UEFA Champions League

Defending champions Paris get tough draw

The league phase of the Champions League commences next week, and defending champions Paris SG have been given a pretty tough draw as they seek to defend their European crown.

PSG secured their maiden CL title last season by dismantling Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. They actually finished a lowly 15th in the league phase, and had to play an extra playoff game against Stade Brestois to qualify for the knockouts. They demolished their fellow French side 10-0 across two legs, and then followed it up with a troika of victories against Premier League sides- Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, in that order.

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L’Equipe O Jogo Player Ratings OGC Nice vs SL Benfica 0-2 Champions League First Leg 2025

Here is a look at the OGC Nice vs Benfica player ratings from the big French and Portuguese newspapers following the first leg of their UCL third qualifying round tie. Benfica won 2-0 away at Nice in the first leg

Nice 0-2 Benfica (Ivanovic 53, Luis 88)

L’Equipe player ratings OGC Nice vs SL Benfica

French paper L’Equipe thought OGC Nice were ordinary on the evening, giving them a team rating of just 4.4/10. Benfica’s starters got a 5.7/10, mainly thanks to Aursnes and Pavlidis, both of whom got a 7/10. A poor game for Nice’s Swedish forward Isak Jansson, who got a 3/10.

Nice vs Benfica Player Ratings L'Equipe

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Club World Cup Round of 16 Bracket- Chelsea’s potential opponents & route to the final

The Round of 16 draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been completed, and here’s a look at whom Chelsea FC could face and whom they have to defeat if they are to progress to the final.

Chelsea surprisingly finished second in Group D (D2), which meant they’d face the winners of Group C (C1) in the Round of 16. Bayern were originally expected to win Group C, but surprisingly lost to Benfica on the final group day, which has made the Portuguese side Chelsea’s opponents in the Round of 16

Chelsea’s possible opposition en route to Club World Cup Final 2025

v Benfica (Round of 16 in Charlotte, NC)

v Palmeiras/Botafogo (Quarter Final in Philadelphia- Chelsea played two group games at this venue)

v Inter/Fluminense/Man City/Al Hilal (Semifinal in Orlando)

FIFA CWC Round of 16 Bracket 2025

As you can see, there’s a genuine chance of Chelsea squaring off against Manchester City in the semis. MCFC have Al-Hilal in the Round of 16 and if they win, will take on the winner of Inter v Fluminense in the quarterfinal.

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