UEFA Champions League – TvSportOnline

Zidane: I want Neymar fit to face Real Madrid

The Frenchman has said that he is “not happy” about the prospect of the world’s most expensive player missing next week’s big match

Zinedine Zidane expressed hope that Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar returns from his ankle injury in time to face Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Neymar was carried off the Parc des Princes pitch in tears during PSG’s 3-0 Classique victory over Marseille on Sunday after riding a challenge from Bouna Sarr before twisting his right ankle as he planted his foot on the turf.

On Monday, Neymar posted a photo of his foot in heavy strapping after being taken to hospital and, although head coach Unai Emery said in his post-match news conference that the injury is not serious, it remains to be seen whether the forward will be fit in time to face Madrid on March 6.

While the absence of Neymar would undoubtedly weaken PSG’s star-studded attack, Zidane – whose Madrid side lead 3-1 from the first leg ahead of the return tie in Paris – expressed a desire for the Brazil star, who continues to be heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, to play.

“No, I don’t like it when players get injured,” Zidane told reporters on Monday at a news conference ahead of Madrid’s La Liga trip to Espanyol on Tuesday.

“I’m not happy if Neymar is injured. Hopefully, he can play. I’m never going to want an opposing player to get injured.

“I do not think it influences next week’s game. There will always be a player who plays if it’s not him.

“I did not like it when he got injured, I was watching the game. I don’t think everything revolves around Neymar, but I hope it’s nothing serious.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has found his form at a potentially vital part of the season, having struggled in front of goal in LaLiga before the turn of the year.

The Portugal star has 10 league goals in his last six appearances and Zidane suggested there is an element of deliberation about him finding form in the second half of the season, with the World Cup coming up.

“It is a bit of everything,” Zidane said. “He knows his body very well. We talk often and it’s important that he’s at the top of his game, in the best shape possible.

“It’s important he rests sometimes too. It’s a long season and at the end of the season there’s a World Cup.

“Sometimes players don’t think about it and take it one day at a time, but at the back of their mind they know there’s a World Cup around the corner. I’ve lived it. It happened to me.”

Source: www.goal.com

Champions League top scorers: Ronaldo out in front of Neymar & Kane

As Europe’s elite battle it out for team glory, individual players are engaged in a fight to come out on top as the best goalscorer

The 2017-18 Champions League has returned for the knock-out stage and the race to see who will finish as the tournament’s top goalscorer is back on.

Cristiano Ronaldo was last season’s top scorer with 12 goals as Real Madrid clinched their second Champions League title in a row and he narrowly edged out long-time rival Lionel Messi, who scored 11.

The likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani, Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski and the precocious Kylian Mbappe were also among the contenders last term.

Ronaldo currently leads the way with nine goals in six games, while Tottenham star Harry Kane is up into second place after taking his tally to seven with a goal against Juventus. In joint-third place are Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Edinson Cavani, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino and Sevilla’s Wissam Ben Yedder on six goals.

Interestingly, Messi is some way off the pace, scoring a relatively paltry three goals in six matches, so he will have to find his scoring boots in the knock-out stage if he is to stand a chance of taking the crown from his Real Madrid rival.

Champions League 2017-18 top goalscorers:

*Correct as of games played on February 14, 2018

Pos	Player	Club	Goals
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	Real Madrid	11
=2	Roberto Firmino	Liverpool	7
=2	Harry Kane	Tottenham	7
=4	Neymar	PSG	6
=4	Edinson Cavani	PSG	6
=4	Wissam Ben Yedder	Sevilla	6
=4	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	6
=4	Sadio Mane	Liverpool	6
=9	Philippe Coutinho	Liverpool	5
=9	Vincent Aboubakar	Porto	5
=11	Kylian Mbappe	PSG	4
=11	Cenk Tosun	Besiktas	4
=11	Raheem Sterling	Manchester City	4
=11	Sergio Aguero	Manchester City	4
=11	Gonzalo Higuain	Juventus	4
=11	Dimitri Oberlin	Basel	4
=11	Anderson Talisca	Besiktas	4
=11	Romelu Lukaku	Manchester United	4
=11	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Borussia Dortmund	4

Neymar has a huge heart and is anything but arrogant, says Trapp

The goalkeeper refuted claims that the Brazil international has a big ego, insisting he is helpful and dedicated to the team

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar is “anything but arrogant” and only wants to be successful, according to team-mate Kevin Trapp.

The Brazil international has produced some sensational displays since his world-record €222 million move from Barcelona last August, with his winner in Saturday’s Ligue 1 game against Toulouse taking him to 19 goals in 18 top-flight matches this term.

The 26-year-old has been criticised at times for behaviour on the pitch, though, most recently in the 3-2 Coupe de la Ligue win over Rennes, when he jokingly refused to help an opponent to his feet and was later accused of showboating by some observers.

PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot also revealed this week that Neymar and Kylian Mbappe enjoy certain “privileges” at the club, although he said there was no jealousy in the dressing room.

And Trapp insists Neymar has adapted well to life at Parc des Princes and is far from the cavalier performer some consider him to be.

“He has a huge heart,” he told Bild. “He is incredibly nice and helpful. He’s anything but arrogant and is totally integrated into the team.

“He’s just a leader who wants to win.”

Trapp’s own future at PSG has come under scrutiny this season, with Alphonse Areola preferred in goal in league and Champions League matches.

The Germany international has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, who were said to be looking for a new goalkeeper in the January transfer window due to concerns about the form of Roman Burki.

Trapp admits he could be tempted to return to his homeland but says his focus for now is on PSG’s trophy charge.

“Quite a lot is possible,” he said. “I’m from Germany; obviously the Bundesliga is interesting for me. Dortmund are a big club.

“But the transfer window has just closed. It’s not an issue now. I want to focus on my tasks here.”

Source: www.goal.com

Barcelona’s Dembele on track to return before Chelsea clash

Ernesto Valverde seems confident the attacker will be fully fit well before the club meet Chelsea in the Champions League

Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele is expected to return to full fitness by next week, according to head coach Ernesto Valverde.

The France international suffered a hamstring injury in January and was ruled out for up to a month by club medics.

Dembele’s setback came less than two weeks after he returned to action following a more serious hamstring tear, which saw him sidelined for nearly four months after his transfer from Borussia Dortmund.

The 20-year-old will not play a part in Barca’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Valencia on Thursday but could be in line for the La Liga game against Eibar on February 17, which takes place just three days before the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Chelsea.

“He’s okay,” Valverde told a news conference when asked about Dembele. “He’s started training sessions. I hope he can come back into the squad for next week.”

Gerard Pique is another who is likely to miss Thursday’s game at Mestalla, after he picked up a knock during the 1-1 derby draw with Espanyol.

Valverde refused to rule the centre-back out of the match but suggested January signing Yerry Mina could make his debut if Pique is unavailable.

“He finished the game in discomfort, with a little injury, but as of now he’s not ruled out,” said Valverde. “We’ll see how he is today [Wednesday]. He’s going to train and we’ll see.

“Yerry is in the squad and ready to play. It depends on the coach’s thinking whether he will start.

“The fact there are players who can play in different positions is an advantage for him and for the team. We have to decide depending on the situation.

“I knew Yerry Mina from watching videos and now from him training with us, but I don’t know him in our competition. I hope he adapts well.”

Barca beat Valencia 1-0 in the first leg at Camp Nou.

Source: www.goal.com

Real Madrid handed Champions League blow as Carvajal forced to miss PSG clash

Zinedine Zidane suffered a blow in his preparations for Real’s showdown with the Ligue 1 leaders after UEFA upheldthe defender’s ban

Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal will miss the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain after UEFA upheld his two-game suspension.

In December, European football’s governing body suspended the Spain international for two matches – one for collecting a second booking of the Champions League group stages and a second after ruling Carvajal collected that caution against APOEL deliberately to serve his suspension in a dead rubber against Borussia Dortmund.

A statement issued by UEFA read: “The UEFA Appeals Body met on 1 February following an appeal lodged by Real Madrid CF against the decision announced by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) on December 7, which ordered

Real Madrid player Dani Carvajal to be suspended for two UEFA competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible.

“The appeal lodged by Real Madrid has been dismissed and the UEFA CEDB’s decision of December 7 is confirmed.

“Given that Carvajal did not participate in the match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund played on December 6 2017, the player still has to serve one UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible.”

The ruling represents a significant selectorial blow for Zinedine Zidane, who is chasing his third consecutive European title as Madrid boss but with the added pressure of a disappointing domestic campaign leaving the Champions League as his only realistic remaining prospect of major honours this season.

Madrid host PSG at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 14 and travel to the Parc des Princes for the return on March 6.

Source: www.goal.com