Chelsea vs FC Basel May 2, 2013
Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has refused to discuss the prospect of Jose Mourinho rejoining the Blues.
Real Madrid boss Mourinho hinted at a possible return on Tuesday, saying he plans to be "where people love me to be" next season.
But Benitez, busy preparing for Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against FC Basel, insisted: "It's not my business."
Chelsea won the first leg 2-1 in Switzerland, but the build-up to their return clash with Basel has been dominated by Mourinho's comments.
Following Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final defeat by Borussia Dortmund, the Portuguese said: "I know in England I am loved. I know I am loved by some clubs, especially one."
Some perceived those comments to mean the 50-year-old would be returning to Stamford Bridge, where he remains the club's most successful manager with two Premier League titles and three domestic cup wins.
As well as targeting Europa League success, Benitez said his focus was on qualifying for the Champions League.
"We know it's our priority and we'll try to do it," said the former Liverpool and Valencia manager. "I like to think in a positive way. We will be there."
Chelsea squad to play FC Basel: Cech, Turnbull, Hilario, Ivanovic, Bertrand, Luiz, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Oscar, Mata, Mikel, Moses, Lampard, Hazard, Torres, Benayoun, Marin, Ake, Ferreira.
Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich May 1, 2013
90+' --- Full time. Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich. Bayern win 7-0 on aggregate. Goals on the night courtesy of Arjen Robben, Gerard Pique (OG), and Thomas Müller.
90+' --- The clock's ticking down with Bayern on the front foot. This will be the club's third win at Camp Nou, a record for non-Spanish teams (who of course get regular domestic attempts to do so).
86' --- Barca sub out defender Batra for defender Montoya. This margin was so clear that it seems Vilanova sees no need to even risk a fragile Messi. He's good, but only a worker of minor miracles.
85' --- David Villa puts another shot down Manuel Neuer's throat. Pretty build-up, no end-product - story of Barca's difficult night.
82' --- Barca sub Thiago heads towards goal, but gets no purchase on his effort. Manuel Neuer jogged across to collect. Meanwhile, van Buyten is nursing a knock after challenging Thiago for the header. He will have to soldier on, Bayern have used their three subs.
81' --- Batra heads just off target from a Barcelona corner. The hosts have ten minutes and change to salvage at least a goal against Neuer and friends.
79' --- Barcelona have not lost at the Camp Nou since Rubin Kazan came to town in 2009. They'll do well to avoid defeat here.
'76 --- One more sub, one more spared starter for the final. Captain Phillip Lahm - a booking from suspension again - makes way for Brazilian ex-Schalke fullback Rafinha. All missions very much accomplished for Jupp Heynckes at Camp Nou - including keeping key players off the suspended list.
'75 --- GOAL! 3-0 Bayern. Ribery again makes the running down the left, and Thomas Müller rises to head home from point-blank range at the back post. Bayern's wing-based attacking strategy is working wonders - yet again.
73' --- Sub Bayern: Javi Martinez off for Anatoliy Tymoshchuk. Another player in danger of suspension is spared. The Spaniard, once a Barcelona trasfer target, will play at Wembley.
72' --- GOAL! Own goal Pique. Bayern 2-0 up on the night and 6-0 on aggregate. Sub Luiz Gustavo played Ribery in down the left flank; his dangerous cross needed to be dealt with. Pique swung a boot at it, miscued, and knocked it into his own net.
71' --- Pedro hits another comparatively lame distance shot at Manuel Neuer's feet. They'll need to conjure up better than that against Joachim Löw's number 1 keeper.
69' --- Van Buyten and Boateng - neither of them first choice options in central defense - are mopping up everything in the danger zone. Barca are looking increasingly unlikely even to score a consolation goal.
65' --- Sub Bayern: Luiz Gustavo replaces Bastian Schweinsteiger. Schweini was a yellow away from suspension - but now he will play in the final. His Brazilian replacement, also one card from suspension, must mind his manners too.
61' --- Goal-creator David Alaba again shows that Bayern have attacking fullbacks too. His long-range shot, however, did not cut the mustard and bobbled well wide.
59' --- A Bayern attack comes to nothing down the left. Nevertheless Bastian Schweinsteiger's look-away pass with the outside of his right boot was so sumptuous it deserves documenting.
57' --- Thomas Müller ran out of steam in another promising break. The attacking midfielder checked up and looked for support when his best option might have been to shoot first time - even with his weaker left foot.
55' --- Another chance goes begging for Bayern. Meanwhile, Barcelona start changing to attack. Midfielder and captain Xavi makes way for attacker Alexis Sanchez. Cesc Fabregas, playing up top, could probably drop back into the middle.
51' --- David Villa fires wide of Manuel Neuer's post as a shellshocked Barca seek to salvage first some pride in front of home fans. The pre-match stadium choreo spelled out the Catalan for "Barca pride" in giant letters, and the fans are still cheering for some.
48' --- GOAL for Bayern!!!! David Alaba with a mouthwatering cross-field pass to Arjen Robben, who did what he does best. The flying Dutchman danced in from the right, before curling it into the top corner with his left peg. 1-0 Bayern, and 5-0 on aggregate. Book your tickets, Bayern fans.
47' --- Bayern's first breakaway breaks down. Thomas Müller did well to get clear, but then made a howler of a decision, trying to play a pass through traffic on the left, and ignoring the wide-open Mandzukic on the right.
46' --- Slovenian ref Skomina again purses his lips to start the second half. Bayern have 1.95 feet in the final at Wembley; Barcelona need four unanswered goals just to force extra time, or five to win.
-----------------Half time: Barcelona 0-0 Bayern (4-0 Bayern agg.)---------------------------
45+' --- Referee Skomina blows the whistle for half time as midfield maestro Bastian Schweinsteiger is treated for a nasty knock. He now has half time to recover. Dani Alves was booked for the foul on "Schweini."
45' --- Heynckes and Bayern would surely settle for 0-0 at the break. Barca coach Vilanova said he was aiming for 2-0 at the half. He doesn't have long to achieve that.
41' --- The final ball is missing for Barcelona, confronted by a collective defensive effort from Bayern. The work rate of wingers Robben and Ribery is particularly impressive at the back; nicknamed "Robbery," they're stealing nothing today.
39' --- Left back Adriano breaks forward for Barcelona and hits a long, low shot that doesn't trouble Neuer.
34' --- Arjen Robben runs and runs on the break (should he have passed instead?) before himself firing off a shot that was blocked. Bayern are now basically resigned to counter-attacks, though that's still a dangerous avenue for the Bavarians.
33' --- Veteran van Buyten to the rescue after a snaky dribble from Andres Iniesta. The Belgian blocked his shot.
31' --- Arjen Robben booked for a loose tackle, going in late against Alexandre Song. He was not threatened with suspension - provided he doesn't get a second yellow, he could play at Wembley.
29' --- Manuel Neuer, often the best paid unemployed German in the world with the way Bayern tend to defend, has work to do today. Most recently, mopping up a cross from Pedro that was a little to close to the blond beast between the Bayern sticks.
26' --- Xavi volleys over from close range, seconds after Barca wanted a penalty. Tito Vilanova's side are starting to turn the screw. Were it not for some crossed Spanish wires between David Villa and Cesc Fabregas, that past attack might have been even more dangerous.
24' --- Save Manuel Neuer from Pedro's long shot, the German international really had to stretch to get his fingertips to it and concede the corner. The set piece fizzled out. Bizarrely, Bayern have had more possession (45 percent) than they had in the home leg (34 percent).
18' --- Yummy! Robben and Schweinsteiger dance down Barcelona's right flank, breaking into the box. Only a last-ditch tackle from Spaniard Pique disrupted the move. As in the first leg, Bayern are avoiding Barcelona's beloved center of the pitch, trying to concentrate their attacks down the wings.
14' --- Barcelona and Dani Alves in turn found acres of space down the right against Bayern. The Brazilian's low cross was imprecise, squandering a promising move.
11' --- Arjen Robben misses a one-on-one! Bayern's beautiful one-touch football released the winger over the top after several slick passes. On his favored left, Robben went for precision. Victor Valdes got his gloves to it.
9' --- First clearcut opportunity to Barca! Xavi swung in a free kick - dubiously given for handball by Robben - but central defender Batra's header was a long way off the mark. Goalless at Camp Nou.
7' --- Both sides are flirting with scoring chances without quite creating them. Barca's David Villa was stopped in the Bayern box, while Franck Ribery had his shot blocked as the Bavarians hit back on the counter.
4' --- Bayern looking the more incisive in the opening minutes, a couple of promising moves have broken down on the edge of the box at the feet of front man Mario Mandzukic. At the other end, goalie Manuel Neuer has had only a wayward cross to deal with thus far.
1' --- The match has begun at Camp Nou, the penultimate game of this Champions League season. Who will be playing the last one?
Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund April 30, 2013
The referee blows his final whistle, Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund (3-4 on aggregate)
90+4 One chance remaining for Real Madrid.
90+3 Sergio Ramos heads a corner just wide.
90+2 We are witnessing some frantic moments now. Real are throwing everything forward to score a decisive winner.
90 Dortmund make their final substitution. Felipe Santana replaces the injured Sven Bender.
90 The passionate Real Madrid fans are cheering on their team in decisive moments.
88 Benzema pulls the ball back to Ramos from the byline and the central defender lashes it into the roof of the net. Real just need one more goal to cause a huge upset.
88 GOAAAAAAAAAAL FOR REAL MADRID
88 A deflected shot by Benzema is superbly tipped over Weidenfeller.
87 Dortmund make their second substitution. Lewandowski is replaced with Sebastian Kehl.
85 A Sergio Ramos header is handled by Weidenfeller as Real lay siege to Dortmund's area.
84 Real Madrid are roared on by a passionate crowd.
83 Kaka feeds Ozil on the right and the German midfielder sends a low cross for the onrushing Benzema to fire home from close range. Can Real score two more goals in the remaining seven minutes?
83 GOOAAAAAAAAAAL FOR REAL MADRID!!
81 Real midfielder Sami Khedira also receives a yellow card for a challenge on Jakub Blaszczykowski.
79 Sergio Ramos is handed a yellow card.
78 Real players protest against a Howard Webb decision not to award them a handball on the edge of the area after the ball strikes Hummels' arm.
76 Lewandowski wastes his third chance to score for Dortmund! His shot from inside the area is blocked by Essien.
75 With 15 minutes remaining, Dortmund have all but advanced to the final.
73 A poor long-range shot from substitute Sami Khedira goes high over.
72 Kaka side-foots a cross after cutting ahead of his marker but it narrowly misses the target.
71 Di Maria just fails to get on the end of a cross at the far post. Real relatively improve.
70 Ronaldo wastes a chance for Real! His right-foot shot from inside the area goes high over. Too many inaccurate shots tonight.
69 The introduction of Kaka and Benzema has so far failed to bear fruit.
67 A cross-cum-shot from Di Maria goes narrowly wide. A rare half-chance for Real in the second half.
65 A timely Ramos interception prevents Dortmund from creating another goal-scoring opportunity. The visitors are very dangerous on the counter.
62 Dortmund waste their third second-half chance to end the game as a contest!! Midfielder Ilkay Guendogan is found by a pull-back from Reus but his shot from four yards out is blocked by Real keeper Diego Lopez. We can expect a Dortmund goal on the break soon.
60 Dortmund's Lewandowski, the first-leg hero, spurned the chance to kill off Real's hopes early in the second half. Real have the better possession now but they hardly trouble the visitors.
57 Real coach Jose Mourinho makes a double substitution. Karim Benzema replaces Gonzalo Higuian and Brazilian playmaker Kaka comes on instead of left-back Fabio Coentrao.
56 An Essien cross picks out Ronaldo but, under pressure from the defence, he fails to head goalwards.
54 Higuain fails to control a deft pass from Ronaldo, drawing jeers from the home crowd.
52 Real Madrid's desperate crosses are repeatedly cleared by the tight Dortmund defence.
50 It's Lewandowski again! He breaks clear following a neat pass from Reus but his angled shot rattles the bar. Dortmund's fast-paced counter attacks expose the gaps in Real's advanced backline.
49 Dortmund striker Lewandowski wastes the chance to effectively end the tie as a contest!! He is picked out unmarked inside the area but his mis-hit shot goes high over with the goal at his mercy.
47 Real Madrid are left with an uphill climb. They need to score three goals to cause an upset and reach the final.
46 Hummels heads away a Real Madrid cross and denies an effort from Varane in the ensuing corner kick.
The second half is underway
The referee blows his half-time whistle, Real Madrid 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
45+1 Ronaldo shoots a long-range free kick high over.
45 A flurry of yellow cards! Sven Bender is booked for a challenge on the darting Ronaldo.
44 Higuain also receives a yellow card for protesting Howard Webb's decisions.
43 Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Guendogan receives a yellow card for a challenge on Ozil.
42 The offside flag once again denies Higuain.
40 Real are now finding it difficult to create chances through crosses, given the aerial prowess of Dortmund's steadfast defenders.
39 Another Ronaldo cross goes begging.
37 Dortmund's full-backs, Lukasz Piszczek and Marcel Schmelzer are putting in an impressive display, repeatedly thwarting Real's attempts to penetrate down the flanks.
34 Ronaldo loses possession in midfield after mis-controlling a tame pass.
32 Dortmund are determined not to concede any goal in the first half to make matters difficult for the hosts in the second period.
30 Real Madrid still maintained the upper hand in terms of possession in the second quarter of an hour, but Dortmund's defence kept them at bay.
28 Real fans jeer Webb for declining to book Sven Bender, who made a reckless tackle on Xabi Alonso.
27 Higuain fails to get on the end of a through pass as Weidenfeller rushes out to collect the ball.
26 Real full-back Fabio Coentrao is booked for a challenge on Lewandowski.
25 A Di Maria shot on the edge of the area is blocked by the defence after some good work from Ozil on the left flank.
24 At the other end, Sergio Ramos superbly clears a cross from Dortmund.
23 A cross by Real full-back Fabio Coentrao is headed away by defender Mats Hummels.
21 Real are repeatedly trying to expose any gaps on Dortmund's left side.
20 Ronaldo cuts inside his marker on the left and sends a low shot that goes wide from the edge of the area.
18 Unlike the first leg, Real Madrid carve out openings but they still lack the cutting edge.
15 In the exciting first quarter of an hour, Real Madrid waste three clear-cut chances while Dortmund spurn one genuine chance.
15 Real squander the third goal-scoring chance!! Ozil latches onto a superb pass from Higuain to go one-on-one with Weidenfeller but his low shot hits the side netting.
14 Cristiano Ronaldo wastes Real's second goal-scoring opportunity! He fails to beat Weidenfeller from close range in some breathtaking moments.
13 Lewandowski almost puts Dortmund ahead! His close-range half-volley is saved by the keeper.
13 Dortmund's star Mario Goetze sustains an injury.
10 Real's Argentinean striker Higuian repeatdly moves to the right flank, to allow more space for Ronaldo to go to the heart of Dortmund's defence.
8 Ronaldo's right-foot shot from inside the area goes over the crossbar after a neat move involving Ozil and Di Maria. Real look lively in the early stages.
7 A Higuain cross from the right is blocked by Dortmunds' full-back Marcel Schmelzer. The defence clears the ensuing cross.
6 At the other end, Real's Raphael Varane clears a cross from Dortmund, who look dangerous every time they pour forward.
4 Real waste their first goal-scoring opportunity!! Gonzalo Higuain receives a pass from Mesut Ozil to break clear but his angled shot is blocked by Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller.
3 Ronaldo, back from injury, is will shoulder Real's attacking responsibilities tonight. It remains to be seen whether Dortmund's defence will replicate their first-leg heroics.
2 Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria lets fly from distance but his shot goes high over.
1 Marco Reus is denied by the offside flag and Coentrao's cross is blocked by Dortmund's defence at the other end in the first minute.
 |
| Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund April 30, 2013 |
The more and more I think about this, the more and more intriguing it becomes: Is three goals too much for Real Madrid to come back from against Dortmund?
Most first inclinations say yes, but the reality is that defending a big lead heading into the second leg is not an easy thing to do. AC Milan showed it against Barcelona, Bayern Munich showed it against Arsenal, Real Madrid showed it against Galatasaray—it's hard to play two or three goals in front.
Thus, if Madrid net the opening goal, this one is definitely back on.
Los Blancos are a brilliant attacking side and possess more than enough firepower to net three goals here. Yes, Dortmund are a technically sound defensive side and have shown to have Madrid's measure this year, but this is a situation they're not used to—and they're also under a lot of pressure.
An early goal, or maybe two goals up at half-time, and this one will definitely get interesting. Three goals is a lot for Madrid, but they have shown they can score goals when needed, and they aren't completely out this semifinal just yet.
San Antonio Spurs vs LA Lakers April 28, 2013
If the Los Angeles Lakers had entered the postseason completely healthy, this could have been a fantastic playoff series.
Alas, the injury bug finally took a bite out of Kobe Bryant's ageless legs, depriving fans of a thrilling clash between the Black Mamba and Tim Duncan, two early nominees for the All-Century team.
With the graying Lakers lineup hobbled, the San Antonio Spurs have ruthlessly taken over the series. They won each of the first three games by double digits and handed L.A. a 31-point shellacking in Game 3, the worst home playoff loss in the franchise's storied history.
Andrew Goudelock will start at shooting guard for L.A., and he brings an MVP pedigree. Unfortunately, that was MVP of the D-League, and these are the NBA playoffs. Though the Lakers will come out fighting, they don't really have a puncher's chance in this one.
Time: Sunday, April 28, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Series Record: 3-0 Spurs
Reading vs QPR April 28, 2013
This game can only be billed as the battle to avoid the Premier League’s wooden spoon. Defeat will mean relegation but even if either side win, they will be relegated if Aston Villa beat Sunderland on Monday night. Both sides trail Villa by 10 points with four games remaining and only the greatest of escapes will avoid this fixture featuring in the Championship next season.
Nigel Adkins has managed to pick up just one point since taking over at Reading and the Royals have failed to win in their last nine games. QPR have not fared much better, having only earned one point in their last five games.
Both teams will be among the Championship favourites next season, although Harry Redknapp has insisted an immediate return to the top flight will not be easy for his high-earning flops.
The one consolation each side will take from this season is the £60 million that they will receive from parachute payments, which will be paid in four instalments over the following four years.
Back in February, when Sky selected it for live broadcast, this fixture looked like it would be a classic six-pointer. For the players it will be a chance to impress potential suitors watching from their sofas ahead of the summer transfer window but for fans, only pride is at stake.
KICK-OFF: Sunday, 1.30pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS...
QPR 1 (Cisse) Reading 1 (Gorkss), Premier League, November 2012
QPR 2 (Hoilett, Cisse) Reading 3 (Gorkss, Shorey, Pogrebnyak), Capital One Cup, September 2012
Reading 0 QPR 1 (Routledge), Championship, February 2011
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