Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon received the UEFA President’s Award at the Champions League draw in Monaco, a recognition of his extraordinary career. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin lauded Buffon as the greatest goalkeeper of all time, highlighting his exceptional contributions to the sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football legend, was awarded a special UEFA award for his remarkable achievements in the Champions League. He holds numerous records in the competition, including being the only player to win it five times and the top scorer of all time. Ronaldo expressed his gratitude and reflected on his memorable moments in the prestigious tournament.
Lille secured their place in the Champions League group stage despite a 2-1 loss to Slavia Prague in the second leg of their playoff. Other teams securing qualification include Red Star Belgrade, Slovan Bratislava, and Dinamo Zagreb.
Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade, historic rivals from the former Yugoslavia, have secured their places in the Champions League group stage, setting the stage for a potential first meeting in 33 years. The draw for the new format league phase, which starts in September, could pit the two clubs against each other. The Champions League has undergone a significant revamp, abandoning the traditional group stage in favor of a single league standings format.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be honored by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin for his exceptional achievements in the Champions League, including a record 140 goals in 183 appearances. The award will be presented during the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League draw ceremony in Monaco.
Young Boys and Sparta Prague secured their places in the Champions League’s new league phase after wins in their second leg playoff matches. Young Boys defeated Galatasaray 1-0, while Sparta Prague beat Malmo 2-0. Meanwhile, Salzburg advanced after a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kyiv.
Jose Mourinho’s ambition to lead Fenerbahce into the Champions League has been thwarted after they were eliminated in the third qualifying round by Lille. Lille secured a 1-1 draw in extra time thanks to a late penalty, sending them through to the group stages.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce suffered their first defeat under his leadership, losing 2-1 to Lille in the Champions League third-round qualifying first leg. Edon Zhegrova’s injury-time goal secured the victory for Lille, despite Irfan Kahveci’s equalizer. Fenerbahce now face a difficult task to overturn the deficit in the second leg at home. Meanwhile, Rangers earned a crucial 1-1 draw at Dynamo Kyiv, while other matches saw draws and wins across Europe.
Borussia Dortmund has strengthened their defense by signing German international Waldemar Anton from VfB Stuttgart. Anton, who was a key player in Stuttgart’s impressive second-place finish in the Bundesliga last season, joins Dortmund on a four-year contract.
Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea after a disappointing season in which the club failed to secure qualification for the Champions League. Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League standings, were beaten finalists in the English League Cup, and reached the semifinals of the FA Cup. Pochettino leaves Chelsea after just one season in charge, having failed to end his search for a first trophy in English soccer after spells with Southampton and Tottenham previously.
