Manchester City welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium this evening knowing a win could cut the gap to Arsenal to just three points
08:39, 11 Feb 2026Updated 08:40, 11 Feb 2026
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Manchester City are back in Premier League action this evening as they welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium. The Blues have fond memories of their last clash with Marco Silva’s side as they edged out a thrilling 5-4 win at Craven Cottage back in December.
City will be heavy favourites for this one having beaten Fulham in their last 19 matches against them and last lost to the London club back in 2009. The Blues are also on a high after beating Liverpool in dramatic circumstances on Sunday thanks to late goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
With the games coming thick and fast, Pep Guardiola will be keen to rotate his squad slightly, albeit Saturday’s clash with Salford City in the FA Cup will provide more opportunity for that. Regardless of the changes made outfield, Gianluigi Donnarumma will remain between the sticks this evening after his Anfield heroics.
Abdukodir Khusanov has made himself known in recent weeks, stepping up to the plate in the absence of first-team defenders. The Uzbekistan international was inadvertently clattered into by Donnarumma against Liverpool and was replaced as a concussion substitution but Guardiola confirmed in Tuesday’s press conference he is available to start tonight.
That being said, Ruben Dias’ return from injury and solid showing off the bench makes it easy not to risk the 21-year-old in midweek. Dias is likely to partner Marc Guehi who was sensational at Anfield and is already proving to be a brilliant addition to this title-challenging squad.
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
Rayan Ait-Nouri also impressed at the weekend after a tough start to life at City and he should retain his place at left-back allowing Nico O’Reilly to slot into a three-man midfield once again. Having scored and being heavily praised by Guardiola, captain Bernardo will be expected to keep his place too.
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On Sunday, City went for the two-pronged attack of Omar Marmoush and Haaland as they looked to break down a shaky Liverpool defence. However, the Egyptian struggled on Merseyside and could be left out here to welcome back Rayan Cherki.
The Frenchman is unlikely to stay out of the starting XI for long and if anyone in the attack is going to be replaced for this game, it will be Marmoush. Both Haaland and Antoine Semenyo are undroppable at present.
City predicted XI vs Fulham: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly, Bernardo; Semenyo, Haaland, Cherki
Pop sensation Dua Lipa was recently hounded by paparazzi on her night out with fiancé Callum Turner in Paris, France. According to videos on social media on February 10, 2026, Turner and Lipa were spotted leaving Le Voltaire, a restaurant in Paris, after a dinner date when they were rushed by paparazzi, who repeatedly asked them for photographs.
In the video, Callum Turner can be seen exiting the restaurant first and speaking to the paparazzi while waiting for his fiancée, repeatedly telling them, “It’s not okay.” Despite the actor’s disapproval, cameras began flashing the second Dua Lipa stepped out of the restaurant, wearing a fur coat, a green T-shirt, and dark pants.
The singer, who appeared frustrated, shielded her face using her hand to protect herself from the flashes, telling the paparazzi, “No, no, no, we are not doing this.” One of the photographers can be heard telling the singer to spare them one minute, and they would leave her alone, while another asked her to move her hand.
The couple began walking away from the commotion, with the paparazzi following them. Turner pulled his hoodie over his face, while Lipa continued to hold her hand up to her face, telling the photographers, “Can you please go away?” The restaurant security also stepped in to shield the singer, holding his hat up to her face to cover her from the cameras.
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Dua Lipa and Callum Turner’s recent brush with the paparazzi in Paris was met with varied responses from netizens on X. One X user said the singer should have yelled at them more, adding that they had never seen her “this angry before.”
“I’ve never seen her this angry before. They must’ve been following them for hours omg. She should’ve yelled at them harder wtf.”
I’ve never seen her this angry before. They must’ve been following them for hours omg. She should’ve yelled at them harder wtf
Several netizens sided with the celebrity couple, calling out paparazzi for harassing them and being disrespectful.
@PopBase French paparazzi are the fcking worst. Hope dua and callum are okay
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@PopBase Just give us one minute and we’ll leave you alone. NOT COOL AT ALL! I get they wanna take pictures or whatever but forcing them into giving an interview or pose for the camera is insine and disrespectful.
@PopBase How come invading other people’s privacy still a professional career? Obsession with celebrities is tiresome enough, additionally we get the worst displays of entitlement to those celebrities from these people.
@PopBase Imagine being in Paris and your main attraction is someone else’s personal space…
However, others suggested that being photographed was part of the job of being a celebrity.
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@PopBase What’s the big deal in having access to celebrities? Some celebrities are too cruel
@PopBase Guys, if a celebrity doesnt want to get papped , they know exactly how not to get papped .. Ask yourself why A+ celebs like Brad Pitt, Celine Dion , Cher , Madonna .. etc , we rarely see pap pics for them !!!
@PopBase Why do these two always have to go somewhere if they hate being photographed??
@PopBase If you’re uncomfortable about paparazzi stay away from the scenes and become a regular person.The reality is that being a celebrity comes with positive and negative attention which cannot easily be controlled.
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Dua Lipa was seen at Chanel’s Haute Couture Spring Summer 2026 in Paris
On January 30, 2026, Dua Lipa uploaded several pictures of her “perfect week” in Paris on Instagram, which included photos of her at Chanel’s Haute Couture Spring Summer 2026 show held on January 27, 2026.
The Levitating singer wore a yellow-and-brown patterned skirt and blazer combo with a matching handbag and black-and-white pumps from the Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026 collection. In the pictures she posted, Lipa was seen sitting beside Penélope Cruz, A$AP Rocky, and Margaret Qualley, with all of them singing a remix of Oasis’ Wonderwall.
The photo dump also included a snap of fiancé Callum Turner. Lipa confirmed her engagement during an interview with British Vogue in June 2025 and shared more information regarding the ring and wedding planning.
“Yeah, we’re engaged. It’s very exciting… I’m obsessed with it [the ring]. It’s so me. It’s nice to know the person that you’re going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well.” she said.
When asked about the wedding, Dua Lipa added:
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“I want to finish my tour, Callum’s shooting, so we’re just enjoying this period. I’ve never been someone who’s really thought about a wedding, or dreamt about what kind of bride I would be. All of a sudden I’m like: ‘Oh, what would I wear?’”
Callum Turner and Dua Lipa at the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” (Image via Getty)
In other news, Dua Lipa is scheduled to perform a medley with RAYE and Lily Allen to pay tribute to Mark Ronson at the upcoming BRIT Awards on February 28, 2026. Ronson will be honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Music at the ceremony.
Dana White recently shared an update on the UFC White House event and made a bold prediction about the scope of the card.
The UFC White House event will take place in June as part of the historic America250 celebrations. The event will feature a stacked fight card with some of the promotion’s biggest stars expected to compete. The bouts will notably take place on the South Lawn, with the fighters set to walk out of the Oval Office.
In a recent interview on CBS Sports, White confirmed that he’ll be busy with matchmaking for the card this week and claimed that it will be “the most-watched UFC event” ever. He said:
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“This is a one-of-one event. It’s something that will never happen again… All the logistics are done, and we believe this is going to be the most-watched UFC event ever… It’s going to introduce a lot of people to [professional fighting], those who’ve never seen it before.”
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He added:
“When you talk about me, my executive team, the staff that works here, the media that covers us, and the fighters, this is going to be the most unique, amazing nights of our entire careers… When we go to do something, I like to deliver, and I like to deliver big. It’s going to be special.”
Dana White shares attendance numbers for UFC White House
In an interview on the CBS Morning show, the UFC CEO claimed that about 5000 people would be on the South Lawn and about 85,000 people on the park across the street. He said:
“We’ve literally just got done on all the logistics of how to set it up there, how many people we can have. It’s looking like we are going to have five thousand people on the White House lawn, on the South lawn and then across the street, it’s a park, it’s called the Ellipse, we are going to have eighty five thousand people there, we are going to have big screens.”
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has accused a viral fan Frank Ilett of chasing attention after his unusual haircut challenge became a major talking point during United’s recent run of form.
Rooney said the focus should be on the team and their progress under interim coach Michael Carrick, rather than off-field distractions involving supporters.
“I’d put him to the other side of the country, he’s DOING MY HEAD IN.”
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“We’re talking about Carrick and United trying to win their fifth game in a row and the whole thing is about this guy getting his haircut.”
The former England captain suggested the fan was enjoying the spotlight and might be unhappy if United kept winning and the attention faded.
“I bet he’d be devastated if United win the fifth game because all of a sudden he’s IRRELEVANT.”
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Rooney’s comments have sparked mixed reactions among Manchester United supporters on social media, with some backing his view while others defended the fan’s harmless challenge.
The fan, Frank Ilett, popularly known online as The United Strand, had gone viral for refusing to cut his hair until United won five games in a row. His challenge reached 493 days and attracted huge attention online, with over 265,000 viewers watching his live stream during United’s Premier League clash with West Ham United.
Carrick’s first four games in charge ended in victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham, leaving Ilett just one win away from completing his challenge. However, United failed to beat West Ham, forcing him to continue the challenge.
Tomas Soucek gave West Ham the lead in the second half, while Casemiro had a goal ruled out for offside. United later equalised, but the draw ended their winning streak and left the fan “heartbroken” on his live stream.
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“It’s tough,” Ilett said after the match. “It’s tough to think, really. We go again, I guess.”
With United failing to secure the fifth straight win, The United Strand will continue his haircut challenge, while Rooney’s blunt remarks continue to dominate debate among fans.
NEW DELHI: Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq once again found himself at the centre of a fierce debate over his bowling action after his match-winning performance against the United States in the 2026 T20 World Cup, with veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stepping in to defend bowlers amid mounting criticism online. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Tariq’s distinctive “pause-and-deliver” action sparked a fresh wave of “chucking” accusations on social media despite the ICC having cleared his action twice last year.
T20 World Cup | Sahibzada Farhan on India vs Pakistan matches: ‘Not one-sided’
“Even football doesn’t allow players to pause during a penalty run-up anymore. How is this ok? Action — all good. But pause? That too while loading to deliver. This can’t be continued seriously,” Goswami posted.Ashwin, however, offered a different perspective, agreeing with the football analogy but arguing that cricket’s regulations often place disproportionate restrictions on bowlers. “Agree football doesn’t allow it! While the batter can switch-hit or reverse without informing the umpire or bowler, after committing to bat on one side, why are the restrictions only limited to the bowler?” Ashwin wrote on social media. “In fact, the bowler isn’t allowed to change the arm with which he/she bowls without informing the umpire. They should first change that rule.”Under ICC rules, a bowler’s elbow extension must not exceed 15 degrees between the arm reaching horizontal and the point of release — a guideline frequently referenced in online criticism of Tariq. The spinner has previously addressed the scrutiny, insisting that his arm bend is natural.
Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo has finally spoken about the most difficult period of his career, revealing the mental health struggles that forced him to step away from football.
After months of silence, the defender has now returned to the pitch and, more importantly, to a better mental place.
The defender explained that the match was an important step in his recovery and confidence.
“The truth is, I’m feeling really good. I felt very comfortable. I think I played a good game. I was also able to help with the goal, which was great for me.
“Physically, I felt strong too. At the end, I was obviously tired because I hadn’t played so many minutes in a long time, but overall, I’m very, very happy.”
The red card against Chelsea
The Uruguayan also reflected on how much he has changed since his red card in London on November 25, an incident that marked the start of his break from football.
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Araujo was sent off against Chelsea. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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“I’ve changed quite a bit because I’ve learned a lot during this time. I think it was what I needed to do after that decision I made.
“I feel different and I’m happy about that because I’m more comfortable, happier. I can enjoy what I love doing, which is playing football, and that helps a lot.”
When asked what exactly had changed, Araujo explained that the time away helped him gain a new perspective on life and football.
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“Well, you see things from another point of view. I felt that the worst of the worst was over and now I see things differently.
“The time I took off was for a reason, because in the end I was able to work on it with professionals, with my family, and spiritually, which was what I needed.”
Looking back at the red card against Chelsea, Araujo revealed that the moment was only part of a deeper and longer struggle.
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“It was a combination of things. I hadn’t been feeling well for a long time, maybe more than a year and a half. You try to be strong, but I felt that I wasn’t well.
“Not only on a sporting level, but also on a family and personal level. I wasn’t feeling myself, and that was when I clicked and said: Something is happening, I need to raise my hand and ask for help.
“I’m one of those people who keep everything to myself, but you also have to understand that there are professionals who can help you.
“I needed to raise my hand and say that something was happening to me in order to recover.”
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Been dealing with it for a long time
He also revealed the extent of the issue, admitting that anxiety had turned into depression while he was still playing matches.
Araujo has opened up on his mental state. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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“In the moment, you feel sad, but then, when the game is over, it all hits you. I already felt that I wasn’t well, that’s the truth, but out of inertia, you try to keep going, and sometimes you need help.
“I had been suffering from anxiety for a year and a half, which turned into depression, and I was playing like that. That doesn’t help, because you don’t feel like yourself on the field.
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“When I wasn’t feeling well, I knew something was going on. That day, I realised that I needed to talk to professionals and the club so they could help me.”
Despite the mental struggle, Araujo insisted that quitting football was never truly on his mind.
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“I didn’t think about giving up playing, but you consider a lot of things because I wasn’t feeling myself.
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“I knew my performance wasn’t what I’m capable of. That’s why you consider a lot of things, but it wasn’t the idea.”
“First, I spoke to Deco because he’s the sporting director and he’s close to us. I told him what was happening to me.
“At first, he was a little surprised because it’s not very common for a Barcelona player to tell him these things, but he took it very well, in a very personal way.
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“From the very first minute, Deco called the president and the coach. They were spectacular.
“I’m very grateful to Deco, the president, the coach, and also to the people behind the scenes who you might not see, who are part of our day-to-day lives. The club gave me everything I needed to recover.”
Araujo is thankful to Flick. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“He took it very personally. Flick knows my condition, and it was clear that I wasn’t performing at my best. He knew something was going on.
“From the beginning, he sent me messages telling me to take my time recovering, that the most important thing was to get through it well.”
Araujo admitted that the dressing room also played a key role during his darkest days.
“A huge one. After making the decision, I had some really bad days. I didn’t want to get out of bed. It was hard, because I had always dreamed of playing football and now I had to stop.”
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He also remembered the encouraging words from teammates, which helped him stay motivated.
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“They were all very nice messages from Pedri, Frenkie… Messages like, “Take it easy, get well, and come back as the titan you always are.” That was really nice because you see that they trust you.”
Support from the football community
Finally, Araujo revealed that the support went beyond Barcelona, with players from other clubs reaching out privately.
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“That surprised me a lot. When I decided to stop, I didn’t imagine the boom it would cause, but, of course, we’re at Barça. Players from other teams in Italy and Germany.
“They appreciated what I had done.
“Some told me they had been through the same thing but had kept it to themselves because they were perhaps being paid, they were afraid to stop, afraid of how people would react.”
Puerto Rico’s Xander Zayas had perhaps the best eight-day period any boxer could ask for.
After defeating Abass Baraou in front of 12,000 of his hometown fans in San Juan on Jan. 31 to unify the WBA and WBO super welterweight titles, Zayas flew straight to San Francisco so he could rehearse with Bad Bunny for his Puerto Rico-inspired performance at Super Bowl LX’s halftime show this past Sunday.
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“Man, the day of [the Super Bowl] was a very big energy,” Zayas told Uncrowned’s “The Boys in the Back” show Tuesday, “not just from me but from everybody in the cast — all the dancers, all the models, all the actors. Even [Bad Bunny]. Everybody was just so amped up when we got there and were setting up. When we were waiting for the music to start dropping, everybody was just so anxious and ready to go, fired up. You could tell it was just an amazing atmosphere.
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“Being a part of it and being able to go to a couple of events, I got to meet some great people — J Balvin, Ronald Acuña, Lady Gaga,” Zayas continued. “I was actually surprised that most of these artists and big athletes knew who I was, [they] knew my name. Obviously, J Balvin — when I come up to him, he’s like, “Oh, you’re the fighter, right?” It was insane. Ricky Martin did the same thing. Ricky Martin, when he met me, he was like, ‘Man, you’re Xander Zayas, man. That’s amazing.’ It was insane. Great experience. It was beautiful to be part of such a historic event, and I can’t wait for what the future holds.”
Zayas signed a marketing deal with Bad Bunny’s Rimas Sports this past September to help him become a star. The partnership paved the way for Zayas to appear on a halftime show watched by more than 128.2 million viewers and experience a surge in popularity.
Zayas’ relationship with Bad Bunny was a much-needed move for the 23-year-old. As the youngest unified male world champion in boxing, Zayas is clearly succeeding inside the ring. The gate receipts for his latest fight with Baraou are expected to exceed $1 million, representing the vast local support he is receiving. However, Zayas’s unification bout with Baraou struggled to garner the interest it deserved on the wider stage.
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That is because two months prior to Zayas signing with Bad Bunny, his promoter, Top Rank, lost its broadcast deal with ESPN and has yet to replace it. As a result, Zayas’ fight with Baraou was streamed on Top Rank’s FAST channels. To make matters worse, the bout was forced to compete for coverage alongside the highly-anticipated Shakur Stevenson vs. Teofimo Lopez matchup, which took place at the same time, further reducing its presence.
Zayas already has two super welterweight world titles, and now he’s setting his sights on picking up the other two. WBC titlist Sebastian Fundora already has a fight with Keith Thurman locked in for March 28, however newly-crowned IBF champion Josh Kelly dethroned Bakhram Murtazaliev just hours before Zayas’ win over Baraou, perfectly aligning the pair’s fight schedules.
“What I do know is that [Top Rank has] already made a call to Matchroom [Kelly’s promoter] and team Josh Kelly because that’s who I want to face next,” Zayas said. “That’s what I told [Top Rank] that I wanted to do. I wanted to collect a third belt. So I know they did that. We’re waiting on a response from Josh Kelly’s team, and hopefully we can make something happen for the summer.”
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“Yessir [the goal is to be undisputed]. Again, just little by little, step by step — the next step hopefully is Josh Kelly. That’s what I want. That’s what he wants because he’s also said the same thing, so we’re both on the same page. Now it’s making sure that it gets done, and then after that, seeing what’s next, and hopefully Sebastian Fundora right after I win that belt.”
“[The Kelly fight] must be in the United States — neutral ground, kind of, for both of us,” Zayas added, “me being Puerto Rican and him being from England. I don’t think it’ll take place either in England or in Puerto Rico. But here in the United States is something that we can make happen, for sure.”
Kelly, from Sunderland, is keen on a fight at his football team’s stadium, Stadium of Light. He said after his win over Murtazaliev that his main preference was to fight at his home stadium next. An initial conversation has taken place between Matchroom and the club to stage a summer blockbuster event. Kelly is also interested in a clash with fellow Brit Conor Benn, but Benn is understood to be pursuing title options at welterweight. Kelly’s promoter also represents top 154-pound contender Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
A memorable UEFA Women’s Champions League season resumes this week with the first leg of the knockout phase playoffs, headlined by Arsenal’s attempts to defend their title and a batch of first-timers who hope to extend their stay in Europe’s top club competition.
The Gunners will face Belgium’s OH Leuven, who have become the Champions League’s Cinderella story during their first-ever stint in the competition proper. Leuven went undefeated against a handful of well-regarded sides during the league phase, proving their worth against some Champions League regulars in the process. How they match up against one of the game’s elites in Arsenal, who are in the midst of a resurgence after a poor start to the season, is another question entirely, though.
Fellow UWCL newcomers Manchester United also return to action with a tie against Atletico Madrid, one that will offer a litmus test of their progress in the midst of a memorable season. Two-time Women’s Champions League winners Wolfsburg, meanwhile, will take on six-time Italian champions Juventus and the fixture list is rounded out by Real Madrid’s faceoff with Paris FC.
The winners of these ties await meetings with Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals after that quartet secured direct passageway to the final eight with a top four finish in the league phase.
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Here’s what you need to know before tuning in.
How to watch
Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network will each be a one-stop shop for the first leg of the Women’s Champions League knockout phase playoffs, with both platforms simulcasting all coverage and every minute of the action. Coverage will begin with a new edition of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Today pre-match show before the early match, while studio coverage resumes in between matches and concludes with the post-match show to recap the action on Wednesday and Thursday.
UEFA Women’s Champions League bracket
Knockout phase playoffs first leg schedule
All times U.S./Eastern
Storylines for the knockout phase playoffs
Are Arsenal turning things around?: The reigning European champions got off to a slow start this season, so much so that they missed out on a direct berth to the Champions League quarterfinals and currently sit outside the top three in the Women’s Super League as things stand, meaning qualification for next season’s competition is no sure thing. They may have officially corrected course, though – they have just one loss in their last 14, a stretch that includes lifting the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. The list also includes impressive wins over Chelsea and Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City in recent weeks, a signal that the Gunners might be peaking at just the right time as the business end of the European season begins.
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They have an intriguing obstacle in front of them in OH Leuven, the Belgian side that have become everyone’s favorite underdog and reached the knockouts in their first-ever Champions League season. They went unbeaten against Paris FC, Twente, Roma and Paris Saint-Germain but their two losses in the league phase might be telling. Defeats to Barcelona and Arsenal, who breezed through a 3-0 win on Matchday 6, indicate that Leuven may still be a step behind the elites of the game.
Can Manchester United keep going?: Manchester United have been on a steady upward trajectory since they were officially founded in 2018, a path that has allowed them to reach new heights this season. They currently sit second in the WSL, eight points adrift of league leaders Manchester City but rising above the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in the process, and finished just one point short of a direct berth in the UWCL quarterfinals, returning to their first-ever European season as a true dark horse. Their knockout phase playoff tie against Atletico Madrid, though, will test them in more ways than one as United continue a memorable season.
United got the better of Atleti in a 1-0 win on Matchday 2 thanks to a goal from Fridolina Rolfo, who has been a boon since her summer move from Barcelona. Rolfo has three goals for United in the Champions League so far, doing her best to contribute to a goal-shy attacking unit that scored just seven times during the league phase. United are also one of three teams that qualified for the knockouts with a negative goal differential, though U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce will be counted on to come up big. Atleti, though, have their own attacking star in Spain international Fiamma Benitez, who has four goals in the UWCL this season. The Spanish side also have the benefit of experience – they have four of their last five two-legged ties in UEFA competition, while United have one win and one loss, a signal of their lack of experience at this level.
