Tag: Man City

  • Man City, Man Utd turn to FA Cup glory to save poor seasons

    Man City, Man Utd turn to FA Cup glory to save poor seasons

    Manchester City’s hopes of a trophy this season now rest solely on the FA Cup ahead of Saturday’s visit of second-tier Plymouth, while holders Manchester United also desperately need silverware to rescue a miserable campaign.

    With Premier League leaders Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham already out, the path has been cleared for the Manchester giants, who have faced off in each of the past two finals.

    Brighton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace are among the other clubs who are dreaming of glory come Wembley on May 17.

    Here, AFP Sport looks at the pick of the ties from the fifth round this weekend:

    Crystal Palace v Millwall (Saturday 12:15 GMT)

    Twice FA Cup runners-up, Palace have never won a major trophy but are coming into form at the right time if they are to reach Wembley this year.

    Oliver Glasner’s men have won seven of their last nine games in all competitions, most recently thrashing Aston Villa 4-1 in midweek.

    Jean-Phillippe Mateta’s streak of eight goals in nine games has helped the Eagles soar clear of any relegation trouble and up to 12th in the Premier League.

    Now they face a local derby against Championship side Millwall, who are keen to spoil the ambitions of their south London rivals.

    Man City v Plymouth (Saturday 17:30)

    Plymouth were the story of the fourth road as they stunned Liverpool 1-0 at Home Park.

    Argyle’s reward is a trip to the Etihad and a shot at another monumental shock.

    Plymouth boss Miron Muslic has become an internet sensation after clips of his inspirational team talks went viral and is looking forward to coming up against his coaching idol Pep Guardiola.

    Related News
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    “It’s the biggest honour in my life,” said Muslic.

    “I’m very much looking forward to shaking his hand and telling him that he’s a giant of our sport and a huge, huge role model for every single coach in the world.”

    Newcastle v Brighton (Sunday 13:45)

    Arguably the tie of the round sees sixth in the Premier League take on eighth.

    Newcastle already have one final to look forward to next month against Liverpool in the League Cup.

    The Magpies have not won a major trophy for 56 years but can ill-afford to let the success or failure of their season hang on a clash with the Premier League champions-elect.

    Brighton have won four in a row after a difficult spell in Fabian Hurzeler’s first season in charge.

    The Seagulls won at St. James’ Park earlier in the season and often save their best for the toughest opposition.

    Much will depend on the fitness of Newcastle’s 21-goal striker Alexander Isak, who missed Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool due to a groin strain.

    Man Utd v Fulham (Sunday 16:30)

    United saved a shambolic campaign last season by beating City to lift the Cup but few can see Ruben Amorim’s men repeating the feat.

    The Red Devils did show heart in beating Ipswich 3-2 on Wednesday despite Patrick Dorgu’s first-half red card for just a third league win in 11 matches.

    Fulham sit five places and nine points above United in the Premier League, but have lost both meetings between the sides 1-0 this season.

    The Cottagers not only have revenge for those matches in mind, but for a controversial FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford two years ago.

    Fulham led 1-0 with 15 minutes to go until captain Aleksandar Mitrovic, Willian and manager Marco Silva were all sent-off following a handball on his own line by Willian.

    United went on to win 3-1 and Mitrovic received an eight-game ban for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh.

  • ‘Man City’s surrender in Madrid marks end of an era’

    ‘Man City’s surrender in Madrid marks end of an era’

    Manchester City’s shocking decline and fall was confirmed by their own travelling supporters suffering on the top tier of the Bernabeu as they were being ruthlessly put to the sword by Real Madrid.

    The giant clock inside this magnificent arena was on 80 minutes when Mateo Kovacic lined up a tame shot that flew straight at Real keeper Thibaut Courtois, who was probably grateful for the exercise.

    City were trailing 3-0, a scoreline that flattered them, so the hardy band of followers decided irony was the best medicine for the torture of watching their once all-conquering side, breaking out into rapturous cheering and applause.

    Moments later, with City achieving the rare feat of stringing several passes together, chants of “Ole” came from the travelling support.

    This summed up a pitiful, desperate night for manager Pep Guardiola, as they subsided in the most timid fashion, a sense of inevitability draped over the Bernabeu from the moment Kylian Mbappe scored the first goal of a brilliant hat-trick after only four minutes.

    Losing to Real Madrid is an occupational hazard of the Champions League. Losing to Real Madrid by barely laying a glove on them is a sign of Manchester City’s steep downward curve this season.

    The credits were rolling, and not just on their Champions League campaign, as they failed to reach the last 16 for the first time since they failed to get past the group stage in 2012-13.

    They are surely rolling, too, on a great team in need of major renovation.

    In the most palatial surroundings of this rebuilt stadium, this had the look and feel of the end of an era.

    Guardiola almost seemed to accept this was the case as he stated in the aftermath: “Nothing is eternal.”

    He said: “The best team won. They deserved it. This is the benchmark. We have to accept it and move forward.

    “In previous seasons when we were better, it hurt more. We have to accept it and the reality of our team.”

    Asked whether a rebuild is needed, he said: “We have time. We have 13 games left in the Premier League to get into this competition next season.”

    City’s need for a changing of the guard was made to look even more stark by the ease in which they were dismissed by Real Madrid, yes the holders and the superpower of the Champions League, but also a side they have consistently pushed in matches almost too close to call over several years.

    Not here. This was a rout with a casual air.

    ‘There are no quick fixes’ – how do Man City recover from slump?

    Mbappe’s stunning hat-trick dumps outclassed Man City out

    Watch: Mbappe – the definitive story of a football prodigy

    Watch: How to win the Champions League – Real Madrid

    Abdukodir Khusanov had a difficult night in Madrid

    Real Madrid were able to play within themselves after four minutes, Mbappe’s hat-trick completed with superb speed of thought and foot for his second after 33 minutes then a low drive just after the hour.

    The Bernabeu, surrounded by thousands of fans forming a welcoming committee for Carlo Ancelotti’s side two hours before kick-off, with flares lighting up the Spanish sky and the the smell of cordite in the air, witnessed a procession, a very painful procession for those who travelled from Manchester.

    Guardiola, justifiably, will claim mitigating circumstances as Erling Haaland was only fit enough for the bench, not even taking part in the pre-match warm-up after sustaining a knee injury late in the 4-0 win against Newcastle United.

    And moments after Mbappe opened the scoring, John Stones suffered another injury and limped off.

    It was not that City lost, most observers expected this outcome after the 3-2 defeat in the first leg at Etihad Stadium, it was the manner of the defeat.

    City never looked like they believed they could pull off the “perfect” performance Guardiola stated was required to overturn that deficit. This was about as far from perfection as it gets.

    And the clues were everywhere that if it is not exactly back to the drawing board for Guardiola after six Premier Leagues, a Champions League, two FA Cups, four League Cups, a Super Cup and a Club World Cup in a magnificent run of successes, then it is certainly time for a new set of plans.

    Kevin de Bruyne, who has decorated this fixture over many years, was only on the bench after an ineffectual performance in the first leg.

    Stones, 31 in May, is still a pivotal figure but suffers so many injuries, while 34-year-old surprise starter Ilkay Gundogan delivered more evidence that he left his best at Manchester City in his glorious first spell.

    Goalkeeper Ederson, 31, is not the guarantee of reliability he once was while gifted midfield metronome Bernardo Silva is not the influence of old as he reaches 30. Jack Grealish, 30 in September, was also only on the bench.

    The renewal has started with new faces such as striker Omar Marmoush, who had no service worthy of the name here, and midfielder Nico Gonzalez, as well as 20-year-old defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who suffered as he was pressed into service in an unaccustomed right-back role

    Mbappe makes his mark to leave Manchester City struggling

    It was a tough night for the young defender, clearly seen as a weakness in City’s make-up and relentlessly targeted down the flank.

    Guardiola’s takeaway from this harrowing night must be that he needs a ruthless cull of those older names, players who have delivered so magnificently for him.

    Rarely has such an elite team’s form and quality fallen off the cliff so fast and so hard.

    This is a team that has been allowed to grow too old together, that is now unable to find the old hunger that enabled it to return to the well of success so brilliantly year after year.

    Guardiola has signed a new two-year contract and his task must be to fashion a new team before it is time to discuss another deal.

    The Bernabeu is the most unforgiving arena in the Champions League, its stunning refurbishment complete with five tiers of stands looking down on City’s demise.

    It was a particular galling night for Guardiola, not simply because the task in front of him was laid out in graphic, gruesome detail before his very eyes, but also because Real Madrid’s fans revelled in his discomfort as a result of his Barcelona allegiances.

    Guardiola’s name was met with deafening jeers and whistles when it was read out before kick-off, and when one of the many giant screens captured his despair in close-up after Mbappe’s early strike, a huge roar of delight swept around the stadium.

    As City players trooped disconsolately away at the final whistle, some of them perhaps on their way out of this tournament forever with this club, there was no consolation to be had, certainly not from Gonzalez’s late goal.

    Manchester City have had a magnificent run. They have lit up domestic and European competition with the quality of their football but this was a night when it looked like their race was run. It is time for change.

    The dismissive way they were treated by a Real Madrid side they have regarded as rivals in recent years showed they need new blood to return to that former golden status.

    It happens to the best of them and Manchester City were the best of them. Not any more.

  • Reaction as Man City lose to last-minute Bellingham strike for Real Madrid

    Fifth-round

    And then there were 16.

    Here is the draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup. These games will be played across the weekend of 1 and 2 March, however we don’t yet know the picks for TV.

    Preston North End v Burnley
    Aston Villa v Cardiff City
    Crystal Palace v Millwall
    Manchester United v Fulham
    Newcastle United v Brighton
    Bournemouth v Wolves
    Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle
    Nottingham Forest v Ipswich

    Is a penalty shootout just a lottery? Not according to Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

    “It was a tough one. This is the FA Cup, we knew how hard it was going to be,” he told BBC Radio Nottingham.

    “Credit to Exeter, but probably we didn’t do one of the best games. At the end we are happy, this is more important.

    “Penalties is not a lottery. We have to prepare them and the boys were really focused on doing things properly.

    “We take our penalty shots in training sessions and did really well .

    Where does this persistent myth of Pep only inheriting great sides come from?! Barca finished 3rd and 18 points off the pace the season before he joined. City scraped 4th on goal difference. He built both of those title winning sides! (Barca being the best ever side). Just odd that it persists despite being provably wrong with 2 seconds of thought!

    Exeter City 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Forest win 4-2 on penalties)

    Nottingham Forest beat 10-man Exeter on penalties

    “It was a heroic effort – it feels like we’ve been playing for about three days,” Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell told TodayPriceNG

    The Grecians are 18th in League One and Caldwell thinks the game against Nottingham Forest can help spur his side on for the rest of the season.

    “The players were outstanding. The mentality, the teamwork, the looking after each other and protecting each other in difficult moments was incredible. It’s something we have to take forward,” he said.

    “We have to use this performance, we have to use this feeling and take this into the next 17 games.”

    Exeter City 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Forest win 4-2 on penalties)

    Nottingham Forest.There was also FA Cup football last night – it just never ends.

    Nottingham Forest are into the fifth round of the competition but Nuno Espirito Santo’s much-changed side – 10 changes in total – needed extra time and penalties to beat 10-man Exeter City at St James Park in the fourth round.

    In the shootout, Exeter’s Reece Cole had his effort saved, while Angus MacDonald smacked the bar for the hosts before Neco Williams scored the decisive penalty for Forest.

    Josh Magennis opened the scoring for League One Exeter after five minutes, but Forest were soon level, then ahead, through Ramon Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi.

    Magennis got Exeter back in the tie with an equaliser from a set piece in the second half, although manager Gary Caldwell also watched his side go down to 10 men when debutant Ed Turns was given a straight red for an 87th-minute foul on substitute Morgan Gibbs-White.

    In the end, Forest avoided a potential banana skin and they will face Ipswich Town at the City Ground at the start of next month.

    Here’s my controversial Pep take….He is massively over-rated. Inherited the greatest side ever at Barca, took Bayern backwards and performed as expected at the richest club in the world. Of course, as a United fan, I’m sure I would be singing a different tune had Fergie convinced him otherwise

    I’ve always wondered, who is it that makes these Tifos? They’re hardly something you can just stitch together in

    The Champions League Final in Munich springs to mind. Yes, their City and their Stadium but it was Champions league

    Keep your Pep Guardiola takes and favourite Tifo memories coming in.

    Very shortly we’ll start building up to tonight’s Merseyside derby and Celtic’s match with Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

    Re 09:27 – When Pep arrived at City the spine of the team was Kompany, Fernandinho, Aguero, and David Silva. He’s won two titles and a treble since they left. Not only is it yet another moving of the goalposts as far as City are concerned (remember when we wouldn’t be a great team till we won in Europe), it’s demonstrably untrue to say Pep hasn’t had to rebuild the team

    Man City 2-3 Real Madrid

    Manuel Sanchez
    Spanish football journalist on the Football Daily podcast

    I think Real Madrid have taken a lot of pressure off themselves with the win. I think it will boost the confidence of the players a lot. They needed this.

    It has always been difficult for the Madrid mindset to get this kind of victory against Pep Guardiola when he was at both Barcelona and Man City. I think the players needed this and the fans needed this because they wanted this kind of victory against Guardiola and having the second leg at home now is a big advantage for them.

    I think the Madrid players have realised now how bad that City are at defending and how badly they handle their nerves at this moment. The level of confidence of Man City right now is so low and they need to smell that blood and come for it and I think they will go for it in the second leg a

    Nothing worse than a soft apple. A great coach is someone who is a serial winner, a great manager is someone who can make the most out of a depleted squad and still contend. Klopp, Mourinho, Fergie, Wenger…and I’d say up and coming for that list is Nuno. It’s the ability to inspire an underdog team to victory. Pep is a master tactician, but he isn’t the best manager.

    Man City 2-3 Real Madrid

    For Jack Grealish to get the nod, I mean, I was surprised. He started just based on his performance as this season.

    So, you know, gets the nod and then had a part in the Manchester City goal, didn’t he? Wonderful.

    Ball into Gvardiol and down in Haaland, finished. And then a few minutes later, he comes off, which pretty much summed up his season, really.

    He can’t find a rhythm. Let’s hope he has a possibility of making the second leg.

    Summary

    Champions League reaction as Bellingham’s winner for Real Madrid sinks Manchester City at Etihad

    Final Merseyside derby at Goodison: Everton v Liverpool (19:30 GMT)

    Celtic host Bayern Munich in Champions League (20:00)

    Nottingham Forest scrape through to FA Cup fifth round beating Exeter on penalties

    PSG, Juventus and Dortmund all win play-off first legs

    Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  • Man City & Celtic face Real & Bayern – but who else is in play-offs?

    Man City & Celtic face Real & Bayern – but who else is in play-offs?

    The Champions League knockout phase play-offs get under way this week as 16 teams face off looking to join the eight already into the last 16.

    Manchester City and Celtic are among those aiming to progress from their two-legged ties – against European champions Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.

    But which teams are in the play-offs? And who is already through?

    Who has progressed and who is in play-offs?

    Manchester City came from behind to beat Club Brugge and squeeze into a place in the play-offs, while Aston Villa and Arsenal joined Liverpool – who had long booked their place – with automatic progression to the last 16.

    Celtic, who lost 4-2 to Aston Villa in their final league game, join City in the play-offs – all five British teams progressed through the league phase.

    These are the teams through to each stage:

    Last 16: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Aston Villa.

    Knockout phase play-offs: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, PSV, Paris St-Germain, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Manchester City, Sporting, Club Brugge.

    And we already have an idea of who could play who in the next rounds – with City and Celtic in particular about to face huge tests.

    Which teams are in the play-off round?

    The full draw for the play-off round is as follows:

    Brest v Paris St-Germain (first leg 11 February, second leg 19 February)

    Juventus v PSV Eindhoven (first leg 11 February, second leg 19 February)

    Manchester City v Real Madrid (first leg 11 February, second leg 19 February)

    Sporting v Borussia Dortmund (first leg 11 February, second leg 19 February)

    Club Brugge v Atalanta (first leg 12 February, second leg 18 February)

    Celtic v Bayern Munich (first leg 12 February, second leg 18 February)

    Feyenoord v AC Milan (first leg 12 February, second leg 18 February)

    Monaco v Benfica (first leg 12 February, second leg 18 February)

    Who could meet in the last 16?

    Liverpool and Barcelona cannot meet until the final now after finishing in the top two of the league phase.

    The Reds will play one of Monaco, Brest, PSG or Benfica in the last 16 – with Barca facing another of those teams.

    Arsenal, who finished third, will play Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan or PSV.

    Aston Villa, who just finished in the top eight after beating Celtic, will take on Sporting, Club Brugge, Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund.

    Those ties will take place on 4-5 and 11-12 March.

    But they will not know which team exactly until the last-16 draw takes place on 21 February.

    Clubs will know their potential route to the final by then – with the draws for the quarters and semis also taking place that day.

    Which British clubs could meet
    further down the line?

    There is a chance Liverpool and Aston Villa could meet in the quarter-finals if they both win their last-16 ties.

    Arsenal could meet Celtic or Manchester City in that round too.

    But all of those potential fixtures depend on which way the last-16 draw goes. It is also possible British teams could meet in the semis or final.

    All should become clearer after 21 February when the draws for the last 16 onwards are made.

  • A rivalry of our times – why Man City & Real are fighting for their lives

    A rivalry of our times – why Man City & Real are fighting for their lives

    Real Madrid v Manchester City in a Champions League knockout match. It is becoming a classic rivalry of our times.

    This will be the fourth time the football powerhouses have met in Europe in the last four seasons – but with one big difference.

    This time, rather than being in the latter stages, both sides are fighting for their lives to merely make the last 16.

    So how did two of Europe’s most successful sides in recent seasons fail to make the top eight and end up in a play-off?

    Man City’s troubled season

    Manchester City only limped into the play-offs with a last-gasp victory in their must-win final match against Club Brugge.

    A problem of their own making? Yes and no.

    Manager Pep Guardiola had the chance to strengthen his squad at the end of the last Premier League title-winning season, but decided against it partly because he was unsure of his own future.

    He seriously considered the interest from the English FA and, for a while, he was 70-30 in favour of becoming the next national team coach, with those around him assuring him it would bring him a quieter life.

    He also trusted in his players – the squad who brought him four Premier League titles – and ultimately decided he still had a job to do at Manchester City

    In November, City were top of the table and the only team in the top five leagues to be unbeaten. Then the wheels fell off.

    When Ilkay Gundogan returned in August, the original plan had been for him and Bernardo Silva to play about one out of every three games.

    As things stand, Gundogan is just a couple of games away from playing 50% of the matches, which will mean an automatic renewal for him.

    Rodri rupturing his cruciate knee ligament and injuries to potential replacements like Manuel Akanji and John Stones has been a key issue.

    An out-of-sorts Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruyne struggling to maintain his customary high level and Jack Grealish being unable to demonstrate what a great player he could be, have exacerbated the problem.

    The reality was there for all to see as a squad lacking energy laboured and went through the motions in training.

    What’s it really like to play under ‘genius’ Pep Guardiola?

    ‘Guardiola is battling his own body’

    Any remaining uncertainty over Guardiola’s City future was ended in the middle of December when he signed a one-year contract extension to take his stay at the club to 10 years.

    Against his own better judgement and contrary to the advice being offered by many of those closest to him, he decided now was not the time to leave despite the fact it was becoming clear a total recycling of his squad was needed.

    The biggest names in the squad told him they were all with him and trusted he would take them out of the situation.

    His authority was never questioned, even though some players have imagined their careers elsewhere.

    Guardiola is also battling his own body. He is low in natural defences because of the excessive demands he places upon himself and, with everything in his life at the moment seeming to lack stability, he appears to be picking up every virus circulating.

    He is not at his best and he is a very emotional person, but still he is influencing and being demanding to those around him.

    Just as things looked to be on the mend on the field, they were put to the sword by a revitalised Paris St-Germain in their penultimate league phase game.

    Then, after wins against Chelsea and Club Brugge, they were routed 5-1 at Arsenal. That is how people inside the club expect the rest of the season will be; hit and miss.

    With Ruben Dias, Akanji, Josko Gvardiol, Stones and Nathan Ake waiting in the wings, Guardiola is hoping his side can soon once again show the form that earned them a Treble.

    At the moment, though, a top-four finish would seem like a major triumph, as Guardiola sets about recycling further elements of his squad in addition to those already brought in.

    The coaching staff have already heard their manager say that finishing in the top four would have to be celebrated almost as a fifth consecutive title – he feels it has been that hard.

    Real Madrid’s defensive problems

    Real Madrid’s route to this unexpected knockout game was not quite as laden with jeopardy as City’s, but it has not been without its moments of drama.

    Three defeats in the group phase have left them with a game against a side they would normally expect to play in the latter stages.

    It will not have escaped anyone’s attention – particularly Manchester City’s – that despite sitting on top of La Liga, this is a team that has fallen short whenever they have faced a major side at home or abroad this season.

    Defensively it has been carnage, with serious cruciate ligament injuries to major players such as Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, long-term problems with David Alaba and a lengthy absence for Antonio Rudiger.

    But defensive problems are only really the tip of the iceberg – as coach Carlo Ancelotti knows better than anyone.

    They go into the match against City with a front three of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe plus Jude Bellingham behind.

    They have amassed 59 goals this season, but the trouble for Ancelotti is his superstars up front – Bellingham apart – have not always put in the necessary shift defensively.

    Real’s wily boss saw potential problems at the start of the season and knew that unless they became more committed to the cause, it was going to be a long season.

    The absence of Toni Kroos has made it more difficult for them to have control of games, with Real suffering from not replacing the retired midfielder.

    Any money they have spent has not been on replacing Kroos, but rather on Mbappe and other young, precocious talents.

    They have also spent a lot of money on rebuilding their stadium, while complaints from the neighbours about noise means that concerts planned to take place at the new ground have been cancelled by the local licensing authorities.

    To say this was a ‘nice little earner’ for the club does not even begin to describe the situation. This is a big financial blow to Real.

    ‘Winning with quality if not commitment’

    Vinicius Jr looked far more committed to the cause in Real’s match against

    Atletico at the weekend, having been read the riot act by Luka Modric and Federico Valverde for failing to give his best during the club’s quarter-final Copa del Rey match at Leganes.

    Ancelotti continues to attempt to deal with a player who often looks like he is trying to take on the world, both on and off the pitch.

    He appears to be carrying a heavy burden, which means we have not seen the best of him this season.

    Lurking in the background is also the reported massive offer – some say about 1bn euros – from Saudi Arabia for him.

    At the moment it is all talk and Real Madrid are leaving the door open without actually saying anything for or against the deal.

    Although, with Rodrygo having scored 13 goals from Vinicius’ favoured left side, his departure would not be considered a fatal blow.

    Mbappe, meanwhile, is the best he has been so far at the club.

    He has decided to rely on his own skill and intuition and on being himself, and now everyone – Vinicius included – knows he is the focal point for Madrid.

    The leadership pecking order is beginning to take shape, led by Mbappe and a much sharper Bellingham. Modric and Valverde also have a say, replacing the likes of Carvajal and Militao, who were at the forefront.

    Describing Real Madrid as exposed seems something of an understatement. But as Ancelotti says, they have been winning with quality, if not commitment, and that is in abundance.

    So who’s going to bet against them?

  • Champions League playoff draw: Man City to face Real Madrid, Celtic meet Bayern [Full Fixtures]

    Champions League playoff draw: Man City to face Real Madrid, Celtic meet Bayern [Full Fixtures]

    Reigning champions Real Madrid will face 2023 winners Manchester City in the play-off round of this season’s Champions League, following Friday’s draw.

    It is the fourth year running in which the sides have been drawn against each other in a knockout tie, with Real emerging victorious in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals last season.

    Celtic will face six-time European champions Bayern Munich in the play-off round of this season’s Champions League, following Friday’s draw for the start of the knockout phase.

    The Scottish champions are into the knockout stage for the first time in 12 years and last faced Bayern in the group phase in 2017/18, losing home and away.

    Champions League play-off draw: Full Fixtures

    Paris Saint-Germain vs Stade Brestois

    Benfica vs AS Monaco

    Juventus vs PSV

    Feyenoord vs AC Milan

    Real Madrid vs Manchester City

    Bayern Munich vs Celtic

    Club Brugge vs Atalanta

    Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund

    When is the knockout playoff round fixtures

    Following Friday’s Champions League draw, the fixture schedule are as follow:

    First legs: February 11-12, 2025

    Second legs: February 18-19, 2025 Each team will play one match on a Tuesday and the other on a Wednesday.

  • Man City sign forward Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt

    Man City sign forward Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt

    Manchester City on Thursday announced the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush for a reported initial fee of around £59 million ($72.6 million).

    The 25-year-old, whose contract is understood to include a potential further £4.2 million in add-ons, has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League champions.

    Marmoush is City’s third signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.

    “This is a day I will never forget. To sign for Manchester City — one of the best teams in the world — is an amazing feeling,” he said.

    “I am delighted, my family are so proud, and we are all very happy to be here in Manchester.”

    Director of football Txiki Begiristain said Marmoush was an “accomplished and exciting forward”.

    “He’s had an outstanding season, and every time we have watched him, he has influenced matches,” he said.

    “He has all the attributes a top-class attacker requires. He has outstanding pace and awareness, and he is exceptional in front of goal. He can also play a number of different positions, which is a really valuable asset.”

    His arrival at the Etihad Stadium comes during a frustrating season for City.

    City, champions for the past four seasons, are currently fifth in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

    Defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday has also left Pep Guardiola’s side in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages.

  • PSG comeback floors Man City as Arsenal near Champions League last 16

    PSG comeback floors Man City as Arsenal near Champions League last 16

    Paris Saint-Germain pushed Manchester City to the brink of Champions League elimination after coming from two goals down to win 4-2 on Wednesday, while Arsenal all but secured their place in the last 16.

    Holders Real Madrid remain in contention for a top-eight spot after sweeping aside Red Bull Salzburg 5-1, but Bayern Munich’s hopes of automatic qualification took a hit with a 3-0 defeat by Feyenoord.

    Pep Guardiola’s City were left stunned as they blew a two-goal lead after Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland struck early in the second half in pouring rain at the Parc des Princes.

    Substitute Ousmane Dembele soon halved the deficit for PSG and Bradley Barcola equalised on the hour after Desire Doue’s effort came back off the crossbar.

    Joao Neves’ diving header put PSG on top before Goncalo Ramos added a late fourth as the French champions climbed from 26th in the table to 22nd and bumped City out of the qualifying spots for the knockout phase.

    “I don’t know how we did it, to be honest,” PSG coach Luis Enrique told Canal Plus.

    “We started the second half in the worst way possible by conceding two goals. It was tricky at that point, but at the same time this team believes in itself.”

    City, the European champions in 2023, are down in 25th having failed to win any of their last four games in the competition and must beat Club Brugge at home next week to salvage their campaign.

    “I accept the defeat because the best team won,” said Guardiola.

    “It’s in our hands, we have to win the last game,” he added. “Hopefully we can qualify. If it doesn’t happen, we don’t deserve it.”

    Arsenal are on the verge of the last 16 as goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard sealed a 3-0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb — their fifth victory in seven games in Europe

    Paris Saint-Germain pushed Manchester City to the brink of Champions League elimination after coming from two goals down to win 4-2 on Wednesday, while Arsenal all but secured their place in the last 16.

    Holders Real Madrid remain in contention for a top-eight spot after sweeping aside Red Bull Salzburg 5-1, but Bayern Munich’s hopes of automatic qualification took a hit with a 3-0 defeat by Feyenoord.

    Pep Guardiola’s City were left stunned as they blew a two-goal lead after Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland struck early in the second half in pouring rain at the Parc des Princes.

    Substitute Ousmane Dembele soon halved the deficit for PSG and Bradley Barcola equalised on the hour after Desire Doue’s effort came back off the crossbar.

    Joao Neves’ diving header put PSG on top before Goncalo Ramos added a late fourth as the French champions climbed from 26th in the table to 22nd and bumped City out of the qualifying spots for the knockout phase.

    “I don’t know how we did it, to be honest,” PSG coach Luis Enrique told Canal Plus.

    “We started the second half in the worst way possible by conceding two goals. It was tricky at that point, but at the same time this team believes in itself.”

    City, the European champions in 2023, are down in 25th having failed to win any of their last four games in the competition and must beat Club Brugge at home next week to salvage their campaign.

    “I accept the defeat because the best team won,” said Guardiola.

    “It’s in our hands, we have to win the last game,” he added. “Hopefully we can qualify. If it doesn’t happen, we don’t deserve it.”

    Arsenal’s English midfielder #41 Declan Rice (L) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League football match between Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium in north London on January 22, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

    Arsenal are on the verge of the last 16 as goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard sealed a 3-0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb — their fifth victory in seven games in Europe.

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    “It’s a massive step. We’re very close to achieving the goal we had before the group stage started,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.

    The Gunners, who go to Girona in their final game in the league phase, are third in the 36-team table and three points clear of ninth-placed Aston Villa with a far superior goal difference.

    – Madrid canter as Bayern falter –

    Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior both struck twice, with Kylian Mbappe also on target as Madrid thumped Salzburg to move up to 16th, but just a point back from eighth-placed Bayer Leverkusen.

    “We’ve been through difficult moments we didn’t want to,” said Rodrygo.

    “But this victory in the Champions League, that we needed, will give us a lot of confidence to keep going now with the big challenges ahead of us.”

    The record 15-time European champions are just behind Bayern Munich after the German giants came unstuck in Rotterdam.

    Santiago Gimenez scored two goals, including a penalty, in the first half before Ayase Ueda’s late goal completed a superb display from Feyenoord, who could also still finish in the top eight.

    Inter Milan look guaranteed to reach the last 16 after their 1-0 win away to Sparta Prague courtesy of Lautaro Martinez’s volley.

    The Italian champions are fourth on 16 points, level with Arsenal, and one above city rivals AC Milan.

    Rafael Leao’s first-half strike was enough to earn Milan a 1-0 win that also eliminated Girona.

    Celtic advanced to the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in 12 years after inflicting a seventh successive defeat on Young Boys, with Loris Benito’s 86th-minute own goal handing the Hoops a 1-0 win in Glasgow.

    “It’s a little bit of history created, we haven’t been in the knockout stages for a long time. For the supporters it’s an amazing night,” said Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.

    French club Brest saw their bid for an automatic spot in the last 16 dented by a 2-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in Germany.

    Sporting Lisbon suffered a third straight defeat as previously pointless RB Leipzig won 2-1 with goals from Benjamin Sesko and Yussuf Poulsen.