By Karolos Grohmann and Tony Jimenez MUNICH, May 18 (Reuters) - A look at how the Chelsea and Bayern Munich teams compare tactically and where the game might be won or lost ahead of the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena: GOALKEEPERS Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer, competing in his first Champions League final after reaching the last four with Schalke 04 last season, has been outstanding in Europe and saved two penalties in Bayern's sho...

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - Former Manchester United and Norway striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is to hold talks with Premier League club Aston Villa about their managerial vacancy, Molde confirmed on Friday. Villa sacked manager Alex Mcleish after one season in charge on Tuesday having narrowly avoided relegation and a long list of candidates have been linked with the job. Solksjaer, who was formerly a reserve team coach at United before return...

WARSAW, May 18 (Reuters) - Poland's goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski wants to leave Arsenal after months of watching his compatriot Wojciech Szczesny from the bench, a Polish daily quoted the 27-year-old as saying. "I hope that my adventure with Arsenal has come to an end," Fabianski told Friday's Gazeta Wyborcza. "I intend to leave and play in a strong league. I wanted to leave in the winter, too, but (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger did not give...

KIEV, May 18 (Reuters) - A psychic pig is set to take over where Paul the Octopus left off at the 2010 World Cup by predicting the results of matches at the European championships in Ukraine and Poland. Kiev's city government said on Friday it would wheel out the porky tipster to give daily forecasts once the tournament kicks off next month. "A unique oracle hog, a real Ukrainian pig and a psychic which knows the mysteries of football," a st...

May 18 (Reuters) - Argentina's Boca Juniors and Velez Sarsfield took 1-0 leads in the first legs of their Libertadores Cup quarter-finals against Brazilian opposition in Buenos Aires. Striker Pablo Mouche scored in the 51st minute to give six-times champions Boca their victory over 10-man Fluminense at La Bombonera on Thursday night. Flu, who had defender Carlinhos sent off just past the half hour for a second booking for handball, were mis...

By Nick Mulvenney SHANGHAI, May 18 (Reuters) - Asafa Powell thinks he has pinpointed why he has so often failed to produce on the big occasion and believes that if he is at his best he will win the 100 metres at the London Olympics. The Jamaican former world record holder has run under 10 seconds more times than anyone else in the history of sprinting but has struggled at major championships and been eclipsed by compatriot Usain Bolt. The 29...

By Simon Cambers ROME, May 18 (Reuters) - World number one Victoria Azarenka said she only played in this week's Italian Open to avoid a ranking penalty. The Belarussian won her first match against Shahar Peer but then immediately pulled out of the tournament, citing a right shoulder injury. On Friday, Azarenka revealed via Twitter that she had been forced into playing in order to protect her position at the top of the world rankings. "I was...

ROME, May 18 (Reuters) - Serena Williams enjoyed an easy passage into the semi-finals of the Italian Open tennis on Friday when her opponent Flavia Pennetta retired with a right wrist injury. The Italian, ranked 21, had treatment at 3-0 down and decided to quit when Williams was leading 4-0 and 40-0. Williams, who won last week's title in Madrid, will play either China's Li Na or Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the last four. Holder Maria ...

By Alan Baldwin ATHENS, May 18 (Reuters) - David Beckham hit back on Friday at suggestions that he might be selected for the British Olympic soccer side at the London Games because of his celebrity status rather than on merit alone. "I've never said it's disrespectful but it's kind of a question I've always felt is," the former England captain told reporters on a visit to meet children at a school in Athens when asked about his prospects. "T...
