Champions League
Champions League 2021-2022: Will Messi and Ronaldo meet in the Round of 16?
The group stage of the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 season finally concluded with a match between Villarreal and Atalanta on December 9 (Thursday). Villarreal qualified for the Round of 16 after defeating Atalanta 3-2, and they will be joined by 15 other teams for the first knockout round draw in Switzerland on Monday, December 13th. It's possible that PSG and Man United could meet in the Round of 16 of the competition. Let's have a look at the Round of 16 draw scenario for the Champions League 2021-2022.
Group Winners of Champions League 2021-2022
The eight group winners are Manchester City (group A), Liverpool (group B), Ajax (group C), Real Madrid (group D), Bayern Munich (group E), Manchester United (group F), Lille (group G), and Juventus (group H).
Manchester City won Group A with a total of 12 points. The defending English Premier League Champion won four of their six group stage matches. Liverpool finished first in Group B with 18 points after winning all of their games. The Dutch league winner Ajax also won all of their matches in Group C, finishing with 18 points. Real Madrid were stunned at the Bernabeu by Sheriff Tiraspol, but the most successful European team returned to the top of Group D with 15 points.
Bayern Munich won Group E with a total of 18 points. Manchester United got the first position in Group F with 11 points, while Lille took top place in Group G with 11 points. Juventus took the first position in Group H with 15 points.
Group Runners-up of Champions League 2021-2022
Paris Saint-Germain (group A), Atletico Madrid (group B), Sporting CP (group C), Inter Milan (group D), Benfica (group E), Villarreal (group F), Red Bull Salzburg (group G), and Chelsea (group H) are the eight group runners-up.
PSG finished second in Group A with 11 points. They won three games, drew two games, and lost one. Atletico Madrid finished second in Group B with 7 points. They only won two games, drew one, and lost the other three. Sporting CP finished second in Group C after winning three matches and losing three. The Italian Serie A Champion Inter Milan finished second in Group D with ten points.
Portuguese team Benfica defeated Barcelona to finish second in Group E. Spanish team Villarreal finished second in Group F with ten points. Red Bull Salzburg finished second in Group G with ten points. The defending Champions League champion Chelsea finished second in Group H with 13 points. They were two points behind Italian giants Juventus.
Potential Round of 16 opponents for PSG and Man Utd
Each group's winners are seeded, while the group's runners-up are unseeded. Seeded teams are matched against unseeded ones. Teams from the same group or football federation are not allowed to play each other in the Round of 16.
As per the aforementioned rule, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid could be PSG's Round of 16 opponents. Therefore, Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain is expected to face a difficult opponent in the next round.
On the other hand, PSG, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Inter Milan, RB Salzburg, and Sporting CP might well be Manchester United's Round of 16 opponents. Given Man Utd’s current form, they would have a tough battle in the first knockout round of the Champions League 2021-2022 season.
Mathematically, Ronaldo's Manchester United has a 20% probability of facing Messi's PSG in the Round of 16. It would be a huge match if these two teams were drawn against one other in the first knockout round.
Aside from that, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and Inter Milan may face a difficult opponent in the Round of 16 as well.
Verdict
Given the outcome of the Champions League group stage in the 2021-2022 season, there is a good chance that the next round will include some tough matches. If Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United meet in the Round of 16, it will be the most anticipated match of the tournament. Because fans will be able to see Messi and Ronaldo play against each other for their new teams. At least two more fascinating Round of 16 matchups are possible in this draw. Overall, the first knockout round of the Champions League 2021-2022 is predicted to be an exciting event in February and March of next year.
Champions League 2021-2022: The Five Best Matches in the Group Stage
The group stage of the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 season ended on Wednesday (December 8). A total of 16 teams have advanced to the first knockout round in the most prestigious club football competition in Europe. The ongoing competition's Round of 16 will take place in February 2022. The Champions League's group stage featured a significant number of thrilling matches. Let's take a look at the five best matches from the group stage of the Champions League 2021-2022.
Five Best Matches in Group Stage: UEFA Champions League 2021-2022
Manchester City and PSG from group 1, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid from group B, Ajax and Sporting CP from group C, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan from group D, Bayern Munich, and Benfica from group E, Manchester United and Villarreal/Atalanta from group F, Lille and Red Bull Salzburg from group G, and Juventus and Chelsea from group H are the qualified teams for the Champions League Round of 16. Here are the best five matches in the Champions League 2021-2022 group stage.
5. Young Boys 2-1 Manchester United
On the 14th of September, Young Boys hosted one of Europe's elite clubs Manchester United in their first match of the Champions League group stage. Manchester United were the bookies favorites going into the match, but the host shocked the Red Devils with a 2-1 victory in their own backyard. United's summer signing Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 13th minute, but Ngamaleu's strike in the 66th minute leveled the score. The game appeared to be heading for a draw until Pefok stunned the visitors in the fifth minute of injury time. Young Boys won a fantastic match against Manchester United thanks to his goal.
4. Real Madrid 1-2 Sheriff Tiraspol
Sheriff Tiraspol surprised Real Madrid in their second group stage encounter at home. The most successful team in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid were not expecting to lose a point in this tie. Los Blancos were aiming to keep their winning streak going against an infamous Moldovan football team. However, Madrid were baffled when Sheriff took the lead in the 25th minute of the game. Experienced forward Karim Benzema did equalize on a penalty kick in the 65th minute, but Sebastien Thill stunned the Madrid fans by scoring the game-winning goal in the 90th minute.
3. Porto 1-3 Atletico Madrid
Both teams needed to win this match in order to progress to the knockout round. Atletico Madrid were in fourth place prior to this match, while Porto and AC Milan were in second and third place, respectively. Atletico Madrid hosted Porto and AC Milan welcomed Liverpool in their final group stage matches. If Porto had defeated Atletico, they would have advanced to the Round of 16. However, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone used a simple approach in this encounter and won 3-1 against Porto. They played defensively after Griezmann scored in the 56th minute. Later, Correa and De Paul scored two more goals for the Madrid side in injury time. Oliveira of Porto did score in the 96th minute. With this win, Atletico Madrid qualified for the Round of 16 of the Champions League. Even if Milan had beaten Liverpool at home, they would have advanced.
2. Sporting CP 3-1 Borussia Dortmund
Sporting CP and Borussia Dortmund were vying for second place in Group C, with Ajax being already qualified for the Round of 16. Therefore, the encounter between Sporting CP and Borussia Dortmund on November 24th was crucial for both teams. Sporting CP moved up to second place after a 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund. Despite losing 4-2 against Ajax in the last group stage match, Sporting CP have advanced to the first knockout round. On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund will compete in the Europa League.
1. Barcelona 0-0 Benfica
Barcelona have failed to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase for the first time in 17 years. Barcelona's current team has struggled to compete at the highest level, and they now sit in the seventh position in the La Liga standings. Barcelona needed to beat Benfica in their fifth match in the group stage. However, despite their best efforts, Barcelona were unable to defeat Benfica at Camp Nou. They were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with the Portuguese side. Benfica advanced to the Round of 16 following a 2-0 win against Dynamo Kyiv. On the other side, Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League 2021-2022 season after a humiliating 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
Bottom Line
The Champions League 2021-2022 season's group stage matches featured several nail-biting contests. The outcomes of those games determined the fates of the teams involved. All of them were heavily contested, with the winning side barely deserving of the victory. Hopefully, the Round of 16 would provide more intriguing encounters in the ongoing Champions League.
Champions League Group Stage Matchday 6: Potential Teams to secure Round of 16
The final group stage matches of the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 will be played on December 7 and 8, respectively. Eleven teams have already qualified for the Round of 16 phase. The remaining five positions are still up for grabs. Therefore, the coming week should be filled with exciting clashes. Let's take a look at the teams who can qualify for the Round of 16 on matchday six of the Champions League group stage.
Champions League 2021-2022: Favourites to advance to the Round of 16
Manchester City, PSG, Liverpool, Ajax, Sporting CP, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Lille, Chelsea, and Juventus are among the teams who have qualified for the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Let's look at the teams who have a chance to move to the first knockout round.
Group A
Manchester City have won four games and will finish top of the Group A points table. They will remain in the first position regardless of the outcome of their final group stage match against RB Leipzig. PSG will have to settle for second place after losing to Manchester City in the previous match. They will, however, compete in the Round of 16 as well. Club Brugge and RB Leipzig will compete for a Europa League place.
Verdict: N/A
Group B
Liverpool have qualified from Group B after winning five games in a row. They are the champions of the group. Porto, Milan, and Atletico Madrid will be battling it out for a second-place on matchday six. Porto will play Atletico Madrid, while AC Milan will play Liverpool.
Verdict: Atletico Madrid
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Group C
Ajax have won all of their games thus far and are the group champion, advancing to the Round of 16. Sporting CP are in second place and can qualify if they at least draw their last group stage match against Ajax. Borussia Dortmund can also progress if they defeat Besiktas, but Sporting CP must lose to Ajax.
Verdict: Sporting CP
Group D
Real Madrid and Inter Milan have qualified for the knockout stages from Group D. Both teams will face off for the top spot in the standings on matchday six. Sheriff Tiraspol have also qualified for the Europa League, while Shakhtar Donetsk was knocked out of the group stage.
Verdict: N/A
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Group E
Bayern Munich have finished first in Group E with 15 points. If FC Barcelona lose to Bayern Munich, they are at serious risk of missing out on the Round of 16. Benfica, who are currently in third place, may qualify for the first knockout round if they win their upcoming match against Dynamo Kyiv.
Verdict: Benfica
Group F
Manchester United qualified for the Round of 16 after defeating Villarreal in their previous match. As a result, the match between Villarreal and Atalanta will be a do-or-die contest.
Verdict: Villarreal
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Group G
No team has qualified from this group yet. Therefore, both the remaining fixtures of this group will be thrilling affairs. Lille are in top place with eight points, followed by Salzburg, Sevilla, and Wolfsburg. Lille will face Wolfsburg, while Sevilla will face Salzburg on matchday six.
Verdict: Lille and Sevilla
Group H
Chelsea and Juventus have already qualified for the Round of 16 of the Champions League 2021-2022 season. Both teams have 12 points and will play their final group stage matches for the top spot in the standings. Chelsea will face Zenit Saint Petersburg, while Juventus will face Malmo FF on matchday six.
Verdict: N/A
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Verdict
Three of the biggest clubs FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and AC Milan are at risk of being eliminated from the Champions League group stage. Aside from that, all of Europe's traditional powerhouses have already qualified for the Round of 16 stage. The 2021-2022 Champions League's first knockout round draw will take place on Monday, December 13. No club will face a team from their UEFA Champions League group or a team from the same national federation, therefore it will be an interesting draw.
Madrid reaches knockout stage in CL for 25th straight time
Yet again, Real Madrid has made it past the group stage of the Champions League.
For the 25th straight time, the Spanish powerhouse will be playing in the competition’s knockout rounds.
Madrid comfortably defeated Sheriff 3-0 on Wednesday to secure its place in the round of 16 with one game to spare in Group D. A draw at home against Inter Milan in the last round will guarantee first place for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
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“We continue along the right path. I like the way we are playing,” Ancelotti said. “The squad is in good shape, everyone is strong physically. It’s important for us to finish top and we’ll be looking to end our group campaign the way we began it.”
David Alaba, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema scored to help the Spanish team advance.
The result eliminated Sheriff, the Moldovan league club that is debuting in the group stage. Sheriff had stunned Madrid with a win in the Spanish capital in their first game.
It was the fifth consecutive win in all competitions for Madrid, which reached 12 points from five matches, two points more than second-place Inter, which has also advanced. Inter beat last-place Shakhtar 2-0 at home earlier Wednesday. Sheriff stayed on six points but is assured a top-three finish.
Sheriff could have advanced with a win against Madrid if Inter lost to Shakhtar. It started its first group-stage campaign with consecutive wins before losing two straight to Inter.
Sheriff entered the match against Madrid having won 12 of its last 13 home games in all competitions, with 10 clean sheets. It had scored in 11 of its last 12 European matches this season.
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Madrid, a record 13-time European champion, has reached the knockout stage every time since the 1997-98 season. It failed to qualify for the competition in 1996-97, but it also qualified to the knockout rounds in the previous year. It is the 19th consecutive time Madrid made it to the last 16, since that round was introduced in 2003-04.
Madrid, coming off consecutive wins over Shakhtar, dominated from the start against Sheriff, controlling possession and creating the most significant scoring chances.
Alaba put Madrid ahead with a free kick that deflected off a defender before going into the net in the 30th minute. Kroos added to the lead in first-half stoppage time with a shot from outside the area that hit the crossbar and bounced just over the goal line.
Benzema, who had a goal disallowed for offside in the 10th, scored the third with a strike in the 55th.
Champions League: Carrick thrust into limelight at Man U
Some talking points in the Champions League heading into the fifth round of group games:
CARRICK IN CHARGE
One of English soccer's best and possibly most underappreciated midfielders in recent years, Michael Carrick was known for his calmness, quiet authority and vision on the field. He'll need all of those attributes now he has been thrust into one of the world's biggest coaching jobs pretty much from out of nowhere. Carrick, who only started his coaching career in 2018 and has never held a senior position, was named as United's caretaker manager following the firing of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday. In place until United finds another coach for the rest of the season, Carrick starts his new role with a crucial match away to Villarreal on Tuesday as the teams look to seal qualification to the knockout stage. They are both on seven points in Group F, two points clear of Atalanta with two games left. Carrick will need to pick up a beleaguered United team that lost 4-1 at Watford in the Premier League on Saturday, the latest in a string of dreadful results that ultimately cost Solskjaer his job.
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XAVI BOOST
Barcelona enters its crucial home match in Group E against Benfica on Tuesday boosted by the arrival of former great Xavi Hernández as its new coach. It will be his second match in charge after a league win in the Barcelona derby against Espanyol on Saturday, a result that ended a four-game winless streak in the league. The Catalan club started its Champions League campaign with consecutive 3-0 losses to Bayern Munich and Benfica, but a win against the Portuguese side will allow it to clinch a spot in the knockout stage and avoid its first elimination in the group stage in nearly two decades.
HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE
A win for Paris Saint-Germain in its heavyweight meeting at Manchester City on Wednesday would secure the French team a place in the last 16. Its away form has been concerning, though. In contrast to winning every game at its Parc des Princes home this season, PSG has drawn away to Club Brugge and Leipzig in the Champions League and lost at Rennes in the French league. With Lionel Messi fit, PSG will always have a great chance of victory and the Argentina star will be boosted by scoring his first goal in Ligue 1 in the win over Nantes on Saturday. Messi already has three goals in the Champions League — including one in the home win over City. City is on nine points, one more than PSG, in Group A. Third-place Brugge is a further four points back.
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QUARANTINED STARS
Bayern Munich is already through to the next round with a perfect four wins from four games. So it’s likely coach Julian Nagelsmann would have opted to give some key players a rest at Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday for their penultimate game in Group E. Kyiv, bottom of the group with one point, needs a win and favor from Benfica against Barcelona to stay in contention. Bayern’s buildup has been overshadowed by the coronavirus with five reportedly unvaccinated players – Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and Michael Cuisance – all in quarantine after coming into contact with someone who has COVID-19. Niklas Süle and Josip Stanišić are also in isolation after testing positive for the disease.
ATALANTA RISING
A six-match unbeaten run in Serie A. A five-goal outburst at the weekend. Atalanta is on the upswing entering a potentially decisive visit to last-place Young Boys in Group F on Tuesday. “We’re experiencing a good moment,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said after a 5-2 win over Spezia on Saturday that included two goals from Mario Pasalic. “The team is improving. It has desire and is determined.” Atalanta is third in its group, two points behind Villarreal and Manchester United.
Atalanta vs. Man Utd: Magnificent Cristiano Ronaldo saves Manchester United once again
Manchester United held Atalanta to a 2-2 draw thanks to an injury-time strike from Cristiano Ronaldo. The Red Devils had a little advantage in ball possession, but La Dea created more chances during the match. Manchester United lead the Group F points standings after four matches, followed by Villarreal, who defeated Young Boys 2-0 on the same evening. Atalanta and Young Boys are now third and fourth in this group, respectively. The match report of Atalanta vs. Manchester United is discussed in this article.
Match Report: Atalanta vs. Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo has proven to be a savior for Manchester United since making his second start at Old Trafford. He scored twice in the encounter against Atalanta, including a stoppage-time goal to snatch a point away from home. This point did not guarantee a spot in the Round of 16 of the Champions League 2021/2022 season. However, Manchester United remained top of Group F with 7 points as a result of the outcome.
Atalanta pressed hard in the first 30 minutes and equalized in the 12th minute of the game. Atalanta's Duvan Zapata was outstanding on the night. He was a constant danger to Man United's defense. Zapata set up a nice assist for Josip Ilicic, who smashed the ball into the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
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Manchester United coach Ole had to adjust his formation because of an injury to defender Raphael Varane. The visitors made a valiant effort to equalize, and courtesy to some excellent teamwork in the injury time before halftime, they were able to do it. Ronaldo hammered the ball into the right corner after receiving a through pass from compatriot Bruno Fernandes.
It didn't take long for Atalanta to regain the advantage. Atalanta seized a 2-1 lead in the match with a goal by Duvan Zapata in the 11th minute of the second half. He raced down the left-wing, breaking past Harry Maguire, and placing the ball into the right corner of the net.
The Manchester United players tried to throw away the lead after that, but they were unable to create a consistent effort in the opposition quarter. Conversely, Atalanta executed a number of counter-attacks and they had better chances than Man United.
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Then, in the 91st minute, Cristiano Ronaldo slammed a thunderous low volley into the bottom left corner of the net, beating the goalkeeper to tie it up at 2-2. Manchester United did not leave the field empty-handed thanks to Ronaldo's strike.
Match Statistics: Manchester United vs. Atalanta
Manchester United had 53 percent ball possession, while Atalanta had 47 percent, according to the match statistics. The visiting team made 566 passes, while the home team made 504 passes.
Manchester United had a passing accuracy of 82 percent, while Atalanta had an accuracy of 83 percent. Man Utd attempted 13 shots and had four of them hit the target. On the other hand, Atalanta made 10 efforts and had four shots on target.
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Atalanta were penalized for 11 fouls but received no cards. On the other hand, Manchester United committed 14 fouls and received one yellow card.
Aftermath
Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær was under fire coming into this match after a devastating 5-0 loss to Liverpool just a few days ago. Though his team made an unbelievable comeback earlier this week, winning 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Spurs.
However, Man United showed once again on Wednesday (November 2) against Atalanta that they are not a strong enough team to win big games. Instead, they rely heavily on their star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who saved the Red Devils for the third time in the Champions League this season.
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Manchester United's next encounter is on November 23 against Villarreal, while Atalanta will face Young Boys on November 24. The outcome of these two games might determine the group's fate.
UEFA Champions League 2021/2022: GroupWise Favorites to qualify for Round 16
The UEFA Champions League 2021/2022 group stage will end in the first week of December. This phase features eight groups and 32 teams. Each group's top two teams will progress to the Round of 16. The first round of the knockout stage will take place in the coming February. Which teams in the group stage have the highest chance of making it to Round 16 in this season's Champions League is discussed in this article. Let's take a look at the latest group phase scenario.
Favorites to advance to the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 Round of 16
Each team has played three matches so far in the group stage. Let us analyze each group's situation.
Group A
Paris Saint-Germain have earned seven points in three games and they are currently in first place in Group A. They will almost certainly qualify for the Round of 16 if they win their next match on November 3 against RB Leipzig. Manchester City and Club Brugge are battling it out in Group A for second place. They will face off in their next match, with the winner likely finishing in the top two in the points standings.
Verdict: PSG and Manchester City
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Group B
If group B leader Liverpool win at home against Atletico Madrid on November 3, they will qualify for the Round of 16 in this year’s Champions League. If Liverpool advance, the battle for second place will be between Atletico Madrid and Porto. Both teams have four points in the standings.
Verdict: Liverpool and Atletico Madrid
Group C
Dutch team Ajax currently lead Group C with 9 points and they are only one win away from securing a place in the Round of 16. Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Sporting CP of Portugal are both vying for second place. The fate of this group might very well be decided on the last day of group stage fixtures.
Verdict: Ajax and Borussia Dortmund
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Group D
Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova upset Real Madrid with a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu. They presently have a 6-point in Group D's point standings. However, the fate of this group will be decided on the final day of the group stage round as Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Sheriff Tiraspol are all in the Round of 16 race.
Verdict: Real Madrid and inter Milan
Group E
Bayern Munich remained unbeaten in Group E at the end of matchday 3. If Bayern beat Benfica on Tuesday, they will advance to the Round of 16. Then FC Barcelona and Benfica will fight for a second-place finish in this group. It will most likely be determined who finish second in the points standings when both clubs play at the Camp Nou on November 23rd.
Verdict: Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona
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Group F
Manchester United are in first place with six points after three games. Their spot in the Round of 16 is far from certain. Man Utd must fight hard till the end against Villarreal and Atalanta in order to finish top two in the points standings. It will undoubtedly be a fascinating race between them.
Verdict: Manchester United and Villarreal
Group G
Red Bull Salzburg have shocked everyone by grasping the lead in Group G's point standings. They have 7 points after three games. If Salzburg defeat Wolfsburg on November 2, they will qualify for the Round of 16 in this year's Champions League. Therefore, Sevilla, Lille, and Wolfsburg will battle it out for a spot in the first knockout round till the end.
Verdict: Red Bull Salzburg and Sevilla
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Group H
The fight for a spot in the Round of 16 is heating up in Group H. Juventus are presently in first place with 9 points, followed by Chelsea (6 points), and Zenit Saint Petersburg (3 points). If Juventus defeat Zenit on November 2 at home, they will advance to the next round.
Verdict: Juventus and Chelsea
Bottom Line
When looking at the current situation of each group, it is evident that PSG, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Juventus are in better positions. If they win their next group stage matches, they will all qualify for the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League 2021/2022 season.
The final games in the group stage generally have a lot of twists and turns. There is a strong possibility of several exciting contests in this season's final few fixtures. However, the team with the best overall performance will advance to the first knockout round of Europe's most popular club-level competition.
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Man Utd vs. Atalanta: Cristiano Ronaldo Scores Winning Goal for Manchester United
Manchester United won their second Champions League group stage match of the 2021-2022 season thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's 81st-minute goal. Manchester United had the majority of ball possession, but Atalanta created more chances and led by two goals in the first half. Manchester United climbed to the top of Group F's point’s standings with six points after three games. Atalanta are now in the second position with four points ahead of Villarreal (4) and Young Boys (3). The match report of Man Utd vs. Atalanta is discussed in this article.
Match Report: Man Utd vs. Atalanta
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his third Champions League goal of the season, helping Manchester United to a resounding victory against Atalanta that sent them to the top of the group.
After a shock loss to Leicester City earlier this week, they were under pressure heading into the game. So, this victory will instill confidence in Manchester United's players ahead of some important matches.
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Manchester United's defense failed to cope with Atalanta's constant counter-attack in the first half. In the opening 45 minutes, Mario Pasalic, Luis Muriel, and Josip Ilicic all caused problems for the United defense. Mario Pasalic scored in the 15th minute, so the visitors didn't have to wait long for their first goal. Pasalic put the ball into the back of the net after receiving a low cross from Davide Zappacosta.
Merih Demiral surprised the Old Trafford crowd with a spectacular header from a Teun Koopmeiners corner kick after only 14 minutes of the first goal. Manchester United fans were in a state of utter shock. They were upset even more after Fred and Marcus Rashford both missed two chances before halftime.
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Coach Ole Gunner Solskjr had to craft a more effective approach in order to win the game in the second half. Thankfully, Manchester United's players had responded well and regrouped to win the game.
Manchester United scored their first goal in the second half after only 8 minutes. Marcus Rashford found a brilliant through pass from Bruno Fernandes. He guided it to the far corner of the net to give Man Utd the first goal of the match in the 53rd minute.
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Harry Maguire tore up the lead in the 75th minute. Maguire found himself alone in the penalty box and simply slotted the ball into the net after the Atalanta defenders failed to stop Fernandes' cross.
The Manchester United players then poised for the game-winning goal, with Cristiano Ronaldo rising to the occasion once more. Ronaldo received a fantastic cross from left-back Luke Shaw, and he jumped up to head the ball into the net. Cristiano Ronaldo displayed yet another outstanding performance at the crucial moment of the game.
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The goalkeeper of Manchester United, David De Gea had a busy time with the gloves. He produced some excellent saves to keep his team in the game.
PSG vs. RB Leipzig: Will Messi, Neymar Start for Paris Saint-Germain?
A vital UEFA Champions League Group A game between Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig will be held on Wednesday (October 20) at 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). This game will be crucial for RB Leipzig in their quest for a Round 16 berth. They need to win the contest in order to remain in the tournament. On the other hand, PSG are presently in the first spot in the group standings. Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe of PSG will be the center of attention in this clash. Will they play together against Leipzig? Let's take a look at the PSG vs. RB Leipzig match preview.
Probable Team Lineups: PSG vs. RB Leipzig
Coach Mauricio Pochettino will be without star Brazilian striker Neymar due to a groin injury sustained during the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay last week. Pochettino will have to rely on German attacking midfielder Julian Draxler to form a formidable forward line with Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi in this encounter in the absence of Neymar. Because Argentine winger Angel di Maria is suspended for this match, and his compatriot Mauro Icardi is expected to miss the fixture owing to personal reasons.
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Paris Saint-Germain will also be without some important midfield and defensive players. PSG's summer acquisition Sergio Ramos will be unavailable at least for the next four weeks due to a calf injury. Aside from them, Paredes and Kurzawa will be absent from this match.
Probable Starting XI (PSG): Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK), Achraf Hakimi (RB), Marquinhos (CB), Nuno Mendes (LB), Ander Herrera (DM), Idrissa Gueye (DM), Marco Verratti (M), Julian Draxler (AM), Lionel Messi (FW), Kylian Mbappé (FW)
A notable number of Leipzig players are expected to miss this important clash due to injuries. Therefore, coach Jesse Marsch will need to come up with a good plan to halt PSG's attacking trio in this game.
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Leipzig's summer signing from Ajax Brian Brobbery will miss the match due to a thigh injury. dependable defender Marcel Halstenberg, offensive midfielder Dani Olmo, and Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi will also be out for this Champions League encounter because of injuries. As a result, manager Jesse Marsch is concerned about putting together a balanced starting XI for this match.
Probable Starting XI (RB Leipzig): Péter Gulácsi (GK), Willi Orbán (CB), Nordi Mukiele (CB), Joško Gvardiol (LB), Lukas Klostermann (RB), Amadou Haidara (M), Kevin Kampl (M), Angeliño (Left-Winger), Christopher Nkunku (AM), Emil Forsberg (AM), Yussuf Poulsen (FW).
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Man Utd vs. Villarreal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gives Manchester United a dramatic win
Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-minute winning goal aided Manchester United to seal the first win of this season's Champions League at Old Trafford. Manchester United enjoyed the most ball possession, but Villarreal produced greater opportunities during the contest. After two games, Atalanta rose to the top of Group F's points table with four points. Young Boys are now in second place with three points, ahead of Manchester United (3) and Villarreal (2). The match report of Man Utd vs. Villarreal is discussed in this article.
Match Report: Man Utd vs. Villarreal
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his second Champions League goal of the season against Villarreal, and this time it wasn't in vain. Manchester United triumphed against their most difficult opponent in the group. After playing this match, Cristiano Ronaldo now has the most appearances (178) and goals (136) in UEFA Champions League history.
Manchester United's defense struggled to deal with Villarreal's well-organized counter-attack in the first half. Paco Alcacer, Pino, and Groeneveld had distressed the United defense throughout the match. They had several chances to equalize and should have scored two goals before halftime.
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Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea had a busy time with the gloves. He made some routine saves, but they were fortunate not to concede any goals in the first half.
As the game progressed, Villarreal gained confidence and scored within the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Villarreal took the lead in the 53rd minute. Paco Alcacer guided the ball into the net upon receiving the ball from Danjuma's low cross inside the penalty area.
Manchester United players had shown desperation to equalize after conceding the goal and discarded the lead within 7 minutes. Full back Telles netted the crucial goal from outside the D-Box with a beautiful volley. United's Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes deserves applause for his brilliant cross ball to Telles, which made the task easy for the Brazilian left-back.
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