Category sport-news

Real Madrid Break Billion-Euro Revenue Barrier To Top Money League

Real Madrid are the first football club to top a billion euros in revenue during a single season, fuelled by income generated by the revamped Santiago Bernabeu stadium, according to financial experts Deloitte.

The order of the clubs at the top of Deloitte’s annual Football Money League stayed the same, with Madrid (1. 05 billion euros, $1. 09 billion) followed by Premier League champions Manchester City (838 million euros) and Paris Saint-Germain (806 million euros).

The 208-million-euro gap between first and second is the biggest Deloitte have ever recorded.

The dramatic refurbishment of the home of Real Madrid doubled matchday revenues to 248 million euros in the 2023/24 campaign.

Madrid have taken out loans totalling more than a billion euros since 2018 to renovate the  Bernabeu, with the aim of turning  it into a major source of revenue.

The state-of-the-art venue now boasts an undulating metal roof, shops, expanded VIP areas and a retractable pitch.

Pop megastar Taylor Swift is among the big names who have performed at the stadium since it reopened, while the NFL’s first game in Spain will take place there later this year.

However, Madrid’s aim of using the Bernabeu, which has a capacity of about 80,000, to generate extra cash has been hit by complaints over noise pollution from residents, with the club temporarily suspending the hosting of concerts.

“Club stadia are increasingly being valued as more than just matchday assets, with a number of clubs converting their grounds into multi-use entertainment venues that attract new visitors, sponsors, and retail opportunities. ” said Tim Bridge, lead partner in the Deloitte Sports Business Group.

“Football clubs are now realising the value of becoming far more than sporting brands, with media and entertainment becoming intertwined with the commercial potential that they have to offer. ”

Despite an 11 percent rise in matchday revenue, commercial remained the biggest revenue source for the 20 Money League clubs for the second year running, accounting for 44 percent of total revenue.

Broadcast revenue was stable at 4. 3 billion euros as each of the “Big Five” leagues –- England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany — remained in the same domestic broadcast cycle as the preceding season.

English clubs continue to dominate, fuelled by the Premier League’s television revenues, with six of the top 10 and nine among the 20 Money League clubs.

Manchester United rose to fourth on the back of a return to the Champions League (771 million euros), ahead of Bayern Munich (765 million euros).

Barcelona slipped to sixth as renovation work on their Camp Nou stadium has forced the Catalan giants to switch to the smaller Montjuic, which hosted the 1992 Olympics.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea complete the top 10 even though the latter three clubs missed out on the Champions League last season.

Pochettino Happy After ‘Amazing’ USA Beat Costa Rica

Mauricio Pochettino said he has been handed a welcome selection headache after watching his youthful United States squad wrap up their January training camp with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Florida on Wednesday.

Goals from Major League Soccer-based players Brian White, Caden Clark and Patrick Agyemang completed a confident win for Pochettino’s side at the Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando.

Wednesday’s game was the second of two back-to-back friendlies for the US following their 3-1 win over Venezuela on Saturday.

With the games falling outside of the official FIFA window for international fixtures, Pochettino used the friendlies to run the rule over the US talent pool, with most of his Europe-based players unavailable for selection.

White opened the scoring for the US on 21 minutes, latching on to a perfectly weighted through ball from Diego Luna before firing a low angled shot into the bottom corner.

Montreal’s Clark swept in the second goal on 77 minutes before Charlotte striker Patrick Agyemang blasted in a third in the 90th minute.

Pochettino was left pleased with how his makeshift squad performed over the two games.

“When I watch after 90 minutes, it’s not like we’ve had one or two weeks working together — it looks like we are working for six months,” Pochettino told broadcaster TNT after the win.

“That is what pleased me the most, because the performance, the attitude, the capacity to adapt to the new ideas, that is amazing,” the Argentine added.

Pochettino will now turn his attention to the climax of the CONCACAF Nations League in Los Angeles in March, where his team faces Panama in the semi-final.

The former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach hinted that several players from the January friendlies could now force their way into the reckoning for the Nations League finals.

“I think we now have too many players in our mind,” he joked. “When we need to pick the squad in March for sure in our mind are going to be many players that work here.

“I told them from the from the beginning that they need to take these two games very seriously, because if they perform, they will have the possibility to show us in the future. ”

Sinner Aiming To Be ‘Better, Stronger’ In Australian Open Semi

Jannik Sinner insists nothing is being taken for granted ahead of his Australian Open semi-final, with the world number one warning that he is constantly striving to get “better and stronger”.

The Italian top seed faces Ben Shelton on Friday, just two matches away from a first successful Grand Slam title defence after winning his maiden major crown in Melbourne last year.

That sparked a breakthrough season in which he won eight titles, including the US Open and ATP Finals, to open a chasm between himself and number two Alexander Zverev in the rankings.

He has drawn level with fellow Italian great Nicola Pietrangeli on five Grand Slam singles semi-finals, and with that comes experience of the big occasion.

American 21st-seed Shelton will be making only his second last-four appearance at a major after his run at the 2023 US Open, where he was beaten by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

“I’ve been in these situations already sometimes now,” said 23-year-old Sinner.

“But you know, at the end of the day, every match, it starts with 0-0 and you just try to do your best. This is the only thing I can control.

“If someone plays better than me that day, I can’t really do anything. We never take things for granted.

“We are here trying to understand every situation, trying to get better and stronger, and then we see how it goes. Not only here, but also for the rest of the season. ”

The nature of Sinner’s commanding thrashing of Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Wednesday was a reminder of the level he has hit regularly across the past 12 months, after struggling with illness in his fourth-round match.

With the de Minaur victory, Sinner extended his win streak at hardcourt Grand Slam events to 19 matches, following his Australian Open title run in 2024 and his triumph at the US Open.

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  Shelton opportunity 

Shelton, a year younger at 22, is undeterred and planning to enjoy the moment.

“Obviously, Jannik, defending champion. We know what he’s done,” said Shelton.

“I’m really looking forward to it.

“I think that anytime you get to line up against the best in the world is a great opportunity to improve your game and see where you’re at, and that’s what Friday will be for me. ”

Up six places to number 14 this week in the live rankings, Shelton could move as high as five by winning his first Grand Slam title.

Whoever comes through that showdown will face 10-time champion Djokovic or second seed Zverev in Sunday’s final.

They also play on Friday with the Serbian great targeting a record 25th Grand Slam title to surpass Margaret Court and Zverev gunning for a first.

Djokovic pushed through the pain with his upper left leg taped to beat Carlos Alcaraz in a classic quarter-final, with the question whether the 37-year-old can get back up and do the same to Zverev.

“I’m concerned. I am, to be honest, physically,” he said after taking down the third-seeded Spaniard.

“But if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally I’m as motivated as I can be.

“I’m playing Zverev, who is in great form, and he is going for his first Grand Slam. I think he loves the conditions. He’s got a big serve. He’s a super dangerous opponent on this surface against anyone. ”

Zverev has been trying for a decade to win a Grand Slam and is in good touch as he prepares to take the next step in Melbourne.

“You’re not going to get to the semis of a Grand Slam by not deserving to be there and not playing great tennis,” he said.

“So I’m going to prepare myself for a tough battle. ”

Guardiola Admits Man City ‘Could Not Cope’ With PSG As European Hopes Flicker

Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City side “could not cope” with Paris Saint-Germain after throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to the French side on Wednesday, leaving their Champions League hopes on the brink.

“They were better. We have to accept it, We have the last chance at home against Bruges. We will do everything there and if we don’t it is because we don’t deserve it,” Guardiola told reporters after the match at the Parc des Princes.

“They were better, we have to accept it. It’s sport and it is like that. ”

READ ALSO:  Champions League: Arsenal Beat Dinamo To Stay On Course For Last 16

Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele shoots past Manchester City’s Croatian defender #24 Josko Gvardiol (L) and Manchester City’s English defender #82 Rico Lewis (R) during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

City had taken control as Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland both scored early in the second half for the visitors.

However, Ousmane Dembele pulled one back and Bradley Barcola equalised on the hour mark for PSG, who then went in front through a Joao Neves header on 78 minutes and wrapped up the win in stoppage time when Goncalo Ramos got their fourth goal.

PSG move above City in the standings, leaving Guardiola’s team 25th out of 36 teams with eight points from seven games.

Only the top 24 qualify for the knockout phase, but City host Club Brugge in their final league phase fixture next Wednesday and a win in that match should suffice for the 2023 European champions to progress to the play-off round.

Before that City host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday in a key game in the fight for a top-four finish domestically.

“I knew it would be tough. PSG is an exceptional team. We could not cope,” added Guardiola, who pointed to the home side having an extra man in midfield as being key.

“I would like to say differently but when one team plays better you have to accept it.

“Now we have to prepare for a tough game against Chelsea and of course the final against Bruges. Try to move forward. I know the players gave everything. ”

It remains to be seen if Ruben Dias will feature in either of those games after the Portuguese defender came off at half-time in Paris.

“He asked to be replaced because he didn’t feel good,” the coach said of Dias, who has only just returned from a spell on the sidelines due to injury.

FULL LIST: UEFA Champions League standings

UEFA Champions League standings after Wednesday’s penultimate round of group matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Liverpool 7 7 0 0 15 2 21 — qualified

Barcelona 7 6 0 1 26 11 18 — qualified

Arsenal 7 5 1 1 14 2 16

Inter Milan 7 5 1 1 8 1 16

Atletico Madrid 7 5 0 2 16 11 15

AC Milan 7 5 0 2 13 9 15

Atalanta 7 4 2 1 18 4 14

Bayer Leverkusen 7 4 1 2 13 7 13

————————————

Aston Villa 7 4 1 2 9 4 13

Monaco 7 4 1 2 13 10 13

Feyenoord 7 4 1 2 17 15 13

Lille 7 4 1 2 11 9 13

Brest 7 4 1 2 10 8 13

Borussia Dortmund 7 4 0 3 19 11 12

Bayern Munich 7 4 0 3 17 11 12

Real Madrid 7 4 0 3 17 12 12

Juventus 7 3 3 1 9 5 12

Celtic 7 3 3 1 11 10 12

PSV Eindhoven 7 3 2 2 13 10 11

Club Brugge 7 3 2 2 6 8 11

Benfica 7 3 1 3 14 12 10

Paris SG 7 3 1 3 10 8 10

Sporting Lisbon 7 3 1 3 12 11 10

Stuttgart 7 3 1 3 12 13 10

————————————

Manchester City 7 2 2 3 15 13 8

Dinamo Zagreb 7 2 2 3 10 18 8

Shakhtar Donetsk 7 2 1 4 7 13 7

Bologna 7 1 2 4 3 8 5 — eliminated

Sparta Prague 7 1 1 5 7 19 4 — eliminated

RB Leipzig 7 1 0 6 8 14 3 — eliminated

Girona 7 1 0 6 4 11 3 — eliminated

Red Star Belgrade 7 1 0 6 12 22 3 — eliminated

Sturm Graz 7 1 0 6 4 14 3 — eliminated

RB Salzburg 7 1 0 6 4 23 3 — eliminated

Slovan Bratislava 7 0 0 7 6 24 0 — eliminated

Young Boys 7 0 0 7 3 23 0 — eliminated

Note: The top eight qualify directly for the last 16; teams from ninth to 24th enter a play-off round to contest the remaining last-16 berths; the bottom 12 teams will be eliminated.

Arteta Wants Sunshine Break As Arsenal Move Towards Last 16

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal have their sights set on a sunshine break after beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 to move within touching distance of the Champions League last 16.

Arteta’s side swatted aside the Croatian champions at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday thanks to Declan Rice’s early opener and second half goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.

The Gunners sit third in the Champions League standings and need just a point from next week’s trip to Girona to be certain of automatic qualification for the last 16 via a top-eight finish.

Even a defeat is unlikely to knock Arsenal into the knockout stage play-offs — which features the teams that finish ninth to 24th — because they have a three-point lead and a superior goal difference to the teams immediately below eighth place.

If the north Londoners finish in the top eight, Arteta has suggested he will take his squad on a warm weather training camp during the time when other teams are in play-off action.

“If we earn the right to do that, it would be great,” he said when asked about the potential for a winter getaway.

“Obviously it has been a super-busy schedule, a lot of demands and with things that have happened, even more demands, especially on the players. If we can achieve that it would be great. ”

Arsenal’s fifth win from seven league phase games was never in doubt from the moment Rice fired home from Havertz’s pass just 106 seconds after kick-off.

READ ALSO:  Champions League: Arsenal Beat Dinamo To Stay On Course For Last 16

‘A massive step’ 

Arsenal’s German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League football match between Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium in north London on January 22, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Havertz’s 66th minute header and Odegaard’s clinical finish in stoppage-time wrapped up only Arsenal’s second win in their last six games in all competitions.

“This is a massive step forward. It puts us in a really strong position before we play Girona,” Arteta said.

“We scored three goals and dominated the game and another clean-sheet at home. Overall very happy.

“We are in a really good position. A lot of things have to happen for us not to make it. But still we have to try to win the game in Girona. ”

Rice’s goal was well-timed after Arteta encouraged the England midfielder to get into attacking positions more often.

Rice has just three goals this season but Arteta believes he could go on a scoring streak now.

“His intent, his purpose, especially the attacking positions he is taking. How he is striking the ball,” he said.

“In the last few weeks he had some big chances to score. We need to affect the game from that position.

“The more consistent he is in those positions, with the quality he has, he will score goals.

“He has played so much football in the last two years. You can see when he is fresh he is a big player for us. ”

While Rice’s goals will be useful, Arteta needs Havertz to be firing on all cylinders even more often.

The much-maligned German striker has reached 14 goals in all competitions 22 games faster than he did last season.

Havertz has two goals from his last two games after his wife suffered death threats following his costly penalty shoot-out miss in the FA Cup third round defeat against Manchester United.

Arteta has remained firmly on Havertz’s side and he said: “That is a good stat. What does it tell you? It shows the perception against the reality. ”