CGTN Sports Talk

Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will play each other for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League title after knocking out their opponents in the two-leg semifinals this and last week. Real were first held 2-2 by Bayern Munich in the first leg at the Allianz Arena on April 30. Back at home on Wednesday, the Spanish heavyweights trailed 1-0 until the 88th minute before Joselu scored two goals in three minutes for his side to come back and secure the victory. Dortmund didn't have to overcome any deficit against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) since they won both legs 1-0, but their win was no less hard because their opponents hit the posts six times in the two games. Real have won the Champions League title 14 times, much more than any other European club. The last time Dortmund made the tournament's final was in 2013, after eliminating Real in the semifinals. Host: Li Xiang Guests: Josh McNally, Bhargab Sarmah Cover designer: Feng Yuan

The four teams for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League semifinals were confirmed after the second-leg contests of the tournament's quarterfinals on Tuesday and Wednesday. Real Madrid eliminated the reigning champions Manchester City after defeating them in the penalty shoot-out at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola's football philosophy again backfired. Bayern Munich beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on Wednesday, maintaining the final hope of keeping the 2023-24 season from ending fruitless. Paris Saint-Germain repeated what Barcelona did to them during the 2016-17 campaign, coming back from the lost first leg with a big win at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday. Borussia Dortmund knocked out Atletico Madrid after securing a 4-2 home win at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, Germany, on Tuesday. This time, they will have no Bundesliga distraction and can focus on the Champions League. Host: Li Xiang Guests: Josh McNally, Bhargab Sarmah Cover designer: Feng Yuan

European clubs had gone through another three days of competition at the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Some of the heavyweights were not very happy with their performances. For example, Arsenal were upset by Porto 1-0 in the first-leg game of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday. What's even more humiliating than the loss was that the Gunners couldn't manage a shot on target. AC Milan suffered an unexpected loss to Rennes 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday, but at least they managed to move forward with a lesson learned: Always take your opponents seriously, no matter how big your lead is. Two struggling powerhouses, Barcelona and Napoli, had a 1-1 draw in the Champions League. It was not the best result for either side, but not the worst either. Inter Milan secured a close 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. They presumably could have scored more goals for a bigger lead before the second leg, but a win is a win. Host: Li Xiang Guests: Josh McNally, Bhargab Sarmah Cover designer: Feng Yuan

Bayern Munich became the poster background for the only upsetting result of the four UEFA Champions League games in the past two days as they lost to Lazio 1-0 at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on Wednesday. Like the way they were beaten by Leverkusen in Bundesliga four days ago, Bayern lacked energy, coordination and nearly everything to win against Lazio. It's not the end of the season or the world, but manager Thomas Tuchel must do something to wake up his players. Manchester City secured a relatively easy win of 3-1 over Copenhagen at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Tuesday, but the two injuries they suffered in Jack Grealish and Barnardo Silva soured the victory. It took some hard work and good luck for Real Madrid to defeat RB Leipzig 1-0 at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, on Tuesday. The epic goal by Brahim Diaz and his injury gave his side mixed feelings. Host: Li Xiang Guests: Josh McNally Cover designer: Feng Yuan

When the 2023-24 NBA trade deadline fell on February 8, there were no game-changing blockbuster deals. The New York Knicks gained the most by acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. They are now the biggest challenger to the top circle of the Eastern Conference. The Dallas Mavericks made a good, if risky and desperate move of trading for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. If they don't achieve any breakthrough in the coming three seasons, the team will have a lot to lose. While most teams did something, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers remained quiet, but for different reasons. Host: Li Xiang Cover designer: Feng Yuan

It's not rare for football heavyweights to part ways with their managers at the end of a season, but such breakups don't happen in the middle of the season very often, not to mention twice within three days. Jurgen Klopp announced that he will leave Liverpool after the 2023-24 season because he is running out of energy after working in the position for over eight years. Judging by the club's performance under him, he is their best manager in the past 30 years. Xavi is in his third season as Barca's manager. Though they didn't perform well in the UEFA Champions League, the team won their first La Liga title in four seasons during the 2022-23 campaign. Where do the two managers' departures leave the two clubs after the 2023-24 season? Host: Li Xiang Guests: Josh McNally Cover designer: Feng Yuan

Over 200 players were reportedly recruited from clubs in England, Germany, Spain, Italy and France, where the world's top football leagues are, for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire. Moreover, many Asian players had to depart their clubs for the Asian Cup in Qatar. That means some clubs will miss their best players in the middle of the 2023-24 season. For example, Liverpool will have to bear the absence of their ace scorer, Mohamed Salah, when Manchester City are pressing hard upon them. Tottenham Hotspur, in the short term, will need to find a replacement for their best striker, Son Heung-min. Most players always put playing for their national teams first, but clubs, understandably, have their own concerns over a possible dip in performance and the rise in the risk of injuries to the players whose salaries they pay. When international tournaments for national teams overlap with league competitions, it's impossible to make everyone happy. Host: Li Xiang Guests: Josh McNally, Bhargab Sarmah Cover designer: Feng Yuan

After most clubs played 20 games, the Premier League is looking at a very close contest for the championship among five teams: Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur from No. 1 to No. 5. None of the five competitors are perfect. For example, Liverpool lack no passion or resolution in the forward positions, but neither Darwin Nunez nor Mohamed Salah is consistent enough as a finisher. Villa are new to the title race, so they lack the experience and the depth to stay in the game until the end, but it's already a big happy surprise for them to come so high at this stage of the season. As the reigning champions, City don't seem motivated enough to sweat to win every game. However, it's still Pep Guardiola's team with a very dominant roster. They are not to be underestimated if the team puts their minds to it. Arsenal again struggled after a great start of the season, in fact, earlier than usual this time because it's only January. They have a good lineup, except in the striker position with Kai Havertz, who somehow has unconditional trust from manager Mikel Arteta. Hotspur in fifth on the standings may not be the best championship contender due to their mediocre defense, but their sharp firepower makes probably the biggest X factor, especially to all of the four teams ahead.

Draymond Green is expected to come back for the Golden State Warriors from his 12-game suspension next week. The team is currently 17-18 and 10th in the Western Conference, hardly better than they were before Green was suspended. They still blew big lead or struggled to win over weak opponents on many occasions. It's unfair to say that coach Steve Kerr hasn't tried to make changes in rotations and players' roles for the Warriors to perform better. He actually tried a lot, but just not in the right spots.

The draw for the Round of 16 competitions at the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League was announced on Monday as follows: Porto vs. Arsenal Napoli vs. Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Sociedad Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid PSV vs. Borussia Dortmund Lazio vs. Bayern Munich Copenhagen vs. Manchester City RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid UEFA have always been good at arranging dramatic matchups in the Champions League for decades because games between rising powers like City or PSG and traditional powerhouses including Real Madrid or Bayern can not only draw more attention, but also leave memorable stories. However, this time, all of the supposed heavyweights seemed to be assigned underdogs they can handle. Of course, with matchups like these, the seemingly strong teams will find it very difficult to justify their failures if they are upset in the two-leg contests.

One joy of watching professional sports is to be amazed by the growth of athletes. The NBA has never lacked that and has been bearing a series of happy surprises since the 2023-24 season began. Having struggled for years, the Houston Rockets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Orlando Magic, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers all have improved their performances this season. Alperen Sengun stood behind the Rockets' rise with his offensive aggression and complete skills. Anthony Edward is on the highway to becoming a true leader for the Timberwolves. The Magic saw their patience pay off, especially on the defensive end. Chet Holmgren, another unicorn, has made the Thunder's system work. Tyrese Haliburton has cast his magic on the Pacers and turned them into a historic offensive team.

Last season, Manchester United didn't appear in the UEFA Champions League, but at least they played in the UEFA Europa League. This season, the "Red Devils" didn't have even that luxury after exiting the Champions League as the bottom team of Group A. Group F, in which Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), AC Milan and Newcastle United were competing, was seen as the "group of death" to many. Theoretically, any of them could enter the next phase or be eliminated. However, the final result was still a little surprising, especially with the process that led to it. Newcastle blew their way to the Europa League because they chose to play aggressively when they could have played it safe and lived with a draw with Milan. By contrast, PSG chose the safe option with Dortmund. Their draw took them to the next stage, but a win would have made the French giants the leader of the group. Nonetheless, the way PSG played the game's final six minutes left the impression that they wanted it over sooner than Dortmund did. Usually, the club that aims for the throne plays with more authority, which PSG have been lacking on most occasions so far this season.

Who are the two least-liked players by Manchester United fans so far this season? There must be various answers, but it's hard to imagine that Harry Maguire or Andre Onana are not there on the list. However, it was the very two who helped the Red Devils secure their first win in the UEFA Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Maguire scored the only goal against Copenhagen while Onana shut out a penalty in the final minutes. Funding from Saudi Arabia enabled Newcastle United to rise quickly in the past year, but the closer they got to the top race, the more difficult they found it to move forward. Borussia Dortmund don't share Newcastle's deep pocket, but they surely know much better how to win at St. James' Park on Wednesday. Host: Li Xiang Guest: Josh McNally Cover designer: Feng Yuan https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-26/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Manchester-United-win-in-UEFA-Champions-League-1odibJeDFLO/index.html

The last time Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) allowed four or more goals in one game in the UEFA Champions League, they lost to Barcelona 6-1 in the second leg of the Round of 16 at Camp Nou in 2017. Back then, Barca still had Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, all in their best years. Newcastle United, despite all of their signings during the summer transfer window, don't have a player that can match any of those three, but they still beat PSG 4-1 at St James' Park on Wednesday. Another two traditional heavyweights, Manchester United and Arsenal, were upset in this week's Champions League games as well, and both had their goalkeepers to blame. Andre Onana's poor performance led to the ejection of Casemiro; David Raya should know better than passing to the opponents. Host: Li Xiang Guest: Josh McNally Cover designer: Feng Yuan https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-05/CGTN-Sports-Talk-PSG-never-disappointing-in-being-a-disappointment-1nEHkA811mM/index.html

Bayern Munich defeated Manchester United 4-3 at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, in their first game in Group A of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The score seemed close, but the process was one-sided most of the time for the home team. By contrast, Real Madrid and Union Berlin had a truly close game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain. Jude Bellingham saved the day for Real in the 94th minute with a valuable goal, but the competition before that moment showed the club there is still a lot of work to do in improving their roster. The most significant goal of all 16 games on Tuesday and Wednesday was by Lazio's goalkeeper, Ivan Provedel. Born in 1994 and wearing the No. 94 jersey, he scored a header in the 94th minute to tie the game 1-1 with Atletico Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday. Host: Li Xiang Guest: Josh McNally Cover designer: Feng Yuan https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-09-21/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Crazy-first-week-in-UEFA-Champions-League-1nhtZZSux3O/index.html

Do you consider it madness if you hear any of the following rumors about the NBA? The Milwaukee Bucks may trade Giannis Antetokounmpo if they don't win the NBA championship in the 2023-24 season, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe. The Los Angeles Clippers are not in a hurry to negotiate contract extensions with either Kawhi Leonard or Paul George while they shut down trade talks with the Philadelphia 76ers over James Harden, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. A new team from the Eastern Conference has joined the competition to trade for Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN's Marc Spears. If you pay regular attention to the NBA, you know that the most shocking transactions always come from wild rumors. Host: Li Xiang Cover designer: Feng Yuan https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-09-20/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Latest-NBA-rumors-and-wild-thoughts-on-them-1ng7Z9g0Xmw/index.html

Germany haven't appointed a new manager since they fired Hansi Flick from the position, which was the first time in German football history. Germany have failed to advance to the knockout stage in the past two consecutive editions of FIFA World Cup. They are the hosts for the UEFA European Championship in 2024. So whoever takes over will be under extremely heavy pressure to win. But is appointing a new manager really enough for Germany to reverse the situation? Judging by the team's disappointing performances in the past 10 months, they have problems in over half of the 11 positions in the field. Germany managed to overcome two slumps and bounced back high before. Maybe they can learn from those experiences this time... Host: Li Xiang Guest: Josh McNally Cover designer: Feng Yuan https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-09-17/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Is-a-new-manager-enough-to-save-Germany--1naO5p55Qg8/index.html

China's 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup trip ended with one win and four losses on Saturday night as well as the failures to secure automatic qualification for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and to appear in the Olympic qualifying tournament next year. The 105-63 loss to Serbia showed how desperate the gap is between China and the world's top team. The 89-69 loss to South Sudan exposed the stamina problem of the team. The 107-89 loss to Puerto Rico reflected China's inexperience in making game plans. While the 83-76 win displayed the spirit certain Chinese players still had, the 96-75 loss to the Philippines put a bitter period on the team's trip in the tournament. It doesn't take deep digging to name the shortcomings in China's performances in the World Cup, including poor rebounding, lack of stamina, insufficient knowledge of coach of players … the list goes on. The question is, does the team see the more significant problems behind the symptoms? The first step to solve any problem is to acknowledge that there is a problem. Host: Li Xiang Cover designer: Feng Yuan https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-09-03/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Why-did-China-perform-so-badly-in-FIBA-World-Cup--1mNNub2VJ5u/index.html

The draw results for the group stage of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League are as follows: Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen, Galatasaray Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Lens Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, SC Braga, Union Berlin Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, Red Bull Salzburg, Real Sociedad Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic Group F: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle United Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp Like many had expected, AC Milan from Pot 3 and Newcastle from Pot 4 have made the "group of death," making PSG and Dortmund the 'victims.' PSG took a heavy hit in their roster this summer as Neymar left for the Saudi Pro League to join Al Hilal. Though Kylian Mbappe has returned to play for the club, he is a time bomb that could rock the team if he changes his mind. Dortmund have appeared in the Champions League 11 times in the past 12 seasons. They are not a title contender at the moment, but are not to be looked down on either. AC Milan went as far as to the semifinals of the tournament last season. They made multiple key signings during the summer transfer window. It has been 12 years since Newcastle were in the Champions League the last time. They have been on the rise since the Saudi-led takeover in 2021. Beating some powerhouses on the top stage will make a great attraction to star players they need. Host: Li Xiang Guest: Josh McNally Cover designer: Feng Yuan https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-09-01/CGTN-Sports-Talk-AC-Milan-Newcastle-make-group-of-death-in-UCL-1mKc2gDHtks/index.html

Seven players have joined the 100-million-euro club in the sense of transfer fees in the past three years in Europe. They are: Jack Grealish, 117.5 million euros (about $128.7 million), from Aston Villa to Manchester City; Romelu Lukaku, 113 million euros (about 123.8 million), from Inter Milan to Chelsea; Enzo Fernandez, 121 million euros (about $132.6 million), from Benfica to Chelsea; Jude Bellingham, 103 million euros (about $112.8 million), from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid; Declan Rice, 116.6 million euros (about $127.7 million), from West Ham United to Arsenal; Harry Kane, 100 million euros (about $109.6 million), from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich; Moises Caicedo, 133 million euros (about $145.7 million), from Brighton to Cheslea. Some of them are established star players, like Kane and Lukaku; some have widely-recognized talents, like Bellingham; but some seem to be benefiting more from bubble in the market, like Rice and Caicedo. The clubs that acquired the above players definitely all have deep pockets, but that doesn't guarantee success. Now the question is, will they be a success or will they flop? Host: Li Xiang Guest: Josh McNally Cover designer: Feng Yuan https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-08-14/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Are-these-players-really-worth-100-million-euros--1mgtUl4lHfW/index.html