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☆ Barcelona hammers Hammarby 9-0 to equal club record Women’s Champions League victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Jamie Barton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Barcelona Femení equaled the largest Women’s Champions League victory in the club’s history on Wednesday night, crushing Swedish side Hammarby 9-0 at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. The Blaugrana were champions that season and have three Women’s Champions League titles to their name, the second most in history behind Lyon with eight. The record win by any team in the Women’s Champions League came in 2012, when Apollon Limassol routed Ada Velipojë 21-0 in the qualifying round. Goals from Graham Hansen and substitute Esmee Brugts made it 8-0, before Fridolina Rolfö’s penalty completed the scoring. Its next opponent in the Women’s Champions League is Austrian side St Pölten, which it will face on November 12.

Persons: CNN — Barcelona Femení, Johan Cruyff, Caroline Graham Hansen, Clàudia Pina, Ada Velipojë, Barça, Ballon d’Or, Graham Hansen, Anna Tamminen, Pina, Alexia Putellas, Barcelona's, David Ramos, Aitana Bonmatí, Ewa Pajor, Esmee Brugts, Fridolina Organizations: CNN — Barcelona, League, Hammarby, Manchester City, Benfica, Lyon, Granada, Madrid CFF, Espanyol, Women’s Champions League, Apollon Limassol, Ada, Getty, Levante, Spain’s Liga, Austrian, St Locations: Europe, Barcelona, Madrid, St Pölten

☆ Champions League Wednesday: Prince William watches Aston Villa, Real Madrid suffers shock defeat
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Prince William watches Aston Villa stun Bayern MunichAston Villa fan Prince William was in the stands to celebrate his team’s memorable win against Bayern Munich. 15-time Champions League winner Real Madrid suffered its first defeat of the season with a 1-0 loss against Lille, an early setback in the team’s European title defense. Kylian Mbappé, hoping to win a first Champions League of his career, was left frustrated against Lille. With that, Salah stretched his run of scoring at home in the Champions League to five matches – the first player in the club’s history to do so. Salah celebrates Liverpool's second goal.

Persons: Mohamed Salah, Here’s, Prince William, Aston, Jhon, Villa, Pau Torres ’, Durán, Manuel Neuer, Mike Egerton, Emi Martínez, Serge Gnabry, Harry Kane, “, ”, Unai Emery, ‘, Eduardo Camavinga’s, Jonathan David, Andriy Lunin’s, Tiago Santos, Antonio Rüdiger’s, Lucas Chevalier, Jude Bellingham’s, Kylian Mbappé, Stephanie Lecocq, Arda Güler, Les Dogues, Carlo Ancelotti, Alexis Mac Allister, Dan Ndoye, Salah, Liverpool's, Paul Ellis, Arne, Michele Di Gregorio, Vlahović, Benjamin Šeško, Di Gregorio, Douglas Luiz, –, Šeško, Signora, Francisco Conceição, David Raum’s, Lisi Niesner, Germain Organizations: CNN, Aston Villa, Bayern Munich Aston Villa, Bayern Munich, Bayern, Press Association, Villa, Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund –, ’, Lille, Real Madrid, League, France’s, Sporting CP, Bologna, Reds, Italian, Milan, Liverpool, Getty, Champions League –, ” Juventus, Juventus, RB Leipzig, Juve, Reuters, Salzburg, Brest Stuttgart, Sparta Prague Arsenal, Paris Saint, Germain Barcelona, Young Boys Bayer Leverkusen, Milan Borussia Dortmund, Celtic Internazionale, zvezda, Red Star Belgrade, PSV, Sporting Clube de Portugal Slovan Bratislava, Manchester City Shakhtar Donetsk, Atalanta Girona, Feyenoord Benfica, Madrid Liverpool, Bologna RB Leipzig, Juventus Lille, Real Madrid SK Sturm Graz, Brugge Aston Villa, Bayern Munich Dinamo Zagreb, AS Monaco Locations: Europe, Manchester, Barcelona, underwhelm, France’s Ligue, Matchweek, Bologna, AFP, Paris

☆ Champions League preview: What to look out for on Matchday 2 and how to watch
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Eduardo Tansley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Harry Kane has never won the Champions League but if Matchday 1 was anything to go by, the England captain is desperate to do so. Follow the Champions League on The AthleticFirst, what happened on Matchday 1? Ligue 1 side Brest took no time to acquaint themselves with the Champions League, beating Austrian champions Sturm Graz 2-1 on their debut in the competition. The 26-year-old USMNT winger has scored in his last two Champions League games and could become the first American to score in three consecutive appearances. It was the first time in the Champions League that three substitutes had all directly contributed to a goal.

Persons: Harry Kane, Kane, Lamine Yamal, Michael Olise, Kylian, Ethan, Yamal, Ansu Fati, Eric Garcia, Villa, Germain, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Arteta’s, David Raya, Mateo Retegui, Raya, Timothy Rogers, Paulo Gazzaniga’s calamitous, Ousmane Dembele, Luis Enrique, Florian Wirtz, Wirtz, Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Brendan Rodgers ’ Celtic, Daizen Maeda, England’s Jamie Gittens, Serhou, Felix Nmecha, KURT DESPLENTER, Aston, Unai Emery, Villarreal, Jose Mourinho, Neville Williams, Vincent Kompany, Benjamin Sesko, Jose Maria Gimenez’s, Sesko, Bayer, Maja Hitij, Kenan Yildiz, Pietro Fanna, Thiago Motta’s, Dusan Vlahovic Organizations: Champions League, Bayern Munich, Dinamo Zagreb, Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen, Real, League, The, Bayern, Stuttgart, Lille, Monaco, Young Boys, Liverpool, AC Milan, Scottish, Celtic, Slovan Bratislava, Manchester City, Arsenal, — Inter Milan, Atalanta, Ligue, Brest, Austrian, Sturm Graz, Red Bull Salzburg, Paris Saint, Leicester City, Premier League, Getty, PSG, Newcastle United, Bayer, Bayer Leverkusen’s, Feyenoord, Leverkusen, Milan, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Dortmund, Club Bruges, MAG, Villa, Europa League, Aston Villa FC, Bundesliga, Zagreb, Tottenham Hotspur, Leipzig, Juventus, Wednesday, Atletico, Augsburg, PSV Eindhoven, Serie A, Genoa, TNT Sports, Paramount, Salzburg, Sparta Prague, Amazon, Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Red Star Belgrade, Shakhtar Donetsk, Girona, Benfica, Atletico Madrid, Bologna, Real Madrid Locations: England, Saturday’s, U.S, Crystal Palace, Endrick, Lille, Barcelona, Bern, Girona, Europe, Christian Pulisic, American, Milan, Celtic, Stuttgart, dinked, Slovenia, Madrid, Leipzig, Germany, Brest

☆ Champions League Briefing: Arsenal’s statement win – and why so many thrashings?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Tim Spiers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

If you like your European midweek football this is the week for you, with 54 Champions League, Europa League and Conference League matches being crammed into three nights. The Champions League kicked things off with some of the competition’s favourites beginning to bare their teeth. It was also, incredibly, their 31st defeat from 37 Champions League group stage away games. Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and a first Champions League goal for James McAtee saw City get their first win of this year’s competition. They lost a number of key players in the summer and can’t even play Champions League games at their own home, with the 15,000 capacity Stade Francis-Le Ble not up to Champions League standards (they’re hosting matches at Guingamp’s Stade du Roudourou instead).

Persons: Olivier Giroud, Germain, Luis Enrique, Mikel Arteta’s, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Kai Havertz, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Leandro Trossard’s, l, e, sid e, Rob e, Lew, Rea, ’, Camara, enki, – they, night., ashe, hal f, alf of a, Brendan R, c Roy, are, tim e, eason, Francis, Le Bl, ning, Bayer, ade 0 P, 45pm E, ina Organizations: Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, League, Arsenal, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Brest, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint, Emirates, sco, RIM, rit, UE, eni, Graz, Salzburg …, pla Locations: Barcelona, Emirates, Nis, goa, Zagreb, Ata, Brest, Austria, Red Bul, arta

☆ Atlético Madrid’s Robin Le Normand diagnosed with brain injury
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Two days after the LaLiga match between Atlético Madrid and local rivals Real Madrid, Atlético announced defender Robin Le Normand suffered a “traumatic brain injury” when he collided with Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni late in Sunday’s 1-1 draw. Tchouaméni connected with the ball just before he and Le Normand inadvertently clashed heads. Le Normand, a regular in Atlético’s defense and a Spanish international, fell straight to the ground and immediately writhed in pain. Atlético Madrid's Robin Le Normand falls to the ground after unintended clash of heads with Aurélien Tchouaméni Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty ImagesThe match was soon halted. The broadcast showed Le Normand slowly walking off the Metropolitano Stadium pitch with two Atlético medical personnel striding alongside the former Real Sociedad star.

Persons: Atlético, Robin Le Normand, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Tchouaméni, Lucas, Le Normand, Atlético Madrid's Robin Le Normand, Aurélien Tchouaméni Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno, “ Robin Le Normand, subdural haematoma, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Atlético, Real Madrid, Spanish, Metropolitano, Real Sociedad, Benfica, League, Estadio Locations: Atlético Madrid, Madrid, Sunday’s, Portugal

☆ Champions League Thursday takeaways: Monaco dominates Barcelona, Wirtz and Raya impress
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Jamie Barton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The first week of the new-look Champions League came to an end on Thursday, with Barcelona and Arsenal both in action. An early red card for Eric García for a professional last man foul on Takumi Minamino gave the 2004 Champions League finalist a huge boost, and the French side took full advantage. It was the 17-year-old’s debut Champions League goal after his eye-catching brace against Girona at the weekend. That’s very important.”Florian Wirtz shines on Champions League debutIt took Florian Wirtz just five minutes of Champions League football to grab his first goal in the competition. Even if not, all eyes will surely be on the next matchday when the Champions League returns on October 1, highlighted by Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain.

Persons: Hansi Flick, Eric García, Takumi Minamino, ” Flick, Maghnes Akliouche, Marc, André ter Stegen, Lamine Yamal, George Ilenikhena, ter Stegen, Kylian Mbappé, “, ”, Flick, ” David Raya, David Raya, Emmanuele, Atalanta, Thomas Partey’s, Raya, Mateo Retegui’s, I’ve, David, Mikel Arteta, Iñaki, ” Florian Wirtz, Florian Wirtz, Xabi, Álex Grimaldo, Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Timon Wellenreuther, Wellenreuther’s, John Thys, ” Wirtz, Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Jamie Gittens, Germain, Manchester, Jack Grealish, Shaun Botterill, Sturm Organizations: CNN, League, Arsenal, Monaco, Barcelona, La Liga, AS Monaco, Girona, Villarreal, Liverpool’s, AC Milan, Manchester, Inter, Champions League, Atalanta, Tottenham Hotspur, Gunners, Stadio, Bergamo, Bayer Leverkusen, Feyenoord, Getty, Swiss Model, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Rodri, Bayern Munich’s, Dinamo Zagreb, Slovan Bratislava, Sturm Graz, Paris Saint, Crvena Zvezda, Star, Benfica Feyenoord, Bayer Leverkusen Stade Brestois, Sturm Graz Atalanta, Arsenal Atlético Madrid, Leipzig AS Monaco Locations: Barcelona, AFP, Swiss

☆ Walter Bou: Argentinian forward scores stunning game-winning Puskás Award contender
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Argentinian Primera División side Lanús was tied 2-2 with Tigre heading into the final minute of regulation time. It seemed as though the game was destined for a draw, but striker Walter Bou had other ideas. Many on social media – including his club’s official account – have touted Bou’s effort as a FIFA Puskás Award contender. “Just give Walter Bou the Puskás award now,” one X user wrote. The 3-2 victory moved Lanús to ninth in the table, while Tigre sits 21st in the 28-team league.

Persons: Lanús, Eduardo Salvio, Walter Bou, Mateo Sanabria, Felipe Tomás Zenobio, Bou, mobbed, Ferenc Puskás, Son Heung, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Primera División, Tigre, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, volleying, FIFA, Real Madrid, England, Tottenham, Burnley Locations: Tigre, Hungary

☆ 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

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