The Rifle offers hope for Barca's tough mission

MADRID, April 30 (Reuters) - If Barcelona require extra inspiration as they prepare their bid to overturn a 4-0 Champions League semi-final deficit at home to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, they need look no further than La Liga rivals Deportivo La Coruna.

Depor pulled off one of the most sensational comebacks in Europe's elite club competition back in the 2003-04 season when they thrashed AC Milan 4-0 in their quarter-final second leg in La Coruna to shock the reigning continental champions and progress to the last four 5-4 on aggregate.

Uruguayan forward Walter Pandiani scored the opening goal in the fifth minute at the Riazor on that memorable April night, when the Galician club stunned a Milan side featuring Paolo Maldini, Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko.

Now 37 and playing in the Spanish third tier for Majorca-based Atletico Baleares, Pandiani believes Barca will also need an early goal if they are to have any chance of reaching next month's final at London's Wembley stadium.

"Scoring so early in the match was key for the team to gain confidence," Pandiani, whose goal-scoring prowess earned him the nickname "The Rifle", said on UEFA's website (www.uefa.com).

"If you don't manage to score in the first half, as soon as possible, then you start to rush things," he added.
"That early goal gave us the peace of mind to continue playing well."

Barca's chances of keeping alive their bid for a third European crown in five years may appear remote, especially as they failed to score in Munich, but Pandiani said Depor were in a similar situation in 2004.
"Even if we were achieving important things in the Champions League nobody believed in us, especially because it was Milan we were up against," he said.

"But we believed in ourselves and our fans were also there to spur us on.

"The excitement in the dressing-room at halftime showed that it would be difficult for them to do us damage that night if we continued with the same mentality."

CUTTING EDGE

On the evidence of Saturday's 2-2 La Liga draw at Athletic Bilbao, Barca's hopes on Wednesday will again rest on the shoulders of their World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.

Messi, who is coming back from a hamstring strain, was initially rested in Bilbao and Barca found their cutting edge only when he replaced midfielder Xavi on the hour before scoring once and setting up Alexis Sanchez.

He appeared short on fitness and was well shackled by the Bayern players in Munich last week and even the talismanic Argentine may not be able to rescue Barca's Champions League campaign this time.

They already had to come from behind to get past AC Milan in the last 16 when they lost 2-0 in Italy before Messi inspired them to a rousing 4-0 victory at the Nou Camp.

Only three clubs have overturned a four-goal first-leg deficit in UEFA competition and Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes was on the losing side on one of those occasions.

He was in charge of the Borussia Moenchengladbach side that beat Real Madrid 5-1 at home in the 1985-86 UEFA Cup third round only to lose the return game 4-0.

"It was the worst moment of my career. I no longer wanted to be a football coach," Heynckes said on UEFA.com. "It was worse than the death threats I received later in my career."

Elimination for Barca would leave La Liga as their only chance of silverware this season and, with an 11-point lead over current champions Real Madrid with five games left, they are close to a fourth title in five seasons.

However, a domestic league crown would be scant consolation for a team who have set a new standard for European clubs in recent seasons and won the Champions League in 2009 and 2011.

SUSPENSION RISK

Heynckes has said he will not be instructing his team to play a cautious game on Wednesday despite a string of players risking suspension for the final with another booking.

"I will nominate my best possible team," he said after Bayern, already installed as German champions, set a Bundesliga record of 84 for the most points in a season with a 1-0 victory over Freiburg on Saturday.

"My players will have to be disciplined and that means no gestures, no unnecessary fouls and no falling for any provocation. That will be decisive."

Six players, including captain Philipp Lahm, central defender Dante and playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger, will miss the final if they pick up another yellow card.

"I want the same attitude, commitment and tactical play (as in the first leg)," said Heynckes, who will make way for former Barca coach Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.

"They are still the best team in the world. We know they have had great results and comebacks at home. Their pride has been wounded and they will try everything."

Teams (probable):

Barcelona: 1-Victor Valdes; 2-Daniel Alves, 3-Gerard Pique, 15-Marc Bartra, 21-Adriano; 6-Xavi, 16-Sergio Busquets, 8-Andres Iniesta; 17-Pedro, 10-Lionel Messi, 7-David Villa
Bayern Munich: 1-Manuel Neuer; 21-Philipp Lahm, 17-Jerome Boateng, 4-Dante, 27-David Alaba; 31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 8-Javi Martinez; 10-Arjen Robben, 25-Thomas Mueller, 7-Franck Ribery; 9-Mario Mandzukic
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Juve, Napoli and Inter win

Juventus need four points to successfully defend the Serie A title after Arturo Vidal's penalty decided a crucial 1-0 victory over AC Milan.

While the Rossoneri sweat over their chances of competing in next season's Champions League, Juve can seal a second straight Scudetto by winning next Sunday's derby meeting with Torino, should second-placed Napoli fail to beat Pescara.

A Vidal penalty in the second half was the difference between the two sides, who are now separated by 18 points with five games remaining.

A last-gasp goal from substitute Lorenzo Insigne settled a thrilling 3-2 victory over Cagliari to keep Napoli's faint Serie A title hopes alive.

When Victor Ibarbo edged the Sardinians ahead midway through the first half, it looked like Napoli were finally thwarted in their attempt to catch leaders Juventus over the remaining five games.

A double salvo from Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani just after the interval briefly made amends until Cagliari's Marco Sau made it 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining.

A late strike from Tommaso Rocchi lifted some of the pressure off Inter Milan and under fire boss Andrea Stramaccioni as they beat Parma 1-0 at the San Siro.

Roma slipped out of the European places after being held to a disappointing 1-1 home draw by rock-bottom Pescara, who picked up only their second point in 14 matches.

Gianluca Caprari gave Pescara a shock 14th-minute lead at the Stadio Olimpico and although Roma got back on level terms at the start of the second half through Mattia Destro, the home side could not force a winner.

Romulo's 86th-minute strike spared Fiorentina's blushes and earned a 4-3 win after plucky 10-man Torino had looked to have earned a share of the spoils by fighting back from three goals down.

La Viola needed the Brazilian to come to their rescue despite appearing on course for a thumping win as goals from Juan Cuadrado, Alberto Aquilani and Adem Ljajic put them 3-0 ahead just after the opening half hour.

Barreto gave the visitors hope just before the interval and strikes from Mario Santana and Alessio Cerci put them back on an even keel, but Romulo ensured their endeavour was not rewarded late on.

To compound their misery, Matteo Darmian was sent off in injury time for a second bookable offence.

Josip Ilicic scored at the death in the Sicilian derby to deny 10-man Catania all three points and keep Palermo within touching distance of a future in Serie A in a 1-1 draw.

Defeat at the Stadio Angelo Massimino, which seemed inevitable following Pablo Barrientos' opener midway through the second half, would have left the Rosanero second from bottom and three points from safety.

Ilicic had other ideas, though, sparing his side's blushes and dragging the club to within a point of 17th-placed Siena with a confident finish four minutes into second half stoppage time.

Two of Serie A's midtable clubs played out a 1-1 draw at the Renato Dall'Ara after Gianluca Sansone cancelled out Alberto Gilardino's first half strike.

With Bologna and Sampdoria sitting 12th and 14th, neither came into the match with much to play for, safe from the threat of relegation with little chance of challenging for a European place.

Sergio Pellissier virtually secured Chievo's Serie A status for next season with the only goal of a 1-0 victory at struggling Siena, who remain one point above the relegation zone.

The Flying Donkeys opened a 10-point gap over the bottom three as 17th-placed Siena failed to respond to Pellissier's effort on the stroke of half-time.

Barca confident of Neymar deal

Barcelona's South America representative Andre Cury has openly professed the club's desire to recruit Santos forward Neymar, insisting the players are eagerly awaiting his arrival.

Neymar has assured Santos he will see out his current contract and not leave Brazil until after next year's World Cup, although the club are attempting to secure his services on a long-term contract.

Cury told Radio Globo that Barcelona is "extremely interested in Neymar" and is confident the Catalan giants will make a serious offer in the summer.

"He is top of the wish list for planned signings and our players are aware of this," Cury said. "At Barcelona we do not usually sign many players, and he is our first choice. When he decides to leave Santos, we will be ready.

"But, if possible, we will start negotiations this summer. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are already awaiting him with open arms."

Cury continued his praise of Neymar by claiming the 21-year-old's arrival at the Camp Nou would relieve Lionel Messi of some pressure, similar to the Argentinean's influence after Brazilian attacker Ronaldinho left the club in 2008.

"Neymar coming to Barcelona will put an end to two types of overdependence: dependence on Neymar at Santos, as he would have left, and overdependence on Messi at Barcelona, as we would then have another player at his level," Cury added.

"In two or three years Messi will be able to pass on the Barcelona baton to Neymar, just like Ronaldinho passed it to him, even if this happened in a way that was not altogether pleasing to us - Ronnie left the club and we would have liked him to have stayed."

Neymar once again responded to the rumours from the Barcelona camp, thanking them for their interest despite stating he is not yet ready to make a decision on his future.

"Who is not a fan of Barcelona?" he told Sport.es. "I'm happy and I appreciate their affection and support. Regardless of whatever team I sign for, I'm one of the happiest people in the world... When my family and I are ready, we will be happy to speak, but for now I ask for calm."

Mario Balotelli to be fined after getting caught smoking in train bathroom

Mario Balotelli has displayed an increase in production on the pitch and more maturity off it since his move from Man City to Milan at the end of January. This improvement is made clear by the latest story about him. You see, instead of letting his friends burn down the bathroom of his rented mansion by setting off fireworks inside it, he was simply caught smoking a cigarette inside the bathroom of a train car on the way to Milan's match against Fiorentina. Progress!

Balotelli was told off by the train guard, who told Galliani: "You need to pull his ears. He was smoking in the bathroom," Gazzetta dello Sport reported.

Smoking is banned on Italian trains. "I want to say that we're going to fine him," Galliani said.
Perhaps Mario should just stick to sleeping on the luggage racks during train rides.

Fiorentina and Milan ended up playing to a 2-2 draw. Balotelli was booked in the 70th minute for not getting back on a free kick, which means he will miss next week's match against second-place Napoli due to yellow card accumulation.

Nasri: Kroenke sold me for 'the money'

Samir Nasri has accused Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke of selling him to Manchester City because he 'wanted the money', in comments that are likely to further strain his already fraught relationship with his former employers.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger always insisted he was under no pressure to sell Nasri to City for £24m in August 2011, even though the French midfielder had just one year left on his Arsenal contract.

Yet Nasri has offered up a differing version of events, in an interview with French TV channel beIN Sport that has been translated by several British newspapers.

"Wenger told me that if Cesc (Fabregas) left, I would stay but Kroenke wanted the money," Nasri was translated as saying by the Daily Mirror. "Cesc was already gone, I had only one year left so I decided to leave.

"I do not have regrets. I do not regret joining Manchester City. I want to play and perform. My departure from Arsenal is purely for sporting reasons. When you compare Arsenal and City, it's not the same. With City I'm playing in a better team. I didn't leave for money.

"I only regret not having more discussions with Arsene Wenger when I left. Arsene Wenger is the greatest coach I have worked with. He made me the player I am. I'm very grateful."

Nasri's comments seem certain to be disputed by Wenger, who has long claimed he is in sole charge of transfer policy at Arsenal and insisted at the time that the sale was 'logical' given the player's refusal to agree to a new deal with the club.

Meanwhile, Nasri conceded he has allowed his form to slide this season, as he responded to comments from Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini that he 'would like to give him a punch' after his lacklustre performances in recent months.

Nasri suggested he turned in his most impressive display of recent months in the 4-0 win against Newcastle last Saturday and rejected the claims by Mancini that he was not giving his all in training sessions.

"I am aware that I have not had a good season," he stated. "There are many reasons, but when Mancini said that I'm training at 50%, this is not true. I felt comfortable against Newcastle. It's been a while since I felt good."

Nasri went on to dismiss reports linking him with a summer move to Paris Saint-Germain or Monaco, but it is his comments surrounding his move from Arsenal that are bound to become a talking point in the coming days.

Juventus all smiles for big clash at Bayern

Juventus will enter Tuesday's heavyweight clash with Bayern Munich with smiles on their faces, an 18-match unbeaten record in Europe behind them and no concerns about the Bavarians' nine-goal demolition of Hamburg.

Tuesday's quarter-final first leg is a match where the Champions League can live up to its hype, with teams who have dominated the season in Germany and Italy respectively and share 50 domestic titles between them.

Bayern, who won 4-1 in Turin when the teams last met in the 2009/10 season, have a 20-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and produced their most emphatic win of the season on Saturday when they flattened Hamburg 9-2.

They need two more points from six games to wrap up their 23rd German league title.
Italian champions Juventus come into the game with a nine-point lead at home and well on course for a 29th Serie A title.

"We'll head to Munich with a spring in our step knowing that we've done our job on the domestic front," said Juventus coach Antonio Conte after his side won 2-1 away to bitter rivals Inter Milan on Saturday.

"We'll head there to keep alive our dream and to test our mettle in the European arena, and we'll do it with a smile and no fear," added Conte, himself a rather dour figure.

"We just want to see how far behind Europe's best we are. We'll try to put out a strong physical side but I'll sleep on it first," he added.

Back in the quarter-finals after a seven-year wait, Juventus have been happy to accept the underdogs' role, saying they cannot match the brash Bavarians' spending power.

Yet, in European terms, they have looked more impressive than their opponents. Although Bayern are a fearsome prospect on their day, they are prone to sudden lapses especially at the Allianz Arena which hosts the first leg.

They lost last season's Champions League final at their own stadium, beaten on penalties by Chelsea after a 1-1 draw, and were knocked out by Inter Milan at home two seasons ago, losing 3-2 in front of their own fans after winning the first leg 1-0 away.

Bayern suffered another bout of Allianz jitters earlier this month when, having won 3-1 at Arsenal in the first leg of their last-16 tie, they froze in the return and lost 2-0, surviving by the skin of their teeth thanks to the away goals rule.

SHOCK DEFEAT
Bayern also suffered a shock 3-1 defeat away to BATE Borisov in the group stage this season, although they bounced back convincingly to reach the last 16.

Juventus, aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time in a decade, have not lost in European competition for three years since a 4-1 defeat to Fulham in the Europa League.

They were knocked out of the following year's Europa League without losing any of their 10 games and are also unbeaten in the current campaign, where they have won their last six games.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, struggling to contain the climate of jubilation at a club nicknamed FC Hollywood, did his best to calm things down after Saturday's gala display.

"We played textbook football at times, and that's basically what we have to do on Tuesday," said Heynckes, who will be without midfielder Javi Martinez because the Bundesliga's record signing is suspended.

"It definitely won't be possible in the same way," he said cautiously. "Tuesday will be a totally different match. Juventus are one of the top teams in Europe, very aggressive and full of running."

Teams:

Bayern Munich: 1-Manuel Neuer; 21-Philipp Lahm, 5-Daniel Van Buyten, 4-Dante, 27-David Alaba; 6-Bastian Schweinsteiger; 25-Thomas Mueller, 39-Toni Kroos, 10-Arjen Robben, 7-Franck Ribery; 9-Mario Mandzukic

Juventus: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 15-Andrea Barzagli, 3-Giorgio Chiellini, 19-Leonardo Bonucci; 21-Andrea Pirlo; 23-Arturo Vidal, 6-Paul Pogba, 8-Claudio Marchisio, 22-Kwadwo Asamoah; 32-Alessandro Matri, 27-Fabio Quagliarella. (Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; Editing by Clare Fallon)