Imperious Barcelona thumped visitors Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday after Robert Lewandowski netted twice against his old club to earn the Catalans a sizeable lead ahead of next week's return visit to Germany.
Barcelona vs Dortmund highlights
Two unbelievable Declan Rice free kicks vs Real Madrid stunned the Spanish giants and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as Arsenal soared to a 3-0 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.
After a relatively quiet first half, Rice sent the crowd inside Emirates Stadium into a frenzy with a marvelous bending free kick in the 58th minute. The ball bent so far around the wall it was reminiscent of Roberto Carlos’ free kick vs. France in 1997.
Declan Rice free kicks vs Real Madrid
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé and Antonio Rüdiger have been fined for misconduct after their Champions League win over Atlético Madrid and handed one-game bans, suspended for a year, leaving them free to play against Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
Rüdiger was fined $44,000 while Mbappé was fined $32,800. However, their one-match suspensions are "not immediately enforced" and are subject to a probationary period of one year, UEFA said on Friday.
Mbappé and Rüdiger ban
Four Real Madrid players could be in trouble after UEFA announced that an ethics and disciplinary investigation is being launched for the club’s celebrations against Atlético Madrid during their Champions League Round of 16 victory.
Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Ceballos and Vinícius Jr. were the quartet of Madrid players that UEFA named. The investigation will be for “indecent conduct.”
UEFA Real Madrid investigation
UEFA said the correct decision was made to disallow Julian Alvarez's penalty in Atletico Madrid's Champions League loss to city rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday but European soccer's governing body would enter discussions to review the rule.
A livid Atletico enquired with UEFA after Alvarez had his shootout penalty ruled out by the referee in their last-16 tie that saw Real reach the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition.
The second leg of the Madrid Derby in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday had high drama with the main focus being a Julián Alvarez penalty being disallowed during the shootout which Real Madrid won 4-2 after drawing 2-2 on aggregate.
Alvarez appeared to convert Atlético Madrid’s second penalty when he powered his penalty kick into the roof of the net despite slipping.
BARCELONA — Raphinha scored twice and Lamine Yamal netted with a stunning strike as a superb Barcelona dismantled Benfica 3-1 in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, advancing to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory.
It was an inspired evening for teenager Yamal who was virtually unplayable running up and down the right channel, creating most of Barca's scoring chances.
Lamine Yamal goal vs Benfica
PARIS — Liverpool substitute Harvey Elliott scored a last-gasp winner less than a minute after coming on to earn a fortunate 1-0 win against Paris St Germain who dominated their visitors during Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg match.
Elliott slotted the ball home in the 87th minute against the run of play after a layoff from fellow substitute Darwin Nunez for a scarcely-deserved victory in Paris.
MADRID — Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz scored a second-half winner as the hosts edged out neighbors Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a scrappy first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Tuesday after Julian Alvarez had cancelled out Rodrygo's opener.
Real started on fire when Rodrygo scored a fine opener four minutes after kick-off but Atletico slowly got into the game and Alvarez equalized with a stunning strike in the 32nd minute.
Julian Alvarez goal vs Real Madrid
The Champions League last-16 draw threw up some mouth-watering matches with holders Real Madrid playing local rivals Atletico Madrid while Bayern Munich were drawn against Bundesliga title challengers Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
Champions League draw bracket