Real Madrid top annual money football league clubs

Real Madrid are the first football club to top a billion euros in revenue during a single season, fuelled by income generated by the revamped Santiago Bernabeu stadium, according to financial experts Deloitte.

The order of the clubs at the top of Deloitte’s annual Football Money League stayed the same, with Madrid (1.05 billion euros, $1.09 billion) followed by Premier League champions Manchester City (838 million euros) and Paris Saint-Germain (806 million euros).

The 208-million-euro gap between first and second is the biggest Deloitte have ever recorded.

Salah hits new record with 50th European goal for Liverpool

Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has now scored three Champions League goals this season and 22 in 31 games in all competitions.

He has also set up another 17 for team-mates and his total of 39 goal involvements is the highest of any player in Europe’s big five leagues.

His latest goal set Liverpool on their way to victory against Lille and to securing their place in the Champions League last 16.

It was a nonchalant finish as he latched on to Curtis Jones’ superb through ball and lifted over the advancing Lucas Chevalier.

It was his 50th goal in Europe for Liverpool – with 44 coming in the Champions League, five in last season’s Europa League and one in Champions League qualifying.

His latest strike extends his record as the club’s leading European goalscorer and he has now scored 20 Champions League goals at Anfield.

Former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero (23 at Etihad Stadium) and ex-Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy (23 at Old Trafford) are the only players to score more goals in the competition at a specific venue for an English team.

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“There has always been a smile on Salah’s face but it’s just that belief in himself that he will score,” said former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“That’s what makes him so dangerous. That’s the elite mindset of a player of his calibre.”

He has also been directly involved in 18 goals in 15 appearances at Anfield this season (10 goals, eight assists in all competitions).

“He is a real talisman for Liverpool,” said former Reds striker Robbie Fowler on Amazon Prime.

“He is a game winner. He is very comfortable in front of goal.

“He is one of those players that if he misses a chance, he is not fazed because the next one he will score.

“We wax lyrical about Mohamed Salah and know what he is capable of.”

Speaking to Amazon Prime, Salah said: “Hopefully [it’s] not the last one but I’m very proud of it. I wasn’t focused on it before the game.”

The 32-year-old’s long-term future at Anfield has been a constant talking point, as he has yet to sign an extension to his contract that expires at the end of this season.

At the end of December, Salah said an agreement was “far away” but former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia said the “situation is not affecting him”.

“He has never said he wants to leave,” said Garcia on Amazon Prime.

“The club never said he wants to leave. I think they are trying to give him normality. Week in, week out he is delivering, he is scoring. So this situation is not affecting him.”

Salah hits new record with 50th European goal for Liverpool

Barcelona in major comeback claim victory at Benfica

Raphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday and virtually ensure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.

Benfica were leading 4-2 with under 15 minutes remaining but Barcelona mounted a stunning late comeback to stay three points behind leaders Liverpool.

Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts, in part thanks to two big errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.