Wednesday cannon fodder: referee draw shellacking

Premier League/England

Liverpool and Bayern Munich trade blows but draw leaves tie poised | Football | The Guardian
Liverpool and Bayern Munich drew 0-0 at Anfield in their Champions League last-16 first leg.

Paul Davis: the Arsenal midfielder ahead of his time who remains one of the club’s most under-appreciated legends
He should’ve and could’ve been an England regaular, but while injuries would hamper Paul Davis’ Arsenal career, he remains a true Gunners legend.

Tired and tested: what happened to Aston Villa’s big top-flight return? | FourFourTwo
With the play-offs now seemingly out of reach, the former Premier League stalwarts must prepare for a fourth season in the Championship.

Ex-Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston sues father Owen’s club - BBC News
Karl Oyston is taking the club where he was chairman for 19 years to an Employment Tribunal.

Manchester United and the Siren Song of the Quick Fix - The New York Times
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has thrived since replacing José Mourinho, as have his players. But that does not mean all is right in United’s world.

Refereeing of women’s football needs work. Here is the plan to tackle it | Suzanne Wrack | Football | The Guardian
Full-time officials for Women’s Super League and a fast-track pathway for female referees are among the ideas.

Europe

Barcelona held in Champions League at Lyon after failing to take chances | Football | The Guardian
Both sides remained undefeated in this season’s competition.

How Bayer Leverkusen became one of European football’s great stepping-stones
Starting in the days of Ballack, Lucio and Berbatov, and continuing with Son, Vidal and Leno recently, Bayer Leverkusen attract talent but rarely hold onto it.

Cristiano Ronaldo: EA explain why Juventus star has been taken off FIFA 19 cover | Football | Sport | Express.co.uk
CR7 has been replaced as the cover star for FIFA 19.

Telemadrid: Real Madrid ready to listen to offers for Gareth Bale
Rumors surround the Welshman.

Neymar: PSG striker ‘cried for two days’ after breaking a metatarsal in January - BBC Sport
Brazil striker Neymar says he “cried for two days” after breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot at the end of January.

MLS/Americas

Toronto FC shellacked by Independiente, 4-0, in CCL opener | Pro Soccer USA
Toronto FC lose convincingly in their opening leg of the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 Tuesday night in La Chorrera, Panama.

Brazil’s Mané Garrincha draws 60 fans for competitive match | futebol | Globoesporte
Who says World Cup stadiums are white whales?

U.S. Soccer boss Carlos Cordeiro: No decision on Gold Cup after 2021
United States Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro said that no decision has made on if the Gold Cup will continue after 2021.

How I ended up eating at Waffle House with Roger Bennett - Dirty South Soccer
I find Men in Blazers to be painfully unfunny, but Roger Bennett sounds like a pretty solid guy.

Klinsmann received $3.35m settlement after he was fired by US Soccer | Sport | The Guardian
Jürgen Klinsmann received a $3.35m settlement of his contract with the US Soccer Federation, according to the USSF’s tax filing.

Other

UNC-Duke tickets approaching Super Bowl prices because of Zion Williamson
The cheapest ticket to Wednesday's UNC-Duke game will cost you at least $2,500.