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Europa League preview: Bale set to give Inter headaches

Bale carved Inter to pieces – and then right-back Maicon – with a breathtaking hat-trick when the sides last met in European competition in 2010-11.

INTER MILAN HOST Tottenham Hotspur in the pick of the Europa League fixtures tonight after their last-gasp 3-2 win over Catania on Sunday.

Tottenham’s stocks could not be higher after defeating north London rivals Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday to move up to third in the Premier League, nor could their star winger’s Gareth Bale who was on the scoresheet again.

Spurs’ other speedster Aaron Lennon scored the second goal against the Gunners and is reported to be on Inter’s transfer radar, adding more spice to the round-of-16 clash.

Bale carved Inter to pieces – and then right-back Maicon – with a breathtaking hat-trick when the sides last met in European competition in 2010-11. The Welsh winger’s cameo earned Spurs a 4-3 loss away from home in the first leg of their Champions League tie after the English side had trailed 4-0.

He will be a marked man again this evening at the San Siro but few teams have been able to stop him all season.

Rafael Benitez’s Chelsea continue their journey in the competition against Steaua Bucharest, the Romanian side who knocked Ajax out of the competition during the last stage.

Playing in Europe’s lesser competition will be somewhat degrading for the Champions League holders but the side – and Benitez – could dearly do with taking another step towards some silverware ahead of their FA Cup clash with Manchester United at the weekend.

Viktoria Plzen stunned Napoli 5-0 on aggregate in the last round and face Fenerbahce looking to advance further.

Anzi Machachkala take on Newcastle, who will be without captain Fabricio Coloccini for another two weeks.

Stuttgart welcome Italian side Lazio to Germany in the first leg, Swisse outfit Basel entertain Zenit St Petersburg and Spain’s Levante are at home to Rubin Kazan.

Benfica take on Bordeaux at home in the first leg having never lost to French opposition in Portugal.

‘We won’t accept being bullied by Juve,’ says Celtic boss Lennon

Anybody want to buy a solid gold replica of Messi’s left foot?

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    Mute Conor Walsh
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    Apr 13th 2013, 10:12 AM

    Some things just never change. The longer this man stays at the helm, the deeper cycling sinks into the abyss!

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    Mute Aidan Thompson
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    Apr 13th 2013, 10:15 AM

    Is it April 1st??

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Apr 13th 2013, 10:34 AM

    UCI had a great chance to close the book completely on the whole Lance Armstrong scandal by ousting this clown. By not doing so, they have discredited themselves even further.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Apr 13th 2013, 2:03 PM

    Perhaps they’re afraid of the dirt he could dish?

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Apr 13th 2013, 10:14 AM

    Unless the actual reason CI gave him the nomination is that they want him to have to justify his actions to the whole UCI, I don’t understand this.

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    Mute pauric deery
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    Apr 13th 2013, 10:49 AM

    Cycling Ireland put him into his THIRD 4 year term with a proposal that future presidents can only serve TWO 4 year terms. Sweet Jesus, no wonder there are thick paddy jokes.

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    Mute Hughie O'Donnell
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    Apr 13th 2013, 10:26 AM

    Sure the poor auld Divil thought Paul Kimmage was only stirring.

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    Mute Martin Matthews
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    Apr 13th 2013, 10:18 AM

    Ah sure these things happen in cycles

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    Mute Marcas Mac Liam Seoighe
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    Apr 13th 2013, 11:04 AM

    Typical muppet. At least he’s not running the country, but he’s partly responsible for a lot of struggling riders damaging their health to make a living. We really produce some pieces of work, this country.

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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    Apr 13th 2013, 11:35 AM

    I tell ya, the sport is clean, totally clean. These lads won’t even take aspirin.

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    Mute Donal Vaughan
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    Apr 13th 2013, 11:47 AM

    Was this announcement from his SPOKESperson ?

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    Mute Danger Here
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    Apr 13th 2013, 3:00 PM

    Does anybody know who sits on this board? We should name and shame the members. Idiotic stuff!

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    Mute John Michael
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    Apr 13th 2013, 4:16 PM

    I hear CI is inducting Lance Armstrong into it’s hall of fame.

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    Mute Genius
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    Apr 13th 2013, 11:10 AM

    Is this News ?

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    Mute Brian Mulligan
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    Apr 13th 2013, 12:48 PM

    Yes it is!

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    Mute Little Jim
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    Apr 13th 2013, 1:34 PM

    Bad news.

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    Mute Séamus Stacey
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    Apr 14th 2013, 12:17 AM

    Perhaps the members that backed his nomination believe they could have a greater influence on the future of the UCI by nominating McQuaid with conditions/proposals attached. Or flipside is, what did McQuaid offer to CI for the nomination?

    I’m not defending the nomination of Pat McQuaid, just trying to understand why they would vote for him.

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