Trevor Steven: PSG’s variety of goal threat gives them edge over Real Madrid March 8, 2022 Paris Saint-Germain take a slim lead to Real Madrid on Wednesday in an epic Champions League last-16 tie and a clash between potential winners of this year’s competition. PSG have spent the last decade bedding in at the top of European club football, reaching the final in 2020 and the semis last year, and are [...]
Sport is guilty of shutting its eyes to Russia’s geopolitical ambitions February 27, 2022 Roman Abramovich’s near 20-year ownership of Premier League club Chelsea has been shrouded in mystery and therefore subject to constant scrutiny and speculation. Indeed, until the weekend, it remained unclear why he is there and what he is seeking to achieve. The oligarch has denied having direct links with Vladimir Putin but has been seen [...]
Uefa to sever ties with Gazprom over Ukraine invasion February 25, 2022 Uefa is reportedly in talks to sever all ties with Russian sponsor Gazprom following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. The governing body has set this course of action even though the 10-year partnership with Gazprom has been one of the most lucrative for Uefa, the i paper exclusively reported. Following calls to strip Russia of [...]
Uefa calls meeting to move Champions League final from Russia February 24, 2022 European football’s governing body Uefa has called an extraordinary meeting for tomorrow morning when it is expected to strip Russia of the Champions League final. St Petersburg had been due to stage the biggest game in club football on 28 May but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this week has seen pressure on Uefa to move [...]
No plans to move Champions League final from Russia, says Uefa February 22, 2022 European football chiefs Uefa say there are no plans to move the Champions League final from St Petersburg despite Russia invading Ukraine. The final of club football’s most prestigious competition is due to take place at the Gazprom Arena in the Russian city on 22 May. “Uefa is constantly and closely monitoring the situation,” the [...]
Trevor Steven: Kylian Mbappe has emerged as the heir to Messi and Ronaldo February 16, 2022 Kylian Mbappe’s stunning individual goal in Tuesday’s Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid did a lot of things all at once. For PSG, it made a big difference to their chances of winning this last 16 tie. For Mbappe, meanwhile, that goal lifted his standing in the game and his confidence even [...]
Inter Milan stumbling into path of rampant Liverpool in Champions League February 16, 2022 When Uefa bungled the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League in December, Liverpool had good reason to feel hard done by. Having originally been paired with Salzburg, knockout stage debutants and arguably the weakest side left in the competition, Jurgen Klopp’s team were handed a tie against European royalty in Inter Milan [...]
Champions League last 16 draw: Fiasco hands Liverpool raw deal December 13, 2021 Just when you thought Uefa couldn’t string out its Champions League last 16 draw ceremony any longer, it found a way. The extraordinary mix-up that failed to keep the right teams apart forced the governing body to scrap and re-run a draw that had featured a plum tie pitting Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain against Cristiano [...]
Champions League round of 16 draw to be redone due to ‘external’ error December 13, 2021 Today’s Champions League draw will be redone after governing body Uefa admitted a technical error in the software. The initial draw, which took place earlier today, was marred in confusion after Liverpool were put in the pot to face Atletico Madrid instead of Manchester United. Furthermore, United were originally drawn to face Villarreal – a [...]
Champions League: Barcelona on brink ahead of Bayern Munich trip December 8, 2021 The last time that Barcelona were absent from the Champions League knockout stages, Lionel Messi was yet to make his debut and Gavi, the club’s newest star, hadn’t even been born. But 18 years later that scenario could come to pass again on Wednesday evening, depending on the outcome of the club’s make-or-break final Group [...]