Spurs were left with too much to do after a calamitous 5-2 first-leg defeat in Madrid – one of four in five matches since Tudor replaced Thomas Frank as manager.

But their latest improved performance in the return will offer encouragement as they turn to their main priority of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

Spurs needed the first goal on the night, starting well and making the breakthrough on the half-hour mark when Randal Kolo Muani headed home an inviting cross from Mathys Tel on the right.

French forward Tel then had a golden chance to set Atletico’s nerves jangling when he broke through, but visiting keeper Juan Musso – a replacement for the injured Jan Oblak – made a crucial block.

Atleti punctured the atmosphere two minutes after the restart when former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez beat Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario with a superb strike into the top corner.

Spurs were furious, insisting Xavi Simons had been fouled in the build-up by the Argentine, who led a brisk counter-attack and finished off Ademola Lookman’s pass.

But Dutch forward Simons exacted swift revenge by putting his side in front again with a fine low drive five minutes later.

Atletico were hanging on and thankful to Musso, who made vital stops from Pedro Porro and Radu Dragusin as Spurs tried to set up a grandstand finish.

The importance of those saves was emphasised when the Spanish side snuffed out any remaining hopes of a comeback with 15 minutes left as David Hancko headed in at the near post from an Alvarez corner.

Atleti were finally able to breathe easily as they face a last-eight meeting with Barcelona, although Simons’ late penalty gave the hosts the victory they deserved on the night.

Spurs will now turn their attention to the crucial league meeting with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest at home on Sunday in the battle to beat the drop.

Kinsky, in for Guglielmo Vicario, twice lost his footing to gift goals to Marcos Llorente and Julian Alvarez – after which he was taken off by interim head coach Igor Tudor.

In between, Micky van de Ven also slipped to allow Antoine Griezmann to score before Robin le Normand added a fourth after only 23 minutes of some of the most remarkable Champions League action of recent times.

Pedro Porro’s goal was only an interruption to Spurs’ misery, Alvarez adding his second 10 minutes after the break with a lightning counter following Jan Oblak’s stunning save from Richarlison.

Tudor will now faces more questions about his future after a fourth-successive loss as the Croatian fails to arrest this rapid descent into crisis.

Kinsky’s hopes of staking a claim ahead of Vicario were shattered after only six minutes when he slipped, sending the ball straight Ademola Lookman, who found Llorente for a composed finish.

It was the start of a mind-blowing passage of play which was embarrassing even in this shocking season for Spurs.

Van de Ven was next to lose his footing to present Griezmann with a second before the hapless Kinsky fell to the floor once more when attempting to clear, allowing Alvarez to walk the ball in.

Tudor had seen enough, putting Kinsky out of his misery sending on Vicario, the 22-year-old Czech being consoled by team-mates, even receiving sympathetic applause from Atletico fans.

The agony was not over for Spurs as Le Normand added a fourth after 22 minutes following a scramble before Porro pulled one back with a low finish.

Atletico keeper Jan Oblak also suffered his own nightmare with clearance, sending one straight to Dominic Solanke to score again for Spurs.

The night however finished on a further worrying note for Spurs. A late clash of heads between between Joao Palhinha and Cristian Romero led to Palhinha being taken off while Romero appeared to still be affected as they finished the match a man down.

Two goals from Marc Bernal, either side of a Raphinha penalty, gave the home side hope of a remarkable turnaround but they could not find a fourth to force extra time despite late pressure.

Diego Simeone’s side held on and they will face the winner of Real Sociedad and Athletic Club, who meet in the other last-four tie on Wednesday, in the final.

Barcelona faced an uphill task after they were thrashed 4-0 in the first leg last month as they looked to reach the final of the competition they have won 32 times.

Hansi Flick’s side started with intent, pressing the visitors from the start and peppering Juan Musso’s goal.

Raphinha went close early on when he fired into the side netting as Barcelona benefited from a high press which would not allow Atleti the chance to settle.

Ferran Torres then had two attempts on goal before Alejandro Balde, who came on an as an early substitute for the injured Jules Kounde, tested Musso.

The opener came in the 29th minute when superb work from Lamine Yamal down the left opened up space, and the teenage star crossed for 18-year-old Bernal to tap home after finding himself unmarked in the area.

The goal sparked hope inside the Spotify Camp Nou that a comeback could be on.

Barcelona beat Atleti at this stage last season on their way to winning the competition but they needed something special here to turn this around and keep the defence of their crown going.

Antoine Griezmann was Atleti’s brightest spark and hit the post before the offside flag went up and then Ademola Lookman turned a decent chance wide.

But in first-half stoppage time, Pedri was upended by Clement Lenglet in the area and Raphinha converted the resulting spot-kick as he sent Musso the wrong way.

Former Manchester City attacker Julian Alvarez forced Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia into an early stop after the break before Bernal brought Musso into action again.

Marcus Rashford came off the bench as the hosts chased more goals but it was Bernal who scored next for the hosts when he turned in Joao Cancelo’s cross with 18 minutes to go for his fourth goal in four games.

Flick’s side continued to pile on the pressure late on but the closest they came was Gerard Martin’s curled effort which went just over.

The Norway striker opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when he collected a long ball from keeper Jan Oblak and his half-volley squirmed past Simon Mignolet.

However, Brugge levelled 13 minutes later when Joel Ordonez – who scored an own goal in the first leg when the two sides drew 3-3 – headed level from a corner.

But with the tie in the balance, United States international Johnny Cardoso thrashed home a low strike three minutes into the second half to put Atleti 5-4 ahead on aggregate.

Sorloth then added gloss to the La Liga side’s performance with two goals in the final 14 minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano to book a meeting with Premier League opposition in the next round.

After a sluggish end to last week’s first leg where they threw away a two-goal lead, Diego Simeone’s side made a fast start on home soil with Sorloth on target.

The forward – starting in place of Antoine Griezmann – showed good control when picked out by Oblak and caught Mignolet off guard with a shot from inside the area.

Brugge, though, refused to be overawed like in their battling first-leg comeback, levelling nine minutes before the break. Brandon Mechele flicked a corner on at the near post for Ordonez to head home and make amends for his own goal in six days ago.

Hugo Vetlesen thought he headed the visitors ahead less than two minutes later when he connected with a Christos Tzolis cross, only to be denied by a stellar save from Oblak.

Atletico stepped up a gear after the break and were ahead again as midfielder Cardoso scored his first goal for the club with a rasping half-volley from outside the box.

The in-form Sorloth – who netted twice against Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday – completed his hat-trick with two confident finishes in the final 14 minutes to end his side’s three-game winless run in the Champions League.

The hosts, who trailed 2-0 at the interval to a Julian Alvarez penalty and Ademola Lookman’s goal, rallied after the break with Raphael Onyedika and Nicolo Tresoldi drawing them level.

Joel Ordonez’s own goal threatened to undo their efforts until Christos Tzolis drove in an 89th-minute equaliser to round off a see-saw contest.

The visitors had made the perfect start, with Alvarez converting from the spot after home full-back Joaquin Seys mistimed a defensive clearance and was penalised for handling in his own box.

When Lookman bundled in on his European debut for Atletico moments before the interval, against a Club Brugge side he faced while an Atalanta player in September, Diego Simeone’s side looked on course for a comfortable victory.

However, Nigeria international Onyedika prodded in just after the restart to bring the hosts back into the contest.

And when the impressive Tresoldi levelled on the hour mark, getting across his marker to steer the ball past away goalkeeper Jan Oblak, they looked favourites to complete a remarkable turnaround.

It was certainly no more than Club Brugge deserved with Onyedika twice going close in the first period, when Atletico were guilty of sitting back after going a goal ahead.

Simeone, who had watched his side thrash Barcelona then disappoint in a 3-0 defeat by Rayo Vallecano, looked far from amused in his technical area but the introduction of Alexander Sorloth helped shift the momentum back towards his team.

The Norway international hit the woodwork within four minutes of replacing Antoine Griezmann and went close with another effort before pressuring Ordonez to turn into this own net.

Club Brugge were not to be denied though, with Greek international Tzolis rescuing a draw with an unerring finish.

The return leg takes place in Madrid on Tuesday, 24 February (20:00 GMT), with the winners facing Liverpool or Tottenham in the last 16.

A bad night for the visitors also saw them denied a goal back in the second half when, after a record-equalling eight-minute check by the video assistant referee (VAR), Pau Cubarsi’s strike was ruled out for offside.

This was the second time in as many years these two sides had met at this stage of the competition, with Barcelona winning last year on their way to lifting the trophy for a 32nd time.

But Diego Simeone’s side gained revenge in emphatic fashion by putting four goals past them in an astonishing first half.

Atleti’s opener set the tone for what was a disastrous evening for Barcelona as Eric Garcia’s backpass to Joan Garcia rolled under the goalkeeper’s foot and trickled into his own net.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 14th minute when the competition’s top scorer this season, Antoine Griezmann, curled home a fine finish against his former club.

From then on, Atleti took command and looked capable of scoring with every attack.

Fermin Lopez did hit the woodwork for Barcelona, but that was a rare opportunity in the opening period as Atleti hunted for more goals.

They added a third in the 33rd minute when Giuliano Simeone broke down the right before passing to Julian Alvarez and the former Manchester City forward clipped the ball across to Ademola Lookman, who drove in his second goal in as many games for his new club.

Argentine Alvarez then ended his two-month, 11-match goal drought with an emphatic finish, thumping an unstoppable drive into the back of the net from distance in first-half added time.

More misfortune followed for the visitors, who thought they had a goal back in the second half when Cubarsi prodded in after being set up by Robert Lewandowski.

However, VAR promptly decided to review the incident, with the check lasting so long the goalkeeper’s were thrown footballs to warm up with.

Eventually, it was disallowed for offside and the length of the check equalled the record set by the eight-minute VAR stoppage during Bournemouth’s FA Cup fifth-round win against Wolves last season.

Garcia and Barcelona’s night got even worse when the defender was sent off with five minutes left following a VAR review after he fouled Alex Baena as the substitute burst through towards goal.

The loss has left Barcelona with it all to do when they host the 10-time winners in the return leg on 3 March.

Rodrygo doubled Real’s lead in the 55th minute before Alexander Sorloth pulled a goal back for Atletico, but it was the 13-time Super Cup winners who prevailed to reach Sunday’s final (19:00 GMT).

Thursday’s semi-final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was only 77 seconds old when Los Blancos captain Valverde sent a 30-yard free-kick fizzing past Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak into the top corner.

Rodrygo doubled Real’s lead 10 minutes into the second half with a cute finish past Oblak, though his excellent first touch to control a Valverde pass before accelerating away from defender Robin Le Normand was the highlight.

Sorloth rose above Raul Asencio at the back post to head home and halve the deficit with more than half an hour still to play, but that was the only one of Atletico’s 22 attempts to be converted.

The Norwegian striker somehow headed wide late in the first half when Conor Gallagher found him with an inch-perfect delivery, before Julian Alvarez – goalless in his last eight La Liga outings – snatched a shot wide deep into second-half injury-time.

Xabi Alonso’s side – without the injured Kylian Mbappe – had to sweat for the win.

Rodrygo and Vincius Junior – the latter without a goal in 16 games – had opportunities to score in both halves, but Los Blancos were holding on by the end.

Their reward for doing so is the chance to win the second Clasico of the season, after they defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Bernabeu in October.

Hansi Flick’s side reached the final by thrashing Athletic Club 5-0 in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

The Spanish Super Cup is taking place in Jeddah after Saudi Arabia and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) extended a deal to play the tournament in the country until 2029.

Barcelona continue to attract criticism for their high-line approach, and it was their undoing for the opening goal, which was scored by Alex Baena. A wonderful ball in behind from Nahuel Molina was collected by the Atleti midfielder, who deftly finished beyond Joan Garcia – offside was initially given, but he was confirmed to have been in line with last defender Pau Cubarsi following a VAR check.

However, the visitors were only ahead for six minutes, with Barcelona hitting back. Pedri slipped the ball through to Raphinha, and he rounded Jan Oblak before tapping the empty net for his second goal in two matches. The Catalans then had a glorious chance to take the lead soon after, but Robert Lewandowski ballooned his penalty way over the crossbar.

However, Barcelona did hit the front on 65 minutes, with Dani Olmo slotting home for his third goal in two matches. He received the ball from Robert Lewandowski, and deftly found the far corner, although it came at a cost as he injured his shoulder in the process of finding the back of the net, which led to him being substituted.

In stoppage time, Barcelona made the points safe, courtesy of Ferran Torres. The substitute was played in by Alejandro Balde, and he made no mistake from a few yards out to seal another important victory for the Catalans.

Barcelona stretch La Liga advantage

It is a result that sees Barcelona go four points clear of Real Madrid, who are in action on Wednesday against Athletic Club. Hansi Flick hadn’t beaten Atleti at home since taking over as manager, but he has now, which will be a relief.

The Atletico captain rose to head home a corner from Antoine Griezmann in the 93rd minute and stun the 2024-25 runners-up, who had posted four wins from their first four matches.

Julian Alvarez had given the home side a first-half lead but the Italians drew level through Piotr Zielinski’s second-half goal.

However, Gimenez’s strike leaves Inter in fourth place – level on 12 points with Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid – while Atletico moved up to 12th, on nine points.

Inter made a strong start in the Spanish capital, with Federico Dimarco creating early problems for Atletico – testing their goalkeeper Juan Musso early from a free-kick before firing a shot across the goal.

But it was the hosts who struck first when Carlos Augusto’s attempt to clear a cross struck Alex Baena and fell for Alvarez to net his 10th goal in 14 Champions League appearances since signing from Manchester City.

Though the strike was initially chalked off by referee Francois Letexier for a handball by Baena, it was deemed legal after an intervention from the video assistant referee (VAR).

Alvarez’s goal was only the second time Cristian Chivu’s Inter have conceded in their European campaign this season.

The Serie A side searched for an equaliser, with Dimarco missing the top corner by inches and Hakan Calhanoglu forcing Musso into another fine save, though the visitors went into the break trailing the Spaniards.

They began the second half brightly, as Nicolo Barella did well to bring down a long ball into the box but struck the crossbar before Musso advanced off his line to deny the industrious Dimarco.

But their efforts were rewarded with an equaliser in the 54th minute as Ange-Yoan Bonny slipped in Zielinski – the Poland midfielder slotting past the Atletico goalkeeper.

Substitute Griezmann’s effort was saved at the near post by Yann Sommer, who also had to palm away Marc Pubill’s strike from distance before Gimenez produced the late goal.

The Gunners started the game quickly and Eberechi Eze’s deflected shot hit the bar in the first half, while Atletico’s Julian Alvarez nearly caught out David Raya with a long-range effort while the goalkeeper was stranded outside his area.

The rest of the first half was cagey and that carried on into the second 45 minutes initially, with supporters wondering where the opening would come from.

Centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes answered that question when he headed in Declan Rice’s excellent free-kick in the 57th minute.

That started a devastating spell for Arsenal as the home side made their usually solid opponents suffer.

Gabriel Martinelli scored with a curled shot after a driving run from Myles Lewis-Skelly, before striker Viktor Gyokeres bundled in his first Arsenal goal for eight matches.

The Sweden international then got his second of the night three minutes later when he converted Gabriel’s knockdown from another dangerous Arsenal corner.

The result means Arsenal have won their opening three games of the competition and have still yet to concede a goal.

Manager Diego Simeone was watching on from the stands after being given a one-match touchline suspension by Uefa for “unsporting conduct” in the 3-2 loss to Liverpool.

Atleti needed just four minutes to find the back of the net with Giacomo Raspadori slotting home Giuliano Simeone’s cutback.

The Spaniards doubled their lead at the Metropolitano when defender Robin Le Normand struck from Julian Alvarez’s corner.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Alvarez’s stunning mazy run was finished off by former France forward Griezmann, before he celebrated by holding up a ‘Grizi 200’ shirt to the crowd. Griezmann almost had another in the second half, but it was ruled out for handball.

Jonathan Burkardt responded for the Bundesliga side to make it 3-1, his effort taking a wicked deflection off Marcus Llorente, but Atleti reinstated their three-goal lead when Simeone ghosted in at the back post to finish.

With 10 minutes remaining, Alvarez added to his two assists with a stunning Panenka penalty after the ball struck Aurele Amenda’s hand.

Up next for Simeone’s side is a trip to Arsenal, while Frankfurt host Premier League champions Liverpool.

The Madrid derby usually has big implications on the LaLiga title race, but even at this early stage, Los Blancos were looking to put 12 points between themselves and Atletico with victory here.

The form book is often said to go out of the window in derbies, and nowhere was that more evident than in the Spanish capital in the early stages as Diego Simeone’s men swarmed all over an out-of-sorts Real outfit.

Their dominance was rewarded in the 14th minute when they deservedly hit the front, as Robin Le Normand rose above Eder Militao to head home from Giuliano Simeone’s cross for just his second league goal in Atleti colours.

Xabi Alonso’s men were all over the place defensively and were on the ropes for much of the opening 20 minutes, but they showed exactly why they are at the summit of LaLiga with a ruthless equaliser.

Arda Guler’s inch-perfect through ball found Kylian Mbappe on the inside right, and the Frenchman made no mistake in slamming home his 12th goal in 10 matches for club and country this season.

Momentum was firmly with the visitors, and they made it count with another brilliant strike to take the lead. Provider of the first, Guler was on hand to score the second as he turned home on the half-volley from Vinicius Junior’s inch-perfect cross.

An extremely animated Simeone was jubilant on the sidelines again before half-time, however, when Koke’s searching cross from the left found Alexander Sorloth, who darted between Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras to head home an Atleti equaliser in stoppage time.

A drop in tempo may have been expected after the restart following such a frantic first period, but Atleti had other ideas and restored their lead within six minutes of kick-off.

Guler went from hero to zero for Los Blancos, conceding a penalty for a high foot on Nicolas Gonzalez, which was duly converted by Julian Alvarez, beating Thibaut Courtois even though the big Belgian dived the right way.

Just as they had done in the first half, Real were being torn apart at will here, with Courtois denying Sorloth before Alvarez curled home a gorgeous free-kick to put the hosts two goals ahead.

Alonso’s men had no answer this time, however, and were ultimately unable to muster any kind of response in a low-key final third of a blockbuster derby that saw Antoine Griezmann slide home a fifth for the rampant hosts.

It’s a result that could serve as the perfect launching pad for Atleti’s stuttering campaign, and while visitors Real remain at the summit, they could be usurped by Barcelona after just a second defeat in nine LaLiga away games.

Alexander Isak made his eagerly awaited Liverpool introduction but it looked as though Arne Slot’s side would be disappointed as Atletico came from 2-0 down to level, only for Virgil van Dijk to head a stoppage time winner.

It was an established superstar rather than Liverpool’s new faces who provided the inspiration, with Mohamed Salah instrumental as the Premier League champions went 2-0 up inside six minutes.

Salah’s free-kick took a decisive deflection off Andrew Robertson to wrong-foot Atletico keeper Jan Oblak after four minutes, before the Egyptian finished off an exchange with Ryan Gravenberch by sliding home a smooth finish.

Atletico pulled one back in first-half stoppage time when Marcos Llorente poked a low shot under keeper Alisson as Liverpool appealed for offside.

The tiring Isak was substituted after 58 minutes as Liverpool continued to dominate and Salah should have added a third, only to strike the post in front of The Kop following good work by Florian Wirtz.

Llorente, who scored twice when Atletico won a Champions League last-16 game at Anfield in March 2020, repeated the trick with a volley that deflected off Alexis Mac Allister nine minutes from time.

Liverpool were not to be denied though and, as in their four Premier League wins this season, they did it again with the clock running down as Van Dijk rose to power home a corner in front of a jubilant Kop.

In the mayhem that followed, Atletico coach Diego Simeone was shown a red card after appearing to get involved in an altercation with supporters behind his technical area.

After Reds captain Virgil van Dijk scored a 92nd-minute winner in their 3-2 victory, Simeone reacted after he appeared to be goaded by a small number of home fans.

The Argentine complained to the fourth official with a number of stewards positioned between him and the Liverpool supporters.

Simeone had to be dragged away from the scene and continued his protests before he was sent off and walked off down the tunnel.

Speaking in the post-match news conference, the 55-year-old said: “Firstly I regret the part I played. It’s clear we are in a position where we do not have the right to react and it is not good when we react.”

However, Simeone was unhappy at what he called “insults for the whole game” from the home fans.

He added: “We [managers] are in a position where we are protagonists/standard bearers, so in the same manner that we fight against racism and insults in stadiums today, we could also fight on behalf of the managers, against the insults we receive throughout the whole game.

“It’s not easy to be in the position we are in and receive insults for the whole game. I saw it from far away after the third goal. I saw the third goal go in and I turned, the insults continued, and well, I’m a person.”

When pressed on what the nature of the insults were, he responded: “The truth is I cannot remember exactly. I don’t want to enter into the situation.

“The thing I have is that I have to maintain my position. I need to know how to withstand everything that happens in front of the dugout, and know I cannot fix society. I, and whichever manager, has to live with this because it happens all of the time.

“My reaction isn’t justifiable but do you know what it is like to be insulted for 90 minutes? I hope Liverpool can improve that aspect and that when they identify the person who did that, there will be consequences.”

The incident came at the end of a frantic match as Liverpool scored twice inside the opening six minutes through Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, before the Spanish side fought back.

Marcos Llorente scored twice for Atletico to level the tie, but the reigning Premier League champions and current leaders rallied to snatch the decisive third goal through Van Dijk’s powerful header.

Atletico knew they needed to win by a margin of at least three goals to qualify and struggled to break down a resolute Brazilian team for much of the game.

After a first half of limited chances, Atletico manager Diego Simeone opted to introduce veteran striker Antoine Griezmann for the second period in a bid to spark some magic into his team’s attack.

The Frenchman nearly had an immediate impact when he got in down the left but he fired against the post from a tight angle.

Alexander Sorloth, who had the highest xG of any player in the tournament going into the game, headed a glorious chance wide from six yards.

Atletico finally found the net when Griezmann fired home from inside the area in the dying minutes, but it was too little too late.

Botafogo will play the winners of Group A in the last 16, while Simeone’s side are out.

The French side dominated the early stages in searing heat in front of an 80,619-strong crowd at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, enjoying 82.6% possession in the first 15 minutes.

They led when Fabian Ruiz rifled a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos missed the target with three attempts, before Vitinha drifted through the middle of the Atletico defence just before half-time and slotted past Jan Oblak to put his side in firm control.

Oblak kept his side in the game by tipping Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s bending strike on to the crossbar minutes after the restart, before Julian Alvarez had a goal disallowed for a foul by Koke on Desire Doue in the build-up.

Atletico were reduced to 10 men in bizarre circumstances in the 78th minute when Clement Lenglet was shown a second yellow card for dissent after referee Istvan Kovacs failed to act when Oblak was impeded while attempting to roll the ball out.

Diego Simeone’s side should have pulled a goal back eight minutes from time, but substitute Alexander Sorloth missed an open goal from a few yards when a low cross found him at the far post.

Substitute Senny Mayulu followed up his goalscoring cameo in last month’s Champions League final by firing into the bottom corner in the 87th minute.

There was drama in added time as Ibrahim Mbaye hit the post for PSG, before Atleti defender Robin le Normand was punished for handball by the video assistant referee (VAR) and Lee Kang-in slotted home the penalty for his side’s fourth goal.

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have agreed a three-year contract with Visit Rwanda, and their men’s and women’s teams will carry its logo on their shirts next season.

Rwanda’s long-standing partnerships with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain have come under the spotlight after increased violence in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where authorities say 7,000 people have been killed since January.

The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of arming M23 rebels and sending troops to support the militants. Despite assertions from both the United Nations and United States, Rwanda has denied supporting the M23.

A section of Arsenal’s support has formed a group named Gunners for Peace and are calling on the Premier League club not to renew its deal with Visit Rwanda as the partnership does not fit the club’s “values and standards”.

They believe the sleeve sponsorship, which is reportedly worth more than £10m ($13.3m) per year, runs out at the end of this season.

The group has distributed armbands to cover up the Visit Rwanda logo on kits, and held a protest outside the Emirates Stadium ahead of Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat by PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.

A small number of fans of the French club donned the armbands and joined followers of the north London outfit in standing behind a banner reading ‘Drop Visit Rwanda’.

Image source: PA Media

Image caption: Gunners for Peace campaigners held up a banner outside the Emirates on Tuesday and were joined by a couple of PSG fans

“I stand with human rights and am not with this kind of sponsor,” PSG fan Chakib told BBC Sport Africa.

“We are rivals in football but we are brothers to defend human rights.”

Arsenal said the club will not be commenting on the Gunners for Peace campaign, while a Rwanda government spokesperson has defended their sports partnerships and said they helped boost the country’s economy.

PSG recently renewed its partnership with Visit Rwanda until 2028, while Bayern’s deal expires the same year.

Fans of both sides have held up banners criticising the partnerships during games this season.

Rwanda’s values ‘align’ with Atletico’s

The deals with top European clubs tie into Rwanda’s ambition to position itself as a premier global hub for investment, tourism and sports development.

But Rwanda’s government has been accused of investing in sport to enhance its image amid accusations of human rights violations in the country – a strategy labelled by critics as ‘sportswashing’.

Alongside the Visit Rwanda partnerships, Kigali is set to be the venue for cycling’s World Road Championships in September but hopes of the country hosting a Formula 1 race appear to have receded.

The Rwandan government said its sports partnerships had played an important role in the country’s “economic transformation” since 1994, and that the tourism campaign helped generate nearly $650m (£488m) in tourism revenues last year.

Regarding the latest deal, Jean-Guy Afrika, the chief executive of the Rwanda Development Board, said Atletico Madrid’s “values of resilience, discipline, and excellence” closely aligned with Rwanda’s “national ethos and transformation journey”.

The Visit Rwanda logo will be visible immediately, as it will appear on the front of Atletico’s men’s first team’s training and warm-up kits in the remaining five matches of the La Liga season as well as during the Fifa Club World Cup in June and July.

From next season, it will also appear on the women’s first team’s training and warm-up kits and on the back of shirts of both of the club’s senior teams.

An Atletico official highlighted that Rwanda was a country “in constant growth” and added the deal had “great importance” as part of the club’s aims of international expansion.

Sovereignty agreement and peace talks

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: The foreign ministers of DR Congo and Rwanda signed an agreement in the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC last week

The decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo has intensified since January when M23 staged an unprecedented offensive, seizing the cities of Goma and Bukavu and sparking fears of a wider regional war.

Rwanda has said its forces are acting in self-defence against the Congolese army and allied militias, some of which it accuses of links to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

DR Congo also accuses Rwanda of illegally exploiting its mineral deposits, which Rwanda denies.

At the end of last week DR Congo and Rwanda signed an agreement to respect each other’s sovereignty and come up with a draft peace deal by Friday.

That agreement in Washington DC came about after the government in Kinshasa turned to the United States for help in exchange for access to mineral deposits, and both sides now expect significant investments facilitated by the US government and private sector.

Meanwhile, DR Congo and the M23 group said last week that they were committed to peace, expressing hopes that a permanent ceasefire could be reached.

More than a week of talks mediated by Qatar have been described as “frank and constructive”.

Congolese Arsenal fan Tresor Kudabika, who is part of the Gunners for Peace campaign, said that peace negotiations would not change their ultimate target of getting the club to end the Visit Rwanda deal.

“Some way or another we will find a way to end this conflict, but it is not the right moment for Arsenal to keep this deal,” he told BBC Sport Africa.

“It is not giving a good image.”

Image caption: A number of PSG fans accepted Gunners for Peace armbands ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Tuesday

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Bayern Munich fans held up a banner which translates as ‘Visit Rwanda – Whoever looks on with indifference is betraying the values of FC Bayern’ during a game in February

It will be the eighth time there has been an El Clasico in the Spanish Cup final, with the nation’s two most successful club sides set to meet on 26 April in Seville.

Ferran Torres’ first-half effort proved decisive for Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium, with the Spain forward poking the ball past Argentine goalkeeper Juan Musso after Lamine Yamal’s superb pass had split the home defence.

It was no more than the visitors deserved, with 17-year-old Yamal a constant source of danger and Raphinha also twice threatening to extend Barca’s lead.

Unlike the thrilling first-leg tie in February, when Diego Simeone’s side twice scored late on in a dramatic 4-4 draw, this was a tighter and more tense affair without the grandstand finish from Atletico.

The hosts did have opportunities.

Substitute Alexander Sorloth elected to shoot instead of squaring the ball to Antoine Griezmann for a tap-in, while the Norway forward was also ruled offside after rattling in what he thought was an equaliser.

However, in truth, Atletico were second best to Hansi Flick’s side for long periods, with the record 31-time winners always appearing relatively comfortable as they extended their unbeaten run to 21 games across all competitions.

The Catalan club remain the only side in Europe’s top-five leagues yet to lose in 2025 and remain on course for a potential quadruple.

Barca, who have already won the Spanish Super Cup this term, lead the La Liga table by three points from Real Madrid.

They also host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 9 April (20:00 BST).

Meanwhile, the final against Carlo Ancelotti’s team in Seville will come just over two weeks before a potentially pivotal fixture between the clubs in the Spanish top flight.

They will face Arsenal in the last eight, having kept alive their hopes of winning a record-extending 16th Champions League trophy.

Neither side could find a winning goal before the end of extra time after Conor Gallagher’s strike – just 27 seconds into the game – had levelled the tie on aggregate after Real’s 2-1 first-leg win.

That meant penalties were needed to determine the outcome and, after the first three had been converted, former Manchester City forward Alvarez stepped up to take Atletico’s second.

He slipped while taking it, but the ball ended up in the back of the net. While it was initially given, the successful spot-kick was subsequently ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR), with Alvarez having been deemed to have touched the ball twice as he struck his effort.

Fede Valverde converted his penalty to put Real 3-1 ahead and although Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved Lucas Vazquez’s spot-kick to briefly give Atletico hope, Marcos Llorente hit the bar. Antonio Rudiger then stepped up to squeeze home the decisive penalty to send Real through.

Rodrygo put the hosts ahead inside four minutes in the Bernabeu when he sprinted past Javi Galan and chopped inside before bending a wonderful hit past Jan Oblak.

Atletico, though, quickly settled into the game and levelled in the 32nd minute with another wonderful goal.

The in-form Julian Alvarez picked up the ball on the left side of the box, wrong-footed Eduardo Camavinga and whipped a spectacular curling strike around Thibaut Courtois and in off the post.

It was the Argentine striker’s seventh goal in nine appearances in the competition.

But it was Diaz, another former Manchester City player, who claimed the decisive goal in an electric Madrid derby.

The Spaniard sent Atletico defender Jose Gimenez to the floor as he skilfully waltzed into the box before driving a low shot into the far corner in the 55th minute.

The 25-year-old midfielder had stepped up in Jude Bellingham’s absence, with the England international serving a one-game suspension after picking up his his third yellow card in the competition against Manchester City earlier this month.

Bellingham will be available for the defending champions when they make the short trop to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano for the return leg on Wednesday, 12 March (20:00 GMT).

The former Manchester City forward ran on to a superb defence-splitting ball by Marcos Llorente before calmly slotting in to break the deadlock in the 66th minute.

Athletic Club came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Benat Prados headed against the post and Inaki Williams crashed the rebound off the underside of the crossbar.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico knew a win over the Bilbao side would see them jump above both Barcelona and Real Madrid, who lost to Real Betis earlier on Saturday.

However, their two-point lead could be short-lived, with second-placed Barcelona playing their game in hand against Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Atletico will hope they can rub more salt in the wounds of city rivals Real Madrid when they face each other in the first leg Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

Atletico scored twice in the first six minutes before conceding four unanswered goals and coming back to even the match with goals in the final 10 minutes, including the equalizer by substitute Alexander Sorloth three minutes into stoppage time.

Barcelona saw Atletico jump to an early lead with goals by Julián Álvarez in the first minute and Antoine Griezmann in the sixth, but the hosts tied the game by the 21st minute thanks to goals two minutes apart by Pedri and Pau Cubarsí. The Catalan club took a 3-2 lead into halftime after Iñigo Martínez scored in the 41st. Robert Lewandowski increased the lead in the 74th.

Atletico pulled closer with Marcos Llorente in the 84th and Sorloth got the equalizer from close range.

The second leg will be at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium will be in April.

The winner will play either Real Madrid or Real Sociedad, which will play their first-leg match on Wednesday in Basque Country.

Barcelona last won the competition in 2021 and Atletico in 2013.

Atletico had beaten Barcelona 2-1 in Barcelona in the Spanish league when the teams last met in December.

Until the semifinal stage, the Copa’s knockout rounds were played in single-elimination games.

With Atletico needing a win to guarantee their progression, 22-year-old Simeone scored his first Champions League goal in the fifth minute by shooting low into the far corner from the right side of the box.

Eight minutes later, the Argentina international – one of Simeone’s three sons who are all professional footballers – crossed for Antoine Griezmann to tap in Atletico’s second to effectively seal the result.

Griezmann was thwarted by the boot of Salzburg goalkeeper Alexander Schlager late in the first half but could not be denied a second time as he slotted low across Schlager in stoppage time.

Marcos Llorente drove in Atletico’s fourth in the 63rd minute before 19-year-old Adam Daghim struck home a spectacular consolation for Salzburg in stoppage time – his first Champions League goal.

After opening with a victory, the Spanish side lost their second and third games in this season’s competition, but have since won five consecutive matches.

A tricky path still awaits, however. Despite finishing the league stage in fifth spot, they will play one of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Celtic in a mouthwatering last-16 tie.

Salzburg, already eliminated before their trip to Madrid, ended with seven defeats from eight and finished 34th.

Former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez scored twice, including a 90th-minute winner, to take Atletico third in the table.

That did not look on the cards when the hosts had a player sent off after only 25 minutes when Pablo Barrios’ sliding challenge caught the back of Nordi Mukiele’s leg.

Italian referee Davide Massa was advised by the video assistant referee to watch the incident on a pitchside monitor and then showed the red card to the midfielder.

Leverkusen took advantage as Piero Hincapie headed in from Mukiele’s cross in first-half injury time and the Bundesliga side were on course to move up to second in the Champions League table.

In a bad-tempered match, the reigning German champions, second in the Bundesliga, were then outplayed by the hosts in a remarkable second half.

Alvarez made it 1-1 in the 53rd minute, finishing off a counterattack and holding off two Leverkusen players before shooting past Matej Kovar.

At an intimidating Estadio Metropolitano, Atletico thought Florian Wirtz should have been sent off for fouling Alvarez when he was on a yellow card, with manager Diego Simeone leading the calls for the player to be dismissed.

But a naive Leverkusen side continued to lose their composure and were then reduced to 10 themselves with Hincapie shown a second yellow card for a foul on Giuliano Simeone.

At 10-a-side, Atletico then had the last laugh as Alvarez took the ball around Kovar to snatch an incredible winner and spark jubilant celebrations.

Atletico are third with Leverkusen sixth, with both sides hoping to finish in the top eight and jump straight into the last 16 and avoid the play-offs.

Pedri opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 30th minute, linking up with fellow Spain midfielder Gavi before slotting a low strike past Jan Oblak.

Despite their dominance, the hosts couldn’t hold on and Rodrigo De Paul hammered home the equaliser on the hour mark after leaping on a mistake from Marc Casado.

Barcelona were left to rue more missed chances when Sorloth slammed in Nahuel Molina’s cross in the sixth minute of injury time to give Atletico their 12th straight win in all competitions.

The victory means Atletico will end 2024 as the top team in Spain, three points above Barcelona, who have played a game more.

Hansi Flick’s Barca side could slip to third if Real Madrid beat Sevilla on Sunday.

Barca left to rue missed chances

Barcelona held a 10-point lead over Atletico in early November, but a poor run of form, and a string of wins for Diego Simeone’s side, have seen Atletico overhaul their rivals.

Atletico arrived at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis level on points with their hosts, knowing a victory would see them enter 2025 as La Liga leaders.

They were second best for most of the evening evening and were forced to weather a storm of Barcelona attacks throughout.

Gavi should have headed the hosts ahead in the 25th minute when he found himself unmarked and on the end of a Raphinha cross, but failed to find the target from close range.

The Spain midfielder redeemed himself shortly after, though, as he set up Pedri’s opener with a clever backheel.

With Flick serving the second of a two-game touchline ban and watching from the stands, Barcelona continued to surge in the second half.

Fermin Lopez was denied by a solid save from Oblak, and Pedri slammed an effort just over, while Raphinha rattled the crossbar with an audacious lob before missing when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

But the hosts were left to rue their missed chances as De Paul sprinted on to Casado’s failed backheel clearance and planted the ball in the bottom corner.

And Barcelona, who have now lost their last three league games at home, were stunned when Sorloth hit the late winner, and Atletico’s celebrations continued when the final whistle blew.

Angel Correa struck in the third minute of added time at the end of a hard-fought clash to snatch victory for the Spaniards.

PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, 18, became the youngest player in the competition’s history to start 15 games – and marked the occasion with an early opener.

It came in the 14th minute after Atletico defender Clement Lenglet suffered a lapse in concentration that allowed his former Barcelona team-mate Ousmane Dembele to steal the ball just inside the penalty area. The French winger laid the ball off to Zaire-Emery who beat Jan Oblak with a delicate dink.

The Spanish side equalised four minutes later when Nahuel Molina slammed the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range after their hosts failed to clear.

PSG continued to dominate the ball and put the visitors under increased pressure as the second half went on, with Bradley Barcola and Achraf Hakimi forcing Oblak into smart stops.

Diego Simeone’s side also pushed for a winner and substitute Correa got it in dramatic fashion with a low strike past Donnarumma.

PSG are in 25th place in the table with four points after four games, while Atletico are two places above them on six points.

On match day five PSG will travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich, while Atletico Madrid visit Sparta Prague.

It would be the first time a La Liga match has been played in the United States.

Fifa, football’s world governing body, will make the final decision on the proposal.

The match is currently scheduled for 22 December, before La Liga pauses for its winter break.

Both Atletico and Barcelona are scheduled to play in a four-team Spanish Super Cup in early January, which is being held in Saudi Arabia.

In April, Fifa withdrew from a legal challenge by leading match promoter Relevent, which is seeking to stage overseas league matches in the United States.

The following month, Fifa announced it was setting up a working group to look at the potential impact of competitive domestic matches being played abroad.​​​​​​​

La Liga president Javier Tebas has spoken of his desire to take La Liga games to other countries.

Barcelona planned to stage a league match against Girona in Miami in January 2019, but the idea was scrapped in the face of opposition from Spain’s football association and its players’ union.

League sources say there is still work to do on the plan but they are hopeful of receiving approval to proceed.

The Premier League has previously said it has no plans to play games overseas.

The La Liga match was halted for about 20 minutes in the second half after Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois complained to officials that home fans behind his goal were throwing objects on to the field.

Appeals were made over the stadium loudspeakers for fans to stop throwing objects but they were ignored, prompting the suspension of the game.

The Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee has now ruled Atletico must close the lower south section of the Metropolitano Stadium, where the trouble occurred, for the next three games.

The club have also been fined 45,000 euros (£37,460) for what the body called “very serious” and “totally unacceptable” offences.

The match finished 1-1 after Atletico’s Angel Correa scored a stoppage-time equaliser to cancel out Eder Militao’s opener.

Atletico have said they have already identified and banned one supporter over the matter.

Kerem Akturkoglu gave the Portuguese side the lead in Lisbon with a composed 13th minute finish.

Four minutes after coming on as part of a triple half-time substitution, Atletico’s Gallagher was deemed to have caught Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis in the penalty area after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.

Former Real Madrid forward Angel Di Maria duly converted from the spot.

England midfielder Gallagher, who joined Atletico from Chelsea this summer, saw his night go from bad to worse as he was beaten to the ball by Alexander Bah from a Benfica corner, as he headed home the hosts’ third in the 75th minute.

Orkun Kokcu added a fourth from the penalty spot after a sloppy foul from Reinildo Mandava.

Pavlidis his the post for the home side just before half-time, while Atletico struck the crossbar at 1-0 down in the first half through Samuel Lino’s mishit cross.

Benfica narrowly beat Red Star Belgrade 2-1 in their Champions League opener last month. Atletico had defeated RB Leipzig by the same scoreline.

The 27-year-old Spain international clashed heads with Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni in stoppage time of the 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano.

He received treatment on the pitch and the club confirmed he has since undergone “a series of tests and was assessed by specialists”.

It has been determined that he suffered a traumatic brain injury with subdural haematoma, bleeding caused by a burst blood vessel near the brain.

Le Normand will now follow “the guidelines set out in the protocol established for this type of trauma”, Atletico said, before he can return to action.

The centre-back was part of the Spain side that won Euro 2024 and started the final against England in Berlin.

He joined Atletico from fellow La Liga side Real Sociedad in the summer.

Shortly after Eder Militao put Real Madrid in front in the second half, former Rojiblanco favourite Courtois, who directed celebrations towards the section behind the goal at the Metropolitano, was pelted with objects including a lighter.

The players were taken off the field for almost 15 minutes before returning, with the game resuming with 21 minutes remaining on the clock.

Atletico powered forward as the game approached its conclusion, with Courtois making a fine stop to deny Lino, but finally got back on level terms six minutes into injury time via Angel Correa – with VAR overturning an initial offside decision.

In the closing minutes, Marcos Llorente was sent off for a rash challenge, ending an incident-packed match, but one which will be overshadowed by the actions of the Atletico fans.

The Blues have paid a £42m fixed fee for the forward, plus £4.3m in add-ons.

The 24-year-old has signed a seven-year contract in west London.

“I’m really happy to be back at Chelsea and I can’t wait to get started,’ Joao said. ‘I can see some familiar faces from the last time I was here, which is always nice.

“I loved my time here before and I told my friends and family that I’d love to return to the Premier League one day. To do that with Chelsea is a great feeling and I’m excited to be back,” he added.

The Portugal international returns to Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal having spent six months on loan at Chelsea during the second half of the 2022/23 season, scoring four goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

Felix spent last season on loan at Barcelona where he scored 10 goals in 44 appearances.

The ex-Benfica player becomes Chelsea’s 10th summer signing following the arrivals of Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Aaron Anselmino, Filip Jorgensen and Pedro Neto.

Felix’s arrival also takes Chelsea’s spending to £202.6m making them the Premier League’s top spenders this summer.

The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish top-flight club.

Gallagher joined Chelsea at the age of six and went on to make 90 appearances, scoring 10 goals.

He had entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge so Chelsea wanted to sell now to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.

Atletico forward Joao Felix, also 24, is set to move in the other direction after Chelsea agreed a fee in principle for the Portugal international.

Felix scored four goals in 20 appearances during a loan spell in west London in 2023.

The collapse of Chelsea’s talks to sign Atletico striker Samu Omorodion had delayed Gallagher’s move to Spain, but the Felix deal frees up the required funds for Atletico to complete the transfer.

Gallagher spent five days in a hotel in Madrid earlier this month expecting a deal before flying back to London when the move stalled.

Gallagher had loan spells at Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and Crystal Palace before breaking into the Chelsea first team at the start of the 2022-23 season.

He has won 18 England caps since making his debut in 2021 and was part of the Three Lions squads for the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

The fee for the 24-year-old Portugal international is undisclosed, but it will allow him to return to Stamford Bridge on a six-year deal with an option for a further season.

Felix’s move, which is subject to a medical, will bring him back after a 2023 loan spell at Chelsea.

He scored four goals in 20 appearances in his previous spell in west London.

England midfielder Gallagher, meanwhile, is set to sign a five-year deal with Atletico .

He had been training alone at the club’s Cobham training ground after being left in limbo for a week.

The collapse of Chelsea’s talks to sign striker Samu Omorodion had delayed Gallagher’s £33m move to Madrid, with Atleti needing to raise funds to complete the move by making a major first-team sale.

Felix’s move to Chelsea will pave the way for Gallagher to sign on at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, where he was pictured at nine days ago in anticipation of a move before a delay forced him to fly back to London last Tuesday.

Chelsea will focus on player sales in the lead up deadline day on 30 August but remain interested in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, as the Italian club continue their efforts to sign Romelu Lukaku, who remains on Chelsea’s books but has no future in west London.

Napoli say they have made a second offer to sign Lukaku on loan with a £25.5m obligation to buy.

It is expected to be rejected after falling short of Chelsea’s asking price of around £35m.

The England international, 24, was pictured in the La Liga club’s Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday and spent five days in a hotel in Madrid but has been unable to complete his £33m move.

It was halted because Chelsea’s £34.5m deal to sign Spanish striker Samu Omorodion collapsed over personal terms on Sunday.

The Spanish club need to make a major sale to fund their move for Gallagher after signing Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez for £81.5m on Monday.

The Gallagher deal is not considered to be off at the moment but remains under threat of collapse.

If Chelsea sign Portugal forward Joao Felix from Atletico it could salvage Gallagher’s move – but a fee must first be agreed.

Felix is ready to return to Chelsea after spending six months on loan at the club in 2023.

However, if a fee cannot be agreed for Felix then Gallagher’s transfer will likely collapse.

Chelsea want to sell Gallagher to avoid losing him on a free transfer, with just 11 months left on his contract.

Gallagher, who captained Chelsea for much of last season, made five appearances at Euro 2024 as England reached the final.

On Saturday, Atletico had posted a picture of Gallagher at their stadium saying he was there to “finalise his transfer”.

Image source: Atletico Madrid

Image caption: Gallagher has spent 16 years at Chelsea after joining their academy

Diego Simeone’s Spanish side will pay an initial £64.4m (75m euros) with a further £17.1m (20m euros) in potential add-ons for the Argentina striker.

The 24-year-old’s departure is a record sale for City, eclipsing the £50m they received from Chelsea for Raheem Sterling in 2022.

They paid Argentine side River Plate £14.1m for Alvarez in January 2022.

Alvarez said City – where he won six major trophies during his two-year stay – will always “have a special place” in his heart.

“Today I say goodbye to this amazing club, with a lot of emotion,” he said.

“These have been two very special years. During this time, I have grown and learnt a lot – both as a player and as a person.”

He won the treble during his debut season at the club, as well as the 2022 World Cup midway through the season with Argentina.

The striker departs Manchester having scored 36 goals in 106 appearances for City.

City director of football Txiki Begiristain said Alvarez has been “a pleasure to work with”.

“The trophies he has won already tell their own story – he is a winner,” added Begiristain

“I look forward to watching him develop further in the remainder of his career.”

City start their Premier League campaign with a trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid visit Villarreal on 19 August on the opening weekend of the La Liga season.

The two clubs have been in close contact in recent weeks having agreed separate deals for Conor Gallagher and Samu Omorodion.

The Premier League club’s enquiry for Felix comes after Omorodion’s proposed move to Stamford Bridge collapsed on Sunday evening. Gallagher is still expected to join the Madrid club in the coming days after agreeing to a transfer.

Felix previously spent six months on loan at Stamford Bridge, scoring four goals in 16 appearances during the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Portugal international is under contract with Atletico until June 2029 but has fallen out of favour with head coach Diego Simeone.

The 24-year-old has been given an extended summer break after his Euro 2024 exploits to help him resolve his future.

Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Aston Villa have already expressed an interest in signing the forward, with head coach Unai Emery a long-term admirer of his talents.

Atletico signed Felix in the summer of 2019 for €126 million (£113m) — the fourth-highest transfer fee in football at the time — after scoring 20 goals in his debut season in Benfica’s first-team squad.

After three frustrating years at Atletico, Felix moved to Chelsea on loan in January 2023 but the Premier League side opted against making a permanent move for the forward last summer.

He then spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Barcelona, scoring 10 goals across 44 first-team appearances.

Felix has been capped 41 times by Portugal, scoring eight goals.

The Athletic previously reported that Chelsea had agreed a £34.5million (€40m) deal with their La Liga counterparts for Omorodion.

He was expected to sign seven-year terms at Stamford Bridge with the option of a further year.

However, the transfer is off because of a major problem in finalising the 20-year-old’s contract.

The south west London have since made an enquiry with Atletico regarding the possibility of signing Joao Felix.

In June, Chelsea had a €32.5m (£27.4m) plus add-ons offer for Omorodion rejected.

He spent last season on loan at Deportivo Alaves, where he scored nine goals and provided one assist, contributing to their 10th-place finish in La Liga.

Chelsea have looked at a number of striker targets this summer and any deal for Omorodion was separate from ongoing negotiations between Chelsea and Napoli for Romelu Lukaku and Victor Osimhen, which are expected to continue.

Born to Nigerian parents, Omorodion has pledged his international allegiance to Spain and has been called up to both their under-19 and under-21 national teams.

The Spanish side agreed an £81.5m deal to sign Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez on Monday and selling Omorodion will help raise funds to buy the Argentine.

It is understood that personal terms have now been agreed with Alvarez, who will join for an initial £64.4m, with a further £17.1m in potential add-ons.

Meanwhile in a separate deal, Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has agreed to join Atletico for £33m.

Omorodion, 20, joined Atletico last summer days after making his La Liga debut for Granada, when he scored against the Madrid side.

Atletico immediately sent Omorodion to Alaves on loan where he scored eight goals in 35 appearances last season.

He is currently at the Olympics and has scored once in Spain’s run to the final.

So far this summer, Chelsea have spent about £115m on midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga and Omari Kellyman, plus goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Caleb Wiley, winger Estevao Willian and striker Marc Guiu.

They have sold defenders Ian Maatsen and Lewis Hall and forward Omari Hutchinson, while Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr and Thiago Silva have left on free transfers and Gallagher is nearing his switch to Spain.

The future of Romelu Lukaku is uncertain, with the wantaway Belgium striker having spent the last two years on loan in Italy.

The fee is made up of an initial £64.4m (75m euros) with a further £17.1m (20m euros) in potential add-ons.

It would be a record sale for City, surpassing the £50m Chelsea paid for Raheem Sterling in 2022.

Alvarez said he would wait until Argentina’s involvement in the 2024 Olympics football ended before making a decision on his future. The team were knocked out by hosts France last Friday.

Manager Pep Guardiola had been keen to keep the 24-year-old and the Spaniard said earlier in August that he “counted” on Alvarez ahead of the start of the season.

“I count on him, but he said in the news that decisions will be made all together,” said Guardiola.

But, as has been the case in the past with Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte, City will not stand in the way of a player who wants to leave.

Atletico, who have also agreed a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, are yet to agree personal terms with Alvarez.

The Argentine, who joined City in 2022 in a £14.1m deal from River Plate, has scored 36 goals in 106 appearances for Guardiola’s side.

Alvarez won the Treble during his first season at the Etihad and the striker featured during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar midway through the campaign.

The Blues had accepted a £33m offer from the Spanish side last week but there were significant concerns about whether the England international was interested in making the move.

But on Sunday night Gallagher, 24, told Atletico officials he is happy to make the switch.

The England international is now expected to fly and complete his medical and contract signing, which would end his 18-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had offered a two-year deal with an option for an extra year, but it was deemed unfavourable by Gallagher due to both the length of the contract and the inferior squad role offered.

A natural divide had emerged between Gallagher and Chelsea as he was believed to be a poor fit for new manager Enzo Maresca’s possession-based style of play and would not be a regular starter under the Italian.

Gallagher, who played five matches at Euro 2024, has less than one year left on his current Chelsea deal.

Chelsea preferred to sell Gallagher overseas than to an English rival so allowed Atletico to achieve a cut-price deal.

The 24-year-old is on holiday after competing at Euro 2024 with England in Germany.

Gallagher has yet to agree personal terms with the Spanish club and may need convincing about making the move.

But Chelsea are believed to be open to selling Gallagher, who has entered the last year of his contract.

There have been exploratory talks this summer to renew his contract but it is unclear whether the terms offered will be enough to keep Gallagher, who joined the club aged six.

Tottenham and West Ham both showed an interest in him last summer but there has been little around a potential move to a Premier League club this year.

New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was asked about Gallagher’s future before a match against Club America in Atlanta in the United States.

He said: “The transfer window is open so unfortunately something can happen, not only with Conor, but all the players.”

The Blues have shown an interest in Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion, who is now focused on the Olympics with Spain and would not welcome offers, and Chelsea are known to have had at least one bid turned down this summer.

The 27-year-old centre-back helped his country win Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.

Atletico said the move will be “formalised in the coming days when the player returns from the holidays”.

Real Sociedad also confirmed the deal with La Liga rivals Atletico for a player who helped them win the Copa del Rey in 2021.

“Robin arrived at Zubieta in 2016 and, after two seasons with Sanse, he debuted in the third season and steadily secured a spot in the first team,” said Real Sociedad.

“His progress has been outstanding, culminating in 221 official matches for the txuri urdin and a Copa del Rey title.

“We will always remember his dedication and gratitude to the colours that have shaped him into the player he is today.”

The Spain winger asked referee Juan Martinez to stop the match midway through the first half at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano.

The game was paused to make an announcement to the crowd, and Atletico players Antoine Griezmann and Jose Maria Gimenez appeared to urge their fans to stop the chanting before play resumed.

“I have gone to take a corner and I have heard monkey sounds,” 21-year-old Williams told DAZN.

“There are stupid people everywhere, but nothing happens. We have to keep working.

“I hope this changes little by little because in the end we are fighting internally and externally against this.”

Williams was booed by some fans throughout, which intensified when the match was stopped and after he equalised just before half-time.

Talking about his goal celebration, he said: “It comes with a bit of anger.

“It is not normal that they still insult you because of your skin tone.”

Williams’ brother and team-mate Inaki Williams said: “The jeers should be directed at the people who said the insults and not at the victim.”

Writing on social media, Atletico said the club were “against any act of racism or hatred”.

A La Liga statement read: “There’s no place for racist or hateful behaviour in sport.

“La Liga vehemently condemns any racist acts and will continue working to eradicate this inexcusable behaviour from our sport.”

Williams cancelled out Rodrigo de Paul’s opener, but Angel Correa’s effort early in the second half and an own goal from Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon earned Atletico victory.

They are six points clear of fifth-placed Athletic with five games remaining this season, leaving them well positioned to secure Champions League football next season.

Last month Real Madrid filed a complaint with the Spanish legal authorities after a video on social media appeared to show Atletico fans chanting a racist slur about Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr.

Having lost the first leg 2-1 in Madrid, Dortmund quickly turned things around with Julian Brandt and Chelsea loannee Ian Maatsen both scoring from tight angles in the first half.

But Atletico Madrid made it 2-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate when Mario Hermoso’s header deflected in off Dortmund defender Matts Hummels shortly after the restart.

Angel Correa then gave Atletico Madrid a 4-3 aggregate lead when he smashed in a rebounded finish from close range in the 64th minute.

But Dortmund levelled once again in a thrilling second half as Niclas Fullkrug finished off Marcel Sabitzer’s cross with a looping header after 71 minutes.

And less than three minutes later Sabitzer struck Dortmund’s winner with a drilled finish into the bottom corner to round off a sublime quarter-final tie.

Dortmund had not reached the last four of the Champions League since they finished runners-up in 2012-13.

This is just the fourth time the German club have advanced beyond the quarter-finals.

Their achievement is even more remarkable considering they were 2-0 down in the first leg in Madrid and had looked out of the picture at half-time.

But in Germany they were ruthless, starting brightly and and almost taking the lead through Sabitzer, but the midfielder’s shot was blocked on the line by former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta.

Atletico had a golden early opportunity of their own, but striker Alvaro Morata dinked the ball off target when through on goal.

And in the second period Correa poked an effort wide shortly before he gave his side a 3-2 aggregate lead.

But it was Dortmund who finished the stronger and could have added more but for two fine saves from Atletico keeper Jan Oblak to deny Fullkrug and Sabitzer late on.

Atletico conceded four goals in a Champions League knockout tie for the first time since losing 4-1 to rivals Real Madrid in the 2014 final. Diego Simeone’s side have now gone seven years without reaching the final four of Europe’s premier competition.

Atleti won their home leg 2-1 with Rodrigo de Paul and Samuel Lino scoring before Sebastien Haller, who is injured for the second leg, pulled one back.

“You don’t need to say much to the players about the opportunity to be among the best four teams in Europe,” said Simeone.

“The team is in good condition.”

The German hosts are bidding for a first Champions League semi-final in 11 years, while Atletico have not been there for seven years.

Dortmund boss Edin Terzic hopes a sold-out Westfalenstadion crowd of 81,500 can make a difference.

“It’s unique. It’s regularly sold out and it has helped us countless times over the years,” he said.

“We need a good result against Atletico and we’re pretty sure our supporters want to make that happen and create a good atmosphere.

“So we want to pay them back.”

Diego Simeone’s side made a blistering start at Estadio Metropolitano and Rodrigo de Paul put them in front in the fourth minute after intercepting Ian Maatsen’s loose pass as Dortmund tried to play their way out of an aggressive Atletico press.

The visitors looked extremely nervy early on and just when it appeared they had settled into the game, another defensive mix-up allowed wing-back Samuel Lino to collect Antoine Griezmann’s scooped pass and calmly slot home Atletico’s second.

Dortmund improved late in the first half and again after the break but it took a fantastic save from Gregor Kobel to deny Lino a second from point-blank range as he ghosted in at the back post.

Having so nearly been out of the tie, Dortmund were right back in it soon afterwards when substitute Sebastien Haller swivelled to crash the ball in at the near post.

That goal sparked a thrilling conclusion to the match with Mats Hummels, on his 500th Dortmund appearance, atoning for his own error to get back and affect Angel Correa’s shot with the Atletico forward through on goal.

Moments later, 19-year-old English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens came within inches of bringing Dortmund level when his fierce left-foot strike hit the crossbar via a deflection off Cesar Azpilicueta.

Edin Terzic’s side came even closer with the last action of the game as another substitute, Julian Brandt, leapt to meet Julian Ryerson’s cross but saw his header bounce back off the angle of bar and post with Jan Oblak beaten.

Having survived those late scares, Atletico have the edge going into the second leg at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion next Tuesday.

The forward rounded off a neat passing move in the 38th minute, just before manager Xavi was sent off for dissent.

Robert Lewandowski doubled Barcelona’s lead before Fermin Lopez sealed the success in the 65th minute when heading in from close range.

Barcelona moved above Girona into second place with Atletico fifth.

Hosts Atletico started strongly but were guilty of being wasteful as Alvaro Morata spurned two good opportunities, prior to Felix – who also scored in Barcelona’s 1-0 win against Atletico in December’s reverse fixture – breaking the deadlock.

The Portugal forward, who joined Barca on loan at the start of the season from Atleti, prodded home to put the visitors in command.

Atletico’s midweek Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Inter Milan, which they won after extra time and penalties, appeared to have taken a toll in the second half as their energy levels dropped.

Lewandowski was clinical with his chance just two minutes into the second half, firing off the inside of the post. Lopez was then in acres of space when he met a floated cross from the Polish striker to give the defending league champions – who are eight points behind leaders Real Madrid – breathing space.

Argentine defender Nahuel Molina was shown a red card in stoppage time for a foul on Barcelona forward Vitor Roque as he raced clear on goal.

It was the first time Diego Simeone’s side have lost a league fixture at Wanda Metropolitano since January 2023 when Barcelona won 1-0.

Trailing by a single goal after last month’s first leg, Atletico looked dead and buried when Federico Dimarco pushed home Inter’s opener at the Estadio Metropolitano.

But Antoine Griezmann immediately pulled the hosts level on the night and three minutes before the end of the regulation 90 minutes substitute Memphis Depay took the tie to extra time with a fine low finish.

That set up the decisive shoot-out which ended with Inter missing three of their five penalties, star striker Lautaro Martinez handing passage to the last eight to Atletico when he booted his spot-kick way off target.

The two teams could barely have come into Wednesday’s match in more contrasting form as Inter had won 13 matches on the bounce since the start of 2024 while Atletico had won only one of their last five.

However, it was an even and exciting contest in the Spanish capital in which Atletico pushed hard for the win and both sides created a hatful of opportunities.

Depay smashed a powerful effort off the woodwork moments before his strike took the two teams to an additional 30 minutes while Rodrigo Riquelme wasted a glorious chance to snatch the tie for Atletico without the need for extra time.

Inter meanwhile were left ruing two great chances on the break as Atletico pushed for their second, both Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella finishing poorly with chances to seal the tie.

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter now turn their attentions back to winning their 20th Serie A title while Atletico await Friday’s draw for the last eight in Nyon.

Inter, who wasted a series of opportunities to earn a bigger first-leg advantage, are 16 points clear of AC Milan with 10 league matches remaining.