Scott Murray's Blog, page 82

The Fiver | Sergio Agüero, the muse to Martin Tyler’s signature moment

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Lee Bradbury. Gerry Creaney. Rodney Marsh. Jô. Down the years, Manchester City have never wanted for strikers that would get fans discussing their performances in a highly animated fashion down the drinker. With great feeling. At some length. Using fruity linguistic flourishes. Sergio Agüero can be filed alongside these dudes, too, albeit for slightly different reasons. Agüero has been jaw-dropping in a rather more acceptable way, with his 257 goals in 384 matches, and while he’s not quite as loveable or relatable as the equally legendary Shaun Goater, The Fiver will concede that he’s probably, on balance, a little bit better.

Related: Sergio Agüero has been far more than a great goalscorer for Manchester City | Jonathan Wilson

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England 5-0 San Marino: World Cup 2022 qualifier – as it happened

England began their World Cup qualification campaign by creating a hatful of chances against San Marino

10.02pm GMT

David Hytner’s report has landed. Click below for that. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

Related: Ollie Watkins' debut goal puts gloss on England stroll against San Marino

Related: Gareth Southgate praises England's 'top team' attitude in San Marino rout

Related: Ward-Prowse scuttles and shines to lay down Euros marker for England | Barney Ronay

Related: World Cup 2022 qualifying roundup: Ibrahimovic returns in style for Sweden

9.55pm GMT

Gareth Southgate gives his verdict to ITV. “I think we did as well as we could, really. I was really pleased with not only the way we moved the ball, our interchanging positions, but also the way we pressed when we lost the ball. That highlighted the mentality of the team. Of course it’s an opponent we should beat, but I thought we played really well. The midfield players moved the ball really well. It was good to see Jesse enjoying his football again. It was nice to give Watkins half an hour and for him to get a goal is a fairytale. Bellingham is a player we think is going to be an international of the future. Hopefully we can fast-track him into our group.”

9.43pm GMT

Ollie Watkins, beaming broadly, speaks to ITV. “It’s unbelievable, it’s what I dreamed of. All day in the hotel I was thinking about it, I hope I get on and get an opportunity, but I didn’t know if it would happen. I’m speechless, to be honest. I feel honoured that I have had the chance to put on the shirt and play with these players. To score on my debut, I’m over the moon. I can’t believe it really, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity.” He’s then asked if he’s going to get his shirt signed and framed. “Yeah, 100 percent!” he says, breaking into a smile that could power half of the country. That’s a lovely interview.

9.39pm GMT

In terms of goals, that’s under par. England average six against these minnows. However, they created a bucketload of chances, and while a few were egregiously wasted, Elia Benedettini made a series of fine saves, thwarting Jesse Lingard in particular. On another night, the scoreline could have been stratospheric. Gareth Southgate will surely be happy on balance.

9.35pm GMT

The final whistle goes. England start their World Cup qualifying campaign with a victory.

9.34pm GMT

90 min +2: Mings is booked for a late shoulder barge on Nanni. A daft end to the match.

9.34pm GMT

90 min +1: Ward-Prowse and Trippier combine well down the right to win a corner, but they waste it, Ward-Prowse caught offside as they try a cute short routine.

9.32pm GMT

90 min: There will be two extra minutes.

9.32pm GMT

89 min: The captain Harry Kane pops up on the ITV screen. He’s sitting in the stands with an ambivalent look on his face. Penny for his thoughts, given all the chances England have spurned this evening.

9.30pm GMT

87 min: Chilwell brings down a long pass in the San Marino box, then goes over under pressure from behind by D’Addrio. He wants a penalty, but he’s not getting one, and replays show it’s a good decision by the referee. There was next to nothing in that.

9.28pm GMT

86 min: England are looking for a sixth, though not with any great urgency.

9.27pm GMT

84 min: Rossi clatters into Trippier, who felt that. England’s most recent semi-final scorer gets back up after a fashion and is good to continue.

9.25pm GMT

Foden drives in from the left. He lays off to Watkins, who takes a touch and threads a fine shot into the bottom left, wrong-footing Benedettini for his debut goal!

9.24pm GMT

82 min: England continue to pull San Marino this way and that.

9.23pm GMT

80 min: Ward-Prowse crosses from the left. Bellingham flashes a header off target. That was England’s 30th attempt on goal this evening.

9.22pm GMT

78 min: Lingard, who has been a livewire all night, breezes down the inside-left channel before curling towards the bottom right. Benedettini denies him yet again. A lovely moment as Lingard smiles at the keeper and signals three fingers, one for every fine save he’s made. Benedettini flashes a smile back.

9.18pm GMT

76 min: England need one more, or this will be their lowest tally against San Marino. “I’d have James Ward-Prowse in the side every time, solely for his dead-ball ability,” writes David Marriott. “Plus we’d never see Harry Kane take corners again.”

9.16pm GMT

74 min: So having said that, England slip back into passive mode.

9.15pm GMT

72 min: After a quiet period, England are beginning to carve out chances again. Watkins gambols down the right and hooks into the box, where Bellingham attempts a bicycle kick. He doesn’t quite catch it properly, though the ball nearly bounces over Benedettini and into the top right. Just over.

9.14pm GMT

71 min: Ward-Prowse sends a sensational free kick over the wall and back down towards the top left. Benedettini makes a save to match, tipping the ball onto the left-hand post and away. Wonderful football all round.

9.13pm GMT

70 min: Bellingham suddenly turns on the jets and dribbles elegantly down the middle. He’s eventually upended, 25 yards from goal. Ward-Prowse territory. Before the free kick’s taken, Michael Battistini replaces Golinucci.

9.10pm GMT

68 min: England ping it around in a patient style. San Marino will appreciate the breather.

9.08pm GMT

66 min: Foden sprays a fine diagonal pass towards Chilwell on the left. He cuts back for Bellingham, who sends a soft shot straight into Benedettini’s arms.

9.06pm GMT

64 min: A cute and clever one-two between Lingard and Bellingham down the left. Lingard breaks into the box and flashes a shot towards the bottom left. Benedettini deals with it.

9.05pm GMT

63 min: Calvert-Lewin should have had a hat-trick at the very least tonight. Still, two goals isn’t a bad return, is it, and that’s what he’ll have to settle for. He’s replaced by Watkins, making his England debut.

9.04pm GMT

61 min: Foden brings the ball under control with balletic grace down the right, before trying to beat Benedettini at his near post. Nope.

9.03pm GMT

60 min: Nanni slides in late on Bellingham. He should be booked, but Bellingham springs up quickly, doesn’t make a fuss, and offers his opponent a friendly handshake, perhaps encouraging a sympathetic response from the ref.

9.01pm GMT

58 min: Berardi dribbles with purpose down the left. It’s a fine run, albeit one with a dismal end as he passes the ball straight out of play. Even so, if anyone’s taken any semblance of fight to England, it’s Berardi.

8.59pm GMT

57 min: Ward-Prowse is becoming increasingly influential. He crosses from the right and nearly finds Calvert-Lewin at the near post. Brolli heads spectacularly behind, just in time. Nothing comes of the corner.

8.58pm GMT

56 min: Ward-Prowse takes a quick free kick out on the right, releasing the ever-busy Lingard, who whistles a shot straight at Benedettini at the near post. Or was he trying to find one of three team-mates on the edge of the six-yard box? It could be the latter, you know, as he sticks up an apologetic hand.

8.57pm GMT

54 min: San Marino make a couple of changes. Ceccaroli and Mularoni come on for Grandoni and Hirsch.

8.55pm GMT

England paint a lot of pretty triangles on the Wembley turf. Suddenly, having hypnotised the opposition, Chilwell fires a pass down the inside-left channel for Lingard, who reaches the byline before teeing up Calvert-Lewin, who can’t miss from a couple of yards.

8.53pm GMT

51 min: After the doctor does his work, Coady is good to go again.

8.53pm GMT

49 min: England win a corner. Ward-Prowse takes, and it causes mayhem in the San Marino box. The visitors clear, but Coady is down, having taken a whack in the mouth.

8.51pm GMT

48 min: Incidentally there have been no changes by San Marino, who BREAKING NEWS do not have such a strong bench.

8.49pm GMT

47 min: All a bit scrappy as the new boys slot into place.

8.48pm GMT

England get the second half underway, having made four changes. Bellingham, Foden, Trippier and Mings come on for Sterling, Mount, James and Stones. Coady has been given the captain’s armband.

8.35pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. “To riff on from Peter Oh, perhaps San Seriffe would have a better chance than San Marino,” quips Richard Hirst. Any old excuse to post a classic, huh readers?

Related: April fool - San Serriffe: teaching resource of the month from the GNM Archive, April 2012

8.33pm GMT

The referee takes pity and only adds on a couple of seconds. The scoreline flatters San Marino. England’s only worry - and this is for down the line, rather than tonight - will be the sheer number of chances they’ve passed up.

8.31pm GMT

45 min: San Marino will get a rest soon.

8.31pm GMT

44 min: Sterling dribbles down the right, cuts infield, drops a shoulder, beats three men and then aims for the top left. Just wide, just over. What a goal that would have been.

8.30pm GMT

43 min: From the rebound, England counter. Sterling zips down the right and rolls infield, teeing up Lingard on the penalty spot. He sidefoots powerfully towards the bottom left only to be denied by Benedettini’s strong hand. Another magnificent save, his third of the evening now.

8.29pm GMT

42 min: A free kick for San Marino, 35 yards out, in a central position. The camera is trained on Pope for the first time this evening, as he organises his wall. Brolli goes for the spectacular, but slams his shot into the wall.

8.27pm GMT

41 min: Something of a lull. San Marino won’t be complaining.

8.25pm GMT

39 min: Lingard has two more attempts at that curler towards the right. Both are blocked. His presence then earns a corner, from which nothing comes. He’s been buzzing around very impressively, a player whose confidence has been fully restored.

8.24pm GMT

37 min: San Marino win a corner! Berardi sticks to James down the left, and forces the right-back into turning the ball behind. Nothing comes of the set piece, but small acorns and all that.

8.23pm GMT

36 min: Chilwell bombs down the left and picks out Lingard in the middle, free, ten yards out. Lingard miscues and sends the ball bobbling out to the right of goal. The chances England have spurned! This could - probably should - be six or seven already.

8.21pm GMT

34 min: James and Lingard combine at speed down the right. Lingard drives a shot-cum-cross through the six-yard box. It nearly creeps into the bottom left, but it’s a goal kick. Calvert-Lewin tried to trundle it home, but couldn’t reach it.

8.20pm GMT

33 min: Calvert-Lewin misses big for the second time this evening. Mount crosses from the left. Lingard eyebrows it on. Calvert-Lewin swivels awkwardly and slaps a shot over the bar from close range. He should be celebrating his hat-trick, right here, right now.

8.18pm GMT

Mount intercepts Brolli’s pass out from the back. He slips Sterling into the box down the left. Sterling shifts his weight and lashes goalwards from a tight angle. The ball takes a little nick off Rossi, ensuring it misses Benedettini. But it was going in anyway, so it’s Sterling’s goal.

8.17pm GMT

30 min: Sterling is inches away from sending a curler into the top right. Not quite. But no matter, because ...

8.16pm GMT

29 min: England ping it around, but go a couple of minutes without creating so much as a half-chance. Here’s Peter Oh: “I realise the visitors have precious little hope other than avoiding a double-digit hiding but still, I was hoping to see some flashes of impressive quarterbacking from deep. Then I remembered that it’s San Marino, not Dan Marino.”

8.14pm GMT

27 min: Mount sends a low swerver straight at Benedettini, who boots away. Sterling comes back and drags a shot wide right. San Marino continue to hang on.

8.12pm GMT

25 min: San Marino manage to half-clear the corner, but England are soon coming back at them. Mount scoops in from the left. Calvert-Lewin attempts a backwards header that nearly loops over Benedettini and into the top left, but sails just wide. That wouldn’t have been a million miles away from Uwe Seeler’s effort against England at Mexico 70.

8.10pm GMT

24 min: Chilwell sends a long-distance riser towards the top left from 25 yards. It’s a hell of a shot, heading into the corner, but Benedettini makes his second fine save of the match, tipping it around for a corner. Lovely football all round.

8.09pm GMT

23 min: England have the scent of blood in their nostrils now. Sterling races down the left, hoping to find space to shoot. Not quite. Lingard looks for the top right again with another curler. That’s blocked. A third goal is surely imminent.

8.08pm GMT

James calmly wanders down the right, then wedges a lovely cross that drops on the head of Calvert-Lewin, who isn’t missing from six yards this time. He heads powerfully downwards, into the bottom left-hand corner.

8.05pm GMT

19 min: Sterling dribbles down the left, beating Battistini with ease. He tiptoes along the byline, drags back, and looks to surprise Benedettini at the near post. His shot billows the side netting.

8.04pm GMT

18 min: England are tearing San Marino apart down the left flank. Sterling is sent scampering away, the result of a cute Chilwell dummy, but can’t quite find Calvert-Lewin in the middle with his pullback. San Marino blooter clear.

8.02pm GMT

16 min: San Marino get into the England half for the first time this evening. Sort of. A long hoof from the back that flies all the way through to Pope. It all counts.

8.01pm GMT

It’s fair to say this had been coming. Chilwell is released down the left by Mount. He pulls back for Ward=Prowse, who sweeps a glorious first-time shot into the bottom right. That’s his first goal for England.

7.59pm GMT

13 min: One corner leads to another, and from that, Mount curls in from the left. Palazzi has played everyone onside, and both Sterling and Stones are free, six yards out. Sterling misses the ball, then Stones hoicks it over the bar. What an absurd miss! England should now be 3-0 up.

7.58pm GMT

11 min: Lingard looks for the top-right corner from 25 yards. Benedettini extends himself to palm the shot around the post. Fine save, and one that’ll make a fine photograph.

7.57pm GMT

10 min: Mount tries to release Sterling down the middle, but overcooks the pass. Goal kick. This is one-way traffic, as expected.

7.56pm GMT

9 min: The chances continue to come. Lingard slips Mount into space down the left. Mount wedges into the centre. Sterling stretches to head this one wide right. He might have been better leaving that to Calvert-Lewin, who was right beside him with extra inches.

7.55pm GMT

8 min: It’s all England. Lingard crosses from a deep position on the right. Sterling rises highest on the edge of the six-yard box, but can’t guide his header on target. England should be two up.

7.53pm GMT

6 min: Stones slips a ball down the right for James, who immediately crosses low into the centre. Calvert-Lewin should score from six yards, but allows the ball to whistle between his legs when attempting to sidefoot home.

7.51pm GMT

4 min: England are pinging it around at high speed now. Lingard and Mount have already seen a fair bit of the ball, and the hosts have been probing down both flanks. This is going to be a long night for the San Marino defence.

7.49pm GMT

2 min: Sterling suddenly turns up the pace with a dribble down the left. He can’t quite break through. There’s another phase, and Mount threads a pass down the same channel for Sterling, who is this close to getting on the end of it. Benedettini does well to come off his line to smother.

7.47pm GMT

1 min: England quickly gain possession and stroke the ball around in the methodical training-ground style.

7.47pm GMT

8.3 secs: San Marino aren’t even out of their own half this time.

7.46pm GMT

Before kick-off, a period of applause to celebrate the lives of Glenn Roeder, Frank Worthington, Colin Bell and Peter Swan, all of whom have recently passed. Then the knee: there’s no room for racism. And finally San Marino - playing in white, while England wear blue - get the match underway.

7.42pm GMT

There’s a moving tribute in memory of the heroic Captain Sir Tom Moore, then the teams take to the pitch. The anthems ring around Wembley. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes.

7.35pm GMT

Gareth Southgate, 50, played 50 times for England, and tonight he manages the team for the 50th time. No word yet from him tonight, but in a pre-recorded interview on ITV (who still haven’t replaced that Britpop dirge as their theme tune, but should do, going back to this far more jaunty effort instead) he’s asked whether he already knows his starting XI for the Euro 2020 opener against Croatia. He responds decisively. “Yes.” Not sure tonight’s starters will be particularly thrilled to hear their fate is already sealed, but there it is.

6.53pm GMT

England: Pope, James, Coady, Stones, Chilwell, Phillips, Ward-Prowse, Lingard, Mount, Sterling, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Johnstone, Rice, Mings, Henderson, Kane, Foden, Dier, Shaw, Maguire, Watkins, Trippier, Bellingham.

San Marino: Elia Benedettini, Manuel Battistini, Brolli, Rossi, Grandoni, Lunadei, Golinucci, Jose Hirsch, Berardi, Palazzi, Nicola Nanni.
Subs: Giardi, D’Addario, Ceccaroli, Zonzini, Michael Battistini, Luca Nanni, Simone Benedettini, Conti, Fabbri, Stimac, Mularoni, Zafferani.

6.51pm GMT

A couple of notable comebacks will be made this evening. Jesse Lingard hasn’t played for England since the Nations League third-place play-off win over Switzerland in June 2019, while John Stones has been waiting for his 40th cap ever since a 7-0 win over Montenegro 16 months ago. Deserved reward for the seasons the pair have been having at West Ham and Manchester City respectively.

6.47pm GMT

England start their World Cup qualification campaign with a starting XI that can best be described as “experimental”. Ten changes from the team named against Iceland in the Nations League last autumn, with only Mason Mount keeping his place in the starting XI. West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins are on the bench, hoping to make their debuts sometime later this evening. Raheem Sterling is the stand-in captain, with Harry Kane getting a rest.

6.35pm GMT

Here's how the #ThreeLions line up for our first game of 2021! pic.twitter.com/Qu36JPVfee

6.00pm GMT

According to the official Fifa rankings, England are the fourth best team in the world, bettered only by Belgium, France and Brazil. Compare and contrast with San Marino, the 210th ranked nation out of 210. This is a mismatch of biblical proportions, a state of affairs that is also amply illustrated by the head-to-head: England have won all six meetings to a cumulative score of 37-1. Mind you, San Marino’s one was very, very, very, very funny indeed.

England are on a hiding to nothing, requiring only to score enough goals to keep everybody happy, or at least stop them muttering. Six seems about par, if history is any guide. San Marino, with the second smallest population in the entire world of Fifa, don’t have the resources to seriously humiliate England. Unless, of course, one of La Serenissima manages to score during the first 8.2 seconds, beating the grand comedic achievement of Davide Gualtieri set all those years ago.

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The Fiver | The brazen neck to describe this as one of 'those big England nights'

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England play the worst team in the world later on Thursday. San Marino are ranked 210th and last in the official rankings, and we always trust Fifa when it starts talking numbers. That means they’ve been even less successful historically than the likes of São Tomé and Principe, Brunei Darussalam, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Scotland. Kick-off at Wembley is at 7.45pm GMT on ITV. Not long after, Stacey makes a big decision in EastEnders, which sounds interesting, while over on The Dog House (Channel 4, 8pm) the folk at the kennels might have found a forever home for Grant the little West Highland terrier. Aw bless. Very much looking forward to seeing him scamper about.

Related: 'His own biggest critic': Ollie Watkins' road from non-league to England

What an UNBELIEVABLE moment as @rhali_dobson's partner proposes to her after the game! AHH! #WLeague #MCYvPER pic.twitter.com/2RDSld3L5J

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Belgium 3-1 Wales, Serbia 3-2 Republic of Ireland: World Cup qualifying – as it happened

Opening-night defeats for both Wales and Ireland as the goals flew in all across Europe

10.02pm GMT

... and here’s Ben Fisher’s view of Belgium-Wales. Click below for your edification. Thanks for reading this Clockwatch. Nighty night!

Related: Wales sink after bright start as Romelu Lukaku seals Belgium comeback

9.55pm GMT

Paul Doyle’s report of Serbia-Ireland has landed. Here’s his take on an “honourable Irish performance”.

Related: Ireland end goal drought but Mitrovic's double is decisive for Serbia

9.47pm GMT

Thirty-five goals were scored this evening. The early kick-off was something of a harbinger.

Related: Yilmaz hat-trick helps Turkey defeat Netherlands in World Cup qualifier

9.45pm GMT

A disappointing evening for Wales and the Republic of Ireland ... but nothing that should dent their confidence too much. Wales were playing the number-one side in the world, after all, and scored a team goal from the top drawer. Ireland, meanwhile, impotent for so long, finally broke the logjam, and it took a magnificent individual performance from Aleksandar Mitrovic to see them off. Onwards! Upwards!

9.41pm GMT

9.40pm GMT

Nope. In fact, they’re fortunate not to ship a fourth as Serbia launch a three-on-one counter with Mark Travers miles off his line, but Nemanja Gudelj’s final ball is dismal. No matter: the Serbs take the points, and Ireland are still looking for their first win under Stephen Kenny. At least they found the net at last.

9.37pm GMT

It’s the last minute of injury time in Serbia, and Ireland have a corner. They couldn’t, could they?

9.36pm GMT

Harry Wilson’s early goal was delicious, but Belgium, the world number ones, eased clear in the end.

9.34pm GMT

GOAL! Malta 1-3 Russia (Sobolev 89). A long-distance Alexander Sobolev shot goes through the keeper’s saloon-door hands, and the points are safe now for Russia, after that late scare.

9.33pm GMT

Some determined work by Shane Long, who punishes some Serbian faffing by nipping between two men to pull a ball back from the byline on the right. Collins is able to take up possession and trundle the ball into the unguarded net. This isn’t over yet ... and after a seven-match wait, Ireland goals are like the proverbial London bus.

9.31pm GMT

GOAL! Estonia 2-6 Czech Republic (Anier 86). As things stand, this goalfest will be bookended by two fine Estonian strikes. Henri Anier traps a low right-wing cross, spins and smacks a low drive off the bottom of the left-hand post and in.

9.28pm GMT

GOAL! Finland 2-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Stevanovic 84). Earlier on, the Finns hit back quickly when Bosnia-Herzegovina took the lead; now the boot’s on the other foot as Miroslav Stevanovic brings the visitors level in Helsinki with a deflected effort.

9.27pm GMT

GOAL! Latvia 1-2 Montenegro (Jovetic 83). Stevan Jovetic scores his second of the night, as Montenegro look to complete a comeback victory.

9.25pm GMT

Ukraine’s equaliser in Paris has been officially credited to Presnel Kimpembe. Own goal. No great surprise, as Serhiy Sydorchuk’s initial shot looked suspiciously off-target.

9.23pm GMT

GOAL! Finland 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Pukki 77). Having equalised, Teemu Pukki now puts the Finns in front, tearing clear from the halfway line, keeping his cool, and slotting home.

9.22pm GMT

Aleksandar Mitrovic, out of sorts at Fulham, scores his second goal in seven minutes, putting the game beyond Ireland. Dusan Tadic floats a cross in from the left and the big man steers a header into the top left.

9.18pm GMT

Romelu Lukaku gives Danny Ward the eyes, sending the keeper the wrong way then slotting into the bottom right. The spot kick had been awarded after Ward palmed out a Thomas Meunier right-wing cross and Chris Mepham brought down Thorgan Hazard while trying to get to the loose ball.

9.14pm GMT

Ireland had been holding their own, Ciaran Clark glancing a 57th-minute header wide and enjoying most of the possession. But they’ve been sprung on the break, the substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic romping down the inside right, spotting Mark Travers miles off his line, and floating an exquisite chip over the keeper and home from 35 yards. That’s a sensational goal.

9.11pm GMT

Wales are still searching for that elusive equaliser. But it’s Belgium who come close here, Kevin De Bruyne using Ethan Ampadu as a shield before attempting a curler around the Wales midfielder and into the top right. He ripples the side netting.

9.10pm GMT

GOAL! Finland 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Pukki 58). Teemu Pukki slots home after a bit of pinball in the Bosnia-Herzegovina box.

9.08pm GMT

GOAL! Malta 1-2 Russia (Mbong 56). Joseph Mbong halves the deficit, making good down the right before roofing an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

9.06pm GMT

GOAL! Gibraltar 0-3 Norway (Svensson 57). Jonas Svensson begins to put a more realistic sheen on this scoreline, and all of Dayle Coleing’s first-half heroics are in vain. A pearler, this one, too, whistled into the bottom right from distance.

9.05pm GMT

GOAL! France 1-1 Ukraine (Sydorchuk 57). A lucky equaliser for Ukraine against the reigning champs, as Serhiy Sydorchuk’s shot, ready to be easily gathered by Hugo Lloris, takes a huge deflection off Presnel Kimpembe and flies in.

9.03pm GMT

GOAL! Estonia 1-6 Czech Republic (Jankto 56). Jakub Jankto makes it six. It’s probably time to point out that Estonia had to stand ten players down after a Covid-19 outbreak in their camp.

8.59pm GMT

GOAL! Finland 0-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Pjanic 55). Miralem Pjanic breaks the deadlock in Helsinki. A penalty box melee led to a spot kick, which was missed by Pjanic, who tucked away the rebound.

8.56pm GMT

Attention fans of Arsenal and Glentoran! “I guess that probably no-one outside of Norway - and definitely no-one in Northern Ireland - watches the Gibraltar vs Norway showdown,” begins Arild Andersen. “I’d like to point out that Gibraltar and Glentoran future legend Dayle Coleing have done much better than most European goalies against Erling Braut Haaland in the first half. A string of brilliant saves until he was beaten twice in the last minutes of the half. Not by Haaland, mind. A move on the cards? Oh, and I guess that Arsenal fans won’t be happy to hear that Martin Ødegaard limped off after injuring himself on the dry artificial turf.”

8.53pm GMT

GOAL! Estonia 1-5 Czech Republic (Soucek 48). Tomas Soucek completes his hat-trick early in this second half. West Ham have themselves a player here.

8.51pm GMT

Some nice early second-half possession for Wales. Nothing much comes of it, but that should do wonders for the old confidence.

8.47pm GMT

The second halves. Here we go, then.

8.38pm GMT

8.36pm GMT

GOAL! Gibraltar 0-2 Norway (Thorstvedt 45). Kristian Thorstvedt punishes some slapstick defending by Gibraltar, smashing a ball that should have been hoofed clear back into the net. So close to a clean sheet in the first 45 and now look.

8.32pm GMT

GOAL! Gibraltar 0-1 Norway (Sorloth 43). The minnows had been holding out well, with half-time in sight, but Alexander Sorloth breaks the deadlock by planting a header from a left-wing corner into the bottom right.

8.30pm GMT

GOAL! Estonia 1-4 Czech Republic (Soucek 43). This is turning into something of a rout. Tomas Soucek gets his second of the evening, threading a glorious diagonal shot into the bottom left from 25 yards.

8.29pm GMT

GOAL! Latvia 1-0 Montenegro (Ikaunieks 40). Latvia take the lead through a hell of a long-distance lash by Janis Ikaunieks, only for this - GOAL! Latvia 1-1 Montenegro (Jovetic 41) - to happen immediately afterwards, Stevan Jovetic forcing the visitors back on terms.

8.27pm GMT

The Serbs had been working their way back into this game, and now they get their reward, Dusan Vlahovic chasing a long pass down the inside-left channel and steering it confidently across young Mark Travers and into the bottom right.

8.26pm GMT

GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Azerbaijan (Medvedev 37 og). The European champions take the lead in farcical circumstances. Ruben Neves crosses from the right. Azerbaijan keeper Shakhrudin Magomedaliyev comes off his line to punch clear ... but slaps the ball into the back of Maksim Medvedev, standing right next to him, and it pings into the net. Oh dear.

8.22pm GMT

GOAL! Malta 0-2 Russia (Fernandes 35). Mario Fernandes doubles the Russians’ lead, coming in from the right to slam home.

8.20pm GMT

GOAL! Estonia 1-3 Czech Republic (Soucek 32). West Ham’s Tomas Soucek has given this scoreline a more realistic sheen. He flashes a header into the top left from a right-wing corner.

8.18pm GMT

Wales are hanging on a bit here. Romelu Lukaku holds the ball up gracefully on the edge of the D before teeing up Thorgan Hazard, who looks for the top-left corner and isn’t too far away.

8.16pm GMT

GOAL! Estonia 1-2 Czech Republic (Barak 27). It’s also turned around quickly in the Estonia game, where Antonin Barak spins on the edge of the six-yard box and sweeps into the bottom left in one economic movement.

8.15pm GMT

Yep, Belgium are on top. A cross comes in from the right. Connor Roberts looks to have the situation covered at the far post, but he slips, allowing Thorgan Hazard to win an uncontested header, sending it across Danny Ward and into the bottom right.

8.13pm GMT

Belgium are well on top now. Wales are struggling to get out of their own box.

8.12pm GMT

GOAL! Malta 0-1 Russia (Dzyuba 23). The 2018 hosts take the lead in Malta, Artem Dzyuba finishing off some cute Russian triangles with an instinctive stab into the bottom right.

8.10pm GMT

GOAL! Estonia 1-1 Czech Republic (Schick 18). It didn’t take long for the Czechs to haul themselves back level. Patrik Schick swivels to guide cutely into the bottom right from 12 yards.

8.09pm GMT

They’re not number one in the world for nothing. Kevin De Bruyne takes aim from 25 yards and whistles a forensic low drive into the bottom right. No chance for Danny Ward, at full stretch in the Welsh goal.

8.08pm GMT

GOAL! France 1-0 Ukraine (Griezmann 19). The reigning champions shouldn’t have to qualify, in my book, but here we are. France go ahead with a stunning Antoine Griezmann curler into the top left.

8.06pm GMT

Ireland’s long goal drought is over! Alan Browne meets a dinked Callum Robinson cross from the left, rising high at the far stick and planting a diagonal header into the bottom right. The keeper had no chance!

8.04pm GMT

GOAL! Slovenia 1-0 Croatia (Lovric 15). Sandi Lovric has put Slovenia ahead against the 2018 runners-up. Croatia and the Czech Republic are both in England and Scotland’s group at Euro 2020.

8.01pm GMT

GOAL! Estonia 1-0 Czech Republic (Sappinen 12). Some more good news for Wales, as in the other Group E game, Rauno Sappinen gives underdogs Estonia the lead against the Czech Republic.

7.59pm GMT

A reminder that Wales are on a four-game unbeaten run against Belgium. The last of those matches was that Euro 2016 semi. Belgium have since become the number-one team in the world, but even the best have their bogey teams. That was a lovely goal too, a smooth team move down the right that also involved Connor Roberts, a dummy, a perfectly weighted assist from Bale and a calm finish by Wilson.

7.57pm GMT

What a start in the big match! Harry Wilson exchanges crisp passes with Bale, sashaying down the inside-right and striding into the box. He opens his body and slides a gorgeous shot across Courtois and into the bottom left!

7.56pm GMT

Not sure why both Belgium and Wales are in their away kits. You’d like to think it’s some Six Nations style politeness, but there’s a fair chance it’s got something to do with both teams launching new Adidas kits.

7.53pm GMT

Aw this is miserable luck for Joe Allen. He’s down, having pulled his hamstring after six minutes of his big return. Joe Morrell replaces him.

7.50pm GMT

No early goals ... but it’s been a decent start for Ireland, who are on the front foot in Belgrade. A corner leads to a bit of bedlam, Clark knocking a half-chance wide right. That seven-game run without a goal continues though.

7.47pm GMT

The big kick-off. Belgium in white, Wales in yellow; Serbia in red, Ireland in white. Meanwhile here’s a tip for those without a Sky subscription. The Belgium-Wales game is free to view: it’s on S4C. “In Welsh of course,” reports Alan Pugh. “Speakers of non-indigenous British languages are welcome to tune in.”

7.42pm GMT

All over Europe, the teams take to the field of play. Anthems are currently either being belted out with great passion or silently endured. We’ll be off sooner rather than later.

7.20pm GMT

Some pre-match reading.

Related: Ryan Giggs the elephant in the room as Wales step up Euro preparations

7.12pm GMT

Rob Page speaks to Sky. “Joe Allen is a great addition to the squad, he’s been a big miss ... we welcome him back for his vast experience on and off the pitch ... Danny Ward hasn’t been playing week in, week out, but Wardy did well in the last camp and has rightly kept his position ... you want to start off with a positive note ... it’s going to be a tough challenge but we’ve worked hard ... we are as prepared as we can be and are looking forward to the challenge.”

7.08pm GMT

FULL TIME: Turkey 4-2 Netherlands. There’s already been one result tonight, with the match at the Ataturk in Istanbul kicking off early ... and if the rest of the qualifiers are like this, we’re in for one hell of a ride. Turkey were 3-0 up and coasting with 15 minutes to go, before a quick Dutch one-two briefly put the result in doubt. Burak Yilmaz restored a two-goal cushion with an absolute peach of a free kick, curling powerfully into the top right from 25 yards and completing a hat-trick. Memphis Depay missed a very late penalty, and the Dutch, who failed to qualify last time round, have started slowly again.

6.59pm GMT

Serbia: Dmitrovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic, Mladenovic, Gajic, Lukic, Racic, Tadic, Djuricic, Vlahovic.
Subs: Rajkovic, Nikolic, Petkovic, Spajic, Gudelj, Kostic, Milinkovic-Savic, Ristic, Maksimovic, Radonjic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Jovic.

Republic of Ireland: Travers, Clark, Coleman, Stevens, O’Shea, Cullen, Browne, Molumby, Doherty, Robinson, Connolly.
Subs: O’Hara, Bazunu, Duffy, Christie, Lenihan, McClean, Brady, Hendrick, Horgan, Knight, Collins, Shane Long.

6.46pm GMT

Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Meunier, De Bruyne, Dendoncker, Tielemans, Mertens, Lukaku, Thorgan Hazard.
Subs: Doku, Batshuayi, Vanaken, Praet, Castagne, Januzaj, Foket, Denayer, Casteels, Benteke, Mignolet, Trossard.

Wales: Ward, Mepham, Jamie Lawrence, Rodon, Connor Roberts, Wilson, Allen, Ampadu, Neco Williams, James, Bale.
Subs: Cabango, Tom Lawrence, Moore, Norrington-Davies, Tyler Roberts, Hennessey, Jonathan Williams, Smith, Adam Davies, Robson-Kanu, Gunter, Morrell.

4.07pm GMT

The road to Qatar starts here. This evening, Wales and the Republic of Ireland launch their World Cup qualification campaigns. Both sides are looking to end a lengthy barren stretch; the Irish last qualified in 2002, while the Welsh haven’t made it to a finals since 1958. The ghosts of John Charles and Ivor Allchurch - scorer of one of the greatest goals in the history of the World Cup - loom large.

Neither team have an easy task tonight. Stephen Kenny’s side travel to Belgrade to face Serbia, on an eight-game winless streak under the new boss and without a goal in the last seven. Their squad is decimated by injury, and they’re forced to play a 19-year-old keeper who can’t get a game for Bournemouth.

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The Fiver | Dreams of Qatar 2022: the stampede to get there is on

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In 607 days’ time, pandemic allowing, the 22nd edition of the World Cup will begin in Qatar. A month-long celebration of transparency, love and the dignity of labour for which The Fiver cannot wait. It will in some respects be a unique experience, the first to be held in the Arab world and the first not to be played in May, June or July. However, in other ways expect more of the same: a few goals will fly in during the group stage, everyone gets giddy with excitement and rushes on to the internet to disagree aggressively with anyone who doesn’t proclaim it to be the Best World Cup Ever, then after the fact folk reluctantly admit that it wasn’t anywhere near as good as 1954, 1970 or 1982, how could it be? Oh, and Lionel Messi will underperform. Shoo-ins, the lot.

Related: Ryan Giggs the elephant in the room as Wales step up Euro preparations

@brorarangers the troooooops ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/eiM206o3Xc

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Everton 0-2 Manchester City: FA Cup quarter-final – as it happened

Everton defended staunchly but the late arrival of Kevin De Bruyne proved too much, as City kept their quadruple dream alive

8.43pm GMT

Some Jonathan Wilson on Fernandinho.

Related: The Mozart of pragmatic intervention: Fernandinho keeps City ticking over | Jonathan Wilson

7.50pm GMT

Richard Jolly was on point at Goodison this evening. His verdict has landed, and so edification is merely a click away. Enjoy his report ... and thanks for reading this one. Nighty night!

Related: Gündogan and De Bruyne steer Manchester City past Everton

7.49pm GMT

Here’s Carlo Ancelotti, reflective in his BT interview. “We were almost there ... we did well ... we did the best that we can do ... we defended well ... fighting ... for at least 80 minutes we had the game under control, we did not concede many opportunities ... I am satisfied because we competed well against the best team in the world ... they are the best ... we wanted to keep them uncomfortable ... we were focused, didn’t concede space ... we played the game we wanted to play, but they have the best team and the best bench in the world ... I think it was a good experience for us ... there are no regrets ... the regrets are the games against Burnley or Fulham ... now we have ten games in the league and we want to fight for our position in Europe next season ... Virginia did really well ... he has no experience but he is quality ... I think he deserves the compliments.”

7.38pm GMT

Pep talks to BT. “It was real tough ... we saw their commitment and how focused they were ... they were aggressive in the good sense of the world ... always the long balls ... Calvert-Lewin so strong ... every throw is a corner, so really tough ... but we were patient and at the end we won it ... it was one of the toughest games we have played in the last year ... there were eight players there with two waiting for counter attacks, it’s so difficult ... it is an incredibly huge victory for us ... everybody plays at a good level ... I am looking forward to everybody coming back safe [from international duty].”

7.32pm GMT

Ilkay Gundogan talks to BT Sport. “We tried to stay in the game ... it turned out well for us ... we struggled to find spaces ... Everton defended really well, they are a great team ... we knew we were going to struggle ... but we overcame it ... I was a bit scared that when I went down I would send the ball over the bar, but thank God it was a goal ... we don’t always play the best or most attractive football, but it is about staying in the game and finding the right moments ... you have to if you want to win trophies and fight for everything ... the next target now is to come back healthy from the internationals.” Refusing to be drawn on the old quadruple there, though he nearly slipped at the end, regaining his composure as Des Kelly pounced and tried to prise a quote out of him.

7.28pm GMT

Pep Guardiola embraces a deflated Carlo Ancelotti before allowing a broad smile to play across his face. City were made to graft for that, and they were far from at their best. But an average Manchester City display is still something to be reckoned with. Kevin De Bruyne was involved in the breakthrough, then scored the clincher. He was on the field for ten minutes!

7.23pm GMT

City’s quadruple quest is still on! That’s 25 wins in the last 26 matches. Everton’s agonising wait for a trophy, stretching back to 1995, goes on for at least another year.

7.22pm GMT

90 min +3: De Bruyne slips Foden into the box on the left. He’s one on one with Virginia, who stays big and blocks. Everton come again, Fernandinho trying to chip home from the edge of the box. It sails wide. Virginia had it covered. The young keeper has been excellent, and is very unfortunate to find himself on the losing side.

7.20pm GMT

90 min +1: Everton spend the first of four extra minutes surrounding the referee. Mina thinks Mahrez went in with a high boot, as he stooped to clang that header straight at Rodri. Replays show Mahrez did no such thing.

7.20pm GMT

Rodri’s first act is to meet a poor Mina clearing header, instantly sending the ball down the inside-right channel for De Bruyne. Clear, he strides into the box, shifts onto his left foot, and nearly rips the net from its moorings. Virginia totally helpless.

7.18pm GMT

89 min: The goalscorer Gundogan makes way for Rodri. He takes his leave at professional pace.

7.17pm GMT

88 min: Foden crosses from the left. Jesus tries to connect, with Everton light at the back, but Mina is on hand to ease him away from the ball.

7.16pm GMT

87 min: Sigurdsson floats a free kick into the City mixer from the halfway line. Calvert-Lewin gets a head on it, but it’s an easy gather for Steffen.

7.15pm GMT

86 min: Iwobi comes on for Holgate.

7.15pm GMT

85 min: Virginia looks sickened, and no wonder, that’s terrible luck. But City finally carved an opening in the middle of the Everton defence, and they took advantage in the cold-eyed style. No messing.

7.14pm GMT

City break through at long last! Laporte drives down the inside left and slips inside for De Bruyne. The ball comes back to him, so he has a dig from the edge of the box. Virginia tips his rising shot onto the crossbar ... but the ball ricochets to Gundogan, who steers a diving header into the unguarded right-hand portion of the net.

7.11pm GMT

83 min: Foden has a crack from 25 yards. The ball takes a little deflection off Holgate, but Virginia gets down to smother. The young keeper has barely put a foot wrong tonight, one flap apart.

7.10pm GMT

81 min: Laporte, of all people, channels his inner Garrincha and goes off on a dribble down the inside-left channel. He nearly tricks his way through, too, but ultimately there are too many blue shirts on the edge of the box.

7.08pm GMT

80 min: Here comes De Bruyne. He replaces Sterling, as City attempt to close this out in 90 minutes with extra time and penalties are looming.

7.07pm GMT

78 min: On the touchline, Carlo Ancelotti looks the picture of serenity, despite Everton’s season teetering on the knife-edge. To be fair, he was similarly Zen when his team were playing out the 5-4 against Spurs, so we shouldn’t have expected anything different.

7.05pm GMT

76 min: Calvert-Lewin is this close to releasing Digne free down the left. But his wonderful raking diagonal reverse pass is cut out acrobatically by Walker. Digne’s eyes will have lit up for a split second.

7.03pm GMT

75 min: Gomes is booked for a late clatter on Foden.

7.02pm GMT

73 min: Sigurdsson probes down the right but Everton haven’t committed too many men forward, and he’s eventually forced to turn tail.

6.59pm GMT

71 min: Free kick for City out on the right. Mahrez rolls it infield for Zinchenko, who rasps one from distance towards the top right. He’s really got behind that, but Calvert-Lewin bravely blocks.

6.58pm GMT

69 min: Sterling spins Holgate down the left but then overruns the ball. Richarlison flies up the other end and crosses from the right, the ball hitting Dias on the elbow. VAR checks, but no penalty. This game is beginning to open up.

6.57pm GMT

68 min: The corner ends up at the feet of Gomes, just to the right of the D. He sends a riser wide left, though it’s not too far away from taking a deflection off either Holgate or Mina. Had it done so, Steffen could have been in a world of pain.

6.56pm GMT

67 min: Digne chases a long pass down the left and wins a corner off Walker. A chance for Everton to set up a classic smash and grab?

6.55pm GMT

66 min: Mahrez is quickly involved, injecting a little pace down the right and slipping the ball inside for Foden, who turns and sends a pearler inches wide of the left-hand post. Virginia had that covered, but for a nanosecond, Everton hearts were in mouths.

6.53pm GMT

64 min: City blink first. Mahrez, who scored a worldie here in the Premier League recently, comes on for the strangely quiet Silva.

6.52pm GMT

63 min: Digne loops long from a deep position on the left. The ball drops towards Laporte, but the defender misjudges. He’s fortunate that Steffen comes off his line to claim, just before Richarlison can take up possession, one on one. There may have been a foul, but the referee doesn’t blow as the ball’s in the keeper’s hands.

6.50pm GMT

61 min: Silva sashays in from the right, past a couple of challenges and into the Everton box. But he pulls a pass back, away from the danger zone, to nobody in particular. It’s not quite clicking for City this evening, and that decision betrayed a rare lack of confidence.

6.48pm GMT

59 min: This is even closer! Sterling meets a left-wing cross and sidefoots confidently towards the bottom right from 12 yards. It’s surely sneaking in, but Virginia extends to full length and brushes the ball around the post with the very tips of his fingers. That’s a sensational save by a young man making his FA Cup debut.

6.46pm GMT

58 min: Sigurdsson curls the free kick into the City box. Mina wins a towering header, cushioning down for Richarlison, who sweeps the ball wide left from the edge of the area. Close!

6.45pm GMT

57 min: Fernandinho is booked for a clip on Richarlison. A free kick out on the right. Everton line up on the edge of the City box.

6.45pm GMT

56 min: City continue to probe. Everton continue to hold their shape. It’s a bit of a stand-off at the minute.

6.44pm GMT

54 min: Gundogan should release Zinchenko into acres down the left, but clumps a dismal pass out for a goal kick. He yelps in frustration, while Zinchenko cocks his head back and hollers into the ether. Are City beginning to wonder if this isn’t going to be their night?

6.41pm GMT

52 min: Fernandinho drives towards the Everton box and makes it inside. He should take a shot, but offloads to Sterling on the left. There’s too much weight on the pass, and Sterling can only wallop a low cross into the arms of Virginia, who claims confidently. Sweet Virginia.

6.40pm GMT

51 min: Calvert-Lewin heads a long pass down, into the path of Richarlison, who considers skelping a volley goalwards ... but over-thinks and the chance evaporates.

6.38pm GMT

49 min: Sterling chests down and volleys from 30 yards. That one lands deep into the Park End. But he’s soon coming at Everton again, zipping down the left and nearly getting the better of Mina. Not quite. Goal kick.

6.36pm GMT

47 min: City fly out of the blocks, presumably having been on the end of a particularly peppy Pep talk. Gundogan and Foden take turns to probe down the right, the latter winning a corner. Everton clear, but only after a distinctly average flap by the young keeper. Virginia: plain.

6.34pm GMT

City get the second half underway. No changes. “So Everton’s keeper has been thrown in at the deep end! Do you think Don Carlo said: ‘Virginia - Wade!’? Tip your waitress, etc.” Resident club comic Gary Naylor, ladies and gentleman. Do drive home safely.

6.21pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. It’s Newcastle v Brighton in the Premier League later. John Brewin will be on the MBM later. Ahead of the big relegation six-pointer, Louise Taylor assesses the state of the shoogly peg on which Steve Bruce’s coat currently hangs.

Related: Stick or twist? Steve Bruce and Newcastle face moment of truth

6.17pm GMT

City have been completely dominant in terms of possession and territory. But it’s Everton who have had an effort cleared off the line. City’s quadruple quest is still alive, but so are Everton’s dreams of a first trophy since 1995.

6.16pm GMT

45 min: There will be one added minute.

6.15pm GMT

44 min: Digne nearly catches City napping. He whips to the near post, where Mina flashes a header towards the top left. Zinchenko is forced to head off the line, Steffen beaten all ends up. City deal with the next corner with much more authority.

6.14pm GMT

43 min: Richarlison barges his way into the City box on the right, his hard work earning a corner. Digne doesn’t rush over to take it. A nice calm amble.

6.12pm GMT

41 min: Jesus works his way down the right and wins a free kick off Gomes. It’s taken quickly, Gundogan swinging it in. One of the members of Everton’s back seven heads it clear. City are struggling to penetrate this thin blue line.

6.10pm GMT

39 min: Sterling slips Foden into space down the left. Foden wins a corner off Mina. He takes himself. Everton clear their lines. For all their dominance, City have achieved surprisingly little in the final third.

6.08pm GMT

37 min: City balls it up big style. Gundogan surprises everyone by rolling the ball to Sterling on the opposite wing. Sterling is quickly swarmed and there’s no chance to either advance on the Everton box or deliver the ball into it. Uncharacteristically scrappy.

6.07pm GMT

36 min: Mina wrestles with Jesus out on the City left and it’s a free kick. Gundogan stands over it, City having loaded the box.

6.06pm GMT

35 min: The resulting corner is useless.

6.06pm GMT

34 min: Sigurdsson slides a pass down the inside-right channel and is this close to releasing Calvert-Lewin. Steffen comes out to slide tackle, just in time. The ball ricochets back off the striker and nearly tees him up in front of an empty net, but Dias is on hand to hack out for a corner. On another day, that falls perfectly for Calvert-Lewin. City get away with one.

6.04pm GMT

33 min: A brief pause as referee Michael Oliver gets a new battery for his CB radio, or whatever it is.

6.03pm GMT

31 min: Some rare possession for Everton in the City half. Allan probes, but there’s no way to release either Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin down one of the channels. Gundogan counters and crosses from the left, but can’t find anyone in black. Sterling runs into Sigurdsson and seems to ask for a penalty, but he was the instigator and there’s no interest from the ref.

6.00pm GMT

29 min: Sterling sends the free kick sailing dismally over the bar. He smiles ruefully.

5.59pm GMT

28 min: Now it’s City’s turn to stand over a free kick, as Fernandinho buys a cheap foul from the clumsy Richarlison, stepping across the ball and waiting for the inevitable contact. This is just to the left of the D.

5.58pm GMT

27 min: The free kick’s looped into the box, forcing Fernandinho to head out for a corner. It comes in from the right, but it’s headed clear easily enough.

5.57pm GMT

26 min: ... and Everton are asking a few questions when they launch the odd attack. Gomes whips nicely in from the left, causing momentary concern in City ranks, then Dias fouls Calvert-Lewin as the striker breezes down the middle. A free kick, 30 yards out in a central position.

5.56pm GMT

25 min: City have made 209 passes to Everton’s 17. But they haven’t really worked Virginia yet.

5.55pm GMT

23 min: Out comes the yellow card now, though. Allan pointlessly clips Gundogan from behind, boot coming down on the old Achilles. A sore one, and now Everton’s holding midfielder is tippy-toes on the disciplinary tightrope.

5.52pm GMT

21 min: Richarlison takes a whack in the face from Fernandinho as the City midfielder powered away from a tussle. No intent. Richarlison goes down with a yell, but the referee’s not interested in doling out any punishment.

5.51pm GMT

19 min: From a throw, Allen loops into the City box from the right. Dias’s clearing header isn’t all that. Richarlison tries to return it with a bicycle kick. A decent effort loops over the bar. Better from Everton, who will be hoping to make hay from set pieces.

5.48pm GMT

17 min: A bit of space for Sterling down the inside-left channel. He fires hard at goal from 25 yards, but it’s straight at Virginia, who claims well. That’s a confidence builder for the young keeper.

5.48pm GMT

16 min: Foden skitters into the box from the right this time, earning a corner. Everton half-clear the set piece, and then line up with seven at the back. No way through for City. On the available evidence, Everton are going to sit back and grind this out.

5.46pm GMT

14 min: City ping it around on the edge of the Everton box. Foden suddenly strides into the area. Holgate hangs out a leg. If Foden goes over, it’s a penalty, but this young man appears pre-programmed to stay on his feet. Whether that’s a good idea or not is one for the moral maze.

5.44pm GMT

13 min: A bit of space for Richarlison down the left, sent away after some good hold-up play by Calvert-Lewin. But the move fizzles out quickly when Richarlison and Digne over-elaborate instead of getting a cross in, and Walker waltzes off with the ball.

5.42pm GMT

11 min: City have enjoyed 83 percent of possession so far.

5.40pm GMT

9 min: Digne whips the free kick to the far post. Steffen doesn’t look wholly convincing as he knocks it away, but the whistle goes for some hanky-panky in the six-yard box.

5.39pm GMT

8 min: Richarlison wanders down a cul-de-sac on the right, but Dias comes across and pointlessly nudges him to the floor. Daft free kick, and a chance for Everton to load the box.

5.37pm GMT

6 min: Laporte shovels a pass down the left for Sterling, who cuts back from the byline, looking for the in-rushing Zinchenko. Gomes reads the danger and larrups Sterling’s pass clear.

5.36pm GMT

5 min: A long throw into the City mixer. Mina makes a nuisance of himself but the ball’s soon in the hands of Steffen.

5.36pm GMT

4 min: Silva drifts in from the right and slips a pass infield to Foden, who clearly has licence to shoot on sight. This one’s blocked too, but Foden v Virginia promises much nevertheless.

5.34pm GMT

3 min: Fernandinho is clumsily bundled over by Allan, 30 yards out in a central position. Foden decides to try out the 21-year-old goalkeeper early doors, sending a heatseeker towards the top right. Mina eyebrows it away, which means Virginia hasn’t been tested yet. The resulting corner is a non-event.

5.33pm GMT

2 min: City spend some time with the ball, caressing it here, feathering it there. A pattern is already set.

5.31pm GMT

Everton get the ball rolling ... but only after the knee is taken. There’s no room for racism. Kick it out.

5.27pm GMT

The teams are out! Everton in their famous royal blue, City in second-choice black. Z-Cars blasts from the PA as usual. Here’s what it would sound like if it was a track on Brian Eno’s Music for Airports.

5.18pm GMT

Carlo talks to BT Sport. “It is a big challenge, but it’s the quarter-final of an important competition. We are well prepared for this game, it doesn’t matter what happened in the last two. It is a great opportunity to show our quality and try to reach the semi-final.”

So does Pep. “This is a final. In or out. I don’t think managers prioritise competitions. Sometimes there are injuries. But all the managers want to win all the games in all competitions.”

4.43pm GMT

Everton make four changes to the XI named for the home defeat to Burnley last weekend. Joao Virginia replaces the injured Jordan Pickford in goal, while Michael Keane, Tom Davies and Alex Iwobi drop to the bench, replaced by Seamus Coleman, Yerry Mina and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

It’s six changes for Manchester City from the XI who breezed past Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League. Ederson, John Stones, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez drop to the bench, making way for Zack Steffen, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.

4.33pm GMT

Everton: Virginia, Holgate, Mina, Godfrey, Coleman, Andre Gomes, Allan, Digne, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
Subs: Keane, Iwobi, Nkounkou, Davies, Broadhead, John, Tyrer, Onyango, Leban.

Manchester City: Steffen, Walker, Laporte, Dias, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Foden.
Subs: Stones, Aguero, Rodri, De Bruyne, Torres, Mendy, Mahrez, Joao Cancelo, Ederson.

11.08am GMT

Manchester City’s quadruple quest continues tonight. Victory in this quarter final seems more likely than not: they’re currently on a six-game winning streak against Everton, and a four-match winning run at Goodison. They swatted the Toffees aside here last month, and have responded to neighbours United ending their 21-game winning run by starting another victorious sequence: three wins to the aggregate score of 10-2.

Contrast and compare. Everton have lost their last two, are struggling for goals, and have a miserable home record this season. City are hot favourites this evening, then, but the cup’s the cup’s the cup, and they’ve been surprised in knockout competition before. And their opponents tonight will be desperate to win, a first trophy since they won this competition in 1995 within realistic reach.

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Bournemouth 0-3 Southampton: FA Cup quarter-final – as it happened

Two fine goals and an equally impressive assist for Nathan Redmond, as Saints made it to the last four

2.37pm GMT

Ben Fisher was our man on the south coast today. His report has landed; here it is for your entertainment and edification. Thanks for reading this MBM!

Related: Southampton's Nathan Redmond outclasses Bournemouth in FA Cup

2.36pm GMT

Jonathan Woodgate’s turn. “The lads never gave up ... they are a good side ... we move on now ... nine big games and we’re looking to get into the play-offs ... the boys are down, but you have to move on quick ... the league is big for us now, we have to get into the promotion places ... they gave it everything they could, and that’s all you can ask for.”

2.25pm GMT

Ralph Hasenhuttl talks to BT. “It was a very lively performance ... the mindset was important ... I could feel the whole week in our sessions that the guys were focused ... it’s important to keep the tempo high ... we tried to play quick ... the first goal being disallowed didn’t affect us ... we are very, very pleased ... I’m hoping this game gives [Nathan Redmond] a lift to show what quality he has ... we said in January we want to focus on the FA Cup, maybe I should have said we want to focus on both things! ... we have to do our job in the Premier League again.”

2.13pm GMT

Man-of-the-match Nathan Redmond speaks to BT Sport. “We had aspirations of getting to Wembley at the start of the season ... it’s a chance to put our league form behind us, which has been a bit poor of late ... we tried to eliminate their style of play with how we pressed ... it was always going to be tough, they have played some good football this season ... I’ve not really ran as people as much and been trying to figure out why ... you go through dips in confidence ... I just had one thing in my head, to get the team up the pitch, to get a yard ... we wanted a cup run this season ... we can work on a few things during the international break ... hopefully we can end the season on a high note.”

2.10pm GMT

That was a marvellous performance by Southampton, every one of their players bringing something to the party. Nathan Redmond scored two peaches and set up another with a storming run and clever pass. The clear man of the match, although James Ward-Prowse ran the usual marathon, while the equally energetic Stuart Armstrong made several eye-catching and lung-bursting runs. Great stuff; they thoroughly deserve their place in the last four. Bournemouth by contrast didn’t really turn up, an FA Cup semi-final remaining elusive for the Cherries. Ah well, they can concentrate on their promotion push.

2.06pm GMT

Saints have taken the FA Cup seriously from the get-go, and here’s their reward: a place in the semi-finals.

2.06pm GMT

90 min +3: Surridge is booked for a totally unnecessary charge at Salisu. Frustration all over his coupon.

2.05pm GMT

90 min +2: See 90 min +1, but replace the second word with the word “second”.

2.03pm GMT

90 min +1: The first of three added minutes passes by without incident.

2.02pm GMT

90 min: Saints make another double change, replacing Walker-Peters and Adams with Ramsay and N’Lundulu.

2.01pm GMT

88 min: Bournemouth finally show in attack, too little, too late. Anthony crosses from the right. Surridge heads towards the bottom right. Forster gets down to save on the line.

2.00pm GMT

87 min: On BT Sport, Glenn Hoddle names Nathan Redmond as man of the match. No complaints there, he’s been sensational, scoring two and setting up the other ... though Stuart Armstrong and James Ward-Prowse should also get commendations, both bringing a potent mix of industry and skill.

1.57pm GMT

85 min: Djenepo is replaced by Tella.

1.56pm GMT

84 min: Wilshere is booked for a late lunge on Diallo.

1.56pm GMT

83 min: Saints are seeing this game out in a very calm and considered style. They’ve been extremely impressive from front to back.

1.54pm GMT

81 min: Adams has a look down the inside right but can’t quite force his way into the box. He’s been lively this afternoon without any personal reward. Scotland could be good value this summer when he links up with Armstrong.

1.53pm GMT

80 min: From the corner, Diallo has a rake from 25 yards. It’s miles wide left. Saints could have had a hatful today. Imagine if they lost 9-0 and won 9-0 in the same season!

1.51pm GMT

79 min: Armstrong has been excellent this afternoon. He barges down the right after spinning into space. He reaches the edge of the area and tries to tee up Adams inside, but has to settle for a corner.

1.50pm GMT

78 min: Bournemouth meanwhile replace Billing with Kilkenny.

1.50pm GMT

77 min: Both of Southampton’s centre-backs are on a booking, so Ralph Hasenhuttl plays it safe, replacing Bednarek and Vestergaard with Stephens and Salisu.

1.48pm GMT

75 min: Armstrong embarks on a Maradonaesque run down the inside-right channel, from his own half to the edge of the Bournemouth box. He can’t quite work space for a shot, so pokes the ball left to Redmond, who curls a shot millimetres wide of the right-hand post. That would have been another picture-book goal.

1.46pm GMT

74 min: Vestergaard is booked for hauling Solanke back by the shoulder.

1.45pm GMT

73 min: Armstrong peals a shot towards the bottom right. Begovic does extremely well to tip it around the post. Ward-Prowse’s corner is cleared easily enough.

1.44pm GMT

72 min: Armstrong has been his usual livewire self all afternoon. He dribbles hard at the Bournemouth back line. Saints don’t appear to be in the mood to settle for three.

1.42pm GMT

70 min: It’s all Saints. Never, ever have Bournemouth felt so low.

1.42pm GMT

69 min: Saints have shipped a three-goal lead in the FA Cup before, Tranmere coming back to stun Glenn Hoddle’s side in 2001. Paul Rideout was the hat-trick hero for Rovers that day. Bournemouth don’t appear to have the magic to conjure a consolation, never mind a miracle.

1.39pm GMT

67 min: Mepham comes on for Rico.

1.39pm GMT

66 min: Surridge leaves one on Bednarek, who felt that. The game stops as he rolls around, waiting for the pain of impact to subside.

1.37pm GMT

65 min: Good news: Djenepo is back up, his neck having been given the once-over.

1.35pm GMT

63 min: A clash of heads between Djenepo and Wilshere. The Saints man has come off worse, and on come the medics.

1.34pm GMT

62 min: Armstrong chips down the left for Adams, who can’t quite work space for a shot. Corner instead. Southampton are playing with a swagger.

1.33pm GMT

60 min: Armstrong has a dig from a tight angle on the left. Wide. Saints are all over this. Give or take a couple of inches, they’d be five goals up. They’ve been magnificent today. Bournemouth not so much.

1.32pm GMT

This is no more than Saints deserve. Ward-Prowse snaffles possession down the left and crosses low. Armstrong, coming in late, crashes a shot off the bottom of the left-hand post. The ball pings back to Redmond, who threads so calmly and cleverly into the bottom right, the only unguarded portion of the goal, the Bournemouth box otherwise a scene of great disorder. Lovely finish!

1.30pm GMT

57 min: Bournemouth are still in it, then. With a comeback in mind, Surridge and Anthony come on for Pearson and Riquelme.

1.29pm GMT

Ruler Guy has done for the Saints again. Armstrong an inch or two offside amid a melee.

1.28pm GMT

55 min: But this is going to be looked at by VAR. A possible handball by Adams, and Armstrong possibly offside.

1.27pm GMT

Bednarek blooters down the middle. Adams and Armstrong combine to bring it down. The ball’s laid off to Adams, just to the right of centre. He lashes low and hard into the bottom left. What a finish!

1.25pm GMT

53 min: The corner is a waste of time. The bigger picture: Bournemouth are finally carrying a threat. But hold on ...

1.25pm GMT

52 min: Wilshere slips a pass down the left for Solanke, who crosses low. Saints slip into panic mode, their defence all over the place. They can only half clear. Stacey crosses from the right, forcing Walker-Peters into conceding a corner.

1.23pm GMT

50 min: Bournemouth look more lively, presumably having been told what’s what at half-time by Jonathan Woodgate. They had been very passive in the first half.

1.21pm GMT

48 min: Bournemouth need something to happen quickly, and it nearly does. A small pocket of space for Wilshere, just to the left of the D. He drops a shoulder then whips viciously towards the top left. It’s inches away from curling in, but rattles the side netting instead. Not sure Begovic was getting to that.

1.20pm GMT

46 min: Adams strides down the right and battles with Cook, who clumsily barges him over. But the Saints man doesn’t get the decision, responding with a marvellous bellow of EFF OFF, delivered with great feeling, just the right mix of anger and incredulity. Brian Blessed would be proud.

1.17pm GMT

Bournemouth get the second half underway. No changes.

1.06pm GMT

Half-time entertainment.

Related: Golden Goal: Steve Claridge for Leicester v Manchester United (1996) | Rob Smyth

1.04pm GMT

The brilliance of Nathan Redmond has put Saints in control of this quarter-final. Throw in a goal disallowed for offside by the pernickety VAR ruler-wielders, and this has very much been a one-sided affair.

1.02pm GMT

Redmond adds to his sensational assist with an equally magical goal of his own. He picks up a loose ball and dribbles from left to right, in the style of George Best. He drops a shoulder, enters the box, and whips a delicious shot back across Begovic and into the top left. What a run!

1.01pm GMT

45 min: Vestergaard attempts to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick. Solanke robs him, but can’t work out what to do with the ball. Shoot or pass? There aren’t too many options, and eventually Vestergaard makes up for his mistake by whipping the ball back and clearing.

12.59pm GMT

43 min: Walker-Peters creams a long pass down the right for Adams to chase. Carter-Vickers does just enough to get the ball back to Begovic, but it was close.

12.57pm GMT

41 min: Bournemouth try to respond, drawing a few triangles at speed, but it’s all in the middle of the park and they go nowhere.

12.56pm GMT

39 min: That really was a fine goal. What a run and pass by Redmond, and the finish across Begovic, rolled into the far corner, was special. Saints deserve their lead.

12.54pm GMT

... but those efforts are all in vain. Redmond dribbles down the middle, then drifts a little to the left, drawing three players before rolling an exquisite defence-splitter down the inside-left channel for Djenepo. He opens his body and sidefoots a precise, gentle curler into the bottom right. What a lovely goal!

12.52pm GMT

36 min: Solanke spins elegantly down the right and whizzes into the box. He attempts a cute cutback for Riquelme, racing just inside. The ball clanks through to Forster. Bournemouth have definitely upped their efforts.

12.50pm GMT

35 min: Solanke glides in from the left only to be dragged back by Walker-Peters, who is slightly fortunate not to go into the book. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Saints box in anticipation of the free kick. Rico curls it in but it’s no good, really.

12.49pm GMT

33 min: Bournemouth are slowly working their way into the match at last. Riquelme and Solanke exchange crisp passes down the middle, and the former is suddenly in a little pocket of space. He tries to slide a cute shot into the bottom right, but hasn’t caught Forster out, and it’s an easy claim for the keeper.

12.47pm GMT

31 min: The resulting free kick is launched diagonally into the Saints box on the right. Adams heads straight at Cook, who fires a low cross. Riquelme attempts to whip a no-backlift effort into the top right. Not far away at all. That would have been some finish.

12.45pm GMT

30 min: A yellow card at last, as Bednarek clips Danjuma from behind, having been spun by the Bournemouth winger.

12.44pm GMT

28 min: Saints continue to control the game, though Begovic hasn’t had too much work to do.

12.41pm GMT

26 min: Free kick to Saints out on the left. They load the box. Dead-ball expert Ward-Prowse tries to surprise the keeper by going straight for goal, whipping towards the bottom left. Begovic handles the direct shot well.

12.40pm GMT

24 min: Wilshere leaves one on Vestergaard, the studs showing. For the second time, Martin Atkinson shows no interest in doling out any punishment for the sort of challenge that usually leads to a yellow.

12.39pm GMT

23 min: A drop of the shoulder by Danjuma, who works a bit of space down the left and shoots from a tight angle. Forster turns it around the post, and nothing comes of the corner. Better from Bournemouth, who have been uncharacteristically impotent so far.

12.38pm GMT

21 min: Corner for Saints. The ball breaks to Armstrong, who bobbles a weak shot wide right. “It was brave of Glenn Hoddle to say Walker-Peters ‘timed his run to perfection’ even as the VAR check was drawing a line showing he hadn’t.” Our man Philip Cornwall fills the gap where a TV column used to be.

12.36pm GMT

20 min: Solanke finds a bit of space to burst into, then lays off to Billing on the overlap down the right. But Vestergaard reads the danger, striding across to intercept and stroll away.

12.34pm GMT

19 min: Bournemouth are finding it hard to retain possession. Saints keep coming at them. Redmond is very close to sashaying his way through the eye of a needle down the right, but the ball breaks away from him as he reaches the edge of the box.

12.33pm GMT

17 min: Saints have established some Premier League dominance. While they ping it around, here’s Mac Millings, coming at you all the way from South Carolina: “Did Jonathan Woodgate really say ‘We just want to win the game ... if that puts us through to the semi-final then fantastic’? Is that no longer how it works? Have the FA added a twist to try and buff up the sheen of the sadly-devalued World’s Oldest Distraction from the League? Do you at least have a *better* chance of progressing to the semis if you win the quarter-final, or is it entirely random? Maybe a quiz night between the two teams, where Trevor Brooking asks questions like ‘How many headed goals did I score in my career?’ and ‘How many roads are named after *you*?’” Millings, are you up early or just going to bed?

12.31pm GMT

15 min: A sensational curving run by the ever-busy Armstrong down the right. He uses all the width of the pitch to beat Rico, then pulls back for Bertrand, coming in late. Bertrand opens his body and attempts to steer into the bottom left. Always wide, but it’s another easy-on-the-eye Saints move.

12.29pm GMT

14 min: A shame for Southampton, that, because it was a simple but deadly attack. Carter-Vickers had to intervene, because Adams was going to walk the ball into the net otherwise.

12.28pm GMT

12 min: Probably worth pointing out that VAR is in operation today despite Bournemouth being a Championship club. That’s because they had the whole kit and caboodle installed for their Premier League campaign last season.

12.27pm GMT

Yep, Walker-Peters didn’t trim his armpit hair last night, and now look. He’s offside, and Carter-Vickers is spared the agony.

12.26pm GMT

Bednarek sprays a long pass down the right for Walker-Peters, who is in acres. He rolls into the centre for Adams, but Carter-Vickers sticks out a leg and diverts it into the net. Oh dear. However, VAR is going to take a look.

12.23pm GMT

8 min: Danjuma catches Ward-Prowse on the shin with his studs. The referee decides there’s no intent, and nothing in it. You’ve seen players booked for much less than that.

12.22pm GMT

7 min: ... it’s an easy claim for Forster, who nearly releases Adams on the counter down the right with a long kick. Not quite.

12.21pm GMT

6 min: But then so do the hosts. Billing strides confidently down the middle, launching a move that leads to a corner on the right. The load the box, and ...

12.20pm GMT

5 min: Adams and Redmond probe down the Saints left. The ball’s shifted inside, where shot-happy Diallo has another dig. This one’s blocked, but the visitors seem in the mood.

12.18pm GMT

3 min: Saints come back at Bournemouth, Armstrong working well down the right, Diallo taking a whack from distance. His shot is deflected out for a corner on the right. Ward-Prowse and Redmond try an intricate short-corner routine, but only manage to run the ball out of play.

12.17pm GMT

2 min: A fast start by Bournemouth, with Rico and Danjuma combining well down the left. Rico whips low and hard towards the near post. Solanke can’t quite get there; Forster claims with safe hands.

12.15pm GMT

Saints get the ball rolling ...but only after some players take the knee, others elect to take a stand. Either way, there’s no room for racism. Kick it out.

12.13pm GMT

The teams are out! Bournemouth are in their rossoneri gear, while Saints wear third-choice white with red sash, a nod to their days as the football wing of the Young Men’s Association of St Mary’s Church. We’ll be off in a minute!

12.02pm GMT

Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate speaks to BT Sport: “We just want to win the game ... if that puts us through to the semi-final then fantastic ... the group are right up for it ... we are high on confidence but we don’t want to be complacent ... I like pressure.”

... as does his Saints counterpart Ralph Hasenhuttl: “It is a big opportunity today for us ... we need to have a good game, it will be a typical cup fight ... we always picked the strongest side for every round, it’s why we’re in the last eight.”

11.28am GMT

The Cherries make two changes to the XI that swept Swansea aside 3-0 on Tuesday. Ben Pearson and Rodrigo Riquelme replace Jefferson Lerma and Junior Stanislas.

Saints also make two changes in the wake of the 2-1 home loss to Brighton. Nathan Redmond and Moussa Djenepo take the places of Takumi Minamino and Nathan Tella.

11.19am GMT

Bournemouth: Begovic, Stacey, Carter-Vickers, Steve Cook, Rico, Wilshere, Pearson, Riquelme, Billing, Danjuma, Solanke.
Subs: Saydee, Mepham, Surridge, Travers, Kilkenny, Anthony, Zemura, Moriah-Welsh.

Southampton: Forster, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Diallo, Djenepo, Adams, Redmond.
Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Salisu, Tella, Ramsay, N’Lundulu, Ferry, Jankewitz, Watts.

10.42am GMT

Ah, the quarter-finals of the cup. The point at which the dreaming really begins. The shiny prize is within reach now. It’s a realistic prospect, just three matches away. First things first, though. Bournemouth are looking to reach the semis for the first time in their history. In their road, south-coast rivals Southampton, winners in 1976, beaten finalists in 1900, 1902 and 2003.

Both sides will fancy their chances. The clubs were fairly evenly matched during Bournemouth’s five-year residency in the Premier League; four Saints wins, two for the Cherries, four draws. Last season both won on each other’s turf. Bournemouth are back in the Championship now, but in better form: three wins and a draw in the last five, while Saints have lost nine of their last 12. So it’s swings and roundabouts.

Continue reading...

Fulham 1-2 Leeds United: Premier League – as it happened

Patrick Bamford scored one and set up Raphinha’s winner to give Leeds a deserved victory over struggling Fulham, who remain in the relegation places

10.28pm GMT

Nick Ames was at Craven Cottage tonight. His report is here for your enjoyment and edification. Thanks for reading this MBM, hope you’ll join us tomorrow for some hot FA Cup quarter-final action. Nighty night!

Related: Raphinha's strike for Leeds piles relegation pressure on Fulham

10.21pm GMT

Fulham boss Scott Parker talks honestly to Sky. “I was disappointed tonight ... we didn’t deserve anything from the game ... the best team won, to be honest with you ... we huffed and puffed and were a little bit fortunate to go in 1-1 ... we missed a massive chances in the second half but the best team won ... you’re always in the game with Leeds, you always have a chance because of the way they play ... our desire and work ethic was there, but we fell short in certain moments ... the game became too erratic, they want it to be like that, they’re the best at it ... under stress, we didn’t make good decisions ... there are eight games left ... eight finals ... we have put ourselves in a great position ... this is a blip but we’ll regroup and come back fighting ... this is part and parcel of the Premier League.”

10.06pm GMT

Patrick Bamford talks to Sky. “The lads deserve a lot of credit, because they had to do a lot of my running tonight. I was struggling.” At which point the Sky feed goes down. But that’s something, right?

10.02pm GMT

Twenty-seven costly seconds of second-half action have seriously compromised Fulham’s attempt to avoid the drop. Ademola Lookman fluffed a glorious opportunity to put the hosts ahead from six yards. Leeds went straight up the other end, Patrick Bamford setting up Raphinha for the winner. It was a good evening for Bamford, who also scored Leeds’ opener. Apart from a brief period before half-time, Fulham were second best all night. They remain in 18th on 26 points, having played two games more than 17th-placed Newcastle. Leeds are a comfortable mid-table presence with 39 points.

9.56pm GMT

A deserved victory for Leeds. Fulham remain in the relegation zone, their opportunity to leapfrog Newcastle United squandered.

9.55pm GMT

90 min +4: Mitrovic and Lookman attempt a combination down the middle, but the latter is flagged offside. Fulham’s jig looks up.

9.54pm GMT

90 min +3: Leeds replace Roberts with Koch. Then Phillips is booked for delaying the restart.

9.53pm GMT

90 min +2: Loftus-Cheek is booked for a poor challenge from behind on Raphinha.

9.52pm GMT

90 min +1: Loftus-Cheek wins a corner out on the left. Anguissa flicks Lookman’s corner on. At the far post, Struijk knocks the ball back into the danger zone, where bedlam briefly flares. Ayling manages to hack away and the ball deflects out for a goal kick.

9.51pm GMT

90 min: Fulham will have five extra minutes in which to find an equaliser and secure a precious point.

9.50pm GMT

89 min: Lookman sends a free kick long towards Mitrovic, who gets half a head on the ball, but only sends it sailing harmlessly towards Meslier.

9.48pm GMT

87 min: Anguissa bundles Alioski to the floor, just to the left of the Fulham box. A free kick. Raphinha loops it towards Llorente at the far post. Fulham half clear, but Alioski has the chance to volley goalwards from a tight-ish position on the left. His low screamer is well saved by Areola. Corner, from which nothing develops.

9.46pm GMT

85 min: On the touchline, Scott Parker, pensive going on morose, looks resigned to his fate.

9.45pm GMT

84 min: Klich sends an effort towards the top left from distance. Just over. Fulham are still in this, but only just.

9.44pm GMT

83 min: Another corner for Leeds, this time out on the left. Raphinha takes. Ayling, at the near post, flashes a header across the face of goal; Harrison, at the far stick, can’t turn it into an unguarded net. Leeds are getting closer and closer.

9.41pm GMT

81 min: Dallas charges down the right and sends a low diagonal shot across goal and inches wide of the left-hand post. Fulham are suddenly living a little dangerously, with Leeds looking dangerous again on the break.

9.41pm GMT

80 min: ... Alioski tries to meet the corner on the volley, but no Paul Scholes he. That one’s away to Putney.

9.40pm GMT

79 min: One corner leads to another, and then Meslier confidently claims Lookman’s delivery at his near post. Leeds go straight up the other end and win a corner of their own, Klich off Robinson down the right. And from that ...

9.39pm GMT

78 min: Ayling misjudges an aimless long ball and chests it out for a needless corner. Can the hosts make anything out of the gift?

9.37pm GMT

77 min: Bamford can’t continue. The sweat continues to pour off him, and he’s not moving totally freely either. He trudges off, to be replaced by Klich.

9.36pm GMT

75 min: Quite a lot of players out there look knackered. Sweat is dripping off Bamford, while an out-of-sorts Ayling has resorted to energy gels. No wonder, this game has been played in the red zone since the get-go.

9.34pm GMT

73 min: In between those two chances, Fulham replaced Aina with Tete.

9.33pm GMT

72 min: Raphinha flashes a shot across the Fulham goal from the left. Up the other end, Lookman again fails to connect properly when close to goal, although this chance is much less gilt-edged. He spins and aims for the bottom right. The pea roller ends up in MEslier’s arms.

9.32pm GMT

71 min: Cavaleiro wins a corner down the right. Lookman takes. The ball’s flicked on at the near post. It flies behind Mitrovic, who in desperation tries a scorpion kick, but connects only with fresh air.

9.30pm GMT

69 min: ... so much so that he’s sent scampering free down the left by Roberts. Raphinha jinks into the box, along the byline, sends Aina off to the shops, nearly rounds Areola, but can’t quite complete the task of walking the ball into the net. He changes tack, flicking backwards to ... nobody. Fulham clear.

9.29pm GMT

68 min: Raphinha is back up and about.

9.27pm GMT

67 min: Play is stopped with Raphinha down injured. He’s hollering quite a lot, Aina having stood - accidentally, rather than maliciously - on top of his foot. On come the medicine men.

9.25pm GMT

65 min: Some uncharacteristic behaviour from Leeds, who slow the game down deliberately. Fulham are getting a little agitated by the time they’re taking over free kicks and throws.

9.24pm GMT

63 min: Fulham make their second change, replacing Reed with the more forward-thinking Loftus-Cheek.

9.23pm GMT

62 min: No penalty, and the resulting corner isn’t much cop.

9.22pm GMT

61 min: Reed is brought down on the right-hand touchline. The free kick is curled into the mixer. The ball balloons up off Bamford’s boot, then up onto his arm, and out for a corner. Fulham want a penalty, so there’ll be a VAR check.

9.21pm GMT

60 min: That’s a lovely finish by Raphinha, who was working in limited space at full tilt. Can Fulham respond again?

9.20pm GMT

Lookman should have put Fulham ahead. Now, 27 seconds later, they’re behind. The ball is lost in the centre circle, and Bamford barges forward with purpose. He shuttles the ball ahead to Raphinha, who breaks into the box down the inside-right, performs a quick soft-shoe shuffle, and pokes the ball into the bottom right!

9.18pm GMT

57 min: A free kick for Fulham out on the left. Reed hoicks a long diagonal towards Mitrovic. Leeds half clear. Lemina comes again down the right and crosses low. Lookman, six yards out, attempts a clever backflick. The ball sails harmlessly wide left.

9.17pm GMT

55 min: The fourth Leeds corner ends the sequence.

9.16pm GMT

54 min: Fulham half clear the corner, but then Harrison drives down the right and nips between Aina and Anguissa, into the box. Not sure how he got through that space, but he managed it. He shoots low and hard towards the bottom right from a tight angle. Areola parries out for another corner.

9.14pm GMT

53 min: Like London buses, it’s another Leeds corner. The ball ends up at the feet of Alioski, 20 yards out. His shot is deflected wide left for Leeds corner number three.

9.13pm GMT

52 min: Alioski rolls a ball down the left for Raphinha, who earns Leeds their first conrer of the game. Raphinha takes it himself. Fulham deal with it easily enough.

9.12pm GMT

51 min: Lemina is booked for climbing all over Dallas’s back. He kicks the ball away in frustration, which is never a good idea, but the referee doesn’t respond to that.

9.11pm GMT

49 min: Robinson chases a ball down the left at full pace. He’s shoulder-barged - legally, from the side - out of play by Phillips. But the Fulham full-back crashes into the advertising hoardings, and he requires a minute or so to regain his composure. Happily, he’s up and about again quickly enough.

9.08pm GMT

47 min: ... Alioski sticks out a leg to divert Reed’s low right-wing cross out of play. The ball nearly finds the top-right corner of his own goal. Just wide. Nothing comes of the next corner.

9.07pm GMT

46 min: Mitrovic is immediately in the thick of it, part of a move that wins a corner down the right. From that ...

9.06pm GMT

Leeds - who are currently on a run of 15 matches without a win in London - get the second half underway. Chances are they’ll not be particularly pleased to see the arrival of Aleksandar Mitrovic, on for Maja; he’s scored four in his last four appearances against them.

8.53pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. It’s been a good week for Arsenal, as David Hytner explains.

Related: Kane's silence speaks volumes for Spurs' troubles under Mourinho | David Hytner

8.50pm GMT

A half of two halves comes to an end. Leeds were utterly dominant for a while, until Fulham woke up and started causing all sorts of mayhem themselves. Great high-velocity entertainment. More, please!

8.49pm GMT

45 min +3: Raphinha curls a preposterously good free kick along the corridor of uncertainty. Ayling and Bamford somehow both miss an opportunity to trundle it in at the far stick, but the flag goes up for offside, so it doesn’t really matter. What a ball, though! Raphinha’s set-piece skills are sensational.

8.48pm GMT

45 min +2: Roberts is bowled over by Anguissa, just to the left of the Fulham box. A free kick in a dangerous position. Raphinha to take.

8.46pm GMT

45 min: There will be four additional minutes to the first half.

8.45pm GMT

44 min: Cavaleiro shakes and shimmies to make a little space, 25 yards out, then threads a shot towards the bottom left. Meslier reacts well to smother.

8.44pm GMT

43 min: The first lull of the evening. Everyone deserves their breather. It’s been a wonderful half of free-flowing football.

8.42pm GMT

41 min: One corner leads to another. Lookman’s delivery causes momentary bedlam in the Leeds six-yard box. The ball’s eventually hacked clear, but Leeds can’t continue defending like this. Fulham know what works now.

8.41pm GMT

39 min: Leeds are suddenly all over the shop. Struijk’s poor back header nearly allows Maja to pick up possession and round Meslier. Leeds half clear. The ball’s worked back to Anguissa, who lashes a drive towards the bottom left. Meslier does exceptionally well to parry, Llorente bashing the rebound out for an emergency corner.

8.39pm GMT

Lookman sends the corner into the six-yard box. Andersen sticks a leg around Ayling and forcefully guides the ball into the net. Easy as that. Leeds have now conceded 15 goals while defending set pieces this season, four more than anybody else, and it’s easy to see why.

8.38pm GMT

37 min: Lookman’s persistence down the left forces Alioski into conceding a corner. That leads to another, out on the right. Lookman to take ...

8.36pm GMT

35 min: A worrying stat for Fulham has just been flashed up by Sky: they’ve conceded first 13 times this season, going on to draw one and lose 12.

8.35pm GMT

34 min: Ayling loops in from the right. His cross nearly finds Roberts, just inside the box, but Anderson reads the danger well and heads clear.

8.34pm GMT

32 min: Lookman slips a clever ball down the inside-left channel, into the path of Robinson, who is travelling at the speed of sound. But he can’t quite sort his feet out, miskicking terribly. Goal kick, though along with the Maja shot that was brilliantly parried by Meslier, Fulham are starting to make things happen upfield at last.

8.31pm GMT

31 min: Bamford, overly excited, picks up a booking for a rash late challenge on Cavaleiro.

8.31pm GMT

Bamford, fully healed, opens the scoring! A Leeds throw out on the left, deep in Fulham territory. It’s flung to Harrison, who reaches the byline and cuts back. Bamford, racing ahead of Tosin, slams into the bottom left from six yards. No more than Leeds deserve.

8.29pm GMT

28 min: Ayling makes good ground down the right and curls a low cross into the Fulham mixer. Bamford is sniffing around, but Tosin reads the danger and clears.

8.28pm GMT

26 min: Lookman whips the free kick to the near post, where Raphinha turns the ball out for a corner. From the set piece, a ludicrous pinball game breaks out. Meslier punches clear but Fulham quickly instigate some more bagatelle. The ball breaks to Maja, ten yards out. He spins and lashes what looks like an unstoppable shot towards the top right. Meslier sticks out a strong arm and makes an exceptional reaction save. Leeds eventually clear, but what a manic moment!

8.26pm GMT

25 min: Alioski clumsily fouls Cavaleiro out on the Fulham right. There was no need to make the challenge, and now the hosts have a chance to load the box. Lookman will take the free kick.

8.25pm GMT

23 min: Bamford looks a little more mobile now, having been limping quite badly before. So he keeps going. Reed eventually gets up, and quickly gets his revenge on Roberts with a sly clip. This could be a battle to keep one eye on.

8.24pm GMT

21 min: Bamford took a whack from Lemina while the Fulham player was executing his miscued clearance on 19 mins. For a second it looks as though he’s not going to be able to continue, but Roberts has winded Reed, so he’s got time to see if he can run it off.

8.22pm GMT

20 min: Phillips threads a pass down the inside-right channel to release Raphinha, who throws a couple of dummies before slotting the ball across Areloa and into the bottom left. But the flag goes up for offside. This one was a much more obvious decision, no need for VAR to get involved here.

8.20pm GMT

19 min: Another Leeds free kick is swung into the box from the right. Lemina miscues his attempted clearance, but the ball squirts into the arms of Areola.

8.19pm GMT

18 min: Maja busies himself on the edge of the Leeds D, but can’t quite get a bouncing ball to sit right for him. Leeds clear. The first 12 seconds apart, Fulham have offered nothing in attack.

8.17pm GMT

16 min: A free kick for Leeds, 25 yards out. Raphinha blooters it straight into the wall.

8.16pm GMT

14 min: Ayling’s celebration was lovely, too. Wearing the widest smile, genuinely thrilled, he undid his top-knot, releasing his 80s metal hair and strumming an invisible guitar. A sad segue from major to minor.

8.13pm GMT

12 min: Leeds haven’t let that setback deter them. They’re still barrelling around at 101mph, dictating the pace of this match.

8.11pm GMT

10 min: Poor old Luke Ayling. He celebrated his first-ever Premier League goal in style ... only for VAR to stick its neb in, and judge Roberts to be an armpit hair offside earlier in the move. Such a shame, because that was a clever and perfectly executed finish. A brilliant header that deserved a better fate. But this is the game we have now.

8.10pm GMT

Harrison slips a ball down the left for Roberts, who twists and turns and crosses long. Ayling, racing in from the right, steers a sensational looping header over Areola and into the top left. What a finish!

8.08pm GMT

7 min: Ayling whips in a cross from the right. Bamford is lurking, but the ball is a yard or so too far in front of him. Aina does extremely well to clear. But ...

8.08pm GMT

6 min: Tosin hoicks long towards Meslier, the ball dropping towards the six-yard box, on target. Meslier has plenty of time to think about the catch, so high has Tosin blootered the ball into the sky. The keeper does extremely well to gather.

8.06pm GMT

5 min: Leeds, attacking the Hammersmith End in this first half, look in the mood. They’re pinging the ball around with their usual intensity. Struijk nearly releases Raphinha down the right with a glorious diagonal pass, but Robinson reads the danger well.

8.04pm GMT

3 min: No goals yet, but somewhere in the multiverse, it’s already 1-1.

8.03pm GMT

2 min: Leeds go up the other end, Bamford barging down the inside-right channel, holding off Andersen, and backflicking in the hope of finding Phillips. Tosin does well to lash clear, just in time.

8.03pm GMT

1 min: Happily for Leeds, nothing comes of it.

8.02pm GMT

12 secs: Fulham launch long. Alioski heads the ball off a confused Struijk’s back, allowing Cavaleiro to pick up the loose ball and earn a corner. What a farce!

8.00pm GMT

Fulham get the ball rolling ... but only after everyone takes the knee. There’s no room for racism. Kick it out.

7.57pm GMT

The teams are out! Fulham are in their famous white, forcing Leeds into third-choice burgundy. A symmetrical switcheroo from the corresponding fixture at Elland Road, where the Cottagers sported third-choice red. It’s a clear and crisp night in west London, though the grass has been given a good old drink, courtesy of the sprayers. We’ll be off in a minute or two!

7.53pm GMT

Pre-match postbag o’pessimism.

“It’s heart in mouth time; if we lose tonight and Newcastle get a result against Brighton I reckon that’s it. Mind you, it seemed like that was it after about three games - now it’s the hope that kills you” - Richard Hirst.

7.46pm GMT

A very brief chat with Marcelo Bielsa, who is asked about Patrick Bamford’s failure to break into the England squad. “He would have been saddened by the decision but he has a series of games coming when he can accumulate merits.”

7.36pm GMT

Scott Parker talks to Sky Sports. “The main focus is us, what we need to do to win against a good side ... but we are getting to the point of the season where psychologically there’s a lot on for us ... getting out of the bottom three would be massive for us ... we need goals and people in the team who can find a yard, and Josh Maja has got that ... he’s the one tonight that will hopefully win us the game.”

7.07pm GMT

Fulham make two changes to the team named for the 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City last weekend. Antonee Robinson and Josh Maja replace Kenny Tete and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, both of whom drop to the bench.

Leeds meanwhile are unchanged from their goalless draw with Chelsea at Elland Road. Patrick Bamford has shrugged off the hip problem that curtailed his gametime last Saturday.

7.02pm GMT

Fulham: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson, Zambo, Reed, Lemina, Ivan Cavaleiro, Maja, Lookman.
Subs: Tete, Hector, Odoi, Mitrovic, Ream, Loftus-Cheek, Bryan, Kongolo, Ramirez.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Alioski, Phillips, Raphinha, Dallas, Roberts, Harrison, Bamford.
Subs: Koch, Poveda-Ocampo, Casilla, Helder Costa, Berardi, Gelhardt, Klich, Shackleton, Jenkins.

2.50pm GMT

Fulham and Leeds are the two most unpredictable teams in the Premier League. On the one hand, the Cottagers have lost two of their last three; on the other, they’ve recently won comfortably at both Liverpool and Everton. They’ve lost nine Premier League home games already, but they’ve kept six clean sheets in their last 11. They’re in the relegation places, but haven’t looked like a relegation-bound team for a while now. They’re hard to put your finger on.

Leeds, meanwhile, are Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds. We’ll not insult your intelligence by belabouring the point.

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The Fiver | Throwing everyone under the wheels of Funtime José's party bus

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Beep beep! Parp parp! Honk honk! On Thursday, Funtime José Mourinho took the lads out for another exciting ride in his Party Bus. It’s usually a laugh riot on the Party Bus, everyone loves it, but sadly the beano for once didn’t go exactly to plan. Parking up in front of goal in Zagreb, Funtime forgot to let everyone out to play until it was way too late. Then on the way home, the ride became very uncomfortable and extremely bumpy, less to do with Croatian motorway disrepair and more with Funtime oppressively sulking while his captain systematically threw everyone else out of the door and under the wheels.

Related: 'It is a disgrace': Lloris damning of Spurs defeat and claims togetherness lacking

Very foolish behavior by Can Tho Capital’s goalkeeper. He was already carded for the tackle that led to the penalty, runs at the referee after blocking the shot. pic.twitter.com/hxYudgWAEk

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Real Madrid 3-1 Atalanta (agg 4-1): Champions League, last 16 second leg – as it happened

Real reached the quarter-finals yet again, easing past an Atalanta team that didn’t really turn up

10.09pm GMT

Sid Lowe was at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium for this one. His report has landed, so you know the pack drill: click, swipe, prod or tap, depending on your device. There’s also news of Manchester City’s procession to the quarters, courtesy of Jamie Jackson. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

Related: Real Madrid through to quarter-finals with comfortable win over Atalanta

9.53pm GMT

It was easy for Real in the end, the better team on the night. Even so, Atalanta had their chances, and had Robin Gosens tucked away his early close-range effort, or the referee allowed Luis Muriel to run on goal instead of blowing up right on 45 minutes, the story could have been different. But the 13-time winners make the quarters, deservedly so, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Marco Asensio taking advantage of a series of defensive mistakes by the Italian underdogs. It’s up to Lazio to keep Italy’s flag flying ... and they’re 4-1 down against the reigning champs.

9.50pm GMT

90 min +4: Real stroke it around, running down the clock in elegant style.

9.49pm GMT

90 min +2: Benzema tears down the right and tees up Rodrygo, whose elaborate dink is batted away by Sportiello.

9.47pm GMT

90 min: There will five minutes of added time.

9.45pm GMT

88 min: Ah hold on, I’ve forgotten about Ilicic, who lit a fire under Atalanta after coming on.

9.44pm GMT

87 min: Malinovskyi lashes over from distance. Along with Muriel, he’s one of only two Atalanta players not to have disappointed tonight.

9.44pm GMT

86 min: That was such a clever free kick by Atalanta, and it briefly gave the Italians a lifeline. But it frayed in double-quick time.

9.42pm GMT

Nope. Atalanta make two changes before the restart, and confuse themselves. Caldara and Miranchuk come on for Pessina and Muriel, then Benzema races down the right and rolls across to Asensio, who fires into the bottom left. The keeper should have done better.

9.41pm GMT

It’s not quite over yet. Atalanta score with a wonderfully designed free kick. Muriel prepares to take. He’s got three of his teammates lined up in front of the ball, facing the goal. As the whistle goes, the three men peal off in all directions, causing all manner of confusion. Muriel whips the ball into the top right, and they couldn’t, could they?

9.38pm GMT

82 min: Varane slides into Romero on the edge of his own D. Free kick in a very dangerous position. Before it can be taken, Real replace Valverde with Asensio.

9.36pm GMT

80 min: Atalanta are pinging it around nicely now, but it’s far too little, far too late.

9.35pm GMT

78 min: Muriel sashays down the inside left and tries a shot from the edge of the box. It’s deflected out for a corner. Nothing comes of it.

9.34pm GMT

77 min: Kroos is booked for a cynical check on Ilicic.

9.33pm GMT

76 min: Huge chances at both ends. Malinovskyi slips Zapata clear down the inside right. Zapata shoots straight at Courtois. Then Rodrygo jinks down the left and into the box, but instead of shooting, tries to walk the ball into the net and runs out of road.

9.32pm GMT

75 min: Maehle powers down the left and wins a corner. The delivery is again poor, but the ball’s only half cleared and finds Maehle, on the edge of the D. His rising drive is straight at Courtois, who claims.

9.30pm GMT

73 min: Nacho is booked for clipping Ilicic from behind.

9.28pm GMT

71 min: A free kick for Atalanta out on the left, and a chance to load the box. Muriel delivers the free kick over a crowded area and straight into the arms of Courtois. Despite it all, Atalanta have had their opportunities, but they’ve wasted every one of them.

9.27pm GMT

69 min: The excellent Vinicius Junior makes way for Rodrygo.

9.26pm GMT

68 min: Vazquez crosses from the right. Benzema heads towards the top left from six yards. Sportiello parries sensationally. Benzema tries to guide the rebound into the same corner, but his second header hits the bar. Atalanta clear.

9.25pm GMT

67 min: ... and here’s something! Malinovskyi plays a delicious reverse pass down the middle of the park to release Zapata. He’s one on one with Courtois ... but slams his shot straight at the keeper. The rebound comes off Varane’s chest. Atalanta claim for a spot kick, but come off it and come on. That should have been a goal.

9.23pm GMT

66 min: Atalanta need something, and quickly, if they’re to launch an unlikely comeback. Ilicic combines with Zapata down the inside right to win a corner, but Malinovskyi’s delivery is easy pickings for Courtois.

9.21pm GMT

64 min: Sergio Ramos’s work here is done. He goes off, grinning like the proverbial cream-whiskered cat, to be replaced by Eder Militao.

9.21pm GMT

63 min: Pessina drags a shot across the face of the Real goal. It’s harmless, although it’s the best Atalanta have managed since that gilt-edged chance for Gosens in the second minute.

9.19pm GMT

61 min: You have to wonder whether Toloi should have been sent off for the challenge that gave away the penalty. He didn’t really make much of an effort to play the ball. That may explain why, having only been booked, he’s been immediately replaced by Jose Luis Palomino.

9.17pm GMT

After the inevitable VAR check, Ramos is permitted to take the penalty. He fires towards the bottom left. It’s not a particularly good spot kick, Sportiello getting a hand to the ball, but the keeper can only palm into the corner. This is over.

9.16pm GMT

58 min: Vinicius Junior is an exceptional talent. He latches onto a looks Malinovskyi pass in the midfield and whistles down the inside-left channel. He makes it to the edge of the box. Toloi puts his foot out, flush on the white line, and brings his man down. Penalty.

9.14pm GMT

57 min: Nope, Gosens can’t continue. He’s replaced by last year’s four-goals-at-a-time hero Josip Ilicic.

9.13pm GMT

56 min: Gosens grimaces as he rubs his groin. Not sure he’ll be able to continue. The physio comes on to assess his trouser arrangement.

9.12pm GMT

54 min: Vinicius Junior is inelegantly upended just to the left of the Atalanta D by Toloi. He should be awarded a free kick, but the referee allows play to go on, because Mendy has the ball. The hero of the first leg tries his luck again, but this time his shot goes straight at the keeper.

9.10pm GMT

52 min: Muriel scampers down the left again. His ball infield isn’t all that, but it’s another sign that Atalanta could grab a goal that would change everything. Although then Real break, Vinicius Junior dribbling down the left, gliding inside, jinking past three defenders, and flicking a shot inches wide of the right-hand post. That would have been one hell of a solo goal.

9.07pm GMT

51 min: Muriel rolls a pass infield from the left. Zapata backflicks cleverly down the channel, hoping to release Gosens, but there’s a little too much juice on the pass and it flies through to Courtois.

9.05pm GMT

49 min: How much help the wind will be is a moot point. Sportiello gently launches a kick upfield and the ball sails out of play for a goal kick to Madrid.

9.04pm GMT

47 min: Atalanta have the wind behind them, literally, in this second half. They’re on the front foot early doors, probing down both flanks, albeit to little effect.

9.01pm GMT

Real get the second half underway. Atalanta have made one half-time change, replacing Mario Pasalic up front with Duvan Zapata.

8.54pm GMT

Half-time reading.

Related: Diego Simeone backs 'rebel' João Félix to help Atlético overcome Chelsea

8.48pm GMT

The whistle goes for half-time, bang on 45 minutes. You don’t see that too often, and it’s cost Atalanta dearly, because on 44 minutes and 59 seconds, Romero slipped a ball down the middle to release Muriel on goal! He was clear and onside, but didn’t get the opportunity to shoot. That’s ... very strange.

8.45pm GMT

43 min: Atalanta worry Real again, Malinovskyi looping a pass down the right, Muriel giving chase. Courtois comes to the edge of his box. Muriel threatens to get there first, but Varane arrives on scene to head away and save his keeper’s blushes.

8.43pm GMT

42 min: Of course an Atalanta goal would change things completely, putting the tie back on a knife-edge, and Malinovskyi tries his luck from 30 yards out on the right. It flies well wide left of goal, but for a second Real hearts were in mouths.

8.42pm GMT

40 min: Nacho romps down the left, covering the best part of 70 yards. He eventually runs out of room, and it’s a goal kick, but that illustrates the wind in Real’s sail, and the despondency of their opponents.

8.39pm GMT

39 min: But there are limits, and Valverde goes into the book for a petulant flick at De Roon’s heel.

8.39pm GMT

37 min: Nacho is taken out mid-air by Gosens, just inside the Atalanta box, as the ball sails over both of their heads. No penalty, though you’ve seen them given. The referee is in a very generous mood this evening.

8.37pm GMT

36 min: That gift, all tied up in pretty blue and black ribbons, means this game can’t go to extra time. That early miss by Gosens gains even greater significance now.

8.35pm GMT

A howler from Sportiello! The Atalanta keeper has the ball at his feet. He hoicks it straight at Modric, 30 yards out. Modric takes a stride down the inside right before slipping the ball infield for Benzema, who slams home. Oh dear.

8.33pm GMT

32 min: Real continue to stroke it about. Atalanta’s early menace has all but disappeared.

8.30pm GMT

30 min: Vinicius Junior is a total menace. He embarks on another sizzling run down the left, entering the box only to lose his feet and run the ball out of play. Romero had given him a very sly shove in the back to knock him off balance; had he gone down, the officials would have had a decision to make. Honest Vinicius Junior!

8.29pm GMT

28 min: Vinicius Junior’s shot hit Djimsiti’s elbow, but the defender’s arm was in a natural position, he had his back to play, and there was next to no space between the two players. Neither referee nor VAR shows interest, and to be fair Real don’t make any great claim.

8.28pm GMT

27 min: Suddenly they pick up the pace. Vinicius Junior hares down the inside left, one-twos with Benzema, and shapes to shoot from the penalty spot. The keeper Sportiello, having been sold the dummy by Benzema’s return, is out of the game, but Djimsiti slides across to block sensationally. What a stop!

8.27pm GMT

26 min: It’s been high-octane stuff since the start, so Real slow things down a bit with some sterile possession in the middle of the park.

8.25pm GMT

24 min: Romero crunches into a tackle on Vazquez. The referee sees nothing wrong with it, but the margin for error was slim, coming in as he was from behind. Also, he’d miss the first leg of the quarter final should he be booked and Atalanta make it through.

8.22pm GMT

22 min: Muriel has a whack from distance. His shot is blocked. Both teams are looking effervescent in attack.

8.21pm GMT

20 min: Benzema and Vinicius Junior exchange crisp passes down the inside left. A chance for Benzema to shoot! But his low, hard drive is blocked quickly by Romero. After a shaky start, the hosts are beginning to carry some threat.

8.19pm GMT

19 min: Vinicius Junior slides gracefully along the left touchline, then the byline, before looping a cross towards nobody in particular. That run will have reminded Atalanta of Real’s threat, and the danger of pressing too hard for the goal they need.

8.17pm GMT

17 min: This has been an excellent start by the Italian side, who look perfectly capable of scoring an away goal. Or two.

8.16pm GMT

15 min: Romero tries to meet the free kick with a spectacular scissor effort. Real half clear, but Atalanta win a corner on the left. From that, Djimsiti, on the edge of the box, creams a rising shot over the bar.

8.14pm GMT

14 min: But Atalanta come again, and Mendy clumsily fouls Toloi near the right-hand corner flag. A free kick and the Atalanta defender has taken quite a whack there, limping away gingerly. However he looks good to continue and gets into the mixer ahead of the free kick.

8.13pm GMT

13 min: Muriel slides a clever ball down the inside-left channel, nearly releasing Pasalic into the box. Modric does extremely well to get a toe in, conceding a corner from which nothing comes.

8.12pm GMT

12 min: It’s pretty windy so progressive passing moves are at a premium right now.

8.11pm GMT

10 min: Real stroke it around for the first time this evening. They don’t really go anywhere but a period of sustained possession always helps to settle any nerves.

8.09pm GMT

8 min: Venicius Junior drops a shoulder and nearly wriggles free down the inside-left channel, but Toloi puts a stop to his gallop. The Real striker wants a free kick, but he’s not getting one. The referee is in a very liberal mood, by the looks of it, his laissez-faire attitude slotting neatly into the Dutch stereotype.

8.06pm GMT

6 min: Atalanta have started very much on the front foot. They’re not afraid to commit plenty of men to attack, and they’ve launched three already. Real haven’t got past this stage for two years, so there may be a few nerves in their camp.

8.05pm GMT

4 min: Now De Roon clatters into Valverde. The referee remains lenient, but you sense the next Atalanta player to foul may find themselves in a spot of bother.

8.04pm GMT

3 min: Atalanta should have the away goal they need. Muriel dribbles down the left and reaches the byline, before pulling back to Gosens, on the edge of the six-yard box. He should score, but leans back and wafts weakly straight at Courtois! What a miss, albeit one that will give the visitors hope.

8.03pm GMT

2 min: Malinovskyi leaves an early one on Nacho. You’d think he’d see yellow for that, but the referee wants to keep his cards in his pocket for a while.

8.00pm GMT

Atalanta get the Adidas Finale 21 rolling. It’s a clear but chilly night at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano in Madrid.

7.58pm GMT

The teams are out! Real Madrid in their famous meringue-white clobber, Atalanta in their Internazionalesque nerazzurri. A quick blast of Uefa’s bespoke version of Zadok the Priest, and we’ll be off.

7.55pm GMT

Tonight’s match ball. It’s the Adidas Finale 21. No need for further explanation, except to say I never thought I’d miss transcribing the pre-match interviews. It’s been an age since the teams dropped. Still, it all helps to ramp up the excitement and expectation, huh.

7.17pm GMT

Real make three changes from the team selected in Bergamo. Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema return from injury, while Federico Valverde replaces the suspended Casemiro. Marco Asensio and Isco drop to the bench. Eden Hazard is injured again.

Atalanta also make three changes from their first-leg starting XI. Remo Freuler is suspended after his red card, so Ruslan Malinovskyi takes his place. Duvan Zapata is stood down in favour of Mario Pasalic, while goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini makes way for Marco Sportiello.

7.01pm GMT

Real Madrid: Courtois, Nacho, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Mendy, Modric, Kroos, Valverde, Lucas, Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
Subs: Eder Militao, Asensio, Marcelo, Lunin, Isco, Rodrygo, Altube, Duro.

Atalanta: Sportiello, Toloi, Romero, Djimsiti, Maehle, de Roon, Pessina, Gosens, Malinovsky, Pasalic, Muriel.
Subs: Palomino, Lammers, Caldara, Rossi, Ruggeri, Ghislandi, Miranchuk, Ilicic, Zapata, Gollini.

4.17pm GMT

The first leg of this tie was fairly uneventful. Atalanta found themselves down to ten men early doors, Remo Freuler sent off on 17 minutes, so hunkered down. Real Madrid toiled and toiled, but eventually a late long-range shot by Ferland Mendy earned them a precious away goal and a 1-0 victory. Here’s how it panned out on the MBM, and here’s Sid Lowe’s match report.

On the face of it, you’d think that would be enough for Real, if history is your guide. They’ve won the first leg away 35 times in Uefa competition, and have only twice failed to seal the deal: against Odense in the 1994/95 Uefa Cup, and Ajax at this stage of the Champions League two seasons ago.

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