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☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Bonmati, Carmona and Kerr to vie for UEFA Player of the Year award
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Bonmati and Carmona were part of the Spain team which beat England 1-0 to win the Women's World Cup on Sunday. Bonmati had a stellar domestic campaign with Barcelona, helping the club seal a fourth consecutive Spanish League title as well as winning the Women's Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup. Forward Kerr scored 29 goals in all competitions last season as Chelsea won their fourth consecutive FA Women's Super League title as well as the Women's FA Cup. She also reached the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup with Australia. UEFA also announced the candidates for Women's Coach of the Year, with Barcelona's Jonatan Giraldez, Spain's Jorge Vilda and England's Sarina Wiegman the three final nominees.

Persons: Hannah Mckay, Sam Kerr of, Aitana Bonmati, Olga Carmona, Bonmati, Carmona, Forward Kerr, Barcelona's Jonatan, Spain's Jorge Vilda, Sarina, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, England, Chelsea, Spain, Spanish League, Women's Champions League, Spanish, Madrid, Barcelona, Copa, la Reina, Women's FA, Australia, UEFA, Women's, League, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Australia, Sydney, Sam Kerr of Australia, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Monaco, Bengaluru

☆ Champions Urawa advance to Asian Champions League group phase
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Soccer Football - AFC Champions League - Final - Second Leg - Urawa Red Diamonds v Al-Hilal - Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan - May 6, 2023 Urawa Red Diamonds' Hiroki Sakai and Shusaku Nishikawa and teammates celebrate with trophy on the podium after winning the AFC Champions League REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Holders Urawa Red Diamonds booked their berth in the group stages of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday as Maciej Skorza's side defeated Hong Kong outfit Lee Man 3-0, but China's Shanghai Port were knocked out by BG Pathum United of Thailand. Yoshio Koizumi gave Urawa the perfect start at Saitama Stadium with a second minute strike and Shinzo Koroki doubled the lead when he headed in Hiroki Sakai's cross from the right four minutes later. Reds, who have won the title three times, will now feature in Thursday's group phase draw in Kuala Lumpur alongside BG Pathum United, Chinese Super League side Zhejiang FC and Incheon United of South Korea. BG Pathum United advanced after a hat-trick by Igor Sergeyev saw the Thai side hand 2018 Chinese champions Shanghai Port a Igor Sergeyev 3-2 defeat. The Uzbekistan international struck again in the 61st minute and, while Markus Pink netted with four minutes remaining to ensure a nervous finish for the visitors, BG Pathum United held on to advance.

Persons: Hiroki Sakai, Shusaku Nishikawa, Issei Kato, Maciej Skorza's, Lee, Yoshio Koizumi, Shinzo Koroki, Hiroki Sakai's, Takahiro Sekine, Igor Sergeyev, Sergeyev, Mirahmetjan Muzepper, Markus Pink, Cheon Seong, Gerso, Franko Andrijasevic's, Michael Church Organizations: Soccer Football, AFC, League, Diamonds, Urawa, AFC Champions League REUTERS, Rights, Urawa Red Diamonds, Asian Champions League, Shanghai Port, BG Pathum United, Saitama, Reds, Super League, Zhejiang FC, Incheon United, Port, Uzbekistan, Pathum United, Vietnam's, Port FC, Michael, Michael Church Our, Thomson Locations: Hilal, Saitama, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Thailand, Urawa, Kuala Lumpur, South Korea, Thai, Vietnam's Haiphong, Zhejiang

☆ Soccer-Bayern still a work in progress with Bundesliga season set to start
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Bavarians have won the last 11 consecutive league crowns but they needed a Borussia Dortmund slip-up on the final matchday last season to retain it. A 3-0 loss to RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup at home on Saturday left Tuchel, who took over from Julian Nagelsmann late last season, fuming. Kane's German debut, with a low-key substitute appearance in the second half of their Super Cup loss, did little to dampen Bayern fans' enthusiasm and expectations. Their Super Cup win over Bayern gave them an early shot of confidence but they will have to repeat it again on Saturday when they face ambitious Leverkusen in their season opener. "We can improve many things but this obviously did give us a push," said Leipzig coach Marco Rose of the win against Bayern.

Persons: Thomas Tuchel, Harry Kane, Kai Pfaffenbach, Robert Lewandowski, Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann, Manuel Neuer, Kim Min, jae, Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer, Rami Bensebaini, Granit Xhaka, Victor Boniface, Jonas Hofmann, Christopher Nkunku, Konrad Laimer, Dominik Szoboszlai, Josko Gvardiol, Andre Silva, Marco Rose, Robin Gosens, Karolos, Robert Birsel Organizations: Soccer Football, DFL, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Allianz Arena, REUTERS, Rights, Bundesliga, Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia, Bayer Leverkusen, Germany, Leverkusen, Champions League, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Barcelona, Napoli, Leipzig, Union Berlin

☆ Joan Laporta: Barcelona president says there are ‘no sporting reasons’ for soccer stars to join Saudi Pro League
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Don Riddell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Fortunately, most of the players like Football Club Barcelona,” Laporta told CNN Sport’s Don Riddell from Los Angeles during the Spanish team’s pre-season tour of the U.S., which wrapped up on Tuesday against AC Milan in Las Vegas. “And when a player, and with all respect, prefers to go to Saudi Arabia, basically there are no sporting reasons. Last week, Al-Hilal, which is one of four Saudi clubs owned by the PIF, made a world-record bid of over $332 million (300 million euros) for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Kylian Mbappé. “My view is that it’s more important to have the assistance of the clubs, the traditional clubs, specifically the European clubs,” added Laporta. “The priority of last season was the Spanish league and this new season, for us, the league is the priority as well,” said Laporta.

Persons: Joan Laporta, “, ” Laporta, CNN Sport’s Don Riddell, Germain, Kylian Mbappé, Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, N’Golo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Hussein Malla, ”, Laporta, Xavi, – Pep Guardiola, Johan Cruyff, Pep, Lionel Messi’s, Jorge Messi, Messi, Cruz Azul, Sam Navarro Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Saudi Pro League, Football Club Barcelona, AC Milan, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Paris Saint, PSG, Saudi Arabian football, SPL, Al, Gulf state’s, ”, Barcelona, La Liga, Champions League, Spanish League, Liga, Barca, MLS, Inter Miami, Cruz, USA, Sports, Reuters, Camp, Good Locations: Saudi Arabia, Barcelona, Gulf, Los Angeles, Spanish, U.S, Las Vegas, Al, Hilal, Paris, Fabinho, Saudi, Xavi

☆ Leipzig sign Dutch midfielder Simons on one-year loan from PSG
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 19 (Reuters) - Germany's RB Leipzig have signed Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons on a one-year loan from French champions Paris St Germain, both clubs said on Wednesday. The 20-year-old returned to PSG on Wednesday, signing a four-year contract following a year at Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven. In the Netherlands Simons was league's second-best scorer with 19 goals in 34 games, helping PSV to a second-place finish as well as to the 2022-23 KNVB Cup. "We have been able to sign an exceptional young talent in Xavi Simons," Leipzig's Board Member for Sport Max Eberl told the club website. "I was immediately impressed by RB Leipzig's style of play and I strongly believe that my qualities will be a good match for this team and we can achieve a lot together."

Persons: Xavi Simons, Netherlands Simons, Sport Max Eberl, Simons, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Leipzig, Paris St Germain, PSG, Wednesday, PSV Eindhoven, PSV, KNVB, Sport, Bundesliga, Champions League, RB, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Europe, Barcelona, Leipzig, Qatar, United States, Gdansk

Playing in a Champions League is the pinnacle for any player in club soccer and when asked what this moment would mean to his grandfather, Lukaku is almost unable to answer. He was my biggest fan.”As a child growing up in Belgium, Lukaku missed 10 years of watching the Champions League. “I couldn’t watch (the Champions League final), but now, by the grace of God, I can play one,” he adds. Manchester City has swept all before it in a light blue wave this season and sits on the cusp of a ‘treble,’ fresh from winning the Premier League title and the FA Cup. “Man City is a well-drilled team…Guardiola is such a good coach because every game is a different game plan,” Lukaku observes.

Persons: “, ” Lukaku, Darren Lewis, ”, Lukaku, …, Erling Haaland, Lexy Ilsley, Messi, Ronaldo, … Guardiola, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Belgian, Anderlecht, Chelsea, Serie, Inter Milan, Champions League, League, ’, FC Milan, Coppa Italia, ” Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Porto, Benfica, AC Milan, Manchester City, Premier League, FA Locations: Belgium, Barcelona, Manchester

☆ Stéphanie Frappart to make history as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But Stéphanie Frappart’s traditional anonymity has been broken for a different reason – she will make history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match. FIFA announced their appointment back in May, when Frappart found out that she was going to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s a surprise, you cannot believe it and after two or three minutes, you realize that you are going to the World Cup. Mukasanga and Yamashita have also been the fourth official at two and four games of this World Cup respectively. I don’t know how life is there but I didn’t make the decision to go there or to organize the World Cup,” Frappart says.

☆ Real Madrid draws Liverpool in the Champions League last-16 stage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( John Sinnott | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Real Madrid drew Liverpool in the Champions League round-of-16 stage on Monday in a rematch of last season’s final. Los Blancos beat Liverpool 1-0 in Paris in May to win their 14th European Cup. Real also beat Liverpool over two legs in the 2020/21 season as well and have not lost a match to the Reds in their previous six meetings. Champions League last-16 draw:Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern MunichInter Milan vs FC PortoBorussia Dortmund vs ChelseaEintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli! AC Milan vs TottenhamLiverpool vs Real MadridClub Brugge vs BenficaRB Leipzig vs Manchester City

☆ Inter will need to be on top form to beat Juve, says Inzaghi
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 5 (Reuters) - Inter Milan will need to show character to beat a Juventus side stung by their Champions League exit, manager Simone Inzaghi said on Saturday. Eighth-placed Juve trail sixth-placed Inter by just two points, with both sides in need of win in Turin on Sunday to stay on the trail of leaders Napoli. Inter and Juve head into the game on the back of contrasting Champions League group-stage campaigns. "We know that it is a team which has been knocked out of the Champions League, they will be even more dangerous," Inzaghi told reporters. Inzaghi said Inter and Juve share some similarities, as both sides are recovering from a poor start to the season and have won four out of their last five Serie A matches.

☆ Champions League: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé score twice as PSG thrashes Maccabi Haifa
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar were in scintillating form as the French side qualified for the Champions League knockout stages with a 7-2 win against Maccabi Haifa. Messi and Mbappé both scored twice, while Neymar and Carlos Soler added goals in each half on top of an own goal from Sean Goldberg. READ: British LGBTQ activist Peter Tatchell protests outside the Qatar national museumMessi, Mbappé and Neymar all scored against Maccabi Haifa. Mbappé’s fine strike just after the hour mark made it 5-2, taking him to six Champions League goals this season – one more than Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah at the top of the scoring charts. Mbappé is now the top scorer in this season's Champions League.

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