Say What!

“What happened to Barcelona wasn’t going to happen to us because we’re Real Madrid.”

Marcelo insisted Real Madrid were never going to capitulate like fierce rivals Barcelona after the Champions League titleholders dramatically survived against Juventus.

“Football Can Help”

Arsene Wenger reckons football can help the deteriorating relations between England and Russia.

Arsenal take on CSKA Moscow in the second leg of the Europa quarter-finals, the first clash between the two nations since the spy poisoning row.

Both clubs are confident there will not be any trouble between travelling fans and Russian ultras.

Both Liverpool and Manchester United supporters had a trouble-free trip to Moscow in September but there has been concerns over Russians hooligans, particularly after their behaviour in Marseille at Euro 2016.

Arsenal will have about 500 fans here but Wenger believes both supporters and the players will be safe.

I’m No Weak Link”

An “underdog mentality” helped Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold come through the biggest test of his career to date against Manchester City in the Champions League.

The teenage full-back starred as Liverpool secured a 5-1 aggregate victory over their domestic rivals in their quarter-final meeting, meaning they – and not the Premier League’s champions-elect – are the last English team left standing in the competition.

Alexander-Arnold continued his meteoric rise this season with impressive displays in both legs of the tie, particularly as he kept the dangerous Leroy Sane in check.

The 19-year-old – whose stock has risen to such an extent he is now being tipped to force his way into England’s World Cup squad – says he raised the bar after believing City had identified him as a weak link.

Did You Know?

This will be the first time that the Champions League semi-finals will have a representative from England, Germany, Italy and Spain.