Champions League

LIONEL MESSI was nearly wiped out by a fan after PSG’s Champions League exit to Bayern Munich.Goals form Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry meant the French side crashed out of the competition but it almost got even worse for Messi.
Lionel Messi only just avoided being taken out by a pitch invaderCredit: Reuters
Security then dealt with the fanCredit: AFP
A fan ran on the pitch after the full time whistle to try and get to the Argentine star.
However, he slipped on the grass almost taking out the 35-year-old in the process.
The pitch invader was then tackled by security just in front of Messi on the pitch.
Should Messi have gotten hurt during the incident then PSG would have had a major concern for their Ligue 1 aims as Neymar is currently out for the remainder of the season.
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PSG fans who noticed the moment were all making the same joke after the former Barcelona star failed to impact the match against the Bundesliga giants.
One tweeted: “I didn’t see Messi throughout the match, till the pitch invader showed up proper GOAT.”
A second commented: “That pitch invader at the end did more than Messi.”
A third wrote: “Pitch invader shouting after Messi…
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“Yeah, Messi really wants to stop and take a selfie or sign something, when he’s just been knocked out of the Champions League.”
A fourth said: “He did more on the pitch than Messi in 90 minutes.”
PSG went into the game needing to win after losing the first leg 1-0 but their task was made even harder when Choupo-Moting opened the scoring in the 61st minute.
Gnabry then ended the tie in the 89th minute as he dinked the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma to send Bayern through to the quarter-finals. More

AFTER rising from his sickbed, Antonio Conte tasted the nastiest medicine of all as Tottenham were dumped out of the Champions League and sentenced to a 15th straight season without silverware. Conte’s 16-month reign already seemed to be drifting towards its conclusion before his insipid side were knocked out by the Italian champions, on a night when the bitter north London weather matched the mood of every Spurs fan. 
Spurs crashed out of the Champions League with a whimperCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Antonio Conte’s men failed to find a way past MilanCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
AC Milan may be the seven-time champions of Europe and the reigning kings of Serie A – but they are nothing special and, such is the strength of the Premier League, that Conte’s men were expected to beat them. 
That they failed to score in either leg was a damning indictment of Conte’s regime, under which Spurs have failed to thrill and struggled for identity. 
Long before the late sending-off of Cristian Romero for two reckless challenges, Spurs were labouring and devoid of inspiration.   
Now chairman Daniel Levy must decide whether to keep Conte in charge until his contract expires at the end of the season or make a change now. 
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Either way an ‘arrivederci’ is coming soon.
Spurs are fourth, the position Conte did well to guide them to last season – but his appointment here never seemed a great fit and the natives are seriously restless with the Italian now. 
Conte was making his second return after gallbladder surgery – rushing back too soon for his team’s narrow defeat in the fist leg in the San Siro.
But with this result coming just seven days after a shock FA Cup defeat at Sheffield United, sympathy is limited appetite is waning for his cautious brand of football.
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Just as at Chelsea the previous night, kick-off was delayed by ten minutes because the team buses were late. 
Some of us always seem to arrive on time but these people never seem to comprehend the idea that London plus rush hour plus appalling weather might mean traffic. 
Milan had been trounced by Chelsea in the group stage and have slipped out of the top four in Serie A. 
But far from sitting back on their slim lead, Stefano Pioli’s men defied national stereotype and played much of the early football, with Spurs happy to stay deep and play on the counter. 
Cristian Romero was sent off on a miserable night for SpursCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The hosts failed to get out of first gearCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Early on, Romero collected his first booking. Rafael Leao was standing between Romero and the ball but the Argentinian centre-half ignored this fact as he launched himself and clattered the Milan forward.
This resulted in a cute free-kick routine which foxed Spurs and released Junior Messias who dragged his shot wide.
As hundreds of lunatic Milanese ultras decided to go topless in the sleet, the on-field temperature continued to rise.
Clement Lenglet was cautioned for a flailing arm which connected with Olivier Giroud’s bonce. 
Milan held firm in the wet and windy conditionsCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Captain Harry Kane could not find a way through to goalCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Conte, probably defying the advice from his back-to-work interview with HR, chucked a wobbler and was yellow-carded himself.  
Giroud, not exactly well loved around here after his spells with Chelsea and Arsenal, decided it would be fun to delay play by elaborately tying his shoelaces, adjusting his gloves and doing his hair – a very metrosexual piece of s***housing.  
Kane, who had scored just once in seven Champions League games this season, had a deflected drive saved by Mike Maignan. 
But for much of the first half the England captain kept popping up in midfield positions so deep we might start calling him N’Golo Kane.
It’s been four years since Spurs last won a Champions League knockout gameCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Daniel Levy watched on from the standsCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Spurs were uninspired, their supporters subdued, perhaps downcast after back-to-back defeats at Sheffield United and Wolves. 
And there was no obvious sense of love for their returning manager, whom few expect to be around next season. 
Whereas at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday there had been a sense of occasion which pumped up Chelsea, here there was a sense of drift. 
At half-time, there was a fair amount of booing from home supporters. Really? With their team just one goal down in a Champions League knock-out tie? 
What sort of club did they think they were supporting? Presumably one which had won the title more recently than the Kennedy assassination or Beatlemania.
It’s back to square one for the north LondonersCredit: Getty
It marks another season without a trophy for TottenhamCredit: PA
Still, Spurs were almost always better in the second half. Weren’t  they?
Yet Brahim Diaz, the first-leg goalscorer, ploughed his way  through a couple of challenges and forced Fraser Forster to save with his legs.
Pedro Porro arrived in place of Ivan Perisic, Emerson Royal switching to the left flank.
Kane won a dangerous free-kick in a style we’d refer to as ‘streetwise’ had an Italian done it, but just as some positive noise began to reverberate around this magnificent stadium, Porro ploughed the dead ball into the wall.
The volume was seriously increasing, though, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg forced an excellent save from Maignan despite being forced wide by Milan’s defence. 
Porro had livened things up and his curling cross was met with a diving header from Kane, which fell wide. 
Conte then sent on Richarlison for Royal, throwing caution to the chill drizzle with a 4-2-4 formation.
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But Romero scuppered that by flying into Theo Hernadez with a stuntman’s tackle by the touchline and ref Clement Turpin reached for a second yellow, which could have been a straight red, as the Argentine lay prone in the Milan technical area. 
And with Romero went Tottenham’s realistic chances of reaching the quarter-finals. 
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

AU REVOIR, Paris Saint-Germain – once again the Qatari petrol-dollars have failed to mastermind Champions League glory.The Middle East owners’ long-held ambitions of lifting Europe’s Holy Grail crashed and burned in the last 16 of this competition for the FIFTH time in seven seasons.
Lionel Messi and PSG are out of the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting tapped in with ease at the back postCredit: Getty
Even with two World Cup winners Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in their attack – neither of whom were on top form tonight – the French side failed to find a way past Bayern Munich’s red wall defence in 180 minutes of football.
And on a cold evening in Bavaria, the Ligue 1 leaders were undone by second-leg goals scored by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry.
The tactical plan by Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann to thwart the exhilarating pace and agility of Mbappe worked a treat as the Frenchman was restricted to half chances.
Messi, too, was a shadow of the player that oversaw Argentina’s World Cup success three months ago – the magic men brought no spark whatsoever.
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It was a professional display by the Bundesliga champions, who will take some beating on the Road to Istanbul final this June.
It could have been all so different had Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt not shown such quick-thinking prowess on 38 minutes to block an attempt from Vitinha off the line after shot-stopper Yann Sommer foolishly conceded possession in his own penalty area.
PSG – who lost captain Marquinhos to injury on 36 minutes – had no choice in the second half other than to throw everything at the home side given their 1-0 defeat in Paris on Valentine’s Day.
But their morale took a plummeting when Marco Verratti was caught on the ball by Munich duo Thomas Muller and Leon Goretzka on 61 minutes.
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Goretzka kept his cool to lay it on a plate for Choupo-Moting who made no mistake against goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for his 17th goal this campaign.
It was a special moment for Choupo-Moting, formerly of Stoke City, who was ironically released by PSG three years ago.
Minutes after that, Sommer earned his appearance fee with a brilliant one-handed save to push away a header by Sergio Ramos, who later put another good chance wide.
Any dreams PSG may have had of staging a late comeback were ruined in the closing minutes when substitute Gnabry scored with a breakaway goal – the assist coming from Manchester City loanee Joao Cancelo.
Sadio Mane thought he added another deep into injury time but the offside flag went up immediately.
Early-round defeats in Europe are a typical theme for PSG and, even if he wins the domestic title, the head coach Christophe Galtier is likely to pay for this latest exit with his job.
Matthijs de Ligt did brilliantly to clear off the line in the first halfCredit: Getty
Choupo-Moting celebrates against his former employersCredit: AFP
Serge Gnabry added the second to put the tie beyond any doubtCredit: AFP
A pitch invader was wrestled down by stewards as he tried to get to MessiCredit: Reuters More

TOTTENHAM were booed off at half-time and full-time as fans’ frustration grew in their failed Champions League must-win clash.And Antonio Conte’s decision to sub off Dejan Kulusevski for Davinson Sanchez as they chased a goal also led to a furious reaction.
Tottenham failed to register a single shot on target in the first half against AC MilanCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
It was a grim night for all connected with SpursCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Spurs hosted AC Milan in North London hoping to overturn the 1-0 first-leg deficit in the last-16 showdown.
But they barely offered anything in the delayed opening 45 minutes, despite knowing they needed to score to have any chance of progressing into the quarter-finals.
Tottenham managed just two shots and NONE on target.
And when the half-time whistle blew, the 60,000 home fans made their feelings clear by jeering the players down the tunnel.
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Ex-Tottenham striker Peter Crouch said at the break: “I said they need to go on the front foot and get the crowd with you, it’s been the exact opposite.
“It’s as if Spurs are 1-0 up and are seeing the game out – something needs to change. Milan have got so much time to pick their passes.
“I can’t understand it, it’s not the first time either.
“Tottenham’s best players are going forwards but are they being allowed to express themselves?”
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Rio Ferdinand added in the BT Sport studio: “We said give the fans something to cheer about, they’ve done nothing.
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“They’ve not even made the keeper work, it’s nothing like we thought this stadium would produce with knockout Champions League nights.
“No Milan player will be coming in at half-time thinking, ‘Woah, that was a hard game.’”
Tottenham had their passionate manager Antonio Conte back on the touchline after recovering from surgery.
However, the most energy and fight was shown by the fiery Italian on the sideline as he picked up a first-half yellow card.

But Glenn Hoddle offered one piece of positive for the exasperated Spurs fans – by pointing out the home side will be shooting towards the giant South Stand.
Eight of the last ten goals scored at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have found the net in front of the so-called ‘White Wall’.
Hoddle, who admitted there was “no urgency” from Spurs, said: “I guarantee they go to the other end and watch, this will be a different team.”
However, it was not to be as Spurs limped out with a 0-0 draw on the night.
Harry Kane eventually forced Mike Maignan into a smart save in injury time – the second effort on target for the home side.
I’ve never seen the crowd so flat but that was because of the performancePeter Crouch
The mood also worsened with ten minutes to go after Cristian Romero was sent off for a stupid second yellow… and Conte took off attacker Kulusevski and threw on an extra defender.
That bizarre decision prompted more boos from the stands, before another angry chorus greeted the full-time whistle as Spurs’ exit was confirmed.
Crouch added: “The problem with the fans is tactically it’s too defensive and pragmatic.
“In the first half of a Champions League second leg, come out and go at them.
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“I’ve never seen the crowd so flat but that was because of the performance – that comes from the manager.
“This consistently happens, it’s not been good enough.”
Antonio Conte cut a frustrated figure on his return to the touchlineCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
The decision to take Dejan Kulusevski off was not a popular callCredit: Alamy More

MICAH RICHARDS was left stony-faced after being the butt of a cheeky joke from Kate Abdo during the CBS Champions League show.The former Man City defender took up his usual position alongside Kate, Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry as they cover the evening’s European fixtures.
Kate Abdo made a cheeky comment to Micah RichardsCredit: CBS
Leaving him very stony-facedCredit: CBS
They were covering the Champions League fixtures between Tottenham vs AC Milan and Bayern Munich vs PSG.
As Kate introduced the show she welcomed her other pundits by saying: “I am Kate Abdo, and for those who have been watching the bold and the beautiful, don’t worry we have more bold and beautiful for you right here.
“We also have Micah Richards, welcome along”.
The comment was followed by laughter from Henry and Carragher while Richards remained stony-faced.
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He replied: “Play the game, play it”.
However, he did perk up once Kate revealed that they had a surprise in order, exclaiming: “Ooo a big surprise?”
And fans loved the moment, taking to social media to share their joy.
One commented: “Micah Richards gets it rough around here.”
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A second wrote: “Kate has banter.”
A third tweeted: “And we’re off hahaha. Love this show man.”
A fourth said: “Every UCL Kate Abdo chooses violence, and I love it. Micah Richards’ reactions get me every time.”
A fifth added: “Micah can’t catch a break haha.” More