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      Erling Haaland shares hilarious picture with Champions League matchball.. and fans are all saying the same thing

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      ERLING HAALAND has released a hilarious picture of himself sleeping next to the Champions League match ball – and fans are all saying the same thing. The formidable Norwegian striker managed to outdo himself on Tuesday night as he put five past RB Leipzig.
      Erling Haaland was relentless at the Etihad last nightCredit: Getty
      The striker uploaded this image to Instagram earlier todayCredit: Instagram / @erling.haaland
      His goal haul contributed to Manchester City’s incredible 7-0 second-leg Champions League victory, leaving the game at a staggering 8-1 scoreline on aggregate.
      And Haaland has posted a snap reflecting on his European heroics with an Instagram picture that supporters absolutely loved.
      The 22-year-old can be seen seemingly asleep on his sofa after his exhausting night at the Etihad.
      He is draped in a large green blanket to cover his giant body with with his eyes shut tight.
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      But the star has his right hand wrapped around Tuesday night’s Champions League ball, which anyone who scores three goals or more is allowed to take home.
      Haaland captions the picture “afternoon nap” with a yawning emoji.
      Fans had very similar takes on the photo as they reflected on the forward’s superhuman goalscoring powers.
      One said: “Software update” and added a robot emoji.
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      Another said simply: “Recharging.”
      While another added: “Charging the batteries.”
      Others pointed out the picture’s similarity to Lionel Messi’s famous post-World Cup snap the morning after Argentina won the incredible final against France in December.
      With only Burnley left to play in the FA Cup before the international break, Haaland will be licking his lips at the prospect of adding to his ridiculous numbers.
      He has 39 goals in 34 games in all competitions this season.
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      Real Madrid 1 Liverpool 0 (agg 6-2): Woeful Reds fail to produce another European miracle as they crash out to old foes

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      JURGEN KLOPP claimed Liverpool had a one per cent chance of causing a sensation in the Bernabeu.In truth, it was more like the odds against a National Lottery win, as the 14-time champions of Europe strutted into the quarter-finals with Klopp’s men barely able to lay a glove on them.
      Karim Benzema tapped in an easy winner to settle the matchCredit: Getty
      The Anfield boss had boldly told the Red Army to book their hotels for this season’s final in Istanbul after they had been beaten by Carlo Ancelotti’s side in Paris last May.
      But those words looked foolhardy ever since Real’s 5-2 demolition job on Merseyside last month.
      That Real have comprehensively outplayed Liverpool in both legs shows just how far the Reds have regressed since their quadruple-chasing days of last spring.
      A miracle never looked like happening, even before Karim Benzema’s late strike – his tenth against English opposition since the start of last season – extended Real’s comfy first-leg lead.

      It was the fourth time Real had ended Liverpool’s Champions League hopes under Klopp – twice in finals, twice in knock-out ties.
      And their crosstown rivals Atletico are the only other club ever to have eliminated the Reds from this competition in the Klopp era.
      This result confirmed a season without silverware for Liverpool, who now face an almighty scrap for fourth place against Tottenham, Newcastle, Brighton and Brentford just to be able to compete at this elite level next term.
      They have been wildly inconsistent this campaign – but their form away from Anfield suggested this unlikely salvage mission was always going to be a non-starter.
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      The Champions League knock-out stages have been so crazed in the past few seasons, that we had almost come to expect extraordinary second-leg comebacks.
      Return matches which have looked on paper like dead rubbers have rarely ended up as such.
      But this one was dead, all right. All it needed was the princely duo of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to establish their midfield mastery over a fading Fabinho and an ancient James Milner and Klopp’s side never stood a serious chance.
      Modric is actually a little older than his fellow 37-year-old Milner but he is simply much better than Liverpool’s admirable Yorkshireman.
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      Real squandered a string of excellent chances, and Alisson made a couple of fine saves before Benzema finally found the net.
      Ancelotti’s side were under-rated in England last season, when they went and defeated each of the Premier League’s top three clubs – Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool to claim Old Big Ears yet again.
      But neither City or Chelsea will relish being paired with them in Friday’s quarter-final draw.
      Liverpool’s monumental task wasn’t helped by the absence of Jordan Henderson and Stefan Bajcetic – meaning a start for Milner, who was playing top-flight football before Bajcetic was born.
      Miracles do happen, not infrequently, in the Champions League but generally when the miracle-workers are at home in the second leg – with few better than Liverpool’s comeback from 3-0 down to Barcelona in the 2019 semi-final.
      Who knew what to make of Liverpool – 7-0 winners over Manchester United and losers at Bournemouth since these two last met at Anfield?
      It was, unsurprisingly, an attacking line-up from Klopp, with four specialist forwards, although Gakpo was in a more withdrawn role.
      Real were as good as Ancelotti’s pre-match words, refusing to sit back on their lead and it was lively, end-to-end stuff.
      Darwin Nunez was presented with the best early chance – Salah darting clear and feeding the Uruguayan, whose shot was saved by the legs of Thibaut Courtois.
      But Real were starting to swagger – Modric and Kroos their virtuoso string-pulling section in the middle of the park – and Alisson was soon a busy man.
      First he made a point-blank stop to deny Vinicius, the Brazilian tipped a thumping 25-yarder from Eduardo Camavinga on to his crossbar and saved with his feet from Vinicius after a luxurious first-time pass from Kroos.
      Diogo Jota miscued a decent volleyed chance for Liverpool but the early goal they craved failed to materialise.
      Nunez, though, gave Dani Carvajal a going-over, cut in from the left and drilled a shot which Courtois tipped wide. And Gakpo’s snap-shot forced another save from the Belgian.
      These were fleeting moments of hope but the Reds couldn’t seize one and by the interval an improbable mission was looking nigh-on impossible.
      Federico Valverde won a tackle on the edge of the Liverpool box and asked another decent save from Alisson.
      Klopp, without many riches on the bench, sent on Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott for Nunez and Jota – but Real were still crafting the best openings, Valverde failing to keep down a free header from a Modric centre.
      Benzema then blazed over after a weaving Vincius run and it was a genuine wonder how the champions hadn’t extended their overall lead before the 79th minute.
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      When the goal did arrive, Vinicius even had time to fall over and recover before he squared for Benzema to put the outcome of the tie completely beyond doubt.
      Liverpool now face a serious fight just to compete at this elite level again next season. More

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      Man Utd legend Peter Schmeichel can’t resist trolling Jamie Carragher ahead of Liverpool’s do-or-die Real Madrid tie

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      PETER SCHMEICHEL got his own back at Jamie Carragher ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid. The Reds went into the game with a three-goal deficit following their 5-2 thrashing at Anfield in the first leg.

      Jamie Carragher was on the end of a role reversal from his trolling last weekCredit: Getty
      Peter Schmeichel couldn’t resist smirking afterwards
      However, last week Carragher led the banter brigade against the Manchester United legend following Liverpool’s historic 7-0 win over their rivals.
      In doing so, the ex-defender was seen drinking a can of 7UP and repeatedly used the word seven during his conversation with Schmeichel.
      Fast forward a week, and it was Schmeichel’s turn to do the trolling.
      To start with, Schmeichel referenced Jurgen Klopp’s belief of a one per cent chance of progressing into the next round.
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      He said: “I’m giving it a seven per cent chance for Liverpool to win this game,” cueing laughter from the panel in the CBS studio.
      Schmeichel continued: “If Real Madrid win it will be the seventh time that they have beat Liverpool.
      “Of course, the sixth time was that seven-goal thriller at Anfield.”
      Following his analysis, the panellists clapped Schmeichel, with the former goalkeeper unable to stop himself from smirking.
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      In the end, Liverpool lost 1-0 thanks to Karim Benzema’s tap-in to confirm a humiliating 6-2 aggregate defeat.
      Liverpool’s win over Man Utd was followed up by a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
      Schmeichel also referenced Manchester City’s 7-1 win over RB Leipzig, with City being another of the Dane’s former clubs. More

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      Gent wonderkid, 20, ‘does best Erling Haaland impression’ with 3-MINUTE hat-trick.. after scoring four in his last game

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      GENT secured their passage into the Europa Conference League quarter-finals thanks to a THREE-MINUTE hat-trick from Gift Orban. Orban, aged just 20, fired a record-breaking hat-trick into the net of Istanbul Basaksehir in the Conference League Last 16.
      Gift Orban netted the fastest hat-trick in Uefa club competitionCredit: EPA

      At just three minutes and 25 seconds, it is the fastest hat-trick ever scored in a Uefa club competition.
      Amazingly the young Nigerian forward had also scored four goals in his last game.
      Orban’s performance comes after Erling Haaland’s own record-breaking night when he scored FIVE goals against RB Leipzig in a 7-1 win for Manchester City.
      And fans could not help but draw comparisons between the two.
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      One user on Twitter said: “Gent striker Gift Orban does his best Haaland impersonation and scores three before halftime in Europe.”
      A second user remarked: “Gift Orban scoring a three-minute hat-trick in the #UECL – Erling Haaland eat your heart out. Bosh.”
      A third joked: “Everybody watching Haaland yesterday 👀. Gift Orban: ‘Hold my beer’.”
      While a fourth added: “Gift Orban the Nigerian Haaland.”
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      Despite only making his debut for Gent in February, Orban has already scored nine goals in eight games.
      Haaland has already become Man City’s all-time leading goalscorer in a single season with 39 goals in all competitions.
      Meanwhile, his quintet on Tuesday saw him become the youngest player in Champions League history to surpass 30 goals. More

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      Real Madrid 1 Liverpool 0 (agg 6-2)LIVE SCORE: Benzema’s sends toothless Reds crashing out of Champions League

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      IT’S the end of the road for Liverpool as the Reds go crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid. Jurgen Klopp’s men had it all to do after being humiliated in the first leg 5-2.
      But Karim Benzema’s late strike tonight put Liverpool out of their misery.

      RESULT: Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (6-2 on agg)
      Live stream: BT Sport website or app
      TV channel: BT Sport 1
      Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Kroos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicus Jr
      Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Fabinho; Salah, Jota, Gakpo; Nunez

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      That’s all from the Bernabeu
      They needed at least three goals, Jurgen Klopp gave them a one percent chance, but ultimately Liverpool fired blanks at the Bernabeu as they were beaten by Benzema.
      So it’s the end of the road for the Reds for this season – but is it the end of an era?
      The Europa League takes over tomorrow night with Arsenal and Manchester United in action, and you can follow every kick with us here at SunSport.
      Until then, thanks for joining us, and goodnight.
      Extra! Read all about it!
      Before we sign off for this evening, why not relive the action from the Spanish capital with David Kidd’s match report of Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool (6-2 on aggregate).
      That Real comprehensively outplayed Liverpool in both legs shows just how far the Reds have regressed since their quadruple-chasing days of last spring. A miracle never looked like happening, even before Karim Benzema’s late strike – his tenth against English opposition since the start of last season.David Kidd

      Real walk with beaten Reds
      They may have just seen their team thrashed over two legs of Champions League football, but Liverpool’s travelling support were treated to a lovely tribute at the full time whistle.
      No sooner has the ref blown up for the end of the second leg, the speakers at the Bernabeu began to pump out You’ll Never Walk Alone, Liverpool’s famous anthem.
      It is understood to be a gesture of good will from Real following the Anfield club’s honouring of former Los Blancos star Amancio, who died shortly before the first meeting in February.
      They honoured Amancio in the first leg and it’s a fair gesture from our club towards them.Carlo AncelottiUEFA
      No special showing from Reds
      Liverpool have produced some special comebacks in their European history, but they barely laid a glove on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu this evening – much to Jurgen Klopp’s disappointment.
      Indeed, the German coach feels that their second leg performance wasn’t even good enough to win the tie, had they travelled to Spain on level terms.
      If we had drawn at home and then play like we did tonight, we probably go out as well. We cannot come here and hope that we get something. We prepared for a special performance tonight but it did not happen.Jurgen KloppBT Sport
      Real claim Liverpool hat-trick
      For the third successive season, Real Madrid have eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League.
      Los Blancos followed up their 1-0 triumph in last season’s Paris final with this 6-2 walloping in the Round of 16.
      It was the quarter-finals in 2020-21 when Real again stamped their mark in the first leg. Back then, a 3-1 win at the Bernabeu swung the tie in the Spaniards’ favour as they hung on for a goalless draw in the Anfield return.
      It is just the second time in European Cup or Champions League history that a side has been eliminated in three straight seasons by the same opponent.
      Naturally, Real Madrid were the victorious club in both instances, also defeating city rivals Atletico in four consecutive campaigns between 2013-14 and 2016-17.
      Klopp faced by Spanish inquisition
      For the sixth time in his spell as Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has seen his team eliminated from European competition by Spanish opposition.
      On four occasions that has been at the hands of Real Madrid while Atletico and Sevilla have also dispatched of the Reds.
      No side from another European nation are yet to knock out Klopp’s Liverpool in major competition.

      Carlo hails wise old heads
      Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes his side were able to pick Liverpool off in the late stages thanks to the cool, calm and collected nature of veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in midfield.
      Pressing up high has cost Liverpool because Luka Modric and Toni Kroos manage very well in these types of matches. They are not afraid, and get the ball out from behind well, and it has cost them in this sense.Carlo AncelottiUEFA

      Pool hit for six
      Liverpool’s 6-2 aggregate loss in the Round of 16 is their heaviest margin of defeat over two legs of a Champions League knockout tie.
      Real Madrid, meanwhile, have qualified for their 19th Champions League quarter-final – only Bayern Munich (21) have reached more.
      Presenting the Champions League quarter-finalists
      We now know the eight clubs that will compete in the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League.
      Real Madrid’s progress means the holders are within five matches of retaining their title, and ensures that Chelsea and Manchester City are the only English sides in the next round.
      Elsewhere this evening, Napoli cruised past Eintracht Frankfurt to make it three Italian teams in the last eight for the first time in 17 years.

      Chelsea
      Benfica
      AC Milan
      Bayern Munich
      Manchester City
      Inter Milan
      Napoli
      Real Madrid

      Match stats from the Bernabeu
      Liverpool were unable to build on their steady first half showing, and in the end were beaten by a side that had close to double the amount of shots.

      Full time – Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      Liverpool exit the Champions League with a whimper rather than a bang.
      The Reds lose 1-0 on the night, thanks to Karim Benzema’s late goal, but in truth the damage was done at Anfield.
      And so the Premier League side are left to rue Real Madrid once again, beaten 6-2 on aggregate – and it seems a long, long time ago that they led this tie 2-0.

      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      90+5. He didn’t concede a penalty during his cameo, but Kostas Tsimikas has been booked for a flailing arm into the face of Dani Ceballos.
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      90+4. The referee is sent to the pitchside monitor by his colleague, and decides it’s as big a waste of time as the rest of us.
      No penalty.
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      90+2. Tsimikas is in the thick of things immediately, making what looks a good block to deny Rodrygo’s shot.
      However, the ball bounced up off the Greek defender’s thigh and hit his arm, and now VAR are taking a look at it.
      A long look as it turns out. What’s the point?
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      90. Two minutes of stoppage time are signalled, and Jurgen Klopp makes two substitutions just for the hell of it.
      Kostas Tsimikas and Fabio Carvalho replace Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo.
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      89. The game isn’t even up yet you feel discussions are already taking place among fans and pundits regarding Liverpool’s next steps.
      Is this an end of an era?
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      87. Liverpool are limping to the finish line here
      A final Real Madrid substitution sees Lucas Vazquez on for Dani Carvajal.
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      85. Another couple of changes for the hosts, who take off Toni Kroos and Vinicius Junior in the final stages.
      Marco Asensio and Aurelien Tchouameni will get the final five minutes.
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      83. Unsurprisingly, that goal has taken the final gust of wind out of Liverpool’s sails.
      The Reds’ season now is all about the top four, and ensuring they are back in this competition next year.
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      81. It’s a double change for Real Madrid with two of their old times making way to great applause.
      Luka Modric and Karim Benzema are off, Dani Ceballos and Rodrygo come on.
      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      80. Sure enough, Benzema has come across to the touchline for treatment.
      With El Clasico on the horizon this weekend, Carlo Ancelotti is going to take no chances.
      Substitutions are being prepared.

      Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (Agg: 6-2)
      78. If the tie wasn’t over before, it is now!
      With Liverpool committing men forward, Eduardo Camavinga picked out Karim Benzema with a through ball, who in turn worked the ball into the path of Vinicius Junior via a ricochet off Virgil van Dijk.
      The Brazilian should score, but somehow fluffs his lines with only Alisson to beat.
      However, having slipped, the young forward regains his composure to slide the ball right for Benzema to tap in.
      The striker wheels away to celebrate, but then pulls up and looks to have injured himself in the process of scoring.

      Deadlock broken!

      Real Madrid 0-0 Liverpool (Agg: 5-2)
      76. Intricate passing between Elliott, Salah and Firmino open up an opportunity for Robertson to cross.
      However, the left-back fails to get it beyond Militao, while everyone of a Liverpool persuasion wonders why Elliott didn’t initiate contact with the diving tackle of Carvajal to win a penalty.
      Real Madrid 0-0 Liverpool (Agg: 5-2)
      74. Liverpool frustrations are now evident on the field as Harvey Elliott leaves one on Eder Militao long after the ball had gone.
      That wasn’t a great challenge from the youngster, and he’s very lucky to avoid a card.
      Meanwhile, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on for James Milner.

      Load more entries… More

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      Shocking moment Napoli thugs fire flares at bus of Eintracht Frankfurt supporters as 800 police officers are deployed

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      NAPOLI thugs fired flares at an Eintracht Frankfurt fan bus as things boiled over in Naples ahead of their Champions League clash.The Serie A leaders clinched a 2-0 win away in Germany to bring back for the second leg – which takes place on Wednesday evening.
      Napoli thugs waited for the Eintracht Frankfurt fan bus to drive pastCredit: Twitter
      They then fired flares at the busCredit: Twitter
      Fortunately there were said to be no injuriesCredit: Twitter
      But there are fears the two groups could clash at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium after a video emerged of Napoli supporters aiming missiles at a bus full of travelling Frankfurt fans.
      Local authorities had initially banned anyone from Germany from buying a ticket for the clash amid security fears.
      However, a legal appeal eventually allowed those born or a resident of Frankfurt to purchase the Champions League tickets.
      It comes after arrests and injuries were reported at the first leg amid violent altercations between the sets of fans.
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      According to Football Italia, 400 Frankfurt fans have already arrived in Naples, with some Atalanta ultras understood to have accompanied them after helping to bypass the restrictions.
      The groups are said to have come by train from Bergamo, Salerno and Bari.
      And they were greeted by Napoli thugs as a video showed flares being shot at a Frankfurt bus.
      A total of 800 police officers were deployed in an attempt to diffuse the situation, with no injuries reported.
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      Atalanta recently faced bitter rivals Napoli in a near-empty ground as the ultras had been banned due to security concerns.
      Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo has released a video before the second leg urging supporters not to engage in any violent behaviour.
      He said: “We are having an exceptional season and tomorrow we can make Napoli history if we manage to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
      “We must all try to have a good day without disorder or quarrels with whoever arrives in the city. Not only at the stadium but in the streets, in the squares, everywhere.
      “As your captain, I ask you not to fall into provocations. Let’s try to make tomorrow a day of celebration.
      “We do not accept any provocation. Everyone in the stadium with serenity and joy.” More

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      Erling Haaland becomes just second player in history to get two 10/10 ratings by notoriously tough L’Equipe

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      ERLING HAALAND continues to make history after scoring five goals for Manchester City.That’s by becoming just the second player in history to get two 10/10 ratings from L’Equipe.
      Erling Haaland has become the second player to receive two 10/10s from L’EquipeCredit: Getty
      Haaland scored five goals in Man City’s 7-0 win over RB Leipzig
      Haaland became the third player in Champions League history to net five goals in one game as Man City thrashed RB Leipzig 7-0.
      The result saw City secure an 8-1 aggregate win in the last-16 tie.
      And Haaland is now City’s all-time top scorer in a season with 39 goals… even though there’s at least 14 more games to go.
      But things have got even better for the Norwegian ace today.
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      That’s because he was give full marks by notoriously tough newspaper L’Equipe.
      The French outfit deemed Haaland’s performance worthy of a 10/10 rating.
      And it’s incredibly the second of his career after getting the same score in City’s 6-3 Premier League win over Man Utd in October, when he netted a hat-trick.
      Haaland is now just the second player in history to receive two full 10s from L’Equipe.
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      Lionel Messi is the only other player to get full marks twice from L’EquipeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Unsurprisingly, that other player is Lionel Messi.
      The Paris Saint-Germain star received his full houses while playing for old club Barcelona.
      The first came in 2012 when he scored five times in a 7-1 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen.
      And the other was in 2010 when he scored four in Barca’s 4-1 quarter-final victory against Arsenal.
      In total, Messi has an amazing 712 career goals in just 875 games.
      But only a wise man would bet against Haaland getting near that figure as he’s already got 194 goals in 236 appearances.
      This season alone, Haaland has hit the target every 72 minutes and has a brilliant shot conversion rate of 32 per cent.
      Interestingly, 62 per cent of his goals have been scored with his left foot, and just 23 per cent with his right.
      And Haaland is truly a fox in the box with 97 per cent of his goals coming from inside the box.
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      With five hat-tricks to his name already this term, Haaland is bound to score more.
      And after last night’s feats, he is now the fastest player and the youngest player to hit 30 goals in the Champions League. More

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      ‘I called my agent… my story ended’ – The day Javier Mascherano knew he had to leave Barcelona

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      JAVIER MASCHERANO has revealed the day he knew that his Barcelona career was over and he had to leave. The Argentine arrived at the Nou Camp in 2010 following a three-year spell at Liverpool.
      Javier Mascherano spent eight years at Barcelona having joined from Liverpool.Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Mascherano won La Liga four times and the Champions League twice during his time at the club.Credit: Getty
      The midfielder made 203 appearances for the Catalan giants scoring once and won La Liga and the Champions League during his time at the club.
      Despite having a successful spell at Barcelona Mascherano knew when it was time to move on.
      Speaking to Spanish outlet Sport the 38-year-old recalled the moment he had to leave the club.
      He said: ” I saw Umtiti train the first day, I called my representative and I told him: “Walter, my story at Barça ended, here is someone who is from another level.”
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      He added: “I have made thousands of errors in my career but if I had something, it is that I have always been a teammate. In the last days of Luis Enrique I had lost my edge.”
      The former Liverpool man arrived knowing it would be tough to displace Sergio Busquets and had to re invent himself as a centre half to earn his place in the side.
      Mascherano admitted when he signed that he wasn’t a player for Pep Guardiola’s style.
      He said: “I was not a player for Pep’s style. That was the reality and I knew it.”
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      The midfielder eventually left Barcelona in 2018 to join Chinese side Hebei China Fortune where he spent a season.
      The Argentine returned to his homeland signing for Estudiantes where he made ten appearances before retiring.
      Mascherano made a total of 436 appearances in his career scoring two goals. More