Weekend Football Review: FA Cup Shocks, League Drama

This weekend’s football action was filled with drama across Europe’s top leagues and the FA Cup. Manchester United, now under the leadership of Rúben Amorim, secured a last-minute victory over Leicester, while Liverpool suffered a shocking FA Cup exit. In Spain, the Madrid derby ended in a hard-fought draw, while Barcelona ran riot against Sevilla. Over in Germany, Bayern continued their dominance, but title challengers Dortmund and Leverkusen stumbled. Here’s a full breakdown of the weekend’s results and major talking points.

FA Cup: Amorim’s United Leaves it Late, Liverpool Stunned

Rúben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United continue with a dramatic turn as his team secured a 2-1 victory over Leicester in the dying minutes.

The biggest shock of the weekend came from Plymouth’s stunning 1-0 victory over Liverpool, knocking Arne Slot side out of the FA Cup. Despite being overwhelming favorites, Liverpool struggled to get a win against a lower-league opponent, leaving fans in disbelief.

Elsewhere, Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton added to their growing frustrations. Manchester City edged past Leyton Orient 2-1, avoiding an upset, while Newcastle survived a scare to beat Birmingham 3-2. Tottenham’s cup run ended with a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, and Everton’s 0-2 defeat to Bournemouth compounded their woes.

Meanwhile, Leeds suffered a 0-2 home loss to Millwall, and Fulham progressed by beating Wigan 2-1. Cardiff triumphed over Stoke on penalties, while Burnley edged Southampton 1-0.

La Liga: Madrid Derby Ends in a Stalemate, Barcelona Crush Sevilla

The Madrid derby saw Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid play out a 1-1 draw, with both teams battling hard for dominance. The result means that Barcelona made up ground in the title race with a 4-1 win over Sevilla, a performance that showcased their attacking firepower.

Athletic Bilbao dismantled Girona 3-0, dealing a blow to the Catalan side’s Champions League hopes. Meanwhile, Celta Vigo secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Real Betis, and Real Sociedad edged past Espanyol 2-1.

Other notable results included Valencia’s 2-0 win over Leganés, while Getafe scraped a 1-0 victory against Alavés.

Bundesliga: Bayern Cruise, Dortmund and Leverkusen Stumble

Bayern Munich maintained their stronghold in the Bundesliga with a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen, further asserting their dominance. However, their closest rivals dropped points, with Borussia Dortmund suffering a 1-2 home defeat to Stuttgart.

Bayer Leverkusen also missed an opportunity to close the gap at the top after being held to a 0-0 draw against Wolfsburg. Meanwhile, Union Berlin pulled off an impressive 4-0 away win against Hoffenheim, boosting their survival hopes.

RB Leipzig earned a 2-0 win over St. Pauli, and Freiburg claimed a 1-0 victory over Heidenheim. Mainz and Augsburg played out a goalless draw.

Serie A: Milan, Lazio, and Atalanta Impress, Napoli Held Again

AC Milan strengthened their position in Serie A’s top four with a 2-0 win over Empoli, while Lazio ran riot with a 5-1 victory against Monza. Atalanta delivered an attacking masterclass, thrashing Verona 5-0.

Napoli’s frustrating season continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Udinese, failing to capitalize on their home advantage. Roma secured a narrow 1-0 win against Venezia, while Torino and Genoa played out a 1-1 draw.

Lecce and Bologna ended in a 0-0 stalemate, while Cagliari secured a crucial 2-1 win over Parma.

Ligue 1: PSG Dominate, Lyon and Rennes Shine

Paris Saint-Germain showed their supremacy with a 4-1 win over Monaco, extending their lead at the top. Rennes secured a solid 2-0 win against St. Étienne, while Lyon produced a fantastic 4-0 victory over Reims, giving their fans something to cheer about.

Nice continued their push for European qualification with a 2-0 win over Lens, while Marseille comfortably defeated Angers 2-0. In contrast, Lille suffered a shock 1-2 defeat at home to Le Havre, a result that dents their Champions League hopes.

Auxerre and Toulouse played out an entertaining 2-2 draw, while Strasbourg earned a 2-0 win over Montpellier.

Eredivisie: PSV Drop Points, Feyenoord and Ajax Win

PSV’s 1-1 draw against Willem II was a rare misstep for the Dutch giants, allowing their rivals to gain ground. Feyenoord, meanwhile, eased past Sparta Rotterdam with a 3-0 win, keeping up their chase at the top.

Ajax secured a 2-0 win over Sittard, while AZ Alkmaar picked up a 2-0 victory against Zwolle. Heerenveen and Twente played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, while Utrecht surprisingly lost 0-1 to Almere City.

Final Thoughts: A Weekend Full of Surprises and Key Results

This weekend’s football action brought excitement, upsets, and high drama across Europe. Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United era continue with a dramatic FA Cup win, but Liverpool suffered a shock exit. In La Liga, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid battled to a draw, while Barcelona made up ground with a dominant win.

The Bundesliga title race remains open, with Bayern Munich extending their lead as Dortmund and Leverkusen dropped points. In Serie A, AC Milan and Atalanta shone, while Napoli’s struggles continued.

Ligue 1 saw PSG stamp their authority with a dominant win, while Lyon and Rennes delivered statement performances. In the Eredivisie, PSV’s slip-up could prove costly, as Feyenoord and Ajax continued their winning ways.