Fernandez was banished from the next two games — the FA Cup quarterfinal against Port Vale on Saturday and the Premier League match with Manchester City next weekend — Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior confirmed on Friday.

The sanction was in response to Fernandez telling a podcast this week that he would like to live in Madrid. There’s speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid even though he’s contracted to Chelsea to 2031.

Fernandez’s agent Javier Pastore said the Argentina international does not understand the decision.

“The punishment is completely unfair,” Pastore told The Athletic. “Banning the player for two matches, which moreover are also absolutely crucial for Chelsea because qualification for the Champions League is at stake and he is one of the team’s most important players.

“There’s no real reason or justification for why he has been banned. Enzo didn’t understand the situation. When the coach told him he accepted it because he’s a highly professional guy who’s always fully committed wherever he is and respects decisions, but we don’t understand the punishment because he doesn’t mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it. He only mentions Madrid, the city.

“Our plan after the World Cup is to meet with Chelsea again and, if there is no agreement, to explore other options.”

Rosenior said he was part of the club’s decision.

“It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way. I’ve got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build,” Rosenior said.

“Enzo, firstly, as a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He’s frustrated because he wants us to be successful. The door is not closed on Enzo. It’s a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed.”

Fernandez joined Chelsea for a then-British record 107 million pounds (US$142 million) in 2023 and was appointed vice-captain the following year.

The Brazil international’s unspecified injury will keep him out of Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal at Manchester City as well as the two-leg Champions League quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain, coach Arne Slot said Friday.

“He will not be part of the Paris Saint-Germain games as well. He will be out for a bit longer. Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit again,” Slot said.

Alisson played Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League but then wasn’t in the squad three days later for a 2-1 loss at Brighton in the Premier League. Giorgi Mamardashvili started in Alisson’s place.

The 33-year-old Alisson, who has dealt with hamstring problems for the past two seasons, also missed Brazil’s two friendlies during the international break.

Liverpool is fifth in the Premier League.

Isak to be eased in

Alexander Isak could be a part of the squad Saturday. The striker definitely won’t start, Slot said, as he returned to team training only Thursday after recovering from a broken ankle and fibula sustained Dec. 20.

“It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes,” Slot said.

The 26-year-old Sweden international joined Liverpool last summer on a British-record transfer fee of $170 million after protracted negotiations with Newcastle.

Salah ready

Slot confirmed Mohamed Salah is fit and available. The Egypt star missed the game at Brighton — just before the international break — with a muscle injury.

Salah announced last week that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at a club where he has broken scoring records and established himself as one of the world’s best players.

Caroline Graham Hansen scored twice and Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts all scored a goal apiece for the three-time champion in the second leg of their quarterfinal to advance on a 12-2 aggregate score.

Barcelona will face Bayern Munich for a spot in the May 23 final in Oslo.

It was Barcelona’s sixth win over Madrid in the women’s clásico in all competitions this season and it was watched by 60,067 spectators in the women’s first game at the newly revamped Camp Nou.

Later Thursday, OL Lyonnes needed extra time to beat Wolfsburg 4-0 and will take on defending champion Arsenal in the last four.

Barcelona didn’t waste time in proving its superiority, giving Madrid no chance for an unprecedented quarterfinal turnaround after last week’s 6-2 result in the Spanish capital.

In the eighth minute, Pajor’s attempt from the left side of the box was saved by goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez. But Putellas scored off the rebound to mark the two-time Ballon d’Or winner’s 500th Barcelona appearance.

With the goal, Putellas became the first Spanish player to have 30 goals in women’s club competitions, according to UEFA.

Seven minutes later, Graham Hansen headed in the second from close range. Paredes made it 3-0 with another header off a corner from Graham Hansen in the 27th.

The home team went into halftime with a 4-0 lead after Pajor’s seventh goal in the Champions League this season and career 40th in European club competitions.

Graham Hansen chipped the ball over Rodríguez 10 minutes into the second half for a 5-0 lead. Clara Serrajordi set up Brugts to tap in the sixth.

Barcelona seeks to reclaim the title it lost to Arsenal last season. The Catalan club topped the league phase with an unbeaten campaign that included 20 goals scored and three against.

Substitutes save Lyon

Substitutes Melchie Dumornay and Damaris Egurrola scored off corner kicks five minutes apart at the end of the first half of extra time, and another substitute — Tabitha Chawinga — sealed the win, 4-1 on aggregate, to send the record eight-time champions to the next round.

Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Wolfsburg relied on defence and some great saves by goalkeeper Stina Johannes.

Lily Yohannes, an 18-year-old United States international, erased the one-goal deficit with a deflected low shot in the first half.

It was the 13th meeting between Lyon and Wolfsburg in the Women’s Champions League, a new record for the most played fixture.

Wolfsburg won the first meeting — the 2013 final — but Lyon has had the best of the rivalry since then. It won three finals against the German club: in 2016, 2018 and 2020.

The striker has recovered from a broken ankle and fibula, with Liverpool chasing a Champions League spot and Sweden celebrating qualification to the World Cup.

Isak needed surgery to repair injuries sustained from an opponent’s tackle during a Dec. 20 game against Tottenham.

“To have him again in a team that’s usually generating quite a lot chances — and maybe not immediately from the first moment that he can start — but to have him back for the last two months is, I think, very helpful for us,” Liverpool coach Arne Slot told club media Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Isak joined Liverpool on a British-record fee of $170 million after protracted negotiations with Newcastle at the end of last summer’s transfer window.

Slot’s team is in fifth place in the Premier League. It plays at Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday before traveling to face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Slot added: “Alex is in a really good place because Sweden qualified for the World Cup yesterday evening and apart from that he’s going to train with the group again for the first time tomorrow.”

Sweden was one of the last teams to qualify for this summer’s World Cup. The Swedes clinched their spot Tuesday with a 3-2 win over Poland in a European playoff final.

UEFA’s investigation of Prestianni is ongoing, and the verdict on a separate charge against Benfica for misconduct by fans at the Feb. 17 game in Lisbon was published Wednesday.

Benfica was fined 40,000 euros ($46,000) for “illicit chants and gestures by two supporters,” UEFA said. The club must serve a one-year probation period to avoid closing part of the Stadium of Light at a future European competition game.

Benfica previously suspended five fans who were under investigation for “inappropriate behaviour in the stands of a racist nature.”

Television images showed some fans making monkey gestures after Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League knockout playoffs round.

The game was stopped for nearly 10 minutes when Vinícius told the referee that Prestianni called him “monkey” after he scored and celebrated in front of Benfica fans.

Prestianni, who denied the allegation, pulled up his jersey to cover his mouth when the alleged insult was said.

UEFA suspended the Argentinian winger from the second leg in Madrid while he was under investigation. He faces a 10-game ban from UEFA competition games.

The round of 16 threw up a few surprises, while several of the tournament’s top heavyweights also managed to punch their tickets for the quarterfinals, which run from April 7-15.

Here are the big questions facing the remaining eight clubs who remain in contention for a spot in the final on May 30 at Puskás Aréna in Budapest. 

ARSENAL 

Round of 16: vs. Bayern Leverkusen (3-1 aggregate win) 

Quarterfinals: vs. Sporting CP 

Can Arsenal be stopped? The Gunners are destined to win the Premier League title — they sit atop the table with a nine-point lead over Manchester City with seven games remaining in the season. Mikel Arteta’s side cruised through the initial phase of the Champions League with a perfect 8-0-0 record and remained undefeated after dispatching Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16. Along the way, Arsenal has conceded only five goals across 10 Champions League matches, so this is their competition to lose at the moment. 

ATLETICO MADRID 

Round of 16: vs. Tottenham (7-5 aggregate win) 

Quarterfinals: vs. FC Barcelona 

Can Atletico keep up its torrid scoring pace? Atletico scored a respectable 17 goals through eight games during the first phase of the tournament before pouring it on in their two subsequent aggregate series. Los Colchoneros bagged seven goals over two legs vs. Club Brugge in the playoffs and then put the hammer down with another seven-goal effort in the round of 16 vs. Tottenham. 

BAYERN MUNICH 

Round of 16: vs. Atalanta (10-2 aggregate win) 

Quarterfinals: Real Madrid 

Will Alphonso Davies be ready for Real Madrid? The Canadian international limped off the field due to a non-contact injury in the first leg against Atalanta. Davies had only recently returned from a torn muscle fibre in his right hamstring. The diagnosis by the team’s medical staff suggests the damage isn’t that serious this time around, but given Davies’ recent rash of injuries, Bayern might be extra cautious and not risk it by playing him against Real Madrid. 

FC BARCELONA 

Round of 16: vs. Newcastle United (8-3 aggregate win)
Quarterfinals: vs. Atletico Madrid 

Can Barcelona keep its momentum going? After a tightly contested 1-1 draw in the opening leg, Barcelona exploded for seven goals in the return match against Newcastle, equalling a club record for its biggest offensive output in a single match in the Champions League. Both Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace in the second leg against their English opponents in a positively brilliant display at Camp Nou. Now the blaugrana look to duplicate that stupendous display against their La Liga rivals.  

LIVERPOOL 

Round of 16: vs. Galatasaray (4-1 aggregate win)
Quarterfinals: vs. Paris Saint-Germain 

Which Liverpool will show up vs. PSG? Liverpool looked positively dishevelled in the first leg against Galatasaray, dropping a 1-0 decision in Istanbul — and the damage could’ve been much worse if not for the Turks’ lack of finishing. But the Reds turned it around in the second leg at Anfield, registering a comprehensive 4-0 win. Liverpool will need a display similar to the one in the return match against Galatasaray if it wants to have any hope of getting the better of PSG. 

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 

Round of 16: vs. Chelsea (8-2 aggregate win)
Quarterfinals: vs. Liverpool 

Does Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have more to give? The Georgia international ran rampant against Chelsea with a brace in the opening match and another goal in the second leg at Stamford Bridge. In total, Kvaratskhelia has seven goals and four assists in 11 Champions League appearances this season. It’s an amazing goal contributions record, one that the former Napoli star will be keen to keep going in the quarterfinals against Liverpool. 

SPORTING CP 

Round of 16: vs. FK Bodø/Glimt (5-3 aggregate win) 

Quarterfinals: vs. Arsenal 

Can Sporting keep it going? The Lisbon-based club was the surprise package of the initial phase of the Champions League, winning five of eight games to claim one of the eight automatic berths for the knockout round. Their goose appeared to be cooked after suffering a 3-0 loss in Norway in the first leg of the round of 16. But Sporting pulled off an amazing comeback, thanks to a 5-0 home win in the return match. 

REAL MADRID 

Round of 16: vs. Manchester City (5-1 aggregate win) 

Quarterfinals: vs. Bayern Munich 

Will Kylian Mbappé come good? The French forward is the top scorer in this season’s Champions League with a whopping 13 goals. But all 13 of them came during the initial phase of the competition. Mbappé has failed to score in his last two outings, including the second leg over Manchester City, while also missing two games due to injury — his last goal in the Champions League came in January. 

John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 27 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is currently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.

But the Egyptian icon burst into life Wednesday to fire Liverpool into the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Salah scored his 50th Champions League goal.

But this is still far from vintage Salah. He got a first-half penalty so wrong that it was hard to tell if he was trying an audacious ‘Panenka’ chip or if it was simply a horrible mis-kick. Either way, it was an embarrassing moment just before halftime and all too typical of a campaign in which Salah’s powers appear to have diminished.

That all changed after the break when he was at the heart of a Liverpool goal spree that sealed a 4-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray and set up a tantalizing showdown with defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.

With Liverpool leading 1-0 at halftime through Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal, Salah crossed for Hugo Ekitike to double the advantage.

Two minutes later, his fierce shot was saved by Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir and Ryan Gravenberch was there to turn in Liverpool’s third on the rebound.

Then came the moment Salah — and the Anfield crowd was waiting for — cutting in from the right, he curled al eft-footed shot into the far corner from just outside the box.

The home fans erupted — chanting their hero’s name. He was given a standing ovation when he went off in the second half.

Salah should have left the field with another goal, but he fired against the bar from close range.

That was a reminder that Salah is still not at his lethal best and it is uncertain if he ever will be again at the age of 33.

His goal took his tally to 10 for the season — well down on the 34 he scored to inspire Liverpool to the Premier League title last term.

This time last year, tensions were rising as he neared the end of his contract and a new deal was still uncertain.

The idea of losing him was unthinkable to many Liverpool fans after watching him help the club to a full set of trophies — including the Champions League and two Premier Leagues — since he joined in 2017.

The problem for Liverpool’s hierarchy was whether to risk a lucrative contract extension on a player whose best years were behind him — even on the back of such an outstanding season.

It was never likely he could repeat those feats again, but few would have expected the drop off that has been witnessed this term.

Then there was the very public row with coach Arne Slot after he was dropped leading up the Africa Cup of Nations in December.

The fallout quickly passed, but Salah’s form has remained short of his best.

It is still unclear what the future holds for him at Liverpool, with one more year on his deal, and whether he will see out the contract.

Wednesday, however, was a reminder of what he can still produce. And in a year in which Liverpool’s title defence has unravelled, it still has hope in the Champions League.

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