Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: April 4, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

English Domestic Cups & Player Futures

Chelsea thrashed Port Vale 7-0 at Stamford Bridge to advance into the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, a result that saw the League One strugglers suffer a comprehensive defeat. Elsewhere in the competition, pressure continued to mount on Liverpool's management as they were dismantled 4-0 by Manchester City in their own FA Cup quarter-final clash, prompting manager Arne Slot to question his players' effort and spirit. The defeat was compounded by Erling Haaland's return to form, as his [first hat trick since August 2024]29 sent City through and led the striker to later declare his own season "too up and down" 24.

The fallout continued in West London, where manager Liam Rosenior insisted his relationship with Enzo Fernández was "in a very good place" despite dropping the midfielder, a move that followed the player's agent slamming Chelsea's decision to bench him as "completely unfair" 91. The agent criticized the club's action after Fernández was [dropped for two games for "crossing a line"]98. Meanwhile, former Chelsea star Oscar retired from professional football five months after being hospitalized with a heart issue, as confirmed by his club São Paulo on Saturday 1.

Scottish Premiership Title & Relegation Battles

Rangers moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership standings for the first time since February 2024 after labouring to a 4-2 victory over Dundee United at Ibrox, prompting head coach Danny Rohl to demand that his side maintain their "hunter" mentality 97. Falkirk manager John McGlynn celebrated securing a top-six finish in their return to the top flight, calling the achievement his greatest success after beating Motherwell 3-2. In contrast, Aberdeen faces a genuine threat of relegation, currently sitting in the playoff spot with seven games remaining, raising questions over whether the club [will drop down for the first time in their history]79. Stephen Robinson's hopes for a positive return to Paisley were dashed as his Aberdeen side were [beaten 2-0 by St Mirren]4.

European Club Turmoil & Managerial Shifts

Real Madrid suffered a dramatic setback, conceding a stoppage-time winner to lose 2-1 away at Mallorca 17, a defeat for which coach Álvaro Arbeloa [claimed full responsibility]13, attributing the loss partly to Vinícius Júnior being overworked after Arbeloa noted the star "had not been given much rest" by Carlo Ancelotti 77. In Germany, Bayern Munich required a [stoppage-time equalizer from Tom Bischof]22 to salvage a 2-2 draw against Freiburg. Elsewhere, the managerial situation at [Atletico Madrid remains uncertain]47, with speculation mounting over whether Diego Simeone will leave at the end of the season after more than 14 years with the club.

Championship Survival & Promotion Push

The Sky Bet Championship saw Coventry City take a significant step towards promotion following a pulsating 3-2 win over Derby, driven by [two goals from returning Jack Rudoni]52, which moved them 11 points clear of the chasing pack 59. Millwall leapfrogged Middlesbrough into second place after Josh Coburn scored a brace against his former club in a 2-1 victory 86, while Wrexham staged a second-half comeback to draw 2-2 at West Brom, placing them inside the playoff positions 70. Todd Cantwell's lone strike earned Blackburn Rovers a vital 1-0 win at Birmingham, providing a major boost to their [quest for Championship survival]67, as Leicester, despite Patson Daka netting twice in a 2-2 draw with Preston, remained firmly in the relegation zone 68.

International Football & Federation Changes

Italy's national team faced further upheaval following their failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, resulting in the resignation of [federation president Gabriele Gravina]150 on Thursday, while legendary former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down from his role with the national setup 150. New Northern Ireland boss Michael McArdle has named his first squad, including uncapped striker [Cora Chambers, who could address the side's goalscoring issues]99. In the United States, USWNT forward Sophia Wilson is preparing for her return to the squad this month after giving birth in September, expressing gratitude for the [moms who paved the way on the team]127.

Rugby & Other Sports Notes

In European rugby, [Bath edged past Saracens 31-22]11, relying on four England backs to secure passage into the Champions Cup quarter-finals. In Super League action, Warrington Wolves reclaimed top spot in the table with a dominant 42-6 victory over Leigh Leopards during Rivals Round 20, while Leeds moved to the summit after defeating Bradford 24-12 in the first derby meeting between the two clubs in 12 years 49. Meanwhile, in cricket, James Anderson [rolled back the years for Lancashire]7 with a five-wicket haul against Northamptonshire on day two of their County Championship opener, prompting England Test captain Ben Stokes to urge players to use the domestic competition to [push their case for international selection]140.