Champions League

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has called for the Champions League to introduce a Super Bowl-esque opening ceremony to ensure every match becomes 'an ...

Liverpool are hard to stop at the best of times, but one classic method for halting Jürgen Klopp won't really be available to Benfica in the Champions ...

Jürgen Klopp will be happy with what he saw.Liverpool handed extra Champions League advantage as Benfica cannot counter Jürgen Klopp planLiverpool FCLiverpool are hard to stop at the best of times, but one classic method for halting Jürgen Klopp won’t really be available to Benfica in the Champions League.Liverpool target 'hopes' £50m offer accepted as Jürgen Klopp 'pushes' for Barcelona transferMedia DigestMedia Digest: Liverpool are reportedly in the queue to sign another RB Leipzig player while Jürgen Klopp's side are also said to be keen on a Barcelona transfer steal.Liverpool might be set to solve their first summer dilemma as Jürgen Klopp drops transfer hintLiverpool FCLiverpool defender Joe Gomez has a decision to make in the summer. Jürgen Klopp will be happy with what he saw.Liverpool handed extra Champions League advantage as Benfica cannot counter Jürgen Klopp planLiverpool FCLiverpool are hard to stop at the best of times, but one classic method for halting Jürgen Klopp won’t really be available to Benfica in the Champions League.Liverpool target 'hopes' £50m offer accepted as Jürgen Klopp 'pushes' for Barcelona transferMedia DigestMedia Digest: Liverpool are reportedly in the queue to sign another RB Leipzig player while Jürgen Klopp's side are also said to be keen on a Barcelona transfer steal. Liverpool handed extra Champions League advantage as Benfica cannot counter Jürgen Klopp planLiverpool FCLiverpool are hard to stop at the best of times, but one classic method for halting Jürgen Klopp won’t really be available to Benfica in the Champions League.Liverpool might be set to solve their first summer dilemma as Jürgen Klopp drops transfer hintLiverpool FCLiverpool defender Joe Gomez has a decision to make in the summer. Manager Jürgen Klopp doesn't seem to be in much doubt as to what the answer should be.Liverpool FCFSG can replace £21m Liverpool duo with transfer of 18-goal star from Jürgen Klopp's former clubLiverpool may say farewell to two attacking fringe players in Liverpool's squad and FSG could replace them with an exciting forward from Jürgen Klopp's former side.Liverpool handed extra Champions League advantage as Benfica cannot counter Jürgen Klopp planLiverpool FCLiverpool are hard to stop at the best of times, but one classic method for halting Jürgen Klopp won’t really be available to Benfica in the Champions League.Liverpool might be set to solve their first summer dilemma as Jürgen Klopp drops transfer hintLiverpool FCLiverpool defender Joe Gomez has a decision to make in the summer. Klopp will not be celebrating already as a result of the yellow card situation, and Liverpool must still be at their best to book their place in the Champions League semi-final, but Benfica could certainly have done without the extra headache. There is even a residual Premier League advantage available to Klopp, in the sense that his players will not be subjected to a night of butchery ahead of a colossal meeting with Manchester City. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s men will face the ordeal of Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid, who are certain to leave their mark. By its nature, all of the sides in the tournament are used to being towards the top of their domestic divisions — none will routinely be used to producing backs-to-the-wall performances. Liverpool are not completely immune in this respect, with Mané himself a booking away from suspension, alongside Diogo Jota. This may force Klopp to rein in the aggression of the press to some extent. The manager could even choose to rotate his two attackers out of this fixture, a luxury far less viable for Benfica. For a team that racked up 24 fouls and four bookings over the course of the last-16 tie with Ajax, suddenly having to adjust will be difficult. Yet Benfica cannot afford to be blasé with the risk of suspension — their hopes hinge on the likes of Weigl and Otamendi. Klopp may duly have the rare luxury of being able to implement his plan without too much interference. READ MORE:Liverpool might be set to solve their first summer dilemma as Jürgen Klopp drops transfer hint READ MORE:FSG can replace £21m Liverpool duo with transfer of 18-goal star from Jürgen Klopp's former club However, they will face a significant hindrance in this respect. Benfica are the latest to step up to the plate, and they do so with a significant disadvantage.

Liverpool will continue its quest for a quadruple of major trophies when it visits Benfica, considered one of the easiest teams in the draw for the last eight.

Both have reached the final, with Atléti losing to Real Madrid in 2014 and ‘16 and City beaten by Chelsea last year. Jurgen Klopp will have a full squad available for the first time since he took charge of the team in 2015. Liverpool will continue its quest for a quadruple of major trophies when it visits Benfica, considered one of the easiest teams in the draw for the last eight.

The Qatari boss and European Club Association head is looking at ways to grow European soccer.

"The time difference is a problem for the U. S. and Asia. So how can we work on this for international rights which have huge potential? "How do we make the group stages compelling?" My suggestion is to have a creative and entertainment department as part of the new joint venture between UEFA and ECA."

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has called on UEFA to make the Champions League final more like the Super Bowl.

"I can't understand how the Super Bowl can feel bigger than the Champions League final. That's what I have suggested, to have an opening ceremony to the Champions League, to have one match on the opening night where the winners take on a big team. "The Super Bowl, and the US generally, have this mindset, creativity and entertainment.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has claimed that NFL's showpiece match, the Super Bowl, feels bigger than football's Champions League, and called on the ...

The Champions League quarterfinals get underway on Tuesday when one of the title favorites, Liverpool, visit Cinderella Benfica for their first-leg clash.

Liverpool: The Reds enter the match healthy and hungry, especially after an underwhelming performance over the weekend. A 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday was quite shaky, and that could mean bad news for Benfica as Liverpool look to get into top form again. The Portuguese side feature some of the top talent in Europe, but they'll have to match the experience of the Reds to keep pace in a battle expected to produce quite a few goals.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has become one of the most powerful figures in football and is determined to help broaden the game's ...

“How do we make the group stages compelling? “I can’t understand how the Super Bowl can feel bigger than the Champions League final. Each match needs to be an event and entertainment.”

Bernardo Silva says the Manchester City players are ready to embrace the pressure of embarking on another Champions League campaign as one of the tournament ...

"There is lots of pressure from the fans to continue to win. "There is lots of pressure on both sides but we are players used to this pressure and we will manage it really well." Atletico (Madrid) are a great side also, I'm sure they have that same thing.

Pep Guardiola has laughed off his Champions League "over-thinker" reputation and joked that Manchester City could field 12 players against Atletico.

The game kicks off a hectic run for City, who face Atletico twice and Liverpool twice in the space of 11 days. "It would be a bad sign if we just had easy fixtures and games that didn't matter at all. I'm not going to spend one second on this stupid debate." "I'm not going to talk one second about these stupid debates," Guardiola added. If people think I play the same against Atletico and Liverpool, I don't like [that]. Since drawing 1-1 with United in Spain at the end of February, Diego Simeone's team have won six straight games -- a run which has seen them only concede three goals.

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola sits on the bench before the Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor, ...

Guardiola has been accused of overthinking his tactics in the big games and he accepted that when it was put to him on Monday.Not that it will stop him from doing so again when Simeone and Atlético come to Manchester.“You have to adapt and adjust," he said before finishing with a smile. Even if it is achieved by using what's often perceived as unsportsmanlike tactics that have infuriated opposition coaches and players over the years.“It is frustrating at times,” Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson said of Atlético in 2020 when his team was eliminated by the Spanish club, “but it is not going to change.”There was a period, particularly in the 2020-21 season, when Simeone tried to turn Atlético into more of an attack-minded team, using the qualities of forwards like Luis Suárez and João Félix.When it comes to the crunch, Simeone typically returns to his more destructive and pragmatic game plan and that is likely to be on show at City's Etihad Stadium for the first leg on Tuesday.As for Guardiola, who is wedded to his possession-based philosophy, he said he wasn't ready to “judge” coaches like Simeone who have a different approach to the game. "He (Simeone) doesn't want to take a risk in the build-up but, after, they have quality and they play really well in the final third.“It depends on the position of the ball, the moment of the game. I don’t feel it.’”Simeone, a combative and hard-working midfielder as a player, saw the beauty of soccer in a different way and, for many, would come to represent the antithesis of Guardiola and his beautiful approach.A clash of styles soon took hold in Spain, when Simeone moved to Europe to become coach of Atlético Madrid in 2011 — a few months after Barcelona won the Champions League for the second time and in mesmeric fashion at Wembley Stadium.More than a decade later, the two coaches remain at the top of the game, with Simeone still the embodiment of a rugged and uncompromising Atlético team and Guardiola now attempting to turn soccer into an art form at Manchester City.City and Atlético go head-to-head in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday — a first competitive meeting between the teams, if not the men leading them.Yet given Guardiola and Simeone are two of the sport’s most storied current coaches, the fact that they have only come up against each other three times is as surprising as it is refreshing.The most recent was in the Champions League in 2016, when Atlético eliminated Guardiola’s highly fancied Bayern Munich team on away goals after a pair of tightly contested legs in the semifinals. It’s one of Guardiola’s many painful exits in the Champions League since his last title, in 2011.The only other time Guardiola and Simeone faced each other was in February 2012, a few months before Guardiola quit Barcelona. The Catalan team won 2-1 in the Spanish league.One goal was the difference in all three games. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)Diego Simeone was working in Argentina in the early years of his coaching career when he requested to attend some training sessions at Barcelona, led at the time by Pep Guardiola.Barcelona was the pre-eminent club in world soccer, revolutionising the game between 2008-12 with its “tiki-taka” passing style favored by Guardiola and mastered by the likes of Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández.It wasn’t for Simeone, though.“We talked,” Guardiola has recounted, “and he told me, ‘I don’t like this.

Manchester City also soared past Sporting Lisbon in the UCL Round of 16, winning 5-0 on aggregate. As for Atleti, they've won six in a row in La Liga and seven ...

He’s reportedly doubtful to feature for the first leg. Pep’s men are also the favorite to win the competition. The Spanish title-holders also ended Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United’s hopes of a Champions League run last month, beating the Red Devils 2-1 on aggregate.

Diego Simeone was working in Argentina in the early years of his coaching career when he requested to attend some training sessions at Barcelona, ...

Even if it is achieved by using what's often perceived as unsportsmanlike tactics that have infuriated opposition coaches and players over the years. It’s one of Guardiola’s many painful exits in the Champions League since his last title, in 2011. One goal was the difference in all three games. A clash of styles soon took hold in Spain, when Simeone moved back to Europe to become coach of Atlético Madrid in 2011 — a few months after Barcelona won the Champions League for the second time and in mesmeric fashion. Simeone, a combative and hard-working midfielder as a player, saw the beauty of soccer in a different way and would come to represent the antithesis of Guardiola and his beautiful approach. I don’t feel it.’”

Guardiola has been criticised for 'overthinking' in the past and, with Manchester City to host Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, he gave a wry response to his ...

He doesn’t want to take the risk in the build-up, but after they have quality and play really well in the final third. I never judge the opponent, what they do and try to do – they try to do it to win.” “It has not been very often because we do not play in the same country. “I’m not going to judge for one second what they do, just try and get a result on Tuesday then to go to Madrid [for the return leg].” “In the Champions League I always overthink,” the Catalan said. Tonight I will take inspiration and I’m going to do incredible tactics tomorrow – we play with 12 tomorrow.”

The last Nigerian still standing in the Champions League, Chukwueze won't be going to the World Cup, but will surely be targeting another European trophy this season after last year's Europa League triumph. They have to get past Bayern Munich next, ...

Jurgen Klopp will have a full squad available for the first time since he took charge of the team in 2015. Right back Trent Alexander-Arnold was rested against ...

Both have reached the final, with Atléti losing to Real Madrid in 2014 and ‘16 and City beaten by Chelsea last year. Jurgen Klopp will have a full squad available for the first time since he took charge of the team in 2015. Liverpool will continue its quest for a quadruple of major trophies when it visits Benfica, considered one of the easiest teams in the draw for the last eight.

It was all something of an overreaction (in this sport!?) to Barcelona being in terrible shape and Real Madrid just getting off to a slow start. Now it's April, ...

While I have my doubts about Villarreal's chances to survive these two matches and move on, this is a team that can put your defense in difficult spots, and Bayern has been a lot weaker defensively the last two seasons. Not only does it win a lot, but there are plenty of times you don't even need the other team to score for it to cash. Madrid were leaky defensively even in their 3-0 win over Mallorca the week before with an xG allowed of 1.4. Things didn't change much during a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, as Vigo had an xG of 1.7 in the match. If there's a Cinderella left in the Champions League, it's Benfica. This is a team that currently sits in third place in Portugal's Primeira Liga and just looks outmatched against the teams remaining in this competition. They were able to get away with it against those clubs, but asking them to do the same against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is a bit much. Yep, it's Liverpool, and I think they'll have a good night at the office Tuesday. Pick: Liverpool Over 2.5 (+130) Benfica was overrun in two matches against Bayern and in the first match against Ajax. Do you know who plays a similar style to those teams but has even more attacking talent? I doubt once will be enough to win the match, but both teams will get on the scoresheet. While City were able to overwhelm Sporting, I don't see that being the case against Atletico. In fact, I think this is an excellent matchup for Atletico. Diego Simeone's entire philosophy is built upon having to withstand the pressure of facing teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona and putting his team in a position to beat them. This team is designed to let its opponent have the ball and quickly strike on the counter when the opportunity arises. So as we reach the final stages of the season, La Liga is looking a lot better than it did six months ago. In those 21 matches, City have played four matches against teams in the top six of the Premier League, and five of those 12 goals came in those matches.

Liverpool's quest for Champions League glory heads to Portugal on Tuesday night where Benfica await. Who will take the advantage in this quarter-final first ...

For the Champions League, you may wish to choose 'USA' for Paramount+. You can add BT Sport to your package for only £15 a month (plus a £20 joining fee). Even if you have subscribed to the relevant Benfica vs Liverpool live stream rights holders, you won't be able to access them when outside your own country. Fetch TV, Apple TV, Android TV, most smart TVs, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast also carry the app for smart TV viewing. To begin with, there's a Stan 30-day free trial. Simply use a VPN to access a live stream without being blocked. Those on Virgin Media will need the Virgin V6 box and a 4K TV to make sure they're getting the action at maximum resolution. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted. Can the Reds bring their scintillating Premier League form with them to the Portuguese capital? Jurgen Klopp's relentless Liverpool will present by far their toughest challenge yet, but much-admired Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez could cause problems for them and will be looking to make an impression in the biggest game of his career so far. It's an 8pm GMT kick-off at the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday 5th April 2022. Who will take the advantage in this quarter-final first leg?

Organized by the Union of European Football Associations, UCL is one of the most competitive and popular football club organizations. Originating in 1955 ...

Then six teams advance to the group stage and join 26 other teams qualified in advance. In 1992, the competition adopted its current name. The winner was crowned the European club champion.

Here is all the information for Liverpool vs Benfica in the Champions League including start time, tv channel, and predictions.

If he can find the scoresheet again on Tuesday, it will go a long way towards Benfica staging an upset of Liverpool on their home turf. Liverpool, as usual, will be looking to their Egyptian superstar to create attacking opportunities and find the back of the net with a goal, or maybe two. Now, they’ll travel to Portugal where they’ll look to gain an early advantage in the first of the two legs.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi wants to capitalie on commercial opportunities that the Champions League could bring.

Al-Khelaifi highlighted that the U. S. and Super Bowl have a mindset of “creativity and entertainment” when it comes to the event and suggested the Champions League do the same. The Super Bowl’s viewership has always been a mere fraction of global soccer events. He also pushed for the consideration of new venues, markets, and formats.

Organized by the Union of European Football Associations, UCL is one of the most competitive and popular football club organizations. Originating in 1955 ...

Then six teams advance to the group stage and join 26 other teams qualified in advance. In 1992, the competition adopted its current name. The winner was crowned the European club champion.

PSG President Nasser Al-Khalifi (48) wants to embellish the Premier Class finals very big. He takes an example from America's biggest sports festival: the Super ...

Al-Khalifi did not want to put on too many shows in the final. Every game should be an event and a hobby. So far, there have only been opening ceremonies in the Champions League finals, which are often laughed at by fans on social media.

Can Benfica stymie the defending champs? Check back at CBSSports.com to keep track of this and all the UEFA Champions League events. Craving even more coverage ...

In subsequent Europa League play, they made it as far as the round of 32 but did not advance further. Last year, Benfica lost in the third qualifying round to PAOK on scores of 1-1 and 1-1. Craving even more coverage of the world's game?

Liverpool's 24 man squad for tonight's Champions League clash with Benfica has been revealed, however, it has one key man missing.

The only loss of their campaign so far was at home to Inter Milan in the round of 16, where they still progressed following an impressive victory in the first leg. The absence of the keeper' from the photos suggests that Adrian will be on the bench tonight in case of injury to first-choice Allison Becker. The Irish international was on the bench for the weekend's 2-0 victory over Watford and took part in training.

Manchester City have been putting together their final preparations at the City Football Academy on Monday afternoon, ahead of the Champions League ...

Bernardo Silva will be looking to make an immediate return to the starting XI this week, after Ilkay Gundogan took his place for the weekend's commanding victory against Burnley alongside Kevin De Bruyne. Pep Guardiola's side will be heading into the clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night full of confidence, after Saturday afternoon's comfortable 0-2 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor in the Premier League. For Manchester City, the victory secured their place at the top of the Premier League table for another matchday, and may just hand them a psychological advantage going into next Sunday's huge top-flight showdown against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

The Champions League resumes for two days of quarterfinals this week.

You can also upgrade to $9.99 per month ($119.88/year) and enjoy all the same features with zero commercial interruptions. City sits atop the English Premier League, and clobbered Sporting CP with a 5-0 aggregate in the Round of 16, despite drawing Leg 2 0-0. Last time out Atletico Madrid handled Manchester United 1-0 to finish with a 2-1 aggregate score in the Round of 16. We’ve compiled some of the best introductory offers to help navigate your first bets from BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet, Caesars Sportsbook and BetRivers. It’s one of four quarterfinals, leg 1 UEFA Champions League matches scheduled for this week (full schedule below). The 2021-22 UEFA Champions League has reached its quarterfinals stage, and Manchester City vs.

Diego Simeone and Pep Guardiola are giants of European football in the 21st century. Remarkably, they have only faced each other in the dugout three times ...

Atletico only conceded 25 in the whole of last season and a sharp decline in Oblak’s form accounts for some of this drop-off. Against Atletico in 2016, there was nothing of the sort. Simeone’s men being famed for defensive resilience means this capacity to attack in a suffocating fashion can sometimes be overlooked. But Jan Oblak saved Thomas Muller's penalty shortly before half-time and, early in the second period, Antoine Griezmann seized upon David Alaba’s mistake to score a priceless away goal. Guardiola had, inexplicably, lost a third successive Champions League semi-final with Bayern. Simeone, Guardiola and two exceptional groups of players promptly got on with showing us what we’d been missing. Both managers have different teams now and one has changed clubs. Mourinho’s Real Madrid ended Barcelona’s Liga dominance that season, although Guardiola had the consolation of Copa del Rey success. The lessons of the past and the pressures of the present amount to a heady cocktail for the City boss and promise another gripping chapter in a story left largely unwritten between two modern greats. The hosts fired off 34 attempts overall; Oblak made 11 saves. In the Champions League and in the big five leagues, the same cast of characters face off, over and over again in their latest bids for glory. If you had to select the two giants of La Liga coaching in the 21st century, you would probably plump for Guardiola and Simeone.

Team news and form guides for Benfica v Liverpool, City v Atlético, Villarreal v Bayern and Chelsea v Real Madrid.

They did the double over Villarreal when they last met in the Champions League a decade ago, and will be confident of repeating that feat over the next week. As for Bayern, they booked their place in the last eight by beating RB Salzburg 8-2 on aggregate, with seven of those goals coming in the second leg. They have only won one home game in the Champions League , when they beat Young Boys in the group stage, yet are in the last eight. They have now been beaten in three of their last five games in all competitions, dropping down to seventh in La Liga, but they did pull off an impressive 3-0 win at Juventus to book their spot in the quarter-finals. City eased into the quarter-finals with a 5-0 aggregate win over Sporting CP in the last 16. Benfica’s defeat over the weekend was away, but their home form has not been great either – they have only won three of their last seven matches at Estádio Da Luz. However, they have already upset the odds in the Champions League this season, reaching the quarter-finals by beating Ajax 3-2 on aggregate in the last 16.

The Reds face Benfica in their opener while City host Atletico Madrid. On Wednesday, it will be Chelsea hosting Real Madrid in a rematch of last season's ...

Man of the Match pick: Robert Lewandowski. His European record is just unbelievable. While it will be a tight affair, Benzema will pull Real Madrid across the line in victory. While I see Chelsea scoring in the match, he'll keep Real in a match that they likely shouldn't walk away with a victory from. Benzema also has a chance at the golden boot if Real Madrid are to advance in the competition sitting on eight goals in the competition. Most likely to score a goal: Karim Benzema. Although it's an away match, I find it hard to bet against Benzema performing on the big stage, especially after his hat trick with everything on the line against a star-studded PSG side. It's hard to look at this matchup and come away with the expectation that anyone will have a larger say in how things will go than Benzema. With eight goals already in Champions League play, Benzema has been instrumental in Real's performance. Heavy City possession leads to a ton of chances, but a lone goal is enough as they combat Atleti's pressure with crisp passing. If they can keep the ball on the ground and be smart in their distribution, they can limit the chances and get a key clean sheet. The Uruguayan is a tank at the back, but he will have to be super cautious when going up against a tricky and speedy Foden, knowing that one wrong challenge can dig a huge hole. Man of the Match pick: Thiago Alcantara has the technical ability to dominate and dictate this sort of contest and he will be one of the main dangers Benfica seek to neutralize. Given that the Egyptian is under a little scrutiny of late, this could be the sort of game where he makes the difference as a reminder of his quality. Adding to the stakes is the fact that Otamendi is a booking away from second-leg suspension so will be walking a tightrope from the off.

The current rules on yellow cards mean that two Liverpool stars are just one yellow away from missing the second leg of the Reds Champions League tie with ...

Benfica have more to worry about than the Reds though, with SEVEN of their players at risk of missing the second leg. Both Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota risk missing the Anfield leg of the tie if they receive yellow cards in tonight's game. The current rules on yellow cards mean that two Liverpool stars are just one yellow away from missing the second leg of the Reds Champions League tie with Benfica.

European glory in 2021-22 will almost be within reach for those that make it through to the Champions League semi-finals, with tickets to a Paris showpiece ...

The winners of Chelsea’s clash with Real Madrid will face either Manchester City or Atletico Madrid in the last four, while the other side of the draw will see Liverpool or Benfica take on the victors of Bayern Munich’s clash with Villarreal. For those in the United States, the cream of the European crop can be caught in action on CBS in English and Univision in Spanish. The first legs of the 2021-22 Champions League semi-finals will take place on April 26 and 27, with opportunities presented there in which to put one foot into the final.

Here's where things stand in the Champions League as the quarterfinal round begins.

Benfica is likely to bow out against Liverpool in the quarterfinal round. Bayern has a relatively light draw with Villarreal in the quarterfinal, so these odds are likely to improve after this round. This team can defend, which makes its matchup against Chelsea in the quarterfinal round intriguing. Liverpool has been great in the UCL arena under Jurgen Klopp, making back-to-back finals in 2017-18 and 2018-19. These Premier League rivals have gone back and forth in recent seasons to assert their dominance on the sport. The UEFA Champions League has moved into the quarterfinal round, with Benfica-Liverpool and Manchester City-Atletico Madrid kicking things off Tuesday, April 5.

"I always dreamed of playing and scoring in the Champions League; the first time I was on the pitch, my entire skin felt different." Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski talks UEFA.com through his UEFA Champions League career.

I wanted to go to Bayern because I wanted to compete at the highest level and win the biggest trophies. I wanted to show everyone that I was the right striker, the right person, at the right club. I experienced a lot there; I showed everyone the football player I wanted to be, and I wanted to show I could be better. One option was to take football less seriously and just leave it, and the other option was to continue doing it and believe that they had simply made a mistake. I remember very well when I was at home watching the Champions League in front of the TV. I always dreamed of playing in the Champions League and scoring in this competition. Everything I did was to achieve my dream and my goal of playing in the stadium when I grew up.

Champions Al Hilal will begin the defence of their Asian Champions League title against Sharjah in Riyadh on Friday but it is the showdown with ...

But Al Hilal will still go into the group phase as favourites to be one of the eight teams from the west of the continent to advance into the last 16. The winners of the five groups and the three best runners-up will advance to the next phase. Al Hilal and Istiklol, who will feature in Group A alongside Qatar's Al Rayyan and Sharjah from the United Arab Emirates, are due to meet in the first of two encounters on April 15 but the landscape has changed in the year since their last clash.

The Champions League bracket from here on out is balanced and rich with intrigue, but which power is most likely to lift the trophy in Paris?

Benfica squeezed past Ajax in an entertaining round-of-16 matchup and survived a group with Bayern (despite being destroyed on two occasions by the German giants). And while it would have preferred Villarreal or maybe even Atlético, Benfica will have to face one of the most in-form teams in the world. Without that win over Manchester United, Villarreal would have never found itself in the Champions League this season, let alone in the quarterfinals after upsetting Juventus. Its trip to Turin last month was more than just an upset—it was a stunning show of force. The one thing Villarreal has going for it is a raucous home crowd from the get-go, and an early goal would go a long way on multiple fronts. And after leading Atlético to his second La Liga title, Simeone will surely go all in on taking down the giants of the European stage in search of the club’s first Champions League title. And in a tie that should be very close (and very entertaining), a lockdown defense is usually what provides the difference. After a nail-biting last-16 tie with Manchester United, Atlético must now head to the more formidable Manchester side in Guardiola’s City, where it definitely cannot look ahead to meeting Chelsea/Real in the semifinal and then potentially Liverpool or Bayern Munich. But is it out of the question? First up is its quarterfinal against a Real Madrid side that turned the tables on PSG in the final half-hour of the tie. Last season in the semifinal, Chelsea used the second leg at home to its advantage with a 2–0 (3–1 agg. Bayern is coming off consecutive four-goal performances in the Bundesliga and has its eyes set on a 10th straight league title, given its nine-point lead atop the table with eight games to go. The journey is difficult with Atlético potentially followed by a semifinal against Real Madrid or Chelsea. And if it gets past them, then Liverpool and Bayern could await in the final. It would be easy to get caught looking ahead to a potential showdown with Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the semifinals, but this Bayern team is too experienced and balanced, especially in his high-octane attack. Yet they could both be caught looking ahead at the other in a mouthwatering semifinal that is sure to entertain.

Atlético head to the blue side of Manchester having scored nine goals in eight Champions League matches, and given the un-Simeonean defensive record they've had ...

Ten of Unai Emery’s players have scored non-penalty goals in this season’s Champions League. That’s tied with Manchester City and Chelsea for the most in the competition. Chelsea don’t concede at home in the Champions League, Real Madrid hardly concede away in the Champions League. The rematch of last season’s semi-final might be the most likely 0-0 of the week. Klopp’s players are going to attack in Estádio da Luz, and they’re going to have plenty of the ball. Perhaps that’s what Benfica want: They’re one of two remaining teams to score two goals from fast breaks in the competition. To bring this back around to that 35.7 number at the top, Atléti’s sequences started an average of 34.9 metres from goal away to Liverpool, and their 0.25 xG was their lowest in eight UCL matches. Only 23% of their shots are coming from outside the box, which is the lowest of all 32 UCL teams: To put that in context, the best PPDA for the competition is Ajax’s 7.4 mark spanning eight matches. An even goal difference has gotten them here (nine goals scored and conceded), and an optimist may tell you all it really takes is an even goal difference to keep going at this stage of the competition. Atlético head to the blue side of Manchester having scored nine goals in eight Champions League matches, and given the un-Simeonean defensive record they’ve had in Spain this season, it’s remarkable that’s been enough for this Atlético side to remain in the competition. They were outmatched in the group stage at Anfield, a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in which Jürgen Klopp’s side had a 3.22-0.25 xG advantage. Those are your last eight in the 2021-22 Champions League. No Italian teams, just like the World Cup. Here are the predictions, rankings and a few deeper numbers to consider for the first legs of each tie. City average 5.17 passes per sequence, Atlético are at 2.85. That’s the longwinded way of saying this tie likely has the most contrast in styles among the quarter-finals:

April 5 – Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi has called on UEFA to jazz up the Champions League final to make it more like the Super Bowl.

“The Super Bowl, and the US generally, have this mindset, creativity and entertainment. Head of the European Club Association, Al-Khelaifi wants the Champions League to become more of a spectacle, including a glittering opening ceremony. April 5 – Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi has called on UEFA to jazz up the Champions League final to make it more like the Super Bowl.

Liverpool's quest for Champions League glory heads to Portugal on Tuesday night where Benfica await. Who will take the advantage in this quarter-final first ...

For the Champions League, you may wish to choose 'USA' for Paramount+. You can add BT Sport to your package for only £15 a month (plus a £20 joining fee). Even if you have subscribed to the relevant Benfica vs Liverpool live stream rights holders, you won't be able to access them when outside your own country. Fetch TV, Apple TV, Android TV, most smart TVs, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast also carry the app for smart TV viewing. To begin with, there's a Stan 30-day free trial. Simply use a VPN to access a live stream without being blocked. Those on Virgin Media will need the Virgin V6 box and a 4K TV to make sure they're getting the action at maximum resolution. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted. Can the Reds bring their scintillating Premier League form with them to the Portuguese capital? Jurgen Klopp's relentless Liverpool will present by far their toughest challenge yet, but much-admired Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez could cause problems for them and will be looking to make an impression in the biggest game of his career so far. It's an 8pm GMT kick-off at the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday 5th April 2022. Who will take the advantage in this quarter-final first leg?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each changed their surroundings for this season, but the outcome was the same. For the second successive season, ...

Bayern hammered Barcelona 8-2 and saw off Lyon 3-0 in the semis, with Lewandowski scoring a goal in each game. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each changed their surroundings for this season, but the outcome was the same. Still, there was the all-too-familiar image of Messi trudging off ashen-faced after PSG collapsed against his old foes Real Madrid in this season’s round of 16.

Can Pep Guardiola curb his overthinking to advance in his quest for an ever elusive Man City Champions League tile.

Manchester City: While City has close to a clean bill of health, Kyle Walker is suspended for the tie while Ruben Dias is still injured. This tournament has been a team effort for Atletico Madrid as they've struggled to score while being their typical stingy defensive selves, scoring and conceding nine goals in the competition thus far. In contrast to a Diego Simeone side that you typically know what you get, Guardiola needs to ensure that his team doesn't tactically self-sabotage as home favorites.

The Rush: Kansas stuns UNC in epic Championship game comeback. The Kansas Jayhawks beat the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69 in the NCAA Men's Championship ...

Of the final eight clubs remaining in the UCL, the defending English and Spanish champions square off in the first of two matches on Tuesday.

Atletico Madrid (First Leg) Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals: First Leg (4/5/22) After taking Group A by one point with a 4-2-0 record, they defeated Sporting CP in the first leg of their Round of 16 matchup, and played to a scoreless draw in the second to move onto their fifth-straight UCL Quarterfinal appearance.Atletico is also familiar with heartbreak in the Champions League. After winning their first La Liga title in seven years, Madrid is back in the final eight for just the second time since bowing out in the semifinals in 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)APWith the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals kicking off this week, two of the best clubs in Europe, both defending champions in their respective countries, will do battle in the first of two contests, as Manchester City hosts Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Currently, Manchester City is in a heated race for another English Premier League crown, after winning their third title in four years in 2020-21. Atletico finished with just seven points during group play action, finishing second to Liverpool in Group B. Yet, they were able to take down Manchester United in the Round of 16 by an aggregate score of 2-1.Believe it or not, despite the two clubs’ long histories, this will be the first time the two have ever met on the pitch.Who: Manchester City FC vs. MichiganChevron that denotes content that can open up.

Man City vs. Atletico Madrid updates. 20 minutes to kickoff: There's rarely such consternation over a Simeone line-up, even allowing for Cholo's fairly recent switch from his trusty compact 4 ...

50 minutes to kickoff: As is often the case with a Guardiola XI, who plays where is the big question. 1 hour 40 mins to kickoff: It's that time of year again where all eyes will be on whether Pep Guardiola has a tactical brainwave for a major Champions League game. Some of the scrutiny around Guardiola's tactical calls is a little imbalanced. Paramount+ will also stream the match. 1 hour to kickoff: So, are those "stupid tactics" to quote the man himself? The teams are going through their warm-ups amid a steady stream of Manchester drizzle. 5 minutes to kickoff: The atmosphere in here is ramping up nicely as kick-off approaches. The teamsheets are under half an hour away... As Guardiola would say - and this was kind of his very sarcastic point yesterday - we'll only really know once we see how it all shakes out. You know exactly what you’re going to get from Atletico and Simeone’s players are rigorously familiar with what their coach requires. 2nd minute - City have lined up with Cancelo at right-back, Ake and left-back and Stones and Laporte at centre-back. It was 3-2 midway through the first half, which sounds great but my fingers might fall off if anything like that goes down again.

Manchester City welcome La Liga champions Atletico Madrid to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night for the first of their two-legged UEFA Champions League ...

Prior to kick-off at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone have confirmed their respective starting XI's to go head-to-head in some Champions League action under the lights! With Chelsea or Real Madrid awaiting the winner of Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid in the semi-final, it is set to be a fiercely contested tie over the course of two-legs, with the return leg at the Wanda Metropolitano scheduled for next week. However, attentions now quickly turn to the Champions League, and the quarter-final stage with Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid side in town on Tuesday night to try and cause another upset in the competition.

The Champions League format consists of the preliminary round in late June followed by three qualifying rounds and a playoff round. Then six teams advance to ...

Then six teams advance to the group stage and join 26 other teams qualified in advance. In 1992, the competition adopted its current name. The winner was crowned the European club champion.

Can Pep Guardiola curb his overthinking to advance in his quest for an ever elusive Man City Champions League tile.

Manchester City: While City has close to a clean bill of health, Kyle Walker is suspended for the tie while Ruben Dias is still injured. This tournament has been a team effort for Atletico Madrid as they've struggled to score while being their typical stingy defensive selves, scoring and conceding nine goals in the competition thus far. In contrast to a Diego Simeone side that you typically know what you get, Guardiola needs to ensure that his team doesn't tactically self-sabotage as home favorites.

1. Manchester City vs. Atletico Madrid: Guardiola sticks to the formula. Featured Game | Manchester City vs. Atlético Madrid. Powered by Caesars Sportsbook.

Carlo Ancelotti will need no reminding of what Barcelona did to his side in the second half of El Clasico. Or what Paris Saint-Germain might have done more of in the second leg of their round of 16 tie. Not since their second matchday -- when they beat the rabble that was passing for a Barcelona side at the time -- have they kept an opponent to a half-dozen shots in the penalty area. In victories over Freiburg and Union Berlin, Nagelsmann has reverted back to more classic formations, whether a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, it places enormous strain on Joshua Kimmich and the hope for Villarreal might be that Bayern's No. 6 and Leon Goretzka are struggling with injury. Rapid transitions looked like they could unsettle the Bavarians; they still might, though it is hard to imagine Emery's team being so assertive in the first leg of a Champions League tie. Indeed, even including that famous 3-0 victory in Turin, Unai Emery's side have registered just nine shots on target in their last four games and are seemingly struggling to establish themselves as an attacking force even with Gerard Moreno back in the side. The Greek international has been the hero of Benfica's run and has a case for under-the-radar star of the tournament. For the most part, what City have proven themselves to be is a team capable of dealing with the pressure that is being exerted on them. Ajax had 11 in the Johan Cruyff Arena and it is fair to assume that if Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino get the sort of unmarked headers that Erik ten Hag's side will have they might force Odysseas Vlachodimos to make a save. In the round of 16, Nelson Verissimo's side slowed the Ajax juggernaut to an extent, though winning their second leg 1-0 still necessitated a great display of wayward shooting by Antony and company. He himself acknowledged that the time between winning the league title and the Champions League final gave him time to think. At the moment, there simply is not time for City to stop and think, to give over time on the training ground for varying up the formula. Similarly, the title race has come to be framed as a 14-point lead frittered away by the holders since the turn of the year, with precious few noting that that advantage existed for only one day when City had played two more games than Liverpool.

As Europe's best clubs compete to advance to the final four of the 2021-22 Champions League, we look at how the semifinal matchups are determined in the ...

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Hello, and welcome to The Athletic's coverage of tonight's Champions League quarter-finals. Liverpool travel to Benfica in a potentially awkward tie, ...

Jose Maria Gimenez has not travelled to Manchester with the Atletico squad. Jurgen Klopp's side have failed to reach the semi-finals since winning the trophy in 2018-19. Benfica's Rodrigo Pinho and Lucas Verissimo are injured, but Swiss international Haris Seferovic is fit.

Luis Diaz was the last player Benfica supporters inside the atmospheric Estádio da Luz wanted to see race onto a through-ball and produce an emphatic finish ...

"Coming here and winning an away game in the Champions League is tough," Klopp said. Benfica, playing in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2016 after eliminating Ajax in the last 16, could easily have been further behind by halftime as Liverpool pressed high and was much sharper with its passing. That built on Liverpool's opener scored by Ibrahima Konaté - the center back's first for the club - off an outswinging corner from Robertson in the 17th minute.