Diego Simone just thinking 'about improving, getting out of this dynamic'

Several European heavyweights delivered commanding performances as the Round of 16 first-leg matches of the UEFA Champions League produced high-scoring contests and dramatic finishes across Europe this week.

The Men in Blue beat New Zealand by 96 runs on Sunday to successfully defend their T20 World Cup title. The victory made India the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, the first to win consecutive titles after their 2024 win, and the first to lift the trophy three times (2007, 2024, and 2026).

The UEFA Champions League (UCL) Round of 16 (first-leg) delivered dramatic results as FC Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid registered emphatic victories, while Liverpool FC suffered a shock defeat and FC Barcelona were held to a draw in their respective first-leg encounters.

The financial terms of the transaction done via the legendary footballer's CR7 Sports Investments company have not been disclosed, but is considered to be a long-term investment for Ronaldo, who has turned 41 this year and is in the twilight of his career, which has seen him turn up for clubs like Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) narrowly avoided a shock exit from the UEFA Champions League, securing their place in the Round of 16 after a tense 2-2 draw with Monaco, as the result saw the Parisians advance 5-4 on aggregate, according to the UEFA Champions League website. Real Madrid, on the other hand, beat Benfica 2-1 to secure a 3-1 aggregate win and advance to the knockout stages.

Inter Milan intensified their efforts late on, with Alessandro Bastoni reducing the deficit, but Kjetil Knutsen's men held firm to record a memorable victory against the three-time European champions.

Widely regarded as one of the most demanding endurance events in the world, registrations for all six races of the Ladakh Marathon opened on Thursday through the official website. The line-up includes the curated Silk Route Ultra (122km) and the Khardung La Challenger (72km), both of which are among the toughest ultra races staged at extreme altitude.

Christos Tzolis scored a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser to rescue a 3-3 draw for Club Brugge against Atletico Madrid, capping off a thriller UEFA Champions League knockout play-off first leg at the Jan Breydel Stadium. On the other hand, Bodo/Glimt secured a 3-1 victory over Italian titans Inter Milan at a freezing Aspmyra Stadion, Bodo, Norway, according to the UEFA Champions League website.

Raphinha hit the crossbar late in the first half, and moments later, Yamal's penalty, awarded after a foul on Dani Olmo, was missed. The miss adds to Barcelona's tally of three penalties squandered this season, the joint-most in La Liga.

India wrapped up a highly successful BOXAM Elite International 2026 with a dominant showing on the final day, clinching nine gold medals as Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and former Youth World Champion Arundhati Choudhary led a resounding finish in La Nucia, Alicante.