Football/Soccer 8-Hour Briefing
×European Football Crisis
Tottenham Hotspur slumped to a sixth consecutive loss, marking the first time in its 144-year history the club has endured such a disastrous run, with manager Igor Tudor acknowledging "everything is going wrong" after their Champions League defeat against Atlético Madrid. The Spanish capital outfit capitalized on numerous critical errors by Spurs, putting one foot in the Champions League quarterfinals with their convincing victory. Tudor's precarious tenure could already be on the line after just four games, with reports suggesting Manchester United, Tottenham, and Crystal Palace are all interested in replacing him with Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi.
Champions League Action
Barcelona snatched a late equalizer when Lamine Yamal converted a penalty with the last kick of the game to secure a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie. Meanwhile, Liverpool suffered a setback as Arne Slot's 100th match as boss ended in a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in Istanbul, leaving the Premier League side with work to do in the return leg. In Madrid, Manchester City will face a Real Madrid side missing Kylian Mbappé, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma suggesting it's an "advantage" for Pep Guardiola's team in their upcoming Champions League tie.
Championship Play-Off Race
Hull City strengthened their grip on a Championship play-off place with a 2-1 victory over Wrexham, extending their lead to six points over the Welsh club. Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson criticized his team's mentality, saying they were "feeling sorry for themselves" following the defeat that came after an FA Cup hangover. Swansea manager Vitor Matos maintains focus on recovery rather than the play-off race despite his team's position in the standings, while Wrexham striker Kieffer Moore is a big doubt for Wales' World Cup play-off campaign due to injury concerns.
International & Transfer News
Iranian women's soccer team members continue to seek asylum abroad, with two more players granted asylum in Australia before their teammates departed the country, according to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone welcomed Antoine Griezmann's confirmation that he'll stay at the club until the end of the season, while the future of Julián Álvarez remains uncertain. Arsenal want to sign Julian Brandt on a free transfer, with the Gunners also monitoring Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali despite his price tag.
European Football Developments
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies exited in tears after sustaining another injury during the Champions League match against Atalanta, raising concerns about the Canadian international's availability for upcoming international fixtures. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta asserted his team's elite status, stating that while he believes Arsenal belong among Europe's top teams, they must prove their Champions League credentials against Bayer Leverkusen. Mexico has begun granting visas to players from Iraq's national team ahead of their World Cup playoff match scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, ensuring the qualifier can proceed as planned.