SECOND STRING REAL STRUGGLE
Spanish giants draw with second division Numancia
MADRID
But on both occasions, their modest visitors fought back thanks to a brace from Guillermo on the stroke of half-time and then after 82 minutes.
Numancia ended the game with 10 men after captain Dani Calvo was red-carded in the dying moments.
Leganes, a modest club from the Madrid suburbs, reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey for the first time in their 89year existence.
Despite losing 2-1 at Villarreal, who are currently sixth in La Liga, Leganes progressed on away goals having won the first leg 1-0.
Moroccan international Nabil El Zhar scored the crucial away goal for mid-table Leganes on the half-hour mark.
In the night’s other early second leg tie, last season’s runnersup Alaves downed third division Formentera 2-0 for a 5-1 aggregate win.
Today, three-time defending champions Barcelona host Celta Vigo with the two sides locked at 1-1. AFP failed to award it.
“Our team worked hard but we didn’t shine like on Sunday, but we also didn’t concede chances. It was easier to win because we played with an extra man,” said PSG coach Unai Emery.
PSG will travel to Rennes, who they thrashed 6-1 in the last 64 of the French Cup, in the semi-finals at the end of the month, with Monaco set to host Montpellier in the other last-four tie.
“All teams prefer to play at home. But we will make another trip to Rennes full of desire to reach the final and win the title,” Emery added.
Isaac Mbenza scored with four minutes left as Montpellier snatched a 1-0 win at Angers, while Adrien Hunou struck twice late on as Rennes defeated Toulouse 4-2.
Monaco became the first side to reach the last four of the competition on Tuesday as goals from Thomas Lemar and Adama Diakhaby saw Leonardo Jardim’s team overcome Cote d’Azur rivals Nice 2-1 at the Allianz Riviera. AFP won. Coaching the national team is a beautiful thing. It would be an honour, a source of pride.
“And winning a World Cup or European Championships even more.”
Mancini never became a regular with Italy during his ten-year international career during which the former Lazio and Sampdoria forward won 36 caps and scored four goals.
He reached the semi-finals of Euro 1998, and was on the squad that finished third in the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Giampiero Ventura was fired as coach last November days after Italy’s shock failure to reach the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years.
His successor will be appointed after elections for Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president on Jan 29, with outgoing boss Carlo Tavecchio saying he did not expect that before June.
Mancini joined Zenit, currently second in the Russian league, last June and is under contract until 2020. AFP