Five things we learnt from the Bernabeu,Fernando own-goal sends Manchester City crashing out,Real Madrid 1 Manchester City 0

THE biggest crime is that Manchester City did not give it a right good go in the most important game in the club’s history.They were beaten by the names emblazoned in black across those white shirts.
City were never in this, not really. Real Madrid’s reputation — built on those ten European Cups — did for them before they even got out on to the pitch.Their 5,000 travelling fans, who sang throughout from their seats in the gods, left a bigger impression than the players.The players were timid, tactically inept and lacking the dedication required to make a dent in Real’s obsession with this trophy.Those reputations of Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest got the better of them in this giant goldfish bowl of a stadium. And that is the bit that hurts the most.Steven Gerrard always told Liverpool’s players to make sure they left it all out on the pitch in the Champions League.Can City say that? They cannot. They are out, left with the fight for fourth in Manuel Pellegrini’s final two games in charge of this magnificent club.They were beaten by a deflection, but they lost what hope they had when their captain Vincent Kompany signalled that he was coming off after just ten minutes.

City’s heart and spirit disappeared down the tunnel with him.Let’s face it, with Eliaquim Mangala waiting on the sidelines to replace him in a game of this magnitude, your eyes would light up.
Real Madrid were a different proposition in this second leg.This was classy and controlled, with the unflappable Toni Kroos pulling the strings from his station in the centre of midfield.
Where were Fernandinho and Fernando on a night when they had to stop the German pass master getting on the ball? Nowhere.

Kroos was one of the instigators of the move that led to Real’s winner, as he fed the ball to Tottenham old boy Luka Modric.It was easy, too easy when Modric found Dani Carvajal speeding into position out on the right.Gareth Bale timed his run and even if his shot did take a deflection off Fernando to balloon over keeper Joe Hart, it felt like City had been sliced apart anyway.It was foot-on-the-ball time for the visitors but there was no one left with any composure to take the sting out of the game.

You have to wonder what boss Pellegrini was thinking when he decided to play Yaya Toure in the centre of midfield.Quite how he managed to stay on for 61 minutes is beyond belief. Toure stunk the place out.In days gone by, this guy ran games, dictating passages of play with his driving runs and long, raking balls out to his wing men.

He will be given a wide berth by incoming City coach Pep Guardiola because he can do without an attitude like this next season.Kevin De Bruyne, wasted out on the left because of the injury to David Silva, occasionally sparkled.His pass into Fernandinho after 44 minutes led to City’s first serious attempt on goal, a drive inside the area from the Brazilian that hit the base of Keylor Navas’ post.
An away goal then would have put City in the driving seat but they rarely looked capable of getting out of first gear.

This is a very good group of City players yet they do not have the experience to ride out games at the very highest level.

A Champions League semi-final is one of them, a chance to write their names into the history of club football’s grandest competition.

At times they gave a very good impression of a team who were happy just to make it this far.
The challenge for Guardiola, outwitted in the other semi-final by Atletico Madrid, is to take them to the next level.

He can put on as many rondo sessions as he likes but the return on investment will be judged by City’s trophy cabinet at the end of his three-year contract.

That can be assessed later. For now, they will have to pick the bones out of this second leg.

They could not get Sergio Aguero on the ball inside the area, the one man capable of giving City a chance to get back into the game.

Instead, Real went in search of a second, with Bale supplying the pass for Modric. Hart saved well.

Ronaldo was next in the queue, working the angle between Nicolas Otamendi and Mangala only for his shot to be saved well again by Hart.

Bale was next, hitting the upright after 65 minutes as Real pushed City’s defence to the very limit.Ronaldo was next in the queue, working the angle between Nicolas Otamendi and Mangala only for his shot to be saved well again by Hart.

Bale was next, hitting the upright after 65 minutes as Real pushed City’s defence to the very limit.Pellegrini played his last card, sending on livewire Kelechi Iheanacho with 20 minutes left. His first touch set Raheem Sterling free down th

That, incredibly, was City’s last chance. After that, Real locked up and threw away the key.

Now all Leicester City must do, to complete the greatest football story

Now all Leicester City must do, to complete the greatest football story ever written, is win the European Cup two years in a row.For all the euphoria around the King Power, for all the plaudits cascading down on manager Claudio Ranieri, up in the celestial gallery there is a dissenting voice. Leicester, the greatest long shots of all time? Sure, to win the title with a team after shopping for players at Lidl instead of Harrods is unsurpassed in a gilded age.Since Andy Gray and Richard Keys invented football and called it the Premier League back in 1992, there is little scope for debate. Leicester's title triumph is the most astonishing of them all. But they are not the first team from the East Midlands to catch the aristocrats asleep at the wheel.
POPPERFOTOBrian Clough with European Cup during his time as Nottingham Forest boss
Nottingham Forest did it 38 years ago – and went on to conquer Europe twice.And much as their revered leader, Brian Clough, preached the ethics of playing football on grass, Forest were champions despite a lunar landscape surface at the City Ground.Back in the 1970s, the financial gap between penthouse and cellar may not have been as wide, but nobody saw Forest's triumph coming, either.

“This is an enormous achievement by Leicester City,” said their former manager and Forest legend Martin O'Neill. “It's the biggest achievement of the century, the biggest achievement since Nottingham Forest did it.“What Leicester have done is to redefine what the underdog is capable of.”GettyMartin ONeill and Matt Elliott of Leicester City hold the cup in celebration after the Worthington Cup Final victory over Tranmere RoversO'Neill brought silverware back to Leicester
When O'Neill won the League Cup twice with Leicester, we thought they had touched the ceiling, but as hundreds of motorists turned the city centre into a communal car horn concerto deep into Monday night, Ranieri also redefined altitude for any ambitious football club: The sky is the limit.

So where do the Emperor Claudio's team rate among the champions of England? If Arsenal's unbeaten class of 2004 were the Invincibles, then Ranieri's 5,000-1 long shots are surely the Incredibles.

Blackburn Rovers were 'unfashionable' champions 21 years ago, and they staggered over the line on a dramatic final day when they lost to a stoppage-time winner at Anfield and Manchester United were held at West Ham in a blaze of near misses.

But owner Jack Walker's largesse set the template for Chelsea and Manchester City to follow: Throw enough money at the title race and the winning post will come to you.

GettyKenny Dalglish the manager of Blackburn Rovers celebrates with his staff Ray Harford and Tony Parkes after winning the Premiership trophyKenny Dalglish celebrates his title win with Blackburn
Kenny Dalglish assembled a formidable squad, with Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton's 'SAS' double act supplying 49 goals and Tim Sherwood was a resourceful captain, but could Rovers have pulled off their heist without Walker's millions?

No chance – as schoolboys, Shearer and Dalglish did not lie awake at night dreaming of nights out at Ewood Park with Blackburn's former vice-president, an old bat called Margaret Thatcher.

But in the 21 years since Maggie's boys ruled the roost, there had been only four winners of the Premier League: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Leicester have not just won a 38-game league: They have restored fantasy to the people's game and given every young fan a licence to dream.

VIEW GALLERY Leicester City players celebrate winning the Premier League Title during a training session
There is an argument that romance prospered more in football before money hijacked its soul.

More than half a century ago, Ipswich Town won promotion to the top flight and took it by storm, bringing the title to East Anglia at the first attempt in 1961-62, setting a template for Forest to follow 16 years later.

The Tractor Boys who unseated Tottenham's Double winners were managed by a blunt, no-nonsense coach from Dagenham called Alf Ramsey – whatever happened to him? And bottom of the pile that season, without a rouble in sight to bail them out, were Chelsea.

Ipswich would have to wait almost two decades for a near-miss with the title under Bobby Robson, but they were edged out by Aston Villa, another champion team built on sound football principles more than a bank overdraft.

GettyLeague Champions Ipswich in 19621962 champions parade through the streets
“Ipswich were the media darlings of a lot of the London press and we felt we didn't get the credit we deserved,” said Villa captain Dennis Mortimer, who lifted the European Cup in Rotterdam 34 years ago.

“I'll never get bored of talking about it, but I don't get reminded of it that much these days – it's usually me telling younger kids that Aston Villa won the European Cup. Some of them don't believe me, so they go away and Google it and say, 'Wow, they really did win it!' Yes we did – and it's something we'll always be proud of.”

So there you go, Leicester. You have turned the title race into English football's greatest adventure for at least a generation, but you have not yet climbed every mountain.

For what it's worth, this correspondent still believes Clough's Forest pushed back more boundaries than political correctness and remain the yardstick for miracles.

Sporting PicturesNottingham Forest celebrate winning the European Cup in 1979Nottingham Forest celebrate winning the European Cup in 1979
They were already champions before signing Trevor Francis as the first £1million footballer, and Francis repaid his fee by crash-landing in the shot-putt circle in Munich's Olympic Stadium in 1979, when his diving header won the European Cup final against Malmo.

They won a League Cup final at Wembley after Clough had insisted on a team bonding session with crates of ale the night before. Old Big 'Ead was a bit dilly-ding, dilly-dong himself, too.

And without pouring any cold water over Ranieri's wonderful team – the irrepressible Vardy, the magic feet of Mahrez, the ubiquitous Kante, the defensive feats of Schmeichel, Morgan and Huth – there has been, shall we say, a charitable tendency to overlook the club's great escape from administration in 2002.

Under a previous regime, Leicester were more than £30million in debt when the club was allowed to reinvent itself and leave a trail of unpaid bills with virtual impunity.

READ This TO KNOW HOW the Leicester City be Premier League champions 2015-16

A visceral, guttural roar. Sheer, unharnessed delight.That was the sound of an entire city erupting with pure joy.They were dancing on the streets of Leicester last night — it was the moment when the crazy dreams of Foxes fans finally became an incredible reality.A night few of them truly believed would happen. Not really. Not in their hearts.But it really, truly did. This was the most remarkable, wonderful, incredible title win of all time.A side who were bottom of the Premier League, looking set for the drop barely 12 months ago.A team that appeared to be a rag-bag collection of discards and never-beens, those 5,000-1 odds looking far from generous.A side led by an ageing Italian, who had last been sighted quitting Greece in shame after being beaten by the Faroe Islands.But one swing of Eden Hazard’s right foot, a strike of clinical beauty and simplicity, transformed a match that grew increasingly ugly. The miracle had happened.A moment of magic to start the sort of party that the East Midlands will never, ever ¬forget.

Arsenal may always be the Invincibles. But Leicester, Claudio Ranieri’s ‘Little Leicester’, surely destined to be recalled, for posterity, as The Unbelieveables.It was not possible, surely, in this money-obsessed age, for a team with a wage bill of less than £50million to conquer the likes of United and City, Chelsea and Arsenal.Yet they did. Banished them long ago.It left just one challenger, themselves almost as unlikely.And for an hour or so last night, it looked as if Tottenham would take this compelling race to the final furlong.

They were 2-0 up and cruising, thanks to Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son goals, Mauricio Pochettino and his players seemingly refusing to give up the chase.But then, as the nerves appeared in south west London, the mood changed 100 miles up the M1.When Gary Cahill slammed home from close range soon after the break, the Leicester fans and players alike began to think it might be on, that they could do it.

And when Hazard found the top corner, scoring the title-winning goal for the second year running — this time in very different circumstances to the strike he netted against Crystal Palace last year — it was real.After a night of pure tension, it was finally time for supporters who have been given the season from heaven to realise that their prayers had been answered.

This was the moment to actually believe their team had achieved the seemingly impossible. Brought the so-called top flight giants to their knees and finished top.For a long time, it seemed as though Leicester’s party would be put on hold but, in the end, this was like a thousand New Year’s Eves rolled into one.

People were openly hugging each other, it did not matter whether they knew them or not. So this is what they mean by the feelgood factor.

Leicester really should win the Premier League more often!But it was a surreal night in the city’s pubs and bars.

You knew the football was on because you could hear the cries of ‘Come on Chelsea’ echoing all around the back streets.

I was in a packed Market Tavern in the middle of Leicester.This was the area former hero Gary Lineker grew up in, working on the local stalls selling fruit and veg.

And the pub was about as Leicester as you could get?.?.?.?Filbert Street road signs and signed Foxes shirts on the wall, apart from one thing — everyone was backing Guus Hiddink’s side.

And a huge roar went up when fans saw a banner on Sky TV saying ‘Let’s do it for Ranieri’.

Suddenly someone produced a bell and the Italian boss’ ‘Dilly Ding, Dilly Dong’ chant rang around the bar.‘We’re all going on a European tour’ they sang, hundreds of voices in harmony.

But for an hour at least, it looked as though the party was on hold.

Two-first half goals for Tottenham went down like a pint of warm beer.

Oh well, there’s always Everton on Saturday. But wait. Suddenly Gary Cahill found the net and Leicester’s fans started to believe again.

Then another chance flashed wide as the feeling grew that Chelsea really could do it for Ranieri.And finally, with eight minutes to go, Hazard sent Leicester — and most neutral fans (plus all those Spurs-baiting Arsenal and West Ham fans) — wild with delight.

Over the road at Hogarths Pub, they let Spurs know exactly what they thought about them throwing away a two-goal lead.

Another cheer went up as a fan displayed a banner saying ‘Well done Ranieri, we knew you’d win the title at Chelsea’.Then the final whistle went.Let the celebrations begin. They could last for some time

Celebrations at King Power Stadium ,Leicester City Premier League champions 2015-16

LEICESTER CITY have won the Premier League title after Tottenham gave up a two-goal lead to draw at Chelsea.Claudio Ranieri’s men, 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the season, secured the championship with two games to spare as Spurs caved in to Chelsea’s second half onslaught to draw 2-2 at Stamford Bridge.It completes a remarkable fairytale for the east Midlands club who have gone from relegation contenders to champions in the space of 12 months.Leicester’s stars celebrated together at the home of striker Jamie Vardy where they all watched the action unfold in west London.
video Leicester players led by Christian Fuchs celebrate winning the Premier League thumbnail
Leicester players led by Christian Fuchs celebrate winning the Premier League The England striker celebrated the title win at his home The England striker celebrated the title win at his home  Leicester City FC via Getty Images

Riyad Mahrez enjoys the celebrations at Jamie Vardy's partyRiyad Mahrez enjoys the celebrations at Jamie Vardy's party  Leicester City FC via Getty ImagesJamie Vardy hosted a party for all his team-mates on MondayJamie Vardy hosted a party for all his team-mates on Monday  Leicester City FC via Getty Imagesvideo Gary Lineker celebrates Leicester City's win thumbnail
Gary Lineker celebrates Leicester City's winRanieri said: "I’m so proud. I’m happy for my players, for the chairman, for the staff at Leicester City, all our fans and the Leicester community. It’s an amazing feeling and I’m so happy for everyone.

“I never expected this when I arrived. I’m a pragmatic man, I just wanted to win match after match and help my players to improve week after week. Never did I think too much about where it would take us.

“The players have been fantastic. Their focus, their determination, their spirit has made this possible. Every game they fight for each other and I love to see this in my players. They deserve to be champions.”

Andy King arrives at Jamie Vardy's house to watch the Chelsea v Tottengam game
Andy King arrives at Jamie Vardy's house to watch the Chelsea v Tottengam game  Reuters

Wes Morgan joined his Leicester teammates to watch events unfold in west London
Wes Morgan joined his Leicester teammates to watch events unfold in west London  --Liam Moore arrives at Jamie Vardy's house with Jeffrey Schlupp  Liam Moore arrives at Jamie Vardy's house with Jeffrey SchluppLeicester fans around the country were in tears watching their side complete the amazing story
Leicester fans around the country were in tears watching their side complete the amazing story  Getty Images

Leicester supporters gathered outside the King Power Stadium to party last night
Leicester supporters gathered outside the King Power Stadium to party last night  Paul Edwards - The SunLeicester fans party as they celebrate becoming Premier League champions
Leicester fans party as they celebrate becoming Premier League champions  PA:Press Association

And boss Ranieri flew back early from a visit to see his mother in Rome to be near his players and Leicester officials while Chelsea and Spurs did battle.

Win,Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich

Saul Niguez's sublime solo goal put Atletico Madrid in control of their Champions League semi-final against German giants Bayern Munich.Niguez jinked past a clutch of Bayern defenders before curling into the corner, giving the home side a narrow first-leg lead to take to Germany.
Bayern dominated the second half, David Alaba hitting the bar from 35 yards and Arturo Vidal's strike forcing a save.Fernando Torres poked against the post in a rare counter as Atletico held on.
The teams will meet at Bayern's Allianz Arena on Tuesday to decide who will meet Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final on 28 May.Relive Atletico's tense win at the Vicente CalderonBetter call Saul
Atletico - for so many years in the shadow of illustrious neighbours Real Madrid - have never been crowned European champions, twice losing in the final of the continent's leading club competition.
Under coach Diego Simeone, Los Rojiblancos have emerged as serious challengers to Spain's regular duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid and have now put themselves in a decent position to create history by winning the Champions League.

With Bayern boasting a remarkable home record of only one defeat in 24 matches, the tie is far from over.But Niguez - a Spain Under-21 international who has cemented his place in the Atletico side this season - extended the Spanish title-chasing side's own excellent form at a raucous Vicente Calderon.

The 21-year-old midfielder picked up the ball about 35 yards from goal, dancing through flimsy challenges from Bayern trio Thiago Alcantara, Juan Bernat and Xabi Alonso, then keeping his composure to steer the ball into the bottom corner.

Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich
The clubs were meeting for the first time in a competitive fixture since Bayern won their first European Cup by beating Atletico in the 1974 final
Atletico defence blunts Bayern attack

Much of Atletico's success under Simeone has been built on defensive resilience, with his organised side conceding just five goals in this season's Champions League.

Atletico had also kept clean sheets in their previous four La Liga games but faced Bayern - the competition's top scorers with 28 goals in 10 matches - without defensive lynchpin Diego Godin.

However, the injured Uruguay centre-back, 30, was barely missed as a typically determined Atletico display shut out Bayern.

Atletico v Bayern
Atletico had to withstand heavy Bayern pressure in the second half, particularly between 55 and 60 minutes when the visitors were camped in the opposing half
Former Argentina midfielder Simeone slightly altered his side's defensive tactics in the first half, occasionally pressing Bayern higher up the pitch, before reverting to their deep and compact shape after the break.

The German side, who are one win away from a fourth consecutive Bundesliga title, totally dominated in the second half as Alaba and Vidal went closest to equalising.

Home keeper Jan Oblak also blocked Javi Martinez's close-range header in-between, helping Atletico secure a 14th clean sheet in 16 Champions League home matches.

Uno, dos, tres - third time unlucky for Pep?

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola's three-year reign ends in the summer when he moves to Manchester City, with the Spaniard admitting his time in Germany will be judged on his ability to win the Champions League.

His side have lost to Spanish opposition at the semi-final stage in each of the past two seasons, knocked out by Real Madrid in 2014 and Guardiola's former club Barcelona last year.

Now the Catalan coach must outwit Simeone next week to avoid a clean sweep of defeats by La Liga's big three.

Atletico v Madrid
Atletico's compact and deep shape, forced by Bayern's attacking dominance, is illustrated by this graphic showing the sides' respective average positions
Guardiola, on course to comfortably win the Bundesliga in each of his three seasons, may reflect on his decision to leave Germany forward Thomas Muller on the bench until the final quarter of the match.

Muller is their joint top scorer in the Champions League having scored eight goals in his 10 appearances this season.

With Guardiola's gameplan seemingly relying heavily on crosses into the Atletico box, the absence of the predatory Muller appeared even more strange.

Man of the match - Saul Niguez

Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich
The Atletico match-winner impressed going forward, particularly in the first half, while also keeping his discipline defensively to help shut out Bayern
Post-match reaction

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone:

"The first half was very close to what we wanted. In the second half they were better and got in behind but we felt comfortable, we defended well.

"It was a great piece of individual skill with lots of creativity, Saul Niguez is developing well which is great for us.

"I think it's still an open tie, they will be playing at home next week with their fans behind them but we have the chance to get an away goal. It'll be a close game like today, we'll see who makes the most of their chances."

Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres:

"It was a fantastic night and I'm happy for all Atleticos. We've got the lead we wanted.

"We kept fighting, that's what we do. Bayern have a level that few other teams have but we kept on doing our thing."

Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola:

"Their goal is a brilliant goal, but it's our mistake. We kept standing off. I'm not happy with how we played.

"It was a good game overall, but we started badly. The goal was a consequence of our slow play."

Not an ideal result for City, FULL TIME: Manchester City 0-0 Real Madrid

No Cristiano Ronaldo, an out-of-sorts Karim Benzema and an injured David Silva. It all added up to a slightly disappointing evening at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Not an ideal result for City, then, especially with Ronaldo missing and Benzema out of sorts. An opportunity missed. But they began to rock a little towards the end of that second half, and Real could easily have snatched a precious away goal that would have made things awfully difficult at the Bernabeu. (Hats off to the excellent Joe Hart for keeping it goalless.) So as things stand, they’re still right in this tie, just 90, perhaps 120 minutes plus penalties, away from their first-ever European Cup final! The dream is not yet out of reach

90 min +3: With the box loaded, De Bruyne goes for the top left, in an attempt to catch Navas out. Navas tips the ball over the bar, but nothing comes from the resulting corner. That’s it!

Taifa Stars renew a race for place in AFCON finals by playing a friendly match against Kenya Harambee Stars

TANZANIA national soccer team, Taifa Stars renew a race for place in AFCON finals by playing a friendly match against Kenya Harambee Stars in Nairobi on May 29th, Stars who are sponsored by Kilimanjaro Premium Lager are scheduled to play tough Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against African giants Egypt and Nigeria.The friendly is crucial for teams as it will drill players of both sides in their tough continental ties.
In its press announcement yesterday, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) said the match comes after talks with the Federation of the Kenyan Football (FKF) to have a friendly encounter to drill players as well as giving coaches opportunities to note weaknesses in the teams. Both teams are lowly placed in their groups.
While Taifa Stars are third behind leaders Egypt and Nigeria with only a point, they are goal-less while they have thrice allowed the ball behind the net.
Egypt are in a pole position with 7 points, 5 goals for and one against. Second-placed Nigeria have two points, they have scored one goal and conceded two.
Taifa Stars under Charles Boniface Mkwasa are expected to start a camp in May soon after the end of the league season. Stars host Egypt on June 4 at the National Stadium, a match that will decide Tanzania’s fate in the race for AFCON ticket.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars who are bottom-placed in their Group E, have only notched 1 point after playing four matches, no win, three losses and a draw.
Guinea-Bissau, who lead the group have collected 7 points from two wins, one draw and a loss. Congo are second are second with 6 points while Zambia also with 6 points are standing third.
Kenya and Tanzania have met five times recently and the two countries have equaled with number of wins, draw and losses. Tanzania has won twice, drew once and lost twice, the same as Kenya’s Harambee Stars.
Taifa Stars won 1-0 in their last friendly held at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza in 2013. Harambe Stars won 2-1 in 2009 while Taifa Stars won their 2007 encounter 2-1.
The worst defeat from Kenyans was in 2003 when Stars suffered a 3-0 loss.