Europe's Premier club competition returns. The 2022/23 edition of the UEFA Champions League kicks off with defending champions Real Madrid in action on the opening night against Celtic. WION's Resident football expert Matt Holland discusses the major storylines of the season with WION Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo.

WION Sports: UEFA Champions League 2022/23 season preview

Two heavyweights will lock horns in the UEFA Champions League group stage fixture when the Lionel Messi-starrer Paris Saint Germain (PSG) will take on the&nbsp;Italian giants Juventus in their first match on Tuesday as the 2022/23 season kicks off with a number of mega clashes in the opening week.&nbsp;

Talking about the PSG line-up, they have a star-studded team in the form of Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and the likes. While they were eliminated in the Round of 16 in last year's UCL season, they are expected to go the distance this time around with enough firepower at their disposal. On the other hand, Juventus have also not been at their best in the marquee tournament in the last few seasons with them having reached the final way back in the 2016/17 season. Since then, all they have managed are quarter-final finishes on the last two occasions.&nbsp;

PSG are currently at the top of the Ligue 1 standings, with five&nbsp;wins in half a dozen&nbsp;games, Juventus are placed 7th in the Serie A standings having earned only&nbsp;two&nbsp;wins in 5 encounters.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;

Everything to know about PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League group stage match:

When and what time will the PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match kick off?

The PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match will commence at 12:30 AM IST on September 07 (Wednesday).

Where will the PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match be played?

The PSG vs Juventus UCL encounter will be held at Parc des Princes.

On which channel will the telecast of the PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match be on TV?

The PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match's telecast will be available on the Sony Ten Network.

How to watch the live streaming of PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League face-off?

The PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match's&nbsp;live streaming will be on Sony Liv.

Two heavyweights will lock horns in the UEFA Champions League group stage fixture when the Lionel Messi-starrer Paris Saint Germain (PSG) will take on the Italian giants Juventus in their first match on Tuesday as the 2022/23 season kicks off with a number of mega clashes in the opening week.

Two heavyweights will lock horns in the UEFA Champions League group stage fixture when the Lionel Messi-starrer Paris Saint Germain (PSG) will take on the Italian giants Juventus in their first match on Tuesday as the 2022/23 season kicks off with a number of mega clashes in the opening week. Talking about the PSG line-up, they have a star-studded team in the form of Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and the likes. While they were eliminated in the Round of 16 in last year's UCL season, they are expected to go the distance this time around with enough firepower at their disposal. On the other hand, Juventus have also not been at their best in the marquee tournament in the last few seasons with them having reached the final way back in the 2016/17 season. Since then, all they have managed are quarter-final finishes on the last two occasions. PSG are currently at the top of the Ligue 1 standings, with five wins in half a dozen games, Juventus are placed 7th in the Serie A standings having earned only two wins in 5 encounters. ALSO READ | Everything to know about PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League group stage match: When and what time will the PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match kick off? The PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match will commence at 12:30 AM IST on September 07 (Wednesday). Where will the PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match be played? The PSG vs Juventus UCL encounter will be held at Parc des Princes. On which channel will the telecast of the PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match be on TV? The PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match's telecast will be available on the Sony Ten Network. How to watch the live streaming of PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League face-off? The PSG vs Juventus UEFA Champions League match's live streaming will be on Sony Liv.

PSG vs Juventus: When and where to watch live streaming of UEFA Champions League face-off in India?

The Champions League group stage draw got underway in Istanbul, Turkey, with some of the most successful European teams going up against equally formidable opponents for the pleasure of fans all over the world.&nbsp;

The reigning champions Real Madrid found themselves in Group F among the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic and RB Leipzig. Last year's finalists Liverpool, on the other hand, joined Ajax, Napoli and Rangers in Group A.

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Group B featured Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge and FC Porto. While Group D will see&nbsp;Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur,&nbsp;Sporting Lisbon and&nbsp;Marseille lock horns with each other on the football pitch.

Group E will witness Chelsea, AC Milan,&nbsp;Salzburg and&nbsp;Dinamo Zagreb go toe-to-toe against each other. Group G houses the Premier League kingpins Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and&nbsp;Copenhagen. The final group in the tournament will see PSG, Benfica, Juventus and&nbsp;Maccabi Haifa.

In addition to the group stage draws, UEFA also went on to honour players and managers with awards, recognizing their performances over the course of the last season.

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Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema were nominated for the title of UEFA Men's Player of the Year. However, it was the Real Madrid striker who walked away with the title. The title of the Women's Player of the Year, on the other hand, was conferred upon&nbsp;Barcelona's Alexia Putellas.

Carlos Ancelloti, who led Real Madrid's charge to La Liga and Champions League glory, was honoured with the title of UEFA Men's Coach of the Year. The Women's Coach of the Year accolade was picked up by&nbsp;Sarina Wiegman, who spearheaded England's Euro 2022 win.

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

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

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

In the wake of the completion of the Champions League play-off ties, UEFA has announced the pots for the 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw. The draw is set to take place on Thursday at 17:00 BST in Istanbul.

The reigning UCL&nbsp;champions Real Madrid find themselves in Pot 1 with the likes of&nbsp;Eintracht Frankfurt,&nbsp;Manchester City,&nbsp;Paris Saint-Germain,&nbsp;AC Milan,&nbsp;Bayern Munich,&nbsp;Ajax, and Porto.&nbsp;

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The second pot will feature last year's finalists, Liverpool alongside some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Liverpool, Barcelona,&nbsp;Sevilla,&nbsp;Juventus,&nbsp;Chelsea,&nbsp;Atletico Madrid,&nbsp;RB Leipzig, and Tottenham.

The third pot houses clubs like&nbsp;Borussia Dortmund,&nbsp;RB Salzburg,&nbsp;Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Sporting CP, and Benfica.

While the fourth pot will see the likes of&nbsp;Club Brugge,&nbsp;Celtic,&nbsp;Maccabi Haifa,&nbsp;Viktoria Plzen,&nbsp;Marseille,&nbsp;Rangers,&nbsp;FC Copenhagen, and Dinamo Zagreb.

The Champions League group stage matches are all set to go down&nbsp;on September 6th and will come to an end on November 2nd.

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The schedule of the tournament has been adjusted according to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which is set to kick off later this year. The Champions League is slated to start early in September and will end 5 weeks ahead of schedule in early November.

The initial six rounds of the tournament will be played up until November before the footballing community will leap headfirst into a short hiatus prompted by the first World Cup being held outside the European summer. The Champions League final is all set to take place at Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium on June 10th.

In the wake of the completion of the Champions League play-off ties, UEFA has announced the pots for the 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw. The draw is set to take place on Thursday at 17:00 BST in Istanbul.

In the wake of the completion of the Champions League play-off ties, UEFA has announced the pots for the 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw. The draw is set to take place on Thursday at 17:00 BST in Istanbul. The reigning UCL champions Real Madrid find themselves in Pot 1 with the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Ajax, and Porto. ALSO READ: Barcelona vs Manchester City live streaming: When & where to watch the friendly match in India? The second pot will feature last year's finalists, Liverpool alongside some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Liverpool, Barcelona, Sevilla, Juventus, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, and Tottenham. The third pot houses clubs like Borussia Dortmund, RB Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Sporting CP, and Benfica. While the fourth pot will see the likes of Club Brugge, Celtic, Maccabi Haifa, Viktoria Plzen, Marseille, Rangers, FC Copenhagen, and Dinamo Zagreb. The Champions League group stage matches are all set to go down on September 6th and will come to an end on November 2nd. ALSO READ: Man United's Cristiano Ronaldo was open to take pay cut to be part of Borussia Dortmund: Report The schedule of the tournament has been adjusted according to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which is set to kick off later this year. The Champions League is slated to start early in September and will end 5 weeks ahead of schedule in early November. The initial six rounds of the tournament will be played up until November before the footballing community will leap headfirst into a short hiatus prompted by the first World Cup being held outside the European summer. The Champions League final is all set to take place at Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium on June 10th.

UEFA confirms Champions League group stage draw pots for the upcoming season

The draw for the UEFA&nbsp;Champions League quarter-final and semi-final is set to take place on Friday (March 19) at&nbsp;Nyon, Switzerland.&nbsp;With only eight teams left in the UCL 2020-21 season, the competition tightens up as the best teams in Europe fight for the coveted title.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US">With the likes of Barcelona and Juventus out of the UCL, it will be the first time in a decade that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will be a part of&nbsp;the UCL quarter-finals draw.&nbsp;</h2>

All eight teams can draw anyone for their two-legged UCL quarter-final and based on the quarter-final match-ups, the draw for the semi-final will also take place on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eight teams involved in the UEFA Champions League 2020-21 quarter-finals and semi-finals draw are: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, FC Porto, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Liverpool&nbsp;and Real Madrid.&nbsp;

The first-leg UCL quarter-final matches are scheduled for April 6 and 7 while the second leg will be played on April 13 and 14.&nbsp;

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<h2 lang="EN-US">All you need to know about UEFA Champions League 2020-21 quarter-finals draw:&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<h2 lang="EN-US">Which teams are involved in UEFA Champions League&nbsp;quarter-final&nbsp;draw?&nbsp;</h2>

Bayern Munich (Germany), Liverpool (England), Real Madrid (Spain), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Chelsea (England), Manchester City (England), Porto (Portugal), Borussia Dortmund (Germany)&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US">When and what time will the UEFA Champions League Draw&nbsp;start?&nbsp;</h2>

The UEFA Champions League Draw&nbsp;will&nbsp;start&nbsp;at 4:30 PM (IST) on March 19th.&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US">Where will the UEFA Champions League Draw&nbsp;be&nbsp;held?&nbsp;</h2>

The UEFA Champions League Draw will take place at&nbsp;Nyon, Switzerland.&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US">Where can the UEFA Champions League Draw&nbsp;be live-streamed&nbsp;online?&nbsp;</h2>

The UEFA Champions League Draw will be streamed live via Sony Sports Network's streaming platform, Jio TV, Airtel TV and UEFA.COM.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We're live from Nyon! 🏆 🙌 
 
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLdraw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLdraw</a> stream 📺👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a>
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/1372865759819481090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Which channel will telecast the UEFA Champions League Draw on TV?&nbsp;</h2>

The UEFA&nbsp;Champions&nbsp;League Group Stage Draw will be aired live on the Sony Sports Network in India.&nbsp;

The draw for the UEFA Champions League quarter-final and semi-final is set to take place on Friday (March 19) at Nyon, Switzerland. With only eight teams left in the UCL 2020-21 season, the competition tightens up as the best teams in Europe fight for the coveted title.

The draw for the UEFA Champions League quarter-final and semi-final is set to take place on Friday (March 19) at Nyon, Switzerland. With only eight teams left in the UCL 2020-21 season, the competition tightens up as the best teams in Europe fight for the coveted title. With the likes of Barcelona and Juventus out of the UCL, it will be the first time in a decade that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will be a part of the UCL quarter-finals draw. All eight teams can draw anyone for their two-legged UCL quarter-final and based on the quarter-final match-ups, the draw for the semi-final will also take place on Friday. Eight teams involved in the UEFA Champions League 2020-21 quarter-finals and semi-finals draw are: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, FC Porto, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid. The first-leg UCL quarter-final matches are scheduled for April 6 and 7 while the second leg will be played on April 13 and 14. ALSO READ: Tuchel makes Chelsea Champions League contenders but Man City, Bayern the teams to beat All you need to know about UEFA Champions League 2020-21 quarter-finals draw: Which teams are involved in UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw? Bayern Munich (Germany), Liverpool (England), Real Madrid (Spain), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Chelsea (England), Manchester City (England), Porto (Portugal), Borussia Dortmund (Germany) When and what time will the UEFA Champions League Draw start? The UEFA Champions League Draw will start at 4:30 PM (IST) on March 19th. Where will the UEFA Champions League Draw be held? The UEFA Champions League Draw will take place at Nyon, Switzerland. Where can the UEFA Champions League Draw be live-streamed online? The UEFA Champions League Draw will be streamed live via Sony Sports Network's streaming platform, Jio TV, Airtel TV and UEFA.COM. We're live from Nyon! 🏆 🙌 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 the #UCLdraw stream 📺👇#UCL — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 19, 2021 × Which channel will telecast the UEFA Champions League Draw on TV? The UEFA Champions League Group Stage Draw will be aired live on the Sony Sports Network in India.

UEFA Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw: Live streaming, start time in IST, telecast and more

The Paris police chief said on Thursday that he might have been wrong when he said up to 40,000 Liverpool fans tried enter the Champions League final with fake tickets and that there was no scientific evidence to support the claim.

Didier Lallement added during a hearing in the French Senate that the police action around the match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France was a "failure" both because fans were harmed and the image of France was degraded. The final, which Liverpool lost 1-0, was delayed by more than 30 minutes after police officers forcefully held back people trying to enter the ground. Riot police sprayed tear gas on fans, including women and children.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that much of the blame lay with Liverpool fans and that 30,000-40,000 arrived without valid tickets, which led to a crowd crush at the stadium and people trying to force their way in. He was later backed by President Emmanuel Macron.

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Darmanin`s version of events has been challenged by Liverpool fans who attended and say the vast majority of their supporters were well-behaved but were treated in a heavy-handed manner by French riot police. "I might have been wrong on the figure of 30,000 to 40,000 thousand (fans with fake tickets) I gave to the (interior) minister," said Lallement.

"From an operational standpoint, it doesn`t change anything if it was around 40,000 or 30,000 or 20,000," Lallement said. French senators pushed Lallement to explain the empirical evidence behind the figure for fake tickets, which he said had come through reports from police officials on the ground. "It was I who gave this figure to the Minister, and I fully stand by it," he added.

During the parliamentary hearing, Lallement said he was the only one responsible for police action during the crowd trouble around the Stade of France, which is located just outside Paris. Liverpool`s metro mayor Steve Rotheram, who attended the final, during which he said he was robbed, was due to give testimony to senators later on Thursday.

The Paris police chief said on Thursday that he might have been wrong when he said up to 40,000 Liverpool fans tried enter the Champions League final with fake tickets and that there was no scientific evidence to support the claim.

The Paris police chief said on Thursday that he might have been wrong when he said up to 40,000 Liverpool fans tried enter the Champions League final with fake tickets and that there was no scientific evidence to support the claim. Didier Lallement added during a hearing in the French Senate that the police action around the match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France was a "failure" both because fans were harmed and the image of France was degraded. The final, which Liverpool lost 1-0, was delayed by more than 30 minutes after police officers forcefully held back people trying to enter the ground. Riot police sprayed tear gas on fans, including women and children. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that much of the blame lay with Liverpool fans and that 30,000-40,000 arrived without valid tickets, which led to a crowd crush at the stadium and people trying to force their way in. He was later backed by President Emmanuel Macron. ALSO READ | Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey converts to Islam, changes surname Darmanin`s version of events has been challenged by Liverpool fans who attended and say the vast majority of their supporters were well-behaved but were treated in a heavy-handed manner by French riot police. "I might have been wrong on the figure of 30,000 to 40,000 thousand (fans with fake tickets) I gave to the (interior) minister," said Lallement. "From an operational standpoint, it doesn`t change anything if it was around 40,000 or 30,000 or 20,000," Lallement said. French senators pushed Lallement to explain the empirical evidence behind the figure for fake tickets, which he said had come through reports from police officials on the ground. "It was I who gave this figure to the Minister, and I fully stand by it," he added. During the parliamentary hearing, Lallement said he was the only one responsible for police action during the crowd trouble around the Stade of France, which is located just outside Paris. Liverpool`s metro mayor Steve Rotheram, who attended the final, during which he said he was robbed, was due to give testimony to senators later on Thursday.

UCL final chaos: Paris Police chief admits possible error on ticket fakes

Real Madrid have demanded answers from organisers over measures taken to protect supporters at last weekend`s Champions League soccer final against Liverpool in Paris, which was marred by crowd trouble. 
The match, which Real won 1-0, was delayed by more than 30 minutes after officers forcefully held back people trying to enter the Stade de France.

Riot police sprayed tear gas on fans, including women and children. France`s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that much of the blame lay with Liverpool fans and that 30,000-40,000 arrived without valid tickets, which led to a crowd crush at the stadium and people trying to force their way in. 
Darmanin`s version of events has been challenged by Liverpool fans who attended and say the vast majority of their supporters were well-behaved but were treated in a heavy-handed manner by French riot police.

Darmanin has acknowledged police were caught off-guard by several hundred local "delinquents" who turned up to cause trouble. "We want to know what were the reasons that motivated that designation of the venue for the final and what criteria were taken into consideration taking into account what was experienced that day," the LaLiga club said in a statement.

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"We also ask for answers and explanations to determine who were those responsible for leaving the fans unattended and defenseless. Supporters whose general behaviour was exemplary at all times. "As clearly seen in the revealing images provided by the media, many of the fans were assaulted, harassed, mugged and robbed with violence."

The club added that their fans "deserved" a response. Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan reiterated a call for an investigation into the incidents on Thursday, adding that both Liverpool and Real fans had suffered. 
European soccer governing body UEFA has commissioned an independent inquiry into the incident, while French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on Monday that they would produce a report within 10 days.

Real Madrid have demanded answers from organisers over measures taken to protect supporters at last weekend`s Champions League soccer final against Liverpool in Paris, which was marred by crowd trouble.

Real Madrid have demanded answers from organisers over measures taken to protect supporters at last weekend`s Champions League soccer final against Liverpool in Paris, which was marred by crowd trouble. The match, which Real won 1-0, was delayed by more than 30 minutes after officers forcefully held back people trying to enter the Stade de France. Riot police sprayed tear gas on fans, including women and children. France`s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that much of the blame lay with Liverpool fans and that 30,000-40,000 arrived without valid tickets, which led to a crowd crush at the stadium and people trying to force their way in. Darmanin`s version of events has been challenged by Liverpool fans who attended and say the vast majority of their supporters were well-behaved but were treated in a heavy-handed manner by French riot police. Darmanin has acknowledged police were caught off-guard by several hundred local "delinquents" who turned up to cause trouble. "We want to know what were the reasons that motivated that designation of the venue for the final and what criteria were taken into consideration taking into account what was experienced that day," the LaLiga club said in a statement. ALSO READ | Neymar closes in on Pele's record as Brazil send World Cup warning with dominant win over South Korea "We also ask for answers and explanations to determine who were those responsible for leaving the fans unattended and defenseless. Supporters whose general behaviour was exemplary at all times. "As clearly seen in the revealing images provided by the media, many of the fans were assaulted, harassed, mugged and robbed with violence." The club added that their fans "deserved" a response. Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan reiterated a call for an investigation into the incidents on Thursday, adding that both Liverpool and Real fans had suffered. European soccer governing body UEFA has commissioned an independent inquiry into the incident, while French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on Monday that they would produce a report within 10 days.

Real Madrid demand answers after UCL final marred by crowd trouble

UEFA and the French football federation estimate that 2,800 'fake tickets' were scanned at the Champions League final, a source said Tuesday. The two bodies gave that estimation at a crisis meeting on Monday at the French sports ministry, the source said.

That meeting was convened to examine what was behind the chaotic scenes that marred Saturday's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris, the Spanish side running out 1-0 winners.

The French government, which has faced a barrage of criticism over policing of the match which saw thousands of Liverpool fans with tickets struggle to enter the Stade de France, has blamed "massive" ticket fraud for the disturbances.

French security services had warned authorities of the risk of 50,000 fans without tickets or with fake ones two days before the final, according to a document seen by AFP Tuesday.

A note from the National Division of the Fight against Hooliganism (DNLH) on May 25 -- written with the input of intelligence services and seen by AFP -- warned of "around 50,000 English fans in the French capital who will not have tickets".

"Some of them will have fake tickets and will try to use them to access the stadium," said the note from the DNLH, a branch of the police, although it does not estimate how many.

"Others will try to enter the arena by deception, for example by using the uniforms of stewards, UEFA, cleaning or medical staff," added the note that was largely distributed to the police.

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After the crisis meeting at the sports ministry on Monday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the root cause of the problems was "massive, industrial-scale and organised fraud in fake tickets".

Darmanin added there had been 30,000 to 40,000 Liverpool fans with fake tickets or without tickets outside the Stade de France.

Earlier on Monday Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera blamed Liverpool for leaving its supporters "on the loose", prompting the chairman of Liverpool Football Club to pen an angry letter demanding an apology for the "irresponsible, unprofessional, and wholly disrespectful" comments.

Some 22,000 tickets were officially allocated each to Real Madrid and Liverpool fans. A criminal investigation into the fake tickets has been launched in France.

The note also warned that "several hundred English fans will try to enter the stadium by forcing the turnstiles and the various access doors" and called for "the greatest vigilance" at the various checkpoints.

"If this event does not present particular risks in connection with violent supporters, disturbances to public order are to be feared, in particular due to the very large influx of supporters coming from all over Europe", the note said.

Saturday's scenes tarnished the image of the French capital, raising questions about its ability to host major sporting events as it gears up for the 2024 Olympics, as well as the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

UEFA, European football's governing body, announced Monday it was opening an "independent report" into the problems at the final that would "examine decision making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved".

UEFA and the French football federation estimate that 2,800 'fake tickets' were scanned at the Champions League final, a source said Tuesday. The two bodies gave that estimation at a crisis meeting on Monday at the French sports ministry, the source said.

UEFA and the French football federation estimate that 2,800 'fake tickets' were scanned at the Champions League final, a source said Tuesday. The two bodies gave that estimation at a crisis meeting on Monday at the French sports ministry, the source said. That meeting was convened to examine what was behind the chaotic scenes that marred Saturday's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris, the Spanish side running out 1-0 winners. The French government, which has faced a barrage of criticism over policing of the match which saw thousands of Liverpool fans with tickets struggle to enter the Stade de France, has blamed "massive" ticket fraud for the disturbances. French security services had warned authorities of the risk of 50,000 fans without tickets or with fake ones two days before the final, according to a document seen by AFP Tuesday. A note from the National Division of the Fight against Hooliganism (DNLH) on May 25 -- written with the input of intelligence services and seen by AFP -- warned of "around 50,000 English fans in the French capital who will not have tickets". "Some of them will have fake tickets and will try to use them to access the stadium," said the note from the DNLH, a branch of the police, although it does not estimate how many. "Others will try to enter the arena by deception, for example by using the uniforms of stewards, UEFA, cleaning or medical staff," added the note that was largely distributed to the police. ALSO READ | Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema named Champions League Player of the Season After the crisis meeting at the sports ministry on Monday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the root cause of the problems was "massive, industrial-scale and organised fraud in fake tickets". Darmanin added there had been 30,000 to 40,000 Liverpool fans with fake tickets or without tickets outside the Stade de France. Earlier on Monday Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera blamed Liverpool for leaving its supporters "on the loose", prompting the chairman of Liverpool Football Club to pen an angry letter demanding an apology for the "irresponsible, unprofessional, and wholly disrespectful" comments. Some 22,000 tickets were officially allocated each to Real Madrid and Liverpool fans. A criminal investigation into the fake tickets has been launched in France. The note also warned that "several hundred English fans will try to enter the stadium by forcing the turnstiles and the various access doors" and called for "the greatest vigilance" at the various checkpoints. "If this event does not present particular risks in connection with violent supporters, disturbances to public order are to be feared, in particular due to the very large influx of supporters coming from all over Europe", the note said. Saturday's scenes tarnished the image of the French capital, raising questions about its ability to host major sporting events as it gears up for the 2024 Olympics, as well as the 2023 Rugby World Cup. UEFA, European football's governing body, announced Monday it was opening an "independent report" into the problems at the final that would "examine decision making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved".

UCL final: UEFA, French federation estimate 2,800 'fake tickets' scanned in marquee clash - Sources

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final to clinch the Champions League 2021-22 trophy in Paris on Sunday (May 29). It was yet another clinical performance from the Los Blancos on the biggest stage of them all as they proved why they remain one of the best teams in Europe. Vinicius Junior scored in the 59th minute to put Real Madrid ahead in the final and seal the deal for the Los Blancos as they went on to lift their 14th Champions League/European Cup title.

While a number of Real Madrid players impressed on the pitch in the final, it was goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who came up with a top-notch performance between the sticks. Courtois was sensational throughout the summit clash and made as many as nine saves during the game to keep Liverpool at bay.

The Real Madrid keeper made a stunning save in the first half to deny Sadio Mane, who almost put Liverpool ahead with a brilliant strike in the 21st minute. The Belgian keeper continued his fine show in the remainder of the game and showed why he is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world at present.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/real-madrid-vs-liverpool-pre-match-chaos-fans-pepper-sprayed-tear-gassed-kick-off-was-delayed-watch-483061">Real Madrid vs Liverpool pre-match chaos: Fans pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed; kick-off was delayed - Watch</a>

Courtois also sent out a message to his critics after Real Madrid's memorable triumph as he asked fans in England to put some respect on his name. Courtois had joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2018 and has seen been criticised by many for his average goalkeeping. However, the Belgian shut his critics in style with his performance in the Champions League final against Liverpool on Sunday.

“When Real Madrid plays finals, they win them. I’m on the right side of history. I saw a lot of tweets coming my way, saying I will be humbled. It was the other way round," Courtois told BT Sport after the final.

“I needed to win this final for my career, for all the hard work I put in, and to put some respect on my name," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/klopp-confident-that-liverpool-will-come-back-stronger-tells-reds-fans-to-book-hotel-for-next-ucl-final-483070">Klopp is confident that Liverpool will come back stronger; tells Reds fans to 'book hotel' for next UCL final</a>

Courtois also heaped praise on his teammates for Real Madrid's brilliant season and hailed them for putting up a fine performance in the final on Sunday. Real Madrid have had a fantastic season winning the La Liga and the Champions League titles.

“I saw a lot of criticism after a great season that I was not good enough or whatever. I’m just really proud of the performance of the team. I think I played a great game today and that was the difference. We had one chance and we scored it," Courtois added.

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final to clinch the Champions League 2021-22 trophy in Paris on Sunday (May 29). It was yet another clinical performance from the Los Blancos on the biggest stage of them all as they proved why they remain one of the best teams in Europe.

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final to clinch the Champions League 2021-22 trophy in Paris on Sunday (May 29). It was yet another clinical performance from the Los Blancos on the biggest stage of them all as they proved why they remain one of the best teams in Europe. Vinicius Junior scored in the 59th minute to put Real Madrid ahead in the final and seal the deal for the Los Blancos as they went on to lift their 14th Champions League/European Cup title. While a number of Real Madrid players impressed on the pitch in the final, it was goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who came up with a top-notch performance between the sticks. Courtois was sensational throughout the summit clash and made as many as nine saves during the game to keep Liverpool at bay. The Real Madrid keeper made a stunning save in the first half to deny Sadio Mane, who almost put Liverpool ahead with a brilliant strike in the 21st minute. The Belgian keeper continued his fine show in the remainder of the game and showed why he is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world at present. Also Read: Real Madrid vs Liverpool pre-match chaos: Fans pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed; kick-off was delayed - Watch Courtois also sent out a message to his critics after Real Madrid's memorable triumph as he asked fans in England to put some respect on his name. Courtois had joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2018 and has seen been criticised by many for his average goalkeeping. However, the Belgian shut his critics in style with his performance in the Champions League final against Liverpool on Sunday. “When Real Madrid plays finals, they win them. I’m on the right side of history. I saw a lot of tweets coming my way, saying I will be humbled. It was the other way round," Courtois told BT Sport after the final. “I needed to win this final for my career, for all the hard work I put in, and to put some respect on my name," he added. Also Read: Klopp is confident that Liverpool will come back stronger; tells Reds fans to 'book hotel' for next UCL final Courtois also heaped praise on his teammates for Real Madrid's brilliant season and hailed them for putting up a fine performance in the final on Sunday. Real Madrid have had a fantastic season winning the La Liga and the Champions League titles. “I saw a lot of criticism after a great season that I was not good enough or whatever. I’m just really proud of the performance of the team. I think I played a great game today and that was the difference. We had one chance and we scored it," Courtois added.

'Put respect on my name': Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois responds to critics after Champions League win

After UEFA Champions League heartache, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that he has a "strong feeling" that the Reds will come again. Klopp hailed the team despite Liverpool's 0-1 loss to Real Madrid in the UCL final clash in Paris, France on Saturday (May 28). Confident Klopp also told the Liverpool fans to "book the hotel" for next year's Champions League final in Istanbul.&nbsp;The UCL loss means Liverpool are finishing the season having won the FA Cup and League Cup.&nbsp;

During the high-octane match, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior scored just before the hour - the only goal in the match. On the other hand, Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several fine saves to deny Liverpool.&nbsp;

"I have a strong feeling we will come again. The boys are competitive. We will have an outstanding group next season. Where's it [the final] next season? Istanbul? Book the hotel,"&nbsp;said Klopp.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/real-madrid-vs-liverpool-pre-match-chaos-fans-pepper-sprayed-tear-gassed-kick-off-was-delayed-watch-483061">Real Madrid vs Liverpool pre-match chaos: Fans pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed; kick-off was delayed - Watch</a>

Despite the loss, the German hailed the team in the post-match press conference. He said, "These boys played an outstanding season. The two competitions we couldn’t win, we didn't win for the smallest possible margin. One point [Premier League], 1-0."&nbsp;

While praising Courtois, Klopp said, "When the goalkeeper is man of the match, then something is wrong, or going wrong for the other team, so we had I think three really big chances where (Thibaut) Courtois made incredible saves."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/real-madrid-beat-liverpool-1-0-in-champions-league-final-483056">Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Champions League final</a>

Liverpool had won the previous European Cup final both teams had played in Paris, winning 1-0 at the Parc des Princes in 1981, which was Real's last defeat in a final.&nbsp;

"In the dressing room nobody feels it was a great season at the moment. We maybe need a few hours for that. We played a good game, not a perfect game. The boys tried everything, especially at 1-0 down then we played like we wanted to play before," Klopp said on BT Sport.&nbsp;

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After UEFA Champions League heartache, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that he has a "strong feeling" that the Reds will come again. Klopp hailed the team despite Liverpool's 0-1 loss to Real Madrid in the UCL final clash in Paris, France on Saturday (May 28).

After UEFA Champions League heartache, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that he has a "strong feeling" that the Reds will come again. Klopp hailed the team despite Liverpool's 0-1 loss to Real Madrid in the UCL final clash in Paris, France on Saturday (May 28). Confident Klopp also told the Liverpool fans to "book the hotel" for next year's Champions League final in Istanbul. The UCL loss means Liverpool are finishing the season having won the FA Cup and League Cup. During the high-octane match, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior scored just before the hour - the only goal in the match. On the other hand, Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several fine saves to deny Liverpool. "I have a strong feeling we will come again. The boys are competitive. We will have an outstanding group next season. Where's it [the final] next season? Istanbul? Book the hotel," said Klopp. ALSO READ | Real Madrid vs Liverpool pre-match chaos: Fans pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed; kick-off was delayed - Watch Despite the loss, the German hailed the team in the post-match press conference. He said, "These boys played an outstanding season. The two competitions we couldn’t win, we didn't win for the smallest possible margin. One point [Premier League], 1-0." While praising Courtois, Klopp said, "When the goalkeeper is man of the match, then something is wrong, or going wrong for the other team, so we had I think three really big chances where (Thibaut) Courtois made incredible saves." ALSO READ | Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Champions League final Liverpool had won the previous European Cup final both teams had played in Paris, winning 1-0 at the Parc des Princes in 1981, which was Real's last defeat in a final. "In the dressing room nobody feels it was a great season at the moment. We maybe need a few hours for that. We played a good game, not a perfect game. The boys tried everything, especially at 1-0 down then we played like we wanted to play before," Klopp said on BT Sport. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Klopp is confident that Liverpool will come back stronger; tells Reds fans to 'book hotel' for next UCL final

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on Saturday (May 28) to secure a record-extending 14th European Cup. The match was however delayed for more than half an hour with pretty crazy scenes unfolding outside the Stade de France. Scores of fans travelled to the French capital to watch the pulsating final clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool, but it got delayed because of a security problem, as per the organisers. The match kicked off 36 minutes late as police were trying to hold off fans, who were apparently forcing their way into the stadium.&nbsp;

As the world was waiting for the finale to start, a stadium announcement said the 2100 local time (1900GMT) kick-off was being delayed for security reasons. It added later that the start of European club soccer's showpiece had been postponed "due to the late arrival of fans."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/real-madrid-beat-liverpool-1-0-in-champions-league-final-483056">Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Champions League final</a>

The videos that were captured outside the stadium showed riot police chasing fans as they ran away. Some of the fans were apparently being sprayed with pepper spray and others were being escorted away, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

In a statement, French police said that the supporters had attempted to penetrate the stadium and force their way in. "We have intervened to push back people trying to force their way through," French police said. They added that even after the kick-off, the "manoeuvre" was still ongoing.&nbsp;

News agencies have reported that the police also used teargas outside the stadium. UEFA blamed "fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles" for the events that saw supporters held up outside the stadium.&nbsp;

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Ofc it's the liverpool fans 
Give madrid the ucl <a href="https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChampionsLeague</a><a href="https://t.co/QB5ceqmmsi">pic.twitter.com/QB5ceqmmsi</a>
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🚨 Liverpool fans hit by tear gas as UCL final descends into carnage outside the stadium 😱<a href="https://t.co/FeoGJctcqf">https://t.co/FeoGJctcqf</a> 🎥 <a href="https://t.co/0FboVwXv9p">pic.twitter.com/0FboVwXv9p</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsLeagueFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionsLeagueFinal</a> Liverpool Fans Tear gassed more on our Channel <a href="https://t.co/poLMlD3yA6">https://t.co/poLMlD3yA6</a> <a href="https://t.co/oPJlppyZwZ">pic.twitter.com/oPJlppyZwZ</a>
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'Fake tickets' to blame?&nbsp;

UEFA's statement read: "In the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles. This created a build-up of fans trying to get in. As a result, the kick off was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans as possible with genuine tickets to gain access."&nbsp;

Liverpool wants probe

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the families of his squad and staff were caught up in the chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France. He said, "I couldn't speak to my family yet, but I know the families had a real struggle to get into the stadium. I heard a few things that were not good, not nice. Obviously, it was pretty tricky out there but I don't know more about it."&nbsp;

In a statement, Liverpool called for a "formal investigation" into the security failings. "This is the greatest match in European football and supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed tonight," added the club's statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on Saturday (May 28) to secure a record-extending 14th European Cup. The match was however delayed for more than half an hour with pretty crazy scenes unfolding outside the Stade de France.

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on Saturday (May 28) to secure a record-extending 14th European Cup. The match was however delayed for more than half an hour with pretty crazy scenes unfolding outside the Stade de France. Scores of fans travelled to the French capital to watch the pulsating final clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool, but it got delayed because of a security problem, as per the organisers. The match kicked off 36 minutes late as police were trying to hold off fans, who were apparently forcing their way into the stadium. As the world was waiting for the finale to start, a stadium announcement said the 2100 local time (1900GMT) kick-off was being delayed for security reasons. It added later that the start of European club soccer's showpiece had been postponed "due to the late arrival of fans." ALSO READ | Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Champions League final The videos that were captured outside the stadium showed riot police chasing fans as they ran away. Some of the fans were apparently being sprayed with pepper spray and others were being escorted away, Reuters reported. In a statement, French police said that the supporters had attempted to penetrate the stadium and force their way in. "We have intervened to push back people trying to force their way through," French police said. They added that even after the kick-off, the "manoeuvre" was still ongoing. News agencies have reported that the police also used teargas outside the stadium. UEFA blamed "fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles" for the events that saw supporters held up outside the stadium. Ofc it's the liverpool fans Give madrid the ucl @ChampionsLeaguepic.twitter.com/QB5ceqmmsi — Yasser (@078Yasser) May 28, 2022 × 🚨 Liverpool fans hit by tear gas as UCL final descends into carnage outside the stadium 😱https://t.co/FeoGJctcqf 🎥 pic.twitter.com/0FboVwXv9p — Gunners Daily (@GunnersDailyYT) May 28, 2022 × #ChampionsLeagueFinal Liverpool Fans Tear gassed more on our Channel https://t.co/poLMlD3yA6 pic.twitter.com/oPJlppyZwZ — Tony Dortie 24/Seven Eyes (@24SevenEyes) May 28, 2022 × 'Fake tickets' to blame? UEFA's statement read: "In the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles. This created a build-up of fans trying to get in. As a result, the kick off was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans as possible with genuine tickets to gain access." Liverpool wants probe Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the families of his squad and staff were caught up in the chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France. He said, "I couldn't speak to my family yet, but I know the families had a real struggle to get into the stadium. I heard a few things that were not good, not nice. Obviously, it was pretty tricky out there but I don't know more about it." In a statement, Liverpool called for a "formal investigation" into the security failings. "This is the greatest match in European football and supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed tonight," added the club's statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Real Madrid vs Liverpool pre-match chaos: Fans pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed; kick-off was delayed - Watch

Real&nbsp;Madrid&nbsp;secured a record-extending 14th European Cup when they beat Liverpool 1-0 in a Champions League final delayed for more than half an hour after police tried to stop people trying to force their way into the Stade de France on Saturday.

Vinicius Junior scored just before the hour with&nbsp;Real's first attempt on goal and their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several fine saves to deny Liverpool, who end the season with two domestic cups having also failed to win the Premier League.

In a battle of European heavyweights, Juergen Klopp's side had more chances but lacked sharpness when it mattered as Carlo Ancelotti became the first coach to enjoy four European Cup triumphs having won the trophy with AC Milan and&nbsp;Real&nbsp;twice, leapfrogging Liverpool's Bob Paisley and&nbsp;Real's Zinedine Zidane.

"I am a record man. I had luck to come here last year and have a fantastic season. A fantastic club, a&nbsp;really good squad with a lot of quality and mental character," said Ancelotti of a team who came from behind against Paris St Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final.

It was LaLiga titleholders&nbsp;Real's fourth Champions League crown in seven years as they improved their impressive record in the competition with their eighth victory in as many finals.

Liverpool were looking for their seventh European Cup triumph but despite their best efforts they were left in awe of Courtois's sublime performance.

"In the dressing room nobody feels it was a great season at this moment," said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, whose team beat Chelsea on penalties in the FA Cup and League Cup.

"We played a good game, not a perfect game, but I don't think a perfect game would have been possible the way the opponent was set up with a deep formation.

"We had a lot of shots but not the clearest and Thibaut Courtois made two top saves."

The final was to be played in St Petersburg but European soccer governing body UEFA relocated it to Paris after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a 'special operation'.

The game started after a 35-minute delay following incidents outside the stadium when fans were tear-gassed by riot police as people without tickets tried to force their way in. [L1N2XK09D]

Liverpool had won the previous European Cup final both teams had played in Paris, winning 1-0 at the Parc des Princes in 1981, which was&nbsp;Real's last defeat in a final.

Liverpool were the slight favourites on Saturday but&nbsp;Real&nbsp;beat the Merseyside club for the second time in a row after their 3-1 victory in 2018.

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Crowning moment 🎉🎉🎉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/xAWFfdYAOZ">pic.twitter.com/xAWFfdYAOZ</a>
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Heartache for Liverpool at the end of an incredible season 💔<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/RaHtfDqOPe">pic.twitter.com/RaHtfDqOPe</a>
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Where the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLfinal</a> was won &amp; lost 📖 👇
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LIVERPOOL PRESS

Liverpool started the game by pushing high up the pitch, looking to quickly feed their full backs, and the pressure on the&nbsp;Real&nbsp;back line became immense.

Mo Salah was picked out by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the box but Courtois stretched to deny the Egyptian.

Sadio Mane came much closer when he ghosted past Eder Militao and Casemiro before his fierce attempt was tipped onto the post by the excellent Courtois in the 21st minute.

Liverpool, however, were not incisive enough in attack and&nbsp;Real's only chance of the first half gave Liverpool a huge scare but Karim Benzema's effort was ruled out after the Video Assistant Referee ruled that he was offside, being played in by Federico Valverde despite Fabinho's deflection.

Liverpool were back at it early in the second half but&nbsp;Real&nbsp;soaked up the pressure until they struck in the 59th minute.

It started when Luka Modric turned smartly away from Andy Robertson to create space and ended with Valverde's pinpoint driven pass across to the far post being turned in by Vinicius.

Courtois then dived to superbly tip Salah's curled attempt away to keep&nbsp;Real&nbsp;ahead.

The Belgian keeper was impeccable again to deny Salah 10 minutes from time before his delighted team mates jumped into his arms to show their gratitude at the final whistle.

Real Madrid secured a record-extending 14th European Cup when they beat Liverpool 1-0 in a Champions League final delayed for more than half an hour after police tried to stop people trying to force their way into the Stade de France on Saturday.

Real Madrid secured a record-extending 14th European Cup when they beat Liverpool 1-0 in a Champions League final delayed for more than half an hour after police tried to stop people trying to force their way into the Stade de France on Saturday. Vinicius Junior scored just before the hour with Real's first attempt on goal and their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several fine saves to deny Liverpool, who end the season with two domestic cups having also failed to win the Premier League. In a battle of European heavyweights, Juergen Klopp's side had more chances but lacked sharpness when it mattered as Carlo Ancelotti became the first coach to enjoy four European Cup triumphs having won the trophy with AC Milan and Real twice, leapfrogging Liverpool's Bob Paisley and Real's Zinedine Zidane. "I am a record man. I had luck to come here last year and have a fantastic season. A fantastic club, a really good squad with a lot of quality and mental character," said Ancelotti of a team who came from behind against Paris St Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final. It was LaLiga titleholders Real's fourth Champions League crown in seven years as they improved their impressive record in the competition with their eighth victory in as many finals. Liverpool were looking for their seventh European Cup triumph but despite their best efforts they were left in awe of Courtois's sublime performance. "In the dressing room nobody feels it was a great season at this moment," said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, whose team beat Chelsea on penalties in the FA Cup and League Cup. "We played a good game, not a perfect game, but I don't think a perfect game would have been possible the way the opponent was set up with a deep formation. "We had a lot of shots but not the clearest and Thibaut Courtois made two top saves." The final was to be played in St Petersburg but European soccer governing body UEFA relocated it to Paris after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a 'special operation'. The game started after a 35-minute delay following incidents outside the stadium when fans were tear-gassed by riot police as people without tickets tried to force their way in. [L1N2XK09D] Liverpool had won the previous European Cup final both teams had played in Paris, winning 1-0 at the Parc des Princes in 1981, which was Real's last defeat in a final. Liverpool were the slight favourites on Saturday but Real beat the Merseyside club for the second time in a row after their 3-1 victory in 2018. Crowning moment 🎉🎉🎉 #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/xAWFfdYAOZ — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 28, 2022 × Heartache for Liverpool at the end of an incredible season 💔#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/RaHtfDqOPe — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 28, 2022 × We hear you, @Benzema. FIVE TIMES 🙌#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/aESNShv4l4 — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 28, 2022 × Where the #UCLfinal was won & lost 📖 👇 — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 28, 2022 × LIVERPOOL PRESS Liverpool started the game by pushing high up the pitch, looking to quickly feed their full backs, and the pressure on the Real back line became immense. Mo Salah was picked out by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the box but Courtois stretched to deny the Egyptian. Sadio Mane came much closer when he ghosted past Eder Militao and Casemiro before his fierce attempt was tipped onto the post by the excellent Courtois in the 21st minute. Liverpool, however, were not incisive enough in attack and Real's only chance of the first half gave Liverpool a huge scare but Karim Benzema's effort was ruled out after the Video Assistant Referee ruled that he was offside, being played in by Federico Valverde despite Fabinho's deflection. Liverpool were back at it early in the second half but Real soaked up the pressure until they struck in the 59th minute. It started when Luka Modric turned smartly away from Andy Robertson to create space and ended with Valverde's pinpoint driven pass across to the far post being turned in by Vinicius. Courtois then dived to superbly tip Salah's curled attempt away to keep Real ahead. The Belgian keeper was impeccable again to deny Salah 10 minutes from time before his delighted team mates jumped into his arms to show their gratitude at the final whistle.

Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Champions League final

As popstar&nbsp;Camila Cabello took to the opening ceremony stage ahead of the UEFA Champions League final,&nbsp;Liverpool supporters took their frustration and anger out on the singer by booing her mercilessly.

Wondering what’s all the rage about? Well, according to the European football governing body UEFA, thousands of frustrated fans were stuck outside the stadium due to some fake tickets being circulated among them. Due to the chaos, French police had to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd which resulted in a delay in the final match between Liverpool and Real Madrid. To stop the situation from escalating, the riot police took stringent actions against those creating a ruckus.

Inside the ground, meanwhile, proceedings eventually got underway with empty seats in the stands despite numerous supporters stranded outside.

The 25-year old performed a medley of four of her hits including `Senorita` and `Don`t Go Yet` as The Reds prepared to take on Real Madrid in Paris on Saturday night, reports mirror.co.uk.

Football presenter Gary Lineker appeared to be caught up in the problems himself, taking to Twitter to say: "Finding it impossible to get in the ground. This appears to be very dangerous. Absolute carnage."

He soon added that "I`m not sure it`s possible to have a more poorly organised event if you tried. Absolutely shambolic and dangerous", before tagging UEFA`s account.

Liverpool FC released a statement midway through the second half of the game, which they ultimately went on to lose by a single goal.

It read: "We are hugely disappointed at the stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that Liverpool fans faced this evening at Stade de France.&nbsp;This is the greatest match in European football and supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed tonight.”

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"We have officially requested a formal investigation into the causes of these unacceptable issues,” the statement further read.

UEFA, meanwhile, responded with a statement of its own blaming the problems on the purchasing of counterfeit tickets.

As per reports, Camila commented on the whole booing situation in a number of tweets, which she later deleted. Nearly 2 hours after the final whistle, the singer took to social media to share that the supporters in the stadium were singing too loud as she was performing with her crew.&nbsp;

In the now-deleted tweet, the 25-year-old singer wrote, “Playing back our performance and I can't believe people were singing their teams anthems so loud during our performance. Like my team and I worked tirelessly for so long to bring the right vibes and give a good show."

Just minutes later, Camila tweeted again. The post read,&nbsp;"Very rude but whatever. I'M GLAD U GUYS LOVED IT."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agency)

As popstar Camila Cabello took to the opening ceremony stage ahead of the UEFA Champions League final, Liverpool supporters took their frustration and anger out on the singer by booing her mercilessly.

As popstar Camila Cabello took to the opening ceremony stage ahead of the UEFA Champions League final, Liverpool supporters took their frustration and anger out on the singer by booing her mercilessly. Wondering what’s all the rage about? Well, according to the European football governing body UEFA, thousands of frustrated fans were stuck outside the stadium due to some fake tickets being circulated among them. Due to the chaos, French police had to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd which resulted in a delay in the final match between Liverpool and Real Madrid. To stop the situation from escalating, the riot police took stringent actions against those creating a ruckus. Inside the ground, meanwhile, proceedings eventually got underway with empty seats in the stands despite numerous supporters stranded outside. The 25-year old performed a medley of four of her hits including `Senorita` and `Don`t Go Yet` as The Reds prepared to take on Real Madrid in Paris on Saturday night, reports mirror.co.uk. Football presenter Gary Lineker appeared to be caught up in the problems himself, taking to Twitter to say: "Finding it impossible to get in the ground. This appears to be very dangerous. Absolute carnage." He soon added that "I`m not sure it`s possible to have a more poorly organised event if you tried. Absolutely shambolic and dangerous", before tagging UEFA`s account. Liverpool FC released a statement midway through the second half of the game, which they ultimately went on to lose by a single goal. It read: "We are hugely disappointed at the stadium entry issues and breakdown of the security perimeter that Liverpool fans faced this evening at Stade de France. This is the greatest match in European football and supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed tonight.” Also read: Britney Spears’ reason for not attending Met Gala 2022 will leave you shocked! "We have officially requested a formal investigation into the causes of these unacceptable issues,” the statement further read. UEFA, meanwhile, responded with a statement of its own blaming the problems on the purchasing of counterfeit tickets. As per reports, Camila commented on the whole booing situation in a number of tweets, which she later deleted. Nearly 2 hours after the final whistle, the singer took to social media to share that the supporters in the stadium were singing too loud as she was performing with her crew. In the now-deleted tweet, the 25-year-old singer wrote, “Playing back our performance and I can't believe people were singing their teams anthems so loud during our performance. Like my team and I worked tirelessly for so long to bring the right vibes and give a good show." Just minutes later, Camila tweeted again. The post read, "Very rude but whatever. I'M GLAD U GUYS LOVED IT." (With inputs from agency)

Camila Cabello mercilessly booed by Liverpool fans amid UEFA Champions League Final ticketing fiasco

Liverpool left back Andy Robertson labelled the organisation of Saturday`s Champions League final against Real Madrid a "shambles" after kick-off was delayed for 35 minutes due to fans trying to force their way into the Stade de France in Paris.

Riot police fired teargas at fans as chaos ensued near the Liverpool end of the ground, which governing body UEFA said was caused by fake tickets that did not work in the turnstiles.

Robertson said a friend was denied entry to the game, which Real won 1-0 to claim a record-extending 14th European Cup.

"One of my mates got told it was a fake, which I assure you it wasn`t. It was a shambles really," the 28-year-old told the BBC. "To be honest, people were just making it up at times and panicking. Teargas getting thrown at people was unacceptable."

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Liverpool have demanded an official investigation into the incident and said they were hugely disappointed at the entry issues faced by their supporters.

"It was horrendous for our fans and all families that have been through it as well. It wasn`t a nice experience, not a nice final to come to. The Champions League should be a celebration but it wasn`t that," Robertson said.

The final was moved from St Petersburg to Paris by UEFA following Russia`s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said the families of some players struggled to get into the stadium. 
"What I heard is that we will have further investigations to figure out what was going on there. I heard a few things that were not good, not nice," the German said.

"Obviously it was pretty tricky out there, but I don`t know more about it."

Liverpool left back Andy Robertson labelled the organisation of Saturday`s Champions League final against Real Madrid a "shambles" after kick-off was delayed for 35 minutes due to fans trying to force their way into the Stade de France in Paris.

Liverpool left back Andy Robertson labelled the organisation of Saturday`s Champions League final against Real Madrid a "shambles" after kick-off was delayed for 35 minutes due to fans trying to force their way into the Stade de France in Paris. Riot police fired teargas at fans as chaos ensued near the Liverpool end of the ground, which governing body UEFA said was caused by fake tickets that did not work in the turnstiles. Robertson said a friend was denied entry to the game, which Real won 1-0 to claim a record-extending 14th European Cup. "One of my mates got told it was a fake, which I assure you it wasn`t. It was a shambles really," the 28-year-old told the BBC. "To be honest, people were just making it up at times and panicking. Teargas getting thrown at people was unacceptable." Also read | Chaos, controversy and drama but Real Madrid win 14th Champions League crown Liverpool have demanded an official investigation into the incident and said they were hugely disappointed at the entry issues faced by their supporters. "It was horrendous for our fans and all families that have been through it as well. It wasn`t a nice experience, not a nice final to come to. The Champions League should be a celebration but it wasn`t that," Robertson said. The final was moved from St Petersburg to Paris by UEFA following Russia`s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation". Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said the families of some players struggled to get into the stadium. "What I heard is that we will have further investigations to figure out what was going on there. I heard a few things that were not good, not nice," the German said. "Obviously it was pretty tricky out there, but I don`t know more about it."

Liverpool's Andy Robertson slams organisers for Champions League final chaos

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti hopes his team can be at their peak to give them a chance of winning Saturday`s Champions League final against Liverpool at the Stade de France but is pragmatic enough to know that may still not be good enough.

Liverpool are unbeaten since March, have lost just three games this season and have already claimed two domestic cups, although they just missed out on the Premier League title, while Real romped to the LaLiga crown with a month to spare.

"I think we are in a great moment and will do our best to win on Saturday but sometimes your best isn`t enough to succeed," Ancelotti told a news conference on Friday.

"Soccer is about intangibles that sometimes you can`t control. We deserved to get to the final but to win it it`s not about what you did before, it`s about what happens on the pitch during the big game.

"We have to plan a game where we can show our qualities. The collective commitment, the individual quality and the impact that the substitutes make in important moments. The game will be won by the team who manage to fit the game to their strengths."

Ancelotti said that in his four previous Champions League finals as a manager - becoming the first coach to win the European Cup three times with two different clubs - the one he could not forget was AC Milan`s 2005 loss to Liverpool.

The Reds had seemed out of contention but came from three goals down at halftime to level before winning a shootout.

"That team was probably the best I`ve coached in a final," Ancelotti said ahead of a game in which he will make history by being the first to manage in five Champions League finals.

The Italian is also on the verge of leapfrogging Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane to become the first manager to win the European Cup four times.

"Unfortunately, in football there is that unpredictability that you cannot control. It`s difficult to explain," he added.

"Just like it`s hard to explain how we scored twice in one minute from the 90th minute against (Manchester) City (to win 3-1 in the second leg of this year`s semi-final).

"These things happen and you have to accept it. You don`t have to think about it too much either. Football always offers a chance for redemption and that happened two years later (when Ancelotti`s Milan side won the 2007 final against Liverpool)."

Saturday`s game gives Liverpool a chance of revenge for their defeat by Real in the 2018 final and Ancelotti does not think Real will have a fitness advantage despite having time to rest key players after wrapping up the LaLiga title early.

He recalled that his 2014 Real team arrived at the final with several injured players and still managed to beat local rivals Atletico Madrid.

"Liverpool will try to impose an intense game, with a lot of verticality (quick transitions) ... We have to be ready to respond at the highest level," said Ancelotti.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti hopes his team can be at their peak to give them a chance of winning Saturday`s Champions League final against Liverpool at the Stade de France but is pragmatic enough to know that may still not be good enough.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti hopes his team can be at their peak to give them a chance of winning Saturday`s Champions League final against Liverpool at the Stade de France but is pragmatic enough to know that may still not be good enough. Liverpool are unbeaten since March, have lost just three games this season and have already claimed two domestic cups, although they just missed out on the Premier League title, while Real romped to the LaLiga crown with a month to spare. "I think we are in a great moment and will do our best to win on Saturday but sometimes your best isn`t enough to succeed," Ancelotti told a news conference on Friday. "Soccer is about intangibles that sometimes you can`t control. We deserved to get to the final but to win it it`s not about what you did before, it`s about what happens on the pitch during the big game. "We have to plan a game where we can show our qualities. The collective commitment, the individual quality and the impact that the substitutes make in important moments. The game will be won by the team who manage to fit the game to their strengths." Ancelotti said that in his four previous Champions League finals as a manager - becoming the first coach to win the European Cup three times with two different clubs - the one he could not forget was AC Milan`s 2005 loss to Liverpool. The Reds had seemed out of contention but came from three goals down at halftime to level before winning a shootout. "That team was probably the best I`ve coached in a final," Ancelotti said ahead of a game in which he will make history by being the first to manage in five Champions League finals. The Italian is also on the verge of leapfrogging Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane to become the first manager to win the European Cup four times. "Unfortunately, in football there is that unpredictability that you cannot control. It`s difficult to explain," he added. "Just like it`s hard to explain how we scored twice in one minute from the 90th minute against (Manchester) City (to win 3-1 in the second leg of this year`s semi-final). "These things happen and you have to accept it. You don`t have to think about it too much either. Football always offers a chance for redemption and that happened two years later (when Ancelotti`s Milan side won the 2007 final against Liverpool)." Saturday`s game gives Liverpool a chance of revenge for their defeat by Real in the 2018 final and Ancelotti does not think Real will have a fitness advantage despite having time to rest key players after wrapping up the LaLiga title early. He recalled that his 2014 Real team arrived at the final with several injured players and still managed to beat local rivals Atletico Madrid. "Liverpool will try to impose an intense game, with a lot of verticality (quick transitions) ... We have to be ready to respond at the highest level," said Ancelotti.

Carlo Ancelotti hoping Real Madrid's best will be enough to beat Liverpool

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp dedicated Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris to the people of Ukraine, expressing support for the country against Russia's invasion.

The game, a rematch of the 2018 final, had been scheduled for St Petersburg's Gazprom Arena but was shifted to the Stade de France after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of its neighbour.

"I am happy that the game is here for thousands of reasons," Klopp told reporters. The war is still going on and we have to think about that."

The German said moving the final to Paris was "exactly the right message that Russia should get".

Moscow calls the war a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine. Kyiv and the West call it an unprovoked war of aggression.

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"We play this final for all the people in Ukraine. I am sure some people in Ukraine can still watch it and we do it for you, 100%," Klopp said.

Liverpool hopes to win a third trophy this season after success in the League Cup and FA Cup, while Real seeks to add to their LaLiga triumph and clinch a record-extending 14th Champions League crown.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp dedicated Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris to the people of Ukraine, expressing support for the country against Russia's invasion.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp dedicated Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris to the people of Ukraine, expressing support for the country against Russia's invasion. The game, a rematch of the 2018 final, had been scheduled for St Petersburg's Gazprom Arena but was shifted to the Stade de France after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of its neighbour. "I am happy that the game is here for thousands of reasons," Klopp told reporters. The war is still going on and we have to think about that." The German said moving the final to Paris was "exactly the right message that Russia should get". Moscow calls the war a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine. Kyiv and the West call it an unprovoked war of aggression. Also Read: UEFA to prevent Ukraine and Belarusian teams from being drawn against each other "We play this final for all the people in Ukraine. I am sure some people in Ukraine can still watch it and we do it for you, 100%," Klopp said. Liverpool hopes to win a third trophy this season after success in the League Cup and FA Cup, while Real seeks to add to their LaLiga triumph and clinch a record-extending 14th Champions League crown.

Liverpool will play Champions League final against Real Madrid for people of Ukraine, says Jurgen Klopp

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said his team`s performances were far from perfect on their journey to Saturday`s Champions League final against Liverpool, but they managed to get there mainly thanks to their grit in the decisive moments.

"We haven`t displayed exceptional quality in our play, but no one has beaten us in terms of commitment and motivation," Ancelotti told a news conference in the Spanish capital.

"Commitment and motivation is not enough to win it, but you have to have it in the final. No-one deserves to win a final, however - you have to earn it with what we do in the big game, not before."

Ancelotti said his team were "calm and motivated" ahead of Saturday`s game and that Kylian Mbappe`s decision to stay with Paris St Germain instead of moving to Real had not created a distraction in the locker-room.

He said that his players` experience, going into their fifth Champions League final in eight years, could also be an advantage.

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"Some of the players could be teaching me how to play a final, they have played more decisive games than me," Ancelotti said with a smile ahead of his record-breaking fifth Champions League final.

"The locker room speech will be easy for me, I don’t even need to say anything for them. They know how to prepare better than most because of what they have lived through in the last years.

"The thing that surprised me the most is how humble and hard-working this group of players are even after so much success. They are ready, committed but really enjoying this moment."

Despite being the first coach to win European football`s top trophy three times with different clubs and on the verge of leapfrogging Zinedine Zidane and Bob Paisley to become the first to win four, Ancelotti said this season it was harder for him to control his emotions in the final hours ahead of big games.

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"I`m sweating a lot, my heart beat starts to accelerate. It`s been a difficult process for me and I can`t really explain why," Ancelotti laughed.

"It`s hard because there is nothing you can do until the game starts. After kick-off, however, it all comes back to normal. But in that three hours before the game there are no pills or medicine that can change that feeling, you just have to deal with it."

The 62-year-old Italian boss said his team was in great shape and with no injuries or problems, meaning he has the full squad at his disposal on Saturday.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said his team`s performances were far from perfect on their journey to Saturday`s Champions League final against Liverpool, but they managed to get there mainly thanks to their grit in the decisive moments.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said his team`s performances were far from perfect on their journey to Saturday`s Champions League final against Liverpool, but they managed to get there mainly thanks to their grit in the decisive moments. "We haven`t displayed exceptional quality in our play, but no one has beaten us in terms of commitment and motivation," Ancelotti told a news conference in the Spanish capital. "Commitment and motivation is not enough to win it, but you have to have it in the final. No-one deserves to win a final, however - you have to earn it with what we do in the big game, not before." Ancelotti said his team were "calm and motivated" ahead of Saturday`s game and that Kylian Mbappe`s decision to stay with Paris St Germain instead of moving to Real had not created a distraction in the locker-room. He said that his players` experience, going into their fifth Champions League final in eight years, could also be an advantage. Also Read: Kylian Mbappe makes startling revelation, says he consulted French president Emmanuel Macron over PSG deal "Some of the players could be teaching me how to play a final, they have played more decisive games than me," Ancelotti said with a smile ahead of his record-breaking fifth Champions League final. "The locker room speech will be easy for me, I don’t even need to say anything for them. They know how to prepare better than most because of what they have lived through in the last years. "The thing that surprised me the most is how humble and hard-working this group of players are even after so much success. They are ready, committed but really enjoying this moment." Despite being the first coach to win European football`s top trophy three times with different clubs and on the verge of leapfrogging Zinedine Zidane and Bob Paisley to become the first to win four, Ancelotti said this season it was harder for him to control his emotions in the final hours ahead of big games. Also Read: BBC issue on-air apology after 'Manchester United are rubbish' ticker message "I`m sweating a lot, my heart beat starts to accelerate. It`s been a difficult process for me and I can`t really explain why," Ancelotti laughed. "It`s hard because there is nothing you can do until the game starts. After kick-off, however, it all comes back to normal. But in that three hours before the game there are no pills or medicine that can change that feeling, you just have to deal with it." The 62-year-old Italian boss said his team was in great shape and with no injuries or problems, meaning he has the full squad at his disposal on Saturday.

Real Madrid's grit got them to Champions League final, says manager Carlo Ancelotti

Liverpool may have a historic quadruple in their sights, but manager Juergen Klopp insisted that pressure is not a factor as his side prepare to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the Premier League season.

Liverpool, who have already won the domestic cup double, must beat Wolves at home on Sunday and hope leaders Manchester City falter against Aston Villa to secure the league title.

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"I cannot talk about pressure for the other team, but for us there is no pressure," said Klopp, whose team will also contest the Champions League final against Real Madrid in a week`s time.

"We know that we have to win the football game but we`ve had that now for a while. It`s not about `what if`. We don`t have that... For us, it is pretty positive, it`s so special. And if you have something to lose it feels different, but we don`t have that."

Liverpool were beaten to the title by City on the last day of the 2018-19 season. Klopp said they would continue to make life difficult for Pep Guardiola`s side even in the case of a repeat on Sunday.

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"The biggest defeats in my life have led to the biggest successes in my life, wherever I was," added the German.

"Whatever happens on Sunday, we will not stop. We will not stop trying. Yes, we have the best opponent in world football, which is a bit of a shame, but they have us in their neck, which is not too cool as well. So let`s see."

City are chasing a fourth league title in five years, while Liverpool are looking for their second since the 2019-20 season.

Liverpool may have a historic quadruple in their sights, but manager Juergen Klopp insisted that pressure is not a factor as his side prepare to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the Premier League season.

Liverpool may have a historic quadruple in their sights, but manager Juergen Klopp insisted that pressure is not a factor as his side prepare to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the Premier League season. Liverpool, who have already won the domestic cup double, must beat Wolves at home on Sunday and hope leaders Manchester City falter against Aston Villa to secure the league title. Also read | Sindhu crashes out of Thailand Open after losing against Chen Yu Fei in semis "I cannot talk about pressure for the other team, but for us there is no pressure," said Klopp, whose team will also contest the Champions League final against Real Madrid in a week`s time. "We know that we have to win the football game but we`ve had that now for a while. It`s not about `what if`. We don`t have that... For us, it is pretty positive, it`s so special. And if you have something to lose it feels different, but we don`t have that." Liverpool were beaten to the title by City on the last day of the 2018-19 season. Klopp said they would continue to make life difficult for Pep Guardiola`s side even in the case of a repeat on Sunday. Also read | Praggnanandhaa stuns Carlsen Carlsen again to bag win at Chessable "The biggest defeats in my life have led to the biggest successes in my life, wherever I was," added the German. "Whatever happens on Sunday, we will not stop. We will not stop trying. Yes, we have the best opponent in world football, which is a bit of a shame, but they have us in their neck, which is not too cool as well. So let`s see." City are chasing a fourth league title in five years, while Liverpool are looking for their second since the 2019-20 season.

Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp says no pressure in quadruple chase

A stoppage-time goal from defender Jordi Alba earned Barcelona a 2-1 LaLiga win at Real Betis on Saturday, securing Xavi Hernandez`s side Champions League qualification and edging them closer to a spot at the lucrative Spanish Super Cup finals.

Alba received a precise pass from Dani Alves in the final seconds of the game and lashed the ball past goalkeeper Rui Silva with a superbly taken, first-time volley.

With the league title already sealed by Real Madrid, Barcelona are now second on 69 points in the standings, five points clear of Sevilla in third and eight ahead of Atletico Madrid in fourth, both with one game in hand.

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"We have taken a weight off our shoulders. It could have been a more complicated and difficult season," Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez told reporters.

"It is clear that we have to play better. We have to analyse it, but we have made a titanic effort from November until now.

"We will be in the Champions League, the competition we deserve. Now we want to be second (in the league)."

Betis forward Juanmi had the first sight of goal in an entertaining match, but his effort could only find the side-netting in the seventh minute.

Ten minutes later Manuel Pellegrini`s side lost goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to injury as he hurt himself stretching to reach for the ball and was replaced by Rui Silva.

The Portuguese substitute, however, produced an excellent display, starting with a superb save from Ronald Araujo`s bullet header minutes after entering the pitch.

Betis created more opportunities in a lively first half, but substitute Ansu Fati put the visitors ahead after the break with a low shot towards the left corner in the 76th minute.

Barca`s lead did not last long, as three minutes later former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra levelled for the Copa del Rey champions with a header.

But Alba sealed the game in the dying minutes.

"They were two great goals," Xavi added. "Ansu makes a difference...

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"The second goal was earned. It`s a great goal, the cross, the finish... we worked on it yesterday. We knew that they stop on the edge of the box. When what you worked on works, it`s the best feeling."

Barcelona, who have won 10 of their last 12 league matches, are close to wrapping up second place and snatching the 3.4 million euros that the club would make by going to the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Both Copa del Rey finalists -- winners Betis and runners-up Valencia -- will be joined in the 2023 Spanish Super Cup finals by the top two teams in the LaLiga standings.

Betis, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to move level on points with fourth-placed Atletico in their bid to secure a spot in Champions League next season, as they remain fifth with 58 points.

Before the match, Barcelona gave a guard of honour to the Betis players for their cup victory last month.

A stoppage-time goal from defender Jordi Alba earned Barcelona a 2-1 LaLiga win at Real Betis on Saturday, securing Xavi Hernandez`s side Champions League qualification and edging them closer to a spot at the lucrative Spanish Super Cup finals.

A stoppage-time goal from defender Jordi Alba earned Barcelona a 2-1 LaLiga win at Real Betis on Saturday, securing Xavi Hernandez`s side Champions League qualification and edging them closer to a spot at the lucrative Spanish Super Cup finals. Alba received a precise pass from Dani Alves in the final seconds of the game and lashed the ball past goalkeeper Rui Silva with a superbly taken, first-time volley. With the league title already sealed by Real Madrid, Barcelona are now second on 69 points in the standings, five points clear of Sevilla in third and eight ahead of Atletico Madrid in fourth, both with one game in hand. Also read | Carlos Alcaraz beats world no.1 Novak Djokovic to reach Madrid Open final "We have taken a weight off our shoulders. It could have been a more complicated and difficult season," Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez told reporters. "It is clear that we have to play better. We have to analyse it, but we have made a titanic effort from November until now. "We will be in the Champions League, the competition we deserve. Now we want to be second (in the league)." Betis forward Juanmi had the first sight of goal in an entertaining match, but his effort could only find the side-netting in the seventh minute. Ten minutes later Manuel Pellegrini`s side lost goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to injury as he hurt himself stretching to reach for the ball and was replaced by Rui Silva. The Portuguese substitute, however, produced an excellent display, starting with a superb save from Ronald Araujo`s bullet header minutes after entering the pitch. Betis created more opportunities in a lively first half, but substitute Ansu Fati put the visitors ahead after the break with a low shot towards the left corner in the 76th minute. Barca`s lead did not last long, as three minutes later former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra levelled for the Copa del Rey champions with a header. But Alba sealed the game in the dying minutes. "They were two great goals," Xavi added. "Ansu makes a difference... Also read | 5 EPL titles, 13 managers: A look at how Chelsea fared in the Abramovich era "The second goal was earned. It`s a great goal, the cross, the finish... we worked on it yesterday. We knew that they stop on the edge of the box. When what you worked on works, it`s the best feeling." Barcelona, who have won 10 of their last 12 league matches, are close to wrapping up second place and snatching the 3.4 million euros that the club would make by going to the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Both Copa del Rey finalists -- winners Betis and runners-up Valencia -- will be joined in the 2023 Spanish Super Cup finals by the top two teams in the LaLiga standings. Betis, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to move level on points with fourth-placed Atletico in their bid to secure a spot in Champions League next season, as they remain fifth with 58 points. Before the match, Barcelona gave a guard of honour to the Betis players for their cup victory last month.

Barcelona secure UEFA Champions League spot with 2-1 win over Real Betis

Real Madrid fought back from the brink of elimination to beat Manchester City 3-1 after extra time and 6-5 on aggregate in an enthralling and dramatic Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

City led 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate when Riyad Mahrez scored after 73 minutes but Real substitute Rodrygo equalised in the last minute of normal time and headed home one minute later to level the tie at 5-5.

Five minutes into extra time Karim Benzema converted a penalty awarded for a foul on him by Ruben Dias and Real, the record 13-times European champion, held the shell-shocked English side at bay to reach the final.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/we-ae-the-champions-thousands-of-real-madrid-fans-join-the-team-in-celebrating-la-liga-triumph-475344">Pictures | 'We are the champions': Thousands of Real Madrid fans join the team in celebrating La Liga triumph</a>

Real will play Liverpool on May 28 in Paris, a repeat of the 2018 final in Kyiv which the Spanish team won 3-1.

It was another superb rearguard action by Real, which came from behind for the third consecutive time in this season Champions League knock-out stage to stay on course to win Europe's most prestigious club competition for the fifth time in the last nine years.

After a breathtaking first leg packed with goals and individual brilliance from both sides, the return game was the complete opposite.

City worked tirelessly to subdue its host which failed to manage a shot on target on the first half.

With Real fast running out of ideas, Bernardo Silva broke through the middle of its defence and laid the ball off for Mahrez to finish and City looked certain to stay on course to win the trophy for the first time.

But as it did against Paris St Germain in the round of 16 and Chelsea in the quarter-finals, Real conjured up the magic it required.

Rodrygo finished from close range to give them a lifeline and the Brazilian headed home moments later to send the Bernabeu crowd into raptures before Benzema completed the turnaround.

Real Madrid fought back from the brink of elimination to beat Manchester City 3-1 after extra time and 6-5 on aggregate in an enthralling and dramatic Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

Real Madrid fought back from the brink of elimination to beat Manchester City 3-1 after extra time and 6-5 on aggregate in an enthralling and dramatic Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. City led 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate when Riyad Mahrez scored after 73 minutes but Real substitute Rodrygo equalised in the last minute of normal time and headed home one minute later to level the tie at 5-5. Five minutes into extra time Karim Benzema converted a penalty awarded for a foul on him by Ruben Dias and Real, the record 13-times European champion, held the shell-shocked English side at bay to reach the final. Pictures | 'We are the champions': Thousands of Real Madrid fans join the team in celebrating La Liga triumph Real will play Liverpool on May 28 in Paris, a repeat of the 2018 final in Kyiv which the Spanish team won 3-1. It was another superb rearguard action by Real, which came from behind for the third consecutive time in this season Champions League knock-out stage to stay on course to win Europe's most prestigious club competition for the fifth time in the last nine years. After a breathtaking first leg packed with goals and individual brilliance from both sides, the return game was the complete opposite. City worked tirelessly to subdue its host which failed to manage a shot on target on the first half. With Real fast running out of ideas, Bernardo Silva broke through the middle of its defence and laid the ball off for Mahrez to finish and City looked certain to stay on course to win the trophy for the first time. But as it did against Paris St Germain in the round of 16 and Chelsea in the quarter-finals, Real conjured up the magic it required. Rodrygo finished from close range to give them a lifeline and the Brazilian headed home moments later to send the Bernabeu crowd into raptures before Benzema completed the turnaround.

Real Madrid rallies past Manchester City to reach UEFA Champions League final

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema continues to add to his legendary status in the UEFA Champions League. His goal at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium against Manchester City moved him level with Robert Lewandowski`s tally of 86 goals.

The Madridista equals the Polish marksman as the third-highest goal scorer in European Cup history. Ahead of them on the list sit Cristiano Ronaldo (141) and Lionel Messi (125). The Frenchman also equalled Ronaldo`s record for the most knockout goals in a single Champions League campaign. Benzema`s extra-time penalty winner against City on Wednesday was his 10th goal in the knockouts of UCL this season. Benzema has recorded his best personal tally this season, with 15 goals. Five came in the Group Stage, while the remaining ten have arrived in an incredible knock-out phase run which has seen him score in five successive games against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City.

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Benzema has found the back of the net in the Champions League for 17 consecutive seasons. His first came back in 2005/06 against Rosenborg while playing for Olympique Lyon, where he scored a total of 12 times. The other 74 goals have come in a Real Madrid jersey. He opened his European account for the team with a strike against Milan on 3 November 2009. His favourite opposition in the competition are Galatasaray, PSG and Chelsea, hitting five goals against all of them.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema continues to add to his legendary status in the UEFA Champions League. His goal at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium against Manchester City moved him level with Robert Lewandowski`s tally of 86 goals.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema continues to add to his legendary status in the UEFA Champions League. His goal at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium against Manchester City moved him level with Robert Lewandowski`s tally of 86 goals. The Madridista equals the Polish marksman as the third-highest goal scorer in European Cup history. Ahead of them on the list sit Cristiano Ronaldo (141) and Lionel Messi (125). The Frenchman also equalled Ronaldo`s record for the most knockout goals in a single Champions League campaign. Benzema`s extra-time penalty winner against City on Wednesday was his 10th goal in the knockouts of UCL this season. Benzema has recorded his best personal tally this season, with 15 goals. Five came in the Group Stage, while the remaining ten have arrived in an incredible knock-out phase run which has seen him score in five successive games against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City. ALSO READ | Real Madrid rallies past Manchester City to reach UEFA Champions League final Benzema has found the back of the net in the Champions League for 17 consecutive seasons. His first came back in 2005/06 against Rosenborg while playing for Olympique Lyon, where he scored a total of 12 times. The other 74 goals have come in a Real Madrid jersey. He opened his European account for the team with a strike against Milan on 3 November 2009. His favourite opposition in the competition are Galatasaray, PSG and Chelsea, hitting five goals against all of them.

UCL: Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema equals records of Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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