Champions League
Ajax – Benfica 0:1: The Vlachodimos team froze Amsterdam
A Darwin Nounies goal gave Benfica a terrific 1-0 win over Ajax in Amsterdam to see them through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 2-2 first-leg win. Odysseas Vlachodimos was not threatened, showing stability whenever needed.
His Benfica Odyssey Vlachodimou denied the predictions, managed to keep one of the best offensive features in the world this season, Ajax, at zero and clinched victory with a goal from Darwin Nounies 77′ 1-0 in the “Johan Cruyff Arena” and at the same time qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Portuguese team managed to limit the Dutch, ‘blocking’ their trumps and scoring the ‘golden’ goal in one of their few attacks that sends them into the next stage and into Friday’s draw.
Both teams showed their intentions from the first minutes. Ajax would try to “choke” their opponent by pressing high and holding the ball until they found a way to get close to the opponent’s home. The Portuguese accepted this condition, defended with many players behind the ball and relied on the speed of some players, such as Darwin Nounies, to hit the opponent.
No shot paid off. Ajax have had several finals, but few really worried Odysseas Vlachodimos. The best moment, a goal from Sebastian Ale, was basically no phase as there was an offside from Dusan Tadic who took the assist.
Vlachodimos managed an impressive operation on a long-range shot by Ryan Hrafenberch in one of the hosts’ two well-aimed finals in the first part. The “Adler” had only one finale and that in a harmless head.
Nelson Verisimo threw Sualie Meite into the match instead of Adel Taarabt, but the picture of the match remained the same. Ajax were always on the ball at Benfica but became less of a threat from the first half.
He even recruited high balls, but all his players’ efforts ended in oblivion. The most dangerous moments were those when his players didn’t have time to shoot due to last moment markers from Benfica players.
In the 77th minute, a rare Portuguese attack resulted in a foul from the right. The execution of Alex Grimaldo (who scored twice in the second half but kept playing) ended with a header from Nounies and a poor exit from Andre Onanas.
Portugal’s 1-0 was a fact and then the visitors did everything at the back to keep that lead and finally managed to celebrate a great qualification and their presence in Friday’s draw at the end of the game.
The results of the first games of the round of 16
The results of the second games of the round of 16
I have been working as a sports journalist for about 6 years now. I currently work as an author at Sportish, which is a sports news website. I mainly cover sports news and I love writing about all aspects of the sport. I also have experience working as a broadcast journalist, so I have some great insights into how sport is reported and presented.
We continue to examine the future of Donetsk shakhtar To buy tickets directly to the main stage Champions League 2026/27.
This will be possible if the place reserved for the team that wins the Champions League trophy is redistributed.
All important moments of the match are available in LIVE mode Telegram Sport.ua
Donetsk Miner They are in fourth place with a coefficient of 50.250 among the clubs competing for a possible position at the heart of the Champions League.
In the last European week, the Donetsk club added +2.625 points. This increase was achieved with a 0-0 draw with Croatian Rijeka in the 6th round of the Conference League and a sixth place in the main round final table.
Main rival Greek Olympiacos – 56,500 points remaining. The Miners can regain the 6,250-point lead if they perform well in the spring part of the European Cups.
It is interesting that Shakhtar lost the first place in the UPL (Cherkasy has the same number of points as LNZ – 35 points each), and Olympiacos lost the lead in Greece to the AEK team (36 points against 37). Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk plays for the team of the city of Piraeus.
Positions rangers (59,250), 4th in Scotland and Copenhagen (53.375), placed 5th in Denmark, looks less competitive in the rankings due to its position in the national championships. Leader only in championships Dinamo Zagreb And RB Salzburg (44,000 each) but there is no certainty that the turn will come.
Let us remind you that if the cup holder buys a ticket to the Champions League through the national championship, there will be a vacancy in the main squad in the 2026/27 Champions League. In this case, a balance will arise again and if Shakhtar wins the UPL and is ahead of Olympiacos in the UEFA club rankings (or the Greek club does not become the champion of Greece), it can get a direct ticket to the base of the Champions League.
If the Piraeus team is higher in the rankings and takes advantage of the available space, the Donetsk club will start from the 4th quarter of the Champions League, not the 2nd quarter, in case they win in the UPL.
Candidates for direct tickets to the Champions League 2026/27 main stage
(In case the quota reserved for the Champions League champion becomes vacant)
UEFA Club Rankings 2026
infographics
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
Champions League
Pedri commented on the new format of the Champions League: An unexpected look from a football player
Barcelona midfielder pedri He answered the question about his attitude towards the new format of the Champions League with the general group stage.
“Do I like the new format of the Champions League? I can’t say with 100% certainty which format I like more: this one or the previous one?”
If I have to choose, I will do something new: There were more matches between strong teams in the first stage,” said Pedri, as quoted by Esquire.
Before the 2024/2025 season, the group stage of the Champions League consisted of eight groups of four clubs each. All participants played six matches in their respective foursomes, home and away, against each of the three opponents.
From the 2024/2025 season, a new Champions League format comes into force with a common group stage of 36 clubs; each participant plays eight matches, four away and four at home; The opponents are determined by lot.”
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
Earlier, English Manchester City played a match against French Monaco in a new round of the UEFA Champions League.
After the match, the head coach of the “Locals” Pep Guardiola commented on the performance of the powerful team.
“In football you can always perform better – and this is the result. Our game today was very good in many ways. And step by step we will improve our results.”
Ale mi gave many speeches today in the right way. We created many scoring opportunities and found Phil Foden active in the first half. Most Gravians played at a fairly high level.
Previously, they did not let their opponents create anything, but created the chances themselves. We adapted very well to the superniks and played very well. This is my opinion.
If you get a good match on the right side, of course you have to… Today we got a great ball, that’s all I can tell you right away.
Holland? It’s really good. He plays to score goals. He struggled with three centre-backs and two supporting defenders in front of him, and it wasn’t easy for his partners to know that. Ale, we can work hard to score goals.
Tse bula spravdi garna gra. We created a lot of chances, but unfortunately in the end we didn’t defend perfectly against a free kick, which would have been quite a few, and we conceded a penalty, which was awarded when the ball hit the first one… well, that’s it.
Referee? “I have nothing to say to the Spanish referees,” said the Spanish footballer.
In the coming round, English Manchester City will visit Spanish Villarreal.
Source: Football UA
Alberta Robinson is a sports journalist and author, who is currently associated with the publication Sportish, where she writes about sports related news and events. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, Robinson brings in-depth analysis and insightful commentary to her writing.
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