1. XAVI SIMONS RUPTURES ACL — WORLD CUP DREAM OVER
Tottenham Hotspur and Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, ending his season and his hopes of featuring at the 2026 World Cup. The 23-year-old was injured in the 63rd minute of Tottenham's 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday and left the pitch on a stretcher. Spurs confirmed the ACL diagnosis on Sunday. Simons said on social media: "My football season has come to an abrupt end." He had been expected to be a key player in Ronald Koeman's Netherlands squad for what would have been his second World Cup. Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi said: "For Xavi it is a big problem." The injury compounds Spurs' own troubles — they are 18th in the Premier League on 34 points, just two points above the relegation zone. Simons will undergo surgery in the coming weeks before beginning his rehabilitation.
2. LEWANDOWSKI IS LEAVING BARCELONA — GUILLEM BALAGUE CONFIRMS
Robert Lewandowski will leave Barcelona at the end of the season. Guillem Balague, writing for BBC Sport, confirmed on Sunday that the decision has been made — Lewandowski will depart when his contract expires in June, ending a four-year spell at Camp Nou in which he scored approximately 120 goals in all competitions. Barcelona offered him a one-year extension but the terms included a significant salary reduction and a diminished role — neither of which appealed to the 37-year-old. Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan are all in discussions over signing him as a free agent. Lewandowski has ruled out MLS and Saudi Arabia, insisting he will only continue at a Champions League club. Barcelona, for their part, have already turned their attention to Julian Alvarez as his replacement, though the Argentine's price tag from Atletico Madrid is expected to be around 120 million euros.
3. FA CUP FINAL SET: CHELSEA vs MAN CITY ON MAY 16
The FA Cup final is confirmed. Chelsea beat Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley on Sunday through an Enzo Fernandez first-half header. It is Chelsea's first FA Cup final since 2024. Manager Callum McFarlane celebrated a first FA Cup semi-final win of his tenure. Chelsea face Manchester City in the final on Saturday May 16 at Wembley. City beat Southampton 2-1 on Saturday through late goals from Doku and Nico Gonzalez. Chelsea have not scored against a Premier League side since March 4 — ten games ago — but managed to grind out the win. For City, it is a fourth consecutive FA Cup final — a record never achieved before in the competition's history.
4. ARSENAL INJURY BOOST: HAVERTZ AND EZE EXPECTED BACK FOR ATLETICO
Mikel Arteta confirmed on Saturday that both Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze are expected to be available for Arsenal's UCL semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday April 29. Arteta said: "There are muscular niggles. We don't think it's too much. We have to wait and see." Eze said his substitution against Newcastle was precautionary: "Yeah, I'm alright." Saka also returned from the bench on Saturday for the first time since March 22. Arsenal travel to Madrid on Wednesday for the first leg at the Metropolitano. They are three points clear of City at the top of the Premier League.
5. PSG vs BAYERN — UCL SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG TOMORROW IN PARIS
The first Champions League semi-final of the week takes place tomorrow — Tuesday April 28 — as PSG host Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes (21:00 CET). PSG are the defending champions and beat Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Bayern eliminated Real Madrid 6-4 on aggregate. The return leg is in Munich on May 6. The winner faces either Arsenal or Atletico Madrid in the final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30.
