Arda Güler menciptakan momen yang sungguh ajaib untuk mengakhiri kemenangan telak Real Madrid 4-1 atas Elche, dengan melepaskan tendangan lob menakjubkan sejauh 68 meter dari dalam wilayah pertahanannya sendiri. Tendangan berani itu membuat penonton di Bernabeu terpesona dan menjadi gambaran sempurna atas dominasi Los Blancos malam itu, sementara sang gelandang serang berusia 21 tahun itu dengan bangga membagikan video spektakuler tersebut di Instagram.
Real Madrid tak memberi ampun kepada Elche dalam laga liga terakhir mereka, mengantongi kemenangan telak 4-1 yang membuat Barcelona tetap berada di bawah tekanan. Namun, Arda Guler menjadi bintang utama pertandingan tersebut, hingga manajernya pun kehabisan kata-kata pujian. Gol yang dicetak oleh gelandang muda itu menjadi sorotan utama dalam malam yang penuh aksi di Bernabeu, dan Alvaro Arbeloa dengan cepat menyoroti betapa langkanya gol semacam itu dalam sepak bola modern.
Real Madrid dengan mudah mengalahkan Elche yang sedang terpuruk dengan skor 4-1, sehingga kembali memberikan tekanan kepada pemuncak klasemen La Liga, Barcelona. Los Blancos melanjutkan performa gemilang mereka setelah menghancurkan Manchester City di Liga Champions, dengan Federico Valverde kembali mencetak gol di ibu kota Spanyol. Meskipun demikian, pemain pengganti Arda Guler-lah yang menjadi bintang utama berkat tendangan spektakulernya dari setengah lapangan sendiri di menit-menit akhir pertandingan.
Abdelkabir Abqar menanggapi kartu merah kontroversial yang diterimanya saat Getafe berhadapan dengan Atletico Madrid, setelah ia menarik Alexander Sorloth di area sensitif saat bola sedang tidak dalam permainan. Setelah peninjauan VAR, wasit Ortiz Arias mengusir sang bek, sehingga Getafe harus bermain dengan sepuluh orang dalam pertandingan yang akhirnya dimenangkan Atletico dengan skor 1–0 berkat gol dari Nahuel Molina.
Direktur Atlético Madrid, Mateu Alemany, akhirnya angkat bicara mengenai Julian Álvarez, dengan menegaskan bahwa sang penyerang akan tetap bertahan di klub meskipun minat terhadapnya semakin meningkat menjelang bursa transfer musim panas. Alemany dengan tegas membantah segala spekulasi mengenai kemungkinan kepindahan bintang asal Argentina tersebut, yang komentar ambigu-nya baru-baru ini memicu rumor bahwa ia akan hengkang dari Metropolitano pada musim panas nanti.
Current title holders Real Madrid are miles ahead of any other club in Europe's most prestigious competition, having gone all the way whopping 15 times – more than twice the number of titles lifted by any other club.
How many teams are in the Champions League?
The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format. The competition was known as the European Cup at the time of its inception in 1955 before being rebranded to the UEFA Champions League ahead of the 1992-93 season. In its inaugural edition in 1955-56, only 16 teams contested.
Who has made the most Champions League appearances ever?
Cristiano Ronaldo sits at the top of the appearance-making charts, having played in 183 Champions League games, representing Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Champions League?
No surprises here! It's Mr. Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the leading goalscorer in the Champions League with an astonishing 141 goals to his name!
Who has the most assists in the history of the Champions League?
Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a prolific goalscorer, but also has a keen eye for his team-mates as his record 42 assists in the Champions League prove.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Champions League and how old was he?
Former Italian goalkeeper Marco Ballotta holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever in the Champions League. Playing for Lazio against Real Madrid in the 2007-08 season, Ballotta was aged 43 years and 252 days.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Champions League and how old was he?
Borussia Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko is the youngest player ever to feature in a Champions League game. He set the record on December 8 2020, in Dortmund's group stage fixture against Zenit St. Petersburg, aged 16 years and 18 days.
Which famous players have played in the Champions League?
Gianluigi Buffon, Raul, Robert Lewandowski, Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf, Arjen Robben, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini, Lionel Messi, and Mo Salah, to name a few, are some of the greatest and most famous footballing faces to have graced the Champions League over the decades.
Which famous managers have managed in the Champions League?
Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Frank Rijkaard, Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, Zinedine Zidane, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Arsene Wenger are some of the most famous managers to have coached a club in the Champions League.