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      Juventus in TURMOIL as Allegri fights for job, Ultras turn on Bonucci and even players are laying into crisis-club

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      JUVENTUS are suffering their biggest crisis in more than a decade with manager Max Allegri and captain Leandro Bonucci at the brunt of the chaos.The Italian giants sit eighth in the Serie A table after just two wins from their opening seven matches.
      Allegri is set for crisis talks with Juventus chiefs during the international breakCredit: Getty
      Bonucci has been hammered by his own Juve ultrasCredit: Rex
      They have also lost both Champions League games they’ve played so far this season against Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica.
      According to Calcio Mercato, Allegri is set for crunch talks with Juve’s board on Friday as pressure intensifies over his position at the club.
      He managed to secure them fourth place and Champions League football last season.
      But their inability to kick on from that could leave him in a perilous situation despite his five Serie A titles in a row between 2015 and 2019.
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      Allegri was given a police escort back to his car after their defeat to Monza at the weekend.
      But he isn’t the only Juve star feeling the heat.
      Skipper Bonucci has been ripped apart by his OWN SUPPORTERS.
      The Juventus Ultras released a statement earlier this week in which they slammed the Italian centre-back.
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      It read: “Leonardo Bonucci HAS NEVER BEEN A LEADER AND NEVER WILL BE: neither at Inter, nor at Treviso, neither at Pisa, nor at Bari, nor at Milan, nor at Juventus and like him the others who support him.
      “In this particular moment of general confusion where both among the players and in Juventus and in the corners, we are witnessing a moment of total anarchy where anyone who wants to, in turn, stands as connoisseur, leader, leader and manager without who has the charisma and not even the recognition of the people or those who have known the environment for years.
      “If there are hierarchical scales, there will be a reason: a good soldier is not necessarily a good leader.”
      It went on to add: “Bringing professional players as sacrificial victims to watch the curve while they whistle and insult them, creating legitimacy for the contestation one month before the start of the season is SIMPLY ABSURD.
      “The result can only be absurd. the formation of a weak group full of negativity and victimization. Exactly the opposite of what is needed in sport, especially at these levels and in a team sport.
      “Their profession and their knowledge. You are doing more harm to your teammates and to the team than any coach, trainer and/or manager who is incapable.”
      PLAYERS PILE IN
      Juventus have also been criticised by two players who found a way out of the club in the summer.
      Midfielder Denis Zakaria, who joined Chelsea on loan, has accused Allegri of failing to establish a relationship with him.
      The Swiss star said: “I’ll find myself better in England. Allegri? We didn’t talk much.”
      And Matthijs de Ligt, who sealed a move to Bayern Munich in July, claims Juve were not ambitious enough in Europe.
      The Netherlands international said: “Bayern want to win the Champions League, an ambition that I felt less in Turin.”
      Juve have not won the Champions League since 1996, losing in the final in 1997, 1998, 2003, 2015 and 2017.
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      At domestic level, they won nine Serie A titles in a row between 2012 and 2020.
      But in 2021 they finished 13 points adrift of Inter Milan, while last season they were 16 behind AC Milan. More

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      Arsenal 2 Ajax 2: Leuchter’s strike sees the Gunners held to a draw in Champions League qualifier clash

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      ROMEE LEUCHTER dealt a blow to Arsenal’s hopes of a Champions League qualifier second-round opening win as Ajax pinched a 2-2 draw.Just as it looked as if Kim Little had fired the hosts to a home victory, the forward struck with a late goal.
      Kim Little gave Arsenal a second-half lead with a spot-kick during their clash with AjaxCredit: Getty
      Romee Leuchter netted late on to give the Dutch giants a draw on the road before their return leg duel with the GunnersCredit: Getty
      The result means Arsenal will need a win in the second leg with the club facing their opponents away next Wednesday.
      The Gunners began brightly but found themselves under pressure as their rivals started to find their rhythm.
      Victoria Pelova tested Manuela Zinsberger with a well-struck fourth-minute shot
      Ajax took the lead after a swift counter-attack with the hosts conceding possession and Leuchter drilling home from Chasity Grant’s cross.
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      Stina Blackstenius made it honours even in the 23rd-minute drilling in Arsenal’s leveller after Rafaelle’s header smashed the crossbar.
      And Zinsberger pulled off a quality save on the stroke of half-time following another effort from Leuchter.
      The second half saw the hosts step things up a notch with Rafaelle rattling the crossbar in the 53rd minute.
      And Blackstenius forced a save from Ajax goalkeeper Lize Kop shortly after.
      The Gunners later won a penalty with Soraya Verhoeve going into the book for a hefty push on Beth Mead.
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      Skipper Little stepped up to send Kop the wrong way putting Arsenal 2-1 to the good in the 57th minute.
      But the hosts endured heartbreak late on with Leuchter levelling for the visitors with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
      And substitute Katie McCabe saw a late effort ruled offside before the Gunners’ tough tackling opponents saw out the draw. 
      Stina Blackstenius was on target with an Arsenal equaliser after Ajax took the leadCredit: Getty More

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      Lionel Messi breaks another Cristiano Ronaldo record as he surpasses non-penalty goals tally in 150 fewer matches

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      LIONEL MESSI has broken another Cristiano Ronaldo record as he surpasses the Portuguese stars’ amount of non-penalty goals. The Paris Saint-Germain attacker scored the only goal of the game as the French Champions overcame Lyon yesterday.
      Lionel Messi is enjoying a great season at PSG so far this yearCredit: Getty
      Cristiano Ronaldo is trying to work his way into Erik ten Hag’s first team plans after a summer of transfer unrestCredit: Rex
      The strike was enough to make it six wins on the trot for PSG and five goals in all competitions for Messi this season.
      The goal was also significant as it helped the Argentine nip ahead of his great rival Ronaldo in another scoring chart.
      Messi now leads Ronaldo by a single strike in the list for non-penalty goals.
      The 35-year-old genius now has 672 compared with Ronaldo’s 671.
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      Incredibly, Messi has reached that total despite playing 150 games fewer than his competitor.
      It’s the second big win of the week for the ex-Barcelona star who jumped ahead of the Manchester United’s attacker in another category this week.
      By scoring against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League this week, Messi made it an incredible 39 different opponents who he had put to the sword in Europe’s top competition.
      That is one more than Ronaldo’s goals against 38 different European opponents.
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      Frustratingly for the former Real Madrid ace, he will not be able to get back bragging rights in that list as he and Man United are spending this season in the Europa League.
      Since the pair arrived on the scene in the mid-noughties, they have tended to dominate most attacking stats in Europe and broken a number of records between them.
      The double-record grab is the just the latest thing to go right for Messi this season.
      He has found form alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to help transform PSG’s team of big names into a terrifying attacking line-up.
      It didn’t quite click for the football legend last season as he endured an indifferent campaign by his standards in his first year in France.
      But he is a man renewed this season and is showing he still has tricks left to show, as proven by his stunning goal earlier this season against Clermont. More

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      Jose Mourinho equals legendary Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s record with most wins in Europe in Champions League era

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      JOSE MOURINHO has equalled Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 106 European wins in the Champions League era.Dating back to 1992, Fergie won 106 matches in the Champions League and Europa League, with just one of those victories coming in the latter.
      Carlo Ancelotti has the most wins in Europe in the Champions League era
      Jose Mourinho has equalled Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 106 European wins since 1992Credit: Getty
      105 of Ferguson’s victories came in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Mourinho has now equalled the United legend after his Roma side beat HJK Helsinki 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.
      But the Portuguese is still 25 wins away from matching Ferguson’s total number of victories in the Champions League – though he has managed 43 fewer games than the Scot.
      However, Mourinho does boast four Champions League and Europa League winners’ medals since 1992, compared to Ferguson’s two Champions League titles.
      The former Chelsea boss also has more wins in Europe’s top two competitions than both Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola since 1992.
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      The Manchester City boss has 95 Champions League wins but has never managed a Europa league game.
      While Wenger falls one short of Ferguson and Mourinho with 105 victories.

      However, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League five times, boasts 119 wins.
      Mourinho is set to add to his tally this season with Roma set to play at least four more games in the Europa League group stage.
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      The Italian giants have good pedigree in European competition under Mourinho too, winning the inaugural Europa Conference League earlier this year.
      I Giallorossi have also enjoyed a good start to the Serie A season and are just one point shy of league leaders Napoli after winning four of their first six matches. More

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      Champions League final could be played in USA in shock move with Uefa looking at proposal ‘favourably’

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      THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE final may be played in the US in the near future amid a shocking revamp.That is according to AS, who report that UEFA and various other governing bodies are looking at this proposal “favourably”.
      The Champions League Final could be set to move to the United StatesCredit: Getty
      UEFA are open to the possibility of the Champions League Final being moved across the pondCredit: Shutterstock
      American promoters are determined to bring ‘Old Big Ears’ across the pond and the powers that be seem keen on expanding the market.
      The biggest match in European club competition has never left the continent and it would be a major challenge to make that happen.
      However, the financial advantages are massive as such a move would multiply the sale of sponsorship and TV rights.
      UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin floated the prospect of the Champions League final being taken out of Europe shortly after his election in 2016.
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      Ceferin said six years ago: “I think it might be an idea in the future but we have to speak about it.
      “To go from Portugal to Azerbaijan, for example, is almost the same as if you go to New York. For the fans it’s no problem.”

      This comes after suggestions last year that the final could be moved to New York by 2024.
      The US are making major strides in the evolution of footballs with 22 out of 28 MLS clubs already having soccer-specific stadiums, instead of reusing grounds from other sports.
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      The American association also successfully organised the Champions Cup, which saw the MLS champions going up against the Mexican titleholders.
      The game took place at Yankee Stadium in New York with 15,000 fans in attendance.
      And the 2026 World Cup is going to take place in the US, in collaboration with Mexico and Canada. More

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      ‘That’s why my career’s gone’ – Joe Hart hilariously pokes fun of himself after hitting TV presenter with stray kick

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      JOE HART poked fun at his own career as he apologised to a TV presenter after hitting her with a ball. The goalkeeper’s stray kick went viral as he badly misplaced his pass in Celtic’s pre-game Champions League warm-up.
      Joe Hart was quick to apologise after meeting the reporter who he had accidentally hit with a ball hours earlierCredit: BT Sport
      Ingrid Halstensen was presenting live on TV when Hart, in the background, misplaces his passCredit: BT Sport
      Halstensen pulls a face as the bouncing ball hits her in the backCredit: BT Sport
      TV presenter Ingrid Halstensen, working for Norwegian outlet TV 2, felt the ball bounce in to her back while she was live.
      She did her best to stifle her reaction but it was clear she felt the connection.

      Hart was at pains to apologise to Halstensen – and even made fun of himself in the process.
      He said in his post-match interview with the journalist: “I was begging to say sorry [at the time] but you didn’t turn round.”
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      The reporter insisted she was fine with it and all that happened was that she made a “funny face on telly”.
      Hart added: “Sorry. Literally my goalie coach was probably five yards [away from you] … Yeah that’s why my career’s gone where it’s gone.”
      He laughed and then apologised one final time to the presenter.
      Hart had once been England and Manchester City’s first choice goalkeeper and won two Premier League titles while at the Etihad.
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      But he did not win favour with Pep Guardiola after the Spaniard arrived in 2016 and was sent out on loan before leaving permanently for Burnley and then Tottenham.
      But after failing to make a single Premier League appearance for Spurs, he arrived at Celtic in a cut price deal last summer.
      Celtic drew 1-1 at Shakhtar Donetsk following Hart’s pre-game mishap and the keeper found himself on the receiving end of criticism after he conceded.
      Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk drew the Ukrainian side level as he put the ball past Hart in the 15th minute. More

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      Watch steward throw SHOE at pitch invader in wild bid to stop him reaching Lionel Messi during Champions League clash

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      A STEWARD in Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Maccabi Haifa went to extreme lengths to try and stop a pitch invader.For some bizarre reason they decided to throw a SHOE at the suspect in an attempt to stop him from reaching Lionel Messi.
      A football steward threw a shoe to try and stop a pitch invaderCredit: https://www.tiktok.com/@bdremad
      The culprit ran over to Lionel Messi, with one of his shoes missingCredit: AFP
      Security eventually caught up to the invaderCredit: AP
      Messi watched on as the suspect was dragged awayCredit: AFP
      During the match in the Israeli city of Haifa, a fan decided to run onto the pitch to come face to face with the likes of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
      Footage posted to TikTok shows them jumping over the advertising board, with the steward responding by grabbing them by the leg.

      But all the steward succeeded in doing was pulling off the invader’s shoe.
      And then, with the culprit on the floor, the steward THREW the shoe directly at them.
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      The cheap shot didn’t deter the suspect though, as they got up and scampered away towards Messi.
      They had just about enough time to launch themselves into Messi’s arms before another steward, who actually ran after the invader instead of chucking a shoe, wrestled them to the ground.
      Pictures captured the moment the culprit, with one shoe missing, was dragged away from Messi by security.
      Fans on social media couldn’t believe the steward thought throwing a shoe would be the best way to stop the suspect.
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      One wrote: “Was that them doing their best to stop him?”
      Another joked: “He be like, yep that should stop him.”
      While a third said: “Bro threw the shoe and did nothing else.”
      Messi wasn’t too deterred by the incident, scoring in PSG’s first goal in their 3-1 comeback win.
      In doing so Maccabi Haifa became the 39th team he has scored against in the competition – breaking a record set by Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Mbappe and Neymar also netted for the French champions, who made it two wins from two to start their Champions League campaign.
      It eventually took three stewards to drag the pitch invader awayCredit: AFP
      Messi scored PSG’s opening goal in the 3-1 victoryCredit: EPA More

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      Lionel Messi breaks Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League record after scoring for PSG versus Maccabi Haifa

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      LIONEL MESSI has overtaken arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo by scoring against a 39TH different club in the Champions League.The French champions were stunned by an early goal on Wednesday night as Maccabi Haifa went in front through Tjaronn Chery in the 24th minute.
      Messi scored against a 39th different club in the Champions League on Wednesday nightCredit: AFP
      Ronaldo is the Champions League’s all-time top scorerCredit: Rex
      But Christophe Galtier’s side were swiftly level eight minutes before the break through Messi.
      The Argentine, 35, tapped home from close range after Kylian Mbappe’s pullback.
      It was his 126th goal in the Champions League – a record which leaves him just 14 behind Ronaldo on 140.
      And Messi has now eclipsed his Portuguese rival when it comes to a another startling statistic.
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      The ex-Barcelona man has now scored against 39 different clubs in Europe’s elite competition.
      That is one more than Ronaldo – with the pair previously locked on 38 each.
      And Ronaldo looks like he will have to wait at least another year before he can try to add to his tally.
      This is because the Manchester United forward is currently plying his trade in the Europa League for the first time in his career.
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      And he failed to make his mark on that competition last week as the Red Devils lost 1-0 at home to Real Sociedad.
      Ronaldo has won the Champions League on five occasions – once with Manchester United in 2008 and four times with Real Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

      Meanwhile, Messi has lifted the trophy four times – in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015.
      They are the only two players to score 100 goals in the competition – with Robert Lewandowski the next best on 89, narrowly ahead of Karim Benzema on 86.
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      In PSG’s match with Maccabi Haifa, they went on to win the game 3-1 as Galtier’s men turned things around in the second half.
      Mbappe and Neymar both struck inside the final 25 minutes to ensure the French outfit made it two wins from two in the Champions League this season. More