UEFA Champions League
VALENCIA SEND AJAX PACKING FROM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Ajax’s hopes of another fairytale run in the Champions League were dashed on Tuesday as a 1-0 defeat at home to Valencia sent them crashing out and the Spaniards through to the last 16.
Rodrigo Moreno’s 24th-minute strike proved the winner at the Johan Cruyff Arena and enough to flip the top three in Group H, with Valencia advancing in first place along with Chelsea, who beat bottom club Lille 2-1.
Ajax were arguably the story of the competition last season when their youthful team went all the way to the semi-finals but there will be no repeat this year.
Gabriel Paulista was sent off in injury-time but even against 10 men, they could not find the equaliser they needed.
Instead, Valencia not only progress but have earned themselves the best chance of a kind draw when the knock-out stage is decided in Nyon on Dec 16.
It seemed unlikely after they missed a series of golden opportunities to beat Chelsea earlier this month but a 2-2 draw still left them with a chance, even if the odds were not in their favour.
They knew they either had to beat Ajax, against whom they had lost 3-0 at home in October, or at least match the result of Chelsea, who always seemed likely to win against Lille at Stamford Bridge.
Ajax, meanwhile, began the night two points clear at the top of the group and needed only a draw to go through.
Valencia coach Albert Celades, who made his La Liga debut as a player under Cruyff, was now in the dugout of the stadium named after the iconic Dutchman and this will be a major boost for his side, who are eighth in La Liga after a rocky start to the season on and off the pitch.
Ajax sit three points clear at the top of the Eredivisie but last year’s heroics in the Champions League, and their heartbreaking defeat to Tottenham, meant they had European ambitions too.
Rodrigo headed wide from a corner early on but after a frantic start, the game settled, with Ajax dominating possession and Valencia trying to counter-attack.
Against the run of play, Valencia took the lead as Rodrigo’s bending run in behind was picked out by a Ferran Torres pass. Rodrigo controlled with his left and fired the ball with his right into the roof of the net.
Ajax had to wait until the end of the half for their best chance as Donny van de Beek latched onto Hakim Ziyech’s pass and lifted the ball over Jaume Domenech, only for Jose Gaya to make a brilliant clearance off the line.
Rodrigo might have made it two at the other end but it was Ajax that were pushing for an equaliser after the restart as Valencia retreated.
Ziyech should have levelled but fluffed his finish at the near post before 20-year-old Noa Lang hooked over from inside the box.
Lille pulled a goal back away at Chelsea to give Ajax further hope and they were almost gifted an equaliser by Valencia’s Daniel Wass, who chesting the ball away from his own goalkeeper.
Ziyech went close with a shot towards the near post and, three minutes into injury-time, Gabriel was sent off for thrusting his head into Dusan Tadic.
It left Valencia to defend two minutes, and a corner, with 10 men but Ajax could not find a way through.
-AFP
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was overjoyed as his side reached the Champions League final for the second time in their history on Tuesday, saying there had been a huge positive shift in energy and belief following crucial results over the last week.
A tap-in from captain Bukayo Saka just before halftime and a ninth clean sheet in this season’s competition gave Arsenal a 2-1 aggregate semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.
They now face either holders Paris St Germain, who knocked them out in last season’s semi-finals, or Bayern Munich in the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30 — a week after they hope to have sealed a first Premier League title for 22 years.
Arteta, who had sprinted onto the pitch at the final whistle to hug his players and then ran to the home fans for a series of oles, said it had been an “incredible night”.
“I cannot be happier, prouder for everybody that is involved in this football club,” Arteta told reporters. “We have all been so aligned on the desire and ambition that we had.”
The victory means Arsenal have also equalled their club record for most wins in a single season, according to Opta. They have now won 41 games across all competitions, matching the 55-year-old record set in the 1970-71 campaign
Arteta said he had never experienced such a raucous build-up and atmosphere both inside and outside the stadium during his time at the Emirates, and that his side now had the bit between their teeth again.
Arsenal’s season appeared to be faltering a few weeks ago but having overcome Atletico and seen Premier League title rivals Manchester City stumble the previous night, the North London side are within touching distance of a first English title since 2004 and potential European glory.
“It’s great. Everybody can feel a shift in energy and belief in everything,” Arteta said.
“Let’s use it in the right way and understand that the margins and the difficulty of what we are trying to achieve is huge, but we have the ability and conviction today, that is for sure.”
Arsenal’s midfield engine, Declan Rice, also said the side had regained their momentum.
“We have kind of turned a corner again. We went through a stage where we weren’t performing at our best. We were a bit sloppy in our play, but we have found a new way to play again,” Rice told Amazon Prime.
“When you have got confidence in football it is everything. I know everyone is focused.”
Rice also underscored the longer-term progression Arsenal have made and the importance of their league game against his former side West Ham United at the weekend.
“We have kept building – we have kept pushing each other. This competition and the Premier League. We have gone full throttle,” Rice said.
“Sunday now is a massive one.”
-Reuters
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Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone spent almost the entire second leg of his side’s Champions League semi-final defeat by Arsenal prowling his technical area, gesticulating at his players and seemingly kicking every ball.
As his hopes of taking the club to the final for the third time in his 15-year reign faded late on in their 1-0 loss at The Emirates, his emotions got the better of him and, not for the first time while wearing a suit, he was booked.
But the 56-year-old Argentine was a model of composure later as he reflected on a 2-1 aggregate defeat for his team, who found resilient Arsenal too tough a nut to crack.
“I feel calm, I feel peace, I think the team gave absolutely everything,” he told reporters. “(Arsenal) took their big chance in the first half and they deserved it.”
Simeone’s side struggled to open up an Arsenal defence that kept a ninth clean sheet in this season’s Champions League, and the Spaniards were left to rue the opportunities they spurned in the second half of the 1-1 draw in Madrid last week.
“In the first leg, we could have won it , but we were not clinical enough,” he said. “We gave it all, and now we have to accept the place that we are in. I’m proud of where we are.”
Simeone was generous in his praise of Arsenal — a team who boast many of the attributes — defensive discipline and an ability to win ugly — once associated with his sides.
“I think (manager) Mikel Arteta has done an incredible job at Arsenal … I’m really pleased for them, they deserve it,” Simeone said.
It proved to be a night of heartbreak for Atletico’s French forward Antoine Griezmann, whose dream of bowing out in a Champions League final before his move to Orlando City in the MLS was shattered.
“He has been an amazing player. We are sad not just for him but for all the fans of Atleti too,” goalkeeper Jan Oblak said. “Everyone was looking for this final, but we didn’t reach it, so it’s a difficult moment.”
-Reuters
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UEFA Champions League
Heineken Elevates Champions League Fever with Exclusive Lagos Viewing Experience
All roads lead to Ilubirin this week as Heineken curates a premium, invitation-only viewing experience for the decisive semi-final second legs of the UEFA Champions League.
Set against Lagos’ iconic waterfront skyline, the event brings together top executives of Nigerian Breweries Plc, captains of industry, cultural influencers and select football fans for what organisers describe as a reimagined matchday experience—where football meets lifestyle, networking and curated entertainment.
Unlike conventional viewing centres, the Ilubirin activation is designed as an immersive social experience.
Guests will enjoy a blend of live football, music, interactive engagements and high-level networking, all in a setting crafted to foster connection and shared passion. It also serves as a build-up to the Champions League final on May 30, offering a glimpse of what promises to be an even grander showcase.
Fans Have More Friends” comes alive as supporters stand united behind their club at the Heineken Watch Party during a UEFA Champions League night.
Speaking ahead of the event, Maria Shadeko, Portfolio Manager for Premium Beer at Nigerian Breweries, said the initiative reflects the brand’s commitment to raising the bar as the tournament reaches its climax.
“As the competition gets bigger, the experience also gets better. We have seen how football connects people across different spaces, and for the semi-finals, we are creating a premium environment where those connections can thrive,” she said.
The Lagos gathering follows a successful series of activations in Port Harcourt, Aba, Owerri and Abuja under Heineken’s global “Fans Have More Friends” campaign—each delivering a fusion of football, music and shared fan moments with growing attendance.
Fans soaking in the atmosphere during a vibrant Heineken Watch Party for the UEFA Champions League final in Lagos last season.
On the pitch, the stakes are equally compelling.
Tuesday’s clash sees Arsenal FC host Atlético Madrid after a finely poised 1–1 first-leg draw. Nigerian interest will centre on Ademola Lookman, who could become the first Nigerian since John Obi Mikel in 2012 to reach the Champions League final—though divided loyalties are expected given Arsenal’s strong fan base in Nigeria.
On Wednesday, Bayern Munich face Paris Saint-Germain in another finely balanced encounter after a dramatic 5–4 first-leg result in favour of the French champions.
“These are the moments that define football,” Shadeko added. “Fans may support different teams, but they come together for the experience. That shared energy is what this campaign represents.”
With tension building on the pitch and a carefully curated atmosphere off it, the Ilubirin experience promises more than just football. It offers a convergence of sport, culture and premium hospitality—an evening where every pass, every goal and every shared reaction becomes part of a larger story.
As the road to the Champions League final narrows, Heineken’s Lagos showcase ensures that for its guests, the spectacle will be felt far beyond the screen.
Follow @heinekenng to get more information on how to attend the match viewing experience.
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