Liverpool triumph over Real Madrid in Champions League showdown

Liverpool produced a commanding performance on Wednesday night, defeating defending champions Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield to solidify their position atop the Champions League table.

The Reds started aggressively, with Darwin Núñez testing Thibaut Courtois in the 4th minute. The Madrid goalkeeper showcased his class, making a superb save to deny Núñez’s low drive destined for the bottom right corner.

Courtois continued his heroics in the 23rd minute, thwarting another chance from Núñez, who pounced on a rebound inside the box but failed to beat the Belgian shot-stopper.

Liverpool’s relentless pressure persisted, and Núñez came close again in the 33rd minute with a glancing header that narrowly missed the left post. Despite their dominance, the first half ended goalless.

The second half brought heightened drama. In the 49th minute, Mohamed Salah’s penalty appeal was waved away by referee François Letexier, despite protests from Liverpool players.

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Moments later, Liverpool broke the deadlock. In the 52nd minute, Conor Bradley delivered a precise pass to Alexis Mac Allister, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, giving Liverpool a 1-0 lead.

Madrid had a golden opportunity to equalise in the 60th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Andrew Robertson’s foul. Kylian Mbappé stepped up, but Caoimhín Kelleher made a sensational save, diving to his right to deny the Frenchman.

Liverpool had their own chance to double the lead from the spot in the 70th minute after Ferland Mendy’s foul inside the box. However, Salah’s penalty struck the left post, keeping the scoreline intact.

Cody Gakpo sealed the victory in the 77th minute. The Dutch forward connected with Andrew Robertson’s lofted pass and beat Courtois with a well-placed header into the right side of the net, making it 2-0.

Madrid pressed in the final minutes, but Kelleher was outstanding, making crucial saves to deny Lucas Vázquez and Brahim Díaz in stoppage time.

Liverpool’s dominance, coupled with stellar goalkeeping, ensured their victory and maintained their unblemished Champions League campaign.

The win not only reaffirmed their top-table status but also showcased their intent to reclaim European glory.

Liverpool triumph over Real Madrid in Champions League showdown

UCL Roundup: Arsenal, Bayern triumph as Man City let 3-0 lead slip

Arsenal and Bayern Munich celebrated victories in the UEFA Champions League, while Manchester City stunned fans by surrendering a three-goal lead to draw.

Arsenal roared back to form with a dominant 5-1 win against Sporting at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard scored for the Gunners, overpowering Gonçalo Inácio’s lone goal for the hosts.

The victory propels Arsenal to seventh in the Champions League standings, level on 10 points with Sporting, who sit just behind.

Bayern Munich kept their top-eight hopes alive in Germany with a narrow 1-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain. Kim Min-jae’s decisive strike just before halftime sealed the win, leaving PSG winless in the competition since September.

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At the Etihad, Manchester City threw away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord, extending their poor run. Early goals from Erling Haaland (2) and Ilkay Gundogan seemed to put City in control. However, Feyenoord fought back through Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and David Hancko to earn a stunning point.

City, now winless in six matches across all competitions, sit 15th in the Champions League table with just seven points from five games. They face a critical Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday.

Tuesday’s action saw Barcelona dismantle Brest 5-0, Atalanta crush Young Boys 6-1, and Inter Milan edge RB Leipzig 1-0.

Bayer Leverkusen demolished RB Salzburg 5-0, Atletico Madrid routed Sparta Prague 6-0, and AC Milan secured a hard-fought 3-2 win against Slovan.

This Champions League round delivered plenty of drama, surprises, and standout performances as teams battle for progression.

UCL Roundup: Arsenal, Bayern triumph as Man City let 3-0 lead slip

French football star, Paul Pogba’s blackmail trial begin in Paris

Six men linked to Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba go on trial Tuesday, accused of blackmail, attempted extortion of millions of euros and holding the player at gunpoint.

The case at the Paris criminal court has shocked the French football world because the alleged perpetrators include three childhood friends and Pogba’s own brother Mathias.

Tuesday’s trial comes on top of football woes for Pogba, whose career has struggled since France’s 2018 World Cup win when he scored against Croatia in the Moscow final.

He suffered repeated injuries that led to his 2022 departure from Manchester United, returning to Juventus where he remained in and out of treatment.

The Turin club this month cancelled his contract following his suspension until March 2025 for doping.

The six defendants in Paris are accused of attempting to squeeze 13 million euros ($13.5 million) out of Pogba.

His brother, Mathias was the one to go public in the case, publishing a video on social media in August 2022 promising revelations about his younger brother that were “likely to be explosive”.

In a subsequent clip, Mathias accused Paul Pogba of casting an evil spell on his France teammate, Kylian Mbappe.

Paul Pogba’s lawyers and his agent Rafaela Pimenta said in a statement later the videos “came on top of threats and attempts at extortion”.

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He had already filed criminal complaints in Italy and France in July that year.

Pogba told French investigators he had in March 2022 been “tricked by childhood friends” from the gritty Paris suburb where he and Mathias grew up.

He accused them of snatching him before he was held at gunpoint by two hooded men with assault rifles, demanding 13 million euros for “services rendered” and blaming him for not helping them financially.

Pogba said at the time that he had paid them only 100,000 euros.

The footballer said he had also been pressured at the France national team’s training centre in Clairefontaine, at one of his homes in Manchester, and at Juventus’ training ground.

Pogba added that he had also paid a bill of more than 57,000 euros that the same friends had racked up at the Adidas store on Paris’ glitzy Champs-Elysees avenue.

“It’s been really difficult for me off the pitch, what’s happened, it’s been especially hard mentally,” Pogba told broadcaster Al-Jazeera at the end of the last season.

“Money changes people, it’s the truth, it can destroy a family, start a war”.

Paul Pogba’s lawyer Pierre-Jean Douvier declined to comment ahead of the case when contacted by AFP.

His friends have all denied the allegations.

They had “a friendly relationship, with chats, joking around, and alongside that, yes, maybe Paul Pogba gave them a helping hand,” said Karim Morand-Lahouazi, a lawyer for one of the accused.

French football star, Paul Pogba’s blackmail trial begin in Paris