Paris Saint-Germain have seen a controversial request ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 clash with Chelsea next month approved by the LFP. The Parisian powerhouse will welcome the Blues to the Parc des Princes in a little over a week before the return leg at Stamford Bridge the following week as Luis Enrique's side seek to defend their European crown.
A referee in Spain has been arrested over alleged identity theft in a bid to obtain Villarreal season tickets and discounts. The referee in question was one of two men detained by police as part of an investigation into the fraudulent acquisition of season tickets and the falsification of tickets at the home of Villarreal, the Estadio de la Ceramica.
Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has claimed that Arsenal are "among the top favourites" to win the Champions League after the Bundesliga side were paired with the Premier League leaders in the last-16 stage of the competition.
Benfica legend Luisao has launched a second scathing public attack on the club's hierarchy following their controversial handling of the recent racism allegations involving Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and Argentine midfielder Gianluca Prestianni. The former Eagles captain expressed profound disappointment with the institutional response, explicitly accusing Prestianni of lying about the incident. Luisao warned that the Portuguese giants are currently navigating a severe "moral crisis" that threatens to permanently tarnish their historical legacy, demanding that the leadership face the uncomfortable truth rather than simply sweeping a serious societal issue under the rug.
Chelsea have sent an early warning to Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain after the Blues drew the defending champions in the round-of-16 of the competition on Friday. The Premier League side travel to Paris for the first leg next month before the return fixture at Stamford Bridge the following week. However, despite a testing draw, Chelsea 'holds no fear' of the Parisian powerhouse.
Barcelona sporting director Deco has warned his side that they must reach the heights of perfection if they are to overcome Newcastle in their upcoming Champions League knockout tie. Following the draw that paired the Catalan giants with Eddie Howe’s side, the former Portugal international reflected on the challenge of facing Premier League opposition.
Real Madrid have been plunged into a state of nervous anticipation following the Champions League draw in Nyon after club director Emilio Butragueno admitted that Kylian Mbappe is a major doubt for their upcoming showdown with Manchester City. The fitness of the French superstar has overshadowed the excitement of the draw, with the forward currently sidelined with an injury that has no definitive recovery timeline.
Luis Enrique has sent a clear message to the rest of Europe following the Champions League knockout stage draw, insisting that Paris Saint-Germain are no longer flying under the radar. The Spanish tactician, who has transformed the culture at the Parc des Princes, believes his side is now viewed as a genuine heavyweight capable of lifting the trophy for a second consecutive year.
Arsenal will face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16, while Liverpool have been paired with Galatasaray. Manchester City must overcome Real Madrid in order to keep their dreams of European glory in 2025-26 alive and Chelsea face a tough test against title holders Paris Saint-Germain. Newcastle are readying themselves for a clash with Barcelona and Tottenham will seek to put their Premier League struggles behind them when locking horns with Atletico Madrid.
Former Barcelona and Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu has opened up about the difficult reality of his life after football, revealing that a combination of depression and ongoing legal battles led him to take a job at a local sports shop. The sight of a Champions League winner serving customers created a stir online, but Mathieu has now clarified that the move was a necessary step for his own wellbeing and personal circumstances.
Benfica have issued a further statement in the wake of their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, and the storm that followed their first leg, after Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian made the allegation during the game in Portugal and the club have now insisted that he did not admit to his team-mates that he had said what he is accused of.
Borussia Dortmund's crushing 4-1 Champions League exit at the hands of Atalanta in Bergamo culminated in a bizarre and inexplicable touchline incident that left the German camp outraged. In the 97th minute of the bruising defeat, referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez inexplicably showed a straight red card to Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who was watching from the substitutes' bench.
The sight of Victor Osimhen finding the back of the net at the Allianz Stadium is a familiar one for Italian football fans, but his latest strike in the Champions League carried a completely different weight. While his goal for Galatasaray added another chapter to his prolific European campaign - despite a 3-2 defeat on the night that nevertheless secured a 7-5 aggregate victory and a place in the round of 16 - it was his stoic reaction, or lack thereof, that truly caught the eye. Despite the high stakes of the continental clash, the Nigerian superstar opted for silence over celebration, later revealing that his history with the man in the opposing dugout, Luciano Spalletti, dictated his conduct on the night.
While Inter remain the dominant force in the Serie A standings, Thierry Henry believes the squad has completely lost its soul following their humiliating Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt at San Siro this week. The legendary pundit argues that the most attractive football in Italy is no longer found in Milan, but is instead being showcased by Cesc Fabregas’ flourishing Como side.
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has sent a clear message to rivals across Europe, including potential knockout stage opponents Chelsea and Barcelona, following his side's progression to the Champions League round of 16. Despite a stuttering 2-2 draw against Monaco at the Parc des Princes, which secured a 5-4 aggregate victory and passage via the play-off round, the Spanish tactician remains convinced that the reigning European champions are still the team that no one wants to face in the business end of the competition.
Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday night with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Benfica, progressing 3-1 on aggregate. However, the celebrations at the Santiago Bernabeu have been heavily dampened by a disgraceful incident involving a supporter that was broadcast to millions watching around the world. The club moved swiftly to address the situation, confirming that a fan was identified and removed from the premises after being caught on television cameras performing a Nazi salute.
As Alessandro Costacurta effectively admitted at the end of a dramatic final night of the Champions League play-offs, he and his fellow pundits in the Sky Sports studio had come to bury Serie A's representatives in Europe - not to praise them. And yet they were left with no option to do so after two remarkable revivals proved that Italian football isn't dead yet.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has delivered a worrying fitness update on Blancos superstar Kylian Mbappe. The World Cup-winning Frenchman was forced to sit out the second leg of a Champions League knockout phase play-off clash with Benfica. Arbeloa is unsure when his leading goalscorer will be ready for a return to action, with a knee complaint holding him back.
Victor Osimhen has admitted that a potential Champions League round-of-16 showdown with Liverpool would feel "like revenge" for the Premier League giants. The Nigerian superstar was the hero once again for Galatasaray on Wednesday as the Turkish champions navigated a rollercoaster play-off tie against Juventus to secure their place in Friday’s highly anticipated knockout stage draw.
Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a spirited 2-1 comeback victory over Benfica on Wednesday, but the post-match talk was dominated by a powerful message of defiance. Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni insisted that the 3-1 aggregate win represented "a victory for everyone who stands against racism" following the ugly incidents that marred the first leg of the tie. The build-up to the return fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu was overshadowed by allegations that star forward Vinícius Jr had been racially abused by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during the first encounter, an act that led to a one-match ban for the Argentine youngster.
Alvaro Arbeloa was in a reflective mood at the Santiago Bernabéu after guiding Real Madrid into the Champions League round of 16 following a hard-fought victory over Benfica. The former Madrid defender, now leading the Spanish giants from the dugout, oversaw a mature performance as his side secured a 2-1 win on the night, progressing with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline. Despite the celebrations in the capital, the focus quickly shifted to the potential heavyweights awaiting them in the next phase, with a familiar English opponent looming large in the mind of the Madrid head coach.
Jose Mourinho was nowhere to be seen when returning to Santiago Bernabeu with Benfica for a Champions League clash with Real Madrid. The Portuguese was serving a suspension after collecting a red card during the first leg of that European play-off contest, so was never going to be on the touchline, but he is said to have watched the game from a “mystery location”.
Weston McKennie was at the center of Juventus' three-goal comeback on Wednesday, scoring the third goal of that comeback against Galatasaray. McKennie's late finish leveled the aggregate scoreline of Wednesday's second leg of the Champions League's play-off round, but it wasn't enough as Galatasaray wrestled control back in extra time.
Vinicius Jr danced and Real Madrid overcame an early deficit to see off Benfica in the Champions League playoff round, 2-1. Los Blancos fell behind early, before goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius gave them a comfortable lead, and sealed a 3-1 aggregate win. There were some uncertain moments, but Madrid were otherwise good value for the result.
Fans were shocked as Juventus centre-back Lloyd Kelly was sent off during his side's clash with Galatasaray on Wednesday night. The Italian giants needed to overturn a 5-2 deficit from the first leg but their task was made incredibly difficult when the former Bournemouth and Newcastle United defender was dismissed in contentious circumstances. Juventus eventually exited the competition after a 7-5 aggregate defeat.
Benfica's appeal against the provisional suspension handed to Gianluca Prestianni has been rejected, meaning the Argentine will miss the second leg of the Champions League knockout round play-off against Real Madrid on Wednesday night. The 20-year-old has been accused of racially abusing Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior during the first game last week.
Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has admitted his side were simply outworked and "not competitive" enough as the Nerazzurri suffered a humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Bodo/Glimt. The Italian giants failed to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit, falling to a 5-2 aggregate defeat after losing 2-1 on a night of high tension at San Siro. Despite enjoying long periods of possession, the hosts lacked the cutting edge and physical intensity to break down the resilient Norwegian visitors
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
