Sport
UEFA Explains Tie-Breaker Rules for New Champions League Format
UEFA has clarified how teams tied on points will be ranked in the new 36-team Champions League league phase. This season, the traditional group stage is replaced with a league format where each team plays eight matches. The top eight teams automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in play-offs. Teams finishing 25th to 36th are eliminated.
To separate teams tied on points, UEFA will use criteria such as goal difference, goals scored, and away wins. If these don’t resolve ties, teams will be ranked alphabetically by their abbreviated names. This system ensures transparency as fans anticipate the competition’s new format.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is not at risk of being sacked despite their 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Sky Sports reports that the club still sees Amorim as a key part of their long-term plans.
Even though United missed out on an automatic Champions League spot, the defeat won’t affect their faith in the 40-year-old coach. After the match in Bilbao, Amorim said he would step down immediately without asking for compensation if both the club’s board and fans no longer supported him.
Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in November when United were 13th in the league. Since then, the team has slipped three more places, hovering just above the relegation zone. They have also been knocked out of all three cup competitions this season.
Lionel Messi has revealed the goal he holds dearest out of the hundreds he’s scored in his legendary career. The Inter Miami forward, now 38, picked his header against Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final as his personal favorite.
Messi, who has found the net over 800 times while playing for Argentina, Barcelona, PSG, and now Inter Miami, said that despite scoring more beautiful and important goals, the one in Rome stands out for him. “That header in the Champions League final has always been my favorite,” he said.
The goal, which came as Barcelona’s second in their 2-0 win over United, saw a much shorter Messi rise above Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to beat goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. The moment not only sealed a memorable win for Barça but also helped Messi secure his first Champions League trophy with the Spanish giants. It’s now considered one of the most unforgettable goals in the tournament’s history.
Ademola Lookman is expected to play his last match for Atalanta this Sunday. The Italian club will face Parma in their final game of the 2024/25 season at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. Reports from Gazzetta dello Sport say Atalanta are open to offers for the Nigerian winger, who joined the team from RB Leipzig in 2022.
The club is said to be willing to sell Lookman for around €40 million. This season, Lookman has been impressive, scoring 20 goals and assisting seven times in 39 appearances across all competitions.
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