The 55-year-old Ernesto Valverde, who led Barcelona to successive La Liga titles in 2018 and 2019, came under fire this season for the team's dip in performance levels even though they top the league standings at the halfway point of the campaign.
Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi scored with two minutes remaining to hand them a 2-1 win over AS Roma.
Former Argentina captain Diego Maradona has been handed an ambassadorial role by the game's global governing body FIFA.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur built hefty leads with emphatic away wins in their Europa League last 32 first-leg matches but AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw at Red Star Belgrade as the competition resumed on Thursday.
Cristiano Ronaldo saved Juventus' unbeaten Serie A record this season when he came off the bench to score the equaliser in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Atalanta on Wednesday.
Barcelona beat third-placed Getafe 2-1 at home on Saturday to stay on the heels of La Liga title rivals Real Madrid but the champions were made to sweat for all three points by the impressive visitors. Antoine Griezmann sent the Catalans ahead in the 34th minute with a cool finish with the outside of his left foot after being played in by an outstanding pass from Lionel Messi, while Sergi Roberto doubled Barca's lead five minutes later.
Liverpool's Robertson frustrated by Neymar 'playacting'
Ten-man Premier League leaders Leicester City lost at title-chasing Arsenal, while La Liga pacesetters Barcelona crushed Celta Vigo and Juventus took over from Napoli at the top of Serie A by edging their rivals.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Monday
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Sunday backed a possible restart for the Bundesliga season this month without spectators as the government prepares for a key meeting next week.
Images from soccer matches played across Europe on Saturday.
European champions Liverpool are second in their Champions League group - a point behind Napoli - and Klopp's side host Genk at Anfield.
The Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez double act struck again on Sunday with both players scoring to give Juventus a 2-0 win at AC Milan which strengthened their grip on Serie A.
Midfielder Riccardo Montolivo missed out on his second straight major tournament due to injury on Tuesday while Daniele De Rossi was included in Italy's 23-man squad for next month's European Championship in France.
Lorenzo Insigne curled a quite wonderful shot beyond the reach of Belgium goal-keeper Thibaut Courtois after jinking in from the left flank.
Seven-times champions AC Milan, knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona in the last two seasons, were drawn against the Catalans again in the group stage of this season's competition on Friday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Sevilla's Kevin Gameiro grabbed a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday to send the Europa League holders into the semi-finals after woeful goalkeeping had threatened to ruin their night.
A bizarre own goal briefly gave Serie A leaders Juventus the jitters, triggering memories of last week's dramatic collapse at Verona, before they recovered to beat lowly Chievo 3-1 on Sunday.
It recognised that there was a "growing demand for more immediate information about the referee's final decisions after a VAR-review."
A female streaker changed the depressing moment for the home fans to a light hearted one as she rushed into the field to show her support to UC Sampdoria after the club's 5-2 loss to Napoli in the Italian league Serie A clash.
Ace sprinter Dutee Chand said the gold was an answer to her critics, who had written her off after her admission of same-sex relationship.
Seven-time European champions AC Milan hit back from two goals down against Celtic to claim a 4-2 victory that sent them into the Europa League knockout phase on Thursday as they were among 14 teams to progress in Europe's second-tier competition.
Players at Serie A champions Juventus were among those who returned to training following the coronavirus stoppage on Tuesday. The Italian government on Sunday confirmed that professional athletes in both individual and team sports could start training.
The IOC said earlier this month that athletes were banned from making any political statements or protests at Olympic events or medal ceremonies "to avoid turning the Games into a political tool".
Last season's runners-up Liverpool, big-spending French league champions Paris St Germain and Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli were thrown together in the pick of the groups while holders Real Madrid must face last season's semi-finalists AS Roma.
Inter Milan will have their hardcore 'ultra' supporters present for Sunday's Milan derby after the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) Court of Justice suspended a partial stadium closure while it carries out further investigations.
Four-time European Champions Ajax Amsterdam were felled at the first hurdle of the continent's second tier Europa League on Thursday, exiting in the group stage two days after rivals PSV Eindhoven celebrated long-awaited success.
New Napoli boss Rafael Benitez believes Arsene Wenger is the best coach in the Premier League and has backed Arsenal as genuine contenders this season.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Lionel Messi stole Cristiano Ronaldo's thunder again by plundering yet another hat-trick for Barcelona and Basel ruined Jose Mourinho's Champions League return with a shock win at Chelsea.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Barcelona have emerged as favourites to be crowned champions after one defeat in their last 22 Liga games.
Rediff.com brings you some of the highlights from the sporting events held last week...
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Rattled by embarrassing domestic defeats, Chelsea looked jittery before Olivier Giroud settled their nerves with a close range tap-in shortly after halftime at StamfordBridge following good work by N'Golo Kante and Willian in the build-up.
Last season's Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund are eager to set the record straight against France's Olympique Marseille in their Group F clash on Tuesday after losing to them twice two years ago.
The Champions League is set for some much-needed drama this week with the conclusion of a group stage which has been all too predictable and produced an embarrassing procession of one-sided matches.
Holders Sevilla swept into a second consecutive Europa League final.
