The Champions Blog

 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASSICS: CHELSEA 4-4 AJAX Picture Above: Former Italian referee, Gianluca Rocchi, shows red to two Ajax players, Daley Blind and Joël Veltman, in one of the most controversial Champions League games ever.  6th November 2019 Stamford Bridge, London, England Pre-Match: Since Ajax's miracle run the previous season, life in the Champions League hasn't been the same for the Dutch giants. After their run to the semi final in the 2018/19 season, two of Ajax's key players, Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt, left in the summer to Barcelona and Juventus, respectively. Chelsea meanwhile, were competing in the Champions League after a 1 year absence, winning the Europa League the previous season, under Maurizio Sarri. However, the Italian left the Londoners and joined Juventus, resulting in the return of club icon, Frank Lampard. Ajax's start to the season was great, winning 3-0 at home to Lille before winning by the same score away to Valencia before losing t...

  Champions League Squads of the Season:   Manchester City 2022-23  Manchester City's road to success to the final in Istanbul proved that anything is possible, as the Citizens won the Champions League for the very first time in their history, capping off a historic treble winning season, a feat that has only been accomplished once before by an English club, as Pep Guardiola's men also won the Premier League and FA Cup earlier that season, matching Manchester United's iconic treble winning season. After the sorrow of the final in Porto two years ago when Pep's men lost to Chelsea in the final, City finally got their hands on the Champions League, ending many years of suffer and heartbreak in Istanbul. After 143 years, Manchester City were champions of Europe for the very first time.  The Squad (Players who were featured): #2: Kyle Walker (ENG)  #3: Ruben Dias (POR) #4: Kalvin Phillips (ENG) #5: John Stones (ENG) #6: Nathan Ake (NED) #7: João Cancelo (POR) #8: İl...

BARCELONA'S 2010-11 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNING SQUAD: WHAT HAPPENED AFTER?  28th May 2011:Wembley Stadium, London, England  Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United  Two years after their triumph in Rome, Barcelona returned to their perch after one season, and won their fourth Champions League title and their third in six years. Pep Guardiola proved once again why he is one of the best mangers in the world, as he won his second Champions League in three years, in what was only his third season of managing a senior team. However, a lot has changed in 14 years. So what happened to this iconic squad after the events of London? 1) Víctor Váldes (#1, Spain)  Váldes is arguably one of Spain and Barcelona's greatest-ever goalkeepers, and one of the most decorated as well. He started the final in London and played the full 90 minutes of the final. After the final in Wembley. Váldes spent another three seasons with Barcelona, winning more domestic trophies, as well as the UEFA Supe...

 THE CHAMPIONS BLOG  Just like that, another enthralling season in the Champions League has come to an end. Once again, the Champions League delivered on countless big occasions throughout the entire season, and with the final in Munich being the pinnacle of the season, all we can is "thanks for the memories". It's been quite a ride this season. This is the Champions Blog.  Saturday 31st May 2025:  Paris Saint Germain vs Inter Milan (Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany) As the streets in Munich are filled up with supporters embedded in red, blue and black, Luis Enrique and Simone Inzaghi prepare their men for arguably the biggest night of their lives. After battling their way across Europe since September, their date with destiny has arrived, with the weeks of training now behind them. Inter Milan's last final came in the 2022/23 season, just two years ago, when Simone Inzaghi's men lost 1-0 in Istanbul to hand Manchester City their first Champions League win in their ...

  THE CHAMPIONS BLOG: 2024/25 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL PREVIEW: PARIS SAINT GERMAIN VS INTER MILAN  36 teams started this blockbuster of a competition back in September, which saw the dawn of a new era in the Champions League. Now, the best two teams in Europe remain. Paris Saint Germain are set to travel to Munich and raise the flag for France and look to become the first French champions since Marseille back in 1993. There, they will face Inter Milan, who raise the flag for Italy, and look to win Italy's first Champions League title since 2010. For the first time since 2004, there will be no English, Spanish or German teams in the final. In just a matter of days, one team will overcome the other and lift the European Cup either for the first time or the first time in 15 years. Will it be PSG or Inter Milan who emerge victorious in Munich? Finalist 1: Paris Saint Germain Road to Munich:  League Phase:  Girona (H): 1-0  Arsenal (A): 0-2 PSV Eindhoven (H): 1-1...