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      Marseille city chiefs reverse ban on PSG shirts ahead of Champions League final vs Bayern Munich

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      POLICE in Marseille have performed a U-turn on the decision to ban Paris Saint-Germain shirts in the city centre on Sunday.
      Big-spending PSG, big domestic rivals of Olympique Marseille, will battle it out with Bayern Munich in the Champions League final this weekend.

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      Police in Marseille have performed a U-turn on the decision to ban PSG shirts in the city centre on SundayCredit: Getty Images
      Following PSG’s 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the semis on Tuesday, there were several clashes in Marseille between local supporters and those followers of the Parisians.
      One man was arrested after around 50 OM ultras patrolled the Old Port district of the city to disconnect TVs and threaten groups of PSG fans watching the game.
      That led to an announcement on Thursday that PSG colours would be banned in the port city centre on Sunday.
      However, today it has been confirmed that the decision has been overturned.

      Via a statement on Twitter, local authorities said: “The sole purpose of this decree was to protect Parisian supporters, and in no way aimed to restrict freedom of movement.
      “Faced with the incomprehension that came with this decree, the prefect of police has today decided to repeal it. 
      “On Sunday, there will be forces or order deployed around the area of the Old Port and they will be particularly vigilant to stop any action that may result in trouble, without exception.”

      Marseille are the only French side to ever win the biggest competition in Europe.

      Reims, Saint-Etienne and Monaco have all reached the final without success.
      Now PSG will be gunning to lift the prize for the first time in their history when they take on Bayern Munich in Lisbon. More

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      Lovren admits DELIBERATELY elbowing Sergio Ramos as payback for injuring best pal Salah in Champions League final

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      DEJAN LOVREN admitted he deliberately elbowed Sergio Ramos as payback for injuring his Liverpool pal Mo Salah in the Champions League final.
      Ramos was slated and even had death threats sent to his children for wiping the Reds’ danger man out of the 2018 showpiece.

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      Dejan Lovren admitted to taking out Sergio Ramos deliberately after he injured Mo Salah in the 2018 Champions League finalCredit: AFP or licensors

      The pair tussled for possession and both fell to the ground, with Salah suffering a serious shoulder injury.
      The Egyptian lasted just 31 minutes in Kiev before trudging off in tears, putting his chances of appearing at the World Cup in serious jeopardy.
      Despite Salah having no problem with Ramos, Lovren took matters into his own hands to exact revenge.
      Later that year his Croatia side faced Ramos’ Spain in a Nations League clash.

      So the ex-Liverpool centre-back made the most of the chance to deliberately smash his rival with an elbow – earning him a red card in the 3-2 win.
      At the time he wrote on social media: “I elbowed him good. Haha! 3-2! Go ahead and talk now buddy. Buddy!”
      But in an interview with Egyptian TV station Sada El Balad, Lovren confirmed he purposefully went out to get Ramos that night.

      He said: “I deliberately hit Ramos after hurting Salah? Yes, this is possible.

      “Luka Modric tried to reduce the tension between me and Ramos, and we were facing Spain together with the Croatian national team, and I deliberately hit him with my elbows and told him that we have drawn now.
      “I respect Ramos as a player and what he does for his team. He has won a lot of titles, but on the other hand, he does some behaviour that I do not like and harm the players.
      “I do not want to make a big story, but I think that what Ramos did was intentional to injure my friend, so it was time to pay for what he has done.
      “We were playing much better than Real Madrid before Salah was injured in the Champions League final. His exit was a big blow for us, after his exit, they began to dominate the match.”
      Salah and Lovren formed a unique bromance during their time together at Anfield.
      But the flying forward was left gutted this summer when Liverpool sold the defender to Zenit.
      Jurgen Klopp joked Salah will now be searching for a new “best friend”.
      And speaking in a clip posted to Liverpool’s Twitter page, Salah said: “We are really going to miss you a lot, especially me.
      “You have been an unbelievable player and a great friend for me. We are going to miss you a lot, I miss you a lot, I love you so much.”

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      Lovren and Salah formed a unique bromance during their time together at AnfieldCredit: Reuters

      Dejan Lovren taunts Sergio Ramos and brands Spain ‘p******’ after Croatia win More

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      Lyon 0 Bayern 3: Gnabry and Lewandowski send dominant Munich to Champions League final against PSG

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      IT was five years ago this month that Serge Gnabry signed for West Brom on a season-long loan from Arsenal.
      But Tony Pulis gave the young German just 12 minutes of Premier League action before cutting the deal short and sending him back to the Emirates.

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      Bayern Munich will play PSG in the Champions League Final on SundayCredit: EPA

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      Serge Gnabry’s first half double helped down LyonCredit: AFP

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      Serge Gnabry’s rocket got Bayern off to a flyer in LisbonCredit: Getty Images
      Last night Pulis was left squirming with embarrassment as Gnabry fired Bayern Munich into the Champions League final with a magnificent two-goal performance. 
      And it’s not only Pulis who should be feeling shame-faced considering Arsenal sold him the following summer for just £5million.
      How the Gunners could do with a player of Gnabry’s class right now as they contemplate a fourth successive season out of Europe’s top competition.
      Instead the 25-year-old winger will be lighting up Sunday’s showpiece final against Paris St.Germain.

      And what a mouth-watering match that promises to be after a seemingly unstoppable Bayern extended their incredible winning run to 20 games.
      It might not have been as easy as it was in last Friday’s 8-2 quarter-final humiliation of Barcelona.

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      Gnabry grabbed his second from close-range just after the half hour markCredit: Getty Images

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      Memphis Depay missed a glorious chance while the game was goalless for Lyon Credit: AP:Associated Press
      But it was still comfortable enough for boss Hansi Flick as his all-conquering team survived a couple of early scares before turning Lyon tamers.

      The only previous time Lyon reached this stage of the competition was back in 2010 when they were beaten 4-0 on aggregate…by Bayern.
      They kicked off in the Stadio Jose Alavalde as such rank outsiders that some bookies were offering odds of 12-1 against them making it an all-French affair in Sunday’s final.
      After all, Rudi Garcia’s men had already lost three times in this season’s competition and didn’t even top their first round group.
      But no team which can see off both Juventus and Manchester City could ever be taken lightly and Bayern certainly weren’t going to fall into the trap of counting their chickens.
      So it was no surprise that the Germans stuck with the same team which had left Barcelona so utterly humiliated last week.
      What came as something more of a shock was that Lyons also named an unchanged team, which meant that two-goal quarter-final hero Moussa Dembele was back on the bench.

      And Garcia’s faith in his team almost paid off in the fourth minute when Memphis Depay raced beyond keeper Manuel Neuer but just couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball with the goal beckoning. 
      There was an even bigger left off for Bayern in the 17th minute when Toko Ekambi went past Alphonso Davies but smacked a glorious opportunity against the base of the post.
      Trouble is that when you show mercy to a team as ruthless as Bayern, you immediately regret it.
      And within a minute of that Ekambi miss Lyon were handed a chastening lesson in finishing by Gnabry.
      Joshua Kimmich’s ball over the top allowed Gnabry to hold off three defenders as he cut inside to deliver a left-foot Exocet into the top corner from the edge of the area.
      It was as good as any of the 155 goals which Bayern had scored in all competitions prior to this match.
      His second in the 33th minute was not quite such a thing of beauty, but no-one in Bayern red was complaining about that.

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      Once again Gnabry cut inside from the right wing but this time chose to feed the lurking Ivan Perisic out wide.
      The Croat’s low cross should have been finished off by 54-goal Robert Lewandowski but when his scuffed shot was blocked on the line by keeper Anthony Lopes, Gnabry was on hand to hammer home from close range.
      And that was just about for Lyon. Marcelo and Ekambi missed a couple of decent second-half chances to make things interesting but you always felt that Bayern could score again whenever they wanted to.
      And so it proved when Lewandoski made it 101 goals in two seasons for club and country when he headed in from Kimmich’s 88th minute free-kick.
      So now it’s PSG’s turn to stand in the way of the big red juggernaut. Bonne chance, mes amis.

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      Neymar CAN play in Champions League final as Uefa confirm they won’t punish PSG ace for breaking coronavirus protocol

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      NEYMAR has escaped a ban for the Champions League final — despite breaking coronavirus protocols.
      The Paris Saint-Germain superstar swapped shirts with Marcel Halstenberg after the French side beat RB Leipzig 3-0 in Tuesday’s semi-final.

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      PSG superstar Neymar will not even be investigated after swapping shirts with RB Leipzig’s Marcel Halstenberg in the Champions League semi-final

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      Neymar got up close and personal with Halstenberg during the game – and afterwards when they swapped topsCredit: EPA
      But Uefa last night confirmed that they will not investigate the matter — meaning Neymar is clear to play in Sunday’s showpiece in Lisbon.
      Their 31-page ‘return to play protocol’ states players are “recommended” to avoid swapping shirts —  adding it “may lead to disciplinary measures”.
      Neymar caused another stir after the game by posting an old photo to Instagram of himself partying on a boat, holding a cup showing the name of Leipzig’s sponsor Red Bull.
      The Brazil striker then rubbed salt in the German club’s wounds with  the caption: “Daddy’s going to the final!”

      Meanwhile, Neymar’s boss Thomas Tuchel has played down his bust-up with RB Leipzig’s fitness coach Daniel Behlau.
      ‘F***ING P***Y’
      Tuchel launched a tirade at Behlau at the end of the game after it was claimed the PSG head coach was called a “f***ing p***y” by his fellow German.
      Tuchel said: “It was OK between two  head coaches but  then a third person interfered. I didn’t like that but it has since been sorted out.”
      Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann, whose own coaching career was launched by Tuchel, explained how the row started.

      The 33-year-old said: “We fouled a lot, you can see that statistically.
       “That wasn’t planned, we just often came too late into challenges.

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      PSG boss Thomas Tuchel insists the flare-up with RB Leipzig fitness coach Daniel Behlau has now been ‘sorted out’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann admits his Bundesliga side ‘fouled a lot’ against PSG but says it ‘wasn’t planned’Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      “He complained because he wanted to protect his players.”
      Thiago Silva reckons Tuchel’s side is the best he has played in during eight years in the French capital.
      The skipper is out of contract and set to bow out for PSG on Sunday in what will be the club’s first Champions League final.
      Brazilian defender Silva, 35, said: “It’s the strongest squad I’ve known — not only on the pitch but off it as well.

      “We have to continue with this mentality. Everyone will remember the team that wins this Champions League.
      “For now, the final will be my last match. I hope to make the most of it with one last title. I came here for that in 2012.
      “My heart will always be here, always red and blue.”

      PSG boss Tuchel rows with RB Leipzig coach after ‘f***ing pussy’ jibe during Champions League clash More

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      Five Man Utd ‘rejects’ play in Champions League and Europa finals this week… SunSport looks at the ones who got away

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      MANCHESTER UNITED do not feature in a Euro final this weekend — but some of their old boys do. 
      Here SunSport explores the ones who got away from Old Trafford to make  a name elsewhere.

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      Former Manchester United pair Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young at Inter Milan

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      PSG’s Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera are former United players
      ANDER HERRERA
      United wrestled Herrera out of Athletic Bilbao for £28.8million in 2014.
      A five-year stint saw him scoop the club’s Player of the Year  in 2016-17, the same season they won the League Cup and the Europa League — where he was also man of the match in the final.
      But the summer 2017 arrival of Nemanja Matic meant fewer starts and  Herrera, now 31, joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free in July 2019.

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      United wrestled Herrera out of Athletic Bilbao for £28.8million in 2014Credit: Getty Images

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      Herrera joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free in July 2019Credit: Getty Images
      ANGEL DI MARIA
      Much was expected when Louis van Gaal paid Real Madrid £59.7m for the Argie star in 2014. 

      It started well, scoring a few goals early on — including a superb chip in a 5-3 loss at Leicester.
      He struggled to settle in the North West and his early form fell away, with one goal in the second half of the season — at Yeovil in the FA Cup.
      That July he did not board United’s pre-season flight to the US and joined PSG days later. 

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      Much was expected when Louis van Gaal paid Real Madrid £59.7m for Di Maria in 2014Credit: Getty Images

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      In July 2015 Di Maria did not board United’s pre-season flight to the US and joined PSG days laterCredit: Getty Images
      ROMELU LUKAKU
      United sprang a surprise in summer 2017 when they pipped Chelsea to the £75m signing of Lukaku from Everton. 
      Ten goals in his first nine games broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record. 
      The Belgian went on to rack up 27 overall  in his first season  but after Jose Mourinho’s axe in December 2018 he never really won over Ole  Gunnar Solskjaer.
      Lukaku, 27, joined Inter Milan for £73m last summer and has scored 33 goals for them so far.

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      United sprang a surprise in summer 2017 when they pipped Chelsea to the £75m signing of Lukaku from EvertonCredit: Getty Images

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      Lukaku joined Inter Milan for £73m last  summer and has scored 33 goals for them so farCredit: Getty Images
      ASHLEY YOUNG
      Joined from Aston Villa for a fee of around £16m in 2011.
      He was one of Alex Ferguson’s last buys, playing his part in his last title win in 2013 and converting to a left-back along the way. 
      Inter came in last  January and, after more than eight years  and 260-plus appearances, the club let him go.
      Young, 35, has four goals and four assists for the Italians.

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      Young spent more than eight years  and made 260-plus appearances for United Credit: Getty Images

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      Inter came in last January and signed Young Credit: Getty Images

      ALEXIS SANCHEZ
      The Old Trafford club  signed the striker  in January 2018, giving him the No 7 shirt and wages around   £500,000   per   week. 
      Yet boss Jose Mourinho struggled to get a tune out of him and it was no better with Ole.
      He scored just three Premier League goals before leaving for Inter on loan last August and completing a permanent deal this month.

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      Alexis Sanchez scored just three Premier League goals before  leaving for Inter on loanCredit: Getty Images

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      Sanchez completed a permanent deal this month

      Man Utd wage bill revealed with Dean Henderson set to take home same amount as Bruno Fernandes after new contract More

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      Lyon vs Bayern Munich: Live stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time and teams for big Champions League semi-final

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      BAYERN MUNICH face Lyon tonight with a place in the Champions League final awaiting the winners.
      The Bundesliga giants are big favourites to progress following their stunning 8-2 demolition of Barcelona in the last round, but Lyon will be no pushovers.

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      Lyon knocked City out of the competition last weekCredit: Getty Images
      Their shock victory over Manchester City earned them their place in what looks to be a thrilling match, with PSG awaiting in the final.
      When is Lyon vs Bayern Munich?
      Lyon vs Bayern is scheduled for 8pm BST tonight (Wednesday, August 19.)
      Estadio Jose Alvalade plays host for the match that will be played behind closed doors.
      Which TV channel and live stream can I watch it on?
      You can catch the game live on BT Sport 1 in the UK.
      Coverage begins at 7pm
      BT customers can download the official app to stream on mobiles, tablets, PC’s or games consoles
      How can I watch for free?
      If you have a phone contract with EE, you can get a three-month trial to BT Sport FREE
      Simply text SPORT to 150 – customers can cancel at any time.
      What is the team news?
      Bayern will be without defender Benjemin Pavard after he suffered an ankle injury last month.
      Lyon have a clean bill of health, with no injuries threatening their Champions League route.
      Match odds
      Lyon to win – 10/1
      Draw – 6/1
      Bayern to be victorious – 2/9
      Lewandowski to have 5 or more shots and to score in the second half – 17/10
      *All odds correct from Ladbrokes at time of publication More

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      BT Sport to show Champions League final live stream on YouTube for FREE for fifth year running

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      BT SPORT have announced that Sunday’s Champions League final will be available to watch for free on their YouTube channel.
      The British broadcaster have exclusive rights of the competition from the final qualifying round onwards.

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      Fans will be able to watch Neymar and Co for free on SundayCredit: EPA
      But in a boost to fans, the channel has decided to make European football’s showpiece match free to watch online for the fifth year running.
      All supporters will have to do is visit their YouTube channel.
      Last year’s all-English final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur raked in an incredible 11.3million viewers between all of BT Sport’s platforms.
      And they will be hoping for another good turnout for this year’s match between Paris Saint-Germain and either Lyon or Bayern Munich.

      Friday’s Europa League final, narrowly missed out on by Manchester United, between Inter Milan and Sevilla will also be aired for free on the platform.
      YouTube’s head of UK partnerships Richard Lewis said: “For the fifth year running, BT Sport will live stream the Uefa Champions League and Uefa Europa League Finals for free on their YouTube channel for millions of fans to view on their TVs or mobile devices.”
      PSG booked their place in their first ever Champions League final last night, after comfortably swatting aside semi-final debutants RB Leipzig 3-0.

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      Lyon could make it a shock all-French final on SundayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      They will be joined by either Barcelona-conquerors Bayern Munich, or fellow French side Lyon – who face off tonight at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

      The final was originally supposed to take place in Istanbul, although the coronavirus-induced chaos put paid to that plan – with Lisbon now hosting the prestigious event.
      Gdansk, the original host of the Europa League final, will also have to wait until next year – with Cologne now putting on Friday’s match.

      Leipzig 0 PSG 3: Neymar and Co. reach club’s first-ever Champions League final as Di María nets and assists in demolition of Germans More

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      Celtic 6 KR Reykjavik 0: Elyounoussi bags two as Hoops romp in Champions League qualifier… on same day as semi-final

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      CELTIC battered their way into the second qualifying round of the Champions League – on the day PSG reached the 2020 final.
      A double from Mohamed Elyounoussi, plus goals from Chris Jullien, Greg Taylor, Odsonne Edouard and an own goal from Arnor Adalsteinsson saw Neil Lennon’s Hoops avoid a one-off banana skin against the Icelanders.

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      Two-goal Norwegian Mohamed Elyounoussi celebrates with fellow Celtic scorer Chris Jullien as Reykjavik are hammered 6-0Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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      On-loan Southampton frontman Mohamed Elyounoussi tucks home for Celtic as their Icelandic visitors are outclassedCredit: Reuters

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      Odsonne Edouard puts the finishing touch to his glorious goal, the fifth of Celtic’s six as they netted three times in each halfCredit: Reuters
      The Scots have failed to qualify for the group stage of Europe’s elite competition since 2017.
      And they will hope the new one-legged  format — up until the play-off round — will work to their advantage in a bid to play among the  big boys.
      Celtic now have just a week to rest before the second round against either Hungarians Ferencvaros or Swedish champs Djurgarden.
      The Hoops  barely got out of second gear against an  inept KR Reykjavik at Parkhead.

      There was an eerie silence without the raucous home fans  at the usually bouncing venue — but  Lennon’s men did their best to up the ante early on.
      EDOUARD SOLO SPECIAL
      Jullien lifted a long ball over the top into miles of space for Southampton loan winger  Elyounoussi to latch on to.
      He rounded the goalkeeper with his first touch and slotted into an empty net after just six minutes.
      Reykjavik were playing more expansively knowing this was a winner-takes-all clash.

       But that played right into Celtic’s hands as they grabbed a second before the 20-minute mark.
      Working it well from the back, it was sent wide to full-back Hatem Elhamed — whose low ball into the six-yard box was waiting to be tapped home.

      Instead, defender Adalsteinsson nestled the ball in his own net.
      More poor defending was to follow 15 minutes before the break as  centre-back Jullien leapt  to head home Ryan Christie’s corner into the  roof of the net.
      Celtic went into the break with 16 shots — 11 of those on target — and had another within seconds of the restart to grab their fourth.
      Full-back to full-back, Elhamed’s deep cross found Taylor to nod in at the far post.

      Edouard piled misery on  the Icelandic champions on 72 minutes with a superb solo goal.
      Elyounoussi grabbed his second at the death, teed up by sub Olivier Ntcham’s sublime pass.
      Meanwhile, Northern Irish champs LINFIELD went out 1-0 to LEGIA WARSAW after ex-Oldham striker Kirk Millar was sent off for the visiting Blues. More