By Tony Odu
• This week marks the return of the UEFA Champions League, but it is becoming more and more crucial for the greatest clubs that it never disappears. This explains why Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool are so keen to make it to the competition the next season.
• Port Vale, who are struggling in Sky Bet League One, will travel to Chelsea in the FA Cup quarterfinals, while Manchester City will face Liverpool in the pick of the quarters from the draw on Monday.
• Rodri, a midfielder for Manchester City, was fined 80,000 euros for remarks he made against the referee following the Premier League stalemate with Tottenham last month. He said that during City’s 2-2 tie on February 1, referee Robert Jones was not “neutral.”
• Liverpool’s coach, Arne Slot, stated that his team is ready to deal with a wall of noise in Turkey after acknowledging that they were surprised by the deafening Champions League atmosphere at Galatasaray earlier in the season. The Premier League winners will resume their pursuit of continental glory on Tuesday night at what will undoubtedly be a rocking Rams Park, where they lost 1-0 in the league phase in September.
• Mauricio Pochettino is one of Real Madrid’s shortlisted candidates to succeed Álvaro Arbeloa in the upcoming campaign. Ahead of a summer when significant structural changes are anticipated, which may potentially have an impact on a number of individuals in control of the transfer market, the La Liga heavyweights have started to scout the coaching market.
• Spurs are back at Atlético Madrid’s Riyadh Air Metropolitano for the first time since losing to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final, and the north London club is embroiled in a relegation battle following an 11-match league losing streak this year. Igor Tudor has acknowledged that Tottenham’s top priority is Premier League survival, but he has urged them to use the Champions League to switch momentum.
• The Spanish Referees’ Technical Committee (CTA) is furious with CD San Luis, a Spanish eighth division team, for supporting a player who attacked a referee during a regional match on Sunday. In the 77th minute, with the score tied at 2-2, CD San Luis player José Álvarez Esteban attacked referee José Antonio Berdasco after the official had given UD Llanera B a penalty.
• During Sunday’s 2-2 draw, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho accused FC Porto assistant manager Luis “Lucho” Gonzalez of calling him “a traitor” fifty times. Mourinho was sent off against his old team in the ninetieth minute after it was determined that he had kicked a ball in the direction of the away bench.
• As the Spanish champions get ready for Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Newcastle United, Hansi Flick claims Barcelona has the quality to handle the financial might of the “best in the world” Premier League.
• Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on Tuesday that Australia had granted sanctuary to five Iranian women’s soccer players who were in the nation for the Asian Cup when hostilities broke out in their native country.
• Following a social media tirade directed at the Manchester United head coach on Wednesday night, legend Paul Scholes has said he did not intend to hurt his old teammate Michael Carrick.
• Tennis News: After defeating Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets, defending champion Jack Draper will play Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Cameron Norrie of Britain also makes it to the next round after defeating Alex de Minaur of Australia.
• After losing 6-1 6-1 to Amanda Anismova in 52 minutes during the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, Emma Raducanu said, “When I’m playing someone who’s at the top like that, I think they have an extra 10 miles an hour on their serve than me.” That divide feels more noticeable when I’m not feeling it.
Champions League Round of 16, First Leg, March 10, 2026
Galatasaray vs Liverpool 18:45
Newcastle vs Barcelona 21:00
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham 21:00
Atalanta vs Bayern 21:00
FA Cup Quarter-Finals Fixtures, April 4
Manchester City vs Liverpool
Chelsea vs Port Vale
Southampton vs Arsenal
West Ham vs Leeds United
La Liga Result Monday, March 9
Espanyol 1 – 1 Real Oviedo
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