UEFA Champions League
LIVE: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: RB LEIPZIG 2-1 ATLETICO MADRID
It’s all over! Leipzig are in the semifinals for the first time in their history!!!!
It’s 2 minutes beyond the added time.
Yellow card – Gimenez
We’re over the allotted 5 minutes of added time, but still we play on… free kick to Leipzig, and surely that’s it?
90+5 min: Atletico Madrid are throwing men forward now, but they’re running out of time. There’s a Leipzig man down complaining of cramp
FIVE MINUTES ADDED TIME:
GOAL! RB Leipzig 2-1 Atletico Madrid (Adams)
88 min: It’s a great flick around the corner from Sabitzer for Angelino, who finds substitute Adams in the middle. He takes a long range shot, and it takes an awful deflection to go past Oblak and into the goal!
GOAL! RB Leipzig 2-1 Atletico Madrid (Adams)
88 min: It’s a great flick around the corner from Sabitzer for Angelino, who finds substitute Adams in the middle. He takes a long range shot, and it takes an awful deflection to go past Oblak and into the goal!
GOAL!!!!!!OAL! RB Leipzig 2-1 Atletico Madrid (Adams)
Atletico Madrid have scored in each of their last 19 games in all competitions – last enjoying a longer scoring run in 2012 (24 games).82 mins
SUBSTITUTIONS
RB Leipzig 1-1 Atletico Madrid
Goalscorer Dani Olmo is off and is replaced by Patrik Schick and Christopher Nkunku comes off for Amadou Haidara.
João Félix has scored four goals in his three European quarter-final appearances, having hit a hat-trick for Benfica against Eintracht Frankfurt in last season’s UEFA Europa League first leg.That spot kick made it six goals from six penalties for him in senior football – the last three in UEFA club competition.
81mins:
Under 10 minutes to go
Remember, there are no second legs. This one’s going to extra time if the teams can’t be separated in the next 9 minutes
78MIN: Substitution: Adams (in) – Laimer (out) (Leipzig).
77 min: Leipzig now have to come again, as it looks like Atletico are content to sit back again
Subs: Atletico: Morata comes on for Costa
Leipzig: Adams comes on for Laimer
PENALTY KICK!!!
PENALTY TO ATLETICO MADRID
It’s that man Joao Felix! He plays a one-two with Costa and he’s into the box, brought down around the penalty spot just before he takes a shot
63 min: Felix wins a free kick for his side
Yellow card – Lodi
61 min: Lodi knocks the ball past his man in the box and he goes down!
No contact whatsoever, and he’s given a yellow card for diving
58 mins
SUBSTITUTION
RB Leipzig 1-0 Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone twists after just 13 minutes of the second half played.
Hector Herrera is off and £113m Joao Felix joins the attack.
58 mins
SUBSTITUTION
RB Leipzig 1-0 Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone twists after just 13 minutes of the second half played.
Hector Herrera is off and £113m Joao Felix joins the attack.
Gooooal!
Olmo (Leipzig) scores!
GOAL! RB Leipzig 1-0 Atletico Madrid (Olmo)
51 min: Finally! They work it well, and Olmo finds some space in the box to guide a header straight past Oblak, who can’t get near it with his outstretched hand
2nd Half KICK-OFF
RB Leipzig 0-0 Atletico Madrid
We are back under way in Lisbon.
Post update
45+2 mins
Half Time
Post update
RB Leipzig 0-0 Atletico Madrid
RB free-kick though.
41 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Atletico Madrid
Marcos Llorente rolls his way towards the advertising hoardings after an excellent tackle by Dayot Upamecano. He’s OK despite giving the appearance his career was over.
Atletico have a corner but it’s cleared.
39 mins
Post update
RB Leipzig 0-0 Atletico Madrid
As if by magic, the blood has disappeared from the head of Marcel Halstenberg while Stefan Savic has a big bandage wrapped around his head.
We continue.
39 mins
RB Leipzig 0-0 Atletico Madrid
As if by magic, the blood has disappeared from the head of Marcel Halstenberg while Stefan Savic has a big bandage wrapped around his head.
We continue.
Ouch! That looked like it hurt and Savić is bleeding heavily. That kind of full-blooded commitment is exactly what Simeone demands from his players.
35mins: Medical attention:
Savic and Halstenberg are down after they come together at speed, their heads knocking together. The ref stops the match so they can be checked out
Savic looks the worst out of the two, and Felipe is warming up just in case
28 min: Diego Simeone is waving his imaginary yellow card as one of his men is once again brought down unfairly. The referee has kept his cards in his pocket so far though
26 min: RB Leipzig are able to swing a cross in though, and it’s a very good one, aimed at the tall defenders who had come forward right into that corridor of uncertainty, but Atleti get it clear
MATCH SO FAR RB LEIPZIG 0-0 ATLETICO MADRID
· Atlético face Leipzig in #UCL quarter-final
· Simeone’s side force 2 saves from Gulácsi
· Bright opening from Nagelsmann’s men
· Winners face Paris in semi-finals
21 mins ;RB Leipzig 0-0 Atletico Madrid
Crucial clearance by German defender Marcel Halstenberg from Yannick Carrasco’s free-kick to the far post – Marcos Llorente was lurking behind the RB man.
Atletico are right back in this match after RB’s earlier good spell.
19 min: Another free kick for Atletico Madrid in a decent position. Their players have been getting free in the box so far thanks to zonal marking.
Carrasco teases one in, and Saul is waiting for it before Halstenberg gets it clear
19 min: Another free kick for Atletico Madrid in a decent position.
15 min: The VAR check is taking a while, and in the meantime Leipzig are on the attack down the middle. It’s switched out to the left side, but the cross is headed away by Savic.
No penalty, by the way, after a three minute check
12 min: Lovely work from Carrasco and Lodi down the left, and the shot fizzes in towards Gulacsi’s near post, who parries it away for a corner.
Saul Niguez gets in a little tangle with the keeper and goes down in the box looking for a penalty, VAR are checking
4mins: Halstenberg (Leipzig) misses the target.
Giménez heads the corner clear and, from a second cross from the left, the ball falls to Halstenberg, who volleys a decent opportunity well over the far angle of Oblak’s goal from inside the penalty area on the right. This has been a positive start from Leipzig, looking confident and energetic.
2mins: Diego Costa (Atlético) is flagged for offside.
Atletico kicked off.
Leipzig make seven changes from last outing. Atlético bring in four from last match. German side make quarter-finals debut. Winners face Paris in semi-finals
KICK-OFF: The match is under way.
A minute’s silence will be observed before kick-off to honour all victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
TEAMS ARRIVE ON THE PITCH
RB Leipzig are out onto the pitch first, followed by Atletico Madrid separately making their way onto the pitch to promote social distancing
COVID -19 PROTOCOLS
There are a lot of rules in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the Champions League knockout stages.
Portugal is playing host to the rest of the competition, and two-legged ties are a thing of the past.
Each squad has been allocated a hotel and training area that is separate from the rest of the teams, and you need permission to leave.
There’s rigorous testing in place, and if you can’t field a squad of 13 healthy players, you automatically lose 3-0.
Each club has been allocated 210 bottles of water to use per day, and warm-ups cannot be done inside penalty areas in order to protect the pitch.
Action continues tonight in the UEFA Champions League as german side, RB Leipzig face La Liga side, Atletico Madrid.
It is the third match of the quarterfinal series. Both teams coincidentally overcame Premiership sides, Tottenham and Liverpool.
Diego Simeone ‘s Atletico Madrid will be hoping to make another final having seen Real Madrid exit in the last round, as their rivals caused them heartache in the 2014 and 2016 finals.
RB Leipzig finished third in the Bundesliga will be hoping to continue their impressive form without Timo Werner who helped them to this stage, now that he has signed for Chelsea.
RB LEIPZIG
Starting XI: Gulacsi, Angelino, Upamecano, Sabitzer, Poulsen, Klostermann, Nkunku, Halsternberg, Olmo, Laimer, Kampl
Subs: Mvogo, Tschauner, Orban, Haigara, Forsberg, Adams, Lookman, Schick, Mukiele, Novoa, Borkowski, Wosz
ATLETICO MADRID
Starting XI: Oblak, Lodi, Gimenez, Savic, Trippier, Carrasco, Saul, Koke, Herrera, Llorente, Costa
Subs: Adan, Arias, Felipe, Hermoso, Sanchez, Thomas, Lemar, Vitolo, Toni Moya, Joao Felix, Morata, Saponjic
UEFA Champions League
Thierry Henry, “Igwe,” Give Victor Osimhen Sweet Pidgin Salute After UCL Heroics
Veteran football legend Thierry Henry, affectionately known by many Nigerian fans as “Igwe”, had social media buzzing after he greeted Nigerian star Victor Osimhen in Nigerian Pidgin English during a post-match interview following Galatasaray’s dramatic passage into the UEFA Champions League last 16.
The Istanbul giants advanced 7–5 on aggregate over Juventus despite losing the second leg 3–2, thanks to Osimhen’s extra-time equaliser and a late winner from Barış Alper Yılmaz.
“Victor, how bodi?” Sparks Joy
In his CBS Sports interview, Henry deliberately used Nigerian Pidgin to greet Osimhen:
“Victor, how bodi?”
The question — loosely meaning “Victor, how are you?” — immediately lit up the stadium and viewers online.
Osimhen, clearly delighted, responded in kind:
“Bodi dey fine!”
(I’m fine!)
The exchange sent Nigerian fans and football supporters around the world into a frenzy on social media, with many praising Henry for embracing local culture and cheering the Super Eagles star in his own tongue.
Osimhen’s Big Night
The 25-year-old, who joined Galatasaray from SSC Napoli in a club-record €75 million move, has continued to shine in Turkey. With nine Super Lig goals so far this season, his knack for rising on big occasions was once again on display in European competition.
After his extra-time strike against Juventus — a goal that turned the tie on its head and ultimately sent Gala through — Osimhen cemented his status as one of African football’s brightest performers on the biggest stages.
Fans Celebrate the Cultural Nod
The playful Pidgin exchange wasn’t just a fun moment — it also highlighted how football continues to connect cultures and nations. Nigerian fans online applauded Henry’s effort to speak their language and celebrated Osimhen’s response as a sign of how far the Nigerian forward has come in his European career.
One fan wrote: “Igwe sabi! That ‘how bodi’ make my day!”
Another added: “Victor dey represent us well for Europe.”
As Galatasaray prepare for the next phase of their European campaign, Osimhen’s star quality remains a major talking point — both for what he does on the pitch and how he continues to light up moments off it.
Source: Post-match interview on CBS Sports and related commentary (https://x.com/i/status/2026812476667449591)
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Victor Osimhen once again rose to the grand European stage on Wednesday night, delivering a decisive extra-time strike that propelled Galatasaray into the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 despite a spirited comeback attempt from 10-man Juventus.
Although the Turkish champions fell 3-2 in the second leg in Turin, Osimhen’s crucial intervention ensured Galatasaray advanced 7-5 on aggregate after a dramatic knockout round playoff clash.
Juventus’ Brave Response
Trailing 5-2 from the first leg in Istanbul, Juventus needed something special. Against expectations — and recent form that had seen them winless in five matches — the Italian giants produced a stirring response.
Captain Manuel Locatelli gave the hosts hope from the penalty spot eight minutes before halftime after Lucas Torreira fouled Khephren Thuram. But their task grew tougher just three minutes into the second half when Lloyd Kelly was sent off, leaving Juve to once again finish a European contest with 10 men.
Yet, the Bianconeri refused to wilt. Federico Gatti tapped in from close range with 20 minutes remaining, and Weston McKennie’s late header levelled the tie on aggregate, sending the Allianz Stadium into delirium and forcing extra time.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Juventus looked the more dangerous side. Kenan Yildiz struck the post, while several half-chances went begging as belief surged through the home ranks.
Osimhen’s Moment of Authority
But when the tension peaked, and legs began to tire, Osimhen delivered.
Just before halftime in extra time, the Nigerian striker collected a precise pass from Baris Alper Yilmaz inside the area. With trademark composure and lethal instinct, he fired through the legs of goalkeeper Mattia Perin to silence the stadium and restore Galatasaray’s aggregate lead.
It was a goal of timing, intelligence, and clinical precision — the hallmark of a striker built for decisive nights.
As Juventus threw bodies forward in desperation, they ran out of steam. Yilmaz compounded their misery late on, finishing off a swift counterattack to seal the Turkish side’s progression.
Respect for Juventus, Reward for Galatasaray
Despite elimination, Juventus earned warm applause from their supporters after a valiant effort.
“I feel like crying. We gave our heart and soul,” Locatelli told Amazon Prime. “In the first leg, an episode was complicated today.”
Gatti echoed the sentiment, admitting fatigue proved costly in extra time.
For Galatasaray, however, the night belonged to Osimhen — a striker whose influence continues to define their European campaign. His extra-time heroics now set up a Round of 16 showdown against either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur, with Friday’s draw set to determine their next opponent.
On a night of drama, resilience, and shifting momentum, it was Osimhen who wrote the final chapter — proving once more that when the stakes are highest, he answers the call.
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Real Madrid recovered from an early scare to beat Benfica 2-1 on Wednesday and secure a 3-1 aggregate victory to reach the Champions League last 16 after a pulsating game at the Bernabeu.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Jr. struck either side of halftime to cancel out Rafa Silva’s opener and send the record 15-time European champions through, with either Manchester City or Sporting awaiting in Friday’s draw.
Benfica, trailing 1-0 from a first leg in Portugal marred by Vinicius accusing Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him, started brightly and sliced through a makeshift-looking Real defence missing Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen, with forward Kylian Mbappe also out due to a knee injury set to sideline him for multiple games.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was absent from the touchline after receiving a red card in the first leg for complaining, and Prestianni was not involved after being provisionally suspended by UEFA following the incident with Vinicius in Lisbon.
The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute in chaotic fashion. Thibaut Courtois produced a stunning left-footed save to prevent Raul Asencio turning Pavlidis’s cross into his own net, but the rebound dropped invitingly for Rafa, who controlled the ball inside the six-yard box before firing past the keeper.
Real’s response was swift and slick. Two minutes later, Gonzalo linked up smartly with Federico Valverde on the right wing, the Uruguayan cutting the ball back towards the edge of the box where Tchouameni guided a low finish just inside the right post.
With the tie finely poised, the game opened up, and Arda Guler thought he had put Real ahead in the 32nd minute, only for VAR to rule the effort out for offside in the build-up.
Benfica continued to threaten, Richard Rios drawing a superb save from Courtois with a fierce strike in the 38th minute, but the home side began to find more rhythm after the break.
Asencio headed narrowly wide from a corner, and Trent Alexander-Arnold flashed an angled effort past the post, but Real were almost punished for their profligacy.
On the hour mark, Vinicius was caught as Real attempted to play out from the back, allowing Rafa to unleash a thunderous shot from the edge of the box that crashed against the crossbar.
The tension lingered until the 80th minute, when Valverde seized on a loose ball in midfield and threaded a precise pass through to Vinicius, who timed his run to beat the offside trap, surged into the box and slotted a composed finish into the bottom corner to settle the tie.
“We didn’t start very well, but we remained confident and knew the goals would come eventually,” Tchouameni told Movistar Plus.
“We did things a little better as the match progressed, and now we’re going to keep going as we move forward. We need to tweak our defence a little and get into the game better, but we won, and that’s the most important thing.”
-Reuters
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