UEFA Champions League
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: NEUTRALIZING MESSI THREAT KEY TO BAYERN’S AMBITIONS
It is a problem that has confounded managers and players alike since 2004. How exactly do you stop a player like Lionel Messi?
Bayern Munich believe they have the solution ahead of today’s blockbuster Champions League quarter-final clash with Barcelona in Portugal, but man-marking the Argentinian is not part of their plans.
On limiting the influence of the Barcelona skipper, who possesses the greatest threat to the Bundesliga champions’ hopes of a second treble and their sixth European Cup, Germany international Leon Goretzka said: “That can only be done collectively because he is a gifted footballer.
“Thousands of people before me have tried to answer this question. It is nice – after playing against (Juventus’ Cristiano) Ronaldo a few times – to play the other formative player of the last decade.
“I don’t know how, but we have to force our game on them.”
Taking the game to Barca is easier said than done, but if any team can do so, it will be Bayern.
The Bavarian giants have won all 13 games since German football restarted in May following the coronavirus lockdown and underlined their impressive form last Saturday when Robert Lewandowski, the Champions League’s top scorer, helped seal a 7-1 aggregate thrashing of Chelsea to book their last-eight berth.
Barca, on the other hand, are staring at their first trophyless season in 12 years unless they can win their sixth European Cup.
While Antoine Griezmann put up a brave front, telling the club’s TV channel that “we have the weapons to beat them”, the failure to defend their Spanish La Liga title as well as limp exits in the domestic Cups do not lend much confidence to his comments.
Bayern have already won the domestic double and are aiming to emulate Barca in becoming just the second European club to win the treble twice.
Seven years after their maiden accomplishment and powered by the hot form of Lewandowski – he has already notched a career-best 53 goals in all competitions, including 13 in Europe – Goretzka is feeling confident.
Some critics believe the knockout format of the “Final Eight”, which is Uefa’s solution to the pandemic, could even out today’s game as compared to the usual two-legged ties.
However, it may be more of a detriment to Barca as they cannot rely on the Nou Camp, where they are unbeaten in Europe since 2013, as their safe haven.
And Goretzka revealed Bayern have spent the past few weeks training specifically for an assault on the Champions League. Unlike the rest of their rivals, the German Bundesliga season finished almost a month earlier.
“There is no easy way now. We are here in the sun in Portugal and are preparing for a knockout game in the Champions League,” he said. “We’re really up for it. Knockout matches are great.
“At the moment, we’re playing as a unit, in addition to the quality of the individual players.
“We have a clear plan in hand and our intensity without the ball can make the difference.”
Both clubs know each other intimately, with four meetings since 2013 and there will be a reunion of sorts for both Barca’s Arturo Vidal and Bayern’s Thiago Alcantara, who is a product of Barca’s La Masia academy, making today’s encounter a likely classic.
On Vidal, who is facing his former side for the first time since leaving the Allianz Arena in 2018, Goretzka said: “He has a first-class mentality with amazing fitness.
“I noticed that during fitness tests – which I took next to him – he can go beyond the pain threshold.”
UEFA Champions League
TikTokers spend 27 hours in stadium toilet to watch Champions League final for free

A pair of Belgian TikTokers say they spent 27 hours in an Allianz Arena toilet last weekend before watching Paris St Germain beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final for free.
Neal Remmerie and Senne Haverbeke told VRT News they managed to get into the Munich stadium the day before the match and hid in a toilet cubicle.
After sticking a homemade “Out of Order” sign on the door, the pair waited in silence for more than a day as stadium staff used the facility.
“We had a backpack with snacks and we played around on our phones to kill time,” Remmerie told the Belgian public broadcaster.
“The lights were on all the time and the sitting position was uncomfortable, so sleeping was almost impossible. That made it physically and mentally difficult.”
Once they heard fans starting to use the toilets on matchday, the pair left their bolthole and made their way past ticket inspectors to join the 86,600 crowd in the stands.
“We looked carefully at which security guard was paying the least attention. While on the phone and with food in our hands, we just walked on, and suddenly we were inside,” Remmerie added.
“PSG won 5-0 and we were also in the supporters’ section of the winning team. It was the most beautiful football match we have ever seen.”
The Allianz Arena and UEFA did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Those fans who made their way into the match more conventionally had to pay anywhere from 90 to 950 euros ($100-$1,100) for their tickets.
-Reuters
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UEFA Champions League
How Heineken Scored a Five-Star UEFA Champions League Experience for Nigerian Fans

Indeed, it was an evening where football merged with lifestyle. Nigerian music stars Fido and Wande Coal brought their A-game, performing crowd favourites that had fans singing along and dancing well into the night.
Their live performances added vibrant colour to an already electrifying evening, keeping the energy alive after the final whistle.
Hard core fans cut across gender, as displayed by the ladies during the Heineken Watch Party in at the Lagos Continental Hotel last Saturday
Adding star power to the experience was ex-Super Eagles striker Julius Aghahowa, who mingled freely with guests, posed for pictures, and shared expert insight on the game, delighting fans with his presence and personal touch.
“This year’s UEFA Champions League final is not just a match—it’s a cultural moment,” said Maria Shadeko, Portfolio Manager for Premium Beer at Nigerian Breweries. “We’re blending world-class football with unforgettable lifestyle experiences. Through our activities, we’re celebrating the real hardcore fans—the ones who make the game magical from wherever they are.”
Shadeko added that Heineken’s goal is to ensure Nigerian fans feel seen and celebrated. “They may not be in Munich, but they’re just as important to the spirit of the game. That’s why we go all out—every year—to make this night one to remember.”
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UEFA Champions League
PEPSI GOALFEST 2025: Record-Breaking UCL Final, Unforgettable Fan Experience!

The roar of the crowd, the thrill of every shot, and the ultimate victory! Last Saturday night, Pepsi brought the UEFA Champions League 2025 final to life at the Pepsi GoalFest 2025, where PSG dominated Inter Milan in a stunning 5-0 victory, setting a new record for goals in a final.
The Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos was completely transformed into an electrifying arena, with a dominant wave of the iconic Pepsi blue.
Football fanatics experienced passion like never before. Inside and around the venue, fans engaged in thrilling football-themed games, moved to the beats of electrifying music, and stayed refreshed with Pepsi.
The energy soared as Dj Yk Mule, Mayorkun, and Do2tun delivered show-stopping performances, all powered by Pepsi.
It wasn’t just a game; it was an immersive celebration of football, an unforgettable night where every cheer, every goal, and every moment was refreshed by Pepsi!








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