Latest news with #LeaguePhase
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Arsenal player makes Champions League Team of the Season
Declan Rice has been named in the Champions League Team of the Season for 2024/25, after Arsenal's run to the semi-finals of the competition. Photo byThe official UEFA Champions League social media pages have announced their 2024/25 Champions League Team of the Season, as selected by UEFA's Technical Observer Group. Advertisement The team is primarily composed of Paris Saint-Germain players, following their 5-0 win in the final of the competition against Inter Milan last week. But a few players from other clubs have been selected, including Arsenal's Declan Rice. The other three non-PSG players are Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni, who made the final, and Barcelona's Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, who were eliminated in the semi-final. UEFA Champions League Team of the Season for 2024/25 Rice made 13 appearances for Arsenal in this season's Champions League, only missing a League Phase game against Inter Milan through injury. The midfielder was used as a substitute for the final League Phase game against Girona, but he started the other 12 matches, scoring four goals and assisting two more. Advertisement The 26-year-old's most notable moment was the 12-minute spell in which he scored two free-kicks against Real Madrid, and those goals only underlined a couple of outstanding displays in that quarter-final tie. Photo byIt was ultimately a shame that Rice was unable to play the same role for the home leg of the semi-finals against eventual champions PSG, with Thomas Partey's suspension forcing Mikel Arteta to adapt and drop the England international deeper. Arsenal ended up falling short 3-1 on aggregate, but if they hope for another long run in the Champions League next season, Rice will surely play a major role again.
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
UEFA agree Champions League rule change next season after Arsenal controversy
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side were knocked out of the Champions League by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain after being forced to play away in the second leg of their semi-final UEFA are set to make an alteration to Champions League rules following the first season operating the tournament's new format. The European governing body are preparing to hand home advantage to the teams who perform best in the league phase for the duration of the knockout round after both Arsenal and Barcelona were denied that and met heartbreaking exits. The first edition of the expanded 36-team tournament, which saw Paris Saint-Germain comprehensively crowned champions over the weekend, guaranteed that clubs who finished in the top eight of the league phase would play the second leg of their round of 16 tie at home. But from that point, the competition utilised an open draw meaning side's finishing position in the table counted for nothing in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Arsenal and Barcelona finished second and third respectively in the league phase but were forced to play away in the second leg against opponents PSG and Inter Milan, who were ranked 15th and fourth. From next season, the opposite will be ensured. UEFA's club competitions committee agreed to the change in a meeting ahead of Saturday's Champions League final. Regulations for 2025/26 have already been published but modifications can be made if ratified by the Executive Committee. A virtual meeting is expected to be held no later than the League Phase draw, which takes place on August 28th. Both Arsenal and Barcelona saw their performances early in the competition count for little at the quarter-final stage too. Real Madrid were only ranked 11th but still were able to host the second leg against Arsenal at the Bernabeu. Barca meanwhile had to travel to Germany to confirm their progression over Borussia Dortmund. Both sides found success but were unable to replicate it in tighter affairs at the final four. Reports claimed that Mikel Arteta's side voiced their displeasure over the situation they found themselves in. The club are said to have felt aggrieved that their consistency in the league phase wasn't rewarded in the knockout stages. Following Arsenal's exit, Arteta claimed that the Gunners were the best team in the competition. Speaking in his press conference after the defeat, the Spaniard said his team deserved more. "Talking about merits, I think we deserve much more. When you analyse both games, who has been the best player, the MVP, has been the same player, the goalkeeper. "And the Champions League is decided in the boxes and it's won the game for them because obviously today after 20 minutes and what happened in London as well, the result should have been very different. "So I can take a lot of positives and I'm very proud of the team. We have to arrive in the competition at this stage with the full squad, full available, in best condition. We haven't got that, so let's put that aside. "Still, the team that I've seen today against is probably one of the best, if not the best team in Europe. It gives me so much pride but at the same time I'm so upset, so annoyed that we didn't manage to do it."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
UEFA to make Champions League rule change that could impact Celtic and Rangers
European football's governing body are reportedly set to make a change to the format next season Celtic played their part in the revamped Champions League and are looking to return - with rivals Rangers hoping to join them. And if the Glasgow giants succeed in getting through their respective qualifying routes they could encounter yet another change. Just one year on from the new-look premier competition which saw 36 teams complete in a league phase, European football's governing body are reportedly set to tweak it. And it stems from a gripe Arsenal had last season where teams weren't rewarded for finishing higher in the league from the quarter finals onwards. Teams who finished in the top eight and qualified directly for the round of 16 were drawn against lower ranked teams at home in the second leg - but there was no reward in the last eight or semi-finals. That meant that despite finishing well above Real Madrid and PSG in the League Phase standings, Mikel Arteta's men still had to play both second legs of the quarter-final and semi-final away from home. Had UEFA reseeded per round or awarded home-leg advantage to the higher-ranked team, Arsenal would have hosted both return legs. But home advantage was decided by random draw due to UEFA's preference for an 'open draw'. Arsenal weren't the only club to fall foul of the 'open' draw system: Barcelona at home for the first leg of their quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund, despite finishing second in the league phase. But German publication Bild report that teams that secure a spot within the top eight league positions - and qualifying automatically for the knockout phase - will reap benefits not only in the round of 16 but also in the quarter-finals of the tournament. The UEFA Club Competitions Committee met and reportedly agreed on the proposed change before the Champions League final – and final approval is now 'considered a formality'. Other changes were also considered, including proceeding directly to penalty shoot-outs instead of extra time and preventing two clubs from the same nation from facing off until the competition's later stages. No consensus was reached on those ideas, though. Celtic will enter the Champions at the play-off round stage while rivals Rangers must negotiate three qualifiers if they are to dine at European football's top table.
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Evening Standard
3 days ago
- Sport
- Evening Standard
PSG vs Inter Milan: Champions League final sees contrasting styles and a shared philosophy
It started in auspicious circumstances by being left out of the team which lost 2-0 to Arsenal in their second League Phase game. One goal, and one red card, in nine games followed, but since the turn of the year he has been unstoppable. Between January 5 and February 11, he scored in eight consecutive games, notching 15 goals, including back-to-back hat-tricks.
STV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
When do Scotland's representatives start their European campaigns?
Aberdeen's Scottish Cup triumph at Hampden didn't just end the Dons' long wait for the trophy and spark wild celebrations, it also finalised Scotland's European representatives for next season. Jimmy Thelin and his players were already assured of a place in UEFA competition. But the penalty shoot-out victory settled which competition they start in, and how other clubs are affected. With five teams flying the flag for Scotland across three competitions, we've broken down the path to group stage football and the challenges that face our teams. SNS Group GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 17: Celtic lift the trophy at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and St Mirren at Celtic Park, on May 17, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) Becoming champions of Scotland again means Celtic are in the Champions League once more, but this year there is no direct entry to the League Phase of the competition. Brendan Rodgers' side showed real progress in the competition under the new format last season, setting up a dramatic and memorable head-to-head with Bayern Munich in the knock-out stage. This time around, Celtic will need to come through a two-legged tie to reach the elite stage, with Scotland's coefficient meaning our title winners enter at the play-off stage. The good news is that Rijeka's title win in Croatia has nudged Celtic into the seeded side of the draw, theoretically making the task a little easier. Celtic's return to European action begins with the first leg of the play-off on August 19/20, with the second leg a week later. The draw for the play-off round takes place on August 4. SNS Group GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 14: Rangers' Nicolas Raskin (L) celebrates scoring to make it 3-1 with teammates Cyriel Dessers and Mohamed Diomande during a William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium, on May 14, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) Rangers endured a season to forget domestically, but the bright spot was a thrilling run to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. That journey began after a dramatic, and controversial, loss to Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League third qualifying round at Hampden saw them drop down a tier in European competition. As Premiership runners-up, Rangers get another crack at the Champions League this time around but they will; have to go through three rounds of qualifying to reach the glamour and the money of the League Phase. The Ibrox club, who will be under new management and new ownership, will start in the second qualifying round, with the first leg on July 22/23 and the return match a week later. With only six teams in the League Path of qualifying at that stage, and Rangers among the seeds, they already know their three possible opponents. Greek side Panathinaikos, Swiss league runners-up Servette, or Norwegians Brann Bergen could be heading to Ibrox and the draw will take place on June 18. Rangers would be seeded if they progress to the third qualifying round, where Fenerbahce and Nice are already confirmed as possible opponents, along with the winners of ties involving Red Bull Salzburg and Viktoria Plzen. Reaching the play-off round, the Ibrox side would no longer be seeded and would face one of two possible teams. Standing in wait would be the winners of the ties involving Benfica and Club Brugge. If the team lose in Champions League qualification at any stage, the picture becomes a little more complicated. Losing in the Champions League second qualifying round would put Rangers in the Europa League third qualifying round, where seeding isn't guaranteed. The team would have to get through that tie and a play-off round to make the competition proper and have hopes of emulating or bettering last season's run deep into the tournament. Disappointment in the Europa League would still bring the consolation of another chance at group stage football via the Conference League. A Europa qualifying exit would mean entering in the next stage of Conference qualifying. So a second round defeat in Europa League qualifying would mean a place in the third round of the Conference League. Losing the Europa League play-off would mean direct entry into the Conference League group stage. The only way Rangers could fail to have League Phase football would be to exit Champions League qualifying, lose in the Europa League qualifiers before the play-off stage and then lose a two-legged Conference League qualifier or play-off. All eyes will be on the top competition though, and Rangers will be keenly awaiting the Champions League second qualifying draw in just three weeks' time. SNS Group ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND – MAY 24: Aberdeen Manager Jimmy Thelin is pictured leading the celebrations during the Aberdeen bus parade to celebrate winning the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, on May 24, 2025, in Aberdeen, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) A slump at the end of an up-and-down Premiership campaign had Aberdeen drop to fifth in the table and contemplating Conference League qualifiers if they failed to deliver an upset in the Scottish Cup final. Fast forward one week and a tense penalty shootout at Hampden, and Aberdeen fans were not only celebrating a cup triumph but also the fact that they had guaranteed group stage football in Europe. Jimmy Thelin's side enter Europa League qualifying just one two-legged tie away from the League Phase, significant prize money and some undoubted glamour ties. Seeding hasn't yet been settled for that stage but regardless of how it works, Aberdeen will face a tough task. Six teams will have dropped down from Champions League qualifying as possible opponents and teams of the level of PAOK or Braga could have made it to that stage. The consolation is that even defeat would see Aberdeen drop straight into the Conference League and a guaranteed six games. Europa League remains the main target and the Red Army will be eagerly awaiting the play-off round draw on August 4 and that return to Europe in the first leg of the tie on August 21. SNS Group EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – MAY 17: Hibs fans during a William Hill Premiership match between Hibernian and Rangers at Easter Road Stadium, on May 17, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Sammy Turner / SNS Group) An incredible resurgence in the second half of the season under David Gray saw Hibs climb to third in the table and were it not for Aberdeen's Hampden glory, the Easter Road side would have been the ones celebrating guaranteed group stage football. Instead, Hibs will begin in the second qualifying round of the Europa League on July 24 and have to come through three ties to reach the competition proper. Gray's side will be unseeded when the draw takes place on June 18 and while the full list of teams they could face has yet to be confirmed, Braga and Anderlecht are already known possible opponents, demonstrating the scale of the task. Exit at any stage of Europa League qualifying would mean going into the next round of Conference League games, meaning there's plenty of possibility for the Easter Road side to have a long European campaign even if they don't have success initially. SNS Group DUNDEE, SCOTLAND – MAY 17: Dundee United fans on the pitch at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Dundee United and Aberdeen at the CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park, on May 17, 2025, in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Roddy Scott / SNS Group) Dundee United enjoyed a thrilling end to the Premiership season when they defeated Aberdeen and leapfrogged them into fourth place on the final day of the season, but the Dons had the last laugh when their Scottish Cup triumph bumped their rivals into the Conference League instead of the Europa League. That pain will have faded some by the time the qualifiers come around, and United will be hoping to make the most of a competition that's designed to be accessible to clubs across the continent. Jim Goodwin's side go into the second qualifying round, and will need to win three ties to bank six guaranteed League Phase games. But the names in Conference League qualification, at least in the early stages, are not as stellar as the bigger competitions. United will be seeded for their first tie, and among the many possible opponents from Europe's smaller leagues are names like Dungannon Swifts, Drogheda United, AIK and MSK Zilina. If the Tannadice side get through, they'll be unseeded in the third qualifying round as the competition heats up. At that stage, United would face the winners of ties including AZ Alkmaar, Sparta Prague and Maccabi Haifa. Defeating one of those teams would secure progress to the play-off stage where the opposition could vary from teams who have come through qualifying like United, or the bad luck of facing one of the top teams like Nottingham Forest, Fiorentina or Strasbourg. What is certain, is that United will kick off their European campaign on July 24, and the identity of their opponent will be known on June 18. There's one other important piece of fixture news to remember this year. While the domestic season will be under way by the time any of our teams are taking part in the crucial play-off ties, the SPFL has taken a step to help. Each team will now have permission to postpone one league match to aid their preparations when they are one step away from the group stages. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
