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      Chelsea clash with Real Madrid in Champions League in ‘small’ doubt as Uefa chief hint leaves Florentino Perez fuming

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      UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says there is still a possibility that Chelsea’s game with Real Madrid will be binned.The Champions League semi-finalists signed up to the European Super League that collapsed in dramatic fashion 48 hours after its unveiling.
      Florentino Perez (left) and Aleksander Ceferin (right) are at war over the ESLCredit: PA
      Chelsea are due to face Real Madrid in the Champions League next weekCredit: Getty
      Furious Ceferin, 53, vowed to crack down on the 12 sides who attempted to usurp the governing body’s competitions.
      And he has left the door open to kicking any of the involved teams out of THIS YEAR’S Champions League.
      He told Slovenian TV channel 24UR, via Marca: “The key is that this season has already started, so broadcasters would come at us for damages if we don’t play the semi-finals.
      “So, there’s a relatively small possibility that this match isn’t played next week.
      “But, things could be a little different in the future.”
      Real club president Florentino Perez was one of the key figures behind the ESL, which he has claimed is on ‘standby’.
      Speaking to El Larguero, he criticised Ceferin and spoke of his desire for an ‘educated’ Uefa boss.
      He insisted: “I’m not afraid of retaliation from Uefa, but I’m worried.
      “The president said on Financial Fair Play that it was necessary to protect those who financially support their teams. Everyone interprets it as they want.
      “We had prepared for everyone from every place to speak. We were killed with terrible aggression.”
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      Perez added that he ‘does not understand’ why Chelsea versus Real Madrid may be abandoned.
      The tie kicks off in Spain next Tuesday before the Stamford Bridge return leg on May 5.
      Ceferin added: “If these clubs want to play in our competition again, they will have to get close to us.
      “And we will have to evaluate what happened, but I don’t want to go into details, as we are still talking to our legal team.

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      “I would say that the English clubs have made a very good decision and we will take that into account.
      “They admitted their mistake and realised they were wrong. We all make mistakes. In a way, I was disappointed with everyone, but I must say that maybe Barcelona are the ones that disappointed me the least.
      “[Club president Joan] Laporta was elected very recently and I spoke to him two or three times. He was under great pressure due to the financial situation he inherited.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin attacks Big Six English clubs for wanting to join European Super League More

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      Champions League revamp explained after major changes missed amid European Super League uproar, as group stage SCRAPPED

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      THE chaos caused by the Super League shambles meant far-reaching changes to the existing European competitions passed by almost unnoticed.Uefa rubber-stamped its proposals, backed by national associations, for a major revamp to start from the 2024-25 season and to run for at least nine years.
      Uefa have rubber-stamped their proposals for the Champions League revampCredit: EPA
      How the revamped tournament will lookCredit: The Sun
      SunSport explains what was agreed:
      So what is the new plan?
      The Champions League will be revamped and expanded from 32 clubs to 36 per season, with the initial group stage scrapped and replaced by a single league.
      How do you fit in another 70 games?
      You can’t. And they won’t. Instead, each team will play 10 matches, five home and five away, against opponents seeded for strength, under the so-called ‘Swiss model’.
      After the 10 matches, scheduled to be extended into the last week of January, we will have the final table.
      Then what happens?
      The top eight will go straight through to the knock-out stage, with the teams finishing ninth to 24th playing off in two-legged ties to join them in the last 16 and the bottom eight out of the competition.
      There will be no trapdoor to the Europa League.
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      Then it’s a normal knock-out?
      Not completely. Uefa is considering seeding the entire draw from the last 16 stage, so that the top two in the League stage can avoid each other until the Final.
      And it is increasingly likely that the semi-final stage will be merged with the showpiece event into a ‘Final Four’ series of sudden death matches at the end of May.

      Who will make up the teams involved?
      Uefa think the current system, involving four guaranteed places for the leading four nations – currently England, Spain, Germany and Italy – should remain.
      But the four extra places will go to the fourth team in the fifth-ranked League – currently France although they could be overtaken by Portugal – one to an extra side from the play-off ‘champions’ path’ and two for ‘the clubs with the highest club coefficient over the last five years who have not qualified for the group stage but have for European competition’.
      The revamp will also effect the Europa League competitionCredit: Getty
      The what?
      Every team who enters European competition earns ‘coefficient points’ for wins, draws and qualification bonuses.
      These will be calculated over five years, effectively providing a backdoor route for major teams who have a relative nightmare domestically but still finish in a European place.
      If adopted this season, based on current league tables, the two boosted clubs would be Liverpool (sixth in the Prem) and Dortmund (fifth in the Bundesliga). West Ham (fifth) would stay in the Europa League.
      Talking of the Europa League…
      Both the Europa League and the new Uefa Conference League, due to start next season, will also be expanded to 36 teams.
      But teams would play just eight matches in the Europa and six in the Conference league stages, allowing exclusive Champions League programmes, with matches also played on a Thursday, on two weeks.
      Is this a fixed idea?
      In outline yes. The basics have been approved by all relevant parties and it is envisaged that the extension from 125 Champions League games per season to 225 will bring in as much as an extra £500m per season in TV and sponsorship packages alone.
      But the Super League rebellion has already brought arguments that the coefficient places should be scrapped as punishment with more champions from smaller countries qualifying automatically.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Peter Crouch has BT Sport pundits in stitches as he forgets his own Champions League heroics More

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      Uefa make direct plea to Prem Big Six to make U-turn over European Super League for sake of ‘home of football’ England

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      UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin today made a personal plea to the Prem Big Six to admit to their ‘mistake’ and recant the decision to sign up to a breakaway Super League.In a remarkable direct statement to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, United and City, Ceferin’s address to the Uefa Congress in Montreux urged the six to reflect on the damage they were on the verge of dealing to English and world football and to the fans who ‘bleed themselves dry’ for their clubs.
      Aleksander Ceferin has addressed the ‘Big Six’Credit: AP
      Ceferin, who branded the owners of the rebel 12 as turning their backs on the heritage and integrity of football, recognises Real Madrid and Juventus are now too far gone to come back into the fold.
      But while Liverpool and United were the two English ringleaders, the Slovenian clearly feels an emotional appeal could yet bring a U-turn.
      Ceferin said: “I would like to address the owners of some English clubs. 
      “Gentlemen, you have made a huge mistake. 
      “Some will say it is greed, others disdain, arrogance, flippancy or complete ignorance of England’s football culture. Actually, it doesn’t matter.
      “What matters is that there is still time to change your mind. Everyone makes mistakes in life.
      “English fans deserve to have you correct your mistake. They deserve respect.”
      Ceferin revealed he had received an email on Monday “from a Tottenham fan, Trevor”.

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      He added: It was a very touching email, with two simple but strong messages.
      “If you read the email, you would be close to crying.
      “Trevor said ‘I am terribly disappointed by my club; if I can help in any way to help stop the breakaway, please let me know’.
      “England, this incredible nation with such strong and unique links to football, deserves to have you correct your mistake. It deserves respect.
      “Correct your mistake, turn back, come to your senses. 
      “Not out of love for football – because I imagine some of you don’t have much of that.
      Do it out of respect for the English people, for the home of footballAleksander Ceferin
      “But out of respect for those who bleed themselves dry so that they can go to the stadium to support their team and want the dream to be kept alive.
      “Do it out of respect for the English people, for the home of football.
      “About the email, a message to Trevor, you already helped me, more than you can imagine. Because with your message, I know that we are right, and they are wrong. 
      “And I will fight for you and the fans. We will fight and it’s a match, together, that we cannot lose.”
      Ceferin’s appeal came just minutes after Fifa chief Gianni Infantino backed Uefa’s determined stance against the breakaway 12.
      Infantino was accused in January by LaLiga boss Javier Tebas of helping orchestrate the breakaway movement,
      But the Fifa President nailed his colours to the mast as he said:  “At Fifa we can only and strongly disapprove the creation of the Super League, which is is a closed shop and which is a break away from the current institutions.
      “It would be outside the system and there is no doubt whatsoever of Fifa disapproval for this and our full support for European football.

      Gianni Infantino also bemoaned the ESLCredit: EPA
      “The magic of football is the direct link from the very lowest league to the top.
      “People need to think very carefully and reflect and assume responsibility. 
      “They need to think not only about their shareholders but also about all the people, the fans and those who have contributed to create what European football is today.
      “It is our task to protect the European model to protect clubs and club competitions and national teams.
      “If some elect to go their own way then they must live with the consequences of their choice and answer for it.
      “This means either you are in or you are out. You cannot be half in or half out. Everybody has to think about it. This is absolutely clear.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says any players who take part in European Super League will be banned from World Cup and Euros More

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      Uefa ready to hand PSG Champions League this season by BANNING ‘snakes’ Chelsea and Co over European Super League

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      UEFA is ready to boot Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid out of this season’s Champions League – and hand the title to PSG.Euro chiefs are also prepared to kick Arsenal and Manchester United out of the Europa League semi-finals for signing up to the proposed Super League.
      Uefa are ready to hand PSG the Champions League by banning the other three semi-finalistsCredit: Getty
      And Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin, who branded the plotters ‘snakes’ who are ‘spitting in the face’ of football fans, has threatened to ban England and overseas stars including Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann from Euro 2020.
      Ceferin, who admitted to being ‘angry’ at the ‘greed, selfishness and narcissism’ of the 12 rebel clubs, made the threat during a press conference.
      He said: “The players who will play in the teams that might play in the closed league will be banned from playing in the World Cup or Euros and not be able to represent their national teams at any matches.
      “We’re still assessing the situation with our legal team. 
      “We will take all the sanctions we can and will inform you as soon as we have  a clear answer.
      “As soon as possible they have to be banned from all our competition and the players from all our competitions.”
      Asked to clarify if that meant an imminent move for the rest of this season and then the summer, Ceferin added: “I said they wouldn’t be able to play in our competitions, but I don’t know when. 
      “This thing is new for us. We might be naive because we didn’t know we had some snakes close to us but now we know and are working on it and will have legal actions soon.  
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      “It’s not clear yet. That is part of the legal assessment. We have a meeting tomorrow and it’s too fresh to know what will happen. We will inform you accordingly.
      “We understand that some players might be caught in a difficult situation.
      “But if materialises and we ban the players they will think twice before signing for a club like that.”
      Ceferin turned his fire on the plot leaders, especially Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli, branded ‘the biggest disappointment of all’.
      The Uefa boss, who added he expected Fifa President Gianni Infantino to back his hardline stance when he addresses Uefa’s annual Congress tomorrow, did not hold back as he blasted the rebels.
      He said: “These are disgraceful, self-serving proposals from a select few clubs that are fuelled purely by greed above all else.

      “Super League IS only about money. The money of the dozen.
      “This idea is spitting in the face of all football lovers and our society as well and we will not allow them to take it away from us..
      “I have seen many things. I was a criminal lawyer for 24 years but i have never seen people like this.
      “Greediness is so strong that all human values evaporate. In football I met many strange people, liars and bad people. 
      “Football is not all corrupt, just a small part of it led by greed only and they don’t care about anybody else, they don’t care about the game. 
      “You see chief execs changing clubs like we change shirts, owners who look at accounts, not goals.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Furious Liverpool and Tottenham fans protest European Super League plot outside stadiums with more supporters to follow More

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      Uefa announces new Champions League format with group stage AXED just hours after European Super League bombshell

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      UEFA have confirmed a monster shake-up to the Champions League just hours after the European Super League bombshell.On Sunday, it was confirmed 12 clubs had already signed up to form the new competition to rival the Champions League.
      The Champions League is set to welcome a new format from the 2024-25 seasonCredit: ReutersCHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Swiss system

      UNDER the ‘Swiss System’, teams will be assigned TEN opponents in one 36-team league.
      All teams will be seeded, with a computer programme carefully selecting clubs of differing strengths to ensure parity across the board.
      Under this system – first designed for a chess tournament held in Zurich in 1895 – all teams will play five times at home and five times away.
      The top 16 teams will progress to the knockout stages, with the club finishing first taking on the side who finished 16th.
      Second would play 15th, third would play 14th, fourth vs 13th and so on.

      And now Uefa have revealed a shake-up of their own while also hitting out at the ‘self-selected cartel’ who opted to form their own breakaway tournament.
      The Champions League will now welcome 36 teams rather than 32, with each team playing a minimum of TEN group stage games against ten different opponents in what’s called the ‘Swiss system’.
      A statement from the governing body read: “The Uefa Executive Committee today approved a new format for its club competitions as of the 2024-25 season.
      “The reforms come after an extensive consultation across the football family.
      “[It] received unanimous backing from the ECA Board and the UEFA Club Competitions Committee (made of a majority of club representatives) last Friday.
      “The changes made are designed to secure the positive future of European football at every level and meet the evolving needs of all its stakeholders.
      “Unequivocally confirming joint commitment to the principle of open competition and sporting merit across the continent, the common purpose has also been to sustain domestic leagues.”
      Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin gushed about the Champions League format changes – while simultaneously taking aim at the ‘dirty dozen’ who signed up to the ESL.
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      On the current competition’s changes, Ceferin said: “This new format supports the status and future of the domestic game throughout Europe as well.
      “It retains the principle that domestic performance should be the key to qualification and reconfirms the principles of solidarity right through the game and of open competition.
      “This evolved format will still keep alive the dream of any team in Europe to participate in the Champions League thanks to results obtained on the pitch and it will enable long-term viability, prosperity, and growth for everyone in European football, not just a tiny, self-selected cartel.
      “Football is a social and cultural treasure, enriched with values, traditions and emotions shared across our continent.
      “As the governing body and responsible stewards of the European game, it is Uefa’s role to safeguard this legacy while leading positive future development of football in Europe for national associations, leagues, clubs, players, and fans at every level.
      “This is why we had an extensive consultation process over the last two years which led to the unanimous backing of our proposal and we are convinced that these reforms achieve those objectives.”

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      On which teams will grab the extra four places, Uefa explained: “Qualification will continue to be open and earned through a team’s performance in domestic competitions.
      “One of the additional places will go to the club ranked third in the championship of the association in fifth position in the Uefa national association ranking.
      “Another will be awarded to a domestic champion by extending from four to five the number of clubs qualifying via the so-called ‘Champions Path’.
      “The final two places will go to the clubs with the highest club coefficient over the last five years that have not qualified for the Champions League group stage but have qualified either for the Champions League qualification phase, the Europa League or the Europa Conference League.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Man Utd and Arsenal resign from European Club Association and Woodward steps down from Uefa role in wake of Super League

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      MANCHESTER UNITED, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have become the latest clubs to resign from the European Club Association following the revelation of a Super League proposal.The ‘big six’ in England have all signalled their intent to join a 20-team breakaway league which has a provisional start date of the 2022-23 season.
      Woodward has led Man Utd’s departure from the ECA todayCredit: PA
      And while the idea has been widely slammed by ex-players, fans and football’s governing bodies, those clubs who have agreed to join the Super League have today begun to go one step further by resigning from the European Club Association [ECA].
      According to journalists James Olley and Samuel Luckhurst, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have joined Inter Milan and AC Milan in leaving the ECA within the last 24 hours.
      And The Mail are reporting that Juventus have also resigned, with club chairman Andrea Agnelli departing the Uefa Executive Committee.
      In the same breath Man Utd chief executive Ed Woodward has also stepped down from his role on the Uefa Professional Football Strategy Council.
      It comes after a statement was released by the Super League on Sunday night amid a huge backlash from the footballing world.
      The statement read: “Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.”
      Meanwhile, a post on the Juventus club website said: “The clubs have agreed to join the Super League on a long-term basis.
      “Additional top European clubs are expected to join the Super League project, reaching a core group of up to 15 permanent founding members that will be complemented each year by more clubs on the basis of an admission process, resulting in 20 clubs in the aggregate.
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      Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli has been a key player in the ESL formationCredit: EPA

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      And it went on to add: “Juventus expects the Super League to create long-term value for the Company and for the football industry as a whole.”
      Meanwhile, the ECA have come out in opposition to the Super League proposal, the latest in a long line of condemnations after Fifa, Uefa and the Premier League all weighed in.

      The ECA said: “In light of today’s reports on the subject of a so-called breakaway league, ECA as the body representing 246 leading clubs across Europe, reiterates its stated commitment to working on developing the UEFA Club Competitions (UCCs) model with UEFA for the cycle beginning 2024 and that a ‘closed super league model’ to which media articles refer would be strongly opposed by ECA.
      “ECA would refer to the position adopted by its Executive Board at its meeting last Friday April 16, namely that it supports a commitment to work with UEFA on a renewed structure for European Club Football as a whole post 2024, including proposed changes to the UEFA Club Competitions post 2024.
      “With ECA’s support, UEFA’s Executive Committee is being asked to endorse these commitments at its meeting on April 19 along with pursing efforts to reach an agreement on the future relationship between ECA and UEFA.
      ‘The ECA Executive Board will be convening over the coming days to take appropriate decisions in light of any further developments.”

      Ex-Man Utd star Gary Neville described the Super League as ‘criminal’ while reacting on air on Sunday afternoon.
      In a passionate rant, he said: “Relegate United, Liverpool and Arsenal because those three clubs are the history of this country they should be the ones to suffer most.
      “Deduct them all points tomorrow – put them at the bottom of the league and take the money off them.
      “Seriously you have got to stamp on this, it’s criminal. It is a criminal act against football fans in this country.
      “Make no mistake about it. This is the biggest sport in the world, in this country and it’s a criminal act against the fans, simple as that.
      “They are bottle merchants, you never hear from the owners of these clubs. They are absolute bottle merchants – they’ve got no voice.
      “And they’ll probably hide in a few weeks and say it was nothing to do with them and they were only talking about it.
      “It’s pure greed. They are impostors. They are impostors. The owners of this club [United], the owners of Liverpool, the owners of Chelsea, the owners of Manchester City are nothing to do with football in this country.”
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      Liverpool could be facing huge fine over Real Madrid coach window smashing incident before Champions League clash

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      UEFA bosses must wait for an official report before deciding whether to punish Liverpool for the attack  on the Real Madrid bus.Merseyside police have launched an investigation after damage was caused to the Real coach on its way to Anfield for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.
      A window on REal Madrid’s team coach was smashed on its way to Anfield last nightCredit: PA
      Hundreds of Liverpool supporters lined the streets on the way to the groundCredit: Reuters
      Los Blancos overcame the pre-match drama to hold the Reds to a goalless draw and advance to a semi-final clash with Chelsea with a 3-1 aggregate victory.
      Uefa observers at the game must decide whether to include the incident in their report.
      Video footage and images of a broken window on the side of the luxury emerged on social media.
      A Merseyside Police statement read: “An investigation is underway after damage was caused to the Real Madrid team bus this evening as it approached Anfield stadium.
      “Such incidents will not be tolerated & we are working with Liverpool and reviewing CCTV and body worn footage.”
      When one of Real’s buses parked up at the Kop end of the ground after the team had disembarked, it was apparent one pane of a double-glazed window had been smashed.
      Liverpool staff could be seen cleaning up a pile of broken glass with Merseyside Police officers in attendance.
      Hundreds of Liverpool fans had earlier been spotted lining Anfield Road ahead of kick-off.
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      A Liverpool spokesman said of the incident: “We condemn unequivocally the actions that led to Real Madrid’s team bus being damaged during its arrival to Anfield this evening
      “It is totally unacceptable and shameful behaviour of a few individuals.
      “We sincerely apologise to our visitors for any distress caused. We will work together with Merseyside Police to establish the facts and identify those responsible.”
      Europe’s governing body fined Liverpool £17,000 after City’s coach was pelted with bottles, cans and flares in April 2018.
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      Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool lost the tie in Madrid as they exit the Champions League after Anfield draw More

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      Watch Vinicius Jr ‘destroy Kabak’s career’ with insane skill as Real Madrid star casually chips ball over Liverpool ace

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      REAL MADRID star Vinicius Jr showed off a piece of sublime skill against Liverpool – and footie fans loved it.Thirty-five minutes into their Champions League quarter-final clash, the jet-heeled winger chipped the ball over the attempted challenge from Ozan Kabak.
      Vinicius Junior decided he could get past Ozan KabakCredit: BT Sport
      With a quick chip, Vinicius was awayCredit: BT Sport
      The Real Madrid winger left Kabak trailing in his wakeCredit: BT Sport
      It was done so nonchalantly to put the 20-year-old into acres of space.
      Unfortunately the Brazilian ended up running the ball out of play – but fans loved the footwork nonetheless.
      One posted on Twitter how Vinicius had ‘destroyed Ozan Kabak’s career in just one move’.
      Ntobeko Nkomo described the move as ‘ungovernable’, with another adding that Vinicius ‘dealt with Kabak nasty’.
      Manchester United fan ‘Aidan’ wrote that ‘Vinicius mugged him off’, while another joked that ‘Kabak marking Vinicius is going well’.
      Despite Vinicius’ box of tricks, he failed to help unlock the Liverpool defence as the sides played out a 0-0 draw.
      A 3-1 victory in the first leg at the Bernabeu meant that Real Madrid progress into the Champions League semis to face Chelsea.
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      Kabak did well there till Vinícius mugged him off— Aidan (@AidanLUHG) April 14, 2021

      kabak marking vinicius is going well— laís (@blankpace) April 14, 2021

      And as SunSport has reported, The Blues should be confident heading into the clash.
      Chelsea are unbeaten in all three competitive games they have played against the Spanish giants.
      The last time they played was on August 28, 1998 in the Uefa Super Cup, with Chelsea triumphing 1-0.
      In 1971 the two teams met in the Uefa European Cup Winners Cup.
      The first game finished 1-1 with the sides unable to be separated after extra-time. 
      But it was Dave Sexton’s boys celebrating in the second game with goals from John Dempsey and Peter Osgood securing a 2-1 triumph.
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      Vinicius Jr was brilliant once again against LiverpoolCredit: Reuters
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