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      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘ready to perform another miracle’ for Juventus in uphill battle vs Lyon, warns Szczesny

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is ready to “perform a miracle” for Juventus tomorrow, according to Wojciech Szczęsny.
      The Polish keeper is backing the Portuguese mega-star to help the Old Lady overturn their 1-0 deficit from the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie against Lyon.

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      Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘ready to perform a miracle’ in Juventus’ Champions League tie with Lyon

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      Wojciech Szczęsny is backing the Portuguese star to help Juve overturn their first-leg deficit
      Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick at the same stage of the tournament last season to help the Italian giants overturn Atletico’s 2-0 first-leg advantage.
      Juve won the tie 3-2 on aggregate and Szczesny is backing the 35-year-old to do the same again in Turin tomorrow night.
      He told Tuttosport: “I see a team ready, there is an environment similar to last year before the match against Atletico Madrid.

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      “We can do it again this year, again Ronaldo’s hat-trick? Nobody in the world has doubts that Cristiano can do it again.

      “As usual at the decisive times he makes the difference, he is ready to perform another miracle.
      “We are playing for an important goal, finding the motivation is not difficult, we are all concentrated.

      “Lyon seem physically fit, they also seem ready to play, we’ll see who will reach the quarter-finals.”
      The winners will face Manchester City or Real Madrid in the quarter final in Lisbon.

      The Old Lady are looking to win their first Champions League since 1996.

      Eden Hazard joins Real Madrid stars on flight to Manchester ahead of Champions League clash but winger remains a doubt More

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      Hazard smiles as Real Madrid stars take private jet for Man City clash without Gareth Bale after Champions League axe

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      EDEN HAZARD flashed a smile as he joined Real Madrid stars in flying to Manchester on Thursday.
      Los Blancos are out to overturn a 2-1 deficit to Manchester City in their Champions League last-16 clash.

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      Eden Hazard smiled when pictured with Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez

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      Sergio Ramos travelled despite being banned from the second leg, with Marcelo fighting to be fit
      But Gareth Bale will not be able to help his side at the Etihad after being dropped from Zinedine Zidane’s travelling party.
      The 24-man squad includes rarely-used former City midfielder Brahim Diaz and the suspended Sergio Ramos – but not Bale or James Rodriguez.
      Neither player is thought to be injured with Colombian playmaker James reportedly set for Atletico Madrid and Bale an outcast under Zidane.
      The Welshman, 31, only played one game after the restart as Real scooped the LaLiga title.

      Perhaps Bale’s biggest contribution during the run-in was a series of prank gestures from the stands, at one point pretending to fall asleep under his face mask and making a binoculars motion in another game.
      The decision to leave out the winger comes despite a question mark hanging over Hazard’s fitness.

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      Thibaut Courtois will be in goal on his return to England

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      French pals Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema gave the thumbs up before the flight

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      Luka Modric faces a nervous wait to find out if he is in the XI for Friday’s game

      After undergoing an operation on an ankle injury at the start of the coronavirus shutdown, he has been in and out of the side amid fears of aggravating the problem.
      Should the 29-year-old start Friday’s crucial clash on the bench, Vinicius is primed to step in and partner Karim Benzema in attack.

      Marco Asensio is also set to get the call from coach Zidane with Rodrygo Goes and Isco vying to start.
      Eder Militao should feature alongside Raphael Varane in defence during Ramos’ absence while Luka Modric and Fede Valverde compete for the final spot in midfield.

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      How we expect Los Blancos to line up in the last-16 second leg

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      How Real Madrid will line up vs Man City with no Hazard, Bale or Sergio Ramos for must-win Champions League clash

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      ZINEDINE ZIDANE must find a way to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Manchester City in the Champions League without two key players.
      Sergio Ramos, the club’s captain and second highest scorer this season, is suspended after his red card in the defeat at the Bernabeu.

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      And Eden Hazard is a major doubt after aggravating an ankle injury in June, having had surgery on the problem area during the coronavirus shutdown.
      That leaves coach Zidane with no obvious solution when setting out his attack in the last-16 second leg, with at least two goals needed thanks to the away goals rule.
      However, the Frenchman is highly unlikely to go hugely gung-ho with his XI and a 4-3-3 formation should remain his go-to setup.
      Marco Asensio, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius are all ready to step in for Hazard, who is set to settle for a role off the bench.

      None of the three have excelled in a scoring sense this season although Spain international Asensio only returned from a long-term injury in June.
      Vinicius may be Zidane’s more trusted option to support Karim Benzema and a decisive strike in March’s El Clasico win proved his mettle for big games.
      BALED OUT
      Two men who will not be helping reverse the deficit are Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez.
      Neither outcast received the call for Real’s travelling squad to Manchester with Rodriguez reportedly heading to Atletico Madrid.

      Bale’s future is far murkier with the Welshman having little appetite to leave and Zidane refusing to play him.

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      Gareth Bale has been stuck on the bench since the restart but will not even travel to ManchesterCredit: Reuters

      Instead, the coach will be focused on fitting four into three in his midfield, with either Fede Valverde or Luka Modric likely to miss out on Friday night.
      Toni Kroos and Casemiro should start, with Isco also available.
      In defence, Eder Militao will line up alongside Raphael Varane due to Ramos’ suspension with Ferland Mendy trusted at left-back.

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      Gareth Bale axed from Real Madrid’s 24-man travelling squad to Man City following Zinedine Zidane bust-ups

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      GARETH BALE will not feature in Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Manchester City after being left out the 24-man squad.
      Zinedine Zidane has selected his travelling party for the second leg of the last-16 tie, which City lead 2-1.

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      Gareth Bale’s season is over after being dropped from Real’s Champions League squad.Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Despite Los Blancos’ need to score at least twice at the Etihad, Welsh winger Bale will not make the trip.
      Neither he, nor fellow absentee James Rodriguez, are thought to be injured.
      In their place, former City youngster Brahim Diaz makes the cut having only played ten games all season.
      Castilla defender Javi Hernandez comes in with Sergio Ramos travelling to Manchester despite being banned for the second leg.

      Zidane’s decision to leave Bale out marks the end of a torrid campaign for the 31-year-old.
      Almost sold to a Chinese Super League side last summer, he was kept in the first-team even though his relationship with the coach was at breaking point during his first spell in charge.

      REAL MADRID SQUAD TO FACE MAN CITY

      GK: Thibaut Courtois, Alphonse Areola, Diego Altube.
      DEF: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Sergio Ramos*, Raphael Varane, Nacho Fernandez, Marcelo, Ferland Mendy, Javi Hernández.*Suspended
      MID: Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Fede Valverde, Isco, Marco Asensio.
      ATT: Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez, Luka Jovic, Brahim Diaz, Vinicius, Rodrygo Goes.

      Struggling with a handful of injuries, Bale scored just three times in 20 appearances and played only once after the restart.
      While Madrid rampaged past Barcelona to scoop the league title, his biggest contributions came in his antics on the bench.

      In one game, he joked that he was asleep under his face mask before making binocular gestures to the pitch in another.
      Rumours are rife that Real will try and sell their one-time record signing with two years left on his contract.
      However, Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett says his client is happy in Spain and emphasised that it was Zidane’s decision to exile the winger.
      He told BBC Sport: “Gareth is fine. He has two years left on his contract.

      “He likes living in Madrid and he is going nowhere.
      “He is still as good as anyone else in the team. It’s up to Zinedine Zidane.
      “Of course there’s been interest but there’s hardly a club in the world which can afford him.
      “It’s a great loss that he’s not in the Real Madrid team at the moment but he will not leave.”

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      How Chelsea could line up vs Bayern Munich with Lampard set to be without NINE of his 25-man Champions League squad

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      CHELSEA come into their Champions League second leg decider against Bayern Munich with NINE players set to miss out.
      Following a devastating 2-1 FA Cup final loss against London rivals Arsenal, Lampard has been hit with a host of injury problems.

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      Christian Pulisic and skipper Cesar Azpiliciueta limped off Wembley with hamstring injuries and Roma-bound Pedro suffered a dislocated shoulder.
      N’Golo Kante was an unused sub in the final and Lampard is uncertain on whether he will be fit to face Bayern, who carry a 3-0 lead into the return tie.
      Further midfield misery sees Ruben Loftus-Cheek facing a late fitness assessment after picking up a knock in training last week.
      Billy Gilmour remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery last month.

      Marcos Alonso and Jorginho are both suspended while Willian – yet to agree a contract extension – did not even make the bench against Arsenal.
      Since Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final victory against Manchester United, they have stuck with a 3-4-3 formation.
      With Azpilicueta out, Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen will be expected to make up the back three.
      Emerson is the natural replacement for Alonso on the left and Reece James is in line to start from the right.

      If Lampard reverts to a back four, Emerson and James would be remain at full-back with either Rudiger, Zouma or Christensen dropping out to make way for a centre-half pairing.

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      Kepa Arrizabalaga, struggling for form and confidence, faces an uncertain summer leaving Willy Caballero likely to remain between the posts.
      Despite being sent off against Arsenal, Mateo Kovacic is available from the off in Germany.
      Ross Barkley, who came on against the Gunners, is in line to partner the Croatian.
      But should Kante return to the squad, he could slot right into a three-man midfield or central pairing, depending on what formation Lampard uses.
      With Pulisic, Willian and Perdo out, Callum Hudson-Odoi looks guaranteed to be given a rare start, against the side that tired to sign him last season.
      A lack of options out wide also means Mason Mount will likely start on the wing, instead of his favoured central role.
      In-form Olivier Giroud is favourite to lead the line, but top scorer Tammy Abraham is available should Lampard switch up his squad.
      With the Premier League season kicking off again just 35 days after their second leg in Munich, Lampard is fuming at the quick turnaround.

      He said: “Players need to be given a break to play at the level and quality the Premier League is.
      “Hopefully they give us a fair start next season.
      “Even in a worst-case scenario – we don’t go through against Bayern – the 12th feels too early for me for the players to start playing again.”

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      Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger picks his two favourites to win Champions League this summer but ‘anything can happen’

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      ARSENE WENGER believes Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are best placed to take advantage of a weaker Champions League.
      The Frenchman believes the competition has declined in quality lately with PSG among his favourites despite also, as he sees it, declining as a team.

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      Arsene Wenger believes PSG and City are best placed to duel over a maiden Champions League crownCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      With Real Madrid still to be seen off in the last-16, Pep Guardiola’s City are 3/1 joint-favourites with Bayern Munich to win the crown.
      And Les Parisiens, back at 5/1 with Ladbrokes, are also fancied by the 70-year-old Arsenal legend.
      Wenger is quoted by Metro as telling Europe 1: “When you are playing a match against Atalanta or Atletico Madrid, anything can happen.
      “But for me, Manchester City and PSG are the two favourites in terms of their potential.

      “Aside from that, honestly, PSG, I feel they are a little bit less strong than three or four years ago.
      “In terms of their holistic setup, PSG were maybe a bit more complete three to four years ago, in all positions.

      “The competition was stronger as well.
      “But I think that there has been a general decline in the quality of European football at the very, very, very highest level and they are still amongst the two or three best in Europe.”

      Only four of this year’s quarter-finalists have been confirmed after the coronavirus pandemic struck midway through the last-16 stage.

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      Manchester City lead Real Madrid 2-1 ahead of Saturday’s second leg at the EtihadCredit: PA:Press Association

      City and Bayern lead Real Madrid and Chelsea, respectively, before their home legs at the end of this week.
      A victory for the Premier League runners-up would set up a tie with Juventus or Lyon, with the winner then likely facing either Bayern, Barcelona or Napoli.
      Arguably on the easier side of the draw, PSG are booked to meet Atalanta on August 12 in Lisbon before the winner plays Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig for a place in the final.

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      Barcelona consider legal claim against Arthur over ‘unacceptable’ Champions League snub

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      BARCELONA star Arthur Melo faces legal action after refusing to return to training before the resumption of their Champions League campaign.
      Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has accused the 23-year-old of showing a “lack of respect” towards his team-mates.

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      Arthur has agreed to join Juventus at the end of the season and has now gone Awol from BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Barcelona’s squad are back in training ahead of Saturday’s last-16 showdown against Napoli.
      But they will be without Arthur as he has decided to stay in Brazil – without the club’s permission.
      Arthur has already agreed to join Italian giants Juventus in a deal worth £66million in July.
      However, the deal does not go through until the end of the season and the club have opened a legal file against him.

      During an interview with Sport, Bartomeu said: “What Arthur has done shows a lack of respect for his team-mates because the team wants to do well in the Champions League.
      “It is not logical that playing for such an important title, a player decides to remove himself.
      “It is unjustifiable and totally incomprehensible.
      “We reached the agreement that until the Champions League ended he would continue playing for Barca, both in the league and in the Champions League.

      “He is a player who has a certain importance in the team and who could help us.”
      Before he added: “But he did not appear from the return of the mini-vacations.
      “It is an unacceptable act of discipline.

      “And that is why we have opened a file for him, because there is no argument to justify his absence.
      “He called and said, ‘I will not return, I will stay in Brazil’.
      “It is his decision. No one has given him permission.”

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      Napoli want Champions League clash with Barcelona moved to Portugal after Catalonia coronavirus case spike

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      NAPOLI president Aurelio De Laurentiis wants his team’s Champions League game against Barcelona moved to Portugal because of a coronavirus spike in Catalonia.
      The teams are set to play their last-16 second leg tie at the Nou Camp on August 8 but the Napoli big-wig wants a change of plan.

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      Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso is looking to reach the Champions League quarter-finalCredit: AFP

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      Napoli president Aurelio De Laurenttis has called for his side’s game with Barcelona to be moved to Portugal
      The first leg was a 1-1 draw in Naples in February.
      But the second leg which was originally scheduled for March 18 was postponed because of coronavirus.
      And now the pandemic is causing problems again with a recent spike in the number of daily confirmed cases in Catalonia.
      The Champions League quarter-finals are already set to take place in Portugal and De Laurentiis wants to know why those plans don’t apply to the last-16.

      He said: “I hear a lot of perplexity and fear coming from Spain and they’re acting like nothing is wrong.
      “What does it take to say, ‘Don’t go to Barcelona but rather go to Portugal, Germany or Geneva? 

      “If they’ve decided to play the Champions League in Portugal and the Europa League in Germany, I think we can go to Portugal or Germany for the round of 16.
      “I don’t understand why it should stay in a city that has a really critical situation.”

      The winner of the tie will face Bayern Munich or Chelsea on the quarter-final with the Blues 3-0 down from the first leg.

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