IMAGES from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday
Arsenal will man the barricades on Tuesday in anticipation of a Barcelona backlash while hoping that their second Champions League visit to the Nou Camp in less than a year will be less harrowing than the first.
Arsenal is all set to sell skipper Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona for 50 million pounds.
Barcelona beat Benfica 2-0 in the second leg quarter-final, while Arsenal went through on a 2-0 aggregate after their second leg with Juventus ended goalless.
Former World Cup winner and Arsenal's record goal-scorer Thierry Henry announced his retirement from soccer on Tuesday, bringing an end to his a glittering 20-year career.
A day after Yann Sommer's brilliant goalkeeping display helped Inter Milan reach the Champions League final at the expense of Barcelona, it was Gianluigi Donnarumma's turn to shine as Paris St Germain booked their ticket for the showdown in Munich.
Barcelona signed Arsenal's Belgium international defender Thomas Vermaelen on a five-year contract on Sunday.
Barcelona will put Manchester City to the sword if they commit the same kind of errors as they did in their Champions League encounter last month, coach Luis Enrique said.
Cameroon midfielder Alex Song has completed his move from Premier League side Arsenal to Barcelona after signing a deal worth 19 million euros, both clubs said on Monday.
"Playing with Barcelona is special. It will be the last 'El Clasico' of the season because Barca are not in the Club World Cup."
Title-holders Barcelona will play Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they hope to remain on course for a repeat of last year's final against Manchester United.
IMAGES from the Champions League matches played on Tuesday.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was upset over several refereeing decisions in his side's 4-3 loss at Inter Milan that stopped the Catalans reaching their first Champions League final in a decade after an extra-time goal by home substitute Davide Frattesi.
Images from the the Champions League semi-final second leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona at San Siro, Milan, Italy, on Tuesday.
Former Arsenal, Spain midfielder Fabregas hangs up his boots, to coach Italian club.
Real Madrid will play local rivals Atletico Madrid while Bayern Munich were drawn against Bundesliga title challengers Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti dismissed suggestions on Tuesday that he is under mounting pressure at the club as they sit second in the LaLiga standings and were knocked out of the Champions League last week.
Arsenal took the race to the final day last season and are strongly tipped to end Manchester City's dominance this time.
'Did I leave too soon? No, my story was over, it had to end. There was no bitterness, I'd reached the end of my tether.'
Barcelona beat Atletico to set up cup final against Real Madrid
Images from the Champions League first-leg quarter-finals match played on Wednesday.
Arsenal sailed through the Europa League group stages, winning five of their six group matches and take on Sporting next, who overcame Denmark's FC Midtjylland in their playoff.
IMAGES from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday
Aubameyang joined Arsenal from German club Borussia Dortmund in 2018 for a fee of around 58 million pounds ($79 million) as former manager Arsene Wenger's last signing.
Chelsea wrapped up their sixth consecutive Women's Super League title and record-extending eighth in total after a 1-0 victory at Manchester United on Wednesday, with Lucy Bronze heading home a corner late in the game.
A round-up of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
With a game in hand, Hansi Flick's Barca are top on 66 points, three ahead Real in second
A round-up of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals second leg between Barcelona and Dortmund, Aston Villa and Paris St Germain.
Xabi Alonso has signed a three-year contract until June 2028 and the 43-year-old replaces Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of his last game on Saturday.
Guardiola optimistic of De Bruyne's quick return
In the other pairings, English champions Manchester United will take on Greek club Olympiakos, while AC Milan take on Atletico Madrid.
Brazil, who are fifth in the CONMEBOL table with 18 points from 12 games, host Colombia on March 21 and visit Argentina five days later in a match that could see Neymar come up against former Barcelona and Paris St Germain teammate Lionel Messi.
Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to a double last season as they won the German Cup and lifted their first Bundesliga title without losing a game.
Real were left with 10 men before halftime when Mbappe saw a straight red after taking down Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco as the referee overturned his initial decision of booking him with a yellow after consulting with VAR.
The difference between this side and the under-achieving teams towards the end of Wenger's reign is their experience. Martinelli made his debut in 2019 while Saka has been a regular since the 2019-20 campaign.
Both managers have struggled in the Champions League this season, with PSG on seven points and 25th in the standings, one place outside the knockout phase playoff zone, while City are one point ahead in 22nd.
Troubled Liverpool conceded a last-gasp goal in a 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyon Wednesday, leaving them in danger of an early Champions League exit, while Inter Milan were on the right end of some late drama. Arsenal, inspired by two goals from Cesc Fabregas, thrashed AZ Alkmaar 4-1 and virtually ensured their place after becoming the only Premiership side to manage a win this week.
'We've been talking during this week and now it's the right moment to announce it.'
Manchester City came from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and secure their place in the Champions League playoffs
Barcelona will be looking to follow up Sevilla's UEFA Cup triumph to complete a clean sweep of the two European trophies for one country for the first time since 1997.
