Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Quarterfinals Results
Aug 12, 2020
PSG's Neymar, left, celebrates with teammate PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, after his team's win in the Champions League quarterfinal match between Atalanta and PSG at Luz stadium, Lisbon, Portugal, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (David Ramos/Pool Photo via AP)
Paris Saint-Germain went from frustration to pure joy in the span of three minutes on its way to beating Atalanta 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The French club had a miserable night in the final third for the first 89 minutes, as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe failed to put a bevy of quality chances on net.
Atalanta put itself in a good position to advance through a 26th-minute goal out of Mario Pasalic, but after that, the Italian side was stuck in its own end trying to fend off PSG's advances.
Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting dealt the final blows to Atalanta's surprising run to the quarterfinals with a goal each.
PSG is the first of four teams to move on to the semifinals of the competition, which is being finished in Lisbon, Portugal.
Winner: Kylian Mbappe
As missed chance after missed chance occurred, the need for Mbappe's introduction grew.
Once he entered in the 60th minute, PSG had two of the world's best attacking players willing to run at Atalanta's tired defenders for the final 30 minutes.
Mbappe delivered the game-winning assist to Choupo-Moting by sending a ball across the goal mouth from the left side of the box.
During his 30-minute shift, the 21-year-old Frenchman recorded 29 touches, put two of his three shots on target and produced the most important helper of the season.
The performance more than made up for the disappointing shifts turned in by Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia, who were bystanders to the Neymar show for two-thirds of the contest.
The late surge fueled by Mbappe advanced PSG to the UEFA Champions League semifinals for the second time since the 1994-95 season, per Opta.
Winner: Neymar
Before he dropped in an assist on the game-tying goal, Neymar produced a disappointing outing.
The Brazilian wasted a handful of clear-cut chances on net throughout the first half, and if he would have finished one or two, the game may have been over before halftime.
To his credit, Neymar did not let the frustration of missed chances or the lack of production from his fellow strikers get in the way of pushing for the equalizer.
The addition of Mbappe helped stretch Atalanta's defense thin, and Neymar eventually found a hole to center a ball into Marquinhos in the 90th minute.
Neymar finished with 16 dribbles, four key passes, two shots on goal from seven attempts and an assist.
If Neymar and Mbappe are upfront to start in the semifinal, or final if PSG gets that far, their pace and on-ball ability could be hard for any defense to stop.
Loser: Jose Luis Palomino
Jose Luis Palomino was one of a few Atalanta defenders caught out in the buildup to the pair of PSG goals.
On the equalizer, Palomino stood flatfooted as the Choupo-Moting cross floated over his head and on to the boot of Neymar.
Three minutes later, he inched forward too much when trying to follow the ball and allowed Mbappe space to run behind on the left side of the box and send his pass into Choupo-Moting.
Although the entire Atalanta defense deserves blame for failing to track the multiple runners into the box, Palomino's mistakes stand out more because of the players who exploited the areas he was closest to in the two most critical moments of the contest.
Loser: Gian Piero Gasperini
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini deserves plenty of credit for getting his side as far as the quarterfinals, but his substitution decisions cost the Italian club chances to surge forward on the counter to finish off the game.
Alejandro "Papu" Gomez was taken off in the 59th minute after dishing out five key passes and causing havoc between PSG's defensive lines. In Gomez's place, Ruslan Malinovskyi only made 13 touches and did not do much moving forward.
Pasalic was also removed for a reinforcement in Luis Muriel that did not create much. With the way the game was progressing, Atalanta had to defend, but it also needed to keep its options open to counter and bury PSG in a moment's notice.
Gasperini removed his two most productive attacking players, and the ones who entered offered little reprieve for a defense that was under pressure for a majority of the second half.
Breaking Down and Predicting Every Champions League Quarter-Final Tie
Aug 10, 2020
Bayern's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Chelsea at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
This week, the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals take place in rather exceptional circumstances.
The eight teams to reach this stage will travel to Lisbon, where they will play out the rest of the tournament in a single-game knockout, World Cup-style format—a departure from the usual two-legged, home-and-away structure because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
So if this stage of the competition were an exciting, unpredictable rollercoaster before, things have been ramped up thanks to a new, more intense, somewhat unknown setting.
This acts as your preview for each quarter-final game, where we dissect the four fixtures, pick out how and why they will be decided and offer a prediction for each one.
Atalanta vs. Paris Saint-Germain
When this tie was announced our collective jaws dropped, mouths salivating at the thought of two high-octane attacks going head-to-head for 90 enthralling minutes.
But events leading up to the game have soured things a little; we seem set to be without a lengthy list of players because of injuries and personal issues.
Atalanta could be without star attacker Josip Ilicic and defensive stalwart Jose Luis Palomino, while starting goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has been officially ruled out. For PSG, Kylian Mbappe and Marco Verratti are doubts and Angel Di Maria is suspended, while Thilo Kehrer and Layvin Kurzawa are reportedly injured, per Goal. Hell, even manager Thomas Tuchel picked up a knock the other day!
Still, we'll see Neymar and Papu Gomez spearhead exciting, tactically intriguing sides each capable of scoring a hatful of goals on Wednesday, which maintains this fixture's status as must-watch.
The absences PSG are dealing with will likely necessitate a pretty cautious midfield selection of two of Marquinhos, Leandro Paredes and Idrissa Gueye—or perhaps even all three. It's not what they would do in an ideal world, but it may help them in combating Atalanta's love for switching play from side to side. If they can break that up and prevent service to the wing-backs in space, it could be the first step to blunting one of Europe's prime attacking forces.
If La Dea do work the ball wide consistently, creating the three vs. two overloads they look for and bringing the wing-backs inward towards the box, PSG will struggle. There's an argument a 3-4-3 shape, matching up to Atalanta, is a good plan here; it would give PSG numbers on each flank and help the wide duo (Juan Bernat and Colin Dagba, at this rate) deal with what's thrown at them.
Marquinhos on Gomez between the lines is a key battle, as is whoever Atalanta deploy to stop Neymar taking over at the other end. PSG may have to line up (at least from the start) without Mbappe, but they still have this game's best player; for once, Neymar's fit and firing at this stage of the competition, and his team-mates are showing a maturity and game-management ability they've lacked over the years.
Prediction: Atalanta 1-2 PSG
RB Leipzig vs. Atletico Madrid
Previewing a clash between a team that hasn't played for a month against a team that hasn't played for two weeks, in an empty stadium, is difficult enough. However, it is made more complicated by the news that Atletico Madrid have confirmed two coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and have had to enforce self-isolation measures. The club announced on Monday (h/t Dermot Corrigan of The Athletic) the two players in question are Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko.
That disruption to preparations perhaps swings the pendulum back towards RB Leipzig a little after developments over the past few months have all generally served Atletico: they finally found their goalscoring touch post-lockdown, the single knockout format suits them and their opponents losing Timo Werner (a 34-goal striker) changes the face of this tie.
It's a meeting between one of Europe's best pressing teams and one of Europe's best low-block defensive teams. Leipzig will likely lack the competitive sharpness needed to press for 90 minutes and beyond, so they may well go for the throat early, as the longer the game goes on, the more it suits Atletico's approach and enhanced fitness levels.
34-goal Werner has joined Chelsea. Losing him is a hammer blow to Leipzig's chances.
In Werner, Leipzig have lost one of the best in the game at sniffing out chances in the box—an important trait to break down Atletico's compact defensive style. It could be that the odd stray ball in the box is the total sum of chances you can create against them.
Atleti's centre-back corps, led by Felipe, will relish the physical contest strikers Yussuf Poulsen and Patrik Schick offer, and after winning those duels, the onus will be on the deepest midfielder's vertical passing to turn defence into attack in the face of high pressure. If Thomas Partey is fit that's big—his incisive passing can slice teams open—if not, one of Saul Niguez or Koke will need to assume the mantle.
Atleti's out-balls could be any of Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata, Joao Felix and Marcos Llorente, and they all offer something slightly different. Llorente's redevelopment into a support striker in recent months (having previously been a defensive midfielder) has added thrust and aggression to the forward line when Costa's not playing (or not playing well).
Leipzig will play a high defensive line that can be exploited, but the reason they do so is because the recovery speed of Dayot Upamecano is mind-blowing. How well he patrols the halfway line is one half of the equation for Leipzig, the other is what Christopher Nkunku can conjure in attack to replace Werner's output.
Prediction: Leipzig 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich
It feels odd to be heading into a Champions League quarter-final between two of Europe's titans, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, only for so many to be convinced this match only ends one way: a Bayern victory.
This is Barcelona, two-time winners in the past decade, in possession of the best player on Earth, Lionel Messi. How have we got to the point where they are expected to be steamrolled?
But the more you question it, check it and re-rationalise it, the more it makes sense. Contrasting this older, slower Barca side against the machine that is Bayern can only lead you to one conclusion—unless, of course, Messi goes full Messi and decides the game on his own.
If he produces the sort of performance he did against Napoli on Saturday, when he put the game out of reach for the Partenopei, Barca may ride his coattails to victory.
But Barca's willingness to surrender possession against the Italians was a little alarming—they gave them a chance to get back into it—and the lack of off-the-ball pressure high up allowed their opponents to build attacks.
Without a constant, 11-man effort off the ball against Bayern Munich, they will be picked apart. And if they look solely to Messi, he may find it harder to have his way with the ball when matched up against defenders like Alphonso Davies and David Alaba, who boast an incredible range of defensive acumen and raw speed.
That battle is what will decide this game. If Alaba and Davies (with the help of the midfield) can keep Messi to even 50 per cent capacity, Bayern will best Barca in every other area and win the game. Robert Lewandowski is on fire, Thomas Muller is back to his best and the speed Die Roten offer on the flanks will be too much for a Barca side who cannot go up and down the pitch for 90 minutes.
Prediction: Barcelona 1-3 Bayern Munich
Manchester City vs. Lyon
Lyon provided the shock of the round of 16 by beating Juventus on away goals. They survived what was expected to be an onslaught and another highlight performance from Cristiano Ronaldo with, whisper it, relative ease.
Yes, they conceded two goals, but one was a joke of a penalty call and the other a long-range howitzer from Ronaldo. Very little in the way of coordinated passing moves troubled them, as their 3-5-2 defensive shape mopped up crosses and closed the space outside the penalty box extremely well.
Houssem Aouar, Bruno Guimaraes and Maxence Caqueret (average age 21.3) put in big shifts in the middle, preventing Adrien Rabiot and Rodrigo Bentancur controlling, dribbling or doing anything of creative note.
They cleared their lines to Memphis Depay and Karl Toko Ekambi, two direct runners with speed and strength, giving them a sharp edge on the counter-attack, which Moussa Dembele added to off the bench.
This is exactly what Man City will face on Saturday. There will be no surprises and no shape changes. Lyon have settled into this style and will try to pull off Operation Turin three more times and lift the trophy.
Pep Guardiola's men will have to work extremely hard to find the gaps and spaces needed to score against them, and it's not as if he's going to commit seven to doing so. He himself has tightened up his approach on the European stage, using Rodrigo and Ilkay Gundogan in midfield, appreciating the added security it offers ahead of Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte in defence.
If there are spaces to find, they will be down the flanks, behind the wing-backs. If City can retain the width in their play (something Guardiola always preaches) and slip in behind Maxwell Cornet and Leo Dubois, there's joy to be had. Federico Bernardeschi almost scored a sensational solo goal doing exactly that on Friday.
Lyon will clear long in the face of City's pressing, eager to avoid a Raphael Varane scenario, and that will skip the midfield and match Laporte and Fernandinho directly against the quick forwards. Who wins that battle is part of how this game will be decided; the other is how effectively Raheem Sterling and Co. can find spaces in Lyon's structure to pull them apart.
Champions League 2020: Winners and Losers After Saturday's Round-of-16 Results
Aug 8, 2020
Barcelona's Clement Lenglet is embraced by Barcelona's Lionel Messi after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Napoli at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona and Bayern Munich are off to the Champions League quarterfinals after relatively drama-free wins Saturday.
The Catalan giants knocked off Napoli 3-1 (4-2 on aggregate), while the Bavarians took down Chelsea 4-1 (7-1 on aggregate) in a pair of matches that held their first legs all the way back in February before the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to Europe's top competition.
Below, we'll break down some of the top winners and losers from Saturday.
As only he could, the magician does it again. A masterclass in balance, precision, and skill puts @FCBarcelona up 3-1 on aggregate. pic.twitter.com/nKBPfu1Ywi
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 8, 2020
That is poetry on a pitch.
It's incredible that at the age of 33—with an entire career of breathtaking goals behind him—Messi is still capable of surprise. Everyone already knows of his legend, and yet when he shows you the full magnitude of his footballing genius, it still leaves you stunned.
But Saturday was a reminder not to take Messi for granted while we have him. This goal will likely get lost in his career of personal achievements, stunning highlights and team triumphs. But we don't know how many moments like it he has left in the tank. Best to appreciate them now.
Loser: Chelsea's Back 4
Fresh off allowing Arsenal's Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang to score a brace in the FA Cup final, Chelsea's defense was shredded by Bayern's dangerous attack, giving up four goals in total and a brace to Robert Lewandowski.
It was an embarrassing showing for a Chelsea side that otherwise had a solid 2019-20 campaign:
7-1 - Chelsea's 7-1 defeat on aggregate to Bayern Munich was the second-heaviest inflicted on an English team in Champions League history, behind only Arsenal's 10-2 aggregate defeat in the last 16 in 2016/17, also against Bayern Munich. Hammered. pic.twitter.com/aKgh7NqhgF
At the highest level, the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen aren't going to cut it. If Chelsea wants to advance deeper in Europe, the defense needs a makeover.
Winner: Robert Lewandowski
Messi stole many of the headlines, but Lewandowski was incredible for Bayern in both legs of its matchup with Chelsea.
As cool as ever!
Robert Lewandowski puts one past Willy Caballero from the penalty spot to extend @FCBayernUS’s lead to 4-0 on aggregate over Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/APtkXe9apP
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 8, 2020
Just look at these absurd stats:
7 - Robert Lewandowski was involved in all seven of Bayern Munich's goals against Chelsea in the Champions League this season (3 goals, 4 assists). He was the first player to register 3+ goals and assists against an opponent in a season since Luis Figo in 2004/05 vs Roma. Heaven. pic.twitter.com/6YnMObD34i
Lewandowski remains one of the world's most clinical finishers. That he has so much talent setting the table for him makes Bayern one of the favorites to win this competition and an enormous threat to Barca in the quarterfinals.
Loser: Napoli's Champions League Future
After finishing seventh on the Serie A table, Napoli's only chance at returning to the Champions League was to win the tournament. That was always a long shot, but those dreams officially died Saturday.
Napoli's otherwise disappointing season did include a Coppa Italia triumph and automatic entry into the Europa League, so all was not lost. But there will be no Champions League for the Naples side next season.
Champions League 2020: Winners and Losers After Friday's Round of 16 Results
Aug 7, 2020
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League, round of 16, second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (Oli Scarff/Pool Photo via AP)
The UEFA Champions League made its long-awaited return on Friday with Manchester City and Lyon advancing to the quarterfinals on aggregate.
City and Lyonnais won the first leg of their respective matches with Real Madrid and Juventus way back on Feb. 26, before play was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Pep Guardiola is chasing his first Champions League crown since 2010-11 with Barcelona. The 49-year-old has led Manchester City to the quarterfinals in each of the past two years, where they have lost to the eventual runner-up.
Gabriel Jesus' goal in the 68th minute provided the knockout blow for City against Real Madrid.
Lyon stunned Juventus 1-0 in the first leg five months ago, handing the Zebras their first loss after going unbeaten in group play. Cristiano Ronaldo tried to will Juventus to the quarterfinals, scoring both of his team's goals on Friday, but it wasn't enough to push the team over the top.
UEFA Champions League Results (Aug. 7)
Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid (Man City win 4-2 on aggregate)
Juventus 2-1 Lyon (2-2 aggregate; Lyon advances on away goals)
Winner: Pep Guardiola
The Manchester City manager was very matter-of-fact about his expectations for his team heading into Friday.
"I have the feeling now today that we are ready to play the game tomorrow, do a good performance and win the game," he told reporters. "That is my feeling: We are ready."
City wasted no time proving Guardiola right when Raheem Sterling took advantage of poor defense and goaltending by Real Madrid to put his team up 1-0 in the ninth minute.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 7, 2020
The irony of that moment is Guardiola acknowledged during his Thursday press conference that his team has too often been caught napping on the defensive end.
"More than conceding the goals, it's the way that we conceded the goals," he said. "When they are brilliant and make a good action, we have to accept it. But for most of them, it was goals that could have been avoided. We have to avoid it. Making mistakes in this competition punishes you a lot."
Madrid did even the score at one in the 28th minute on Karim Benzema's terrific header in heavy traffic, including three defenders, but Guardiola's squad tightened things up after that and only allowed four shots on goal.
Guardiola made history in the win by ending Zinedine Zidane's streak of Champions League wins in knockout matches:
Zidane loses a Champions League knockout match for the first time as Real Madrid manager. Varane blunders seized on by Man City.
It's City to Lisbon for the singe-game Champions League quarterfinal a week on Saturday
One thing that has gotten Guardiola into trouble in previous years was getting outcoached by the opposition, as ESPN's Mark Ogden detailed:
"Their Champions League downfall over the past three seasons has been, in part, down to Guardiola's habit of overthinking his tactics and selection in the knockout rounds. Against Monaco, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, City were eliminated because Guardiola allowed himself to be outsmarted by his opposite number each time. His team lost the first leg at Liverpool and Spurs, and failed to find a way back in the return fixture at the Etihad and were dumped out by an attacking Monaco side that showed no fear."
City looked to be in trouble during the first leg, trailing 1-0 deep into the second half until two late goals, including Kevin De Bruyne's penalty kick in the 83rd minute, pushed them over the top.
A fast start in the second leg eased a lot of the pressure on Guardiola, and he's back in the quarterfinals with a chance to win his third career Champions League crown as a manager.
Loser: Raphael Varane
As Real Madrid looks back on everything that went wrong, it's going to be hard not to focus in on Raphael Varane's defensive struggles that directly aided City.
Jesus was running circles around Varane all day, including on the go-ahead goal midway through the second half:
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 7, 2020
The stats only further solidify how badly things went for the 27-year-old:
📉 Raphael Varane earned a WhoScored rating of just 4.62 in Real Madrid's 2-1 loss at Manchester City tonight; Only Joel Veltman vs Chelsea (4.27) has received lower of any outfield player in a Champions League match this season pic.twitter.com/IqAxc9sTFU
😱 Raphael Varane has now committed three errors leading to an opposition goal in 40 league and European appearances this season, all of which have come in the Champions League
Zidane had to rely on Varane at center-back because Sergio Ramos was unavailable due to a suspension.
Things couldn't have gone worse for him on this stage, resulting in the Whites going home in the round of 16 for the second straight year.
Winner and Loser: Cristiano Ronaldo
What more is there to say about Ronaldo at this point?
The Juventus superstar was unable to make up the difference on aggregate for the club to advance, but his offensive output continues to dwarf everyone else's in the knockout stage:
Cristiano Ronaldo has 67 career Champions League knockout stage goals.
Dating back to last year's Champions League knockout stage, Ronaldo has scored all seven Juventus goals. On an individual basis, there's no denying the 35-year-old remains the most dominant scorer in the world.
Unfortunately, Ronaldo's success hasn't been enough to get Juventus over the hump in Champions League play. The team hasn't been able to advance past the quarterfinals since he arrived in 2018.
Cristiano Ronaldo fails to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2010 😳 pic.twitter.com/TQwRoyqXDb
Memphis Depay's goal for Lyon came on a penalty kick, though there was controversy about referee Felix Zwayer's call because it appeared Rodrigo Bentancur got the ball cleanly fromHoussem Aouar early in the first half.
Depay's conversion provided the only scoring that Lyon would need to advance. Ronaldo and Juventus might spend a lot of time wondering what might have been had that call not happened, but the team waited too long to come alive.
Winner: Rudi Garcia
Lyon entered the knockout phase coming off an uninspired run in group play. Rudi Garcia's club finished 2-2-2 with a plus-one goal differential to make it out of Group G.
There was very little evidence to suggest the Kids were going to have enough to hold down Ronaldo and Juventus.
Juventus dominated the ball in the first leg, holding possession for 64 percent of the time. The key for Lyon on that day was preventing the Old Lady from getting a clean shot on goal in a 1-0 victory.
Garcia's team held firm long enough in the second led to advance on aggregate, making history in the process:
Juventus are kicked out by a French team for THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY!
Lyon will have its hands full in the quarterfinals against Manchester City. Garcia's record since taking over the club in October 2019 is 17-7-10 in 34 matches. It's not an exceptional mark, by any means, but he's done enough to put his team in a position to compete with anyone.
Champions League Draw 2020: Schedule of Dates for Quarters, Semis Fixtures
Jul 10, 2020
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 08: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona shoots on goal during the warm up before the Liga match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at Camp Nou on July 08, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
UEFA held the draw for the remainder of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League on Friday, which was in the midst of the round of 16 when play was halted in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The tournament will shift to a single-match format beginning in the quarter-finals, when the entire competition moves to Lisbon, Portugal. The remaining last-16 matches will take place at the relevant teams' home stadiums (if possible under COVID-19 guidelines).
UEFA Champions League Draw
Quarter-Finals (Aug. 12-16)
Real Madrid or Manchester City vs. Lyon or Juventus
RB Leipzig vs. Atletico Madrid
Napoli or Barcelona vs. Chelsea or Bayern Munich
Atalanta vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Semi-Finals (Aug. 18-19)
Real Madrid, Manchester City, Lyon or Juventus vs. Napoli, Barcelona, Chelsea or Bayern Munich
RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid vs. Atalanta or Paris Saint-Germain
The tournament final will be played Aug. 23.
Analysis
Atletico Madrid knocked out reigning champions Liverpool, and with the benefit of a favorable draw on Friday, Los Colchoneros are once again a chief contender after recent finals appearances in 2014 and 2016.
Meanwhile, the opposite side of the bracket is stacked with several of the most prominent clubs in Europe. A potential semi-final showdown between Lionel Messi's Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus is possible, though Barca face a tough fight with Napoli to reach the quarters.
Manchester City also reside on that side of the draw and could face the additional pressure of knowing it's the club's last chance to win the tournament in the immediate future as they await a ruling on an appeal of their two-year ban from European club competitions. A decision isexpected on Monday.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin recently told ESPN'sGabriele Marcottithe governing body has to remain "flexible" as it attempts to complete the UCL and the Europa League:
"We have to be flexible. In our jobs and in our lives. We are literally assessing the situation every day. We will continue to do so until July 9, and then we will decide whether it will be possible to play with spectators on a reduced capacity basis. That's the deadline. The draw for the final phase is the next day. But by July 9, we'll have a medical protocol in place, and we'll be able to decide. I can tell you that as of right now there would be no spectators."
A final decision about fans hasn't been announced.
City and Bayern Munich are the co-favorites (3-1) heading into the resumption of play in August, according toOddschecker. They are followed by PSG (5-1), Barcelona (7-1) and Atletico (10-1).
The Champions League trophy has been awarded every year since it was established for the 1955-56 season. Real Madrid took home the inaugural championship.
How Wolves Plan to Keep Big Names and Be Ready for Champions League Football
Jul 2, 2020
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Raul Jimenez of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-1 with Adama Traore during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool FC at Molineux on January 23, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sam Bagnall - AMA/Getty Images)
As Wolverhampton Wanderers sit on the fringes of a UEFA Champions League position, it is easy to imagine this is as good as it gets.
But for those involved at the club, this is seen as just the beginning.
Star names Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore and Ruben Neves will all be linked with Europe's elite this summer, and manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be touted for top jobs across the continent. Yet there will be no panic at Molineux and little temptation to cash in and accept they have reached the summit.
On Saturday, they face Arsenal in a clash that can encourage their top-four push—but more telling could be their clash on the final day of the campaign against Chelsea. That fixture might yet decide whether they earn a Champions League spot.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Portuguese head coach Nuno Espirito Santo shouts from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at The London Stadium, in east London on June 20, 2020. (Phot
Wolves have another path into next season's competition if it doesn't work out—they are still in the UEFA Europa League and face Olympiacos in the round of 16 in August.
If they do make it into the Champions League, a whole new world of opportunity will open up: new signings, new sponsorship opportunities and new supporters across the globe thanks to a fresh appeal.
This was always the dream of owners involved with Fosun International Ltd when they took over the club in 2016. Back then, sources were declaring that a new era was on the horizon in Wolverhampton. The buyout had cost £45 million but so much more investment was to come.
In 2017, a report in the Sunday People from Neil Moxley revealed how Nuno had been promised "limitless" funds in order to bring Champions League football to Wolves.
The Shanghai-based investment company, with links to super-agent Jorge Mendes, has indeed spent heavily since those early days, and success was quick to follow. They were promoted to the Premier League in 2018—a year earlier than they had planned—and now they are reaping the rewards of their ambitious vision.
Wolves have been growing their global brand even without Champions League football. Jimenez has brought thousands of Mexican supporters to the club's social channels, and the club's Spanish Twitter page has more than 100,000 followers. In China, they have a club shop, with merchandise specifically designed for that market.
Their official content is published in four languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese and Mandarin. The club is targeting the U.S. market as the next priority.
The off-field success will come more naturally if Wolves manage to secure Champions League football. Their form since the season restarted has been emphatic: three games, three wins, three clean sheets.
—Scored in both games since the restart —Became Mexico’s leading scorer in a single Premier League season —Wolves chasing a Champions League spot @Raul_Jimenez9 is having a season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/InBtflJ2ak
They are determined to ensure this side does not soon fall prey to the biggest clubs in Europe.
In terms of the star names, Manchester City-linked Neves signed a five-year contract in 2018, and insiders are suggesting that an improved offer will be on the table for him this summer. Traore has been linked with Barcelona but has formed a great bond with the coaching staff and could also be in line for a new contract in the coming months to convince him there is no need to leave.
Star striker Jimenez is being pursued by Manchester United and Juventus, but his £90 million price tag will either scare off bidders or gives Wolves sufficient cash to replace him. Wolves have little interest in negotiating below that figure and are confident Champions League football would convince him to stay longer.
Nuno has one year remaining on his contract, but talks are continuing over a new agreement, with the expectation being that he will commit to staying.
The Wolves hierarchy is only focused on viewing the positives of building this team, so on top of securing the services of the current side, we should also expect more signings.
Names are being closely guarded, though you can be sure Mendes' influence will be key.
One position we have been told the club will prioritise is the centre of defence, and Ruben Dias of Benfica—one of the most sought-after young players in Europe—is one of their targets, sources revealed to B/R.
How ambitious they can be with other transfers may depend on whether they make the top four—or top five depending on how Man City's appeal against a Champions League ban goes.
Results in July and August will determine whether Wolves can take the giant step into new territory, but one thing for sure is that none of this is a fluke.
Wolves have been plotting this ascent, with no ceiling on just how far they can go.
It is time to take their rise very seriously. They will not rest until they are among Europe's elite.
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UEFA Champions League Reveals Schedule of Dates, Format for Return amid COVID-19
Jun 17, 2020
WHICHFORD, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: The official Adidas 'Istanbul 20' UEFA Champions League replica ball photographed on April 07, 2020 in Whichford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus)
UEFA announced Wednesday that its Champions League will resume in August with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final all being played in Lisbon, Portugal.
It was also announced that each of the remaining rounds will be single-leg fixtures. Usually, the quarterfinals and semifinals are two-legged fixtures, with teams advancing on aggregate if they split the matches.
Four of the eight round-of-16 fixtures have been completed, but the other four each have one leg remaining after getting interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. It has yet to be determined if those matches will take place in the Portuguese capital or at the stadium of the home teams as originally intended.
The round-of-16 legs will be played on Aug. 7-8, followed by the quarterfinals Aug. 12-15, the semifinals Aug. 18-19 and the final Aug. 23.
Benfica's Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Sporting CP's Estadio Jose Alvalade will be the host venues for the quarterfinals, semifinals and final. Should the remaining round-of-16 fixtures need to be played in Portugal, they will emanate from Estadio do Dragao in Porto or Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes.
Thus far, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Leipzig and Atalanta have all advanced to the final eight. The remaining fixtures in theround of 16are Juventus vs. Lyon, Manchester City vs. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea and Barcelona vs. Napoli.
On aggregate, Lyon leads Juventus 1-0, Manchester City leads Real Madrid 2-1, Bayern Munich leads Chelsea 3-0 and Barcelona and Napoli are tied 1-1.
It is already guaranteed that there will be two new teams in the final this year, as both reigning champion Liverpool and reigning runner-up Tottenham Hotspurwere eliminatedin the round of 16 by Atletico Madrid and by Leipzig, respectively.
The original plan was for the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League final to occur at Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, but it will host next year's final instead. As a result, St. Petersburg, Munich and London were each pushed back one year as host cities to 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Most of the biggest soccer leagues in the world have resumed play in recent weeks with no fans in attendance because of COVID-19, including the Bundesliga, English Premier League, La Liga and Serie A. Ligue 1 has yet to resume, however, which could put PSG and Lyon in a difficult spot in terms of preparation.
Bleacher Report's David Gardner interviews athletes and other sports figures for the podcast How to Survive Without Sports.
Every UEFA Champions League Final You Can Watch Free on B/R Live
May 6, 2020
Liverpool's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Sunday, June 2, 2019. Liverpool won 2-0. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
On B/R Live, fans can now watch full replays of 11 Champions League finals since 1999, all free. The finals are from 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2005 and 1999. These are complete match replays, from the UCL anthem to the trophy lift.
In addition to these 11 matches, B/R Live also has classic specials for Champions League finals from 1993-2018. These specials feature extended match highlights and analysis of each of those finals, which are all of the ones played under the Champions League banner. To see all of the UCL Finals specials and stream the first episode on B/R Live, go here.
Below, you can find short match summaries and highlights for the 11 full finals on B/R Live as well as direct links to stream them free.
Champions League Finals
2019 Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur | Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
After heartbreak in the 2018 Champions League final, Liverpool returns to the final stage of the competition and this time completes the mission. In an all-English final against Cinderella squad Tottenham Hotspur, the Reds score an early penalty courtesy of Mohamed Salah then hold steady until Divock Origi seals the win with a late goal.
2018 Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool | Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
Speaking of the 2018 final, Real Madrid wins an unprecedented third Champions League trophy in a row and fourth in five seasons in a match defined by controversy, goalkeeper blunders and one of the best goals in UCL final history. The controversy arrives when a Sergio Ramos tackle forces Liverpool star Salah off with an injury just 30 minutes into the scoreless affair. Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema pounces on an error by Reds keeper Loris Karius to open the scoring six minutes into the second half. And Gareth Bale hits a stunning bicycle kick from the top of the box to give Real the lead for good on its way to a 3-1 victory.
2017 Real Madrid 4-1 Juventus | Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Real Madrid becomes the first team in UEFA Champions League history to win the competition in back-to-back seasons. Cristiano Ronaldo opens the scoring in the 20th minute before Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic equalizes with a stunning overhead kick. But the Spanish club's firepower is too much in the second half, as Ronaldo scores again and Los Blancos roll to their third UCL trophy in four years.
2015 Barcelona 3-1 Juventus | Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
Barcelona tops Juventus 3-1 in a matchup of two clubs that had already won their domestic league and cups. Ivan Rakitic scores in the 4th minute and Neymar at 90+7, with Luis Suarez’s 68th-minute goal the one that puts Barcelona ahead for good on the way to its fifth Champions League title and another treble.
2014 Real Madrid 4-1 Atlético Madrid (extra time) | Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
A thrilling final between city rivals delivers Real Madrid its long-awaited 10th European title, La Decima. Atletico Madrid grabs the lead just after the half-hour mark then digs in, holding on for dear life. But Sergio Ramos, in the now-iconic minute of 90+3, heads home the tying goal. Atletico has nothing left, physically or emotionally, in extra time, and Real takes advantage, pouring in three more goals to win the title.
In an all-German final, Bayern Munich bounces back from its devastating loss in penalties the year before to Chelsea, claiming its fifth Champions League trophy. All three goals of the match come in the second half. Bayern's Mario Mandzukic hits the opener, but Ilkay Gundogan brings Dortmund level with a penalty only eight minutes later. Arjen Robben etches himself into Bayern lore with the dramatic title winner in the 89th minute.
2011 Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United | Wembley Stadium, London, England
In a rematch of the 2009 final, this edition at Wembley Stadium ends with a similar result. Both Barcelona and Manchester United were vying for their fourth Champions League trophy and a season double after winning their leagues, and it was the Catalan club which would grab it. In dominating fashion, Barcelona uses goals from Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa to win, as Messi vaults himself into the echelon of the best players in the world.
2009 Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United | Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
Speaking of the 2009 final, Barcelona's win over Manchester United in Rome was its third Champions League victory and marked the passing of the torch from one era of dominance to another. Samuel Eto'o scores the first goal 10 minutes into the match, and Lionel Messi seals the win, his first UCL title, with one of his own in the 70th minute. The triumph completes a historic treble for the club, becoming the first Spanish team to accomplish the feat and setting up Messi's now illustrious career.
2008 Manchester United 1-1 (6-5 penalties) Chelsea | Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia
An all-English classic takes place, with Cristiano Ronaldo's opening goal for United evened out by Chelsea's Frank Lampard in the final minute of the first half. After no more goals in the second half or extra time, the match goes to penalties and ultimately reaches sudden death, at which time Manchester United prevails 6-5.
2005 Liverpool 3-3 (3-2 penalties) AC Milan | Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey
The "Miracle of Istanbul" creates Liverpool legends. AC Milan led 3-0 after one half, but the Reds storm back in the second, scoring three goals in a wild six-minute stretch, one each from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso. The final reaches extra time and ultimately penalties, with Liverpool winning the shootout 3-2 to complete the iconic comeback.
1999 Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich | Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Manchester United defeats Bayern Munich in a match that has early action and late drama. Mario Basler scores in the sixth minute for Bayern, which holds the lead all the way until second-half stoppage time, when Manchester United scores not once, but twice, with current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hitting the winner.
Assessing Transfer Rumours on Harry Kane, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Timo Werner
Apr 17, 2020
Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane (L) and Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang embrace on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 1, 2019. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)
With all major football across Europe suspended due to the coronavirus, transfer tales have suddenly taken on a new lease of life.
At this time of year, we are usually focusing on title races and cup competitions, but the break in play has meant more space for gossip about the game's top players.
With so many elite footballers being linked to a move over the past couple of weeks, we have called on our informed insiders within the game to help separate fact from fiction.
We start with a story on Arsenal's leading goalscorer...
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Real Madrid
He has 17 goals in the Premier League this season, and as he enters the final year of his contract, there is serious doubt about whether he stays with Arsenal.
He earns around £200,000 a week and had been seeking an advance on that figure to sign a new deal. With Arsenal trying to get players to take a cut in pay, the chances of a substantial rise are now very slim.
The Gunners are trying to lower their wage bill and protect them for the coming years, and as part of that, Aubameyang is likely to leave before he becomes a free agent in 2021.
Quite whether Real Madrid is his next destination, though, is a different matter. Spanish outlet Sport (h/tDaily Mail) suggested he is on the club's shortlist and has been scouted for the past few seasons.
But where they stand financially, and what their priority becomes for this year, is still to be determined.
Arsenal are fielding questions from a variety of clubs right now, but sources in London say they have refused to discuss a move while trying to sort out their current financial situation.
Talks will happen in the coming weeks and months.
Verdict: Will leave Arsenal, probably not for Madrid
Timo Werner to Liverpool
This is a longstanding rumour that continues to hold up even during these uncertain times.
Sources in Germany remain convinced that the player is going to leave RB Leipzig, and Liverpool is seen as his No. 1 landing spot.
The Jurgen Klopp effect should not be underestimated in terms of winning the battle for his signature, and the pair were expected to meet for discussions before the coronavirus travel ban was implemented.
Werner is having English lessons and is excited about the prospect of playing in the Premier League.
One concern for Liverpool, though, is that Werner is also admired by Barcelona, who have been in touch with his representatives, according to B/R sources.
Verdict: The Kop will sing his name
N'Golo Kante to Barcelona—Philippe Coutinho to Chelsea
A swap deal has been touted by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t Metro), which reported Barca are on the hunt for a new midfielder with a good engine.
The Spanish club are trying to rebalance their accounts due to cash flow issues and know they won't get back the £142 million they paid for Coutinho in 2018.
So with that in mind, they are going to have to be smart about how they offload him. A loan is one option, but a permanent swap deal would be even better if it means they fix another part of the squad.
The problem with this transfer story, is that signing Kante does not make much sense in terms of fitting with the midfielders they already have in place, such as Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong.
And in return, sources say Chelsea have concern over whether the signing of Coutinho is smart. The player would be keen to join them, but if it was to happen, it would almost certainly be on loan.
Chelsea have been reassessing their squad in recent weeks and would consider selling Kante if the right offer arrived.
But a cash deal from long-term suitors like PSG or Real Madrid would suit everyone better.
Verdict: No swap deal
Harry Kane to Manchester United
Sami Mokbel of the MailOnline described how Kane is available for £200 million and is keen on the idea of moving to United.
There's plenty of truth to this one. Members of United's hierarchy would love to have Kane in attack, and they do have money to spend.
However, their first priorities are to complete deals for Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund and Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.
And with that in mind, there will not be enough in the pot to also sign Kane in the same window.
Another issue with this transfer is that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy would prefer to sell Kane to a foreign club, rather than a Premier League rival. But Kane would opt for Old Trafford over the Santiago Bernabeu, sources have told B/R, and it could be that he begins next season with Spurs but has a gentleman's agreement to pick his next club after that.
Verdict: Unlikely this year—but maybe in 2021.
Lautaro Martinez to Manchester City
Phil Thomas of The Sun reported Man City are favourites to trigger his £97.5 million release clause at Inter Milan.
They are beginning to think about the long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero, but B/R sources in Manchester say this transfer will not happen.
The intention for next season is that Aguero and Gabriel Jesus both stay as their leading strikers.
There is also a careful approach being planned to replace Aguero, as they do not want him to feel forced out.
Martinez could be on the move, though, and if Barcelona are willing to include a player—possibly Antoine Griezmann—as part of the transfer, then the Camp Nou will become a realistic destination instead.
Verdict: Back him to join Barcelona
Listen to Dean on theB/R Football Rankspodcast. New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe here.
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Champions League, Europa League, Euro 2020 Play-Offs Suspended Indefinitely
Apr 1, 2020
Match balls are carried during a training session at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Friday May 31, 2019. English Premier League teams Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for the Champions League final which takes place in Madrid on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
UEFA announced Wednesday that the Champions League, Europa League and Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs have all been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to ESPN, the Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs and international friendlies that were previously scheduled for June have been postponed in an effort to clear the calendar for domestic leagues to potentially resume during that time.
The European Championships, which had been scheduled to take place this summer, were previously postponed until 2021, while the Champions League and Europa League remain suspended in the round of 16.
Per ESPN, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said over the weekend that the season could be "lost" if play does not resume by the end of June.
One major issue for the Champions League and Europa League is that player contracts expire on June 30. Because of that, UEFA had a desire to complete competitions by that date. Given the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, that may not be possible.
In order to accommodate UEFA and potentially make it possible to finish the Champions League and Europa League, FIFA is working on a plan that would extend player contracts until the end of the season rather than the fixed date of June 30, according to ESPN.
Before the Champions League was suspended, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and Atalanta had all qualified for the quarter-finals.
There are still four round-of-16 second legs left to be played: Juventus vs. Lyon, Manchester City vs. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea and FC Barcelona vs. Napoli.
If the UEFA Champions League does not resume, it will represent the first time since the European Cup was created in 1955-56 that a champion is not crowned.
