Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Competition during the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League campaign has been fierce and fascinating, mesmerising football fans around the continent and the whole globe, underlining why this is by far the most popular competition the beautiful game has to offer. As we focus on the semi-finals, let's take a look at the four teams who will be battling for honour and glory this year, aiming to land the biggest prize in Europe.
Not so long ago, Manchester City was briefly owned by Thaksin Shinawatra, the controversial former prime minister of Thailand. He bought the club for the relatively modest sum of £81.6 million, before selling to the Abu Dhabi United Group in September 2008 for around £200 million, turning a healthy profit in the process. That sparked an entirely new era for the club.
While there are no longer any direct links with the former owner, the latest online sports betting in Thailand continues to back Manchester City, based on the odds at leading online bookmakers reviewed by Asiabet. Only the crème de la crème of betting companies make their list, based on consistently providing flawless wagering options and experiences.
Speaking of which, Manchester City aspire to become the crème de la crème of European football. Having become the dominant force in English football over the last several years, largely thanks to massive spending and the managerial skills of Pep Guardiola, the UEFA Champions League is the one prize which still eludes them.
Last season the trophy was almost within their grasp, having reached the final only to be beaten 1-0 by Chelsea at Estadio do Dragao in Portugal. But will this year be any different? Well, first they will need to get past European football royalty, tasked with the challenge of beating Real Madrid in the semi-finals. If they do reach the final in Paris, it's hard to imagine City squandering another opportunity.
No team has lifted the iconic European Cup trophy more times than Real Madrid. They were the first club to win the elite competition in 1956, and without any shadow of doubt, their ambitions this year will be nothing short of becoming the next club to triumph. Having won the UEFA Champions League 13 times, including three in a row between 2016 and 2018, the Spanish giants are now hunting number 14.
Every season without fail, winning the UEFA Champions League is always the primary objective prioritised by Real Madrid. They value this competition above and beyond any domestic honours, therefore nobody can be surprised by the impressive performances they produce against the strongest opponents.
The additional bonus this season for Real Madrid, due to having the title race in LaLiga practically won already, they can focus all their attention towards winning the Champions League. That could be a big advantage when they take on Manchester City in the semi-finals, given the English side remains locked in battle with Liverpool for the Premier League title.
Although some pundits consider their team to be weaker than previous campaigns, Real Madrid always appear capable of making impossible things happen. Likewise, despite being in the twilight of their careers, midfielder Luka Modric (36) and striker Karim Benzema (34) are in exceptional form, still both capable of turning matches in an instant.
As the most successful English side in Europe, winning the UEFA Champions League on 6 previous occasions and finishing as runners-up 3 times, Liverpool has also enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years under Jurgen Klopp. After going so long without winning the Premier League, the German coach ended that particular drought.
Klopp is the mastermind who has turned Liverpool into a genuine force to be reckoned with, both on the domestic scene and the European front. For the first time in a decade, he led the Reds on a scintillating run to the 2017-18 Champions League final, only to fall short in the end against Real Madrid.
Nevertheless, having savoured the taste of their European adventures, Klopp and his exceptional team were left with a sense of unfinished business. During the 2018-19 campaign, their dream was almost left in tatters, following a 3-0 defeat at the Camp Nou against Barcelona in the semi-finals. However, the Reds produced one of the most spectacular comebacks in European history, winning the second-leg 4-0 at fortress Anfield.
After such a remarkable run to the 2019 final in Madrid, there was almost a sense of destiny about Liverpool, when they beat English rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 and lifted the trophy. The celebrations in Merseyside were understandably euphoric, which is an experience their fans would love to repeat again this year.
Everyone loves an underdog story, right? Well, it's fair to say that Villarreal epitomise that considering their humble background. This modest Spanish club has been around for almost 100 years, although much of that history was spent in the lower leagues of Spanish football. Indeed, they only reached the topflight of LaLiga for the first tine during the 1998-99 season.
But since they began jostling amongst the Spanish elite, the ambitions of Villarreal have become limitless, always aiming to punch above their perceived stature both at home and abroad. Until the 2020-21 season, the club known as the 'Yellow Submarine' had never even won a major trophy, although that all changed with the arrival of European expert Unai Emery.
The mastermind of three consecutive UEFA Europa League triumphs with Sevilla FC, Emery was eventually lured to much wealthier clubs, although his time at both Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are perceived to have been failures. But back in Spain and with a so-called 'smaller' club, his managerial talents began to shine once again.
Last season Emery guided Villarreal all the way to the UEFA Europa League final, clearly his favourite competition, producing the greatest moment in the club's history to date. The 2020-21 final was a tight and tense affair against Manchester United, ending 1-1 after extra-time and penalties, before Villarreal emerged victorious in the shoot-out. If they were to get past Liverpool and reach the Champions League final, it really would be a phenomenal achievement.
All good things have to come to an end, and the same unfortunately has to be said for football stadiums too. This article looks at the grounds which are soon to host their last match, the stadiums whose days are numbered and where fans will be watching their football from next.
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My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando