Pep Guardiola says his injury-hit Bayern Munich must expect surprises at FC Porto in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, first leg, clash.
Bayern are bidding to reach the semi-finals for the fourth year running, but the 2013 Champions League winners are missing several stars including wingers Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Guardiola is wary of Bundesliga giants Bayern taking Porto lightly, especially as the hosts are missing top-scorer Jackson Martinez, who is out with a groin injury.
“Anyone who reaches the Champions League’s semi-final plays at a high level. Porto are a top team and I was completely surprised by their level,” said Guardiola in Tuesday’s press conference.
“We won’t need just one game to get through, we’ll need two.
“In 99 per cent of our games, the opponent reacts to our pressing game by playing long balls.
“Porto are different, they aren’t a side who counter-attacks, they want to play.
“They also have a good pressing game, can switch well, often shift their game and are outstanding in one-on-ones.
“We will need a top performance, both in defence and attack.”
Bayern’s Germany forward Thomas Muller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer are hoping to build on their reputations to help poach an advantage in Porto ahead of next Tuesday’s return leg in Munich.
Muller scored a hat-trick against Portugal in Germany’s 4-0 group stage win at last year’s World Cup and is hoping to cause more misery for Porto fans.
“It’s a reputation that I want to maintain,” said Muller.
“We definitely want a good performance for the return leg, but Porto are a very strong team.
“Due to our injuries, the competition for places between us all has become less important.
“It’s now crucial to really become a team and we know we won’t have many options off the bench.”
Neuer in particular has good memories of Porto’s Estadio do Dragao stadium having saved two penalties there in 2008 to help his former club Schalke reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.
“I was a very young goalkeeper back then in my first Champions League season,” said the 29-year-old.
“Luckily I had a really good day and everything went like clock-work.
“We can expect it to be very loud in the stadium with their emotional fans driving their team on.
“Portuguese players are basically very technical and they are all strong on the ball.
“They have good dead-ball specialists, we will have to be careful and very well prepared.”
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Poacher
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The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Match info
Manchester United 1
Fred (18')
Wolves 1
Moutinho (53')
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh132,000 (Countryman)
HWJN
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Griselda
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Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
