sports

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema were once the untouchable trio, but only one of Real Madrid's feted "BBC" can be sure of their place against Bayern Munich on Wednesday (Apr 25). Goal glut: Cristiano Ronaldo AFP/JAVIER SORIANO Ronaldo has dragged Real into the Champions League semi-finals with, even by his standards, an astonishing goal glut that includes 22 in 12 games, and at least one in each of his last 11 matches in Europe. "It's impossible to completely stifle Ronaldo, we can only stop him as a team," Bayern defender Jerome Boateng said on Monday. "An attacker can not be more complete than him - left foot, right foot, head, he controls everything and in front of the goal, he's a machine". But while Ronaldo has enjoyed a fresh spurt in his new role of predatorial centre-forward, his two partners have found their responsibilities reduced ahead of the first leg at the Allianz Arena. Bale's decline began first. After returning from injury earlier this year, … [Read more...] about Unstoppable Ronaldo the sole survivor of Real’s ‘BBC’

Lionel Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earner in world football while Jose Mourinho tops the managers' chart, according to France Football magazine. Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi. (Photo: AFP/Pierre-Philippe Marcou) The Barcelona attacker is a long way ahead in the figures for the current season, pulling in €126 million (US$154 million) in salary, bonuses and commercial revenue while his great Real Madrid rival is making €94 million. Last season 'CR7' led with €87.5 million with Messi on €76.5 million. That works out at €25,000 per minute pitch time this season for Messi in La Liga, the Champions League, the Spanish Cup and Supercup and four international appearances for Argentina this season, and assuming he plays all of Barcelona's five remaining games. The two players who have split the last 10 Ballons d'Or are followed by Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian star Neymar on €81.5 million in the calculations … [Read more...] about Messi zooms past Ronaldo as top earner

Vietnamese athletes won four gold medals at the International Club Open Taekwondo Championship on April 21 in Sakai city, Japan. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The titles were awarded to Nguyen Quang Tri in the boy’s individual class for ages 12-14; Le Viet Vy Khang in the boys’ individual 15-17 years old category; Huynh Bao Nghi in the girls’ individual 12-14 years old grouping, and Le Viet Vy Khang and Nguyen Giang Tuong Vi in the mixed duo performance of the 15-17 age group. Vi also won a silver medal in the girls’ individual, 15-17 years old category. Talking to reporters, Truong Ngoc De, president of the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation, said the tournament was an opportunity for young athletes to increase their experience in international competitions. The games also allow them to build contacts with friends throughout the world. This year’s tournament brought together more than 1,000 athletes from 90 clubs in 19 countries and territories. … [Read more...] about Vietnamese earn four golds at int’l taekwondo champs

Pep Guardiola's hope that his team's hunger to rewrite the English football record books would see them maintain their championship-winning form proved well-founded as Manchester City swept aside Swansea City 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday (Apr 22). Manchester City's Bernardo Silva (2nd right) celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's fourth goal against Swansea City during the English Premier League football match. Photo source: AP Photo/Rui Vieira The only negative aspect of the occasion for the newly-crowned Premier League champions was a post-match pitch invasion by several hundred City supporters, who ignored pleas over the loudspeakers to burst through stewards and onto the field. Seven days after Manchester United's shock home defeat to West Bromwich Albion had made the title a mathematical certainty for Guardiola's side, City returned to action before their own supporters. With the league safely won, Guardiola had warned that his players will find next … [Read more...] about Record seekers Man City thrash Swansea to celebrate title

Vietnamese athletes won three gold, two silver and four bronze medals at the Aerobics Suzuki World Cup, which wrapped up in Japan on April 22 after four days of competition. Nguyen Viet Anh, Vuong Hoai An, Tran Ngoc Thuy Vi, Nguyen Che Thanh and Le Hoang Phong win gold medal in Group 5, the above 18 category (Source: hanoimoi.com.vn) The gold medals went to Huynh Tien Phuoc, Nguyen Khanh Hung and Nguyen Ngoc Anh Vy (Group 3, the 15-17 age group); Nguyen Viet Anh, Vuong Hoai An and Tran Ngoc Thuy Vi (Group 3, the above 18 category); and Nguyen Viet Anh, Vuong Hoai An, Tran Ngoc Thuy Vi, Nguyen Che Thanh and Le Hoang Phong (Group 5, the above 18 category). Meanwhile, the silver medals were brought home by Phan The Gia Nam and Pham Linh Chi in the mixed duo’s12-14 yeard old event, and Hoang Gia Bao in the men’s singles of the 12-14 age group. The bronze medalists included Phan The Gia Nam, Pham Linh Chi, Nguyen Tuong Vy (Group 2, the 12-14 age group); Nguyen Khanh … [Read more...] about Vietnam wins three golds at Aerobics Suzuki World Cup

Chelsea's Spanish striker Alvaro Morata (centre) celebrates scoring his team's second goal against Southampton during the English FA Cup semi-final football match. (Glyn KIRK/AFP) Giroud has made a habit of scoring against Southampton and the France forward was their nemesis in a one-sided semi-final. Opting to select Giroud instead of Alvaro Morata proved a shrewd move by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as the former Arsenal star produced a tremendous piece of skill to break the deadlock early in the second half. Giroud has feasted on Southampton this season, scoring twice to spark Chelsea's 3-2 win last weekend and also netting a late equaliser against them for Arsenal in December. His fourth goal for Chelsea since his January signing was followed by a late header from substitute Morata, setting up a heavyweight final against United at Wembley on May 19. That will be Chelsea's last chance to win major silverware at the end of a troubled season. "The most important thing is to reach … [Read more...] about Chelsea face Man Utd in FA Cup final as Giroud sinks Saints

Atletico Madrid warmed up for their Europa League clash with Arsenal by playing out a 0-0 draw with in-form Betis in La Liga on Sunday (Apr 22), a result that left Barcelona closer still to the Spanish title. Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres (left) vies with Real Betis' Marc Bartra (right) during the Spanish league football match. (OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP) Antoine Griezmann was left out of the starting line-up by coach Diego Simeone and Atletico drew a second blank in four days, following their 3-0 defeat away at Real Sociedad on Thursday. Atletico remain second but with four games left they are 11 points behind unbeaten La Liga leaders Barcelona, who can clinch the title next weekend when they go to Deportivo. Barcelona won the Copa del Rey at Atletico's Wanda Metropolitano with a 5-0 rout of Sevilla on Saturday, but there was decidedly less drama at the same stadium 24 hours later. Saul Niguez struck the woodwork for Atletico in the second half, not long after Cristian Tello … [Read more...] about Atletico draw to leave Barcelona even closer to title

Rafael Nadal romped to a record-extending 11th Monte Carlo Masters title by brushing aside an outclassed Kei Nishikori in Sunday's (Apr 22) final to retain the world number one ranking. Spain's Rafael Nadal holds the trophy as he celebrates his win over Japan's Kei Nishikori in their final match at the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series tournament. (YANN COATSALIOU/AFP) The 31-year-old saw off Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 to become the first man to win a single tournament 11 times in the Open era with his 76th ATP Tour title. Nadal's 31st Masters title is also an outright record, pulling him out of a tie with Novak Djokovic. "We've had some tough moments over these last five months," said Nadal, who was playing at his first ATP event since retiring from an Australian Open quarter-final against Marin Cilic with a hip injury in January. "I'll enjoy the moment and then tomorrow we'll start to think about the next tournament. But now I'll enjoy winning a Masters 1000 tournament which doesn't … [Read more...] about Nadal swats aside Nishikori to seal 11th Monte Carlo crown

Florian Thauvin and Kostas Mitroglou scored two apiece to propel Champions League hopefuls Marseille to a 5-1 thrashing of relegation-threatened Lille as 10-man Monaco came badly unstuck 3-1 at Guingamp in Ligue 1 on Saturday. Florian Thauvin has scored a career-best 19 league goals this season, as many as Neymar at PSG. (Photo: AFP/Anne-Christine Poujoulat) The deposed champions travelled to Guingamp anxious to draw a line under last weekend's humiliating 7-1 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain. But Jemerson's 22nd minute red card for stopping a Marcus Thuram shot with his arm, with Jimmy Briand converting the ensuing penalty, left Monaco there for the taking. Etienne Didot doubled the hosts lead after the half hour and Thuram put the game beyond reach two minutes after the restart to ensure Monaco's battle for second place would go down to the wire. Monaco, who got a consolation goal with Almamy Toure's 63rd header, remain in second on 70 points, but Lyon and Marseille are now … [Read more...] about Marseille route Lille, Monaco toppled by Guingamp

Lewandowski is up to 38 goals for the season in all competitions. (Photo: AFP/Odd Andersen) Mueller struck 12 minutes after his half-time introduction before Lewandowski doubled the lead and Sebastian Rudy added a third as coach Jupp Heynckes started a weakened team. "All in all, we played excellent football," beamed Heynckes. "The team is in top form, regardless of who plays and in what position. "When you have a Champions League game on the horizon, it's important to win league games like this." With an eye on Wednesday's blockbuster Champions League semi-final first leg at home to Real, Heynckes left out several regulars while handing 18-year-old centre-back Lars Lukas Mai his Bundesliga debut. Both sides had their chances in a goalless first half before Bayern pulled away. After Mueller replaced Arjen Robben, the Germany international struck on 57 minutes when his first-time shot from a Juan Bernat cross deflected off Salif Sane and past goalkeeper Philipp Tschauner. Bayern's … [Read more...] about Bayern tune up for Real with victory at Hanover