Champions League: Martin O’Neill accepts blame as Celtic knocked out by LASK after historic collapse
Celtic let slip a 3-0 first-leg lead in the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday as hosts LASK secured a stunning 5-1 victory to advance to the competition’s league phase.
The result means Celtic will play in the Europa League for a second successive season, with the Scottish Premiership champions having suffered a similar Champions League play-off exit to Kairat last year.
Champions League: Celtic stopper Viljami Sinisalo backs Martin O’Neill’s Bhoys to keep improving
Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo has insisted the Scottish Premiership champions can improve despite making a perfect start to the season.
The Bhoys have won four games in a row so far, scoring 13 times and conceding just once, as Martin O’Neill sets about stabilising the club after the previous campaign’s turmoil.
Champions League: Martin O’Neill pleased as Celtic secure crucial play-off first-leg lead over LASK
Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have one foot in the Champions League proper after securing a commanding 3-0 play-off first-leg lead over LASK.
Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring at Celtic Park before Camilo Durán struck twice to put Martin O’Neill’s side firmly in control 12 months on from a painful play-off exit at the hands of Kazakh minnows Kairat.
Champions League: Martin O’Neill urges Celtic to chase European glory despite improbable odds
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill believes the club should continue to chase Champions League glory regardless of how improbable it feels.
The Bhoys famously lifted the European Cup, as it was known then, in 1967, overcoming Inter Milan 2-1 in the Lisbon showpiece. And O’Neill, who won the competition twice as a player with Nottingham Forest, thinks the current Scottish champions must aspire to match that feat despite the realities of modern football.
Champions League final: PSG vs Arsenal betting tips - Can Mikel Arteta achieve what Arsene Wenger never could?
Mikel Arteta is already an 18-karat Arsenal legend after leading Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years.
But this weekend, he gets the opportunity to do something even Arsene Wenger was unable to do during his legendary spell in north London - win the Champions League.
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from the Champions League final on Saturday, May 30, from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher.
Manchester United's Long-Awaited Return to the Champions League After a Brilliant Season
Manchester United secured a Champions League return after finishing third in the Premier League. Discover how the team transformed under Michael Carrick and what awaits the Red Devils next season.
European football news: Aston Villa triumph in Europa League final as English teams dominate the continent
With Unai Emery’s side making light work of Freiburg in a 3-0 win on Wednesday, May 20, Arsenal and Crystal Palace will look to follow suit with European finals of their own in the coming weeks.
Arsenal will face PSG in the Champions League final where a famous Double could be secured for Mikel Arteta and his team, writes Sports News Blitz’s Gabriel Mills.
Palace have navigated their way through to the final stage of the Europa Conference League and will face top-half La Liga side, Rayo Vallecano.
Champions League news: Five key takeaways from the quarter-finals as Bayern Munich, PSG advance
The Champions League quarter-finals delivered everything, from drama and shocks to moments of pure quality. With Bayern Munich, PSG, Arsenal, and Atletico Madrid progressing to the semi-finals, the last-eight stage certainly gave us plenty to talk about.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Tyler Cooke runs through five key things we learned this week.
Champions League analysis: Liverpool FC fall short against Paris Saint-Germain
Liverpool versus PSG at Anfield began with belief.
Despite the uphill task, there was real confidence inside the Liverpool camp that another famous European comeback was possible. The message was simple, play with heart and restore pride.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joshua Topping examines Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to PSG, from their early energy and lack of quality on the ball to Hugo Ekitike’s injury and the shift in focus toward Champions League qualification.
Liverpool’s European dream hanging by a thread after 2-0 defeat to PSG
A lack of attacking intent and growing pressure on Arne Slot leave the Reds with everything to do at Anfield.
Sports News Blitz writer Joshua Topping looks at how Liverpool FC’s passive, attack-lacking performance in their 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain has left their European hopes hanging by a thread heading into the Anfield second leg.
Champions League analysis: Liverpool vs PSG quarter-final showdown set for fireworks
The UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain is shaping up to be one of the most compelling matchups of the season, writes Sports News Blitz’s Josh Topping.
With PSG entering as reigning champions and Liverpool chasing both silverware and redemption, this encounter carries enormous weight.
It’s not just about reaching the semi-finals, it’s about pride, history, and proving a point on Europe’s biggest stage.
Two European giants, two paths: Real Madrid and Liverpool’s diverging fortunes
Real Madrid and Liverpool are two of football’s biggest teams with the same aspirations of being domestically dominant, to shine on the Champions League stage and to be crowned the best team in Europe.
Yet despite these similarities, they had paradoxical seasons in 2024/25, wildly different summer windows in 2025 and even presently are experiencing vastly different seasons in 2025/26.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Wanga Charma takes a closer look at how two European powerhouses have walked very different paths over the past two seasons.
Champions League news: Galatasaray take first-leg advantage with 1-0 win over Liverpool
Galatasaray produced a disciplined performance in Istanbul to take a narrow first-leg lead against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
The Turkish side secured a 1-0 victory on a tense European night, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg at Anfield.
Chelsea news: Chelsea face PSG in high-stakes Champions League RO16 reunion after Club World Cup final
Chelsea are set to travel to their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final opponents, Paris Saint-Germain, and the home side will look to enact revenge on the 3-0 loss suffered at the hands of the Blues.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Howson predicts the outcome of this heavyweight European clash.
Champions League news: Five talking points from Newcastle Utd’s last-16 draw with Barcelona
The Champions League round of 16 kicked off on Tuesday night, headlined by a clash between Newcastle United and Barcelona at St James’ Park. Many expected a drubbing, a showing of true class from Hansi Flick’s side, but what ensued was far from that, with the home side holding the Spanish giants to a 1-1 draw.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Zephryn Dockree provides five talking points from the much-anticipated game.
England’s Champions League charge: Six Premier League clubs enter crucial last-16 showdowns
The 2026 UEFA Champions League knockout stage has delivered a draw loaded with narrative, pressure, and opportunity for English clubs.
With UEFA’s new coefficient-based system offering the Premier League a potential fifth qualification spot for the following season, every tie involving English sides carries extra weight.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joshua Topping analyses what’s at stake.
Travel sickness costing Newcastle Champions League qualification
Newcastle United’s away form has been a concern this season, with only three victories on the road, and it looks unlikely they’ll qualify for the Champions League.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu takes a look at the Magpies' struggles away from home.
Alejandro Grimaldo denies Newcastle a win against Bayer Leverkusen
Despite a valiant comeback from Newcastle United, Alejandro Grimaldo's 88th-minute equaliser denied Newcastle the chance of re-entering the top eight in the Champions League.
Alejandro Grimaldo’s 88th-minute equaliser earned Bayer Leverkusen a point and denied Newcastle United a second away win in the Champions League.
The Magpies showed worrying problems ahead of an incoming fixture run that starts with the Tyne-Wear Derby.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu reflects on a disappointing result for Eddie Howe.
Champions League analysis: Five key talking points from Real Madrid vs Man City
In just their second ever victory at the Bernabeu, Manchester City were worthy winners against a largely lacklustre Real Madrid side.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Tom Gardiner gives his thoughts on the game.
Champions League news: Five key talking points as struggling Liverpool edge Inter Milan at San Siro
Dominik Szoboszlai’s 88th-minute penalty edged Liverpool past Inter Milan at the San Siro in a vital Champions League win.
Arne Slot’s struggling Reds now sit in the top eight, significantly boosting their chances of avoiding a play-off match.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Ruben Picardo Ashworth takes a look at five key talking points from the clash.