This week features several significant midweek matches across Europe, with various teams competing for trophies. Here are the latest updates.
โฝ The Forward Line
๐ฎ๐น Inter and AC Milan Aim for Coppa Italia Final
The final Derby della Madonnina of the season takes place on Wednesday in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals, with Inter and AC Milan tied at 1-1 after the first encounter. While Inter might have been considered favorites entering the tie and are still pursuing their first treble since the 2009-10 season, the past few weeks have presented challenges for Simone Inzaghi`s squad, potentially creating an opportunity for AC Milan in the return leg.
Inter`s 1-0 defeat to Bologna on Sunday not only allowed Napoli to draw level on points with five games remaining in Serie A but also raised significant doubts about their capacity to win a treble. All three potential trophies are on the line in the coming weeks, and success in any is far from guaranteed. Nevertheless, Wednesday`s match offers Inter an opportunity to demonstrate their championship potential. This, however, necessitates finally defeating their city rivals. Despite Inter`s solid season and AC Milan`s inconsistent campaign, Inter has failed to beat Milan in their four previous meetings this season, including the Supercoppa Italiana final in January.
Meanwhile, the stakes are different for Milan. After finishing second in Serie A last season, they aimed for silverware. Although this campaign hasn`t entirely gone as planned, they can still partially salvage it in the Coppa Italia. That`s not the only thing at stake โ this tournament now represents Milan`s most probable path to qualify for European competition next season, as they sit ninth in Serie A, six points behind sixth place, which secures a spot in the UEFA Conference League playoff round. Milan will likely need their key players to perform on Wednesday, including U.S. men`s national team standout Christian Pulisic, who is currently on a seven-game goalless streak for club and country. Francesco Porzio highlights that Wednesday`s match is crucial for Pulisic, both for ending his scoring drought and ensuring his readiness for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
- Porzio: `Pulisic, who has scored 15 goals this season across all competitions, is currently facing a challenging period, having not scored in the last five matches in Serie A and Coppa Italia, though he did provide two crucial assists against Fiorentina and Udinese. It`s clear that Pulisic needs to play European club football in the season leading up to the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States in June and July next year. However, as things stand, it`s more likely he will participate in the Conference League rather than the Champions or Europa League, unless the team manages a turnaround in the final phase of a disappointing season.`
The winner of this tie will face either Bologna or Empoli, who contest the second leg of their semifinal on Thursday. Bologna holds a 3-0 advantage from the first leg.
๐ Midfield Link Play
๐ช๐ธ Real Madrid Fights to Stay in La Liga Race
A demanding run of fixtures continues for Real Madrid on Wednesday as they travel to Getafe, with the focus in the La Liga title race now shifting to them. Barcelona`s 1-0 victory over Mallorca on Tuesday means Los Blancos are now seven points adrift of the league leaders. The onus is on them to at least keep pace in the title race by securing a win at Getafe, all while Saturday`s Clasico in the Copa del Rey final looms large.
Considering the fluctuations of Real Madrid`s season, highlighted by their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal exit, the prospect of a trophy-less campaign feels more plausible for the star-studded squad than it once did. Speculation persists regarding Carlo Ancelotti`s likely departure at the season`s end, and while he hasn`t confirmed the move, his pre-match remarks on Tuesday included what seemed like farewell sentiments when asked if winning the league and cup double would influence his decision to stay or go.
- Ancelotti: `In football, anything is possible. Nothing surprises me, so anything can happen. I hold no grudges against anyone or anything. I love this job. I loved it the first time around, and I`m enjoying this second spell. I`d like this to continue for as long as possible. If it ends someday, I`ll be grateful and salute this club, nothing more.`
Real Madrid will have to manage Wednesday`s match at Getafe without Kylian Mbappe, who has a short-term injury keeping him out, though he is still being considered for Saturday`s Copa del Rey final. They are favored to take all three points, but if they fail to secure a win, it could signal the end of their title aspirations with only five games remaining after the midweek fixture.
๐ Top Stories
- ๐ฎ๐น Serie A postpones games: Italian Serie A has moved all weekend fixtures to Sunday, with no games played on Saturday, the day of Pope Francis` funeral.
- ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Promotion race: Leeds United and Burnley have secured automatic promotion to the Premier League following their wins on Monday.
- ๐ด Cunha to United?: Manchester United is reportedly targeting Wolverhampton Wanderers` Matheus Cunha ahead of the summer transfer window.
- โฝโพ Bay FC at Oracle Park: NWSL side Bay FC will play the Washington Spirit in August at Oracle Park, home of MLB`s San Francisco Giants.
- ๐บ๐ธ NWSL power rankings: It was a positive week for Bay FC in the latest NWSL power rankings, although the Orlando Pride did not fare as well.
- ๐ต Millwall watch: Millwall remains in contention for promotion to the Premier League and could bring a sharp edge to England`s top flight if the controversial club achieves it.
๐ฐ The Back Line
๐ต Best Bets
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Premier League: Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace, Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET
๐ฐ THE PICK: Arsenal to win 1-0 (+550) โ This match technically represents one of Arsenal`s final opportunities to remain in the Premier League title race, as any dropped points would see Liverpool crowned champions with five games to spare. Considering how improbable a comeback now appears โ and how pleased they will undoubtedly be to focus their efforts primarily on the UEFA Champions League semifinals โ it`s uncertain how much intensity the Gunners will bring to this game. Even so, they will be the favorites against a Crystal Palace side that might rotate with Saturday`s FA Cup semifinal in mind. It may not be the most thrilling match, but Arsenal should comfortably secure another three points.
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- โฝ Call it What You Want (Monday and Thursday): A weekly podcast featuring Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola, covering all things related to the USMNT and the state of the sport in the United States.
- ๐ฅ Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the latest destination for fans to get caught up on all the major news and results in global football, match highlights from top competitions, and all the must-see goals of the day.
Dominic Ashworth