Who will win the Champions League?

Who will win the Champions League?

Ahead of the last 16, Goal is asking readers who they believe will be crowned kings of Europe in 2015-16..

The most prestigious club competition in the world is back as the Champions League knockout stage gets under way on Tuesday.

There are plenty of familiar faces in the last 16 (Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Real Madrid and Chelsea among them), but there's also the potential for underdogs such as Benfica, Wolfsburg and PSV to seize unexpected European glory.

Ibrahimovic: I'll miss Mourinho

Ibrahimovic: I'll miss Mourinho when Chelsea visit PSG

The Portuguese coach was sacked by the Stamford Bridge outfit in December after a dire run of results, though his former charge still remains a huge fan of his old boss

Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash with Chelsea will not be the same without Jose Mourinho in the dug-out, and has backed the Portuguese to make a swift return to management.

The two sides have met in each of the last two seasons, with Mourinho in charge of the Blues on both occasions, but for their third meeting it will be Guus Hiddink who manages the side, having taken over in December.

Chelsea remain unbeaten under the Dutchman despite their dire form prior to his arrival, though Ibrahimovic – who worked under Mourinho at Inter - still believes the contest will lose something in the absence of the controversial coach.

“I think everybody will miss Mourinho in the game,” the Swedish striker told the Times of India prior to Tuesday’s first-leg clash at the Parc des Princes.







“But I believe he will be back soon in football, and if you are a little patient you will soon see him managing another club.

“Am I surprised with the sacking? I don't know. Everything depends on the results and that is the worst part of football. When you don't do well, you get punished, and it's more with the coaches. We don't get fired like the coaches do!”

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The 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with various moves, including a return to San Siro with AC Milan, a big-money switch to China and even a Premier League move.

And Ibrahimovic did not commit his future to PSG when asked where he will be playing next season, also refusing to rule out the possibility of becoming the latest high-profile player to join a Chinese club.

“Exciting, isn't it? What will happen? Let's see what the future has in store for me; day by day, big things will happen,” Ibrahimovic explained.

On the subject of a potential move to China, where he would follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jackson Martinez, Ramires and Gervinho, he added: “You never know. I still have three months to go.”

Hazard: Chelsea fear PSG

Hazard: Chelsea fear PSG

The forward has revealed the Blues' squad were disappointed to hear they had been drawn against the Ligue 1 side in the Champions League for a third successive year

Eden Hazard has admitted Chelsea fear Paris Saint-Germain ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 encounter.

PSG eliminated Chelsea at this stage last term - after the Premier League side had emerged victorious when the sides met in the quarter-finals in 2013-14 - and Hazard says they have not forgotten about that disappointment.

"Everybody at Chelsea thought 'no, not PSG, not them again!' after the draw," he told Le Parisien.

"We still have the memory of last season's tie. We had everything in our own hands to progress, we were playing at Stamford Bridge, PSG were down to 10 players. But we crashed out after conceding twice from a corner, normally one of our strengths.

"And we have to acknowledge that PSG are a team to be feared this season. They win all their games and have some great players in all positions. They are on par with Barcelona and Real Madrid at the moment.

"Teams go to Parc des Princes knowing that they could be in for a thrashing. Could that happen to Chelsea as well? Anything can happen.

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READ MORE  | Ibrahimovic: I'll miss Mourinho

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"But we still have some great individual players and are very talented. Don't write us off just yet. Go ahead and say PSG are the favourites..."

Hazard has singled out Marco Verratti as PSG's key player ahead of Tuesday's first leg and he thinks it is good news for Chelsea that the Italian is unlikely to start after only recently recovering from injury, but he has warned Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria also pose a major threat.

"Verratti is their main man for me. He is in control and is their engine. Whenever they are having a bad game, he can take them by the hand and unlock the situation," he added.

"I saw that Verratti will probably start from the bench and that is perhaps good news for us. But as a football lover, I would like to see him play. Plus he gave me a fair few kicks over the past two seasons and I would like to show him that I have not forgotten about that!

"And there is obviously Zlatan who is scoring a lot of goals.

"[Angel] Di Maria is enjoying a great season as well. He went through a bad experience at Manchester United and people had forgotten about him a bit. But he has become one of the best players in the world again at PSG

BARCELONA IMEWEKA REKODI MPYA

Barcelona imeweka rekodi mpya baada ya sare ya 1-1 dhidi ya Valencia

Goli la kusawazisha la Wilfrid Kaptoum sio tu liliwanyima ushindi Valencia iliyo chini ya Garry 

Neville lakini pia limeiwezesha Barcelona kuweka rekodi mpya 

Baaada ya sare hiyo Barcelona imeweka rekodi ya kucheza mechi 29 bila kufungwa.

Barcelona chini ya kocha ambaye aliwahi kuwa mchezaji wa timu hiyo Luis Enrique hawajapoteza mchezo katika mashindano yote wanayoshiriki tangu Oktoba 3, na kufanikiwa kuvunja rekodi iliyowekwa na Pep Guardiola msimu wa 2010/11 wakati akiifundisha klabu hiyo.

Mara ya mwisho Barcelona walifungwa na Sevilla, ikiwa imeshapita miezi minne sasa.

Enrique aliifikia rekodi ya Guardiola wakati huohuo akiwa anatimiza michezo 100 katma kocha wa klabu hiyo, huku akisema hicho hakikuwa kipaumbele chake.

“Msimu utakapomalizika, nitawajulisha kama tumefanya kitu chanya”, alisema Enrique pale Barca ilipokuwa imetimiza michezo 28 bila ya kufungwa wakati wallipocheza dhidi ya Levante.

“Ni vizuri zaidi kucheza michezo 100 kuliko 50, lakini mimi siangalii namba. Kikubwa kinachonivutia nini umoja uliopo ndani ya wachezaji ambao unaleta matokeo chanya”.

Barcelona watajaribu kuongeza rekodi yao ya kutofungwa michezo 30 watakapokuwa wakipepetana na Celta Vigo, klabu ya zamani aliyokuwa akiinoa Luis Enrique, ambayo iliwafunga mwanzoni mwa msimu, katika mchezo huo, washambuliaji wao hatari Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez na Neymar watakuwa wamesharudi.

Ronaldo: I'll stay at Real Madrid until 2018

Ronaldo: I'll stay at Real Madrid until 2018... then we'll see

The 31-year-old has been linked with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain but is determined to see out his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu before he considers an exit

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he could leave Real Madrid at the end of his contract in 2018.

The Portugal international has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in recent years but has repeatedly rejected speculation he could quit the Bernabeu.

However, when asked about his future as he was presented with the Pichichi prize for scoring the most goals in La Liga last season, he revealed he may not see out his career with Madrid.

"I have been in Spain six years. I was also at Manchester United for six years and that was a great experience, a great championship, but for me this is the best league in the world," Ronaldo said to Marca. "It's a privilege to be here.

"I want to be here for a couple more years and then we'll see. That's the duration of my contract and I want to give my all in that time."

YATAKAYO MKUTA MATA

Jose Mourinho atamtema Juan Mata atakapotua Manchester United

Jose Mourinho anajiandaa kumtema Juan Mata tena 

atakapokuwa kocha wa Manchester United wakati tetesi za 

kutua Old Trafford zinapozidi kupamba moto

 

Jose Mourinho atamuuza Juan Mata na Marouane Fellaini iwapo atapewa kibarua cha Manchester United.

Kocha huyo wa zamani wa Chelsea yupo katika mazungumzo yaliyochangamka sasa kuchukua kibarua cha Manchester United na ameshamtaarifu Mkurugenzi mtendaji Ed Woodward kuwauza viungo hao wawili.

Mata aliuzwa Januari 2014 kutoka Chelsea, Fellaini ameshindwa kufanya kazi nzuri aliyotarajiwa kuifanya Manchester United tangu atue Old Trafford akitokea Everton.

Mourinho ambaye hajataka kuficha dhamira yake kutaka kuinoa Manchester United, ameainisha kikosi anachokitaka katika mikutano yake na Woodward.

Mreno huyo ndiye aliyechochea Mata auzwe kutoka Chelsea wakati David Moyes alipokuwa mzigoni Old Trafford.

Ingawa Mata alitajwa kwenye timu ya PFA ya mwaka 2013, Mourinho aliidhinisha kuuzwa nyota huyo kutoka Chelsea Januari 2014 na akauzwa Manchester United kwa kitita cha paundi milioni 37.

Mata haendani na mipango ya Mourinho katika Old Trafford na atataka winga huyo wa Kihispania kuonyeshwa mlango wa kutokea mara moja kabla hajachukua majukumu ya kuinoa klabu hiyo.





Fellaini naye atakuwa katika mkumbo huo wa kuondoka endapo makubaliano ya Mourinho kuchukua kiti cha Van Gaal yatafikiwa.

Mourinho atapewa fedha kwa ajili ya kuunda kikosi anachokitaka ili kuweza kushindana vema na
 Manchester City, Chelsea na Arsenal msimu ujao kama zali litakuwa upande wake.

REPORT OF THE MATCH

Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd: Late Costa strike earns champions deserved draw

The striker, who saw little of the ball elsewhere, rounded David De Gea in the 92nd minute after Jesse Lingard had given the visitors the lead on the hour mark

 

Diego Costa snatched an injury-time equaliser to secure Chelsea a 1-1 draw against Manchester United and preserve the Premier League champions' unbeaten run under Guus Hiddink.

Louis van Gaal described United's performances against Derby County and Stoke City as "sparkling" and his side began Sunday's game in dominant fashion at Stamford Bridge, though chances were few and far between in the first half.

Kurt Zouma was carried off on a stretcher shortly after half-time with what looked to be a serious injury to his right knee and Jesse Lingard turned home in fine style just two minutes later to put the visitors ahead.

David de Gea made a handful of superb saves to keep Chelsea at bay in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford and he frustrated Hiddink's side again, making terrific stops against Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas in particular.

As a first Premier League win in seven over the champions for United neared, Costa pounced in the dying minutes to preserve Chelsea's unbeaten run since Jose Mourinho was sacked, which now stands at 11 games in all competitions.







United controlled the opening quarter, Michael Carrick drawing a low stop from Courtois before the Belgian superbly clawed away Anthony Martial's effort after cutting into the left channel.

The visitors kept up their pressure as Chelsea struggled to gain a foothold in possession, though De Gea had to react smartly to catch Nemanja Matic's glancing header from Willian's delivery.

Costa placed a low shot narrowly wide of the far post as Hiddink's side suddenly began to look a real threat, with Oscar then blazing over the bar from close range after being teed up by Cesar Azpilicueta.

Wayne Rooney almost turned home Matteo Darmian's drilled cross but John Terry had shouts for a penalty waved away in the final minute of the half as his shot on the turn took a slight deflection off Daley Blind's raised arm.

Rooney drew a strong save from Courtois and Martial dragged a shot narrowly wide as United began the second half back on the front foot, with the Belgian again at full stretch to keep out Lingard's curling effort.

Hiddink introduced Eden Hazard from the bench but was forced into a second substitution within a minute after Zouma had to be carried off on a stretcher after jarring his right leg when landing awkwardly near the centre circle.

Chelsea's defence was slow to settle after Gary Cahill's introduction and Lingard capitalised superbly to put United ahead, controlling Cameron Borthwick-Jackson's low cross from the left and firing into Courtois' top-left corner on the turn.

De Gea reacted brilliantly to tip Ivanovic's volley over the bar as Chelsea sought an immediate response, and the Spain international denied compatriot Fabregas with another fine save to keep the midfielder's effort out of the top corner.

United's resistance was finally worn down in the first minute of stoppage time, however, as Costa capitalised on Blind's slip to finish at the second time of asking and preserve Hiddink's unbeaten run. 

Azam FC kikaangon tena dhidi ya Mwadui FC Ligi Kuu

Azam FC kikaangon tena dhidi ya Mwadui FC Ligi Kuu

Azam FC Jumapili itakuwa nyumbani uwanja wa Azam Complex, kuwakabili Mwadui FC, ukiwa ni mchezo wa mzunguko wa 16 wa Ligi ya Vodacom Tanzania

Katika mchezo wa kwanza ulichezwa Mwadui Complex Azam FC, walishinda bao 1-0 na sasa Mwadui watakuwa na kazi ya kuonyesha ubora wao kwa kulipa kipigo hicho.

Azam itaingia kwenye mchezo huo ikiwa na ari baada ya kuwa mabingwa wa michuano maalumu waliyokwenda kushiriki huko Zambia niwazi wangependa kuitumia kasi hiyo kushinda mchezo huo na kurudi kileleni mwa msimamo wa ligi kutoka nafasi ya tatu waliyopo hivi sasa.

Kocha Stewart Hall ni wazi amewaambia wachezaji wake ugumu uliopo kwenye mchezo huo hasa ukiangalia uimara wa kikosi cha Mwadui ambacho kinaundwa na wachezaji wengi waliocheza timu kubwa nchini na kushiriki michuano mbalimbali ya kimataifa.

Ingawa Hall atakuwa ana advantegi ya kuwa nyuma kwa michezo miwili lakini hilo halijalishi kutokana na ushindani uliopo kwa sasa kwani aliweza kupoteza nafasi ya uongozi wa ligi kwa kulazimishwa sare ya 1-1 na African Sports inayoshika nafasi ya mwisho akiwa nyumbani.

Kikosi cha Mwadui kimeshawasili Dar es Salaam kwa ajili ya mchezo huo na kocha wake Jamhuri Kihwelo ‘Julio’ amepania kuhakikisha wanashinda mchezo huo baada ya kupoteza mchezo uliopita kwa kufungwa bao 1-0 na African Sport.

Julio amesema anaijua vizuri Azam ni timu ngumu lakini anajivunia ubora wa kikosi alichokuwa nacho msimu huu kinauwezo mkubwa wa kufanya vizuri na timu yeyote ambayo watakuna nayo hivi sasa.

“Azam ni timu nzuri lakini hilo halitufanye tuwaongope tunawachukulia kama zilivyo timu nyingine siye tumejipanga kucheza na timu yoyote na lengo letu la kwanza ni ushindi kitu ambacho sioni kama kinashindikana kutokana na ubora wa timu yangu,”amasema Julio.

Kipigo cha jana dhidi ya African Sports kimeiweka Mwadui nafasi ya tano ikiwa na pointi zake 28 katika michezo 17 iliyocheza hivyo inalazimika kupambana ili kupata ushindi ili kuendelea kuifukuzia Mtibwa Sugar iliyopo juu yake ingawa siyo kazi rahisi kutokana na ushindani uliopo.

Je! Manchester United itaweza kupindua historia leo Darajani?

Je! Manchester United itaweza kupindua historia leo Darajani?

Eden Hazard anatarajiwa kuwemo kwenye kikosi cha Chelsea kitakachoivaa Manchester United katika uwanja wa Stamford Bridge

Mabingwa watetezi watakuwa wakitafuta uamsho chini ya kocha wa muda Guus Hiddink, ambaye ameiongoza klabu kucheza mechi nane bila kufungwa tangu alipochukua mikoba ya Jose Mourinho katika dimba la Stamford Bridge.

United kwa upande mwingine wamefurahia mwamko wao, na ari mpya baada ya kuitungua Stoke City katikati ya juma na kupunguza presha mabegani mwa Louis van Gaal.

Louis van Gaal bado hana kikosi cha uhakika cha kwanza anapokwenda kutafuta ushindi wa kwanza dhidi ya Chelsea tangu akalie kiti cha moto Old Trafford.

Beki Phil Jones (mwenye jeraha la kifundo cha mguu) yu karibu kurejea mzigoni, lakini mchezo huo wa Stamford Bridge umemjia mapema sana.

Takwimu Opta

Chelsea hawajafungwa katika mechi zao sita za mwisho walizowahi kucheza Ligi Kuu ya Uingereza dhidi ya Manchester United (W3 D3).

Manchester United wamefungwa mara nyingi na Chelsea kuliko mpinzani mwingine yeyote katika zama za Ligi Kuu ya Uingereza (mara 16).

Manchester United wameshinda moja tu kati ya mechi 13 walizocheza katika uwanja wa Stamford Bridge Ligi ya Uingereza (W1 D4 L8).

Chelsea wamesare katika mechi zao tatu za mwisho katika uwanja wa Stamford Bridge - hawajawahi kutoa sare mara nne mfululizo katika ardhi ya nyumbani katika historia ya michuano.

Utabiri wa Mwandishi

Mechi kubwana kwa namna hii tunakwenda kuhitimisha wikiendi - Mechi kali ya Jumapili Kuu! Chelsea hawajawa na mechi kubwa na muhimu kama hii - wana shauku ya kurejea nne bora - Nashangaa kwanini walishindwa kuiteketeza Watford kurahisisha safari yao ya matumaini. Mashabiki wengi walivunjika moyo.

Kwa mechi hii ya leo natabiri  Chelsea 3-2 Manchester United