MADRID: A dummy dressed in a Vinicius Junior shirt was hung from a bridge near Real Madrid’s training ground ahead of the Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
“Madrid hates Real,” read a banner draped on the bridge close to Valdebebas overnight Wednesday.
The Vinicius effigy was described as a “racist attack” and “serious threat” against the Brazilian forward by Spanish media.
Police sources told AFP they were investigating the incident, without offering further details.
The slogan is one which has been used by Atletico Madrid ultras in the past.
“Such acts are absolutely repugnant and inadmissible and shame society,” said Atletico in a statement.
“Our condemnation of any act that attacks the dignity of persons or institutions is categorical and unreserved.”
Atletico fans were filmed aiming racist chants at Vinicius in September before the Madrid derby at the Wanda Metropolitano in La Liga.
However, in December Spanish prosecutors closed an investigation into the chants, saying it was not possible to identify those culpable.
“We condemn the hateful actions against Vinicius,” wrote La Liga on Twitter.
“Intolerance and violence do not fit within football.”
Real Madrid’s 22-year-old winger is a divisive figure in Spanish football, with opponents sometimes angered by his flair and playing style, and his propensity to go to ground easily.
On the other hand, Vinicius is often targeted and hacked by opposition defenders to try and put him off his game, with no player in Europe fouled more this season.
“We have to protect him,” urged Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday in a news conference.
“Football needs him, he’s got an extraordinary talent and we have to protect him physically and in a mental aspect too.”
Real Madrid host rivals Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu later on Thursday.
Vinicius effigy hung from bridge before Madrid derby
https://arab.news/wtges
Vinicius effigy hung from bridge before Madrid derby
- The Vinicius effigy was described as a "racist attack" and "serious threat" against the Brazilian forward by Spanish media
- Police sources told AFP they were investigating the incident, without offering further details
CAF fines its president’s club $100,000 after African Champions League fan disorder
Esperance was fined $150,000 for the fan misconduct
CAIRO: CAF fined its president’s club $100,000 after violent fan clashes at an African Champions League game between two teams that are going to the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Mamelodi Sundowns, owned by Patrice Motsepe — a South African mining billionaire and FIFA vice president – breached safety and security rules hosting an April 1 game against Esperance of Tunisia, the Confederation of African Football said in a disciplinary ruling late Thursday.
Motsepe has been president of African soccer’s governing body CAF for four years and was re-elected unopposed last month.
The African soccer body said Sundowns “is required to strictly implement the safety and security measures specified in the CAF regulations, guidelines and directives, particularly in their upcoming matches.”
Esperance was fined $150,000 for the fan misconduct, CAF said, related to clashes in the stands at the quarterfinal, first leg game.
Sundowns won the first leg 1-0 in Pretoria and advanced to the semifinals after the return game ended 0-0 in Tunis one week later. The South African team on Saturday hosts Al Ahly of Egypt — another Club World Cup team — in the first leg of the semifinals.
Sundowns and Esperance are both coming to the US in June as two of Africa’s four entries in the first 32-team Club World Cup organized by FIFA.
Both qualified because of consistently good results over four years in the CAF Champions League through 2024.
Sundowns has been drawn in a Club World Cup group with Ulsan of South Korea, Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Fluminense of Brazil, playing games in Orlando, Cincinnati and Miami.
Esperance is in a group with Chelsea of England, Brazil’s Flamengo and a third team that was to be Leon, which FIFA disqualified because it is in the same ownership as another Mexican team that qualified, Pachuca. Those games are in Philadelphia and Nashville.
Leon has a May 5 hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Madrid in its appeal against FIFA’s ruling. The Club World Cup is played in 11 US cities from June 14 to July 13.
Champions PSG eager to preserve unbeaten league run, says Luis Enrique
- “We’re preparing for future games in the same way. We can break a record, it’s within the team’s grasp,” Enrique told reporters
- “It doesn’t happen very often, and that’s our main motivation”
PARIS: Paris St. Germain have already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare but the French champions remain highly motivated as they look to end their campaign unbeaten, coach Luis Enrique said on Friday ahead of a meeting with Le Havre.
PSG, who have 74 points from 28 games, won their fourth straight Ligue 1 title earlier this month and have also reached the Champions League semifinals and French Cup final.
They host relegation-threatened Le Havre on Saturday and Luis Enrique insisted that his side could not take it easy and let their standards slip if they are to become the first team to win the French top-flight title without tasting defeat.
“We’re preparing for future games in the same way. We can break a record, it’s within the team’s grasp,” Luis Enrique told reporters.
“It doesn’t happen very often, and that’s our main motivation. We’re already champions. If you want to play for PSG and be here for many years, you have to play at the highest level at all times.
“Le Havre has a lot at stake. It will be one of the most difficult games of the season.”
PSG play three league games in the span of eight days — taking on Le Havre, Nantes and OGC Nice — before meeting Premier League side Arsenal in a Champions League semifinal first leg at the Emirates Stadium on April 29.
Asked about the possibility of finally ending PSG’s wait for a European Cup, the Spaniard said: “We haven’t achieved our objective yet. Since we arrived, our objective has been to make history.
“To make history, you have to win everything, especially the trophy you all know. We’re going to give everything we’ve got to achieve that. What’s important to me is the road to get there. It depends on us...
“We already played Arsenal at the start of the season. We know who we have to eliminate. They’re one of the best teams in Europe. They’ve developed very well with (Mikel) Arteta, they’re performing very well.”
Lyon needs Renard and Hegerberg to shine against Arsenal in women’s CL semis, Barca faces Chelsea
- Lyon’s last victory came three years ago and since then Barcelona have taken over as the leading team in the sport
- Lyon travel to Arsenal for a lunchtime first leg on Saturday and Barcelona host Chelsea on Sunday evening
PARIS: When Wendie Renard scored in front of 14,000 fans in the women’s Champions League final 14 years ago, she helped Lyon win the trophy for the first time.
Seven more titles and much bigger crowds have followed since for Renard and Lyon, along with a truck-load of domestic trophies.
The 34-year-old Frenchwoman has scored more than 150 goals for the club in almost 500 appearances, a remarkable ratio for a central defender.
Lyon teammate Ada Hegerberg — the first Ballon d’Or winner — is in her 11th season at the club and has won the competition six times. She scored a hat trick in the 4-1 rout of Barcelona in the 2019 final.
They are among the most iconic names in women’s soccer and Lyon might need big performances from both to win a record-extending ninth European crown.
Lyon’s last victory came three years ago and since then Barcelona have taken over as the leading team in the sport. The Catalan giant are going for a third straight title and fourth overall.
Barcelona are led by the flair and drive of two-time Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. They have shared the last four awards, making it four straight for the club, and both scored in last year’s final against Lyon in front of a record crowd of 51,000.
Lyon and Barcelona have met in the final in three of the past six seasons and could clash again — provided they get past Arsenal and Chelsea in the semifinals.
Lyon travel to Arsenal for a lunchtime first leg on Saturday and Barcelona host Chelsea on Sunday evening.
When Lyon won the Champions League for the first time, they beat Arsenal in the semifinals.
The second legs are held the following Sunday, with the final taking place on May 24 at Lisbon’s 50,000-capacity Estádio José Alvalade.
London calling?
North Londoner Arsenal won the tournament in 2007 when it was called the Super Cup, and are the only English team to do so. West Londoner Chelsea have reached the final once, in 2021, but were routed 4-0 as Barca won their first title.
The contest was so one-sided that Barcelona scored after 32 seconds and were 4-0 up at the break.
If Arsenal and Chelsea get through it would be only the third same-nation final in the competition.
Road to the semis
Chelsea overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg to knock out Manchester City 3-2 on aggregate, thanks to goals from Frenchwoman Sandy Baltimore, Swede Nathalie Björn and Colombian Mayra Ramírez.
In the first leg, City had ended Chelsea’s long unbeaten run under coach Sonia Bompastor.
The 44-year-old Frenchwoman won the competition twice as a player with Lyon and once as a coach — when Lyon beat Barcelona 3-1 in 2022 in front of 32,000 fans.
It was business as usual for Barcelona, which routed 2023 runner-up Wolfsburg 6-1 in the second leg for a 10-2 aggregate victory.
Winger Salma Paralluelo and forward Clàudia Pina each scored twice as Barcelona took their goal tally to 36 in eight games, while María León and Putellas showed their passing skills.
Lyon outclassed Bayern Munich 6-1 on aggregate with Hegerberg among the scorers. In-form England striker Alessia Russo netted twice as Arsenal advanced with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid after losing 2-0 in Spain.
Barca coach Flick unhappy with LaLiga kickoff timings amid hectic schedule
- “Every league protects their clubs, especially when they play in the semifinals of the Champions League,” Flick said
- “I’m happy we’re not playing on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. against Valladolid”
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s resilience with the club still competing on three fronts this season but complained about the timing of their next LaLiga match against Celta Vigo as he wanted to give his players some more rest.
League leaders Barcelona advanced to the semifinals of the Champions League after defeating Borussia Dortmund on aggregate while they also face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final later this month.
With a four-point lead over Real, Barca can steal a march on the title when they play Celta Vigo on Saturday but Flick questioned the league for not scheduling the game later in the day instead of an early kickoff.
Flick said players need more time to rest as they arrive back in Barcelona very late from away games in Europe and do not get into bed until 5 am.
“Every league protects their clubs, especially when they play in the semifinals of the Champions League. It’s unbelievable, we have no time to rest,” Flick told reporters on Friday.
“For me, the guys responsible for that — I want to discuss it with them... I don’t want to make excuses or complain. I’m happy we’re not playing on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. against Valladolid.
“But why can’t we play at 6:00 p.m. like we normally do? Give me one reason. To me, it’s a joke and it affects Spanish football. The rest of the teams in the European leagues benefit.
“I’m speechless because this situation is unbelievable. In the Bundesliga or Premier League, they take care of their clubs... They (LaLiga) have no idea what this (arriving late) means for the players.”
Celta Vigo are seventh in the standings, chasing European football, and Flick praised their 37-year-old coach Claudio Giraldez who came in this season and lifted a club that finished the last three campaigns in the bottom half.
“I have the highest respect for his work, he’s coached a great team... it has nothing to do with his age,” Flick said.
“Celta have a clear idea of how they want to play, they’re very brave in their build-up.
“For us it’s important we show our strengths, maybe what we missed in Dortmund. We spoke about the situations we had in Dortmund and we have to do better tomorrow... We have to play at our highest level. Also, they like their away matches.”
Al-Nassr seeking revenge in tonight’s clash against Al-Qadsiah
- Team look to maintain pressure on the league toppers, Al-Ittihad
- Friday’s match is expected to witness the return of Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic
RIYADH: Al-Nassr’s first football team will play against Al-Qadsiah at 9:00 p.m. Saudi time tonight, as part of Round 28 of the Saudi Roshn League, at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
The capital’s team, which has entered the title race, aims to secure all three points and take revenge after losing to their opponent 1-2 in the first leg. They also look to maintain pressure on the league toppers, Al-Ittihad.
The two clubs have previously met 17 times in the Pro League, with Al-Nassr achieving nine victories, while Al-Qadsiah has five wins, and three matches ending in a draw.
Al-Qadsiah’s net has received 30 goals by Al-Nassr’s strikers, while the latter have conceded 18 goals during those encounters.
Italian coach Stefano Pioli hopes his side Al-Nassr can earn the three points without any injuries, especially with the final rounds of the Elite Asian Cup just one week away.
Friday’s match is expected to witness the return of Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who missed the previous game against Al-Riyadh — which Al-Nassr defeated 2-1 in Round 27 — due to rest.
Meanwhile, Spanish coach Michel Gonzalez described their clash against Al-Nassr as tough but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome the challenge and secure a win — something that has eluded them in the last four rounds, in which they drew twice and lost twice.
Al-Nassr sit in third place with 57 points, just one point behind second-placed Al-Hilal and eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad. Al-Qadsiah hold fifth place with 52 points, tied with Al-Ahli.
