Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Champions League Drama
Real Madrid bbc.com condemned a fan for allegedly performing a Nazi salute before their Champions League win against Benfica. Atalanta skysports.com scraped through to the last 16 with a thrilling last-gasp turnaround, becoming the "darlings of Italian football" as they salvaged national pride after Juventus' exit. Galatasaray bbc.com scored twice in extra time to oust 10-man Juventus 7-5 on aggregate, despite Lloyd Kelly's controversial red card that became a straight red after his second yellow. Newcastle bbc.com swept aside Qarabag 3-2 to progress comfortably to the Round of, while Bayer Leverkusen bbc.com advanced after a 0-0 draw against Olympiakos secured a 2-0 aggregate victory. Paris Saint-Germain bbc.com avoided a late scare against 10-man Monaco, holding on despite Jordan Teze's goal after Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in quick succession.
Premier League & Domestic News
Chelsea bbc.com recorded a pre-tax loss of £355m for 2024-25 - the highest loss ever made by an English football club. West Brom bbc.com faces uncertainty after Eric Ramsay's winless 44 days in charge, raising questions about their next steps with relegation looming. Tottenham skysports.com head coach Igor Tudor described his task as "the biggest rescue-job of my career." Walsall bbc.com endures another winter of discontent with a split fanbase and no home win since Boxing Day. Manchester United skysports.com super sub Benjamin Sesko is pushing for his first start under Michael Carrick after scoring three decisive goals in his last four games.
International & Women's Football
Olivia Smith bbc.com withdrew from the Canada squad for the She Believes Cup due to concussion. Michail Antonio bbc.com is set to sign a short-term deal with Qatari club Al-Sailiya before returning to club football following his near-fatal car crash. Manchester United bbc.com midfielder Jess Park has been in brilliant form since her summer move and aims to translate that into England's upcoming matches. The Women's Super League faces impact from the Asian Cup exodus, with BBC Sport assessing which sides are most affected. Hannah Cain bbc.com warned that "really ugly" social media abuse can affect female players' mental health.
Transfer Market & Ownership
Cristiano Ronaldo espn.com acquired a 25% ownership stake in Spanish second division club UD Almeria. Denis Bouanga espn.com signed a multiyear designated player extension with LAFC. Real Madrid have their eye on Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhães, while Chelsea remain keen on Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. Mohamed Salah would be happy to stay at Liverpool until 2027, according to Thursday's gossip.
T20 World Cup Update
England skysports.com and South Africa are through to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, with two places still up for grabs. India skysports.com smashed the second-highest score across all Men's T20 World Cups - 256-4 - as they thumped Zimbabwe by 72 runs to stay in the hunt for a semi-final place. South Africa skysports.com beat West Indies by nine wickets to maintain their 100% record in the tournament, with their semi-final place later confirmed following India's win.
Super League & Rugby League
Leeds Rhinos skysports.com head coach Brad Arthur is ready for his side to be considered contenders in Super League 2026, targeting a win over world champions in Las Vegas. Hull KR skysports.com players toured Las Vegas in a giant shopping trolley while to their Super League game against Leeds Rhinos. Paul Wellens, now assistant coach of the North Queensland Cowboys, is relishing the chance for his side to perform in Las Vegas against the Newcastle Knights at Allegiant Stadium.
Boxing & Combat Sports
Conor Benn skysports.com will fight Regis Prograis on the undercard of Tyson Fury's April 11 bout with Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Chantelle Cameron skysports.com promoters would "love" for the Brit to be Katie Taylor's opponent in the legendary Irish fighter's final professional contest later this year. Fabio Wardley skysports.com criticised the prospect of Oleksandr Usyk fighting elite kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, calling him "not a genuine" challenge.
Miscellaneous Football News
Keith Andrews bbc.com signed a new contract with Brentford running until 2032. Senner Lammens bbc.com described himself as "just a normal guy" but acknowledged his reputation is growing in an impressive debut season at Manchester United. Scotland fans received FIFA approval to wear their sporrans at the team's matches at this summer's World Cup. Javier Mascherano espn.com confirmed Inter Miami will use their friendly against Independiente del Valle to give all players minutes on the field.