Champions League

29Apr By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

Champions League

Arsenal to host PSG in UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg

TOPSHOT - Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (C) applauds as he leads a training session at the Arsenal Training centre in Colney, north of London, on April 28, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) Arsenal are in final preparations mode for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal with Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium later on Tuesday. The Gunners were not in action over the past weekend, but did officially lose out on the title with Liverpool's big win over Tottenham Hotspur confirming what had been coming for some time. They last played in the last four in 2009, and have only made the final onc...

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29Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Yamal stardust could give Barca edge on Inter Milan

Lamine Yamal plays during the match between FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca, corresponding to week 33 of LaLiga EA Sports, at the Lluis Companys Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on April 22, 2025. Barcelona last reached the Champions League final a decade ago, with Lionel Messi as their torch-bearer. Now the Catalan giants rely on another generational talent in Lamine Yamal as their 'X-factor' when they host Inter Milan on Wednesday in a semi-final first leg clash. At the peak of his powers Messi scored two brilliant goals in the 2015 semi first leg against Bayern Munich on the way to the treble, and while Yamal, 17, is still honing his finishing, he holds the key to the team's potential success this season. The teenager, left-footed but operating on the right flank with freedom to roam, as ...

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28Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

PSG hope to have Dembele firing for Arsenal Champions League showdown

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 25: Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain controls the ball during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and OGC Nice at on April 25, 2025 in Paris, France. Paris Saint-Germain's chances of beating Arsenal and reaching the Champions League final may depend to a large extent on Ousmane Dembele rediscovering the form in front of goal that made him Europe's most lethal finisher in the first three months of this year. Dembele scored 25 goals in 20 games in all competitions for PSG between mid-December and mid-March, his statistics those of a player completely transformed as he was turned by coach Luis Enrique from a winger into a central striker. That included a crucial goal against Liverpool at Anfield on the way to PSG winning their Champions League last...

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17Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Barca to face Inter in Champions League semi-finals

DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona (R) is substituted by Head Coach Hansi Flick of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona at BVB Stadion Dortmund on April 15, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. Barcelona will take on Inter for a place in the final of the 2024-25 Champions League. Hansi Flick’s side booked their spot in the last four of the tournament by seeing off Dortmund in the quarter-finals on Tuesday and now know who they will face next. Inter made it through by seeing off Bayern Munich in their quarter-final tie. The Nerazzurri won the first leg 2-1 in Germany and followed that up with a 2-2 draw at San Siro. The Serie A champions finished fourth in the group stage, saw ...

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17Apr By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

Champions League

Arteta hails Arsenal’s Champions League momentum

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 16: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates with Myles Lewis-Skelly after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Arsenal FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. A jubilant Mikel Arteta said the momentum is with Arsenal to win the Champions League following their historic victory against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Bukayo Saka, who missed a first-half penalty, opened the scoring midway through the second period before Vinicius Junior responded just two minutes later only for Gabriel Martinelli to crown a famous 2-1 win on the night, and a crushing 5-1 aggregate victory, in stoppage time. Arsenal, who will face Paris Saint-Germain for a place in the semi-finals, made history by becom...

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16Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Simone Inzhagi: “Bayern Munich is the strongest team in the world”

Simone Inzaghi of Inter Milan looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 quarter final match between FC Bayern München and Inter Milan at Allianz arena, Munich, Germany on April 8, 2025. Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi talked about Bayern Munich, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Müller, and Bayern’s squad depth as both sides gear up to decide who advances to the Champions League semi-finals. Inzaghi lauded some heavy praise on his opponents, saying “Together with Real Madrid, Bayern is the strongest team in the world.” He continued, discussing how Inter have lost all their 4 previous home matches against Bayern, highlighting the difficulty of the task ahead: “The previous matches with Bayern at San Siro are not positive but our players are mature. The team knows what they have to d...

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16Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Barcelona reach Champions League semi-finals despite Dortmund defeat

DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 15: (L-R) Rami Bensebaini of Borussia Dortmund, Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund v FC Barcelona at the Signal Iduna Park on April 15, 2025 in Dortmund Germany. Five-time European champions Barcelona reached their first Champions League semi-final in six seasons with a 5-3 aggregate victory despite being beaten 3-1 by Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. Serhou Guirassy scored a hat-trick for Dortmund to condemn Barca to their first defeat across all competitions this year but it could not prevent the Catalans from reaching the last four. Barcelona will play either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich, who face each other on Wednesday, in the semi-finals. The visitors found themselves on the back foot from the...

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10Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Unai Emery Makes Bold Claim for Second Leg After Aston Villa’s Loss to PSG

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 09: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa high fives Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, as he is substituted on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC at Parc des Princes on April 09, 2025 in Paris, France. Paris Saint-Germain earned a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the first leg at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, coming from behind after a 1-0 deficit with three unanswered goals. While PSG showed their quality, could manager Unai Emery be partly to blame for the situation that allowed the Parisians to stage a comeback? After Aston Villa took the lead, Desire Doue quickly equalized, sending the teams into halftime at 1-1. Doue’s goal seemed to set the tone for the second half. Early on, Khvicha Kva...

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10Apr By Silver Emmanuel6 Comments

Champions League

Lewandowski leads rout as Barca beats Dortmund in first leg

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 09: Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona shoots whilst under pressure from Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 09, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona thumped visiting Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday after Robert Lewandowski scored twice against his former club to earn the Catalans a sizeable lead ahead of next week's return visit to Germany. Undefeated since late December, treble-chasing Barca predictably dominated the opening stages and grabbed the lead with Raphinha's strike in the 25th minute. A string of saves from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel frustra...

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9Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Barcelona squad named for Dortmund first leg

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 08: Robert Lewandowski during FC Barcelona training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League, football match against Borussia Dortmund, at Ciudad Esportiva Joan Gamper on April 08, 2025 in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona will welcome Borussia Dortmund for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Wednesday’s game: Goalkeepers: 13. Iñaki Peña, 25. Wojciech Szczesny, 31. Diego Kochen Defenders: 2. Pau Cubarsí, 3. Alejandro Balde, 4. Ronald Araujo, 5. Iñigo Martínez, 15. Andreas Christensen, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric García, 32. Héctor Fort, 35. Gerard Martín Midfielders: 6. Gavi, 8. Pedri, 14. Pablo Torre, 16. Fermín López, 21. Frenkie de Jong Forwards: 7. Ferran Torres...

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9Apr By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

Champions League

Emery relishing PSG tie but wants European consistency

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 2: Aston Villa Manager Unai Emery during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Aston Villa FC at Amex Stadium on April 2, 2025 in Brighton, England. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says the Champions League quarter-final against his former club Paris Saint-Germain will be "special and spectacular," but he is focused on leading his side to consistent success at Europe's top level. Emery will return to Paris for Wednesday's first leg having managed the newly crowned Ligue 1 champions from 2016 to 2018, leading them to a league title in the 2017-18 season. The Spaniard, who took charge of Villa in 2022, guided the Birmingham side to their first appearance in Europe's elite club competition in over four decades and now hopes to extend thei...

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9Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Stunning Rice double fires Arsenal to 3-0 win over Real Madrid

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Declan Rice scores Arsenal's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Emirates Stadium on April 08, 2025 in London, England. Declan Rice's two fantastic freekicks and a striker's finish from Mikel Merino gave Arsenal an emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium. The hosts had the better of the first half as Real began slowly, with Eduardo Camavinga almost conceding a calamitous own goal when he blocked Antonio Rudiger's clearance before Thomas Partey shot straight at Thibault Courtois. Real grew into the contest and threatened on the break, though their few opportunities came from Arsenal errors and ...

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8Apr By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

Champions League

De Jong revival helping Barca dream as Dortmund visit

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 02: Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga EA Sports match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on April 02, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. Barcelona's improvement under Hansi Flick helped Frenkie de Jong return to form and in return the Dutchman's presence has allowed his club to aspire to new heights this season. The Catalan giants are in contention for a possible quadruple and host Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday. Since De Jong has reestablished himself, Barcelona have stepped up a gear, battling their way back to the top of La Liga as well as sailing onwards in Europe. They last won the Champions League in 2015 and after a catalogue of humiliations find themselves back a...

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7Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Arsenal vs Real Madrid early injury news as 9 ruled out and 4 doubts

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, applauds the fans following the team's draw during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on April 05, 2025 in Liverpool, England. A look at the injury news surrounding Arsenal and Real Madrid as they prepare to face off in the Champions League. Arsenal now turn their attention to a Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium after their draw with Everton on Saturday. The Gunners will be prioritising the Champions League at this stage having fallen out of the Premier League title race, but they will have to earn their spot in the next round, facing the current champions. Though, Los Blancos suffered a setback of their own on Saturday, losing at home t...

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13Mar By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

Champions League

Real Madrid reach Champions League quarter-finals after penalty drama

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 12: Antonio Rüdiger of Real Madrid (L) helps Ángel Correa of Atletico (R) during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 second leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid C.F. at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on March 12, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. Real Madrid beat city rivals Atletico 4-2 on penalties to reach the Champions League quarter-finals following an enthralling last-16 tie which ended 2-2 after extra time in a raucous atmosphere at Metropolitano on Wednesday. Antonio Rudiger converted the winning spot-kick for Real after their second-leg match finished 1-0 to Atletico thanks to an early goal from midfielder Conor Gallagher after Vinicius Jr. missed a late second-half penalty for Real. Atletico were fuming after fo...

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12Mar By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

Champions League

Champions League: Inter oust Feyenoord, ease into quarters

Milan, Italy - March 11: Marcus Thuram of Fc Internazionale celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) Inter Milan, Italy's only representative left in the Champions League, cruised into the quarter-finals on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Feyenoord at San Siro to progress 4-1 on aggregate. Marcus Thuram scored a exceptional goal and Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty to set up a clash in the last eight with German giants Bayern Munich.

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11Mar By Silver Emmanuel4 Comments

Champions League

Capello: ‘Guardiola’s arrogance cost him several Champions League titles’

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 8: Josep Guardiola Manager of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Manchester City FC at City Ground on March 8, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images) Fabio Capello admitted that Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona marked one of the three ‘football revolutions’ that he experienced in his lifetime, but was also very critical of the current Manchester City manager, suggesting his ‘arrogance’ and desire to be ‘the main character’ ended up damaging his career.“ I really appreciated Guardiola as a coach; he did beautiful things,” Capello told Spanish newspaper El Mundo in an interview.“I have experienced three revolutions in football, roughly one every twenty years: Cruyff’s Ajax, Sac...

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11Mar By Silver Emmanuel4 Comments

Champions League

Barca squad named for Benfica 2nd leg

SANT JOAN DESPI, SPAIN - MARCH 10: Hansi Flick, head coach of FC Barcelona attends his press conference during the training day of FC Barcelona ahead the UEFA Champions League, football match against SL Benfica at Ciudad Esportiva Joan Gamper on March 10, 2025 in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images) Barcelona will face Benfica in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Tuesday’s game: Goalkeepers: 13. Iñaki Peña, 25. Wojciech Szczesny, 31. Diego Kochen Defenders: 3. Alejandro Balde, 4. Ronald Araujo, 5. Iñigo Martínez, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric García, 32. Héctor Fort, 35. Gerard Martín Midfielders: 6. Gavi, 8. Pedri, 14. Pablo Torre, 16. Fermín Ló...

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6Mar By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

Champions League

Raphinha returns to haunt Benfica again with long-range stunner

LISBON, PORTUGAL - MARCH 5: Raphinha Dias of Barcelona celebrates his goal with his teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first Leg match between SL Benfica and FC Barcelona at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on March 5, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. Raphinha has scored another goal against Benfica in a challenging first leg of the Champions League round of 16. The Brazilian winger intercepted a poor pass given by Antonio Silva in order to unleash an unstoppable shot towards the Portuguese's goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. While the Ukrainian did not have a chance to save the strike, the ball hit the bottom right corner to hand Barcelona a crucial away win at Estadio da Luz. Raphinha's winner comes after the Catalans were reduced to 10 men after Pau Cubarsi was sent ...

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6Mar By Silver Emmanuel5 Comments

Champions League

Liverpool stuns Paris St. Germain late in first leg of Champions League clash

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 5: Harvey Elliott of Liverpool scores his goal to make it 0-1 during the UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint Germain v Liverpool at the Parc des Princes on March 5, 2025 in Paris France. Liverpool substitute Harvey Elliott scored a last-gasp winner 47 seconds after coming on to help his side earn a fortunate 1-0 win against Paris St. Germain, which outplayed the Premier League leader during the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Wednesday. Elliott slotted home in the 87th minute against the run of play after a pass from fellow substitute Darwin Nunez for a victory in Paris that Liverpool hardly deserved after goalkeeper Alisson kept it in the game with a string of magnificent saves. Liverpool's goal was its first shot on target and sec...

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