Juventus take on Frosinone ahead of Atletico encounter
MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo is set for a rare start on the bench as Juventus host struggling Frosinone on Friday looking to pull 14 points clear in Serie A with an eye towards next week’s Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid.
Portuguese star Ronaldo brought his tally to 20 goals for Juventus in all competitions last weekend in a 3-0 win over Sassuolo.
But the 34-year-old will start on the bench for just the second time this season before the former Real Madrid player returns to the Spanish capital next week.
Paulo Dybala returns to the starting line-up, forming an attacking trident alongside Mario Mandzukic and Federico Bernardeschi.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri’s defensive problems have been eased with trio Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini back training.
Juventus captain Chiellini is expected to return on Friday.
FUNDS FOR BARCELONA
BARCELONA: Spanish champions Barcelona have used an investment fund to help their finance operations, an attempt to compete with clubs such as Manchester City and Paris St Germain funded by Gulf money, a club source said on Wednesday.
The source told Reuters that Barca had received a financing package of 140 million euros ($158.06 million) last year from Pricoa Capital Group and Barings, to be paid back in five years.
He said 90 million euros came for Pricoa and 50 million from Barings. “This is a rolling fund which is perfect for the club because it has very low interest rates,” the source said.
“European football is getting more and more competitive, with clubs like Manchester City and Paris St Germain who are bankrolled by states. Our model is completely different to theirs so we need to think of imaginative ways to compete with them, and this is a very innovative scheme.”
BECKHAM’S COACH DIES
LONDON: Eric Harrison, the former youth team coach of Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’, which included David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, has died aged 81, the club announced on Thursday.
Harrison, who helped forge the fledgling careers of Beckham, Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Gary and Phil Neville, was diagnosed with dementia four years ago.
BLASTERS EYE WIN
KOCHI: Nelo Vingada is on the hunt for his first win as Kerala Blasters FC take on bottom-placed Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday.
Kerala have just one win in their kitty so far and are winless in 14 games, resulting in dwindling attendance figures.