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BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Champions League winners? Best moment? Star player? Pundits' picks
It's the pinnacle of club St Germain and Inter Milan will face each other in Munich on Saturday night for the Champions League 188 matches, 36 teams from all over Europe have been whittled down to two in an expanded tournament that has delivered shocks, drama and plenty of who wins? BBC Sport's pundits from both the Euro Leagues and Champions League Match of the Day have their say on who will be lifting the trophy as well as selecting their best players and moments. Who will win the tournament? Spanish football expert Guillem Balague: Paris St-Germain. They seem to have more players performing at their peak right football expert Julien Laurens: It is tough to call, especially for someone who is a PSG fan. Inter have huge experience that can be the difference in big games. My heart says PSG but my head is more balanced and it is difficult!Italian football expert Mina Rzouki: I'm going with PSG – because Luis Enrique is a man who really knows how to win games like League Match of the Day pundit & ex-Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger: It's a tough one, because I have huge respect for Inter for getting into the final and of course they deserve to be I have watched more of Paris St-Germain and I have been so impressed with the way they play. I see them as the team I think is going to win it but of course anything is possible because I've been impressed by Inter too, especially against Bayern Munich (in the quarter-finals) with how well they defend and how they can suffer for such long periods then find the right moments in overall I think PSG are going to win it - because of their season in the Champions League and overall. Player of the tournament? Balague: Ousmane Dembele - just. It has been great to see his evolution and the jump that the Paris St-Germain forward has made this There are other contenders, such as Raphinha, but I'm going for Ousmane Dembele. His transformation this season has been mind-blowing – it looked like he would be out but he has turned it everything he has done, for how he transformed the perception we all had on him, he is a great guy to have in the dressing room. He used to play on PlayStation until 3am, then fall asleep and wake up late. Was late at training and people didn't like it. It was not that disicipline that you need to have when you are a professional player with his qualities to make it to a higher 27 he finally got there. He got married, put a lot of discipline in his own life. And Luis Enrique has been brilliant to him by making him realise that you have to be the leader and leaders behave in a certain way, on and off the pitch. Dembele has scored eight goals, five with his right foot and three with his left, as well as making four assists in 1073 minutes of Champions League football this Difficult – Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele deserve mentions but I think I'll give it to PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Paris St-Germain goalkeeper has made some crucial saves during the French side's run to the final and has kept five clean sheets in this season's tournament, with only Inter's Yann Sommer (seven) and Arsenal's David Raya (six) keeping Normally you would pick one from the finalists but I think Raphinha, because he was absolutely brilliant for Barcelona. If it has to be a PSG player then I like Achraf Hakimi, I've been so impressed with him. It is difficult but I would probably end up picking Raphinha - obviously there are his record assists for Barca but also because when I've watched him, he has been outstanding Bandini, Champions League Match of the Day pundit: It's one of two from that Barcelona team. I know everybody wants it to be Yamal but sometimes numbers come into it, and Raphinha's numbers are stupid in this top-scorer, top assists provider. And even in that ridiculous semi-final against Inter, when we're all going wild for the things Yamal does, it was Raphinha who again Barcelona losing to Inter Milan at the semi-final stage, Raphinha enjoyed a remarkable campaign in which the Brazilian scored 13 goals and created nine assists in 14 your player of the tournament from our pundits' shortlist below. Moment of the tournament? Balague: I would say the first 45 minutes at Montjuic of the semi-final between Barcelona and Inter Milan - and what Lamine Yamal did in that half. After falling 2-0 behind, Yamal inspired Barca to comeback with an incredible first-half display. It wasn't enough ultimately but it was a display that will live long in the Probably the performance of Lamine Yamal in the first half of the first leg of the semi-final against Inter. It felt like we were watching something Tough but I'm going to go for Francesco Acerbi's goal for Inter Milan in their semi-final against As an Aston Villa fan do you mind me saying Jhon Duran scoring against Bayern Munich? Thinking about that brings back some very good memories of Villa in the Champions League and it was a special moment for any Villa fan.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Football Daily Euro Leagues: All to play for in Italy, Dutch title capitulation & Farewell Modric
Steve Crossman is joined by Mina Rzouki, Julien Laurens and Guillem Balague ahead of the end of the season. It's an exciting final round of fixtures in Italy with Napoli 1 point clear of Inter. Will Antonio Conte stay if Napoli win their second title in three years? How will Inter cope with balancing the Champions League final? Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan drops by to talk Ajax – whose nine point lead with seven games to go was overturned by PSV in one of the most sensational title capitulations ever seen in club football – leaving them without a trophy for the third successive season. They also talk about the emotional farewell – is it the new football fashion? And what's next for Luka Modric after the midfielder announced his departure from Real Madrid. Plus, could Sampdoria actually end up avoiding relegation? In France, there was an amazing escape for Le Havre, who came from behind twice to beat Strasbourg 3-2. And why do newly promoted teams in Europe fare better than in England? TIME CODES: 03:05 – All to play for in Italy 14:46 – Title capitulation for Ajax 26:45 – The emotional goodbye 40:43 – Le Havre's Great Escape 44:14 – Why do newly promoted teams fair better in Europe than in England? 48:48 – Sampdoria not relegated after all? COMMENTARIES: Saturday 24th May - 1500 - Scottish Cup Final: Aberdeen v Celtic - Sports Extra 3 Saturday 24th May - 1700 - Women's Champions League Final: Arsenal v Barcelona - BBC Radio 5live Sunday 25th May - 1600 - Premier League: Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - BBC Radio 5live
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
PSG 2-1 Arsenal: Guillem Balague analysis
Match of the Day's Guillem Balague reflected on Arsenal's Champions League exit: "They haven't been good enough. But if we take out the failure of a no trophy season, you can see progression. You have to say that. For six years, they were not in the Champions League. They have now been in it for two years and got to the semi-final in the second season and they made life difficult for PSG. "Arsenal were better than PSG. Of course Donnarumma counts but they created the chances - they had the momentum. You will hear Mikel Arteta talking in interviews about 'we weren't strong in the boxes'. They made mistakes, but he needs players. They didn't score enough. Again, he needs players. "Four or five new starters, depending how many they can sell, and Arsenal will have a team that is one of the best in Europe." Watch the full show on iPlayer
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Who will win Champions League? BBC Sport's predictions
Arsenal, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain have booked their spots in the semi-finals of this season's Champions the final four has been decided, it's time to have a look at who could lift the trophy in Munich next Sport journalists and pundits have had their say - and PSG appear to be the do you think will come out on top? You can vote for your winners below. Paris St-Germain - Guillem Balague They have everything. Control, structure, counter, quality, a player of genius but submitted to the group, they all think the same way. The only way to beat them is if they have to defend a lot in their own box. Barcelona could do that. If that's the final, it's a final for our times. Two Pep Guardiola disciples showing where football is going. Barcelona - Simon Stone I went for them at the start of the competition – admittedly because I wanted someone different to win it – and I am not going to change now. They are durable defensively, creative in midfield and have the X-factor in attack. They have not won the trophy since Lionel Messi's time. They will do this season. Paris St-Germain - Phil McNulty On the evidence of Arsenal's brilliant win over two legs against holders Real Madrid it will be a classic Champions League semi-final against PSG - but I am going with the best team I've seen in the competition this wobbled against Aston Villa in the second leg, but they have a strong team - with emphasis on team - and a world-class attack in the shape of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a choice of brilliant teenager Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola. Inter Milan - Ian Dennis I know Arsenal have been very impressive against Real Madrid but the team who appear to have gone under the radar to reach the semi-finals for me are Inter Italian champions have the best defensive record in the competition, nobody has kept more clean sheets than keeper Yann have a solid platform and a real goal threat in Lautaro the second time in three seasons Inter have reached the semi-finals and I just think they could prove to be stubborn opposition for Barcelona. Paris St-Germain - Matt Upson It's easy to change opinion once you get through another set of games but I'm going to stick with my gut feeling of PSG to win the competition.I think they've been standout performers all the way through. They had a real tough spell at Aston Villa and they side has a grit about it that I've not seen in any other PSG team. Arsenal - Alex Howell I'm going with Arsenal as Mikel Arteta's side have faced a lot of adversity this season and have found their stride in the Champions League. Defensively, they are excellent and with the attacking threat of Bukayo Saka, the Gunners have the quality to hurt any team left in the competition. Paris St-Germain - Sami Mokbel Luis Enrique has built a team without egos, without the stardust, but look stronger for it. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have gone - but this new-look PSG side represents a triumph for work ethic, togetherness and made Liverpool look mere mortals over two legs in the last 16 - that's no mean feat. Expect the Parisians to lift their first Champions League. Paris St-Germain - Chris Sutton I think they are such a well-balanced team. They've got rid of all the big hitters now. They've got Ligue 1 wrapped up already so they can concentrate on the Champions League and they just ooze class and quality. Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Move to MLS or Saudi most likely if De Bruyne doesn't retire'
BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague thinks Manchester City know Kevin De Bruyne is unable to have the same impact he once had and believes the midfielder could possibly retire once his contract at the club on the latest Football Daily Euros League podcast about the Belgian, Balague said: "He's only 33, but for whatever reason he's got 20 minutes per game in him, even if he starts games, that's been recognised by Man City for a while."It's a sign for Man City that they fell asleep. Everyone will agree that they're still trying to get juice out of him and have a player that can win matches for them - that's not there anymore."It suggests everyone knows about that, he's not going to go to Italy, Spain, Germany. It will be the MLS or Saudi for him next if he doesn't retire."He's not stupid - the fact City haven't renewed his contract despite him considering the possibility of staying on is a sign of a player that has reached the top and can't go back to it anymore."European football correspondent Kristof Terreur doesn't think retirement is an option for the 33-year-old, believing he has a big target."One thing he does have on his mind is the World Cup in 2026 - he wants to continue playing football, but all the juice is out of his body and he has become very injury prone, he said."He will pick a league [to play in] where there is less pressure and games where he might stay fit for the World Cup."Listen to the full episode here
