Europe

Southampton striker Danny Ings hit his second brace of the season on Sunday to help the Saints to a 3-1 victory away to Watford. 

Ings has been in sparkling form all season for Southampton and is enjoying his most productive Premier League campaign to date. Having missed substantial game time in recent years due to injury, Ings is fit and firing for the Saints. 

His first goal of the day came in the 16th minute, when he dribbled past Watford defenders to rifle a low shot into the corner of the net from just outside the box. 

Juventus are set to sign Brazil international Arthur Melo from Barcelona after the midfielder agreed a five-year contract with the Italian champions and passed a medical, according to Spanish media reports on Sunday.

The move is part of a twin negotiation between the clubs which involves Bosnia midfielder Miralem Pjanić moving to Barça, said reports in sports dailies Mundo Deportivo and Marca.

Newcastle United’s FA Cup quarterfinal plan of defending resolutely and hoping for one clear chance against Manchester City actually played out perfectly for Steve Bruce’s side at St James’ Park on Sunday, but the compact rearguard action was undone by a boneheaded play from Fabian Schär and the incredible goalscoring opportunity was wasted by Dwight Gayle.

Former Germany international Mario Gómez called time on a distinguished career on Sunday after helping VfB Stuttgart secure promotion back to the Bundesliga. 

Gómez, a product of the Stuttgart academy, bids farewell as the fourth-highest goalscorer in club history with 110. In his second full season with the first team back in 2006-07, he scored 14 goals in 25 league appearances to lead the club to its first Bundesliga title in 15 years. 

Chelsea advanced to the semifinals of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday. The tightly contested match was settled by Ross Barkley’s finish in the 63rd minute off a delicious piece of service from Willian.

Leicester came roaring out the gates and overwhelmed Chelsea’s young midfield duo of Mason Mount and Billy Gilmour, forcing the 19-year-old Gilmour into mistake after mistake but failing to fashion anything to deeply trouble Willy Caballero.

Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, midfielder Santi Cazorla and forward Gerard Moreno combined to score a goal of rare beauty on Sunday with the ball not touching the ground during the trio’s flowing move.

A Valencia clearance fluttered into Villarreal’s half, but Asenjo lumped it straight back at Los Che on the half-volley. That thump from the heavens was deftly met by a cushioned pass from Cazorla 20 yards out. 

Substitute Dani Ceballos fired Arsenal into the FA Cup semifinals with a stoppage-time goal that sealed a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday.

Arsenal, record 13-times winners of the trophy, went ahead after 23 minutes when Chris Basham fouled Alexandre Lacazette in the penalty area and Nicolas Pépé rattled home the spot-kick.

ROME — Serie A leading scorer Ciro Immobile converted a contentious second-half penalty to set second-placed Lazio on the way to a 2-1 comeback win over Fiorentina that kept them four points behind leaders Juventus on Saturday.

Franck Ribery stunned the hosts when the 37-year-old Frenchman put Fiorentina ahead with a solo goal in the 25th minute, slipping between two defenders, then gliding past a third before firing past Thomas Strakosha.

AC Milan loanee Andre Silva scored against Paderborn on Saturday to help Frankfurt to a 3-2 victory over the last-placed side.  

Manchester United kept its hope for a domestic trophy alive with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday. One of the key moments for the Red Devils came with an Odion Ighalo goal vs Norwich in the second half, one that reminded us of a former United striker.

The Red Devils needed extra time to see off the Canaries after a stellar strike from Todd Cantwell. Harry Maguire’s scrappy goal in the 118th minute sent United through to the semifinals.