UEFA Champions League
Liverpool in sight of Champions League semi finals
Liverpool took charge of their Champions League quarter-final against Benfica on Tuesday (April 5) as Sadio Mane, Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz gave them a 3-1 lead after the first leg in Lisbon.
Konate nodded in his first Liverpool goal from a corner before Mane tapped home to put the visitors in command at the Estadio da Luz.
Benfica made a game of it early in the second half when a Konate error allowed the lively Darwin Nunez to pull one back, but Diaz, who was superb all night, added a third to put Liverpool in sight of the semis.
“They fought for their lives. We opened the door a little bit for them,” said Jurgen Klopp. “We scored a third one and I think everyone agrees we could and should have scored more.”
Liverpool will be confident of finishing the job at Anfield next week, with Klopp comfortable enough to take off Mohamed Salah, Mane and Thiago Alcantara after an hour.
Salah, in particular, was surely being preserved for Sunday, when Liverpool face Manchester City in what could prove to be the decisive match in the Premier League’s neck-and-neck title race.
The only disappointment was that Salah was unable to get on the scoresheet, with the Egyptian missing a handful of chances.
“Every player in that situation wants to score and it’s clear Mo wants to score as well,” said Klopp. “It’s a tough period, the boys came back from Africa and that’s really not easy. Massive pressure. They need some time to settle, everything will be fine.”
Benfica are dotted between a Liverpool-City league and cup double-header, with the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley coming after the second leg next week, before Klopp’s team continue a crunch period with league games against Manchester United and local rivals Everton.
Liverpool’s convincing victory may offer Klopp the luxury of rotating players again for the return leg next week.
Klopp has been downplaying suggestions Liverpool could yet win an historic quadruple this term.
“We are not favourites in one of the competitions we are in, but who cares? We will give it a try,” he said in a press conference on Monday.
But this contest demonstrated the gulf between the Premier League’s heavyweights and some of the old, European elite. Despite a 20-minute surge in the second half, Benfica were clearly second best.
They came into the tie dreaming of inflicting another upset, having already seen off Barcelona in the group stage and Ajax in the last 16, and they began with the intent of under-dogs, as Alex Grimaldo stirred the crowd with a thumping, sliding challenge.
But the initial exertion soon faded and Liverpool took control, the chances coming with increasing regularity as the first half wore on.
Salah was just short of a Diaz cross from the left and then had a poked finish saved after a sumptuous Mane backheel.
The goal in the 17th minute was straightforward, Konate towering over Everton Soares at a corner and heading into the bottom of the net.
Benfica’s belief seemed to drain instantly and Naby Keita should have made it two almost immediately, only to head Mane’s cross into the ground.
Nicolas Otamendi did have a chance from a corner but failed to connect and in the 34th minute, Liverpool scored again, Adel Taarabt’s sloppy touch punished by Alexander-Arnold’s chipped ball forward towards Diaz, whose smart header across give Mane a tap-in.
Salah should have made it three before half-time but the tie seemed all-but over, the only question how many Liverpool would score in the second period.
Instead, Benfica pulled a goal back shortly after the restart as Konate air-kicked Rafa Silva’s cross and Nunez pounced.
Benfica were transformed, as Nunez twice went close before the Uruguayan wanted a penalty for being stopped by Konate.
While the fans were bouncing, urging their team on, Klopp took Salah, Mane and Thiago off, an indication of the superiority he felt his team still held in the tie.
The substitutions knocked Benfica out of their stride and as the game drifted towards the finish, Liverpool snatched a third, Keita slipping in Diaz, who rounded the goalkeeper and slid into an empty net.
-AFP
Barcelona twice battled back to draw 3-3 at home against Inter Milan in a rip-roaring first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Montjuic Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Denzel Dumfries scored twice for Inter, who led 2-0 and then 3-2, while Barca’s 17-year-old starlet Lamine Yamal dazzled with a brilliant individual effort to kickstart the hosts’ fightback.
After a see-saw encounter that showcased Inter’s clinical finishing and set-piece threat as well as Barca’s attacking strengths and defensive vulnerabilities, the result leaves everything to play for in the return leg at the San Siro next Tuesday, as both teams seek a place in the final in Munich against either Arsenal or Paris St Germain.
Inter Milan made an explosive start, opening the scoring with 30 seconds on the clock courtesy of a cheeky back-heel from Marcus Thuram, the quickest goal in a Champions League semi-final.
The visitors extended their lead in the 21st minute with Dumfries finding the net with an acrobatic volley from a corner.
However, an electrifying Yamal led Barcelona’s fightback, unleashing a superb strike from inside the box after a clever run from the right, to reduce the deficit three minutes after Inter’s second goal.
Playing his 100th game at 17 years and 291 days old, Yamal became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final, surpassing Kylian Mbappe who was 18 when he did it in 2017.
Yamal went close again, hitting the post from close range before Ferran Torres levelled the score in the 38th minute with a first-time finish after a darting run to latch on to a Raphinha knock-down.
Despite Barcelona’s dominance, it was Inter who regained the lead in the 64th minute when Dumfries headed home from a corner. The hosts responded immediately, as Raphinha’s thunderous strike from outside the box hit the woodwork before ricocheting off the back of Inter keeper Yann Sommer and into the net to restore parity.
‘DUTY TO WIN’
“When you play at home like we did, the sensation is that we should have managed to earn a better result,” Raphinha told Movistar Plus.
“We can’t concede that many goals, especially at home. Sure, you have to give praise to our opponents who are strong and played well tonight but we are Barca and it’s our duty to win at home, that’s how it is.
“But the result is not that bad and it leaves it all open for the return leg in Milan so we will try to correct the mistakes so we can go there and grab the win that will take us to the final.”
In a riveting encounter, Inter were clinical with their finishing and withstood Barcelona’s relentless attack while capitalising on counter-attacks and set-pieces. Sommer was instrumental in securing the draw for Inter with a series of impressive saves.
Barcelona, fresh from their thrilling 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final last Saturday, appeared to be feeling the effects of that gruelling, ill-tempered 120-minute match.
The team, already without striker Robert Lewandowski, suffered a further blow when French fullback Jules Kounde was forced off in the first half with a suspected leg muscle injury.
Inter also had injury concerns, with star striker Lautaro Martinez unable to return for the second half due to a hamstring issue, having already lost Benjamin Pavard to an ankle injury.
Barcelona’s Yamal was seemingly unstoppable and twice hit the frame of the goal, including with a late chip following a brilliant run, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan thought he had scored Inter’s fourth on another quick counter, but the VAR replay showed he was offside by the tip of his boot.
“The match was beautiful and entertaining, even from the pitch we experienced it well, facing players of crazy calibre,” Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni told Sky Sport.
“We are happy with the result, we could have avoided some mistakes with a bit more attention but we give credit to Barcelona. Now it’s back to 0-0 again, and whoever wins goes to the final, so let’s do it.”
-Reuters
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UEFA Champions League
Heineken Unites Nigeria’s “Hardcore Fans” for Champions League Semi-Final Showdowns
As the UEFA Champions League reaches its highly anticipated semi-final stage, Heineken reinforces its commitment to football fans through its global campaign, “Cheers to the Real Hardcore Fans.”
In Nigeria, the initiative celebrates the dedication and enthusiasm of supporters and loyal consumers with premium match-viewing experiences in multiple cities.
Hardcore fans rooting for his team during the quarter-final matches of UEFA Champions League.
Building on the momentum from the quarter-finals, Heineken is hosting large-scale semi-final viewing events in Port Harcourt, Aba, Lagos and Abuja
Excitement galore
The matches—featuring European heavyweights Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona, and Inter Milan—are being screened at top venues, such as the Olympic Stadium, where fans are treated to immersive football-themed entertainment.
The events feature interactive fan zones, augmented reality experiences, exclusive Heineken merchandise, and live DJ performances designed to recreate the atmosphere of a UEFA Champions League night.
Launched earlier this year again, “Cheers to the Real Hardcore Fans” acknowledges the everyday supporters who define Nigeria’s vibrant football culture—from viewing centre regulars and late-night match watchers to the street commentators who bring every fixture to life.
Maria Shadeko, Portfolio Manager – Premium Beer, Nigerian Breweries, described the campaign as a tribute to the authenticity of Nigerian fandom.
“Nigerians are among the most passionate football fans in the world. Whether it’s waking up at odd hours or passionately debating tactics, their commitment is extraordinary. Through this campaign, Heineken is creating inclusive spaces to celebrate that passion in a premium and engaging way,” she said.
During the quarter-final round, venues such as Mania House in Victoria Island, Lagos, and Papiees Maestro in Abuja were transformed into football viewing arenas.
Fans enjoyed high-quality broadcasts, Heineken hospitality, and an atmosphere that mirrored Europe’s biggest stadiums.
Julius Obinna, a fan who attended the Abuja event, praised the initiative.
“The experience was electric. It brought people together and made us feel like we were part of something global,” he said.
In addition to live events, Heineken has produced a campaign film directed by award-winning filmmaker Mark Molloy.
The film, which is central to the campaign, humorously and emotionally explores what it means to be a true football fan.
It features real-life fan stories and aims to challenge the perception of what a “hardcore” fan looks like.
With the Champions League final fast approaching, Heineken’s campaign continues to build excitement.
More viewing events are planned nationwide, ensuring fans remain at the heart of the action.
“This campaign is not just about the game,” Shadeko added. “It’s about the shared experiences, the community, and the joy that football brings. That is what Cheers to the Real Hardcore Fans stands for.”
Deserved winners at the Heineken viewing experience in the quarter-final matches of the UEFA Champions League
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Spain’s LaLiga will be represented by at least five teams in the Champions League next season after Italy’s Lazio were eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday while Athletic Bilbao progressed to the semi-finals.
LaLiga earned the second of two European Performance Spots handed out by UEFA, which go to associations “with the best collective performance by their clubs” in UEFA competitions.
England’s Premier League was the first to secure an extra berth in Europe’s top competition, on top of the four granted to the top four teams in the domestic table.
Villarreal are fifth in the LaLiga standings, with 51 points from 30 matches.
They are three points ahead of sixth-placed Real Betis and eight in front of Celta Vigo and Mallorca, with all three clubs having played one more game than Villarreal.
-Reuters
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