Inter Milan lives! (Along with every other team in Champions League Group B heading into next week’s final matchday.)
After Shakhtar Donetsk denied Real Madrid a place in the Round of 16 by winning 2-0 at the Olimpiyskiy earlier in the day, Inter caused more disruption on Tuesday after defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 at Borussia-Park.
Jurgen Klopp has spent most of the last two months complaining about the timing of fixtures as Liverpool fights to defend its Premier League title while simultaneously competing for another Champions League crown. With that in mind (and a slew of injuries), the Reds boss started a number of youngsters against Ajax on Tuesday, including two teenagers and a goalkeeper who had just four prior senior appearances, none in the Champions League.
As things stand, Real Madrid is out of the Champions League. Shakhtar Donetsk, for the second time, has defeated Real, this time by a scoreline of 2-0 at the Olimpiyskiy.
Although now level on seven points in Group B, Shakhtar holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Borussia Mönchengladbach could win the group later Tuesday by defeating Inter at Borussia-Park, an outcome that Real would probably accept at this point since Los Blancos could then host a disinterested Gladbach side on the final matchday.
Torino's Andrea Belotti was allowed to run on to the back post by Sampdoria's defense in the first half of the matchup between the two sides on Monday and promptly made his opponent's pay.
Belotti tucked away his seventh league goal of the season after a lovely piece of skill by 19-year-old right back Wilfried Sango was followed by an inch-perfect cross to find the club captain in the six-yard box.
Sam Mewis is a familiar face among the USWNT squad and has been a solid midfielder for the World Cup champions. Her sister Kristie, on the other hand, had not made an appearance for the USWNT since 2014.
However, after suffering an ACL injury and returning back to the NWSL stronger and more confident, Kristie earned herself an NWSL Challenge Cup with Houston and a roster spot on the USWNT as they faced the Netherlands. After a six-year hiatus, USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski decided two Mewis’ were better than one. He was definitely right!
In the latest edition of one of the many Istanbul derbies, Beşiktaş came out on top against rivals Fenerbahçe, 4-3.
Beşiktaş entered the game having won three of its last four, most recently defeating fellow Istanbul side Basaksehir. Sergen Yalçın's side endured an inconsistent start to the season, going four games without a win from mid-September into early October. Since then, though, it has been much improved, moving into fourth place as a result of Sunday's win.
Born in 1991 in Frattamaggiore, Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne is too young to have experienced the heyday of Diego Maradona in southwest Italy himself, but the Neapolitan bleeds the club’s colors — he's currently fifth all-time in appearances and ninth in goals — and has grown up immersed in the Argentine's legend.
Chivas advanced to the semifinals of the Guardianes playoffs after defeating América 2-1 on Sunday night (3-1 on aggregate). América believed they could overturn the one-goal deficit from the first leg at the Azteca, but Cristian “Chicote” Calderón scored two great goals to turn Henry Martín’s strike into nothing more than consolation.
The 23-year-old Calderón — who’s been capped four times by Mexico — opened the scoring in the 31st minute with an unstoppable left-footed drive from distance that flew by Guillermo Ochoa and into the corner.
Manchester United overturned a two-goal second half deficit to win 3-2 at Southampton on Sunday. Jan Bednarek and James Ward-Prowse gave the high-flying home side the early advantage, but the halftime introduction of Edinson Cavani changed everything for United as the Uruguayan provided an assist for Bruno Fernandes before scoring the equalizer followed by a stoppage-time winner.
Ward-Prowse’s corner kick in the 23rd minute was met by Bednarek at the near post for Southampton’s first at St. Mary’s.
Barcelona responded to last weekend’s defeat to Atlético Madrid by comfortably beating Osasuna 4-0 at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Martin Braithwaite opened the scoring, Antoine Griezmann hit an incredible volley before setting up Philippe Coutinho for Barça’s third and Lionel Messi got the fourth with a sweet sweep of his left foot.
Before the match, the life of Diego Maradona — who spent two seasons with Barcelona between 1982 and 1984 — was honored with his No. 10 shirt placed in the middle of the pitch.