Let's start this Champions League match report with one particular talking point: Change is always difficult, especially for our soccer overlords in England, and there's going to be a lot written about how Real Madrid's negative approach at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday exemplifies UEFA's mistaken decision to do away with the away goals rule.
Hello and welcome to one of the most difficult exercises of the year — the Champions League Round of 16 predictions.
It's always a fool's exercise since this stage of the competition is guaranteed to throw one shock at us (like Porto knocking out Juventus last year) while also delivering some matchups (Real Madrid vs. PSG, Man United vs. Atlético) that require very little imagination to see going either way. But all we do at The18 is watch an entirely unhealthy amount of this game, so we should be able to earn you a pretty penny* with these predictions.
The knockout stages of the Champions League begin Tuesday with what's arguably the most eagerly anticipated Round of 16 matchup ever — a clash between the club that never settles for anything less than lifting the trophy, record 13-time winner Real Madrid, and the club whose entire apparatus is hellbent on making that happen for the first time, PSG.
The 2021-22 UEFA Women's Champions League has already proven one of the most memorable editions yet as we approach the start of the quarterfinals on March 22. The implementation of a group stage for the first time highlighted the increasing competitiveness across Europe as Chelsea, last season's runner-up, was shockingly bounced and Arsenal was pushed to the brink.
Liverpool have signed Colombia winger Luis Díaz from Porto on a long-term deal, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.
Financial details were not disclosed but the BBC reported the deal is expected to be worth $50.14 million, with a maximum of $16.72 million in add-ons.
Díaz, who has seven goals in 31 appearances for Colombia, becomes Liverpool's first signing of the January transfer window.
Sixty-nine days after the completion of the group stage, the Champions League returns Feb. 15 with the start of the Round of 16, featuring Real Madrid vs. PSG, Liverpool vs. Inter Milan and Manchester United vs. Atlético. It's important to know the Champions League schedule 2022 with the knockout round matches falling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3 p.m. ET — plan out those days of extended lunches or PTO accordingly.
Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembélé must leave the club before the January transfer window closes for both his sake as well as the Catalan club to ensure they get a fee as his contract ends in June, club director Mateu Alemany has said.
Dembélé, who joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017, has failed to deliver on his potential that made the Spanish club pay $119.11 million for his services, scoring only 31 goals in 129 appearances.
Alexia Putellas became the first woman to win the Ballon d’Or, UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and The Best FIFA Women’s Player in a single year, completing the historic treble on Monday at the FIFA Best awards. But there’s one honor she missed out on, and it’s hard for anyone to explain, though the Barcelona superstar tried her best to make sense of it all on Tuesday.
Francisco "Paco" Gento, one of Read Madrid's greatest players and a European champion with Spain, has died at the age of 88, the club said on Tuesday.
Official Announcement: Passing of Francisco Gento.#RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) January 18, 2022
The official record for highest attendance at a professional women’s soccer game is held by the 1999 World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl between the USWNT and China with 90,185. Unofficially the 1971 World Cup Final between Denmark and Mexico had 110,000 in attendance.
A new candidate for the record is lurking in the shadows to take down the USWNT’s record. On March 30, Barcelona’s women’s team will host Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League quarterfinals at Camp Nou.