Placido Domingo: "The Cup will not be the same without the Real Madrid"

The tenor Placido Domingo, who took part on Wednesday at the presentation of a concert tribute to him to be held on June 29, 2016 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, said the Copa del Rey " it will not be the same "if the Real Madrid is eliminated by the improper alignment of Russian footballer Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz .

"I hope that Real Madrid would stop playing the game and all parties have to play in the Cup, not out of selfishness, I think it is in the tournament. I honestly believe that the tournament is not the same without the Real Madrid and think many teams in what is economically play against Real Madrid, "said Placido Domingo.

On December 4 the sole judge of Competition Francisco Rubio issued an opinion according to which the Real Madrid would be eliminated from the Copa del Rey by improper alignment of Cherishev which drew a penalty for accumulation of cautions in his former club Villarreal. The Madrid club issued a resource that will be studied on Thursday by the Appeal Committee of the RFEF.

The tenor also showed their support for the Madrid first team coach, Rafael Benitez . "I believe in our Rafael Benitez. Be Florentino (Perez), that Real Madrid will have a great year despite some less successful, what can we do. The ball is rebellious and capricious" he added.

Placido Domingo also commented on yesterday's match with 8-0 victory against the Swedish Malmoe, where I saw the "Madrid wonderful" that fills him "with joy and gladness," but also warned those present at the event about to the adverse parties.

"Can not you juggle every day, a few days out and some do not. The good thing is to be with our Madrid always in difficult moments, pleasant and bright as last night," he added.

Sunday was speaking at the presentation of a tribute concert for his 75th birthday to be held on June 29, 2016 at the Bernabeu with the title 'Placido in the soul' and whose profits will go to the schools Club Foundation in Mexico .

Copa del Rey - on Wednesday will consider the appeal of Real Madrid against their exclusion

The Appeals Committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Wednesday will consider the appeal of Real Madrid against their exclusion from the Copa del Rey by improper alignment of Denis Cheryshev in the first leg of the knockout phase against Cadiz on 2 in the Ramon de Carranza (1-3).

After the sole judge of Competition, Francisco Rubio, declared the existence of improper alignment and give by settled the tie in favour of Cadiz, the Real Madrid announced the introduction of "appropriate resources in the certainty that the final resolution will be favourable the club. "

Real Madrid set maintains on its website the date of the second leg, scheduled for Wednesday 16 at 21.00 , but the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) did not assign a referee for the same two days ago when he made ​​public the arbitral appointments Cup encounters.

The members of the appeal committee, Jose Mateo (chairman), Carlos Gonzalez and Arturo Manrique, on Wednesday discussed the arguments presented in their defence Real Madrid , after being excluded from the Cup said "reaffirms its reasoning" and which they were rejected by the judge of Competition.

This, in the decision the last day in March dismissed the main argument of Real Madrid , who spoke of "lack of evidence of personal notification of the sanction in question both the player and the club reported. "

Cheryshev was adopted on March 6 with a match due to accumulation of yellow cards and "that decision" according to the judge of Competition, "was notified to Villarreal ", the club was on loan last season," and the same date was the subject of public communication through the usual channel of publication on the website of the RFEF. "

Benzema awaits the verdict of the Federation

With the European Championship next year as a backdrop, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) will announce tomorrow whether the striker Real Madrid - Karim Benzema can remain eligible for selection as long gala charged with an alleged blackmail teammate Mathieu Valbuena .

French media have little doubt that the pattern of the FFF, Noel Le Graet, Benzema provisionally suspend its status as an international, thereby avoiding a problem coach Didier Deschamps , who can not summon the Madrid and Lyon.

This was decided by the judge who instructs the alleged attempted blackmail Valbuena with a sex video, which is charged with complicity Benzema.

The judge believes that Real Madrid could serve as a link between mate selection and alleged blackmailers and bases itself on a conversation between the two during an international gathering last October.

Among the precautionary measures imposed on the Benzema she is unable to contact any of the other defendants and the victim, making it unfeasible both go to a wake-Deschamps.

The coach does not have to make any new call until next February, but down the stretch for Euro Le Graet may be tempted to remove technical responsibility of having to make a Solomonic decision such as that adopted in early November, when he left both out of your list.

Everything points to it with respect for the presumption of innocence, the president of the FFF chooses to provisionally suspend Benzema, even if it means depriving Deschamps active top scorer in France and a striker in top form.

Overcome his injury, the attacker showed that lives a sweet moment last night, scoring three goals against modest Malmoe.

At the end of that match, after dodging questions from the Spanish press about the matter, he entered fully with the special envoys of France.

"There is justice and I think we have to wait to decide before making any decision," said the player.

Benzema kept the same line of defense comes from repeating that jumped the scandal.

"Since I was small I had problems. But I focus on my football. They can say what they want about me, as every time I do well in my club. But I only center in football and the people I it wants, "he said.

The attacker said he has the backing of Real Madrid, his companions and his coaching staff, in addition to Zinedine Zidane , who coaches the youth teams of the club.

"I have not had to wait for him to tell me to know that he supported me. It's my older brother," he said.

Zizou had stated last weekend that it would be wrong him away from the national team.

Pep Guardiola: Maybe it's my last year at Bayern

Pep Guardiola does not stop to resolve his future at Bayern Munich. The Spanish coach Wednesday granted an interview to Croatian national TV in which he showed some doubts about their future. "My last season at Bayern? I do not know, "he said.

 Also, the Catalan was annoyed with the criticism he received the team after losing in their last match in the Bundesliga against Borussia Monchengladbach, who ended a run of the Bavarians.

"People are amazed with our but some do not understand that football is made of victories and defeats.

Why do you think we can not lose a game? They are unavoidable in football and how important is to learn from them and emerge stronger "

Champions League: Chelsea and Arsenal will be in 8th, Gent also

Chelsea, Arsenal, AS Roma, Dynamo Kyiv and AA Gent, for the first time in its history Wednesday took the last tickets for the 8th finals of the Champions League at the end of the last day the group stage.

Overview of forces before drawing final fate on Monday 8th, played in February and March, which oppose the first groups, which have the advantage of receiving the return leg, the second (knowing that two clubs chicken or even a federation can not meet).

Three favorites

Barcelona, ​​Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, the first of their groups, have monopolised five of the last seven C1 and are still shaking the football Europe.

Barca, the momentum of its tripled in 2014-2015 (C1, Liga Cup), administered several monumental beatings (4-0 against Real Madrid in the league, 6-1 against Roma C1). Licked his possession game, his trident MSN (Messi, Suarez, Neymar) and the reinforcement of Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal make it a must favorite.

Bayern, he thrives on almost 3 goals per game on average, driven by the constant goals of Müller-duo Lewandowski and good adaptation of Douglas Costa. The German club and Guardiola are hungry for revenge after two failures in the last four.

Real has certainly lost some of its luster under Rafael Benitez, deemed defensive game between accumulation and squabbles of all kinds. But with such Cristiano Ronaldo, author of a new record of 11 goals in the group stage, the Spanish club can claim his "undecima (11th C1).

Accustomed to go

Atletico Madrid, the 2014 finalist, finished at Benfica in a little tough group. The combativeness of the band at Diego Simeone and his hermetic (140 goals conceded in 21 games this season) are always a formidable opponent, with Griezmann unleashed.

Manchester City is extracted from the top of a spicier chicken and will seek its first historic quarter of C1. Much will depend of Aguero, striker often injured. But at least the Citizens do not they meet Barca, their tormentor in 8th last two seasons.

Chelsea, in total dormant in the league, played Wednesday its season and Jose Mourinho perhaps his head. The Blues managed to beat Porto (2-0) and finish top of Group G. Sortis from the eighth last season, they will have to raise their level, singularly Hazard and Diego Costa, hoping to find the quarters.

Second but mighty

Juventus, finalist 2015 season started badly but recovers the bar, like Pogba. His defeat in Seville Tuesday (1-0) was however relegated to 2nd place. The Old Lady does not pay this fake 8th?

PSG - Ibrahimovic makes a close-season perfection in France but failed to overtake Real in his group, bowing 1-0 to Madrid, albeit against the run of play. After three failures quarters, Paris, which plays its season on the C1, seems better armed. But it will have to go.

Arsenal was hot but thanks to a tripling of Giroud Wednesday on the ground of Olympiakos (3-0) will be present in 8th for the 16th time in a row. It is at this stage that the Gunners were eliminated in the last five seasons ...

Surprises and outsiders

Zenit St. Petersburg finished first in its group and grazed the full house, beaten Wednesday by AA Gent (2-1). A dangerous Russian team with his attackers Hulk and Dzyuba (6 goals).

Wolfsburg and PSV have less scope than other clubs but still donated Manchester United in the Europa League. The Germans will see for the first time the 8th of C1, the Dutch no longer had played since 2007.

Roma trembled to the end, unable to beat BATE Borisov (0-0), but taking advantage of zero between Leverkusen and Barcelona (1-1). Italians suffer from poor defense.

Benfica, more comfortable than in C1, C3, may be considered by the first group as an excellent draw, as Gent, Tom Thumb who made the lunch in Lyon and Valence. Or Dynamo Kiev.

Results of the group stage of the 2015/2016 edition of the Champions League. The first two of each group are qualified in 8th finals, the third will play the Europa League.

The draw of the eighth finals played out in February and March Monday oppose the first groups, which have the advantage of receiving in the second leg, to the second. Two clubs from the same group or federation can meet.

The first group:  Real Madrid (ESP), Wolfsburg (GER), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Manchester City (ENG), FC Barcelona (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER), Chelsea (ENG), Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)

The second group: Paris SG (FRA) PSV Eindhoven (NED), Benfica (POR), Juventus (ITA), AS Roma (ITA), Arsenal (ENG), Dynamo Kiev (UKR), Gent (BEL)

The third group, donated C3: Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Manchester United (ENG), Galatasaray (TUR), Sevilla (ESP), Leverkusen (GER), Olympiakos (GRE), FC Porto (POR), Valencia CF (ESP)

The last group eliminated: Malmö FF (SWE), CSKA Moscow (RUS), Astana (KAZ), Mönchengladbach (GER), BATE Borisov (BLR), Dinamo Zagreb (CRO), Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), Lyon (FRA)

Champions League: Chelsea reassures and qualifies

Chelsea, which was not much better than in past events, managed to qualify with a hint of realism against FC Porto (2-0) and finish top of Group G of the Champions League, Wednesday after the sixth and final day.

With 13 points, the Blues doubled over the Portuguese, losers of the evening despite their ten units because victims away from the start of Kiev, vanqueur facing Tel Aviv (1-0), which ends at a length in front of them .

Bournemouth sealed by who had the plunge (1-0) after three encouraging matches without conceding a goal, the Londoners this time benefited from the little push they had not been Saturday.

It is not their coach José Mourinho who complain, who is increasingly heckled and offers a welcome respite before the shock which now awaits the surprising leader against Leicester.

To face his former club, the Portuguese coach had returned to the classic, with the aim Courtois, Terry in defense and to Costa.

Replacing the last two meetings, the scorer weighed, brought the opening goal, two warnings too, and received one for having left lying on foot before Casillas.

Launched towards the 12th minute, he stumbled over his team-mate but the unfortunate Marcano countered the reference that Maicon could only accompany the purpose.

However, this is the only opportunity that has obtained the Spaniard who still wait a bit to score his eighth goal in 2015.

Placed left after acting as false N.9, Hazard hope it finally score his first goal in 26 games now and it is therefore Willian, served by the Belgian, who made ​​the break to recovery (52). This is the fifth goal this season C1 for the Brazilian, more than ever top scorer in the competition.

Previously, visitors had kept the ball but unable to remove the game, Porto also struggled with a speedy compact opponent to shoot against.

The 14th Premier League so his group won for the 10th time in 13 participations.

Opposite, the Porto coach Julen Lopetegui may regret having waited to use a striker, Aboubakar in the? Case (57) because Brahimi (64) or Tello (78) were then successfully tested Courtois. But it is especially the home defeat 15 days ago against Kiev expensive.

Despite their fourth setback only in 15 European away, so leave the Portuguese fought for the 4th time at Stamford Bridge. If they want to impose day England, the draw of the C3 might give them another chance Monday.