SOCCER - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2023/24
Group A - Copenhagen (0) @ (1) Manchester United - On an emotional night at Old Trafford, Manchester United kept their participation in the Champions League alive with a much-needed win against the Danes. After a dreadful display in the 1st half, United tuned the game in their favour in the 2nd half with a goal from Harry Maguire. As the game entered injury time at the end of the game, United conceded a penalty, but goalkeeper Andre Onana saved the kick and gave United the win. The game was played 4 days after the passing of United Legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who was remembered during the pre-game (9, 2 Discs, TNT Sports - Fletcher/Savage, PAL)
Group C - Real Madrid (3) @ (2) Napoli - Real Madrid stayed unbeaten in the group with a hard-fought win at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples. The star of the show was Englishman Jude Bellingham who scored and assisted in the game. The other Real Madrid goals came from Vinicius Jr and an own goal from Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret, after a thunderous shot from Federico Valverde came back off the bar and rebounded off Meret into the goal. The Napoli goals came from Leo Ostigard and Piotr Zielinski (9, 2 Discs, TNT Sports - Mowbray/McManaman, PAL)
Group C - Napoli (2) @ (4) Real Madrid - Inspired by Englishman Jude Bellingham (1 goal, 1 assist), Real Madrid finished their Group Stage unbeaten with a high-scoring win at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Madrid took a 2-1 lead in at the half but Napoli equalised soon after the re-start. Madrid survived the momentum shift, though, and scored 2 goals in the final 6 minutes to deny Napoli the point. The other Real Madrid goals came from Rodrygo, Nico Paz and Joselu. The Napoli goals came from Giovanni Simeone and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (9, 2 Discs, TNT Sports - Pearce/McManaman, PAL)
Group F - AC Milan (2) @ (1) Newcastle - On an emotional night at St James' Park, Newcastle were knocked out of Europe by the 7-time winners AC Milan. Newcastle knew they needed to win to qualify for the next round, and looked on their way with a 1st half goal from Joelinton. But Milan turned the game around in the 2nd half, scoring on their only 2 shots on target in the game, with goals from Christian Pulisic and substitute Samuel Chukwueze. With the loss, Newcastle finished bottom of their group (9, 2 Discs, TNT Sports - Fletcher/McCoist, PAL)
Last 16 2nd Leg - Napoli (1) @ (3) Barcelona - Barcelona sealed a place in the Quarter Finals for the first time in 4 years with a hard fought win at the Estadi de Montjuic. The teams were level at 1-1 after the 1st leg, but Barcelona started fast in the 2nd leg, scoring 2 goals in 3 minutes, and led 2-1 at the half. Napoli mounted a comeback in the 2nd half, but couldn't find the all-important goal and Barcelona clinched the win with a goal 7 minutes from time. The Barcelona goals came from Fermin Lopez, Joao Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona also featured Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. The Napoli goal came from Amir Rrahmani. Napoli also featured Victor Osimhen (9, 2 Discs, TNT Sports - Darke/Ward, PAL)
Quarter Final 1st Leg - Manchester City (3) @ (3) Real Madrid - Once again, Man City and Real Madrid played out a high-scoring Champions League tie, with City holding the Spanish champions at the Bernabeu to give their chances of making the Semi-Finals a boost. The game ebbed-and-flowed, with City taking a 2nd minute lead before Madrid fought back to a take 2-1 lead in at the break. City scored 2 unanswered goals in the 2nd half to take control but Madrid equalised with 11 minutes to play to put the tie on a knife-edge. The Manchester City goals came from Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol. The Real Madrid goals came from Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde (9, 2 Discs, TNT - Summerton/McManaman, PAL)
Quarter Final 2nd Leg - Borussia Dortmund (4) @ (2) Atletico Madrid - In a sensational game at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, the Germans over-turned a 1st leg deficit to upset Atletico Madrid and book a place in the Semi-Finals. Dortmund took control of the tie with 2 goals in the 1st half, but in a crazy 2nd half, Madrid scored 2 goals of their own to re-take the lead. Dortmund were not done, though, and 2 goals in 4 minutes late in the game gave the Germans a 5-4 aggregate lead that they defended to the end. The Borussia Dortmund goals came from Julian Brandt, Ian Maatsen, Niclas Fullkrug and Marcel Sabitzer. The Atletico Madrid goals came from Mario Hermoso and Angel Correa (9, 2 Discs, TNT - Dempsey/Savage, PAL)
Quarter Final 1st Leg - Barcelona (3) @ (2) PSG - At a raucous Stade de France, Barcelona overcame a great effort from PSG to put one foot in the Semi-Final. Barcelona controlled the 1st half and went in at the break with a 1-0 lead. But a fired-up PSG team scored 2 goals in 3 minutes at the start of the 2nd half to turn the game around. With the game in the balance, Barcelona took control again, scoring 2 unanswered goals to give them a small lead for the 2nd leg. The Barcelona goals came from Raphinha (2) and Andreas Christensen. The PSG goals came from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha. PSG also featured Kylian Mbappe (9, 2 Discs, TNT - Fletcher/Ward, PAL)
Quarter Final 2nd Leg - PSG (4) @ (1) Barcelona - In a remarkable game at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, PSG booked their place in the Semi-Final with a resounding win. Barcelona scored first in the tie, but the game turned on 30 minutes when Barcelona controversially had a man sent off. PSG took advantage, scoring 4 unanswered goals, including 3 in the 2nd half, to take control of the tie and win the game. The PSG goals came from Kylian Mbappe (2), Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha. The Barcelona goal came from Raphinha (9, 2 Discs, TNT - Fletcher/Ward, PAL)
Semi-Final 2nd Leg - Borussia Dortmund (1) @ (0) PSG - Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the final with a big upset over PSG at the Stade de France. The Germans held a slim 1-0 lead after the 1st leg, and PSG threw everything at them in the 2nd leg in an attempt to level the tie. But they couldn't find the breakthrough, despite taking 30 shots on goal and hitting the woodwork 4 times. And to make matters worse, Dortmund scored on 1 of their 3 attempts on goal, when defender Matt Hummels scored from a corner in the 2nd half, a lead that they defended to the end (9, 2 Discs, TNT - Fletcher/McCoist, PAL)
Semi-Final 1st Leg - Real Madrid (2) @ (2) Bayern Munich - Real Madrid overcame a strong performance from Bayern Munich to give themselves a chance in the 2nd Leg. The hosts dominated the early part of the game but Madrid sucker-punched Bayern on a rare attack with the opening goal the put them in front 1-0 at the half. Bayern fought back into the game with 2 goals in 4 minutes at the start of the 2nd half, but Madrid claimed a draw with a penalty 7 minutes from time. The Bayern Munich goals came from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane. The Real Madrid goals came from Vinicius Jr. (9, 2 Discs, TNT - Fletcher/McManaman, PAL)
Semi-Final 2nd Leg - Bayern Munich (1) @ (2) Real Madrid - In a fantastic finish at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid overcame Bayern Munich to book a place in the Champions League Final. The Germans took the overall lead in the tie with 68th minute goal from Alphonso Davies and looked to be going to the final as the game entered the 88th minute. But a mistake from 'keeper Manuel Neuer gifted Real Madrid an equalising goal from Joselu, and 2 minutes later with Extra-Time looming, Joselu scored a sensational winner for Madrid to send the crowd crazy (9, 2 Discs, TNT - Fletcher/McManaman, PAL)
Final - Borussia Dortmund (0) v (2) Real Madrid - At Wembley Stadium in London, Real Madrid overcame a determined Borussia Dortmund team to win their record-extending 15th European Cup. The Germans had the better chances in the 1st half, but failed to take them, and the Spanish champions made them pay, scoring 2 goals in the 2nd half to win the match. The Real Madrid goals came from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior. Real Madrid also featured Toni Kroos and Jude Bellingham. Borussia Dortmund featured Niclas Füllkrug, Jadon Sancho and Mats Hummels. For Füllkrug and Hummels this was their final game for the club. Disc 1 is "Fans Road to Wembley" + the Final Preview. Disc 2 is the Pre-Game. Disc 3 is the 1st Half and Half-Time. Disc 4 is the 2nd Half. Disc 5 is the Trophy Presentation and Post-Game (9, 5 Discs, TNT Sports - Fletcher/McCoist, PAL)