Aaron Rodgers is still in no rush to decide on his future.
With the NFL world waiting for the free-agent quarterback to make up his mind, Rodgers indicated Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he is not close to making a decision on his future, as he has had people in his inner circle dealing with “difficult stuff.”
The 41-year-old said he isn’t “stringing anybody along” or “holding anybody hostage” by not deciding where to sign or whether to retire, but has had “constraints in my life right now that warrant my attention.”
Aaron Rodgers (r.) on “The Pat McAfee Show” on April 17, 2025. YouTube/The Pat McAfee Show
“I’m open to anything and attached to nothing, so retirement could still be a possibility,” Rodgers said, adding he told teams from the beginning that he’d be willing to play for $10 million.
The new Jets regime of head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey decided to move on from Rodgers after his two seasons with Gang Green, opting to sign Justin Fields to be their starter this year.
Rodgers said he flew across the country to meet the Jets in person expecting a long meeting, only to be told quickly by Glenn that the team was moving on, something that didn’t sit well with him.
Rodgers hadn’t spoken publicly in two months, last telling TMZ in February that he was looking for a team that wanted him and also had talent on the roster.
Aaron Rodgers in 2024. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Last month, Rodgers was spotted looking pensive on a beach in Malibu days after the start of free agency, when other players were being snapped up left and right.
The Giants, after flirting with a Matthew Stafford trade before he signed a re-worked deal with the Rams, pursued Rodgers, but they moved on from their pursuit to sign Russell Wilson in late March as their new starting quarterback while adding Jameis Winston as a backup.
Though Rodgers reportedly reached out to Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell about joining Minnesota, Rodgers criticized that report and said he and O’Connell talk regularly, having known each other for a long time.
Will Mike Tomlin be coaching Aaron Rodgers in 2025? Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Minnesota is sticking to its plan of giving the reins to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season due to knee surgery.
That leaves the Steelers, a playoff team in need of a quarterback, as the only logical landing spot remaining. The Saints suddenly need a QB with Derek Carr possibly suffering a season-ending injury, but they don’t figure to be in the playoff mix in 2025.
Rodgers talked positively about the Steelers and new receiver DK Metcalf, whom he threw to during a recent workout at UCLA.
He also said he’s talked to head coach Mike Tomlin “many times,” but he doesn’t feel he owes anyone an answer by a certain time, and would understand if any team has to move on and go in a different direction.
“I am trying to be open to everything and not specifically attached to anything when it comes to this decision,” Rodgers said. “I’m just going through a lot in my personal life that has to take precedent at this point.”
Aaron Rodgers Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Rodgers played all 17 games last season after tearing his Achilles tendon four plays into the 2023 season — throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while the Jets went 5-12.
He is seventh all-time with 62,952 yards passing and fifth all-time with 503 passing touchdowns.
For three seasons, Steve Angeli gave everything he had with one goal in mind: becoming the starting quarterback at Notre Dame.
In the end, it wasn’t enough.
Angeli has entered the transfer portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos, with two years of eligibility remaining. His exit leaves junior Kenny Minchey and sophomore CJ Carr to compete for the starting quarterback job.
During his time in South Bend, Angeli left his mark on the Notre Dame football program. First, he quarterbacked the Irish to a 40-8 victory in the 2023 Sun Bowl. Later, in the Orange Bowl against Penn State, Angeli stepped in for an injured Riley Leonard and led a two-minute field-goal drive to end the first half.
During that drive, he went 6-of-7 for 44 yards and pulled the Irish within one score of the Nittany Lions. Notre Dame likely would not have made it to the national championship game without Angeli’s contributions.
In all likelihood, though, Angeli was told that Carr and Minchey passed him in the quarterback pecking order after spring practice. Following the Blue-Gold Game on Saturday, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said he would like to narrow the competition down from three to two.
“We’ll talk about it and have discussions moving forward,” Freeman said. “You would like to be able to kind of go in the fall with a two-quarterback battle. It’s really hard with truly having a three-quarterback battle. But we’ve got to sit down and have conversations about what’s best for our program, what’s best for our quarterbacks, and we’ll make those decisions in the future.”
Carr’s continued involvement in the competition is not a surprise, but to many, Minchey becoming a factor is. The junior took a significant step in spring practice, making plays with both his arm and his legs — the latter serving as a distinct advantage over Angeli.
Evidently, Minchey showed enough for Freeman, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli to favor him over Angeli as potentially Notre Dame’s Week 1 starting quarterback. Carr was the most impressive Irish signal-caller in the Blue-Gold Game, throwing 2 touchdown passes and threading the needle on downfield passes more than the other two.
With Angeli’s exit, freshman Blake Hebert is Notre Dame’s only scholarship quarterback not involved in the battle to start.
Angeli finishes his Notre Dame career with 58 completions on 80 pass attempts for 722 yards, 10 touchdowns and 1 interception in 21 games. He should be a hot commodity in the transfer portal, having proved his capability as a quarterback at the Power Four level.
Manchester United will host Lyon in the second leg of a contentious UEFA Europa League quarterfinal clash on Thursday on Paramount+. These teams battled to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the competition, with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki scoring the tying goal in stoppage time. The French side went on to defeat Auxerre 3-1 in Ligue 1 play while Man United fell 4-1 to Newcastle in the Premier League. Stream the match live on Paramount+, which you can now try free for the first seven days when you sign up here.
Kickoff from Old Trafford in Manchester is set for 3 p.m. ET. The hosts are the -145 favorites (risk $145 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in the latest Man United vs. Lyon odds, with Lyon as the +380 underdogs. A draw is priced at +310, and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Thursday’s match will be on Paramount+, which is free for the first week. Sign up here.
Paramount+ is the place to watch the Europa League this season. A subscription also gives you access to other sports content, including the UEFA Champions League, Serie A, EFL League One, NFL on CBS, Big Ten on CBS and countless movies and shows. You can now get a free 7-day trial when you sign up for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
Before you bet on Man United vs. Lyon or make any other soccer predictions, you must see what proven soccer expert Brandt Sutton has to say.
Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player, has been SportsLine’s top soccer editor for more than six years. He has followed soccer closely for much longer and factors in managerial tactics, projected lineups and past performances to make the most informed decisions possible, keeping his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
In 2023, Sutton was profitable across multiple leagues for SportsLine subscribers, including the Champions League, English Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and more. He also finished 2022 as SportsLine’s No. 1 soccer expert with a 165-130-2 mark, returning nearly $2,200 for $100 players.
Sutton has taken an in-depth look at Man United vs. Lyon, and he has locked in a pair of CONFIDENT best bets while offering a full breakdown of this Europa League clash! You ABSOLUTELY need to see his picks and analysis before making any selections of your own. Don’t forget to stream the match on Paramount+.
So who wins Lyon vs. Man United, and where does all the betting value lie? … Join SportsLine now to see Brandt Sutton’s picks for Lyon vs. Man United, all from the insider who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe!
The Cubs have scored 124 runs this season, 17 more than the second-place Yankees, and their 121 team wRC+ is fifth overall. They’re walking more than all but three teams, striking out less than all but five, and their .176 ISO (raw power) ranks sixth as well. That’s pretty solid production from a unit relying largely on better health and bounceback from a number of players who were on the roster last year.
Jed Hoyer made several offseason roster upgrades, the most notable of which was acquiring right fielder Kyle Tucker, but the biggest relative boost to the lineup is coming from a spot not expected to produce much offense. Through 21 games, Cubs catchers lead MLB with 1.6 fWAR, 25 runs batted in, and a shocking 1.078 OPS. And while Carson Kelly‘s surprise turn as a slugger has led the way, Miguel Amaya is more than holding his own.
“We’ve been locked in and getting our work in,” Amaya told reporters in San Diego. “Obviously, the first thing we need to take care of is our pitchers. But it’s also taking care of that spot whenever we have the chance to bring runs in or move a runner, having those quality at-bats. We’re putting in that work, too, so we can be helpful on both sides of the game.
“And whoever is in the lineup that day, we’re going to be ready to do our job. And if we’re not in the lineup, we stay locked in for the game for whatever happens.”
Contrast that with last season, when Cubs backstops were near the bottom of the league in offensive production. Through the first month of 2024, they were worth -0.1 fWAR with eight RBI and a .654 OPS. Things only got worse from there, as the fWAR number had dropped to a league-low -1.2 with a .493 OPS through May. By the end of June, they were at -1.8 fWAR with a 33 wRC+ that said Cubs catchers were 67% below league-average in terms of creating runs.
The production began to turn around after Yan Gomes was let go in mid-June and Miguel Amaya ditched his leg kick for a smaller toe-tap in early July. Since July 7, when Amaya returned from sitting for a few days to adjust to his new swing, Cubs catchers are fourth in MLB with 3.3 fWAR and third with a 135 wRC+ (just two points behind the first-place Cardinals). That’s a massive jump from where they had been through the first few months of 2024.
We have to be careful not to put too much stock in their continued performance at this same level, but it’s more than fair to assume they can keep producing better than league average. That alone will be a huge help through the rest of the first half because the position isn’t a gaping hole in the offense. Tucker is an upgrade over Cody Bellinger, Pete Crow-Armstrong is hitting much better than last year, and Nico Hoerner looks better than ever despite missing most of spring training rehabbing offseason forearm surgery.
Now if the Cubs can just get Dansby Swanson‘s luck turned in the right direction and get Matt Shaw right at the plate, they could really make some noise. I’m going to cover the former topic in a subsequent piece and I already took a look at Shaw’s demotion earlier, but I would like to touch on that again here because the Amaya stuff hearkens back to something from the offseason about Shaw’s leg kick.
Sending Shaw back to Iowa may allow the organization’s hitting instructors to work with him on quieting things down a bit. Keep in mind, this isn’t a matter of changing the stance that so many people seem to be blaming for his struggles just because they think it looks weird. The issue isn’t how Shaw stands in the box, it’s his approach and timing. He watched way too many first pitch strikes, and falling behind early left him flailing more than he should have.
I don’t believe the big leg kick is responsible for that in and of itself, but Shaw was often caught off-guard and wasn’t able to produce enough good swings as a result. Reducing the kick and going with more of a toe-tap might allow him to get started early without having to commit, something we saw with Amaya. Perhaps a better comp is Angels shortstop Zach Neto, whose leg kick used to be similar to Shaw’s.
Here is Neto explaining the evolution of his move to MLB Network’s Yonder Alonso, who the White Sox once signed because he’s Manny Machado‘s brother-in-law.
You don’t fix what ain’t broken, and it’s possible Shaw can still succeed by simply changing his mindset and being more aggressive at the plate. But the improvements by Amaya and Neto offer templates for success that Shaw and the Cubs might try to follow. Something to keep an eye on as Shaw gets going with the I-Cubs.
It’ll be a little while before we get to see whether Shaw’s adjustments pay dividends in Chicago, so for now we can focus on Kelly, Amaya, and the rest of the surging offense.
Another European soccer weekend is in the books, and we have lots to talk about. Real Madrid gritted out a win ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, second leg, vs. Arsenal, though Kylian Mbappé‘s reckless challenge (and deserved red card) shows that all is not well with Los Blancos. In the Premier League, Manchester United were thumped 4-1 at Newcastle in a result that shows how lost they are, while Liverpool rallied to beat West Ham and remain on course for the title.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich and Vincent Kompany learned a lot in an entertaining Der Klassiker draw with Dortmund, and we have plenty to unpack from Barcelona’s narrow win at Leganes, Arsenal’s draw with Brentford, the Rome derby and much more. Here are some musings and reactions to the most memorable moments of the weekend.
Mbappe loses it and Real Madrid are stretched, but survive
This is when you’re tempted to put on your amateur psychologist hat and offer some thoughts on Mbappe.
On Tuesday, he (along with his Real Madrid teammates) was humiliated by Arsenal at the Emirates losing their Champions League quarterfinal first leg 3-0. On Thursday, his lawyers filed a raft of lawsuits against his old club, Paris Saint-Germain, in an effort to recover the €55 million ($60m) in unpaid wages and bonuses he believes he’s owed. And on Sunday, probably frustrated at the way his game was going, he earned himself a straight red with a horrendous tackle that even his coach — Carlo Ancelotti’s son, Davide, in this case since dad was suspended — said was “a clear sending off.”
Elite athletes often operate in a finely tuned equilibrium of ego and confidence, and that’s a lot for anyone to take on. How he responds to this week will have a huge impact on the rest of Real Madrid’s season not just in whether they bounce back against Arsenal on Wednesday, but also in their run at another LaLiga title and the Copa del Rey. It’s a run that sees them keep pace with Barcelona following the 1-0 victory at Alaves on Sunday, which leaves them four points back.
Truth be told, things don’t look great and not just because Mbappe will now be suspended for two games. Sunday was their first clean sheet in nine games, and their past five wins have all come by a single goal. It was the usual mixed bag of individuals doing something special (Eduardo Camavinga‘s goal, the customary Thibaut Courtois saves) and individuals contributing very little — Arda Güler (to be fair, Mbappe’s red card forced him to play more a striker, which is clearly not his jam) and Rodrygo (who is really having a rocky time of late) spring to mind.
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Burley slams Mbappe for ‘disgraceful’ red card challenge
Craig Burley expects Kylian Mbappe to face severe punishment for the challenge that earned him a red card in Real Madrid’s win vs. Alaves.
Positives? Vinicius Jr. looked sharp when he came on and played a big part in the Alaves sending off that made it 10 vs. 10 for the final 20 minutes, and Dani Ceballos is back from injury (though probably not ready to start on Wednesday).
It’s pretty wild to think that Ceballos’ return could be so critical at this stage of Madrid’s season. But given the ham-fisted, unbalanced way this team was put together, that’s where we are.
Motivation looms large in Newcastle’s drubbing of Manchester United
Newcastle United didn’t just defeat Manchester United 4-1 because they have something to play for — finishing high enough in the table to qualify for the Champions League — whereas United’s only meaningful games (in terms of results, anyway) the rest of the way will come in the Europa League (and, depending how things turn out Thursday night vs. Lyon, it might be just one more game). On the day, Newcastle had a better goalkeeper, better central defenders, better wing backs, better midfielders and a better center forward, so yeah, there was that too.
But you can’t strip enthusiasm and purpose out of the football equation. I argued several months ago that Man United should focus on cup competitions because the league was entirely irrelevant to them as anything other than a classroom to learn Ruben Amorim’s football. That, plus professional pride, should be motivating enough. But — and it’s only human — it’s hard to test a machine when key elements in that machine aren’t going to be around.
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Will Onana return to Man United’s XI vs. Lyon?
Gabriele Marcotti and Stewart Robson discuss André Onana’s potential return to the Manchester United squad after being left out against Newcastle United.
Altay Bayindir probably won’t be United’s first-choice keeper, regardless of what happens to André Onana ahead of him in the depth chart. Victor Lindelöf and Christian Eriksen are out of contract and will be gone. Odds are that Alejandro Garnacho will be on his way too, because he can bring in some transfer funds. Joshua Zirkzee‘s future at this club — if he has one — likely won’t be at center forward.
So when you have a system so built on chemistry and coordination, how are you even refining it when you know key parts aren’t going to be there? And what are you actually going to learn from games like this?
Roll on the Europa League.
Der Klassiker points the way forward for Vincent Kompany and Bayern Munich
Saturday’s affair ended 2-2 and if you’re a Debbie Downer type, you might conclude that it wasn’t a great weekend for Bayern since they ended up dropping points and failed to beat a midtable Borussia Dortmund still smarting from the midweek hiding at the hands of Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. Take a step back, though, and this was pretty good all-around for Kompany given the circumstances.
Sure, if Pascal Gross’ late chip had been a little more precise, they could have actually lost the game, but on the run of play they were probably the better side. And while it’s true that Dortmund were coming off a big defeat in the Champions League, psychologically losing at home to Inter when you top the Bundesliga is as tough a blow (if not tougher). Yes, it would have been nice to win this and get the chance to wrap up the title next weekend, but in truth Bayer Leverkusen’s 0-0 draw at home to Union Berlin means Bayern are one step closer to the inevitable.
Alejandro Moreno breaks down Bayern Munich’s defensive weaknesses as Dortmund come from behind to earn 2-2 draw.
More important, I think, is this game showed Kompany what mistakes not to repeat in the return leg against Inter, where they will have to overturn a 2-1 deficit at San Siro. For one, Thomas Müller is in great form and with Jamal Musiala unavailable, it’s a no-brainer that he gets more than the 15 minutes he got in the first leg. So too is Serge Gnabry, whose 28-minute cameo saw him bag a goal, an assist and plenty of highlight reel material. Raphaël Guerreiro is far more effective as an attacking fullback than he is in the hole, and Aleksandar Pavlovic came through nearly half an hour unscathed, which means he too can give you an option on Tuesday night.
(On the flip side, Harry Kane is having a rough time right now. But it’s not as if he’s going to be dropped partly because he can turn it on at any time, partly because there’s literally nobody else.)
If you’re Dortmund, you take the point and note that you’re eighth in the table, while you were 11th less than a month ago. The first half was pretty turgid, but the direction of travel is evident and upward. The main question, with five games to go, is whether they’ll get where they want to be (top 4) before they run out of Bundesliga games.
Liverpool running on fumes, but makes no difference to imminent title celebrations
Smart PR people know how to space out good news.
Late last week, we had the announcement that free agent-to-be Mohamed Salah had extended his deal through 2027. I imagine we’ll get club captain Virgil Van Dijk, also out of contract in June, to make a similar announcement this week. (The way, when asked whether he knew anything about it, he smiled and said “he didn’t, but he did” is a dead giveaway.) And then, the following week, after Tottenham Hotspur at home on April 27, roll on the title celebrations.
Jurgen Klopp’s crown, in 2019-20, was historic because it was the first since 1990, but that one was in the COVID-19 era. This one will feel different if only because the fans will be a huge part of it.
Following Sunday’s 2-1 win over West Ham, Liverpool are 13 points clear. Like a lot of their recent outings, it was far from flawless. They started well, took the lead and then fell away, going through a rough patch and eventually conceding a freak (but deserved) equalizer. Then it was Van Dijk, fittingly, who headed home the winner.
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Nicol: Van Dijk is impossible to replace
Steve Nicol believes Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk is “impossible” to replace and is hopeful he will sign a new contract with the club.
Liverpool’s form over the past few months will no doubt have played a part in the club’s decision over Salah’s new deal. With Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes calling the shots, it was never going to be a case of “pay him what he wants.” The bump in salary (around 10%) and the fact it’s a two-year contract (not three) suggest they didn’t get carried away and, if anything, they understand the need to address the squad in the summer, given the spring dip.
Salah’s gem of an assist for Luis Díaz‘s goal reaffirms the fact that he can do things with the ball few others can. But if they get things right in the summer, he’ll be the cherry on top, and not as central to the club’s fortunes as he was this year.
Quick hits
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How the Premier League top-5 race landscape has changed
Craig Burley wonders if Nottingham Forest are no longer a lock to finish in the Premier League top five this season.
10. Man City’s comeback only makes you want Kevin De Bruyne to stick around: The Belgium international scored a goal, delivered an assist, hit the woodwork and generally showed how a quick mind and gifted feet can wreak havoc with any opponent, even at age 33. Manchester City went two goals down at home to Crystal Palace and you wondered if the wheels were, once again, going to come off for Pep Guardiola against one of the better counterattacking sides in the league. It didn’t work out that way, largely because of De Bruyne’s contribution, as they went on to win 5-2 and stay on track for a Champions League spot. De Bruyne knows his body better than anyone, but it’s curious how he was an unused sub — fit enough to be on the bench, but evidently not fit enough to come on even with five subs — on five occasions this season. Despite this, he has already played more league minutes than last season and, more tellingly, he has more goal contributions than every single Manchester City player except for Erling Haaland. Are we sure he doesn’t have another season or two in him at the highest level?
9. Barcelona get the kind of win some say wins you titles: You know, those days when things get ugly, you’re not playing well, you get out of jail but you still gut it out? That’s what Barca’s trip to face Leganes — who had already beaten them at Montjuic this season — was like. LaLiga’s second-from-bottom club only lost thanks to Jorge Saenz’s own goal, which only came about because Óscar Rodríguez attempted a needless backheel in the middle of the park, giving the ball away to Gerard Martín. Beyond that, Wojciech Szczesny had to make some big saves and Iñigo Martínez made a huge tackle. Hansi Flick did give some starters (Frenkie de Jong, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi) a rest and Barca also had (some) chances, but the game ought to have been a reminder that when their intensity and focus drop just a little, they become vulnerable.
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Why Barca will look back on Leganes victory if they win title
Craig Burley says Barcelona’s narrow 1-0 win over Leganes could be significant for their LaLiga title hopes.
8. Dusan Vlahovic? Fixed (minus the goals). Kenan Yildiz? Fixed. Teun Koopmeiners? Almost. Juventus made the right choice: It doesn’t mean that Igor Tudor is a great manager or even a particularly good one, just that Juve made the right decision in getting rid of Thiago Motta. Maybe Motta really was a genius with an outside-the-box, hyper-sophisticated brand of football. The problem is, history is littered with misunderstood geniuses and when, on top of nobody having the foggiest notion of what is being asked of them, they’re also disliked by their players and they don’t get results, there’s only one outcome. Tudor’s football — as we saw in the 2-1 win against Lecce — is simpler, but it has the great merit of being absorbed and understood by his players, especially the big guns. Vlahovic, who didn’t score but delivered two assists, is productive again (and playing). Yildiz was man of the match — meaning the Alessandro Del Piero comparisons don’t seem that fanciful — and Koopmeiners actually scored, looking as good as he has since he arrived at the club. What Tudor is doing isn’t rocket science, but it’s exactly what Juve needed.
7. Oihan Sancet delivers when it matters as Athletic Club break their streak: Three straight scoreless draws, including the first leg of their Europa League clash with Rangers on Thursday, suggested things might be going south for Ernesto Valverde’s crew, especially with tricky away ties against Real Madrid and Real Sociedad to come. But it was Sancet who came through big time and cued the 3-1 comeback win against Rayo Vallecano that give them breathing room in La Liga. (They are six points clear of fifth place.) Sancet has had his critics at times, but the numbers speak for themselves. He is the fourth-leading scorer in LaLiga despite not being an outright center forward and despite starting just 17 league games.
6. Rome derby ends in draw, but Lazio have the upper hand: There are two big takeaways here. One is that Lazio are a better team. Maybe not a more talented one, but more of a team, a group put together to play a certain way under coach Marco Baroni. And that matters. That probably explains why they’re sixth, three points out of the top four and while they’re still alive in Europe despite their defeat away to Bodo Glimt in their Europa League quarterfinal, first leg. As for Roma, they look like what they are: a haphazardly assembled group of individuals who rely on moments of brilliance, like Matìas Soulè‘s equalizer. That said, let’s remember Roma were 15th in early December, just two points from relegation and now they’re seventh. A lot of the credit has to go to Claudio Ranieri who became Roma’s third manager this season and who, if he retires in June (as he says he will), will ride off into the sunset undefeated in the Rome derby. For a guy who is Rome born and bred, that’s some achievement.
5. Monaco crush Marseille as Roberto De Zerbi’s project hangs in the balance: I was excited to see what De Zerbi could achieve in Marseille given the highs he reached with Brighton. Second place behind Paris Saint-Germain seemed like a minimum hurdle — given they have the second-highest wage bill in the league — but as much as results, you were looking for growth. De Zerbi’s football isn’t easy to metabolize, but with no European games, you figured they’d get stronger as the season wore on. Instead, they’ve now lost five of their past seven games and the 3-0 defeat at Monaco could have been worse if not for some big saves from Gerónimo Rulli. De Zerbi (and Marseille) have some thinking to do.
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Are Arsenal distracted by their Champions League campaign?
Luis Miguel Echegaray and Janusz Michallik discuss as to why Arsenal have been less than impressive in the Premier League in recent weeks.
4. Mikel Arteta may deny it, but Arsenal are focused on Real Madrid, as they should be: No manager is going to say they’re giving up on the league, but actions speak louder than words and when you saw Arsenal’s lineup — Kieran Tierney at left back, Jorginho and Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield and, most importantly, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka on the bench — it was obvious what was going on, and it was the right call too. Never mind the 3-0 advantage they hold from their first leg vs. Real Madrid: ninety minutes (plus stoppage time) can be an eternity at the Bernabeu. And, if anything, the second-stringers who came in were highly motivated; Arsenal could easily have won this game rather than settling for a 1-1 draw. Brentford aren’t Real Madrid and Yoane Wissa isn’t Mbappe, but the fact that they limited them to three shots and an xG of 0.24 bodes well.
3. Simone Inzaghi rotates his team, Marko Arnautovic devastates and Inter Milan stay top in Serie A: The first bit isn’t a surprise: making five changes from the midweek win over Bayern is the sort of thing Inzaghi has been doing all season long. The second part is a nice bonus, though, as Arnautovic opened the scoring, thundering through the area before smacking it into the roof of the net and his no-look around-the-corner assist for Lautaro Martínez was a gem too, as Inter won 3-1 against Cagliari. Arnautovic is now 35 and anyone who has followed his career knows that you rely on him at your peril, because he can be maddeningly inconsistent. But his skill set (size, strength and creativity) is a nice complement to Inzaghi’s other options — Mehdi Taremi‘s workrate and whatever it is Joaquín Correa offers — off the bench.
2. Chelsea come back to snatch a point at home vs. Ipswich, but dependency on Cole Palmer is still a big issue: At halftime, 2-0 down, they were booed off the pitch. In the end, it finished 2-2 and Chelsea might have won if not for two huge Alex Palmer saves. (But then, so could Ipswich if Liam Delap’s finishing had been better.) The draw leaves Chelsea sixth, one spot outside Champions League qualification. They can still turn it around, but it’s striking how much this team looks for Cole Palmer at every turn. The back four (at least the one that played on Sunday) aren’t much of an attacking threat, so he’s the one who has to drop deep to collect the ball. The wingers (other than Jadon Sancho who scored a stunning equalizer after coming on) tend to slow things down, and their crosses disappear into a throng of bodies in the Ipswich box. Nico Jackson, probably still not fully fit, struggled against two big central defenders, which meant Palmer had to end up taking more shots on goal than anyone. We can blame youth all we like, but this remains a poorly constructed squad (relative to the resources spent) and one that will get better only when it weans itself off of Palmer. Productive as he is, he’s only 22 and he can be much more effective if the parts around him are working as they should.
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Robson: ‘Mole gate’ is the least of Postecoglou’s problems
Stewart Robson believes that news leaking from the Tottenham Hotspur camp is the least of Ange Postecoglou problems after suffering a 4-2 defeat to Wolves at the Molineux Stadium.
1. Tottenham’s problems are leaks at the back, not to the media: Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou set himself up for it when he complained about injury information and the like finding its way into media reports and vowing “to deal with the mole.” Sure, dressing room trust is a thing and when it’s violated things can get very bad, very quickly. But that’s not what appears to have happened here and, believe it or not, news of Wilson Odobert‘s calf pain is not hugely relevant in the grand scheme of things. The more pressing concern is Tottenham’s defending, which was all over the place in a 4-2 defeat to Wolves. Postecoglou rightly mixed things up with a view toward the Europa League return leg against Eintracht Frankfurt this week, but some of the worst culprits on the day — like Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario — are likely to start in Europe, so you can’t even blame that.
Apple has released a security update for iOS and iPadOS to patch two zero-day vulnerabilities which are reported to already have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on iOS.
Both vulnerabilities allowed an attacker to bypass the memory protections that would normally stop someone from running malicious code. Reportedly, attackers used them with another unpatched vulnerability or malicious app, and the combination could be used to give them complete control over targeted iPhones.
The update is available for: iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 13.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
To check if you’re using the latest software version, go to Settings > General > Software Update. You want to be on iOS 18.4.1 or iPadOS 18.4.1, so update now if you’re not. It’s also worth turning on Automatic Updates if you haven’t already. You can do that on the same screen.
CVE-2025-31200: Processing an audio stream in a maliciously crafted media file may result in code execution due to a memory corruption issue which was addressed with improved bounds checking.
CVE-2025-31201: An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to bypass Pointer Authentication. This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code.
Given that both vulnerabilities were flagged as used in extremely sophisticated attacks and are patched simultaneously, it stands to reason that they were chained for a successful exploitation.
This deserves a bit of an explanation. Apple’s Pointer Authentication (PA) is a hardware security feature designed to detect and prevent tampering with critical pointers (like function addresses or return addresses) in memory. Computers use memory to store and provide information that software programs use as they run.
When creating a pointer (like a return address), the system adds a cryptographic signature (PAC) using secret keys. Before using the pointer, the system checks if the signature still matches.
A memory corruption issue can give an attacker the option to make a change in the device’s memory, but it’s often limited to a very small portion of the memory.
What could have happened here is that the attacker was able to use that ample space to create a pointer that was able to bypass the Pointer Authentication and use this ability to point from a legitimate application to their malicious code.
In the past researchers have already found bypass scenarios for attackers that already have full memory control.
What exactly happened is unknown, because, as a protection against attackers reverse engineering updates to find the vulnerabilities, Apple doesn’t disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are available.
Which is also why it’s important to update before other criminals are using the same exploits in less targeted and more widespread attacks. To help with this, the Malwarebytes iOS app will guide you through “how to fix” and assist with similar cases in the future.
We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it
Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.
“Mbappe: one-match suspension for a violent incident occurring during the game or as a direct consequence of a game-related incident, with additional fines in accordance with Article 52 of the Civil Code,” the Spanish Football Federation said in a statement.
The one-match ban means Mbappe will miss his club’s La Liga fixture at home to Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday, 20 April.
Madrid are second in La Liga, four points behind league leaders Barcelona.
Mbappe has scored 33 goals in 49 appearances for Madrid this season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side host Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, seeking to overturn a 3-0 defeat in the first leg in London.
A candy sold in eight states is being pulled from store shelves because of the presence of undeclared color additives.
The recall, initiated by Blooming Import Inc. in Brooklyn, New York, affects 74 cases of Golden Crop Candy, which included the dyes Blue 1, Red 40 and Acid Red 18, which were not listed on the product label.
Newsweek has contacted Blooming Import via email for comment.
Why It Matters
While reactions to color additives are rare, the FDA requires that all such ingredients be clearly declared on product labels to help consumers identify and avoid them if necessary. The presence of undeclared color additives violates labeling requirements and may present a risk for people with sensitivities.
What To Know
On March 5, Blooming Import Inc. voluntarily initiated a recall of its 10-ounce Golden Crop Candy, which was distributed to retailers in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Missouri, Delaware and Texas. The affected product has the UPC 73476513450.
On Wednesday, the FDA issued its recall classification as Class II, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, though the probability of serious harm is remote.
A color additive is any substance that imparts color to a food, drug, cosmetic, or to the human body, and may be used in food to enhance natural colors, add color to colorless foods, and help identify flavors.
The colors Blue 1 and Red 40 are approved for use in food by the FDA, but Acid Red 18, also known as E124, is not on the FDA’s list of approved additives.
The concern surrounding Acid Red 18 is in part due to the impact it could have on children, with some studies referring to the addictive potentially leading to increased hyperactivity in children.
Color additives have faced increased scrutiny since the FDA banned Red Dye No. 3, citing concerns over its links to cancer. California also moved to ban several dyes last year, with other states expected to follow suit.
What People Are Saying
Dr Linda Katz, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors said: “Color additives are safe when used properly. There is no such thing as absolute safety of any substance. In the case of a new color additive, the FDA determines if there is ‘a reasonable certainty of no harm’ under the color additive’s proposed conditions of use.”
Francisco Diez-Gonzalez, Director and Professor at the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia, told Newsweek: “Blue 1 and Red 40 are currently allowed by the FDA in different foods. Acid Red 18 is not allowed, so the product is considered adulterated. There are some reports about Blue 1 and Red 40 to cause some allergic reactions and behavioral responses in children, but these issues have not been fully corroborated. Some animal studies have reported an increased risk in cancer, but this connection in humans has not been established. There are also some animal studies that fed rodents with large amounts of these dyes in which no tumors were observed.”
He added: “According to the existing scientific evidence, at the levels allowed the risks are relatively low.”
What Happens Next
The FDA has listed the recall as ongoing as of April 16. Consumers who believe they have experienced an adverse reaction to a color additive can report the reaction to their local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator, the agency said.
Who: Real Madrid vs Arsenal What: UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, leg 2 Where: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid When: Wednesday at 9pm local time (19:00 GMT)
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Titleholder Real Madrid face a major hurdle in their quest for a seventh Champions League title in 12 seasons when they host Arsenal in the return leg of the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The Gunners, winners of 13 English top-flight league titles, lead 3-0 after dismantling the reigning champions in London last week in the quarterfinal first leg.
Prevailing from a three-goal deficit to win the quarterfinal tie would be a step further than anything Los Blancos have managed so far, but with world-class offensive players like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, Madrid still have a puncher’s chance of mounting a comeback against Arsenal on home soil at the Bernabeu.
Here is all to know before the blockbuster quarterfinal return leg between the winningest Champions League side (Real Madrid) and the most high-profile club in Europe to never win the trophy (Arsenal):
Have Real Madrid ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the Champions League?
No. Madrid have mounted some memorable comebacks in the UEFA Champions League but have never overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit in the tournament.
However, Madrid fans have some cause for optimism with the following statistics – the club has progressed from 14 of their last 15 Champions League knockout ties when playing the second leg at home.
How can Real Madrid beat Arsenal and progress to the semifinal?
Following on from their 3-0 first leg defeat to Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, Real Madrid can only complete a famous comeback and reach the semifinals if one of the following two scenarios plays out:
Real Madrid wins the return leg by scoring three goals (3-3 on aggregate), prevents Arsenal from scoring and then clinches the match on penalties;
Real Madrid wins the return leg by at least four goals in normal or extra time (For example, a 5-1 scoreline in their favour would allow Madrid to win the two-leg series 5-4 on aggregate)
Whoever prevails from this quarterfinal will play either Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) or Aston Villa in the semis.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice, centre, was the hero in the first leg quarterfinal against Real Madrid, scoring two goals in their 3-0 victory on April 8, 2025, at Emirates Stadium in London, UK [Dylan Martinez/Reuters]
Team news
Real Madrid:
Real Madrid will welcome midfielder Dani Ceballos back to the squad from injury.
Aurelien Tchouameni is available for selection after serving a one-match UEFA ban in the first leg against the Gunners.
Eduardo Camavinga has exceeded his Champions League yellow card limit and will be unavailable against Arsenal.
Injured defender Ferland Mendy is questionable for this match, while Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are unavailable.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will again deploy his star-studded offensive quartet of Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham despite their struggles against Arsenal in the first leg at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal:
In a positive sign for Arsenal, key forward Bukayo Saka, who returned from a three-month injury layoff in the first leg against Real Madrid, played at the weekend against Brentford and is set to start against Los Blancos on Wednesday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will likely start Dutch international Jurrien Timber, who is still rounding into peak form after suffering a knee injury against Fulham earlier in the month.
Speaking after the Brentford match on Saturday, Arteta cast doubt over key midfielder Thomas Partey’s availability for the Real Madrid return clash. Partey remains questionable but has not been ruled out. Defensive midfielder Jorginho is also doubtful.
Arsenal will be without five injured players: Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Magalhaes, who are all out for the season, and Riccardo Calafiori.
As in the first tie against Madrid, Arteta is set to go with Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Partey, if available, as his midfield trio.
In the forward line, Mikel Merino, who has tallied six goals in his last 11 games across all competitions, will be the lone striker with Gabriel Martinelli and Saka playing just behind the Spaniard.
Possible lineups
Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Rudiger, Asencio, Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe.
With the 3-0 victory over Madrid last week, Arsenal extended their unbeaten streak to eight in European Cup/Champions League quarterfinal ties.
The Gunners did experience a letdown on Saturday, drawing 1-1 at home to mid-table Premier League side Brentford.
Arsenal results in their last five matches (across all competitions):
D-W-D-W-W (most recent result first)
Real Madrid:
The most successful Champions League team in history are still gunning for a treble (LaLiga, Copa del Rey, Champions League) in the 2024-25 season.
Madrid’s less-than-convincing 1-0 LaLiga win away to fourth-from-bottom Alaves on Sunday kept them in second spot on the ladder.
Real Madrid results in their last five matches (across all competitions):
W-L-L-D-W (most recent result first)
Player to watch: Mbappe
Real Madrid star forward Kylian Mbappe, 26, was sent off in the 38th minute for an ugly lunge in his side’s nervy victory against Alaves on Sunday. The unintended benefit of Mbappe’s early exit is that he should be fresh for Wednesday’s match against Arsenal.
Mbappe has 33 goals in 49 games across all competitions this season, matching Madrid’s all-time top goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally in his first season at the club.
He failed to win the UEFA Champions League with PSG during his seven seasons at the club and is determined to win Europe’s most prestigious trophy for Los Blancos.
Kylian Mbappe’s #9 red card against Alaves on April 13, 2025, may have inadvertently given the Real Madrid star a much-needed rest before the return leg UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Arsenal, to be played on Wednesday [Vincent West/Reuters]
Have Arsenal ever won the Champions League trophy?
Arsenal have never won the UEFA Champions League title.
They came closest in the 2005-06 season, losing the final to Barcelona 2-1.
Quote of the day
Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid: “Already thinking about Wednesday! We’re ready and looking forward to it. We’ll wait for you [Arsenal] at the Bernabeu and we’ll try everything. We are the Real! Hala Madrid.”
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