Manchester City’s Champions League hopes are over for another year after defeat to Real Madrid in the last-16. It means the Blues’ triumph in 2023 remains their sole success in the competition

It may well have been Bernardo Silva’s final Champions League act for Manchester City – thrusting out his elbow to block a Real Madrid shot on the line.

The skipper saw red after a VAR review and trudged off the Etihad pitch knowing his side’s long odds of a stunning comeback had just got longer. In the end the task was beyond the 10 men of City and their European aspirations are over for another year.

It’s prompted the debate of whether Pep Guardiola and City should have achieved more than one Champions League victory, achieved in 2023 as part of an historic treble. For his part, Guardiola has been steadfast in his belief that the competition is incredibly difficult to win.

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Real are the only side to defend the title since 1990 and the only multiple winner in the last 12 editions. Madrid may have cracked the continental formula but few others have. Guardiola himself has three Champions League victories, second only in manager terms to Carlo Ancelotti, while City were beaten in the 2021 final by Chelsea and suffered scarcely believable exits to Tottenham in 2019 and Real in 2022.

Guardiola referenced the Real game after the midweek defeat: “The 4-3 was the most unfair result I have ever experienced in my career.

In the build-up to the second leg he was asked by Marca about a ‘culture of failure’ and the possibility that City could be out early again in the Champions League. Guardiola referenced how Real have ‘only’ won 15 European Cups out of ‘probably 100 attempts,’ and highlighted the ‘Quinta del Buitre’ team that Real had in the 1980s – one that dominated Spanish football yet failed to win the biggest European prize – as one of the best he has ever seen to make his point that failure is a matter of personal opinion.

But while the manager pointed out the context and complications competing in Europe poses, his skipper – one of the central figures of the latest early exit – was more forthright.

“I’m not happy so he’s probably not very happy,” Bernardo said when asked by Amazon Prime on the eve of the game if he felt Guardiola was content with just one Champions League victory at City. “Of course one is better than zero, and we are very happy with the one we have won, but with the team that we have and the way our team has played in the past, we should have won more.”

For Bernardo, that ship looks to have sailed, with the 31-year-old widely expected to depart in the summer. For his manager, there might be one last European dance at City.

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Peter Moody expresses optimism regarding Alpha Sofie’s ability to turn things around in her upcoming Stakes race at Caulfield.

Her pristine record with trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman took a hit when Alpha Sofie bombed out badly in the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m) over Flemington’s track on February 28.

Post a detailed inspection of the mare, Moody is convinced Alpha Sofie is fit to race once more, entering her in the Group 3 Don Casboult Classic (1200m) this Saturday.

Starting out in Queensland with two closing wins for Jason Edwards, Alpha Sofie wasted no time making her mark for Moody and Coleman via success in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in the prior spring carnival.

Spelled after that triumph, she came back firing with a firm Caulfield win on February 7 in the Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) before faltering along the Flemington straight.

Moody indicated Alpha Sofie has shaken off that result and he looks ahead to the filly navigating turns in her next outing.

“She’s flying,” Moody said.

“She just got a bump at the start the other day and then pulled her head off, which she’s never done before.

“That was down the straight for the first time for her. She charged and got lost.”

Such is Moody’s conviction in the filly that plans include the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville late in April for Alpha Sofie.

“Hopefully this run will set her up to go to Adelaide for the Sangster,” Moody said.

“That was where she was going the other day if she had won, so she can have this one to get her back on track.”

Zac Spain, having partnered the filly in all three of her runs for Moody and Coleman, travels to Sydney for Group 1 contention on Victorious Spirit in the Rosehill Guineas, leaving Luke Nolen to ride on Saturday.

Visit leading online bookmakers to check betting markets for the race in the Don Casboult Classic.

Veteran cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has reacted to news of India all-rounder Shivam Dube commuting by train following the 2026 T20 World Cup final. Hours after India defeated New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8, Dube, accompanied by his wife and a friend, boarded a train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The moment went viral on social media, with fans praising Dube’s simplicity. The all-rounder later revealed he was anxious to reunite with his son and father and chose the 5:10 am train over waiting for the official team flight.

Reacting to the hype during a RevSportz event, Ashwin dismissed the “big deal” surrounding the journey, stating: “I’m seeing news pieces on how Shivam Dube traveled by train. I don’t want to read pieces like that. What’s the big deal? I have traveled by train.”

Ashwin elaborated his opinion further. He wants star cricketers, who is always in the spotlight and under scrutiny, to get the chance to enjoy small joys of life.

“I would love for us… for international cricketers to be able to go to the chaiwalas and have chai with the people. In fact, we have forgotten that life’s joys are in very small moments,” he added.

Dube had boarded the Mumbai-bound Sayaji Nagari Express from Ahmedabad in the early hours of Monday, along with his wife Anjum and a friend.

To avoid being recognised by co-passengers, Dube reportedly wore a cap, mask and a full-sleeved T-shirt as he boarded the train at 5.10 am and climbed onto his upper berth after entering an AC three-tier coach.

An official said that after noticing his name on the train reservation chart, a ticket checker wondered if he was the cricketer Dube. However, his wife deftly handled the situation, saying why the cricketer would travel by train.

A Government Railway Police official said that before the train reached Borivali, Dube sought police assistance to ensure his exit was as discreet as it had been in Ahmedabad.

Policemen in plain clothes were sent to escort the cricketer to his vehicle outside the station to avoid drawing public attention, the official added.

(With PTI Inputs)

The 2026 NCAA Tournament has arrived, and women’s March Madness officially began Wednesday with the First Four. The 68-team field was unveiled Sunday night, and we know when and where everyone will be playing this weekend.

UConn, the undefeated reigning champion, was named the No. 1 overall seed. UCLA, Texas and South Carolina joined them on the top line. Those four teams, the title favorites, are among the 16 teams that will host games in the first and second rounds next weekend. Every 1-4 seed in the field will play host before the action shifts to the regional sites later in the month. Once again, there are just two regional sites for the women’s tournament: Sacramento and Fort Worth. The 2026 Final Four is set for Phoenix, with the championship game on Sunday, April 5.

Game times and TV information for the First Four and the first round were announced on Sunday night as well. The full schedule for the first four days of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is below.

2026 NCAA Women’s NCAA Tournament schedule

All times Eastern. All games are available to stream on fubo (Try for free).

Wednesday, March 18: First Four

• Nebraska 75, Richmond 56
• Missouri State 85, Stephen F. Austin 75

Thursday, March 19: First Four

• Southern vs. Samford, 7 p.m., ESPN2
• Virginia vs. Arizona State, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Friday, March 20: First round

• No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Charleston, 11:30 a.m., ESPN2
• No. 3 TCU vs. No. 14 UC San Diego, 12 p.m., ESPN
• No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech, 1:30 p.m., ESPN2
• No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska/Richmond, 2 p.m., ESPN
• No. 6 Washington vs. No. 11 South Dakota State, 2:30 p.m., ESPNews
• No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 12 Murray State, 3 p.m., ESPNU
• No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Gonzaga, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
• No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Missouri State/Stephen F. Austin, 4 p.m., ESPN
• No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 15 Holy Cross, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
• No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Western Illinois, 5:30 p.m., ESPNews
• No. 2 LSU vs. No. 15 Jacksonville, 6 p.m., ESPN
• No. 4 Minnesota vs. No. 13 Green Bay, 6 p.m., ESPNU
• No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Colorado State, 7:30 p.m. ESPNews
• No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Tennessee, 8 p.m., ESPN
• No. 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Villanova, 8:30 p.m., ESPNU
• No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Idaho, 10 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, March 21: First round

• No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 Howard, 11:30 a.m., ESPN2
• No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 14 Vermont, 12 p.m., ESPN
• No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Southern/Samford, 1 p.m., ABC
• No. 7 Georgia vs. No 10 Virginia/Arizona State, 1:30 p.m., ESPN2
• No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Fairfield, 2 p.m., ESPN
• No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 12 James Madison, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU
• No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Rhode Island, 2:30 p.m., ESPNews
• No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 UTSA, 3 p.m., ABC
• No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 USC, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
• No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson, 4 p.m., ESPN
• No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Miami (Ohio), 5 p.m., ESPNU
• No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Syracuse, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
• No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 High Point, 7 p.m., ESPNews
• No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Princeton, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
• No. 7 Illinois vs. No. 10 Colorado, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2
• No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Cal Baptist, 10 p.m., ESPN

Sunday, March 22: Second round

Monday, March 23: Second round

Friday, March 27: Sweet 16

• Four Sweet 16 games in Fort Worth and Sacramento

Saturday, March 28: Sweet 16

• Four Sweet 16 games in Fort Worth and Sacramento

Sunday, March 29: Elite Eight

• Two Elite Eight games in Fort Worth and Sacramento

Monday, March 30: Elite Eight

• Two Elite Eight games in Fort Worth and Sacramento

Friday, April 3

• Two Final Four games in Phoenix

Sunday, April 5

• Championship game in Phoenix, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC/fubo

And here’s the full NCAA Tournament bracket, which will be updated as the field is revealed:

2026 NCAA Tournament women’s bracket

File photo of Yuzvendra Chahal© AFP

For over a year, Manchester United have been trying to push ahead with the new ‘Wembley of the North’, and there appears to be some movement in plans

Manchester United hope to file the planning application for their new £2billion stadium within the next 12 to 18 months. The Red Devils revealed proposals for a new ground last March.

It would be constructed on the same location as their existing Old Trafford home, with the surrounding area also set to undergo regeneration as part of the proposals. However, the new 100,000-seater Old Trafford has already encountered several setbacks.

United have been engaged in negotiations with Freightliner regarding a nearby freight terminal, which lies in the way of the new proposals. Discussions are also ongoing between the club and construction companies prepared to undertake such a substantial project.

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Club officials have now provided a fresh update on the new stadium, with a specific timeframe for the commencement of work being disclosed. Chief Executive Officer of the new stadium development, Collette Roche, shared her perspective at a property trade show in Cannes.

She said: “The plan would be that within the next couple of months we should be there or thereabouts on the land assembly which will be an important milestone.”

Roche confirmed that it would require seven months to finalise the detailed design of the stadium. She added: “We’re spending a lot of time with local council to say what’s your ambition, how many houses, where’s the best place to put them.

“Hopefully by the time we get to the planning application in 12-18 months time we won’t be starting from fresh.

“We are going through a process to make sure we get the best team in place one that works in the same way we work and is up for the challenge and the ambition. And then we will lock that in. Then we start to build the plans. It starts now.”

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pushed hard for the redevelopment of Old Trafford, having previously advocated for a ‘Wembley of the North’ before the plans were revealed.

He said: “There’s a very good case, in my view, for having a stadium of the North, which would serve the northern part of the country in that arena of football. If you look at the number of Champions Leagues the North West has won, it’s 10. London has won two.

“And yet everybody from the North has to get down to London to watch a big football match. And there should be one [a large stadium] in the North, in my view.

“But it’s also important for the southern side of Manchester, you know, to regenerate. It’s the sort of second capital of the country where the Industrial Revolution began.

“But if you have a regeneration project, you need a nucleus or a regeneration project and having that world-class stadium there, I think would provide the impetus to regenerate that region.”

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Camp Nou will host an exciting second-leg clash between Barcelona and Newcastle United in the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday evening. Last week’s first leg at St James’ Park ended 1-1, with Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes scoring in the 86th minute before Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal equalized with a dramatic 96th-minute penalty.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick admitted that his team “didn’t make a good game” in the first leg and has called on his players to perform “much better” if they hope to reach the quarter-finals for a third consecutive season. The Catalan giants are confident in their attacking abilities, having scored in 28 of their last 29 Champions League matches, though they have struggled defensively, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 12 UCL games.  Historically, Barcelona have excelled in knockout ties after drawing the first leg away, winning 23 of 29 such encounters, including 11 of 14 after a 1-1 first-leg draw, and remain unbeaten in 14 home games against English sides in UEFA competition.

Newcastle, meanwhile, bounced back from their late concession against Barcelona by beating Chelsea 1-0 in the Premier League, with Anthony Gordon scoring the decisive goal. Manager Eddie Howe praised his team’s defensive organization and hopes they can replicate their first-leg performance at Camp Nou.  The Magpies have lost only two of 11 Champions League games this season, though they have yet to progress beyond the Round of 16 in the competition’s history.

Barcelona Team news

Barcelona will be without Jules Kounde, Frenkie de Jong, Alejandro Balde (all hamstring) and Andreas Christensen (knee) as they continue their recovery. Lamine Yamal, who recently overcame illness, was fit enough to feature as a substitute against Sevilla and is expected to start on the right wing on Wednesday. At 18 years and 249 days, Yamal is just one goal shy of matching Kylian Mbappe’s record for most Champions League goals scored before turning 19 (10).

Coach Hansi Flick may consider recalling England international Marcus Rashford, who scored twice in Barca’s 2-1 League Phase win over Newcastle this season, but replacing Raphinha on the left, who netted a hat-trick against Sevilla, will be a tougher challenge.

Newcastle Team news

Newcastle will be missing Bruno Guimaraes (hamstring), Lewis Miley (thigh), Fabian Schar (ankle), and Emil Krafth (knee), while Sandro Tonali’s availability is being assessed after missing the Chelsea game due to illness. Anthony Gordon, who missed the first leg through illness, is expected to lead the attack on Wednesday; only Kylian Mbappe (13) has more UCL goals than Gordon (10) this season.

Manager Eddie Howe must also decide whether to recall Kieran Trippier or keep Tino Livramento at right-back, with Anthony Elanga, Joelinton, and Dan Burn all pushing to return to the starting XI. Jacob Murphy, Nick Woltemade, and Sven Botman may make way as a result.

Barcelona vs Newcastle Probable starting 11

Barcelona starting 11: J. Garcia; Cancelo, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martin; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski

Newcastle starting 11: Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes

Player battles to look out for

Lewandowski vs Burn: A classic striker versus defender duel can be seen at the Camp Nou as the Polish striker will be looking to outwit the old fashioned hard and sturdy kind of player who doesn’t let the player stay still and keeps them on his toes. However, Lewa’s world class experience will prove a different challenge altogether for Burn too.

Pedri vs Joelinton: This battle can be termed as David vs Goliath if size comes into play but luckily football is one of the contact sports that has rpoven that size doesn’t really matter if you have skill on the ball. Joelinton has perfected the art of disrupting the play with tactical fouls and getting away with it and will try to stop the Pedri magic from coming into play on the night.

Yamal vs Hall: While Hall has proven to be one of the standout performers for the English club recently, he will be up against one of the best dribblers in the world and will have to put a major shift away from home on the night. Yamal has already scored a goal in the first leg and will be looking to get another one and get Barca through to the next round. 

UEFA Champions League: Barcelona vs Newcastle live telecast and streaming details

When will the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle be played?

The UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle will be played on March 18.

What time will the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle begin on March 18?

The UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle will start at 11;15 PM IST.

What will be the venue for the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle?

The Spotify Camp Nou will host the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle.

Where will the live telecast of the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle be available in India?

The live telecast of the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle will be available on the Sony Sports network in India.

Where will the live streaming of the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle be available in India?

The live streaming of the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Newcastle will be available on the Sony LIV app and website in India.

Ryan Garcia has suffered professional defeats to both Gervonta Davis and Rolando Romero, but the Californian maintains that neither of those men have hit him the hardest thus far during his professional career.

Garcia has hit the deck on four occasions during his professional career, with two of those coming against Davis back in 2023, where he was dropped in rounds two and seven in what remains as the solitary stoppage defeat of his career.

Last year, Garcia was floored in round two again during an underwhelming and unsuccessful bid for Romero’s WBA welterweight world title – outboxed for the majority of the contest in an out-of-sorts display.

However, when discussing who hit him the hardest, following that defeat to Romero, Garcia recalled his 2021 triumph over Hull’s Luke Campbell, in a resurfaced press congerence clip captured by FightHype.

“I feel like the most that I have ever been dazed was with Luke Campbell. I was actually dizzy with Luke Campbell when I was getting up, but with Rolly’s [knockdown] I wasn’t dizzy. I was just like ‘oh well, there it goes again’.

“I don’t really get too out of it. Like, I am just always there. It is always a flash knockdown for some reason and I get right back up.”

Like Davis and Romero, Campbell is another man to have knocked Garcia down in the second round, with the London 2012 gold medallist coming close to a famous upset win when he collided with Garcia in Dallas.

Yet, on this occasion, Garcia showed the guts and guile to rally his way back into the contest, halting ‘Cool Hand’ in round seven to claim the WBC Interim lightweight title in a coming of age performance.

Liverpool shrugged off their Premier League malaise to storm into the Champions League quarter-finals by thrashing Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield on Wednesday.

Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit for Arne Slot’s men to set up a reunion with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight.

Slot needed a reaction from the English champions after they were booed off at Anfield on Sunday for the latest in a series of lacklustre displays in a 1-1 draw against struggling Tottenham.

Languishing fifth in the Premier League, the Champions League could save Liverpool’s season and Slot’s job.

The Dutchman had given a rest to some of his stars at the weekend and was rewarded with a dominant display that could have resulted in a far more comprehensive scoreline.

“We could (have) won 10-0, but we did a good job. We can be proud,” said Ekitike.

The French international added on facing his former club in the last eight: “I can’t wait to be there.”

Galatasaray’s hopes of causing an upset was dealt a massive blow inside the first few minutes when star striker Victor Osimhen injured his forearm in a clash with Ibrahima Konate.

The Nigerian international was clearly hobbled as he continued on until half-time before being replaced by Leroy Sane.

By that point the Turkish champions’ advantage had already been erased.

Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s outstanding performer in a troubled season and levelled the tie with a cushioned finish from a well-worked corner on 25 minutes.

Galatasaray somehow escaped further punishment before the break.

Salah missed a glorious chance to immediately double the Reds’ lead when he failed to chip Ugurcan Cakir.

Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort flew just over and Cakir repelled another sweet Szoboszlai strike.

The Turkey goalkeeper then saved Salah’s poor penalty after Szoboszlai was upended inside the box.

But the floodgates opened on the visitors in the second half.

Salah atoned for the penalty miss with a inch-perfect pass for Ekitike to slot home.

Two minutes later Gravenberch fired in the rebound after Salah’s initial shot was saved.

Salah has been a shadow of his former self this season, either side of a public bust-up with Slot after being dropped in December.

He could and should have had many more on the night, but did register his 50th Champions League goal in some style with a spectacular strike from Wirtz’s backheel.

Salah also hit the bar before asking to be replaced with an injury concern as Galatasaray offered little resistence to the waves of Liverpool attack.

The Reds face a very different challenge against PSG, who crushed Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate to reach the last eight.

Slot has repeatedly spoken in glowing terms of the French champions.

Liverpool came as close as anyone to stopping PSG last season as Luis Enrique’s men emerged victorious on penalties in the last 16 after a titanic tussle.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)