UEFA Champions League
GLORY-SEEKING NEYMAR LEADS PSG IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHALLENGE
The perennial French champions face RB Leipzig in the last four on Tuesday as they try to reach the final for the first time.
They were seconds away from going out to Atalanta on Wednesday but Marquinhos equalised in the 90th minute and former Stoke striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored the winner 149 seconds later.
The Champions League has been the missing piece of the puzzle since PSG’s big-money takeover by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011.
In eight full seasons under Qatari ownership, they have won 18 of the 24 domestic trophies – including seven Ligue 1 titles.
But this is the first time they have been to the Champions League semi-finals since 1994-95, long before the takeover.
They reached the quarter-finals in the first four years of Qatari ownership but seemed to regress by going out in the last 16 for the next three seasons.
Capitulations against Barcelona in 2017 and Manchester United last year will live long in the mind.
This year, instead of bottling the big moments, PSG have managed to show resilience.
They topped a group containing Real Madrid with five wins and a draw.
They then overcame a first-leg defeat to beat Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 pre-coronavirus break, before their comeback against Atalanta in the quarter-finals.
So what has changed?
“The team spirit we saw against Atalanta and in the second leg against Borussia Dortmund was not really there in previous years,” says French football journalist Julien Laurens.
“Boss Thomas Tuchel and his staff created a pact between them that this could be their year – you have to believe until the end and not feel that stress or pressure that you did before. The game against Atalanta showed that really well.”
PSG made Brazil forward Neymar the world’s most expensive signing when they paid Barcelona 222m euros (£200m) for him in 2017, a record that still stands.
That was largely in a bid to challenge for the Champions League, a competition Neymar won with Barca in 2014-15.
They also brought in France striker Kylian Mbappe for 180m euros (£165.7m), the second most costly signing of all time.
Neymar has been unfortunate in the Champions League and missed the game in which they were eliminated in his first two seasons with a foot injury.
However, he has managed to stay injury free at the right moments during 2019-20 – even though he has had three spells out – and fitness should not be an issue after Ligue 1 was curtailed.
The 28-year-old was impressive in their victory over Atalanta, taking the lead in driving the team during the first half and then having a hand in both their goals.
“Neymar showed why he is one of the best in the world,” adds Laurens. “He wasted chances but the way he played and the way he took the game on and owned the game was incredible.”
PSG could probably not have hoped for a more favourable Champions League semi-final (on paper anyway) than RB Leipzig.
The German team were only formed 11 years ago and had only won two matches in Europe’s elite club competition before this season.
They have also lost their all-time top scorer, Timo Werner, to Chelsea.
However, they did see off Atletico Madrid – conquerors of holders Liverpool and twice finalists under manager Diego Simeone – in the quarter-finals.
Laurens says: “In Paris they are very cautious of this Leipzig team and they know PSG can only go through if Neymar and Mbappe have the same type of performance they had against Atalanta.”
Bayern Munich or Lyon await the winner in the final. Will PSG be there? We shall find out soon enough.
-BBC
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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
Real Madrid’s record-breaking manager Carlo Ancelotti had no complaints after his side’s Champions League reign was ended in emphatic fashion by Arsenal in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Italian Ancelotti won a record-extending fifth Champions League trophy last season as Real beat Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, but his side went down 2-1 at home to Arsenal for a crushing 5-1 aggregate defeat.
“There are two sides to football, the happy part that has happened to us many times and the sad part we have to handle in the same way. It has happened to us fewer times than to other teams, but we have to manage it because it allows us to be better in the next games.”
When Real keeper Thibaut Courtois saved Bukayo Saka’s early penalty and minutes later Real were awarded a spot kick for a push by Declan Rice on Kylian Mbappe, it seemed that the great escape might still be a possibility.
But Real’s penalty was overturned after a lengthy VAR check, and in truth, they never looked remotely threatening as their bid for a 16th European Cup crown ended in feeble fashion.
“To change the dynamic, we needed something positive, like the penalty he whistled and then took off. We needed something to have more confidence, but we were not able to change the dynamic of the first leg,” Ancelotti said.
Despite the defeat, Ancelotti said Real’s season still has plenty of possibilities, not least trying to bridge a four-point gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona.
“Now we are in the fight for La Liga. We have a disadvantage, but we have the Barcelona game, we have the Copa del Rey final, the Club World Cup, and we have to manage this part, which is another part of football that we are not used to,” he said.
“It’s time to hold our heads high and learn from our mistakes. It’s sad today, but I have absolutely no worries about how my players will respond. We’ll fight on, we’ll learn from the experience, and we’ll try to be better for the next match.”
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Heineken Unites Nigeria’s “Hardcore Fans” for Champions League Semi-Final Showdowns
Abdulfatai, Udoaka top seedings for 2025 National Table Tennis Championships in Osun
Gov. Abiodun extols Remo Stars over unprecedented victory
- WOMEN'S FOOTBALL1 week ago
Naira rain falls on Nigeria’s Flamingos after a 4-0 defeat of Algeria
- Nigerian Football5 days ago
Financial rainfall awaits Nigeria’s Flamingos for every goal scored in Algeria
- OBITUARY6 days ago
NFF mourns the demise of former FIFA referee, Bosede Momoh
- U-17 AFCON1 week ago
Morocco crowned CAF U-17 AFCON champions after dramatic penalty shootout win over Mali
- U-20 FOOTBALL1 week ago
Nigeria begin CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations title chase with Tunisian clash
- feature7 days ago
Ghana’s Cardinal, Appiah Turkson, listed as a possible Pope
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Remo Stars maintain ‘7Up’ lead over Rivers United
- Nigerian Football5 days ago
Former WAFU President, Ogufere mourns Christian Chukwu