UEFA Champions League

Adiós! Atlético, It’s Real Versus Juve

Published

9 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

Salah left out of Liverpool squad for Inter trip

Published

15 hours ago

December 8, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Mohamed Salah was not named in Liverpool’s 19-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League game at Inter Milan, after the forward said he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club.

Salah, an unused substitute during Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United, lashed out at the club and coach Arne Slot after the match, telling reporters that he had been made a scapegoat for their poor start to the season, as champions Liverpool sit ninth in the Premier League.

The Egypt international trained with the Liverpool squad on Monday morning.

-Reuters

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UEFA Champions League

Arsenal’s Munoz becomes youngest UEFA Youth League player at 13

Published

2 weeks ago

November 27, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Arsenal’s Luis Munoz became the youngest player to feature in a UEFA Youth League match on Wednesday when the 13-year-old came off the bench in the closing stages of their 4-2 win over Bayern Munich in the under-19 competition.

Munoz, who does not turn 14 until December 18, replaced Kyran Thompson in the 85th minute. The teenage midfielder beat the record set by Liam Payas, who played for Gibraltar-based Lincoln Red Imps aged 14 years and 93 days in September 2024.

Arsenal are 30th in the UEFA Youth League table, with only the top 22 teams qualifying for the knockout stages. They next face Belgian side Club Brugge on December 10.

-Reuters

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UEFA Champions League

Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt

Published

2 months ago

October 23, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Victor Osimhen scores their second goal REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Galatasaray made the most of a litany of errors by Norwegian visitors Bodo/Glimt as they cruised to a 3-1 home win in the Champions League on Wednesday, with striker Victor Osimhen netting twice for the Turkish side in the first half.

UEFA Champions League – Galatasaray v Bodo/Glimt – RAMS Park, Istanbul, Turkey – October 22, 2025 Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Osimhen wasted no time giving the home side an early lead, sweeping a sumptuous first-time finish past Nikita Haikin in the third minute as the Norwegian side was quickly punished for giving the ball away cheaply in midfield.

Osimhen doubled his tally in the 33rd minute after another error. Under pressure as he ran infield, Bodo left-back Fredrik Bjorkan inexplicably passed the ball straight to Osimhen in a central position, and the forward gratefully tucked the ball away.

UEFA Champions League – Galatasaray v Bodo/Glimt – RAMS Park, Istanbul, Turkey – October 22, 2025 Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen in action REUTERS/Murad Sezer

Bodo created some decent chances of their own but were made to pay again on the hour mark as centre-back Haitam Aleesami was robbed just outside his penalty area by Osimhen, and Yunus Akgun was able to score at the second attempt to make it 3-0.

Osimhen had plenty of opportunities to complete his hat-trick but he was thwarted by keeper Haikin, and Bodo substitute Andreas Helmersen was able to head home a close-range consolation goal in the 76th minute as his side finished strongly.

With seven games kicking off later on Wednesday, the win leaves Galatasaray on six points from three games, while Bodo/Glimt have two points ahead of their home clash with Monaco of France in two weeks. Galatasaray are next away at Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam.

-Reuters

Victor Osimhen scores their second goal REUTERS/Umit Bektas