EU strikes back against US steel and aluminum tariffs with retaliatory package    US set to present 30-day ceasefire offer to Russia    Indian Americans worried over US ties under Trump, survey reveals    US Education Department plans to cut half its workforce    Saudi and Turkish defense ministers discuss military cooperation in Jeddah    Al-Ula's palm groves keep generations connected to the land    Hosting US-Ukraine talks reflects Saudi Arabia's balanced relations, Cabinet affirms    Saudi, US defense ministers discuss over phone efforts to strengthen security cooperation    Al Hilal crushes Pakhtakor to storm into AFC Champions League quarter-finals    Mahrez magic sends Al Ahli into AFC Champions League quarter-finals    Al Taawoun edges Tractor in penalty thriller to reach AFC Champions League Two semi-finals    Al-Jadaan and his US counterpart discuss ways to enhance financial and economic cooperation    Saudi Aramco CEO calls for a new global energy model at CERAWeek 2025    Unfurling rich legacy and national pride, Saudi Arabia is celebrating Flag Day on Tuesday, March 11    Duran and Ronaldo shine as Al Nassr cruise past Esteghlal into AFC Champions League quarter-finals    Singer Wheesung who wooed Korea with his ballads, found dead at 43    Liquidity in Saudi economy records annual growth of SR236 billion in 2024    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    Real-life shipwreck story wins major book award    Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates Ramadan with 'Biennale Nights' in Jeddah    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Real begins Champs defense
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 14 - 09 - 2016

Here we look ahead to Wednesday's Champions League action as Real Madrid begins its defense of the trophy and Leicester City makes its debut in the competition (all kick-offs 1945 GMT).
Group E
Bayer Leverkusen vs. CSKA Moscow: Third in the Bundesliga last season, Leverkusen goes into the group phase for a fourth consecutive year. Finland forward Joel Pohjanpalo scored a hat trick, with two added-time strikes, in Leverkusen's 3-1 weekend win over Hamburg.
Russian champion CSKA, also in its own fourth straight Champions League campaign, is on a roll of 14 matches unbeaten in its domestic league.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Monaco: The match will be played at Wembley, which the visitor may appreciate due to the fact it was thrashed 4-1 in the Europa League at White Hart Lane last season.
Spurs' highly rated Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino is regalvanizing the side which won 4-0 away at Stoke City at the weekend.
Monaco goes into the tie in buoyant mood as it won 4-1 win at Lille Saturday.
Group F
Real Madrid vs. Sporting Lisbon: Real begin its quest to become the first club to retain the trophy in the Champions League era with an intriguing home tie against Cristiano Ronaldo's first club.
Ronaldo's winning penalty in the final shoot-out against Atletico Madrid clinched Real a record 11th title last season.
Ronaldo's boyhood club turns up at the Santiago Bernabeu in good shape after a 3-0 win over Moreirense at the weekend.
Legia Warsaw vs. Borussia Dortmund: Dortmund, returning after a one-year absence, edged Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate in the semifinals three years ago en route to the final which it lost to Bayern Munich.
The 1997 champion is in Warsaw to take on the first side from Poland in the competition in 20 years.
Group G
Club Brugge vs. Leicester City: After its fairytale Premier League title triumph last season, Leicester begins its maiden Champions League voyage with the short trip to Belgium to face Club Brugge at the Jan Breydelstadion.
This will be the Foxes' first European game since a 3-1 defeat to Red Star Belgrade condemned them to a first-round exit in the UEFA Cup in September 2000.
However, for its manager Claudio Ranieri this is the start of a sixth Champions League campaign with a sixth different club.
Club Brugge is the only Belgian club ever to have reached the European Cup final, losing 1-0 to Liverpool at Wembley in 1978.
Porto vs. FC Copenhagen: Third in the Portuguese top flight last season, Nuno Espirito Santo's Porto beat Roma 4-1 in the playoffs to reach the group stage for the sixth season running.
Copenhagen's last group-stage appearance came three years ago when it bowed out with just one win in six games.
Group H
Lyon vs. Dinamo Zagreb: Dinamo will be looking for revenge after suffering a 7-1 whipping at home by Lyon in 2011-12, the French club's biggest victory in the European competition. Lyon lost all three home group stage games last season.
Juventus vs. Sevilla: Two-time European champion Juventus, the most-fancied Italian side in Europe this season, meets Sevilla for a second straight year in the group stage.
Last season Juventus won 2-0 at home and Sevilla won 1-0 in Spain.
The Italians warmed up with new signing Gonzalo Higuain scoring twice in a 3-1 Serie A win over Sassuolo in Turin at the weekend and is riding a 17-match unbeaten home run in UEFA competition going back to April 2013.
Sevilla won the Europa League for a third consecutive time after its group-stage exit and is also coming off a 2-1 Liga win at home against Las Palmas.


Clic here to read the story from its source.