UCL – Page 5 – Football Flame    
Latest Football News

UCL

No Comments
UCL

Report: Real Madrid set to be without three players against RB Leipzig

 Karim Benzema of Real Madrid leaves the pitch following an injury during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Celtic FC and Real Madrid at Celtic Park on September 06, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland.Real Madrid are reportedly set to be without the services of three first-team players for Wednesday's Champions League clash with RB Leipzig. Karim Benzema has already been definitely ruled out of the contest due to the thigh problem that he picked up in the European clash with Celtic last week. Meanwhile, Eder Militao also had to leave the field in the 3-0 win in Glasgow, with the Brazil international picking up a hamstring issue, which led to Antonio Rudiger appearing off the bench for the second period. Real Madrid picked up a fresh...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Ajax shine in Champions League despite high-profile departures

Steven Berghuis of AFC Ajax and Mohammed Kudus of AFC Ajax, Jurrien Timber of AFC Ajax, Dusan Tadic of AFC Ajax and Kenneth Taylor of AFC Ajax celebrates after scoring his team?s 2:0 goal with team mates during the UEFA Champions League group A match between AFC Ajax and Rangers FC at Johan Cruyff Arena on September 7, 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Ajax Amsterdam are showing no ill effects from the sale of several key players in the off-season, as well as the departure of coach Erik ten Hag, as they began their Champions League campaign in style with a 4-0 home win over Rangers. The new-look Ajax side, who travel to Anfield next week to face Liverpool, maintained a high tempo, dominated possession and both outpaced and outmuscled their Scottish opponents. “I have seen an Ajax that r...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Lewandowski hits Barca hat-trick before Bayern return

Robert Lewandowski warmed up for next week’s meeting with former club Bayern Munich by scoring a magnificent hat-trick in Barcelona’s crushing Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen.Robert Lewandowski centre-forward of Barcelona and Poland gets the match ball for scoring a hat trick during the UEFA Champions League group C match between FC Barcelona and Viktoria Plzen at Spotify Camp Nou on September 7, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. The 34-year-old Poland forward demonstrated his value by making it eight goals in five games since leaving Bayern in July. Lewandowski, who helped Bayern win the competition in 2019-20, marked his first Champions League appearance for Barca with a clinical finish which doubled the lead after Franck Kessie had headed the hosts ahead. He then made it 3-1 on th...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Liverpool thrashed by Napoli in Champions League

Liverpool were thrashed by Napoli in their first Champions League Group A game on a night to forget in Italy. Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool FC and Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League group A match between SSC Napoli and Liverpool FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 7, 2022 in Naples, Italy.Jurgen Klopp’s side were 3-0 down at half time but it could easily have been more as Alisson saved a penalty and Virgil van Dijk made a goalline block. Piotr Zielinski put Napoli ahead from the spot in the fifth minute after Victor Osimhen had hit the post. Andre-Frank Anguissa and Giovanni Simeone extended Napoli’s lead, before Zielinski scored again after the break. It was a terrible opening half from Liverpool as Joe Gomez struggled to deal wit...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Mbappe, Haaland shine in PSG, Man City wins

 Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint Germain in action during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus at Parc des Princes on September 6, 2022 in Paris, France.Mbappe showed why PSG were so desperate to keep him at the end of last season when he seemed set to depart for Real by scoring both goals in PSG’s 2-1 victory at home to Juventus, to launch the French champions’ quest for the biggest prize in European club football.“We played well and we got a win in a tremendous atmosphere at home,” Mbappe told Canal Plus. “We always want to play against big teams – that’s why you play in the Champions League. It’s that sort of atmosphere we love; matches like this, in which you have to show character.” The France forward volleyed Neymar’s delightful scoop pas...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Real Madrid see off Celtic to begin Champions League defense

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Celtic FC and Real Madrid at Celtic Park on September 6, 2022 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.Real Madrid shrugged off the loss of Karim Benzema to an early injury as the holders got their defense of the Champions League off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory at Celtic. The Scottish champions were left to rue not making the most of a bright start as Callum McGregor rattled the post. However, the Hoops had no response once Vinicius Junior, scorer of the winner in last season’s final, broke the deadlock with a calm finish on 56 minutes. Four minutes later, a nonchalant finish from Luka Modric with the outside of his foot doubled Madrid’s lead, before Eden Hazard struck to continue a 100% start to the season f...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Chelsea suffer shock defeat at Dinamo Zagreb

Mislav Orsic of Dinamo Zagreb in action during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea FC at Stadion Maksimir on September 6, 2022 in Zagreb, Croatia.Two-time winners Chelsea began their Champions League campaign with a shock defeat at Dinamo Zagreb. The Croatian champions have a woeful record in this competition - winning just five of 43 games before this meeting - but they stubbornly held on after taking a first-half lead. The dangerous Mislav Orsic netted the 13th-minute winner, running through from the halfway line and beautifully dinking a finish past the advancing Kepa Arrizabalaga. Dinamo came agonisingly close to a second but Stefan Ristovski's thunderous, long-range effort was superbly tipped onto the bar by Arrizabalaga. Deadline-day signing Pier...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Real begin title defence in unusual Champions League season

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti (centre) and players during a training session at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Holders Real Madrid will launch their title defence in Glasgow when this unusual Champions League season, which has been split into a sprint and a marathon due to the World Cup in Qatar, gets under way on Tuesday evening. Carlo Ancelotti’s men face Scottish champions Celtic in their opening Group ‘F’ fixture while on the same night Paris St Germain and Manchester City set out on their latest quest to lift European club football’s biggest prize for the first time. Real’s 14th European Cup title brought into ever sharper focus the ongoing wait for glory at both City and PSG. Both clubs have invested heavily in their pursuit of the biggest prize of all, but despite their respective...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Bayern Munich submit Champions League squad list

Sadio Mane of Bayern Muenchen celebrates as he scores the goal 0:3 with Serge Gnabry of Bayern Muenchen during the DFB Cup first round match between FC Viktoria Köln and FC Bayern München at RheinEnergieStadion on August 31, 2022 in Cologne, Germany. Bayern Munich have submitted their Champions League squad list. Per UEFA.com: Keepers: Manuel Neuer, Sven Ulreich Defenders: Dayot Upamecano, Matthijs de Ligt, Benjamin Pavard, Bouna Sarr, Lucas Hernández, Noussair Mazraoui, Josip Stanišić, Alphonso Davies (club-trained) Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Marcel Sabitzer, Ryan Gravenberch Attacking midfield / Forwards: Sadio Mané, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller (club-trained), Mathys TelJamal Musiala (club-trained), Leroy Sané ,Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Paul Wanner (...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Champions League Group Stage drawn

 A photo shows the draw results displayed on the screen during UEFA Champions League 2022/23 Group Stage Draw at Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkiye on August 25, 2022. The group stage draw threw up some stellar ties, with Bayern in a group with Barcelona and Inter, while Liverpool and Manchester City were given tough starts to their campaigns. Liverpool and Manchester City face challenging autumns while Bayern will look to continue their recent dominance over Barcelona in a mouth-watering section that also includes Inter after the draw for the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage was made in Istanbul, Türkiye on Thursday. The final fixture list will be confirmed in due course. Champions League group stage draw  Group A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, RangersG...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Real Madrid and rivals await Champions League draw in Istanbul

This picture shows the UEFA Champions League logo prior to the draw for the 2021/2022 European football tournament in Istanbul on August 26, 2021.  Title holders Real Madrid and the rest of Europe’s elite clubs will be able to start plotting their route to Champions League glory when the draw for this season’s group stage is made in Istanbul on Thursday (today) from 1600 GMT. All going to plan, the journey will end back in the Turkish city on June 10 next year for the final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, the same venue where Liverpool defeated AC Milan on penalties in 2005. Istanbul was supposed to host the final in 2020 and again in 2021, but on each occasion UEFA moved the game to Portugal due to pandemic-related restrictions. Another late change was required last season, w...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Benfica, Haifa, Plzen cruise into Champions League group stage

David Neres of Benfica and Illya Zabarnyi of Dynamo Kyiv in action during the UEFA Champions League Play-Off Second Leg match between SL Benfica and Dynamo Kyiv at Estadio da Luz on August 23, 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. Benfica’s David Neres scored a superb goal as the Portuguese side reached the Champions League group stage with a 3-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev in Lisbon on Tuesday for a 5-0 aggregate win. Nicolas Otamendi and Rafa Silva also scored in the first half and Benfica qualified for the Champions League 12th time in 13 seasons. Israeli side Maccabi Haifa snatched a 2-2 draw at Red Star Belgrade and earned their passage to the group stage 5-4 on aggregate after an own goal from substitute Milan Pavkov in the final minute. Aleksandar Pesic and Mirko Ivanic had put the Serbian side ah...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Van Nistelrooy eyes PSV progress, Rangers drop Morelos

Coach Ruud van Nistelrooij of PSV during the Training PSV at the De Herdgang on August 23, 2022 in Eindhoven Netherlands. Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has been omitted from the squad for their crucial Champions League play-off tie against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night. It is understood that manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has cut the Colombian striker for the second leg in Holland due to fitness levels and other concerns, including attitude. Following a discussion, the Dutch boss was supported in his decision by various senior players within the Gers squad and talks about a new deal are on hold. The 26-year-old, who recently returned to the squad following a long spell on the sidelines following a thigh injury, was sent off 13 minutes after coming on as substitute in the 2-2 draw wi...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Rangers 2-2 PSV Eindhoven: Hosts held in Champions League play-off first leg

Antonio-Mirko Colak of Rangers is tackled by Armando Obispo of PSV Eindhoven during the UEFA Champions League Play-Off First Leg match between Rangers FC and PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox Stadium on August 16, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland.Rangers and PSV Eindhoven played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ibrox on Tuesday to leave their Champions League play-off tie hanging in the balance.The visitors went in front in the 37th minute after Rangers failed to clear a corner, with the ball dropping to Ibrahim Sangare to fire home. However, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men hit back three minutes later as Antonio Colak finished off a well-worked move. Both sides searched for the crucial third goal of the game after the break, and it was Rangers who got it as PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez somehow allowed Tom ...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

PSV Eindhoven are a step closer to the Champions League

Joey Veerman of PSV Eindhoven celebrates after scoring his teams first goal, Luuk de Jong of PSV Eindhoven, Philipp Max of PSV Eindhoven during the UEFA Champions League Qualification match between PSV Eindhoven and AS Monaco at Philips Stadion on August 9, 2022 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. An extra time goal by Luuk de Jong put PSV Eindhoven into the final qualifying round for this year’s Champions League competition, where they will meet Glasgow Rangers. PSV won the second leg against AS Monaco 3-2, putting them within two games of qualifying for Europe’s premier competition alongside Ajax of Amsterdam. The two sides drew 1-1 in Monaco last week. ‘This is what you play for,’ De Jong said after the match, during which Monaco had led for much of the time. ‘If you believe in somethi...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Champions League final 2022: Liverpool under pressure to beat Real Madrid

 Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool (L) and Carlo Ancelotti, Head Coach of Real Madrid. Liverpool and Real Madrid meet in the UEFA Champions League Final at the Stade de France on May 28,2022.Real won a record-extending 35th LaLiga title with a month of the season left and are in their 17th European Cup final. Liverpool is unbeaten since March, have lost only three games all season and have already lifted two domestic cups but they will play Real Madrid in Saturday's Champions League final under pressure to avoid ending the campaign as nearly men. Having spent the latter part of the season being touted for a unique quadruple, they face the prospect of potential double disappointment after missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City by a solitary point on the last day....
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Salah and Mane train with Liverpool ahead of Champions League final

 Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Sadio Mane of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on May 25, 2022 in Kirkby, England.The Premier League club take on Real Madrid in Paris on Saturday looking to seal a third trophy of a season where they fell just short in the domestic title race.Liverpool have the League Cup and FA Cup safely in the bag, after beating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out in both finals at Wembley Stadium, while they finished the league season just one point behind champions Manchester City.But Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane – who have contributed 54 goals between them this season – both declined to give assurances about their long-term futures.Salah would only commit to being at the club next season while Mane revealed he will on...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Benzema needs final triumph to make CL his own

 Karim Benzema, player of Real Madrid, is training with his teammates at Valdebebas training ground on May 24, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.Real Madrid´s Rodrygo was asked on Tuesday what was the best piece of advice he had been given by Karim Benzema, and he answered quickly: "To give him the ball". It has been a sensible strategy for Real Madrid, whose number nine will be the most dangerous player on the pitch in Saturday´s Champions League final against Liverpool and who has been arguably the finest player in the world all season. Benzema´s 49 goals in 52 games dwarfs Mohamed Salah´s 33 in 59 while even Kylian Mbappe, whose rejection of Real Madrid has so dominated the early build-up to this final in Paris, is inferior, with 43 in 49. If Real Madrid beat Liverpool to win a 14th Europea...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Jurgen Klopp makes Champions League vow after Liverpool title heartbreak

Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp reacts at the end of the Premier League match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on May 22, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.Jurgen Klopp admits missing out on the Premier League title has increased Liverpool’s desire to claim a seventh European Cup next weekend.The Reds finished a point behind Manchester City after ending the season on 92 points with both teams coming from behind to win their final games at home on Sunday.Liverpool went 1-0 down early on against Wolverhampton Wanderers before Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson scored to earn a 3-1 triumph, while City were 2-0 down to Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa before three goals in five minutes secured a 3-2 success.The Reds will now turn their attention to their Champions ...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Madrid our destiny: Klopp

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp watches his players warm up ahead of the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Liverpool and Cardiff City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 6, 2022.Jurgen Klopp says playing Real Madrid in the Champions League final feels like destiny and the Liverpool boss insists Manchester City will be ready for Sunday’s clash with Newcastle.Liverpool trail Manchester City by a point and can put the pressure back on the reigning champions with a positive result against top-four chasing Tottenham on Saturday.City suffered an agonising Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid in midweek, with the Spanish side now Liverpool’s opponents in Paris later this month in a repeat of the 2018 final, which Real won 3-1.When we lost ...
Read More
Like Us
Follow Us
Follow us
Follow us
Blogarama - Blog Directory