PSG Ousts Liverpool from Champions League to Join Barcelona, Bayern and Inter in QF

PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and teammates celebrate after winning the penalty shoot-out during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain, in Liverpool, Britain, 11 March 2025.  EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and teammates celebrate after winning the penalty shoot-out during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain, in Liverpool, Britain, 11 March 2025. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
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PSG Ousts Liverpool from Champions League to Join Barcelona, Bayern and Inter in QF

PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and teammates celebrate after winning the penalty shoot-out during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain, in Liverpool, Britain, 11 March 2025.  EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and teammates celebrate after winning the penalty shoot-out during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain, in Liverpool, Britain, 11 March 2025. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN

Gianluigi Donnarumma came through and Paris Saint-Germain defeated Liverpool in a penalty shootout to join Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Tuesday.
PSG beat Liverpool 1-0 on the night to level the aggregate score at 1-1. Ousmane Dembélé scored 12 minutes into the second-leg match after a blunder by the Liverpool defense, The Associated Press reported.
After extra time, Donnarumma stopped the penalty shots by Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones to secure his team a 4-1 shootout win. Desire Doue scored the winning spot kick for PSG, which will face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge.
“It does not matter if we deserve the win. Both teams deserved to go through," PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “We were better in Paris and they were better here. My team showed great personality and character at Anfield.”
The French league leader — seeking its first Champions League title — had lost at this stage in five of the past eight editions. It lost to Borussia Dortmund in last season's semifinals.
“It was the best game of football I have ever been involved in," Liverpool manager Arne Slot said. "It was an incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week. We were creating chances and then we were 1-0 down. We ran out of luck after last week.”
Barcelona cruised past Benfica with Raphinha scoring twice and Lamine Yamal once in a 3-1 win at home.
The Catalan club advanced 4-1 on aggregate score after last week’s 1-0 victory and will play either Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarterfinals.
After a 3-0 first-leg win, Bayern Munich had no trouble advancing past German rival Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern made it to the last eight a record 23 times in the Champions League era after a 2-0 win at Leverkusen to advance 5-0 on aggregate.
Inter moved on past Feyenoord with a 2-1 victory at San Siro to advance 4-1 on aggregate.
Bayern and Inter will meet in the last eight.
A thrilling clash at Anfield saw chances come and go at both ends, with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson pulling off a string of saves to deny PSG, and with Liverpool substitute Jarell Quansah hitting the post in the second half.
Dembélé took advantage of mix up between Ibrahima Konate and Alisson to roll the ball into the empty net for the only goal of the game.
Premier League leader Liverpool, which did not make it to the Champions League last season, won the first leg 1-0 through Harvey Elliott’s late goal in Paris last week.
Barcelona powers into quarterfinals Raphinha’s double made him the leading scorer in the Champions League this season with 11 goals. He had scored the lone goal last week in Lisbon.
The Brazil forward put Barcelona ahead in the 11th, then Yamal added to the lead in the 27th before assisting in Raphinha’s second goal in the 42nd to become the youngest player to score and assist in a Champions League match at 17 years, 241 days.
“My teammates make things much easier for me,” Yamal said. “It was a good goal but sometimes these things come off and sometimes they don’t. For the assist, I tried to shoot and Raphinha turned it into a goal.”
Nicolás Otamendi scored for Benfica in the 13th to become the third-oldest scorer in a Champions League knockout game at the age of 37 years, 27 days, according to UEFA. Yamal’s goal meant he became the second-youngest.
Kane leads Bayern Harry Kane scored his 10th Champions League goal of the season and set up another as Bayern Munich cruised into the quarterfinals.
Leverkusen never looked likely to overturn the three-goal deficit from the first leg, even before Kane bundled in the ball at a free kick in the 52nd after Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick misjudged an attempted clearance.
Kane set up Alphonso Davies for Bayern’s second goal with a flicked cross in the 71st as the all-German rivalry became a one-sided contest. Bayern could have scored more as Jamal Musiala hit the crossbar with one shot and the post with another.
Inter comfortably advances A goal at the start of each half saw Inter easily advance, with Marcus Thuram scoring a stunning eighth-minute opener. The Inter forward received the ball midway inside the Feyenoord half and then weaved his way into the area before unleashing a powerful effort into the top right corner.
Jakub Moder leveled from the penalty spot shortly before halftime after being tripped by Hakan Çalhanoglu.
Inter restored its advantage on the night six minutes into the second half with a penalty of its own, which Çalhanoglu converted after Mehdi Taremi was fouled by Thomas Beelen right in the corner of the area.



Guardiola: Man City Ready for Title Push with Injured Players Set to Return

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after winning the English Premier League match between Manchester City FC and West Ham United, in Manchester, Britain, 20 December 2025.  EPA/ALEX DODD
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after winning the English Premier League match between Manchester City FC and West Ham United, in Manchester, Britain, 20 December 2025. EPA/ALEX DODD
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Guardiola: Man City Ready for Title Push with Injured Players Set to Return

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after winning the English Premier League match between Manchester City FC and West Ham United, in Manchester, Britain, 20 December 2025.  EPA/ALEX DODD
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after winning the English Premier League match between Manchester City FC and West Ham United, in Manchester, Britain, 20 December 2025. EPA/ALEX DODD

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is looking forward to the return of some key players from injury as he looks to push for multiple major titles, including the Premier League, he told the club's official website.

Reuters quoted Guardiola as saying that he would rather be on top of the table in the Premier League, but is happy with City being within touching distance of leaders Arsenal.

City, who visit Nottingham Forest for ⁠a Premier League clash on Saturday, are two points below Arsenal in the English top-flight. In the Champions League, fourth-placed City are five points below Arsenal, but remain on track for a direct entry in the round of 16 ⁠with a top-eight finish.

“I’d prefer to be 10 points clear of everyone, but it is what it is. Arsenal’s doing really well but we are there... we’re still in the end of December," Guardiola said in an interview published on Friday.

"The Champions League, we are up there, and Premier League we are there, semi-finals of the (League Cup), we start the FA ⁠Cup soon. Some important players are coming back, so let's (see) step by step, game by game what's going to happen."

Midfielder Rodri, who has not played since early November due to a hamstring injury, may be available for the Forest trip, Guardiola said.

“Rodri is much, much better. Available or not, we’ll decide today," the manager said.

“(Jeremy) Doku and John (Stones) still aren’t there but soon they’ll be back."


Liverpool's Slot Hails Ekitike Impact at Both Ends of the Pitch

Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike strikes a pose as he celebrates scoring their second goal for 0-2 during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike strikes a pose as he celebrates scoring their second goal for 0-2 during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
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Liverpool's Slot Hails Ekitike Impact at Both Ends of the Pitch

Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike strikes a pose as he celebrates scoring their second goal for 0-2 during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike strikes a pose as he celebrates scoring their second goal for 0-2 during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has hailed the transformation of Hugo Ekitike from backup striker to goal machine as the France international spearheads the club's climb back up the Premier League table.

The reigning champions endured a nightmare slump, losing nine of 12 games across all competitions, but have clawed their way to fifth place with Ekitike leading the revival with eight league goals -- including five in his last three games.

The 23-year-old's summer arrival was overshadowed by the record signing of Alexander Isak. But with the Swedish striker sidelined for two months with a leg break and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Ekitike has become indispensable.

"He showed a lot of hard work to get to this fitness level where ⁠he is at the moment," Slot said ahead of Saturday's home game against bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"It sometimes took us -- me -- a bit of convincing that this all is actually needed to become stronger but he always did it, not always with a smile on his face but he has worked really hard to get fitter on and off the pitch,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

Slot revealed it took considerable persuasion ⁠to get his striker to embrace defensive duties, particularly at set-pieces.

"I've tried to convince him as well, the better you defend a set-piece the bigger chance you have to score at the other end, because if you are 0-0 it is easier to score a goal than if you are 1-0 down," Slot added.

"It may sound strange but it is what it does with the energy levels of the other team. For us and him to score goals, it is important we don't concede from set-pieces.

"He is ready to go into the program we are facing now but he is not the only number nine ⁠I have. Federico Chiesa can play in that position as well."

Liverpool's set-piece struggles are stark as they have shipped 11 goals while scoring just three at the other end, but Slot remains unfazed.

“Players are getting fitter and fitter, not only the ones we brought in but also the ones who missed out in pre-season. They are getting used to each other. I think the best is still to come for this team," he said.

“If you look at what has happened in the first half (of the season) then I am not so surprised where we are. If you look at our set-piece balance, there is not one team in the world that is minus eight in set pieces and is still joint-fourth in the league."


Jota’s Sons to Join Mascots When Liverpool Face Wolves at Anfield

 Jota died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. (AFP)
Jota died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. (AFP)
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Jota’s Sons to Join Mascots When Liverpool Face Wolves at Anfield

 Jota died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. (AFP)
Jota died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. (AFP)

Diogo Jota's two sons will join ​the mascots at Anfield when Liverpool face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday, the club confirmed on Friday.

Portuguese forward Jota, who played for both ‌Premier League ‌clubs, died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. He was 28.

Jota joined Wolves on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2017 and made ⁠a permanent move to the club ‌the following year. ‍He then ‍signed a five-year deal in ‍2020 with Liverpool, where he won the league title earlier this year.

Saturday's match marks the ​first time Liverpool and Wolves have met since Jota's ⁠death.

Jota's wife Rute Cardoso and her two sons, Dinis and Duarte, were present for the Premier League home openers for both Liverpool and Wolves in August.

Liverpool also permanently retired his jersey number 20 following his death.