God save the Champions League! The world’s media reacts in disbelief at yet another sensational comeback by an English team, with Tottenham’s Ajax miracle coming just 24 hours after Liverpool’s destruction of Barca
- A Lucas Moura hat-trick hauled Tottenham past Ajax in the Champions League
- Tottenham were losing 3-0 at half-time before Lucas struck in the second period
- Tottenham were being toasted by Europe’s media on Thursday morning
Spain’s presence in this year’s Champions League final extends only as far as hosting the party, but there is already a heightening sense of anticipation around the match.
That’s judging by the front pages in Spain on Thursday morning after Tottenham produced a comeback every bit as remarkable as Liverpool’s to reach the showpiece event on June 1 at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
‘God save the Champions League’, beams Marca with a picture of Lucas Moura wheeling away in celebration of his hat-trick goal as Ajax’s stricken players fall to the turf in dismay.
The Spanish papers hailed the Champions League after another dramatic semi-final result
But there was carnage in the newsroom of De Telegraaf when Ajax were beaten so late
AS follows a similar them, writing ‘how great is the Champions League?’ on its front page.
Mundo Deportivo is a Barcelona based newspaper so its coverage remains focused on Barcelona’s reaction to being humbled by Liverpool, but even they hail Tottenham’s ‘epic comeback’ against Ajax.
Spare a thought for those working on Dutch paper De Telegraaf in Holland, though.
Journalist Marcel van der Kraan explained the scene in their newsroom as Moura’s hat-trick goal rolled into the net.
Speaking on BBC’s Football Daily podcast, he said: ‘It is was absolutely shocking.
‘De Telegraaf is an Amsterdam-based paper, we had pages and pages ready, especially at 2-0.
Mundo Deportivo gave Tottenham credit for an ‘epic comeback’ in the semi-final
German publication Kicker focuses on Liverpool and their bid for two trophies this season
La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy and A Bola in Portugal lead with praise for Tottenham
‘All our layout, design, screaming headline of “Madrid here we come, what an absolutely brilliant night”. We even went with English headlines on our Dutch pages to emphasise it all.
‘And then 95 minutes. You have to realise that in Holland we are an hour ahead so our papers should have gone to print. You think everything is ready. It is like a nail in a newspaper coffin.’
Elsehwere, L’Equipe lead with Lucas on their front page and the Brazil star is a familiar face in France having left Paris Saint-Germain to join Tottenham.
Meanwhile in Germany, Kicker focuses on Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, and how they now have a chance to win a double through the Premier League and Champions League.
Their headline reads ‘Livercool – next wonder on Sunday?’
Moura’s stoppage time strike hauled Tottenham into the Champions League final on June 1