^ ^ Sami Khedira snubs Arsenal when naming his favourite to win Champions League

Bayern Munich are Sami Khedira’s favourites to win this year’s Champions League (Picture: Getty)

Germany World Cup winner Sami Khedira has named Bayern Munich as his favourites to go all the way in the Champions League.

Bayern secured their spot in the knockout phase of this year’s competition in some style having won seven and losing just one of their eight group-stage matches under Vincent Kompany.

Arsenal were the only team to better Bayern’s points tally, finishing their group-stage campaign with an all-conquering 100 per cent record to establish themselves as a genuine powerhouse in Europe once again.

As one of the top seeds, Bayern know they will face one of Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta in the next round and they are likely to be the overwhelming favourites to progress regardless of who they are paired with in Friday’s draw.

Harry Kane has been in sensational form for the German champions, scoring eight in eight in this year’s competition while netting 28 times – more than double his closest rival – in the Bundesliga.

After Inter Milan eliminated Bayern at the quarter-final stage last term, the England captain will be hoping he can continue his extraordinary goalscoring exploits to help put things right this time around.

According to Khedira, Bayern are the ‘absolute number one’ team to come out on top, as long as they manage avoid the kind of injury woes that derailed their campaign 12 months ago.

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Bayern finished second behind Arsenal in the league phase (Picture: Getty)

Kane has scored eight goals in eight matches in Europe (Picture: Getty)

‘For me, it will be crucial that Bayern Munich go into the knockout phase reasonably rested,’ the ex-Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder told German publication Kicker.

‘But the most important thing in this crucial phase will be that their spine, their absolute top players and game-changers, are healthy and fit, especially mentally.

‘Then, for me, they are the absolute number one, even ahead of Arsenal.’

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Arsenal breezed through to the last 16 with a 100 per cent record (Picture: Getty)

Bayern were without three of their star men in Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala and Dayot Upamecano when Inter beat them to a place in the semi-finals last season.

‘At this level, no squad can really compensate for that,’ Khedira explained.

‘That’s especially true when Bayern’s squad is deliberately kept smaller, consciously consisting of younger players and talents.’

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Newcastle will reach the UCL semi-final 😳 With Newcastle’s route in the UEFA Champions League, it seems very plausible Eddie Howe’s side can reach the semi-finals of the competition. If they beat Qarabag in the play-offs, they’d come up against Chelsea or Barcelona in the round of 16, and then either Club Brugge, Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, or Tottenham in the quarters. Could they make it that far? #championsleague #newcastle #footballnews #ucl #newcastleunited

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Although Bayern and Arsenal are Khedira’s most fancied teams, the 2014 Champions League winner believes PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City could all realistically lift the trophy in May.

‘I also see Barcelona as a great team, but not as favorites,’ Khedira added.

‘I have a huge respect for Hansi Flick and I also like their style of play because it’s simply attractive to watch.

‘But they can’t seem to get their defensive problems under control.’

How to watch the Champions League draw on TV and live stream

The draw for the next round of the Champions League takes place on Friday February 27 at 11am UK time.

It will be available to watch on TNT Sports 1 and free of charge on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.

Who can the Premier League teams play?

Arsenal

Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta

Chelsea

Newcastle, Monaco or PSG

Liverpool

Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Juventus

Man City

Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid or Benfica

Tottenham

Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Juventus

Newcastle

Chelsea or Barcelona

Who can the other teams play?

Barcelona

Newcastle, Monaco or PSG

Bayern Munich

Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen

Sporting

Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid or Benfica

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^ ^ Manchester United told £18million signing can become a club legend

Senne Lammens has impressed since being installed as Manchester United’s No.1 (Picture: Getty)

Senne Lammens has all the qualities required to become a Manchester United club legend, according to Lee Sharpe.

The 23-year-old joined United late in the transfer window after an £18million deal was agreed with Royal Antwerp.

Lammens arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s best young goalkeepers but he was forced to bide his time before he was drafted into the team by Ruben Amorim.

With Andre Onana sent on loan to Trabzonspor, Amorim initially opted to shield Lammens from the heat of Premier League footballer but had no option but to parachute him into the starting line-up having run out of patience with the error-prone Altay Bayindir.

The Belgium international has hardly put a foot wrong since coming into the team and enhanced his standing with a man of the match display in Monday night’s 1-0 win at Everton that enhanced United’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

Sharpe’s former club had struggled to move on from David de Gea but the ex-winger is confident the Red Devils have found the Spaniard’s long-term successor.

‘There’s no reason Senne Lammens can’t be at Manchester United for the next decade and join those legendary keepers the club have had in the past like Peter Schmeichel,’ he told BetBrain.

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‘He’ll only grow in experience, hopefully Champions League football next season can even further that. He’s shown a real calmness and that’s a reassurance to the defence and the rest of the team.

Senne Lammens was the man of the match for Man Utd against Everton (Picture: Getty)

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‘It was a shock when he signed as everyone thought that it would be Emi Martinez coming in from Aston Villa.

‘I’d consider him as a world class goalkeeper, so for the club to sign a young, unknown goalkeeper at the time seemed a risk, but he’s been fantastic since he joined.

‘I can see the similarities with Edwin van der Sar. He’s very calm under pressure and his handling in the Everton game was exceptional. There were some tricky saves that he pulled off and he looked safe.

‘It was carnage in the box at corners, but he was commanding and dominated his area.’

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Man United will finish THIRD this season! 😳 Manchester United are the only Premier League side unbeaten in 2026, and now sit three points clear of both Chelsea and Liverpool. So the big question is: can they finish above them, and even push for third place? #manchesterunited #footballnews #cheslea #liverpool #premierleague

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While Lammens made an immediate impact, it has taken another summer signing, Benjamin Sesko, a little while longer to win over the United faithful.

Despite largely operating as a super-sub under interim boss Michael Carrick, Sesko has scored six goals in his last seven games, including the winner at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.

On the improving United centre forward, Sharpe added: ‘I can see Benjamin Sesko making the centre forward position at Manchester United his for years to come.

‘He’s got unbelievable ability and gets around the pitch well – he left James Tarkowski for dead for his goal!

Benjamin Sesko has scored six goals in his last seven games for Man Utd (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s got the aerial ability and the strength; he’s got all the attributes but still may just be a little raw.

‘I think he will be United’s number nine for years to come. I can see the way that the game sets up later on suits him, it’s more open and he gets more clear-cut chances.

‘I’m sure Michael Carrick and his staff are working with him in training on composure, holding the ball up and bringing his teammates into the game.

‘I think it’s a harsh tag to give him the super sub and I don’t think the manager and his staff see him as that long term; it’s just the role he’s playing at this moment in time.’

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^ ^ Footballer rescues seagull with CPR after being knocked out by goal kick

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A quick-thinking football player rushed to the rescue of an injured seagull after it was knocked out by a goal kick during an amateur league match in Turkey.

The seagull was circling the pitch during a play-off final match between Mevlanakapi Guzelhisar against Istanbul Yurdum Spor, a tense conclusion to the season with the championship still up for grabs.

But disaster struck after 22 minutes when it was struck by a goal kick from the Istanbul goalkeeper, falling from the sky with a thud.

Play was immediately stopped by the referee with Istanbul captain Gani Catan immediately rushing over to tend to the fallen bird.

The skipper started performing CPR on the injured animal, pumping its ribcage as the rest of the players on the pitch gathered around him to watch on.

Catan’s quick actions appeared to do the trick with the seagull seen moving again as he carried it off the pitch to hand over to medical staff.

‘Something was falling and I realised it was a seagull. The first thing that came to my mind was heart massage, because it couldn’t breathe, so I tried my luck,’ Catan told state news agency Anadolu.

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Gani Catan rushed to the bird’s aid.

Onur Ozsoy called the action in what was surely a first for football commentary. ‘Muhammet hit the seagull!” he gasped, referring to the Istanbul goalkeeper.

The seagull was struck mid-air during a goal kick.

Catan’s actions might have saved the gull’s life.

‘They’re doing chest compressions on the seagull right now, this is a moment rarely seen in football history. The seagull is being carried off, he’s been taken to the sidelines with the medical bag where his treatment will continue.’

Ozsoy later claimed on the broadcast he had been informed the stricken seagull was ‘walking again’ after suffering wing damage.

Istanbul went onto lose the match but the hero of the afternoon Catan was satisfied with his day’s work.

‘We missed out on the championship, but it’s a wonderful thing to have helped save a life. This was more important than the championship.’

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