Virgil van Dijk scored a dramatic late winner to grab Liverpool a 3-2 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, while Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their title defence by thrashing Atalanta on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern Munich downed Club World Cup winners Chelsea 3-1 as Pafos and Bodo/Glimt marked their Champions League debuts with hard-earned draws. Liverpool, with club-record signing Alexander Isak on debut, raced into a two-goal lead inside the first six minutes as Atletico struggled to get out of their own half on Merseyside.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-manchester-united-post-sixth-straight-annual-loss-despite-record-revenues-1758132389339">Manchester United post sixth straight annual loss despite record revenues</a>A Mohamed Salah free-kick flew in off Andy Robertson for a fortuitous fourth-minute opener, before the Egyptian forward collected Ryan Gravenberch's pass and slotted into the bottom corner.But Atletico eased themselves into the game and halved the deficit in first-half injury time.Marcos Llorente, who scored twice in Atletico's famous last-16 win at Anfield five years ago, stabbed the ball beyond a diving Alisson Becker from the edge of the box.Liverpool missed several chances to restore their advantage, including a glaring miss from Salah when he struck the post, and Llorente made them pay with a deflected late volley to draw Diego Simeone's men level.But Arne Slot's English champions have won all four of their opening Premier League games of the season with winners inside the last 10 minutes.This time it was skipper Van Dijk who produced the big moment with an excellent header from Dominik Szoboszlai's corner in the 92nd minute."We found a way again... Glad we got the win," Van Dijk told TNT Sports. "Today I was the lucky one with the winner and we move on."Atletico coach Simeone was shown a red card after a confrontation with Liverpool fans following Van Dijk's goal.<h2>PSG cruise past Atalanta</h2>PSG got their first Champions League campaign as reigning European champions off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over Atalanta in Paris.Captain Marquinhos tapped into an empty net in the third minute, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was an injury doubt in the build-up, crashed home a fine second for Luis Enrique's men six minutes before half-time.It could have been even better for the hosts at the Parc des Princes if not for Bradley Barcola's tame 44th-minute penalty which was comfortably held by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.Atalanta never looked likely to stage a comeback, though, and Nuno Mendes added a third not long after the restart.Substitute Goncalo Ramos rounded off an excellent night for PSG with a dinked finish in stoppage time."It was perfect, but obviously the most important thing was the team winning. We played a great game," Kvaratskhelia told uefa.com.<h2>Kane downs Chelsea</h2>Bayern gave themselves an early two-goal lead in a repeat of the 2012 Champions League final against Chelsea at the Allianz Arena.Trevoh Chalobah's own goal and a Harry Kane spot-kick put the six-time champions in control, although Cole Palmer lashed a shot into the top corner to pull one back for Chelsea just before the half-hour mark.But Bayern ensured Chelsea's first match in the competition since 2023 would end in defeat.Chelsea wing-back Malo Gusto inadvertently played the ball to Kane who gleefully accepted the gift with a cool finish to effectively kill off Chelsea in the 63rd minute."A great result," Kane told DAZN. "It was a strong performance against a very good opponent."Inter Milan, who were humbled 5-0 in last season's final by PSG, started their league-phase campaign with a 2-0 away win against Ajax.Marcus Thuram put the visitors ahead in Amsterdam by heading Hakan Calhanoglu's corner past Vitezslav Jaros.The second goal was almost a carbon copy, Thuram meeting another Calhanoglu corner less than two minutes into the second half.Earlier, Bodo/Glimt marked their debut in the Champions League proper by coming back from two goals down late on to draw 2-2 at Slavia Prague.Youssoupha Mbodji's first goals for Slavia had the Czechs set for victory with less than 15 minutes remaining.But Daniel Bassi got Norwegians Bodo/Glimt back into the game before Sondre Brunstad Fet crashed in a magnificent 90th-minute volley.Cypriot club Pafos, playing in the tournament for the first time just 11 years since being founded, claimed a goalless draw at Olympiakos despite seeing wing-back Bruno sent off and veteran centre-half David Luiz hobble off injured in the first half.

Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern Munich downed Club World Cup winners Chelsea 3-1 as Pafos and Bodo/Glimt marked their Champions League debuts with hard-earned draws. Liverpool, with club-record signing Alexander Isak on debut, raced into a two-goal lead inside the first six minutes.

Virgil van Dijk scored a dramatic late winner to grab Liverpool a 3-2 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, while Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their title defence by thrashing Atalanta on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern Munich downed Club World Cup winners Chelsea 3-1 as Pafos and Bodo/Glimt marked their Champions League debuts with hard-earned draws. Liverpool, with club-record signing Alexander Isak on debut, raced into a two-goal lead inside the first six minutes as Atletico struggled to get out of their own half on Merseyside. Also Read - Manchester United post sixth straight annual loss despite record revenues A Mohamed Salah free-kick flew in off Andy Robertson for a fortuitous fourth-minute opener, before the Egyptian forward collected Ryan Gravenberch's pass and slotted into the bottom corner. But Atletico eased themselves into the game and halved the deficit in first-half injury time. Marcos Llorente, who scored twice in Atletico's famous last-16 win at Anfield five years ago, stabbed the ball beyond a diving Alisson Becker from the edge of the box. Liverpool missed several chances to restore their advantage, including a glaring miss from Salah when he struck the post, and Llorente made them pay with a deflected late volley to draw Diego Simeone's men level. But Arne Slot's English champions have won all four of their opening Premier League games of the season with winners inside the last 10 minutes. This time it was skipper Van Dijk who produced the big moment with an excellent header from Dominik Szoboszlai's corner in the 92nd minute. "We found a way again... Glad we got the win," Van Dijk told TNT Sports. "Today I was the lucky one with the winner and we move on." Atletico coach Simeone was shown a red card after a confrontation with Liverpool fans following Van Dijk's goal. PSG cruise past Atalanta PSG got their first Champions League campaign as reigning European champions off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over Atalanta in Paris. Captain Marquinhos tapped into an empty net in the third minute, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was an injury doubt in the build-up, crashed home a fine second for Luis Enrique's men six minutes before half-time. It could have been even better for the hosts at the Parc des Princes if not for Bradley Barcola's tame 44th-minute penalty which was comfortably held by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. Atalanta never looked likely to stage a comeback, though, and Nuno Mendes added a third not long after the restart. Substitute Goncalo Ramos rounded off an excellent night for PSG with a dinked finish in stoppage time. "It was perfect, but obviously the most important thing was the team winning. We played a great game," Kvaratskhelia told uefa.com. Kane downs Chelsea Bayern gave themselves an early two-goal lead in a repeat of the 2012 Champions League final against Chelsea at the Allianz Arena. Trevoh Chalobah's own goal and a Harry Kane spot-kick put the six-time champions in control, although Cole Palmer lashed a shot into the top corner to pull one back for Chelsea just before the half-hour mark. But Bayern ensured Chelsea's first match in the competition since 2023 would end in defeat. Chelsea wing-back Malo Gusto inadvertently played the ball to Kane who gleefully accepted the gift with a cool finish to effectively kill off Chelsea in the 63rd minute. "A great result," Kane told DAZN. "It was a strong performance against a very good opponent." Inter Milan, who were humbled 5-0 in last season's final by PSG, started their league-phase campaign with a 2-0 away win against Ajax. Marcus Thuram put the visitors ahead in Amsterdam by heading Hakan Calhanoglu's corner past Vitezslav Jaros. The second goal was almost a carbon copy, Thuram meeting another Calhanoglu corner less than two minutes into the second half. Earlier, Bodo/Glimt marked their debut in the Champions League proper by coming back from two goals down late on to draw 2-2 at Slavia Prague. Youssoupha Mbodji's first goals for Slavia had the Czechs set for victory with less than 15 minutes remaining. But Daniel Bassi got Norwegians Bodo/Glimt back into the game before Sondre Brunstad Fet crashed in a magnificent 90th-minute volley. Cypriot club Pafos, playing in the tournament for the first time just 11 years since being founded, claimed a goalless draw at Olympiakos despite seeing wing-back Bruno sent off and veteran centre-half David Luiz hobble off injured in the first half.

Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern Munich downed Club World Cup winners Chelsea 3-1 as Pafos and Bodo/Glimt marked their Champions League debuts with hard-earned draws. Liverpool, with club-record signing Alexander Isak on debut, raced into a two-goal lead inside the first six minutes.

Champions League round-up: Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid, PSG crush Atalanta and Bayern sink Chelsea

There is the sense that the new season gets up and running for real this week for Paris Saint-Germain as they begin their defence of the Champions League title amid doubts as to how much longer their squad can handle being pushed to the limit by a crowded calendar. PSG host Atalanta on Wednesday for their first game in Europe, three and a half months after their stunning 5-0 destruction of Inter Milan in last season's final in Munich.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-championship-outfit-sheffield-united-appoint-chris-wilder-for-third-managerial-spell-1757959712820">Championship side Sheffield Utd appoint Chris Wilder for third managerial spell</a>Luis Enrique's team will also entertain Bayern, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the league phase, with trips to Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Athletic Bilbao and to Lisbon to face Sporting on the horizon too.Those are tough games, although PSG's poor start in last season's Champions League has shown that they might not need to be at their very best immediately.The French champions lost three of eight league phase games last season, but still won Europe's elite club competition for the first time following a dazzling run of form from the turn of the year.The concern now, however, is that last season's exertions could catch up with them and seriously jeopardise their chances of retaining the trophy.The Parisians played 65 games during 2024/25, in a season spanning 11 months. That included 17 matches in the Champions League and seven in the Club World Cup, where their marathon campaign concluded with a 3-0 loss to Chelsea in mid-July.Three weeks later they were back for pre-season training, and a week after that they started the new campaign against Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup.Fast forward a month and PSG -- who won the Super Cup on penalties -- have won their first four games in Ligue 1 but it looks like the recent efforts are beginning to catch up with them.Ballon d'Or favourite Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue are out for several weeks with muscle injuries suffered playing for France, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in and Lucas Beraldo came off hurt in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Lens."It happens to everyone. It is a bit of a difficult time for us because we have a lot of players injured," said Luis Enrique, the coach with his own arm in a sling after fracturing a collarbone in a cycling accident."I am calm about it and I hope we will manage to overcome it."It is not solely luck that PSG avoided serious injuries last season, owing much to the coach's management of the squad.<h2>Hakimi in the red zone?</h2>Nineteen PSG players played more than 1,000 minutes in 2024/25, the same number as Real Madrid and Barcelona for example.But the Club World Cup, often played in searing heat and involving numerous long journeys across the United States, had to take a toll.PSG used 19 players in that competition, while Chelsea fielded 27 -- the French side looked rinsed in the final and were torn apart.If they do go to the latter stages of the Champions League again, PSG are looking at playing at least 55 games this season, including the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in December.And there is a World Cup coming at the end of the season, where a large bulk of PSG's players will be present.The year is set to be even more intense for Achraf Hakimi, who played more minutes than anyone else for PSG last season -- he will also feature heavily for Morocco as they host the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January.Hakimi has no natural understudy at right-back at PSG, who surprisingly opted not to add significant depth to their squad in the transfer window, signing only one new centre-back in Illia Zabarnyi, while Lucas Chevalier replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal."Injuries to high-profile players are only one visible part of the workload crisis facing professional football and are not surprising," said global players' union FIFPro last week."The impact is not felt just by the players but increasingly also by clubs, national teams, fans and national competitions."Yet despite the concerns, there is huge excitement at PSG as they put their title on the line in Europe."It is a special moment. We know how difficult this competition is, but we are relaxed about it and we are hoping to put in a good performance in our first game," said Luis Enrique.

Luis Enrique's team will also entertain Bayern, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the league phase, with trips to Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Athletic Bilbao and to Lisbon to face Sporting on the horizon too.

There is the sense that the new season gets up and running for real this week for Paris Saint-Germain as they begin their defence of the Champions League title amid doubts as to how much longer their squad can handle being pushed to the limit by a crowded calendar. PSG host Atalanta on Wednesday for their first game in Europe, three and a half months after their stunning 5-0 destruction of Inter Milan in last season's final in Munich. Also Read - Championship side Sheffield Utd appoint Chris Wilder for third managerial spell Luis Enrique's team will also entertain Bayern, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the league phase, with trips to Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Athletic Bilbao and to Lisbon to face Sporting on the horizon too. Those are tough games, although PSG's poor start in last season's Champions League has shown that they might not need to be at their very best immediately. The French champions lost three of eight league phase games last season, but still won Europe's elite club competition for the first time following a dazzling run of form from the turn of the year. The concern now, however, is that last season's exertions could catch up with them and seriously jeopardise their chances of retaining the trophy. The Parisians played 65 games during 2024/25, in a season spanning 11 months. That included 17 matches in the Champions League and seven in the Club World Cup, where their marathon campaign concluded with a 3-0 loss to Chelsea in mid-July. Three weeks later they were back for pre-season training, and a week after that they started the new campaign against Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup. Fast forward a month and PSG -- who won the Super Cup on penalties -- have won their first four games in Ligue 1 but it looks like the recent efforts are beginning to catch up with them. Ballon d'Or favourite Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue are out for several weeks with muscle injuries suffered playing for France, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in and Lucas Beraldo came off hurt in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Lens. "It happens to everyone. It is a bit of a difficult time for us because we have a lot of players injured," said Luis Enrique, the coach with his own arm in a sling after fracturing a collarbone in a cycling accident. "I am calm about it and I hope we will manage to overcome it." It is not solely luck that PSG avoided serious injuries last season, owing much to the coach's management of the squad. Hakimi in the red zone? Nineteen PSG players played more than 1,000 minutes in 2024/25, the same number as Real Madrid and Barcelona for example. But the Club World Cup, often played in searing heat and involving numerous long journeys across the United States, had to take a toll. PSG used 19 players in that competition, while Chelsea fielded 27 -- the French side looked rinsed in the final and were torn apart. If they do go to the latter stages of the Champions League again, PSG are looking at playing at least 55 games this season, including the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in December. And there is a World Cup coming at the end of the season, where a large bulk of PSG's players will be present. The year is set to be even more intense for Achraf Hakimi, who played more minutes than anyone else for PSG last season -- he will also feature heavily for Morocco as they host the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January. Hakimi has no natural understudy at right-back at PSG, who surprisingly opted not to add significant depth to their squad in the transfer window, signing only one new centre-back in Illia Zabarnyi, while Lucas Chevalier replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. "Injuries to high-profile players are only one visible part of the workload crisis facing professional football and are not surprising," said global players' union FIFPro last week. "The impact is not felt just by the players but increasingly also by clubs, national teams, fans and national competitions." Yet despite the concerns, there is huge excitement at PSG as they put their title on the line in Europe. "It is a special moment. We know how difficult this competition is, but we are relaxed about it and we are hoping to put in a good performance in our first game," said Luis Enrique.

Luis Enrique's team will also entertain Bayern, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the league phase, with trips to Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Athletic Bilbao and to Lisbon to face Sporting on the horizon too.

PSG to begin Champions League title defence amid cloud of injuries

Champions League Winners PSG face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. Luis Enrique's side have the chance to win a fifth trophy of 2025.


UCL Winners PSG Face Tottenham Hotspur In UEFA Super Cup

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has broken the silence on the goalkeeping situation at the club as they go through a phase of transition between the sticks. Ahead of the UEFA Super Cup clash on Wednesday (August 13) against Tottenham Hotspur, Enrique opened up about his friction with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had left him out of the PSG squad. According to reports, Donnarumma has been told by the Champions League-winning manager that his PSG career is already over, with a potential move to the Premier League on the cards.&nbsp;<h2>Enrique opens up on Donnarumma exit</h2>"Gigio is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and an even better person. But that's the life of a top-level footballer, as it is for coaches," the PSG boss told Sky Sports Italia."These are difficult decisions, but I take responsibility for the choice I made. If they were easy, anyone would make them. They have to do with the profile of the goalkeeper my team needs."&nbsp;After the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea in July, reports had stated that there was friction between Donnarumma and Enrique. The Spanish manager was not happy with Donnarumma’s work rate and therefore signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;As things stand, Enrique has taken full responsibility for the situation and backs Chevalier to succeed at PSG. On the other hand, Donnarumma is actively in talks with Premier League sides as he looks for a suitable club. With one year still remaining on the contract, it is likely that he is available for a cheap price in the market.&nbsp;&nbsp;Manchester City and Manchester United are potential suitors for Donnarumma, as the Premier League giants have priorities of their own. With Guglielmo Vicario rising in the Tottenham ranks, Donnarumma will face tough competition to be Italy’s number one goalkeeper with the FIFA World Cup less than a year away.

After the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea in July, reports had stated that there was friction between Gianluigi Donnarumma and Luis Enrique. 

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has broken the silence on the goalkeeping situation at the club as they go through a phase of transition between the sticks. Ahead of the UEFA Super Cup clash on Wednesday (August 13) against Tottenham Hotspur, Enrique opened up about his friction with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had left him out of the PSG squad. According to reports, Donnarumma has been told by the Champions League-winning manager that his PSG career is already over, with a potential move to the Premier League on the cards. Enrique opens up on Donnarumma exit "Gigio is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and an even better person. But that's the life of a top-level footballer, as it is for coaches," the PSG boss told Sky Sports Italia. "These are difficult decisions, but I take responsibility for the choice I made. If they were easy, anyone would make them. They have to do with the profile of the goalkeeper my team needs." After the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea in July, reports had stated that there was friction between Donnarumma and Enrique. The Spanish manager was not happy with Donnarumma’s work rate and therefore signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) As things stand, Enrique has taken full responsibility for the situation and backs Chevalier to succeed at PSG. On the other hand, Donnarumma is actively in talks with Premier League sides as he looks for a suitable club. With one year still remaining on the contract, it is likely that he is available for a cheap price in the market. Manchester City and Manchester United are potential suitors for Donnarumma, as the Premier League giants have priorities of their own. With Guglielmo Vicario rising in the Tottenham ranks, Donnarumma will face tough competition to be Italy’s number one goalkeeper with the FIFA World Cup less than a year away.

After the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea in July, reports had stated that there was friction between Gianluigi Donnarumma and Luis Enrique.&nbsp;

PSG boss Luis Enrique breaks silence on Gianluigi Donnarumma situation, says 'I take responsibility'

Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 before lifting the trophy alongside US President Donald Trump. PSG were the favourites after coming to the United States fresh from winning the Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals.&nbsp;But having been three goals ahead early on in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down by the break.&nbsp;Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes.&nbsp;A bad day for PSG was summed up when Joao Neves was shown red following a VAR review four minutes from the end for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball.&nbsp;"Being Club World Cup champion is something for us to be proud of. We are very happy, especially against a team in PSG who I consider the best in the world with one of the best managers in the world," said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, before hailing match-winner Palmer.&nbsp;"These are the games where we expect Cole to appear because it is a big game, a big moment, and once again he showed how good he is."&nbsp;Before Chelsea got to lift the trophy, tensions spilled over at full-time with players facing off on the pitch and Paris coach Luis Enrique raising his arm to the neck of Joao Pedro."There was a lot of pushing and shoving. It was a situation that obviously should have been avoided, but my intention was clearly just to try to separate the players," said Luis Enrique.&nbsp;The scoreline was one few could have predicted as Chelsea capped what has been a long but memorable season -- they are the first ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup having also won the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League.They will also take away around $125 million in prize money, meaning the prospect of a drastically curtailed summer break before returning for next season will surely feel worth it.&nbsp;For PSG, meanwhile, the financial rewards are similar but there will be genuine disappointment at falling short of adding this title to their Champions League triumph and French league and cup double.&nbsp;Nevertheless, conquering Europe was always the main aim this season for Luis Enrique's team, who now have exactly a month to digest this and take a holiday before returning to action in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-donald-trump-was-booed-at-the-fifa-club-world-cup-final-in-new-jersey-1752456006040">Why Donald Trump was booed at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey?</a><h2>Trump in attendance</h2>There was a real sense of occasion at the MetLife Stadium, with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and with Trump in attendance along with First Lady Melania Trump in a crowd of 81,118.&nbsp;For the second time in six weeks PSG found themselves involved in a final that quickly turned into a one-sided affair.&nbsp;The club claimed a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but here they were ripped apart by Chelsea.&nbsp;The opening goal came in the 22nd minute as Malo Gusto got the better of Nuno Mendes down the right before seeing his shot blocked by Lucas Beraldo. The ball came back to Gusto and he teed up Palmer to finish into the bottom-left corner.&nbsp;Palmer has been the face of Chelsea on billboards in the United States during the tournament and he lived up to his star status by scoring again on the half-hour.Released on the right with PSG left-back Mendes out of position, Palmer advanced towards the box before stroking a low shot into the same corner.&nbsp;Joao Pedro played a part in the build-up to that goal and the Brazilian, signed during the tournament from Brighton, then got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0.&nbsp;Scorer of both goals against Fluminense in the semi-finals, he clipped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after being supplied by Palmer.&nbsp;PSG had conceded a single goal in their previous eight matches and they never really looked like producing a comeback, even if Neves headed just wide in first-half stoppage time.&nbsp;Substitute Liam Delap almost got a fourth for Chelsea midway through the second half, before Neves was shown red to complete a bad day for PSG.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 before lifting the trophy alongside US President Donald Trump.

Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 before lifting the trophy alongside US President Donald Trump. PSG were the favourites after coming to the United States fresh from winning the Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals. But having been three goals ahead early on in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down by the break. Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes. A bad day for PSG was summed up when Joao Neves was shown red following a VAR review four minutes from the end for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball. "Being Club World Cup champion is something for us to be proud of. We are very happy, especially against a team in PSG who I consider the best in the world with one of the best managers in the world," said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, before hailing match-winner Palmer. "These are the games where we expect Cole to appear because it is a big game, a big moment, and once again he showed how good he is." Before Chelsea got to lift the trophy, tensions spilled over at full-time with players facing off on the pitch and Paris coach Luis Enrique raising his arm to the neck of Joao Pedro. "There was a lot of pushing and shoving. It was a situation that obviously should have been avoided, but my intention was clearly just to try to separate the players," said Luis Enrique. The scoreline was one few could have predicted as Chelsea capped what has been a long but memorable season -- they are the first ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup having also won the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League. They will also take away around $125 million in prize money, meaning the prospect of a drastically curtailed summer break before returning for next season will surely feel worth it. For PSG, meanwhile, the financial rewards are similar but there will be genuine disappointment at falling short of adding this title to their Champions League triumph and French league and cup double. Nevertheless, conquering Europe was always the main aim this season for Luis Enrique's team, who now have exactly a month to digest this and take a holiday before returning to action in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur. ALSO READ | Why Donald Trump was booed at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey? Trump in attendance There was a real sense of occasion at the MetLife Stadium, with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and with Trump in attendance along with First Lady Melania Trump in a crowd of 81,118. For the second time in six weeks PSG found themselves involved in a final that quickly turned into a one-sided affair. The club claimed a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but here they were ripped apart by Chelsea. The opening goal came in the 22nd minute as Malo Gusto got the better of Nuno Mendes down the right before seeing his shot blocked by Lucas Beraldo. The ball came back to Gusto and he teed up Palmer to finish into the bottom-left corner. Palmer has been the face of Chelsea on billboards in the United States during the tournament and he lived up to his star status by scoring again on the half-hour. Released on the right with PSG left-back Mendes out of position, Palmer advanced towards the box before stroking a low shot into the same corner. Joao Pedro played a part in the build-up to that goal and the Brazilian, signed during the tournament from Brighton, then got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0. Scorer of both goals against Fluminense in the semi-finals, he clipped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after being supplied by Palmer. PSG had conceded a single goal in their previous eight matches and they never really looked like producing a comeback, even if Neves headed just wide in first-half stoppage time. Substitute Liam Delap almost got a fourth for Chelsea midway through the second half, before Neves was shown red to complete a bad day for PSG. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 before lifting the trophy alongside US President Donald Trump.

Cole Palmer stars as Chelsea stun PSG to win expanded FIFA Club World Cup

Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat against Brazilian side Botafogo on Thursday in a hard-fought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America.&nbsp;A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds in front of a 53,699 crowd at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-basketball-los-angeles-lakers-to-be-sold-in-record-breaking-10bn-deal-report-1750306093556">Los Angeles Lakers to be sold in record-breaking $10bn deal - Report</a>&nbsp;French champions PSG are widely regarded as one of the favourites for FIFA's 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last month.&nbsp;But their hopes of securing a victory which would have seen them become the first side to reach the last 16 were stymied by a resilient performance from their opponents from Rio de Janeiro.&nbsp;"A lot of people wondered, but we showed how strong Botafogo is," goal scorer Jesus said after the win. "It was a difficult game, and we had to defend well, and we did our job and scored a goal.&nbsp;"We're really happy -- we knew how important this game was. One team was the champion of the Champions League, the other team was the champion of South America," added Jesus, who had been strongly linked with a move to English Premier League side Nottingham Forest earlier this year before opting to stay with the Brazilians to play in the Club World Cup.&nbsp;"I think I made the right choice to stay in Botafogo," Jesus quipped.&nbsp;Paris Saint-Germain picked up where they had left off in Sunday's 4-0 Group B rout of Atletico Madrid, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia testing Botafogo goalkeeper John with an early curling effort after just two minutes.&nbsp;But that early effort was as close as PSG came to scoring in a scrappy first half punctuated by a series of niggling fouls that prevented the European champions from settling into their passing game.&nbsp;Botafogo's midfield trio of Marlon Freitas, Gregore and Allan worked tirelessly to close down Vitinha, denying the skilful PSG playmaker time and space to launch attacks despite dominating possession.&nbsp;Instead, it was Botafogo who took the lead with a goal against the run of play on 36 minutes.&nbsp;Jefferson Savarino's perfectly weighted through ball split the PSG defence and sent Jesus racing through on goal.&nbsp;The Botafogo striker did brilliantly to wrongfoot the covering Willian Pacho before sweeping a shot that took a slight deflection past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on its way into the net.&nbsp;PSG continued to dominate possession through the second half, and spent long periods camped in the final third.&nbsp;But Botafogo's defence held firm and the result leaves the Brazilians firmly on course for the last 16, with a final group game against Atletico Madrid to come in Pasadena on Monday.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Brazilian side Botafogo stun Champions League winner PSG in Club World Cup

Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat against Brazilian side Botafogo on Thursday in a hard-fought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America. A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds in front of a 53,699 crowd at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Also read | Los Angeles Lakers to be sold in record-breaking $10bn deal - Report French champions PSG are widely regarded as one of the favourites for FIFA's 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last month. But their hopes of securing a victory which would have seen them become the first side to reach the last 16 were stymied by a resilient performance from their opponents from Rio de Janeiro. "A lot of people wondered, but we showed how strong Botafogo is," goal scorer Jesus said after the win. "It was a difficult game, and we had to defend well, and we did our job and scored a goal. "We're really happy -- we knew how important this game was. One team was the champion of the Champions League, the other team was the champion of South America," added Jesus, who had been strongly linked with a move to English Premier League side Nottingham Forest earlier this year before opting to stay with the Brazilians to play in the Club World Cup. "I think I made the right choice to stay in Botafogo," Jesus quipped. Paris Saint-Germain picked up where they had left off in Sunday's 4-0 Group B rout of Atletico Madrid, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia testing Botafogo goalkeeper John with an early curling effort after just two minutes. But that early effort was as close as PSG came to scoring in a scrappy first half punctuated by a series of niggling fouls that prevented the European champions from settling into their passing game. Botafogo's midfield trio of Marlon Freitas, Gregore and Allan worked tirelessly to close down Vitinha, denying the skilful PSG playmaker time and space to launch attacks despite dominating possession. Instead, it was Botafogo who took the lead with a goal against the run of play on 36 minutes. Jefferson Savarino's perfectly weighted through ball split the PSG defence and sent Jesus racing through on goal. The Botafogo striker did brilliantly to wrongfoot the covering Willian Pacho before sweeping a shot that took a slight deflection past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on its way into the net. PSG continued to dominate possession through the second half, and spent long periods camped in the final third. But Botafogo's defence held firm and the result leaves the Brazilians firmly on course for the last 16, with a final group game against Atletico Madrid to come in Pasadena on Monday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds in front of a 53,699 crowd at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.

French police arrested 43 people in the capital and three others were injured by a car after football club Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal to reach the Champions League final, authorities said Thursday.
<h2>Dozens arrested in Paris</h2>
Rowdy celebrations erupted in Paris Wednesday after PSG beat their English rivals 2-1 to advance to the final and a shot at the club's first Champions League title.
Three people were injured when a car crashed into them near the capital's iconic Champs-Elysees avenue as PSG fans celebrated, police said, adding the "circumstances... remain unclear at this stage".
One of those injured was in critical condition, they said.
Videos posted on social media showed the car was then set on fire.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rohit-sharma-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket-9045477" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket</a>
AFP journalists saw two burned-out vehicles near the Champs-Elysees.
Crowds of fans without tickets massed outside the Parc des Princes stadium during the match.
Police intervened to restore the flow of traffic after raucous celebrations erupted, but reported "no major incidents" outside the stadium.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Rowdy celebrations erupted in Paris Wednesday after PSG beat their English rivals 2-1 to advance to the final and a shot at the club's first Champions League title. World | Football | Sports

French police arrested 43 people in the capital and three others were injured by a car after football club Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal to reach the Champions League final, authorities said Thursday. Dozens arrested in Paris Rowdy celebrations erupted in Paris Wednesday after PSG beat their English rivals 2-1 to advance to the final and a shot at the club's first Champions League title. Three people were injured when a car crashed into them near the capital's iconic Champs-Elysees avenue as PSG fans celebrated, police said, adding the "circumstances... remain unclear at this stage". One of those injured was in critical condition, they said. Videos posted on social media showed the car was then set on fire. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket AFP journalists saw two burned-out vehicles near the Champs-Elysees. Crowds of fans without tickets massed outside the Parc des Princes stadium during the match. Police intervened to restore the flow of traffic after raucous celebrations erupted, but reported "no major incidents" outside the stadium. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Dozens arrested, three hurt by car in Paris after PSG beat Arsenal in Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique insisted his team deserved their place in the Champions League final and were determined to go on and lift the trophy after winning their last-four tie against Arsenal on Wednesday.
"Over the two legs we scored more goals than them and in football it's the most important thing, but Arsenal played a great game and we suffered a lot," the Spaniard said after PSG's 2-1 win in the second leg in Paris secured a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
Goals either side of half-time by Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi put the French champions out of sight in the tie before Bukayo Saka pulled one back for Arsenal, while PSG's Vitinha had a penalty saved.
However, the hosts needed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to make several vital saves and Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta claimed his team had been better over the two legs.
"It is the match in which we suffered the most (in the Champions League) but we deserve to get to the final," added Luis Enrique.
PSG will now face Inter Milan in the final in Munich on May 31 after an extraordinary run in the competition which has also seen them knock out two other Premier League sides in Liverpool and Aston Villa.
It comes after they had been in real danger of elimination due to a poor run of results in the league phase -- they lost three of their first five matches, including a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal.
That meant they came 15th out of 36 teams and finished eight points behind the best team, Liverpool.
"I think throughout the competition it is clear that the results are what counts, we know that, but in the league phase there is no doubt we deserved nine points more," Luis Enrique claimed.
"The fact we had such a difficult set of fixtures in the league phase helped the team improve and grow.
"The statistics showed we were one of the best teams in Europe, and when we started to be more clinical, in a short competition, I think we have showed that we deserve to be in the final."
It will be PSG's second Champions League final, five years after they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon.
Last year, in Luis Enrique's first season with the club, they were beaten in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund.
"There is no logic in football, but the first day I was here I said the objective was to work towards being able to make history, and that is our objective, to be the first to win this so-desired trophy," for PSG, added the former Barcelona coach, who turns 55 on Thursday.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Last year, in Luis Enrique's first season with the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the side was beaten in the UCL semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund. Sports Football

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique insisted his team deserved their place in the Champions League final and were determined to go on and lift the trophy after winning their last-four tie against Arsenal on Wednesday. "Over the two legs we scored more goals than them and in football it's the most important thing, but Arsenal played a great game and we suffered a lot," the Spaniard said after PSG's 2-1 win in the second leg in Paris secured a 3-1 aggregate triumph. Goals either side of half-time by Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi put the French champions out of sight in the tie before Bukayo Saka pulled one back for Arsenal, while PSG's Vitinha had a penalty saved. However, the hosts needed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to make several vital saves and Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta claimed his team had been better over the two legs. "It is the match in which we suffered the most (in the Champions League) but we deserve to get to the final," added Luis Enrique. PSG will now face Inter Milan in the final in Munich on May 31 after an extraordinary run in the competition which has also seen them knock out two other Premier League sides in Liverpool and Aston Villa. It comes after they had been in real danger of elimination due to a poor run of results in the league phase -- they lost three of their first five matches, including a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal. That meant they came 15th out of 36 teams and finished eight points behind the best team, Liverpool. "I think throughout the competition it is clear that the results are what counts, we know that, but in the league phase there is no doubt we deserved nine points more," Luis Enrique claimed. "The fact we had such a difficult set of fixtures in the league phase helped the team improve and grow. "The statistics showed we were one of the best teams in Europe, and when we started to be more clinical, in a short competition, I think we have showed that we deserve to be in the final." It will be PSG's second Champions League final, five years after they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon. Last year, in Luis Enrique's first season with the club, they were beaten in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund. "There is no logic in football, but the first day I was here I said the objective was to work towards being able to make history, and that is our objective, to be the first to win this so-desired trophy," for PSG, added the former Barcelona coach, who turns 55 on Thursday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PSG are deserving Champions League finalists, says coach Luis Enrique

Paris Saint-Germain clinched a place in the Champions League final as goals by Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave them a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their last-four tie on Wednesday, securing a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
Ruiz crashed in a shot from the edge of the area in the 27th minute at the Parc des Princes to leave PSG firmly in the driving seat after they had withstood an early bombardment from the visitors.
Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sports-champions-league-davide-frattesi-shoots-inter-milan-into-final-after-thrilling-end-against-barcelona-9042720">Champions League: Davide Frattesi shoots Inter Milan into final after thrilling end against Barcelona</a>
Already leading in the tie after Ousmane Dembele's goal in last week's first leg, PSG then saw Vitinha have a second-half penalty saved.
However, Hakimi put the tie beyond Arsenal when he scored in the 72nd minute, even if Bukayo Saka did then pull one back for the visitors.
PSG advance to a showdown in Munich on May 31 against Inter Milan, and it will be the second Champions League final in their history, five years after a defeat by Bayern Munich in Lisbon.
Arsenal, meanwhile, saw their European dream come to an end as they fell short of reaching what would have been their second final, 19 years after losing to Barcelona in Paris.
Still without a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, all that is left to play for now for Mikel Arteta's side is securing a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League.
There was an electric atmosphere all evening in Paris, and PSG were able to celebrate getting to a final in front of their fans for the first time, after their victory against RB Leipzig in the last four in 2020 was played behind closed doors during the pandemic.
There was a feverish mood in and around the ground pre-match, but PSG have tripped up in big Champions League ties plenty of times over the last decade.
In addition, their top scorer Dembele was not in the starting line-up having come off with a hamstring problem in the first leg.
<h2>Gunners bombardment</h2>
Arsenal, with Thomas Partey back in midfield after missing the first leg through suspension, did their best to silence the raucous home support by throwing everything at the Parisians right from the off.
Declan Rice headed just wide, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Gabriel Martinelli from close range before producing a stunning save low to his left to keep out a Martin Odegaard shot, all inside the opening eight minutes.
PSG did eventually settle, and they almost went ahead on 17 minutes when Desire Doue teed up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose curling shot hit the far post.
Then Doue wasted a great chance, shooting straight at David Raya in the Arsenal goal after Bradley Barcola had intercepted a loose ball.
But PSG did score before the half-hour mark, the goal coming in the wake of a free-kick awarded for a Rice foul on Kvaratskhelia.
Vitinha's delivery was headed out by Partey but fell to Ruiz on the edge of the box, and he controlled before smashing in a left-foot shot as the ball bounced back up.
It was the ideal moment for the 29-year-old Spaniard to score his first Champions League goal.
Barcola failed to convert a good chance for the hosts to score again moments later, and Arsenal still had some hope going into the second half.
Only another stunning Donnarumma save with his fingertips prevented Saka from pulling one back on 64 minutes, before PSG were awarded a spot-kick.
German referee Felix Zwayer gave the penalty after being summoned to the pitchside monitor when a shot by Hakimi brushed the outstretched hand of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Arteta was furious at the decision, yet Vitinha's kick was turned away by Raya diving to his left.
Nevertheless, PSG made it 2-0 on the night when Dembele, on from the bench, teed up Hakimi to finish in style.
This being PSG, however, there was a wobble as Saka quickly pulled one back from close range after Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard had got the better of Marquinhos on the wing.
Saka then somehow blazed over with an open goal gaping from Riccardo Calafiori's cross, ensuring that there would be no miracle Arsenal comeback and it would be PSG's night.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PSG advance to a showdown in Munich on May 31 against Inter Milan, and it will be the second Champions League final in their history, five years after a defeat by Bayern Munich. Football Sports

Paris Saint-Germain clinched a place in the Champions League final as goals by Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave them a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their last-four tie on Wednesday, securing a 3-1 aggregate triumph. Ruiz crashed in a shot from the edge of the area in the 27th minute at the Parc des Princes to leave PSG firmly in the driving seat after they had withstood an early bombardment from the visitors. Also Read - Champions League: Davide Frattesi shoots Inter Milan into final after thrilling end against Barcelona Already leading in the tie after Ousmane Dembele's goal in last week's first leg, PSG then saw Vitinha have a second-half penalty saved. However, Hakimi put the tie beyond Arsenal when he scored in the 72nd minute, even if Bukayo Saka did then pull one back for the visitors. PSG advance to a showdown in Munich on May 31 against Inter Milan, and it will be the second Champions League final in their history, five years after a defeat by Bayern Munich in Lisbon. Arsenal, meanwhile, saw their European dream come to an end as they fell short of reaching what would have been their second final, 19 years after losing to Barcelona in Paris. Still without a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, all that is left to play for now for Mikel Arteta's side is securing a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League. There was an electric atmosphere all evening in Paris, and PSG were able to celebrate getting to a final in front of their fans for the first time, after their victory against RB Leipzig in the last four in 2020 was played behind closed doors during the pandemic. There was a feverish mood in and around the ground pre-match, but PSG have tripped up in big Champions League ties plenty of times over the last decade. In addition, their top scorer Dembele was not in the starting line-up having come off with a hamstring problem in the first leg. Gunners bombardment Arsenal, with Thomas Partey back in midfield after missing the first leg through suspension, did their best to silence the raucous home support by throwing everything at the Parisians right from the off. Declan Rice headed just wide, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Gabriel Martinelli from close range before producing a stunning save low to his left to keep out a Martin Odegaard shot, all inside the opening eight minutes. PSG did eventually settle, and they almost went ahead on 17 minutes when Desire Doue teed up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose curling shot hit the far post. Then Doue wasted a great chance, shooting straight at David Raya in the Arsenal goal after Bradley Barcola had intercepted a loose ball. But PSG did score before the half-hour mark, the goal coming in the wake of a free-kick awarded for a Rice foul on Kvaratskhelia. Vitinha's delivery was headed out by Partey but fell to Ruiz on the edge of the box, and he controlled before smashing in a left-foot shot as the ball bounced back up. It was the ideal moment for the 29-year-old Spaniard to score his first Champions League goal. Barcola failed to convert a good chance for the hosts to score again moments later, and Arsenal still had some hope going into the second half. Only another stunning Donnarumma save with his fingertips prevented Saka from pulling one back on 64 minutes, before PSG were awarded a spot-kick. German referee Felix Zwayer gave the penalty after being summoned to the pitchside monitor when a shot by Hakimi brushed the outstretched hand of Myles Lewis-Skelly. Arteta was furious at the decision, yet Vitinha's kick was turned away by Raya diving to his left. Nevertheless, PSG made it 2-0 on the night when Dembele, on from the bench, teed up Hakimi to finish in style. This being PSG, however, there was a wobble as Saka quickly pulled one back from close range after Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard had got the better of Marquinhos on the wing. Saka then somehow blazed over with an open goal gaping from Riccardo Calafiori's cross, ensuring that there would be no miracle Arsenal comeback and it would be PSG's night. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Champions League: PSG in final after Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi goals against Arsenal

Paris Saint-Germain forward <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ousmane-dembele" rel="dofollow">Ousmane Dembele</a>, who suffered a hamstring injury last week, has been passed fit to play in their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-league">Champions League</a> semi-final second leg against Arsenal, coach Luis Enrique said on Tuesday.
Dembele came off in the 70th minute of the first leg in London, after scoring the only goal of the game in the fourth minute, prompting the coach to suggest after the match that there was "a doubt" over his chances of playing in Wednesday's return match.
Also Read -&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/italian-open-world-no-1-jannik-sinner-returns-after-serving-three-month-doping-ban-9041474" aria-label="Italian Open: World no. 1 Jannik Sinner returns after serving three-month doping ban">Italian Open: World no. 1 Jannik Sinner returns after serving three-month doping ban</a>
He missed Saturday's Ligue 1 defeat against Strasbourg but resumed training at the start of the week.
<h2>'He's been training for the last two days'&nbsp;</h2>
"He's been training with us for the last two days," said Luis Enrique. "You saw him today, a normal training session for him. He'll be available tomorrow."&nbsp;
The France international has been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/psg">PSG</a>'s star performer this season, scoring 33 goals in all competitions.
South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in also took part in the team training session following the knock he received in Strasbourg.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ousmane Dembele, who suffered a hamstring injury last week, has been passed fit to play in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal. Football Sports

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele, who suffered a hamstring injury last week, has been passed fit to play in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal, coach Luis Enrique said on Tuesday. Dembele came off in the 70th minute of the first leg in London, after scoring the only goal of the game in the fourth minute, prompting the coach to suggest after the match that there was "a doubt" over his chances of playing in Wednesday's return match. Also Read - Italian Open: World no. 1 Jannik Sinner returns after serving three-month doping ban He missed Saturday's Ligue 1 defeat against Strasbourg but resumed training at the start of the week. 'He's been training for the last two days' "He's been training with us for the last two days," said Luis Enrique. "You saw him today, a normal training session for him. He'll be available tomorrow." The France international has been PSG's star performer this season, scoring 33 goals in all competitions. South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in also took part in the team training session following the knock he received in Strasbourg. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Champions League: PSG's Ousmane Dembele fit to play in semis second-leg against Arsenal

Paris Saint-Germain seized the advantage in their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal as Ousmane Dembele sealed a 1-0 win in the first leg on Tuesday.
Dembele struck in the opening minutes at the Emirates Stadium and Luis Enrique's side held on to the lead with a composed display that kept Arsenal at bay.
PSG will head into the second leg at the Parc des Princes on May 7 as favourites to reach the final against Barcelona or Inter Milan as they look to win the tournament for the first time.
But the French champions should take nothing for granted given their history of epic European collapses.
"We showed the kind of team we are. We tried to play our way and scored the goal early playing that way," PSG boss Luis Enrique said.&nbsp;
"We suffered sometimes but could have scored the second goal. The second match is going to be very tough.
"The result means a little advantage for us. We can go to the final but there is still one match."
Arsenal's first defeat in 18 home European matches was a painful blow to their own bid to win a first Champions League crown.
Mikel Arteta had labelled Arsenal's run to the semi-finals a "beautiful story".
The last chapter might make for frustrating reading, but Arteta insisted they aren't dead and buried just yet.
"We put so much into the game. It's half-time and we have a big chance to be in the final," the Gunners boss said.
"We struggled in the first 15 minutes to get momentum and dominance, but in the end I was disappointed not to get a draw at least. That's the margins, that's the level."
The Gunners had beaten holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate to reach their first Champions League semi-final since losing to Manchester United in 2009.
They could not replicate the swaggering display that blew Madrid away 3-0 in the first leg, despite a frenzied atmosphere as kick-off approached.
When Arsenal's players gathered for a pre-match huddle in the tunnel, Declan Rice implored his team-mates to give everything as he roared: "If we don't have the ball we die."
But PSG had already eliminated Premier League champions Liverpool in the last 16 and Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, after coming back from two goals down to beat Manchester City in the league phase.
Arsenal were the one English side they had failed to conquer, losing 2-0 in north London in October.
However, PSG were without the influential Dembele for disciplinary reasons on that occasion and Luis Enrique insisted his side were "more complete" seven months on.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-confirms-mumbai-office-vows-to-promote-football-in-india-9015969" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Premier League confirms Mumbai office, vows to promote football in India</a>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Out-gunned&nbsp;</h2>
Dembele took just four minutes to prove the point as the France star started and finished a ruthless raid.
Taking possession in the centre circle, Dembele worked the ball out to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the Georgian drove at Jurrien Timber with intent.
Dembele had carried on his run into the Arsenal area and Kvaratskhelia's perfectly weighted pass picked him out for a clinical finish that went in off the far post.
Having seized the momentum, Dembele was proving hard for Arsenal to handle, his clever run and pass reaching Desire Doue for a low strike that David Raya saved at full stretch.
Arsenal had been out-gunned but they should have equalised just before half-time when Myles Lewis-Skelly's sublime pass found Gabriel Martinelli, whose shot was superbly saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Arsenal thought they had drawn level two minutes into the second half when Mikel Merino headed home from Rice's free-kick, but their celebrations were premature as VAR disallowed the goal for offside against the Spain midfielder.
Leandro Trossard was inches away from equalising when Rice's pass sent him bursting into the PSG area for a shot that Donnarumma brilliantly tipped away.
Feeling the shift in the balance of power, PSG looked to take the sting out of the game by playing at a slower pace.
The tactic almost worked to perfection when Bradley Barcola sauntered through, but with just Raya to beat he dragged his shot wide of the far post.
It was a woeful miss, leaving Luis Enrique holding his head in disbelief.
The PSG coach found himself in the exact same stunned pose moments later when Goncalo Ramos fired against the bar from close range as another big chance to double the visiting side's lead late on went begging.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ousmane Dembele struck in the opening minutes at the Emirates Stadium and Luis Enrique's side held on to the lead with a composed display that kept Arsenal at bay. World | Football | Sports.

Paris Saint-Germain seized the advantage in their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal as Ousmane Dembele sealed a 1-0 win in the first leg on Tuesday. Dembele struck in the opening minutes at the Emirates Stadium and Luis Enrique's side held on to the lead with a composed display that kept Arsenal at bay. PSG will head into the second leg at the Parc des Princes on May 7 as favourites to reach the final against Barcelona or Inter Milan as they look to win the tournament for the first time. But the French champions should take nothing for granted given their history of epic European collapses. "We showed the kind of team we are. We tried to play our way and scored the goal early playing that way," PSG boss Luis Enrique said. "We suffered sometimes but could have scored the second goal. The second match is going to be very tough. "The result means a little advantage for us. We can go to the final but there is still one match." Arsenal's first defeat in 18 home European matches was a painful blow to their own bid to win a first Champions League crown. Mikel Arteta had labelled Arsenal's run to the semi-finals a "beautiful story". The last chapter might make for frustrating reading, but Arteta insisted they aren't dead and buried just yet. "We put so much into the game. It's half-time and we have a big chance to be in the final," the Gunners boss said. "We struggled in the first 15 minutes to get momentum and dominance, but in the end I was disappointed not to get a draw at least. That's the margins, that's the level." The Gunners had beaten holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate to reach their first Champions League semi-final since losing to Manchester United in 2009. They could not replicate the swaggering display that blew Madrid away 3-0 in the first leg, despite a frenzied atmosphere as kick-off approached. When Arsenal's players gathered for a pre-match huddle in the tunnel, Declan Rice implored his team-mates to give everything as he roared: "If we don't have the ball we die." But PSG had already eliminated Premier League champions Liverpool in the last 16 and Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, after coming back from two goals down to beat Manchester City in the league phase. Arsenal were the one English side they had failed to conquer, losing 2-0 in north London in October. However, PSG were without the influential Dembele for disciplinary reasons on that occasion and Luis Enrique insisted his side were "more complete" seven months on. ALSO READ | Premier League confirms Mumbai office, vows to promote football in India Out-gunned Dembele took just four minutes to prove the point as the France star started and finished a ruthless raid. Taking possession in the centre circle, Dembele worked the ball out to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the Georgian drove at Jurrien Timber with intent. Dembele had carried on his run into the Arsenal area and Kvaratskhelia's perfectly weighted pass picked him out for a clinical finish that went in off the far post. Having seized the momentum, Dembele was proving hard for Arsenal to handle, his clever run and pass reaching Desire Doue for a low strike that David Raya saved at full stretch. Arsenal had been out-gunned but they should have equalised just before half-time when Myles Lewis-Skelly's sublime pass found Gabriel Martinelli, whose shot was superbly saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Arsenal thought they had drawn level two minutes into the second half when Mikel Merino headed home from Rice's free-kick, but their celebrations were premature as VAR disallowed the goal for offside against the Spain midfielder. Leandro Trossard was inches away from equalising when Rice's pass sent him bursting into the PSG area for a shot that Donnarumma brilliantly tipped away. Feeling the shift in the balance of power, PSG looked to take the sting out of the game by playing at a slower pace. The tactic almost worked to perfection when Bradley Barcola sauntered through, but with just Raya to beat he dragged his shot wide of the far post. It was a woeful miss, leaving Luis Enrique holding his head in disbelief. The PSG coach found himself in the exact same stunned pose moments later when Goncalo Ramos fired against the bar from close range as another big chance to double the visiting side's lead late on went begging. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Champions League: Ousmane Dembele sinks Arsenal as PSG seize edge semi-final

Paris Saint-Germain saw their unbeaten record in Ligue 1 this season finally ended in a 3-1 home defeat against Nice on Friday, just ahead of their Champions League semi-final showdown against Arsenal.<o:p></o:p>
PSG had been hoping to become the first team ever to complete a French top-flight season without losing a game, but Morgan Sanson scored twice for Nice as the visitors claimed all three points against the run of play.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/real-madrid-boycott-copa-del-rey-final-build-up-amid-unacceptable-referee-statements-barcelona-el-classico-9004376" rel="dofollow">Real Madrid boycott Copa del Rey final build-up amid 'unacceptable' referee statements</a>
Fabian Ruiz had brought PSG level late in the first half, cancelling out Sanson's opener. However, Sanson scored again just 22 seconds into the second half, and Youssouf Ndayishimiye later headed in to make it 3-1.<o:p></o:p>
"For me, the result is not fair, but that's football, you have to accept it," said PSG coach Luis Enrique, who saw his side dominate the game with 76 per cent possession and over 30 shots on goal.<o:p></o:p>
PSG had been unbeaten in 30 Ligue 1 matches this season, and had not lost any of their last 41 games against French opposition since a 3-1 home loss against Toulouse on May 12 last year.<o:p></o:p>
The result means PSG, who had already secured a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title at the start of this month, fall short of equalling the record for the longest unbeaten run from the beginning of a French season.<o:p></o:p>
That record is still held by Nantes, who went undefeated for 32 matches before suffering their sole defeat on the way to winning the title in 1994/95.<o:p></o:p>
PSG must now quickly put this defeat behind them as they head to London for the first leg of their Champions League last-four tie against Arsenal on Tuesday, before the return at the Parc des Princes on May 7.<o:p></o:p>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

PSG hoped to become the first team ever to complete a French top-flight season without losing a game, but Sanson's brace for Nice broke their dream. Sports, Football

Paris Saint-Germain saw their unbeaten record in Ligue 1 this season finally ended in a 3-1 home defeat against Nice on Friday, just ahead of their Champions League semi-final showdown against Arsenal. PSG had been hoping to become the first team ever to complete a French top-flight season without losing a game, but Morgan Sanson scored twice for Nice as the visitors claimed all three points against the run of play. Also read | Real Madrid boycott Copa del Rey final build-up amid 'unacceptable' referee statements Fabian Ruiz had brought PSG level late in the first half, cancelling out Sanson's opener. However, Sanson scored again just 22 seconds into the second half, and Youssouf Ndayishimiye later headed in to make it 3-1. "For me, the result is not fair, but that's football, you have to accept it," said PSG coach Luis Enrique, who saw his side dominate the game with 76 per cent possession and over 30 shots on goal. PSG had been unbeaten in 30 Ligue 1 matches this season, and had not lost any of their last 41 games against French opposition since a 3-1 home loss against Toulouse on May 12 last year. The result means PSG, who had already secured a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title at the start of this month, fall short of equalling the record for the longest unbeaten run from the beginning of a French season. That record is still held by Nantes, who went undefeated for 32 matches before suffering their sole defeat on the way to winning the title in 1994/95. PSG must now quickly put this defeat behind them as they head to London for the first leg of their Champions League last-four tie against Arsenal on Tuesday, before the return at the Parc des Princes on May 7. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

PSG surrender unbeaten Ligue 1 run ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League showdown

Paris Saint-Germain survived a second half onslaught to beat Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate and reach the Champions League semi-finals despite a 3-2 defeat on Tuesday.
The French champions were cruising towards the last four when full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes struck in the first 27 minutes to add to their 3-1 first leg lead.
Youri Tielemans pulled a goal back for the English side before half-time and two goals in two minutes from John McGinn and Ezri Konsa transformed the tie early in the second period.
PSG were thankful to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for keeping Unai Emery's men at bay and preventing another famous collapse in the Champions League knockout stages.
"At the end, we got them suffering like we did," said Emery.
"To get this level is the next step forward that I want to try to build with Aston Villa."
Villa boss Emery was in charge of PSG when Luis Enrique's Barcelona overturned a 4-0 first leg deficit with a dramatic 6-1 win in 2017.
Luis Enrique again emerged victorious over his compatriot but this time was the one who watched his team almost blow a seemingly unassailable lead.
"I have to say that match for us is something that allows us to grow up and try to compete even better," said Luis Enrique. &nbsp;
"On the whole two matches we deserved to win and we are very happy because it's the second year in a row in the semi-finals."
Villa had not experienced a European night like this since 1983 and there was an embarrassing moment for the hosts before a ball was kicked as the Europa League anthem was played instead of the famous pre-match hymn of the Champions League.
Luis Enrique's surprise decision to start Bradley Barcola ahead of Desire Doue was justified just 11 minutes in when he sprinted down the left and Emiliano Martinez spilled his cross into the path of Hakimi, who fired home the opener.
Another blistering break from the visitors cut Villa open as Ousmane Dembele squared for left-back Mendes to stroke in his fourth Champions League goal of the season and second of the tie.
<h2>Royals in raptures</h2>
Villa's refusal to give up the fight was rewarded when Tielemans' deflected effort pulled a goal back before half-time.
Villa fanatic Prince William and his son George were among the home support that were in raptures as what seemed an impossible fightback came closer to reality.
McGinn's deflected effort flew into the top corner to restore parity on the night at 2-2.
Emery's decision to start with Marcus Rashford up front ahead of top scorer Ollie Watkins was a controversial one before kick-off.
Rashford has been reborn since a January loan move from Manchester United.
The England international was denied a goal by a stunning save from Donnarumma.
But from the resulting corner, Rashford nutmegged Fabian Ruiz, skipped past Vitinha and cut the ball back for Konsa to slot in at the near post.
A PSG side that looked imperious in the first 45 minutes were suddenly all at sea as Villa missed a series of chances to take the game to extra time.
Donnarumma produced more brilliant saves to deny Tielemans and then Marco Asensio against his parent club.
Willian Pacho blocked Ian Maatsen's goalbound effort in stoppage time to deny Villa at the death.
But they have surpassed expectations in their first experience of the elite level of European football for over four decades.
For PSG, their quest to win the competition for the first time goes on and they have rarely had a better opportunity to end that wait.
Arsenal are their likely semi-final opponents as the Gunners take a 3-0 quarter-final, first leg advantage away to holders Real Madrid on Wednesday.
On the other half of the draw Barcelona will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in a heavyweight clash.
But PSG are arguably the continent's form side and with the Ligue 1 title long since sewn up, can focus entirely on conquering Europe in Munich on May 31.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/cricket-la-2028-games-ioc-reveals-venue-for-crickets-olympics-return-8966048" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">LA 2028 Games: IOC reveals venue for cricket&rsquo;s Olympics return</a>
<h2>Barcelona hold off Borussia Dortmund challenge</h2>
Barcelona were through to the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win, despite losing 3-1 at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday with Serhou Guirassy hitting a hat-trick.
Holding a 4-0 lead after a dominant performance in Catalonia, the visitors were made to sweat as Dortmund and Guirassy nearly pulled off a stunning turnaround.&nbsp;
Guirassy put Dortmund in front with a Panenka from the spot with 11 minutes gone and headed them two goals clear early in the second half.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World News, Sports: PSG were cruising towards the last four when full-backs Hakimi and Mendes struck in the first 27 minutes to add to their 3-1 first leg lead.

Paris Saint-Germain survived a second half onslaught to beat Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate and reach the Champions League semi-finals despite a 3-2 defeat on Tuesday. The French champions were cruising towards the last four when full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes struck in the first 27 minutes to add to their 3-1 first leg lead. Youri Tielemans pulled a goal back for the English side before half-time and two goals in two minutes from John McGinn and Ezri Konsa transformed the tie early in the second period. PSG were thankful to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for keeping Unai Emery's men at bay and preventing another famous collapse in the Champions League knockout stages. "At the end, we got them suffering like we did," said Emery. "To get this level is the next step forward that I want to try to build with Aston Villa." Villa boss Emery was in charge of PSG when Luis Enrique's Barcelona overturned a 4-0 first leg deficit with a dramatic 6-1 win in 2017. Luis Enrique again emerged victorious over his compatriot but this time was the one who watched his team almost blow a seemingly unassailable lead. "I have to say that match for us is something that allows us to grow up and try to compete even better," said Luis Enrique. "On the whole two matches we deserved to win and we are very happy because it's the second year in a row in the semi-finals." Villa had not experienced a European night like this since 1983 and there was an embarrassing moment for the hosts before a ball was kicked as the Europa League anthem was played instead of the famous pre-match hymn of the Champions League. Luis Enrique's surprise decision to start Bradley Barcola ahead of Desire Doue was justified just 11 minutes in when he sprinted down the left and Emiliano Martinez spilled his cross into the path of Hakimi, who fired home the opener. Another blistering break from the visitors cut Villa open as Ousmane Dembele squared for left-back Mendes to stroke in his fourth Champions League goal of the season and second of the tie. Royals in raptures Villa's refusal to give up the fight was rewarded when Tielemans' deflected effort pulled a goal back before half-time. Villa fanatic Prince William and his son George were among the home support that were in raptures as what seemed an impossible fightback came closer to reality. McGinn's deflected effort flew into the top corner to restore parity on the night at 2-2. Emery's decision to start with Marcus Rashford up front ahead of top scorer Ollie Watkins was a controversial one before kick-off. Rashford has been reborn since a January loan move from Manchester United. The England international was denied a goal by a stunning save from Donnarumma. But from the resulting corner, Rashford nutmegged Fabian Ruiz, skipped past Vitinha and cut the ball back for Konsa to slot in at the near post. A PSG side that looked imperious in the first 45 minutes were suddenly all at sea as Villa missed a series of chances to take the game to extra time. Donnarumma produced more brilliant saves to deny Tielemans and then Marco Asensio against his parent club. Willian Pacho blocked Ian Maatsen's goalbound effort in stoppage time to deny Villa at the death. But they have surpassed expectations in their first experience of the elite level of European football for over four decades. For PSG, their quest to win the competition for the first time goes on and they have rarely had a better opportunity to end that wait. Arsenal are their likely semi-final opponents as the Gunners take a 3-0 quarter-final, first leg advantage away to holders Real Madrid on Wednesday. On the other half of the draw Barcelona will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in a heavyweight clash. But PSG are arguably the continent's form side and with the Ligue 1 title long since sewn up, can focus entirely on conquering Europe in Munich on May 31. ALSO READ | LA 2028 Games: IOC reveals venue for cricket’s Olympics return Barcelona hold off Borussia Dortmund challenge Barcelona were through to the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win, despite losing 3-1 at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday with Serhou Guirassy hitting a hat-trick. Holding a 4-0 lead after a dominant performance in Catalonia, the visitors were made to sweat as Dortmund and Guirassy nearly pulled off a stunning turnaround. Guirassy put Dortmund in front with a Panenka from the spot with 11 minutes gone and headed them two goals clear early in the second half. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Champions League: PSG survive Aston Villa scare to reach semis, Barcelona hold Borussia Dortmund for aggregate win

Unai Emery says his players can feed off the energy of their fans as Aston Villa seek to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
The newly crowned French champions came from a goal down at the Parc des Princes last week, with a stoppage-time Nuno Mendes strike changing the complexion of the tie.
"Our expectation is to get a good result in the second leg," Villa manager Emery told reporters on Monday. "Of course the fact that they won 3-1 is changing something.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/liverpool-close-in-on-premier-league-title-newcastle-hammer-manchester-united-to-enter-top-four-8959299">Liverpool close in on PL title, Newcastle maul Manchester United to enter top four</a>
"But a lot? No. Why? Because we have to win. We had to win with 2-1 and with 3-1 now. But now, we have to win with one more goal."
PSG have won 17 of their past 18 games in all competitions, the only exception being a 1-0 first-leg home defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League last 16, which they overturned at Anfield.
They have not lost by more than one goal since October and only once in 47 matches this season.
But Villa themselves are in good form -- they have won eight of their past nine matches in all competitions, with their only stumble coming in France last week.
Villa have not lost a Premier League or Champions League game at home since a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in August, who could be waiting for the victors in the semi-finals.
Emery said Villa's supporters could play a key role on Tuesday as they seek to extend their stay in a competition they last played in during the 1982/83 season.
"If we are connecting with our supporters, if we are transmitting energy, positive energy, if we are playing more or less, getting tactically and individually good things on the field, the supporters, they are going to add to us their energy, they are going to help us a lot, and they are going to transmit to us the energy," said the Spaniard.
"And always for our players playing at home, with the energy they can receive from the supporters, is something adding positivity."
Emery, who has previously managed PSG, said his team competed well in Paris as he hones his plans for the second leg of the quarter-final.
"If we are winning, we can be close," he said. "And our objective is to try to play with one strong plan, strong plan in our tactical way tomorrow, and then try to be consistent."
He added: "If we are getting extra time, fantastic. And if we are getting a penalty shootout, it could be maybe fantastic as well."
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PSG have won 17 of their past 18 games in all competitions, the only exception being a 1-0 first-leg home defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League last 16. Football Sports

Unai Emery says his players can feed off the energy of their fans as Aston Villa seek to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The newly crowned French champions came from a goal down at the Parc des Princes last week, with a stoppage-time Nuno Mendes strike changing the complexion of the tie. "Our expectation is to get a good result in the second leg," Villa manager Emery told reporters on Monday. "Of course the fact that they won 3-1 is changing something. Also Read: Liverpool close in on PL title, Newcastle maul Manchester United to enter top four "But a lot? No. Why? Because we have to win. We had to win with 2-1 and with 3-1 now. But now, we have to win with one more goal." PSG have won 17 of their past 18 games in all competitions, the only exception being a 1-0 first-leg home defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League last 16, which they overturned at Anfield. They have not lost by more than one goal since October and only once in 47 matches this season. But Villa themselves are in good form -- they have won eight of their past nine matches in all competitions, with their only stumble coming in France last week. Villa have not lost a Premier League or Champions League game at home since a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in August, who could be waiting for the victors in the semi-finals. Emery said Villa's supporters could play a key role on Tuesday as they seek to extend their stay in a competition they last played in during the 1982/83 season. "If we are connecting with our supporters, if we are transmitting energy, positive energy, if we are playing more or less, getting tactically and individually good things on the field, the supporters, they are going to add to us their energy, they are going to help us a lot, and they are going to transmit to us the energy," said the Spaniard. "And always for our players playing at home, with the energy they can receive from the supporters, is something adding positivity." Emery, who has previously managed PSG, said his team competed well in Paris as he hones his plans for the second leg of the quarter-final. "If we are winning, we can be close," he said. "And our objective is to try to play with one strong plan, strong plan in our tactical way tomorrow, and then try to be consistent." He added: "If we are getting extra time, fantastic. And if we are getting a penalty shootout, it could be maybe fantastic as well." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Aston Villa boss banks on home crowd energy for Champions League miracle against PSG

Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool's Champions League suffering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain is not yet over despite surviving an onslaught to win the first leg of their last 16 tie 1-0 in the French capital.
The Reds were outclassed for almost the entire match at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday but clung on thanks to what goalkeeper Alisson Becker described as the performance "of his life".
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/test-greats-back-mohammed-shamis-plea-to-revoke-salvia-ban-for-reverse-swing-8828123">Test greats back Shami&rsquo;s plea to revoke saliva ban for &lsquo;reverse swing&rsquo;</a>
Harvey Elliott came off the bench to score the winner with his first touch on 87 minutes. Liverpool had only two shots, compared with PSG's 27 attempts at goal.
It was the Paris side's first defeat in 23 games, a run stretching back to November.
Liverpool will expect to be much stronger for the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday, but Van Dijk warned the tie is not yet over.
"It should be a great game and we have to be ready to suffer as they are a very good team who were unbeaten for a very long time," said the Liverpool captain.
"What I really liked was the togetherness, everyone put a shift in and we know everyone can be better."
Liverpool boss Arne Slot conceded his side would have been lucky even to escape with a draw.
Van Dijk agreed the backs-to-the-wall display is not how the runaway Premier League leaders are used to winning but paid tribute to the "world-class" opposition they faced.
"We don't want to be playing this way because everyone who plays football wants to have the ball a lot and wants to be dominating opponents," he said.
"But we played against a team with a lot of quality, world-class quality, and they made it very difficult for everyone in the world so far and they made it difficult for us but we found a way and we have to try to finish it off next week."
Slot's substitutes made a telling contribution as Darwin Nunez set up the winner for Elliott, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo helped snuff out the PSG threat.
"We are coming to the last stages of the season and the message is pretty clear -- everyone who is part of the team has to play a part when they come on," said Van Dijk.
"With the goal you saw Darwin makes it difficult for Marquinhos and the ball falls and he gives a good pass to Harvey for the finish.
"Even Wataru coming on, Curtis doing a good job is good to see. Everyone needs to feel that importance because there are many big games -- and decisive games -- coming up so we have to keep going."
Liverpool can extend their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League when bottom-of-the-table Southampton visit Anfield on Saturday.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Reds were outclassed for almost the entire match at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday but clung on thanks to what goalkeeper Alisson Becker described as the performance "of his life".

Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool's Champions League suffering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain is not yet over despite surviving an onslaught to win the first leg of their last 16 tie 1-0 in the French capital. The Reds were outclassed for almost the entire match at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday but clung on thanks to what goalkeeper Alisson Becker described as the performance "of his life". Also Read: Test greats back Shami’s plea to revoke saliva ban for ‘reverse swing’ Harvey Elliott came off the bench to score the winner with his first touch on 87 minutes. Liverpool had only two shots, compared with PSG's 27 attempts at goal. It was the Paris side's first defeat in 23 games, a run stretching back to November. Liverpool will expect to be much stronger for the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday, but Van Dijk warned the tie is not yet over. "It should be a great game and we have to be ready to suffer as they are a very good team who were unbeaten for a very long time," said the Liverpool captain. "What I really liked was the togetherness, everyone put a shift in and we know everyone can be better." Liverpool boss Arne Slot conceded his side would have been lucky even to escape with a draw. Van Dijk agreed the backs-to-the-wall display is not how the runaway Premier League leaders are used to winning but paid tribute to the "world-class" opposition they faced. "We don't want to be playing this way because everyone who plays football wants to have the ball a lot and wants to be dominating opponents," he said. "But we played against a team with a lot of quality, world-class quality, and they made it very difficult for everyone in the world so far and they made it difficult for us but we found a way and we have to try to finish it off next week." Slot's substitutes made a telling contribution as Darwin Nunez set up the winner for Elliott, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo helped snuff out the PSG threat. "We are coming to the last stages of the season and the message is pretty clear -- everyone who is part of the team has to play a part when they come on," said Van Dijk. "With the goal you saw Darwin makes it difficult for Marquinhos and the ball falls and he gives a good pass to Harvey for the finish. "Even Wataru coming on, Curtis doing a good job is good to see. Everyone needs to feel that importance because there are many big games -- and decisive games -- coming up so we have to keep going." Liverpool can extend their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League when bottom-of-the-table Southampton visit Anfield on Saturday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'We have to be ready to suffer': Liverpool's Van Dijk on PSG's return leg in Champions League

Liverpool snatched a late winner to beat Paris Saint-Germain away 1-0 in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, while Bayern Munich took charge with a 3-0 win over German rivals Bayer Leverkusen.<o:p></o:p>
French league leaders PSG dominated at the Parc des Princes but couldn't make their superiority count and Harvey Elliott struck three minutes from time after replacing Mohamed Salah with Liverpool's only shot on target.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/raphinha-helps-10-man-barcelona-win-away-at-benfica-in-champions-league-8821350" rel="dofollow">Raphinha helps 10-man Barcelona win away at Benfica in Champions League</a>
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half but Arne Slot's side defended resolutely to keep PSG at bay and are in a strong position to advance to the quarter-finals going into next week's second leg at Anfield.<o:p></o:p>
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker made several crucial saves as PSG had 28 attempts on goal but could not replicate the finishing that had allowed them to score 21 goals in their last five Champions League outings.<o:p></o:p>
"It was probably the performance of my life," Alisson told TNT Sports. "To go away with a win over here was probably a bit more than we deserved," added Slot.<o:p></o:p>
If Liverpool finish the job at home next Tuesday, they could face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, but PSG coach Luis Enrique said his side will have "nothing to lose".<o:p></o:p>
"We deserved to win clearly, we created a lot of chances," said the Spaniard. "Football is unfair many times and you have to accept that."<o:p></o:p>
Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern closed in on the last eight with a first win over Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen in seven matches. The England captain headed in Michael Olise's superb cross to give Bayern the lead at the Allianz Arena.<o:p></o:p>
Jamal Musiala added a second early in the second half when Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar let an innocuous delivery into the box from Joshua Kimmich slip from his grasp.<o:p></o:p>
Bayern lost Manuel Neuer to injury before the night went from bad to worse for Leverkusen, who had Nordi Mukiele sent off.<o:p></o:p>
Kane rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot following a VAR review after he was impeded by Edmond Tapsoba.<o:p></o:p>
"It was a really big step in the right direction. We've struggled against this side over the last couple of years," Kane told DAZN.<o:p></o:p>
A downbeat Alonso admitted it would take a remarkable turn of events for Leverkusen to overturn the deficit.<o:p></o:p>
"In football we've seen big miracles quite often and we almost need one," he said.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: If Liverpool finish the job at home, they could face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, but PSG coach Luis Enrique said his side will have "nothing to lose".

Liverpool snatched a late winner to beat Paris Saint-Germain away 1-0 in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, while Bayern Munich took charge with a 3-0 win over German rivals Bayer Leverkusen. French league leaders PSG dominated at the Parc des Princes but couldn't make their superiority count and Harvey Elliott struck three minutes from time after replacing Mohamed Salah with Liverpool's only shot on target. Also read | Raphinha helps 10-man Barcelona win away at Benfica in Champions League Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half but Arne Slot's side defended resolutely to keep PSG at bay and are in a strong position to advance to the quarter-finals going into next week's second leg at Anfield. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker made several crucial saves as PSG had 28 attempts on goal but could not replicate the finishing that had allowed them to score 21 goals in their last five Champions League outings. "It was probably the performance of my life," Alisson told TNT Sports. "To go away with a win over here was probably a bit more than we deserved," added Slot. If Liverpool finish the job at home next Tuesday, they could face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, but PSG coach Luis Enrique said his side will have "nothing to lose". "We deserved to win clearly, we created a lot of chances," said the Spaniard. "Football is unfair many times and you have to accept that." Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern closed in on the last eight with a first win over Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen in seven matches. The England captain headed in Michael Olise's superb cross to give Bayern the lead at the Allianz Arena. Jamal Musiala added a second early in the second half when Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar let an innocuous delivery into the box from Joshua Kimmich slip from his grasp. Bayern lost Manuel Neuer to injury before the night went from bad to worse for Leverkusen, who had Nordi Mukiele sent off. Kane rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot following a VAR review after he was impeded by Edmond Tapsoba. "It was a really big step in the right direction. We've struggled against this side over the last couple of years," Kane told DAZN. A downbeat Alonso admitted it would take a remarkable turn of events for Leverkusen to overturn the deficit. "In football we've seen big miracles quite often and we almost need one," he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Champions League: Liverpool beat PSG, Bayern thrash league winners Leverkusen in last 16

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique hailed the work done by Liverpool boss Arne Slot and said on Tuesday the Dutchman had built an "almost perfect team" since taking over from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Two of Europe's best sides this season meet on Wednesday as PSG host Liverpool at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-court-grants-bail-to-murder-accused-wrestler-sushil-kumar-8777952">Indian court grants bail to murder-accused wrestler Sushil Kumar</a>
PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 and coasting towards another French title, while Liverpool sit 13 points clear in the Premier League and finished top of the 36-team league phase in the Champions League.
"It's difficult to imagine a better match-up on paper, between two dominant teams, with two slightly different ways of playing but teams with dominant styles," Luis Enrique told reporters.
Liverpool have lost on both their previous visits to PSG, in 1997 and 2018. The second defeat came months before they went on to lift the trophy later that same season in Madrid, beating Tottenham in the final.
The Reds also twice lost in the final under Klopp, both times to Real Madrid and most recently in 2022 at the Stade de France in a game overshadowed by the chaos outside the ground that left many fans traumatised.
Slot replaced Klopp last summer as the German stood down after nine years at the helm, and has made a remarkable impact on the six-time European champions.&nbsp;
"Liverpool have been one of the best teams in Europe over the past few years, they won the Champions League (in 2019)," said Luis Enrique.&nbsp;
"It was difficult to improve on what Klopp did, but Arne Slot has succeeded in creating an almost perfect team."
Mohamed Salah is enjoying a sensational campaign with 30 goals and 22 assists, emerging as a frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or, but Luis Enrique was quick to point out Liverpool pose a number of dangers to his team.
"There's a player like Salah with incredible stats, but there's not just Salah, there are lots of top-class players, it's a very complete team," said the Spaniard.
"That motivates us and it's time for us to also show we've got what it takes."
He added: "They have one of the best attacks in Europe, we're going to look to keep the ball, but we'll need to be careful with their counter-attacks, they've got three fighter jets up front."
PSG needed to go through the play-offs after a slow start in the Champions League saw them lose three of their opening five matches.
But they crushed domestic rivals Brest 10-0 on aggregate to power into the last 16 and are unbeaten in 22 matches in all competitions.
"We have to be able to do what we've been doing since the start of the season, there's nothing that changes," said Luis Enrique.
"We know that we're facing the most consistent team this season, but the plan doesn't change.
"It's going to be a hard-fought, difficult game. The first match is not going to decide everything, but it's a very important one for us. It's hard for opponents to play at the Parc des Princes with the pressure of the crowd."
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Slot replaced Klopp last summer as the German stood down after nine years at the helm, and has made a remarkable impact on the six-time European champions. Football Sports

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique hailed the work done by Liverpool boss Arne Slot and said on Tuesday the Dutchman had built an "almost perfect team" since taking over from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Two of Europe's best sides this season meet on Wednesday as PSG host Liverpool at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. Also Read: Indian court grants bail to murder-accused wrestler Sushil Kumar PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 and coasting towards another French title, while Liverpool sit 13 points clear in the Premier League and finished top of the 36-team league phase in the Champions League. "It's difficult to imagine a better match-up on paper, between two dominant teams, with two slightly different ways of playing but teams with dominant styles," Luis Enrique told reporters. Liverpool have lost on both their previous visits to PSG, in 1997 and 2018. The second defeat came months before they went on to lift the trophy later that same season in Madrid, beating Tottenham in the final. The Reds also twice lost in the final under Klopp, both times to Real Madrid and most recently in 2022 at the Stade de France in a game overshadowed by the chaos outside the ground that left many fans traumatised. Slot replaced Klopp last summer as the German stood down after nine years at the helm, and has made a remarkable impact on the six-time European champions. "Liverpool have been one of the best teams in Europe over the past few years, they won the Champions League (in 2019)," said Luis Enrique. "It was difficult to improve on what Klopp did, but Arne Slot has succeeded in creating an almost perfect team." Mohamed Salah is enjoying a sensational campaign with 30 goals and 22 assists, emerging as a frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or, but Luis Enrique was quick to point out Liverpool pose a number of dangers to his team. "There's a player like Salah with incredible stats, but there's not just Salah, there are lots of top-class players, it's a very complete team," said the Spaniard. "That motivates us and it's time for us to also show we've got what it takes." He added: "They have one of the best attacks in Europe, we're going to look to keep the ball, but we'll need to be careful with their counter-attacks, they've got three fighter jets up front." PSG needed to go through the play-offs after a slow start in the Champions League saw them lose three of their opening five matches. But they crushed domestic rivals Brest 10-0 on aggregate to power into the last 16 and are unbeaten in 22 matches in all competitions. "We have to be able to do what we've been doing since the start of the season, there's nothing that changes," said Luis Enrique. "We know that we're facing the most consistent team this season, but the plan doesn't change. "It's going to be a hard-fought, difficult game. The first match is not going to decide everything, but it's a very important one for us. It's hard for opponents to play at the Parc des Princes with the pressure of the crowd." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

‘Difficult to imagine a better match-up’: PSG boss Enrique on Slot’s ‘almost perfect’ Liverpool

Liverpool will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of this season's Champions League while Friday's draw also threw up a showdown between reigning champions Real Madrid and their city rivals Atletico.<o:p></o:p>
Arne Slot's Liverpool finished first in the 36-team league phase of the competition to qualify directly for this stage, while PSG finished 15th and had to come through a two-legged play-off tie in which they crushed fellow French side Brest 10-0 on aggregate.<o:p></o:p>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-liverpool-face-manchester-city-as-race-for-top-heats-up-8742058" rel="dofollow">Premier League: Liverpool face Manchester City as race for top heats up</a>
The first leg will take place at the Parc des Princes in Paris on March 4 or 5, with the return at Anfield a week later.<o:p></o:p>
The clubs last met in the Champions League in the group stage in 2018/19, when PSG won 2-1 at home after Liverpool triumphed 3-2 in England.<o:p></o:p>
The only previous knockout tie between the sides came in the semi-finals of the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup in 1997, when PSG won 3-2 on aggregate before losing the final to Barcelona.<o:p></o:p>
Liverpool are currently eight points clear of Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League having played a game more than their closest rivals, while Luis Enrique's PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season and sit 10 points clear at the summit.<o:p></o:p>
With the draw being made up to and including the semi-finals, PSG and Liverpool know the winner of their tie will face either Club Brugge or Aston Villa in the last eight.<o:p></o:p>
That raises the possibility of an all-English quarter-final between the teams who succeeded each other as European Cup winners in the early 1980s.<o:p></o:p>
Villa will face Club Brugge seeking revenge for their 1-0 defeat against the same opponents in Belgium in the league phase in November.<o:p></o:p>
Real, fresh from eliminating Manchester City in the play-offs, will be at home in the first leg against Atletico.<o:p></o:p>
The rivals from the Spanish capital met in the competition in four straight seasons in the last decade, with Real coming out on top every time.<o:p></o:p>
They won the finals of 2014 and 2016, as well as in the quarter-finals in 2015 and in the semi-finals in 2017.<o:p></o:p>
"It's an amazing tie, and we are ready for it," insisted Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who was in charge for all of the past Champions League meetings between the sides.<o:p></o:p>
<h2>Bayern against Leverkusen<o:p></o:p></h2>
The winners of that tie will progress to a last-eight clash against either PSV Eindhoven or Arsenal.<o:p></o:p>
The Gunners, who came third in the league phase, will be coming up against a club they faced in the group stage of last season's Champions League -- Mikel Arteta's team won 4-0 at home before drawing 1-1 in the Netherlands.<o:p></o:p>
"We've played against them, they are a really good team. We have experienced it and it will be really difficult," Arteta said of the reigning Dutch champions. "We know what we are facing. When you are at this stage every team is really, really good. When the time comes we will be ready for it."<o:p></o:p>
Another standout tie will see Bayern Munich, the current Bundesliga leaders, take on reigning German champions Bayer Leverkusen.<o:p></o:p>
Leverkusen, coached by former Bayern midfielder Xabi Alonso, are unbeaten in the last six meetings of the clubs, including a 1-0 win in the German Cup earlier this season. The teams have never previously met in a European tie.<o:p></o:p>
Feyenoord, the 1970 European Cup winners, will play Italian champions Inter Milan, their reward for knocking out AC Milan in the play-offs. The winners of that tie will face Bayern or Leverkusen in the last eight.<o:p></o:p>
It is the first time two Dutch clubs have been in the last 16 since 2005/06.<o:p></o:p>
Current La Liga leaders Barcelona will face Benfica, who they defeated 5-4 away in Lisbon last month on their way to finishing second in the league phase.<o:p></o:p>
Last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund will take on French side Lille.<o:p></o:p>
The semi-final draw raises the possibility of last-four showdowns between Liverpool and Arsenal, or between Kylian Mbappe's Real Madrid and his old club PSG.<o:p></o:p>
Barcelona are on the same side of the draw as Bayern and Leverkusen.<o:p></o:p>
This season's final takes place in Munich on May 31.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: With the draw being made up to and including the semi-finals, PSG and Liverpool know the winner of their tie will face either Club Brugge or Aston Villa in QFs.

Liverpool will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of this season's Champions League while Friday's draw also threw up a showdown between reigning champions Real Madrid and their city rivals Atletico. Arne Slot's Liverpool finished first in the 36-team league phase of the competition to qualify directly for this stage, while PSG finished 15th and had to come through a two-legged play-off tie in which they crushed fellow French side Brest 10-0 on aggregate. Also read | Premier League: Liverpool face Manchester City as race for top heats up The first leg will take place at the Parc des Princes in Paris on March 4 or 5, with the return at Anfield a week later. The clubs last met in the Champions League in the group stage in 2018/19, when PSG won 2-1 at home after Liverpool triumphed 3-2 in England. The only previous knockout tie between the sides came in the semi-finals of the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup in 1997, when PSG won 3-2 on aggregate before losing the final to Barcelona. Liverpool are currently eight points clear of Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League having played a game more than their closest rivals, while Luis Enrique's PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season and sit 10 points clear at the summit. With the draw being made up to and including the semi-finals, PSG and Liverpool know the winner of their tie will face either Club Brugge or Aston Villa in the last eight. That raises the possibility of an all-English quarter-final between the teams who succeeded each other as European Cup winners in the early 1980s. Villa will face Club Brugge seeking revenge for their 1-0 defeat against the same opponents in Belgium in the league phase in November. Real, fresh from eliminating Manchester City in the play-offs, will be at home in the first leg against Atletico. The rivals from the Spanish capital met in the competition in four straight seasons in the last decade, with Real coming out on top every time. They won the finals of 2014 and 2016, as well as in the quarter-finals in 2015 and in the semi-finals in 2017. "It's an amazing tie, and we are ready for it," insisted Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who was in charge for all of the past Champions League meetings between the sides. Bayern against Leverkusen The winners of that tie will progress to a last-eight clash against either PSV Eindhoven or Arsenal. The Gunners, who came third in the league phase, will be coming up against a club they faced in the group stage of last season's Champions League -- Mikel Arteta's team won 4-0 at home before drawing 1-1 in the Netherlands. "We've played against them, they are a really good team. We have experienced it and it will be really difficult," Arteta said of the reigning Dutch champions. "We know what we are facing. When you are at this stage every team is really, really good. When the time comes we will be ready for it." Another standout tie will see Bayern Munich, the current Bundesliga leaders, take on reigning German champions Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen, coached by former Bayern midfielder Xabi Alonso, are unbeaten in the last six meetings of the clubs, including a 1-0 win in the German Cup earlier this season. The teams have never previously met in a European tie. Feyenoord, the 1970 European Cup winners, will play Italian champions Inter Milan, their reward for knocking out AC Milan in the play-offs. The winners of that tie will face Bayern or Leverkusen in the last eight. It is the first time two Dutch clubs have been in the last 16 since 2005/06. Current La Liga leaders Barcelona will face Benfica, who they defeated 5-4 away in Lisbon last month on their way to finishing second in the league phase. Last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund will take on French side Lille. The semi-final draw raises the possibility of last-four showdowns between Liverpool and Arsenal, or between Kylian Mbappe's Real Madrid and his old club PSG. Barcelona are on the same side of the draw as Bayern and Leverkusen. This season's final takes place in Munich on May 31. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Champions League Draw: Liverpool to face PSG in last 16; Real Madrid up against Atletico

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), one of the most famous football clubs in the world, has launched a unique initiative to honour its legends. The French Ligue 1 club has started a unique 'Legends Club' initiative to recognise the efforts of players who have been part of the club over the years.
<h2>What is PSG's Legends Club initiative?</h2>
PSG has launched the Legends Club initiative to celebrate and honour the football players who have played for the club in the past. The players, both female and male, are awarded a custom Black Card to recognise their efforts over the years for the club. The eligible players will get a letter signed by club president Nasser Al-Khela&iuml;fi.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/isl-2024-25-10-men-odisha-fc-held-to-a-draw-by-punjab-fc-stay-in-playoffs-race-8708834">ISL 2024-25: 10-men Odisha FC held to a draw by Punjab FC, stay in playoffs race</a>
Who is eligible for PSG's Black Card in Legends Club?
Any player who has played 50 or more matches for the club in their career and is retired now is eligible for a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/psg">PSG</a> Legends Club Black Card. The player with less than 50 matches to their name but having significant impact on the club and its history are also given the Black Card under an exception. Former PSG player Pierre Ducrocq reveled his Black Card on X on the weekend while thanking the club for the honour.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Merci <a href="https://twitter.com/PSG_inside?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PSG_inside</a> ❤️💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LEGENDSCLUB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LEGENDSCLUB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSG</a> <a href="https://t.co/gSnblmRy30">pic.twitter.com/gSnblmRy30</a>
&mdash; Pierre Ducrocq 23 (@PDucrocq) <a href="https://twitter.com/PDucrocq/status/1888156980876849201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

How many players will get PSG Legends Club Black Card?
As of now, a total of 236 former players will get the Black Card. Among those players, 179 are male footballers while 57 are female players from yesteryears.
What are the benefits of Legends Club Black Card?
With Legends Club Black Card, the players enjoy many benefits like privileged access to matches, access to home ground Poissy campus, invitation to seminars and functions and discounted PSG merchandise.&nbsp;
What will Legends Club players do?
The Legends Club players will engage with young talent of the club, be the ambassadors, take part in various functions and tournaments as well.

PSG has launched the Legends Club initiative to honour the players who have played for the club. The players are awarded a custom Black Card to recognise their efforts. Football Sports

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), one of the most famous football clubs in the world, has launched a unique initiative to honour its legends. The French Ligue 1 club has started a unique 'Legends Club' initiative to recognise the efforts of players who have been part of the club over the years. What is PSG's Legends Club initiative? PSG has launched the Legends Club initiative to celebrate and honour the football players who have played for the club in the past. The players, both female and male, are awarded a custom Black Card to recognise their efforts over the years for the club. The eligible players will get a letter signed by club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. Also Read: ISL 2024-25: 10-men Odisha FC held to a draw by Punjab FC, stay in playoffs race Who is eligible for PSG's Black Card in Legends Club? Any player who has played 50 or more matches for the club in their career and is retired now is eligible for a PSG Legends Club Black Card. The player with less than 50 matches to their name but having significant impact on the club and its history are also given the Black Card under an exception. Former PSG player Pierre Ducrocq reveled his Black Card on X on the weekend while thanking the club for the honour. Merci @PSG_inside ❤️💙#LEGENDSCLUB #PSG pic.twitter.com/gSnblmRy30 — Pierre Ducrocq 23 (@PDucrocq) February 8, 2025 How many players will get PSG Legends Club Black Card? As of now, a total of 236 former players will get the Black Card. Among those players, 179 are male footballers while 57 are female players from yesteryears. What are the benefits of Legends Club Black Card? With Legends Club Black Card, the players enjoy many benefits like privileged access to matches, access to home ground Poissy campus, invitation to seminars and functions and discounted PSG merchandise. What will Legends Club players do? The Legends Club players will engage with young talent of the club, be the ambassadors, take part in various functions and tournaments as well.

PSG launch 'Legends Club' to honour players, awards them unique Black Card - Know all about it

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma sustained multiple cuts and facial injuries after a collision with Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, whose cleat struck him squarely on the face. Watch in for more details!

PSG's Donnarumma Leaves Field After Brutal Boot To The Face

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury.

The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ruben-amorim-admits-wanting-to-work-with-marcus-rashford-after-forward-drops-manchester-united-exit-hint-785014">Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint</a>

"I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos.

"To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call."

Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions.

That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes.

Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level.

Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy.

Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour.&nbsp;

Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn before home coach Adi Huetter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo.

Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal victory and signal his return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Luis Enrique in recent weeks.

The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and their closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023.&nbsp;

Luis Enrique's side go to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in their final game of the year before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on January 5.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury.

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury. The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo. Also Read: Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint "I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos. "To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call." Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions. That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes. Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level. Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy. Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour. Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn before home coach Adi Huetter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo. Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal victory and signal his return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Luis Enrique in recent weeks. The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and their closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023. Luis Enrique's side go to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in their final game of the year before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on January 5. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ligue 1: Goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma suffers facial injury in PSG's thrilling win over Monaco

Paris
Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury.
The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ruben-amorim-admits-wanting-to-work-with-marcus-rashford-after-forward-drops-manchester-united-exit-hint-785014">Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint</a>
"I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos.
"To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call."
Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions.
That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes.
Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level.
Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy.
Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour. 
Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn before home coach Adi Huetter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo.
Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal victory and signal his return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Luis Enrique in recent weeks.
The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and their closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023. 
Luis Enrique's side go to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in their final game of the year before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on January 5.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo.



Paris Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury. The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo. Also Read: Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint "I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos. "To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call." Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions. That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes. Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level. Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy. Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour. Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn before home coach Adi Huetter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo. Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal victory and signal his return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Luis Enrique in recent weeks. The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and their closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023. Luis Enrique's side go to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in their final game of the year before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on January 5. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Manchester City's struggles continued as Pep Guardiola's side remarkably blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave the French club in danger of elimination.

There were also big wins for Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, while Inter Milan went top of the standings after five games and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski reached a century of Champions League goals.

However, the biggest drama came at the Etihad Stadium, where City were cruising early in the second half with a three-goal advantage as they sought to end a run of five successive defeats in all competitions.

Erling Haaland opened the scoring from a penalty just before half-time, and Ilkay Gundogan's deflected shot made it 2-0 in the 50th minute.

Haaland struck again to make it 3-0, but Feyenoord's comeback began on 75 minutes when Anis Hadj Moussa took advantage of hapless defending to round goalkeeper Ederson and pull one back.

Substitute Santiago Gimenez bundled in to make it 3-2 on 82 minutes and the equaliser arrived a minute from the end.

Ederson was again caught out with Igor Paixao going around the goalkeeper and crossing for Slovak international David Hancko to head in.

"We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable," complained Guardiola.

"We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory."

It is the first time that a team has gone into the last 20 minutes of a Champions League game trailing by three goals and still avoided defeat, as the point boosts the Dutch side's hopes of progressing.

City are two points outside the top eight places which offer direct qualification for the last 16, while Bayern moved above them by beating PSG 1-0 in Munich.

South Korean defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before half-time, heading in after goalkeeper Matvei Safonov failed to clear a corner.

PSG had Ousmane Dembele sent off in the second half and the French champions have just four points, and three goals, from five games.

They are a lowly 26th in the 36-team league, a point adrift of the positions which offer a place in the play-off round in February.

"We need to win our last three matches, otherwise we risk being eliminated," admitted PSG coach Luis Enrique.

<h2>Lewandowski century</h2>

Lewandowski notched his 100th goal in the competition with an early penalty in Barcelona's 3-0 home win over French side Brest.

Dani Olmo netted midway through the second half before Lewandowski sealed Barca's win at the death, his 101st goal in the Champions League -- only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored more.

Inter lead the standings with 13 points, a point ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool, after a 1-0 win at home to RB Leipzig which means they are also still yet to concede a goal.

Castello Lukeba's own goal made the difference at San Siro, and Leipzig are one of only three teams to have lost five games out of five.

Arsenal romped to a 5-1 victory away to Sporting in Lisbon, as the Portuguese side adapt to life without coach Ruben Amorim, who has departed for Manchester United.

Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes all scored in the first half for Arsenal, before Goncalo Inacio pulled one back shortly after the restart.

Bukayo Saka converted a penalty on 65 minutes after Martin Odegaard had been brought down, and Leandro Trossard headed in to seal Arsenal's win late on.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/sri-lanka-a-side-abandons-pakistan-tour-mid-way-due-to-violent-protests-in-islamabad-779481">Sri Lanka A side abandons Pakistan tour mid-way due to violent protests in Islamabad</a>

<h2>Atalanta, Atletico hit six</h2>

Atalanta romped to a 6-1 win over rock-bottom Young Boys in Switzerland, with Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere both scoring braces.

Sead Kolasinac and Lazar Samardzic also netted for the Italians, with Silvere Ganvoula getting the hosts' reply.

Florian Wirtz struck twice, including a penalty, as Leverkusen crushed Red Bull Salzburg 5-0, with Alejandro Grimaldo scoring a superb free-kick and Patrik Schick and Aleix Garcia also netting.

Julian Alvarez and substitute Angel Correa each scored twice and Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann once as Atletico romped to a 6-0 win away to Sparta Prague.

Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham were the scorers in AC Milan's 3-2 win at Slovan Bratislava, whose goals came from Tigran Barseghyan and Nino Marcelli.

Marko Tolic saw red at the end for Slovan, who are without a point.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Manchester City's struggles continued as Pep Guardiola's side remarkably blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave the French club in danger of elimination.

Manchester City's struggles continued as Pep Guardiola's side remarkably blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave the French club in danger of elimination. There were also big wins for Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, while Inter Milan went top of the standings after five games and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski reached a century of Champions League goals. However, the biggest drama came at the Etihad Stadium, where City were cruising early in the second half with a three-goal advantage as they sought to end a run of five successive defeats in all competitions. Erling Haaland opened the scoring from a penalty just before half-time, and Ilkay Gundogan's deflected shot made it 2-0 in the 50th minute. Haaland struck again to make it 3-0, but Feyenoord's comeback began on 75 minutes when Anis Hadj Moussa took advantage of hapless defending to round goalkeeper Ederson and pull one back. Substitute Santiago Gimenez bundled in to make it 3-2 on 82 minutes and the equaliser arrived a minute from the end. Ederson was again caught out with Igor Paixao going around the goalkeeper and crossing for Slovak international David Hancko to head in. "We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable," complained Guardiola. "We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory." It is the first time that a team has gone into the last 20 minutes of a Champions League game trailing by three goals and still avoided defeat, as the point boosts the Dutch side's hopes of progressing. City are two points outside the top eight places which offer direct qualification for the last 16, while Bayern moved above them by beating PSG 1-0 in Munich. South Korean defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before half-time, heading in after goalkeeper Matvei Safonov failed to clear a corner. PSG had Ousmane Dembele sent off in the second half and the French champions have just four points, and three goals, from five games. They are a lowly 26th in the 36-team league, a point adrift of the positions which offer a place in the play-off round in February. "We need to win our last three matches, otherwise we risk being eliminated," admitted PSG coach Luis Enrique. Lewandowski century Lewandowski notched his 100th goal in the competition with an early penalty in Barcelona's 3-0 home win over French side Brest. Dani Olmo netted midway through the second half before Lewandowski sealed Barca's win at the death, his 101st goal in the Champions League -- only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored more. Inter lead the standings with 13 points, a point ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool, after a 1-0 win at home to RB Leipzig which means they are also still yet to concede a goal. Castello Lukeba's own goal made the difference at San Siro, and Leipzig are one of only three teams to have lost five games out of five. Arsenal romped to a 5-1 victory away to Sporting in Lisbon, as the Portuguese side adapt to life without coach Ruben Amorim, who has departed for Manchester United. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes all scored in the first half for Arsenal, before Goncalo Inacio pulled one back shortly after the restart. Bukayo Saka converted a penalty on 65 minutes after Martin Odegaard had been brought down, and Leandro Trossard headed in to seal Arsenal's win late on. ALSO READ | Sri Lanka A side abandons Pakistan tour mid-way due to violent protests in Islamabad Atalanta, Atletico hit six Atalanta romped to a 6-1 win over rock-bottom Young Boys in Switzerland, with Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere both scoring braces. Sead Kolasinac and Lazar Samardzic also netted for the Italians, with Silvere Ganvoula getting the hosts' reply. Florian Wirtz struck twice, including a penalty, as Leverkusen crushed Red Bull Salzburg 5-0, with Alejandro Grimaldo scoring a superb free-kick and Patrik Schick and Aleix Garcia also netting. Julian Alvarez and substitute Angel Correa each scored twice and Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann once as Atletico romped to a 6-0 win away to Sparta Prague. Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham were the scorers in AC Milan's 3-2 win at Slovan Bratislava, whose goals came from Tigran Barseghyan and Nino Marcelli. Marko Tolic saw red at the end for Slovan, who are without a point. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Champions League: Man City blow three-goal lead at home, Bayern beat PSG

Paris St Germain fans unfurled a 'Free Palestine' banner before kick-off in Wednesday's Champions League game against Atletico Madrid. France's interior minister Bruno Retailleau has deemed it 'unacceptable' and demanded an explanation from the club.

PSG Fans Unveil 'Free Palestine' Banner

A Hakan Calhanoglu penalty gave Inter Milan a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, while a 93rd-minute winner ensured Atletico Madrid left Paris with all three points. The Italian champions remain undefeated in the competition this season and sit fifth on 10 points at the midway point of the new league phase format. "I think we played a great game against a strong side who play with great intensity," said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.

Arsenal, on the other hand, experienced defeat for the first time in Europe this season and lie three points and seven places behind their opponents. The match at the San Siro looked set to go into the break goalless until a penalty was signalled against Mikel Merino after Mehdi Taremi's flick deviated the ball into the Arsenal player's raised hand from close range.

"We were very harshly done by," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports. "There is no deflection, nothing you can do in the box, so can he get away from it?"

Calhanoglu stroked home the resulting spot-kick three minutes into first-half injury time. Yann Sommer and Denzel Dumfries combined on the line to deny Gabriel Magalhaes a leveller shortly before the hour.

Arsenal cranked up the pressure in the second half but were unable to break down Inter's solid defensive block as the Premier League side fell to a second defeat in four days.

Barcelona beat Red Star Belgrade 5-2 in Serbia to claim sixth spot in the standings. The Catalans took the lead on 13 minutes via a stooping header by defender Inigo Martinez. But Red Star struck back just prior to the half-hour when Silas Mvumpa sprang the Barca offside trap and lifted the ball past Inaki Pena.

Robert Lewandowski effectively ensured Barca stayed in the automatic qualification spots with a quick-fire double either side of the break. Raphinha and Fermin Lopez then netted, before Felicio Milson curled in a late consolation for the hosts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/algerian-boxer-imane-khelif-takes-legal-action-over-gender-reports-774148">Algerian boxer Imane Khelif takes legal action over gender reports</a>

<h2>- PSG in trouble -</h2>

Atletico stunned PSG 2-1 in the French capital as Angel Correa's stoppage-time winner gave the Spaniards a second Champions League win this term. "Paris played very well, they attacked the whole match, but we were confident, we worked hard in defence and as a team, and we got our goal at the end to claim victory," Correa said to Movistar.

The loss means the French champions sit in the elimination zone with one win and a draw from four, with matches against Manchester City and Bayern Munich to come.

Warren Zaire-Emery sent PSG ahead with a dinked finish past Jan Oblak on 14 minutes, before Nahuel Molina drilled in an equaliser four minutes later.

The home team pressed as the match wore on but left themselves exposed as Oblak's throw found Antoine Griezmann on the break and the Frenchman's pinpoint pass landed at the feet of Correa, who cut in and finished past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Jamal Musiala struck in the 67th minute to get Bayern Munich's stuttering campaign back on course with a 1-0 win at home to Benfica. The six-time winners' record of two wins and two defeats leaves them mid-table with four matches remaining.

Aston Villa's 100 percent record in the Champions League ended with a 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge, sparked by a bizarre penalty conceded by Tyrone Mings.

After making his debut in the competition in just his second match back after a long injury lay-off, the England centre-half gifted Brugge a penalty in the 51st minute after he picked up a short goal kick taken by Emiliano Martinez.

Hans Vanaken stroked home from 12 yards to drop Villa to eighth.

Brest continued their excellent start to life at European football's top table, a 2-1 win at Sparta Prague taking them to fourth place.

Second-half strikes by Ademola Lookman and Nicolo Zaniolo gave Europa League champions Atalanta a 2-0 win at Stuttgart.

RB Leipzig picked up their first points of the campaign with a 3-1 victory in the Netherlands against 10-man Feyenoord.

Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine defeated Young Boys 2-1, condemning the Swiss side to a fourth consecutive defeat in the competition.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A Hakan Calhanoglu penalty gave Inter Milan a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, while a 93rd-minute winner ensured Atletico Madrid left Paris with all three points.

A Hakan Calhanoglu penalty gave Inter Milan a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, while a 93rd-minute winner ensured Atletico Madrid left Paris with all three points. The Italian champions remain undefeated in the competition this season and sit fifth on 10 points at the midway point of the new league phase format. "I think we played a great game against a strong side who play with great intensity," said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi. Arsenal, on the other hand, experienced defeat for the first time in Europe this season and lie three points and seven places behind their opponents. The match at the San Siro looked set to go into the break goalless until a penalty was signalled against Mikel Merino after Mehdi Taremi's flick deviated the ball into the Arsenal player's raised hand from close range. "We were very harshly done by," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports. "There is no deflection, nothing you can do in the box, so can he get away from it?" Calhanoglu stroked home the resulting spot-kick three minutes into first-half injury time. Yann Sommer and Denzel Dumfries combined on the line to deny Gabriel Magalhaes a leveller shortly before the hour. Arsenal cranked up the pressure in the second half but were unable to break down Inter's solid defensive block as the Premier League side fell to a second defeat in four days. Barcelona beat Red Star Belgrade 5-2 in Serbia to claim sixth spot in the standings. The Catalans took the lead on 13 minutes via a stooping header by defender Inigo Martinez. But Red Star struck back just prior to the half-hour when Silas Mvumpa sprang the Barca offside trap and lifted the ball past Inaki Pena. Robert Lewandowski effectively ensured Barca stayed in the automatic qualification spots with a quick-fire double either side of the break. Raphinha and Fermin Lopez then netted, before Felicio Milson curled in a late consolation for the hosts. Also read: Algerian boxer Imane Khelif takes legal action over gender reports - PSG in trouble - Atletico stunned PSG 2-1 in the French capital as Angel Correa's stoppage-time winner gave the Spaniards a second Champions League win this term. "Paris played very well, they attacked the whole match, but we were confident, we worked hard in defence and as a team, and we got our goal at the end to claim victory," Correa said to Movistar. The loss means the French champions sit in the elimination zone with one win and a draw from four, with matches against Manchester City and Bayern Munich to come. Warren Zaire-Emery sent PSG ahead with a dinked finish past Jan Oblak on 14 minutes, before Nahuel Molina drilled in an equaliser four minutes later. The home team pressed as the match wore on but left themselves exposed as Oblak's throw found Antoine Griezmann on the break and the Frenchman's pinpoint pass landed at the feet of Correa, who cut in and finished past Gianluigi Donnarumma. Jamal Musiala struck in the 67th minute to get Bayern Munich's stuttering campaign back on course with a 1-0 win at home to Benfica. The six-time winners' record of two wins and two defeats leaves them mid-table with four matches remaining. Aston Villa's 100 percent record in the Champions League ended with a 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge, sparked by a bizarre penalty conceded by Tyrone Mings. After making his debut in the competition in just his second match back after a long injury lay-off, the England centre-half gifted Brugge a penalty in the 51st minute after he picked up a short goal kick taken by Emiliano Martinez. Hans Vanaken stroked home from 12 yards to drop Villa to eighth. Brest continued their excellent start to life at European football's top table, a 2-1 win at Sparta Prague taking them to fourth place. Second-half strikes by Ademola Lookman and Nicolo Zaniolo gave Europa League champions Atalanta a 2-0 win at Stuttgart. RB Leipzig picked up their first points of the campaign with a 3-1 victory in the Netherlands against 10-man Feyenoord. Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine defeated Young Boys 2-1, condemning the Swiss side to a fourth consecutive defeat in the competition. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UCL: Inter Milan sink Arsenal, Atletico sting PSG late on as Barcelona back on track

Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe’s relationship has yet again taken the spotlight after the French champions have once again denied paying the star a whopping amount of €55mn ($60mn) despite an order from the French Football Federation (FFF) on Friday (Oct 25). According to the order, PSG are obliged to pay the amount.&nbsp;However, PSG have claimed that Mbappe waived the amount in 2023. This comes after the French league appeals committee attempted to mediate in the increasingly bitter row.

<h2>PSG unwilling to pay&nbsp;Mbappe</h2>

Mbappe&nbsp;had a highly successful spell at PSG between 2017 and 2024, however, the player’s links to Real Madrid often irritated the club's management. However, it was confirmed at the start of 2024 that Mbappe will finally leave PSG to join Real Madrid. During his final six months at the club, the French star was hardly given any importance while his salary for the last few months was frozen. This resulted in a cold war between the player and the club with him being frozen out at one stage.

But Qatar-owned PSG argue that the 25-year-old had agreed to waive the sum in August 2023. With PSG flatly refusing to abide by the league's order to pay their former player the money, the case looks set to drag on.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-new-zealand-in-pole-position-in-pune-test-after-indian-batters-disappoint-on-day-2-770712">IND vs NZ: Advantage New Zealand in Pune Test after Indian batters disappoint on Day 2</a>

<h2>Mbappe’s camp keeps silence</h2>

On the other hand, Mbappe’s camp has yet to comment on the claims and are ready to take all the necessary legal actions. The player’s sole focus is now on the weekend’s El Classico against Barcelona with both teams bidding to win La Liga. The weekend’s clash will be Mbappe’s first taste of the fixture during his first season.

As things stand, only three points separate Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. Interestingly, even if Real beat Barcelona the latter’s superior goal difference will see them end the week at the top of the table.

Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe’s relationship has yet again taken the spotlight after the French champions have once again denied paying the star a whopping amount of €55mn ($60mn) despite an order from the French Football Federation (FFF) on Friday (Oct 25).

Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe’s relationship has yet again taken the spotlight after the French champions have once again denied paying the star a whopping amount of €55mn ($60mn) despite an order from the French Football Federation (FFF) on Friday (Oct 25). According to the order, PSG are obliged to pay the amount. However, PSG have claimed that Mbappe waived the amount in 2023. This comes after the French league appeals committee attempted to mediate in the increasingly bitter row. PSG unwilling to pay Mbappe Mbappe had a highly successful spell at PSG between 2017 and 2024, however, the player’s links to Real Madrid often irritated the club's management. However, it was confirmed at the start of 2024 that Mbappe will finally leave PSG to join Real Madrid. During his final six months at the club, the French star was hardly given any importance while his salary for the last few months was frozen. This resulted in a cold war between the player and the club with him being frozen out at one stage. But Qatar-owned PSG argue that the 25-year-old had agreed to waive the sum in August 2023. With PSG flatly refusing to abide by the league's order to pay their former player the money, the case looks set to drag on. ALSO READ | IND vs NZ: Advantage New Zealand in Pune Test after Indian batters disappoint on Day 2 Mbappe’s camp keeps silence On the other hand, Mbappe’s camp has yet to comment on the claims and are ready to take all the necessary legal actions. The player’s sole focus is now on the weekend’s El Classico against Barcelona with both teams bidding to win La Liga. The weekend’s clash will be Mbappe’s first taste of the fixture during his first season. As things stand, only three points separate Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. Interestingly, even if Real beat Barcelona the latter’s superior goal difference will see them end the week at the top of the table.

PSG unwilling to pay ex-player Kylian Mbappe $60mn despite French league's order

Real Madrid came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the&nbsp;Champions&nbsp;League on Tuesday with Vinicius Junior scoring a hat-trick, as Aston Villa maintained their 100 percent record to go top of the table. Vinicius struck three times in the second half as Madrid bounced back from two goals down to inflict further anguish on Dortmund -- in the repeat of last season's final which Real won 2-0.

First-half goals in quick succession by Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens had given Dortmund a two-goal lead at half-time.

"Things were very quiet when we got to the dressing room 2-0 down at half-time," Vinicius, 24, told Movistar. "But we listened to the boss (coach Carlo Ancelotti) and agreed one simple thing: if we can score first then we'll fight back and win once again."

The 15-times&nbsp;champions&nbsp;duly struck back early in the second period via Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius, before Lucas Vazquez sent Real ahead and the Brazilian netted two more inside the final 10 minutes.&nbsp;

After the surprise defeat at Lille last time out, Madrid's hunt for a record-extending 16th&nbsp;Champions&nbsp;League crown is back on track as they move to ninth in the standings, on six points. Malen swept the Germans into the lead on the half-hour following a deft pass from Serhou Guirassy that split open the defence.

Madrid defender Eder Militao was then left beating the turf in frustration four minutes later when Gittens flew in at the back post to double Dortmund's lead.

Rudiger halved the deficit with a powerful header from a Kylian Mbappe cross on 60 minutes. Vinicius equalised two minutes later by tucking away a stray ball, the goal being awarded by VAR after Mbappe was shown to have been onside in the build-up.

A rare Dortmund foray forward resulted in a fine Thibaut Courtois save, with the holders then racing straight down the other end and Vazquez lashing home on 83 minutes.

Vinicius then completed his hat-trick in the 86th and 93rd minutes, his second coming after a lung-busting sprint down the line from inside his own half. Arsenal emerged 1-0 winners at home to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk thanks to an own-goal from the visitors' goalkeeper.

Dmytro Riznyk could only grasp at thin air after Gabriel Martinelli had cut in from the left and smacked the ball against the near post before it rebounded back off the goalie and over the line.&nbsp;

Leandro Trossard missed a penalty near the end, but Arsenal had already done enough to secure their second win of the tournament.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-chris-wood-winner-for-nottingham-forest-adds-more-misery-on-poor-crystal-palace-769627">Premier League: Chris Wood winner for Nottingham Forest adds more misery on poor Crystal Palace</a>

<h2>- Table-topping Villa -</h2>

Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are enjoying an excellent return to European football's top table after 41 years as they won their third match in three&nbsp;Champions&nbsp;League outings this term with a 2-0 victory against Bologna. "We are playing seriously, we are playing focussed, responsible and the team is progressing and mature in everything," manager Unai Emery told TNT Sports.

John McGinn opened the scoring at Villa Park 10 minutes after the interval and Jhon Duran wrapped up the points in the 64th minute, sending Emery's side to the top of the league phase table on nine points with zero goals conceded.

Stuttgart sank Juventus 1-0 in Turin, thanks to a stoppage-time winner by El Bilal Toure.

The Italians were reduced to 10 men when Danilo picked up a second yellow while conceding a penalty in the 84th minute.

Mattia Perin looked to have saved his side when he stopped the resulting spot-kick from Enzo Millot, but Toure slammed home in the 92nd minute for Stuttgart.

PSV Eindhoven surprised Paris Saint-Germain with a Noa Lang goal against the run of play in the first period, before Achraf Hakimi hit back on 55 minutes to ensure the points were shared.

AC Milan beat 10-men Club Brugge at the San Siro with Christian Pulisic and a Tijjani Reijnders brace giving the Italians a 3-1 victory.

Monaco won 5-1 at home to Red Star Belgrade, while Sporting Lisbon beat Sturm Graz 2-0 in Austria. Last season's Spanish league surprise-packages Girona picked up their first points in the competition with a 2-0 win at home to Slovan Bratislava.

On Wednesday, five-time winners Barcelona host six-time&nbsp;champions&nbsp;Bayern Munich and Liverpool visit RB Leipzig.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Real Madrid came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday with Vinicius Junior scoring a hat-trick, as Aston Villa maintained their 100 percent record to go top of the table.

Real Madrid came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday with Vinicius Junior scoring a hat-trick, as Aston Villa maintained their 100 percent record to go top of the table. Vinicius struck three times in the second half as Madrid bounced back from two goals down to inflict further anguish on Dortmund -- in the repeat of last season's final which Real won 2-0. First-half goals in quick succession by Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens had given Dortmund a two-goal lead at half-time. "Things were very quiet when we got to the dressing room 2-0 down at half-time," Vinicius, 24, told Movistar. "But we listened to the boss (coach Carlo Ancelotti) and agreed one simple thing: if we can score first then we'll fight back and win once again." The 15-times champions duly struck back early in the second period via Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius, before Lucas Vazquez sent Real ahead and the Brazilian netted two more inside the final 10 minutes. After the surprise defeat at Lille last time out, Madrid's hunt for a record-extending 16th Champions League crown is back on track as they move to ninth in the standings, on six points. Malen swept the Germans into the lead on the half-hour following a deft pass from Serhou Guirassy that split open the defence. Madrid defender Eder Militao was then left beating the turf in frustration four minutes later when Gittens flew in at the back post to double Dortmund's lead. Rudiger halved the deficit with a powerful header from a Kylian Mbappe cross on 60 minutes. Vinicius equalised two minutes later by tucking away a stray ball, the goal being awarded by VAR after Mbappe was shown to have been onside in the build-up. A rare Dortmund foray forward resulted in a fine Thibaut Courtois save, with the holders then racing straight down the other end and Vazquez lashing home on 83 minutes. Vinicius then completed his hat-trick in the 86th and 93rd minutes, his second coming after a lung-busting sprint down the line from inside his own half. Arsenal emerged 1-0 winners at home to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk thanks to an own-goal from the visitors' goalkeeper. Dmytro Riznyk could only grasp at thin air after Gabriel Martinelli had cut in from the left and smacked the ball against the near post before it rebounded back off the goalie and over the line. Leandro Trossard missed a penalty near the end, but Arsenal had already done enough to secure their second win of the tournament. Also read: Premier League: Chris Wood winner for Nottingham Forest adds more misery on poor Crystal Palace - Table-topping Villa - Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are enjoying an excellent return to European football's top table after 41 years as they won their third match in three Champions League outings this term with a 2-0 victory against Bologna. "We are playing seriously, we are playing focussed, responsible and the team is progressing and mature in everything," manager Unai Emery told TNT Sports. John McGinn opened the scoring at Villa Park 10 minutes after the interval and Jhon Duran wrapped up the points in the 64th minute, sending Emery's side to the top of the league phase table on nine points with zero goals conceded. Stuttgart sank Juventus 1-0 in Turin, thanks to a stoppage-time winner by El Bilal Toure. The Italians were reduced to 10 men when Danilo picked up a second yellow while conceding a penalty in the 84th minute. Mattia Perin looked to have saved his side when he stopped the resulting spot-kick from Enzo Millot, but Toure slammed home in the 92nd minute for Stuttgart. PSV Eindhoven surprised Paris Saint-Germain with a Noa Lang goal against the run of play in the first period, before Achraf Hakimi hit back on 55 minutes to ensure the points were shared. AC Milan beat 10-men Club Brugge at the San Siro with Christian Pulisic and a Tijjani Reijnders brace giving the Italians a 3-1 victory. Monaco won 5-1 at home to Red Star Belgrade, while Sporting Lisbon beat Sturm Graz 2-0 in Austria. Last season's Spanish league surprise-packages Girona picked up their first points in the competition with a 2-0 win at home to Slovan Bratislava. On Wednesday, five-time winners Barcelona host six-time champions Bayern Munich and Liverpool visit RB Leipzig. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UCL: Vinicius Junior hat-trick saves Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa go top

Real Madrid have, for the moment at least, given their support to star forward Kylian Mbappe since the Swedish media reported that he is being investigated for an alleged rape during a visit to Stockholm.

The reigning European champions, who have not commented publicly on the reports, do not appear to be overly concerned about the reports about the player who joined this summer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/news-nfl-owners-officially-approve-tom-brady-becoming-part-owner-of-las-vegas-raiders-767867">NFL owners officially approve Tom Brady becoming part-owner of Las Vegas Raiders</a>

An internal club source, who spoke to AFP on condition of their identity not being revealed, described the accusations as "the biggest fake in the history of sport".

On Tuesday, Real were accused of deleting 25-year-old Mbappe from photos it published in a promotional campaign with its jersey manufacturer Adidas.

Real told journalists the reason was simply because Mbappe's boot sponsor is Adidas's bitter rivals Nike.

That explanation was questioned on social media though, with many people pointing out that several players in the photos are also under contract with Nike, like Mbappe's French international teammate Eduardo Camavinga.

In the midst of the media storm -- and on the day his lawyer spoke to AFP and other French media to insist her client was "shocked" to be linked to a rape investigation -- Mbappe trained with his teammates in Madrid on Tuesday.

<h2>Pictured training</h2>

This time, the club had no hesitation in posting photos and videos of the Frenchman, who should be available for selection on Saturday for the visit of Celta Vigo to the Bernabeu as he is said to have recovered from discomfort in his left thigh that kept him out of France's squad for Nations League games.

With a rare few free days on his hands, Mbappe chose to go to Stockholm with a group of friends, arriving on October 9 and departing on October 11.

Reports in several Swedish media say they visited a restaurant and a nightclub.&nbsp;Once the group had left Sweden, a woman went to police to allege she was the victim of a rape.

On Monday, after Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet became the first media outlet to reveal that a rape probe had been opened, Mbappe slammed the report as "fake news" on his social media and alleged there was a link between the accusations and his financial dispute with his former club Paris Saint-Germain. A hearing into the case was held on Tuesday.

"It's becoming so predictable, the day before the hearing as if by chance," Mbappe said on X, formerly Twitter.

A Swedish prosecutor has only confirmed that an investigation has been opened, without naming Mbappe.

His lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard told AFP on Tuesday the 2018 World Cup winner was "at ease" because "he has done nothing wrong".

Canu-Bernard said Mbappe had "asked my office not to leave things as they are because it is impossible to allow yourself to be slandered and defamed in this way".

"This is why we are going to file a complaint for libel."

Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Real Madrid have, for the moment at least, given their support to star forward Kylian Mbappe since the Swedish media reported that he is being investigated for an alleged rape during a visit to Stockholm.

Real Madrid have, for the moment at least, given their support to star forward Kylian Mbappe since the Swedish media reported that he is being investigated for an alleged rape during a visit to Stockholm. The reigning European champions, who have not commented publicly on the reports, do not appear to be overly concerned about the reports about the player who joined this summer from Paris Saint-Germain. Also Read: NFL owners officially approve Tom Brady becoming part-owner of Las Vegas Raiders An internal club source, who spoke to AFP on condition of their identity not being revealed, described the accusations as "the biggest fake in the history of sport". On Tuesday, Real were accused of deleting 25-year-old Mbappe from photos it published in a promotional campaign with its jersey manufacturer Adidas. Real told journalists the reason was simply because Mbappe's boot sponsor is Adidas's bitter rivals Nike. That explanation was questioned on social media though, with many people pointing out that several players in the photos are also under contract with Nike, like Mbappe's French international teammate Eduardo Camavinga. In the midst of the media storm -- and on the day his lawyer spoke to AFP and other French media to insist her client was "shocked" to be linked to a rape investigation -- Mbappe trained with his teammates in Madrid on Tuesday. Pictured training This time, the club had no hesitation in posting photos and videos of the Frenchman, who should be available for selection on Saturday for the visit of Celta Vigo to the Bernabeu as he is said to have recovered from discomfort in his left thigh that kept him out of France's squad for Nations League games. With a rare few free days on his hands, Mbappe chose to go to Stockholm with a group of friends, arriving on October 9 and departing on October 11. Reports in several Swedish media say they visited a restaurant and a nightclub. Once the group had left Sweden, a woman went to police to allege she was the victim of a rape. On Monday, after Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet became the first media outlet to reveal that a rape probe had been opened, Mbappe slammed the report as "fake news" on his social media and alleged there was a link between the accusations and his financial dispute with his former club Paris Saint-Germain. A hearing into the case was held on Tuesday. "It's becoming so predictable, the day before the hearing as if by chance," Mbappe said on X, formerly Twitter. A Swedish prosecutor has only confirmed that an investigation has been opened, without naming Mbappe. His lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard told AFP on Tuesday the 2018 World Cup winner was "at ease" because "he has done nothing wrong". Canu-Bernard said Mbappe had "asked my office not to leave things as they are because it is impossible to allow yourself to be slandered and defamed in this way". "This is why we are going to file a complaint for libel." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Real Madrid come out in support of Kylian Mbappe amid rape investigation in Sweden

Arsenal beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in their heavyweight Champions League duel on Tuesday, while last season's beaten finalists Borussia&nbsp;Dortmund&nbsp;gave Celtic a brutal reality check with an emphatic 7-1 win in Germany.&nbsp;Dortmund&nbsp;were the biggest winners on a night which also saw Barcelona, Manchester City and Inter Milan claim one-sided victories and Champions League debutants Brest won 4-0 at Red Bull Salzburg.

The clash between Arsenal and French champions PSG in London was the big game of the day as the second round of matches in the new format of European football's elite club competition got underway. The Gunners were worthy winners with Kai Havertz heading in from a Leandro Trossard cross to open the scoring on 20 minutes and Bukayo Saka doubling their lead before half-time as his free-kick delivery from the right evaded everybody on its way in.

PSG saw Nuno Mendes strike the outside of the post from range in the first half while Joao Neves hit the woodwork after the break, but the visitors could not get back into the game. It is a first win in the Champions League this season for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who drew 0-0 away to Atalanta on matchday one two weeks ago.

"Really, really happy with the performance," Arteta told broadcaster Amazon Prime. "The Champions League brings different demands but I think we handled it really well."

<h2>- Adeyemi hat-trick -</h2>

Dortmund&nbsp;are currently on top of the 36-team league after they followed a 3-0 win at Club Brugge in their first game by trouncing Scottish champions Celtic in Germany. Karim Adeyemi scored a hat-trick in the first half for&nbsp;Dortmund, who were 5-1 ahead at half-time. Emre Can opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Daizen Maeda equalised, but Adeyemi then took centre stage.

Serhou Guirassy netted a penalty before the interval and made it 6-1 midway through the second half, with substitute Felix Nmecha wrapping up the victory late on.

It is&nbsp;Dortmund's biggest winning margin in the Champions League alongside a 6-0 win away to Legia Warsaw in 2016.

"There's no such thing as a perfect game, but it was very, very good," said Can. "This has to be the standard we aim to set."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpools-arne-slot-expects-diogo-jota-to-be-fit-for-champions-league-clash-at-home-763671">Liverpool’s Arne Slot expects Diogo Jota to be fit for Champions League clash at home</a>

<h2>- Barcelona, Man City win -</h2>

Barcelona beat Swiss champions Young Boys 5-0 to bounce back from a 2-1 loss at Monaco a fortnight ago and their first defeat of the season in La Liga last weekend at Osasuna. Robert Lewandowski scored twice either side of goals by Raphinha and Inigo Martinez before a late Mohamed Ali Camara own goal wrapped up the victory.

"We knew after the game against Monaco in the Champions League we had to give a quick reply in the next game, which was this one, and we did that well," Raphinha told broadcaster Movistar.

Winners of the Champions League in 2023, Pep Guardiola's City were comfortable 4-0 winners away to Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, with Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and James McAtee getting the goals.

Inter, who lost to City in the final in Istanbul two seasons ago, won by the same scoreline at home to Red Star Belgrade.

Hakan Calhanoglu set Inter on their way with a stunning early free-kick before Marko Arnautovic, Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi all netted in the second half, the latter from a penalty.

German champions Bayer Leverkusen got their second straight win in this season's competition as a Victor Boniface goal early in the second half allowed them to beat AC Milan 1-0.

<h2>- Brest surprise -</h2>

Meanwhile Brest, the French Champions League newcomers, also made it two wins out of two with a remarkable 4-0 victory away to Salzburg in Austria. Senegal striker Abdallah Sima, the forward on loan from Brighton who got their winner against Sturm Graz two weeks ago, scored twice.

Mahdi Camara and Mathias Pereira Lage also found the target with Brest scoring three of their goals in the space of 10 second-half minutes.

Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys are the bottom three in the early standings. VfB Stuttgart and Sparta Prague drew 1-1 with Enzo Millot putting the German side ahead and Finnish international Kaan Kairinen equalising before the interval.

PSV Eindhoven and Sporting Lisbon also drew 1-1. Jerdy Schouten's opener for the Dutch champions was cancelled out by Daniel Braganca's late leveller.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Arsenal beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in their heavyweight Champions League duel on Tuesday, while last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund gave Celtic a brutal reality check with an emphatic 7-1 win in Germany.

Arsenal beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in their heavyweight Champions League duel on Tuesday, while last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund gave Celtic a brutal reality check with an emphatic 7-1 win in Germany. Dortmund were the biggest winners on a night which also saw Barcelona, Manchester City and Inter Milan claim one-sided victories and Champions League debutants Brest won 4-0 at Red Bull Salzburg. The clash between Arsenal and French champions PSG in London was the big game of the day as the second round of matches in the new format of European football's elite club competition got underway. The Gunners were worthy winners with Kai Havertz heading in from a Leandro Trossard cross to open the scoring on 20 minutes and Bukayo Saka doubling their lead before half-time as his free-kick delivery from the right evaded everybody on its way in. PSG saw Nuno Mendes strike the outside of the post from range in the first half while Joao Neves hit the woodwork after the break, but the visitors could not get back into the game. It is a first win in the Champions League this season for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who drew 0-0 away to Atalanta on matchday one two weeks ago. "Really, really happy with the performance," Arteta told broadcaster Amazon Prime. "The Champions League brings different demands but I think we handled it really well." - Adeyemi hat-trick - Dortmund are currently on top of the 36-team league after they followed a 3-0 win at Club Brugge in their first game by trouncing Scottish champions Celtic in Germany. Karim Adeyemi scored a hat-trick in the first half for Dortmund, who were 5-1 ahead at half-time. Emre Can opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Daizen Maeda equalised, but Adeyemi then took centre stage. Serhou Guirassy netted a penalty before the interval and made it 6-1 midway through the second half, with substitute Felix Nmecha wrapping up the victory late on. It is Dortmund's biggest winning margin in the Champions League alongside a 6-0 win away to Legia Warsaw in 2016. "There's no such thing as a perfect game, but it was very, very good," said Can. "This has to be the standard we aim to set." Also read: Liverpool’s Arne Slot expects Diogo Jota to be fit for Champions League clash at home - Barcelona, Man City win - Barcelona beat Swiss champions Young Boys 5-0 to bounce back from a 2-1 loss at Monaco a fortnight ago and their first defeat of the season in La Liga last weekend at Osasuna. Robert Lewandowski scored twice either side of goals by Raphinha and Inigo Martinez before a late Mohamed Ali Camara own goal wrapped up the victory. "We knew after the game against Monaco in the Champions League we had to give a quick reply in the next game, which was this one, and we did that well," Raphinha told broadcaster Movistar. Winners of the Champions League in 2023, Pep Guardiola's City were comfortable 4-0 winners away to Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, with Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and James McAtee getting the goals. Inter, who lost to City in the final in Istanbul two seasons ago, won by the same scoreline at home to Red Star Belgrade. Hakan Calhanoglu set Inter on their way with a stunning early free-kick before Marko Arnautovic, Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi all netted in the second half, the latter from a penalty. German champions Bayer Leverkusen got their second straight win in this season's competition as a Victor Boniface goal early in the second half allowed them to beat AC Milan 1-0. - Brest surprise - Meanwhile Brest, the French Champions League newcomers, also made it two wins out of two with a remarkable 4-0 victory away to Salzburg in Austria. Senegal striker Abdallah Sima, the forward on loan from Brighton who got their winner against Sturm Graz two weeks ago, scored twice. Mahdi Camara and Mathias Pereira Lage also found the target with Brest scoring three of their goals in the space of 10 second-half minutes. Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys are the bottom three in the early standings. VfB Stuttgart and Sparta Prague drew 1-1 with Enzo Millot putting the German side ahead and Finnish international Kaan Kairinen equalising before the interval. PSV Eindhoven and Sporting Lisbon also drew 1-1. Jerdy Schouten's opener for the Dutch champions was cancelled out by Daniel Braganca's late leveller. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Arsenal beat PSG in Champions League duel, Dortmund thrash Celtic

Manchester City made a sluggish start to their Champions League campaign as they drew 0-0 against Inter Milan on Wednesday, while Paris Saint-Germain needed a last-minute goal to beat tournament newcomers Girona. Pep Guardiola's side have won all four of their Premier League games this season but failed to break down Italian champions Inter in a repeat of the 2023 final won by City.

City lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury at half-time and Phil Foden fired straight at Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer with their best chance as Erling Haaland was kept quiet on a night he was chasing his 100th goal for the English club.

"It was a very intense game against a strong opponent. We knew what was coming, they are a top team as well and they are used to winning, so we were not going to have an easy job," City defender Ruben Dias told TNT Sports.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan could have won it for Inter when he blazed over 15 minutes from time, allowing City to extend their unbeaten run in the competition to 24 matches -- one off the record set by Manchester United between 2007 and 2009.

It is just the second time in 42 home Champions League games under Guardiola that City have failed to score. "Our plan was to show that we're not scared to play here," said Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

PSG&nbsp;looked as if they would also have to settle for a point against European debutants Girona, who are backed by the City Football Group and ran Real Madrid close for several months in Spain last season before coming third.

However, a goalkeeping blunder from Paulo Gazzaniga in the 90th minute resulted in Nuno Mendes' cross squirming through his grasp and handed the French champions victory.

"It was a difficult game, they're a team that plays well with the ball," Mendes told Canal Plus. "I was surprised (by the goal). The goalkeeper was there and it got through."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-christian-eriksen-to-wait-before-settling-future-with-manchester-united-759894">Premier League: Christian Eriksen to wait before settling future with Manchester United</a>

<h2>- Super-sub Gittens propels Dortmund -</h2>

Last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund, beaten by Madrid in the final, had English winger Jamie Gittens to thank as the 20-year-old came off the bench and scored twice in a 3-0 win at Club Brugge. Serhou Guirassy added a stoppage-time penalty for his first Dortmund goal since arriving in the summer from Stuttgart.

Celtic began in style by thrashing Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in Glasgow, winning their opening game in the Champions League for the first time in 13 attempts. Liam Scales' powerful header put Celtic ahead and the hosts struck again through Kyogo Furuhashi early in the second half before Arne Engels converted a penalty for 3-0.

Kevin Wimmer pulled one back with a fine strike for the Slovak champions, who came through four rounds of qualifying, but Celtic pulled away with further goals from Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah.

"It's a fantastic night," Celtic captain Callum McGregor told TNT Sports. "I hope the supporters enjoyed it because the managers and players did. This is the next level for the group in terms of growth and development."

Bologna drew 0-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Italian team's first ever Champions League match. Lukasz Skorupski saved an early penalty from Shakhtar's Georgiy Sudakov.

Sparta Prague swept Red Bull Salzburg aside 3-0 with goals from Kaan Kairinen, Victor Olatunji and Qazim Laci, as the Czech champions won for the first time in the competition proper since 2003.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Manchester City made a sluggish start to their Champions League campaign as they drew 0-0 against Inter Milan on Wednesday, while Paris Saint-Germain needed a last-minute goal to beat tournament newcomers Girona.

Manchester City made a sluggish start to their Champions League campaign as they drew 0-0 against Inter Milan on Wednesday, while Paris Saint-Germain needed a last-minute goal to beat tournament newcomers Girona. Pep Guardiola's side have won all four of their Premier League games this season but failed to break down Italian champions Inter in a repeat of the 2023 final won by City. City lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury at half-time and Phil Foden fired straight at Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer with their best chance as Erling Haaland was kept quiet on a night he was chasing his 100th goal for the English club. "It was a very intense game against a strong opponent. We knew what was coming, they are a top team as well and they are used to winning, so we were not going to have an easy job," City defender Ruben Dias told TNT Sports. Henrikh Mkhitaryan could have won it for Inter when he blazed over 15 minutes from time, allowing City to extend their unbeaten run in the competition to 24 matches -- one off the record set by Manchester United between 2007 and 2009. It is just the second time in 42 home Champions League games under Guardiola that City have failed to score. "Our plan was to show that we're not scared to play here," said Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. PSG looked as if they would also have to settle for a point against European debutants Girona, who are backed by the City Football Group and ran Real Madrid close for several months in Spain last season before coming third. However, a goalkeeping blunder from Paulo Gazzaniga in the 90th minute resulted in Nuno Mendes' cross squirming through his grasp and handed the French champions victory. "It was a difficult game, they're a team that plays well with the ball," Mendes told Canal Plus. "I was surprised (by the goal). The goalkeeper was there and it got through." Also read: Premier League: Christian Eriksen to wait before settling future with Manchester United - Super-sub Gittens propels Dortmund - Last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund, beaten by Madrid in the final, had English winger Jamie Gittens to thank as the 20-year-old came off the bench and scored twice in a 3-0 win at Club Brugge. Serhou Guirassy added a stoppage-time penalty for his first Dortmund goal since arriving in the summer from Stuttgart. Celtic began in style by thrashing Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in Glasgow, winning their opening game in the Champions League for the first time in 13 attempts. Liam Scales' powerful header put Celtic ahead and the hosts struck again through Kyogo Furuhashi early in the second half before Arne Engels converted a penalty for 3-0. Kevin Wimmer pulled one back with a fine strike for the Slovak champions, who came through four rounds of qualifying, but Celtic pulled away with further goals from Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah. "It's a fantastic night," Celtic captain Callum McGregor told TNT Sports. "I hope the supporters enjoyed it because the managers and players did. This is the next level for the group in terms of growth and development." Bologna drew 0-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Italian team's first ever Champions League match. Lukasz Skorupski saved an early penalty from Shakhtar's Georgiy Sudakov. Sparta Prague swept Red Bull Salzburg aside 3-0 with goals from Kaan Kairinen, Victor Olatunji and Qazim Laci, as the Czech champions won for the first time in the competition proper since 2003. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UEFA Champions League: Manchester City held by Inter Milan, PSG beat tournament newcomers Girona 1-0

Psg, News on Psg, stories on Psg, articles on Psg, Psg stories at Wion, Psg news, Psg latest news