D.C. United are in talks with free-agent midfielder Paul Pogba over a potential deal to bring the...

<p>D.C. United are in talks with free-agent midfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///seri/players/13802" href="https://thescore.com/seri/players/13802">Paul Pogba</a> over a potential deal to bring the World Cup winner to Major League Soccer, a source told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6318316/2025/04/28/paul-pogba-dc-united-mls-next/">The Athletic's Pablo Maurer.</a></p><p>D.C. United have first dibs on Pogba because they own the 32-year-old's discovery rights, according to Maurer.</p><p>Pogba has attended several MLS games - most recently <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3243286" href="https://thescore.com/news/3243286">Los Angeles FC's 1-0 loss to Austin FC</a> in March - since making his last professional appearance in September 2023. He was suspended that year for testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone, a testosterone-enhancing substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list, and handed an initial four-year ban that the Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced to 18 months.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The former Juventus and Manchester United playmaker said a food supplement a U.S. doctor had prescribed to him tainted his drug test.</p><p>Pogba is now eligible to play and sign for any club. He terminated his contract with Juventus in November, and his doping ban expired in March.</p><p>Pogba has a house in Florida and worked with Lionel Messi's fitness coach to get back into shape. An MLS team is also more likely to provide him with the minutes he needs to prove himself and potentially earn a place in France's squad for the 2026 World Cup.</p><p>He last played for the French national team in a March 2022 friendly against South Africa. He has 91 caps and helped Les Bleus win the World Cup in 2018 in Russia.</p><p>D.C. United are reportedly interested in signing pending free agent Kevin De Bruyne as well. A deal for the Manchester City midfielder would be more difficult to accomplish as United would have to acquire his discovery rights from Inter Miami in a likely costly transaction.</p>

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 15: Paul Pogba and his mother Yeo Pogba attend the "4 Zeros" Premiere at Pathe Palace on October 15, 2024 in Paris, France.

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Report: D.C. United in talks to sign World Cup winner Pogba

Manchester United won a scarcely believable seesaw contest after blowing an initial two-goal lead...

<p>Manchester United won a scarcely believable <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3269726" href="https://thescore.com/news/3269726">seesaw contest</a> after blowing an initial two-goal lead, Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt outlasted Lazio in a nervy shootout, and Tottenham and Athletic Bilbao ground out wins to reach the Europa League semifinals Thursday.</p><p>United's remarkable comeback from a 4-2 deficit at Old Trafford put them on a collision course with Athletic Bilbao, while Tottenham will face Bodo/Glimt for a chance to salvage their dismal season with silverware.</p><p>The semifinals begin May 1, with the reverse legs set for May 8 the following week.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Bodo/Glimt are the most surprising of the semifinalists. From a town of just 55,000 people, they're the first side from the Arctic Circle to ever make the final four of a major European competition.</p><p>Lazio ate at Bodo/Glimt's 2-0 first-leg advantage and leveled the tie in the 93rd minute when substitute <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/205733" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/205733">Tijjani Noslin</a> reacted first to a loose ball in the area. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/103315" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/103315">Boulaye Dia</a> gave Lazio a 3-2 aggregate lead halfway through the first half of extra time, but it lasted just nine minutes as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/60226" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/60226">Andreas Helmersen</a>'s 109th-minute header resorted parity. Bodo/Glimt converted three penalties to Lazio's two and celebrated Norwegian history at the Stadio Olimpico.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781125/cropped_GettyImages-2210791753.jpg?ts=1744928353" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781125/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210791753.jpg?ts=1744928353 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781125/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210791753.jpg?ts=1744928353 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781125/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210791753.jpg?ts=1744928353 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781125/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210791753.jpg?ts=1744928353 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781125/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210791753.jpg?ts=1744928353 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Image Photo Agency / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>United entered the final 20 minutes of the second half with a 2-0 lead but ended up taking the scenic route as Lyon forced extra time with a pair of late strikes.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/25380" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/25380">Corentin Tolisso</a>'s red card for a seemingly innocuous tangling of legs did little to slow down Lyon, who built a two-goal lead themselves in extra time thanks to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/163296" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/163296">Rayan Cherki</a>'s thunderous strike and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/25387" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/25387">Alexandre Lacazette</a>'s penalty.</p><p>The Ligue 1 side had scored four unanswered goals to seemingly leave United dead and buried. But <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/23312" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/23312">Bruno Fernandes</a>' 114th-minute spot-kick sparked a sensational seven-minute turnaround for United. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/190670" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/190670">Kobbie Mainoo</a> made it 4-4 on the night and 6-6 on aggregate with a composed finish into the bottom corner before <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/13942" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/13942">Harry Maguire</a> separated himself from his marker to head in a sensational winner in the 121st minute.</p><p>Tottenham put in a surprisingly solid defensive effort to shut out Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 and earn a 2-1 aggregate win. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/34985" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/34985">Dominic Solanke</a>'s 43rd-minute penalty was all Spurs needed to reach their first major European semifinal in six years.</p><p>Athletic Bilbao beat Rangers 2-0 to win their sixth straight Europa League home game and give life to their dream of playing the final at their home San Mames stadium. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/170285" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/170285">Nico Williams</a>' 80th-minute goal built on <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/161445" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/161445">Oihan Sancet</a>'s 45th-minute penalty to leave an overmatched Rangers side in the dust.</p>

Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke (centre) celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side's first goal of the game from a penalty during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final, second leg match at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany. Picture date: Thursday April 17, 2025.

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Europa League semifinals set with Man United and Spurs on course for final

Lautaro Martinez scored in a fifth consecutive Champions League match and Benjamin Pavard made hi...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/99740" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/99740">Lautaro Martinez</a> scored in a fifth consecutive Champions League match and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/53109" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/53109">Benjamin Pavard</a> made his former team pay to help Inter hold Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw Wednesday and reach the semifinals for the second time in three seasons.</p><p>Thanks to a 4-3 win on aggregate, the Nerazzurri, who lost to Manchester City in the 2022-23 Champions League final, will face Barcelona for a return ticket to the final in Munich.</p><p>Inter and Barcelona are both in contention for continental trebles. The Italians famously beat the Catalans en route to winning their only other treble in 2009-10.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Barcelona will host the first leg April 30 and travel to Milan for the reverse fixture on May 6.</p><p>Bayern took a deserved lead in the 52nd minute when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/3804" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/3804">Harry Kane</a> arrowed a shot into the bottom left corner. The goal leveled the tie 2-2 on aggregate, temporarily undoing the damage of their 2-1 first-leg home defeat.</p><p>But Inter quickly responded, converting off a pair of corner kicks in the space of three minutes to take a 2-1 lead. Martinez reacted first to a favorable bounce in the 6-yard box, and Pavard headed in his first goal for Inter since joining the club from Bayern in August 2023.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/13610" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/13610">Eric Dier</a> gave Bayern a lifeline in the 76th minute, but his floating header from an acute angle made no difference to the final result.</p><p>"We've had a packed schedule with loads of matches, one after the other, but we don't give up," Martinez told <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3269004" href="https://thescore.com/news/3269004">Amazon Prime</a>. "We have personality and heart and intelligence. We were definitely on the back foot at times today, but we showed again today that we can do great things.</p><p>"We think about winning everything at the start of every season, because if we don't, then we shouldn't play this sport. That's our mentality."</p><p>Bayern were hoping to play for a seventh Champions League title in front of their own fans as they did in the 2011-12 final. The Germans ended up losing that game to Chelsea in a penalty shootout.</p><p>In their quest for a second treble in club history, Inter have a three-point lead atop the Serie A standings and are in the Coppa Italia semifinals.</p><p>Head coach Simone Inzaghi is just the second Inter boss to have reached the Champions League semifinals on more than one occasion with the side. Legendary manager Helenio Herrera, the godfather of the defensive system known as Catenaccio, led Inter to four consecutive semifinal appearances from 1963-67, winning the European Cup in 1965.</p>

MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 16: Benjamin Pavard of FC Internazionale celebrates with Francesco Acerbi and Nicolo Barella after scoring the goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München at San Siro on April 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

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Inter to face Barca with treble in sights after UCL triumph over Bayern

Liverpool are finalizing new two-year contracts for pending free agents Mohamed Salah and Virgil ...

<p>Liverpool are finalizing new two-year contracts for pending free agents <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/17673" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/17673">Mohamed Salah</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/22556" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/22556">Virgil van Dijk</a>, sources told The Athletic's David Ornstein.</p><p>The breakthrough in talks brings much-needed clarity to the contract situations of Liverpool's two most important players. The development also numbs the potential sting of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer to Real Madrid at the end of the season.</p><p>Salah, 32, isn't facing a salary reduction despite initial concerns about his age, according to <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/mo-salah-liverpool-new-contract-extension-7ch23hvpz">The Times' Paul Joyce</a>. The Egyptian has been reportedly seeking a multi-year contract to build on his eight-year stay at Anfield.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Van Dijk said after Liverpool's 3-2 loss to Fulham on Sunday that "progress" was being made toward a new contract.</p><p>"I love the club. I love the fans, and they were there for us again," the Dutch defender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3260736" href="https://thescore.com/news/3260736">added</a>.</p><p>Speculation over the future of Salah, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold followed Liverpool even as they mounted an unexpected bid for the Premier League title. Head coach Arne Slot maintained throughout the year that he was counting on Salah to stay.</p><p>Salah <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3139372" href="https://thescore.com/news/3139372">expressed frustration</a> in November that he hadn't received an offer from Liverpool, saying he was "more out than in" and that his future wasn't in his hands. Reports continued to link him with a move to one of Saudi Arabia's top clubs, including Al-Hilal, who apparently identified Salah as a replacement for Neymar. Liverpool previously rejected a reported £150-million bid from Al-Hilal in September 2023.</p><p>Salah's stunning form this season has made it difficult for the Reds to consider allowing the Premier League's leading scorer to leave for free. He has 32 goals and 22 assists in all competitions this season and is now set to add to his total of 243 goals since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.</p>

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 08: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on March 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

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Report: Salah, Van Dijk close to signing Liverpool extensions

The race for soccer's top individual accolade has never been more open. With Lionel Messi and Cri...

<p><em>The race for soccer's top individual accolade has never been more open. With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's duopoly well and truly over - neither was nominated for the Ballon d'Or last year - opportunity beckons. Rodri took full advantage in 2024. Who will do the same this year? Each month until the award is presented in October, we'll publish fresh rankings looking at the top contenders. Here are the 10 leading candidates to win the trophy right now.</em></p><h3>10. Jude Bellingham</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-GQ1jF" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/GQ1jF/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Bellingham ranked third in Ballon d'Or voting last year with 23 goals in his first season with Real Madrid. He's less than halfway to that number with just two months remaining in his sophomore year, but the English midfielder still has an impact on Carlo Ancelotti's side. </p><p>While opponents continue to treat Bellingham as a two-way threat, he's helped shore up a midfield that's sacrificed a bit of its goal-scoring tendencies for more defensive solidity. Bellingham's lost a bit of discipline along the way this season - he was suspended for two La Liga matches for abusive language - but continues to drive the ball forward.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>9. Pedri</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-1KqAK" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1KqAK/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Attacking players almost always win the Ballon d'Or. A defender hasn't taken home the award since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, and even that took a Herculean, World Cup-winning effort. Scoring goals is simply the easiest way to garner individual acclaim and always has been. But Rodri's triumph last year, and Luka Modric's win in 2018, proved that majestic midfielders can get the recognition they deserve in this category.</p><p>Pedri, arguably the smoothest, most aesthetically pleasing midfielder in the sport right now, has an outside shot at ensuring the Ballon d'Or remains with a Spaniard for another year. Similar to his teammates on this list, the all-around operator could come away with several trophies this season after being central, literally and figuratively, to everything for Barcelona.</p><h3>8. Vinicius Junior</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-lpBe4" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/lpBe4/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Vinicius, and everybody associated with Real Madrid, will tell you that the Brazilian winger should already have one Ballon d'Or to his name. They're <em>still</em> rankled by Rodri's win last year. The 24-year-old is once again in the mix, but his path to the coveted golden trophy is more complicated than it was in 2024, thanks largely to the presence of his teammate Kylian Mbappe.</p><p>Nevertheless, Vinicius can't be ruled out. He has 24 goals in all competitions this season and could yet win La Liga, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup in the summer. He'll likely need to either fully outscore Mbappe or deliver a signature goal, as he has in recent Champions League finals, to leapfrog his French teammate in this race.</p><h3>7. Robert Lewandowski</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-N0bTg" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/N0bTg/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Barcelona's veteran striker has already scored 36 goals across all competitions - his highest tally since leaving Bayern Munich in 2021. He'll surely reach 40 with at least 13 matches remaining in the season. Droughts haven't been an issue: La Liga's leading scorer hasn't gone more than three games without a goal. But he's providing more than just offensive production.</p><p>Lewandowski, working again under Hansi Flick, has become the perfect foil in Barcelona's multi-faceted attack, pulling defenders with him as his younger teammates run into space. Flick's game plan could simply involve long balls to Lewandowski, but the 36-year-old, who's been remarkably healthy this season, has been willing to work for the team.</p><h3>6. Harry Kane</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-axEdt" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/axEdt/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Things really could change for Kane this season. He's expected to win his first career title with Bayern Munich, who lead the Bundesliga by six points, and could even eclipse the 44 goals he scored last season. Kane <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/harry-kane-ballon-dor-england-bayern-munich-b2718874.html">admitted</a> the change in "aura" at the club should boost his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or and that he couldn't have possibly won it while going trophyless at Tottenham Hotspur.</p><p>He's also elevated his play in big matches, scoring three of Bayern's five goals in the Champions League last-16 clash against Bayer Leverkusen. Kane's 10 Champions League tallies narrowly trail Raphinha's 11 this season.</p><h3>5. Lamine Yamal</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-1KqAK" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1KqAK/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>While not as prolific as his rivals, Yamal, who's still only 17, has become a clear reference point for Barcelona's plentiful attack. The Spanish winger is a menace down the right: His 4.2 successful dribbles per game lead La Liga by a wide margin, and no one touches his 11 assists in the top flight. Barcelona are incredibly lucky to have a ready-made replacement for Lionel Messi directly in-house.</p><p>Yamal has missed some time due to injury this season, and his health remains of utmost importance as Barcelona lean ever more on his talent. They need only look at Ansu Fati down the long side of the bench to see the devastating impact injuries can have on a promising career.</p><h3>4. Ousmane Dembele</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-C4mtZ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/C4mtZ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Nobody has rocketed into contention quite like Dembele, who, at long last, has put all the pieces together after years of untapped promise. The French winger, embracing the role as PSG's main man after Mbappe's departure, is backing up his blistering pace and spellbinding dribbling with prolific finishing. He has more league goals this season (21) than in his last five years combined and is the current leader in the race for France's Golden Boot.</p><p>PSG are shoo-ins to win Ligue 1 and are heavy favorites for the Coupe de France. They also look like the best team in Europe right now and have a very real shot at finally claiming a Champions League title. Should they accomplish all that, with Dembele leading the charge, the 27-year-old's case for the Ballon d'Or will be hard to ignore.</p><h3>3. Mohamed Salah</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-o6I8O" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/o6I8O/36/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Salah's authoring an all-time great season. With 27 goals and 17 assists through 29 games, he's well on his way to breaking the record for goal involvements in a single Premier League campaign (47). Plus, Liverpool are cruising toward a 20th English top-flight title. Just a few weeks ago, Salah was the overwhelming favorite here.</p><p>However, he's since cooled off, and Liverpool's Champions League exit in the round of 16 seriously dented his chances in a year where the competition will loom large on voting. Liverpool's League Cup final loss didn't help either. What once looked like a potential quadruple-winning season has petered out somewhat, likely taking Salah's Ballon d'Or chances down with it.</p><h3>2. Kylian Mbappe</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-TN0dq" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/TN0dq/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Mbappe has burst into life at Real Madrid, overcoming personal issues that cost him time with the French national team while acclimating himself to his new club. He took the keys to Madrid's attack with a second-leg hat-trick in their 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoff round. He also outperformed teammates Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior in the lead-up to the March international break.</p><p>Mbappe has his pace back - he was missing that final step in the opening months of the season - and is forcing defenders to backpedal as they did when he spearheaded Paris Saint-Germain's attack. If Madrid make another deep Champions League run, Mbappe, who's on 30 goals and counting, could conceivably finish as top scorer in La Liga and Europe.</p><h3>1. Raphinha</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-WE8ZY" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/WE8ZY/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="101" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>As evidenced by having three other players on this list, Barcelona's success this season has been a collective effort. But make no mistake, Raphinha is leading the way. The Brazilian, a club captain, has benefitted most from Flick's direct style that emphasizes quick, vertical play.</p><p>Raphinha's creativity and clinical finishing have helped lift Barcelona to the top spot in La Liga, where he has 21 goal involvements. He's been even better in the Champions League, leading the competition with 11 tallies in 10 games. This summer's lack of marquee international events means the Champions League will carry more weight for voters, putting him in a strong position to become the first Barcelona player since Messi to win this award.</p><p><strong>Keep an eye on</strong>:</p><ul>
<li>Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool and Netherlands)</li>
<li>Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid and Argentina)</li>
<li>Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich and Germany)</li>
</ul>

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And then there were eight. The Champions League field has been whittled down once again after the...

<p><em>And then there were eight. The Champions League field has been whittled down once again after the round of 16 came to an exciting conclusion Wednesday. Below, a collection of theScore's soccer editors review the last-16 action, providing one major takeaway from each of the fixtures.</em></p><h3>Yamal, Raphinha dazzle for Barca</h3><p><em>Barcelona beat Benfica 4-1 on aggregate</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/cropped_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w220xh124_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w320xh180_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w640xh360_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w768xh432_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774714/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2203979066.jpg?ts=1741723002 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">JOSEP LAGO / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Raphinha and Lamine Yamal assisted each other's goals in the 3-1 win over Benfica on Tuesday, once again proving their connection is as smooth as any in European competition. It's not that they simply look for one another but that their sweeping style of play - which leans heavily on dribbling and finding pockets of space - culminates in a cross or pass through the penalty area that lands in their path. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Barcelona could just as easily thump the ball at Robert Lewandowski and hope he converts from range, but head coach Hansi Flick instead asks his talented wingers to make inverted runs into dangerous areas, and they end profiting off each other's trickery. - <em>Anthony Lopopolo</em></p><h3>Steady Inter a serious threat</h3><p><em>Inter Milan beat Feyenoord 4-1 on aggregate</em></p><p>Simone Inzaghi's team is arguably the least glamorous of the title contenders remaining in the Champions League. But Inter might just be the most dangerous. They lack the mystique of Real Madrid, the youthful exuberance of Barcelona, or the slick interconnected passing of PSG. But what they have, in abundance, is veteran experience, solidity, and robustness.</p><p>The Serie A leaders never looked under any threat in their businesslike last-16 dismissal of Feyenoord. They've conceded only two goals in the entire tournament - the best defensive record thus far - and, with Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, have genuine game-breakers up front. A very similar recipe got them within touching distance of the trophy two years ago. It could carry them all the way this time. - <em>Gianluca Nesci</em></p><h3>PSG finally put all the pieces together</h3><p><em>PSG beat Liverpool 4-1 on penalties (1-1 on aggregate)</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/cropped_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Ousmane Dembele and PSG's forwards - along with a dazzling midfield - get most of the attention, but the French club doesn't reach the quarterfinals without shutting down Liverpool's potent attack over two legs. Liverpool besieged PSG's defense for large portions of Tuesday's second leg after Dembele's early goal brought the visitors level on aggregate. But Liverpool's breakthrough moment never came, and PSG went on to prevail after Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a pair of penalties.</p><p>PSG's defensive heroics at Anfield got them to the shootout in the first place. Willian Pacho was a standout performer Tuesday, producing key interceptions, blocks, and clearances. Nuno Mendes also produced critical interventions that were vital in keeping PSG alive in the tournament they're so desperate to win. - <em>Gordon Brunt</em></p><h3>Leverkusen crumble against Bayern</h3><p><em>Bayern Munich beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on aggregate</em></p><p>Leverkusen hadn't lost any of their previous six matches against Bayern Munich. But that was in domestic competition. "The Champions League is a bit more emotional," Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3232457" href="https://thescore.com/news/3232457">pointed out</a> before the teams' last-16 tie. "Emotional control is most important. Five bad minutes, and you're gone."</p><p>Gone they are after losing handily to their German rivals for exactly those reasons. Leverkusen conceded 9 minutes into the first leg and finished the game down to 10 men. Armed with a 3-0 aggregate lead, Bayern struck another two goals while restricting space for Leverkusen to attack. Alonso's side didn't have a shot on target until the 65th minute, by which point the tie was long gone. - <em>Lopopolo</em></p><h3>Guirassy keeps swinging for Dortmund</h3><p><em>Borussia Dortmund beat Lille 3-2 on aggregate</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/cropped_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w220xh124_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w320xh180_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w640xh360_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w768xh432_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773198/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2198430636.jpg?ts=1741012416 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">picture alliance / picture alliance / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Serhou Guirassy has been the only constant in Borussia Dortmund's seesaw of a season, and his skillful efforts in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Lille ensured his side's continued progress in the Champions League.</p><p>Just as everything seemed to go wrong - a pair of goal-line clearances and a couple of unbelievable point-blank saves unnerved Dortmund in the first half - Guirassy won the penalty that leveled the tie and assisted the goal that won it. He now has 14 goal involvements in the Champions League, the joint-most by an African player in a single season. Guirassy hasn't gone more than two games without having some material impact on the score line, showing the kind of consistency Dortmund have lacked in a year in which they've reached the Champions League quarterfinals while toiling in 10th place in the Bundesliga. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>Asensio adds extra element for Villa</h3><p><em>Aston Villa beat Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate</em></p><p>When January transfers work as intended, they provide a critical midseason boost that can ignite a team and push it over the top. Marco Asensio's move to Aston Villa is a prime example. The Spaniard, who arrived in Birmingham on loan from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day of the January window, was largely a non-factor in the French capital for the first half of the campaign, scoring two league goals in limited minutes.</p><p>But his quality has never been in doubt, and he's reminding anyone who might have forgotten about that. The 29-year-old scored twice in Wednesday's second-leg win over Club Brugge, bringing his tally to seven goals in eight games since joining Aston Villa. Asensio, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, can bring crucial big-game experience to a club that will now feature in its first European Cup quarterfinal in 42 years. Together with manager Unai Emery, another continental expert, Villa have every chance to continue their unlikely run. To do so, they'll need to defeat none other than PSG, the squad that jettisoned Asensio, in the next round. - <em>Nesci</em></p><h3>Arsenal capitalize on rare breather</h3><p><em>Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/cropped_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w220xh124_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w320xh180_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w640xh360_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w768xh432_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773419/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2202729922.jpg?ts=1741124756 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Arsenal's last-16 affair with PSV Eindhoven played out <em>perfectly</em> for Mikel Arteta. With a quarterfinal berth virtually sealed after a ruthless 7-1 first-leg win last week, the Gunners coach jumped at a rare opportunity to rotate his bruised and battered squad Wednesday. Seldom-used loanee Raheem Sterling delivered a solid first-half display in a makeshift attack that also saw left-back Kieran Tierney start on the wing and midfielder Mikel Merino line up as the No. 9 through the middle.</p><p>Arsenal padded their lead to progress with a 9-3 win on aggregate before a difficult quarterfinal test against holders and 15-time winners Real Madrid. But Arsenal's Champions League adventure could get a huge boost by April with Gabriel Martinelli at full strength and Bukayo Saka's expected return. Their Premier League title push is all but over, but don't discount an Arsenal side that could put all their eggs in the Champions League basket. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>Real Madrid always find a way</h3><p><em>Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties (2-2 on aggregate)</em></p><p>As Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid approached penalties, only one team seemed like the clear winner. Not because they dominated or deserved to go through, but because they have always come out on top. Madrid, of course, obliged, beating Atletico in a shootout for the sixth time in six attempts. An unlucky double touch annulled Julian Alvarez's penalty, opening up the win for Madrid and serving up an excruciating reminder of their historical supremacy over Atletico.</p><p>It really felt different when Conor Gallagher leveled the tie on aggregate just a minute into the second leg. Atletico often defended with six at the back but still produced the lion's share of chances, forcing Madrid shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois into seven saves. Even Vinicius Junior missed a penalty, which he had done only twice before in his pro career and never before for Madrid. There wasn't much more Atletico could do. But the Champions League is a funny tournament. Sometimes only the tiniest margins count. And Madrid live in those margins. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p>

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Antonio Rudiger's penalty kick squeaked past Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak to seal a drama...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/16577" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/16577">Antonio Rudiger</a>'s penalty kick squeaked past Atletico Madrid goalkeeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/14778" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/14778">Jan Oblak</a> to seal a dramatic 4-2 shootout win for Real Madrid in an epic Champions League last-16 encounter between historic city rivals at a raucous Metropolitano on Wednesday.</p><p>It's the fifth time in 11 years that Madrid have eliminated Atletico from the Champions League.</p><p>Los Blancos have won <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/1899962401149141361">all six of their shootouts</a> against Los Rojiblancos, including in the 2015-16 Champions League final.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Arsenal will be the next team that tries to dethrone the 15-time European champions. The Gunners will host the first leg at the Emirates on April 8.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/182721" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/182721">Julian Alvarez</a> thought he had tied the shootout at 2-2 with a strike into the upper netting, but the VAR canceled out the Argentine's penalty after Madrid's vocal protests, ruling he had touched the ball twice as he slipped on the spot.</p><p>In normal time, a penalty taker who touches the ball twice would end up conceding a free-kick to the opposing team. That doesn't apply in a shootout, and a retake isn't an option.</p><p>Oblak gave Atletico a second wind by turning away <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/49943" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/49943">Lucas Vazquez</a>'s effort, but <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/36960" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/36960">Marcos Llorente</a>'s follow-up for the hosts struck the bar, leaving Rudiger to finish off a wild sequence of events.</p><p>"It hurts. I think we played a great match, but unfortunately we lacked a bit of luck," Oblak <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3240728" href="https://thescore.com/news/3240728">told</a> Movistar. "The truth is that one feels pain. It hurts a lot."</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/160089" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/160089">Conor Gallagher</a>'s opportunistic first-minute opener Wednesday gave Atletico a 1-0 lead that leveled the tie 2-2 on aggregate.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/101248" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/101248">Vinicius Junior</a> wasted a chance to win it before extra time, skying his penalty attempt in the 70th minute.</p><p>Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti took off Vinicius with minutes remaining in extra time, denying him an opportunity to redeem himself in the shootout.</p><p>It didn't matter in the end.</p><p>Madrid took a 2-1 advantage into the second leg thanks to goals from <a href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/160984">Rodrygo</a> and <a href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/86731">Brahim Diaz</a> at the Santiago Bernabeu last Tuesday. Alvarez's stunning away goal gave Atletico an important building block.</p><p>Gallagher was a substitute a week ago but made an instant impact as a starter Wednesday, cleaning up Alvarez's wayward touch with a sweeping finish from close range.</p><p>Atletico's resolute defense held firm until <a href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66967">Kylian Mbappe</a> raced into space and drew contact from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/69635" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/69635">Clement Lenglet</a> in the penalty area. But Vinicius curled the potential tie-clinching spot-kick high and wide. </p><p>"We came out as if it was already won and in the first move they scored a goal against us, and that messed us up a lot," Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde added.</p><p>"We went to penalties. By the end we were very tired, it was very noticeable, and thank God we won."</p>

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 12: Players of Real Madrid celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second-leg match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain on March 12, 2025. Real Madrid won through penalty shootouts.

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Gianluigi Donnarumma watched counterpart Alisson Becker make save after save but couldn't produce...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/43614" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/43614">Gianluigi Donnarumma</a> watched counterpart <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/55092" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/55092">Alisson Becker</a> make save after save but couldn't produce one himself when it mattered most, as his Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 to an at times overwhelmed Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie Wednesday.</p><p>Liverpool substitute <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/103076" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/103076">Harvey Elliott</a> scored mere seconds after replacing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/17673" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/17673">Mohamed Salah</a> in the 86th minute to steal a win. It was the Reds' only shot on target and second overall compared to PSG's 28.</p><p>Alisson made nine saves, including diving efforts and fingertip stops, to frustrate PSG on a night they dominated in virtually every category but the one that mattered most. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/154299" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/154299">Khvicha Kvaratskhelia</a> also had a goal ruled offside in the first half.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It was probably the performance of my life," Alisson said.</p><p>The two sides will meet again Tuesday at Anfield for the decisive second leg.</p><p>PSG entered the contest on the back of 10 straight wins and immediately took the game to Liverpool.</p><p>Kvaratskhelia, who joined PSG in January in a €70-million move from Napoli, thought he had shot his team into a deserved lead when his curler eluded Alisson's grasp in the 20th minute. But replays later showed that Kvaratskhelia was offside by an ankle in the lead-up.</p><p>PSG continued to mount pressure on Liverpool's uncharacteristically disorganized back line and appealed for a penalty when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/93761" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/93761">Ibrahima Konate</a> appeared to push <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/185073" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/185073">Bradley Barcola</a> in the back.</p><p>A similar story played out in the second half. Alisson produced arguably his best save of the match in the 70th minute, diving spectacularly to his left to deny <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/187930" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/187930">Desire Doue</a>'s effort.</p><p>But Elliott landed the sucker punch. Fellow substitute <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/162705" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/162705">Darwin Nunez</a> had the composure to find Elliott in a sea of bodies, and the streaking midfielder's shot was strong enough to squeeze past Donnarumma's outstretched arm.</p><p>"I am still optimistic because we would have been more than worthy winners with our performance," PSG midfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/165381" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/165381">Vitinha</a> told Canal Plus.</p><p>"I know that in football goals are all that matter, but the truth is that playing like that takes us closer.</p><p>"I am sure it will happen in Liverpool, that we will play with the same character and we will win."</p>

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 05: Alisson Becker of Liverpool celebrates with team mate Virgil van Dijk after Harvey Elliott of Liverpool (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC at Parc des Princes on March 05, 2025 in Paris, France.

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The 32 teams competing in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in June and July will earn more than ...

<p>The 32 teams competing in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in June and July will earn more than $1 billion in prize money, sources told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cgl0zrxl8z9o">BBC Sport's Nizaar Kinsella</a>.</p><p>Each club will reportedly receive a participation fee and earn more by advancing from the group stage and into the knockout round.</p><p>Twelve of the 32 clubs are European and will likely gain a higher share of total revenue given their importance to the tournament and headlines they'll generate, according to Kinsella.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The European Club Association is reportedly in the process of closing the deal for 11 of those clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, and Red Bull Salzburg.</p><p>Real Madrid are the 12th European team but ended their membership with the ECA in 2021 to pursue a breakaway European Super League. Unlike Juventus, who were part of Madrid's initial push for a Super League, Madrid haven't reacquired membership.</p><p>FIFA will keep none of the revenue generated from the tournament and provide significant solidarity payments to non-participating teams, <a href="https://x.com/SkyKaveh/status/1897330879699001737">Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol</a> reports.</p><p>FIFA only recently announced a $1-billion deal with the DAZN to broadcast the tournament's 63 matches globally.</p><p>The Club World Cup kicks off June 14 in Miami and runs through to the final in New Jersey on July 13.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents The FIFA Club World Cup Trophy during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Draw at Telemundo Studios on December 05, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

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Report: FIFA Club World Cup prize money to surpass $1B for 32 clubs

Real Madrid are a step closer to eliminating rivals Atletico Madrid from the Champions League for...

<p>Real Madrid are a step closer to eliminating rivals Atletico Madrid from the Champions League for the fifth time in 11 years.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/86731" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/86731">Brahim Diaz</a> skipped past defenders to deliver the winning goal in a game full of fantastic finishes at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, handing Madrid a 2-1 advantage after the first leg of their last-16 tie.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/160984" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/160984">Rodrygo</a> embarrassed Atletico full-back <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/66792" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66792">Javi Galan</a> in a foot race to score the game's first goal four minutes after kickoff. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/182721" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/182721">Julian Alvarez</a> restored parity with a beautiful curling strike after 32 minutes. However, Atletico couldn't build on their superior first-half possession and allowed Diaz to waltz in 10 minutes into the second to tilt the tie in Madrid's favor.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I think we played a complete game today, (my) goal was good and it earned us the win, but it's not over," Diaz said after the match. "There's still the second leg and we have to give everything, like we did today."</p><p>Atletico must win the second leg on March 12 to have a chance of progressing.</p><p>Madrid have already beaten Atletico in the Champions League quarterfinals, semifinals, and twice in the final since their first European encounter in the 2014 showpiece event. In fact, Atletico have only ever beaten Madrid once in the Champions League, and even that result was inconsequential as it came in the second leg of their eventual semifinal elimination in 2017.</p><p>Atletico manager Diego Simeone has been at the helm for all those heartbreaking defeats. He <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3231964" href="https://thescore.com/news/3231964">admitted</a> before Tuesday's match that Madrid had history on their side, but he remained optimistic that his team could compete with Los Blancos.</p><p>Compete they did in a game that didn't flare up as previous derbies had and instead provided incredible glimpses of their quality.</p><p>Diaz was the only player to be booked all match - and only for jumping into the stands to celebrate his winner.</p><p>Neither side had claimed a win against each other in regular time in their five previous meetings, with the last three ending 1-1.</p><p>Madrid and Atletico are also neck and neck in La Liga. Simeone's side sits in second, one point behind leaders Barcelona and two ahead of Madrid.</p><p>"For a moment we had the game under control, but we knew that it would not be an easy match, because they were at home and they have great players," Alvarez explained after Atletico's narrow defeat.</p><p>"But we know there are 90 minutes to go ... it's one goal, and another game, at home with our fans."</p>

Madrid, Spain - March 4: Rodrygo of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on March 4, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

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Real Madrid put Atletico in another hole in Champions League

Canadian men's national team coach Jesse Marsch implored U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday...

<p>Canadian men's national team coach Jesse Marsch implored U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday to end his "ridiculous" attempts to make Canada the country's 51st state, expressing regret as an American over the "hate-fueled" climate Trump has caused in his home nation.</p><p>Marsch launched an impassioned defense of Canada during a news conference promoting the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League semifinals. His comments come as Trump continues to threaten Canada with punitive 25% tariffs on exports on March 4. Trump said Canada would avoid tariffs and gain better military protection if it became the 51st U.S. state.</p><p>"For me, I couldn't be prouder to be the Canadian national team coach. I've found a place that embodies for me the ideals and morals of what not just football and a team is, but life is. That's integrity, respect, and the belief that good people can do great things together," Marsch, a Wisconsin native who made two appearances for the U.S. men's national team and served as an assistant coach from 2010-11, <a href="https://x.com/onesoccer/status/1894824846170956246">told</a> reporters. "So, if I have one message to our president, it's lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state. As an American, I'm ashamed of the arrogance and disregard that we've shown one of our historically oldest, strongest, and most loyal allies."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Marsch is the only American to coach Canada's men's team and has held the position since replacing John Herdman in May. He led the Canadians to the Copa America semifinals in his first major tournament as coach.</p><p>Marsch <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40158711/jesse-marsch-unhappy-us-soccer-usa-coach-canada">said</a> he was approached by U.S. Soccer about the head coaching gig when Gregg Berhalter's contract expired in December 2022 but that he "wasn't treated very well in the process." U.S. Soccer ended up rehiring Berhalter before firing him in July as a result of the national team's group-stage elimination from the Copa America.</p><p>Former Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino now leads the program.</p><p>The political landscape supercharged interest in the 4 Nations Face-Off final between Canada and the U.S. and could do the same if both countries advance to the Nations League final on March 23 in Los Angeles.</p><p>Canada faces Mexico in the semifinals, while the U.S takes on Panama.</p><p>Marsch said Trump's comments will drive his players to show what it means to be Canadian.</p><p>"Canada is a strong independent nation that's deep-rooted in decency. It's a place that values high ethics and respect, unlike the polarized, disrespectful, and often now hate-fueled climate that's in the U.S.," he added. "Canada values a lot of fairness and unity. It's a place that I've learned as the national team coach where people really believe that their differences make them stronger.</p><p>"Honestly, it's one of the things that I've enjoyed the most about our team, is that they exemplify this as human beings and as a team. They're almost all first- and second-generation Canadians coming from different heritage and cultures, but they uniquely are incredibly proud to be Canadian, to represent their country, to give everything to each other."</p>

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 09: Head Coach Jesse Marsch of Canada speaks during a mix zone ahead of the match against Mexico at AT&T Stadium on September 9, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

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CanMNT coach Marsch urges Trump to drop 'ridiculous' talk of annexing Canada

Juventus joined Atalanta and AC Milan on their way out of the Champions League on Wednesday, roun...

<p>Juventus joined Atalanta and AC Milan on their way out of the Champions League on Wednesday, rounding off a damaging 48 hours for Serie A in the knockout playoffs.</p><p>Inter are the last Italian team standing in Europe's top competition, having secured direct passage to the round of 16 by way of a fourth-place finish in the league phase.</p><p>They'll either face either PSV Eindhoven or Feyenoord in the next round. PSV beat Juventus 3-1 on Wednesday to clinch the tie 4-3 on aggregate. Feyenoord's 1-1 draw with 10-man Milan on Tuesday allowed them to advance 2-1 on aggregate.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Atalanta suffered the most shocking result of the midweek fixtures, losing 3-1 to Club Brugge on Tuesday en route to a 5-2 defeat on aggregate.</p><p>The results will rock Serie A's UEFA coefficient, which decides which countries get an extra qualification spot. Only the top two teams in the rankings receive an additional berth, and England and Spain currently hold those spots with significant margins, according to <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/43040290/the-race-five-places-next-seasons-champions-league">ESPN's Dale Johnson</a>.</p><p>Italy is currently in third but has just four of its original eight teams remaining in European competition.</p><p>Juventus arrived in Eindhoven with a 2-1 lead from the first leg in Turin and were in position to advance when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/99646" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/99646">Timothy Weah</a>'s powerful finish canceled out <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/8225" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/8225">Ivan Perisic</a>'s 53rd-minute goal. But PSV midfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/168157" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/168157">Ismael Saibari</a> pounced on a goalmouth scramble to level the score at 3-3 on aggregate with 16 minutes remaining in regular time.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/199864" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/199864">Ryan Flamingo</a> tapped home in the first half of extra time to confirm the upset.</p><p>Brugge's three first-half goals - including a wallop of a finish by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/102686" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/102686">Ferran Jutgla</a> seconds after a dramatic goal-line clearance at the other end of the pitch - proved to be too many for Atalanta to claw back despite their best efforts Tuesday. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/61577" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/61577">Ademola Lookman</a> scored immediately after the interval but botched a penalty following a lengthy VAR check.</p><p>Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini later <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3221302" href="https://thescore.com/news/3221302">called</a> Lookman "one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen."</p><p>Atalanta's flickering hopes were extinguished in the 87th minute when Atalanta captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/59629" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/59629">Rafael Toloi</a> was sent off for charging at Brugge defender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/165173" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/165173">Maxim De Cuyper</a> in a moment of unadulterated rage.</p><p>Brugge nearly missed out on the playoffs altogether, finishing 24th in the league phase to nab the final qualification berth. Atalanta would've advanced directly to the round of 16 but fell outside the automatic places after a 2-2 draw with Barcelona.</p><p>Milan also blew a chance to qualify for next round on the final day of the league phase, losing 2-1 to eliminated side Dinamo Zagreb to drop into the playoffs.</p><p>They were the first Italian side to disappoint Tuesday. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/67855" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/67855">Theo Hernandez</a> was sent off in the 51st minute after receiving a second yellow card for diving in the penalty area. The dismissal hamstrung the Rossoneri and allowed Feyenoord back into a game they had trailed by a goal. </p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/165233" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/165233">Julian Carranza</a>'s header off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/175654" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/175654">Hugo Bueno</a>'s excellent cross was enough to send Feyenoord to the next round.</p>

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 19: Nicolas Gonzalez of Juventus reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between PSV and Juventus at PSV Stadion on February 19, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

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3 Serie A teams eliminated from UCL in huge blow to league's UEFA coefficient

Erling Haaland watched from the sidelines as Manchester City's Champions League campaign came to ...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/159222" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/159222">Erling Haaland</a> watched from the sidelines as Manchester City's Champions League campaign came to an end Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid.</p><p>Haaland was named to the bench for the playoff second leg after appearing to tweak his knee during City's 4-0 win over Newcastle United last Saturday.</p><p>City manager Pep Guardiola <a href="https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1892294133802303526">said</a> Haaland didn't feel good enough to start, and he ultimately opted to rest the Norwegian entirely as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/66967" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66967">Kylian Mbapp</a>e's hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabeu put the tie out of reach.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Madrid won 6-3 on aggregate to reach the round of 16.</p><p>Haaland scored twice in the first leg but couldn't prevent City from losing 3-2 at the Etihad.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/166016" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/166016">Omar Marmoush</a> played in Haaland's place, and his free-kick in second-half stoppage created the consolation goal.</p>

Manchester City's Erling Haaland before the UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase Play Offs Second Leg match at Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid. Picture date: Wednesday February 19, 2025.

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Injured Haaland held out of Man City's UCL loss to Madrid

Canada women's soccer team blew a 1-0 lead en route to a 1-1 draw with China in Casey Stoney's fi...

<p>Canada women's soccer team blew a 1-0 lead en route to a 1-1 draw with China in Casey Stoney's first match in charge of the national team Wednesday at the Pinatar Cup in Murcia, Spain.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsw/players/122105" href="https://thescore.com/olymsw/players/122105">Julia Grosso</a> opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a composed finish off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsw/players/122107" href="https://thescore.com/olymsw/players/122107">Gabrielle Carle</a>'s overhead pass, but Canada's offense sputtered and China equalized in the 58th minute after a goalmouth scramble.</p><p>Substitute <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wwcup/players/47686" href="https://thescore.com/wwcup/players/47686">Adriana Leon</a> had a goal chalked off for offside in the 76th minute and had appeals for a penalty dismissed despite drawing contact deep inside the penalty area.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Canadian 'keeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsw/players/83805" href="https://thescore.com/olymsw/players/83805">Sabrina D'Angelo</a> saved a low driven shot in the 91st minute to preserve the draw.</p><p>Canada had won each of its previous seven matches against China.</p><p>The Canadians will face No. 31-ranked Mexico on Saturday and No. 42 Taiwan next Tuesday in the invitational round-robin tournament.</p><p>Former Manchester United Women manager Stoney, who captained England's women's team during her career as a defender, replaced Bev Priestman on Canada's bench following a spying scandal that forced a major review of practices within Canada Soccer.</p><p>Priestman was fired in November after an independent review confirmed she had "<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3126720" href="https://thescore.com/news/3126720">directed, approved, and condoned</a>" the use of drones to spy on New Zealand's practices before a game at the Paris Games.</p><p>"My message is about turning the page, moving forward, being open-minded to the new ideas that we're going to bring to the team," Stoney told reporters Tuesday, according to the <a href="https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/canadian-women-start-new-chapter-at-pinatar-cup-in-spain-under-coach-casey-stoney/article_7e45db41-5448-594c-bf4d-9b72b186f16c.html">Toronto Star</a>. "And about focusing from this day onward and what it takes to prepare to win a World Cup."</p>

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - AUGUST 03: Adriana Leon #11 of Team Canada looks on prior to the Women's Quarterfinal match between Canada and Germany during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Marseille on August 03, 2024 in Marseille, France.

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Canada's women's team opens Stoney era with draw in Pinatar Cup

Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developmen...

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 25 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>What's behind rise in goalkeeper assists?</h3><p>Ederson became the goalkeeper with the most assists in Premier League history (six) and broke the record for the most in a single campaign (three) when his searching ball culminated with the first of Omar Marmoush's three goals in Manchester City's 4-0 win over Newcastle United. Brighton &amp; Hove Albion's Bart Verbruggen got an assist Friday when his whack upfield was excellently tamed by Kaoru Mitoma and then steered into the bottom corner of Chelsea's net.</p><p>Brentford's Mark Flekken, Fulham's Bernd Leno, and Everton's Jordan Pickford have also supplied assists this season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Taking such a direct route to goal appears to be a trend rather than an anomaly. The current number of assists by a goalkeeper this season is seven, which is the most since eight were tallied over the full 2007-08 campaign. The season average was just two over the 10 years preceding this term.</p><p>It's not hit-and-hope, ugly, mid-1900s English hoofball, though. Goalkeepers playing it short rose in popularity after Pep Guardiola dumped Joe Hart for the ill-fated Claudio Bravo at City in 2016, and that tactic remains popular in the Premier League. However, modern goalkeepers now have the ability and vision to pick their moments to send raking, and often accurate, passes toward their attackers.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/cropped_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770705/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199064338.jpg?ts=1739639419 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Ball-playing 'keepers aren't the only factor behind the rise in route-one assists. Long balls would be aimed at physical, but not necessarily quick, target men in the more traditional form of English football; now, teams are trying to catch out the high defensive lines regularly deployed in the top flight with deliveries over the top that pacey and technically gifted forwards can race onto and control.</p><p>Perhaps this trend is also a byproduct of the congested schedule: There's less time on the training ground to compose intricate playing patterns. As a result, more balls are simply being pinged from goalkeeper to attacker, quickly toward the wingers (like at Nottingham Forest), or, at the other end of the scale, straight to the other team or out of play (Crystal Palace). And, obviously, direct passing can be an effective way to prey on the mental and physical fatigue of opponents.</p><p>The rise of goalkeeper assists is a modern take on an English classic. Somewhere, Sam Allardyce is patting himself on the back.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Arsenal holding it together</strong></p><p>The "how" doesn't matter right now for Mikel Arteta. Injury-ravaged Arsenal need wins any way they can secure them to keep pace with Liverpool. Some days that'll mean getting a late brace off the bench from makeshift striker Mikel Merino to beat one of the league's worst teams. Three points is three points. It's fair to question and critique Arsenal's decision not to sign another No. 9 in January, but any team would struggle to score with all four of its best forwards sidelined simultaneously with long-term ailments. That the Gunners labored in their 2-0 win over Leicester City wasn't a surprise. At this point in the season, and with a title on the line as Liverpool start to show the first signs of vulnerability, the process is largely irrelevant. Just win, baby.</p><p><strong>... but Liverpool pulled off the same trick</strong></p><p>Wolverhampton Wanderers were much better than Liverpool after the interval Sunday. The visitors pulled a goal back through Matheus Cunha's beautiful curler from the edge of the area and had nine more shots in the second half as they tried to level. Liverpool didn't record a single shot after the break - the first time that's happened to the Reds in a Premier League fixture since Opta started tracking efforts on goal in the 2006-07 campaign. But aside from the morale boost that a positive display can give Wolves for the rest of their survival mission, nothing else matters aside from a 2-1 win that maintained Liverpool's seven-point lead at the summit. "It says a lot (that) we kept fighting and kept going and got the three points," captain Virgil van Dijk told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c78w071g71gt?post=asset%3Aec82f650-fe31-48d5-b31b-3b44925ed00a#post">BBC Sport</a> post-match.</p><p><strong>'Light at the end of the tunnel'</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/cropped_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w220xh124_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w320xh180_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w640xh360_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w768xh432_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767178/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2195299774.jpg?ts=1737835587 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Yui Mok - PA Images / PA Images / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>After three wins in 19 matches, Everton were sitting just one point clear of the relegation zone when David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche in January. What a turnaround he's engineered upon returning to the club. Saturday's win over Crystal Palace gave the Toffees 13 points since "The Moyesiah" took over. No team in the Premier League has more in that time. Moyes' tally of four wins is <em>already</em> more than Dyche managed to procure this season. Previously braced for a nervous race to avoid the drop, Everton supporters can instead look ahead to next season and the promise of greener pastures in their new stadium. The outlook has flipped entirely. "Everton have had a difficult period, but I certainly think there's light at the end of the tunnel now," Moyes said.</p><p><strong>Traore revives Fulham's European bid</strong></p><p>Fulham used Nottingham Forest's specialty against them to reignite their bid for European football. Entering the weekend as the lowest-scoring Premier League side from set-piece situations, the Cottagers nodded in one sublime delivery and another corner kick to earn back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since November. The 2-1 result also gave them their first home win in six league matches. Fulham are now four points behind the European places and could close the gap if Adama Traore continues to energize their attack. Traore whipped in the cross for Emile Smith Rowe's opener, and his runs down the right flank put defenders in danger. He accounted for nine of Fulham's 33 crosses, and it's that kind of direct game that's won Fulham points this season.</p><p><strong>Spurs must kick on from here</strong></p><p>Ange Postecoglou promised over and over that Tottenham would turn a corner once their best players returned from injury. While they didn't always look their best during Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester United - allowing the kind of chances a more polished opponent would've put away - Spurs were able to get a result thanks in part to the performances of fit-again Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison. Vicario made six saves, including a couple of difficult diving efforts, to keep Tottenham's first clean sheet at home in the Premier League since August. Maddison, of course, scored the winner off a rebound, but most importantly, he gave Spurs a level of confidence and creativity on the ball that they'd missed in the five games he sat out. Tottenham still have six key players out injured but have enough back to make it three Premier League wins in a row when they face Ipswich Town next Saturday. They haven't put three league wins together since December 2023.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Omar Marmoush (Manchester City)</strong></p><p>Marmoush joined Manchester City at the most difficult period of Guardiola's reign - and that dour spell still isn't over - so it was no surprise that the Egyptian's first goal (and second, and third) didn't come until his fifth appearance.</p><p>There were glimpses of how dangerous Marmoush could be before Saturday's visit from Newcastle. He had some promising link-ups with Erling Haaland in his debut against Chelsea and provided a team-high three key passes in the otherwise disastrous 5-1 defeat at Arsenal.</p><p>But a hat-trick crammed into 14 first-half minutes truly announces Marmoush's arrival. He opened the scoring with a sumptuous lob after latching onto Ederson's missile and shrugging off Kieran Trippier, followed that goal with a deflected finish, and tapped home Savinho's cutback to complete his treble. Marmoush should take a lot of the scoring burden off Haaland's shoulders; he'll explore areas all around the attacking third, but his positioning on the penalty spot for his third goal clearly showed he's comfortable taking up spaces usually occupied by No. 9s.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=643228:Palmer,1400227:Minteh,263653:Stones,877401:Bassey,894803:Spence,439369:Christie,1280132:Gonz%C3%A1lez,493647:Traor%C3%A9,1128965:Alcaraz,839204:Marmoush,574645:Merino&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2025 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Source: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>Ay, caramba! Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen's assist strengthened Barts' creativity superiority over footballing Simpsons like Danny, Fitzroy, and Paul.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">players with Bart in their name now have four times as many PL assists as those with Simpson in theirs</p>— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) <a href="https://twitter.com/oilysailor/status/1890520645001216445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>No matter where they are, Evertonians continue to savor the thrilling midweek result in the Merseyside derby.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Went the ice cream museum in New York earlier… couldn’t resist 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/EEdCtKJXo3">pic.twitter.com/EEdCtKJXo3</a></p>— Neilo (@Neilo_m) <a href="https://twitter.com/Neilo_m/status/1890551542433886468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+36</td>
<td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+29</td>
<td>53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+17</td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Newcastle</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+9</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>West Ham</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-18</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-19</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-27</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19.</td>
<td>Leicester City</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-30</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20.</td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>-38</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Goalkeeper assists, winning ugly, and Bart Simpson

Real Madrid could've finished off Manchester City a lot earlier. Kylian Mbappe had five shots, an...

<p>Real Madrid could've finished off Manchester City a lot earlier. Kylian Mbappe had five shots, and Federico Valverde fired three from the right-back position. Madrid ended up with 20 in all, the most City have allowed at the Etihad in nearly a decade. Mbappe's worst attempt - a shank of a volley from a set-piece situation - was the one that went in. There were near misses and blocked shots and, if you ever looked away, you'd wonder how City managed to gain a 2-1 lead in the first leg of their Champions League playoff.</p><p>Erling Haaland scored twice, including a well-struck penalty, to retake control of a game that was slipping away. City were doing to Madrid what the Spanish giants have done to so many other teams in this competition: winning without playing much.</p><p>But leads have often been City's heaviest burden this season - especially in the Champions League. They went Istanbul in a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain after building a 2-0 advantage, blew a two-goal cushion in a 2-2 draw with Brentford, dropped points to Everton after taking an early lead, and took a late one-two punch to the chin a 2-1 loss to Manchester United.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>They ultimately fell 3-2 after conceding the winner in stoppage time, marking the fifth time they lost from a winning position. They lost five times with a lead in the previous four seasons combined.</p><p>City began to panic with minutes remaining Tuesday, showing the alarming lack of composure that's compromised their campaign. Madrid substitute Brahim Diaz had the ball in the back of the net seconds after Ederson played an errant pass. City were dazed and confused at 2-2 but could well have taken positives from a draw. They just had to see it out.</p><p>But they couldn't make the most of their second chance. John Stones was under absolutely no pressure but somehow undercooked his cross-field pass and watched as Jude Bellingham pounced. What followed appeared to be a temporary let-off - Bellingham should've drawn a foul from his resulting run - but instead prefaced what was to come. Mateo Kovacic couldn't deal with a simple long ball, Rico Lewis lost a duel, and Madrid bagged the winner.</p><p>The problem hasn't been tactical or technical or a matter of fatigue. These players haven't lost games because they can't sprint or win difficult individual battles or score in big moments. They can still do those things.</p><p>What's happening is purely human. We have never had more data to explain away every team's problems, and the temptation is to apply it to City's situation. Players <em>must</em> be running less. Their expected-goals ratio <em>must</em> be worse than previous seasons. The number of injuries <em>must</em> be a factor. More players <em>must</em> be in the red zone in terms of fitness.</p><p>But there doesn't have to be a mathematical or scientific explanation. It can simply come down to poor decision-making, a loss of confidence, and poor execution.</p><p>"We love football for its imprecision, its moments of genius and its mistakes, when the ball bounces badly and the left-back plays terribly because he's had a fight with his girlfriend before the game. And there's no equation that can explain that," World Cup winner Jorge Valdano wrote in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/29/jorge-valdano-love-football-opposite-of-science">The Guardian</a>.</p><p>What's hard to understand is how exactly the four-time defending Premier League champions have lost so much of themselves in such a short period of time.</p><p>This team used to be so secure with the ball. Now no one seems to want it. It's a grenade bouncing around the field, blowing up what's left of their season. You could understand if Pep Guardiola was asking his players to take more risks and do things they had never done before. But that isn't happening here.</p><p>No specific tactic or strategy will get City out of this tailspin. They can repeat the same patterns that helped them win so many titles, and it won't help. That's probably what keeps Guardiola up at night - and probably what's keeping him here for another couple of years.</p><p>"I am not good enough to give the composure to the team to manage this situation," he <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3215986" href="https://thescore.com/news/3215986">said</a> afterward.</p><p>Maybe, though, composure isn't his to give.</p>

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Man City are imploding before our eyes. Can they do anything about it?

The 2025 winter transfer window has closed in most European countries. Get caught up on deadline ...

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Breaking down all the major deals, rumors from transfer deadline day

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 24 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>Arsenal have flipped Man City rivalry</h3><p>Arsenal didn't just beat Manchester City on Sunday - they conquered a demon. The Gunners have truly eclipsed their rivals, leaving them behind after trailing them for years. The only tragedy is that Arsenal may finally finish above City in the table but once again miss out on the Premier League title.</p><p>We all know how far Mikel Arteta and his staff have gone to find the antidote to City's sting. He hired pickpockets to test his players' mental sharpness in a casual setting. He brought an olive tree into a team meeting and described his players as branches and his staff as the roots. He adopted a dog named Win and tried as hard as he could to identify the margins City seemed to have cornered for so long.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>City beat Arsenal in 15 of 16 matches from the start of the 2017-18 season to the end of the 2022-23 campaign. Arsenal failed to score in many of those games. It was complete annihilation.</p><p>But the rivalry changed at the start of last season. A 1-0 win in October 2023 ended City's dominant run. Back-to-back Premier League draws followed, including the 2-2 result that John Stones salvaged with a late header in September.</p><p>If those last three contests closed the gap for Arsenal, Sunday's 5-1 win flipped the script entirely, leaving City with a gap of their own.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">5 - Mikel Arteta is now unbeaten in five games against Manchester City (W2 D3); the joint-longest run by a manager against Pep Guardiola, after Thomas Tuchel (2016-2021) and Jürgen Klopp (2021-2022). Equals. <a href="https://t.co/tUVbtRs3jH">pic.twitter.com/tUVbtRs3jH</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1886121487381241877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>While Pep Guardiola's players have looked unrecognizable this season - worlds apart from the slick-passing team that won four straight league titles - they were downright bullied at the Emirates. No one could make a pass or a good decision under pressure. Arsenal forced the issue by pressing high and asking questions of City's fragile defenders. The response was usually some kind of giveaway.</p><p>Above all, City's buildup play lacked reason. Take, for example, the lunacy that led to Arsenal's first goal. Manuel Akanji wouldn't have coughed up possession if Stones had built up play using the free man on his left instead of the one teammate crowded by opponents.</p><p>Arsenal didn't relent and dunked on City whenever they had a chance. It may have looked like they were beating a dead horse, but they were really proving to themselves that the tables have indeed turned.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Liverpool ride their luck</strong></p><p>"We weren't unlucky, let's put it this way." That was Arne Slot's refreshingly honest <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3206896" href="https://thescore.com/news/3206896">assessment</a> of his team's performance following Saturday's 2-0 win over Bournemouth. Liverpool didn't have it all their own way. The Cherries, riding an 11-match unbeaten run, made it tricky. Margins were fine. Liverpool were on the right side of match-swinging offside calls in either direction, while Bournemouth were thwarted by the post twice. Call it what it was: Liverpool got a little lucky. That's okay. Every team that goes on to win a title gets some fortuitous bounces along the way. They just happen to be magnetized when dealing with a title race, which gives off the illusion that <em>every </em>call is going the way of the leaders. Liverpool are excellent, and they're getting the slices of luck you need to hold off the chasing pack. That's a tough combo to beat.</p><p><strong>Tempering expectations</strong></p><p>Ruben Amorim could have been right when he said last month that this may be the "worst" Manchester United team in club history - a statement he later admitted to regretting. Against that backdrop, and on the back of <em>another</em> humbling home loss Sunday, this time to Crystal Palace, there will be an obvious desire to anoint any new signings as the singular savior who can help turn things around. That would be a disservice to Patrick Dorgu, the 20-year-old Danish international who arrived Sunday from Lecce for an initial £25 million. And, should the club make an 11th-hour move for another central defender in the wake of Lisandro Martinez's seemingly serious knee injury, they'll get hit with the same label, too. But no one player can turn this around fully, and certainly not immediately. This rebuild is going to take time. Being patient is hard, but it's the only sustainable path back to success for Manchester United and their dejected fan base.</p><p><strong>Cunha's mind finally clear</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/cropped_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768549/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197125631.jpg?ts=1738528936 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Naomi Baker / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Matheus Cunha has been on a whirlwind ride during the January transfer window. He was initially tabbed as an option for some of Europe's elite clubs looking for more scoring punch, then reportedly had an agreement in place to extend his contract with Wolves, then got called out publicly by his manager, inciting a new round of rumors about the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United being interested, and then, finally, put everything to bed Sunday by inking the aforementioned extension, not long after scoring to seal a 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Transfer speculation can absolutely have a tangible negative impact on player performance, though few admit it. With the window closing and his immediate future decided, Cunha can now focus exclusively on his play. Until we start doing this all over again in the summer, of course.</p><p><strong>Aston Villa's secondary scoring</strong></p><p>Ollie Watkins needs help in the wake of Jhon Duran's transfer to Al-Nassr. Strictly financially, getting €77 million upfront for a player who was in Major League Soccer just two years ago was a masterstroke. Offered that deal, you take it every single time, especially at a time when financial rules are always top of mind. On the pitch, though, losing the Colombian marksman puts a lot of pressure on Watkins, whose 10 league goals this season make him the club's leading scorer. Morgan Rogers has six tallies, but nobody else has more than three. Duran had seven. Villa need more from Leon Bailey, while January signing Donyell Malen has to get up to speed quickly. Unai Emery will hope that Marcus Rashford can hit the ground running and recapture some of his early-career scoring form.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)</strong></p><p>Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, and Alexander Isak unsurprisingly occupy the top three spots in the Premier League's Golden Boot race. The top two, especially, were to be expected. Not many would have predicted Wood would be right in the mix, though. The imposing 33-year-old's renaissance since joining Nottingham Forest has been inspiring as it has been unexpected. Wood joined Forest in January 2023 when he was on the wrong side of 30 and had scored only seven Premier League goals since the start of the 2021 season.</p><p>He's gone on an almighty tear since then, scoring 32 league goals for Forest. His hat-trick in Saturday's 7-0 annihilation of Brighton brought him to 17 on the current campaign, including seven in his last six league outings. For a team that likes to attack directly and at pace using different combinations of wing-backs and more traditional wingers, the New Zealander is a perfect fit as the target man in the middle. It's working like a dream for Nuno. </p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=319784:Alisson,894803:Spence,243138:Tarkowski,950485:Lacroix,1406436:Lewis-Skelly,769166:Bellegarde,654096:Rice,292462:Salah,1050166:Elanga,706297:Mateta,169719:Wood&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2024 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Source: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Highlight of the weekend 🎥</h3><p>If you look up "defense-splitting" pass in the dictionary, you'll find this gorgeous assist from James Garner during Everton's dominant 4-0 win over Leicester City.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The perfect pass does not exi- <a href="https://t.co/xHFB9tB375">pic.twitter.com/xHFB9tB375</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/1885812873353470295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>The "Theatre of Dreams" is giving Manchester United nightmares nowadays.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">13 - Since the beginning of last season only Wolves (16) have lost more Premier League home games than Manchester United (13). Pantomime. <a href="https://t.co/55zP2PohoY">pic.twitter.com/55zP2PohoY</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1886081657762980044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>Time to get a green piece in there after Southampton's win this weekend.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">southampton’s past 14 matches : <a href="https://t.co/jXw23QCpIw">https://t.co/jXw23QCpIw</a></p>— TWTDcorey 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🚜 (@CoreySh1elds) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoreySh1elds/status/1885321873921060975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>+35</td>
<td>56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+27</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Newcastle United</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>+11</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>West Ham United</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>-16</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-18</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.</td>
<td>Leicester City</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-28</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-27</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20.</td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>-36</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Arsenal flip script, Man City crumble, Liverpool ride luck

It's finally over. A whole 135 days after UEFA's newly formed Champions League league phase offic...

<p><em>It's finally over. A whole 135 days after UEFA's newly formed Champions League league phase officially kicked off, we have our top eight and 16 playoff contestants for the round of 16. theScore covers the fallout from the 18 simultaneous games that took place on Matchday 8.</em></p><h3>Who's in?</h3><p><strong>Liverpool</strong>, <strong>Barcelona</strong>, <strong>Arsenal</strong>, <strong>Inter</strong>, <strong>Atletico Madrid</strong>, <strong>Bayer Leverkusen</strong>, <strong>Lille</strong>, and <strong>Aston Villa</strong> earned byes to the round of 16 as the top eight sides.</p><p>Liverpool finished in first place despite losing 3-2 to PSV Eindhoven and blowing their shot at a perfect 8-0-0 record. Barcelona needed a win against Atalanta to leapfrog the Reds but could only muster a 2-2 draw.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Lille bulldozed their way into the upper bracket with a bruising 6-1 win over Feyenoord that helped them finish seventh on goals scored. Villa oscillated all night between the automatic berths and playoffs but ended up joining the octet following a wacky 3-2 victory over Celtic in which they led 2-0 after just five minutes.</p><p>Each of the top eight finishers will face the eight teams that come through the 16-team playoff. The playoff clubs include heavyweights <strong>Real Madrid</strong>, <strong>Bayern Munich</strong>, <strong>AC Milan</strong>, <strong>Paris Saint-Germain</strong>, <strong>Juventus</strong>, and <strong>Manchester City</strong>, who overcame a 1-0 deficit to beat Club Brugge and pull themselves out of the elimination zone.</p><p><strong>Atalanta</strong>, <strong>Borussia Dortmund</strong>, <strong>Madrid</strong>, <strong>Bayern</strong>, <strong>PSV</strong>, and <strong>Benfica</strong> will be seeded for the playoff draw, while <strong>Monaco</strong>, <strong>Brest</strong>, <strong>Feyenoord</strong>, <strong>Juventus</strong>, <strong>Celtic</strong>, <strong>City</strong>, <strong>Sporting CP</strong>, and <strong>Club Brugge</strong> are unseeded.</p><p>Goal difference served as the initial tiebreaker in the standings. Goals scored was referenced when teams were tied on goal difference.</p><h3>Who's out?</h3><p>Nine of the bottom 12 teams were eliminated from knockout-round contention before Wednesday's action.</p><p><strong>Dinamo Zagreb</strong>, <strong>Stuttgart</strong>, and <strong>Shakhtar Donetsk</strong> joined Bologna, Crvena Zvezda, Sturm Graz, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, Red Bull Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, and Young Boys on the way out of the competition.</p><p>Zagreb finished a place short of a playoff spot despite beating 10-man Milan on Wednesday. The Croatians briefly moved up to 23rd but lost ground when City roared back from their halftime deficit.</p><p>Stuttgart could've advanced with a draw against PSG but capitulated early and eventually lost 4-1 at home.</p><p>Donetsk needed a near impossible combination of results - including a big win over Dortmund and straight-up losses for both City and Zagreb - to go through. But the Ukrainians couldn't even clear the first hurdle as they lost 3-1 to Dortmund.</p><p>Bratislava and Young Boys finished the league phase as the only two clubs without a point. No team conceded more than Bratislava's 27 goals. Young Boys could only manage a paltry three goals in eight matches.</p><h3>What's next?</h3><p>The top eight get a well-earned rest before the round of 16 begins March 4.</p><p>Clubs ranked ninth to 16th will face teams ranked 17th to 24th in two-legged playoffs starting Feb. 11.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who will make it all the way to Munich? 💬<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/G6LlEYn1Q4">pic.twitter.com/G6LlEYn1Q4</a></p>— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/1884743199287021870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The playoff bracket couples teams by table position, showing them a potential pathway before Friday's draw (6 a.m. ET). For example, ninth-placed Atalanta or 10th-placed Borussia Dortmund will face 23rd-placed Sporting CP or 24th-placed Club Brugge.</p><p>The most tantalizing matchup involves City, who are guaranteed to face either Bayern or Madrid in the playoff round. Milan could also meet Juventus, with the winner facing one of Arsenal or Inter in the round of 16; there's nothing stopping teams from the same country meeting in the playoff round. PSG are in tough, too, with a round-of-16 matchup against Liverpool or Barcelona awaiting them if they win their playoff.</p><h3>The final table</h3><p><strong>Bound for round of 16</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Inter</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Atletico Madrid</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Bayer Leverkusen</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Lille</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+7</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+7</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Bound for playoff round</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Atalanta</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Borussia Dortmund</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Real Madrid</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>AC Milan</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>PSV Eindhoven</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Paris Saint-Germain</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Benfica</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Monaco</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Brest</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Feyenoord</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Juventus</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Celtic</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Sporting CP</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Club Brugge</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Eliminated</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>PL</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Dinamo Zagreb</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Stuttgart</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>Shakhtar Donetsk</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Bologna</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Crvena Zvezda</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>Sturm Graz</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>Sparta Prague</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-14</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>RB Leipzig</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Girona</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>Red Bull Salzburg</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-22</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>Slovan Bratislava</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-20</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>Young Boys</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>-21</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

General View of the UEFA Champions League trophy prior the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 final match between Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024 in London, England.

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Who's in, who's out? How UCL league phase unfolded, and what comes next

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Gianluca Nesci

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