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some pop to an offense that has struggled fo
in Allgemein 17.11.2018 15:10von riluowanying123 • 2.943 Beiträge
The closest Leicester got to a European trip in recent years was crossing the Welsh border to play Swansea in the Premier League.Now, as the unlikely English champions, theyll be visiting Belgium, Portugal and Denmark -- and if all goes well, even more countries -- for matches in their first-ever campaign in the Champions League.Leicester is one of two newcomers in Europes elite club competition this season, along with Rostov following its second-place finish in the Russian league.Both teams were fighting relegation in their respective domestic leagues just two seasons ago, yet now they are mixing it with the cream of the continent.---LEICESTERIn its 132-year history, Leicester has only had four seasons of European competition -- the last coming in 2000 in the now-defunct UEFA Cup after winning the English League Cup. That was Leicesters last piece of major silverware before shocking the sporting world by winning the Premier League last season.The intervening 16-year period was a bumpy ride for the central English club, which bobbed up and down between Englands top two divisions -- and even spent a season in the third tier in 2008-09 -- and also drifted close to financial ruin before being taken over by a Thai consortium in 2010.The team, known as the Foxes, returned to the Premier League in 2014 and two years later they are the champions, completing the ultimate fairytale journey.Theres been something of a championship-winning hangover at Leicester, though, and the Champions League campaign, which starts at Club Brugge on Wednesday, will offer some respite after a sobering start to the Premier League title defense.Having lost just three league games last season, Claudio Ranieris team has lost two of its opening four matches this season and the manner of the defeats will be a concern.An opening-day 2-1 loss at promoted Hull and Saturdays 4-1 loss at Liverpool highlighted how much the team is missing NGolo Kante, the France midfielder sold to Chelsea in the offseason. Often it felt like Kante covered the ground of two players last season, offering excellent protection to a defense containing journeymen and even cast-offs.With Kante gone, Leicesters solidity has disappeared and the side looks open. Liverpool could easily have scored more than four goals at Anfield.We have to clear our minds, Ranieri said, and understand that in football we have to be strong, determined, aggressive and reactive.Its not all doom and gloom for Leicester, however.The club ended up being one of English footballs biggest spenders in the summer transfer window, breaking its transfer record twice to sign strikers Ahmed Musa, then Islam Slimani. The squad is now much deeper and stronger, while Ranieri managed to limit the major outgoings to just Kante, meaning key players Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are still on board.In a sense, the pressure is off Leicester this season and it should just enjoy the Champions League campaign, especially considering its benign draw that will see the team also play FC Copenhagen and FC Porto. A couple of wins at its King Power stadium fortress and a place in the knockout stage could beckon.Once again, I say we are underdogs, said Ranieri, who is embarking on a sixth Champions League campaign with a sixth different club.And thats just how they like it in Leicester.---ROSTOVRostov almost did a Leicester last season in Russia, falling just short in its title challenge a year after narrowly escaping relegation.Rostov finished second, two points behind CSKA Moscow, to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League and then beat famous European clubs Anderlecht and Ajax to make the group stage.The unheralded provincial side is breaking new ground, with its only previous experience of European competition being a brief one -- a loss in the Europa League playoffs in 2014. On that occasion, Rostov was excluded, then reinstated, from competition following a legal battle over financial issues, one of many episodes in a turbulent last few years.It was close to financial abyss in 2015 as the countrys recession hit Rostovs owners, the regional government.One coach, Igor Gamula, was suspended after saying the club had enough dark-skinned players and would not sign another. Then his successor, Kurban Berdyev, led Rostov on its unlikely title challenge only to quit for a better-paid job at Spartak Moscow.Spartak promptly changed its mind on hiring Berdyev and he is back at Rostov, listed as a vice-president/coach. One of his former assistants is the head coach, on paper at least, but Berdyev is likely to call the shots when it comes to Champions League tactics. He has experience of upsetting European giants, having beaten Barcelona away while Rubin Kazan coach.Meanwhile, a section of Rostovs Olimp 2 Stadium will be closed for its first home game in the Champions League because of racist behavior by fans during the playoff win over Ajax.The draw hasnt been kind to Rostov, which will face Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and PSV Eindhoven in Group D. Cheap Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Cheap New York Mets Jerseys . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. http://www.cheapworldseriesjerseys.com/cheap-minnesota-twins-jerseys/ . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. 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SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners tried their best to debunk the notion that theyd given up on the 2016 season by trading veteran pitchers Wade Miley, Joaquin Benoit and Mike Montgomery late last month, but it was hard to evaluate the moves as anything less than a fire sale.On Thursday, Seattle will get its first look at a return investment when left-handed rookie Ariel Miranda makes his Mariners debut in the series finale against the Boston Red Sox.Youre going off scouting reports and hoping he throws strikes, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. Thats my biggest thing.Coincidentally, Mirandas only other big-league action also came at Safeco Field, where he threw two innings of relief for the Baltimore Orioles in a July 3 game against the Mariners. He hasnt necessarily been inserted into Seattles rotation for the remainder of the season -- the return of right-hander Taijuan Walker from the disabled list this season could render this a spot start -- but Miranda could make a case for himself with a good outing Thursday.Boston has its own up-and-coming prospect under the crosshairs in left fielder Andrew Benintendi, who made his first start Wednesday night and received a standing ovation from the Pacific Northwest Red Sox fans when he collected his first career hit in the third inning.Benintendi, who was called up late Monday night, probably wont be in the lineup Thursday because hes platooning with right-handed-hitting Bryce Brentz in left field. But he has become an instant fan favorite because of his potential and quick rise through the Red Sox minor-league system.Benintendi had about a dozen friends and family members at Wednesdays game in Seattle.ddddddddddddSome of them flew in (Wednesday) morning and are flying out (after the game), Benintendi said. Ive had that kind of support system my entire life.The Red Sox (58-48) are hoping Benintdendis bat can add some pop to an offense that has struggled for much of the current road trip.On this West Coast trip, the offense has been a premium to come by, manager John Farrell said after Wednesdays 3-1 loss to Seattle.Boston is likely to play Thursdays game without first baseman Hanley Ramirez, who hurt his wrist in a dugout fall late Tuesday night and was wearing a brace Tuesday.After the loss to Seattle, Hernandez said he was hoping to get back on the field as soon as possible. Farrell said Ramirez was likely to miss the Seattle series and possible part, if not all, of the upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Thursday is also likely to mark the final time retiring Red Sox star David Ortiz plays in Seattle. The Mariners honored him before Wednesdays game with a short ceremony that included Seattle hitting coach Edgar Martinez and a playful presentation by Mariners stars Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cruz and Felix Hernandez, who dressed in costume.That was good, very special, Ortiz said. My boys doing their thing, bringing their bling out.Left-hander Drew Pomeranz (0-2, 7.53 ERA) is scheduled to make his fourth start since being traded from San Diego for the Red Sox. 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