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Thursday April 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (2nd L) competes during the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg football match between FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid in Barcelona, Spain, April 8, 2026. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua) Atletico Madrid left Barcelona with a commanding Champions League quarterfinal advantage on Wednesday, as goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth delivered a 2-0 first-leg victory away from home. The outcome gives Atletico firm control of the tie and comes as a…

By  JAMES ROBSONWednesday April 8, 2026 Arsenal are one step away from a second successive Champions League semifinal after Kai Havertz struck late to secure a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. At Estadio Jose Alvalade, Havertz came off the bench to score in stoppage time and put Mikel Arteta’s side firmly in command of the quarterfinal tie before next week’s second leg at the Emirates. The substitute fired past goalkeeper Rui Silva from close range to give Arsenal the advantage ahead of next week’s…

Wednesday April 8, 2026 Kylian Mbappe (bottom) scored in the second half to give Real Madrid a lifeline in the Champions League battle with Bayern Munich © Thomas COEX / AFP Bayern Munich left the Santiago Bernabeu with a precious 2-1 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday, a result that moves the German giants a big step closer to the Champions League semifinals. Luis Diaz and Harry Kane struck for Bayern, while Kylian Mbappe answered for Madrid in a match that produced chances at both ends — though Bayern, the record…

Thursday March 19, 2026 Barcelona blitzed Newcastle United 7-2 at Camp Nou on Wednesday, charging into the Champions League quarterfinals with an 8-3 aggregate triumph. A week after a 1-1 stalemate on Tyneside, the hosts tore the tie apart after the interval, with Fermin Lopez, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha spearheading a merciless onslaught. Before that surge, the opening 45 minutes were frantic before 60,000 fans, producing five goals and opportunities at both ends. In the sixth minute Raphinha slotted Barcelona ahead…

By GRAHAM DUNBARThursday March 19, 2026 On a fevered Champions League night Wednesday, Barcelona ran riot with seven goals and Liverpool powered in four, transforming knife-edge ties into emphatic victories and sealing places in the quarterfinals. Atletico Madrid withstood a ferocious Tottenham rally to complete a Spanish sweep over English opposition this week — Spain 3, England 0 — in the round of 16. Bayern Munich enjoyed the smoothest passage, brushing aside Atalanta 4-1 on Wednesday and 10-2 on aggregate to line up a…

Arsenal tightened its hold on the Premier League title race as 16-year-old Max Dowman came off the bench to become the competition’s youngest scorer, capping a 2-0 win over Everton that was followed by Manchester City dropping points at West Ham. The results extended Arsenal’s lead to nine points on a day that could prove pivotal in the run-in. Arsenal 2, Everton 0 — Viktor Gyokeres 86’, Max Dowman 90+7’ West Ham 1, Manchester City 1 — Bernardo Silva 31’, Konstantinos Mavropanos 35’ Chelsea 0, Newcastle 1 — Anthony Gordon…

Arab League hails Somalia’s revised constitution as ‘historic milestone’ despite opposition backlash MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Arab League on Friday welcomed Somalia’s adoption of a revised federal constitution, calling it a historic step in the country’s state-building and a boost to political stability, even as domestic opponents questioned the process and timing. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, said the Somali Parliament’s approval of the new charter and its entry into force complete a…

Champions League: Bayern and Atletico seize control as Liverpool and Barcelona face uphill second legs Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid took command of their Champions League round-of-16 ties with emphatic first-leg wins Tuesday, while Liverpool and Barcelona were left with narrow margins and nagging regrets heading into decisive returns next week. On a high-scoring night across Europe, Bayern thrashed Atalanta 6-1 in Bergamo despite starting without top scorer Harry Kane. Atletico punished Tottenham’s goalkeeping gamble to…

Arsenal stay five clear with set-piece edge over Chelsea as Man United surge to third; Fulham, Brighton also win Arsenal tightened their grip on the Premier League lead with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, while Benjamin Sesko’s second-half header completed Manchester United’s comeback against Crystal Palace to lift them to third. Fulham clipped Tottenham Hotspur in west London, and Brighton edged Nottingham Forest after a frantic opening quarter-hour. Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace…

WOLVERHAMPTON, England — Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead at last-place Wolves and were pegged back to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday, a result that hands Manchester City a significant opening in a finely poised Premier League title race. Teenage debutant Tom Edozie crashed in a dramatic equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Molineux to complete Wolves’ comeback, after Arsenal had led 2-0 through Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie. The league leaders have now dropped points in back-to-back matches and see their advantage…