Italian media have slammed Juventus this morning, Wednesday for 'crumbling' following their shock early exit of the Juventus team from the European Champions League, after the loss it suffered at the hands of its rival, Benfica, Portugal, 4-3, in the fifth round of Group H. Disaster in Lisbon! Juventus crash out at the Champions League group stage despite a late rally against Benfica. Juventus' balance stopped at 3 points in third place in Group H, to fail to qualify for the playoffs in the Champions League for the first time from the 2013-2014 season. Major headlines of the Italian press were as follows:

  Juventus' Champions League run came to a premature end on Tuesday as the Italian club was eliminated from contention for the knockout stage; while Benfica reached the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday after winning an exciting contest with Juventus 4-3 and sending the Italians out of the competition. Juventus' balance stopped at 3 points in third place in Group H, while the French PSG and Benfica of Portugal qualified for the round of 16. Benfica is level on 11 points with leaders Paris Saint-Germain and have a chance to top the group next week, although they would need Juve to get a result against the French champions in Turin after being dumped out at the group stage for the first time in nine years. "Opta" statistics network revealed that Juventus failed to qualify for the playoffs of the Champions League for the first time since the 2013-2014 season and that the team achieved the lowest number of points during its history in the group stage with 3 points. In the sixth and final round of the group stage, Juventus will try to face up to its guest, Paris Saint-Germain to ensure its qualification to the European League.

Argentine Star and PSG midfielder, Lionel Messi, has become the only striker to secure 23 goals in the Champions League. Who won the PSG v/s Maccabi Haifa match? PSG won with a lead of 7-2. Messi put in a remarkable performance for Paris Saint-Germain, scoring twice and assisting twice in their thrashing of Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League on Tuesday. Messi was brilliant in the broad victory when PSG crunched Maccabi Haifa 7 times, as Messi contributed to scoring 4 goals, making two goals, and assisting in two other scores. The network Opta for statistics indicated that Messi became the oldest player in the history of the Champions League to score two goals and assist two goals in one match (35 years and 123 days). Paris Saint-Germain is at the top of Group H with 11 points to ensure its official qualification, with a goal difference from its runner-up Benfica, with 11 points, each, and behind them, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa are equal with 3 points.

French World Cup-winning hero and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane have hinted that he will be returning to football management 'soon' as he prepares to return for another stint in the dugout following his latest sabbatical. All this news came amid persistent rumors that he will replace Didier Deschamps in the training of the French national football team. The 50-year-old targets another stint in the dugout after the tremendous success with Real Madrid, but warns fans must 'wait a little bit amid PSG and France links. Zidane told RMC Sport: “Do I miss the coaching suit? No, I'm not far away. We're waiting; we're waiting a little bit. Soon, soon," he told RMC Sport. Zidane also spoke about the World Cup in Qatar, where France defend the crown they won in Russia four years ago, and is keen for criticism on the tournament to stop in order to focus on the action on offer. "I think we have to leave the controversy aside and leave room for the game and the place for the World Cup," he added. "Anyway, what we are going to say about anything, it will never be right, never true and it will never be appropriate. So we have to leave room for football and competition so that all the fans have a good time." 1998 World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane has insisted that the world should forget the controversies and focus on football ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Zidane's comments come after calls for a boycott of the tournament were raised over Qatar's human rights record and treatment of migrant workers.

Barcelona coach Xavi is refusing to give up hope of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League, even if he accepts his side faces an almighty challenge to advance to the last 16. FC Bayern hosts FC Barcelona in their first home match of the 2022/23 Champions League on Wednesday night. Barca faces being eliminated from the competition in the group stage in successive seasons heading into Wednesday's home tie with Bayern Munich. Xavi's side will be unable to progress should they lose or if Inter beat bottom side Viktoria Plzen, while they will also be eliminated should both games be drawn. The Catalan giants will be aware of their fate ahead of kick-off at Camp Nou as Inter host Plzen earlier in the day, but Xavi insists that the result will not impact his team selection. "We will all watch the game together in the locker room," Xavi said at Tuesday's pre-match news conference. "Regardless of what happens, we want to show we can compete.

FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has announced the list of his squad that will face Bayern Munich, scheduled for Wednesday in the 5th round of the Champions League group stage. Barcelona squad witnessed the absence of the quadruple Serge Roberto, Andreas Christensen, Memphis Depay, and Ronald Araujo, due to injury. Barcelona will be without Sergi Roberto when they face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Barca squad confirms the absence of Andreas Christensen, Memphis Depay and Ronald Araujo, due to injury. Barca occupies third place in the standings of Group C in the European Champions League, with 4 points from 4 rounds, winning in one match, drawing in the same, and losing two matches. Barca occupies third place in the standings of Group C in the European Champions League, with 4 points from 4 rounds, winning in one match, drawing in the same, and losing two matches.

The Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United training on Tuesday after ongoing talks with Erik ten Hag. The Portuguese legend was exiled from the Red Devils squad for their 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Saturday night. Ronaldo has returned to training after the end of his crisis with Dutch manager Ten Hag, due to his refusal to participate as a substitute during the match against Tottenham in the English Premier League.

Zinedine Zidane, one of the world's greatest-ever soccer players, got a new wax statue unveiled in his honor on Monday at the Musee Grevin in the French capital Paris. Zidane, now aged 50, led France to their first World Cup in 1998, scoring two goals in the final against Brazil, and then won the 2000 European Championship with France. He also inspired the French national team to reach the 2006 World Cup Final, but still remembered when Italy defender Marco Materazzi butted him to be sent off by the referee and France lost to Italy on penalties. Zidane won the Champions League in 2002 with Real Madrid, then returned to the Spanish club as a Manager, and led The Royal to win three titles in the Champions League.

According to the UK Telegraph newspaper, Manchester City is set to make an appeal to sign Jude Bellingham the young midfielder Jude Bellingham, star of the German Borussia FC during the upcoming summer transfer market. The newspaper added that Manchester City wants to compete with Liverpool to sign a Borussia Dortmund star next summer, as the Reds are the leaders in the race to sign Bellingham, in addition to Real Madrid. The English newspaper indicated that the City wants to open lines of communication with the English player, as they are interested in making a move for the 19-year-old midfielder in order to poll fans' opinions about contracting him the next summer Mercato, especially since the competition for his inclusion will flare up towards the end of the current season. Bellingham is one of the rapidly rising young players on European pitches. The latest press reports revealed that his German Borussia Dortmund will not give up his services for less than 150 million euros next summer. Dortmund had refused to give up the services of its young player last summer, especially after the departure of the Norwegian star Erling Haaland from Manchester City.