite the fortuitous circumstances in which they took the lead, the quarter-final debutants deserved their first-leg advantage and could have scored more, so awful were Real in defence.

Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, in particular, were to blame for the second goal, which Arnold side-footed home from six yards.

Moments earlier, Arnold had nicked the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo inside his own half and was allowed to surge 60 yards unchallenged before nearly putting Schurrle through.

After the break, Schurrle should have done better when through on goal, while substitute Max Kruse forced a fine save from Keylor Navas in the dying minutes.

Real boss Zinedine Zidane said his team would treat the match "like a final" but his men were a shadow of the side that beat Barcelona in El Clasico at the weekend.

Ronaldo made his 124th Champions League appearance, taking him to joint sixth in the all-time list

Zidane made just one change to the team that ended Barca's 39-match unbeaten run, yet they could not reproduce Saturday's performance.

Gareth Bale, playing on the left wing, was their most potent player and should have been awarded a penalty when the score was goalless. Ronaldo - making his 124th Champions League appearance - lacked clout, while Karim Benzema hobbled off early in the first half.

It was not a result many would have predicted beforehand, with Wolfsburg losing 3-0 to Bayer Leverkusen - their third game without a win in the Bundesliga, at the weekend.

Seven points adrift of fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach, they are in danger of missing out on next season's Champions League if they do not win the competition, yet in Julian Draxler and Schurrle the Germans proved they have players who can shine on such a stage.

Once again, the 22-year-old Draxler stood out in a Champions League tie. The Germany international covered more than 10km, made three key passes and was even ever-present when needed in defence, tackling and clearing for his team.

Real boss Zinedine Zidane: 

"I'm not happy with how the game went, especially the first half.

"That's football - that's how difficult it is. That's what happens when you don't play with intensity from the start. We have to rest and think about the return leg because we still have the chance to change everything."

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale: "We're only halfway through the tie so we have time to turn it around. I had a clear penalty on me at the start of the game. I got smashed over.

"No excuses - we weren't good enough. It happens sometimes."

Wolfsburg boss Dieter Hecking: 

"I was laughed at when I said that we may have a chance. Real had their opportunities early on and we were a bit lucky.

"We pulled together, we found the spaces and played very well. Now we will go to Madrid, knowing that we have a chance to advance."

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Murray Will Be Ready for Italian Job

Conor Murray is “lucky” to be fit for Ireland’s Six Nations match against Italy in Dublin, according to the assistant coach Richie Murphy.

Murray received eight stitches around his eye after being kicked in the face accidentally by full-back Mike Brown in Ireland’s 21-10 defeat to England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Murray sat out training on Tuesday but is expected to face Italy on Saturday week after escaping serious injury in the Twickenham loss. Brown avoided censure after being deemed to have legitimately attempted to kick the ball clear at the ruck when catching Murray in the face, with the scrum-half on the ground after a tackle.

“Conor’s got a split next to his eye, he’s had eight stitches but he’s grand,” said Murphy. “He didn’t train today, we’re just looking after him a little bit.

“He’s obviously a little bit bumped up, he got a bit of treatment in that game, so it’s a case of looking after him. He was lucky obviously it was just in the corner of the eye, but he’s fine and he’ll be ready for next week.”

Jared Payne should be fit for the visit of Italy, with the Ulster centre closing in on a return after hamstring trouble. The 30-year-old missed Ireland’s defeat at Twickenham after damaging his hamstring in the 10-9 loss to France, but is now on course to face the Italians.

“Jared Payne did a full session today, not with the team but with the fitness guys and the medics,” said Murphy, confirming Ireland have no further fresh injury concerns. “He came through that fine and it looks like he’ll be fully fit to start next week.”

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Republic Face Bosnia Herzegovina

The Republic of Ireland have been paired with Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Euro 2016 play-offs.

The first leg will take place in Bosnia-Herzegovina on November 12, 13 or 14, with the return game on November 15, 16 or 17.

The winner on aggregate - using away goals if necessary - will then go into the main tournament draw, which will take place on December 12.

Martin O'Neill's men missed the chance of automatic qualification when they were beaten 2-1 by Poland in their final group game, leaving them third in the group and forcing them to settle for a play-off spot.

Bosnia finished third behind Belgium and Wales in Group B but took four points off Chris Coleman's side, drawing 0-0 in Cardiff last October and winning 2-0 in Zenica earlier this month.

Five of their seven previous attempts at making major finals via the play-off route in the last 50 years have ended in heartache. 

Full draw

Ukraine v Slovenia

Sweden v Denmark

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Republic of Ireland

Norway v Hungary

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Injuries Not Increasing - RWC

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The number of injuries at the 2015 World Cup are "not out of step with the norm" according to World Rugby, amid concern at the number of players who have been ruled out the tournament.

Twenty-two players have so far had their involvement ended by injury.

That includes Ireland's Peter O'Mahony and a host of Welsh players, including latest victim Liam Williams.

"Injury rates at the elite level of the game have not increased since 2002," said a World Rugby spokesperson.

"It is too early to make comparisons [between 2015 and other World Cups] as it is usual to see fluctuations during an event, but injuries do not appear to be out of step with the norm.

"A full review will be conducted as per usual after the tournament. Player welfare is World Rugby's number one priority."

By the end of the pool stage in the 2011 World Cup, 19 players had been replaced because of injury, while in 2007 the figure was 37.

Leigh Halfpenny was ruled out of the World Cup after getting injured in a warm-up match against Italy

Brian O'Leary, the head of medical services at London Irish, told 5 live: "It is difficult to compare the injuries now with 10 years ago because it was a completely different sport. And the injuries are actually less now than then.

"New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, England, even Ireland up until last night hadn't had a huge amount of injuries. Wales have had a huge amount. You have to ask, 'is that unlucky?' Why have others not been affected?'"

Northern hemisphere countries have suffered more injuries during the current World Cup than their southern counterparts and O'Leary suggested that their tactical approach may be one of the reasons.

"The philosophy of the coaching is important," he added. "At London Irish we have a new southern hemisphere coaching set-up.

"We had a couple of injuries and I was reviewing the footage and they said the player could have passed instead of looking for contact. They felt the northern hemisphere teams look for more contact."

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Rugby Champions Cup

The proposed replacement for the Heineken Cup will be called the Rugby Champions Cup, English and French clubs have announced.

They will quit the Heineken Cup at the end of this season because they object to the current set-up for a number of reasons.

The issues include qualification and the way revenue is shared.

A Premiership Rugby statement said: "The competition will be based on the principles of qualification on merit."

Premier Rugby added the new tournament will have "a strong competition format, equality between the leagues, higher commercial values for the teams and expansion into new European markets".

A statement concluded: "The Top 14 and Premiership Rugby clubs have already confirmed their participation in the new competition and a joint working group has been created to prepare all necessary elements in good time for the 2014-15 season."

The International Rugby Board said it will only back the new pan-European club idea if the French and English unions approve it.

Premiership Rugby chairman Quentin Smith told BBC Radio 5 live he does not expect them to stand in the clubs' way.

"They are probably sitting on the fence at the moment and keeping an eye on what's happening," he said. "I can't see any reason why the unions wouldn't agree to, approve and support the initiative."

According to Smith, the English and French clubs have had "extremely positive responses" from other clubs and unions about joining the new competition, and he will be "astonished" if there is not a big take-up.

"We are moving at a very good pace," he added. "The name demonstrates there is something real that we have created. This isn't living in a world of concepts anymore.

"We have put a stake in the ground and said: 'We are here and moving forward from here'. There is no purpose in continuing to play with one's food, eventually you have to eat."

Smith reiterated that the English and French clubs will not be involved in any competition operating under the auspices of European Rugby Cup (ERC) next season, despite ERC scheduling further talks - mediated by barrister Graeme Mew - on 23 October as they seek an agreement.

However, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) subsequently released a strongly-worded statement giving its backing to ERC.

"No meeting or international competition involving French clubs can be organised outside the framework of the FFR and without its prior agreement," it read.

"The FFR has always been and will remain a major player in the European cups organised by ERC and backs proposals to permit the continuity and development of these."

The Aviva Premiership and Top 14 clubs believe the current Heineken Cup structure favours teams from the RaboDirect Pro12, which is made up of sides from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy, who will be allowed to join the potential new tournament.

Only the top six in England and France are guaranteed a place in the Heineken Cup, whereas at least 10 Celtic League outfits - including both Scottish, both Italian and a minimum of three sides each from Wales and Ireland - have certain entry into the competition.

With the Pro12 having no relegation, it is argued teams can rest players for league matches to keep them fresh for Europe, while Premiership and Top 14 teams have to fight hard just to qualify.

The English and French clubs are also unhappy with the way revenues are split between the three leagues and want to keep a greater share.

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Frampton With Title Shot - McGuigan

Barry McGuigan is impatient for a world title shot for protégé Carl Frampton but feels it is "in touching distance".

The man Frampton stopped in February, Kiko Martinez, won a global belt last month when he beat Jonathan Romero, the IBF super bantamweight champion.

"That shows how crazy boxing can be," said McGuigan, Frampton's manager.

"We are frustrated by it, but also buoyed by the fact that if Martinez can win the world title, we are convinced Frampton will do the same."

Before that, European champion Frampton must see off Frenchman Jeremy Parodi in what has been billed as an IBF world title eliminator at his home city Belfast's Odyssey Arena on 19 October.

"We believe we are in touching distance of a world title shot, but nothing happens unless we get past Parodi," added McGuigan.

"Carl has got to win that fight and look impressive in doing so."

The undercard of the Frampton bill will see Belfast super-flyweight Jamie Conlan take on Hassan Azaouagh in a European title contest.

Irish middleweight champion Eamonn O'Kane from Dungiven also takes on former European champion Kerry Hope from Wales with a Celtic belt at stake.

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Wales Bale Out for Safety

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Wales manager Chris Coleman says he was not prepared to risk Gareth Bale in their 2-1 defeat away by Macedonia.

World-record signing Bale was named on the bench for the World Cup qualifying loss in Skopje, which finally ended Wales' slim hopes of making the finals.

But despite that, Coleman said Bale's lack of match fitness after injury meant he was never going to play.

"We cannot risk Gareth Bale or any of our players, we've got to send them back to their clubs," Coleman said.

"He's only probably trained three or four times in the last two months.

"He's such an athlete and he wanted to come. He came the evening of his unveiling in Madrid, he's trained the next day, he's trained three days - he's not ready.

"We can't take that risk. If he comes on and, God forbid, anything happens, then how is that building a relationship with Real Madrid?

"We know we need to win the game but we're also looking at the bigger picture.

"We can't be sending back players injured because we're taking chances - it's not fair on them."

Wales now need to beat Serbia in Cardiff on Tuesday to maintain any hope of claiming third place in Group A, which would boost their seeding when the draw for Euro 2016 qualification is made.

Coleman said there was an outside chance Bale could come off the bench against Serbia.

"He's never going to be ready to start, it's as simple as that," Coleman said. "The fact he's turned up and is trying to be fit for us is such a huge positive and if he's ready then he may play a part.

"We'll see how he reacts between now and Tuesday."

Coleman, who suffered the embarrassment of arriving late in Skopje on Thursday after missing the team flight from Cardiff because of a lost passport, said he regretted a missed opportunity to beat Macedonia.

Ivan Trickovski had given Macedonia the lead after a deflected free-kick fell kindly, but Wales fought back through an Aaron Ramsey penalty he won himself.

However, sloppy play on the edge of Wales' own area let Aleksandar Trajkovski snatch a late winner for the home side.

"I'm gobsmacked really. You know anything can happen and you get nervous but I was very confident," said the Wales boss.

"Even when we went 1-0 down there was a feeling about us and an atmosphere about us that was positive and I felt that we were going to win the game.

"[Craig] Bellamy hits a post, Ramsey sticks a penalty in and we were always the one in the ascendency. Half-time came too quickly for us.

"What's missing at the minute is really sticking the knife into teams when we're on top and finishing them off."

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