Champions League
Champions League: Jurgen Klopp backed by Rafa Benitez to repeat Liverpool’s ‘Miracle of Istanbul’
Jurgen Klopp has been backed by Rafa Benitez to repeat his feat from 2004-05 and win the Champions League despite a disappointing Premier League campaign. Liverpool, who sit five points outside the top four with nine games to play, face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and could play Chelsea, their semi-final opponents in 2005, in the following round. With the final set to be played at Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium, the venue for Benitez’s side’s miracle comeback against AC Milan, there is plenty of talk of destiny for Liverpool. Asked if Liverpool could go all the way again in Europe, Benitez told the Daily Mail: “For sure. Liverpool has the potential and the manager, it’s not a problem. “People talk about Istanbul like we were lucky. But we were not lucky to win the Champions League becaus...
‘Boss-like presence’: Antonio Rudiger praises ‘world class’ Chelsea star ahead of Atletico clash
Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has heaped praise on Thiago Silva ahead of the second leg of the Champions League last 16 tie against Atletico Madrid. Silva joined the Blues on a free transfer after the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain last summer, and he has since made 21 appearances in all competitions. He is out on the sidelines with a recurrence of a muscle injury but has made a solid impression among his teammates in a short while. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game, Rudiger was asked about Silva’s influence, and he described the 36-year-old as a ‘world-class defender’. The 28-year-old added that age is only a number for the Brazil international and said that he has a boss-like presence around the club. He told football.london: “For me, a world-class defender – showed i...
Giroud and Hudson-Odoi start, Predicted Chelsea line-up (3-4-3) vs Atletico Madrid
Chelsea host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday night. The Blues have been in fine form since Thomas Tuchel took charge as the manager in January and are unbeaten in 12 matches. They go into tomorrow’s clash with the away-goal advantage after the 1-0 win in Romania. Olivier Giroud scored the winner with a superb overhead kick. The goal was initially deemed offside, but after a long VAR review, it was adjudged that Atletico defender Mario Hermoso played the ball into Giroud’s path. Formation: 3-4-3 Predicted Line-up: Edouard Mendy kept his 14th clean sheet of the league campaign last weekend as the Blues drew 0-0 at Leeds United. He had to work hard for the shut-out after he produced two excellent saves. He is expected to continue in goal. Tuchel ...
Guardiola to make seven changes, Predicted Man City line-up (4-3-3) vs Borussia Monchengladbach
Manchester City are scheduled to host Borussia Monchengladbach in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday night. The Cityzens registered a comfortable 2-0 win over the German outfit in the first leg last month with Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus finding the back of the net. The second leg was initially due to be played at the Etihad Stadium but has been relocated to the Puskas Arena in Budapest due to coronavirus restrictions. Pep Guardiola’s side should be favourites to register another victory tomorrow, particularly with Monchengladbach in a poor run of league form. In the last eight games in all competitions, they have suffered seven defeats and picked up just one draw (0-0 against Wolfsburg in mid-February). Formation: 4-3-3 Predicted Line-up: Ederson is the Cityzen...
Jordan Henderson and other Liverpool players react to CL win vs Leipzig
Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after beating RB Leipzig 2-0 (4-0 on aggregate) on Wednesday night in Hungary. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane scored for the Reds as they finally returned to winning ways. Jordan Henderson, the Reds skipper, who is currently out injured, wrote on his Instagram story – ‘Well done lads. On to the quarters we go’. Several other Liverpool players also shared their reactions after the game. From front to back lads worked hard for that win! Big clean sheet too. pic.twitter.com/5EIfjjfMer — Andy Robertson (@andrewrobertso5) March 10, 2021 Bring on Quarters. pic.twitter.com/IXMkn4Oo2B — Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) March 10, 2021 Job done! 💪🏻🔴Quarter-finals! pic.twitter.com/oB4NC56xAu — Adr...
Another injury blow for Liverpool, Barcelona sweating on key player
The Champions League has reached the knockout stage, and the round of 16 features some exciting UCL fixtures. We’ll update this story with reports, results and the latest Champions League highlights as the second-leg games are played. The action is already underway, with Juventus facing Porto while Borussia Dortmund host Sevilla. Juventus XI: Szczesny, Cuadrado, Bonucci, Demiral, Alex Sandro, Chiesa, Rabiot, Arthur, Ramsey, C Ronaldo, Morata. Porto XI: Marchesín, Manafa, Pepe, Mbemba, Zaidu, Sergio Oliveira, Uribe, Otavio, Corona, Marega, Taremi. Can Juve turn around their #UCL last 16 tie? — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 9, 2021 Dortmund take a 3-2 lead into their #UCL second-leg vs Sevilla… Dortmund XI: Hitz, Morey, Can, Hummels, Schulz, Delaney, Bellingham, Dahoud, Reus, Haza...
Asisat Oshoala cleared to return for Barcelona despite Fortuna Hjorring injury
Asisat Oshoala’s absence from Barcelona victory over Santa Teresa will not prevent her from taking part in Wednesday’s second leg against Fortuna Hjorring in the Women’s Champions League. The Nigerian featured in the final 13 minutes for Lluis Cortes’ team, after replacing hat-trick hero Jenni Hermoso at Estadi Johan Cruyff, as the Spanish champions cruised to a 4-0 first-leg victory. Oshoala was forced to watch the last match against Santa from the sidelines, having been left out due to an injury on her right foot. Besides the Nigerian, teammates Lieke Martens and Andrea Falcon also missed the Santa trip due to discomfort in their knees on Friday. Ahead of their trip to Denmark, Oshoala and Martens, however, were cleared to make the Barcelona squad to Hjorring for the second leg match. Th...
Kylian Mbappe wants 700,000 euros a week
Kylian Mbappe has said he will only renew if big money is involved. He has yet to make a firm decision on his future, but he is clear that he wants a pay rise if he is to extend his contract. He wants 36 million euros a year, like Neymar. PSG are going to be involved in tough negotiations to keep hold of Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman is studying his options before deciding on his future, but he is clear what his transfer demands are if he is to form part of a new peoject. And his salary is the main issue. Mbappe wants to be seen as one of the best footballers in Europe and he wants that to be reflected in his salary. According to ‘The Athletic’, Man City have pulled out of the race to get the French striker after finding out about his transfer demands. Kylian, therefore, wants to earn sligh...
Boost for Barcelona as Paris Saint-Germain star misses out
The Champions League takes centre stage over the next two weeks as the eight second-leg ties in the round of 16 are played across Europe. The action gets underway on Tuesday with a pair of fixtures that are finely poised. Juventus head into their second meeting with Porto needing to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg. Borussia Dortmund will fancy their chances of reaching the quarter-finals as they hold a 3-2 advantage over Sevilla. Liverpool continue their quest for Champions League glory as they go head-to-head with RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Reds lead 2-0 after the first leg, and it would be a surprise if they failed to progress to the last eight. Paris Saint-Germain are also well placed to go through as they hold a 4-1 lead over Barcelona. However, PSG star Neymar will miss th...
Carlo Ancelotti: Everton not at Chelsea level
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side had been second best all night during their defeat at Chelsea stating the Meyserside club are not at the same level with the Blues. An own goal by Ben Godfrey and a second half penalty from Jorginho consigned Everton to a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, leaving them four points adrift of Chelsea in fourth but with a match in hand still. Chelsea dominated the fixture and could have won by a bigger margin, with Kai Havertz also having a goal ruled out in the second half for handball. And Ancelotti claimed that his side have plenty of work to do before now and the end of the season if they want to somehow battle it out right to the very end with the likes of Chelsea for a Champions League spot. “They played better than us,’ Ancelotti told BT Sp...
Bundesliga: RB Leipzig knock Bayern Munich from top after romp at Freiburg
RB Leipzig climbed top of the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 3-0 romp at Freiburg to replace previous leaders Bayern Munich, who later host Dortmund in Germany’s ‘Klassiker’. Christopher Nkunku, Alexander Sorloth and Emil Forsberg scored the goals in Freiburg which lifted Leipzig one point ahead of Bayern, who are at home to Dortmund (1730GMT). “That was a mature performance,” Leipzig sports director Markus Kroesche told Sky. “Anything is possible,” he replied when asked if Leipzig can stop Bayern winning a ninth straight league title this season. Leipzig impressed in their final tune-up before facing Liverpool in Budapest next Wednesday in the last 16 of the Champions League having lost the first leg 2-0. Leipzig took the lead at Freiburg after a first-half blunder by home goalkeeper Flori...
Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to do a post-match interview
Cristiano Ronaldo appears to hint that all isn’t well with him at Juventus after refusing to make any post-match comments. The Portuguese attacker scored a hat-trick as the Bianconeri beat Cagliari 3-1 to boost their chances of retaining their league title. His performance was one that needed him to speak after the game, considering that he would take the match ball home and has never scored in the stadium before. Calciomercato reports that after the game, he was asked for an interview and he told the communications manager of the club that he didn’t want to make any statements. By doing so, he rejected the chance to put some news about his future to bed once and for all. He has been criticized for failing to help the Bianconeri win the Champions League after dominating the competition whe...