Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro insisted they won`t fall into the trap of believing their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea is already wrapped up after they dominated to win 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was very critical of his team after last week`s defeat and said it "would be impossible" to recover from the setback - words that did not go unnoticed in Real`s dressing room.

"We won`t fall for that," Casemiro told a news conference on Monday. "We played probably what was the best 90 minutes of our season in London last week and took a major step closer to qualifying for the semi-final but we can’t get overly confident.

"We all heard what Thomas Tuchel said. We don`t buy it. We know that it will be a tough game. They are defending champions and we won’t take this game lightly, I can assure you of that."

Casemiro warned Real`s supporters not to lose their focus and called on them to pack the Santiago Bernabeu stadium and help their team finish what they started in London.

"We’ll need our fans to be there and support us from the beginning," Casemiro said. "We can`t get overconfident and need our fans to create a great atmosphere so we can advance to the semi-finals."

Coach Carlo Ancelotti agreed with Casemiro that they will not fall for Tuchel putting all the pressure on Real Madrid.

"Chelsea will come here to rescue the tie, I have no doubt about it," the Italian told a news conference when asked if Tuchel was playing mind games against his side.

"He can say whatever he wants but I`m sure Chelsea will come here to win, that’s the spirit of football, the spirit of big clubs and great players, to never give up.

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"I`m lucky to have a group of players that know these types of games really well, that anything can happen. They are in a good spirit and happy with the opportunity to reach a Champions League semi-final. But Chelsea are a very strong rival. We have to have a lot of respect and we`re going to have it".

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro insisted they won`t fall into the trap of believing their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea is already wrapped up after they dominated to win 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg.

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro insisted they won`t fall into the trap of believing their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea is already wrapped up after they dominated to win 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was very critical of his team after last week`s defeat and said it "would be impossible" to recover from the setback - words that did not go unnoticed in Real`s dressing room. "We won`t fall for that," Casemiro told a news conference on Monday. "We played probably what was the best 90 minutes of our season in London last week and took a major step closer to qualifying for the semi-final but we can’t get overly confident. "We all heard what Thomas Tuchel said. We don`t buy it. We know that it will be a tough game. They are defending champions and we won’t take this game lightly, I can assure you of that." Casemiro warned Real`s supporters not to lose their focus and called on them to pack the Santiago Bernabeu stadium and help their team finish what they started in London. "We’ll need our fans to be there and support us from the beginning," Casemiro said. "We can`t get overconfident and need our fans to create a great atmosphere so we can advance to the semi-finals." Coach Carlo Ancelotti agreed with Casemiro that they will not fall for Tuchel putting all the pressure on Real Madrid. "Chelsea will come here to rescue the tie, I have no doubt about it," the Italian told a news conference when asked if Tuchel was playing mind games against his side. "He can say whatever he wants but I`m sure Chelsea will come here to win, that’s the spirit of football, the spirit of big clubs and great players, to never give up. Also Read: Inter Milan beat Verona 2-0 to move closer to top as AC Milan, Napoli falter in Serie A title race "I`m lucky to have a group of players that know these types of games really well, that anything can happen. They are in a good spirit and happy with the opportunity to reach a Champions League semi-final. But Chelsea are a very strong rival. We have to have a lot of respect and we`re going to have it".

Real Madrid won't take Chelsea lightly, says Casemiro ahead of Champions League clash

It is a night of champions in European football with English champions Manchester City hosting Spanish champions Atletico Madrid. It is a clash of footballing ideologies as well with Pep Guardiola and Deigo Simeone both having their distinct coaching styles. The Champions League remains the holy grail for the two sides and both teams are expected to play to their strengths this evening. WION's football pundit Matt Holland tells previews the game with Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo.

Clash of footballing ideologies in Manchester

A couple of blockbuster fixtures are on the cards after the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals draw was conducted on Friday (March 18). The draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland as the fate of the remaining eight teams in the Champions League this year was decided.

Defending champions Chelsea have been drawn against Real Madrid, who have been in brilliant form of late. Real Madrid had upstaged PSG 3-1 in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie to secure a spot in the last eight. Carlo Ancelotti's men will now be up against Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea, who are currently in turmoil after their Russian&nbsp;owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Manchester City have been paired up against Atletico Madrid, who will be running high on confidence after beating Manchester United in the Round of 16 to book a spot in the final eight. Liverpool have been handed a comparatively easier draw against Portuguese side Benfica in the quarters.

Bayern Munich, who won the 2019-20 edition of the competition, have been drawn against Spanish side Villarreal. With Robert Lewandowski continuing his purple patch this season, Bayern will once again be fancying the chances of lifting the trophy this year.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cristiano-ronaldo-to-paul-pogba-superstars-who-can-leave-manchester-united-this-year-462244">From Cristiano Ronaldo to Paul Pogba: Superstars who can leave Manchester United this year</a>

UEFA Champions League quarterfinals draw in full:

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

Villarreal vs Bayern Munich&nbsp;

Benfica vs Liverpool

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>

While the English giants - Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City are among the favourites to reach the final, both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will also be fancying their chances of lifting the trophy once again this season. Both the clubs have enjoyed fabulous seasons in their respective leagues so far.

While&nbsp;Real are currently on top of the La Liga table with 66 points from 28 matches, Bayern Munich are the Bundesliga leaders with 60 points from 26&nbsp;games.&nbsp;

A couple of blockbuster fixtures are on the cards after the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals draw was conducted on Friday (March 18). The draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland as the fate of the remaining eight teams in the Champions League this year was decided.

A couple of blockbuster fixtures are on the cards after the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals draw was conducted on Friday (March 18). The draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland as the fate of the remaining eight teams in the Champions League this year was decided. Defending champions Chelsea have been drawn against Real Madrid, who have been in brilliant form of late. Real Madrid had upstaged PSG 3-1 in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie to secure a spot in the last eight. Carlo Ancelotti's men will now be up against Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea, who are currently in turmoil after their Russian owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Manchester City have been paired up against Atletico Madrid, who will be running high on confidence after beating Manchester United in the Round of 16 to book a spot in the final eight. Liverpool have been handed a comparatively easier draw against Portuguese side Benfica in the quarters. Bayern Munich, who won the 2019-20 edition of the competition, have been drawn against Spanish side Villarreal. With Robert Lewandowski continuing his purple patch this season, Bayern will once again be fancying the chances of lifting the trophy this year. Also Read: From Cristiano Ronaldo to Paul Pogba: Superstars who can leave Manchester United this year UEFA Champions League quarterfinals draw in full: Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid Real Madrid vs Chelsea Villarreal vs Bayern Munich Benfica vs Liverpool Also Read: Paul Pogba reveals his house was burgled amid children's presence during Man Utd's CL tie vs Atletico While the English giants - Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City are among the favourites to reach the final, both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will also be fancying their chances of lifting the trophy once again this season. Both the clubs have enjoyed fabulous seasons in their respective leagues so far. While Real are currently on top of the La Liga table with 66 points from 28 matches, Bayern Munich are the Bundesliga leaders with 60 points from 26 games.

UEFA Champions League quarterfinals draw: Chelsea to take on Real Madrid, Manchester City face Atletico

Atletico Madrid knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League and moved into the quarter-finals after a 41st-minute header from Brazilian Renan Lodi gave them a 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) win at Old Trafford on Tuesday. It was a typical display of the kind of gritty defending and swift counter-attacking for which Diego Simeone`s Atletico side have been known while United, for all their pressure, were unable to create enough quality opportunities to get themselves the goal they needed.

United are left to focus on a Premier League campaign where they face a real battle to make the top four and earn a place in next year`s Champions League. The Spanish champions may not be favourites to reach the final in Paris on May 28 but none of the teams in the last eight will be hoping to be drawn against them. 
After Saturday`s win over Tottenham Hotspur, inspired by a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, there was a positive mood around Old Trafford and the night began brightly for United with Anthony Elanga forcing a fine reflex save out of Jan Oblak with a near post flick from a Bruno Fernandes cross.

United`s Spanish keeper David de Gea then produced an outstanding diving save to push wide a long range effort from Rodrigo De Paul. Joao Felix then had the ball in the net, tapping in a cross from Marcos Llorente but the effort was ruled out for offside.

There was no reprieve though for United, though, when after a trademark Atletico counter-attack, a clever flick from Joao Felix found Antoine Griezmann whose cross was nodded in at the back post by Lodi. 
United argued that the move had followed a foul on Elanga deep in Atletico`s half but referee Slavko Vincic waved away their protests. Fernandes ended the half with a fierce shot that again tested Oblak to the full and raised hopes among the home support ahead of the second half. United, as expected, poured forward after the break in search of an equaliser but there was little design or craft to their attacks.

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LACK OF CREATIVITY 
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick threw on forwards as he sought the breakthrough bringing on Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani to play up front with Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho. 
But his decision to take off Fernandes in the 67th minute left the team short of creativity and their attacks were increasingly just one dimensional charges at the Atletico back-line.

Captain Harry Maguire was taken off, to cheers from the home support, as Rangnick threw on Spanish winger Juan Mata but the nearest United came to an equaliser was a fine header from Raphael Varane that had Oblak at full stretch. It was scrappy and at times cynical from Atletico in the latter stages but their disciplined defence held firm for the victory that sends them into the last eight.

"We want to go far in the competition and it`s incredible to still be in it. It`s important for us to still be in the Champions League in what`s an up-and-down season," said midfielder Koke. "For me, Jan Oblak is the best goalkeeper in the world. He`s shown it once again tonight." Rangnick was upset with the refereeing of the game but had few complaints about his team`s performance.

"I think we played a very good first half - exactly the way we wanted to play with a high energy level but we couldn`t convert that into one or two goals," he said. "Conceding that counter-attacking goal just before halftime didn`t make life any easier. It was hard in the second half and always interrupted. There was always somebody lying on the floor. "I would also say some curious refereeing decisions. I wouldn`t say they were decisive but at least he fell too often for those time-wasting antics."

Atletico Madrid knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League and moved into the quarter-finals after a 41st-minute header from Brazilian Renan Lodi gave them a 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) win at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Atletico Madrid knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League and moved into the quarter-finals after a 41st-minute header from Brazilian Renan Lodi gave them a 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) win at Old Trafford on Tuesday. It was a typical display of the kind of gritty defending and swift counter-attacking for which Diego Simeone`s Atletico side have been known while United, for all their pressure, were unable to create enough quality opportunities to get themselves the goal they needed. United are left to focus on a Premier League campaign where they face a real battle to make the top four and earn a place in next year`s Champions League. The Spanish champions may not be favourites to reach the final in Paris on May 28 but none of the teams in the last eight will be hoping to be drawn against them. After Saturday`s win over Tottenham Hotspur, inspired by a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, there was a positive mood around Old Trafford and the night began brightly for United with Anthony Elanga forcing a fine reflex save out of Jan Oblak with a near post flick from a Bruno Fernandes cross. United`s Spanish keeper David de Gea then produced an outstanding diving save to push wide a long range effort from Rodrigo De Paul. Joao Felix then had the ball in the net, tapping in a cross from Marcos Llorente but the effort was ruled out for offside. There was no reprieve though for United, though, when after a trademark Atletico counter-attack, a clever flick from Joao Felix found Antoine Griezmann whose cross was nodded in at the back post by Lodi. United argued that the move had followed a foul on Elanga deep in Atletico`s half but referee Slavko Vincic waved away their protests. Fernandes ended the half with a fierce shot that again tested Oblak to the full and raised hopes among the home support ahead of the second half. United, as expected, poured forward after the break in search of an equaliser but there was little design or craft to their attacks. ALSO READ | From Cristiano Ronaldo to Paul Pogba: Superstars who can leave Manchester United this year LACK OF CREATIVITY Interim manager Ralf Rangnick threw on forwards as he sought the breakthrough bringing on Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani to play up front with Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho. But his decision to take off Fernandes in the 67th minute left the team short of creativity and their attacks were increasingly just one dimensional charges at the Atletico back-line. Captain Harry Maguire was taken off, to cheers from the home support, as Rangnick threw on Spanish winger Juan Mata but the nearest United came to an equaliser was a fine header from Raphael Varane that had Oblak at full stretch. It was scrappy and at times cynical from Atletico in the latter stages but their disciplined defence held firm for the victory that sends them into the last eight. "We want to go far in the competition and it`s incredible to still be in it. It`s important for us to still be in the Champions League in what`s an up-and-down season," said midfielder Koke. "For me, Jan Oblak is the best goalkeeper in the world. He`s shown it once again tonight." Rangnick was upset with the refereeing of the game but had few complaints about his team`s performance. "I think we played a very good first half - exactly the way we wanted to play with a high energy level but we couldn`t convert that into one or two goals," he said. "Conceding that counter-attacking goal just before halftime didn`t make life any easier. It was hard in the second half and always interrupted. There was always somebody lying on the floor. "I would also say some curious refereeing decisions. I wouldn`t say they were decisive but at least he fell too often for those time-wasting antics."

Atletico Madrid win at Old Trafford to knock out Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Manchester United

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) pulled off one of the biggest transfer heists in the summer last year when they managed to land Lionel Messi on a free from Barcelona. Not many had expected Messi to leave Barcelona in the way that the entire transfer saga unfolded but the Spanish club's dire financial state meant PSG wasted no time in making their move and securing one of the biggest icons the game has ever seen.

While Messi's arrival meant PSG's star-studded squad was further bolstered with remarkable quality, it also turned them into one of the strongest contenders for the Champions League crown this season. With an attack of dreams comprising&nbsp;Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe - PSG became the team to watch out for in Europe this year.

PSG was one of the favourites and at the helm of all the attention which was natural considering Messi's move to the club. However, the Argentine had an underwhelming start to life in Paris as he struggled to hit form in the first few months. With COVID-19 and injuries too hampering his progress, Messi was far from his best for the Ligue 1 giants in his initial few games.

While he did manage to turn a corner and returned to his prolific best in the Champions League with five goals and two assists, Messi failed to come to his side's rescue&nbsp;as PSG were stunned by Real Madrid in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this week.

PSG stumbled once again in the most dramatic fashion as Karim Benzema netted a stunning hat-trick to secure Real Madrid a berth in the last eight of the tournament while dumping the&nbsp;Messi-starrer PSG out of the competition. PSG looked favourites to make it to the next round having won the first leg 1-0 in Paris and leading by a goal for the first sixty minutes in their second leg meeting against Real at the Bernabeu.

However, what unfolded in the final 30 minutes was nothing less than shocking for PSG loyal&nbsp;as the Ligue 1 giants collapsed in a manner that they only seem to contrive to do when it comes to Champions League knockout matches. Benzema capitalised on glaring errors&nbsp;from the likes of PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Neymar to find the back of the net thrice inside just 18 minutes to send PSG crashing.

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Almost five years after they were humiliated by Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg at the Camp Nou in 2017, the haunting memories of the defeat came back to terrorise PSG once again as they slumped in a similar manner despite having Messi on their side this time around. PSG have now been dumped out of the Champions League four out of nine times despite having won their first-leg ties, three of those exits coming in the last six seasons.

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After capitulating against Barcelona where they conceded a whopping six goals, PSG were dumped out by Manchester United from the last-16 in 2018-19 despite having won 2-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg. After Barcelona and Manchester United, it was Real Madrid this year who extended the Parisians' wait for a much-coveted maiden Champions League crown.

<h2>Even Messi not enough</h2>

Following his much-anticipated move from Barcelona, Messi struggled to adapt to French football and was far from effective upfront. While he lifted his record seventh Ballon d'Or last year and also finished second in the FIFA Best Awards, he has not managed to meet the sky-high expectations set for him upon his arrival in Paris.

Despite having shockingly conceded the Ligue 1 title to Lille under Mauricio Pochettinho last season, there are little or no doubts over&nbsp;their credentials when it comes to dominating in the French&nbsp;league. They had claimed seven Ligue 1 titles in a row since the 2012-13 season before their winning streak was broken last year.

However, the club's real ambitions lie elsewhere in the Champions League, where they have struggled to make it past the knockout stages and have more often than not stumbled on the big stage. PSG's largest motivation behind landing Messi last year was the club's desire to bring an end to their long and agonising wait for their first Champions League title.

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However, even Messi's arrival&nbsp;seems not enough as PSG's persistent struggles in the Champions League came back to haunt them yet again this year. Despite having some of the most talented and well-paid players in the likes of Neymar, Mbappe, Angel di Maria, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Ramos among others in their squad, PSG fell short once again in a manner only the Ligue 1 outfit can.

They have a 15-point lead over second-placed Nice in the Ligue 1 so far this season but winning the domestic title is not going to prove enough amid roaring calls from fans over the ouster of club president&nbsp;Nasser Al-Khelaifi from his role immediately after their stunning collapse against Real Madrid.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) pulled off one of the biggest transfer heists in the summer last year when they managed to land Lionel Messi on a free from Barcelona. Not many had expected Messi to leave Barcelona in the way that the entire transfer saga unfolded but the Spanish club's dire financial state meant PSG wasted no time in making their move and securing one of the biggest icons the game has ever seen.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) pulled off one of the biggest transfer heists in the summer last year when they managed to land Lionel Messi on a free from Barcelona. Not many had expected Messi to leave Barcelona in the way that the entire transfer saga unfolded but the Spanish club's dire financial state meant PSG wasted no time in making their move and securing one of the biggest icons the game has ever seen. While Messi's arrival meant PSG's star-studded squad was further bolstered with remarkable quality, it also turned them into one of the strongest contenders for the Champions League crown this season. With an attack of dreams comprising Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe - PSG became the team to watch out for in Europe this year. PSG was one of the favourites and at the helm of all the attention which was natural considering Messi's move to the club. However, the Argentine had an underwhelming start to life in Paris as he struggled to hit form in the first few months. With COVID-19 and injuries too hampering his progress, Messi was far from his best for the Ligue 1 giants in his initial few games. While he did manage to turn a corner and returned to his prolific best in the Champions League with five goals and two assists, Messi failed to come to his side's rescue as PSG were stunned by Real Madrid in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this week. PSG stumbled once again in the most dramatic fashion as Karim Benzema netted a stunning hat-trick to secure Real Madrid a berth in the last eight of the tournament while dumping the Messi-starrer PSG out of the competition. PSG looked favourites to make it to the next round having won the first leg 1-0 in Paris and leading by a goal for the first sixty minutes in their second leg meeting against Real at the Bernabeu. However, what unfolded in the final 30 minutes was nothing less than shocking for PSG loyal as the Ligue 1 giants collapsed in a manner that they only seem to contrive to do when it comes to Champions League knockout matches. Benzema capitalised on glaring errors from the likes of PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Neymar to find the back of the net thrice inside just 18 minutes to send PSG crashing. × Almost five years after they were humiliated by Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg at the Camp Nou in 2017, the haunting memories of the defeat came back to terrorise PSG once again as they slumped in a similar manner despite having Messi on their side this time around. PSG have now been dumped out of the Champions League four out of nine times despite having won their first-leg ties, three of those exits coming in the last six seasons. Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo breaks world record in football with a stunning hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur After capitulating against Barcelona where they conceded a whopping six goals, PSG were dumped out by Manchester United from the last-16 in 2018-19 despite having won 2-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg. After Barcelona and Manchester United, it was Real Madrid this year who extended the Parisians' wait for a much-coveted maiden Champions League crown. Even Messi not enough Following his much-anticipated move from Barcelona, Messi struggled to adapt to French football and was far from effective upfront. While he lifted his record seventh Ballon d'Or last year and also finished second in the FIFA Best Awards, he has not managed to meet the sky-high expectations set for him upon his arrival in Paris. Despite having shockingly conceded the Ligue 1 title to Lille under Mauricio Pochettinho last season, there are little or no doubts over their credentials when it comes to dominating in the French league. They had claimed seven Ligue 1 titles in a row since the 2012-13 season before their winning streak was broken last year. However, the club's real ambitions lie elsewhere in the Champions League, where they have struggled to make it past the knockout stages and have more often than not stumbled on the big stage. PSG's largest motivation behind landing Messi last year was the club's desire to bring an end to their long and agonising wait for their first Champions League title. Also Read: Explained: What British government's sanctions on Roman Abramovich mean for Chelsea football club However, even Messi's arrival seems not enough as PSG's persistent struggles in the Champions League came back to haunt them yet again this year. Despite having some of the most talented and well-paid players in the likes of Neymar, Mbappe, Angel di Maria, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Ramos among others in their squad, PSG fell short once again in a manner only the Ligue 1 outfit can. They have a 15-point lead over second-placed Nice in the Ligue 1 so far this season but winning the domestic title is not going to prove enough amid roaring calls from fans over the ouster of club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi from his role immediately after their stunning collapse against Real Madrid.

Even Lionel Messi not enough as PSG stumble once again on the big stage

Manchester City sailed through to the Champions League quarter-finals after they played out a 0-0 draw against Sporting in their last-16 second leg on Wednesday, progressing 5-0 on aggregate. City had already done the hard work in their thrashing of the Portuguese side in the first leg three weeks ago in Lisbon, and could take it easy against an inferior Sporting at the Etihad Stadium.

Coach Pep Guardiola could afford to make several changes to his starting team, with one of those players coming in - Raheem Sterling - going closest to scoring in the first half after his close-range effort was saved.

Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, making his first Champions League start of the season, did have the ball in the net early in the second half, but his clever finish was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Paulinho almost earned Sporting victory late on, but it was not to be as City held on to ensure they have now reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in each of the last five seasons, the only English side to do so over this period.

The achievement was not lost on Guardiola as he looks to win the only major trophy that has eluded him during his time at City.

"The last decade, step by step, the club grew and for many years we were there in the Champions League and qualifying for the last 16," he told BT Sport.

"Now again we`re in the quarter-final and among the best eight teams in Europe. When I qualify for the quarter-finals, I enjoy it, when I qualify for the last 16, too. I know how difficult it is."

Sporting coach Ruben Amorim was certainly happy to see the back of City.

"We were very unlucky in the draw," he told Eleven Sports. "Last year we were eliminated by LASK Linz and this year by Manchester City, one of the best teams in the world.

"It`s always positive not to lose away to a powerful opponent like this."

Manchester City sailed through to the Champions League quarter-finals after they played out a 0-0 draw against Sporting in their last-16 second leg on Wednesday, progressing 5-0 on aggregate.

Manchester City sailed through to the Champions League quarter-finals after they played out a 0-0 draw against Sporting in their last-16 second leg on Wednesday, progressing 5-0 on aggregate. City had already done the hard work in their thrashing of the Portuguese side in the first leg three weeks ago in Lisbon, and could take it easy against an inferior Sporting at the Etihad Stadium. Coach Pep Guardiola could afford to make several changes to his starting team, with one of those players coming in - Raheem Sterling - going closest to scoring in the first half after his close-range effort was saved. Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, making his first Champions League start of the season, did have the ball in the net early in the second half, but his clever finish was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Paulinho almost earned Sporting victory late on, but it was not to be as City held on to ensure they have now reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in each of the last five seasons, the only English side to do so over this period. The achievement was not lost on Guardiola as he looks to win the only major trophy that has eluded him during his time at City. "The last decade, step by step, the club grew and for many years we were there in the Champions League and qualifying for the last 16," he told BT Sport. "Now again we`re in the quarter-final and among the best eight teams in Europe. When I qualify for the quarter-finals, I enjoy it, when I qualify for the last 16, too. I know how difficult it is." Sporting coach Ruben Amorim was certainly happy to see the back of City. "We were very unlucky in the draw," he told Eleven Sports. "Last year we were eliminated by LASK Linz and this year by Manchester City, one of the best teams in the world. "It`s always positive not to lose away to a powerful opponent like this."

Manchester City sail through to last eight of Champions League after Sporting stalemate

German giants Bayern Munich hammered&nbsp;Austrian club&nbsp;RB Salzburg 7-1 in&nbsp;the second leg of the&nbsp;UEFA Champions League&nbsp;Round of 16 clash. During the match, Robert&nbsp;Lewandowski made history after his memorable performance on the field.&nbsp;Lewandowski scored the first three goals to attain a special feat.

Lewandowski&nbsp;opened the scoring for his side from the spot after being brought down in the penalty box in the 12th minute. Soon, he&nbsp;doubled the tally 9 minutes later courtesy another penalty. In the 23rd minute, the Polish striker scored his third goal and completed the fastest hat-trick ever in the history of the Champions League. It becomes all the more special as&nbsp;none among Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have managed to complete a treble so early in a contest in the history of the competition.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-robert-lewandowskis-hat-trick-helps-bayern-munich-register-clinical-win-over-salzburg-460478">Champions League: Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick helps Bayern Munich register clinical win over Salzburg</a>

The previous record was held by AC Milan's Marco Simone, who had completed his&nbsp;hat-trick in 24 minutes against Rosenborg in 1996. Courtesy his dream run&nbsp;against Salzburg, Lewandowski also took his goal-tally to 12 in the ongoing CL 2021-22 season. With this, he is now at the top-spot in the most number of goals scored in the current edition, ahead of Ajax's&nbsp;Sebastian Haller.

Lewandowski has been having a dream run since the past few years and has grown in stature ever since. He will be eager to continue with the momentum in Bayern's next clash. The table-toppers will lock horns with&nbsp;Hoffenheim on March 12.

German giants Bayern Munich hammered Austrian club RB Salzburg 7-1 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. During the match, Robert Lewandowski made history after his memorable performance on the field.

German giants Bayern Munich hammered Austrian club RB Salzburg 7-1 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. During the match, Robert Lewandowski made history after his memorable performance on the field. Lewandowski scored the first three goals to attain a special feat. Lewandowski opened the scoring for his side from the spot after being brought down in the penalty box in the 12th minute. Soon, he doubled the tally 9 minutes later courtesy another penalty. In the 23rd minute, the Polish striker scored his third goal and completed the fastest hat-trick ever in the history of the Champions League. It becomes all the more special as none among Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have managed to complete a treble so early in a contest in the history of the competition. ALSO READ | Champions League: Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick helps Bayern Munich register clinical win over Salzburg The previous record was held by AC Milan's Marco Simone, who had completed his hat-trick in 24 minutes against Rosenborg in 1996. Courtesy his dream run against Salzburg, Lewandowski also took his goal-tally to 12 in the ongoing CL 2021-22 season. With this, he is now at the top-spot in the most number of goals scored in the current edition, ahead of Ajax's Sebastian Haller. Lewandowski has been having a dream run since the past few years and has grown in stature ever since. He will be eager to continue with the momentum in Bayern's next clash. The table-toppers will lock horns with Hoffenheim on March 12.

Lewandowski attains special feat, not even achieved by Ronaldo and Messi, in Champions League history

Chelsea recorded a loss of 153.4 million pounds ($207.34 million) for the year ending June 30 2021, with the Premier League club saying that the COVID-19 pandemic had a "severe impact" on their ability to generate revenues.

Chelsea's turnover increased to 434.9 million pounds from 407.4 million the previous year after their Champions League triumph and due to amounts being carried forward from the extension of the 2019-20 season into the 2020-21 financial year.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/la-liga-returns-after-winter-break-despite-spike-in-covid-19-cases-441257">La Liga returns after winter break despite spike in COVID-19 cases</a>

Their matchday income fell to 7.7 million pounds from 54.5 million last year, while commercial revenue dropped from 170.4 million pounds last year to 153.6 million as most of the Premier League games were held behind closed doors due to COVID rules.

"Had it not been for the match-day impact of the pandemic, we are confident we would have achieved record turnover this year," chairman Bruce Buck said in a statement

"The strength, stability and long-term approach of our financial operation means our revenue streams remain strong, however COVID-19 will continue to have an impact going into the next financial year as our commercial operations resume normal activities."

Chelsea said the only revenue stream that has shown a year-on-year increase is broadcasting revenue which has jumped from 182.5 million pounds to 273.6 million.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-must-focus-on-getting-better-as-a-team-not-individuals-says-manager-ralf-rangnick-441011">Manchester United must focus on getting better as a team not individuals, says manager Ralf Rangnick</a>

The London club added that they invested 220.8 million pounds in the playing squad during the 2020-21 financial year, including existing player contract renegotiations.

Thomas Tuchel's team are second in the table on 42 points after 20 matches, eight points behind Manchester City. They host third-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand, on Sunday.

Chelsea recorded a loss of 153.4 million pounds ($207.34 million) for the year ending June 30 2021, with the Premier League club saying that the COVID-19 pandemic had a "severe impact" on their ability to generate revenues.

Chelsea recorded a loss of 153.4 million pounds ($207.34 million) for the year ending June 30 2021, with the Premier League club saying that the COVID-19 pandemic had a "severe impact" on their ability to generate revenues. Chelsea's turnover increased to 434.9 million pounds from 407.4 million the previous year after their Champions League triumph and due to amounts being carried forward from the extension of the 2019-20 season into the 2020-21 financial year. ALSO READ: La Liga returns after winter break despite spike in COVID-19 cases Their matchday income fell to 7.7 million pounds from 54.5 million last year, while commercial revenue dropped from 170.4 million pounds last year to 153.6 million as most of the Premier League games were held behind closed doors due to COVID rules. "Had it not been for the match-day impact of the pandemic, we are confident we would have achieved record turnover this year," chairman Bruce Buck said in a statement "The strength, stability and long-term approach of our financial operation means our revenue streams remain strong, however COVID-19 will continue to have an impact going into the next financial year as our commercial operations resume normal activities." Chelsea said the only revenue stream that has shown a year-on-year increase is broadcasting revenue which has jumped from 182.5 million pounds to 273.6 million. ALSO READ: Manchester United must focus on getting better as a team not individuals, says manager Ralf Rangnick The London club added that they invested 220.8 million pounds in the playing squad during the 2020-21 financial year, including existing player contract renegotiations. Thomas Tuchel's team are second in the table on 42 points after 20 matches, eight points behind Manchester City. They host third-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand, on Sunday.

Chelsea record 153.4 mn pounds loss for financial year ending in June, says COVID-19 had a 'severe impact'

2021 was eventful for sports as fans finally returned to the stadiums in many parts of the world while several major events were staged successfully after an unexpected halt last year. It was an year filled with some enthralling sporting action across the globe which saw some familiar, and some new names emerge as champions in their respective disciplines.

While Lionel Messi added another glorious chapter to his footballing legacy with a record seventh Ballon D'Or, India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra etched his name in history with an elusive gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Chelsea went on a fairytale run in the Champions League and ended up becoming the champions of Europe while New Zealand became the first-ever World Test Champions in cricket history.

Indian cricket team missed out on an ICC trophy once again this year as the drought extended but the team scripted history Down Under as they went on to record their second successive Test series win in Australia. Despite missing regular skipper Virat Kohli and several other senior players, India clinched the four-match series 2-1.

Here is a look back at some of the top winners from sporting events across the globe in 2021:

India win 2nd successive Test series in Australia

2021 started on a brilliant note for the Indian cricket team as the Ajinkya Rahane-led side defeated Australia in their own backyard in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 in January. After suffering a humiliating 8-wicket defeat in the series-opener in Adelaide, India bounced back to win the next game before drawing the third Test. India then ended Australia's dominance at The Gabba to clinch the series 2-1. It was India's second successive Test series win on Australian soil.

New Zealand win World Test Championship

New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton to become the maiden Test champions of the world. The Kiwis were asked to chase a mere target of 139 runs in their second innings of the summit clash. They rode on superb knocks from Kane Williamson (52*) and Ross Taylor (47*) to win the World Test Championship final.

Neeraj Chopra clinches gold at Tokyo Olympics&nbsp;

Neeraj Chopra became the first athlete from India to win a gold medal at the Olympics in track and field. He brought an end to the country's 100-year-long wait for a gold medal in track and field with a stunning throw of 87.58m in the final of men's javelin throw to script history. Neeraj was India's only gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics this year.

PV Sindhu wins 2nd Olympic medal&nbsp;

Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win two individual Olympic medals in Tokyo this year. After her silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Sindhu clinched bronze at the Tokyo Olympics this year to achieve the elusive feat. Sindhu defeated China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match to finish with back-to-back medals at the Olympics. She is only the second Indian after wrestler Sushil Kumar to have won two individual Olympic medals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/super-seven-the-heroes-of-indias-best-ever-olympic-campaign-in-tokyo-436350">Super Seven! The heroes of India's best-ever Olympic campaign in Tokyo</a>

Indian hockey team wins an Olympic medal after 41 years

The Indian men's hockey team re-established their credentials as one of the top sides in the world with a superb show in the Tokyo Olympics this year. The Manpreet Singh-led side brought an end to a 41-year-long wait for an Olympic medal by clinching bronze. India defeated Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal match with the help of goals from Simranjeet Singh, Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh.

Chelsea win the Champions League title

Not many had expected Chelsea to win the Champions League as the Blues were struggling in the Premier League when Thomas Tuchel had taken over from Frank Lampard in January this year. Tuchel worked wonders with the squad and inspired them to a memorable Champions League triumph. Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the final with the help of the goal from Kai Havertz to lift their second Champions League title.

Chennai Super Kings bag fourth IPL title&nbsp;

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) completed a fairytale redemption to clinch their fourth IPL title this year. CSK had finished seventh in the previous season and had failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in history. However, Dhoni &amp; Co. went on to script an incredible comeback this year as they became the first team to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2021 before defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final to lift the trophy.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-ms-dhonis-chennai-super-kings-scripted-a-fairytale-comeback-in-ipl-2021-440193">How MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings scripted a fairytale comeback in IPL 2021</a>

Australia win T20 World Cup 2021

Not many had given Australia a chance at winning the T20 World Cup 2021 but the Aaron Finch-led side went on to claim their maiden title after beating New Zealand in the final. Australia finished second in their group to qualify for the semi-finals before beating Pakistan in a thrilling semi-final to enter the summit clash. They got the better of New Zealand by 8 wickets in the final to lift the T20 World Cup 2021 title.

Lionel Messi wins record 7th Ballon d'Or

Argentine legend Lionel Messi beat Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea's Jorginho to bag a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or this year. Messi had led Argentina to a Copa America triumph and had yet another magnificent season with Barcelona which saw him bagging the top honour for the seventh time in his career.

Max Verstappen wins Formula One title

Red Bull's Max Verstappen beat the great Lewis Hamilton to clinch his maiden Formula One World Championship title this year. Verstappen denied Hamilton a record eight title, overtaking the Mercedes driver in the final lap to win the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and finish on top of the podium. It was one of the most thrilling finishes to a season in Formula One history.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/meet-five-golden-heroes-from-indias-historic-paralympics-campaign-in-2021-438186">Meet five golden heroes from India’s historic Paralympics campaign in 2021</a>

Kidambi&nbsp;Srikanth 1st&nbsp;Indian male to win silver at BWF World Championships

Ace Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth created history earlier this month by becoming the first Indian man to win a silver medal at the BWF World Championships. Srikanth defeated Indian compatriot Lakshya Sen in the semi-final before going down against Singapore's Loh Kean Yew 21-15, 22-20 in straight sets in the final to miss out on the gold. Nonetheless, he became the first Indian man to win a silver at the showpiece event.

2021 was eventful for sports as fans finally returned to the stadiums in many parts of the world while several major events were staged successfully after an unexpected halt last year.

2021 was eventful for sports as fans finally returned to the stadiums in many parts of the world while several major events were staged successfully after an unexpected halt last year. It was an year filled with some enthralling sporting action across the globe which saw some familiar, and some new names emerge as champions in their respective disciplines. While Lionel Messi added another glorious chapter to his footballing legacy with a record seventh Ballon D'Or, India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra etched his name in history with an elusive gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Chelsea went on a fairytale run in the Champions League and ended up becoming the champions of Europe while New Zealand became the first-ever World Test Champions in cricket history. Indian cricket team missed out on an ICC trophy once again this year as the drought extended but the team scripted history Down Under as they went on to record their second successive Test series win in Australia. Despite missing regular skipper Virat Kohli and several other senior players, India clinched the four-match series 2-1. Here is a look back at some of the top winners from sporting events across the globe in 2021: India win 2nd successive Test series in Australia 2021 started on a brilliant note for the Indian cricket team as the Ajinkya Rahane-led side defeated Australia in their own backyard in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 in January. After suffering a humiliating 8-wicket defeat in the series-opener in Adelaide, India bounced back to win the next game before drawing the third Test. India then ended Australia's dominance at The Gabba to clinch the series 2-1. It was India's second successive Test series win on Australian soil. New Zealand win World Test Championship New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets in the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton to become the maiden Test champions of the world. The Kiwis were asked to chase a mere target of 139 runs in their second innings of the summit clash. They rode on superb knocks from Kane Williamson (52*) and Ross Taylor (47*) to win the World Test Championship final. Neeraj Chopra clinches gold at Tokyo Olympics Neeraj Chopra became the first athlete from India to win a gold medal at the Olympics in track and field. He brought an end to the country's 100-year-long wait for a gold medal in track and field with a stunning throw of 87.58m in the final of men's javelin throw to script history. Neeraj was India's only gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics this year. PV Sindhu wins 2nd Olympic medal Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win two individual Olympic medals in Tokyo this year. After her silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Sindhu clinched bronze at the Tokyo Olympics this year to achieve the elusive feat. Sindhu defeated China's He Bing Jiao in the bronze medal match to finish with back-to-back medals at the Olympics. She is only the second Indian after wrestler Sushil Kumar to have won two individual Olympic medals. Also Read: Super Seven! The heroes of India's best-ever Olympic campaign in Tokyo Indian hockey team wins an Olympic medal after 41 years The Indian men's hockey team re-established their credentials as one of the top sides in the world with a superb show in the Tokyo Olympics this year. The Manpreet Singh-led side brought an end to a 41-year-long wait for an Olympic medal by clinching bronze. India defeated Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal match with the help of goals from Simranjeet Singh, Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh. Chelsea win the Champions League title Not many had expected Chelsea to win the Champions League as the Blues were struggling in the Premier League when Thomas Tuchel had taken over from Frank Lampard in January this year. Tuchel worked wonders with the squad and inspired them to a memorable Champions League triumph. Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the final with the help of the goal from Kai Havertz to lift their second Champions League title. Chennai Super Kings bag fourth IPL title MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) completed a fairytale redemption to clinch their fourth IPL title this year. CSK had finished seventh in the previous season and had failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in history. However, Dhoni & Co. went on to script an incredible comeback this year as they became the first team to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2021 before defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final to lift the trophy. Also Read: How MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings scripted a fairytale comeback in IPL 2021 Australia win T20 World Cup 2021 Not many had given Australia a chance at winning the T20 World Cup 2021 but the Aaron Finch-led side went on to claim their maiden title after beating New Zealand in the final. Australia finished second in their group to qualify for the semi-finals before beating Pakistan in a thrilling semi-final to enter the summit clash. They got the better of New Zealand by 8 wickets in the final to lift the T20 World Cup 2021 title. Lionel Messi wins record 7th Ballon d'Or Argentine legend Lionel Messi beat Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea's Jorginho to bag a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or this year. Messi had led Argentina to a Copa America triumph and had yet another magnificent season with Barcelona which saw him bagging the top honour for the seventh time in his career. Max Verstappen wins Formula One title Red Bull's Max Verstappen beat the great Lewis Hamilton to clinch his maiden Formula One World Championship title this year. Verstappen denied Hamilton a record eight title, overtaking the Mercedes driver in the final lap to win the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and finish on top of the podium. It was one of the most thrilling finishes to a season in Formula One history. Also Read: Meet five golden heroes from India’s historic Paralympics campaign in 2021 Kidambi Srikanth 1st Indian male to win silver at BWF World Championships Ace Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth created history earlier this month by becoming the first Indian man to win a silver medal at the BWF World Championships. Srikanth defeated Indian compatriot Lakshya Sen in the semi-final before going down against Singapore's Loh Kean Yew 21-15, 22-20 in straight sets in the final to miss out on the gold. Nonetheless, he became the first Indian man to win a silver at the showpiece event.

Lionel Messi's 7th Ballon d'Or to Neeraj Chopra's elusive gold - Who won what in 2021

In an embarrassing feat, UEFA was forced to redo Champions League last-16 draw after technical error.

UEFA forced to redo Champions League last-16 draw after technical error

UEFA had to redo the Champions League Round of 16 draw for the ongoing season on Monday after a series of errors in the initial draw. Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) could have been up against Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United as per the first draw which was later deemed void by UEFA after the European football's governing body realised its mistake. The draw took place again as the final list of Round of 16 fixtures were revealed.

What went wrong in the first draw?

The Champions League Round of 16 draw started with Real Madrid getting drawn against Benfica for the first tie. However, confusion prevailed after Manchester United were mistakenly paired up against Villarreal. United couldn't have faced Villarreal in the Round of 16 as both teams were in the same group.

The error was identified and corrected immediately as UEFA called for Villarreal to be drawn against Manchester City, who were the toppers of their respective group. Another error that went unnoticed in the first draw was when Manchester United's ball was not placed in the bowl to be drawn against Atletico Madrid.

United, who topped Group F, should have been in contention to face Atletico Madrid, however, the ball with their name was not picked. The error went unnoticed as United ended up drawing against PSG, however, UEFA realised its mistake and reconducted the draw just hours later.

The video of the substantial error went viral on social media with fans talking about the same as UEFA was quickly forced into action.

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| Manchester United’s ball for the draw was NOT included in the Atlético Madrid draw. <a href="https://t.co/6YgvyYZ1vG">pic.twitter.com/6YgvyYZ1vG</a>
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) <a href="https://twitter.com/atletiuniverse/status/1470358281936044035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-last-16-full-draw-psg-drawn-against-real-madrid-man-utd-to-take-on-atletico-madrid-436632">Champions League last 16 full draw: PSG drawn against Real Madrid, Man Utd to take on Atletico&nbsp;</a>

What did UEFA say?

UEFA was quick to release a statement on the matter and said there was a 'technical problem' due to the software of an external provider which led to the series of errors in the initial draw. Atletico Madrid had informed they took up the matter with UEFA following which the governing body's statement was released which also confirmed that the entire draw will be redone.

"Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone at 1500 CET," UEFA said in a statement.

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Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
— UEFA (@UEFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UEFA/status/1470373779448733699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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What happened in the revised Champions League Round of 16 draw?

While Messi and Ronaldo's reunion was spoiled as the initial draw was declared void, the Argentinian legend's return to Santiago Bernabeu was confirmed as PSG were drawn against Real Madrid. Manchester United, who were initially pitted against PSG, will now face Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16. Defending champions Chelsea will face Lille while Liverpool and Manchester City will be up against Inter Miland and Sporting Lisbon respectively.

Here is the final Champions League Round of 16 draw:

Red Bull Salzburg vs Bayern Munich 
Sporting vs Manchester City 
Benfica vs Ajax 
Chelsea vs Lille 
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United 
Villarreal vs Juventus 
Inter vs Liverpool 
PSG vs Real Madrid

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

UEFA had to redo the Champions League Round of 16 draw for the ongoing season on Monday after a series of errors in the initial draw. Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) could have been up against Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United as per the first draw which was later deemed void by UEFA after the European football's governing body realised its mistake.

UEFA had to redo the Champions League Round of 16 draw for the ongoing season on Monday after a series of errors in the initial draw. Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) could have been up against Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United as per the first draw which was later deemed void by UEFA after the European football's governing body realised its mistake. The draw took place again as the final list of Round of 16 fixtures were revealed. What went wrong in the first draw? The Champions League Round of 16 draw started with Real Madrid getting drawn against Benfica for the first tie. However, confusion prevailed after Manchester United were mistakenly paired up against Villarreal. United couldn't have faced Villarreal in the Round of 16 as both teams were in the same group. The error was identified and corrected immediately as UEFA called for Villarreal to be drawn against Manchester City, who were the toppers of their respective group. Another error that went unnoticed in the first draw was when Manchester United's ball was not placed in the bowl to be drawn against Atletico Madrid. United, who topped Group F, should have been in contention to face Atletico Madrid, however, the ball with their name was not picked. The error went unnoticed as United ended up drawing against PSG, however, UEFA realised its mistake and reconducted the draw just hours later. The video of the substantial error went viral on social media with fans talking about the same as UEFA was quickly forced into action. | Manchester United’s ball for the draw was NOT included in the Atlético Madrid draw. pic.twitter.com/6YgvyYZ1vG — Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) December 13, 2021 × Also Read: Champions League last 16 full draw: PSG drawn against Real Madrid, Man Utd to take on Atletico What did UEFA say? UEFA was quick to release a statement on the matter and said there was a 'technical problem' due to the software of an external provider which led to the series of errors in the initial draw. Atletico Madrid had informed they took up the matter with UEFA following which the governing body's statement was released which also confirmed that the entire draw will be redone. "Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone at 1500 CET," UEFA said in a statement. Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. — UEFA (@UEFA) December 13, 2021 × What happened in the revised Champions League Round of 16 draw? While Messi and Ronaldo's reunion was spoiled as the initial draw was declared void, the Argentinian legend's return to Santiago Bernabeu was confirmed as PSG were drawn against Real Madrid. Manchester United, who were initially pitted against PSG, will now face Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16. Defending champions Chelsea will face Lille while Liverpool and Manchester City will be up against Inter Miland and Sporting Lisbon respectively. Here is the final Champions League Round of 16 draw: Red Bull Salzburg vs Bayern Munich Sporting vs Manchester City Benfica vs Ajax Chelsea vs Lille Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United Villarreal vs Juventus Inter vs Liverpool PSG vs Real Madrid

Explained: Why was UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw conducted twice?

A second-string Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw with Switzerland's Young Boys in Champions League Group F in a poor quality match at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

United were already assured of top spot in the group and a place in the last 16 while Young Boys finished bottom and were eliminated.

With little at stake, interim United manager Ralf Rangnick made 11 changes from the team which beat Crystal Palace on Sunday and if it was a chance for some of those left out of recent line-ups to stake their claim, few would have impressed.

Rangnick's preference for high-intensity pressing football had been evident in the win over Palace but this, perhaps understandably given the unfamiliar selection, was a ramshackle display.

One of those who did make a case for a starting place was Mason Greenwood and it was the forward who gave United the ideal start, producing a super volley from a Luke Shaw cross to put the home side ahead in the ninth minute.

Rangnick called Greenwood a "massive talent", praising him also for the work he did to set up Juan Mata for a chance for a second goal which the Spaniard was unable to make the most of the opportunity.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-salah-origi-star-as-liverpool-clean-sweep-group-by-eliminating-milan-in-last-match-435077">Champions League: Salah, Origi star as Liverpool clean sweep group by eliminating Milan in last match</a>

United were sloppy, though, and conceded several openings for David Wagner's Swiss side who drew level three minutes before the interval.

United's Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek, one of those who need to impress, poorly gave away the ball on the edge of his own box and Fabian Rieder curled it into the corner.

United struggled to find any fluency after the break and Young Boys wasted several chance to win the game, most noticeably when Quentin Maceiras was found in space on the penalty spot but poked his shot wide. 
&nbsp;

ACADEMY PRODUCTS

Rangnick, who had handed starts to youngsters Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga, introduced four academy products after the break included Charlie Savage, the 18-year old son of former Leicester City and Wales midfielder Robbie.

"There were quite a few debuts and game time for players who desperately need game time. I wouldn't say I was happy but it was okay," Rangnick said of the performance.

"I was fully aware before the game that with this team that we played today, we haven't played together as team. The first half hour we did quite okay. We had a few unforced errors but had control of the game. We should have been 2-0 or 3-0 up. We had some great opportunities but we didn't score," he said.

But Rangnick was irritated by the way United had tried to play out from the back.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-legend-pele-hospitalized-again-to-undergo-colon-tumor-treatment-435249">Football legend Pele hospitalized again to undergo colon tumor treatment</a>

"What was a little bit annoying was we gave the ball away and played too many balls into the first line of their (pressing) area.

Whenever we played the ball into the second or third line, we always made (danger). I told them that before the game but they still played into that first line," he said.

Second place in the group will not be decided until Thursday after the match between Atalanta and Villarreal was postponed because of heavy snow in Bergamo, Italy.

A second-string Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw with Switzerland's Young Boys in Champions League Group F in a poor quality match at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

A second-string Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw with Switzerland's Young Boys in Champions League Group F in a poor quality match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. United were already assured of top spot in the group and a place in the last 16 while Young Boys finished bottom and were eliminated. With little at stake, interim United manager Ralf Rangnick made 11 changes from the team which beat Crystal Palace on Sunday and if it was a chance for some of those left out of recent line-ups to stake their claim, few would have impressed. Rangnick's preference for high-intensity pressing football had been evident in the win over Palace but this, perhaps understandably given the unfamiliar selection, was a ramshackle display. One of those who did make a case for a starting place was Mason Greenwood and it was the forward who gave United the ideal start, producing a super volley from a Luke Shaw cross to put the home side ahead in the ninth minute. Rangnick called Greenwood a "massive talent", praising him also for the work he did to set up Juan Mata for a chance for a second goal which the Spaniard was unable to make the most of the opportunity. ALSO READ: Champions League: Salah, Origi star as Liverpool clean sweep group by eliminating Milan in last match United were sloppy, though, and conceded several openings for David Wagner's Swiss side who drew level three minutes before the interval. United's Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek, one of those who need to impress, poorly gave away the ball on the edge of his own box and Fabian Rieder curled it into the corner. United struggled to find any fluency after the break and Young Boys wasted several chance to win the game, most noticeably when Quentin Maceiras was found in space on the penalty spot but poked his shot wide. ACADEMY PRODUCTS Rangnick, who had handed starts to youngsters Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga, introduced four academy products after the break included Charlie Savage, the 18-year old son of former Leicester City and Wales midfielder Robbie. "There were quite a few debuts and game time for players who desperately need game time. I wouldn't say I was happy but it was okay," Rangnick said of the performance. "I was fully aware before the game that with this team that we played today, we haven't played together as team. The first half hour we did quite okay. We had a few unforced errors but had control of the game. We should have been 2-0 or 3-0 up. We had some great opportunities but we didn't score," he said. But Rangnick was irritated by the way United had tried to play out from the back. ALSO READ: Football legend Pele hospitalized again to undergo colon tumor treatment "What was a little bit annoying was we gave the ball away and played too many balls into the first line of their (pressing) area. Whenever we played the ball into the second or third line, we always made (danger). I told them that before the game but they still played into that first line," he said. Second place in the group will not be decided until Thursday after the match between Atalanta and Villarreal was postponed because of heavy snow in Bergamo, Italy.

Champions League: Manchester United held by Young Boys 1-1 in their last group encounter

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho`s efforts ended Manchester United`s woeful recent run as the Red Devils defeated Villarreal in the Champions League group stage game. Interim manager Michael Carrick`s side defeated Villarreal 2-0 on Wednesday and now the club has qualified for the last 16 stage, as group winners for the knockout phases. Carrick made four changes from Saturday`s 4-1 defeat at Watford, leaving Bruno Fernandes on the bench but his side still struggled to find a goal in the first half.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-liverpool-cannot-be-complacent-against-porto-says-manager-jurgen-klopp-431453">Champions League: Liverpool cannot be complacent against Porto, says manager Jurgen Klopp</a>

However, the Portuguese captain Ronaldo came with a breakthrough and scored his sixth Champions League goal this season and his 10th overall. Later on, Sancho put the final nail in the coffin after hitting the back of the nets in the 90th minute of the match. With this loss, Villarreal will have to fight it out with Atalanta to secure a position in the last 16 of the Champions League. Manchester United will now be facing Chelsea for their next encounter on Sunday at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho`s efforts ended Manchester United`s woeful recent run as the Red Devils defeated Villarreal in the Champions League group stage game.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho`s efforts ended Manchester United`s woeful recent run as the Red Devils defeated Villarreal in the Champions League group stage game. Interim manager Michael Carrick`s side defeated Villarreal 2-0 on Wednesday and now the club has qualified for the last 16 stage, as group winners for the knockout phases. Carrick made four changes from Saturday`s 4-1 defeat at Watford, leaving Bruno Fernandes on the bench but his side still struggled to find a goal in the first half. ALSO READ | Champions League: Liverpool cannot be complacent against Porto, says manager Jurgen Klopp However, the Portuguese captain Ronaldo came with a breakthrough and scored his sixth Champions League goal this season and his 10th overall. Later on, Sancho put the final nail in the coffin after hitting the back of the nets in the 90th minute of the match. With this loss, Villarreal will have to fight it out with Atalanta to secure a position in the last 16 of the Champions League. Manchester United will now be facing Chelsea for their next encounter on Sunday at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London.

Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho star in Man United's 2-0 win over Villarreal

Cristiano Ronaldo`s goal in the dying minutes of the Champions League fixture against Atalanta helped Manchester United walk away with a point.United and Atalanta played out a 2-2 draw on Tuesday in the Champions League. For Atalanta, Josip Iicic and Duvan Zapata got among the scoring sheet while Ronaldo scored both the goals for United. Heading into the dying minutes of the game, it seemed United would lose the match as the side was trailing 1-2, but Ronaldo`s brilliance helped the side in ending the match in a draw.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-citys-game-against-club-brugge-more-important-than-united-says-pep-guardiola-426207">Manchester City's game against Club Brugge more important than United, says Pep Guardiola</a>

United is at the top spot in Group F with seven points from four games while Atalanta is at the third spot.In other matches, Barcelona defeated Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 while Bayern Munich thrashed Benfica 5-0.Juventus outclassed Zenit 4-2 while Villarreal defeated Young Boys 2-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo`s goal in the dying minutes of the Champions League fixture against Atalanta helped Manchester United walk away with a point.United and Atalanta played out a 2-2 draw on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo`s goal in the dying minutes of the Champions League fixture against Atalanta helped Manchester United walk away with a point.United and Atalanta played out a 2-2 draw on Tuesday in the Champions League. For Atalanta, Josip Iicic and Duvan Zapata got among the scoring sheet while Ronaldo scored both the goals for United. Heading into the dying minutes of the game, it seemed United would lose the match as the side was trailing 1-2, but Ronaldo`s brilliance helped the side in ending the match in a draw. ALSO READ | Manchester City's game against Club Brugge more important than United, says Pep Guardiola United is at the top spot in Group F with seven points from four games while Atalanta is at the third spot.In other matches, Barcelona defeated Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 while Bayern Munich thrashed Benfica 5-0.Juventus outclassed Zenit 4-2 while Villarreal defeated Young Boys 2-0.

Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo scores brace as Man United play out draw versus Atalanta

Thomas Mueller said Bayern Munich's dominant 3-0 win at Barcelona on Tuesday sent an important message to their rivals for this season's Champions League title.

The Bundesliga giants handed Barcelona a brutal demonstration of how far their opponents have fallen as Mueller scored the opening goal at the Camp Nou before Robert Lewandowski netted twice.

Without Lionel Messi for a first European campaign since 2003, Barca were outplayed by a Bayern team who could have scored more after weathering an opening storm by the hosts.

Mueller put Bayern ahead when his long-range shot took a deflection which wrong-footed Barca's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen after 34 minutes.

"From the middle of the first half, things went much better," said Mueller.

"We had some good counter-attacks and won the ball, we didn't allow a lot at the back, but we could have scored a goal or two more up front.

"If you win 3-0 here at the start of the competition, that's a very important signal.&nbsp;We are very pleased."

Having netted 41 Bundesliga goals last season to break Gerd Mueller's 49-year-old record, Lewandowski has picked up in 2021/22 where he left off.

The Poland striker already has 10 goals for Bayern in six games this season and when Jamal Musiala clattered the post early in the second half, Lewandowski tapped in the rebound.

He grabbed his second and Bayern's late third after finding his way through a posse of defenders.

Lewandowski described it as a "perfect day" for Bayern against a Barcelona side which failed to muster a single shot on target.

"We showed from the first minute that we wanted to win here.&nbsp; We were in control of the game, that was important. It was a perfect day."

Thomas Mueller said Bayern Munich's dominant 3-0 win at Barcelona on Tuesday sent an important message to their rivals for this season's Champions League title. The Bundesliga giants handed Barcelona a brutal demonstration of how far their opponents have fallen as Mueller scored the opening goal at the Camp Nou before Robert Lewandowski netted twice.

Thomas Mueller said Bayern Munich's dominant 3-0 win at Barcelona on Tuesday sent an important message to their rivals for this season's Champions League title. The Bundesliga giants handed Barcelona a brutal demonstration of how far their opponents have fallen as Mueller scored the opening goal at the Camp Nou before Robert Lewandowski netted twice. Without Lionel Messi for a first European campaign since 2003, Barca were outplayed by a Bayern team who could have scored more after weathering an opening storm by the hosts. Mueller put Bayern ahead when his long-range shot took a deflection which wrong-footed Barca's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen after 34 minutes. "From the middle of the first half, things went much better," said Mueller. "We had some good counter-attacks and won the ball, we didn't allow a lot at the back, but we could have scored a goal or two more up front. "If you win 3-0 here at the start of the competition, that's a very important signal. We are very pleased." Having netted 41 Bundesliga goals last season to break Gerd Mueller's 49-year-old record, Lewandowski has picked up in 2021/22 where he left off. The Poland striker already has 10 goals for Bayern in six games this season and when Jamal Musiala clattered the post early in the second half, Lewandowski tapped in the rebound. He grabbed his second and Bayern's late third after finding his way through a posse of defenders. Lewandowski described it as a "perfect day" for Bayern against a Barcelona side which failed to muster a single shot on target. "We showed from the first minute that we wanted to win here. We were in control of the game, that was important. It was a perfect day."

Bayern Munich sent 'important signal' in Barcelona win says Thomas Mueller

Manchester City`s previous Champions League campaign was not a "failure" despite their loss to Chelsea in the final, manager Pep Guardiola said ahead of their Group A opener against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. 
 
City were denied their first Champions League title after Chelsea`s 1-0 win in Porto in May, after which Guardiola was criticised for his team selection. 
 
The 50-year-old said City used the disappointment of their quarter-final exit to Olympique Lyonnais in 2019-20 as a catalyst to reach the final last season, and he hopes that the result against Chelsea will similarly aid their progress. 
 
"Man City made a step forward last season, we improved a lot," Guardiola told a news conference before Wednesday`s game at the Etihad. "We had 13 games and we won 11. We played incredibly well in Porto when we drew and deserved to win. 
 
"People can say Man City was a failure but it was an incredible achievement last season playing really well in many of the games and losing against a big contender. The players have feelings and soul and it hurts when you cannot achieve something. For them, it`s a new challenge to try. These guys win three of last four Premier League (titles) and we always have the feeling we can do better." 
 
City are in a tricky Group A alongside Paris St Germain, Belgian side Club Brugge and Leipzig, and Guardiola emphasised the need for his team to get off to a good start at home. Guardiola, who won the Champions League twice as Barcelona manager, added that the competition is now without a clear favourite owing to its unpredictability. 
 
"There are many strong teams. It is completely different to when I started with Barcelona. The group stage is difficult. Leipzig are always complicated," he said. 
 
"It is so important to start well, especially at home. When you have such a tough schedule, people go with national teams and come back with injury, and have to recover for a long time, you have to think about it day by day."

Manchester City`s previous Champions League campaign was not a "failure" despite their loss to Chelsea in the final, manager Pep Guardiola said ahead of their Group A opener against RB Leipzig on Wednesday.

Manchester City`s previous Champions League campaign was not a "failure" despite their loss to Chelsea in the final, manager Pep Guardiola said ahead of their Group A opener against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. City were denied their first Champions League title after Chelsea`s 1-0 win in Porto in May, after which Guardiola was criticised for his team selection. The 50-year-old said City used the disappointment of their quarter-final exit to Olympique Lyonnais in 2019-20 as a catalyst to reach the final last season, and he hopes that the result against Chelsea will similarly aid their progress. "Man City made a step forward last season, we improved a lot," Guardiola told a news conference before Wednesday`s game at the Etihad. "We had 13 games and we won 11. We played incredibly well in Porto when we drew and deserved to win. "People can say Man City was a failure but it was an incredible achievement last season playing really well in many of the games and losing against a big contender. The players have feelings and soul and it hurts when you cannot achieve something. For them, it`s a new challenge to try. These guys win three of last four Premier League (titles) and we always have the feeling we can do better." City are in a tricky Group A alongside Paris St Germain, Belgian side Club Brugge and Leipzig, and Guardiola emphasised the need for his team to get off to a good start at home. Guardiola, who won the Champions League twice as Barcelona manager, added that the competition is now without a clear favourite owing to its unpredictability. "There are many strong teams. It is completely different to when I started with Barcelona. The group stage is difficult. Leipzig are always complicated," he said. "It is so important to start well, especially at home. When you have such a tough schedule, people go with national teams and come back with injury, and have to recover for a long time, you have to think about it day by day."

Pep Guardiola denies Manchester City were Champions League failures last season

Lionel&nbsp;Messi said on Wednesday that he is&nbsp;'extremely happy' after joining&nbsp;star-packed French football club Paris St Germain and added that his aim is to win the Champions League for the team.

The 34-year-old superstar signed a two-year deal with PSG on Tuesday with the option of an additional year.

"Everything about the club matches my football ambitions," said&nbsp;Messi, who was given a hero's welcome by the PSG fans when he arrived in the French capital on Tuesday.

"I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes."

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The move will add the Argentine, one of the best players of his generation, to an already formidable PSG attack that includes Brazil's Neymar and French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe.

In pics |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/photos/from-lionel-messi-to-sergio-ramos-paris-saint-germain-fifa-like-playing-xi-for-upcoming-ligue-1-season-404576" hreflang="en">From Lionel Messi to Sergio Ramos: PSG's 'FIFA-like' playing XI for upcoming season</a>

The arrival of Barcelona's record scorer, with 672 goals, will boost Qatari-owned PSG's ambitions to win the prestigious, and lucrative, European Champions League for the first time.

Nasser al-Khelaifi, the president and CEO of Paris St Germain, said it was an "amazing and historic day" to present Lionel&nbsp;Messi&nbsp;as a player for the French soccer powerhouse.

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🎙 President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi: “I am delighted that Lionel Messi has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain and we are proud to welcome him to Paris, with his family. "<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSGxMESSI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSGxMESSI</a> <a href="https://t.co/RXclKJMoE8">https://t.co/RXclKJMoE8</a>
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) <a href="https://twitter.com/PSG_English/status/1425385858400718848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"He makes football magic, beautiful. He is a winner," al-Khelaifi told a news conference.

French Football League president Vincent Labrune hailed the surprise arrival of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner as "extraordinary news for the exposure of Ligue 1 internationally".

PSG wasted little time in targeting&nbsp;Messi&nbsp;after the heavily indebted Catalan club made clear it could not afford to keep him because of La Liga's financial fair play rules.

Crowds of supporters thronged to the club's Parc des Princes stadium, chanting and setting off smoke flares.

Neymar and Mbappe were already the two most expensive soccer players in history, and the addition of&nbsp;Messi&nbsp;to Mauricio Pochettino's PSG line-up could rival the unstoppable triumvirate that he formed at Barcelona with Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Messi&nbsp;will wear the number 30 shirt, the club confirmed in a video posted on its Twitter feed, headlined "a new diamond in Paris".

Messi, who won four Champions Leagues and 10 domestic league titles with Barcelona, joins several other big names arriving at PSG on a free transfer this summer.

Spain defender Sergio Ramos was no longer wanted at Real Madrid, Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum had run down his contract with Liverpool and Italy's Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma also joined after his contract with AC Milan ran out.

The arrival of&nbsp;Messi, whose last contract with Barcelona was worth a total of 555 million euros ($650 million) and reported to be the most lucrative in world sport, is also set to provoke a renewed new debate about UEFA's financial fair play rules.

Soccer's European governing body introduced the rules in 2009 in an attempt to restrict the power of free-spending owners to buy success, but their success is debatable.

The star-power of&nbsp;Messi, who has 245 million followers on Instagram, will be welcome news for Ligue 1 as a battle rages between broadcasters over the price of its television rights, crucial to the finances of the clubs.

(With inputs from agencies)

Lionel Messi said on Wednesday that he is 'extremely happy' after joining star-packed French football club Paris St Germain and added that his aim is to win the Champions League for the team.

Lionel Messi said on Wednesday that he is 'extremely happy' after joining star-packed French football club Paris St Germain and added that his aim is to win the Champions League for the team. The 34-year-old superstar signed a two-year deal with PSG on Tuesday with the option of an additional year. "Everything about the club matches my football ambitions," said Messi, who was given a hero's welcome by the PSG fans when he arrived in the French capital on Tuesday. "I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paris Saint-Germain (@psg) The move will add the Argentine, one of the best players of his generation, to an already formidable PSG attack that includes Brazil's Neymar and French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe. In pics | From Lionel Messi to Sergio Ramos: PSG's 'FIFA-like' playing XI for upcoming season The arrival of Barcelona's record scorer, with 672 goals, will boost Qatari-owned PSG's ambitions to win the prestigious, and lucrative, European Champions League for the first time. Nasser al-Khelaifi, the president and CEO of Paris St Germain, said it was an "amazing and historic day" to present Lionel Messi as a player for the French soccer powerhouse. 🎙 President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi: “I am delighted that Lionel Messi has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain and we are proud to welcome him to Paris, with his family. "#PSGxMESSI https://t.co/RXclKJMoE8 — Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 11, 2021 × "He makes football magic, beautiful. He is a winner," al-Khelaifi told a news conference. French Football League president Vincent Labrune hailed the surprise arrival of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner as "extraordinary news for the exposure of Ligue 1 internationally". PSG wasted little time in targeting Messi after the heavily indebted Catalan club made clear it could not afford to keep him because of La Liga's financial fair play rules. Crowds of supporters thronged to the club's Parc des Princes stadium, chanting and setting off smoke flares. Neymar and Mbappe were already the two most expensive soccer players in history, and the addition of Messi to Mauricio Pochettino's PSG line-up could rival the unstoppable triumvirate that he formed at Barcelona with Neymar and Luis Suarez. Messi will wear the number 30 shirt, the club confirmed in a video posted on its Twitter feed, headlined "a new diamond in Paris". Messi, who won four Champions Leagues and 10 domestic league titles with Barcelona, joins several other big names arriving at PSG on a free transfer this summer. Spain defender Sergio Ramos was no longer wanted at Real Madrid, Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum had run down his contract with Liverpool and Italy's Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma also joined after his contract with AC Milan ran out. The arrival of Messi, whose last contract with Barcelona was worth a total of 555 million euros ($650 million) and reported to be the most lucrative in world sport, is also set to provoke a renewed new debate about UEFA's financial fair play rules. Soccer's European governing body introduced the rules in 2009 in an attempt to restrict the power of free-spending owners to buy success, but their success is debatable. The star-power of Messi, who has 245 million followers on Instagram, will be welcome news for Ligue 1 as a battle rages between broadcasters over the price of its television rights, crucial to the finances of the clubs. (With inputs from agencies)

Lionel Messi 'extremely happy' after joining PSG, dreams of Champions League win

Chelsea have extended Thomas Tuchel's contract until 2024 after the German manager won the Champions League this season, the London club said on Friday.

Tuchel took over midway through the 2020-21 season after the Premier League club sacked Frank Lampard and the German-led them to a top-four finish as well as the FA Cup final.

His side clinched the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Manchester City in Porto.

"I cannot imagine a better occasion for a contract renewal. I am grateful for the experience and very happy to stay part of the Chelsea family," Tuchel said.

"There is far more to come and we are looking forward to our next steps with ambition and much anticipation."

Tuchel arrived at Stamford Bridge in January on an initial 18-month deal with the possibility of an extension, which was granted six days after he led Chelsea to Champions League glory.

Chelsea have lost just five of the 47-year-old's 30 games in charge, including the 1-0 FA Cup final defeat by Leicester City last month, and conceded only 16 goals in all competitions.

"Thomas... slotted in seamlessly and immediately became an integral part of the Chelsea family," club director Marina Granovskaia said.

"Returning us to the top four in the Premier League was crucial and we could not be happier with our success in the Champions League which crowned a remarkable season at Chelsea."

Chelsea have extended Thomas Tuchel's contract until 2024 after the German manager won the Champions League this season, the London club said on Friday. Tuchel took over midway through the 2020-21 season after the Premier League club sacked Frank Lampard and the German-led them to a top-four finish as well as the FA Cup final.

Chelsea have extended Thomas Tuchel's contract until 2024 after the German manager won the Champions League this season, the London club said on Friday. Tuchel took over midway through the 2020-21 season after the Premier League club sacked Frank Lampard and the German-led them to a top-four finish as well as the FA Cup final. His side clinched the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Manchester City in Porto. "I cannot imagine a better occasion for a contract renewal. I am grateful for the experience and very happy to stay part of the Chelsea family," Tuchel said. "There is far more to come and we are looking forward to our next steps with ambition and much anticipation." Tuchel arrived at Stamford Bridge in January on an initial 18-month deal with the possibility of an extension, which was granted six days after he led Chelsea to Champions League glory. Chelsea have lost just five of the 47-year-old's 30 games in charge, including the 1-0 FA Cup final defeat by Leicester City last month, and conceded only 16 goals in all competitions. "Thomas... slotted in seamlessly and immediately became an integral part of the Chelsea family," club director Marina Granovskaia said. "Returning us to the top four in the Premier League was crucial and we could not be happier with our success in the Champions League which crowned a remarkable season at Chelsea."

Football: Chelsea extend Tuchel's contract to 2024 after Champions League win

Portuguese authorities have relaxed COVID-19 safety rules for thousands of English fans coming to Porto for Saturday's Champions League final, no longer requiring them to stay in bubbles and lifting restrictions on movement.

"The borders are open. The city and the country are opening up little by little. Within what is possible, freedom (of movement) will not be conditioned," Porto police Superintendent Cardoso da Silva told a news briefing on Thursday.

"There are no restrictions of movement for fans."

However, with only two days to go until match day, Silva said the contingency plan in place was under constant re-evaluation and could still undergo some alterations.

A police source told Reuters Portuguese authorities did not have enough time to fully prepare for the final as UEFA only announced it would move the event to Porto from Istanbul around two weeks ago.

Eight British police officers specialised in dealing with football fans are in Portugal and will work with Portuguese police to help ensure public order.

There will be a "robust" police presence around the stadium and the city, Silva said, though he did not specify how many officers have been mobilised to patrol the streets.

London Metropolitan Police Superintendent Lysander Strong, who is in Portugal to coordinate the operation between the two forces, said the two clubs had sent recommendations to fans to follow social distancing rules and wear a mask.

Since May 17, British visitors have been allowed into Portugal with proof of a negative PCR test result.

Silva said that around 80 charter flights with English soccer fans were expected to land on Saturday for the clash between Manchester City and Chelsea. Around 180 buses will take fans to the stadium.

Under rules previously announced by the Portuguese government, passengers were to fly back within 24 hours. But police spokesman Marco Almeida said that now they can stay longer if they choose not to take scheduled return flights.

Portuguese authorities have relaxed COVID-19 safety rules for thousands of English fans coming to Porto for Saturday's Champions League final, no longer requiring them to stay in bubbles and lifting restrictions on movement.

Portuguese authorities have relaxed COVID-19 safety rules for thousands of English fans coming to Porto for Saturday's Champions League final, no longer requiring them to stay in bubbles and lifting restrictions on movement. "The borders are open. The city and the country are opening up little by little. Within what is possible, freedom (of movement) will not be conditioned," Porto police Superintendent Cardoso da Silva told a news briefing on Thursday. "There are no restrictions of movement for fans." However, with only two days to go until match day, Silva said the contingency plan in place was under constant re-evaluation and could still undergo some alterations. A police source told Reuters Portuguese authorities did not have enough time to fully prepare for the final as UEFA only announced it would move the event to Porto from Istanbul around two weeks ago. Eight British police officers specialised in dealing with football fans are in Portugal and will work with Portuguese police to help ensure public order. There will be a "robust" police presence around the stadium and the city, Silva said, though he did not specify how many officers have been mobilised to patrol the streets. London Metropolitan Police Superintendent Lysander Strong, who is in Portugal to coordinate the operation between the two forces, said the two clubs had sent recommendations to fans to follow social distancing rules and wear a mask. Since May 17, British visitors have been allowed into Portugal with proof of a negative PCR test result. Silva said that around 80 charter flights with English soccer fans were expected to land on Saturday for the clash between Manchester City and Chelsea. Around 180 buses will take fans to the stadium. Under rules previously announced by the Portuguese government, passengers were to fly back within 24 hours. But police spokesman Marco Almeida said that now they can stay longer if they choose not to take scheduled return flights.

Football: Portugal relaxes COVID rules for English fans at Champions League final

No team has been in preferable form over Liverpool since the start of April. Liverpool have basically been remarkable since leaving the UEFA Champions League. Regardless of the various injuries endured by Jurgen Klopp's side, they are as of now on an eight-match unbeaten run.&nbsp;

Liverpool have additionally amazingly won every one of their last four matches in the Premier League, boosting their odds of getting a spot in the best four. They may have begun the mission inadequately, yet they have recuperated splendidly and are on course to complete the season firmly.

Liverpool made Burnley their most recent victims by drifting to a major 3-0 triumph at Turf Moor on Wednesday. The Merseyside outfit set up a great execution to make it four successes from their last four matches in the Premier League.&nbsp;

Liverpool have now beaten Southampton, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, and Burnley in continuous games, stunningly scoring 11 goals. They are at long last clicking into full stuff, and their new exhibitions recommend they mean business in the race for Champions League capability.

Liverpool's most recent success over Burnley takes them to fourth place in the Premier League, surpassing Leicester City, who lost to Chelsea on Tuesday.&nbsp;

This is the first run-through in more than a quarter of a year that Liverpool have broken into the best four. They will seal a spot in next season's Champions League in the event that they dominate their last match.&nbsp;

Jurgen Klopp said, as cited by Goal:&nbsp;

"It was a semi-final. We had to win the semi-final and we did. Nothing is decided yet but we improved our position and we have the final. That's what we needed. It's what we deserve because this was a top performance.”"You can't give any chance away against Burnley because of the way they play. They wanted to go for our center-halves but our boys did outstandingly well.”

It has been a challenging season for Liverpool as they are set to end the season without any silverware. However, they can save their season by qualifying for the Champions League. 
&nbsp;

No team has been in preferable form over Liverpool since the start of April. Liverpool have basically been remarkable since leaving the UEFA Champions League. Regardless of the various injuries endured by Jurgen Klopp's side, they are as of now on an eight-match unbeaten run.

No team has been in preferable form over Liverpool since the start of April. Liverpool have basically been remarkable since leaving the UEFA Champions League. Regardless of the various injuries endured by Jurgen Klopp's side, they are as of now on an eight-match unbeaten run. Liverpool have additionally amazingly won every one of their last four matches in the Premier League, boosting their odds of getting a spot in the best four. They may have begun the mission inadequately, yet they have recuperated splendidly and are on course to complete the season firmly. Liverpool made Burnley their most recent victims by drifting to a major 3-0 triumph at Turf Moor on Wednesday. The Merseyside outfit set up a great execution to make it four successes from their last four matches in the Premier League. Liverpool have now beaten Southampton, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, and Burnley in continuous games, stunningly scoring 11 goals. They are at long last clicking into full stuff, and their new exhibitions recommend they mean business in the race for Champions League capability. Liverpool's most recent success over Burnley takes them to fourth place in the Premier League, surpassing Leicester City, who lost to Chelsea on Tuesday. This is the first run-through in more than a quarter of a year that Liverpool have broken into the best four. They will seal a spot in next season's Champions League in the event that they dominate their last match. Jurgen Klopp said, as cited by Goal: "It was a semi-final. We had to win the semi-final and we did. Nothing is decided yet but we improved our position and we have the final. That's what we needed. It's what we deserve because this was a top performance.”"You can't give any chance away against Burnley because of the way they play. They wanted to go for our center-halves but our boys did outstandingly well.” It has been a challenging season for Liverpool as they are set to end the season without any silverware. However, they can save their season by qualifying for the Champions League.

Football: Liverpool on the verge of securing top-four finish after Burnley blitzkrieg

The threat of Paris St Germain forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe can give opposition managers sleepless nights, said Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, adding his side must find a way to stop the duo in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg.

City, who are looking to win Europe's elite club competition for the first time, take on a PSG side that boasts a wealth of attacking talent, and Guardiola said there are no effective defensive strategies against the French champions.

"They're too good. I tried to sleep well last night and that was when I wasn't thinking of them," Guardiola told reporters on the eve of the clash.

"That's the reality. They're top players. That's why they play in that team with the quality they have. We're ready to try to stop them, defend as a team, play good football and try to score goals."

Guardiola first faced Neymar when the Brazil forward was playing for Santos against his Barcelona side in the 2011 Club World Cup.

"I remember when I saw some clips of Santos in that era and I said to the (Barcelona) players, 'This is the king of Santos', and all the players were open-mouthed. They said, 'Oh my God, what a player.' He's a joy to watch as a spectator," he said.

"He has Brazil on his shoulders, the number 10 shirt of Brazil isn't easy to wear."

Neymar went on to play for Barcelona before PSG smashed the world record transfer fee when they spent 222 million euros ($268 million) in 2017 to bring him to Paris.

"I'm pretty sure if he had stayed in Barca they would have won two, three more Champions Leagues. With Neymar, (Lionel) Messi and (Luis) Suarez, the best three I've seen," Guardiola said.

The threat of Paris St Germain forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe can give opposition managers sleepless nights, said Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, adding his side must find a way to stop the duo in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg.

The threat of Paris St Germain forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe can give opposition managers sleepless nights, said Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, adding his side must find a way to stop the duo in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg. City, who are looking to win Europe's elite club competition for the first time, take on a PSG side that boasts a wealth of attacking talent, and Guardiola said there are no effective defensive strategies against the French champions. "They're too good. I tried to sleep well last night and that was when I wasn't thinking of them," Guardiola told reporters on the eve of the clash. "That's the reality. They're top players. That's why they play in that team with the quality they have. We're ready to try to stop them, defend as a team, play good football and try to score goals." Guardiola first faced Neymar when the Brazil forward was playing for Santos against his Barcelona side in the 2011 Club World Cup. "I remember when I saw some clips of Santos in that era and I said to the (Barcelona) players, 'This is the king of Santos', and all the players were open-mouthed. They said, 'Oh my God, what a player.' He's a joy to watch as a spectator," he said. "He has Brazil on his shoulders, the number 10 shirt of Brazil isn't easy to wear." Neymar went on to play for Barcelona before PSG smashed the world record transfer fee when they spent 222 million euros ($268 million) in 2017 to bring him to Paris. "I'm pretty sure if he had stayed in Barca they would have won two, three more Champions Leagues. With Neymar, (Lionel) Messi and (Luis) Suarez, the best three I've seen," Guardiola said.

PSG attack can give managers sleepless nights, says Pep Guardiola

A classy goal from Mason Mount on Wednesday helped&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;to a 2-0 first-leg win over Porto, whose wasteful finishing could have scuppered their hopes of springing another Champions League upset in the quarter-finals.

Mount's slick turn and shot in the first half would have been painful enough for Porto, who were the better side for large spells in Seville but repeatedly lacked the precision to take advantage.

Instead, their misery was compounded by Ben Chilwell capitalising on a mistake at the back to score a late second that gave&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;another away goal and leaves them on the brink of the semi-finals.

They were away goals only in name given both these teams were playing in the unfamiliar Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where they will meet again next week, just with the home and away roles reversed.

Porto were in the home dug-out, wore their home kit, had a large club banner in the empty stand and their anthem was the one that played out before kick-off.

Chelsea&nbsp;played the part too, delivering a classic away performance of soaking up the pressure and hitting their opponents on the counter-attack, their quality in the final third proving decisive.

Real Madrid could lie in wait for the victors, after they beat Liverpool 3-1 on Tuesday.

"There is a good atmosphere in the dressing room, we are happy but not too happy, excited but not too excited," said&nbsp;Chelsea's coach Thomas Tuchel. "We have to have a top mentality and a top performance next Tuesday."

Mount's goal makes him&nbsp;Chelsea's youngest ever scorer in the Champions League at 22 years and 87 days old while Chilwell's second meant the club boasted two English scorers in a Champions League game for the first time since 2012.

Chelsea's win also goes some way to easing the shock of Saturday's 5-2 loss at home to West Brom in the Premier League, which ended Tuchel's 14-match unbeaten start as coach.

"After losing such a strange game we said the best situation would be to produce a clean sheet straight away and this makes it very precious, this result," Tuchel said.

Tuchel decided Thiago Silva's 29 minutes before being sent off in that game were not enough to hone his sharpness, meaning Andreas Christensen was picked in the back three.

And Antonio Rudiger also returned, despite his training ground scuffle with Kepa Arrizabalaga on Sunday, which Tuchel described as a "serious situation".

Porto were regarded as the plum draw, despite seeing off Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus in the last 16, their task made harder this time by the suspensions of Mehdi Taremi and top scorer Sergio Oliveira.

But they were the aggressors from the outset, with&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;surrendering the ball and the chances.

Porto had six shots to&nbsp;Chelsea's one before half-time, with Mateus Uribe grazing the top of the net with an early volley and the excellent Otavio almost catching Edouard Mendy out with a corner, Zaidu Sanusi smashing over the rebound.

Chelsea, though, showed them what ruthlessness looked like when Jorginho fired a pass into Mount on the edge of the area inside the right channel. Mount took it on his back foot and twisted away from the sliding Zaidu, before firing a cool finish into the far corner.

Porto kept coming in the second half and kept missing too. Moussa Marega snuck in but his shot was saved by the feet of Mendy before Jesus Corona feathered Luis Diaz through but he took too long. Diaz curled wide after a good run by Wilson Manafa.

Chelsea&nbsp;absorbed them and then hit them with a final sucker-punch, Mateo Kovacic's ball over the top miscontrolled by Corona, allowing Chilwell to steam clear, round the goalkeeper and finish.

A classy goal from Mason Mount on Wednesday helped Chelsea to a 2-0 first-leg win over Porto, whose wasteful finishing could have scuppered their hopes of springing another Champions League upset in the quarter-finals.

A classy goal from Mason Mount on Wednesday helped Chelsea to a 2-0 first-leg win over Porto, whose wasteful finishing could have scuppered their hopes of springing another Champions League upset in the quarter-finals. Mount's slick turn and shot in the first half would have been painful enough for Porto, who were the better side for large spells in Seville but repeatedly lacked the precision to take advantage. Instead, their misery was compounded by Ben Chilwell capitalising on a mistake at the back to score a late second that gave Chelsea another away goal and leaves them on the brink of the semi-finals. They were away goals only in name given both these teams were playing in the unfamiliar Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where they will meet again next week, just with the home and away roles reversed. Porto were in the home dug-out, wore their home kit, had a large club banner in the empty stand and their anthem was the one that played out before kick-off. Chelsea played the part too, delivering a classic away performance of soaking up the pressure and hitting their opponents on the counter-attack, their quality in the final third proving decisive. Real Madrid could lie in wait for the victors, after they beat Liverpool 3-1 on Tuesday. "There is a good atmosphere in the dressing room, we are happy but not too happy, excited but not too excited," said Chelsea's coach Thomas Tuchel. "We have to have a top mentality and a top performance next Tuesday." Mount's goal makes him Chelsea's youngest ever scorer in the Champions League at 22 years and 87 days old while Chilwell's second meant the club boasted two English scorers in a Champions League game for the first time since 2012. Chelsea's win also goes some way to easing the shock of Saturday's 5-2 loss at home to West Brom in the Premier League, which ended Tuchel's 14-match unbeaten start as coach. "After losing such a strange game we said the best situation would be to produce a clean sheet straight away and this makes it very precious, this result," Tuchel said. Tuchel decided Thiago Silva's 29 minutes before being sent off in that game were not enough to hone his sharpness, meaning Andreas Christensen was picked in the back three. And Antonio Rudiger also returned, despite his training ground scuffle with Kepa Arrizabalaga on Sunday, which Tuchel described as a "serious situation". Porto were regarded as the plum draw, despite seeing off Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus in the last 16, their task made harder this time by the suspensions of Mehdi Taremi and top scorer Sergio Oliveira. But they were the aggressors from the outset, with Chelsea surrendering the ball and the chances. Porto had six shots to Chelsea's one before half-time, with Mateus Uribe grazing the top of the net with an early volley and the excellent Otavio almost catching Edouard Mendy out with a corner, Zaidu Sanusi smashing over the rebound. Chelsea, though, showed them what ruthlessness looked like when Jorginho fired a pass into Mount on the edge of the area inside the right channel. Mount took it on his back foot and twisted away from the sliding Zaidu, before firing a cool finish into the far corner. Porto kept coming in the second half and kept missing too. Moussa Marega snuck in but his shot was saved by the feet of Mendy before Jesus Corona feathered Luis Diaz through but he took too long. Diaz curled wide after a good run by Wilson Manafa. Chelsea absorbed them and then hit them with a final sucker-punch, Mateo Kovacic's ball over the top miscontrolled by Corona, allowing Chilwell to steam clear, round the goalkeeper and finish.

Chelsea punish wasteful Porto to put one foot in Champions League semis

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola lauded City product, Jadon Sancho, on doing well with Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga and said that he does not regret losing him.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/juve-star-cristiano-ronaldo-named-serie-as-player-of-the-year-371813" hreflang="en">Juve star Cristiano Ronaldo named Serie A's Player of the Year</a>

In 2017, Sancho, who was a product of City's academy, rejected a new contract at the Premier League club when he was 17 to join Dortmund in 2017.

The 20-year-old has flourished at the German club, scoring 46 goals in 127 games in all competitions.

"I've said many times, it is not a regret," Guardiola said. "He decides. He is a national team player with huge quality, doing really well in Dortmund.

"We wanted him to stay but he decided to leave, and when people decide to leave all we can do is (let them) leave.

"I wish him all the best, except when he plays against us. No regrets at all. If he's happy, I'm happy.

Sancho is set to meet Guardiola's City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.&nbsp;

"We will face him, try to control him - we know the quality he has, everyone knows."

Manchester City are seen as favourites in the European Championship due to their dominant run in Premier League. They have 71 points after 30 games and are toppers of the Premier League table.&nbsp;

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola lauded City product, Jadon Sancho, on doing well with Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga and said that he does not regret losing him.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola lauded City product, Jadon Sancho, on doing well with Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga and said that he does not regret losing him. ALSO READ: Juve star Cristiano Ronaldo named Serie A's Player of the Year In 2017, Sancho, who was a product of City's academy, rejected a new contract at the Premier League club when he was 17 to join Dortmund in 2017. The 20-year-old has flourished at the German club, scoring 46 goals in 127 games in all competitions. "I've said many times, it is not a regret," Guardiola said. "He decides. He is a national team player with huge quality, doing really well in Dortmund. "We wanted him to stay but he decided to leave, and when people decide to leave all we can do is (let them) leave. "I wish him all the best, except when he plays against us. No regrets at all. If he's happy, I'm happy. Sancho is set to meet Guardiola's City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. "We will face him, try to control him - we know the quality he has, everyone knows." Manchester City are seen as favourites in the European Championship due to their dominant run in Premier League. They have 71 points after 30 games and are toppers of the Premier League table.

'Not a regret': Pep Guardiola on Jadon Sancho's Manchester City exit

Barcelona may host few fans for their Champions League fixture against Juventus at the Camp Nou in December, as per Catalan's regional government.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/arteta-feels-he-has-failed-arsenal-over-ozil-omission-337064" hreflang="en">Arteta feels he has 'failed' Arsenal over Ozil omission</a>

In an interview with &nbsp;Catalan daily Sport, the region's General Director for Sport, Gerard Figueras, said preliminary discussions had taken place between authorities and Barca about the return of fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The club have spoken to us about gradually brining fans back, and we told them this is something we need to analyse game by game. Initial figures could be 3000 or 5000 people at the Nou Camp, and according to the epidemiological situation, we will decide if we can scale that up," he said.

"I think that the protocols will be just about ready to allow for a crowd for the game against Juventus on Dec. 8, as long as the epidemiological situation hasn't got worse."

Barcelona is yet to comment on the situation.&nbsp;

(Inputs from Reuters)

Barcelona may host few fans for their Champions League fixture against Juventus at the Camp Nou in December, as per Catalan's regional government. Also read: Arteta feels he has 'failed' Arsenal over Ozil omission In an interview with Catalan daily Sport, the region's General Director for Sport, Gerard Figueras, said preliminary discussions had taken place between authorities and Barca about the return of fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barcelona may host few fans for their Champions League fixture against Juventus at the Camp Nou in December, as per Catalan's regional government. Also read: Arteta feels he has 'failed' Arsenal over Ozil omission In an interview with Catalan daily Sport, the region's General Director for Sport, Gerard Figueras, said preliminary discussions had taken place between authorities and Barca about the return of fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "The club have spoken to us about gradually brining fans back, and we told them this is something we need to analyse game by game. Initial figures could be 3000 or 5000 people at the Nou Camp, and according to the epidemiological situation, we will decide if we can scale that up," he said. "I think that the protocols will be just about ready to allow for a crowd for the game against Juventus on Dec. 8, as long as the epidemiological situation hasn't got worse." Barcelona is yet to comment on the situation. (Inputs from Reuters)

Barcelona vs Juventus in December might feature fans: Catalan's regional government

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French police on Wednesday said they have arrested 36 people including three minors overnight after clashes following Paris Saint-Germain’s triumph in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/uefa-champions-league">UEFA Champions League</a> semi-final over German club RB Leipzig.&nbsp;

Police were deployed in big numbers both on the Champs-Elysees – the iconic Parisian avenue – and PSG’s home stadium – Parc des Princes – in the west of the capital of France.&nbsp;

Thousands of PSG fans took to road including majority of young fans, who were not wearing masks in line with COVID-19 health and safety protocols while parading down the Champs-Elysees in cars and on mopeds and scooters, celebrating the iconic win by PSG against RB Leipzig.&nbsp;

According to police, arrests were made for various acts including throwing of projectiles, acts of violence against authorities, contempt and theft.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/neymar-could-miss-champions-league-final-for-breaking-uefas-covid-19-protocol-321635" hreflang="en">Neymar could miss Champions League final for breaking UEFA's COVID-19 protocol</a>

Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said that those people dishonor the players who wear PSG’s jersey on the field while warning strict actions.&nbsp;

"Some people are wearing a jersey that last night made an entire city and even a country proud. They dishonor it," he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-feel-world-cup-vibes-says-france-striker-mbappe-after-psgs-win-321618" hreflang="en">I feel World Cup vibes, says France striker Mbappe after PSG's win</a>

"Justice will be vigilant and the Paris prosecutor's office will bring to court the perpetrators of these acts on the Champs-Elysees."

PSG defeated RB Leipzig 3-0 to qualify for their first UEFA Champions League final on Sunday against the winner of Bayern Munich vs Lyon after beating Leipzig 3-0. This is the first time PSG has qualified to the summit clash of Europe’s elite competition. 
&nbsp;

French police on Wednesday said they have arrested 36 people including three minors overnight after clashes following Paris Saint-Germain’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League semi-final over German club RB Leipzig.

French police on Wednesday said they have arrested 36 people including three minors overnight after clashes following Paris Saint-Germain’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League semi-final over German club RB Leipzig. Police were deployed in big numbers both on the Champs-Elysees – the iconic Parisian avenue – and PSG’s home stadium – Parc des Princes – in the west of the capital of France. Thousands of PSG fans took to road including majority of young fans, who were not wearing masks in line with COVID-19 health and safety protocols while parading down the Champs-Elysees in cars and on mopeds and scooters, celebrating the iconic win by PSG against RB Leipzig. According to police, arrests were made for various acts including throwing of projectiles, acts of violence against authorities, contempt and theft. ALSO READ: Neymar could miss Champions League final for breaking UEFA's COVID-19 protocol Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said that those people dishonor the players who wear PSG’s jersey on the field while warning strict actions. "Some people are wearing a jersey that last night made an entire city and even a country proud. They dishonor it," he said. ALSO READ: I feel World Cup vibes, says France striker Mbappe after PSG's win "Justice will be vigilant and the Paris prosecutor's office will bring to court the perpetrators of these acts on the Champs-Elysees." PSG defeated RB Leipzig 3-0 to qualify for their first UEFA Champions League final on Sunday against the winner of Bayern Munich vs Lyon after beating Leipzig 3-0. This is the first time PSG has qualified to the summit clash of Europe’s elite competition.

Champions League: 36 PSG fans arrested by French police after 3-0 win over Leipzig

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has "a lot of confidence" his club will avoid a two-season ban from European competitions when the verdict of their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is revealed later this month.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chelsea-win-holds-off-rampant-manchester-united-in-race-for-premier-league-top-four-310825" hreflang="en">Chelsea win holds off rampant Man United in race for Premier League top four</a>

City were banned from UEFA competitions for two years by the European governing body in February after being found guilty of overstating sponsorship outcome to avoid breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations.

Their case was heard by CAS last month and the club have always been bullish about the potential outcome.

"We are ready. I have a lot of confidence and trust with the people that we will be allowed to play the Champions League, because we want to be on the field during these years," said Guardiola.

"On July 13 we will know the resolution, hopefully, for the club - all the workers, players and everyone here, staff - to try to continue growing up as a club in the next years."

Amid the off-field issues, City remain one of the favourites to win this season's Champions League, which is now due to resume in August.

City hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after the first leg of their last-16 tie.

There is still uncertainty over where the return match will be played with the rest of the competition from the quarter-finals to be played at neutral venues in Lisbon.

City may have surrendered their Premier League title to Liverpool but a 4-0 thrashing of the newly-crowned English champions on Thursday showed why Guardiola's men are still among the most feared sides in Europe.

"Every game is different but I cannot deny beating Liverpool the way we did (was good)," said Guardiola, whose side travel to Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday. "Football is about feelings, moments.

"Sometimes your mood is up, sometimes it is down when you face these games, but we can say we beat maybe the best team in the world right now. So we can do it.

"Every game is different, (FA Cup semi-final opponents) Arsenal play different, Madrid play different. Each game you have to adjust the qualities.

"What I want is to arrive in the best conditions possible to these games and after put mentality on the pitch.

"These games are not won with tactics or ideas, it is desire. We want to do it. When one team wants to do it - OK they can be beaten - but it will not be easy for the opponent."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has "a lot of confidence" his club will avoid a two-season ban from European competitions when the verdict of their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is revealed later this month.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has "a lot of confidence" his club will avoid a two-season ban from European competitions when the verdict of their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is revealed later this month. Also read: Chelsea win holds off rampant Man United in race for Premier League top four City were banned from UEFA competitions for two years by the European governing body in February after being found guilty of overstating sponsorship outcome to avoid breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations. Their case was heard by CAS last month and the club have always been bullish about the potential outcome. "We are ready. I have a lot of confidence and trust with the people that we will be allowed to play the Champions League, because we want to be on the field during these years," said Guardiola. "On July 13 we will know the resolution, hopefully, for the club - all the workers, players and everyone here, staff - to try to continue growing up as a club in the next years." Amid the off-field issues, City remain one of the favourites to win this season's Champions League, which is now due to resume in August. City hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after the first leg of their last-16 tie. There is still uncertainty over where the return match will be played with the rest of the competition from the quarter-finals to be played at neutral venues in Lisbon. City may have surrendered their Premier League title to Liverpool but a 4-0 thrashing of the newly-crowned English champions on Thursday showed why Guardiola's men are still among the most feared sides in Europe. "Every game is different but I cannot deny beating Liverpool the way we did (was good)," said Guardiola, whose side travel to Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday. "Football is about feelings, moments. "Sometimes your mood is up, sometimes it is down when you face these games, but we can say we beat maybe the best team in the world right now. So we can do it. "Every game is different, (FA Cup semi-final opponents) Arsenal play different, Madrid play different. Each game you have to adjust the qualities. "What I want is to arrive in the best conditions possible to these games and after put mentality on the pitch. "These games are not won with tactics or ideas, it is desire. We want to do it. When one team wants to do it - OK they can be beaten - but it will not be easy for the opponent."

Pep Guardiola confident Manchester City will avoid Champions League ban

Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich have clinched the German Cup after beating Bayern Leverkusen 4-2 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday. The German giants are having a dream season as they hope to complete a treble of championships.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/serie-a-ronaldo-and-dybala-star-as-juventus-beat-torina-4-1-buffon-hits-another-milestone-310821" hreflang="en">Serie A: Ronaldo and Dybala star as Juventus beat Torina 4-1; Buffon hits another milestone</a>

David Alaba opened the score for Bayern Munich after a free-kick in the 16th minute. Serge Gnabry scored in the 24th minute. Robert &nbsp;Lewandowski continued his prolific form and smashed two decisive goals and helped Munich lift the cup for the 20th time. &nbsp;

The Polish striker scored his 50th goal of the season. &nbsp;

Munich hopes to complete the year with a treble by winning the final championship UEFA Champions League. They will play the second leg of Round of 16 against Chelsea. They won the first-leg 3-0.&nbsp;

Leverkusen opened their account four minutes later when Sven Bender headed home at the far post from a corner kick, but it was too little, too late as Lewandowski grabbed a second with a chip over the keeper in the 89th minute.

There was late drama when VAR spotted a handball in the box in stoppage time to award Leverkusen a penalty. Kai Havertz's consolation strike into the top corner proved to be the final kick of the game as Bayern defended their title.

(Inputs from Reuters)

Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich have clinched the German Cup after beating Bayern Leverkusen 4-2 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday. The German giants are having a dream season as they hope to complete a treble of championships.

Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich have clinched the German Cup after beating Bayern Leverkusen 4-2 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday. The German giants are having a dream season as they hope to complete a treble of championships. Also read: Serie A: Ronaldo and Dybala star as Juventus beat Torina 4-1; Buffon hits another milestone David Alaba opened the score for Bayern Munich after a free-kick in the 16th minute. Serge Gnabry scored in the 24th minute. Robert Lewandowski continued his prolific form and smashed two decisive goals and helped Munich lift the cup for the 20th time. The Polish striker scored his 50th goal of the season. Munich hopes to complete the year with a treble by winning the final championship UEFA Champions League. They will play the second leg of Round of 16 against Chelsea. They won the first-leg 3-0. Leverkusen opened their account four minutes later when Sven Bender headed home at the far post from a corner kick, but it was too little, too late as Lewandowski grabbed a second with a chip over the keeper in the 89th minute. There was late drama when VAR spotted a handball in the box in stoppage time to award Leverkusen a penalty. Kai Havertz's consolation strike into the top corner proved to be the final kick of the game as Bayern defended their title. (Inputs from Reuters)

Robert Lewandowski stars as Bayern Munich win DFB Pokal for 20th time; German giants eye treble finish to the season

UEFA are set to complete the&nbsp;Champions&nbsp;League&nbsp;with a 'Final Eight' tournament held over 11 days in Lisbon, according to a plan which will be presented to their executive committee for ratification on Wednesday.

A source with knowledge of discussions between clubs and European soccer's governing body told Reuters that the proposal is expected to be agreed upon after a consensus was reached on Monday.

UEFA did not respond to a request for comment.

Under the plan the competition, which was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, will resume with the second-leg of remaining last 16 games played at the scheduled venues.

The single leg quarter-final games will be played in Lisbon on four straight days from Aug. 12-15.

The semi-finals will take place on Aug. 18 and 19 and the final on Aug. 23 in the Portuguese capital.

The plan allows for a quicker completion of the season than the traditional two-legged home and away format but does mean the competition will have six fewer games which will cost UEFA broadcast revenue.

The games are likely to be shared between Lisbon's two major stadiums - Benfica's Estadio da Luz and Sporting Lisbon's Jose Alvalade stadium.

Organisers are proceeding on the basis that matches will be played behind closed-doors but UEFA is understood to have left the door open for possible changes should public health conditions in Portugal allow.

The teams already qualified for the quarter-finals are France's Paris St Germain, Italy's Atalanta, Spain's Atletico Madrid and Germany's RB Leipzig.

The remaining last 16 second-leg fixtures are Manchester City's home leg against Real Madrid, Chelsea's trip to Bayern Munich, Juventus's home game against Olympique Lyonnais and Napoli's visit to Barcelona.

Istanbul was due to host the 2020 final but will now, instead be the venue for the 2021 edition, with all other scheduled hosts moving back a year.

A similar format will be used to decide the Europa&nbsp;League&nbsp;competition at German venues from Aug. 10.

The remaining last 16 games will be held at neutral venues in Germany with the 'Final Eight' held in Duisburg, Duesseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne.

Manchester United, AS Roma and Inter Milan are among the teams still involved in the Europa&nbsp;League.

The traditional opener to the European season, the UEFA Super Cup, is expected to be held in Budapest on Sept. 24.

UEFA are set to complete the Champions League with a 'Final Eight' tournament held over 11 days in Lisbon, according to a plan which will be presented to their executive committee for ratification on Wednesday.

UEFA are set to complete the Champions League with a 'Final Eight' tournament held over 11 days in Lisbon, according to a plan which will be presented to their executive committee for ratification on Wednesday. A source with knowledge of discussions between clubs and European soccer's governing body told Reuters that the proposal is expected to be agreed upon after a consensus was reached on Monday. UEFA did not respond to a request for comment. Under the plan the competition, which was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, will resume with the second-leg of remaining last 16 games played at the scheduled venues. The single leg quarter-final games will be played in Lisbon on four straight days from Aug. 12-15. The semi-finals will take place on Aug. 18 and 19 and the final on Aug. 23 in the Portuguese capital. The plan allows for a quicker completion of the season than the traditional two-legged home and away format but does mean the competition will have six fewer games which will cost UEFA broadcast revenue. The games are likely to be shared between Lisbon's two major stadiums - Benfica's Estadio da Luz and Sporting Lisbon's Jose Alvalade stadium. Organisers are proceeding on the basis that matches will be played behind closed-doors but UEFA is understood to have left the door open for possible changes should public health conditions in Portugal allow. The teams already qualified for the quarter-finals are France's Paris St Germain, Italy's Atalanta, Spain's Atletico Madrid and Germany's RB Leipzig. The remaining last 16 second-leg fixtures are Manchester City's home leg against Real Madrid, Chelsea's trip to Bayern Munich, Juventus's home game against Olympique Lyonnais and Napoli's visit to Barcelona. Istanbul was due to host the 2020 final but will now, instead be the venue for the 2021 edition, with all other scheduled hosts moving back a year. A similar format will be used to decide the Europa League competition at German venues from Aug. 10. The remaining last 16 games will be held at neutral venues in Germany with the 'Final Eight' held in Duisburg, Duesseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne. Manchester United, AS Roma and Inter Milan are among the teams still involved in the Europa League. The traditional opener to the European season, the UEFA Super Cup, is expected to be held in Budapest on Sept. 24.

Champions League 'Final Eight' set to be held in Lisbon: Source

Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspurs has lost its star players to injury. Their star striker Harry Kane has bowed out for the rest of the season due to hamstring injury. &nbsp;

Son Heung-min missed out on Champions League fixture following a right-arm fracture. Mourinho said he does not expect Son to feature again this season after the South Korean fractured his right arm in Sunday's 3-2 win at Aston Villa.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-werners-penalty-gives-rb-leipzig-win-at-spurs-281703" hreflang="en">Champions League: Werner's penalty gives RB Leipzig win at Spurs</a>

Jose Mourinho was left worried after a poor performance against RB Leipzig in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16.&nbsp;

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ℹ️ Leipzig win their 1st European game against an English club...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/any6fsD1Sh">pic.twitter.com/any6fsD1Sh</a>
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"We are in a very difficult situation," said Mourinho. "What worries me is this is going to be the situation until the end of the season."

In the previous year's Champions League, Spurs beat the odds and defeated Manchester City and Ajax to reach the finals, but Leipzig's performance last night could have shattered the English club's dream to lift the European Cup.&nbsp;

Spurs captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris's valiant saves in the match earned him the Man of the Match award and looks like a ray of hope for Spurs for the reverse fixtures to qualify for the Quarterfinals.&nbsp;

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Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris claims <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLMOTM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLMOTM</a> award! 🙌⁣ 
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👉 He'll be one of four players in tonight's vote where you crown Player of the Week 👑 <a href="https://t.co/hkqyioa4zH">pic.twitter.com/hkqyioa4zH</a>
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Tottenham faces a big challenge of winning the away fixture against RB Leipzig despite being hit with a chain of injuries, to qualify for the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals.

(With inputs from AFP)

Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspurs has lost its star players to injury. Their star striker Harry Kane has bowed out for the rest of the season due to hamstring injury.

Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspurs has lost its star players to injury. Their star striker Harry Kane has bowed out for the rest of the season due to hamstring injury. Son Heung-min missed out on Champions League fixture following a right-arm fracture. Mourinho said he does not expect Son to feature again this season after the South Korean fractured his right arm in Sunday's 3-2 win at Aston Villa. Also read: Champions League: Werner's penalty gives RB Leipzig win at Spurs Jose Mourinho was left worried after a poor performance against RB Leipzig in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16. ℹ️ Leipzig win their 1st European game against an English club...#UCL pic.twitter.com/any6fsD1Sh — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 19, 2020 × "We are in a very difficult situation," said Mourinho. "What worries me is this is going to be the situation until the end of the season." In the previous year's Champions League, Spurs beat the odds and defeated Manchester City and Ajax to reach the finals, but Leipzig's performance last night could have shattered the English club's dream to lift the European Cup. Spurs captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris's valiant saves in the match earned him the Man of the Match award and looks like a ray of hope for Spurs for the reverse fixtures to qualify for the Quarterfinals. Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris claims #UCLMOTM award! 🙌⁣ ⁣ 👉 He'll be one of four players in tonight's vote where you crown Player of the Week 👑 pic.twitter.com/hkqyioa4zH — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 19, 2020 × Tottenham faces a big challenge of winning the away fixture against RB Leipzig despite being hit with a chain of injuries, to qualify for the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals. (With inputs from AFP)

Injuries frustrate Jose Mourinho, Spurs continue to struggle without Kane and Son

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