• Rafael Leão

AC Milan 1-0 Sampdoria

Rafael Leão scored a superb winning goal as AC Milan beat Sampdoria at San Siro to leapfrog city rivals Inter and go top of Italy’s Serie A standings.

Leao’s 7^th league goal of the season means he has already surpassed his tally from last term, while the brilliance of the strike will further calls for the forward to be considered for a prominent role in Portugal’s upcoming World Cup play-offs.

By his own standards, José Mourinho’s return to Italian football has so far not been the success he may have hoped. AS Roma appointed the Portuguese last summer, hoping Mourinho would replicate the success enjoyed with Inter just over a decade prior.

However, despite Roma experiencing a somewhat underwhelming season, reports from Italy insist the Giallorossi are totally committed to their coach and will back him in ever department as they remain focused on their three-year project under Mourinho.

There was much disappointment at the end of last week for Bruno Lage’s Wolverhampton Wanderers, a 0-1 home defeat to Norwich ending their hopes of lifting the FA Cup for the first time since 1960 - the first time in a lifetime for most of the Wolves faithful.

For many, to win the FA Cup was the ultimate goal this season, a chance to lift silverware so few are able to get their hands on in the modern game - indeed, only 9 different teams have won England's premier cup competition in the last 30 years.

Nevertheless, even if Wolves had beaten Norwich as expected, the chances of actually emerging victorious in the FA Cup were slim to say the least. Norwich now have to face Liverpool away, while the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur remain in the competition and have all avoided each other in the upcoming round.

More realistic, and still a rewarding and noteworthy achievement, would be to break into the top six and finish above at least one of the established so-called Big Six sides. And Wolves are so well positioned to make a go of it. 

Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Real Betis

Real Betis took a major step towards reaching their first final in 17 years with victory away at Rayo Vallecano in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday evening.

The Andalusian side recovered from going behind after just five minutes to win at Estadio de Vallecas, with Portugal midfielder William Carvalho scoring the crucial second with a piece of brilliance in the second half.