Champions League

NEWCASTLE continue their push for a Champions League spot when they welcome Fulham to St James’ Park on Saturday.Eddie Howe’s men have a massive cup semi final coming up in midweek but can’t take their eye off the ball here against a Fulham side with their own sights on European football.Bookmakers BetMGM are offering brand new customers a cool £40 in free bets when you register an account and stake a tenner on the European showdown.Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles hereHow to claim..BetMGM £40 welcome bonusVisit the BetMGM website HERE*Select SPORTS OFFER on the websiteRegister a new account – No Promo Code necessaryOpt in for this promotion by depositing and placing at least £10 on football at odds of Evens or greaterOnce that’s settled – win or lose – your account will be credited with £40 in free betsNewcastle vs Fulham: Get £40 in free bets — claim yours here*Not got a BetMGM account? No problem!This offer is just for you, and it’s incredibly easy to claim!Simply register a new account, deposit and stake a minimum of £10 on football at odds of Evens (1/1) or greater. This must be done within seven days of opening your account with the bookmaker.Once that’s settled – win or lose – your account will be credited with £40 in free bets!Newcastle vs Fulham: Get £40 in free bets — claim yours here**BetMGM. New customers only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1x £10 Free Bet on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet on Horse Racing, 2 x £10 Free Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.gambleaware.orgFind our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk More

IT’S official – Arsenal had the toughest run of the four Premier League teams in this year’s Champions League.The revamped format resulted in a chaotic final Gameweek on Wednesday with 18 matches played simultaneously. Arsenal endured the toughest run of all four Prem teams in this year’s Champions LeagueCredit: GettyOur research shows Pep Guardiola’s Man City were the biggest underperformersCredit: RexAll four of Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool remain in this year’s competition. But City – the winners in 2023 – are the only English side who have to undertake the dreaded playoff route.Liverpool were safely through to the last-16 before kick-off against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.While wins for both Arsenal and Aston Villa successfully secured their path to the knockouts.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLSunSport has crunched the numbers and found the Gunners endured the hardest schedule of the four Prem sides.Pep Guardiola’s City – who won just 3 of their 8 games – were the biggest underperformers, according to our research. With every team’s schedule different, we looked at the final points tally for each team the Prem sides faced.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMost read in FootballTo make it fair, we’ve also looked at the number of games played against teams that eventually finished in the top 8. Teams playing against Arsenal amassed 92 points over the course of the group stage – the most of any English team. Man City boss Pep Guardiola looks forward to the return of injured players to help Champions League campaign That’s four more total points than those who faced Liverpool, with the Reds going through as group winners. City’s opponents clocked up 83 points, while teams playing Villa could only muster 72.Arne Slot’s Reds also had to take on two of the eventual top 8 – Lille and Leverkusen. Arsenal and City faced one of the eventual top 8 in Inter Milan. But City – who scraped through on Wednesday with a comeback win against Club Brugge – really should have secured qualification. They faced both Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Prague, who managed to amass just four points combined. City also came up against Paris Saint-Germain, who before the tournament kicked off looked to have a nightmare run. The French champions’ total came out at 93 points, just one ahead of the Gunners.While reigning champions Real Madrid – who could be on a collision course with City in the playoffs – played against teams who racked up a whopping 108 points.Arsenal’s third-placed finish means they will face one of AC Milan, Juventus, PSV or Feyenoord in the last-16.READ MORE SUN STORIESLiverpool could draw either PSG, Benfica, AS Monaco or Brest.While Villa will take on either Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge. More

LIVERPOOL have already banked a stunning £83million from the Champions League prize money fund despite losing their final initial stage match.And the Anfield side could end up earning £127m in total if they now go all the way to lift the trophy for a seventh time in Munich in May.Liverpool banked the most money from the Champions League group stageCredit: APBarcelona are also among the highest earnersCredit: APArsenal picked up £75.9m from six wins and a draw in their eight gamesCredit: AlamyArne Slot’s men took top seeding position for the knock-out stage as Barcelona conceded a late equaliser against Atalanta, even though an under-strength Anfield side were beaten by PSV Eindhoven.That secured their place as the top earners from the expanded competition so far, with the chance to add another significant sum of up to £43.9m in performance prize money in the knock-out stage.Liverpool’s run saw them earn £15.61m for qualifying for the competition, plus a further £12.32m for their seven wins – with each victory worth £1.76m.The Reds picked up a further £8.3m for topping the league phase table, £1.69m for finishing in the top eight and £9.22m for booking their place in the last 16.Read More in FootballIn addition, Liverpool had begun the competition guaranteed £35.44m, from the new version of the TV and historical market “pillar”, worth £715.5m of the total £2.07bn prize fund, plus a £570,000 share of the leftover £10.55m from the 18 draws across the 144 matches.Arsenal, who finished third in the table after their win at Girona, are the third highest earners so far.The Gunners have picked up £75.9m from six wins and a draw in their eight games to also go straight through to the last 16. Their share of the TV and market pillar was £29.8m.Barcelona, who split the two Prem sides in the table, also divided them in income so far, with the Catalans earning £76.3m.Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThis season’s top earners so farMan City are the seventh-highest earners so farCredit: GettyDespite scraping through to the first knock-out stage with their win over Bruges, Manchester City are currently the seventh highest-earners in the competition so far.They will be hoping to overcome Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the first knock-out round.Shock moment Aston Villa & Celtic fans clash before Champions League showdown as FLARE launched towards home supportersSo far, City have bagged £62.7m, mainly due to them taking the second biggest share – £37.3m – of the broadcast and past performance pillar.That equates to just under £21m for every match they won in the group stage – against Club Brugge, Sparta Praha and Slovan Bratislava.That leaves them behind the two possible last 16 opponents, with Munich having earned £66.8m and Madrid £66.5m so far, as well as PSG, who have banked £67.1m courtesy of the French TV deal being the biggest signed with Uefa.But Pep Guardiola’s side would add a further £9.2m for winning next month’s last 16 clash, taking their total to £71.9m.By contrast, despite the win over Celtic which confirmed their place in the top eight, Aston Villa have only banked £58.8m so far, due to the Villa Park side only taking a £15.6m share of the market pot.Who faces who in the Champions League?Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…Teams who finished from ninth to 24th in the Champions League league phase will play off to decide who reaches the last-16. PLAYOFF ROUNDAtalanta vs Sporting Lisbon or Club BruggeBorussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon or Club BruggeReal Madrid vs Celtic or Man CityBayern Munich vs Celtic or Man CityAC Milan vs Feyenoord or JuventusPSV vs Feyenoord or JuventusPSG vs AS Monaco or BrestBenfica vs AS Monaco or BrestWinners of playoff ties will then face the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase in the last-16…LAST 16Liverpool vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestBarcelona vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestArsenal vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusInter Milan vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusAtletico Madrid vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityBayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityLille vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeAston Villa vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge More

JORDAN HENDERSON is closing in on a stunning move to Monaco, it’s been claimed.The former England international is currently plying his trade in the Netherlands with Ajax, who he joined last January after terminating his multi-million-pound contract with Al-Ettifaq. Jordan Henderson is reportedly on the verge of leaving AjaxCredit: GETTYHenderson is reportedly on the brinking of agreeing a lucrative contract with MonacoCredit: REXBut it’s been claimed he’s on the verge of leaving the Dutch giants for a shock move to the Principality. That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims the former Sunderland and Liverpool ace has “almost agreed” an 18-month contract with the Ligue 1 side.He wrote on X: “AS Monaco are closing in on deal to sign Jordan Henderson from Ajax as new midfielder! “Permanent move almost agreed on contract until June 2026. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”Here we go, soon.”News of Henderson’s reported imminent exit from Ajax – who want to retain his services – comes just a few weeks after he vowed to stay at the Johan Cruyff Arena.When pressed about a potential return to boyhood club Sunderland, he said: “It’s my club [Sunderland], ever since I was a boy of six or seven years old. “Then I was in the stands. But I just hope I stay here [at Ajax]. I really like it here. Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSMonaco are understood to be interested in signing wantaway Manchester United striker Marcus RashfordCredit: Getty“I want to help the club to grow further. We are also taking those steps. “But I also read it [the transfer speculation]. Marcus Rashford and Henderson OUT of Gareth Southgate’s England Squad for Euro 2024″I don’t even know where all this comes from, because there has been no contact.”A move to Monaco could potentially see Henderson link-up with his former England team-mate Marcus Rashford.Monaco are understood to be one of several European clubs interested in signing the wantaway Manchester United striker.The Ligue 1 outfit will be back in action on Saturday evening, welcoming Auxerre to the Stade Louis II. More

MANCHESTER CITY plan to name Ballon D’Or winner Rodri in their squad for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.The Spain international was ruled out for the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal in September.Rodri is set to be named in Man City’s Champions League squadCredit: RexThe ace has been out since September with an ACL injuryCredit: RexBut Rodri has made excellent progress in his recovery and still believes he can be back in contention before the end of the current campaign.Boss Pep Guardiola wants to keep the door open for him to do that – even though City would have to go deep in the competition for him to be even in the frame.That in itself looks in some doubt as they will take on either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich when in the play-off round – with the draw due to be made on Friday.However after four months on the sidelines he is working hard towards his return.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLEarlier this week he was pictured in his training gear on the eve of his club’s win over Club Brugge in the final game of the league stage.He also said in an interview in Spain earlier this month that he believes he can get back for his club before the end of the campaign.Guardiola will be able to add three new players to his squad and signed Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis last week.If they can add a new defensive midfielder or full-back to their squad before Monday’s transfer deadline, it would leave them with a dilemma.Most read in Champions LeagueJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAll clubs who have reached the knock-out stages have until Thursday February 6 to decide on their squad.Rodri joined City in a £62million move from Atletico Madrid in 2019.Rodri claims the 2024 Ballon d’Or and is congratulated by his motherHe’s since played 260 times under Guardiola, scoring 26 goals in total.And in that time he’s won four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions League — as well as October’s Ballon d’Or. More

THE new-look Champions League group stage has finally been completed, with 24 teams now preparing to learn their fate in the competition.Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Barcelona were among the clubs to earn automatic qualification to the last-16.Liverpool finished top of the group stage table this weekCredit: ReutersArsenal earned automatic qualification to the round-of-16Credit: GettyAston Villa also qualified with Morgan Rogers sealing that in style with a hat-trickCredit: GettyMan City will have to qualify for the last-16 via a play-offCredit: GettyWhile the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain will have to progress through a play-off.The Premier League champions face arguably the hardest pick of the bunch as they will be drawn against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid for the grudge match.Meanwhile, we could also see a huge all-Serie A clash as well as two Dutch giants going head-to-head.With the play-off draw not scheduled until tomorrow, SunSport has completed a simulation to see which path each team could potentially face.Read More in FootballEach play-off club is in a position to face one of two possible opponents, giving them a 50/50 chance.For example, Man City have a 50 per cent chance of facing Bayern Munich and a 50 per cent chance of facing Real Madrid.This week’s draw will only determine the play-off fixtures, not which side of the bracket each of the 16 teams – not including the eight automatic qualifiers – will be on.We have selected each team one by one, placing them into brackets for the sake of the overall simulator.Most read in Champions LeagueThe first of each pairing has been put in the first half of the bracket and the second in the other.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSSunSport’s simulated Champions League drawAccording to the simulated draw, City could face Arsenal in the quarter-finalsCredit: ReutersIn the simulated play-off draw, Man City have been pitted against Bayern Munich in arguably the pick of the bunch.The list of fixtures completing the first half of the draw are; Monaco vs Benfica, Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund and the all-Italian clash between Juventus and AC Milan.Arsenal ratings: Neto has nightmare debut to forget vs Girona but Ethan Nwaneri shines on first Champions League startIn the second half of the simulated draw, Dutch sides Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven have been put against each other.That side is completed with Brest vs PSG, Sporting Lisbon vs Atalanta and Celtic vs Real Madrid.The round-of-16, quarter-final and semi-final draws will take place on February 21, so we will not officially know which side of the bracket each of the play-off winners will be on until then.However, SunSport’s simulated draw sees Monaco/Benfica facing Barcelona, Brugge/Dortmund against Aston Villa, Man City/Bayern vs Atletico and Juventus/AC Milan vs Arsenal on one side.That means fixtures between Brest/PSG and Liverpool, Sporting/Atalanta and Lille, Celtic/Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen as well as Feyenoord/PSV vs Inter Milan will be on the other.Who faces who in the Champions League?Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…Teams who finished from ninth to 24th in the Champions League league phase will play off to decide who reaches the last-16. PLAYOFF ROUNDAtalanta vs Sporting Lisbon or Club BruggeBorussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon or Club BruggeReal Madrid vs Celtic or Man CityBayern Munich vs Celtic or Man CityAC Milan vs Feyenoord or JuventusPSV vs Feyenoord or JuventusPSG vs AS Monaco or BrestBenfica vs AS Monaco or BrestWinners of playoff ties will then face the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase in the last-16…LAST 16Liverpool vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestBarcelona vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestArsenal vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusInter Milan vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusAtletico Madrid vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityBayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityLille vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeAston Villa vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeShould this be the case, fans could look forward to some huge potential quarter-final games including Barcelona vs Aston Villa, Real Madrid vs Inter and Man City vs Arsenal.READ MORE SUN STORIESWe could even see an all-Premier League final if Arsenal or Man City and Liverpool go the distance.The Gunners are seeking their first-ever Champions League title, with City and Liverpool both looking to take it back after winning it in recent years. More