Match Details

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• Spanish media raise big concerns about Real Madrid vs Man City referee hours before match

  Spanish commentators have expressed significant concern regarding the appointment of Italian official Maurizio Mariani for tonight’s Champions League clash, citing his restrictive officiating style and historic statistics. ​Spanish media outlets have voiced grave concerns over referee Maurizio Mariani ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League visit to Real Madrid. Former official Iturralde Gonzalez criticized the 44-year-old’s tendency to control the flow of the match, stating: “He doesn’t let the game flow, he prefers to steer it where he wants, and I don’t like that kind of refereeing.” Gonzalez further warned: “Instead of letting the game unfold, he takes the game where he wants.” ​Mariani, who has a career record of 1,848 yellow cards, is perceived as a “no-nonsense” official who does not typically favor home sides. This adds pressure to a historic fixture marking the fifth consecutive season these giants have met in the knockout stages. Real Madrid, aiming for a 16th European title, face a City side that recently secured a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu during the league phase in December.

• Official: Serie A confirm Roma’s Wesley, five others

  Roma’s Wesley Franca and five other Serie A players have been hit with one-match suspensions following the conclusion of the league’s 27th round of fixtures.

  The Lega Serie A has officially confirmed a one-match suspension for Roma wing-back Wesley Franca following the Giallorossi’s 3-3 draw with Juventus.

  The Brazilian defender collected his fifth caution of the season at the Stadio Olimpico, triggering an automatic ban.

  Consequently, Wesley will be unavailable for Sunday’s league encounter against Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa as Roma continues their push for European qualification.

  Joining Wesley on the sidelines are five other players following the latest round of fixtures.

  Sassuolo’s Andrea Pinamonti received a straight red card, while Fabiano Parisi, Remo Freuler, Filippo Terracciano, and Lautaro Valenti all reached the yellow card threshold.

  Regarding the disciplinary action, league officials confirmed that Wesley “will now have to serve a one-match ban when the Giallorossi go up against Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa.”

• Roma fined for fans’ chants against Luciano Spalletti in Sunday’s return

  Luciano Spalletti led Juventus to a resilient 3–3 draw against his former side Roma, a match overshadowed by a €6,000 fine for the Giallorossi due to crowd disturbances.

  Luciano Spalletti haunted his former club as Juventus staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 3–3 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.

  Trailing 3–1, Spalletti’s tactical adjustments inspired a late equalizer, preserving the gap between the sides in the Champions League qualification race.

  The result underscored his reputation for composure, as Juventus’ performance highlighted the experience and tactical expertise that Spalletti brings to the bench.

  However, the fixture was marred by misconduct from the home stands. Roma has been hit with a €6,000 fine after supporters directed offensive chants toward their former manager in the 57th minute.

  The sanction, confirmed by a sports judge, also accounts for a smoke bomb thrown onto the pitch. The fine serves as a reminder of the responsibilities clubs have regarding fan behavior.

• Player Ratings: Bernal 9 and Yamal 8 shine but Barcelona exit Copa del Rey despite 3-0 win

  Barcelona fell agonizingly short of a historic “remontada” in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Tuesday, securing a 3-0 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Camp Nou but ultimately exiting the competition with a 4-3 aggregate loss.

  Despite a brilliant brace from teenage midfielder Marc Bernal and relentless offensive pressure, Hansi Flick’s side could not find the fourth goal required to force extra time against Diego Simeone’s resilient visitors.

  Player Ratings: Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid

  Joan Garcia (6/10): Rarely tested, but showed composure and handled the few situations he faced effectively.

  Jules Kounde (N/A): His evening was cruelly cut short by an injury just 12 minutes into the match.

  Pau Cubarsi (8/10): An exemplary defensive display; he made numerous vital interventions in the penalty area and maintained high composure when in possession.

  Gerard Martin (6/10): Provided a solid defensive presence alongside Cubarsi and displayed a tireless work rate to recover the ball whenever it was lost.

  Joao Cancelo (7/10): Successfully adapted to an inverted right-back role following Kounde’s early departure and provided the clinical cross that set up Barcelona’s third goal.

  Pedri (7/10): Operated as the team’s creative heartbeat, playing incisive forward passes and drawing the critical penalty through a burst into the box.

  Marc Bernal (9/10): A standout performance from the young talent; he was clinical in the right positions to net two goals, drawing natural comparisons to the legendary Sergio Busquets.

  Fermin Lopez (5/10): Brought plenty of energy to the midfield but struggled to exert significant influence on the game before being replaced after the hour mark.

  Lamine Yamal (8/10): A constant source of danger for the Atlético defence, Yamal utilized his exceptional dribbling to terrorize the visitors and provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal.

  Ferran Torres (4/10): Failed to capitalize on two prime scoring opportunities early in the first half and struggled to impact the match after replacing Lewandowski.

  Raphinha (7/10): Played with intent and coolly converted the penalty just before halftime, though his accuracy in open play was occasionally lacking.

  Substitutions & Manager

  Alejandro Balde (6/10): Kept play simple and efficient after coming on early, though he was later forced off with an injury.

  Marcus Rashford (5/10): Attempted to stretch the play on the left flank but failed to produce any significant end product.

  Dani Olmo (6/10): Provided a fresh spark upon his arrival, consistently proving a nuisance for the visitors’ defensive structure.

  Ronald Araujo (6/10): Substituted on to provide an aerial threat but spent the majority of his time pushing forward in search of a goal.

  Hansi Flick (6/10): Deployed an ambitious, attacking lineup and managed the match effectively despite being forced to make two crucial injury-related substitutions.

• Riccardo Calafiori reveals biggest complaint about living in London

  Riccardo Calafiori has revealed he refuses to own a car in England due to London’s notorious traffic congestion and slow driving speeds.  

  ​Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori has labeled London’s traffic as his biggest frustration since joining Arsenal.

  Despite his status, he opts for a private driver over luxury cars, complaining that motorists “follow the rules too much and are a bit slow.”

  The 23-year-old noted that his 50-minute commute is often marred by “big traffic jams for no reason,” making the city’s roads his primary grievance.

  ​While teammates live near the training ground, Calafiori prefers the city center.

  He highlighted cultural differences in English football, observing that Italian sessions are more tactical while the Premier League focuses on attacking.

  Reflecting on his transition, he remarked, “I don’t drive, but I get around with a driver. I prefer not to drive here. I don’t have a car, but I can drive.”