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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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Champion Gauff Cruises into French Open Second Round

US Coco Gauff celebrates after winning against US Taylor Townsend at the end of their women's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. (AFP)
US Coco Gauff celebrates after winning against US Taylor Townsend at the end of their women's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Champion Gauff Cruises into French Open Second Round

US Coco Gauff celebrates after winning against US Taylor Townsend at the end of their women's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. (AFP)
US Coco Gauff celebrates after winning against US Taylor Townsend at the end of their women's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. (AFP)

Coco Gauff began her defense of her French Open title by dispatching fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-0 at Roland Garris on Tuesday.

Townsend, who had beaten Gauff in their only previous meeting in 2019, broke in the opening game.

The 30-year-old held on her first two service games, but from 3-1 up in the opener, won only one more game. That was at 3-5 down in the first, when Townsend saved a set point on Gauff's serve but dropped serve immediately to lose the set and that ended her resistance.

Gauff galloped through the second set in 24 minutes and will face Egyptian Mayar Sherif in the next round.

Gauff applied ice during breaks in the cauldron of Philippe Chatrier but said that was only because her coach told her to.

"I'm from Florida so this is nothing," the fourth seed said on court. "Honestly I felt more bad for the fans. Dang you're watching in the heat and I hoped no one passed out. So I'm glad I finished quickly."

Sports

Brazil's World Cup Challenge Faces Morocco Test in Group C

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior will lead the Brazil attack at the World Cup © MIGUEL J RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior will lead the Brazil attack at the World Cup © MIGUEL J RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP
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Brazil's World Cup Challenge Faces Morocco Test in Group C

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior will lead the Brazil attack at the World Cup © MIGUEL J RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior will lead the Brazil attack at the World Cup © MIGUEL J RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP

Brazil's credentials to end a 24-year wait to be world champions will be tested from the off as 2022 semi-finalists Morocco and a Scotland side seeking a historic breakthrough pose threats to the Selecao.

After consistent failure when faced with stern European opposition in the knockout stages, Brazil have turned to the coach who has won more Champions Leagues than anyone else in Italian Carlo Ancelotti to deliver a sixth star on the famous yellow jersey.

Brazil's preparations have been dominated by the soap opera surrounding Neymar's inclusion in Ancelotti's squad.

The 34-year-old will feature at his fourth World Cup despite not having been capped in the past three years.

Yet with Neymar likely to play just a peripheral role on the field, the real key will be how Ancelotti gets the best out of an unbalanced squad.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker and centre-backs Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos provide a defensive base that is arguably the best in the tournament.

But there are clear deficiencies at full-back, central midfield and centre-forward compared to Brazil squads of old.

Ancelotti was parachuted in towards the end of an unconvincing qualifying campaign, during which Brazil lost six of 18 matches.

Friendly defeats to Japan and France since the former Real Madrid coach took charge have done little to inspire confidence.

Yet the five-time Champions League winner has a proven track record when it comes to knockout football.

Ancelotti also got the best out of Vinicius Junior during their time together in Madrid.

Given the opportunity to step out of the shadow of club team-mate Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius is the one world-class attacking talent that could carry his country to glory.

- Morocco change coach -

However, defeat in their opening game to African powerhouses Morocco would set alarm bells ringing for Ancelotti's men.

Led by Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi, the Atlas Lions stunned Spain and Portugal on their route to the last four in Qatar.

They beat Brazil for the first time in their history shortly afterwards in 2023, AFP reported.

But the Moroccans' momentum was halted in a chaotic end to the African Cup of Nations on home soil earlier this year.

Senegal walked off after the hosts were awarded a stoppage time penalty.

On returning to the field, Brahim Diaz fluffed his spot-kick and Senegal went on to win 1-0 after extra-time.

Morocco were later controversially crowned champions by the Confederation of African Football, but the repercussions of defeat were still felt.

Walid Regragui, who led his country to becoming the first African semi-finalists at a World Cup, departed as coach in March to be replaced by Mohamed Ouahbi.

Scotland will aim to play the role of spoilers in their return to the world stage for the first time in 28 years.

Steve Clarke's side boast Champions League, Europa League and Serie A winners in Andy Robertson, John McGinn and Scott McTominay respectively and will be targeting progress beyond the group stage for the first time.

An opener against Haiti gives the Scots the perfect chance of a flying start.

Sports

Messi Suffers Muscle Strain, Return Date Undetermined

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi walks on the field during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi walks on the field during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Messi Suffers Muscle Strain, Return Date Undetermined

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi walks on the field during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi walks on the field during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was suffering from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring when he requested a sub Sunday during a 6-4 win over the visiting Philadelphia Union, the club said Monday.

"After undergoing further medical tests this Monday, the initial diagnosis indicates an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring," Reuters quoted Inter Miami as saying in a statement. "The timeline for his return to physical activity ⁠will depend on ⁠his clinical and functional progress."

Messi was seen grabbing at his upper thigh before he asked to sub out in the 73rd minute, and he headed directly to the locker room.

Messi's ailment ⁠comes about one week before Argentina begins to prepare for its World Cup title defense at a training camp in Kansas City, Kan.

It's unclear whether Messi will have to miss any time due to the overload. The Major League Soccer season has now begun its World Cup break, and Messi, 38, may return to ⁠training ⁠with Argentina or may need to rest further before matches begin.

Argentina plays Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Mo. for their first group- stage match. Messi and company will also face Austria and Jordan as part of Group J.

Messi helped Argentina win its first World Cup since 1986 and its third overall four years ago in Qatar. He won the Golden Ball for the tournament's top player.