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Chelsea Tops Real Madrid, Advances to Champions League Final vs. Manchester City

May 5, 2021
Chelsea's Timo Werner, center kicks the ball during the Champions League semifinal 2nd leg soccer match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge in London, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Chelsea's Timo Werner, center kicks the ball during the Champions League semifinal 2nd leg soccer match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge in London, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

For the first time since 2012, Chelsea has advanced to the UEFA Champions League Final thanks to its 2-0 win over Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. 

The Blues advanced 3-1 on aggregate after the two clubs drew 1-1 in the first leg of the semifinal on April 27. They will take on Manchester City in the final. 

Timo Werner got Chelsea on the board in the 28th minute with a header on a rebound after Kai Havertz's attempt hit the crossbar. 

With Werner taking care of things on the offensive end, Chelsea's defense went to work slowing down the potent Real Madrid offense. 

Los Blancos held possession for 68 percent of the match and all four of their shots in the first half were on goal. 

Despite being on the attack for most of the match, Real Madrid was unable to break through against Edouard Mendy. The Chelsea goalkeeper made two fantastic stops in the first half on shots from Karim Benzema. 

Havertz missed a number of scoring opportunities in the game. His header off a pass from Cesar Azpilicueta hit off the crossbar early in the second half. 

The 21-year-old had a breakaway attempt in the 59th minute that he kicked right into Thibaut Courtois.

Christian Pulisic, who started the game on the bench, made an impact late in the game after replacing Werner. The American star got past Madrid's defense down the right flank, but his shot attempt went just to the left of the goal in the 81st minute. 

In the 85th minute, Pulisic finally found enough room to breakthrough when he set up Mason Mount to seal the win. 

Madrid entered the semifinal rolling over the competition in its way. It knocked off Atalanta and Liverpool in the first two knockout rounds by a combined score of 7-2. 

Since Benzema's goal in the 29th minute of the first leg of the semifinal, Real Madrid was held scoreless for the next 151 minutes. Wednesday marks the first loss for Zinedine Zidane's club since Jan. 30 against Levante in La Liga. 

The last time Chelsea played in a Champions League Final, it defeated Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalty kicks after playing to a 1-1 draw. 

Manchester City will provide a formidable challenge. The Cityzens are unbeaten in 11 Champions League games this season and have only given up three goals in six knockout-stage matches. City is playing in its first Champions League final in club history. 

Chelsea and Manchester City will determine the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League champion when they meet at Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on May 29. 

The two teams will provide a preview of what's to come when they face each other in the Premier League on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Jim Beglin Apologizes for Blaming Angel Di Maria Red Card on 'Latino Temperament'

May 5, 2021
PSG's Angel Di Maria, left, sees a red card during the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
PSG's Angel Di Maria, left, sees a red card during the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

CBS soccer announcer Jim Beglin offered a second apology and attempted to further explain himself after blaming Angel Di Maria's red card on the player's "Latino temperament" during a UEFA Champions League semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City on Tuesday.

The comment came in the 69th minute as Di Maria was sent off after stamping on MCFC's Fernandinho and City up 2-0. Beglin offered an apology nearly 10 minutes later on the broadcast, though it wasn't clear he understood the immediate reaction to his racial stereotyping.

"When Di Maria was sent off, I described it by using the word 'Latino,'" Beglin said. "For anybody that's taken offense, I do apologize—sincerely apologize."

In a tweet sent after City's 2-0 victory to advance to the Champions League final, Beglin acknowledged and apologized for his use of a racial stereotype, calling his action "inappropriate and unacceptable" while vowing to learn from his actions.

This comes just five days after UEFA and FIFA joined English football in boycotting social media from April 30 to May 3 to fight online racism and abuse targeting players.

"There have been abuses both on the pitch and on social media," UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said. "This is unacceptable and needs to be stopped, with the help of the public and legislative authorities and the social media giants. Allowing a culture of hatred to grow with impunity is dangerous, very dangerous, not only for football, but for society as a whole."

Top Winners and Losers After Tuesday's Champions League Semifinal Leg 2 Results

May 4, 2021
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Kyle Walker of Manchester City celebrates victory with Fernandinho, Ruben Dias (obscure) and John Stones after the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain at Etihad Stadium on May 04, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Kyle Walker of Manchester City celebrates victory with Fernandinho, Ruben Dias (obscure) and John Stones after the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain at Etihad Stadium on May 04, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

For a second straight game, PSG gave up two goals to Manchester City. For a second straight game, they were given a red card in the second half. And for a second straight game, they lost to Man City, this time 2-0. 

And so PSG's hopes of Champions League conquest were quashed yet again. Pep Guardiola and his City charges, meanwhile, are headed to the final for the first time in the club's history. 

Let's break down the winners and losers from an eventful and memorable 90 minutes. 

Winner: Riyad Mahrez

Mahrez scored in his third straight UCL contest, and both were the finishing touches on City's brilliant build-up play. 

The first he finished with a nutmeg under a scrambling Keylor Navas:

The second, smashed into the top of the net from an inch-perfect cross from Phil Foden:

Right place, right time, right player.

In a game when so many City players were deserving of plaudits—Ederson (more on him below), Foden, the effervescent Kevin De Bruyne, stonewall Ruben Dias, Oleksandr Zinchenko, etc.—Mahrez's brace made him the winner of winners. 

Loser: Angel Di Maria

And then there was the loser of losers, Angel Di Maria.

In a game that saw Kylian Mbappe kept on the bench due to a lingering calf injury, PSG needed someone to step up in his wake. Neymar was threatening as always (though contained), but Mauro Icardi was largely invisible and Di Maria offered less than quality in key moments. 

Crosses missed their mark. A shot attempt from outside the box at an empty goal, with Ederson out of position after an uncharacteristic City turnover, was sent curling wide. And then the moment that sealed PSG's fate: Di Maria's completely unnecessary stomp on Fernandinho in the second half to earn him a straight red. 

All in all, a performance worth forgetting. 

Winner: Ederson

Just look at this pass:

From a keeper, no less. Goodness. 

The staunch defense in front of Ederson kept him from having to make too many saves in goal. So he decided to become a playmaker instead. 

Loser: Marco Verratti

In the wake of the Di Maria sending off, Verratti lost the plot a bit and probably was lucky he didn't get sent off himself. 

Like Di Maria, he embodied PSG's loss of composure in the second half. Which was a shame, because he was one of the better players for Paris for much of the game.

Winner: Pep Guardiola

The maestro deserves some love. 

Any way you slice it, Guardiola was the better tactician in both legs than his counterpart, Mauricio Pochettino. His adjustments in the second half of the first game completely changed that contest. 

His tactics to start on Tuesday were brilliant as well. No true No. 9? No problem. Stifling Neymar? Consider it done. Crushing PSG on the counter? Oh, you bet. 

City's players executed the game plan to perfection. But the plan itself was pretty darn perfect, too. 

Manchester City Beat PSG to Advance to UCL Final Behind Riyad Mahrez Brace

May 4, 2021
Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides second goal during the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides second goal during the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City is through to the Champions League final for the first time in club history.

Thanks to a brace from Riyad Mahrez, the Premier League leader advanced past Paris Saint-Germain by a 4-1 aggregate score following a 2-0 second leg Tuesday at Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Conditions for the fixture were less than ideal after a hailstorm hit Manchester:

Paris Saint-Germain experienced a setback in the form of an injury to one of its best players. A calf problem forced Kylian Mbappe to watch the start of the match from the bench. The French forward remained there for the duration of the evening.

The state of the pitch made it a little more difficult to string together passes for quick attacking moves. Ederson found the way to solve the problem when he launched a long ball ahead to Oleksandr Zinchenko. That triggered a sequence culminating in an 11th-minute goal from Mahrez.

Time and again, City got in the way of PSG's attempts on goal, blocking nine shots and holding its opponents to zero attempts on target. Ruben Dias in particular was excellent as the tone-setter for the back four. The Portuguese defender has had a massive impact in his first season at the club, not unlike how Virgil van Dijk almost single-handedly raised Liverpool's leaky defense when he arrived.

Mahrez removed any doubt about the outcome when he got himself into acres of space for a simple finish from a cross by Phil Foden on 63 minutes.

Angel Di Maria added to Paris Saint-Germain's woe as he earned a red card for stamping on the foot of Fernandinho in the 69th minute.

By unraveling in the second half of the first leg, Paris Saint-Germain left itself with a difficult task Tuesday night. That still would've been true if Mbappe started from the outset, and his absence only added to the struggle.

Mauricio Pochettino tabbed Mauro Icardi to operate out of the No. 9 role. While the Argentine star has scored seven goals across 18 Ligue 1 appearances, this was a match in which PSG was unable to play to his strengths.

https://twitter.com/DreCordero/status/1389672656820133894

Keeping Edinson Cavani instead of allowing his contract to expire was probably unrealistic given how tough it would've been to appease everyone in the attack. But one can't help wonder whether PSG would've been better Tuesday with Cavani leading the line in Mbappe's place.

Losing in the semifinals is a bitter pill to swallow given how desperate the club is to taste European glory for the first time. Between a tighter-than-expected title race in Ligue 1 and the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, this has been a tough season for the Parisians, though.

With the benefit of a full offseason to work with his players, Pochettino should have the squad in a much stronger place next year.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are on the precipice of achieving what ownership desired when it brought Pep Guardiola aboard in 2016. City's dominance in England has yet to fully translate in the Champions League, and that might finally change.

             

What's Next?

City awaits the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Chelsea and Real Madrid. The Blues earned a 1-1 draw with Madrid in the first leg, which gives them a slight edge on away goals.

Top Winners, Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Semifinal Leg 1 Results

Apr 28, 2021
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, 2nd left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France , Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, 2nd left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France , Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

It was a tale of two halves in the Champions League semifinal on Wednesday. 

PSG bossed the first half, getting on the board from a Marquinhos header. But Manchester City came roaring back behind tallies from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez. And now City will take a 2-1 lead—and more crucially, two away goals—back to Manchester.  

Below, we'll break down the winners and losers from the contest. 

                   

Winner: Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne clearly wasn't trying to score himself when City got their second-half equalizer. But his cross into the box was put in such a perfect spot—and such a tough angle for goalkeeper Keylor Navas—that it found the back of the net anyway. 

There's the old saying that it's better to be lucky than good. Sometimes you're so damn good, though, that luck has no choice but to do your bidding. 

https://twitter.com/TomFornelli/status/1387502653194784771

De Bruyne is one such player. There are other stars around the world that have a larger profile, or who score flashier goals. Very few are actually better, however. 

           

Winner: Riyad Mahrez

Mahrez's goal, on the other hand, was very much intended to wind up in the back of the net. And it did just that:

Truth be told, this wasn't a particularly great effort from Mahrez. It probably should have been blocked by the wall, and it wasn't tucked neatly into a corner beyond Navas' ability to stop. 

He won't care. You put the ball on goal, good things can happen. Game-winning, second away-goal good things. 

            

Loser: Keylor Navas

Navas had a bit of a howler. 

On the first goal, he seemed stuck between two minds. Anticipate the flight of the cross and risk a redirection from one of City's players peeling toward the cross. Stay at the center of the goal to protect against a redirection and, well, we all saw what happened.  

https://twitter.com/AndyGlockner/status/1387502945919324162

On the second goal, again, his wall could have done better. That's why the wall is there in the first place. But a better reaction and Navas handles a stoppable shot. 

It's hard to put the entirety of the loss on Navas. But he more than played his part. 

                

Loser: Idrissa Gueye

Any chance PSG had of equalizing in the final 15 minutes was snuffed out by Idrissa Gueye's absolutely shambolic tackle of Ilkay Gundogan: 

Dreadful, dreadful stuff. He'll miss the second match, and he made it next to impossible for his team to get a second goal on Wednesday.

                    

Loser: Mauricio Pochettino 

PSG absolutely bossed the first half. They were resplendent. It looked like PSG were headed for a big night. 

But Pep Guardiola made all of the right adjustments at half time. Mauricio Pochettino, on the other hand, did not. City ramped up their pressure and denied Kylian Mbappe and Neymar from getting on the ball. PSG conceded much more possession to City seemed happier sitting further back in its half. And that was the difference: 

The result is that PSG have a huge task on their hands in Manchester, needing to win 2-1 just to force extra time. They are capable of doing so—they put three away goals on Bayern Munich—but it's an enormous ask against Guardiola's composed, tactically sound charges. 

Champions League Results 2021: Top Scorers, Odds After Semifinal Leg 1 Scores

Apr 28, 2021
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, 2nd left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France , Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, 2nd left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France , Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Manchester City showcased its ability with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal.

There is still a lot of drama ahead in the European competition, especially after Chelsea and Real Madrid finished their first leg in a 1-1 draw Tuesday.

Manchester City were the favorites to win the title entering the week after dominating this competition and the Premier League so far in 2020-21. Wednesday's result has only strengthened the team's standing in the latest odds to win the title, via DraftKings.

       

2021 Champions League Winner Odds

  • Manchester City (-150)
  • Chelsea (+350)
  • Real Madrid (+475)
  • Paris Saint-Germain (+800)

PSG is still clearly a formidable team thanks to the attacking talent on its roster, including two players among the top scorers in Champions League this year. However, everyone is still chasing Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland for the tournament lead.

      

UCL Top Scorers

  • 10: Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
  • 8: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • 6: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
  • 5: Alassane Plea (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ciro Immobile (Lazio) Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Sergio Oliveira (Porto)

Full list available at UEFA.com.

Haaland's Borussia Dortmund was eliminated in the quarterfinals, but his production during the early rounds could make him difficult to catch.

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar will still have the opportunity to add more goals to their resumes with at least one more match and possibly two if Paris Saint-Germain is able to advance to the final.

The path forward could be difficult despite an early goal from Marquinhos off a corner kick from Angel Di Maria:

It was the third goal for Marquinhos in nine UCL matches this year, although he knows how to come through in big moments:

Manchester City appeared to be in trouble in the first half with PSG creating most of the opportunities, but the English club showed what it could do in the second.

Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez each scored in a span of seven minutes with perfectly placed balls from outside the box:

De Bruyne might have been intending a cross, but it counted as a much-needed equalizer for Manchester City before Mahrez put his club on top in the 71st minute.

It also showed the depth of Manchester City, which has goals from 12 different players in this competition but none with more than four goals. 

After Idrissa Gueye was sent off with a red card in the 77th minute, Manchester City was able to cruise to an easy win and a big advantage in the two-legged battle with two away goals.  

In the first semifinal, Karim Benzema climb the list of goal-scorers thanks to an incredible volley for Real Madrid:

It came after American Christian Pulisic got onto the scoresheet for Chelsea with a calm finish in front of goal:

Both clubs played well enough to win, but the two sides will go into the second leg looking for more offense to advance. Chelsea's away goal will help, although it might not be enough to guarantee a spot in the final.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain will conclude their tie next Tuesday, while Chelsea will host Real Madrid on Wednesday.

         

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

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Manchester City Rallies for Win vs. PSG in 1st Leg of Champions League Semifinal

Apr 28, 2021
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, 2nd left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France , Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, 2nd left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France , Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Paris Saint-Germain might be wishing Manchester City had stayed in the European Super League.

The Parisians melted down in the second half and suffered a 2-1 defeat on Wednesday at Parc des Princes in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.

With a little more than 60 minutes gone, PSG was flying high. By the 77th minute, things were unraveling for last season's Ligue 1 champion.

Following a sluggish start to the season, Manchester City has coasted past its domestic competition. The club is fresh off a victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup, and it sits 10 points clear of rival Manchester United with five PL matches to play.

The stars seem aligned for Manchester City to enjoy its long-awaited Champions League triumph. Kevin De Bruyne's equalizer was another example that this could be the year for Pep Guardiola's side.

The Belgian attacker was unable to find either of his targets with a cross into the box, but PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas failed to react quickly enough as the ball tucked inside the far post.

Navas shouldn't shoulder the blame for Riyad Mahrez's go-ahead tally in the 71st minute. Mahrez's free kick threaded its way through the PSG wall.

By reaching the 2020 Champions League final—and arguably equaling or perhaps even outplaying Bayern Munich in a 1-0 loss—many thought Paris Saint-Germain had turned a corner in Europe after suffering a string of disappointments. Instead, this will provide even more ammunition to those who argue there's something intangible missing with PSG.

Things started so brightly, too. Marquinhos got the Parisians on the score sheet first with a header in the 15th minute, a moment that appeared to be an ominous sign for Manchester City.

The Brazilian remains a man for the big moments, with OptaJoe noting he's one of three players along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann to have quarterfinal and semifinal goals in consecutive seasons.

Along with Marquinhos, the contributions of Angel Di Maria have occasionally gone overlooked because so much of the attention is drawn toward Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Di Maria delivered the corner that Marquinhos put into the back of the net, and he was a constant threat down PSG's right flank.

Having been the better team in the first half, Paris Saint-Germain didn't continue to press its advantage in the second half. That opened the door for Manchester City to wrest away control of the semifinals. Idrissa Gueye's red card in the 77th minute was a sign of how much PSG had lost its nerve.

City deserve credit for not losing its composure and sticking with the patient attacking approach that has served the club so well. If Presnel Kimpembe and Leandro Paredes hadn't allowed Mahrez's free kick to slip through the wall, you get the feeling Manchester City would've simply found a winner in a different fashion.

A one-goal deficit is far from insurmountable for Mauricio Pochettino's squad. With the way the players wilted, however, it's difficult to envision how Paris Saint-Germain can turn around and get the result it needs away from home.

           

What's Next?

City is back in action Saturday in the Premier League against Crystal Palace at 7:30 a.m. ET, while PSG hosts Lens in Ligue 1 at 11 a.m. ET. The two clubs will meet for the second leg of their UCL semifinal tie on May 4 at 3 p.m. ET.

Super League Clubs to Be 'Held Responsible' for Proposal, Per UEFA President

Apr 25, 2021
FILE - In this March 3, 2020 file photo UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin looks up during a meeting of European soccer leaders at the congress of the UEFA governing body in Amsterdam's Beurs van Berlage, Netherlands. The 12 European clubs pursuing a Super League have told the leaders of FIFA and UEFA that legal action is already being pursued to stop them from action intended to thwart the launch of the breakaway competition, according to a letter obtained Monday by The Associated Press. The letter was sent by the group of English, Spanish and Italian clubs to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin saying the Super League has already been underwritten by funding of 4 billion euros ($5.5 billion) from a financial institution. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
FILE - In this March 3, 2020 file photo UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin looks up during a meeting of European soccer leaders at the congress of the UEFA governing body in Amsterdam's Beurs van Berlage, Netherlands. The 12 European clubs pursuing a Super League have told the leaders of FIFA and UEFA that legal action is already being pursued to stop them from action intended to thwart the launch of the breakaway competition, according to a letter obtained Monday by The Associated Press. The letter was sent by the group of English, Spanish and Italian clubs to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin saying the Super League has already been underwritten by funding of 4 billion euros ($5.5 billion) from a financial institution. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

Even if the Super League plans have gone awry, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin vows to punish the 12 teams involved in the initial project. 

"Everyone has to take consequences for what they did and we cannot pretend nothing happened," Ceferin told Rob Draper of the Daily Mail. "You cannot do something like that and just say: 'I've been punished because everybody hates me.' They don't have problems because of anyone else but themselves. It's not OK what they did and we will see in next few days what we have to do."

The Super League was initially announced last Sunday featuring 12 of the biggest clubs in Europe forming a breakaway league. It was met with massive backlash from fans, especially with the six Premier League clubs of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham.

The six clubs announced they were withdrawing from the league less than two days after it was formed. Atletico Madrid and Inter have since announced they would not go forward with the plan.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said the league was on "stand-by." He also said Juventus and AC Milan have not yet backed out while Barcelona are "thinking about it."

Ceferin said there will be punishment regardless but would take into account when teams made their decisions:

"For me it’s a clear difference between the English clubs and the other six. They pulled out first, they admitted they made a mistake. You have to have some greatness to say: 'I was wrong.' For me there are three groups of this 12 — the English Six, who went out first, then the other three [Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter] after them and then the ones who feel that Earth is flat and they think the Super League still exists. And there is a big difference between those. But everyone will be held responsible. In what way, we will see."

After the initial unveiling of Super League, UEFA said teams involved would be banned from participating in European competition while the players wouldn't be allowed to compete for their national teams in the World Cup.

The forthcoming sanctions could include a ban for the clubs involved in the 2021-22 Champions League.

UEFA President: Super League Players Will Be Banned from World Cup and Euros

Apr 19, 2021
A selection of scarves of the English soccer Premier League teams who are reported to be part of a proposed European Super League, laid out and photographed, in London, Monday, April 19, 2021. The 12 European clubs planning to start a breakaway Super League have told the leaders of FIFA and UEFA that they have begun legal action aimed at fending off threats to block the competition. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
A selection of scarves of the English soccer Premier League teams who are reported to be part of a proposed European Super League, laid out and photographed, in London, Monday, April 19, 2021. The 12 European clubs planning to start a breakaway Super League have told the leaders of FIFA and UEFA that they have begun legal action aimed at fending off threats to block the competition. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

UEFA is striking back against the proposed European Super League, saying players from participating clubs will be banned from the World Cup and Euros. 

"We are all united against this nonsense of a project. ... The players that will play in the closed league will be banned from playing in the World Cup and Euros," UEFA President Alex Ceferin said Monday.

Twelve of Europe's most powerful clubs announced the formation of the Super League on Sunday, a competition that seeks to reshape the power structure of European club soccer. The plan calls for a constant group of 15 teams to be joined by five rotating champions from other leagues, ostensibly replacing the UEFA Champions League as the top European club competition. 

AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur are set as the current founding members. 

"By bringing together the world's greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid," said Joel Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United and vice chairman of the Super League.

Undeterred by the Super League, UEFA announced a new format for the Champions League that will include 32 teams beginning with the 2024-25 season. The new Champions League format seeks to make the competition more profitable, which was one of the reasons some of the Super League clubs looked to form their own league.

It's unclear if the banishment from international competition will deter Super League members. Playing for one's country in the World Cup is seen as among the highest honors for soccer players.

On the flip side, FIFA will have to consider the ramifications of the world's top players not being able to participate in the World Cup. Eliminating the Super League clubs would wipe out a majority of soccer's top stars and arguably cause the World Cup to lose some of its luster.

This is shaping up to be a high-stakes game of chicken with the future of European soccer on the line. 

Report: UEFA to Expand Champions League to 36 Teams After Super League Formation

Apr 19, 2021
Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer lifts the trophy after Munich won the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020.(Matthew Childs/Pool via AP)
Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer lifts the trophy after Munich won the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020.(Matthew Childs/Pool via AP)

The UEFA executive committee voted unanimously to expand its Champions League from 32 to 36 teams in a new format set to begin in the 2024-25 season, according to Mark Ogden of ESPN.

The system would feature 10 group-stage matches for each team before the 16-team knockout stage, an increase from the six group matches played in the current format.

The decision comes amid 12 clubs announcing Sunday the formation of a breakaway Super League while resigning from the European Club Association. It would remove many of the biggest clubs in Europe—including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United—from Champions League competition.

UEFA President Alex Ceferin has condemned the latest announcement:

It has not affected the committee's plans for changes to the Champions League.

"We will do it with or without them," Ceferin said of the departing clubs.

Regardless of what happens in the Super League, the changes could provide more opportunities for smaller clubs to compete in high-profile matches with top teams in Europe.

Of the 16 teams that advanced to the knockout round in the 2020-21 version of the Champions League, 14 were from either England, Italy, Spain or Germany. The other two—Paris Saint-Germain and Porto—are giants in their respective leagues in France and Portugal.

An expanded league would add more teams to the group stage while providing more matches in a continental competition. It would also bring in more money for these teams because of the added viewership, although the removal of the biggest clubs in Europe could put a dent in that.

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