Category: Football

Arda Guler struck the only goal as Real Madrid won 1-0 at Getafe on Wednesday to claw back to within four points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.

The young Turkish international fired in from outside the area midway through the first half as Carlo Ancelotti’s side stayed in title contention after Barcelona won by the same scoreline at Mallorca on Tuesday.

Arch-rivals Madrid and Barcelona will meet in the Copa del Rey final in Seville on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe poised to return from injury for the weekend Clasico — one of two remaining this season. The clubs are also due to meet in the league on May 11.

However, the win over Getafe may have come at a cost to Madrid, with David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga both forced off.

“We’ll see what they have tomorrow, but I think they’re both suffering from muscle soreness. It will certainly be difficult for them to be available on Saturday (to play Barcelona),” said Ancelotti.

In Mbappe’s absence on the outskirts of Madrid, 18-year-old Brazilian striker Endrick made his first league start as England international Jude Bellingham dropped to the bench.

Left-back Fran Garcia twice went close for Madrid, his initial effort palmed away by David Soria before he blasted the rebound high and wide.

It wasn’t long before Guler broke the deadlock after Brahim Diaz looked to have wasted the chance.

Real Madrid worked the ball back out to Guler, whose powerful 20-yard drive flashed past Soria despite the Getafe goalkeeper getting a hand to it.

Endrick thought he had scored only his second La Liga goal after being put through by Vinicius Junior, but Soria took the sting out of his shot, and Djene cleared off the line.

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Getafe created opportunities of their own, the best of which fell in the second half to an unmarked Mauro Arambarri, who dragged wide with only Thibaut Courtois to beat.

Courtois came to Madrid’s rescue in stoppage time as he smothered inside his six-yard box after Peter and Juanmi tried to force the ball home from close range.

Getafe substitute Alvaro Rodriguez, who is on loan from Madrid, nearly snatched an equaliser at the death but saw his low shot beaten away by Courtois.

Inaki Williams fired Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 home win over Las Palmas earlier on Wednesday to strengthen their chances of direct qualification for next season’s Champions League.

The Basque side sit fourth with five games to go, eight points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal, who suffered a 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo.

Bilbao also have a Europa League semi-final against Manchester United to come, and should they win that, they will play the final in their home stadium.

Five La Liga sides qualify for the Champions League this season. Sixth-placed Betis are a point behind Villarreal ahead of their encounter with rock-bottom Valladolid on Thursday.

A fifth-minute goal from the elder Williams brother after he turned a defender in the box and side-footed home with the outside of his boot was enough for all three points.

Bilbao needed two sharp saves from Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon before half-time as relegation-threatened Las Palmas went down fighting.

Alaves climbed out of the bottom three at the expense of Las Palmas with a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad.

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Matheus Nunes scored a priceless stoppage-time winner as Manchester City beat top-five rivals Aston Villa 2-1 on Tuesday to boost their bid to qualify for the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s side were seconds away from a damaging draw at the Etihad Stadium after Bernardo Silva’s early opener was cancelled out by Marcus Rashford’s penalty.

But Nunes’s last-gasp strike sparked wild celebrations from Guardiola and his players as they climbed to third place in the Premier League.

With the race for a top-five finish approaching a tense climax, Portugal midfielder Nunes, converted to right-back lately, could not have picked a better time to net his first league goal for City.

City’s 15th successive home league win against Villa wasn’t quite as stunning as the fightback from two goals down that brought them the Premier League title on the last day of the 2021-22 season.

But it could prove almost as lucrative, with a place in the Champions League now within their control.

With four games left, Manchester City will remain at least fifth even if fourth-placed Nottingham Forest, fifth-placed Newcastle and sixth-placed Chelsea each win their game in hand.

After winning the Premier League six times in the previous seven seasons, City have been reduced to fighting for a place in the Champions League at a time of year when they are usually in the title hunt.

City’s decline has already been remarkable enough, but enduring a first season without Champions League action since 2010-11 would be a new low, and this was a vital step in avoiding that fate.

City will turn their attention to the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday, while Villa must bounce back from a painful loss in time for their own last-four clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Villa were eliminated from the Champions League quarter-finals last week after narrowly failing in their bid for a dramatic fightback against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg.

This was another blow for Unai Emery’s seventh-placed side, which is two points behind the top five with four games left.

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With Rashford on loan from Manchester United, it was no surprise that his name was loudly jeered by City fans before kick-off.

The England forward almost silenced the boos just 19 seconds after kick-off when he slalomed past Ruben Dias for a low drive that smacked off the far post.

After that narrow escape, Silva landed the first blow for City in the seventh minute.

Omar Marmoush was the catalyst with an incisive surge into the Villa area before cutting his pass back to Silva, whose stinging strike from 10 yards was too powerful for Emiliano Martinez’s awkward attempted save to keep out.

Silva’s first goal since December provoked an immediate response from Villa.

In the 18th minute, Jacob Ramsey induced a lumbering challenge from Dias, who tripped the midfielder for a penalty that was only awarded by referee Craig Pawson after VAR told him to consult the pitchside monitor.

Guardiola was furious with the decision, earning a booking for his tirade at the fourth official.

Rashford kept his nerve, sending Stefan Ortega the wrong way from the spot for his fourth goal since his loan move in the January transfer window.

Rashford’s blistering speed was a constant danger to City and he easily out-paced their back four for a shot that Ortega blocked with his legs.

However, City got to grips with Rashford better in the second half as they pushed for a winner.

Nunes was their saviour in the fourth of five minutes of stoppage time when he met Jeremy Doku’s low cross with a superb finish from the most acute of angles six yards from goal.

Guardiola’s frenzied fist-pumping dance of joy underlined the significance of a crucial result in a turbulent season that could still have an uplifting finale.

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be missing from the dug-out for their home match against Everton after being banned for one game by England’s Football Association for receiving three yellow cards, the BBC reported Monday.

The 45-year-old Italian was booked for his celebrations following Pedro Neto’s sublime goal in added time, which gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.

Victory propelled Chelsea into the fifth and final Champions League spot, above Nottingham Forest on goal difference.

Forest can go back above them if they avoid defeat against Tottenham later on Monday.

Maresca, whose two previous bookings this season were against Newcastle and Bournemouth, can return for the following game, also at home, against leaders Liverpool on May 4.

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Assistant manager and former goalkeeper Willy Caballero could replace him on the touchline for the Everton match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Enzo Maresca has endured stinging criticism from Chelsea supporters in recent weeks after a series of erratic performances marred by his conservative tactics.

But the hostility directed towards the Italian evaporated at Craven Cottage after Pedro Neto’s superb strike in stoppage time completed a stirring Chelsea fightback to keep alive their bid to qualify for the Champions League.

Neto’s bolt from the blue could prove a pivotal moment in Chelsea’s season, coming after 18-year-old Tyrique George hauled them level with his first Premier League goal in the 83rd minute.

Chelsea had been facing a damaging loss in the race for a top-five finish since Alex Iwobi blasted Fulham in front midway through the impressive first half.

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Fede Valverde scored a stunning goal in the 93rd minute, helping Real Madrid maintain their pursuit of Barcelona in the La Liga title race with a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Madrid stayed four points behind Barcelona after Valverde smashed into the top corner with a sliced, swerving effort.

After the Champions League elimination by Arsenal, it looked like Madrid were set for another devastating result until the Uruguay international’s stoppage-time intervention.

“Fede has such a good shot… in training yesterday he shot a ball that looked like it was going out and then it picked up a curl like that and you go ‘how do you shoot like that?'” said Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Athletic Bilbao, who reached the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday by beating Rangers, rotated heavily.

Despite that, the Basque side proved a hard nut for Madrid to crack, especially with their top goalscorer Kylian Mbappe both suspended and recovering from an ankle problem.

The forward was whistled by some fans for his failure to help the team overcome Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals in midweek when he was shown watching the game on the stadium screens.

“Valverde was key in this game because he scored the goal,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “The team was good, a bit slower in the first half but very good in the second.”

“We wanted to win, we wanted to react after the elimination against Arsenal — the team came through and Fede was the key player.”

Vinicius, who was previously criticised by Ancelotti for a lack of defensive work ethic, was running hard on the left, which fans at the Santiago Bernabeu appreciated.

The Brazilian has struggled for form at times this season but was Madrid’s brightest player against Athletic, giving Unai Nunez a difficult night.

Real Madrid played with intensity after their European elimination, trying to keep La Liga in their sights after Barcelona made a late comeback to beat Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Rodrygo Goes came close early in the second half before Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon saved from Eduardo Camavinga.

The hosts began to push Athletic deeper and started to create better chances.

Vinicius bent a delicious cross with the outside of his boot into the six-yard box for Jude Bellingham to meet, but Simon made an excellent save to tip over his header.

Fede Valverde fired narrowly wide of the near post, and Vinicius did find the net, but Endrick was offside in the build-up.

Bellingham appealed for a penalty after going down softly in the area and then fired over from close range in the final stages.

It was the kind of chance the England international managed to turn into late match-winning goals last season as he inspired Madrid to La Liga and Champions League glory.

Instead, it was Valverde who took up that role with his sublime blast, which left Simon with no chance.

“Valverde has an extraordinary shot,” said Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde. “We had a really good game (but) they are individually very good, Vinicius was very good.”

Madrid’s victory offers them hope of salvaging their season and a morale boost ahead of next weekend’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.

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Jurgen Klopp is “very happy” in his current post at Red Bull despite rumours linking him to a return to management with Real Madrid, his agent said Friday.

The former Liverpool manager became Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer in January, taking care of a stable of clubs including RB Leipzig, the New York Red Bulls and Bragantino in Brazil.

Real Madrid’s quarter-final elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Arsenal this week has led to speculation that manager Carlo Ancelotti is headed for the exit at the end of the season.

German media reported that Klopp was one of the names that the Spanish giants want to take over in the Bernabeu dugout.

Asked about the rumours, his agent Marc Kosicke said 57-year-old Klopp was enjoying his new job.

“Jurgen is very happy with his new role with Red Bull,” Kosicke told Sky Deutschland.

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Also speaking on Friday, RB Leipzig coach Zsolt Low said he “could not imagine” Jurgen Klopp moving to Real Madrid, adding the German was “very happy in the job.”

Low praised Klopp’s impact, saying “he’s shown that he can bring a club together, a group of 40, 50, 60 people, and take them with him.

“He adds incredible value with his experience, his human quality and his energy.”

In a 23-year career as a top-flight manager with Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz, Klopp left each club of his own accord, a rarity in coaching.

“No matter where he’s been, he’s given 100 percent,” Low said, adding “regardless of where he is he’s stayed and done the job. It’s important to him to make a clean exit.”

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is considered a leading candidate for the Real Madrid job. Alonso, a former Madrid player, said Friday it was “not the time” to discuss his future.

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes maintaining the squad that is romping towards the Premier League title is more important than major new signings.

The Reds’ plans for next season have been boosted by Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk signing new deals to remain at Anfield over the past week.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is still reportedly set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his deal expires at the end of the season.

Van Dijk said ahead of agreeing his new contract that he expects a “big summer” in the transfer market from the Reds.

Slot’s only signing in his first year in charge was Federico Chiesa, who has played a peripheral role. But with Liverpool 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, the Dutchman is content with the squad he has at his disposal.

“Let’s see what the rest of the summer will bring, but it would be strange for me to say now I am not happy with the team because I’ve said this for a year, we are happy with the team we are having,” Arne Slot said on Friday.

“Maybe if we can keep that team, it will already be a big summer.

“I think the core of the team you want to keep as long as you can together, as long as they are performing in the best possible way, but it is also, in general, good to have some new energy in and around the place with one or two players.

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“But it isn’t really a necessity when you look at the quality we have and the quality of the season we have had.”

Liverpool could seal the title as soon as Sunday if they win at Leicester and Arsenal lose away to Ipswich.

Alexander-Arnold is back in contention to feature after returning to training following an ankle injury.

Slot hailed the right-back’s “incredible” quality and refused to give up hope of retaining the England international.

“The moment he is on the pitch, he shows me what a great player he is, and he has shown how hard he is trying to achieve our goals this season,” added Slot.

“The fans and everyone who watched football for the last five, six, seven years know he is an incredible full-back and has been an incredible full-back for this football club.

“Let’s see what the future brings.”

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Manchester United came from 4-2 down in extra-time to beat Lyon 5-4 in a remarkable Europa League quarter-final to progress 7-6 on aggregate on Thursday.

United’s season looked over when Lyon came from 2-0 down to lead by two goals with just six minutes remaining at Old Trafford despite having captain Corentin Tolisso sent off.

However, a Bruno Fernandes’ penalty, Kobbie Mainoo’s strike and Harry Maguire’s header capped a stunning finale to set up a semi-final meeting with Athletic Bilbao.

“I felt that here everything is possible,” said United boss Ruben Amorim. “After the 4-3, the penalty from Bruno, you feel that you can change the game.”

The Red Devils sit 14th in the English top flight, and a defeat would have almost certainly meant missing out on European football entirely next season.

Instead, they are just three games away from a European trophy and the lifeline of direct access to the riches of the Champions League next season.

“Everybody in this moment believes it is possible,” added Amorim. “One moment can change a lot of things in the players’ minds.”

United’s history is built on dramatic late fightbacks, but few have been more remarkable than this to leave Lyon shellshocked.

The home side got off to a flying start thanks to a fine team goal as Fernandes released Alejandro Garnacho down the right, and his cross picked out Ugarte to slot in just his second goal since joining the English giants from Paris Saint-Germain.

Amorim’s decision to restore Andre Onana in goal was under scrutiny.

The Cameroonian had been dropped for Sunday’s 4-1 thrashing at Newcastle after two costly errors that led to both Lyon’s goals in last week’s 2-2 first leg draw.

Those mistakes came after a war of words with former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who labelled him “one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s history”.

The 29-year-old rewarded his manager’s faith with a couple of important stops to prevent Lyon levelling through Paul Akouokou and Rayan Cherki.

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At the other end, a United side that have often looked laboured and lacking in ideas all season, suddenly clicked into gear in the first 45 minutes.

United doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Maguire’s long ball was expertly controlled by Diogo Dalot, who then fired in off the inside of the post.

Garnacho should have killed the tie off within minutes of the restart for the second half when he shot straight at Lucas Perri with Fernandes begging for a pass for a tap in.

But the defensive deficiencies and mental fragility of Amorim’s side were exposed in a collapse that threatened to cap a miserable campaign.

Alexandre Lacazette flicked on Moussa Niakhate’s header, and Corentin Tolisso swooped to head in and give the visitors a lifeline.

Nicolas Tagliafico then prodded in at the back post despite Onana’s attempt to scoop it off the line.

Just as Lyon were in the ascendency, Tolisso gave them a mountain to climb again with a soft second yellow for a trip on Casemiro.

Yet, it did not initially matter as Cherki confirmed his status as one of Europe’s rising stars with a powerful drive that left Onana motionless.

Lyon’s other prized asset, Malick Fofana, was then chopped down by Luke Shaw inside the area, and Lacazette confidently dispatched the resulting spot-kick.

Another penalty at the other end, though, kickstarted the fightback as Fernandes fired home after a VAR review for a foul on Casemiro.

Substitute Mainoo showed why he had been thrust into an unfamiliar forward role with a composed finish to level on 120 minutes.

Barely 60 seconds later, Maguire completed the comeback with a towering header at the back post.

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk on Thursday committed his future to the Premier League club, signing a new two-year contract.

The Dutch defender follows Mohamed Salah in ending months of speculation by extending his stay at Anfield, with fans preparing to celebrate winning the Premier League title.

“I’m very happy, very proud,” said Van Dijk, who, like Salah, would have been out of contract at the end of the season.

“There are so many emotions, obviously, that go through my head right now, speaking about it.

“It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”

Van Dijk, who has made 314 appearances for Liverpool, said last month that he had “no idea” if he would remain at Anfield, but on Sunday hinted that he was set to carry on.

The imposing centre-back, 33, had been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain but said his heart had been set on staying at Liverpool.

“It was always Liverpool,” he said. “That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan, and it was always Liverpool.

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“There wasn’t any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I’m one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser – I’m really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling.”

Van Dijk, who arrived from Southampton in January 2018, has been instrumental in Liverpool’s rise back to the top of the English and European game.

He won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup under former manager Jurgen Klopp.

With new deals confirmed for Salah and Van Dijk, the future of England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold remains unresolved.

Alexander-Arnold, who returned to Liverpool training on Wednesday after a month out because of injury, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Liverpool, in Arne Slot’s first season in charge, are on the brink of winning a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.

The Reds are 13 points clear of Arsenal with just six games remaining and could wrap up the title this weekend if the Gunners lose.

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Arsenal dumped out holders Real Madrid as a 2-1 win on Wednesday completed a 5-1 aggregate victory for Mikel Arteta’s side and set up a Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The Gunners’ 3-0 quarter-final first leg triumph last week gave them a vital cushion in the Spanish capital as they made the final four for the first time since 2009.

Bukayo Saka, who missed a first-half penalty, sent Arsenal ahead, and although Vinicius Junior levelled the 15-time winners were never close to making up the deficit.

Gabriel Martinelli rubbed salt in their wounds with a stoppage-time winner for Arsenal, who are yet to lift the Champions League trophy.

“We knew we were going to suffer, but we knew we were going to win,” Declan Rice, who netted two stunning free-kicks in the first leg, told TNT Sports.

“It’s such a special night for this club, it’s a historic night for this club… we want to win this competition.”

Los Blancos, far more brittle than when they won a Champions League and La Liga double last season, were convinced they could turn the game around, but created too little against Arsenal’s tight defence.

The Premier League side held their nerve to reach the semi-finals for only the third time in their history.

“We lost against a superior Arsenal, and we have to accept it,” Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois told Movistar.

“We’ve had the happy part of football many times, and then there’s the sad part, which is today,” added coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Kylian Mbappe chested home in the opening stages but was clearly offside, with the forward gesturing to the crowd to turn up the volume to create the fabled aura which helps Madrid pull off near-impossible feats at the Santiago Bernabeu.

David Alaba was booked for hacking down Saka as Madrid tried to add the grit they badly lacked in their first leg demolition in London.

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Arsenal were awarded a penalty seemingly out of the blue when the VAR booth instructed French referee Francois Letexier to review an incident from an earlier corner.

Raul Asencio pulled back Arsenal forward Mikel Merino in the area, and Letexier pointed to the spot, to the bemusement of the home crowd.

Saka stepped up to take it, but his poorly executed Panenka, skewing off to the left, was saved by Courtois.

It spurred Real Madrid on, and soon they had a penalty of their own when Mbappe hit the turf after Rice tussled with him.

However, after a lengthy VAR review, Letexier was called to take a second look, and he then decided Rice had not fouled the French superstar.

The breaks in play, along with Arsenal’s dallying at every opportunity, disrupted Madrid’s momentum, and Raya did not need to make a save in the first half.

“We didn’t have the accuracy upfront,” said Courtois.

Martin Odegaard, facing his former employers whom he joined as a ‘wonderkid’ a decade ago, helped forge Arsenal’s opening goal after 65 minutes.

The Norwegian linked with Merino, who slipped Saka in behind, and the Englishman made amends for his penalty blunder with an ice-cool dinked finish.

Four goals ahead in the tie, Arsenal thought their work was done, with defender William Saliba not concentrating on the edge of his box in possession.

Vinicius stole the ball away from him and beat the out-of-position Raya to level, two minutes after Saka’s opener.

Madrid’s increasingly slim hopes were dashed when Mbappe limped off with an ankle problem with 15 minutes remaining, and Martinelli made sure with a cool finish after Merino set him up.

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Barcelona are through to the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win, despite losing 3-1 at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday with Serhou Guirassy hitting a hat-trick.

Holding a 4-0 lead after a dominant performance in Catalonia, the visitors were made to sweat as Dortmund and Guirassy nearly pulled off a stunning turnaround.

Guirassy put Dortmund in front with a Panenka from the spot with 11 minutes gone and headed them two goals clear early in the second half.

Dortmund sensed a sensation, but Barcelona hit back, Fermin Lopez forcing Ramy Bensebaini into an own goal with just over half an hour remaining.

Guirassy reignited Dortmund’s belief with a third on the 76th-minute mark, and the final stages may have been different had Julian Brandt not been offside before scoring with 11 minutes remaining.

Despite losing their first competitive game in 2025, Barcelona are through to the semis, keeping their dream of a remarkable treble alive, 10 years after last completing the feat by winning the Champions League in Berlin.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Dortmund’s performance and said his side “need to focus on the positive, not the negatives”.

“What the team has shown in the past few weeks is incredible. We’ve got a lot ahead of us this season. We’re a step further, but we’re not even close to the end,” added the German.

Barcelona, considered title favourites, will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the final four.

Clearly outclassed in the first leg, Borussia Dortmund will take inspiration from Tuesday’s performance, not least the goal-scoring form of Guirassy.

The 29-year-old Guinean, who has spent most of his career bouncing between the first and second divisions in Germany and France, now has 13 Champions League goals this season- more than any other player.

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“I’m proud of what we were able to do. Barcelona are a strong team, but we fought until the death. We showed what we can do,” Guirassy said to Amazon Prime.

Despite a big first-leg lead, Hansi Flick made good on his pre-match pledge to continue attacking, opting against resting any of his attacking trident of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal or Raphinha.

With coach Niko Kovac admitting Dortmund needed a “miracle” to reach the semis after the debacle in Catalonia, the hosts’ task got a little harder when captain and centre-back Emre Can was ruled out with injury just before the match.

But Dortmund raced out of the blocks, Guirassy and strike partner Maximilian Beier going close inside the opening 10 minutes before Pascal Gross was the victim of a clumsy foul in the box by Wojciech Szczesny.

Guirassy stepped up to the spot and was nerveless, calmly unleashing a Panenka to get the hosts underway.

Borussia Dortmund sliced Barcelona open repeatedly without reward until half-time but made it count four minutes into the second-half, with Guirassy heading in a Ramy Bensebaini assist from a corner.

With Dortmund’s 81,355-strong Westfalenstadion smelling blood, Barcelona’s familiar response was to send their attack down the right, and the move paid off almost immediately.

After Yamal’s cross was half-cleared, Fermin Lopez found himself in the teenager’s channel, whipping a pass towards Lewandowski, which Bensebaini hit into his own net.

With Barcelona content to control possession as the clock wound down, Guirassy relit the hosts’ hopes when he scored his third in the final quarter of an hour, blasting in from close range after some delightful dribbling from teenage winger Julian Duranville.

The home fans erupted when Brandt scored three minutes later, but the midfielder was offside, allowing Barcelona a breather.

Barcelona managed to hold on despite waves of energetic Dortmund attacks in the final stages to remain on track for the treble.

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