UEFA Champions League

Adiós! Atlético, It’s Real Versus Juve

Published

8 years ago

May 10, 2017

Great thanks to Isco. He was the hero and scorer of the crucial goal, as Real Madrid survived a big scare to book yet another UEFA Champions League final after a tough second leg semi final duel with city rivals, Atlético Madrid.

Real Madrid will attempt to become the first side to defend their UEFA Champions League crown.

Poor Atlético! They started with great determination in the Herculean task of cancelling a three-goal deficit.

They almost did. No team has ever done that, not even a two goal deficit in the semi finals. Atlético were almost rewriting history as almost under 16 minutes, they had pulled two goals back before Isco salvage the game for Real Madrid just before half time.

They now bid farewell to the 2017 competition and also to their age-long home, the Vicente Calderón.

Wednesday night’s return leg encounter of the Champion League has become their last home game at Vicente Calderón. It had been their fortress for years. Atlético have played 142 European games at the Calderón since it opened in 1966, winning 105, drawing 24 and losing just 14.

But their last victory, a 2-1 win over Real Madrid has proved worthless as they crashed out 2-4 on aggregate. From next season, Atlético will play home games at the Metropolitano, 16km away from the Calderón to the north-east of Madrid.

The new arena will hold 67,000 spectators and, unlike its predecessor, will have a roof for those occasional wet Madrid nights. It is in contention to host the 2019 UEFA Champions League final. The Calderón will become flats.

Real Madrid will now face Juventus in the June 3 final match in Cardiff, a repeat of the 1998 episode in which Real Madrid triumphed 1-0.

UEFA Champions League

Flick backs Rashford to fill Yamal’s boots in Barcelona’s Champions League return

Published

14 hours ago

September 17, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is counting on Marcus Rashford to step up when the Catalans begin their Champions League campaign against Newcastle on Thursday, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal sidelined by injury.

Rashford, who delivered an assist in Barcelona’s stunning 6-0 thrashing of Valencia on Sunday, has caught the eye of his German coach since arriving from Manchester United.

“I really follow Marcus (Rashford) since he started with Manchester United. And I always said, ‘Wow! What a player he is!’,” Flick told reporters at Wednesday’s press conference in Newcastle.

“He has speed, but also, in one-against-one situations, it’s really fantastic. And also finishing, it’s unbelievable.

“What I saw from him in the first weeks here, it’s very good. And I think also he still has potential to show us more.”

Yamal, who started the season strongly with two goals and two assists in LaLiga, will miss Thursday’s clash due to a hip injury on international duty with Spain. The 17-year-old may also be doubtful for Sunday’s match against Getafe.

Barcelona will also be without Alejandro Balde and Gavi, plus long-term absentee Marc-Andre ter Stegen, though Frenkie de Jong is available for selection.

“We all know that Lamine (Yamal) is not playing against Newcastle, maybe not on Sunday (against Getafe),” Flick said. “But at the end, we have a strong team and in his position we have Marcus Rashford. If someone up front cannot play, he can step up and play like he showed on Sunday against Valencia. That is how good he is. I hope that he can show in England the same performance he did on Sunday.”

The German coach remains confident about his team’s Champions League prospects despite facing stiff competition. “I’m not thinking about who the favourite is (to win the Champions League this season). There are some very good teams, mainly coming from the Premier League,” he said.

“What we saw against Valencia was very positive. We are playing well in all areas. With this confidence, it is important to play tomorrow. They are very strong, but we are confident.”

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UEFA Champions League

Galatasaray’s Fixtures Under Threat Over Osimhen’s Injury

Published

2 weeks ago

September 7, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Osimhen’s injury is also causing unease in Turkey, where Galatasaray are counting on their record signing for key matches this month.

The Turkish champions are scheduled to face Eyupspor in the Super Lig on September 14, before a crucial Champions League group opener against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 18.

Club officials have confirmed that Osimhen will undergo medical checks upon his return to Istanbul, but fears linger that he could miss one or both fixtures.

Given his explosive start to life at Galatasaray, his absence would be a huge blow as the club seeks to maintain domestic dominance and make a strong impression in Europe.

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UEFA Champions League

Teams qualified for the UEFA Champions League main tournament

Published

3 weeks ago

August 28, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff Draw - UEFA Headquarters, Nyon, Switzerland - January 31, 2025 General view of the Champions League logo before the draw REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

Following is a list of the teams that have qualified for the league phase of this season’s Champions League.

Teams are divided into four pots for the draw, based on their club coefficient. Each team will play against two others from each pot, with one match held at home and the other away.

Projected pots

Pot 1: Paris St Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona.

Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge.

Pot 3: Tottenham Hotspur, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax Amsterdam, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiakos, Slavia Prague, Bodo/Glimt, Olympique de Marseille.

Pot 4: FC Copenhagen, Monaco, Galatasaray, Union SG, Qarabag, Athletic Bilbao, Newcastle United, Pafos, Kairat.

Teams will be prevented from facing rivals from their own country and will be limited to playing against only two clubs from any single country.

The league-phase draw will take place on Thursday in Monaco with the first matches scheduled to be played from September 16 to 18. The final will be played on May 30 2026 at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.

-Reuters

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