Uncategorized
LIVE: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: PSG 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH
GOAL! PSG 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH
- Neymar’s 60th appearance in this competition ends in heartbreak, five years after he won the trophy with Barcelona.
- FULL TIME! Bayern Munich are the Champions of Europe for the sixth time. They did it in a style., winning 10 matches in a row! Coman’s well-placed header proved decisive against his former club, whose wait for a first success in this competition goes on.
- There are some sporting moments out there as Alaba comforts Neymar and Davies does likewise with Mbappé who stood alone, lost in his thoughts for a couple of minutes after that final whistle.
- Bayern’s sixth European Cup, level with 2019 winners Liverpool and behind only Real Madrid (13) and AC Milan (seven).This adds to Bayern’s triumphs in 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001 and 2013.
Only one game in this season’s Champions League has gone to extra time: Atlético’s 3-2 win at Liverpool in the round of 16. Paris need to find a goal from somewhere soon if they are to force a second
PSG 0-1 Bayern Munich
84min: And another free-kick as Thiago Silva is booked for also bringing down Lewandowski. Coutinho’s shot from the resulting free-kick just curls wide of the near post, but Keylor Navas had it covered
Both sides look to be tiring. They’ve both put so much into this and you sense Bayern are throwing the kitchen sink at getting a second to kill off any Paris hopes, as opposed to trying to hold on to what they’ve got
- Bayern are the top scorers this season with 43 goals now – a total of 18 goals more than any other team. They are two goals behind Barcelona’s record of 45 goals (Barcelona played 16 matches – the final is Bayern’s 11th game).
- Paris have scored at least one goal in each of their last 34 UEFA Champions League matches – the last time they failed to score in was April 2016 vs Man. City. They jointly hold the record with Real Madrid, so an equaliser in this match would see them hold the record outright.
This is not the first time Paris have trailed during this mini-tournament, of course. They were 1-0 down to Atalanta until the 90th minute, when two late efforts sparked a thrilling turnaround. They won’t let their heads drop here.
Paris had kept seven clean sheets in their previous ten UEFA Champions League matches this season but Coman has ensured the record will not be lengthened.
Paris Saint-Germain substitution
65min: PSG have not responded at all and now it’s time for their first change as Marco Verratti replaces Leandro Paredes.
59min: The Champions League final comes alive! PSG fail to properly clear from inside the box, and after Josh Kimmich clips a ball to the back post, Kingsley Coman heads across goal into the bottom corner.
Half-time verdict: Paris
Paris will head into their dressing room with every reason to feel positive about this game so far. Both teams have had excellent chances and enjoyed periods of dominance, with perhaps Bayern’s defence looking the more vulnerable of the two. It all bodes well for the second half!
Half-time verdict: Bayern
No goals to report, but what an exciting half that was! Bayern had more of the ball, but both have had chances to open the scoring only to be denied by goalkeepers on red alert. Bayern are used to scoring early, but have tonight met their match against the best defence in the competition. It’s all poised for a thrilling second half.
HALF TIME
PSG 0-0 BAYERN MUNICH
37 MIN: Marquinhos (Paris) concedes a free-kick for a foul on Lewandowski (Bayern).
Bayern Munich substitution
25min: Looks like Boateng wasn’t fit enough to start the final after all, for the fourth game in a row he departs to make way for Niklas Sule, having been a doubt for the final with a muscle injury.
Bayern looked on top for the opening ten minutes but the last ten have most certainly been Paris’s.
12min: The game is a bit flat at the moment.. much like some of the match balls. Bayern boss Hans-Dieter Flick squeezes a ball after it bounces towards him before informing the match official that it is indeed now a dud
PSG 0-0 Bayern Munich
9min: Kylian Mbappe is tripped on the left flank by Alcantara to give PSG a free-kick but Angel di Maria’s ball in is headed clear at the back post by Alphonso Davies.
************************************************************************PSG are gunning for their first ever UEFA Champions League title while Bayern Munich aim at winning again after their sixth victory. Who carries the day?
- PSG starting XI: Navas, Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat, Ander Herrera, Marquinhos, Paredes, Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe
- Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Boateng, Alaba, Davies, Goretzka, Thiago, Gnabry, Muller, Coman, Lewandowski
Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.
Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.
The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.
Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.
While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.
Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.
FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.
HARSH REALITY
The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.
One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.
Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.
“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”
By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.
Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.
“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”
As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.
After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.
Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.
Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.
Results of Semi Finals (Women)
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
- Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
Results of Semi-Finals (Men)
- Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
- Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
WOMEN’S FINAL
- Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons
MEN’S FINAL
- Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- OBITUARY2 days ago
BREAKING: Nigerian Goalkeeping Legend Peter Rufai is dead
- Nigerian Football2 days ago
Football Agent John Shittu Demands Retraction and ₦250 Million Damages from Samson Siasia Over Bribery Allegation
- WAFCON1 week ago
Super Falcons Land in Morocco, Eye Historic ‘La Decima’ Women’s AFCON Title
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Kwara United Clinch Historic First Title as President Federation Cup Final Goes to Penalties for the 18th time
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Rivers Angels Crowned 2025 Female Federation Cup Champions After Penalty Shootout Thriller
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Family issues statement on Peter Rufai
- IMMEMORIAL1 day ago
Peter Rufai’s Death Adds to Long List of July Tragedies in Nigerian Football