Chelsea’s manager set up his team in such a way as to give Porto no hope and can now picture a Champions League triumphAnd so the Tuchel revolution roars on. In a manner of speaking. The second-best thing anyone could say about the second leg of Chelsea’s 2-1 aggregate defeat of Porto in Seville was that it was, on balance, an act of cardiovascular exercise. Everyone involved burned some calories.The best thing – arguably the only thing – is that Chelsea cruised through without a scratch and will now take their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League, setting up a mouthwatering denouement to their own peculiar season of two halves. Related: Chelsea see off Porto despite Mehdi Taremi’s...
Jürgen Klopp’s team struck the perfect balance in Porto with Jordan Henderson and James Milner assuming midfield control and Sadio Mané profiting from their dominanceHow many will Mohamed Salah get this season? Forty? Fifty? A tired puff of the cheeks by Porto’s Moussa Marega after his irresistible 30th said it all. There was half an hour on the clock inside the Estádio do Dragão when Salah opened his tally for the evening. Liverpool supporters idolise the man they call the Egyptian King but Salah seems to have grander plans, like conquering Europe, for starters. Salah provided the delicate touches on a night when Liverpool displayed an iron core and just what their manager, Jürgen Klopp, had requested – “a real...
From Juventus and Spurs’ intriguing battle to Chelsea’s forbidding meeting with Barcelona and a likely stroll for Bayern, we look over all eight last-16 matchupsTuesday, St Jakob-Park and Wednesday 7 March, Etihad Related: New era edges closer as Tottenham seek to draw a line under austerity years | David Hytner Related: Antonio Conte will not resign as pressure builds on Chelsea manager Continue reading...
Real Madrid ought to have too much for Napoli, but there are tough challenges ahead for Arsenal, Leicester and Paris Saint-Germain Related: Champions League final: Ronaldo ‘had feeling’ he would score winner Related: Arsenal better set for deep run in Champions League, says Arsène Wenger Related: Juventus 1-3 Barcelona | Champions League final match report Continue reading...
Leicester’s playmaker has waited for the big stage and did not waste his chance against Porto, creating Islam Slimani’s winner with typical skill and visionBefore kick-off there was slightly wild crackle in the air round the open stands of the King Power Stadium. “FEARLESS FOREVER” read the banner at the Kop end, either side of a huge pair of scarily bloodshot Skittles-and-vodka fox’s eyes. Leicester have promised to take an adrenal fast-forward approach to this European adventure. But for all the first-night excitement it was a moment of cold, cool execution from Riyad Mahrez that forced a 1-0 defeat of Porto their way, the high point of a fine and indeed significant performance from the Premier League’s player of the...