Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×FA Cup Drama
Liverpool bbc.com cruised past Wolves with a 3-1 victory at Molineux to advance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Andy Robertson bbc.com fired Liverpool into the lead with a superb opening goal, while Arne Slot espn.com praised "special" teenager Rio Ngumoha after his impressive performance. Despite recent Premier League struggles, Liverpool's espn.com aggressive win over Wolves shows they can still turn back the clock. Slot bbc.com faces questions about whether winning the FA Cup could keep him in his job given the team's torrid league campaign.
LaLiga Battles
Federico Valverde espn.com put Madrid "on his back" for a vital win, scoring a late winner against Celta Vigo that had Álvaro Arbeloa calling him "everything a Real Madrid player should be." Valverde espn.com struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Real Madrid snatched a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo to bounce back from consecutive LaLiga defeats. Meanwhile, Barcelona espn.com coach Hansi Flick said he takes responsibility for the team's spate of injuries after losing key players to hamstring problems during the last week.
Bundesliga Dominance
Bayern Munich bbc.com hammered Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1 to move 14 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table. Bayern espn.com extended its lead to 14 points over Borussia Dortmund despite playing without star striker Harry Kane. The win marks Bayern's fifth consecutive victory as they cruise toward another league title.
Ligue 1 Title Race
Paris Saint-Germain espn.com dropped points in the Ligue 1 title race after losing 3-1 at home to a slick Monaco side. Ousmane Dembélé espn.com returned to the PSG squad for the match after recovering from a calf injury. Meanwhile, Vitinha espn.com said it would be "foolish" for him to consider leaving PSG amid reported interest from Real Madrid.
MLS and International
Inter Miami espn.com head coach Javier Mascherano labeled Lionel Messi as "one of a kind" as the Argentine forward looks to reach 900 career goals. Messi will play against D.C. United on Saturday night as he closes in on the milestone. In other international news, Cristiano Ronaldo espn.com will travel to Madrid to undergo treatment on his right hamstring injury, which Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus confirmed is more serious than initially expected.
USL and Lower Leagues
The USL Championship season opened Friday, but play halted immediately as Lexington SC espn.com and Louisville City FC players stood motionless for one minute to protest stalled CBA negotiations. This silent protest marks a significant moment in USL history as players demand better working conditions.
Managerial Moves
Several names are in the running to take the reins at Tottenham, while Serie A champions Napoli are looking to secure the future of Scott McTominay. West Ham bbc.com manager Nuno Espirito Santo is calling for clarity on what constitutes a foul at set-pieces, warning current levels of grappling and blocking are "almost crazy." Chelsea bbc.com head coach Liam Rosenior says striker Joao Pedro belongs in the same "category" as world-class forwards Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.
Women's Football
England bbc.com manager Sarina Wiegman says it is "very important" her team are patient if goals do not come quickly in their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifier against Iceland. Meanwhile, Rhian Wilkinson bbc.com says the impact of her "finishers" is evidence of the increased options at her disposal as Wales plot a path to the 2027 Women's World Cup. However, the Confederation for African Football confirmed the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations will not take place in Morocco as planned, drawing swift criticism.
Other Developments
Manchester United espn.com insist a 5% increase in ticket prices around Old Trafford next season will help in their quest to "return to the top of domestic and European football." UEFA have fined Real Madrid and ordered a suspended partial closure of the Bernabéu after a supporter inside the ground was filmed appearing to make a Nazi salute. Former Premier League winger Jordan Ibe bbc.com is bailed to appear for trial in July on assault charges.
With Arsenal and Manchester City still in the running for four trophies, BBC Sport looks at who else has come close to doing the Quadruple. Daniel Farke bbc.com led Norwich to the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2020 and now his old team are hoping to do so again by knocking out his current club Leeds United. The Scottish Cup quarter-finals feature eight previous winners, including holders Aberdeen, battling across the next three days.