Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann combined for a super sexy give-and-go goal that deserved its own writeup on Thursday. But like a phone call from your mother as you’re trying to be romantic with your partner, Granada poured cold water on Barcelona with an impressive 2-1 win at an empty Camp Nou on Thursday. 

Christian Pulisic escribió esta noche un capítulo grande en la historia del fútbol estadounidense. El oriundo de Hershey, Pennsylvania, se convirtió en el primer jugador de esa nación en convertir en una semifinal de Champions League, al marcar en el 1-1 de Chelsea ante Real Madrid.

There was a time when Christian Pulisic’s rumored destination from Borussia Dortmund was Real Madrid. With Gareth Bale fading and Lucas Vázquez not offering as much of a threat, it wasn’t just a fancy of The18 that Pulisic make his way to the Santiago Bernabéu — He Who Must Not Be Named (Florentino Pérez) wanted it.

Early against Real Madrid, Christian Pulisic put the ball on a platter for Timo Werner to score, but his German teammate hit it too close to Thibaut Courtois, whose lanky legs denied Chelsea an early goal. Not long later, Pulisic learned his lesson and opted not to pass, and in doing so put his team in front in the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday in Madrid. The Pulisic goal vs Real Madrid was the opener in a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the UCL semifinals. 

This Tuesday, the first semi-final of the current edition of the Champions League will take place: Real Madrid vs Chelsea. However, the match between these two teams, to be played at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, is shrouded in controversy after the British media revealed in the last few hours that three Chelsea players were at a party in England, violating the strict biosecurity rules in this country.

Atlético Madrid tuvo un amargo viaje a San Mamés. El equipo de Diego Simeone cayó 2-1 ante el Athletic Club y en el despilfarro de puntos le puso una sobredosis de suspenso a la definición de LaLiga. 

Si bien el empate 0-0 del Real Madrid ante Betis les había dado un respiro, el triunfo 1-2 de Barcelona sobre Villarreal metió una tonelada de ansiedad a los jugadores colchoneros. Y eso se notó en el encuentro. 

En la desconexión, el Athletic usó la cabeza y castigó.