UEFA Champions League
Liverpool survive late collapse to book Champions League semi-final spot
Liverpool booked a Champions League semi-final showdown against Villarreal as the quadruple chasers survived a late collapse in Wednesday’s (April 13) 3-3 draw against Benfica.
Jurgen Klopp’s side already had one foot in the last four after winning 3-1 in the quarter-final first leg in Lisbon.
They were on cruise control for long spells in the second leg at Anfield, but had to hold their nerve before advancing 6-4 on aggregate after an uncharacteristic meltdown in the closing stages.
Ibrahima Konate put Liverpool ahead before Goncalo Ramos equalised late in the first half.
When Roberto Firmino netted twice after the interval, the tie looked all but over.
However, Roman Yaremchuk and Darwin Nunez struck for Benfica to briefly give the visitors hope of an astonishing escape act, before Liverpool finally restored order.
The Reds will face Spanish side Villarreal in the semi-finals as they look to reach their 10th Champions League final and claim a seventh title in the competition.
Despite Villarreal’s impressive wins over Bayern Munich and Juventus in the last two rounds, Liverpool will be firm favourites to make a third Champions League final in the last five seasons.
That would put them a step closer to an incredible clean-sweep of all four major trophies in one campaign.
Significantly, Klopp was able to keep Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk fresh as he started with his stars on the bench.
Klopp made seven changes from Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Manchester City as he opted to keep his stars fresh for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley.
Inevitably, Liverpool’s much-changed line-up took a while to get into their stride after a pre-match minute’s silence to mark this Friday’s 33rd anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.
Firmino stars
Ironically, it was a player named after Liverpool’s rivals Everton who threatened first for Benfica when the winger curled just wide from long range.
But it wasn’t long before Liverpool flexed their muscles.
Konate had headed the opener in the first leg at Benfica and Liverpool’s towering centre-back tormented the Portuguese side with his aerial prowess again in the 21st minute.
Kostas Tsimikas whipped an outswinging corner towards Konate and he climbed above three Benfica players to head into the far corner from 10 yards.
Benfica snatched their equaliser against the run of play in the 32nd minute.
Diogo Goncalves’ pass clipped off James Milner and ran through to the unmarked Ramos, who smacked a fine finish past Alisson from just inside the area.
Any hopes of a stunning Benfica fightback seemed over when the visitors shot themselves in the foot in farcical fashion in the 55th minute.
Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos was the instigator of Benfica’s meltdown as he fumbled what should have been an easy interception of Naby Keita’s over-hit pass.
Jan Vertonghen’s panicked attempt to clear the danger wasn’t much better and Jota crossed back into the six-yard box, where Firmino had the simple task of tapping into the empty net.
Firmino followed his first home Champions League goal for two years with another 10 minutes later.
Tsimikas curled a superb free-kick to the pass and Firmino eluded Benfica’s sloppy marking to volley home from close-range.
With Klopp’s men taking their foot off the gas, Yaremchuk struck in the 73rd minute, rounding Alisson to slot home after beating Liverpool’s offside trap.
There was a sharp intake of breath around Anfield when Nunez scored with a predatory finish in the 82nd minute.
Moments later, Nunez’s low strike tested Alisson, but Liverpool held on to keep the quadruple dream alive.
-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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