SOCCER - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2021/22
2021/22
Group A - Paris St-Germain (1) v (1) Club Bruges - For the first time, PSG featured their superb 3-pronged attack of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mpappe and Neymar, but it wasn't enough to secure a win in both teams opening Champions League game. Both teams went in at the break tied at 1-1 and it was Bruges that looked the more likely to steal the win in the 2nd half, as they out-hustled PSG and forced them into mistakes. But PSG held on and escaped the Jan Breydel Stadium with a draw. The Bruges goal came from captain Hans Vanaken. Bruges also featured Charles de Ketelaere and Noa Lang. The PSG goal came from Ander Herrera (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Bower/Ward, PAL)
Group A - Paris St-Germain (1) @ (2) Manchester City - Manchester City secured qualification for the knockout round with a comeback win at the Etihad Stadium. City dominated the 1st half but went behind to a 50th minute goal from Kylian Mbappe. City kept pushing forward, though, and won the game with 2 goals in 13 minutes from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus. With the win, City finished top of Group A. PSG also featured Neymar and Lionel Messi (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Keown, PAL)
Group A - Manchester City (0) @ (2) Paris St-Germain - At the Parc des Princes in Paris, PSG beat the 2021 finalists with a great all-around display. The midfield of Marco Verratti and Idrissa Gueye controlled the game for PSG, laying a platform for a dominating display. A goal in each half did the damage, with Idrissa Gueye and Lionel Messi getting on the scoresheet. Messi's goal was his first for PSG. PSG also featured Kylian Mbappe and Neymar (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Keown, PAL)
Group B - Atletico Madrid (3) @ (1) Porto - In a "winner takes all" match at the Estádio do Dragão, Atletico beat Porto in a fractious match that saw 3 red cards. With the win, Atletico leap-frogged Porto in the qualification table and relegated Porto to the Europa League. After a scoreless 1st half, Atletico's Antoine Griezmann turned the game in Atletico's favour with a goal. A flurry of red cards made for a tense finish but Atletico sealed the win with 2 goals in injury time. With 6 minutes of injury time, Porto still had time for a consolation goal but it was too little, too late. The other Atletico goals came from Angel Correa and Rodrigo de Paul. The Porto goal came from a penalty by Sergio Oliveira (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Farrar/Ekoku, PAL)
Group C – Besiktas (1) v (2) Borussia Dortmund - Dortmund opened their Champions League campaign with a big away win at Vodafone Park in Besiktas, Turkey. 1st half goals from Jude Bellingham, who had a great game, and Erling Braut Haaland gave the Germans a half-time lead, and even an injury-time goal from Javi Montero wasn't enough to salvage a point from the game for the hosts. The goal for Haaland was his 21st goal in 17 games in the Champions League (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Pearce/Robson, PAL)
Group C - Borussia Dortmund (0) @ (4) Ajax - In a battle of the 2 unbeaten teams in Group C, Ajax stunned Dortmund in front of a passionate crowd at the Johan Cruyff arena to go top of the group. 2 goals in each half did the damage, with the Dutch team overwhelming the Germans. The Ajax goals came from Daley Blind, Antony, Sebastien Haller and an own goal. Dortmund featured Jude Bellingham and Erling Braut Haaland (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fielden, PAL)
Last 16, 1st leg - Real Madrid (0) @ (1) Paris St.Germain - The 2 heavyweights of European football went toe-to-toe at the Parc des Princes and it was PSG that took the win with a late winner. PSG dominated the game (57% possession, 21 shots on goal) but had to wait until the 4th minute of injury time to score the goal they needed, when Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant goal. PSG also featured Neymar and Lionel Messi, who also missed a penalty. Real Madrid featured Karim Benzema and Luka Modric (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Hoddle, PAL)
Last 16, 2nd leg - Paris St.Germain (1) @ (3) Real Madrid - In a sensational game at the Bernabeu in Madrid, Real Madrid stunned PSG with 3 unanswered goals in the 2nd half to book their place in the Quarter Finals. A 1st half goal from Kylian Mbappe gave PSG a 2-0 aggregate lead and they seemed on course for the next round. But sensationally, Real Madrid and Karim Benzema scored 3 goals in 17 minutes to turn the tie around and knock out the French team (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Hoddle, PAL)
Last 16, 1st Leg - Ajax (2) @ (2) Benfica - At the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Benfica held their own against a favoured Ajax team, and gave themselves a chance of progressing in the 2nd leg. Ajax had the better of the 1st half and took a 2-1 lead in at the break, but Benfica levelled the tie in the 72nd minute to ensure the game hung in the balance. The Ajax goals came from Dusan Tadic and Sebastian Haller. The Benfica goals came from Ukrainian Roman Yaremchuk and an own-goal. Benfica also featured Darwin Nunez (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - ?/?, PAL)
Last 16, 2nd Leg - Benfica (1) @ (0) Ajax - In front of a raucous crowd at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Benfica shocked the home-side with a goal on their only attempt on target to book a place in the Quarter Finals. Ajax dominated the game, but couldn't find the goal they needed and Benfica made them pay, scoring the game-winning goal from Darwin Nunez with 13 minutes to play. Ajax featured Sebastien Haller and Antony (9, 47 minutes hi-Lites on Disc 2 of the 1st Leg, BT Sport - Darke/McManaman, PAL)
Quarter Final, 1st Leg - Atletico Madrid (0) @ (1) Manchester City - Manchester City finally overcame a strong defensive performance from Atletico Madrid to take a slim lead to Madrid for the 2nd leg. City controlled the game (71% possession, 15 shots on goal) but had to wait until the 2nd half to score the all-important goal from Kevin De Bruyne. Atletico didn't have a single shot on goal in the game (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Keown, PAL)
Quarter Final, 2nd Leg - Manchester City (0) @ (0) Atletico Madrid - Manchester City survived a hostile Metropolitano Stadium and an aggressive Atletico team to book a place in the Semi-Finals. Although City were 1-0 up from the 1st leg, they took the game to Atletico in the 1st half and get the home team at bay. In the 2nd half Atletico laid siege to the City goal but just couldn't find the breakthrough they needed and City defended stoutly to see out the game and take the win. The game descended into a brawl in injury time at the end of the game, where Atletico were reduced to 10-men after Felipe was sent off (9, No Pre-Game, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Hoddle, PAL)
Quarter Final, 1st Leg - Real Madrid (1) @ (3) Chelsea - Real Madrid put one foot in the Semi-Final with an opportunistic win at Stamford Bridge against the reigning champions. Real Madrid went in at the break 2-1 up and sealed the win after Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy's poor clearance gifted a goal to the visitors early in the 2nd half. Karim Benzema was the hero for the Spaniards, scoring all 3 goals (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Hoddle, PAL)
Quarter Final, 2nd Leg - Chelsea (3) @ (2) Real Madrid - Real Madrid knocked out the reigning champions with a big comeback at the Bernabeu Stadium. Madrid led 3-1 from the 1st leg, but a determined Chelsea side scored 3 unanswered goals in the opening 75 minutes to go ahead 4-3 on aggregate. Real Madrid brought on substitute Rodrygo to rescue the game and he scored with 10 minutes to play to force extra-time, where Madrid scored again to finish off Chelsea and book their place in the Semi-Finals. The Madrid goals came from Rodrygo and Karim Benzema. The Chelsea goals came from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Hoddle, PAL)
Semi-Final, 1st leg - Real Madrid (3) @ (4) Manchester City - In a sensational shootout at the Etihad Stadium, City took a slim 1 goal advantage into the 2nd leg after a great game of attacking football from both sides. Both teams combined for 27 shots on goal. City never trailed in the game but every time they threatened to pull away, Real Madrid scored to keep the game close. The City goals came from Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva. The Real Madrid goals came from Karim Benzema (2), including a Panenka-style penalty, and Vinícius Júnior (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Hoddle/Hargreaves, PAL)
Semi-Final, 2nd leg - Manchester City (1) @ (3) Real Madrid - In one of the most remarkable Champions League games ever, Real Madrid came back from the dead to book a place in the Final. City dominated the game and led 1-0 on the night, and 5-3 on aggregate, as the game hit the 90th minute. But sensationally, substitute Rodrygo scored 2 goals in 2 minutes to force extra-time. Both attempts were Real Madrid's first 2 shots on goal in the game. Once in the extra period, Madrid rode the momentum to a game-winning goal and held off City to take the win. The Madrid goals cane from Rodrygo (2) and Karim Benzema. The City goal came from Riyad Mahrez (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/Hoddle/Hargreaves, PAL)
Semi-Final, 2nd leg - Liverpool (3) @ (2) Villareal - Liverpool survived a big upset attempt by the Spaniards to book their place in the Final. The English team held a 2-0 lead from the 1st leg, but an inspired 1st half performance from the hosts saw them go in at the break all square in the tie. Liverpool came out after the break a different team, and scored 3 unanswered goals in 12 minutes to win the game. The Liverpool goals came from Fabinho, Sadio Mane and substitute Luis Diaz, whose introduction after half-time turned the game around for the Reds. The Villareal goals came from Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/McManaman, PAL)
Final - Liverpool (0) v (1) Real Madrid - At the Stade de France in Paris, Real Madrid won their 14th Champions League title with an unexpected win against Liverpool. Liverpool dominated the 1st half, creating several chances, but Real Madrid goalkeeper, and man-of-the-match, Thibault Courtois pulled off several saves to keep the Spaniards in the game. In the 2nd half, Real Madrid re-grouped and took the lead in the 59th minute with a well taken goal from Vinicius Junior, then defended the lead to the end. With the win, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti claimed his 4th Champions League title. Disc 1 is the UEFA Preview and the BT Sport Preview. Disc 2 is the Pre-Game. Discs 3 and 4 are the game (9, 4 Discs, BT Sport - Fletcher/McManaman/Hoddle, PAL)