Category: News

Johan Neeskens, one of the midfield stars of the Netherlands’ ‘Clockwork Orange’ teams of the 1970s alongside Johan Cruyff, has died. He was 73.

Neeskens lost two successive World Cup finals. He scored from the penalty spot to give his team an early 1-0 lead in the 1974 showpiece but Netherlands, known for their fluent brand of ‘total football’, went on to lose 2-1 to West Germany in Munich.

“The most beautiful football doesn’t always win,” he said later, according to the Dutch football association KNVB. “But it’s incredible to me that people all over the world still talk about that Dutch team. The best and most beautiful football, total football.”

Neeskens was again in the team in 1978 when the Dutch once more fell agonisingly short of the world title, losing 3-1 to host Argentina after extra-time in Buenos Aires.

Neeskens played a total of 49 internationals for Netherlands, including 12 at World Cups, and scored 17 goals.

Neeskens won the European Cup, the predecessor of the Champions League, three times as part of the dominant Ajax team of the early ’70s and went on to play for Barcelona and then the New York Cosmos among other teams.

“We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Johan Neeskens. Our thoughts are with his family at this time. Rest in peace, Ajax legend,” the Amsterdam club said on X, formerly Twitter.

Barcelona, referring to the club’s nickname, called Neeskens “A blaugrana legend who will forever be in our memory. Rest in peace.”

At a reunion of the players in the 1974 World Cup final, Neeskens explained what he believed was the key to a team’s success. “The collective, that’s what it’s all about,” he said according to the KNVB. “You need each other on the field. You can only become a champion as a team. There is only one star and that is the team.”

After his playing career, Neeskens acted as an assistant coach for both Netherlands and Australia.

The Dutch soccer association KNVB said on Monday that Neeskens died the previous day in Algeria, where he was taking part in a coaching project it organised. No cause of death was immediately announced.

“Words fail to capture the enormity and suddenness of this loss,” the KNVB said in a statement on its website. “Our thoughts are with his wife Marlis, his children, family and friends.

“The world not only says goodbye to a gifted sportsman but, above all, to a compassionate, driven and wonderful person.”

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Manchester City have been drawn at home to Inter Milan and away to Paris Saint-Germain as part of the new-look league phase to the Champions League that UEFA hopes will provide a more exciting first stage of the competition.

At the draw in Monte Carlo, the revamped 36-team competition threw up a showdown between City and Inter, the side they beat to finally lift the trophy in 2023. The new format sees all 36 teams forming a single league, with each entrant playing four home games and four away.

The top eight will go straight into the last 16 while a round of play-offs will decide the other eight teams.

City were the first team pulled out by former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Cristiano Ronaldo was the man then tasked with pushing a large button on the desk in front of him to allocate eight computer-generated opponents.

Juventus, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon, Sparta Prague and Slovan Bratislava are their other six opponents.

Liverpool were the next British team pulled out and landed a home fixture against holders Real Madrid. Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan, Lille, PSV Eindhoven, Bologna and Girona made up their schedule.

Meanwhile, Arsenal were drawn out of pot two already knowing they would face PSG, Atalanta and Inter Milan. The rest of their opponents came out as Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Sporting Lisbon, Monaco and Girona.

Aston Villa – former European champions having lifted the European Cup in 1982 – have been given a mouth-watering home encounter with Bayern Munich.

Unai Emery’s side will also host Juventus as they return to the Champions League, ending a run of 41 years without playing in European football’s premier competition, as well as hosting Scottish champions Celtic. Their other five fixtures will be against Leizpig, Club Brugge, Young Boys, Bologna and Monaco.

As well as Villa, Celtic – residing in Pot Three – will face last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, Leipzig, Club Brugge, Atalanta, Young Boys, Dinamo Zagreb and Slovan Bratislava.

How the new format will work

For the new season, the Champions League has expanded from 32 to 36 teams, a transformation from the traditional group stage to a single league phase including all participating teams.

Each team has been drawn against two different teams from each pot, playing one team at home and one away. Teams will play eight matches against eight different teams.

Every club will now be guaranteed a minimum of eight league-stage games against eight different opponents (four home games, four away) rather than the previous six matches against three teams, played on a home-and-away basis.

The top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically for the knockout stages, while the teams finishing in ninth to 24th place will compete in a two-legged play-off to secure a place in the last 16 of the competition.

Teams ranked 25-36 are eliminated from all competitions.

Will the new format lead to more early excitement?

Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:

“It’s really easy, when it comes to modern football, to be a bit cynical and jaded, but I have to say that is the best draw I’ve ever seen.

“It’s probably the first draw I’ve ever seen that I’ve enjoyed. It was actually entertaining.

“It had Cristiano Ronaldo, who’d flown in from Saudi Arabia, Gianluigui Buffon, two brilliant presenters. It had a brilliant film, which had incredible acting by some of the most famous footballers in the world; Rodri was in it and Zlatan stole the show in explaining how the tournament has changed.

“When we got to the actual draw, that was brilliant as well. Gone were all of those balls and glass bowls – we basically had Buffon picking out one team and then Ronaldo – who, I have to say, looked a little bit bored – was the one who was pressing a button and, straightaway, the computer would come up with that team’s eight opponents.

“It was really slick, it was really entertaining, fast-paced and also, it has thrown up some incredible games.

“For instance, a couple of years ago, the final was Inter Milan vs Man City – this time around, that is just a league phase game. Also Barcelona vs Bayern, PSG vs Man City, Real Madrid vs Liverpool, PSG vs Arsenal, Bayern vs PSG. These could all be finals.

“I, for one, am totally won over. I think this is going to be a brilliant new format.”

Champions League draw in full

Manchester City

• Inter Milan (h)
• PSG (a)
• Club Brugge (h)
• Juventus (a)
• Feyenoord (h)
• Sporting CP (a)
• Sparta Prague (h)
• Slovan Bratislava (a)

Inter Milan

• RB Leipzig (h)
• Man City (a)
• Arsenal (h)
• Bayer Leverkusen (a)
• Red Star Belgrade (h)
• Young Boys (a)
• Monaco (h)
• Sparta Prague (a)

Bayern Munich

• PSG (h)
• Barcelona (a)
• Benfica (h)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (a)
• Dinamo Zagreb (h)
• Feyenoord (a)
• Solvan Bratislava (h)
• Aston Villa (a)

RB Leipzig

• Liverpool (h)
• Inter Milan (a)
• Juventus (h)
• Atletico Madrid (a)
• Sporting CP (h)
• Celtic (a)
• Aston Villa (h)
• Sturm Graz (a)

Borussia Dortmund

• Barcelona (h)
• Real Madrid (a)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (h)
• Club Brugge (a)
• Celtic (h)
• Dinamo Zagreb (a)
• Sturm Graz (h)
• Bologna (a)

Barcelona

• Bayern Munich (h)
• Borussia Dortmund (a)
• Atalanta (h)
• Benfica (a)
• Young Boys (h)
• Red Star Belgrade (a)
• Brest (h)
• Monaco (a)

Real Madrid

• Borussia Dortmund (h)
• Liverpool (a)
• AC Milan (h)
• Atalanta (a)
• Salzburg (h)
• Lille (a)
• Stuttgart (h)
• Brest (a)

Liverpool

• Real Madrid (h)
• RB Leipzig (a)
• Bayer Leverkusen (h)
• AC Milan (a)
• Lille (h)
• PSV (a)
• Bologna (h)
• Girona (a)

PSG

• Man City (h)
• Bayern Munich (a)
• Atletico Madrid (h)
• Arsenal (a)
• PSV (h)
• Salzburg (a)
• Girona (h)
• Stuttgart (a)

Atletico Madrid

• RB Leipzig (h)
• PSG (a)
• Bayer Leverkusen (h)
• Benfica (a)
• Lille (h)
• Salzburg (a)
• Solvan Bratislava (h)
• Sparta Prague (a)

Atalanta

• Real Madrid (h)
• Barcelona (a)
• Arsenal (h)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (a)
• Celtic (h)
• Young Boys (a)
• Sturm Graz (h)
• Stuttgart (a)

Club Brugge

• Borussia Dortmund (h)
• Man City (a)
• Juventus (h)
• AC Milan (a)
• Sporting CP (h)
• Celtic (a)
• Aston Villa (h)
• Sturm Graz (a)

Bayer Leverkusen

• Inter Milan (h)
• Liverpool (a)
• AC Milan (h)
• Atletico Madrid (a)
• Salzburg (h)
• Feyenoord (a)
• Sparta Prague (h)
• Brest (a)

Arsenal

• PSG (h)
• Inter Milan (a)
• Shakhtar Donestsk (h)
• Atalanta (a)
• Dinamo Zagreb (h)
• Sporting CP (a)
• Monaco (h)
• Girona (a)

Benfica

• Barcelona (h)
• Bayern Munich (a)
• Atletico Madrid (h)
• Juventus (a)
• Feyenoord (h)
• Red Star Belgrade (a)
• Bologna (h)
• Monaco (a)

AC Milan

• Liverpool (h)
• Real Madrid (a)
• Club Brugge (h)
• Bayer Leverkusen (a)
• Red Star Belgrade (h)
• Dinamo Zagreb (a)
• Girona (h)
• Slovan Bratislava (a)

Juventus

• Man City (h)
• RB Leipzig (a)
• Benfica (h)
• Club Brugge (a)
• PSV (h)
• Lille (a)
• Stuttgart (h)
• Aston Villa (a)

Shakhtar Donetsk

• Bayern Munich (h)
• Borussia Dortmund (a)
• Atalanta (h)
• Arsenal (a)
• Young Boys (h)
• PSV (a)
• Brest (h)
• Bologna (a)

Young Boys

• Inter Milan (h)
• Barcelona (a)
• Atalanta (h)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (a)
• Red Star Belgrade (h)
• Celtic (a)
• Aston Villa (h)
• Stuttgart (a)

Lille

• Real Madrid (h)
• Liverpool (a)
• Juventus (h)
• Atletico Madrid (a)
• Feyenoord (h)
• Sporting CP (a)
• Sturm Graz (h)
• Bologna (a)

PSV

• Liverpool (h)
• PSG (a)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (h)
• Juventus (a)
• Sporting CP (h)
• Red Star Belgrade (a)
• Girona (h)
• Brest (a)

Feyenoord

• Bayern Munich (h)
• Man City (a)
• Bayer Leverkusen (h)
• Benfica (a)
• Salzburg (h)
• Lille (a)
• Sparta Prague (h)
• Girona (a)

Dinamo Zagreb

• Borussia Dortmund (h)
• Bayern Munich (a)
• AC Milan (h)
• Arsenal (a)
• Celtic (h)
• Salzburg (a)
• Monaco (h)
• Solvan Bratislava (a)

Red Star Belgrade

• Barcelona (h)
• Inter Milan (a)
• Benfica (h)
• AC Milan (a)
• PSV (h)
• Young Boys (a)
• Stuttgart (h)
• Monaco (a)

Salzburg

• PSG (h)
• Real Madrid (a)
• Atletico Madrid (h)
• Bayer Leverkusen (a)
• Dinamo Zagreb (h)
• Feyenoord (a)
• Brest (h)
• Sparta Prague (a)

Celtic

• RB Leipzig (h)
• Borussia Dortmund (a)
• Club Brugge (h)
• Atalanta (a)
• Young Boys (h)
• Dinamo Zagreb (a)
• Solvan Bratislava (h)
• Aston Villa (a)

Sporting CP

• Man City (h)
• RB Leipzig (a)
• Arsenal (h)
• Club Brugge (a)
• Lille (h)
• PSV (a)
• Bologna (h)
• Sturm Graz (a)

Stuttgart

• PSG (h)
• Real Madrid (a)
• Atalanta (h)
• Juventus (a)
• Young Boys (h)
• Red Star Belgrade (a)
• Sparta Prague (h)
• Solvan Bratislava (a)

Girona

• Liverpool (h)
• PSG (a)
• Arsenal (h)
• AC Milan (h)
• Feyenoord (h)
• PSV (a)
• Solvan Bratislava (h)
• Sturm Graz (a)

Bologna

• Borussia Dortmund (h)
• Liverpool (A)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (h)
• Benfica (a)
• Lille (h)
• Sporting CP (a)
• Monaco (h)
• Aston Villa (a)

Brest

• Real Madrid (h)
• Barcelona (a)
• Bayer Leverkusen (h)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (a)
• PSV (h)
• Salzburg (a)
• Sturm Graz (h)
• Sparta Prague (a)

Aston Villa

• Bayern Munich (h)
• RB Leipzig (a)
• Juventus (h)
• Club Brugge (a)
• Celtic (h)
• Young Boys (a)
• Bologna (h)
• Monaco (a)

Sparta Prague

• Inter Milan (h)
• Man City (a)
• Atletico Madrid (h)
• Bayer Leverkusen (a)
• Salzburg (h)
• Feyenoord (a)
• Brest (h)
• Stuttgart (a)

Slovan Bratislava

• Man City (h)
• Bayern Munich (a)
• AC Milan (h)
• Atletico Madrid (a)
• GNK Dinamo (h)
• Celtic (a)
• Stuttgart (h)
• Girona (a)

Monaco

• Barcelona (h)
• Inter Milan (a)
• Benfica (h)
• Arsenal (a)
• Crvena Zvezda (h)
• GNK Dinamo (a)
• Aston Villa (h)
• Bologna (a)

Sturm Graz

• RB Leipzig (h)
• Borussia Dortmund (a)
• Club Brugge (h)
• Atalanta (a)
• Sporting CP (h)
• Lille (a)
• Girona (h)
• Brest (a)

Why was the draw being done by a computer?

The new draw system took around 35 minutes – the same duration as the manual draws for the previous 32-team format with a group phase and knockout stage.

Without the bespoke software, an old-fashioned manual draw for the expanded competition would have taken four hours and require up to 1,000 balls and 36 glass bowls.

When will fans know the fixture dates?

The finalised fixture list will be released on Saturday August 31.

When are the 2024/25 Champions League league-stage matches?

• Matchday 1: September 17-19, 2024
• Matchday 2: October 1/2, 2024
• Matchday 3: October 22/23, 2024
• Matchday 4: November 5/6, 2024
• Matchday 5: November 26/27, 2024
• Matchday 6: December 10/11, 2024
• Matchday 7: January 21/22, 2025
• Matchday 8: January 29, 2025

When are the 2024/25 Champions League knockout stages?

• Knockout round play-offs: February 11/12 and February 18/19, 2025
• Round of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025
• Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025
• Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2025
• Final: May 31, 2025

Where is the Champions League final being held in 2025?

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season will take place in Munich at the Allianz Arena on May 31, 2025.

Manchester City have re-signed Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona on a free transfer.

The midfielder returns to Pep Guardiola’s side just a year on from his exit to Barcelona last summer on a free transfer and will be available for Saturday’s Premier League game against Ipswich at the Etihad Stadium.

The 33-year-old, who spent seven years at the Etihad Stadium between 2016 and 2023, rejoins on a one-year contract plus the option of a further year.

“When managers say ‘this is the transfer window, anything can happen’, this is the real proof,” said Guardiola.

“It was a complete surprise, unexpected. We didn’t have any doubts when the possibility was open. Absolutely delighted he’s back.

“He knows what we want to do, he doesn’t need to adapt, he knows the city, the club, the way we want to play. He’ll immediately settle good.”

Asked if Gundogan would re-take the captaincy from Kyle Walker, Guardiola said: “I don’t know.”

Sky Sports News reported on Monday that Gundogan had been told he could leave Barcelona as they look to trade players to reduce their wage bill.

The German only wanted a return to City and ignored interest from Saudi Arabia and Qatar because of that.

Gundogan, who retired from international football earlier this week, captained City to a historic treble before his departure.

He made 304 appearances and scored 60 goals in his first stint at City as he won 12 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Gundogan becomes City’s second summer signing after the arrival of Savinho from French side Troyes in a £33.6m deal.

Gundogan: I can’t wait to work with Pep again

Gundogan revealed working with the “best manager in the world”, Pep Guardiola, again was a major factor in his decision to return.

“My seven years at Manchester City were a time of pure contentment for me, both on and off the pitch,” he told the club’s official website.

“I grew as a person and a player, developed a special relationship with the City fans and enjoyed amazing success. It was an exceptional period in my life.

“To have the opportunity to return here means so much. Everyone knows the respect I have for Pep – he is the best manager in the world and working with him every day makes you a better player. You feel constantly challenged, which for any professional is exactly what you want. I cannot wait to work with him again.

“And what can I say about my team-mates here at City…they are world-class footballers. I am genuinely delighted to have the chance to train and play alongside them. Honestly, I cannot wait to wear the City shirt again.”

Man City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain added: “Ilkay is one of the finest professionals I have ever worked with. His dedication to football and his approach to every single training session is something special.

“He is also an exceptional midfielder. His reading of the game, his football intelligence, his technical quality and his leadership make him an excellent addition to our squad.

“To be able to bring him back here is fantastic news for everyone. He will help us in our main objective, which is to win trophies, but he will also be an inspiration to so many.”

Analysis: The return of Guardiola’s standard-setter Gundogan

Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:

Gundogan was Guardiola’s first signing for Man City and went on to become a player who epitomised the style the Spaniard was seeking to implement in the Premier League. Precise in possession, incisive in the final third but also selfless in his commitment to the cause.

Gundogan finished his first spell as captain, capping off seven seasons in which he had played from defensive midfield through more attacking positions and even as a false number nine during a goal-laden 2020/21 campaign, by lifting a fifth Premier League and a precious first Champions League. He was an all-rounder operating at the top level, whether he was filling in for Fernandinho or poaching in the six-yard box.

Respected for his mentality, personality and quality on the ball, Gundogan was a leader among his team-mates and Guardiola’s standard-setter on and off the pitch. His exit for Barcelona was a loss felt by both the club and the player and his return, remarkably for no transfer fee, will surely prove to be a win for all involved.

Gundogan is back where he has thrived, Guardiola has his trusted talisman again, and the City squad will be boosted by his experience and enthusiasm for the project. There have been big sums spent this summer but this free transfer could be one of the most significant if City go on to make it five Premier Leagues on the spin.