MIKEL ARTETA THINKS ARSENAL WERE ROBBED IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

 

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta 

Mikel Arteta couldn’t understand why the incident involving Nuno Mendes and Noni Madueke didn’t result in Arsenal being awarded what could and probably would have been a decisive penalty in the Champions League final defeat to PSG.

Arsenal fell to PSG in the penalty shoot-out, though in Arteta’s mind, it was the penalty in normal time and another that wasn’t given that are the real talking points from Budapest.

Arsenal’s rearguard across the entire 120-plus minutes were only breached from the penalty spot. Cristhian Mosquera bundled over Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box to tee up Ousmane Dembele to cancel out Kai Havertz’s opener during regular time.

However, the Gunners and Arteta believed they should have been awarded a penalty of their own when substitute Madueke took a tumble under pressure from Mendes in the first period of extra time. The incident can be viewed here.

Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, Arteta couldn’t wrap his head around why different decisions were made for what he perceived to be two very similar incidents.

Mikel Arteta angered by non-awarding of penalty

He bemoaned: “I watch it back and [Mendes on Madueke] could easily be a penalty. Especially when we see the penalty they gave me this year in the competition.

“This season, the referee made a decision, and he made a different one with Cristhian Mosquera and that is an important one.”

During his post-match press conference, Arteta again took umbrage at the perceived difference in officiating.

He said: “When something had to go our way, especially in the boxes with the penalty that was given against Mosquera and then no penalty to Madueke, those didn’t go for us.”

Speaking about the game in general, the Spaniard told TNT Sports: “Yes, it is very tough to accept when you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final and in the end you lose the trophy on penalty kicks, so it is a difficult one.”

He later added: “We haven’t done it for 22 years [reached the Champions League final], so imagine the second time in our history that we have done it, and we need to recognise the season we had, but at the moment nobody is going to take the pain away from you.”

On PSG, who have now gone back-to-back in the UCL, Arteta said: “They are a superb team and I congratulate them. Individual quality they have, the manner they are coached, they are a top, top team.

“You have to go through the emotions and if you’re in pain, then go through the pain.

"Think you could do something else, then learn from it. Reflect on that and show the ambition that we want to have again.”

On what message he has for his players, Arteta concluded: “That I am so proud of them, with this season we have had under the circumstances. Internally, we know what we have been through.

"It is just a privilege to manage this group of players and this team the way they carry this badge and how much they put into it. We got a big one [Premier League] and missed out on the biggest one.”

- Steve Pearson

VINCENT KOMOANY FUMES AT 'RIDICULOUS' HANDBALL CALLS THAT LED TO BAYERN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT

Imago/Ulmer/Teamforo

Vincent Kompany unleashed a blistering attack on the officiating after Bayern Munich’s Champions League dreams were ended by Paris Saint-Germain. The Belgian tactician watched his side fall to a 6-5 aggregate defeat at the Allianz Arena, but the post-match talk was dominated by two massive handball calls that went against the Bavarian giants.

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Vitinha smashes ball against Neves' arm

Bayern Munich’s elimination from the Champions League semi-finals following a tense 1-1 draw on the night was overshadowed by a series of controversial decisions. With a spot in the final against Arsenal on the line, the tension boiled over as the German side felt they were denied clear advantages.

The most debated moment arrived when Vitinha’s attempted clearance struck the outstretched arm of teammate Joao Neves inside the PSG box. Despite the Bayern players surrounding referee Joao Pinheiro in protest, no penalty was awarded. The decision stood because the current Laws of the Game protect players from handball calls when the ball is struck onto them by a teammate from close range, provided no immediate goal is scored. It was a bitter pill for Bayern to swallow, especially given the soft penalty they conceded in the first leg.

Getty Images Sport

Kompany hits out at 'ridiculous' handball rule

The Bayern Munich manager did not hold back after seeing his side dumped out of the competition, questioning the "common sense" of the officials monitoring the high-stakes clash.

“We have to look at some of the phases that were decided by the officials across the two games which… it’s never an excuse for everything but it matters,” Kompany said in his post-match assessment. “If we look at both legs probably too much went against us. The guys gave everything and we tried against a fantastic PSG team. [Joao Neves’] hand is in the air, it hits it. Because it’s from his own teammate it’s not a penalty. But if you look at both [situations], a little bit of common sense and it’s just ridiculous. Whatever needs to happen but it’s ridiculous. It doesn’t tell the whole game but it’s a one-goal game in the end.”

Nuno Mendes escapes red card

Kompany’s frustration was heavily compounded by an earlier flashpoint involving PSG defender Nuno Mendes, when the Portuguese international appeared to handle the ball deliberately to stop a Bayern attack. Already on a yellow card, Mendes seemed destined to be sent off. Instead, the referee awarded a free-kick to the visitors for an earlier infringement.

It was a moment that left the home crowd incensed. Bayern were already chasing the game against 11 men after Ousmane Dembele had given PSG the lead after just 141 seconds, and they firmly believed they deserved a numerical advantage. Commenting on the incident, Kompany suggested the official bottled a monumental decision: “I felt he pulled out because he realised he already gave him a yellow and he didn’t want to send him off for that.”

- Muhammad Zaki

MOST VALUABLE DEFENDERS IN THE WORLD | SOCCER ⚽

 

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The Most Valuable Defenders in the World:

1️⃣🇫🇷 William Saliba — £78M

2️⃣🇪🇸 Pau Cubarsí — £70M

3️⃣🇲🇦 Achraf Hakimi — £70M

4️⃣🇮🇹 Alessandro Bastoni — £70M

5️⃣🇵🇹 Nuno Mendes — £65M

6️⃣🇧🇷 Gabriel Magalhães — £65M

7️⃣🇳🇱 Dean Huijsen — £61M

8️⃣🇪🇨 Willian Pacho — £61M

9️⃣🇭🇷 Joško Gvardiol — £61M

🔟🇳🇱 Jurriën Timber — £61M

1️⃣1️⃣🇫🇷 Dayot Upamecano — £61M

1️⃣2️⃣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Trent Alexander-Arnold — £61M

1️⃣3️⃣🇳🇱 Micky van de Ven — £57M

1️⃣4️⃣🇫🇷 Jules Koundé — £57M

1️⃣5️⃣🇪🇸 Álvaro Carreras — £52M

1️⃣6️⃣🇪🇸 Alejandro Balde — £52M

1️⃣7️⃣🇦🇷 Cristian Romero — £52M

1️⃣8️⃣🇵🇹 Rúben Dias — £52M

1️⃣9️⃣🇧🇷 Murillo — £48M

2️⃣0️⃣🇫🇷 Leny Yoro — £48M

2️⃣1️⃣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Marc Guéhi — £48M

2️⃣2️⃣🇩🇪 Nico Schlotterbeck — £48M

2️⃣3️⃣🇪🇨 Piero Hincapié — £44M

2️⃣4️⃣🇺🇦 Ilya Zabarnyi — £44M

2️⃣5️⃣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Levi Colwill — £44M

WHY FIVE PSG SUPERSTARS WILL MISS BALLON D'OR CEREMONY BUT OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ COULD STILL ATTEND

Five PSG stars who have been nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or are set to miss the ceremony tomorrow, but the favourite, Ousmane Dembele, could still attend the event.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place tomorrow evening at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

With such a prestigious event taking place, only one game in Europe’s top five leagues was originally scheduled to take place tomorrow – Napoli vs Pisa.

However, PSG’s clash with Marseille has been pushed back to Monday night, meaning that it now clashes with the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The game was originally supposed to take place on Sunday, but has been postponed due to weather conditions in the south of France.

PSG boss Luis Enrique had already named his squad to take on Marseille and it featured five players who have been nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Providing that Enrique doesn’t change his squad for Monday, here are the five PSG players who are set to miss the Ballon d’Or ceremony, in order to play against Marseille.

Achraf Hakimi

The Moroccan full-back was named in Enrique’s squad to face Marseille and will be forced to miss the Ballon d’Or ceremony this year.

During 2025-26, he’s featured in all four of PSG’s league matches and will be needed on Monday night when they face their bitter rivals.

Given the campaign that he had last season, the right-back is expected to pick up plenty of votes and could potentially place in the top 10.

Nuno Mendes

Like Hakimi, Mendes would’ve originally planned to attend the Ballon d’Or event in Paris on Monday. However, his services will be needed in Marseille instead.

It’s the first time that the Portuguese star has ever been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, but he won’t get the chance to attend the event this year.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Kvaratskhelia had one hell of a season in 2024-25 and his Ballon d’Or nomination came as no surprise.

He technically won two league titles, having played a role in Napoli winning Serie A and PSG winning Ligue 1.

After playing a starring role in PSG’s Champions League triumph last season, Kvaratskhelia is expected to place in the top 10 this year.

Fabian Ruiz

Ruiz has established himself as a key performer for both PSG and Spain in recent years and his Balllon d’Or nomination came as no surprise.

His agent, Rodolfo Odrie, even thinks that the Spaniard would be a worthy winner of the award this year.

“It would be justified,” Odrie told L’Equipe when commenting on Ruiz and his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.

“He’s won almost every competition he’s played in over the last two years. With PSG, he’s won everything. He’s an indisputable starter for club and country, with a very high level of performance and irreproachable individual behavior.

“I know that with his personality, the fact that he doesn’t like to put himself forward, he doesn’t always get the consideration he should, but it would be unfair not to think of him, given everything he’s achieved.”

Vitinha

Of all of the PSG players who are set to miss the ceremony on Monday, Vitinha is expected to place the highest.

He was integral to PSG’s success in Europe last season and his triumph with Portugal in the Nations League added another feather to his cap.

In our Ballon d’Or power ranking, we’ve placed Vitinha fourth, although some have suggested that he could finish in the top three. Watch this space.

- Ben Stewart

RONALDO GOAL SENDS PORTUGAL TO THE FINAL OF THE NATIONS LEAGUE

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 137th international goal for Portugal as they came from a goal down to beat Germany and reach the Nations League final.

The 40-year-old tapped in Nuno Mendes' low pass in the 68th minute for what proved to be the winner and set up a final against either France or Spain.

Ronaldo's effort came just five minutes after Francisco Conceicao had cancelled out a 48th-minute Florian Wirtz opener for the hosts.

Portugal won the first tournament in 2019, but their hopes of a second success looked slim when they fell behind in Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen forward Wirtz, close to completing a £109m move to Premier League champions Liverpool, headed Germany in front, connecting with a clever lofted ball over the defence by Joshua Kimmich, who was making his 100th appearance.

Portugal were furious the goal was allowed to stand as they thought German debutant Nick Woltemade had blocked off defender Ruben Dias and, despite referee Slavko Vincic being advised to watch the incident again on a pitchside monitor, the strike was allowed to stand.

But substitute Conceicao scored a fine 63rd-minute equaliser.

Having only come on five minutes earlier, he collected the ball close to the right touchline before running at the home defence and curling an excellent finish past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

Ronaldo, unmarked from close range, added the decisive second goal to turn the tie around, although Germany nearly forced extra time when Karim Adeyemi's strike hit the post.

France and Spain play the second semi-final in Stuttgart on Thursday, with the final in Munich on Sunday.

- Michael Emons

KHVICHA KVARATSKHELIA GENIUS HELPS GIVE PSG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EDGE AGAINST ASTON VILLA

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored one of the great Champions League goals as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

PSG beat Aston Villa in Champions League match
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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored one of the great Champions League goals as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday. Morgan Rogers had given Villa a 35th-minute lead at the Parc des Princes to silence the home fans, but PSG were quickly back level through a fine strike by Desire Doue. Kvaratskhelia then took centre stage with a stunning effort on 49 minutes, before Nuno Mendes added a crucial third in stoppage time, giving PSG a significant two-goal cushion to take into the return in Birmingham next Tuesday.

Having eliminated Liverpool in the last 16, Luis Enrique's team are now in a very strong position to reach the semi-finals for the second season running.

"We are happy with this result but we have to keep going because there is the second game and the job is not finished," Kvaratskhelia told broadcaster Canal Plus, before claiming he could not clearly recall his sublime goal.

"It was was OK. I didn't remember it exactly but now I will check inside so I will see if it was quite good."

Villa, who had Prince William in the Paris crowd backing them along with his son George, will need to produce a memorable fightback at home if they are to make the last four of Europe's elite club competition for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 1982.

"We managed to get the opening goal which is about the hardest thing to do, but we were up against a great team. You have to admit that," Lucas Digne told Canal Plus.

"They produced moments of brilliance. Now we have to do the job in the return. We will have to open up a bit more but it is still doable."

Villa can perhaps take inspiration from what happened the last time their coach Unai Emery faced Luis Enrique in the Champions League.

Back in 2017, Emery's PSG thumped Barcelona 4-0 at home in the first leg of a last-16 tie, only to collapse at the Camp Nou and lose 6-1 to Luis Enrique's Catalans.

The latter, now hoping to lead PSG to their first Champions League crown, was without suspended skipper Marquinhos here and also left Bradley Barcola on the bench for the first time in this European campaign.

That meant Doue and Kvaratskhelia completed the home attack along with leading scorer Ousmane Dembele.

Villa came into this game on a run of seven straight wins in all competitions, as Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, started as a substitute against his parent club.

The visitors were happy to sit back and the first half took place almost exclusively in their half, with Dembele setting the tone from a sizzling early strike which was tipped over by Emiliano Martinez.

The Argentinian goalkeeper, a hero for his country in the 2022 World Cup final against France, was loudly jeered throughout and had a busy night.

However, Villa snatched the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute.

Captain John McGinn robbed Mendes just inside the Villa half and picked out Marcus Rashford on the left. He then slipped in Youri Tielemans whose ball across the face of goal left Rogers with an easy finish.

PSG hit back quickly, with Martinez nearly spilling a Doue shot over the line before the equaliser came from the resulting corner.

The hosts worked the ball from right to left to Doue, who stepped towards the penalty area before curling a wonderful shot beyond Martinez into the far corner.

It was the latest moment of magic from the 19-year-old, who recently won his first France cap, but his strike was eclipsed by that of Kvaratskhelia as the Georgian put PSG ahead four minutes after half-time.

Emery replaced Matty Cash at half-time with the right-back having been booked for a foul on Kvaratskhelia.

Axel Disasi came on but had no answer as Kvaratskhelia was released on the left by Fabian Ruiz and advanced into the box.

The former Napoli winger mesmerised Disasi as he rolled his studs over the ball before smashing a thunderous shot past Martinez, in off the near post.

Villa sent on a raft of substitutes including Asensio as they tried to find a way back into the game, while Achraf Hakimi had an effort disallowed for the hosts.

Dembele then released Mendes to round Martinez and make it 3-1 in stoppage time, leaving PSG with one foot in the semi-finals. 

- Agence France-Presse

WHY PORTUGAL'S RELIANCE ON CRISTIANO RONALDO COST THEM

After Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2024 by France, the major question mark is whether Portugal were over-reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

 HAMBURG, Germany -- Cristiano Ronaldo stood amongst his teammates, hands on hips, lips pursed, eyes looking out into the Portuguese crowd behind the goal.

Rúben Dias and Nuno Mendes, the warriors who had blunted France star Kylian Mbappé, co-led the applause. Ronaldo joined in and then turned to embrace Pepe, his sidekick in so many battles, the older brother facing his curtain call at 41 years of age. Pepe sobbed, Ronaldo whispered in his ear.

At that moment, Ronaldo looked just like any other of his Portugal teammates, united in disappointment. He did not look like Cristiano Ronaldo, GOAT candidate. And maybe, if Portugal boss Roberto Martinez had picked up on this sooner, we'd be telling a different tale.

It seemed as if Martinez -- by playing Ronaldo in every minute of every game of this tournament (bar the final 25 minutes against Georgia) -- was more concerned with giving him opportunity after opportunity to write another glorious chapter in his stellar career than he was with actually giving Portugal the best possible chance of winning.

The numbers are cold and merciless. Ronaldo took 23 shots in this tournament, the second most by any player failing to score in the Euros since the group stage format was introduced in 1980. His expected goals of 3.51 without finding the net are the most ever at a major men's tournament since 1980.

Maybe Martinez looked at this, remembered that Ronaldo had scored in every major tournament he had played in (five World Cups and five Euros) and told himself: "Hey, he's clearly due." If that's what happened, he's like the guy who bets on the Washington Generals to beat the Harlem Globetrotters because "they're due."

Yes, Ronaldo was coming off a prolific season in the Saudi Pro League and yes, regression to a mean is a thing and it's entirely possible that, over time, he would have caught up with his xG. But that's the key: time. It's a knockout tournament, stumble and there is no tomorrow. And even the GOATs have dry spells.

And it's not just the numbers, it's what Martinez's eyes and brain were telling him (or should have been telling him).

Yes, he had built a framework around Ronaldo that maximized his strengths and masked his weaknesses as best he could. Rafael Leão, out on the left wing, stayed high when Portugal defended, so there would always be a speedster for the "out ball" if needed. Bruno Fernandes was given licence to shadow into the box, almost like a second striker. Bernardo Silva and João Cancelo would offer crosses from the right. Even the corner kicks, with Pepe and Ronaldo tying up the opposing centre-backs, seemed designed for him.

It worked in qualifying; heck, it worked against France for much of the game (though this might have had a lot to do with Didier Deschamps' conservatism) as Portugal generated the better chances. But at some point, surely it must have dawned on Martinez just how much of a strain Ronaldo's lack of mobility out of possession was putting on his midfield and how many opportunities he was failing to convert.

It might have dawned on Ronaldo, too. Early in the first period of extra time, Francisco Conceição tore past an opponent and cut it back for him at the near post. A young Ronaldo would have calmly met the ball and guided it into the top corner. Old Ronaldo sent it sailing over the bar.

Moments later, out of the blue, he went on a one-man pressing rampage, summoning energy out of the ether and sprinting at Dayot Upamecano, who brushed him aside and booted the ball away. In the old days, Ronaldo would have gotten to the ball before Upamecano, spun around him and buried it past Mike Maignan. And in the unlikely event they got there at the same time, it would have been Upamecano bouncing off him, not the other way around.

But to quote Slim Charles from "The Wire": "The thing about the old days is... they the old days."

- Gab Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

PORTUGAL COAST INTO EURO 3-0 VICTORY OVER TURKEY

Cristiano Ronaldo contributed to Portugal's 3-0 win over Turkey with an assist

 Bernardo Silva's first goal at a major tournament, a calamitous own goal from Samet Akaydin and a Bruno Fernandes tap-in gave Portugal a comfortable 3-0 win over Turkey on Saturday to guarantee qualification for the last 16 as Group F winners.

Silva gave Portugal the lead in the 21st minute, rifling home after Nuno Mendes' cross deflected kindly into his path before Akaydin failed to look and passed the ball beyond onrushing goalkeeper Altay Bayindir seven minutes later.

Fernandes effectively ended the contest after 56 minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo -- who could have become the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history -- selflessly passed to his former Manchester United teammate to tap home.

The victory secures Portugal's progress while Turkey must avoid defeat on Wednesday to the Czech Republic, who drew 1-1 with Georgia earlier on Saturday, to be certain of qualifying for the knockout rounds.

"In general, I don't think we played a bad game," Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella told Turkish TV. "We were closer to scoring a goal in the first 20 minutes. Against these types of opponents, if you don't find a goal in the first minutes everything becomes harder."

Portugal started sharply and were unfazed by the deafening whistles from Turkey's supporters when in possession, with Ronaldo drawing an easy save from Bayindir inside two minutes.

Turkey -- who had lost all three of their previous European Championship games against Portugal without scoring -- set up more defensively after they gave up multiple chances to tournament debutants Georgia in their opening match.

They nonetheless often played out from the back and the gamble almost paid off after 20 minutes, but 41-year-old defender Pepe's last-man challenge stopped Orkun Kokcu from breaking clear.

Portugal scored shortly after through a quick break down the left, when Mendes played a dangerous ball across goal which Silva turned home for his first major tournament goal in his 15th game at either the World Cup or European Championship.

A defensive mix-up doubled their lead when Bayindir, who was in the side for Mert Gunok, wandered out of his goal to collect a misplaced pass from Joao Cancelo towards Ronaldo.

But, as Ronaldo and Cancelo remonstrated, Akaydin played a no-look backpass which rolled past Bayindir in slow motion and evaded Zeki Celik's desperate slide to cross the line.

Kerem Akturkoglu forced a great save from Diogo Costa almost immediately after, but Turkey otherwise created precious few chances.

The second half started in subdued fashion before substitute Ruben Neves played a long pass over the top, which fell to Ronaldo who had the goal at his mercy.

Portugal's captain instead laid the ball on a plate for Fernandes to score the simplest of goals, giving Ronaldo the most European Championship assists to go with his records for goals and appearances in the tournament.

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez described Ronaldo's decision to provide an assist rather than go for goal himself as "a pure moment of Portugese football".

"That's an example that should be shown in every academy," he added.

The game petered out even after Turkey boss Vincenzo Montella introduced teenage star Arda Guler, who had scored the decisive goal in Turkey's opening game but started on the bench due to concerns over his fitness.

Turkey pressed late on for a goal that would not have changed the result but would have improved their goal difference, which could prove crucial if they lose to the Czech Republic and need to qualify from third place.

But the end of the match was marred by several pitch invaders, all of whom made a beeline for a selfie with Ronaldo -- who appeared to pose for a picture with the first, but became increasingly frustrated with stoppages to the game.

- Sam Tobin