Chelsea take on vs Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final as both teams look to add to their hefty tallies in the competition.

The Blues, who have won the FA Cup eight times with eight different managers, are looking to make it nine in nine at Wembley with interim boss Calum McFarlane in charge. Chelsea beat Leeds 1-0 in their semi-final courtesy of Enzo Fernandez’s header.

Seven-time winners City, meanwhile, are in their fourth consecutive Cup final but have lost their last two against Manchester United and Crystal Palace. City edged past Championship side Southampton in the semi-finals with Nico Gonzalez scoring a late screamer to win the game.

City outclassed Chelsea in their last encounter, winning 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, but cause for optimism lies in McFarlane’s personal record against Pep Guardiola: in a match at the Etihad in January, Chelsea earned a 1-1 draw.

Follow the FA Cup final with The Independent

When is the FA Cup final?

Chelsea vs Man City is due to kick off at 3pm BST on Saturday, 16 May at Wembley Stadium.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BBC One, BBCiPlayer and the BBC Sport website. Coverage starts at 1:15pm.

Coverage will also be on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and HBO Max, starting at 9am.

Team news

Levi Colwill and Reece James are close to full fitness and could feature in Saturday’s final. Alejandro Garnarcho, Pedro Neto and Robert Sanchez have also all trained this week after recent injuries and are in line to play at Wembley.

Rodri remains a doubt for City’s fourth Cup final in a row, while Josko Gvardiol will be in the squad after returning to action against Crystal Palace. James Trafford, City’s domestic cup goalkeeper, is set to play over No 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Predicted line-ups

Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Fernandez; Pedro

Man City: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Gonzalez, Silva; Doku, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland

Portugal enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup with strong ambition and a sense of destiny, as this tournament is widely expected to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final appearance on the global stage. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be hoping to end his legendary World Cup journey by lifting the trophy in what could be a fairytale farewell.

Unlike previous editions, Portugal arrive with one of their most balanced and complete squads in recent memory. Under Roberto Martínez, the Seleção das Quinas now boast a well-rounded unit featuring elite talent across every department. The supporting cast includes PSG duo Vitinha and João Neves, along with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, forming a midfield capable of competing with the best in the world.

Portugal’s confidence is further boosted by their status as reigning UEFA Nations League champions, underlining their recent success on the international stage. There is a growing belief that this could finally be the year they reach their first-ever World Cup final.

Decent qualification campaign

Portugal finished their qualification journey with a record of 4 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, scoring 20 goals and conceding 7. Cristiano Ronaldo once again led the scoring charts with 5 goals, while João Cancelo and Nélson Semedo contributed creatively with 2 assists each.

The campaign started strongly with three consecutive wins, placing them at the top of their group. However, a dip in form saw them drop points in the following two matches, putting pressure on their final game. Roberto Martínez’s side responded emphatically, dismantling Armenia 9-1 in a dominant display that sealed qualification in style.

Portugal’s Group K in FIFA World Cup 2026

• 
  Portugal
• 
  DR Congo
• 
  Uzbekistan
• 
  Colombia

Ronaldo’s final chance at World Cup glory

Cristiano Ronaldo enters what is expected to be his final World Cup at the age of 41, now also known for his off-field influence but still widely regarded as the greatest goalscorer in modern football history. Despite his age, he remains a decisive presence for Portugal, driven by the pursuit of World Cup glory and the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals. Fans can still expect him to deliver moments of brilliance and continue doing what he has always done best, performing on the biggest stage.

Meanwhile, João Neves represents Portugal’s next generation. Having been just 17 and watching the previous World Cup from home, he now plays a vital role at Paris Saint-Germain. Nicknamed the “little guy,” he has developed into an intelligent and composed midfielder who quietly dictates the flow of games and provides crucial balance in Portugal’s engine room.

Portugal Strengths

Portugal operate in a possession-based 4-2-3-1 system under Roberto Martínez, with a clear attack-first mentality. Their biggest strength lies in a world-class midfield capable of controlling tempo, dominating possession, and dictating the rhythm of matches. Once they establish control, they can move the ball quickly and efficiently, creating dangerous attacking transitions. The presence of lethal goalscorers further enhances their ability to convert dominance into goals, making them a constant threat in the final third.

Portugal Weaknesses

Despite their attacking quality, Portugal’s main concern is defensive instability. The team is often vulnerable at the back and can be too easily broken down, leading to avoidable goals conceded. Another issue is inconsistency in wide areas, where wingers can struggle to maintain form and impact across matches. These defensive lapses and fluctuating performances on the flanks can disrupt their overall balance, especially against top-tier opposition.

Portugal squad for FIFA World Cup 2026: Yet to be announced 

Man United have given an update on Matthijs de Ligt after his prolonged absence due to an injury.

Manchester United have announced Matthijs de Ligt has undergone surgery to address a back injury. De Ligt was last in action for United against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on November 30.

Ruben Amorim initially suggested De Ligt would miss one game through injury, but the Dutchman has been absent since. United confirmed on Friday that De Ligt had successfully undergone an operation on his issue.

De Ligt said: “Since November I have done everything, pushing myself in every session and exploring every option, to get back to doing what I love, playing football.

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“I am grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout a difficult period in my career. I remain as determined as ever to represent Manchester United and play in front of our incredible supporters as soon as possible.”

De Ligt returned to individual training on grass in the last week of April. United had said De Ligt remained upbeat and focused on returning to full fitness, but he will not play for the club again this season.

The 26-year-old was in superb form in the first few months of the campaign and picked up United’s player of the month award in November. Before De Ligt’s injury, he’d played every minute in the 2025/26 Premier League season.

De Ligt’s injury has ended his hopes of making the Netherlands squad for this summer’s World Cup. The defender was already fighting for a place in the Netherlands squad before he suffered his injury.

Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez have started the bulk of games in central defence since Carrick’s appointment, but Martinez missed five games between February and March due to a calf injury.

Leny Yoro came into the side while Martinez was sidelined, but the Frenchman suffered a minor hip injury last month, which ruled him out of the 1-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Ayden Heaven started alongside Noussair Mazraoui in central defence against Chelsea that night. United are tracking centre-backs ahead of the summer transfer window, but strengthening other areas of the squad is the priority.

Edidiong Umoafia has continued his impressive rise in weightlifting after winning one gold and two silver medals for Nigeria at the ongoing 2026 Senior African Weightlifting Championship in Ismailia, Egypt.

The Akwa Ibom-born star, who hails from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, competed in the men’s 71kg category and added three more medals to Nigeria’s growing tally at the continental championship.

Umoafia is one of Nigeria’s leading weightlifters and has won several medals for the country at international competitions. He has also represented Team Akwa Ibom at major national events and swept all the medals in his weight category at the last National Sports Festival.

Another Akwa Ibom athlete, Ruth Nyong, also impressed at the championship by dominating her category, further highlighting the state’s growing strength in weightlifting.

Nigeria’s team produced another strong performance on Thursday as the country won nine additional medals to remain top of the medals table at the competition, which also serves as qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In the women’s 77kg category, Liadi Taiwowon all three gold medals available, while Adedapo Adeleke secured three silver medals in the men’s 79kg category.

Nigeria now leads the medals table with 14 gold and 12 silver medals, surpassing the country’s performance at the 2025 edition in Mauritius where Team Nigeria finished overall champions with 18 medals.

The medal haul is expected to increase as more Nigerian athletes are still scheduled to compete in Egypt.

Vikings Territory Breakdown Podcast

Let the footballs fly. The Vikings began working out their newly acquired rookies last week at TCO Performance Center, and for the Vikings, that was a lot of them. They reportedly signed eight of their nine draft choices (with the exception of linebacker Jake Golday—whose “gold day” has been delayed). The Vikings had a plethora of undrafted rookies in camp and even signed a couple of them: LB Kamara Bangally from Kansas and DL Vilbert Smith Vilbert from North Carolina.           

More importantly, the Vikings signed a free agent wide receiver, Jauan Jennings, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, this past week. He signed a one-year deal worth of $8 million (with incentives allowing it to reach up to $13 million), and he will slide into the vacated WR3 slot. That is plenty of money for that position, but Jennings has size, skills and veteran experience and will help take some pressure off Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

In addition, the Purple’s search for a new general manager has gotten underway with a list of names the Vikings’ ownership is seeking to interview. Plus, the team is headed to Mexico for an international game against the Niners this season, and Adrian Peterson learned that he will be put in the Vikings Ring of Honor this season. There is plenty of news coming out of TCO Performance Center, and the fellas at the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com, and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com—have got it all for you. Tune in and check it out. Skol!

Joe Oberle is a veteran sportswriter/editor/reporter and has covered the Vikings since 2008. The author of three books, he … More about Joe Oberle

Liverpool have confirmed defenders Gemma Bonner and Gemma Evans will leave the club at the end of the season.

Bonner captained the Reds to successive Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014 and was in her second spell at the club.

The 34-year-old is Liverpool’s all-time record appearance holder in the WSL era, having played 186 games and is considered a club legend.

A dressing room at the Kirkby Academy has been named after Bonner and she netted a memorable brace in a 4-3 victory over Chelsea in May 2024.

Injury disrupted her game time this season, meaning she featured just 10 times under manager Gareth Taylor.

Wales international Evans joined from Manchester United in 2024 and has made 38 appearances.

The 29-year-old has helped the club reach back-to-back FA Cup semi-finals.

BBC Sport reported last week that WSL 2 side Newcastle United are in talks to sign Evans.

Both players will be celebrated by the club at Anfield on Saturday in their final WSL game of the season against Arsenal (13:00 BST).

With the Mumbai Indians enduring a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has come to the defence of captain Hardik Pandya, stating that the team’s poor performances should not be pinned on him alone. MI, who have won just four of their 12 matches this season, were the second team to be eliminated from playoff contention, with their captain struggling with form and injury. “I wouldn’t review his captaincy this year at all. Honestly, when you have seasons like this, to pin the blame on the captain is quite unfair. Nobody has turned up. The team has failed to turn up and for Hardik to take the blame on himself is… you’re asking him to do a little too much,” Ashwin told ESPNcricinfo.

Ashwin highlighted the context of Pandya’s return to MI in 2024 after a successful stint with the Gujarat Titans, where he led the franchise to a title and a runners-up finish.

“He was there at Gujarat Titans. Had two fabulous seasons (one title and one runners-up finish). So clearly, as a leader, he did something right there. And when he returned to Mumbai Indians, he had to deal with quite a bit. It’s not easy to replace an incumbent Indian captain, white-ball captain, such as Rohit Sharma. Five (six) titles in the IPL. He’s won a T20 World Cup. And Hardik comes and replaces him. You’ve got a lot of fandom going around in the country. You should have a thick skin to survive the social media these days,” Ashwin added.

Ashwin also stressed that captaincy is not solely responsible for a team’s failures as he said, “I wouldn’t judge his captaincy much because the bowling has also leaked (runs in) every direction. Every single time an over is bowled for six or seven runs, in comes a 15-run over. So what do you do as a captain? And sure, he’s made some calls that have been debatable. (But) captaincy is the result of how your team is making you look. So which is why I believe when you have a good season, don’t give too much credit to a captain. When you have a bad season, don’t pin it on him. And similar with the coach; the coach sends the players out. So you can’t blame him too much.”

This season, Pandya’s struggles have been stark. Since returning to MI as captain in 2024, he has yet to win a trophy for the franchise. In IPL 2026, he scored just 146 runs from eight innings at a strike rate of 136.44, with a best of 40, and took only four wickets at an economy of 11.90.

Beyond leadership, Ashwin expressed concern about Pandya’s batting, noting unusual timing issues, stating, “With his (Hardik’s) batting, I found something quite interesting and strange, which is how late he’s been on the ball. Is he going through something physically? We wouldn’t be able to know that if there is something, then maybe that physical aspect will bring him back. And if he gets better, he’ll come back to it. But he’s been late on the hard-length deliveries.”

“He’s not someone who’s going to miss hard-length deliveries. He hits it 15 rows back. That’s a bit of a concern for me, whether he’s suffering something physically from a back issue or hands, or does he have a tennis elbow? Is his bat heavier (than it should be)? Does he need to recalibrate that? Those are things that I would want to know,” he added.

The team has also struggled collectively, with other stars like Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah having similarly modest campaigns. Pandya has additionally been sidelined due to a reported back issue, missing three games, with Suryakumar and Bumrah stepping in as stand-in captains. Despite the struggles, Ashwin reaffirmed Pandya’s value.

“Hardik is a once-in-a-generation player. You don’t find such players. And if India finds itself in a certain T20 mastery now, Hardik’s been a linchpin in that. And to me, Hardik, the player, you can have a bad season. It’s digestible for me. Especially after you had a (T20) World Cup like that. Hardik likes a bit of space. He kind of stays in his own zone. So the only thing I’d be worried about is how late he’s been on the ball when he’s batting. Apart from that, it’s okay. I wouldn’t judge any of the other aspects of his game,” the former India spinner mentioned.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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