The draw for the remainder of this season’s Champions League was held Friday in Nyon, Switzerland, and offered up potentially tantalizing encounters between some of Europe’s biggest sides.
Due to the pandemic-induced work stoppage, the competition will be completed in Lisbon using a single-game elimination format starting from the quarterfinal stage, as opposed to the usual two-legged affairs that typically lead up to the final.
The matchups, which will be played behind closed doors from Aug. 12-16, are as follows:
Real Madrid or Manchester City vs. Juventus or Lyon
RB Leipzig vs. Atletico Madrid
Napoli or Barcelona vs. Chelsea or Bayern Munich
Atalanta vs. Paris Saint-Germain
There are four round of 16 matchups that were halted halfway through and need to be concluded. The home teams (listed first below) will host those fixtures at their respective stadiums on Aug. 7-8. Complete with scores from the first legs, here’s how those matchups shape up:
Bayern Munich (3) vs. Chelsea (0)
Barcelona (1) vs. Napoli (1)
Manchester City (2) vs. Real Madrid (1)
Juventus (0) vs. Lyon (1)
UEFA also finalized the path to the tournament final by drawing up the semifinal bracket. Those games, which are scheduled for Aug. 18-19, will feature the following clashes:
Real Madrid/Manchester City or Lyon/Juventus vs. Napoli/Barcelona or Chelsea/Bayern Munich
RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid vs. Atalanta or Paris Saint-Germain
On paper, the potential for a Manchester City-Bayern Munich semifinal encounter catches the eye; the sides are widely viewed as two of the best on the continent, with Bayern’s dominant form after the Bundesliga restart instantly making them one of the tournament favorites.
There’s also the potential for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to meet in the semis should Barcelona and Juventus advance, respectively.
Meanwhile, PSG will fancy their chances of emerging from the other side of the bracket, though red-hot Atalanta – the darlings of the sport at the moment – will have the backing of neutrals everywhere hoping for a big upset.
UEFA announced Thursday details for the four remaining fixtures of the Champions League last-16 stage that were postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The European football governing body confirmed that the four second-leg tilts will be hosted at the respective club’s home venue on Aug. 7 and 8 “where travelling is possible without restrictions for the visiting clubs.”
The remaining four last-16 fixtures and aggregate scores are as follows (home team for second leg listed first):
Juventus vs Lyon (0-1)
Manchester City vs Real Madrid (2-1)
Bayern vs Chelsea (3-0)
Barcelona vs Napoli (1-1)
Atalanta, RB Leipzig, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain all secured spots in the last 8 prior to the suspension of play.
The European football governing body also announced that the quarterfinal and semifinal draws will take place Friday.
UEFA confirmed in June that the quarterfinal stage and onward of Europe’s premiere football competition would be played from Aug. 12-23 in Lisbon, Portugal. Previously contested over two legs, the quarterfinal and semifinal phases will now be single-elimination matches.
UEFA also announced that all matches will take place behind closed doors until further notice.
Istanbul, which was scheduled to host this year’s final, will instead stage the showpiece contest in 2021.
For years, English-speaking soccer commentators have been accused of using racial stereotypes to describe Black players. Now, there’s data to prove it.
A study by Danny McLoughlin, a lead researcher with Danish firm RunRepeat, and the Professional Footballers’ Association determined racial bias exists in soccer commentary. McLoughlin and his team reviewed more than 2,000 statements from 80 matches across four of Europe’s top leagues and found that players with darker skin are reduced to their physical traits more often than those with lighter skin.
Players are starting to speak out. In an interview with The New York Times, Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku said Black players regularly hear about their “pace” and “power” but not about their intelligence.
McLoughlin’s study proved Lukaku’s point.
theScore spoke to McLoughlin in depth about racial bias in soccer commentary and potential ways the industry can solve it.
When you reviewed these matches, was there any particular phrase that was biased one way or another?
Danny McLoughlin: The individual terms being used are less important than the overall picture. We were looking at patterns here. Basically, individual words and statements added up to form a pattern.
For example, here’s one positive comment about power: “He’s an important player in Norwich City’s midfield, a strong and competent player.” That’s about (Ghanaian-born midfielder) Alexander Tettey of Norwich City. Again, that’s a compliment. There’s nothing wrong with that in isolation. Where the problem comes in is when this is repeated over and over at the expense of his other attributes.
Alexander Tettey, for example, is also a good passer of the ball, he reads the game well to make interceptions, he’s an intelligent player. There are other aspects to his game. Things become an issue when his physical attributes are repeated over and over and over at the expense of these cognitive attributes.
What if a Black player actually has pace and power? Is there a more responsible way to describe that player, or is it about highlighting the player’s other attributes more often?
DM: Why is that the first thing we say? Is that his most important or his best attribute? Or is it a stereotype or cliche? I think “cliche” is a better word than “stereotype” because I don’t think anyone is doing this deliberately.
The whole point of the study is – I’m not going out and calling any commentators racist. What I’m saying is that there’s unconscious bias underneath the surface. Probably one of the most important points I try to make when I speak to journalists is that commentators just happen to be used for research.
The study could have very easily been done on print media, on studio analysis, on podcasts, on whatever other form of media. I think you’d probably find similar results. It just happened that commentators were the vehicle on this occasion.
Do you think this is a challenge for commentators in other sports, or is football more susceptible to racial bias because of the diversity of players and backgrounds?
DM: I think it’s a problem for other sports as well. In the past, there’s been an issue in American football where the quarterback was most often white and in a skilled position or intelligence position, and the physical positions were filled with Black players who are said to be more athletic and powerful.
I had a call with people from New Zealand who were saying that it might be similar in rugby. New Zealand is, obviously, a rugby country. The other studies I’ve looked at have touched on it in American football and basketball. So I think it’s a widespread problem. I think a lot of people who consume these sports are aware of this problem. But there’s not loads of numbers out there about it.
The Premier League and English Football League recently announced a project to promote more Black, Asian, and ethnic minority managers. Do you think something similar should be done with commentators?
DM: I think more diversity in the commentary box is a good way to go. But for existing commentators, I think it’s important to step back and think, when two players from each of our two groups do similar things, are you describing it the same way?
For example, if a Black winger knocks the ball past someone on the wing, runs past him, crosses it in, the team scores, are you focusing on pace and power? If a white player does it, are you also focusing on pace and power? Or are you going to call him a skillful winger? Basically, what you’re looking for is people to be looked at as individuals rather than as any group.
What can commentators do to more accurately and fairly describe the players they cover? Is it simply a matter of sensitivity training, or does it require a whole paradigm shift in the media industry?
DM: Football as a whole needs to take a look at itself. The same way a footballer goes after a match – and they’ll have film sessions, they’ll break down the games, they’ll look at what they did right and what they did wrong – it can’t be a bad idea to have that in place in the media, to go back and look at what’s happening within your own media coverage, whether that’s at a newspaper, TV companies, or on the radio. To kind of take a look at what’s going on and ask, “Are we getting better?”
We’ve got a benchmark now. Can these companies perhaps start doing their own studies to see if they’re getting better or worse?
Premier League games are being broadcast in so many different countries. Do you think football commentators have an even greater responsibility because of the size of their audience?
DM: Yeah. Commentators have a huge responsibility. They have to be careful about what they’re saying. And I think a lot of commentators are. They put a lot of effort into what they do. But these seem to be unconscious biases. So if no one’s ever pointed it out to you before, it’s hard to do anything about it or even realize that it’s a problem.
Hopefully now that it’s been highlighted, people can be more conscious.
You’ve mentioned “unconscious biases” a few times. Is that a bigger problem than the blatant racism we see?
DM: There’s a good interview in Forbes with (former Brighton & Hove Albion full-back) Liam Rosenior, and he talks about covert racism and overt racism. Basically, what he says there is that nowadays overt racism doesn’t really bother him so much. Obviously, it’s a huge issue and it’s disgusting. But he feels that he can now ignore that. People get called out on it and move on.
But what happens with covert racism? I’m loathe to use the word “racism,” but this covert or unconscious bias is difficult to see, is difficult to call out. Therefore, it’s more likely to have unseen effects and impacts who becomes a coach, who becomes a manager, who becomes club captain.
Lionel Messi assured Barcelona he wants to stay at the club for the rest of his career, president Josep Maria Bartomeu said Sunday amid reports the Argentine could leave next summer.
“Messi has said he will end his working and footballing life at Barca,” Bartomeu told Spanish network Movistar, according to Reuters. “I’m not going to explain the details because we are focused on the competition and we are negotiating with many players, but Messi has explained to us that he wants to stay, and so we’re going to enjoy him for much longer.”
Bartomeu’s statement comes days after reports that Messi refused to enter negotiations over a new contract. That led to speculation that the 33-year-old would leave Barcelona when his current deal expires in June 2021.
Messi’s relationship with the club has deteriorated in recent months. Messi called out sporting director Eric Abidal after he suggested the players were to blame for the firing of Ernesto Valverde. Then, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Messi snapped back at board members who questioned whether the players would accept pay cuts. First-team members eventually agreed to slash 70% of their salaries.
Bartomeu is currently in his final year as president. Having served two terms, he’s ineligible to run in next year’s election. He’s also battled allegations that the club hired a social media company to smear former and current players.
Before leaving his position, the 57-year-old entrepreneur has reportedly made it a goal to tie down Messi to a new contract.
Barcelona beat Villarreal 4-1 on Sunday to remain four points behind Real Madrid in the La Liga title race.