16 genuinely useful pronunciation tips from Uefa for the Champions League knockout stage

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Wondering whether or not you’ve been mispronouncing your favourite footballer’s name all this time? Well with Uefa.com’s handy guide, all will become clear.

With the Champions League knockout stage upon us, Uefa.com has picked out some of the more difficult names to pronounce from the 16 sides still left in the competition.

From Messi to Mignolet, Hazard to Higuain, here’s one name from each team to perfect.

Barcelona

Lionel Messi – Lee-oh-nell

Barcelona's Lionel Messi
(Steven Paston/EMPICS Sport)

Basel

Taulant Xhaka – Tow (to rhyme with cow)-lant Jacka

Basel's Taulant Xhaka
(Nigel French/EMPICS Sport)

Bayern Munich

Robert Lewandowski – Le-van-dov-ski

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski
(Tim Goode/EMPICS Sport)

Besiktas

Oguzhan Ozyakup – Oh-zyan Erz-ya-koop

Besiktas' Oguzhan Ozyakup
(Nick Potts/EMPICS Sport)

Chelsea

Eden Hazard – Ay-den

Chelsea's Eden Hazard
(Nick Potts/PA)

Juventus

Gonzalo Higuain – Ee-gway-een

Juventus' Gonzalo Higuain has a shot on goal
(Nick Potts/PA)

Liverpool

Simon Mignolet – See-mon Min-yo-lay

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet
(Martin Rickett/PA)

Manchester City

Gabriel Jesus – Jay-zooss

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus
(Martin Rickett/PA)

Manchester United

David De Gea – De Hayer

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea
(Tim Goode/EMPICS Sport)

Paris St-Germain


Adrien Rabiot – Ad-ree-an Rab-yo

A Celtic player challenges Paris St-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot during the UEFA Champions League, Group B match at Celtic Park, Glasgow
(Andrew Milligan/PA)

Porto

Iker Casillas – Ee-care Ca-see-yass

Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas
(Nigel French/EMPICS Sport)

Real Madrid

Toni Kroos – Crows

Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos
(Adam Davy/PA)

Roma

Radja Nainggolan – Nine-go-lon

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (left) and Roma’s Radja Nainggolan
(Nick Potts/EMPICS Sport)

Sevilla

Daniel Carrico – Car-hiss-oh

Sevilla footballer Daniel Carrico
(John Walton/PA)

Shakhtar Donetsk

Yaroslav Rakitskiy – Rack-its-key

Shakhtar Donetsk footballer Yaroslav Rakitskiy
(Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport)

Tottenham

Toby Alderweireld – Al-der-way-reld

Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld
(Martin Rickett/PA)

To see Uefa.com’s full pronunciation guide, click here.

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