AC Milan Must Raise Bar in Europa League’s Last Eight, Says Pioli 

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli (R) gives instructions to his player Matteo Gabbia (L) during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between SK Slavia Prague and AC Milan, in Prague, Czech Republic, 14 March 2024. (EPA)
AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli (R) gives instructions to his player Matteo Gabbia (L) during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between SK Slavia Prague and AC Milan, in Prague, Czech Republic, 14 March 2024. (EPA)
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AC Milan Must Raise Bar in Europa League’s Last Eight, Says Pioli 

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli (R) gives instructions to his player Matteo Gabbia (L) during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between SK Slavia Prague and AC Milan, in Prague, Czech Republic, 14 March 2024. (EPA)
AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli (R) gives instructions to his player Matteo Gabbia (L) during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between SK Slavia Prague and AC Milan, in Prague, Czech Republic, 14 March 2024. (EPA)

AC Milan must raise their level as the Europa League enters the quarterfinals with some European heavyweights awaiting the Serie A side, manager Stefano Pioli said after his team's 3-1 victory at 10-man Slavia Prague on Thursday.

First-half goals from Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Rafael Leao helped Milan ease past the Czech side with a 7-3 aggregate win in the last-16 tie.

The seven-time Champions League winners will find out their opponents for the quarterfinals in Friday's draw, with unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool and Benfica among the contenders.

AS Roma, Atalanta, West Ham United, and Olympique de Marseille complete the strong field in the last eight.

"The level of opposition will go up now, although Rennes and Slavia Prague are decent teams even if they are not the biggest names," Pioli told reporters.

"Now the level will be higher, so we have to raise the bar. There are many things we can improve on... less distractions and there are other situations to analyze in order to improve.

"Whoever we draw will be a top side but none of them are unbeatable."



Premier League Probing Alleged Discriminatory Abuse in Newcastle-Sunderland Game

Sunderland's Dutch defender #06 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) challenges Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (R) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 22, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Sunderland's Dutch defender #06 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) challenges Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (R) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 22, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
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Premier League Probing Alleged Discriminatory Abuse in Newcastle-Sunderland Game

Sunderland's Dutch defender #06 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) challenges Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (R) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 22, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Sunderland's Dutch defender #06 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) challenges Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (R) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 22, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

England's Premier League said that it is investigating an incident of "discriminatory abuse" during Sunderland's 2-1 Premier League derby win away to Newcastle United after one of visiting team's players was allegedly racially abused.

The incident occurred early in the second half of the frenetic north-east clash when Newcastle's Sven Botman was being treated for ⁠a head injury, ⁠causing referee Anthony Taylor to briefly stop the game.

"Today's match between Newcastle United and Sunderland was temporarily paused during the second half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida," the ⁠league statement said.

"This is in line with the Premier League's on-field anti-discrimination protocol.

The incident at St James’ Park will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs."

Newcastle United also offered their support to the 25-year-old Dutch defender.

"Our stance is clear - we do not tolerate discrimination of any form. We will work with the authorities to fully ⁠investigate ⁠and will ensure any individuals are identified and held accountable," Reuters quoted a Newcastle spokesperson as saying.

The incident took the shine of a superb second-half performance by Sunderland, who came back from a goal down and snatched the three points with a 90th-minute goal from striker Brian Brobbey.

"He (Geertruida) looks OK. It is unacceptable, and important to report and manage the situation properly. He looks OK, but we need to support him," Sunderland coach Regis le Bris said.


PSG Retakes Ligue 1 Lead after Teenager Nets 1st Goal in Rout at Nice

PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
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PSG Retakes Ligue 1 Lead after Teenager Nets 1st Goal in Rout at Nice

PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Dro Fernández scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain as it won at struggling Nice 4-0 and reclaimed top spot in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

The 18-year-old midfielder joined from Barcelona in January and grabbed his side's third goal after being neatly set up by Ousmane Dembélé in the 81st minute.

PSG moved one point above Lens, which crushed Angers 5-1 on Friday.

Defending champion PSG has played one game less and the sides meet on April 11 in Lens in what could be a title decider.

Nice competed evenly until a contentious handball decision gave PSG a penalty late in the first half. Désiré Doué's shot was off target and lightly brushed the arm of Nice midfielder Morgan Sanson, who was turning his back and unsighted.

The referee awarded a penalty following a video review and left back Nuno Mendes scored, The Associated Press reported.

Mendes then set up Doué in the 49th with a cross and, after Nice midfielder Youssouf Ndayishimiye was sent off on the hour, PSG added late goals from Fernández and right back Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Disability awareness Substitute Emersonn scored a late solo goal to give Toulouse a 1-0 home win against Lorient.

The Brazilian forward cut inside the penalty area, beat two defenders and fired in off the underside of the crossbar. The win moved Toulouse up to ninth place.

Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes needed brief treatment in stoppage time after receiving a powerful shot from Arsène Kouassi full in the face. He was able to continue.

Emersonn almost scored a second goal with another solo effort deep into added time.

Players from both sides had pictograms of different disabilities on their jerseys instead of their names as part of a disability awareness campaign aimed at providing better facilities in soccer stadiums for those with disabilities.

The game featured an accessible shuttle service; an audio description service; visual help devices, and spaces specifically designed for sensory and autistic disability. There were also introductory sessions about blind soccer and wheelchair rugby, which both featured at the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.

Easier with 10 players Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Léon was sent off after six minutes but it still secured a 3-0 home win over Brest. He was shown a red card for impeding Rémy Labeau-Lascary.

American-born defender Bryan Okoh scored twice with powerful headers and Cameroon forward Danny Namaso added the third midway through the second half with a fine run and shot.

Auxerre remained in 16th place — which is the promotion-relegation playoff with the side finishing third in Ligue 2 — but closed the gap on 15th-placed Nice to five points.


Champions League Holders Pyramids and Record Winners Al Ahly Stunned in Quarters

Al Ahly players pose for a photograph prior to their CAF Champions League Quarter first leg match between ES Tunis and Al Ahly at Rades stadium in Tunis,Tunisia, 15 March 2026.  EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA
Al Ahly players pose for a photograph prior to their CAF Champions League Quarter first leg match between ES Tunis and Al Ahly at Rades stadium in Tunis,Tunisia, 15 March 2026. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA
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Champions League Holders Pyramids and Record Winners Al Ahly Stunned in Quarters

Al Ahly players pose for a photograph prior to their CAF Champions League Quarter first leg match between ES Tunis and Al Ahly at Rades stadium in Tunis,Tunisia, 15 March 2026.  EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA
Al Ahly players pose for a photograph prior to their CAF Champions League Quarter first leg match between ES Tunis and Al Ahly at Rades stadium in Tunis,Tunisia, 15 March 2026. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

Holders Pyramids and record champions Al Ahly both crashed out of the African Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday, losing to Morocco's Royal Armed Forces and Tunisian Esperance respectively on a bleak night for Egyptian soccer.

Pyramids' 3-2 aggregate loss ended their title defense despite a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Rabat. The Egyptians won their first African Champions League crown last June, beating South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Reuters reported.

Rida Slim put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute at Cairo's 30 June Stadium before Mohamed Rabie ⁠Hrimat doubled the ⁠lead with a 54th-minute header. Fiston Mayele halved the deficit in the 62nd minute but the Egyptians could not find the equaliser that would have sent the tie straight to penalties.

"This is a historic win and a historic qualification for the club," forward Youssef El Fahli said. "We ⁠have the determination to fight for the title this season and, God willing, we'll bring home the club's second continental crown."

Royal Armed Forces will face fellow Moroccans Renaissance Berkane or Sudan's Al-Hilal in the semi-finals, hoping to move a step closer to a second continental crown after winning the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1985 when they beat AS Bilima (now AS Dragons) of then Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo.

Al Ahly, the record 12-times African champions, took ⁠a 10th-minute ⁠lead through Mahmoud Trezeguet but Esperance levelled in the 68th minute when Florian Danho drove in from outside the box past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.

The Tunisian champions went ahead in the 78th when Mohamed Amine Tougai converted a penalty. Although Ahly drew level at 2-2 in the 84th minute via an own goal by Hamza Jelassi from a Marwan Othman header, Jelassi redeemed himself with a 94-minute winner from a Youssef Msakni corner to complete a second-leg 3-2 victory for a 4-2 win on aggregate.

Esperance will face Mamelodi Sundowns or Mali's Stade Malien in the semi-finals.