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Tuesday’s hosts rested a number of key players with their place in the last-16 already confirmed as group winners prior to kick-off. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi were all on the substitutes’ bench as Ernesto Valverde rung the changes from their 4-0 derby win at Espanyol on Saturday. Ousmane Dembele broke the deadlock after seven minutes, capitalising on a Kyle Walker-Peters error to slot home with aplomb....

The capital club were in the tournament by virtue of their second-place finish last season, while Barcelona came in as league champions and overwhelming favourites. The fact that the Catalans won the latest fixture between the pair in December only served to strengthen Barcelona’s claim but despite falling behind, Atletico Madrid rallied to register a first victory in four years over the Blaugrana. They had gone ahead thirty seconds into the second half through Koke but quickfire goals by Lionel Messi and former star Antoine Griezmann gave Ernesto Valverde’s men the lead....

Chelsea risk title implosion Spain centre-back Bartra underwent surgery after the Dortmund squad was targeted by three explosions on their way to last Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Monaco at Signal Iduna Park. A window on the bus shattered and Bartra also had debris removed from his hand, while the match was pushed back a day and Monaco claimed a 3-2 first-leg advantage. Alba posted a picture of the trio on Instagram and said: “What a joy to see you and to share laughs together, my friend....

The Spain international played every minute of the season in Chelsea’s Premier League title triumph and has been touted as a potential solution to Barcelona’s ongoing selection issues at right-back. Azpilicueta committed his future to Chelsea until 2020 by signing a new three-and-a-half-year deal in December and the 27-year-old insists he is happy to stay at Stamford Bridge despite reports Barcelona want to buy him. “It’s flattering that a club like Barcelona can be interested in you,” Azpilicueta told Marca....

Rafinha joined Inter in the January transfer window but is yet to start for Luciano Spalletti’s side, making four substitute appearances in Serie A. Inter have an option to purchase Rafinha before the end of his loan in a €35million deal that could rise by a further €3m and the Brazilian plans a long-term stay in Milan, with no return to Camp Nou on his agenda. “Of course, that’s what I want....

France forward Griezmann joined Barca from Atletico Madrid earlier this month but is yet to share the pitch with captain Messi, who skipped the club’s tour of Asia due to his involvement at the Copa America. Messi, 32, has spoken highly of his new team-mate in the past, describing him as “one of the best” in the world in 2018. Griezmann was being linked to Barca at the time and, having now made the move, is looking forward to making up for lost time....

In case you didn’t know…. Back in August, the Argentine wizard, in his first public address as a Barcelona captain, made it really clear in front of a packed Camp Nou that he and his team-mates will do everything possible to win the Champions League for the sixth time this season. Barcelona had to endure watching their arch-rivals Real Madrid lifting the trophy for three consecutive years on the trot. Although Barcelona won the domestic double last campaign, Messi was far from satisfied because of their early exit from the Champions League....

The branch is set up in a converted former residence, conveniently–or perhaps strategically–located down the street from the Karadat Maryam police station and inevitably, hidden behind a bank of high concrete barriers. “This place was in ruins and it took months to accomplish this,” says one of the managers, waving at the front office with its new computers and faux leather furniture. Asked if it had been difficult to get the venture going, another manager shrugs....

Rosberg is chasing his fifth win in a row after starting the season triumphantly in Australia to follow the three victories he racked up at the end of 2015. Hamilton, the triple world champion who finds himself behind his German teammate in the standings for the first time since 2014, is on for a hat-trick after winning in Bahrain for the past two years. The Briton is the favourite at a circuit that has yet to witness a Rosberg victory but Ferrari, who roared into the lead at the start in Melbourne with Sebastian Vettel followed by Kimi Raikkonen, also fancy their chances....

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield — one of 20 players on his team in the league’s COVID protocols along with coach Kevin Stefanski — sounded off on Twiter on Thursday. MORE: Browns’ QB depth chart with Mayfield, Keenum in COVID protocols Notably, Mayfield told the NFL to “make up your damn mind” about the protocols and said that player safety concerns are secondary to the league. The league announced new protocols Thursday....

The trailer gives an extended look at the game’s co-op mode, showing the male and female player characters platforming through the dreamlike locales of Balan Wonderworld. Co-op play had already been confirmed several months ago, but this trailer gave it a bit more focus than before. RELATED: Balan Wonderworld Gameplay Trailer Shows Costumes, Boss Fights, and More Additionally, some new costumes are shown for the characters, including a butterfly suit, roller-skating suit, a chess piece suit, and several more odd-looking power-ups....

Aside from a few major and a few minor bugs, Baldur’s Gate 3 seems to be a huge success. As the new aesthetically pleasing D&D based game, Baldur’s Gate 3 has gripped new players and old. Many of them are coming up with amazing new ideas and finding some absolutely brilliant bugs that will ultimately be fixed before the final version of the game is released. RELATED: Baldur’s Gate 3: 10 Things We Wish We Knew Before Playing...

He had just one person to beat: the right-field ball girl, who had jumped into the action to become the last line of defense. MORE: Each contender’s biggest issue heading into stretch run She did her job so well that she became an instant Twitter star. The sudden free safety (or kicker/punter, as mentioned on the internet) showed good lateral movement and balance and kept her shoulders square while forcing the play back inside....

As he took to the podium to wield the sceptre as the world’s best player, surely every one of us must have taken a trip down the memory lane to feel sorry for those who missed the award by a whisker in the past decade. Wesley Sneijder, Andres Iniesta and Frank Ribery – these legends were denied the pleasure they so richly deserved. Modric lifting the accolade has divided opinions throughout the globe....

The Croatia midfielder was the star of the show in his country’s run to a first ever World Cup final this year, while he played a major role in Real Madrid winning a third consecutive Champions League crown. Modric’s win ends a decade of dominance for Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who had won the Ballon d’Or five times each over the past 10 years. Omnisport takes a look at the Opta numbers for 2018 to see how each of Griezmann, Ronaldo and Modric made it into the top three for the Ballon d’Or....

The 28-year-old brought his two-and-a-half year spell at Nice to an end when he joined Marseille on a free transfer in January and he has so far scored one goal in two Ligue 1 appearances for Rudi Garcia’s struggling side. Balotelli’s switch to the Stade Velodrome means he has now played for six top-flight clubs across the course of his career, including Inter, Manchester City, AC Milan and Liverpool....

The previous game between the two sides saw Mohd Nabi and Mujeeb Zadran revel against a hapless Bangladesh unit with only Mahmudullah Riyad scoring some runs against them. In spite of a fairly one-sided affair last week, a more entertaining and enthralling game is expected from the two sides on Saturday. \Here are a few tips to help you pick your Dream11 team. BAN vs AFG Squads Bangladesh Shakib Al Hasan (C), Shafiul Islam, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohd Naim, Mohammad Saifuddin, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Nazmul Shanto...

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot’s next DLC will be Trunks: The Warrior of Hope, a retelling of the tragic tale of Future Trunks. Many fans welcomed the news that one of the more somber tales in the Dragon Ball universe would be realized within Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot’s RPG based gameplay. While the announcement trailer confirmed that players would relive the “origin” story of Future Trunks, there were those that questioned if it would go further....

With the absence of the star-studded duo of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, BCB selectors opened the door for Saif Uddin, who is all set to make a return to ODIs, and Fazle Mahmud Rabbi, who earned a maiden call to the national team after playing 68 First-class and 80 List A matches. Tamim and Shakib were left out as they are recovering from injuries. While Tamim is suffering from a blow on his left wrist, Shakib is getting treatment on his left little finger....

“He got two fractures in his hand. He would not be able to continue here and also for the next three to four weeks,” team manager Khaled Mahmud told AFP from Dubai. Tamim was hailed as national hero after he returned to bat with his injured hand for the final wicket during Bangladesh’s 137-run win in Saturday’s opening match against Sri Lanka. The left-hander received a blow to his wrist in the second over of Bangladesh’s innings when he was hit by a short ball from Suranga Lakmal....