Champions League

CRISTIANO RONALDO was accused of stealing Alvaro Morata’s already goal-bound strike by fans online during Juventus’ 3-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev last night.
The Portuguese superstar netted his 750th career goal, when he gave his side a 2-0 lead on 57 minutes.

CR7 tapped home practically on the goal lineCredit: EPA

For a player that has an outstanding highlights reel of magnificent strikes, this was certainly on the easy side for CR7.
In fact, the ball would have gone in regardless of whether he decided to prod home.
Federico Chiesa’s wicked centre from the right ricocheted between Morata and the helpless goalkeeper, touching the Spaniard last and heading towards the bottom corner.
This is where Ronaldo – who is now just 17 off Pele’s all-time record of 767 career goals – was lurking, however, ready to pounce.

And pounce he did, instinctively prodding home his landmark strike.
The 35-year-old then faced a few nervous moments while VAR checked whether he was offside.
But he was spared any blushes as the goal was given by referee Stephanie Frappart.
Online, however, he was accused of stealing the goal.

𝟕𝟓𝟎 goals, 𝟕𝟓𝟎 happy moments, 𝟕𝟓𝟎 smiles in the faces of our supporters. Thank you to all the players and coaches that helped me reach this amazing number, thank you to all my loyal opponents that made me work harder and harder everyday. pic.twitter.com/ZuS4GDOzeh
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 2, 2020

Ronaldo made sure to celebrate with MorataCredit: AFP or licensors

A fan wrote: “Ronaldo stealing goals from morata, there’s levels to this…”
And another wrote, followed by a crying emoji: “Did Ronaldo just steal Morata’s goal”.
One did come to his defence, however, writing: “how did Ronaldo steal that goal? Messi fans dey vex Ronaldo is doing what they want make Messi dey do”.

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OLIVIER GIROUD set new records as he scored four goals to destroy Sevilla – and then admitted he could still face the axe on Saturday.
Giroud was given a standing ovation by the Chelsea bench as he came off after becoming the oldest player to score a Champions League hat-trick before completing his rout from the spot.

Olivier Giroud could still find himself left out of the Chelsea team on Saturday despite scoring four against SevillaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But the 34-year-old still doesn’t know if he has done enough to start for the Blues against Leeds this weekend.
Giroud said: “Just let me enjoy the night, that great win. After a rest then we will see what the gaffer’s plan is.”
The French international admitted last month he could be forced to quit Stamford Bridge if he doesn’t get more opportunities to play.
Last night was only his second start of the season, but Blues boss Frank Lampard admits he will find it hard to leave out the veteran when Leeds come to town on Saturday.

He said: “We’ll have to see – it’s a tight turnaround but it’s four goals in a game.
“It is an amazing performance to score four goals at Champions League level against a really good opponent, and the individual quality of all of his goals.
“Rightly he gets a standing ovation as he comes off the pitch. I’m delighted for him.
“He is the ultimate professional and I think he’s done that in his career and I think that’s why with Oli, you see his numbers for France and you his numbers in the Champions League.

Giroud has a perfect hat-trick! 🔥🔥🔥Left foot ✅Right foot ✅Header ✅Lampard is loving what he’s seeing on the sideline! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WfMUok6rna
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 2, 2020

“He wasn’t always a regular before I got here but as soon as I came in I could feel the positivity off of him as a player, how he wants to try and how he wants to affect people whether he starts or not.
“Olivier is reliable, full stop. Not just for us but his international goals for France, he’s up there with great French individuals, he’s got great statistics.
“I’m not too bothered about that in a way but I am bothered about what he gives us on the pitch.
“There couldn’t be a team-mate there that the players are happier for because of the way Olivier is around the training pitch and in the games.”
Chelsea have now assured themselves of top spot in Group E with one game left to play – and Lampard hailed the display of a side which saw nine changes to the team which faced Tottenham.
He added: “We dealt with things, we defended well, we were organised and some of our play was great, whether it was our comfort on the ball, whether it was a counter attacking at pace to cause a threat to them.
“There were so many big pluses from tonight that we need to continue with that.”
⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

Giroud is a popular man inside the Stamford Bridge dressing room and was mobbed by his team-matesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The Frenchman became the oldest hat-trick goalscorer in the Champions League Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Frank Lampard reacts to Olivier Giroud masterclass in Chelsea’s 4-0 win at Sevilla More

HARRY MAGUIRE defended Anthony Martial after two Manchester United legends blamed the striker’s open-goal miss and general poor finishing for a costly 3-1 defeat against PSG.
Martial’s wastefulness at 1-1 and Fred’s red card left group leaders United probably needing to avoid defeat at RB Leipzig next Tuesday to reach the Champions League knockout stages.

Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes show their anguish as the Frenchman rues an amazing miss for Man Utd early in the second half Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Man Utd striker Anthony Martial fires high when a goal looked certainCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Fit-again France striker Martial blazed over a gaping net and soon drilled a rebound straight at Marquinos after Edinson Cavani’s chip hit the bar.
And former Old Trafford midfield hero Paul Scholes said: “United paid for those missed chances. Martial’s chances were the ones. 
“He is struggling a little bit for confidence at the minute, and he’s not getting the goals. Martial doesn’t need telling – he knows he should score.”
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

United skipper Maguire responded: “Martial has scored plenty of goals over the last year, so I’m sure he’s down and disappointed.
“But he’ll come again and I’m sure he’ll be looking to put it right at the weekend.”
Nonetheless, ex-Old Trafford defender Rio Ferdinand also suggested Martial’s failure in front of goal early in the second half made the difference.
He said: “Martial’s chances come at good times to score for United. 

“If he dispatches one of those it turns the game on its head.”  

Marcus Rashford had helped put United in the ascendancy by cancelling out Neymar’s early goal with his third strike in four games against the Ligue 1 kings.
But following Martial’s misses and Fred’s almost-inevitable sending-off – after he escaped a first-half red for a headbutt –  Marquinos brilliantly restored PSG’s lead.
Neymar extended the visitors’ victory margin in stoppage time, although United still lead the group on goal difference from PSG and Leipzig.

Anthony Martial will know he should have scored at least once before PSG went on to land a potentially-crucial 3-1 win at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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MANCHESTER UNITED squandered the chance to book their place in the Champions League knockout stages by losing at home to Paris Saint-Germain.
And now they know exactly what they need to do in order to progress when they face RB Leipzig away next Tuesday.

Manchester United have it all to do in their final group game against RB LeipzigCredit: Getty Images – Getty

This is how Group H looks after five rounds of matches

A Neymar double either side of Marquinho’s close-range finish secured a 3-1 victory for the French champions at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Marcus Rashford had equalised just after the half-hour mark when his strike took a wicked deflection off Danilo Pereira and beyond Keylor Navas.
And a draw would have been enough to secure their spot in the next phase of the competition.
But the defeat – as well as RB Leipzig’s 4-3 win over Istanbul Basaksehir – mean it is all to play for in the final round of Group H fixtures.

Here’s everything you need to know about Manchester United’s trip to Leipzig…
How does it stand at the moment?
United, PSG and RB Leizpig are all on nine points with three wins and two defeats each.
United have a better head-to-head record over Leipzig, Leipzig over PSG and PSG over United.
So then it comes down to goal difference which United lead the way on with +6, PSG second on +3 and Leipzig third on -2.

What do Manchester United need to qualify?
Quite simply, a draw.
United know that avoiding defeat in Germany next week will be enough to go through.
That is because they would finish on ten points – the same as Leipzig.
But head-to-head record now takes priority when two teams are level on points so a draw together with the 5-0 win back in October puts United above the Bundesliga side.
Should the Red Devils win, of course, they would be ahead of RB Leipzig on points.
If RB Leipzig vs United ends in a draw and PSG draw with Basaksehir, there would be a three-way tie on ten points at the top.
In that instance, it would come down to overall goal difference in the group meaning United and PSG would advance, just as the group is arranged after the fifth round of matches.

Marcus Rashford scored a quick-fire hat-trick in the 5-0 thumping of RB Leipzig in OctoberCredit: AFP or licensors
Can they finish top of the group?
Yes, Manchester United can still top Group G.
A win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men in Germany would put them on 12 points.
So if PSG did not win – they have a better head-to-head over United – at home to Istanbul, United would top the group.
Also if both matches end in draws next week, the standings would stay as they are with United top, PSG second and RB Leipzig third.
What if they lose?
They’re out.
United know defeat will eliminate them from the Champions League.
That is because Leipzig would move past them on to 12 points and PSG, even if they lose at home, would jump above due to their superior head-to-head record.
If the Old Trafford club do lose, therefore, they will drop down into the Europa League by finishing third.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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CRISTIANO RONALDO reached a magnificent 750 career goals as Juve’s 3-0 cruise was marked by Stephanie Frappart becoming the first female Champions League referee.
And in fact one of the few issues on a mostly-comfortable night for Frenchwoman Frappart was when VAR made Ronaldo wait a few seconds before confirming his latest landmark strike.

Cristiano Ronaldo tucks home his 132nd Champions League goal and the 750th strike of his career in all competitions in a 3-0 winCredit: EPA

Stephanie Frappart ignored Kiev shouts for a penalty and saw Ronaldo’s goal only allowed on VAR but generally had few contentious issues Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Juve’s three scorers celebrate as Federico Chiesa, Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo saw off the UkrainiansCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Juventus had already sailed into the KO stages and this dispatching of Dynamo Kiev surely won’t stop Barcelona winning the group.
Italy winger Federico Chiesa nodded his first goal on loan from Fiorentina, while Alvaro Morata rounded off Juve’s triumph with his sixth Champions League goal this season.
And it was almost as easy an evening night for Frappart as it was for Juve.

Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club
The 36-year-old has been hotly tipped to be the trailblazer for women to finally break into Europe’s top club competition for men’s football since 2011.

That was when she took charge of games in the men’s French third division.
Since then Frappart reffed the Women’s World Cup final in 2019, when she also became the first woman to oversee a Ligue 1 match.
 She took charge of Liverpools 5-4 defeat of Chelsea on penalties in the 2019 Uefa Super Cup.
And her first Europa League tie was Leicester against Zorya Luhansk in October. 

Chiesa nodded home Alex Sandro’s cross on 21 minutes as Frappart reffed her biggest game so far.

PENALTY APPEAL
Kiev did have penalty appeals ignored when Leonardo Bonucci had his arms around Slovenia wideman Benjamin Verbic.
And Juve’s former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny twice brilliantly foiled Viktor Tsygankov.
But Ronaldo pounced for the second on 57 minutes, nudging home after Georgi Bushchan’s attempted block deflected off Morata.

That was the Real Madrid and Manchester United legend’s 132nd Champions League goal,- 14 more than second-placed Lionel Messi in a distinguished scoring table
And ex-Chelsea frontman Morata, shining on loan from Atletico Madrid, snapped up another simple goal nine minutes later.
Weston McKennie and Chiesa combined well on the right for Morata to boost his chances of a permanent return to Juve.

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NEYMAR angrily confronted Scott McTominay after he was stood on by the Manchester United midfielder.
But Paris Saint-Germain’s world record signing had the last laugh as his two goals secured a 3-1 Champions League win at Old Trafford.

Scott McTominay and Neymar clashed after the Man Utd ace stood on the PSG starCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Neymar’s reaction was one of pain as McTominay protested his innocenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The flashpoint came in the first half after Neymar fell to the ground after a challenge from the Scot.
Man United ace McTominay moved away from Neymar as the Brazilian continued to lie flat on the floor.
But in doing so he trod on Neymar’s ankle, prompting the forward to yelp in pain.
And when the half-time whistle blew, Neymar chased down McTominay to angrily confront him about the incident.

United’s midfield anchorman did not seem bothered by Neymar’s protests.
But the Brazil star made sure he made a bigger impact on the game by adding to his sixth minute opener with a 91st minute strike to seal all three points for PSG.
Marquinhos also netted for the visitors, with Marcus Rashford replying for United.
And it sets up a three-way battle for two qualifying spots on the final round of games after RB Leipzig beat Istanbul Basaksehir 4-3 with an injury time winner.

Neymar chased McTominay down to confront him at half timeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Neymar had the last laugh with two goals in a 3-1 win for PSGCredit: BT Sport

Neymar and McTominay’s clash was just one of many heated encounters during a fiery game at the Theatre of Dreams.
But it was Fred who saw red for a second yellow card with the scores at 1-1, shifting the tide of the game and allowing PSG to go ahead shortly after.
However, the midfielder was lucky to escape a straight sending off in the first half for a headbutt on Leandro Paredes that sparked a mass melee.
The referee watched the incident on a pitchside VAR monitor, but bizarrely produced just a yellow card at the time.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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