The Championship play-offs will feature six teams from next season. The EFL announced its clubs had passed a proposal to increase the number of play-off participants from four to six at an all-club meeting on Thursday. Supporters of the change believe it will create more interest in the run-in to the Championship season, as it gives more teams a chance to qualify for the post-season and a shot at promotion to the Premier League.
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Brazil’s Real Madrid forward Rodrygo called it “one of the worst days of my life” after he was ruled out for the rest of the season and 2026 World Cup with a serious knee injury. The 25-year-old’s club said, external he had “been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and a rupture of the lateral meniscus of his right leg”.
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Arsenal passed a major examination of their Premier League title credentials after Jurrien Timber and William Saliba both scored from corners in a 2-1 win over 10-man Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. A week after they thumped Tottenham, Arsenal recorded another pivotal triumph to restore their five-point advantage over Manchester City, albeit having played a game more. Saliba sent the hosts on their way midway through the first half when he converted Bukayo Saka’s corner, only for Piero Hincapie to put through his own net in first-half stoppage time.
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Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United. The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League. City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.
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Manchester City have been reunited with record winners Real Madrid, while top seeds Arsenal will play Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League round of 16. The draw, which took place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon on Friday morning, saw Liverpool pitted against Galatasaray, with Chelsea to face holders Paris Saint-Germain. Tottenham will play Atletico Madrid and Newcastle have been drawn to play Barcelona.
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