CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

‘We Have To Win’ – Kylian Mbappe Warns Stuttgart Ahead Of Opener

As if record 15-time winners Real Madrid’s Champions League prospects were not great enough already, superstar striker Kylian Mbappe’s arrival makes Los Blancos the most daunting team in the competition.

German side Stuttgart have the honours of facing the reigning kings of Europe in the opening week of the competition, travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu today.

Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund in last season’s Wembley final to claim the trophy for the sixth time in the last 11 years.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti, the most decorated manager in the history of the tournament with five triumphs, has not yet found the perfect set-up to get Mbappe firing from open play, but few doubt he will.

The 25-year-old had arguably his best game for the club in the 2-0 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday in La Liga, threatening the Basque side with his pace and connecting well with Vinicius Junior in attack.

Mbappe scored, albeit from the penalty spot, and he is looking forward to his Champions League debut in Madrid’s resplendent white.

“It will be very important for me – as I said on the first day, I came to Madrid to live these type of nights,” explained the striker.

“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.”

The new-look structure has thrown up ties for Madrid at home against Dortmund, in a rematch of last season’s showpiece, and away at Liverpool, whom they defeated in the 2022 final.

First come Stuttgart, continuing a streak of German opponents for Los Blancos, after they faced Bayern Munich in the semis before Dortmund in London.

Los Blancos have played one European game already this season, defeating Atalanta to win the UEFA Super Cup in August, with Mbappe scoring on his debut.

Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger came through Stuttgart’s youth system and played in the first team for four seasons.

Ancelotti has problems in midfield with Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni out injured, although the Italian was hopeful the latter two could take part against the Germans.

While Madrid’s shiny new toy Mbappe is drawing much of the attention, Ancelotti has plenty of stars at his disposal with the talent to turn defeats into draws and draws into victories, something of a penchant for the club, particularly under the lights in Europe.

Bellingham was Madrid’s key player for the first half of last season, making an immediate impact on his arrival from Dortmund.

Brazilian forward Vinicius was vital in the home straight, netting a brace in the semis against Bayern and scoring again in the final.

The forward has struggled to find his best level at the start of the season but his coach will show plenty of patience.

“We love him here because although right now he’s not at his best, nobody can forget that with Vini we have won two Champions Leagues,” pointed out Ancelotti last week.

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,” continued Mbappe.

“He’s a great player and I’m happy to play with him in Real Madrid – what’s important is goals, not who takes the penalties.”
Mbappe has three La Liga goals from four games this season, including two penalties, while Vinicius has two, both from the spot.

Once the two forwards are firing on all cylinders in open play Madrid’s already sizeable chance of winning the Champions League yet again will grow further still.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Rangers To Face Panathinaikos In UCL Qualifiers

Rangers have been drawn against Panathinaikos in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The Scottish Premiership runners-up will be at home for the first leg on 22/23 July, with the return in Greece the following week.

Meanwhile, the winners of the first-round tie between Northern Ireland champions Linfield and Republic of Ireland counterparts Shelbourne will face Qarabag of Azerbaijan.

Should Welsh champions The New Saints win their tie against Shkendija of North Maceonia, they will face either FCSB of Romania or Inter Club d’Escaldes of Andorra.

Panathinaikos’ visit will mark Russell Martin’s first competitive game as Rangers head coach and the former Southampton boss has been handed the toughest of their possible draws despite the Ibrox side having been seeded.

All three potential opponents were, like Rangers, runners-up in their domestic leagues, but while the Greek side are 111th in the European club rankings, 86 places behind Rangers, Swiss side Servette are 139th (one behind Heart of Midlothian) and Norwegians Brann 189th.

Panathinaikos have never lost to Scottish opponents over 90 minutes in four meetings with Rangers, two with Motherwell and one with Aberdeen, winning four of their seven games.

However, it was Rangers who progressed when they last met the Ibrox side.

Having beaten Aberdeen 3-0 at home in the 2007-08 Uefa Cup group stage, the Greeks exiting on away goals after a 0-0 stalemate in Glasgow was followed by a 1-1 draw in Athens in the round of 32.

They had beaten Rangers 3-1 at Ibrox, and drew 1-1 at home, in the Champions League group stage in 2003, while they eased aside Motherwell 5-0 on aggregate in their latest meeting with a Scottish side in 2012 – in the Champions League third qualifying round.

Panathinaikos have not reached the Champions League proper since 2010-11 and last season started in Europa League qualifying, beating Botev Plovdiv but losing to Ajax before qualifying for the Conference League by defeating Lens.

They lost 4-1 at home to eventual winners Chelsea and beat The New Saints 2-0 in Wales in the new league stage, finishing 13th, before beating Vikingur Reykjavik in the knockout phase then losing to Fiorentina in the last 16.

More to follow.

Bbc.com

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

PSG’s Dembele, Doue Named UCL Players Of The Season

Paris St Germain striker Ousmane Dembele was named Champions League Player of the Season by Uefa on Sunday after his turnaround campaign ended with him playing a major role in his side winning the competition for the first time.

Dembele’s teenage teammate Desire Doue was named Champions League young player of the season by European football’s governing body.

Dembele struggled early in the campaign, dropped by coach Luis Enrique for a league phase game with Arsenal for disciplinary reasons, but the 28-year-old went on to score eight Champions League goals after his switch to a more central role.

While Dembele failed to find the net in PSG’s 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in Saturday’s final in Munich, he was singled out by the manager for his performance.

“I would give the Ballon d’Or to Mr. Ousmane Dembele,” Luis Enrique said. “The way he defended tonight, just that alone could be worth the Ballon d’Or. That’s how you lead a team. Goals, trophies, leadership, defence, his pressing.”

The 19-year-old Doue wrapped up his extremely impressive campaign by creating the opening goal in the final for Achraf Hakimi before scoring twice himself.

PSG had seven players named in the competition’s team of the season while humbled finalists Inter had just one included.

Team of the season
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Nuno Mendes (PSG)
Midfielders: Vitinha (PSG), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Desire Doue (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Raphinha (Barcelona)

Timeslive.co.za

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Yamal Seals UCL Award Despite MVP Frustration

Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League title challenge ended in the semi final stage as Hansi Flick missed out on a quadruple.

The Catalans settled for a domestic treble as part of a sensational first season in charge for Flick with the La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercup sealed.

Defeat in a chaotic semi final to Inter Milan saw a controversial end of the road for Flick’s team as the Serie A giants went on to lose to PSG in the final.

Following PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Simone Inzaghi’s team at the Allianz Arena, UEFA’s technical committee confirmed a host of individual awards, including one for Lamine Yamal.

Lamine Yamal wins Champions League goal award
Both semi final clashes with Inter Milan were sensational spectacles as Barcelona secured a 3-3 home draw before a crazy 4-3 loss at the San Siro.

After falling 2-0 down early on at home, Lamine Yamal led the Barcelona response, as the 17-year-old curled home a special goal to drag the hosts back into the contest.

It was another strike for the growing Lamine Yamal collection despite Barcelona’s frustration at not reaching the final.

Doue beats Lamine Yamal in U21 MVP race
19-year-old Desire Doue scored twice in PSG’s final win over Inter Milan to bring him up to 15 goals scored in all competitions in 2024/25.

Both he and Lamine Yamal netted five in the UCL, but UEFA’s committee opted to give him the UEFA Champions League Young Player of the tournament award, after a special role in Munich.

UEFA were firm in their recognition of Luis Enrique’s first-time winners and there was a Barcelona connection in the main player award.

Former La Blaugrana winger Ousmane Dembele has been transformed in Paris – with a whopping 33 goals in all competitions – and his eight in Europe helped him to the top MVP trophy.

Football-espana.net