MADRID (AP) — Not even an off-day for Karim Benzema was enough to keep Real Madrid from moving closer to clinching the Spanish league title.
Benzema missed two penalty kicks seven minutes apart in the second half but Madrid went on to earn a 3-1 win at Osasuna Wednesday to open a 17-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid, which can no longer catch its rival as both teams have five games left to play.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Kevin De Bruyne scored the only goal to give Manchester City a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
After a tight 70 minutes, City finally found its way through Atletico’s tough rearguard helped by Phil Foden's vision.
LONDON (AP) — Struggling for form at Manchester United, Marcus Rashford was overlooked again by England in its squad for upcoming friendly matches against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast.
Rashford hasn't played for his country since the European Championship final against Italy in July, when he was one of three England players to miss in a penalty-shootout loss.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba said Wednesday his house was burglarized while he played in the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.
In a post on Twitter, the France midfielder said his “babies were sleeping in their bedroom” when the burglary took place on Tuesday.
A look at what’s happening in the Champions League on Tuesday:
MANCHESTER UNITED vs. ATLETICO MADRID (1-1)
United's bid to reach the quarterfinals for just the second time since 2014 has been boosted by Bruno Fernandes' return to the squad after testing negative for the coronavirus.
It wasn’t so long ago that Marcus Rashford was widely and fondly viewed as English soccer’s national treasure.
This week, though, is set to underscore his declining status for both club and country.
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Dynamo signed Mexican national team captain Héctor Herrera on Wednesday to a designated player contract that will run through at least the 2024 season.
Herrera, a midfielder, is currently playing for Atletico Madrid in La Liga and will join the Dynamo this summer upon completion of the Spanish season.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Wednesday:
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The final two first-leg matches in the last 16 see Atletico Madrid host Manchester United and Ajax travel to Benfica.
No competition makes Cristiano Ronaldo come more alive than the Champions League.
And no team makes Ronaldo come more alive than Atletico Madrid.
NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle began its first transfer window under Saudi ownership by signing fullback Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid on Friday, and Aston Villa brought Philippe Coutinho back to the Premier League on loan after he was unable to make an impact at Barcelona.
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and defender Marcelo have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Spanish club said Wednesday.
Madrid did not give any details of their condition and didn't say whether anyone else was deemed a close contact.
Three red cards, on-field brawls, countless chances and a flurry of late goals. A wild, win-or-bust match in the Champions League between Porto and Atletico Madrid had it all on Tuesday.
In the end, it was Atletico celebrating a place in the last 16 of Europe’s top club competition with a 3-1 win, emerging from a three-way fight for qualification in the final round of group games.
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Respect for the Champions League and the need for consistency in team selection will see Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp select a strong lineup against Porto on Wednesday, despite the English side already being assured of winning its group.
PORTO, Portugal (AP) — Unbeaten in Serie A, AC Milan can’t find a way to win in the Champions League.
Making their first group-phase appearance in eight years, the Rossoneri were beaten 1-0 at Porto in Group B on Tuesday for their third straight defeat in the competition.
Virgil van Dijk has been spared Champions League duty so far this season as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has taken care not to overload his star defender after a serious knee injury.
It looks like it’s time, however, for the Dutchman to make his return to European competition.
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Brazil players Alisson Becker and Fabinho are travelling directly to Spain to complete their 10-day quarantine period after international duty and are in line to feature for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
LONDON (AP) — Nine of the teams who were part of the ill-fated launch of a breakaway Super League have been welcomed back into the decision-making organization overseeing the European club game.
Six English clubs — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham — will be members of European Club Association again along with AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid.
TURIN, Italy (AP) — If you can't beat him, buy him.
The $131 million that Juventus spent to lure Cristiano Ronaldo away from Real Madrid is already paying off on the field and off it.
Ronaldo scored a hat trick against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, giving the Italian team the three goals it needed to overturn a 2-0 loss from the first leg.
Chelsea was banned Friday from signing players until after the 2019-20 season, the latest European power punished by FIFA for flouting rules protecting young talent from premature international moves...
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Atletico Madrid finally got the better of Real Madrid on the European stage, scoring twice in extra time to win 4-2 in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday in its rival's first game without Cristiano Ronaldo...
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Atletico Madrid and Benfica will have to slug it out at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon to see who emerges top the group and will therefore be more likely to avoid a top team in the last 16 of the Champions League.