Champions League

Arsenal and Liverpool will compete for the first time on the continental scene in the quarter finals of the Champions League. The draw conducted Friday at the headquarters of UEFA decided that the Gunners would receive the Reds to the Emirates stadium in the match to go. In withdrawal Premier league in recent years, Liverpool finds its teeth into Champions League. Men Rafael Benitez won the competition in 2005 and played the finals last year, each time eliminating Chelsea in passing. If Arsenal proposes a game more attractive, Liverpool has a tactical force which makes them a formidable opponent in Europe. "Playing the game back home might be good for us because we still inspires Anfield," said Reds manager, Rafael Benitez, on the website of the club (www.liverpoolfc.tv). "Liverpool student's level of play in Champions League. We know that we can beat them and that the form of the day which will decide the winner," said Arsene Wenger on the website of Arsenal (www.arsenal. com). The winner of this confrontation will face Chelsea or the Turks of Fenerbahce. The other two English clubs involved at this level of the competition, Manchester United and Chelsea, have been avoided. United, which won its last C1 in 1999, opposed to the AS Roma with a game to go to Italy for the revenge of the quarter-finals of last year. The Romans were humiliated 7-1 at Old Trafford. This season, the two formations are still being cross chickens. The Red Devils have emerged 1-0 at home and won 1-1 to void the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Chelsea received a lenient draw since Blues challenge Fenerbahçe, with a return match at Stamford Bridge. Eliminée by Liverpool in 2005 and 2007, the team Avram Grant will face stambouliotes boiling supporters. The FC Barcelona, which has been the law of Liverpool and Chelsea in recent Champions League, welcoming his opponent in the quarterfinals. The Catalans will also have the advantage of receiving a return Germans Schalke 04. If he qualifies, the opponent will Barça United or Roma.

A mass escape

In the aftermath of the famous arrival at the summit of Mont Ventoux, the riders of the Paris-Nice 2008 found yet rugged terrain on Friday. The 5th stage of the Race to the Sun that this Friday, covered up to its name, in fact led the pack of Althen-des-Paluds to Sisteron through four ribs (one of the second category and three from the 3rd category). A perfect route for the long-term escapes. And from the earliest kilometres, french riders showed they had ants in the legs. Alternately, Geslin, Bichot, Edaleine, Le Boulanger, Sprick, Pineau, Pauriol, Casar and Moreau are trying to get out of the pack during the first hour of racing. Pauriol, Pineau and Moreau, joined by Belgian Philippe Gilbert leaped in the right car after 40 km. Soon after, Cadel Evans, winner of the previous day and declared candidate for the final victory, took about twenty riders in his wheel to return to the quartet head. With 24 men in the front line, after a little more than 50 km, the good coup was gone. Barredo the hefty Decidedly far legs Friday, the French were among six in the breakaway (Moreau, Pineau, Pauriol, Rolland, Passeron and Goubert). A 100 km from Sisteron, the peloton took less Fringants of fugitives and only 17 riders remained in front. Atop the coast of Sault, after 75 km, the advance of this group was 1'15''. Under the leadership of Rabobank of the Yellow Jersey, Robert Gesink, the pack was trying to control the spread. But training Batavian was only to print the pace and fugitives would be up to 3'14''lead to 30 kilometres from the finish line. Anxious not to have to compete a bunched sprint to 17, five men set off in the attack. Moreau, Rolland, Mori, showed Kroon and Barredo and 40''advantage over their former comrades escaped to 15 kilometres to go. A few hundred metres away, Carlos Barredo, very comfortable throughout the afternoon, the attack bore final. Although out of the leading group, the Spanish of the Quick Step did not return to a speed of the greatest victory of his career. Four seconds later, Karsten Kroon settled the sprint of the small group, Christophe Moreau and Pierre Rolland finishing 4th and 5th. Arriving in the pack, 2'15'', Robert Gesink retains yellow jersey.

Spanish Joaquin Rodriguez

The 3rd stage of Tirreno-Adriatico smiled at the Spanish Joaquin Rodriguez. The Blue leader returns to the Swedish Niklas Axelsson.

Sirotti Riders of Tirreno-Adriatico today address the other side of the Italian peninsula. Here Quittée forty-eight hours, the coast thyrénienne given way today to the Adriatic coast, along which s'expliqueront the best riders in the peloton until Tuesday. The third step is disputed between Gubbio Montelupone (195 km), in addition to roads, but above all a steep climb arrival ensured removal of the sprinters final. Indeed, it is a wall it is necessary to climb in the streets of the city-1800 meters long at 12.1%, with a move to 20%. It will be devilishly strong to lift up there first, in a step expected to save big gaps. It Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld), which covers this morning Blue. Under the beautiful Italian sun, two men chose exile in the 31st kilometer. The attackers are french morning and Spanish. Lloyd Mondory (Ag2r La Mondiale) chooses José Vicente Garcia-Acosta (Caisse d'Epargne) for companion breakaway. The road will be long for the two men, who will remain head-to-head over 145 km. The pack did in fact no obvious concern for the two leaders morning, which increase their advantage slowly to reach 8'14 "90 kilometres from the finish. Only then will the teams Favorites are starting to react, reducing gradually advance in tandem more respectable proportions. obviously Before joining Lloyd Mondory and José Vicente Garcia-Acosta to 20 kilometres to go. The pack is the final touches together. What he left at least since the hilly roads of this third stage led to undermine the heart of the package of headache, with only a fifty units closer to the coast finale. And among those who jumped, there are beautiful people. - Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), Andy Schleck (Team CSC), Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and even Riccardo Rico (Saunier Duval-Scott) are no longer in the coup. The victim of a broken wheel in the last few hundred metres of a stage that he should have s'adjuger yesterday, Ricco is decidedly unlucky on the roads of Tirreno-Adriatico. Today is a drop which eliminates the race to victory. On arrival, he will give up 15'56 "to the winner, losing any chance to be well in the general classification of the race of two seas.

Sirotti So between fifty units that will dispute the stage victory in Montelupone. The wall of arrival is impressive. It's short, thankfully, but extremely steep. The rise is dizzying, but the champion Spain Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) does not fear difficulties. It addresses the rise in the sprint and leave-behind each of his opponents. His boot is so devastating that it crosses the line and solo winner with 12 seconds ahead of the puncheur Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) and the Swedish Niklas Axelsson (PVC Serramenti-Androni Giocattoli Diquigiovanni), a member of the breakaway which had marked yesterday's stage. Thanks to its regularity, Niklas Axelsson Blue Bags leader in the overall standings already fashioned after three of the seven stages. Tomorrow Saturday, the fourth stage will take place between Porto Recanati and Civitanova Marche (166 km).

Wales-France: a promising finale

Faced with the Welsh who were only a lifting of the tenth Grand Slam of their rich history, the Fifteen of France rugby will succeed with 20 points difference, Saturday in Cardiff, to retain his European title at their last match of the Six Nations tournament. Second ranking after three wins in Scotland (27-6) and then Ireland (26-21) and Italy (25-13), France would at Wales, the only undefeated team in the competition if it emerged victorious from the huge challenge that awaits him at the Millennium Stadium fully committed to the cause of the "Red Devils". But success will not suffice to Bleus to win for the third in a row for the Six Nations trophy that nobody has managed to do so far. Déficitaire at the points difference (+65 to +27) the tricolour Fifteen more will dig a minimum of 20 points to blow the title at Fifteen of Leek. A victory with 19 points difference might be sufficient if the formation of Marc Lièvremont marked more trials than its rival. All week, the Blues have suggested that a successful depriving Welsh Grand Slam already constitute a great satisfaction. Especially as since the beginning of the tournament, the new guidelines had tried to introduce new players (editor's note: 13 players have undergone the baptism of fire during the four international matches) and breaking his team while defending itself However galvauder the tournament. But the possibility of a feat necessarily delve into the lead Tricolores who have never lost at the Millennium under the tournament. "I, I go there with this in mind," noted the second row and captain Lionel Nallet. "I know it will be complicated but it is able to exploit, sometimes. I think we have the capacity for surprise." Wales, which had achieved the Grand Slam in 2005 and attracted a lot that year by his offensive Thursday, is close to repeat this feat three years later. "We have a historic opportunity and we intend to seize it with both hands," said Warren Gatland, the coach of the New Zealander Welsh. "But we must not underestimate the French that we want to spoil the party if we let them do it. And they have the talents and resources to do it." This game in Cardiff will influence the balance of the leadership team of young Fifteen of France. She who has paid a lot of audacity in previous matches this time played safety. No fewer than eleven players of the team that will challenge the "Red Devils" come to participate in the World Cup. These reminders will allow the tricolour Fifteen to regain a bit of cohesion when, in front, the training of Gatland built around the backbone of this Ospreys were very similar. Marc Lièvremont is aware of this. "The Welsh are ahead of us in the development of their game and they went from strength to strength since the World Cup. Cardiff we will be a very small outsiders even though we are aware of our strengths." In dry under the roof of the Millennium, which should be fired for the occasion, this finale promises to be spectacular between two teams who practice a game-oriented offensive. Both teams each registered eleven tests in four matches. The French will of course be wary of rear Welsh in particular the "elf" Shane Williams, but with atypical physical brackets confusing. But in their race to score they will also come up against the best defence in the tournament which has received only two tests in four appointments. In the other matches on the final day, England (4th) and Ireland (3e) will head to Twickenham with the common goal of saving their tournament rising on the third step of the podium. Finally in Rome, Italy (6th) will try to take advantage of the receipt of Scotland (5e) to get his first victory this season.

Vonn: "Unforgettable"

Lindsey Vonn, who has won the big crystal globe, has reneged on its performance in the slalom finals in Bormio. It is the best time of the second round. "This is an unforgettable day: win the World Cup overall, and realize the best time of the second leg of the slalom. Someone I am determined and I wanted this great globe. That was my dream since my 1st Cup victory of the world (end of 2004 at Lake Louise). Amidst season, I started thinking seriously trophy, and since yesterday to believe, "said Vonn. And to add: "I decided in February to the impasse on the slalom in Zagreb to leave me relax at home, before the tests Whistler Mountain (Canada). Was my idol Picabo Street. Past few days, I hear a lot of American doubled 1983 (Tamara McKinney / Phil Mahre). But I never saw Tamara run. I was not born when she won. "

Football: Season over for Daniel Agger

The Liverpool central defender Daniel Agger will be unavailable until the end of the season because of a foot injury, said the club Premier league. The Reds manager, Rafael Benitez, said the Dane, who has not played since September, would be made of metatarsus next week. "It's a blow for Daniel but we want to solve this problem once and for all," said Benitez on the website of the club (www.liverpoolfc.tv). "We are behind and covered Martin Skrtel plays very well. Daniel will be back next season."

Parks replaces Walker

Shot in the ankle, Nikki Walker left his place to Dan Parks in the Scottish XV, which will play Saturday in Italy. Before the match started at the wing Nikki Walker was forced to package after having injured his ankle in training. Dan Parks get a place holder at the opening, moving once again Chris Paterson on the wing. Andrew Henderson took a seat on the bench

A boulevard for Bayern

The Bayern Munich can dream of being present at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester City antrum and drama of the final round of the UEFA Cup on May 14. Grandissime favorite of the competition, Bavarians have indeed been entitled to a raffle forgiving this Friday in Nyon. In quarter-finals, Franck Ribéry and its partners face in the surprising effect of Spaniards Getafe, tombeurs Benfica in the 8th. In terms of European experience and quality of personnel, training of the outskirts of the city should, logically, do not match with the German ogre who has impressed during previous rounds (2-2 and 5-1 against Aberdeen 16es in the finals, 5-0 and 1-2 against Anderlecht in 8th). In the event of qualification for the semi-finals, Bayern found then either Bayer Leverkusen, whom he knew by heart to deal with Bundesliga, the Zenit St Petersburg who, admittedly, has eliminated the travel, but who showed signs of nervousness and defensive burdens that might face the costly leader of the Bundesliga. Fiorentina-starring PSV The displays a more balanced, a priori, to oppose the Fiorentina PSV Eindhoven. Four of the Serie A, ahead of AC Milan in particular, the Viola just eliminating Everton in 8th finals going to land his ticket to the quarterfinals at Goodison Park at the end of the meeting of shots on goal. The Dutch, returned to the stage of pools of the Champions League, have also released a Premier League club, Tottenham, 8th, again with shots on goal. The PSV, more experienced than the Florentines will still favourite for this quarter, thanks to the advantage of receiving in return. The last quarter-final will taken to the Glasgow Rangers also eliminated in the first round of the Champions League, Sporting Portugal, the last representative of the Portuguese football on the European stage. Leaders of the championship Scotland and surprise winners of Werder Bremen in the previous round (2-0, 0-1), Daniel Cousin partners will have the disadvantage of the match arguing go home. They need to make a difference at Ibrox Park to go calmly at Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Peugeot on the lookout at Sebring

In circumstances confusing, Audi has won the pole position in the first rendezvous of the season at Sebring (Florida). The Peugeot Stephane Sarrazin, Pedro Lamy and Nicolas Minassian was ambushed at the 2nd place Stephane Sarrazin (Peugeot 908 HDi-PAF) has completed Thursday the best time of the test session qualifying for the 12 Hours of Sebring, but the Audi R10 TDI of Allan McNish who will start in the lead, Saturday This meeting has been cancelled. "I am a little disgusted because the pole, we had made," said Sarrazin hot, as soon as he learned that his pole position had been cancelled. "The Audi also rolled, they made two rounds and we chrono one, which has not prevented from making the pole," said the pilot Peugeot, already author of the pole position in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, last June. The single qualifying session was interrupted by a red flag following the violent exit route of a competitor, Mazda Motor Lola, while Sarrazin had to make the best time, 1:43.117, on a single tower launched, just ahead McNish (1:43.765). "There were pieces everywhere in one of the turns, he had to taper very hard against the wall," said Sarrazin, nevertheless content to have "done well (her) work" at the wheel of a 908 " very effective. " This meeting, originally scheduled to last 25 minutes, and never regained all time were cancelled because there were still more than 10 minutes before the end of the meeting, according to Article 994 of the Rules of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). As for the two best-Porsche RS Spyder, awaiting the end of the sitting in the stands for a time, they did not even have time to take the runway. The meeting reserved for GT, disputed earlier, has also been cancelled, even though it had not been interrupted or curtailed. As a result of this surprising decision of the race officials, the Audi N.1, best time of the three free practice sessions take place on Wednesday and Thursday morning, which will start in pole position Saturday at 10:05 local (14h05 GMT ). But Peugeot will also be on the front line, just next with 908 N.7.

Paris-Levallois: The room-Marcel Cerdan Preferred

No more trips from home. Only Pro A club to have hosted guests in three different rooms this season (Marcel Cerdan in Levallois, Coubertin in Paris and POPB), the Paris-Levallois chose to end the alternation in the forthcoming days. Thus, the 23rd and 27th days, when the PL reecevra Gravelines and Le Mans, will be held in room-Marcel Cerdan de Levallois, even where players train, instead of Coubertin and the POPB. This should allow the Paris players, the fight for not descend to keep their benchmarks in the final straight of the Championship.

Football

FOOTBALL - It's done. After Jérémy Toulalan, Karim Benzema this week extended his contract with Olympique Lyonnais. Although it is still very theoretical (the players often leave before the end so that the clubs monnayent remainder of their contract), the attacker is enrolled at OL until June 2013. With an option for a further year. The amount remains carefully guarded, but at age 20, the striker has signed its second extension in seven months, and its president confides that he became one of the best paid players in their workforce. So one of the best paid in France. And this, only a few months after becoming owner in his club ... Unheard of, but the evolution of the salary curve irrational wife of the explosion of talent and the reputation of Benzema. A year ago, the player was a great hope for his club, but a replacement anyway. A year later, he released a double confrontation against Manchester United, was one of the few to rise to the level (read). The specialists would dry up more praise, the big club is the uprooting. The English press is even tonnes (read). And Michel Platini, UEFA President, "is the best player in Lyon." The former brain of the French team, who spoke Thursday on the sidelines of a seminar breeders for Euro-2008, estimated that more "Benzema plays with his intellect as with physical qualities. He has more talent than qualities. The talent is intelligence, qualities it is the speed, for example. " The former leader of the Blue loves it. Because it resembles the player he was? Platoche emerges to another reference, lyonnaise it. "People compare it to Ronaldo, I would say that it is a centre-forward to the old, it is a Bernard Lacombe, faster, bigger, more technical, but with the same sense of purpose. This is not a player who will be a speed defense as Cissé. "Cruel after missed opportunities by the Marseillais, not measure up Wednesday night in Russia. In the game in Lyon, Karim Benzema went quickly through its essential goals (17 in 28 league matches this season 1), but also by its involvement in Thursday It stalled, temporise when it is necessary, directs the play at times, is often the decisive passes (7 times this season). His versatility allows him to play left, which is irritating. But it could turn into an asset coming of age. When the speed will miss his technical knowledge combined with a surprising speed of analysis on the ground would make him a big number 10. But the goal scorers are so rare that the big clubs, for the moment, have their eye especially his talents in front of the goal. With the numerous requests, how long Benzema will remain in Lyon? If he wanted (and also OL), it could play as soon as next season in one of the best clubs English, Spanish or Italian. "I can not say how many years I will stay," he says. Maybe even two or three years. We will decide together with the president. (...) In my mind, I wanted to continue my classes at OL where everyone has confidence in me to continue my progression and not m'exiler abroad. There are still many things to do here, win titles including the French Cup double-championship this season. " The Lyonnais keep on anyway at least next year, and Jean-Michel Aulas has made a major financial boost because it would push the partnership until the 2010 World Cup. That would allow it to inaugurate its future Grand stage around his (now) expensive pearl.

GOLF

Golf - EPGA-Jeju Island - the night before McDowell After a departure delayed for two hours because of high winds, the second round of the Open Jeju Island (North Korea) was interrupted before its completion by darkness prevented 47 competitors to conclude their journey. The North Irishman Graeme McDowell has nevertheless had time to mark people's minds with an excellent day, concluded with a card of 64, eight strokes under par (1 eagle, six birdies). It has become a socre of - 12 with two shots ahead of Swedish Johan Edfors and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh.

Valenciennes mode executioner

"VA" can stammer history. Tomorrow, Valenciennes moves in a PSG in big trouble. A little more than a year, the men of Antoine Kombouaré had signed their first victory out of the season in Paris, then precipitating the dismissal of Guy Lacombe. This time, it is the head of Paul Le Guen is at stake "He has to live through difficult times. It is a buddy. But before and after the match, not during, "warns Antoine Kombouaré Yet that is wary of a" wounded beast ". Its players are on the same wavelength. "It stays on 4 matches without victory. We need points. If we can leave them in a bad situation, we fe-ra, "says Nicolas Penneteau

Sauret Gillespie turns the page

A 31-year-Audrey Sauret Gillespie decided to retire. The leader lights had not the strength to embark on a new adventure under a new coach

The absence of a motivating project "It is with great emotion that I officially announced my retirement from the French team to Pierre Vincent (Editor's note: coach) and Jean-Pierre De Vincenzi (Editor's note: National Technical Director)." Brief, published on its official website, Audrey Sauret Gillespie-has turned the page of 13 years of life in Blue (it celebrated its first selection in December 1994). European Champion in 2001, Vice-champion of Europe in 1999 with the selection lights, the leader of game Taranto (Italy), now aged 31 years, was visibly flame to continue. The arrival of Pierre Vincent reins to the team meant the beginning of a new adventure, in which Ardennaise unwilling to participate. "Pierre Vincent contacted me, a week ago, to know my intentions towards the French team, which has finally made me confirm that in the sense that it was the right time to retire. I can not in 31 years of venturing into a new campaign when it does me no this project as such, "she says. A paved thrown into the pond by Pierre Vincent, a month after his enthronement at the head of Blues, should only moderately appreciate this verbal output of the player with 202 selections. His project, or at least its outline, the coach of the Bourges has exposed in mid-February in the appointment. Believing that "a number of things" had worked at the previous European campaign, which ended with a modest 8th place at the Euro last October, the former Deputy Jacky Commères meant "build upon what has market "and wanted to" re-level the fundamental values of sport and enhance the collective teamwork rather than to think that adding this or that star will transform the success of the project. "Audrey Sauret-Gillespie, twice winner of the Euroleague (2002 and 2004), eight times French champion (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.2005) and four-time winner of the French Cup (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004) it would have felt under Pierre Vincent? The time to withdraw Only she could answer this question. Still, the leader tricolour felt that the time had come for her to leave the place. "In the depths of my desire to play my physical, my game are qualities that I know that I could still remain. But the reason, the pride of knowing when to withdraw and not to take the risk of making too much of the year, the year that waste all these wonderful years in the group are France that the time is right! The time to leave without regret and not let the opportunity to someone… create, "she says. So without one of the few French players in the WNBA to have evolved (in 2001 and 2002 with Washington Mystics) that the French team will, in August and September this year, qualified for Euro 2009 in the face Romania, Slovakia, Croatia and Hungary. But with Celine Dumerc and Edwige Lawson-Wade, the transition should be smooth.

Tennis

The era men's tennis french took the lead in wing at the first round of the Masters Series in Indian Wells. Of the four players involved lights at the bottom of the table, only Marc Gicquel has managed to turn the corner. The Breton has beaten the Italian Potito Starace in two sets (6-3, 6-4). That is the only good news of the day. For the rest, the record is indeed thin, with a big disappointment for Michael Llodra. After a misstep in Las Vegas placed on the account of a certain loss of freshness, the recent winner of tournaments in Auckland and Rotterdam has been eliminated by the dryly Korean Hyung-Taik Lee (6-2, 6-3) that he had beaten earlier this year in New Zealand. Few used to playing so many games in simple, Llodra, who has made a big physical preparation, suffering perhaps at this level. The defeat of Sebastien Grosjean and Arnaud Clement Are not the same. The former No. 1 french was against one of the men in the shape of the moment: Robin Soderling. Faced with the Swedish, Grosjean major day would probably have been a chance. But the Marseillais lack of confidence since the beginning of the year. There was, however, an opening Soderling has succeeded since that 43% of first balls. Arnaud Clement facing the same problem as his buddy. Defeated in the first round of every tournament in which he participated this year, the French do not find the "key". Thursday, he bowed face Olivier Rochus in two sets (6-4, 6-4) due to a weak first service (43% for the first French). Friday, three other French, Julien Benneteau, Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils are entering the tournament. Wish them greater success.

Wal-Mart

It is not clear how to interpret this decision by Wal-Mart, the giant American distribution, which decided to stop here his experience selling low cost desktop. There was no Windows installed, but Linux. He believes that his clients have not proven quite attractive for these machines. The UC gPC manufactured by Taiwan Everex were sold in 600 stores of the company at a price of 199 dollars. This could worry the Linux enthusiasts, but one can always find different Linux machines on the Internet site of Wal-Mart.