Thiago Silva sad moment (Credits: Chelsea Football Club)
Thiago Silva, who plays for Chelsea, shared on Twitter that he is sad because he is not going to play in the UEFA Champions League this current season. Many reactions from fans flew into his comment section. Most of them were positive comments, while others were just ridiculous.
The UEFA Champions League started today, but Chelsea is not in it. The team did not do well enough in the Premier League last season to qualify. This sounds unbelievable for a great team to stay back from UEFA.
Thiago Silva applauds fans (Credits: Chelsea Football Club)
Chelsea Defender Thiago Silva Sad at Not Playing in UEFA Champions League
In fact, Chelsea have not taken part in any European competition this season. The Blues’ Premier League rivals, Newcastle United, will take part in the UEFA Champions League today.
Newcastle face AC Milan at San Siro. And Thiago Silva, who earns £110,000 a week (Spotrac), appears to be missing the UEFA Champions League for real.
Thiago Silva is used to playing in the UEFA Champions League every year. The Brazilian has played in Europe’s top club competition with AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
The 38-year-old Brazilian central defender reached the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League final with PSG and won the competition with Chelsea in 2020/21.
Chelsea are determined to return to the UEFA Champions League. The Blues did poorly in the Premier League last season, but under manager Mauricio Pochettino, they will aim to at least finish in the top four this season. But Chelsea need to do even better than they are currently doing.
Thiago Silva of Brazil
At the moment, the London team called Chelsea is in 14th place in the Premier League. They have five points from playing five games. Chelsea is using 4 points to stand taller than the teams near the bottom. Even at that, they are still eight points behind their fellow London team, Arsenal, which is in fourth place.
Still, to make it clear to you, Chelsea is not taking part in the UEFA Champions League this year because they did not do well enough in the Premier League last time, and usually, you need to be in the top four to get into that big tournament. It’s really sad.
Manchester City are the Champions League holders (Credits: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
If you are following the premier league fixture for this season, it will be hard not to hear the reference word ‘top four.’
In the past seasons, only the top four finishing clubs were guaranteed a place in the Champions League and in the UEFA’s blue riband European competition. But this has been changed now.
How many teams will be playing in next season’s Champions League?
There will be an increase of four teams, which brings to a total of 36 teams in the Champions League from 2024-2025.
From the next season, there won’t be a structure of eight groups of four teams. Instead, there will be a 36-team “Swiss model” in which every team will be playing a total of ten games- five at home, five away.
The fixtures will be based on seedings, and the ranking of teams will be from 1 to 36. The top 8 teams will advance to a 16-team knockout round, which leads into a play-off round to decide the final eight.
Manchester City is the UEFA Champions League holder (Credits: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Will England earn a fifth Champions League place?
The chances of England earning an additional Champions place are high. England has been top-ranking in UEFA for four consecutive seasons, and they have a high domestic strength compared to their European rivals.
There are eight Premier League in Europe this season. They are Champions League winners- Manchester City joined at the top table by Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United.
The eighth English team to qualify for Europe was West Ham United, who earned access to the Europa League by winning the Europa Conference League.
Other leagues with the most qualifying places
England, Spain, Italy, and Germany get four automatic Champions League group spots as they are the four best-performing countries, according to UEFA.
France and Portugal get two spots, and the Champions of Netherlands, Austria, Serbia, and Scotland make it to the group stage.
Newcastle’s group stage appearance in the last Champions League two decades ago (Credits: Nicolas Tucat/AFP)
How many Premier League teams can qualify for the Champions?
The new ‘top five’ is ignored, focusing on the ‘super seven.’ That will be the total number of Premier League teams reaching the Champions League next season. But keep in mind that it is very unlikely to happen.
Assuming the English teams perform well in Europe, then five Premier League teams will qualify for the Champions League based on their rankings.
Two more English teams will be joining if they win the Champions League and Europa League, respectively, while finishing with a lower than fifth in the Premier League.
How many English teams could play in Europe next season?
Theoretically, there could be 11 English teams in European competition next season, which is more than half the number of teams in the table.
Seven from the Champions League, Three from the Europa League, and the winners from the Carabao Cup qualify for the play-off round of the Europa Conference League, which brings us to a total of 11 teams for Europe next season.
There is also a wild fantasy for 10 Premier Leagues and a side from the top flight of winners from the FA Cup or Carabao Cup. But the chances of that happening are extremely low.
This is just a theory and will be confusing if seen on a table layout.
Aurélien Tchouameni during his presentation ceremony in Madrid (Credits: Helios de la Rubia/Getty Images)
Jude Bellingham has shown his admiration of Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, a player who was rumored to be a player Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reportedly attempted to sign during the recent summer transfer window.
The information below shows that Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder, has applauded his teammate Aurelien Tchouameni’s performance while representing France. Tchouameni has been linked with a potential move to Liverpool.
Jude Bellingham and Tchouameni (Credits: Pedro Castillo/Getty Images)
Applause for Liverpool’s Summer Transfer Prospect Aurelien Tchouameni
France defeated the Republic of Ireland by 2-0 in the European Championship on Thursday. Tchouameni scored the first goal of the game for France in the 19th minute with a magnificent strike from outside the 18-yard box.
The 23-year-old Real Madrid star midfielder started the game in a two-man-defensive midfield system. And it was a very impressive performance from the £119,000-a-week star player. The French international even came close to scoring a second goal for France. Aaurelien Tchouameni dictated the game’s pace and displayed excellence in both defensive challenges and tackles.
During his time on the pitch, the ex-AS Monaco player registered three shots on goal, completed two crucial passes, maintained an impressive pass completion rate of 96.2%, recorded 126 touches, contributed with four tackles and two interceptions, and delivered a single cross.
Tchouameni’s performance showed why Liverpool were so interested in signing the Madrid star during the summer transfer window.
Jurgen Klopp with Tchouameni (Credits: Diego Souto/Getty Images)
Liverpool Tried to Secure Tchouameni’s Signature
In June, Defensa Central reported that Real Madrid rejected a €60 million offer from Liverpool for the 23-year-old star. It was also reported that Chelsea was also interested in signing the French international, but the player decided to stay at Los Blancos.
Tchouameni has played in four games for Real Madrid in La Liga this season. Carlo Ancelotti’s team has set their sights on winning both the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season.
Real Madrid Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni’s Position Regarding a Possible Move to Liverpool
Liverpool have already missed out on the signing of Ecuador international midfielder Moises Caicedo to Premier League rivals Chelsea and were looking at Tchouameni as a potential alternative.
However, Madrid sees the young midfielder as a key player of the team and would not consider his transfer to any other club, according to the report by The Athletic, which also reported that the £119,000-a-week French international himself does not intend to leave Los Blancos for Liverpool or any other club.
It is not at all surprising that Tchouameni doesn’t want to leave Real Madrid for Liverpool in this summer transfer window. Similarly, it is not surprising that even Real Madrid doesn’t want to sell the young French international this summer.
Real Madrid, who frequently win La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, are perhaps the biggest club in the entire world. It is highly doubtful that Tchouameni would give up on being a success at the Santiago Bernabeu after just one season since he joined Madrid from AS Monaco in the summer of 2022.
The 23-year-old might not have had the best season last year, but he is still a very young player and is continuously growing and improving. There is a high probability that Tchouameni will excel for Madrid this season and establish himself as an important member of the team.
Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Madrid, has high hopes for the Frenchman.
As the champions league travels to its business end, two of the most passionate clubs will have a go at each other in the Champions League final in 2022. This will be a repeat of the 2018 Champions League finals in Kyiv, which Madrid won. The Los Blancos had won it 3-1. This will be the third time both these teams will lock horns in this iconic competition. The reds have a score to settle and one can hope for a nail-biting finish to the match. This post will contain Liverpool vs Real Madrid UEFA Champions League Final Predictions.
This mouth-watering clash will take place on 28th May. The venue of this epic clash is Stade de France which last hosted the finals of Euro 2017. The reds can boast of a very strong and competitive team before the game. But, judging by Los Blancos’s fate in this competition; the reds will not dare to put any foot wrong. Liverpool’s boss, Jurgen Klopp, has declared Madrid to be the ‘massive favourites’, going into this game. After the bitter experience of the previous champions league final, the Reds will play with all guns blazing to settle their scores. The veteran coach of Los Blancos had already defeated the reds in the 2007 Champions League final in Greece. It is still considered one of the best ‘revenge’ matches in the champions league. On the 28th, Ancelloti will look to repeat the feat once again.
Date, Time, and Where to watch the Champions League finals?
The Champions League final at the Stade de France is scheduled for 28th May 2022, 12:30 AM (IST). To watch the match live, Indian fans can tune into Sony tv networks, while for online streaming the best platform will be either Sony Liv or Jio TV.
Whereas for the British fans, the scheduled kick-off time is at 8 pm (GMT) on Wednesday, 28th May 2022. It will be televised live on BT Sport networks. People in America can watch the match on CBS networks or stream on Paramount+.
Line-Up Predictions:
Two of the biggest football giants are going to square off in the Champions League final in France. As such, there will be heavy preparation with the team lineups and players.
Liverpool:
Liverpool will be sweating on the fitness of Roberto Firmino. The Brazillian striker picked up a foot injury during the finals of the FA Cup back in April. After a frustrating 4 weeks on the sidelines, the Brazilian is yet to start proper training with the team.
Divock Origi who was ill for a short duration was also available in the semifinal clash against Villarreal.
Other players to be on the list of recent injuries are Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas. However, both of them have recovered fully and are ready to go all guns blazing in the champions league final.
Unlike Liverpool, things are not that rosy for Los Blancos. Many players of real are either on the injury list or have a dry patch in their performance
The first player who’s full recovery will be a key to success for real is David Alaba. The Austrian was not able to play the full 90 mins and had to be subbed during the semifinal.
Along with David Alaba, Eder Militao has also some minor injury concerns. Although, the injury does not seem to be that precarious yet the physio will try to bring him to 100% fit.
Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale & Luka Jovic are set to miss this iconic final due to injury.
However, it is not the injury that Madrid is concerned with. It’s also the recent form of certain players, primarily the form of their ‘golden trio’ in midfield. The three of them- Kroos, Casemiro and Modric did not have a very good game at Bernabeu. Ancelloti will be closely monitoring their form as they might prove to be the difference in the finals.
For the reds, the important man will be Sadio Mane. The Senegalese forward has been in sensational touch this year. He’s already tied with Didier Drogba as the most number of goals by an African in this tournament. He was even instrumental to score the opener for Liverpool back in 2018, but his team lost. Another player who will be excited about this clash is Mo Salah. The Egyptian king has a ‘score’ to settle with Real. On that occasion, Salah was injured and had to be substituted out. Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool legend insists that the Egyptian winger will look for his “revenge” after what happened four years ago. Another player who might prove to be a catalyst for Liverpool is L.Diaz. The Columbian has been in sensational form after making a move from Porto. In the champions league final, he might show wonders given the form he is currently in.
Sadio Mane
Real Madrid:
For Madrid, all eyes will be on Karim Benzema who has been in impeccable form. The French striker has a ‘champion’ luck so far in this competition. He has managed to score in every match that Madrid has played. He scored the decider in the epic comeback of Madrid in the semifinals. Another force to reckon with is Rodrygo. The Brazilian single-handedly put his team into the title race when he headed 2 goals in the extra time. In the finals also the Brazilian will be tasked with the job of seeing his team through. Madrid has not only managed to score at an astonishing rate but they also have been able to save goals at crunch moments. This was due to the herculean effort of Thibaut Courtois in the goal. The Belgian goalkeeper has been termed ‘the octopus’ due to his efforts. In the finals as well, he will be required to make as many good saves as possible to keep the opponents at bay.
Karim Benzema
Champions League Scoreline:
When it’s the night of the champions, most of the predictions go wayward. Both the teams are in the form of their life. Madrid has always been a powerhouse in this competition while Liverpool’s recent growth in the UCL has been impressive. There will be not much difference in goals to separate these 2 teams. Hence, a scoreline of 1-0 or maybe 2-0 is possible.
It was the night of the champions league, and you would expect a full action of 90 mins when traditional heavyweights step on the ground. Well, Real Madrid vs. Manchester city turned out to be an ideal fixture that did not dishearten the fans. Both the teams have met six times in the competitive fixtures in the past. Both City and Madrid have won one game apiece while the remaining 2 games have ended in a draw. In a madcap semifinal game, both the teams exchanged a lot of blows in the early phase of the game. This post will cover the semifinal match of Real Madrid vs. Manchester City.
The Los Blancos are currently the most successful team in this tournament, having won the cup previously on 13 occasions. They are also the only team to have won the tournament on 3 consecutive occasions. However, when they took the field on Wednesday night at the Etihad stadium, things turned out to be different. Facing a revamped City side of Pep Guardiola, Ancelloti’s men were in deep trouble in the opening minutes of the game itself. City played with a false nine and an advanced form of tiki-taka. While Madrid played with a full-on attack formation with fast wingers and a proper striker.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City, match highlights
Manchester City threw everything that they had on their pallet at real. However, Real also did not back down from the competition and managed to find a way to make a complete comeback almost. It was the talented forward line of Madrid that mounted the attack on the City’s defense. The budding forwards made many runs towards the defense line of the opposition. The match started, and within the opening minutes, De Bruyne scored a diving header. It was a curling ball that came from the right after Mahrez managed to cut the defense. Moments later, in the 10th minute, Gabriel Jesus scored once more for the blues. Likewise, Madrid responded with goals from Benzema (33″) and Vinicius Junior (55″). Fernandinho then sprinted down the right-wing and sent a pinpoint cross to Foden in the Madrid six-yard area. Subsequently, City restored its 2-goal difference with the header from Phil Foden (53″). In the last minutes of the game, City scored another goal thanks to a chance ball that came in front of Bernardo Silva. Finally, Benzema scored from a penalty in the 80th minute to make the final score 4-3.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City, match statistics
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid was expected to be a mouthwatering clash. Indeed, the match was an amalgamation of all the pedigrees that makes a game nerve-wracking. It had incredible skill, spectacular goals, solid refereeing, dramatic twists and turns, and stars performing at the highest level on the brightest stage. Overall, both City and Madrid had almost the same number of shots on target. Possession-wise and accuracy-wise, City, had a better record due to their style of play. However, when it came to speedy counter-attacks, Los Blancos were miles ahead of their counterparts. Rating-wise, KDB (7.83) was the highest-rated player in the match, ahead of Karim Benzema. The Belgian was playing the game coming back from injury and had an impressive game at Etihad. From the Le Merengues side, Karim Benzema was the highest-rated player (7.76). The French striker was instrumental in helping his side make a remarkable comeback in the game. Real, however, missed by a whisker to draw the match.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City, teams
City had a couple of injury and suspension issues in their squad as well, primarily the absence of Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy & Joao Cancelo. Another player added to the injury list was John Stones, who had to be substituted in the 36th minute itself due to a muscle pull. But, surprisingly, many of their regular starters were also benched. Players like Grealish and Gundogan started the match on the bench. For Madrid, the main problem was the doubtful condition of Casemiro and David Alaba. Casemiro was benched for the whole game, while Alaba was subbed at the start of the second half. In the absence of Casemiro, Kroos had to play as an inverted defensive midfielder. While Nacho was brought in as a replacement for Alaba. Apart from these minor changes and twerks, the entire squad remained the same, more or less.
The first leg of the competition was a complete goal-fest. This was the joint highest number of goals that have been scored in a semifinal of the Champions League. But, Manchester city has a very slender lead to defend when they head back to Bernabeau for the second leg. Given the mentality that showed in Etihad, the second leg promises to be a cracker of a game. There are many chances that the 13-time champion might find a way to pass the formidable hurdle that Pep’s side possesses. But one cannot deny these are arguably two of the best teams in the football circuit, and fans are in for a treat of exemplary gameplay.
The beautiful game of football where passion runs high and the rewards are tremendous. A victory on the football field can turn you into an overnight sensation. However, winning a trophy in football means your name will be etched in the history books forever. That is the legacy of football trophies. There are many football tournaments all over the world. Some are extremely famous and with that fame comes a price which makes these trophies some of the most expensive in the whole wide world. Let us delve into the top 10 most expensive football trophies in the world and find out the legacies and stories each of them hold.
Also Read: Top 10 Biggest Football Stadium In The World
La Liga -$29,000
The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, or La Liga as known to English-speaking countries, is one of the oldest tournaments in the world. Established over 93 years ago, it serves as the top division of Spanish football. It isn’t much known about the current history of the trophy. However, it is supposedly valued at $29000 and made of silver and wood. It has weighed around 18 kgs and is 70 cm in height. Being one of the oldest leagues in the world, the prestige and importance of the trophy cannot be overstated.
La Liga
UEFA Champions League – $50,000
The showcase of the immortals. UEFA Champions League is an annual tournament played among the best clubs in Europe. Qualification is based on the top standings in the respective leagues across the whole of Europe. Playing in the UEFA Champions League is considered as one of the greatest club achievements in European football. The tournament began in the year of 1955, with the inaugural champions being Real Madrid. Over the years, the tournament has garnered its prestige due to the quality of football it offers. Specifically, a grand stage for world-class players to compete against each other.
UEFA Champions League
The inaugural trophy was permanently awarded to Real Madrid in 1967. The current iteration of the trophy was forged in 1967 for 10000 Swiss Francs. Which amounts to around $50000 by today’s standards certainly places it among the Top 10 Most Expensive Football Trophies in the world. Made of pure silver, weighing 11 kgs and 74 cm in height, it is one of the most recognizable trophies in the world today.
Bundesliga Meisterschale – $57,102
The Bundesliga Meisterschale has been awarded to the top-tier German Football League champions since 1949. Literal translation of Meisterschale means champions’ bowl, it is considered as the highest honor in the German Football hierarchy. It was forged in the year 1949 and was first awarded to VfR Mannheim. Made of pure gold, silver, and tourmaline, the Meisterschale is estimated to be around $57,102. Currently, Bayern Munich have the distinction of holding being the league champions 32 times in their history, out of which they have been awarded the Mesiterschale 31 times. Before the Meisterschale, there was another trophy by the name of Viktoria, which went missing in 1944 during the second world war. Since then, the Meisterschale took its place and remains in contention to this day.
Bundesliga Meisterschale
Serie A trophy – $66,000
The Coppa Campioni d’Italia was forged in 1960 by sculptor Ettore Calvelli. Awarded to the champions of the Serie A, it remains one of the most prestigious and coveted trophy in world football. Made out of blue sodalite base and a gold ring in the middle, the trophy is the perfect representation of the legacy, importance, and the quality of the players involved in the tournament. The trophy is considered among the costliest in European football and thus is among the top 10 most expensive football trophies in the world. The passion and desire the Italian fans encompass is visible in the creation of this trophy. Valued at around $66,000, it certainly upholds the year-old traditions captured within the trophy.
Serie A trophy
DFB-Pokal trophy – $108,000
Standing at 52 cm tall and weighing 6.2 kgs, the DFB-Pokal trophies is one of the most coveted prizes in German football. Bayern Munich has the distinction of lifting the gem-studded trophy 18 times in their history. The trophy comprises of 42 gems in total comprising of tourmalines, rock crystals, and nephrites and is forged in pure sterling silver. It was created by Wilhelm Nagel in 1965 and is valued at $108,000. The trophy was recently expanded in 2021 in order to accommodate the names of future winners. This year the final will be played among SC Freiburg and RB Leipzig. A match to certainly look forward to for the fans of Bundesliga.
DFB-Pokal trophy
Africa Cup of Nations trophy – $150,000
There has been 3 iterations of the Africa Cup of Nations trophy. The current iteration of the trophy is a gold-plated cup that was forged in Italy in the year of 2001. Considered as the most precious and well-known trophy for African football, the gold-plated trophy is currently valued at $150,000. It is among one of the most expensive trophies in world football, and it stands to occasion of the fact that the passion the African football fans possess. Moreover, Egypt hold the distinction of being the only nation to win the competition 3 times and thus have a full-size replica awarded to them.
Africa Cup of Nations trophy
The FA Cup trophy – $1,180,000
Now we are getting into the absurd territory in regards to value of trophies. The FA Cup tournament is considered as the oldest national competition to exist in the world. Founded in 1871, the first trophy which was awarded cost $25.68 to make. At the time, it was considered a huge amount. However, the trophy was stolen in 1895, and a replica was used in place of the original.
The FA Cup trophy
In 1911, the trophy got a redesign, and the design is still currently in use till this day. The second iteration of the trophy standing at 61.5 cm in height, was manufactured by Fattorini’s of Bradford. The trophy was further replicated two more times. Once in 1992 and the other in 2014. The 2014 iteration of the trophy was forged using 925 sterling silver and weighed around 6.3 kgs. The height of the trophy has remained the same since 1911. It was evaluated to be around a whopping $1,180,000 in 2016.
UEFA Europa League trophy – $4.5 million
According to UEFA, the Europa League trophy is the heaviest among all UEFA trophies. It weighs around 15 kgs in weight and has a height of 65 cm. The Europa League trophy is awarded to the winners tournament, which is the second-tier competition of European club football, ranking below the UEFA Champions League. The trophy is made of silver and placed on a yellow marble plinth. It was designed and forged in Italy by the Bertoni workshop. Evaluated at an impressive $4.5 million, the Europa league trophy certainly is much more expensive than its first-tier competition, the UEFA Champions League.
UEFA Europa League trophy
Copa Libertadores trophy – $8.5 million
The Argentinian league trophy, Copa Libertadores, is simply astonishing. Valued at around $8.5 million, the trophy is made out of sterling silver, bronze, and hardwood plywood. . Originally, the trophy was not made to last a long time since there were only space for 18 names to be added to the trophy. However, the legacy and passion of South American football withstood the test of time, and the tournament is now one of the most important events in South American football. Similar to the UEFA Champions League, the tournament invites the champions and runner-ups of the respective football leagues across South America.
Copa Libertadores trophy
FIFA World Cup trophy – $20,000,000
Valued at a massive $20 million, the FIFA World Cup trophy is the most expensive trophy in the world. The trophy weighs around 6.175 kgs and stands at 36.5 cm tall. Made out of 18 carat gold, the structure of the trophy is made hollow. This is due to the fact that a solid trophy would weigh near about 80kgs and would be difficult to lift. The trophy was manufactured by the famed Bertoni workshop in Italy.
FIFA World Cup trophy
The trophy has undergone a few modifications over the years, like the addition of a plate on the bottom side of the trophy, which would contain the engravings of the winners. The winners name are engraved in their native language. Undoubtedly the most prestigious trophy in the footballing world. The price tag surprisingly defines the importance and legacy of the tournament it portrays.
With the epic conclusion to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, we determined our semi-finalists. Real Madrid, Villarreal, Manchester City, and Liverpool. A battle between Spain and England ultimately determines this year’s champion. The final of the Champions League is on May 28th at the Saint-Denis stadium (France). However, before that, the four teams will battle out in the Champions League Semi-Finals to determine this year’s finalists. Earlier, the finals were going to be played in St. Petersburg. However, UEFA Sanctions against Russia prompted the new location to be in Paris. Let us take a look at the teams which have qualified for the Champions League Semi-Finals.
Villarreal
The giant killers of this year’s Champions League. Unai Emery’s Villarreal pulled off the impossible when they ousted giants Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Just 10 years ago, Villarreal was relegated to the Spanish second division. The amount of suffering endured by the club has been an arduous journey. Nevertheless, they have certainly surprised everybody and punched way above their weight to be successful. Passion and hard work did pay off, and they will now face Liverpool in the Champions League Semi-Finals. True underdogs of the competition, their grit and tenacity certainly propel them towards success. Nonetheless, it is poised to be an interesting match-up. David vs. Goliath on the football pitch. Our minds say Liverpool, but the heart certainly loves to root for the underdogs.
Villarreal
Liverpool
The Goliath to Villarreal’s David. Jurgen Klopp’s rock and roll football has dominated the opposition throughout the competition. Now with a healthy squad, Liverpool seems destined to once again lift the trophy. It will certainly be on their list to go for the treble. With FA Cup and Premier League on the horizon, Klopp’s Liverpool will be looking to make history. Having faced tough competition throughout, Liverpool has a clear destination in sight. With Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, and Roberto Firmino all firing their cylinders, the tournament needs to be wary of the domination of Liverpool.
Liverpool
Real Madrid
The legendary Real Madrid are once again looking to regain their former glory. With the departure of key players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid looked like a shell of its former glory. However, with the departure of their talisman in Ronaldo, and captain Ramos, Karim Benzema stepped up to the plate encompassing both the qualities in one. Currently, Benzema seems unstoppable. Scoring 2 back to back hat tricks in the Champion’s League, Benzema looks determined to bring Real Madrid back to European glory all by himself. Vinicius and Benzema in the front have wreaked havoc on teams like PSG and Chelsea. They are facing another megastar in the Champions League Semi-Finals in the form of Manchester City. An epic duel awaits the arena when these two gladiators will collide.
Real Madrid
Manchester City
Perhaps this will finally be the year Pep Guardiola can guide Manchester City to their first-ever European glory. They have all the means necessary to triumph the best of the best. However, European success has forever eluded the Premier League giants. This year they are scheduled to face Real Madrid in the Champions League Semi-Finals. A tough task, to say the least. Even more, since Karim Benzema has found his new one-man army form and has been unstoppable. Additionally, a couple of injury scares in the form of Kevin De Bruyne, and Kyle Walker dampens their chances a bit. Nevertheless, the squad depth and the genius tactical mind of Pep Guardiola can certainly conjure up backup plans to overcome these odds. Nevertheless, Real Madrid vs. Manchester City will be a spectacle to witness, and we are all for it.
Manchester City
Time and Date of the Champions League Semi-Finals
The first leg of the Champions League Semi-Finals will be contested on the 27th and 28th of April. With the second leg contested on the 4th and 5th of May.
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: 27th April (First Leg) | 5th May (Second Leg)
Liverpool vs. Villarreal: 28th April (First Leg) | 4th May (Second Leg)
Where to watch
The rights to show UEFA Champions League matches in India belong to Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN). They will be streaming the match on the SONY LIV app, and it will be broadcast on Sony TEN 1 and Sony TEN 2. Additionally, it will also be streaming on the JioTV app.
Fans in the USA can catch the broadcast on CBS and TUDN Deportes. For fans in the UK, it will be broadcast specifically on the BT Sport channel.
