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Madrid through to the final

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Real Madrid are through to face Juventus in the Champions League final despite losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid, who were playing their last European game at the Vicente Calderon. Atletico were tasked with overturning Real's commanding 3-0 semi-final lead from the first leg, and blew the tie wide open with two goals in the first 16 minutes through a Saul Niguez header and Antoine Griezmann penalty. However, a sublime moment of skill from Karim Benzema saw him set up Toni Kroos just before half-time, and though the German's effort was superbly kept out by Jan Oblak, Isco was there to follow up with the rebound and leave Atletico needing three more without reply. No goals followed in the second half, and the result means Real have now got the better of their city rivals for a fourth successive season in Europe. Only Juventus stand in the way of Real's bid to become the first side to retain the Champions League trophy, in what would be their 12th European title overall...

Alexis keep Arsenal's top four finish alive

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Alexis Sanchez produced a moment of brilliance on his 100th Premier League appearance as Arsenal saw off Southampton 2-0 to maintain their late top-four push. The Chilean had toiled with his team-mates at St Mary's but he elevated a low-key Gunners display just before the hour mark, his quick feet and cool finish breaking the deadlock before substitute Olivier Giroud (82) sealed a win to keep Champions League qualification in sight. Defeat was tough on a Saints side that had crafted the better openings and forced Petr Cech into fine first-half saves from Manolo Gabbiadini and Nathan Redmond. Injury before the break to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a sour note but Arsene Wenger's men, given renewed hope by victory against Manchester United at the weekend, ended a 14-year barren league run on the south coast at the most crucial of times to climb to fifth in the table. They still require their rivals to slip up if they are to qualify for the Champions League for a 20th su...

It's so sad to leave United, Schweinsteiger

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Bastian Schweinsteiger has admitted he is sad to be leaving Manchester United after Chicago Fire confirmed he had joined them. The MLS club are offering him a one-year contract worth £70,000 a week - which will make him one of the 10 highest-paid players in the MLS - after agreeing a deal with United late on Monday night. A source understands Schweinsteiger is still in the United Kingdom and will jet out to Chicago to complete a medical once he obtains a work permit and a working visa. "I am sad to leave so many friends at Manchester United," Schweinsteiger told United's official website. "But I am grateful to the club for allowing me the chance to take up the challenge at Chicago Fire. Manchester United have agreed to let Schweinsteiger move to Chicago Fire "I have enjoyed working with the manager, the players and staff here and wish them all the best in the future. But I have to reserve special thanks to the United fans - whose support has been a v...

Bayern humiliates Arsenal again

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Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for a seventh consecutive season after another 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners put in a spirited first-half display as they looked to overturn a 5-1 deficit from the first leg three weeks ago and deservedly took the lead through Theo Walcott (20) and they could have even had a penalty when the England international went down under a challenge from Xabi Alonso. But things unravelled for the Gunners early in the second half when Laurent Koscielny brought down Robert Lewandowski in the penalty area. The Frenchman was initially shown a yellow card but that was upgraded to a red much to the disbelief of the Arsenal players. Lewandowski (55) stepped up to level the scores from the penalty spot before strikes from Arjen Robben (68), substitute Douglas Costa (78) and Arturo Vidal (80, 85) saw Carlo Ancelotti's side heap further humiliation on Arsene Wenger's side. ...

Arsene Wenger will stay, Sol Campbell

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Sol Campbell believes Arsene Wenger will sign a new contract to stay at Arsenal beyond the summer. Wenger has come under pressure from some sections of the Arsenal support following another faltering title bid, while they head into Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg clash at home to Bayern Munich 5-1 down from the first leg. His contract is due to expire in the summer and he has remained tight-lipped over whether he will sign an extension, but Campbell, who won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups under the Frenchman, told Premier League Daily he thinks Wenger will eventually sign a new deal. "I think he will assess it, he has two years on the table. I think eventually he will take it," he said. "What he has done for the club, how he has steered the club from Highbury to the new ground, and also the training ground, obviously now there are other clubs with unbelievable training grounds but at the time he was visionary with his ideas about...

Casemiro scored a stunning volley to earn Madrid a well deserved victory over Napoli

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Casemiro's stunning volley helped Real Madrid earn a 3-1 first-leg advantage from their Champions League last-16 tie against Napoli. Lorenzo Insigne's opportunistic strike put the Italians ahead after eight minutes at the Bernabeu but Karim Benzema levelled 10 minutes later. Two goals in five second-half minutes after half-time put Real in control, with Toni Kroos edging the hosts in front before Casemiro's remarkable 30-yard strike. The result ends Napoli's 18-match unbeaten run but Insigne's away goal ensures they return to Naples for the return leg on March 7 with hope of advancing to the quarter-finals. Zinedine Zidane handed James Rodriguez his first start for more than a month in one of three changes from Real's 3-1 win over Osasuna. They had the chance to take the lead inside the first minute too, but Pepe Reina smartly saved from Benzema's snap-shot. It set the tone for an absorbing first half as Napoli sat back and looked to pick off ...

Bayern thrashed Arsenal in 6 goals thriller

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Thiago Alcantara scored twice as Bayern Munich thrashed Arsenal 5-1 on Wednesday to take full control of their Champions League last-16 tie. Arjen Robben handed Bayern the lead after 11 minutes with a trademark strike after cutting in off the left flank before Alexis Sanchez grabbed an away goal, following up to score the rebound after seeing his penalty initially saved by Manuel Neuer. The Gunners were well in the tie at the break, but they lost captain Laurent Koscielny shortly after the interval and it proved to be the turning point. Bayern went on the rampage, re-taking the lead in the 53rd minute thanks to Robert Lewandowski's header before Thiago scored twice in seven minutes to put Carlo Ancelotti's side in full control. Substitute Thomas Muller rounded off the scoring to leave Arsenal needing a Champions League miracle ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on March 7. As expected, David Ospina replaced Petr Cech for the Gunners and he was straight...