Weekend Football Review: March 7-9, 2026
Another weekend of top-flight European football has come and gone, leaving us with plenty to discuss across England, Spain, Germany, and Italy. While the Premier League took a break for FA Cup action, the continental leagues delivered drama, upsets, and decisive results that are shaping their respective title races and battles for European qualification.
English Premier League: FA Cup Takes Center Stage
With no Premier League fixtures this weekend, the focus in England shifted entirely to the FA Cup Fifth Round. Several top teams handled their ties, though not without some scares. Manchester City booked their place in the quarter-finals with a comfortable 3-0 win over Championship side Burnley, with Erling Haaland grabbing a brace. Arsenal also advanced, beating Southampton 2-1 in a hard-fought contest at St. Mary's, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the winner in the 78th minute. Liverpool had a tougher time against fellow Premier League opposition, needing extra time to overcome Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 thanks to a Darwin Núñez header. Manchester United also progressed, defeating West Ham United 2-0 at Old Trafford. Chelsea, however, were dumped out of the competition after a surprise 1-0 defeat to Championship side Middlesbrough, a result that will clearly raise questions about their season.
La Liga: Barcelona Extends Lead, Madrid Stumbles
In Spain, FC Barcelona tightened their grip on the top spot, extending their lead over Real Madrid. Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory away at Athletic Club, with Robert Lewandowski opening the scoring in the first half and Pedri adding a second late in the game to seal the three points. This win pushes Barcelona to 70 points. Meanwhile, Real Madrid faltered, dropping points in a surprising 1-1 draw at home against Real Betis. Vinicius Jr. gave Madrid the lead in the 25th minute, but Betis equalized through Borja Iglesias just after half-time, holding on for a valuable point. Real Madrid now sits on 64 points, trailing their rivals by six. This result gives Barcelona a significant advantage as the season enters its final stretch.
Club Atlético de Madrid kept pace with the top two by securing a solid 3-1 win over Celta Vigo at the Metropolitano. Antoine Griezmann was instrumental, scoring two goals and assisting another. Atlético remains in third with 57 points. Villarreal CF also picked up three points, beating Granada 2-0 at home, maintaining their position in the top four with 57 points, level with Atlético but behind on goal difference. Real Betis's draw at the Santiago Bernabéu moves them to 44 points, solidifying their hold on fifth place.
Bundesliga: Bayern Maintains Dominance, Dortmund Stumbles
The Bundesliga title race saw FC Bayern München further solidify their position at the summit while Borussia Dortmund dropped key points. Bayern delivered a dominant performance, thrashing Mainz 05 4-1 away from home. Harry Kane continued his incredible scoring form with two goals, taking his league tally to 27. Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané also found the back of the net. Bayern now boasts 69 points, a commanding lead at the top.
Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, suffered a significant setback, losing 2-1 at home to RB Leipzig. Lois Openda scored both goals for Leipzig, with Karim Adeyemi grabbing a late consolation for Dortmund. This defeat leaves Dortmund on 55 points, widening the gap to Bayern to 14 points, making their title aspirations increasingly dim. RB Leipzig's victory moves them to 50 points, leapfrogging Bayer 04 Leverkusen into fifth and putting pressure on the teams above them.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim continued their strong run of form, beating VfL Bochum 3-0 at home, moving to 52 points and consolidating their third-place position. VfB Stuttgart also picked up a vital win, defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1, taking them to 50 points, level with RB Leipzig but ahead on goal difference in fourth. Bayer 04 Leverkusen, after their loss to Leipzig, now sit on 47 points.
Serie A: Inter Extends Lead, Milan Drops Points
In Italy, FC Internazionale Milano capitalized on AC Milan's slip-up to extend their lead at the top of Serie A. Inter secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bologna away from home, with Lautaro Martínez scoring the winner in the 67th minute. This result takes Inter to 70 points.
AC Milan, their city rivals, dropped valuable points in a surprising 0-0 draw at home against Hellas Verona. Despite creating numerous chances, Milan failed to break down a resilient Verona defense, a result that sees them remain on 61 points, now nine points adrift of Inter. This draw is a significant blow to their title hopes.
SSC Napoli kept their faint title hopes alive with a comfortable 2-0 win over Torino, with Victor Osimhen scoring both goals. Napoli now has 59 points and sits in third. Como 1907 continued their impressive season, securing a 1-0 victory over Empoli, moving them to 54 points and maintaining their fourth-place position. AS Roma also picked up three points, beating Udinese 2-1 at home, taking them to 54 points as well, but behind Como on goal difference. Juventus FC, after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Atalanta, remains on 51 points, a considerable distance from the top.
Looking Ahead
As we head into the next week, the pressure intensifies across all leagues. Barcelona's lead in La Liga looks increasingly strong, while Bayern Munich appears to be cruising in the Bundesliga. Serie A's title race has seen Inter take a firm grip, though Milan will be desperate to respond. The return of Premier League action next weekend will bring its own set of high-stakes encounters as teams battle for European spots and to avoid relegation.