TheNewsGuru

Tag: PSG

  • Barca, PSG win big in UCL Quarter-finals first legs

    Barca, PSG win big in UCL Quarter-finals first legs

    Robert Lewandowski led Barcelona to a 4-0 romp over his ex-club Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

    In the other quarter-final clash, Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1.

    Brazil winger Raphinha was on the goal-line when he prodded Barca ahead midway through the first half, although he was fortunate to survive a video review for offside given Pau Cubarsí’s flick was going in on its own anyway.

    There was no doubt about the home side’s second on 48 minutes, though, as Raphinha athletically headed the ball back across goal and Lewandowski nodded in on the line.

    The Poland star, who played for Dortmund in the 2013 final they lost to Bayern Munich, then rifled in for 3-0 on 66 minutes before Lamine Yamal added the gloss.

    “It’s a question of whether everyone was 100% at it and willing to go through the pain barrier against this Barcelona,” Dortmund’s Emre Can told DAZN. “We’ll play for pride at home. We still try to win. We’ll give everything.”

    Barca head to Germany next Tuesday with a big advantage while PSG go to Birmingham ahead after Désiré Doué’s cracker, a Khvicha
    Kvaratskhelia special and a late Nuno Mendes strike followed a neat team goal from Morgan Rogers.

    In Tuesday’s first legs, Arsenal won 3-0 at home to holders Real Madrid and Inter Milan prevailed 2-1 at Bayern.

    Barca’s Lewandowski and Yamal had early half-chances for the side bossed by German Hansi Flick, who along with Lewandowski won the competition with Dortmund’s big rivals Bayern in 2020.

    Five-times champions Barca, playing in the Olympic Stadium while the Nou Camp is rebuilt, went ahead on 25 minutes – though Brazil’s Raphinha had his heart in his mouth before the review went his way.

    The Spanish league leaders had the odd scare at the other end but Dortmund, last season’s runners-up and 1997 champions, lacked belief as Serhou Guirassy missed two good opportunities.

    Dortmund without defender Nico Schlotterbeck after he was ruled out for six months with a knee meniscus tear, were punished when former star Lewandowski grabbed his second-half double to take his Champions League tally this season to 11.

  • Ligue 1: Monaco halt PSG’s title celebrations

    Ligue 1: Monaco halt PSG’s title celebrations

    Monaco moved up to second place in Ligue 1 after a 2-1 comeback victory over Nice at Stade Louis II in the Derby de la Côte d’Azur, preventing their opponents from completing their first league double in this fixture since the 2004/05 season in the process.

    The hosts had a golden chance to take the lead inside five minutes when visiting midfielder Benjamin Santamaria’s poorly chosen pass caused his goalkeeper Marcin Bułka to be rushed into a clearance which allowed Monaco to regain possession, with Santamaria consequently catching Breel Embolo from behind and conceding a penalty.

    However, Mika Biereth, so prolific following his transfer from Sturm Graz in January, saw his spot-kick aimed low to Bułka’s left saved by the Pole, who crucially stuck out a right boot to clear as Biereth moved in to try and bury the rebound.

    Not long afterwards, the lively Takumi Minamino almost put Monaco in front, curling an effort against the crossbar, while at the other end, just before the half-hour mark, Caio Henrique made a timely intervention to thwart Nice’s talisman Evann Guessand.

    Maghnes Akliouche then had the opportunity to make it 1-0, but his first-time shot was straight at Bulka, and Nice duly punished Monaco’s earlier wastefulness, as Jonathan Clauss’ pinpoint cross was headed in superbly by Jeremie Boga.

    Monaco head coach Adi Hutter was encouraged enough by his side’s first-half display not to make any changes at the break, and he was rewarded for his patience on 55 minutes as Lamine Camara’s incisive pass found Akliouche, whose clever flick was powered home by Biereth, making amends for his earlier penalty error with his 12th Ligue 1 goal in just his 10th appearance in the competition.

    Akliouche soon had the chance to turn the game on its head after being fed by Biereth, but again, his strike was too close to Bulka, before referee Jerome Brisard then became embroiled in a VAR controversy, choosing to uphold his decision not to give a penalty for Dante’s challenge on Breel Embolo.

    Embolo brushed off that disappointment though to score what proved to be the winner as Akliouche capitalised on a slip by Dante to find the Switzerland international, who manoeuvred his body effectively to keep the ball before firing home with aplomb.

    After that 73rd-minute goal, Monaco did not face much of a Nice fightback, and after Dante was given a straight red card in stoppage time for clipping Akliouche as the last man, Hütter’s men have now taken 10 points from their last four games ahead of a trip next Saturday to Brest, while Nice will look to end what is now a three-match winless run when they host Nantes a day earlier.

    Tribalfootball

  • PSG send Liverpool out of Champions League

    PSG send Liverpool out of Champions League

    Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions were ended after they lost on penalties to an outstanding Paris St-Germain side after a night of drama at Anfield.

    PSG, needing to claw back a 1-0 deficit from the first leg at home, demonstrated how they have matured under coach Luis Enrique as they knocked out a Liverpool side touted as favourites to win the tournament.

    Ousmane Dembele’s early goal provided the platform for the turnaround, with Liverpool unable to break the French visitors down, while PSG were a constant threat.

    PSG’s victory over two legs was thoroughly deserved, with keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as their hero in the shootout, saving from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones before Desire Doue hammered home the winning spot-kick in front of joyous fans.

    Liverpool made a lightning fast start in an attempt to extend that first-leg advantage, with Mohamed Salah twice coming close with early effort in front of the Kop, which was in expectant mood.

    With Liverpool making the running, there was always the chance PSG’s outstanding strikeforce could punish them on the counter and so it proved after only 12 minutes – with a large helping hand from the home defence.

    Bradley Barcola’s cross was routine, but a communication breakdown between Alisson and Ibrahima Konate proved costly, the defender knocking the ball out of the keeper’s reach for Dembele to pounce from almost on the goal-line.

    PSG had other opportunities but could not cash in, Alisson rushing out to save at the feet of Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia firing off target when well placed.

    Liverpool mounted sustained pressure after the break but struggled to break down PSG’s resilient rearguard, although it took a fine clawing save from Donnarumma to keep out Luis Diaz’s header, while substitute Jarell Quansah struck the post and Dominik Szoboszlai had an effort ruled out for offside.

    PSG were by far the better side in extra time, with Alisson making a magnificent save from Dembele before Liverpool’s fate was sealed on penalties.

    BBC

  • BREAKING: Liverpool to face PSG in UCL round of 16 [Full draw]

    BREAKING: Liverpool to face PSG in UCL round of 16 [Full draw]

    Liverpool will face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last 16, while Arsenal take on PSV Eindhoven and Aston Villa will play Club Brugge.

    Holders Real Madrid face local rivals Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich play Bayer Leverkusen in an all-Germany affair.

    The two-legged ties will be played on 4-5 March and 11-12 March.

    See full draw:

    Paris Sain-Germain vs Liverpool

    Benfica vs Barcelona

    Feyenoord vs Inter Milan

    PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal

    Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen

    Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid

    Borussia Dortmund vs Lille

    Club Brugge vs Aston Villa

  • UCL: ‘I can’t be angry’, Guardiola reacts to PSG defeat

    UCL: ‘I can’t be angry’, Guardiola reacts to PSG defeat

    Paris Saint-Germain were the better team against Manchester City in the Champions League.

    That is the view of City boss Pep Guardiola, who acknowledged his team deserved to lose.

    Despite being 2-0 up away from home, City conspired to lose 4-2 in the second half.

    “Am I angry? No. They were better. The players suffer and they were better,” said Guardiola post-game.

    “They had better intensity to win duels. We found our moment to score two goals and go 0-2. When they have the ball they drop us but when we have the ball we create problems for them.

    “At 0-2 and 1-2 we could not play. To defend, you have to have the ball. They were better. They had an extra man in the middle with a false nine and that’s why it was difficult.

    “They were better, and we have to accept it. We have the last chance at home against Brugge and we will do everything there. If not, it’s because we don’t deserve it.

    “We have had tough games away, but the games against Inter and Feyenoord have put us in this position.

    “It’s not about that that we can’t qualify, but after that you have to recover players and do better. They were better and we have to accept it.”

  • Bayern Munich begs PSG over nauseating banners

    Bayern Munich begs PSG over nauseating banners

    Bayern Munich has begged Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday over presence of banners with offensive messages aimed at the French club’s president Nasser al-Khelaifi during their Champions League clash.
    PSG visited Bayern’s Allianz Arena on Tuesday and a section of the home support unveiled a banner with a profanity aimed at the “plutocratic Al-Khelaifi”.
    A separate banner with a picture of Al-Khelaifi’s head crossed out was also displayed, as well as two banners reading “Minister, club owner, TV rights holder, UEFA EXCO member & ECA chairman all in one”.
    Some Bayern fans also reportedly sang insulting chants about the French club itself after the match, which the hosts won 1-0.
    “FC Bayern would like to apologise when its opponents and their representatives in its stadium feel personally attacked in this manner and tone and are offended as a result,” read a statement on Bayern’s website.
    The club would like to make it clear that these banners were not authorised by FC Bayern and do not reflect its stance.”
    “They are not in keeping with the good and long-standing relationship between the two clubs. The tone of these banners also goes against the style of FC Bayern and the respectful relationship the club has with its international partners,” the Bavarian club added.
    Al-Khelaifi became president of PSG in 2011, following the acquisition of the club by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).
    The 51-year-old has also been the president of the European Club Association since April 2021, and was reelected in September of last year on a four-year mandate.
    In addition, Al-Khelaifi is the chair of beIN Media Group, which holds distribution rights for various football competitions, including France’s Ligue 1 and Germany’s Bundesliga.
    QSI is a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) — the country’s sovereign wealth fund which has assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
  • Ligue 1: Ademola Lookmon on PSG radar

    Ligue 1: Ademola Lookmon on PSG radar

    Atalanta has set a minimum price tag of €40m for Ademola Lookman’s transfer, amid growing frustration with Paris Saint-Germain’s approach.

    PSG has offered Lookman a significant salary increase, more than doubling his current €1.8m per season, without contacting Atalanta for negotiations.

    This move has angered Atalanta, particularly given the similar situation with Teun Koopmeiners and Juventus.

    As a result, Atalanta is unwilling to sell Lookman for less than €40m, especially considering the late stage of the transfer window and the difficulty in finding a suitable replacement.

    Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in the Europa League Final and started the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid, has asked to be left out of tonight’s Serie A match against Lecce, fueling speculation about his transfer. Saudi Pro League teams are also interested, but PSG is the primary cause of Lookman’s desire to leave Atalanta.

  • Ligue 1: PSG delay Osimhen’s signing over high transfer fee

    Ligue 1: PSG delay Osimhen’s signing over high transfer fee

    Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is still trying to negotiate a lower transfer fee for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as they pursue the Nigerian international this summer.

     

    Transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reports that PSG is set to renew its efforts to sign the Napoli striker. However, according to Italian sports news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, the French champions are still dissatisfied with Napoli’s reduced asking price of £100 million.

     

    “The Parisian club has decided to take a step back. President Al-Khelaifi considers the €100 million excessive, believing that he is making the same mistake with De Laurentiis as last summer,” the report stated.

     

    Napoli initially demanded the full payment of Osimhen’s £130 million release clause, which deterred many potential buyers. PSG, however, refuses to meet this valuation and hopes for a further price reduction.

     

    The prolonged negotiations have reportedly left Osimhen frustrated, with Italian publication Tutto Napoli suggesting that the striker is now open to considering offers from Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal.

     

    “Osimhen is fed up, a prisoner of his golden contract. De Laurentiis will probably grant discounts on the clause but not sales,” Tutto Napoli wrote.

     

    As the transfer saga continues, PSG may need to offload either Goncalo Ramos or Randal Kolo-Muani to make room for Osimhen.

     

    Interestingly, Chelsea has reportedly been offered the chance to sign these two PSG forwards, potentially holding the key to Osimhen’s move to the French capital.

     

    Osimhen, who joined Napoli in 2020 for a club-record fee, has been in impressive form, scoring 41 league goals in the past two seasons and helping the club secure their first Scudetto in over three decades.

  • Ligue 1: Bruno Fernandez sets to team up with Osimhen at PSG

    Ligue 1: Bruno Fernandez sets to team up with Osimhen at PSG

    Paris Saint-Germain is aiming to compensate for the departure of Kylian Mbappe by pursuing Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United.

     

    Mbappe has left the Parc des Princes as a free agent and has been officially unveiled by Real Madrid. According to L’Equipe, PSG is now seeking to bolster their attacking strength by attracting Fernandes this summer.

     

    Since joining Manchester United from Sporting in early 2020, Fernandes has been a crucial player for the team. Despite his impressive performances for the Red Devils, the Premier League club has faced challenges in recent years, leading the Portuguese midfielder to consider a move elsewhere.

     

    The Portuguese international has also attracted interest from clubs such as Bayern Munich and Al-Nassr this summer.

  • Ligue 1: Osimhen to earn extra €4 million at PSG

    Ligue 1: Osimhen to earn extra €4 million at PSG

    Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly set to receive a €4 million salary increase with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). According to Tuttosport, the Nigerian international has agreed to a five-year contract with PSG worth €14 million annually, up from his current €10 million salary at Napoli.

     

    Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, was in Paris earlier this week to negotiate the deal with the Ligue 1 champions. However, PSG still needs to reach an agreement with Napoli to finalize the 25-year-old’s transfer.

     

    If Osimhen leaves Napoli, the Serie A club is expected to pursue Romelu Lukaku as his replacement.

    Osimhen will be given the number 9 shirt left behind by Mbappe if the deal pulls through.