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Germany completed a remarkable comeback to beat Argentina in a thrilling doubles decider and set up a Davis Cup semi-final against Spain.

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz saved three match points in a final-set tie-break to overcome Horacio Zeballos and Andres Molteni 4-6 6-4 7-6 (12-10) in a gruelling contest lasting two hours and 31 minutes.

Argentina had put the first point on the board when world number 60 Tomas Etcheverry hit 23 aces to beat Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (9-7) in a high-quality encounter.

But world number three Alexander Zverev launched Germany’s recovery, beating world number 21 Francisco Cerundolo 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to force the deciding doubles.

Zverev, the only top 10 singles player competing in the Davis Cup this week, was not at his best but a brilliant tie-break performance kept Germany’s hopes of progressing to a second straight semi-final alive.

Those hopes were on their way to being extinguished when Zeballos and Molteni dominated the opening set of the doubles rubber.

But Krawietz and Puetz, who have three Grand Slam doubles titles between them, took the second set before a stalemate in the decider sent the match to a tie-break.

The Germans missed four match points, including three in a row, in an astonishing tie-break before clinching victory with the fifth.

“Incredible. There’s not many matches you play in your career like that,” said Puetz. “It feels better to win in the end but what a great match and a great Davis Cup tie.”

Not since their title-winning 1993 campaign have three-time champions Germany reached the final of the tournament.

Earlier on Thursday, Spain brushed aside the absence of Carlos Alcaraz to come from behind and beat the Czech Republic 2-1 and move one step closer to a first title in six years.

A “heartbroken” Alcaraz pulled out of Spain’s squad for the Finals on Tuesday after the new world number one was advised not to compete because of swelling in his right hamstring.

In the absence of their talisman, things started shakily for the Spanish team after the big-serving Jakub Mensik – with 20 aces – defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5 6-4.

World number 36 Jaume Munar, with his first singles win at the Davis Cup, took the tie to the deciding doubles with an impressive 6-3 6-4 victory over US Open quarter-finalist and world number 17 Jiri Lehecka.

The Czechs were left to rue their missed opportunities in a two-hour tussle, having held a 4-1 lead and three set points in the first-set tie-break, while two further set-point chances were missed in the one in the second set.

Former doubles world number one Granollers said: “We are really happy that we fought hard for all of the team. We believed and here we are in the semi-finals.

“Last year was difficult for us [exiting in the quarter-finals] but we know this competition is very difficult. We can see here how good the teams are. We have a young team but we are still alive.”

Four games down, two to go.

The Women’s Champions League’s inaugural league phase is set for a thrilling finale as teams battle to qualify for the knockout stage.

Last year’s beaten finalists Barcelona are the frontrunners, with record eight-time winners Lyon in close pursuit at the top, while main draw debutants Manchester United lead the way for the trio of Women’s Super League’s teams.

Teams finishing first to fourth will automatically qualify for the quarter-finals, with the next eight teams – from fifth to 12th – facing off in two-legged play-offs to determine who will join them.

Holders Arsenal have found it tough going in the Champions League this season, with results and performances failing to match the increased expectations set by that glorious triumph over Barcelona in the final last May.

An opening night defeat by Lyon and a total collapse against Bayern Munich bookended an unconvincing away win over Benfica, before Alessia Russo inspired a vital fightback to secure three points against Real Madrid.

Those results leave the European champions eighth in the table with six points from four games played so far, and on course to finish in one of the play-off spots.

Chelsea’s latest quest to secure a maiden Champions League crown has been a mixed bag of results so far.

They made a stuttering start with a drab draw against Dutch champions Twente, but followed up by swatting Paris FC aside and hitting St Polten for six, before claiming an impressive 1-1 draw against old foes Barcelona.

So after four games played Sonia Bompastor’s side are in sixth place, a point and two places outside the top four, but with momentum and confidence very much on the up.

Manchester United enjoyed a flying start to their debut campaign in Europe, winning their first three games against Valerenga, Atletico Madrid and Paris St-Germain while conceding just one goal. But their progress came to a shuddering halt on matchday four with a 5-2 hammering by Wolfsburg.

That chastening defeat in Germany was United’s third loss in four matches in all competitions, with a lack of squad depth looking to be taking its toll as they begin to struggle with the demands of fighting on multiple fronts.

With nine points from four games, they currently occupy fourth spot in the standings, which would secure automatic qualification to the quarter-finals. However considerable improvements are required to remain there.

Each team in the competition has two games remaining in the league phase – one at home and one away – with their points tally after matchday six determining their final place in the league phase.

The sides from 13th to 18th will be eliminated from the competition.

As it stands, Manchester United would qualify automatically for the quarter-finals, while holders Arsenal and Chelsea would go into the play-offs.

Yet with just four points separating United in fourth place and Paris FC in 12th, things are far from decided.

Chelsea may have ordinarily celebrated a 1-1 draw with them in the Women’s Champions League despite having experienced many heartaches in the past at Barcelona’s expense.

However, this opportunity was a squander.

On the night, Chelsea overran the first half and provided plenty of chances for goalscorers.

Ellie Carpenter’s delicious opener was canceled after they failed to clear a corner and allowed Ewa Pajor to pounce on the loose ball, which they then led for eight minutes.

With 10 minutes left, Australian Carpenter dragged her close finish wide with only the goalkeeper to beat, which was unfortunate.

Sonia Bompastor may have known that their chance to defeat Barcelona was at a certain point.

When the full-time whistle finally came, the Blues manager shook her head in disbelief as her team fell to sixth place in the league phase table, two points clear of their Spanish opponents in first place, after substitute Catarina Macario’s goal was also for a minor offside.

Their 8-2 aggregate defeat by Barcelona in the semi-finals of last year was an impressive performance and a significant improvement over their previous best-efforts, but their lack of ruthlessness ultimately cost them the victory they desired.

“I find it frustrating not to have won the game, especially given the chances and statistics,” Bompastor said.

“We had opportunities to win, so I’m frustrated for that reason,” he said, “but overall there were many advantages to take.”

We are aware that we must be patient in the crucial games and the Champions League. My players are working so hard on that, as we have discussed.

Bompastor was the only one who couldn’t hide her disappointment as Chelsea’s players drew their hands to their hips, squirming, and pouting in disbelief.

Barcelona have proved to be their enemy, knocking them out in four of their previous five Champions League campaigns, a fact that they have been pursuing for a while.

Anita Asante, a former Chelsea defender, stated to BBC Two, “This opportunity was missed.” They had the best chance to defeat Barcelona and move up to the top four [of the league phase table] of that table.

“This is Chelsea’s best performance of the season,” I said. They will enjoy how well the game plan and approach were carried out. The three best chances were created by them, frustrating Barcelona.

Barcelona manager Pere Romeu acknowledged that Barcelona’s situation was “very different” from the team’s record-breaking performance in the last four tie.

Bompastor claimed that because of her tactics, she had been “too ambitious” last season and had changed their setup on Thursday night to make sure they were less vulnerable when they were out of the game.

Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze expressed disappointment by saying, “We feel like we could have won the game on the night.” The chances were probably better for us.

No one anticipated how things would turn out in the first half of the game, perhaps apart from Chelsea, said.

Expectations were always high when Chelsea spent $900,000 to sign her from the San Diego Wave in January as the then-world record signing.

The 25-year-old has struggled to settle, though, having been hampered by a knee injury that delayed her eagerly awaited arrival and slowed her down.

However, the American defender showed just why Chelsea were willing to pay the price with a spectacular display against Europe’s elite side.

On BBC Two, London City Lionesses forward Nikita Parris said, “Giram won’t get the plaudits like other Chelsea players will, but she was defensively solid.”

She was there whenever she needed to recover quickly. She can be proud of her performance, especially as she recovers from a knee injury.

In the first half, Girma’s biggest moment was when she ran across Caroline Graham Hansen’s six-yard crossbar.

Just one minute later, Carpenter tapped the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Cata Coll to make the score 1-0.

Girma partially helped Barcelona defeat them in the second half as a result of them having to read all of their attacking ideas and put a stop to them.

Was Chelsea’s best performance this time around?

“Admitted Bompastor,” “yes, one of the best. We are aware of her level and her excellence. She has been unfortunate not to be able to play more for us.