La Liga giants FC Barcelona will host Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy 2024 at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium on Monday, August 12.

The Barcelona vs Monaco Joan Gamper Trophy 2024 match will start at 11:30 PM IST.

The Joan Gamper Trophy is an annual exhibition match hosted by Barcelona ahead of the new La Liga season and is named after its founding member, player and former president - Joan Gamper.

Under newly-appointed manager Hansi Flick, Barcelona had a pretty decent pre-season 2024 heading into the Joan Gamper Trophy 2024.

Barcelona started their pre-season tour of the United States with a morale-boosting win over Premier League champions Manchester City on penalties. 

Hansi Flick’s men secured a 4-1 victory in the penalty shoot-out after Barcelona and City played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in regulation time in front of a packed Orlando crowd.

Barcelona later defeated arch-rivals and reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid 2-1 in their second pre-season friendly 2024 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. 

However, the Blaugrana suffered a narrow defeat against Serie A heavyweights AC Milan on penalties in their third pre-season game after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

Ahead of the Joan Gamper Trophy 2024, Barcelona have signed attacking midfielder Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig on a six-year contract.

Meanwhile, the Catalan side is also aiming to rope in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams in the ongoing summer transfer window.

On the other hand, AS Monaco will be Barcelona’s opponent in the 59th Joan Gamper Trophy.

Monaco will make their maiden appearance in the Joan Gamper Trophy and will be the fifth overall by a French league men’s side after Nantes (1966), Sochaux (1989), Olympique Marseilles (1991) and Girondins Bordeaux (1993).

Led by head coach Adi Hutter, Monaco finished second in the Ligue 1 last season with nine points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Monaco will aim to bounce back after suffering a 1-2 defeat against Serie A outfit Genoa in their previous pre-season 2024 friendly.

The Red and Whites have had a mixed pre-season 2024 as they defeated Feyenoord (3-1) and Club NXT (2-0).

However, Monaco played draws against SK Sturm Graz (2-2) and Cercle Brugge (1-1) in their other pre-season encounters.

Barcelona vs Monaco head-to-head

The Barcelona vs Monaco head-to-head record favours the Catalan giants. Barcelona have won three of their previous four meetings against Monaco while the other game ended in a draw.

The last time these two sides met, Barcelona beat Monaco 1-0 in an UEFA Champions League group match in April 1994.

Where to watch Barcelona vs Monaco Joan Gamper Trophy 2024 live in India

Live streaming of Barcelona vs Monaco Joan Gamper Trophy 2024 final will be available on Barcelona’s official website in India.

There will be no live telecast of Barcelona vs Monaco Joan Gamper Trophy 2024 clash on any TV channel in India.

Photo credit: Imago

The Ligue 1 2023-24 football season will start in the early hours of Saturday, August 12 (as per IST) as OGC Nice will take on Lille Olympique Sporting Club at the Allianz Riviera in the opening fixture.

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will kick off their Ligue 1 2023-24 campaign against FC Lorient at the Parc des Princes in the wee hours of Sunday, August 13 in India.

Under former manager Christophe Galtier, PSG pipped Lens by just a solitary point in the 2022-23 season to clinch their 11th league title in France's premier football competition.

The reigning Ligue 1 champions have appointed Luis Enrique as their new manager.

Ahead of the new season, PSG have undergone a squad overhaul. While Lionel Messi has left the club, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar could also leave in the summer transfer window.

PSG have signed the likes of winger Marco Asensio, midfield destroyer Manuel Ugarte, creative midfielder Kang-in Lee, defenders Milan Skriniar, Lucas Hernandez and forward Goncalo Ramos to boost their squad.

PSG have won the Ligue 1 title on nine occasions in the last 11 years. 

Apart from PSG, Lille won the Ligue title in the 2020-21 season, while Monaco clinched it in 2016-17.

Lens, Marseille, Lille and Monaco will be the other contenders for the 2023-24 Ligue title.

Meanwhile, Le Havre and FC Metz are the two newly-promoted clubs for the upcoming Ligue 1 season.

The Ligue 1 2023-24 will conclude on May 18 after the 18 Ligue 1 teams will have played 34 games each - 17 at home and just as many away.

Where to watch Ligue 1 2023-24 season live in India?

Select matches of the Ligue 1 2023-24 season will be telecast live on the Sports 18 and Sports 18 HD TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the Ligue 1 2023-24 season will be available on the JioCinema app and website in India.

Photo credit: Alamy

Kylian Mbappe is reportedly close to joining La Liga champions Real Madrid in the summer of 2022.

The 23-year-old France international has been a long-term target for Los Blancos, and is likely to make a decision on his future soon, as per journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Kylian Mbappé wants some time to announce his final decision, matter of days. ⭐️ #Mbappé

More. From Mbappé’s camp and family they deny Joan Laporta’s statement about “€50m net salary per season�?

Mbappé’s camp says they have never opened any negotiation with Barça/Laporta. pic.twitter.com/25hqiUTkio

�?Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 17, 2022

Mbappe was raised in Bondy, a commune close to France’s capital city of Paris. He is of African descent, as his father Wilfried - a former football coach and his football agent - hails from Cameroon while his mother is of Algerian Kabyle descent.

Kylian Mbappe’s football journey began at his hometown club AS Bondy in 2004, where he was coached by his father. He eventually joined the prestigious Clairefontaine academy at the age of 12 but continued playing for Bondy.

His talent attracted a host of clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich who were battling for his signature. At the age of 11, Mbappe trained with Real Madrid after getting an invitation and three years later, he would play a trial match for Chelsea youth against Charlton Athletic.

In 2015, Mbappe signed for AS Monaco at the age of 14. After four goals in 12 matches for the reserve team, it didn’t take long for then senior team manager Leonardo Jardim to promote the youngster to the first team.

In December 2015, Kylian Mbappe became Monaco's youngest debutant in history when he was brought on as a substitute for Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao. At 16 years and 347 days, Mbappe broke the previous record set by one of his idols Thierry Henry, who made his Monaco debut at 17 years and 14 days in 1994 under Arsene Wenger.

While at Monaco, Mbappe overwrote a multitude of records, becoming the youngest goalscorer for the club (17 years and 62 days), youngest to score a Ligue 1 hat-trick (18 years and two months) and second-youngest French scorer in UEFA Champions League history (18 years, 2 months and a day).

Kylian Mbappe registered 26 goals and 11 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions for Monaco in their Ligue 1-winning season in 2016-17, but would join rivals Paris Saint Germain, initially on loan, after just two games in the 2017-18 season.

After his loan spell, Kylian Mbappe joined PSG on a permanent deal for a fee of �?45 million plus �?5 million in add-ons, making him the most expensive teenager in history and the second-most expensive player in football after PSG teammate Neymar. The contract offered was a four-year deal until June 2022.

Paris Saint-Germain are thrilled to announce the signing of Kylian Mbappé! #BienvenueKylian pic.twitter.com/dOLX2YpP7x

�?Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 31, 2017

Mbappe scored on debut for Les Parisiens in the Ligue 1, and four days later, netted his first Champions League goal for PSG in an away win at Celtic. In doing so, the French international became the youngest player in history to score a UCL goal for two different clubs.

Kylian Mbappe has netted 168 goals in 216 appearances for Paris Saint Germain and is the club’s second-highest goalscorer behind Edinson Cavani (200 goals). He has won 12 titles in his time at the club (Four Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups, three French Super Cups and two French League Cups) 

PSG’s failure to win the UEFA Champions League is reportedly one of the reasons why Kylian Mbappe hasn’t committed to the club yet, and as per multiple reports, the World Cup winner is set to put pen to paper on a lucrative deal with new La Liga champions Real Madrid this summer.

Kylian Mbappe’s teams

Teams	Years	Matches	Goals
AS Monaco II	2015-2016	2	2
AS Monaco	2015-2017	27	60
Paris Saint Germain	2017-present	216	168*

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / PATRICK HERTZOG

The Ligue 1 is the highest division of league football in France.

Initially, the First Division football in France was played as an amateur league run by the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA) between 1894 to 1919 and by the French Football Federation between 1919 to 1926.

After the National Council of the French Football Federation voted in favour of professionalism in French football in 1930, the Ligue 1 - then known as National - was instituted.

The first season of National began in 1932-33, with 20 teams. From 1933 to 2001, the top-tier league in France was called Division 1 and it was only in 2002 that the French league was renamed as Ligue 1.

Over the years, Ligue 1 has often changed the allotment of clubs (14, 16, 18, 20) to feature in the tournament.

Ligue 1 follows the basic promotion-relegation rules, as it is in other major European Leagues. The clubs who finish the season at 19th and 20th positions are relegated to Ligue 2, while the top two teams in Ligue 2 win promotion to Ligue 1.

A two-legged relegation/promotion play-off is played between the 18th-placed team in Ligue 1 and the winner of the promotion playoffs in Ligue 2.

In Ligue 2, the fourth and fifth-placed teams play a one-legged fixture where the winner faces the third-ranked team in the second-tier competition. The winner of this tie then battles the third-last team in Ligue 1 to secure promotion in the top-flight competition.

In case the Ligue 2 team wins on aggregate, they are promoted to Ligue 1 and their opponent is relegated to Ligue 2. On the flipside, if the Ligue 1 team wins the play-off, both clubs remain in their respective leagues.

The 1992-93 season is the first - and only instance - in history where no team walked away with the league title. Initial winners Marseille were stripped off the title due to their involvement in a bribery scandal and runners-up Paris Saint Germain refused to claim the league crown.

Who were the first winners of Ligue 1?

Olympique Lillois, the predecessor of Lille, were the first league champions of France football in the professional era. They defeated Cannes in the final by a score of 4-3.

Georges Winckelmans netted a brace as his side, who topped Group A with 28 points from 18 games, managed to edge past Cannes - who qualified for the final ahead of top-ranked FC Antibes who were involved in a bribery scandal.

Lyon won the league in 2002-03, the first season following the rebranding of Division 1 to Ligue 1. It was the second of seven consecutive league wins for the club between 2001-02 and 2007-08.

Who has the most Ligue 1 titles?

Paris Saint Germain and Saint Etienne share the record for most Ligue 1 titles. PSG, who won the Ligue 1 2021-22 season, now have 10 league titles just as Les Verts.

Saint Etienne were the first team to win 10 Ligue 1 titles, with their last domestic success coming back in the 1980�?1 season.

PSG, who won their maiden Ligue 1 title in 1985�?6, have bagged eight of their 10 league titles since winning their third domestic title in 2012�?3.

Ligue 1 winners list

2021�?022: Paris Saint Germain

2020�?021: Lille

2019�?020: Paris Saint Germain

2018�?019: Paris Saint Germain

2017�?018: Paris Saint Germain

2016�?017: Monaco

2015�?016: Paris Saint Germain

2014�?015: Paris Saint Germain

2013�?014: Paris Saint Germain

2012�?013: Paris Saint Germain

2011�?012: Montpellier

2010�?011: Lille

2009�?010: Marseille

2008�?009: Bordeaux

2007�?008: Lyon

2006�?007: Lyon

2005�?006: Lyon

2004�?005: Lyon

2003�?004: Lyon

2002�?003: Lyon

2001�?002: Lyon

2000�?001: Nantes

1999�?000: Monaco

1998�?999: Bordeaux

1997�?998: RC Lens

1996�?997: Monaco

1995�?996: Auxerre

1994�?995: Nantes

1993�?994: Paris Saint Germain

1992�?993: unattributed

1991�?992: Marseille

1990�?991: Marseille

1989�?990: Marseille

1988�?989: Marseille

1987�?988: Monaco

1986�?987: Bordeaux

1985�?986: Paris Saint Germain

1984�?985: Bordeaux

1983�?984: Bordeaux

1982�?983: Nantes

1981�?982: Monaco

1980�?981: Saint-Étienne

1979�?980: Nantes

1978�?979: Strasbourg

1977�?978: Monaco

1976�?977: Nantes

1975�?976: Saint-Étienne

1974�?975: Saint-Étienne

1973�?974: Saint-Étienne

1972�?973: Nantes

1971�?972: Marseille

1970�?971: Marseille

1969�?970: Saint-Étienne

1968�?969: Saint-Étienne

1967�?968: Saint-Étienne

1966�?967: Saint-Étienne

1965�?966: Nantes

1964�?965: Nantes

1963�?964: Saint-Étienne

1962�?963: Monaco

1961�?962: Stade de Reims

1960�?961: Monaco

1959�?960: Stade de Reims

1958�?959: Nice

1957�?958: Stade de Reims

1956�?957: Saint-Étienne

1955�?956: Nice

1954�?955: Stade de Reims

1953�?954: Lille

1952�?953: Stade de Reims

1951�?952: Nice

1950�?951: Nice

1949�?950: Bordeaux

1948�?949: Stade de Reims

1947�?948: Marseille

1946�?947: Roubaix-Tourc

1945�?946: Lille

1938�?939: Sète

1937�?938: Sochaux

1936�?937: Marseille

1935�?936: R. Colombes 92

1934�?935: Sochaux

1933�?934: Sète

1932�?933: O.Lillois

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / FRANCK FIFE

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will seek a record-extending 14th title when they cross swords with AS Monaco in the final of French Cup 2021 at the Stade de France on Thursday, May 20.

PSG, for one, have lost twice to AS Monaco in the Ligue 1 this season (2-3 and 0-2) but will take confidence from their head-to-head record in the French Cup. In the last five meetings against Monaco in the tournament, PSG have won all games without conceding a goal.

The most recent French Cup fixture between AS Monaco and PSG came in the 2016-17 edition where the latter, then coached by Unai Emery, ran riot with a 5-0 win in the semi-finals.

Monaco, on the flip side, are now making their first French Cup final appearance in 11 years. Niko Kovac’s men have been in fine form this season, and will aim to end their ongoing winless run against PSG in the French Cup final.

AS Monaco vs PSG team news and injury updates

Niko Kovac will have an almost full-strength AS Monaco side at his disposal, with  Willem Geubbels and attacking midfielder Sofiane Diop (ankle sprain) the only notable absentees ahead of the final. Veteran striker Stevan Jovetic is likely to feature in the title clash should he shrug off a calf injury in time.

PSG, meanwhile, have a lot of concerns to tend with Neymar and Presnel Kimpembe suspended, while Layvin Kurzawa (sprained ankle) and Marco Verratti (knee injury) will not play again this season. Julian Draxler is another big name on the injury list (hamstring) while Idrissa Gueye and Abdou Diallo also remain doubts with gastrointestinal problems.

AS Monaco vs PSG probable playing XI

AS Monaco probable XI: Radosław Majecki; Djibril Sidibe, Guillermo Maripan, Benoît Badiashile, Caio Henrique; Gelson Martins, Youssouf Fofana, Aurélien Tchouameni, Aleksandr Golovin; Wissam Ben Yedder, Kevin Volland

Paris Saint-Germain probable XI: Keylor Navas; Alessandro Florenzi, Marquinhos, Thilo Kehrer, Mitchel Bakker; Leandro Paredes, Ander Herrera; Angel Di Maria, Rafinha, Kylian Mbappe; Moises Kean

AS Monaco vs PSG prediction

It goes without saying that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are backed by the odds to win their 14th French Cup title. However, if anything, the contest could possibly go into additional extra time or penalties considering the squad depth of Monaco and their recent Ligue 1 record against Les Parisiens.

Featured photo: AFP / Franck Fife

The Ligue 1 2020-21 season is fast approaching its business end with 29 matchweeks already over, and the French top tier football league is yet to find a clear favourite with just three points separating the top three teams.

After a poor start to their campaign and a mid-season managerial change slowing down defending champions Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) progress, Kylian Mbappe and Co. have somehow managed to get their campaign back on track.

PSG have won three of their last five Ligue 1 matches, and Mauricio Pochettino will want his men to improve their performance when they take on third-placed AS Lyon at Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Monday, March 22. With both sides on 60 points, this fixture is guaranteed to bring more daylight in the intense title run.

PSG fans could see the return of their star forward Neymar in the Lyon clash. The Brazilian international, known as the king of the rainbow flick, has returned to training after being sidelined for over a month with a thigh injury. He is expected to be available for the Ligue 1 clash on Monday.

League leaders Lille (63 points) will expect an easy outing against Nimes, who are struggling in the 19th place of the Ligue 1 table. Unlike PSG, Lille have remained unbeaten in the last five matches.

Fourth-placed AS Monaco will be in high spirits as they come into matchweek 30 following a goalless draw with leaders Lille. The 2016-17 Ligue 1 champions will take on St. Etienne in the first game of matchweek 30 on Saturday, March 20.

Ligue 1 League matchweek 30 schedule, fixtures, and India match times

Date and Day	Match	Times (IST)
Saturday, March 20	St. Etienne vs AS Monaco	1:30 AM IST
Saturday, March 20	Metz vs Rennes	5:30 PM IST
Saturday, March 20	Nice vs Marseille	9:30 PM IST
Sunday, March 21	Strasbourg vs Lens	5:30 PM IST
Sunday, March 21	Nantes vs Lorient	7:30 PM IST
Sunday, March 21	Brest vs Angers	7:30 PM IST
Sunday, March 21	Montpellier vs Bordeaux	7:30 PM IST
Sunday, March 21	Dijon vs Remis	7:30 PM IST
Sunday, March 21	Lille vs Nimes	9:35 PM IST
Monday, March 22	Lyon vs PSG	1:30 AM IST

Ligue 1 will not be broadcast in India, but you can watch the highlights of every match on their official YouTube channel.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Franck Fife

The term ‘one-season wonder�?rings a few appalling bells amongst football fans. Over the years, the spectators have witnessed an individual tearing everything apart with his sensational skills, and as the year progresses, all that was earned suddenly falls back on the ground as reality hits hard.

This three-word description though is usually associated with a striker, simply because scoring goals is the ultimate aim of the game. Technically though, it is not only reserved for the frontmen.

That said, we give you five one-season wonders of modern football.

Kasper Dolberg (Ajax)

When Danish scout John Steen Olsen recommended Ajax to sign Kasper Dolberg in 2015, eyebrows were raised, and for all right reasons. Olsen, after all, is credited for the discovery of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Christian Eriksen and Viktor Fischer.

For Dolberg, after progressing through Ajax’s De Toekomst youth academy, he enjoyed a stellar debut season, being his team’s main man up front and scoring goals for fun. In 29 league appearances in the 2016-17 Eredivisie season, the Dane scored a whopping 16 goals.

Read | Five worst loan signings involving top players

A natural talent in front of the goal, comparisons with Ibrahimovic started doing rounds. His stakes eventually went higher when he was named Ajax’s Young Player of the Season and also bagged the Johan Cruyff award.

His downfall, however, started in the following season where he managed just six goals in 23 league games. He did score 11 goals in the 2018-19 season, but competing with the likes of Dusan Tadic and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for the first team under Erik ten Hag was next to impossible.

From being tipped as the new Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Dolberg joined the bandwagon of those who were forgotten after their one-season wonder. As things stand, the young Dane now plies his trade with the Ligue 1 side Nice.

Saido Berahino (West Brom)

Striker Saido Berahino took the Premier League by storm in the 2014/15 season when he bagged 14 goals in 38 appearances. Compared to the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and Jermain Defoe, he was largely praised for his deadly finishes.

His exploits eventually gathered interest from Tottenham Hotspur, who, in 2015, tabled an official bid for the striker. But as his side failed to agree on a transfer fee with the London club, the striker vented his frustration on Twitter, saying that he would never play for West Brom ever again.

“Sad how I can’t say exactly how the club has treated me, but I can officially say I will never play (for) Jeremy Peace,�?he tweeted.

Right from scoring goals for fun, Berahino’s career went downhill after the Tottenham offer. So much so that he once failed score in 913 days and suffered from depression during his time with Stoke City.

Vincent Janssen (AZ)

In only his debut Eredivisie season with AZ, Janssen took the world by storm, scoring a whopping 31 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions. And with Tottenham struggling to find competition for Harry Kane, they decided to bring the Dutchman to England.

Read | Top players pegged to exit the Premier League before next season

In his first season with the club, Janssen scored two goals in 27 appearances which prompted the Lily Whites to send him on loan to Fenerbahce. He did score a few important goals for the Turkish side, but upon returning to Tottenham in 2018, the club decided not to give him a squad number. After being out for most of the 2018/19 season, he was sold to the Mexican side Monterrey.

In 20 league games for his new club this season, the Netherlands international has bagged a mere five goals.

Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)

Midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was the heartbeat of Southampton, and his role progressed, even more, when Ronald Koeman was appointed as his new manager in the 2014/15 season. Lining up alongside the likes of Tadic and Victor Wanyama, the Frenchman wreaked havoc, which forced Manchester United to rope in him as one of their marquee signings under Louis van Gaal.

In his very first season with the club, the midfielder scored a solitary goal and an assist in 54 appearances in all competitions. Once tipped as the natural successor of Michael Carrick at United, Schneiderlin’s career took a dip when United decided to let go of him, with Everton pouncing on the opportunity in January 2017.

It’s been two-and-a-half years since Schneiderlin moved to Everton and he still only has one goal during the tenure.

Tiemoue Bakayoko (Monaco)

Tiemoue Bakayoko was one of the key players during AS Monaco’s title-winning season. Combining his physical strength with an immaculate reading of the situation, big things were expected of him. So, watching Chelsea make him their second-most expensive signing in 2017 wasn’t a surprise, to say the least.

The move, however, turned out to be a complete disaster. In his very first season in England, he failed to impress the fans as well as the manager after putting in inconsistent displays.

Eventually, in August 2018, he was shipped to Italy to join AC Milan on loan. Playing under Gennaro Gattuso, the midfielder continued his poor run of form, prompting the club legend to voice his frustration out in the open.

"Bakayoko has to learn how to get the ball," Gattuso said. "We must work correctly. It will not be easy."

"One week is not enough to remove the defects of a player. I would have preferred to be managing older, more experienced club players."

His tenure was not only marred by poor performances but he was also subjected to racial abuse by the Lazio fans. By the end of the 2018/19 season, the midfielder moved back to Monaco on loan after making 31 league appearances and with a solitary goal to his name.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Valeri Hache, Yuri Kadobnov

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

Since the European Champion Clubs' Cup was officially changed to the UEFA Champions League in 1992, a majority of the trophies have been won by the teams from the top four European leagues, that is the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga, the German Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A.

While Real Madrid rule the roost with the most Champions League winners�?trophies, many teams like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Liverpool have also won the coveted trophy.

However, every few seasons, one team performs above all expectations, beating many top sides and claiming their own sweet place in history. Most of the time these teams tend to fall short, but some sides manage to continue their fine run and win the coveted European trophy.

On that note, here is a list of the top underdog teams to play the Champions League:

Bayer Leverkusen (2001-02)

The 2001-02 season is one to forget for Bayer Leverkusen fans, but their underrated performances through the season have to be lauded by many. They were on the verge of a treble after reaching the DFB-Pokal final and staying atop the Bundesliga table for most of the season.

However, by the time Leverkusen took on Real Madrid in the final, they had lost out on the Bundesliga trophy to Dortmund as well as losing the DFB-Pokal final to Schalke. However, Leverkusen did not put a foot wrong through the knockout stages of the Champions League, beating Liverpool and a strong Manchester United side on their way to the final.

Leverkusen finally had a chance to win some silverware when they took on Real Madrid at the Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. However, the odds were stacked against them and rightly so, with a legendary volley by Zinedine Zidane sealing the victory. However, Leverkusen never gave up and came close to equalizing on several occasions but eventually lost.

FC Porto (2003-04)

FC Porto pip Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna to this spot primarily because Porto eventually won the trophy after beating Deportivo in the semis and also became the first club outside the big four leagues to win the title since Ajax in 1995. 

Porto were never favourites when the tournament began but by the time they squared off against AS Monaco in the finals, they had already won the Primeira Liga (Portugal’s domestic competition) as well as the Portuguese Super Cup. However, this special season for Porto also marked the breakthrough season for one Jose Mourinho.

Finishing second to Real Madrid in the group stages, Porto were exemplary in the run-up of the Champions League final that was played at the Arena AufSchalke in Germany. They beat Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, as well as Lyon and a resilient Deportivo La Coruna side en route to the finals. Goals from Carlos Alberto, Deco, Alenichev sealed Porto’s win, with Mourinho moving to Chelsea a week after the final.

AS Monaco (2016-17) 

In recent times, AS Monaco might be a glimmer of their former selves, but no one can discount their 2016-17 season, which featured stars like Fabinho, Joao Moutinho, Radamel Falcao, Thomas Lemar, Bernardo Silva and a 17-year-old Kylian Mbappe. Aside from winning the Ligue 1, this young squad was also ripping Europe apart.

Playing from the third-qualifying round, AS Monaco beat the likes of Fenerbache and Valencia in the qualifying stages of the Champions League, before topping the group stages, eliminating English giants Tottenham Hotspur, as well as beating them in both legs of their games.

Monaco were rampant during the knockout stages of the tournament as well, with Kylian Mbappe putting up a show for the whole of Europe to witness. After a 5-3 away loss to Manchester City, Monaco made amends in the home leg with a 3-1 victory, knocking out Pep Guardiola’s side on away goals. Dortmund were a breeze as well, with Leonardo Jardim’s side scoring six goals yet again and setting up a semifinal clash with Juventus.

However, Juventus were too defensive sound for the French team, who eventually lost 4-1 on aggregate and bowed out of the competition. 

AFC Ajax (2018-19)

Ajax have always been the surprise package in the Champions League �?they won the title in 1995, and have always been among the underdog performers through the seasons. However, their performance through the 2018-19 season, where they beat some heavyweight teams, is one that the fans will always remember. 

Much like Monaco, Ajax and their young squad made it to the tournament after beating Austrian side Sturm Graz and Belgian side Standard Liege in the qualifying stages. Their group stages were a mixed bag, winning three and drawing three. However, the team from Amsterdam played unexpectedly well against Bayern Munich, who topped the group. They drew both their legs, coming back twice in the process. However, it was the knockout stages where they flourished. 

They beat defending champions Real Madrid 3-5 on aggregate while beating Italian champions, Juventus 2-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

Entering into the semifinal stages, Ajax were definitely the weakest of the other three teams �?Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, and previous year’s finalists Liverpool. However, they did not let their fans down after beating the North London side 1-0 away from home. However, a late goal by Lucas Moura to complete his hattrick sealed the deal for the Dutch side in the return, as they succumbed 3-2 on aggregate. They might have been eliminated, but Ajax surely won hearts with their spirited displays against many European giants of the beautiful game. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Pascal Guyot

Over the years, football’s transfer market has never failed to flabbergast fans with some extremely unconventional signings. Right from Luis Figo’s controversial move from Barcelona to Real Madrid, to Thomas Gravesen’s dazzling switch to the Galacticos from Everton, fans have been bystanders to some of the most astounding decisions ever made.

Speaking of transfers, now that the global pandemic is likely to affect the business side of football, it is expected that the clubs will look to bring players on loan rather than splashing bucketloads of cash.

Then again, bringing in quality on loan has not always been a fruitful decision at the first time of asking, and having said that, we look at five top players who were involved in failed loan deals in the past.

Radamel Falcao (From Monaco to Manchester United in 2014/15 and Chelsea in 2015/16)

Louis van Gaal’s arrival in Manchester United brought several changes in the first team. As he was keen on removing the deadwood, the signings he made were top-notch, to say the least. And amongst the lot was a certain Radamel Falcao, who arrived on the back of scoring 15 goals in 33 league appearances for Monaco in Ligue 1.

Read | Top five signings of Pep Guardiola

Given that United were yearning for a 20-goal-a-season striker, Falcao made headlines. The signing not only made him a high-profile arrival but also made him one of the highest earners at the club, pocketing a reported £265,000 a week.

For United, it was always going to be a gamble given that he was recovering from a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury which led to him missing the 2014 FIFA World Cup. By the end of the campaign, Falcao had just four goals in 29 games under his belt, and thus, United opted against making his move permanent.

Despite his failures in the league though, Chelsea decided to bring him on at Stamford Bridge (on loan) for the 2015/16 season. But consistent injuries limited him to just 10 league appearances, and a solitary goal to his name was enough to send him back to Monaco in 2016.  

Gonzalo Higuain (From Juventus to AC Milan in 2018/19)

When Cristiano Ronaldo made his famed move to Juventus in 2018, The Old Lady decided to send their star striker, Gonzalo Higuain on loan to AC Milan. And although the deal was for the entirety of the season, it was cut short in January after he had scored just six times in the league in 15 appearances.

A veteran of Serie A was thus sent to England in January that season, where he joined forces with his former manager Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea on loan. And once again, he only managed a handful of goals before returning to Juventus when Sarri took over.

Tiemoue Bakayoko (From Chelsea to AC Milan in 2018/19)

After impressing one and all with his exemplary display in Monaco’s title-winning season, midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko moved to Chelsea in 2017, becoming their second-most expensive signing at the time. In his very first season in England though, he failed to impress the fans as well as the manager after putting in inconsistent displays.

Eventually, in August 2018, he was shipped to Italy to join AC Milan on loan. Playing under Gennaro Gattuso, the midfielder continued his poor run of form, prompting the club legend to voice his frustration out in the open.

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"Bakayoko has to learn how to get the ball," Gattuso said. "We must work correctly. It will not be easy."

"One week is not enough to remove the defects of a player. I would have preferred to be managing older, more experienced club players."

His tenure was not only marred by poor performances but he was also subjected to racial abuse by the Lazio fans. By the end of the 2018/19 season, the midfielder moved back to Monaco on loan after making 31 league appearances and with a solitary goal to his name.

Denis Suarez (From Barcelona to Arsenal)

Once tipped for greatness, former Manchester City prodigy Denis Suarez made serious headlines following his loan move to Arsenal from Barcelona in January 2019. The Gunners, who were in dire need of some creative outlay, signed him for six months despite his fitness issues.

Given his limitations, he never made any sort of impact and moved back to Barcelona after playing just six times and failing to score for Arsenal. Recalling his time with the London club, Suarez said:

Read | From West Brom reject to London’s scourge: The rise of Serge Gnabry

“At the end of the game (against FC BATE Borisov) I thought that I had torn my groin and they did a scan and saw that I had oedema [a buildup of fluid] on the bone in my pelvis,�?he said.

“I thought I had torn something; I was in a lot of pain. And from then on I carried on training with medication and putting up with it as best I could but I didn’t feel right and [Unai] Emery didn’t think I was right. I wasn’t comfortable. I don’t think I was even at 50 percent. After 15 days of being at Arsenal, I wasn’t right. From the 16th, I wasn’t even at 50 percent.�?/p>

Renato Sanches (From Bayern Munich to Swansea City in 2017/18)

After being named as the Golden Boy in 2016, Portugal’s Renato Sanches began to attract heavy interest from the likes of Manchester United, but the then young prodigy decided to move to Bayern Munich instead.

After a subpar 2016/17 Bundesliga season, Sanches was shipped to Swansea City on loan to revive his career. Sanches, right from his first game of the Premier League, failed to impress the fans. He went on to make 15 appearances in all competitions for the club, starting just nine games and playing the full 90 minutes on only four occasions. During his time, he was involved in a solitary goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Reading in the League Cup.

Read | Fred: An underappreciated jewel of Manchester United

“It was not my choice to go to Swansea. I was forced to go there,�?he told L’Équipe about his time in the league.

“I didn’t want to go. I have respect for the club, the players, all the people I met there. I appreciated their humility.�?/p>

He moved back to Munich in the subsequent season and now finds himself playing for Lille in Ligue 1.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff, Geoff Caddick

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

The German Bundesliga may not enjoy a fan-following as wide as the English Premier League, but the league anyway remains an attractive proposition for footballers, especially for bright, young talents looking to make an impact on the big stage.

While the Bundesliga is seen as a breeding ground for up and coming talents by clubs in England and Europe, recent years have seen some of the most talented players make the jump to Germany. The wages might not be as big as some Premier League clubs shell out, but the attraction of playing in front of some of the most passionate fanbases in the world is a selling point on its own. 

Even though the transfer business is likely to be affected this summer due to the impact of the coronavirus on finances, there will be a few notable names making their way to the Bundesliga this summer. And here are five such players who could soon be seen strutting their stuff out in the German top-flight;

Leroy Sane (Manchester City) 

The biggest name on the list, Leroy Sane has been on the radars of Bayern Munich for over a year now. The reigning Bundesliga champions tried to sign the Manchester City star last summer, but the Premier League title holders dug their heels in and held on to him.

Read | What next for Philippe Coutinho? Assessing his potential destinations

However, that could change this summer as Sane is set to enter the final year of his contract next month and the Cityzens would risk losing him for nothing in a year. Moreover, according to reputed journalist Raphael Honigstein, the 24-year-old winger has his heart set on a transfer to Bavaria this summer.

Sane has played just 13 minutes of first-team football this term, having picked up a cruciate ligament injury at the onset of the season. However, the German international has been one of City’s most impressive players since joining the club in 2016. And with Bayern seeking the long-term heirs for Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, the 24-year-old would be the ideal addition at the Allianz Arena.

Jean-Clair Todibo (Barcelona) 

Technically, the 20-year-old Frenchman is already in the Bundesliga, having joined FC Schalke 04 on loan from La Liga champions Barcelona in January. And having impressed heavily in the handful of matches he has played in Germany, Jean-Clair Todibo is now a man in demand, with multiple clubs in the Bundesliga keen on signing him permanently.

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Schalke have the option of signing the Barcelona man permanently, but with the club hit hard financially due to the coronavirus crisis, they are unlikely to go ahead with the deal. However, RB Leipzig are keen to sign the 20-year-old, as they prepare to lose star defensive duo Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate, both of whom are targets for a number of Premier League clubs.

Todibo has played just five matches for Schalke in Bundesliga this term. In those five games, the club has kept two clean sheets and conceded just five. With Barcelona keen on offloading players to generate funds this summer and Leipzig intent on the youngster, expect a move to happen.

Thomas Meunier (PSG) 

One of the most sought-after footballers heading into the transfer window, PSG’s Thomas Meunier is being eyed by a number of clubs across Europe, owing to the fact that he will be a free agent this summer. 

Read | Formidable free agents in 2020 starring World Cup winners

Indeed, the 28-year-old's contract with PSG is on the verge of expiry, which has put a number of clubs on high-alert, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund. While Meunier is likely to command a better pay packet any of the three Premier League clubs, Dortmund will offer him the status of being the undisputed first-choice right-back.

Lukasz Piszczek has looked a shadow of his past self, while Achraf Hakimi will be returning to Real Madrid, with his loan deal expiring. And signing Meunier would address this issue for BVB. A proven player at the top level, at 28, he is in his prime years and on a free transfer, would represent a smart piece of business for Dortmund.

Loris Karius (Liverpool) 

Four years after he left German club FSV Mainz to join Liverpool, Loris Karius could be on his way back to his homeland this summer. The 26-year-old's time at Anfield has been torrid, to say the least, with him being remembered for his blunders against Real Madrid in 2018, that cost Liverpool the UEFA Champions League.

Following that, he was loaned out to Turkish outfit Besiktas in 2018. However, that too came to an end earlier this month after Karius himself terminated the contract after battling the club over wage non-payment issues. Back at Liverpool, the German has no future at the club with Alisson and Adrian at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal.

Read | Five players who could don the red of North London next season

Hence, a return to Germany looks very much plausible for the 26-year-old. There have been reports of interest in Karius from Hertha Berlin, with some outlets in Turkey even claiming that an agreement is already in place between the player and the club. 

Fode Ballo-Toure (AS Monaco)

A product of the PSG academy, the 23-year-old Fode Ballo-Toure left the club in 2017 to join Lille where he spent eighteen months before moving to AS Monaco in January last year. The Frenchman has been a regular at the Principality outfit ever since and is now being chased by a number of bigwigs in Europe, including Chelsea, RB Leipzig and Schalke.

Leipzig signed Angelino on loan from Manchester City in January but will have to pay a big sum to sign him permanently, which has forced them to look at the AS Monaco man. While Chelsea are also in the market for a new left-back, they are leaning more towards Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell and see Ballo-Toure as an alternative.

Read | Five players who could move to the Premier League this summer

This coupled with Schalke’s reduced financial prowess could give Leipzig the upper hand in the race for Ballo-Toure. The Frenchman is known for his blistering pace and relentless running, which would make him a great fit in the youthful RB Leipzig side under Julian Nagelsmann.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk