MADRID, May 7 (Xinhua) — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was optimistic, but cautious when he spoke to the press ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League semifinal return leg at home to Bayern Munich.

A 2-2 draw in Munich a week ago means Ancelotti’s side goes into the game as favorites, but although the coach said it could be a “magical night” for the club, he advised his players were also “aware of the difficulties we may find.”

“We need to play an intense game both in attack and defense,” he commented, adding that his side could have defended better in the first leg.

“We have to try to be at our best. We’re excited because we’ve got a great opportunity to make it to the final again. We’re in good shape, highly motivated, and we’ll try to do our best,” advised Ancelotti.

Real Madrid goes into the game after assuring their 36th La Liga title with a 3-0 win at home to Cadiz on Saturday, and the coach said he backed his players to continue with their excellent form.

“We have this squad, which has done very well this season, and I’m confident the fans will get behind us. We are in a good position,” insisted Ancelotti.

Ancelotti, who coached Bayern between 2016 and 2017, said the German powerhouse and Real Madrid were “similar clubs,” with a “great tradition and history in the European Cup.”

“We respect them and they were the better side in the first leg,” he advised, before confirming that Andriy Lunin would start in goal, despite Thibaut Courtois’ return from injury at the weekend.

Source(s): Xinhua

PARIS, May 7 (Xinhua) — Borussia Dortmund reached their first Champions League final since 2013, outplaying Paris Saint-Germain in a 1-0 victory on Tuesday, despite a lackluster domestic season.

Dortmund secured their spot with an aggregate score of 2-0, having won the first leg by the same margin.

The crucial goal came in the second half when Mats Hummels headed in from a Julian Brandt corner. Moments earlier, PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery narrowly missed a golden opportunity, volleying against the post from close range.

Despite the French giants dominating possession and amassing 30 shots to Dortmund’s seven, they were thwarted repeatedly, hitting the woodwork four times in the second half alone.

Kylian Mbappe expressed his disappointment post-match, stating, “We always want to win at PSG, we feel sad.”

“We should have scored. We had the chances to score (and) when you don’t, when you’re not efficient at both ends, it’s difficult to go through,” Mbappe said after Tuesday’s defeat.

At the start of the season, no one could have expected Dortmund to be in the final of the Champions League after they were drawn in a tough group alongside PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle.

But Edin Terzic’s side finished top before they got past PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16 and then knocked out Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.

“The belief was there. We spoke about the game against Eindhoven (Dortmund’s last-16 tie) how short the road to London is. It’ll take us a bit of time to realize that, but we’re looking forward to it very much.”

The other semifinal pits Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich against Real Madrid, with their first leg ending in a 2-2 draw in Munich.

The Champions League final is set to be held at Wembley Stadium in London on June 1.

Source(s): Xinhua

LONDON, May 3 (Xinhua) — Three teams are still involved in the race to win the Premier League this weekend, while three more continue their struggle to avoid relegation in a round of games that also has a lot to say about who will play in European competition next season.

Arsenal and Manchester City are the two favorites for the title race, with Liverpool five points behind Arsenal and four behind City.

League leaders Arsenal are at home on Saturday lunchtime to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, who have already beaten their record Premier League points tally.

Bournemouth press high and like to attack in numbers, which could leave them exposed to Arsenal’s mobility in attack, and with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz in excellent form, a home win looks the most likely result.

Three points for Arsenal would put pressure on Manchester City in their Saturday evening match at home to Wolves. Gary O’Neil has done an excellent job with Wolves this season, but their campaign looks to be ending in mid-table after a brief flirtation with European qualification.

Wolves beat City 2-1 in September, but Pep Guardiola’s side was without the suspended Rodri for that game, and he will be in the engine room on Saturday.

With just one point separating Arsenal and City going into the weekend, goal difference could be a factor and with Arsenal’s currently seven better than their closest rivals, there will be no taking the foot off the gas even if a win has been sealed.

Liverpool’s title hopes look to have vanished amid poor recent results and stories of bad-feeling between Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah. It has to hope the top two drop points and beat Tottenham, who travel to Anfield after three consecutive defeats look to have spoiled their chances of overtaking Aston Villa and climbing up to fourth.

Villa travel to face Brighton, whose season is in freefall with no wins and only two goals scored in their last six matches, as rumors continue over possible future destinations for coach Roberto De Zerbi.

Avoiding relegation and hopes of a place in Europe go head-to-head when Burnley entertain Newcastle United, with the home side now only two points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest after a run of just one defeat in eight games.

Confidence is high at Burnley after drawing away to Manchester United, but Newcastle will be a tough rival as they look to move into sixth place, with top scorer Alexander Isak in frightening form with seven goals in his last six games.

United have a difficult away game against a Crystal Palace side with ten points from the last 12 under new coach Oliver Glasner, and Palace’s pacy attack could have fun against United’s sometimes slapstick defending.

Chelsea’s 2-0 win at home to Tottenham on Thursday gives them a slight chance of qualifying for Europe, but first they have to navigate an always-feisty London derby at home to West Ham.

Luton will move out of the bottom three if they win at home to Everton on Friday night. Everton have nearly ensured their survival after three consecutive wins, but off-pitch financial issues continue to cloud their future, with rumors of possible administration on the horizon.

If Luton win, that would lift them above Nottingham Forest ahead of Forest’s must-win visit to already-relegated Sheffield United, with the home side captained by 20-year-old Oliver Arblaster, the only bright spot in an otherwise grim season for the Blades.

The remaining game this weekend is a southwest London derby between Brentford and Fulham, who have only local pride to play for.

Source(s): Xinhua