https://www.scmp.com/rss/315962/feed The Uefa Champions League is an annual continental competition for the top football clubs in Europe. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in world football and the biggest prize in European football. Introduced in 1992, the competition replaced the European Cup, which had run since 1955. Real Madrid are the most successful club in the competition’s history with 10 titles. Real Madrid were champions in the 2013/14 season, beating Atletico Madrid in the final. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea will take a major step towards turning around their troubled season if they can seal qualification for the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. Mourinho's side have travelled to Israel to face Maccabi Tel Aviv in their penultimate Group G fixture knowing a victory combined with a draw or defeat for Dynamo Kiev against Porto would guarantee their progress to the knockout stages. That would be a significant boost for Mourinho, who has come under fire following... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1882489/sealing-place-champions-league-last-16-can-help-turn-season-around-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1882489/sealing-place-champions-league-last-16-can-help-turn-season-around-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Nov 2015 02:05:38 +0000 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has demanded Uefa change their rules on doping because he claims the current regulations don't do enough to discourage drug cheats. Wenger has been outspoken against doping and questioned why Uefa rulings means there is no way of disqualifying a team from continental competition unless more than two players fail a test. His frustration has come to the fore this week as Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Arijan Ademi was handed a four-year ban for failing a drugs test after... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1882486/uefa-basically-accept-doping-not-banning-clubs-says-arsene-wenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1882486/uefa-basically-accept-doping-not-banning-clubs-says-arsene-wenger?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Nov 2015 01:45:23 +0000 Juventus may have become the only club to lose six European Cup finals but they took heart from pushing Barcelona to the limit in Saturday’s riveting final and restoring the honour of Italian football, coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “More than anything else we come out of this final with greater self-esteem, greater confidence and greater awareness of what we can do,” a remarkably upbeat Allegri said after Juve lost 3-1 in their first Champions league final since 2003. “I can’t say that I’m... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1817827/juventus-coach-massimiliano-allegri-high-spirits-despite-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1817827/juventus-coach-massimiliano-allegri-high-spirits-despite-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2015 04:16:45 +0000 Luis Suarez completed an amazing comeback from his World Cup biting shame by scoring the decisive goal in Barcelona’s Champions League triumph on Saturday. The Uruguayan described the feeling as “incredible”, while Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said Suarez had overcome club doubts when it paid more than 100 million euros (HK$860 million) for the scorer with a track record of hot-headed controversy. The 28-year-old Suarez overshadowed superstar Lionel Messi to become the hero of the 3-1 win over... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1817826/vampire-history-forgotten-luis-suarez-comes-good-barcelonas-european-champions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1817826/vampire-history-forgotten-luis-suarez-comes-good-barcelonas-european-champions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2015 04:00:55 +0000 Barcelona were crowned kings of Europe for the fifth time after beating Juventus 3-1 in a pulsating Champions League final at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, capping their magnificent season with a title treble. The Spaniards lived up to their tag as favourites and added the European Cup to their La Liga and King’s Cup triumphs as coach Luis Enrique celebrated his first season in memorable fashion. Goals from Croatian Ivan Rakitic in the fourth minute, Uruguayan Luis Suarez in the 68th and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1817825/barcelona-overpower-juventus-claim-fifth-european-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1817825/barcelona-overpower-juventus-claim-fifth-european-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2015 03:32:14 +0000 Barcelona's talismanic Lionel Messi remains the driving force of a talented side on the brink of repeating 2009's historic trble despite a change in their coach and style of football, not to mention a host of players. The Argentine provided the magic and invention six years ago when Barca became the first La Liga team to win the Champions League and Spanish league and Cup in the same season and he is playing with the same panache as they seek to repeat the feat. Messi was described as... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1817132/marvellous-lionel-messi-can-guide-barcelona-champions-league-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1817132/marvellous-lionel-messi-can-guide-barcelona-champions-league-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2015 13:06:40 +0000 When Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was greeted with a hail of eggs and spat at on his first day at work, he could not have imagined he would lead them to the brink of an unprecedented treble of titles in his first season. Yet that is what the phlegmatic 47-year-old Italian has achieved since succeeding Antonio Conte in July last year, with Juve already crowned Serie A champions and Italian Cup winners and facing Barcelona in Saturday’s Champions League final. A former coach of Juventus’... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1816910/zero-hero-juventus-coach-massimiliano-allegri-brink-champions-league-glory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1816910/zero-hero-juventus-coach-massimiliano-allegri-brink-champions-league-glory?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2015 03:30:30 +0000 Juventus defender Patrice Evra confirmed he will shake Luis Suarez’s hand before the Champions League final with Barcelona despite their troubled past over a racism row. Suarez was banned for eight matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Evra during their time at Liverpool and Manchester United respectively. The two then refused to shake hands in one further meeting between the sides, but Evra insists he will put that behind him when they come face-to-face in Berlin on June 6. “I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1796233/ill-shake-luis-suarezs-hand-champions-league-final-says-patrice-evra?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1796233/ill-shake-luis-suarezs-hand-champions-league-final-says-patrice-evra?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2015 02:11:00 +0000 Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said he isn’t the man to judge whether he will stay in charge of the Spanish giants next season after Juventus dumped the holders out of the Champions League. The Italian champions will face Madrid’s eternal rivals Barcelona in the final on June 6 after former Real striker Alvaro Morata struck the vital goal to secure a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night as Juventus progressed 3-2 on aggregate. Madrid now look certain to end the... https://www.scmp.com/article/1796201/carlo-ancelotti-unsure-real-madrid-future-after-champions-league-exit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1796201/carlo-ancelotti-unsure-real-madrid-future-after-champions-league-exit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2015 01:30:15 +0000 Juventus will face Barcelona in the Champions League final after Alvaro Morata came back to haunt former club and holders Real Madrid with the crucial goal in a 1-1 draw in Spain in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday to progress 3-2 on aggregate. With Juventus leading 2-1 from the first leg, Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half penalty had put the hosts ahead on away goals. Read all our Uefa Champions League coverage here However, Morata, who left Madrid for the Italian champions last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1796197/alvaro-morata-sends-juventus-champions-league-final-old-club-real?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1796197/alvaro-morata-sends-juventus-champions-league-final-old-club-real?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2015 00:58:28 +0000 Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is now backing his ex-club Barcelona to win the Champions League after his Bavarian giants bowed out 5-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals. Guardiola’s Bayern exited at the last-four stage for the second year running, despite ending Barcelona’s 18-game unbeaten run with a 3-2 semi-final, second-leg win in Munich. Bayern were given an early glimmer of hope in their bid to overturn a three-goal deficit in Munich when the unmarked Medhi Benatia headed home on seven... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1794884/guardiola-hopes-barca-lift-champions-league-title-after-they-put-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1794884/guardiola-hopes-barca-lift-champions-league-title-after-they-put-out?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2015 02:00:30 +0000 Barcelona remain on course to win the treble after reaching the Champions League final by surviving a second-half, second-leg fight-back at Bayern Munich, to the delight of coach Luis Enrique. Neymar struck twice as Barcelona reached the Berlin final by beating Bayern 5-3 on aggregate in their semi-final despite losing Tuesday’s second-leg 3-2 at the Allianz Arena having won 3-0 in Spain. Barca are on the verge of the Spanish league title, face Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final on May 30... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1794885/three-wins-three-trophies-demands-coach-barca-reach-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1794885/three-wins-three-trophies-demands-coach-barca-reach-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2015 01:45:30 +0000 Real Madrid must overcome a 2-1 first-leg deficit to keep their season alive when a Juventus side boosted by the return of Paul Pogba visit the Santiago Bernabeu in the return leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Los Blancos' La Liga title hopes are all but over despite coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Valencia on Saturday as Barcelona moved four points clear at the top with just two games remaining. However, Carlo Ancelotti's men recovered from exactly the same result... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1794592/last-chance-glory-real-madrid-face-juventus-champions-league-semi-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1794592/last-chance-glory-real-madrid-face-juventus-champions-league-semi-final?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2015 14:46:13 +0000 Pep Guardiola has promised Bayern Munich will put up a fight in tomorrow's Champions League semi-final, second leg, in their near-impossible bid to deny Barcelona an eighth appearance in the final. Bayern are chasing a miracle at the Allianz Arena after their humbling 3-0 first-leg defeat at the Camp Nou last Wednesday when Lionel Messi capped a dazzling display with two goals. We all know it's going to be a mammoth task, but we're not going to give up Thomas Mueller No team has ever overturned... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1793788/bayern-munich-fight-champions-league-second-leg-miracle-against?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1793788/bayern-munich-fight-champions-league-second-leg-miracle-against?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2015 14:43:24 +0000 Pep Guardiola had seen Lionel Messi scoring spectacular goals after dazzling runs many times before. Only now, Messi was doing it against Guardiola’s team. Messi scored twice and set up Neymar for another as Barcelona overwhelmed Bayern Munich in the final 20 minutes for a 3-0 victory Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. “Again, Messi leaves us speechless,” Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said. Read all our Uefa Champions League coverage here Messi put... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1788041/magical-messi-makes-his-old-boss-pay-barca-beat-bayern-3-0?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1788041/magical-messi-makes-his-old-boss-pay-barca-beat-bayern-3-0?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2015 01:18:09 +0000 Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez struck a goal apiece as Juventus boosted their Champions League final chances with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in their first leg semi-final on Tuesday. Morata, who moved from Real to Juventus last summer, tapped home the rebound from a Tevez strike on eight minutes to send Juventus Stadium into raptures. The hosts were pegged back just before the half-hour thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 76th goal in the competition, a simple header that beat Gianluigi Buffon from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1787409/tevez-penalty-gives-juve-champions-league-edge-over-real-madrid-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1787409/tevez-penalty-gives-juve-champions-league-edge-over-real-madrid-after?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2015 01:48:55 +0000 Pep Guardiola will return to the Camp Nou with the away side for the first time today as Barcelona's most successful coach takes Bayern Munich to the Catalan stronghold in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. As a player Guardiola was a key cog of the Barca side that won their first ever European Cup in 1992. And as a coach he led the club to 14 trophies, including two Champions Leagues titles during a glorious four-year spell between 2008 and 2012. These games are surrounded by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1787074/pep-guardiola-seeks-outwit-old-friends-barcelona-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1787074/pep-guardiola-seeks-outwit-old-friends-barcelona-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2015 16:45:30 +0000 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri insists his side will not be in the Champions League semi-finals just to make up the numbers after the Italian giants edged past Monaco on Wednesday evening. The Serie A leaders played out a 0-0 second-leg draw at the Stade Louis II to win their quarter-final tie 1-0 on aggregate, Arturo Vidal’s penalty in Turin last week ultimately proving to be the difference. While Juve have recovered from the Calciopoli scandal that rocked Italian football in 2006 to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1774116/coach-massimiliano-allegri-bullish-juventus-edge-out-monaco?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1774116/coach-massimiliano-allegri-bullish-juventus-edge-out-monaco?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2015 03:00:15 +0000 Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti sent a warning to Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus that his side will not relinquish their Champions League title lightly after finally seeing off Atletico Madrid to progress to the semi-finals 1-0 on aggregate. Javier Hernandez scored the only goal of the tie two minutes from time after Atletico had been reduced to 10 men as Arda Turan was sent off for two bookable offences. It was the first time in eight meetings that Real had beaten Atletico this season,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1774103/real-madrid-shaping-remain-european-champions-warns-carlo-ancelotti?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1774103/real-madrid-shaping-remain-european-champions-warns-carlo-ancelotti?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2015 02:34:08 +0000 Barcelona cruised into their seventh Champions League semi-final in eight years as a double from Neymar handed them a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory on Tuesday. Just as in last week’s first leg in Paris, the Brazilian opened the scoring after a sensational assist from Andres Iniesta. Neymar then capitalised on some shoddy defending to head home his 30th goal of the season from Dani Alves’ cross. Barca will now take their place alongside Bayern Munich in Friday’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1773219/easy-does-it-barcelona-sweep-aside-paris-saint-germain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1773219/easy-does-it-barcelona-sweep-aside-paris-saint-germain?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2015 02:27:45 +0000 Bayern Munich’s 6-1 demolition of Porto on Tuesday for a spot in the Uefa Champions League semi-finals was just what the doctor ordered for an injury-plagued team chasing a treble. Despite a string of absences, including Arjen Robben, David Alaba, Franck Ribery and Medhi Benatia, and internal turmoil following the sudden departure of their long-time doctor, Bayern were sublime in the first half, scoring five times. “It is difficult to find the right words to explain this,” Bayern’s Thomas... https://www.scmp.com/article/1773216/bayern-munichs-demolition-job-porto-enhances-treble-dream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1773216/bayern-munichs-demolition-job-porto-enhances-treble-dream?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2015 01:45:43 +0000 Barcelona coach Luis Enrique admitted he could scarcely have hoped for a better performance after his side blew away Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. The Spanish league leaders ended PSG’s 33-game unbeaten home run in Europe stretching back to 2006 as Neymar opened the scoring in the first half at the Parc des Princes before Luis Suarez added a superb double in the second half, leaving next week’s return leg looking... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1767453/suarez-double-against-psg-luis-enrique-hails-complete-barcelona?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1767453/suarez-double-against-psg-luis-enrique-hails-complete-barcelona?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2015 01:30:15 +0000 Goalscorer Ricardo Quaresma hailed Porto’s shock 3-1 quarter-final, first-leg, win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday as a night to remember to leave them on the verge of the semi-finals. Porto carry a weighty advantage to Munich for Tuesday’s return leg while Bayern have only a glimmer of hope and must score at least twice. The hosts exploited early mistakes by Bayern’s Xabi Alonso and Dante to get a dream start with right winger Quaresma converting a penalty, then scoring Porto’s second goal in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1767452/night-remember-quaresma-porto-stun-bayern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1767452/night-remember-quaresma-porto-stun-bayern?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2015 01:15:30 +0000 Monaco striker Dimitar Berbatov insisted their Champions League campaign is far from over despite the visitors succumbing to a controversial 1-0 defeat at Juventus in the first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday. Leonardo Jardim’s French league hopefuls travelled to Turin looking to shock the Italian champions amid what has been a hugely promising season, only to be undone by an Arturo Vidal penalty just before the hour. Despite Monaco’s shaky form at home in the competition this season –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1766785/we-can-still-beat-juventus-despite-1-0-first-leg-loss-insists-monacos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1766785/we-can-still-beat-juventus-despite-1-0-first-leg-loss-insists-monacos?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2015 02:02:16 +0000 Atletico Madrid’s Mario Suarez and Miranda could find themselves in hot water after seemingly making an offensive remarks against Serbian referee Milorad Mazic. Suarez blasted Mazic following Atletico Madrid’s 0-0 draw with bitter neighbours Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old picked up a booking and will miss next week’s second leg through suspension. But he risks much worse than that after claiming Uefa should not have put a Serbian in charge of such an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1766786/atletico-players-could-be-hot-water-blasting-ref-after-draw-real-madrid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1766786/atletico-players-could-be-hot-water-blasting-ref-after-draw-real-madrid?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2015 01:50:12 +0000 Diminished by injuries and suspensions, Paris Saint-Germain renew hostilities with Barcelona on Wednesday night as the sides clash at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. PSG have been eliminated in the last-eight on away goals in each of the last two seasons, including a loss to Barca in 2013. As they look to finally make it back to the semi-finals of Europe's elite club competition for the first time in 20 years, the side from the French capital could... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1766436/depleted-paris-saint-germain-confident-ahead-barcelona-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1766436/depleted-paris-saint-germain-confident-ahead-barcelona-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:45:45 +0000 Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres believes coach Diego Simeone is key to their success as they seek revenge against Real Madrid in tonight's Champions League quarter-final first leg, while Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has called on his team to forget their shock weekend defeat to Parma. With the determined Argentine at the helm, Atletico have belied their economic inferiority to become one of the most dangerous sides in Europe and now the La Liga champions take on Real aiming once... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1765671/fernando-torres-diego-simeone-key-atletico-madrids-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1765671/fernando-torres-diego-simeone-key-atletico-madrids-success?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:31:25 +0000 In sport what is more important: playing the game or playing games? Nowhere else but in soccer is this distinction more apparent, with plenty of cheating and gamesmanship instead of genuine sportsmanship and model behaviour. Chelsea's siege on Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers during their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain last week comes as no huge surprise. It is simply the logical consequence of the ugly, unethical and underhanded approach that has been allowed to fester and flourish to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1742126/chelseas-masters-dark-arts-highlight-win-all-costs-mentality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1742126/chelseas-masters-dark-arts-highlight-win-all-costs-mentality?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2015 12:45:12 +0000 A first-half goal by Ivan Rakitic was enough to see Barcelona end English interest in the Champions League on Wednesday as they beat Manchester City 1-0 in their last-16, second-leg clash for a 3-1 aggregate win and a place in the quarter-finals. Former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez scored a double in the night’s other game as Juventus pulled off an impressive 3-0 win away at 2013 finalists Borussia Dortmund to win 5-1 on aggregate. I think we put in a great effort out there. Perhaps we... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1741708/barcelona-oust-manchester-city-juventus-carlos-tevez-roughs-borussia-dortmund?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1741708/barcelona-oust-manchester-city-juventus-carlos-tevez-roughs-borussia-dortmund?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2015 01:36:39 +0000 Arsenal exited the Champions League on Tuesday despite winning their Champions League last-16, second-leg clash 2-0 in Monaco, losing on the away goals rule after the tie finished 3-3 on aggregate. A first-half goal by Olivier Giroud and then Aaron Ramsey 11 minutes from time gave the Gunners hope but desperate defending by Monaco saw them hold on to reach the quarter-finals in front of a for-once packed stadium which included celebrities such as U2 frontman Bono. It’s not a question of if we... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1740797/arsenal-bow-out-champions-league-despite-second-leg-victory-over-monaco?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1740797/arsenal-bow-out-champions-league-despite-second-leg-victory-over-monaco?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2015 01:42:01 +0000 Manchester City face a huge challenge if they are to reach the last eight of the Champions League for the first time ever by overturning a 2-1 first-leg deficit when they travel to an in-form Barcelona on Wednesday. The English champions were outplayed at home for the second season in a row at this stage of the competition three weeks ago and could have been even further behind travelling to the Catalan capital had Joe Hart not saved a Lionel Messi penalty in stoppage time at the Etihad. Both... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1740494/tall-order-manchester-city-rampant-barcelona-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1740494/tall-order-manchester-city-rampant-barcelona-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2015 14:00:45 +0000 What should a lone Southampton supporter take with him on a minibus full of Chelsea fans to Stamford Bridge on Sunday? The intuitive answer would be a rhino skin to defend against the ribbing from the motley crew of south coast Blues fans, which include an accountant, a financial adviser, car dealer, bank manager, builder, semi-retired property developer and postman. In the worst display of several acts of delinquency, Chelsea’s entire outfield team surrounded referee Bjorn Kuipers after PSG... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1736979/home-and-away-stop-bullying-chelsea-and-start-acting-your-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1736979/home-and-away-stop-bullying-chelsea-and-start-acting-your-age?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Bayern Munich qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-0 rout of 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. After playing out a drab goalless draw in the first leg in Ukraine, Bayern made no such mistake against a Shakhtar side reduced to 10 men in just the third minute. Shaktar’s horrendous start to the match saw Olexander Kucher bring down Mario Goetze as he was played into the box with a chance of a shot on goal. Scottish referee William Collum had no hesitation in pointing to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1735610/bayern-storm-champions-league-quarter-thrashing-shakhtar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1735610/bayern-storm-champions-league-quarter-thrashing-shakhtar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2015 01:30:15 +0000 Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho blamed a mystifying loss of focus and confidence among his players for their shock elimination from the Champions League quarter-finals by 10-man Paris St Germain on Wednesday. “We deserved to be punished with this draw-defeat,” Mourinho told reporters after the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge which produced a 3-3 aggregate score over the two legs and saw PSG go through on away goals. Mourinho said the red card shown in the 31st minute to PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1735609/mourinho-mystified-limp-chelseas-exit-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1735609/mourinho-mystified-limp-chelseas-exit-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2015 01:21:49 +0000 Jose Mourinho has accused Paris St Germain of being the most aggressive team his Chelsea side have played all season ahead of their Champions League last 16 return leg on Wednesday. Mourinho told a news conference that PSG repeatedly fouled his players in the 1-1 first-leg draw in France last month, with Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard their chief target. “I was surprised because a team with fantastic players was the team that was making foul after foul, was the team that was stopping Hazard with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1734922/psg-roughest-team-chelsea-have-played-all-season-says-jose-mourinho?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1734922/psg-roughest-team-chelsea-have-played-all-season-says-jose-mourinho?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2015 03:03:57 +0000 Porto’s four fantastic goals showed the gulf in class with their Champions League victims Basel, who were outgunned in every department in their last-16 second leg on Tuesday. Julen Lopetegui’s side were in scintillating form to beat their sorry Swiss opponents 4-0 on the night, with excellent long-range strikes, to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory. Porto, who along with Chelsea are the only unbeaten sides still in the competition, showed they will be an unwelcome draw for the more-fancied teams... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1734900/porto-send-out-champions-league-warning-thrashing-basel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1734900/porto-send-out-champions-league-warning-thrashing-basel?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2015 02:13:19 +0000 Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted he is at a loss to explain the European champions dramatic slump in form as they sneaked into the quarter-finals of the Champions League despite losing 4-3 to Schalke on Tuesday. A 2-0 first leg advantage was just enough to carry Los Blancos into the last eight for a fifth consecutive season on a night when Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievement in becoming the all-time leading scorer in European competitions was overshadowed. Ronaldo twice equalised in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1734901/carlo-ancelotti-stumped-real-madrids-loss-form-they-scrape-past-schalke?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1734901/carlo-ancelotti-stumped-real-madrids-loss-form-they-scrape-past-schalke?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2015 02:00:02 +0000 Eleven months on from their last visit to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, Paris Saint-Germain return on Wednesday looking for confirmation of their place among the Uefa Champions League elite. We're in an unfavourable situation because they scored that famous goal that meant Paris didn't reach the semi-finals for the second year in a row Laurent Blanc In last season's quarter-finals, PSG came to London with a 3-1 lead from the first leg and with a huge 13-point advantage at the Ligue 1 summit, only... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1734534/paris-saint-germain-seek-revenge-against-chelsea-stamford-bridge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1734534/paris-saint-germain-seek-revenge-against-chelsea-stamford-bridge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2015 15:49:35 +0000 Bayer Leverkusen have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals following their shock 1-0 home win over last season’s finalists, Atletico Madrid, who finished with 10 men on Wednesday. Hakan Calhanoglu’s superb second-half goal in the last 16, first-leg clash means Bayer take a slender advantage to Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Stadium for the return leg on March 17. “I think we were clearly the better team and therefore we deserved the win,” said Calhanoglu. I gave it all I had for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1723644/bayer-leverkusen-sitting-pretty-after-first-leg-win-over-atletico-madrid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1723644/bayer-leverkusen-sitting-pretty-after-first-leg-win-over-atletico-madrid?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2015 02:30:56 +0000 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could hardly conceal his despair when he said his team lost their nerve, were not mentally sharp enough and got the result they deserved after losing 3-1 to AS Monaco in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday. Wenger, 65, who managed Monaco for seven years at the start of his coaching career, watched his former club take a grip on the tie which could prove to be enough to see them reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004. Wenger was unusually... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1723633/arsene-wenger-rages-monaco-ride-roughshod-over-lacklustre-arsenal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1723633/arsene-wenger-rages-monaco-ride-roughshod-over-lacklustre-arsenal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2015 02:15:15 +0000 Juventus overcame a blunder by defender Giorgio Chiellini and a first-half injury to playmaker Andrea Pirlo to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in a fast and furious Champions League tie on Tuesday. Carlos Tevez tapped in from close range to give the Serie A champions a 13th-minute lead in the last-16 first leg, only for Chiellini’s nightmare moment to let Marco Reus in for a clinically taken equaliser five minutes later. We played very well, we were well-ordered in defence and very good in the second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1722938/juventus-claim-first-leg-honours-against-borussia-dortmund?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1722938/juventus-claim-first-leg-honours-against-borussia-dortmund?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2015 01:59:46 +0000 Manchester City were outplayed by Barcelona for most of their Champions League first leg tie on Tuesday but will still go to the Nou Camp hopeful of reaching the last eight for the first time thanks to Joe Hart. The England goalkeeper, beaten twice by Uruguay striker Luis Suarez in a 2-1 defeat, dived to his right to block Argentine maestro Lionel Messi’s penalty with the last kick of the game. We were calmer in the second half and hung on and pressured and did well to get something out of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1722931/joe-harts-penalty-save-gives-manchester-city-hope-overturning-barcelona?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1722931/joe-harts-penalty-save-gives-manchester-city-hope-overturning-barcelona?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2015 01:43:22 +0000 Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri told his teammates that they must shed any sense of inferiority if they are to outwit Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League last 16. Nasri was a member of the City team beaten 4-1 on aggregate by Barcelona at the same stage last season. Barcelona are favourites to progress ahead of Tuesday night's reunion at the Etihad Stadium, but with an extra year's experience and a close to full-strength squad, Nasri feels City are now a different prospect. I think we... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1722072/dont-give-too-much-respect-barcelona-says-manchester-citys-samir-nasri?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1722072/dont-give-too-much-respect-barcelona-says-manchester-citys-samir-nasri?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:30:00 +0000 Chelsea "apologised unreservedly" on Friday to the black Frenchman racially abused by some of their fans on the Paris Metro. The commuter, identified as Souleymane S, a French-Mauritanian, was repeatedly prevented from boarding a train by Chelsea supporters travelling to the Parc des Princes for the Champions League match against Paris St Germain on Tuesday. "I'd like to make clear, on behalf of everyone at the club, our disgust at the incident. We were appalled by what we saw," a club spokesman... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1719847/chelsea-apologise-frenchman-racially-abused-their-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1719847/chelsea-apologise-frenchman-racially-abused-their-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:30:15 +0000 The UEFA Champions League will have an air of familiarity about it when it resumes this week with 11 of the clubs who reached the last 16 stage a year ago involved again. We're a little bit in trouble at the moment, but from Sunday morning we'll have to focus on Chelsea and convince ourselves that we can challenge them Laurent Blanc To add to the sense of déjà vu, three of the ties will be repeats from last season's knockout stages with holders Real Madrid facing Schalke, Manchester City playing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1715427/deja-vu-air-european-giants-face-again-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1715427/deja-vu-air-european-giants-face-again-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2015 15:57:49 +0000 Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were drawn on Monday against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City tackle Barcelona in two blockbuster Champions League last-16 ties. Chelsea's "reward" for sailing into the knockout stages unbeaten was a testing match-up against the Qatari-backed French champions who they beat on away goals in last season's quarter-finals. Both sides have very different squads from last year, so if it was PSG or anyone else, it would've been the same situation David Barnard Chelsea... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1663020/blues-city-face-blockbuster-ties-last-16-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1663020/blues-city-face-blockbuster-ties-last-16-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2014 14:15:30 +0000 Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was delighted to have ended PSG’s unbeaten run in all competitions this season, despite being forced to adopt a new system in a landmark Champions League triumph for the Catalans. Former Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the French side ahead after 15 minutes on Wednesday before the home side turned the group F decider around for a 3-1 win with goals from Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. The victory ensured Barca topped the standings on 15 points, two... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1660292/barcelona-rally-see-psg-and-claim-group-honours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1660292/barcelona-rally-see-psg-and-claim-group-honours?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2014 02:38:58 +0000 Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea will show no fear when they dive into the shark infested waters of the Champions League last 16. Mourinho’s side got back on track with a 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in their group G finale at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to erase the bitter taste of their first defeat of the season at Newcastle last weekend. As group winners, the Blues will be pitted against one of big-spending French club Paris Saint-Germain, Italian champions Juventus, Swiss side Basel,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1660291/bring-sharks-cries-jose-mourinho-chelsea-clinch-group?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1660291/bring-sharks-cries-jose-mourinho-chelsea-clinch-group?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2014 01:59:55 +0000 Manuel Pellegrini hailed his depleted Manchester City side’s resolve after a 2-0 win over Roma secured the English champions an unlikely ticket for the knockout phase of the Champions League on Wednesday. City, requiring at least a score-draw to go through to the knockout phase, were dominated for large periods of the match at a packed Stadio Olimpico where a win would have secured Roma’s passage for the first time since the 2010/11 season. However, Pellegrini’s men made up for the absence of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1660290/manuel-pellegrini-beams-manchester-city-see-roma-great-escape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1660290/manuel-pellegrini-beams-manchester-city-see-roma-great-escape?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2014 01:50:38 +0000 Arsene Wenger said Arsenal's 4-1 thrashing of Galatasaray in the Champions League was exactly what he needed after a traumatic week. Just four days earlier Wenger had cut a forlorn figure as he hurried on to a club train home from Stoke to avoid the foul-mouthed abuse of fans frustrated by the Gunners' dismal 3-2 defeat at the Britannia Stadium. Wenger's position was once again the subject of much debate and another disappointing performance in Istanbul on Tuesday would have heaped further... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1660050/arsene-wenger-silences-critics-after-4-1-champions-league-win-over-galatasaray?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1660050/arsene-wenger-silences-critics-after-4-1-champions-league-win-over-galatasaray?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:33:41 +0000