stc group is the third-strongest telecom brand worldwide    Saudi Foreign Ministry hosts Iftar reception for diplomatic missions and international organizations    Saudi authorities seize three foreign trucks for unauthorized cargo transport    Taiwan revokes visa of pro-Beijing Chinese influencer    King Salman Royal Reserve records birth of Nubian ibex    British tourist missing after Thailand boat fire    AFC Champions League Elite Finals draw sets stage for Jeddah showdown    Cannes award-winning actress Dequenne dies at 43    Crown Prince launches Saudi Architecture Characters Map to celebrate Kingdom's architectural heritage Saudi architecture set to generate over 34,000 jobs and SR8 billion to GDP by 2030    Saudi Arabia's inflation rate keeps steady at 2% in February    Peace deal must bar Ukraine from Nato, Russian official says    Saudi Arabia grants Tier 1 cybersecurity licenses to six MSOC providers    Newcastle United ends 70-year wait for domestic glory with Carabao Cup triumph    IsDB approves reactivation of Syria's membership    Saudi Arabia launches loan guarantees for SMEs to stimulate investment in environmental projects    Antenna: Saudi artist Ahmed Mater opens first solo exhibition in China    Al Nassr climbs to third with dominant win over Al Khaleej, Al Qadsiah slips after loss to Damac    Saleh Al-Shehri's late penalty rescues Al Ittihad against Al Riyadh    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    Singer Wheesung who wooed Korea with his ballads, found dead at 43    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    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.



Atletico meets Juve in a clash of high stakes
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 19 - 02 - 2019

Massimiliano Allegri told Juventus not to be afraid of Atletico Madrid but for one of these teams their worst fears in this season's Champions League are about to become a reality.
Crashing out in the last 16 would be unthinkable for two clubs that were among the favorites when the draw for the knockout stages was made in December.
"Those that have ambition are not afraid," Allegri said, after his side were drawn to play Atletico, with the first leg on Wednesday at the Wanda Metropolitano.
"It's like a final, we cannot put a foot wrong," Atletico boss Diego Simeone said.
Juventus and Atletico Madrid have reached 12 European Cup finals between them, with last season's game in Kiev the first in five years in which neither had featured.
Atletico went on to win the Europa League instead, proving itself too strong for Europe's second-tier competition, while Juventus was dumped out by eventual winner Real Madrid, undone by a controversial Cristiano Ronaldo penalty in the 98th minute.
It was Ronaldo's 10th goal in seven games against Juventus, having scored twice in the first leg and twice in the final in 2017 too. Juve beat Real in the semifinals two years earlier but even then, Ronaldo managed a goal in each leg.
There was understandable relief, as well as joy, when the Portugese switched sides last summer and now, there is belief. Ronaldo has not finished in single figures for goals in the Champions league since 2011.
As Lionel Messi said: "They already had a good team and now they have Cristiano Ronaldo."
But with anticipation comes pressure. Juventus is on course to win an eighth consecutive Scudetto but this is the one trophy it craves.
Miss out again and it will be 23 years since it last lifted Europe's premier prize, this time with its most prolific player ever among their ranks.
Meanwhile, Manchester City's focus switches from south Wales to Schalke Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie before a Wembley final against Chelsea Sunday for the right to lift the first silverware of the season in the League Cup.
A decade into the club's Abu Dhabi ownership, the importance for City to win the Champions League for the first time would have made it easy for the English champion to prioritize Europe this season.
However, after romping to the league with a record 100 points last year, it is another piece of history that Pep Guardiola's side now crave by outdoing even Manchester United's treble of league, Champions League and FA Cup in 1998/99.
Two weeks on from smashing Chelsea 6-0, City will be heavy favorite to retain the League Cup this weekend and should cruise past a Schalke side languishing in 14th in the Bundesliga to make the Champions League quarterfinals.
A 4-1 victory at Newport also secured progress to the last eight of the FA Cup and City also sits top of the Premier League on goal difference, although Liverpool has a game in hand.
"It's better to be in this situation," insisted Guardiola at going for four trophies rather than concentrating resources into Champions League and Premier League glory as Jurgen Klopp's side has been able to after early domestic cup exits.
"It's important in February to be here, in four competitions. Now we go to biggest stage, Champions League, and we will see (what happens) in May and June," added Guardiola. — Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.