Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×FA Cup Drama
Arsenal's bbc.com youth stars stole the spotlight as 16-year-olds Max Dowman and Marli Salmon made history in the Gunners' FA Cup win over Mansfield. The League One side pushed Mikel Arteta's team to the brink before Eberechi Eze's late stunner spared Arsenal from a major upset. Arteta acknowledged the challenge of juggling four competitions, admitting he's still learning the art of rotation with one of Arsenal's strongest ever squads.
Liverpool bbc.com bounced back from their recent defeat to Wolves with a 3-1 FA Cup victory at Molineux. Andrew Robertson's "perfect response" came with a stunning opener, while teenager Rio Ngumoha earned praise from manager Arne Slot as "special" after impressing in his first start. The win sets up a quarter-final clash and raises questions about whether the FA Cup could be Slot's lifeline amid a torrid Premier League campaign.
European League Action
Real Madrid espn.com snatched a vital 2-1 win at Celta Vigo when Federico Valverde struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Álvaro Arbeloa called the Uruguayan midfielder "everything a Real Madrid player should be" after the dramatic winner. The victory ended a two-match LaLiga losing streak and keeps Madrid's title hopes alive.
Bayern Munich bbc.com extended their Bundesliga lead to 14 points with a 4-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Harry Kane's absence didn't hinder the champions as they secured their fifth consecutive victory. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain espn.com dropped points in the Ligue 1 title race after losing 3-1 at home to Monaco, with Folarin Balogun scoring against his former club.
Scottish Cup Progress
Falkirk skysports.com reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Dundee United. Barney Stewart continued his impressive goalscoring form with the opener, setting up a Hampden showdown. The win keeps alive the Championship side's hopes of a major upset in the historic competition.
International Football
England bbc.com captain Lucy Bronze marked her 145th senior appearance with another commanding display, reinforcing her status as the team's gold standard. In Serie A, Lewis Ferguson bbc.com and Kieron Bowie are set to feature as Bologna host Verona in a crucial match for European qualification.
Transfer Market Buzz
Ryan Gravenberch espn.com has signed a new long-term contract at Liverpool, ending speculation about his future. Meanwhile, Napoli are keen to secure Scott McTominay's future amid Premier League interest, while Tottenham's search for a new manager continues with several candidates under consideration.
Other Sports
In tennis, Emma Raducanu skysports.com blazed past Anastasia Zakharova to win her first match at Indian Wells. Daniel Berger extended his lead to five shots at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, while Rory McIlroy moved up the leaderboard after an improved second round at Bay Hill.
Max Verstappen skysports.com had an X-ray on his hands after a "very weird" crash in Australian Grand Prix qualifying. Lewis Hamilton said he wants "to understand" Mercedes' advantage after his former team swept to a front-row lockout at the season-opening race.
In rugby union, Ireland skysports.com overcame a stubborn Wales 27-17 in Dublin to keep their Six Nations and Triple Crown hopes alive with a bonus-point victory. The win keeps Ireland in contention for the championship as the tournament reaches its climax.