This week, we not only say hello to the UEFA Champions League group stage. We also say goodbye. After this season, the UEFA Champions League group stage is undergoing a major overhaul. The new 'Swiss model' format replaces the traditional group stage. Therefore, the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League is the end of an era in […]

On Thursday, European hopefuls learned their fate for this season's top club competition in the Champions League group stage draw. With so many top teams competing, there are immediately headline matchups. Defending champion Manchester City looks to remain atop the mountain this season. However, there are several challengers looking to dethrone Pep Guardiola's side. The […]

UEFA is reportedly interested in making some significant changes to the Champions League, including putting matches in the US. The governing body of the sport in Europe is currently holding meetings ahead of the European Club Association gathering in Turkey later in the week. Essentially, the ECA represents the big clubs throughout the continent. These […]

There were some big results in the second night of UEFA Champions League matchups. Listed below are summaries of all eight European games on Wednesday: Ajax 4 – Rangers 0 Ajax continued their impressive form with a commanding performance against Scottish club Rangers. Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis, Mohammed Kudus, and former Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Liverpool were drawn in a testing Champions League group as they attempt to move on from defeat in last season's final, while Robert Lewandowski will be sure to grab the headlines when he suits up for Barcelona against his former side Bayern Munich. AFP Sport looks at what to expect in Groups […]

Istanbul (AFP) – AFP Sport takes a look at Champions League Groups E, F, G and H following Thursday's draw in Istanbul, with Real Madrid beginning their defence of the trophy and the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain starting to trace their routes to potential glory. Group E (AC Milan, Chelsea, Salzburg, Dinamo […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Bayern Munich were placed in the same section as Robert Lewandowski's Barcelona in Thursday's draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage in Istanbul, while Erling Haaland will face his former club as Manchester City were paired with Borussia Dortmund. Bayern and Barcelona will also come up against Inter Milan in Group […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Title holders Real Madrid and the rest of Europe's elite clubs will be able to start plotting their route to Champions League glory when the draw for this season's group stage is made in Istanbul on Thursday from 1600 GMT. All going to plan, the journey will end back in the Turkish […]

Paris (AFP) – The last stage of the Champions League qualifying marathon kicks off on Tuesday with three clubs who have already got their hands on the trophy eager to grab one of the last six group slots and the cheque that goes with it. Benfica, who won the European Cup in 1961 and 1962 […]

Paris (AFP) – A French Senate enquiry into chaotic scenes at the Champions League final in May in Paris concluded Wednesday the problems were caused by a "string of dysfunctions" in the organisation, rather than Liverpool supporters as claimed by the government. "These dysfunctions were at every level, not only during the implementation (during the […]

Paris (AFP) – The findings of a French Senate enquiry into the crowd chaos at this year's Champions League final in Paris are set to be published on Wednesday, threatening further embarrassment for the police and under-fire Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. A fact-finding mission led by two senators has been hearing from witnesses since the […]

Marseille (AFP) – Argentinian Jorge Sampaoli has left his position as Marseille coach after guiding them back to the Champions League, the French club announced on Friday. Sampaoli, 62, arrived at the Stade Velodrome in March 2021 and took Marseille to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 last season. "After 16 months of collaboration, this […]

Paris (AFP) – French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday made a partial apology for chaos at last month's Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool in Paris, while insisting fake tickets and "delinquency" were mostly to blame. "Should things have been managed better at the Stade de France (stadium)? The answer is yes. […]

Paris (AFP) – A senior UEFA representative said on Tuesday he did not believe French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin's claims about the number of fake tickets in circulation during the chaotic scenes before last month's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Following the game on May 28, Darmanin claimed that between 30,000 and […]

Paris (AFP) – A chain of "failures" by French authorities marred the chaotic Champions League football final in Paris on May 28, inflicting "severe damage" on the image of the country, a government report said Friday. The scenes at the Stade de France "raised questions from outside observers about our country's ability to deliver and […]