Women’s FA Cup semi-finals bring teasing prospect of narrative shift

14.04.2023 - 10:57 theguardian.com

W hen Chelsea lifted the FA Cup for the third time in five years at Wembley last year, the destination of the trophy followed a familiar pattern.

In the past 10 years the list of winners reads similarly to that of the WSL title winners with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal rotating domestic silverware between them – only Liverpool’s back-to-back league titles in 2013 and 2014 puncture the narrative.

The chance for another side to triumph at Wembley in May is not strong but, with Arsenal and Manchester City eliminated, it is there going into this weekend’s semi-finals.

Manchester United welcome Brighton to Leigh Sports Village on Saturday with both sides eyeing a maiden FA Cup final but this is no David v David battle.

Football Arsenal Chelsea cup semi-finals Bayern Munich Manchester county Green

Muncul kabar Bayern Munich berminat boyong Casemiro. Maaf-maaf saja, Casemiro cuma fokus di Manchester United sampai kontraknya habis!

Rumor Transfer: Bayern Munich Incar Casemiro

Ada gosip panas soal rumor transfer. Bayern Munich kabarnya berminat untuk datangkan gelandang tengah MU, Casemiro!

FA Cup semi-finals rules on VAR and replays explained before Man City and Manchester United ties

The FA Cup returns this weekend as Manchester City and Manchester United aiming to set up a Manchester derby in August's final.

FA Cup semi-finals and Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Manchester United and Brighton meeting at Wembley can only summon memories of the 1983 FA Cup final. Gordon Smith’s miss/Gary Bailey’s save, Ray Wilkins’ chip and maniacal celebration, Steve Foster’s ill-fated return from suspension for the replay, Ron Atkinson savouring the moment of United’s replay win. Halcyon days but 40 years on, two coaches who have hugely impressed in their first seasons in English football meet for the first time. With both Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane missing, Roberto de Zerbi, with Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, leads Erik ten Hag on the number of World Cup winners available to him. Teams with a similarly attacking, high-pressing style to Brighton have caused Ten Hag’s team problems this season. With Evan Ferguson ruled out, former Red Danny Welbeck will lead Brighton’s line against a patched-up defence. Ten Hag must hope Brighton freeze in the fashion Newcastle did in this season’s Carabao Cup final. The Seagulls return to the stage where they narrowly lost to Manchester City in 2019, but are a different proposition to Chris Hughton’s team, from which Lewis Dunk is the sole survivor. John Brewin

Manchester City progress past Bayern Munich to reach Champions League semi-final

Erling Haaland scored his 48th goal of the season as Manchester City weathered a storm to reach the Champions League semi-finals with a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich.

Sevilla tops Man United in Europa League, gets Juventus in semis

Six-time champion Sevilla eliminated Manchester United from the Europa League on Thursday after a 3-0 victory in the second leg of their quarterfinal. United had beaten Barcelona and Real Betis earlier in Europe’s second-tier competition but couldn’t keep up with Sevilla — currently 13th in the Spanish league — at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium. Forward Youssef En-Nesyri scored twice and Sevilla advanced to the semifinals 5-2 on aggregate after last week’s 2-2 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford.