Football: Monaco square up to Arsenal in France

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Monaco looking to build on surprise 3-1 defeat of Arsenal in London.

ANKARA: French club Monaco, who beat English team Arsenal unexpectedly 3-1 in the last round of the UEFAChampions League, is aiming to continue their journey in Europe by securing the two-goal-gap in the second leg in France on Tuesday.

Arsenal might be in trouble as their Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta, French right-back Mathieu Debuchy and English winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss the match due to injury.

Monaco’s Italian defender Andrea Raggi and Ivorian towering striker Lacina Traore are also sidelined owing to injury problems.

Arsenal’s Czech veteran midfielder Tomas Rosicky is doubtful for the game against Monaco through illness.

The game at Stade Louis II will start at 20:45 CET (1945 GMT).

Last season’s runners-up, Atletico Madrid, will try to eliminate German club Bayer Leverkusen at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Tuesday.

Bayer Leverkusen has the advantage before the second leg against Atletico since they won the first leg 1-0 in Germany.

Two Atletico regulars, Uruguayan center-back Diego Godin and Portuguese central midfielder Tiago are suspended and the Spanish team’s left-back Guilherme Siqueira is suffering from a hamstring injury. For Bayer Leverkusen, Australian forward Robbie Kruse has ankle problems.

The match at Vicente Calderon will kick off at 20:45 CET (1945 GMT).

Barcelona-Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund-Juventus matches will be played on Wednesday.

Juventus won the first leg against Germany’s Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at home in Turin and English club Manchester City lost to Catalan heavyweights Barcelona 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

Last week Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Porto qualified for the quarter-final stage in Champions League.

Quarter-final draws will be held in the Swiss city of Nyon at 12:00 CET on March 20, Friday and the matches will be played between April 14-15 and 21-22.

 

 Fixtures and first-leg results:

March 17, Tuesday:

Monaco (FRA) vs Arsenal (ENG) (3-1)

Atletico Madrid (ESP) vs Bayer Leverkusen (GER) (0-1)

March 18, Wednesday:

Barcelona (ESP) vs Manchester City (ENG) (2-1)

Borussia Dortmund (GER) vs Juventus (ITA) (1-2)

All matches will start at 20:45 CET (1945 GMT).

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