European Super Football

Benfica 2 - 3 Qarabag Qarabag staged a remarkable comeback in Lisbon to become the first Azerbaijani side to win a match in the Champions League proper. Author | Ed Stadium | Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica Making their first appearance in Europe’s elite competition in eight years, Gurban Gurbanov’s team fell two goals behind inside 16 minutes after strikes from Enzo Barrenechea and Vangelis Pavlidis put Benfica firmly in control. Leandro Andrade reduced the deficit on the half-hour with a fine finish before Kady Borges went close, clipping the post. Three minutes after the restart, the visitors stunned the Estadio da Luz when Marko Jankovic split the defence with a precise pass and Camilo Duran, on his Champions League debut, found the far corner. READ MORE |  Juventus and Dortmund play out a classic in Turin READ MORE |  Mbappe penalties rescue Real Madrid The decisive moment came five minutes from time. Substitute Oleksii Kashchuk collected the ball with his back to g...

Benfica 0 - 2 Inter Milan Romelu Lukaku scored an 82nd-minute penalty as Inter Milan put themselves in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League after a deserved win away to Benfica. Nicolo Barella's downward header gave Inter the lead in the quarter-final first leg in Lisbon. Benfica struggled to dictate play in front of their own fans as Inter produced a defensive masterclass in Lisbon. This was almost reminiscent of their 2010 triumph with Jose Mourinho.  <Click here to find more news and stories from across Italy> Rafa Silva was denied by Andre Onana's first-half save before Inter's Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries produced a crucial block from close range as Benfica pushed for an equaliser. The Italian visitors wrapped up their win when substitute Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, scored from the spot after former Inter player Joao Mario handled. Premier League referee Michael Oliver awarded the penalty after watching the incide...

Benfica 4 - 5 Barcelona Barcelona overcame two separate two-goal deficits to secure a breathtaking victory over Benfica. Author - Peter Grainger The match at Estádio da Luz started disastrously for the visitors as Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis netted a stunning 30-minute hat-trick. The first came from a well-placed cross by full-back Álvaro Carreras, while two further goals were gifted by errors from Barcelona's Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. Robert Lewandowski, however, kept Barca in contention with a first-half penalty after Alejandro Balde was fouled. Barcelona fought back after the break, with Raphinha and Lewandowski scoring either side of an unfortunate Ronald Araújo own goal to leave the score at 4-3. But the drama was far from over. Eric García equalised with a late header, and just when it seemed the game would end in a draw, Raphinha capitalised on a rapid counter-attack in the 96th minute. The Brazilian slotted past Anatoliy Trubin, leaving the home fans stun...

Barcelona 3 - 1 Benfica (Barcelona won 4-1 on aggregate) Lamine Yamal stole the show once again as Barcelona booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a composed victory over Benfica. Author - Jamie P Stadium - Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys The teenager produced a moment of brilliance to set up Raphinha for the opener before outdoing himself with a stunning strike to restore Barcelona’s lead on the night and extend their aggregate advantage to 3-1. Nicolás Otamendi’s towering header had briefly given Benfica hope after cancelling out Raphinha’s opener, but Yamal’s magic proved decisive. Raphinha then sealed the win with a clinical finish into the bottom corner. There was a moment of confusion over the Brazilian’s second goal, as it appeared play had been pulled back for an Otamendi foul on the edge of the area. But after a VAR review, the goal was given and Otamendi’s yellow card was rescinded. Barca v Benfica highlights from TNT Sports youtu.be/jlshweWf...

Newcastle United 3 - 0 Benfica Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon inspired Newcastle United to a convincing Champions League win over José Mourinho’s Benfica. Author |  Anthony Gates Stadium |  St James' Park Pre match atmosphere Gordon, left unmarked at the far post, gave Newcastle the lead in the first half, calmly steering Jacob Murphy’s cross beyond goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. It was his fourth goal in just three Champions League outings and provided the platform for Eddie Howe’s side to press on after the interval. Barnes extended the advantage with a superb breakaway goal after Nick Pope launched a remarkable 65-yard throw down the right. Antonio Silva misjudged the bounce, allowing Barnes to sprint through and finish off the inside of the post. The winger added his second late on, linking neatly with Gordon before slotting through Trubin’s legs to complete the victory. Gordon celebrates Benfica had their chances earlier in the contest, with Dodi Lukebakio twice going ...

Chelsea 1 - 0 Benfica  A much-needed win for Chelsea as they picked up their first points of their Champions League campaign. Author |  Lauren W Stadium | Stamford Bridge  View from the stands José Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge ended in disappointment as Chelsea edged past his new club Benfica with a narrow Champions League win sealed by Richard Rios ’ first-half own goal.  The affection from the home crowd was evident, with Mourinho serenaded throughout and responding with waves to both ends of the ground, but the evening turned on a moment of misfortune when the Colombian midfielder diverted Alejandro Garnacho ’s driven cross beyond his own goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin . Chelsea, however, did little to convince despite the victory. Garnacho spurned chances on his second start and teenage substitute Estevão Willian forced only a late save from Trubin, while João Pedro ’s stoppage-time dismissal for a second booking made it three red cards in four matches ...

Benfica 1 - 1 Brentford Bryan Mbeumo was on target as Brentford drew with Benfica.  Mbeumo capitalised on a sloppy back-pass to give Thomas Frank's side an early lead in Lisbon, but the Eagles levelled on 24 minutes when Vangelis Pavlidis poked home Álvaro Carreras’s cross at the front post. Kevin Schade led the line for Brentford with Igor Thiago sidelined by a meniscus injury. The hosts looked to get off to a flying start on the pitch and fashioned the first chance of note in the fifth minute. Brentford took the lead four minutes later. Schade’s ball up the left channel was intercepted by Morato and the defender’s back-pass to goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was under-hit, which allowed the alert Mbeumo to steal in and finish first time into the bottom corner. Benfica levelled midway through the first half . Aursnes played a short pass into the overlapping Carreras down the left, who took the ball in his stride, advanced to the byline and delivered a low, fizzing cross to the fr...

Matchday three in the Champions League is here... For those teams with 100% records, a win this week puts them on them well and truly on the path to automatic qualification to the last 16. Author |  Peter Grainger This preview will focus on the five English sides competing in this season's competition and their opposition. Mourinho and Benfica head to Newcastle Newcastle United host Benfica at St James’ Park, aiming to follow up their win over Union SG with another step toward the Champions League knockout stage.  Eddie Howe’s team lost their opener to Barcelona but responded strongly in Belgium, and a second win would move them closer to qualification. Benfica travel to Tyneside still searching for their first points of their Champions League campaign after back-to-back defeats, including a 3-2 home loss to Qarabag that cost Bruno Lage his job. Can Benfica utilise Mourinho's experience at this level? City hope to end unwanted Champions League  run against Villar...

It was a dramatic night in Group H of the Champions League One giant of European competition won't be playing in Europe's premier competition after Christmas. Paris Saint Germain 7 - 2 Maccabi Haifa Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both scored two goals as Paris St-Germain thrashed Maccabi Haifa to reach the last 16 of the Champions League. Neymar and Carlos Soler also scored while Shon Goldberg scored an own goal. Messi's two goals mean he becomes the first player to score 80 goals in the group phase of the Champions League. PSG top Group H with 11 points from five games, the same as Benfica, while Juventus, who have failed to qualify, and Maccabi Haifa have three.  Highlights from  BT Sport - YouTube One YouTuber commented: "Mbappe and Messi's link-up is phenomenal. Their quick passes are insane!" Another added: "Messi is just something else, people can say whatever they want about the opposition, but football will never ever see anyone like him again. ...

The journey to the 2025 Champions League final PSG face Inter in Saturday’s Champions League. How did we get there? Let's explore some of the key moments from this season's competition. Starting with the semi-finals and working backwards. Author | Josh D Semi-finals second leg PSG 2 - 1 Arsenal (PSG won 3-1 on aggregate) Another trophyless season for Arteta’s side. Their hopes of reaching a first Champions League final since 2006 came to an end in Paris. Click here to read more reaction from London Super News . Did PSG deserve this relatively comfortable result? Inter Milan 4 - 3 Barcelona (Inter won 7-6 on aggregate) Inter Milan staged a remarkable late comeback to beat Barcelona in one of the most thrilling Champions League semi-finals in recent memory. Semi-finals first leg Barcelona 3 - 3 Inter Milan Barcelona twice came from behind to earn a draw against Inter Milan in a pulsating six-goal Champions League semi-final first leg, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of ...

Bayern Munich 2 - 1 Boca Juniors Harry Kane was the hero for Bayern Munich as they overcame Boca Juniors to qualify for the Club World Cup knockout stages. Author | Ed Stadium | Hard Rock Stadium The England captain opened the scoring after 18 minutes, calmly steering in from close range. Boca responded through Miguel Merentiel, who finished neatly midway through the second half to draw the Argentine side level. With the match heading towards a draw, Kane turned provider, threading a pass into the path of Michael Olise. The former Crystal Palace winger clipped in a composed winner from the edge of the area with six minutes remaining. Vincent Kompany’s side now need only a point against Benfica in their final group game to secure top spot, which could set up a last-16 encounter with Chelsea, depending on whether Enzo Maresca’s side qualify in second place. Chelsea currently sit second in the group after their 3–1 defeat by Flamengo. READ MORE | Club World Cup news and stories from a...

It was a dramatic night in Champions League group E as Barcelona were knocked out and Bayern Munich finished with a 100% record. Benfica will join Bayern in the next round after they beat Dynamo Kiev 2-0. Despite only having 36% possession, it was a fairly comfortable win that was secured by goals from Yaremchuk and Junior. You can watch the highlights in the video below. One Benfica fan told us: "I would have been happy with 3rd place and getting into the Europa League but I am very happy that we are staying in the Champions League." A horror night for Barcelona Barcelona lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich to miss out on the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 17 years. They have not been absent from the last 16 since 2003-04. It was a terrible night for the club. They never really looked like troubling Bayern and the home side ran away comfortable winners. The draw for the Europa League takes place on Monday at 12:00 GMT in Nyon, Switzerland and Barca will p...

It has been a successful week in Europe for three sides in the WSL Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all picked up three points in the Champions League Author |  Josh T Let's have a closer look at how they all performed. Chelsea 4 - 0 Paris FC Chelsea produced a dominant display to claim a convincing victory, with four different players on the scoresheet in a commanding performance from the Women’s Super League champions. Sonia Bompastor’s side were gifted the opening goal when Sjoeke Nusken was fouled in the box following a VAR review, allowing Sandy Baltimore to calmly slot home from the penalty spot. Paris struggled to settle after the early setback, and Chelsea capitalised on their uncertainty. Erin Cuthbert won possession in midfield and fed winger Thompson, whose precise cross found Johanna Rytting Kaneryd to head past Mylène Chavas, doubling the Blues’ advantage. The hosts’ control and tempo left Paris chasing shadows for much of the half. Barely 90 seconds afte...

Let's have a look at all the reaction from another dramatic night of Champions League football. Atlético Madrid 0 - 0 Manchester City (Agg:0-1) City produced a  disciplined performance to hold off the challenge of Atletico Madrid - and set up a Champions League semi-final showdown with the Spanish side's city rivals Real. Knowing a clean sheet would be enough to seal the tie, City kept their cool in the face of a hostile home crowd and intimidation from a physical Atleti side showing far more ambition than in the first leg. The Manchester City boss told BT Sport: "It is the champion of Spain and they played with energy. Overall we are in the semi-finals, it is well deserved. The opponent is so tough, all the teams in the Champions League come here and suffer so it is important we go through." Tough and intense one, but we withstood it well! On to the semis! 💪🏼💙 @ManCity pic.twitter.com/XOWfk6w0xA — Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) April 13, 2022 UCL: A memorable...

Another player has left Manchester United on a temporary basis.  Tyrell Malacia has joined PSV Eindhoven on loan until the end of the season, as he looks to regain full match fitness after a prolonged injury layoff. Author - Olivia T The 25-year-old Dutch international made his return to action for United in November, having endured 17 months on the sidelines due to persistent knee problems. Malacia initially signed for United from Feyenoord in July 2022 for £13m, penning a four-year deal. His move comes in the wake of United securing Denmark wing-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce on a five-and-a-half-year contract over the weekend. Since making his long-awaited comeback on 28 November, Malacia has been limited to just eight appearances across all competitions, struggling to establish himself in Erik ten Hag’s side following two separate knee operations. Manchester United forward moves to Villa on loan Click here for more PSV news and stories He was Ten Hag’s first signing as Unite...