Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Atletico Madrid reach Champions League final, Munster eager to finish on a high and what to watch out for

Bayern’s Munich’s Xabi Alonso reflects as Atletico Madrid players celebrate upon the final whistle. Photograph: EPA
Wed May 04 2016 - 08:30

Soccer

Atletico Madrid gave Bayern Munich and their outgoing Catalan manager Pep Guardiola a dose of déjà vu last night - knocking them out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage for the third season running.

Despite a 2-1 win last night in the Allianz Arena the Bundesliga champions bowed out on the away goal rule, in a high-drama game in which both sides missed penalties.

Tonight Manchester City and Real Madrid meet to decide who will join Diego Simeone’s side. The Bernabeu side welcome back talisman Cristiano Ronaldo for City’s visit - with matters delicately poised at 0-0 after the first leg at the Etihad.

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"Cristiano is fine, 100 per cent. He will be there [on Wednesday night]," Real manager Zinedine Zidane told reporters on Tuesday.

Rugby

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is gearing himself up for a crucial final round of Pro12 action - with his team needing a win against Scarlets to copperfasten qualification for the European Champions Cup.

“We have to win,” said Foley after the squad trained on Tuesday. “We know that. They (the Scarlets) have to win to catch Ulster. Ospreys have to win to catch us and Ulster have to win their game so within those two games there’s a lot at stake. It’s like a mini-league.”

GAA

Meanwhile Sean Moran's column this morning looks at Clare and Waterford's chances this summer, with the league finalists clearly on an upward curve.

“The increasing relevance of the national leagues has been well documented in football but not as remarked on in hurling. This is because in football it’s been a radical change from previous eras when league success was often a contra-indicator of championship prospects.”

What to watch out for

The All-Madrid Champions League final is still on, but Manchester City lie in the way. Kick-off in tonight's Champions League semi-final is at 7.45pm.

RTE 2 from 7.30pm

BT Sport Europe from 7pm

Expect news on the disciplinary developments at the FA over the Chelsea/Tottenham match on Monday - as well as a response (before 6pm) to the Robert Huth/Marouane Fellaini violent conduct charges.