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5 players to watch in Champions League final

By WTOP Staff

PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Sports Writer

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet in the first Champions League final, the first between teams from the same city and fifth between teams from the same country.

Both are looking to close their seasons with a double. Madrid tries to follow its Copa del Rey victory with a record 10th European Cup. Atletico can secure its first title in Europe’s top competition just a week after winning its first Spanish league trophy in 18 years.

Here are five players who can make the difference Saturday at the Stadium of Light:

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IKER CASILLAS

The Real Madrid goalkeeper has overcome being dropped as the first-team goalkeeper in the Spanish league to make the most of his limited playing time. And the 33-year-old Casillas has exceeded expectations in a part-time role, leading Madrid not only into the final but to victory in the Copa del Rey, where he did not allow a goal until the 2-1 final win over Barcelona. Casillas’ play in Europe and the domestic cup has cemented his starting place for Spain at the World Cup, and a third European Cup on his resume would certainly add to his stature as Spain’s greatest keeper. Casillas has never lost to Atletico.

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THIBAUT COURTOIS

Atletico Madrid’s goalkeeper won his second straight Zamora trophy after conceding the fewest league goals in helping his team to the Spanish league title. The Belgium goalie has flourished in the three seasons he has spent on loan from Chelsea at Atletico, helping the club win five trophies with catlike reflexes and a penchant for key saves. Saturday’s final could be Courtois’ last game for Atletico with Chelsea looking increasingly likely to call their keeper of the future back to Stamford Bridge to compete with Petr Cech for the starting job. “Courtois and (Manchester United’s) David De Gea are the best and most promising young goalkeepers in the game,” Casillas said.

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CRISTIANO RONALDO

No player will be as motivated as Cristiano Ronaldo, who has finally guided Real Madrid back to the Champions League final for the first time in 12 years — and in his native Portugal, no less. Ronaldo joined Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon, and guided the English club to a European Cup win in 2008 before losing to Barcelona a year later in Rome. Despite some recent injury setbacks, Ronaldo can cap perhaps his most complete season, which has already seen him win the Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo has scored 50 goals this season, and will be looking to add to his record 16 scored in the Champions League this campaign.

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KOKE

Barcelona playmaker Xavi Hernandez labeled Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion his heir apparent on the Spain national team. The Atletico midfielder is proving him right after helping his boyhood club to its first Spanish league title in since 1996, when he was four. Striker Diego Costa has drawn much of the headlines about Atletico’s success but none of it would have been possible without Koke, who seems to be involved in nearly every one of Atletico’s goals from open play or set pieces. Koke can also score himself. He netted the deciding goal in the quarterfinal win over Barcelona.

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GARETH BALE

The world’s most expensive player has certainly delivered in his first season at Madrid despite a season marred by occasional injury worries and the lofty expectations that came with a $137 million transfer. The addition of Bale has turned Madrid’s attack into Europe’s most explosive, as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Bale combined for 95 goals this season. Bale’s winner in the 2-1 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona will certainly be among the season’s best and has enamored him with the club’s fans. His size, speed and dribbling will test Atletico’s defense, which was the best in Spain this season.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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