Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been named in France’s 26-man squad for this summer’s European Championship after an absence of nearly six years.
He has not played for his country since 2015 as a result of his alleged involvement in an attempted blackmail case involving an ex-France team-mate.
Benzema, 33, missed France’s Euro 2016 campaign and 2018 World Cup win as a result of the allegations.
In January 2021 French prosecutors announced Benzema would face trial.
He is accused of paying individuals to extort money from midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, 36, by threatening to make a sex tape public in 2015, but the striker argues a police officer used dishonest methods to draw him into the situation.
After confirming Benzema was in his squad, France manager Didier Deschamps said: “The most important is today and tomorrow.
“There were important steps. We saw each other. We discussed at length. I had a long reflection to come to this decision. I won’t reveal a word of the discussion, that concerns us. I needed it, he needed it “.
Hugo Lloris and Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur, Everton left-back Lucas Digne, Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma, Olivier Giroud and N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba of Manchester United are all named in the France squad.
Benzema has scored 27 goals in 81 appearances for France, including netting twice in his last outing for the national team during a 4-0 friendly win over Armenia.
He has been one of Real Madrid’s standout players this season, scoring 29 goals – including 11 in 10 games – and providing eight assists in all competitions.
The Spanish giants are aiming to leapfrog league leaders Atletico Madrid and lift a record 35th La Liga title with one game remaining.
Now in his 12th year at the Bernabeu, Benzema was recently voted the best French player playing abroad by France’s National Union of Professional Football Players.
The striker will add to Deschamps’ already impressive attacking options of Paris St-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann when Euro 2020 starts on 11 June.
Les Bleus made it to the final of the tournament on home soil five years ago but were beaten by Portugal substitute Eder’s extra-time strike.
They begin their Euro 2020 campaign against Germany on 15 June.
— The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) May 12, 2021
Baba Ijesha, real name, Olanrewaju James is currently in detention after he was arrested for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl, an action that has been condemned by some Nigerians.
However, Fabiyi has been consistent in defending Baba Ijesha and he staged his much-anticipated protest earlier this morning to demand his release.
Reacting to the protest, Davido slammed the actor and described him as a mumu.
”Notice he the only one without a mask .. mumu”, the singer tweeted.
Portugal is set to host the Champions League final after Uefa failed to receive the guarantees of exemptions it wants if it is to move the game to Wembley.
Uefa, UK government officials and the Football Association met on Monday to discuss moving the game between Chelsea and Manchester City from Istanbul.
Uefa has decided it will be moved after Turkey was put on England’s red travel list meaning fans cannot travel. Portugal is on the green list so fans would be allowed to attend on 29 May.
Porto’s Estadio do Dragao is expected to be named as the venueon Thursday because Uefa would prefer not to stage the match in Lisbon, which hosted last year’s final.
European football’s governing body believes holding the match in Portugal will make it easier to gain access for sponsors and broadcasters, who would need to be compensated if they were unable to attend the game.
However, Uefa is still not in a position to confirm the switch, which would see Istanbul given the 2023 final, having originally been due to host last year before the move to Lisbon.
The match could still be played at Wembley but it would require a major shift from the UK government, which has so far failed to reach an agreement with Uefa.
Travellers from England to green-list countries must follows rules before departure but do not have to quarantine on their return.
Wembley last hosted the Champions League final in 2013 when Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund
UK citizens returning from red-list countries are required to quarantine at a government-approved hotel for 10 days.
Such a quarantine would have an impact on players involved in Euro 2020, which starts on 11 June.
On Friday, transport secretary Grant Shapps said Covid-19 red-list countries “should not be visited except in the most extreme circumstances”.
Uefa had hoped to give both clubs a minimum of 4,000 tickets each for the game at Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Shapps said that the FA was in talks with Uefa about switching the game, but that it is “ultimately a decision for Uefa”.
Chelsea Supporters Trust has said it will meet Uefa and will request that the final is moved to the UK, while Manchester City fan groups said they will be renewing their calls to move the game from Istanbul.
There is also a fixture issue to resolve, as Wembley is scheduled to stage the Championship play-off final on 29 May. However, it is understood the EFL would consider moving the match if asked by Uefa, and its board would make the final call.
Leicester City’s striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, says he never lost faith in himself while going through a rough patch in his career, adding that he was confident that he would return to form.
Iheanacho had his worst ever scoring run of his professional career in 2019, failing to score in over 365 days, with trio Jamie Vardy, Ayoze Perez and James Maddison all ahead of him in the pecking order.
The 24-year-old’s lack of goals at Leicester during this period also saw him lose his place in the Super Eagles, and was left out of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the former Manchester City striker has returned to form for The Foxes and was named March’s Premier League Player of The Month and is on course for a double award for April.
Speaking with BBC Sport on his resurgence, Iheanacho said; “I think a lot of people wrote me off, but I never lost faith in myself.
“I was going through a crazy and difficult time when things just didn’t work out for me.
“But I’ve worked extremely hard, and also have the manager and other staff at Leicester, and most importantly my brother and friend Wilfred (Ndidi) who stood by me.
“It’s been a really tough ride but I’m just delighted it’s all come together for me.
It was truly a bad patch and we all know that some people are always too quick to judge. To hear some people come out now and start saying positive things again is only normal but I don’t even bother.
“I only have to prove to myself that I can do this consistently, continue to grow, help my club and country when I get the chance to play.
“We have a lot ahead of us. It’s that time of the season where you want to fight for everything in front of you and not get carried away.”
Iheanacho is the Foxes’ top scorer this season with 18 goals from 35 matches across all competitions.
Chelsea will face Manchester City in the Champions League final in Istanbul after convincingly overcoming a fading Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
On a night of high tension, even behind closed doors, Chelsea fully deserved a victory that sets up an all-English final against Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders on 29 May.
Thomas Tuchel’s hosts were grateful to goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for two fine first-half saves from Karim Benzema but they were able to build on the 1-1 draw they achieved in Madrid when Timo Werner headed in from almost on the goal-line in the 28th minute after Kai Havertz had lofted a finish on to the bar.
It set the platform for a second half of total Chelsea domination that was nevertheless laced with anxiety as the hosts missed chance after chance to put the game to bed.
Real’s former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved from N’golo Kante and Havertz, who also headed against the bar, while Mason Mount shot wildly over the top when clean through.
It was Mount, though, who finally sealed Chelsea’s place in their first Champions League final since they won the competition in 2012.
The outstanding Kante, who was also instrumental in the opening goal, fed substitute Christian Pulisic and his cross was turned in by Mount with five minutes left.
The result adds another chapter to the remarkable transformation under Tuchel since he succeeded the sacked Frank Lampard in January – and gives him the chance to make amends for the 2020 Champions League final, when his Paris St-Germain side lost to Bayern Munich.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane called on the great old warrior Sergio Ramos, fit again, and former Chelsea forward Eden Hazard in an attempt to navigate a route to another Champions League final.
Ramos provided organisation and a customary yellow card but this Real side looked well past its best and in need of a rebuild, Hazard game but clearly nowhere near full fitness.
They got past Liverpool over two legs in the quarter-final based on a fine win at home but this was a toothless performance with only the evergreen Benzema, now 33, a danger.
Ramos and Luka Modric, while still making key contributions, are both 35 and Real must now start looking even beyond those Bernabeu legends when plotting the future.
Real looked tired, uninspired and well beaten at the final whistle. This looked like a team that needs breaking up and a new era ushered in, exposed by Chelsea’s youth, zest and energy.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says guiding the club to a first Champions League final “now makes sense” of his five-year spell in charge at Etihad Stadium.
Riyad Mahrez’s second-leg double against Paris St-Germain secured a 2-0 win and sealed a 4-1 aggregate victory.
The Blues are one win away from a third league title under Guardiola but he had failed to steer them past the quarter-finals in Europe until this season.
“This is remarkable,” said Guardiola.
“People believe it’s easy to arrive in the final of the Champions League. Getting to the final now makes sense of what we have done in the past four or five years.
“Every day these guys have been consistent. We scored a goal through the hips [of the defensive wall] in the first game, and today Marquinhos hit the bar in the first half – you can be out for little details.
“Manchester United won a title because of John Terry’s slip and scored in the last minute against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid won a title against Atletico in the 93rd minute. It’s a competition that is so difficult and something in the stars is involved in that.
“I want to thank the owner, the chairman and the staff at the club. This club is about all the people that work behind the scenes, it’s not just about money. If you want to think that then you are wrong.”
Guardiola’s side have been knocked out in the quarter-finals in the past three seasons by Lyon, Tottenham and Liverpool and lost in the last 16 to Monaco in his first campaign in charge.
They are playing in the Champions League for a 10th successive season and had only once before reached the semi-final stage, losing 1-0 over the two legs to Real Madrid in 2015-16 when they were managed by Manuel Pellegrini.
Manchester City reached their first Champions League final as they overcame Paris St-Germain at Etihad Stadium to secure a commanding victory over two legs.
In a game played in unseasonal snow, the brilliant Riyad Mahrez capped a sweeping move started by goalkeeper Ederson’s 60-yard pass to extend their 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Paris.
PSG suffered a serious blow before kick-off when world-class forward Kylian Mbappe was restricted to the bench because of injury. They did not lack endeavour or intent and had early hope when a penalty was awarded for a handball by Oleksandr Zinchenko before it was correctly overturned, but with Neymar subdued and City throwing bodies on the line in defence, Mauricio Pochettino’s side could not find a way through.
Mahrez punished them again just after the hour when he turned in Phil Foden’s cross at the far post to effectively end the contest.
PSG, as they did when Idrissa Gueye was sent off late in the first leg, lost their discipline and Angel di Maria was shown a red card for a senseless stamp on Fernandinho following a touchline tangle.
City were in full control, avoiding further mishap to set up the Champions League final they and manager Pep Guardiola have craved, against either Chelsea or Real Madrid in Istanbul on 29 May.
Popular Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola, says she will not allow her son represent Nigeria if he becomes a professional footballer despite his eligibility.
Oluwapelumi Salako, Daramola’s 13-year-old son is already aspiring to become a footballer but his dream of one day representing Nigeria may be on the line due to the insecurity in the country.
Daramola made this assertion during an interactive session on The PUNCH’s online sports talk show, Stars Talk Football.
“I might not (allow my son to represent Nigeria) because at the end of the day, there is a lot of insecurity in the country.
“The moment a child comes to play in Nigeria, a lot of things are at stake. Even as a mother, the moment he starts playing in leagues abroad, then the parents may become a target of kidnap. I can vividly remember that they kidnapped a player Mikel Obi’s father. So, because of the insecurity in the country, I will definitely say no.
Real Madrid defender Marcelo could miss the second leg of Los Blancos Champions League semi-final against Chelsea because he’s been selected to serve at a polling station the day before the game.
Elections for the Madrid Assembly take place on Tuesday 4 May with Los Blancos’ European fixture happening 24 hours later. Marcelo’s teammates are set to travel to London on Tuesday but he would be unable to unless he is excused of his polling station duties.
According to El Mundo, the Electoral Board have argued that Marcelo could travel on the morning of the game. However, this may not be permitted due to coronavirus regulations. Real and the player’s representatives are said to be negotiating but no agreement has been reached yet, leaving the left-back in limbo.
Thomas Tuchel is the only manager to face Real Madrid five times in the Champions League without losing
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says his side will have to “fight for every centimetre” when they host Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final second leg next week.
But Tuchel knows there is plenty more work to do if they are to reach a first final since winning in 2012.
“Even if we had won here, everything is possible,” he said.
“It’s half-time and we’ll have to fight for every centimetre and every advantage that we want to have and we need to fight and deserve it.”
Christian Pulisic had put Chelsea ahead on Tuesday before Karim Benzema equalised in a thrilling first half.
The second period failed to live up to the excitement of the first, and Tuchel felt his side should have made more of their superiority in the early stages of the game.
“I have a feeling we should have won the first half and that we deserved to win the first half,” he added.
“We could have perhaps decided this game in the first half an hour when we were playing so strong.”
Werner ‘angry’ at his miss
Timo Werner saw his early volley saved by Thibaut Courtois’ legs
Timo Werner failed to take a glorious chance to score before Pulisic’s opener as his shot from four yards out was saved.
Werner, who has 11 goals in all competitions for Chelsea this season, scored the winner against West Ham in the Premier League at the weekend but also missed a big chance in that game.
“He missed a big one at West Ham and he missed a big one here but it is nothing to cry about,” Tuchel said.
“This is the best thing about sport, nobody cares tomorrow. He is maybe angry.”
Real Madrid are 13-time winners of the Champions League but boss Zinedine Zidane accepts his side will have to work hard if they are to keep alive their chances of a 14th title.
The Spanish giants travel to Stamford Bridge for the second leg on Wednesday, 5 May (20:00 BST).
“We’re alive and we’re going to the second leg with the idea of winning,” said Zidane. “In general, we’re happy.
“We know they’re good in the opposition half, that they’re a competitive side and they don’t concede many. They’re in the semis for a reason.”
Liverpool striker, Michael Owen, has predicted that Real Madrid and Chelsea will play a 1-1 draw when both teams clash in tonight’s Champions League semi-final first-leg in Spain.
Real Madrid head to the game following a 0-0 draw with Real Betis in the LaLiga over the weekend, while Chelsea defeated West Ham 1-0 in the Premier League.
Providing his prediction, Owen said, “Real Madrid welcome Chelsea to the Spanish capital, having not lost a competitive match since February. However, Los Blancos have won only once in their last four matches and come into this after drawing 0-0 at home to Real Betis at the weekend.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is to be investigated by Uefa over an “alleged financial interest in a betting company”.
According to reports in his native Sweden, the AC Milan striker, 39, has broken rules after becoming a partner in a betting company.
Uefa’s disciplinary regulations state players should not have a financial interest in betting.
Last week he signed a new contract that will run until after his 40th birthday.
“A Uefa ethics and disciplinary inspector has today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the Uefa disciplinary regulations by Mr Zlatan Ibrahimovic for having an alleged financial interest in a betting company,” a Uefa statement said.
The former Manchester United striker has scored 17 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions this season.
Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic has been fined 4,000 euros (£3,500) for his part in an ugly clash with Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku during a Coppa Italia match in January.
The pair were involved in a number of exchanges and Ibrahimovic, who denied he used racist language, was eventually sent off.
Like Ibrahimovic, Lukaku was charged with “unsportsmanlike behaviour with provocative phrases” by the Italian Football Federation. The Belgian has been fined 3,000 euros (£2,600).
Marcelo Bielsa says his Leeds side are evolving as a Premier League force by learning from past errors against the top flight’s elite after holding Manchester United to a goalless draw at Elland Road.
Sunday’s stalemate continued Leeds’ fine run of results against teams in the top six since the turn of the year, having won at Leicester and leaders Manchester City, as well as holding Chelsea, Liverpool and, now, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United.
They have conceded just three times across those five games, a stark contrast to the opening months of the season when they shipped goals in thrilling but gung-ho fashion, losing 4-3 at Anfield, 4-1 to Leicester and 6-2 at Old Trafford.https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.40.2/iframe.htmlLeeds 0-0 Man Utd: Marcelo Bielsa says his side are evolving
“In the game we defended well. We couldn’t attack how we wanted to. Even if we didn’t dominate, we avoided the game becoming unbalanced. There are signs of evolution,” Bielsa told BBC Sport.
“The group of players have constructed a solid group. Throughout this time they made errors and have learned how to correct them.
“In the same way, they learned to avoid errors that are avoidable. I have the feeling there has been a growth in their maturity in how to manage these games.
“Clearly at this moment we cannot go into the games to dominate them and think we can win while dominant.
“But the capacity for the players to go up against these very good players has also increased. We can impose ourselves on defences and can avoid being overcome by attackers of the highest level.”
The result means Manchester City will be crowned Premier League champions next weekend if Pep Guardiola’s side beat Crystal Palace on Saturday and second-placed United lose at home to Liverpool on Sunday.
United boss Solskjaer praised the hosts but felt his side were unfortunate not to come away with all three points after creating the game’s clearer chances.
“I have not seen many teams dominate in the second half the way we did against Leeds – they steamroller teams but I felt we steamrollered them,” Solskjaer told BBC Sport.
“Today we just didn’t have the moment, didn’t take them when we had them. A draw is disappointing because we wanted to put pressure on City.”
They could have fallen further behind after Berenguer headed home Ander Capa’s cross but Jan Oblak foiled Asier Villalibre’s shot and Oihan Sancet wasted two good openings.
Atletico improved after the break, Marcos Llorente drilling just wide from 20 yards before Savic glanced home a corner to equalise – but Martinez powered home a set-piece header to win it.
West Brom’s faint hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a significant setback after substitute Keinan Davis scored a 92nd-minute equaliser for Aston Villa.
The Baggies fell behind when Anwar El Ghazi marked his return to the side by firing Villa ahead from the penalty spot after Semi Ajayi had clipped Ross Barkley.
They were then awarded a penalty of their own, Matheus Pereira beating Emiliano Martinez to equalise after Ezri Konsa caught Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Brazilian forward Pereira then hit the bar from a free-kick after creating chances for Okay Yokuslu and Maitland-Niles before Mbaye Diagne’s deflected finish off Tyrone Mings looked to have sealed a third win in four games.
But Davis pounced in the closing moments for his first Premier League goal after a defensive mix-up to deny the Baggies, who are now nine points from safety with five games remaining.
West Brom’s players dropped to their knees when referee Stuart Attwell blew for full time after seeing three points ripped from their grasp by Davis’ dramatic goal.
They had shown tremendous character to bounce back from Thursday’s tame defeat at Leicester and come from behind to lead their West Midlands rivals at Villa Park.
West Brom started this game 10 points from safety following Burnley’s handsome victory at Wolves earlier on Sunday and could quite easily have collapsed after El Gahzi’s ninth minute penalty.
Instead they clawed their way back with Pereira outstanding, the former Sporting Lisbon player scoring one, hitting the bar and setting up several chances for his team-mates.
At the other end Sam Johnstone, whose long clearance led to the second goal, produced a huge save to stop England striker Ollie Watkins from equalising.
But they could not hold on and face a quick return to the Championship one season after winning automatic promotion with Leeds although Sam Allardyce is not conceding defeat just yet.
“We put it to the lads the teams who have got out of this position and there are about six of them,” said the Baggies boss.
“It means winning a lot of games in your last few but five or six teams have done that.
“People might have looked at the team and thought ‘are they going to go under?’ but we didn’t.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says owner Stan Kroenke has apologised to him over the club’s aborted attempt to join the European Super League.
The Spaniard added that football fans had sent “the strongest message” over their opposition to the ESL.
Arteta said he had spoken to Kroenke, while Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham had addressed the players.
He said they accepted the ESL episode “has had terrible consequences and it was a mistake”.
The Gunners were one of 12 clubs, including English counterparts Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, to sign up to the ESL, which was announced on Sunday.
All six withdrew on Tuesday, with Arsenal apologising in an open letter to their fans.
“They [the owners] have the maximum responsibility to run the football club and what they said was: ‘apologies for disturbing the team, we did it without the capacity to communicate in a different way earlier and pass on my message to the players’ – that is all you can ask for,” said Arteta.
“I found out just a little bit before the news was leaked. And then everything was completely out of control and the world reacted in a really unified manner.
“There was not really time to think about it, reflect and evaluate or anything because by the time that was out, a big tsunami already came on to it and basically killed it.
“Vinai spoke to me and explained a little bit what was happening. He was very clear and transparent with me.
“I understand the reasons why we could not know. We were not involved in the decision.”
‘The soul of this sport belongs to the fans’
The proposed new league was condemned by fans, football authorities and government ministers in the UK, and across Europe by Uefa and league associations.
Around 1,000 fans gathered outside Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground before their game against Brighton on Tuesday to protest at their club’s involvement.
“I think this has given big lessons and it shows the importance of football in the world,” said Arteta.
“And it shows that the soul of this sport belongs to the fans – and that’s it. During this pandemic, for a year, we have been trying to sustain this industry with no fans in the stadium.
“But, when the fans have to come out to talk, they’ve done it really loud and clear, and they sent probably the strongest message that has ever been sent in the football world.
“And every club, leaving their interests apart, has done the right thing – which is, they are the ones [the fans], we have to listen to them, we put it aside and in 24 hours we kill the project.
“So that is a massive statement for the history of football.”
BBC sports editor Dan Roan has reported that senior executives from the six Premier League clubs who agreed to join the ESL are being asked to stand down from various league working groups – or face being voted out by the top flight’s other 14 clubs.
Everton accused the six of ” preposterous arrogance” and “disrespect”, while their manager Carlo Ancelotti said he thought it was a “joke” when he heard about the ESL plan.
“For every supporter of football it was a strange day, a surprise,” said Ancelotti, who has coached four of the 12 clubs who signed up for the ESL.
“We’ve heard about it [before] but I was sure the Super League wasn’t going to happen.
“Those 12 clubs were wrong because I think they didn’t take into consideration the opinion of two parts that are really important – the players and managers, and the supporters.
“They wanted to build a competition without sport merit and this is not acceptable.”
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson said he had been “disappointed” by events surrounding the ESL but that “the best thing that’s happened has been the fans”.
Hodgson – who has managed two of the clubs who tried to break away, Liverpool and Inter Milan – said: “You could argue that fans of these clubs could have been quite happy to say, ‘we’re with you on this one and we’re quite happy to make certain you never have to worry about the last game of the season and we are going to qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League because our place is guaranteed’.
“The fact that the fans, as [Palace chairman] Steve [Parish] put it, voted for the right to lose is the most important thing of all.”
Burnley captain Ben Mee said the news of the breakaway “shocked” him and his team-mates. A meeting scheduled between the captains of Premier League teams to discuss the issue was cancelled after the English teams withdrew.
“We were going to have a meeting on Wednesday but, thankfully, it wasn’t necessary because the fans took action and I think owners realised what a mistake they had made,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“For our league, it would have been terrible. We’ve got the best league in the world. Other countries envy it – it’s exciting. It’s competitive and we certainly want to keep it that way.”
He added: “We’ve heard [former England and Manchester United defender] Gary Neville talking about about regulation, legislation and bringing things in to stop anything like this from happening, and it’s got to be looked at, for sure.”
Atletico Madrid returned to the top of La Liga with a win over Huesca 24 hours after withdrawing from the European Super League.
Real Madrid had replaced neighbours Atletico at the summit after a 3-0 win over Cadiz on Wednesday.
On Thursday, goals by Angel Correa and Yannick Carrasco helped Atletico see off struggling Huesca.
Diego Simeone’s side are three points clear at the top with six games remaining.
Atletico had apologised to fans for causing “confusion” after ending their involvement in the breakaway European Super League.
They are chasing a first La Liga title since 2014 but still have to play title rivals Barcelona away on 8 May.
Huesca are 18th in the table, one point from safety with six games remaining.
They went close to taking a surprise early lead but Dimitrios Siovas’ close range shot was saved by Jan Oblak before Argentina forward Correa scored his third goal in two games.
Carrasco added the second while Marcos Llorente finished the match with two assists.
Real Madrid went level on points with Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga with a win at Cadiz in a week dominated by the announcement and seeming collapse of the European Super League.
There were fan protests outside the ground against the new league, which Real had intended to compete in.
Inside, the visitors ran riot, sealing the win with three first-half goals.
Karim Benzema scored twice – the first a penalty – and provided the assist for Alvaro Odriozola to head in.
The result gets Real’s La Liga challenge back on track after the minor slip in drawing 0-0 at Getafe on Sunday.
It was on the same evening that they and 11 other leading European clubs were announcing their plans to form a breakaway Super League – a project that has seemingly now collapsed just three days later.
Real president Florentino Perez has been one of the most vocal advocates of the proposed competition, telling Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones that it had been devised “to save football”.
Real have still yet to announce their withdrawal from the Super League, despite the majority of the rest of the clubs doing so, including all six English sides.
They will certainly qualify for next season’s Champions League, but they are currently in a fascinating four-horse race at the top of La Liga to decide if that will be as Spanish champions.
With Benzema firing they certainly have a good chance.
The French striker coolly slotted in his penalty, after VAR was used to rule on the illegality of Isaac Carcelen’s trip on Vinicius Junior.
He then swung over a perfect cross for Odriozola to head the second before nodding in the third himself from Casemiro’s cross – all three goals coming in the space of 10 minutes.
As they ave in England over the last few days, fans gathered outside the Ramon de Carranza to protest the Super LeagueNine of the 12 clubs – including La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid – have withdrawn from the proposed Super League
Twelve notable football clubs intended to begin a new sensational league European Super League but major football league organizers -UEFA , FIFA etc refused with sanctions.
Just when you thought this season could not get any stranger, along came a plan that appeared to divide the game and then united fans in fighting against it.
Here’s how the European Super League debacle unfolded…
Sunday 13:00 BST: The news breaks
It all began on Sunday afternoon, just as Arsenal were limbering up to play Fulham.
The Times reported that 12 clubs from England, Italy and Spain – including six of the Premier League’s biggest – had agreed to take part in a new European Super League, to the fury of European governing body Uefa.
As details emerged – two groups of 10 teams, followed by a play-off phase – people began to realise just how far planning for this European Super League had already got.
What raised most eyebrows, though, was the prospect the ‘dirty dozen’, as they were soon named, would never have to forfeit their places in the league, locking out all but five other clubs across the whole of Europe in the process, once another three founding clubs had been confirmed.
Protest banners were placed outside Liverpool’s Anfield stadium
Sunday 16:00 BST: ‘It’s pure greed’
The Premier League moved quickly to condemn the plans, followed swiftly by… every other major body in football, including Uefa and the English, Spanish and Italian football federations. Uefa – European football’s governing body – announced at 16:30 BST it would use “all measures” possible to stop the “cynical project”.
Politicians were soon involved, a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson supporting the sport’s authorities “in taking action”, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer quickly following suit.
Former Manchester United and England defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville added later: “It’s pure greed. There’s 100-odd years of history in this country of fans who have lived and loved these clubs.
“Dock them all points tomorrow. Put them at the bottom of the league and take the money off them. Seriously. You have to stamp on this.”
Sunday 23:00 BST: ‘Commence as soon as practicable’
The response to breaking the internet on a sleepy Sunday afternoon? The ESL put out an official statement, confirming the 12 clubs signed up: AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham.
The statement also said the ESL wished to “commence as soon as practicable”, and that “clubs look forward to holding discussions with Uefa and Fifa to work together in partnership”.
Fifa got involved just before midnight, condemning the move
Monday 07:30 BST: Things get official
As soon as Europe was awake again the ESL contacted Fifa and Uefa presidents Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Ceferin to issue notice of legal proceedings in European courts designed to block any sanctions the two governing bodies might try enforce over the formation of the ESL.
An hour later, all 12 clubs turned the screw further by resigning from the European Club Association (ECA), as Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano also stood down from their roles at Uefa.
Spain’s top flight, La Liga, would soon condemn the proposals.
Monday 11:40 BST: ‘The rich stealing what the people created’
Current players soon began speaking out: one of the first was Ander Herrera, Paris St-Germain’s former Manchester United midfielder. The Spaniard, whose French club side had not signed up to the ESL, said: “I cannot remain silent about this, I believe in an improved Champions League, but not in the rich stealing what the people created.”
“This is new for us,” he added. “We might be naive in not knowing we have snakes close to us. Now we do. There will be legal action soon.”
Uefa simultaneously announced its widely trailed new format for the Champions League from 2024, with 36 teams in one league, each team playing 10 matches.
At 17:00 BST Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi denied he had turned down the chance to replace Andrea Agnelli as chairman of the ECA because PSG were considering joining the ESL, insisting his reason was simply a reluctance to add to his existing workload.
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Monday 19:00 BST: ‘Earn it’
Elland Road became the focal point on Monday evening. Leeds supporters were joined by fans from other clubs as they gathered outside the ground to stage a protest – during which a Liverpool shirt was burned, and a plane flew over the stadium displaying an anti-ESL message.
In the stadium, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was the focal point. The German had said in 2019 he hoped there would never be a Super League, and at Elland Road he confirmed his opinion had not changed.
Leeds players wore T-shirts saying ‘Earn it’ next to the Champions League logo and ‘Football is for the fans’, and left the shirts in Liverpool’s dressing room in case they wanted to join the protest. That angered Klopp.
“We were not involved in the process,” he said after the game. “We are the team, we wear the shirts with pride. Somebody has made a decision with the owners in world football that we don’t know exactly why.
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At 23:00 BST former England captain David Beckham, now a franchise owner in the United States’ Major League Soccer, posted on Instagram that football was “nothing without the fans” and that the game should be “for everyone” and competitions “based on merit”.
Tuesday 06:00 BST: ‘We’re doing it to save football’
Tuesday began as combatively as Monday had ended, as much of Europe awoke to an interview with Real president Florentino Perez – the first ESL chairman – that had gone out on Spanish TV late on Monday night. Perez claimed the clubs were “doing this to save football at this critical moment” and that “young people are no longer interested in football”.
He later said expulsion from the Champions League would not happen, claiming “the law protects us”.
By 09:30 BST Fifa president Infantino had given an insight into the world governing body’s approach, saying his organisation “strongly disapproves” of the plans and warning the breakaway clubs they could not be “half in and half out” and would have to “live with the consequences of their choice”.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who is now the club’s technical director, called for calm from fans during protests at Stamford Bridge
At 12:00 GMT Boris Johnson held a meeting with the representatives from the Football Association, Premier League and football fan groups, with Downing Street saying the prime minister had reiterated his “unwavering support” for their attempts to prevent the breakaway competition.
A meeting of the 14 non-ESL Premier League clubs “unanimously and vigorously rejected” plans for the Super League at 14:00 BST, and the league announced it was “considering all actions available to prevent it from progressing”.
At about 17:00 BST Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich confirmed they had said no to the ESL.
Tuesday 19:00 BST: ‘We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen’
As Chelsea warmed up for their match against Brighton, and fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge to protest, the BBC learned Manchester City were to pull out of the ESL – and that Chelsea were considering following suit.
At 20:00 BST, Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said he would resign at the end of 2021, and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson posted on social media that his side’s “collective position” was against the breakaway.
His message – “We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen” – was also posted by many of his Liverpool team-mates.
The pressure had built, the cracks had begun to show, and then the dam burst.
From 22:45 BST, all six of the Premier League teams involved in the ESL announced they were to formally withdraw from the competition.
Wednesday 06:45 BST: End of the road?
Uefa president Ceferin said the six English clubs were “back in the fold”, adding: “The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together.”
But perhaps the ESL is not dead yet.
In a statement released at 07:30 BST it said: “Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure put on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations as was demonstrated today by a court decision to protect the Super League from third-party actions.”
Wednesday 08:00 BST: ‘I’ve let you down’
Just 36 hours after the team kicked off against Leeds amid a maelstrom of criticism, Liverpool released a video in which owner John W Henry apologised to the club’s supporters, saying: “In this endeavour I’ve let you down.”
The American also apologised to Klopp, the players and chief executive Billy Hogan, promising to do all he could to win back the supporters’ trust.
Wednesday 10:00 BST: ‘I don’t think that project is still up and running’
For the first time, a senior figure in the ESL acknowledged publicly what seemed inevitable once the English teams pulled out late on Tuesday.
Asked whether the project could still happen, ESL founder and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli told Reuters: “To be frank and honest, no. Evidently that is not the case.
“I remain convinced of the beauty of that project, of the value that it would have developed to the pyramid, of the creation of the best competition in the world, but evidently no. I don’t think that project is now still up and running.”
Within the next 90 minutes, both Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan pulled out. Just four of the initial 12 remained.
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