One March, when I was in middle school, I raced to the school bus and pulled out my cellphone. It was March Madness, and instead of being able to sit at home and watch basketball all day, I had been forced to go to school. The horror!
This was before smart phones, of course. I knew even spending a minute or two trying to fetch the Internet on this now-archaic flip phone would cost a bazillion dollars … and that I would barely be able to decipher the scores on the tiny screen displaying a not-mobile-friendly website … and that my parents would question why they had a huge charge on the phone bill. But I couldn’t resist. I was hooked. How was my bracket doing? I had to know. Sorry, mom and dad.
Fast forward to 2025, and all of that obsessing paid off. I won’t lie: Last year’s bracket was … really good. I got multiple “thank you” messages from people who had won bracket pools by copying it, and that filled me with as much joy as me winning my own bracket pools. OK, not really. But it did mean a lot. Part of the joy of sportswriting is helping readers learn. And if that puts a few bucks in pockets — or just smiles on faces — great!
Years like last year only come around every once in a while. I have been watching a ton of college hoops for years. I have never done as well as I did last year. I might never do as well as I did last year. Think of everything that has to go right in a bracket. Florida had to pull off so many comebacks last year. If one of those comebacks doesn’t happen, my bracket stinks. Same for Derik Queen’s buzzer beater, Duke’s stunning collapse against Houston, etc. etc. etc.
Basically, you can do all the work and still get it wrong. That’s March Madness. That’s basketball. That’s life.
But the work still matters. Watching a lifetime-high amount of college basketball last year did help. So did all the research. I watched a ton of games, consulted a bunch of websites and learned from my excellent colleagues at CBS Sports, who have done a tremendous job this year. Luck, they say, is when preparation meets opportunity.
Then comes the hard part: Actually making the picks. There are so many things to consider, but at the end of the day, you have to chose one victor, over and over again. Somewhere along the way, I started doing 63 picks in 63 sentences. Boil it down and pick a winner.
I haven’t watched as much college basketball this year — I’m now an NFL writer here at CBS Sports — but I’ve still watched a lot. I still have my principles: Good guards win in March, experience matters, versatility is crucial, yada yada yada.
So let’s give it another spin: 63 picks, 63 sentences. Let’s make middle-school me proud again.
Fill out your brackets now and enter them into our Bracket Challenge for your chance to win a dream trip to the 2027 Final FourⓇ.
Mark Mitchell will try and lead No. 10 seed Mizzou to a win over No. 7 seed Miami.
Imagn Images
First round
East
(1) Duke over (16) Siena: Duke’s injuries worry me, but not yet.
(8) Ohio State over (9) TCU:Bruce Thornton is finally in the NCAA Tournament in his fourth season with the Buckeyes, and he’ll make it count.
(4) Kansas over (13) Cal Baptist: The Jayhawks are the hardest No. 4 seed to project given Darryn Peterson’s stop-and-start year and the team-wide inconsistency, too.
(6) Louisville over (11) South Florida: I was really high on the Cardinals entering the season, but they haven’t come close to being the sum of their parts; I’ll take them here, though, thanks to Ryan Conwell.
(3) Michigan State over (14) North Dakota State: The Spartans are too big, too tough and too athletic.
(7) UCLA over (10) UCF: The Bruins’ guards lead the way here.
(2) UConn over (15) Furman: The Paladins have pulled upsets before, but it won’t happen here.
West
Midwest
South
(1) Florida over (16) Prairie View A&M: The Gators looked tremendous entering the SEC Tournament, and they’ll regain their form.
(8) Clemson over (9) Iowa: It pains me to see Bennett Stirtz go out this way, but there’s just not enough around him.
(4) Nebraska over (13) Troy: The Huskers get their first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
(11) VCU over (6) North Carolina: VCU was one of the most memorable Cinderellas in 2011, and 15 years later, the Rams pull another upset.
(3) Illinois over (14) Penn: The Illini had some bumps down the stretch, but there’s way too much talent for them to fall short here.
(10) Texas A&M over (7) Saint Mary’s: Prepare for Bucky Ball: Bucky McMillan’s Aggies will run and run and run.
(2) Houston over (15) Idaho: These aren’t Kelvin Sampson’s best Cougars, but his guards are excellent.
Vanderbilt’s Duke Miles has the Commodores peaking at the right time.
Imagn Images
Second round
East
(1) Duke over (8) Ohio State:Cameron Boozer can carry the Blue Devils when needed, and he does so here.
(4) Kansas over (5) St. John’s: Ejiofor against Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Flory Bidunga will be must-watch stuff.
(3) Michigan State over (6) Louisville: The Spartans dominate the glass, and their athleticism is off the charts.
(2) UConn over (7) UCLA: Dan Hurley will have his troops ready to go, and Tarris Reed Jr. will have a big game.
West
(1) Arizona over (9) Utah State: Montiejus Krivacs and the Wildcats are too big and too skilled.
(4) Arkansas over (5) Wisconsin: I’m trusting — against my normal judgment — youing guards, but Acuff just plays so far beyond his years.
(3) Gonzaga over (6) BYU: I’d feel way more confident if Braden Huff could be back, but for now, I’ll trust Ike to make up the difference.
(2) Purdue over (10) Missouri: I heavily considered the Tigers here, but ultimately I couldn’t get there due to the turnover issues.
Midwest
(1) Michigan over (8) Georgia: The Bulldgos just don’t have the “dogs” up front to hang with Aday Mara, Morez Johnson and Yaxel Lendeborg.
(5) Texas Tech over (4) Alabama: Anderson is one of my favorite players in the sport, and Grant McCasland does a terrific job.
(3) Virginia over (6) Tennessee: I was encouraged by Virginia’s showing in the ACC Tournament; guard Malik Thomas is a guy who can lift the ‘Hoos from a Tournament team to a second-weekend team, and he played well in Charlotte.
(2) Iowa State over (7) Kentucky: Get to know Joshua Jefferson, one of the least-appreciated stars nationally.
South
(1) Florida over (8) Clemson:Thomas Haugh was a big reason I took the Gators to win it all last year, and he’ll be a big reason they march onto the Sweet 16.
(5) Vanderbilt over (4) Nebraska: The Huskers struggled down the stretch, while the Commodores surged.
(3) Illinois over (11) VCU:Kylan Boswell and Keaton Wagler will lead the way in what should be a really fun contest.
No. 1 seed Michigan’s path to the Final Four has plenty of challenges.
Getty Images
Sweet 16
East
(1) Duke over (4) Kansas: Since Valentine’s Day, the Jayhawks are 1-4 away from home against NCAA Tournament teams, and here, they struggle again facing Duke’s excellent defense.
(2) UConn over (3) Michigan State: The Huskies at their best are among the very elite in the sport, while the Spartans, even at their best, are just a half-step below.
West
(1) Arizona over (4) Arkansas: The Wildcats have so much defensive ability and length, and they’ll be able to limit Acuff enough.
(2) Purdue over (3) Gonzaga: I don’t have a ton of trust in either of their teams, but I’m going with the experienced big three of Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff as my fallback decider.
Midwest
(1) Michigan over (5) Texas Tech: The Wolverines will dominate up front.
(2) Iowa State over (3) Virginia: The Cyclones simply have too many options and can space the floor with Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic in an effort to limit the Cavaliers’ excellent rim protection.
South
(1) Florida over (5) Vanderbilt: In a rematch of the SEC Tournament semifinal, the Gators get revenge.
(3) Illinois over (2) Houston: Finally, Brad Underwood wins a big, big NCAA Tournament game.
Elite Eight
East
(1) Duke over (2) UConn: Keep an eye on Isaiah Evans throughout this tournament; the deadeye shooter takes Duke to another level when he’s on.
West
(1) Arizona over (2) Purdue: I’ve gotten this deep and I still haven’t mentioned Jaden Bradley, the outstanding guard who will prove the difference here; Arizona’s massive size helps, too.
Midwest
(2) Iowa State over (1) Michigan: The Wolverines were my title pick until LJ Cason tore his ACL, and his absence will be felt here against the relentless Cyclones.
South
(1) Florida over (2) Houston: The Gators make back-to-back Final Fours, and their efficient offense takes advantage of a Houston defense that isn’t quite as good as recent Cougars teams have had.
Final Four
(1) Florida over (2) UConn: In a rematch from last year’s second-round thriller, the Gators prevail again.
(1) Arizona over (2) Iowa State: Again, it’s too much size, too much skill and too many options for the Wildcats.
Arizona’s Koa Peat got the better of Florida’s Alex Condon on opening night and could do it again on the last night of the season.
Getty Images
National championship
(1) Arizona over (1) Florida: Tommy Lloyd has had some disappointing NCAA Tournaments, but this time he’s a hero, and Arizona returns to the top of the basketball world for the first time since 1997.
BANGKOK — The Thai Parliament convened Thursday as lawmakers prepared to vote for a new prime minister, more than a month after a general election that showed a conservative shift in the country’s politics.
Incumbent Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is expected to secure enough support from the 500-member House of Representatives to remain in office. A simple majority is required to elect a prime minister.
Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party won 191 seats, according to official results, and has since built a coalition with several other parties to form a governing majority. Among its partners is the populist Pheu Thai Party, which placed third with 74 seats.
The progressive People’s Party, which finished second with 120 seats, has said it will not join the Bhumjaithai-led government. However, it is expected to nominate one of its candidates as a rival in Thursday’s vote in what the party said would only be a symbolic contest.
Anutin became prime minister only in September after serving in the Cabinet of his immediate predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was forced out of office for an ethics violation regarding mishandling relations with Cambodia. Anutin dissolved Parliament in December to call an early election after he was threatened with a no-confidence vote.
He has since seen a surge in popularity following his self-presentation as a defender of the nation during the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict, which strengthened nationalist sentiment among voters.
Thailand fought with Cambodia twice last year over competing territorial claims along their border.
After the vote, the new prime minister is expected to take office a few days after obtaining a formal appointment from King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The new cabinet is expected to be appointed in the following weeks.
The incoming government is expected to face immediate challenges. A war in the Middle East that broke out in February has driven up global energy prices, increasing the cost of goods and raising concerns about a potential oil shortage.
Another political uncertainty also arose after the Constitutional Court said Wednesday it would rule whether last month’s election should be invalidated.
The case stems from a petition filed by the Ombudsman’s Office against the Election Commission, alleging the inclusion of barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers could compromise voter anonymity in violation of election laws requiring a secret ballot.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico United head coach Dennis Sanchez said his squad fell into a trap game during the first round of the US Open Cup. Matched up against NPSL club Cruizers FC, United was staring down the barrel of penalty kicks with the match tied at 2. Then, in the final moments of […]
The countdown is on for Sick New World 2026, and festival organizers have revealed a lineup of electrifying Las Vegas sideshows ahead of the big event. Fans will have multiple opportunities to catch some of the festival’s heaviest acts in intimate venues across the city on April 24.
Three standout evenings are set to shake Las Vegas:
Poison The Well, Terror, Pain Of Truth & End It – April 24 at House Of Blues
Mastodon, Melvins & Flatwounds – April 24 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
P.O.D., Alien Ant Farm, Snot & Teenwolf – April 24 at Ayu DayClub
Ticket access for festivalgoers kicks off tomorrow, March 18 at 12:00 PM PST, with the public onsale opening Friday, March 20 at 10:00 AM local time.
The Las Vegas stop of Sick New World itself will take place April 25 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, promising a lineup that spans generations of rock, metal, and alternative legends. Headliners include System Of A Down, Korn, and Bring Me The Horizon, supported by heavyweights such as Danny Elfman, Ministry, AFI, Evanescence, Underoath, Acid Bath, Coal Chamber, Marilyn Manson, Clutch, Glassjaw, Static-X, and Sevendust, among many others.
In addition, the festival will travel to Fort Worth, TX on October 24, featuring System Of A Down, Deftones, and Slayer celebrating 40 years of Reign in Blood. Each stop offers a unique lineup, ensuring fans a fresh experience regardless of location. Get all the information for all of the above here.
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• Joined ESPN in 2011 • Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours • Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018
Multiple Authors
Mar 18, 2026, 11:20 PM ET
And then there were eight! The UEFA Champions League round of 16 is done and dusted, with a number of heavyweights sent packing.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Barcelona call cruised through their ties, making their respective claims to be favorites to lift the famous UCL trophy in Budapest on May 30.
So, what to make of it all?
Luckily, ESPN FC writers Mark Ogden, Gab Marcotti, Alex Kirkland, and Tom Hamilton are here to break down the action as it happened and look ahead to the quarterfinals.
Q1. Again, Man City are out of the Champions League far earlier than anyone would have expected, and their record in Europe’s top competition under Pep Guardiola just isn’t good: one title, one runner-up medal, three straight exits at the hands of Real Madrid, and a string of quarterfinal defeats. Where’s the disconnect considering how many domestic titles they’ve won together, and what (if anything) made this latest defeat different from previous ones?
Kirkland: Pep’s record against Madrid in the Champions League — knocked out by the 15-time European Cup winners in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026 — is quite incredible, especially given the fact that for much of that time, Madrid really haven’t been very good. Guardiola likes to point to Madrid’s European pedigree and aura in this competition, contrasted with City’s relative inexperience, but are we really buying that? To me, it just sounds like an excuse. City had the quality, and more than enough experience after 15 years at this level, to eliminate this Madrid team. You could say the same last season, and arguably in 2022 and 2024 as well.
On this latest defeat: Pep’s correct that for the first 15-20 minutes of both legs, City were the better team by a long way, but they didn’t do anything with it. The final ball wasn’t there in the first leg, for all of Jérémy Doku‘s dribbling, while Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois kept City at bay in the second. And overall, it’s hard to avoid the feeling that Madrid get into Guardiola’s head every single time, forcing him to overthink his tactics and team selection even more than usual. That was true this season, and it’s been true in previous years.
Ogden: It’s the Champions League, and it’s really hard to win it. Only Real have managed to crack the code of making success in the competition feel routine. City haven’t won as many as they should have, but over the years, some great Juventus, Manchester United and Arsenal sides also promised much more than delivered. Guardiola’s City have had the misfortune of being great at the same time as a heavyweight like Real has been making it look it easy.
But one thing that hasn’t helped City — and Pep has raised this in the past — is the ambivalent approach to the Champions League by the club’s fans. They don’t treat it like the special competition that it is: the Etihad is never a cauldron of atmosphere on big European nights, and only 1,000 fans made the trip to the Bernabéu for the first leg. City fans just don’t get it like United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal supporters do, and when the team needs the fans to drive them on, they just don’t.
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1:31
Burley: Man City were taught a lesson by Real Madrid in UCL
Craig Burley reacts to Manchester City’s Champions League exit against Real Madrid.
Hamilton: If you take each defeat in isolation, there are differing reasons behind Guardiola’s heartbreak: in this instance, they were far too profligate in the first leg and just couldn’t get a hand on Federico Valverde. In the second leg, Vinícius Júnior dominated them and they were hamstrung by Bernardo Silva‘s red card.
Back in 2022, it was a freak result, with Rodrygo scoring twice in injury time to put Madrid through That was City choking. In 2024, City dominated both legs, but simply couldn’t finish — leading to penalty shootout heartbreak, complete with a performance for the ages from Andriy Lunin. And then last year, City were simply second best, unable to lay a glove on Kylian Mbappé. But uniting 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026 are strange selection calls by Guardiola, contributing to the feeling — like Alex says — that Real Madrid have somehow got in his head.
Also, perhaps it’s a control thing. There’s more chaos in the Champions League than in the Premier League. City can control the ebb and flow of a league campaign, remaining there or thereabouts over 38 matches, but against Madrid, they’re exposed to mayhem in the Champions League knockouts, something they just can’t compartmentalise.
Marcotti: I don’t think there’s that much of a narrative thread to Pep’s Champions League underachievements, as Tom points out. Different seasons, different circumstances. Where I disagree with Tom: while Guardiola did make unorthodox selection choices in past seasons, he’s been making them all year this season, and that’s because City simply aren’t that good this year. They weren’t much to write home about last season either, but at least they had the alibi of Rodri‘s injury and the lack of summer signings.
This season is different, because he’s been fiddling with the team all season long. Antoine Semenyo right, Semenyo left, Semenyo central, Semenyo bench. Trying 4-2-3-1, 4-2-2-2 and 4-1-4-1 formations. Rayan Cherki in, Rayan Cherki out. Phil Foden (mostly) out. Nico O’Reilly moves to fullback, then back to attacking midfield, then back to fullback. Tijjani Reijnders in and out. The list goes on and on.
Were there freak circumstances in this year’s defeat to Real Madrid, like Courtois wonder-saves and Valverde’s exploits? Sure. But it’s City who made the margins between these two teams so small that even this bruised, battered and despondent Real Madrid could knock them out. That’s what’s different. City simply haven’t been on a par with previous seasons for the past two years.
Q2. The Premier League teams have looked dreadful in the knockout rounds — Liverpool and Arsenal’s big wins helped a little, though European clubs won 30-17 on aggregate in the Round of 16 — with even the Gunners looking sluggish in recent weeks. Barcelona and Real Madrid are fallible, and only Bayern have shown the kind of ruthlessness required to win this competition. Is anyone really good this season? Are we heading for the worst Champions League in several years as a result?
Marcotti: They’re two different things, teams not being good and the competition not being good. Two indifferent sides can produce excitement and quality. But yes, we can point out flaws (sometimes serious flaws) in every single quarterfinalist. To varying degrees perhaps — Bayern and Arsenal have fewer blemishes — but nobody looks dominant.
There are different factors at play I guess. But I think we tend to have short memories and all it will take to make us forget about the flaws is a couple convincing performances from here on out. If Barça’s defenders momentary lapse like they usually do, if Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard restore quality in possession to Arsenal, if Mohamed Salah turns the corner and Arne Slot finds some defensive order, if Courtois keeps making saves and Mbappe stays fit and keeps banging them in…. We have short memories in football.
Hamilton: A lot of “ifs” there from Gab, but fundamentally, I disagree with the question. Arsenal looked far from sluggish against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday and scored two wonderful goals. They should have had a couple more. PSG were ruthless against Chelsea, while Real Madrid comfortably outplayed the new-look Man City. Barcelona’s second-half performance against Newcastle United at Camp Nou was on another level. And then there’s Sporting’s remarkable comeback against Bodo/Glimt. There were some uninspiring second legs — Galatasaray were poor, and Atalanta offered little resistance, while Spurs arrived at the party far, far too late. But overall, it’s been great fun. This is subjective, but we’re seeing ridiculous results, great goals, and some of the biggest teams in Europe peaking at the right time. And we’ve also had a goalkeeper replaced after 17 minutes. Maybe it’s the excitement of seeing Eberechi Eze‘s goal live on Tuesday night, but overall, I’ve enjoyed it.
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Leboeuf & Burley question Rosenior for tactics note at 8-2 down
Frank Leboeuf and Craig Burley speak about Liam Rosenior giving out a tactics note in the 84th minute against PSG.
Odgen: PSG are starting to look good again and Bayern blew Atalanta away, so those are the two sides I would watch out for. Both are on the same side of the draw, so they can’t meet in the final, but I think either of them could emerge as a truly dominant team this season. It’s not ideal to judge sides after the league phase, or even the round of 16, because we don’t see the very best of them until the heat is on in the quarterfinals and beyond. Of course, City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs haven’t made it that far, but none of them were ever good enough to win the competition this year. Arsenal are the Premier League’s best hope and they could bludgeon their way to glory with their set-pieces, but I don’t think they will beat PSG are Bayern over two legs. The same applies to Real and Barça.
Kirkland: Bludgeoning their way to glory: that’s the title for Arsenal’s end-of-season review sorted, right there. But like Mark says, let’s pass judgement on these teams, and the tournament, at the end. We won’t really be talking about the round of 16 by the end of the season. We’ll be talking about the memorable moments from the quarters, and the semis, and the final. But I think some of these teams are really quite good. I’d put Arsenal, Bayern and PSG in that category. I’d say Barcelona could join them there, with some fine tuning. I think Real Madrid are starting to find themselves, although they don’t qualify as really good yet. And I think Atlético Madrid, on their day, have shown they’re capable of really good performances, even if they’re too inconsistent. But yeah, like Tom, I enjoyed this round of 16 a lot. Loads of goals and drama. Bring on the quarters.
Q3. Let’s look at Liverpool. How did this team look so bad against Spurs, and so good against Galatasaray? Mohamed Salah became the 11th player to reach 50 Champions League goals, and he did it even after missing a penalty in the first half with the worst Panenka you’ll ever see. Does this emphatic win say more about them and what it’ll take to turn things around, or more about Galatasaray, who’ve lost 21 of their previous 26 road games in this competition?
Hamilton: This match said more about Galatasaray than it does Liverpool. It was an absolute horror show from the Turkish side, complete with both Victor Osimhen and Noa Lang going off injured. Liverpool could and should have scored more, and while it will be remembered for Salah’s second-half wondergoal (and abysmal first-half penalty) this was a procession for Liverpool, including a farcical disallowed goal at the end of the match. This was exactly the type of result and match Slot would’ve dreamt of after that draw with Spurs at the weekend. But make no mistake, Liverpool aren’t anywhere near the level we saw last season. Dominik Szoboszlai is playing some incredible football, and Florian Wirtz is bedding in nicely after a slow start, but there’s still work to be done. Galatasaray looked inferior, and a world away from the side we saw take a 1-0 lead last week. Away from that formidable atmosphere at home, they looked very ordinary.
Ogden: I will never make the mistake of writing Liverpool off in the Champions League — the Istanbul final against AC Milan in 2005 and the 2019 semifinal second-leg against Barcelona are just two reasons why. As a club, they always seem to find something else in this competition. But let’s take the romance out of it and get real — this Liverpool team is unreliable at the back and lacks legs and energy in midfield, so they should be overrun by PSG in the quarterfinals. That game will be a huge step up in quality for Slot’s side after Galatasaray, who once again collapsed like a pack of cards on English soil. Liverpool will know that it will get much tougher from here and they could beat PSG. But despite me insisting that I would never write them off, I am going to do exactly that because PSG will be too strong.
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0:43
Robson tips Bayern Munich to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League
Stewart Robson makes his prediction for Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Marcotti: It’s hard to judge Liverpool given what Galatasaray showed (and I can’t get the horrific performance against Spurs out of my mind). With Osimhen unfit and Okan Buruk’s side already prone to collapse on the road, you sort of have to grade them on a curve.
I’m not sure they’ve turned the corner and the stretch run in the Premier League is bound to take a lot out of them. Yes, they have individual who can sparkle, but they’re a far cry from where they were last season. And Joe Gomez is still the first option off the bench at the back. So yeah, I was very happy fo Salah and his goal (shutting up the haters and all that nonsense about him wanting to go to Saudi Arabia) but let’s be real about where he is this season.
Kirkland: This result at Anfield was entirely, completely predictable. In fact, I’m pretty sure I predicted it in last week’s talking points. As Mark and Gab say, a second-leg collapse from Galatasaray always felt highly likely given their away record. I wouldn’t take too much from it in terms of looking ahead to Liverpool’s chances against PSG, which I would say are pretty slim.
Q4. Is it better to have little to play for domestically (Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid) when it comes to putting on a show in the Champions League, or does a challenge in their respective leagues keep you sharp (Arsenal, Real, Barça, Sporting, Paris Saint-Germain)? There’s something to be said for the “fresher” teams looking better.
Marcotti: It’s almost a philosophical question of the “iron sharpens iron” variety. I think you do need some level of sporting tension to keep you going, with Bayern and PSG historically being Exhibit 1 and 1A: their domestic dominance sometimes translated into lackadaisical performances in Europe. (PSG don’t have that issue this year as, for now at least, they do seem to be in a title race).
Where not having goals domestically can really help you, I think when it allows you to find talent and moments of form from players you only view as squad members. In that sense, a side like Atlético, who are deep and who rotate heavily anyway, can really benefit. Real Madrid are tougher to judge because they’ve had a zillion injuries, while PSG have been up and down when Luis Enrique has rotated. It’s a difficult balance to get right. A year ago, Internazionale were on track for a Treble an ended up empty-handed.
Hamilton: History suggests this is a double-edged sword. Liverpool had a huge lead in the Premier League back in the 2018-19 season, but collapsed at the quarterfinal stage to Atlético Madrid. Barcelona dominated LaLiga in 2017-18 but then came that capitulation at AS Roma. And the same went for Manchester City in 2017-18 who were streets ahead in the Premier League, only to lose to Liverpool in the UCL’s final eight. On the flip side, Bayern used their huge lead in the Bundesliga to keep the team fresh for Europe in 2019-20, while Real Madrid have experience here and PSG enjoyed a huge lead in Ligue 1, and tied up the Champions League too.
So, without meaning to get splinters from sitting on the fence, I think we’ll get a clearer picture here after the next round. Bayern-Real Madrid is the perfect test case to figure out an answer to this, and I expect Bayern to come through. Bodo/Glimt showed the pitfalls of coming into a knockout match cold, with their league season finished. But for Bayern, they can mix and match their team, save emotional energy for Europe, and throw everything at Real.
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Can Atletico Madrid pull off another two-legged win over Barcelona?
The ESPN FC crew wonder if Atletico Madrid can repeat their Copa del Rey win over Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Ogden: I don’t want to play a violin on behalf of the Premier League teams here, but it’s a reality that they find it incredibly tough going in the closing weeks of the season because there are just too many games in England. City and Manchester United both achieved Trebles, but there’s a reason why it has only ever happened twice. If Arsenal are still chasing a Quadruple in late-April/early-May, they risk the same fate that befell Liverpool in 2022, who went into the final two weeks of the season chasing all four trophies and ended with just the domestic cups.
It’s not quite so congested in Spain, Germany or France, so clubs from those countries can manage their schedule a little better. It’s not easy in those countries, but it’s easier and if Bayern and PSG have their domestic titles wrapped early, it will only help them in the Champions League.
Kirkland: I think the ideal scenario is probably some sort of halfway house: having a little to play for domestically just to make sure everybody remains focused, without being caught up in a life-and-death, neck-and-neck, gruelling title race. The key thing is being able to rotate, make the most of your squad, and avoid injuries and burnout. That’s the biggest challenge for Arsenal right now, competing — for now — in four competitions. For Madrid and Barça, a four-point gap in LaLiga means neither of them can afford to take their eyes off the ball there, whereas Atlético are virtually assured of a top four finish but 13 points off Barça at the top, and can really prioritise the Champions League now. So it’s a factor that favours Atlético and Bayern, but it’s not necessarily decisive.
Q5. Now that the four quarterfinal match-ups are set — Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool and Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the silver path, with Barcelona vs. Atlético and Arsenal vs. Sporting CP in the blue path — who are you picking to advance to the semifinals, and why?
Hamilton: I expect PSG, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Arsenal to progress. PSG should get an advantage from the home leg to take back to Anfield, and it’ll need some Champions League magic to see Slot’s side progress. Atlético’s mad fixture list could count against them when it comes to Barça, while Arsenal will dispatch Sporting, but should be on their guard against complacency after that second-leg performance from the Portuguese side against Bodo/Glimt. And Real Madrid-Bayern Munich will be fascinating, but I just think there’s something about this Bayern side at the moment. They brushed past Atalanta and with the league sewn up, they can conserve their emotional energy for the Champions League.
Kirkland: PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Arsenal. Can I justify saying Madrid will knock out Bayern? No, not really. Objectively, I think Bayern are a better team. But I didn’t expect Madrid to eliminate City either, and here we are. Madrid are starting to come together, Vinícius is happy and on form, Mbappé is back, and Alvaro Arbeloa has found a midfield system — with youngster Thiago Pitarch alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Valverde marauding out wide — which works. They’ll get through, somehow. Barça vs. Atleti is hard to call. The last time they met over two legs was in the Copa del Rey semis, and that ended 4-3 to Atleti on aggregate. But Barça look a better team than they did a month ago, so I’d back them to go through.
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Moreno: No team in the world can attack like Barcelona
Ale Moreno reacts to a devastating attacking display from Barcelona in their 7-2 Champions League demolition of Newcastle United.
Marcotti: I think three of these four are a toss-up frankly. Arsenal will be heavily favored against Sporting as you’d expect (but let’s not forget how their first leg against Bayer Leverkusen (against whom they were also heavy favorites went and what it took for them to avoid defeat) but the others are really close.
Liverpool, for all their foibles and inconsistencies this season, match up pretty well with a PSG side who hit or miss (don’t let the gaudy scoreline against Chelsea fool you … it came off an xG of just over 2.0). Bayern may be slight favorites over Real Madrid in their current form, but will some of the injured guys be back in three weeks’ time? And with Courtois back there, everything is in play. As for Barça, as Alex says, let’s not forget what happened the last time they faced Atlético in a two-legged format. So, since you’re forcing me to choose, I’ll go Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Atlético. But it’s just a guess … that’s what makes this fun.
Ogden: Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich is the one that’s just too close to call. There’s real history between these two, a long-standing rivalry that Bayern used to dominate until Real balanced it up in recent years, but I’m going to go with Bayern just because they have a better all-round team — right now — than Real. But if Jude Bellingham is back and fully fit, it could edge it towards Real. I can’t see Arsenal slipping up against Sporting, although the Portuguese team did knock Mikel Arteta’s side out of the Europa League in 2023. Painful memories perhaps, but Arsenal are a much stronger side now. Barça vs. Atleti? Barça can’t defend, so Julián Álvarez could be their downfall, but Hansi Flick has so much firepower in his side that you would back them to come out on top eventually. And PSG vs. Liverpool should be a PSG win, but who knows with this Liverpool side? Ultimately, they haven’t had a big win for ages now and they will need to find two huge performances to beat Luis Enrique’s side and I just don’t see it happening. So it’s Bayern, Arsenal, Barcelona and PSG for me.
Joseph Garrett Duggar, who starred on the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting,” was arrested Wednesday after he was accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl six years ago during a vacation in Florida.
The 31-year-old is accused of lewd and lascivious behavior — molestation of a victim less than 12 years-old — and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said in a news release.
He was arrested by police in Tontitown, Arkansas, and is awaiting extradition to Bay County, which covers Panama City.
Tontitown police said in statement that they received a report of a sexual abuse earlier Wednesday and reported it to the Bay County Sheriff’s Department, as the alleged incident had occurred there.
In an interview, the now 14-year-old girl told police that Duggar allegedly touched her inappropriately on several occasions during a family vacation in Panama City Beach in 2020, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said.
The girl said Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap, the sheriff’s office said. During the course of the vacation, Duggar also asked the girl to sit next to him on a couch and used a blanket to cover the both of them, the victim told police, after which he allegedly touched her genitals and rubbed his hands on her thighs.
Joseph Garrett Duggar during a 2016 interview.Ida Mae Astute / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images file
The victim said the incidents stopped after Duggar eventually apologized, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Duggar family and TLC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday night.
The sheriff’s office said the girl’s father confronted Duggar about the alleged abuse on Tuesday. “Duggar admitted his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown Detectives,” the office said.
Tontitown police said officers received a warrant by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 3 p.m. Wednesday for Duggar’s arrest.
The Duggar family rose to fame on the hit TLC show “19 Kids and Counting,” which aired for 10 seasons from 2008 to 2015 and followed the home life of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar and their 19 children.
The show was axed in 2015 following revelations that the eldest son, Josh Duggar, had molested five children, including four of his sisters.
A New Mexico State Police officer was involved in a shooting incident Wednesday night near W. Linda Vista Boulevard and Kentucky Avenue in Roswell. A suspect is in custody and the officer was not hurt, a NMSP social media news release said. There is no ongoing threat to the public, but people have been asked to avoid the area while an investigation of the shooting is being done, the release said.KOAT will update this story when more information becomes available.
ROSWELL, N.M. —
A New Mexico State Police officer was involved in a shooting incident Wednesday night near W. Linda Vista Boulevard and Kentucky Avenue in Roswell.
A suspect is in custody and the officer was not hurt, a NMSP social media news release said.
There is no ongoing threat to the public, but people have been asked to avoid the area while an investigation of the shooting is being done, the release said.
KOAT will update this story when more information becomes available.
More than two decades into his tenure with Porcupine Tree, keyboardist Richard Barbieri says the band’s long-awaited return in 2022 turned out to be one of the most rewarding periods of his career.
Looking back on the band’s reunion album Closure/Continuation and its accompanying world tour in an interview with Innerviews, Barbieri described the experience as one of the high points of his life in music.
“I absolutely loved it,” Barbieri said. “It was probably the best time I’ve had in the music industry. That and the recording of the Quiet Life album are probably my two happiest times.”
The Closure/Continuation tour marked Porcupine Tree‘s first live shows in over a decade, and Barbieri said the response from fans set the tone from the very first night.
“The moment we did the first show in Toronto, we had a standing ovation before we even played a note,” he recalled. “And that set the whole tone for the tour. There was such enthusiasm for the group.”
Despite the intensity of touring, the band members largely kept their own routines while on the road, which Barbieri says actually made the experience more comfortable. “We didn’t see that much of each other on the tour, but when we did, it was because we wanted to and it was just so nice. It was so comfortable.”
Barbieri also felt proud that the comeback album stood strongly alongside the band’s earlier catalog — especially following the long gap since 2009’s The Incident.
“I was also happy that we made a really good album,” he said. “I was really glad that we got that out there and that it was different.”
One of the biggest shifts, according to Barbieri, is the way bandmate Steven Wilson now approaches the group after years of building a successful solo career.
“His solo career is so developed and so far along the line now that when he comes back to Porcupine Tree, he just says, ‘Let’s write it together. Let’s make all the decisions together,'” Barbieri explained. “He’s finally reached a point of satisfaction with his own solo career… he can finally find the dividing line there.”
Barbieri also reflected on how personal relationships within the band have improved since the group’s final tours prior to their hiatus.
“I’m a more pleasant person than I was on those last tours,” he admitted. “I’ve managed to gain the confidence back from Gavin Harrison and Steven in me as a friend. That’s a really nice feeling.”
The tour itself wasn’t exactly roughing it either. “In the end, we got to do the tour in complete luxury, and we got to make a lot of money as well. Fantastic.”
As for the future, Barbieri confirmed that the band has already held several writing sessions and is experimenting with new ideas.
“In terms of recording, we’ve had three or four sessions together where we’ve all brought ideas in and they’ve gone well,” he said. “We’re trying to find a different sound. We’re trying to make something that is very different.”
The goal, he explained, is to stretch the band’s creative boundaries without losing the essence of what makes Porcupine Tree unique. “We also say, ‘How far can we push the limits of the band while still retaining something of the DNA of what it is?'”
While the sessions have been productive, the band members’ busy schedules have slowed progress. “There’s something that happens when we get together. And it’s very short and it’s very intense. But it seems to be working,” Barbieri said. “It’s very sporadic at the moment because we’ve all been busy with other things.”
Although another album appears likely, touring plans remain uncertain. “I think we’d all like to make another album,” Barbieri said. “I don’t know about touring. We’d have to see.”
With Steven Wilson working on a new solo record and Barbieri promoting his own material, a new Porcupine Tree release would still take time.
“You’ve got to think a year ahead at least for an album like this,” he explained. “We’re thinking 2027 might be a possibility. We’ll see how it goes, assuming I’m still alive.”
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The results marked Five Below’s best holiday performance since becoming a public company, with strength across all income cohorts, Chief Executive Winnie Park said.
