The 2018 final of the most prestigious and most watched football competition in Europe, the UEFA Champions League, comes up in the 68,000 capacity NSC Olimpiyski Stadium, Kiev in Ukraine on Saturday May 26. It is between the most successful team in the competition, defending champions, Real Madrid of Spain and Liverpool Football Club of England.
Real Madrid is the most successful in the competition\’s history, having won it 12 times, including its first five seasons. Liverpool, on the other hand, is Britain\’s most successful team in the Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, competitions. Since 1964, they have won eleven European trophies, among which is the UEFA Champions Cup which they won five times, the last of which was in 2005.
On paper, Real Madrid has the edge, but we all know that football is not like Arithmetics where one plus one always equal two. There could be upsets, especially with the resurgence of those who Never Walk Alone. Liverpool\’s performance this season has been stellar with Mo Salah leading a deadly attack.
With the present form of Liverpool, they could derail the record which Real Madrid hopes to set in Kiev on Saturday, May 26 by being the first club to win the cup three consecutive times since the competition got rebranded in 1992. Whichever way we look at it, the final will be epic and tough, bringing out all the spark and fireworks from both teams with spectators getting value for their money.
UEFA Champions league was founded in 1955, and known as the European Champion Clubs Cup or simply European Cup. The pre-1992 competition was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to the champion clubs of each country. But now, the group stage has been added and allowing multiple entrants from certain countries.
Spanish clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories with 17 wins, followed by England and Italy with 12 wins apiece. England has the highest number of different winning teams with 5 clubs having won the title. The competition has been won by 22 different clubs, 12 of which won it more than once.
The reigning champions are Real Madrid who secured their 12th title in competition after defeating Juventus 4-1 in the 2017 final thus becoming the first team in the UEFA Champions League era to successfully defend their title. Can they defend it twice consecutively? That question will be answered in the 95yr old NSC Olimpiyski Stadium in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev on Saturday, May 26.
Super Eagles Vs Athletico Madrid
One of the giants in European club football and current champions of the UEFA Europa League, Ahtletico Madrid on Tuesday May 22 took on Nigeria\’s Team-2 Super Eagles, made of home-based players in an international friendly and First GOTV Max Cup at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Despite the big status and pedigree of the Spanish giants, which paraded icons such as Fernando Torres nicknamed El Nino, the homelads were not fazed as they drew the first blood through Kelechi Nwakali, but the Spaniards equalised and even went ahead to slot in their second goal through a header by Torres from a corner kick.
Our boys, when one thought they had no clue breaking Athletico\’s defence, found a way through Usman Mohammed who made a mincemeat of a Spanish defender, dribbling and leaving him sprawling on the turf before slotting the ball into the net for Nigeria\’s equaliser. Five minutes after, Garcias was left unmarked on our left flank, releasing a shot with his right foot to clinch the third and winning goal for Athletico Madrid.
The highlight of the entertaining encounter was that it was Fernando Torres\’s last match in Athletico Madrid colour. He was also presented with a beautiful bronze carving.
One thing I took away from the match is that Nigeria has a crop of young, good and talented footballers in the squad that faced Athletico Madrid and from there is a pool of Grade A Super Eagles to be drawn from.
As for our preparation for the World Cup in Russia, three international friendlies have been lined up for the Super Eagles. The first is billed for May 28 against DR Congo, the second against England in London on June 2, while the third friendly is against the Czech Republic on Wednesday June 6. But before that last match, the official list of 23 players to adorn the nation\’s colours would have been submitted to FIFA on Monday June 4, the deadline for all participating countries to submit names their players- 23 each.
European soccer season ends
The league series have ended in Europe, leaving the footballers free to compete in the World Cup and to seek for greener pastures and better contracts for next season.
Manchester City topped in England, Barcelona in Spain, PSG in France and Juventus in Italy for the 7th consecutive season. Bayern Munich are champions in Germany, FC Porto in Portugal and PSV Eindhoven in Holland.
When will the Nigerian Premier league end? I am not sure because the organizers might decide to put off the league for one holiday or the other.
However, it is not looking good for Sunshine Stars of Akure who are in relegation waters, second from bottom of the 20-team league, garnering 24 points from a maximum 66 points, won 7, drew 6 and lost 9 from 22 matches. There could still be hope of escaping relegation if they buck up in their remaining 16 matches.
Catch you next week. All the best.
