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champions league
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Manchester United gaining respect from rivals ahead of crucial week
By Associated Press | Associated Press
UPDATED ON JAN 05, 2021 06:35 PM IST
It makes for a potentially transformative week for United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who just a month ago was under real pressure — not for the first time in his turbulent, two-year tenure — after a group-stage elimination in the Champions League.

Bayern Munich needing ‘wake-up call’ after run of slow starts
By Press Trust of India | Germany
UPDATED ON JAN 04, 2021 11:22 PM IST
Bayern Munich has been providing plenty of entertainment for the fans, and plenty of anxiety for the team.

How we played: At first, haltingly, and then with creative defiance
By Rudraneil Sengupta | Hindustan Times
UPDATED ON DEC 29, 2020 04:24 AM IST
At first, all sport stopped. Then, we got innovative. Players created workout routines; sporting bodies came up with bio bubbles. History continued to be made in empty stadiums

PSG’s Mbappe thanks Tuchel after reports of German coach’s sacking
By Reuters | Paris
UPDATED ON DEC 25, 2020 02:06 PM IST
French sports daily L’Equipe and German newspaper Bild said the 47-year-old, who helped PSG reach the Champions League final in August which they lost to Bayern Munich, was dismissed after Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Racing Strasbourg.

PSG sack Tuchel, Pochettino set to become new manager - reports
By Agence France-Presse | Paris
UPDATED ON DEC 24, 2020 05:35 PM IST
The 47-year-old German arrived at the Parc des Princes on a two-year contract in 2018, and guided PSG to their first ever Champions League final last season.

Fans to return for Asian Champions League for first time since March
By Reuters | Qatar
UPDATED ON DEC 18, 2020 07:30 PM IST
The Asian Football Confederation announced on the eve of the decider between the clubs from Iran and South Korea that spectators totalling “up to 30 percent of the stadium capacity” would be allowed into the 40,000-seater Al Janoub Stadium.

Neymar and Barcelona never quite the same since 2017 split
By Reuters | Barcelona
PUBLISHED ON DEC 14, 2020 08:16 PM IST
When Barca and Neymar were at the peak of their powers in 2017, however, he shook world football by heading to PSG for a record-smashing 222 million euros ($269.89 million).

Sharath Kamal’s Germany stint put off due to visa issue
By Rutvick Mehta | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON DEC 14, 2020 07:04 PM IST
With an aim to prepare and get into top shape ahead of the Olympic qualifiers early next year in the build-up to the postponed Tokyo Olympics in July-August, India’s top-ranked table tennis player was looking to fly to Germany this month after being part of the national camp since October end.

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw: Barcelona to face PSG, holders Bayern to take on Lazio
By Reuters | Nyon
UPDATED ON DEC 14, 2020 05:35 PM IST
The clash of Lionel Messi and Barca with last year’s runners-up PSG is a repeat of their remarkable meeting at the same stage in 2017 when Barca overcame a 4-0 first leg loss to beat the French club 6-1 in Spain.

PSG lose at home to Lyon, Neymar stretchered off
By Reuters | Paris
UPDATED ON DEC 14, 2020 07:52 AM IST
The French champions, whose forward Neymar sustained a possible ankle injury in stoppage time, were never in the mix as they surrendered top spot to Lille.

Injured Jota out for up to 2 months, says Klopp
By Associated Press | LONDON
UPDATED ON DEC 13, 2020 10:34 PM IST
“It’s worse than we first thought and better than we then thought,” Klopp said. “All the potential surgeons had a look on it, no surgery needed.

Koeman feeling comfortable at Barcelona despite poor results
By Reuters | Reuters
UPDATED ON DEC 12, 2020 08:56 PM IST
Barca fell 12 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid with last week’s shock 2-1 defeat by Cadiz before losing 3-0 at home to Juventus to surrender top spot in their Champions League group

Time for United and Pogba to part ways, says Berbatov
By Reuters | London
UPDATED ON DEC 10, 2020 08:54 PM IST
Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov said it is clear that Solskjaer lacks confidence in Pogba and suggests it is time to part ways with a player who has never consistently produced his best form for the club.

Real Madrid and Atlético turn focus to decisive league derby
By Associated Press | Madrid
UPDATED ON DEC 10, 2020 09:09 PM IST
The Spanish rivals meet on Saturday at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium in a match that could prove key in the title race.

Pep Guardiola hails Sergio Aguero’s scoring instincts
By Reuters | Reuters
UPDATED ON DEC 10, 2020 02:52 PM IST
Aguero, City’s record goalscorer, missed the start of the season following a knee surgery and suffered another setback against Olympiakos last month.

Madrid beats Gladbach to avoid Champions League elimination
By Press Trust of India | Madrid
UPDATED ON DEC 10, 2020 11:11 AM IST
Madrid needed a victory to guarantee advancement and ended up winning Group B to reach the knockout round for the 24th straight season.

Liverpool scores its quickest CL goal in 1-1 at Midtjylland
By Press Trust of India | Press Trust of India
UPDATED ON DEC 10, 2020 09:38 AM IST
Already qualified as Group D winner, Liverpool rested a number of key players — though Salah played the whole game — and Midtjylland took advantage by taking the game to the English champions in the second half.

Man Utd now favourites for Europa League, says Spurs’ Mourinho
By Reuters | Reuters
UPDATED ON DEC 09, 2020 09:10 PM IST
“The teams that drop from the Champions League are strong and normally don’t belong to the level of the Europa League,” Mourinho, who guided United to the Europa League trophy in 2017, told reporters ahead of Thursday’s home game against Antwerp.

Manchester United back in Europa League, Solskjaer facing same questions
By Associated Press | Associated Press
UPDATED ON DEC 09, 2020 08:22 PM IST
Is there any realistic chance of this run ending under Solskjaer? Not the way he oversaw United’s latest Champions League failure which, again, might have left him on borrowed time.

Antoine Griezmann hopes Juventus defeat awakens drowsy Barca
By Reuters | Barcelona
UPDATED ON DEC 09, 2020 06:20 PM IST
The loss followed Saturday’s shock defeat by Cadiz and meant Barca failed to finish top of their group for the first time in 13 seasons and will be unseeded for the last-16 draw.

Never saw Messi as a rival, says Ronaldo
By Reuters | Barcelona
UPDATED ON DEC 09, 2020 04:51 PM IST
It was the first meeting between Ronaldo and Messi since the Portuguese forward left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018. Between them the pair have won the Ballon d’Or in 11 of the past 12 years.

Champions League game postponed after players walk off over alleged racism
By Associated Press | Paris, France
UPDATED ON DEC 09, 2020 10:24 AM IST
The Champions League game between Paris Saint-Germain and Basaksehir was postponed when players walked off the field after alleging that fourth official Sebastian Coltescu of Romania used a racial term when identifying an assistant coach.

Champions League: Ronaldo double helps Juventus to 3-0 win over Barca
By Reuters | Barcelona
UPDATED ON DEC 09, 2020 10:09 AM IST
Cristiano Ronaldo netted two penalties as Juventus out-classed Barcelona 3-0 at the Camp Nou to claim top spot in Champions League Group G on Tuesday.

Champions League: Manchester United knocked out with defeat to Leipzig
By Reuters | Leipzig, Germany
UPDATED ON DEC 09, 2020 10:12 AM IST
RB Leipzig scored twice in the opening 13 minutes but had to survive a late comeback from Manchester United to cling on to a 3-2 win on Tuesday that sent them into the Champions League knockout stage and eliminated the English side.

Inter coach Conte refuses to take the biscuit
By Reuters | MILAN
UPDATED ON DEC 08, 2020 11:18 PM IST
However, if Inter win and Real Madrid and Borussia Moenchengladbach draw the group’s other game on Wednesday, then Real and Borussia would both go through instead.

Zidane ‘not thinking’ about sack ahead of Borussia showdown
By Reuters | MADRID
PUBLISHED ON DEC 08, 2020 09:44 PM IST
Local media reports suggest that Zidane will be sacked should Real not go through to the last 16, however the Frenchman insisted his only focus is on getting the three points, rather than his future.

Madrid on the brink in CL group stage; Messi vs Ronaldo
By Press Trust of India | Barcelona
UPDATED ON DEC 07, 2020 09:49 AM IST
Lionel Messi’s latest meeting with old rival Cristiano Ronaldo features as the other main attraction in the last of the group games. Messi’s Barcelona hosts Ronaldo’s Juventus on Tuesday with both already qualified.

Solskjær’s handling of Fred could cost United progress in CL
By Press Trust of India | Manchester
UPDATED ON DEC 03, 2020 02:40 PM IST
By the time Neymar scored Paris Saint-Germain’s second goal to complete a 3-1 victory in stoppage time, Fred had long departed the Old Trafford pitch.

Stephanie Frappart becomes first woman to referee Champions League game
By Reuters | Turin, Italy
UPDATED ON DEC 03, 2020 10:17 AM IST
The 36-year-old Frenchwoman had previously refereed two Europa League matches and has taken charge of 18 matches in La Liga.

Neymar’s double leads PSG to 3-1 win at Man United in Champions League
By Associated Press | Manchester
UPDATED ON DEC 03, 2020 07:56 AM IST
Neymar scored twice to lead Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-1 victory at 10-man Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday, leaving both teams’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage uncertain heading into their final group games.