Sports
UCL: Real Ready To Exploit Knowledge Of Bayern
Toni Kroos expects Bayern Munich to come out and attack Real Madrid to night’s mouth-watering Champions League quarter-final clash at the Allianz Arena.
Former Bayern favourite Kroos is in his third season with Madrid, having left the Bundesliga giants at the end of the 2013-14 season.
That campaign culminated in glory for Madrid, who claimed their 10th European title under current Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti thanks to an extra-time victory over rivals Atletico Madrid in Lisbon.
In the semi-finals, Kroos played 180 minutes as Bayern were humbled 5-0 on aggregate by a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Madrid, with Pep Guardiola’s decision to go for all-out attack backfiring spectacularly during the first half of a 4-0 second-leg defeat in Munich.
The 27-year-old midfielder told a pre-match news conference that, although Bayern are a different team with Ancelotti at the helm, he does not think the side that put two goals past Borussia Dortmund in the opening 10 minutes of Saturday’s 4-1 Klassiker win will be able to resist another high-octane start.
“It’s easy to predict what Bayern want to do,” he said. “I think they’re going to attack us from the start and try to press us high up the pitch.
“Not for 90 minutes like they did under Guardiola, they will step back a bit, but here at home they are going to pressure us a lot and have a lot of possession, of course.”
Bayern’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski faces a late fitness test to see whether he has overcome a shoulder injury sustained against Dortmund.
At his earlier news conference, Ancelotti jokingly wished for Madrid forwards Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale to be stationed on the bench, in the stands and at home respectively.
Kroos was in a more charitable mood towards Lewandowski.
“I always say that in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Bayern and against Real Madrid, I’d prefer that both teams are at full strength,” he said.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
-
Sports3 days agoFalconets thrashes 4-0 Rwanda in qualifiers
-
Education3 days agoFRSC to Establish Driving Training Centre at UniPort
-
News1 day ago
Nigeria At 65: NOA urges citizens to foster unity, progress
-
Oil & Energy3 days agoAfam 2 Power Plant Adds 160MW To National Grid, says Sahara Group
-
Business3 days agoSMEDAN, CAC Move To Ease Business Registration, Target 250,000 MSMEs
-
Sports1 day ago
Umuahia Hosts Africa Para- Badminton Championship
-
Maritime3 days agoBlue Economy: FG Targets Lower Logistic Costs, Trade Competitiveness
-
Rivers3 days agoYouth Leader Lauds Tinubu, Over Ogoni oil Dispute