BARCELONA // A wounded Bayern Munich beast will be on the prowl in Barcelona tonight. The Catalans entertain the German side at the Camp Nou in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, with Bayern reeling from a 5-1 weekend defeat by the new Bundesliga leaders VfL Wolfsburg.
Bayern are smarting, yet if there is one team in Europe capable of shredding their defence as Wolsburg did on Saturday with four goals in 14 second half minutes, then it is Pep Guardiola's side.
Barca annihilated Lyon with four quick goals at home in the last round and have hit four teams for six goals in the league so far this season, but the coach Guardiola is, publicly at least, urging caution.
"League form has nothing to do with the Champions League, but in my opinion Bayern's defeat is the worst possible result for us," Guardiola said.
"Bayern have won the European Cup four times and have won their domestic league many times, and they will arrive with even greater motivation."
Barca eliminated German opponents Shalke 04 at the same stage last season and they were able to rest Thierry Henry and use Lionel Messi and Daniel Alves as substitutes in Saturday's vital 1-0 win at Valladolid which kept them six points clear of Real Madrid with eight league games to play.
With Barca facing a potential 16 games in two months as they go for three trophies, their players have appreciated four days without a game or travel after last week's international exertions.
The midfielder Yaya Toure is a doubt but captain Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta are fit again for the clash which has seen more than 90,000 tickets sold, including 7,000 to travelling Bayern fans.
Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann claims his side "are not afraid of Barcelona" but asked for "greater sacrifice and determination" following the Wolfsburg debacle.
Klinsmann will be able to call on fit again Hamit Altintop and striker Luca Toni as the Bavarians seek to maintain their undefeated record in the Champions League this season, but striker Miroslav Klose and central defender Lucio will be absent.
"The players know that the whole world will be watching and they will want to show what they can do," added Klinsmann, who is desperate for a big improvement from his charges.
@Email:amitten@thenational.ae
Barcelona v Bayern, ART Sport 3 & ART Prime Sport, KO 10.45pm
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.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
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The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
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