This week features a series of significant midweek football matches across Europe, with several teams vying for trophies. Here is an overview of the key events.
Coppa Italia Focus: Inter and AC Milan Battle for Final Spot
The Derby della Madonnina is set for another chapter in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals this Wednesday. Inter and AC Milan meet again after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Inter, initially seen as favorites and still pursuing a treble similar to their 2009-10 campaign, have faced recent challenges. Their form in the past few weeks could potentially give AC Milan an opening in this decisive match.
Inter`s recent 1-0 loss to Bologna left them level on points with Napoli in Serie A with five games left and raised doubts about their ability to win multiple trophies this season. All three potential titles hang in the balance, but Wednesday`s fixture provides Inter an opportunity to demonstrate their championship pedigree. Achieving this requires them to finally defeat their city rivals. Despite Inter`s strong season and Milan`s inconsistent one, Inter has not secured a win against Milan in their four previous encounters this term, including the Supercoppa Italiana final in January.
For Milan, the stakes differ. After finishing second last season, they targeted silverware this campaign. While the season hasn`t unfolded as planned, they can still salvage it through the Coppa Italia. This tournament has become Milan`s most probable path to qualifying for European competition next season, as they currently sit ninth in Serie A, six points shy of sixth place, which offers a spot in the UEFA Conference League playoff round. Key players for Milan are expected to perform on Wednesday, including U.S. international Christian Pulisic, who is experiencing a seven-game scoring drought for club and country. Commentators note this match is vital for Pulisic to break his goalless streak and ensure he is adequately prepared for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S.
The winner of this semifinal will advance to face either Bologna or Empoli in the final. Bologna holds a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the second leg of their semifinal on Thursday.
Real Madrid`s Challenge in La Liga
Real Madrid faces a busy schedule, traveling to Getafe on Wednesday with renewed pressure in the La Liga title race. Following Barcelona`s 1-0 victory over Mallorca, Los Blancos are now trailing the league leaders by seven points. The responsibility falls on Madrid to secure a win against Getafe to keep pace in the title race, all while preparing for the upcoming Clasico against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.
Given the fluctuations in Real Madrid`s season, including their elimination from the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, the prospect of finishing the season without a major trophy seems more plausible than previously thought for the star-studded squad. Speculation regarding Carlo Ancelotti`s potential departure at the end of the season continues. Although he hasn`t confirmed any move, Ancelotti recently gave comments that sounded like a potential farewell when asked about the impact of winning the league and cup double on his future. He stated his love for the job and the club, expressing a desire for it to continue, while acknowledging that anything is possible in football and that he would be grateful if his time at the club ended.
Real Madrid will be without Kylian Mbappe for the Getafe match due to a short-term injury, though he remains a possibility for Saturday`s Copa del Rey final. Madrid is favored to secure three points against Getafe, but failure to win could significantly diminish their La Liga title hopes with only a handful of games remaining after this midweek fixture.
Other Football News
- Serie A has rescheduled all weekend matches to Sunday in observance of Pope Francis` funeral.
- In England, Leeds United and Burnley have secured automatic promotion to the Premier League following recent wins.
- Reports indicate Manchester United are targeting Matheus Cunha of Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead of the summer transfer window.
- In the NWSL, Bay FC is scheduled to play a match against the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park, home of baseball`s San Francisco Giants.
- The latest NWSL power rankings reflected a positive week for Bay FC, while the Orlando Pride did not fare as well.
- Millwall remains in contention for promotion to the Premier League, a move that could add a controversial element to England`s top flight.
Betting Insight
Regarding betting tips, one prediction for the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace on Wednesday suggests a 1-0 win for Arsenal. The rationale notes that while Arsenal`s focus might be divided with other competitions in mind, they are still favored to achieve a relatively comfortable victory against a Crystal Palace side that may prioritize their upcoming FA Cup semifinal.
Additionally, information is available about CBS Sports Golazo Network programming, which includes shows like “Morning Footy,” “Attacking Third” covering women`s soccer, “Call it What You Want” discussing the USMNT, and “Scoreline” for daily news and highlights.
