Bayern Munich have everything to do if they are to claim the Champions League on home turf. This was a party thoroughly spoiled by Inter, who might have feared the worst when Thomas Müller scored a rapturously-received equaliser five minutes from time. Müller’s 25-year spell at Bayern will end this summer and everybody thought they could read the script. Then the substitute Davide Frattesi ripped it up, adding to Lautaro Martínez’s brilliant opener and exacerbating the potential costliness of a glaring first-half miss from Harry Kane. “Kings of the cup”, a display from Bayern’s Südkurve had read before kick-off. In fairness Bayern genuinely believe they are: Real Madrid are the only institution with as discernible an aura, regardless of who is rolled out, when the Champions League reaches its business end. The sense was they would require that confidence in a tie that had looked delicately poised. Alphonso Davies’ serious knee injury, sustained on international duty to Bayern’s fury, was one thing; the absence of Dayot Upamecano was another and then, last Friday, came the hamstring tear that stacked odds in Inter’s favour. Continue reading...

Manchester City consider Morgan Gibbs-White move, Arsenal want Lautaro Martinez and and Victor Osimhen is open to Juventus switch.

Argentinian provokes French club on arrival in ParisEmery praises ‘mature’ goalkeeper before quarter-final Unai Emery insisted Emiliano Martínez will handle the heat in Aston Villa’s Champions League quarter-final at the Parc des Princes, after the Argentina goalkeeper riled Paris Saint-Germain by wearing a cap showing off his World Cup triumph over France and appearing to feature a rooster, a national symbol. Martínez, who trained with the Argentina flag dyed into his hair, was the pantomime villain when his penalty shootout save and mind games helped his country to victory in in 2022. Martínez was heavily jeered and booked twice in Lille in a memorable Europa Conference League victory 12 months ago, his first game in France since those Qatar antics. The Villa manager said Martínez, whom he first worked with at Arsenal, has matured and learnt to control his emotions. Continue reading...

A single play has led Charlotte FC to multiple wins, while Minnesota United’s strikeforce is thriving The Vancouver Whitecaps weren’t supposed to be here, perched on top of the Western Conference. They lost Stuart Armstrong, a key Designated Player, over the offseason. Star attacker Ryan Gauld has missed the last month with a knee injury. They’re still alive in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-finals, and Concacaf success and regular season success don’t tend to mix well for MLS teams. And yet, here they are. On top of the West. The Vancouver Whitecaps. Continue reading...