PSG, which held a two-goal advantage from the first leg, were tested by Liverpool in a lively encounter at Anfield.

Liverpool created scoring opportunities, with Marquinhos clearing Virgil van Dijk’s effort off the line, while Alexis Mac Allister had a penalty decision overturned following a Video Assistant Referee, VAR, review.

Liverpool Manager, Arne Slot, made tactical adjustments, introducing Mohamed Salah for the injured Hugo Ekitike and starting Alexander Isak in a bid to spark a comeback.

Further substitutions, including Joe Gomez for Rio Ngumoha, raised the tempo, but PSG’s clinical finishing proved decisive.

Dembele extended PSG’s lead in the 72nd minute, cutting inside to curl a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.

He completed his brace in stoppage time, calmly finishing from Bradley Barcola’s cross to secure a comprehensive aggregate victory.

PSG will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the semi-finals, as Coach Luis Enrique’s side extended their winning run to six matches.

Liverpool, meanwhile, exited the competition and will now focus on securing a top-five finish in the English Premier League to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Source: NAN

READ ALSO:

Lookman strike sends Atletico Madrid into Champions League semi-fiinals

Troops recover IED, ransom cash in Enugu raids

Ogun guber: Why I’m still consulting with critical stakeholders on APC consensus candidate –Sarafa Isola

MCDN: 150 journalists to benefit from career devt programme

EXTRA: Onoruwo ibn Ambali: The garri trafficker @60

Police arrest 146 suspects in Sagamu

Supreme Court to hear PDP leadership appeals April 22

Oyo: Olubadan reacts to alleged plot to unseat Makinde

Nigerians reserve right to be angry over hardship under Tinubu’s govt —Bwala

The post PSG defeat Liverpool, move into Champions League semi-finals appeared first on Frontpageng.

Desire Doue netted a deflected opener, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia punished poor defending with a superb second in a dominant PSG display.

The defeat marked Liverpool’s fourth consecutive away loss, their worst run on the road since April 2012.

PSG could have scored more but for wasteful finishing and impressive goalkeeping from Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Mamardashvili made key saves from Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi to keep Liverpool in the contest.

Luis Enrique’s side were also denied by VAR, which overturned a penalty decision against Ibrahima Konate.

Another appeal for a foul on Nuno Mendes was ignored, further frustrating the hosts despite their dominance.

Liverpool were fortunate to concede only twice after managing just three shots, none of them on target.

They must improve significantly in the return leg at Anfield to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Coach Arne Slot deployed a back five to contain PSG but left Mohamed Salah on the bench throughout.

The tactical change failed as PSG maintained control and dictated the tempo of the match.

Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead after Ryan Gravenberch failed to track his run from Joao Gomes’ pass.

The Georgian winger cut inside before finishing clinically to cap a flowing attacking move.

Slot introduced Alexander Isak, recently back from injury, in a bid to spark a comeback.

However, Liverpool showed little attacking threat and remained vulnerable to PSG’s late pressure.

With domestic cup exits and fading league hopes, Liverpool’s chances of silverware now hang in the balance.

Source: NAN

READ ALSO:

Atletico Madrid beat 10-man Barcelona 2-0

Naira gains N14.83 at official market

Plateau: Mutfwang holds security meeting, further relaxes curfew

SDP chairmanship crisis: A’Court affirms Gabam-led leadership

Lagos has raised bar in quality project delivery —Tinubu

Your fence kills a robber… Will the law come for you next?

JUST IN: Turaki-led PDP in closed-door meeting with Mark’s ADC

Court sentences four terrorists to life imprisonment, convicts 14 others

The post PSG outclass Liverpool 2-0, leave Reds facing uphill UCL battle appeared first on Frontpageng.

The English attacking midfielder scored twice and provided an assist for Joao Pedro in a devastating display in the revamped tournament’s decider that left the European and French champions, who finished with 10 men, shell-shocked.

Chelsea, who won the 2021 Club World Cup in its previous format, struck first in the 22nd minute when PSG fullback Nuno Mendes gifted possession to Malo Gusto.

Gusto’s initial effort was blocked by Mendes, but he  collected the rebound and found Palmer unmarked in the middle and the midfielder made no mistake, slotting a tidy finish just inside the left post.

Palmer doubled the lead after the 30th minute cooling break with a goal of sublime quality.

Latching onto a precise through ball from Levi Colwill, he cut inside before faking a pass to dummy a defender and firing into the bottom-left corner.

Palmer then turned provider, running up the channel before finding Joao Pedro, who took the ball in his stride and beat the offside trap before chipping his finish beautifully over keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

READ ALSO:Vision First: Sights restored as over 2,000 benefit from NNPC/Shell outreach in Lagos community

PSG’s misery was completed when Joao Neves was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in the 83rd minute, as PSG’s players grew in frustration as the match progressed.

The encounter turned into an ill-tempered match at the end, with players going at each other after the final whistle, but the flare-ups quickly dissipated as Chelsea’s players went to celebrate with their fans.

“It’s a great feeling. Even better because everyone doubted us before the game, we knew that. To put a fight on like we did, it’s good,” Palmer told DAZN.

“The gaffer put a great gameplan out. He knew where the space was going to be. He tried to free me up as much as possible and I just had to repay him and score some goals.”

It’s the penultimate day of the Wimbledon Championships 2025.

It’s a wonderful cast on Centre Court.

Chelsea arrived in the U.S. after winning Europe’s third-tier Conference League and on the back of a domestic campaign in which they just managed a top-four Premier League finish.

Prior to the match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he was expecting a “game of chess” against PSG coach Luis Enrique, but it was a quick checkmate for the Italian who gave a tactical masterclass.

Maresca’s team employed a relentless high press and emulated the tactics used by Brazilian outfit Botafogo, who had beaten PSG 1-0 in the group stage and were the only team to score against Luis Enrique’s side in the previous eight games.

Their press caused PSG all sorts of trouble and when Maresca’s side couldn’t regain possession, they sat deep, frustrating the European champions, who were unable to play their usual game.

The direct and pacey football we had become used to seeing from PSG was Chelsea’s game on Sunday, with Palmer, Gusto and Joao Pedro picking apart the PSG defence, especially on the left side.

Other than an early golden opportunity for PSG’s Desire Doue that was wasted, the first half was all Chelsea’s and, after they opened their three-goal lead, the French side could never recover.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Palmer double fires Chelsea past PSG appeared first on Frontpageng.

On the Champs Elysees, bus shelters were smashed up and projectiles hurled at riot police, who fired tear gas and water canons to push back surging crowds as thousands of supporters descended on the boutique-lined boulevard.

There were also clashes with police on the Paris ring road and at least two cars were torched near PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium.

Inside the stadium, transformed into a giant fan zone for the night, 48,000 people let out a roar of ecstasy at the final whistle in Munich.

“Total euphoria, crazy atmosphere,” said Gilles Gailliot who had been watching the game in the Paris stadium.

“It made up for the wait and the years of disappointment. Finally Paris and its supporters have been rewarded,” Gailliot added.

Parisians set off fireworks and hung out of moving cars waving PSG scarves, delighting in their side’s first victory in European soccer’s top competition.

Nearby, the Eiffel Tower lit up in PSG’s blue and red colours.

READ ALSO: Moody’s upgrade of Nigeria’s credit rating excites FG

“I couldn’t dream of a better night,” said 18-year-old Amine. “Let’s spare a thought for Mbappe.”

France striker Kylian Mbappe left PSG for Spanish club Real Madrid last year in pursuit of Champions League glory.

ARRESTS

Some 5,400 police were deployed across Paris in anticipation of raucous celebrations.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau urged a zero-tolerance approach to maintaining order amid the celebrations.

“True PSG supporters are enjoying their team’s magnificent match. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke the police,” the minister tweeted.

Police had made more than 130 arrests by shortly after midnight.

PSG playmaker Ousmane Dembele urged supporters to keep the party festive.

“Let’s celebrate this but not tear everything up in Paris,” Dembele told Canal+.

French President Emmanuel Macron, an ardent supporter of Olympique de Marseille, tweeted: “A glorious day for PSG! Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe this evening.”

Macron’s office said the president would receive the players at the Elysee Palace on Sunday.

The team are also expected to parade down the Champs Elysees.

PSG lost the final to Bayern Munich in 2020 and had teetered on the brink of elimination in the league phase this season before claiming the trophy their deep-pocketed Qatari owners had craved.

On the streets, fans lauded the exploits of Desire Doue, who scored twice, and manager Luis Enrique.

“What (Doue) did tonight is crazy but it is all thanks to Luis Enrique. The guy came and he changed everything,” supporter Francis Delert said.

Source: Reuters

The post Paris erupts in euphoria before skirmishes as PSG win Champions League appeared first on Frontpageng.

The win for PSG meant they claimed a third domestic trophy for the second successive season, and prepared for next week’s Champions League final in style.

Luis Enrique’s Ligue 1 champions and French Super Cup winners had little trouble seeing off relegation-battling Reims, with all the goals in the opening half at the Stade de France.

This was as PSG strolled to a record-extending 16th French Cup win.

PSG went on the attack from the off, and while Reims managed the first shot on target — Amadou Kone’s long-range effort never troubling goalkeeper Matvey Safonov — they offered little opposition over the 90 minutes.

Russian Safonov was chosen ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma but otherwise Luis Enrique selected his strongest side.

Although Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, named in the initial starting 11, was replaced by Desire Doue before kickoff.

PSG dominated with slick passing, constantly pressing forward with intent, and Reims’ resolve was broken with two goals in quick succession from Bradley Barcola, which were both set up by Doue.

READ ALSO: Economic patriotism: The Abdul Samad and Aliko Dangote example

Doue’s pass sent Barcola free in the 16th minute and he raced past his marker before whipping a shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Three minutes later Marquinhos played a defence-splitting pass into the area to the feet of Doue, whose across the goal was tapped in by the perfectly positioned Barcola.

“We got off to a good start and got the job done quickly. We set a lot of pace, both defensively and offensively, and it paid off,” Barcola told reporters.

Even with their two-goal advantage, PSG did not take their foot off the gas.

Yehvann Diouf’s fine save denied Ousmane Dembele, who pulled a shot wide of the far post from a great position, but a third goal was always coming.

It duly arrived two minutes from the break, with Barcola turning provider by playing the perfect ball across the box which Achraf Hakimi finished off at the back post.

PSG maintained the intensity after the interval, Diouf having to be quick off his line to deny Joao Neves a close-range chance and the keeper then made a reflex save to keep out Barcola’s shot.

The second half was little more than a training session for PSG, with Reims again pinned back in their own half.

While they failed to add to their goal tally, Luis Enrique’s players will be full of belief for the challenge ahead.

PSG will aim to lift their first Champions League trophy when they take on Inter Milan in Munich next Saturday to cap off what would be the capital club’s greatest season.

“We knew we had to get the job done today to prepare well for the (Champions League) final, and we did it.

“Now, we will arrive to the next match with confidence,” Barcola said.

Reims must now attempt to secure Ligue 1 survival with the second leg of their relegation playoff at home to Metz on Thursday.

The sides are level at 1-1 after the first leg.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post PSG stroll to French Cup triumph in perfect Champions League warm-up appeared first on Frontpageng.

Fabián Ruiz fired the opener in the 27th minutes at the Parc des Princes.

Achraf Hakimi curled the second in the 72nd for the French champions, who three minutes earlier had failed to convert a penalty from Vitinha.

Arsenal got a lifeline from Bukayo Saka in the 76th but it was too little too late for the Gunners who had wasted a trio of top chances in the opening minutes.

In the Munich final on May 31, PSG will face three-time champions Inter Milan, who won a semi-final tie for the ages 7-6 on aggregate against Barcelona the previous day.

Qatari-owned PSG have long thirsted to win the European elite event for the first time.

They reached the final in 2020, losing to Bayern Munich, while also being stopped in several semi-finals.

READ ALSO: Senate passes two key tax bills

A treble is possible for PSG who have already clinched the Ligue 1 title and are in the Coupe de France final under coach Luis Enrique, who already has a treble from 2015 while in charge of Barca.

The success run, which saw Arsenal as their third English scalp after Liverpool and Aston Villa, comes amid a new strategic approach a year after the departure of talisman Kylian Mbappé, and previous exits of superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Arsenal meanwhile failed to make the final for the second time 19 years after their debut there in 2006, when they lost against Barca.

They impressively beat title holders and record winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, but now see their season unravel late, having also lost the Premier League title race against Liverpool.

Source: dpa/NAN

The post PSG beat Arsenal to zoom into Champions League final appeared first on Frontpageng.

Elliott slotted the ball home in the 87th minute against the run of play after a lay off from fellow substitute Darwin Nunez for a scarcely-deserved victory in Paris.

Arne Slot’s team were kept afloat by a string of magnificent saves from goalkeeper Alisson before going on to score with their first attempt on goal.

Luis Enrique’s PSG, who had won 18 and drawn two of their last 20 games, were left to rue their missed chances from dozens of attempts as a tough return leg awaits at Anfield next Tuesday.

PSG got off to a strong start with Liverpool’s attempt at a high press not lasting long.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo at 88: Tribute to an extraordinary leader and statesman

The hosts had the first clear chance in the 16th minute when Joao Neves skied his attempt over the bar from Dembele’s cutback after the France forward had outpaced two defenders to break down the right flank.

Alarm bells were ringing for Liverpool and they again escaped punishment in the 20th when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s superb curled effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Bradley Barcola went down after a challenge from Ibrahima Konate, prompting another video check for a potential red card, but the visitors stayed with 10 men.

With Liverpool in survival mode, Alisson parried Neves’ 25-metre strike before denying Dembele.

The ball went into the path of Barcola, whose first strike was blocked before his second flew over.

The Brazilian keeper’s firm hand was there again to sop Kvaratskhelia and he made saves left, right and centre early in a one-sided second half.

Slot sent Curtis Jones and Nunez on for Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota hoping to shift the momentum but PSG stayed a notch above.

Alisson, again, stretched to tip away Desire Doue’s missile 10 minutes from time and he also played a key role in the build-up to the goal.

With the clock ticking down, Nunez won Alisson’s long ball and played into the path of Elliott, who calmly slid the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Liverpool’s Elliott grabs last-gasp winner against dominant PSG appeared first on Frontpageng.

After drawing away to Italian side Atalanta in their opening game the onus was on Mikel Arteta’s side to deliver a home win against last year’s semi-finalists and they delivered.

German forward Havertz headed his side in front after 20 minutes with his fifth goal of the season and 15 minutes later Bukayo Saka’s free kick somehow found its way into the PSG net to put the hosts in complete control.

PSG, who won their opening game against Girona, struck the woodwork in each half and played with more urgency after the interval but could have few complaints about the outcome.

Victory propelled Arsenal into the top eight of the new 36-team league phase with their next match at home to Shakhtar Donetsk after the international break. PSG will seek to bounce back in their next match at home to PSV Eindhoven.

Such is the confidence sweeping through Arsenal at the moment that a home game against seasoned European opposition managed by Luis Enrique held no fears.

READ ALSO: NIWA MD, Oyebamiji welcomes over 500 PDP members to APC in Ikire

They almost made the perfect start in route-one fashion as a long clearance by keeper David Raya skimmed off the wet turf and Gabriel Martinelli almost nicked it past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Arsenal took the lead in the 20th minute as Trossard was allowed too much time on the left and his lofted ball was perfect for the late run of Havertz who nodded past the out-of-position Donnarumma into an empty net.

Nuno Mendes struck a left-footed shot against the post as PSG responded but Arsenal soon doubled their lead.

Havertz’s goal extended PSG’s run without a clean sheet away from home in the Champions League to 20 — a sorry sequence starting four years ago.

And the way they conceded again in the 35th would not have looked out of place on a local park pitch.

Saka curled a free kick from the right into a crowded penalty area and the ball evaded everyone and left Donnarumma red-faced as it nestled into the net.

PSG’s hopes of mounting a second-half comeback were hardly helped by Luis Enrique’s decision to omit forward Ousmane Dembele from the squad for disciplinary reasons.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Havertz on target as Arsenal beat PSG 2-0 appeared first on Frontpageng.

The 25-year-old scored twice and also set up Ousmane Dembele for the second of his two goals with a touch of genius to maintain the Champions League semi-finalists’ 11-point advantage over second-placed Monaco.

PSG can claim a sixth crown in seven years against Le Havre on Saturday.

Luis Enrique’s men are now unbeaten in 25 league games dating back to September 15 while Lorient, who pulled one back through substitute Mohamed Bamba amid a late flurry, are three points from safety.

With Mbappe starting in one of nine changes to the side which lined up for Sunday’s 4-1 home win over Lyon, PSG began in patient mood with the hosts enjoying a fair share of possession and mustering the first attempt on goal, a wayward seventh-minute strike from Gedeon Kalulu.

Indeed, they should have taken the lead with 12 minutes gone when Kalulu played the ball into the path of Imran Louza, whose cut-back was steered wastefully wide by Ayman Kari.

READ ALSO: EXTRA: Bullying: A personal diary, By Asaju Tunde

However, Lorient keeper Yvon Mvogo had to get down well to palm away Mbappe’s curling 17th-minute effort, but was helpless to prevent the visitors from taking the lead two minutes later.

Senny Mayulu won possession on halfway and slipped the ball into Dembele’s run before watching him cut inside Isaak Toure and Julien Laporte and place the ball inside the stranded Mvogo’s right post.

It was 2-0 within three minutes after Mbappe picked out Nuno Mendes on the left and then made his way into the box, where he dispatched the return pass just inside the other upright with an outrageous flick.

Louza dragged a long-range effort wide and Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make a stunning save to keep out Tiemoue Bakayoko’s downward header from a Louza corner, but Dembele curled a 42nd-minute corner on to the roof of Mvogo’s net as the Parisians finished the first half strongly.

The hosts returned determined to remain compact in an attempt to frustrate the visitors and, as a result, initially found themselves camped deep inside their own half with Fabian Ruiz dictating play from the middle of the field.

However, the game was rather meandering towards the hour-mark when Mbappe produced another piece of magic, holding off defender Nathaniel Adjei before poking the ball through his legs and then crossing for Dembele to tap home.

Bamba’s bullet header from fellow substitute Benjamin Mendy’s cross seconds later reduced the deficit and Donnarumma had to block Panos Katseris’ late effort with his foot, but Mbappe wrapped up the win at the death, cutting in from the left to shoot past Mvogo.

Source: dpa/NAN

The post Mbappe leads PSG to brink of title with victory over Lorient appeared first on Frontpageng.

Mbappe converted a fourth-minute penalty, and netted the fourth goal just before the halftime break, as victory took PSG up to eight points from four games and into second spot, two behind leaders Monaco.

READ ALSO: NFF finally extends Peseiro’s contract, coach invites 23 players

The spot kick was awarded after Manuel Ugarte was scythed down by home captain Corentin Tolisso and was followed by a second goal in the 20th minute from Achraf Hakimi after a one-two with Ousmane Dembele.

Marco Asensio made it 3-0 in the 38th minute before Mbappe showed PSG’s dominance with the fourth.

Tolisso netted a second-half consolation from the penalty spot for the home side, who have a single point from their opening four games with coach Laurent Blanc’s future looking uncertain.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Mbappe at the double as PSG thump Lyon away appeared first on Frontpageng.