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Arsenal Closes the Gap on Liverpool after 1-0 Win against Chelsea in Premier League

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Arsenal's Mikel Merino scores their first goal past Chelsea's Robert Sanchez. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Arsenal's Mikel Merino scores their first goal past Chelsea's Robert Sanchez. (Reuters)
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Arsenal Closes the Gap on Liverpool after 1-0 Win against Chelsea in Premier League

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Arsenal's Mikel Merino scores their first goal past Chelsea's Robert Sanchez. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Arsenal's Mikel Merino scores their first goal past Chelsea's Robert Sanchez. (Reuters)

Mikel Merino led Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Merino's first-half header settled the London derby at the Emirates Stadium and saw second-placed Arsenal move within 12 points of leader Liverpool.

In another all-London clash, Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0.

Arsenal's title hopes have faded in recent weeks, but it closed the gap on Liverpool, which was playing Newcastle in the English League Cup final later in the day.

Merino rose in the 20th minute to flick Martin Odegaard's near post corner beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. It was enough to secure a first league win for Mikel Arteta's team since February 15.

Defeat for fourth-placed Chelsea means it missed the chance to extend its one-point lead over Manchester City in fifth and boost its chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Arsenal, on 58 points, is 10 clear of four time defending champion City.

Spurs blow

Another setback for Tottenham is likely to increase the pressure on coach Ange Postecoglou heading into the international break.

Spurs, in 14th, have only won one of their last five in all competitions and this was a 15th league defeat of the season.

Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham the lead in the 78th at Craven Cottage and Ryan Sessegnon doubled the home team's lead 10 minutes later.

Fulham is eighth and four points behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League place.

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Raphinha Criticizes Referees After Barcelona’s Champions League Elimination, Says Club Was ‘Robbed’

Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 14, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha look dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 14, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha look dejected after the match. (Reuters)
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Raphinha Criticizes Referees After Barcelona’s Champions League Elimination, Says Club Was ‘Robbed’

Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 14, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha look dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 14, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha look dejected after the match. (Reuters)

Barcelona forward Raphinha criticized the refereeing after Barcelona's elimination against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday.

Raphinha, who didn't play because of a hamstring injury, also gestured toward Atletico fans after the game, apparently indicating that the team will be eliminated in the next round. He also made a “robbed” sign with his hands toward the crowd at the Metropolitano stadium.

Barcelona won 2-1 on Tuesday but it wasn't enough to overcome a 2-0 loss at home last week.

“To me, it was robbed,” he told reporters. “Not only this match, but the other one as well. The refereeing was very bad. Incredible the decisions that they made. Atletico made a lot of fouls and the referee didn't show a single yellow card.”

Barcelona had Pau Cubarsí sent off in the first half of the opening game, and Eric García was shown a red card on Tuesday in the 79th minute.

Barcelona also complained of other refereeing decisions during both matches. It made a complaint to UEFA about a possible penalty in its favor in the first leg, and players complained of another penalty on Tuesday.

“I wish I could understand the fear that they have to see Barcelona winning,” Raphinha said.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick complained after the first game but said after the return leg that he wouldn't talk about the referees. He said his team deserved better luck after how it played.

“When you see both matches ... we were much better than Atletico,” Flick said. “But at the end it's like that, and we have to accept it.”

Barcelona's next match is against Celta Vigo in the Spanish league. The Catalan club leads the league by nine points over second-place Real Madrid after 31 rounds.

Sports

Griezmann Dares to Dream After Atletico Oust Barca in His Farewell Season

Atletico Madrid's French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammates celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (AFP)
Atletico Madrid's French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammates celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (AFP)
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Griezmann Dares to Dream After Atletico Oust Barca in His Farewell Season

Atletico Madrid's French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammates celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (AFP)
Atletico Madrid's French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammates celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (AFP)

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine ‌Griezmann is daring to dream of a fairytale finale after his side survived a fierce Barcelona fightback to reach their first Champions League semi-final in nine years on Tuesday.

A 2-1 home defeat was enough for Diego Simeone's side to progress 3-2 on aggregate, the Metropolitano crowd exhaling at the final whistle as Atletico edged into the last four.

For Griezmann, 35, it was a night thick with emotion.

The Frenchman has already announced he will leave at the end of the season to join MLS side Orlando City, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable spell in Madrid.

A World Cup ‌winner with France ‌in 2018, Griezmann first arrived at Atletico from ‌Real ⁠Sociedad in 2014.

He ⁠departed for Barcelona in 2019 before returning three years later, rebuilding his bond with supporters and becoming one of the enduring faces of Simeone's 15-year project.

His numbers underline that impact: 211 goals and 97 assists, making him Atletico's all-time leading scorer.

Yet silverware has been scarce. The 2018 Europa League remains the only major trophy of his time with the Colchoneros, leaving this ⁠campaign as a final opportunity to sign off with ‌something special.

Atletico will face either Arsenal ‌or Sporting in the semi-finals, with the London side leading 1-0 ahead of Wednesday's ‌second leg. Atletico are now two matches away from a first ‌Champions League final since their appearances in 2014 and 2016.

"I'm very happy," Griezmann told reporters.

"It doesn't matter who we face, as long as we're still in it and as long as we're on top form right until the end. It's ‌been a brilliant but tough tie against a top-class side who play really well in Barcelona. It's been ⁠a struggle, ⁠but we're still in it."

In Spain glory could come as soon as Saturday with the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad in Seville, Griezmann's boyhood club, with Atletico chasing their first domestic cup since 2013 and an end to a four-season wait for any title.

"It's going to be a great match, a tough one, so we'll need to get some rest. Now it's time to start thinking about Saturday. What a great feeling," Griezmann said.

“I hope I can help my team mates to do something beautiful this season, something historical. Our fans deserve it.

"After the match was over, I stayed on the pitch with them for several minutes, just enjoying the songs and the atmosphere, which was fantastic. Let’s keep going.”

Sports

PSG Boss Luis Enrique Credits Team’s Belief for Champions League Success

Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique reacts. (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique reacts. (Reuters)
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PSG Boss Luis Enrique Credits Team’s Belief for Champions League Success

Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique reacts. (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique reacts. (Reuters)

Paris St ‌Germain showed why they are the reigning champions of Europe, coach Luis Enrique said, after his side completed a commanding 4-0 aggregate victory over Liverpool on Tuesday to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

PSG were pushed for spells at Anfield, particularly in the second half, but Ousmane Dembele struck twice after the break as Luis Enrique's men won 2-0 to again demonstrate the belief and resilience that are hallmarks of their European campaign.

Luis Enrique said defending the trophy remained one of football's toughest challenges, but that his team had earned ‌the right ‌to compete among Europe's elite once more.

"It's difficult ‌to ⁠defend the Champions ⁠League, we know that," he said. "But we're here again and we need to make the most of these opportunities."

Asked whether PSG carry an "aura" as holders, Luis Enrique pointed instead to the confidence and belief within the squad.

"I don't know, it's difficult to judge that," he said. "But it's a real pleasure for me to know my ⁠team is at that level and can play ‌at that level no matter who ‌they're playing against.

"You can see what sort of team we are, we've got ‌a lot of belief and a lot of confidence, and ‌the supporters express that belief as well."

Luis Enrique said Liverpool's need to chase the tie after trailing 2-0 from the first leg played into PSG's hands, even if it took time to fully capitalize.

"They had to ‌take a lot of risks and that meant we could load the counter-attack and kill the ⁠match off," he ⁠said.

"It took us longer to do that than I would have liked, but as soon as we scored the first goal, that changed things. I think we managed the match very well."

PSG will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, who meet on Wednesday with the Germans leading 2-1, in the semi-finals.

Asked if he had a preference, Luis Enrique said: "If I say one team, we'll end up playing the other team.

"I'll be watching the game between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but it doesn't matter, we deserve to be there and we're going to make the most of it with our supporters."