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Ballon d’Or banner gave me strength, Vinicius says

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Vinicius Junior claimed Manchester City’s fans’ banner fired him up after playing a starring role in Real Madrid’s dramatic Champions League victory at the Etihad Stadium.

The visiting side were greeted by a huge flag before Tuesday’s play-off first leg at the Etihad Stadium, poking fun at the Brazilian’s runners-up finish to City midfielder Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or award and Real’s boycott of the ceremony.

Yet it was Real who had the last laugh as the banner backfired badly, with Vinicius enjoying a superb game as the Spaniards twice came from behind to win 3-2.

Vinicius told Movistar: “I saw it, I saw the banner. Whenever the opposing fans do things like that they give me more strength to have a great game and here I have done it.”

The banner displayed a huge picture of Rodri kissing his trophy alongside the message ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ – a song title by City-supporting band Oasis.

City manager Pep Guardiola claimed he had not seen the banner and instead lamented his side’s latest failure to hold onto a lead in what has been a frustrating campaign.

The hosts twice led with Erling Haaland strikes but they were cancelled out by Kylian Mbappe, and former City youngster Brahim Diaz before Jude Bellingham grabbed a stoppage-time winner.

Real will now be heavy favourites to progress to the last 16 when the sides meet at the Bernabeu Stadium next week for the return clash.

Guardiola said: “After (it went) 2-1 what happened was a resume of a little bit of this season. In so many games it has happened against Feyenoord, against Sporting Lisbon, against Brentford in the Premier League and Man United.

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“Many games we have given away at the end. Unfortunately it has happened many times and at this level (that makes it) so difficult.”

After sweeping almost all before them in recent years, this season has been a big comedown for City and Guardiola admits he is currently not able to restore the intensity that previously made them formidable.

“We have been an extraordinary team, an incredible machine every three days in these years.

“But if the opponent is better the opponent is better and at the moment I’m not able to give the composure to the team, to manage this kind of situation.

“I don’t have a problem accepting that it doesn’t work like it worked in the past and it’s down to all of us – me first and the players as well.”

In spite of the defeat, Guardiola is not writing off the tie.

“We’ll try,” he said. “You have to continue. We’ll learn and, with fresh minds, fresh legs go for them.”(dpa/NAN)

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Manchester United, Tottenham advance into Europa League quarters

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Man United captain Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick and Wilson Odobert was on target twice for Tottenham Hotspur as the two Premier League strugglers reached the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

Fernandes converted two penalties and got the other from open play as United came from behind to beat 10-man Real Sociedad 4-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate.

The Spanish visitors had led early from the first penalty at Old Trafford converted by Mikel Oyarzabal, but their comeback hopes ended in a red card for substitute Jon Aramburu, and Diogo Dalot got the final United goal.

Spurs overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar with a 3-1 over their Dutch opponents from Odobert’s brace and James Maddison.

They next face 2022 champions Eintracht Frankfurt who completed a 6-2 aggregate success over Ajax with a 4-1 home win which included a brace from German 2014 World Cup hero Mario Götze.

United’s quarter-final opponents are Olympique Lyon, whose Georges Mikautadze and Ernest Nuamah also got two goals each in a 4-0 demolition of Romania’s FCSB for a 7-1 aggregate success.

Spurs and United are far off the European berths in the Premier League, and their only realistic chance of European football lies in winning the Europa League which earns a Champions League berth.

Elsewhere, Spain international Nico Williams scored twice as Athletic Bilbao remained on course towards the May 21 final in their home stadium with a 3-1 success over 10-man Roma, which overturned a 2-1 defeat in Rome. The Italians had Mats Hummels sent off early.

Bilbao now take on Rangers who prevailed 3-2 on penalties over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce who had locked the aggregate score at 3-3 with a 2-0 in Glasgow.

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The other quarter-final tie set for April 10 and 17 is between Lazio and Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, who ousted Conference League champions Olympiacos.(dpa/NAN)

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Pinnick Loses Re-election Into FIFA Council

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Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has missed out on a return to the FIFA Council Seat.

Pinnick lost re-election at the extraordinary general assembly held in Cairo on Wednesday, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in attendance.

Africa has seven seats at the FIFA Council, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe who was reelected on Wednesday, guaranteed a seat while a seat is reserved for a woman.

The Nigerian football administrator narrowly lost out in the election, scoring 28 votes, one short of 29 scored by Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Djibouti’s Souleymane Waberi.

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Real Madrid beat Atletico on penalties for Champions League quarter-finals

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Title holders Real Madrid survived a missed penalty from Vinicius Junior in regulation when they beat crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Antonio Rüdiger sealed the last 16 victory as goalkeeper Jan Oblak got his hands on the ball but couldn’t stop it from crossing the line.

Oblak had saved from Lucas Vazquez in the shoot-out but Atletico’s Julian Alvarez had his successful kick disallowed upon review because he touched the ball with both feet, and Marcos Llorente hit the crossbar with his attempt.

Record winners Real had won the first leg 2-1 at home but Conor Gallagher levelled it up for Atletico in the opening minute at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Vinicius Junior had the big chance to restore Real’s aggregate advantage but fired the penalty high over the crossbar in the 70th minute after Clement Lenglet had brought down Kylian Mbappe.

Real maintained their perfect record against Atletico in knock-out ties and finals in the event, and now meet Arsenal, who completed an emphatic 9-3 aggregate victory against PSV Eindhoven with a 2-2 home draw.

Last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 at French side Lille to advance 3-2 for a date with Barcelona.

Marco Asensio’s brace helped Aston Villa beat 10-man Club Brugge 3-0 on the night and 6-1 overall and into a quarter-final meeting with his parent club and Liverpool conquerors Paris Saint-Germain.

The other quarter-final tie is Bayern Munich v Inter Milan, with the matches set to be played April 8/9 and April 15/16. (dpa/NAN)

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