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Champions League

Champions League

Joselu Earns Madrid Incredible Bayern Comeback To Reach Champions League Final

 Joselu Mato of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his first goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Real Madrid and FC Bayern München at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 08, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their "black beas...
Champions League

Borussia Dortmund reach Champions League final

 Karim Adeyemi, Mats Hummels, Emre Can of Dortmund and teammates celebrate the victory following the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Borussia Dortmund (BVB) at Parc des Princes stadium on May 7, 2024 in Paris, France.The return matches of the semi-finals have started in the Football Champions League.Paris Saint-Germain, the French champion, hosted Borussia Dortmund in Paris. In their first leg, the German team won by a narrow margin.In the second leg, just like in the first, Borussia Dortmund won Paris Saint-Germain by only one goal.Mats Hummels stood out in the "Bees" team.Borussia Dortmund reach Champions League final. The match between Real and Bayern Munich will take place on May 8. The first match between these clubs ended i...
Champions League

Fuellkrug earns Dortmund 1-0 first-leg win over PSG

 Niclas Fullkrug #14 of Borussia Dortmund plays the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma #99 of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on May 01, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. Borussia Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug fired in a first-half goal to seal a 1-0 victory over visitors Paris St Germain in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.Nico Schlotterbeck floated a pass into Fuellkrug's path and the Germany forward controlled the ball with a perfect first touch before drilling a low shot past keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 36th minute.PSG, fresh from being crowned Ligue 1 champions and desperate to win their first ever Champions League trophy, found it hard goi...
Champions League

Dortmund v PSG another Champions League thriller: Luis Enrique

 Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish coach Luis Enrique attends a press conference on April 30, 2024 in Dortmund, western Germany, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).Paris St-Germain and Borussia Dortmund served up plenty of entertainment in the Champions League quarterfinals, and their meeting in the semis promises more of the same, PSG manager Luis Enrique said on Tuesday.Both sides came back from first-leg defeats to reach the semifinals, PSG winning 4-1 in Barcelona after a 3-2 loss in Paris and Dortmund beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 to recover from their defeat in Spain.“I think that is the way it went in the quarterfinals based on the playing style of Dortmund and the way that we play,” Luis En...
Champions League

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich: Madrid making an art form of scoring when least expected

Kim Min-Jae of FC Bayern München in action with Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 30, 2024 in Munich, Germany.Real Madrid has made an art form of striking when least expected.Bayern Munich was so dominant in the Champions League semifinal on Tuesday that it seemed only a matter of time before it scored. But Madrid pounced instead.Vinícius Júnior ran onto a brilliant Toni Kroos pass and fired the visitors ahead in the 24th minute with their first chance.“I know that Viní prefers the ball in space than at his feet,” Kroos said.“Then he makes his move. He makes the pass easy for me with his run.”Madrid's knack for scoring goals out of nothing is a trait that plays on ri...
Champions League

Kimmich heads Bayern past Arsenal into Champions League semis

Joshua Kimmich of FC Bayern München celebrates scoring the 1st team goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between FC Bayern München and Arsenal FC at Allianz Arena on April 17, 2024 in Munich, Germany.A 63rd-minute Joshua Kimmich header gave Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over Arsenal and a place in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.The 3-2 aggregate quarter-final victory means Bayern return to the last-four for the first time since winning the title in 2020.Bayern will face either Manchester City or Real Madrid for a place in the final.The result continues a poor week for Arsenal, who conceded top spot in the Premier League table on Sunday with their first league loss of 2024."We can enjoy this one. The first half was cagey and then we upped the tempo,"...
Champions League

Pep Guardiola praises ‘exceptional’ Man City after Champions League exit v Real Madrid

 Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts after the team's defeat in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid CF at Etihad Stadium on April 17, 2024 in Manchester, England. Despite crashing out of Europe, Pep Guardiola couldn’t fault his players and their performance against Real Madrid.Pep Guardiola said he couldn't have asked any more of his players on Wednesday as Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.The Premier League champions drew 1-1 in 90 minutes (4-4 on aggregate) which required extra-time and eventually penalties to determine a winner. Missed spot-kicks from Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic proved decisive and Antonio Rudiger converted...
Champions League

Arsenal ready to write a new story in Munich – Arteta

 Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, participates in a training session alongside his players Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard at London Colney on April 16, 2024 in St Albans, England. Mikel Arteta believes Champions League quarter-final success against Bayern Munich would take Arsenal to the next level as he told his players to "write a different story" at the Allianz Arena.The Gunners head into tonight's second leg locked at 2-2 with Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern after a thrilling draw at the Emirates Stadium last week.Defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday has since dented Arsenal’s Premier League title bid as attention now turns to Europe once again.Arsenal had lost seven last-16 ties in succession before returning to the Champions League this season – three times to Bayern.Arteta, though, fe...
Champions League

Borussia Dortmund win seesaw contest with Atlético Madrid to reach last four

Niclas Fullkrug of Borussia Dortmund competes for the ball with Mario Hermoso of Atletico Madrid during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid at Signal Iduna Park on April 16, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. Just another raw and savage night of Champions League football at the Westfalen: the colours vivid, the sounds ear-shattering, the defences in utter disarray. Late goals from Niclas Fullkrug and Marcel Sabitzer secured Borussia Dortmund’s passage to the semi-finals, breaking open an Atlético Madrid who look a grey scale model of the battleships Diego Simeone once produced.It was flawed and it was chaotic, and even amid Dortmund’s elation there remains the eternal question of whether they are ever going to allow us to...
Champions League

FC Barcelona Suffers Champions League Ko From Mbappe And PSG

 Kylian Mbappe centre-forward of PSG and France celebrates victory after the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 16, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. A Kylian Mbappe brace at the Montjuic Stadium helped Paris Saint-Germain knock FC Barcelona out of the Champions League quarterfinals by an aggregate score of 5-3 determined by a 4-1 win on Wednesday night.The Catalans went into the second leg with a 3-2 advantage, and though their head coach Xavi Hernandez said that Luis Enrique's men were the favourites to progress to the last four, they appeared confident of reaching that stage of the competition for the first time since 2019.Barca had one foot in the semifinal when the MVP of the fir...
Champions League

Real Madrid have already decided starting line-up for Manchester City clash

 Carlo Ancelotti, Head Coach of Real Madrid, reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports match between RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid CF at Estadi de Son Moix on April 13, 2024 in Mallorca, Spain. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has already decided on his playing XI that would take the field against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie.The journalist mentions that the Italian will revert to his usual 4-3-1-2 setup and the only change will be the inclusion of Nacho, who will replace the suspended Aurelien Tchouameni. The rest of the defence will consist of Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal. The midfield, on the other hand, will feature Toni Kroos, Eduardo Camaving and Federico Valverde.Starboy Jude Bellingham will return to his adv...
Champions League

Barcelona vs PSG: Preview, predictions and lineups

Head Coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona faces the media during a press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions league Quarter Final 2nd leg match against Paris Saint Germain at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on April 15, 2024 in Sant Joan Despi, Spain.Barcelona take a 3-2 lead into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain after coming from behind in the French capital.Xavi's liberated Catalans have one step in the semi-finals following last Wednesday's impressive display in Paris, and they were victorious yet again at the weekend with Joao Felix's acrobatic effort helping Barca to a 1-0 win over Cadiz.The La Liga champions are now 13 games unbeaten since Xavi announced his decision to step down as manager at the end of the season.Barca had the...
Champions League

Borussia Dortmund vs Atletico Madrid: Preview, predictions and lineups

 Atletico Madrid's Argentinian coach Diego Simeone addresses a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match against Borussia Dortmund in Dortmund, western Germany on April 15, 2024.It's all to play for in Germany on Tuesday night as Borussia Dortmund welcome Atletico Madrid to Signal Iduna Park for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.Atleti hold a slender 2-1 advantage heading into the return fixture, but it initially looked as if Diego Simeone's side would blow away BVB in the Spanish capital. The hosts raced into a 2-0 lead, but a resilient Dortmund fought back in the second half, halving the deficit, and they were perhaps unfortunate not to draw level in the closing stages.The visitors' indifferent away reco...
Champions League

Dortmund lean on home comforts ahead of Atletico clash

  Head Coach Edin Terzic of Borussia Dortmund comforts Sebastien Haller of Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund at Borussia Park Stadium on April 13, 2024 in Moenchengladbach, Germany.Borussia Dortmund host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday looking for inspiration from their Westfalenstadion fortress to overturn a 2-1 deficit.Winners in 1997 and finalists in 2013, Dortmund are somehow still in with a shot at returning to the semi-finals despite a terrible start in Madrid, with Edin Terzic's overawed side trailing by two goals after 30 minutes.Dortmund composed themselves and were arguably the better side for the remaining 60 minutes but, despite a crucial Sebasti...
Champions League

Arturo Vidal predicts Barcelona’s Champions League road

 Arturo Vidal of Colo-Colo gestures during the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2024 group A match between Fluminense and Colo-Colo at Maracana Stadium on April 09, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Barcelona have been given a chance to dream again. Hosting PSG in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Barça will be vying to defend their one-goal advantage.However, despite reigning supreme in the first leg, the task is only halfway complete, and the Parisians are expected to raise the ante in the return leg as they seek redemption.Former Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal believes Barcelona will get the job done, though, as his prediction for this year’s Champions League edition has surfaced.Banking on Barcelona to go all the wayAfter joining in 2018, Vidal played 96 games ...
Champions League

Pep Guardiola declares ‘very big problem’ ahead of second leg with Real Madrid

 Manager Pep Guardiola of Manchester City FC gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 09, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has manifested his concern about the fitness of his side ahead of their second leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League. As the reigning champions face Luton Town on Saturday, the logic would suggest that City would rotate players, but they are locked in a fierce race for the Premier League tie.Rodri Hernandez had admitted after the Real Madrid clash that he could do with a rest in the coming weeks, despite the lack of room for it in the schedule.“Resting Rodri against Luton? Look at our games and you will realise it. It...
Champions League

Aston Villa get no favours as Champions League hopes take a huge hit

 Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa celebrates during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 Quarter-final first leg match between Aston Villa and Lille OSC at Villa Park on April 11, 2024 in Birmingham, England.Aston Villa will take a one-goal lead to France next week and have Emiliano Martinez to thank for it being any advantage at all.Under the watch of head coach Paulo Fonseca, who i reported this week is a summer target for West Ham to replace David Moyes, Lille were a constant threat and arguably the better team on Thursday night.Martinez was on hand to repeatedly deny the French side – as did a tight VAR offside call – in this Europa Conference League quarter-final tie, but Lille finally got what they deserved through Bafode Diakite, a late goal that could yet prove crucial.Ol...
Champions League

Pedri reveals what Xavi told him before coming on against PSG

 Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe (R) runs with the ball ahead of Barcelona's Spanish midfielder #08 Pedri (L) during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 10, 2024.Pedri made his return from injury on Wednesday against PSG, coming on as a substitute and helping inspire Barcelona to a 3-2 win.The visitors were trailing 2-1 when Pedri arrived, but the midfielder helped change the game and provided an almost immediate assist after arriving.Xavi had provided Pedri with some specific instructions before he came off the bench which he was happy to divulge after the win.”Xavi simply told me to come on mentally prepared and ready to contribute....
Champions League

Paris police to boost security for PSG vs. Barcelona Champions League quarterfinal

llustration of the official logo of Paris Saint-Germain during a training session prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona at Parc des Princes on April 9, 2024 in Paris, France. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced Tuesday that Paris police will "considerably boost security measures" for the upcoming Champions League quarterfinal match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.The decision comes in response to a threat from the ISIS group against the Parc des Princes stadium and other European soccer venues hosting Champions League matches, Darmanin stated.In a statement to CNN, European soccer governing body UEFA acknowledged the "alleged terrorist threats" and assured that all matches will proceed as scheduled with "...
Champions League

Real Madrid Ace Rodrygo Explains How City UCL Second Leg Will Be Won

 Rodrygo Goes of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League match, Quarter-finals, first leg, between Real Madrid and Manchester City played at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on April 9, 2024 in Madrid Spain. Real Madrid ace Rodrygo said that "whoever errs least will pass" through to the Champions League semifinals after his team drew 3-3 with Manchester City on Tuesday.After back-to-back last four showdowns, the two European behemoths met at the quarterfinal stage this time and put on a first leg for the ages in the Bernabeu.Rodrygo fired Los Blancos 2-1 up after Bernardo Silva snuck the visitors ahead inside three minutes.And while Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol let rip with fantastic shots from outside of the box into Andriy Lunin's top corner, Fede Valverde guaranteed that matter...
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