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Liverpool Go Back to Galatasaray Cauldron in Champions League Last 16

Football - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 6, 2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 6, 2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Liverpool Go Back to Galatasaray Cauldron in Champions League Last 16

Football - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 6, 2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 6, 2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)

AFP Sport looks ahead to Tuesday's Champions League last-16, first-leg clashes, as Liverpool go to Istanbul for the second time this season and Newcastle United prepare to host Barcelona again:

- Galatasaray v Liverpool -

Liverpool's Premier League title defense collapsed during a horrific run of results from late September, and they face a battle even to qualify for next season's Champions League. Now Arne Slot's side head back to Istanbul, where they lost 1-0 to Turkish champions Galatasaray during the league phase.

A deep run in the Champions League would be a major boost for Slot, who has come under fire from frustrated fans during Liverpool's slump. Significantly, German playmaker Florian Wirtz made his return from a back injury as a late substitute in Friday's FA Cup win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Slot played down concerns over Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after the World Cup winner limped off.

Galatasaray held off Juventus in the play-off round, after winning 5-2 at home in the first leg and then losing 3-2 after extra time in the return. They lead the Turkish Super Lig and won 1-0 at Istanbul rivals Besiktas on Saturday, with Victor Osimhen scoring the goal -- that was his 18th of the season, with seven coming in Europe.

- Atalanta v Bayern Munich -

Bayern probably deserve to be considered among the leading three or four contenders to win the Champions League, as the German giants chase what would be a seventh title in Europe's elite club competition. Vincent Kompany's team head to Italy with an 11-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and having won seven of eight games in the Champions League so far.

With the Bundesliga title all but wrapped up, Bayern gave Harry Kane a rest and left Michael Olise on the bench in Friday's 4-1 win against Borussia Moenchengladbach. With 45 goals in 37 games in all competitions this campaign, Kane is in ominous form, reaching his best ever mark in a season by February. In leaving the England captain out for the first time this season, Kompany said Kane had a knock on his calf and would be back to his best in a couple of days.

Atalanta knocked out Borussia Dortmund in the last round and have also beaten Eintracht Frankfurt this season, so will be relishing another test against German opposition. Gianluca Scamacca scored twice as they came from behind to draw 2-2 with Udinese in Serie A on Saturday.

- Atletico Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur -

Tottenham go back to the Metropolitano, where they lost to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final. The current Spurs side is a shadow of Mauricio Pochettino's exciting team, however, and they find themselves in the strange position of still being involved in Europe and locked in a relegation battle in the Premier League at the same time.

A long way off the pace in La Liga, Diego Simeone's Atletico are fully focused on cup goals for the remainder of the season. The Argentine coach led them to the Champions League final in 2014 and 2016 but came up short against rivals Real Madrid both times, and Atletico are desperate to win the competition for the first time in their history.

Hosting a crumbling Spurs, they will aim to build a strong first-leg lead and try to capitalize on being in the theoretically weaker side of the draw.

- Newcastle United v Barcelona -

Having already beaten Newcastle 2-1 at St James' Park in the league phase thanks to a Marcus Rashford brace and without teenage star Lamine Yamal, Barcelona will be confident when heading to Tyneside.

Hansi Flick's entertaining side still have their flaws though, particularly the exploitable high defensive line which makes them vulnerable to pace in behind, with Anthony Gordon likely to cause the Catalan giants trouble.

Newcastle have found the going tougher in the Premier League this season after several years of sustained progress under Eddie Howe. They beat Manchester United last week before crumbling in the FA Cup against a Manchester City team that had made 10 changes.

Nick Woltemade started against City after a brief illness while Tino Livramento was on the bench. Howe said Lewis Miley will not be ready to face Barcelona.

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Sports

Carrick Confident Man Utd Can Go Far in ‘Magical’ Champions League

09 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick (L) with Jonny Evans in action during a training session at Carrington Training Center, ahead of Thursday's UEFA Champions League soccer match against Sabah FK. (dpa)
09 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick (L) with Jonny Evans in action during a training session at Carrington Training Center, ahead of Thursday's UEFA Champions League soccer match against Sabah FK. (dpa)
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Carrick Confident Man Utd Can Go Far in ‘Magical’ Champions League

09 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick (L) with Jonny Evans in action during a training session at Carrington Training Center, ahead of Thursday's UEFA Champions League soccer match against Sabah FK. (dpa)
09 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick (L) with Jonny Evans in action during a training session at Carrington Training Center, ahead of Thursday's UEFA Champions League soccer match against Sabah FK. (dpa)

Michael Carrick believes Manchester United are strong enough to compete with Europe's best on their return to the Champions League for the first time in three years.

Carrick earned his position as permanent United boss after leading the Red Devils to third place in the Premier League in his interim spell last season.

Having secured a place in Europe's elite club competition, United kick off their league phase campaign on Thursday when they face Azerbaijani champions Sabah at Old Trafford.

"It's a magical competition. It's where we all want to be. When you're out of it, you realize how special it is and when you're in it, you want to make the most of it," Carrick told reporters on Wednesday.

"I think we've all seen some special, special nights and felt some special things in this competition over the years. It's the best competition to challenge yourself and to push against the best.

"We're delighted to be here, but we're not here to just enjoy the occasion. We're here to do business and go as far as we possibly can."

In two of their last three appearances in the Champions League, the three-time European champions have crashed out at the group stage and have not progressed beyond the last 16 since 2019.

United have also made a slow start to the Premier League season, taking just four points from fixtures against Hull, Ipswich and Everton.

However, many of their better performances under Carrick have come against stronger opposition.

United beat Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in the second half of last season.

"I think we're capable of doing some really good things in this competition and going further down the line in this competition," Carrick said.

"Certainly not getting ahead of ourselves because some part of it is a new experience for some of the players.

"But the boys are used to playing European football for the most part in different competitions and we'll take that forward and we've got a squad that's strong enough to compete."

In contrast to the record-setting spending by many of their Premier League rivals, United were only able to strengthen their midfield in the transfer window.

United benefited last season from only playing 40 games -- their lowest total since the 1914/15 campaign.

Carrick, though, said his players had to embrace the challenge of a heavier workload.

"We play Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday and it's what we're here for. It's about managing the group and having trust in everyone able to play," he said.

Benjamin Sesko is in contention for his first start of the season after coming off the bench to score in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Everton.

Carrick confirmed Matthijs de Ligt is also nearing a comeback after nearly a year out with a back injury.

Sports

Courtois Given Green Light to Skip Belgium’s Nations League Campaign, Reports Say

Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois gestures after recovering from an injury during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 8, 2026. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois gestures after recovering from an injury during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 8, 2026. (AFP)
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Courtois Given Green Light to Skip Belgium’s Nations League Campaign, Reports Say

Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois gestures after recovering from an injury during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 8, 2026. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois gestures after recovering from an injury during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 8, 2026. (AFP)

Goalkeeper Thibaut ‌Courtois will sit out Belgium’s Nations League campaign but has not retired from international football, Belgian media reported on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old had said after the World Cup that he may stop playing for Belgium or seek a ‌rest this ‌season, skipping the Nations ‌League ⁠where Belgium are ⁠grouped with France, Italy, Türkiye and play six matches over the next three months.

He told reporters after Real Madrid's 2-1 win over ⁠Inter Milan in the ‌Champions League ‌on Tuesday that new Belgium coach ‌Mark van Bommel understands his ‌decision.

"I will remain available for the European Championship qualifying campaign with the national team, and I ‌understand that I will have to fight for ⁠my ⁠place just like the other goalkeepers," he told Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws.

“Physically, I don't know if I can maintain the same schedule for another four years."

The first qualifiers for the 2028 European Championship are scheduled for March next year.

Sports

Alcaraz Falls to Shelton in Epic Latest-Ever US Open Finish

Ben Shelton, of the United States, celebrates after winning against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in the quarter-final round of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP)
Ben Shelton, of the United States, celebrates after winning against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in the quarter-final round of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP)
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Alcaraz Falls to Shelton in Epic Latest-Ever US Open Finish

Ben Shelton, of the United States, celebrates after winning against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in the quarter-final round of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP)
Ben Shelton, of the United States, celebrates after winning against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in the quarter-final round of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP)

Carlos Alcaraz tumbled out of the US Open quarter-finals at 3:34 am Wednesday, falling to Ben Shelton in an epic five-set thriller that broke the record for latest finish ever at Flushing Meadows.

The big-hitting American claimed his first career win over Alcaraz, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7), ending the Spaniard's hopes of retaining his title in his first tournament back after a four-month injury absence.

It took a brutal four hours and 28 minutes, finishing long past the previous latest finish in New York of 2:50 am -- Alcaraz's five-set quarter-final win over Jannik Sinner in 2022.

Shelton matches his semi-final run at the US Open three years ago and booked an all-American semi-final against Frances Tiafoe, who came back from two sets down to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10/6).

"That was a war, epic match, so physical," Shelton said. "Carlos is one of the greatest champions in our sport already at 23 years old.

"It's always fun being on the court against him. It's ridiculous some of the stuff he comes up with sometimes -- the most enjoyable match that I've had in my career, for sure."

Alcaraz had gone from strength to strength through his first four matches, but Shelton posed his biggest test and finally proved too much.

Shelton, pumped up by the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, reeled off nine straight games bridging the second and third sets to seize control, capitalizing on Alcaraz's flagging serve and getting the better of him in rallies that left him winded.

Alcaraz stopped the rot, mustering a break chance as Shelton served for the third set before the American closed it out.

It was a sign that Alcaraz was far from a spent force, and he roared back to take the fourth set in just 36 minutes.

The margins in the fifth set were razor thin. Alcaraz had a break chance at 2-2, then it was Shelton's turn at 4-3, but the match was destined to go all the way, to a 10-point match tiebreak that Shelton capped with an ace on match point.

After the first three matches of the day all went the distance, Alcaraz and Shelton didn't get under way until after 11 pm -- and both exploded out of the gate.

Neither man faced a break point through the first 10 games, although Alcaraz came under some self-inflicted pressure with back-to-back double faults that made for a complicated hold for 4-4.

- Shelton dialed in -

Alcaraz put together his first love hold for 5-5 then grabbed the first break in the next game, forcing a forehand error from Shelton as the American was feeling the pressure at 0-40 down.

That left the Spaniard to serve for the set, but two errors to start the game were all the opening Shelton needed.

He broke to force the tiebreaker and seized a 5-3 lead only for Alcaraz to win the last four points and pocket the set after 61 minutes.

But Alcaraz couldn't maintain the pace and as his struggles on serve increased Shelton roared away, two of his three service breaks coming courtesy of double faults from the Spaniard, including one on set point.

"I knew that my serve was only going to get better, and if I had already dialed in the return to the point that I could break him, I thought my chances were good to get that second set," Shelton said. "Once I got rolling the second set, broke him three times in that set, it was a lot easier to just play and swing more freely."