Following Friday's draw for the quarter-finals of this year's Uefa Champions League, European correspondent Ian Hawkey gives his take on each match-up and picks the winners. Click or slide through for each match.
Atletico Madrid v Leicester City
None of the possible opponents for Leicester City, the novices at this level of European competition, were ever going to appear gentle. Atletico Madrid are in some ways the most menacing.
Leicester have been at their best this season when they have played to their counter-attacking strengths. Atletico have become one of the Champions League’s modern heavyweights through their own sharp breaking from within their own half, and are confident allowing rivals to have most of the possession.
Expect, then, the two teams to dare one another to take the initiative, be proactive, in the early phases of the tie. And anticipate some bruising duels, like the gnarled Atletico defender Diego Godin against Jamie Vardy. Leicester’s elimination of Sevilla means Spanish clubs have a real respect for the capabilities of the English champions. But Atletico, serial semi-finalists in this competition, must be favourites.
Forecast: Atletico to progress.
Juventus v Barcelona
If Barcelona are to repeat their treble of the Champions League, Primera Liga title and Copa del Rey, achieved in 2015 and an aspiration the soon-to-depart manager Luis Enrique insists is still a target, then they must repeat the victory with which they clinched the biggest prize of his coaching career.
Barcelona defeated Juventus in Berlin in the Champions League final that year, 3-1, with two members of the stellar forward line, Luis Suarez and Neymar, scoring.
The key confrontations now, as then, look to be those between Juventus’s experienced rearguard, led by Gigi Buffon in goal, and an attack commanded by Lionel Messi.
Juventus, on course for a sixth successive Serie A title, have developed their approach since then, and Barcelona, who will be without the suspended Sergio Busquets in Turin, must deal with the likes of Miralem Pjanic, Pablo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain in a front six much altered since two years ago.
Forecast: Juventus to edge out Barca
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
“Carletto”, as the Bayern manager is known, will keep his cool, at least in the fevered lead-up to this mighty collection, although even the sanguine Carlo Ancelotti knows this blockbuster is not just any other game.
Ancelotti only recently steered Real Madrid to one of the three Champions League titles he has to his name as a coach. His first season in Germany should bring him a Bundesliga title to add to the Premier League, the Ligue 1 and the Serie A championships he has won, but it was his expertise in Europe that Bayern hired him for.
Madrid, guided by Ancelotti’s former deputy Zinedine Zidane, will test that.
The reigning champions knocked Bayern out in the semi-finals en route to victory in the 2014 final. Bayern defeated Madrid in the semi-final in 2012.
Former Madrid players Arjen Robben and Xabi Alonso can expect a noisy reception at the Bernabeu. Xabi, who retires as a professional in June, will be warmly applauded.
Forecast: Bayern to trump Madrid
Borussia Dortmund v Monaco
Dortmund are averaging more than three goals per game in the Champions League this season, and hit four at home to Benfica last Tuesday to breeze through, despite a first-leg deficit, to the last eight. Monaco, meanwhile, are on an astonishing 126 goals across competitions so far this season after their 3-1 win over Manchester City.
A pair of coaches, Thomas Tuchel and Leonardo Jardim, will look to enhance their growing reputations, and a parade of talented young French footballers, from Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele to the Monaco flyers Kylian Mbappe, and Thomas Lemar will want to catch the eye.
Both teams are fortified by the knowledge that even in the absence of senior men like Dortmund’s Marco Reus and Monaco’s Radamel Falcao – both injured in last week’s wins – they can turn on the style.
Forecast: Dortmund to end Monaco’s charge
sports@thenational.ae
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
Formula%204%20Italian%20Championship%202023%20calendar
%3Cp%3EApril%2021-23%3A%20Imola%3Cbr%3EMay%205-7%3A%20Misano%3Cbr%3EMay%2026-28%3A%20SPA-Francorchamps%3Cbr%3EJune%2023-25%3A%20Monza%3Cbr%3EJuly%2021-23%3A%20Paul%20Ricard%3Cbr%3ESept%2029-Oct%201%3A%20Mugello%3Cbr%3EOct%2013-15%3A%20Vallelunga%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.
4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
More on Quran memorisation:
The years Ramadan fell in May
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
BELGIUM%20SQUAD
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