UCL knockout round set, FIFA's new ball and January transfer madness
Kick your Monday off with all the news from this past weekend
Good morning! We welcome a new month with plenty of news.
The Champions League knockout stages have thrown up a blockbuster clash: Defending champions Real Madrid will face Manchester City once again.
After years of thrilling battles, the two European heavyweights renew their rivalry in what promises to be another electrifying series.
At the same time, get ready for this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup — with a fresh new ball to boot. Adidas has unveiled a bold red, white and blue design that celebrates the host nation U.S.
These two developments, all the action from Europe’s top leagues and the latest on the closing hours of the January transfer market are all here for you:
UCL: Man City-Real Madrid square off once again
Defending European champions Real Madrid will renew their Champions League rivalry with 2023 winners Manchester City in a blockbuster knockout phase playoff series after the two teams were pitted against each other.
The was the biggest talking point to emerge from UEFA’s UCL knockout stage draw held in Nyon on Friday.
Both Real and City failed to advance automatically to the last 16 as one of the top eight sides after they finished 11th and 22nd, respectively, in the new league-phase format.
“It feels like a derby already, four years in a row facing Real Madrid,” Man City manager Pep Guardiola told reporters. “But Bayern or Madrid, both were really tough. Hopefully we can arrive in the first leg here and then at Madrid as best as possible.”
Click here to view the complete draw.
CWC: FIFA’s expanded tournament gets a new ball
FIFA’s put out a new ball — and this one is an homage to America.
The official match ball for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup — a red, white and blue one designed by Adidas — has been unveiled to honor the United States, the tournament's host country.
“We wanted to create a ball which pays tribute to the USA’s infamous sporting culture and fandom,” said Sam Handy, who serves as general manager of Adidas Football. “With this came a clear ambition to create something bold, loud, iconic and unmistakably American. It’s a true celebration of the host nation and we’re excited to see it perform on the world’s biggest stage this summer.”
The ball that will be used during tournament matches also features “Connected Ball Technology,” which sends real-time data to the VAR system.
The revamped FIFA Club World Cup will feature 24 club teams from across the globe. The tournament starts on June 14 and concluded July 13 with the final at MetLife Stadium in suburban New York.
January transfers: Who else will move this winter?
The January transfer window never seems to produce the same level of excitement as the summer one.
This current window — which concluded Monday — could be different.
Here are the top three transfers from this winter with 24 hours left in the window:
1. Jhon Duran (Aston Villa to Al Nassr) — $80.2 million
Considering Chelsea and several European giants have been linked with Duran, it’s pretty disappointing that the 21-year-old has opted for Saudi big bucks.
2. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain) — $72 million
The French club got their man, but who will Napoli sign to replace him? Alejandro Garnacho? Karim Adeyemi? No one?
3. Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt to Manchester City) — $70 million
It’s a large amount for Man City to spend, but Guardiola sure hopes the investment on the striker can results in lots of goals in the second half of the season.
Click here to keep up with all the latest transfer news.
In other news: Mohamed Salah’s double helped Liverpool pass a huge test of its Premier League title credentials after winning on Saturday at in-form Bournemouth 2-0 and to hold a six-point lead over Arsenal. But Arsenal responded on Sunday by trouncing Manchester City 5-1 to keep the pressure on. … Napoli kept its three-point lead over Inter Milan atop the Serie A table, but squandered a chance to extend it after playing Roma to a 1-1 road draw on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Inter Milan snatched a 1-1 draw against city rival AC Milan after Stefan de Vrij scored a last-gasp goal to secure what could prove to be a precious point. … Bayern Munich managed to grab a 4-3 victory against Holstein Kiel after being four goals up. Harry Kane marked his 50th Bundesliga appearance with a brace to stay six points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table.