Champions League

Subterms

    More stories

    • 288 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer destroys La Liga giants in first game with Besiktas as Man Utd fans work out exactly how he did it

      by

      OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has made a flying start to life in Turkey.The former Manchester United manager led Besiktas to a thumping 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer kickstarted his Besiktas reign with an impressive winCredit: GettyHis side beat Atletic Bilbao 3-0 in the Europa LeagueCredit: APSolskjaer has been out of work since leaving Old Trafford in 2021 but has returned to management on an 18-month, £3million deal.Former Norwich City man Milot Rashica scored twice while Rafa Silva and ex-West Ham man Joao Mario also scored.Solskjaer said: “This is a very good start for the team and a great result.”But most of all, it’s great to see how my players fought for each other and how connected my players were with the fans, against a great football team.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Since we started working with the players, we’ve worked on confidence.”Football is about feeling good. We got everything we wanted tonight.”We worked together as a team. It’s easier to win when you work hard and work smart.”Fans were quick to work out why Solskjaer’s side had such joy in his first match, pointing to Atletic Bilbao’s high line.Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOne reacted saying: “Athletic Bilbao playing a high line against Solskjaer? They really aren’t familiar.”Another added: “Ole Gunnar Solskjaer destroying a top of the table team playing a high line.”Ole Gunnar Solskjaer holds his first training day as manager of Besiktas And a third wrote: “They played a high line against an Ole side. Were they not informed?”Besiktas are sixth in the Turkish Super Lig and face Antalyaspor on Sunday in Solskjaer’s first domestic game. More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Champions League clash suspended after just 72 seconds with players unable to see due to smoke caused by fans’ flares

      by

      A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE clash was suspended after just 72 seconds due to fans’ flares.Feyenoord hosted Bayern Munich on matchday seven at De Kuip.Feyenoord fans set off flares in the early stages of their match with Bayern MunichCredit: XThe flares began as the players got ready for kick-offCredit: RexPlay had to be suspended due to the thick smokeCredit: GettyBut with just over a minute on the clock in the 8pm kick-off, the referee had to halt proceedings. That is because the Feyenoord fans set off a ton of flares inside the stadium in scenes more akin to November 5 than a football match.The fireworks and smoke bombs started as the players made their final preparations on the pitch for kick-off.But once the fires of pyrotecnics died down, they were replaced with a huge cloud of smoke.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd it became so bad that visibility was reduced for the players and officials on the pitch that the referee temporarily paused the Champions League match.Play was stopped for more than five minutes as everyone waited for the smoke to dissipate. And once the referee was happy, he allowed the game to continue.But on 21 minutes, the stadium exploded into life once again.Most read in Champions LeagueBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusivesThat is because Santiago Gimenez gave the Dutch side the lead.Bayern centre-back Kim Min-jae failed to deal with a ball over the top.Man United players don’t trust Amorim’s tactics or each other – the utter humiliation by Brighton proved itThat allowed Gimenez to run in behind.And the Mexican took his strike early, sweeping a fine left-footed finish past Manuel Neuer. Seven minutes of injury time were added on at the end of the first half to make up for the early delay. Right at the end of the seven minutes, Feyenoord launched a blistering counter attack.The danger appeared to be cleared but then Raphael Guerreiro – who had only just come on for Alphonso Davies – stuck his leg into a needless challenge.The ref had no choice but to point to the spot.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd Gimenez stepped up to blast home the penalty in the ninth added minute.Ayase Ueda then rounded off the 3-0 win in the 89th minute – with Feyenoord’s third shot on target while Bayern had 30 attempts. The fireworks made for an impressive display and a crackling atmosphereCredit: APFeyenoord fans were desperate to give their side any advantage possibleCredit: RexPlay was simply not possible with the reduced visibilityCredit: RexSantiago Gimenez scored twice in the first half once the smoke clearedCredit: Getty More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      PSG vs Man City LIVE SCORE: Latest Champions League updates as Guardiola’s side face crunch tie in Paris

      by

      MANCHESTER CITY travel to PSG for a crunch Champions League clash TONIGHT.Both teams find themselves well adrift of the top eight with just two league phase matches remaining.Defeat for either side would end their chances of automatically progressing to the last-16 of the Champions League – meaning they would be forced to scrap in the knockout play-offs or be eliminated from the competition completely.Kick off time: 8pm GMTTV channel: TNT Sports 1Live stream: discovery+PSG team: Donnarumma, Mendes, Pacho, Marquinhos, Hakimi, Ruiz, Neves, Vitinha, Barcola, Doue; Lee Kang-InMan City team: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Savinho, Foden, HaalandCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below… More

    • 163 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      When is the Champions League knockout stage draw and when are the play-offs?

      by

      THE expanded Champions League has delighted and confused fans in equal abundance this season.More teams and more matches – plus a league table to contend with – have left many fans wondering what exactly is going on.Liverpool are already into the hat for the Champions League Round of 16 draw – but have will have to wait to find out who their opponents areCredit: APThere is just one round of matches to play after Wednesday’s fixtures, with all remaining games set to take place on January 29.But then what?There will be a draw next week – but with some teams already into the knockout phase, it’s not how it was before.Here’s everything you need to know about the Champions League knockout draw and stages.When is the Champions League knockout stage draw?The main draw for the knockout phase takes place on Friday, February 21.However, there is ALSO a draw taking place for the knockout phase play-offs.Under the new league table format, which has 36 teams, the top eight teams in the table are automatically put into the Round of 16 and are seeded.The bottom eight teams are eliminated from European competition, with no move into the Europa League like in previous years.Most read in Champions LeagueThe next 16 teams – those that finished between 9th and 24th – then head into the knockout phase play-offs.The teams that finished 9th to 16th will be seeded and drawn against teams that finished 17th to 24th (unseeded).The draw for that round of games take place on Friday, January 31.While Liverpool have already guaranteed qualification, fellow English sides Arsenal, Aston Villa and Man City still have it all to play for.New Champions League format is a snorefestBy Dan KingUEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).There is even less jeopardy than before.Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink.When does the Champions League knockout phase play-offs take place and when is the Round of 16?Teams that finished in the top eight and automatically reached the Round of 16 have a little bit of a wait on their hands.After the final league phase game on January 29, the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona will not play their Champions League last 16 games until March.Those fixtures are scheduled to take place on March 4-5 and 11-12.For the knockout phase play-offs, there is a slightly shorter wait – those two-legged games take on February 11-12 and 18-19. More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘Screams heard in tunnel’ after Benfica vs Barcelona clash with police forced to intervene in scuffle involving Raphinha

      by

      POLICE were forced to intervene after a mass brawl reportedly erupted between Barcelona and Benfica players.The Catalan giants staged an incredible comeback from 4-2 down to win 5-4 in the Champions League last night.Raphinha was involved in an altercation with Benfica players and the police supposedly intervenedCredit: RexBarcelona won the match with a controversial 96th minute winnerCredit: GettyBarca’s win was not without huge controversy as Benfica were adamant they should have had a penalty in 96th minute.But the referee did not give it and Raphinha immediately went up the other end to score a last-gasp winner.After a lengthy VAR stoppage, which would in effect decide the match in either way, the hosts’ spot-kick claims were denied and Barca’s goal stood.Emotions ran high at full-time and tempers supposedly boiled over in the tunnel.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThere was reportedly a brawl between Barcelona and Benfica players and “screams” were heard.Police allegedly had to intervene, escorting Raphinha away and guarding the doors to both teams’ dressing rooms.Asked about the incident by Movistar, the ex-Leeds star said: “I’m a person who respects everyone, but when I was leaving the pitch there were people who insulted me. “I returned the insults. I know I shouldn’t do it, but I returned the insults. In the end we all got heated. Most read in Champions LeagueJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS”They could have understood the situation, but they preferred to insult me. “I’m a person who doesn’t take anything home, what they say to me, they’re going to hear it too. Ronaldinho scores stunning free-kick aged 44 as Barcelona legend proves he’s still got it in El Clasico Legends game “It was something that happened, we were all heated, but it’s normal in football after the end of a match like this.”In the crazy game, three penalties were given, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny wiped out his own team-mate as Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis netted a hat-trick and Barca star Ronald Araujo scored an own goal.Before his winner, Raphinha made it 4-2 with an effort called “the weirdest goal ever” by fans.Benfica stopper Anatoliy Trubin booted the ball up the pitch but it hit the Brazilian winger’s head from 25 yards out and flew into the open net.At full-time, the Portuguese club’s manager Bruno Lage delivered a passionate team talk on the pitch.Wojciech Szczesny charged out of his goal and wiped out his team-mate to leave Benfica with an open goalCredit: TNT SportsRaphinha scored a header from outside the box after re-directing the keeper’s clearanceCredit: TNT Sports More

    • 163 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      What do Arsenal need to guarantee qualification to the Champions League Last 16?

      by

      ARSENAL are among the favourites to advance straight into the Champions League’s Last 16.The Gunners are fifth in the League Phase table with eight points separating them from high flying Liverpool, but Mikel Arteta’s men have a game in hand.Arsenal might need only one more win to advance to the Champions League’s Last 16Credit: GettyThe North Londoners have two more games to go in the revamped first round consisting of 36 teams.Mikel Arteta’s men face Dinamo Zagreb tonight at the Emirates and then visit Girona on January 29.Arsenal have amassed 13 points from six matches of which they won four and lost only once.Just one more win from the final two games could send the Premier League giants straight into the Round of 16.Read More on ArsenalThe teams who finish in the top eight spots automatically qualify for the Last 16.And those who find themselves between ninth and 24th place will face off in the play-offs to determine the other eight teams that make it to the next round.Arsenal are currently five points ahead of Dinamo, who are 25th in the Champions League table.Opta found that in 99 per cent of their simulations, teams who collected 10 points made it into the play-off round, which means Arteta and co might already be guaranteed at least a spot in those.Most read in Champions LeagueEven nine points proved to be enough in 69 per cent of the simulations, which were run 50,000 times.But Arsenal will want direct qualification for the Last 16.16 points proved to be enough in 98 per cent of the available scenarios.Arsenal ratings: Trossard turns creator to put Gunners in driving seat but Merino and Partey lapses cost Arteta’s sideAnd 15 points were sufficient for eighth place in 73 per cent of the simulations. On the other hand, 14 points were enough in just 28 per cent of the supercomputer’s simulations.That means 15 points could be the magic number for Arsenal to avoid two crunch clashes amid their gruelling bid for a first Premier League title since 2004.That would mean one win from their final two games will likely be enough. More

    • 250 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘Have you ever seen a goal like that?’ asks commentator as Barcelona score ridiculous goal in game of goalkeeper howlers

      by

      GOALKEEPERS were the pantomime villains in their nine-goal thriller between Barcelona and Benfica.The European giants went head to head in their penultimate Champions League league phase games of the season when the Catalan club scored THREE goals in the last 20 minutes to win 5-4.Goalkeepers were the headline makers for the wrong reasons as Barcelona pulled off an incredible 5-4 comeback against Benfica last nightCredit: RexWojciech Szczesny came out of retirement in October to seal a deal with Barcelona amid their goalkeeping crisis, but manager Hansi Flick might have felt his side would have been better served without the Polish international bothering.The former Arsenal and Juventus shot-stopper had a calamitous first half between the sticks as he dropped two clangers to concede a first-half hat-trick from Vangelis Pavlidis.There was nothing Szczesny could have done about Pavlidis’ opener, but his second and third were almost entirely down to the Pole.Just nine minutes after Robert Lewandowski had levelled the scores for Barcelona to 1-1, Szczesny inexplicably came charging out of his area to greet a “loose” ball played over the top by Nicolas Otamendi.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLInstead, he clumsily clattered into his own defender Alejandro Balde, completely wiping out the left-back and allowing Pavlidis to score the easiest goal he’ll ever score as he ran through on an open net.The third was just as much Szczesny’s fault too as he came charging off his line once again, this time sliding at the feet of Benfica winger Karem Akturkoglu and bringing him to the ground inside the area for an undeniable penalty.Pavlidis converted the spot-kick and Benfica were 3-1 up inside 30 minutes.But the action didn’t stop there with the second half throwing up even more goals, drama… and goalkeeping howlers.Most read in FootballWojciech Szczesny clattered into his own teammate Alejandro Balde to gift Benfica a golden opportunity to scoreCredit: APThe Barcelona keeper came charging out of his areaCredit: TNT SPORTSHe clattered into BaldeCredit: TNT SPORTSBenfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis picked up the loose ballCredit: TNT SPORTSHe netted one of the easiest goals he will ever scoreCredit: TNT SPORTSSzczesny brought down Kerem Akturkoglu in the box to give away a penalty tooCredit: ReutersCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIn fact, Benfica keeper Antoliy Trubin made perhaps the worst goalkeeping mistake of the game after the break.Trubin tried to play the ball out of his own box after making a save from a long-distance Gavi effort and got the whole thing horribly wrong.Horror moment Barcelona star finds his tooth on the pitch after losing it in battle with Real Betis defender The Ukrainian goalkeeper hit his clearance straight into the head of Barca’s Raphinha, seeing the ball bounce right off the Brazilian’s head and into the back of the net. Trubin could have tried that 100 more times and wouldn’t have hit him, but the freak moment gave Barcelona a way back into the game and had TNT Sports’ commentator Ian Darke asking: “Have you ever seen a goal like that?”Despite Benfica managing to go up the other end and force a Ronald Araujo own goal just four minutes later to go 4-2 up, Barcelona’s freak goal had given them a spark to fight back in the game.Goals from Lewandowski, Raphinha and Eric Garcia did just that as the Spanish giants turned it around to score their winner in the 96th minute of the clash.All-in, the match had three penalties, nine goals, an own goal, three calamitous goalkeeper errors, six bookings, a hat-trick hero and ended with Barcelona sealing their spot in the next round of the competition.Antoliy Trubin tried to clear his lines in the second halfCredit: TNT SPORTSHe hit the ball directly onto the head of RaphinhaCredit: TNT SPORTSThe ball looped over his head and into the back of the netCredit: TNT SPORTS More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      How Arsenal boss Arteta is using MUSIC to motivate his players with huge speakers positioned around training pitches

      by

      MIKEL ARTETA is willing to try anything to gain an extra inch in his pursuit of silverware.The Arsenal manager’s latest out-of-the-box thinking involves transforming the dreary weather of London Colney into a sun-kissed Samba Boys beach through the medium of MUSIC.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is hoping to get a tune out of his players for the title run-inCredit: Amazon Prime Video SportArsenal’s players trained with Samba music on speakers ahead of Euro clashCredit: GettyBoss Mikel Arteta spoke with Brazilian-born Eduardo at London ColneyCredit: GettyAhead of their penultimate Champions League group phase match against Dinamo Zagreb tomorrow tonight, Arteta’s injury-plagued Gunners squad trudged out for training in chilly conditions at their North London base.But their moods were instantly lifted by a popular Brazilian tune blasting through several speakers around the pitches as they started their warm-up – the song in question being Mais Que Nada by Sergio Mendes.A beaming Arteta was clearly enjoying its impact, getting involved in the Rondo’s with his players to a soundtrack most people associate with Samba legends Ronaldinho and Kaka.And Arteta explained: “It’s something we’ve been doing for many years now.read more arsenal“And as part of training we use music as another element of our sessions to build the energy, to change some purposes that we want in the training session and I think the players enjoy it.“It depends on the drill, depends on the day. Some players pick the first song, the first two songs, the last song. It’s definitely interesting.”Arsenal and Arteta are in dire need of a mood change after a gruelling month that has seen them crash out of the FA Cup to Manchester United in the third round on penalties and lose the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final 2-0 at home to Newcastle.Their Prem title dreams have also taken another knock, blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa on Saturday night – leaving them six points off Liverpool who have a game in hand.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSMeanwhile, their treatment room is filling up with key figures Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu still on the road to recovery.In November 2021, Arteta tried to prepare his players for a trip to Anfield by playing the anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ during a training session, only to get smashed 4-0.’I’m flabbergasted’ – Paul Merson tears into Thomas Partey’s ‘schoolboy’ defending as Arteta blasts performance vs VillaArteta continued: “Music is very much part of our culture. We have music in a lot of different places, and music has the capacity to change your mood, to change your energy to a certain place.“It happens in all of us. You play a song and immediately you feel different, and we have certain songs that trigger something in our team, because they have some history as well with us.“I will use it when we believe it’s the right way to do it.“Sometimes I play a song many, many times with my family and [the kids] say: ‘Dad, can we stop it, please?’ I don’t know, it’s a feeling.”Winger Leandro Trossard – who is set to make his 100th appearance in all competitions for Arsenal after signing from Brighton two years ago this week – added: “I’m not sure who’s on the tunes when we’re doing the warm-up. You just get used to it, I guess.Bukayo Saka update as Arsenal star spotted at Emirates without crutches… but Gunners suffer fresh injury blow“At the start when I joined it was a bit weird for me that we had this, but now it’s just natural for us to have the music playing when we’re warming up.“[Arteta’s methods] are a bit different to any other manager I had. But it helps players on some days to focus more and get the meaning, the importance of the game.”Despite having two-and-a-half years with an option of a further 12 months left on his contract, Trossard has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this term.The Belgian has started just 14 Prem games term, and often shows his disappointment through grumpy facial expressions, with Arteta jokingly calling him a “moaner” in the past.Trossard laughed: “I wouldn’t use moan. I’m just a winner. If something goes against me and I think it’s unfair, I think that’s really personal, I would say. That’s how I am.“That should be the mind-set of every footballer. I don’t do it on purpose, maybe my body language at that point could be, but I am always ready. Even if I am on the bench, I can make an impact.”Arsenal can take a huge leap towards confirming a top eight spot in the new league format of the Champions League with victory over Fabio Cannavaro’s Dinamo Zagreb.With his men in third place with 13 points from six outings, Arteta said: “We are in a really strong position and now we try to capitalise.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I don’t want [my players] to feel unlucky with recent results. We have to control what we can control. Is there anything better we could have done to win [against Villa] by a big margin? Yes.“We focus on that. Now it is in our hands to change it and move forward.” More