FA Cup Final, Scottish Title Decider Headline Weekend Sports Action

Saturday features a major men’s FA Cup final and a dramatic Scottish Premiership title decider. Emillia Hawkins and John Brewin host buildup to Manchester City vs Chelsea at Wembley and Celtic vs Hearts north of the border. The blog also includes reaction from Friday’s Aston Villa vs Liverpool match and a preview of the Women’s Super League finale. Readers can join the conversation by emailing matchday.live@theguardian.com.

The cricket action moves to Cardiff after Wednesday’s second ODI at Northampton was abandoned without a ball bowled. England won the first game at Chester-le-Street by one wicket, highlighting the talents of 18-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman, who took two wickets and held her nerve as No. 11 in a nail-biting chase of 211. James Wallace provides over-by-over coverage with Raf Nicholson reporting.

Tanya Aldred is at Headingley for day two of Yorkshire vs Surrey. At Beckenham, with England selecting Durham’s Emilio Gay as likely opening partner for Ben Duckett in the reshaped squad for the first Test against New Zealand, the 26-year-old’s county form will be in sharp focus against Kent. Somerset pair Sonny Baker and James Rew also step up in action at Taunton against Sussex.

A season like few others is set for a thrilling finale after a debatable 99th-minute penalty gave Celtic victory at Motherwell on Wednesday. Defending champions Celtic trail leaders Hearts by one point and know victory would deliver a 14th title in 15 seasons. No side other than Celtic or Rangers has won the title for 41 years. Hearts have led almost the entire season, capitalizing on turmoil at both Old Firm clubs, but must beat Celtic at Celtic Park to end a 66-year title drought. Without that late winner, Celtic would have needed a three-goal victory due to Hearts’ superior goal difference. Simon Burnton hosts the blog with Ewan Murray reporting.

With all key prizes already decided, the WSL finale sees all 12 clubs playing for pride, but attractive fixtures keep host Emillia Hawkins busy. Brighton faces Tottenham before their first Women’s FA Cup final, unbeaten in seven games. Chelsea, after losing the title to Manchester City, faces Manchester United and can still finish above Arsenal. Chelsea bids farewell to Sam Kerr, whose goal against Leicester made her the club’s all-time top WSL scorer; the Australian leaves when her contract expires this summer. Liverpool and Arsenal meet at Anfield with final positions up for grabs.

A season that began with Chelsea as Club World Cup winners has unraveled into poor form, managerial upheaval, and fan protests, but redemption could come against Manchester City in the FA Cup final. For the Blues, it is all or nothing as they seek a first domestic trophy in eight years, needing to end a Wembley losing streak that includes three successive FA Cup final defeats (to Leicester, Arsenal, and Liverpool) between 2020 and 2022. For City, victory would keep alive hopes of a domestic treble, having already won the League Cup and still chasing Arsenal in the title race. City suffered upsets in the past two FA Cup finals, beaten by Crystal Palace in 2024 and Manchester United in 2023. Rob Smyth hosts the blog with reporters David Hytner, Barney Ronay, Jacob Steinberg, and Jamie Jackson at Wembley.

Scott Murray helms the rolling blog from Aronimink. Early exchanges saw world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and former champion Martin Kaymer setting the pace alongside Aldrich Potgieter. Jordan Spieth, seeking a career Grand Slam, started solidly, while Masters champion Rory McIlroy struggled.

Join us for another day of buildup as Matchday Live looks ahead to Sunday with six Premier League matches and anticipation of Arsenal’s vital Monday meeting with Burnley, which has huge implications for the title race. The blog includes breaking news, updates from grounds, and reader thoughts.

Tanya Aldred returns to her Headingley eyrie for day three of the County Championship. Division One fixtures: Essex vs Leicestershire, Hampshire vs Nottinghamshire, Somerset vs Sussex, Warwickshire vs Glamorgan, Yorkshire vs Surrey. Division Two: Gloucestershire vs Northamptonshire, Kent vs Durham, Lancashire vs Worcestershire, Middlesex vs Derbyshire.

With respective league ambitions met—Champions League qualification for hosts, Premier League safety for visitors—little is formally at stake except finishing on a high. For Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick, the prospect of a permanent appointment at Manchester United looms. Since replacing Ruben Amorim in January, the 44-year-old has earned 33 points from 15 matches, the most of any elite team. A win against Nottingham Forest, unbeaten in eight league games, would secure third place. Michael Butler hosts the blog with Will Unwin reporting from Old Trafford.

Rob Smyth is clockwatch supremo for two of four 3 p.m. kickoffs. Everton, chasing a European place, are winless in five league games before facing Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Brighton, seventh and two points behind Bournemouth, have European ambitions and travel to Leeds, having lost only one of their last 14 league games against them.

The Red Roses venture to Bordeaux’s Stade Atlantique on the verge of a fifth consecutive Women’s Six Nations clean sweep, despite missing several World Cup winners due to injury or pregnancy. England targets a 38th successive victory, but post-World Cup flux and a leaky defense have prompted predictions of an upset against their fiercest European rivals. Lee Calvert provides minute-by-minute coverage with Sarah Rendell and Robert Kitson delivering reports and analysis.

West Ham faces a watershed moment since moving to the London Stadium in 2016. An agonizing, bitterly disputed 1-0 defeat to Arsenal left Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in dire relegation peril, but relegation rivals Tottenham failed to beat Leeds on Monday, offering faint hope with just two points separating the London clubs. Last season, West Ham won the corresponding fixture against Newcastle. They pray for another three points before Spurs visit Chelsea on Tuesday. Daniel Harris hosts the blog with Louise Taylor reporting on the survival crunch game.

There is no better place to follow final-round action than with rolling blog host Scott Murray. Last year at Quail Hollow, Scottie Scheffler held off Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. This year promises another thrilling climax. Andy Bull reports from Philadelphia.