Atletico Madrid survived a fierce Barcelona fightback and defending champion Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Liverpool on Tuesday to reach the Champions League semifinals.

Barca headed to Atletico 2-0 down from the quarterfinal first leg, yet early goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres gave them hope of a memorable comeback against their Spanish rivals.

But Ademola Lookman’s finish later in the first half handed the hosts a 3-2 aggregate lead and a red card for Eric Garcia after a professional foul on 79 minutes effectively ended Barcelona’s dream.

“We’re absolutely delighted. Barcelona are such a top-class side. We put in a brilliant performance over there and the team managed to bounce back today,” said Atletico captain Koke, whose side eliminated the Catalans in a Champions League quarterfinal for the third time.

Atleti have never won Europe’s top club prize but the 1974, 2014 and 2016 runners-up are back in the semifinals for the first time since 2017 after edging the five-time champions.

Diego Simeone’s side next face Arsenal or Sporting, who play their second leg Wednesday.

Ousmane Dembele scored twice as PSG won 2-0 in rainy north-west England and 4-0 on aggregate to seal a meeting with Bayern Munich or record winners Real Madrid in late April and early May.

“It’s the little things that make the difference in a match. We managed to stay strong and defended well,” PSG skipper Marquinhos, who made a last-ditch tackle to deny Virgil van Dijk, told Canal+.

PSG won their first Champions League title last term after ditching the idea of collecting world stars and instead building a young team.

The plan has continued to pay dividends this season and a 2-0 win at the Parc des Princes last week set them up perfectly to deal with Tuesday’s Anfield second-leg cauldron, where they also progressed last season in the last 16.

Liverpool’s luck was summed up by Hugo Ekitike going off with a serious-looking injury as Mo Salah came off the bench. Fellow injury-prone big signing Alexander Isak was hooked at the break.

The hosts were awarded a penalty for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister in the second half, but it was overturned on video review as replays suggested the Argentina man had only slipped.

World player of the year Dembele scored from the edge of the area soon afterwards and added another on the counter in stoppage time.

Liverpool, fifth domestically, have this term been a shadow of the side that romped to the Premier League crown last season.

“We lost, but we have to build from that and realize how good we can be,” Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté told Prime Video.

Spanish league leaders Barcelona were stunned at the Nou Camp by Atleti in last week’s first leg and went to Madrid with their youngest team in a Champions League knock-out clash.

The average age was 24 years and 347 days and the youngest, 18-year-old Yamal, had a good chance early on before netting after just four minutes to silence an otherwise bouncing Metropolitano.

The home defense was all at sea as Torres played in the Spain star, who had blocked ex-Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet’s backpass.

It was 2-0 some 20 minutes later when Dani Olmo assisted Torres for a superb finish. Fermin Lopez then spurned a top chance for 3-0.

It was costly as Lookman converted Marcos Llorente’s whipped cross to put the hosts ahead again in the tie after a breathless half an hour.

Opportunities came and went at both ends in the second half, with Lookman firing wide and Torres having a goal ruled out for offside.

Hansi Flick’s team kept pushing, with Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford brought on, but they could not find the goal to force extra time after Garcia’s red following a protracted review.

“We’re disappointed. We had plenty of chances. We had the chance to make it 3-0, but in the end we conceded that key goal,” the German boss said. “We weren’t very lucky. That’s just how it went.”

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Turkish rising star Zeynep Sönmez delivered the biggest win of her career Wednesday, defeating world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini in straight sets at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, to advance to the second round of the WTA 500 tournament.

Sönmez, 24, overwhelmed the Italian 6-2, 6-2 on the clay courts in Stuttgart, Germany, producing a commanding display that marked the biggest victory of her career and propelled her to a career-high No. 67 in the live WTA rankings.

The result places her alongside Çağla Büyükakçay, who defeated Jelena Ostapenko during the 2018 Fed Cup, as the only Turkish woman to have beaten a Top 10 player.

From the outset, Sönmez dictated play with authority, dominating not only the scoreline but nearly every statistical category. She saved the only break point she faced and held serve throughout the match, while breaking Paolini four times to dismantle her opponent’s rhythm.

Her efficiency on serve proved particularly decisive. Sönmez won 73.3% of points behind her second serve and posted a 64.1% success rate on her first serve, according to Eurosport.

She also capitalized on Paolini’s vulnerabilities, winning 62.5% of return points on the Italian’s second serve. Overall, she claimed 64 of 110 points played, finishing with a 58.2% total point-winning rate.

The performance underscored her growing confidence on clay, a surface that demands tactical discipline and patience – qualities Sönmez displayed throughout the match.

“First of all, it was a pleasure sharing the court with Jasmine; she’s a fantastic player and I really enjoy playing against her,” Sönmez said after the match. “This win is the biggest of my career, so I’m very happy. I felt great on the court; our training sessions went very well.”

She credited her preparation and adaptability for the result, adding: “I was trying to get used to the clay court, and having played two qualifying matches here helped me a lot in adapting to the courts. We had a clear plan, and I executed it perfectly. I’m very happy to have won.”

Sönmez’s run in Stuttgart began in the qualifying rounds, where she advanced without dropping a set, building momentum that carried into her main-draw breakthrough. Her ability to transition from qualifying to defeating a Top 10 seed highlights her rapid development on the WTA Tour.

Beyond the milestone victory, Sönmez acknowledged the growing recognition she has begun to experience off the court as her profile rises.

“I haven’t been able to go home much lately because I’ve been traveling a lot, but sometimes people recognize me in the supermarket when I return,” she said. “It’s crazy for me because I’m not used to it, but it’s a great feeling when people ask for photos or autographs.”

For Paolini, the defeat marked a disappointing early exit. The Italian struggled to counter Sönmez’s aggressive baseline play and was unable to generate sustained pressure, particularly on return games.

Sönmez now advances to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, the world No. 25 and a former U.S. Open finalist, in the second round. The match is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, with a tentative start time of 1:30 p.m. local time, depending on the progression of earlier matches.

The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is one of the premier clay-court events on the WTA calendar and serves as a key lead-up to Roland Garros. A deep run in Stuttgart would further boost Sönmez’s ranking and strengthen her position heading into the European clay season.

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Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said star forward Neymar still has enough time to recover from recent injuries and regain the form needed to play at this summer’s World Cup.

“He is capable of getting back to 100%,” Ancelotti told L’Equipe in response to questions about Neymar. “He is being assessed by ⁠the CBF (Brazil’s Football Confederation) and by me, ⁠and he still has two months to show that he has what it takes to play in the next World Cup.”

A fixture on the Brazilian national ​team starting in 2013, Neymar hasn’t played for his country since ​2023, ⁠when he began dealing with left knee issues.

He had minor surgery on the knee on Dec. 22 and over the international break in early April, he reportedly underwent platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment to further aid in his recovery.

“After his knee injury (in December), Neymar has made a good recovery,” Ancelotti said. “He’s scoring goals. He needs to keep going down this path and improve his fitness. He’s on the right track.”

The 34-year-old, who has scored more goals for Brazil than anyone else (79), has openly discussed his desire to be on Brazil’s World Cup team this summer for the tournament in North America.

He is currently the captain of ⁠Santos ⁠in Serie A, Brazil’s top soccer league, where his contract expires at the end of the calendar year. He was formerly one of the world’s best attacking players during his time with Barcelona (2013-17) and Paris Saint-Germain (2017-23), playing alongside Lionel Messi with both clubs.

An ankle injury slowed Neymar before his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, leading to a stint with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where his brief tenure was halted by a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He returned to action in January 2025 when he made the move to ⁠Santos.

In five games for Santos this season, Neymar has three goals and two assists. He had missed the previous two games for Santos but played all 90 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 league win over Atletico Mineiro.

“Neymar ​is improving with every game,” Santos coach Cuca said after Saturday’s match, per ESPN. “He’s been ​staying behind to train. His movement on the ball is much better and he’s likely to get even better. It’s risky to play him for the full 90 ⁠minutes; we’ll ‌see if ‌he can handle it, and we’ll work toward him playing on ⁠Tuesday.”

Last season, his first year playing professionally in ‌his home nation, he tallied eight goals and one assist in 20 games (17 starts).

“Neymar has made, and continues ​to make, history in Brazilian football,” Ancelotti ⁠said. “He is a great talent and it’s only natural that ⁠people think he can help us win the next World Cup.”

However, Neymar has not been ⁠included on any of ​Ancelotti’s squads since the Italian took over the team last June.

“I’ve said this several times, and it’s very clear: I’ll call up the players who are physically ready,” Ancelotti said.

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European heavyweights Bayern Munich welcome Real Madrid, while a stuttering Arsenal side will go up against Sporting in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg ties Wednesday.

In Munich, all eyes will be on Neuer, who delivered a standout performance in Bayern’s 2-1 first-leg victory in Madrid and could be approaching the final chapter of his decorated career.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper, named man of the match after making nine saves, played a decisive role in keeping Real’s attacking threats, including Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, largely in check.

Though no longer the adventurous “sweeper keeper” of his prime, Neuer remains a central figure for Bayern both on and off the pitch. His contract expires at the end of the season, and while the club is open to extending it, he has yet to confirm his plans. Injuries have limited his availability this campaign, with persistent calf issues causing him to miss 11 matches.

Neuer has already ruled himself out of international duty this summer, raising the possibility that this season could mark his final run at club level. Ending it with a third Champions League title and another Bundesliga crown would provide a fitting conclusion to a career that has helped define Bayern’s modern dominance.

Since joining in 2011, alongside players such as Thomas Mueller, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Neuer has been instrumental in elevating Bayern’s status. The club has missed out on the Bundesliga title only twice in the past 15 seasons, while winning two Champions League trophies with him in goal.

His influence extends beyond shot-stopping. “Manu only has to say one sentence and he brings order to the team. That’s why his role to me as a leader is just as important as what he does on the pitch,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said.

Despite carrying a first-leg advantage, Bayern remain wary of Real Madrid’s pedigree in the competition. The Spanish side, 15-time Champions League winners, have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion regardless of domestic form.

“It doesn’t matter at all what form Kylian Mbappe and his teammates are in. When it’s the Champions League, they perform,” Joshua Kimmich said.

Leon Goretzka echoed that caution, adding: “We know exactly who we are playing against. It’s a brutally difficult task.”

Neuer, meanwhile, will be particularly motivated after a costly error in a previous meeting between the sides led to Bayern’s elimination, a memory that still lingers ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

In London, Arsenal face a different kind of pressure as they attempt to protect a 1-0 lead against Sporting Lisbon while navigating a concerning dip in form.

Arteta’s side has lost three of its last four matches, including defeats that ended their League Cup and FA Cup campaigns.

A shock 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth has also jeopardized Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes, leaving them just six points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand ahead of a crucial meeting this weekend.

With a demanding schedule that has seen Arsenal play 54 matches so far this season, fatigue has become a talking point. However, Arteta dismissed it as an excuse.

“I don’t want to pull on those excuses because we’ve been playing so many games, every three days, and we’re going to have to continue to do that,” he said.

“That’s the context and that’s the scenario, and we have to embrace it and especially enjoy the opportunity.”

Arteta also pointed to a lack of intensity and resilience in recent performances, calling on his players to show greater fight in difficult moments.

Injuries have compounded Arsenal’s problems, with key players such as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber sidelined. The manager now faces a dilemma over whether to field his strongest lineup against Sporting or rotate ahead of the decisive league clash with City.

One positive has been the form of striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 18 goals this season, though he was subdued in the first leg against his former club.

“We have a lot of important games ahead, and we need to embrace it and to enjoy playing those games,” Gyokeres said.

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Two of Europe’s most storied football clubs – Liverpool and Barcelona — find themselves on the brink of UEFA Champions League elimination as they prepare for quarterfinal second legs Tuesday.

Both sides must overcome 2-0 deficits to keep their European dreams alive, with both clubs viewing the competition as a vital opportunity to salvage their respective seasons.

Liverpool enters their home leg against holders Paris Saint-Germain following a disappointing domestic campaign that has seen them fall to fifth in the Premier League and exit both domestic cups.

After being outclassed at the Parc des Princes, the Reds are relying on the historic “Anfield factor” to spark a turnaround.

Captain Virgil van Dijk, a veteran of the club’s famous 4-0 comeback against Barcelona in 2019, remains hopeful.

“It’s down to us to be in the best shape possible to make a special evening on Tuesday,” said Van Dijk.

“We are at home and we have to show belief that we can do it. It needs a special performance but I’m lucky I have been part of special performances so I will try and bring that across for the team.” he added.

The match carries significant weight for the future of the club. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have confirmed they will depart at the end of the season and manager Arne Slot’s position remains under scrutiny.

Fans recently expressed their dissatisfaction by chanting for former favorite Xabi Alonso following an FA Cup loss to Manchester City. Slot, however, is focused on using a recent 2-0 victory over Fulham to galvanize the supporters.

“Anfield has shown many times that it can lift the team to another level and we need that again,” Slot stated. “Half an hour before the game the players need that support and need to feel it is going to be another special evening.”

Barcelona heads to Madrid

In Spain, Barcelona travel to the Metropolitano stadium to face Atletico Madrid. Much of the focus remains on Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan from Manchester United.

The 28-year-old was a “bright spark” in the first leg but failed to convert several chances in the 2-0 defeat.

Rashford’s future at the Camp Nou hangs in the balance, as the club has yet to decide whether to trigger his 30 million euro ($35 million) permanent transfer clause.

With Raphinha sidelined by injury, Rashford has become the primary option on the left flank, and coach Hansi Flick has been pushing the forward to improve his defensive work-rate and pressing.

“This team is always going to create chances, there’s so much quality in possession … today the goal didn’t go in, but we can’t shy away from the responsibility to take these chances,” Rashford told CBS after the first leg. “On another day, on another night, they go in.”

Rashford recently found the net in a 4-1 win over Espanyol, boosting his confidence ahead of the clash with Atletico. Despite a controversial unawarded penalty in the first leg involving Atletico defender Marc Pubill, Rashford believes a comeback is possible.

“The mindset and the intent that we had to try to get back into the game is unbelievable, and we’re going to have to use this, and we need all of this in the next game in order to come back,” Rashford said. “We know what we are capable of when we’re playing at our highest level and we can take the game away from anybody.”

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Lamine Yamal scored once and set up two goals as FC Barcelona beat RCD Espanyol 4-1 Saturday to take a major step toward defending their La Liga title.

Ferran Torres netted twice, with Yamal and Marcus Rashford finding the net late on as the Catalans moved nine points clear of second-placed rivals Real Madrid.

Real drew 1-1 against Girona Friday and with seven games remaining, one of which is a Clasico at Camp Nou in May, Hansi Flick’s side have a commanding lead.

Barca face Atletico Madrid Tuesday in the Champions League quarterfinals, aiming to fight back from a 2-0 first-leg defeat, but the coach still picked a strong side against Espanyol.

Midfielder Pedri Gonzalez and 18-year-old winger Yamal played the full match as Flick tried not to let the second leg disrupt the team’s league campaign.

Flick said he would not accept his team slacking off despite their strong position.

“Every game has to start with the right attitude and right mentality, with only quality you will win nothing,” said the German coach.

“I’m positive we can win La Liga, but it’s not done.”

After a strong start to the season, Espanyol were beaten at home by Barca in the first game of 2026 and have failed to win a match since.

They offered little resistance as Flick’s side cruised into a two-goal lead.

Yamal created both goals for Torres, whipping in a corner which the Spain international nodded home for his first goal since January.

Although some wondered whether Flick would rest Yamal for Tuesday’s visit to Atletico, the teenager is always keen to play, and Barca fans adore watching him.

Yamal’s assist for the second was sumptuous, playing Torres through with the outside of his boot and the striker’s shot trickled past Marko Dmitrovic and into the net.

“You always hear noise around you, more for the bad things than for the good… I am always focused on myself, on improving,” Torres told DAZN.

Espanyol came close when Tyrhys Dolan’s chipped effort clipped the top of the crossbar but they were mainly pinned back in their own territory.

Yamal curled a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar and Dmitrovic made a good double save to keep Fermin Lopez and Eric Garcia at bay.

‘Small errors killed us’

Barcelona thought they had extended their lead early in the second half when Torres stabbed home Garcia’s goal-bound header, but it was ruled out for a tight offside against the defender.

Espanyol pulled one back through Pol Lozano immediately afterwards with a rasping effort after Barca struggled to clear the ball.

“Small errors killed us a bit. We have to be proud of the work we did,” said Lozano after the game.

“We’re getting better and sooner rather than later, the victory will come.”

Substitute Rashford could have got a third for Barca, but the England international seemed to lack confidence as he delayed his shot before firing straight at Dmitrovic.

The winger missed several chances against Atletico in the first leg of the Champions League tie, but by the end, he found the net and will look to make further amends at the Metropolitano.

Yamal notched the third in the 87th minute by charging down a loose ball, which rebounded beyond Dmitrovic, leaving him with a tap-in.

Two minutes later, Rashford hooked home the fourth with a volley from Frenkie de Jong’s cross, the Dutch midfielder making his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in February as a substitute.

Barca fans stayed in the stadium after the final whistle to celebrate with their team and try to inspire them ahead of the visit to face Atletico.

Coach Diego Simeone rotated heavily for his team’s visit to face Sevilla to keep players fresh and Atletico, fourth, fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Akor Adams sent the hosts ahead from the penalty spot and after 20-year-old Atletico reserve defender Javier Bonar levelled, Nemanja Gudelj struck again for Sevilla before the interval.

Atletico have a wide 12-point cushion on Real Betis, fifth, who visit Osasuna on Sunday.

The victory was important for Sevilla, with the Andalusians climbing out of the relegation zone and up to 15th.

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