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      Chelsea 1 Atletico Madrid 1 (agg: 3-1) Blues book Champions League last eight spot after Atletico miss penalty

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      CHELSEA sealed their Champions League quarter-final place after Atletico Madrid missed a THIRD penalty over the two-legged tie.
      A Maren Mjelde spot-kick helped the Blues snatch a 1-1 draw and a 3-1 aggregate win – with England striker Toni Duggan smashing her penalty onto the crossbar.

      Chelsea are through to the last eight of the Women’s Champions League after beating Atletico Madrid 3-1 on aggregateCredit: Rex Features

      Maren Mjelde was on target from the spot for Chelsea in their second leg clash with AtleticoCredit: Rex Features

      But the Blues’ march to the competition’s next stage was overshadowed by a clash of heads that forced Beth England off in the first half.
      And Blues boss Emma Hayes reckons her side may be feeling the effects of hard-fought victories against West Ham in the WSL and Atletico in Europe. 
      Hayes said: “I think my team were a bit leggy. I think the domestic league in England is so tough, so when you’re playing West Ham away it takes something out of the players. 
      “Plus, we played with ten players last Wednesday and completed some physical stats that for some players were season-highs, so it was going to take its toll. 

      “I’ve been in this competition enough to tell you that PSG away, Bayern Munich away, Lyon away – in my time as manager – they’ve all been really challenging games.
      “I think we saw a truer reflection of Atletico today, I thought they played a good game. 
      “I’m really pleased to come through this knowing that we weren’t at our best.”
      Atletico, beaten 2-0 in the first leg, went on the attack in the opening stages with Silvia Meseguer forcing Mjelde to charge down her sixth-minute strike. 

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      Atletico ace Toni Duggan saw her penalty strike hit the crossbarCredit: Rex Features

      And the visitors hit back moments later with Pernille Harder rifling a shot wide of Hedvig Lindahl’s post.
      The WSL champs seemed content to allow their LaLiga Women’s opponents to dominate possession. 
      And the Spanish club had a chance to take the lead shortly before the half-hour mark with Deyna Castellanos’ shot dipping over Chelsea’s bar. 
      Ann-Katrin Berger was forced to pull off a diving save with Toni Duggan unleashing a late first half shot destined for her bottom right corner. 
      The second period saw a couple of dramatic moments with Atletico yelling for – but failing to get – a spot-kick following Niamh Charles’ challenge on Ludmila.
      And the Blues starlet later received a yellow card for a handball with referee Stephanie Frappert pointing to the spot in the 73rd minute. 
      But Atletico were unable to capitalise with Duggan’s strike bouncing off the bar and out of danger. 
      And moments later a pen for the Blues minutes saw Mjelde score her second goal of the round 16 encounter.
        ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Emma Hayes and her players will find out who they play next in the Champions League on March 12Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      It was a somewhat controversial moment with the ball appearing to have struck Sonia Garcia Majarin’s side but perceived to have been a handball by ref Frappert. 
      A late goal for Emelyne Laurent saw Atletico grab a consolation. 
      Chelsea will find out who their next opponents will be in the Champions League quarter-final draw on Friday 12 March.

      Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

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      Man City lose home advantage from Monchengladbach second-leg in Champions League with game now in Hungary due to Covid

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      MANCHESTER CITY have lost home advantage for the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie with Borussia Monchengladbach.
      And just like Liverpool, Pep Guardiola’s side will play both legs of the tie in the SAME neutral stadium in Hungary.

      Man City and Gladbach will play the second leg of their Champions League tie in Budapest againCredit: PA:Press Association

      Uefa have confirmed that Germany’s Covid restrictions mean the Bundesliga club are unable to travel to the UK without having to quarantine on their return.
      It means both teams will again fly to the Hungarian capital Budapest to play in the Puskas Arena for the game on Tuesday.
      City lead 2-0 from the ‘away’ leg two weeks ago.
      Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus bagged the goals to leave City with one foot in the quarters.

      Meanwhile, Liverpool beat Germans RB Leipzig by the same scoreline in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
      And the Reds will be looking to secure their quarter-final place in tonight’s second clash.
      The other tie tonight sees Barcelona looking to fight back from a 4-1 first-leg defeat to Kylian Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain.
      Already through to the next stage are Borussia Dortmund and Porto.

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      Dortmund beat Europa League holders Sevilla 5-4 on aggregate, with Erling Haaland playing a starring role.
      Meanwhile, ten-men Porto defied the odds to secure an extra-time win against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus last night.
      Next week, it will be Chelsea’s turn as they hold a 1-0 advantage over LaLiga leaders Diego Simeone.
      Real Madrid are also 1-0 up in their tie with Atalanta, while Bayern Munich lead Lazio 4-1.

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      Juventus’ awful Euro record since Ronaldo arrived with star scoring more in last Real Madrid season than three in Italy

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is Juventus’ unlucky charm in the Champions League.
      Juve crashed out at the last 16 stage of this year’s tournament on away goals after a 3-2 win over Porto left the tie level at 4-4 on aggregate on Tuesday.

      Cristiano Ronaldo can’t believe it as Juventus lose out to Porto on away goalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Cristiano Ronaldo can’t hide his dismay as Juventus crash out of the Champions LeagueCredit: AP:Associated Press

      It means the Old Lady have failed to make it past the quarter final stage in Europe in each of the three years since Ronaldo joined the ranks in 2018.
      The Portuguese superstar, 35, arrived in Turin in a £99million deal from Real Madrid, chasing more Champions League crowns.
      Juventus were doing well before he donned the famous black and white shirt – reaching the final twice in four years before the landmark signing.
      Ronaldo’s brace had helped Madrid beat Juve 4-1 in the 2017 final and the Serie A champs went down to Barcelona 3-1 two years previously.

      Ronaldo won Europe’s premier competition four times in nine years at the Bernabeu but has been unable to replicate his success with the Italian giants.
      In fact, the Manchester United hero has scored fewer goals in the Champions League in three seasons at Juve than he managed in his final year as a Galactico.
      He has bagged four goals in Europe in the last two years and netted six times in his first campaign as a Bianconeri player.
      That total of 14 is still short of the 15 he slammed home in the 2017-18 season with Madrid.

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      Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

      He finished that campaign as a Champions League winner after Real beat Liverpool 3-1 thanks to two goals from super sub Gareth Bale in the final.
      Ronaldo finished as top scorer – five clear of nearest challengers and Anfield trio Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
      Juve’s early exit at the hands of Porto has thrust the club into crisis with the Italian press slamming Ronaldo’s ‘betrayal’ of the team.
      The former Sporting Lisbon ace was nowhere near his best on the night and appeared to be the flimsiest component of the wall that collapsed as he turned his back to allow Porto’s crucial late goal.
      Fabio Capello slammed Ronaldo’s blunder as ‘unforgivable’ and his future at the club is now up in the air with finances pushed to the limit.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      EFL chief Rick Parry warns Uefa new Champions League format could decimate English football

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      EFL chairman Rick Parry has warned Uefa its Champions League expansion plans risk decimating the fabric of English football.
      European chiefs are set to confirm the new plans to come into effect from 2024 after getting the backing of Europe’s biggest clubs.

      Rick Parry has warned Uefa of the threat faced by smaller clubsCredit: PA:Press Association

      But Parry, who was supported by Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, suggested the planned extra 100 Champions League games per season would destroy the League Cup and be potentially fatal for some of English football’s most historic clubs.
      Parry told the European League’s Club Advisory Platform virtual meeting: “The 72 clubs in the EFL are at the heart of their communities
      “The League Cup has been in existence for 60 years and is owned and managed by the EFL.
      “One of the conditions on the formation of the Premier League was that all clubs would play in it.

      “But Uefa proposal poses a major threat to the League Cup, especially with regard to the teams in the Champions League – and it will have a massive effect on EFL revenues
      “We estimate we could lose one third of the revenues we distribute to our clubs – which could pose a very real threat to the existence of those clubs.”
      Parry was echoed by Selhurst chief Parish, who added: “This would have a devastating effect on domestic competitions in England.
      “The League Cup is the largest financial contributor to the EFL and this will be the end of that Cup in its entirety or reduce it to a youth competition.”

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      Clubs like us feel so remote from the decision-making and there is a huge conflict of interest.
      Steve ParishCrystal Palace chairman

      Uefa have reached agreement with Europe’s biggest clubs that there will be no weekend games in its club competitions, leaving the field clear for domestic leagues.
      The deal effectively kills off the planned European Super League, despite efforts led by Real Madrid to breathe life into the dying embers of the breakaway plan.
      But Prem clubs want to thwart the proposal to play two of the 10 games in the initial league phase of the 36-team Champions League “Swiss model” competition in January.
      Uefa will formally announce the new format next month but Parish also blasted Nyon chiefs and the influential European Club Association for ignoring the voices of those left out of the elite group.
      He said: “Clubs like us feel so remote from the decision-making and there is a huge conflict of interest, with Uefa and the ECA now choosing to make changes for the long term in the middle of a pandemic.
      “We are expected to accept them because they’re not as bad as they could have been.
      “But there will be a huge impact on us and the creep is never ending.“
      Parish and Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow also condemned the proposal, backed by the Prem’s ‘Big Six’, for a backdoor safety net to be available for two clubs to qualify for the Champions League through their Uefa coefficient score.

      Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is set to green light Champions League reformsCredit: REUTERS

      Parry fears for the future of the League Cup if the changes occurCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Palace chief said: “If we took it on last season, Leicester were fifth but the two clubs below them [Spurs and Arsenal] would have qualified for the Champions League based on an arbitrary period of success in Europe.”
      Purslow added: “It affects domestic competitions if you boost teams from the Europa League to the Champions League based on what they did in the past.
      “That would give clubs in the Premier League a £45m advantage over a team that may have finished ahead of them. Most people would see that as unfair and not right.”
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      Watch PSG fans set off fireworks outside Barcelona’s hotel at 4am ahead of Champions League tie as payback for first leg

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      PSG fans got their own back on Barcelona after setting off fireworks outside their hotel at 4am.
      The French champions in February were given a rude awakening as Barca supporters tried to stop of Ligue 1 champions from sleeping.

      PSG fans got their own back on Barcelona after setting off fireworks outside their hotel at 4am

      Barcelona fans tried the same trick in February on PSG stars

      Lionel Messi’s Barcelona trail PSG 4-1Credit: Splash News

      It clearly didn’t work, as PSG left Spain with a 4-1 advantage, with superstar Kylian Mbappe scoring three of those vital away goals.
      Barca have it all to do and matters may be worse now after PSG fans returned the favour with a fireworks display in the earlier hours of the morning.
      It was the latest in attempts from supporters to put off the LaLiga giants, as a section of sick fans held up a Shakira ‘prostitute’ banner.
      The ultras were slammed as misogynistic following the jibe at Barca defender Gerard Pique’s wife.

      Suffering from a knee injury, the centre-back is ruled out of the Champions League last-16 second leg.
      Last Sunday night, a parade of ultras lit flares and held up a number of banners in the French capital.
      One read ‘Shakira a La Jonquera’ in reference to a town on the French-Spanish border that is notorious for prostitution.
      Many viewing the images found them sexist and unnecessarily insulting of the ‘Beautiful Liar’ singer.

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      Shakira, 44, began dating Barcelona legend Pique, 34, in 2011 and they share two sons, Milan and Sasha.
      In response, fans of the popstar began trending ‘#RespectShakira’ on social media, pointing out that Monday was also International Women’s Day.
      PSG ultras also paraded banners that read ‘Barcelona are not welcome’ and ‘Europe on its knees, all of Paris standing’.

      PSG fans held up a banner referring to Shakira as a prostitute on Sunday nightCredit: Twitter @PanameReBirth

      Shakira is in a long-term relationship with Barcelona defender Gerard PiqueCredit: AFP or licensors More

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      Watch baffled Porto boss Conceicao leave press conference after just 50 seconds as NOBODY asks question after Juve win

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      PORTO manager Sergio Conceicao was left baffled as NOBODY asked him a question after his side’s stunning win against Juventus.
      It meant the post-match press conference on Zoom lasted just 50 seconds, with Conceicao getting up and leaving.

      Porto manager Sergio Conceicao was left baffled after NOBODY asked a question after their win against Juventus

      After initially sitting down, the press officer asked: “OK. Good evening for all of you following us through Zoom. Any questions?”
      Following a moments of silence, he said: “For those of you following through Zoom, I would like you to pose your questions.
      “I can’t see any requests now.”
      Amazingly, despite Serie A champions Juve having been dumped out of the Champions League, not one question was asked.

      Losing patience, the press officer added: “That’s it? Well? Any questions? That’s it then, let’s go.”
      Despite the bizarre presser, it was still a memorable night for Porto, who progressed into the quarter-finals on away goals and with ten men.
      The Portuguese giants came into the return tie 2-1 ahead and added to their lead after 19 minutes as Sergio Oliveira opened the scoring.
      Juve hit back, though, as a double from Federico Chiesa took the game into extra-time.

      Goals, a red card, a Sergio Oliveira free-kick and plenty of extra-time drama for ten-man Porto…Juventus vs. Porto in 60 seconds! 😅 pic.twitter.com/VLdS78AYYk
      — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 10, 2021

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      But Porto did so with a man down, after Mehdi Taremi was sent off after a second yellow for kicking the ball away, deemed a time wasting offence.
      Despite the disadvantage, the visiting side remarkably scored again in added time with Oliveira doubling his tally through a pile-driving free-kick.
      Midfielder Adrien Rabiot pulled one back just minutes later but it was too little too late, as Porto’s fight back and resilience paid off.
      Despite the five-goal thriller, and red card drama, still no one saw fit to address the mastermind behind the upset, Conceicao, afterwards.

      Porto celebrate knocking Juventus out of the Champions LeagueCredit: AFP or licensors

      Sergio Conceicao congratulates his players after the upsetCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Juve in crisis with Euro hopes dashed, title bid fading, financial hole that could see Ronaldo leave & Pirlo facing sack

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      CAPELLO called it a ‘gift’… Del Piero demanded ‘change’… Pirlo called out ‘mistakes’…
      This isn’t the way Juventus are supposed to be.

      Andrea Pirlo faces a huge fight to turn around Juventus’ fortunesCredit: Reuters

      Cristiano Ronaldo came in for sharp criticism after the Porto defeatCredit: AP:Associated Press

      The Old Lady fell to a shock exit in the Champions League last-16 for the second year in a row and the reaction of players, club legends and the press was damning.
      Italian daily Corriere dello Sport described Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘betrayal’ of the team. For Il Mattino, the exit ‘puts everything into question’. Libero described it as a ‘failure of the club management’.
      Any club boasting the grandeur of the Bianconeri will react badly to every defeat but Tuesday night’s away goals exit appeared to neatly summarise the all-encompassing issues facing the club today.
      It was telling how Ronaldo transitioned from being the inescapable protagonist of the European knockout stages to the flimsiest component of the wall that collapsed for Porto’s de facto winner.

      The 36-year-old arguably secured his move to Turin by belting a godly overhead kick past Gianluigi Buffon in the 2018 quarter-finals.
      It was the sort of moment that built his amazing Real Madrid legacy but a first-year hat-trick past old foes Atletico Madrid stands as his only tie-winning contribution in the knockouts for Juventus.
      Criticism of Ronaldo’s weak display on Tuesday was inevitable and talk has naturally turned towards his exit.
      The winger still has another season to run on his contract and the club may well put off any difficult decisions for as long as possible.

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      Wednesday’s Corriere dello Sport front page highlighted the ‘betrayal’ by Ronaldo

      La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote of ‘another disaster’ in the Champions League
      They will know that it is currently inconceivable that the team would be better without Ronaldo than with him.
      This season’s tally of 27 strikes in 32 appearances actually represents his best goals-per-games ratio of his three years with Juventus.
      The problem is that no one else is regularly scoring and would Pirlo be wise to reduce Ronaldo’s influence to try and squeeze more out of Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala and Dejan Kulusevski?
      The coach is another man being subjected to a stern probation period and he could get away with only winning the Supercoppa and Coppa Italia, were Juve to beat Atalanta in May’s final.
      But that position is always vulnerable to review after such a loss, despite reports beforehand that the club would stick with him no matter what.
      And what of Andrea Agnelli?
      The chairman so busily touting his club’s entitlement to a place in the European Super League that he may have missed that Juve’s recent conquerors would have decidedly not made the cut.
      Indeed, the club’s recent European record is anything but ‘Super’ – yet could be worth every penny for Amazon’s upcoming docu-series.

      Against two Champions League final appearances under old coach Massimiliano Allegri, the Bianconeri have otherwise made it to the last-four only once in over 20 years.
      Perhaps Agnelli is so keen to ensure the inflation of another cash cow to bolster against the financial doom threatening the Old Lady.
      Pretty much every club has found the going extremely tough in the pandemic but every one of Juventus’ revenue streams fell last year with debt topping £300million.
      Player sales have been vital to cash flow but that well can only dig so deep without seriously affecting the team.
      Throughout the past decade, the club has been able to rely on the Scudetto for reassurance and even that has disappeared this year.
      Inter Milan, a club themselves clouded in a sense of perpetual crisis, sit ten points ahead with AC Milan popping into second place.

      The old accusations that Juventus were failing in Europe because they were finding domestic life too easy have been tested, and failed.
      Perhaps this has all arrived at the perfect moment, forcing the club to hold off its insatiable desire for instant gratification to rebuild around the youth of Pirlo, Weston McKennie, Federico Chiesa and more.
      That may well mean a couple of years without silverware and, heaven forbid, the weakening of Agnelli’s Super League claim.
      But the first step to making a big change for a better tomorrow is always acceptance.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Erling Haaland is fastest player ever to score 20 Champions League goals as he beats Harry Kane’s record by 10 GAMES

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      ERLING HAALAND scored yet another double in the Champions League on Tuesday night – blitzing a record in the process.
      Borussia Dortmund secured a 5-4 aggregate win over Sevilla in the last-16 with four of their goals scored by the Norwegian.

      A pair in the first leg was followed by a simple finish back in Germany and a controversial second that sealed the tie.
      A strong run and finish by the 20-year-old was cancelled out by VAR awarding a penalty for an earlier infringement on him.
      Haaland missed from the spot but Bono had stepped off his line too early, leading to a retake that was scored before the striker yelled in his rival’s face.
      Sevilla players were unhappy with the celebration, with the Borussia star shouting ‘unlucky’ at the goalkeeper and earning a booking for his troubles.

      The moment put Haaland on 20 Champions League goals in only his 14th match – a remarkably quicker pace than any of his attacking predecessors.
      Harry Kane previously held the record by reaching the number in 24 games.
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      Knocked into third place was iconic Italy striker Alessandro del Piero, who scored in each of his first five Champions League appearances and reached 20 goals in his 26th outing.
      A touch behind are Ruud van Nistelrooy on 27 games and Filippo Inzaghi on 28.
      Crucial to the Dutchman’s exploits was the staggering tally of 12 goals in Manchester United’s 2002-03 campaign, where he notched in each of his nine appearances.
      It is something of a surprise to see how modern greats of the game have laboured in their hunt for their first 20 goals.
      Cristiano Ronaldo hit 20 Champions League goals in 56 games while Lionel Messi took 40 matches and Robert Lewandowski 36.
      Future Ballon d’Or rival Kylian Mbappe reached the figure earlier this season, hitting a brace against Istanbul Basaksehir in his 42nd game.

      It all started for Erling Haaland with a hat-trick past GenkCredit: Reuters

      Harry Kane has lost his crown as the Champions League’s quickest marksman to reach 20 goalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Meanwhile, Haaland’s stunning 14-game run includes a hat-trick on his competition debut for RB Salzburg, versus Genk in September 2019.
      Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are the only teams to have enjoyed a shutout against the forward, who nonetheless scored against both in the reverse leg of those quiet nights.
      This season, he has ten goals in six matches and is yet to fail to score on a European matchday.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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