Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola does not expect last season’s chastening 4-0 defeat at Goodison Park to have a lingering impact when his side host Everton on Monday.

Ronald Koeman’s team dealt out the heaviest loss of Guardiola’s decorated coaching career in January, a result that effectively ended City’s hopes of mounting a credible Premier League title challenge.

Both teams have strengthened with eye-catching additions during the transfer window – Everton’s record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson could make his debut at the Etihad Stadium, where the Merseyside club escaped with a 1-1 draw last season after Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero had penalties saved.

“It’s a long time ago. I don’t comment when I play against a team when I won 4-0 because I think it’s a new game and this is the same,” Guardiola told reporters.

“Of course, we were not able to beat them last season. Our game at home was one of the best performances we played but we were not able to win. We missed not just two penalties but many, many things [chances].

“In the game there, they arrived four times and scored four goals. We were not solid in terms of defence, so hopefully we can learn about that.”
City began their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win at newly promoted Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, where Ederson, Kyle Walker, Danilo and Bernardo Silva all made debuts.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy, who became the most expensive defender in the world in the process of joining from Monaco, is also waiting in the wings due to a thigh injury.

Guardiola still aims to do more business before the window shuts at the end of the month, with West Brom rejecting a bid from City for their former Manchester United centre-back Jonny Evans last week.

Nevertheless, he feels it would be ideal if clubs had to conclude their business before the big kick-off.

“It would be nice, yeah – starting the season with the squads we have and working until winter with them. It would be good but it’s a decision of the Premier League,” he said.

“Everything would be quicker, less speculation, and we can start from the first day of the Premier League with the squad you are working with.

“At the moment, maybe you have players who are going to move on. It will be better for all the clubs – not just in England but all around the world.

“All the managers would work a lot sooner, quicker – not waiting for the deadline, the last moment, the last second.”
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

yeydi:
wow

I WOW AT IT ALSO

Emescot:
You just have to love this mourinho, brilliant answer and nice gesture

NICE GESTURE INDEED

Paulo Dybala has been handed Juventus’ famous number 10 shirt for the 2017-18 season, following in the footsteps of Paul Pogba, Carlos Tevez and Alessandro Del Piero.

The jersey – vacant since Pogba left for Manchester United last year – has also been worn by legends such as Omar Sivori, Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio and is recognition of the Argentina international’s contribution since arriving from Palermo in 2015.

Dybala has been touted as a potential replacement for Neymar at Barcelona, but Juve appear determined to keep hold of their man, who previously wore 21.

A club statement read: “From the very moment he signed for the Turin club two years ago, La Joya won over the hearts of the Bianconeri faithful with his wonder strikes, sensational assists and irresistible winning mentality.

“Ever since scoring on his debut in the 2015 Super Cup final against Lazio, Dybala has had a knack for netting eye-catching goals in big games: not least at home to Milan and Roma in his maiden Juve campaign, before hitting a free-kick past former club Palermo and a quite brilliant brace against Barcelona in last season’s Champions League quarter-final.”Dybala has scored 42 goals in 94 appearances for Juve and the statement added that his “creative spark and eye for the spectacular” make him worthy of his new shirt number.

Juve take on Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana on Sunday.
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The Super Eagles of Nigeria moved up one place from 39th position to 38th in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola World Rankings released on Thursday.

The latest rankings were published on FIFA’s official website.
In Africa, the Super Eagles now occupy the sixth position, while Egypt are No.1 on the continent and Africa’s highest ranked team in 25th spot in the world.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon who will be guests of the Super Eagles in Group B of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on September 1 in Uyo, also moved up one place from 36th to 35th.

In Africa, the reigning Africa Cup of Nations winners are just one place above the Super Eagles in fifth spot.

There was no movement for Algeria who are also in the Super Eagles 2018 World Cup group as they remain 48th in the world, while Zambia who are also in Group B dropped four places to the 96th position.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles 2019 Group E AFCON qualifier conquerors, Bafana Bafana of South Africa, dropped two places from 64th to 66th.

Libya who are also in Group B, moved up four places from 87th to 83rd and the Super Eagles next 2019 AFCON qualifiers opponents Seychelles are 194th.

In the top 10 countries in the world, Brazil returned to No.1, pushing world champions Germany to second place. In third place are Argentina, Switzerland are fourth, Poland occupy the fifth spot. European champions Portugal are in sixth, South American champions Chile in seventh, Colombia in eight, Belgium ninth and France tenth.

The next FIFA rankings will be released on September 14.
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Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba has revealed how former Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama shunned the Senate President Bukola Saraki while trying to persuade him to come out of his pronounced retirement from the national team to salvage the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying games.

Senator Ogba said when it was evident that Enyeama was not ready to change his mind to return to the Super Eagles, “I went to the office of the Senate President and called him as usual so that the Senate president will join in persuading him to return to the Super Eagles.

“The moment I told him (Enyeama) that I was with the Senate president, he cut the call. I was surprise that Vincent Enyeama could behave that way.

“And since then he didn’t pick my calls again. That was how far I had gone to bring back Vincent Enyeama to the Super Eagles”, Senator Obinna Ogba said.

Pointing out that the World Cup qualifier against South Africa was not what was expected from the Super Eagles, Ogba said all hands are now on deck to ensure that the forthcoming game against Cameroon would be a different one.

“The Super Eagles players are equal to the task. Without Nigeria, our players that scattered in different leagues would not have been there; and the World Cup is as important to us as it is important to them.

“We’re working hard to ensure that the mistake made against the qualifying game against South Africa is not repeated against Cameroon”, he added, pointing out that the country would pick the ticket to be at the World Cup finals.
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Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly told Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho in private that Gareth Bale is for sale.

Publicly, the Real figurehead recently insisted that he does not “plan on selling” the Welshman because the 28-year-old is “one of the world’s best”.

Mourinho also poured cold water on a potential transfer after witnessing his side lose 2-1 to Madrid in the Super Cup on Tuesday night.

The Portuguese coach told reporters that his club’s pursuit of Bale is now “game over”, suggesting that the Spanish outfit want the former Tottenham Hotspur man to stay.

However, according to Diario Gol, Perez has secretly informed Mourinho that he is willing to sell Bale, but Los Blancos are unlikely to accept a bid less than £180m.

The Spanish publication suggests that Bale is unhappy that he will never be regarded as the star man of the team as long as Cristiano Ronaldo is in Madrid.
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Rafael Benitez has admitted that he is “not happy” with how Newcastle United’s transfer strategy has panned out this summer.

The Magpies have brought in Christian Atsu, Florian Lejeune, Jacob Murphy, Javier Manquillo and Mikel Merino so far, but it seems that Benitez wants more.

The North-East outfit have recently been linked to Arsenal outcast Lucas Perez and Stoke City forward Joselu, but with the Premier League season kicking off this week, Newcastle are unlikely to bring in more faces before then.

During the Premier League launch, when Sky Sports News asked Benitez about his future, the Spaniard joked: “I don’t know because my Chinese is not so good.

“We made some targets at the beginning and now we are trying to do our best. Sometimes players are not available, we will try to do our best. I am not happy but at the same time for me it is a challenge. I want to do my best but obviously every manager wants to improve. At the moment I am fully committed to doing the best I can.”

Benitez, who guided the Magpies back into the top flight from the Championship at the first time of asking, will host Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park on Sunday.
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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has conceded defeat in his pursuit of Gareth Bale, declaring it “game over”.

The Real Madrid attacker was believed to be seeking a move away from the Bernabeu amid rumours of AS Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe being signed and taking his place in the team.

However, Mourinho – who previously said he would “fight” for Bale’s services – claimed after Real’s win over United in the UEFA Super Cup that all the signs pointed to the Welshman staying put in the Spanish capital.

When asked by BT Sport whether he was still pursuing Bale, Mourinho replied: “Clearly the club want him, the manager wants him and he wants the club. Clearly game over. I think everyone knows he is going to stay.”

The Red Devils succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Los Blancos in Skopje, goals from Casemiro and Isco ensuring that Romelu Lukaku’s strike just after the hour would be no more than a consolation.
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Alexis Sanchez will play no part in the club’s Premier League opener against Leicester City on Friday.

The Chile international, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates this summer, has an abdominal strain that could also keep him on the sidelines for the trip to Stoke on August 19.

Sanchez was given extended time off due to his participation in the Confederations Cup, but he returned to training later than planned because of illness.

The 28-year-old was left out of the Gunners’ Community Shield-winning squad on Sunday due to being short of preparation, and now injury has forced him onto the treatment table.

In this morning’s press conference, Wenger told reporters: “Sanchez will not be available. He had a little abdominal strain that he caught on Sunday morning in training. He had the scan two days ago. He’s out for, er, a while.”

The news comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the player’s future, with the latest reports claiming that Paris Saint-Germain have withdrawn their interest in the attacker.

Two-time Premier League champions Manchester City have been linked with a move.
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Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has admitted that Alvaro Morata ‘will need a bit of time’ before marking his mark in England.

Morata, 24, joined Chelsea in a club-record move from Real Madrid in this summer’s transfer window.

The Spaniard made his competitive debut for the Blues during Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal, but it was an unhappy start for the striker after he missed in the penalty shootout, which Chelsea lost 4-1.

Morata has been criticised in the aftermath of the Community Shield, but Conte has called for patience as the 20-time Spain international bids to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.

“Morata needs to work. It is normal, he has been with us for only one week. It is very important to have a good physical condition and to understand our idea of football. He needs a bit of time but it is normal. It is the same for [Antonio] Rudiger and [Tiemoue] Bakayoko,” Conte told reporters.

Chelsea will begin the defence of their Premier League title at home to Burnley on Saturday afternoon.
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Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense players are braced for an emotion-filled match against Barcelona as plane-crash survivor Alan Ruschel makes a remarkable comeback to the field.

Chapecoense will play LaLiga giants Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou on Monday — a tribute to the 71 people who were killed in last year’s tragic plane crash.

It has been a time of mourning and rebuilding for Chapecoense since a plane carrying the Brazilian squad, technical commission and a number of journalists for the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional crashed en route to Medellin two days before the match was due to take place, killing 71 people on board, in November.

Ruschel was one of three players to survive the crash – along with Neto and Jackson Follman, though the 27-year-old defender is the only one making a return to football.
“It’s a festive game in honour of the victims, and everything that happened last year with Chapecoense,” Chapecoense goalkeeper Artur Moraes said.

“And the most important is the return of Alan, which is a very special moment because we are following from the beginning his effort to return to play football. So we come with a sense of joy to enjoy and make this a special day for everyone involved in the game.

“It’s impossible to forget the people who have left. Every time we enter the field there is this memory, and it also has this responsibility, to be part of the reconstruction of a club and a city. And every time we walk in and wear that shirt we have to remember that this is more than a club, there is a feeling behind.”

The 36-year-old goalkeeper added: “For us, since we are everyday with him, and seeing all that he’s doing to return… It’s a special day for him and for us, because, as co-workers, we will be happy to see someone who celebrates life every day, and tomorrow will return to play football in an official match.”
The Brazilians won the Santa Catarina state championship in May, after edging Avai in a two-legged play-off to retain the title they claimed in 2016.

Chapecoense also made their Copa Libertadores debut – finishing third in the group stage after being deducted points for fielding an ineligible player.

“For us it will be a very exciting match, not only because of Alan will play, but also to play against Barcelona, which is something we don’t need to comment, but we came here to enjoy the match and celebrate together with them,” said Wellington Paulista.
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Brazilian legend Pele has congratulated compatriot Neymar on his world-record move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar triggered the €222m (£200.6m) release clause in his Barcelona contract in order to complete his move to the French capital, where he signed a five-year contract earlier this evening.

The transfer obliterates the old record of £89m for the most expensive deal in football history, and Pele – regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time – was quick to wish Neymar luck in his new venture.Neymar, 25, is currently fourth on the all-time list of goalscorers for Brazil, 25 behind Pele.
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The Champions League play-off draw was made in Nyon on Friday as the likes of Liverpool, Sevilla and Napoli learned their fate.

A total of 10 ties were drawn, with the first legs played on August 15-16, and the second legs on August 22-23.

Here is the draw in full:

Qarabag v Copenhagen

APOEL v Slavia Prague

Olympiacos v Rijeka

Celtic v Astana

Hapoel Be’er Sheva v Maribor

Istanbul Basaksehir v Sevilla

Young Boys v CSKA Moscow

Napoli v Nice

Hoffenheim v Liverpool

Sporting CP v FCSB
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Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has reportedly emerged as a possible transfer target for Roma.

The Italian giants have been strongly linked with a move for Leicester City playmaker Riyad Mahrez, but it appears that the move has stalled over the Foxes’ valuation of their star man.

According to Calcio Mercato, that has left Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco having to consider an alternative to the Algerian playmaker, and Mata has been identified as a potential signing.

Mata has scored 10 times in each of his last three seasons at Old Trafford, but he has less than a year remaining on his contract as both the club and the Spaniard contemplate their next move.

The former Chelsea man remains a key part of Jose Mourinho’s first-team squad, but the uncertainty over his future will only tempt interested clubs into making a bid.

Since signing at the start of 2014, Mata has scored 36 goals in 146 appearances in all competitions.
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Chelsea have reportedly decided to increase their efforts to try to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.

Since the end of last season, the Saints skipper has been strongly linked with an exit from St Mary’s, with Liverpool, Manchester City and the Blues all holding an interest.

However, despite remaining keen on the Netherlands international, Liverpool were forced to apologise for their pursuit earlier this summer and Chelsea are hoping to use that to their advantage.

According to The Times, head coach Antonio Conte is prepared to offer £50m in an attempt to sign the centre-back before the start of the new season.

The Premier League champions have already added Antonio Rudiger to their squad but if they were successful in a move for Van Dijk, it would allow Cesar Azpilicueta to move to wing-back.

Earlier this week, it was claimed that Van Dijk had reiterated to the Saints that he wished to leave the club this summer.
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Monaco may be defending Ligue 1 champions, but they are distant second favourites for title glory in 2017-18 after a dramatic transfer window in France’s top flight.

Leonardo Jardim’s men begin their title defence at home to Toulouse on Friday.

That opening match comes as rivals Paris Saint-Germain – whose four-year streak as French champions was brought to a shock end by Monaco last season – bask in the spectacular world-record signing of Neymar from Barcelona, and amid rumours over Kylian Mbappe’s future.

PSG beat Monaco 2-1 in the Trophee des Champions last week, which bookmakers believe will be a sign of things to come domestically this season, particularly with Neymar added to their ranks.

Here, we look at how Monaco are shaping up as they attempt to beat the odds.

GONE

Monaco have lost key players since the end of last season, including Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva, all of whom have moved to the Premier League.

Bakayoko, a powerful and energetic midfielder, joined Chelsea for a reported £40million after a campaign that saw him establish himself as a key part of Jardim’s plans.

Wing-back Mendy moved to Manchester City after starring in his sole season at Monaco in a massive switch that was reportedly worth £52m.

City was also the destination for arguably Monaco’s greatest loss, Silva. The playmaker scored 11 goals and supplied 12 assists in all competitions and moved for £43m.

Striker Valere Germain, who played in 36 league matches last season, has also gone, joining Marseille.

STAYING

It has not all been bad news for Monaco. There was a new deal for experienced striker Radamel Falcao, who netted 21 league goals in a renaissance season that was vital to his side’s title success – only Edinson Cavani and Alexandre Lacazette scored more.

Centre-back Kamil Glik, a consistent performer, has committed his future to the club, while France international Djibril Sidibe, a star on the opposite flank to Mendy, also penned fresh terms.

In addition, Fabinho and Thomas Lemar remain for the time being.

NEW BOYS

There were also new signings for Monaco, with Jardim largely adding youth to spearhead his title defence.

Midfielder Youri Tielemans, 20, a reported €25m signing from Anderlecht, is perhaps the standout and will need to immediately shine on the bigger stage.

Terence Kongolo, a signing from Feyenoord, is expected to step in for Mendy and Soualiho Meite – brought in from Lille – must help to fill the void left by Bakayoko.

Young attacker Jordi Mboula, 18, has arrived from Barca, while striker Adama Diakhaby, a 21-year-old addition from Rennes, and full-back Jordy Gaspar from Lyon are other youthful options at 21 and 20 respectively.

Diego Benaglio, 33, arrived from Wolfsburg to bolster Monaco’s goalkeeping options and proves the exception to the rule when it comes to Jardim’s business.

GOING?

Ultimately, much will rest on the future of Mbappe, the attacking sensation who burst on to the scene last season with 20 goals in all competitions, capturing the attention of Europe’s giants with huge excitement over what he can achieve in 2017-18 with more experience under his belt.

In a double blow to Monaco, Neymar’s PSG move, as well as hugely strengthening their top title rivals, appears to have increased the 18-year-old’s chances of moving.

Barca, eyeing a replacement for Neymar, and long-term admirers Real Madrid are in the hunt, along with Manchester City.

Mbappe is reported to have expressed a desire to leave due to Monaco’s transfer business and all eyes will be on his performance against Toulouse.

If Monaco lose him or midfielder Lemar, who continues to be linked with Arsenal, before the transfer window closes, their challenge to again top a resurgent PSG, already a huge task, could move beyond them.
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Denmark vs Austria———————————————12 Double Chance


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Manchester United match-winner Juan Mata believes he is finally poised to end his UEFA Super Cup curse in next week’s showpiece against Real Madrid.

The Spanish playmaker scored the decisive goal as United ended their pre-season with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria in Dublin on Wednesday.

Mata’s strike ensured Europa League title holders United will carry impressive form into what will be his third attempt at winning the annual intercontinental curtain-raiser.

The Spain international endured back-to-back defeats with Chelsea in the annual intercontinental curtain-raiser, first to Atletico Madrid in 2012 and then to Bayern Munich the following season.

However, the 29-year-old is encouraged by the Red Devils’ pre-season form which has seen them claim six of seven outings.

“We [head into] the Super Cup in brilliant condition,” Mata told MUTV.

“I’ve been lucky to play two [Super Cup finals] and I’ve been unlucky to lose two.

“We will try again on Tuesday, but it will be hard against Real Madrid.”

Mata will be available for next week’s blockbuster in Skopje, after returning to full fitness following an injury suffered in the pre-season win over Real Salt Lake which forced him to miss games against Madrid and Barcelona.

“I had a little problem but I’m happy to be back and to get a run out ahead of next week,” he said.
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Barcelona will reportedly use the money gained from Neymar’s sale to Paris Saint-Germain to help push through a double swoop for Eden Hazard and Philippe Coutinho.

The Catalan club are expected to lose Neymar in the coming days after PSG agreed to trigger the superstar forward’s mammoth £196m release clause.

Liverpool ace Coutinho is widely considered to be Barca’s top choice to replace his Brazilian compatriot at Camp Nou, but The Sun suggests that former Real Madrid target Hazard is also on their radar, despite Chelsea’s reluctance to sell at any price.

Barcelona are said to have already asked a third party to sound out Hazard over a summer transfer, valuing him at around £100m, while Coutinho could set them back a similar amount.

Hazard played a direct part in 21 Premier League goals last season – one more than Coutinho, who scored 13 and set up seven.
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Former Borussia Dortmund head coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes a fully fit Mario Gotze is one of Germany’s greatest ever players.

Gotze burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old at Dortmund, while he fired Germany to World Cup glory in 2014, however, his career has been hampered by fitness woes.

The 25-year-old returned to Dortmund from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in 2016-17 but he was restricted to 16 appearances in all competitions after being diagnosed with a metabolic disorder.

Gotze is back to full health heading into the new campaign and Hitzfeld – who guided Dortmund to Bundesliga and Champions League glory in the 1990s – lauded the attacking midfielder’s quality.

“For me he is one of the best footballers Germany has ever had, when he is in shape, when he has the fitness he simply has the quality,” Hitzfeld told Eurosport.

“When Gotze is on the ball, something happens. He has a high game intelligence. He sees spaces, that others do not see.

“He can handle the ball as others just cannot do. And then he plays the crucial passes, as well as he is a goal danger.

“He has everything that distinguishes a top player.”

Gotze played 63 minutes in Dortmund’s 1-0 friendly loss to Atalanta on Tuesday.
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Bayern Munich’s arduous pre-season continued as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Audi Cup on Tuesday.

First-half goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah and a fine late strike from Daniel Sturridge were enough to give Jurgen Klopp’s side a comfortable victory at a stormy Allianz Arena.

It would have been worse for the home side had Adam Lallana not been penalised for offside when Marko Grujic swept home a third midway through the second period.

Bayern lost three of their four International Champions Cup matches against Arsenal, AC Milan and Inter and they performed little better back on home soil despite naming a strong starting line-up.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side dominated possession but created little in attack as Liverpool made the most of three ruthless counter-attacking moves on the slick playing surface.

Liverpool will face Atletico Madrid in Wednesday’s final, after Bayern attempt to restore some confidence before the DFL-Supercup clash with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday when they meet Napoli in the third-place play-off.
Bayern started brightly but gifted the visitors the lead after just eight minutes. Corentin Tolisso lost possession on the halfway line to Roberto Firmino, allowing the Brazilian to dart towards the penalty area and play in Mane, whose shot from a tight angle eluded Sven Ulreich.

Ulreich fared better in keeping out a Salah effort from another lightning Liverpool counter-attack, and matters got worse for Bayern as Thiago was forced off with an abdominal problem before Ulreich saved well again from Alberto Moreno’s free-kick.

With 11 minutes left of the half, Liverpool doubled their lead. Mane released Moreno into the area with a brilliant backheel, and when Ulreich could only parry his cross-cum-shot towards Salah, he had a simple task of heading the ball into the net.

Bayern continued to dominate the ball without offering much of a threat early in the second half, although James Rodriguez came close with a dipping drive from the edge of the area shortly before he, too, was substituted in apparent discomfort.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge dragged a shot narrowly beyond the right-hand post as Liverpool continued to exploit spaces on the break, and only the assistant referee’s flag spared Bayern on the next attack, with Lallana judged to have been interfering with play as Grujic’s shot went in off the post.

Robert Lewandowski threatened with a free-kick and Mats Hummels scuffed a shot just wide from a corner, but Bayern were punished for their pursuit of a lifeline when Sturridge raced the length of their half unchallenged before clipping a sublime finish over Ulreich and into the net – although it was a goal that appeared to injure the striker, who was taken off soon after.
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Barcelona star Neymar put a stop to reports he was set to fly to Doha to have a medical with Paris Saint-Germain as he instead began his return to Spain.

The forward has been heavily linked with a move to the French capital with PSG reportedly set to meet the €222million release clause in his Barca contract.

Having previously been pictured in Shanghai, Neymar posted videos of himself in Dubai on social media on Tuesday, with reports suggesting he was en route to Qatar to take the next step in a potential switch to the Ligue 1 giants.

Some reports also claimed he was on his way home to Brazil, but the man himself appeared to clarify the situation with a fresh update to his Instagram story, which included an aeroplane emoji next to the Spanish flag.Barca return to training on Wednesday ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, with Neymar seemingly set to join his team-mates as the most talked about transfer saga of the window continues to rumble on.

Neymar played 73 minutes of Barca’s 3-2 win over Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup in Miami on Sunday, assisting goals for Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique.

Barca are next in action against Chapecoense in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Monday, before taking on Madrid again in the opening leg of the Supercopa de Espana on August 13.

PSG, meanwhile, get their Ligue 1 season under way on Saturday as they play host to newly promoted Amiens.
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Fernando Torres and Luciano Vietto scored late goals as Atletico Madrid fought back from behind to defeat Napoli 2-1 and reach the final of the Audi Cup.

Diego Simeone’s side trailed 1-0 with 18 minutes left at the Allianz Arena, but scruffy efforts from Torres and then Vietto turned the match around.

Atletico will meet hosts Bayern Munich or Liverpool in Wednesday’s final, while Napoli will face the loser of Tuesday’s second semi.

Having survived a first-half penalty, which saw Jan Oblak deny Arkadiusz Milik, Atleti fell behind in the 56th minute to Jose Callejon’s well taken volley.

But Antoine Griezmann teed up Torres to score from an awkward position before Vietto – who spent the 2016-17 campaign on loan at Sevilla – turned home the winner.

However, Diego Godin inexplicably picked up two yellow cards in the final 10 minutes for a pair of needless, rash challenges.
The opening quarter of the game provided little by the way of goalmouth action before Griezmann’s powerful header was superbly kept out by the strong left hand of Pepe Reina, who then got up smartly to thwart Nico Gaitan on the rebound.

Within a minute Griezmann was in again, but this time he volleyed wide on the stretch.

Atletico were given an even greater let-off at the other end, however, as Milik saw his spot-kick saved by Oblak diving low to his left after Stefan Savic had brought down Callejon as he tried to convert Faouzi Ghoulam’s teasing ball.

But Milik’s blushes were spared in the 56th minute as Ghoulam delivered another cross from the left to Callejon, whose first-time volley thumped into the ground and up into the top-left corner.

Oblak could do little to keep that effort out, but he was equal to Dries Mertens’ dipping free-kick eight minutes later, the Belgian having just come on for the goalscorer as Napoli set the tone for a raft of changes.

The Slovenia keeper was called into action again soon afterwards, tipping over Ghoulam’s rasping drive before Atleti showed some renewed signs of life as Godin glanced a header over from close range.

Torres equalised within two minutes of that miss, doing well to twist his body and convert Griezmann’s cutback.

Atletico completed the turnaround with nine minutes remaining when Yannick Carrasco’s corner was flicked on by Lucas Hernandez and Vietto stabbed home at the back post.

Godin’s lunge on Adam Ounas earned him a second caution a minute from time to blight an otherwise positive day for Simeone’s men, who are still the best part of three weeks away from the start of their season in earnest.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will take his squad to a training camp in Spain immediately after their first Premier League match of the season.

City begin their campaign away to newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion on August 12, and they will jet off to Catalonia shortly after the final whistle to give Guardiola more time with his players.

The trip will also see City face La Liga new boys Girona, who have taken four players on loan from the Etihad Stadium within the last 24 hours.

“This trip is a great opportunity for Pep to work with his full squad in an intensive training camp,” director of football Txiki Begiristain told the club’s official website.

“We have had some players away on international duty this summer, which means Pep hasn’t had the chance to work for long with the whole squad.

“The game itself promises to be a fantastic spectacle, as Girona finalise their own preparations for their debut campaign in La Liga.”

Manchester City’s owners are understood to be closing in on a deal to add Girona to their City Football Group network.
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