Real Madrid weren't clinical enough at one end and were exposed at the other as they fell to a shock, 2-1 defeat against Mallorca on Saturday that lands a massive blow to their La Liga title hopes. Kylian Mbappe had chances aplenty, but the Mallorca defence held firm. Madrid's backline, by contrast, did not, which proved to be the difference on the day - and might be decisive in the title race, too.
Manchester City star Erling Haaland admitted he was "super happy" to have finally ended his wait for another hat-trick as he fired Pep Guardiola’s side into the FA Cup semi-finals. The Norwegian goal-machine was in clinical form at the Etihad Stadium, dismantling a Liverpool side still struggling under Arne Slot.
Arne Slot delivered a blistering assessment of Liverpool's defensive collapse after they were dumped out of the FA Cup following a 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City. Despite a competitive opening half-hour, the Reds fell apart as Erling Haaland's clinical hat-trick sent Pep Guardiola's side into a record-extending eighth consecutive semi-final.
Erling Haaland scored his first hat-trick of the season as Manchester City demolished Liverpool 4-0 in a practically perfect FA Cup quarter-final tie at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland bagged a penalty late in the first half and soon followed it with a header to complete a wonderful team move from Pep Guardiola's side, who stormed into the FA Cup semi-finals for an eighth consecutive season.
Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup has been compounded by reports of a pre-match financial dispute. Italy players reportedly requested a massive bonus just days before their shocking elimination in Zenica.
Liverpool crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday as they fell to a 4-0 quarter-final defeat at Manchester City that heaps more pressure on manager Arne Slot. Despite playing some nice football at times, the Reds were undone in the space of 18 minutes either side of half-time as a hat-trick from Erling Haaland and an Antoine Semenyo strike sealed City's spot in the semi-finals.
Paul Pogba's career in French football has not gone according to plan since his arrival. The French midfielder has seen his debut season in the principality severely disrupted by injury, but the light at the end of the tunnel is now visible. He is finally on the verge of returning to competitive action for Monaco after a frustrating four-month spell on the sidelines.