Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring against Liverpool. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring against Liverpool. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring against Liverpool. AFP
Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring against Liverpool. AFP

Arne Slot ‘shocked’ as Liverpool crash out of Champions League on penalties to PSG


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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admits there was a sense of shock they were knocked out of the Uefa Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

The Reds held a 1-0 advantage from last week's first leg, largely due to the excellence of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, but quickly found themselves behind at Anfield to an Ousmane Dembele goal.

Slot said it was difficult to separate the two teams after 90 minutes and while he accepted the Ligue 1 champions edged extra time the 4-1 defeat on penalties, with Gianluigi Donnarumma saving from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones, still felt harsh.

“Of course it is shock,” the Liverpool boss said. “It is maybe not the moment to tell them now but two seasons ago we went out to Real [Madrid] after losing 5-2 at home so if you have to go out, go out the way we did against one of the best teams in Europe and making such a fight.

“I hope every fan around the world was hoping this game wouldn’t stop because it was incredible.

“Two teams had an incredible level and intensity in the first 25 minutes. I also remember the first 25 against Manchester City and Real Madrid but this was unbelievable what we showed in the first 25.

“Over 90 minutes I don’t think we deserved to lose, over 180 maybe it was deserved we went to extra time.

“In extra time I thought maybe PSG was better than us. Then it comes down to penalties and they scored four.”

"It was a great performance. We really deserved to go through over the two legs, hands down," PSG captain Marquinhos told Canal Plus.

PSG will play either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the next stage.

Kane inspires Bayern victory

Harry Kane inspired Bayern Munich to a 2-0 win at the home of German rivals Bayer Leverkusen.

The England captain scored and assisted at the BayArena, adding to his two goals from the comprehensive 3-0 first-leg victory in Munich.

"From the first minute we didn't want to be a team that dropped off and tried to defend the lead," Kane told Amazon Prime.

"In the second half we knew they had to come out and try something and we punished them."

With the match scoreless at half time, Bayer pushed to try and get a foothold in the tie in the final 45 minutes.

But it was Kane who tapped in from a lofted Joshua Kimmich cross in the 52nd minute to kill off the tie.

Alphonso Davies made it a rout over both legs with 19 minutes remaining as he drove home a chipped pass from Kane.

"We didn't lose the tie today," said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. "We made it too difficult for ourselves in the return leg."

Barcelona goalscorers Lamine Yamal, left and Raphinha celebrate their team's third goal. Getty Images
Barcelona goalscorers Lamine Yamal, left and Raphinha celebrate their team's third goal. Getty Images

Yamal and Raphinha shine for Barca

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha dazzled as Barcelona thumped Benfica 3-1, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals 4-1 on aggregate.

Raphinha netted either side of a stunning Yamal strike as the Catalans dominated in the first half, building on their 1-0 last 16, first leg win in Lisbon.

Hansi Flick's side will face Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals as they aim to win the competition for the first time since 2015.

"We are candidates to win everything," Raphinha told Movistar, with the club in the hunt for a potential treble.

Teenage sensation Yamal created the opener on 11 minutes with a mazy run before his mishit shot picked Raphinha out perfectly as the Brazilian ghosted in at the far post.

Nicolas Otamendi struck back instantly for Benfica when he forced a header past Wojciech Szczesny in the 13th minute.

Yamal restored Barca's two-goal buffer 14 minutes later, cutting in from the right flank and arching an unstoppable effort into the far, top corner.

Raphinha then put the tie to bed three minutes before the interval with a blistering left-footed finish following excellent work by Alejandro Balde.

The build-up to the match at the Olympic Stadium was overshadowed by the sudden death last Saturday of Barcelona club doctor Carles Minarro, and the players observed a silence in his honour before kick off.

"We won for us and Carles is always with us ... he always has a place [here]," said Flick.

Italian champions Inter also progressed through the last 16 with a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Strikes by Marcus Thuram and Hakan Calhanoglu, either side of a Feyenoord consolation scored by Jakub Moder, gave them a 2-1 win at the San Siro.

Thuram's fierce eighth-minute strike put the Nerazzurri into a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead, before Moder and Calhanoglu both scored from the spot shortly before and after the interval.

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Fixture and table

UAE finals day: Friday, April 13 at Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

  • 3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
  • 6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

 

UAE Premiership – final standings

  1. Dubai Exiles
  2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins
  3. Jebel Ali Dragons
  4. Dubai Hurricanes
  5. Dubai Sports City Eagles
  6. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

NBA Finals results

Game 1: Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114
Game 2: Warriors 122, Cavaliers 103
Game 3: Cavaliers 102, Warriors 110
Game 4: In Cleveland, Sunday (Monday morning UAE)

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Updated: March 12, 2025, 3:47 AM