Inspired by two-goal Alessandro Del Piero, Juventus chalked up their first win at Real Madrid since 1962 by beating the Spaniards 2-0 to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Champions League burst into life on Tuesday with 36 goals in eight matches, including 24 in just three games, to equal a competition record.
Arsenal and Liverpool played out a pulsating 1-1 draw while Fenerbahce came from behind for a 2-1 home win over Chelsea in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, first leg matches.
Barcelona beat Celtic away, holders AC Milan and Arsenal drew goalless while Fenerbahce beat Spanish rivals Sevilla in Wednesday's other Champions League last 16 first-leg matches.
Liverpool snatched a 5-3 aggregate victory over Arsenal after late goals gave them a 4-2 win in the Champions League quarter-finals, while Chelsea scored a 2-0 home win over Turkish champions Fenerbahce to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit.
Arsenal and Liverpool will break new ground in their 115-year rivalry when they meet in European competition for the first time.
The much anticipated announcement came after Kuyt captained his club to an emotional title victory with a 3-1 win over Heracles Almelo, and he led fevered celebrations in front of some 150,000 people in Rotterdam on Monday.
Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who made a mockery of his two-month exile from the starting lineup with a superb individual effort, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured an easy win that banished memories of their earlier group stage struggles.
Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has been appointed as the new manager of Turkish side Galatasaray on a three-year deal.
Sevilla coach Vincenzo Montella has suggested that the only way his side will be able to stop Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez in Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg will be to tie the Chilean up with a rope.
Sporting Director of Spain's Football Federation (RFEF) Fernando Hierro has been named the national team's new coach for the duration of the World Cup in Russia, the Federation said in a tweet on Wednesday.
Manchester United continued to splash the cash after Torino announced that Italy full back Matteo Darmian was heading to Old Trafford.
The Brazilian defender said he wants to continue with Real Madrid after speaking to new coach Fabio Capello.
Thirteen teams have now qualified for the last 32 including Bayer Leverkusen, FC Zurich and Lazio who had already secured places in the next stage of the competition.
The enfant terrible of French football earned a surprise recall by France for their friendly internationals against Costa Rica on November 9 in Martinique and Germany three days later.
Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes believes manager Jose Mourinho needs at least two more years to really get a squad which can win titles. Recently, United suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Fenerbahce in the Europa League, thus adding another bad performance to their disappointing start to the season. Mourinho's side have managed to win just two out of their last seven games in all competition and the United legend insisted that the poor result would continue for at least next 18 months to two years before the Portuguese manager finally gets his perfect squad.
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Manchester United's chances of winning the Premier League could be hindered by their Europa League campaign, manager Jose Mourinho has said.
Olympique de Marseille were the fall guys on a hectic opening night of Europa League group stage action as German club Eintracht Frankfurt returned from the south of France with a surprise 2-1 victory on Thursday.
Romanians Astra handed West Ham United their first competitive defeat at the London Stadium as Slaven Bilic's team were beaten in the Europa League playoffs on Thursday.
Netherlands football team captain and Manchester United forward, Robin van Persie, is reportedly set to be offered a two-year extension to his current deal, which is due to expire at the end of next season.
Former European champions Ajax Amsterdam and Celtic, who both suffered the indignity of being knocked of the Champions League qualifiers by underdogs this season, will meet in the Europa Leagueafter being drawn together in the group stage on Friday.
Portugal's Nani is poised to make his 99th appearance for his country in a crunch clash with Hungary on Wednesday and has been an automatic choice for the Selecao for a decade, yet there is a feeling the forward has not fulfilled his dazzling potential. Nani, blessed with searing pace, mesmerisingly quick feet and more tricks than a children's entertainer, will turn 30 in November and Euro 2016 could give the Fenerbahce star the platform for a transfer back to one of Europe's elite leagues. Scorer of Portugal's sole goal at the tournament - a neat finish in a 1-1 draw with Iceland - Nani has so far outperformed his captain and former Manchester United team mate Cristiano Ronaldo although he should have added to his tally of 18 international goals in Saturday's stalemate against Austria.
'I have agreed with Danny Blind to stay as an assistant until the end of the year'
An impudent individual goal from Philippe Coutinho steered Liverpool comfortably into the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday after a 1-1 draw at bitter rivals Manchester United completed a 3-1 aggregate win.
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The 32-year-old, who captained the Dutch to third place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, has been overlooked by coach Danny Blind, who is not convinced about his form with Fenerbahce.
Former Manchester United full-backs Gary and Phil Neville slammed the club's "garbage" defending after Sunday's crushing 4-0 defeat to Chelsea in the English Premier League.
Arsenal named a strong side captained by Mesut Ozil while Real had Bale on the bench and Eden Hazard, wearing the number 50 shirt, starting alongside fellow new signing Luka Jovic in attack.
German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is unlikely to play for Manchester United this season, manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday
Arsenal had scored 10 goals in two matches against BATE Borisov in the same competition in 2017 but never looked like being as prolific in the freezing temperatures of Belarus.
In just a few months at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho has been dismissed from the touchline and fined for his conduct as his side endured a poor start to the season -- yet the Portuguese is still enjoying being Manchester United manager.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field
Wayne Rooney said he could never have imagined equalling Bobby Charlton's Manchester United scoring record after bagging his 249th goal for the club in his side's 4-0 FA Cup win over Reading on Saturday.
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