The UEFA Champions League 2022-23 group stage draw grabbed headlines after pitting FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in one group.

Barcelona, Inter and Bayern Munich have been clubbed with Viktoria Plzen in Group C, which is considered as the Group of Death for the upcoming UCL group stage.

It is worth noting that Barcelona and Bayern Munich were drawn together previously in Group E during the UEFA Champions League 2021-22 group stage. Bayern ended up beating the Blaugrana 3-0 in both group games and relegating the Catalans to the Europa League.

Robert Lewandowski, who scored 69 Champions League goals for Bayern Munich between 2014 and 2022, will face his former employers in the UCL 2022-23 group stage.

Inter Milan, who crashed out in the Round of 16, will fancy their opportunity to qualify for the knockout phase.

Another group that football fans must watch out for is Group G. Premier League champions Manchester City have been drawn with Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen.

Erling Haaland, who joined City from Dortmund earlier this year, couldn’t have asked for an earlier reunion with his former side. Having set the records for the youngest (20 years, 231 days) and the fastest player (14 matches) to score 20 UCL goals while at Borussia Dortmund, all eyes will be fixed on the Norwegian striker to see how he performs against Die Borussen.

Liverpool, who won UCL 2018�?9, will play in Group A alongside Ajax, Napoli and Rangers while Chelsea have been drawn with AC Milan, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb in Group E.

Group H features Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus while Atlético Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur will be the favourites to qualify from Group B and Group D respectively.

Meanwhile, defending champions Real Madrid will begin their quest for a 15th European crown while taking on the likes of RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic in Group F.

UEFA Champions League 2022-23 group stage draw

Group A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, Rangers

Group B: Porto, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Club Brugge

Group C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzeň

Group D: Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting CP, Marseille

Group E: AC Milan, Chelsea, RB Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb

Group F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic

Group G: Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, Copenhagen

Group H: Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa

Featured photo: AFP / OZAN KOSE

League leaders Porto (POR) host title challengers Sporting CP (SCP) on matchday 3 of the Primeira Liga 2022-23 season at the iconic Estadio do Dragao in the early hours of Sunday, August 21. The match will start at 1:00 AM IST.

POR vs SCP Dream11 prediction

Arguably the biggest rivalry in Portugal football, the Dragoes vs Leoes fixture will finally hope to see a winner this Sunday as each of their past four league meetings have been drawn.

Considering their overall record in Primeira Liga, Porto might have the edge as they have won 68 of the 176 matches against Sporting while losing 59 times. Porto have not lost to Sporting in the league since 2016.

POR vs SCP Dream11 team tips for Primeira Liga 2022-23

Top tip: Best forward

With two goals in as many league games already, Porto’s Mehdi Taremi remains an outright pick for a forward. Lining alongside Evanilson in a 4-3-1-2 setup, the 30-year-old Iranian professional is rightly expected to cause some kind of damage against Sporting.

Top tip: Best midfielder

Selected by 92.71 per cent of fantasy users, Sporting’s Pedro Goncalves is someone who can trouble the Porto defence with his speed. Acquiring the left side of an attacking front three, the 24-year-old has already scored three goals this season and will be looking to add more to his tally.

Top tip: Best defender and goalkeeper

Between Sporting’s Sebastian Coates and Porto’s Pepe, Coates is likely a better pick because not only is he a great defensive asset, but his ability to contribute to his team’s attacks will come in handy too. The former Liverpool defender would be a great addition to your fantasy football team.

For a goalkeeper, Sporting’s Antonio Adan would be a preferred choice mostly because the 35-year-old is expected to be the busier man between the sticks than his competitor Diogo Costa.

POR vs SCP probable playing XI

POR playing XI (probable): Diogo Costa (goalkeeper), Joao Mario, Pepe (captain), Ivan Marcano, Zaidu Sanusi, Marko Grujic, Stephen Eustaquio, Mateus Uribe, Danny Loader, Toni Martinez, Mehdi Taremi

SCP playing XI (probable): Antonio Adan (goalkeeper), Luis Neto, Sebastian Coates (captain), Goncalo Inacio, Pedro Porro, Hidemasa Morita, Manuel Ugarte, Matheus Reis, Francisco Trincao, Marcus Edwards, Pedro Goncalves

Interested in football betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites.

Featured photo: AFP / Miguel Riopa

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea square off against FC Porto in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final in the early hours on Wednesday at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Sevilla.

The Blues are riding high, having already taken a 2-0 lead in the first leg with Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell scoring for Chelsea. It was, in fact, an uplifting win as Chelsea were coming on the back of a 5-2 hammering at the hands of West Brom in the Premier League.

Now, they are coming fresh off an inspiring 4-1 victory against Crystal Palace - their biggest win under Tuchel. Chelsea have also kept three clean sheets in a row in the UEFA Champions League and bodes well. Watch Chelsea vs FC Porto live in India!

On the other hand, FC Porto have struggled to challenge leaders Sporting CP in Primeira Liga. They are currently placed second in the standings, six points adrift. FC Porto, however, have won their last five matches in the league.

The Dragons have never managed to get past the UEFA Champions League’s quarter-final round since their triumph in the 2003-04 campaign. 

Their record against Chelsea is even more disheartening. In nine matches played against the English team, Porto have lost six and have won just two.

Chelsea team news and injury update

Thomas Tuchel is blessed to have an empty medical room as Chelsea have no injury worries whatsoever. With their FA Cup tie against Manchester City coming up, Tuchel is expected to rotate his team, which means Olivier Giroud might get a place in the starting XI. N’Golo Kante is fit again and can play his part too.

FC Porto team news and injury update

FC Porto are set to welcome Mehdi Taremi and their star midfielder Sergio Oliveira back in the fold. The two players had missed the first leg due to suspension. Diogo Costa, Ivan Marcano and Mouhamed Mbaye remain doubtful since the trio skipped training.

Where to watch Chelsea vs FC Porto live in India?

The Chelsea vs FC Porto UCL quarter-final 2nd leg will be telecast live at 12:30 AM IST on Sony TEN 1 SD and HD TV channels in India on Wednesday, April 14.

Live streaming of Chelsea vs FC Porto will be available on the SonyLIV app.

SportsAdda will bring you Chelsea vs FC Porto live scores.

For Chelsea vs FC Porto football odds and betting, visit Sportsbet.io and look under Top Events - International Clubs - UEFA Champions League.

Featured photo: AFP / Cristina Quicler

Premier League giants Chelsea will be seen in action on Thursday, April 8, when they travel to Spain’s Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium to face FC Porto in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2020-21 quarter-finals.

The Blues are yet to lose a match in the UEFA Champions League this season. After finishing atop the group table with four wins and two draws from the six games, Thomas Tuchel guided his men to a 3-0 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid in the round of 16.

Though FC Porto haven't had such a smooth run in the tournament, the Liga NOS giants will take encouragement from the fact that they eliminated title contenders Juventus from the tournament in the round of 16. Watch Chelsea vs FC Porto live in India!

In the Chelsea vs FC Porto head-to-head, the London club leads 5-2 with only one game ending as a draw between the two sides. However, past records won’t matter much, given the form both the teams are carrying into this fixture.

While FC Porto won 2-1 against Santa Clara in the Portuguese league at the weekend, Chelsea were stunned 5-2 by relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion.

FC Porto team news and injury updates

FC Porto manager Sérgio Conceição will be without the services of goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye and defender Ivan Marcano. Apart from them, forward Mehdi Taremi and midfielder Sergio Oliveira remain suspended for the match.

Chelsea FC team news and injury updates

Though Chelsea don’t have any suspended players for the match, they have their own injury concerns. The Blues will be without their star midfielder N'Golo Kante, while forwards Christian Pulisic and striker Tammy Abraham remain doubtful with injuries.

Where to watch FC Porto vs Chelsea FC live in India?

The FC Porto vs Chelsea UCL match will be telecast live at 12:30 AM IST on Sony TEN 1 SD and Sony TEN 1 HD TV channels in India, on Thursday, April 8.

Live streaming of FC Porto vs Chelsea FC will be on SonyLIV along with other UEFA Champions League quarter-final clashes.

SportsAdda will bring you FC Porto vs Chelsea FC live scores.

For FC Porto vs Chelsea FC football odds and betting, visit Sportsbet.io and look under Top Events - International Clubs - UEFA Champions League.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Clive Rose

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced the quarter-final draws for Champions League 2020/21 on Friday. Defending champions Bayern Munich will lock horns with Paris Saint-Germain in a repeat of last year’s UCL final. 

13-time champions Real Madrid will meet six-time winners Liverpool FC in another blockbuster Champions League quarter-final encounter.

In the other two quarter-final clashes, favorites Manchester City will take on Borussia Dortmund while FC Porto will play Chelsea.

The first-leg UCL quarter-final matches are scheduled for April 6 and 7, while the second leg will be played on April 13 and 14. 

Champions League quarter-final draw

Quarter-final 1: Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund

Quarter-final 2: FC Porto vs Chelsea FC

Quarter-final 3: Bayern Munchen vs Paris St-Germain

Quarter-final 4: Real Madrid vs Liverpool FC

Champions League semi-final draw

Semi-final 1: Winner of Quarter-final 3 vs Winner of Quarter-final 1

That means it's Bayern Munich or PSG vs Man City or Dortmund.

Semi-final 2: Winner of Quarter-final 4 vs Winner of Quarter-final 2

It will be either Real Madrid or Liverpool vs Porto or Chelsea.

The UEFA Champions League 2020-21 final will be played on May 29, in Istanbul.

Feature image courtesy: Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP

A 10-man FC Porto pulled off one of the most unpredictable upsets in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League as they knocked out Juventus on away goals.

Juventus 3-2 Porto = a Champions League classic?

�?�?�?Juventus 0-1 Porto (agg: 1-3)
�?�?�?Juventus 1-1 Porto (agg: 2-3)
�?�?�?Juventus 2-1 Porto (agg: 3-3)

�?�?�?�?Juventus 2-2 Porto (agg: 3-4)
�?�?�?�?Juventus 3-2 Porto (agg: 4-4)#UCL pic.twitter.com/El7z7DE2wC

�?UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 9, 2021

The Dragons, who came with a 2-1 lead from the first leg, took the lead in the 19th minute when Sergio Oliveira scored from the spot after Juventus�?Merih Demiral brought down Porto's Mehdi Taremi.

Taremi was sent off in the 54th for his second booking, while Federico Chiesa struck twice (49th and 63rd minute) to bring the scores level on aggregate, 3-3.

//twitter.com/OptaPaolo/status/1369401730354577410 

While it seemed the Old Lady had the upper hand, they crashed out on away goals despite winning the second leg by 3-2. Oliveira’s free-kick in the 115th minute of added extra time - before Adrien Rabiot’s 117th-minute strike - meant the Dragons scored two away goals, and in doing so, they relived the exploits of the 2004 Porto team, which knocked out Manchester United in a similar manner.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who bowed out of the last 16 for the second consecutive season, was left shell-shocked as he found himself in a situation from precisely 17 years ago (when he was with the 2004 United team). The Portuguese legend had a catastrophic game as he failed to register a single shot, create a chance or attempt a dribble in the first 45 minutes, highlighting how well Juventus' attack was marshalled by his former Real Madrid teammate Pepe and his men.

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t create a chance, complete a dribble or have a shot on target in the first half vs. Porto.

A *big* second half needed. pic.twitter.com/FXhg7BNE19

�?Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 9, 2021

Ronaldo 0/3 Dribbles pic.twitter.com/eDpF43nPfX

�?$ (@ROSSZlZ0U) March 9, 2021

While Ronaldo struggled to make an impact, 23-year-old forward Chiesa stepped up and became the first Italian since the legendary Filippo Inzaghi to score two or more goals in a Champions League knockout fixture.

1999 - Federico Chiesa is the first Italian player to score 2+ goals in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game with Juventus since Filippo Inzaghi, in April 1999 against Manchester United. Amazing.#JuveFCP pic.twitter.com/HIXjfTDyZr

�?OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 9, 2021

Besides Chiesa, Colombian international Juan Cuadrado played a huge role in the attacking prowess as he created as many as 12 goalscoring chances and registered a whopping 32 crosses. No player has racked up such numbers since 2016-17.

�?Most chances created in a #UCL game since 2016-17: Juan Cuadrado vs. Porto (12)

�?Most crosses in a #UCL game since 2016-17: Juan Cuadrado vs. Porto (32)

Juve's go-to tactic. pic.twitter.com/tLX3RKbZx7

�?Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 9, 2021

Juventus have had 22 shots in 105 minutes vs. Porto �?Juan Cuadrado has created 11 of them.

Huge attacking output. pic.twitter.com/4wi0nT0YYT

�?Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 9, 2021

Amidst the talk about Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus, former players and many Twitter users showered praise on the former's national compatriot Pepe. The 38-year-old rolled back the years and ensured the Bianconeri couldn't penetrate the Porto defence easily, despite being one man short. Famous football analyst Statman Dave dug out impressive numbers from the Porto skipper's outing last night.

Pepe’s game by numbers vs. Juventus:

120 minutes played
100% aerial duels won
85% pass accuracy
63 total touches
16 clearances (!)
2 interceptions
2 tackles won
2 blocks

Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/ZsuN8tKtz6

�?Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 9, 2021

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, a TV Pundit with British channel BT Sport, heaped praises on his one-time nemesis, claiming that aspiring young centre-halves should watch his performance for perfect lessons on how to play at the back.

'If I am coaching at a football club now, I'd get these clips, and give them to every young centre half at the club to watch - in terms of positional, desire, communication, awareness, sensing and smelling danger of where to be and using your body, as well in terms of defending the box.

Following the result, many Twitter users lashed out at Ronaldo and Juventus. Here are some of the reactions.

Cristiano Ronaldo leaving 3-peat winners Real Madrid is the worst individual sporting decision in football history. He can only blame himself for it.

�?TC. (@totalcristiano) March 9, 2021

Has there ever been a football match like this? 10 man Porto 4-4 Juventus. Porto go through on away goals. With Ronaldo the villain of the piece! And Pepe the oldest man on the pitch the Man of the Match...

�?George Galloway (@georgegalloway) March 9, 2021

Bizarre to think that Juventus went to the #UCL final twice without Cristiano Ronaldo.

They signed him to help win a competition where Juve have been cursed, only to be knocked out twice in a row in the Round of 16 by Lyon and Porto.

�?Matteo Bonetti (@BonettiESPN) March 9, 2021

Ronaldo: I came here to win the Champions League with Juventus pic.twitter.com/HLBkCdnfB3

�?Troll Football (@TrollFootball) March 9, 2021

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Marco Bertorello

The chills and thrills of the UEFA Champions League anthem are certain to send shivers down your spine. The excitement and the rapture that the competition brings is simply unparalleled, more so because there have been several underdog victories over the years.

While La Liga giants Real Madrid rule the Champions League province, every other season the tournament has seen its fair share of dark horses - be it Ajax from the 2018-19 season or AS Monaco from the 2016-17 campaign - rising to glory. 

Only a few underdogs, however, have gone on to defy the odds and lift the most coveted European trophy. On that note, today we take a look at three teams who made it happen on the biggest stage of all.

Borussia Dortmund (1996-97)

Borussia Dortmund had entered the 1996-97 Champions League season at the back of two consecutive Bundesliga titles, but winning Europe’s ultimate prize was still a far-fetched reality. The Die Borussen had started the campaign with a 2-1 win over Widzew Lodz, but ended the group stage a place behind leaders Atletico Madrid. They had a rather easy outing against Auxerre in the quarterfinals, but needed something special to brush aside Manchester United in the following round. A 1-0 win in both the legs meant the Germans booked their place in the final, where a mighty Juventus awaited them.

Hey Football Twitter, who can name the players in this Borussia Dortmund team from 1996/1997 season? pic.twitter.com/S96xPu8QK9

�?MR KEMS (@mr_kems4) August 1, 2020

The Italian champions were clearly the favourites as their roster included the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Christian Vieri, Didier Deschamps and Alessandro Del Piero amongst others. Defying the odds, Dortmund took the lead through Karl-Heinz Reidle before the striker doubled the advantage minutes after the half-hour mark. Del Piero pulled one back in the 65th minute, but substitute Lars Ricken restored the advantage to guide the Germans to a 3-1 win over the Italians.

Manchester United (1998-99)

Manchester United’s victory over Bayern Munich in the 1998-99 Champions League final has etched its name as one of the best underdog stories of the competition. Led by Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United went against the odds not only because they went trophy-less in the season prior, but they had as many as seven players below 25 in their main roster. Be that as it may, it didn’t deteriorate their title challenge as they finished second in their group before beating Inter Milan in the quarter-finals followed by a close victory over Juventus in the semis. United had several holes to fill given the fact that they were without their captain Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, who both missed the final due to suspension.

This resulted in Ferguson making several changes in the starting XI, with Ryan Giggs missing out and a young David Beckham finding a place. Bayern Munich, captained by Oliver Kahn, got the early breakthrough through Mario Basler’s free-kick and the game was heading to a Bayern win before the miracle happened. With the game now in the added minutes, several United fans were making their way out of the Camp Nou devastated. But, little did they know that the young United brigade would turn it around in a mere three minutes. 

The Red Devils won a corner, which David Beckham fired. A muddle in the Bayern penalty area brought the ball to Giggs on the edge of the box, and with little to no space, the winger took a low hit with no real power. The only thing it needed was a little direction, which Teddy Sheringham gave to bring United on level terms. United forced another corner in the final 30 seconds and Sherringham once again played his role in laying the ball to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who tapped the ball in from three yards to make the impossible happen.

FC Porto (2003-04)

Jose Mourinho took over a struggling FC Porto team in 2002 with a promise of making them champions next year. Not only did he fulfil that promise but also guided the young Portuguese team to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title in 2003-04. Porto had dominated that particular season in almost every competition, even winning the Primeira Liga five weeks before the end of the season. While they lost Taca de Portugal to Benfica, they were rewarded with a greater prize when they defeated AS Monaco in the final.

Porto had a tough rout heading into the final. They drew one and lost their second group stage game and finished three points adrift of the group leaders Real Madrid in the table. It took plenty of hardship to get the better of Manchester United in the Round of 16, but they did it with real conviction before brushing aside Lyon and Deportivo La Coruna in the following rounds.

Up against AS Monaco, who had defeated Real Madrid and Bayern Munich en route to the final, Porto put on a dominant display right from the proceedings. They took the lead through Carlos Alberto six minutes before half-time, following which two goals in a span of four minutes in the final quarter saw Porto win the final 3-0.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Eric Cabanis

Spain's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas announced his retirement on Tuesday, after being sidelined for more than a year with a heart problem.

Casillas, 39, also won the European Championship twice with his country in a trophy-laden career which included more than 700 games for Real Madrid.

"Today is both one of the most important and most difficult days of my sporting life, the time to say goodbye has arrived," he said on Twitter.

Lo importante es el camino que recorres y la gente que te acompaña, no el destino al que te lleva, porque eso con trabajo y esfuerzo, llega solo y creo que puedo decir, sin dudar, que ha sido el camino y el destino soñado #Grac1as pic.twitter.com/xb8ucs9REh

�?Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) August 4, 2020

Casillas joined Portuguese side Porto in 2015 after a tearful departure from Madrid. He suffered a heart attack in May last year.

He played 167 times for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the Euros in 2008 and 2012 in a golden age for Spanish football. He lifted five La Liga titles and the Champions League on three occasions during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"The best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football joined us at the age of 9. He was formed here and defended our shirt for 25 years, becoming one of our most emblematic captains of all time," the club said in a statement.

"Today one of the most important footballers in our 118 years of history calls it a day as a professional player, a player we love and admire, a goalkeeper who has made the Real Madrid legacy bigger with his work and exemplary behaviour both on and off the pitch," they added.

�?Saves. Lots of saves.
Trophies. Lots of trophies.
@IkerCasillas#RealMadrid | #Grac1as pic.twitter.com/7vL3JNUQjG

�?Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) August 4, 2020

Former club and country team-mate Sergio Ramos was among many players to praise the veteran, nicknamed 'The Saint', on social media.

"Football thanks you, man. Forever a legend @IkerCasillas," Ramos tweeted.

.@IkerCasillas pic.twitter.com/5hKGgX6EB4

�?Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) August 4, 2020

Vicente del Bosque, who coached Casillas at Madrid and with Spain also hailed his efforts.

"Casillas has been a hero of the national team and Spanish football," he said.

In June, Casillas said he was ending his bid to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation, because of the pandemic.

Former Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon, who played against Casillas on numerous occasions and is also seen as one of his country's finest ever goalkeepers, echoed Ramos and Del Bosque's praise.

They say competition makes us better than others but not perfect faced with ourselves.
Maybe this futile pursuit of perfection is what made us who we are. #Grac1as Iker, without you, everything would have been less meaningful. pic.twitter.com/wQ3MznmeGP

�?Gianluigi Buffon (@gianluigibuffon) August 4, 2020

"They say competition makes us better than others but not perfect faced with ourselves. Maybe this futile pursuit of perfection is what made us who we are. #Grac1as Iker, without you, everything would have been less meaningful," Buffon tweeted.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Javier Soriano

Since the European Champion Clubs' Cup was officially changed to the UEFA Champions League in 1992, a majority of the trophies have been won by the teams from the top four European leagues, that is the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga, the German Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A.

While Real Madrid rule the roost with the most Champions League winners�?trophies, many teams like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Liverpool have also won the coveted trophy.

However, every few seasons, one team performs above all expectations, beating many top sides and claiming their own sweet place in history. Most of the time these teams tend to fall short, but some sides manage to continue their fine run and win the coveted European trophy.

On that note, here is a list of the top underdog teams to play the Champions League:

Bayer Leverkusen (2001-02)

The 2001-02 season is one to forget for Bayer Leverkusen fans, but their underrated performances through the season have to be lauded by many. They were on the verge of a treble after reaching the DFB-Pokal final and staying atop the Bundesliga table for most of the season.

However, by the time Leverkusen took on Real Madrid in the final, they had lost out on the Bundesliga trophy to Dortmund as well as losing the DFB-Pokal final to Schalke. However, Leverkusen did not put a foot wrong through the knockout stages of the Champions League, beating Liverpool and a strong Manchester United side on their way to the final.

Leverkusen finally had a chance to win some silverware when they took on Real Madrid at the Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. However, the odds were stacked against them and rightly so, with a legendary volley by Zinedine Zidane sealing the victory. However, Leverkusen never gave up and came close to equalizing on several occasions but eventually lost.

FC Porto (2003-04)

FC Porto pip Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna to this spot primarily because Porto eventually won the trophy after beating Deportivo in the semis and also became the first club outside the big four leagues to win the title since Ajax in 1995. 

Porto were never favourites when the tournament began but by the time they squared off against AS Monaco in the finals, they had already won the Primeira Liga (Portugal’s domestic competition) as well as the Portuguese Super Cup. However, this special season for Porto also marked the breakthrough season for one Jose Mourinho.

Finishing second to Real Madrid in the group stages, Porto were exemplary in the run-up of the Champions League final that was played at the Arena AufSchalke in Germany. They beat Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, as well as Lyon and a resilient Deportivo La Coruna side en route to the finals. Goals from Carlos Alberto, Deco, Alenichev sealed Porto’s win, with Mourinho moving to Chelsea a week after the final.

AS Monaco (2016-17) 

In recent times, AS Monaco might be a glimmer of their former selves, but no one can discount their 2016-17 season, which featured stars like Fabinho, Joao Moutinho, Radamel Falcao, Thomas Lemar, Bernardo Silva and a 17-year-old Kylian Mbappe. Aside from winning the Ligue 1, this young squad was also ripping Europe apart.

Playing from the third-qualifying round, AS Monaco beat the likes of Fenerbache and Valencia in the qualifying stages of the Champions League, before topping the group stages, eliminating English giants Tottenham Hotspur, as well as beating them in both legs of their games.

Monaco were rampant during the knockout stages of the tournament as well, with Kylian Mbappe putting up a show for the whole of Europe to witness. After a 5-3 away loss to Manchester City, Monaco made amends in the home leg with a 3-1 victory, knocking out Pep Guardiola’s side on away goals. Dortmund were a breeze as well, with Leonardo Jardim’s side scoring six goals yet again and setting up a semifinal clash with Juventus.

However, Juventus were too defensive sound for the French team, who eventually lost 4-1 on aggregate and bowed out of the competition. 

AFC Ajax (2018-19)

Ajax have always been the surprise package in the Champions League �?they won the title in 1995, and have always been among the underdog performers through the seasons. However, their performance through the 2018-19 season, where they beat some heavyweight teams, is one that the fans will always remember. 

Much like Monaco, Ajax and their young squad made it to the tournament after beating Austrian side Sturm Graz and Belgian side Standard Liege in the qualifying stages. Their group stages were a mixed bag, winning three and drawing three. However, the team from Amsterdam played unexpectedly well against Bayern Munich, who topped the group. They drew both their legs, coming back twice in the process. However, it was the knockout stages where they flourished. 

They beat defending champions Real Madrid 3-5 on aggregate while beating Italian champions, Juventus 2-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

Entering into the semifinal stages, Ajax were definitely the weakest of the other three teams �?Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, and previous year’s finalists Liverpool. However, they did not let their fans down after beating the North London side 1-0 away from home. However, a late goal by Lucas Moura to complete his hattrick sealed the deal for the Dutch side in the return, as they succumbed 3-2 on aggregate. They might have been eliminated, but Ajax surely won hearts with their spirited displays against many European giants of the beautiful game. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Pascal Guyot

Controversial? Yes. Divisive? Yes. But there is no denying that Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest managers in the modern era. Having burst onto the scenes with his all-conquering Porto side, Jose went on to achieve great things with Chelsea soon after, following which he led Inter Milan to great glory.

A mildly successful spell at Real Madrid followed, after which he returned to Chelsea for a second stint and won titles and trophies again. Next stop for the Portuguese tactician was Manchester United where he enjoyed a trophy-laden first season, but things fell apart in his third year at the club. Mourinho is currently in charge at Tottenham Hotspur, after having replaced Mauricio Pochettino in November.

During his managerial career, Mourinho has won 25 titles and trophies, that include two UEFA Champions League trophies �?one with Porto and Inter Milan each, while he also won the UEFA Cup with Porto as well as the Europa League with Manchester United.

In such a decorated career, the 57-year-old has coached some of the finest footballers along the way. But who among those would make the cut into the best XI of players coached by Mourinho?

GK: Petr Cech (Chelsea)

Iker Casillas, Julio Cesar, Vitor Baia, Mourinho has worked with some exceptional goalkeepers during his managerial career. But, the obvious choice for this best XI has to be Petr Cech. The Czech Republic stopper was signed by Mourinho at Chelsea in 2004 and went on to work with him for six seasons across both his stints at the club, making 195 appearances. Cech was a member of the spine around which Mourinho’s Premier League conquering team was built on in the early 2000’s.

RB: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan)

Paulo Ferreira and Branislav Ivanovic were other contenders for this spot. But Javier Zanetti gets the nod owing to the role he played in Mourinho’s successful two-year stint at Inter.

The Argentine was Jose’s trusted lieutenant on the pitch and led the side admirably as the Nerazzurri went on to scale great heights under Mou. Zanetti made 106 appearances in two seasons under the Portuguese, missing only two matches during his entire tenure.

CB: Ricardo Carvalho (Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid)

One of Jose Mourinho’s most important players, Ricardo Carvalho was an ever-present in his successful Porto side, then followed him to Chelsea where once again the pair won the lot.

The Portuguese centre-back would then join hands with Mourinho again at Real Madrid in 2010, although he was nearing his twilight at the time. Carvalho is Mourinho’s most frequently used players, having made 270 appearances under the manager, spanning across three clubs.

CB: John Terry (Chelsea)

Honourable mentions for the likes of Sergio Ramos, Pepe, William Gallas, but there is no way John Terry misses out from a Jose Mourinho best XI. It was under his leadership that Mourinho’s Chelsea enjoyed the rousing success that they did in the 2000’s.

The former England centre-back went on to play a key role in Jose’s second stint at the club as well, adding another Premier League winners�?medal to his cabinet. After Carvalho, Terry is the most frequently-used player by Jose, making 266 appearances under the Portuguese, for most of which he was the captain of the team.

LB: Ashley Cole (Chelsea)

The Englishman was a player Mourinho broke rules to sign at Chelsea. The Portuguese met with the left-back to discuss terms over a contract, while he was still at Arsenal, which resulted in him getting hit with a hefty fine. But all of it seemed worth it as Cole went on to play a key role in Chelsea’s 2006-07 PL triumph.

Mourinho would leave soon after though, but the pair worked together for a season in Jose’s second coming at the club in 2013-14. In total the Englishman featured just 73 times for Jose, but made a huge difference.

DM: Claude Makelele (Chelsea)

The midfielder had arrived at Chelsea a year before Mourinho did, but it was the Portuguese who brought the best out of the French midfield destroyer. Makelele was a key figure in the team that Mourinho built at Chelsea, performing the thankless task of breaking up play in the middle of the park with utmost consistency. Makelele featured 138 times during Jose’s first stint at Chelsea and scored a couple of goals.

RW: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Mourinho joined hands with Ronaldo a year after the latter had moved from Manchester United. Under the tutelage of his compatriot, Cristiano played some of his finest football at the Bernabeu, plundering a whopping 168 goals in just 164 appearances, averaging over a goal per game. He also set up 49 more for his teammates. Unfortunately, the pair did not win a lot of trophies at Madrid though, bagging one La Liga title and a Copa del Rey trophy.

CAM: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Another key member of the spine around which the successful Chelsea team of the 2000’s was built. Lampard is the third-most frequently used player by Mourinho during his managerial career, having made 215 appearances across the Portuguese’s two stints with the West Londoners. During this time, the current Chelsea boss scored 70 goals and set up 60 more, cementing his legacy as one of the finest goal-scoring midfielders in the game.

CAM: Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid)

A player Mourinho hand-picked upon arriving at Real Madrid, Mesut Ozil played a key role in whatever success Jose enjoyed at the Bernabeu. During the pair’s time together in Spain, Ozil made a total of 157 appearances, scoring 27 goals and recording a mind-boggling 80 assists. The German playmaker was the man who made the play tick in the final third at Real under Jose and would soon depart the club after the Portuguese moved on.

LW: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

There was a brief period when the pair appeared to be at loggerheads, but for Mourinho to enjoy a second successful stint at Chelsea, Eden Hazard was a key cog. The Belgian wing-wizard made 125 appearances under the Portuguese boss between 2013 and 2015, scoring 36 goals and assisting 30 more, helping the team to a Premier League title and a League Cup success.

ST: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Who else but the man who led the line for Mourinho’s Chelsea with such aplomb? Drogba was one of Mourinho’s first signings at Chelsea and the Ivorian repaid the manager’s faith with such amazing performances for so many years, that he attained a legendary status at the club.

Drogba, under Mourinho, made 186 appearances, scoring 73 goals in the process as well as assisting 39 more. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Mourinho’s Chelsea side may not have reached the heights that they did without the Ivorian spearheading the attack.

 

Image courtesy: AFP/ Glyn Kirk