Champions League

BILLY GILMOUR returned to Chelsea’s starting lineup with a flourish on Tuesday night against Krasnodar.
While the team may have slumped to a 1-1 draw in the dead rubber against the Russians, the fit-again Gilmour offered a reminder of just how good he is.

Gilmour, 19, returned to Chelsea’s starting XI after a four month injury lay-offCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“I love this kid! The way he shifts players, body movement, he’s very, very sharp.”Joe Cole and @karenjcarney break down Billy Gilmour’s impressive second appearance of the season for Chelsea and what comes next after the 19-year-old’s injury lay-off 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 pic.twitter.com/9gg3FFgbGF
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 8, 2020

The Scot missed four months after requiring knee surgery earlier this year.
But having come through some Under-23s football unscathed, Gilmour is now well and truly back in the first-team fold at Stamford Bridge.
The 19-year-old earned the man of the match award on his full Champions League, to go alongside those he earned in his first Premier League and FA Cup starts.
And Joe Cole purred over his performance on BT Sport.

The former Blues star said: “I thought he was good, very good. I thought he was one of the shining lights.
“I love this kid, the way he just shifts players here, body movement – he’s very, very sharp.
“His head’s on a swivel all the time which I like, he’s well drilled.
“When we were coaching him at Chelsea he was a pleasure because he demands of himself.

The Scot will be hoping to represent his country at Euro 2020Credit: Alamy Live News

“I remember him watching videos of Cesc Fabregas before training off, his own back, because he wants to improve.
“It would have killed him, being injured, because he’s one of those that love the game. He’s competitive, he gets the players, he has a lovely awareness of what’s round him.”
Former club Rangers are believed to be interested in loaning Gilmour in January, and Cole raised the dilemma that his former side may be faced with.
He added: “Do Chelsea make a club decision, where they let him go on loan? Let him go and get games?

If Jorginho gets an injury, or Kante gets an injury, he’s needed – he can perform, he’s ready to go now
Joe Cole

“Or, do you keep him in there, because he’s needed?
“If Jorginho gets an injury, or Kante gets an injury, he’s needed – he can perform, he’s ready to go now.
“So it’s a decision that the club will have to make, what to do with him.”
Gilmour will be keen to force his way into Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for next summer’s delayed European Championships.
The Blues wonderkid is yet to be capped at senior level, and was unfairly sent off on his return for the Under-21s last month.
⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour lands harsh red card eight minutes after making injury comeback with Scotland Under-21s More

CRISTIANO RONALDO even took on defensive duties to make sure he came out on top in his GOAT tussle with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo’s Juventus travelled to the Nou Camp in the Champions League on Tuesday night and the Portuguese superstar prevailed as the Old Lady won 3-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo nipped past Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi to pinch the ballCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ronaldo used his pace to end the danger and deny MessiCredit: Getty Images – Getty

It was Barca’s first home defeat in the European group stage since 2009 and on a torrid night for Messi, Ronaldo hit a double to overshadow the Argentine.
But it wasn’t just in the opposition box where the former Real Madrid man surged into action – he caught the eye late on by tracking back into his own penalty area to make a rare tackle and end a typically mazy Messi run.
Ronaldo raced back from a few metres behind Messi before using his pace to nip in and divert the ball away from danger.
The GOAT debate raged online between fans after the clip of Ronaldo backtracking circulated.

One said: “So, player is in the right place when the other misconrols a ball? Nothing to see here, both superb players and we are lucky to see them.”
Another added: “From what I watched Messi didn’t play bad, just couldn’t score, while Ronaldo scored two penalties, and didn’t see him do anything else. Both goats though.”
A third tweeted: “Just appreciate how good both these players are, because sooner rather than later, they’ll be gone.”
It was the first meeting between the game’s two most prominent stars since Ronaldo quit LaLiga in 2018.

Messi and Ronaldo’s fight to be crowned the GOAT continues to rage on

Ronaldo made a rare tackle on the edge of the boxCredit: BT Sport

Ronaldo made the challenge with less than ten minutes to goCredit: BT Sport

He raced away with the ball before clearing the dangerCredit: BT Sport

Ronaldo’s brace of penalties helped secure top spot in Group G for Juventus with Barcelona coming second and both will be in the hat for the Last 16.
The 35-year-old former Manchester United winger was full of praise for his opponents after the game, labelling the Catalan giants as the ‘best team he ever faced’.
And he also put pay to any talks of an intense rivalry with Messi by revealing he has always ‘got along well’ with the 33-year-old.
Ronaldo said: “I have always had a very cordial relationship with him [Messi].
“I shared 12, 13 or 14 years of award ceremonies with him. I never saw him as a rival.

For the press, for the show, a rivalry is sought, but I have always gotten along well with him.”
Cristiano Ronaldoon Lionel Messi

“He always tries to do what is best for his team and me too. I always got along very well with him.
“But we know that in football, for the press, for the show, a rivalry is sought, but I have always gotten along well with him.”
Ronaldo’s first penalty was the first time he had ever scored against Messi in the Champions League.
His second shortly after the restart made sure of the result for Andrea Pirlo’s side after USA midfielder Weston McKennie had buried a bicycle kick.

Always great to return to Spain and to Catalunya, always hard to play in Camp Nou against one of the best teams I ever faced. Today we were a team of Champions! A true, strong and united family! Playing like this, we have nothing to fear until the end of the season… Let’s go! pic.twitter.com/PivPpJ3SLh
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 8, 2020

Dominant Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 as Ronaldo betters Messi by scoring twice More

MANCHESTER UNITED crashed out the Champions League with a defeat at RB Leipzig on Tuesday night.
The Red Devils lost 3-2 but were denied a dramatic injury time equaliser – which would have put them through – by a wonder save from Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi.

Paul Pogba whipped a cross in from the right hand sideCredit: BT Sport

Nordi Mukiele stretched his leg out and diverted it goalwardsCredit: BT Sport

But Peter Gulacsi somehow stopped it from going inCredit: BT Sport

United only needed a draw from their final Group H clash to qualify for the knockout stage.
But they found themselves 2-0 down inside 13 minutes and 3-0 down with 21 minutes of normal time remaining.
However, an 80th minute penalty from Bruno Fernandes and an Ibrahima Konate own-goal on 82 minutes gave them hope in the closing stages.
And as they chased a vital third, it looked for a split second like they had got it.

Paul Pogba whipped in a fierce low cross in from the right-hand side.
And with Harry Maguire lurking at the back post ready to knock it in, Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele stuck out his leg to try and intercept the cross.
However, instead of clearing it, the 23-year-old only managed to divert it goalwards with an equaliser meaning his team would have been knocked out while United went through in their place.
But somehow the ball hit Leipzig keeper Gulacsi on the leg as he was rooted to the spot and he pounced on it to signal the end of the danger.

Man Utd were a size 12 boot away from reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League 😱Péter Gulácsi was there to spare Nordi Mukiele an absolute nightmare in the 93rd minute! pic.twitter.com/lJn7Oysip9
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 8, 2020

The referee blew the final whistle just seconds later and reaction to the save was mixed online.
Many called it bad luck while other slammed United’s performance before the late drama.
UtdJXK wrote: “If that’s against Liverpool, he scores the OG.”
But Class of Manchester wrote: “No. We were about another five decent players away from reaching the knockout stages.”
Christian added: “Too little too late, shame really. Go from controlling the group to completely bottling it.”
And Roups simply tweeted: “United’s luck finally ran out. Didn’t deserve to qualify.”
Elsewhere, Paul Scholes accused David De Gea of ‘bottling it’ and making himself smaller because he was ‘scared of getting hurt’ after he let Justin Kluivert score Leipzig’s third.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

Too little too late, shame really. Go from controlling the group to completely bottling it
— Christian Sandry (@Chris_Sandry11) December 8, 2020

United’s luck finally ran out! Didn’t deserve to qualify
— Roups (@roups_) December 8, 2020

Solskjaer says Man Utd didn’t perform well enough as a team against RB Leipzig More

CRISTIANO RONALDO revealed he ‘never saw Lionel Messi as a rival’ after his Juventus side beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night.
The megastars faced each other for the first time since Ronnie left Real Madrid in 2018 as Juventus topped Champions League Group G with a 3-0 win.

Cristiano Ronaldo says he never saw Lionel Messi as a rivalCredit: Reuters

Portuguese ace Ronaldo labelled Barca the ‘best team he ever faced’ after the game.
And the 35-year-old also revealed he has always ‘got along well’ with Barcelona wantaway Messi, 33.
The former Manchester United star scored twice from the penalty spot either side of Weston McKennie’s acrobatic effort to seal the win.
And speaking afterwards, Ronaldo said: “I have always had a very cordial relationship with him [Messi].

“I shared 12, 13 or 14 years of award ceremonies with him. I never saw him as a rival.
“He always tries to do what is best for his team and me too. I always got along very well with him.
“But we know that in football, for the press, for the show, a rivalry is sought, but I have always gotten along well with him.”
Barca finished second in the group and still qualified for the knockout stage but are in desperate trouble in LaLiga.

And the Portuguese megastar also heaped praise on Barcelona after his Juventus side beat them in the Champions LeagueCredit: https://www.instagram.com/cristiano/

They sit ninth and just three points above the RELEGATION zone.
But despite the Catalans’ woes, Ronaldo still showed respect for them after his side’s win.
Alongside a post-match picture of the Juve squad celebrating in the changing room he wrote: “Always great to return to Spain and to Catalunya.
“Always hard to play in Camp Nou against one of the best teams I ever faced.
“Today we were a team of Champions. A true, strong and united family.
“Playing like this, we have nothing to fear until the end of the season. Let’s go.”
He also told the media: “Barcelona are going through a difficult time, but it is still Barcelona.
“The truth is that we are very happy, we knew it was an almost impossible mission, it was a complicated mission and we played well.
“The key was to get into the game well, we scored two early and from there we believed it was possible.”
Ronaldo’s opener at the Nou Camp was the first time ever he had scored against Messi in the Champions League.
Ahead of the game, BT Sport ramped up the hype by publishing an evocative montage detailing the pair’s head to head battles over the years.
Former Barcelona man Gary Lineker narrated the collection of highlights, stats, quotes and drama and the clip is 210 seconds of pure passion.

Messi and Ronaldo’s fight to be crowned the GOAT continues to rage on

Dominant Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 as Ronaldo betters Messi by scoring twice More

CRISTIANO RONALDO scored against Lionel Messi in the Champions League for the first time EVER as Juventus demolished Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Ronaldo, 35, netted twice in a 3-0 win to seal and unlikely top spot in Group G, consigning their rivals to second spot – and the threat of a tougher draw.

Cristiano Ronaldo finally scored his first goals against Lionel Messi in the Champions LeagueCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

Messi had scored three goals against Ronaldo before Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0Credit: Reuters

Incredibly, his spot-kick double marked the first time Ronaldo had ever netted against a Barcelona side featuring Messi, 33, in Europe’s elite competition.
Ronaldo had gone FIVE games without success whereas Messi had netted three times against him.
Their first encounter came in 2008 when Barcelona and Manchester United faced each other in the Champions League semi-finals, with both players drawing blanks across the two legs as the Red Devils progressed 1-0 on aggregate.
However, Messi did score when the two sides faced each other a year later in the 2009 final, resulting in a 2-0 Barcelona win.

The next clash came in the 2011 semis when Ronaldo was at Real Madrid.
Messi scored twice in the first leg which was enough to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory.
The Argentine talisman did net against Juventus earlier this season as Barcelona won 2-0 in Turin, but Ronaldo did not feature after testing positive for coronavirus.
However, the Portugal icon was fit to lead the line at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

Always great to return to Spain and to Catalunya, always hard to play in Camp Nou against one of the best teams I ever faced. Today we were a team of Champions! A true, strong and united family! Playing like this, we have nothing to fear until the end of the season… Let’s go! pic.twitter.com/PivPpJ3SLh
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 8, 2020

Messi and Ronaldo’s fight to be crowned the GOAT continues to rage on

And he finally broke his duck with two goals, leaving it 3-2 to Messi in the battle of the legends.
Ronaldo was delighted with his performance, taking to social media to praise his Juve teammates as well.
Ronnie tweeted: “Always great to return to Spain and to Catalunya, always hard to play in Camp Nou against one of the best teams I ever faced.
“Today we were a team of Champions! A true, strong and united family!
“Playing like this, we have nothing to fear until the end of the season… Let’s go!”

Watch as Cristiano Ronaldo is greeted by hundreds of fans outside Barcelona hotel as Juventus star returns to Spain More