Champions League Final 4 – Tues PSG Vs Bayern, Wed Atletico vs Arsenal CBS

So coverage on CBS starts at 2 pm with the Pregame show then a 3 pm kickoff each day for the first leg of the Champions League Semis. I am still flabbergasted that Bayern Munich Coach Vincent Kompany will miss the game. It’s all because Kompany was booked in Bayern’s thrilling quarterfinal win over Real Madrid for disputing the referee’s decision to allow Madrid to play on and score after a hard tackle on Bayern defender Josip Stanisic. That was Kompany’s third yellow card in Bayern’s 12th Champions League game of the season. He argued UEFA should relax the rules now there are more games than ever and he’s absolutely right!! “It’s an extended format and it’s the strictest-ever ruling with a lot of interpretation from referees, where sometimes you can get a yellow card wrong as well. So what happens then?” Kompany said after the game. Just like on players — yellow cards for coaches should all be wiped out if EUFA had any brains. Red Card – might be another thing. But its just nuts he’s going to miss the game in the Final 4 of Soccer! Back to the games – I like PSG at home 3-1 on Tues – and my Atletico Madrid 1-0 vs Arsenal as Diego Simione will find a way to shut down the Gunners offense at home.

Indy 11 fall to League 1 Union Omaha in US Open Cup – Play TB Rowdies Sat

Yes you read that right -our mighty Boys in Blue – fell at home 2-1 to a 4th place League 1 team at Carroll Stadium Sat night as 9K looked on. Forward Bruno Rendon scored his fourth goal in eight games this season, but it wasn’t enough as the 11 fall to 7th in the Eastern Conference. Indy resumes USL Championship play Saturday at Eastern Conference opponent Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+. The Boys in Blue return home to Carroll Stadium for “The World’s Game Night” vs. expansion club Sporting JAX on Saturday, May 9 at 7 p.m. Ticket options available include Family Four-Packs and Flex Mini-Plans.

US Open Cup Play Continues on Paramount Plus Tues/Wed

While the 11 lost – fellow USL Champ team Louisville City knocked off Austin City FC on the road and will now face Houston at 8 pm Tues, while fellow USL team One Knoxville SC will travel to Columbus at 7:30 pm Tues on Para+.

TV Schedule – Games on TV

Tues, Apr 28
3 pm CBS,Para+ PSG vs Bayern Munich UCL Semi
7 pm CBSSN Charlotte vs Atlanta United US Open Cup
9:30 pm FS1 Nashville SC vs Tigres UNAL CCC Cup
Wed, Apr 29
3 pm CBS, Para+ Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal USL Semi
7 pm CBSSN NY Red Bulls vs NYCFC US Open Cup
7 pm Victory+ Washington Spirit (Rodman) vs Racing Louisville NWSL
7:39 pm Para+ Columbus vs One Knoxville SC US Open Cup
8 pm Para+ Chicago vs St Louis US Open Cup
8 pm Para+ Houston vs Louisville City US Open Cup
!0:30 pm FS1 LAFC vs Toluca CCC
Thurs, Apr 30 Europa League
3 pm Para+ Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
3 pm Para+ Shakthar Donesk vs Crystal Palace (Richards)
Fri May 1
3 pm USA Leeds United (Aaronson) vs Burnley
8 pm Victory+ Houston Dash vs Seattle Reign NWSL
Sat, May 2
9 am beIN sport Nantes vs Olympic Marseille (Weah)
9:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Heidenheim
10 am USA Brentford vs West Ham United
10:!5 am ESPN+ Valencia vs Atletico Madrid (Cardoso)
12:30 pm NBC Arsenal vs Fulham (Jedi)
2:30 pm Fox Sporting KC vs Seattle Sounders
4:30 pm Fox Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers
7 pm FS1 Inter Miami vs Orlando City
7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Tampa Rowdies
8:45 pm Tubi Angel City vs Utah Royals NWSL
9:30 pm Apple San Diego vs LAFC
Sun, May 3
9 am Peacock Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (Richards)
9 am Para+ Sassuolo vs AC Milan (Pulisic)
10:30 am USA? Man United vs Liverpool
11:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund vs MGladbach (Tillman)
12 pm Para+ Juventus (Mckennie) vs Verona
1 pm ESPN2 Chicago vs Portland Thorns NWSL
2 pm USA Aston Villa vs Tottenham
3 pm CBS Boston Legacy vs Denver Summit NWSL
3 pm ESPN Des Espanyol vs Real Madrid
5 pm CBSSN Gotham FC vs Racing Louisville FC NWSL
5:30 pm Apple Austin vs St Louis MLS
7 pm Victory+ San Diego Wave vs Bay FC NWSL
Mon, May 4
10 am USA Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest
3 pm USA Everton vs Man City
3 pm ESPN+ Sevilla vs Real Sociadad (US Coach)
Tues, May 5
3 pm CBS, Para+ PSG vs Bayern Munich UCL Semi 2
Wed, May 5
3 pm CBS, Para+ Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal USL Semi
9:30 pm FS2? Toluca vs LAFC CCC
10 pm CBSSN Utah Royals vs Houston Dash NWSL

Sun, May 31
3:30 pm TNT, HBO, Peacock USA Men vs Senegal
Sat, June 6
2:30 pm TNT, HBO, Peacock USA Men vs Germany in Chicago Tix
Sat, June 12 WORLD CUP
9 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Paraguay World Cup
Fri, June 19
3 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Australia World Cup
Thur, June 25
10 pm Fox, Tele, Peacock USA Men vs Australia World Cup

Complete 2026 World Cup schedule featuring match dates and start times
NWSL Schedule
MLS Schedule 

USMNT midweek viewing guide: Johnny, Richards kick off semis

Follow along with all the USMNT action this week. by Justin Moran Apr 27, 2026, 9:05 AM EDT

Liverpool’s Dutch striker #18 Cody Gakpo (L) and Crystal Palace’s US defender #26 Chris Richards clash as they vie for the ball during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /AFP via Getty Images

Midweek action is here. All kickoff times are in EST. Let’s get into it!

Monday

• Cagliari vs Atalanta, 12:30p on Paramount+, DAZN, FOX Deportes, Fubo: Yunus Musah and Atalanta pay a visit to Cagliari in Serie A.

Tuesday

• Charlotte FC vs Atlanta United, 7p on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, Fubo: Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, and Charlotte host the Five Stripes in the US Open Cup round of 16.

Also in action:

• Nashville SC vs Tigres, 8:30p FS1, TUDN, Fubo, ViX: Matthew Corcoran and Nashville host Liga MX club Tigres UANL in this Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal.
• San Jose Quakes vs Minnesota United, 10p on Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo: Niko Tsakiris and the Earthquakes host Minnesota in the US Open Cup round of 16.

Wednesday

• Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal, 3p on CBS, Paramount+, TUDN, Univision, Fubo (free trial), ViX: Johnny Cardoso and Atléti host the Gunners in the first leg of this UEFA Champions League semifinal.
• NY Red Bulls vs NYCFC, 7p on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, Fubo: Matt Freese and the Pigeons visit Ethan Horvath, Cade Cowell, Adri Mehmeti, Julian Hall, and the Red Bulls in a US Open Cup edition of the Hudson River Derby.
• New England Revolution vs Orlando City, 7:30p on Paramount+: Matt Turner, Peyton Miller, and the Revs welcome Duncan McGuire and the Lions into town for this US Open Cup match.

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• Sporting CP vs Tondela, 3:15p on Fubo: Jordan Pefok and Tondela visit Sporting Lisbon in Liga Portugal.
• Columbus Crew vs One Knoxville, 7:30p on Paramount+: Patrick Schulte, Max Arfsten, and the Crew host third-division One Knoxville SC in the US Open Cup round of 16.
• Chicago Fire vs St. Louis City, 8p on Paramount+: Chris Brady and the Fire host St. Louis in the US Open Cup round of 16.
• Houston Dynamo vs Louisville City, 8p on Paramount+: Jack McGlynn and the Dynamo host Lou City of the USL Championship in the US Open Cup round of 16.
• Colorado Rapids vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 9p on Paramount+: Paxten Aaronson, Zack Steffen, and the Rapids meet local USL Championship club Colorado Springs in the US Open Cup round of 16.
• LAFC vs Toluca, 10:30p on FS1, TUDN, UniMás, Fubo, ViX, Univision NOW: Timothy Tillman and LAFC host Toluca in the first leg of this Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal.

Thursday

• Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Chris Richards and Palace visit Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in Kraków, Poland for the first leg of this UEFA Conference League semifinal.

Friday

• LASK Linz vs Altach, 10a: George Bello and LASK have the chance to visit a trophy as they meet Altach in Austria’s cup final.
• Leeds vs Burnley, 3p on USA: Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Burnley in Premier League action.

Also in action:

• Spezia vs Venezia, 9a: Gianluca Busio and Venezia visit Spezia in Serie B.
• FC Andorra vs Albacete, 10:15a: Jonathan Gómez and Albacete visit FC Andorra in La Liga 2.

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US Men

USMNT World Cup roster projection: Who’s in, who’s on the bubble?
Watch: Could the USMNT get ‘grouped’ in this year’s World Cup?
Pulisic goalless streak hits 16, tying career worst
American Albert, 16, tops Reyna Bundesliga mark
Once locks, which USMNT players have their World Cup spots in jeopardy?

US Women / NWSL/ UWCL

USWNT to face Brazil in pair of June road friendlies
Texas to serve as 2026 Concacaf W Championship host
Make-or-break questions the USWNT must answer before next year’s World Cup

NWSL announces expansion to Columbus, Ohio
Portland’s Sophia Wilson scores 95th-minute game winner for first goal as a mom
First-month grades for all 16 NWSL teams: From an A+ to F
Arsenal decidedly second best, but Lyonnes let UWCL holders off the hook

Champions League

How a new UEFA rule could help Arsenal reach the Champions League final
Neville: Arsenal likelier to win league than UCL
Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich in UEFA Champions League:injury and team news
PSG vs Bayern Preview
Who are top scorers in Champions League this year?
Barça have gone backward, Madrid set for barren year. How can they be fixed?

EPL & World

Arsenal eke back to top of Premier League, but title race looks nervy from here on out
Chelsea reach FA Cup final, Serie A facing another ref scandal, Arsenal win ugly, more Gabriele Marcotti
Premier League Power Rankings: Why Man City became faves and Arsenal dropped Ryan O’Hanlon
Fine margins will decide the title race, with Manchester City well-placed for the run home
Reaction: Enzo Fernandez the hero for Chelsea
Dawson: Man City prove they can win when it matters
VAR review: Arsenal’s anger justified in non-red card, or Arteta’s rant misguided?
Should Man United stick with Carrick, or go all out for PSG’s Luis Enrique? Mark Ogden
Premier League Awards: Who shined in another big weekend?|
Coventry celebrate title with win over Wrexham
Sources: Madrid’s Mbappé a doubt for Clásico
How Mbappé’s first 100 Real Madrid games compare to greats like Ronaldo, Benzema
What’s at stake in Europe’s top soccer leagues: Titles, UCL qualification, relegation

Soccer’s incredible shrinking shin guards could be a dangerous problem

World Cup

ACLU issues travel advisory for 2026 World Cup
The (long) list of injured players 45 days before the World Cup
Inside Neymar’s 11th-hour push to make World Cup squad
World Cup countdown: Always the runner-up for the Netherlands
46 days to the World Cup: Will Canada finally win its first World Cup match?

MLS

Nashville SC put “ambitious goals” to test vs. Tigres UANL
New coach, same problems: Inter Miami’s wait for first Nu Stadium win goes on
San Jose roll on, Atlanta correct course & more from Matchday 10
Inter Miami 3.0: How do the Herons plan to stay on top after Messi?
MLS Standings
Predicting the most likely transfer for 9 top stars this summer

GK

Angel City GK great save
MLS Saves of Week

Reffing

VAR review: Arsenal’s anger justified in non-red card, or Arteta’s rant misguided?
Galatasaray hit out at ‘evil’ refs during Fener win
Italy rocked by another refereeing scandal as head of referees faces fraud probe

USMNT analysis -Predicting the 2026 USMNT World Cup roster: tight races and form come into focus

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta offers up his latest prediction as to what the United States roster will look like for the 2026 World Cup, with breakdowns as to which players are in the mix and fighting for spots
BY Brian Sciaretta Posted l 17, 2026 http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/

IN ABOUT A MONTH, we will know the 2026 World Cup roster for the United States national team. The team will not gather between now and then, which means the only thing players can do is perform well for their clubs. While head coach Mauricio Pochettino insisted that the March roster was not the final roster, it should provide some clues.

The March roster was 27 players, although it had four goalkeepers – meaning that it was the same number of field players as the World Cup team will have. Assuming Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, and Haji Wright will make the team after missing March due to injury, that means three players will have to come off, with one being Patrick Agyemang who is injured.

On top of that, the team did not play well in March against Belgium and Portugal. That could also make a few more players vulnerable.

The best guess, however, is that Pochettino has been trying to build something with this group and not use each window exclusively for auditions. There will be some changes, of course, but most of what we’ve seen since last September (when Pochettino said was the last chance to look at new players) is what will comprise of the World Cup roster.

With that said, here is a predicted roster.

Goalkeepers

1) Matt Freese
2) Matt Turner
3) Chris Brady

In the mix: Patrick Schulte, Roman Celentano, Jonathan Klinsmann

Analysis: Matt Freese has been the U.S. national team No. 1 since last summer and Matt Turner has settled into the No. 2. Nothing in the March window suggested anything different. While it is possible Freese or Turner could flip starting/back-up roles leading up to the World Cup, it is impossible (absent injury) to see a scenario where both do not make the team.

That leads us to the No. 3 goalkeeper. Chris Brady seems like the best possible choice at the moment. Roman Celentano and Jonathan Klinsmann have struggled since the start of 2026. Patrick Schulte has been decent, but Brady has been better.

Central Defenders

4) Chris Richards
5) Tim Ream
6) Mark McKenzie
7) Auston Trusty

In the mix: Miles Robinson, Noahkai Banks, Tristan Blackmon, George Campbell, Walker Zimmerman

Analysis: this is arguably the weakest area of the player pool – and that is not good. Being strong in central defense is needed by teams who require upsets to make a run. Chris Richards is the best of the bunch, by a wide margin. Tim Ream has had a great career but has not had a good start to 2026. It is clear that age is catching up to him, but Pochettino is very invested in Ream and it is hard to envision a scenario where Ream is cut.

Mark McKenzie has had a decent season for Toulouse even if he hasn’t had a defining performance for the U.S. national team. Meanwhile, Auston Trusty had a decent shift in March – so why not? There just aren’t a lot of options in the back.

Miles Robinson couldn’t play during the March window due to injury. But beyond that, Cincinnati has been terrible defensively over the last six weeks. That is not necessarily Robinson’s fault, but it doesn’t help his case either.

Noahkai Banks could be an option, but there isn’t anything to suggest he has decided to play for the United States. With him asking out of the final camp before the World Cup roster is named, predicting him making the team is nothing more than wishful thinking.

Tristan Blackmon, George Campbell, and Walker Zimmerman were all called-up in 2025 for limited times. But the fact they weren’t brought back suggests they are backup options now in case of injury.

Of course, Pochettino might bring a fifth central defender but players like Tanner Tessmann or Alex Freeman are just as likely to play in the backline if needed.

Fullbacks

8) Sergino Dest
9) Alex Freeman
10) Antonee Robinson
11) Max Arfsten

In the mix: Joe Scally, John Tolkin, Kristoffer Lund

Analysis: At this point, the best guess is that Pochettino will pick who has been calling up, whenever healthy. Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Antonee Robinson, and Max Arfsten have all been selected whenever they’re not injured. With that, Dest remains a bit of a wildcard. He has said that he is aiming to return from injury before the end of the season. For now, we think he’ll make it. If not, Scally comes back in.

Joe Scally is a tough omission because he can also play as a central defender in a three-man backline. Then again, so can Tanner Tessmann and Alex Freeman. But Pochettino has never seemed to full trust Scally and even left him out of some of the fall camps. Still, Scally should be there if Dest isn’t fully fit.

On the left side, Robinson is healthy – for now. Arfsten has had defensive liabilities but is good at getting forward. But Arfsten has been the preferred option when Robinson hasn’t been healthy. With John Tolkin injured (although it is unclear his timetable for return) and Kristoffer Lund having never been in the picture, Arfsten should certainly be there.

There is also Tim Weah, who could start at right back, right wing, or even left back. He is listed as a winger here, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a fullback option.

Central midfielders

12) Tyler Adams
13) Tanner Tessmann
14) Johnny Cardoso
15) Sebastian Berhalter
16) Christian Roldan

In the mix: Aidan Morris, Yunus Musah

Analysis: This is the deepest area of the player pool and the place where the most difficult picks will be made.

Among those on the team, Tyler Adams is as close to a lock as anyone outside Richards or Pulisic. If central defense is a weakness, Adams can help alleviate that more than anyone as he is a very useful shield to the backline and he is a great disrupter. Tanner Tessmann has been singled out for his “brain” – which helps in his versatility to help in central defense if needed.

Johnny Cardoso only played 45 minutes for the U.S. team, but he was decent as the rest of the team struggled. He is yet to have a big game for the USMNT, but his club resume should be enough. Sebastian Berhalter was up and down in March but he is playing well for Vancouver and has had good moments for the U.S. team over the past year. Plus, he is an excellent free kick taker.

That leaves us with Cristian Roldan, who Pochettino likes and has singled out as a good teammate who adds value on a big 26-player roster.

The toughest omission here would be Aidan Morris, who has been consistently good for Middlesbrough. The problem for Morris is that he might be redundant with Tessmann, Cardoso, and Adams.

As for Yunus Musah, he seems like a longshot at this moment given his terrible season in Italy where his loan to Atalanta just hasn’t yielded meaningful minutes. He will still only be 27-years-old at the next World Cup but he needs to develop. Right now, at 23, he’s essentially the same players as he was at 19, but only rustier for not having played. He needs to make smart decisions this year about the next steps in his career. But it is hard to believe that a World Cup starter as a teenager could be left off the team four years later.

Attacking midfielders

17) Weston McKennie
18) Brenden Aaronson
19) Malik Tillman
20) Diego Luna

In the mix: Gio Reyna, Jack McGlynn

Analysis: This is an area of the field where it is difficult to predict given the inconsistency of the players. Weston McKennie has had a great season and can play in several different positions but seems the most valuable to this team further up the field. Brenden Aaronson is has also had a good season for Leeds although Pochettino has never been completely sold (leaving him off the 2025 Nations League roster and giving him only limited minutes at the Gold Cup and this past March window). But Aaronson is an energetic player who brings needed intensity to games.

Malik Tillman has not had a great season for Bayer Leverkusen, and has been considered a disappointment given the $40 million price tag paid for him last year. But he has done enough to be part of the team.

Then there is Diego Luna, who Pochettino said in March was struggling in his return from an injury. Luna was subsequently left off the March roster. But that seemed to be a direct challenge to Luna, and Luna has responded nicely – playing well after club play resumed after the window.

That brings us to Gio Reyna, a player who has been the center of much debate regarding his status on the U.S. team. In the end, the results speak for themselves. He is not playing for Borussia Monchengladbach. He hasn’t played much over the last four years. Pochettino brought him into the team for March, and while his minutes were limited, he didn’t stand out.

Maybe something changes in the weeks ahead and he beings to play and produce for M’Gladbach. Absent that, there just isn’t a lot there. Meanwhile, players such as Luna, Aaronson, and even Alex Zendejas are playing more, honing their craft, and building an affirmative case.

Wingers & Forwards

21) Christian Pulisic
22) Tim Weah
23) Haji Wright
24) Alex Zendejas
25) Folarin Balogun
26) Ricardo Pepi
In the mix: Josh Sargent, Brian White, Damion Downs

Analysis: This area of the pool saw a shift in recent weeks with the injury to Patrick Agyemang. That opens the door for another player, although another center forward isn’t necessarily needed with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi as established producers and Haji Wright able to play both on the wings and as a center forward.

Should another injury arise, distant options like Josh Sargent, Brian White, or Damion Downs become likely.

Christian Pulisic’s tough run of form thus far in 2026 remains the team’s top story heading into the World Cup. He’s a lock to make the team but success of the team likely hinges on him returning to top form. All other talk about who makes the final roster is largely irrelevant unless Pulisic can be Pulisic.

Tim Weah could feature on either side at fullback or winger, but he is a good player within this squad and has had a good season with Marseille where he has been a regular starter.

Alex Zendejas would be a surprise inclusion, but the stars could be aligning nicely for him. He is having a great year for Club America, he would bring a nice left foot to the mix, he is well-liked, and he did well in his most recent call-up (last September). Plus, the team could use another winger or a player who could play multiple roles.

Bottom Line

My take is that there aren’t many open spots. It is essentially these 26 players plus Miles Robinson, Noahkai Banks, Joe Scally, Aiden Morris, and Gio Reyna. That makes 31 players with a realistic shot. The other players listed only come into the mix if there is an injury or if something drastic happens.

On the roster, Zendejas represents the biggest stretch given he has not been with the team since September. But he seems like a good bet given that he’s playing well, he’s versatile, and he brings a left foot.

Regardless, roster projects shift and change on a weekly basis. That’s likely to continue right up until the team is named. Players on the “bubble” just need to play well.

As for team success, it is fun to debate over the margins of the roster and which players will make the team with the final spots, but ultimately team success will come down to how well the top players perform and whether the goalkeeper can make big saves. Down the stretch, it is most important to keep an eye on Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Richards, and Freese. The U.S. team’s success hinges on them.

USMNT Player Tracker: Allegri offers Pulisic consolation, Albert’s bow, and Aaronson’s education

Justin Setterfield/Getty Images, Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

By Greg O’Keeffe April 27, 2026 10:36 am EDT

Sensitive Christian Pulisic is still searching for goals, Brenden Aaronson wants to learn from his big miss, and Mathis Albert makes the breakthrough. It was a lively weekend for Americans in Europe.Welcome to this week’s USMNT Player Tracker.

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In a roundabout sort of way, Milan manager Max Allegri offered some reassurance to USMNT supporters this weekend when it comes to his struggling forward, Christian Pulisic.As the star’s drought in front of goal continues — it is up to 16 games now, matching his only other similarly dry streak at Chelsea in 2022 — his manager added some sympathetic context. Pulisic, to an extent, is being sacrificed for the team by regularly playing as a striker.He is ‘doing a job’ for Allegri in a position the manager admits will not eke the best from him, because Milan do not have a centre-forward he feels can start regularly in his 3-5-2 formation.

Christian Pulisic has now gone 16 games without a goal.Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images

Thankfully, Mauricio Pochettino does not have that problem, given Ricardo Pepi was on target again for PSV at the weekend and Folarin Balogun is thriving at Monaco, so hopefully Pulisic’s life will be easier in a little over six weeks’ time when the World Cup begins.“He is also someone who struggles more with the physicality of duels and the lack of a centre-forward, but I must try to give a balance to this team as we have an objective to achieve,” Allegri told DAZN after Milan’s goalless draw with Weston McKennie’s Juventus on Sunday.“I realise he is not entirely suited to this. I had asked him to play centre-right tonight and Leao centre-left, so we were without a centre-forward. Rest assured, by the end of the season, Pulisic will have given his contribution.”

There was also an admission from the Milan boss that the lack of goals is having an impact on the American’s mood. “Christian is a very sensitive man and this drought is hitting him harder,” he added.There’s little doubt that Pulisic’s partnership up front with Rafael Leao, with whom he has rowed at times this term, is not bringing the best from him. He did not create a chance for Milan on Sunday, and only touched the ball in the Juve area once.Leao had better numbers and delivered a brighter display, but he has also gone six Serie A games without a goal as Milan’s league form faltered.

Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic have not always seen eye to eye on the pitch.Marco Luzzani / Getty Images

In the end, Pulisic was replaced by Niclas Fullkrug, a more conventional centre-forward.In the opposition ranks, McKennie lasted the full game and was more involved in his side’s efforts. There was a worrying moment, though, when he went down and required treatment after an innocuous clash with Milan defender Fikayo Tomori.Fortunately, the Texan recovered to play on.The draw meant Milan remain third and Juve fourth, trailing them by three points, with both currently in the Champions League qualification spots.

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Aaronson learns the hard way

Most people would not care to dwell on the opportunity that Brenden Aaronson spurned in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.The USMNT midfielder had a chance to put Leeds ahead against Chelsea early in the game after making a clever run to go through one-on-one against Robert Sanchez.His shot could not beat the Spanish goalkeeper, though, and eight minutes later, Chelsea scored what turned out to be the game’s only goal.Afterwards, Aaronson said he had already made a point of watching his chance back. “To be honest, I thought it was a goal. I thought I couldn’t have done much better, but it was a great save… I think I’ve watched it back three times already. I always want to get better and see how I can get better with my finishing,” he told ESPN.

“I work on it a lot, so I will watch it back. I know in that moment in time I was confident, and I knew where I wanted to put it, and I put it in the right spot, but sometimes you have to put your hands up for the goalkeeper.”

Brenden Aaronson fires off his shot, only for Robert Sanchez to save.Ben Stansall / AFP via Getty Images

Aaronson’s attitude cannot be faulted, and the costly miss should not detract from a progressive season in the Premier League for the 25-year-old.Former Leeds midfielder Simon Walton, speaking on BBC Radio Leeds, said he thinks the American could benefit from playing as a No 10 in a different formation.“He’s got great energy, covers so much ground,” he said. “Unfortunately, physically, he just hasn’t got the capability to consistently impact games, and certainly not from wide areas.“If he’s going to play anywhere, then he’s got to have two powerhouses behind him and stick him in the No 10 position where he can run forward.”What You Should Read NextLeeds United’s FA Cup dream slips away. Now they must refocus and get the job done in the leaguePascal Struijk will undoubtedly keep playing the goal over in his head, but Leeds cannot dwell on this and must secure Premier League safety

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Albert makes his Bundesliga bow

There was a big step forward for 16-year-old Mathis Albert in the Bundesliga at the weekend.He surpassed Gio Reyna as the youngest American to play in the German top flight when he debuted for Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.Albert, who hails from Greenville, South Carolina, was introduced in the 88th minute of Dortmund’s win over Freiburg, aged 16 years, 11 months and 5 days. All eyes will now be on whether manager Niko Kovac gives the starlet more minutes between now and the end of the campaign.

Mathis Albert awaits his opportunity on the bench.Ronny Hartmann / AFP via Getty Images

Dortmund can only secure second place behind Champions Bayern Munich now, and Kovac also handed a full debut to gifted 18-year-old attacker Samuele Inácio in the 4-0 win over Freiburg.

Next up, they face Joe Scally and Gio Reyna’s Borussia Monchengladbach, before games against Frankfurt and Werder Bremen.What You Should Read NextMathis Albert: The American 16-year-old bringing ‘swagger’ to the Club World CupAlbert joined Borussia Dortmund last year from LA Galaxy, having stood out for his dribbling, speed and ability in one-versus-one situations

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What’s coming up this week?

(All times ET)

It’s a big week for Chris Richards and his Crystal Palace team-mates, as they head into the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday.

Palace will have to put the disappointment of their 3-1 loss to Liverpool on Saturday behind them quickly, and focus on the dream of a second major trophy in as many seasons.

See how they get on during the away leg in Poland (3pm, Paramount +).

Chris Richards is hoping to secure a second major trophy in as many seasons for Crystal Palace.Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images

Then, three days later, Palace are in action again as they head back on the road to face Tyler Adams and Bournemouth (Sunday, 9am, Paramount +).

Also on Sunday, tune in to see whether Albert or Reyna — who came on for 19 minutes against Wolfsburg on Saturday — benefit from game-time as Dortmund face Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga (11:30am, ESPN+).

Greg O’Keeffe is a senior writer for The Athletic covering US soccer players in the UK & Europe. Previously he spent a decade at the Liverpool Echo covering news and features before an eight-year stint as the paper’s Everton correspondent; giving readers the inside track on Goodison Park, a remit he later reprised at The Athletic. He has also worked as a news and sport journalist for the BBC and hosts a podcast in his spare time.

Suspended Vincent Kompany backs Bayern Munich ‘100%’ vs. PSG

• ESPN News Services

Apr 27, 2026, 03:01 PM ET

Vincent Kompany’s influence as coach is a key reason Bayern Munich are in the Champions League semifinals. Now Bayern will have to manage without him.

Bayern are preparing for arguably their toughest game of the season so far at Paris Saint-Germain with their head coach suspended and assistant Aaron Danks taking over. He’s well-regarded, but has only been head coach in two Premier League games.

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“Danksy has plenty of experience, was on the touchline for a while in England,” Kompany said. “I’ve got 100% confidence in the staff and everyone else.”

Kompany was still involved in training on Monday before Bayern’s departure for Paris, but he’ll be barred from the team’s locker room and bench at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

Kompany ruled out copying Jose Mourinho’s notorious 2005 caper when the Portuguese coach hid in a washing basket to sneak into the locker room and speak with his Chelsea team while suspended for a game against Bayern.

“I’m 1.92 meters (6-foot-3) tall. I can’t fit in a washing basket,” he said.

Harry Kane thinks Kompany’s absence will be felt. “We’ll miss him on the touchline. He’s our boss, a coach who’d love to be out there with us,” the striker, who is set for talks to extend his stay at Bayern, said.

It’s all because Kompany was booked in Bayern’s thrilling quarterfinal win over Real Madrid for disputing the referee’s decision to allow Madrid to play on and score after a hard tackle on Bayern defender Josip Stanisic.

That was Kompany’s third yellow card in Bayern’s 12th Champions League game of the season. He argued UEFA should relax the rules now there are more games than ever.

“It’s an extended format and it’s the strictest-ever ruling with a lot of interpretation from referees, where sometimes you can get a yellow card wrong as well. So what happens then?” Kompany said after the game.

“I’m not happy because of this, but it’s not important. The team can do it and I’m there for the return game. I have total faith in the team, the staff, to not just continue but also gain strength and motivation out of it.”

PSG coach Luis Enrique praised Kompany’s work since arriving two years ago.

“Vincent Kompany is a coach of the highest level, Bayern is one of the teams I like to watch the most,” he said. “They’re very pretty to watch. I like all coaches but especially the attacking ones, and he is without doubt one of them.”

Danks is one of Kompany’s three main assistants. The 42-year-old English coach is a set-piece specialist who oversaw two games for Aston Villa as caretaker coach in 2022, beating Brentford 4-0 then losing to Newcastle by the same score.

Preparations haven’t exactly been easy, either.

With the Bundesliga title wrapped up, Bayern hoped to rest key players against Mainz on Saturday, but Kompany had to bring on Kane, Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala after slipping 3-0 down before coming back to win 4-3.

Musiala is facing PSG for the first time since suffering a bad leg break against the French team at last season’s Club World Cup.

The attacking midfielder didn’t return until January but has recently looked back on form with two goals and four assists in his last five games, including setting up Luis Díaz‘s crucial third goal in the second game against Madrid.

Lennart Karl got his break in the Bayern team during Musiala’s injury absence but the 18-year-old is likely to miss Tuesday’s game with a muscle issue which has sidelined him for the last three weeks. Forward Serge Gnabry is out with a muscle tear that’s ruled him out of the World Cup, too.

The Champions League isn’t just part of Bayern’s quest for a triple. An even rarer achievement is possible.

Bayern are in the hunt for a double-triple of league, cup and Champions League for both their men’s and women’s teams. The Bayern women have already won the German league, are in the final of the German Cup and are level with Barcelona at 1-1 in the Women’s Champions League semifinals.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

‘No team better’ than Paris Saint-Germain – Luis Enrique

• PA

Apr 27, 2026, 03:26 PM ET ESPN FC

Luis Enrique insists “there’s no team better than us” as he prepares Paris Saint-Germain for a heavyweight Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

The holders host the newly crowned Bundesliga champions in an eagerly anticipated semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

PSG head into the game at the Parc des Princes in strong form having won eight of their last nine matches and sitting six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

They have also impressed in Europe, seeing off AS Monaco, Chelsea and Liverpool in the knockout phase.

They now face a Bayern side who boast their own formidable record but the PSG boss is confident his side have the edge.

“These are Europe’s top two teams,” the Spaniard told his pre-match news conference. “In terms of consistency, Bayern are perhaps slightly above us because they’ve only lost two games, but in terms of what we’ve shown, there’s no team better than us.

“You need to attack more than you defend if you want to win, and we know how hard that will be, but we’re not here to negotiate — we want to win.”

Bayern arrive in the French capital on a run of nine straight wins and 16 victories from their last 17 matches in all competitions.

They have won 11 of their 12 Champions League games this season, losing only at Arsenal in November, while a Bundesliga defeat by Augsburg in January is the only other blemish on their record.

England captain Harry Kane has led the charge with 53 goals in all competitions, including 12 in the Champions League. Bayern have also won their last five meetings with PSG, including a 2-1 victory in Paris earlier this season.

The occasion holds no fear for Bayern manager Vincent Kompany.

The former Manchester City captain said: “We’ve already won at the Bernabéu this year and won in Paris.

“Paris are obviously still the Champions League holders, but if any team can take on this challenge, it’s us. We know how good Paris are, but we want this game.”

The match will be the 15th meeting between the sides in the competition — and the ninth in as many seasons — continuing a rivalry that has become familiar on the European stage.

Kompany, who will watch the action from the stands as he serves a touchline ban, expects fine margins to settle the tie.

“We’ve got experience against them, but that’s the same for our opponent,” he said. “Both teams have so much creativity. It’s about details, intensity and energy.”

The myth of the 2026 World Cup hotel and tourism ‘boom’

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has boasted some lofty economic figures surrounding the 2026 World Cup Hector Vivas / FIFA / Getty Images

By Henry Bushnell April 22, 2026

FIFA came to North America years ago promising that the 2026 World Cup would bring millions of visitors and billions of dollars. “The world will be invading Canada, Mexico and the United States [with] a big wave of joy and happiness,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in 2022 as 16 host cities were selected. In anticipation, hotels in those cities hiked their summer 2026 prices and prepared to capitalize on the deluge.

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But with two months to go, the long-promised World Cup boom hasn’t yet materialized. Some in the U.S. tourism industry worry that it will turn out to be little more than a modest bump.

“It is not the cornucopia that FIFA talked about,” Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, told The Athletic.

Chris Nassetta, longtime president and CEO of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, admitted at a conference in Washington, D.C., last week that “the World Cup, at this point, doesn’t look as strong as what we had hoped.”

Others remain bullish and expect travel bookings to pick up over the coming month. “We’re really not ready to pull the fire alarm yet,” Erik Hansen, the U.S. Travel Association’s head of government relations, told The Athletic.

Rosanna Maietta, president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, added: “The industry, for sure, is still expecting to see a bump from those two months.”

She acknowledged, though, that “a lot of our members are reporting that bookings are below their projections.”

Many have re-calibrated expectations. And across the 16 host cities, most hotels have walked back their pricing surge.

In the aftermath of the World Cup draw and schedule reveal in December, The Athletic analyzed hotel prices in the 16 markets. The 96 hotels in our sample were, on average, charging $1,013 per night around the opening match in their respective cities, compared with $293 for an equivalent stay in late-May, exactly three weeks earlier. The average increase was 328%.

The extent of the surge varied from city to city, but touched every market and cohost country. In the U.S., the average per-night price rose from $315 in late May to $1,028 during the first week of the tournament.

Four months later, at the same hotels, prices for those same June dates have fallen more than 40% from their earlier peak.

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They remain significantly higher than May prices, but across 63 of the 66 U.S. hotels in the sample, the average rate last week was $579 per night around opening World Cup matches, down from $1,034 four months ago. (Three hotels were removed from the sample because rates were no longer available on the Marriott and Hilton apps, from which the data was sourced, when this follow-up analysis was conducted last week.)

The relatively steep decline aligns with industry-wide data and comments from executives and analysts.

“We are re-adjusting based on the market,” Maietta said.

Nearly everyone interviewed for this story said they expect bookings to accelerate between now and the start of the World Cup, or even during the tournament, which kicks off June 11 and concludes July 19. “I am still anticipating a banner summer,” Ed Grose, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, told The Athletic.

But the “soft bookings,” as Maeitta put it, are fueling some concern that this World Cup won’t attract as many visitors as first thought.

The posited reasons range from a broader U.S. tourism slump to ticket prices that have dissuaded foreign fans, plus costs — including the hotel prices themselves — that have made a World Cup trip unaffordable for the vast majority of the world.

Fans attend the FIFA World Cup trophy tour in Kansas CityEd Zurga / FIFA / Getty Images

Reasoning for unmet expectations

When FIFA last year released a “Socieconomic Impact Analysis” report and boasted that the World Cup “could help drive up to $40.9 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)” in the U.S., its analysis included an assumption that “40% of the total stadium attendance [would] consist of foreign tourists.”

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If so, more than 2.5 million seats at the World Cup’s 104 matches would be filled by foreigners. Separately, officials speculated that the number could be around 3 million. And simultaneously, they promised that millions more fans would come from afar without tickets to partake in World Cup-adjacent festivities. Infantino said last week that there would be “tens of millions from all over the world coming to the U.S. just to feel the vibe.”

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With two months to go, however, bookings and ticket sales suggest that the World Cup, as a tourist attraction, might fall short of those expectations.

According to April 6 data provided to The Athletic by CoStar, a real estate and hospitality data firm, the percentage of available hotel rooms already booked for matchdays in nine of the 11 U.S. host cities was roughly equal to the percentage of rooms booked for the same June and July dates at the same point last year.

In those nine cities, excluding Philadelphia and Kansas City, bookings were up 0.8 percent on average. On group-stage dates, the uptick was slightly higher (1.3 percent). Including the two Canadian host cities, Vancouver and Toronto, however, there have been relatively fewer bookings this year compared to last.

Cities that aren’t typically summer tourist destinations, such as Dallas and Miami, have seen significant upticks, especially on the nights of popular matches, including England vs. Croatia and Scotland vs. Brazil.

Colombia vs. Portugal is another Miami example. Those matches “are going to bring a higher demand than maybe some of those earlier games, like Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde,” James D’Agostino, a general manager at Gale Hotels in Miami, told The Athletic.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are expected to be a big draw for traveling fans at this summer’s World CupPatricia De Melo Moreira / AFP / Getty Images

But for hotels in other cities that would welcome millions of tourists even without the World Cup, such as New York or San Francisco, the tournament has not yet had a noticeable impact.

“The pace, unfortunately, is the same as what it was last year,” Dandapani, the New York City hotel association executive, said.

Alex Bastian, who leads the Hotel Council of San Francisco, said that in the Bay Area, “many of the hotels adopted conservative budgeting and forecasting strategies” based on past World Cups — and then based on the 2026 match schedule announcement in December.

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Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, is the only of the 11 U.S. stadiums that won’t host a single top seed. “If Germany was at play or France was at play,” Bastian said, “that would be a different impact than, for example, a team like Switzerland, or a team like, I don’t know, Jordan.”

Even in cities that received stronger draws, the share of international ticket buyers seems to be falling short of the 40-50 percent projection. Noelle LeVeaux, the Dallas host committee’s chief marketing officer, said recently that about 26-35 percent of tickets are being purchased by international customers. FIFA data distributed to the Los Angeles host committee and seen by The Athletic suggests that, similarly, less than a third of the fans at L.A.’s matches might be coming from abroad.

Dandapani said that FIFA’s pricing of tickets “at a really extraordinarily high level compared to” the 2022 Qatar World Cup had deterred travelers. He also cited widespread “headwinds,” such as strict visa policies, that have “put a chill” on international travel to the United States.

President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda and rhetoric has also fueled widespread perceptions that the country is unwelcoming. Throughout 2025, the first year of Trump’s second term, “U.S. visitor numbers declined 5.5% against 2024,” according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, even as the travel and tourism sector experienced its “best year ever” globally.

The World Cup had been among the reasons that industry analysts expected the U.S. to rebound in 2026. Tourism Economics, a global travel data company, initially projected a 3.9% increase in arrivals throughout the calendar year. But recently, citing the “Middle East conflict” and its economic consequences, the firm downgraded its projection to “a moderate 3.4% gain.”

Aran Ryan, the company’s director of industry studies, told The Athletic via email: “We estimate World Cup attendees will boost growth in U.S. arrivals this year by about 0.8 to 1.3 percentage points … equivalent to about 742,000 incremental visitors during the tournament.”

A view outside the Marriott Marquis hotel in midtown New York CityZamek / VIEWpress

‘Artificial early demand’

Pricing, meanwhile, was muddled by FIFA hotel blocks. The global soccer governing body, which owns and runs the World Cup, booked hundreds or thousands of rooms in each host city. Then, like many conventions and other event organizers, it exercised its contractual option to cancel some of those reservations earlier this year.“FIFA’s room block overcommitment,” Maietta explained, “created artificial early demand.” Its opt-out then changed the supply-and-demand equation. Hotels suddenly had more rooms to sell, while potential visitors were perhaps not as numerous as expected.o, throughout 2026, they’ve adjusted prices accordingly.

The steepest decline in our sample — which serves as a rough approximation of the market, far from an exact measure — occurred in Atlanta, where average prices from June 14-16 at the six randomly selected tourist hotels fell from $968 in December to $390 in April. (Atlanta’s slate of group-stage matches is arguably the second-most underwhelming of the 11 U.S. host cities, better than only the Bay Area.)Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle also saw prices cut by around 50%.The most modest decline was in Dallas, where the average of $1,039 recorded in December has fallen to a still-high $773 around the first match at AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington, between the Netherlands and Japan. (England vs. Croatia is three days later.)

The giant video board at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, dons World Cup branding in anticipation of a number of key World Cup matches at the venueJerome Miron / Imagn Images

Other entities, meanwhile, have been adding to the total cost of a World Cup trip. On top of hotels and tickets (whose prices FIFA raised again this month), transit agencies in New Jersey and Massachusetts have announced that matchday trains will cost $150 and $80, respectively. Alternatively, FIFA is charging over $100 for parking at most or all matches.

“If they’re nickel-and-dimed every which way along that travel journey,” Maietta said of fans, “it makes it really hard for them to want to come out with, say, a family, or spend that extra night at a hotel. … It all adds up.”Optimists within the tourism industry note that the World Cup’s knockout rounds, which represent 31% of matches and the highest stakes, do not lend themselves to advanced travel planning. Many fans, they believe, will book at the very last minute if their team wins and progresses from one stage to the next.There are also still more tickets to be distributed. FIFA said Tuesday that it has sold 5 million, and that a new batch will be made available Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. (The cumulative capacity of World Cup stadiums across the 104 matches is roughly 6.7 million.)The question is how significant the last-minute rush will be. No one is expecting the “tens of millions from all over the world” that Infantino mentioned, but the hope is that the World Cup will at least bring hundreds of thousands to each host city. And even if they are expats who travel from within the United States, they will still give the tournament international flair.“I think it’s too early to tell,” Hansen said of the ultimate impact. “I think plans are starting to be made now to come to the U.S. Ticket demand has been strong. So I think we’re going to start to see, in the next couple of weeks, how the data’s shaping out.”

Adam Crafton contributed reporting to this story

Henry Bushnell is a senior writer for The Athletic covering soccer. He previously covered a variety of sports and events, including World Cups and Olympics, for Yahoo Sports. He is based in Washington, D.C.

Whatever Wrexham’s fate – Premier League or not – this is what they can learn from Coventry

Coventry head coach Frank Lampard celebrated winning the Championship after the game against Wrexham Getty Images

By Richard Sutcliffe April 26, 2026

Wrexham are no strangers to promotion parties. Not after charging from non-League to the Championship inside three years.Even so, as the fireworks soared skyward and Coventry City supporters brandished placards reading ‘We are Back’ to mark their team’s return to the Premier League after a quarter of a century away, the joyful scenes in the spring sunshine did provide pause for thought.Wrexham’s play-off destiny remains just about in their own hands, a 3-1 defeat to the champions partly mitigated by how rivals Hull City had lost 24 hours earlier at Charlton Athletic.With both teams locked together on 70 points and Derby County a solitary point behind in eighth, victory over Middlesbrough at The Racecourse Ground could be enough to clinch sixth place.

Anything less than a three-point return, however, and maybe next season will be, as the celebrating Coventry fans took great delight in pointing out during the closing stages a case of, “We’re going to Arsenal, you’re going to Stoke”.Whatever Wrexham’s fate — and it could be settled by goal difference, the Welsh club currently one goal better off than Hull with a game to go — this has been a fine season with comfortably their highest-ever league standing already secured along with the mantle of being Wales’ top club.But, as Frank Lampard and his players rightly basked in the gratitude of a city whose football club has known tough times since last sitting at the top table of English football, it was hard not to wonder just what scenes potentially lie ahead if Wrexham can, first, clinch sixth place on the final day and then end their play-offs final hoodoo at Wembley.

“It will be a cracking atmosphere next week,” says Phil Parkinson. “It won’t match this because Coventry have clinched the title and they were celebrating promotion. Next week is about, ‘Can we get into the play-offs?’.“But, we’ve had some brilliant days ourselves. It’s all to play for. The lads have been brilliant over 45 games and now we have an opportunity to get over the line.”

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Like Wrexham’s own rise under Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, Coventry’s ascent to the Premier League has been impressive.

Jubilant Coventry fans after 25 years outside of the top flightJacob King/PA Images via Getty Images

Mark Robins did brilliantly to lead City to promotion from League Two in 2018 and League One two years later, despite a bleak financial outlook. Then came two heartbreaking losses at Wembley, first in the 2023 Championship play-off final, followed by the FA Cup semi-final 12 months later against Manchester United.By the time Robins left 17 months ago, however, Coventry were languishing in 17th place and needing a spark. Lampard, a serial winner in his playing career, provided just that.Wrexham, of course, were the first team to beat the champions, a 3-2 Halloween triumph that saw Kieffer Moore bag the ‘perfect’ hat-trick.

They were no less impressive in Sunday’s return, even if this time there was to be no reward for their efforts, as goals from Ephron Mason-Clark, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and a swerving free kick by Victor Torp ensured the title party was in full swing at the final whistle.No doubt that the trophy handed over by EFL chairman Rick Parry was well deserved. They have been the Championship’s standout team and fully deserving of the guard of honour provided by Wrexham before kick-off.The Welsh club may yet join Coventry in next season’s Premier League. But, even if that is to be the case, there are lessons to heed from how Lampard’s side have dominated the second tier.

Ollie Rathbone celebrates scoring against CoventrySimon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

The respective metrics for the two teams across 45 Championship games are revealing, especially how integral possession has been to the champions’ success.

Not just on Sunday — when Wrexham were worn down on an afternoon when they saw just 39.3 per cent of the ball — but across the entire season, where Coventry’s average possession stands at 55 per cent, compared with Wrexham’s 48 per cent.

This has allowed City to spend more time in the opposition third of the field, as shown by how 56 per cent of their overall touches have come in this area, compared with 47 per cent for Wrexham.

Seeing so much of the ball also helps partly explain the big disparity in attempted shots across the campaign, Coventry managing an average of 16.3 per game (5.5 on target) compared with 11.1 (3.7 on target) for Parkinson’s side.Of those, 72 per cent of Coventry’s attempts have been from inside the penalty area, the highest in the Championship and well ahead of Wrexham at 67 per cent.

The Welsh side put up a good fight on Sunday, carving out eight shots of their own inside the penalty area to nine by the hosts. Crucially, though, Coventry were more clinical, again mirroring a season-wide trend with Lampard’s side boasting a 35 per cent conversion rate from shots inside the six-yard box, 55 per cent on target.

In contrast, Wrexham’s conversion rate from the same area stands at 26 per cent and 36 per cent accuracy.

Shot conversion overall has been similar, at 14 per cent for City and 13 per cent for Wrexham, underlining how it’s volume and quality that most sets apart the teams sitting first and sixth respectively in the table.

Coventry are also better at fast breaks, averaging an expected goals (xG) of 0.2 per 90 minutes from this route, as opposed to Wrexham at a little over a third of that at 0.07.

An ability to win possession high up the field or win a set piece that subsequently leads to a goal also explains why Coventry are the division’s top scorers with 93, no less than nine goals having come from these high turnovers (2.5 per match). Wrexham, meanwhile, have scored just three from an average of 1.9, again something that will have to improve going forward.

“Congratulations to Coventry,” said the Wrexham manager. “They’ve earned it over the season. But the lads won’t be knocked by this. We went toe-to-toe with a very good team and the third goal was not a fair reflection.

“We had big moments in the game, but didn’t take them. We will next week.”