Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Premier League & FA Cup
Manchester City espn.com showed their depth without Erling Haaland, defeating Newcastle 3-1 in the FA Cup fifth round. Pep Guardiola espn.com expects a two-game touchline ban after his furious reaction to the officials during the match. Meanwhile, Arsenal bbc.com survived a scare against League One side Mansfield, with Eberechi Eze scoring the winner after coming off the bench. Max Dowman skysports.com and Marli Salmon bbc.com made history as 16-year-olds featuring in the match.
Chelsea espn.com twice came from behind to beat 10-man Wrexham 4-2 in extra time, with VAR playing a crucial role in sending off Wrexham's James Dobson espn.com for his challenge on Alejandro Garnacho. Liam Rosenior espn.com admitted Chelsea were "lucky" to advance after two key VAR decisions went against the Welsh side. Phil Parkinson espn.com said Wrexham will now target Premier League promotion after their FA Cup exit, while Liam Rosenior bbc.com defended his heavy squad rotation.
Newcastle bbc.com suffered a 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, with Eddie Howe admitting his side received a "sobering reminder" of the gap to the top teams. Barcelona espn.com went four points clear at the top of La Liga thanks to a stunning strike from teenage sensation Lamine Yamal against Athletic Bilbao.
International Football
The United States Women's National Team espn.com won the She Believes Cup with a 1-0 victory over Colombia, with Alyssa Thompson scoring the decisive goal in the 82nd minute. In the men's game, Lionel Messi espn.com scored his 899th career goal as Inter Miami defeated D.C. United 2-1 in front of 72,026 fans. Jorge Mas espn.com revealed Messi earns between $70 million and $80 million annually, including ownership shares.
U.S. defender Sergiño Dest espn.com suffered an apparent hamstring injury during PSV Eindhoven's 2-1 win over AZ Alkmaar, raising concerns ahead of international duty. In Scotland, Dunfermline skysports.com stunned holders Aberdeen 3-0 in the Scottish Cup, while Motherwell skysports.com saw their title hopes dented with a 2-1 defeat at Dundee.
Player News & Transfers
Ryan Gravenberch espn.com signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, committing his future to the Premier League club. Julian Brandt espn.com will leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, with the German midfielder confirming his departure. Evan Ferguson bbc.com was ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury, missing the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off.
Manchester United bbc.com have set their sights on Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier, while Napoli hope to secure Scott McTominay bbc.com to a new deal amid Premier League interest. Tottenham Hotspur espn.com could replace manager Igor Tudor soon, with Barcelona eyeing one of their promising young defenders.
Other Football News
Melvine Malard bbc.com is bringing "sunshine" to Manchester United, with the French forward telling BBC Sport about her journey to Old Trafford. The Dubois-Harper feud intensified, with Sky Sports skysports.com reporting "She hasn't done anything" in reference to the controversy. Kris Lindsay bbc.com said it's "up to the powers that be" at the Irish FA to decide his future as Northern Ireland interim manager.
Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez bbc.com provided a moment of sportsmanship by removing a pigeon that stopped play during their 3-2 win over Real Sociedad. Rhian Wilkinson bbc.com praised Wales' "job well done" following their first win in 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying, while Lucy Bronze bbc.com marked her 145th England appearance with another standout performance.
European Action
Bologna bbc.com hosted Verona in Serie A with Scotland internationals Lewis Ferguson and Kieron Bowie set to feature, live on BBC Alba. Coventry skysports.com and Millwall secured wins in the EFL, while Ipswich were held by Leicester. Celtic bbc.com face competition to secure a defender on a permanent deal, with Kasper Schmeichel still expected to have "a huge influence" despite challenges to his position.