Barcelona secured their place in the 2025 Copa del Rey Final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Atlético Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final at the Estadio Metropolitano on Wednesday night. The Catalan giants dominated the first half, controlling possession and creating numerous chances to take the lead. However, it was Ferran Torres’ well-taken goal that ultimately proved decisive, as it was the only strike of the match.

Despite Atlético Madrid coming out stronger in the second half, Barcelona showed remarkable resilience and determination to weather the storm. The home side pressed more aggressively and created several opportunities, but Barça’s defense, led by goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, stood firm to keep their slim lead intact. Torres’ goal from earlier in the match was enough to see Barcelona through to the final, where they will face bitter rivals Real Madrid in what promises to be an exciting showdown in Seville at the end of this month.

English striker Tammy Abraham found the back of the net for AC Milan, but city rivals Inter Milan responded quickly to ensure the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final ended in a 1-1 draw. The former Chelsea forward broke the deadlock early in the second half, blasting a right-footed shot across goalkeeper Josep Martinez into the bottom corner.

However, Inter leveled the score midway through the second period, with Hakan Calhanoglu scoring against his former club. The Turkish midfielder fired a powerful low drive from 25 yards past Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan to make it 1-1.

The second leg of the semi-final is set for 23 April, with the winner advancing to face either Bologna or Empoli in the final on 14 May. This match marked the fourth Milan derby of the 2024-25 season, and despite Inter’s commanding 20-point lead over Milan in Serie A, they have yet to secure a win in any of the derby encounters so far.

Maignan was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half, making crucial saves to deny Inter’s Joaquin Correa, Calhanoglu, and Davide Frattesi. Abraham also played his part defensively, heading away a goalbound header from Inter’s Stefan de Vrij to keep Milan’s goal intact.

In the second half, Maignan was called into action again, this time denying Inter substitute Nicola Zalewski from close range as the Nerazzurri pushed for a winner following Calhanoglu’s equalizer. At the other end, Milan’s Rafael Leao came close to a late winner, curling a shot just wide from the edge of the box, but the match ended all square ahead of the decisive second leg.

Liverpool claimed Merseyside bragging rights with a hard-fought victory over rivals Everton, moving ever closer to securing the Premier League title. Under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, the Reds now need just 13 points from a possible 24 to guarantee a well-deserved and record-equalling 20th top-flight triumph.

Despite being frustrated by Everton’s disciplined defensive setup, Liverpool ultimately secured the three points thanks to a moment of brilliance from Diogo Jota. The Portuguese forward had been relatively quiet for much of the match but sprang into life when he latched onto Luis Diaz’s clever backheel. Jota showcased his exceptional footwork, weaving past defenders before calmly slotting the ball home to break the deadlock.

Before the decisive goal, a moment of controversy dominated the first half, with Everton defender James Tarkowski incredibly fortunate to remain on the pitch. Tarkowski was shown only a yellow card after a sliding challenge in which he won the ball but caught Alexis Mac Allister on the knee with his studs during the follow-through. After a VAR review, the challenge was not upgraded to a red card, and while Dominik Szoboszlai curled the resulting free-kick just wide, Mohamed Salah also had a header saved by Jordan Pickford at the back post.

Everton threatened Liverpool’s defense, with Beto causing problems and having a goal ruled out for offside after outmuscling Virgil van Dijk. The striker soon found himself one-on-one with Caoimhin Kelleher but could only strike the post. Liverpool, determined to turn the game in their favor, increased the pressure in the second half. Ryan Gravenberch’s powerful shot from distance was pushed away by Pickford, but it was Jota’s clinical strike in the 56th minute that ultimately proved to be the difference, keeping Liverpool’s title challenge on track.

Substitute Matheus Franca scored in stoppage time to deny Premier League strugglers Southampton a much-needed victory, as Crystal Palace fought back to earn a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday.

Southampton, desperate to avoid a 10th consecutive home league defeat, took the lead in the 20th minute through Paul Onuachu. The hosts appeared to be on track for a rare win, with their goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale playing a crucial role in maintaining their advantage, making a vital save later in the first half to keep Palace at bay. Despite their efforts, however, Southampton’s hopes of securing all three points were dashed in dramatic fashion when Franca struck late to level the score.

Sandro Tonali scored a stunning winner to strengthen Newcastle’s hopes of securing a Champions League spot, as the Magpies claimed victory in their first match since lifting the Carabao Cup. Alexander Isak’s 20th Premier League goal of the season had initially put Eddie Howe’s side in the driver’s seat, but the mood shifted inside St James’ Park when Bryan Mbeumo converted a penalty after Nick Pope fouled Yoane Wissa, bringing Brentford level.

Despite the setback, Tonali’s brilliant cross-shot caught Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken off guard, ensuring Newcastle maintained their strong push for a top-four finish. This win came just 17 days after Newcastle triumphed over Liverpool at Wembley to end the club’s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.

The international break allowed Newcastle to savor their Wembley triumph, but manager Eddie Howe emphasized the importance of moving forward and continuing the momentum. Though they weren’t at their smoothest best, Newcastle did enough to defeat a Brentford side that had won all five of their away games in 2025 before this encounter.

In-form Isak, continuing his remarkable season, scored the opener by guiding Jacob Murphy’s cross past Flekken, with Mbeumo slipping at a crucial moment. Isak’s goal marked his second consecutive season of scoring 20 or more Premier League goals for Newcastle, further solidifying his impact.

Brentford briefly saw hope with Mbeumo’s penalty, which revived their chances of extending their unbeaten run, but Tonali had the final say, leaving his mark with the decisive strike to seal a hard-earned victory.

Aston Villa secured back-to-back away league victories for the first time since August, defeating Brighton 3-0 at the Amex Stadium. This win also extended Villa’s remarkable run to six consecutive victories in all competitions, marking the longest winning streak under manager Unai Emery.

The visitors started the match with high energy, as Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, and Marcus Rashford all had efforts on goal within the first 20 minutes. Villa’s attacking momentum continued throughout the first half, though they were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the 37th minute when Jacob Ramsey was tripped inside the box by Jack Hinshelwood, who was already on a yellow card. Despite strong protests from Villa players, referee Stuart Attwell dismissed the claims, and after a VAR review, the original decision stood.

As the first half drew to a close, Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez made a crucial save, brilliantly tipping a Yasin Ayari free-kick onto the post to keep the score level. In the second half, Villa broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Marcus Rashford scored his first league goal for the club. The forward latched onto a perfectly weighted long ball from Morgan Rogers and slotted the ball past Brighton’s goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen.

Brighton thought they had equalized just moments later when Simon Adingra fired in from close range, but VAR intervened, disallowing the goal after it was ruled that Kaoru Mitoma had handled the ball in the build-up.

With Villa holding on to their slim lead, Marco Asensio came off the bench in the 78th minute to seal the victory. The Spanish winger doubled Villa’s advantage, turning in Rogers’ precise cross from the right to make it 2-0. Late in the match, Donyell Malen capped off the commanding performance, firing past Verbruggen from a tight angle to score his first goal for the club and complete the 3-0 win.

Relegation-threatened Ipswich Town claimed their first Premier League victory of 2025, stunning Bournemouth and damaging their hopes of qualifying for Europe. The hosts came close to taking an early lead when Alex Scott’s powerful shot was cleared off the line by Ipswich defender Dara O’Shea. However, it was the visitors who struck first shortly after.

Nathan Broadhead, the Wales international, scored his first-ever Premier League goal by collecting the ball following a brilliant run from Julio Enciso. Broadhead then cut inside Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen before firing a shot through the legs of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to give Ipswich the lead.

Ipswich, who had been winless in the league since a 2-0 victory over Chelsea on December 30, 2024, had also been the only team across the top four divisions of English football yet to register a league win in 2025.

Bournemouth came close to equalizing early in the second half when Scott unleashed a powerful 20-yard strike, but Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer produced a stunning save to tip the ball over the bar. On the hour mark, Ipswich extended their lead as Liam Delap scored his 11th goal of the season. Delap lashed the ball past Arrizabalaga following a precise pullback from Conor Townsend.

The Cherries thought they had a chance to get back into the game when referee Rob Jones awarded them a penalty for a challenge by Axel Tuanzebe on Antoine Semenyo. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and the referee ruled the contact had occurred just outside the penalty area, awarding Ipswich a free-kick instead.

Bournemouth didn’t give up and pulled a goal back in the 67th minute. Evanilson reacted quickest to convert the rebound after Palmer had parried a shot from Lewis Cook. The hosts dominated possession in the final stages, but Ipswich held firm to secure only their fourth league win of the season, leaving Bournemouth’s European aspirations hanging by a thread.

Jack Grealish scored his first Premier League goal in nearly 16 months, as Manchester City climbed into fourth place and dealt a significant blow to Leicester’s survival hopes with a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium. The victory pushed Leicester even closer to relegation, leaving them with a mountain to climb.

City manager Pep Guardiola, who was banned from the touchline, watched the match from the stands, and was at least able to witness Grealish’s goal. The winger, making his first league start since December, pounced on a second-minute cutback from Savinho to open the scoring. It was a moment that was somewhat muted, though, as many City fans were still outside the stadium in protest. Hundreds of supporters had not yet taken their seats, showing discontent over the expected rise in season ticket prices and the club’s new commercial partnership with ticket resale platform Viagogo.

Omar Marmoush, filling in for the injured Erling Haaland, doubled City’s lead just before the half-hour mark. Marmoush latched onto a chipped ball from Ruben Dias and hammered a first-time shot into the underside of the bar, after Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen failed to deal with the delivery into the penalty area.

For Leicester, the defeat is part of a grim sequence that has seen them lose 14 of their last 15 league matches. With just eight games remaining, they are now 12 points adrift of safety, making an immediate return to the Championship seem increasingly likely. The club has set some disheartening records, becoming only the fourth team in English top-flight history to lose seven consecutive games without scoring, while also conceding the first goal in 25 of their 30 matches this season. To make matters worse, Leicester are still yet to keep a clean sheet away from home.

Belgium produced a stunning 3-0 victory over Ukraine in the second leg of their UEFA Nations League (UNL) League A/B play-off, securing a 4-3 aggregate win in dramatic fashion. In a blistering 16-minute period, the Red Devils scored three quick goals, effectively sealing their place in the top tier for the next edition of the competition. This impressive comeback not only ended Belgium’s long-standing winless head-to-head record against Ukraine but also ensured their status as ever-presents in League A, maintaining their position among Europe’s elite footballing nations.

For Belgium, this match was about much more than just the result—it was a statement of resilience and quality after a challenging first leg. Their swift and decisive goals demonstrated their attacking prowess, with each strike coming at a crucial moment to keep Ukraine on the back foot. The 3-0 scoreline was a well-deserved reflection of their dominance in the second leg, as they turned around a narrow deficit from the first leg to clinch the aggregate victory.

The win also carried significant meaning in the context of the Nations League. By overcoming Ukraine, Belgium ensured that they would continue to compete in the prestigious top tier of the competition, a place they have consistently maintained since its inception. The victory not only reinforced their status as one of Europe’s footballing heavyweights but also offered a boost of confidence heading into future international fixtures, as they now look ahead to the next challenges with their place among the continent’s elite securely intact.

Germany capitalized on Italian mistakes, including a bizarre blunder by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, to secure a spot in the Nations League semi-finals, despite a late Italy rally. Julian Nagelsmann’s team triumphed 2-1 in the first leg at the San Siro in Milan on Thursday and completed the job in the second leg at Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park.

After conceding a penalty, which was converted by Germany captain Joshua Kimmich following a foul on Tim Kleindienst by Alessandro Buongiorno, Donnarumma made a costly error for the second goal. He tipped Kleindienst’s header over the bar, then appeared to argue with either the referee or his teammates, walking around eight yards off his line. Germany took advantage with a quick corner from Kimmich on the right, which Jamal Musiala swept into the open net while Donnarumma was out of position.

This gave Germany a 4-1 aggregate lead, and just before halftime, it became 5-1 when Italy lost possession trying to play from the back, with Kleindienst heading in a Kimmich cross for his third assist of the night. However, Italy fought back in the second half.

Moise Kean, a former Everton striker, scored twice for Italy—first with a precise finish into the bottom corner and later after being set up by Giacomo Raspadori. In the fifth minute of injury time, Italy equalized on the night at 3-3 when Maximilian Mittelstadt was penalized for handball, allowing Raspadori to score from the spot. The aggregate score stood at 5-4 in Germany’s favor, but Italy couldn’t find another goal to force extra time.

This marks Germany’s first semi-final appearance in the Nations League, where they will face either Denmark or Portugal in June. With this quarter-final victory, Germany will join Luxembourg, Northern Ireland, and Slovakia in World Cup Qualifying Group A, while Italy will be placed in Group I alongside Estonia, Israel, Moldova, and Norway.