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UEFA Champions League

PAST ENCOUNTERS OF CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE GLADIATORS

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BY APESIN ADEMOLA.

With the set-up for the first knockout  stage of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League completed, some clubs are paired against familiar foes.

Liverpool v Bayern München

Last year’s finalists Liverpool had played seven times against Bayern München , prevailing two times, sharing honours on four other occasions with the German champions winning only once.

Their last match-up in the 2001 UEFA Super Cup on August 24, 2001, which English Premier League current leaders won 3-2.

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In 1981, Liverpool played goalless with Bayern in the first leg of the European Cup semi-final and edged the Germans out on away goal rule having played 1-1 in Munich.

Liverpool’s current manager Jürgen Klopp will be up against a familiar side in the Round of 16 this time. He hasfaced Bayern more than any other team in his managerial career with 29 matchesso far, winning nine, drawing four and losing the rest.

AFC Ajax v Real Madrid

Ajax had played 12 times against Real Madrid in the Champions League and the European Cup competitions with the defending champions recording seven wins, one draw and four losses.

Ajax triumphed over Real Madrid in the semi-final of the 1972/3 European Cup, which the Dutch team eventually won, Ajax beat the Spaniards 2-1 in the first leg at Amsterdam and won in Madrid 1-0 with Juventus falling 0-1 in the final.

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Their other matches were at the group stage of the Champions League, the recent face-off being five years ago.

Olympique Lyonnais v Barcelona

In six Champions League matches against Lyon, Barcelona have won four times and drawn the remain.

Both teams first met at the preliminary group stage in the 2001/2 editions which the Catalans won 3-2 away and 2-0 in Barcelona.

In 2007/8 season, Barcelona were paired in Group E along with Lyon, Rangers and VfB Stuttgart. Although the Spanish club won 3-0 at home and battled 2-2 in the return leg, the two teams qualified to the knockout stages.

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On the way to winning the Champions League in the 2008/9 season, Barcelona faced Lyon in the Round of 16 forcing 1-1 draw away and emerging victorious 5-3 at home.

Atlético Madrid v Juventus

Both teams were paired in the same Group A of the 2014/5 UEFA Champions League. Atlético won the group and the Old Lady also progressed to the second round as runners-up.

In their head-to-head in that group , the LaLiga side won the first leg 1-0, while the return leg in Turin ended goalless.

Both teams had also clashed in the semi-final of the 1964/5 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup with the home team winning each of the two legs 3-1, while Juventus won the decisive fixture by the same margin.

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Schalke 04 v Manchester City

Both teams are yet to meet in the Champions League.

In other European competitions, they have had three encounters with the current English champions winning two and losing the other.

In the semi-final of the 1969/70 UEFA European Cup Winners Cup on April 1, 1970, Schalke 04 prevailed 1-0 at home, while City won the second leg 5-1. Manchester City eventually won the trophy that season.

The last match between both clubs was a decade ago in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup, Manchester City victorious 2-0 at the one-match group stage.

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Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund

Spurs and Dortmund were in the same group in the last episode of this competition. The English club won 3-1 at home and 2-1 in Dortmund to win the group and eliminate the German side who finished third.

Their other match-ups were in the Europa League in the 2015/16 season. Dortmund won home and away 5-1 aggregate.

AS Roma v FC Porto

FC Porto sent Roma out of the Champions League in last season’s play-off phase. The Portuguese club, who had won the competition two times, played 1-1 at home but beat Roma 3-0 in the return leg in Rome.

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Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germaine

These teams don’t have any previous match-up in competitive matches.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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UEFA Champions League

TikTokers spend 27 hours in stadium toilet to watch Champions League final for free

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 Paris St Germain Victory Parade - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - June 1, 2025 Paris St Germain players pose for a picture with the trophy and Paris St Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi during the victory celebration REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo 

A pair of Belgian TikTokers say they spent 27 hours in an Allianz Arena toilet last weekend before watching Paris St Germain beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final for free.

Neal Remmerie and Senne Haverbeke told VRT News they managed to get into the Munich stadium the day before the match and hid in a toilet cubicle.

After sticking a homemade “Out of Order” sign on the door, the pair waited in silence for more than a day as stadium staff used the facility.

“We had a backpack with snacks and we played around on our phones to kill time,” Remmerie told the Belgian public broadcaster.

“The lights were on all the time and the sitting position was uncomfortable, so sleeping was almost impossible. That made it physically and mentally difficult.”

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Once they heard fans starting to use the toilets on matchday, the pair left their bolthole and made their way past ticket inspectors to join the 86,600 crowd in the stands.

“We looked carefully at which security guard was paying the least attention. While on the phone and with food in our hands, we just walked on, and suddenly we were inside,” Remmerie added.

“PSG won 5-0 and we were also in the supporters’ section of the winning team. It was the most beautiful football match we have ever seen.”

The Allianz Arena and UEFA did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Those fans who made their way into the match more conventionally had to pay anywhere from 90 to 950 euros ($100-$1,100) for their tickets.

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-Reuters

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UEFA Champions League

How Heineken Scored a Five-Star UEFA Champions League Experience for Nigerian Fans

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Some hardcore fans displaying their loyalty to the winning team PSG at the final watch party by Heineken.

Indeed, it was an evening where football merged with lifestyle. Nigerian music stars Fido and Wande Coal brought their A-game, performing crowd favourites that had fans singing along and dancing well into the night. 

Their live performances added vibrant colour to an already electrifying evening, keeping the energy alive after the final whistle.

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Hard core fans cut across gender, as displayed by the ladies during the Heineken Watch Party in at the Lagos Continental Hotel last Saturday

Adding star power to the experience was ex-Super Eagles striker Julius Aghahowa, who mingled freely with guests, posed for pictures, and shared expert insight on the game, delighting fans with his presence and personal touch.

“This year’s UEFA Champions League final is not just a match—it’s a cultural moment,” said Maria Shadeko, Portfolio Manager for Premium Beer at Nigerian Breweries. “We’re blending world-class football with unforgettable lifestyle experiences. Through our activities, we’re celebrating the real hardcore fans—the ones who make the game magical from wherever they are.”

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Shadeko added that Heineken’s goal is to ensure Nigerian fans feel seen and celebrated. “They may not be in Munich, but they’re just as important to the spirit of the game. That’s why we go all out—every year—to make this night one to remember.”

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UEFA Champions League

PEPSI GOALFEST 2025: Record-Breaking UCL Final, Unforgettable Fan Experience!

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The roar of the crowd, the thrill of every shot, and the ultimate victory! Last Saturday night, Pepsi brought the UEFA Champions League 2025 final to life at the Pepsi GoalFest 2025, where PSG dominated Inter Milan in a stunning 5-0 victory, setting a new record for goals in a final.

The Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos was completely transformed into an electrifying arena, with a dominant wave of the iconic Pepsi blue.


Football fanatics experienced passion like never before. Inside and around the venue, fans engaged in thrilling football-themed games, moved to the beats of electrifying music, and stayed refreshed with Pepsi.

The energy soared as Dj Yk Mule, Mayorkun, and Do2tun delivered show-stopping performances, all powered by Pepsi.


It wasn’t just a game; it was an immersive celebration of football, an unforgettable night where every cheer, every goal, and every moment was refreshed by Pepsi!

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