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☆ Xabi Alonso: ‘Not winning treble with Bayer Leverkusen will make me a better manager’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Amanda Davies | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen are a living, breathing testament to that. “During the first weeks of the competition, I had a good feeling that we could make a good season. “For sure, I was not that optimistic that we could fight until the last week, but that we could have a good season? Could Leverkusen become just the second German team in history to complete a treble after Bayern Munich? “For the whole of Europe or even the whole world to see how good the teams are, how good the players are … it’s really, really important.

Persons: it’s, Xabi Alonso, they’ve, ‘, ’, ” Alonso, Amanda Davies, Alonso, ”, “, Francis Gonzalez, Granit, Victor Boniface, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Ina Fassbender, “ We’re, Alonso applauds, Alex Grimm, It’s, Atalanta, That’s, Premier League …, Hesham, Jeremie, Frimpong, ” It’s, Vincent Kompany, Arne, he’d Organizations: Italy CNN, Bayer Leverkusen, CNN, Globe Soccer, “, Real Madrid’s, Real, Sociedad, Real Sociedad, Real Sociedad B, Bundesliga, Champions, Champions League, Bayern Munich, –, Leverkusen, Real Madrid, League, Getty, Augsburg, Invincibles, Benfica, Atalanta, Europa League, Kaiserslautern, Leverkusen's Europa League, Borussia Dortmund, ‘ Farmers League, Liga, Premier League, – Bayern Munich, Liverpool Locations: Sardinia, Italy, AFP, Germany, Europe, Dortmund, San Francisco, Delhi, Liverpool, Merseyside

☆ Why We Should Have Nice Things
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

All being well, Bayer Leverkusen will end this season with one record, two trophies and just three haunting, existential questions. Could Leverkusen’s manager, Xabi Alonso, have steered his team to an unbeaten treble? Leverkusen has, after all, illuminated the European season like no other team. It has overtaken Benfica as the owner of the longest unbeaten run in European soccer since World War I. And it has done it all, in case nobody has mentioned it, in Alonso’s first full season in management.

Persons: Exequiel Palacios, Ademola, Granit Xhaka, Edmond Tapsoba, Xabi Alonso Organizations: Bayer Leverkusen, Europa League, Leverkusen, Atalanta, Benfica Locations: Dublin

☆ Bayer Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso hails ‘exceptional’ unbeaten season
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Bayer Leverkusen completed the most dominant Bundesliga season in history with a 2-1 victory over Augsberg on Saturday, becoming the first champion to lift the trophy without suffering a defeat all campaign. So successful has the team been this season that it has earned the club a new and improved nickname. “It is an exceptional season, not only in Germany but in Europe,” manager Xabi Alonso told reporters, per Reuters. The first Bundesliga title but a big Bundesliga title victory.”However, despite the unprecedented success, Alonso will have little time to bask in the glory of his first major trophy as a manager. It is a special day to have the league trophy here and having done it undefeated.

Persons: CNN — Bayer, ’, Xabi Alonso, “, Alonso, Wolfgang Rattay, Reuters “, ” Alonso, ” Organizations: CNN, CNN — Bayer Leverkusen, Augsberg, Leverkusen, Benfica, Reuters, Bundesliga, German, Kaiserslautern, Atalanta, Europa League, Bayern Munich, Champions League, European football’s Locations: Germany, Europe

☆ Bayer Leverkusen produces astonishing comeback to go 49 games unbeaten and reach Europa League final
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable season took another extraordinary turn on Thursday as a late 2-2 draw against AS Roma stretched the club’s unbeaten run to 49 games. The 4-2 aggregate victory saw Leverkusen reach a first European final in 22 years, while Josip Stanišić’s 97th-minute strike ensured that the recently-crowned German champion remains undefeated this season. It means that Leverkusen has now surpassed Portuguese team Benfica’s record from 1963-65 for the longest unbeaten run across all top-level matches since the introduction of European competitions, according to UEFA. “It says a lot about the team, the conviction that we have and it’s great to finally reach the final. According to UEFA, Scottish side Celtic’s unbeaten run of 62 games between 1915 and 1917 is the outright record for a European club, although that only included domestic league matches.

Persons: CNN — Bayer, Josip Stanišić’s, Leandro Paredes, Gianluca Mancini’s, Stanišić, Ina Fassbender, “, Xabi Alonso, ”, Chris Brunskill, Granit Xhaka Organizations: CNN, AS Roma, Leverkusen, UEFA, Roma, Getty, Bundesliga, ” Leverkusen, Atalanta, Europa League, Atlanta, FC Kaiserslautern, VfL Bochum, Scottish, Bochum Locations: AFP, Dublin, Ireland, European, Augsburg

☆ Bayer Leverkusen: German club equals 59-year-old record as unbeaten season continues
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —German team Bayer Leverkusen extended its miraculous unbeaten run to 48 games on Sunday after thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Bundesliga. The win means that Leverkusen has now equaled the record for the longest unbeaten run across all top-level matches since the introduction of European competition, according to UEFA. Leverkusen will have the chance to break the record on Thursday when it plays Roma in the second leg of its Europa League semifinal. The all-time mark of 62 games unbeaten was set by Scottish club Celtic from 1915-1917, however, those matches were all in the domestic league. The next game is important for us, the second leg of the Europa League semifinal: a chance to reach the final.

Persons: Granit Xhaka, Patrik Schick, Exequiel Palacios, Jeremie Frimpong, Victor Okoh Boniface –, Roma, ”, Xabi Alonso, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Alonso, ” Alonso, “ Organizations: CNN, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga, Leverkusen, Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank, UEFA, Benfica, Europa League, Celtic, Bayern, Spain, VfL Bochum, FC Kaiserslautern, Roma, “ Locations: Scottish, AFP, Augsburg

☆ Torino Superga disaster: How an air crash instantly wiped out one of soccer’s great teams
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

A local boy born in the northern Italian city of Turin and the captain of Torino’s youth team, Motto seemed destined to represent his boyhood club. Umberto Motto as a youth team player for Torino. Other Italian teams loaned – and even gave – players to Torino, Pennino says. The federation accepted a proposal from Torino that it would play its youth team, the champions of Italy at the time, against the youth teams of its four remaining opponents. Torino’s youth players beat Genoa 4-0 in an atmosphere Motto has never forgotten.

Persons: Umberto Motto, ’, hadn’t, Umberto, Mario Lanati, “ Umberto, ” Lanati, Torino’s, Roberto Pennino, Torino, Pennino, “, –, ” Giulio Andreotti, Feruccio Novo, ” Pennino, Roberto Pennino ‘, Lanati, Novo, ”, Forza, It’s Organizations: CNN, Torino FC, Stadio, Torino, Italian, Benfica, Aeritalia, ‘ Grande Torino, didn’t, –, Roberto Pennino ‘ Forza, Novo, Genoa –, ”, Genoa, Palermo, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Monumental Locations: Italian, Turin, Lisbon, Portugal, ’, Torino, Italy

☆ Ángel Di María: Three people arrested for threatening Argentine footballer
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Hugo Manu Correa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Three people were arrested in Argentina on Wednesday for threatening Argentine footballer Ángel Di María and his family, Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich said. One of the suspects, who was under investigation for drug trafficking when he was arrested, confessed that he and two accomplices had made the threats against Di María’s family. The attack happened after Di María, currently under contract with Portuguese club Benfica until June, said he would like to finish his professional career at Rosario Central, where he started his career. In 2022, the homicide rate was 22 for each 100,000 residents, according to official numbers from the government of Santa Fe province. With the support of the central government, the Santa Fe government launched “Plan Bandera” [“Plan Flag”] to fight against “narcoterrorism” at the beginning of this year.

Persons: Ángel Di María, Patricia Bullrich, Di María’s, Di María, ” Rosario, “ narcoterrorism ”, “ We’re, ” Bullrich Organizations: CNN, Portuguese, Benfica, Rosario Central, ”, Mayor’s, Criminal, Santa Fe, “ Locations: Argentina, Argentine, Rosario, Santa Fe, New York City, Santa

☆ Xabi Alonso becomes Europe’s most wanted coach as Bayer Leverkusen runs away with Bundesliga
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Xabi Alonso was appointed the club’s head coach in October 2022, with Leverkusen languishing near the bottom of the German table. Prior to being appointed Leverkusen’s manager, Alonso had coached Real Madrid’s Under-14 team and Real Sociedad’s B team. We have seen in the past what else can happen,” Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tag told Dazn after the victory over Köln. There are 10 games remaining in the Bundesliga season and Leverkusen is the strong favorite to win its first ever league title. And with Leverkusen in semifinals of the domestic cup and the round-of-16 stage of the Europa League, Alonso could cap off a memorable second season in first-team management with a hat-trick of trophies.

Persons: ’, Michael Ballack, Oliver Neuville, Dimitar Berbatov, Zé Roberto, Zidane’s, Xabi Alonso, Alonso, Ina Fassbender, –, Jeremie Frimpong, Grimaldo –, Grimaldo, Frimpong, John Muller, “, ”, Jonathan Tag, Köln, Wolfgang Rattay, Thomas Tuchel’s Organizations: CNN, Bayer Leverkusen, Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League, Real Madrid, Leverkusen, Spain, Bayern Munich, English Premier League, Köln, Getty, Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Merseyside, League, Spanish national team, Real Madrid’s, Real, Benfica, The, Bayern, Europa League Locations: Liverpool, AFP, Istanbul, Leverkusen, Europe

The Champions League narrative is so often about Manchester City and Real Madrid. The past two champions of Europe were the only teams to sweep through the group stage with six wins. BONUS ENTRIESEvery result in the Champions League, plus the Europa League and Europa Conference League, also counts toward UEFA’s longstanding ranking table of each country’s collective performance. Each Champions League win for Inter, Napoli and Lazio is good for all Italian clubs doing well in Serie A. And so, the 29 games left in the Champions League through the June 1 final in London have great value beyond the 16 clubs directly involved.

Persons: Erling Haaland, Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Abu, Harry Kane’s, Kylian Mbappé, —, Madrid, ___ Organizations: Manchester City, Copenhagen, Everton, Champions League, Premier League, Liga, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern, Bundesliga, Lazio, Paris Saint, Germain, Real Sociedad, Inter Milan, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Inter, Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Dortmund, Napoli, Barcelona, Porto, Arsenal, UEFA, FIFA, League, Chelsea, Benfica, Atletico, Spanish, Juventus, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Serie, —, Liverpool Locations: Real Madrid, Europe, Man, Madrid, Leipzig, Girona, Abu Dhabi, Bellingham, Paris, United States, Barcelona, Italy, Germany, Spain, Manchester, London

☆ Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes: He ignored a Linkedin message once, but not the second time. When he responded his life changed forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

I just thought it was a welcome message … so I ignored it.”Fortunately for Lopes, Cape Verde head coach time Rui Águas messaged the Shamrock Rovers defender again nine months later – this time in English – asking if he had considered his offer. Roberto Lopes, who plays for Cape Verde, was born and raised in Dublin. French forward Just Fontaine (L) scores in France's World Cup 5-2 semifinal defeat to Brazil in 1958. France’s captain at the first ever World Cup in 1930 was Algerian-born Alexandre Villaplane. But having recently reversed that policy, the Taifa Stars will have a number of players born outside the continent in its squad for the 2024 tournament.

Persons: CNN —, Roberto “ Pico ” Lopes, Lopes, “, ” Lopes, Rui Águas, Roberto Lopes, Ulrik Pedersen, Mohamed Salah, Lopes won’t, Alexandre Villaplane, Fontaine, Eusébio, Samuel Eto’o, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, ” Wissa, Darren Lewis, Benoît Assou, Ekotto, Ryan Byrne, ”, ‘, ’, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Wilfred Zaha, Les, Patrice Beaumelle, I’ve, I’m, ” Carlos ‘ Caluccha ’ Lopes, Roberto’s, Roberto, “ It’s, he’s, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Shamrock Rovers, Cape, CNN Sport, Africa, of Nations, LinkedIn, AP, Google, Blue Sharks, Rovers, Professional, Association of Ireland’s, body’s, AFP, Getty, France, UEFA, Benfica, English Premier League, Cameroon soccer, Brentford, Ireland, Democratic, Former Cameroon, Tottenham Hotspur, Lions, League of Ireland Premier Division, Everton, Mali, Ivorian national team, Galatasaray, Cape Verde Locations: Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Cape Verde, Lopes , Cape Verde, Ireland, Egypt, Cape Verde’s, Ghana, Mozambique, Brazil, Africa, Algerian, French, Marrakech, Morocco, Mozambican, Angolan, Portuguese, Portugal, Algeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Europe, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, France, Poland, you’re, Ivory Coast, Cape Verdean, Verdean

☆ Women’s Champions League: Salma Paralluelo’s brace leads Barcelona to comeback victory over Frankfurt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Salma Paralluelo’s second-half brace ensured defending champion Barcelona avoided a Champions League upset against Eintracht Frankfurt, as the Catalan club came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory. “I’m happy above all for being able to help the team,” Paralluelo said after the match. But the team was frustrated by some resolute Frankfurt defending in the first half, before Freigang’s goal against the run of play. Against the best team in the world, that’s not a surprise, but I think we played well today. Benfica’s 1-0 victory over FC Rosengård on Wednesday puts the Portuguese club in third.

Persons: CNN — Salma Paralluelo’s, Laura Freigang’s, –, Mariona Caldentey, Paralluelo, “, ” Paralluelo, ”, Dan O, Connor Organizations: CNN, Barcelona, League, Eintracht Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Benfica, Barça, ”, FC Rosengård, Wednesday, Portuguese Locations: Catalan, Ona Batlle’s, Barcelona, ” Barcelona

☆ Barcelona Femení: Reigning champion defeats Benfica 5-0 to kick off Women’s Champions League campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Barcelona Femení kicked off its defense of its Women’s Champions League crown in style, defeating Benfica 5-0 at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Barcelona dominated throughout and rarely looked troubled: it had 60% possession and attempted 20 shots, compared to Benfica’s five, according to UEFA. Not everything was positive on the night for Barça as two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas appeared to suffer a knee injury. Oshoala's incredible effort capped off a comfortable night for the two-time Women's Champions League winners. David Ramos/Getty Images“It’s good to start the season of the Champions League like this with our people here and scoring five goals,” Bonmatí told DAZN after the final whistle.

Persons: CNN — Barcelona Femení, Johan Cruyff, Alexia Putellas, Aitana, Asisat Oshoala, – Barça, Cata Coll, Caroline Graham Hansen, Putellas, Bonmatí, Lena Pauels, Ballon, David Ramos, “, ”, Jonatan Giráldez, Oshoala, Pauels, ” Bonmatí, DAZN, Rosengård Organizations: CNN — Barcelona, Champions League, Benfica, –, Barcelona, UEFA, Getty, Putellas, ”, Eintracht Frankfurt Locations: Europe, Barcelona, DAZN, Nigerian, ” Barcelona, Sweden

☆ Real Sociedad outclass Benfica 3-1 to edge closer to last 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 8 (Reuters) - Real Sociedad edged closer to a place in the knockout stage of the Champions League with a comfortable 3-1 win over Benfica in Group D on Wednesday which ended the Portuguese side's faint hopes of reaching the last 16. It was Sociedad's third consecutive Champions League win but their first at home in 20 years as they provisionally took top spot in Group D on 10 points with two games remaining. Real Sociedad and Inter will qualify for the last 16 if the Italian side beat the Austrian team later on Wednesday. The match was stopped briefly halfway through the second half after flares were thrown by Benfica supporters. Earlier on Wednesday, three fans were arrested after violent clashes between supporters of both teams, the Basque Country police confirmed.

Persons: Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ander Barrenetxea, Brais Mendez, Rafa Silva, Benfica's, Merino, Fernando Kallas, Christian Radnedge, Clare Fallon Organizations: Sociedad, Champions League, Benfica, League, Inter Milan, Salzburg, Real Sociedad, Inter, Austrian, Movistar, Basque Country, Thomson Locations: Italian

☆ Late Martinez winner over Salzburg sends Inter into Champions League last 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Champions League - Group D - FC Salzburg v Inter Milan - Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria - November 8, 2023 Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger Acquire Licensing RightsSALZBURG, Austria, Nov 8 (Reuters) - A late penalty by Lautaro Martinez helped Inter Milan book their spot in the Champions League last 16 with a 1-0 win at Salzburg on Wednesday, dashing the Austrian champions' knockout stage hopes with two games remaining. Substitute Martinez sealed the win for Inter from the spot five minutes from fulltime after Simone Inzaghi's men were awarded a penalty for a handball. Salzburg, who would have kept their last-16 qualifying chances alive with a draw, are third with three points. Martinez, who has scored 12 goals in 11 Serie A games this season, eventually gave Inter the lead, minutes after hitting the bar with an earlier chance. Inter, who last season reached the final and enjoyed their most successful Champions League campaign since lifting the trophy in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, edged Salzburg 2-1 in the reverse fixture last month.

Persons: Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Leonhard Foeger, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Simone Inzaghi's, Davide Frattesi, Alessandro Bastoni, Jose Mourinho, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FC Salzburg, Inter Milan, Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Inter Milan's, REUTERS, Champions League, Salzburg, Inter, handball, Real Sociedad, Benfica, Austrian, Serie, League, Thomson Locations: Salzburg, Austria, SALZBURG, Austrian, Gdansk

☆ Bobby Charlton: English soccer in mourning as tributes paid to country’s ‘greatest’ player
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Emotions ran high in England over the weekend after it was announced that Bobby Charlton, widely regarded as the country’s greatest soccer player, had died on Saturday at the age of 86. “A little bit of England has died,” said The Sunday Times of the man who played a starring role in England’s 1966 World Cup win. Flowers are placed in memory of Bobby Charlton beside the "United Trinity" statue at Old Trafford. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, said: “Sir Bobby Charlton. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesEngland won the 1966 World Cup final with a 4-2 win against West Germany at Wembley Stadium, where Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick.

Persons: Bobby Charlton, David Beckham, Prince William, ”, Sir Bobby, George Best, Denis Law, Beckham, Charlton, United, ” Beckham, Robert, Beckham’s, Ted, Barrington Coombs, Pelé, Bobby Moore, Garrincha, Franz Beckenbauer, Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby, Jon Super, Gianni Infantino, Gary Lineker, Geoff Hurst, Hurst, ” Hurst, “, Jack Organizations: CNN, Manchester United, Sunday Times, Charlton, English Football Association, United Trinity, England, Trinity, Ballon, United, FA, European, Champions League, Football Association, First, Getty, FIFA, Benfica, Keystone, Hulton, West Germany, Wembley, Premier League, Observer, West Locations: England, Manchester, United Kingdom, Old Trafford, United, AFP, Barcelona, West Germany

☆ Bobby Charlton, England and Man United great, dies at 86
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

One of the true Greats Sir Bobby Charlton has passed away," Hurst wrote on X. "Today is not just a sad day for Manchester United & England, it's a sad day for football and everything that Sir Bobby represented," said former United and England midfielder David Beckham. Beckham's glittering Manchester United career began after attending a Bobby Charlton Soccer School as a young boy. "A huge loss for his family and for the Manchester United family and for English football, European football," he said. "At Manchester United, you always have to win, but I think he set this standard as a Man United player, what he achieved, he's an example."

Persons: Sir Bobby Charlton, Lee Smith, Bobby Charlton, Charlton, Jack, Busby, Geoff Hurst, Hurst, Alf Ramsey's, it's, Sir Bobby, David Beckham, George Best, Denis Law, Bobby, …, isn't, Beckham, Pep Guardiola, Erik Ten Hag, Gareth Southgate, Rohith Nair, Martyn Herman, Hugh Lawson, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer Football, Chelsea, Manchester United, Wembley, Manchester United's, United, Premier League, Old, England, Portugal, West, European, FA, Manchester United & England, Benfica, Bobby Charlton Soccer School, Manchester City, English, Sheffield United, Sunday, Football Association, Charlton, Malta, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Manchester, Old Trafford, Munich, West Germany, England, United

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Bobby Charlton, an English soccer icon who survived a plane crash that decimated a Manchester United team destined for greatness to become the heartbeat of his country's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died. “Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world,” United said. “There was always one great hope — the return to greatness of my beloved club,” Charlton said. The biggest prize of his club career arrived in 1968 as United became the first English club to become champion of Europe. But Charlton is perhaps best known for being part of the England team that won the World Cup.

Persons: — Bobby Charlton, Charlton, Wayne Rooney, “ Sir Bobby, ” United, “, Sir Bobby, Alex Ferguson, ” “ Bobby Charlton, ” Ferguson, George Best, Denis Law, United, Busby, ”, Bill Foulkes, Rooney, Ryan Giggs, —, David Beckham, Ferguson, Queen Elizabeth II, ” Robert Charlton, Bobby, Jack, ” Charlton, Robert —, Charlton’s, Matt Busby groaning, Duncan Edwards, Eusebio, Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Marcus Rashford, Norma, ___ Organizations: Manchester United, United, England, ”, Portugal, West Germany, Wigan, Irish, Waterford, Best, Charlton, Leeds, Red Star Belgrade, FA, Benfica Locations: MANCHESTER, England, United, Manchester, United Kingdom, Munich, Preston, Old Trafford, United’s, Ashington, Germany, Europe, Portugal

☆ Oyarzabal and Mendez on target as Real Sociedad win 2-0 at Salzburg
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SALZBURG, Austria, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Mikel Oyarzabal and Brais Mendez scored first-half goals to give Real Sociedad a comfortable 2-0 win at Salzburg in their Champions League Group D clash on Tuesday. Mendez extended their lead 20 minutes later beating the goalkeeper with a tidy finish after a quick counter-attack. Oyarzabal missed a sitter two minutes later and Salzburg complained vociferously to the referee after they had a penalty award overturned following a lengthy VAR review early in the second half. Real Sociedad are top of Group D on four points from two games, one ahead Salzburg in second. Inter Milan, who are third on one point, host Benfica, who have no points, later on Tuesday.

Persons: Mikel Oyarzabal, Brais Mendez, Oyarzabal, Mendez, vociferously, Fernando Kallas, Toby Davis Organizations: Real Sociedad, Salzburg, Champions League Group, Inter Milan, Benfica, Thomson Locations: SALZBURG, Austria, Basque, Salzburg, Madrid

It was an English player's night in the Champions League, even as both of the English teams in action lost. It was the second Champions League game in a row where Bellingham played a vital role for Madrid after scoring the winning goal against Union Berlin. United has conceded seven goals in its opening two Champions League games after losing its opener 4-3 to Bayern Munich last month. The French team last won a Champions League game back in 2002 against AC Milan and hadn't qualified for Europe's top club competition again until this season. Real Sociedad had a smoother time as it picked up its first Champions League win for 20 years, beating Salzburg 2-0 on first-half goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Brais Méndez.

Persons: Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Alex Meret —, Bellingham, Carlo Ancelotti, Rasmus Højlund —, Erik ten Hag, United, Casemiro, —, Mauro Icardi, Elye Wahi, Gabriel Jesus, Wahi, Adrien Thomasson, Declan Rice, “, hadn't, Bayern's Jamal Musiala, Lukas Lerager, Thomas Müller, Sven Ulreich, Bayern hasn't, André Castro, Sheraldo Becker, Castro, Mikel Oyarzabal, Méndez, Marcus Thuram, ___ Organizations: Champions League, Real Madrid, Napoli, Manchester United, Arsenal, Galatasaray, Lens, Madrid, Union Berlin, Borussia Dortmund, Turkish, United, League, Bayern Munich, PSV Eindhoven, French, AC Milan, Europe's, Bayern, Danish, Tel, Braga, Jude Bellingham ., PSV, Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Salzburg, season's, Inter Milan, Benfica, Sociedad Locations: English, England, Bellingham, Copenhagen, Madrid, Jude Bellingham . Union

☆ Unstoppable Martinez scores four as Inter cruise past Salernitana
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Inter captain Martinez has now scored nine goals in seven Serie A matches and holds a clear lead as the league's top scorer. While Inter dominated the match's early stages, Salernitana gradually found their footing and managed to control the tempo in a goalless first half. Martinez opened the scoring for Inter in the 62nd minute when he expertly collected Marcus Thuram's low cross into the box and delicately chipped the ball over Salernitana keeper Guillermo Ochoa. Martinez completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining, after a foul by defender Matteo Lovato, who had pulled Thuram's shirt. Inter host a Champions League group-stage match against Benfica on Tuesday, followed by a Serie A home game against Bologna next Saturday.

Persons: Stadio, Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Alberto Lingria, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Marcus Thuram's, Guillermo Ochoa, Mateusz Legowski's, Nicolo Barella, Matteo Lovato, Carlos Augusto's, Simone Inzaghi, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis, Clare Fallon Organizations: Soccer, Salernitana, Inter Milan, Stadio Arechi, Inter Milan's, Rights, Serie, Inter, Milan, Lazio, Sky Sport Italia, Champions League, Benfica, Bologna, Thomson Locations: Salerno, Italy, San Siro, Gdansk

☆ Inter's perfect start ended by Sassuolo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v U.S. Sassuolo - San Siro, Milan, Italy - September 27, 2023 U.S. Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi in action with Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni REUTERS/Massimo Pinca Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Inter Milan's perfect start to the Serie A season ended as Sassuolo mounted a fine comeback to secure a shock 2-1 victory on Wednesday. Inter led through a first-half goal by Denzel Dumfries but Sassuolo, coming off Saturday's 4-2 home victory over Juventus, secured all three points with goals from Nedim Bajrami and Domenico Berardi. For what we created, we should’ve scored more than one goal," Inter manager Simone Inzaghi told DAZN. If you lose your shape against a team like Sassuolo, it becomes very difficult." Inter visit Salernitana on Saturday in Serie A before hosting Benfica on Oct. 3 in the Champions League group stage.

Persons: Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, Alessandro Bastoni, Massimo Pinca, Denzel Dumfries, Nedim Bajrami, Domenico Berardi, Stefano Pioli's, should’ve, Simone Inzaghi, DAZN, Dumfries, Sassuolo, Bajrami, Yann Sommer, Berardi, Inzaghi, Victor Osimhen, Matias Vecino, Mattia Zaccagni, Tommy Lund, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer, Inter Milan, Inter, Alessandro Bastoni REUTERS, Serie, Wednesday, Juventus, Milan, Cagliari, Salernitana, Serie A, Benfica, Champions League, Napoli, Udinese, Lazio, Torino, Thomson Locations: San Siro, Milan, Italy, U.S, Sassuolo, Gdansk

GENEVA (AP) — Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham made $100 million moves in the offseason and proved their worth Wednesday in Champions League debuts for their new clubs. England captain Kane and his likely successor Bellingham scored key goals for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, respectively, to show why they are adored already by their new home fans. PSV Eindhoven was thrashed 4-0 in a no-doubt win sparked by England winger Bukayo Saka’s goal in the 8th. Late goals got Italian teams off to good starts in the last-ever group stage before the new Champions League format takes effect next year. OLD MASTERSReal Madrid was playing its 477th game in the European Cup or Champions League.

Persons: — Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kane, Bellingham, ” Kane, Bayern “, ” Bellingham, Union Berlin, Bukayo Saka’s, Napoli, Sikou Niakaté, Lautaro Martínez, Union, Madrid’s, Jude Bellingham pirouetted, ”, Diego Armando Maradona, UNITED’S, Erik ten Hag, André Onana, Leroy Sané’s, Serge Gnabry, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund, Casemiro, António Silva, Silva, Karim Konaté, Roko Šimić, Oscar Gloukh, Jonathan David, KÍ Klaksvík, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, League, England, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Tottenham, CBS Sports, Bayern, Union, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Champions League, PSV Eindhoven, Serie, Braga, Inter, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Copenhagen, Europa League, Sevilla, Lens, Real Madrid, Union Berlin, Servette, SC Motor Berlin, Napoli, Atalanta, Benfica, Salzburg, EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE, Europa Conference League, Lille, Slovenian, Olimpija Ljubljana, Slovan Bratislava, Conference League Locations: Real Madrid, England, Madrid, Spanish, Mali, Argentina, Istanbul —, Geneva —, East Germany, ” Madrid, United, Denmark, French, Portuguese, Croatian, Israel, Canada, Faeroe

☆ Forest sign Greece keeper Vlachodimos from Benfica
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Nottingham Forest have signed Greece goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos from Benfica, the Premier League club said on Friday as their busy transfer deadline day continued. The 29-year-old, who was ever-present last season as Benfica won the Portuguese title, has signed a four-year deal. He will bring a wealth of experience to the City Ground having played 225 times for Benfica in all competitions. The German-born keeper kept 21 clean sheets in 34 league appearances last season. Earlier on Friday, Forest signed winger Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea on a three-year deal and also sealed the signing of Bologna captain Nicolas Dominguez on a five-year deal.

Persons: Odysseas Vlachodimos, Ross Wilson, Forest, Callum Hudson, Nicolas Dominguez, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Nottingham Forest, Benfica, Premier League, Bologna, Thomson Locations: Nottingham, Greece, Chelsea

☆ Champions League draw: Paris Saint-Germain in ‘group of death’ and Harry Kane to return to England
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —It’s time for Europe’s biggest soccer clubs to go head-to-head again and the draw for this season’s Champions League group stages didn’t disappoint in producing some mouthwatering fixtures. Jurij Kodrun/Getty ImagesIndividual awardsFollowing the Champions League draw, individual awards were handed out for the 2022-23 season. The Spaniard led Manchester City to a historic treble as the club picked up silverware in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League. Bonmatí also had a brilliant season for club team Barcelona, where she was influential as it won a league and Champions League double. Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland were awarded for their part in helping Manchester City to a historic treble of trophies.

Persons: CNN —, Germain, Mbappé, Charly Triballeau, Harry Kane, Jurij Kodrun, Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland, Haaland, Sarina Wiegman, Wiegman, Aitana Bonmatí, Bonmatí, Franck Fife Organizations: CNN, Europe’s, Champions League, Paris Saint, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle, PSG, Getty, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Galatasaray, League, Manchester City, G, Arsenal, Gunners, Real, Napoli, Braga, Union Berlin, UEFA, Spaniard, Premier League, FA, Manchester, England, Barcelona, Galatasaray Group B – Sevilla, PSV Eindhoven, Lens, Real Madrid, Union Berlin Group, Benfica, Inter Milan, RB Salzburg, Real Sociedad Group E – Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Celtic, Saint, RB Leipzig, Crvena zvezda, Star, Young Boys, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Locations: Paris, Newcastle, AFP, England, Copenhagen, Europe, Real Madrid, Spain, Manchester, Braga, Lazio, Barcelona, Porto, Royal Antwerp

☆ PSG, Dortmund, Milan, Newcastle in tough Champions League group
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MONACO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain will kick off their quest for a maiden Champions League trophy in a strong Group F featuring Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle United following the draw on Thursday. PSG, AC Milan and Dortmund have crossed paths on multiple occasions in Europe's elite competition, but it is a tough welcome back to the Champions League for Newcastle, who will be playing in the tournament for the first time in 20 years. Record 14-times winners Real Madrid will play Serie A champions Napoli, Braga and Union Berlin in Group C."It will be difficult. Braga and Union Berlin will be two very competitive teams," Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno told Spanish media. The Champions League group stage will begin on Sept. 19 and conclude on Dec. 13.

Persons: Paris St Germain, Hans, Joachim Watzke, Pep, Emilio Butragueno, Harry Kane, Aadi Nair, Ed Osmond Organizations: MONACO, Paris St, Champions League, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle United, PSG, Newcastle, Dortmund, Manchester, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys, G, City, Real Madrid, Serie, Napoli, Braga, Union Berlin, Spanish, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Copenhagen, Galatasaray, United, Bayern, England, Bundesliga, Inter Milan, Benfica, RB Salzburg, Real Sociedad, Europa League winners Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, RC Lens, Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal, H, Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Celtic, Dutch, London's Wembley, Thomson Locations: Paris, Dortmund, Leipzig, Napoli, Union Berlin, Royal Antwerp, Lazio, Bengaluru

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