defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

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.

defector-no-empty-space

Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

back-in-stock-for-a-limited-time

Merch v3

bh def prof pic

Billy Haisley

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

Soccer

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

Image from iOS (36)

Luis Paez-Pumar

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.

FBL-EUR-C1-PSG-LIVERPOOL

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.

ashwin-rodrigues-profile

Ashwin Rodrigues

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

arsenal-mr-gooner-gooning

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.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-SPORTING-MANCHESTER CITY

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.

FBL-EUR-C1-PSG-GIRONA

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.

Real Madrid v Bayern Munich – UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid Did It Again

Mats Hummels, Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck (L-R) celebrates victory after the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on May 07, 2024 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund: Semi-final Second Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Borussia Dortmund Knocked PSG Out By The Grace Of Millimeters

Toni Kroos of Real Madrid gestures during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 30, 2024 in Munich, Germany.

FC Bayern M√ºnchen v Real Madrid: Semi-final First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Real Madrid Goes Where Toni Kroos Leads

Kylian Mbappé of PSG react during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 16, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain: Quarter-final Second Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

PSG And Barcelona Turned A Champions League Feast Into A Soggy Appetizer

Dortmund's players celebrate scoring their forth goal 4:2 during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid in Dortmund, western Germany on April 16, 2024.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-DORTMUND-ATLETICO MADRID

Borussia Dortmund Broke Atlético Madrid’s Spirit

Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Manchester City score goals in their Champions League quarter-finals.

uclqftuesday

This Was The Champions League At Its Dramatic Best

Caroline Graham Hansen of FC Barcelona run with the ball during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/24 Quarter Final Leg Two match between FC Barcelona and SK Brann at Estadi Johan Cruyff on March 28, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v SK Brann – UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24 Quarter Final Leg Two

Caroline Graham Hansen Is The Best In The World

Atletico de Madrid player Memphis Depay celebrates his goal.. Atletico de Madrid beats Internazionale Milan in round of 16 of Champions League matchday 2 of 2 and moves on to next phase.

Champions League