RK Zagreb v FC Barcelona: Step towards the Final Four (23-25)

RK Zagreb: Ivic, Horvat (5), Stepancic (9), Brozovic (2), Josip Valcic (2), Pavlovic (-), Sprem (-) -starting seven-, Sebetic (-), Tonci Valcic (-), Mandalinic (3), Vuglac (1), Celica (-), Susnja (1), Obranovic (-), Kovacevic (-) & Stevanovic.

FC Barcelona: Saric, Víctor Tomás (5), Entrerríos (1), Sorhaindo (1), Sigurdsson (4), Viran (-), Karabatic (6) -starting seven-, Noddesbo (5), Sarmiento (2), Ariño (-), Gurbindo (1), Rutenka (-), Lazarov (5).

5 minute periods: 1-1/4-3/5-6/6-9/7-11/10-14 (descans)/12-16/14-18/17-20/18-21/21-24/23-25.Referees:Csaba Dobrovits & Peter Tajok (Hungary).

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Champions League quarter finals are never easy affairs, and this was another tough outing for Barça. At a packed Arena Zagreb, Xavi Pascual’s side stuck to what they know and managed to win by two points to end the Croatians’ season-long unbeaten run at home (23-25) and take a huge step towards the Final Four in Cologne.

The first half was all about sizing each other up, and neither side managed to get their scoring going and it was still 4-4 after ten minutes. Barça edged one ahead on the quarter hour and it was then that they finally started coming into their stride. Karabatic was outstanding in attack and Sigurdsson led some quick counters to get the score to 7-11, a lead they stretched to 8-13 soon after, before Zagreb narrowed the gap just before the break at 10-14.

Pascual stayed faithful to his lack of reliance on rotations, and his second half was focused on making good use of Karabatic, Víctor Tomás, Sigurdsson, Sorhaindo and Noddesbo. But we had yet to see the best of Zagreb, and egged on by the home crowd, they started edging their way back. Stepancic, who ended with 9 goals, led the way and by the final minute, Barça’s lead had been cut to one (23-24). Saric produced a fine save with his foot to prevent a draw and immediately after Víctor Tomás grabbed a late score that means Barça get a two-goal head start when it all starts again, this time at the Palau, on Saturday 18 April at 6.30pm CET.

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Luis Enrique wants team to keep improving

FC Barcelona have 16 shutouts in 30 games so far this year. They have scored 14 goals on set plays and have a six-game winning streak in the league after the 4–0 victory against Almería. But despite the numbers, Luis Enrique is not satisfied: "The goal is always to improve and we are in the process. The players are aware that they have very good numbers, but you can always improve," he said.

Check out what else Luis Enrique had to say in his post-game press conference:

"We controlled the game and we didn’t suffer much. Almería let us attack on the wings and we took advantage," said the coach, who also praised the team’s intensity. "To me, we played at a very high level. We just slowed up a bit when the match was practically over … overall it was a match that will strengthen us for the next one," he said.

Luis Enrique also talked about Sergi Roberto, Neymar, Xavi and Pedro.

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"It was nice to let Neymar rest because he’s the only international player that hasn’t rested. And I want Pedro in good form for the home stretch of the season."

"Sergi Roberto is fantastic. He’s always ready because he trains as if he were a starter. I am delighted with the way he played tonight."

"Xavi has the respect and love of everyone at Camp Nou and anyone who’s passionate about football.”

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Real Madrid to spoil Arsenal and Chelsea's transfer plans with Petr Cech move

REAL MADRID have reportedly made Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea their top transfer target this summer, but will go for Blues shot stopper Petr Cech if a move falls through.

De Gea has yet to resolve his Old Trafford future, while Real have been credited with a strong interest.

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The 24-year-old, according to Spanish paper AS, is Real's top transfer target this summer.

The report suggests De Gea, who is out of contract in 2016, is viewed as a natural long-term successor to Iker Casillas.

United it is thought will want much more than the £18million they spent to bring De Gea to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid.

It is also believed that should Real fail to sign De Gea, they will turn their attentions to Cech instead.

Cech has attracted interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, and Chelsea are asking £10m for him.

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Arsene Wenger fears for Theo Walcott's 'damaged mind' after England exposure

ARSENE WENGER fears Roy Hodgson’s disastrous England experiment in Turin has “damaged the mind” of Theo Walcott just at a time he is feeling “exposed” due to lack of playing opportunities.

The Arsenal player was asked to play tucked in behind Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane for the first 55 minutes of the 1-1 draw with Italy but was a largely anonymous figure who looked lost in the noisy Juventus Stadium.

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Wenger admitted the "No10" role was not one he had ever considered for Walcott even in training and will assess his confidence before deciding whether to put his arm around him and give him a pep talk before tomorrow's crunch game against Liverpool at the Emirates.

"Theo's strength is the quality of his movements, he wants to go to get on the end of things," Wenger said. "He's not a guy who provides.

"Being exposed like that people have a harsh judgement on him that is not deserved.

"I am worried about Theo's confidence because he wants to do well. He's sensitive and I'm a bit concerned about the damage it can have on his mind."

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Real Madrid 2014-2015 Adidas Third Jersey

Real Madrid, Champions League winners in 2013-14, have released their new adidas (Third) jersey for their 2014-15 campaign which is available here.

In black with white trim - in the form of the granddad-style collar and adidas stripes - the shirt also carries a clearly visible watermark design of a dragon king and a bird dragon, from the hand of Japanese designer and ongoing adidas collaborator, Yohji Yamamoto.

The shorts and socks, in black with white also, tie in with the jersey - the players' version of which utilises adizero technology - and the design provoked legendary Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas to comment "Both the bird and the dragon symbolise the resurgence of recent years and strength for the coming season”.  Casillas' 'keeper version is in orange and also carries the watermark.

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The dragon king has been used to signify the greatness, glory and power of Real, with the adaptable bird dragon representing the resilience, determination and ability of the current European champions.  The jersey will be worn in Champions League games as an alternative to the white Home version, and as a third choice option in domestic matches.

Bayern Munich 2014-2015 Adidas Third soccer Jersey

This is the new Bayern Munich adidas Champions League (and domestic Third) jersey for the 2014-15 season.

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The shirt, in largely black and grey - with tonal adidas stripes - sees the Telekom sponsorship logo acts as something of a contrast in silver along with the vertical red stripe running behind the crest.

In a novel approach, the red stripe is continued on both the left leg of the shorts and then onto the left sock, bringing unity to the whole jersey.

The strip will be worn as an alternative to the red and blue Home version in Champions League ties and also as a secondary change strip in domestic commitments. It will usually also carry the world champions' shield on the centre of the chest.

 

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Manchester City 14/15 Nike Third Kit

This is the new Manchester City 14/15 third football shirt by Nike which is available here.

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Manchester City will wear a bold new away kit featuring two tones of purple in cups this season. The new kit is inspired by designs City wore in the early '90s and as recently as the 2007-08 season, and also features a lime green tone that City fans will recognize from kits of the past.

The shirt, shorts and socks are all in a lighter tone of purple on the front, while the entire back is a darker purple. These two tones are divided by a lime green stripe on both sides of the kit.

These stripes stretch from the collar, along both shoulders, down each side of the shirt, the shorts, and right down to the socks. The stripe will accentuate a sense of speed when players are in motion.

“This half-and-half appearance is a traditional football design, but we added a new twist,” said Martin Lotti, Creative Director of Nike Football. “We wanted to utilize vibrant color so the kits look brighter at night against the grass and under floodlights. Under a dark sky, these kits will look electric, as if powered by batteries, and will provide an almost electric flash of color on the pitch.”

The shirt also boasts a classic design with a sophisticated polo neck collar and a three-button placket in the darker tone of purple.

Inside the back of the neck is a marbled purple pennant tab with the message, “We are City.”

On the back of the shirt, the names and numbers are in a new italicized font in lime green with a drop-shadow purple border.

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Real Madrid 2014-2015 Adidas Third Jersey

Real Madrid, Champions League winners in 2013-14, have released their new adidas (Third) kit for their 2014-15 campaign which is available here.

discount real madrid soccer jerseys

In black with white trim - in the form of the granddad-style collar and adidas stripes - the shirt also carries a clearly visible watermark design of a dragon king and a bird dragon, from the hand of Japanese designer and ongoing adidas collaborator, Yohji Yamamoto.

The shorts and socks, in black with white also, tie in with the shirt - the players' version of which utilises adizero technology - and the design provoked legendary Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas to comment "Both the bird and the dragon symbolise the resurgence of recent years and strength for the coming season”.  Casillas' 'keeper version is in orange and also carries the watermark.

The dragon king has been used to signify the greatness, glory and power of Real, with the adaptable bird dragon representing the resilience, determination and ability of the current European champions.  The kit will be worn in Champions League games as an alternative to the white Home version, and as a third choice option in domestic matches.

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Galatasaray 2014-15 Nike Third Soccer Jersey

This is the new Galatasaray 2014-15 Third football jersey by Nike which is available here.

The shirt, shorts and socks all feature a lighter tone of the dark magenta on the front, while a darker tone covers the entire back.

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The two tones are split by an orange stripe — honoring one of Galatasaray’s renowned home colors — that stretches along both sides of the kit from the collar, along both shoulders, down each side of the jerseys and shorts, and right down to the socks.

When the players are in motion, the stripe will accentuate the contours of the players’ bodies to provide a sense of speed.

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Barcelona 14/15 Nike Third Soccer Jersey

This is the new Barcelona 2014-15 Third football jersey by Nike which is available here.

 

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The kit consists of two tones of Volt yellow, which first appeared in Barcelona’s away jersey in 2005. The shirt, shorts and socks all feature the distinct Volt color on the front, with a darker tone of the same yellow on the back.

 

The two tones are divided by blue stripes — honoring one of Barcelona’s famous home colors — that stretch along both sides of the jersey from the collar, along both shoulders, down the shirt and shorts, and right down to the socks. The stripes are designed to accentuate the impression of speed when the players are in motion.

 

“The half-and-half appearance is a traditional football design, but we added a new twist,” said Martin Lotti, Creative Director of Nike Football. “We wanted to utilize vibrant color so the jerseys look brighter at night against the grass and beneath floodlights. Under a dark sky, the jerseys will look electric, as if powered by batteries, and will provide an almost electric flash of color on the pitch.”

 

The shirt also boasts a classic design with a sophisticated polo neck collar and a three-button placket in the darker tone of Volt.

 

The right sleeve of the shirt features a small Senyera, the flag of Catalonia and an enduringly proud symbol for Barcelona.

 

Inside the back of the neck, a blue pennant tab displays Barcelona’s inspirational club motto, “Mes que un club” (More than a club) and their foundation year of 1899, while “Barca” adorns the back of the neck in the same blue as their iconic home jersey.

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2015-2016 Second Holland Soccer Jerseys

In line with the brand new alternate jerseys United States and Portugal, Nike introduced also the new away kit for the Selection of the Netherlands for the period 2015-2016.

The qualification for Euro 2016 is about to begin and Nike has begun to launch their first kits of top European teams. Now is the turn of the Netherlands, with a second very elegant white kit.

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Second Holland T 2015-2016 is mainly white, with a very clean style that expresses the elegance of the game that has always characterized this selection.

The sides and the details of the shirt feature the classic orange color, giving a modern twist.

However, the most surprising of this kit are the flaming orange shorts, as the aforementioned effect as Nike, represents the classical velocity of Dutch football, shown around the trousers, which also has a cut bermuda style.

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Inter 2014-15 Nike Third Soccer Jersey

This is the new Inter 2014-15 Third football jersey by Nike which is available here.

The jerseys, shorts and socks all feature blue on the front with a darker shade of the same color on the back.

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The two tones are divided by a black stripe — honoring one of Inter’s iconic home colors — that stretches along both sides of the jersey from the collar, along both shoulders, down each side of the shirt and shorts, and right down to the socks.

The shirt also boasts a classic design with a sophisticated polo neck collar and a three-button placket in the darker tone of blue. A black pennant tab tucked inside the back of the neck reveals the proud message, “Milano E’ Solo Inter” (Milan is only Inter).

AS Roma 14/15 Nike Third Soccer Jersey

This is the new AS Roma 2014/15 Nike Third Football Shirt by Nike which is available here.

This season, AS Roma will play in a new third jersey inspired by the renowned elegance of Italian tailoring and the suits worn by the squad when they travel across Italy and beyond.

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The jersey’s dark brown shirt features a tonal pin stripe embedded in the fabric, and a modern V-neck collar with brown at the back and an AS Roma yellow trim at the front. Inside the back of the neck, a yellow textured pennant tab displays the statement, “La Roma Non Si Discute Si Ama” (Roma is loved without any question).

The sentiment echoes the club’s anthem, which AS Roma fans sing when the team emerges from the tunnel before each game at the Stadio Olimpico. 

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The rest of the globebuy soccer jersey includes dark brown shorts and dark brown socks with a tonal stripe of chevrons on the back.

Canada 2015 Umbro Home Football Shirt

Canada Soccer and Umbro unveiled the new 2015 home globebuy soccer jersey that Canadian National Team will wear when they walk out on the pitch for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

The new jersey features Umbro’s continued focus on performance, made of 100% spun polyester for ultimate comfort. In addition, Canadian Maple Leaf laser cut venting on the back allows for maximum air circulation.

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The authentic Umbro clean and classic styling is augmented by a gradient upper body for added surface interest while Canadian patriotism is called out by the embroidered Canadian flag on the back of the neck and the Canadian national anthem sound wave embroidery on the lower hip, a uniquely distinctive element to official Canada jerseys that continues from previous editions.

This edition of the Canadian jersey is also the first one to feature a custom font for lettering and numbering. Inspired by the “True North” that is Canada; each character is shaped to symbolize the strength of ice that is precisely chiseled to bring its beauty to light.

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The type face, aptly named “Les Rouges”, embodies the determination and resilience Canada’s National Teams demonstrate each time they step on the pitch and is the perfect complement to this new 2015 jersey.

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Norway 2015/16 Nike Home and Away Football Shirt

The first-ever Nike home kit for the Norwegian National Football Team honor Norway’s footballing heritage while incorporating the latest in technical innovation for maximum performance.

Nike Dri-FIT technology and engineered mesh material construction help players stay dry and cool on the pitch, increasing breathability and air flow where athletes need it most to help them perform at the highest level.

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“The new Norwegian national team globebuy soccer jerseys combine Nike’s design and innovation expertise and our ambition for football in this country," said Kjetil Siem, Football Association of Norway General Secretary. “This is the first jersey that carries the new crest that represents pride, solidarity and strength – common values we share as a football family and as a nation as we look to the future.”

“The kits feel great, look modern and yet are very classic designs,” said Martin Ødegaard, Norway’s youngest-ever senior international. “I wear Norway’s colors with great pride and I look forward to getting onto the pitch in the new jerseys."

The home shirt is in Norway’s traditional red, with a gradient dark blue sash on the front panel. The full home kit includes white shorts and blue socks to create a timeless, crisp look.

The first-ever Nike away kit for the Norwegian National Football Team honor Norway’s footballing heritage while incorporating the latest in technical innovation for maximum performance. The Norwegian side will debut their new away kit on-pitch against Croatia on March 28.

The away jersey is white with a V-neck collar, and the lightweight fabric features a subtle checkered pattern. The white away shorts and socks complete the kit’s clean aesthetic.

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Nike Dri-FIT technology and engineered mesh material construction help players stay dry and cool on the pitch, increasing breathability and air flow where athletes need it most to help them perform at the highest level.

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Luis Enrique taking nothing for granted

FC Barcelona may have won the first leg in Manchester, but the first team manager knows there is still a difficult job to be done on Wednesday night.

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In his press conference before the Champions League game witt Manchester City,manager Luis Enrique sent out a message of confidence in his players, although he is very wary that the job is still only half done.

2-1 may have been the perfect result at the Etihad, but “we are taking nothing for granted against City. We’ll treat it as we did the first leg and try to go out and win the match. It was be very dangerous to think we can settle for a draw.”

He is also confirmed that Sergio Busquets will play no part in Wednesday’s match.

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The following is a selection of other comments made by the first team coach on Tuesday:

On Winning the Game

“Possession is one of our objectives in every game. That gives us a better chance of controlling the situation”.

“I expect a similar game to the first leg. Last year they also came here after a negative result from the first leg and they caused us a lot of problems”.

Quality Opponent

“We’re playing against one of the favourites to win this competition. We’re only 50% through the round and you only have to look at their players to see how much potential they have”.

“City don’t look tired to me. I think they have every chance of turning this tie around and I’m sure they’ll be clinging onto that hope”.

“They are missing Clichy, but have a key player back in Toure. They’ll play with two forwards and depending on their approach, we’ll work out how we can cause them damage”.

No talk of Clasico

“There is only one game for us and that’s the one tomorrow. Nothing else matters to me right now”.

“Tomorrow’s game is sweet enough for me. It’s all I need for now”.

Magical night

“I sense that we are playing for a place in the quarter finals and that’s nice. We’ll be playing at home, in front of our fans, we’re in fine form and we hope to get a great result”.

“We need our fans to get us through moments of doubt”.

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