Final Four: Juventus vs. Real Madrid

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CC

@ CarelessChelsea

1h

Bale attempting to get out of the country

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Football Fights @ FootbalIFights

3h

Who played better tonight?

RT - This Turnip

Fav - Gareth Bale

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today's papers:

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BBC Sport:

"Gareth Bale headed into the game as the centre of attention after a turbulent week, having been heavily criticised for his performance in the first leg.

...

[he had] a bright first half ... In the second period, however, Bale's promising night fell apart. To the clear frustration of the home fans, he squandered two great chances to restore his team's lead ... his failure to take the opportunity to turn around his underwhelming season leaves him more vulnerable than ever.

So how bad was the Welshman?

-Bale had seven shots in the second leg against Juventus; only Paris St-Germain's Edinson Cavani has had more in a single Champions League game this season

-The Welshman made just one tackle in the match and put just one cross into the Juventus box

-The former Spurs man lost possession of the ball 11 times in the match

-Bale's total of 35 passes (77.1% accuracy) was the third worst in the team, ahead of only Javier Hernandez and goalkeeper Iker Casillas

...

What do the Spanish press think?

It may not last, but the Spanish media's initial reaction to Real's exit was measured and sympathetic.

...

with Marca saying [at least] "nobody can accuse Bale of not participating this time" and adding that only "bad fortune" prevented him from getting on the scoresheet.

AS, meanwhile, concluded "it was not his night"

...

Barcelona-based Mundo Deportivo, predictably, was less generous, pointing out that Real's reputation for mounting famous comebacks at the Bernabeu appears to be "a thing of the past".

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/32731873

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The Telegraph (UK):

"Gareth Bale was abused by Real Madrid fans as he left the club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium ... As Bale attempted to drive away, he was yelled at by several fans who used abusive terms in Spanish such as "hijo de puta" (son of a wh*re) and "cabron" (asshole/homosexual/handler of prostitutes/etc)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/gareth-bale/11604495/Gareth-Bale-abused-by-Real-Madrid-fans-in-car-park.html

The Independent (UK):

"Gareth Bale abused as he leaves Real Madrid stadium... The Welshman, who in 2013 became the most expensive footballer in history, was booed and jeered as he emerged behind the wheel of his Audi Q7. ... where abusive chants of “mother******” and “son of a b****” rained down on the 25-year-old."

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/gareth-bale-abused-as-he-leaves-real-madrid-stadium-only-to-drive-the-wrong-way-and-nearly-run-over-a-policeman-10249106.html

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back on April 11: the biggest surprise of the Serie A season was when bottom side and recently-bankrupt Parma (whose players had not been paid all season), beat Juventus 1-0 on the goal of 18-year-old Argentine midfielder Jose Mauri. It was Parma's 5th win and Juventus' 2nd loss. Juve only played 5 of their starters (they were about to face Monaco in the CL quarterfinals), and had previously beaten Parma 7-0