Gareth Bale praised Zinedine Zidanes impact since taking over at the Bernabeu following Real Madrids progression to the Champions League final on Wednesday night. Real beat Manchester City 1-0 in their Champions League semi-final second-leg tie to set up a meeting against Atletico Madrid at San Siro on May 28, with Bale playing a key role in Los Blancos winner in the Spanish capital. Bale celebrates after Real opened the scoring against Man City The Wales international was keen to highlight his managers contribution to the home teams victory, exactly four months since Zidane replaced Rafa Benitez in the Madrid dugout. Hes given us that belief and freedom to go out and express ourselves and enjoy ourselves, Bale told UEFAs official website.When players can do that you see the best of them. Bale disagreed with Manuel Pellegrinis comments that Real Madrid were lucky to progress However, Bale admitted the 20th-minute goal that finally separated the two sides was slightly fortunate, with the forwards centre taking a crucial deflection off Fernando on its way past City goalkeeper Joe Hart.I went to cross, but obviously it doesnt matter however the ball goes in the back of the net, he said. Were very happy and the most important thing is were in the final.Were very excited to get to the final. Were going to enjoy this result. It was a very difficult two-legged game against Manchester City. Hes given us that belief and freedom to go out and express ourselves and enjoy ourselves. Gareth Bale on Zidane But were very happy that we kept two clean sheets and nicked a goal to get into the final. It was a very professional performance. Weve really worked together as a team and that showed again tonight.Bale, meanwhile, was delighted with his own display against City as he carried on his impressive form of late that has seen him score four times in his last five games in all competitions for Real.I enjoy taking responsibility on the pitch, he said. Hopefully I can keep doing it, keep improving and putting in good performances. Bales cross deflects off City midfielder Fernando in the decisive moment of Wednesdays Champions League semi-final Bale, though, knows just what a tough encounter now awaits him and his team-mates against Atleti, the second time the two city rivals have faced each other in the Champions League final in the space of just three years.We know that come the final its going to be a very difficult, very cagey game again, he said.We know how they play, we know what theyre like, he added. Its going to be a difficult game, but were confident we can win. Watch live coverage of Real Madrids La Liga clash at home to Valencia from 3.55pm on Sunday, via the Red Button on Sky Sports 2 HD, on Sky Sports Xtra or via the Sky Sports for iPad app. Highlights on Sky Sports 3 HD from 8.40pm. Also See: Own goal knocks out City R Madrid 1-0 Man City recap Zidane: City made it hard Kompany limps out of Real clash Wholesale Football Jerseys Authentic .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. Wholesale Football Jerseys . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. http://www.cheapfootballjerseysoutlet.com/ . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Discount Football Jerseys . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Football Jerseys Outlet . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Pekka Rinne and Mike Smith have followed each others careers since they broke into the league in 2005 and 2006, respectively.They watched each other become elite goaltenders when given the opportunity to play consistently. They squared off in the 2012 Western Conference semifinals and they went through dry spells in their careers that had analysts wondering if they were done.They were not. Both 34-year-olds are among the leagues top 20 in save percentage this season -- Rinne is 17th at .922; Smith is 13th at .926. Both are facing an inordinate amount of shots and both have been key reasons for any success their teams have had -- in Smiths case, perhaps the only reason.Now back at the top of their profession, Smith and Rinne expressed mutual admiration for each other as they prepared to face each other for the first time this season on Saturday at Gila River Arena.We played in the minor leagues together so weve gotten to know each other and we have a mutual friend in Nashville, Smith said. Hes a battler. Hes obviously a big guy that covers a lot of net, but the one thing about Peks is he never gives up on a puck and youve got to respect the guy for that -- a guy that big that can move that well.Rinne said its still hard to believe that he and Smith have been in the league a decade-plus.For years and years I still considered myself a young guy and all of the sudden youve played a lot of years in this league and youre looked at as one of the older guys, Rinne said, laughing. Were the same age so Im really happy to see Smitty still doing well.It is still business as usual when you play against each other because its all about the two points, but for sure, you always try to be better than your counterpart and when you know the guy it creates a little more of a battle. You always want to play well against the guys youve played a lot.Thhe Predators were hot at the tail end of November, winning four of five games, but they have dropped three of four (1-2-1) in December.ddddddddddddWere still trying to find that consistency, Rinne said.Arizona is trying to find any kind of winning combination. The Coyotes lost a season-high six games (0-3-3) and they are tied for the fewest points in the NHL with Colorado at 21. Smith thought Thursdays 2-1 overtime loss to Calgary was a step in the right direction.We talked about having to be more engaged in games and the compete level had to come up, he said. But now we have to sustain that and we have to generate more out of it. We cant just be satisfied with just being a team that works hard.The Coyotes made a trade to shore up their center position on Friday by sending a conditional sixth-round pick to Toronto in exchange for 25-year-old Peter Holland. Arizona GM John Chayka hopes that Holland can help replace Brad Richardson, who suffered a broken tibia and fibula and is out indefinitely.Hes been somewhat productive in limited opportunities at times and hes been a good stabilizing force in any position hes used in, Chayka said. Hes coming into a group where weve got a lot of injuries and just underperformance. Hes a guy that will certainly get opportunity.Coyotes left wing Max Demi left Thursdays game with a cut under his eye and was seeing doctors on Friday for reasons the Coyotes would not identify. His status for Saturday is uncertain and will be updated at Saturdays morning skate.Nashville defensemen Ryan Ellis (upper-body), Anthony Bitetto (upper body) and forwards Colton Sissons (upper-body) and Miikka Salomaki (hand) are on injured reserve, but both Ellis and Sissons practiced Friday and are nearing returns. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '