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Tag: Champions League

  • Chelsea sink champions Liverpool, Man Utd crash at Brentford

    Chelsea sink champions Liverpool, Man Utd crash at Brentford

    Chelsea improved their chances of qualifying for the Champions League with a vital 3-1 victory as Liverpool suffered a Premier League title hangover, while United’s winless league run reached six games after a 4-3 defeat at Brentford on Sunday.

    Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea took the lead through Enzo Fernandez’s early strike at Stamford Bridge.

    Jarell Quansah’s second half own goal was followed by Virgil van Dijk’s late reply for Liverpool.

    Cole Palmer’s stoppage-time penalty condemned the champions to only their third league defeat this season.

    While lacklustre Liverpool had little to play for after winning a record-equalling 20th English crown with a 5-1 rout of Tottenham last weekend, Chelsea had every incentive to secure a priceless three points.

    Hoping to return to the Champions League via a top five finish, the Blues sit in fifth place, level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle after their 1-1 draw at Brighton earlier on Sunday.

    Sixth-placed Nottingham Forest will join Chelsea and Newcastle on 63 points if they beat Crystal Palace on Monday.

    Third-placed Manchester City are only one point clear of Chelsea and, with three games left, the top five battle is set for a thrilling finale.

    “Very important three points, especially at this stage in the season,” Maresca said.

    “For sure, Chelsea has to fight for Champions League and hopefully in the future we can fight for something more important. In this moment we are there and hopefully we can finish there.”

    Liverpool’s only other league losses in a triumphant campaign came against Nottingham Forest in September and at Fulham in April.

    Manchester United are languishing in 15th place following the latest setback in their wretched top-flight campaign.

    Ruben Amorim’s side are focused on salvaging their forgettable season by winning the Europa League.

    They will host Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final second leg next Thursday protecting a 3-0 lead and Amorim made a host of changes, resting Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.

    In the 14th minute, Mason Mount scored only his second league goal for United since joining from Chelsea in 2023 as he took Alejandro Garnacho’s pass and slotted home from eight yards.

    But Brentford hit back in the 27th minute when United defender Luke Shaw deflected Michael Kayode’s effort into his own net.

    United’s leaky defence were punished in the 33rd minute as Kevin Schade headed Christian Norgaard’s cross past Altay Bayindir.

    – ‘We cannot do this anymore’ –
    United conceded again when Schade struck with a 70th minute header.

    Yoane Wissa completed the rout four minutes later, poking home for his 18th league goal this season.

    Garnacho’s 82nd minute blast from the edge of the area was followed by Amad Diallo’s stoppage-time effort for the visitors.

    But it was little consolation for United, who have lost 12 of Amorim’s 24 league games, winning only six times.

    “The players have to understand we cannot do this anymore, we know the context of the season and we need to change that,” Amorim said.

    Tottenham are also looking to win the Europa League to paper over the cracks in a miserable campaign.

    Ange Postecoglou’s side warmed up for their semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt with a 1-1 draw at West Ham.

    Tottenham have only one win in their last nine league matches and sit a lowly 16th in the table, leaving them facing their lowest finish since 1976-77.

    They are aiming to end their 17-year trophy drought by winning a first European prize since the 1984 UEFA Cup.

    But Postecoglou could still be sacked regardless of the Europa League run.

    The Australian made eight changes from the 3-1 win in the first leg against Bodo/Glimt to rest his stars for Thursday’s second leg in Norway.

    Tottenham took the lead in the 15th minute when Wilson Odobert punished West Ham’s sloppy marking to drill home from Mathys Tel’s pass.

    But Jarrod Bowen levelled for West Ham in the 28th minute, taking Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pass in stride and shooting through the legs of Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

    Yankuba Minteh gave Brighton the lead against his former club with a fine finish in the 28th minute.

    Alexander Isak dragged Newcastle level in the 89th minute, netting with a penalty for his 23rd league goal this season.

  • Lazio in Serie A’s top four with win at Empoli

    Lazio in Serie A’s top four with win at Empoli

    Lazio moved into Serie A’s Champions League positions on Sunday after a 1-0 win over Empoli in a match which finished with both teams reduced to 10 men.

    Boulaye Dia’s goal just seconds after kick-off pushed Lazio into fourth place.

    Empoli had to play over half the match a man down after Lorenzo Colombo was sent off in the 39th minute for a poor challenge on Samuel Gigot.

    Lazio lost Elseid Hysaj to two bookable offences with 14 minutes remaining but easily held out for the win.

    However, Lazio’s hold on fourth spot will not last long.

    They are a point ahead of Juventus who face a key clash at Bologna in the late match.

    Bologna are a further point back from Lazio in sixth, and Juve’s superior goal difference means Lazio will drop out of the top four regardless of the result at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

    Lazio host Juve next weekend in another match which could decide who out of six teams will take the two remaining spots in Europe’s elite club competition.

    Napoli and Inter Milan are well clear of the chasing pack and battling it out for the league title.

    Atalanta are two points ahead of Lazio in third ahead of their match at rock-bottom Monza, who will be relegated with anything other than a win.

    Roma, three points behind Lazio in seventh and unbeaten in 18 league matches, could briefly take fourth from their local rivals if they beat another Champions League hopeful in Fiorentina.

    Empoli remain second-from-bottom and two points behind Lecce, who sit just outside the relegation zone.

    Lecce are on a run of 20 matches without a win, their latest reverse a 1-0 defeat by league leaders Napoli on Saturday.

  • Chelsea’s troubled season not a failure insists Maresca

    Chelsea’s troubled season not a failure insists Maresca

    Enzo Maresca insists his first season at Chelsea has not been a failure after criticism of the Italian’s conservative tactics in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

    Maresca’s sixth-placed side are in danger of missing out on a top five finish in the Premier League with just five games left.

    The Blues have only six wins in their last 17 league games ahead of Saturday’s clash with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

    Chelsea are two points adrift of fifth-placed Newcastle after coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 with two late goals.

    Maresca barely celebrated the west London derby victory, leaving the Craven Cottage pitch immediately after the final whistle in a move that was interpreted as a response to mounting criticism from frustrated supporters.

    The former Leicester manager’s cautious game plans have irked fans, who have jeered Maresca and his players several times this season.

    Maresca is adamant he deserves respect for his work at Chelsea, who finished sixth under his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino last term.

    “Compared to the last two years, the season is not a failure,” Maresca told reporters on Friday.

    “How many times in the last two years have Chelsea been in the Champions League places? And this season we have been there almost all season. It’s an improvement or not? It’s already an improvement.”

    Despite Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly Clearlake Capital investing over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in new signings since buying the club in 2022, the Blues are yet to win a trophy in the post-Roman Abramovich era.

    But, having been in second place and two points behind champions-elect Liverpool in December, Maresca accused the doubters of failing to recognise Chelsea’s development.

    “Compared to the last two years it’s quite clear there is an improvement,” he said.

    “If you want to see it, you see it. If you don’t want to see it, you don’t see it. Depends in which way you look. I see it.

    “We have the obligation to bring this club to where it belongs. The results have been there. Me as a manager, the club, we all have ambition. I think we are in the right direction and hopefully we can be there very soon.”

    Asked about his tense relationship with Chelsea fans, Maresca added: “I can understand. The fans are the same as when they were singing that Chelsea is back and showing that they were happy.

    “Now because we are not winning the same number of games as at the beginning, they are showing they’re not happy.”

  • Battling Forest see off Spurs to boost Champions League hopes

    Battling Forest see off Spurs to boost Champions League hopes

    Nottingham Forest beat struggling Tottenham 2-1 on Monday, bouncing back from two defeats to strengthen their push for a Champions League spot and heap the pressure on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou.

    Forest came into the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in sixth spot in the table after losses to Aston Villa and Everton.

    But early goals from Elliot Anderson and top-scorer Chris Wood settled their nerves and they held on tenaciously despite a late goal from Richarlison to climb to third in the table.

    Leaders Liverpool have one hand on the Premier League title and Arsenal are likely to finish second.

    But behind them the competition is fierce for the top five places that will guarantee qualification for the Champions League next season.

    Just three points separate Forest from Aston Villa in seventh spot, with five games remaining for all the contenders.

    Nuno Espirito Santo’s visitors took the lead in the fifth minute following a corner when Anderson’s deflected shot beat Guglielmo Vicario.

    Wood had the ball in the net five minutes later but it was ruled out by VAR for offside.

    But the New Zealander doubled Forest’s lead in the 16th minute, nodding a cross from Anthony Elanga past Vicario.

    Spurs dominated possession and had more shots on goal but provided little threat.

    Forest had a chance to make it 3-0 10 minutes into the second half when Wood cushioned the ball into the path of Morgan Gibbs-White but the midfielder skewed his shot wide.

    Forest defender Harry Toffolo produced a spectacular overhead goal-line clearance to keep out Dejan Kulusevski’s header shortly after the hour mark.

    Postecoglou brought on former Forest winger Brennan Johnson and forward Dominic Solanke with a quarter of the match to go.

    Matz Sels produced a superb fingertip save low down to his right from a Richarlison header with about 10 minutes to go as Tottenham upped the pressure.

    The Brazilian did get on the scoresheet in the 87th minute, powering a header home from a Pedro Porro cross but the visitors held on.

    Nuno said his team had toughed it out against the home side, who he admitted had his men “against the ropes”.

    – ‘Anxiety’ –
    “It is about getting through it, especially in these moments of the season when there is fatigue, not only physical but mental, anxiety — all these things made the team go back a bit,” he told Sky Sports.

    Nuno, whose side play Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend, said his team had a big week ahead of them.

    “You don’t get these moments often, especially in this league when we are fighting for something nobody expected,” he added.

    Forest, who finished 17th last season, are two-time European champions but have not played in the continent’s top club competition since the 1980/81 season.

    Spurs’ 18th defeat of a miserable Premier League season leaves them just two places above the relegation zone.

    But Postecoglou still has a chance to win silverware in his second season at the club.

    Spurs face Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals of the Europa League next month, with the winner of the competition guaranteed a place in next season’s Champions League.

    A disappointed Postecoglou said his side had dominated Monday’s game but had “conceded poor goals and given ourselves a mountain to climb”.

    The Australian, whose team travel to face Liverpool on Sunday, admitted the Europa League was now his priority as he tries to achieve momentum and protect his players.

  • Lewandowski injury confirmed in blow to Barcelona quadruple bid

    Lewandowski injury confirmed in blow to Barcelona quadruple bid

    Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski was diagnosed with a hamstring injury on Sunday and is set to miss the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semi-final according to Spanish media reports.

    The 36-year-old Polish forward, Barcelona’s top goalscorer with 40 goals across all competitions, came off during his team’s 4-3 La Liga win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.

    “Tests carried out on Sunday have confirmed that first-team player Robert Lewandowski has a semitendinosus injury in his left thigh,” said Barcelona in a statement, without specifying how long he would be sidelined for.

    Spanish media reported Lewandowski could be out for three weeks, meaning he would not be available next Saturday as Barcelona face Real Madrid in the Copa final in Seville.

    The La Liga leaders also host Inter Milan on April 30 in the Champions League semi-final first leg, and visit the Italians on May 6.

    Lewandowski is set to miss league games against Mallorca on Tuesday and Valladolid on May 3, with a potential return against Real Madrid on May 11, a match which could decide the title race.

    Barcelona, who won the Spanish Super Cup in January, are chasing a potential quadruple and are in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019.

    Coach Hansi Flick has used Ferran Torres through the middle as a replacement for Lewandowski before, and has also experimented with Dani Olmo operating as a false nine.

  • Arteta’s Arsenal come of age with Madrid masterclass

    Arteta’s Arsenal come of age with Madrid masterclass

    Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side came of age as they dethroned Champions League kings Real Madrid with ease to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.

    A commanding 3-0 first-leg victory last week, lit up by two stunning Declan Rice free-kicks, laid the foundations in London.

    But a 2-1 win in the cauldron of the Santiago Bernabeu to complete the job on Wednesday was a significant milestone for Arteta’s rising stars.

    Arteta’s only major trophy in five and a half years in charge remains the 2020 FA Cup, just months into his reign.

    But the Spaniard has transformed a sleeping giant back into serial contenders for major honours.

    “I sensed before I signed for the club that we were on an upwards trajectory,” said Rice, who rejected the advances of Manchester City to join Arsenal for a club-record £105 million ($139 million) in 2023.

    “This club is going to do special things in the coming years. We all fully believe in it, we have full trust in this manager — he’s unbelievable.”

    Despite never winning the competition, Arsenal were part of the Champions League furniture during Arsene Wenger’s reign — between 2000 and 2017 they were ever-present in Europe’s elite competition.

    But when that run came to an end, they spent six seasons without Champions League football.

    Slowly, Arteta rebuilt Arsenal back into a force around a core of promising talent now coming into their prime.

    Not for the first time in his young career, Bukayo Saka did not let a missed penalty on the big stage affect him.

    The winger’s early spot-kick was saved by Thibaut Courtois, giving Madrid belief that another miraculous Champions League comeback was on for the Spanish giants.

    But the England international extinguished that hope with a sumptuous dink over the giant Belgian goalkeeper 25 minutes from time to give Arsenal the lead on the night.

    William Saliba’s error that allowed Vinicius Junior to pull Real level tarnished an otherwise flawless display over two legs in which he shut down his French international team-mate Kylian Mbappe.

    – Rice ‘immense’ –
    But even then Arsenal were unflustered and quickly snuffed out any Madrid momentum.

    Full-backs Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurrien Timber locked down the threat of Vinicius and Rodrygo Goes out wide and Gabriel Martinelli scored in stoppage time to seal the second-leg win.

    Rice won the midfield battle against his England team-mate Jude Bellingham with a virtuoso performance that sealed a second man-of-the-match award in the two-legged tie.

    “Tonight he was immense,” said Arteta. “In the moment that the game was 50-50, he got on the ball and turned the game.”

    In the past two seasons, Arsenal have narrowly failed to topple all-conquering Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

    They are on course to finish second for a third consecutive year as Liverpool close in on the title.

    But the Champions League offers Arteta the chance to deliver the eye-catching piece of silverware that his project is still missing.

    “It’s such a special night for this club, it’s a historic night for this club,” said Rice.

    “We have an objective in this competition. We want to play the best teams and we want to win this competition.”

    One of Arteta’s former clubs as a player, Paris Saint-Germain, await in the last four of a wide-open competition.

    None of the clubs remaining has won the competition for at least a decade as Barcelona face Inter Milan in the other semi-final.

    “It’s the third time in our history that we’ve done what we’ve just done (reaching the semi-finals),” added Arteta.

    “So we need to build on that. We are really hungry, we want more. It’s a really young team that is very determined.

    “And all these experiences, including me for sure, is going to help us a lot to try to achieve something big.”

  • Man City held by Man Utd in derby stalemate

    Man City held by Man Utd in derby stalemate

    Manchester City’s hopes of Champions League qualification remain in the balance after a dismal derby at Manchester United ended 0-0 on Sunday.

    United had the better of a game limited in chances as they missed out on a first league double over City since 2019/20.

    A point leaves City still in fifth in the Premier League, which should be enough to reach next season’s Champions League.

    However, Pep Guardiola’s men are just two points above Newcastle, who have two games in hand on City.

    A point edges United up to 13th.

    Never in the Premier League era have neither City or United finished in the top four but that record is under severe threat in the coming months.

    A contest devoid of quality, intensity or fight summed up a dreadful season for both sides of the Manchester divide.

    After a record four consecutive league titles, City’s form has fallen off a cliff to leave them at risk of not making the top four for the first time since 2009/10.

    United’s only chance of Champions League qualification is by winning the Europa League as they are set for their worst ever Premier League finish.

    The Red Devils have shown flashes of improvement this week but also failed to score in their 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday to underline their problem in front of goal.

    Kevin De Bruyne started just days after announcing this will be his final season at City.

    But the Belgian’s performance was the latest example that he is now a shadow of the figure Guardiola said will be remembered as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats.

    City had the majority of the ball, but United were the more threatening side on the counter-attack in a pedestrian first half.

    Alejandro Garnacho, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte all failed to make the most of half-chances to get a strike off inside the City box.

    Phil Foden had the game’s best chance just seconds after half-time, but fluffed his lines with only Andre Onana to beat.

    The spectacle did marginally improve after the break as Omar Marmoush’s powerful effort from a corner stung the palms of Onana.

    Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount’s introduction off the bench added more thrust to the United attack in the final 20 minutes.

    Both had a chance to win it when Zirkzee’s shot was clawed away by Ederson and Rico Lewis did well to get in the way of Mount’s follow-up effort.

    There were smiles during a warm embrace between Guardiola and Ruben Amorim at full-time but those pleasantries disguised the fact that neither man can be happy with the state of their sides after a disappointing campaign.

  • Arsenal stun Madrid, Lyon thrash Bayern in women’s Champions League quarters

    Arsenal stun Madrid, Lyon thrash Bayern in women’s Champions League quarters

    Arsenal’s women produced a thrilling fightback from a 2-0 first leg defeat to beat Real Madrid 3-0 on Wednesday and set up a Champions League semi-final with eight-time winners Lyon.

    Alessia Russo scored twice for the Gunners in front of a crowd of 22,517 at the Emirates, either side of Mariona Caldentey’s header, to fire Arsenal into the last four.

    Madrid arrived in London full of confidence after beating Barcelona for the first time in a women’s Clasico on Sunday.

    However, the Spanish giants were made to wait for a first Champions League semi-final by a dominant Arsenal performance.

    “It still feels a bit surreal right now, I’ve not really let it sink in yet,” said Russo of her best night since a high-profile move from Manchester United in 2023.

    “We had a lot of belief all week, we knew what we wanted to do, we knew what we were capable of as a team and we have done that tonight.”

    The home side’s pressure bore no fruit before the half-time break and indeed they were thankful to a fine save from Daphne van Domselaar that prevented Filippa Angeldahl from adding to Madrid’s aggregate advantage.

    Three goals in the first 14 minutes of the second half transformed the tie.

    Russo swept home Chloe Kelly’s dangerous cross just seconds after the restart.

    Kelly then picked out former Barcelona midfielder Caldentey to head in just three minutes later.

    Russo produced an acrobatic finish to complete the comeback on the hour mark after Madrid failed to deal with a free-kick into the box.

    The England striker thought she had a memorable hat-trick only for VAR to intervene and rule out an Arsenal fourth for offside.

    But Renee Slegers’ side held out to march into the semi-finals, where the French champions will be waiting.

    Lyon thrashed Bayern Munich 4-1 to advance 6-1 on aggregate in their quest for a record-extending ninth title.

    Klara Buehl gave Bayern hope with a first-half strike that reduced Lyon’s two-goal advantage from last week’s first leg in Germany.

    Lyon levelled on the night moments into the second half through Melchie Dumornay’s header before Kadidiatou Diani punished a defensive error to put the French champions in complete control.

    Malawi international Tabitha Chawinga grabbed Lyon’s third and former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg came off the bench to round off the scoring in stoppage time.

    Three-time winners Barcelona hold a 4-1 lead over Wolfsburg ahead of Thursday’s quarter-final, second leg in Spain.

    Meanwhile, English champions Chelsea must follow Arsenal’s lead in overturning a two-goal first leg deficit against Manchester City.

  • Atletico makes comeback to defeat Inter and advance to Champions League’s last 8

    Atletico makes comeback to defeat Inter and advance to Champions League’s last 8

    Atletico Madrid came back from a 2-0 down aggregate score – to salvage a 2-2 draw- after which they beat Inter Milan 3-2 on penalties – to qualify for the quarter finals of the Champions league on Wednesday at the Estadio Metropolitano.

    Inter were favourites coming into this match, having won 13 on the bounce since the start of 2024, and with a 1-0 score-line in their favor in the first leg, it would be easy to write off Atletico who had won one of their last five.

    Federico Dimarco set the ball rolling for the visitors in the 33rd minute, giving Inter a two-goal aggregate advantage and at this point Inter looked on course for back-to- back quarter-final berths.

    Antoine Griezmann would restore parity for the hosts a minute later, despite still trailing the tie on aggregate.

    Substitute Memphis Depay would complete the turn around three minutes before the end of regulation time, as his low finish sent the tie to extra-time on a 2-2 score line.

    Depay’s goal set up the decisive shoot-out which saw Inter fluff their lines on three spot-kicks, with Lautaro Martinez’s penalty driving the final nail in the visitor’s coffin, handing Atletico passage into the last 8.

    The turnaround was impressive for the hosts who have won 19 of their 21 fixtures at home. They are also unbeaten in 17 knockout matches on home turf in the Champions league.

  • Dortmund qualifies for Champions League quarterfinals

    Dortmund qualifies for Champions League quarterfinals

    Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus were enough to send Borussia Dortmund to the quarter finals of the Champions League, with a 2-0 win over PSV, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory on

    It was all to play for in this tie, this is after the first leg of the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

    Dortmund would break the deadlock in the third minute, as Sancho fired in a low shot from outside the area -his first Champions League goal since November 2021.

    Despite a shaky start, Dortmund would turn up the pressure on their opponents, with Hirving Lozano coming closest with a 53rd– minute effort that hit the bar.

    PSV, who remain unbeaten in the Eredivisie, pushed for an equalizer in stoppage time, but Isaac Babadi’s unfortunate slip saw Reus seal the important win for the Germans.

    Despite a poor domestic campaign – 20 points behind current leaders Bayer Leverkusen- Dortmund has impressed in Europe competition, emerging from a group featuring; PSG, Newcastle and AC Milan.

    Having being knocked out of the German Cup and with no hopes of the league title, the champions league title will be their only chance of securing silverware this season.

    PSV on the other hand are poised for their first league title since 2018.

    The quarterfinal draw will be on Friday.