Ronaldo storms Portugal as Juve battle Porto

Cristiano Ronaldo returns to his native Portugal for the first time as a Juventus player as his side face Porto on Wednesday with the Italian giants fighting to keep up with Europe’s most powerful clubs in the Champions League.

On the field Juve are still finding their feet under novice coach Andrea Pirlo but they crave European glory more than anything having lost five Champions League finals since last winning the trophy in 1996. Juventus have dominated Serie A for the last decade without managing to win the Champions League.

Porto, meanwhile, are the only club from outside the so-called ‘Big Five’ leagues in this season’s last 16. Both are two-time European Cup winners.

For the Turin side, success in Europe this season appears even more important as their domestic domination shows signs of faltering under Pirlo with hopes of a 10th consecutive Scudetto in peril.

Juve’s hopes will be on five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, the Champions League record goal-scorer with 134 goals.

Credit: supersport.com

Dortmund must improve or will have no chance against Sevilla –Haaland

Erling Braut Haaland feels Borussia Dortmund have “no chance” against Sevilla in the Champions League if they “play like we did” in recent games.

Dortmund have won just three of their past eight games in all competitions and lie sixth in the Bundesliga, 16 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Lucien Favre was sacked in December after reaching the last 16 and Edin Terzic appointed interim boss.

“We just have to stick to the match plan and try to perform,” said Haaland.

“Sevilla are a strong team. We just have to find our form again and do our best on the pitch to have a chance. If we play like we did in the last few games, we have no chance.”

On Monday, Dortmund announced the appointment of Borussia Monchengladbach boss Marco Rose for next season.

Meanwhile, La Liga side Sevilla go into Wednesday’s first leg of the last-16 tie in superb form, on the back of a nine-game winning streak in all competitions.

Manager Julen Lopetegui said: “You are only looking at [their] results but if you analyse Dortmund’s game, their potential and attacking threat you see they are very tough to match.

“They have top players in all positions but that does not take away our ambition to beat them.”

Credit: bbc.com

David Alaba to leave Bayern Munich after 13 years

David Alaba has confirmed he will be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season after nearly 13 years at the club.

The 28-year-old will depart the Allianz Arena on a free transfer once his contract with the Bundesliga champions has expired in June.

Speaking at an unscheduled press conference, Alaba said: ‘I have personally made the decision to try something new after this season and to leave the club.

‘It wasn’t an easy decision, I’ve been here for 13 years and the club is very important to me.

‘I am looking for a new challenge. It wasn’t a financial decision. I still have six to seven years to play football and now I wanted to try something new.

‘Of course I took my time, after 13 years it’s not an easy decision. I then decided for myself to try something new. I have not decided yet where I’m going.’

The Austrian is set to be replaced in the squad by Dayot Upamecano, after the club announced the France international’s £38million summer move to the Allianz Arena earlier this week.

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

U-20 Afcon: Boah’s brace helps Ghana brush Tanzania aside

Ghana opened their 2021 Africa U20 Cup of Nations campaign in style with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday.

A Precious Boah double, a sublime Abdul Fatawu Issahaku effort and a late Joselpho Barnes strike ensured three points for the Black Satellites in the Group C opener at Stade Municipal de Nouadhibou in Mauritania.

The West Africans have jumped to the top of the table ahead of the group’s second game between Gambia and Morocco.

Ghana coach Abdul Karim Zito largely kept faith in the side that won December’s Wafu Cup of Nations in Benin, handing starting roles to Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim and striker Boah, who won the top scorer’s award at the sub-regional championship.

Schalke 04 winger Barnes and Denmark-based centre-back Frank Assinki, who both did not make it for the Wafu Cup, were also named in the first XI.

Tanzania’s line-up included all three foreign-based players in their squad as German-based winger Ben Starkie, Novatus Dismas of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ally Msengi of South African outfit Stellenbosch were called upon.

It did not take long for the scoring to be broken on the day as Boah drove a free-kick into the net in just the third minute of the game to make it 1-0.

After the Dreams striker saw a 20th minute shot flash wide, Issahaku doubled the score with a long-range shot from around the centre circle.

Danlad pulled off double saves in the 70th minute to deny Tanzania a consolation, a minute before Boah registered his second goal of the game and Ghana’s third, slotting a shot into the net after receiving a through-ball from Sulemana Mohammed.

In his first-ever appearance for Ghana, German-born Banes made his presence count as he fired into the net from close range to make 4-0 two minutes to full-time.

The two teams return to action on matchday two when Ghana take on Morocco as Tanzania face off against Gambia.

The top two teams at the end of the group stage progress to the quarter-final of the competition.

Credit: goal.com

The post TODAY’S ROUND OF 16 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE appeared first on The Chronicle Online.

Read Full Story