Champions League returns with Messi and extraneous drama

Image Credit: Google Learn more

After a three-month mid-season break, the Champions League will resume on Tuesday at a completely different time.

[{"selector":"#anim-c2b98a83-96eb-4ff5-b7a0-b937c7a75389 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ada3ae5c-5de8-491e-a560-7b83983e123b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fc328c1-13a4-4a06-a59c-dc767828bab0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-06e3d55e-c017-4e76-836f-f0c57c91b90d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google

In that era, Lionel Messi won his first World Cup, Kylian Mbappe nearly won his second And then injured.

[{"selector":"#anim-ac6a9a65-24c5-43ed-ad8e-2ada71eae9c8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc61460c-8714-4f53-b29a-b7f7582d1d22","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8afb223e-1d21-433e-8136-9cd44020b362","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ee1ec99-6298-4e2a-a0be-17a09e02f38c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google

The early season favorites to win the European Championship went down at home.

[{"selector":"#anim-2a3c7533-4684-458d-b3cb-cc6e4ec30ffe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05f9faf5-3f0d-4f26-a817-d84c4a44c334","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3450cea0-6644-4469-9881-874c63be0913","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4020821f-df1b-4aad-b623-36b695f9a054","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google

Meanwhile, Napoli showed outstanding performance before the World Cup

[{"selector":"#anim-af3ddf5b-aebb-4c23-82ef-717b51b4fad9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ced6d84-71b4-4eed-8bad-bd1864ee39e7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12a34e0b-9ca6-465d-a9b6-daebf68f5c15","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93a26213-af62-485e-b179-80e16ba2c17e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google

continues and could advance to the quarterfinals for the first time.

[{"selector":"#anim-8499072e-a681-48dc-b30d-8fa7a10cc949 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99b66569-cfd2-4431-8a36-a9a7a3f65778","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e3d26cd-9dff-4368-b87c-0948e50fb810","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e48e9ad-9fd7-4718-bb9c-fce7a08cc531","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google

English champions Manchester City have faced a legal backlash over allegations of serious financial irregularities in the Premier League.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c44ad99-fa67-4b26-891f-9fa94e3a90a2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-004325a4-8948-409b-aed4-8547741bc982","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd4c09d5-60e7-48e0-a49b-23793456a2f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80e4288f-be56-4482-89e9-8dd82bb03a30","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google

and may prevent them from further propagation. Future champion.

[{"selector":"#anim-0967dc72-f96b-4068-9de8-c3fecdceafc2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7cd5899e-fc06-4df1-81f1-ef7b82a30b35","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f1ab8c6-37dd-4112-848c-d3836aa29e6f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4680ae20-0f87-40f0-8299-a5cdf7385999","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google

The competition returns with a duel between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

[{"selector":"#anim-7ff66b4b-d505-474a-a1a3-7b72a438f563 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36386aec-a18c-473d-b685-e430f984e54a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.39871%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e77ad86-73d9-4423-bd6e-9e5140c53166","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7c4470e-4907-413f-adac-e750a820bea0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google

A rematch of the 2020 final, which Bayern won, brings together the two teams that refused to unite in 2021, effectively killing the Super League.

[{"selector":"#anim-09e8af3b-d79c-4c05-aae4-3128316a12da [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.823104461484872%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7d70200-fe93-452e-ae84-8f683088a731","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.39871%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e84fc495-dbc5-4170-9f71-33498f959b2c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-111248a4-931f-488e-a4fe-288a22db3821","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Image Credit: Google