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

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

Published

5 days 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

1 month 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

UEFA Champions League

Arteta praise for Gyokeres as Arsenal striker ends goal drought

Published

1 month ago

October 22, 2025

Kunle Solaja

UEFA Champions League - Arsenal v Atletico Madrid - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - October 21, 2025 Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres hugs Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as he is substituted off Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

One of the few clouds hanging over Arsenal this season has been the lack of goals from the big-money centre forward Viktor Gyokeres but he erased some doubts with a timely return to form by scoring twice in a 4-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Gyokeres, who Arsenal signed for 64 million pounds ($85.89 million) from Sporting, poached his side’s third and fourth goals to end a nine-game streak without netting for club and country.

The Swede was all smiles as he was substituted late on and manager Mikel Arteta said the 27-year-old fully deserved the ovation he received from the Arsenal fans.

“I think he deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks,” Arteta told reporters.

“There was no debate about that. It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely. I look at his teammates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him.”

His opening goal was a messy affair as his weak shot dribbled into the net via a deflection while his second came from yet another Arsenal set piece with Gabriel heading a corner into the path of the Sweden international.

“He makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable. He’s so physical, the way he presses the ball, holds the ball, that’s phenomenal,” Arteta said.

“He’s scored two very different ones today, and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals.”

Gyokeres now has five for the season, including three in the Premier League, and was clearly relieved to be back on target.

“(It’s reward) for the team, but of course, me as well,” he said of the win that maintained Arsenal’s 100% start in the Champions League. “I do my best all the time, work hard and contribute with different stuff. It’ll come sooner or later.”

-Reuters

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