Category sport-news

According to Deloitte’s Money League study released on Thursday, Real Madrid remained at the top of the football industry as Liverpool for the first time outperformed their English rivals.

Despite failing to win a significant trophy, Spanish giants Madrid managed to bring in nearly 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in revenue in the 2024/25 season.

The club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium’s transformation into a multi-purpose facility continues to yield significant rewards. Madrid’s 594 million euros in commercial revenues alone would make up for its position in the top 10.

Barcelona regained second place in Deloitte’s table (975 million euros), despite delays forcing them to play the entire season away from the Camp Nou, which is still being renovated.

Bayern Munich finished third on the list (861 million euros), just a few points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, whose income was boosted by their debut Champions League title.

Premier League clubs dominate the top 10 while Liverpool is for the first time leading the English delegation.

The Reds’ revenue increased to 836 million euros as a result of Anfield’s expansion, return to the Champions League, and Premier League triumph.

READ ALSO: Mbappe and Vinicius Help Real Madrid defeat Monaco in the Champions League

Both Manchester United and Manchester City are now lower on the list.

After a quick exit from the Champions League and a third-placed Premier League finish following four straight titles, Pep Guardiola’s City dropped to second place.

After failing to win the Champions League and placing 15th in the Premier League, United moved up to eighth place behind Arsenal.

The 20 highest-earning clubs in Europe each reported revenues that increased by 11 percent to 12 billion euros.

“It is no coincidence that the top-ranked clubs have the ability to concentrate on boosting domestic revenue, particularly as domestic broadcast rights plateau,” said Tim Bridge, lead partner at Deloitte Sports Business Group.

Some club business models have undergone a fundamental change, with more effort being put toward maximizing the impact of their brand and stadium assets.

It is now commonplace to have on-site breweries, hotels, and restaurants, which exemplifies a strategic decision to diversify income and create year-round entertainment destinations.

Bayern moved into the top three for the first time since 2020/21 during the first 32-team Club World Cup, while Benfica, who sit in 19th place on the 20-team list, are the first team to join the “big five” leagues of England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France in four years.

After winning the Champions League, Arsenal became the first women’s team with the highest-earning record.

With revenues of $25.6 million, The Gunners outperformed Chelsea and Barcelona in London.

Bayern Munich defeated Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League’s last 16 in three second-half goals thanks to Harry Kane.

With a 3-0 victory over Marseille on Wednesday, Liverpool made a significant step toward automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16.

The scoreline was glossed over in the second period thanks to a Geronimo Rulli own goal and Cody Gakpo’s strike, which was completed by Dominik Szoboszlai, who had just six games to go.

With a win over Azeri side Qarabag at Anfield next week, Arne Slot’s men, who are currently unbeaten in 13 matches, will move up to fourth place in the 36-team table.

Roberto De Zerbi’s OM’s surprisingly toothless display left them in 19th place and with work to do after their final league game against Club Brugge to advance to the knockout play-off round.

After being dropped off the bench by Slot before helping Egypt reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, Salah made his first start for Liverpool since November.

READ MORE: Caicedo Strikes Lately To End Pafos Resistance

The Egyptian claimed that the club had “under the bus” and that this was what caused him to be omitted from the squad for Inter Milan’s previous Champions League game.

Joe Gomez missed a chance to earn his long-awaited first senior goal when he headed wide from a corner at the Velodrome.

Hugo Ekitike was given a goal for offside after Alexis Mac Allister also made a close call for the visitors.

When Amine Gouiri forced Alisson to a diving save a few minutes later, Salah volleyed an effort from a Jeremie Frimpong cross onto the roof of the net.

Although Liverpool faced a penalty appeal for handball against Timothy Weah, they were denied the penalty kick that was awarded in the second half.

Szoboszlai, who was a substitute for Rulli in Marseille’s Premier League draw at the weekend, stepped up and swung the ball past Marseille goalkeeper Rulli.

Early in the second half, Alisson was successful with a long-range Mason Greenwood save. The home side displayed some promising signs.

Weah blazed over just seconds after a quick Marseille counter-attack, striking the crossbar just before the hour mark with only Rulli to beat.

Ekitike, a striker for France, hammered over another passable opportunity.

With 18 minutes left, Liverpool put the game to bed thanks to Frimpong’s outstanding wriggle to the byline before Rulli deflected his low cross into his own net.

Late in the game, Salah wasted a fantastic chance to score his first club goal in seven games, but substitute Gakpo did just that with a minute and a half to give Liverpool the third.

Chelsea won 1-0 on Wednesday against Cypriot minnows Pafos thanks to Moise Caicedo’s late goal, helping the Blues to approach automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16.

Caicedo scored in the final minutes of Liam Rosenior’s first Champions League game at Stamford Bridge to put an end to Pafos’ unwavering opposition.

Chelsea moved into eighth place with a victory in each of their seven Champions League group games.

Depending on other outcomes, a win over Napoli in their final group game on January 28 would likely be enough to advance Chelsea to the last 16.

If they placed outside the top eight, the Blues would be subject to the unnecessary stress of a play-off round.

Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge after escalating tensions with the club’s hierarchy by winning three games and losing once in his first four games since arriving from Strasbourg.

Before Caicedo made the breakthrough, Chelsea struggled to find a way past inspired Pafos keeper Jay Gorter.

Chelsea’s two Champions League victories in 2012 and 2021 were the result of their mid-season switch, according to optimistic fans.

However, Rosenior needs to go a long way before Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel can create legendary victories.

So far under Rosenior, Chelsea have been predictable rather than visually appealing, with far stricter tests awaited as the surprise replacement for Maresca.

  Wake-up call

Cole Palmer, an injured England forward, was not present for the 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, making six changes.

Pafos, who were far from overawed in their first ever encounter with English opposition, were playing for Brazilian veteran David Luiz, a 2012 Champions League champion with Chelsea.

Chelsea struggled for a long time, and Enzo Fernandez’s close-range header was blocked for a push even when the ball was in the net in the 18th minute.

When Anderson Silva almost intercepted a wayward backpass from Filip Jorgensen, Chelsea nearly gave Pafos a shock opener, but the Blues keeper chested the ball away from danger.

When Jaja’s shot from just inside the area took a deflection off Reece James and hit the post, Jorgensen was rooted to the spot, Rosenior’s men lost their momentum, and Pafos was able to hold on.

Caicedo’s near-miss was a wake-up call before Benoit Badiashile glanced a header only inches wide before the ball was pushed away by Gorter.

Gorter, who also resisted Jorrel Hato’s fierce strike just before half-time, was forced to stop again thanks to Caicedo’s long-range drive.

At the break, Rosenior sent Robert Sanchez for Jorgensen and Estevao Willian for James, causing a rift among Chelsea supporters.

Gorter saved Estevao’s stinging volley, which almost had an instant impact, at full stretch.

Pedro Neto and Caicedo were denied by Gorter with two more excellent saves while he was enjoying the game.

In the 78th minute, Chelsea finally found a way past Gorter, much to Rosenior’s great relief.

Caicedo arrived at the far corner with a header that Pafos couldn’t clear from close range.

The three-time runners-up may now find it difficult to make it to the last 16, despite the provisional eighth-place finish.

Giuliano Simeone’s team got off to a great start, but Marcos Llorente’s own goal earned them honors as well in Istanbul.

With a crucial late interception, the Spain international saved his team from falling to the ground.

Coach Simeone told reporters, “First, we wait to see the results; (finishing in the top eight) no longer depends on us.”

“We will manage what depends on us,” according to the results.

Simeone acknowledged that the game was a close call, but that his team needed to improve.

READ ALSO: PSG loses 2-1 at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.

He continued, “They could have won with that last one that Marcos saved.”

“We could have won it, but clinical finishing is key, and we can hopefully regain that form,” says the coach.

With their fourth-minute goal, Giuliano headed home from Matteo Ruggeri’s cross, to dampen the atmosphere.

After 20 minutes, Llorente’s cross from Roland Sallai’s cross into his own net prevented his 100th Champions League appearance by Jan Oblak by denying him a clean sheet.

Before half-time, Baris Yilmaz had the opportunity to give Galatasaray an early lead, but he did so with a skewed shot that went over the bar.

Just before the hour mark, Atletico almost regained control when Abdulkerim Bardakci rescued David Hancko’s effort from safety.

Despite Julian Alvarez’s recent poor form in front of goal, Atletico coach Simeone replaced Alexander Sorloth with French veteran Antoine Griezmann.

The Argentina international has only scored once in his last ten games, but his performance against Galatasaray was more lively than in some other recent appearances.

Ugurcan Cakir, a goalkeeper for Galatasaray, tipped his effort away with five minutes to spare Griezmann’s team a point, but Alex Baena was denied.

Galatasaray might have won it when it was time to score, but Llorente jumped in and grabbed Eren Elmali’s cross.

The Turkish side’s draw against Manchester City, where they will play their final group game of the week, which will aim to earn a play-off spot, was unsatisfying.

Following their quarter-final defeat to Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations, Algerian players Luca Zidane and Rafik Belghali were both banned from their respective matches for their roles in ugly scenes.

AFCON 2025: Osimhen, Bassey, and Lookman Make the CAF Best XI (FULL LIST), READ ALSO.

The Algerian football federation (FAF), which was fined $100, 000 for improper conduct by players, officials, and supporters, announced the news on Wednesday.

In order to qualify for the 2027 tournament, goalkeeper Zidane and defender Belghali will serve their suspensions.

The FAF announced that it would file an appeal to challenge the sanctions.

With the score at 0-0, Algeria was denied a penalty before Victor Osimhen’s and Akor Adams’ second-half goals, which gave them a 2-0 victory.

After the final whistle, both players and staff engaged in a fight.

The FAF claimed that the fines included penalties for fans attempting to invade the pitch and displaying banknotes at match officials.

Following a dominant victory over Algeria at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, the Super Eagles advanced to the semi-finals.

Before the quarter-final, Nigeria’s relentless pressure and tactful second-half performance put an end to the Desert Foxes, who had previously conceded just one goal throughout the competition.

With a charming outside-of-the-boot pass from Alex Iwobi, Osimhen selflessly squared the ball across goal, and Adams calmly rounded Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane before slotting into an empty net.

Despite making a number of changes in the second half, including the introduction of Baghdad Bounedjah, Algeria struggled to impose itself and struggled to score a single shot on target throughout the match.

The Eagles, however, defeated Egypt in the semi-final to claim third place.

In the continental showpiece, Nigeria placed ninth overall and third overall.