LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — It has been a season to forget for Mohamed Salah.
But the Egyptian icon burst into life Wednesday to fire Liverpool into the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
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Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the field after substitution during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah takes and misses a penalty during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the field after substitution during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Galatasaray's goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakır, left, makes a save in front of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, center, during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
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 left-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.
On Wednesday, however, was a reminder of what he can still produce. And in a year in which Liverpool's title defense has unraveled, it still has hope in the Champions League.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the field after substitution during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah takes and misses a penalty during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the field after substitution during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Galatasaray's goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakır, left, makes a save in front of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, center, during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Barcelona scored seven and Liverpool revived its season with four goals to flip tight Champions League games Wednesday into big wins sending them to the quarterfinals.
Atletico Madrid survived a pulsating Tottenham fightback to make it Spain 3, England 0 in round-of-16 clashes this week.
Bayern Munich had it easiest of all, pushing aside Atalanta 4-1 on Wednesday and 10-2 on aggregate, to get a blockbuster quarterfinal against Real Madrid.
Another Champions League goals rush was sparked by Barcelona tearing apart Newcastle in the second half of a thrilling 7-2 win after the teams went toe-to-toe before the break.
Tied 1-1 after the first leg in Newcastle, Barcelona surged to a victory after Lamine Yamal's momentum-shifting penalty kick in first-half stoppage time made the score 3-2.
Robert Lewandowski then scored twice, Fermín López finished a slick move and Raphinha got his second goal as Newcastle's defense collapsed.
Liverpool ultimately eased to a 4-0 win over Galatasaray at Anfield, overturning a one-goal loss in Istanbul, despite Mohamed Salah missing a penalty in first-half stoppage time when the score was 1-0.
Still, Salah was key to Liverpool's strong second half with two assists then a goal in a performance that could restart an erratic season for the English champions and ease growing pressure on coach Arne Slot.
Tottenham showed real character after an embarrassing 5-2 loss in Madrid last week but was resisted by Atletico twice leveling the score in Wednesday's second leg. Xavi Simon's late penalty at least gave Tottenham a 3-2 win on the night.
Tottenham and Newcastle joined Manchester City, ousted by Real Madrid on Tuesday 5-1 on aggregate score, as Premier League teams eliminated by La Liga's best.
England had a record six teams in the competition and all reached the round of 16, but only Arsenal and Liverpool advanced. Chelsea was eliminated Tuesday by defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.
In Munich, fit-again Bayern talisman Harry Kane scored twice against Atalanta to end Italy's challenge in this Champions League edition.
Barcelona is scoring for fun at Camp Nou this year. It’s now eight games at home in the Champions League, La Liga or Copa del Rey and Barcelona has won all eight, getting at least three goals each time.
Seven against Newcastle was the best yet for coach Hansi Flick team, started by Raphinha’s sixth-minute shot — finishing a move where two Newcastle defenders slipped to the turf — then 18-year-old Marc Bernal found space alone in the goalmouth in the 18th.
Newcastle soon leveled each time with rare goals from Anthony Elanga. The Sweden winger was goalless in 35 previous games this season in the Premier League or Champions League yet struck twice in a 13-minute spell.
Barcelona got a fast start to the second half when López ran clear on to slick passes from Gerard Martín to Raphinha to score with a well-placed shot and Newcastle's chance was gone.
“I saw new, improved confidence in that second-half performance,” Flick said.
Real Madrid will play Bayern Munich, in a clash of 15-time and six-time European champions. They still have never met in the final across 71 years of the European Cup and Champions League.
Liverpool face defending champion PSG with the first leg at Parc des Princes. It’s a rematch of their thrilling round-of-16 games last season.
The second leg at Anfield should be on Tuesday, April 14. Liverpool has never played on April 15 since the Hillsborough Stadium disaster on that date in 1989.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid meet again twice just weeks after they played a two-leg domestic cup semifinal. Then, Atletico won 4-0 at home and lost 3-0 at Camp Nou to reach the Copa del Rey final.
Days before the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium on April 7 or 8, they are due to play there yet again in La Liga.
Tuesday’s games confirmed Arsenal, the last unbeaten team in the competition, will face Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese champion last played at this stage in 1983.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Barcelona's Marc Bernal celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United FC in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring a penalty, his side's third goal during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United FC in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Newcastle's Anthony Elanga, right, scores his side's second goal during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United FC in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scores a penalty, his side's third goal during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United FC in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Raphinha, right, celebrates with teammate Lamine Yamal after scoring the opening goal of his team during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United FC in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his side's sixth goal during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United FC in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Bayern's Harry Kane during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Atletico Madrid players greet fans at the end of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Tottenham in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham in Liverpool, England, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
