Champions League

Subterms

    More stories

    • 263 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Inter Milan vs AC Milan: Inzaghi’s side look to book their place in Champions League final – stream, TV, team news

      by

      INTER MILAN take a two-goal lead into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Italian rivals AC Milan.Goals from former Premier League stars Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave Filippo Inzaghi’s side the advantage.
      Edin Dzeko scores Inter’s first goal against AC Milan in the Champions League semi-finalCredit: AP
      AC Milan dejected after their Champions League semi-final first-leg defeatCredit: GETTY
      The two sides were in league action on the weekend as the race for a Champions League spot heats up in Serie A.
      Inter increased the gap on AC Milan in 5th to six points as they beat Sassuolo 4-2 at the San Siro.
      Elsewhere, Stefano Pioli’s side were on the end of a shock 2-0 defeat to relegation-battling Spezia.
      When is AC Milan vs Inter Milan?

      AC Milan vs Inter Milan will take place on Wednesday, May 10th.
      Kick off will be at 8pm BST.
      The San Siro will place host.

      READ MORE IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
      What channel is AC Milan vs Inter Milan on and can it be live streamed?

      AC Milan vs Inter Milan will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1.
      BT Sport customers can live stream all the action from 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 with all the action from the San Siro.

      Team news
      Inzaghi made a number of changes at the weekend as Inter beat Sassuolo 4-2.
      Key players such as Andre Onana, Lautaro Martinez and Denzel Dumfries were all rested ahead of the second leg with Milan on Wednesday night.
      Robin Gosens returned to the squad on the weekend after a long layoff with injury.
      Most read in Champions League
      Milan Skriniar will definitely miss the derby due after undergoing spinal surgery at the end of April.
      For Milan, they could be without Rade Krunic and Junior Messias after they were all missing from the squad at the weekend.
      Midfielder Ismael Bennacer will not be available after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first leg.
      Stefano Pioli will be hoping star man Rafael Leao will recover in time to feature in the second leg.
      Odds
      Match result:

      Inter Milan – 1/1
      Draw – 23/10
      AC Milan – 14/5

      To qualify

      Inter Milan – 1/12
      AC Milan – 6/1

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

    • 150 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      How Wolves and legendary boss Stan Cullis accidentally created the Champions League

      by

      THE Champions League is unquestionably one of the most exciting and fiercely competitive tournaments in world football.Some clubs have historically thrived at Europe’s top table with Real Madrid, AC Milan, Liverpool and Bayern Munich the most successful teams.
      A match between Wolves and Budapest Honved inadvertently sparked the creation of the European CupCredit: Getty
      Wolves beat Budapest Honved 3-2 at Molineux – with the win sparking a reaction across EuropeCredit: Rex
      Wolves boss Stan Cullis sparked controversy by calling his side the ‘champions of Europe’Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      The legendary manager now has a statue and stand named after him at MolineuxCredit: Rex
      But what many don’t know is how Europe’s top competition – originally called the European Cup – actually came to be.
      And it’s an incredible story of pride and wounded egos.
      So settle in, as we transport you back to 1953 for an international match between England and Hungary.
      The Three Lions had only ever lost once on home soil – to the Republic of Ireland in 1949.
      READ MORE SPORT STORIES
      But the arrival of the Olympic champions and No1 ranked team in the world would test that.
      Hungary turned up at Wembley on a 24-match unbeaten streak.
      In a clash now known as the “Match of the Century”, Hungary would go on to win 6-3 in front of 105,000 fans.
      Just six months later, Hungary thumped England 7-1 in Budapest – to this day, the Three Lions’ heaviest defeat.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
      The captains that day were Billy Wright and Ferenc Puskas.
      That season, they led their teams to their respective league titles, as Wolves stormed to the First Division crown under Stan Cullis, while Budapest Honved scored 100 goals en route to a fourth straight championship.
      Under their brand new floodlights, Wolves were keen to welcome foreign opponents – and regularly thumped them.
      Cullis’ side beat the South Africa national team, Celtic, Argentine side Racing Club, Maccabi Tel-Aviv – winning that one 10-0 – and Spartak Moscow, while playing out a goalless draw with First Vienna.
      So, on the back of Hungary’s two storming wins over England, Wolves and Honved did battle as each nation’s best side were pit against one another at Molineux.
      Honved raced to a 2-0 lead within 14 minutes, with things looking bleak for England… again.
      Johnny Hancocks pulled one back from the penalty spot early in the second half before Roy Swinbourne scored twice in as many minutes late on to secure a famous 3-2 victory.
      The win salvaged some pride for England, before Wolves boss Cullis announced his side were “champions of the world”.
      Those four words angered a hatful of clubs, players, managers and journalists across the globe.
      A young Ferenc Puskas was part of the Budapest Honved side vs WolvesCredit: AFP – Getty
      Honved took a 2-0 lead early at Molineux but Wolves fought back to win 3-2Credit: Alamy
      The match sparked the creation of the European Cup with the inaugural season taking place in 1955-56Credit: Rex
      French journalist Gabriel Hanot strongly voiced his disagreement – saying Real Madrid and AC Milan would trounce Wolves.
      Hanot suggested “a European championship be organised between clubs” to determine who is truly the best on the continent.
      Jacques de Ryswick – his colleague at L’Equipe – drew up a proposal for the tournament and its format.
      And just a year later – in 1955-56 – the first European Cup took place, featuring 16 of the finest teams on the planet.
      In a cruel twist of fate, Wolves were NOT invited as they surrendered the First Division title the season prior.
      Chelsea were instead primed to take part, only to be urged to withdraw by the Football League due to fears European fixtures would hinder attendances for the weekend domestic matches.
      With no Blues – and no Wolves – Real Madrid would go on to be crowned champions of the first European Cup, beating Reims in the final after scraping past Milan in the semis.
      Read More on The Sun
      Los Blancos now boast more titles than any other side with 14.
      And Wolves? The “champions of the world”? Still none… More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd 2 Wolves 0: Garnacho scores just minutes into incredible return to fire hosts towards Champions League football

      by

      ANTHONY MARTIAL rediscovered the golden touch in front of his old gaffer to shoot his current one a step closer to the Champions League.Martial had managed just three goals since the turn of the year and had drawn a blank in his previous eight games.
      Alejandro Garnacho scored on his return from injuryCredit: Getty
      Anthony Martial scored the opening goal against WolvesCredit: Getty
      He fired home after being set up by AntonyCredit: PA
      The win has put United four points clear of LiverpoolCredit: EPA
      And to be fair he could hardly miss when Anthony’s square ball left him with an open net from 12 yards just after half an hour here.
      Yet after waiting so long to celebrate a goal of his own, it was as welcome as a 30-yard scorcher for the Frenchman, who knows he is playing for his Old Trafford future.
      Erik ten Hag may believe it is easier now to attract top names to United than when he first arrived a year ago, but try doing it without the offer of dining at Europe’s top table.
      And if they hadn’t seen off a tenacious Wolves, the door to fourth place would have much have swung open for bitter rivals Liverpool, now hot on their heels.
      It is still far from slammed on their back-to-form Scousers, but at least United have a little breathing space again and can decide their own destiny.
      But there remains so much for Ten Hag to put right at this slumbering giant that, for all the improvements he has made, is only just rising to its knees.
      A goalscorer has long been a priority in the summer, regardless of whether Martial is still here or not, and at least one new face in midfield is only slightly less crucial.
      At least there are still some things you can rely on at Old Trafford…and few of them quite so dependable as Bruno Fernandes. It is just as well.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Fittingly – and not surprisingly – he had a key role in Martial’s big moment against Wolves, stretching out a foot to retain possession when Jadon Sancho’s ball sold him short.
      From there he fed Anthony and when the Brazilian picked out Martial, it was basically harder to miss than score. Fortunately for United, he proved the point
      Although you could have said the same about an unmarked, point blank header from Anthony minutes earlier and he managed to fire that over the top.
      And talking of over the top, Julen Lopetegui’s in-your-face appeal to fourth official Andre Marriner was exactly that on 70 minutes when he claimed David De Gea had felled Hee Chan Hwang.
      The result left Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves side in 13th placeCredit: AFP
      When Daniel Podence clipped one over the top, De Gea raced from his goal but was never going to reach the ball.
      Crucially he never touched Hwang either, for all the South Korean went to ground…leaving Lopetegui leaping around appealing for a foul and a red card.
      It wasn’t the last time the Wolves boss was left spitting mad, either, as United finally put an end to any doubts four minutes into stoppage time.
      Fernandes was the creator with a cutting ball through the middle – and Alejandro Garnacho marked his return to action after eight weeks out thanks to a damaged ankle, with the coolest of finishes.
      Garnacho sealed the points on his return to the teamCredit: Getty More

    • 188 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Fans convinced Cristiano Ronaldo has unfollowed Bernardo Silva – and they think they know why

      by

      FANS are convinced that Cristiano Ronaldo has unfollowed Bernardo Silva on Instagram over the Man City star’s Ballon d’Or prediction.Silva named team-mate Erling Haaland, Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr and Ronaldo’s old rival Lionel Messi as the favourites to win the illustrious accolade.
      Cristiano Ronaldo is not following Bernardo Silva on InstagramCredit: Getty
      Silva does not appear among Ronaldo’s following listCredit: Instagram
      Fans think it is because he backed Lionel Messi to win another Ballon d’OrCredit: AFP
      Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times in his career but is unlikely to be in the running this year.
      He failed to make a positive influence at Manchester United before leaving the club for Saudi Arabia outfit Al-Nassr.
      At the World Cup, Ronaldo also disappointed with only one goal in five appearances as he was dropped from the side in favour of Goncalo Ramos.
      And it may have impacted his international team-mates prediction as Silva never mentioned him.
      READ MORE ON RONALDO
      When giving his prediction, he told L’Equipe: “If [Eriling] Haaland wins the league and the Champions League, you can put him in the Ballon d’Or discussion, and you can also talk about Vinicius Jr.
      “If Madrid win the Champions League, but in general, it is between [Lionel] Messi and the winner of the champions, and so far, I will give it to Messi.”
      Following the comments, fans have noticed that Ronaldo is no longer following Silva on Instagram – although it is not confirmed that he followed him before.
      Ronaldo follows many of his international team-mates, including Bruno Fernandes, Pepe and Joao Moutinho.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      After seeing the comments from Silva, one fan suggested: “Certain someone won’t like that.”
      A second wrote: “Ronaldo unfollowing another teammate because he chose Messi 🤣🤣🤣🤣 .
      “Messi owns him without even trying 🐐.”
      A third said: “No way Ronaldo already unfollowed Bernardo Silva on Instagram.”
      Messi has won seven Ballon d’Or’s in his career and, despite an early exit from the Champions League with PSG is one of the favourites to win it this year.
      The Argentine won the Golden Ball at the World Cup as well as the whole tournament with his nation.
      Meanwhile, Silva also suggested Haaland will be in the running after his prolific season with Man City. More

    • 238 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd legend keeps leaving WhatsApp group for getting ‘bullied’ then asking Rio Ferdinand to be added back in

      by

      RIO FERDINAND has revealed that Patrice Evra keeps leaving a WhatsApp group for getting “bullied”.However, after calming down, the former Manchester United defender will quickly ask to be re-added to the group.
      Rio Ferdinand revealed one former team-mate gets bantered on a WhatsApp groupCredit: Rex
      And it is none other than Patrice EvraCredit: The Mega Agency
      Ferdinand, 44, admitted that there is an existing WhatsApp group for the United stars that won the 2008 Champions League, so they can keep in touch.
      Some of the players from the group played key roles in the Red Devils’ success under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2006 and 2013.
      The club picked up five Premier League titles in the period and reached three Champions League finals, losing in 2009 and 2011.
      The retired defender admitted that some of the people in the group are club legends such as Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher, Nani and Evra.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      However, Evra, 41, is the target of some brutal banter between the former team-mates, leading to him coming in and out of the group.
      Ferdinand said on The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan: “Evra just comes in and out because he gets bullied in there.
      “He gets ripped and all you see is, ‘Patrice has left the group’.
      “And then you get a text a couple of hours later, ‘Can you let me back in please, add me, add me’.”
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
      Ferdinand was then asked by host Gilligan about the famous white suit that he wore when he was announced as a Man United player in 2002.
      He responded by sending a voice note to the WhatsApp group asking if he should bring it back, to which Evra replied: “Bro, this is fire, you have to wear it!”
      Evra sent the message directly to Ferdinand as to avoid being targeted in the group chat.
      Ferdinand said: “So, he’s come outside of the group because he knows if he says that inside of the group, they’ll kill him.
      “He’ll be told to get out of the group.”
      Ferdinand wore the suit following his record transfer move from Leeds to Manchester United for £29.1million.
      Ferdinand wore a unique suit when he joined Manchester UnitedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      PSG are in a right old Messi as he moves closer to facing Cristiano Ronaldo in a riotously expensive publicity stunt

      by

      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are truly in a Messi over the world’s greatest player.All that money paid by PSG owners and now faced with the prospect that rival oil state Saudi Arabia could grab him for a reputed £522million contract.
      Karren Brady writes exclusively for Sun SportCredit: Andrew Styczynski – The Sun
      Lionel Messi was suspended and fined by PSG for his recent Saudi tripCredit: PA
      So PSG are on the brink of Lionel’s labours lost. And they will be lost to competitive European football, to a team who play in the modest Saudi Pro-League.
      Should Messi choose desert sands rather than the delights of Paris, Milan or perhaps some other city yet to be leaked to reporters, the rematch in Riyadh of the Argentinian star and the wilful Ronaldo, paid the paltry sum by comparison of £174m a year by Al Nassr, will be on the Saudi capital’s agenda.
      No doubt it would be sold in Saudi as big as the World Cup held in Qatar last November.
      Saudi royal sheikhs were not delighted by Qatar’s successful selling of Fifa’s controversial choice of country, which was soon reported to be brutally using a human resource of workers from the Indian sub-continent.
      READ MORE FROM KARREN BRADY
      But the possibility of a rerun or two of the highly publicised Ronaldo-Messi match-ups must have given irritated Saudi sheikhs a taste of retribution which seems to be, perhaps like their popular testicle soup, best eaten cold.
      Whether two 35-plus players taking part in what amounts to a riotously expensive publicity stunt rather than a thrilling football occasion owes any significant passing attraction to gushing oil wells rather than public demand.
      Old champions and repeated Ballon d’Or winners don’t die, they only fade away.
      The major losers so far are PSG, whose own pursuit of a Champions League title has been as frustrating as Frank Bruno’s was for the world heavyweight belt.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Initially, PSG’s Qatari owners must have believed that the acquisition of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, arguably then the three best attacking players in the world, were a guarantee of becoming European champions.
      Too much of a good thing maybe or even that they should have been purchasing better defenders, but the guarantee wasn’t worth the paper it wasn’t written on.
      Now Neymar is on his way somewhere, maybe the Premier League. That Messi, captain of the world champions, visited Saudi recently as part of a promotional trip — upsetting PSG’s owners, who banned and fined him for his two-day jolly — suggests a transfer move rather than chats about selling the country’s tourist potential.
      Anyway, Neymar was determined to take his ball control and not-so-controlled moods elsewhere.
      And by all accounts so is Messi for probably the last move of his magnificent career.
      Mbappe might well remain in the French capital, although he tends to be difficult to predict.
      Qatari citizens are also in a long financial wrestle with Brit Sir Jim Ratcliffe to pay multi-billions to the Glazers, who intend to make a last killing at Manchester United before hightailin’ it back to the US.
      All of which makes me ­wonder how wise it is to allow the citizens of one country to buy control of two major European clubs.
      United’s potential owners, like those at Newcastle, claim that they are totally separate elements but questions remain.
      Read More on The Sun
      These would be very pointed should United be paired with PSG in a future Champions League.
      My take on it all is that Fifa and Uefa should consider whether fair play and fair purchase should feature in fresh legislation. More

    • 200 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Uefa ‘in talks to move Champions League final 2500 miles’… with event just a month away

      by

      UEFA have reportedly held talks about moving the Champions League final 2500 miles away from Istanbul with less than a month to go until it is played.Manchester City and Real Madrid drew 1-1 while Inter Milan enjoyed a 2-0 away win at AC Milan in this week’s semi-final first-legs.
      The Champions League final could be set for a change of venue just weeks before itCredit: Splash
      It is due to take place on June 10 at the Ataturk Stadium in IstanbulCredit: Alamy
      And the return legs will take place next week to determine who will battle it out for the Champions League trophy at the Ataturk Stadium on June 10 in the final.
      However, the Daily Mail has now claimed that Uefa “have held talks about moving” the showpiece to Lisbon’s Stadium of Light in Portugal.
      That is in case there “is unrest in Istanbul following the presidential Turkish election” later this month.
      There are growing concerns that there could be civil disturbances if president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s two-decade reign ends.
      READ MORE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS
      Uefa “would be extremely reluctant to switch the final” as it has already been moved from Istanbul due to Covid in 2020 and 2021.
      However, they “may be forced to consider a late change as the safety of fans is their primary concern” for the biggest club football match on the planet.
      The report states that they “have learned that an informal approach has been made to the Portuguese Football Federation, who have previously stepped in with Lisbon and Porto staging the final in 2020 and 2021” to stage this season’s.
      Erdogan was trailing rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu by five per cent in a recent poll ahead of Sunday’s first round of voting.
      Most read in Champions League
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Now analysts have claimed that the three-horse race for leadership may now go down to “a run-off between the pair” which would be held on 28 May. 
      The Champions League final is set to take place less than two weeks later.
      And that means that Uefa could be forced into making a decision late.
      However, the Mail also states that “sources at the governing body insisted on Thursday that there was no plan to move the game from Turkey”.
      If the game is moved it would be the third year running that such a decision has been taken.
      In 2021, Uefa moved the final between Chelsea and Man City from Istanbul to Porto after the UK government placed Turkey on its red list, requiring a ten-day stay in hotel quarantine for all travellers returning from the country.
      That decision was taken so late that the ball for the final still said ‘Istanbul 2021’ on it.
      And in 2022, the final was moved from St Petersburg to Paris due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. More

    • 263 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal legend Thierry Henry reveals player who scared him and says he was frightened when he realised he was facing him

      by

      ARSENAL legend Thierry Henry has revealed the player who scared him during his playing days. While speaking on CBS Sports ahead of the Champions League semi-final clash between Inter Milan and AC Milan, Henry and Co were graced with the presence of Paolo Maldini.
      Thierry Henry revealed he was scared to face Paolo MaldiniCredit: https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo
      Henry and Maldini faced off at the 1998 World CupCredit: Getty
      Maldini joined the CBS Sports panel ahead of AC Milan’s clash with InterCredit: Getty
      The Italian legend, who is now AC Milan’s technical director, joined the panel to discuss the tie and reminisce on old meetings between them.
      In doing so, Henry lavished praise on the defender, before recalling their meeting during the World Cup quarter-final in 1998 which saw France beat Italy on penalties.
      And the French star also revealed how he was “SCARED” to face Maldini.
      He said: “What I want to tell you is very important and never had the opportunity to say it.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      “We played against each other in ’98, I’m not talking about the game as that’s not important as I have too much respect for you for that.
      “When I realised I was coming on and playing on the right, I suddenly got scared because of what you represented.
      “The defender that you were, for me, you epitomised what defending was about.
      “The human being is even better than the player if that was possible. It’s just a privilege to have you with us tonight.
      Most read in Champions League
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      “I think you are being humble, because you brought that winning mentality to Milan, so I’m happy to see you there. 
      “I just wanted to tell you that you used to scare me.”
      After some laughter at the comment, Maldini then replied: “Thank you. I have to tell you that I wasn’t happy when I saw you were playing on my side. 
      “We were both scared.”
      Maldini stayed with Milan his whole career, while Henry would go on to face Maldini again during his short time at Juventus in 1999.
      Henry joined Arsenal in the same summer, where he stayed until 2007 when Barcelona came calling. More