Tag: Xabi Alonso

Champions League: Atletico Madrid Knock Out Bayern Munich

Atletico MadridAtletico Madrid have knocked Bayern Munich out of the Champions League to deny Pep Guardiola a highly coveted UCL title as he leaves for Manchester City.

Griezmann’s second half breakaway goal made all the different in the hard-fought battle as the Spaniards qualified on away goal despite losing 2-1 on the night.

Xabi Alonso had put the Germans ahead to make it look like a perfect night before Thomas Muller then missed a penalty that could have made the game more difficult for the visitors.

They were left to rue the missed penalty when Atletico scored as the first half ended 1-1.

Atletico were happy to let Bayern have all the possession for most part of the game as they held on desperately.

Robert Lewandowski headed in from Arturo Vidal’s clever head back across the goal to turn the heat up with 74 minutes on the clock putting Bayern back in front on the night.

It was a dramatic climax to the game as Fernando Torres also missed a controversial penalty awarded for a Javi Martinez foul that was clearly outside the box.

Bayern pressed harder in the dying minutes but failed to get the third goal.

Atletico match on to another Champions League final awaiting the winner between city rival Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Suarez, Torres To Return To Liverpool For Gerrard’s Charity Game

Gerrard-Suarez Former Liverpool striker, Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres, will be returning to Anfield to play in a charity match, to be hosted by Liverpool on March 29.

The match, organised by the Liverpool FC Foundation, would feature sides led by club captain, Steven Gerrard and retired vice-captain, Jamie Carragher.

Suarez is among those who have agreed to play. The Uruguayan forward left the Reds to join Barcelona for £75m last year July.

Former Liverpool players like Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso would also be involved in the match.

Chelsea captain, John Terry, his team-mate, Didier Drogba and former Arsenal striker, Thierry Henry, have also expressed interests that they would be involved in the game.

The teams would be completed with Liverpool players not on international duty and academy prospects. The two managers are yet to be announced.

Suarez 28, won all three English domestic Player of the Year awards last season, scoring 31 Premier League goals as Liverpool finished second place to Manchester City.

He left shortly after being suspended for 4 months, for biting Italy defender, Giorgio Chiellini, while playing for Uruguay in a World Cup match in Brazil in 2014.

Money raised would go towards a number of foundations, including the club’s foundation, which funds community programmes across the city.

Incomes would also go towards Alder Hey’s new children’s hospital in the Park project, the Wirral-based Claire’s House Children’s Hospice, Youth Charities Positive Futures and Cash for Kids, and Centre 56, which supports women and children who have suffered or are at risk of domestic abuse.