UEFA Champions League
Champions League final round permutations
The controversial VAR decision to rule out Harry Kane’s stoppage-time winner against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday prevented Tottenham Hotspur from progressing into the Champions League knockout stage as Group D winners with a match to spare.
Instead Antonio Conte’s team now go into a final “matchday” with all four teams in the group, including Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille, still in the running for a last 16 spot.
While Group D is the tightest, there are still several other issues to be settled next Tuesday and Wednesday, with 12 teams through to the next round but only three guaranteed top spot.
If two or more clubs are level on points at the end of the group stage, a number of criteria will be taken into consideration to decide the next round qualifiers, starting with the head-to-head record among the teams in question.
It then goes to superior goal difference and then goals scored in those matches
Here is a detailed look at the group permutations ahead of next week’s final round of games:
Group A
Napoli and Liverpool have clinched the top two spots with the Italians on 15 points and the English club on 12. The winner of the group will be decided in the final match between the two in Liverpool next week.
Ajax, on three, are almost certain of a Europa League spot ahead of their match against Rangers, who do not have a point.
Group B
In a similar situation Club Brugge (10) and Porto (9) have booked their knockout stage tickets but the group winner is to be decided. Porto host Atletico Madrid, currently in the Europa League spot, while the Belgians travel to Bayer Leverkusen, who are a point behind Atletico.
A win or even a draw against Leverkusen could be enough for Brugge to win top spot.
Group C
Everything is settled as Bayern Munich have comfortably secured top spot with maximum points from five matches. Inter Milan, in second place on 10, also advance, leaving Barcelona in third to compete in the Europa League. Viktoria Plzen are bottom without a point.
Group D
A tense night is expected on the final matchday in this group with all four teams still in contention.
Leaders Tottenham Hotspur, on eight points, visit Olympique Marseille, in last place on six with a win or a draw enough to see them through.
Between them sit second-placed Sporting Lisbon and Eintracht Frankfurt, both on seven points, who play each other.
Should Tottenham lose and the other pair draw, Marseille would win the group with nine points and three teams would be locked on eight. In that scenario Sporting would advance in second place thanks to a win and a draw against the Londoners. Spurs would then be consigned to the Europa League.
Group E
Chelsea, the 2021 champions, are already through in first place ahead of their final group game with Dinamo Zagreb, whose best hope is a Europa League place. The second spot is a shoot out between AC Milan and Salzburg, with the Italians needing only a draw in the San Siro.
Group F
Defending champions Real Madrid have secured qualification but the winner of the group has yet to be decided. They top the standings on 10 points and face already-eliminated bottom club Celtic.
RB Leipzig, on nine, travel to Shakhtar Donetsk, who have six, needing a draw to advance. A Shakhtar win would leave both on nine, with Shakhtar advancing on their head-to-head record.
Group G
This group has been decided with Manchester City making sure of top spot. Borussia Dortmund, three points behind, advance as well but cannot dislodge City because of their head-to-head record. Sevilla, on five, are guaranteed a Europa League spot but as above, cannot overhaul Dortmund. Last-placed Copenhagen are already eliminated.
Group H
Paris St Germain and Benfica, both on 11 points and with an evenly balanced head-to-head after two 1-1 draws, have qualified already but the group win is still up for grabs.
The French side faces Juventus, on three points in third place and desperate to salvage a Europa League spot from their disappointing campaign.
Benfica travel to Maccabi Haifa, also on three, with the Israeli club hoping for a third place finish ahead of the Italians. PSG’s goal difference is +8 and Benfica’s +4.
-Reuters
Paris St Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery became the youngest player to win two Champions League finals after featuring in Saturday’s dramatic victory over Arsenal.
The France international, who came off the bench for extra time in PSG’s 4-3 penalty shootout triumph after a 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Puskas Arena, lifted the trophy for the second straight season at the age of 20 years and two months.
Zaire-Emery had already featured briefly in last year’s crushing 5-0 victory over Inter Milan and now surpasses former Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Johan Neeskens, who was 20 years and eight months old when he won his second European Cup final in the 1970s.
-Reuters
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Paris St Germain held their nerve in a cagey Champions League final to retain the title by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties as Saturday’s nail-biting showdown ended 1-1 after extra time, cementing the French side’s status among Europe’s modern greats.
Arsenal defender Gabriel blasted his spot kick over Matvey Safonov’s crossbar at the Puskas Arena, his miss confirming PSG as the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid completed their three-year reign from 2016 to 2018.
Long dismissed as glamorous underachievers despite vast resources, the Ligue 1 champions have now forged a dynasty under Luis Enrique, marrying attacking brilliance with resilience to establish themselves as the dominant force in European football.
“It’s stronger than last year because we knew before the match just how difficult it would be to play against Arsenal,” said Luis Enrique, whose side had thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 to claim Europe’s elite trophy for the first time.
“As a club and a city, it’s incredible to win, and I think we deserved it over the course of the season. The final was a real battle,” added the Spanish coach.
The outcome left Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice devastated but proud as his side finished their European campaign without losing a match aside from the shootout defeat in the final.
“It’s gutting. It’s devastating to lose a Champions League final on penalties,” he said. “But we try to take a lot of perspective from how far we’ve come as a group.
“An incredible season. Given it absolutely everything up until this point. We took the game to penalties. It’s a lottery.”
EUROPE’S BIGGEST STAGE
Eleven days after celebrating their first Premier League title in 22 years, Arsenal looked set for a maiden triumph on Europe’s biggest stage after Kai Havertz’s sixth-minute opener and a first hour spent smothering PSG’s vaunted attack.
However, the final became chaotic once PSG’s Ousmane Dembele equalised with a penalty in the 65th minute, the pace turning frantic before exhaustion took the match to a shootout.
Under Luis Enrique, PSG have won the six shootouts they have contested. The 56-year-old has now won 12 of the 13 one-off club finals he has overseen as a coach.
After brushing aside Premier League opposition on their way to the final by eliminating Chelsea and Liverpool, PSG were facing a much sterner test against an Arsenal team playing their second Champions League final after losing to Barcelona in 2006.
Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead when Marquinhos’ clearance bounced off Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard into the path of Havertz, who raced into the box and fired into the roof of the net.
He is the fourth player to score in two different European Cup or Champions League finals with two different clubs.
It was the nightmare scenario for PSG – trailing so early against the best defence in the competition.
Arsenal lived up to their reputation as the best team without the ball and looked perfectly content with the script, doubling up on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and suffocating the usual danger brought by the Georgian magician on the left flank.
PSG’s Fabian Ruiz was unable to impose his usual rhythm in midfield and, despite monopolising possession for long spells, Luis Enrique’s side struggled to carve out clear-cut chances.
By halftime, PSG had attacked 32 times, Arsenal three times.
Arsenal, however, were flirting with the boundaries with their challenges, and Cristhian Mosquera brought down Kvaratskhelia in the area, with Dembele converting the penalty to equalise with his eighth goal in the competition.
MOMENTUM SHIFTS
The momentum had shifted.
Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres replaced Mosquera, and Martin Odegaard and Arsenal had a more attacking mindset but were exposed to PSG’s counterattacks, and at the end of one of them, Kvaratskhelia sped into the box, only for his left-footed effort to crash onto the outside of David Raya’s post.
After controlling the tempo in the first half, Arsenal played into PSG’s hands as the pace increased significantly, giving too much space to Kvaratskhelia or Bradley Barcola, who replaced the Georgian winger with seven minutes left.
In the 89th minute, PSG came close to giving the final an abrupt end as Vitinha’s shot grazed the top of the net. Barcola also shot over the bar after a counterattack with what would have been the last kick of the game.
With both teams having run out of steam, extra time was a cautious affair, and when referee Daniel Siebert blew his whistle, Arsenal had only managed one shot on target.
Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze missed his penalty before Raya saved Nuno Mendes’ attempt. Gabriel had to score to keep the Gunners’ hopes alive, but, facing PSG’s end, he fired over.
The French side were left to celebrate being European champions once again, with extra-time substitute Lucas Beraldo’s goal in the shootout proving to be the winner.
-Reuters
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Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique hailed his side’s resilience and consistency after the French champions retained the UEFA Champions League title with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Arsenal following a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s final.
The Spaniard said PSG’s performances throughout the season justified their status as European champions despite being pushed to the limit by an impressive Arsenal side.
“Maybe today both teams deserved to win, but the way we played the whole season, I think we deserve to win the Champions League,” Enrique said after the match. “We are very happy and trying to be there next year – why not?”
PSG found themselves behind early after Arsenal struck first, forcing the holders to chase the game for much of the contest.
“The match started in the best way for them,” Enrique noted. “After that, they know how to defend. It was very tough. They are strong physically and very tough.”
The victory secured a second consecutive Champions League crown for PSG, a feat that delighted the coach.
“We are still champions, two in a row, it’s amazing,” he said. “Congratulations to Arsenal. It was very tough. They played great.”
Despite adding another major title to his growing collection, Enrique brushed aside suggestions that he was cementing a legendary status.
“Legend? I’m not interested in that,” he said.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi described the achievement as even more special than the club’s maiden Champions League triumph.
“The first one was special, but winning back-to-back titles is very special for us,” he said. “We want to win again. We don’t want to stop there.”
Midfielder Joao Neves echoed those sentiments, calling his move to Paris “the best decision” of his career.
“We’ve made history at PSG, we’re all delighted,” the Portuguese international said.
Young star Desire Doue also celebrated the historic achievement, insisting the team remains hungry for further success.
“We wanted more than anything to win a second title and make history once again,” he said. “We have to stay humble. We’re going to enjoy first, and after we’re going to work again because we want more.”
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