UEFA Champions League
Atletico win at Old Trafford to knock United out
Atletico Madrid knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League and moved into the quarter-finals after a 41st minute header from Brazilian Renan Lodi gave them a 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) win at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
It was a typical display of the kind of gritty defending and swift counter-attacking for which Diego Simeone’s Atletico side have been known while United, for all their pressure, were unable to create enough quality opportunities to get themselves the goal they needed.
United, who have not won a trophy since the Europa League in 2017, are left to focus on a Premier League campaign where they face a real battle to make the top four and earn a place in next year’s Champions League.
The Spanish champions may not be favourites to reach the final in Paris on May 28 but none of the teams in the last eight will be hoping to be drawn against them.
After Saturday’s win over Tottenham Hotspur, inspired by a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, there was a positive mood around Old Trafford and the night began brightly for United with Anthony Elanga forcing a fine reflex save out of Jan Oblak with a near post flick from a Bruno Fernandes cross
United’s Spanish keeper David de Gea then produced an outstanding diving save to push wide a long range effort from Rodrigo De Paul.
Joao Felix then had the ball in the net, tapping in a cross from Marcos Llorente but the effort was ruled out for offside.
There was no reprieve though for United, though, when after a trademark Atletico counter-attack, a clever flick from Joao Felix found Antoine Griezmann whose cross was nodded in at the back post by Lodi.
United argued that the move had followed a foul on Elanga deep in Atletico’s half but referee Slavko Vincic waved away their protests.
Fernandes ended the half with a fierce shot that again tested Oblak to the full and raised hopes among the home support ahead of the second half.
United, as expected, poured forward after the break in search of an equaliser but there was little design or craft to their attacks.
LACK OF CREATIVITY
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick threw on forwards as he sought the breakthrough bringing on Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani to play up front with Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho.
But his decision to take off Fernandes in the 67th minute left the team short of creativity and their attacks were increasingly just one dimensional charges at the Atletico back line.
Captain Harry Maguire was taken off, to cheers from the home support, as Rangnick threw on Spanish winger Juan Mata but the nearest United came to an equaliser was a fine header from Raphael Varane that had Oblak at full stretch.
It was scrappy and at times cynical from Atletico in the latter stages but their disciplined defence held firm for the victory that sends them into the last eight.
“We want to go far in the competition and it’s incredible to still be in it. It’s important for us to still be in the Champions League in what’s an up-and-down season,” said midfielder Koke.
“For me, Jan Oblak is the best goalkeeper in the world. He’s shown it once again tonight.”
Rangnick was upset with the refereeing of the game but had few complaints about his team’s performance.
“I think we played a very good first half – exactly the way we wanted to play with a high energy level but we couldn’t convert that into one or two goals,” he said.
“Conceding that counter-attacking goal just before halftime didn’t make life any easier. It was hard in the second half and always interrupted. There was always somebody lying on the floor.
“I would also say some curious refereeing decisions. I wouldn’t say they were decisive but at least he fell too often for those time-wasting antics.”
-Reuters
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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