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      Champions League FIX claims after ‘Uefa Twitter blunder put Real Madrid in the final’ BEFORE they even play Man City

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      UEFA faced unwanted “fix” claims after a Twitter blunder appeared to suggest Real Madrid would face Inter Milan in the Champions League final.The Spanish giants took on Manchester City in tonight’s semi-final second leg at the Etihad.
      Uefa posted a tweet listing Real Madrid as Inter Milan’s Champions League final opponents
      Man City host Real Madrid in the Champions League this eveningCredit: Getty
      The tie was in the balance after the pair drew 1-1 in Madrid last week.
      But fans were left scratching their heads when a Uefa tweet offering the opportunity to win tickets to the final listed Real Madrid and Inter as the teams taking part.
      One Twitter user instantly responded: “Rigged.”
      While a second huffed: “Nothing new with Madrid.”
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      And a third even joked: “Help is coming.”
      Another added: “What bunglers these from UEFA.”
      The official Uefa Twitter account also appeared to post a tweet listing City and Inter as finalists, suggesting that their Twitter admin had accidentally jumped the gun on posting pre-prepared tweets.
      Pep Guardiola is aiming to win his third Champions League and first since 2011 in his Barcelona days.
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      Uefa then made the same gaffe with Manchester City as the finalists
      Ahead of the match, fans pointed to his habit of selecting quirky tactics in the Champions League by suggesting he was “at it again” when pictures emerged of Jack Grealish playing in goal during training.
      Prior to tonight’s second leg, Guardiola suggested that his personal experience could help get City over the line against perennial European champions Madrid.
      He said: “I have been here many times.
      “My legacy is exceptional already. I have told the players to enjoy the moment – we are incredibly lucky to be here.
      “It’s in our hands, it depends on us, we don’t have to do something exceptional – just win one game to reach the final.
      “I have an incredible feeling about them. Whatever happens – thank you so much to them for bringing me and the City fans here again.”
      Guardiola’s men went on to provide a complete masterclass, winning 4-0 on the night via a Bernardo Silva double, Eder Militao own goal and Julian Alvarez strike.
      Pep Guardiola spoke ahead of Man City’s Champions League semi-final second legCredit: AFP More

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      Man City vs Real Madrid LIVE: Pep’s side aim to overcome Champions League kings to boost treble hopes – stream, TV

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      MANCHESTER CITY will host Real Madrid at the Etihad TONIGHT as Pep Guardiola eyes an historic treble this season.The two sides met in the Spanish capital last week for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.
      Vinicus Jr scored the opener at the BernabeuCredit: EPA
      Kevin de Bruyne equalised for Man City against Real MadridCredit: GETTY

      Vinicius Jr opened the scoring on the 36-minute mark with a thunderbolt that flew past Ederson.
      Kevin de Bruyne replied with a screamer of his own to put City on level terms heading into the second leg at the Etihad.
      Pep Guardiola’s side are in pole position to claim the Premier League title following rivals Arsenal’s defeat to Brighton on Sunday.
      CITY vs REAL – BETTING TIPS, PREVIEW AND FREE BETS
      While Real Madrid will have to fight for second with Atletico in La Liga after rivals Barcelona lifted the trophy on the weekend.
      The winner will face Inter Milan in June’s final.
      Lautaro Martinez scored in the second-leg last night against AC Milan to seal a 3-0 aggregate win for Inter.
      Many believe City and Real to be the two best club sides in world football.
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      And they are sure to put on a spectacle at the Etihad.
      Speaking ahead of the clash, City boss Guardiola said: “Now it’s like a play-off. We can defend better in some departments and maybe we can attack a little differently.
      “Alaba and Rudiger were so close to Erling, so there were very few spaces to find. Maybe we can adjust a couple of things.”
      Real gaffer Ancelotti declared: “We had good control of the [first leg]. When City had lots of possession we were in control defensively, then when we started to play we caused difficulties.”
      When is Man City vs Real Madrid?

      Man City vs Real Madrid will take place TODAY, Wednesday, May 17th.
      Kick off will be at 8pm BST.
      The Etihad will play host.

      What channel is Man City vs Real Madrid on and can it be live streamed?

      Man City vs Real Madrid will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1.
      BT Sport customers can live stream all the action via the BT Sport app which is free to download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog to keep up to date with all the action from the Etihad.

      Team news
      Pep Guardiola should be able to call upon midfield general Rodri even though he was withdrawn late on from the Everton game with a knock.
      Key players such as Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Jack Grealish all started from the bench on the weekend.
      Defender Nathan Ake should return to the squad after a spell on the sideline with a thigh injury.
      But Guardiola is likely to keep faith with Kyle Walker in his back three to deal with Vinicius Jr’s pace.

      Meanwhile, Eduardo Camavinga suffered an injury scare in Real’s game against Getafe on the weekend but has since been deemed OK to play.
      Eder Militao will return to the squad after missing the first leg due to suspension and is likely to replace Antonio Rudiger in the XI.
      Ferland Mendy is also fit after returning from injury.
      Carlo Ancelotti was able to rest key players such as Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Vinicius Jr on Saturday.
      Odds
      Match result:

      Man City – 4/7
      Draw – 16/5
      Real Madrid – 9/2

      To qualify:

      Man City – 2/7
      Real Madrid – 12/5

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and are correct at the time of publication. More

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      Fans say Inter reporter Eva Gini’s pics should be ‘illegal’ as she poses in revealing outfit in Champions League semi

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      INTER MILAN reporter Eva Gini wowed fans as she stood pitch side for the Champions League semi-final second leg against AC Milan.A solitary Lautaro Martinez goal sealed a 1-0 win on the night, and saw Inter through to the Champions League final 3-0 on aggregate.
      Eva Gini wowed fans as she stood pitch side at San SiroCredit: Instagram @evagini
      Eva works for Inter Milan’s in-house TV channelCredit: Instagram @evagini
      Eva has previously worked for Gazzetta dello Sport and MediasetCredit: Instagram @evagini
      She often wows fans with her social media snapsCredit: Instagram @evagini
      And Eva was working the game for Inter’s in-house TV channel.
      The 30-year-old wowed in a tight black dress as she stood on the hallowed San Siro turf.
      She was joined by former Inter and Italy World Cup winning defender Marco Matterazzi.
      But fans were left gushing over Eva as she posted the snaps to her 160,000 Instagram followers.
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      One even said her snaps should be “illegal”.
      Meanwhile, another wrote: “Always beautiful.”
      A third added: “As beautiful as Lautaro’s goal.”
      And a fourth said: “Stunning.”
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      Glamorous Eva has previously been dubbed a “true goddess” by her adoring fans.
      In the past, she has worked for the likes of Gazzetta dello Sport and Mediaset.
      Eva has 160,000 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @evagini
      She is regularly travelling to exotic locationsCredit: Instagram @evagini
      Her followers previously branded her a “true goddess”Credit: Instagram @evagini More

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      How many Dream Team points (and Star Man awards) would Vinicius Junior have earned this season?

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      Manchester City take on Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Etihad tonight.Not only will the winner be heavy favourites to lift the famous trophy, the result will have a significant impact on Dream Team’s landscape.
      If Pep Guardiola’s side book their place in Istanbul then that fixture will conclude the 2022/23 campaign and with City already having qualified for the FA Cup final, it’s clear gaffers should back them to the hilt in the coming weeks.
      The biggest threat to City’s quest for European glory is the man who scored a brilliant goal against them at the Bernabeu, Vinicius Junior.
      Kyle Walker will have his hands full again this eveningCredit: GETTY
      The fleet-footed winger has cemented his status as one of the world’s best players this season and in true Real Madrid fashion he’s generally saved his absolute best form for the Champions League.
      Here at Dream Team HQ, we thought it would be fun to figure out how many Dream Team points Vinicius would have earned in 2022/23 had he been eligible.
      Our ratings providers WhoScored also keep track of events in Spain via their stats-based algorithm and so we can use their data to generate a near-perfect estimate.
      The Brazilian has scored ten goals in La Liga, seven in the Champions League, and three in the Copa del Rey for a total of 20, so that’s 100 points straight off the bat.
      Next up we need to factor in his assists, which includes converted penalties won for the purposes of this exercise.
      Vinicius has provided ten assists in the league, five in Europe, and four in the cup – 19 in all competitions results in a further 38 points.
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      Dream Team gaffers will know that an assist all but guarantees a player a 7+ match rating and the 22-year-old’s dazzling dribbling will also have earned him plenty of bonus points – any regular viewers of Los Blancos will know the level of persistent threat he provides.
      Ten Star Man awards?Credit: GETTY
      Vinicius would have earned 35 ratings of 7+ so far this season for an additional 105 points – only Bruno Fernandes (£6.7m) has earned more points from match ratings (123) in reality.
      Here’s where things get really interesting, WhoScored’s stats give us an estimate of ten Star Man awards in all competitions, the exact same number Fernandes has at the top of the metric – adding another 50 points to the Brazil international’s hypothetical total.
      Before we arrive at our final total we have to deduct points for any yellow/red cards.
      Vinicius hasn’t been sent off this term but he’s received a whopping 16 bookings, more cards than any eligible Dream Team asset has been shown.
      Taking every element into account, Real Madrid’s No20 would banked 277 Dream Team points this season!
      To put that into context, he’d be third in the overall rankings, just ahead of Mohamed Salah (£9.1m) and Harry Kane (£9.5m) but trailing Marcus Rashford (£7.2m) and a long way behind runaway leader Erling Haaland (£10.4m), whose total of 427 points continues to astound.
      Perhaps one day in the future, Dream Team bosses will be able to select Vinicius Junior for real… More

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      The all-time Champions League best XI revealed by ChatGPT – but fans brand AI app ‘MAD’

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      THE all-time Champions League XI has been revealed by ChatGPT.But fans are not happy, with some even branding the AI app “mad.”
      Cristiano Ronaldo has been selected in ChatGPT’s all-time Champions League XICredit: AP
      Lionel Messi has also made the cut, but some fans are angry others have been snubbedCredit: AP:Associated Press
      ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, has gone with a 4-3-3 formation favoured by multiple Champions League-winning managers including Carlo Ancelotti.
      And in goal is Bayern Munich star Manuel Neuer, who has won the competition twice.
      At right-back is AC Milan legend Cafu, who scooped the cup once.
      Real Madrid icon Roberto Carlos is at left-back with three Champions Leagues to his name.
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      And at centre-back are Franz Beckenbauer and Paolo Maldini, who boast an incredible eight European Cups between them.
      A midfield three is anchored by Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez, who won four Champions Leagues — as did club and international partner Andres Iniesta.
      Zinedine Zidane is also in the midfield after winning it once as a player before sealing three in a row as Real Madrid manager.
      Up front, five-time winner Karim Benzema leads the line.
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      He is joined by former Real pal Cristiano Ronaldo, also a five-time winner.
      And the final piece in the jigsaw is none other than Lionel Messi, who won the Champions League four times with Barcelona.
      However, some fans are upset that other big names were left off the list.
      One cried: “ChatGPT is mad! Remove Benzema and replace him with Luis Suarez, Samuel Eto’o or Didier Drogba.
      “Dani Alves is by far better than Cafu.”
      Another declared: “What is Zidane doing there over a five-time winner in Modric?”
      One noted: “Lewandowski over Benzema and Marcelo over Roberto Carlos.”
      Another added: “You’ve got to give respect to Real players. Casemiro, Carvajal, Ramos, Kroos.” More

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      Fans love Richards and Carragher’s reaction to Leao as they joke ‘they’re forgetting they too are famous footballers’

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      FOOTBALL fans can’t get enough of Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher’s reaction to greeting AC Milan ace Rafael Leao.The pair, alongside Thierry Henry and Kate Abdo, make up CBS’ team for Champions League coverage.
      Rafael Leao high-fived Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards ahead of the Champions League semi-finalCredit: CBS
      Carragher and Richards were left laughing after greeting LeaoCredit: CBS
      They were pitch side at San Siro for last night’s Champions League semi-final second leg between Inter Milan and AC Milan.
      And during the warm up, Leao took the time to quickly come over and say hello.
      The 23-year-old winger, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, initially gave the ice cool Henry a high five.
      He then moved on to the more excited Carragher and Richards, slapping hands with the pair as he ran past.
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      As Leao high-fived each of the trio, Richards excitedly exclaimed: “Leao, one… two… three!”
      Richards and Carragher then laughed with each other as Leao ran off.
      After watching the moment back, Richards joked: “We’re doing good baby! CBS all the way!”
      CBS posted footage of the wholesome moment to TikTok, and fans couldn’t get enough of Richards and Carragher’s giddy reaction to seeing Leao.
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      One joked: “Micah and Jamie are forgetting that they too are famous footballers.”
      Another quipped: “Their laugh when Leao gave them all high fives is taking me out.”
      A third wrote: “Micah is too hyped.”
      And part of another comment said: “Looks like they are at the playground!! Having a great time!!!”
      Star man Leao returned to the AC Milan side after missing the first leg, but was unable to inspire his side to victory.
      A single Lautaro Martinez strike saw Inter win 1-0 on the night and progress to the Champions League final 3-0 on aggregate. More

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      Pep Guardiola slams claims Man City must win Champions League and rants ‘my legacy is exceptional already’

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      PEP GUARDIOLA claims his Manchester City legacy will be “exceptional” — even if he fails to win the Champions League.But City defender Kyle Walker feels the squad owe it to their Abu Dhabi owners to finally become kings of Europe.
      Pep Guardiola says a book could be written about Manchester City’s team of the last six yearsCredit: Getty
      Kyle Walker wants to win the Champions League for City’s ownersCredit: EPA
      City, on the brink of a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, are yet to lift the trophy they really want in Pep’s seven years at the Etihad.
      With their semi-final with Real Madrid poised at 1-1 ahead of the second leg, Guardiola said: “My legacy is exceptional already.
      “I’ve been here many times already. The legacy is that we have had one hell of a time.
      “For many years they will remember a generation of players who for five or six years scored lots of goals and conceded very few — won lots of things and won very well.
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      “People should remember that. It would be a good book.
      “Whether or not they will remember us or not I don’t know but we have had a good time.”
      However, Walker believes that after 12 consecutive years in the competition, it is high time they finally lifted the trophy.
      The defender said: “You have to just look over the road at United and what they have accomplished over a number of years.
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      “When you get compared to that team, they won countless titles.
      “We’ve done five in six years, hopefully, if we can cross the line on this one.
      “But the club is missing the Champions League and the owners and the amount of money they have pumped into this club and the investment they have done, we owe that to them.
      “We got to the Champions League final against Chelsea and did not perform as well as we can.
      “So we owe that to ourselves to get some revenge because we know it was below par in 2021.”
      Victory over champs Real would leave Pep’s Treble chasers hot favourites to lift Europe’s big prize.
      Guardiola added: “We’re not stupid, we know how important this game is.
      “It is maybe one of the most important games since we came together here. We cannot deny that. For the competition, for the rival, for many things.”
      Guardiola’s players battled back to earn a draw in the Bernabeu last week thanks to Kevin De Bruyne’s stunner.
      But Pep said: “My feeling is we have to play better than we did in Madrid.
      “But all the players have to do is what we’ve done for many years.
      “I’ve lost seven semi- finals out of ten. I’ve lost more than I’ve won, so there are many things you can’t control but my only wish is to be ourselves.”
      The ex-Barca boss has been accused of causing City’s downfall in Europe by tinkering too much.
      And he teased: “I have an idea that we could do something a bit differently but it’s nothing special.
      “I’m not overthinking it, don’t worry guys, nothing different to what we’ve done, just more fluid and play a bit better.”
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      Last term, the Etihad clash saw City winning 4-3 in the first leg — before slipping up in Spain.
      Guardiola added: “We’d like to have the game we had here last season, I’d sign for it right now but I don’t think it will happen.” More

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      Arsenal set for massive boost with star man to open fresh contract talks after stellar season

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      WILLIAM SALIBA is set for fresh contract talks with Arsenal.The defender was a sensation in his Gunners breakout campaign before a back injury ended his season in mid-March.
      William Saliba is set for fresh contract talks with Arsenal.Credit: Getty
      Saliba, 22, started the first 27 Premier League games with his absence a major reason why Arsenal have fallen behind Manchester City in the title race.
      But his current Emirates deal expires in the summer of 2024 — with the centre-back spending most of his first three years at the club out on loan.
      The Gunners are therefore desperate to get him tied down long-term.
      Meanwhile, Arsenal are praying for a Manchester City meltdown — in Europe as well as in the Premier League.
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      Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have already guaranteed second place in the table and a return to Champions League action after a seven-season absence.
      But if City beat Real Madrid tonight, it will increase the chances of Arsenal landing a nightmare draw — which could include the likes of BOTH Real and Bayern Munich — by being dropped into the third seeding pot.
      Arsenal’s faint title hopes will be extinguished this weekend if they fail to beat Nottingham Forest or City get three points against Chelsea.
      But this evening they have a major interest in Pep Guardiola’s side losing to Madrid and seeing their Euro dream shattered.
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      Next season’s eight top seeds for August’s group-stage draw in Monaco will be the champions of England, Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Portugal, plus the Champions League and Europa League winners.
      Then will come the next eight highest-ranked sides on Uefa’s club coefficient calculation.
      Which, as things stand, would be Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, Inter Milan, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Leipzig and Porto, with Arsenal one place out of the frame.
      Arsenal have fallen behind in the title raceCredit: Reuters More