How Chelsea can qualify for the last 16 in the Champions league?
The Blues made it two wins out of two by defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League, a brilliant performance yet again by Willian was at the centre of the victory and even a little spat between Diego Costa and Jose Mourinho was not enough to dampen the spirits of the Premier League Champions.
Chelsea celebrating their UEFA Champions League win
Chelsea, thanks to this win at least are on top of their group and with just one more match to go, that too at home, they could be thinking of who they could face in the knockout round of the competition. But if we were Chelsea fans, we wouldn’t be so sure of their progression into the next round of the competition. After all Chelsea have flattered to deceive this season and a couple of wins against Premier League newcomers Norwich City and Maccabi Tel Aviv, the weakest team in their Champions League Group, shouldn’t give them the feeling that they are back to their best.
Slippery ground awaits the Blues
The last game for Chelsea would be against FC Porto at home, the Portuguese side did get the better of the English club in the reverse fixture and they would need a win at least to qualify for the next stage of the competition. FC Porto sit just behind Chelsea, level on points and would need a win to guarantee progression, but Chelsea need just a draw against their opponents to make it through to the next round.
The problem lies with the third-placed team in the group that is Dynamo Kiev, the Ukrainian side drew 2-2 against FC Porto and they know a win against Maccabi Tel Aviv at home on the final match day would be enough to see them through if Chelsea draws against Porto.
Kiev would then be tied with the Portuguese team but having defeated them at home and then drawn against them, they would go through on the head-to-head rule. That would be playing on the mind of the FC Porto team and they would be coming with all guns blazing to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
While this would have been a bankable three points for the Blues, their performances this season haven’t been the best. They have not played like Champions and even a one goal lead is not a guaranteed win for them at home, such was the case against Swansea, Liverpool and Crystal Palace to name a few.
Chelsea look a little fragile in defence and bereft of options in attack, this could be the best chance for Porto to bag another big scalp, this time of their former boss Mourinho and really drive in the misery. Chelsea would have been favourites to complete the task had it been any other season but this season it is a whole lot different for the Blues.
The Blues have only managed to scored three goals against Kiev and FC Porto this season and have only scored 17 goals in the Premier League this season. FC Porto on the other hand, aren’t doing all that badly and drawing at home against Kiev would be smarting the club a lot more, Chelsea should be careful of whom they face in their next match. Not taking them seriously could well have damaging consequences for the Portuguese manager at the helm of the club.
Real Sociedad returns to the midst of Europe’s elite clubs in the UEFA Champions League after a ten-year absence from the competition while Paris Saint-Germain continues their quest for what has been an elusive Champions League trophy, coming close to glory in 2020 but ended up second best to Bayern Munich in the final.
The 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League group stage draw set Real Sociedad up against the likes of Inter Milan, RB Salzburg, and Liga Portugal champions Benfica in group D while Paris Saint-Germain found themselves in a tough group with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle United.
Real Sociedad were held to a 1-1 draw by Inter Milan in their first group-stage match of the UEFA Champions League. Real Sociedad went into the lead early on with just four minutes played as Brais Mendez won the ball back from Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni high up the pitch before slotting a cool finish past Yann Sommer in goal.
Inter Milan found a late equalizer in the 87th minute through captain Lautaro Martinez after he powered home Davide Frattesi’s low cross to the back post. Real Sociedad put the disappointment of conceding a late equalizer against Inter Milan when they faced RB Salzburg in their second group stage game, emerging comfortable 2-0 winners.
Real Sociedad captain, Mikel Oryabazal put his team in front just seven minutes into the game, dribbling his way into the box before picking out the bottom corner with a brilliant effort. A swift counterattack saw Real Sociedad double their lead in the 27th minute as Brais Mendez picked up the ball in his half before charging deep into Salzburg territory, getting into the penalty area, and rifling his shot into the back of the net.
La Real followed up their win over RB Salzburg with a 1-0 win over Portuguese giants Benfica, despite being the better team for over an hour in the game, Real Sociedad had to wait till the 63rd minute to get their opener with Brais Mendez powering home from inside the box after receiving a cut-back from teammate Ander Barrenetxea. Another 3-1 victory over Benfica all but confirmed Real Sociedad a place in the knockout rounds.
A fantastic first-half display saw La Real coast to a three-goal lead within the first twenty-one minutes courtesy of goals from Mikel Merino, Mikel Oryabazal, and Ander Barrenetxea. Rafa Silva pulled one back for Benfica in the second half but the damage had already been done. The subsequent goalless draw against RB Salzburg and Inter Milan respectively were enough to see Real Sociedad finish top of group D.
Paris Saint-Germain got their UEFA Champions League group stage campaign off to a great start, securing a much-needed 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in their opening game. After being frustrated throughout the first half, it took just four minutes into the second half for PSG to get their breakthrough as Niklas Sule was penalized for a handball inside the box before Kylian Mbappe stepped up to convert from the penalty spot.
Achraf Hakimi doubled PSG’s lead nine minutes later as his lovely interchange of passes with Vitinha exposed the Dortmund backline before the full-back wrapped the move up with a cool and composed finish. PSG failed to follow up their win over Dortmund with another win as they suffered a rather embarrassing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United in their second group-stage match.
Paris Saint-Germain dominated possession from the onset but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Magpies from taking the lead in the 17th minute after Marquinhos’ loose pass saw Alexander Isak force Donnarumma into a save before Almiron pounced on the rebound, curling a left-footed finish into the bottom corner of the net. Dan Burn doubled Newcastle’s lead with a header at the back post before halftime. Second-half strikes from Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar on either side of Lucas Hernandez’s consolation goal helped the Magpies put the game to bed.
PSG bounced back from their defeat to Newcastle with a comfortable 3-0 victory over AC Milan. Goals from Kylian Mbappe, Kolo Muani, and Kang-In Lee ensured victory for Paris Saint-Germain. However, PSG fell short in the reverse fixture as they suffered a 2-1 defeat despite taking the lead in the 9th minute through Milan Skriniar. Goals from Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud respectively helped AC Milan complete a comeback. Consecutive 1-1 draws against Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund respectively were enough for PSG to secure a spot in the round of 16.
Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain will be locking horns for the first time in history hence there are no head-to-head statistics available at the time of writing.
Match tickets
This intriguing encounter at the Reale Arena in Spain is set to kick off on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 20:00 GMT.
The 40,000-capacity stadium is set to host this thrilling encounter.
Getting tickets for the Real Sociedad vs PSG tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Team news
Line-ups
Real Sociedad like to play out from the back, playing short, risky passes around their 18-yard box in a bid to lure the opposition in. Injury worries include Umar Sadiq (thigh), Takefusa Kubo (muscle), and Martin Merquelanz (knee)
Real Sociedad XI: Remiro, Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Tierney, Mendez, Merino, Zubimendi, Barrenetxea, Silva, Oryabazal
Paris Saint-Germain look to dominate possession of the ball through short passes enabling them to control the game for long periods, especially in the opposition half. Injury worries include Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles tendon), Milan Skriniar (ankle), Fabian Ruiz (dislocated shoulder)
PSG XI: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Hernandez, Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Lee, Barcola, Mbappe, Dembele
Prediction
Real Sociedad will come into this game hoping they will have enough to contain the likes of Mbappe and Dembele in the PSG attack. PSG will be looking to progress and continue their quest for European glory. Paris Saint-Germain should have enough in them to emerge victorious.
Real Sociedad 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Annie Kilner is a model and a reality TV star, and she is known for being the ex-fiancee of Manchester City star Kyle Walker.
Annie comes from England, and she is known for being the long-time partner of Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker.
Annie Kilner Facts
| Birth Place | England, United Kingdom |
| Father’s Name | NA |
| Mother’s Name | NA |
| Star Sign | Leo |
| Net Worth (2021) | $100 K |
| Salary (2021) | NA |
| Age | 30 |
| Date of Birth | 1992 |
| University | NA |
| Nationality | British |
| Ex-Fiance | Kyle Walker |
| Children | 3 children |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
Annie Kilner and Kyle Walker Families
Annie was born on August 10 1992, in England. As she is a very private person, nothing much is known about her personal life, but she has one sibling named Sian Kilner, who is very close to her.
Kyle Andrew Walker was born on May 28 1990, in Sheffield, England. He is of Jamaican descent. He was born to his mother, Tracey Walker, and father, Michael Walker. Walker grew up in the Sharrow area of the city.
Annie Kilner’s ex-fiance Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker is one of the stars for Manchester City and also for England. He started his journey at his boyhood club Sheffield United and was promoted to the full team at 18 years old.
Walker’s performances at Sheffield United earned him a move to the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. Still, they were again loaned back to Rangers and Aston Villa, but after some good performances, he cemented his place at the Tottenham Hotspur team.
Kyle Walker joined Manchester City in 2019 and later marked his 100th Premier League appearance for Manchester City with a goal against Sheffield United but didn’t celebrate due to his allegiance to his former club. In the 2020-21 season, he scored in the FA Cup but was later knocked out by Chelsea.
Walker won the Premier League in 2021 and reached the Champions League final but lost to Chelsea. In 2021-22, he scored his first Champions League goal. In the 2022-23 season, he faced a tactical shift but impressed in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Manchester City won the Premier League and FA Cup in 2023, with Walker playing a key role. He became vice-captain and led the team to a UEFA Super Cup victory.
Walker played international football for England and was a part of the England side at UEFA 2016 and 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was part of the England squad for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, where he performed well and scored his first international goal in 2023.
Annie Kilner and Kyle Walker Kids
These two have really seen some ups and downs in their relationships and have been the most controversial relationships. Walker and Kilner started dating in their teens and have been through a lot.
They dated for over nine years before separating back in May 2019, but they again got back together almost a year later when Walker proposed a $250,000 engagement ring to Annie.
But here is the catch Walker has some track record with various women and has been accused of cheating many times, mainly for different bedding models. In 2020, just before they got back together with Annie, Walker had a sex party with escort Louise McNamara. They ended their relationship after Walker confessed that he had impregnated another woman (Lauren Goodman), and Annie also had an affair with Joshua Cox for a while.
Annie and Kyle have three sons together Roman, Riaan and Reign. Other than that, Walker had a fourth child with Lauren Goodman in 2020.
Anna Kilner Profession, Career, Net Worth
Annie is a professional model, a reality star and also a social media influencer. She has worked with many famous brands as well.
Not much is known about her education, but she enrolled in a university to pursue her dream as a model. Kilner has outstanding social media popularity with over 19k followers. She has a net worth of $100 K apart from Kyle’s net worth, which is estimated to be around $35 Million.
FAQs about Annie Kilner
| When did Annie Kilner and Kyle Walke get married? |
| They are not married |
| What is Annie Kilner doing now? |
| She is a model, influencer and reality TV star. |
| How old is Annie Kilner? |
| Annie is 30 years old. |
| Nationality of Annie Kilner? |
| Annie Kilner is British |
| What is Annie’s net worth? |
| She has a net worth of around $100 K. |
Read More on Football:
Laura Rudiger is a housemaker, and she is mainly known for being the wife of German centre-back Antonio Rudiger.
Rudiger comes from Germany, and she is known for being the long-time partner of UEFA Champions League winner Antonio Rudiger.
Laura Rudiger Facts
| Birth Place | Germany |
| Father’s Name | NA |
| Mother’s Name | NA |
| Star Sign | NA |
| Net Worth (2021) | $30.4 million |
| Salary (2021) | NA |
| Age | 30 |
| Date of Birth | 1993 |
| University | NA |
| Nationality | German |
| Spouse | Antonio Rudiger |
| Children | 2 children |
| Social Media |
Laura Rudiger and Antonio Rudiger Families
Laura Rudiger was born in 1993 in Germany. Unfortunately, anything more about her family is not known as she has disclosed any information regarding this.
On March 3, 1993, Antonio Rudiger was born in Berlin, Germany, to his father Matthias and his mother, Lily. He also has a half-brother of Sahr Senesie.
Laura Rudiger husband Antonio Rudiger
Antonio began his professional football career with VfB Stuttgart II. On January 29, 2012, Rudiger made his debut for the first team of VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.
During 2015-2017 he was signed by Roma for $9 million, and then the turning point of his career was when Chelsea signed him for a whopping $28 million in 2017, where he won the FA Cup in his first season.
He went on to win the UEFA Europa Cup in the second season and the UEFA Champions League in 2021. Rudiger played international football for Germany, made his debut in March 2014 and was also a part of the squad that won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
During his time at Chelsea, Antonio Rüdiger made a memorable 100th club appearance against Leicester City in February 2020, scoring two headers in the process. In May 2021, he and Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League for the first time. His first Champions League goal came against Real Madrid in April 2022, but Chelsea was ultimately eliminated.
In May, Rüdiger informed Chelsea of his impending departure. He later agreed to a four-year contract with Real Madrid in June 2022. In August and September, respectively, he made his club debut and scored his first goal. In October, Rüdiger was involved in an incident that resulted in a facial injury, which also made headlines. He took part in the Euro 2020 tournament, where Germany lost in the round of 16, and the FIFA World Cup 2022, where Germany lost in the group stage.
Laura Rudiger and Antonio Rudiger Kids
Antonio and Laura tied the knot in 2019 after dating for some years in a private wedding ceremony attended by only close friends and family members. They have two children together, Djamal Sahr Rudiger, born in February 2020 and Aliyah Trophy Rudiger in June 2021.
Laura Rudiger Profession, Career, Net Worth
Laura is one of the most mysterious WAGs in the footballing world. She is a very private person who is away from all the spotlight. She graduated from a university in Germany.
She hasn’t disclosed anything about her occupation, and nothing is known about her net worth as well. But Rudiger has a net worth of over $30 million. She is not on social media.
FAQs about Laura Rudiger
| When did Laura and Antonio Rudiger get married? |
| They got married in 2019. |
| What is Laura doing now? |
| She is a homemaker now. |
| How old is Laura Rudiger? |
| Laura is 30 years old. |
| What is the nationality of Laura Rudiger? |
| Laura Rudiger is German. |
| What is Laura’s net worth? |
| They have a combined net worth of $30 million. |
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