Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has revealed that pure instinct guided his crucial penalty-winning run in the Champions League round of 16 first leg. After securing a vital 1-1 draw away at Bayer Leverkusen, the dynamic substitute is deeply confident that a roaring Emirates Stadium crowd will push Mikel Arteta’s squad towards the quarter-finals when the two sides meet again next week.
Bayer Leverkusen managed to surprise Arsenal using the London side's own special weapon, scoring from a corner kick in the match held Wednesday evening. The header prompted Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand to share a notable moment with Arsenal’s set-piece coach as the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 ended in a 1-1 draw at the BayArena.
Chelsea face a significant battle to retain midfield maestro Enzo Fernandez if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League. Despite holding a massive long-term contract at Stamford Bridge, the Argentine World Cup winner is reportedly attracting serious interest from European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, who are closely monitoring his situation in London.
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has broken his silence following a disastrous Champions League debut against Atletico Madrid. The young shot-stopper was brutally substituted by interim manager Igor Tudor after making two costly errors in the opening 17 minutes. Despite the harsh treatment and a crushing 5-2 defeat, Kinsky remains determined to bounce back.
Antoine Griezmann has finally broken his silence regarding the intense speculation linking him with a high-profile move to MLS side Orlando City. Despite heavy interest from North America, the French forward has confirmed his intention to remain at the Metropolitano as he continues to cement his status as an all-time legend for Los Rojiblancos, ensuring he stays as the club’s main focal point.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has once again fueled speculation regarding his future at the Etihad Stadium, dropping a fresh hint that his storied coaching career could be reaching its natural conclusion. The 55-year-old, who has transformed the landscape of English football since 2016, is under contract until 2027, but the narrative surrounding an early exit continues to gather momentum.
Arsenal left it late to salvage a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie as Kai Havertz came back to haunt his former club. The Germany international netted from the penalty spot after Robert Andrich had given the hosts the lead as the Gunners earned a result that their overall performance barely deserved.
Bayern Munich’s medical department confirmed on Wednesday that Alphonso Davies, Jonas Urbig and Jamal Musiala are set for a spell on the sidelines after being forced off during the 6-1 Champions League victory over Atalanta. The news has cast a shadow over Vincent Kompany’s squad, as the club’s official report confirmed that Davies suffered a muscle strain in his right hamstring during the second half of the European encounter in Bergamo, marking a significant setback for the Bundesliga leaders during a crucial period of the season.
Igor Tudor is reportedly set to remain in the Tottenham dugout for Sunday's daunting trip to Liverpool, despite the club's season spiralling into a full-blown crisis. Since replacing Thomas Frank last month, the Croatian has overseen a catastrophic run of four consecutive defeats, leaving the north London outfit languishing just one point above the Premier League relegation zone and facing a round of 16 Champions League exit.
Pep Guardiola couldn't help but crack a smile when the name of Kylian Mbappe cropped up during his latest press duties. Ahead of Manchester City's seismic Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash against Real Madrid, the Catalan coach found himself fielding questions about the French superstar’s supposed off-field movements in Paris with Spanish actress Ester Exposito.
Ahead of the Champions League clash against Arsenal, Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand has questioned a highly controversial tactic employed by the London club.
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has painted a bleak picture of the current state of affairs at the club following a humiliating 5-2 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid. The Dutch centre-back did not hold back in his assessment of a match that saw Spurs trail by four goals within the opening 22 minutes, describing the collapse in the Spanish capital as nothing short of a "doomsday scenario" for the Premier League side.
Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky made his Champions League debut against Atlético Madrid, but made two serious mistakes in the first 15 minutes that led to quick goals. Coach Igor Tudor therefore substituted the 22-year-old in the 17th minute, whereupon Kinsky left the pitch in tears.
Antoine Griezmann rolled back the years on Tuesday night, spearheading a 5-2 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League round of 16. Despite the emphatic scoreline, though, Griezmann noted that Diego Simeone’s side were able to exploit a "slippery pitch" that caused Spurs to make high-profile errors throughout the first leg.
Antonin Kinsky's name will live in Tottenham and Champions League infamy for ever more. The Spurs goalkeeper was thrust into the line-up for Tuesday's last-16 first leg at Atletico Madrid, only to last just 17 minutes after twice gifting goals to Diego Simeone's side in what will go down as one of the worst goalkeeping performances in the history of Europe's premier club competition.
Victor Osimhen was overcome with emotion ahead of Galatasaray's Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash against Liverpool on Tuesday night. Moments before kick-off at a raucous Rams Park, the home supporters unveiled a massive, poignant tifo featuring a portrait of the Nigerian striker alongside his late mother. The banner was accompanied by a powerful message that clearly resonated with the 27-year-old forward: "We are family and family is everything."
The yellow cards deliberately earned by Kimmich and Olise were a curious side note to Bayern's gala performance in Bergamo. It would be easy to prevent this from happening again. A commentary.
Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino has sensationally defended his tactical approach despite witnessing his side suffer a devastating 6-1 loss at home to Bayern Munich. The Champions League round of 16 first leg turned into a nightmare for the Bergamo outfit, but the manager remained steadfast in his footballing philosophy, refusing to entertain the idea of adopting a more defensive setup against the German giants.
Michael Olise was named player of the match at FC Bayern's gala in Bergamo, establishing himself as a contender for the Ballon d'Or. English TV experts actually made him laugh afterwards, with coach Vincent Kompany comparing him to a fellow countryman.
Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has pulled no punches in his assessment of Antonin Kinsky’s conduct during Tottenham’s 5-2 Champions League collapse against Atletico Madrid. The 22-year-old goalkeeper was hauled off after just 17 minutes following a series of high-profile errors, but rather than taking a seat on the bench, he headed straight for the dressing room.
FC Bayern celebrates an impressive victory against Atalanta in the Champions League round of 16. The press has nothing but praise for Munich's performance, but also harshly criticises Bergamo.
Tottenham's crisis has deepened following their humiliating 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The result has left the club's fanbase in open revolt, with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) demanding "emergency action" as the side endures the worst losing streak in its entire 143-year history.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone admitted he was left shocked after seeing Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky just 17 minutes into their Champions League clash. The 22-year-old Czech shot-stopper endured a nightmare evening at the Metropolitano, committing massive errors that left Spurs trailing 3-0 in under a quarter of an hour. Simeone, usually known for his own touchline intensity, confessed that the decision to haul off a goalkeeper so early was a first for him to witness in the dugout.
Bayern's Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich each received yellow cards in the first leg of the round of 16 against Atalanta Bergamo and are therefore suspended for the second leg. But when are yellow cards actually cleared in the Champions League? Here you can find the rule.