Coach Hansi Flick has rotated between the veteran Pole and the Spaniard this season to lead the attack, but neither has fully convinced.

Forest, who are fighting for their top-flight survival under new boss Vitor Pereira, will face Real Betis or Danish side Midtjylland in the last 16.

China's Australian coach Ante Milicic believes North Korea may pose the biggest threat to China in the group stage but didn't want to take Bangladesh lightly in the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Sydney.

For the second successive season, Serie A has one club remaining in the last 16 of the Champions League as Italian football struggles to compete in Europe's premier club competition and risks falling even further behind.

"It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football," the statement quoted Ronaldo as saying.

Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain have fought through a tougher schedule than any other side to reach the last 16 in this season’s competition, coach Luis Enrique said after they squeezed past Monaco on Wednesday.

FIFA has sparked fresh confusion over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup after sending out emails to thousands of supporters announcing an “exclusive” 48-hour purchase window -- without specifying when it would begin.

Juventus were left wondering what might have been after coming close to mounting an incredible comeback against Galatasaray with 10 men before eventually being knocked out of the Champions League, 7-5 on aggregate.

Teams can be drawn against clubs they faced in the league phase or from the same national association.

The Frenchman was referring to the first leg of the play-off tie, which Madrid won 1-0 last week, which was marred by alleged racial abuse aimed at Vinicius Junior by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni.

Galatasaray scraped through to the last 16 of the Champions League despite throwing away a three-goal aggregate lead at 10-man Juventus on Wednesday, with two extra-time goals limiting the Turkish outfit to a 3-2 defeat.

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said that star striker Kylian Mbappe will not be making a speedy return from the knee injury that forced him out of the Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica on Wednesday.

Vinicius Junior scored the winner on the night as Real Madrid beat Benfica 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, progressing 3-1 on aggregate to the last 16.

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind and then survived a late scare against 10-man Monaco, drawing 2-2 in the second leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie on Wednesday to reach the last 16 with a 5-4 aggregate victory.

A stoppage-time Lazar Samardzic penalty gave Atalanta a 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, sending the Italian side into the last 16 of the Champions League 4-3 on aggregate.

Chelsea and West Ham United have been fined 325,000 pounds ($439,140) and 300,000 pounds respectively for the mass confrontation at the end of their Premier League game last month, the Football Association said on Wednesday.

The sports state minister also stressed the importance of domestic women’s football competitions, rather than focusing solely on international matches.

The fixture assumes added significance given the scale of what lies ahead.

Jose Mourinho has not set foot in the Santiago Bernabeu since leaving Real Madrid in 2013, but his Champions League homecoming with Benfica on Wednesday has become far more complicated than initially anticipated.

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino told AFP on Tuesday he was "very reassured" about Mexico's hosting of games in the World Cup, in his first comments on the violence triggered by the killing of a drug cartel leader.