GM football fans. It’s Tuesday, Apr. 29 - Champions League semi-final projections, the NWSL requests a lower tier, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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KEY FIXTURES

UEFA Champions League, Semi-Final, Leg 1, 20:00 / 15:00: Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal have beaten PSG already in the Champions League this season, securing a 2-0 win at the Emirates in the league phase back in October. The Gunners have also never lost to PSG in European competition, having faced them five times previously–two wins and three draws. See predicted line-ups here.

Results…

• Serie A: Udinese 0-0 Bologna | Verona 0-2 Cagliari | Lazio 2-2 Parma (Table)

• EFL Championship: Leeds 4-0 Bristol City (Report) (Table)

TOP TALKING POINTS

Champions League Projections

The first legs of the Champions League semi-finals kick off on Tuesday and Wednesday. The second legs will be played next week.

On Tuesday, Arsenal host Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium. Opta’s prediction model sees Arsenal as favourites in the first leg, with a 44.8% win probability compared to PSG’s 29.4%. Notably, Arsenal (199 matches) and PSG (163 matches) have played the most games in the competition without winning it.

On Wednesday, Barcelona host Inter Milan. The prediction model gives Barcelona the edge over the two legs, with a 57.5% chance of advancing to the final. Inter enter the tie after losing three games without scoring, while Hansi Flick’s side are unbeaten in 14 matches and defeated Real Madrid for the Copa del Rey over the weekend.

Overall, the prediction model has Arsenal as the 31.3% favourites to win the competition, followed by Barcelona’s 27.4% chance. PSG are third (22%) and Inter are fourth (19.2%).

World Cup Ticket Caution

Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are being listed on a third-party ticket exchange, even though Fifa has not released any tickets yet. Listings have appeared on Vivid Seats, a controversial resale platform, and are unlikely to be valid.

Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium have been advertised for up to £46,000 ($61,618), while group-stage tickets at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have been listed for up to £44,112 ($59,189).

Fifa has issued a warning to fans to be cautious of unofficial websites that are already offering tickets. The governing body plans to sell official tickets this summer.

NWSL Requests Division II

The National Women’s Soccer League has asked U.S. Soccer to sanction a new second-division women’s professional league. If approved, the league could launch as early as next year.

The six-team league would sit on the second tier of the football pyramid, below the NWSL and USL Women’s Super League. Due to U.S Soccer’s Division II requirements–including a minimum number of teams and 2,000-seat stadiums–each lower-division team would be affiliated with top-tier clubs, sharing ownership and infrastructure. The league will remain closed, meaning there will not be promotion or relegation.

The league would primarily serve as a platform for developing young players. The NWSL has witnessed a flood of young talent after it eliminated its 18+ age restriction ahead of the 2023 season, replacing it with the Under-18 Entry Mechanism. 

Read more about the first generation of players to skip college and turn pro here.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Aston Villa have rejected Spurs’ request to move their Premier League game in May to rest players before their Europa League fixture (More) | Mohamed Salah is now the Premier League top-scoring foreign player after surpassing former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero (More) 

> Bundesliga side Bochum have been allowed to keep a win that was awarded four months ago after its goalkeeper was struck by a lighter thrown from the stands (More)

> Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer wins the Championship Player of the Season award; Jobe Bellingham won Young Player of the Season (More)

Americas

> Carlo Ancelotti and Brazil have reached an agreement in principle for the Italian to become Selecao head coach for the World Cup 2026 (More)

> D.C. United hold Paul Pogba’s, 32, discovery rights and are in early talks to sign the free-agent midfielder (More)

> MLS is investigating reports of discrimination that occurred in Sunday’s match between Minnesota United FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps (More) | Inter Miami lost its first MLS game of the season as FC Dallas scored three unanswered goals in the second half for a 4-3 victory (More)

> River Plate secured a 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors in the latest edition of the Argentine Superclasico (More); Watch 17-year-old Franco Mastantuono’s incredible free-kick (Watch)

Rest of the World

> Kawasaki Frontale are the only remaining non-Saudi Arabian team in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite (More)

> Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane will face Tanzania’s Simba in a two-legged final next month for the African Confederation Cup (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday’s Poll: Should national stadiums be reserved for finals only, not semi-finals?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🏟️ Yes... (55%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅‍♂️ Nope... (39%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (6%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🏟️ J.H: “Never enjoyed the semi-finals of the FA Cup being at Wembley. It takes the magic away from the final day and the achievement of playing there for your team. Have the semi-finals back at neutral venues again!”

• 🙅‍♂️ D.L: “The national stadiums are usually underutilised anyway, so why not make use of them? A semi-final at Wembley, for example, is good for the FA, as they receive income they otherwise wouldn’t, and the fans who get a big day out and who won’t have many chances to visit.”

• ✍️ K.G: “I think it depends if the two clubs are in the Midlands or the North, then it would be fair on the supporters to have the semi-final much closer to home.”

EXTRA TIME

The best nine stats from Liverpool’s winning season.

PSG's new home kit leaked with Eiffel Tower homage.

Why so many empty seats at the FA Cup semi?

Updated Ballon d’Or 2025 power rankings.

Lecce wear unique kit in Serie A protest.

Has Mbappe made Real Madrid worse?

How visually impaired fans experience live matches.

BBC’s Premier League team of the week.

GAME FACE ON

Question: In the 2005 Champions League semi-final first leg between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, it ended in a tight 0-0 draw. But in the second leg at Anfield, Liverpool won 1-0 to reach the final.

Can you name the player with the only goal across both legs?

Clue: Ghost goal

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Champions League, SF:

• Arsenal vs PSG (20:00)

*All time in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.

Answer

Luis Garcia scored the so-called ‘ghost goal’. Watch the goal here and why it was a ‘ghost goal’ here.

Want more? Try our daily football Wordle – guess the name of a current or former player in six tries. Play it here.