Connect with us

Uncategorized

LIVE: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: PSG 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH

blank

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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!

blank

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.

blank

HALF TIME

PSG 0-0 BAYERN MUNICH

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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?

Advertisement
  • 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  

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Uncategorized

African football legends, Adebayor and Aubameyang condemn Libya’s treatment of Super Eagles

blank

Published

on

blank

Two former African Footballers of the Year, Emmanuel Adebayo of Togo and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang of Gabon have condemned the actions of the Libyan authorities who subjected the Super Eagles of Nigeria to inhumane treatment at the Al Abaq Airport Adebayor was the African Footballer of the Year in 2008 while Aubameyang won the 2015 edition.

Local authorities left the Nigerian contingents unattended for more than 15 hours after they arrived on Sunday night.

Players were seen sleeping on the bench, and the team’s doctors raised concerns over their health ahead of the match.

Adebayor, a legend of African football and Arsenal wrote on X-platform:

“Nigerian Super Eagles were stranded at a Libyan airport, locked in without food, wi-fi, or a place to sleep after their flight was diverted.

Advertisement

“This type of behaviour is unacceptable for the progress of African football. No team should face such treatment. We stand with Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

“Respect and fair play must come first on and off the field.”

His Gabonese counterpart, Aubameyang who also played for Arsenal that the Libyan action should not happen in 2024. He wrote on X:

“Anyway that is not possible in 2024 acting like that.”

In a related development, the cheerleader of Nigerian football, Dr. Raufu Ladipo told Sports Village Square: “It is a big shame that an African country will treat our Super Eagles this way. It is barbaric. If they could do this to our team,

Advertisement

“One could imagine what they would have done to members of the supporters club . It is high time CAF and indeed, FIFA takes a very serious look and takes a decision that will serve as deterrent to forestall future occurrence.”

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

blank

Published

on

blank

An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.

This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the  Anambra and Imo states axis.

”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool

blank

Published

on

blank
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 19, 2024 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts as he gives a speech after his last match as Liverpool manager REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

Advertisement

Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.

“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.

Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.

Advertisement

Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.

Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.

-Reuters

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Most Viewed