Summary

  1. 'Blues cruise'published at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    Thursday's back pages

    The Daily Express

    Erling Haaland is described as a 'goal machine' by the Daily Express after he netted again in Manchester City's Champions League win over FC Copenhagen.

    The paper suggests Sir Jim Ratcliffe could axe up to 25% of Manchester United's staff, while it quotes Jordan Henderson as saying his exit from Anfield gave Liverpool a boost.

    Daily ExpressImage source, Daily Express
  2. Postpublished at 08:55 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    Shall we have a look at what's making the headlines on Thursday's newspaper back pages?

  3. Barca keen on Arteta - Gossippublished at 08:43 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    Another potential manager move features in today's gossip...

    Barcelona remain interested in Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to replace Xavi, who is leaving at the end of the season, but the Spanish club know it will be difficult to appoint him. (Relevo - in Spanish), external

  4. Southgate to Man Utd? - Gossippublished at 08:34 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Football Gossip

    Right, we promised you an interesting line from today's Gossip Column, and here it is...

    England manager Gareth Southgate and Brentford boss Thomas Frank are among the options being considered by Manchester United if they choose to replace Erik ten Hag at the end of the season.(ESPN), external

    Any thoughts on that? Get in touch via the usual channels above.

  5. Blackstenius hat-trick helps Arsenal throughpublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa

    Media caption,

    Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa: Stina Blackstenius' hat trick helps Arsenal to League Cup final

    Stina Blackstenius' first-half hat-trick helps Arsenal secure their place in the Women's League Cup final with a dominant victory over Aston Villa.

    Available to UK users only.

  6. Arsenal beat Villa to reach Women's League Cup finalpublished at 08:03 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa

    Adam Millington
    BBC Sport

    Leah Williamson celebrates with Stina BlacksteniusImage source, Getty Images

    Stina Blackstenius' first-half hat-trick helped Arsenal secure their place in the Women's League Cup final with a dominant victory over Aston Villa.

    Blackstenius rifled past Anna Leat at the near post after collecting a well-weighted Frida Maanum through ball to give League Cup holders Arsenal the lead after only nine minutes.

    The Sweden striker netted again just two minutes later, prodding home from close range after Alessia Russo knocked a Beth Mead cross towards her.

    Villa struggled as they were overrun by Arsenal's energetic attacking and found themselves three goals behind after just 18 minutes with Maanum effortlessly curling a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.

    Blackstenius pounced on a loose ball after Villa failed to clear a corner to complete her hat-trick before the break as Arsenal cruised towards victory.

  7. Real Madrid hold off Leipzig to reach quarter-finalspublished at 07:56 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig (Agg 2-1)

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport

    Vinicius JrImage source, Getty Images

    Real Madrid reached the Champions League quarter-finals as Vinicius Junior provided the quality finish that RB Leipzig lacked to secure a 2-1 aggregate win in the last 16.

    Like the first leg, German side Leipzig were made to pay for wasting a host of chances when Vinicius clipped in Jude Bellingham's pass with 25 minutes left for a 2-0 lead.

    Leipzig finally converted an opportunity three minutes later when skipper Willi Orban flicked in a header.

    The goal provided renewed belief to the Bundesliga side and they continued to open up the Spanish league leaders as they searched for a leveller.

    Former Barcelona youngster Dani Olmo came the closest to taking the tie into extra time - because away goals no longer count in Uefa competitions - when his looping header clipped the top of the crossbar in injury time.

    But Real, aiming to become European champions for a record-extending 15th time, managed to hold out and reach the quarter-finals for the 12th time in the past 14 seasons.

  8. Man City cruise into quarters as Haaland nets againpublished at 07:48 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    Man City 3-1 FC Copenhagen

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

    Erling HaalandImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City enjoyed the perfect warm-up for Sunday's crucial Premier League trip to Liverpool as they cruised past Copenhagen 3-1 (6-2 on aggregate) to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for a seventh successive season.

    Ahead by two goals from the first leg in Copenhagen three weeks ago, any lingering hopes of a shock were ended within nine minutes as Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez found the net.

    Erling Haaland went joint top of the tournament scoring charts alongside Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe as he netted his sixth of the campaign - and 29th in all competitions - as City scored a third before half-time after the visitors had pulled one back.

    The Norwegian, who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reminded everyone Manchester United could have signed for £17m in 2019 on the Stick to Football podcast,, externalhas scored in three successive games for the first time since October.

  9. Coming up...published at 07:39 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    We'll have a look at some of the newspaper back pages, and a couple of interesting lines from our Gossip column - keep reading Manchester United fans...

    But before then, a quick recap of some of the main action from last night, with more reaction to come later.

  10. Good morning!published at 07:31 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March

    Hello everyone - it's World Book Day!

    And Erling Haaland helped write another chapter in Manchester City's success story as he scored in a 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen which sealed his side's place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

    Real Madrid are also into the last eight after holding off RB Leipzig.

    We'll have all the Champions League reaction, news on last night's Championship matches plus Arsenal's 4-0 win over Aston Villa which sends the Gunners into the Women's League Cup final.

    As we turn the page on another day, get thinking about your favourite football books or lines. Let's go...