Chelsea, Benfica and Fenerbahce closed in on the Europa League semifinals with victories on Thursday while Basel claimed crucial away goals with a draw at Tottenham.

Argentine club Arsenal paid a fine of nearly US$20,000 to Brazilian authorities to ensure charges weren't brought against seven players accused of injuring several police officers and a journalist after a Copa Libertadores match.

One of the three soccer officials facing match-fixing related charges was taken to a hospital with an undisclosed illness while the other two appeared in a Singapore court Friday and entered no pleas.

Atletico Mineiro's 5-2 victory over Arsenal in the Libertadores Cup was marred by fighting between members of the Argentine team and Brazilian military police on the pitch at the end of the match on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after just nine minutes as Real Madrid swept to a convincing 3-0 victory over Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Bayern Munich ended Juventus' unbeaten record in the Champions League this season with a 2-0 win Tuesday in the first leg of their quarterfinal, stunning the Italian team with a goal in the first minute and then dominating much of the match.

Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura played down fears for the fitness of Lionel Messi on Tuesday while Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted his team can still win their Champions League quarter-final tie.

South Korean side Pohang Steelers beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 to send the J-League champions to their third straight loss in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday, while Saudi club Al Alhi took control of Group C with a 4-2 victory over Iranian league champion Sepahan.

Herculez Gomez scored off of a rebound in the 54th minute, lifting Santos Laguna past the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals on Tuesday night.

FIFA surprisingly opted for GoalControl on Tuesday as its goal-line technology system to be used at next year's World Cup in Brazil, picking the little-known German project ahead of more established rivals like Hawk-Eye.