UEFA Champions League

European clubs aiming to join a breakaway Super League received some good news on Thursday thanks to a landmark court ruling.

The European Court of Justice deemed that UEFA and FIFA's bans on the formation of a Super League are "unlawful" and that the organizations are "abusing a dominant position" in their control of the sport in Europe by threatening to sanction clubs that want to join the breakaway league, according to Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez of ESPN.

"There is no framework for the FIFA and UEFA rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate," the court said.

"Similarly, the rules giving FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights related to those competitions are such as to restrict competition, given their importance for the media, consumers and television viewers in the European Union."

The Super League saga began in April 2021 when 12 teams, including the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus, had signed up for the breakaway competition, which aimed to replace the UEFA Champions League.

Due to widespread backlash from fans, European leagues, UEFA and FIFA, plans for the Super League collapsed within a few days as multiple clubs withdrew from the competition.

The Super League, backed by A22 Sports, then filed a lawsuit seeking protection from potential UEFA sanctions.

With Thursday's ruling, UEFA and FIFA cannot block a Super League from being formed, though the court also stated that the decision "does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved."

Following Thursday's ruling, the Super League revealed an updated proposal for a three-league, 64 club men's competition and a two-league, 32 club women's competition that would replace the UEFA Champions League.

The men's competition would feature two leagues consisting of 16 teams each—known as the "Star League" and "Gold League"—and a third league referred to as the "Blue League" with 32 teams. Promotion and relegation would exist between the leagues and teams would be added to the third league based on domestic league performance.

Competition would consist of a minimum of 14 matches per year with an eight-club knockout stage determining the winner of each league.

"We'll keep working with clubs, leagues and other parties, without the fear of punishment, to create the best European football competitions," A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart said. "We reaffirm our commitment to national leagues and the pyramid structure of football. For the first time since 1955, European competitions could be managed by the participating clubs themselves."

Since the ruling and subsequent proposal, multiple clubs have already rejected the format, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

The Champions League Round of 16 is set.

The eight matchups for the remaining teams were announced Monday and feature several marquee fixtures between powerhouse clubs:

The complete last 16 draw of the Champions League:

▪️ Porto vs. Arsenal
▪️ Napoli vs. Barcelona
▪️ PSG vs. Real Sociedad
▪️ Inter vs. Atlético
▪️ PSV vs. Dortmund
▪️ Lazio vs. Bayern
▪️ Copenhagen vs. Man City
▪️ RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid

🌟 pic.twitter.com/jLaKVa1eMr

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 18, 2023

Here is a look at the remaining fixture dates for the tournament:

Round of 16: Feb. 13-14, 20-21 (first leg); March 5-6, March 12-13 (second leg)
Quarterfinals: April 9-10 (first leg); April 16-17 (second leg)
Semifinals: April 30, May 1 (first leg); May 7-8 (second leg)
Final: June 1

Manchester City is currently considered the favorite heading into the Knockout Stage, with DraftKings Sportsbook putting them at +200. City has the chance to become the first repeat Champions League winner since Real Madrid won three straight from 2016 to 2018.

The group stage was largely an exercise in dominance by the defending champs, with City winning all six of their matchups by a combined 11 goals. Their goal differential was topped only by Arsenal, who are still looking for their first Champions League crown.

Arsenal is in the midst of a stellar 2023-24 campaign, sitting in first place in the Premier League table and outscoring their opponents 16-4 in the Group Stage. DraftKings currently has them as one of four teams with better than 10-1 odds, joining Manchester City, Bayern Munch (+400) and Real Madrid (+550).

Real Madrid won a Champions League since its aforementioned three-peat but has a good matchup to start the Knockout Phase. RB Leipzig gave up 10 goals in the Group Stage, tied with PSV Eindhoven for the most among teams that advanced.

Borussia Dortmund plays PSV Eindhoven in the Round of 16, a good draw for a team that is currently +2500 to win the whole event.

The UEFA Champions League draw largely fell in Manchester City's favor as the English giant faces a manageable path to the knockout stages in pursuit of a second straight European triumph.

Following Thursday's group-stage draw, City is joined by RB Leipzig, Crvena zvezda and BSC Young Boys in Group G. Star center-back Joško Gvardiol wiill get to face his old club on two occasions, having left RB Leipzig earlier this month.

Group F might generate the most excitement of the eight. Paris Saint-Germain is likely to come in first place, but you can see any one of Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan or Newcastle United punching a ticket to the round of 16.

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2023-24 Champions League Groups

Group A

• Bayern Munich 
• Manchester United 
• FC Copenhagen
• Galatasaray
  

Group B

• Sevilla 
• Arsenal
• PSV
• Lens

Group C

• Napoli 
• Real Madrid 
• Braga
• Union Berlin

Group D

• Benfica 
• Inter Milan 
• Red Bull Salzburg 
• Real Sociedad

Group E

• Feyenoord 
• Atlético Madrid 
• Lazio
• Celtic

Group F

• Paris Saint-Germain 
• Borussia Dortmund 
• AC Milan 
• Newcastle United

Group G

• Manchester City 
• RB Leipzig 
• Crvena zvezda
• BSC Young Boys
  

Group H

• Barcelona 
• Porto 
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Royal Antwerp
  

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2023-24 Champions League Schedule

Group Stage

• Matchday 1: Sept. 19/20, 2023 
• Matchday 2: Oct. 3/4, 2023 
• Matchday 3: Oct. 24/25, 2023
• Matchday 4: Nov. 7/8, 2023 
• Matchday 5: Nov. 28/29, 2023 
• Matchday 6: Dec. 12/13, 2023

Knockout Stages

• Round of 16: Feb. 13/14/20/21, 2024 and March 5/6/12/13, 2024 
• Quarterfinals: April 9/10 and 16/17, 2024 
• Semifinals: April 30/May 1, 2024 and May 7/8, 2024 
• Final: June 1, 2024

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All of the usual suspects hover near the top of DraftKings Sportsbook's betting odds for the Champions League. Manchester City (+200) is the favorite followed by Bayern Munich (+500) and Real Madrid (+800).

Manchester City is the only club in the Premier League to open the new season with three straight wins. Its most recent victory, which came thanks to an 88th-minute goal by Rodri, has some wondering whether the title race is basically over already, such is the aura of inevitability that follows Pep Guardiola's squad.

MANCHESTER CITY ANSWER RIGHT BACK! 👀#SHUMCI ON @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/KytqRrcb80

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 27, 2023

But winning the Premier League alone may not be enough to qualify this campaign as a success if City fail to defend its European crown.

The same broadly applies to Bayern Munich, for which claiming the Bundesliga is all but rote after enjoying an 11th straight title in 2022-23. The club desperately covets a seventh European Cup, and the pressure might begin to build on manager Thomas Tuchel if he and his players struggle out of the gate in the group stage.

The Bavarians executed one of the biggest transfers of the summer when they signed Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur, giving them the pure goalscorer they lacked after Robert Lewandowski joined Barcelona last year.

Kane already has three goals and an assist through two Bundelisga fixtures, and his presence is bound to pay big dividends in the Champions League.

For quite a few neutrals, Bayern Munich won't be the Bundesliga club that commands the most attention in the Champions League, however.

In 2019, Union Berlin earned promotion to Germany's top division for the first time ever. Now, it will be going toe to toe with the European elite. Union's rise is almost too storybook to believe.

To that end, supporters will relish the forthcoming matchups with Real Madrid, the most decorated club in Europe, and reigning Serie A champion Napoli. The fact that Union Berlin is a long shot to make any sort of deep run will be irrelevant.

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Greek authorities arrested 97 Croatian soccer fans and 103 fans in total on multiple charges, including murder, on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press, after 29-year-old Michalis Katsouris was stabbed and killed outside of AEK Athens' Opap Arena before a Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb.

Most of the suspects are expected to have the murder charge dropped. Other charges include membership of a criminal organization, assault, illegal possession and use of explosive material.

Per the AP's report, "Amateur video of the attack showed dozens of youths wielding bats and iron bars running past the stadium as flares and petrol bombs exploded. Ten people were injured and four remain hospitalized."

The match was promptly canceled.

Greek public order minister Giannis Oikonomou said police committed "tragic errors" in failing to prepare for the possibility of the riots, claiming prior information had suggested that such attacks were likely. Seven police officers were suspended.

AEK Athens, meanwhile, has called for "immediate and severe punishment" against Dinamo Zagreb and has questioned why a qualifying match hosted by the Croatian club was still scheduled for later this month.

"The question that torments our fans is one that we described from the outset and that also torments us: How is it possible that following the brutal murder of Michalis by a gang of vicious criminals from Croatia, for AEK Athens to enter the field and play against this team?" AEK said in a statement. "Will any of his killers be in the stands?"

Dinamo Zagreb countered that it has fully cooperated with the investigation and has condemned the attacks.

Manchester City have completed a historic treble and are finally kings of the UEFA Champions League, defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the 2023 UCL Final on Saturday at Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.

It's been a long time coming for the Sky Blues, which fell to Chelsea in the 2021 UCL Final before a disappointing semifinal loss to eventual champion Real Madrid last year.

Manchester City needed just one goal to win its first Champions League title, and Rodri delivered in the 68th minute with just his second-ever goal in the competition to lift the Premier League side to victory.

Rodri’s second-ever Champions League goal was one to 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 🚀

(via @TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/Wb0LzJbVrS

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 10, 2023

Inter Milan had numerous chances to capitalize in Saturday's match, but the team's inability to put the ball in the back of the net was ultimately a disappointment for the Serie A side.

Here's a look at the biggest winners and losers from this year's UCL Final.

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Winners: Rodri and Ederson

Rodri, one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, is an obvious winner given his second-half goal that put Manchester City ahead. The 26-year-old is the first Sky Blues player to ever score for the club in a European Cup Final.

Rodri is the first Spaniard to score in a UCL final since Marco Asensio did so for Real Madrid in 2017.

Inter is 0-1-2 (W-D-L) when trailing at any point in the Champions League this season (all in group stage: losses vs Bayern, draw vs Barcelona) pic.twitter.com/XEZzoB6Qd1

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 10, 2023

52 - Rodri is making his 52nd start of the season for Manchester City in all competitions - across Pep Guardiola's managerial career, the only outfield player to have started more games in a single campaign under him was Lionel Messi in 2011-12 (57). Pivotal. #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/03HJJzEkyx

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 10, 2023

While Rodri's goal was clutch, Manchester City also would not have lifted the Champions League trophy if not for the performance of Ederson, who was brilliant in goal.

Ederson made a number of crucial saves in Saturday's match, but perhaps none more important than an 88th-minute stop on Lukaku:

EDERSON WITH A HUGE SAVE IN THE 88TH MINUTE. 🧱 pic.twitter.com/morFPdofIm

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 10, 2023

A great save from Ederson! Lautaro Martinez nearly had Inter Milan in the lead!

(via @TUDNUSA)pic.twitter.com/YSHsIrLAde

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) June 10, 2023

Build a statue for Ederson at Etihad. Holy smokes.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 10, 2023

Rodri and Ederson are two players who don't always get the credit they deserve, but after Saturday's big win, no one will ever forget the performances that helped power Manchester City to its first title.

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Loser: Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku was subbed on for Edin Džeko in the second half of Saturday's match as Inter Milan looked for life on the attacking side.

However, the Belgian striker proved to be a disappointment. He not only missed a couple of chances, but he blocked a shot by teammate Frederico Dimarco that could have tied the match.

Lukaku with a great bit of defending…for Man City. 🙈

How did Inter not score?! 😅 pic.twitter.com/4tGluzDWPk

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 10, 2023

What a missed opportunity! Romelu Lukaku sends the open header right at Ederson in the 89th minute

(via @TUDNUSA)pic.twitter.com/8F2oqTxIvA

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) June 10, 2023

Lukaku was expected to play a big role in Saturday's match, but he's now being considered "useless" by soccer fans across the globe. His season had been difficult due to injuries, but that's no excuse for his poor performance on the biggest stage.

The 30-year-old had been on loan to Inter Milan from Chelsea this season, and his future with the Italian club was already in question prior to Saturday's UCL Final.

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Winner: Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola is one of the greatest managers in the history of soccer.

The 52-year-old joins Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley, and Zinedine Zidane as the only men's managers to win the European Cup three times. He also led Barcelona to UCL titles in 2009 and 2011.

Additionally, Guardiola has won the Treble for the second time in his career, and he's the first manager to ever do it with two different clubs, having also accomplished the feat with Barcelona in 2008-09.

Pep Guardiola as a manager:

3x Champions League winner
5x Premier League winner
3x Bundesliga winner
3x LaLiga winner
3x UEFA Supercup winner
2x DFB-Pokal winner
2x FA Cup winner
2x Copa del Rey winner
4x English League Cup winner
3x Spanish Supercopa winner

🐐🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/zi8TE3r6BV

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 10, 2023

Manchester City's 2023 UCL victory only solidifies Guardiola's status as one of the greatest managers to ever do it. And with how the club has played of late, there's no reason to believe he can't lead the Sky Blues to another historic win next year.

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Loser: Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne can't seem to catch a break when it comes to the Champions League Final.

The Belgian midfielder was forced to exit Saturday's match after just 36 minutes due to a hamstring injury. He also exited Manchester City's appearance in the 2021 UCL Final against Chelsea after suffering a facial injury in the second half.

2021: Kevin De Bruyne goes off injured in the Champions League final

2023: Kevin De Bruyne goes off injured in the Champions League final

Football isn't fair 💔 pic.twitter.com/URBhiwtBRA

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 10, 2023

De Bruyne had never won the Champions League entering Saturday's contest, so he was understandably disappointed when he was subbed off in the UCL Final for the second time in three years.

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Loser: Serie A

To say Serie A would be a loser is an understatement.

Italy's top flight has not seen a Champions League winner since Inter Milan defeated Bundesliga side Bayern Munich in 2010. Additionally, Inter Milan is now the third Italian club to lose a European final this year.

AS Roma fell to Sevilla on penalties in the Europa League Final and Fiorentina fell to West Ham 2-1 in the Europa Conference League Final.

Italian clubs really lost all three European finals 🫠 pic.twitter.com/0wUGhyQGEa

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 10, 2023

Given the league's lack of success offensively on the big stage, it's clear Serie A clubs need to bring in some offensive talent heading into 2023-24 if they hope to see one of their clubs lift a major European trophy next year.