Football

Real Madrid, the reigning UEFA Champions League champions, will face off against AC Milan at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, in a highly anticipated Group Stage match.Real Madrid, led by the prolific Kylian Mbappe, has had a mixed start to their Champions League campaign, securing victories against VFB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund but suffering a disappointing loss to Lille. The Spanish giants will be eager to bounce back and assert their dominance in the competition.AC Milan, on the other hand, has endured a challenging start to their European campaign, with just one win from their first three matches. The Italian giants will be determined to turn their fortunes around and secure a positive result against Real Madrid.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of Europe's most storied clubs. Real Madrid will rely on the brilliance of Mbappe, Karim Benzema, and Luka Modric, while AC Milan will look to the likes of Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud, and Sandro Tonali to inspire them to victory.The match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network in India, with live streaming available on the Sony Liv app and website. Fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating this clash of titans, as Real Madrid and AC Milan battle for supremacy in the UEFA Champions League.

Inter Milan face a crucial week in their pursuit of European and domestic glory, with the visits of Arsenal and Napoli looming large. The Italian champions have shown signs of vulnerability despite their unbeaten run, and Simone Inzaghi's team will need to rediscover their form to maintain their title aspirations.Inter are level on points with Arsenal in the Champions League and sit comfortably in the top eight, but their performances have been inconsistent. They have conceded 13 goals in 11 Serie A fixtures, a significant increase from last season's impressive defensive record. Their attack has also struggled to close out matches, with a two-goal lead against Juventus being squandered in a 4-4 draw.Inzaghi has identified the need for greater clinical finishing, as Inter have missed numerous chances that could have made their matches easier. Lautaro Martinez, the match-winner against Venezia, is expected to start alongside Marcus Thuram in the Champions League. Thuram has been a key player for Inter, but he and Martinez have often had to come off the bench to rescue the team.Inter have received a boost with the return of Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi, who will be available after injury layoffs. However, wing-back Carlos Augusto remains out, with Federico Dimarco in excellent form in his absence. Dimarco's creativity will be crucial against Arsenal and Napoli.Inter's defense will face a stern test against Arsenal's attacking trio of Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli. Napoli, meanwhile, boast one of the most potent attacks in Europe, led by Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.Inzaghi's team will need to find a way to balance their attacking and defensive responsibilities. They must be clinical in front of goal while also tightening up at the back. If they can do that, they have the quality to overcome both Arsenal and Napoli and keep their European and domestic ambitions alive.

Kylian Mbappe's departure from Paris Saint-Germain has left a significant void in the team's attack, particularly in the Champions League. Despite a strong start to the Ligue 1 season, PSG have struggled in Europe, with just four points from three games.The French giants' struggles were evident in their 1-0 victory over Girona, where they managed 26 attempts but only scored thanks to a late own-goal. A 2-0 defeat at Arsenal followed, exposing PSG's lack of attacking prowess. In their most recent Champions League outing, they drew 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven, again failing to convert their chances despite 26 attempts.PSG's poor finishing has been a recurring issue, dating back to last season's Champions League semi-finals, where they failed to score against Borussia Dortmund despite 45 attempts. This season, they have scored just two goals from 62 attempts in Europe.The absence of a reliable center-forward has been a major factor in PSG's attacking woes. Goncalo Ramos, who was expected to fill the void left by Mbappe, suffered an ankle injury early in the season and is yet to return. Randal Kolo Muani, signed for a hefty 90 million euros, has failed to impress and has been an unused substitute in the last two games.Despite their struggles in the Champions League, PSG remain dominant in Ligue 1, sitting six points clear at the top of the table. However, their European ambitions are in jeopardy, and they face a crucial clash against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.Atletico, known for their strong defense, will pose a significant challenge for PSG. The French side will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they want to secure a positive result and keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns over his team's mounting injury crisis ahead of their Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. The English champions have suffered consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Bournemouth, ending their 11-month unbeaten run in the Premier League.Guardiola's squad has been depleted by injuries to key players, including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, and John Stones are also sidelined.Kevin De Bruyne could make his first appearance in seven weeks but is unlikely to start, while Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Jeremy Doku, and Savinho are also not fully fit."You know the situation with Rodri, nominated the best player in the world," Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference. "We know we will struggle, and we have to accept that, and it is fine.""The games will be difficult; in previous seasons it was smooth. Personal reasons, injuries, we won six Premier Leagues in seven years. Things change, we have to accept that."Guardiola will face one of his future rivals as Sporting boss Ruben Amorim takes charge of the Portuguese champions for the penultimate time before beginning his role as Manchester United manager.The sides last met in the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League when City romped to a 5-0 victory in Lisbon and on aggregate."They have changed players but have the same manager and the same mentality," added Guardiola on the challenge Sporting provide. "Winning the league for the first time in 20 years and then doing it again last season shows what a good job he has done."Bernardo Silva scored twice in City's 5-0 win over Sporting two years ago on his return to Lisbon, where he began his career at Benfica. He urged City not to make excuses despite their injury woes."With a full squad, we are stronger, there's no denying that. We have a lot of unbelievable players missing," said Silva. "We have not been able to count on Kevin for six weeks. Rodri is out for the season and other players out shorter times. But we never find excuses. This club was never about that."Both sides are unbeaten in the new Champions League format with seven points from their opening three matches.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is nearing his return to action after a two-month absence due to an ankle injury. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that Odegaard is in the final stages of his recovery and could be available for the upcoming Champions League clash against Inter Milan on Wednesday.Odegaard sustained the injury while playing for Norway in a Nations League match in September. His absence has been a significant blow to Arsenal, who have struggled for creativity and leadership in his absence.Arteta praised Odegaard's work ethic and determination during his rehabilitation. "He's physically now at the level required to compete," Arteta said. "With the work rate and hours he has put in, I'd be surprised that the moment he starts training with us; he looks ready. Hopefully, soon."The Norwegian midfielder's return will be a major boost for Arsenal, who are currently third in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Manchester City. The Gunners have collected just one point from their last two games and will be eager to get back to winning ways against Newcastle United on Saturday.However, Arteta ruled out Odegaard's involvement in the Newcastle game, stating that he needs more time to regain full fitness. "He's not ready to play against Newcastle," Arteta said. "We'll see how he deals with pain and if his movement is natural enough."Left-back Riccardo Calafiori will also miss the Newcastle game due to injury, while defender Gabriel is expected to be available if he trains well on Friday.

Champions League: English Clubs Dominate, Barcelona Stuns BayernWednesday's Champions League action witnessed a resounding night for English clubs and a historic triumph for Barcelona.Liverpool and Manchester City extended their perfect records to three wins, while Arsenal and Aston Villa also secured victories. The four English teams have conceded just one goal combined in the competition so far.Barcelona, led by captain Raphinha, pulled off a stunning 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich, ending the German giants' six-match winning streak against the Catalan club. Raphinha scored a hat-trick, while Robert Lewandowski added another for Barcelona.Liverpool edged Leipzig 1-0 with a goal from Darwin Nunez, while City routed Sparta Prague 5-0 with Erling Haaland scoring twice.In other matches, Lille upset Atletico Madrid 3-1, while Inter Milan scraped a 1-0 win at Young Boys. Celtic held Atalanta to a 0-0 draw, while Benfica lost 3-1 to Feyenoord.

Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League woes continued on Tuesday as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by PSV Eindhoven at the Parc des Princes. The result leaves the French giants with just four points from their first three matches in the competition, raising concerns about their prospects of progressing to the knockout stages.PSV took a shock lead through Noa Lang's strike just after the half-hour mark, but Achraf Hakimi equalized for PSG early in the second half. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, PSG failed to find a winning goal, with their profligacy in front of goal proving costly once again.Coach Luis Enrique expressed his frustration after the match, admitting that he was "worried" about his team's performance. "We played well throughout and were better than PSV," he said. "But it is difficult to accept the result after a game like that."PSG's frustration was compounded when they were awarded a penalty in injury time only for the decision to be overturned on review. The French giants had 26 attempts on goal to their opponents' eight, but their inability to convert their chances has become a recurring problem in Europe."I think it is obvious that we created a lot more chances than our opponents and we deserved to win the game," Enrique added.After a narrow 1-0 victory against Girona and a 2-0 defeat away to Arsenal in their first two matches in the new-look format of the competition, PSG have a tough task ahead of them. They face Atletico Madrid at home next followed by Bayern Munich away, suggesting things will not get any easier."It is the worst group (fixtures) and we need to be prepared to improve what we can and keep going," Enrique said. "But yes, it is difficult and of course I am worried."PSV, meanwhile, are still winless in the Champions League this season, having previously lost away to Juventus before drawing with Sporting. The Dutch champions showed great resilience against PSG, but their lack of experience at this level was evident at times."The players did a great job tonight and I am really proud of them to be leaving here with a point," said PSV coach Peter Bosz.

Aston Villa's resurgence under Unai Emery reached new heights as they soared to the summit of the Champions League table with a resounding 2-0 victory over Bologna. The triumph marked a historic return to the competition for Villa, who last graced the European stage in 1983.McGinn's exquisite free-kick broke the deadlock in the second half, his curling effort finding the far corner beyond the reach of the Bologna goalkeeper. The Scottish midfielder's goal ignited the Villa Park crowd, who witnessed their team's dominance throughout the match.Emery's tactical acumen was evident as he rotated his squad, making four changes without compromising the team's performance. The introduction of Jhon Duran proved decisive, with the Colombian striker netting his sixth goal of the season with a clinical finish.Villa's strength from set-pieces has been a cornerstone of their success under Emery. McGinn's free-kick was a testament to their prowess, while Ezri Konsa's return from injury added further solidity to the defense.The victory extended Villa's winning streak in the Champions League to three games, making them the only team to achieve such a feat this season. The result has instilled a sense of boundless ambition within the squad, with McGinn declaring, "We don't want to stop here."Bologna, on the other hand, have endured a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign, with just one point from their opening three matches. The Italian side has struggled to replicate their impressive form from last season, when they qualified for the competition for the first time in 60 years.Emery's transformative impact on Villa has been remarkable. Since his arrival two years ago, he has guided the club from relegation contenders to European contenders. The Spaniard's ability to blend youth and experience, coupled with his tactical flexibility, has been instrumental in Villa's resurgence.With nine points already secured, Villa are well-positioned to qualify for the playoff round. However, their sights are set on securing a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the last 16. The meteoric rise of Aston Villa under Emery shows no signs of slowing down, and the future holds endless possibilities for the ambitious Midlands club.

AC Milan's Champions League campaign got off to a winning start as Tijjani Reijnders' brace secured a 3-1 victory over 10-man Club Brugge at the San Siro.Reijnders opened the scoring in the 61st minute with a composed finish, before doubling Milan's lead ten minutes later with another clinical strike. The Netherlands midfielder's goals proved decisive after Brugge had equalized Christian Pulisic's early opener through Kyriani Sabbe.Brugge's hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow when Raphael Onyedika was sent off for a reckless challenge on Reijnders in the 40th minute. Milan took advantage of their numerical superiority, with Reijnders' goals putting them in control.The Rossoneri's victory was almost overshadowed by a stunning header from 16-year-old Francesco Camarda, who became the youngest ever goalscorer in Champions League history. However, his goal was ruled out for offside, much to the disappointment of the youngster and the Milan faithful."His goal being disallowed was disappointing for him. He and the team deserved that moment," said Milan manager Paulo Fonseca. "He deserves to be in the squad, he's worked very hard to be here. He'll score plenty of goals in the future, today was just the beginning."The win was crucial for Milan, who face a daunting trip to Real Madrid in their next Champions League fixture. Anything less than three points at the San Siro could have put their qualification for the knockout phase in jeopardy.However, the match was played in front of a subdued crowd as Milan's hardcore ultras continued their protest against high ticket prices. The cheapest general sale tickets for Milan's upcoming domestic fixture against Juventus are priced at 100 euros, with the highest at 479 euros.The major supporters club AIMC has criticized the club's ticketing policy, claiming it favors "rich foreign tourists or casual fans." Only 58,649 people attended Tuesday's match, significantly lower than the usual attendance of over 70,000 for Milan and Inter's Serie A matches."We're not cows to be milked, we're not just here to fill the stadium for the lesser matches, we're not just here to fill the club museum or San Siro's car parks with 120 coaches every time we play at home," said AIMC in a statement.Fans will be watching with interest the latest developments in the joint effort with Inter Milan to build a new stadium near the current San Siro. One of the criticisms of the previous project, which was abandoned last year, was a drastic reduction in capacity and an increase in high-priced hospitality seating.