GALSROOM

Real have one foot in the last 16 (Picture: Visionhaus) Manchester City have it all to do in the Spanish capital when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight. One of the European giants will be eliminated with the other heading into Friday’s last 16 stage draw. And unless there is a miracle in Madrid this evening, City’s European campaign will be coming to a very early end. Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to a 4-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday but the memories that harrowing home defeat to Carlo Ancelotti’s side last week will still linger. Despite leading with five minutes left on the clock at…

Phil Jones did not enjoy his tussles with Luis Suarez (Picture: Getty Images) Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones remembers ex-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez driving him insane during their Premier League battles. Jones was playing regularly for the Red Devils while the Uruguayan was at his devastating best for the Reds from 2011-14. Suarez scored 23 Premier League goals in the 2012-13 season and then 31 the following campaign before leaving Anfield for Barcelona. The England international admits that the controversial forward was a nightmare to deal with in almost every way. Recalling his toughest opponent in the top flight, Jones told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast: ‘In the…

Takehiro Tomiyasu has played just six minutes of football this season for Arsenal (Picture: Getty) Takehiro Tomiyasu has undergone knee surgery and released an emotional statement confirming details of the injury that has limited him to just one appearance for Arsenal this season. The Japan international missed the start of the current campaign following a setback he suffered on the club’s pre-season tour of America. Tomiyasu returned to action in early October and featured as a late substitute in a 3-1 win over Southampton. The 26-year-old hasn’t featured since, however, with Arsenal providing few details on his absence or a potential comeback date. Taking to Instagram, the versatile defender has…

Alexander Isak has been in blistering form for Newcastle United (Picture: Getty) Newcastle United have set a new asking price for Alexander Isak amid interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool. The Swedish striker has been in blistering form at St James’ Park, scoring 17 goals and making five assists in 23 Premier League games this season. But Isak is celebrated for more than just his goals, with his all-round play leading a number of pundits to declare him the ‘best striker in England’ and helping Newcastle not only challenge for the Champions League spots but reach the Carabao Cup final. Given Isak’s impact at Newcastle since his £63m…

Harry Kane before Bayern Munich’s Champions League clash against Celtic (Picture: Getty) Harry Kane revealed he would be undergoing a scan on a possible injury after being subbed off during Bayern Munich’s Champions League victory over Celtic. The Champions League play-off game looked set for extra-time and possibly penalties when Celtic levelled the tie at 2-2 through Nicolas Kuhn. There were fears Celtic would be overpowered by German giants Bayern at the Allianz Arena but if anything it was the Scots who created the best chances. Extra-time was beckoning when Kuhn gave Celtic a deserved lead on the hour mark but Alphonso Davies bundled home a 94th-minute equaliser to break…

Bayern Munich defeated Celtic 3-2 on aggregate to reach the last 16 (Picture: Getty) Football pundit Troy Deeney says Bayern Munich’s players ‘looked embarrassed’ after their 1-1 Champions League draw against Celtic. Bayern required a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser from Alphonso Davies at home to reach the last 16 on Tuesday, having won the play-off first leg 2-1 to secure a 3-2 victory on aggregate. It was Celtic who took the lead in the second-leg clash at the Allianz Arena with Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn firing the Scottish champions ahead in Germany. But Celtic’s Champions League elimination was confirmed by Davies’ late goal, following an impressive performance from Brendan Rodgers’ side. With the…

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini ripped into one of his own players (Picture: Getty) Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini slammed Ademola Lookman as ‘one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen’ after the club’s Champions League exit. Ex-Premier League winger Lookman was on target during Atalanta’s Champions League defeat to Club Brugge on Tuesday night but also missed from the spot. Gasperini revealed after the match that Lookman was not supposed to take the penalty but took matters into his own hands after scoring. Club Brugge sealed a surprise 2-1 win over Serie A side Atalanta in the first leg of their Champions League play-off match and were in…

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois followed Manchester United growing up (Picture: Getty) Thibaut Courtois believes he could have ended up at Manchester United – the club he ‘always followed’ growing up – had it not been for David de Gea. Courtois has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world over the past decade, winning league titles at Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid. The Belgian burst onto the scene at boyhood club Genk and revealed he attracted interest from Tottenham and multiple European clubs in the summer of 2011 when he was signed by Chelsea. Chelsea immediately sent Courtois out on loan to Atletico and he flourished in…

Benni McCarthy worked at Old Trafford from July 2022 to June 2024 (Picture: Getty) Former Manchester United first-team coach Benni McCarthy has named three big-name strikers the club tried to sign instead of Rasmus Hojlund. McCarthy, who worked at Old Trafford from July 2022 to June 2024, insists that United considered moves for Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Randal Kolo Muani before paying £72m to recruit Hojlund in August 2023. England captain Kane was strongly linked to United before he joined Bayern Munich from Tottenham in the summer of 2023 for an initial £82m. United’s interest in Kolo Muani and Osimhen was also widely reported, with McCarthy confirming the Red…