Atalanta’s Gasperini rues “cursed” Champions League draw with Celtic
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was left frustrated after his team failed to capitalise on numerous scoring opportunities in what he called a “cursed” 0-0 Champions League draw at home against Celtic on Wednesday. Gasperini watched his team squander several chances in the draw, including a Mario Pasalic header that hit the crossbar, while they […]
Haaland wows manager, teammates with acrobatic goal against Sparta Prague
MANCHESTER, England, 
– While Pep Guardiola has become accustomed to the eye-popping feats of his goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland, the Manchester City manager marvelled at Wednesday’s stupendous strike, playfully suggesting that Haaland is not human. The 24-year-old Norwegian scored twice as City thrashed Sparta Prague 5-0 in the Champions League, but it was his […]
Kompany laments missed chances in Champions League loss at Barcelona
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany said his team paid the price for missed opportunities when they suffered a 4-1 loss at Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, their second consecutive defeat in the competition. Kompany said his side not been able to make the most of the chances they created after Harry Kane’s volley […]
Late Laporte header earns Al-Nassr victory in Asian Champions League
HONG KONG, 
– Aymeric Laporte scored with nine minutes left to lead Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr to a 1-0 win over Esteghlal of Iran in Dubai on Tuesday as big-spending Saudi Pro League clubs dominate the league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite. The win moves the Riyadh-based club onto seven points from the […]
Bayern’s Kompany hails exceptional rise of Yamal at Barcelona
BARCELONA, Spain, 
– The meteoric rise of Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal so soon after club great Lionel Messi’s departure is exceptional, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said on Tuesday before the two sides meet in the Champions League. Teenager Yamal, crowned a European champion with Spain in July, is among the game’s most exciting […]
Scrappy Arsenal edge 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk
LONDON, – Arsenal needed an own goal to seal a scrappy 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday as they made it two wins out of three in the Champions League to soften the blow of their first domestic league defeat of the season at the weekend. The hosts missed a penalty in the second […]
Ancelotti lauds ‘rare and extraordinary’ Vinicius after win against Dortmund
MADRID, – Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised the ‘extraordinary’ Vinicius Jr on Tuesday after the Brazilian forward scored a second-half hat-trick to help them fight back from two goals down and thrash visitors Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League. Ancelotti told a press conference he was convinced that the 24-year-old Vinicius would win […]
Stuttgart’s Toure strikes late to earn 1-0 win at Juventus
TURIN, Italy, 
– VfB Stuttgart enjoyed an impressive 1-0 win at Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday thanks to El Bilal Toure’s stoppage-time strike as the hosts suffered their first loss this season. The German side, who claimed their first Champions League victory, had been more aggressive throughout and got their reward in […]
Milan’s Fonseca praises substitutes after Brugge win
MILAN, – AC Milan substitutes Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze changed the game in their favour, coach Paulo Fonseca said on Tuesday after they beat Club Brugge to claim their first Champions League win of the season. Milan secured their first points in Europe’s elite club competition with a 3-1 home victory over the Belgian […]
Real’s Vinicius grabs hat-trick in 5-2 comeback win over Dortmund
MADRID, – Real Madrid fought back from two goals down as Vinicius Jr grabbed a hat-trick in a thrilling 5-2 win over visitors Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday. In a rematch of last-season’s final, Dortmund lit up the game with a two-goal blitz around the half-hour mark from Donyell Malen and Jamie […]