Champions League
This Is How Real Madrid Win, Sometimes for No Logical Reason — And Now Gasperini’s Roma Know It Too
After that extraordinary 4–3 comeback at the Olimpico, it is hard to ignore the role Real Madrid’s history and mystique played in the outcome. José Mourinho knows it too.
Nicolò Tresoldi announced himself at San Siro, the understated centre-forward nobody saw coming
Tresoldi’s hat-trick against Inter carried immense weight. For the player himself, of course, announcing his arrival at the top level. But also for Italian football as a whole, with Rome and Berlin now openly competing for his international future.
Believe it or not, Harry Kane could have joined Norwegian side Viking on loan in 2012
The Champions League meeting between Viking and Bayern brought an extraordinary transfer story to light.
The 2028 Champions League final has been awarded to the Allianz Arena for the third time in 15 years (though UEFA, in reality, has few alternatives)
Munich was the only city to bid for it, which, all things considered, should come as no surprise.
Martin Baturina’s Champions League breakthrough is the Como project defined
The Croatian midfielder arrived under Fàbregas as raw potential. A year on, he is dictating matches at the highest level.
Perhaps it took longer than expected, but Martin Ødegaard has become a true great
The match-winning goal that silenced the Maradona was only part of the story: the Arsenal captain is now a mature and versatile talent.
AEK Athens win a Champions League game again after 20 years, thanks to a host of familiar faces from Italian and European football
Razvan Marin scored the decisive goal, while the squad includes Alberto Brignoli, João Mário and Luka Jović, along with other players who had brief spells at elite clubs.
Inter lost, but showed they can compete with Real Madrid — and, by extension, any Champions League side
It was a mixed night for Chivu and his players, marked by mistakes but also by encouraging signs ahead of their next European fixtures.
Club Bruges has a unique approach to the transfer market, making it a leading source of talent for Europe’s top clubs
It’s not just about talent and potential, but also about fitting a particular tactical system. That’s how so many players have developed and gone on to establish themselves in the world’s toughest leagues.
Champions League “debut patches” will identify players making their first appearance in the competition, a move that could reshape the football memorabilia market
Following a trial at the World Cup in the United States, the system is now being introduced across UEFA’s top club competition: a small patch on the shirt that can end up being worth millions.
Yaya Touré will become the first African coach to lead a team in the Champions League league phase
The former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder has guided Slovan Bratislava to the league phase, making history for African football.
Real Betis have embarked on an ambitious growth plan, centred on expanding the stadium’s VIP offering and a series of social initiatives aimed at bringing the club closer to its supporters
The new stadium is expected to generate an additional €60 million a year, but the club’s bigger plan is to capitalise on the city’s appeal to tourists and raise its profile abroad.