Following the research that was carried out, We are meant to understand that the tree has has been in existence for some years now, Read more....
Unn info The picture of what Lightning did to a Tree in Unn
Following the research that was carried out, We are meant to understand that the tree has has been in existence for some years now, Read more....
Man City: Premier League champions close to signing Riyad Mahrez & Jorginho
Mahrez scored 17 goals to help Leicester to the 2015-16 Premier League title
Manchester City are closing in on the double signing of Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez and Napoli midfielder Jorginho, with both deals possibly to be completed by the end of next week.
Mahrez will cost around £60m with Jorginho's fee anticipated to be £42m.
In January, City walked away from a potential deal for Mahrez because they were put off by Leicester's valuation.
It sparked a dispute between the 27-year-old and Leicester, with the player handing in a transfer request.
Algerian Mahrez joined from French side Le Havre in 2014 and has scored 48 goals in 179 appearances for the Foxes.
He was named PFA Players' Player of the Year as Leicester won the Premier League in 2016.
Italy international Jorginho, 26, signed for Napoli in 2014 and made 36 appearances for the Serie A side last season, scoring against City in the Champions League in November.
Both players will be absent from this summer's World Cup after their nations failed to qualify for the tournament in Russia.
Claim Manchester City star has been in shock transfer contact with another club
Every now and again the Spanish media push the idea of Sergio Aguero returning to Atletico Madrid, and today is one of those occasions.
bottom of an article on Antoine Griezmann and his will-he-won’t-he move to Barcelona this summer, AS cover claims of Aguero being offered back to his previous club.
The suggestion is it’s from people close to the player, rather than Manchester City.
Said to be ‘tired of his career at City’, largely because Pep Guardiola doesn’t see him as an untouchable player, an effort has been made to build a return to Spain. It’s an approach which has been well received at Atletico, according to the claims, and Diego Simeone is said to view the striker ‘with very good eyes’.
But the La Liga club ‘would not go crazy’ when it comes to transfer fee.
So, for any of this to happen, several questionable factors need to be believed.
That Aguero wants out, that he’s expressed that desire, that contact had been made with Atletico, and that Manchester City would offer him up for a reasonable fee.
It’s a long shot.
MOHAMED SALAH VS MARCELO
Salah will be playing alongside the other members of Liverpool's trusty front three, cutting in from the right hand side with Roberto Firmino playing centrally and Sadio Mane manning the left.
As a result, one of the biggest talking points before the game has been just how Marcelo will cope with Salah during the game.
There's no doubting that Marcelo is one of the world's finest full-backs and a menace going forward, yet his fundamental defending and tracking back can let him down at times.
Liverpool fan creates 10-tweet thread of Marcelo before Champions League final
The Champions League final is just a day away.
Liverpool have the chance to make history in Kiev on Saturday night as they eye their sixth European Cup. Meanwhile, Real Madrid can win the competition for the third time in four years with victory at the Olympic Stadium.
All eyes will be on the team's respective star players - Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah - when it comes to kick-off.
Ronaldo has no shortage of experience in the competition and its finals, whereas Salah is unknown territory despite a remarkable season that has seen him rack up 44 goals.
There's a quiet feeling that whoever lifts the famous trophy on Saturday night will be the man to win the Ballon d'Or at the end of the year, assuming they start next season decently.
Rio Ferdinand has revealed what Cristiano Ronaldo had with him at Man United
Cristiano Ronaldo can put himself in pole position to win a sixth Ballon d’Or on Saturday evening.
All he needs to do is win the Champions League final.
The Portuguese superstar will be Real Madrid’s biggest threat as they look to defeat Liverpool in Kiev.
Ronaldo’s record in the Champions League is impeccable.
He has scored 120 goals in the competition - 15 of which have come this season - and among Liverpool’s priorities will be stopping him from adding to his tally.
One man who knows all about Ronaldo’s heroics is Rio Ferdinand, who was there when an 18-year-old Ronaldo ran the show for Sporting Lisbon against Manchester United in 2003.
It was on the back of that performance that Sir Alex Ferguson decided to bring Ronaldo to Old Trafford, and the rest is history.
FERDINAND'S RONALDO STORY
Ferdinand watched Ronaldo develop into a world-class player at Man United before he left for Real Madrid in 2009.
And in his column for The Sun, the former centre-back has revealed Ronaldo is the first player he ever met who had his own team, including his own chef, dietician and doctor.
Ferdinand believes questions might have been asked about Ronaldo's entourage if he wasn't such a talented player.
“In the mornings he was in the gym before training,” Ferdinand said.
That isn’t to say that Ronaldo’s teammates didn’t take the mick out of him, though.
“We used to rip it out of him for the gear he wore and I gave him more than most,” Ferdinand added.
“He wasn’t precious though - he could take it and give it out. He really was one of the lads. He’s no prima donna.”
Ronaldo won the 2008 Ballon d’Or award and completed an £80 million move to Real Madrid a year later.
He’s since added four more Ballon d’Or awards and won the Champions League three times.
As careers go, few have done it better than Ronaldo.
Paul Pogba's personal targets will be raised next season
When Paul Pogba is called to mind, most instantly think about his huge price tag. Since returning to Manchester United for £89 million two summers ago, the France international has received frequent criticism.
In Pogba's Man United second coming, he played 30 Premier League games, scoring five times and assisting four. This campaign was a slight improvement. The 25-year-old finished with six goals and ten assists in 27 matches. The 'real' him showed up in a few big encounters, too. He left his mark on rivals Manchester City, finding the net twice in the Red Devils' 3-2 victory at the Etihad, before breaking the deadlock against Arsenal during a 2-1 home win three weeks later.
United supporters, though, expect more from their record signing. Pogba is capable of scoring 15 goals a season in the top flight.
The towering midfielder became his own brand at Juventus. He must recreate that image in a Manchester United shirt.
There are two camps. One believes Pogba will eventually succeed. The other remains doubtful. Jose Mourinho perhaps belongs in the latter. The United boss has been left perplexed by the Frenchman's inconsistency throughout the season.
Pogba, though, can use the negativity to improve personal performance. His next chance to impress begins in only three weeks' time.
Pogba was selected in France's World Cup squad. He will compete against Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group C. Big performances are key for him. A good tournament in Russia will help enhance his status on English soil.
Man United fans realise Pogba's true capabilities. A tall, strong, skilful player who can produce killer passes. His distinctive ability alone is capable of taking the Red Devils to a higher level.
Performing on a regular basis, however, has proven Pogba's major problem. Having rarely lost possession in Italy, that aspect has since crept into his game at United. It's given critics something to feed on.
Pogba, though, is somewhat fortunate. He has a manager who can help. Mourinho rules with an iron fist, giving players a good kick up the backside if they don't adhere to his expectations. All the French midfielder must do is take heed.
Mourinho is likely to strengthen his central midfield this summer. Numerous players have been linked to United recently, including Shakhtar Donetsk's Fred. If the Brazilian international arrives, it should give Pogba a much-needed reality check. No one is indispensable at Old Trafford.
Considering Pogba's huge valuation and high wages, other clubs will be reluctant to take him off United's hands. His future, at least short-term, lies in Manchester. The Red Devils must curate their most-valuable possession to produce the desired result.
Many Premier League players have previously failed to match their price tags. As English football's record transfer-fee holder, though, Pogba receives more media attention than most. If it isn't his form been bashed, it's his hairstyle.
Next season is hugely important for Pogba. Ultimately only he can ensure personal success at Man United. Failure to improve and Mourinho won't offer any further chances.
3rd highest number of saves in Europe’s top-5 leagues – This 33-year-old could be Watford’s saviour
Watford love changing managers and Javi Gracia is the latest one at the helm. With the frequent change of managers, there is a frequent change of personnel too and one such change is set to occur in the goalkeeping position.
Heurelho Gomes was left out of the squad against Arsenal and although he did come back for the remaining games, it is clear that Gomes is not going to be the first choice keeper at Vicarage Road next year. The reason for his absence was stated as ‘personal’ ones.
It looks like Gomes’ Watford career after 195 appearances and 53 clean sheets might come to an end. The 37-year-old was a fan favourite but was ageing and committing errors. It is clearly time for an upgrade.
On-loan keeper Orestis Karnezis is not the answer. The Greek keeper’s loan spell has been a failure. He can’t command the box, shows no authority and is error-prone. Watford shouldn’t sign him permanently.
That opens up space for a new first-choice goalkeeper, with talented youngster Pontus Dahlberg as a backup option.
Lukasz Fabianski is on his way out of Swansea following their relegation to the Championship. Newcastle United, Cardiff City and Watford have been linked with the Polish goalkeeper.
Fabianski enjoyed another fantastic individual season at the Liberty Stadium. He made the third most number of saves in Europe’s top 5 leagues with 136.
He played every single game for the Swans this season and was by far their most consistent performer. He also kept 9 clean sheets this season, which is quite an impressive feat with the horror shows that the rest of team put on. He made zero errors leading to a goal.
He is also a complete goalkeeper. He has a long reach, amazing reflexes, commands his box, has good distribution, comes off his line when necessary, punches or claims based on the situation. The Polish keeper has made a huge 10 sweeper clearances.
He is out of the world at saving penalties. He saved four of them this season. His heroics in the 2014 FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout led Arsenal to their first trophy for about 11 years.
He saved Thomas Muller and David Alaba’s penalties in the Champions League too. This shows that he is a keeper who is confident in his abilities and has a way to put fear into the striker’s mind.
He has done well on the international stage too. He became Poland’s No.1 in Euro 2016 after Wojciech Szczęsny’s injury. He played in four games, keeping a clean sheet in two and making a total of 14 saves.
He may well be Poland’s number one in Russia too, as his compatriot and former Arsenal teammate Szczęsny has played just over 20 times this season.
Fabianski is a keeper who is consistent, has the experience at the highest level and still good enough to play at the very top. Aged 33, Fabianski just might have one last hurrah left in him. Watford must make use of it.
Emery’s first attack on Tottenham – Why Arsenal should hijack Spurs’ move for £65,000-a-week PL star
According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur are leading the chase for Manchester United outcast Anthony Martial.
Anthony Martial fell down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho this season and made a second-half substitute appearance in Manchester United’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea last weekend.
The £65,000-a-week Frenchman joined United in 2015 and proved his talent on his debut, with a sensational goal against Liverpool.
However, since then, the 22-year-old has shown his talent in bits and pieces and following the arrival of Alexis Sanchez in January from Arsenal, Martial has looked out of form and uninspiring in the attack.
Tottenham are planning to sign Martial as they need a forward to reduce the burden from the shoulders of their talismanic striker, Harry Kane. However, Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal are also believed to be interested in Martial, whose future at United is up in the air.
There is a big case as to why Arsenal should rival Tottenham to sign Martial from United. The 22-year-old is one of Europe’s top young attacking players on his day. He may have been inconsistent at United but there is no doubting his talent and dribbling skills with which he has sent defenders packing in the Premier League.
Unai Emery would relish having Martial at Arsenal. The Frenchman could reach his top potential under the right manager and at the moment, Mourinho doesn’t seem to be the right man to extract the best out of the Frenchman.
The Gunners have a series of high-profile attackers but lack a player with exquisite dribbling abilities, pace and unpredictability. Martial seems like an ideal Arsenal player with a swagger on the ball.
Sanchez’s arrival at United has seen Martial either warm the benches or play out of position. Also, there is great competition in the United squad, with the likes of Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard all vying with Martial for only one or two starting roles.
The French international thrives on the left-wing and his pace coupled with trickery would give the Gunners one of the most formidable frontlines in world football.
Barring Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the north London outfit are deprived of quality in the wide attacking areas and Martial would be the ideal addition to their squad in the summer.
Martial can play out wide or up front and would be a clear upgrade on players like Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi, who could find limited game time under Emery.
Not only is Martial an outstanding talent but he is also improving. At 22, the Frenchman only has more room to blossom.
Emery has a task at hand and it is to rebuild the Arsenal squad. The Gunners are not short of funds for sure and if Martial is indeed available this summer, Arsenal should pay whatever it takes to bring him to the Emirates.
Real Madrid has the best defence in the world - Fernando Sanz
Former Real Madrid defender Fernando Sanz has claimed that the Los Blancos have the best defence ahead of the Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday.
Both Liverpool and Real Madrid have seen critics take aim at their defences for being inconsistent throughout the season. But both teams now stand on the verge of European glory and ahead of the marquee clash, Sanz felt that Real Madrid's defence has the edge over Liverpool's.
"Real Madrid has the best defence, we cannot even compare (with Liverpool)," he told Goal. "Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal, they are the best players in their position."
Sanz also went on to praise Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane for guiding the Los Blancos to their third successive Champions League final.
"He showed signs as coach (during his playing years). It is marvellous to see how he does it. As a player, and then as a coach he has shown desire to succeed in this position. And he’s had a fantastic start to his career in managing one of the top clubs in the world."
It’s not just this year. In the last couple of years, La Liga has had the best winning teams and the best players due to which we are the best league in the world. We have dominated European competition for the last 15 or so years. The Champions League and Europa League are important to our clubs, much like having success in La Liga," he concluded.
Juventus offer star forward to Manchester United
Manchester United’s season may have ended with a deeply disappointing 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in last weekend’s FA Cup final, but the club is clearly focused on preparing for Jose Mourinho’s third season in charge, if the remarkable levels of rumours and reports published in these last few days are anything to go by. There’s been talk of Maroaune Fellaini leaving for AC Milan, a move back to Italy for Matteo Darmian and confirmation that talks with Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fred are at an advanced stage.
Just to add to that ever-increasing pile, the Daily Mail are reporting that Juventus are trying to sweeten the possibility of their pursuit of Darmian by including a player of their own. United’s interest in Alex Sandro has been far from a secret, but recent news of the Bianconeri trying to tie the Brazilian down to a new deal appear to have landed a blow to Jose Mourinho’s ambitions. Still, with the reigning Serie A champions in the market for Darmian, the Old Lady have apparently offered Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic. The report carries quotes from the club’s chief executive Guiseppe Moratta, who stated the following to Sky Italia when asked about the Croatian’s future:
“Mandzukic? When a player asks to go away we always try to satisfy him, just as the stimuli may have disappeared. We do not have to take any position at the moment, so Mandzukic is still Juventus.”
It’s not outside the realms of possibility to suggest that Juve are trying to kill two birds with one stone, by bringing in a player they require whilst jettisoning one who no longer wishes to stay. It’s far from clear if United would go for such a deal, however; Mandzukic has a healthy record of scoring for Bayern Munich, Altetico Madrid and Juventus in the last five seasons, and notched 10 goals in 38 games last term, but at 32-years of age, he certainly wouldn’t provide much in the way of re-sale value. Still, with United struggling for goals again last season, perhaps Mourinho’s interest in the Croatian will be piqued by Juve’s offer
Champions League final: Liverpool could stun heavyweights Real Madrid with fearless, direct approach
In many ways, it is fitting that Real Madrid will have to defeat Liverpool to become the first team to win the title three years in a row in the Champions League era. After all, the Reds are the most successful English side in the competition's history, having won it five times. Real, of course, are a different kettle of fish altogether, as they have won the Champions League 12 times in their history, the most of any European club, and exude a confidence that only clubs with a proven track record will possess.
fter winning the Spanish league and the Champions League last season, this year has been a let-down for Zinedine Zidane and his side, as they failed to provide any challenge to Barcelona in the league. The European Cup, however, always brings out the best in them, and they showed that, overcoming three powerhouse teams in Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich to reach the final. Their opponents on the night, Liverpool, had a much easier run to the final, defeating Porto, Manchester City and AS Roma to cement their place in Kiev.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah attends a training session. AFP
Zidane has a fully-fit squad to choose from and he will have a tough decision to make as he figures out whether to go with the big names of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema over diminutive attacking midfielder Isco and the dynamic Marco Asensio. So far, this season, whenever it has been a choice, it has been Bale who has been left out as Isco has performed admirably in all the knockout stage matches in the Champions League. Asensio and Benzema have also chipped in regularly when picked and that has been the characteristic of this Real side. Their next man up attitude has helped them get this far in the competition and will benefit them against Liverpool as well.
Los Blancos could become the first side since Bayern Munich did it from 1973-76 to win Europe's top club competition three years in succession. The only other teams to have achieved that feat are the Johann Cruyff-led Ajax side from 1970-73 and Real Madrid themselves, when they won it five times in a row from 1955-60. The scale of that achievement is so big that it is very easy to lose sight of the fact that winning the Champions League is very, very tough, as you have to overcome one great opponent after another. To do that three years in a row, is monumental.
Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp have been on a path to discovering their identity. In the three years that the German has spent at the Merseyside club, they have finished eighth, fourth and fourth in the Premier League, indicating steady progress. Most of this progress has been built on the team's attacking abilities, as Klopp has ingrained his gegenpressing, counter-attacking style of play in his team.
The Reds' forward-line is one of the most dangerous in Europe, with the trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane offering pace, penetration and power, combining to score lots of goals. They come into this final as the team having scored the most number of goals in this season's competition, 40, averaging more than three goals per game. In a one-off final, they will have just as good a chance at winning the trophy as Real Madrid, as their fearless, direct approach is ideal to winning in big games.
On the other side is a team full of players who have seen this occasion three times in the last four years, and have come out on the winning side every single time. European pedigree flows through this Real Madrid side and they will not feel the nerves, they know they belong and what they need to do to achieve the result they want.
To add to a team full of superstars, they have Cristiano Ronaldo, a man built for the biggest stage of club football. He has scored in the Champions League final on four occasions, once for Manchester United and the rest for Real Madrid. Ronaldo scored the dagger in their 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid in 2014, he converted the final penalty in the shootout win over Atletico in the 2016 final. The Portuguese superstar provided a telling contribution in the 2017 final, scoring a decisive brace as Real defeated Juventus 4-1. What makes him so dangerous is his consistency and ability to come up with the telling blow even if he isn't very involved in the game. It is his ability to stay ready that has driven him, and with 15 Champions League goals this season, has scored four more than Salah, who is next on the list.
Another aspect of this encounter is the coming together of two coaches who have never really got the credit they deserve for their achievements. Despite implementing his gegenpressing style of football at both Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, European success has eluded Jurgen Klopp and has painted a picture that says his teams are defensively suspect. Though that argument has its merits, he has worked hard to remedy the Reds' defensive weaknesses and this particular team has shown that it has the defensive wherewithal to withstand long spells of pressure from the opposition.
His counterpart on the night, Zinedine Zidane, could move ahead of managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, if he helps his team win the Champions League this season. If his team manage to achieve that incredible feat, it would be his third Champions League title, pushing him on level terms with Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti. As a manager, a lot of Zidane's success has been attributed to the fact that he has a team full of superstars, with many doubting his tactical nous to manage a team at the highest level. However, Real's success shows that the Frenchman has the perfect blend of man-management and tactical understanding to set his team up in the best manner possible to achieve greatness in Europe. Another Champions League title would make Zidane a great manager as well, in addition to being one of the greatest players of all-time and a Real Madrid legend.
The match is a battle between two historically great Champions League teams, one that is trying to rewrite history with their dominance in the modern era, while the other tries to fight their way back to glory in a competition they have a glorious past in. A win for Real Madrid adds to their reputation as the best team in European Cup history and helps them set a marker as the only team in the Champions League era to win the title three years in succession. A win for Liverpool cements their status as the best team from England in European competitions, and gives them the chance to build on their success for what could be a glorious future.
Pep Guardiola faces transfer battle with Euro giants to land £42m+ rated Man City target
After watching his side coast to the Premier League title this past season with the best defensive record in the top flight, it’s questionable if Pep Guardiola needs to strengthen his backline.
City conceded just 27 goals in 38 games, a major factor in their run to the title and to accumulate 100 points, while they also won the League Cup.
Nevertheless, having fallen short in the FA Cup and Champions League, coupled with the fact that captain Vincent Kompany will turn 33 next year and has struggled with injury woes for years, a long-term replacement for the influential Belgian ace may well be needed.
In the past three seasons, Kompany has failed to make more than 22 appearances in a single campaign, and so while his leadership and experience are still key attributes, perhaps a more reliable figure is required to play heavy minutes alongside the likes of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.
As reported by Calciomercato, via Don Balon, it’s suggested that Guardiola has set his sights on Ajax youngster Matthijs de Ligt as he has continued to impress for the Dutch giants despite still being just 18 years of age, although he will face stiff competition in the form of Juventus.
With 60 senior appearances to his name already in the last two seasons, he has wasted little time in making an impression and gaining crucial experience, including in Europe with Ajax’s run to the Europa League final last year.
As noted by the Evening Standard, Tottenham are also being linked with a summer swoop, and it’s claimed that De Ligt could cost in excess of £42m, the fee spent on former teammate Davinson Sanchez.
In turn, it remains to be seen firstly if any interested party is willing to meet Ajax’s reported demands, and if so, if De Ligt is ready to make the move away from his homeland.
Potentially winning major honours and playing in one of Europe’s biggest leagues will be tempting, but it’s debatable as to whether he’ll get the same prominent role as he has now and with that, the important opportunity to continue his development.
Real Madrid return Champions League final tickets after price increases
Real Madrid fans have returned 1,000 tickets for Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool as spiralling accommodation and travel costs deter supporters from travelling to Kiev.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the tickets could not be resold to Liverpool fans for security reasons but they would instead be put on sale for local fans in the Ukrainian capital.
As anger mounts over the rocketing prices and cancelled bookings -- with some hotels charging up to 100 times their standard rates -- Liverpool said they had complained to the "highest levels" of European football's governing body.
Ukrainian UEFA vice-president Grigoriy Surkis criticised the behaviour of hotel owners looking to make a quick buck for the clash between the two European giants, who have won the competition 17 times between them.
"I am not disappointed, I am furious," he told AFP. "I think it is a disgrace for the capital, where individual hotel owners did not give everyone a chance to come here by raising the prices not ten-fold, the way it happens in other cities, but nearly a hundredfold."
Around 1,000 Liverpool fans also face the prospect of being stranded in England after a number of charter flights were cancelled due to a disagreement between a travel company and aviation authorities in Kiev over the size of the aircraft.
Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said he was still hopeful a "favourable solution" can be reached to help those left behind.
However, Moore criticised the infrastructure in Kiev, which hosted the Euro 2012 final, as not fit for purpose.
"They just don't have the airport infrastructure and the hotel capacity to cope with an event of this size and there isn't another major city within real hitting distance of it," he told the Liverpool Echo newspaper.
"It's not only affected Liverpool fans but Real Madrid fans too. There will be lessons learned from this. Rest assured, I've raised this at the highest levels of UEFA."
The decision to award the final to Kiev was made before Ceferin's election as president in 2016 and the Slovenian has already reintroduced a tender process with evaluation reports on cities bidding for finals.
Istanbul's 76,000-capacity Ataturk Olympic Stadium was named as the host for the 2020 final on Thursday, while next season's final will take place at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano.
Ceferin admitted that the black market for tickets was a big problem, with each club originally allocated 16,626 tickets despite worldwide fanbases.
According to UEFA, Kiev's Olimpiyskiy Stadium has a capacity of 63,000 for the game.
"We cancelled the tickets that were on the black market but the thing is I am not sure if it is possible to completely prevent it, but we are trying to do as much as possible," he said.
Fans' plight
Liverpool head of club and supporter liaison Tony Barrett said he sympathised with fans over their plight.
"For those of you who get to Kiev, I hope it's worth every penny and every ounce of effort that you have put in," he tweeted.
"For those who don't -- and there are already far too many in this position -- I apologise for not being able to help you. Football without fans is nothing."
Real Madrid fan Marcos Sanchez secured accommodation well in advance but his bookings were cancelled and prices skyrocketed.
"Everything has been a nightmare," he said. "I have reported it on social networks and Ukrainian journalists have even called me because it gives a bad image for the city and the country.
"People have created a Facebook group offering their houses in Kiev for free and it works brilliantly, it´s genuine."
Spanish fan groups have organised accommodation outside Ukraine as well as in Kiev and many fans are flying straight in and out.
Nabil Alturek, president of fan group Pena Capote Y Montera, said two groups were travelling. One will sleep in Warsaw one night and Kiev the next before returning to Warsaw and the other will spend the night at the airport in the Ukraine capital.
"It was cheap because we booked a long time ago," he said. "We were shocked by the cancellations, but we were lucky, we paid 40 or 50 euros per person" at the hotel in Kiev.
But Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, gave a robust response about the situation in the city.
"The fact that prices are going up before a major event, this happens in other places besides Kiev," he said. "This is world practice. The city cannot regulate business -- these are the laws of the market."
