Barcelona defeated 10-man Valencia 4-2 on Sunday to cut Real Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to two points although Zidane’s men maintain a game in hand. A Lionel Messi brace propelled Barca at the Camp Nou, taking him over 40 goals in all competitions for the eighth consecutive season.
Lionel Messi: Has scored 40+ goals in all competitions for Barcelona for the eighth season in a row #FCBValencia
The legacy of George Best will forever be a collection of astonishing brilliance and deep sorrow. As one part of the United Trinity at Manchester United, Best dazzled in the red No. 7 shirt.
In eleven remarkable years with the club, Best scored 181 goals, won the First Division twice and, most famously, lifted the 1968 European Cup.
Every now and then, with pretty routine frequency, we come across the latest exploits of Brazilian striker Hulk in Asia. Whether they’re in the Chinese Super League or the Asian Champions League, they’re always unreal goals, and I’m beginning to doubt their authenticity.
Whatever happens in the return leg, this CONCACAF Champions League first leg between FC Dallas and Pachuca is now the benchmark for all MLS clubs. This competition doesn’t favor MLS sides (Dallas are only just beginning their work for the 2017 season), and there’s still obviously a large gap between almost all MLS and Liga MX clubs, but this was the best team in MLS, backed by the best academy, unfortunate to only win 2-1 on the night.
Atletico Madrid have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the fourth consecutive season, and for the fourth consecutive season, they look like legitimate contenders for Europe’s greatest club prize.
They have no reason to fear their potential opponents. They’re, of course, well-versed in the battles between themselves, Real Madrid and Barcelona. They finished above Bayern Munich in this season’s group stage (and beat them in the semifinals last year), and the same can be said with regards to Juventus two years ago.
Manchester City's aggregate lead over Monaco lasted less than 35 minutes. Fabinho's finish has the Citizens on the ropes.
Monaco have wiped out City's two-goal cushion in the first 30 minutes. Buckle up everyone. #UCL https://t.co/oUTS2Xb3Aj
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 15, 2017
Monaco's Kylian Mbappe is a very good soccer teen. The 18-year-old scored his 17th goal of the season to put Monaco up 1-0 against Manchester City, and within a goal of advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals.
Kylian Mbappé now has 11 goals in his last 11 games (all comps). Not bad for an 18-year-old... #UCL https://t.co/FkgHIcCsjh
Tigres moved one step closer to their first-ever CONCACAF Champions League title by defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 in the first leg of the semifinals. An own goal from ‘Caps defender Kendall Waston and a half-volley from Chilean international Eduardo Vargas will have Tigres confident of seeing things through ahead of the return leg in Vancouver.
Vancouver surprised everyone by making it this far in the competition, and their only hope was to give themselves a chance at BC Place by defending resolutely in the first leg.
Leicester City have defeated Sevilla 3-2 on aggregate (2-0 on the night) to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals behind goals from Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton. Sevilla had Samir Nasri sent off in the 74th, a penalty saved by Kasper Schmeichel in the 80th and were ultimately left to rue their wastefulness in the first leg. This was Leicester's night.
Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare sent out the same XI that had defeated Liverpool and Hull City in his first two games in charge, Shinji Okazaki being the main beneficiary of the managerial change.
You all know the name. It's that (young) man again.
(takes off hat, places hand over heart)
Christian Pulisic is on ! That's the American's third goal in his last four games for Borussia Dortmund, now up 1–0 in the DFB-Pokal. pic.twitter.com/Z5W4RoUFh9
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) March 14, 2017