Sixth-placed Atalanta failed to capitalise after points were dropped by their rivals for Champions league qualification. AC Milan, who were held 1-1 at Bologna on Saturday, are four points ahead on 53 in fourth spot with eight games left. Atalanta narrowly increased their advantage over seventh-placed Juventus, who lost at Sassuolo on Sunday, to five points.
* AS Roma said on Monday they have sacked chief executive Pietro Berardi, a decision taken days after prosecutors seized documents at the Serie A club as part of a probe into possible financial irregularities in transfer deals. Roma, who are in third place in the Italian top flight, said in a brief statement that they had "terminated all relations" with Berardi "with immediate effect."
* Chelsea are not a broken team and the club's co-owner Todd Boehly had every right to address the squad he has invested in, manager Frank Lampard said on Monday ahead of their Champions League quarter-final return leg against holders Real Madrid. Chelsea, who trail 2-0 from the first game at the Santiago Bernabeu, are on a six-match winless run, with interim boss Lampard losing his first three games in charge.
* Liverpool’s 6-1 mauling of Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday was their best performance of the season according to manager Juergen Klopp, who has not ruled out a push for a Champions League place in the final weeks of the campaign. Liverpool are nine points behind Newcastle United who are in the fourth Champions League qualification place and Klopp said all they can do is keep winning in their eight remaining matches and hope the teams above them slip up.
* Leeds United must find more composure in defence in their battle to avoid relegation, according to manager Javi Gracia, whose side conceded five or more goals in a second successive league game for the first time in their history on Monday. Leeds were cut apart by a rampant and ruthless Liverpool in their 6-1 loss at Elland Road, which followed a 5-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace in their previous Premier League match.
* Argentina will host the under-20 soccer World Cup, world governing body FIFA said on Monday following the decision to strip Indonesia of the right to stage the tournament. FIFA announced the decision to remove Indonesia as host on Mar 29 after the country's FA cancelled the draw to be held in Bali as its governor refused to host Israel's team.
* AC Milan will not change their tactics or approach for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final despite Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen returning for Napoli, manager Stefano Pioli said on Monday. Ismael Bennacer gave Milan a 1-0 home win over runaway Serie A leaders Napoli in the first leg last Wednesday.
* Napoli face no risks against AC Milan in their Champions League second leg at home on Tuesday, according to manager Luciano Spalletti who cited the fact that his team have already made history by reaching the quarter-finals. Serie A leaders Napoli made their first appearance in the last eight of Europe's elite club competition when they visited Milan on Wednesday, losing 1-0 to an Ismael Bennacer goal.
* World Rugby will trial a Television Match Official (TMO) Bunker concept aimed at reducing lengthy stoppages and making correct decisions on foul play, with the system expected to be used at the men's World Cup later this year if the trial is successful. The concept, which is essentially a card review system, will be trialled at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in South Africa in June.
* Evans Chebet retained his Boston Marathon title and fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri won the women's race on Monday but their compatriot and twice Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge failed to make the podium. Chebet's time of two hours five minutes and 54 seconds was 10 seconds ahead of Tanzanian Gabriel Geay while Kenya's Benson Kipruto, the champion in 2021, took third spot in 2:06:06. World record holder Kipchoge was among the biggest attractions at the World Marathon Major but lost his momentum around the halfway mark and finished sixth.
* Hyundai will have a reduced two car entry and special livery in this week's Croatia Rally as a tribute to Irish driver Craig Breen who died in testing for the event, the team said on Monday. Breen, who was the runner-up in Sweden in February, died after his car crashed off the road in Croatia last Thursday.
* World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, who became the first Arab team to beat Brazil last month, should focus on winning the Africa Cup of Nations next year before dreaming of glory at the 2026 World Cup, winger Sofiane Boufal said. Morocco were the surprise story at the World Cup in Qatar last year, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal on the way to the semi-finals prompting coach Walid Regragui to talk up his desire of winning the 2026 edition. That dream became bigger after a 2-1 win over five-times world champions Brazil in a friendly match in Tangier last month.
* The president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, said on Monday (Apr 17) that all payments made by the football club to a company owned by a senior refereeing official were for advisory matters and not to gain any illegal sporting advantage. Laporta said an internal investigation conducted by the club did not show any wrongdoing and he said the case was an orchestrated campaign to discredit Barcelona.
* The row between Bayern Munich team mates Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane could actually make the German side more dangerous in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said. Senegal international Mane was fined and missed Saturday's 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Hoffenheim after hitting Sane following last week's 3-0 loss at City in the first leg.
