Man U win the UEFA Europa League, qualify for Champions League

Manchester United on Wednesday night completed what will be termed a very successful season by defeating Ajax 2-0 to win the UEFA Europa League final, guaranteeing the Old Trafford club a place in next season's UEFA Champions league tournament.

Two goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mhikitaryan was all Jose Mourinho needed to win his third trophy (League Cup, Community shield, Europa league) of the season- a tactical win that showed Man U's experience over Ajax who had more of the possession and more passes.

Congrats to Man U.

Aftermath of Manchester attack, UEFA puts additional security measures In place for Europa League Final

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has released a statement following Monday’s attack at the Manchester Arena in which a suicide bomber killed 22 people. The statement reads,

 'UEFA is shocked by last night’s attack in Manchester. Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those affected. 

UEFA has been closely working with local authorities and the Swedish FA for many months and the terrorist risk had been taken into account since the very beginning of the project. Furthermore, a number of additional security measures were implemented following the attacks in Stockholm last April. Due to the tight security arrangements, UEFA urges fans to arrive at the stadium as early as possible, as detailed checks will be made at the entrances, resulting in potential delays in accessing the stadium'.

Manchester United will play Ajax in the Europa League Final on Wednesday, May 24, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Bayern vs Arsenal, Leicester vs Sevilla (UEFA champions league last 16 fixtures in full)

European football governing body, UEFA, today released the draw for the last 16 of the UEFA champions league. 

Man city will face French giants Monaco, Defending champions Real Madrid will face Napoli, Benfica vs Dortmund, Bayern will play Arsenal while FC Porto will tackle Juventus.

In other draws, Leverkusen will face Atletico Madrid, PSG will face Spanish heavyweights Barcelona while Sevilla will play EPL champions Leicester City.

Neymar, Ronaldo and Messi included as UEFA release 40 man shortlist for team of the year

Monday was truly a busy day for European football's governing body- UEFA, as they released their 40 man shortlist for their team of the year.

Expectedly, some players from EURO 2016 cup winners, Portugal, were included- while players from Champions league winners Real Madrid were also nominated.

Premier league stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez, Aaron Ramsey and current African player of the year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were nominated. See the star studded list below...

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting), Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid), Gigi Buffon (Juventus)

Defenders: Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Pepe (Real
Madrid), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Paul Pogba (Man United), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Joe Allen (Stoke), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Toni Kroos, (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Grzegorz Krychowiak (PSG)

Strikers: Leo Messi (Barcelona), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus) Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Neymar (Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Sergio Aguero (Man City)

UEFA threatens to kick out England & Russia from EURO 2016 if fans violence continues

England and Russia have been warned they face Euro 2016 disqualification if their fans continue with violent acts after Russian fans fought with English fans after Saturday's 1-1 draw.

UEFA has charged Russia and England with 'crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and setting off fireworks' while star player Wayne Rooney and England coach Roy Hodgson have pleaded with English fans to stay calm during the Euro tournament in France.

Such unacceptable behaviour by so-called supporters of the national teams of England and Russia has no place in football, a sport we must protect and defend,' UEFA staunchly said on their website.  

'The UEFA executive committee has warned both football associations that — irrespective of any decisions taken by the independent disciplinary bodies relating to incidents inside the stadium — it will not hesitate to impose additional sanctions on the FA and the Russian Football Union, including potential disqualification of their respective teams from the tournament, should such violence occur again.' 

Wayne Rooney then pleaded with England fans in a video uploaded on the country's Instagram page:

‘I'd like to thank the England fans for the great support inside the stadium against Russia and now we have a big game coming up against Wales,’ said Rooney. I’d like to ask the fans, please, if you don't have a ticket don't travel. And for the fans with tickets, be safe, be sensible, and continue with your great support for the players. Thank you.

Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson, coach of England admitted he is concerned about the prospect of being kicked out of the tournament due to matters that are not football related.

‘As England manager I'm obviously very concerned about the threat which is now hanging over us and the sanctions that could possibly be imposed on the England team,’ said Hodgson.  

We worked very hard to get here and we really desperately want to stay in the competition, I'm appealing therefore to all of our fans - and we appreciate your support at the matches of course. But I'm appealing to you to stay out of trouble and to try to make certain that these threats that are being issued are never carried out and we will be able to attempt to do the best we can to stay in this competition by football means.’

England will play Wales on Thursday.

Real Madrid Beat Atletico Madrid On Penalties to win the Champions League

Real Madrid have won the Champions League for the 11th time, beating Atlético Madrid 5-3 on penalties, with Cristiano Ronaldo hitting the winning spot-kick after a 1-1 draw.

Live Real Madrid v Atlético Madrid: Champions League final – live!

Minute-by-minute report: Can Atlético Madrid avenge their defeat in the 2014 final against Real? Find out here

 

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After successful kicks for Real by Lucas Vázquez, Marcelo, Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos, and for Atlético by Antoine Griezmann, Gabi and Saúl, Juanfran’s penalty was saved and Ronaldo did the rest

Real took the lead in the 15th minute when Sergio Ramos turned the ball in from close range after Bale flicked on a Toni Kroos free-kick.

Atlético were awarded a penalty early in the second half, after Torres cleverly got across Pepe, let the ball run past him and the defender bundled into him. But Griezmann’s effort rebounded off the crossbar.

However, with 11 minutes left, shortly after Bale had an effort cleared of the line, Griezmann lofted a ball down the right channel for Juanfran, who volleyed across goal to find Yannick Carrasco, who smashed it home.

Neither side was able to score again in either normal time or the extra half-hour, and the second all-Madrid final – two years after Real won the first – went to spot-kicks.