Real Madrid Draws Dortmund, Spurs in Group Stage

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Cup holders Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League group stage while five-time winners Barcelona were thursday drawn with last season’s runners-up Juventus.

Zinedine Zidane’s side is chasing a third successive European title and fourth in five seasons after demolishing Italian champions Juventus 4-1 in Cardiff in June.

The record 12-time European champions also take on Apoel of Cyprus in a testing Group H that will see Gareth Bale face Spurs for the first time since leaving for Real in a then world record deal in 2013.

“We are the holders so there is always an extra motivation for the teams you face. It won’t be easy at all, we’ll need to play well and find our best form,” said Real spokesman and former striker Emilio Butragueno.

“We’ve played a lot of times against Borussia Dortmund recently and know how good they are. Tottenham have shown in the past years in the Premier League they are a very strong team.”

Tottenham forward Harry Kane said he was excited to line up against the defending champions.

“It’s a great draw. You expect to play the best in Europe in the Champions League and it’s exciting for us. We look forward to these games. You want to test yourself against the best and Real Madrid are the best at the moment,” said Kane.

Barcelona beat Juventus 3-1 in the 2015 final but the Spanish club has endured a difficult month with Neymar departing for Paris Saint-Germain in a mammoth 222-million-euro ($261 million) deal.

They will also come up against Greek champions Olympiakos and Sporting Lisbon in a competitive Group D.

“It is a high level group with four historic teams. We will be fighting against a well known rival in Juventus and the games against them will condition our chances in the group,” said Barca general manager Pep Segura.

Juventus Director General Beppe Marotta said Barca were a weaker side following the record-breaking sale of Neymar.
“Missing a player like Neymar weighs heavily. We’ll have to see how they intend to replace him. But Barcelona remain a top quality side with great individual players,” Marotta told Italia 1.

Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti will be reacquainted with old faces in Paris in a Group B that also features Celtic and Anderlecht.

“It’s an exciting group with some great teams and Paris at the top,” said the Italian.

“It’s a nice story for me to meet my former club again. As everybody knows, Celtic get incredible support from their fans. And Anderlecht can not be underestimated as Belgian champions.”

PSG coach Unai Emery, looking to mastermind a much deeper run after last year’s spectacular collapse against Barca, expects his side to join Bayern in the last 16.

“Bayern Munich are a very strong side. We will be the two favourites. After there are two teams who are going to want to create a surprise,” said Emery.

Chelsea, one of a record five English teams to qualify for the group phase, will meet Atletico Madrid in Group C as well as Roma and Qarabag, the first side from Azerbaijan to reach this stage of the competition.
Jose Mourinho will return to Portugal with Manchester United after his team was placed in Group A with Benfica, CSKA Moscow and Basle.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are in Group F alongside Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk, Napoli and Feyenoord while Liverpool will play Spartak Moscow, Sevilla and Maribor in Group E.
“There are groups with Barcelona, Bayern, Juventus and Real Madrid, and not to get them is of course more good than bad,” said Klopp.

French champions Monaco, who reached last season’s semifinals, face Porto, Besiktas and debutants RB Leipzig in Group G.

The opening round of matches will be played September 12-13.
GROUP A
Benfica
Man United
FC Basel
CSKA Moscow

GROUP B
Bayern Munich
PSG
Anderlecht
Celtic

GROUP C
Chelsea
Atletico Madrid
AS Roma
Qarabag

GROUP D
Juventus
Barcelona
Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon

GROUP E
Spartak Moscow
Sevilla
Liverpool
Maribor

GROUP F
Shakhtar Donetsk
Man City
Napoli
Feyenoord

GROUP G
Monaco
Porto
Besiktas
RB Leipzig

GROUP H
Real Madrid
Dortmund
Tottenham
Apoel Nicosia

Courtesy; Thisday newspaper

Shocking !!! Man attempts to use father,siblings and friends for rituals

A 26-year-old man, identified as Chukwuemeka Okafor, has been arrested by the Police in Anambra for allegedly attempting to use his father, two siblings and five friends for money ritual. The suspect, who is an indigene of Ifite-Awka in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra, was arrested following information made available to the police by a vigilant resident of the community. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Garba Umar, who briefed journalists in Amawbia on Thursday on the arrest of the suspect, said the father had innocently provided N100,000 to his son unknown to him that the son had a devilish intention. Mr. Umar said that the suspect lied to his father about a business which made him to raise the money for him believing that it was for a genuine venture. He further said that after collecting the money, the suspect proceeded to the house of a native doctor to prepare a charm that would enable him to eliminate his father, two siblings and five of his friends...

Fayose Begs Buhari to Resign, Calls Him Sick and tired

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to throw in the towel as his illness has made it impossible for him to lead the country. Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has begged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign and go home for a good rest. The Governor said he still stands by all he said about President Buhari on his ill health and has no apologies. Speaking on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors Forum advised the president to stop deceiving Nigerians as the truth cannot be hidden forever. He said, “If not for our efforts, Buhari wouldn’t have returned now. Buhari is sick and tired and even his physical appearance betrayed this and he needs to go home and rest. “Today, they have cancelled the Federal Executive Council meeting. You cannot hide the truth forever, it will reveal itself someday. You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians. “Every word that has come out of my mouth, I have no apology for them. Presid...

The city of Port Harcourt is still witnessing a brewing ‘war’ between two popular men of God, Apostle Chinyere Chibuzor of Omega Power Ministries OPM and Senior Pastor David Ibiyeomie founder of Salvation Ministries. First was the silent move by Pastor David Ibiyeomie in destroying brothels, Night Clubs and joints that house prostitutes and adjoining businesses associated with weird life style. Apostle Chinyere Chibuzor then took it upon himself to preach to the s*x workers, baptize them and even join them in marriage. Pastor David Ibiyeomie, during a recent program at his church in Port Harcourt, has declared that anyone that is 35 of age and is still unmarried is irresponsible. According to him, “ If you are still single at 35, you are an irresponsible person .” Adding that it is not the will God. Well, Apostle Chibuzor chinyere didn’t agree with him, hence the shade below….

GOLDEN SCEPTRE

Search This Blog