Atlético Madrid are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, after they dumped out holders Liverpool in extra-time at Anfield last night. Diego Simeone's side headed into the second leg with a 1-0 lead which disappeared before half-time after Georginio Wijnaldum levelled the tie. Roberto Firmino then gave the hosts a precious lead in extra-time before a Marcos Llorente double stunned Anfield - a late Alvaro Morata strike giving Atléti a famous 3-2 win (4-2 on aggregate), as Jurgen Klopp's side crashed out of the European Cup. Atlético will be joined in the last-eight by Paris Saint-Germain after they beat Borrusia Dortmund 2-0 (3-2 on aggregate) in an eerie Parc Des Princes, with the match being played behind closed doors. Tonight Manchester United will also be playing behind closed doors as they take on Austrian side LASK in Linz in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie (5.55pm), as will Wolverhampton Wanderers, who play Olympiakos in Athens.
Elsewhere the mighty Tiger Roll failed valiantly in his attempts to secure a fifth victory at the Cheltenham Festival yesterday, as he finished second to Easysland in the Cross Country. It was a fine day for JP McManus at Prestbury Park as he enjoyed four winners, including a Barry Geraghty double on Champ and Dame De Compagnie. He missed out on Defi De Seuil however, the odds-on favourite never getting involved as Politologue was a surprise winner of the Champion Chase. Today sees former Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen attempt to win over fences as a 12-year-old in the March Novices' Chase (1.30pm), while Paisley Park will bid to defend his crown in the Stayers' Hurdle (3.30pm). You can follow all of the action throughout the day via the Irish Times liveblog.
In his column this morning Owen Doyle has reflected on last weekend's Six Nations clashes between England and Wales, and Scotland and France - two fixtures which were full of needle and controversy. England saw Manu Tuilagi sent off with both Courtney Lawes and Joe Marler subsequently cited, with Eddie Jones quick to point the finger at the officials following his side's win at Twickenham. Doyle believes Jones should be held to account, he writes: "Jones also stated that his team were playing against 16 opponents, a clear enough statement that referee Ben O'Keefe had sided with Wales. Unacceptable. The coach's rants should be tolerated no more by World Rugby or by England. Let's wait and see if they do something. The game needs it."
The unofficial fifth-Major - the Players Championship - gets underway at TPC Sawgrass today, with Rory McIlroy bidding to defend his crown in Florida. The four-time Major winner tees off at 5.15pm (Irish time) alongside Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, while Graeme McDowell is off at 12.35pm and Shane Lowry at 6.13pm.
The NBA season has been suspended indefinitely after a Utah Jazz player was found to have tested positive for coronavirus. A league statement read: "The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice."
And in her subscriber only column this morning Sonia O'Sullivan writes about the dark spectre of coronavirus which is hanging over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the difficulty its potential cancellation presents to athletes. "If the Olympics is the most important sporting event in the world, then it's right that other events should step back to help the containment of the disease. Only where does that leave athletes like Irish marathon runners Aoife Cooke and Sean Tobin, still chasing a qualifying time?"
