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Cristiano Ronaldo has a lot of personal achievements to his name for both club and country. The player has been able to amass a host of accolades during his footballing career, while most of them are personal, he also has collective records with his club and team members.

The player seems to make and break records so frequently we cannot even keep count of his achievements. Despite his age (33) years, he is showing no signs of slowing down and continues to impress at the most elite level.

Although the Portuguese and Real Madrid Legend has numerous records to his name, there are some that holds more weight than others. The sheer size of Ronaldo’s record haul is quite impressive but not all are unbeatable.

Nonetheless, there are 4 of his records that we believe are amazing and are near impossible to be broken, hence our request for them to be in the Guinness Book of World Records. Here’s a look at these four records held by Ronaldo that we believe must be listed Bet9ja Promotion Code:

1. Winning every individual and team honor with two clubs
Cristiano Ronaldo while playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid CF has won the Ballon D’or, World Player of the Year, Golden Boot, Champions League, domestic league, domestic cup, World Club Championship, and domestic Super Cup.

Related: Ronaldo Subbed Off, Memphis, Van Dijk Score As Holland Spank Portugal

The closest player to ever achieve this is former Real Madrid and French international Zinedine Zidanne, who won almost every individual and team honour at both Juventus and Real Madrid but not all of them.

2. Scoring 300 La Liga goal in 286 games
Critics of Cristiano Ronaldo will contest this but since his arrival at the bernabeu in 2009, Ronaldo has been nothing short of a goal machine.

Sometimes he creates goals out of nothing, his positioning for an out and out striker is superb. The Real Madrid legend who is considered a goal poacher as devastated many goal keepers in La Liga netting 300 goals in 286 matches. Not only is this impressive, it is the quickest any player has achieved this feat.

3. Scoring 50 goals for 6 consecutive seasons in a Top-5 league
Cristiano Ronaldo has amassed a whopping 50 goals in 6 consecutive season for a top – 5 league, this is no mean feat as no other player has been able to go more than 50 goals in 3 consecutive seasons. When we say CR7 is a goat the numbers show it.

Not only is he the quickest player to score 300 La Liga goals he did it in style by scoring all these goal in 6 consecutive season, now that’s a mind blowing achievement.

Ronaldo’s six consecutive seasons where he hit at least 50 goals (All while playing for Real Madrid):

10/11: 54 apps 53 goals

11/12: 55 apps 60 goals

12/13: 55 apps 55 goals

13/14: 47 apps 51 goals

14/15: 54 apps 61 goals

15/16: 48 apps 51 goals

4. Scoring more than 10 Champions League goals in 7 consecutive seasons
No other player in history has shown this level of consistency in the Champions League. It is as if the Champions League was made for Ronaldo. Even when Real Madrid is under-performing in La Liga, they have shown great wealth of experience and formidability in the Champions League.

All other records are important, but they do not illustrate Ronaldo’s dominance without adding the Champions League achievements. Ronaldo has scored a whopping 10 goals in 7 consecutive Champions League matches.

To elucidate this point no other player has managed to score 10 goals in more than 2 seasons in the Champions League despite the competition being more than 60 years old.

In conclusion Cristiano Ronaldo (33) is still playing actively and has a contract which will see him in Real Madrid past his 35th birthday. It’s almost certain that he will extend his records, this is why we make a claim for his record to be listed in the Guinness World Record for the mere reason that they will be hard to break.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/these-4-cristiano-ronaldo-achievements-in-the-guinness-book-of-world-records/

The Adokiye Aimesimaka Stadium will host next month’s international friendly game between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their DR Congo counterparts, and this is official.

Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, announced this on Thursday after the state and the NFF struck an agreement for the Eagles to play their farewell game at the place where they started their journey to Russia in November 2015 when the Eagles defeated
Swaziland 2-0 to qualify for the third round of the African qualifiers.

Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike led the Rivers State team while the NFF team was led by its president, Amaju Pinnick, with Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr in attendance at the high-profile meeting held at the government house in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Iyaye told the media after the meeting that River State will ensure the Amiesimaka Stadium is ready for the game come May 28 and thanked the NFF for remembering that the Eagles started the World Cup journey in the Garden City.

“Governor Wike has done well in terms of funding national sporting events.He hosted the African Wrestling Championship on behalf of the Federal Government.

Now he is hosting the Super Eagles and Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the Federal Government. This is something that is worthy of commendation,” said Iyaye.

Pinnick commended the Rivers State Government and the people of the state for their unflinching support for the Super Eagles and expressed satisfaction with the state of facilities at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium.

“We are playing on the 28th of May, 2018 against the Democratic Republic of Congo. After the match, the Rivers State Governor will host the two teams to a dinner”, he said.

He said that the CAF President will watch the International Friendly in Port Harcourt.

“Everywhere is home to the Super Eagles. Lagos, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Kano, Kaduna or Minna. They are Super Eagles of Nigeria and every part is integral to the development of football,“ Pinick said.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/confirmed-port-harcourt-to-host-super-eagles-vs-dr-congo-friendly/

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he regrets his war of words with Arsene Wenger as his side prepare to host Arsenal in Sunday’s English Premier League game at Old Trafford.

Mourinho had called Wenger “a specialist in failure” and a “Viewer”, in the past while the Frenchman also insulted him.

“We had big matches, big fights, so thank you so much for that. Regret? Little negative episodes, yes I do and probably he also does,” Mourinho said during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“I always feel the biggest rivals are our biggest friends, because they’re the ones that pushed us to the limit and I think United fans know that, until 2004, for about a decade it was between United and Arsenal, it was between Sir Alex Ferguson and Mr Wenger, and I think that these great teams Arsenal had and the fight shoulder to shoulder.

“It made United better and better. I hope he has a good reaction [from United fans], if not good, not bad at all and from us as a club he is going to feel the respect we have.

“There are little things where it would be obviously better without them.

“Some gestures, some words, it would be better without it, I feel better now without it, no doubts about it.

“But again, when I arrived in England in 2004, Arsenal were the champions and the famous Invincibles. I arrived and for the next couple of years was with them – Bergkamp, Thierry, Campbell, an amazing team – so again thank you very much for that.”

He also said he hoped United’s supporters, who have been fairly vocal in their abuse of Wenger down the years, will treat the Arsenal manager with respect at the weekend.

“They pushed us to the limits, the two matches we played, not at the Emirates but at amazing old stadium, were unforgettable.”

The former Chelsea manager also dismissed reports linking David De Gea away from the club this summer, with Real Madrid set to try for him again.

“No chance,” said Mourinho when asked if there was any chance of De Gea leaving United.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/mourinho-regrets-verbal-attacks-on-wenger-insists-de-gea-wont-leave-united/

Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi believes the team can make history in Russia in June when the FIFA World Cup gets underway.

The Tianjin TEDA of China midfielder says the team will surprise the world by going farther than any Nigerian team has done in the competition.

”I think we are in a group where we can do something. It depends on our preparations and how much we want it, not just we have qualified let’s just go and play the World Cup.

”We want to make history, we want to do well. We want to make sure we go there believing we can beat Argentina, Croatia and Iceland,” Mikel told FIFA World Cup Russia Magazine.

Nigeria’s best placing in their previous four appearances at the competition was the second finish in 1994,1998 and 2014 and Mikel is confident the team will surpass that record.

The Eagles will open their campign on June 16 against Croatia at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad before playing Iceland six days later at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd.

Nigeria’s last game is against Argentina whom they have four times at the World Cup.The game will hold at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/mikel-super-eagles-can-make-history-in-russia/

The Supreme Court of Nigeria have not sacked the current board of the Nigerian Football Federation contrary to some reports on social media, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com [/url]reports.

According to NFF legal counsel, Festus Keyamo, the case has only been referred back to the court where it began.

Chris Giwa dragged the current NFF board to the Supreme Court after he was unsatisfied with an earlier unfavourable verdict from the Appeal Court and the Federal High Court, insisting that the mandate given to his alleged board at the Chida Hotel, Abuja by the congress of the NFF in August 2013 should be upheld.

But in a tweet from the official handle of the NFF quoting Keyamo on Friday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria explained the Supreme Court verdict.

“Nobody should cause unnecessary panic in Nigeria’s football,” Keyamo was quoted on the official Twitter handle of the NFF.

“That’s my case. Supreme Court DID NOT NULLIFY AMAJU ‘s Election.The Supreme Court did NOT remove Amaju from office.

“The Supreme Court only referred the case back to the Federal High Court to be tried properly to know which of the elections held in 2014 was right.

“Amaju was NOT a party to the case at the Supreme Court so the court could not have removed a party from office without joining the party and hearing from the party.”

Other NFF officials also clarified the ruling, insisting that their board is still in charge and Nigeria’s Russia 2018 World Cup plans are on course.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/keyamo-supreme-court-didnt-sack-pinnick-giwa-case-sent-back-to-high-court/

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that his side’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in Thursday night’s Europa League semi-final first leg tie at the Emirates Stadium “feels like an opportunity missed”.

The visitors went a man down after just 10 minutes when Sime Vrsaljko was dismissed for two yellow cards, and coach Diego Simeone was banished to the stands shortly afterwards.

The Gunners missed a number of goal-scoring chances in the game and took the lead through French forward Alexandre Lacazette in the 61st minute, only for Antoine Griezmann to level scores eight minutes from the end.

“Looking at the performance and the way the game went, it was the worst possible result for us, but we have to go there in a positive mood and qualify,” Wenger stated after the game.

“Unfortunately, we gave a goal away from nowhere but now we need to recover from the disappointment and prepare for the next game.

“Of course, it feels like an opportunity missed. We could have qualified tonight but it didn’t happen. Their keeper made a lot of saves and they showed their quality by scoring with one chance. But they couldn’t score with a combination, they could only do it with a long ball, so we have to look at ourselves.

“You don’t look at the statistics, you can only look at your own performance and we know we can score from anywhere. What matters is that we go there with the belief to do it.”

The return leg of the tie takes place at the Wanda Metropolitano next Thursday, with the winner set to face either Marseille or Red Bull Salzburg in the final.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/wenger-arsenal-draw-with-atletico-madrid-feels-like-missed-opportunity/

WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, has offered Anthony Joshua $50m (£35.9m) for a unification fight.

The proposed bout is expected to hold between September and December at a venue of Wilder’s choice.

Deontay who defeated Luis Ortiz in his last bout in March revealed in a video posted on Twitter that he expects Joshua to be a man of his words by accepting the offer.

“All the money is in the bag so I expect you will be a man of your word,” Wilder states in a video he posted on his Twitter handle in response to Joshua claiming he will accept a bout with the American for $50m.

“Tell Eddie Hearn to let you personally check his email this time. By the way, I sent your manager Rob McCracken the email as well.

“I am looking forward to our meeting in the ring.”

Meanwhile, Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel also confirmed to ESPN that an offer had been made to Joshua.

Finkel also added that the offer includes no rematch clause and that it would be the next fight for each boxer, taking place between September and December at a venue of Wilder’s choice.

New International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) World heavyweight title holder, Anthony Joshua is unbeaten in 21 bouts.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/wilder-offers-joshua-50m-for-unification-bout/

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Garba Lawal in this interview with [url]Completesportsnigeria. com[/url]’s recalls his France 1998 World Cup experience and predicts the current Gernot Rohr’s team’s chances at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer.

You played at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, could you share your experience with us?

It was a memorable one. Every player’s dream is to play at the World Cup and I was lucky to have represented Nigeria at the 1998 edition in France. The opening game against Spain will go down as one of the greatest comeback wins we recorded in the history of the tournament. I provided an assist and scored the leveler for the team before Sunday Oliseh sealed it with that wonderful goal.

We had so many talented players in that squad at that time. If you made that Nigeria’s1998 squad, you must thank God for that because there were lots of exceptional players around then who were playing weekly for their respective clubs and that’s why lots of great players cry and regret when they miss the World Cup.

It meant the world to me and I won’t ever forget that I scored against one of the best goalkeepers (Andoni Zubizarreta) in the world at that time and in the history of Spanish football in general.

What are the chances of the Super Eagles doing well in Russia this summer, considering the kind of Group D opponents they will confront?

We have a good chance like the other teams. It’s not going to be easy for the Super Eagles, but we must be clinical. We must win games to go far in the tournament which is important. Our opening game against Croatia is a must win if we are to stand a chance of making it to the next round.

We have seen Gernot Rohr’s midfield in different formations with different players. In your opinion, which players are the best for the Super Eagles in that position?

We both are not in the counsel of the coach. The manager will tell us through his selections. My opinion won’t change anything, neither yours. All I know is we need experience to excel in Russia. Mikel Obi is aging, but he has experience in abundance. The way he plays now can’t be compared to the way he started out. It’s normal that he can’t play 90 minutes at this level now consistently. His exposure at the biggest stage in football is key to our success in Russia. I hope the younger players will help him in the middle.

Who else do you think will complement Mikel’s experience in the midfield?

The likes of Ogenyi Onazi and Wilfred Ndidi can provide solid defensive cover for Mikel to be free to operate well behind the striker. The pair also can provide shield for the centre-backs. That will be a solid paring in my opinion, but the coach will decide.

In terms of creativity, the burden falls on Mikel. Do you think our team can compete against the likes of Croatia’s Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Ever Banega and the likes?

I won’t give a straight answer because that is down to the talent this current generation have produced. The 1994 and 1998 squads never depended on any player to get going when it got tough. But now when a player is out of the team due to one reason or the other, there’s problem, Nigeria start panicking. Then we had two quality players in every position and you can call on any player to fill in the void, but now, we will start thinking. Same cannot be said of this current squad.

By now we should know who is in and who is out judging from the consistency of our players at club level and what they have done during the course of the qualifiers. We don’t have those kind of consistent players anymore. Creativity is lacking, no doubt, but what we lack in that area we have in strength, power and hard work.

It baffles me most times. I wonder If the current crop of players ask themselves why many people still rate the 1994, 1996 and 1998 squad as the best Super Eagles team ever. They don’t show in their game that they want to leave a legacy behind with the way they play. There’s a problem already and they are comfortable dropping it at the feet of the coach. Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho can create chances, but can they compete with those names you called out?

Do Super Eagles depend on individual players in this current squad to win games?

Well, I believe football is a team game. Rohr will tell us that. But it’s obvious that when some players are missing, we struggle to hit the gear in games. The team struggles without Mikel, so that answers your question, but they need to be encouraged.

What formation will you rather suggest the Super Eagles deploy with the calibre of players Gernot Rohr has in the midfield?

You approach a game based on the strength of your opponent and the players you have at your disposal. So Rohr may decide to go with a 4-4-2, 4-1-4-1, 3-5-2 or 4-2-3-1.

Super Eagles also don’t have quality options in the striking role with Odion Ighalo as the team’s only recognized striker. Do you think he can deliver in Russia?

He is our best bet going into the World Cup. But the likes of Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho could also provide cover in that role as well. We need all these players to be in good shape for the World Cup.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/garba-lawal-how-eagles-should-play-to-leave-world-cup-legacy-in-russia/

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has pleaded with the Reds fans to show respect to the travelling fans of AS Roma outside the stadium when in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg clash at Anfield.

Liverpool fans attacked the Manchester City bus conveying players and broke windows as the visitors were making their way into Anfield for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Liverpool are bidding to reach their first UEFA Champions League final since they suffered defeat against AC Milan in 2007.

“Outside the stadium please show the respect we have to show. This is an outstanding football club known for its fantastic atmosphere, so we don’t need to throw things at the bus,” Klopp said during his pre-match conference on Monday ahead of the game.

“In the stadium do it again and better.

“Please show the respect that they deserve. We are only opponents on the pitch. Everyone knows what a wonderful place Rome is and not all people know how wonderful Liverpool is and we can show that in twenty minutes.”

Klopp was also pleased with Mohamed Salah who was crowned the Professional Footballers Association Player of the Year on Sunday.

“I’m really happy for Mo Salah winning the PFA Player of the Year and he can be proud of this fantastic achievement,” Klopp added.

“To win it when Kevin De Bruyne plays a season like he did, is even more special. The players know how difficult it is to score that many goals and be involved in that many goals so I think it’s deserved.”

He added that Salah is well prepared to face the Egyptian star’s former club.

“It is normal in football for players and managers to change clubs and play against their old colleagues. I had it against Borussia Dortmund two years ago.

“It’s a normal game but it feels quite special because you are more interested in the other team than you usually are. He became the player he is today thanks to Roma and credit must go to their players and staff for his development.

“Italian defenders are famous for not having friendly games so I think Mo (Salah) will know pretty soon that they are not his teammates anymore and then he can strike back in football terms.”

Klopp added that his opposite number at Roma, Eusebio Di Francesco, possesses same qualities as himself.

“We both wear glasses, we are bad shavers,” he said.

“We’ve gone in similar way to the big clubs, he started with smaller clubs and had some success, like we did.

“He loves football and that is obvious. He has a football playing side so maybe there are a few similarities but that doesn’t make it easier for him or me.

“I don’t think it makes sense for an Italian club to work with me because I can only order spaghetti in a restaurant.

“We will see what happens but not in the next four years for sure.”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/klopp-begs-liverpool-fans-not-to-stone-roma-bus-hails-special-salah/

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has stated that the Blues are not favourites to win the FA Cup after beating Southampton 2-0 in the semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.

Chelsea will face Manchester United in the final of the Cup on 19 May.

Second-half goals from Oliver Giroud and Alvaro Morata secured a second consecutive final for the dethroned English Premier League champions.

“The most important thing in this type of game is to reach your target, in this case the final of this competition,” Conte said during his post-match interview after his side’s triumph on Sunday.

“This final will be a game between two great teams. Last season we arrived in the final as favourites; this season we will arrive not as favourites, but last season we lost the final despite being favourites at that moment.

“It’s very important for the players, for the club and especially for our fans. I’m delighted for them. Always this season they showed great passion and pushed us in every moment, difficult moments and positive moments.”

The Italian explained why he started Giroud ahead of Morata. Giroud joined Chelsea in January in a deal worth £18m from Arsenal.

“He has been a good signing for us, for sure,” Conte explained. “I needed a player with his characteristics: strong physically, able to hold the ball up to allow our no.10 to make combinations with him.

“Morata is an important striker. He is younger than Olivier and has less experience. He is less strong physically, but he is very fast to attack the space. I’m pleased for both of them.

“I knew we had to play against three central defenders who are very strong physically, so I decided to start with Olivier, but when Morata came on his impact was impressive, in the same way as Pedro and Bakayoko’s impact was.”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/conte-chelsea-not-favourites-in-fa-cup-final-vs-united/

Nigeria star Victor Moses made his second FA Cup appearance this season for Chelsea who defeated Southampton 2-0 in the semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The game was Moses’ 33rd in all competitions this season for Chelsea who will face Manchester United in the final of the Cup on the 19th of May.

At the Emirates, Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi made his 22nd English Premier League appearance this season for Arsenal in Sunday’s 4-1 win over West Ham.

The game was Alex Iwobi’s 61st EPL appearance since he made his EPL debut against Swansea in October 2015 and his 30th win. Pierre-Emerick Aubamenyang replaced the Nigerian international in the 70th minute.

In the English Championship, Sammy Ameobi played all 90 minutes for Bolton Wanderers who slumped to a 4-0 defeat at home to English Premier League-bound side Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club of Carl Ikeme.

The game was Ameobi’s 33rd of the season. Bolton remain two points clear of the relegation zone, in 21st position, with 40 points from 44 games.

Super Eagles defender Ola Aina played for 44 minutes before he was replaced by Fikayo Tomori in Hull City’s 5-5 draw with Bristol City. The game was Aina’s 44th appearance this season for Hull in the English Championship.

In Spain, Brown Ideye came on for the last 10 minutes for relegated Malaga who strolled to a 2-0 home win over Real Sociedad. Goals from Adrian Gonzalez and Youssef En Nesiry sealed the win for Malaga. The game was Ideye’s 10th appearance in the Spanish LaLiga. He has scored one goal. Isaac Success who was an unused substitute has played six times.

The pair of Oghenekaro Etebo and Imoh Ezekiel were both handed their 11th and third starts of the LaLiga season for Las Palmas who suffered a 4-0 home defeat to Alaves. While Etebo saw 90 minutes of action, Ezekiel was replaced in the 71st minute of the defeat.

Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa bagged a second half brace to help CSKA Moscow come from a goal down to beat Kuban Krasnodar 2-1 in a Russian Premier League game on Sunday. The goal was Musa’s third in seven Russian Premier League games for CSKA Moscow.

Sylvester Igboun played all 90 minutes for FC UFA in Sunday’s goalless draw with Lokomotiv Moscow. The Nigerian international was cautioned in the 35th minute of the game.

In Germany, Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun was left out of FSV Mainz’s squad that lost 2-0 to Augsburg. Balogun has made 14 German Bundesliga appearances this season. Nigerian striker Anthony Ujah on his part replaced Quaison Robin for his fifth game of the season.

In the Slovakian League, former Nigerian youth international, Rabiu Ibrahim, bagged his first goal in the Fortuna Liga as Slovan Bratislava claimed a 3-1 win over his former team AS Trencin. The former Gent midfielder was replaced in the 78th minute in his 21st game of the season.

In Cyprus, Nosa Igiebor came on at half time to score his first goal for Anorthosis Famagusta in their 3-1 loss to Apollon Limassol. Igiebor was introduced in the 45th minute and he scored on 74 minutes.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/round-up-musa-igiebor-rabiu-on-target-aina-subbed-off-balogun-out/

Arsene Wenger is one of the most successful football managers in the world. He is considered to be the one to revolutionize English football, due to the successes and to the failures he has overcome over the years. Arsene French, but he still is the manager of Arsenal Football Club, since 1996. His skills are amazing, and that is why during the management of Arsene, Arsenal has been having the most number of titles won through all of these years, which is incredible.

Arsene is only following the footsteps of his father, that was also a manager of a local small team. However, Arsene got lucky and got hired by a superb football club. He has a nickname of “The Professor” from the French and also from the English media, because of the tactics he uses and because of his demeanor.

Everyone loves his tactics. When he started coaching, he would advocate the formation of 4—4-2, since that would be the way that the team would cover the most space on the field. He believes that his players should be free to play on the field, that’s why he allows them to follow their intuition during a match, because he thinks that when a player makes a mistake, he can learn from it, not repeating it in a future match anymore. This is something he has been highly criticize for, but also highly praised, especially because this is not common.

Wenger is definitely a controversial manager, because he has an amazing ambition and always had, which is why he has come such a long way, especially nowadays. He conquered the goal of getting to coach an incredible team, but something he also desires on a team is them having fun, giving the audience a show, which is great nowadays due to the possibility of betting online, especially when a team demonstrates to attack but never scores. However, Arsenal has the reputation of winning most games they play at.

When it comes to players, Wenger has an amazing way of turning a normal player that any team has, to an incredible one that only the major teams have, which is a huge difference. He has helped many players like Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Robin Van Persie, Francesc Fàbregas and many others. They have become world-class players thanks to Wenger and his coaching.

He knows what he is doing in every way when it comes to Arsenal. He is a superb strategist and there is an example. Nicolas Anelka was transferred from Paris Saint Germain for just 500£ thousand and when two years later Madrid wanted the player, he was transferred for the incredible amount of 22.3£ Million.

During the years, he has received many awards, especially of being the best manager. He has won Best Manager Premier League 10 times, Best Manager LMA 2 times, Best Manager France 2 times, Onze d’Or Coach of the Year 4 times, and many others.

He will leave a big vacuum in Arsenal that very few managers can fill. Though he left due to pressure from fans, there are also many people who love Wenger and how he coaches. He is definitely controversial, but always in a good way.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/arsene-wenger-a-tribute-to-epls-most-successful/

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hinted that the disunity among fans of the club was a factor in his impending exit.

The 68-year-old Frenchman announced on Friday he would step down at the end of the season after almost 22 years at the helm.

A section of Arsenal fans have turned on Wenger as they look set to miss out on a Premier League top-four spot for the second successive season. They finished fifth last season and ended up in the Europa League, in which they have reached the semi-finals.

“The image we gave from our club is not what it is and not what I like,” Wenger, 68, said in his post-match interview after the 4-1 Premier League win over West Ham.

The Gunners finished outside the top four last term for the first time since Wenger arrived at the club, and are now in sixth place, 11 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, with four matches remaining.

Now Arsenal have to win the Europa League to reach next season’sChampions League.

Fans have held “Wenger out” signs at Arsenal matches, while there have been empty seats at home games in recent months.

“I was not tired,” Wenger added, when talking about his decision to quit.

“Personally I believe this club is respected all over the world, much more than in England.

“The fans did not give me the image of unity I want all over the world and that was hurtful because I think the club is respected”.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/wenger-i-wasnt-tired-im-leaving-arsenal-because-of-some-fans/

Nigerian forward, Imoh Ezekiel, is disappointed that his club Las Palmas have been relegated to the Spanish second division after three years following their 4-0 thrashing at home by Alaves on Sunday, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url].

Munir El Haddadi scored twice after half-time before Alvaro Medran and Ruben Sobrino added two late goals to send Las Palmas down to the second division with four games left to play.

Ezekiel who featured for 71 minutes before he was replaced however kept mum on whether he will be going down with the team.

“It’s disappointing how we lost the game. I really don’t know what happened or what to say now, but the future will take care of it’s self,” Ezekiel told CSN.

“I’d be weighing my options vin the coming weeks.”

Ezekiel joined Las Palmas on a two and half year deal after he terminated his deal with Konyaspor.

Malaga who also parade two Nigerian players, Brown Ideye and Isaac Success, have already been relegated.

Deportivo La Coruna are currently in the remaining relegation spot.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ezekiel-rues-las-palmas-relegation-to-spanish-2nd-tier-league/

Former England stars Gary Neville and Gary Lineker as well as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp have joined the football community in showering encomiums on Arsene Wenger after the Frenchman announced he will quit his post as Arsenal manager at end of the current season.

Wenger, who is currently the longest serving manager in the English Premier League having been in charge since 1996, made his intention known via a shocking press statement on Friday.

“Arsene Wenger built the best teams that I played against in English Football. The 98 team was amazing.The biggest compliment is that he played football that made us change the way we played against them. He now deserves the most incredible send off from all in the coming weeks,” former Manchester United defender Neville wrote on Twitter on Friday.

Klopp also joined in praising Wenger who he described a fantastic manager.

“I am surprised. It is his decision. I respect that. He is an influence in football. Had a fantastic career. Outstanding personality,” Klopp told the BBC.

“He was there for so long, 22 years is a long time. Maybe in last few months not everybody was happy with this result or that.

“He was the dominating guy in mid 1990s, 2000s. It is different now because we have to challenge but in Germany he was a big role model.

“It will be different. Maybe he will go somewhere else. I wish him all the best.”

Lineker, who is a legend for Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, paid tribute to the Frenchman.

“Arsene Wenger is to leave @Arsenal at the end of the season. He has given much of his life to Arsenal. He has brought much success to the club. He has given much to the game of football in our country. Merci et bonne chance, Monsieur Wenger. #Wenger,” Lineker tweeted.

The Frenchman, 68, joined the Gunners in 1996 and won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, leading the club to an unbeaten league campaign in 2003/2004.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/neville-klopp-lineker-pay-tribute-to-wenger/

Arsene Wenger has announced in a shocking press statement that he will be quitting as Arsenal manager at the end of the season.

The Frenchman, 68, joined the Gunners in 1996 and won three Premier League titles and several other trophies, leading the club to an unbeaten league campaign in 2003/2004.

“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season,” Wenger said in the statement on Arsenal’s official website on Friday.

“I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.

“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.

“I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special.

“I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high.

“To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club.

“My love and support for ever.”

Majority owner Stan Kroenke said: “This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport. One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsène has brought to the club on and off the pitch. His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched.

“Arsène has unparalleled class and we will always be grateful to him. Everyone who loves Arsenal and everyone who loves football owes him a debt of gratitude. Three Premier League titles, including an entire season unbeaten, seven FA Cup triumphs and 20 successive years in the Champions League is an exceptional record. He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision for how the game can be played.

“We have high ambitions to build on Arsène’s remarkable tenure and to honour his vision by ensuring that Arsenal competes for and wins the biggest and most important prizes in the game.

“We must now focus on making a strong finish to the season and ask our millions of fans around the world to join us in paying appropriate tribute to one of the greats of Arsenal’s history and one of the greats of the game.”

The club explained: “Arsene will lead the team to the end of the season and we will make an appointment as soon as possible. The club will not be making any further comment on the selection process until an appointment is made.”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/wenger-im-stepping-down-as-arsenal-manager/

Nigeria winger Victor Moses on Thursday bagged the winner as Chelsea beat Burnley 2-1 in the Premier League at Turf Moor to revive their hopes of claiming a UEFA Champions League spot, reports.

It was Moses’s third goal in 25 appearances for the dethroned English Premier League champions this season.

The win took fifth-placed Chelsea’s points haul to 63 from 34 games, five points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place.

The former Wigan star also had a hand in Antonio Conte’s men first goal on the 20th minute of the encounter.

He received a long pass from Gary Cahill and his cross was bundled home by Kevin Long.

Chelsea wasted a number a good goal-scoring opportunities afterwards with Spaniard Alvaro Morata the worst culprit.

They were made to pay for those missed chances when Ashley Barnes equalised for the hosts in the 66th minute.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s shot looked to be heading wide, only for it to hit the heel of Barnes and creep past Thibaut Courtois.

Moses got the winner six minutes later, hotting home Emerson Palmieri’s cross.

At the King Power Stadium also on Thursday, Leicester City and Southampton battled to a 0-0 draw with the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho involved from the start.

Ndidi, who made his 32nd league appearance for the Foxes in the game, played the entire 90 minutes, while Iheanacho who played his 17th league game of the season was substituted in the 76th minute with Foussane Diabate coming on for him.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/moses-fires-chelsea-past-burnley-ndidi-iheanacho-start-in-leicester-draw/

Oghenekaro Etebo made his 10th LaLiga start for Las Palmas who lost 1-0 to Real Betis on Thursday, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.

Junior Firpo scored in stoppage time for Real Betis to move up to fifth in the Spanish LaLiga with 55 points from 33 games.

Nigerian forward Imoh Ezekiel replaced Nacho Gil in the 84th minute.

Ezekiel made his sixth appearance for Las Palmas. He is yet to score a goal since he arrived at the club on a free transfer in February.

At the Estadi Ciutat de València, in Spain, Brown Ideye made his ninth start for Malaga who lost 1-0 to Levante and got relegated. Emmanuel Boateng’s stoppage time goal condemned Malaga to relegation.

Malaga are bottom of the table with 17 points from 33 matches, 17 points from safety with five matches to go, therefore their relegation was confirmed on Thursday night.

Ideye had a great chance to score the opener in the 19th minute but his header was saved by Oier Olazabal.

The Nigerian international was replaced in the 83rd minute by Borja Baston.

Ideye has scored once for Malaga since he joined them on loan from Tianjin TEDA.

His compatriot Isaac Success was not listed in the matchday squad for the game.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/etebo-ezekiel-cant-prevent-las-palmas-defeat-ideye-starts-as-malaga-are-relegated/

Nigerian hurdler Oluwatobiloba Amusan has expressed appreciation to everyone who played a part in her success at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url].

The Nigerian sprinter won gold in the women’s 100m hurdles, the first time Nigeria would win gold in the event.

She was also part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay team that won a bronze medal.

The Nigerian team, made up of Amusan, Joy Udo-Gabriel, Blessing Okagbare and Rosemary Chukwuma, finished with a time of 42.75 seconds behind England and Jamaica who won gold and silver respectively with a time of 42.36 and 42.52 seconds.

“I take pride in saying that I did not come this far with my own efforts but with the help of Jehovah, my family, spiritual parents, VCBC Family, Coach Lacena & Davian, AFN, NOC, Utep Athletics D. ,Athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches,” Amusan tweeted via her official handle @evaglobal01.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/commonwealth-games-gold-medallist-amusan-gives-credit-to-coach-others/

Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a thigh injury.

According to top Belgian football expert John Chapman, the 20-year-old former Golden Eaglets striker, who is on loan from English Premier League side Liverpool, will play no part in Royal Excel Mouscron’s remaining Belgian First Division A Europa League play-off games.

He tweeted via his handle @BelgoFoot: “Taiwo Awoniyi, Mouscron’s Nigerian striker on loan from Liverpool will miss the rest of the season due to thigh injury. #lfc.”

The former Nigeria U-17, U-20 striker had scored twice in four Belgian play-offs games for Royal Excel Mouscron prior to this setback.

So far this season, the Liverpool loanee has scored 10 goals in 31 appearances, providing seven assists.

Awoniyi has missed Mouscron’s last two fixtures, his last appearance coming on 8 April in the 2-1 against Kortrijk in which he scored.

Royal Excel Mouscron will face Leuven in their next game on Saturday.

Awoniyi has also been linked with a move to Club Brugge and Anderlecht after the expiration of his loan deal.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/injured-awoniyi-ruled-out-for-rest-of-season/

Super Eagles winger Ahmed Musa was in good form as he provided two assists in CSKA Moscow’s 3-0 win against Amkar Perm in the Russia Premier League at the VEB Arena on Wednesday, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url].

Musa, who played the entire 90 minutes in the game, laid the ball for Victor Vitinho’s opening goal a minute before half time.

He also had a hand in the second goal, setting up Russian international Fedor Chalov in first half added time.

Chalov got his second of the game a minute after the hour mark, converting home a good pass from Mário Fernandes.

Amkar Perm also paraded their three Nigerian imports Aaron Samuel, Fegor Ogude and Bryan Idowu in the game.

Samuel who had a subdued game against his parent club was substituted after half time with Dario Bodul coming on for him.

Ogude was also substituted for Mikhail Gashachenkov in the 71st minute.

Left-back Bryan Idowu was however involved from start from to finish and was booked in the 71st minute.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/musa-bags-two-assists-as-cska-moscow-outscore-idowus-amkar-perm/

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has allayed fears that the federation may be facing challenges preparing the Super Eagles for the summer FIFA World Cup in Russia, saying there is no cause for alarm, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] reports.

Speaking with the media in Abuja, on Wednesday, Pinnick said he is fully in charge of Super Eagles’ World Cup preparation and he will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Nigeria have a successful campaign in Russia

“We are not facing any challenge, and I would like to thank the government of Nigeria for creating the enabling environment for us to strive,” Pinnick said.

“The government has given us all the support and more importantly create that stability we always sought in football. The government has really done well by giving us financial support to reach our goal. I thank the Minister, who has been a major supporter of our programme.

“Talking about the World Cup, I don’t we have any issue because I speak to the technical officials, especially the coaches everyday, and I am also in touch with the technical committee. I am totally in charge of the World Cup and I don’t delegate functions that are crucial because the desire of every Nigerian is for Super Eagles to do well at the World Cup.

“So, I don’t think there is any challenge. We had a meeting with the team in November and we signed agreement with them that 30 percent of the FIFA money which is $2.8million will be paid to them. I am a very transparent person and every detail on bonus for each match and up to the final as well as share of income from FIFA money was agreed on.

“I am not one of the presidents of the federation that don’t talk about money and you find every detail of it. The $2.8million we agreed with the players is almost 100 percent already for them to collect whenever they come. We met a couple of State governments and even made presentation to FIFA in raising the money and I can assure that the money is 100% certain for them to collect.”

Pinnick also revealed that the NFF will shoulder the responsibility of flying the Congolese national team to and from Nigeria for the next month’s friendly match against the Super Eagles in Uyo.

“We are making an arrangement to fly in the Congolese national team because that is our responsibility. We are not going to give them any money. We would bring them here, stay for two days and take them back to their country after the match,” he explained.

“They are like 10 steps ahead of us in FIFA Ranking and we just want to humble them here and before going to England. The tickets for Nigeria/England match is almost sold out and it will a good game. The match would play at the Wembley on June 2, and from then we would go to play Czech Republic in Austria on June 6, before moving to Russia for World Cup.”

On the goalkeeping situation of the Super Eagles, Pinnick said plans are underway to dispatch goalkeeper trainers to all the national team keepers including Dele Alampasu, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi and the Spain-based goalkeeper Francis Uzoho for one-on-one training ahead of the World Cup.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/pinnick-opens-up-on-super-eagles-world-cup-bonuses-friendlies-goalkeeper-plans/

Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho has congratulated his former club Manchester City for winning this season’s Premier League title.

City were confirmed league champions after relegation-bound West Bromwich Albion stunned Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Jay Rodriguez’s 73rd minute header helped City clinch this season’s title since 2014 with five games to go.

In his reaction, Iheanacho who left Manchester City for Leicester City in August 2017, wrote on his verified Twitter handle: “Congratulations to Manchester City, Premier League champions. Manchester is blue.”

Iheanacho joined Manchester City’s youth team in 2014 and graduated to the first team in 2015. He made 46 appearances scoring 12 goals.
He was an unused substitute when City defeated Liverpool on penalties to lift the 2016 League Cup.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/iheanacho-congratulates-former-club-man-city-on-epl-win/

Goals from Isco Alcaraz and Casimero ensured Real Madrid reclaimed third place in the LaLiga table despite a consolatory goal from Diego Rolan in the 90th minute.

Real Madrid are now 15 points adrift of current league leaders Barcelona and four off second-placed city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Malaga who have just one league win in their last 17 La Liga matches are rock bottom in the table with 17 points from 32 games.

Madrid on the back of their semi-final triumph over Juventus outplayed Malaga in the first half and created more chances.

Isco got the Los Blancos off to a good start in the 29th minute curling in a free-kick.

Malaga had a chance to get back into the game in the 44th minute when Casimero made a defensive blunder but Manuel Iturra failed to beat Keylor Navas from close range.

In the second half, Real Madrid maintained their dominance and got a second goal through Casimero in the 60th minute. Diego Rolan pulled one back for Malaga in added time.

Ideye was replaced with Maxime Lestienne in the 78th minute.

Ideye who missed his side’s last three games extended his goal drought to five games in the encounter.

The game was Ideye’s eighth for Malaga since he joined them in January.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ideye-starts-as-malaga-lose-at-home-to-real-madrid/

Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has congratulated his teammates for their hard work in helping the club gain promotion back to the English Premier League, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] reports.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated to the English Championship in 2012, but will be competiting in the elite division in England after six years.

Ikeme played no part in the team’s promotion back to the elite division having been diagnosed with an acute Leukemia but was full of praises for Nuno Espirito Santos’ side.

“Congratulations to everyone involved with our great club. The hard work, loyalty and togetherness is something to savour,” Ikeme wrote on his Instagram page.

Wolves defeated Birmingham City 2-0 to move 12 points clear of second placed Cardiff who have a game in hand.

Wolves have 95 points from 43 games and will be crowned Champions if they get at least a point in their next game against Bolton Wanderers.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ikeme-thumbs-up-wolves-teammates-on-epl-promotion/

Nigeria’s 4x100m relay team of Seye Ogunlewe, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Usheoritse Itsekiri, and Enoch Adegoke have qualified for the final of the event at the ongoing Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] reports.

The quartet placed third in the men’s 4x100m relay round 1- Heat 2 with a time of 38.52 seconds, behind the English and Jamaican teams at the Carrara Stadium Park.

The English 4x100m relay team won the race with a time of 38.15 seconds while the Jamaicans came second with a time of 38.44 seconds.

The Nigerian quartet will compete in lane 7 of the men’s 4x100m relay final billed for Saturday.

In the men’s 4x400m relay round 1 Heat 1, Nigeria’s quartet of Orukpe Eraiyokan, Samson Nathaniel, Salihu Isah and Chidi Okezie missed out on a chance to reach the final of the event after they were disqualified in their race.

In the men’s Javelin throw qualifying round-Group A, Nigeria’s Samuel Kure did not qualify for the final.

Kure placed eight with a throw of 73.49. The throw was his personal best.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/gold-coast-2018-nigerias-4x100m-relay-team-reach-final/

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Segun Toriola on Thursday qualified for the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles table tennis event at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url].

Toriola shrugged off his knee injury that made him retire in the second set in the men’s singles quarter-finals earlier on Thursday to partner Aruna to victory.

The pair defeated the duo of Choong Hoong Javen and Leong Chee Feng from Malaysia 3-1 in the men’s doubles round of 16 at the Oxenford Studios.

They won the encounter 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 5-11.

Aruna and Toriola will face the pair of pang Yew En Koen and Poh Shao Feng Ethan from Singapore on Friday in the quarter-finals 2 of the table tennis event.

Meanwhile, the pair of Abiodun Bode and Omotayo Olajide lost in straight sets to England’s duo of Drinkhall Paul Pitchford Liam in the men’s doubles round of 16.

They lost 7-11, 8-11, 3-11.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/gold-coast-2018-mixed-fortunes-for-nigeria-in-table-tennis-doubles/

Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has congratulated Team Nigeria for their achievements so far at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] reports.

Team Nigeria have amassed four gold, five silver and two bronze medals at the games.

All four gold medals came from powerlifting, two silver medals also came powerlifting, men’s shotput produced one silver, one silver was from wrestling, men’s team table tennis won silver while two bronze came from wrestling.

Commenting on the team’s performance, Mikel who led Nigeria U-23 Eagles to a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics urged them not to relent.

“Congratulations to my Nigerian brothers and sisters on an awesome Commonwealth Games so far – keep it going!” Mikel tweeted on Thursday.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/mikel-hails-team-nigerias-feat-at-gold-coast-2018-wants-more-medals/

Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa has moved to allay fears following the injury he picked up in Wednesday’s Nigeria Professional Football League 1-1 draw between his club Enyimba and Kwara United in Ilorin, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria. com[/url].

Ezenwa, who made his second appearance for the two-time African champions against the Harmony Boys in the game following his arrival from FC IfeanyiUbah, was stretchered off in the 67th minute as he landed heavily after claiming a high ball.

The former junior international was replaced by Ghanaian Fatau Dauda in the 67th minute following the injury, prompting fears he might struggle to get fit to be part of Nigeria’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

He has however claimed the injury is a minor one and that he will be back in training in a couple of days.

“It was just a minor injury. I have to thank God, it was not a serious one. Ezenwa is coming back (to training) in just about two or three days,” he told Enyimba media after the game.

The former Sunshine Stars and Heartland goalkeeper is now expected to be fit for next Wednesday’s crucial CAF Confederation Cup play-off round, second leg fixture between Enyimba and Bidvest Wits of South Africa.

The Peoples Elephant held the Clever Boys to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Johannesburg last week.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ezenwa-my-injury-is-not-serious-ill-be-back-soon/

Nigeria’s Yinka Ajayi finished eighth in the women’s athletics 400m final at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia on Wednesday, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url].

Ajayi recorded a time of 52.26 seconds at the Carrara Stadium Track.

The 20-year-old had earlier finished second in the women’s 400m semi-final 2, posting a time of in 51.81 seconds.

Amantle Montsho from Botswana recorded a time of 50.15 seconds to win gold while Jamaica’s Anastasia Le-roy won silver with a time of 50.57 seconds.

Le-roy’s compatriot, Stephenie Mcpherson, finished third with a time of 50.93 seconds to win bronze.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nigerias-ajayi-fumbles-in-womens-400m-final-botswanas-montsho-wins-gold/

Former Super Eagles star Emmanuel Amuneke has tasked the senior national team coach Gernot Rohr on the need for a back-up striker to Odion Ighalo ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] reports.

Ighalo fired blanks in the Super Eagles’ last two games during the international break against Poland and Serbia and has scored four goals in 14 appearances for the three-time African champions.

Rohr has tried out Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho as alternatives during friendlies but former Barcelona star Amuneke admits it the pair do not possess the instincts of a striker.

“If you say they should play in that role as a striker of course they will, but I must be sincere with you that instinct that makes a real No.9 stand out they don’t have it,” Amuneke, who was African Player of the Year in 1994 after excelling at that year’s World Cup, told CSN.

“Ighalo can deliver but he will need massive support from the creative players to get him to score but we need someone we can count on.”

Nigeria will face Iceland, Croatia and Argentina in Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/amuneke-super-eagles-need-proper-no-9-to-support-ighalo/

Liverpool have qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 10 years after defeating Manchester City 2-1 in the second leg of their quarter-final tie at the Etihad on Tuesday.

Liverpool went through 5-1 on aggregate after winning the first-leg 3-0 at Anfield last week.

Gabriel Jesus gave City hope with an early goal but second half goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino secured a last four place for Liverpool.

The last time Liverpool got to the semi-final of the Champions League was in the 2007/2008 season.

Salah has now scored more goals in a single Champions League/European Cup campaign for Liverpool (eight) than any other player in the club’s history.

City got off to a good start on three minute as Jesus slotted the ball past Loris Karius after being set up by Raheem Sterling.

Following the early goal, City were all over Liverpool but the Reds kept them at bay with good defending.

Bernardo Silva went close for City on 39 minutes only to see his curler go inches wide after taking a slight deflection.

Silva had a chance again on 41 minutes but was denied by the uptight after the ball had initially taken a slight touch off Dejav Lovren.

A minute later City thought they had scored their second goal but Leroy Sane was flagged off for offside.

In first-hand added time, Liverpool almost scored a vital away goal after good interchange of passes on the edge of the City box but Alex Oxlade-Chamblain blasted his effort over the bar despite rounding goalkeeper Ederson.

City manager Pep Guardiola did not resume on the technical area for the second half as he was sent to the stands after questioning the referee’s decision not to award his side what he felt was a clean goal late in the first half.

Liverpool weathered the early onslaught from City in the second half and started growing into the game and started threatening their hosts.

Liverpool’s good play was eventually rewarded on 55 minutes as Salah cleverly chipped the ball into the net after Sadio Mane was stopped in his tracks by the City defence. It was Salah’s 39th goal of the season in all competitions.

City had a chance to go in front in 70 minutes but Aymeric Laporte’s left-foot strike took a deflection and went just over the bar.

Liverpool went 2-1 up thanks to Firmino who closed down Kyle Walker, forcing him to commit a blunder before racing towards goal and slotting beyond Ederson.

At the Stadio Olimpico, AS Roma produced one of the big comebacks in Champions League history as they defeated Barcelona 3-0 in their second-leg clash.

Roma progressed on the away goals rule 4-4 on aggregate. Barcelona won the first-leg 4-1 last week.

Edin Dzeko put Roma 1-0 up on six minutes before Daniele De Rossi made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on 58 minutes.

And in the 82nd minute, Konstantinos Manolas scored the decisive goal which sent Roma into the semi-final

Roma became the third team in Champions League history to overturn a plus three-goal deficit, emulating Deportivo La Coruna in the 2003-2004 against AC Milan and Barcelona last season against Paris Saint-Germain.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ucl-liverpool-advance-past-man-city-into-semis-as-roma-stun-barca/