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      Premier League club announces 23,000-seater new stadium plan to fulfil Champions League ambition

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      BOURNEMOUTH have announced their plan to build a 23,000-seater stadium to fulfil their Champions League ambitions.The Cherries have gone from strength to strength since appointing Andoni Iraola as their manager 18 months ago.Bournemouth are ready to build a new 23,000 seater stadium to replace the VitalityCredit: RexThe Cherries’ current ground holds just over 11,000Credit: AlamyBournemouth lie 7th in the table with 11 wins and five defeats from 23 matches this season.Iraola’s men blasted five past Nottingham Forest’s mean defence last weekend.And seven days earlier they secured an impressive 4-1 win away at high-flying Newcastle.The Cherries have done all this with a severely depleted squad full of injuries.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut fans are starting to dream of a shock push for Champions League football.And club chiefs are already setting out plans to take Bournemouth to the next level.American businessman Bill Foley took over the south-coast club in 2022 as part of his Black Knight group’s multi-team ownership strategy.As well as reversing Bournemouth’s fortunes on the field while landing a top coach in Iraola, Foley and Co are now close to finishing an elite new training ground.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBut the biggest change is set to come with a brand new stadium, with plans at an advanced stage to double the capacity of Bournemouth’s current ground.The Cherries have been playing at the Vitality Stadium, otherwise known as Dean Court, since 1910.Premier League club announces major stadium changes with new capacity and away fans moved A new ground would help Bournemouth realise their Champions League ambitionsCredit: MicrosoftThe historic ground packs in over 11,000 fans for each game.But plans are now afoot to knock it down and build a new stadium over the same space while boosting capacity to over 23,000.The surge in tickets sold will give Bournemouth a huge financial boost, thereby helping them attract better players and eventually crack the Premier League’s top four.Foley told Men in Blazers via the Athletic: “We have a waiting list of 15 or 16,000 people that want tickets, so we’re not going to have trouble filling the stadium.“We’re a little ahead of schedule. I thought we’d be in Europe next year. We may have a chance this year if we can keep going and keep on playing well.“If we just get lucky on injuries and get these guys healthy the second half of the season, we should be very successful.READ MORE SUN STORIES“If we’re successful, we will play in Europe. The Champions League? That’s my dream.”Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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      Man City handed nightmare Real Madrid clash as Arsenal edge towards last 16 tie with former Champions League winners

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      MANCHESTER CITY have drawn Real Madrid in the play-offs for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.Pep Guardiola’s side narrowly avoided an early exit in the league phase of the competition and have been handed a tough draw against the 15-time champions.Manchester City have been given a nightmare drawCredit: ReutersCity will welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad on February 11 or 12, with the return leg the following week.It will be the fourth time in five seasons that the two sides have met in the Champions League.Because they finished 22nd in the league phase the English champions could only have drawn Real or Bayern Munich.Celtic will face Bayern while the remainder of the draw has had interesting ramifications for the other English clubs.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLArsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa all qualified for the quarter-final automatically after finishing in the top eight.But the Gunners’ reward could be a meeting with former winners AC Milan or Juventus – if they beat Feyenoord and PSV respectively in the play-off.The draw gets even more difficult for Arsenal after that stage, with City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen a potential opponent in the quarter-final.Liverpool face an easier route to the final on paper but they could meet PSG in the quarter-final, or Brest, Monaco or Benfica.Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSWhile Villa could face Club Brugge, Atalanta, Sporting or Borussia Dortmund.English teams have performed very well in Europe this season and are closing in on an extra Champions League spot for next year’s tournament.Ally McCoist explains the new Champions League format Champions League draw in fullClub Brugge vs AtalantaManchester City vs Real MadridCeltic vs Bayern MunichJuventus vs PSVFeyenoord vs AC MilanBrest vs PSGMonaco vs BenficaSporting vs Borussia Dortmund More

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      Champions League draw LIVE: Man City to face Real Madrid in blockbuster knockout phase tie, Celtic meet Bayern

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      THE draw for the Champions League knockout play-offs has concluded.And Manchester City have found out they will face Real Madrid in their blockbuster knockout play-off tie, while Celtic will meet Bayern Munich.The draw for the Last 16 – which features Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa – will take place on Friday, February 21 after the knockout ties.Draw start time: 11am GMTTV channel: TNT Sports 2FREE live stream: TNT Sports YouTube/ Uefa.comCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…That’s all from us!Thanks for joining us for today’s Champions League draw!Have a great weekend!Copy linkCopiedAre there any changes to the knockouts?No, there are no changes to the original knockout stages.The last 16 stage will continue, with a series of two-legged knockout games culminating in the final on Saturday, 31 May, at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.The removal of away goals – implemented last season – will continue as well.Copy linkCopiedArsenal could be handed ‘nightmare’ path to finalCopy linkCopiedREVEALED: Champions League earnings so farCopy linkCopiedRoad to Munich Champions League draw sees Man City to face Real Madrid in blockbuster knockout phase Copy linkCopiedExtra CL spot up for grabsCopy linkCopiedWhen is the next Champions League draw?The Champions League round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final draws will take place on February 21 – the week of the play-off second legs.Copy linkCopiedA reminder of the Champions League play-off draw in full…Left side:Brest vs PSGJuventus vs PSV EindhovenMan City vs Real MadridClub Brugge vs AtalantaRight side:Monaco vs BenficaFeyenoord vs AC MilanCeltic vs Bayern MunichSporting Lisbon vs Borussia DortmundCopy linkCopiedCeltic fans receive warningCeltic have warned their travelling fans that they are risking being DENIED access should they buy tickets and travel for their play-off round clash.Copy linkCopiedPrem closes in on extra CL spotThe Premier League has closed in on an extra place in next season’s Champions League after dominating the first phase of the new expanded competition.Six of the Prem’s seven sides earned automatic qualification for the last 16 of their respective competitions, with Liverpool and Chelsea achieving top seeding spots and Arsenal, Manchester United and Spurs in the top four.It means that with the initial league phase of the three revamped competitions now concluded, English sides have picked up an average of 20.892 coefficient points.That puts the Prem more than 3.7 points clear of third placed Spain, the equivalent of 13 individual match wins, in the fight for an extra place in the elite competition.And it gives Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Newcastle even more encouragement as they seek a place in the most prestigious club competition in football.Copy linkCopiedCity’s Rodri boostMan City plan to name Rodri in their squad for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.The Spain international was ruled out for the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal in September.But Rodri has made excellent progress in his recovery and still believes he can be back in contention before the end of the current campaign.Boss Pep Guardiola wants to keep the door open for him to do that – even though City would have to go deep in the competition for him to be even in the frame.Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedMan City land horror drawCopy linkCopiedEuropa League draw in fullHere are the fixtures we’ve got to look forward to in the Europa League…Left side of the bracketFC Twente vs Bodo/GlimtUnion Saint-Gilloise vs AjaxAZ Alkmaar vs GalatasarayFerencvárosi vs Viktoria PlzenRight side of the bracketFenerbahce vs AnderlechtPAOK vs FCSBFC Midtjylland vs Real SociedadPorto vs RomaCopy linkCopiedPlay-off fixtures revealedChampions League draw sees Man City to face Real Madrid in blockbuster knockout phase Copy linkCopiedWhat does the path to the final look like?Copy linkCopiedChampions League play-off draw in fullLeft side:Brest vs PSGJuventus vs PSV EindhovenMan City vs Real MadridClub Brugge vs AtalantaRight side:Monaco vs BenficaFeyenoord vs AC MilanCeltic vs Bayern MunichSporting Lisbon vs Borussia DortmundCopy linkCopiedPlay-off fixturesThe first leg of the play-off matches will take place on the 11th & 12th February, with the return fixtures taking place one week later on the 18th & 19th February.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedLeft side of the bracketBrest vs PSGJuventus vs PSV EindhovenMan City vs Real MadridClub Brugge vs AtalantaRight side of the bracketMonaco vs BenficaFeyenoord vs AC MilanCeltic vs Bayern MunichSporting Lisbon vs Borussia DortmundCopy linkCopiedLeft side of the bracketClub BruggeMan CityJuventusBrestRight side of the bracketSporting LisbonCelticFeyenoordMonacoCopy linkCopiedSpecial guest announcedFormer Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara will assist with the draw.Copy linkCopiedHere we go!The draw is about to begin!Copy linkCopiedREVEALED: Champions League earnings so farCopy linkCopiedAre there any changes to the knockouts?No, there are no changes to the original knockout stages.The last 16 stage will continue, with a series of two-legged knockout games culminating in the final on Saturday, 31 May, at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.The removal of away goals – implemented last season – will continue as well.Copy linkCopiedWhy Arsenal had TOUGHEST run to Champions League knockouts…It’s official – Arsenal had the toughest run of the four Premier League teams in this year’s Champions League.Copy linkCopiedWhich teams are automatically through?The top eight teams in the Champions League group stage table have earned automatic qualification for the last-16.LiverpoolBarcelonaArsenalInter MilanAtletico MadridBayer LeverkusenLilleAston VillaCopy linkCopied More

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      Celtic announce Uefa disciplinary notice that could see fans BANNED from Bayern Munich away game

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      CELTIC have warned their travlling fans that they are risking being DENIED access should they buy tickets and travel for their play-off round clash.The Hoops have been learned this morning that they will face Bayern Munich in the next round of Europe’s glamour club competition.A green flare has to be removed from the pitch at Villa ParkBut the bad news for Celtic fans is that their club has now seen fit to warn them that they have RECEIVED a disciplinary notice from UEFA in the wake of their defeat to Aston Villa, a match which saw away fans throw a smoke bomb onto the Villa Park pitch.And that could well trigger an away fan ban for the next match, an outcome which Uefa indicated was on the cards when they offered the club a suspended sentence for the action of their fans earlier in the campaign.In a statement today, the Hoops appeared to be laying the groundwork for precisely such a ban.It read: “As a result of the use of pyrotechnics during our match against Borussia Dortmund last year, Celtic Football Club was sanctioned by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.”The decision meant that, not only did the Club receive a fine of €20,000, but also that, if such behaviour was repeated at a match in the next two years, the Club would be prevented from selling tickets to supporters for one away match in UEFA club competitions.”Unfortunately, the club has received a further disciplinary notice from UEFA following the match against Aston Villa FC on Wednesday evening.  “The Club will obviously make robust representations to UEFA and will make every effort to ensure that our fans can attend our next UEFA Champions League match. “However, clearly there is a risk that supporters may not be able to attend. Most read in Football”In light of this situation, it is incumbent on the club to make supporters aware of this risk, when considering making arrangements for travel, until further information is provided by UEFA.”Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Newcastle vs Fulham: Get £40 in free bets and bonuses to spend with BetMGM

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      NEWCASTLE continue their push for a Champions League spot when they welcome Fulham to St James’ Park on Saturday.Eddie Howe’s men have a massive cup semi final coming up in midweek but can’t take their eye off the ball here against a Fulham side with their own sights on European football.Bookmakers BetMGM are offering brand new customers a cool £40 in free bets when you register an account and stake a tenner on the European showdown.Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles hereHow to claim..BetMGM £40 welcome bonusVisit the BetMGM website HERE*Select SPORTS OFFER on the websiteRegister a new account – No Promo Code necessaryOpt in for this promotion by depositing and placing at least £10 on football at odds of Evens or greaterOnce that’s settled – win or lose – your account will be credited with £40 in free betsNewcastle vs Fulham: Get £40 in free bets — claim yours here*Not got a BetMGM account? No problem!This offer is just for you, and it’s incredibly easy to claim!Simply register a new account, deposit and stake a minimum of £10 on football at odds of Evens (1/1) or greater. This must be done within seven days of opening your account with the bookmaker.Once that’s settled – win or lose – your account will be credited with £40 in free bets!Newcastle vs Fulham: Get £40 in free bets — claim yours here**BetMGM. New customers only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1x £10 Free Bet on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet on Horse Racing, 2 x £10 Free Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.gambleaware.orgFind our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk More

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      Man Utd and Tottenham learn Europa League last-16 opponents as final game wins make it HARDER with full table confirmed

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham’s Europa League fate has been determined. United won away at FCSB while Spurs beat Swedish side IF Elfsborg at home to bypass the playoff round and proceed straight for March’s last-16.Kobbie Mainoo celebrates with with Alejandro GarnachoCredit: GettyTottenham breezed throughCredit: APAnd, as they finished next to each other in the final league stage table in 3rd and 4th, the underperforming Prem pair have the SAME four potential opponents.Those are the four teams who 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th – Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, FC Midtjylland or AZ Alkmaar – who will face off with each other in the February’s play-off round double-header.Ironically, if United and Spurs had NOT won their final league games – each would have faced potentially easier opponents.That is because, despite their league positions, Real Sociedad and Galatasaray remain two of the toughest sides in the competition.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe draw takes place on Friday to determine the play-off fixtures – where each of Spurs and United’s potential opponents will be narrowed down to two.United saw off their Romanian rivals 2-0 thanks to goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo. While injury-ravaged Spurs ran riot in the last 20 minutes with academy kids Dane Scarlett, Oyindamola Ajayi and Mikey Moore getting on the score sheet. Rangers also took an automatic top eight qualification spot after beating Belgium’s Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe Scottish side could now play either Anderlecht, Bodo/Glimt, Twente or Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.Spurs’ win ensured they missed a potentially awkward reunion with old boss Mourinho – for now at least.’Joke of a club’ rant Man Utd fans as 100s of Rangers fans swarm into home end for Battle of Britain Europa League clashNice, Braga, Hoffenheim, Besiktas and Dynamo Kyiv are some of the big names dumped out of Europe. Elfsborg, Maccabi TA, Slavia, Malmo, RFS, Ludogorets and Qarabag make up the full 12. Now 16 clubs battle it out for the eight remaining spots in the knockout stages. Ajax, Porto, Roma, FCSB, Plzen, Ferencvaros and PAOK are also in the play-offs. Lazio topped the table and could now draw arch rivals Roma – as well as either Porto, Plzen or Ferencvaros. Who faces who in the Europa League?Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…Teams who finished from ninth to 24th in the Europa league phase will play off to decide who reaches the last-16.PLAYOFF ROUNDBodo/Glimt vs Twente or FenerbahceAnderlecht vs Twente or FenerbahceFCSB vs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOKAjax vs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOKReal Sociedad vs AZ Alkmaar or MidtjyllandGalatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar or MidtjyllandRoma vs Ferencvaros or PortoPlzen vs Ferencvaros or PortoWinners of playoff ties will then face the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase in the last-16…LAST 16Lazio vs Roma or Plzen or Ferencvaros or PortoAthletic Bilbao vs Roma or Plzen or Ferencvaros or PortoMan Utd vs Real Sociedad or Galatasaray or FC Midtjylland or AZ AlkmaarTottenham vs Real Sociedad or Galatasaray or FC Midtjylland or AZ AlkmaarFrankfurt vs FCSB or Ajax or Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOKLyon vs FCSB or Ajax or Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOKOlympiakos vs Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht or Twente or FenerbahceRangers vs Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht or Twente or Fenerbahce More

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      Why Arsenal had TOUGHEST run to Champions League knockouts… and Man City should have cruised through

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      IT’S official – Arsenal had the toughest run of the four Premier League teams in this year’s Champions League.The revamped format resulted in a chaotic final Gameweek on Wednesday with 18 matches played simultaneously. Arsenal endured the toughest run of all four Prem teams in this year’s Champions LeagueCredit: GettyOur research shows Pep Guardiola’s Man City were the biggest underperformersCredit: RexAll four of Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool remain in this year’s competition. But City – the winners in 2023 – are the only English side who have to undertake the dreaded playoff route.Liverpool were safely through to the last-16 before kick-off against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.While wins for both Arsenal and Aston Villa successfully secured their path to the knockouts.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLSunSport has crunched the numbers and found the Gunners endured the hardest schedule of the four Prem sides.Pep Guardiola’s City – who won just 3 of their 8 games – were the biggest underperformers, according to our research. With every team’s schedule different, we looked at the final points tally for each team the Prem sides faced.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMost read in FootballTo make it fair, we’ve also looked at the number of games played against teams that eventually finished in the top 8. Teams playing against Arsenal amassed 92 points over the course of the group stage – the most of any English team. Man City boss Pep Guardiola looks forward to the return of injured players to help Champions League campaign That’s four more total points than those who faced Liverpool, with the Reds going through as group winners. City’s opponents clocked up 83 points, while teams playing Villa could only muster 72.Arne Slot’s Reds also had to take on two of the eventual top 8 – Lille and Leverkusen. Arsenal and City faced one of the eventual top 8 in Inter Milan. But City – who scraped through on Wednesday with a comeback win against Club Brugge – really should have secured qualification. They faced both Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Prague, who managed to amass just four points combined. City also came up against Paris Saint-Germain, who before the tournament kicked off looked to have a nightmare run. The French champions’ total came out at 93 points, just one ahead of the Gunners.While reigning champions Real Madrid – who could be on a collision course with City in the playoffs – played against teams who racked up a whopping 108 points.Arsenal’s third-placed finish means they will face one of AC Milan, Juventus, PSV or Feyenoord in the last-16.READ MORE SUN STORIESLiverpool could draw either PSG, Benfica, AS Monaco or Brest.While Villa will take on either Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge. More

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      Inside 14,591-seater third tier stadium that could host El Clasico as desperate Barcelona seek venue to face Real Madrid

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      BARCELONA could play the final two games of their La Liga season in a THIRD DIVISION stadium.The club’s billion-pound expansion of their iconic Nou Camp home – which will become a 105,000-seater ground – was set to be completed in February.Barcelona are currently playing away from their iconic Nou Camp groundCredit: APThe world-famous stadium is undergoing a major revamp and expansionCredit: REXBarca have been playing their games at the Estadi Lluis Companys during their hiatus but could be turfed out for their last two fixturesCredit: ALAMYBut it was recently announced the works on the Catalan colosseum won’t be finished until MAY at the earliest.Barca have been playing their home matches at the Estadi Lluis Companys but could be forced to play elsewhere if the Rolling Stones take over the venue.The 58,000-seater Olympic Stadium has already been booked out for several concerts in May, including the first show of the Stones’ upcoming European tour.The Catalans are set to welcome bitter rivals Real Madrid and Villarreal to the Nou Camp in their final matches of the season.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBut they’ve been handed a potential lifeline by third division side Gimnastic de Tarragona.The Primera Federacion side have offered the La Liga giants use of their 14,591 capacity Nou Estadi Costa Daurada stadium for the final games of their domestic campaign.Nastic president Lluis Fabregas told Diari de Tarragona: “Nastic could give up its facilities at the Nou Estadi for this match.”Barca, however, will be hoping they won’t have to make use of the third tier side’s home.Most read in FootballThe club – which were said to be considering using Wembley for El Clasico – are reportedly on the verge of striking an agreement with the local council to permit 24/7 works to the ground over the coming months.JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBarca chiefs insist the Nou Camp will re-open it’s doors come MayCredit: GETTYBarca president Joan Laporta recently moved to quell concerns about the club’s return to the Nou Camp, saying: “[It] will be as soon as possible when possible.”During an appearance on RAC 1, vice-president Elena Fort said: “[The] return will be before the end of this season.”Spectacular Timelapse of the works in the Spotify Camp Nou Barcelona will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, hosting relegation battlers Alaves. More