Champions League        

Champions League

Champions League, Luciano Spalletti

Spalletti: ‘No Napoli regrets with Milan in Champions League’

 Luciano Spalletti Head Coach of SSC Napoli shouts instructions to his players during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, on 12 April, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Luciano Spalletti is confident Napoli will be able to make up for the absentees in the Champions League quarter-final against Milan. ‘We must not have any regrets.’ It kicks off at the Stadio Meazza at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT). “We need to enjoy the evening, as these are nights we must relish in their totality. If you earn your place in this evening with hard work, sweat and sacrifice, you must not have any regrets, you go out there and play,” Spalletti told Amazon Prime Video. The Rossoneri grabbed a 4-0 Serie A victory in Naples on April 2 with a Ra...
Champions League, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola

Man City not resting easy despite big win against Bayern: Guardiola

 Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of FC Bayern Munich, gestures as Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Manchester City and FC Bayern München at Etihad Stadium on April 11, 2023 in Manchester, England.Manchester City appeared in total control in a surgical second-half dismantling of Bayern Munich on Tuesday but Pep Guardiola looked aghast when a reporter asked if it was the most comfortable he and his team have felt this season. “It was not comfortable at all, emotionally I’m destroyed,” he said, prompting laughter. “I [aged] 10 more years today.” Nevertheless, City took a huge step towards a first Champions League title with a 3-0 victory over the visiting German powerhouse at Etihad Stadium in the first le...
Champions League, Inter Milan, Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku scores as Inter Milan win at Benfica

 Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League match between Benfica v Internazionale at the Estadio Da Luz on April 11, 2023 in Porto Portugal.Romelu Lukaku scored an 82nd-minute penalty as Inter Milan put themselves in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League after a deserved win away to Benfica. Nicolo Barella’s downward header gave Inter the lead in the quarter-final first leg in Lisbon. Benfica struggled to dictate play in front of their own fans as Inter produced a defensive masterclass in Lisbon. Rafa Silva was denied by Andre Onana’s first-half save before Inter’s Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries produced a crucial block from close range as Benfica pushed for an equaliser. The Italian visitors wrapped up a solid win when...
Champions League, Chelsea, NEWS

Champions League draw produces top-heavy quarter-final line-up

 Presenter Pedro Pinto speaks during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 Quarter-finals and Semi-finals Draw at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on March 17, 2023, in Nyon, Switzerland.Chelsea will play holders Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the winners facing either Manchester City or Bayern Munich following a top-heavy draw that produced two blockbuster ties. On the other side of the draw Napoli will face AC Milan in an all-Italian clash while Inter Milan will play Benfica, with one of those sides guaranteed to reach the Champions League final. Real Madrid defeated Chelsea in last season’s quarter-finals on their way to lifting the Champions League for the 14th time and Friday’s draw produced a repeat of that tie. Manchester Cit...
Champions League, NEWS, Victor Osimhen

Osimhen double helps Napoli see off Frankfurt

 Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 15, 2023 in Naples, Italy.Victor Osimhen scored twice as Napoli cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time with a comfortable win over Eintracht Frankfurt. With Luciano Spalletti’s side two goals up from the first leg, the Nigeria striker’s thumping header in first-half stoppage time dispelled any lingering nerves at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Osimhen doubled the Italians’ lead on the night with a close-range finish from Giovanni di Lorenzo’s cross eight minutes after the break and, having been brought down in the box, Piotr Zielinski ...
Champions League, Karim Benzema, NEWS

Real Madrid dump Liverpool out of Champions League

 Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 15, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.Liverpool’s Champions League hopes ended at the hands of Real Madrid for a third consecutive season as they failed to overcome their first-leg Anfield demolition. The Reds, who lost the first leg 5-2, lined up with four forwards at the Bernabeu as they looked to add another famous comeback to their fabled European history. But that rarely looked on the cards and legendary Real striker Karim Benzema put the tie beyond doubt when he tucked in from Vinicius Jr’s cutback late on. Jurgen Klopp’s side would have lost this game by more if not for Alisson. The Reds goalkeeper denied Vin...
Champions League, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool FC

Liverpool will try to beat Madrid with one per cent chance – Klopp

 Liverpool FC Head Coach Jurgen Klopp talks during the Press Conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match against Real Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 14, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.  Jurgen Klopp said Tuesday his Liverpool team might only have a one per cent chance of beating Real Madrid to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, but they will try to use it. The coach had admitted, after his team’s 5-2 first leg defeat by the European champions at Anfield in February, that his side’s hopes of progress were extinguished. However Klopp said he had changed his mind a little, and even if nobody else believed in his side, they were looking forward to the clash in the Spanish capital, a repeat of last season’s final. “I said three weeks ago, Madrid with...
Champions League, Edin Dzeko, Inter Milan, Porto

Inter reaches Champions League quarters after 0-0 draw at Porto

 Edin Dzeko of Internazionale runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between FC Porto and FC Internazionale at Estadio do Dragao on March 14, 2023 in Porto, Portugal.Heroic defending and the woodwork helped Inter Milan reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in more than a decade. Inter managed a 0-0 draw at Porto on Tuesday to progress 1-0 on aggregate and join city rival AC Milan in the final eight. Napoli could become the third Italian team in the quarterfinals when it plays Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday. All the drama was saved for the fifth minute of stoppage time as a goalline clearance, the post and the crossbar prevented Porto from snatching the goal that would have taken the match to extra time. “In soccer, luck ma...
AC Milan, Champions League, Divock Origi, Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs out of Champions League after Milan shutout

 Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur in between Malick Thiaw of AC Milan and Divock Origi of AC Milan during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 8, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League campaign ended in bitterly disappointing fashion as they failed to overturn a first-leg deficit in the last 16 against AC Milan. Spurs paid the price for another passive start that allowed Milan to settle into their task – the misery complete when defender Cristian Romero was sent off late on after receiving a second yellow card for a wild challenge on Theo Hernandez. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tested AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan with a powerful second-half shot and Harry Kane headed wide, ...
BAYERN MUNICH, Champions League, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

Bayern cruise past PSG to reach quarter-finals

 Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain looks on as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting & Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich celebrate during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain at Allianz Arena on March 8, 2023 in Munich, Germany. Bayern Munich cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they condemned Paris St-Germain to another last-16 exit. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting swept home just after the hour mark for the hosts against his former club, with substitute Serge Gnabry adding the gloss to a professional display late on. PSG have now been eliminated from the competition at this stage in five of their previous seven campaigns and this represented another dismal failure for the Ligue 1 leaders and their under-pressure h...
Champions League, Neymar, PSG

Neymar will ‘come back stronger’ from ankle surgery

 Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar uses crutches as he takes a seat in the stand during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Nantes at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on March 4, 2023.Neymar promised to “come back stronger” after Paris Saint-Germain said on Monday the forward requires ankle surgery and will be out of action for three to four months. The Brazilian, who injured his ankle on February 19 against Lille in Ligue 1, “has had several episodes of instability in his right ankle in recent years,” said the club, adding that its medical staff “recommended a ligament repair operation to avoid a major risk of recurrence”. Neymar tweeted he would not be discouraged by his latest injury. “I’ll come back stronger,” he wrote with a pra...
Benfica, Champions League, Goncalo Ramos

Benfica thrash Club Bruges to cruise into last eight

 Goncalo Ramos of Benfica celebrates 3-0 with Alejandro Grimaldo of Benfica, Rafa Silva of Benfica, Antonio Silva of Benfica during the UEFA Champions League match between Benfica v Club Brugge at the Estadio Da Luz on March 7, 2023 in Porto Portugal.Goncalo Ramos scored twice as Benfica emphatically beat Club Bruges to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. The hosts, who won the first leg 2-0, opened the scoring in the first half with a smart finish from Rafa Silva. Ramos then showed great footwork to make it 4-0 on aggregate, before stabbing home from close range. Joao Mario’s penalty and David Neres’ finish wrapped up the win before Bjorn Meijer scored a stunning consolation. It is the second successive season Benfica have reached the Champions League quarter-f...
Champions League, CHELSEA FC

Chelsea reach Champions League quarter-finals

Raheem Sterling of Chelsea FC celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge on March 7, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Graham Potter enjoyed his finest night as Chelsea manager as they overcame a first-leg deficit against Borussia Dortmund to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Potter was under huge pressure after a dismal run of results following Chelsea’s huge outlay in the transfer market, but he will hope the manner of this performance and the advance into the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition will deliver a measure of calm and stability to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fully deserved their win, although they squandered several big opportuni...
BAYERN MUNICH, Champions League, Kingsley Coman, PSG

Coman repeats 2020 trick as Bayern beat poor PSG

Lionel Messi of Paris Saint Germain in action with Kingsley Coman of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern Munchen at Parc des Princes on February 14, 2023 in Paris, France.Kingsley Coman repeated his 2020 Champions League final heroics as Bayern Munich beat Paris St-Germain in their last-16 first-leg tie. The Frenchman volleyed home the winner early in the second half in Paris. Coman also scored the only goal when Bayern overcame his former club PSG to win the trophy three years ago. Substitute Kylian Mbappe, back after injury, looked to have rescued a draw for the hosts, but his late effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up. Ligue 1 champions PSG have now lost their last three matches in all competitions...
AC Milan, Brahim Diaz, Champions League, Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham fall to narrow first-leg loss at Milan

Brahim Diaz of AC Milan celebrates with teammate Olivier Giroud after scoring the team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2023 in Milan, Italy.Tottenham will have to produce a Champions League comeback after Brahim Diaz gave AC Milan a narrow win in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the San Siro. Diaz nodded in early on after Spurs goalkeeper Fraser Forster had saved a Theo Hernandez shot and then superbly got a hand on the scorer’s initial follow-up attempt. Antonio Conte’s side looked relatively comfortable for long periods of the contest against the seven-time European champions – as a youthful pairing of Pape Sarr and Oliver Skipp deputised ably for the suspended P...
Champions League, Lionel Messi, PSG

PSG’s Messi doubtful for Champions League clash with Bayern – L’Equipe

Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain in action during the French Ligue 1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Toulouse FC at Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, on February 4, 2023.Paris St Germain forward Lionel Messi is a doubt for the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League game against Bayern Munich due to a hamstring problem, French sports daily L’Equipe reported on Friday. Messi played the full 90 minutes of PSG’s 2-1 defeat to Olympique Marseille in the French Cup on Wednesday but later felt pain in his hamstring, the report said. It added that the 35-year-old would miss PSG’s Ligue 1 trip to AS Monaco on Saturday, three days before they host Bayern. Messi, who helped Argentina win the World Cup in December, has scored 15 goals in 25 games in all compe...
Champions League, Luka Modric, Real Madrid, UCL

Real Madrid thrash Celtic to top Champions League group

Luka Modric of Real Madrid CF (L) celebrates his goal with his teammates during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Real Madrid and Celtic FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 2, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.Celtic missed a penalty and conceded from two as their Champions League campaign ended with a 5-1 defeat by Real Madrid.Luka Modric and Rodrygo netted from the spot following two handball decisions before Josip Juranovic saw his effort from 12 yards saved.Second-half goals from Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde took the game well beyond Celtic but the visitors again created a number of chances and substitute Jota scored with one of their 14 attempts at goal as he curled home a brilliant free-kick.With RB Leipzig comfortably beating Shakhtar Donetsk in War...
Champions League, Liverpool FC, Mohamed Salah

Champions League: Liverpool end Napoli’s unbeaten run

Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates scoring the second goal with team mate Mohamed Salah during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Liverpool FC and SSC Napoli at Anfield on November 1, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.Liverpool ended Napoli’s 21-game unbeaten run but a 2-0 win on Tuesday was not enough to dislodge the Italians from the top spot in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League Group A. Both sides were already guaranteed their places in the last 16, but Jurgen Klopp’s men again shrugged off their Premier League problems at Anfield stadium. Mohamed Salah forced the ball over the line after Alex Meret just kept out Darwin Nunez’s header five minutes from time. Nunez then added a second with the last kick of the game to secure a fifth conse...
BAYERN MUNICH, Champions League, Jamal Musiala

Musiala talks Lewandowski, Gavi, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi vs Ronaldo ahead of Barcelona clash

Jamal Musiala of Bayern Muenchen controls the Ball during the Bundesliga match between TSG Hoffenheim and FC Bayern München at PreZero-Arena on October 22, 2022 in Sinsheim, Germany. Barcelona will play hosts to Bayern Munich tomorrow in the fifth matchweek of the UEFA Champions League group stages. Heading into the game, Bayern Munich prodigy Jamal Musiala opened up on the excitement for the match as well as revealed some Barcelona legends as his idols while also giving his opinion on the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate. Musiala, regarded as one of the finest young prospects in the game currently, lost to Barcelona sensation Gavi in the race for the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy 2022 awards. On missing out on the accolades to the Barça prodigy, Musiala said (h/t FCB World): “All the...
Carlo Ancelotti, Champions League, Real Madrid

Real Madrid determined to wrap up top spot at Leipzig: Carlo Ancelotti

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid gestures during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 22, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said his side won’t take Tuesday’s Champions League clash at RB Leipzig lightly despite having already qualified for the last 16 as they want to clinch the top spot. The Italian confirmed Karim Benzema and Luka Modric did not travel to Germany with the pair suffering from muscle fatigue. But he insisted that Real must not underestimate their rivals, who are still fighting for a place in the knockout rounds. ”It’s not time yet to rest players. Why would I rest Vinicius? He is not tired!” Ancelotti rejected the idea that some players could already be distracted with the...
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