Paris, France | AFP | As the stakes mounted in the Champions League, the usual suspects once more rose to the occasion with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski starring in the last 16, first legs. Season after season, these preeminent performers deliver on the biggest stages and administer …
Read More »De Gea stars as Manchester United settle for Sevilla draw
Seville, Spain | AFP | David de Gea deflected the attention away from Paul Pogba with another spectacular display of goalkeeping as Manchester United came away from their Champions League last 16, first leg against Sevilla in Spain with a 0-0 draw on Wednesday. De Gea made two breathtaking saves …
Read More »Mourinho plays down pressure on Pogba as midfielder makes United return
Seville, Spain | AFP | Jose Mourinho played down suggestions that Paul Pogba needs to use the Champions League knockout stage to justify his huge price tag as Manchester United prepare for Wednesday’s clash with Sevilla. “I dont think it’s fair to speak about the responsibilities of a player. When …
Read More »Chelsea capable of the ‘incredible’ to spring Barca surprise – Conte
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Chelsea manager Antonio Conte believes the English champions can do “something incredible” by knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League at the Camp Nou on March 14, despite blowing a lead to draw the first leg of their last-16 tie 1-1. Willian gave reason …
Read More »Mueller shines as Bayern thrash 10-man Besiktas
Munich, Germany | AFP | Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski netted twice as Bayern Munich thrashed 10-man Besiktas 5-0 on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. Disaster struck for Besiktas after just 16 minutes at Munich’s Allianz Arena when Domagoj Vida was sent off …
Read More »Messi ends Chelsea drought to give Barcelona last-16 edge
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Chelsea manager Antonio Conte rued one costly mistake as Lionel Messi gave Barcelona the upper hand from the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie by salvaging a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Messi struck for the first time in nine games against …
Read More »Peace with Pogba needed for Mourinho to shirk familiar criticism
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United’s Champions League trip to Sevilla on Wednesday night is the type of occasion for which the English giants swallowed their pride to pay £89 million ($125 million) for Paul Pogba, four years after he left Old Trafford for Juventus as a free …
Read More »Barca visit presents Champions League stage Conte craves
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Barcelona’s visit to Chelsea on Tuesday gives Antonio Conte the perfect opportunity to reaffirm his stature as one of Europe’s greatest coaches. “To play against Barcelona is a great challenge for us,” Conte said after easing the pressure on his job with back-to-back home …
Read More »Arsenal ease to victory, Batshuayi grabs Dortmund comeback win
Paris, France | AFP | Mesut Ozil scored as Arsenal eased to a 3-0 victory at Swedish minnows Ostersunds in the first leg of their Europa League, last-32 tie on Thursday, while Michy Batshuayi snatched Borussia Dortmund a dramatic win over Atalanta. Left-back Nacho Monreal put Arsenal into an early …
Read More »Advantage Ronaldo but Neymar warns it’s not over yet
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Paris Saint-Germain face a huge task to reach the Champions League quarter-finals after Cristiano Ronaldo defied talk that his powers are waning with two goals as Real Madrid won 3-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie. Billed as a contest between World Player …
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