#UEFA Champions League 2021

[calciopics]

Super Julián

[futbol-xxi]

Copa de Campeones de Europa "Champions League" - 67ma. Edición - 2021/22

https://josenicolascarluccio.blogspot.com/2023/06/copa-de-campeones-de-europa-champions.html Real Madrid celebra en Madrid su 14ta. Copa de Europa

[pitchsidestories]

Football documentaries to watch after the Women's World Cup ended

Togetherness: Follows the Arsenal Women's team during their rollercoaster season 2022/23 (On the Arsenal homepage, 5 episodes)

One Team. One Dream. This is Chelsea: Shows the Chelsea Women's Team experiences between 2019 and 2021 (DAZN Women's Football Youtube Channel, 6 episodes)

Inside the Pride: shows the England Lionesses journeys during the Euros 2022 (England's Youtube Channel, film)

The game that changed football: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, the classic match during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2021/22 (DAZN Women's Football Youtube Channel, film)

EQUALS: follows a lot of players from different national teams for example Leah Williamson during the Euros 2022 (DAZN Women's Football Youtube Channel, 6 episodes)

Matildas.The World at Our Feet: Follows the Australian Women's team as they prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in their home country (Disney +, 6 episodes)

Born for this: shows the journey of the German Women's national team before and during their incredible euros journey 2022 (ZDF/Sky, 6 episodes)

Female Football around the world - England: focuses on the development and status quo of english female football. There's a new one about Australia too. (Sky Deutschland Youtube Channel, film)

Alexia. Labor Omnia: Focuses on Barcelona star Alexia Putellas (Sky, 3 episodes)

Alex Scott. The Future of Women's Football: Scott looks at the explosion in popularity of women’s football and asks what the future holds for the game she loves. (The Women's Football Archive Youtube Channel, film)

... to be continued

[devilishchaos]

Heyy idk if u take requests but can u do where the reader have a girl with ruben and they’re celebrating the ucl win on the pitch etc and the their child starts playing with ronny and they assume that the girl and ronny have a tiny crush on eachother yk cute moments etc🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Moments like this | Rúben Dias Imagine

Rating / genre: pure fluff

Pairings: Reader x Rúben Dias

Warnings: use of pet names "babe", "baby"

Word Count: 1 059 words

AN: Hello! idk if I take requests, I received this one and this is my first ever request, I loved it and thank you so much. <3 I unfortunately don't speak portuguese so I used google translate, if you find any mistakes don't hesitate to let me know. On another note - I absolutely love Ronnie and everybody from City! I kind of added a little bit more plot so I hope it is okay and I also made it kinda long, like why am I like this? but hey I loved working on this, so I hope you enjoy it :) x

p.s. while I was working on this Mr. The Sexiest Man Alive posts this picture..like sir, are you trying to unalive me or sth..respectfully tho..Rúben stop playing with me and let me have your kids <3 :p x

This is a work of fiction. The story, names, characters and incidents either are product or the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

“Is your missus here tonight?” John asked his best mate Rúben, from across the room, as all Manchester City players were getting dressed in their kits and were preparing to attend the Uefa Champions League final tonight. Rúben turns away from his locker, trying to brush out a crease that had formed in his shorts. 

“Yes, she flew with the kids. They landed, like two hours ago.” He tells him, going to the mirror to begin fussing with his hair, even though he would just be pushing it back out of his face anyway. “This puts even more pressure. I’m basically obliged to perform well.” 

“She flew alone with two kids for what four hours?” Bernardo joins the conversation, grinning at Rúben. “She is a wonder woman.” 

“She definitely is!” John agrees, walking over to pat Rúben's shoulder comfortingly but he shakes his head, already nervous at the idea of his kids watching him. After the loss in the final 2021 and in the semi’s in 2022, Rúben promised his family to win the next time around. And now it was hitting him hard - he never breaks his promises. The pressure was definitely skyrocketing through the roof. 

*

It all happened very fast. You needed a couple of seconds to process that Rodri in fact had scored a beautiful goal. Which meant that City took the lead 1-0. There were approximately 20 more minutes and if City were able to handle the tension, that meant that the guys would complete a treble. You knew what that meant to them, to Rúben. Everything was at a very high stake. Your stomach was in knots and your leg bobbed up and down with anxiousness as you were looking at the clock, counting down the seconds until the end of the match, until the referee's final whistle. 

After what felt like the longest extra time that you’ve experienced in a match it was finally over, when the end of the match was announced everybody in the VIP sector (the families of the players) stood up and raised their arms in joy, cheering in excitement. 

“George. Azlia. Come on! Let’s go congratulate daddy!” you took them by their hands and somehow managed to get down to the pitch. 

The three of you push your way through the crowd on the soccer field. It was hard for you to see the way in the ocean of bodies. Then John taps lightly on your shoulder and points at a gap you can pass through. That’s when you see him. He has his back turned to you, engaged in conversation with a staff member. He doesn’t see you, but it’s like he feels you coming, and turns around, his gaze landing to you. Without looking back at the man behind him, he excuses himself and starts making his way over to you. 

“Papai!” George screams as he breaks away from your hand and runs to your husband, obviously he can't contain his excitement anymore. Rúben kneels down to be on the same level as him and he runs straight in his arms. You picked up Azlia as she was struggling to keep up with your pace with her little feet, because you wanted to get to Rúben faster. 

As you finally reach him you walk right into his open arms, your hands fisting his jersey. It feels so good to be holding him. 

“You did it! I’m so, so, so proud of you, amor! You did so good! I’m so happy for you! A treble, wow..unbelievable!” you said quite loudly in his ear with a smile that hurt your cheeks. 

You raised your head a little and he bent down a little, so you could share a kiss. As you pulled away, you gave him a kiss to the side of his mouth and ran your fingers through his hair at the nape of his neck. 

“Eu te amo, meu amor.” he said to you, looking directly into your eyes wanting to look into them forever. 

Not breaking eye contact you replied just a heartbeat later “Te amo mais.” 

“Da-da,da-..” Azlia babbled in your arms, reminding you guys of her existence. 

“Eu também te amo, princesa.” Rúben said as he kissed her chubby cheeks. 

*

The awarding took place very quickly. You moved away with the rest of the wives, girlfriend and family members of the players and found yourself jumping from conversation to conversation. Everyone was so excited. Except the kids. They didn’t understand what was happening and just ran away the second the ceremony was done. 

You were frantically looking for Azlia when you felt two big, strong hands on your waist, bringing you into a hug from behind. 

“What are you doing, love?” Rúben asked with amusement. 

“I’m looking for Azlia! I can’t find her! George ran away with Roman and Riaan, and I swear Azlia was standing right beside me and now she is gone.” you said while turning in his arms, to face him. 

“Baby she is a one-and-a-half-year-old, with tiny little legs. How far can she go?” he chuckled, as you continued to search for her with your eyes. 

“Oh, there she is. Taking pictures with the other kids.” you finally spotted her, taking a picture with Kyle, his sons and Ronnie. 

“Baby, chill. These kids are having the time of their lives. They can’t stay in the same position for more than 10 seconds. Look at them running around!” Rúben assured you. That made you smile, but not as much as when you watched Ronnie chasing Azlia around and the two pig tails on top of her hair were bouncing with every step she took.

“Aww, look babe, Ronnie is showing Azi his medal. How cute!” you pointed at them for Rúben to see. 

“He is now putting his medal on her..” Rúben stated quite shook “Yo, Foden, watch your son!” he then shouted in Phil’s direction, who stood all the way to the other side of the pitch. 

“Rúben! Oh my God! Baby..they are kids..” you hit his chest lightly, bursting into a fit of giggles. 

“I have a medal, too..I’m gonna go show it to her.” and with that he left you watching him attempt to come close to Ronnie and Azlia, but when they saw him approaching them - they ran away laughing.

[batlleonafc]

She’s a scab. She only cares about herself and what she can personally gain. She let her “friends” take the fall more than once now so she could get a world cup and continue to push that she’s the best player in the world when in reality she played like absolute dog shit and really that second ballon dor shouldn’t have gone to her in the 1st place. She’s just trying to stay relevant sorry that I’m giving you guys the truth 🤷‍♀️

Welcome to @handmeascalpel's ted talk, I'm your host @batlleonafc buckle up and enjoy the ride

Hello, anon. I've read everything you've mentioned. Do you have any evidence to support your claims? Considering that I'm reading this now, you don't. So, let me present the evidence I have. If you understand after this, great. If not, I can't stop people from forming their own opinions.

Exhibit A:

You said, "she only cares about herself and what she can personally gain."

On September 1, 2022, Alexia tweeted in support of Irene Paredes when the RFEF essentially blamed her for the players' opposition to the federation. Alexia was injured at the time and wasn't even in camp or eligible for a call-up. She was the first to tweet, sparking the revolution against the RFEF.

Ironically, on September 23 of the same year, exactly one year ago, Alexia was the first to post the Las15 statement, stating that the players wanted a "firm commitment for a professional project" and expressing their unhappiness that private conversations with the federation were leaked.

Exhibit B:

You said, "she let her friends take the fall more than once so she could get a World Cup."

As I mentioned earlier, Alexia was injured and therefore ineligible for a call-up. So her statement and email were never considered valid.

Every statement has always been posted by her first because she has a large following. She has consistently spoken out loudly and clearly about the problems. She never let friends take any fall. More proof is attached below.

She went to the World Cup because she was fit and couldn't escape sanctions, in case you forgot about them. I'd like you to tell me how many players who came back from an ACL injury immediately played well, or maybe just give me some names.

#seacabo was started by Alexia, and she took the lead for everything. It's not hard to find this evidence. Regardless of what people like you want to say about her, both on and off the pitch, you can see what kind of person she is.

Exhibit C:

You say, "that second Ballon d'Or shouldn't have gone to her in the first place."

Who do you think should have won it then? I'd be happy to hear your answer.

But since you brought up the Ballon d'Or, let me share a few things:

Official stats from the 2021/22 season:

La Liga Femenina:

- 26 games played.

- 18 goals scored.

- 16 assists.

Copa de la Reina:

- 4 games played.

- 4 goals scored.

- 1 assist.

Supercopa de España:

- 2 games played.

- 1 goal scored.

- 1 assist.

UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL):

- 10 games played.

- 11 goals scored.

- 3 assists.

Regarding the Ballon d'Or voting, she only missed out on 29 days, equivalent to one tournament (the Euros). Nobody came close to her stats, and she's a midfielder. These stats are only for her club. Her national team stats are just as impressive, as she has been crucial in every single match, not just easy ones. She essentially surpassed her own record from the previous season when she won the Ballon d'Or. In short, she deserved it.

There's more to a player than just stats, especially for defenders. But the stats Alexia has as a midfielder are outstanding.

Exhibit D:

Finally, you said, "she's just trying to stay relevant." Sorry to say, but she doesn't have to say anything to stay relevant.

She uses her influential platform to talk about what's true and important, unlike many players. Ramona Bachmann is a good example, and even Athenea, for that matter.

I hope you've learned something today, anon. If not, good luck with your opinion of Alexia. You might just look foolish for hating on her.

Thank you for listening to @handmeascalpel's ted talk I hope you learned something today!

[julianalvarez9]

if this is it, just know i love you.

(1) Tweeted by Mason, 24. jan. 2021. / (2, 4, 6) Cornelia Street, Taylor Swift. / (3) Picture tweeted by LDN, 17. feb. 2023. / (5) Mason Mount celebrates after scoring their side's seventh goal and his hat-trick during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterilli / (7) Mason Mount celebrates with teammate Christian Pulisic after scoring their team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 05, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh) / (8, 10, 16) You're Losing Me, Taylor Swift. / (9) Mason Mount applauds the fans after their side's defeat in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose) / (11) Mason Mount watch on from the substitutes bench during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on April 01, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose) / (12) Quote by James Baldwin, Giovanni's Room / (13) Mason Mount celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road on December 01, 2021 in Watford, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh) / (14) Tweeted by Bobby Vincent / (15) Video from user DremGetsTickets on Twitter. / (17) Mason Mount and Thomas Tuchel celebrate following their team's victory in the Semi Final of the Emirates FA Cup match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Wembley Stadium on April 17, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan)

[kevjrr]

Neybappe - their journey up till now

They met in 2017.

Neymar helps Kylian relax before the latter’s first game for psg.

Kylian celebrates his first goal for psg with Neymar on 07.09.17.

They grew closer and closer,

2017-2018

Neymar celebrates his goal for Psg in Champions League Group C match against Liverpool with Kylian.

Kylian and Neymar watched Psg vs St. Etienne match on 14.09.18 together.

Neymar, Kylian and Davi attended Psg vs Toulouse match together on 24.11.18

met a few obstacles along the way, but nothing they couldn’t overcome.

2019

Kylian attends Neymar’s birthday party.

Neymar and kylian attend Cindy Bruna’s birthday party together.

Neymar and Kylian watched Psg vs Real Madrid match on 18.09.19 together.

They were inseparable. Joined at the hip,

2020-2022

Neymar and Kylian do their signature handshake after the former scores a goal during the Psg vs Montpelier match on 02.02.20.

Neymar and kylian celebrating the winning goal against Atlanta during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match.

Kylian hugs Neymar after Champions League match between Psg and BVB, on 11.03.20.

Kylian was forced off in the first half of the French Cup final match, Psg vs St Etienne on 25.07.20 because he got injured. At the end of the game, he returned to the pitch on crutches. Neymar was waiting there for him and was one of the first to give him a hug.

Kylian comforted Neymar after he got injured in a match in February, 2021. The latter was down as there was a possibility that he would miss the first leg of the champions League against Barcelona.

Neymar’s reaction to Kylian’s hat trick against Barcelona on 17.02.21.

Neymar hugging Kylian after Psg vs St. Etienne match on 18.04.21 (in which Neymar didn’t play because he was suspended)

Neymar and Kylian gossiping during the Psg vs Real Madrid match on 15.02.22.

Neymar celebrates with Kylian after scoring a hat-trick during the Clermont vs Psg match on 09.04.22.

until they weren’t.

Psg vs Montpellier, 13.08.22.

Liking of tweets, 14.08.22. // Neymar not answering a question about his relationship with Kylian was after the Brazil vs Ghana match on 23.09.22. // An elaborate explanation of what happened from @neykyl << check this out before jumping to conclusions please!

However, none of these were enough to completely end their friendship.

2023

Kylian jumps on Neymar during Psg vs Pays de Cassel match on 23.01.23.

Kylian and Neymar during training.

Kylian remained by Neymar’s side and helped him after the latter suffered from an ankle injury on 19.02.23.

Their story is not over yet.

2023

Credit to @holdmyhopeinyourhands for the 3rd gif // credit to @griezsg for the 1st gif & 2nd gif

[pedripics]

hi! may i ask you something about this Super League? im confused because im new here. and what about that 1 billion euros for? thank you

Hi, of course 🫶🏻

The Super League is a rather complex topic, so I'm gonna give you a short summary and a longer version with the history and stuff under the cut.

In short, the Super League is a proposed football competition for football clubs in Europe that is aimed to rival the UEFA competitions, such as the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

Format (this is the new version they just released):

It would include 64 men’s (spread across three leagues) and 32 women’s teams (spread across two leagues) playing midweek games in a league system across Europe. All clubs would play in groups of 8 – home and away – resulting in a guaranteed minimum of 14 matches per year. At the end of the season, a knockout stage of 8 clubs will be played in each league to determine the league champions. There would also be annual promotion and relegation between the three/ two leagues. The idea is that it would not interfere with domestic leagues.

History:

Proposals of Super Leagues in European football have been around for decades with the earliest ideas dating back to 1968. There were attempts to create a 'Super League' in 1987 and 1990 but they were abandoned after UEFA and FIFA threatened to sanction all involved clubs. In 2009, Florentino Pérez (president of Real Madrid) began planning a 'Super League' because the Champions League, in his words, was too "obsolete and problematic for the quality of the sport and an obstacle preventing clubs from growing their businesses and developing infrastructure." That idea resurfaced in 2020 when big clubs started suffering financially from the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing debts. That got American investors interested who pledged US $5 billion towards its formation. In January 2021, FIFA and all six football's continental confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA) issued a statement that rejected the formation of any breakaway European Super League and that they would ban any club or player involved from any competitions organised by FIFA and its six confederations.

Current 'European Super League':

In April 2021, Pérez announced the formation of the 'European Super League' (ESL) via a press release signed by twelve clubs that signed up to be involved (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspurs, Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid). The aim was a new competition that "provides higher-quality matches and additional financial resources for the overall football pyramid, provides significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments, which will grow in line with league revenues, would appeal to a new younger generation of football fans, and also would improve VAR and refereeing." Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Juventus were the three leading clubs. There is much more to the financial aspect of it (like solidarity payments, welcome bonuses, participation payments, commercial revenue, etc.), but that's rather complicated and depends on what newspaper you wanna believe.

Reception:

The announcement led to a joint statement from the governing bodies of the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A condemning the formation, with all governing bodies declaring to prevent the ESL from proceeding any further. Football governing bodies from Germany, France and Russia released similar statements. UEFA reiterated their statements made in January 2021, warning that any clubs involved in the Super League would be banned from all other domestic, European and world football competitions and that players from the clubs involved would also be banned from representing their national teams in international matches. (The Premier League and their governing body FA ruled out barring the six clubs from domestic competitions and preferred to not take legal action.) Numerous politicians expressed their opposition to the proposal of the ESL. Amongst commentators, footballers and managers, the ESL sparked contrasting opinions. Media companies were mostly opposed to the idea (which does not come as a surprise as ESL promises free viewing of all live matches). Many football fans, including the fans of the involved clubs, were not in support of the idea of the ESL. The backlash led to nine clubs (all clubs, except FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus) announcing their intention to withdraw from the project in April 2023. However, eight of these nine clubs remained involved as stakeholders. In June 2023, Juventus announced their decision to leave the Super League project after facing a rumoured 5-year ban from all European competitions if they went through with the project. (That only leaves FC Barcelona and Real Madrid)

Legal issues:

In May 2021, the Super League filed a complaint to the Court of Justice of the European Union against UEFA and FIFA for their proposals to stop the competition. UEFA had opened disciplinary proceedings against FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid, which were threatened to be excluded from all UEFA competitions, in order to sanction them but these measures were stayed until further notice as a result of the rulings from the Spanish commercial court and Swiss authorities. In June 2021, the Swiss Department of Justice and Police and the Spanish Commercial Court referred the issue to the Court of Justice of the European Union to question whether UEFA and FIFA have violated two articles of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union. Article 101 prohibits cartels and other agreements that could disrupt free competition in the EEA and Article 102 aims to prevent businesses in an industry from abusing their position or taking action to prevent new businesses from gaining a foothold in the industry. On 21 December 2023, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that FIFA and UEFA's rules, which banned clubs from joining rival competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to EU law. UEFA's and FIFA's rules making new football projects subject to their prior approval are also unlawful.

What does the ECJ's ruling mean:

The ECJ's ruling is binding and not subject to appeal. The ECJ's decision on UEFA's rules does however not rule on whether the Super League should (or is allowed) to exist. UEFA needs to change and clarify its rules now to comply with EU law. Once the regulations are updated, the Super League will still need to acquire authorisation to set the competition up. The ruling basically gives companies like A22 the right to pitch a new football competition and for their application to be judged on criteria which are "transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate".

Revival of the project:

In December 2023, A22 announced a new, updated proposal (which I already explained under format). However, many clubs have issued statements opposing the idea (including clubs, who were once involved in the ESL). As of right now, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli have issued statements in support of the ESL. There are reports about various clubs from Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and other European leagues who are keen on joining (but no official statements from the clubs).

Why could Barça and Real Madrid receive €1 billion?

I believe this has not been confirmed by A22, but it has been reported by various newspapers. They would receive €1 billion as a reward for their loyalty, as they are the only two clubs who remained firm on their decision to take part in the Super League. That would obviously only happen if they find enough teams to set up the ESL.

[new-dinosaurs]

Protathlitis cinctorrensis Santos-Cubedo et al., 2023 (new genus and species)

(Tail vertebrae of Protathlitis cinctorrensis, from Santos-Cubedo et al., 2023)

Meaning of name: Protathlitis = champion [in Greek, referencing the centenary of the Villarreal football club, which won the UEFA Europa League in 2021]; cinctorrensis = from Cinctorres

Age: Early Cretaceous (Barremian), about 126–127 million years ago

Where found: Arcillas de Morella Formation, Valencian Community, Spain

How much is known: An upper jaw fragment and five tail vertebrae of one individual, as well as an isolated tooth.

Notes: Protathlitis was a spinosaurid, a group of large theropods with specializations for feeding in aquatic habitats. Along with Vallibonavenatrix and Camarillasaurus, which are also from Spain, Iberospinus from Portugal, and Baryonyx, Ceratosuchops, and Riparovenator from England, Protathlitis adds to the growing understanding that spinosaurids were highly diverse in western Europe during the Early Cretaceous.

Reference: Santos-Cubedo, A., C. de Santisteban, B. Poza, and S. Meseguer. 2023. A new spinosaurid dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous of Cinctorres (Spain). Scientific Reports 13: 6471. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33418-2

[digitaldetoxworld]

Barnsley vs Manchesters Highlights An FA Cup Upset to Remember

  Manchester vs Barnsley highlights as of my remaining update in September 2021,  Football Club, commonly referred to as Barnsley, have had limited interactions due to the exclusive divisions they commonly compete in. Manchester United, one of the maximum a success clubs in English soccer records, regularly competes inside the Premier League, while Barnsley, a team from South Yorkshire, has traditionally moved between the decrease tiers of English soccer, such as the Championship and League One.

While the fixture of Manchester United vs Barnsley Goals  isn't always as commonplace as some of Manchester United’s famous rivalries with teams like Liverpool or Manchester City, the history of their conferences offers moments of intrigue and traditional underdog testimonies.

Historical Background of Manchester United

Manchester United is one of the most successful and well-known football clubs within the international. Founded in 1878 as Newton Heath, the membership rebranded as Manchester United in 1902 and has because emerge as synonymous with achievement. With a record 20 English league titles, 12 FA Cups, and three UEFA Champions League trophies, United has been a dominant force in English and European football. Under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United loved unheard of achievement within the Nineties and early 2000s, establishing itself as a worldwide footballing powerhouse.

The membership's iconic stadium, Old Trafford, called the "Theatre of Dreams," is one of the largest and maximum famous football grounds in the international. Known for its passionate fanbase and wealthy way of life of playing attacking football, Manchester United has developed a recognition for generating pinnacle-tier talent and turning in exciting fits.

Barnsley FC – The Underdog Story

Barnsley FC, based in 1887, has a more modest records compared to Manchester United. Nicknamed "The Tykes,"  has spent the bulk of its existence inside the decrease ranges of English soccer, but the membership is nicely-reputable for its gritty, tough-running fashion of play. It is  finest hour came in 1912 after they won the FA Cup, beating West Bromwich Albion in a replay. While they've never won a primary league title, Barnsley has maintained a faithful fan base and is still aggressive inside the Championship.

It has a history of producing and nurturing proficient young gamers, as well as punching above their weight in cup competitions. Despite their underdog popularity, the membership’s proud tradition of struggling with towards more potent opposition has given them a reputation for being hard fighters, specially in knockout codecs.

Notable Matches Between Manchester United and Barnsley

Although Manchester United and Barnsley do no longer frequently face each other, their encounters have often been memorable, specifically in cup competitions in which  has once in a while challenged the might of Manchester United.

FA Cup Clash in 1998

One of the maximum famous encounters between Manchester United and Barnsley befell within the 1997-98 FA Cup. Who had been newly promoted to the Premier League, hosted United at Oakwell in a 5th-round tie. Although Barnsley struggled within the league that season, they produced a lively performance in the cup competition, forcing a replay after a 1-1 draw at Oakwell.

In the replay at Old Trafford,  produced one in every of the largest shocks in FA Cup history. Despite being overwhelming underdogs,  secured a dramatic 3-2 victory, doing away with Manchester United from the competition. This end result stays considered one of the  greatest achievements, and it cemented the club’s recognition as a group able to causing upsets in knockout competitions.

 Premier League Meetings (1997-98 Season)

It is lone season within the Premier League, 1997-98, saw them face Manchester United inside the league as nicely. As expected, United have been the dominant pressure in each encounters, winning 7-zero at Old Trafford in one of the most one-sided games among the two teams. Andy Cole scored a hat-trick, and United confirmed their magnificence and firepower, overwhelming  with their tempo, creativity, and ruthlessness.

The return fixture at Oakwell turned into extra aggressive, but Manchester United nonetheless emerged as 2-zero victors, with desires from Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs. It is  the long run suffered relegation from the Premier League that season, however the experience of gambling towards top-tier groups like Manchester United turned into beneficial for the club and its gamers.

 League Cup Encounter in 2009

Another sizeable assembly between Manchester United and Barnsley got here inside the 2009 League Cup (now called the Carabao Cup). United, underneath Sir Alex Ferguson, confronted Barnsley inside the fourth round of the opposition at Oakwell. Manchester United fielded a fantastically younger team mixed with experienced players like Gary Neville and Michael Owen.

Despite Barnsley’s lively attempt, Manchester United ran out 2-0 winners, with dreams from Danny Welbeck and Michael Owen. The Tykes put up a very good fight, but the first-class and intensity of United’s squad proved an excessive amount of for them on the night time.

Analysis: A Clash of Football Cultures

Whenever Manchester United and Barnsley face off, it represents extra than only a football healthy. It’s a clash of football cultures — the wealthy and illustrious history of Manchester United versus the working-class, underdog mentality of Barnsley.

Manchester United’s Approach

Manchester United is thought for its attacking philosophy, constructed on fast, flowing football and a constant choice to dominate ownership. From the times of the Busby Babes to Sir Alex Ferguson’s era of dominance, United has continually prioritized exciting, ahead-wondering soccer.

United’s games against smaller groups like Bamsley frequently contain the Red Devils controlling the game with their advanced talent and technical capacity. The likes of Ryan Giggs, Eric cantona , Cristiano Ronaldo, and Bruno Fernandes have graced the pitch for United, showcasing their character brilliance while contributing to the group’s ordinary achievement.

Barnsley’s Resilience and Spirit

In contrast, of  represents the spirit of English lower-league football. They are a group constructed on hard paintings, discipline, and resilience. It is  fulfillment in cup competitions, particularly against bigger clubs like Manchester United, regularly comes from their capacity to frustrate the opposition with disciplined protecting and a counter-attacking technique.

Teams like  thrive on the energy of their enthusiasts and their potential to punch above their weight, that's why cup competitions keep special importance for clubs from the decrease leagues. A fit against Manchester United affords  the hazard to show off their competencies on a bigger level, despite the fact that they enter the game as underdogs.

The Future of Manchester United vs Barnsley

As  maintains to combat for promotion in the Championship and Manchester United competes at the very best stage within the Premier League and Europe, their paths might not pass often. However, cup competitions like the FA Cup or Carabao Cup will usually offer opportunities for those two golf equipment to fulfill.

For  playing in opposition to a membership like Manchester United is not just about the result, however also about the enjoy. Facing top-tier expertise allows  gamers to check themselves against some of the first-class in the international, whilst additionally providing a full-size monetary increase to the club from ticket sales and television revenue.

For Manchester vs Barnsley Live United, these furniture provide the chance to rotate their squad, giving more youthful or fringe players an possibility to benefit precious game time. United’s academy has always been relevant to the club’s success, and fits against teams like  allow the club to show off its future stars.

[playerstories]

story Cristiano Ronaldo

Story Cristiano Ronaldo:

Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer, has a remarkable story. He was born on February 5, 1985, on the island of Madeira, Portugal. From a young age, he showed immense talent and dedication to the sport. Ronaldo's professional career began with Sporting CP in Portugal, and his exceptional skills quickly caught the attention of scouts. In 2003, he signed with Manchester United in the English Premier League, where he became a global superstar. During his time at Manchester United, he won three English Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy.In 2009, he made a high-profile move to Real Madrid for a then-world record transfer fee. At Real Madrid, he continued to shine, setting numerous records and becoming the club's all-time leading scorer. He won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid.In 2018, Ronaldo transferred to Juventus in Italy, where he continued to excel and win domestic titles. In August 2021, he returned to Manchester United, creating a sensation among football fans.Throughout his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has won multiple Ballon d'Or awards, recognizing him as one of the greatest footballers of all time. His work ethic, incredible goal-scoring ability, and versatility on the field have made him an icon in the world of football.

[techpahar]

Lionel Messi

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi, born on June 24, 1987, is an Argentine professional footballer. He plays as a forward and captains both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won a record eight Balloon d'Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. Until 2021, he spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and the UEFA Champions League four times. With Argentina, he won the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Messi holds numerous records, including most goals (474), hat-tricks (36), and assists in La Liga (192). He has scored over 800 senior career goals for club and country, and he holds the record for the most goals for a single club (672). As a teenager, Messi moved from Argentina to Spain after FC Barcelona agreed to pay for medical treatments related to his growth hormone disorder.

[masons-tours]

2021 Mason Poll 🤷‍♀️

[justinssportscorner]

Paul MacInnes at The Guardian:

Uefa has been found to be “abusing a dominant position” in the way it applies its rules, leaving the potential for a revival of the European Super League project. In a long-awaited ruling by the European court of justice, Uefa and football’s international governing body, Fifa, were found to have rules relating to the establishment of new competitions that were not “transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate”. These rules have been declared “unlawful” by the court. The judgment also found, however, that its decision “does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved”. The ruling has been awaited by football’s stakeholders as potentially offering sign as to the future of the European game and whether a project such a Super League could happen again.

Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, a consultancy hired by the Super League Company, said on X: “We have won the right to compete. The Uefa monopoly is over. Football is free. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanction and free to determine their own futures.” A22 swiftly revealed its plan for men’s and women’s Super Leagues, with 64 teams in the men’s competition, 32 in the women’s and promotion and relegation across the divisions in each. It said the initial selection of clubs would be based on merit, there would be no permanent members and clubs would continue to play in their domestic leagues, with Super League matches scheduled midweek. Ejection from either competition, however, would happen only for clubs that finish at the bottom of the last tier. Clubs would be placed in groups of eight, guaranteeing them 14 matches a season. Reichart said of the project’s plans, which would in effect replace Uefa’s Champions League. “For fans: We propose free viewing of all Super League matches. For clubs: Revenues and solidarity spending will be guaranteed.”

Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga and a staunch critic of the Super League, which continues to be backed by Real Madrid and Barcelona, accused Reichart of behaving as if he had been drinking “until 5 in the morning”. He said the ruling had not stated that Uefa and Fifa must admit the Super League. “On the contrary,” he said, “it points out that the criteria for admission to competitions must be transparent, objective and non-discriminatory. Principles precisely incompatible with the Super League.” Uefa said the ruling did not “signify an endorsement or validation of the so-called ‘super league’” but addressed a “pre-existing shortfall” in Uefa’s framework which it said it had subsequently corrected in June 2022. It outlined its continued opposition to the Super League project. “Uefa is confident in the robustness of its new rules, and specifically that they comply with all relevant European laws and regulations,” it said. “Uefa remains resolute in its commitment to uphold the European football pyramid … We trust that the solidarity-based European football pyramid that the fans and all stakeholders have declared as their irreplaceable model will be safeguarded against the threat of breakaways by European and national laws.”

In 2021, immediately after the announcement of the breakaway tournament, Uefa took disciplinary action against the 12 Super League clubs, with each sanctioned and banned from European qualification for joining a competition unauthorised by the governing body. The Super League company brought legal action in response, its arguments focusing on whether Uefa should have the power to decide what is authorised. Uefa’s disciplinary processes were suspended as part of these proceedings, with nine of the 12 clubs also walking away from the Super League. An opinion published last year by an advocate general at the ECJ found Uefa had not acted against European competition law by sanctioning its clubs. Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, said after the ruling: “Today will mark a before and after; it is a great day for the history of football and the history of sport.” Pérez said clubs could now be “the masters of their destiny” and the Super League would give football “the new impetus it so badly needs”.

The European Court of Justice rules that neither FIFA nor UEFA can legally block the formation of the Super League.

[crimechannels]

By • Olalekan Fagbade Messi wins record 8 Ballon d’Or, Osimhen, Oshoala make history Argentina captain Lionel Messi won a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or for the best player in the world on Monday in Paris, France. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Messi beat Norway’s UEFA player of the year, and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester City to the prestigious prize. France and Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe completed the list of the top three best players in the world. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala both made history for Nigeria and Africa as they finished in an impressive 8th and 20th positions in the 2023 Men and Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings. A message on Super Falcons’ official X handle congratulated Oshoala for the historic achievement both for Nigeria. “Asisat Oshoala’s 20th place ranking in the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or is a historic and significant achievement for Africa. “She’s a talented footballer and deserves the recognition. “Congratulations @AsisatOshoala,” it said. Inter Miami’s Messi, who last won the award in 2021, played a pivotal role in guiding Argentina to their first World Cup title in 36 years in Qatar last season. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time, fending off competition from Manchester City striker Erling Haaland after leading Argentina to the World Cup last year. Messi, 36, becomes the first MLS-based player to claim the coveted prize, although the triumph comes largely on the back of his exploits with his country in Qatar. Former Manchester United player and Inter Miami co-owner, David Beckham handed his prize-signing Messi the award in Paris. Haaland, who scored 52 goals last season as City won the Treble in 2022-23, finished second in the voting and won the Gerd Muller Trophy given to the best striker of the year. “I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had. Everything that I’ve achieved,” Messi said after getting his award. “The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. “To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing. All of them [Ballon d’Or awards] are special for different reasons.” Prior to Messi receiving his award, Barcelona and Spain midfielder, Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d’Or Féminin after a record-breaking year with club and country. She helped Barça win Liga F and the Champions League last season, before leading Spain to World Cup glory in the summer. In other awards handed out on Monday, Messi’s Argentina teammate Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper. England and Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham was handed the Kopa Trophy as the world’s top player under the age of 21. During his acceptance speech, Messi made a point of wishing Argentina countryman Diego Maradona happy birthday. The 1986 World Cup winner, who died on Nov. 22, 2020, would have been 63 on Monday. “My last mention is for Diego [Maradona],” Messi said. “Today is his birthday. “So I would like to remember him from here, surrounded by the best players, coaches and people who love football like he did. “Wherever you are, Diego, happy birthday. This goes also to you.” Prior to Monday’s ceremony in Paris, no player had won the Ballon d’Or more times than Messi, who first won it in 2009 and then again in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021. Cristiano Ronaldo has won it five times, while Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten are all three-time winners. Messi scored 21 goals in 41 appearances last season as Paris Saint-Germain retained the Ligue 1 title before moving to Inter Miami earlier this year. Since moving to the U.S., he has scored 11 goals in 14 games for Miami, helping the franchise win its first-ever piece of silverware, the Leagues Cup. However, he missed several matches through injury at the end of the regular MLS season as Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s side came up short in their late push for a playoff spot.

It is Messi’s performances at the World Cup at the end of 2022 which have earned him an eighth Ballon d’Or as Argentina ended a 36-year wait to be crowned world champions for the third time. Messi, as captain, was instrumental to Argentina’s success in Qatar, scoring seven goals and assisting three more as he was named as the Player of the Tournament. He scored twice in the final and again in the penalty shootout against France. Lionel Scaloni’s team edged one of the most memorable showpieces in the competition’s history. Having come up short with Argentina at four previous World Cups, including losing the 2014 final to Germany, it was deemed by many to be his last chance to get his hands on football’s biggest prize. At 36 years and four months old, he also becomes the second oldest player to ever win the Ballon d’Or. He replaces 2022 winner Karim Benzema. Only the inaugural winner, Stanley Matthews in 1956, was older when he won it aged 41. Messi’s first six Ballons d’Or were won while he played for Barcelona, where he is the club’s record goalscorer and appearance holder. He won it for a seventh time shortly after joining PSG in 2021 following Copa America success with Argentina.(NAN) #Messiwinsagain

[cityzenchick]

In anticipation of City's eagerly awaited Champions League match tomorrow in Wankdorf (wonder if it has the same meaning in other languages?!!) ....... here are some match facts courtesy of TalkSport

Young Boys vs Man City: Match Facts

This is the first ever competitive meeting between Young Boys and Manchester City – the Swiss side won their most recent home against Premier League opposition, beating Man Utd 2-1 in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League.

Manchester City's only previous meeting with Swiss opposition came in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League – they won 4-0 away before losing 2-1 at home to Basel in the round of 16.

Young Boys have played more games in the UEFA Champions League without ever keeping a clean sheet than any other team (14). The Swiss side have conceded 29 times across their 14 matches, at an average of 2.1 per outing.

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 15 matches in the UEFA Champions League (W10 D5), with only Manchester United ever having a longer run without defeat among English teams in European Cup/Champions League history (2 runs of 16, and a 25-game run between 2007 and 2009).

If Manchester City avoid defeat in this match, Pep Guardiola will equal his longest unbeaten run as a manager in the UEFA Champions League (currently 15 unbeaten). He went 16 games without defeat in charge of Barcelona between 2011 and 2012, in a run which also included lifting the trophy (beat Manchester United in the 2011 final).

Young Boys have averaged just 8.8 opposition passes per defensive action (PPDA) in the UEFA Champions League this season; the lowest of any team across the first two matchdays.

Manchester City have had 55 shots in their two UEFA Champions League games this season, while only facing six opposition shots in return. Indeed, that was the biggest differential for any side across the opening two matchdays, while they also had the best xG difference in terms of chances created and conceded (+5.2 – 6.4 xG for and 1.2 xG against).

Man City’s Julián Álvarez has been directly involved in four goals in two UEFA Champions League games this season (three goals, one assist); the most of any player in the first two matchdays. As well as being the joint top scorer in this period (3), no player created more chances than him (8) across the opening two rounds.

Filip Ugrinic has been directly involved in a goal in both of Young Boys’ games in the UEFA Champions League this season (one goal, one assist), while no player has ever done so in three consecutive appearances for the Swiss side in the competition.

Through the first two matchdays in the UEFA Champions League this season, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has the highest xG (1.95) of any player yet to score in the competition (12 shots, 0 goals). Indeed, his current run of five games without a goal in the Champions League is his longest to date.