Then to the A-League Men’s, where the weekly jostling of positions has seen Sydney FC back into third place, now under Patrick Kisnorbo. Erik Paartalu (10/Paramount+) returns with twelve matches left to shake out the finals positions, but plenty of enduring questions still to be answered.

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Arsenal’s surprise 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth has blown the Premier League title race back open, with Manchester City finding form at the wrong time for those of a Gunners persuasion. The Athletic’s James McNicholas feels Arteta’s side must lift once again if they’re to finally go one better than their recent trio of second-placed finishes.

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In Scotland, Hearts’ lead in pursuit of their first Scottish league title since 1959/60 has started to creak with Rangers just a point in arrears. The Daily Record’s Andy Newport returns with it all on the line, and with an eye to Scotland’s return to the World Cup in the summer.

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After months of jostling, Auckland sit three points shy of Newcastle in their pursuit of a second A-League Premiership plate with three to play. English import Sam Cosgrove has played a key hand for the NZ side, his 10 goals leading the Golden Boot to this point - he joins us for the first time.

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Italy's Azzurri on Wednesday (AEDT) face another decisive World Cup qualifier - this time against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The stakes are immeasurably high: win and they’ll exorcise the years of pain since their last World Cup; lose and that pain only compounds further. Adriano Del Monte (ESPN, beIN Sports et al.) returns with tension set to reach fever pitch.

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Tony Popovic has one further game to assess his squad before selecting his final 26 for the World Cup, with Australia to play Curucao in Melbourne on Tuesday. 53-cap Socceroo Craig Moore casts his eye over those his former teammate has at his disposal, with Lucas Herrington among those making a last-ditch run at the squad.

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The Matildas have fallen to Japan 1-0 in the final of the Women’s Asian Cup, remarkably for a third time. Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster returns to assess the success of the tournament - which broke all manner of records - and reckon with the legacy of a group that have achieved greatly, but still lack a crowning glory.

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With the Brazil 2027 Women’s World Cup coming into focus, attention turns to the direction of Joe Montemurro’s ageing squad. The Athletic’s Chelsea reporter Cerys Jones returns amid reports that Sam Kerr could be on the way out of the club where she’s won eleven titles.

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