Champions League Returns, Bayern hosts Paris Saint Germain (PSG)

The highest UEFA club competition returns today with some heavy matches lined up to be executed. 

Some matches are however going to be walkovers while some promises heavy challenge and encounters. Atletico Madrid will be having the early kick off by 6.45pm as they will be travelling to Czech republic to slug it out with the foremost Sparta Praha team. Both teams have managed to score score just five goals apiece. And while Atleti currently has six points from four games. 

They recorded two wins and two losses, the host team have managed a win and a draw with two losses to sit at the twenty sixth position on the log. While AC Milan will be travelling to Slovakia for a thrilling encounter with SK Slovan Bratislava. 

Some big matches coming up after that will be Bayern Munich hosting PSG at the Allianz Arena at 9pm with PSG tipped to clinch the three points. Inter Milan will also be hosting RB Leipzig at the San Siro, Sporting will host the team from Emirates, England and the Europa league champions will be hosted at the Young Boys stadium in Switzerland.

Barcelona also in the absence of their key man, Yamal will be hosting the team from France, Brest in an anticipated, chilling encounter.

We hope for a entertaining encounters.

Ruben Amorim Masterclass earns United a draw

Friends and well wishers of Manchester United has started to give the new manager at the helm of affairs at Manchester United Ruben Amorim, a deserving accolade. At the weekend, it was an intense encounter with the Ipswich town team. The United team got the first goal while the home team, equalized to end the first half but there was no more response from the red devils team to overpower them.

The game then ended with the one all score line. Many pundits and sports analyst have however raised points of concern with the new manager. While some have insisted on giving the new manager a chance to showcase his managerial prowess, others have said that the new manager has not got what it takes to manage a team such as United.

These later critics lashed out after the result last weekend. They maintained that if the manager with his abilities and the squad available to him cannot win a team as Ipswich then expectations towards the new manager should be dropped until visible results are sighted.

They meet the team from Norway at home, Bodo/Glimt on Thursday for their Europa league clash. They currently sit fifteenth on the Europa league log with six points. They have played four games, winning just one and drawing three.

Messi is Missing the 125th anniversary of FC Barcelona

Messi is expected to miss the 125th anniversary celebrating of his former club, FC Barcelona.  He left the club in 2021 having won Thirty five (35) trophies and also obtaining six (6) Ballon d'Ors. From his spell at the club's second division to his full career at the main team, Lionel Messi played a total of about Eight hundred (800) matches, scoring a record Six hundred and seventy nine (679) goals and assisting another Three hundred and four (304) more.

He had an incredible playing career the club and in 2021 could not renew his contract with the club due to financial constraints on the part of the club and so had to move away to France. He a two year deal with the French giants, Paris Saint German (PSG) where he also had an outstanding performance, also wining two more Ballon d'Ors at the club.

Lionel Messi have said that he would have loved to end his career at the club he loved FC Barcelona but this was not possible because he has had to make two major moves after his career ended at the Spanish club - He has gone to France for PSG and now playing at Inter Miami in the MLS of USA. But he has not stopped been a fan of the city and people of Barcelona nor the club.

In his recent interview after news broke out that he might not be in attendance at the club's anniversary because of an already scheduled engagement on the said date. He affirmed his love he and his family has for the city. In his words, ''My kids were born here. I've spent my whole life living there. I feel I belong to Barcelona'' he said at the interview. Continuing, he added, ''My family and I always think about the possibility of returning to live there one day. My children, my wife and I miss our life there a lot. We miss our friends''

He also added that his love for the team has not changed and expressed happiness for the current team's success. ''I see Barcelona. They are doing great and I'm not surprised at all'' He reacted.

But his attendance of the club's 29th November celebration is still debated as his presence will mean so much for the club and to him. Stakeholders are hoping that a last minute change could put events in a favourable condition for his attendance. 

We will keep fingers crossed as we observe further developments.

''But once your picture becomes tainted, It's what they call; The rise and fall''! - The Manchester Clubs story

In Manchester, the two teams in the top flight of the English league, Manchester United and Manchester City have had enough stories to serve us a great deal. Manchester City has been on the positive receiving note for the past ten years. 

Manchester City celebrates Champions league win

They are the only team with seven league titles to their names in the last twleve years period. Their shelves have not been empty totally in other competitions locally and even at the bigger European scene as they have also won Two English FA cups, Six league cups and One FA Community Shields within the period. They have also won One UEFA Champions league title, One UEFA Super Cup and One FIFA Club World Cup title within the twelve year period.

The Citizens have been a successful team in every regards. This they boost of with the help of a super talented Head Coach Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola with his City Guards?

And on the other side is the Red devils, who in the past ten years have won two English FA cups, two FA Community Shields and UEFA Europa league title. The Manchester United decline began almost immediately after Sir Alex Ferguson stepped aside from his managerial role after a twenty seven reign. He won them major titles during his long stay at the club and serving a fulfilling career ending 2013 with David Moyes taking over the affairs of the team.

Manchester United team photo

The decline began to bring ridicule to the trail blazing team who have in time past dominated and even ''oppressed'' other teams in the league and even at the European scene. It led to several managerial changes at the club with the latest being the sacking of Eric Ten Hag as head coach in October 2024 after a winless run in both domestic and at the Europa league scene. 

Disappointed Rashford at a Manchester United game

Ruud Van Nistelrooy took over the managerial affairs in the interim managing a two game win and a draw in three games since take over. While Ruben Amorim has been named to take charge of the club after the international break. Ruben is the head coach of Sporting Lisbon, Portugal and he has had incredible run while at the club and the team is hoping that he will once again rekindle the Red devil spirit in the club.

Manchester United New Manager Ruben Amorim

Recently, Manchester City have also come under a bad run in the league and the Champions league. The City team under Pep have seen back to back defeat for the first time in a long while since Pep's take over. 

They have lost four games in a roll. Two premier league games, one EFL cup and one Champions league game. Enduring defeat from Bournemouth and Sporting in the space of a week is something that has not been heard of at the club in a very long time.

Pep talking to Brighton player after their 2 goals to 1 loss

The question every one is asking at this time is, has the big picture of this super Manchester clubs been tainted? what exactly is this decline that we are witnessing. Like Craig David and Sting sang in their song titled, Rise and fall. They opined that once your picture becomes tainted, it is what they call, the rise and fall. Is this what we are witnessing.

If the pictures of the two clubs are tainted, what is this stain?

Of course, we are not oblivious of the stories and somewhat conspiracy theories that abound in the media about the two clubs. The Manchester United team under Sir Alex was alleged to be a corrupt team that was dictating and influences match officials to win matches. Of course no truth has been established in this regard.

The WHY question is yet to be answered

While the City team has been said to be a finance influencing team because of the heavy sums that the club have spent to acquire some names within their ranks. They are also been investigated by the FA for allegation that they breached the FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY rules in the league and are rumoured to even be demoted to the lower leagues if found guilty.

Are some of these stories true? We don't know yet and might never know as some of these findings are never made public.

We hope they bounce back and give football lovers and their fans a better and entertaining football match.

No Mercy for Messi as Inter Miami are Eliminated from League Cup

Messi fans and banter warlords were already sharpening their bantering arsenal in hopes that the little magician will do the unthinkable with the Inter Miami side in the USA's MLS playoffs. They were however disappointed 😂

Match poster for Second leg

By 4 am on Sunday morning of 10th November, 2024, the Inter Miami side were already sent home by the Atlanta United side after a home and a away win that cumulated in a eight goal thriller . The Atlanta United team won the first leg of the encounter with two goals to one at their home turf on the third of November.

Messi flanked by Atlanta United defenders

The score line seemed quite fair to the Miami side who thought turning it around will be an easy task. They never knew the United side has energised and strategized how to hold the little magician down. It worked for most part but the major lapses has been from the Inter Miami's defence players who made some series of mistakes to aid their elimination.

A disappointed Messi at the dearth of the game

Messi managed to get a goal through a header from a delivery from right winger Marcelo Weigandt to make the score line two apiece at the sixty fifth minute but it did not stop Bartosz Slisz from netting a beautiful goal at the seventy sixth minute to make the score line two to three in favour of United to send them through unto the next phase.

The game ended two goals to three and three goals to five to send the Inter Miami side packing from the competition.

Atlanta United players celebrates win

Jordi Alba was visibly disappointed after the loss. Speaking to journalist after the game, the opined that the format for the competition is not fair. He reiterated the fact that the Inter Miami team have done a good number with league itself. They broke the points record and had a great season with league.

His words, “We were the most consistent team, we broke the points record, we had a good season but what we wanted was to win these playoffs. "I think this format is somewhat unfair.” “I think this format is a bit unfair.”.

It is never easy to win the normal league and still have to compete to be crowned the champions of the league that you just won. Cristian Ronaldo's fans are having a field day already as they are seen satisfied as they have continued to make their comparison and characteristic innuendos to stick. At the end of the day, football has won. There will always be a winner and a loser. 

It is the way of the game.

Images used were google sourced!

Champions League 2024 - The Table is Turning on Its Own

UEFA probably envisaged a monumental victory for big teams who has been trail blazing on the big tournament but recently, the tourney has brought to bare some jaw dropping shows. On the recent events, the star studded Ream Madrid team in all it's glory was dismantled at home by AC Milan team. I believe nobody, not a single person saw this coming. The only goal they got in the match was a Penalty kick that was taken by Vinicius Jnr. 

With the ever present Mike Maigan, the Madristas could not go past him as they were confronted by a firm wall. The goalie managed to Stop all the Madrid attackers including the Ballon dÓr runner up and also one of the best players, Mbappe. The goal keeper kept off a total of nine shots on target from the Real Madrid attack. The game ended three goals to one in favour of the Milan team.

Another surprising game was the riot ran over Manchester City by Sporting FC at Lisbon. The Citizens took the early lead by the fourth minute by a strike from Phil Foden. The host responded at the thirty eight minutes from an assist from Quenda to Viktor Gyokeres. Viktor Gyokeres also went on to score other two goals to take home the match ball. Maximiliano Araujo got the second goal for the Sporting team at the forty sixth minutes just a minute into the second half.

After the end of first games of the fourth round on Tuesday, the 5th of November, the UEFA Champions league phase table has taken the shape of a dancing pendulum with a surprising form from AS Monaco, Sporting Lisbon and Aston Villa who has a 100% win rate at the tournament and sit third, second and fifth respectfully on the log.

See below,

Let us wait to verify more of this developing stories because as it stands, the UEFA Champions league table is Turning on Its Own.

Images used are google sourced!

Ademola Injures Napoli in a three goals thriller

Ademola Lookman has once again inflicted a serious injury on the side from Naples when they went away on their league challenge against Napoli last weekend, 3rd of November.

In a symbolic pattern, the winger was rightly positioned to score the first goal of the game against Napoli when a headed ball drops perfectly on his left foot at the corner of the box. He slots in a powerful shot to go past the Napoli goalie who could not do anything to stop the talisman.

Before the end of the half by the thirty first minute, Lookman is seen following a counter attack against his team and gaining a sublime pass from Charles De Ketelaere outside of the area and moving past a Napoli player and moving another aside wades in a thunderous volley to make the score line two.

The Atalanta forward has been in a fantastic form for his side in the league and even the champions league. He was notably voted as the fourteenth best player at the just conclude Ballon d'Or award at France last couple of days. A feat that has edged his name in the annals of history in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Continuing in his fine form, the Africa Best Player award is rightly also within his reach.

The game ended three goals to nil in favour of the Atalanta side with Lookman scoring two and Retegui netting the third.

Image is google sourced and Video from Serie A YouTube page

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