Arsenal's success in opening up a five-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League has upped the stakes for today's FA Cup fifth-round showdown between the clubs.
Any chance of either side resting key players ahead of next week's Champions League appointments has been removed by the additional psychological importance now attached to the outstanding tie of the last 16 -- a stage of the competition that only six top flight clubs have managed to reach.
Still smarting from Sunday's Old Trafford derby defeat at the hands of Manchester City, which allowed Arsenal to pull away from them in the league, United badly need to make immediate amends.
"It was a very bad weekend," acknowledged Rio Ferdinand. "We have all been thinking about the reasons why it happened and how we want to pull ourselves together and get the result out of our minds."
Victory at Old Trafford today would put Arsene Wenger's young squad on track to complete the third domestic double of the Frenchman's reign in north London.
"This Saturday is very important to us," said Abou Diaby, the Gunners' midfielder. "Maybe a win will give us a psychological advantage."
Holders Chelsea have been favored by a draw which has pitted them against the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, Huddersfield Town.
But Avram Grant and his men will be wary of opponents from the middle of League One who have already dumped Premier League side Birmingham out of this year's competition.
The Stamford Bridge clash is a repeat of a 2006 third round tie which Chelsea only just edged 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Bristol Rovers, who are two places above Huddersfield in the third tier of English soccer, look to have a better chance of extending their Cup run, which has included the elimination of Fulham, thanks to a home tie against managerless Southampton, who are still looking for a successor to new Scotland boss George Burley.
Liverpool begin a make-or-break week for their season with a home clash with Championship side Barnley, who will feature Brazilian midfielder Anderson de Silva, a former Everton player, in their ranks.
Manager Rafael Benitez will welcome back Fernando Torres, Fabio Aurelio, Sami Hyypia and Alvaro Arbeloa from injury for a clash that takes place just three days before the Champions League second round first leg against Inter Milan.
"I need to consider both games but I know it's important to progress in the FA Cup, so I will try to use a strong team," Benitez said, while implying that star striker Torres' involvement may be limited.
"For Inter, he will be okay -- we will have to check before Barnsley," he said.
Cardiff will be looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since they won the trophy in 1927 by overcoming fellow Championship outfit Wolves, previously managed by Cardiff boss Dave Jones.
"It's a good opportunity to get to the quarter finals as Wolves are in the same division as us," Jones said. "They will be thinking the same."
Another all-Championship clash today sees Coventry entertain West Brom, while Preston and Sheffield United, who got rid of manager Bryan Robson on Thursday, will be seeking upset wins over Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, respectively, tomorrow.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
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