UEFA Champions League. Another French club still engaged, Lille moves this Tuesday at the reigning European champion, Chelsea. Wednesday, big shock in perspective between Atlético Madrid and Manchester United.
Lille is back in the Champions League. At Chelsea this Tuesday, February 22, Jocelyn Gourvennec’s players will try to create the feat against the winner of the C1 last year. For their second knockout round of the Champions League in the history of the club, the reigning French Champions will have to raise their level of play if they want to keep their hope of qualifying before the return match on March 16. José Fonte and his teammates finished first in their group with three consecutive victories. Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy does not take this match lightly: “Not being wary of Lille would be a very big mistake. If there’s one thing I’m going to do well, it’s tell my team-mates that we have to be at 200% if we want to hope to pass. They may be a little worse in the league but they are doing very well in the Champions League. They won’t want to stop against us.”
Other posters on the program: Villareal – Juventus this Tuesday, Benfica – Ajax and Atlético Madrid – Manchester United on Wednesday. Big shock in the program of the round of 16 between the Colchoneros and the Mancunians. Cristiano Ronaldo is back in the Spanish capital and intends to help his club qualify for the C1 quarter-finals. Fifth in the league, Atlético Madrid is having a complicated season in the league with the eighth defense in La Liga…a defense that allowed them to be champions last season. Which of Atlético Madrid or Manchester United will take the advantage to qualify for the quarter-finals? The return match will take place on March 15.
The group stage of the Football Champions League is played from Tuesday September 14, 2021 to Wednesday December 8, 2021 while the knockout stage will be played from Tuesday February 15, 2022 to Wednesday May 4, 2022. As for the final, it is scheduled for Saturday, May 28, 2021 at Saint Petersburg Stadium, Russia. The calendar was then drawn up as follows by UEFA:
- Group stage
- September 14 and 15
- September 28 and 29
- October 19 and 20
- November 2 and 3
- November 23 and 24
- December 7 and 8
- Knockout stage
- Round of 16
- February 15 and 16 (one way)
- February 22 and 23 (return)
- Quarter-finals
- April 5 and 6 (one way)
- April 12 and 13 (return)
- Semi-finals
- April 26 and 27 (one way)
- May 3 and 4 (return)
- Final
- Saturday May 28, 2022
The TV rights battle continued to rage for this new 2021/2022 season. UEFA has awarded the French TV rights for the “Big Ears Cup” to beIN Sports and Canal+, which thus ensure the broadcasting of the 2021-2022 Champions League. RMC Sport will co-broadcast with Canal the two best Champions League posters until 2024 and beIN SPORTS will offer all the remaining matches. TF1 will broadcast the final scheduled for May 28, 2022.