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PARIS SAINT GERMAIN

Valencia bow out after failed comeback in Paris

Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw with Valencia at the Parc des Princes allowed them to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

Valencia bow out after failed comeback in Paris
Valencia's Algerian midfielder Sofiane Feghouli controls the ball as PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti watches closely. Photo: Franck Fife/AFP

Visitors Valencia needed at least two goals to progress and Jonas's powerful finish 10 minutes into the second half gave PSG something of a scare.

Valencia had looked very much out of this last-16 tie when they were 2-0 down going into the final minute of the first leg last month, but after pulling a late goal back there, Jonas' strike left them needing just one more to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Alas, it was not to be for the Spaniards, as Ezequiel Lavezzi – who had also scored at the Mestalla – levelled on the night in the 66th minute and PSG held out to secure their place in the last eight for the first time since 1995.

Given the ambitions of the French capital side's mega-rich Qatari owners, failing to make it through would have been nothing short of a disaster, especially given the way they played for most of the first leg.

"We deserved our qualification over the two legs," said PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"We didn't play in a relaxed manner in the first half, but paradoxically it was after Valencia scored that we started to play and cause them problems."

Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde was visibly disappointed with the result but admitted that he could not criticize his players for their performance.

"It was a hard-fought game," he said. "We wanted to score the first goal and make them nervous, but in the end it wasn't to be.

"I am satisfied with the way the team played, even if I'm not happy to be out."

Just as in the first leg, Ancelotti's side seemed happy for Valencia to have most of the possession, but they lacked the same punch on the breakaway this time and almost paid dearly for inviting Valencia on to them.

Despite being deprived of Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to suspension following his sending-off at the Mestalla, Ancelotti opted not to hand a first Champions League start of the season to Kevin Gameiro, and PSG lacked any kind of reference point in attack as a result.

David Beckham, meanwhile, started on the bench and that was where he stayed for the night.

The first real chance of the game fell the Spanish side's way, with Roberto Soldado testing goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu quarter of an hour in. 

PSG were struggling to find any rhythm, and were disrupted even more when Christophe Jallet was forced off before the half-hour mark, seemingly due to an injury, with Gregory Van der Wiel taking his place.

But for all their dominance of possession, Valencia could not seriously trouble Sirigu, with Jonas and Tino Costa both missing the target before the Brazilian had a powerful shot beaten away by the keeper just before the interval.

For PSG, that served as a warning of what was to come, with Valverde signalling his intent by throwing on creator Ever Banega for midfield destroyer David Albelda at half-time.

He was rewarded for his positivity when Jonas struck soon after the restart, his powerful effort from 20 yards surprising Sirigu at his near post.

Suddenly a tie that had appeared to be limping towards a tame stalemate had come to life, and Ancelotti finally turned to Gameiro.

The striker, who Valencia had wanted to sign in 2011 when PSG lured him from Lorient, looked lively as soon as he was thrown on for midfielder Thiago Motta in the 58th minute, and he made PSG's equalizer on the night just before the midway point in the second half.

After driving through the middle of the Valencia defence, he got the break of the ball, but it was Lavezzi who shot, and then converted at the second attempt after 'keeper Vicente Guaita had blocked his initial effort.

It was Lavezzi's fifth goal in the Champions League this season, confirming that PSG do not rely solely on Ibrahimovic to score when it really matters.

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FEATURE

REMINDER: What are the new Covid restrictions in Spain’s Valencia region?

If you live in or are soon visiting Alicante, Valencia or Castellón, these are the new eased restrictions for the coastal region starting on Monday May 24th 2021.

REMINDER: What are the new Covid restrictions in Spain's Valencia region?
Photo: Jose Jordán/AFP

The Comunidad Valenciana’s persistently low infection rate – currently 20 cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days – has allowed regional authorities to ease coronavirus restrictions, some of the strictest in Spain since the start of the third wave in January.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re living in or visiting the Valencia region soon. 

Curfew

The curfew will remain in place in the region after May 24th but it will start later than previously, at 1am instead of midnight. That means that except for exceptional reasons, nobody can be outdoors from 1am to 6am. 

Valencian regional president Ximo Puig has stressed that if the epidemiological situation remains stable, the curfew – or toque de queda in Spanish – will be lifted as of June 7th.

Bars, cafés and restaurants

From Monday 24th, bars, restaurants and cafés can stay open until 12.30 am, one hour later than the previous closing time.

A capacity of 50 percent is allowed inside the premises and 100 percent on outdoor terraces. 

Sitting at the bar, smoking (including electronic cigarettes or hookahs) and dancing  indoors or outdoors are still prohibited.

Family and social gatherings

A limit of 10 people is established in public spaces both outdoors and indoors, except in the case of people who are living under the same roof. 

Inside homes and other private use spaces, the limit of 10 people also applies and only people from two households can gather.

Beaches and nature

The use of the mask is still mandatory when walking around on beaches, around swimming pools, lakes and other natural spaces.

However, as long as you can keep a distance of 1.5 metres with others, you will be allowed to take off your mask while sunbathing or sitting in one spot at the beach. 

If you’re going for a dip in the sea, you don’t have to wear a mask as it’s incompatible with swimming, whereas if you’re going for a stroll along the shore you do have to keep your mask on. 

Groups at the beach, swimming pool or in nature cannot exceed ten people.

Celebrations and events

The capacity is increased up to 75 percent for activities relating to celebrations, events or gatherings of a sporting, cultural or social nature, as well as for political rallies.

In churches and other places of worship it’s still important to abide by a safe distance of 1.5 metres between gatherers.

In enclosed spaces, a maximum of 3,000 people are allowed, while in open spaces, the limit is set at 4,000 people. 

In both cases, the capacity has to be separated into groups of 1,000 people each.

 In addition, eating and drinking will only be allowed in areas specially enabled for this purpose.

READ ALSO: 

How Spain’s Valencia region achieved one of Europe’s lowest infection rates

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