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Chelsea progress as group winners in Women's Champions League

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Real Madrid 1 - 2 Chelsea Substitute Catarina Macario scored twice from the spot as Chelsea overturned a deficit to defeat Real Madrid and secure their place in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals as Group B winners. Author - Peter Grainger Real Madrid appeared poised to claim top spot after Scotland forward Caroline Weir’s early strike, which deflected off Lucy Bronze , found its way past Hannah Hampton despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to it. Facing her first potential loss since taking charge of the Blues in the summer, Sonia Bompastor made a decisive half-time substitution, bringing on US international Catarina Macario for the ineffective Mayra Ramirez. Macario made an immediate impact. After seeing one effort ruled out for offside and narrowly missing the target with another, she earned and converted her first penalty in the 51st minute after being brought down by Olga Carmona. Carmona, who famously scored the winner in Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the 2023...

Chelsea qualify for Conference League knockout stage

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Astana 1 - 3 Chelsea Former Barcelona player Marc Guiu made a big impression as Chelsea secured their spot in the UEFA Conference League knockout stage with a victory over Astana in freezing Kazakhstan. Author - Lauren W The Blues embarked on the 3,600-mile journey to Almaty, where they faced challenging conditions, including biting temperatures of -11°C. However, a heavily rotated Chelsea side showed their mettle, wrapping up the win with three first-half goals. Eighteen-year-old Spanish youth international Guiu was among several young players given an opportunity to shine, and he seized it. In the 14th minute, he opened the scoring with an impressive solo run, calmly finishing to put Chelsea ahead. Just four minutes later, Guiu's effort from Pedro Neto's cross was deflected in by Aleksandr Marochkin, doubling the lead and putting Chelsea firmly in control. Renato Veiga added a third just before half-time with a well-taken header – his second goal of the season. Spurs 3 - ...

United fight back to win at Viktoria Plzen

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Viktoria Plzeň 1 - 2 Manchester United Rasmus Højlund came off the bench to score twice as Manchester United overturned a deficit to secure a crucial Europa League victory against Viktoria Plzeň. Author - Olivia T Højlund, now with five goals in this season’s Europa League, sparked United’s second-half comeback with an impressive display after being introduced from the bench. The 21-year-old forward equalised following some clever link-up play between Antony and Amad Diallo. He reacted quickest to poke the ball home from close range after Diallo’s initial shot was blocked. Moments later, the Danish international struck again, latching onto Bruno Fernandes’ perfectly weighted pass before drilling a low shot into the bottom-right corner. UEFA Europa League and Conference League: 24/25 Click here for more Manchester United news and stories Højlund’s heroics spared further embarrassment for goalkeeper André Onana, who was at fault for the opening goal. For the second game running, ...

Liverpool maintain perfect Champions League record

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Girona 0 - 1 Liverpool Liverpool are on the brink of securing their place in the Champions League last 16 after Mohamed Salah's penalty sealed a win against Girona. Author - William G from GMCR Football Liverpool maintain perfect Champions League record in 24/25 More reaction here - https://t.co/SoSZpMS13p https://t.co/95Hp43Tq62 — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) December 12, 2024 The decisive moment in the match came in the second half when Donny van de Beek, formerly of Manchester United and Everton , clipped Luis Díaz's heel in the box, handing Liverpool a spot-kick. Salah made no mistake, coolly converting from 12 yards and wrong-footing Girona's goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, to notch his 46th Champions League goal. At the other end, Alisson Becker, back in the Liverpool team, pulled off several excellent saves to preserve the Reds' unbeaten run in this season's competition. With this victory, Liverpool maintain their perfect record and top th...

Arsenal eventually ease to win over Monaco

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 Arsenal 3 - 0 Monaco Bukayo Saka shone with a brace as Arsenal secured a crucial win over Monaco, bolstering their chances of advancing to the Champions League knockout stages. Author - DJ The Gunners dominated the first half but squandered several opportunities to make the result more emphatic. Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Myles Lewis-Skelly threaded a pass to Gabriel Jesus, whose low cross set up Saka for an easy finish. In the second half, substitute Kai Havertz capitalised on an error from goalkeeper RadosÅ‚aw Majecki in the 74th minute, allowing Saka to strike from close range for his second of the night. Saka then turned provider in the 88th minute, delivering a pinpoint cross for Havertz, who slotted in Arsenal’s third goal. Click here for more Arsenal news and stories Champions League: 2024/2025 A closer look at what happened Despite the late flurry of goals, Arsenal missed several clear-cut chances earlier in the match. Gabriel Jesus was twice...

Manchester City's current malaise continues with Champions League defeat

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Juventus 2 - 0 Manchester City Manchester City’s struggles continued as they suffered a potentially damaging defeat to Juventus, leaving their Champions League knockout stage hopes hanging by a thread. Author - Macca Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie sealed a crucial win for the Italian side, bolstering their chances of progressing automatically as one of the top eight teams in the league phase. For City, however, it marked yet another setback in a torrid run of form, with just one win from their last 10 games in all competitions and a seventh defeat during this miserable spell. The result leaves City languishing in 22nd place in the Champions League standings, with only two group games remaining. They face Paris Saint-Germain away on 22 January and host Club Brugge a week later. The top eight teams secure automatic progression, while those finishing between ninth and 24th must navigate a two-legged play-off. City remain just one point above PSG in 25th...

Villa close to Champions League progression

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RB Leipzig 2 - 3 Aston Villa Aston Villa edged closer to securing a spot in the Champions League knockout stages with a dramatic late win over winless RB Leipzig, despite being pegged back twice. Author - Alex W Ross Barkley's deflected effort sealed the victory in the dying minutes after goals from Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner had cancelled out strikes from John McGinn and Jhon Duran. The Premier League side made a flying start, taking the lead inside three minutes. Ollie Watkins expertly nodded down Matty Cash's cross, setting up McGinn to smash home from close range. Watkins came close to doubling the lead soon after, narrowly missing Lucas Digne's low cross across the box. However, Leipzig capitalised on a rare mistake by Emiliano Martinez. The Villa goalkeeper misjudged a long ball, allowing Openda to pounce and slot into an empty net. Villa thought they had restored their lead just before half-time when Watkins found the net, but the goal was ruled out fo...

Chelsea's flawless Conference League form continues

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Heidenheim 0 - 2 Chelsea Jadon Sancho marked his first start since October 20 by providing assists for both goals, helping Chelsea maintain their perfect record in the Conference League with a victory over Heidenheim in Germany. Author - Lauren W   A closer look at what happened The on-loan player from Manchester United set up Christopher Nkunku for his fifth goal in four group phase games before assisting Mykhailo Mudryk with just four minutes remaining. However, Chelsea relied heavily on goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who made several crucial saves to secure the win against their Bundesliga rivals. With the score still level, the 22-year-old made an impressive one-handed stop to deny 18-year-old Paul Wanner. After Nkunku's opener in the 51st minute, Jorgensen once again came to his team's rescue, saving attempts from both Leo Scienza and Wanner. Chelsea ended the match with ten men after midfielder Cesare Casadei was sent off in the sixth minute of stoppage time for receivin...

Roma frustrate Tottenham

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Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 2 Roma Veteran defender Mats Hummels rescued a dramatic late equaliser for Claudio Ranieri's Roma, denying Tottenham victory in a tense Europa League clash. The 35-year-old German, featuring in his first European match since July's Champions League final, endured a rollercoaster evening. He conceded an early penaltyjust five minutes in, bringing down Pape Matar Sarr after reacting slowly to a loose ball in the box. However in stoppage time, Hummels redeemed himself, slotting home Angelino's pinpoint cross to salvage a point for Roma. Author - Greg S Tottenham had been the dominant force for much of the game. Son Heung-min converted the penalty Hummels gave away, while Brennan Johnson added a superb first-time finish following Dejan Kulusevski's cutback. Earlier, defender Evan N'Dicka had drawn Roma level , and Stephan El Shaarawy thought he’d scored with a stunning volley, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. Despite their control, Spur...

United and Bodø/Glimt produce Europa League classic

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Manchester United 3 - 2 Bodø/Glimt Ruben Amorim's first home match as Manchester United boss ended in a win for his new club. Author -  Liam Chadwick The Red Devils secured a winning start at Old Trafford under new manager Ruben Amorim, coming from behind to defeat Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League. The home side wasted no time finding the net, with a goal after just 48 seconds – even quicker than their 81-second opener in Amorim’s debut match at Ipswich. The breakthrough came from an error by goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, who hesitated on a routine clearance, allowing Rasmus Højlund to close him down and set up Alejandro Garnacho for a simple tap-in. However, rather than setting the stage for a comfortable evening, the early goal sparked a frustrating spell for the hosts. Bodø/Glimt responded with two goals in just four minutes, turning the game on its head and taking the lead with less than 25 minutes played. Thankfully for United, Højlund brought Old Trafford to i...

Real Madrid lose in the Champions League again

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Liverpool 2 - 0 Real Madrid Liverpool finally overcame their Real Madrid curse with a well-deserved victory, maintaining a perfect Champions League record in a thrilling encounter at Anfield. Author - William G from GMCR Football What's going wrong for Real Madrid? Three defeats in five games have left Real Madrid facing a tough challenge to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League. This is not the situation the 15-time European champions anticipated. Following a 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday, the Spanish giants find themselves 24th in the standings and in real danger of an early exit from the tournament they have long dominated. Champions League: 2024/2025 Under the competition’s new format, the top eight teams automatically progress to the last 16, while those ranked ninth to 24th enter a two-legged play-off. Currently sitting in the final play-off spot, the reigning champions are teetering on the brink of elimination. On the night, superstars Kylian Mbappe and...

Feyenoord silence Etihad with late comeback

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Manchester City 3 - 3 Feyenoord Manchester City squandered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League, extending their dismal run of form at a shell-shocked Etihad Stadium. Author - Macca A remarkable evening in Manchester https://t.co/SoSZpMS13p https://t.co/g5nOKIUHZj — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) November 28, 2024 The above tweet probably sums it up quite well.  A closer look at what happened Pep Guardiola’s team appeared to be in full control after Erling Haaland netted twice and Ilkay Gundogan added a third, giving the hosts a commanding lead. However, Feyenoord mounted a remarkable comeback, delighting their 5,000 travelling supporters. Anis Hadj Moussa capitalised on a Josko Gvardiol error to spark the revival, before substitute Santiago Gimenez scored in the 82nd minute. David Hancko completed the dramatic turnaround in the 89th minute, leaving Guardiola visibly frustrated and some City fans voicing their displeasure at full-time. City,...

Chelsea Women progress in Women's Champions League

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Chelsea Women 3 - 0 Celtic Women Chelsea secured their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals with two games to spare after a commanding 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.  Goals from Lucy Bronze, Wieke Kaptein, and Ève Périsset sealed the win for last season’s semi-finalists, marking their 11th consecutive win. Author - Lauren W Chelsea have enjoyed a dream start to the campaign, boasting a flawless record across all competitions. They currently sit top of both the WSL and Champions League Group B. After the match, manager Sonia Bompastor expressed her delight at the team’s early qualification, which alleviates some of the pressure ahead of the winter break. Chelsea overcame an early scare in their 2-1 win at Celtic Park last week, but they ensured there were no repeats this time. From the outset, the WSL champions showed they had learned their lesson, starting with a bang at Stamford Bridge. Just 65 seconds in, Lucy Bronze unleashed an instinctive volley...

England return to Nations League top tier

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England 5 - 0 Republic of Ireland England sealed their return to the top tier of the Nations League in stunning fashion, thrashing the Republic of Ireland at Wembley in Lee Carsley’s final game as interim manager. Author - Peter Grainger from GMCR Football Lee Carsley now hands the reins to Thomas Tuchel, who takes charge from 1 January. During his tenure, Carsley guided England to five wins in six matches, with his team delivering a commanding second-half display here after a lacklustre opening 45 minutes. Harry Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot eight minutes into the second half. The England captain's brilliant through-ball set Jude Bellingham free, only for Bellingham to be brought down by Liam Scales, earning the defender a second yellow card and a sending-off. What's the point of the UEFA Nations League? With the Republic reduced to ten men, England took full advantage. Anthony Gordon netted his first senior international goal just two minutes later, tappi...

Changed England side impress against Greece

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Greece 0 - 3 England England are poised to return to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League with a win over the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday, following an impressive victory against Greece in Athens. Author - Peter Grainger from GMCR Football Lee Carsley's team avenged their disappointing defeat to Greece at Wembley in October, making Thursday's triumph even sweeter for the interim manager, especially given the squad was hit hard by player withdrawals. The emphatic result not only erased the memory of that 2-1 loss but also ensured England hold the upper hand in their head-to-head record with Greece, leaving the Three Lions in control of their own destiny. Ollie Watkins justified his selection over captain Harry Kane by giving England an early lead after just seven minutes, turning in a superb cross from Noni Madueke, who had carved open the Greek defence with a brilliant run. Jordan Pickford was pivotal when called upon, standing firm during rare moments of...

Lee Carsley names final England squad as Interim Manager

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What do you think of England's next squad? Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers has been called up to England's squad for the November Nations League matches, after eight players were forced to withdraw due to injury. Author - Thomas J One of England's recent matches was a 3-1 win over Finland Joining Rogers in interim manager Lee Carsley’s squad are West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen, Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento, and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. Among the players sidelined are Chelsea's Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer, Arsenal's Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale. England are set to face Greece on 14 November, followed by a match against the Republic of Ireland on 17 November. Alexander-Arnold sustained an injury just 25 minutes into Liverpool’s win over Villa on Saturday. Saka also picked up a late knock in A...

Arsenal Women put on great show against Juventus

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Juventus 0 - 4 Arsenal Arsenal continued their impressive form under interim manager Renee Slegers, securing a victory over Juventus in the Women's Champions League. Author - Olivia T Goals from Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey, and Caitlin Foord extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to five matches since Slegers stepped in following Jonas Eidevall’s resignation. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, as Juventus frequently challenged Arsenal’s defence and posed a threat on the counter-attack. However, the Gunners consistently looked the more likely side to score and were finally rewarded for their attacking determination just before half-time, when Maanum finished off a well-worked passing move from close range. Click here for Women's Football news and stories Substitute Blackstenius doubled the lead with a brilliant solo effort, driving into the box after a pass from Caldentey and beating Pauline Peyraud-Magnin at her near post. Spanish forward Caldentey then mad...

Spurs suffer first Europa League defeat of the season

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Galatasaray 3 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur Victor Osimhen struck twice as Galatasaray handed 10-man Tottenham their first Europa League defeat of the season in Istanbul. Author - Greg S Teenage forward Will Lankshear, who had earlier celebrated his maiden senior goal in just his second start for Spurs, was shown a second yellow card and dismissed on the hour mark. By then, Tottenham had already squandered several opportunities, leaving the final scoreline flattering them somewhat, given the hosts' dominant display. Despite the setback, Ange Postecoglou’s side remain well-positioned to progress from the group stage, sitting on nine points from four games, although Galatasaray have now overtaken them in the standings. A closer look at what happened Tottenham’s shaky attempts to play out from the back, coupled with some chaotic defending, made for a difficult evening in a notoriously intimidating atmosphere. The tone was set by Yunus Akgun's sublime sixth-minute strike, a left-foote...

Amad shines for Manchester United

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Manchester United 2 - 0 PAOK Amad Diallo’s second-half brace handed Manchester United a crucial win over Greek champions PAOK, jump-starting their Europa League journey and giving incoming manager Ruben Amorim a real chance at securing a top-eight spot. Author - Olivia T Amad was United’s standout attacking threat, breaking the deadlock just five minutes into the second half with a looping header into the far corner. The Ivorian then wrapped up the win with a curling shot from the edge of the box, 13 minutes from time. PAOK’s best opportunity fell to Tarik Tissoudali, who couldn’t find the target from eight yards out with only Andre Onana to beat. Onana also pulled off an acrobatic save to deny Mady Camara, helping United through a relatively uneventful first half. This victory marks United’s second win in their last 12 European matches, and their first of this season after a run of t hree straight draws in the expanded Europa League. In three weeks, United will take on Norwegian s...

Inter beat Arsenal with controversial penalty

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Inter Milan 1 - 0 Arsenal Arsenal's unbeaten run in this season’s Champions League came to a frustrating end at the San Siro, as a contentious first-half penalty handed Inter Milan a narrow victory. Author - DJ Just before half-time, Inter were awarded a penalty when Mikel Merino was judged to have handled the ball following a flick-on from Mehdi Taremi. While there seemed little Merino could do to avoid it, VAR upheld the decision, and Hakan Calhanoglu confidently slotted the penalty down the middle. This marked Arsenal’s first goal conceded in Europe this season , yet they had ample time to respond. They came close in the second half, with Gabriel’s header from a corner cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries. Arsenal kept the pressure on, with Inter’s keeper, Yann Sommer, making an outstanding one-handed save to deny Kai Havertz’s curling effort. Havertz nearly found the net again, only to have his shot expertly blocked by Yann Bisseck. Despite their dominance in the second ...