Champions League: UEFA to scrap extra time for knockout rounds

Published

4 months ago

February 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

UEFA is considering scrapping extra time from Champions League knockout rounds.

This is in a bid to reduce the number of minutes played by top clubs.

The Guardian reports that ties could now go straight to penalties.

However, a change midway through this TV rights cycle, which runs until 2027, is unlikely.

Extra time has long been a point of contention among European football’s stakeholders, amid arguments that players’ welfare need to be taken into consideration.

This season, UEFA has introduced the expanded group stage for the Champions League, with each team playing a minimum of eight games.

Later in the summer, while 12 European clubs will participate in an expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the US this summer.

Last season just three Champions League fixtures from the last 16 onwards went into extra time, while none at all required an additional period in 2022-23.

Four ties in the 2023-24 Europa League went the distance, down from six the season before.

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Serie A: Lookman nominated for Atalanta’s Player of the Season

Published

24 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Ademola Lookman is in the running for Atalanta’s Goal of the Season award, Ekwutosblog reports.

Lookman had two goals nominated for the individual accolade.

The Nigeria international’s superb strike in Atalanta’s 3-2 loss to Real Madrid was the first on the list.

The 27-year-old also earned nomination for his sublime finish in La Dea’s 5-0 trouncing of Empoli at the Gewiss Stadium.

Lookman will be looking to add another individual award to his collections after scooping Atalanta’s Player of the Season prize for the last two campaigns.

He scored 22 times and recorded five assists in 46 appearances across all competitions for the Bergamo club last season.

EPL: Sign Osimhen instead of Gyokeres – Ferdinand advises Man United

Published

1 day ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Rio Ferdinand

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has advised his former club to sign Victor Osimhen instead of Viktor Gyokeres.

The Red Devils are in search of more firepower upfront after an underwhelming campaign.

The duo of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee failed to deliver the goods, with United finishing in a disappointing 15th position on the table.

Ruben Amorim’s side also lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the UEFA Europa League.

Gyokeres, who had an outstanding campaign for Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, has been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

The forward scored 39 goals and registered eight assists to help Sporting Lisbon clinch the Portuguese League title.

Despite his impressive form in front of goal, Ferdinand believed Osimhen would be a better fit for his old club.

“I think Gyokeres, everyone’s talking about him. Again, I think if I’m looking at the market now and I had to pick him or Osimhen, I’d probably pick Osimhen because of that experience,” the former England international told the Mirror.