Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said his team will face Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday playing for club doctor Carles Minarro, who died on Saturday.
The Catalan giants hold a 1-0 lead in the last 16 tie from the first leg in Lisbon ahead of the clash at the Olympic Stadium.
Barcelona’s La Liga match on Saturday against Osasuna was postponed 20 minutes before kick-off after the 53-year-old doctor died that afternoon.
READ ALSO: Ruthless Slot Demands More From Liverpool’s Week Of ‘Finals’
“It’s a huge loss, Carles was a really great person, but also a great doctor, and this combination of Ricard (Pruna, another club doctor) and him was unbelievable for the club and for the team,” Flick told a news conference Monday.
“(He was) one of the big puzzle (pieces) for the success, because they are doing a great job, and we miss him, but it’s also life. I think he will support us from above.
“The team also, we want to play… for him. Now in this situation, it’s very important that we win, and this is the focus, what we want to do tomorrow. ”
Doctor Minarro had been working with different Barcelona sides since 2017, and began working with the men’s football first team a few months ago.
Barcelona beat Benfica 5-4 in Lisbon in the group stage and then again with 10 men for most of the game last week after Pau Cubarsi was sent off.
However Flick said his squad would not take progress to the quarter-finals as a given, with Benfica beating Juventus on the road in the group stage and thrashing Atletico Madrid at home.
“None of us thinks that it’s done, and this is the important thing,” continued the coach.
“Their away matches in the Champions League, they are doing really great, they won a lot of matches away. So we have to think about that and take care. ”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot described Paris Saint Germain’s visit as the second of “three finals” in a week, but has warned much more is needed from the Premier League leaders to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Reds escaped the Parc des Princes with a 1-0 lead last week despite being battered by the French champions, who came up against an inspired Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal.
The Brazilian number one said his nine-save display was the “performance of his life”.
Never before have Liverpool won the first leg of a European tie away and let the lead slip at Anfield.
However, Slot is taking nothing for granted based on what he saw from PSG.
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Luis Enrique remained upbeat his side are “going to do it” despite suffering a first defeat in 23 games.
Adding to Slot’s concern was the lethargic first 45 minutes from his side against rock bottom Southampton in Saturday’s 3-1 win that forced the Dutchman into three half-time substitutions.
The Saints, who have won just nine points from 28 games all season, took a shock lead into the break before Darwin Nunez and two Mohamed Salah penalties turned the game around to stretch Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to 15 points.
The League Cup final against Newcastle is also around the corner on Sunday with Slot very much on track for a treble in his first season in charge.
“The first of three finals”, he said of the victory over Southampton. “I do hope the next two finals we will play a bit better than the first one.
” The only good thing in the first 45 minutes was that they saved their energy (or PSG) and didn’t run at all. It was maybe the first time this season I saw this tempo.
“When I look at the game against PSG, we need to go one step up in terms of intensity. But if I compare it with the game today (Saturday), we need to go three, four, five, six or seven steps up in terms of intensity if we want to have any chance of reaching the next round”.
 , ‘Going for us ‘
Salah conceded that he had rarely seeing his manager so furious as he was during a half-time tirade that helped the turn the Southampton game around.
“The manager was like going for us”, said the Egyptian. “That’s something you need sometimes”.
Slot has had little reason to lose his cool in his first nine months as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
But he has shown his ruthless side when needed to keep Liverpool on course for just the fourth treble for an English side that would include the league title and Champions League.
Harvey Elliott scored the smash-and-grab winner in Paris with his first touch after replacing Salah, who had a rare off night.
Nunez’s work rate was questioned by his coach after disappointing displays against Wolves and Aston Villa, when he missed a glorious chance to win the game, last month.
The Uruguayan has bounced back to deliver the assist for Elliott at the Parc des Princes and then sparked the fightback against Southampton with his first goal in 11 games.
Many believed Nunez would have been one of those sacrificed by Slot’s triple half-time change, but he rewarded his manager’s patience.
“I always hate the idea, if we need to score goals, to take someone off that can score a goal”, added Slot.
“That’s also the life of a number nine – you go from missing a chance to scoring an important goal”.
After a pummelling in Paris, Slot is determined Liverpool do not make the same mistake in their quest for a seventh European Cup.
The government of Syria says it has ended an operation in the coastal governorates of Latakia and Tartous after four days of fighting between security forces and pro-Assad armed fighters.
The unrest came only three months after the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad in an offensive by opposition fighters.
Reports from the Latakia region told of killings, kidnappings, theft, harassment and even public murders.
So, what happened and who did this? Here’s what we know about the violence:
What’s happening in Syria?
On March 6, government forces began deploying to the coastal cities of Syria, including Latakia, Banias, Tartous and Jableh to fight what they dubbed “regime remnants”.
The “remnants” are pro-Assad regime fighters who have announced their opposition to the new government.
The Alawite religious sect, from which Bashar al-Assad hails, is concentrated in these cities.
How did it start?
On March 6, pro-Assad gunmen ambushed military personnel in and around Latakia in the northwest, killing at least 16 members of the security forces and the Ministry of Defence.
According to state media, the March 6 ambushes were not the first, with several past attacks on government forces since al-Assad fell.
How many people have been killed or injured?
Numbers are still emerging, but here’s what we know.
According to a March 9 report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 1, 311 people have been killed as of Saturday evening – some 830 were civilians, 230 security personnel from various branches, and about 250 armed fighters.
Al Jazeera has not been able to independently verify SOHR’s numbers.
(Al Jazeera)
Why this area in particular?
The Latakia-Tartous axis lies along Syria’s Mediterranean coast, with Banias and Jableh lying between them.
These two Alawi-majority governorates have long been considered al-Assad strongholds, with the family’s hometown, al-Qerdaha, lying east of Latakia.
When al-Assad fell, observers feared there would be revenge attacks against the Alawite community.
This may be why “regime remnants” chose to attack there – possibly hoping to inflame sectarian tensions.
Banias also hosts Syria’s largest oil refinery. Armed fighters tried to attack the refinery, security forces said, but were repelled.
Who’s fighting?
State security troops confronted armed groups led by former officers in al-Assad’s army.
There are also unidentified groups who went to the coast to “avenge” the ambushed security forces, an unidentified security official told Syria’s state news agency.
The presence of these individuals, the official said, had “led to some individual violations and we are working on stop them”.
Alawite community members said armed groups have been harassing and kidnapping Alawite civilians.
The Syrian government estimates there are 5, 000 armed individuals in the coastal area.
Who are these ‘ regime remnants’?
Videos on social media since February show former al-Assad army officer Muqdad Fteiha declaring the formation of a group to counter “HTS violations” in the coastal region.
Fleiha, who was in al-Assad’s Republican Guard, claims in his message that the Alawite community is mistreated.
Other statements on social media, attributed to former al-Assad army Brigadier General Ghiath Suleiman Dalla, declared the formation of a “Military Council for the Liberation of Syria” to “expel all occupying terrorist forces” and “dismantle the repressive sectarian security apparatus”.
What did Syria’s government say?
The escalating violence presented a huge challenge for Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
On Sunday, al-Sharaa announced two new committees to deal with the crisis.
One is an independent committee of judges and lawyers to investigate the March 6 attacks and the violence that ensued and hold those responsible accountable, in pursuit of “higher national interest and civil peace”.
The second is a “Supreme Committee for Civil Peace”, tasked with engaging with the residents of the affected areas and safeguarding their security.
Earlier on Sunday, he spoke at a Damascus mosque, acknowledging the severity of the crisis and calling for national unity.
On Friday, March 7, he reaffirmed in a televised address his commitment to stability, and promised to pursue regime loyalists responsible for crimes and to consolidate state control over weapons.
How are civilians doing in these areas?
People are scared, panic has taken over the coastal regions.
“I don’t ever go outside and I don’t even open the windows… There is no security here. There is no security for Alawis”, a resident of Latakia who chose to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera.
Those who remain speak of living in terror, fearing that armed fighters will attack them in their homes.
Romania’s far-right presidential contender Calin Georgescu plans to challenge a decision to bar him from taking part in May’s rerun presidential election.
The pro-Russian politician said on social media on Monday that he would make an appeal to Romania’s Constitutional Court to lift the ban, which was placed on him the previous day. He made the announcement after violent clashes broke between his supporters and police in Bucharest overnight.
“We go together all the way for the same values: peace, democracy, freedom”, Georgescu said in a video posted on Facebook.
The appeal, and the unrest in the capital, follow an announcement on Sunday by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) that it had rejected the NATO critic’s candidacy for the election on May 4.
Calin Georgescu, running as an independent candidate for president, speaks to the media]File: Alexandru Dobre/AP]
Shortly after the BEC’s announcement, Georgescu supporters gathered in front of the electoral commission’s headquarters.
Faced by a significant police presence, the protest turned violent, as participants broke through security barricades. A broadcast van belonging to a television station regarded as supporting Georgescu’s rivals was overturned, and fires were lit.
Police responded with tear gas as rioters threw cobblestones and fireworks.
Some posts on social media claimed that Romania was descending into turmoil, suggesting that events could spark a revolution or cause the closure of borders.
In the United States, CBS News described the country as tipping into “chaos”.
However, the violence and numbers at the protests were limited.
‘ European dictatorship ‘
The controversy surrounding the Moscow-friendly Georgescu has placed Romania in the midst of the rift between Europe and the administration of US President Donald Trump over military spending and the nature of democracy.
Georgescu secured poll position in the first round of the election in November, but the vote was later annulled owing to evidence of suspected Russian interference.
US Vice President JD Vance has claimed that the move illustrated Romania does not share US values. The EU has praised the independence of the country’s courts.
Georgescu, who is currently under criminal investigation on numerous counts, including for communicating false information about campaign financing, has claimed that the ruling shows that Europe is turning into a “dictatorship”, and warned that “if democracy falls in Romania, the entire democratic world will fall”.
Ukraine has announced plans this year to buy about 4.5 million first-person view (FPV) drones, one of the most inexpensive and potent weapons in its war effort against Russia.
In a statement on Monday, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said it would allocate the equivalent of more than $2.6bn for the purchases.
Hlib Kanevsky, director of the ministry’s procurement policy department, said Ukraine had purchased more than 1.5 million drones in 2024, 96 percent of which were bought from Ukrainian manufacturers and suppliers.
“This year, the figures will be even higher because the capabilities of the domestic defence industry in 2025 are approximately 4.5 million FPV drones”, Kanevsky said, adding that the ministry “plans to purchase them all”.
Small and cheap, FPV drones are controlled by pilots on the ground and often crash into targets while laden with explosives. In April, a NATO official said FPV drones that cost less than $1, 000 had destroyed two-thirds of Russian tanks worth millions.
Ukraine became the world’s largest major arms importer from 2020 to 2024, the period when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine’s imports increased nearly 100 times over the previous four-year period.
The country, which is seeking strong security guarantees from its partners before agreeing to any peace talks with Russia, is developing its own defence industry to reduce its dependence on its Western allies. It plans to also build long-range drones.
The statement said the ministry for the past three years has purchased most of its drones in the country while the number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) supplied to its armed forces had increased significantly.
Kanevsky also said all procurement plans for this year have received money in the budget, which will ensure that the front line is supplied with UAVs as soon as possible.
Both Russia and Ukraine have come to rely on cheaper and more effective alternatives to conventional artillery during the three-year conflict.
In a separate statement on Monday, Kyiv’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskii, said Ukrainian drones had destroyed 22 percent more targets last month compared with January, but added that Russian forces were also adapting.
King Charles has launched the King’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace, ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
It is the 18th official Commonwealth Games relay and marks 500 days until the event begins on 23 July next year.
The King handed the baton to champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy – the first bearer on its journey around the world.
PA Media
Glasgow 2026 chief executive officer Phil Batty told BBC Scotland News the baton relay launch was a “momentous milestone”.
He said: “To have the support of the King and to have the baton relay launched really brings the project to life.
PA
Following Sir Chris Hoy, the next three baton bearers will be wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn, ocean plastics campaigner Keiran Healy and Trinidad &, Tobago judo athlete Gabriella Wood – who studies at the University of Stirling.
Trinidad &, Tobago will be the first destination for the relay.
The King has placed a sealed message into the baton. It will remain inside until the opening ceremony when it will be read out to mark the start of games.
He said he felt” really privileged and honoured “to be asked to produce a piece of work that will be seen around the world.
” I’ve not been involved in Royal commissions before or something of this stature, “he said.
” So it’s obviously a bit more special than your normal commission.
“Also, with the Games happening in Glasgow and me being Glaswegian, it really hits home and makes it even more special”.
PA Media
Swinney said the Games were a “huge opportunity for Scotland on the world stage”.
He added: “Glasgow already has a tremendous record for hosting, receiving international recognition for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
” Glasgow 2026 will bring huge economic benefits to the city and support upgrades to sporting facilities – benefitting individuals, communities and clubs. “
The event will take place in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August next year.
Why is Glasgow hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Glasgow was announced as the host of the 2026 Games after the Australian state of Victoria – which had been due to host – withdrew over rising costs.
The deal was secured after the Scottish government agreed to back it and the Victoria state administration promised a £2.3m investment.
Scottish government minister Neil Gray said at the time the fact that the city was asked to step in and host the games was a” testament to Glasgow and Scotland’s fantastic reputation for hosting international events”.
Organisers have stated the Games will come at no cost to the Scottish public purse, with funding coming from compensation paid to the Commonwealth Games Federation after the Australians pulled out.
How many sports and how many medals will be up for grabs?
The 10-sport Glasgow Games will be a scaled-back version of the last time the city played host in 2014.
The overall number of sports has halved from 20 in Birmingham in 2022 to combat rising hosting costs and time demands.
However, more than 200 gold medals will still be contested at venues within an eight-mile corridor of the city.
Swimming, track cycling and Para sports will each boast more medallists than in any of the previous 22 iterations of the Games.
And athletics will have two new events – the mixed 4x400m relay and the Commonwealth Mile, which replaces the 1500m.
Para sports will be fully integrated across six of the 10 disciplines, with a Games record of 47 medal events in total.
A total of 26 cycling golds will be fought for at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, with eight of those in Para-track cycling. That is double the amount on offer three years ago.
