Sports

Robert Lewandowski scored a crucial late goal as a nervy Barcelona edged into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Napoli.

Lewandowski’s 83rd-minute effort finally finished off the Italians at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium with Barca progressing 4-2 on aggregate.

Barca had stormed ahead with goals in quick succession from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo but Napoli hit back through Amir Rrahmani and were threatening an equaliser before Lewandowski had the last word.

FULL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen had the first chance of what proved an open game but failed to trouble Marc-Andre Ter Stegen before Lopez dragged a shot wide at the other …

Jonny Evans said Northern Ireland’s 1-0 Euro 2024 qualifying defeat to Denmark was “hard to take” after he was adjudged to be offside when setting up Callum Marshall for what had appeared to be a stoppage-time equaliser.

The 1,700 travelling fans inside the Parken Stadium erupted when teenage debutant Marshall neatly directed Evans’ header inside the post following Jordan Thompson’s free-kick.

But when referee Daniel Stefanski signalled there would be a VAR check, a seemingly interminable five-minute wait followed as Tomasz Kwiatkowski took an age to review the footage before eventually ruling that Evans had been offside by the tightest of margins when Thompson struck the free-kick.

The Copenhagen fairytale ending was not to be

— Northern Ir…

West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace has vowed to improve fortunes at The Hawthorns after a disappointing Premier League campaign.

Despite enjoying some highs along the way, like a first victory at Manchester United since 1978, Albion only preserved their top-flight status by three points.

Steve Clarke and latterly Pepe Mel were unable to turn around the club s fortunes and both men lost their jobs as a consequence, leaving Peace looking for his seventh head coach in four years.

Peace admits performances were not good enough in 2013-14 and wants key lessons to be learnt.

For a club of our resources, it was always going to be difficult to repeat our highest Premier League finish of eighth in the previous season, Peace told the club s official website.

However, it…

Celtic pair Emilio Izaguirre and Mikael Lustig have put pen to paper on new three-year contracts with the Scottish champions.

Despite currently being without a manager following Neil Lennon s departure, the club have tied the two defenders down to long-term deals.

Honduras international Izaguirre joined from Motagua in 2010 and has since made 151 appearances for Celtic.

After an impressive debut campaign, Izaguirre has helped Celtic to three league titles in a row, while Lustig is a more recent addition.

Following his signing from Rosenborg in 2012, Lustig suffered a number of recurring injuries but recovered to clinch two league titles and a Scottish Cup crown.

Izaguirre, currently preparing for the FIFA World Cup with Honduras, told the club s officia…

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes Real Madrid will look to defend and hit his side on the break in a Champions League final that is 50-50 .

Simeone s team saw off Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, while their arch-rivals beat Manchester City to set up a repeat of the 2013-14 showpiece in Lisbon, which Los Merengues won 4-1.

Madrid employed safety-first tactics to defeat City 1-0 over two legs, and Simeone expects more of the same at San Siro next week.

I expect Madrid to approach the game like they did the tie with Manchester City. I think they will be cautious, the Argentinian told a news conference on Saturday.

Casemiro gives them defensive strength. They will play on the counter-attack, like they have been doing in every game in the …

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has hinted Carlos Tevez s international career is not finished, despite failing to select the striker.

Tevez has not played for his country since the 2011 Copa America after falling out with former coach Alejandro Sabella.

Martino s selection to replace Sabella was thought to have opened the door for Tevez to return, but he has not featured in either of Martino s first two selections.

Tevez has started the season in fine goalscoring form for Juventus and, though not chosen for upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Hong Kong, remains in the former Barcelona boss thoughts.

When I came here, I was asked if there were any problems with any player and I said no and from there are the conditions to consider anyone, Martino resp…

Angel Maria Villar has resigned from the UEFA vice-presidency and the organisation s executive committee following his arrest in Spain.

Villar, 67, was arrested last week and remains in custody without bail pending an investigation into alleged corruption. 

He was suspended from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) presidency for one year by Spain s Higher Council of Sport on Tuesday pending the outcome of the investigation, with Juan Luis Larrea named as an interim replacement a day later. 

And Villar, who served as acting UEFA president in the wake of Michel Platini s suspension in October 2015, has now given up his responsibilities with European football s governing body. 

On 26 July, 2017, Mr Angel Maria Villar Llona tendered his resignation …

Tottenham have confirmed the signing of Benfica forward Carlos Vinicius on a season-long loan deal.

Portuguese giants Benfica revealed earlier on Friday an agreement had been reached for the 25-year-old to join Spurs.

The Premier League club have now announced that Carlos Vinicius switch to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been completed.

Tottenham have paid £2.7million (€3m) to take the Brazilian on loan for the 2020-21 campaign and have an option to make the move permanent for £41m (€45m), with the initial payment included in that sum.

Jose Mourinho s latest recruit was the joint-leading scorer in the Primeira Liga last season, with 18 goals from 32 matches, and he found the back of the net 22 times in 46 games in all competitions.