Stay true to yourself was the mantra as Málaga CF arrived in Portugal promising to keep attacking principles intact while FC Porto’s Vítor Pereira vowed to “maintain our identity”. FC Porto coach Vítor Pereira has predicted a hard game against opponents full of quality as the Dragons prepare to host Málaga CF in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday. The 44-year-old shrugged off any suggestion of pre-match nerves, bullishly stating that “I can only enjoy these matches.” Counterpart Manuel Pellegrini says there will be plenty…
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Shakhtar Donetsk – Borussia Dortmund Preview
The champions of Ukraine and Germany meet at the Donbass Arena, hoping to pick up where they left off in the group stage. FC Shakhtar Donetsk are in the right shape for their round of 16 visit of Borussia Dortmund despite not having played competitively since the UEFA Champions League group stage, according to Mircea Lucescu. “We have tried to reach the same level as Dortmund,” said the Shakhtar coach, who took his squad to training camps in Spain and the United Arab Emirates during the Ukrainian winter break. “Wednesday’s…
Read MoreCeltic – Juventus Preview
Neil Lennon’s side welcomes the current Serie A leaders to Glasgow on Tuesday night aiming to seal passage into the quarterfinals of Europe’s premier cup competition. Buoyed by UEFA Champions League group stage wins against FC Barcelona and FC Spartak Moskva, Celtic FC coach Neil Lennon says his players harness “a real belief” going into their round of 16 first leg with Juventus in Glasgow; an occasion he described as “one of the biggest games of their careers”. The 41-year-old’s opposite number, Antonio Conte, promised to stand by his attacking…
Read MoreValencia – Paris Saint-Germain Preview
The Champions League returns after the winter break, with the leader of Ligue 1 who hopes to make significant progress in a competition they are expected to do well in. Ernesto Valverde takes charge of Valencia CF for the first time in the UEFA Champions League with the club looking to preserve an impressive record against French opposition. While Valencia’s stock has been on the rise ever since Valverde’s appointment in early December, round of 16 opponents Paris Saint-Germain FC come to Spain in buoyant mood despite the absence of two key men.…
Read MoreEuropol’s investigators identify 380 fixed football matches
A Champions League tie played in England is one of 380 matches across Europe investigators say was fixed. However, but European police didn’t reveal the identity of the match they believe was corrupt in England. Speaking in The Hague, Europol said that they had uncovered an organised crime syndicate based in Asia that was co-ordinating the operation, with around 425 match officials, club officials, players and criminals under suspicion. Europol, which has been investigating for 18 months, said suspected matches included World Cup and European Championship qualifiers, two Champions…
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