Cakir: Tomorrow’s Champions League last 16 second leg between Napoli and Real Madrid will be controlled by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir, UEFA said. Visitors Real will be defending a 3-1 lead from the first match played last month. Cakir, 40, has a history of flashing red cards in the tournament. He also officiated the 2015 Champions League final between Juventus and Barcelona.

Schmidt: Champions League contenders Bayer Leverkusen sacked coach Roger Schmidt yesterday, a day after they suffered a 6-2 demolition by Borussia Dortmund that left them 10th in the league and at risk of missing out on European football next season. Leverkusen have managed just three wins in their last nine league games, having played an erratic Bundesliga campaign, and are 13 points away from third place that leads to the Champions League group stage.

Tevez: Carlos Tevez marked his Chinese Super League (CSL) debut with a goal from the penalty spot as Shanghai Shenhua beat Jiangsu Suning 4-0 yesterday while a brace from midfielder Paulinho sealed a winning start for champions Guangzhou Evergrande over Beijing Guoan. “I am extremely happy for Tevez,” said Poyet. “Goals are important and he has started his CSL journey with goals. The four goals are all linked to him but he needs the team to work as a whole.”

Ekdal: Albin Ekdal’s first goal for Hamburg clinched them a 1-0 home win against Hertha Berlin that gives their Bundesliga survival hopes a major boost. The Sweden international lashed in a 77th-minute winner as Hamburg bounced back from last weekend’s humiliating 8-0 defeat at Bayern Munich.

Pogba: Mathias Pogba struck the game’s only goal as Sparta Rotterdam became the first team this year to beat leaders Feyenoord in the Eredivisie. Pogba, brother of Manchester United midfielder Paul, headed home Jerson Cabral’s cross in the first minute to halt Feyenoord’s 10-game winning league run. Feyenoord squandered numerous goalscoring chances in either half and Sparta goalkeeper Roy Kortsmit pulled off a string of outstanding saves.