Alexander Sorloth's late leveller was the final word in a thrilling match as Atletico Madrid secured a dramatic 4-4 draw with Barcelona on Tuesday. Momentum swung back and forth in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, with former Manchester City attacker Julian Alvarez stunning the hosts after just 50 seconds and ex-Barcelona man Antoine Griezmann adding a second soon after. The hosts recovered from their sluggish start with a Pedri finish and a Pau Cubarsi header drawing them level with 19 minutes on the clock. Another first-half header from Inigo Martinez and a second-half finish from Robert Lewandowski appeared to have set Hansi Flick's team on the way to a win, before Atletico Madrid mounted a comeback of their own. Marcos Llorente got a third for Diego Simeone's side late on, before substitute Sorloth clinched a dramatic draw in the third minute of added time to leave the tie in the balance. Pitting La Liga's top scorers against the league's most-resilient defence was always going to produce a tense game, but this one lived up to the hype - and then some. After Alvarez converted at the back post and Griezmann finished past Wojciech Szczesny to make it 2-0 in just six minutes, Barcelona looked shell shocked. Flick's team regrouped and began to dominate, capitalising on their pressure through Pedri, who slotted Jules Kounde's pullback beyond Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Juan Musso. Raphinha's corner just two minutes later was headed in by Cubarsi to level things up, before Martinez completed the first-half turnaround. Barcelona moved further ahead when their top-scorer Lewandowski came off the bench to score, finishing after Yamal's dazzling run down the right. The early lead Diego Simeone's side held had been unravelled but Llorente finished past Szczesny to set up a tense finish in which the visitors were back on top. Deep in injury time, Samuel Lino broke in behind and worked the ball across to Sorloth, who made no mistake to clinch a late leveller for the visitors and set up an intriguing second leg in April.

The Kaduna State Police Command has refuted reports of an explosion in the state on Tuesday, where two children were feared dead. Rather, the police said 12-year-old Abubakar Muhammed was killed by a discharge from a locally made firearm (Dane gun). Residents of Abakpa area of Kaduna North Local Government Area of the state, adjacent the old site of the Nigerian Defence Academy, had been sent into panic mode upon hearing what sounded like a blast. One of the residents recounted how he was gripped by fear upon hearing a loud sound. “I was taking my bath when I heard the explosion and ran out to see what had happened,” he said. “I saw one of the affected victims, Imam, and tried to take him to the hospital but he died before we got to the hospital,” he said. However, the police said preliminary investigations by the Officer in charge of the Police Anti-Bomb Squad indicated that the incident was caused by the discharge of a Dane gun, not an explosion. The police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident killed one person and left seven others injured. The statement read, “On 22nd April 2025 at about 0830hrs, the Police received a distress call regarding a suspected blast in the Josawa Road area of Abakpa, Kaduna. “In response, a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer, Kawo Division, was immediately dispatched to the scene. The incident claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy, identified as Abubakar Muhammed of Josawa Road. “Additionally, seven other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention. “Contrary to initial reports, experts confirmed that the incident was not an explosion. Preliminary investigations conducted by the Officer in charge of the Police Anti Bomb Squad indicate that a locally made firearm (Dane gun) was discharged, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of the young boy.” The police further noted that it has launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances behind the incident. “The Commissioner of Police, Garrison Commander, State Director, Department of State Services (DSS) and the chairman, Kaduna North Local Government have all visited the scene and a thorough on-site assessment was carried out. “The police command assures the public that further developments will be promptly and transparently communicated. “The command extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” the statement added. However, residents of the area are still reeling in shock from the incident.

Everton forward Rikke Madsen had a comeback to remember as her boyfriend proposed after her first appearance in more than a year. The Denmark international made her return to action in Saturday's 3-0 Women's Super League victory over Crystal Palace. Madsen was named in Brian Sorensen's matchday squad for the first time since giving birth to her daughter Fritsen in October. The 27-year-old came on as a second-half substitute and, when the team were celebrating their win on the pitch afterwards and she held her baby, her partner Martin Thomsen got down on one knee to propose. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long now, a year," Madsen told the BBC. "Ever since becoming pregnant I've been aiming to get back as quick as possible. "Today my little baby is turning five months so it is so nice to be back. Ending off with my boyfriend asking me to marry him, that was a little twist - I did not expect that." Martin initially came onto the pitch carrying Frida to give Madsen a bouquet of flowers, before the two posed for photos. He then made the proposal and Madsen accepted before the happy couple celebrated with her team-mates. Her last appearance for Everton was on 10 March 2024, but she was not sure of a return date. "A very happy day," she added. "I had no idea I was going to come on and I had especially no idea he was going to propose to me. The first thing I said to the other girls was that I hate surprises, but this one was alright."