Underdogs

When it comes mid-major programs that know how to write a Cinderella story, there’s not many better than the Marshall Thundering Herd. 

More recently, the men's basketball team advanced to the Second Round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament as a 13-seed, while the 2020 football team reached No. 16 in the national rankings after starting the season 7-0.

Now it’s the men’s soccer team’s turn. 

The return of Arjen Robben to boyhood club Groningen after a year of retirement was one of the feel-good stories of last summer’s transfer window. But for all his legendary contributions at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the threat of injury always hovered around the “Man of Glass”, even at the height of his physical power.

Barcelona and Atlético handed LaLiga control to Real Madrid after an entertaining scoreless draw at the Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon. Spain’s two highest scoring teams had their chances, but Jan Oblak produced seven saves — including a miracle on Lionel Messi — and Marc-André ter Stegen had six of his own, including three on Luis Suárez.

Inter Milan clinched their first Serie A title in 11 years on Sunday after Sassuolo drew 1-1 with second-placed Atalanta to assure Antonio Conte’s side of the league crown.

Inter are 13 points clear in first place with four games remaining, and their triumph ends a run of nine consecutive title wins for Juventus.

Large crowds of flag-waving fans gathered outside the iconic Duomo in Milan to celebrate a long-awaited success that has broken the domestic dominance of rivals Juve.

With five MLS clubs and three Liga MX sides making up the quarterfinals of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, the stage is perfectly set to deliver the matchups we all want to see.  

While one MLS side is guaranteed passage to the semifinals (Atlanta and Philadelphia do battle in the quarters), we’re eagerly anticipating 2018 CCL finalist Toronto against 2014 CCL winner Cruz Azul, reigning MLS Cup titleholder Columbus taking on 2019 CCL victor Monterrey, and 2020 MLS is Back Tournament champ (the highest accolade around) Portland clashing with 2016 CCL top dog América.   

GLASGOW - Rangers were knocked out in the Scottish Cup quarterfinals with a 4-2 defeat on penalties after St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark set up a last-gasp extra-time equalizer and saved two penalties in the shootout to end the Glasgow side's hopes of winning the double.

With the match ending 1-1 after the extra period, James Tavernier missed Rangers' first penalty in the shootout at Ibrox and Kemar Roofe spurned the final one while St Johnstone converted all their kicks to join Hibernian and Dundee United in the last four.

After a six-month spell at the top of LaLiga, Atlético Madrid has ceded control of the division to Barcelona with only five matches remaining (although the two clubs meet on May 8). 

On Sunday, Atlético slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club at the San Mamés following Iñigo Martínez’s dramatic 86th-minute winner. After an early stretch of 15 wins in 16 games that made Atlético’s title look almost certain, Los Colchoneros have won only five of their last 12 to allow Barça (15 wins in 17) the chance to go top on Thursday against Granada.

When Wycombe earned promotion to the Championship for the first time in 2020, the Chairboys became instant favorites for relegation.

This was a side that finished 17th in League One in 2018/19 and was predicted to be near the bottom end of the table once again in 19/20. Manager Gareth Ainsworth's side finished eighth in a COVID-shortened season and only earned a playoff spot due to the points per game formula applied by the league.