Football

Inter Milan kicked off their Champions League campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade at the San Siro on Tuesday. Hakan Calhanoglu's stunning free-kick in the 11th minute set the tone for the match, as Inter dominated possession and created numerous chances.Marko Arnautovic doubled the lead on the hour mark, rolling the ball into an empty net after Mehdi Taremi dispossessed Rade Krunic. Captain Lautaro Martinez added a third in the 71st minute, before winning the penalty that Taremi converted to complete the rout.The win moved Inter into the top eight positions of the new league phase of the Champions League, which sees teams qualify directly for the last 16. It was a much-needed victory for Simone Inzaghi's side, who had drawn their opening match against Manchester City.Red Star, on the other hand, are in 32nd place after losing their first two matches. Coach Vladan Milojevic lamented his team's error-strewn performance, saying, "We gave away four goals, I said after the Benfica game (lost 2-1) that we can't concede those sorts of goals... when you make these kinds of errors you can't do much else."Despite the arrests of leading figures within Inter and AC Milan's hardcore ultras fan groups for a variety of crimes, the atmosphere in the Curva Nord section of the San Siro was electric. Inter's fans roared their team on from the first minute, and the whole stadium was on its feet after Calhanoglu's beautiful free-kick.Inter continued to dominate proceedings, with Arnautovic and Denzel Dumfries both coming close to scoring. Henrikh Mkhitaryan also wasted two great chances to add to Inter's lead, but it was Arnautovic who eventually doubled the advantage after Taremi robbed the ball from Krunic.Red Star crumbled in the second half, and Martinez scored his third goal of the season after another fine assist from Taremi. Taremi was given a gift from his Argentine strike partner as thanks for his sterling work up front, which helped Inter secure a fine win.

Bayer Leverkusen's impressive start to the Champions League continued on Tuesday as they defeated AC Milan 1-0 at home. The German side displayed attacking flair and defensive resilience to secure their second victory in the competition.The decisive moment came early in the second half when Victor Boniface pounced on a rebound to give Leverkusen the lead. The Nigerian striker had earlier been denied a goal by VAR for offside.Leverkusen dominated the first half, with Florian Wirtz orchestrating their attacks and Boniface causing problems for the Milan defense. However, they were unable to find a breakthrough before the interval.After the break, Leverkusen's pressure paid off when Boniface converted from close range after Maignan parried Frimpong's shot. The goal sparked Milan into life, but they were unable to find an equalizer despite creating several chances.Theo Hernandez's deflected shot bounced off the bar and Alvaro Morata's header went wide in the closing stages. Leverkusen also had opportunities to extend their lead, with Nathan Tella coming close in injury time.The victory extends Leverkusen's unbeaten run in the Champions League to two matches, while Milan have now lost both of their opening games.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior is poised to make a strong case for the Ballon d'Or award in October, but his immediate focus is on leading his team to victory in the Champions League. The Brazilian forward has stepped up in the absence of injured star Kylian Mbappe, becoming Madrid's primary attacking threat.After a slow start to last season, Vinicius exploded in the second half, playing a pivotal role in Madrid's record-extending 15th European Cup triumph. Despite initial teething issues with Mbappe, the duo seemed to be developing a strong partnership before the Frenchman's injury.Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has backed Vinicius to win the Ballon d'Or, citing his impressive performances in the Champions League last season. However, Ancelotti emphasized that the team will continue to perform regardless of the outcome.Mbappe's arrival at Madrid raised questions about how he and Vinicius would coexist, given their similar playing styles. Ancelotti has kept Vinicius in his preferred left-wing position, with Mbappe often playing centrally.Despite criticism for his performances with Brazil, Vinicius has responded with strong displays for Madrid. He has scored two goals in his last three appearances, including a crucial equalizer against Espanyol.Vinicius' contract with Madrid expires in 2027, but reports suggest he may consider his options next summer. For now, his focus is on helping Madrid succeed in Europe and domestically.With Mbappe likely to miss the Champions League clash against Lille, Vinicius will be expected to lead the attack once again. The Brazilian has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks and will be eager to prove his worth on the biggest stage.

Bayer Leverkusen's star midfielder Florian Wirtz is set to make his home debut in the Champions League on Tuesday against seven-time champions AC Milan. The 21-year-old German international is widely regarded as one of the most promising young players in Europe and will be crucial to Leverkusen's hopes of success in the competition.Wirtz missed Leverkusen's last Champions League campaign due to an ACL injury, but he has returned to the team in impressive form this season. He has scored four goals in five Bundesliga games and is the team's designated penalty taker.Wirtz is known for his creativity and goal threat, but he is also a hard worker and a team player. Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has praised Wirtz's ability to unlock defenses and create chances for his teammates."Flo is a special player," Alonso said. "He has the vision, the technique, and the intelligence to be one of the best midfielders in the world. We need to give him the freedom to express himself and create."Wirtz will be a key target for Milan on Tuesday, but he will be confident of making an impact. He scored a first-half double in Leverkusen's 4-0 win over Feyenoord in their Champions League opener and will be looking to add to his tally against the Italian giants.If Wirtz can continue to perform at a high level, he will be a major asset to Leverkusen in the Champions League and beyond. He is a player with the potential to become one of the best in the world, and Leverkusen will be hoping that he can help them achieve success in Europe.

Champions League Resumes with Key Injuries Sidelining Star PlayersThe UEFA Champions League resumed on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, with a wave of injuries casting a shadow over the competition. Kylian Mbappé's hamstring injury is expected to keep him out beyond Wednesday, when defending champion Real Madrid faces Lille. Manchester City midfielder Rodri is out for the season with a serious knee injury, while Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen will miss most of it. Inter Milan's Nicolò Barella, who impressed against Rodri on September 18, will miss at least one Champions League game due to a thigh strain.These injuries have reignited the debate about player workload in a congested calendar. The expanded Champions League format, which was pushed by influential clubs, has resulted in 18 games this week, leaving each team with six more to play through January.Rematches and Crowd SizeThe first week of the new Champions League format featured two repeats of past finals. Manchester City and Inter drew 0-0, while Liverpool defeated AC Milan 3-1. Another rematch is scheduled for Wednesday when Aston Villa hosts Bayern Munich, a giant of the European Cup era that was shocked 1-0 in the 1982 final.Crowd size and fan fervor have varied in the opening week. Celtic Park witnessed a pulsating atmosphere for a rare European win by the Scottish champion, while the attendance was lower for the Inter-Manchester City game. Milan-Liverpool was far from sold out, with fewer than 60,000 fans at San Siro.Key MatchupsDespite Mbappé's absence, Real Madrid is expected to have too much firepower for Lille. Premier League leader Liverpool hosts Bologna, while Girona's first European visitor to the Montilivi stadium is Feyenoord. Dinamo Zagreb fired its coach after a drubbing at Bayern and brought back Nenad Bjelica for a second spell. He starts in the Champions League hosting Monaco.Tuesday's Games* Celtic vs. Borussia Dortmund* Bayer Leverkusen vs. AC Milan* Inter Milan vs. Red Star Belgrade* Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain* Barcelona vs. Young BoysWednesday's Games* Real Madrid vs. Lille* Liverpool vs. Bologna* Girona vs. Feyenoord* Dinamo Zagreb vs. Monaco

Manchester City is bracing for its Champions League reunion with Inter Milan in the opening round of an expanded tournament that will be "so tough" for the 2023 winner. Pep Guardiola's side defeated Inter 1-0 in the final two seasons ago, with Rodri's goal securing its first Champions League crown on a memorable night in Istanbul.City defender Manuel Akanji is not a fan of the new format due to the increased burden it will place on players in a grueling season that will conclude with Guardiola's men competing in the Club World Cup in the United States.It will be intriguing to see how Guardiola navigates the pursuit of another European title and a fifth successive Premier League crown amid the financial breaches case that could plunge the club into turmoil.Rodri played his first 45 minutes of the season against Brentford after a hamstring injury suffered in the Euro 2024 final victory against England. With England defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker also making their first starts this term, Guardiola is close to having all his stars available just in time for a hectic period.For more than a decade, Paris Saint-Germain's Qatari owners have spent lavishly to attract big stars, but the Champions League crown remained a distant dream. The superstars have all now left the Parc des Princes, and it might sound paradoxical, but the club may be better equipped in its quest for continental glory.Coach Luis Enrique insisted on molding what he had, and his project makes sense. Enrique asked for the recruitment of less-known but excellent players in every sector to create competition and have second options at every position. This could be even more crucial this season as the Champions League's new format will see more teams playing more games. PSG starts on Wednesday against Spanish side Girona.Borussia Dortmund, finalist last season, has undergone a summer of upheaval on and off the pitch ahead of Wednesday's clash at Club Brugge. Dortmund's unlikely run to last season's final masked a poor domestic season. The result was a summer rebuild, with the club parting ways with Dortmund-born coach Edin Terzic and several regular players.Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy and Germany center-back Waldemar Anton joined from Stuttgart, while German internationals Maximilian Beier and Pascal Gross have also signed for the club. The first European test comes at Belgian champions Club Brugge.

Liverpool Face Tough Test in Champions League Opener Against AC MilanLiverpool will begin their UEFA Champions League campaign with a challenging away fixture against Serie A giants AC Milan on Wednesday, September 18. The match will mark the debut of new Liverpool manager Arne Slot in the competition.Liverpool enter the game on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Despite winning the Champions League under Jurgen Klopp in 2019 and reaching the final twice more, pressure is mounting on Slot to deliver success in Europe.Milan, meanwhile, have had a mixed start to their Serie A season, winning just one of their opening four league games. The Italian giants will be eager to make a statement in the Champions League and will pose a significant threat to Liverpool.The match will be played at the iconic San Siro stadium in Milan, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 AM IST. It will be live telecast on the Sony Sports network and live streamed on the SonyLIV app and website.Liverpool will be without several key players for the match, including Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota, and Ibrahima Konate. Milan, on the other hand, will be boosted by the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been out injured since May.The match is expected to be a close and competitive affair, with both teams desperate for a positive result. Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from their Premier League defeat and establish themselves as contenders in the Champions League, while Milan will be aiming to prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

Real Madrid, the reigning UEFA Champions League champions, will commence their 2024-25 campaign at home against VfB Stuttgart, the German Bundesliga runners-up. The match, scheduled for Wednesday, September 18 (IST), marks the first of eight group games in the revamped Champions League format.Real Madrid, under the guidance of manager Carlo Ancelotti, will be bolstered by the return of midfield stars Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni from injury. The Spanish giants have enjoyed a positive start to their La Liga campaign, with summer signing Kylian Mbappe scoring in their previous two matches.Stuttgart, on the other hand, have endured an inconsistent start to their Bundesliga season, winning one, drawing one, and losing one of their opening three fixtures. The German club will be eager to make a statement against the European champions and secure a positive result in their first Champions League group stage match.The match will be played at the iconic Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 AM (IST). Fans can catch the live telecast on the Sony Sports network, while live streaming will be available on the SonyLIV app and website.Real Madrid will be the heavy favorites heading into the match, but Stuttgart will be determined to cause an upset. The German club has a history of performing well in European competitions, reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League in 2018.The return of Bellingham and Tchouameni will provide a significant boost to Real Madrid's midfield, while Mbappe's goalscoring prowess will be crucial in breaking down Stuttgart's defense. The German club will need to be at their best to contain Real Madrid's attacking threats and create chances of their own.The match promises to be an exciting clash between two teams with contrasting styles and ambitions. Real Madrid will be aiming to extend their dominance in Europe, while Stuttgart will be looking to make a name for themselves on the continental stage.

Real Madrid, the reigning Champions League champions, are poised to make a formidable run in this year's competition with the addition of superstar striker Kylian Mbappe. The Spanish giants have won the tournament a record 15 times, and Mbappe's arrival has only strengthened their chances of adding to their tally.Madrid will kick off their campaign against German side Stuttgart on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League five times, is still fine-tuning his team's setup to get the best out of Mbappe, but there is little doubt that the Frenchman will eventually find his scoring touch.Mbappe had a strong performance in Madrid's 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday, threatening the Basque side with his pace and linking up well with Vinicius Junior in attack. He scored from the penalty spot and is eager to make his Champions League debut for Madrid."It will be very important for me," Mbappe said. "I came to Madrid to live these type of nights. I am very focused on what we have to do. The Champions League has changed a lot, it's a new competition, and we have to win to start well."Madrid's new-look structure has given them ties at home against Dortmund, in a rematch of last season's final, and away at Liverpool, whom they defeated in the 2022 final. First up, however, is Stuttgart, continuing a streak of German opponents for Los Blancos.While Mbappe is grabbing the headlines, Ancelotti has a wealth of talent at his disposal. Bellingham was a key player for Madrid in the first half of last season, while Vinicius was vital in the home straight, scoring a brace in the semis against Bayern and again in the final.Mbappe says he is working on his on-pitch relationship with Vinicius, with both netting penalties in the win over La Real. "We try to find each other in training to create the connection and help the team," Mbappe said. "He's a great player and I'm happy to play with him in Real Madrid."With Mbappe and Vinicius firing on all cylinders, Madrid's chances of winning the Champions League yet again will grow even further.