Real Madrid clinched their 14th Champions League title by defeating Liverpool 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League 2022 final at the Stade de France on Saturday (May 28). Liverpool were the pre-match favourites to win the UCL trophy for the 2021–2022 season, and they performed as such. However, Real Madrid's excellent fortune in the campaign continued in the final match. Los Blancos won the title courtesy of a second-half goal from Brazilian sensation Vinicius Junior. The match report of the 2022 UEFA Champions League final is discussed in this article. Match Report of UEFA Champions League 2022 Final: Real Madrid vs Liverpool Liverpool had a strong start to the game, putting pressure on the opponent's defense. They had produced at least three genuine chances in the opening 20 minutes of the game. However, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was at his utmost best, as he had been all season, and denied Liverpool every time they tried to score. There was also a sense that something wasn't quite right with Liverpool's team, as they continued to miss opportunities. Real Madrid failed to create any meaningful chances in the first half. They attempted to break past the Liverpool defense for the first time in the 43rd minute. After collecting the ball from Federico Valverde, Karim Benzema smashed it into the net. However, he was caught off-side. Read Portugal approves sale of Chelsea by Abramovich Liverpool continued to play with the same energy in the second half, but Real Madrid looked more sturdy. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Luis Diaz all made valiant attempts to penetrate Real Madrid's defense. However, keeper Courtois and some good defensive play kept Liverpool from scoring on every occasion. Real Madrid scored the game's opening goal in the 59th minute, in the midst of Liverpool's squandered chances. They attacked down the right flank, and Valverde delivered a good pass to Vinicius, who slammed it into the net. Liverpool sought to level the score multiple times after that, but failed to do so. In the end, Real Madrid won their 14th Champions League trophy with a 1-0 victory against Liverpool in the 2022 final. Champions League Final 2022 Match Statistics: Liverpool vs Real Madrid Except for the goal chart, Liverpool dominated almost every statistic in the final. Liverpool had 54 percent of possession compared to Real Madrid's 46 percent. They had completed 592 passes, compared to 514 for Madrid. The Kopites had a passing accuracy of 88 percent, whereas the Los Blancos had an accuracy of 82 percent. Read Real Madrid vs Liverpool: UEFA Champions League Final 2022 Preview Real Madrid only had four attempts compared to Liverpool's 24. The English team had nine shots on target, whereas the Spanish team only had two. Liverpool were penalized for 13 fouls and were given one yellow card. Oppositely, Real Madrid committed seven fouls but received no cards. Verdict Real Madrid had accomplished something that no one could have predicted at the start of the 2021–2022 season. The Madrid team is in the midst of a rebuilding phase after losing a number of important players in recent seasons. Even some of their players weren't in good enough shape to play the entire season. Despite this, Real Madrid battled heroically under the leadership of head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took over as manager last season. They won La Liga with a few games to spare and qualified for the UCL 2022 final by defeating PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City in the knockout stages.  The majority of them expected Liverpool to win the UEFA Champions League 2022 final, but that did not happen. Real Madrid have once again shown to the rest of the world that they are the true champions of the Champions League competition. Liverpool's hopes of clinching the quadruple this season were dashed after missing out on the Premier League title last week. They had a chance to win the treble as well, but it didn't happen after losing to Madrid. Therefore, they must be content with the FA Cup and EFL Cup this season. Read European Football Season 2021-2022: Winners and Losers From Big Three leagues

The stage is set for the highly anticipated Real Madrid vs Liverpool Champions League 2022 final, which will take place at the Stade de France. The contest will begin at 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) on Sunday, May 29. Both teams are having a fantastic season and have already won titles in their respective domestic competitions. Real Madrid won La Liga for the 35th time with a few games to spare. Oppositely, Liverpool have already won the EFL Cup and the FA Cup and might complete a treble if they win the Champions League. The UEFA Champions League 2022 final match preview is discussed in this article. Real Madrid vs Liverpool: Predicted Lineups for the Final  Defender David Alaba is expected to be back in the squad after being sidelined for one month. He hasn’t played a match since the first leg of the semi-final encounter against Manchester City. Apart from him, there is no major injury concern for the Real Madrid side. Besides, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has also hinted that Gareth Bale is likely to be included in the squad that is all set to leave the club this summer. The Real Madrid team is expected to name a full-strength squad for the final. Probable Starting XI GK: Courtois; Defense: Carvajal, Eder Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Midfield: Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Forward: Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Junior Read: European Football Season 2021-2022: Winners and Losers From Big Three leagues Liverpool have three major injury issues. Fabinho has been struggling with a hamstring injury, Thiago Alcantara has an Achilles problem, and Divock Origi will not be available for a muscle injury. Fabinho and Thiago may be included in the squad depending on their final fitness reports. Besides, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah will both be fully fit to start against Real Madrid. Probable Starting XI GK: Alisson; Defense: Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Midfield: Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Forward: Salah, Mane, Luis Diaz Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Head-to-Head Record These two teams have played each other eight times in the Champions League competition. Out of those, Real Madrid have won four times, while Liverpool have three, and one match ended in a draw. Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer for Real Madrid with 105 goals, while Mohamed Salah is the top scorer for Liverpool with 34 goals. Overall, Real Madrid is the most successful club in Champions League history with 13 titles. On the other hand, Liverpool have won 6 Champions League trophies. Read Man City clinch 6th Premier League title in 11 seasons Real Madrid vs Liverpool Champions League 2022 Final: Match Prediction   Real Madrid's ideal formation is 4-4-3, but they occasionally adapt to 4-4-2 to ensure that their game plan is successfully executed on the field. Players like Kroos and Modric will be crucial for Madrid to take control of the midfield. However, the front two—Benzema and Vinicius Jr.—have forged an excellent relationship this season. They will be pivotal in scaring Liverpool's defense, as they have done throughout the season. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is well-known for his fondness for heavy metal football. He expects more from his players and always urges them to keep going. Klopp's ideal system is 4-3-3, and he has Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Luis Diaz upfront to carry out his game plan. These three have the ability to terrorize the opposition defense and steal the game from them. Fabinho and Thiago have been outstanding in midfield. Liverpool have a powerful defense as well. Prediction: Real Madrid 3-2 Liverpool Bottom Line The Real Madrid vs Liverpool final match is likely to be enthralling, considering they are two of the most successful clubs in UEFA Champions League history. The last time they played in a final was in Kyiv's Olimpiyskiy Stadium in 2018. Real Madrid claimed their 13th UCL title with a 3-1 victory in the final. Therefore, Liverpool have an opportunity to avenge that defeat, and they have a strong squad to do so. The majority of people are likely to have placed their bets on Liverpool. However, Real Madrid also have an equal chance in the match. In the Champions League this season, Madrid's main mantra has been to create a magical moment and shatter the opponent's defense. If Liverpool do not prepare well, Real Madrid can steal the match from them. Read Kylian Mbappe: The French International Makes a Fortune by Extending his Contract with PSG

Manchester City and Liverpool won their respective first legs of the Champions League 2021–2022 semi-finals in the midst of this week. Before the second match, both English clubs have a significant edge over their Spanish opponents after winning the first leg. Man City and Liverpool will be able to reach the final if they can maintain their present form in their next Champions League games. If that happens, this year's Champions League final will once again be an all-English affair.  Manchester City vs Real Madrid: 2022 Champions League Semi-Final Scenario Manchester City were favourites to win the first leg of their semi-final encounter against Real Madrid, and they performed as such throughout the match. Man City had 60 percent of the ball possession, completing 613 passes compared to Real Madrid's 416. This statistic reveals Real Madrid wanted to play counter-attacking football, whereas Manchester City preferred possession-based total football. Kevin de Bruyne's goal in the second minute gave the Citizens the lead for the first time in the game. Brazilian, Gabriel Jesus doubled the lead a few minutes later. Los Blancos cut the deficit in half in the 33rd minute, thanks to a goal by Karim Benzema. Phil Foden's goal in the 53rd minute gave the hosts a two-goal lead, but it only lasted two minutes as Brazilian Vinicius Jr made it 3-2 in the 55th minute. Read Liverpool vs Villarreal 2022: Champions League Semi-Final Preview, Team News, Prediction Manchester City kept attacking the opposition defense in the view of improving their lead, and Bernardo Silva did just that in the 74th minute with a stunning goal. Karim Benzema threw away the citizens lead with a magnificent Panenka penalty in the 88th minute. The match finished with a 4-3 victory for Manchester City. With a one-goal advantage, Man City will play Real Madrid in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday, May 5. The aggregate goals will determine the winner. Considering both teams' present strength and form, Manchester City will surely have the upper hand in this semi-final tie. If they qualify, the defending Premier League champions are likely to face an English opponent in back-to-back Champions League finals. Read Manchester City vs Real Madrid 2022: Champions League Semi-Final Match Preview Liverpool vs Villarreal: Scenario for the Champions League 2021-2022 Semi-Final The first leg of Liverpool's semi-final match was played at Anfield against Villarreal. Liverpool are the most in-form team in Europe right now, and they dominated Villarreal in this encounter. Only one shot was made at the Liverpool goalpost by the visitors, whereas the hosts had 19 attempts. More importantly, each side's ball possession reflected the real scenario. Liverpool enjoyed 74% ball possession against Villarreal's 26%. Furthermore, Liverpool completed 737 passes, whereas Villarreal only completed 272. Pervis Estupinan scored an own goal in the 53rd minute to give Liverpool the lead. Sadio Mane made it 2-0 only two minutes later. After that, no goals were scored, but Liverpool's performance demonstrated their actual ability as a team. Read PSG Secure 10th Ligue 1 Trophy Courtesy of Lionel Messi's Amazing Strike On the other hand, Villarreal's major strategy was to concede fewer goals in order to make the second leg of the semi-final match more open. Villarreal's prospect of making a strong comeback in the second leg are slim after witnessing Liverpool's performance in the first leg.   Aftermath Manchester City triumphed 4-3 over Real Madrid in a high-scoring contest in the first leg. According to the latest UEFA guidelines, away goal regulations are no longer in place. Therefore, Man City can be relaxed going into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. On the other hand, Liverpool's 2-goal advantage in the first leg will help them execute their game plan against Villarreal at the El Madrigal in the second leg. Manchester City and Liverpool are two of Europe's top clubs, therefore a tough battle is expected if they meet in the Champions League 2021–2022 final.  Read English Premier League 2021-22: Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United Race for Top Four

Liverpool will host Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Thursday (April 28) at 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Liverpool are one of the best clubs in Europe, and they are currently on fire. On the other hand, Villarreal astonished everyone by defeating two heavyweights, Juventus and Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 and Quarter-Final stages respectively. Villarreal knocking Liverpool out of the semi-finals would be one of the biggest upsets of the season. The match preview, team news, and prediction for Liverpool vs Villarreal 2022 are discussed in this article. Liverpool vs Villarreal 2022: Team Lineups Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino is in doubt for this fixture as he has been struggling with a foot injury, which kept him out of the Merseyside derby on Sunday (April 24). Apart from that, the rest of the Liverpool players from the squad would be available for selection.  Predicted Starting XI (Liverpool) Alisson Ramses Becker (GK); Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB), Ibrahima Konate (CB), Virgil van Dijk (CB), Andrew Robertson (LB); Jordan Henderson (MF), Fabinho (MF), Thiago Alcantara (MF); Mohamed Salah (FW), Sadio Mane (FW), Luis Diaz (FW). Read Manchester City vs Real Madrid 2022: Champions League Semi-Final Match Preview Former Liverpool full-back Alberto Moreno and star forward Gerard Moreno are both in doubt for this match due to injury issues. Therefore, one of the major dilemmas in this fixture for Villarreal would be to pick an ideal partner for Arnaut Danjuma. Predicted Starting XI (Villarreal): Geronimo Rulli (GK); Juan Foyth (RB), Raul Albiol (CB), Pau Torres (CB), Pervis Estupinan (LB); Dani Parejo (MF), Francis Coquelin (MF), Etienne Capoue (MF); Giovani Lo Celso (FW), Samuel Chukwueze (FW), Arnaut Danjuma (FW) Villarreal vs Liverpool: Head-to-Head Record Villarreal and Liverpool have never met in the UEFA Champions League; therefore, Thursday's match will be their first. However, both teams have previously played each other in the 2016 Europa League semi-finals. Liverpool reached the final by defeating Villarreal 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-final, but they were defeated by Sevilla in the championship match. In all, Villarreal and Liverpool have met twice in official matches, with both teams winning once. Read PSG Secure 10th Ligue 1 Trophy Courtesy of Lionel Messi's Amazing Strike So far, Liverpool have scored three goals against Villarreal, while Villarreal have only scored once. Villarreal's highest goal scorer in the UCL is Arnaut Danjuma, who has six goals, whereas Liverpool's top scorer is Mohamed Salah, who has 34. Liverpool vs Villarreal First Leg of Semi-Final 2022: Match Prediction Liverpool have won their previous three matches. More importantly, all those three matches were against their bitter rivals. They beat Manchester City 3-2 in the FA Cup semi-final, followed by a 4-0 win over Manchester United and a 2-0 win over Everton in the Premier League. So, the Red Devils squad has a positive vibe at the moment. On the other hand, after drawing a UCL match against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, Villarreal overcame Getafe 2-1 and Valencia by 2-0. So, the confidence level of the Villarreal team is also very high at the moment. Read English Premier League 2021-22: Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United Race for Top Four Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp's ideal formation is 4-3-3. However, he prefers heavy metal football, which means high pressure, high defensive line, and fluid forward. He demands counter-pressing or gegenpressing from his players. It basically encourages players to recover the ball immediately after losing it. So, it is expected that Kloop will deploy the same tactics against Villarreal in the first leg of their semi-final match. Villarreal head coach Unai Emery loves to build-up play and encourages his full-backs to support the attacking players. Emery usually deploys a traditional 4-4-2 system, and he was successful against both Bayern Munich and Juventus in the previous phases. However, he can also switch his system to 4-4-1-1, 4-2-3-1, or 4-3-3. It will be interesting to see what tactics Emery will deploy against Liverpool at Anfield. But one thing is certain: he will make every effort to limit the number of goals conceded. Read Juventus to Face Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia Final 2022 Match Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Villarreal  Verdict The hosts will start as favourites in the first leg of the Liverpool vs Villarreal 2022 semi-final encounter. However, the Yellow Submarine still have a chance if they play to their full potential in both legs. To take Villarreal to the final for the first time, Unai Emery will need to craft a better plan to counter Liverpool's, Jurgen Klopp. Despite being favourites, Liverpool will be put to the test as Villarreal attempt for the third time in a row to shock football fans.   Read Argentina vs Brazil 2022: MCG to host a SuperClasico match in June

The first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final match between Manchester City and Real Madrid will take place at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, April 27 at 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). This matchup promises to be intriguing, as Real Madrid is one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Champions League this season, while Manchester City's team is one of the heavy favourites to win the elite club football championship in Europe. Take a look at the team news and preview for the Manchester City vs Real Madrid 2022 match. Manchester City vs Real Madrid 2022: Team Lineups Manchester City's regular fullback this season, Joao Cancelo will miss the first leg due to suspension. Right-back Kyle Walker and center-back John Stones are both questionable for this match due to injury. Apart from that, the rest of the players should be ready for selection in the match against Real Madrid. Predicted Starting XI (Manchester City) Ederson Moraes (GK), Oleksandr Zinchenko (RB), Ruben Dias (CB), Aymeric Laporte (CB), Nathan Ake (LB), Bernardo Silva (CM), Rodri (CM), Kevin De Bruyne (CM), Riyad Mahrez (RW), Phil Foden (CF), Raheem Sterling (LW) Read: BPL Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings make good start in 2nd phase beating Swadhinata KS 2-0 Real Madrid have no suspension issues, but they do have some serious injury concerns. David Alaba, Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Mariano Diaz, Casemiro, and Ferland Mendy are among the players who have sustained injuries. It remains to be seen how many of them will be fit to participate in the Manchester City encounter. Predicted Starting XI (Real Madrid): Thibaut Courtois (GK), Dani Carvajal (RB), Eder Militao (CB), Nacho (CB), Marcelo (LB), Toni Kroos (CM), Eduardo Camavinga (CM), Luka Modric (CM), Rodrygo (RW), Vinicius Junior (LW), Karim Benzema (FW) . Read PSG Secure 10th Ligue 1 Trophy Courtesy of Lionel Messi's Amazing Strike Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Head-to-Head In the UEFA Champions League, Manchester City and Real Madrid have played six times. Both teams have beaten each other twice, with two matches ending in draws. Interestingly, both teams have scored seven times against each other. In their most recent meeting, Manchester City defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of the Round of 16 in the 2019-2020 Champions League. With 39 goals in the Champions League, Sergio Aguero of Argentina leads Manchester City, while Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal leads Real Madrid with 105 goals. Man City vs Real Madrid Semi-Final 2022: First Leg Match Prediction Both Manchester City and Real Madrid have won their previous two matches and will be in high spirits when they meet on April 27 at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City trounced Watford 5-1 at home in the Premier League on Saturday (April 23), with Brazilian Gabriel Jesus scoring four goals. On the other hand, Real Madrid defeated Osasuna 3-1 away from home on Thursday (April 21). Manchester City like to play in a 4-3-3 system, but Pep Guardiola's team always has a backup plan in case things go wrong. They will be well prepared for the match against Real Madrid, as the Los Blancos have proven in the past with some stunning late comebacks. Man City will anticipate having more possession than Madrid. The Citizens will be able to create more opportunities if they execute their plan properly. Read: Afghan women's team plays first game in Australia Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also likes to use the 4-3-3 formation. However, they may alter their strategy if necessary. Two methods appear to have worked successfully against Manchester City this season. One strategy may be to press Man City's defense high up the pitch, while another could be to defend deep in the backline. However, Real Madrid must be confident in its ability to execute the strategy against Manchester City. Match Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Real Madrid Verdict Manchester City and Real Madrid are two of Europe's top football clubs right now. Therefore, the Manchester City vs Real Madrid 2022 Champions League match is expected to be a high-voltage affair on Wednesday at midnight. Both sides will aim to outwit each other in tactical combat. However, Manchester City may start as favourites to beat Real Madrid owing to the strength of their squad. Read English Premier League 2021-22: Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United Race for Top Four.

Chelsea and Real Madrid will meet in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, April 7 at 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). This will be a fascinating matchup, since Real Madrid are the most successful club in Champions League history, while Chelsea are the reigning champion. Both clubs will strive to win the game in order to obtain a significant advantage over their opponent ahead of next week's crucial second tie at the Santiago Bernabeu. Let's take a look at the latest team news and a match preview for Chelsea vs Real Madrid. Chelsea vs Real Madrid: Probable Team Lineups Ben Chilwell is expected to miss the opening leg against Real Madrid due to injury. In addition, Callum Hudson-Odoi may miss the match owing to an injury. Christian Pulisic, who was out for the weekend encounter, should be available for this one. Predicted Playing XI (Chelsea): Edouard Mendy (GK), Cesar Azpilicueta (RB), Trevoh Chalobah (CB), Antonio Rudiger (CB), Reece James (LB), N'Golo Kante (CM), Jorginho (CM), Marcos Alonso (CM), Mateo Kovacic (LW), Kai Havertz (RW), Christian Pulisic (FW). Read Barcelona edges Sevilla to move into 2nd in Spanish league  Coach Carlo Ancelotti will most likely miss guiding his team from the sideline due to COVID-19 issues. Luka Jovic, Isco, and Eden Hazard are among the players who will almost certainly miss out due to injury. Predicted Playing XI (Real Madrid): Thibaut Courtois (GK), Dani Carvajal (RB), Eder Militao (CB), David Alaba (CB), Ferland Mendy (LB), Toni Kroos (CM), Casemiro (CM), Luka Modric (CM), Federico Valverde (RW), Vinicius Junior (LW), Karim Benzema (FW) Chelsea FC vs Real Madrid CF: Head-to-Head Both sides have met each other five times at European events. Real Madrid have never beaten Chelsea in UEFA competitions. Chelsea defeated Real Madrid three times, including a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals last season. Read: UEFA Champions League 2022: Top favourites to reach the semi-finals Real Madrid have won the Champions League 13 times, making them the most successful side in the competition's history. The most recent Champions League title won by Madrid was in 2018. On the other hand, Chelsea have won the UEFA Champions League thrice, including last season. Portuguese striker, Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid's highest scorer in the Champions League with 105 goals. Oppositely, Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast is Chelsea's top scorer with 36 goals. Real Madrid vs Chelsea Match Prediction Chelsea and Real Madrid have both suffered heavy losses in their recent domestic league fixtures. Chelsea were defeated 4-1 by Brentford in their most recent Premier League encounter. It was the first time Chelsea have lost against Brentford since 1939. Real Madrid, on the other hand, was humiliated 4-0 by arch-rival Barcelona in front of their home supporters, ending a five-match unbeaten streak against the La Blaugrana. However, Los Blancos made a strong comeback in their latest La Liga encounter, defeating Cleta Vigo 2-1 away from home. Read: Mbappe runs the show in PSG’s 5-1 win over Lorient Chelsea and Real Madrid both prefer to play in a 4-3-3 formation because it is an approach they are familiar with. However, Thomas Tuchel is known for his mastermind tactics and has a stellar Champions League record. He can outsmart Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid in a tactical tussle. Ancelotti may not be in the dugout for the first leg due to a positive COVID-19 test. Prediction: Chelsea 1-0 Real Madrid           Verdict Chelsea FC and Real Madrid both have some of the top footballers in the world right now. Their tactics remain fairly similar when facing decent opposition. However, both teams have struggled this season while playing tougher opponents. Chelsea's record against big sides this season hasn't been impressive, while Real Madrid eliminated PSG in the Round of 16 thanks to a fantastic performance by French striker Karim Benzema. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how both teams create a strategy to defeat one other in this Chelsea vs Real Madrid match.  Read FIFA World Cup 2022: GroupWise Favourites to Advance to Round of 16

Atletico Madrid and Manchester United will play their first round of 16 match of the ongoing UEFA Champions League season at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday (February 24) at 2 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Winning the first tie will give either team a competitive advantage over their opponent. Therefore, both teams will work hard to win the match. The second tie will take place at Old Trafford on March 15. Let's take a look at the Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United match preview and team news.  Atletico Madrid vs Man Utd: Probable Team Lineups Matheus Cunha of Atletico Madrid has been suffering from a knee injury and is uncertain for the match against Manchester United. The Spanish midfielder Koke is also doubtful for this encounter. However, Antoine Griezmann is expected to play in this contest. Read:Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid: Champions League match preview, prediction, team news Probable Playing XI (Atletico Madrid): Jan Oblak (GK), Sime Vrsaljko (RB), Stefan Savic (CB), Josema Gimenez (CB), Reinildo (LB), Marcos Llorente (CM), Koke (CM), Geoffrey Kondogbia (CM), Rodrigo De Paul (CM), Luis Suarez (FW), Joao Felix (FW)   The Uruguayan forward for Manchester United, Edison Cavani has missed the club's previous two matches due to injury, and rumors suggest he will also miss the trip to Madrid. Aside from him, Ivory Coast defender Eric Baily was sidelined, but he is expected to recover in time for the match. Probable Playing XI (Man Utd) David de Gea (GK), Diogo Dalot (RB), Raphael Varane (CB), Harry Maguire (CB), Alex Telles (LB), Bruno Fernandes (CM), Scott McTominay (CM), Paul Pogba (CM), Jadon Sancho (RF), Marcus Rashford (LF), Cristiano Ronaldo (FW) Read:South American Qualification Scenarios for FIFA World Cup 2022 Head-to-Head: Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid Manchester United and Atletico Madrid have never met in the Champions League. They have met twice in the European Cup Winners' Cup. Atletico Madrid triumphed 3-0 at home in the first leg, and Manchester United earned a 1-1 draw in the return game. Manchester United have three Champions League championships, whilst Atletico Madrid have never won the competition. However, Atletico Madrid have recently been in two UCL finals, in 2014 and 2016. Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid Match prediction Atletico Madrid have lost to FC Barcelona and Levante in recent league games, but they have also won at home against Valencia. But, they haven't been playing to their best capacity recently, which might be a concern against Manchester United. Atletico Madrid may opt for a 4-3-3 system since they have Suarez, Felix, Carrasco, and Griezmann in their offensive arsenal. Atletico Madrid's midfielders can scare United's defense if they can seize control of the midfield. Read:Five Famous Professional Football Players who Retired in 2021 Manchester United, like Atletico Madrid, have been in poor form recently. They have won their last two league games, defeating Brighton and Leeds United, which will boost their confidence ahead of their showdown against Atletico Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo has mostly been played as a lone striker upfront this season. This strategy may be used against Atletico Madrid because Ronaldo has rich experience in the Spanish La Liga. Manchester United could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Atletico Madrid because they often use two defensive midfielders to bolster their midfield. Prediction:  Atletico Madrid 2-1 Manchester United       Verdict Atletico Madrid have some talented attacking players, but their domestic season hasn't gone well so far. On the other hand, Manchester United finished first in their group in the group stage, although they have struggled in domestic competitions. Both teams have lately failed to maintain their momentum. Manchester United have won two of their previous five matches, while Atletico Madrid have won three of their last five. Failing to keep consistency could be a problem for them, that's why predicting the outcome of the Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United first round of 16 ties will be difficult. However, since Atletico Madrid will be hosting the match, they may start as slight favorites. Read The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2021: Robert Lewandowski Retains the Award Beating Lionel Messi

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid will face off in their first Round of 16 ties of the UEFA Champions League 221/2022 season on Wednesday, (February 16) at 2 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) at the Parc des Princes. Both clubs will strive to win the game in order to obtain a competitive edge on their opponents before the second tie, which will take place on March 10 at Santiago Bernabeu. Let's have a look at the preview and team news of the Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid match. PSG vs Real Madrid: Potential Team Lineups The most important development in PSG's camp is the return of star player Neymar Jr to training. Neymar has been dealing with an ankle ailment since November of last year. Though, Mauricio Pochettino has not ruled him out for the match. He may include Neymar in his squad, but his participation against Real Madrid on Wednesday is far from guaranteed. Apart from him, Spanish defender Sergio Ramos and fellow Spaniard Ander Herrera are also uncertain about this match. Read AFCON Championship 2021: Senegal defeat Egypt to win Africa Cup of Nations Predicted Playing XI (PSG): Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK), Achraf Hakimi (RB), Marquinhos (CB), Kimpembe (CB), Nuno Mendes (LB), Idrissa Gueye (CM), Marco Verratti (CM), Georginio Wijnaldum (CM), Lionel Messi (RW), Di Maria (LW), Kylian Mbappe (FW)  Real Madrid's main attacking weapon, Karim Benzema has missed the team's previous two matches and is uncertain for the first leg against PSG. Benzema has forged an effective partnership with young Brazilian Vinicius Junior this season. The loss of Benzema will be devastating for Madrid. However, his participation in the match has not been ruled out by the team's management. The left-back Ferland Mendy has been fighting with a hamstring issue, but the latest news indicates that he will be fine for the encounter. Read South American Qualification Scenarios for FIFA World Cup 2022 Predicted Playing XI (Real Madrid): Thibaut Courtois (GK), Dani Carvajal (RB), Eder Militao (CB), David Alaba (CB), Ferland Mendy (LB), Toni Kroos (CM), Casemiro (CM), Luka Modric (CM), Marco Asensio (FW), Karim Benzema (FW), Vinicius Junior (FW). Head-to-Head:  Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid Both teams have faced each other six times in the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid have won three games so far, whereas Paris Saint-Germain have only won one. The remaining matches finished in a draw. PSG have scored 7 goals against Real Madrid thus far, while Real Madrid have scored 8 goals against PSG. Edison Cavani of Uruguay is PSG's all-time leading goalscorer (30), while Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer (105) in the Champions League. Besides, Real Madrid have the most Champions League titles with 13, while PSG have yet to win one. Read Top Transfer Window Signings January 2022: Which Team Got Which Player? Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain match prediction Real Madrid's momentum has stalled after winning only two of their last five games and losing the Copa del Ray quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao. However, the Real Madrid side has a history of success in the Champions League, and they have what it takes to upset PSG away from home. All they have to do now is successfully execute their strategy throughout the game. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are two of PSG's most fearsome attacking players. Real Madrid cannot afford to lose control of the ball in this game. Their best formation could be 4-2-2, although they can also play 4-3-3 if needed. Furthermore, Real Madrid will not want to lose the opening leg of the Round of 16 ties, therefore their defense may be tightened in this match. Oppositely, PSG have several world-class players, but they may opt to take it easy in this match because Real Madrid are a formidable opponent. Mauricio Pochettino's side hasn't played to their full potential despite being top of the Ligue 1 points table. Read Five Famous Professional Football Players who Retired in 2021 PSG may try to counter-attack in this match. They usually like to play in a 4-3-3 system. However, they may switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation for more defensive solidity. PSG have won four of their past five games, indicating that they are on a roll. Prediction: PSG 2-1 Real Madrid      Verdict Paris Saint-Germain feature the world's most fearsome offensive attacking three. However, PSG will face one of the most successful teams in the competition in the Round of 16. The midfield of Real Madrid will make it difficult for them to create a perfect counterattack. Besides, while attacking all out, PSG has a habit of creating a massive gap in the center. As a result, PSG must find an appropriate solution to counteract Real Madrid. Real Madrid are one of Europe's best teams and an overwhelming favorite to win the UEFA Champions League this season. Carlo Ancelotti's team has some outstanding players, and they will develop a perfect strategy to defeat PSG. Oppositely, Mauricio Pochettino's side will try to put Real Madrid under a lot of pressure in this Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid match. Read The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2021: Robert Lewandowski Retains the Award Beating Lionel Messi

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.    

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.