The three Premier League and three La Liga clubs in the last eight avoided each other, with Manchester City up against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool to face Portuguese side Benfica.
The former India forward scored the golden goal as Maratha Warriors defeated Chennai Veerans 3-2 in the Premier Hockey League.\n
Lalrindika Ralte struck in the second-half of the extra time to help East Bengal advance into the final of the 34th Federation Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Churchill Brothers at the floodlit Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri on Thursday.
Atalanta, who had a fairtytale run, making it to the quarter-finals of Europe's top club competition, were looking good to progress when Mario Pasalic scored the opening goal in the 26th minute to hand the Italians a one-goal lead.
The underdogs advanced through to the final on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate scoreline against Arsenal.
Portugal star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been out of action since injuring his knee in the successful Euro 2016 final, has vowed to return soon after stepping up training at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training base.
England, appearing in their first semi-final since 1990, had looked on course for their first final since 1966 as they led through Kieran Trippier's fifth-minute free kick and totally dominated the opening half.
Liverpool never truly imposed themselves on the game but their trademark perseverance paid off and earned them a place in Saturday's final.
Premier League clubs West Bromwich Albion and Watford were knocked out in the League Cup second round by lower-league opponents on Tuesday as a strong Liverpool side crushed championship Burton Albion 5-0.
Kerala Blasters struck the match-winner deep into the extra time in a thrilling second leg semi-final to book a berth for the summit clash of the inaugural Hero Indian Super League football tournament on 4-3 aggregate over Chennaiyin FC on Tuesday.
Playing without crowd will be peculiar: Suarez
Real Madrid moved into the semi-finals of the Champions League after their makeshift defence held on for 0-0 second-leg draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday to complete a 3-1 aggregate win.
Images from Thursday's action in the Europa League Europa League - Round of 16 Second Leg - matches.
Costa Rica secured a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday after beating Greece 5-3 on penalties after the teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time, the Central Americans playing for almost an hour with 10 men.
Netherlands capitalised on two England defensive mix-ups in extra time as they came from behind to win their Nations League semi-final 3-1.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was fuming at the final whistle after Pedro and Alvaro Morata were dismissed in extra time and two penalty appeals had been waved away, but the Premier League champions regained their composure to win the shootout 5-3.
Andres Iniesta took his penchant for scoring dramatic goals to new heights on Sunday when the midfielder smashed home the winner deep into extra time to give Spain their first World Cup triumph.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
World Cup winners Spain have seven players featured in a 23-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or unveiled by soccer's governing body and France Football magazine on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the Europa League matches played on Thursday
Neymar shed tears of joy after delivering Brazil's first men's soccer gold medal with the winning penalty in a 5-4 shootout triumph over Germany after a thrilling final ended in a draw following extra-time on Saturday.
Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner made goalscoring returns from injury on Wednesday as Arsenal thrashed Newcastle United 4-0 away to reach the last eight of the League Cup.
Chelsea's woes continued when the holders were dumped out of the Capital One (League) Cup fourth round following a shootout defeat by Stoke City on Tuesday, while Arsenal suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at second tier Sheffield Wednesday.
Eric Choupo-Moting scored his third Ligue 1 goal of the season on Sunday but the Paris St Germain forward's incredible miss later in the game was the moment that will be remembered from his performance in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Racing Strasbourg.
Croatia came back after conceding in the opening minute to defeat Denmark 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out and earn a World Cup quarter-final berth, after the two sides drew 1-1 in the Round of 16 match on Sunday.
Skipper S Ignatius scored the winner in extra time as Kerala beat Punjab 3-2 in the final of the National Football Championship.
So Spain are the new World champions. The 'tick-tackers', known as the best passers in the game, outlasted the Netherlands in a game that can be best described as scrappy.
Images from the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands in Johannesburg, on Sunday.
Uruguay's Luis Suarez said his conscience was clear after being dismissed for a handball that denied Ghana a last-gasp winner in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday.
Leicester City suffered a frustrating night on the south coast as they were held to a 1-1 draw in the Premier League
Diego Costa gave Europa League holders Atletico a dream start against Champions League winners Real by firing them ahead after 49 seconds, knocking down a long pass and smashing the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Holders Manchester United will face 2004 winners Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals after Friday's draw at UEFA headquarters.
India finished sixth in the men's hockey competition at the Commonwealth Games after losing to New Zealand 1-2.
A brief history of previous World Cup semi-final appearances by England and Croatia, ahead of their last four match at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday.
Sweden beat Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after the teams were locked goalless following extra-time on Tuesday to reach the final of the women's football tournament at the Rio Olympics.
Luis Suarez netted two superb goals to earn Uruguay a 2-1 win over a battling South Korea on Saturday and fire his team into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in four decades.
With supporters not allowed to attend matches and even the numbers of media tightly limited, there will be no boost in business for local bars and restaurants.
