Champions League

BORUSSIA DORTMUND winger Karim Adeyemi got an earful from legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel after scoring a hat-trick against his son.The 22-year-old netted three goals in 31 minutes to help fire Dortmund to a huge 7-1 win over Celtic at Signal Iduna Park.Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi scored a hat-trick against CelticCredit: AFPCeltic keeper Kasper Schmeichel conceded seven goalsCredit: GettyPeter Schmeichel joked ‘I’ll never forgive you’ while speaking to Adeyemi at full-timeCredit: Youtube / cbssportsgolazoBhoys goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was left furious as a result, prompting his dad, Peter, to make a cheeky comment while covering the match.After joining Adeyemi for his CBS Sports interview with Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards, Schmeichel Snr joked: “I’ll never forgive you for what you did to my boy today!”He then went on to praise the winger for his impressive performance.Schmeichel urged Celtic to move on as quickly as possible following the dismal defeat and opened up about the heartfelt advice he gave his son at full-time.Read More in FootballThe ex-goalkeeper said: “It really is difficult. You always want the best for your children, no matter what circumstance they find themselves in.”It was just one of those days that you can never, ever, explain. There was so many shots and so many of them went in – there could have been a little bit more.”As Callum McGregor said to me earlier, it was just one of those days where you couldn’t get close enough to it.”He continued: “I spoke to Kasper after the game. I said ‘this was a bad day and the office and nothing more.Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”You concede seven goals. I did this once in my life and you can come away from the game thinking you probably couldn’t have done much about all seven, but I still conceded seven and my job is to stop the goals. Of course, you’re going to look at it.”Take it and move on, be one of the leaders in the dressing room and help everyone else learn from this.’Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers meets the media after the 7-1 Champions League rout to Borussia Dortmund”Because up until this point, let’s not forget, Celtic have played really, really good football, and there is so much optimism at the club. You need to go through what happened, but it was just a bad day at the office.”Celtic next face Atalanta in the Champions League later this month.New Champions League format is a snorefestBy Dan KingUEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).There is even less jeopardy than before.Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink. More

A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the outcome of this season’s Champions League – and it’s bad news for Arsenal.The Gunners have enjoyed a great campaign so far both in the Premier League and on the European stage.Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 win over PSG in the Champions League on TuesdayCredit: GettyA supercomputer has predicted the Gunners to go the distance this seasonCredit: GettyThey are yet to lose a match this term having only dropped points to Brighton, Manchester City and Atalanta.Mikel Arteta’s side faced the Italian giants in their first Champions League group stage match last month.They were held to a drab 0-0 draw at the Gewiss Stadium, prompting some fans to question how far they will go in the competition.But a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday asserted their place among Europe’s elite.Read More in FootballNow, the Gunners have been tipped to go the distance in the competition.A supercomputer from CSDB has predicted Arsenal to improve on last term’s finish by reaching the semi-finals.Arteta’s side crashed out of the Champions League following a 3-2 defeat on aggregate to Bayern Munich in April.But they are now expected to go one step further by reaching the penultimate stage for the first time in 15 years.Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe final group stage table, according to the supercomputerShould Arsenal do so, they are lined up to face Premier League rivals Liverpool.The supercomputer predicts Arne Slot’s side to progress to the final with a 4-2 win on aggregate.Arsenal player ratings vs PSGLiverpool are then expected to take on reigning Prem champions Man City.The Reds have been tipped to beat City on penalties at the Allianz Arena.Slot and his team have been predicted to face Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal on their way to the final.Meanwhile, the supercomputer has drawn Man City against RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.According to the AI technology, Arsenal will face Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 before taking on reigning champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.Among the other teams expected to qualify for the knockouts are Barcelona – the team tipped to beat Aston Villa in the play-offs – as well as Juventus, Monaco, Feyenoord, Paris Saint-Germain and Sporting Lisbon.The supercomputer has predicted Man City and Liverpool to meet in the finalLiverpool have been tipped to win the Champions League again – they last took home the trophy in 2019Credit: AP More

BUKAYO SAKA has helped give Raheem Sterling’s son an experience he’ll never forget.Thiago Sterling, 7, was Saka’s mascot ahead of the Gunners Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain. Bukayo Saka’s mascot was Raheem Sterling’s son Thiago against PSGCredit: GettyThe Three Lions star put on a show during the 2-0 winCredit: PAThe youngster accompanied the Three Lions star out onto the Emirates field ahead of Tuesday’s game. The seven-year-old beamed as he lined up alongside the Gunners team for the Champions League anthem. Thiago proved to be a lucky omen, with Saka going on to score the second goal in a comfortable 2-0 win for the hosts. One proud Arsenal fan responded on X: “Incredible gesture from our captain.”READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnother said: “A special moment for Saka and Thiago.”While a third added: “Absolutely love this.”And a fourth speculated: “Sterling is doing everything in his power to make this into a permanent transfer.”Even at the age of 1, Thiago was showing signs of being a chip off the old block. Most read in FootballThiago went viral as a toddler after showing off his footy skills during an in-door kickabout with his dad. Sterling is currently on loan at Arsenal from parent club Chelsea. Why Saka needs to beat ‘ghost defender’ to keep Arsenal’s title hopes alive against SpursLast month, the 29-year-old opened up on his potential life after football for the first time. And he does not want to follow the traditional route many players take by going into coaching.Sterling wrote in the Gunners matchday programme against Leicester: “I don’t know about coaching yet, but maybe something to do with working with young players and trying to help them handle what’s next and prepare them for that. “I get real joy out of helping people. Being any sort of help to people on a football pitch gives me real joy, so it might not be coaching but something along those lines, working with players, but not maybe as a traditional coach.”Sterling joined the Gunners on deadline day in a loan move from ChelseaCredit: GettyArsenal ratings vs PSG as Havertz makes striker spot his own… but Calafiori shows chinks in his armourKAI HAVERTZ and Bukayo Saka sent Arsenal to a deserved victory borne of first-half dominance.Paris Saint-Germain did hit the bar and the post as they improved after the break in this Champions League tie.But Emirates chief Mikel Arteta will mostly be delighted with his side’s latest solid display in Europe’s top club competition.Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners at the Emirates on Tuesday.DAVID RAYA – 7Was perhaps busier than he usually is at home.Helplessly watched a Nuno Mendes effort smack his far post and stood firm to deny Achraf Hakimi at his near post.RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6A frantic display, one that had more shaky moments than good. Kept busy by Hakimi and was done for pace on a few occasions but recovered well.A mistake early in the second half almost gave PSG a way back into the game. Needs to iron out these errors from his game, particularly when he is so dangerous in attack.However, he was playing at right-back for the first time in his career after the break.WILLIAM SALIBA – 7Did not have much to do. A stray pass early on could have been costly but other than that another reliable and strong performance.GABRIEL – 7Sprayed some nice passes about from deep but this was a stress-free night’s work compared to the Premier League.JURRIEN TIMBER – 8Just how on earth does Ben White get back in this side at right back? Another immaculate display from a man who seemingly has it all in defence and attack.Well, White may well get his chance after Timber was subbed off at half-time.DECLAN RICE – 7Solid as a rock and building a real partnership with Partey in midfield. Had a chance to drive forward just before the half hour mark but his pass to Saka was cut out.THOMAS PARTEY – 8So consistent at the moment, something Arsenal fans have not seen from the Ghanaian midfielder in a long time owing mostly to injury.Made some crucial interceptions and showed real composure playing out from deep.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8One of Arsenal’s most important players right now. Since his red card at Man City, he has notched a goal and an assist – the latter here for Havertz to open the scoring with a perfectly-timed cross.BUKAYO SAKA – 7After an early shot over the bar from a trademark cut inside, the England international had a slight drop off in influence before his scuffed free-kick flew in untouched from out wide.Still, he gave Mendes a torrid time at left-back. Even PSG manager Luis Enrique watched on at times in awe inside his technical area.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7A quiet night for the Brazilian following his first goal since March against Leicester, which may have been down to a big collision with Gianluigi Donnarumma in the first few minutes.Should have made it 3-0 with a volley inside the box after the break but it was straight at Donnarumma. Unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.KAI HAVERTZ – 9Brave and brilliant to head in from Trossard’s teasing cross, despite the onrushing lump that is Donnarumma trying to take his head off.Almost had an assist too with a cute lay-up for Martinelli in the box. The striker-midfield debate should be over – Havertz is a top-class centre forward.SUBS:JAKUB KIWIOR (TIMBER, 45) – 7Did what was expected of him at left-back. Produced a good recovery tackle on Kang-in Lee in the box.MIKEL MERINO (PARTEY, 64) – 7Finally, a debut for the Spaniard. Some neat touches under pressure, slotting in seamlessly next to Rice.GABRIEL JESUS (TROSSARD, 74) – 6Looked desperate to impress having struggled for starts so far and that looks to be working against him – things just aren’t clicking.MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (SAKA, 92) – N/ASterling has appeared just twice since arriving from Stamford Bridge in the summer. But he is confident he still has plenty to give out on the field as Arsenal hunt for trophies this season. READ MORE SUN STORIESHe continued: “I don’t know [about role after retirement] – it’s a way off yet. That’s something for the future.”There is a qualification I want to do, not on the coaching side, but I will focus on playing first I think.” More

THE Champions League continues tonight with nine more big matches across the continent.The game of the night comes from Villa Park when Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host European giants Bayern Munich.Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles hereLiverpool are in action against Bologna, looking to make it two wins from two to start the competition.At SunSport, we’ve carefully selected some of the best price boosts and special offers for existing customers from our betting partners for tonight.Price boosts and offers for tonight’s Champions League matchesWilliam HillOur partners over at William Hill continually have some of the best price boosts across football – and they’ve stepped it up here. We’ve selected our favourite couple which you can back below!Liverpool, Real Madrid & Bayern Munich all to win – NOW 9/4 – CLAIM HERESalah, Vinicius Jr & Kane all to score – NOW 6/1 – CLAIM HEREKane to score or assist & Bayern Munich to win by 2 or more goals – was 2/1 NOW 5/2 – CLAIM HEREtalkSPORT BETtalkSPORT BET also have a selection of price boosts for tonight’s games!BTTS, Bayern Munich to win & Kane to score 2+ goals – was 27/4 NOW 8/1 – CLAIM HERESalah to score, Liverpool over 2.5 goals & over 3.5 cards in game – NOW 7/2 – CLAIM HERERemember 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