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The second Champions League semi-final is delicately poised between Manchester City and Real Madrid after the teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg last week. An enthralling encounter in Spain saw Pep Guardiola’s side dominate possession throughout the first half before Vinicius Junior sent Madrid ahead before the break. Carlo Ancelotti’s men then looked to press their advantage before Kevin De Bruyne equalised with a fine strike from outside the box. City will now hope their home crowd can give them a boost as they look to get over the line in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. Madrid staged a late comeback against City in the semi-finals of last year’s competition and Guardiola will be keen for his side avoid a similar fate this evening. Although City have home advantage Madrid are European specialists, they have a quality forward line and are brilliant on the counter-attack, for the hosts to win this tie they will need to reach their best levels and maintain those standards for the duration of the clash. Whoever wins will then face Inter Milan in the final on the 10th June after they defeated AC Milan last night. Follow all the action as Manchester City host Real Madrid in the Champions League: Read More ‘My legacy is exceptional’: Pep Guardiola refuses to be defined by Champions League Ancelotti reveals what will decide Real Madrid’s ‘unpredictable’ clash with Man City Accident or design? Inter Milan’s thrilling triumph underlines concerning trend

Brentford forward Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for eight months, the Football Association has announced. Toney was charged by the FA in November for 262 alleged breaches of betting rules over a four-year period and has now discovered his punishment. Bees forward Toney will be banned until January 16th and has been fined £50,000 after he admitted to 232 of the alleged breaches. “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules,” an FA statement read. “The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232. “ An independent regulatory commission imposed Toney’s sanctions and he will not be allowed to train with his Brentford team-mates until September 17. The one-cap England forward has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Brentford this season. The FA statement continued: “His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing. He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023. “The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and The FA will wait to review them before commenting further.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Follow The Independent's live coverage of all the action in the FA Women’s Super League today. The WSL is the top tier of English women’s football with international players from all over the world plying their trade in one of the most competitive and entertaining leagues around. Chelsea have won three of the past four titles and Emma Hayes’ side will be right in the hunt again, with the likes of Arsenal - champions in 2018-19 – and Manchester City, who have been runners-up for each of the past four seasons, among their competitors. With the top three sides qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, all 12 WSL teams have plenty to play for, although some clubs’ main ambition will simply be to avoid the drop. The side who finish bottom will be relegated to the FA Women’s Championship – a fate that befell Bristol City in 2020-21 – and newly-promoted Leicester City, competing in the top flight of the women’s game for the first time, will be eager to avoid an immediate return. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months and fined £50,000, the FA has announced. The England international was charged with 262 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA withdrew 30 of the breaches, and he admitted to the remaining 232. His sanctions were imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a hearing. Toney can return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension, starting from 17 September 2023. Brentford issued a statement, saying: “Brentford FC notes the decision of an independent Regulatory Commission to issue an eight-month ban from all football and football-related activity to Ivan Toney with immediate effect.” The 27-year-old, who has scored 20 goals for Brentford in the Premier League this season was charged with breaking FA rule E8, which refers to players being barred from betting on games or sharing information for betting purposes. Newcastle and England defender Kieran Trippier was handed a 10 week ban in December 2020 for giving information out for others to bet on his transfer to Atletico Madrid from Tottenham. More follows Read More Man City brush aside Everton to close in on title as Brighton stun Arsenal Brentford vs West Ham LIVE: Latest Premier League updates James Milner came to Liverpool and won the lot - an era ends with his departure

Paul Tierney will take charge of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United. The 42-year-old referee has been appointed to oversee the Wembley decider from the middle for the first time. Raised in Wigan and based in Lancashire, Tierney will take charge of the first Manchester derby FA Cup final meeting. “It’s a real honour for me and the rest of the team, and we’re all thrilled to have been appointed for this game,” Tierney, who will be assisted by Neil Davies and Scott Ledger, said. “To referee the FA Cup Final is one of those things that you strive to do and it’s always been one of my targets but it still takes a bit of time to sink in. “It’s a great fixture to be refereeing too and although there is the common assumption that because I’m from Wigan I must support one of them, I was actually born in Belfast and only moved to Wigan when I was eleven and it’s actually going to be the first time that I’ve refereed a Manchester derby so I’m looking forward to it. “I’ve since been fortunate to referee there and be involved in more games and it’s something that always sticks with you. “Obviously, this game is going to top the lot on a personal level, so I’m looking forward to it and hopefully the final will be a great game.” David Coote has been appointed as the lead VAR for the encounter, with Simon Long his assistant. The final will be held at Wembley on Saturday 3 June.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore says it is still too easy for people to send racist messages online after being on the receiving end this weekend. The Owls manager was racially abused after his side lost their Sky Bet League One play-off semi-final first leg 4-0 at Peterborough last Friday night, with Owls chairman Dejphon Chansiri also the subject of vile messages. Wednesday have banned the individual responsible for Moore’s abuse while also involving the police and are carrying out the same process with Chansiri’s abuser. Moore, who has thanked the club and fans for their support, says the work to stop these types of incidents is ongoing. “It would seem too easy, the perpetrators can create these anonymous accounts,” Moore said. “We are trying to work hard to shut these things down. People in the social spotlight at clubs are trying to work hard to shut these down. “It is too easy but we are doing good work. There is still a lot of work to be done because it is a problem that has raised its head again. “We want to talk about the social-media platforms as a positive and not a negative. We are trying to promote those positive messages for the next generation. “I thank the club for standing with me. It is something for me that I didn’t see, but it was spotted, the club have worked closely with the governing bodies and they have acted really sharp on it. We have done our bit as best we can to try and combat this. “I didn’t read it because it is looking back and you are spending energy on something that doesn’t really need energy on it. “I am fine, what I am going to say is thank you to all the supportive messages that have come in. “I am absolutely overwhelmed by the support, thank you so much to friends, to fans not just at Sheffield Wednesday, all over really.” The abuse came after Wednesday’s promotion hopes were left in tatters following the first-leg spanking and they face the unenviable task of trying to overcome their 4-0 deficit at Hillsborough on Thursday night. The Owls racked up 96 points during the regular campaign, which would have been enough to win promotion in any of last 30 years, but Moore’s position will come under scrutiny if they do not pull off mission impossible. Whatever happens, Moore wants to stay at the club. “Absolutely 100 per cent, without a doubt. It’s a wonderful, beautiful club, it has a wonderful passionate fanbase and and when you see the fanbase you understand the magnitude of this football club,” he said. “The club is to be embraced in the history, the nostalgia and what it stands for in the pyramid of football. “To be a manager of this football club is an absolute honour and that is why I have always gone about my business working tirelessly. Over the two seasons there have been significant changes, but I have got a real love and affection for this football club because of the tremendous fanbase.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live He wanted it this way – Roberto De Zerbi explains Robert Sanchez absence James Anderson ready to miss Ireland Test and ‘desperate’ to make Ashes opener Xabi Alonso ‘happy’ and committed to Bayer Leverkusen amid Tottenham links

Roberto De Zerbi says Robert Sanchez is not currently part of Brighton’s first-team plans because the goalkeeper “wanted it this way”. Sanchez was a surprise absentee from Albion’s matchday squad for Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League win at Arsenal and will not be involved in Thursday’s game at Newcastle. The 25-year-old Spain international lost his starting role to Jason Steele in early March, with his future at the Amex Stadium now shrouded in uncertainty. “With Robert, we spoke before the Arsenal game and we decided together the best solution was to stay home,” said Seagulls head coach De Zerbi. “He decides everything. Robert decides and at the moment it’s like this. He wanted it this way, not me, not the club.” Sanchez has been restricted to FA Cup appearances during the past three months, aside from playing in the 2-1 victory at Chelsea on April 15 when Steele was injured. Meanwhile, De Zerbi confirmed Brighton are on the verge of completing a free transfer deal for 27-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, who is out of contract in the summer. “I know very well Dahoud but he’s not official at the moment,” said the Italian. “He’s not official yet and we will speak about him later, in the next press conference.” After a reporter said “it sounds like he’s coming”, De Zerbi replied: “Yes, because we have no secret and I like him and I would like to work with him.” De Zerbi is eager to bolster his squad as he braces himself for some big-name departures. Yet he is not completely resigned to losing the likes of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, contrary to reports following the weekend win at Emirates Stadium. “I didn’t say it like this,” he said. “I said it can be the possibility to lose some big players, like Caicedo maybe, Mac Allister, (Kaoru) Mitoma, I don’t know. “But we are Brighton and I know the policy of my club and we have to be ready to bring in other good players with the right characteristics.” Sixth-placed Albion require just two more wins from their remaining four fixtures to secure Europa League qualification following the stunning success over Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. De Zerbi is balancing injury problems ahead of the long trip to St James’ Park. He admits selection issues are causing him to lose sleep, with Joel Veltman, Adam Webster, Solly March, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder and Jeremy Sarmiento remaining on the lengthy injury list. “We can’t lose any more players for the last four games,” he said. “We can’t take any risks and we start (with the intention) to win the game tomorrow but we have to think we have four games in 12 days. “I’m losing sleep to decide the best first XI.” The Seagulls received widespread plaudits for their weekend performance in north London as they emphatically bounced back from being thrashed 5-1 by relegation-threatened Everton. De Zerbi urged his players to set aside the elation of that result and focus on future challenges and the chance to make history by claiming a European spot. “We have to be ready to forget the last game and start with a clean head,” he said. “We are fighting for a historic target and if we want to reach the historic target we have to make historic results. “This year we won two times against Chelsea, we won 3-0 against Liverpool, we won 3-0 in Emirates Stadium. “We are winning incredible games but to reach the incredible target you have to win incredible games. “We can decide our destiny and our future but we know the way is still difficult.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live James Anderson ready to miss Ireland Test and ‘desperate’ to make Ashes opener Xabi Alonso ‘happy’ and committed to Bayer Leverkusen amid Tottenham links Darren Young fired up to play through the pain for a game that helped save him

Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will still be in charge of Bayer Leverkusen next season. The former Liverpool midfielder had been linked to the vacant head coach role at Tottenham during the past month. Alonso has impressed in his first senior managerial position after he guided Leverkusen out of relegation trouble in the Bundesliga and into the Europa League semi-finals since his appointment in October. With Julian Nagelsmann no longer a contender for the role at Spurs and Burnley boss Vincent Kompany signing a new deal earlier this month, Alonso remained one of the bookkeepers’ favourites to replace Antonio Conte. But speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa League last-four second leg with Roma, Alonso said: “I’m happy here with the team and the club. “I’m not worried about my future.” Asked by a Bild reporter if that meant he would still be in charge of Leverkusen next season, Alonso replied: “That’s correct.”

Marcus Rashford has boosted Manchester United’s top-four Premier League hopes by returning to training. England striker Rashford, who has scored 29 goals this season, missed Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Wolves with a leg injury. “There is good news regarding Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay, who have both returned to training,” a United statement read after Erik ten Hag’s first-team squad trained at Carrington on Wednesday. “Our leading scorer took part in the session after missing the win over Wolves due to injury.” Scotland midfielder McTominay is also closing in on a return, having not played since scoring in a 2-0 win over Everton on April 8. France defender Raphael Varane, who Ten Hag said was replaced late on against Wolves as a precaution, also trained on Wednesday. Marcel Sabitzer this week joined Lisandro Martinez and Donny van de Beek on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Fourth-placed United continue their bid for Champions League football at Bournemouth on Saturday. After their trip to the south coast, United conclude their league campaign with home games against Chelsea and Fulham. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The Qatari billionaire Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has raised his bid for Manchester United by making a fourth and last-ditch offer for the club, which is understood to be closer to £5 billion. The businessman has made a late intervention after the lifelong United fan, and petrochemicals billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe had submitted his third bid which valued United at a higher figure. As with all of Sheikh Jassim’s previous proposals, he is trying to buy 100 percent of the club, where the Glazer family are current majority shareholders. The Qatari has also pledged to clear United’s debt of £536 million and has promised a separate fund directed at the club and the community. Ratcliffe’s most recent bid allowed Joel and Avram Glazer, two of the six siblings whose father, Malcolm, bought the club in 2005, to retain a stake while aiming to complete a takeover in the next few years. The American merchant bank the Raine Group are overseeing the process for the Glazers. There have been three previous rounds of bids, without seeming to meet the Glazers’ valuation, though Ratcliffe had emerged as the favourite to complete a deal. Read More Eddie Howe: Football must learn from my confrontation with fan Dimitar Berbatov warns Harry Kane not to ‘tarnish’ Tottenham legacy by leaving You’re asking the wrong person – Emma Hayes not interested in title permutations

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is hoping the security breach which left him in danger at Elland Road could help prevent a future “tragedy” on a football pitch. The 45-year-old was confronted in his technical area by an angry spectator during Saturday’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Leeds, and a man has since been banned from the stadium for life and charge with assault. Howe, who revealed he had been contacted by League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan in the wake of the incident, said: “The concern for me is the future. “That incident has gone, it’s done as far as I’m concerned, but the only part of that incident that’s left is the ‘What ifs?’ for the future. “I just hope that that incident itself can then help the authorities and whoever is concerned with the security and safety of the players and staff, that if it does make a little change or (encourage) someone to think how we can improve things, then it will have been a really worthwhile episode because I’d hate to see a tragedy on a football pitch that could have been avoided.” If Saturday’s events highlighted matters off the pitch, Howe swiftly shifted his attention to what happens on it as he prepared for Thursday night’s hugely significant showdown with in-form Brighton at St James’ Park. I don't feel like we're being hunted. I don't feel that emotion Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe The Seagulls will arrive on Tyneside still basking in the acclaim they received in the wake of their dismantling of title hopefuls Arsenal on Sunday, with both they and Liverpool chasing hard in a bid to deny the Magpies and Manchester United a top-four finish. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said ahead of Monday night’s 3-0 win at Leicester that the clubs currently sitting behind top two Manchester City and the Gunners would be happier if they were not being hunted down, although Howe is not feeling any pressure. He said: “I don’t feel like we’re being hunted. I don’t feel that emotion. It’s us against ourselves, really. That’s how I see it. It’s us trying to be the best we can be. “I’ve not focused on any other team all season. In my experience, I knew Liverpool were never far away because they are a top team and they are capable of going on runs of wins. They are very similar to Manchester City where they can win a group of games without blinking. They have got that experience. “For us, we can’t look at it or compare ourselves to Liverpool. We just have to look at us.” Liverpool, who have two games remaining, are still a point behind Newcastle and United, who have three left to play, while Brighton are eight points adrift with four to go, and the Magpies know victory in their last two home games – against the Seagulls and then Leicester on Monday evening – would secure Champions League qualification. Asked if he would have taken that back in August, Howe, who has a doubt over wide man Jacob Murphy and will once again be without midfielder Sean Longstaff, replied: “’Snapped your arm off’ is the phrase that I’d use.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Saracens and Sale to wear away kits to avoid clash for colour-blind supporters Leon Edwards says challenger Colby Covington is motivated by ‘jealousy’ Leonardo Bonucci says next season will be his last

The investment arm of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. dramatically reduced its exposure to the Adani Group in its