Champions League tifos: Man United welcomed to ‘Hell’ and more
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With the group phases of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League coming to a conclusion this week, it is a good probability to acknowledge the entire followers who assist make these large European nights so particular.
Home supporters at many golf equipment throughout the continent have made it a grand prematch custom to stoke up the ambiance contained in the stadium with a wide range of big visible shows involving massive banners, choreographed actions or pyrotechnics — generally known as “tifos” — earlier than kickoff. Somehow, poor Manchester United have been the goal of a number of the finest we now have seen up to now.
A number of golf equipment have even made it their enterprise to placed on an extravaganza earlier than every sport, with FC Copenhagen of Denmark lighting up the Champions League group stage with a sequence of spectacular shows.
Fans of Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan have even staged their very own battle of the banners, with one membership straight responding to the opposite by way of the medium of tifos — which should absolutely be a primary in UEFA competitors.
Here’s a take a look at a number of the absolute best shows to have taken place through the teams phases of European competitions this season.
Let’s simply hope that the ultras — teams of a number of the most passionate and engaged supporters — of Europe’s elite golf equipment use the winter hiatus to give you some more spectacular concepts for when the knockout phases start within the spring.
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Copenhagen are Europe’s tifo kings
FC Copenhagen have emerged because the unlikely leaders of the tifo scene throughout their Champions League marketing campaign, with followers of the Danish facet laying on a choice of impressively choreographed performances earlier than their residence fixtures.
Copenhagen vs. Rakow Czestochowa: Champions League playoff (Aug. 30)
Copenhagen kicked issues off with a easy however undeniably efficient show towards Polish opponents Rakow Czestochowa. Before the match, followers held their shirts aloft in unison to create an enormous monolithic white wall at Parken stadium.
Copenhagen vs. Bayern Munich: Champions League (Oct. 3)
Copenhagen got here thundering into the group stage with a full-on tifo deployed for his or her first residence sport towards Bayern Munich. The massive, grandstand-wide show featured a roaring lion with glowing crimson eyes and smouldering nostrils, with representatives of Bayern depicted fleeing in terror.
Copenhagen vs. Manchester United: Champions League (Nov. 8)
Next up to go to have been Manchester United who, in a play on the nickname for their very own residence of Old Trafford, have been welcomed to the “Theatre of Nightmares.” The tifo confirmed United’s crimson satan mascot dreaming of a defeat in Denmark as fearsome pyrotechnics have been unleashed above. Sure sufficient, the Premier League giants fell to a shock 4-3 defeat.
Ultra tradition
Tifos are devised and created by essentially the most fervent parts of a membership’s fan base, so it is no shock they’re typically used to rejoice their very own contribution to their group or intimidate the visiting supporters in addition to the opposition on the pitch.
Lens vs. PSV Eindhoven: Champions League (Oct. 24)
The Lens ultras paid tribute to themselves by creating an enormous scarf (full with fingers holding it up) that stretched throughout the width of a whole stand on the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. AC Milan: Champions League (Oct. 25)
PSG ultras unveiled an enormous tifo going through the travelling Milanese contingent that featured a picture of French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo in his signature film function as a undercover agent in “Le Professionnel,” taking intention at an enormous red-and-black satan stood on the far finish of the stadium.
AC Milan vs. Paris Saint-Germain: Champions League (Nov. 7)
Milan then responded a fortnight later within the return fixture at San Siro by erecting an enormous effigy of Neo from the Matrix franchise stopping Belmondo’s bullets in mid-air.
Marseille vs. AEK Athens: Europa League (Oct. 26)
An uncommon feeling of camaraderie was within the air on the Stade Velodrome as Marseille’s hardcore followers prolonged a hand of friendship to their Greek counterparts by way of a tifo that confirmed each units of ultras linking collectively in a pleasant embrace.
AC Milan vs. Borussia Dortmund: Champions League (Nov. 28)
The ultras stationed on Milan’s Curva Sud formally launched themselves to their German company when Dortmund arrived at San Siro in late November.
Galatasaray vs. Manchester United: Champions League (Nov. 29)
With Manchester United on the town, Galatasaray revisited a basic by adorning the Ali Sami Yen Stadium with an enormous lion, the European Cup and the notorious motto “Welcome to Hell” — a reference to an indication held aloft within the crowd when United performed Gala on the similar floor in 1993 amid an especially hostile ambiance. On that event, the Turkish membership secured a 0-0 draw to eradicate United from Europe. This time, they twice got here from behind to seal an exhilarating 3-3 draw that will properly assist United undergo the identical destiny.
Toulouse vs. Union St.-Gilloise: Europa League (Nov. 30)
Pyro time was ushered in on the Toulouse Stadium by the ultras’ skeletal cheerleader, who first ordered the waving of purple flags earlier than signalling the beginning of a mass flare show alongside the terraces.
HJK Helsinki vs. Aberdeen: Europa Conference League (Nov. 30)
The hardy souls who help HJK braved the subzero temperatures in Helsinki to unfurl an unlimited tifo that includes a choice of their membership legends, all roaring on the present-day group with a megaphone.
The travelling Aberdeen followers made their presence felt, nonetheless. The match was briefly stopped early within the second half as they have been throwing snowballs onto the pitch, and shortly afterward the Dons scored the equaliser to seal a 2-2 draw.
HJK Helsinki-Aberdeen briefly stopped as a result of some Aberdeen followers behind the purpose are throwing snowballs on the HJK goalkeeper.
Man over the tannoy says it could possibly be deserted if it continues! pic.twitter.com/obwqBZ23vd
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) November 30, 2023
Supporter protests
Some followers have used the massive stage to air their grievances and stage protests towards the powers that be, rival gamers and even their very own golf equipment.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Newcastle United: Champions League (Nov. 7)
Dortmund led the cost with a protest towards UEFA and the continued commercialisation of the sport by throwing pretend money and pretend luggage of gold onto the pitch forward of their group match towards Newcastle.
AC Milan vs. Paris Saint-Germain: Champions League (Nov. 7)
Milan followers adopted an analogous theme and had hundreds of pretend financial institution notes printed up that includes the face of Gianluigi Donnarumma, insinuating that monetary curiosity might have had one thing to do with their former goalkeeper’s choice to signal for PSG in the summertime of 2021.
Bayern Munich vs Galatasaray: Champions League (Nov. 8)
Bayern ultras voiced their dissent towards their very own membership’s hierarchy by unfurling a big reproduction of a basic crimson jersey in protest of this season’s controversial white residence equipment. The accompanying message learn: “the club colours are sacred.” There was additionally a big banner criticising UEFA, however the language used on it was NSFW.
Keeping it elegant
Not all followers determined to stoop to jibes, goads and intimidation through the group stage. Indeed, some selected to preserve it above the belt when it got here to their tifos.
Feyenoord vs. Celtic: Champions League (Sept. 19)
Feyenoord acknowledged the particular half that Celtic performed in one in all their greatest-ever nights: the 1970 European Cup last. The Dutch membership received 2-1 in Milan however the prematch partying of their supporters left a powerful impression on the Celtic followers, one in all whom later mentioned: “They were so colourful … it was the best support I’d ever seen.”
AC Milan vs. Newcastle United: Champions League (Sept. 19)
Milan used all 4 sides and practically every and each one of many San Siro’s 75,000 seats to create a rapturous reception for his or her facet earlier than the group sport towards Newcastle — the primary aggressive assembly between the 2 golf equipment.
Newcastle United vs. Paris Saint-Germain: Champions League (Oct. 4)
Having acquired a style for tifos in Milan, Newcastle placed on a present of their very own when 2020 finalists PSG arrived at St James’ Park. A big banner depicting a magpie in a prime hat was unfurled for the event, with the chicken proudly displaying Newcastle’s title within the Champions League draw.
Young Boys vs. Manchester City: Champions League (Oct. 25)
As winter drew in, temperatures dipped and flurries of snow started to flit throughout the evening sky in Switzerland, Young Boys of Bern had their gamers huddle for heat as a part of the prematch tifo.
Newcastle United vs. Borussia Dortmund: Champions League (Oct. 25)
Newcastle went all-out forward of their second group sport towards Dortmund when the entire of the stadium was decked out in black and white. A large salute of “Howay the Lads” additionally appeared within the Leazes End.
Toulouse vs. Liverpool: Europa League (Nov. 9)
Toulouse followers unfurled a healthful tribute to beloved French comedy character Jean-Claude Dusse, who as soon as famously mentioned: “Forget you have no chance and go for it!” Les Violets then pulled off a shock 3-2 victory over Liverpool, who had overwhelmed them 5-1 at Anfield simply two weeks beforehand.
😅 “Sur un malentendu… ça peut marcher !”
🟣👏 Et ça l’a fait pour Toulouse, auteur d’un exploit majuscule contre Liverpool (3-2). Bravo aux supporters toulousains, des génies. pic.twitter.com/5GolvQ71tW
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) November 9, 2023
Stade Rennais vs. Panathinaikos: Europa League (Nov. 9)
Having reached both the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League for the previous six seasons, the Rennes followers heralded their ongoing European adventures with a tifo that included a big map of the continent and a picture of supporters clutching their passports.
#RCK #Rennes #Roazhon#Panathinaikos #europa #tifo # pic.twitter.com/1llYoA17JB
— Brice DUBLIN (@Plushbzh1) November 9, 2023
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