Real Madrid-Juventus Betting Preview: Back the hosts to win whilst conceding

The most glamorous tie in this round of Champions League matches sees the Old Lady of Italian football visit the Santiago Bernabeu.

Juventus' capitulation at the weekend in throwing away a two-goal lead at Fiorentina was in stark contrast to Real Madrid's dominant performance over Malaga and the Blancos are clear favourites with BetVictor for a win at 8/13 (1.62). Juve, meanwhile, are offered at 21/4 (6.25), with the draw available at 31/10 (4.10).

Madrid are of course an imposing prospect at home, and are unbeaten in Europe at the Bernabeu for two and a half years, during which time the biggest teams in Europe have failed to overcome them.

This is a game that Carlo Ancelotti's men should win and if they replicate the intensity of their weekend performance they will pick up the three points, yet the attacking threat of Juve should not be underestimated.

Nine goals netted in three games, means they come to the Spanish capital in decent scoring form at least and Real Madrid have a habit of conceding goals at home.

Both teams to score is too short at 8/13 (1.62) but both teams to score and Real Madrid to win looks highly appealing at 19/10 (2.90).

Domestically, this bet regularly pays out, proving to be the correct selection in 10 of Madrid's last 12 home league games and has another great chance of doing so against Juve.

Guardiola exactly what Bayern Munich needed, says Ballack

Michael Ballack believes that Pep Guardiola was just the right man for Bayern Munich after their successful 2012-13 campaign.

The former Barcelona coach had big boots to fill after Jupp Heynckes guided the Bavarians to a historic treble last term, but Ballack feels the 42-year-old is the perfect man for the job.

'It's always hard to set new goals after you win the Champions League. What are your ambitions for the following season...,' Ballack told Sky Sport News.

'The change of coach was exactly what Bayern needed. Fresh challenges have arrived with Guardiola. He is absolutely world-class. He knows exactly what the players need in every situation.

'The Champions League game against Manchester City showed that this team still has plenty to offer. That was extraordinary.'

Bayern have been in impressive form in the opening months of the season and sit atop of the Bundesliga table, while they also lead their Champions League group.

Mourinho praises clinical Torres

Jose Mourinho lauded Fernando Torres' attitude after the striker inspired Chelsea's 3-0 Champions League win at Schalke.The Spain international scored twice in Gelsenkirchen on his 100th start for the west Londoners as they moved joint top of Group E and consigned their opponents to their heaviest home defeat in Europe's premier club competition on Tuesday.

Samuel Eto'o dropped to the bench as Torres was given the nod to start and he seized his chance by taking his tally to five goals in his last five Champions League games before Eden Hazard added a third goal.

Torres has come in for plenty of criticism since moving to Stamford Bridge in a big-money deal from Liverpool, but Mourinho has been impressed with his work ethic.

The Portuguese told Sky Sports: 'Sam [Eto'o] played well in the last game and Fernando also did today. I prefer to say we have strikers who work for the team and can score goals. Them and Demba [Ba] have enough quality to play for us.

'He's [Torres] a hard worker, he's not the kind of guy to hide behind the fee paid for him. He's had some not so good times since he came here, but he always kept his professionalism and since I arrived he's always positive.

'Sometimes not playing so well, but always trying hard.'

Chelsea have responded to their shock home defeat to Basle in their opening group game by hammering seven goals in two away fixtures without conceding and Mourinho is determined to ensure his side maintain their momentum and finish top of the pile.

The former Real Madrid manager added: 'I told them after the first game, 'You have garbage, clean it.'

'We did it in the best possible way - two away wins, six points and leading the group.

'We now have two matches at home. We are in a good position to qualify and we want to finish top of the group

Dubai to become ‘smart city’

As part of Dubai’s ambitions to move towards an electronic and more efficient government, Dubai Smart Government (DSG) has announced the release of several new smartphone applications and initiatives.

The announcement comes merely a day after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, declared, on the eve of GITEX Technology Week, his plans to transform the emirate into a ‘smart city’.

His Highness announced that the project aims to increase WiFi penetration across Dubai and provide all of its residents with high-speed internet in public places.

“We have launched a new project to transform Dubai into a smart city. Education, healthcare and general security will be managed via smart systems,” he posted on his Twitter account.

Below are some of the recent government apps that were unveiled recently:

Mobile gateway app, mDubai: This application allows users to communicate with government departments and entities for news, activities and contact details. It also allows residents to view the most used eServices and access location maps of important service providers in Dubai, including hospitals, shopping malls, police stations, schools, banks and public parks. Users can also submit feedback and complaints, and receive notifications about interesting events happening in the emirate.

mPay app: This recently updated app allows Dubai residents to instantly pay government bills and fines. Users can pay their Dubai Electricity and Water (DEWA) bills, top up their Salik and Nol (Dubai Metro) cards, pay their traffic fines and settle Etisalat subscription bills.

HR self-service app: This provides services for the departments of human resources, allowing staff to inquire about job data and submit HR-related requests. It also provides a comprehensive and smart attendance calendar, and is regarded as a means to keep abreast of the news of colleagues and team members.

Suggestions and complaints app: This enables customers living inside or outside the emirate to submit comments, suggestions and complaints about the services provided to them by Dubai’s government entities.

MyID: This app, the first stage of which will be launched at GITEX, allows users to access all services provided by the Dubai government through single sign-on access using their Emirates ID card. It provides a unified electronic identity and eliminates the need to register separately for different services.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has also announced its plans for a smart taxi application, which would allow customers to directly book taxis and track their movement in real time, without having to call the contact centre.

Mattar Al Tayer, executive director of the RTA, says the app is the first of its kind in the Middle East region. He says: “The smart taxi app can automatically pick up the address and identify the location of a passenger; which helps the public using the service to identify the address without needing to write the details.

Red carpet round-up: Tinsletown’s finest

The Hollywood beauties were dressed to kill.

Hollywood beauties graced the red carpet laid out for ELLE’s 20th Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration in Los Angeles Monday evening, dressed to kill! Here are out favourite looks from the evening:

Caitlin Fitzgerald

Actor Caitlin Fitzgerald looked lovely in an embellished short white dress. She paired her outfit with nude heels and a white clutch. We love those side-parted cropped locks and that maroon lipstick on her!

Emmy Rossum

Lady in red, actor Emmy Rossum was dressed in an Elie Saab Resort 2014 halter neck dress with matching Louboutins and lippie. The Shameless actor paired this sequins-embellished dress with silver jewels and that stunning million dollar smile!

Marion Cotillard

Actor Marion Cotillard wore a Christian Dior Spring 2014 dress — a silver jacquard floral-embroidered dress, which she paired with tri-colour Dior sandals. While we like her look, we certainly aren’t fans of that hairdo! Plus, brighter make-up would have made her look way better.

Reese Witherspoon

The Legally Blonde actor looked super-sexy in this red hot strapless Calvin Klein dress. Her soft make-up and side-parted tousled updo turned the temperature up a few notches. We are in love with that clutch and those chic nude heels.

Darby Stanchfield

The Scandal actor looked stunning in this white cut-out jumpsuit. She accented blue accessories against her stark white ensemble, including a silver-and-blue box clutch, midnight blue pointed patent pumps and a blue ring — do those blue eyes count?

We love her centre-parted caramel hair, which she let loose over her shoulders and give extra points for the smouldering make-up — hot red lips and dewy, rosy cheeks.

Qawwalis are associated with soul: Rizwan-Muazzam

Rizwan and Muazzam are Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s nephews. PHOTO: FILE

JODHPUR: Qawwali singers Rizwan and Muazzam Ali Khan aka Rizwan-Muazzam — nephews of legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan — were born to create devotional Sufi music. However, they feel when qawwalis are transformed into Bollywood numbers, they lose their soul and essence.

“Qawwalis are associated with the soul, and once you compose them in Bollywood, the composition takes away its essence and meaning,” Rizwan said. “It will be wrong to call it a qawwali. It qualifies as a song.” The duo is no stranger to Bollywood movies — Rizwan and Muazzam are also known for their song Dil Mera Muft Ka.

The brothers performed at the ongoing Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF), and belted out some popular numbers of their late uncle, trying to re-create the same magic withYeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai, Maula Ali and Allah Ho, but couldn’t match his calibre.

They feel it is extremely difficult to find anyone like their uncle. “It is a difficult challenge for us, and at times, we feel burdened by it as well. But this also motivates us to outdo our previous performances and develop our own style,” said Muazzam.

Based in Faisalabad, the legacy of the duo’s family tradition goes back 600 years and the craft has been passed on from generation to generation. In earlier days, qawwalis were sung at Sufi shrines and Rizwan feels the form is limited to only men. “Women don’t perform qawwalis. They are not allowed to. It is a rule followed everywhere,” he said.

Rizwan and Muazzam sing in Hindi, Urdu, Persian and Sanskrit. “When we perform in these languages, we ensure that we know the meaning of the lyrics. It is important because you are communicating with Allah, and you should know what you are singing,” added Muazzam.

The duo participated in the third season of Coke Studio Pakistan, and will be seen in its sixth season too. They feel such platforms are the best way to reach out to the younger audiences who are not fond of traditional qawwalis.

“Such platforms allow us to be innovative in our techniques without losing basics of qawwali,” said Rizwan. With the kind of variation and range their voice requires for their act, the two practice eight hours a day and stay away from cold fizzy drinks to avoid sore throats.

Ghee (butter) is the secret ingredient for their soulful voice. “We don’t have oil at all. We eat food cooked in ghee. Can’t you make that out from our health,” Muazzam chuckled.

Federer confesses to past mistakes

“Playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics is something I’d like to achieve. That doesn’t mean I’m going to end my career there, or earlier or later.” PHOTO: AFP/FILE

BASEL: Roger Federer admitted that he made serious errors in his planning which have contributed to a disastrous 2013 campaign, but insisted that retirement is not on his agenda.

Federer has slumped to number seven in the world and eight in the race for the World Tour Finals, and failed to make a final at any of the four majors, a run of disappointments that has led many in the sport to predict the end of the road for the 32-year-old.

The Swiss, who split last week with coach Paul Annacone after more than three years, confessed that he could have done things differently.

“I played matches that I should never have played,” said Federer, ahead of his participation in his home Swiss Indoors event which started yesterday.

“I should have left in Indian Wells [last March, with back pain] before the quarter-finals against [Rafael Nadal]. This summer, I should not have tried to play on clay in Hamburg and in Gstaad.

“But things always look better in hindsight. I wasn’t able to train as I wanted during my seven-week break, I fell into a negative spiral.”

Despite his wretched year and seeing rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray carve up the majors, Federer insists that he will keep playing.

“As long as my body and mind is ready to go to travel, I’m happy to be doing what I’m doing, I’m successful. I’ll be playing for some time. That hasn’t changed due to a tough six months.

“Playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics is something I’d like to achieve. That doesn’t mean I’m going to end my career there, or earlier or later.”