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Issue 18
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Fan views
These blogs have been written by winners of our annual Champions Journalist competition as well as a selection of editors from various fan page accounts. Together they offer their unique insights from the group stages all the way to the final.
2023-24 Season
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Memories of Munich
Forty-three years after their sole previous European Cup campaign, Manchester City were back – and our fan reporter Paul Seery certainly...
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Local pride
San Sebastian local Jaime Malagon explains how the community’s devotion to Real Sociedad isn’t confined to the football...
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Prized possessions
Simone Eligon recalls how a gift from her cousin turned an interest into a passion deeper than she could have ever...
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Sorrow, joy and love
Paris Saint-Germain fan Hidayah Ali is not one to be discouraged by setbacks, as he continues to back his team to one day lift the famous...
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Ascending to the top
Paul Seery wasn’t shy of going against the grain when he pledged his allegiance to Manchester City as a kid. And now it’s all come full...
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2022-23 Season
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Bernabéu buzzing
Valeria Paz, our Real Madrid fan reporter, soaked up the atmosphere in the stadium as her side took on Manchester City...
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Goodbye - for now
While Bayern fan reporter Alex Hofmeister’s evening ended in heartbreak, his visit to the stadium for the second leg of the Champions League
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Honouring the stars
With Real Madrid having enjoyed another hugely successful European night against Chelsea, fan reporter Valeria Paz reflects on her club’s...
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'Grab the stars'
For our Napoli fan reporter Alessio Costabile, even though the pain of his side’s quarter-final exit may linger, it doesn’t diminish his...
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'Until we meet again'
For our Chelsea fan reporter Anna Madden, a rough night against Real Madrid in the Champions League does not dampen optimism for a bright...
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Jubilation at the Bernabéu
Real Madrid fan reporter Valeria Paz reflects on a solid first-leg win for her side in the Champions League quarter-finals...
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Drinking it in
Manchester City fan reporter Emily Laycock describes an unforgettable atmosphere during her side’s victory over Bayern...
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'Home away from home'
Despite a first-leg defeat to Inter, Benfica fan reporter Fabio Barreiros revelled in the opportunity to see his team in the flesh in...
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Be prepared
Manchester City fan reporter Emily Laycock describes her matchday routine leading up to her team’s incredible win over Leipzig...
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Sky-high confidence
Valeria Paz, our Real Madrid fan reporter, explains why her side’s second leg clash against Liverpool wasn’t as nerve-racking as usual...
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'All the right ingredients'
Napoli fan reporter Alessio Costabile describes a nervous night that turned into an ecstatic one...
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The Anfield amphitheatre
Dan Ghorbal, our Champions Journalist fan reporter, prefers to dwell on the majesty of the occasion last night, rather than defeat at the...
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‘Vinícius danced at Anfield’
Champions Journalist fan reporter Valeria Paz reflects on her side’s incredible turnaround at Anfield last night
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Companion piece
Dortmund fan reporter Anastasia Gradl took a friend to Westfalenstadion on Wednesday night – and he just so happened to be a Chelsea...
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The Blues top the group
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Chelsea: team talk
After a rocky take-off, Graham Potter’s side landed in the last 16 with comparative ease. CFCDaily gives us his verdict...
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Liverpool make it through
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Don't write us off
After a stuttering start, Liverpool appear to have things back on track, RedMen TV staffer Dan Clubbe, has more...
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Liverpool run riot in Glasgow
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The Reds Revival
Redmen TV staffer Dan Clubbe shares his thoughts of Liverpool's visit to the Ibrox, a tie which left the Rangers fans feeling red-faced...
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The battle of Britain
Redmen TV staffer Dan Clubbe shares his pre-game thoughts as Liverpool prepare to welcome visitors Rangers to Anfield in tonight's fixture.
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Work in progress
Rangers
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Napoli
Rangers back in the big time
Rangers fans took to their seats at the Ibrox as the Champions League returned. Heart & Hand Podcast host David Edgar was there to soak it in
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Chelsea's coach takes the helm
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Potter gets a point
Graham Potter would've hoped for a brighter start to his Chelsea career, but fan reporter CFCDaily reflects with enthusiasm from the stands
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Tuchel leaves Chelsea
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Tears for Tuchel
Chelsea fan CFCDaily is reeling from the shock departure of Thomas Tuchel, just 15 months after the German helped the Blues win the UCL
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Easing the tension
Chelsea fan Anna Madden’s anxious wait for the Blues to lift the trophy in '21 was the winning entry in our Champions Journalist fan reporter
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'Red and black heart'
Christian Volpati, our Champions Journalist fan reporter, on the players and performances that have made him an AC Milan diehard
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'The ultimate dream'
Emily Laycock on her hopes of turning her love of Manchester City into a dream career – from supporter to reporter
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'Against all the odds'
Daniel Ghorbal, our Liverpool fan reporter, was at Anfield on the night that Liverpool stunned Lionel Messi’s Barcelona
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Cityzens go wild
As her side sealed their spot in the Champions League final, our Manchester City fan reporter Emily Laycock witnessed an atmosphere like...
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Past glories
Tottenham Hotspur’s tie against AC Milan inspires Baily Shorter with memories of former head-to-heads between the two teams
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Family tradition
Benfica fan reporter Beatriz Mendonça on why the love of her football team is a passion shared between friends and relatives
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Taking it in turns
Fan reporter Guido Tassinari reflects on his side’s glorious march to the title in 2010, as he hopes for a repeat
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Bravery at the bridge
Chelsea fan reporter Anna Madden charts the ups and downs of her side’s comeback – and her own emotions – to reach the quarter-finals...
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Familiar foes
Our AC Milan fan reporter Christian Volpati reminisces about a past encounter with his side’s age-old rivals – possibly to take his mind...
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'Tears and fireworks'
Last night our Napoli fan reporter experienced the perfect tonic for Champions League disappointment. Here Alessio Costabile talks...
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Fingers crossed
Manchester City fan reporter Emily Laycock tells us all about her preparations for the trip to watch her side in the Champions League...
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Treble titans
Our Manchester City fan reporter Emily Laycock recounts the unforgettable night when her side achieved their ultimate goal and rewrote histor
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'Sense of pride'
Our Paris fan reporter Louis Frank was at the game on Tuesday night and, like his fellow supporters, hasn’t given up hope just yet
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'Excitement and anticipation'
Valeria Paz, our Real Madrid fan reporter, can’t wait for her trip to the Bernabéu – but is nervous regarding a certain Norwegian...
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Banishing ghosts
Our Inter fan reporter Francesco Sarchi was at the stadium to witness his side punch their ticket to the Champions League final
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‘Fear and hope in the air’
Francesco Sarchi is feeling the ‘derby fever’ ahead of an enthralling semi-final tie against his side’s eternal rivals. Here’s more from...
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2021-22 Season
28 May 2022 - Liverpool
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'Absolutely bouncing'
Despite not having a ticket for the final, Liverpool fan reporter Nick Stuart still made the trip to Paris to soak up the atmosphere...
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04 May 2022 - Real Madrid
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'The best atmosphere'
Champions Journalist fan reporter Louis Holas was at the Bernabéu last night – where the Real fans truly acted as the 12th man...
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27 April 2022 - Liverpool
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Rapturous reception
Among the supporters welcoming the team bus to Anfield for Liverpool’s semi-final was Champions Journalist fan reporter Nick Stuart...
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26 April 2022 - Manchester City
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One to remember
Champions Journalist fan reporter Alice Price was at the Real Madrid game on Tuesday – and it was an experience she’ll never forget...
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13 April 2022
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Magic, but no miracle
Carla Fernández Ariño, our Champions Journalist fan reporter covering Atlético Madrid, reflects on a loss that still felt like a plus
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13 April 2022
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Anfield turns on the charm
A night under the lights at Anfield is everything our Benfica fan reporter Fabio Barreiros could have hoped for, except for the result
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13 April 2022 - Liverpool
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Flags and fans
Nick Stuart describes the nature of Anfield appreciation – and his own recognition of the efforts of Benfica’s supporters...
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12 April 2022 - Chelsea
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Chelsea's leading light
Champions Journalist fan reporter Aritro Sarkar sees Christian Pulisic as more than just a tricky winger...
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12 April 2022 - Real Madrid
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Benzema's golden touch
Fan reporter Louis Holas sings the praises of a striker back at the top of his game...
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12 April 2022
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Running on empty
Shocked Bayern fan reporter Lucas Gebhardt describes a sense of emptiness following his side’s surprise elimination by Villarreal
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06 April 2022 - Villarreal
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In it together
Louis Scattergood isn’t a native of Vila-real, but our Champions Journalist fan reporter still delights in the shared passion of the club...
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05 April 2022 - Manchester City
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Positive vibes
Champions Journalist fan reporter Alice Price is starting to warm to Jack Grealish, with high hopes for his future on the European stage... 
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05 April 2022 - Benfica
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'A lucid dream'
Fabio Barreiros didn’t think he’d be writing a quarter-final piece for us. But he's learnt to expect the unexpected...
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16 March 2022 - Juventus
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Troubling thoughts
After defeat to Villarreal, our Juventus fan reporter Andrea Fumagali is only seeing grey areas, rather than that famous black and white…
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15 March 2022 - Ajax
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Passion at play
‍Our Champions Journalist fan reporter for Ajax is originally from India and now studying in the UK; Aaryan Parasnis explains his Ajax fandom
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15 March 2022 - Manchester United
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‘A punch in the stomach’
Jack Stackhouse, our Champions Journalist fan reporter for Manchester United runs us through a disappointing night...
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02 March 2022 - Liverpool
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‘One of those nights’
Our Champions Journalist fan reporter Nick Stuart had a nervy evening at Anfield this week…
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09 March 2022 - Manchester City
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Home fixture
Did you know that Alice Price’s lounge is a Manchester City fortress? We’ll let the Champions Journalist fan reporter explain...
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09 March 2022 - Real Madrid
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One for the ages?
Louis Holas, our Champions Journalist fan reporter for Real, will be drawing on his cherished Bernabéu memories for tonight’s big game...
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08 March 2022 - Bayern München
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'The ecstasy and magic'
From a Bayern bar in Bavaria, Champions Journalist fan reporter Lucas Gebhardt watched his side spreading the joy...
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23 February 2022 - Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid
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Manchester United
Theatre of dreams awaits
Atleti may have deserved more than a draw against United, for our fan reporter the best could still be to come...
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02 February 2022 - Chelsea
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Havertz calms the nerves
It was well into the early hours of Wednesday morning when our Chelsea fan reporter settled down to watch his European Champions kick off...
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22 February 2022 - Villarreal
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Long-distance love affair
Our Villarreal fan reporter Louis Scattergood lives hundreds of miles from his beloved club, but his heart is at the Estadio de la Cerámica..
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Upset on the cards?
Bayern’s weakened defence will be coming up against Salzburg’s exciting attacking prodigy tonight...
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16 February 2022 - Inter Milan
Inter Milan
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Liverpool
No glory, but some hope
Champions Journalist fan reporter Francesco Sarchi was at the San Siro on Wednesday to see his side lose to Liverpool...
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Too good to be true?
Despite City's brilliant form in the Premier League, our fan reporter can't shake some nagging fears as the Champions League resumes...
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02/15/2022
Paris
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Real Madrid
Mbappé delivers right on time
Our fan reporter heads home with a spring in his step after witnessing one of PSG’s greatest ever Champions League goals...
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Bayern München
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Three cheers for Thomas Müller
Our Bayern fan reporter Lucas Gebhardt pays tribute to the likeable and unconventional midfielder...
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Inter Milan
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Inter forever
Following the Nerazzurri has been a lifelong emotional journey for our Inter fan reporter Francesco Sarchi...
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Champions journal feature
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Classic knockout ties: Our pick of the best match-ups from 70 years of drama
Rising stars
CJ+ feature
Xavi Simons on learning from Messi, Neymar, Mbappé and Ramos
Interview
CJ+ feature
adidas designer Joe Stothard on crafting the 2024 final ball
2019-20 Season
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"Gladbach are back on the map"
Like many young Mönchengladbach fans, Dilhan Schrörs had to make do with old tales of European Cup thrills until this season's exploits...
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The lockdown diaries: Pedro Pardo, Valencia
Our Champions Journalist fan reporter Pedro Pardo yearns to return to Mestalla. But in the meantime, he’s living off memories good and bad...
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The lockdown diaries: Atiya, London
The glamourous lives of footballers seem a world away from the reality people are facing during the Covid pandemic. But as a documentary...
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The lockdown diaries: Alessio Costabile, Napoli
Our Naples-based fan reporter Alessio Costabile has been listening to the Manu Chao song about Diego Maradona La Vida Tombola on loop....
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The lockdown diaries: Anastasia Gradl, Dortmund
In our latest dispatch, Champions Journalist winner Anastasia Gradl describes how she has been making up for the absence of live football...
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The lockdown diaries: Louis Frank, Paris
We continue our new series by checking in with Champions Journalist fan reporter Louis Frank, who has been digging up old photos...
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The lockdown diaries: Carla Fernández Ariño, Madrid
In the first of our new series looking at how supporters across Europe are coping with the absence of football, our Champions Journalist...
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11 March 2020, Paris
Paris Saint-Germain
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Borussia Dortmund
Some Wednesdays are different to others. On some Wednesdays, Paris wakes up breathing a little heavier than usual. These Wednesday are...
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11 March 2020, Liverpool
Liverpool
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Atlético Madrid
The last time I was this excited about watching a game of football was the first time I ever went to Anfield. Funnily enough, that game...
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10 December 2019, Benfica
Benfica
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Zenit
‘A real eagle flies over the crowd and lands on the crest’
Despite being out of the Champions League, Benfica can still grab a place in the Europa League when they take on Zenit tonight – and that...
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Olympiacos
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'Olympiacos belong with the stars of the Champions League'
An Olympiacos home game in the Champions League is the kind of moment you may never get to replicate. As you wake up on the morning of the...
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14 September 2011, Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb
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Real Madrid
‘We gave Real Madrid hell and an everlasting memory’
It was a day like no other. And as it slowly turned into evening, then night, you could smell history in the making. For the first time...
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Crvena zvevda
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‘Fans hope the club is returning to where it belongs’
Watching Crvena zvezda in the Champions League is a great experience. Every Champions League game at the Rajko Mitić Stadium is a special...
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2 October 2019, Zenit
Zenit
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Benfica
‘You could feel the atmosphere of a big match’
A Champions League night in St Petersburg! After five long seasons, I was finally able to walk to our new stadium and witness the best...
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11 December 2019, Shakhtar
Shakhtar Donetsk
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Atalanta
'We always dream of playing Champions League in spring'
Every December, fans in Ukraine cherish the dream of Champions League football the following spring. This year it was not to be, as a...
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23 October 2019, Inter
Inter
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Dortmund
‘After the magical anthem, the moment arrives’
I’m getting ready to leave the office and the clock shows 4pm as I head outside. The weather is perfect: it’s not too cold, so I can wear...
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5 March 2019, Ajax
Real Madrid
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Ajax
'My heartbeat was over 200bpm and I couldn't stop smiling'
I had come home from football training and was getting ready to go to a party. While putting on some clothes, I started watching Real...
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26 February 2020, Real Madrid
Real Madrid
v
Manchester City
It is a mild spring-like evening in Madrid. The streets around the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, in the Spanish capital’s financial district...
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25 February 2020, Chelsea
Chelsea
v
Bayern München
I felt confident after our dominant performance against Tottenham on the weekend but, most of all, I was excited. Excited to watch my team...
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26 February 2020, Lyon
Lyon
v
Juventus
Olympique Lyonnais were coming up against the mighty Juventus. After a poor season in the French league, the firing of our manager and a...
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25 February 2020
Napoli
v
Barcelona
For the past month, everything here in Napoli has been about Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi – past and present, Napoli and Barça’s finest...
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19 February 2020, Atalanta
Atalanta
v
Valencia
In the days before Atalanta v Valencia, the main talking point in Bergamo wasn’t the match itself. Nor was it predictions or expectations...
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19 February 2020, Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur FC
v
RB Leipzig
My dad and I arrived in London after catching the train from Peterborough to King’s Cross. Then we got the tube to Seven Sisters before...
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18 February 2020, Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
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Paris Saint-Germain
We leave Bavaria at 6am, 500km from Dortmund; our seven-hour journey is even longer than that of some of the Parisian fans’, as one...
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18 February 2020, Atlético
Atlético Madrid
v
Liverpool
It’s finally Tuesday. It feels like forever since the draw in December, when we found out we’d be playing Liverpool. It’s not just any...
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Napoli
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‘You want the world to see your city, not just your team’
Hunger. It’s hunger that moves everything on these European nights in the azure lion’s den: the Stadio San Paolo. Naples is a hungry...
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5 November 2019, Valencia
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‘Once I’m in Mestalla, I get goose bumps. I’m home’
It’s Tuesday night. Valencia are hosting Lille at Mestalla. Not many stadiums can say that they scare their visitors – but Valencia’s is...
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1 June 2019, Tottenham
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‘I could feel excitement competing with stress’
The alarm starts beeping. In 14 hours’ time the club I have supported for the past 18 years could possibly be European...
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26 November 2019, Real Madrid
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‘Everyone arrives early for the Champions League anthem’
Masses of people swarm through the streets, chanting for their team and waving their sparklers, filling the air with red smoke as if...
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Paris Saint-Germain
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‘All visiting teams feel the power from our fans’
Walking into the Parc des Princes is an experience like no other. The roar of the fans, the smell of the grass, the vibrations...
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19 September 2018, Lyon
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‘It was tense but you could feel something was brewing’
I have been following Lyon for over ten years now – and my most recent exciting Champions League night with them was...
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12 March 2019, Manchester City
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‘It’s a new adventure for us… we’re not impostors after all’
A scoreline of 7-0 sounds like a kids’ football match, where one side is clearly older, or bigger, or has more players than the other...
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1 June 2019, Liverpool
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‘I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life’
It’s 01:00 and me, my little brother and my dad are squeezed together on a graffitied stone bench, eating in stunned silence. It’s...
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3 April 2018, Juventus
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‘Goals like this have an eternal value, fixed in the mind’
It was 2018 when me and three of my friends decided to spend all our savings to go and see a Champions League quarter-final...
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11 December 2019, Bayern
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‘We can’t really control what we love’
Can you imagine your life living more than 800km from your true love? Well, for me it doesn't sound that dramatic: I grew up in...
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10 December 2019, Barcelona
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‘The city was ready for someone incomparable’
I was wondering whether he was going to play or not. Then I decided that I really didn’t care, as long as he travelled with the team...
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10 May 2017, Atlético
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‘The kind of magic that only occurs in the rain’
This isn’t a story of a heroic comeback (although I wish it was), nor a 5-0 walk in the park. Instead it’s about something much...
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24 April 2012, Chelsea
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‘To say I was nervous was an understatement’
As a Chelsea fan, there are countless memories associated with the Champions League, from John Terry’s slip on that rainy ...
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10 December 2019, Dortmund
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‘The Yellow Wall is bouncing and having a great time’
I am sitting on the train to Dortmund. Three guys my age are sitting in my section, as well as a woman and two older men. All of us...
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11 December 2019, Atalanta
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‘It always seemed like an impossible dream’
Ask an Atalanta fan about playing in the Champions League and they’ll say that it has always seemed like an impossible dream...
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