Scottish champions Celtic will look to use their reprieve from Champions League oblivion and gain a positive result away at Slovenian titleholders Maribor on Wednesday in the first leg of their play-off.
Celtic were soundly beaten by Polish outfit Legia Warsaw in the third qualifying round only to regain their place in the competition thanks to an administrative error by their opponents.
Legia went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to overturn Uefa’s original decision to punish them for sending on substitute Bartosz Bereszynski at the end of the second leg – with Legia leading 6-1 on aggregate – when he was deemed as being ineligible to play as he should still have been serving a suspension.
However, the CAS refused to make a quick ruling on the matter, leaving Celtic to focus their minds on the challenge of Maribor as they chase a place in the lucrative group stage.
Celtic manager Ronny Deila at least can take his side – winners of the European Cup back in 1967 – to Slovenia in better heart than when they faced Legia as since then the champions have begun their domestic title defence with two wins, the second one a 6-1 humbling of Dundee United.
“It looks like the players now understand what they’ve got to do so it was a good feeling for me,” said the 38-year-old Norwegian following Saturday’s victory.
“We created a lot of things and kept the ball well and also our set-plays were better.”
Despite the comprehensive nature of their win, Deila says there is still room for improvement.
“We win together and we lose together but we still need to work on our performances,” the Celtic boss added.
“We showed today that we have a very good team and there is a lot of good quality.”
Another former winner of the competition, the 2004 champions Porto, are also in action away in the first leg at French side Lille, who enjoy a proud record when it comes to the play-offs having never lost in three previous appearances.
Porto do not represent as formidable a challenge as they did when they won the trophy nor indeed when under Andre Villa-Boas they won the Europa League in 2011 with an attack containing Colombian Radamel Falcao and Brazilian frontman Hulk.
Indeed Porto come to France having offloaded two key players, French central defender Eliaquim Mangala and experienced Belgian international midfielder Steven Defour, who left for Manchester City and Anderlecht respectively in recent weeks.
Lille have begun their Ligue 1 campaign with a win and a draw but scored just the one goal through Belgian teenager Divock Origi, whose performances at the World Cup earned him a move to Liverpool before he returned to the French side on loan.
Lille’s Danish international central defender Simon Kjaer, who along with his fellow defenders has not conceded a goal in the two Ligue 1 games, said that they were in a good condition to beat the Portuguese giants.
“Of course we will be ready for Porto, we have to be,” said the 25-year-old.
“We have been excellent in terms of playing as a team even if offensively we could have been sharper.
“We are confident for the next match, the team can only improve.”
Villas-Boas and Hulk have been reunited at Zenit St Petersburg and both have not enjoyed the smoothest of rides since their halcyon days at Porto.
However, the Russian side has made a sparkling start to their league campaign winning all four of their games and should have enough firepower for Belgian side Standard Liege.
The other two matches will pit Danes Aalborg against Cypriots Apoel Nicosia while Slovakians Slovan Bratislava match up with Belarusians BATE Borisov.
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
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How to avoid crypto fraud
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The%20specs
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Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
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- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal
Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham
Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 05 Arsenal 1-4 ipswich
March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom
Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
Apr 02 Arsenal 3-0 Leicester
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
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• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded