Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has delivered a brutally honest verdict on his team's chances of overturning a 2-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals. Speaking ahead of Tuesday's crucial second leg at Anfield, the Dutch defender warned that a dramatic improvement is required and called upon the home fans to inspire a special night.
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has updated his Instagram profile picture to an iconic photo of LeBron James from the 2016 NBA finals. This highly symbolic gesture signals the 18-year-old's profound belief that his team can overcome their two-goal deficit in the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid and deliver a miraculous comeback.
Former Manchester United and Juventus full-back Patrice Evra has claimed that Barcelona are "not capable" of overturning a 2-0 aggregate deficit in their Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid. The Blaugrana faithful have been talking up the prospect of a sensational 'Remontada' (Spanish for 'comeback') in the second leg at the Metropolitano, but Evra feels they are no longer the same European powerhouse he played against during his career.
Barcelona's frustration during and after Wednesday night's Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid was perfectly understandable. The Blaugrana had been the better side in the first leg of the quarter-final tie at Camp Nou - and that was in spite of the fact that they had played more than half the game with 10 men following Pau Cubarsi's straight red card just before the break.
Real Madrid are concerned about Kylian Mbappé. Just days before the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, the forward had to cut short a training session.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has thrown his support behind teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha, insisting the youngster would take a Champions League start against Paris Saint-Germain "in his stride". The 17-year-old has again become the talk of Merseyside after a record-breaking performance against Fulham over the weekend.
Kylian Mbappe has been left nursing a significant facial injury following Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Girona in La Liga. The French superstar was forced to undergo a minor medical procedure to repair a deep gash after a physical encounter left him bloodied and bruised at the Bernabeu. WARNING: Graphic content.
Diego Simeone has staunchly defended his decision to field the youngest starting XI of his tenure after Atletico Madrid fell to a narrow La Liga defeat against Sevilla. With a season-defining Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barcelona looming, the Argentine tactician opted for ten changes to his side at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Despite being the focal point of the Bayern Munich attack all season, Harry Kane was restricted to a spectator's role during Bayern Munich's five-goal demolition of St Pauli. After playing the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid earlier in the week, the 32-year-old was granted a break by his manager to ensure he remains at peak fitness for the season's defining fixtures.
