March 28, 2024, 12:40:28 PM

Poll

Who is your favorite UEFA Champions League Team

PSV Eindhoven
2 (11.1%)
Chelsea
7 (38.9%)
AC Milan
2 (11.1%)
Liverpool
5 (27.8%)
Manchester City
0 (0%)
FC Porto
0 (0%)
Roma
0 (0%)
Bayern Munich
0 (0%)
Juventus
0 (0%)
Borussia Dortmund
0 (0%)
PSG
1 (5.6%)
Manchester United
1 (5.6%)
Ajax
0 (0%)
Real Madrid
0 (0%)
Lyon
0 (0%)
Barcelona
0 (0%)
Atletico Madrid
0 (0%)
Napoli
0 (0%)
Schalke
0 (0%)
Inter Milan
0 (0%)
Galatasaray
0 (0%)
CSKA Moscow
0 (0%)
Benfica
0 (0%)
Tottenham
0 (0%)
Shakhtar Donetsk
0 (0%)
Valencia
0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 18

Author Topic: UEFA Champions League Thread  (Read 297920 times)

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Offline Spursy

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2280 on: December 15, 2014, 12:02:38 PM »
Chelsea face PSG, City tackle Barça in last 16

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea have been drawn 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.

Chelsea secretary David Barnard told Sky Sports News: "PSG are known to us as we played them in the quarters last year and they've got David Luiz playing for them too. It's a good draw logistically too for our supporters. Both sides have very different squads from last year, so if it was PSG or anyone else, it would've been the same situation."

Like PSG, English Premier League champions City will be out for revenge after being brushed aside 4-1 on aggregate by Barça at this stage in the last Champions League campaign. City's director of football, former Barcelona player Txiki Begiristain, said: "We have plenty of confidence with the way we qualified beating Bayern Munich at home and Roma away, so the players will be working hard to get fit and arrive in confidence for those games. We have improved our squad from last season and we have some real quality up front."

Barcelona representative Andoni Zubizarreta said: "It is the same draw we had a year ago, it was a very difficult game and we are going to look forward to it. Manchester City have an outstanding squad with a very good coach, a very good team and are very competitive."

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea have been drawn 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.

Chelsea secretary David Barnard told Sky Sports News: "PSG are known to us as we played them in the quarters last year and they've got David Luiz playing for them too. It's a good draw logistically too for our supporters. Both sides have very different squads from last year, so if it was PSG or anyone else, it would've been the same situation."

Like PSG, English Premier League champions City will be out for revenge after being brushed aside 4-1 on aggregate by Barça at this stage in the last Champions League campaign. City's director of football, former Barcelona player Txiki Begiristain, said: "We have plenty of confidence with the way we qualified beating Bayern Munich at home and Roma away, so the players will be working hard to get fit and arrive in confidence for those games. We have improved our squad from last season and we have some real quality up front."

Barcelona representative Andoni Zubizarreta said: "It is the same draw we had a year ago, it was a very difficult game and we are going to look forward to it. Manchester City have an outstanding squad with a very good coach, a very good team and are very competitive."

Link: http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid/249/279/7/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news

Offline Spursy

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2281 on: December 15, 2014, 12:12:39 PM »
Mourinho: Chelsea right to release Lampard

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said he does not regret releasing Frank Lampard despite the midfielder's impressive form for Manchester City.

Lampard, 36, left Chelsea in June after a glittering 11-year spell in which he became the club's all-time leading scorer and after initially signing for New York City, he was loaned to their sister club, Manchester City.

The former England star has scored six goals this season, including the winner at Leicester City on Saturday, but Mourinho says it would have hindered the development of Chelsea's young players if Lampard had stayed.
"My view is that when you want to look forward, look to the future and have people like [Cesc] Fabregas and [Nemanja] Matic and Jeremie Boga (Chelsea under-21s midfielder), which are the next 10 years of the club, the project is to prepare for the next 10 years, not for the next year. We made the right decision," said Mourinho.

"You can argue, 'You have John Terry and Didier Drogba.' Different. Drogba is a striker that is coming to help and support the team. John Terry is the best central defender in English football and it doesn't matter how old he is.

"The nucleus of the team has to be developed and to have a big player like Frank we would stop the development of the other guys. It's his life, nothing to do with us. He left Chelsea as a free agent and chooses his life. We can't complain about it. That's football."

Lampard's loan spell at City is due to end in January, but their manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that he would like to keep him at the club for longer.

"Frank wants to stay, we want to keep him," Pellegrini said after City's 1-0 win at Leicester. "We must resolve the problem with New York City and with MLS (Major League Soccer)."

 

Offline Spursy

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2282 on: December 15, 2014, 12:26:02 PM »
Barcelona, Man City paired in Round of 16; Chelsea receive PSG test

Manchester City face an intimidating Champions League Round of 16 tie with four-times winners Barcelona.
 

Chelsea will face Paris St Germain -- which means a reunion with David Luiz -- and Arsenal will take on Arsene Wenger's former club Monaco. Barcelona, who last won the competition in 2011, knocked Premier League champions City out at the same stage last year, and boast the competition's all-time record goalscorer in Lionel Messi.
Manuel Pellegrini's side, who needed a 2-0 win at Roma in their final Group E game to qualify in second place, will play host to Barcelona at Etihad Stadium on Feb. 24 before heading to the Nou Camp on March 18.
Txiki Begiristain, the Manchester City director of football who spent time at Barcelona both as a player and as director of football, said: "It's unbelievable. I think we don't need to come because every tie is the same! Now we have to deal again with Barcelona as last season."
He added: "We now have plenty of confidence because of the way we got into the next round, beating Bayern Munich and then beating Roma away. We can arrive in a good moment for these games. We are more solid and stronger than last season. I feel so emotional. There are difficult things as well but I will take time to visit family and friends. I have a lot of friends there."
Chelsea, the 2012 winners, have been drawn against French champions PSG, who they overcame at the quarterfinal stage in last year's tournament but who suffered just one defeat during an impressive group stage campaign this time around.
Chelsea secretary David Barnard said: "PSG are known to us as we played them at the quarter-finals last year and they have David Luiz, who played for us in the final in 2012. I know Jose (Mourinho) said before the draw he'd like to see PSG for the supporters because of the travel arrangements and the logistics and he was right, because we got them.

"I think both teams have totally different teams to last season. Each match that comes along, it's a totally different scenario. It's a one-off situation. It's a knockout competition. I think we have an advantage by being away first because at least we know what to do for the second leg."
The draw has been kindest to Arsenal, who will take on Wenger's former club Monaco.
The French club have former Premier League champions Ricardo Carvalho and Dimitar Berbatov on their books and finished top of a group that included Bayer Leverkusen, Zenit St. Petersburg and Benfica - despite scoring just four goals.
Gunners secretary David Miles said: "We are delighted to be here because when you think it's 17 consecutive years in the Champions League and 12 consecutive years getting through the group stage, it's a fantastic achievement for Arsene Wenger and his side."

He added: "We've met some of the biggest teams in Europe over the last five years but we're certainly not taking anything for granted because Monaco have earned the right to be here and so have we. I'm sure Arsene will be delighted to be going back to one of his former teams."
Reigning champions Real Madrid have been drawn against one of four German teams in the last 16, Schalke. Bayer Leverkusen take on Atletico Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund have drawn Italian champions Juventus.
Bayern Munich, the 2013 champions, face a trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk. Basel, who knocked Liverpool out of the competition last week, will take on Porto, whose only defeat in any competition this season has come in the Portuguese Cup.

UEFA Champions League Round of 16:
Paris St-Germain vs. Chelsea
Manchester City vs. Barcelona
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Atletico Madrid
Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund
Schalke vs. Real Madrid
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Bayern Munich
Basel vs. FC Porto
Arsenal vs. Monaco

Offline Deeks

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2283 on: December 15, 2014, 05:40:07 PM »
"Frank wants to stay, we want to keep him," Pellegrini said after City's 1-0 win at Leicester. "We must resolve the problem with New York City and with MLS (Major League Soccer)."

Why should this be a problem?

Offline Bakes

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2284 on: December 15, 2014, 06:38:08 PM »
"Frank wants to stay, we want to keep him," Pellegrini said after City's 1-0 win at Leicester. "We must resolve the problem with New York City and with MLS (Major League Soccer)."

Why should this be a problem?

He belongs to NY FC so it must be resolved with them.  MLS is a weird operating entity, they seem to have a say in the affairs of all the clubs, so my guess is that even to extend the loan would require NY FC and City to get their approval.

Offline Mose

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2285 on: December 16, 2014, 10:12:47 AM »
"Frank wants to stay, we want to keep him," Pellegrini said after City's 1-0 win at Leicester. "We must resolve the problem with New York City and with MLS (Major League Soccer)."

Why should this be a problem?

He belongs to NY FC so it must be resolved with them.  MLS is a weird operating entity, they seem to have a say in the affairs of all the clubs, so my guess is that even to extend the loan would require NY FC and City to get their approval.

I believe the players are contracted to the MLS and not to the teams, hence they (MLS) have a say in any transfers.
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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2286 on: December 16, 2014, 12:42:30 PM »
Story so far: Real Madrid CF
Inspired by five-goal forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, holders Real Madrid CF topped Group B by 11 points after winning all six of their matches.

Holders Real Madrid CF could not have enjoyed a better UEFA Champions League group stage. The Whites became the sixth team to win all their games and the first to do so twice, having initially achieved the feat in 2011/12. 

Story so far
Madrid enjoyed a clean sweep of Group B victories as they laid down a marker for the rest of the continent. The 5-1 defeat of FC Basel 1893 on matchday one was a sign of things to come, with a 2-1 triumph at PFC Ludogorets Razgrad backing up their impressive start.

Back-to-back successes against Liverpool FC – a club the Merengues had never beaten – ensured qualification, before a 1-0 win in Basel and a 4-0 demolition of Ludogorets made it a maximum 18 points for Carlo Ancelotti's men.

Pivotal moment
Shocked by Marcelinho's early opener for Ludogorets in their matchday two meeting, Madrid recovered to narrowly defeat their Bulgarian hosts. It was far from plain sailing, however. Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty saved four minutes later, but did get the better of Vladislav Stoyanov from the spot midway through the half.   

Ancelotti's men struggled in their pursuit of a second goal and were heading for a draw against the group stage debutants until substitute Karim Benzema slotted in a fine cross from Marcelo with a little under a quarter of an hour remaining.

Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portugal captain completed all but 15 minutes of the group stage, leading from the front with five goals, including the winner in Basel. Wearing the armband on matchday six, Ronaldo converted a penalty at home to Ludogorets. It was his 72nd goal in Europe's premier club competition, moving him ahead of club legend Raúl González into second place on the UEFA Champions League all-time scorers' list.

Rising star: Isco
The 22-year-old has started to make an impact at Madrid this season following his reported €30m move from Málaga CF in summer 2013. Isco's guile and vision from a central midfield position have produced one goal and five assists in the Liga this term, and big things are expected of him for club and country in the years to come.

Number: 16
Madrid were sublime in attack, scoring 16 goals (ten of which were shared between Ronaldo and Benzema) as they finished 11 points clear of second-placed Basel.

Quote
"Madrid have top-level players; they take the game away from you in three touches. Frankly, that's what happened."
Basel forward Derlis Gonzalez gives an honest assessment of what playing against Madrid is like.

Next challenge: FC Schalke 04
(Away: 18 February, home: 10 March)
Madrid overwhelmed Schalke in last season's round of 16, winning 6-1 in Gelsenkirchen and 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Cristiano Ronaldo scored four of those goals, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema contributing two each

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2194080.html

Offline Spursy

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2287 on: December 16, 2014, 12:45:02 PM »
France icon Henry's finest hours
A hero for France and Arsenal FC, and a UEFA Champions League winner with FC Barcelona, Thierry Henry has confirmed his retirement. UEFA.com recalls his defining moments.

12 June 1998: France 3-0 South Africa, FIFA World Cup group stage
Less than a year after his international debut, Thierry Henry, then aged 20, announced himself on the biggest of stages. He struck the third goal in a convincing win at the Stade Vélodrome, dinking the ball over advancing keeper Hans Vonk following a trademark run through the South Africa back line. It was his first national-team goal and heralded two more in the next game against Saudi Arabia. Henry finished as France's top scorer at the tournament and also converted a vital penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out against Italy.

28 June 2000: France 2-1 Portugal (aet), UEFA European Championship semi-finals
Henry was instrumental in Les Bleus becoming European champions. He registered three goals in France's triumph in the Low Countries, the last of them the semi-final equaliser against Portugal, who had gone ahead through Nuno Gomes. Nicolas Anelka received Lilian Thuram's pass and found Henry close to the penalty spot, and the then 22-year-old turned and shot low into the net.

18 October 2005: AC Sparta Praha 0-2 Arsenal FC, UEFA Champions League group stage
Six years after his arrival in north London from Juventus, Henry became Arsenal's all-time leading marksman with two strikes in Prague. His first, a wonderful bending effort with the outside of his right boot from distance, saw him match Ian Wright's tally of 185 goals for the Gunners before his 74th-minute second moved the Frenchman clear.

Henry eventually netted 226 times for Arsenal between 1999 and 2007 before leaving for FC Barcelona, though he did return to London for a winter loan spell in 2012 from the New York Red Bulls and added two further goals to his haul. His statue at the Arsenal Stadium reminds fans of his contribution to past glories.

21 February 2006: Real Madrid CF 0-1 Arsenal FC, UEFA Champions League round of 16
Was this the most impressive goal of Henry's career? The last-16 first-leg encounter was decided by a moment of individual brilliance from the forward who collected a pass from Cesc Fàbregas and held off Madrid defenders before firing past Iker Casillas. Justly included in the poll for the top 60 goals in UEFA's history.

11 March 2009: FC Barcelona 5-2 Olympique Lyonnais, UEFA Champions League round of 16
A superb individual display from Henry helped Barcelona into the quarter-finals. Henry, who had worked with Lyon coach Claude Puel at AS Monaco FC, put the home team in front in the 25th minute and added another composed finish shortly after as the visitors were punished for lapses in concentration. Henry ended his second season at the Camp Nou as a UEFA Champions League winner.

14 October 2009: France 3-1 Austria, World Cup qualifier

Henry claimed his 51st and last Les Bleus goal from the spot at the Stade de France. Henry is France's all-time leading scorer, ten clear of UEFA President Michel Platini and 17 ahead of former Monaco team-mate and fellow 1998 World Cup winner David Trezeguet.

5 October 2014: New York Red Bulls 1-0 Houston Dynamo, Major League Soccer
Henry swept in Lloyd Sam's deflected cross for the 350th club goal of his career. With only one shot on target that day, Henry proved at 37 that he had not lost any of his finishing prowess and that his experience was still precious in defining matches.

29 November 2014: New England Revolution 2-2 New York Red Bulls (New England win 4-3 on aggregate), Major League Soccer Eastern Conference final
A provider of 14 assists in the regular season – the joint-second highest total in the league – Henry set up five more goals in the play-offs. His last significant act in professional football came with the score goalless in Foxboro and his side trailing 2-1 on aggregate. Receiving possession just outside the area, Henry took one touch before lofting a measured pass over the New England rearguard into the path of Tim Cahill, who poked in the opening salvo of a thrilling game.

Offline Spursy

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2288 on: December 17, 2014, 12:09:15 PM »
Club competitions in healthy state
UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino reflected on the healthy state of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Youth League at the knockout draws.

Monday's European club competition draw ceremonies in Nyon have given UEFA the opportunity to highlight the blue-riband quality of the UEFA Champions League, the flourishing appeal of the UEFA Europa League, and the merits of the fledgling UEFA Youth League.

UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino compered all three draws at the House of European Football. Firstly, he reflected upon an entertaining autumn in the UEFA Champions League, culminating in a memorable last set of matches that kept everyone on the edge of their seats up to the final whistles.

"The excitement generated by this season's group stage lasted until the final matchday," he said. "No less than 11 clubs were chasing the remaining five available slots in the round of 16, and this underlines the competitive nature of the UEFA Champions League and guarantees a maximum of entertainment for the fans until the very last kick.

"It is impossible to forecast which teams will meet in the final at Berlin's Olympiastadion on 6 June 2015, but we can definitely expect more of the same – a wealth of fantastic matches, memorable goals and brilliant individual displays as the season unfolds."

Final ambassador Karl-Heinz Riedle, who helped make the draw, said he was eagerly anticipating the climax to the competition in the German city where he began his distinguished professional career with Blau-Weiss 1890 Berlin. "Berlin is very experienced in hosting big events, I think it's a very good choice to have the final there," said Riedle, who won the UEFA Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997.

Turning to the UEFA Europa League, Mr Infantino stressed that the diversity of the round of 32 field and the calibre of the teams left on the road to the final at the National Stadium in Warsaw on 27 May promised an entertaining spring.

"This year, clubs from 17 different national associations are through to the UEFA Europa League knockout phase," he said, "and there are no less than 11 past winners still in the competition, including the title holders Sevilla FC. We can therefore expect a very exciting and unpredictable competition.

"The winners of this year's competition will not only engrave their name on its prestigious trophy," he added, "but they will also, for the first time in the history of the competition, qualify for the play-offs of next season's UEFA Champions League. This will no doubt provide another incentive to all clubs participating in the knockout phase."

"You can expect a great atmosphere both inside and outside the stadium, and we will be prepared," said final ambassador Jerzy Dudek, the former Feyenoord, Liverpool FC and Poland goalkeeper, looking ahead to the Warsaw showpiece and recalling the excitement when the Polish capital staged matches at UEFA EURO 2012.

Finally, Gianni Infantino welcomed the success of the UEFA Youth League, both in sporting and educational terms, as this season's competition enters its knockout phase. "The success of the first year of the UEFA Youth League, coupled with the positive feedback given by clubs, was such that it was decided to make the competition permanent and to amend the format from next season, so as to include another 32 domestic champions," he explained. "This will no doubt increase the quality of the competition and guarantee a wider representation of countries.

"In this season's group stage, our young players, coaches and referees were once more provided with a unique opportunity to test their skills at a very high international level," Mr Infantino concluded. "Importantly, it also offered the participants the chance to receive special education on topics such as anti-doping and match-fixing, helping to ensure these young players are fully aware of the dangers that such activities represent."

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2289 on: December 17, 2014, 12:11:04 PM »
Seedorf appointed diversity ambassador
Clarence Seedorf, former Netherlands player and four-time UEFA Champions League winner, has been unveiled as the UEFA Global Ambassador for Diversity and Change.

Clarence Seedorf, former Netherlands national team player and four-time UEFA Champions League winner, was today unveiled as the UEFA Global Ambassador for Diversity and Change. This announcement, made by UEFA President Michel Platini at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, further underlines the organisation's commitment to promoting diversity in European football and combatting racism and discrimination in the game.

UEFA President Michel Platini said: "I am pleased with what UEFA's anti-discrimination campaigns and initiatives have achieved so far. We have introduced new regulations, resolutions and procedures for referees in order to tackle the problem. However, there is much more work to be done and I am delighted UEFA will now be counting on the contribution of Clarence Seedorf, a four-time UEFA Champions League winner and European football legend. He is passionate about the cause and will lend his experience and expertise to make sure our finger is on the pulse of the issue and that we can stamp all forms of discrimination out of football once and for all.

"I have always wanted a big personality as an ambassador for the fight against discrimination and racism, and Clarence also expressed his own ideas in this area. From this point, we'll try to bring Clarence with us at UEFA, in order for him to be the best possible ambassador against racism in Europe. I thank Clarence for joining the team of UEFA and to be the big leader in this important battle. UEFA will be at his service, to find solutions in terms of how we can fight racism in Europe."

UEFA Global Ambassador for Diversity and Change Clarence Seedorf said: "I am really honoured to be part of this whole project. After I spoke with the president, I felt his passion, and his ideas were very convincing. And of course I am going to commit fully, together with UEFA, to fight this fight. And I thank the president for the support that he is giving me and my beliefs to make this world a little bit better. The leadership that UEFA is showing, says a lot about where we want to go, and I am sure that together we can gather enough people to create a great and positive movement."

In his new role, Clarence Seedorf will work directly with UEFA's administration to combat discrimination and will participate in various UEFA corporate social responsibility campaigns aimed at promoting education, diversity and integration. Seedorf will be called upon to use his expertise and experience in order to create new concepts and initiatives that can be introduced at UEFA, both institutionally and in competitions.

"This is not a job: this is part of my personal life mission. I have been given a great opportunity  to have UEFA as a partner. To make a difference within the football environment means to make a difference in the world.  For me this is a fantastic tool to do much more, to give back to all the fans who are following this fantastic sport."

In his role as UEFA Global Ambassador for Diversity and Change, Seedorf will offer his thoughts and insight into UEFA's overall strategy to protect the image of football globally. Seedorf will become a key voice and role model in spreading the messages of tolerance and unity, with a view of eliminating discrimination and racism from football.

The ambassador launch event at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam was followed by a high-profile seminar organised by UEFA, the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) and Fare network, focusing on institutional discrimination in football.
http://www.uefa.org/social-responsibility/news/newsid=2196253.html

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2290 on: December 21, 2014, 01:52:24 PM »
Cristiano Ronaldo: Real can repeat Champions League success in 2015
Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid can build on their incredible success in 2014 and win the Champions League for the second time in a row this season.

The Spanish club beat San Lorenzo 2-0 to lift the Club World Cup on Saturday to cap off a year in which they also won the Copa del Rey, European crown and UEFA Super Cup. And Ronaldo believes his side can improve even further in 2015 and become the first team to win the Champions League twice in a row.

"I hope that 2015 will be just as good as 2014 and we can win everything we have won this year," he said. "Especially the Champions League. Winning the Club World Cup is an historic moment that will have a special place in my life. It gives me motivation to move forward. Thank you to everyone who has helped me achieve something special."
Earlier in the day, the World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled a statue of himself in his home town of Funchal on Madeira.
"This is a very special moment, to have a statue of me," said Ronaldo at the ceremony, where he was joined by members of his family and thousands of fans. "Ronaldo has never forgotten his origins," said his mother, Dolores Aveiro.
The 11 foot statue forms part of Ronaldo's personal museum on the island, housing his collection of trophies, including his two Ballon d'Or titles. Ronaldo could add a third next year as he is favourite to win the FIFA award again.
Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in 2008, made the shortlist after scoring a record 17 goals in a Champions League campaign as Real Madrid went on to claim their 10th European Cup last season.
http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-can-repeat-champions-league-success-in-2015-122114

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2291 on: December 23, 2014, 01:37:13 PM »
Glad tidings for Europe's leading lights?
Real Madrid CF, FC Bayern München, Chelsea FC, Olympique de Marseille and Juventus top the big leagues at Christmas, but how safe are they? UEFA.com investigates.

As many of Europe's big leagues clock off for a well-deserved winter break, the sides who top their domestic tables can enjoy their Christmas dinners knowing history backs them still to be top come the season's end. However, as UEFA.com discovers, Real Madrid CF, FC Bayern München, Chelsea FC, Juventus and Olympique de Marseille – currently top of the big five leagues – cannot rest on their laurels yet.

SPAIN
2013/14 – Christmas leaders: FC Barcelona, League winners: Club Atlético de Madrid
2012/13 – Christmas leaders: Barcelona, League winners: Barcelona
2011/12 – Christmas leaders: Real Madrid, League winners: Real Madrid
2010/11 – Christmas leaders: Barcelona, League winners: Barcelona
2009/10 – Christmas leaders: Barcelona, League winners: Barcelona
Only once in the last five seasons have the Christmas leaders lost top spot in the new year. Barcelona were level on points with Atlético last season, but Diego Simeone's side eventually squeezed them out, clinching the title by three points with a final-day 1-1 draw at Camp Nou.

GERMANY
2013/14 – Christmas leaders: Bayern München, League winners: Bayern
2012/13 – Christmas leaders: Bayern, League winners: Bayern
2011/12 – Christmas leaders: Bayern, League winners: Dortmund
2010/11 – Christmas leaders: Dortmund, League winners: Dortmund
2009/10 – Christmas leaders: Leverkusen, League winners: Bayern
Bayern extended their seven-point Christmas lead to a 19-point gap by the end of last season, having enhanced their lead by six points in the spring the previous season. However, they let a three-point Christmas lead slip in 2011/12, while Leverkusen's title challenge collapsed in 2009/10 as they slipped from top spot to fifth in the new year.

ENGLAND
2013/14 – Christmas leaders: Liverpool FC, League winners: Manchester City FC
2012/13 – Christmas leaders: Manchester United FC, League winners: Manchester United
2011/12 – Christmas leaders: Manchester City, League winners: Manchester City
2010/11 – Christmas leaders: Manchester United, League winners: Manchester United
2009/10 – Christmas leaders: Chelsea, League winners: Chelsea
As in Spain, last season broke a run of title successes for the Christmas leaders. Luis Suárez struck twice in a 3-1 win against Cardiff City AFC on 21 December to put Liverpool top of the table on Christmas Day – on goal difference from Arsenal FC. City were a point back on 25 December, but eventually took the title by two points – despite the Reds' 11-game winning run in the second half of the season.

ITALY
2013/14 – Christmas leaders: Juventus, League winners: Juventus
2012/13 – Christmas leaders: Juventus, League winners: Juventus
2011/12 – Christmas leaders: Juventus, League winners: Juventus
2010/11 – Christmas leaders: AC Milan, League winners: Milan
2009/10 – Christmas leaders: Inter, League winners: Inter
Serie A has been the safest of Europe's big leagues for Christmas leaders in the last five seasons, with the side who went into the new year top invariably claiming the Scudetto. Juventus are once more going into the break holding to spot, but their three-point advantage is less significant than the five and eight-point leads they held in the previous two campaigns. Some hope, however flimsy, for their challengers.

FRANCE
2013/14 – Christmas leaders: Paris Saint-Germain, League winners: Paris
2012/13 – Christmas leaders: Paris, League winners: Paris
2011/12 – Christmas leaders: Paris, League winners: Montpellier Hérault SC
2010/11 – Christmas leaders: LOSC Lille, League winners: LOSC
2009/10 – Christmas leaders: FC Girondins de Bordeaux, League winners: Marseille
Chastened perhaps by their failure to hold on to top spot in 2011/12, Paris have substantially enhanced their Christmas leads to take the title in the last two seasons. LOSC, meanwhile, turned a one-goal Christmas lead into an eight-point winning margin in 2010/11, while Bordeaux endured a spectacular collapse the previous season. Nine points clear at Christmas, they lost eight times in a nightmare spring to end up sixth in the final standings, Marseille rising from fourth at the start of 2010 to finish top.

Offline Spursy

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2292 on: December 31, 2014, 02:47:28 PM »
Michel Platini set for third term as UEFA president
UEFA President Michel Platini is set to serve a third term after no rival candidate emerged before the deadline.

The former France captain was first elected to run European football in 2007 and stood unopposed for a second term in 2011.

Platini will be confirmed for a third term as president until 2019 at the UEFA Congress in Vienna in March after UEFA announced "the cut-off deadline of 24 December 2014 has passed for submissions of candidacy" with no rival candidates.

In his second term, Platini enforced financial fair play rules to curb club losses, introduced a minimum 10-game ban for racist abuse by players, and changed the 2020 European Championship format to feature 13 host countries.

Platini has ruled out challenging Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency in May.
http://www.espnfc.com/european-championship/story/2219779/michel-platini-set-for-third-term-as-uefa-president

Offline Bitter

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2293 on: March 11, 2015, 04:08:39 PM »
This bus doesn't work!   >:(

10 man PSG is bossing this game.
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Offline Bakes

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2294 on: March 11, 2015, 05:07:17 PM »
Well-deserved win for PSG... the ref had as poor a game as a ref could have... actually scratch that, nothing tops Mike Riley's performance in Arsenal's loss to Man U at Old Trafford to end their win streak back in 2004.  That being said...

1. The red card on Zlatan was some amateur b.s. (no different than his red on Markovic vs. Basel)
2. The Cavani trip on Costa in the box... would have been soft, but hard to really argue that it should not have been called.
3. How Diego Costa stayed on the pitch is either a travesty or a miracle.

Other big talking point was Thiago Silva's inexplicable handball challenging Zouma on a header, resulting in Hazard's penalty in extra time.  Then Silva getting two bites of the apple with a header seven minutes from time, beating Courtois with a looper or a header.  Not a pretty game by any measure, but great example of determination from PSG to erase Chelsea's away goal advantage, and coming from behind twice to equalize and advance.

Offline Deeks

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2295 on: March 18, 2015, 03:21:50 PM »
Barca has City to hang. City just got a pk and missed. What ah friggin topsey turkey game. 1-0 barca.This is a goalkeepers game. Great goalkeeping on both ends.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2015, 03:24:07 PM by Deeks »

Offline futbolfan

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2296 on: March 18, 2015, 04:10:30 PM »
Not sure which was wuss, Milner's embarrassment or PeP's reaction...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37KPfD3ySrI

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Offline Peong

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2297 on: March 18, 2015, 05:10:25 PM »
It's funny every time these English giants bounce up a euro powerhouse and den boil down like bhaji.

Offline Flex

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2298 on: March 20, 2015, 09:01:38 AM »
Ties to be played April 14 and 22:

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Barcelona
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid

Ties to be played April 15 and 21:

FC Porto vs. Bayern Munich
Juventus vs. AS Monaco

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline grimm01

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2299 on: April 21, 2015, 01:28:56 PM »
Lawd Fadder, Sepp, Platini, Obama, somebody put ah hand for Porto! Not even half time and 5-0, ah laugh til ah cry and then start to feel sorry for them... Brutal response.
« Last Edit: April 21, 2015, 01:31:27 PM by grimm01 »

Offline elan

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2300 on: April 21, 2015, 01:40:50 PM »
Alyuh see that Iniesta beat    :o
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Offline elan

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Offline E-man

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2302 on: April 21, 2015, 01:46:07 PM »
Lawd Fadder, Sepp, Platini, Obama, somebody put ah hand for Porto! Not even half time and 5-0, ah laugh til ah cry and then start to feel sorry for them... Brutal response.

Floodgates are open. Looked shaky for a minute there with the injuries and medic staff problems, but when that first shot went off the post it was a matter of time before the dam burst.

Offline Flex

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2303 on: April 24, 2015, 07:03:08 AM »
Bayern to face Barcelona, Real to play Juventus in UCL semifinals.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline soccerman

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2304 on: April 24, 2015, 09:19:49 AM »
Bayern to face Barcelona, Real to play Juventus in UCL semifinals.

It can turn out to be a Classico final :cheers:

Bayern v Barca should be a good one!

Offline mukumsplau

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2305 on: May 14, 2015, 10:46:01 PM »
Allyuh sleepin man

a truly EPL centric board

Offline soccerman

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2306 on: May 15, 2015, 05:10:08 PM »
Allyuh sleepin man

a truly EPL centric board

I backing Juve for the finals :beermug:

Offline palos

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2307 on: May 15, 2015, 05:53:46 PM »
Allyuh sleepin man

a truly EPL centric board

It's always been that way. 

Which reinforces the saying.....corbeaux cyah eat sponge cake  ;)
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Offline asylumseeker

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2308 on: June 06, 2015, 08:34:07 AM »
Allyuh sleepin man

a truly EPL centric board

I backing Juve for the finals :beermug:

Yes and yes.

Offline 100% Barataria

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Re: UEFA Champions League 2014/2015
« Reply #2309 on: June 06, 2015, 08:46:24 AM »
Sylum, like you ended up spending some time in the same?  ;D
Education is our passport for the future for the future belongs to those who prepare for it today

 

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