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lingzi
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Dec 6 2012, 07:37 AM
Post #1
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LONDON -- Struggling in the Spanish league and with its star player and coach publicly unhappy, the last thing beleaguered Real Madrid needed was a Champions League opener against a Manchester City side desperate to muscle in on Europes elite this season. Lardarius Webb Womens Jersey . A trip to the Santiago Bernabeu looked to have consigned City to the harshest of starts to the continents premier club competition but the English champions will be relishing the chance to pile more misery on Madrid. The Spanish giants have dropped eight points from a possible 12 in the defence of their La Liga title, leaving the team in the unusual position of mid-table and prompting heavy criticism from coach Jose Mourinho about the players lack of commitment and spirit. Add in Cristiano Ronaldos comments at the start of the month about feeling "sad" for "professional reasons" and Madrid appears to be in disarray ahead of the standout match of the first round of group fixtures. "We are having a bad run, but we have to think of Tuesdays game as a chance to boost our morale," Brazilian defender Marcelo said. "Today we are all sad, but we have to move forward." Chelsea welcomes Italian champion Juventus to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to begin the defence of a title won in a penalty shootout four months ago in Munich, while Barcelona is at home to Spartak Moscow as it goes in search of a fourth Champions League trophy in seven years. The highlight of this weeks games, however, is undoubtedly Madrid-Man City, which pitches the competitions most successful team with a cash-rich upstart hungry for European success after climbing to the top of English football last season. "To play the first game away will be very tough but at the same time I think it will be a fantastic game for everyone," City manager Roberto Mancini said. Madrid, bidding for its 10th European Cup title, is coming into the game off a 1-0 loss at Sevilla that appears to have triggered a state of alarm in the Spanish capital. "My players heads are not focused, for many of them football is not a priority," Mourinho said. "But I am the coach and if there are heads that are not focused, it is my fault." Madrid and City were placed in the hardest of the eight pools along with Borussia Dortmund and Ajax, who meet in Germany on Tuesday in Group D. Also that night, AC Milan will look to join Madrid in putting its domestic problems aside when the Italian team hosts Belgian side Anderlecht at the San Siro in Group C. A 1-0 loss to Atalanta on Saturday marked the first time Milan has lost its opening two Serie A home matches in 82 years. "Fortunately the Champions League gives us a chance to bounce back," said Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, who deflected talk of his job being at risk. "Were all in the same boat. ... Theres little to say and a lot to do." Spanish team Malaga hosts Zenit St. Petersburg in the groups other match and is one of three clubs making their debuts in the competition, along with Montpellier and FC Nordsjaelland of Denmark. Montpellier is at home to Arsenal in Group B, where 2011 semifinalist Schalke travels to Olympiakos. Also Tuesday, Dinamo Zagreb hosts FC Porto and Dynamo Kyiv visits Paris Saint-Germain, the expensively assembled French club which is back in the Champions League for the first time since 2004. Barcelona, led by the peerless Lionel Messi and its galaxy of midfield maestros, again starts as the competition favourite and will be buoyed by its perfect start to the Spanish league this season. "We are playing well," said Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez. "We now face the beginning of the Champions League with a lot of excitement and hope." Tito Vilanovas side, which is without injured trio Andres Iniesta, Alexis Sanchez and Carles Puyol this week, should have no problem topping a group that also includes Celtic and Benfica. Chelsea was the team that ended Barcas dreams at the semifinal stage of last seasons tournament before going on to beat Bayern Munich on penalties and lift the trophy for the first time. No team has ever defended the Champions League since its inception in 1992 but Roberto di Matteos side is the early leader of the Premier League and has refreshed its forward line with exciting talent like Belgium winger Eden Hazard and Brazil playmaker Oscar. "Its fantastic to have it in the bank but we cant relax on that if we want to be a club that creates a real mark in Europe," Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said. "It does get harder every year." Juventus coach Antonio Conte wont be on the touchline at Stamford Bridge after his 10-month suspension in Italy for match-fixing violations was extended worldwide by FIFA on Friday. Shakhtar Donetsk hosts FC Nordsjaelland in the other Group E game. Bayern starts on the road to redemption with a home match against Valencia in Group F, where Lille also plays BATE Borisov. Manchester United is the clear favourite in Group H and starts off at home to Galatasaray. Braga hosts another minnow in Romanian team Cluj in the other game. Torrey Smith Authentic Jersey . Lamar Neagle and Patrice Bernier scored second-half goals and Montreal extended its winning streak to four games Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over the league-leading San Jose Earthquakes at Saputo Stadium. Ray Lewis Youth Jersey . The International Gymnastics Federation did not identify the judges or the event in which the errors occurred, saying only that the judges had been found "guilty of negligence in the line of duty. http://www.nflravensfansshop.com/lardarius-webb-jersey/ . -- Time has done nothing to curb Rodney Hardings dislike of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Ray Lewis Authentic Jersey . The Jays won Thursays opener by a 5-0 count and then followed that up with a 4-0 decision on Friday. Trying to get back into the win column for the Blue Jays tonight is Kyle Drabek. Since starting off 2012 with back-to-back wins at home against Boston and Baltimore, the 24-year made it through just six innings in his second straight appearance on Monday, giving up two runs on five hits and a pair of walks, while fanning a season-best eight batters in a 4-1 setback to Texas. Haloti Ngata NFL Jersey . -- The Tampa Bay Rays made Felix Hernandezs perfect game look even more impressive by roughing up the Los Angeles Angels during an impressive four-game series sweep. BARCELONA, Spain -- Levante struck twice early to beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 and move into fourth place in the Spanish league on Sunday. Forward Valdo Lopes opened the scoring for Levante a minute in when he headed Jose Barkeros cross off the post and into the net. Striker Arouna Kone then doubled the lead in the 10th by turning Barkeros free kick past the goalkeeper with a header for his 12th goal of the season. Levantes win at its Ciutat de Valencia stadium lifted it level on points with third-place Valencia, which visits league leader Real Madrid later. "Above all, I take away the work of the entire team," said Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez, whose team was expected to struggle to avoid relegation this season rather than threaten to qualify for European competition. "One of Atleticos transfers ccost three times as much as our entire squad, that says it all," Martinez added. Ray Lewis Jerseys. Atletico fell six points behind Levante in Spains last Champions League spot and will miss in-form forward Eduardo Salvio, defender Miranda and midfielder Mario Suarez for its derby against Madrid due to suspension. At Iberostar stadium Mallorca was held to a scoreless home draw by Granada. Sevilla visits Athletic Bilbao later looking for a fourth straight win. Lionel Messi scored his 59th and 60th goals of the campaign to lead Barcelona to a 4-1 win at Zaragoza on Saturday as the defending champions reduced Madrids advantage to three points. Also, it was: Getafe 2, Sporting Gijon 0; Rayo Vallecano 6, Osasuna 0; and Espanyol 2, Real Sociedad 2. Malaga plays Racing Santander on Monday to close round 31. ' ' '
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