Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: May 9, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

English Football: Premier League & Championship Play-offs

The Premier League title race remains intensely poised as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta rallied his squad to "stay present and live the moment" ahead of a crucial weekend, while Manchester United missed an opportunity to secure third place after being held to a goalless stalemate at Sunderland, a fixture that carries historical weight following the infamous 2012 title loss to Manchester City. Meanwhile, Aston Villa secured their place in the Europa League final by blowing Nottingham Forest away 4-0 at Villa Park, winning 4-1 on aggregate, meaning a Villa victory in that final could potentially grant the sixth-placed Premier League finisher a Champions League berth. Elsewhere in the Championship play-offs, the semi-finals remain finely balanced after both first legs ended in stalemates; Middlesbrough and Southampton played out a goalless draw leaving their tie evenly poised, while Hull City and Millwall also finished 0-0, despite Millwall having a controversial late goal ruled out.

The fallout from the alleged spying incident continues to dominate the Championship narrative, as Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg accused Southampton of cheating following their first-leg draw, which prompted the EFL to formally charge Southampton with a breach of regulations after a staff member allegedly spied on Boro's training session. In managerial speculation, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola heads the shortlist for Crystal Palace’s manager vacancy, even as his current side strengthened their grip on a European spot by extending their unbeaten run to 16 games with a 1-0 win at Fulham, a match that saw both teams reduced to ten men. In the Women's Super League, Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 3-0 with Russo scoring twice, while the season's end also sees Liverpool Women aiming for a trophy, being just two wins away from lifting silverware after a season that "has not gone to plan".

Scottish Premiership & Relegation Battles

The Scottish Premiership title race is heating up, with Hearts viewing a potential first top-flight trophy since 1960 on Wednesday, though Rangers still hold a part in deciding where the trophy lands in the final Old Firm clash, while Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has the power to act as the "kingmaker" in the title destination. In relegation troubles, Kilmarnock significantly eased their concerns after Findlay Curtis scored a brace in a victory over St Mirren, securing their first away win since September, and Dundee also confirmed their top-flight survival with a 3-0 triumph over already-relegated Livingston. Meanwhile, Livingston's recent turmoil continued as interim player-manager Marvin Bartley stated he felt "no option but to resign" after being asked to reapply for his position, following the club's relegation confirmed earlier.

European Football & Awards

English clubs have achieved a historic milestone by reaching the finals of three different European competitions within the same season, setting the stage for finals where PSG will defend their Champions League title against Arsenal in Budapest. In La Liga, Barcelona hosts Real Madrid in the second Clasico of the season, aiming to clinch a second consecutive league title while facing a Real Madrid side reportedly in crisis following reports of a €500,000 fine levied against teammates Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde for a training ground altercation. Individual accolades were distributed as Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City striker Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw were jointly voted the 2025/26 Football Writers' Association Footballers of the Year, with Fernandes also securing the men's FWA award.

Other Football News & Off-Field Matters

The Women's World Cup preparations are ramping up, with the England team facing New Zealand in their first ODI as they aim to "set our standards" for the summer, while international football news saw Luis Suarez state he "would never say no" if Uruguay required his services for the upcoming World Cup. In less positive news, Maldon & Tiptree owners Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his husband Scott were remanded in custody after appearing in court on rape charges, and the inquest into the death of former WSL manager Matt Beard has been delayed due to family concerns about alleged "bullying". Furthermore, a unique story emerged from Alex Batty, who disappeared at age 11 and is now set to tell his story after being missing for six years.

Other Sports Updates

In snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan reached his maiden World Seniors Championship final on debut after securing a tough 7-5 victory over Robert Milkins in Sheffield, having previously cruised past Ken Doherty 4-1 to reach the senior quarter-finals. In horse racing, Maltese Cross enhanced its claims for the Betfred Derby after a narrow victory in the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial, while A Piece Of Heaven claimed the Ladbrokes Chester Cup. On the tennis circuit, Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat in Rome on his return from injury, losing to an 18-year-old Croatian qualifier, while Iga Swiatek advanced at the Italian Open despite ongoing discussions regarding tournament prize fund distribution.