Late Marcelo goal gives Real Madrid vital win against Valencia

Real Madrid needed a late goal from left back Marcelo to defeat Valencia 2-1 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday afternoon to take another three points in their battle for the Liga Santander title.

Zinedine Zidane's side know they will be champions if they win their remaining matches of the season and, perhaps with the exception of James Rodriguez in for Isco, the coach played his strongest available 11, despite next Tuesday's Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid.

Valencia could have taken the lead in the first minute after Santi Mira got onto a poor header from Sergio Ramos, only for Keylor Navas to save his first effort, before he hit the rebound onto the post.

Karim Benzema produced two routine saves from Valencia keeper Diego Alves, before Madrid took the lead in the 27th minute.

Dani Carvajal found space to cross from the right and Cristiano Ronaldo nipped in between the defenders to flick the ball into the Valencia goal.

The home side were pressuring high up the field and forcing errors from Valencia and it was not into last minute of the half that the visitors were able to string a move together, which ended with Munir firing over.

Ronaldo should have doubled Madrid's lead from the penalty spot just 10 minutes after the break, moments after Benzema had been unlucky to hit the post with a curling shot. As the move continued Dani Parejo was judged to have held back Modric, giving Ronaldo the chance for his second of the game.

The striker hit the ball to Alves' left, but the keeper saved well to save the 26th penalty from the 53 he has faced in LaLiga; a quite extraordinary record.

Valencia were seeing more of the ball, but failing to put Navas under any significant pressure until the 83rd minute when Parejo equalized with a free kick into the top corner of the net

It looked as if Madrid were going to drop two valuable points in the title race, but with four minutes left, Marcelo was able to cut in from the left to beat Alves with a right foot shot and ensure three vital points.

Bayern Munich secure fifth straight Bundesliga title with 6-0 rout of Wolfsburg

Bayern Munich secured their fifth consecutive Bundesliga title with a 6-0 rout of Wolfsburg on Saturday.

Leipzig's goalless draw with Ingolstadt earlier in the day gave Carlo Ancelotti's side the chance to wrap up the title with three games to spare.

And Bayern wasted little time taking advantage at the Volkswagen Arena, racing into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to David Alaba's opener and Robert Lewandowski's brace.

Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich added goals in the second period while former Bayern midfielder Luis Gustavo saw red for Wolfsburg, who sit just a point above the relegation play-off position.

The victory gives Ancelotti a league title in a fourth European country, following successes in Italy, England and France.

Leipzig had been held at home as they failed to break down a side sitting second bottom of the table, even after the visitors had had Alfredo Morales sent off for a second booking in the 85th minute.

The draw left Leipzig, set for a second-placed finish in their first season in the top flight, six points clear of third-spotted Borussia Dortmund.

At the other end of the table, basement boys Darmstadt won for the third game running to live to fight another day.

Darmstadt claimed a 3-0 win at home to Freiburg courtesy of goals from Felix Platte in the 22nd minute, Jerome Gondorf in the 45th and Sven Schipplock in the 65th.

The victory followed wins over Schalke and Hamburg, but Torsten Frings' men look to have left their recovery too late.

With three games left, they trail Augsburg in the relegation play-off spot by eight points. Augsburg play their game in hand against Hamburg on Sunday.

Borussia Dortmund failed to take a firm grip on third place as they were held to a goalless home draw by Cologne. Hoffenheim, two points behind them in fourth, can take advantage with victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

The point did guarantee a top-four finish for Dortmund, though.

Hertha Berlin's hopes of achieving that feat were all but ended by a 2-0 defeat at Werder Bremen, who are now just a point behind the capital club in sixth.

Bremen maintained their stunning recent form, which now features nine wins and two draws from their last 11 league games and has transformed them from relegation battlers to contenders for Europe.

Fin Bartels and Max Kruse scored in the opening 15 minutes to settle the match.

Elsewhere, Borussia Monchengladbach won 2-1 at Mainz.

Lars Stindl and Nico Schulz put the visitors in control before a late consolation from Yoshinori Muto.

The Death Toll in Venezuela's Anti-Government Protests Has Risen to 26

Two Venezuelan men died on Tuesday from gunshots at political demonstrations, bringing to 26 the number of fatalities around this month's protests against President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government.

The state prosecutor's office said Orlando Medina, 23, was gunned down on a street in western Lara state during a protest local media identified as anti-Maduro.

Luis Marquez, 52, died in the Andean state of Merida in the early morning after being shot on Monday at a pro-Maduro rally, state ombudsman Tarek Saab said.

In more than three weeks of chaos since Venezuela's opposition launched street protests, 15 people have died in violence around demonstrations and 11 others in night-time lootings, the state prosecutor's office said on Tuesday.

Political activists and Venezuelan media have reported more deaths, but those have not been confirmed.

Read More: A Visual Record of Venezuela's Collapse

The ruling Socialist Party accuses foes of seeking a violent coup with U.S. connivance, while the opposition says Maduro is a dictator repressing peaceful protest.

With near-daily demonstrations by both opponents and supporters of Maduro, there have been fatalities on both sides, as well as one National Guard sergeant killed during a protest.

"Any death hurts, government or opposition," chief state prosecutor Luisa Ortega said in a speech. Four fatalities were adolescents and 437 people had also been injured.

The opposition's main demands are for elections, the release of jailed activists and autonomy for the opposition-led legislature. But protests are also fueled by a crippling economic crisis in the oil-exporting nation of some 30 million people.

The unrest is Venezuela's worst since 2014, when 43 people died in months of mayhem sparked by protests against Maduro, the 54-year-old successor to late leader Hugo Chavez.

Nearly 1,500 people have been arrested, with 801 still detained as of Tuesday, rights group Penal Forum said.

Trying to keep the pressure on Maduro, the opposition Democratic Unity coalition is planning a march on Wednesday toward downtown Caracas. Past attempts to reach that area have been blocked by security forces using teargas and rubber bullets against masked youths hurling stones and Molotov cocktails.

Socceroos to look into guest appearance at Copa America

FOOTBALL Federation Australia says it will make inquiries about playing in the 2019 Copa America in Brazil, with the expansion of the South American tournament announced on Wednesday.

The host Brazilian football federation (CBF) had a proposal to expand the competition from 12 teams to 16 for the 2019 tournament accepted.

That would mean the Copa America would consist of 10 South American teams - Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela - and six guest teams.

European countries such as France, Portugal, Spain and Italy have been proposed as guests, while Brazilian newspaper Globoesporte report an Asian guest is a possibility, as CONMEBOL (South American confederation) aims to take advantage of the globalisation of football.

That opens the door for the Socceroos to compete in the event and although FFA has admitted they have not been approached to participate, there is an intention to make inquiries.

"We have not sought nor received any proposal in relation to that tournament at this point," an FFA spokesperson said.

"It is a high profile, high quality tournament and we do intend to make inquiries about it in the near future.

"We will need to weigh up the pros and cons particularly in relation to the opportunity to play high quality opposition in Australia at that time of the year."

The Copa America will take place from June to July in 2019, meaning the Socceroos could have a jam-packed schedule of international tournaments, with the 2019 Asian Cup to be played in the UAE in January.

The Copa America is widely considered the third most prestigious international football tournament - after the World Cup and European Championships - and is fiercely contested by its participating teams.

Guest nations are not new. Five from central and North America competed at the centenary edition last year including the United States and Mexico. Asia has been represented once before with Japan competing in 1999.

The Socceroos also have a high-profile international friendly against Brazil in June at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which will also host a blockbuster match between South American rivals Brazil and Argentina.

The 2017 Confederations Cup is also on the horizon with Australia set to face Chile, Germany and Cameroon.

Olympaikos title confirmed as they and AEK appeal closed-door sanctions

Olympiakos have had their Greek league title win, the club’s 44th, confirmed after a hearing into reported fan trouble after a Greek Cup semi-final first leg match against AEK Athens resulted in a four game sanction for both clubs to play behind closed doors.

Both AEK and Olympiakos are appealing against the suspension of fans over an incident that appears to have only been reported some days after the event and then hyped up in Greek media.

Speculation was that Olympiakos could have received a 6-point deduction, effectively wiping out their lead at the top of the table and putting them level with PAOK with one match left to play.

The ruling ends that possibility and confirms Olympiakos seventh consecutive Greek Super League win and their 19th in the past 21 seasons.

The claims of violence against the clubs were over one spectator who was verbally assaulted and a fighting claim where one person was kicked. The second claim only emerged 10 days after the match and there have been no witnesses.

Neither the referee’s report or that of the fourth official mentioned any incidents.

Real, Atletico to meet in Champions League semis

Defending champion Real Madrid will meet city rival Atletico Madrid in the semifinals of the Champions League in a rematch of last season's final.

The Spanish teams also met in the 2014 final, with Real winning both times.

The draw on Friday pitted Juventus and Monaco in the other semifinal.

Real and Monaco will play the first legs at home, with one game on May 2 and another on May 3.

The return legs will be the following week.

The Madrid clubs have faced each other in the last three Champions Leagues. Real also defeated Atletico in the 2015 quarterfinals.

In its seventh straight semifinal, Real is trying to become the first team to repeat as champion since the competition's new format was created in 1992. It won a record-extending 11th title last season.

Atletico is seeking its first title. In addition to the defeats against Real, it also lost to Bayern Munich in the 1974 final.

Two-time champion Juventus is trying to return to the final since losing the final to Barcelona in 2015. That year, it eliminated Monaco in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 aggregate score.

The Italian champion is looking for its first European title since 1996.

Monaco is in the semifinals for the first time since it lost the 2004 final to FC Porto.

The final is in Cardiff on June 3.

South Africa bus crash 'kills 20 children'

Twenty children have been killed in a minibus crash near the South African capital Pretoria, emergency services have said.

The children died after the vehicle burst into flames following a collision with a truck just north of the capital.

They were understood to be both primary and secondary school age children on board.

Gauteng province's education minister has described it as a "dark day".

Brisbane Roar sneaks past Western Sydney Wanderers in elimination-final penalty shootout

The Brisbane Roar have spoiled Sydney's Derby Day. On a night of endless intrigue and high drama at Suncorp Stadium, the Western Sydney Wanderers were sent packing from the A-League finals after a penalty shootout.

Jamie Young would be the hero for the home side, coming on in the first half of extra time to replace first-choice keeper Michael Theo, who injured his leg in a collision with Terry Antonis.

When the time came, he stood tall. With the penalty tally at 6-5 in favour of Brisbane, Jumpei Kusukami floated his shot high and right. Young was all over it and hence, the Wanderers' season was all over.

Scores were locked at 1-1 after fulltime and extra time. The Wanderers could barely lift their feet as they clung to the draw in extra time with 10 men, following the red card to Jaushua Sotirio in the 103rd minute.

Brisbane weren't clinical enough to finish it before it went to spot kicks but managed to hold their nerve, setting up a date next week against Melbourne Victory, scheduled for 5pm on Sunday. It also cruelled any hopes of a massive Sydney derby should the Wanderers have made it out alive.

"Heartbreaking. The red card didn't help us. It was a very courageous effort when you put it into perspective. Boys were dropping in the last 10 minutes. It's one of those things," Brendon Santalab told Fox Sports after the game, while Young was in tears after his winning save.

"I've waited a long time for that," he said. "I've waited the whole year. That was special."

Brisbane are now undefeated in 10 home finals and if that was the last appearance for the great Thomas Broich on his home ground, it was one he would never forget. He played the entire match and ended it with knees covered in ice, praying his teammates could deliver.

The Roar's imposing home record clearly hadn't been weighing heavily on the minds of the visitors early on Friday night, who sprung from the blocks and dominated large swathes of the first half, finishing it with a deserving lead.

That one-goal advantage could easily have been more if not for Michael Theo, who was called upon in the opening minutes to stop a pair of back-to-back shots from the Wanderers. First Santalab was denied, then Nicolas Martinez.

When Martinez dragged a shot wide - he probably should have scored - the Wanderers had enjoyed the first five shots of the match. It was a pattern that would last most of the half as the visitors poured on the pressure.

Brisbane had every reason to respond given the emotion of the night around Broich but spent far more time digging it out from their own box instead of sending raiding parties down the opposite end.

Santalab was booked for a late tackle on Avram Papadopoulos in the 32nd minute in an incident that would later send John Aloisi into a mini-rage. Santalab escaped censure five minutes later for a challenge on Thomas Kristensen that the Roar coach was convinced should have ended his night.

It looked as if Western Sydney's dominance would go without reward before Papadopoulos felled Santalab in the box on the stroke of halftime. Antonis made no mistake and the Wanderers were seemingly on their way.

Aloisi rushed onto the field to make his feelings clear as the officials left the ground and likely continued it in the rooms. Whatever he said, the Roar responded, levelling scores on 55 minutes after Jamie Maclaren pounced on  Brandon Borello's rebound off the post.

The Wanderers were starting to be broken up as Brisbane went on the offensive. Vedran Janjetovic saved Brett Holman's strike before Borello was denied on the line by a desperate Scott Neville. Brown almost scored against just seconds later, with Janjetovic brilliant again.

Brisbane came perilously close to burying the winner as the clock ticked down. Broich put it on a platter for Borrello, whose volley managed to bounce on the crossbar - twice - before Janjetovic batted it away.

Sotirio has his chance to be the hero at the death but his shot from in front sailed well over the Roar goal, ensuring it went into extra time. It would be one of the most crucial moments of the night, with his cameo from the bench soon ending with a send off.

Ugo Ehiogu dead aged just 44 after Spurs coach suffers heart attack at training ground

Tottenham Hotspur Under-23 coach Ugo Ehiogu has passed away.

The former England and Aston Villa defender was rushed to hospital on Thursday after collapsing at Tottenham's training centre.

The 44-year-old received medical treatment on site before being transferred to hospital by ambulance. But doctors were unable to save him.  Devastated staff and players at the club have been told this morning.

A statement released by Spurs said: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Ugo Ehiogu, our Under-23 coach.

"Ugo received immediate treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Training Centre yesterday before being transferred to hospital, where he passed away in the early hours of the morning.

Ehiogu has been at Spurs since 2014. He made over 200 appearances for Aston Villa between 1991 and 2000. He then went on to spend seven years at Middlesbrough.

He lifted the League Cup with Villa in 1996 and also with Middlesbrough in 2004.

Ehiogu, who was capped four times by England, also played for West Brom, Leeds, Rangers and Sheffield United before retiring in 2009.

Ehiogu began his career as a trainee at West Brom before he was taken to Villa by Ron Atkinson in 1991.

He went on to feature in more than 300 matches for Villa over a nine-year spell - and played in their FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea in 2000.

Ehiogu joined Boro for a then club-record £8million fee later that year, and in 2001 he scored his only goal for England in Sven Goran-Eriksson's first game in charge, a 3-0 friendly victory against Spain.

Knee injuries plagued the final years of Ehiogu's career at the Riverside Stadium. He joined Leeds on loan in 2006, and also had short spells with Rangers and Sheffield United before he retired from football in 2009.

Ehiogu subsequently moved into coaching and has been at Tottenham for the past three seasons.

Drunk woman flashes crowd at Cubs game goes viral

During Wednesday’s game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, an obviously drunk woman stood up and faced the crowd, all while removing her bra to show off her muffin top with her negative a-cup breasts.

Jose Mourinho braced for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rojo bad news

Centre-back Rojo was stretchered off with a leg injury in the first half, while Ibrahimovic, United's 28-goal top scorer, hobbled off in stoppage time after his right knee bent the wrong way.

Mourinho said he expected to find out more about the two players' injuries within "a couple of days".

Marcus Rashford proved a capable deputy for Ibrahimovic, netting a smartly taken winner to send United into the competition semi-finals for the first time.

The 19-year-old had also scored the opening goal in United's 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday after Ibrahimovic was rested.

Daley Blind took over from Rojo, but Mourinho has fewer options in central defence, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones both currently sidelined.

The pair sustained injuries on England duty a month ago, Smalling injuring his knee and Jones his foot.

Mourinho said both players would be able to come back sooner than anticipated if they put their minds to it.

"I think it's time for Jones and Smalling to be brave, to risk," said the Portuguese, whose side visit Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday before tackling Manchester City next Thursday.

"Because for the team, you have to do everything. That's the way I think. You cannot do miracles. I don't expect miracles. But you have to try to do everything to accelerate the process.

"Even with a crazy mentality, they cannot play Sunday. There are no miracles.

"But with a special spirit, you can (play) sooner than expected. So instead of come mid-May, you can come beginning of May."

Shaw praise

Asked when the pair were likely to be back in action, Mourinho replied: "If it was me, I think tomorrow."

Mourinho had kinder words for left-back Luke Shaw, having publicly and sharply criticised the England international on several occasions in recent weeks.

"Luke Shaw did something new for me with him that means a lot for me," he said.

"After 90 minutes, before I know that I have to change Zlatan, he was with cramps. I had Ashley Young ready to come on and he told me, 'I am going to play these 30 minutes with cramps. No problem.

"'If you need to make a change in another position, do it, because I'm ready for it.'

"These are the kind of things that make me trust a player. Mentality is fundamental."

Mourinho also expressed reservations about reports England Under-21 coach Aidy Boothroyd plans to call Rashford up for this year's Under-21 European Championship in Poland.

"He cannot play every game," Mourinho said after being asked if Rashford was capable of filling in for Ibrahimovic.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he was preparing for bad news after losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo to injury during his side's Europa League quarter-final success against Anderlecht.

"I want to wait, but my feeling is not good for both," Mourinho told reporters after his side's 2-1 extra-time win at Old Trafford on Thursday completed a 3-2 aggregate victory.

"I want to wait and I want to try to be optimistic, but I'm not."

"On top of that, I think you are trying to take him for the Euro Under-21s. It's hard for the kid in terms of playing every match, but I always trust the players with a special mentality."

Rashford teed up Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a 10th-minute goal that put United 2-1 up on aggregate, only for captain Sofiane Hanni to equalise for Anderlecht in the 32nd minute.

Roared on by their raucous away support, Anderlecht gave United several scares before finally succumbing in the 107th minute.

"We played a very good match. Unfortunately the result isn't so good," said the Belgians' coach Rene Weiler.

"We played very well in the first half. We equalised, but couldn't score a second goal. When you concede a winner in extra time, it's always difficult to find a way back."

Rashford strikes as Man United battle past Anderlecht

Marcus Rashford sent Manchester United into the Europa League semi-finals after Anderlecht took Jose Mourinho's side to extra-time in a breathless encounter.

England's last European representatives came into the quarter-final second leg boosted by Sunday's surprisingly dominant win against Premier League leaders Chelsea and Henrikh Mkhitaryan's away goal.

The Armenian struck again early on but United were given a scare, with Anderlecht captain Sofiane Hanni bringing the tie level, before Rashford capped a man-of-the-match display with the goal that secured a 2-1 extra-time triumph.

Victory saw Mourinho's men stumble a step closer to the Stockholm finale 3-2 on aggregate, but the Old Trafford quarter-final second leg proved costly as Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sustained what appear to be serious injuries.

Few could have foreseen such an arduous evening after Mkhitaryan's fifth goal in six Europa League matches, but impressive Anderlecht went into half-time level after Hanni reacted quickest to Youri Tielemans' deflected effort rebounding off the crossbar.

United's desperation to avoid an embarrassing exit was matched by the visitors' desire to win on English soil for the first time, leading to a thrilling second half that came to an excruciating end for Ibrahimovic.

The veteran Swede's enforced exit after landing awkwardly saw Rashford lead the line and the outrageously-talented 19-year-old struck the decisive blow, showing wonderful composure and skill to strike a 107th-minute winner.

Few had expected such a scare from an Anderlecht side who made their ambitions clear inside three minutes, with last week's goalscorer Leander Dendoncker coming close from 30 yards.

United started as sloppily as they ended the first leg in Brussels, but showed a cutting edge so often lacking this term.

Paul Pogba's fine pass put Rashford through and the teenager fed Mkhitaryan, with United's Europa League specialist scoring with a fierce drive from the edge of the box.

Anderlecht goalkeeper Ruben had to be at his best to deny Pogba's powerful header and a Jesse Lingard strike before concern became the overriding emotion at Old Trafford.

Rojo played on after being hurt in a challenge with Alexandru Chipciu, only to go down again as Frank Acheampong raced through with Eric Bailly in tow.

Relief at seeing the Ghanaian turn into the side-netting was tempered by the Argentina international leaving on a stretcher, with Dendoncker and Tielemans trying to punish a rejigged backline.

They did just that in the 32nd minute.

Luke Shaw was caught deep before a cross that substitute Daley Blind cleared poorly, allowing Tielemans to get away a strike that took a deflection and rattled the woodwork. Hanni reacted quickest, slotting home a goal he could have added to before half-time had it not been for a heavy touch.

The break came as welcome relief for the hosts - but they were close to going ahead soon after the restart as Shaw surged into the box and sent in a driven cross which just evaded Lingard.

Misplaced passing and under-performing players continued to hamper United.

Mourinho turned to Marouane Fellaini, whose tame header was saved, before Rashford struck wide and raced through but took the ball too wide of goalkeeper Ruben.

Ibrahimovic was denied from close range, then saw penalty appeals waved away before he fired wide.

Rashford hit the side-netting as regulation time came to an agonising end for Ibrahimovic, whose right knee buckled when landing awkwardly.

Anthony Martial came on and extra-time was just two minutes old when Rashford's rabona set-up Pogba for an equally impressive overhead kick that was blocked.

Ivan Obradovic came close and Pogba had a goal ruled out in a thrilling first period, which came to an end with Romero jumping on a Tielemans drive at the second attempt.

Soon after play resumed, United landed the crucial blow as Fellaini nodded back for Rashford, who turned superbly and unleashed a low left-footed shot in front of the Stretford End - Ruben got a hand to the effort but could not keep it out.

However, Mourinho's men were still made to sweat.

Romero saved from close range after Acheampong ghosted in and Kara Mbodji headed over either side of a disallowed Martial goal.

The United manager's relief was clear at the final whistle - and he was quick to applaud the visiting support

Man arrested over Dortmund bus blast

A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with last week's Dortmund bus attack.

German prosecutors confirmed the arrest of the German-Russian citizen in relation to the bombing of the Borussia Dortmund football team bus on April 11.

Officials said the suspect, identified as Sergej W, was arrested on Friday in the Tuebingen area.

A Dortmund player and a policeman were injured when the blasts went off as the bus headed to the stadium for a match against AS Monaco.

According to officials three explosive devices were used in the attack, all equipped with metal pins - one of which buried its way into a headrest on the bus.

Controversy mars Madrid triumph

You can doubt whether they are actually the best team in Europe, you can doubt whether he is still the same player, you can doubt some of the hugely controversial decisions in this game - but you can’t doubt their creditable resilience. Real Madrid stay on course to become the first team since AC Milan 1990 to retain the European Cup, because Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the finest goalscorers of all time.

His hat-trick eventually gave the defending champions a 4-2 win on the night and 6-3 aggregate win over a crestfallen Bayern Munich, and meant they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the seventh consecutive season.

That record and pretty much any knock-out run will naturally involve a bit of luck, but the Germans can fairly complain Real got an awful lot of it at the Bernabeu. They can also fairly rage at the decisions behind Arturo Vidal’s costly second yellow card, Ronaldo’s absolutely key second strike in extra-time not being given for offside and maybe even his third.

It was little wonder that an exhausted Bayern then collapsed, in what had previously been an utterly exhilarating encounter.

It also means a record stands, and shows how exacting this competition is. There are still only six sides in 62 years who have gone through a tie having lost the first leg at home. Bayern came closer than most… but still go out before the semi-finals for the first time since 2011.

Up against that weight of history as much as Real Madrid and that need to score twice, Bayern duly came out as if there was little time to spare, and looked to catch out the defending champions from the off. They almost did, too, as Thiago Alcantara had one shot blocked from just yards out before Arjen Robben shot wide.

It really should have been 1-0 to Bayern on the night and 2-2 on aggregate on the tie, but they continued to find space and make chances.

It was at this point that Real again looked what they have so oddly but so routinely looked over the past few years, and that was an expensively assembled team that is somehow considerably less than the sum of their parts and without a defined idea of football. And yet, even as that has continued to be the case for so long, the key has been that they have enough amply talented expensive individuals to overcome that and often overwhelm opposition.

They did get over that initial spell of Bayern pressure, and actually created the best opportunities. A supreme long-range Dani Carvajal shot was the rallying call for the game to change, and Real followed it with a flurry of chances. Jerome Boateng defiantly cleared off the line from Sergio Ramos before Cristiano Ronaldo squandered two opportunities that, really, the 2012 Cristiano Ronaldo would have taken without hesitation. First, he was put through for what would at that stage of his career would have been a searing counter-attack, only to take a poor touch. As if without his old acceleration, he dragged the ball harmlessly wide, when previously he would have raced right through and smashed it in. It was similar at the other end minutes later, except this time he smashed it well into the stand.

Bayern were still getting forward in between all of this, but were lacking a cutting edge. They were too often ponderous when they needed to be ruthless, with David Alaba for example choosing to harmlessly float crosses in rather than properly test Real with something tenacious.

It still made for a hugely entertaining encounter, but it immediately became a super-charged encounter, and that was largely thanks to Robben just going into overdrive. Mere minutes into the second half, he looked to have hit the goal that Bayern needed to properly ratchet up the pressure on Real, as he lifted the ball over Keylor Navas. That couldn’t beat Marcelo, who excellently cleared off the line, but the relentless winger's next move did beat Casemiro. Charging into the box, Robben enticed the Brazilian central midfielder into a challenge - and the foul that brought a penalty.

Robert Lewandowski kept his cool and sent Navas the wrong way. An entertaining tie was now a properly on-the-line intense tie, as one more Bayern goal would send them on their way. And they might have got it within moments, as Robben yet again created a chance, but Vidal couldn’t finish it.

The Chilean was lucky to be on the pitch at that point, as he could well have got a second booking for a foul on Casemiro.

By extra-time, the match had reached that epic kind of stage where the players were fully and intensely invested, where they knew it was going to come down to the slimmest margins and tiny details - only for the officials to make a big error.

Bayern let Ronaldo free in the box because they knew he was offside, but the linesman did not. The Portuguese was left to score.

Bayern were left lamenting it, and just caved. The magnificent Marcelo - probably the man of the match beyond the goals - set up Ronaldo for a third, before Asensio claimed the fourth.

Real are eyeing a second successive Champions League, although Bayern will look regretfully back at a succession of bad decisions.

Atletico Madrid ends Leicester City fairytale to reach Champions League semis

Atletico Madrid have reached the Champions League semifinals for the third time in four seasons by ending Leicester's fairytale European journey, drawing 1-1 at the King Power Stadium to advance 2-1 on aggregate.

Once Atletico grabbed an away goal through Saul Niguez's first-half header, any hopes of the English champions extending their debut in Europe's elite competition seemed to be completely extinguished.

Especially since Atletico was looking technically superior, attacking with greater skill and potency and outplaying the European novices.

And yet the spirit that powered Leicester to a remarkable Premier League title triumph returned in the second half as a tactical switch to three at the back by caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare put Leicester in the ascendancy.

The subdued atmosphere was lifted by Jamie Vardy's 61st-minute strike, but levelling the score on a chilly central England night wasn't sufficient.

A defence as sturdy as Atletico's wasn't going to allow Leicester to score the two goals it still required to go through as a succession of shots were intercepted.

England's last Champions League representatives went out with a fight exactly eight years to the day since Leicester began its dazzling ascent by clinching the third-tier title, with the exhausted players collapsing on the turf at the final whistle after pressing with grit and directness.

As Leicester - 12th in the Premier League - faces up to the reality that it could be many years before the team can contemplate a return to the Champions League, Atletico will try to land the prize the keeps eluding Diego Simeone's side.

It was a finalist in both 2014 and 2016 but beaten by neighbour Real Madrid on both occasions.

Frank Lampard hails Chelsea legend John Terry as the greatest defender in Premier League history

Frank Lampard hailed John Terry as the greatest defender in Premier League history after it was announced the Chelsea captain will leave Stamford Bridge.

Terry will end his 22-year association with Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of the season but the 36-year-old aims to continue his playing career.

The defender has not ruled out playing for another Premier League club and will also consider lucrative offers in China and America.

West Brom, Stoke and Bournemouth all made approaches to sign Terry in January but Lampard has reiterated comments made to Standard Sport last month that his former team-mate would not tarnish his legacy at Chelsea by joining another English club.

Staying in England will mean Terry would not have to uproot his family but a big-money move abroad may appeal.

Lampard, who spent a season at Manchester City after leaving Chelsea, said: “The last man standing of an incredible era for Chelsea. 

“What a pleasure to play with the greatest defender in Premier League history. In fact, I would put him up with any defender in world football of any era. 

“Whatever you do next I know everyone will respect your decision and I know that the Chels will always be your club. Absolute respect.”