Andrea Agnelli was "ashamed" of Juventus' performance in their shock defeat to Maccabi Haifa, but Massimiliano Allegri still has the club's backing.

Juve slipped to a 2-0 defeat in Israel on Tuesday, leaving their chances of progressing from Champions League Group H hanging by a thread.

Maccabi's win ended a run of nine consecutive Champions League defeats and was just their third triumph in the competition, with the other two coming in the 2002-03 season.

Juve, meanwhile, have lost four of their last six group games in the competition, as many defeats as they had suffered in their previous 34 matches. This was the first time they have lost three of their first four group games in a single campaign.

But Allegri retains the support of Agnelli, who insisted the coach cannot be blamed for Juve's issues.

"This is a difficult night in a difficult period. It is one of the most difficult periods and the moment to take responsibility, which is why I am here," said Agnelli to Sky Sport after the match.

"In a situation like this, it's not about one person. It's a matter to be dealt with by a whole group. We feel ashamed, we apologise to our fans, because we know they must feel ashamed to walk around at the moment.

"Allegri is the coach of Juventus, and he will remain as the coach of Juventus."

Asked if Allegri was keeping his role just because of the financial implications of sacking him, Agnelli replied: "No, you are completely off track.

"It cannot be the fault of the coach if we don't win a single tackle on the field.

"Juventus have always evaluated situations at the end of the year. I always struggled to consider a dismissal during a season, and I continue to believe that."

Having taken 13 points from their opening nine Serie A matches, Juve are 10 adrift of pacesetters Napoli, while the Bianconeri have won just two of their nine games in all competitions since the start of September.

Jurgen Klopp and Diogo Jota have been encouraged by Darwin Nunez's displays ahead Liverpool's Champions League meeting with Rangers.

Nunez struggled to hit the ground running at Liverpool following his arrival from Benfica and has only featured in five Premier League matches – for a total of 267 minutes – due in large part to a three-game suspension he received for lashing out at Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen in August.

The Uruguay forward was foiled on several occasions as Liverpool beat Rangers 2-0 last week. He has had nine shots in the Champions League without scoring this season – only Mohamed Salah (10) has had more attempts for the Reds. It is in stark contrast to last term, when he netted six times in the competition for Benfica.

However, after Nunez scored his second league goal of the season in Liverpool's 3-2 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, Klopp is hopeful the 23-year-old is hitting his stride.

"It's very important for him to be confident," Klopp said in a press conference ahead of Wednesday's match at Ibrox Stadium. "He had a lot of good moments against Rangers, in moments he was unplayable but still, big goalie saves. 

"He got the goal, he was really hard-working, so his performance was a positive, for sure."

Fellow Reds attacker Jota is also convinced Nunez will soon show his true quality, adding: "He started really well and people started to think his adaptation was never a problem, but maybe he required a few more games to get used to that level.

"With this run of games he's having, he's already scoring and people in the squad are already understanding his game. So, it's good for everyone and tomorrow there will be proof of that, I hope."

Although Liverpool are bidding for a third successive Champions League win on Wednesday, their return of just 10 points from eight Premier League games is their worst tally at this stage of a campaign since the 2012-13 season (nine), when they went on to finish seventh.

Klopp, however, remains up for the challenge, adding: "It's really tricky, yes, we can play better, and we did not go to Arsenal to show how good we are, we went there to win.

"This is a tough situation but it's a challenge. We always face challenges, and we'll go for it. 

"I feel sorry for people who thought after last season that we'd go again and fly again and compete for everything. 

"Now it's not the case. I can't promise we will fly tomorrow, but we will fight, definitely, until someone tells us the fight is over.

"It didn't become easier since Sunday because of the injuries but the team I saw today in training I liked a lot. Let's give it a go."

Kylian Mbappe became Paris Saint-Germain's top scorer in the Champions League with a penalty against Benfica on Tuesday.

Reports this week suggested Mbappe wants to leave the French capital despite signing a bumper three-year extension in May amid continued interest from Real Madrid.

PSG football advisor Luis Campos said Mbappe had not told him of this wish ahead of the Group H clash with Benfica at Parc des Princes, where the 23-year-old soon made club history.

The World Cup winner coolly converted from 12 yards in the 39th minute to open the scoring after referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot following Antonio Silva's careless foul on Juan Bernat.

That took Mbappe's PSG tally to 31 goals in 48 Champions League appearances, surpassing Edinson Cavani as the club's leading marksman in the European Cup.

The France international, who previously netted six Champions League goals for Monaco, has scored four in as many games in Europe this season.

Juventus' hopes of progressing to the Champions League last 16 suffered a massive blow as they were stunned 2-0 by Maccabi Haifa. 

The Bianconeri went into their third Group H encounter trailing pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica by four points.

And their deficit to at least one of that duo will grow after they were outplayed by the Israeli champions on Tuesday at Sammy Ofer Stadium.

Omer Atzili's first-half double was the difference, but the margin of victory could have been greater for Maccabi as they claimed a famous win that will increase the scrutiny on under-fire Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Frantzdy Pierrot had Wojciech Szczesny scrambling to make a diving save in the fourth minute, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to deny the hosts soon after when Atzili flicked home Pierre Cornud's left-wing cross.

Tjaronn Chery then struck the top of the crossbar with a free-kick before Atzili forced Szczesny into action once more at the end of a rapid counter-attack as Maccabi continued to pile pressure on Juve.

That pressure told again in stunning fashion just before half-time, Pierrot laying off for Atzili to shape a superb finish into the top-right corner after Juve had been dispossessed in their own half.

Juve eventually threatened a response, but Joshua Cohen was equal to Dusan Vlahovic's header to preserve Maccabi's two-goal advantage at the break.

Having replaced the injured Angel Di Maria with Arkadiusz Milik in the first half, Allegri threw on Filip Kostic and Manuel Locatelli at the start of the second half.

But neither had the desired impact as Maccabi hung on with relative comfort to leave Allegri's men facing the legitimate prospect of a group-stage exit.

Sergio Gomez was sent off and Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty as Manchester City were held to a goalless draw by Copenhagen in the Champions League.

City knew a win would seal their place in the round of 16 with two games to spare, but they endured a frustrating Tuesday evening at Parken.

Rodri had a goal disallowed for a handball by Riyad Mahrez, who then had a spot-kick saved by Kamil Grabara before Gomez was dismissed for a professional foul in an eventful first half.

Erling Haaland was an unused substitute as City's six-game winning run came to a halt and they lost their 100 per cent Group G record, but they remain on the brink of qualifying for the next stage.

Rodri rifled a thunderous long-range strike into the top-left corner in the 11th minute, but referee Artur Dias ruled the goal out for a Mahrez handball after a being instructed to look at the pitch-side monitor.

Mahrez wasted a chance to make amends from the spot after Nicolai Boilesen was adjudged to have handled following another VAR check, but Grabara dived to his left to deny the winger midway through the first half.

There was another big blow for City on the half-hour mark, when Dias was once again summoned to the touchline and the busy Portuguese official deemed that Gomez had pulled Hakon Haraldsson down to deny him a goalscoring opportunity.

Pep Guardiola's side were dominating possession despite being a man down and Grabara punched away a Kevin De Bruyne strike early in the second half.

Isak Johannesson came agonisingly close to Victor Kristiansen's teasing cross from the left at the other end as Copenhagen scented a famous victory.

Grabara produced more heroics by diving to his right and palming away Joao Cancelo's drive as neither side could fashion a winner.

Julian Nagelsmann insisted his Bayern Munich side are "good enough" as questions continued over the attacking capabilities of his Bundesliga champions.

Robert Lewandowski scored 50 goals in 46 matches for Bayern last season in all competitions, making him the top scorer in Europe's top five leagues, but departed for Barcelona in July.

Nagelsmann's side brought in Sadio Mane from Liverpool prior to the Poland international's exit, though the Senegal forward has failed to fill the void with questions persisting over Bayern's attacking options.

Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo have both repeatedly been suggested as potential solutions for Bayern, whose lack of clinical finishing to kill games off has led to criticism.

When asked about the profligate nature of his forwards, Nagelsmann responded: "We have a lot of chances. Statistically we have even more chances than last year.

"It's a good thing that we have more flexibility up front. You have to see the big picture. When you're scoring fewer goals, it's always easy to say 'We're missing a striker'.

"My job is to manage it so that we can compensate. I've commented on this topic many times now. There's always the question of what's available on the transfer market. The squad is good enough."

Nagelsmann was speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Viktoria Plzen, with Bayern aiming for their fourth win in as many games to further their commanding position in Group C.

The Bundesliga side are unbeaten in their last 31 group stage matches in the competition (W28 D3), a record run, but Nagelsmann is targeting another victory to ensure his team progress to the knockout stages.

"The predictability of the line-up isn't a big problem for me. With twelve points we'd be in a good position to go through to the next round," he added. 

"That would give us the rest we need, including for Sunday's game against Freiburg. It's an extremely important game for us. It's up to us to maintain this haven of peace in the Champions League.

"Every one of my players wants to play tomorrow and on Sunday. You always play a game to win it, no matter who you are against."

While Nagelsmann aims for early qualification to offer some of his players a rest, the Bayern coach confirmed he will be without goalkeeper Manuel Neuer against Plzen, with Sven Ulreich likely to deputise.

"Sven has a lot of experience. He's used to performing well when he's needed," he continued. "Manu wouldn't have played in a knockout game tomorrow either.

"The pain in the shoulder area is too great. We'll have to see how it goes. Luckily we still have a few days left to see what it looks like before Sunday."

Xabi Alonso is relishing his "very special" first taste of managing in the Champions League as Bayer Leverkusen aim to ignite their European campaign with victory over Porto.

The 40-year-old replaced Gerardo Seoane as Leverkusen head coach last week and made a winning start to his tenure against Schalke in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

Focus now turns to Wednesday's visit of Porto in UEFA's flagship competition, which Alonso won as a player with Liverpool in 2005 and Real Madrid nine years later.

Leverkusen are third in Group B at the midway stage after last week's 2-0 loss to Porto, who they are level on points with, while Club Brugge lead the way with a perfect record.

Asked about managing in the competition for the first time, Alonso said at Tuesday's pre-match news conference: "It is something very special, for sure. 

"It is one thing to play, but it is something different to coach. Hopefully this will be the first of many games in the Champions League. 

"But it is always special: the lights, the atmosphere, the noise of the stadium. I think it is the most beautiful competition. 

"Every game is big, and you always have to show your highest level when you play these games."

Saturday's 4-0 win over Schalke at BayArena was the highest victory for a coach in their first match in charge of Leverkusen.

That was only the German club's third victory in 13 outings this season and moved them out of the Bundesliga relegation zone.

Leverkusen are now looking to win successive home games in a single Champions League campaign for the first time since October 2014 when Porto visit.

The visitors will be without experienced centre-back and captain Pepe, who Alonso previously played with at Madrid, in what the Leverkusen boss says will be a loss.

"We were team-mates in Madrid and had a great time. He's a great guy, one that you want to have on your side," Alonso said. 

"I wish him a great recovery. Well, from tomorrow! He's a very important player for them, the captain, but he's a leader as well.

"His absence is what it is. You never know if it's good or bad, but we know what Pepe means for Porto. 

"Because of the qualities he has, because of the big personality he has. He's been able to show that hunger and that motivation the way he plays on."

Patrik Schick had a penalty saved in last week's reverse fixture and is without a goal from 12 shots in this season's competition – at least twice as many shots as any team-mate.

However, Alonso has backed the Czech Republic international – Euro 2020's joint-top scorer – to find his scoring touch once again.

"His goals will come, for sure," said Alonso, who previously spent three years managing Real Sociedad B and a period with Madrid's youth sides. 

"He has the quality, the personality and the desire to work on these things. He will help the team and the team will help him."

Xavi warned Barcelona they have "no margin for error" in Wednesday's Champions League meeting with Inter, declaring only a win will do for the Blaugrana at Camp Nou.

Hakan Calhanoglu's long-range strike condemned Barca to their second defeat in three Champions League outings last week, leaving them three points adrift of the Nerazzurri in Group C.

That defeat was just the second Barca have suffered in 11 Champions League meetings with Inter (W6 D3), but another reverse would see them eliminated if Bayern Munich avoid defeat to Viktoria Plzen.

The importance of the occasion was not lost on Xavi at his pre-match news conference, where the former midfielder outlined his team's desire for retribution.

"We expect an Inter very similar to the one in Milan. They will form the lower block, the middle block, we have alternatives, we have prepared them," Xavi said.

"It is a final, and we have no margin for error. With the help of the fans, we hope there will be a magical night.

"We must not lower our guard; there is talent, there is a desire for revenge, so we have to give everything so that the victory stays here.

"I would like to be a player tomorrow, I would rather be a player than a coach tomorrow. For me, it is a very good opportunity. We are motivated and hopeful."

Xavi described the decision to deny Pedri a second-half equaliser last week as an "injustice" after Ansu Fati was penalised for handball, but the Blaugrana coach says his team must make the officials' performances immaterial by improving.

"We had a logical outrage after the game, but that's it. Tomorrow it's time to play better," Xavi added. "If we improve the game, maybe we won't talk about the referees."

Inter's tally of 0.18 expected goals (xG) in last week's victory was the lowest of any team to have won a Champions League game this season, and Xavi knows Barcelona must remain patient in the return fixture.

"It's a game to be calm, to know how to position yourself, you don't have to score in minute one. We have to try not to feel the pressure, I always tell them that the pressure is on me," he added.

"You have to be patient, but if we attack like in the second half in Milan, I'm optimistic. We have to be more aggressive. Only three points are worth it for us, we have to be brave."

Meanwhile, Barcelona have been beset by defensive injuries recently, and while Jules Kounde is unlikely to feature on Wednesday, Xavi hopes he will return to face Real Madrid on Sunday.

"We don't count on him except for a surprise, for Sunday we will see. He can make it, but it will depend on his feelings," Xavi added. "I see him well, training hard, positive, my feeling is that he can make it to Sunday."

Real Madrid great Raul ranks Clasico rivals Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski alongside Erling Haaland as the best strikers in world football.

And with the campaign's first meeting between Madrid and Barcelona coming on Sunday, Raul hopes Benzema will outdo Lewandowski at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Madrid and Barca are level on 22 points in LaLiga after eight matches, with an enthralling title race seemingly in store after Los Blancos triumphed by 13 points last term. 

The arrival of Lewandowski has been key to Barca's re-emergence, with the Poland international scoring nine times in his first eight outings in LaLiga.  

Lewandowski's ominous start to life in Spain suggests he is likely to surpass Benzema's league-high tally of 27 league goals from last season.

Raul is full of admiration for both players, ranking them alongside Haaland – the leading scorer in Europe's top five leagues with 20 goals already to his name for Manchester City – but naturally Madrid talisman Benzema will get the 45-year-old's backing.

"They are possibly the best strikers, with Haaland. They are the ones who have the most scoring ability and contribute the most to their teams," said Raul, who is now head coach of Real Madrid Castilla.

"Lewandowski is a great signing for LaLiga, he is showing his quality. But I hope that the battle of scorers on Sunday will be won by Benzema.

 

"I see it as a very exciting game, as always. They both arrive with the same points. It's too early [to judge], because it's in October. Whoever wins will be able to come out stronger mentally. 

"It will be a very demanding game and Madrid, playing at home and being with their people, have a bit of favouritism."

Benzema overtook Raul to go second in Madrid's all-time scoring charts in August, though his tally of 327 goals remains some way short of Cristiano Ronaldo's record haul (450). 

Meanwhile, Raul's 15 goals in meetings between Madrid and Barcelona has only been bettered by three players – Lionel Messi (26), Alfredo Di Stefano and Ronaldo (both 18).

With Raul cutting his coaching teeth in Madrid's youth system, his ambition is to take charge of the senior side in a future Clasico.

He added: "I would like to, but now I am very happy where I am, working with my boys. 

"I am happy and I am going to enjoy it as a fan, wanting us to achieve those three points that will not define anything, but will give more confidence and morale to the winner."

Both teams have Champions League fixtures to focus on before Sunday's meeting, with Madrid facing Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday before Xavi's men host Inter the following day.

India strolled to a crushing seven-wicket victory over South Africa at Arun Jaitley Stadium to seal a 2-1 ODI series win after the Proteas were bowled out for just 99 on Tuesday.

It was only the fourth time in ODI history South Africa have been skittled for fewer than 100 runs, and the first time it has happened to them against India.

The hosts' spinners took centre-stage in Delhi, with Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav tearing through South Africa in brutal fashion.

India then made light work of their chase, reaching 105-3 to wrap up a commendable series win.

South Africa never managed to find much momentum. Quinton de Kock (six) was quickly dismissed by Sundar (2-15), and although Janneman Malan (15) held out a little longer, Mohammed Siraj (2-17) soon toppled him.

Heinrich Klaasen (34) offered some resistance, but South Africa were already heading for a hiding when he was removed by Ahmed (2-32), as Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller and Andile Phehlukwayo all failed to reach double digits.

The latter fell to Yadav, who took four of South Africa's last five wickets to post figures of 4-18, with India heading into bat with great confidence.

A miraculous turnaround never looked likely, with Shubman Gill (49) looking sharp before unfortunately getting halted leg before his half-century by Lungi Ngidi.

Nevertheless, Shreyas Iyer (28) got India over the line with 185 balls remaining, finishing with a flourish as he hit Marco Jansen (0-43) for six.

Just keep spinning

The pitch was considered an inviting one for seamers, but it proved to be India's spinners who did the damage.

Siraj, Sundar and Yadav took eight between them, though the latter was undoubtedly the standout as he ripped through South Africa with little fuss, taking four wickets in total.

Unsurprisingly, he was named Player of the Match.

Gill unfortunate

It would have been a deserved 50 for Gill if he had just hung on a little longer. Ultimately dismissed for 49, his total included eight fours as he generally fended off the South Africa attack impressively.

It would have been easy for India to go into bat with a bit of complacency given South Africa's dire total, but there was no sign of that from Gill.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane "must be sick" of seeing Erling Haaland regularly break goal records at Manchester City, according to Rio Ferdinand.

Haaland, who joined from Borussia Dortmund in June, made it 20 goals in just 13 appearances for City with his strike against Southampton on Saturday.

The Norway international has scored 15 of those goals in the Premier League, which is seven more than next-best Kane, who has himself made a fast start to the season.

However, it would have been Kane leading the line for City had Pep Guardiola's side been able to reach an agreement with Tottenham for his services last year.

City instead held out for 12 months to sign Haaland from Dortmund, and Ferdinand says the 22-year-old's form must be galling for Kane.

"If I were City before Haaland came, I would have taken Kane," Ferdinand said on the FIVE podcast on his YouTube channel. 

"Kane's a goalscorer, he's a killer, as cold as you get. In any era he scores goals. I think he would have been brilliant at Man City. 

"If I'm him, I'm absolutely puking up in my own mouth and trying not to swallow it when I'm watching Haaland now. I'm thinking that could have been me."

Haaland's 15 goals is four more than any other player after nine matches in Premier League's history, followed by Mick Quinn (11 with Coventry City in the 1992-93 season).

He is scoring at a rate of one goal every 50 minutes – again a competition record among those to have scored at least 10 times. 

City great Sergio Aguero is next on the list with a goal every 108 minutes, while Kane's 191 goals in 291 appearances (127 mins per goal) places him a respectable fifth.

Guardiola suggested in February that City made four separate attempts to sign Kane, but they were unable to meet Tottenham's reported £150million asking price.

"That was a moment for Harry Kane to go and say 'what I've done at Tottenham can never be discredited, it's my home, it's my place of love'," Ferdinand said. 

"No one would have been disgruntled if he went to City. It was there for the taking. I don't know how it happened from all parties. He must be sick.

"If I'm Kane I'm sitting there going wild. I know he could end up with a trophy this year. 

"But sitting watching he'll be like 'look at what City are doing right now and Haaland is just eating people. I could have been the guy on the end of all those chances'."

For a player boasting 28 trophies in European football, including league titles in France and Italy, as well as Champions League success with Chelsea, it's somewhat surprising Thiago Silva's big breakthrough on the continent did not arrive until he was 25.

After failing to make the grade at Porto, and contemplating walking away from the game entirely during a spell on loan with Dynamo Moscow, a successful return to Brazil with Fluminense ultimately led to a move to Milan and the rest, as they say, is history.

San Siro proved more than just a springboard into a trophy-laden spell in European football for Silva, and it is the ground where he is expected to make his 100th Champions League appearance on Tuesday with Chelsea, the eighth – and possibly final – club of his career.

Should that be the case, he will become only the fifth Brazilian in history to reach that milestone in the competition after Roberto Carlos (120), Dani Alves (111), Fernandinho (103) and Marcelo (102).

Despite now being 38, you would not bet against the veteran centre-back going on to break Roberto Carlos' record – although for that to happen, he would have to spend at least one more campaign at Stamford Bridge or another Champions League-level club.

On the basis of his first two-and-a-bit campaigns at Chelsea, and the fact the club have already extended his stay twice, there is every chance Silva could yet see out his career in London.

Ahead of what may be a landmark occasion for the Brazilian against his former club, Stats Perform looks back at his career to date – particularly in UEFA's primary club competition – and highlights just why he is still such an important figure both on and off the pitch.

SILVA DRIVEN BY SELECAO SELECTION

Silva made it clear when joining Chelsea in August 2020, on the back of his Paris Saint-Germain contract expiring, that still being in contention for Brazil for the 2022 World Cup was his long-term motivation to remain at the very top.

"As I've said before, the prospect of playing at the next World Cup is another thing that really drives me," he said at the time. "I'll be 38 years old by the time of the next World Cup and I'm hugely motivated to be in good shape for it.

"The work that I'm putting in to make this a reality already started a while back and now Chelsea have given me a great opportunity to continue playing at the highest level of the game."

Far from being a bit-part player, the 5,219 minutes Silva has played in the Premier League since his arrival is the second most of any outfielder for the club, behind only Mason Mount (6,345).

The departure of Thomas Tuchel, whom he worked with at PSG, and arrival of Graham Potter has not lessened his workload, either, as he has started nine of Chelsea's 11 matches in all competitions this term.

One of the games he missed was Saturday's 3-0 win over Wolves because of illness, but he has since returned to training and is part of Chelsea's travelling squad for the trip to Milan.

Indeed, Silva played in last week's reverse fixture with the Rossoneri – also a 3-0 win – despite being under the weather. Not that it showed, with the centre-back not only helping his side to a clean sheet but also leading the way for shots (three) and shots on target (two) as he made himself a nuisance in the Milan box. 

Incredibly, only winger Raheem Sterling (seven) had more touches in the opposition box than Silva's three. Thirty-eight he may be, but Silva is still having an impact for Chelsea at both ends of the field – and almost certainly will with Brazil in Qatar.

THIAGO'S TIME TO ADAPT

Defending is the priority for Silva, of course, and he has adapted his game in that regard during his time at Chelsea. While the sample size for this season's Champions League (two matches) is far too small to come to any sort of conclusions, last season's statistics provide plenty of insight.

Silva cleared the ball 1.7 times per 90 minutes across his nine Champions League outings in the 2021-22 campaign, which was by far the lowest amount of any of his 13 seasons in the competition up to that point. The next lowest came in 2014-15, at PSG, when clearing the ball 3.1 times on average.

By extension, his number of headed clearances was also at a low last season, down from 2.4 per game in his final campaign in the French capital to 1.0 last term. His 0.8 tackles per 90 minutes, meanwhile, was also the lowest he has registered in the Champions League.

This does not mean Silva was necessarily defending less, just that he was operating – under the instructions of Tuchel at the time – in a different way. He was also playing a bigger part in the build-up play, with his 67.9 successful passes per 90 minutes a tally he has only personally bettered once in his career (75.8 in the 2018-19 season).

Incidentally, it was in Silva's first season at the Parc des Princes that he registered his lowest passes completed (37.9 per game) figures. Over the past decade, his game has had to change considerably. And yet here he is, still thriving at 38.

"A HUMILITY TO JUST DO THE JOB"

Whether at Milan, PSG or Chelsea, clubs that are accustomed to regular squad overhauls, Silva has very much been a mainstay of the backline, as highlighted by those 99 previous appearances in the competition, 60 of which came during his eight seasons at the Parc des Princes.

Silva never lifted the famous trophy with PSG, however, the closest he came to doing so being the 2019-20 season when losing to Bayern Munich in the final. Nine months later, he was holding it aloft as part of Chelsea's victorious side in Porto, another city where he previously plied his trade.

Should he do so again this campaign, he will become the second-oldest player to win the competition after Paolo Maldini with Milan in 2007, a true sign of his longevity at the top of the game.

On the day he is welcomed into the Champions League's Centurion Club, Silva has another opportunity to show against one of his former sides that age is very much just a number, as he has done throughout his time with Chelsea.

"He was outstanding," Potter said on the back on last week's win against Milan. "He's 38 years old, 38 years young, and when he's playing like that, he's an impressive person. He's a character, a proper guy who's got a fantastic experience but has a humility to just do the job.

"He's competing in the Champions League and the Premier League – you don't get that by thinking about [the World Cup]. You get it by being in the moment. It's how he prepares, recovers, rests and focuses."

Add hunger to that list, too. A hunger to fight back from a life-threatening illness early on in a career that was going nowhere fast; a hunger to remain on top of his game and adjust his style in his 21st season as a footballer; a hunger to captain his national side at the biggest tournament of them all at the age of 38.

While his career may still have a bit of time to run yet, occasions like Tuesday in Milan offer a reminder that we should continue to enjoy Thiago Silva while we can.

Through five weeks of the 2022 season, the San Francisco 49ers have the best defense in the NFL.

The Niners have given up just 4.01 yards per play so far this year, the fewest in the league, while only they and the Dallas Cowboys have conceded fewer than 20 points in every game.

San Francisco's points totals allowed in 2022 – 19, 7, 11, 9, 15 – tell a tale of dominance, with Christian McCaffrey's rushing touchdown against the 49ers only the second the defense has conceded since giving up three in a rainstorm in their season opener to the Chicago Bears.

The 49ers' average of 12.2 points allowed is tied with that of the Buffalo Bills for the league's best. They have given up just 12 points in the first half, while no other team has conceded fewer than 35.

No defense has allowed fewer explosive plays of 10 yards or more than the 49ers (45), and San Francisco have forced a league-leading 44 negative plays from opposing offenses.

The Niners have given up four yards or more on only 42.9 per cent of first downs, the best ratio in the NFL, and they have allowed a conversion on just 30 per cent of the third-down attempts they have faced. The Tennessee Titans (27.1) and New Orleans Saints (29.9) are the only two defenses who can claim to have fared better in that regard.

Simply put, the 49ers' defense is dominating in every facet. The Niners do not give up explosive plays with regularity, excel at putting opponents behind the eight-ball by creating negative plays and limiting yardage on first down, and have little difficulty getting off the field on third down.

DeMeco Ryans' defense was already among the NFL's elite last year, but what has catapulted it to championship-calibre unit that has the potential to be the foundation of a deep San Francisco playoff run?

The perennial star of the show for the 49er defense is the front, which is teeming with depth at edge rusher and boasts several players who can thrive rushing from that position and from the interior.

No team has registered more quarterback sacks than San Francisco (21) and the 49ers' 91 pressures trail only the Cowboys (95) and Philadelphia Eagles (92).

The athleticism of linebacker Fred Warner, who displays extraordinary precision in zone coverage and can run with wide receivers downfield, is also critical to San Francisco's defensive success. 

Talanoa Hufanga's breakout second season has deservedly attracted substantial attention, the former fifth-round pick quickly becoming a walking highlight reel at the safety position, recording five tackles for loss, five pass breakups, one sack and two interceptions, including a game-clinching pick-six against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4.

Hufanga has demanded attention with his enthralling hard-hitting and all-action brand of football, but just as crucial to the Niners and deserving of similar acclaim has been the play of cornerback Charvarius 'Mooney' Ward.

The 49ers' big-ticket free-agent acquisition in the offseason, San Francisco gave Ward a three-year, $40.5million contract with a view to him becoming the missing piece for a frequently maligned cornerback group.

Ward has unquestionably delivered to this point with his performances, combined with the emergence of Hufanga, helping transform the 49ers' secondary from an area of concern to a clear strength.

Arguably no 49er defender has done more to prevent big plays than Ward, who has been burnt – which is when a receiver wins his matchup on a play where he is targeted – on 10 of his 29 targets for a burn rate of 34.5 per cent. That is the fifth-best among corners targeted at least 20 times.

His big play rate, which tracks burns for 20 yards-plus or burns for touchdowns, of 18 per cent is 13th for his position. When wideouts have got in a position to catch the ball when going against his coverage, they have frequently seen it knocked away from them. Trevon Diggs (nine) is the sole defender to have produced more pass breakups than Ward's eight.

Through his strength in coverage and his proficiency for making plays on the ball, Ward has given the 49ers a lockdown corner they can rely on who offers a defense defined by its diversity even more flexibility.

Indeed, Ward's ability to consistently shut down wide receivers in man coverage is an asset to the Niners when they want to be more aggressive on defense, with San Francisco thriving through such an approach in the 24-9 beatdown of the Rams, in which they blitzed Matthew Stafford and an injury-hit Los Angeles offensive line on 30.4 per cent of dropbacks and were rewarded with seven sacks and 21 pressures.

Ward has also elevated the play of those around him in the cornerback room. Fellow starter Emmanuel Moseley has the third-best burn rate (31.8 per cent) among cornerbacks and nickel Deommodore Lenoir has given up a big play on 15 per cent of his targets, a rate bettered by just four corners.

The 49ers will now have to do some reshuffling in the secondary, however, after Moseley saw his season ended by a torn ACL suffered in Sunday's 37-15 rout of the Carolina Panthers.

Moseley's injury will mean either Lenoir shifting to the outside or one of Jason Verrett, Ambry Thomas or rookie Samuel Womack taking over at the spot across from Ward.

Without Moseley, the opposite side of the field to Ward may be viewed as a potential vulnerability in a defense that has presented none this campaign.

But San Francisco's defensive backfield is better equipped to deal with a serious injury than it was a year ago. The 49ers' misfortune may have robbed them of the top-tier starting cornerback duo Ward and Moseley looked like becoming, but their astute investment in the former has ensured the Niners' secondary is now one opposing offenses have significantly less hope of succeeding against.

Dominic Thiem produced a dominant display to cruise past Joao Sousa in the duo's first-round clash at the Gijon Open, only dropping two games for just the second time in his career.

The 2020 US Open winner did not face a single break point in his one-sided 6-2 6-0 victory on Monday, reaching the last 16 after 62 minutes.

It is just the second time in the Austrian's career he has lost as few as two games in a completed ATP-level match, having previously done so against Jaroslav Pospisil in 2013 (in a 6-1 6-1 win).

"Especially with the forehand, it was really good for basically the first time [since my injury]," Thiem said afterwards. "I'm very happy about it. This way is right, the direction is right."

Meanwhile, Argentina's Sebastian Baez was forced to retire when a set down to France's Constant Lestienne, and fifth seed Tommy Paul eased past 16-year-old home hope Martin Landaluce in straight sets.

Only one seed was in action at the Firenze Open on Monday, with Aslan Karatsev advancing courtesy of a walkover following an injury to Tallon Griekspoor. 

Stefano Pioli is adamant Milan possess the quality to compete with Chelsea in Tuesday's crucial Champions League clash at San Siro.

While the Rossoneri are going well on the domestic front, sitting three points behind Serie A leaders Napoli after Saturday's 2-0 win over Juventus, they have struggled on the European stage this term.

Milan suffered their heaviest Champions League group-stage defeat when they lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday, leaving them third in Group E after three games.

The Italian giants have also lost four of their last five games at home to English teams in the Champions League (W1), and are winless in their last five European meetings with Chelsea (D3 L2).

However, Pioli is confident they can test the Blues this time around, saying: "It is the identity and the quality with which you play the game that can make the difference. 

"Tomorrow we face a team that just over a year ago won the Champions League, which has strengthened itself, which has international level players, so it is clear that our level will have to be high if we want to compete and try to win the game. 

"I believe that my players have the qualities to stay at that level, as long as we can play a game of attention, determination, trying to be as precise as possible because, in addition to their qualities, Chelsea have been able to make the most of our mistakes. 

"The fact that we played against them only a week ago helps us, in the sense that we were able to analyse the game well. I expect an improvement in dynamism, in personality."

Graham Potter is yet to lose a game as Chelsea head coach since replacing Thomas Tuchel last month, recording three wins and one draw with the Blues, but Pioli hopes Milan's home advantage could prove decisive.

"It seems to me that at this moment they, with the new coach, have found certain positions on the pitch that are giving them very good results," Pioli added.

"I don't think there is a warmer stadium than ours right now. We have fans who really push and support us and we feel it. Of course, I hope to be able to bring this to the pitch."