At a time when the established powerhouses of the continent are apparently keen to change the format of the Champions League, there is just a possibility that the semi-final order will be greatly shaken up this season.

The quarter-final, second legs this Tuesday and Wednesday see Real Madrid up against it and both holders Barcelona and Bayern Munich defending narrow leads while one of Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain will break into the last four.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Divock Origi is at the start of something special after he scored twice in a 4-1 win over Stoke City at Anfield.

Just days earlier, the Belgian grabbed a precious away goal against Klopp's former club Borussia Dortmund as the first leg of Liverpool's Europa League quarter-final ended all square at 1-1.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said that he had no regrets about not taking the Tottenham Hotspur job after the London club damaged his side's Champions League qualification hopes.

Three goals in six second-half minutes from Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela gave Spurs a clinical 3-0 win on Sunday that took them back to within seven points of Premier League leaders Leicester City and left them 12 points clear of fifth-place United.

Marc Marquez extended his reign in the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday, piloting his Honda to victory in Austin, Texas, for the fourth straight year.

Marquez, fresh off a win in Argentina, won in 43min 57.945sec, with Yamaha rival Jorge Lorenzo second 6.107sec behind and Italian Ducati rider Andrea Iannone third 10.947sec back.

Palermo's Serie A relegation woes deepened in a trouble-hit 3-0 defeat to Lazio that saw the match stopped twice by the referee as rocket flares came dangerously close to hitting players.

German veteran Miroslav Klose claimed his 50th and 51st Serie A goals and Felipe Anderson put the icing on the cake as Lazio moved one place up to eighth, albeit 31 points behind leaders Juventus and 11 off the European qualifying places.

Point guard Reggie Jackson wouldn't let Detroit be denied, scoring 39 points in a 112-99 triumph over the Washington Wizards that saw the Pistons clinch their first NBA playoff berth in seven seasons on Friday.

Tobias Harris had 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Pistons, who squandered a 19-point lead before ending the longest post-season drought in the Eastern Conference.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic believes Dimitri Payet's ability to produce sensational free-kicks like David Beckham will be one of the key factors in his side's bid to qualify for the Champions League.

Payet has enjoyed a memorable debut season in the Premier League and the France midfielder's penchant for scoring fabulous free-kicks has become his trademark following his move from Marseille.

Claudio Ranieri has called on Leicester to maintain the consistency that has made them favourites to be crowned Premier League champions and carried them to the brink of the Champions League.

While a seven-point lead over second-placed Tottenham is not enough to persuade Ranieri to discuss Leicester's chances of winning an historic first top-flight title, the Foxes boss is now willing to contemplate a top four finish and a place in Europe's elite club competition.

Marc Marquez's dominance at the Circuit of the Americas was on full display Friday as the Spaniard defied a crash to top the MotoGP times in both practice sessions in Austin, Texas.

The Honda rider, who holds an eight-point lead atop the standings after victory in Argentina, will be seeking a fourth straight Grand Prix of the Americas triumph on Sunday.

Japan superstar Kosuke Kitajima is set to retire from competitive swimming after failing in his bid to qualify for a fifth Olympics on Friday.

The 33-year-old finished fifth in the men's 200-meters breaststroke at the national championships, having already missed out in the 100m earlier in the week.