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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag insists his team is capable of beating "any opponent " as they prepare to face Bayern Munich with their Champions League status on the line. Four points from five games so far has left United bottom of Group A. But a place in the last 16 is still just about achievable for Ten Hag's side – the only catch is they have to win against Bayern Munich at home and pray for a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray in the other fixture. Unfortunately for United, they go into the crunch match at Old Trafford off the back of a dismal 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth. But Ten Hag is choosing to focus on the positives taken from better performances in recent weeks – like against Chelsea a few days earlier. "We have very good performances and highs. We are able to beat any opponent," Ten Hag said. "The game against Chelsea, Everton. Even against Galatasaray. This team can perform at really high levels. We have to work about that. ...

UEFA are putting plans in place to make sure that teams don't end up barred from European com Pet itions in the event of multi-club ownership, 90min understands. The issue has returned to prominence as a result of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's impending purchase of a 25% stake in Manchester United through his firm, INEOS, which already owns high-flying Ligue 1 side OGC Nice and Swiss club Lausanne-Sport, among other sporting ventures. Given that Nice are one point behind Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain and on course to qualify for the Champions League, concern has been raised over existing regulations that could theoretically scupper INEOS with Manchester United also gunning for European qualification. UEFA 's Champions League regulations state that no club in any UEFA com Pet ition may: "hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club com Pet ition, be a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club com Pet ition, be inv...

Just when you think it can't get any worse for Manchester United, they surprise us all. Erik ten Hag produced some excellent work during his debut season to return the Red Devils to the Champions League, but United's dire start to the 2023/24 season looks to be quickly undermining the Dutchman's initial promise. They certainly aren't enjoying their return to Europe's big time. An expected defeat in Munich on Matchday 1 rendered their next encounter at home to a star-studded (if it was 2017) Galatasaray outfit a must-win, or, at least, a must-not-lose fixture. Despite an excellent display from summer arrival Rasmus Hojlund, inexplicable defensive lines and woeful individual errors meant Ten Hag's side slumped to a 3-2 defeat. Zero points from their opening two group Game s - the first time they've ever achieved that feat in this comxzzni C1 MhuhQ73IePition - leave them with a mountain to climb if they're to progress into the Champions League knockout st...

Andreas Ulmer was on a pleasant stroll through Salzburg with his dog and newborn baby when a car blaring operatic music screeched into earshot. It was the day before Ulmer's RB Salzburg side began their Champions League campaign at home to Genk in September 2019 and Erling Haaland was getting in the zone. Sat in his car, the then teenager was rocking out to the Champions League anthem at full volume. Within two minutes of Haaland's debut in the competition, he scored his first goal. Suffice to say, it was not his last. How many goals has Erling Haaland scored in the 2022/23 Champions League? Haaland has been unstoppable this season / Alex Livesey - Danehouse/GettyImages Just as he did on his Premier League debut for Manchester City, Haaland bagged a brace on his first Champions League appearance for Pep Guardiola's side. Haaland opened the scoring in a 4-0 thumping of Sevilla - his favourite foes in European competition. The burly Norwegian has scored six goals in just thre...

This is never how it ends. Not for Real Madrid. Not for this Real Madrid, the kings of Europe, the rulers of the Champions League. But it did. They were beaten to a pulp. Utterly humiliated. Chewed up and spat out like they were some muck in the farmers league (or the Premier League, as it is more commonly known). Manchester City tore Real Madrid apart on Wednesday night, prevailing 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final to dump the reigning holders out. Sure, they had done reasonably well to return to the semi-finals despite a poor domestic season - well done for beating Frank Lampard's Chelsea twice, I guess - and even after the first leg, their aura and mystique in this com Pet ition remained. But the tables had been turned with the switching of legs from last season's meeting, one which notably ended with Man City collapsing under the weight of the Santiago Bernabeu and the 13 European Cups in the trophy cabinet at that point - it soon became 14. Wherea...

Bayern Munich have the simple task of overturning a three-goal deficit when they host Manchester City in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday night. The Thomas Tuchel era in Bavaria has started rather inconspicuously after Bayern's ruthless top officials opted to part ways with project boss Julian Nagelsmann in favour of the 2021 Champions League winner. Their plan far exceeds the here and now in regards to the appointment, but Bayern have already exited the DFB-Pokal under Tuchel's watch and are at severe risk of being dumped out of Europe, too. Die Roten aren't too familiar with first leg deficits in the Champions League, and they'll have to pull off something quite remarkable if they're to advance into the semi-finals at City's expense. Here's a reminder of the last time Bayern overturned a first leg deficit in Europe. When was the last time Bayern Munich overturned a first leg deficit in the Champions League? Porto were not exp...

Manchester City have one foot in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after hammering Bayern Munich 3-0 on Tuesday night. Pep Guardiola's men were imperious at the Etihad Stadium and put the Bundesliga champions to the sword on a memorable evening. Thomas Tuchel was left bewildered by the Bavarians' collapse and they have it all to do in order to reach the last four. The hosts controlled the game's opening stages, carving out half a sight of goal after seven minutes. Bernardo Silva managed to scamper away from Alphonso Davies and pulled the ball back for Kevin De Bruyne to cross for Ilkay Gundogan, whose header sailed over the top. Yann Sommer was nearly guilty of gifting Man City a goal when he took his time to clear the ball off the line, with Erling Haaland getting a deflection on his pass from mere yards out after charging down the Bayern goalkeeper. Gundogan looked destined to tap the ball in at the near post following a neat Man City move but was denied at t...

The Champions League quarter-finals are upon us and the draw has thrown together a group of mouth-watering ties. This truly is the most wonderful time of the year for Football lovers. The conclusion to Europe's premier club com Pet ition is almost always enthralling, and the really good stuff tends to begin at this stage. Our lives this April will revolve around these belting European fixtures, and here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Champions League quarter-final first legs. Benfica vs Inter Simone Inzaghi's Inter head into the first leg in dreadful form / Ivan Romano/GettyImages Roger Schmidt's Benfica have to be regarded as one of the very best teams to come out of Portugal in recent times, but they were beaten by Porto ahead of their clash with Inter. Schmidt's side have dazzled in this competition thus far, beating out PSG and Juventus to top spot in the group stage before waltzing beyond Club Brugge in the round of 16. They're favoured...