Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr is peerless when it comes to inflicting damage on opponents, his manager Carlo Ancelotti said after the Brazilian scored twice in a spectacular 5-2 comeback win at Liverpool on Tuesday. Liverpool had raced into a 2-0 lead at Anfield, but a double from Vinicius levelled the match before the break and laid the foundation for a thumping Champions League, last-16 first leg win.

"Vinicius is the most decisive player in world football today," Ancelotti told a news conference. "There is no player with this continuity of action. He doesn't stop and keeps going. I hope he can continue like this."

Vinicius has become arguably his team's most important player after crowning his breakout season by scoring the goal that won Real Madrid a record-extending 14th European Cup title with a 1-0 win over Liverpool last year. He is the player with most goal attempts (28) and shots on target (15) in the Champions League this season and is the most fouled player in Europe's top five leagues (82).

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-manchester-citys-kevin-de-bruyne-to-miss-rb-leipzig-clash-due-to-illness-confirms-pep-564712">Champions League: Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne to miss RB Leipzig clash due to illness, confirms Pep</a>

Vinicius scored twice in three attempts against Liverpool on Tuesday and - at only 22 - is already the second highest scorer against the English team in the Champions League with five goals, one behind Karim Benzema, and ahead of Didier Drogba (four) and Frank Lampard (three).

After Liverpool went 2-0 ahead, Vinicius hit back with a sublime strike and doubled his tally with a fluke second after Liverpool keeper Alisson hit the ball straight at him.

"Vinicius was brilliant as always," Ancelotti said. "It was an historic win, mostly because if you consider where we played and how we started the game, falling two goals behind. But we never backed down and kept our cool, not panicked and we turned around a very difficult game."

After scoring 22 goals with 20 assists last season, Vinicius has already scored 18 in all competitions this campaign and was named player of the tournament at the Club World Cup in January, helping Real to secure a record-extending fifth title.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr is peerless when it comes to inflicting damage on opponents, his manager Carlo Ancelotti said after the Brazilian scored twice in a spectacular 5-2 comeback win at Liverpool on Tuesday.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr is peerless when it comes to inflicting damage on opponents, his manager Carlo Ancelotti said after the Brazilian scored twice in a spectacular 5-2 comeback win at Liverpool on Tuesday. Liverpool had raced into a 2-0 lead at Anfield, but a double from Vinicius levelled the match before the break and laid the foundation for a thumping Champions League, last-16 first leg win. "Vinicius is the most decisive player in world football today," Ancelotti told a news conference. "There is no player with this continuity of action. He doesn't stop and keeps going. I hope he can continue like this." Vinicius has become arguably his team's most important player after crowning his breakout season by scoring the goal that won Real Madrid a record-extending 14th European Cup title with a 1-0 win over Liverpool last year. He is the player with most goal attempts (28) and shots on target (15) in the Champions League this season and is the most fouled player in Europe's top five leagues (82). ALSO READ: Champions League: Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne to miss RB Leipzig clash due to illness, confirms Pep Vinicius scored twice in three attempts against Liverpool on Tuesday and - at only 22 - is already the second highest scorer against the English team in the Champions League with five goals, one behind Karim Benzema, and ahead of Didier Drogba (four) and Frank Lampard (three). After Liverpool went 2-0 ahead, Vinicius hit back with a sublime strike and doubled his tally with a fluke second after Liverpool keeper Alisson hit the ball straight at him. "Vinicius was brilliant as always," Ancelotti said. "It was an historic win, mostly because if you consider where we played and how we started the game, falling two goals behind. But we never backed down and kept our cool, not panicked and we turned around a very difficult game." After scoring 22 goals with 20 assists last season, Vinicius has already scored 18 in all competitions this campaign and was named player of the tournament at the Club World Cup in January, helping Real to secure a record-extending fifth title.

UCL: 'There's no player like him,' Carlo Ancelotti praises Vinicius Jr following Madrid’s 5-2 win at Anfield

Premier League holders Manchester City will next face German club RB Leipzig in their first leg of the round-of-16 clash in Champions League on Wednesday. However, City will miss the services of two of their star performers in mid-fielder Kevin De Bruyne and defender Aymeric Laporte – both of whom are out due to illness, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed to reporters on Tuesday. Much like every year at the club since joining, De Bruyne is in wonderful form lately, contributing with 18 assists in 31 matches across all competitions. Laporte, who is also out with an unspecified illness, further remains in doubt for City’s away PL clash on Saturday against A.F.C. Bournemouth.

"Unfortunately, sometimes it happens. He (De Bruyne) didn't feel good right after the game with Forest... yesterday Aymeric (Laporte) didn't feel good. Another player is going to play. It happens sometimes," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday as quoted by the Reuters.

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Having faced the current fifth-place team in the Bundesliga before, Pep knows what challenge they will throw at them in this high-octane clash. Drawn in the same group in the past season as well, Manchester City first lost to RB Leipzig 1-2 in an away clash before thrashing them at the Etihad Stadium by a margin of 6-3.

"We know the quality of them for many years. A culture for young players, recruitment, physicality, clear patterns of play, go to the channels, a lot of play in the middle ... in the transition they are unstoppable. Huge respect, I know the quality and it will be tough,” Guardiola said.

Meanwhile, chasing yet another Premier League title, City, who is second on the table with two points behind toppers Arsenal, played a 1-1 draw in their last outing against Nottingham Forest. Even after dropping points at such a crucial juncture, Pep backed his team and said although they played well against Forest, he doesn’t have a reason as to why they couldn’t cross the line.

For their upcoming knockout match in the Champions League, Pep said the team has trained well, and that he has a feeling that they will do better this time.

"Last game against Nottingham was highest standards, I loved the way we play and we don't win because it's football. I do not have an answer on what happened in that situation," Pep said. "Today we trained and it's there but that doesn't mean we'll win. But I have a good feeling."

Premier League holders Manchester City will next face German club RB Leipzig in their first leg of the round-of-16 clash in Champions League on Wednesday. However, City will miss the services of two of their star performers in mid-fielder Kevin De Bruyne and defender Aymeric Laporte – both of whom are out due to illness, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed to reporters on Tuesday.

Premier League holders Manchester City will next face German club RB Leipzig in their first leg of the round-of-16 clash in Champions League on Wednesday. However, City will miss the services of two of their star performers in mid-fielder Kevin De Bruyne and defender Aymeric Laporte – both of whom are out due to illness, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed to reporters on Tuesday. Much like every year at the club since joining, De Bruyne is in wonderful form lately, contributing with 18 assists in 31 matches across all competitions. Laporte, who is also out with an unspecified illness, further remains in doubt for City’s away PL clash on Saturday against A.F.C. Bournemouth. "Unfortunately, sometimes it happens. He (De Bruyne) didn't feel good right after the game with Forest... yesterday Aymeric (Laporte) didn't feel good. Another player is going to play. It happens sometimes," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday as quoted by the Reuters. ALSO READ: James Anderson ends Pat Cummins' four-year run as No 1 Test bowler, attains top spot in latest ICC rankings Having faced the current fifth-place team in the Bundesliga before, Pep knows what challenge they will throw at them in this high-octane clash. Drawn in the same group in the past season as well, Manchester City first lost to RB Leipzig 1-2 in an away clash before thrashing them at the Etihad Stadium by a margin of 6-3. "We know the quality of them for many years. A culture for young players, recruitment, physicality, clear patterns of play, go to the channels, a lot of play in the middle ... in the transition they are unstoppable. Huge respect, I know the quality and it will be tough,” Guardiola said. Meanwhile, chasing yet another Premier League title, City, who is second on the table with two points behind toppers Arsenal, played a 1-1 draw in their last outing against Nottingham Forest. Even after dropping points at such a crucial juncture, Pep backed his team and said although they played well against Forest, he doesn’t have a reason as to why they couldn’t cross the line. For their upcoming knockout match in the Champions League, Pep said the team has trained well, and that he has a feeling that they will do better this time. "Last game against Nottingham was highest standards, I loved the way we play and we don't win because it's football. I do not have an answer on what happened in that situation," Pep said. "Today we trained and it's there but that doesn't mean we'll win. But I have a good feeling."

Champions League: Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne to miss RB Leipzig clash due to illness, confirms Pep

Chelsea broke the bank in the winter transfer window this time&nbsp;for around half a dozen players but still haven’t managed to take hold of things how they would have liked. Be it for injuries or poor results across tournaments, the London-based club is yet to shine under manager Graham Potter. Meanwhile, ahead of the Champions League clash between Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, Potter confirmed that Chelsea will miss services of England international Raheem Sterling. Sterling, who injured his knee during training last week, has joined the squad alongside other returnees, but will not remain contention for selection.

Chelsea’s injury list is long with some star players including winger Christian Pulisic, striker Armando Broja, veteran mid-fielder N'Golo Kante and keeper Edouard Mendy all on sidelines.

"The other players coming back from injury, Raheem, Kante and Pulisic, they'll just be working their way back at Cobham, (Chelsea's training ground)" Potter told reporters ahead of Champions League clash against Dortmund.

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While others like Wesley Fofana, Mateo Kovacic and Denis Zakaria have joined Sterling in the return training session.

"All of the three are in the squad so that's good. Like I said before, the previous game they were getting closer to minutes," Potter said.

As all four of them are added to Chelsea’s squad for Wednesday game, Potter feels it’s good to have them back training with the rest of the team, but it’s also important to prepare them for games to come.

"The challenge for us is to build them up and to make sure they're right from a gametime perspective but it's good that Wesley, Mateo and Denis are with the group," the manager added.

Meanwhile, despite struggling to deliver in the Premier League where they are seated at 10th place with just 31 points in 22 games, Chelsea has a better record to flex in Champions League – having won the past four matches. Up against Dortmund in the knockout Stage -&nbsp;who are yet to lose a match this year, Potter feels though beating them (Borussia) wouldn’t be anything less than a challenge, he and the whole squad is excited about the clash.

"Certainly, from the break they (Dortmund) have had a fantastic run. They're a really organised team that attack well, defend well and have got good individuals within there," Potter said. "It's the knockout stage of the Champions League. The absolute pinnacle in terms of the game. It's a great test playing against a fantastic club in front of 80,000 here, so a wonderful occasion.

"We're all looking forward to the match, we all understand the challenge that awaits us but are really excited about it," he concluded as quoted by Reuters.

Chelsea broke the bank in the winter transfer window this time for around half a dozen players but still haven’t managed to take hold of things how they would have liked.

Chelsea broke the bank in the winter transfer window this time for around half a dozen players but still haven’t managed to take hold of things how they would have liked. Be it for injuries or poor results across tournaments, the London-based club is yet to shine under manager Graham Potter. Meanwhile, ahead of the Champions League clash between Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, Potter confirmed that Chelsea will miss services of England international Raheem Sterling. Sterling, who injured his knee during training last week, has joined the squad alongside other returnees, but will not remain contention for selection. Chelsea’s injury list is long with some star players including winger Christian Pulisic, striker Armando Broja, veteran mid-fielder N'Golo Kante and keeper Edouard Mendy all on sidelines. "The other players coming back from injury, Raheem, Kante and Pulisic, they'll just be working their way back at Cobham, (Chelsea's training ground)" Potter told reporters ahead of Champions League clash against Dortmund. ALSO READ: Belgian goalkeeper Arne Espeel passes away after saving penalty While others like Wesley Fofana, Mateo Kovacic and Denis Zakaria have joined Sterling in the return training session. "All of the three are in the squad so that's good. Like I said before, the previous game they were getting closer to minutes," Potter said. As all four of them are added to Chelsea’s squad for Wednesday game, Potter feels it’s good to have them back training with the rest of the team, but it’s also important to prepare them for games to come. "The challenge for us is to build them up and to make sure they're right from a gametime perspective but it's good that Wesley, Mateo and Denis are with the group," the manager added. Meanwhile, despite struggling to deliver in the Premier League where they are seated at 10th place with just 31 points in 22 games, Chelsea has a better record to flex in Champions League – having won the past four matches. Up against Dortmund in the knockout Stage - who are yet to lose a match this year, Potter feels though beating them (Borussia) wouldn’t be anything less than a challenge, he and the whole squad is excited about the clash. "Certainly, from the break they (Dortmund) have had a fantastic run. They're a really organised team that attack well, defend well and have got good individuals within there," Potter said. "It's the knockout stage of the Champions League. The absolute pinnacle in terms of the game. It's a great test playing against a fantastic club in front of 80,000 here, so a wonderful occasion. "We're all looking forward to the match, we all understand the challenge that awaits us but are really excited about it," he concluded as quoted by Reuters.

Champions League: Raheem Sterling not ready to face Dortmund, confirms Chelsea manager Graham Potter

Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi, chair of MSP Sports Capital, is set to launch a $3.75 billion takeover bid for Premier League soccer club Tottenham Hotspur, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. However, Tottenham declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Earlier, the Financial Times had reported that MSP Sports Capital is working with a consortium of investors to structure the bid, and that it is weeks away from formally approaching the club's owner Joe Lewis and chair Daniel Levy.

The report said that the Najafi and MSP-led offer would value Tottenham, who are fifth in the Premier League, at approximately $3 billion before adding about $750 million of debt on the club's books. It added that MSP and its partners will put forward 70% of the purchase price, while backers from the Gulf, mainly from Abu Dhabi, will contribute the rest 30%.

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Najafi is also a minority shareholder in the National Basketball Association team Phoenix Suns.

Tottenham, currently managed by Antonio Conte, have 39 points after 23 games in the league this season and sit two points outside the top four. The north London club last won a trophy in 2008 when they lifted the League Cup.

Other Premier League clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool are also seeking investment, with Qatari investors preparing to make a bid to buy United while Jim Ratcliffe's company INEOS formally entered the bidding process last month.

Spurs lose to AC Milan in UCL’s Round of 16

During the Round of 16 match between Spurs and AC Milan on Tuesday, the London-based club suffered a shock 0-1 defeat. Brahim Diaz provided a perfect start to Milan by scoring a goal in the seventh minute. While Milan did come close on scoring on a few occasions, they couldn’t make it 2-0. Spurs on the other hand, had their chances too but couldn’t capitalise on them. Spurs will now be hopeful of gaining a home advantage when Milan next visits them for a return leg.

Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi, chair of MSP Sports Capital, is set to launch a $3.75 billion takeover bid for Premier League soccer club Tottenham Hotspur, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi, chair of MSP Sports Capital, is set to launch a $3.75 billion takeover bid for Premier League soccer club Tottenham Hotspur, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. However, Tottenham declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Earlier, the Financial Times had reported that MSP Sports Capital is working with a consortium of investors to structure the bid, and that it is weeks away from formally approaching the club's owner Joe Lewis and chair Daniel Levy. The report said that the Najafi and MSP-led offer would value Tottenham, who are fifth in the Premier League, at approximately $3 billion before adding about $750 million of debt on the club's books. It added that MSP and its partners will put forward 70% of the purchase price, while backers from the Gulf, mainly from Abu Dhabi, will contribute the rest 30%. ALSO READ: Champions League: Raheem Sterling not ready to face Dortmund, confirms Chelsea manger Graham Potter Najafi is also a minority shareholder in the National Basketball Association team Phoenix Suns. Tottenham, currently managed by Antonio Conte, have 39 points after 23 games in the league this season and sit two points outside the top four. The north London club last won a trophy in 2008 when they lifted the League Cup. Other Premier League clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool are also seeking investment, with Qatari investors preparing to make a bid to buy United while Jim Ratcliffe's company INEOS formally entered the bidding process last month. Spurs lose to AC Milan in UCL’s Round of 16 During the Round of 16 match between Spurs and AC Milan on Tuesday, the London-based club suffered a shock 0-1 defeat. Brahim Diaz provided a perfect start to Milan by scoring a goal in the seventh minute. While Milan did come close on scoring on a few occasions, they couldn’t make it 2-0. Spurs on the other hand, had their chances too but couldn’t capitalise on them. Spurs will now be hopeful of gaining a home advantage when Milan next visits them for a return leg.

Iranian billionaire Najafi to launch a whopping $3.75 billion takeover bid for Spurs - Source

UEFA Champions League 2022-23: The UEFA Champions League has a massive following reflected in its broadcast reach. They have multiple partners in Europe and countries in Africa, Asia, America, The Middle East and many more. Football fans can watch the UEFA Champions League on these local broadcasting channels. The top-tier football tournament commences on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Football fans are excited about the UEFA Champions League 2023 as it comes after a long time after the FIFA World Cup. The first match of the UEFA Champions League is PSG vs Bayern. The first leg of the UEFA Champions League will end on February 22. The second leg will commence on March 7 and end on March 15. &nbsp;

The UEFA Champions League 2023 is the 68th season of Europe's premier club football tournament. The winner will automatically qualify for UEFA Super Cup.&nbsp;

<h3> 
We have mentioned all the TV broadcasters of Europe partnered with the UEFA to Live telecast the Champions League. You can find the channel for your country in the list mentioned below. &nbsp;</h3>

<h2>Where can I watch UEFA Champions League 2023 Live on TV in Europe?</h2>

Russia: Match TV&nbsp; 
Germany: Prime Video, DAZN 
United Kingdom: BT Sport 
France: Canal+, M6, RMC Sport 
Italy: Sky Italia, DAZN 
Spain: Telefonica, Mediapro 
Ukraine: Megogo 
Poland: Viaplay, TVP 
Romania: Pro TV 
Netherlands: Talpa, ESPN 
Belgium: Telenet, SBS VRT, RTBF, beTV 
Czechia: Ceska Televize, Sport1 
Greece: COSMOTE TV 
Portugal: SIC, Sport TV 
Sweden: Viaplay Group 
Hungary: MTVA, RTL 
Austria: ServusTV, ORF, Sky Austria&nbsp; 
Serbia: Arena Sport 
Switzerland: blue+, CH Media 
Bulgaria: A1, bTV 
Denmark: TV2 
Finland: Viaplay Group 
Slovakia: RTVS, Sport1 
Norway: Viaplay Group 
Croatia: Arena Sport 
Moldova: Setanta, Prime 
Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina: Arena Sport 
Albania: DigitAlb 
Lithuania: Viaplay Group 
North Macedonia: Arena Sport 
Slovenia: Arena Sport, Sportklub, Pro Plus 
Latvia: Viaplay Group 
Estonia: Viaplay Group 
Montenegro: Arena Sport 
Luxembourg: RTL 
Malta: PBS, Melita, GO 
Iceland: Viaplay, Syn 
Liechtenstein: blue+﻿, RTL﻿, CH Media

<h2>Where can I Live Stream UEFA Champions League 2023?</h2>

You can watch the UEFA Champions League 2023 on uefa.tv. You can register for free to watch live streaming of select UEFA competitions, match highlights, &nbsp;goals and more football videos.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/sports/uefa-champions-league-2022-23-where-how-to-watch-psg-vs-bayern-livestream-in-india-check-full-schedule-561884">UEFA Champions League 2022-23: Where &amp; how to watch PSG vs Bayern livestream in India- Check full schedule</a>

&nbsp;

UEFA Champions League 2022-23: The UEFA Champions League has a massive following reflected in its broadcast reach. They have multiple partners in Europe and countries in Africa, Asia, America, The Middle East and many more.

UEFA Champions League 2022-23: The UEFA Champions League has a massive following reflected in its broadcast reach. They have multiple partners in Europe and countries in Africa, Asia, America, The Middle East and many more. Football fans can watch the UEFA Champions League on these local broadcasting channels. The top-tier football tournament commences on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Football fans are excited about the UEFA Champions League 2023 as it comes after a long time after the FIFA World Cup. The first match of the UEFA Champions League is PSG vs Bayern. The first leg of the UEFA Champions League will end on February 22. The second leg will commence on March 7 and end on March 15. The UEFA Champions League 2023 is the 68th season of Europe's premier club football tournament. The winner will automatically qualify for UEFA Super Cup. We have mentioned all the TV broadcasters of Europe partnered with the UEFA to Live telecast the Champions League. You can find the channel for your country in the list mentioned below. Where can I watch UEFA Champions League 2023 Live on TV in Europe? Russia: Match TV Germany: Prime Video, DAZN United Kingdom: BT Sport France: Canal+, M6, RMC Sport Italy: Sky Italia, DAZN Spain: Telefonica, Mediapro Ukraine: Megogo Poland: Viaplay, TVP Romania: Pro TV Netherlands: Talpa, ESPN Belgium: Telenet, SBS VRT, RTBF, beTV Czechia: Ceska Televize, Sport1 Greece: COSMOTE TV Portugal: SIC, Sport TV Sweden: Viaplay Group Hungary: MTVA, RTL Austria: ServusTV, ORF, Sky Austria Serbia: Arena Sport Switzerland: blue+, CH Media Bulgaria: A1, bTV Denmark: TV2 Finland: Viaplay Group Slovakia: RTVS, Sport1 Norway: Viaplay Group Croatia: Arena Sport Moldova: Setanta, Prime Bosnia & Herzegovina: Arena Sport Albania: DigitAlb Lithuania: Viaplay Group North Macedonia: Arena Sport Slovenia: Arena Sport, Sportklub, Pro Plus Latvia: Viaplay Group Estonia: Viaplay Group Montenegro: Arena Sport Luxembourg: RTL Malta: PBS, Melita, GO Iceland: Viaplay, Syn Liechtenstein: blue+﻿, RTL﻿, CH Media Where can I Live Stream UEFA Champions League 2023? You can watch the UEFA Champions League 2023 on uefa.tv. You can register for free to watch live streaming of select UEFA competitions, match highlights, goals and more football videos. ALSO READ | UEFA Champions League 2022-23: Where & how to watch PSG vs Bayern livestream in India- Check full schedule

UEFA Champions League 2023 Live Streaming: Where & How to watch UEFA Champions League in Europe, TV Broadcast

In what comes as a massive boost for PSG ahead of their crucial UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match&nbsp;against the former winners Bayern Munich, their star striker Kylian Mbappe has joined the squad; however, his participation remains in doubt as he’s still recovering from the hamstring injury he sustained two weeks back on February 1st. Not only Mbappe, but the recently-crowned World Cup-winner Lionel Messi and Italian midfielder Marco Verratti have also returned from injury. The match that is slated to take place at the Parc des Princes on February 15th could at least see a return of any of these players.

Mbappe, who was ruled out for three weeks following the injury, was seen practising with the team in the training sessions ahead of the much-anticipated match. PSG manager Christophe Galtier, however, said he would take zero risks when it comes to playing Mbappe against Bayern Munich. Speaking during the pre-match presser, Galtier said the decision on playing the French striker will be made last minute after discussing with the medical staff.

He also added saying the XI that will be playing in the Champions League tonight will be a lot different from the one that played against Monaco, where PSG suffered a shocking 1-3 defeat.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uefa-champions-league-2022-23-where-how-to-watch-psg-vs-bayern-livestream-in-india-check-full-schedule-561884">UEFA Champions League 2022-23: Where &amp; how to watch PSG vs Bayern livestream in India- Check full schedule</a>

"What I can tell you is that the team who will play tomorrow will look nothing like that who played against Monaco," Galtier told a news conference.

"Kylian did the whole session today. I didn't think he would be on the pitch yesterday. We made the decision that he would train with everyone today. We're not sure yet whether he will be on the match sheet, we will decide tomorrow after discussing with him and the medical staff. If he is on the match sheet, he will play," the manager said.

Struggling with the form lately, PSG will look for a much-needed turnaround against heavyweights Bayern – whom Galtier doesn’t see as favourites.

"I know that my team will rise to the occasion," said Galtier. "I don't think Bayern are the favourites. It's 50-50. It's a Champions League game. No one will be qualified after tomorrow's game. Bayern have been better lately and for some reasons it's not the case for us but I have a bigger squad at my disposal for tomorrow."

In what comes as a massive boost for PSG ahead of their crucial UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match against the former winners Bayern Munich, their star striker Kylian Mbappe has joined the squad; however, his participation remains in doubt as he’s still recovering from the hamstring injury he sustained two weeks back on February 1st.

In what comes as a massive boost for PSG ahead of their crucial UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match against the former winners Bayern Munich, their star striker Kylian Mbappe has joined the squad; however, his participation remains in doubt as he’s still recovering from the hamstring injury he sustained two weeks back on February 1st. Not only Mbappe, but the recently-crowned World Cup-winner Lionel Messi and Italian midfielder Marco Verratti have also returned from injury. The match that is slated to take place at the Parc des Princes on February 15th could at least see a return of any of these players. Mbappe, who was ruled out for three weeks following the injury, was seen practising with the team in the training sessions ahead of the much-anticipated match. PSG manager Christophe Galtier, however, said he would take zero risks when it comes to playing Mbappe against Bayern Munich. Speaking during the pre-match presser, Galtier said the decision on playing the French striker will be made last minute after discussing with the medical staff. He also added saying the XI that will be playing in the Champions League tonight will be a lot different from the one that played against Monaco, where PSG suffered a shocking 1-3 defeat. ALSO READ: UEFA Champions League 2022-23: Where & how to watch PSG vs Bayern livestream in India- Check full schedule "What I can tell you is that the team who will play tomorrow will look nothing like that who played against Monaco," Galtier told a news conference. "Kylian did the whole session today. I didn't think he would be on the pitch yesterday. We made the decision that he would train with everyone today. We're not sure yet whether he will be on the match sheet, we will decide tomorrow after discussing with him and the medical staff. If he is on the match sheet, he will play," the manager said. Struggling with the form lately, PSG will look for a much-needed turnaround against heavyweights Bayern – whom Galtier doesn’t see as favourites. "I know that my team will rise to the occasion," said Galtier. "I don't think Bayern are the favourites. It's 50-50. It's a Champions League game. No one will be qualified after tomorrow's game. Bayern have been better lately and for some reasons it's not the case for us but I have a bigger squad at my disposal for tomorrow."

Champions League: Star striker Kylian Mbappe joins PSG squad ahead of Bayern clash, remains doubtful to start

After the verbal deal between Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe fell apart just before the start of this season, it looked like this marriage is probably over for ever. However, new&nbsp;reports emerging suggest something different. As per Sportbible, there is chance that Real Madrid might chase the Paris Saint-German&nbsp;(PSG) striker all over again next summer, and for that they might just&nbsp;splurge as huge as £1 billion for the deal to go ahead.

Although no one related to either camps have made any comment or announcement on the same, if this deal goes through, it&nbsp;will be the biggest-ever transfer in the history of football. As per the report, Real Madrid will offer a sum of nearly&nbsp;£132 million while&nbsp;the overall package could be worth around £877 million. Kylian Mbappe&nbsp;will reportedly earn around £552 million in wages over a period of four years. Besides this, other add-ons and signing-on fees will be included in the deal.

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Meanwhile, Mbappe rose to limelight following his last stint with AS&nbsp;Monaco in 2018 after which he joined PSG on a whopping transfer fee of&nbsp;€180 million. Since joining PSG, he not only helped his club retain the top spot in the league, with the national team that year also he also won his maiden World Cup in Russia.&nbsp;

Four years later in Qatar, Mbappe&nbsp;was amongst the best players as well, helping his team reach the summit clash&nbsp;against Argentina for the successive time. However, despite scoring&nbsp;a World Cup final hattrick, he couldn't help his team defend its title as Argentina won the match on penalties and lifted the trophy for the third time. For his magnificent performance throughout this edition, that included eight goals and two assists, he was also awarded with the Golden Boot.

This year amid all reports suggesting that he was unhappy at the club and was on a lookout, Mbappe signed a new contract with PSG where he is&nbsp;set to earn £547 million over the next three years, making him the highest-earning sportsperson of all time. This season in particular, he has 19 goals and five assists to his name in 20 matches played across all competitions.

Come next summer, we will see if Real Madrid still remain&nbsp;keen on signing the most sort-after striker in world football at the moment for a ground-breaking fee.

After the verbal deal between Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe fell apart just before the start of this season, it looked like this marriage is probably over for ever.

After the verbal deal between Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe fell apart just before the start of this season, it looked like this marriage is probably over for ever. However, new reports emerging suggest something different. As per Sportbible, there is chance that Real Madrid might chase the Paris Saint-German (PSG) striker all over again next summer, and for that they might just splurge as huge as £1 billion for the deal to go ahead. Although no one related to either camps have made any comment or announcement on the same, if this deal goes through, it will be the biggest-ever transfer in the history of football. As per the report, Real Madrid will offer a sum of nearly £132 million while the overall package could be worth around £877 million. Kylian Mbappe will reportedly earn around £552 million in wages over a period of four years. Besides this, other add-ons and signing-on fees will be included in the deal. ALSO READ: Lionel Messi sends signed jersey to BCCI secretary Jay Shah, Pragyan Ojha shares photo on Instagram Meanwhile, Mbappe rose to limelight following his last stint with AS Monaco in 2018 after which he joined PSG on a whopping transfer fee of €180 million. Since joining PSG, he not only helped his club retain the top spot in the league, with the national team that year also he also won his maiden World Cup in Russia. Four years later in Qatar, Mbappe was amongst the best players as well, helping his team reach the summit clash against Argentina for the successive time. However, despite scoring a World Cup final hattrick, he couldn't help his team defend its title as Argentina won the match on penalties and lifted the trophy for the third time. For his magnificent performance throughout this edition, that included eight goals and two assists, he was also awarded with the Golden Boot. This year amid all reports suggesting that he was unhappy at the club and was on a lookout, Mbappe signed a new contract with PSG where he is set to earn £547 million over the next three years, making him the highest-earning sportsperson of all time. This season in particular, he has 19 goals and five assists to his name in 20 matches played across all competitions. Come next summer, we will see if Real Madrid still remain keen on signing the most sort-after striker in world football at the moment for a ground-breaking fee.

Real Madrid ready to pay £1 billion for Kylian Mbappe next summer - Reports

Lionel Messi continued his fine form for Paris Saint-Germain this season with a magnificent brace against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League on Wednesday. PSG ran riot against the Israeli side as they registered an emphatic 7-2 win to secure their entry in the Last 16.

Messi was phenomenal yet again as he scored twice and provided as many assists to run the show for PSG. The Argentine maestro was on top of his game as he opened the scoring for PSG in the 19th minute before finding the back of the net once again in the 44th minute to make it 4-0 for his team.

His second goal was a fantastic strike from outside the box and saw the Argentinian break yet another Champions League record held by his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo. His goal against Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday meant Messi has now become the first player to score against 39 different teams in the Champions League, surpassing Ronaldo.

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The Argentine maestro also became the oldest player to score two goals and provide two assists in the same game in the Champions League at the age of 35 years and 123 days. He has been enjoying brilliant form this season after struggling in his debut campaign for the reigning Ligue 1 champions.

Maccabi Haifa were a no-match against PSG on Wednesday as the French giants took control of the game right from the kick-off. Messi opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Kylian Mbappe scored to make it 2-0 in the 32nd minute. Neymar and Messi then extended PSG's tally to 4-1 before halftime.

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In the second half, Mbappe bagged his second before Sean Goldberg scored an own goal. Carlos Soler netted in the 84th minute for PSG to complete an emphatic 7-2 victory. Messi will now return to action when the French champions host Troyes in the Ligue1 on Saturday.

Lionel Messi continued his fine form for Paris Saint-Germain this season with a magnificent brace against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League on Wednesday. PSG ran riot against the Israeli side as they registered an emphatic 7-2 win to secure their entry in the Last 16.

Lionel Messi continued his fine form for Paris Saint-Germain this season with a magnificent brace against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League on Wednesday. PSG ran riot against the Israeli side as they registered an emphatic 7-2 win to secure their entry in the Last 16. Messi was phenomenal yet again as he scored twice and provided as many assists to run the show for PSG. The Argentine maestro was on top of his game as he opened the scoring for PSG in the 19th minute before finding the back of the net once again in the 44th minute to make it 4-0 for his team. His second goal was a fantastic strike from outside the box and saw the Argentinian break yet another Champions League record held by his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo. His goal against Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday meant Messi has now become the first player to score against 39 different teams in the Champions League, surpassing Ronaldo. Also Read: RB Leipzig one step closer to last 16 after stunning 3-2 win over Real Madrid in Champions League The Argentine maestro also became the oldest player to score two goals and provide two assists in the same game in the Champions League at the age of 35 years and 123 days. He has been enjoying brilliant form this season after struggling in his debut campaign for the reigning Ligue 1 champions. Maccabi Haifa were a no-match against PSG on Wednesday as the French giants took control of the game right from the kick-off. Messi opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Kylian Mbappe scored to make it 2-0 in the 32nd minute. Neymar and Messi then extended PSG's tally to 4-1 before halftime. Also Read: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe both score twice as PSG romp past Maccabi Haifa 7-2 In the second half, Mbappe bagged his second before Sean Goldberg scored an own goal. Carlos Soler netted in the 84th minute for PSG to complete an emphatic 7-2 victory. Messi will now return to action when the French champions host Troyes in the Ligue1 on Saturday.

Lionel Messi breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League record as PSG run riot against Maccabi Haifa

A month after reporting their biggest-ever financial loss, Juventus are braced for yet more economic pain as they near elimination from the Champions League.

Tuesday's humiliating 2-0 defeat by Maccabi Haifa left chief executive Andrea Agnelli "ashamed" and "angry" as his club sank five points behind second-placed Benfica in Group H with two games left to play.

They face the prospect of not making it out of the group stage for the first time since 2013.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who is enduring a torrid second spell in charge of Juventus after a trophy-laden first tenure, responded by obliging the team to stay at their base for three days before Saturday's derby in the league against Torino.

Juve's European struggles come at a particularly acute time for the club, who last month posted a loss of 254 million euros ($247.07 million) for the last financial year.

Not making the Champions League knockout round would deprive Juventus of 9.6 million euros of prize money for reaching the last 16 plus a potential 38.6 million euros in the event they reached the final.

A bigger concern long-term would be a failure to finish in the top-four of Serie A and make it into next season's competition, a very real threat with the team currently eighth in the Serie A standings.

The team's poor results mark another low for Agnelli, one of the architects of the doomed European Super League.

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The proposed league, which collapsed two days after its launch in April 2021, sought to guarantee entry and increase prize money for the continent's biggest sides and guard against the impact of one poor campaign.

Juventus are one of three clubs of the 12 founders to still back the Super League, along with Barcelona, who are also on the brink of Champions League elimination, and Real Madrid. Their hopes of resurrecting the project rest on a case being considered by the European Union’s top court.

This is Juventus' most difficult period since the 2010-11 season, when they finished seventh in Serie A, although their struggles then could be explained by the devastating effects of the 2006 Calciopoli corruption scandal.

Their current travails are harder to excuse. Juve won a record nine consecutive Serie A titles between 2012 and 2020, a period in which they also reached two Champions League finals.

Allegri returned as coach in 2021 in the hope he would restore them to their past glories after the unsuccessful appointments of Maurizio Sarri and novice Andrea Pirlo.

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But the coach has been accused of failing to move with the times, sticking rigidly to outdated tactics.

Despite the dire results, Agnelli has insisted he will not sack Allegri mid-season.

"A situation like this isn't dependent on one person. It comes down to the collective and we must start thinking like one again," he said on Tuesday.

The problem for Agnelli is Juventus have been on the decline for several years under his watch, both on and off the pitch.

A month after reporting their biggest-ever financial loss, Juventus are braced for yet more economic pain as they near elimination from the Champions League. Tuesday's humiliating 2-0 defeat by Maccabi Haifa left chief executive Andrea Agnelli "ashamed" and "angry" as his club sank five points behind second-placed Benfica in Group H with two games left to play.

A month after reporting their biggest-ever financial loss, Juventus are braced for yet more economic pain as they near elimination from the Champions League. Tuesday's humiliating 2-0 defeat by Maccabi Haifa left chief executive Andrea Agnelli "ashamed" and "angry" as his club sank five points behind second-placed Benfica in Group H with two games left to play. They face the prospect of not making it out of the group stage for the first time since 2013. Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who is enduring a torrid second spell in charge of Juventus after a trophy-laden first tenure, responded by obliging the team to stay at their base for three days before Saturday's derby in the league against Torino. Juve's European struggles come at a particularly acute time for the club, who last month posted a loss of 254 million euros ($247.07 million) for the last financial year. Not making the Champions League knockout round would deprive Juventus of 9.6 million euros of prize money for reaching the last 16 plus a potential 38.6 million euros in the event they reached the final. A bigger concern long-term would be a failure to finish in the top-four of Serie A and make it into next season's competition, a very real threat with the team currently eighth in the Serie A standings. The team's poor results mark another low for Agnelli, one of the architects of the doomed European Super League. Also Read: Europa League: Manchester United, Arsenal scrape wins as Real Sociedad claim top-two spot The proposed league, which collapsed two days after its launch in April 2021, sought to guarantee entry and increase prize money for the continent's biggest sides and guard against the impact of one poor campaign. Juventus are one of three clubs of the 12 founders to still back the Super League, along with Barcelona, who are also on the brink of Champions League elimination, and Real Madrid. Their hopes of resurrecting the project rest on a case being considered by the European Union’s top court. This is Juventus' most difficult period since the 2010-11 season, when they finished seventh in Serie A, although their struggles then could be explained by the devastating effects of the 2006 Calciopoli corruption scandal. Their current travails are harder to excuse. Juve won a record nine consecutive Serie A titles between 2012 and 2020, a period in which they also reached two Champions League finals. Allegri returned as coach in 2021 in the hope he would restore them to their past glories after the unsuccessful appointments of Maurizio Sarri and novice Andrea Pirlo. Also Read: Before Man United's Chelsea visit, Red Devils' fans threaten legal action over reduced ticket allocation But the coach has been accused of failing to move with the times, sticking rigidly to outdated tactics. Despite the dire results, Agnelli has insisted he will not sack Allegri mid-season. "A situation like this isn't dependent on one person. It comes down to the collective and we must start thinking like one again," he said on Tuesday. The problem for Agnelli is Juventus have been on the decline for several years under his watch, both on and off the pitch.

Juventus sinking to new lows as Champions League exit looms

Inter Milan bounced back after two consecutive losses in Serie A with a crucial Champions League 1-0 win against Barcelona on Tuesday thanks to a Hakan Calhanoglu goal.

The Turkish midfielder slotted home a clinical strike from just outside the area, with the ball going into the corner to the goalkeeper’s right in added time before the break.

The home win lifted Inter to second place in Group C on six points, three behind leaders Bayern Munich and three in front of Barcelona.

Inter and Barca will face each other again next week at the Camp Nou when a third loss in four games would leave Barca in danger of being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second consecutive season.

Inter came into the match having lost four of their previous six games in all competitions and are ninth in Serie A, four points from the European qualification spots and eight behind leaders Napoli and Atalanta.

Barcelona, by contrast, arrived as the new LaLiga leaders and with striker Robert Lewandowski on a roll, having scored in six consecutive LaLiga match weeks.

But the Polish star forward made no impression at the San Siro, ending with no shots on target, having been neutralized by Inter’s five-man defence.

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In the 24th minute, Barcelona got a break when a potential penalty for a handball by Eric Garcia inside the box was ruled out by the VAR check which spotted a close offside in the build-up.

Inter Milan had a Joaquin Correa goal ruled out in the very next play for another offside.

However, they manage to break the deadlock at the end of the first half with Calhanoglu's precise, low shot.

Ousmane Dembele was the lone bright spot for Barcelona up front, creating the few opportunities that Barcelona had despite dominating the ball possession.

The French winger had two cross-shots that went just wide in the first half and thundered a close-range shot off the right post midway through the second half.

Dembele kept insisting until he placed a perfect cross in Pedri's path but Barca’s potential equaliser was ruled out after the VAR check spotted a handball by Ansu Fati right before Pedri’s strike.

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Barca pressed with long balls and crosses in the final minutes. Their players clamoured for a penalty in added time, complaining about a possible handball inside the box by substitute Denzel Dumfries. But after a VAR check the referee ruled there had been no infringement by the Dutch defender.

"I'm really angry, I just can't understand how that is not a penalty; it's clear. It's an injustice," a frustrated Xavi Hernandez told Movistar Plus.

"That's why I said yesterday (at the news conference) that the referees should come out and explain their decisions, because we don't understand anything."

Inter Milan bounced back after two consecutive losses in Serie A with a crucial Champions League 1-0 win against Barcelona on Tuesday thanks to a Hakan Calhanoglu goal.

Inter Milan bounced back after two consecutive losses in Serie A with a crucial Champions League 1-0 win against Barcelona on Tuesday thanks to a Hakan Calhanoglu goal. The Turkish midfielder slotted home a clinical strike from just outside the area, with the ball going into the corner to the goalkeeper’s right in added time before the break. The home win lifted Inter to second place in Group C on six points, three behind leaders Bayern Munich and three in front of Barcelona. Inter and Barca will face each other again next week at the Camp Nou when a third loss in four games would leave Barca in danger of being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second consecutive season. Inter came into the match having lost four of their previous six games in all competitions and are ninth in Serie A, four points from the European qualification spots and eight behind leaders Napoli and Atalanta. Barcelona, by contrast, arrived as the new LaLiga leaders and with striker Robert Lewandowski on a roll, having scored in six consecutive LaLiga match weeks. But the Polish star forward made no impression at the San Siro, ending with no shots on target, having been neutralized by Inter’s five-man defence. Also Read: Champions League: Liverpool edge Rangers as Bayern Munich, Napoli earn dominant victories In the 24th minute, Barcelona got a break when a potential penalty for a handball by Eric Garcia inside the box was ruled out by the VAR check which spotted a close offside in the build-up. Inter Milan had a Joaquin Correa goal ruled out in the very next play for another offside. However, they manage to break the deadlock at the end of the first half with Calhanoglu's precise, low shot. Ousmane Dembele was the lone bright spot for Barcelona up front, creating the few opportunities that Barcelona had despite dominating the ball possession. The French winger had two cross-shots that went just wide in the first half and thundered a close-range shot off the right post midway through the second half. Dembele kept insisting until he placed a perfect cross in Pedri's path but Barca’s potential equaliser was ruled out after the VAR check spotted a handball by Ansu Fati right before Pedri’s strike. Also Read: Shocking! Exit gates were closed during deadly stadium stampede, says Indonesia football association Barca pressed with long balls and crosses in the final minutes. Their players clamoured for a penalty in added time, complaining about a possible handball inside the box by substitute Denzel Dumfries. But after a VAR check the referee ruled there had been no infringement by the Dutch defender. "I'm really angry, I just can't understand how that is not a penalty; it's clear. It's an injustice," a frustrated Xavi Hernandez told Movistar Plus. "That's why I said yesterday (at the news conference) that the referees should come out and explain their decisions, because we don't understand anything."

Hakan Calhanoglu scores as Inter Milan earn crucial 1-0 win against FC Barcelona in Champions League

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez was left fuming after controversial refereeing decisions in his side's 1-0 loss against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday. Barcelona were denied a late penalty in the game after Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries appeared to have handled the ball when Barcelona forward Ansu Fati looked set to head in a shot towards goal.

Barcelona were trailing 1-0 and hoped for a final shot at drawing the game after Dumfries' foul. There was a long check as the VAR analysed the incident but Xavi's men were not awarded a penalty as Inter eventually secured a hard-fought win.

The last-minute handball call was not the only controversial referee decision during the game as Inter too were denied a penalty in the first half after a handball from Barcelona defender Eric Garcia. The replays showed Inter's Lautaro Martinez was marginally offside seconds before the incident, which led to Inter losing the penalty.

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Inter Milan then took the lead at the stroke of halftime as midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu scored the decisive goal to put his side ahead in the crucial clash. Barcelona came close to scoring the equaliser in the second half when Pedri scored in the 66th minute. However, the goal was ruled out as replays showed Fati had handled the ball in the build-up.

It was the handball call in the dying minutes of the game which didn't go in Barcelona's favour that infuriated Xavi. The Barcelona head coach said it was clear injustice and that the referee should have been asked to explain the decision why he didn't award a penalty to Barcelona.

"I'm p***** off because it's an injustice that we've had to experience. We've suffered a very important defeat. We have three finals left in a very uncomfortable situation," Xavi said after the game.

"The referee should speak. For me, it's a very clear handball. The referee is very important in this sport, and he should go out and give explanations. He didn't want to give them to me. He gave me explanations of the plays he had cancelled, but I asked him about the last one," he added.

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Their defeat against Inter Milan has left Barcelona in a spot of bother as they currently lied third in Group C with just three points from three matches. Bayern Munich are comfortably placed on top with three wins in three games and Barcelona's rematch with Inter next will prove to be decisive in deciding who will take the second spot in the group and progress to the Round of 16.

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez was left fuming after controversial refereeing decisions in his side's 1-0 loss against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez was left fuming after controversial refereeing decisions in his side's 1-0 loss against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday. Barcelona were denied a late penalty in the game after Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries appeared to have handled the ball when Barcelona forward Ansu Fati looked set to head in a shot towards goal. Barcelona were trailing 1-0 and hoped for a final shot at drawing the game after Dumfries' foul. There was a long check as the VAR analysed the incident but Xavi's men were not awarded a penalty as Inter eventually secured a hard-fought win. The last-minute handball call was not the only controversial referee decision during the game as Inter too were denied a penalty in the first half after a handball from Barcelona defender Eric Garcia. The replays showed Inter's Lautaro Martinez was marginally offside seconds before the incident, which led to Inter losing the penalty. Also Read: Hakan Calhanoglu scores as Inter Milan earn crucial 1-0 win against FC Barcelona in Champions League Inter Milan then took the lead at the stroke of halftime as midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu scored the decisive goal to put his side ahead in the crucial clash. Barcelona came close to scoring the equaliser in the second half when Pedri scored in the 66th minute. However, the goal was ruled out as replays showed Fati had handled the ball in the build-up. It was the handball call in the dying minutes of the game which didn't go in Barcelona's favour that infuriated Xavi. The Barcelona head coach said it was clear injustice and that the referee should have been asked to explain the decision why he didn't award a penalty to Barcelona. "I'm p***** off because it's an injustice that we've had to experience. We've suffered a very important defeat. We have three finals left in a very uncomfortable situation," Xavi said after the game. "The referee should speak. For me, it's a very clear handball. The referee is very important in this sport, and he should go out and give explanations. He didn't want to give them to me. He gave me explanations of the plays he had cancelled, but I asked him about the last one," he added. Also Read: Champions League: Liverpool edge Rangers as Bayern Munich, Napoli earn dominant victories Their defeat against Inter Milan has left Barcelona in a spot of bother as they currently lied third in Group C with just three points from three matches. Bayern Munich are comfortably placed on top with three wins in three games and Barcelona's rematch with Inter next will prove to be decisive in deciding who will take the second spot in the group and progress to the Round of 16.

'It's an injustice': Xavi furious at referee after Barcelona's Champions League defeat against Inter Milan

Inter Milan must be prepared to suffer against Barcelona in Tuesday's Champions League group game, manager Simone Inzaghi said on the eve of the match as the Italian side look to end a run of poor results without several injured players.

Inter have lost four of their last six games in all competitions, sitting ninth in Serie A and third in Champions League Group C three points behind leaders Bayern Munich and level on points with Barca, who visit San Siro on Tuesday.

"We know that tomorrow will be a match of suffering... Barcelona are a very strong and complete team in all departments. Together with Bayern and (Manchester) City they offer the best in European football," Inzaghi told reporters.

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"For us it must be an opportunity, we know the importance of the match. The group standings are open ... we are Inter and we will play it with all our strength. We know the difficulty of the match.

"Against Bayern, despite a good game, we lost (2-0), we weren't in the game at key moments and we had to defend better and make better use of the opportunities. We'll have to be good at limiting them and then hitting them at the right time."

Inter have several players ruled out or doubtful.

Lautaro Martinez will not have a full training session due to fatigue while strike partner Romelu Lukaku and central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic are sidelined.

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"We will have 11 games, one every three days. I hope I can have the full squad. We had some problems," Inzaghi added.

"(Midfielder) Roberto Gagliardini and Lautaro are to be evaluated. Brozovic and Lukaku will not be there for some time but we have other players to count on."

Inzaghi confirmed close-season recruit Andre Onana would continue in goal having started their first two group games.

Inter Milan must be prepared to suffer against Barcelona in Tuesday's Champions League group game, manager Simone Inzaghi said on the eve of the match as the Italian side look to end a run of poor results without several injured players.

Inter Milan must be prepared to suffer against Barcelona in Tuesday's Champions League group game, manager Simone Inzaghi said on the eve of the match as the Italian side look to end a run of poor results without several injured players. Inter have lost four of their last six games in all competitions, sitting ninth in Serie A and third in Champions League Group C three points behind leaders Bayern Munich and level on points with Barca, who visit San Siro on Tuesday. "We know that tomorrow will be a match of suffering... Barcelona are a very strong and complete team in all departments. Together with Bayern and (Manchester) City they offer the best in European football," Inzaghi told reporters. Also Read: Sexual misconduct and abuse ‘systemic’ in US women’s football, says report "For us it must be an opportunity, we know the importance of the match. The group standings are open ... we are Inter and we will play it with all our strength. We know the difficulty of the match. "Against Bayern, despite a good game, we lost (2-0), we weren't in the game at key moments and we had to defend better and make better use of the opportunities. We'll have to be good at limiting them and then hitting them at the right time." Inter have several players ruled out or doubtful. Lautaro Martinez will not have a full training session due to fatigue while strike partner Romelu Lukaku and central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic are sidelined. Also Read: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola explains key difference between Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland "We will have 11 games, one every three days. I hope I can have the full squad. We had some problems," Inzaghi added. "(Midfielder) Roberto Gagliardini and Lautaro are to be evaluated. Brozovic and Lukaku will not be there for some time but we have other players to count on." Inzaghi confirmed close-season recruit Andre Onana would continue in goal having started their first two group games.

Inter Milan must be ready to suffer against Barcelona, says Inzaghi ahead of Champions League clash

Bayern Munich will welcome Robert Lewandowski's Barcelona to the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, hoping to jolt themselves out of a poor run of Bundesliga form. Despite Wednesday's impressive 2-0 win at Inter Milan, Bayern have drawn three games in a row and sit in the unfamiliar position of third place after six matches.&nbsp;

While Bayern have not struggled to find the back of the net this season with 31 goals in nine games, they have missed Lewandowski's penetration at crucial moments in recent weeks.&nbsp;Lewandowski has had a dominant start to life in Spain, scoring six times in five La Liga matches for Barcelona to sit in his usual spot atop the goalscoring charts.&nbsp;

With four wins and a draw, Barcelona are unbeaten in the league and sit second behind Real Madrid.&nbsp;In the Champions League, Lewandowski opened his account with a hat-trick in Barcelona's 5-1 home win against Viktoria Plzen.&nbsp;

Speaking directly after their 2-2 home draw with Stuttgart on Saturday, Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said his team knew better than most the kind of damage Lewandowski could inflict.&nbsp;

"We have been warned," Salihamidzic said about his former striker's form for his new club.&nbsp;

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Bayern have a strong recent Champions League record against Barcelona, with two 3-0 wins last season along with an 8-2 quarter-final thumping on the way to winning the 2020 title.&nbsp;

The six-time European champions are however fully aware that this Barcelona side is stronger than some of the recent incarnations.

"Worried? I don't know (about that)," Salihamidzic said on Saturday when asked if his side were fearful ahead of Barca's visit.&nbsp;

"We have to shift up two gears, even three against Barcelona.

"Barcelona have top players, play good football (and) 'Lewa' is up front, he uses every opportunity."&nbsp;

Manager Julian Nagelsmann said his side's Bundesliga form will not change the preparation for Tuesday's game.&nbsp;

"I approach the week the way I would have done it if we had won," Nagelsmann said on Saturday.&nbsp;

"We're trying to come up with a good idea for Barcelona, which will be difficult.&nbsp;

"I would have done the same thing if we had won 4-0 today."

After his side's 2-0 win over Inter, Nagelsmann said his side were "looking forward" to taking on the man who scored 344 goals in 375 Bayern appearances.

"I am looking forward to it (the reunion with Lewandowski). Not so much as an opponent because he's very dangerous, but as a person I will be pleased to see him."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/devastated-that-my-time-at-chelsea-has-come-to-an-end-thomas-tuchel-reacts-after-being-sacked-515346">'Devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end'- Thomas Tuchel reacts after being sacked</a>

Nagelsmann said he hoped fans would welcome Lewandowski back warmly, despite the acrimonious nature of his departure.

"I hope the fans will honour that too, regardless of how things were with his departure."

Bayern forward Thomas Mueller, who said he was "mad at ourselves for the first time this season" after the draw with Stuttgart, said he was happy for the focus to shift away from his side's domestic problems.&nbsp;

"We're really looking forward to the duel - not just because of Robert," Mueller said.&nbsp;

"It's a meeting at the summit in the group."

Bayern Munich will welcome Robert Lewandowski's Barcelona to the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, hoping to jolt themselves out of a poor run of Bundesliga form. Despite Wednesday's impressive 2-0 win at Inter Milan, Bayern have drawn three games in a row and sit in the unfamiliar position of third place after six matches.

Bayern Munich will welcome Robert Lewandowski's Barcelona to the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, hoping to jolt themselves out of a poor run of Bundesliga form. Despite Wednesday's impressive 2-0 win at Inter Milan, Bayern have drawn three games in a row and sit in the unfamiliar position of third place after six matches. While Bayern have not struggled to find the back of the net this season with 31 goals in nine games, they have missed Lewandowski's penetration at crucial moments in recent weeks. Lewandowski has had a dominant start to life in Spain, scoring six times in five La Liga matches for Barcelona to sit in his usual spot atop the goalscoring charts. With four wins and a draw, Barcelona are unbeaten in the league and sit second behind Real Madrid. In the Champions League, Lewandowski opened his account with a hat-trick in Barcelona's 5-1 home win against Viktoria Plzen. Speaking directly after their 2-2 home draw with Stuttgart on Saturday, Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said his team knew better than most the kind of damage Lewandowski could inflict. "We have been warned," Salihamidzic said about his former striker's form for his new club. Also Read: Real Madrid come from behind to beat Mallorca 4-1 to return atop Bayern have a strong recent Champions League record against Barcelona, with two 3-0 wins last season along with an 8-2 quarter-final thumping on the way to winning the 2020 title. The six-time European champions are however fully aware that this Barcelona side is stronger than some of the recent incarnations. "Worried? I don't know (about that)," Salihamidzic said on Saturday when asked if his side were fearful ahead of Barca's visit. "We have to shift up two gears, even three against Barcelona. "Barcelona have top players, play good football (and) 'Lewa' is up front, he uses every opportunity." Manager Julian Nagelsmann said his side's Bundesliga form will not change the preparation for Tuesday's game. "I approach the week the way I would have done it if we had won," Nagelsmann said on Saturday. "We're trying to come up with a good idea for Barcelona, which will be difficult. "I would have done the same thing if we had won 4-0 today." After his side's 2-0 win over Inter, Nagelsmann said his side were "looking forward" to taking on the man who scored 344 goals in 375 Bayern appearances. "I am looking forward to it (the reunion with Lewandowski). Not so much as an opponent because he's very dangerous, but as a person I will be pleased to see him." Also Read: 'Devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end'- Thomas Tuchel reacts after being sacked Nagelsmann said he hoped fans would welcome Lewandowski back warmly, despite the acrimonious nature of his departure. "I hope the fans will honour that too, regardless of how things were with his departure." Bayern forward Thomas Mueller, who said he was "mad at ourselves for the first time this season" after the draw with Stuttgart, said he was happy for the focus to shift away from his side's domestic problems. "We're really looking forward to the duel - not just because of Robert," Mueller said. "It's a meeting at the summit in the group."

'We've been warned': Bayern Munich wary ahead of Lewandowski reunion in Champions League

After a loss to&nbsp;Dinamo Zagreb, Thomas Tuchel was sacked as the Chelsea manager with immediate effect. His sacking came as a shocker to many and the German has now finally reacted to his exit. Being replaced by&nbsp;Graham Potter, the 49-year-old has revealed that the recent turn of events has definitely left him devastated but shared some of his high points serving as Chelsea's manager.

"This is one of the most difficult statements I have ever had to write, and it is one which I hoped I would not need to do for many years. I am devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end," Tuchel wrote on Twitter on Sunday (September 11).&nbsp; "This is a club where I felt at home, both professionally and personally. The pride and joy I felt at helping the team to win the Champions League and the Club World Cup will stay with me forever," he added.

Tuchel further asserted, "I am honoured to have been a part of this club’s history and the memories of the last 19 months will always have a special place in my heart," said Tuchel.

Under Tuchel, Chelsea won the&nbsp;Champions League title in 2021 after joining The Blues early in the same year, in January. Thus, his impact was felt immediately, however, the club's poor start to new campaign turned things upside down for Tuchel. A defeat at the hands of&nbsp;Dinamo Zagreb on September 6, by a 1-0 margin, led to his ouster. He has been replaced by Graham Potter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/graham-potter-pens-open-letter-to-brighton-hove-albion-begging-for-forgiveness-after-leaving-for-chelsea-515171">Graham Potter pens open letter to Brighton &amp; Hove Albion fans after leaving for Chelsea</a>

Before joining The Blues, Potter also looked back at his time Brighton's manager and penned a heartfelt note for the club fans. He wrote,&nbsp;”For some I recognise that the change that comes so suddenly in football can be hard to accept. I may not be able to persuade you all to forgive my departure but I would at least like to take the chance to say thank you. I hope that you will understand that at this stage of my career, I felt I had to grasp a new opportunity,” wrote the former Brighton manager in a heartfelt letter.&nbsp;

"I did not know at the time that it would be the end, but looking back now we played so well. There was so much positivity around the club. The last few days have been an unexpected whirlwind. Leaving the training ground for the last time was a poignant moment. To my successor, whoever that may be, I would say, congratulations. You'll be working for a great club with a fantastic squad, supported by a great chairman and board,” wrote Potter.

Will Potter occupy the top post at Chelsea for a long&nbsp;period? Only time will tell...

After a loss to Dinamo Zagreb, Thomas Tuchel was sacked as the Chelsea manager with immediate effect. His sacking came as a shocker to many and the German has now finally reacted to his exit.

After a loss to Dinamo Zagreb, Thomas Tuchel was sacked as the Chelsea manager with immediate effect. His sacking came as a shocker to many and the German has now finally reacted to his exit. Being replaced by Graham Potter, the 49-year-old has revealed that the recent turn of events has definitely left him devastated but shared some of his high points serving as Chelsea's manager. "This is one of the most difficult statements I have ever had to write, and it is one which I hoped I would not need to do for many years. I am devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end," Tuchel wrote on Twitter on Sunday (September 11). "This is a club where I felt at home, both professionally and personally. The pride and joy I felt at helping the team to win the Champions League and the Club World Cup will stay with me forever," he added. Tuchel further asserted, "I am honoured to have been a part of this club’s history and the memories of the last 19 months will always have a special place in my heart," said Tuchel. Under Tuchel, Chelsea won the Champions League title in 2021 after joining The Blues early in the same year, in January. Thus, his impact was felt immediately, however, the club's poor start to new campaign turned things upside down for Tuchel. A defeat at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb on September 6, by a 1-0 margin, led to his ouster. He has been replaced by Graham Potter. ALSO READ | Graham Potter pens open letter to Brighton & Hove Albion fans after leaving for Chelsea Before joining The Blues, Potter also looked back at his time Brighton's manager and penned a heartfelt note for the club fans. He wrote, ”For some I recognise that the change that comes so suddenly in football can be hard to accept. I may not be able to persuade you all to forgive my departure but I would at least like to take the chance to say thank you. I hope that you will understand that at this stage of my career, I felt I had to grasp a new opportunity,” wrote the former Brighton manager in a heartfelt letter. "I did not know at the time that it would be the end, but looking back now we played so well. There was so much positivity around the club. The last few days have been an unexpected whirlwind. Leaving the training ground for the last time was a poignant moment. To my successor, whoever that may be, I would say, congratulations. You'll be working for a great club with a fantastic squad, supported by a great chairman and board,” wrote Potter. Will Potter occupy the top post at Chelsea for a long period? Only time will tell...

'Devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end'- Thomas Tuchel reacts after being sacked

The Champions League group stage draw got underway in Istanbul, Turkey, with some of the most successful European teams going up against equally formidable opponents for the pleasure of fans all over the world.&nbsp;

The reigning champions Real Madrid found themselves in Group F among the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic and RB Leipzig. Last year's finalists Liverpool, on the other hand, joined Ajax, Napoli and Rangers in Group A.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-never-former-liverpool-star-lashes-out-at-cristiano-ronaldo-for-brutally-ignoring-jamie-carragher-510109" hreflang="en">'Will never...': Former Liverpool star lashes out at Cristiano Ronaldo for brutally ignoring Jamie Carragher</a>

Group B featured Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge and FC Porto. While Group D will see&nbsp;Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur,&nbsp;Sporting Lisbon and&nbsp;Marseille lock horns with each other on the football pitch.

Group E will witness Chelsea, AC Milan,&nbsp;Salzburg and&nbsp;Dinamo Zagreb go toe-to-toe against each other. Group G houses the Premier League kingpins Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and&nbsp;Copenhagen. The final group in the tournament will see PSG, Benfica, Juventus and&nbsp;Maccabi Haifa.

In addition to the group stage draws, UEFA also went on to honour players and managers with awards, recognizing their performances over the course of the last season.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-many-stories-do-you-have-man-citys-benjamin-mendy-asked-police-after-being-arrested-for-rape-509797" hreflang="en">'How many stories do you have?': Man City's Benjamin Mendy asked police after being arrested for rape</a>

Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema were nominated for the title of UEFA Men's Player of the Year. However, it was the Real Madrid striker who walked away with the title. The title of the Women's Player of the Year, on the other hand, was conferred upon&nbsp;Barcelona's Alexia Putellas.

Carlos Ancelloti, who led Real Madrid's charge to La Liga and Champions League glory, was honoured with the title of UEFA Men's Coach of the Year. The Women's Coach of the Year accolade was picked up by&nbsp;Sarina Wiegman, who spearheaded England's Euro 2022 win.

The Champions League group stage draw got underway in Istanbul, Turkey, with some of the most successful European teams going up against equally formidable opponents for the pleasure of fans all over the world.

The Champions League group stage draw got underway in Istanbul, Turkey, with some of the most successful European teams going up against equally formidable opponents for the pleasure of fans all over the world. The reigning champions Real Madrid found themselves in Group F among the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic and RB Leipzig. Last year's finalists Liverpool, on the other hand, joined Ajax, Napoli and Rangers in Group A. ALSO READ: 'Will never...': Former Liverpool star lashes out at Cristiano Ronaldo for brutally ignoring Jamie Carragher Group B featured Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge and FC Porto. While Group D will see Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Lisbon and Marseille lock horns with each other on the football pitch. Group E will witness Chelsea, AC Milan, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb go toe-to-toe against each other. Group G houses the Premier League kingpins Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Copenhagen. The final group in the tournament will see PSG, Benfica, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa. In addition to the group stage draws, UEFA also went on to honour players and managers with awards, recognizing their performances over the course of the last season. ALSO READ: 'How many stories do you have?': Man City's Benjamin Mendy asked police after being arrested for rape Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema were nominated for the title of UEFA Men's Player of the Year. However, it was the Real Madrid striker who walked away with the title. The title of the Women's Player of the Year, on the other hand, was conferred upon Barcelona's Alexia Putellas. Carlos Ancelloti, who led Real Madrid's charge to La Liga and Champions League glory, was honoured with the title of UEFA Men's Coach of the Year. The Women's Coach of the Year accolade was picked up by Sarina Wiegman, who spearheaded England's Euro 2022 win.

UEFA Champions League: Group stage draws revealed, Manchester City  take on Borussia Dortmund and more

Germany defender Antonio Rudiger said on Monday he was rooting for Real Madrid to beat Liverpool in the Champions League final last month because was still hurting after losing the FA Cup and League Cup finals with Chelsea against the Merseyside club.

Real ground out three come-from-behind wins against Paris St-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City in the knockout stage to reach the final, where they beat Liverpool 1-0 in Paris.

"I was really happy that Real Madrid won. I knew that I was going to play here and it was like a personal third final for me after those two losses in cup finals to Liverpool," Rudiger told a news conference as he was unveiled as a Real player.

The 29-year-old centre-back agreed to join the La Liga and European champions on a four-year deal as a free agent as his contract with Chelsea expired at the end of the 2021-22 season.

"Real Madrid is about winning. That`s what it means to play in this club and I’m really looking forward to start. What they did last year in the Champions League was hard to explain and put into words. It was incredible. They did it against all odds and doubts. Really remarkable," Rudiger said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/angel-di-maria-to-juventus-will-be-like-diego-maradona-in-serie-a-gianluigi-buffon-makes-huge-claim-490018">Angel Di Maria to Juventus will be like Diego Maradona in Serie A: Gianluigi Buffon makes huge claim</a>

Rudiger, who was part of the Chelsea side eliminated by Real in the quarter-finals, said playing against the team that could be his future club was not an issue.

"At that time I wasn’t sure that I was going to Real, but it would be easy anyway because we are professionals and those contractual elements stay off the pitch," Rudiger said.

"It was a very special and intense game the second-leg, my first time playing at Santiago Bernabeu. It was all going well for our team but after we scored the third goal I was surprised that the atmosphere was still positive from the crowd, it was quite impressive."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/poor-man-will-already-be-sorry-real-madrid-president-aims-a-dig-at-kylian-mbappe-after-transfer-snub-489972">'Poor man, will already be sorry': Real Madrid president aims a dig at Kylian Mbappe after transfer snub</a>

Chelsea, who lost 3-1 in the first leg in west London, led 3-0 in the return but allowed Real to score twice late in the second half and qualify for the semi-finals 5-4.

Rudiger has been a key player for Chelsea since joining from AS Roma in 2017, winning the FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

He made 54 appearances in all competitions in his final season, all from the start, more than any other Chelsea player and departed with 203 appearances and 12 goals to his name. Rudiger has played 50 times for Germany since his debut in 2014.

Germany defender Antonio Rudiger said on Monday he was rooting for Real Madrid to beat Liverpool in the Champions League final last month because was still hurting after losing the FA Cup and League Cup finals with Chelsea against the Merseyside club.

Germany defender Antonio Rudiger said on Monday he was rooting for Real Madrid to beat Liverpool in the Champions League final last month because was still hurting after losing the FA Cup and League Cup finals with Chelsea against the Merseyside club. Real ground out three come-from-behind wins against Paris St-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City in the knockout stage to reach the final, where they beat Liverpool 1-0 in Paris. "I was really happy that Real Madrid won. I knew that I was going to play here and it was like a personal third final for me after those two losses in cup finals to Liverpool," Rudiger told a news conference as he was unveiled as a Real player. The 29-year-old centre-back agreed to join the La Liga and European champions on a four-year deal as a free agent as his contract with Chelsea expired at the end of the 2021-22 season. "Real Madrid is about winning. That`s what it means to play in this club and I’m really looking forward to start. What they did last year in the Champions League was hard to explain and put into words. It was incredible. They did it against all odds and doubts. Really remarkable," Rudiger said. Also Read: Angel Di Maria to Juventus will be like Diego Maradona in Serie A: Gianluigi Buffon makes huge claim Rudiger, who was part of the Chelsea side eliminated by Real in the quarter-finals, said playing against the team that could be his future club was not an issue. "At that time I wasn’t sure that I was going to Real, but it would be easy anyway because we are professionals and those contractual elements stay off the pitch," Rudiger said. "It was a very special and intense game the second-leg, my first time playing at Santiago Bernabeu. It was all going well for our team but after we scored the third goal I was surprised that the atmosphere was still positive from the crowd, it was quite impressive." Also Read: 'Poor man, will already be sorry': Real Madrid president aims a dig at Kylian Mbappe after transfer snub Chelsea, who lost 3-1 in the first leg in west London, led 3-0 in the return but allowed Real to score twice late in the second half and qualify for the semi-finals 5-4. Rudiger has been a key player for Chelsea since joining from AS Roma in 2017, winning the FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. He made 54 appearances in all competitions in his final season, all from the start, more than any other Chelsea player and departed with 203 appearances and 12 goals to his name. Rudiger has played 50 times for Germany since his debut in 2014.

Antonio Rudiger says he was rooting for Real Madrid against Liverpool as he joins Los Blancos from Chelsea

UEFA announced on Monday it was opening an "independent report" into the security chaos before the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris.

European football's governing body said the report would "examine decision making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved in the final".

UEFA have appointed Portuguese politician Tiago Brandao Rodrigues to oversee the report on a pro bono basis on the completion of which they will decide upon a course of action.

"Evidence will be gathered from all relevant parties," UEFA said.

"The findings of the independent report will be made public," it promised.

Brandao Rodrigues has served as Portuguese Minister of Education, was a member of the World Anti-doping Agency and was Portugal's Olympic attaché during the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

France on Monday blamed "massive" ticket fraud for the chaotic scenes that marred the Champions League final on Saturday which saw Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0.

But the French government has faced a barrage of criticism from press and politicians in Britain over the policing of the match.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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UEFA announced on Monday it was opening an "independent report" into the security chaos before the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris.

UEFA announced on Monday it was opening an "independent report" into the security chaos before the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris. European football's governing body said the report would "examine decision making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved in the final". UEFA have appointed Portuguese politician Tiago Brandao Rodrigues to oversee the report on a pro bono basis on the completion of which they will decide upon a course of action. "Evidence will be gathered from all relevant parties," UEFA said. "The findings of the independent report will be made public," it promised. Brandao Rodrigues has served as Portuguese Minister of Education, was a member of the World Anti-doping Agency and was Portugal's Olympic attaché during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. France on Monday blamed "massive" ticket fraud for the chaotic scenes that marred the Champions League final on Saturday which saw Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0. But the French government has faced a barrage of criticism from press and politicians in Britain over the policing of the match. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UEFA to investigate Champions League chaos

The French government hosted an emergency meeting on Monday after crowd trouble marred last weekend`s Champions League soccer final, which France`s sports minister said was initially caused by Liverpool fans turning up without valid tickets.

"We need to take all the necessary steps to make sure this never happens again", said French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, at the start of the meeting.

The crowd trouble at the match in Paris has become a political issue ahead of French parliamentary elections in mid-June, and with France due to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.

"The images are lamentable, they are disturbing because we can clearly see that we are not prepared for events such as the Olympic Games", said far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon on Sunday, while his far-right rival Marine Le Pen called the incident a "humiliation" for France.

Far-right politician Eric Zemmour had also said the trouble was caused principally by local youths from the nearby Paris Seine Saint Denis district, rather than Liverpool fans.

Oudea-Castera said Liverpool fans without valid tickets were responsible for the initial crowd problems at the Champions League final, with the problem then exacerbated by local youths trying to force their way in to the game.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kings-of-europe-chaos-controvery-and-drama-but-real-madrid-win-14th-champions-league-crown-483142">Kings of Europe! Chaos, controversy and drama but Real Madrid win 14th Champions League crown</a>

"What we really have to bear in mind is that what happened first of all was this mass gathering of British supporters of the Liverpool club, without tickets, or with fake tickets," Oudea-Castera told RTL radio on Monday.

"When there are that many people by the entrance to the stadium, there will be people trying to force their way in through the doors of the Stade de France, and a certain number of youths from the nearby area who were present tried to get in by mixing in with the crowd," she told French radio RTL.

The match had to be delayed by 35 minutes after police tried to hold back people attempting to force their way into the national stadium without tickets, while some ticket holders complained that they were not let in.

Television footage showed images of young men who did not appear to be wearing red Liverpool jerseys jumping the gates of the stadium and running away from security to get into the match. Others outside, including children, were tear-gassed by riot police, said a Reuters witness.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpool-fans-caused-initial-problems-at-champions-league-final-claims-french-minister-483483">Liverpool fans caused initial problems at Champions League final, claims French minister</a>

Chris Philp, Britain`s minister for technology, said he was shocked by the images.

"I was horrified to see those pictures of fans including children, disabled fans, being pepper-sprayed by French police," he added. "And from the pictures I saw there was no obvious justification for that kind of behaviour."

Liverpool Chief Executive Billy Hogan said the club wanted a "transparent investigation" by governing body UEFA. Britain`s minister for sport, Nadine Dorries, also urged UEFA to investigate.

Oudea-Castera said there were no problems with Real Madrid supporters at Saturday`s match and that the Spanish side had managed to control their travelling fans better than Liverpool.

She added that France nevertheless had to examine stepping up security at high-risk soccer matches, with further trouble having broken out on Sunday after St Etienne were relegated from France`s Ligue 1.

The French government hosted an emergency meeting on Monday after crowd trouble marred last weekend`s Champions League soccer final, which France`s sports minister said was initially caused by Liverpool fans turning up without valid tickets.

The French government hosted an emergency meeting on Monday after crowd trouble marred last weekend`s Champions League soccer final, which France`s sports minister said was initially caused by Liverpool fans turning up without valid tickets. "We need to take all the necessary steps to make sure this never happens again", said French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, at the start of the meeting. The crowd trouble at the match in Paris has become a political issue ahead of French parliamentary elections in mid-June, and with France due to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. "The images are lamentable, they are disturbing because we can clearly see that we are not prepared for events such as the Olympic Games", said far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon on Sunday, while his far-right rival Marine Le Pen called the incident a "humiliation" for France. Far-right politician Eric Zemmour had also said the trouble was caused principally by local youths from the nearby Paris Seine Saint Denis district, rather than Liverpool fans. Oudea-Castera said Liverpool fans without valid tickets were responsible for the initial crowd problems at the Champions League final, with the problem then exacerbated by local youths trying to force their way in to the game. Also Read: Kings of Europe! Chaos, controversy and drama but Real Madrid win 14th Champions League crown "What we really have to bear in mind is that what happened first of all was this mass gathering of British supporters of the Liverpool club, without tickets, or with fake tickets," Oudea-Castera told RTL radio on Monday. "When there are that many people by the entrance to the stadium, there will be people trying to force their way in through the doors of the Stade de France, and a certain number of youths from the nearby area who were present tried to get in by mixing in with the crowd," she told French radio RTL. The match had to be delayed by 35 minutes after police tried to hold back people attempting to force their way into the national stadium without tickets, while some ticket holders complained that they were not let in. Television footage showed images of young men who did not appear to be wearing red Liverpool jerseys jumping the gates of the stadium and running away from security to get into the match. Others outside, including children, were tear-gassed by riot police, said a Reuters witness. Also Read: Liverpool fans caused initial problems at Champions League final, claims French minister Chris Philp, Britain`s minister for technology, said he was shocked by the images. "I was horrified to see those pictures of fans including children, disabled fans, being pepper-sprayed by French police," he added. "And from the pictures I saw there was no obvious justification for that kind of behaviour." Liverpool Chief Executive Billy Hogan said the club wanted a "transparent investigation" by governing body UEFA. Britain`s minister for sport, Nadine Dorries, also urged UEFA to investigate. Oudea-Castera said there were no problems with Real Madrid supporters at Saturday`s match and that the Spanish side had managed to control their travelling fans better than Liverpool. She added that France nevertheless had to examine stepping up security at high-risk soccer matches, with further trouble having broken out on Sunday after St Etienne were relegated from France`s Ligue 1.

France hosts emergency meeting after Champions League final chaos blamed on Liverpool

Camila Cabello is a rockstar! 
 
The 'Senorita' singer delivered a powerpack performance at the UEFA Champions League Final opening ceremony. The Grammy winner singer took the stage at the Stade de France in Paris and energetically grooved in her chart-topping songs, before Liverpool and Real Madrid&nbsp;nail-biting match. 
 
Camila, 25 entered the ground with the group of co-dancers&nbsp;and together they gave a remarkable performance. Like always, Camila paid homage to her&nbsp;Latin heritage with her colourful performance. Apart from Camila, all the dancers and musicians&nbsp;were dressed in yellow, orange and red colour outfits and carried flags and drums as they performed on the pitch.&nbsp; 
 
She&nbsp;was looking breathtaking as she entered the stadium in a white flowing shirt and crop top featuring ruffled sleeves. 
 
Stripping down her ruffle dress, the singer gave a staggering performance in a white bikini set covered with long fringes. She added drama to her look with white long boots, heavy metal jewellery and belts.&nbsp; 
 
The singer sang and danced with her full energy in some of her hits like 'Senorita', 'Bam Bam, 'Don’t Go Yet' Havana' among others.&nbsp; 
 
Impressed with her&nbsp;alluring&nbsp;performance, netizens quickly reacted to her performance. Take a look!

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Camila Cabello’s performance was so beautiful. It gave me World Cup vibes not only Champions League. Her bringing culture back to football is incredible.
— Caro (@sportycabelIo) <a href="https://twitter.com/sportycabelIo/status/1530633132784746496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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I liked Camila Cabello’s opening, loved the vibe! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLfinal</a>
— Millie (@MillieSansoye) <a href="https://twitter.com/MillieSansoye/status/1530632662142136320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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I’m proud of the incredible woman she became!! *Camila Cabello We Love You* <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CamilaCabello?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CamilaCabello</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Camila?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Camila</a> <a href="https://t.co/rsOD7lzcEH">pic.twitter.com/rsOD7lzcEH</a>
— Aysha 🇱🇰 (@Adnan_Thesecond) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adnan_Thesecond/status/1530756506919940097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Congratulations to Camila Cabello for the amazing performance.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CamilaCabello?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CamilaCabello</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLfinal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEFAChampionsLeagueFINAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEFAChampionsLeagueFINAL</a> <a href="https://t.co/ItuYzefAUq">pic.twitter.com/ItuYzefAUq</a>
— Cityzens_ita (@cityzens_ita) <a href="https://twitter.com/cityzens_ita/status/1530691003438534658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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It's crazy how <a href="https://twitter.com/Camila_Cabello?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Camila_Cabello</a> wore white to perform at the UEFA champions league final and Real Madrid won the title <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CamilaCabello?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CamilaCabello</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsLeagueFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionsLeagueFinal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RealMadrid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RealMadrid</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q24BFVxDpK">pic.twitter.com/Q24BFVxDpK</a>
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So hot 🥵<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsLeagueFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionsLeagueFinal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionsLeague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CamilaCabello?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CamilaCabello</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEFAChampionsLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEFAChampionsLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/O8A1wKc60c">pic.twitter.com/O8A1wKc60c</a>
— Club of Celebs Fans (@ClubCelebsFans) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClubCelebsFans/status/1530642066631446530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Camila Cabello is a rockstar! The 'Senorita' singer delivered a powerpack performance at the UEFA Champions League Final opening ceremony. The Grammy winner singer took the stage at the Stade de France in Paris and energetically grooved in her chart-topping songs, before Liverpool and Real Madrid nail-biting match.

Camila Cabello is a rockstar! The 'Senorita' singer delivered a powerpack performance at the UEFA Champions League Final opening ceremony. The Grammy winner singer took the stage at the Stade de France in Paris and energetically grooved in her chart-topping songs, before Liverpool and Real Madrid nail-biting match. Camila, 25 entered the ground with the group of co-dancers and together they gave a remarkable performance. Like always, Camila paid homage to her Latin heritage with her colourful performance. Apart from Camila, all the dancers and musicians were dressed in yellow, orange and red colour outfits and carried flags and drums as they performed on the pitch. She was looking breathtaking as she entered the stadium in a white flowing shirt and crop top featuring ruffled sleeves. Stripping down her ruffle dress, the singer gave a staggering performance in a white bikini set covered with long fringes. She added drama to her look with white long boots, heavy metal jewellery and belts. The singer sang and danced with her full energy in some of her hits like 'Senorita', 'Bam Bam, 'Don’t Go Yet' Havana' among others. Impressed with her alluring performance, netizens quickly reacted to her performance. Take a look! Camila Cabello’s performance was so beautiful. It gave me World Cup vibes not only Champions League. Her bringing culture back to football is incredible. — Caro (@sportycabelIo) May 28, 2022 × I liked Camila Cabello’s opening, loved the vibe! #UCLfinal — Millie (@MillieSansoye) May 28, 2022 × I’m proud of the incredible woman she became!! *Camila Cabello We Love You* #CamilaCabello #Camila pic.twitter.com/rsOD7lzcEH — Aysha 🇱🇰 (@Adnan_Thesecond) May 29, 2022 × Congratulations to Camila Cabello for the amazing performance.#CamilaCabello #UCLfinal #UEFAChampionsLeagueFINAL pic.twitter.com/ItuYzefAUq — Cityzens_ita (@cityzens_ita) May 28, 2022 × It's crazy how @Camila_Cabello wore white to perform at the UEFA champions league final and Real Madrid won the title #CamilaCabello #ChampionsLeagueFinal #RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/Q24BFVxDpK — Addah (@Addah_g) May 28, 2022 × So hot 🥵#ChampionsLeagueFinal #ChampionsLeague #CamilaCabello #UEFAChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/O8A1wKc60c — Club of Celebs Fans (@ClubCelebsFans) May 28, 2022 ×

Champions League finale: Camila Cabello kicks off the night with staggering performance

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insisted that Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe was not on the club`s minds as they celebrated a record-extending 14th European Cup crown after victory against Liverpool in Paris on Saturday.

Mbappe was widely tipped for a move to the Spanish capital but signed a contract extension until 2025 at PSG last week in a dramatic U-turn, a decision that irked many Real players and fans.

"Real Madrid will always continue to work on having the best players, but today Mbappe is already forgotten," Perez told reporters after a Vinicius Jr tap-in gave them a 1-0 win.

"Nothing has happened, Real Madrid have had a perfect season and that is a forgotten issue, there is only a Real Madrid party."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kings-of-europe-chaos-controvery-and-drama-but-real-madrid-win-14th-champions-league-crown-483142">Kings of Europe! Chaos, controversy and drama but Real Madrid win 14th Champions League crown</a>

Mbappe`s choice to stay at the French champions has triggered a war of words between the parties involved after LaLiga president Javier Tebas said they would file a complaint against PSG to UEFA because the deal "attacked the economic stability" of the European game.

Ligue 1 president Vincent Labrune hit back at Tebas on Thursday, saying his denigration of the French league and its players was "unacceptable".

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insisted that Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe was not on the club`s minds as they celebrated a record-extending 14th European Cup crown after victory against Liverpool in Paris on Saturday.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insisted that Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe was not on the club`s minds as they celebrated a record-extending 14th European Cup crown after victory against Liverpool in Paris on Saturday. Mbappe was widely tipped for a move to the Spanish capital but signed a contract extension until 2025 at PSG last week in a dramatic U-turn, a decision that irked many Real players and fans. "Real Madrid will always continue to work on having the best players, but today Mbappe is already forgotten," Perez told reporters after a Vinicius Jr tap-in gave them a 1-0 win. "Nothing has happened, Real Madrid have had a perfect season and that is a forgotten issue, there is only a Real Madrid party." Also Read: Kings of Europe! Chaos, controversy and drama but Real Madrid win 14th Champions League crown Mbappe`s choice to stay at the French champions has triggered a war of words between the parties involved after LaLiga president Javier Tebas said they would file a complaint against PSG to UEFA because the deal "attacked the economic stability" of the European game. Ligue 1 president Vincent Labrune hit back at Tebas on Thursday, saying his denigration of the French league and its players was "unacceptable".

Kylian Mbappe 'already forgotten', says Real Madrid president Florentino Perez after Champions League win

Chelsea's board on Saturday (May 07) agreed a deal with a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly to acquire the English Premier League (EPL) club from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Chelsea confirmed that the deal is worth 4.25 billion pounds ($5.2 billion).

Abramovich's reign at Chelsea came to an abrupt end in March earlier this year when he put the club up for sale just days after his country Russia invaded Ukraine. The British government imposed strict sanctions on several Russian billionaires, including Abrahmovic forcing him to sell Chelsea.

The Boehly-led consortium is backed by Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjoerg Wyss which would own the club now. Chelsea's sale is likely to be completed by the end of May, officially bringing an end to Abrahomvic's era at Stamford Bridge. Chelsae enjoyed incredible success under the Russian billionaire and achieved some illustrious feats which will remain engraved&nbsp;in the club's folklore.

Here is a look at how Chelsea fared in the Roman Abramovich era:

Glorious trophy cabinet - 21 major titles

Chelsea became a force to reckon with in the Premier League and European football in the Abramovich era as the club lifted almost every silverware possible in club football. Abramovich had bought the club in 2003 for a reported fee of around 140 million pounds. In his first season, Abrahmovic went on to spend over 100 million pounds on buying new players but the club failed to achieve any success under manager &nbsp;Claudio Ranieri.

The Italian was replaced by Jose Mourinho, who guided Chelsea to their first Premier League title in the Abramovich era in the 2004-05 season. Mourino won back-to-back titles in his first spell with the club as Chelsea won the Premier League once again the next season. They won three more Premier League crowns in the next 16 years.

Chelsea won a total of 5 Premier League titles, 2 Champions League crowns, 5 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 2 Europa League titles, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup and 2 Community Shields under Abramovich's&nbsp;ownership.

Their first won the Champions League in 2012 when Mourinho guided the Blues to their maiden title before claiming their second Champions League crown under current manager Thomas Tuchel last season. Chelsea are the reigning European champions.

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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tom-boehly-led-consortium-to-purchase-chelsea-football-club-for-usd-52-billion-477072">Tom Boehly-led consortium to purchase Chelsea football club for USD 5.2 billion</a>

13 managers&nbsp;

Abramovich rarely compromised with the standards at Chelsea and always ensured he had the best possible candidate as the manager of the club during his reign. His pursuit of success saw the Russian owner have as many as 13 managers coach the first team in 20 years.

Only two of the 13 coaches were handed another stint at the club in search of success while others were pushed out after just one spell. Mourinho, who enjoyed a terrific first spell at the club from 2004 to 2007 was sacked in 2007 despite having won two Premier League and a Champions League trophies during his stint with the Blues.

Guus Hiddink, who managed the club for a few months in 2009 as an interim manager, returned as the full-time manager in 2015 and was once again put in charge midway through the season to the end of it.

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Here is a look at all the managers who coached Chelsea in the Abramovich era:

Claudio Ranieri&nbsp;

Jose Mourinho&nbsp;

Avram Grant&nbsp;

Luis Felipe Scolari&nbsp;

Guus Hiddink&nbsp;

Carlo Ancelotti&nbsp;

Andre Villas-Boas&nbsp;

Roberto Di Matteo&nbsp;

Rafa Benitez&nbsp;

Jose Mourinho

Guus Hiddink&nbsp;

Antonio Conte&nbsp;

Maurizio Sarri

Frank Lampard

Thomas Tuchel&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-board-rejected-request-to-sign-a-striker-in-january-transfer-window-reveals-ralf-rangnick-477138">Manchester United board rejected request to sign a striker in January transfer window, reveals Ralf Rangnick</a>

Abramovich&nbsp;rarely shied away from spending big to bring in quality players at Stamford Bridge to ensure the club always had a world-class squad to fight it out across all competitions. His financial backing was one of the key reasons behind Chelsea's redemption under his ownership as the Russian spent a whopping&nbsp;£2.1 billion on acquiring players.

Romelu Lukaku, who was signed by Chelsea for a fee of nearly&nbsp;£100 million from Interm Milan last year, remains the most expensive signing in the club's history.

&nbsp;

Chelsea's board on Saturday (May 07) agreed a deal with a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly to acquire the English Premier League (EPL) club from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea's board on Saturday (May 07) agreed a deal with a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly to acquire the English Premier League (EPL) club from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Chelsea confirmed that the deal is worth 4.25 billion pounds ($5.2 billion). Abramovich's reign at Chelsea came to an abrupt end in March earlier this year when he put the club up for sale just days after his country Russia invaded Ukraine. The British government imposed strict sanctions on several Russian billionaires, including Abrahmovic forcing him to sell Chelsea. The Boehly-led consortium is backed by Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjoerg Wyss which would own the club now. Chelsea's sale is likely to be completed by the end of May, officially bringing an end to Abrahomvic's era at Stamford Bridge. Chelsae enjoyed incredible success under the Russian billionaire and achieved some illustrious feats which will remain engraved in the club's folklore. Here is a look at how Chelsea fared in the Roman Abramovich era: Glorious trophy cabinet - 21 major titles Chelsea became a force to reckon with in the Premier League and European football in the Abramovich era as the club lifted almost every silverware possible in club football. Abramovich had bought the club in 2003 for a reported fee of around 140 million pounds. In his first season, Abrahmovic went on to spend over 100 million pounds on buying new players but the club failed to achieve any success under manager Claudio Ranieri. The Italian was replaced by Jose Mourinho, who guided Chelsea to their first Premier League title in the Abramovich era in the 2004-05 season. Mourino won back-to-back titles in his first spell with the club as Chelsea won the Premier League once again the next season. They won three more Premier League crowns in the next 16 years. Chelsea won a total of 5 Premier League titles, 2 Champions League crowns, 5 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 2 Europa League titles, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup and 2 Community Shields under Abramovich's ownership. Their first won the Champions League in 2012 when Mourinho guided the Blues to their maiden title before claiming their second Champions League crown under current manager Thomas Tuchel last season. Chelsea are the reigning European champions. × Also Read: Tom Boehly-led consortium to purchase Chelsea football club for USD 5.2 billion 13 managers Abramovich rarely compromised with the standards at Chelsea and always ensured he had the best possible candidate as the manager of the club during his reign. His pursuit of success saw the Russian owner have as many as 13 managers coach the first team in 20 years. Only two of the 13 coaches were handed another stint at the club in search of success while others were pushed out after just one spell. Mourinho, who enjoyed a terrific first spell at the club from 2004 to 2007 was sacked in 2007 despite having won two Premier League and a Champions League trophies during his stint with the Blues. Guus Hiddink, who managed the club for a few months in 2009 as an interim manager, returned as the full-time manager in 2015 and was once again put in charge midway through the season to the end of it. × Here is a look at all the managers who coached Chelsea in the Abramovich era: Claudio Ranieri Jose Mourinho Avram Grant Luis Felipe Scolari Guus Hiddink Carlo Ancelotti Andre Villas-Boas Roberto Di Matteo Rafa Benitez Jose Mourinho Guus Hiddink Antonio Conte Maurizio Sarri Frank Lampard Thomas Tuchel Also Read: Manchester United board rejected request to sign a striker in January transfer window, reveals Ralf Rangnick Abramovich rarely shied away from spending big to bring in quality players at Stamford Bridge to ensure the club always had a world-class squad to fight it out across all competitions. His financial backing was one of the key reasons behind Chelsea's redemption under his ownership as the Russian spent a whopping £2.1 billion on acquiring players. Romelu Lukaku, who was signed by Chelsea for a fee of nearly £100 million from Interm Milan last year, remains the most expensive signing in the club's history.

5 Premier League titles, 13 managers:  A look at how Chelsea fared in the Roman Abramovich era

Liverpool`s Mohamed Salah said he wants to face Real Madrid rather than Manchester City in the Champions League final as the Egyptian forward targets revenge for his team`s 2018 defeat by the Spanish side. 
Salah left the field in tears following a heavy fall under a challenge by Sergio Ramos in Liverpool`s 3-1 defeat by Real in the final of Europe`s elite club competition four years ago.

On Tuesday, Liverpool secured a 5-2 win on aggregate against Villarreal in their semi-final and will discover who they play in the May 28 final later on Wednesday as City face Real. "I want to play Madrid," Salah told BT Sport. "City is a really tough team, we`ve played against them a few times this season. If you ask me personally, I`d prefer Madrid.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpool-fight-back-to-beat-villarreal-3-2-reach-champions-league-final-476257">Liverpool fight back to beat Villarreal 3-2, reach Champions League final</a>

Asked if he wanted revenge against the Spanish side, Salah said: "We lost in the final against them, so I want to play against them and hopefully win it from them as well." Liverpool found themselves 2-0 down at Villarreal but three goals in a 12-minute spell after the break helped them advance to their third Champions League final in five seasons.

Salah hailed the character of Liverpool, who are chasing an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this season. 
"It was tough in the first half but then we went to the dressing room, the gaffer (Juergen Klopp) started talking and we talked to each other as well," Salah said. "That character and personality in the dressing room shows that we are a top team, so that`s why we can strike back after losing 2-0 in the first half playing away."

Liverpool`s Mohamed Salah said he wants to face Real Madrid rather than Manchester City in the Champions League final as the Egyptian forward targets revenge for his team`s 2018 defeat by the Spanish side.

Liverpool`s Mohamed Salah said he wants to face Real Madrid rather than Manchester City in the Champions League final as the Egyptian forward targets revenge for his team`s 2018 defeat by the Spanish side. Salah left the field in tears following a heavy fall under a challenge by Sergio Ramos in Liverpool`s 3-1 defeat by Real in the final of Europe`s elite club competition four years ago. On Tuesday, Liverpool secured a 5-2 win on aggregate against Villarreal in their semi-final and will discover who they play in the May 28 final later on Wednesday as City face Real. "I want to play Madrid," Salah told BT Sport. "City is a really tough team, we`ve played against them a few times this season. If you ask me personally, I`d prefer Madrid. ALSO READ | Liverpool fight back to beat Villarreal 3-2, reach Champions League final Asked if he wanted revenge against the Spanish side, Salah said: "We lost in the final against them, so I want to play against them and hopefully win it from them as well." Liverpool found themselves 2-0 down at Villarreal but three goals in a 12-minute spell after the break helped them advance to their third Champions League final in five seasons. Salah hailed the character of Liverpool, who are chasing an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this season. "It was tough in the first half but then we went to the dressing room, the gaffer (Juergen Klopp) started talking and we talked to each other as well," Salah said. "That character and personality in the dressing room shows that we are a top team, so that`s why we can strike back after losing 2-0 in the first half playing away."

Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah wants Real Madrid revenge in Champions League final

Liverpool survived a first-half scare to reach the Champions League final with a 3-2 win at Villarreal on Tuesday, for a 5-2 aggregate victory, after the night had threatened to turn sour for Juergen Klopp`s side.

The visitors fell 2-0 down with an insipid first-half performance before fighting back with three goals in a 12-minute spell after the break to advance to their third European Cup final in five seasons.

The Premier League side had won 2-0 in England but looked in danger of coming unstuck on a rain-soaked pitch in Spain, as the hosts pegged them back with goals from Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin.

Liverpool, however, came out transformed after halftime and goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane sealed the deal, with Villarreal ending the match with 10 men following a late red card for Etienne Capoue.

Klopp`s side will meet either Real Madrid or Manchester City, who contest the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday, in the showpiece in Paris on May 28. City lead 4-3 from the first leg.

Roared on by their faithful fanbase who were packed into their modest stadium, Villarreal opened the scoring after three minutes with a close-range strike from Dia that was greeted by a chant of "Yes we can!" from the home supporters.

Villarreal had been lifeless in the first leg at Anfield, but looked a completely different team as they tore into Liverpool with the same aggressive game that had knocked out Juventus in the last 16 and beaten Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uefa-bans-russian-clubs-from-next-seasons-champions-league-amid-ukraine-invasion-475850">UEFA bans Russian clubs from next season's Champions League amid Ukraine invasion</a>

Their relentless pressure forced Liverpool into mistakes they do not usually make, with the visitors` passing accuracy of 66% the lowest they have managed in the first half of a game in all competitions this season.

Villarreal levelled the tie with a close-range header from Coquelin and looked on the verge of a miracle comeback. 
The hosts even had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Danny Makkelie in the 38th minute when Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker came out to smother the ball and then bundled into Giovani Lo Celso inside the area.

Yet Klopp brought Diaz off the bench at the break and the in-form Colombian winger changed the dynamic of the game, finding space and taking advantage of a Villarreal side that seemed to have run out of gas. As the Liverpool pressure mounted, it felt like only a matter of time until they scored and the goal eventually came following a brilliant combination between Fabinho and Mohamed Salah on the right side.

The Brazilian midfielder recovered a loose ball close to the Villarreal area, passed two defenders before playing a one-two with the Egyptian. Salah teed him up with a pass between three defenders that left him alone to score with a low, angled shot that went between the legs of Villarreal keeper Geronimo Rulli, who endured a difficult game.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/im-not-finished-cristiano-ronaldo-sends-message-to-man-utd-fans-after-3-0-win-over-brentford-watch-476069">'I'm not finished': Ronaldo sends message to Man Utd fans after 3-0 win over Brentford - WATCH</a>

iverpool smelled blood and went for the jugular, led by Diaz who ghosted into the middle of the box to head Trent Alexander-Arnold`s cross easily past the goalkeeper in the 67th minute. Seven minutes later Rulli tried to clear a long pass to Mane outside the area and completely missed the ball, leaving the Senegalese forward all alone to finish into the empty net.

Capoue, who had a enjoyed a great first half with two assists, was dismissed with five minutes remaining, receiving a second yellow card for a late challenge on Curtis Jones.

"The early goal didn`t help us, it helped them massively, so we had to dig deep, we had to be very mature. And obviously second half, we played outstanding," Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk said, adding that Klopp had given them clear instructions at halftime.

"(We needed to) play football, play the Liverpool way, as we have been playing basically all season. Get on the ball, have a lot of movement on the ball but also behind the last line, they play a high line, so with the speed we have, we have to mix that up as well," he said.

Liverpool survived a first-half scare to reach the Champions League final with a 3-2 win at Villarreal on Tuesday, for a 5-2 aggregate victory, after the night had threatened to turn sour for Juergen Klopp`s side.

Liverpool survived a first-half scare to reach the Champions League final with a 3-2 win at Villarreal on Tuesday, for a 5-2 aggregate victory, after the night had threatened to turn sour for Juergen Klopp`s side. The visitors fell 2-0 down with an insipid first-half performance before fighting back with three goals in a 12-minute spell after the break to advance to their third European Cup final in five seasons. The Premier League side had won 2-0 in England but looked in danger of coming unstuck on a rain-soaked pitch in Spain, as the hosts pegged them back with goals from Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin. Liverpool, however, came out transformed after halftime and goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane sealed the deal, with Villarreal ending the match with 10 men following a late red card for Etienne Capoue. Klopp`s side will meet either Real Madrid or Manchester City, who contest the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday, in the showpiece in Paris on May 28. City lead 4-3 from the first leg. Roared on by their faithful fanbase who were packed into their modest stadium, Villarreal opened the scoring after three minutes with a close-range strike from Dia that was greeted by a chant of "Yes we can!" from the home supporters. Villarreal had been lifeless in the first leg at Anfield, but looked a completely different team as they tore into Liverpool with the same aggressive game that had knocked out Juventus in the last 16 and beaten Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Also Read: UEFA bans Russian clubs from next season's Champions League amid Ukraine invasion Their relentless pressure forced Liverpool into mistakes they do not usually make, with the visitors` passing accuracy of 66% the lowest they have managed in the first half of a game in all competitions this season. Villarreal levelled the tie with a close-range header from Coquelin and looked on the verge of a miracle comeback. The hosts even had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Danny Makkelie in the 38th minute when Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker came out to smother the ball and then bundled into Giovani Lo Celso inside the area. Yet Klopp brought Diaz off the bench at the break and the in-form Colombian winger changed the dynamic of the game, finding space and taking advantage of a Villarreal side that seemed to have run out of gas. As the Liverpool pressure mounted, it felt like only a matter of time until they scored and the goal eventually came following a brilliant combination between Fabinho and Mohamed Salah on the right side. The Brazilian midfielder recovered a loose ball close to the Villarreal area, passed two defenders before playing a one-two with the Egyptian. Salah teed him up with a pass between three defenders that left him alone to score with a low, angled shot that went between the legs of Villarreal keeper Geronimo Rulli, who endured a difficult game. Also Read: 'I'm not finished': Ronaldo sends message to Man Utd fans after 3-0 win over Brentford - WATCH iverpool smelled blood and went for the jugular, led by Diaz who ghosted into the middle of the box to head Trent Alexander-Arnold`s cross easily past the goalkeeper in the 67th minute. Seven minutes later Rulli tried to clear a long pass to Mane outside the area and completely missed the ball, leaving the Senegalese forward all alone to finish into the empty net. Capoue, who had a enjoyed a great first half with two assists, was dismissed with five minutes remaining, receiving a second yellow card for a late challenge on Curtis Jones. "The early goal didn`t help us, it helped them massively, so we had to dig deep, we had to be very mature. And obviously second half, we played outstanding," Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk said, adding that Klopp had given them clear instructions at halftime. "(We needed to) play football, play the Liverpool way, as we have been playing basically all season. Get on the ball, have a lot of movement on the ball but also behind the last line, they play a high line, so with the speed we have, we have to mix that up as well," he said.

Liverpool fight back to beat Villarreal 3-2, reach Champions League final

European football's governing body UEFA on Monday (May 02) announced strict sanctions against Russian clubs and national teams amid the country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. UEFA has banned Russian clubs from taking part in European competitions next season, including the coveted UEFA Champions League.

UEFA has&nbsp;also disqualified the Russian women's national team from the Women's European Championship which is scheduled to take place in July this year. The Russian women's team will also not be able to take part in the qualification tournament for the next year's FIFA Women's World Cup.

This is a huge blow for Russia as they continue to face severe sanctions in football after Russian clubs were earlier suspended by FIFA and UEFA in February this year. Confirming the latest round of sanctions, UEFA also announced that Russia will not be allowed to host the men's Euros in 2028 and 2032.

Russia had launched bids for the hosting rights for the Euros in 2028 and 2032 post the war started with Ukraine. Both their bids have been terminated by the UEFA with the European governing body ruling them ineligible to host the two showpiece events.

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Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg, who are the winners of the Russian Premier League this season, were supposed to make it to the Champions League next season. However, their place will now be taken by the champions of the Scottish Premiership. Zenit St. Petersburg featured in the Champions League this season and were knocked out from the group stages.

Meanwhile, the Russian women's team, who have been banned from taking part in the Women's Euro 2022 this year wil be replaced in Portugal. The Women's Euro 2022 is being hosted by England and Russia had already qualified for the tournament.

European football's governing body UEFA on Monday (May 02) announced strict sanctions against Russian clubs and national teams amid the country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

European football's governing body UEFA on Monday (May 02) announced strict sanctions against Russian clubs and national teams amid the country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. UEFA has banned Russian clubs from taking part in European competitions next season, including the coveted UEFA Champions League. UEFA has also disqualified the Russian women's national team from the Women's European Championship which is scheduled to take place in July this year. The Russian women's team will also not be able to take part in the qualification tournament for the next year's FIFA Women's World Cup. This is a huge blow for Russia as they continue to face severe sanctions in football after Russian clubs were earlier suspended by FIFA and UEFA in February this year. Confirming the latest round of sanctions, UEFA also announced that Russia will not be allowed to host the men's Euros in 2028 and 2032. Russia had launched bids for the hosting rights for the Euros in 2028 and 2032 post the war started with Ukraine. Both their bids have been terminated by the UEFA with the European governing body ruling them ineligible to host the two showpiece events. Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo likely to make sensational return to Real Madrid amid uncertainty at Man Utd - Report Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg, who are the winners of the Russian Premier League this season, were supposed to make it to the Champions League next season. However, their place will now be taken by the champions of the Scottish Premiership. Zenit St. Petersburg featured in the Champions League this season and were knocked out from the group stages. Meanwhile, the Russian women's team, who have been banned from taking part in the Women's Euro 2022 this year wil be replaced in Portugal. The Women's Euro 2022 is being hosted by England and Russia had already qualified for the tournament.

UEFA bans Russian clubs from next season's Champions League amid Ukraine invasion

Villarreal aim to rekindle the spirit that saw off Juventus and Bayern Munich when they bid to overturn a 2-0 deficit in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Liverpool on Tuesday.

A 2-1 La Liga loss to lowly Alaves was not ideal preparation and coach Unai Emery knows how hard it will be to beat Liverpool, who have only lost three matches this season in all competitions and none by more than two goals.

"We will need a perfect game to achieve what no other team in Europe accomplished against Liverpool this season," Emery told a news conference on Monday.

"Overturning a two-goal deficit is already complicated against any rivals and much more when your opponent is a team that is almost flawless. We benefit that away goals are not worth double anymore so it gives us more freedom to attack," he added.

"Homefield advantage there was key and I hope it work the same for us here. We need to be impeccable on defence, better than in Anfield. And we need to find our game, something that we have not achieved in the first leg."

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After eliminating former champions Juventus in the last 16 and Bayern in the quarter-finals, the former Paris St Germain and Arsenal manager believes his team are capable of delivering another shock.

"I want my players and the fans to face the challenge with pride," Emery said.

"Football is about feelings, and we feel a great connection to our fan base, being from a small industrial town. I truly believe we have what it takes to present Liverpool something they didn’t experience this season so far."

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Defender Pau Torres, born a few miles from Villarreal’s training facility, echoed his coach`s upbeat mood.

"There is no ideal script to a game like this. We need one goal to get us back at the fight and that’s what we need to look for," Torres said.

"It doesn`t matter how it is achieved. We need a goal at any time and the tie will be open again. That’s our mantra."

Villarreal aim to rekindle the spirit that saw off Juventus and Bayern Munich when they bid to overturn a 2-0 deficit in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Liverpool on Tuesday.

Villarreal aim to rekindle the spirit that saw off Juventus and Bayern Munich when they bid to overturn a 2-0 deficit in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Liverpool on Tuesday. A 2-1 La Liga loss to lowly Alaves was not ideal preparation and coach Unai Emery knows how hard it will be to beat Liverpool, who have only lost three matches this season in all competitions and none by more than two goals. "We will need a perfect game to achieve what no other team in Europe accomplished against Liverpool this season," Emery told a news conference on Monday. "Overturning a two-goal deficit is already complicated against any rivals and much more when your opponent is a team that is almost flawless. We benefit that away goals are not worth double anymore so it gives us more freedom to attack," he added. "Homefield advantage there was key and I hope it work the same for us here. We need to be impeccable on defence, better than in Anfield. And we need to find our game, something that we have not achieved in the first leg." Also Read: Barcelona reclaim second spot in La Liga, defeat Real Mallorca 2-1 at Camp Nou After eliminating former champions Juventus in the last 16 and Bayern in the quarter-finals, the former Paris St Germain and Arsenal manager believes his team are capable of delivering another shock. "I want my players and the fans to face the challenge with pride," Emery said. "Football is about feelings, and we feel a great connection to our fan base, being from a small industrial town. I truly believe we have what it takes to present Liverpool something they didn’t experience this season so far." Also Read: Premier League: Son Heung-min double against Leicester boosts Tottenham's top-four hopes Defender Pau Torres, born a few miles from Villarreal’s training facility, echoed his coach`s upbeat mood. "There is no ideal script to a game like this. We need one goal to get us back at the fight and that’s what we need to look for," Torres said. "It doesn`t matter how it is achieved. We need a goal at any time and the tie will be open again. That’s our mantra."

Villarreal seek perfection to beat near flawless Liverpool in Champions League semi-finals

Barcelona broke the women’s attendance record as 91,553 fans watched them come from behind to beat bitter rivals Real Madrid 5-2 at Camp Nou on Wednesday and reach the Champions League semi-finals with an 8-3 aggregate win.

The new record surpassed both the previous club mark of 60,739 fans set in 2019 at Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano stadium, where the hosts beat Barca 2-0 in a league match, and the official attendance record for a women's game.

That was set at the 1999 World Cup final between the United States and China, when 90,195 fans were in attendance at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 
All 99,354 tickets for Wednesday's match had been sold out since January after a huge engagement campaign by the club.

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Yet expectations that the record would be broken were shaken after heavy rain fell all day in Barcelona and the match started with the stadium only half full.

But as the game progressed, fans slowly arrived and ended up almost filling the iconic Camp Nou, Europe's largest stadium, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

There was an enormous mosaic in the stands with the slogan 'More than empowerment'.

Barcelona, who won the quarter-final first leg 3-1 in Madrid, took the lead eight minutes into the first half with a brilliant curling shot from long range by Mapi Leon but Real fought back to lead 2-1 with goals from Olga Carmona and Claudia Zornoza.

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Yet Barca recovered early in the second half with Aitana Bonmati, Claudia Pina and Alexia Putellas putting the hosts back in front with three goals in 10 minutes. Caroline Hansen rounded off the scoring in what was an electrifying match.

"I’m speechless. It’s a dream come true. I can only answer with more work, getting better and winning games so we can give them a big spectacle," said Putellas.

"I saw a lot of girls, children with that spark in their eyes. It’s amazing to be part of history."

Barcelona broke the women’s attendance record as 91,553 fans watched them come from behind to beat bitter rivals Real Madrid 5-2 at Camp Nou on Wednesday and reach the Champions League semi-finals with an 8-3 aggregate win.

Barcelona broke the women’s attendance record as 91,553 fans watched them come from behind to beat bitter rivals Real Madrid 5-2 at Camp Nou on Wednesday and reach the Champions League semi-finals with an 8-3 aggregate win. The new record surpassed both the previous club mark of 60,739 fans set in 2019 at Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano stadium, where the hosts beat Barca 2-0 in a league match, and the official attendance record for a women's game. That was set at the 1999 World Cup final between the United States and China, when 90,195 fans were in attendance at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. All 99,354 tickets for Wednesday's match had been sold out since January after a huge engagement campaign by the club. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar mounts for highly-anticipated finals draw on April 1 Yet expectations that the record would be broken were shaken after heavy rain fell all day in Barcelona and the match started with the stadium only half full. But as the game progressed, fans slowly arrived and ended up almost filling the iconic Camp Nou, Europe's largest stadium, creating a fantastic atmosphere. There was an enormous mosaic in the stands with the slogan 'More than empowerment'. Barcelona, who won the quarter-final first leg 3-1 in Madrid, took the lead eight minutes into the first half with a brilliant curling shot from long range by Mapi Leon but Real fought back to lead 2-1 with goals from Olga Carmona and Claudia Zornoza. ALSO READ: In our rightful place: Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after Portugal qualifies for FIFA World Cup 2022 Yet Barca recovered early in the second half with Aitana Bonmati, Claudia Pina and Alexia Putellas putting the hosts back in front with three goals in 10 minutes. Caroline Hansen rounded off the scoring in what was an electrifying match. "I’m speechless. It’s a dream come true. I can only answer with more work, getting better and winning games so we can give them a big spectacle," said Putellas. "I saw a lot of girls, children with that spark in their eyes. It’s amazing to be part of history."

Champions League: Barcelona break women's attendance record in 5-2 victory over Real Madrid, enter semis

On Friday (March 18), the&nbsp;draw for the 2021/22&nbsp;UEFA Champions League&nbsp;(UCL) Quarter-Final will take place&nbsp;at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. For the unversed, the quarter-final draw is an open draw where there will be no restrictions on which team can draw whom. Hence, even the clubs&nbsp;from the same country have a chance of squaring off with each other; throwing up a possibility of a Madrid-derby or two of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea locking horns with each other.

In addition, the draw for the semi-final will also be announced on Friday. Before that, here's everything you need to know about the UCL QF Draw -&nbsp;

<section>
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paul-pogba-reveals-his-house-was-burgled-amid-childrens-presence-during-man-utds-cl-tie-vs-atletico-463204">Paul Pogba reveals his house was burgled amid children's presence during Man Utd's CL tie vs Atletico</a>

Which are the eight teams involved in the draw?
</section>

Defending champions Chelsea will be joined by Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, and Villareal.&nbsp;

At what time will the UEFA Champions League QF draw take place?

The UEFA Champions League quarters' draw will commence at 4:30 PM IST.

Where can you watch the UEFA Champions League QF draw in India?

The UEFA Champions League QF draw will be telecast on Sony Ten 2 and Ten 2 HD in India.

Where can you live stream the UEFA Champions League QF draw in India?

The UCL QF Draw's live streaming&nbsp;will take place on SonyLiv in the country.

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In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UCL&nbsp;final has been moved from Gazprom Arena, in Russia, and will now take place&nbsp;at the Stade de France in Paris on May 28. The race for the final is getting intense with each passing week and, thus, one expects some mouth-watering contests and more twists and turns as we progress to the UCL knockouts.

Which two teams will make the final and who will be the side to walk away with the coveted title? Only time will tell...

On Friday (March 18), the draw for the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League (UCL) Quarter-Final will take place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. For the unversed, the quarter-final draw is an open draw where there will be no restrictions on which team can draw whom.

On Friday (March 18), the draw for the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League (UCL) Quarter-Final will take place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. For the unversed, the quarter-final draw is an open draw where there will be no restrictions on which team can draw whom. Hence, even the clubs from the same country have a chance of squaring off with each other; throwing up a possibility of a Madrid-derby or two of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea locking horns with each other. In addition, the draw for the semi-final will also be announced on Friday. Before that, here's everything you need to know about the UCL QF Draw - ALSO READ | Paul Pogba reveals his house was burgled amid children's presence during Man Utd's CL tie vs Atletico Which are the eight teams involved in the draw? Defending champions Chelsea will be joined by Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, and Villareal. At what time will the UEFA Champions League QF draw take place? The UEFA Champions League quarters' draw will commence at 4:30 PM IST. Where can you watch the UEFA Champions League QF draw in India? The UEFA Champions League QF draw will be telecast on Sony Ten 2 and Ten 2 HD in India. Where can you live stream the UEFA Champions League QF draw in India? The UCL QF Draw's live streaming will take place on SonyLiv in the country. ALSO READ | Is it happening? Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United and join Lionel Messi at PSG - Reports In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UCL final has been moved from Gazprom Arena, in Russia, and will now take place at the Stade de France in Paris on May 28. The race for the final is getting intense with each passing week and, thus, one expects some mouth-watering contests and more twists and turns as we progress to the UCL knockouts. Which two teams will make the final and who will be the side to walk away with the coveted title? Only time will tell...

UCL QF fixtures - All you need to know: Telecast, live streaming, timings, likely face-offs

Holders Chelsea made light of their off-pitch problems to reach the Champions League quarter-finals by beating Lille 2-1 away on Wednesday to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory.

The Premier League side, playing amid sanctions imposed on their Russian owner Roman Abramovich following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, eased through thanks to goals by Christian Pulisic and Cesar Azpilicueta. 
 
French champions Lille dominated for long spells and opened the scoring thanks to a Burak Yilmaz penalty in the opening half, but lacked precision upfront and paid dearly for lapses in concentration.

Chelsea, operating on a special licence from the British government that has limited their spending and impacted their operations, showed great composure to ease into the last eight.

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"Everyone is calm at the club. The club's culture is about football. Football is the priority at Chelsea, that's why we're focused on what happens on the pitch," Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel told French TV channel RMC Sport.

At their Pierre Mauroy stadium, Lille had made the better start to the match.

Jocelyn Gouvennec's side put Chelsea on the back foot as Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho and N'Golo Kante struggled to take control of the midfield.

Lille were rewarded in the 38th minute when they were awarded a penalty following a VAR review after a Jorginho handball in the area.

The 36-year-old Yilmaz, the third oldest scorer in the Champions League knockout stages after Paolo Maldini and Ryan Giggs, buried the spot-kick into the top corner to give the hosts a deserved lead and high hopes of an upset after losing the first leg 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Lille, who had not conceded a goal in their three Ligue 1 games since the first leg, let their guard down, however, and Chelsea punished them with their first shot on target as Pulisic collected a fine through ball from Jorginho to score with a low shot three minutes into first-half stoppage time.

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Although they were hit by injuries which forced Sven Botman and Zeki Celik to leave the pitch, Lille applied more pressure after the break and Yilmaz wasted two clear chances.

Chelsea were far more ruthless and after 71 minutes Mason Mount's cross bounced off Azpilicueta's knee into the top corner to end Lille's hopes of reaching the last eight.

The result left Lille frustrated after a good performance that ended in defeat.

"I'm frustrated by the result, and by the fact that we missed out on qualification," said midfielder Amadou Onana. 
 
"Congratulations to Chelsea, they were the better team."

Holders Chelsea made light of their off-pitch problems to reach the Champions League quarter-finals by beating Lille 2-1 away on Wednesday to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Holders Chelsea made light of their off-pitch problems to reach the Champions League quarter-finals by beating Lille 2-1 away on Wednesday to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory. The Premier League side, playing amid sanctions imposed on their Russian owner Roman Abramovich following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, eased through thanks to goals by Christian Pulisic and Cesar Azpilicueta. French champions Lille dominated for long spells and opened the scoring thanks to a Burak Yilmaz penalty in the opening half, but lacked precision upfront and paid dearly for lapses in concentration. Chelsea, operating on a special licence from the British government that has limited their spending and impacted their operations, showed great composure to ease into the last eight. ALSO READ: Champions League: Villarreal knock Juventus out with 3-0 victory to enter quarter-finals "Everyone is calm at the club. The club's culture is about football. Football is the priority at Chelsea, that's why we're focused on what happens on the pitch," Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel told French TV channel RMC Sport. At their Pierre Mauroy stadium, Lille had made the better start to the match. Jocelyn Gouvennec's side put Chelsea on the back foot as Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho and N'Golo Kante struggled to take control of the midfield. Lille were rewarded in the 38th minute when they were awarded a penalty following a VAR review after a Jorginho handball in the area. The 36-year-old Yilmaz, the third oldest scorer in the Champions League knockout stages after Paolo Maldini and Ryan Giggs, buried the spot-kick into the top corner to give the hosts a deserved lead and high hopes of an upset after losing the first leg 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Lille, who had not conceded a goal in their three Ligue 1 games since the first leg, let their guard down, however, and Chelsea punished them with their first shot on target as Pulisic collected a fine through ball from Jorginho to score with a low shot three minutes into first-half stoppage time. ALSO READ: ISL: Kerala edge past League Shield winner Jamshedpur 2-1 over two legs to book first final berth since 2016 Although they were hit by injuries which forced Sven Botman and Zeki Celik to leave the pitch, Lille applied more pressure after the break and Yilmaz wasted two clear chances. Chelsea were far more ruthless and after 71 minutes Mason Mount's cross bounced off Azpilicueta's knee into the top corner to end Lille's hopes of reaching the last eight. The result left Lille frustrated after a good performance that ended in defeat. "I'm frustrated by the result, and by the fact that we missed out on qualification," said midfielder Amadou Onana. "Congratulations to Chelsea, they were the better team."

Champions League: Christian Pulisic, Cesar Azpilicueta score as Chelsea ease past Lille to enter quater-finals

Villarreal scored three late goals to secure a stunning 3-0 Champions League second-leg victory at Juventus on Wednesday, condemning the Serie A side to a 4-1 aggregate loss and a last-16 exit for the third successive season.

Having fallen before the quarter-finals against Olympique Lyonnais and Porto in the previous two seasons, in-form Juventus, who had lost just once in their last 21 matches in all competitions, were firm favourites to progress.

Juve dominated the first half and were unfortunate not to go into the break in front after Dusan Vlahovic's brilliant flicked effort came back off the crossbar, but they could not keep up the pressure in the second period.

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Villarreal were content to sit back and wait for their moment, which came in the 78th minute after the visitors were awarded a penalty following a VAR review, with substitute Gerard Moreno, who had only just come on, squeezing the spot kick home.

Juve threw on Argentine striker Paulo Dybala as they looked to level the tie, but goals down the other end from defender Pau Torres and another penalty, this time converted by Arnaut Danjuma, completed a famous win for Unai Emery's team.

It is the first time Emery has progressed from a tie in the knockout stages of the Champions League, while Villarreal had not qualified for the quarter-finals of the competition since 2008-09.

"I actually missed the last penalty I took in a game, but everyone had my back and I knew I was going to score," Moreno said.

"Once we got ahead we were more comfortable. We showed that we are always able to compete with the best at the highest level, whoever is on the pitch."

Juventus came into the last 16 having also enjoyed an impressive group-stage campaign where they finished top ahead of the current holders Chelsea.

A blistering start saw Spanish striker Alvaro Morata denied by a fine save from Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, giving the home fans hope that progression to the last eight would be a smooth process.

January signing Vlahovic was proving to be a real handful, drilling wide before his improvised effort came out off the woodwork.

Villarreal were enjoying plenty of possession, but could not do much with it. They looked more comfortable after the break, however, as Juve struggled to keep up their momentum.

Daniele Rugani's lunging tackle on Francis Coquelin gave Villarreal the chance to lead the tie for the first time.

Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who saved a penalty at the weekend, almost kept out the spot kick, but saw the ball squirm through his hands.

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Torres's finish from a corner sparked wild scenes of celebration with Villarreal knowing the job was done, even though there was still time for another converted penalty, after Matthijs de Ligt’s handball.

Having dominated for such long periods, only Juve will know how they managed to lose by three goals.

"I think the team played well for over 75 minutes," Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "In the second half, Villarreal decided to just defend in block but they had one chance and they took it.

"We had good chances in the first half, fewer in the second because Villarreal started defending with 11 men, clearly trying to bring the game to extra time. Then that (opening) goal changed everything."

Villarreal scored three late goals to secure a stunning 3-0 Champions League second-leg victory at Juventus on Wednesday, condemning the Serie A side to a 4-1 aggregate loss and a last-16 exit for the third successive season.

Villarreal scored three late goals to secure a stunning 3-0 Champions League second-leg victory at Juventus on Wednesday, condemning the Serie A side to a 4-1 aggregate loss and a last-16 exit for the third successive season. Having fallen before the quarter-finals against Olympique Lyonnais and Porto in the previous two seasons, in-form Juventus, who had lost just once in their last 21 matches in all competitions, were firm favourites to progress. Juve dominated the first half and were unfortunate not to go into the break in front after Dusan Vlahovic's brilliant flicked effort came back off the crossbar, but they could not keep up the pressure in the second period. ALSO READ: Chicago Cubs owners team up with Citadel founder Ken Griffin to bid for Chelsea Football Club Villarreal were content to sit back and wait for their moment, which came in the 78th minute after the visitors were awarded a penalty following a VAR review, with substitute Gerard Moreno, who had only just come on, squeezing the spot kick home. Juve threw on Argentine striker Paulo Dybala as they looked to level the tie, but goals down the other end from defender Pau Torres and another penalty, this time converted by Arnaut Danjuma, completed a famous win for Unai Emery's team. It is the first time Emery has progressed from a tie in the knockout stages of the Champions League, while Villarreal had not qualified for the quarter-finals of the competition since 2008-09. "I actually missed the last penalty I took in a game, but everyone had my back and I knew I was going to score," Moreno said. "Once we got ahead we were more comfortable. We showed that we are always able to compete with the best at the highest level, whoever is on the pitch." Juventus came into the last 16 having also enjoyed an impressive group-stage campaign where they finished top ahead of the current holders Chelsea. A blistering start saw Spanish striker Alvaro Morata denied by a fine save from Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, giving the home fans hope that progression to the last eight would be a smooth process. January signing Vlahovic was proving to be a real handful, drilling wide before his improvised effort came out off the woodwork. Villarreal were enjoying plenty of possession, but could not do much with it. They looked more comfortable after the break, however, as Juve struggled to keep up their momentum. Daniele Rugani's lunging tackle on Francis Coquelin gave Villarreal the chance to lead the tie for the first time. Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who saved a penalty at the weekend, almost kept out the spot kick, but saw the ball squirm through his hands. ALSO READ: Real Madrid to donate one million euros to help displaced in Ukraine amid Russia's invasion Torres's finish from a corner sparked wild scenes of celebration with Villarreal knowing the job was done, even though there was still time for another converted penalty, after Matthijs de Ligt’s handball. Having dominated for such long periods, only Juve will know how they managed to lose by three goals. "I think the team played well for over 75 minutes," Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "In the second half, Villarreal decided to just defend in block but they had one chance and they took it. "We had good chances in the first half, fewer in the second because Villarreal started defending with 11 men, clearly trying to bring the game to extra time. Then that (opening) goal changed everything."

Champions League: Villarreal knock Juventus out with 3-0 victory to enter quarter-finals

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Paris St Germain President Nasser Al Khelaifi and sporting director Leonardo following Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid.

Spanish media reported that Al Khelaifi entered the match referee's dressing room shouting after the match, an incident recorded by a Real Madrid employee with a mobile phone.

"We confirm that a disciplinary case has been opened. The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will take a decision in due course," European soccer's governing body told Reuters.

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The French side dominated possession and led 1-0 until Karim Benzema equalised in the 61st minute, a goal PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino felt should have been disallowed because goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was fouled in the build-up.

PSG, who lost the last-16 tie 3-2 on aggregate, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Paris St Germain President Nasser Al Khelaifi and sporting director Leonardo following Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid.

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Paris St Germain President Nasser Al Khelaifi and sporting director Leonardo following Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid. Spanish media reported that Al Khelaifi entered the match referee's dressing room shouting after the match, an incident recorded by a Real Madrid employee with a mobile phone. "We confirm that a disciplinary case has been opened. The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will take a decision in due course," European soccer's governing body told Reuters. ALSO READ: Cristiano Ronaldo intent on leaving Manchester United, has held talks with agent Jorge Mendes - Report The French side dominated possession and led 1-0 until Karim Benzema equalised in the 61st minute, a goal PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino felt should have been disallowed because goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was fouled in the build-up. PSG, who lost the last-16 tie 3-2 on aggregate, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

UEFA opens disciplinary proceedings against PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi after 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid

Liverpool stuttered into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate win over Inter Milan after suffering a 1-0 loss to the Italian side, who were reduced to 10 men, at Anfield on Tuesday.

After a cagey first half, a superb drive into the top corner from Lautaro Martinez in the 62nd minute put Inter ahead on the night.

But just when they looked capable of springing a surprise, the visitors found themselves down a man after Alexis Sanchez was dismissed for a second yellow card after catching Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.

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It was a harsh decision against Sanchez, who had won the ball but caught the Brazilian with his follow through and Inter's bench furiously protested.

The dismissal killed Inter's momentum with Liverpool never looking in danger of conceding again.

"Lautaro's goal had hit Liverpool, but Sanchez's expulsion influenced the last half hour of play," said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi ruefully.

"A victory at Anfield it's nice, but it's useless for the qualification," he added.

After their 2-0 loss at the San Siro, Inzaghi's Inter came to Anfield knowing that they needed to find the perfect balance of defensive security and clinical finishing and they began in confident fashion.

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Inter's shape was compact and their movement clever while Liverpool struggled to get into their normal rhythm, perhaps wary of over-committing.

Still, it was the home side who came nearest to taking a first-half lead with Joel Matip heading against the bar and then Virgil van Dijk heading wide from a Trent Alexander Arnold corner.

Hakan Calhanoglu forced Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker into action in the 42nd minute and on the stroke of halftime Trent Alexander-Arnold, finding space on the right, flashed a shot just wide.

Liverpool struck the woodwork again after the interval, with Mohamed Salah hitting the post after Inter keeper Samir Handanovic had rushed out to foil Diogo Jota.

But the game truly came alive when Martinez, having just wasted a good opportunity, picked the ball up on Liverpool's right and took a step inside before unleashing an unstoppable drive.

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It was a short-lived moment of promise for Inter though, with Sanchez departing soon after, and it was Klopp's men who looked the more likely to add to the scoring.

Salah hit the post for the second time in the game and then substitute Luis Diaz saw a stoppage-time shot cleared off the line by Arturo Vidal.

Although the defeat ended Liverpool's seven-match winning run in the Champions League they achieved their goal of reaching the last eight for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

"The art of football is to lose the right games. I still hate it, but if there's any game we could afford to lose it was tonight," said Klopp.

"Over the two games I think we deserved it. It is fair that we are through against a tough opponent".

Liverpool stuttered into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate win over Inter Milan after suffering a 1-0 loss to the Italian side, who were reduced to 10 men, at Anfield on Tuesday.

Liverpool stuttered into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate win over Inter Milan after suffering a 1-0 loss to the Italian side, who were reduced to 10 men, at Anfield on Tuesday. After a cagey first half, a superb drive into the top corner from Lautaro Martinez in the 62nd minute put Inter ahead on the night. But just when they looked capable of springing a surprise, the visitors found themselves down a man after Alexis Sanchez was dismissed for a second yellow card after catching Liverpool midfielder Fabinho. ALSO READ: Binance CEO turned down purchase of Chelsea, reveals spokesperson It was a harsh decision against Sanchez, who had won the ball but caught the Brazilian with his follow through and Inter's bench furiously protested. The dismissal killed Inter's momentum with Liverpool never looking in danger of conceding again. "Lautaro's goal had hit Liverpool, but Sanchez's expulsion influenced the last half hour of play," said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi ruefully. "A victory at Anfield it's nice, but it's useless for the qualification," he added. After their 2-0 loss at the San Siro, Inzaghi's Inter came to Anfield knowing that they needed to find the perfect balance of defensive security and clinical finishing and they began in confident fashion. ALSO READ: FIFA postpone Scotland's World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine amid war crisis Inter's shape was compact and their movement clever while Liverpool struggled to get into their normal rhythm, perhaps wary of over-committing. Still, it was the home side who came nearest to taking a first-half lead with Joel Matip heading against the bar and then Virgil van Dijk heading wide from a Trent Alexander Arnold corner. Hakan Calhanoglu forced Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker into action in the 42nd minute and on the stroke of halftime Trent Alexander-Arnold, finding space on the right, flashed a shot just wide. Liverpool struck the woodwork again after the interval, with Mohamed Salah hitting the post after Inter keeper Samir Handanovic had rushed out to foil Diogo Jota. But the game truly came alive when Martinez, having just wasted a good opportunity, picked the ball up on Liverpool's right and took a step inside before unleashing an unstoppable drive. ALSO READ: Premier League: Harry Kane's brace helps Tottenham Hotspur crush Everton 5-0 It was a short-lived moment of promise for Inter though, with Sanchez departing soon after, and it was Klopp's men who looked the more likely to add to the scoring. Salah hit the post for the second time in the game and then substitute Luis Diaz saw a stoppage-time shot cleared off the line by Arturo Vidal. Although the defeat ended Liverpool's seven-match winning run in the Champions League they achieved their goal of reaching the last eight for the fourth time in the last five seasons. "The art of football is to lose the right games. I still hate it, but if there's any game we could afford to lose it was tonight," said Klopp. "Over the two games I think we deserved it. It is fair that we are through against a tough opponent".

Champions League: Liverpool enter quarter-finals despite 1-0 loss to depleted Inter Milan