Despite a legacy forged with six UEFA Champions League titles in the last decade, Real Madrid are entering unfamiliar territory—facing skepticism from their own supporters. A turbulent domestic season has exposed cracks in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, even after a high-profile acquisition like Kylian Mbappe. But as they gear up to face Arsenal in a blockbuster Champions League quarterfinal first leg, Ancelotti remains composed. The Italian tactician insists that Madrid’s pedigree, tactical resilience, and deep-rooted experience in high-pressure matches will prevail.

In one of La Liga’s most unexpected twists this season, Valencia CF secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday—their first win at the iconic stadium since 2008. The triumph was sealed by Hugo Duro’s stoppage-time winner, lifting Valencia seven points above the relegation zone. Head coach Carlos Corberan lauded his squad’s psychological fortitude, especially after Madrid equalized through Vinicius Jr. shortly after the interval.

India’s premier long-distance runner Gulveer Singh opened his outdoor season with a commanding performance at The Ten Track Festival in California, setting a new national record in the men’s 10,000 meters. Clocking an extraordinary 27:00.22 minutes, the 26-year-old athlete came within striking distance of breaking the coveted sub-27-minute barrier—an achievement that would place him among the global elite in distance running.

Juventus management has acted swiftly after a series of humiliating results, relieving Thiago Motta of his duties and handing over managerial reins to former player Igor Tudor. The decision comes following a 3-0 thrashing by Fiorentina, which added to a dismal 4-0 home loss against Atalanta. Juventus now sit fifth in Serie A, trailing Inter Milan by 12 points and falling behind Motta’s former side Bologna. While the season began with promise, a slump in form and mounting discontent among fans and players prompted the club to seek a change.

England may have found its next generational talent in Myles Lewis-Skelly, who made a sensational senior debut by scoring the opening goal in England’s 2-0 win over Albania at Wembley. At just 18 years old, the Arsenal academy graduate etched his name into the history books as the youngest player to score on debut for the national team. Praised by teammate Declan Rice and newly appointed manager Thomas Tuchel, Lewis-Skelly impressed with his confidence, composure, and raw hunger.

Italy’s bid to overturn a first-leg deficit in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals suffered a major blow as defender Riccardo Calafiori has been ruled out of the crucial second leg against Germany. The 22-year-old sustained a knee injury late in Italy’s 2-1 loss at San Siro, prompting his withdrawal from the squad. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed that Calafiori will return to Arsenal for rehabilitation. With forward Mateo Retegui already sidelined, Italy travels to Dortmund undermanned and under pressure.

The Netherlands will be without key defensive personnel in the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Spain following a turbulent first leg in Rotterdam. Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out due to illness, while 19-year-old Jorrel Hato is suspended after receiving a red card late in the 2-2 draw. Head coach Ronald Koeman has responded by calling up Aston Villa full-back Ian Maatsen as defensive reinforcement.

Spain will look to unleash their attacking prowess when they face the Netherlands in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarterfinal—a matchup that Spanish head coach Luis de la Fuente says could easily be mistaken for a European Championship final. The reigning champions topped Group Four of League A with an unbeaten run, while the Netherlands finished second to Germany in their group. With a philosophy centered around dynamic possession and forward momentum, Spain are targeting a strong performance away from home before returning for the decisive second leg.

Amid a turbulent season at Tottenham Hotspur, captain Son Heung-min has expressed a deep sense of rejuvenation upon returning to South Korea for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Jordan. South Korea can clinch their automatic spot for the 2026 World Cup finals by securing victories in their upcoming matches in Goyang and Suwon. Conversely, Son's club side Tottenham has endured a challenging campaign, currently languishing in 14th place after a disappointing loss to Fulham.

In the wake of Arsenal Women's 2-0 loss against Real Madrid in their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg, Arsenal manager Renee Slegers spotlighted the poor condition of the playing surface at Real Madrid’s Alfredo di Stefano Stadium. Torrential rain significantly impaired the pitch quality, prompting criticism over venue selection, particularly since the prestigious Santiago Bernabeu was unused due to the men's international break.