The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Champions League.

  • Lagos Agog for Heineken’s UEFA Champions League Final

    International premium lager beer, Heineken on Saturday, welcomed football fans into the Ocean View Ground, of Eko Hotel and Suites, in Lagos, for the historic final match between Real Madrid and Liverpool.

    This grand finale of the premium football viewing events was indeed a special one as it has the presence of Argentine football legend, Hernan Crespo, who came to Nigeria for the love of football.

    The professional footballer joined hundreds of Nigerian fans to witness a truly memorable night of UEFA Champions League drama and action.

    Crespo, who arrived the country on Thursday, 24th of May, 2018, visited leading art, culture, lifestyle, and educational centre, Terra Kulture, to view  stunning artworks on display. He had also paid surprise visits to  four lucky football fans in their offices in various parts of Lagos, delivering to the delighted fans  exclusive front row invites to the UCL Final live match viewing experience put together by Heineken.

    Clockwise: Hernan Crespo surprises Adeyemi Soyombo; Habib Hamzat; Sylva Ifedigbo and Emuobosa Akpene at their offices, with invites to the Heineken exclusive UCL final match viewing experience at the Ocean View Ground, Eko Hotel & Suites, V.I., Lagos.
    The 2017/2018 UCL final was a momentous occasion for the Zinedine Zidane led Real Madrid team as they won their third consecutive title win defeating Jorgen Klopp coached Liverpool side by 3-1.The match which was 0-0 at half time, produced a total of 4 goals in the second half, with the Spaniards scoring the first in the 50th minute courtesy of Karim Benzema.
    L-R: Mozez Praiz, Hernan Crespo and Samson Siasia providing expert analysis and predictions during half time.
    Although Liverpool quickly equalized through Sadio Mane in the 54th minute, Madrid’s super substitute, Gareth Bale, who brought in at the 62nd minute scored two wonder goals to put the game beyond the English side, effectively handing Real Madrid a 13th UCL title, and the 4th win in the past 5 seasons. The trio of sports broadcaster, Moses Praiz, Hernan Crespo and ex Super Eagles player and coach, Samson Siasia, provided expert analysis and made predictions during half time.

    While guests enjoyed playing various fun activities like table soccer, video games and so on, additional entertainment was provided by DJ Neptune, with hype man, Shody, further galvanizing the excited crowd during the post-match after-party to create a carnival-like atmosphere which matched the mood of both the Real Madrid players jubilating on the pitch faraway in Kiev and thousands of their fans celebrating along with them in Lagos.

  • I Can’t Sleep – Liverpool Goalkeeper Karius

    Liverpool Goalkeeper, Loris Karius confessed on Sunday to have lost his sleep 24 hours after Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

    The 24-year old took to twitter to apologise to his fellow teammates, his club officials and the entire kop fans for the two ‘unpardonable goals’ he caused during the final of the UEFA elite match.

    The Reds lost 3-1 at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium as Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale capitalised on a shaky Karius in the Liverpool net.

    He wrote, “Haven’t really slept until now… the scenes are still running through my head again and again… I’m infinitely sorry to my teammates, for you fans, and for all the staff. I know that I messed it up with the two mistakes and let you all down…

    “Thank you to our unbelievable fans who came to Kiev and held my back, even after the game. I don’t take that for granted and once again it showed me what a big family we are. Thank you and we will come back stronger.

    “As I said I’d just like to turn back the time but that’s not possible. It’s even worse as we all felt that we could have beaten Real Madrid and we were in the game for a long time.”

    German professional footballer began his career with Stuttgart before moving to Manchester City in 2009. After two years in Manchester City’s youth system, he returned to Germany with Mainz 05.

    He established himself as first-choice goalkeeper for the Bundesliga side before transferring to Liverpool in 2016 for a fee of £4.7 million.

  • Rename Champions League, C. Ronaldo tells UEFA

    Basking in the euphoria of Saturday’s Champions League victory, Cristiano Ronaldo has opined that the UEFA league competition should be made after him.

    The Real Madrid player maker said he has won Champions League trophy five times, and said he feels the UEFA league should be renamed possibly after him.

    He further suggested that the elite club competition should be called ‘CR7 Champions League’, after himself.

    Ronaldo added the fifth European Cup with the Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory against Liverpool and golden boot to his accolades after while the forward finished the competition as top scorer with 15 goals.

    ‘Who was the top-scorer once again?’ Ronaldo said.

    ‘The Champions League should change and be called the CR7 Champions League.

    ‘I have won five and I am the top goalscorer again, so I cannot be sad.’

    The win makes Ronaldo the joint-second most successful player in European Cup history, with his fifth title moving him on par with legends like Alfredo di Stefano and Paolo Maldini.

    Former Real Madrid winger Francisco Gento is the only player to have won more European Cups with six, though Ronaldo’s seventh golden boot in the competition is a record.

    His 15 goals this year have propelled him on to 120 goals in the competition, now 20 clear of Lionel Messi.

    But there are now doubts over whether the 33-year-old will be able to extend his goal tally, or claim a record-equaling sixth European Cup, after suggesting he could leave Real Madrid this summer.

    Following the match, Ronaldo told beIN Sports: ‘Now we have to enjoy this moment. In the next few days I will give an answer to the fans that have always been on my side.

    ‘It was very nice to be at Real Madrid, in the coming days I will talk about it more.’

    He later backtracked, claiming: ‘I shouldn’t have said what I said.’

  • The Champions League as metaphor for our underdevelopment

    When Real Madrid once again defied the odds by coming out unscathed for the umpteenth time by making a mince meat of Bayern Munich, I appreciate their victory and most especially their unpredictability in ascending to the finals.

    However, how is the victory my business? How does it add value to me beyond that of entertainment? What do I gain as a third-world citizen, shouting and raising the banner for twenty-two made men slugging it out in one of the first world nations?

    Do not get this wrong, I love football ( European and local) and I say with all humility that I have analyzed and followed global football for over a decade plus however, it’s time we take all things as a people beyond face value.

    I missed the match, but I saw a crowd as I made my way home, having watched a bit of the match freely by the roadside, courtesy a generous beer joint. A terrible thought came to me immediately as I sighted the crowd and that is “How do these spectators backing the road as they watch, run for their life, if a vehicle lost it brake or veers off the road?” Immediately I concluded that even the Champions league is a metaphor for Nigeria’s backwardness.

    Every league night opens a window into why Nigeria has become the open sore of the black race.  There are majorly three reasons for such crowd: There is no electricity and people insist on watching,  fuel is expensive and people cannot afford to buy it, thirdly is that people cannot afford to pay for the cable bouquet  that brings the league into their homes.

    The three problems highlighted are pure economic problems, yet we keep screaming “Hala Madrid” failing to see the cause and the effect.  Those who watched the match in the open  are planning to watch the final too openly because we have lived over the years in such enclave of deprivation from a government that has ensured that all anomalies has been normalized.

    Except for the viewing centres and the cable TV company, what does the victory bring to Nigeria in real terms of GDP (gross domestic product) and economic prosperity?  You try to think it out, but you hardly find one, and that takes us to another trouble with us: we waste a lot of time in vanity engagement because productive engagement are becoming few and far between.

    You tell everyone who cares to listen how hard you work for fifteen hours a day, however you forgot to tell us that five hours was used in commuting of the total hours spent working.  Young men this morning would also discuss and analyze yesterday’s match at newspaper stands for several hours instead of been engaged in productive activities.

    It’s pathetic that what has become a cash cow for UEFA, FIFA, and all the football community in Europe is the reason (although through government failings) why a generation of young people are walking towards the path of waste in Nigeria.

     

    • By Kehinde Oluwatosin

    Lagos

     

  • Live Update! Real Madrid Win Champions League

    It’s all over in Kiev and Loris Karius is devastated in the Liverpool goal, with even more tears from him and Dejan Lovren too.In fairness to the Real Madrid players, they are over to the Liverpool players to try and comfort them before celebrating together.Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Real Madrid after a horrendous clanger from Karius before Sadio Mane leveled things up not long after.

    Gareth Bale then produced two incredible strikes – the first in particular a brilliant overhead kick – to seal the victory, although Karius should have saved the second.

     

    Liverpool vs Real Madrid Live Updates (Text)

    90+3: Ronaldo is not a happy man as play is stopped as he shapes to shoot, with a pitch invader on the field. He is removed as the whistle goes and the last goal is not needed!

    90+2: Ronaldo is yet to score this evening and eyes his own strike as Asensio whips a ball into the area, but Van Dijk puts it behind for a corner.

    90+1: Alexander-Arnold delivers, but it doesn’t beat the first man as Real Madrid head it away.

    90: Free kick to Liverpool over on the let, around 20 yards from goal. Alexander-Arnold is instantly over to it.

    Three minutes added on here…

    88: Nacho is down in the area after a collision with Firmino, but he looks to be OK to continue.

    Meanwhile, Benzema – who has certainly played his part tonight – is replaced by Asensio.

     

    86: Just after the goal, Bale looked to be through for his hat-trick but it takes a superb tackle from Lovren to see the ball behind.

    Bale is after that magic number three and there is still plenty of time…

     

    GOAL! REAL MADRID 3-1 LIVERPOOL (Bale, 83)

    Well, combine the first two Real Madrid goals and that’s pretty much what we have for this one.

    It’s another absolutely sumptuous strike from Bale – you can’t take anything away from him there – as he picks up the ball in the middle of the park and has acres of space to strike.

    Karius gets hands onto the ball but it slips through his fingers like butter and lands into the back of the net. He should have saved that really, he was 99 per cent of the way there, and it’s another mistake this evening.

    82: A yellow card for Mane after he makes a late tackle on Ramos. The Real Madrid captain makes a meal of it, but it’s the Liverpool forward in the book.

    Meanwhile, Can comes on for Milner for the final few minutes.

     

    81: SAVE! A big save from Karius as Bale fires in a cross from the right with aplomb and Benzema fires towards goal from the left of the box, but the Liverpool stopper makes a leaping save to deny him a second of the evening.

    80: Ten minutes to play in Kiev… What will Klopp do to try and force extra time or even a victory?

    It looks like Real Madrid are heading for a third successive Champions League title as it stands…

    78: PIC! Mane hits the post. Will Liverpool get a better chance?

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    78: Some good possession from Liverpool in the last few minutes, with Milner putting a cross into the area but Varane turns it away well.

    Milner then tries to drink his way into the area, but Modric nicks the ball from his feet and sees it away.

    75: Free kick to Real Madrid as Alexander-Arnold commits the foul. Kroos delivers but Bale is flagged for offside.

    To be fair, all four attacking players along the line were offside in that scenario.

    74: TACKLE! Absolutely superb tackle from Robertson there as he stops an on-running Ronaldo in his tracks with an absolutely brilliant stop.

    73: NO PENALTY! Firmino cross the ball into the area from the right, and is shouting for a penalty as the ball hits Casemiro’s elbow but he knew nothing about it as the referee rightly waves away the claims.

    Firmino then tries to score on the rebound, but Navas collects.

    BALED OUT?

    72: Good work from Van Dijk to stick a leg out in front of Ronaldo as he looks to cross from the right of the box, but the defending just puts the forward off his stride and the ball runs away from him.

    71: OFF THE POST!! At the other end for Liverpool this time as Mane collects the ball at the top of the area before hammering a strike towards goal, but his low drive hits the outside of the post.

    A good response from Liverpool and this one certainly isn’t over.

    69: Ramos seems to have done himself a mischief as he stretches ahead of Mane to get a ball out wide, and appears to have a bit of cramp in the process.

    Milner delivers another corner but Navas punches away the danger.

    68: The stadium has gone quite quiet now, compared to a few minutes ago anyhow!

    It may be because Liverpool are behind or it may be a pure state of shock after Bale’s stunning strike. Maybe both.

    61: SAVE! A brilliant save from Karius and that will do his confidence the world of good.

    Nacho sends a great cross into the box, with Isco taking a touch before shooting, but Karius guesses the angle well and dives to keep the effort out.

    Isco is then substitutd, being replaced by Bale.

    60: Free kick to Real Madrid as Modric is fouled by Robertson. They don’t make too much from it, though.

    Meanwhile, Bale is being prepared for Real Madrid. He has been in superb form recently and Zidane is going for this.

    58: Uh oh, Mane is down now and looks a bit uncomfortable, but he is soon back on his feet.

    50: Free kick to Real Madrid as Marcelo is caught by Firmino. He just gets him on the toe, but you would think Fimrino had bulldozed into his Brazil team-mate with the reaction.

    49: OFF THE BAR!!! How has that not gone in?!

    Marcelo dinks the ball into the area and it’s a terrible attempted clearance from Lallana – who tumbles over – that allows Isco to get onto the ball and hits home on the volley.

    The technique is poor though as he catches it with his shin, and it smashes against the crossbar. The goal was wide open and despite the technique, he should be netting that.

    Is it just not Real Madrid’s night?…

    47: A decent ball down the channel from Robertson as he picks out the run of Mane, but his flick back does not reach Lallana as Real Madrid eventually win the goal kick.

    45+3: A snapshot effort from Benzema as he lets fly from just outside the area, but it flashes past Karius’ post.

    45+2: Some good defending from Mane down the left as he muscles Marcelo off the ball before trying to get Liverpool forward.

    45: CLOSE! What a superb pass from Benzema, a great diagonal ball that picks out the incoming Nacho at the back post but his shot fires into the side netting.

    Meanwhile, there are three minutes of added time.

    44: NO GOAL!! Benzema has the ball in the net but Ronaldo is flagged offside!

    Isco whips a great ball into the area, and Ronaldo gets his head onto it but it is straight at Karius who make a superb save. However, Benzema is waiting to net and does – but the offside flag is raised against Ronaldo.

    It’s the right decision, too. On the touchline, Zidane quietly applauds the goal before realising it is offside, at which point, Klopp goes nuts. It could be a celebration, it could be at the defending. Not entirely sure.

    42: A great ball forward from Benzema on the left, picking out Benzema just outside the box, who slightly flicks the ball back for Ronaldo but the latter does not get the right control as Liverpool manage to clear.

    39: Good challenge from Van Dijk as he tracks Modric down the right flank, doing well to get in front of a cross from the Real Madrid midfielder.

    Meanwhile, Carvajal finally makes his way down the tunnel. A bit of a cuddle from Salah perhaps?…

    37: A very enticing ball over the top from Milner there as he looks to pick out the forward run of Lallana, but it just runs too long and ends up in the hands of Navas.

    36: The stretcher is on for Carvajal but he looks to be OK to walk off although he will not be returning. Another gutting end to the season.

    39: Good challenge from Van Dijk as he tracks Modric down the right flank, doing well to get in front of a cross from the Real Madrid midfielder.

    Meanwhile, Carvajal finally makes his way down the tunnel. A bit of a cuddle from Salah perhaps?…

    37: A very enticing ball over the top from Milner there as he looks to pick out the forward run of Lallana, but it just runs too long and ends up in the hands of Navas.

     36: The stretcher is on for Carvajal but he looks to be OK to walk off although he will not be returning. Another gutting end to the season.

    Possibly the most emotional Champions League final we’ve ever seen! Nacho is on for Real Madrid.

    34: Carvajal is down on the ground now, and he is also in tears. He looks to be distraught after being caught by Robertson.

    32: Ramos is being booed every time he gets on the ball now, all coming from Liverpool fans.Marcelo fires a great ball into the area from the left flank as Real Madrid see the better of the ball, but some important defending from Lovren takes Ronaldo’s pass in the box away from Benzema.

    30: A lot of Liverpool players are over to the forward to comfort him and he really is emotional. Mane is ushering him off the field with an arm on his shoulder.

    Salah is off and down the tunnel. A really sad affair for Salah after his superb season and it’s gutting for it to end in tears. Lallana is on in his place.

    So, how will this affect Liverpool now?… We shall see.

    29: Oh no. This really isn’t good for Salah.

    After the corner is delivered, the Egyptian goes to ground in floods of tears. It looks like he doesn’t feel like he can continue. It’s a very sad scene indeed.

     

    28: Good work from Mane there as he takes Varane and Carvajal right down to the baseline as the ball is poked out by the former Real Madrid defender. Varane is arguing with the referee but it’s the right decision.

     

    27: And breath Liverpool fans, Salah is back on his feet and back on the field.

     

    26: OUCH! This doesn’t look good for Liverpool fans… Salah and Ramos tussle and the Real Madrid captain is pulling the arm of the Liverpool man as they both go to ground, and Salah really looks to be in a bit of bother here.

    Ramos rolls him over and Salah looks to have really hurt his shoulder. The medical team are on…

     

    25: STAT! It’s been a strong start from the Reds, with Jurgen Klopp’s side already having had seven shots on Navas’ goal compared to Madrid’s one from Ronaldo.

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    24: SHOTS!! The best so far from Liverpool as Milner gets away down the left before pulling the ball back for Firmino in the middle. The Brazilian turns with the ball before shooting – but it goes straight into the body of Ramos.

    The loose ball then lands to Alexander-Arnold on the right who hits a great effort, but Navas makes a brilliant low save to deny him the opener.

     

    23: Another good move from Liverpool but they are thwarted by the experience of Ramos as Firmino tries to slide Mane in down the left of the box, but the Real Madrid defender gets there first to see the ball away.

     

    22: Free kick for Real Madrid just inside their own area as Salah fouls Isco. They do not make too much from it though before winning another in a similar spot, but over on the other side as Milner goes into Carvajal.

    The Real Madrid man makes a bit of a meal of it but gets the advantage.

    20: All you can hear are the Liverpool fans inside the Kiev Olympic Stadium at the moment and they have plenty to sing about with the Reds doing well so far.

    19: A few final nerves from Carvajal perhaps? I think so as he plays a back pass into the Real Madrid area, but there is no one there to collect it and there could easily have been a red shirt there to poke home with only Ramos scrambling back.

    However, Liverpool do win the first corner of the game, and Van Dijk nearly gets his head onto it towards the back post but Navas is just behind him to punch away the danger.

    17: A good defensive header from Robertson as Isco whips a cross in from the left-hand side, searching for Ronaldo, but the Liverpool defender heads away with ease.

    16: WIDE!! A superb run from Ronaldo, but the final finish is just lacking on this occasion.

    Carvajal dinks a ball over the top of his defender before setting Ronaldo away down the right flank. The forward then cuts into the area before firing an absolute rocket – but it’s on a tight angle and goes flying over the crossbar.

    Danger signs for Liverpool.

    14: SAVE! A decent save from Navas there as Alexander-Arnold whips in a cross from the right-hand side, but the Real Madrid goalkeeper punches it away.

    13: Real Madrid are seeing their time on the ball now, but they are yet to make too much from it, mostly constricted to their own half.

    This comes to an end when Liverpool win the free kick on the halfway line as Kroos fouls Mane.

    11: A speculative effort from Marcelo there as he lets fly from just outside the area after getting away from Milner, but it flashes well wide of the post.

    10: It has been a superb start from Liverpool in Kiev, and they really are giving the Real Madrid defence something to think about early on.

    Can they make the early pressure count?…

    8: CLOSE! Another good move forward from Liverpool as Firmino’s header bounces off the shoulder of Ramos before nearly making it to Alexander-Arnold, but Ramos is out to smother the loose ball before the defender can strike.

    7: What a superb ball from Firmino! He plays the ball in behind the Real Madrid defence, trying to pick out Mane through the middle and he nearly succeeds, but Varane is tracking the latter well and manages to skew the ball away along with the helping hands of Navas.

    6: An interesting free kick routine as Salah runs past the ball to the middle of the area and is fed the ball by Milner. He strikes, but it hammers into the body of Modric before going clear.

    5: Free kick to Liverpool around 20 yards from goal over on the right as Marcelo fouls Salah… Can they make this count? Milner and Salah over it.

    In the five times that Liverpool have won a European Cup final, their opponents have all worn white? A good omen for the men in red?

    4: A lovely passage of play from Liverpool as they work the ball across the top of the area, with Salah picking out the run of Alexander-Arnold down the right of the field.

    The youngster then whips a cross into the area, but Varane does well to see it behind.

    3: OFFSIDE! A first test for Karius and he does fairly well, coming off him line to punch a Carvajal cross away from the path of a waiting Isco in the middle.

    However, the offside flag is raised against the Real Madrid man as Liverpool win the advantage.

    2: Well this has started with a bit of fire! Marcelo bundles Salah off the ball as the Liverpool man tries to make his way into the box, before Lovren leaves one on Ronaldo over on the touchline.

    Just letting him know, he’s there, of course…

    1: Here we go ladies and gents, the moment is finally here as Liverpool get us underway in Kiev!

    AND THE MATCH KICK OFF

    The climax of a thrilling Champions League campaign is upon us as Real Madrid and Liverpool meet in the final of European football’s biggest game at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium.

    Liverpool are hoping to claim a British record of six European triumphs following an extraordinary campaign on the continent, where the star trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have led a potent front three on the road to Kiev.

    But standing in their way are record 12-time winners Real Madrid, who led by Cristiano Ronaldo are looking to become the first side since Bayern Munich in the 1970s to win the competition for a third straight season.

    Contrary to some reports this morning, Gareth Bale will once more have to make do with a place on the substitutes’ bench as he did this time last year against Juventus in the final.

    Zidane makes two changes from the side which drew 2-2 at Villarreal in their final La Liga game of the season as Karim Benzema replaces the Welshman while Keylor Navas returns in goal in place of Luca Zidane.

    REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Liverpool: Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Isco, Ronaldo, Benzema.

    Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Theo, Lucas Vazquez, Bale, Asensio, Kovacic.

    KLOPP CHANGES ONE

    Jurgen Klopp has made one change from the side that beat Brighton 4-0 on the final day of the Premier League season just under two weeks ago.

    Dominic Solanke drops to the bench with James Milner coming in.

    LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Real Madrid: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino.

    Subs: Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Moreno, Lallana, Can, Solanke.

    OPTA STATS PART I

    • This is Real Madrid’s 16th appearance in a European Cup/Champions League final, more than any other side in the history of the competition.
    • Indeed, they’ve won it a record 12 times, losing only in 1962 (vs Benfica), 1964 (vs Inter) and 1981 (vs Liverpool).
    • This is Liverpool’s eighth European Cup/Champions League final, three more than any other English side.
    • Liverpool have lost just two of their previous seven finals in the competition, vs Juventus in 1985 and their most recent one against Milan in 2007

  • Football: I’ll never forget playing against ‘Hard Tackling’ Taribo – Crespo

    Argentina ex-international Hernán Jorge Crespo, on Saturday in Lagos said that he was delighted to be in Nigeria for the first time as a guest of the Heineken Group.

    Crespo along with Nigeria’s ex-internationals — Taribo West, Augustine Eguavon, Mutiu Adepoju and Samson Siasia — were invited by Heineken for an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.

    Crespo attributed the success of his over 18 years football career to respect for others which, he said, was one of the fundamental values of life.

    “As a young player, I love the game of football but one fundamental thing I learnt along the way was respect for the game, my team mates and fans of football.

    “As I grew older in football, I also learnt that it was very important to respect my opponents as well; indeed, it has been a worthwhile experience for me.

    “I am in Nigeria because I want to have the opportunity to meet people, to support my passion and most importantly support Heineken and their vision for the UEFA Champions League,’’ He said.

    Crespo said that he would never forget playing against Nigeria’s ex-internationals, especially against hard tackling Taribo West and Celestine Babayaro, who were his team mates at Inter Milan and Chelsea, respectively.

    “In my career I met a lot of players I had respect for and I would never forget players like West, Babayaro, Emmanuel Amunike, Daniel Amokachie, Sunday Oliseh and Geoge Finidi.

    “However I think the greatest player so far in Nigeria was Austin Okocha,’’ he said.

    Similarly, his counterparts from Nigeria, West, Siasia, Eguaveon, Adepoju, eulogised Crespo’s perfection and credibility as a great football legend and appreciated his coming to Nigeria.

    With over 300 goals during his career, Crespo was regarded as one of the deadliest striker ever in the history of European and World football.

    He played for Argentinian club side River Plate and Italian sides such as Parma, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Genoa and Lazio.

    He won the 2005 English Premiership League title with Chelsea FC of England, among other laurels.

    While in Nigeria, Crespo is set to share the drama of Heineken-sponsored UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool with Lagos fans Saturday night.

  • Champions League Final: Polls favour Reds to win

     

    The die is cast. Today is here.  A day set aside for this year’s UEFA Champions league final in Kiev, Ukraine.

    Real Madrid who are seeking a third consecutive victory take on Liverpool who last won the title in 2005. Apart from die-hard fans of the two teams whose loyalty are not in doubt, other fans across the globe are divided in their support.

    Some based their support on facts and figures,current form of the players and luck while others base theirs on sympathy.

    For instance some believe that Real Madrid with back to back victory in 2015–16 and 2016–17 should ‘allow'(whatever that means) Liverpool who last touched the trophy 13 years ago to clinch this one this time for equity sake, again (whatever that means)

    But of course a winner must definitely emerge at the end today’s make or break encounter.  Sportinglife.ng sort to know from our teeming readers what they think about today’s final and who they think is likely to carry the day.

    As at 12 noon Saturday about 172,000 of them had sent in their stand both on and offline.  Of this figure 114,000 about 66.2% believe Liverpool will win, 50,000 or 29% gave it to Real Madrid while 8,000 about 4% are undecided.

    Perhaps what we did not remember to do was to ask them to predict whether ‘goal manufacturers’ Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohammed Salah will each score in today’s encounter. We should have also asked them to predict the result and finally whether it will end in regulation time like it did last season with Madrid winning against Juventus, and grabbing four goals within the 90 minutes of play not forgetting that Ronaldo scored two of the goals in the 20th and 64th minutes or whether it will stretch to extra time and eventually end in penalties like it did two seasons ago against Athletico

    Madrid. The match had ended 1-1 after extra time leading to penalties. While Real Madrid converted all their five penalties Athletico were able to convert three.  For Madrid on that occasion Vázquez, Marcelo,Bale,Ramos and Ronaldo all scored in the shoot out to sing victory song. Be that as it may, it is only a matter of hours before decision time. The venue is waiting the teams have trained the coaches have studied and set out their tactics no need to postpone decision day anymore let the war take the centre stage and let see who laughs last.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ronaldo’s shot in training injures cameraman

     

    There is no doubt that today UEFA Champions league is a serious business.  Neither Real Madrid gunning for their third back to back title nor Liverpool hoping to re-enact their winning ways and stop Real Madrid’s cruise control are taking it lightly.  You might consider it funny but it is certainly not funny.  During training ahead of the showdown Real

    Madrid forward and Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo fired a shot which landed on the face of a cameraman giving him a cut on the face that had to be stitched.

    It was not an intentional shot aimed at the cameraman but a shot that probably went slightly away from target. Ronaldo immediately apologised  and handed the cameraman his jacket to seal the apology if you like and say ‘Hope we remain friends.

    However the shot even if off target is a warning shot, an indication that there will be fireworks today.  The fireworks will not come only from Real Madrid but also from Liverpool who will be hoping that Mohammed Salah maintains his goal harvest. For lovers of the game it will be battle royal today and it is fair to say there will be no dull moment.

    When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. In this case, it is the pitch of the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev that will be literally ‘burnt’ for 90 or more minutes.  If training ahead of the final witnessed breath-taking shots and moves then you can only imagine what the real thing will be.  It might be better to avoid blinking!

  • Beckham to Zidane: Please Beat Liverpool very well!

     

    David Beckham may have left Manchester United in 2003 but it appears his hatred for bitter rivals Liverpool still runs deep.

    The former England captain views Saturday’s Champions league final in Kiev as an opportunity to teach Liverpool lesson and has begged ex-Real Madrid team-mate Zinedine Zidane to beat the Reds for good.

    Beckham, who left Old Trafford for Los Blancos in a deal worth £25 million, sat down for an interview with Zidane ahead of the showpiece final in Kiev implored him to lift the trophy at Liverpool’s expense.

    ‘To have been successful as a player and now to be successful as the boss, the big boss, is incredible,’ Beckham said to Zidane.

    ‘I just want to wish Zizou, the boss, the president, the club good luck in the Champions League final.

    ‘And please beat Liverpool, please!’

    Real Madrid are seeking to win a third consecutive Champions League title in Kiev and insisted his team have worked tirelessly to get there.

    Zidane added: ‘We suffered and worked a lot to make it to the final.

    ‘There has been a lot of sacrifices, a lot of work, a lot of personal investment from everyone.

    ‘Once I decided to become a coach I thought nothing is impossible. Being a coach of Real Madrid I knew we could achieve great things.’

    Beckham played for Real Madrid between 2003 and 2007 making 116 appearances and scoring 16 goals for the side. The former

    Manchester United midfielder who claimed numerous team and individual award in the course of his playing career, was voted UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 1998–99, UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year: 1998–99 and UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2003 among others.

    He captained England 59 times, the fourth highest after Bobby Moore and Billy Wright both with 90, and Bryan Robson with 65.

    All eyes will be on Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah as the Reds throw in every arsenal in their armory all aimed at stopping Madrid from a back-back-back cruise control on the title.  The Egypt international finished the season in a flourish scoring 32 goals for the Liverpool.

     

     

  • Crespo Storms Nigeria for Champions League final

    NationSport can report that this weekend’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool  would avail Nigeria football enthusiasts the opportunity of meeting ex-Argentina striker Hernan Crespo.
    It has been gathered that the 42-year-old football analyst will watch the Champions League final in Nigeria on Saturday.
    Former Nigeria internationals, Daniel Amokachi, Jay Jay Okocha, Austine Eguaveon would join the former Chelsea player to watch the match at a designated viewing centre in Lagos state.
    The legends as gathered would be available to answer questions from fans as they watch Cristiano Ronaldo go head to head with Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah of Liverpool at 7; 45pm.
    While playing, Crespo scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 19 years. At international level, Crespo scored 35 goals for Argentina to make him the third highest goalscorer behind Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi.
    He played in three FIFA World Cups: 1998, 2002 and 2006. At club level, Crespo was the world’s most expensive player, when Lazio bought him from Parma in 2000 for a reported fee of €56 million (£35.5 million).
    He was top scorer in the 2000–01 Serie A with 26 goals playing for Lazio.