UCL – Page 12 – Football Flame

19Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Edinson Cavani & Harry Maguire left out of Manchester United squad to face PSG

Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba of Manchester United in action during a first team training session ahead of the UEFA Champions League Group H stage match between Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain at Aon Training Complex on October 19, 2020 in Manchester, England.Edinson Cavani’s hopes of making his Manchester United debut against Paris Saint-Germain have been dashed after the striker was left out of the squad that flew to France this aternoon. The 33-year-old had been hoping to make his first appearance for the club against his former employers when United take on the Ligue 1 giants at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday. Cavani was unable to play against Newcastle on Saturday after Covid-19 protocols meant he had to isolate for a fortnight following his arrival at the club. T...

14Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

PSG-Man United Champions League clash to go ahead behind closed doors as curfew imposed in Paris

Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League opener against Manchester United next Tuesday will go ahead, but without spectators, despite the French government introducing a nighttime curfew in the capital, the country's sports ministry told AFP."Exemptions will be possible, with or without spectators depending on the time," the ministry said on Wednesday when asked about sporting events going ahead after President Emmanuel Macron earlier announced the curfew.Residents in Paris and its surrounding Ile-de-France region, along with eight other French cities, will not be allowed to be outdoors between 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) and 6:00 am (0400 GMT) from Saturday, for a duration of at least four weeks, except for essential reasons.The measures were announced in response to Covid-19 infection rates reachin...

1Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Liverpool drawn against Ajax in Champions League

Premier League champions Liverpool will face Ajax in the Champions League group stage this season. Chelsea are in a group with Europa League winners Sevilla, while Manchester City will face Porto. Manchester United have been drawn against Paris St-Germain, who they knocked out in the last 16 in 2018-19. Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to face each other after Juventus and Barcelona were drawn in Group G. The draw in Geneva is taking place without club officials present due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This year's group stage begins on Tuesday, 20 October while the final is on Saturday, 29 May at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul. 2020-21 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE DRAW IN FULL Group A: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, Lokomoti...

24Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Nigeria: The Nigerian Players That Have Played in the UEFA Champions League Final

When the roll call of players for the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League Final will be made tonight, the Green-White-Green colours of Nigeria will be conspicuously missing. Though two players in the Bayern Munich team, David Alaba and Joshua Zirkzee have Nigerian heritage by parentage, the duo are recognised by their Austrian and Dutch Nationalities respectively. But even though no Nigerian will be on parade on Sunday night, the country can look back with some level of pride that three players from the most populous Black Country in the world have featured in the prestigious Champions League final. It must be said that a whole lot more Nigerians have featured in the Champions League with some even holding prestigious records but only three have made it and played in the final of the ic...

23Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

PSG go down fighting as Bayern win Champions League

Kingsley Coman of FC Bayern Munich scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 23, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Bayern Munich won the European Cup for the sixth time on Sunday as Kingsley Coman's goal gave them a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in an engrossing Champions League final in Lisbon, completing a fantastic season for the German giants and leaving their opponents still searching for the trophy they covet more than anything. It was often a cagey final, with a bit of needle between the teams, but chances too, especially before Coman appeared at the back post to head in Joshua Kimmich's inviting 59th-minute cross and wrap up a treble for a team who had already...

23Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Bayern Munich eye 6th Champions League title

Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Munich with Lucas Hernandez of FC Bayern Munich during a training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Final match against Paris Saint-Germain at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 22, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. German football powerhouse Bayern Munich, who last bagged a UEFA Champions League trophy in 2013, are seeking the sixth victory in the contest Sunday. Meanwhile, the other finalists in Lisbon, France’s Paris Saint-Germain, are set to appear in their maiden Champions League final. "Die Bayern" has more experience in the finals than PSG as the German club has been crowned Champions League winners five times with two titles coming in 2001 and 2013. Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the 2013 all-German final in London'...

20Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Champions League: Hansi Flick’s Bayern bulldozer ploughs back to the final

Serge Gnabry of Bayern Munich celebrates with teammates Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich and Thomas Mueller of Bayern Munich after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final match between Olympique Lyonnais and Bayern Munich at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 19, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Bayern Munich head into Sunday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in extraordinarily dominant form and with a real chance to become the first team to win the competition with a 100 per cent record. The 3-0 win over Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday wasn’t a perfect performance, with the French side surely given too many chances for coach Hansi Flick’s liking, but the outcome was never truly in doubt. In fact, “doubt” is a word that hardly seems app...

19Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

PSG past Leipzig 3-0, reach first Champions League final

Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates with Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final match between RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain F.C at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 18, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Paris St Germain reached their first ever Champions League final with a convincing 3-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday, finally delivering the reward of the biggest game in European football for their Qatari backers. Goals from Marquinhos and Angel Di Maria put PSG 2-0 up at the interval and Juan Bernat added the third in the 56th minute for what was a comfortable victory at Estadio da Luz. The French club, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their founding in 1970, will meet the winner of Wednesday...

18Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Mbappe declared fit to start for PSG tonight against Leipzig

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at Bernabeu on November 26, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. Kylian Mbappe set to start as Paris St Germain face Leipzig for a place in the Champions League final tonight. The World Cup-winning France striker came off the bench to set up the stoppage-time winner as PSG dramatically came from behind to beat Atalanta in their quarter-final in Lisbon last Wednesday. The 21-year-old had been limited to the final 30 minutes after struggling with an ankle injury but now looks set for longer involvement. Coach Thomas Tuchel said at a press conference: “He has had no reaction and had six days since to work on fitness, so of course he can start. “We wi...

16Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Neymar faces Leipzig and Red Bull, one of his own sponsors

Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates victory after the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on March 11, 2020 in Paris, France. There’s an extra twist for Neymar entering Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig. Both Neymar and Leipzig have strong links to the Red Bull energy drink company, which sponsors the Brazilian and is behind the creation of the Leipzig team just over a decade ago, with the club still unpopular among many fans in Germany. Neymar, seeking his first Champions League title with PSG, has a longstanding relationship with Red Bull and is often promoted by the company. Last week Red Bull was praising him for leading PSG to the semifinals of...

16Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Pep Guardiola defends Manchester City approach after shock defeat by Lyon

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City speaks with Rodrigo and Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Lyon at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 15, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Pep Guardiola stood by his decision to shake up Manchester City's tactics in their Champions League quarter-final against Lyon after his team suffered a shock 3-1 defeat by the unfancied French outfit. Guardiola strayed from the 4-3-3 formation with which City had outclassed 13-times winners Real Madrid in the last 16, instead fielding a back-three including vastly inexperienced Erik Garcia, 19, as the central defender. "In this competition the tactics are not the most important thing," Guardiola told a news conference. "They (Lyon)...

15Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Brutal Bayern hit eight in stunning defeat of Barcelona

Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Munich scores his team's sixth goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Bayern Munich mercilessly defeated Barcelona with a stunning 8-2 win in a Champions League quarterfinal in Lisbon on Friday, notably one of the darkest days for Lionel Messi and probably a hint of the end of his era in Catalonia. The question left for Barcelona is what happens to them now. Messi was 27 when they last won the Champions League in 2015. He is 33 now and he may have to make up his mind whether he needs to leave the Camp Nou if he wants to win one again. It isn't likely that Quique Setién will stay as Barca manager after this tough loss. The...

14Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Man City look to Lisbon as best shot for Champions League glory

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on August 7, 2020. Manchester City finally have a marquee victory in the knockout stages of the Champions League after seeing off Real Madrid to reach the last eight, but they want much more in Lisbon over the next week with Pep Guardiola insisting they cannot be satisfied by beating the 13-time winners. "We're here to try and win the Champions League," said Guardiola in a markedly different tone to the one he has struck in previous seasons when claiming City were not ready to be crowned champions of Europe despite dominating the Premier League. "If we think that (...

14Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Leipzig shock Atletico to book historic meeting with PSG in Champions League

Leipzig's US midfielder Tyler Adams (2R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final football match between Leipzig and Atletico Madrid at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on August 13, 2020. Leipzig stunned Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Thursday to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time as Tyler Adams' 88th-minute winner earned them a showdown with Paris Saint-Germain. Atletico looked to have secured extra-time at the Estadio Jose Alvalade when Joao Felix won and then scored a penalty to cancel out Dani Olmo's headed opener early in the second half. But Adams proved an unlikely hero for Leipzig, coming off the bench to snatch victory in Lisbon after his fired effort took a cruel deflection off Stefan Savic and flew in.&n...

13Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Joao Felix returns home aiming to help Atletico Madrid achieve Champions League glory

Joao Felix of Atletico Madrid celebrates scoring a goal to make the score 2-1 during the International Champions Cup match between Atletico Madrid and Juventus on August 10, 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden. At Benfica’s practice headquarters, south of the Tagus and some distance from the heart of Lisbon, a familiar face showed up on Tuesday. Still boyish, Joao Felix has taken on a lot since this was his daily workplace and Benfica identified him as the most talented teenager they had seen for many years. These days they joke that younger brother Hugo,16 and enrolled in Benfica’s youth system, may turn out ever better. It would suit Benfica nicely if he does. Thirteen months ago, Joao Felix’s sale to Atletico Madrid yielded over €120 million (Dh518m), a significant tranche of which went to t...

13Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Messi’s toughest task as Barcelona face up to Bayern Munich

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at Camp Nou on February 15, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Lionel Messi might never have been faced with a more daunting task at Barcelona than engineering a victory against Bayern Munich in Lisbon on Friday. The only surviving former winners of European club football's greatest prize -- with five titles each -- meet in a heavyweight Champions League quarter-final behind closed doors at the Estadio da Luz. It is not often that Messi's Barcelona come into such a big European tie as the underdogs, but they have this time, with Quique Setien's team having lost out to Real Madrid in the Spanish title race while Bayern appeared flawless on the way to winning a German league and cup double. Messi ...

13Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

PSG beat Atalanta 2-1 to reach Champions League last 4

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates victory with Neymar during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 12, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. PSG staged a remarkable comeback in the last few minutes of the one-leg Champions League quarter-final against Italians Atalanta, sending them through to their first semi-finals in Europe's top competition in 25 years. Brazilian superstar Neymar insisted that Paris Saint-Germain always believed they could come back from the brink to defeat Atalanta with two goals in the dying moments of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. "I never thought of going home. From start to finish, from the warm-up, we only thought of qualifying ...

12Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Champions League qualifier called off after players test positive for COVID-19

The 2020/21 Champions League preliminary round match between KF Drita and Linfield in Nyon on Tuesday has been postponed after a second player from the Kosovo club tested positive for coronavirus, UEFA announced. Swiss health authorities took the decision to place Drita's entire team into quarantine as the player had been in contact with other squad members. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, having initially returned a negative result last week. Another player had contracted the virus on the eve of Drita's game on Saturday against Inter Escaldes of Andorra. That player was quarantined at the time along with another teammate. The whole squad had originally tested negative before arriving in Switzerland. UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body will decide whether the match ...

10Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS, UCL

Chelsea ready to pay over £44million for transfer of talented 22-year-old

Marc Cucurella of FC Getafe controls the ball during the Liga match between Getafe CF and RCD Espanyol at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on June 16, 2020 in Getafe, Spain. Chelsea are reportedly ready to pay more than double the £22million required to seal the transfer of Getafe left-back Marc Cucurella this summer. The 22-year-old has impressed in La Liga in recent times and looks like he could be a solid addition to solve a problem position in Frank Lampard’s squad. Chelsea have just been beaten by Arsenal in the FA Cup final and thrashed by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, so new signings are clearly needed at Stamford Bridge this summer. It seems the Blues are ready to spend big on Cucurella, with the Daily Mail claiming they could pay more than double the £22m Cucurella is sai...

9Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

UCL

Champions League: Bayern crush Chelsea to set up Barca quarter-final

Bayern Munich's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (2nd L) celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League, second-leg round of 16, football match FC Bayern Munich v FC Chelsea in Munich, southern Germany on August 8, 2020. Robert Lewandowski struck twice and set up two more goals as Bayern Munich cruised past Chelsea 4-1 on Saturday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-1 aggregate victory and remain on course for a treble of titles. "We're already excited. Barca are a quality side but we want to compete with them," Bayern defender David Alaba said. "We will go to Portugal with confidence and, after the last few months, we have nothing to hide from." Bayern, who won the domestic league and Cup double and have won ...