Atletico Madrid survived a strong comeback attempt by Barcelona in the quarterfinals at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Wednesday to advance to the UEFA Champions League semifinals for the first time in nine years. Diego Simeone's team advanced 3-2 on aggregate despite losing the second leg 1-2 to Barcelona because of their first-leg advantage. Barcelona got off to a fantastic start, scoring in the fourth minute thanks to Lamine Yamal. In the 24th minute, Ferran Torres scored a strong goal to draw the match on aggregate and give the visitors the upper hand. But Atletico's attacker, Ademola Lookman, scored in the 31st minute to retake the aggregate lead, giving the home team a vital advantage heading into halftime.Barcelona brought on attacking players like Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski to push hard for another goal in the second half, but Atletico Madrid retained their composure and put up a sturdy defence. When Eric Garcia was sent off for a last-man foul in the 79th minute, the game shifted even more in Atletico's favour. Ronald Araujo missed a late header in stoppage time as Barcelona struggled to find the game-winning goal. Atletico continue their good form against Barcelona This result was Atletico's third Champions League quarterfinal victory over Barcelona. They had previously won 3-2 on aggregate in 2015/16 (1-2 away, 2-0 home) and 2-1 on aggregate in 2013/14 (1-1 away, 1-0 home). Barcelona's victory on the night marked Atletico's first loss in 11 UEFA home games against Spanish opponents (Wins: 8, Defeats: 2). The 2-1 loss was also Atletico's first home loss in a Champions League knockout game since they were defeated 3-2 by Ajax in the second leg of a quarterfinal encounter in March 1997. Atletico will now face either Arsenal or Sporting in the semi-finals. Arsenal have a slender 1-0 lead going into the second leg, thanks to a late Kai Havertz winner in the reverse fixture. In the other quarter-final, PSG defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to secure a 4-0 aggregate victory. The defending champions will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the other semi-final. (With ANI Input)
15 April,2026 05:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFootball superstar David Beckham’s wife Victoria has had every single one of her tattoos removed, including those featuring her husband and her three sons Brooklyn (27), Romeo (23), and Cruz (21). The former Spice Girls pop singer had six inkings across her body dedicated to her family, all of which have now been removed, according to her youngest son Cruz, 21. The revelation was made by Cruz during an Instagram question and answer session with his followers. One fan asked: “Does Victoria have tattoos?” To which Cruz simply replied: “Not anymore,” without elaborating on why she had the tattoos removed.
15 April,2026 10:00 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe third edition of the Mumbai Rink Football League (MRFL) will be held at the Wings Sports Centre, Bandra, from May 15 to 31. Over 40 teams will participate in the league that will be held across four categories — men’s open, women’s open, men’s veterans and boys U-17. The five-a-side league offers a lucrative total prize purse of almost Rs 8 lakh, with the men’s open winners and runners-up set to receive Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively. The top two veterans teams will be richer by Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000, while the boys U-17 and women’s top two teams will each be awarded Rs 60,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively. For entry fee and further details, contact Myrin D’Mello (9821136036) or Denver Fonseca (9819447207).
15 April,2026 09:50 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentManchester United interim boss Michael Carrick blasted referee Paul Tierney for sending off Lisandro Martinez in Monday’s 1-2 defeat to Leeds United in the English Premier League. The Argentine centre-back was dismissed in the second-half at Old Trafford after he pulled the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Lisandro Martinez. Pic/AFP United were trailing to Noah Okafor’s (5th and 29th min) first-half double when Martinez was dismissed. Considering Casemiro pulled one back for the Red Devils in the 69th minute, Carrick reckons Martinez’s red card scuppered their chances of nicking a point or perhaps even a win. “I thought the boys stayed positive and fought to get something out of it after another shocking decision to send off Lisandro. This one was one of the worst I’ve seen. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. He touches it [Calvert-Lewin’s hair] and he gets sent off. Shocking,” said Carrick. United remain in third place in the EPL (55 points from 32 games), seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top-five finish. With one win in their last four games, United travel to Chelsea on Saturday for a crucial clash in the battle for UCL places. TwoNo. of games Man Utd have lost under Michael Carrick across 11 matches in all competitions This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 April,2026 09:49 AM IST | Manchester | AgenciesBayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany oozed confidence on the eve of his side’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash against 15-time record champions Real Madrid, expressing total belief in his team’s ability to progress to the semi-finals. Bayern head into Wednesday’s clash with a vital 2-1 lead, which scarcely captures the German giants’s dominance of the first-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. That display has left Kompany brimming with hope that they can prevent the Los Blancos from stirring the kind of comeback they usually deliver at the business end of the Champions League. Vincent Kompany. Pic/AFP “We’re mentally and physically well prepared. And we’re excited about this game. You need those positive emotions. We know we can hurt them and I firmly believe we can win,” said the Belgian coach at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. However, he admitted they cannot afford to get too carried away despite playing at home and being in the midst of a stellar run — they are unbeaten in their last 15 games across all competitions. “One of the key things, no doubt, is that we have a great deal of respect for Real. We felt that way even before the game at the Bernabeu, and we still do. We’re preparing for the best version of Real, which is what we saw against Manchester City. Their recent results don’t reflect the talent they possess. They’re still one of the best teams in Europe,” said the Bayern Munich boss, while referencing Real Madrid’s underwhelming form in La Liga, where they drew 1-1 against Girona over the weekend, which came after a 1-2 loss to Mallorca. 15Bayern Munich’s current unbeaten streak across all competitions 22No. of times Bayern have progressed in a UCL knockout tie after winning the first leg away, in 23 matches This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 April,2026 09:47 AM IST | Munich | AgenciesLiverpool have a mountain to climb to oust holders Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League but are hoping the Anfield factor can salvage a bitterly disappointing season. Crowned champions of England less than a year ago, the Reds sit fifth in the Premier League and fell short in both domestic cup competitions. The Champions League represents one final chance of silverware but it is a long shot after the team were outclassed 2-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final at the Parc des Princes. Six-time European champions Liverpool are still alive in the competition thanks to PSG's profligacy and they have overcome greater odds in the past under the lights at Anfield. "It's down to us to be in the best shape possible to make a special evening on Tuesday," said captain Virgil 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." Van Dijk was part of the side that beat Lionel Messi's Barcelona 4-0 in 2019, overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit in the semi-finals on Liverpool's way to Champions League glory. That night may have been the high point of Jurgen Klopp's glorious reign, which included three Champions League finals in five seasons. Barring a miraculous fightback, Tuesday could be the final Champions League chapter for the key figures in that Klopp side. Slot's future in doubt Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have both confirmed they will leave Anfield at the end of the season. Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker remain for now, but there is no guarantee Liverpool will be in the competition next season despite five English sides being assured of qualification. A 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday gave Slot's men some breathing space from the chasing pack in the battle for Champions League football and also snapped a three-game losing streak. Adding to uncertainty, Slot's position remains in serious doubt towards the end of his second campaign in charge. Liverpool fans chanted the name of former midfield favourite Xabi Alonso after last weekend's 4-0 demolition by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Alonso, who left Real Madrid in January, is the prime candidate to take over should Slot be dismissed at the end of the season. The Dutchman issued a rallying cry after the Fulham win to try and get the fans back onside for the visit of the European champions. "This was a massive win not only for the league but looking forward to Tuesday. Not only for the players but also for the fans. After a 4-0 loss and a 2-0 loss everybody could do with this win," said Slot. "One thing is clear is that on Tuesday we need our fans. There were fans in Paris but we had a very hard time. "Anfield has shown many times that it can lift the team to another level and we need that again. Half an hour before the game the players need that support and need to feel it is going to be another special evening." At the very least Slot needs his side to salvage some pride. Another embarrassment like the ones suffered recently in Manchester and Paris, but this time on home soil, could be the final straw for many fans. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 April,2026 09:43 AM IST | Liverpool | AFPEngland and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane’s new £20mn (approximately Rs 250 crore) mansion is almost ready, and locals say it looks just like the iconic Buckingham Palace. According to British tabloid The Sun, Kane’s luxurious country-side mansion in Wentworth bears Georgian windows and entrance pillars which look exactly like the residence of the British royal family in London. Some other features of Kane’s new home include an underground cinema, bar, pool, gym and treatment room, along with a ‘turntable-style’ garage for his cars.“He [Kane] bought the land and a large house on it, tore that down and has had a team of builders working on it for around two years. The front of it looks like Buckingham Palace,” said one of the locals. Kane currently lives with wife Kate and their four kids (Ivy, Vivienne, Louis, Henry) in Munich, and plans to move to his stunning new residence once he retires.
13 April,2026 10:23 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentManchester United legend Rio Ferdinand opted to take a break from punditry, heading out to the Maldives with wife Kate and their kids, Lorenz (19), Tate (17) and Tia (14). He shared a series of romantic pictures of their getaway, with the couple hugging each other and also trying out snorkelling. Ferdinand captioned the post: “More life and more blessings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rio Ferdinand OBE (@rioferdy5)
13 April,2026 10:20 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentArne Slot said Rio Ngumoha is ready to be thrown into any situation after scoring his first Anfield goal in a 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, which eased the rising pressure on the Liverpool boss. The 17-year-old had already netted his first Premier League goal with a late winner away at Newcastle in Liverpool's second game of the season. Despite a difficult campaign, Slot has largely resisted the clamour to rely on Ngumoha as a game-changer. But he has started three of Liverpool's last eight games with Slot encouraged by his physical development and more end product. Arne Slot. Pic/AFP That faith was rewarded as Ngumoha produced a sublime strike to become Liverpool's youngest ever Premier League goalscorer at Anfield. Mohamed Salah then netted in his first home appearance since announcing he will leave at the end of the season as Liverpool snapped a three-game losing streak. "He has such a special quality which you don't see a lot in football anymore, dominating the one v one situation and that's exactly what he did when he scored his goal," said Slot on Ngumoha's impact. "I've said a few weeks ago that his playing time will increase because he got stronger and stronger, showed more and more when he came in (to games), but also in training sessions. "That it wasn't only a nice trick, but there was more and more end product to what he did. "There was more and more power, which is needed if you play against the best defenders in the world and I don't think anyone is surprised that, at this moment in time, he scored his first goal (at Anfield)." Liverpool face a much stiffer test on Tuesday if they are to overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit against holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Slot, though, believes Ngumoha is ready for that elite level, even if he is unsure whether the teenager will be fresh enough to start. "I think he's ready. The question, of course, is can he do this two days later again?" Slot added. "In the beginning of the season, he was a young player, getting some experience with the first team, but now he's just someone I can pick for any game. So also the one on Tuesday." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 April,2026 10:19 AM IST | Liverpool | AFPArsenal manager Mikel Arteta was distraught after losing 1-2 to Bournemouth in the English Premier League on Saturday. “It’s a big punch in the face. We were far from efficient. The first chance they had to attack the box, it’s a deflection, a bad defending action and it’s a goal. That’s something we have to recover from. The second-half you expect a different game. We did a lot of strange things today,” said a frustrated Arteta. Mikel Arteta The visitors took the lead at a nervy Emirates through Junior Kroupi (17th min), but Mikel Arteta’s men levelled through a Viktor Gyokeres penalty later in the 35th minute. The Gunners made multiple attacking changes early in the second period, but struggled to create clear-cut chances against Andoni Iraola’s enterprising team. Bournemouth clinched the winner in the 74th minute after a fluid move finished off by Alex Scott, who rifled the ball past David Raya. Arsenal remain on 70 points after 32 games, nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City, however the Sky Blues have two games in hand. Meanwhile, Bournemouth boss Iraola hailed his team’s impressive display. “We showed great personality in a big game. We were quite brave. [It was] a complete performance,” said Iraola. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 April,2026 10:02 AM IST | London | AgenciesChelsea boss Liam Rosenior wants his inconsistent side to deliver a statement performance against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in Sunday’s English Premier League clash. The Blues enter this fixture on the back two consecutive losses in the EPL to Everton (0-3) and Newcastle (0-1), and while they have no realistic title hopes, clinching three points is still vital in the battle to seal a Champions League berth for next season — Chelsea are sixth (48 points), one point behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who occupy the final UCL spot, as it stands. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer during a training session recently. Pic/Chelsea’s Instagram “We know it’s going to be a big challenge, but it’s one we are looking forward to. Three points takes us closer to our objective. I want my team to show what we are capable of. Of course we can [beat City], because we are a very good team,” said Rosenior. However, the Blues face an uphill task without midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is serving a ban handed to him by the club after he hinted at being interested in a move to Real Madrid. They have also failed to beat the Sky Blues in their last nine EPL games. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 April,2026 09:29 AM IST | London | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
