Match Details

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• Player Ratings: Bernal 9 and Yamal 8 shine but Barcelona exit Copa del Rey despite 3-0 win

  Barcelona fell agonizingly short of a historic “remontada” in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Tuesday, securing a 3-0 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Camp Nou but ultimately exiting the competition with a 4-3 aggregate loss. Despite a brilliant brace from teenage midfielder Marc Bernal and relentless offensive pressure, Hansi Flick’s side could not find the fourth goal required to force extra time against Diego Simeone’s resilient visitors.

  Player Ratings: Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid

  Joan Garcia (6/10): Rarely tested, but showed composure and handled the few situations he faced effectively. Jules Kounde (N/A): His evening was cruelly cut short by an injury just 12 minutes into the match. Pau Cubarsi (8/10): An exemplary defensive display; he made numerous vital interventions in the penalty area and maintained high composure when in possession. Gerard Martin (6/10): Provided a solid defensive presence alongside Cubarsi and displayed a tireless work rate to recover the ball whenever it was lost. Joao Cancelo (7/10): Successfully adapted to an inverted right-back role following Kounde’s early departure and provided the clinical cross that set up Barcelona’s third goal. Pedri (7/10): Operated as the team’s creative heartbeat, playing incisive forward passes and drawing the critical penalty through a burst into the box. Marc Bernal (9/10): A standout performance from the young talent; he was clinical in the right positions to net two goals, drawing natural comparisons to the legendary Sergio Busquets. Fermin Lopez (5/10): Brought plenty of energy to the midfield but struggled to exert significant influence on the game before being replaced after the hour mark. Lamine Yamal (8/10): A constant source of danger for the Atlético defence, Yamal utilized his exceptional dribbling to terrorize the visitors and provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal. Ferran Torres (4/10): Failed to capitalize on two prime scoring opportunities early in the first half and struggled to impact the match after replacing Lewandowski. Raphinha (7/10): Played with intent and coolly converted the penalty just before halftime, though his accuracy in open play was occasionally lacking. Substitutions & Manager Alejandro Balde (6/10): Kept play simple and efficient after coming on early, though he was later forced off with an injury. Marcus Rashford (5/10): Attempted to stretch the play on the left flank but failed to produce any significant end product. Dani Olmo (6/10): Provided a fresh spark upon his arrival, consistently proving a nuisance for the visitors’ defensive structure. Ronald Araujo (6/10): Substituted on to provide an aerial threat but spent the majority of his time pushing forward in search of a goal. Hansi Flick (6/10): Deployed an ambitious, attacking lineup and managed the match effectively despite being forced to make two crucial injury-related substitutions.

• Mikel Arteta ‘upset’ Arsenal haven’t scored more set-piece goals and keep conceding

  Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has pushed for even greater dominance from set-pieces despite his team already leading the Premier League in that category, as they manage key injuries ahead of facing Brighton.

  Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed a surprising desire for even more efficiency from his side’s dead-ball routines.

  Despite Arsenal scoring a league-high 21 set-piece goals this season, Arteta remains unsatisfied. “I’m upset that we don’t score more,” he revealed.

  “And that we concede as well. So we want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game.”

  The Gunners face a critical test against Brighton while managing multiple fitness concerns.

  Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Declan Rice are all nursing doubts, while Ben White has been ruled out.

  Amidst criticism regarding his team’s pragmatic approach, Arteta remains defiant: “I don’t know how you celebrate one goal different to another one. Maybe for YouTube it’s nicer one over another.”

• Tottenham to investigate Arsenal-supporting scout over ‘badge’ banter

  Tottenham Hotspur are taking internal action against a newly hired scout after he made social media jokes about his lifelong support for rivals Arsenal.

  Tottenham Hotspur are considering disciplinary action against new academy scout Neros Coachman following controversial social media posts.

  The boyhood Arsenal fan reportedly joked about wearing a base layer to prevent the Spurs badge from touching his skin.

  Club officials are “deeply unimpressed” by the comments, which surfaced shortly after he joined the North London rivals, leading to an immediate in-house investigation into his conduct.

  While some viewed the interactions as lighthearted jest, Spurs supporters flagged the posts as a significant lack of respect.

  When asked how he managed to wear the Tottenham tracksuit, Coachman replied: “It was tough.”

  The UEFA B Licence holder now faces an uncertain future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as leadership weighs further action regarding his “shhhhh” response to comments about being an insider.

• Riccardo Calafiori reveals biggest complaint about living in London

  Riccardo Calafiori has revealed he refuses to own a car in England due to London’s notorious traffic congestion and slow driving speeds.  

  ​Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori has labeled London’s traffic as his biggest frustration since joining Arsenal.

  Despite his status, he opts for a private driver over luxury cars, complaining that motorists “follow the rules too much and are a bit slow.”

  The 23-year-old noted that his 50-minute commute is often marred by “big traffic jams for no reason,” making the city’s roads his primary grievance.

  ​While teammates live near the training ground, Calafiori prefers the city center.

  He highlighted cultural differences in English football, observing that Italian sessions are more tactical while the Premier League focuses on attacking.

  Reflecting on his transition, he remarked, “I don’t drive, but I get around with a driver. I prefer not to drive here. I don’t have a car, but I can drive.”

• Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover’s contract contains bonus clause for set-piece goals

  Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has signed a new contract until 2027 that includes financial rewards for every goal the team scores from dead-ball scenarios.

  Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has secured a unique contract featuring bonuses for goals scored from dead-ball situations.

  Following independent negotiations in 2025, the 44-year-old’s deal now runs until 2027, matching manager Mikel Arteta’s terms.

  Jover’s tactical expertise has made the Gunners the league’s most lethal side from corners, scoring twice in Sunday’s victory over Chelsea to reach 16 corner goals this season.

  The North London club has now equaled the all-time Premier League record for corner goals in a single campaign.

  Arteta, who brought Jover from Manchester City in 2021, previously praised him “as a person and the relationship that we have.”

  With nine match-winning goals coming from corners this term, Jover’s specialized role has become a cornerstone of Arsenal’s push for the league title.