Real Madrid host Juventus in the second leg of the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League needing to progress and set up the first-ever El Clasico in the final.
Madrid need to overcome a 1-2 first leg deficit they suffered on the hands of the Turin side which will not be an easy task considering the form of Juventus.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will ensure his team does not concede since they have let in two goals in each of their last three games in all competitions now.
The Los Blancos saw their hopes of winning the La Liga title were shuttered after they dropped points at home to Valencia ensuring rivals Barcelona took a four point lead at the top with only two games left.
The onus is on Madrid to beat the Italian side to have chance of winning a trophy this season and they are favorites to win tonight because of their good home record in the Champions League this season.
Real Madrid have been eliminated in their last three European Cup semi-finals against Italian sides. Juventus beat them in 2003, Torino in 1992 and AC Milan in 1989. But the Spanish side have won 21 of their 29 home games against Italian opponents and only lost six times
Madrid will be boosted by the return of their French striker Karin Benzema who recovered from a knee injury whereas Luka Modric is out injured with Toni Kroos still doubtful.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti did not indicate whether Benzema will start the game or Mexican striker Javier Hernandez and when speaking at the press conference for tonight’s second leg,“Benzema is fine,” Ancelotti said.
“He’s 100 per cent fit. He needed a little more time to recover but he’s ready.
“He could play from the start or he could come later on. Chicarito (Javier Hernandez) gives us different options but Benzema helps the whole team play better.
“In recent games, in the game against Valencia and Sevilla, the team played very well… but lacked concentration in details and this is the type of thing we must avoid doing.
“We must be focused throughout the whole game to avoid these problems. We need to play with greater intensity than in the first leg.”
Meanwhile Juventus welcome back one of the most rated young midfielders in European football Paul Pogba in their starting lineup.
“Pogba is ok and I think he will play from minute one,” Allegri said
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will be instrumental against Real Madrid
Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri will also look at both Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez who scored in the first leg to once again lead the attack.
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon warned his team and emphasized how attacking Madrid will be way they can reach the final and not just sitting back.
“Many teams have lost at the Bernabeu and most keepers concede a goal, but it’s inevitable that apart from their stadium and the home-team advantage, Real Madrid has such attacking potential that if we only defend, we’d come out losing.
“It’s inevitable to see since the stats say that Real Madrid always scores at the Bernabeu. We won’t change our way of playing but we have to be smart when playing tomorrow since we have a slight advantage.” He said.
Micheal Mawa is an Associate Professor of Development Studies in the School of Social Sciences at Nkumba University.
With a soft spoken accent, I could notice a gentle look in an academic giant whose calmness is a true description of a person brought up on principles of the catholic church.
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No wonder, he was a pioneer student at Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), a Catholic founded private university in Uganda in 1993, as Philimon Badagawa writes.
The gentleman is Dr. Michael Mawa who was born in May 1970.
He was later funded by the Catholic Church to study a PhD in Social Sciences in Italy in 2001. On completing his PhD in 2003 at 33 years, Mawa became one of the youngest PhD graduates in Uganda at such a age.
But all has not been a bed of roses. “My baby face does not reflect my academic qualifications and this has denied me a number of work opportunities “, Dr. Michael Mawa says.
“I had to leave my family behind, I had a child of 3 months when I left for my PhD in Italy.
Meaning – besides the PhD, Mawa also learnt a new language.
Work Experience: Michael Mawa is currently an Associate Professor of Development Studies in the School of Social Sciences at Nkumba university where he also doubles as the head of quality assurance, a position he says has made him move regions.
He is also the President of the Ugandan Universities Quality Assurance Forum (UUQAF) as well as the Founding President of the East African Higher Education Quality Assurance Network (EAQAN).
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He says the greatest challenge facing Universities today is that most institutions are doing more teaching than research.
“Many universities today are concentrating on teaching yet research that forms the basis of higher education is ignored”, Mawa laments.
Massage to graduates: Social networks are the key to success in the academic area and in the world at large. “All challenges can be overcome through social networks,” he notes.
Social Life: Off from the academic work life of this young Doctor, Mawa spends his leisure time with his children when out of the lecture room and office. And while in the village, he spends his leisure time with country elders listening to stories.
The new Nkumba university guild president, Kemirembe Ronah finally kicked off her guild roles after acquiring the tools of power from her predecessor Byarugaba Julius at the handover ceremony held on Friday May 8th 2015.
The 23 year old Business student in her 2nd year was announced the 3rd female guild president after beating seven other candidates in the race.
The handover ceremony was presided over by the acting Vice Chancellor of Nkumba university, Bwenje Francis who cautioned the leaders against involving themselves in violent strikes.
He also asked them to work in unity and lead a responsible life as leaders as they concentrate on their studies.
In her inauguration speech, Ronah reminded her subordinates to cooperate and leave an exemplary lifestyle that will leave a legacy for their predecessors.
Kemirembe Ronah(2nd R) with her relativesKemirembe Ronah(L) receiving the instruments of power from ByarugabaBottles, spoons, chicken and chewing were at play.The two shook the floor to the surprise of many.
Later in the evening all the guild officials had their handover dinner at Country Lake Resort-Garuga where eating and dancing habits were exhibited.
This was attended by some of Ronah’s relatives that included her mother.
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Arsenal suffered a shocking defeat by Swansea City at the Emirates stadium denting their chances in the race for second place finish in the Premier League to Manchester City with just two games remaining.
The Gunners went into the game hoping to win to close the three-point gap which last season’s champions City have over them.
The first half of the game saw a compact Swansea side playing deep in their half with calculated counter attacks.
Swansea’s Bafetimbi Gomis scored the winners against Arsenal
Wenger named the same starting XI for the fifth straight match, and the hosts had the first sight of goal when Olivier Giroud nodded Aaron Ramsey’s cross over the bar.
The half went on with both sides failing to create clear cut chances to trouble the goalkeepers on either side.
The second half saw Arsenal asserting themselves more on the game but Swansea commanded by their Skipper Ashley Williams were resolute in defence.
Gomis headed home an 85th-minute winner, with goalline technology showing the ball had crossed the line despite David Ospina‘s best efforts.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left to rue the missed chances of his side with Swansea not possessing much of a threat
“It’s frustrating because we lost a game where we were not under any threat to concede,” he told Sky Sports.
Arsenal will travel to old Traford for their next game against Manchester United on Sunday who can overtake the Gunners into third with victory.
Arsene Wenger urged his side not to let automatic Champions League qualification slip through their hands
‘It’s very important that we finish in the top three,’ stressed Wenger.
Meanwhile Swansea boosted their chances of qualifying for the Europa League by completing the double over Arsenal this season and going a point behind seventh-place Southampton.
Garry Monk the Swansea manager was pleased with his team sticking to their game plan.
“We could have come here and gone toe to toe but with the individual quality that Arsenal have, they could have maybe hurt us,” “We set up well with a game plan.” Monk said
Seventh place would secure a route into the Europa League if Arsenal beats Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.