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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Billy Haisley

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

FC Internazionale Milano v FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg

Soccer

Lamine Yamal’s Wait Is Over

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Davide Frattesi central midfield of Internazionale and Italy celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 6, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

Inter Survived A War For The Ages

Lamine Yamal right winger of Barcelona and Spain celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v FC Internazionale Milano – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg

On A Spectacular Night, Lamine Yamal Shone Brightest

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi-final First Leg football match between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Emirates Stadium in north London, on April 29, 2025.

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All PSG Needed Was A Half-Chance

Italian goalkeeper #01 Gianluigi Donnarumma saves a shot from Aston Villa's English striker #09 Marcus Rashford during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg football match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 15, 2025.

FBL-EUR-C1-ASTON VILLA-PSG

Paris Saint-Germain Escaped Its Past, For Now

Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain salutes the fans as he exits the match during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC at Parc des Princes on April 09, 2025 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v 	Aston Villa FC – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg

Désiré Doué Is The Coolest Of The Cool

Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-0 during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Arsenal Stadium on April 8, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal FC v Real Madrid C.F. – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg

Arsenal Stepped On Real Madrid’s Neck

Real Madrid players celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second-leg match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain on March 12, 2025. Real Madrid won in a penalty shootout.

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid Is A Monster, And Every Derby Is Halloween

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on March 11, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v SL Benfica – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg

Lamine Yamal Wows On Accident And On Purpose

Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper #01 Alisson (C) dives to punch the ball during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) and Liverpool (ENG) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on March 5, 2025.

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Liverpool Pulled Off The Heist Of The Season

Michael Olise of Bayern Munich controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

FC Bayern M√ºnchen v Celtic FC – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg

At Bayern Munich, What Michael Olise Says Goes

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates his second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 19, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid C.F. v  Manchester City – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg

This Is Why You Spend So Much Money On Kylian Mbappé

Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid (L) and Rico Lewis of Manchester City (R) in dispute for possession during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid C.F. at Manchester City Stadium on February 11, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City v Real Madrid C.F. – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off First Leg

The Manchester City And Real Madrid Defenses Barfed All Over Themselves

Goncalo Ramos of Paris Saint-Germain reacts after scoring during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at Parc des Princes on January 22, 2025 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7

Paris Saint-Germain Revived Manchester City’s Woes

Ashwin Rodrigues is a <a href="https://ashwinrodrigues.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ashwinrodrigues.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1736881844399000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2gTYrT5B9gKSQ8eCIDai5A">freelance writer</a> and Arsenal supporter living in New York. His work has been featured in GQ, Fast Company, Vice, Wired and other publications.

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Ashwin Rodrigues

An Arsenal fan wearing a shirt that reads "Mr. Gooner"

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Life's Rich Pageant

A Tale Of Two Gooners

Jhon Duran of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between RB Leipzig and Aston Villa FC at Leipzig Stadium on December 10, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany.

RB Leipzig v Aston Villa FC – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6

Aston Villa Is Built For This

Mateo Kovacic of Manchester City reacts after they lose the match during the Premier League match between Brighton &amp; Hove Albion FC and Manchester City FC at Amex Stadium on November 9, 2024 in Brighton, England.

Brighton & Hove Albion FC v Manchester City FC – Premier League

Manchester City Is Stuck In The Mud

Sporting Lisbon's players celebrate after Swedish forward #09 Viktor Gyokeres scored his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 4 football match between Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on November 5, 2024.

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The New Champions League Format Actually Rocks

Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates 0-4 with Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid Spain

Real Madrid v FC Barcelona – LaLiga EA Sports

Barcelona Has Put It All Together

Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, applauds the fans following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on October 05, 2024 in London, England.

Crystal Palace FC v Liverpool FC – Premier League

Liverpool Hasn’t Missed A Beat Under Arne Slot

Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund celebrates the teams second on advertising band during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 1, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.

Borussia Dortmund v Celtic FC – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2

Borussia Dortmund’s Newest Star Is Born

Antonio Rüdiger of Real Madrid celebrates with team mates their team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and VfB Stuttgart at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v VfB Stuttgart – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1

Real Madrid Must Learn How To Walk Before It Can Run

Girona's Argentine goalkeeper #13 Paulo Gazzaniga (C) concedes Paris Saint-Germain's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Girona FC at the Parc des Princes Stadium, in Paris, on September 18, 2024.

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Brutally Late Goalie Boner Costs Girona In Champions League Debut

Real Madrid's Spanish defender Nacho Fernandez (C) and Real Madrid's players lift the trophy to celebrate their victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League final football match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom on June 01, 2024.

Real Madrid win 2024 UEFA Champions League trophy, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in final

Real Madrid Is Bulletproof

Joselu Mato of Real Madrid celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final second leg football match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain on May 08, 2024.

Champions League