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      Ronald Koeman relishing Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo showdown as Barcelona take on Juventus in Champions League

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      RONALD KOEMAN cannot wait for the prospect of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo coming face to face once more as Barcelona take on Juventus.
      The two European heavyweights will clash in the final game of Group G – where Juve need a big win to claim top spot from Barca.

      Cristiano Ronaldo trains ahead of Juve’s trip to the Nou CampCredit: EPA

      Lionel Messi scores from the spot during Barca’s victory in Turin earlier in the group stageCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Ronaldo missed the first game in Turin after contracting coronavirus will on international duty with Portugal as the Old Lady lost 2-0 thanks to a late penalty from Messi.
      But the pair – whose rivalry became infamous when Ronaldo was at Real Madrid – now face each other again at the Nou Camp.
      And Barca boss Koeman admitted: “It’s fantastic that these two players have been so long at this top level in the world.
      “They are the best players, in my opinion, in the last 10-15 years. Being successful all this time is incredible. It’s a great compliment to those players.

      “They are different, but they have incredible stats about scoring goals, hat-tricks, about winning prizes.
      “It’s not nice to say who is better because both are incredible, I admire both players because they gave us so many nice evenings with great goals, with great titles. Let’s hope we can enjoy them tomorrow night.”

      Ronald Koeman is relishing the clash between the modern-day greatsCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Juventus need a big win in Barcelona if they want to finish top of the groupCredit: ANSA
      Koeman also made another complaint about the packed football calendar which he says is seriously harming players and will lead to more injuries.
      The Juve clash comes 72 hours after a 2-1 loss at Cadiz which dealt another blow to Barca’s La Liga title hopes.

      Under-fire Koeman has already lost three key players to long-term injuries this season and now must cope without French winger Ousmane Dembele.
      The Barca boss said: “We are killing our players with these schedules.

      “It’s a real shame to lose another player to an injury and it’s another reason why I keep complaining about the match schedules, we are going to lose many more players to injuries.”
      He added: “If you have to play on Tuesday night, for the good of the Spanish teams you need to think about the timing of the match before. You get back home at 4.30 in the morning and then you have to play again on Tuesday.
      “We have played five away matches this season and all of them have been late kick offs. It doesn’t help the Spanish teams.”

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      How Chelsea can line up against Krasnodar with Kepa and Billy Gilmour confirmed to start as Lampard rests stars

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      FRANK LAMPARD has confirmed that Billy Gilmour and Kepa Arrizabalaga will both start against Krasnodar in the Champions League tomorrow.
      Chelsea have already sealed their place as group winners following last week’s 4-0 victory in Sevilla.

      And Lampard is set to mix his team up so that key figures are given a break for Wednesday’s home clash.
      That means Edouard Mendy will be get the night off after making a huge impact during his short time at Stamford Bridge.
      Flop goalkeeper Kepa will make his fourth appearance of the season instead.
      It will be the Spaniard’s first game since the 3-3 draw with Southampton in October.

      But Kepa is preferred to veteran Willy Caballero, while Petr Cech is only registered in Chelsea’s Premier League squad.
      Meanwhile, club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is set to come in at right-back for the impressive Reece James.
      And Emerson Palmieri should replace Ben Chilwell on the other side of defence.
      Centre-backs Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma are also likely to drop out, giving chances to Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.

      In midfield, Scottish starlet Gilmour will make his first start of the season following a return from injury.
      He is likely to line up to one side of holder Jorginho, with Mateo Kovacic set for the other after dropping to the bench against Leeds.
      In attack, there is no Hakim Ziyech or Callum Hudson-Odoi as they have both suffered hamstring injuries.
      Olivier Giroud could also be given a rest after starting the last two games, providing an opportunity for Tammy Abraham to lead the line.

      Christian Pulisic is likely to start on one wing as he gains minutes after his own injury problem.
      And Kai Havertz could get the nod ahead of fellow German Timo Werner in a more attacking role following his recovery from coronavirus.
      Should Lampard really look to dig deep into his squad, outcasts Fikayo Tomori and Marcos Alonso could see some action.
      Mason Mount deserves a night off but may also be needed against the Russians.
      There could be some appearances from the kids too, with the likes of Tino Anjorin ready to build on his senior debut from last year.
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

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      How Man Utd’s result against RB Leipzig could determine futures of Dean Henderson and Dayot Upamecano

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      MANCHESTER UNITED must at least draw at RB Leipzig on Tuesday to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage.
      But the game could also impact the futures of Red Devils goalie Dean Henderson and Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano.

      Dean Henderson’s Man Utd future could hinge on their result against RB LeipzigCredit: Rex Features

      Dayot Upamecano could also be closer to a move if his side loseCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      United sit top of Group H but are level on nine points with Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain who are in third and second respectively thanks to head-to-head.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men will qualify as group winners with a win in Germany and would guarantee at least second-place with a draw.
      They could still qualify as winners with a draw but only if PSG lose to Istanbul Basaksehir in Paris.
      United lost 3-1 at home to PSG last week but came from behind to beat West Ham by the same scoreline in the Premier League on Saturday so their form is mixed.

      However, Tuesday’s 8pm showdown could be of even greater significance to Henderson and Upamecano.
      Neither man is likely to play with centre-back Upamecano suspended and Henderson set to make way for David De Gea who has been out injured since coming off in the Reds’ win at Southampton.
      Upamecano, 22, has attracted some of Europe’s biggest clubs including United, Liverpool and Arsenal – with his scintillating displays in recent seasons.
      The Frenchman is destined to leave Leipzig in 2021 but it remains to be seen whether that will be in the summer or January.

      If Leipzig crash out the Champions League this week, the centre-back could be tempted to move during next month’s window which will put several clubs on red alert.
      The United target remained coy when asked about his future in September saying ‘we’ll see what happens’.
      And in October, SunSport exclusively revealed the Red Devils missed out on his signature in 2015 because of a row over £200,000 – and his release fee is said to be £53million now.
      Meanwhile Henderson has been continually linked with a move away from Old Trafford since he returned from a loan at Sheffield United this summer.
      He told the Reds he would only return if he was made No 1 but De Gea has held onto top spot since.
      Henderson has played five times this season – twice in the Prem, twice in the League Cup and once in the Champions League.
      But if United fail to qualify on Tuesday, the Englishman may be tempted by a move in January to give him a shot at making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for next summer’s Euros.
      Henderson’s former United tam-mate – and now West Brom goalkeeper – Sam Johnstone urged Henderson to quit Old Trafford in January ‘before it’s too late’.
      Henderson also made headlines at the weekend when his clearance in the build up to Paul Pogba’s goal at West Ham went out of play but it was missed by the linesman AND VAR.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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      How Man Utd could line up for vital RB Leipzig clash with Ighalo up front as Cavani and Martial ruled out with injury

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      OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER may be forced into starting Odion Ighalo against RB Leipzig in Manchester United’s crucial Champions League clash.
      The Red Devils face the German outfit at the Red Bull Arena on Tuesday evening knowing a point will see them progress into the knockout stages.

      This is how Manchester United could start against RB Leipzig on Tuesday

      United currently sit top of Group H on goal difference alone, with Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig both also having nine points.
      But in a blow for the Premier League giants, they are a facing a mini-crisis up top with Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani to miss the game through injury.
      Though Solskjaer did reveal that David De Gea and Luke Shaw are fit enough to be in contention to feature.
      He said: “David is back again. Luke will be travelling with us.

      “Anthony and Edinson, they had minor things, but they won’t make the trip, no.”
      Now fully fit, De Gea could immediately replace Dean Henderson between the sticks for the crunch clash.
      However Shaw could have to settle for a place on the bench with left-back Alex Telles impressing in his absence.
      England youth international Aaron Wan-Bissaka will once again slot in at right-back, with a likely centre-back pairing to consist of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

      Solskjaer could opt to start a diamond midfield formation having beaten Leipzig 5-0 in October using the system.
      Fred’s suspension could see Nemanja Matic start as the defensive midfielder.
      Paul Pogba could then partner Donny van de Beek in the middle of the pitch, with Bruno Fernandes deployed behind the strikers.
      Marcus Rashford will almost certainly spearhead the attack, and he could play alongside Nigeria international Ighalo.
      The ex-Watford striker has featured in just four matches this season, and hasn’t appeared in the Premier League since the opening day defeat against Crystal Palace.
      Though he did come off the bench in the 3-1 defeat against PSG last week.
      Solskjaer could also choose to partner Mason Greenwod next to Rashford against Leipzig.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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      Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Barcelona star wins in head-to-head battles ahead of Champions League showdown

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      IT IS the question that divides football fans across the globe –  who is better: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
      They gave El Clasicos a bit of extra spice for nine years and now, as they prepare to face off in the Champions League, SunSport looks at how they compare in matches against each other.

      How Messi and Ronaldo compare in head-to-head battles

      How Ronaldo and Messi compare statistically in their careers

      The greatest managers of the modern era have had their say, fans have had their say and even former team-mates have waded in on the never-ending GOAT debate.
      So we thought we’d look past the trophies and accolades to see how they fared when they were in direct competition.
      The pair know each other well, of course, having gone toe to toe in dozens of El Clasico contests down the years.
      Not only would the rivals share the same pitch whenever Real Madrid played against Barcelona, but they would tussle for LaLiga supremacy season after season.

      El Clasico has always been more that just a football match to the clubs’ fans and having the two best players in the world took it to a different dimension.
      Ronaldo has gone up against Messi 35 times in total during his spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid as well as on the international stage – but has not done so at Juventus yet.
      The Portuguese legend was ruled out of the first group stage game between Juve and Barcelona due to coronavirus – but hopes to make it out onto the pitch for Tuesday’s night clash.
      Messi – Barca’s all time leading goal-scorer – pipped the former Los Blancos ace by three goals in all of their meetings, finding the back of the net 22 times.

      Ronaldo and Messi have enjoyed a career-long rivalry

      While Ronaldo may have three goals fewer, he holds the record for the scoring in the most consecutive El Clasicos – in six consecutive games in 2012.
      Messi poetically netted his 500th goal for the Catalan giants against Real in a thriller in 2017, which also put Barca top of LaLiga.
      The Argentina ace famously celebrated by whipping off his No10 shirt and holding it aloft to the away support to prove why he is considered to be the greatest footballer of all time.
      Ronaldo later had to have his say too, of course.
      The next time he visited the Nou Camp and scored in the Supercopa de Espana final first leg in August 2017, he mimicked his great frenemy’s celebration by showing his No7 shirt to the crowd.
      In that same clash, Ronaldo’s night hit a sour note when he was shown a second yellow card for diving, which resulted in the forward PUSHING the referee.
      He had already been booked for taking his shirt off after mimicking Messi’s celebration.
      That has been the only red card shown to either hero in the duo’s 35 stand offs with Messi managing to keep his cool and escape with three fewer yellows than his arch-rival.

      Lionel Messi scored a last-minute winner to give Barcelona a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in April 2017

      Cristiano Ronaldo showed the Nou Camp who was boss in his celebration
      Football is a results business so when it comes to score lines, the Argentine maestro leads the way.
      In the 35 matches, Messi has 16 wins, Ronaldo has ten and there have been nine draws.
      Ronaldo’s United got the better of Barcelona in the 2008 Champions League semi-finals with a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp and 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
      Messi and Co got their revenge a year later, winning the 2009 final 2-0 as Messi scored a header.
      That started a run of five consecutive wins for Messi over Ronaldo including a 5-0 Barca win and a 2-1 victory for Argentina over Portugal in an international friendly as both players found the net.
      Arguably their greatest contest came in the 2012-13 LaLiga campaign as both players scored twice in a 2-2 draw in Barcelona.
      The Portugal icon left Los Blancos for a new challenge at Juventus two years ago meaning their last meeting was way back in May 2018, another 2-2 draw.
      Messi has played his entire career so far for Barcelona but is set to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season after a blazing row with club chiefs – with Manchester City a potential landing spot.
      And with Man Utd linked with making a move to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, there head-to-heads could go on for years to come in the Premier League…

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      Olivier Giroud tells Frank Lampard ‘play me or I’m off’ as Chelsea striker eyes January transfer to boost France hopes

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      OLIVIER GIROUD told Chelsea manager Frank Lampard: Play me or I am off.
      The France striker hit four goals in the 4-0 Champions League victory away in Sevilla on Wednesday before delivering the sobering message.

      Olivier Giroud wants more game time at Chelsea or he will quitCredit: Rex Features

      Giroud, 34, says the next month will be crucial for both his club and international hopes as he bids for more first-team action ahead of the Euros next summer.
      He said: “I am ready to fight until the end. But obviously to be happy I need to be a little bit more on the pitch.
      “I have a good chance to be ready for the Euros if I play more than in the beginning of the season.
      “I had a conversation with France manager Didier Deschamps and he said if the situation stayed like that, you will have to make a decision in January.

      “But I’m pretty sure I can grab more game-time and stay at Chelsea because that’s what I want.
      “But you never know in football — everything is going very fast.”
      Giroud remains on good terms with Lampard, despite spending much of the season on the bench.
      It has not affected the World Cup winner’s sharpness as he helped Chelsea grab top spot in their Champions League group with a game to spare.

      He is the best pound-for-pound goalscorer at the club — with one for every 46 minutes he is on the pitch.
      Next best is Tammy Abraham on 155.
      The Blues face Leeds tomorrow with a strong call for Giroud to start his first Prem game this campaign.
      He said: “The best answer when you are not playing much is not being sad — it’s being positive.
      “I try to do that every single day. I believe in my qualities and keep calm and confident. I know what I am capable of.”
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

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      Cesc Fabregas lauds ‘real pro’ Olivier Giroud after four-goal blitz and says ex-Chelsea team-mate is role model to kids

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      CESC FABGREGAS has paid tribute to Olivier Giroud after his four-goal haul for Chelsea against Sevilla.
      The Frenchman, 34, walked off with the matchball after scoring a perfect hat-trick and a penalty in the 4-0 win in Spain last night.

      Cesc Fabregas has hailed former Chelsea team-mate Olivier Giroud for his four goals against SevillaCredit: Getty – Contributor

      @_OlivierGiroud_ what a real pro you are mate. All young players should have you as a rol model. Well done once again. And people still wonder why you always end up playing!! Hard work, passion, dedication and real character to always turn things around. 👏🏻
      — Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) December 2, 2020

      Giroud’s performance secured Chelsea’s place as group winners, with the veteran’s late winner against Rennes last week booking the Blues’ place in the next stage.
      And he has now become just the second player to score four goals for an English side in the Champions League after Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United in 2004.
      Blues fans now hope Giroud gets to start his first Premier League game of the season against Leeds this weekend.
      And one man full of place for the forward is ex-Chelsea and Arsenal team-mate Fabregas.

      The now-Monaco midfielder described Giroud as a ‘real pro’ following the Frenchman’s patience at being left on the bench for most of the campaign.
      And Fabregas also hailed Giroud as the perfect model for kids looking to reach the highest levels of the game.
      He tweeted: “Olivier Giroud what a real pro you are mate. All young players should have you as a role model. Well done once again.
      “And people still wonder why you always end up playing! Hard work, passion, dedication and real character to always turn things around.”

      But despite his performance, boss Frank Lampard has refused to assure Giroud of a starting spot against Leeds.
      He explained: “We’ll have to see – it’s a tight turnaround but it’s four goals in a game.
      “It is an amazing performance to score four goals at Champions League level against a really good opponent, and the individual quality of all of his goals.
      “Rightly he gets a standing ovation as he comes off the pitch. I’m delighted for him.

      “He is the ultimate professional and I think he’s done that in his career and I think that’s why with Oli, you see his numbers for France and in the Champions League.
      “He wasn’t always a regular before I got here but as soon as I came in I could feel the positivity off of him as a player, how he wants to try and how he wants to affect people whether he starts or not.
      “Olivier is reliable, full stop. Not just for us but his international goals for France. He’s up there with great individuals, he’s got great statistics.
      “I’m not too bothered about that in a way but I am bothered about what he gives us on the pitch.
      “There couldn’t be a team-mate there that the players are happier for because of the way Olivier is around the training pitch and in the games.”
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

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      Real Madrid have lost more Champions League group games since Cristiano Ronaldo left than in his nine years at the club

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      REAL MADRID have lost more Champions League group games since Cristiano Ronaldo left than they did in his NINE YEARS at the club.
      On Tuesday, Shakhtar Donetsk became the second team in three seasons to complete the double over Los Blancos at that stage of the competition.

      Real Madrid have lost five group games since selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in 2018Credit: The Mega Agency

      During Ronaldo’s nine years at the Bernabeu, they lost just three out of 54Credit: AP:Associated Press

      CSKA Moscow’s managed two group stage victories over Real Madrid two years ago.
      And remarkably Real have now lost five of their 17 group stage matches since Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018.
      By contrast, the Spanish giants were defeated just THREE times out of 54 in Ronaldo’s nine campaigns between 2009-10 and 2017-18.
      In four of those seasons, Ronaldo and his team-mates went on to win the competition.

      During Ronaldo’s time at the Bernabeu, the only group losses came at home to AC Milan (October 2009) and away to Borussia Dortmund (October 2012) and Tottenham (November 2017).
      However, immediately after the Portuguese star’s departure, Real went down in both matches against CSKA Moscow in the 2018-19 season.
      Last year, finalists Paris Saint-Germain earned a 3-0 win in France before the pair of Shakhtar shockers this season.
      And the defeats to the Ukrainian champions – who lost their two matches to Borussia Monchengladbach 6-0 and 4-0 – piles the pressure on Zinedine Zidane and his side to deliver in their final group game next week.

      Real go into their crunch clash with Monchengladbach third in Group B on seven points, level with Shakhtar – behind on their head-to-head record – and one behind the Germans.

      Real Madrid Champions League group defeats since 2009-10

      21/10/09 Real Madrid 2-3 AC Milan
      24/10/12 Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Madrid
      01/11/17 Tottenham 3-1 Real Madrid
      CRISTIANO RONALDO DEPARTS FOR JUVENTUS, JULY 10, 2018
      02/10/18 CSKA Moscow 1-0 Real Madrid
      12/12/18 Real Madrid 0-3 CSKA Moscow
      18/09/19 PSG 3-0 Real Madrid
      21/10/20 Real Madrid 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk
      01/12/20 Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Real Madrid

      It means Zidane’s men cannot afford to lose at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano next Wednesday or they will crash out at the group stage for the first time in their Champions League history.
      Victory would guarantee their passage as they would move on to ten points.
      But a draw would leave Los Blancos relying on Inter Milan to help out by beating Shakhtar at the San Siro.
      When the pressure is on, though, and Real have needed to find a result in the final matchday of a Champions League group, they have gone through in all six instances.
      While Real Madrid suffered another defeat in midweek, 24 hours later Ronaldo was on target with his 750th career goal to help Juventus beat Dynamo Kiev.
      Juventus have confirmed their place in the knockout stages but will need a big win in the Nou Camp next week to pip Barcelona to top spot.

      This is how Group B stands with one round of matches remaining

      Jurgen Klopp recorded a win over Jose Mourinho in the 2012-13 group stages during Borussia Dortmund’s route to the finalCredit: Corbis

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