The Galaxy became the first team to lose a game without allowing a shot Sunday, falling to 0-11 after winning their sixth MLS Cup title in December.
Murillo earns Nottingham Forest vital point at Crystal Palace in race for Europe
Nottingham Forest aren’t finished just yet. A typically wholehearted performance from Nuno Espírito Santo’s side capped by an instinctive equaliser from Murillo rescued a point that could eventually prove priceless for their hopes of reaching the promised land of the Champions League.
It is to their immense credit that with three matches still to play, a team that ended last season in 17th place is still in contention to dine at Europe’s top table. Having fallen behind to Eberechi Eze’s penalty in front of a joyous Crystal Palace crowd still basking in the glory of their upcoming appearance in the FA Cup final, that Forest were back on terms within four minutes spoke volumes about the spirit Nuno has created at the two-time European champions since replacing Steve Cooper. Eze almost won it for Palace at the death but his shot cannoned off the crossbar to give the travelling supporters hope that their dreams could still come true.
Continue reading...LA Galaxy continue winless rut, PRO refs reveal thoughts on VAR + EA FC curse coming for Lamine Yamal?
Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros react to the LA Galaxy’s latest loss which still leaves them winless this MLS season. What is going on with the Galaxy and who is to blame for their abysmal form? Christian and Alexis then bring on Professional Referee Organization referees Natalie Simon and Alyssa Nichols to chat why they became refs and how VAR helps or hurts their jobs. Later, Christian and Alexis then react to the latest news around soccer in another edition of Rápido Reactions including Harry Kane’s first trophy, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s awkward goodbye & EA FC’s newest cover athlete.
Barcelona boosted by Lewandowski return for semi-final clash with Inter
- Polish striker back from hamstring injury for second leg
- Inter have fitness doubts for Champions League tie
The Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has been declared fit to return from a hamstring injury but is set to start on the bench in their Champions League semi-final second leg at Inter on Tuesday, the Barça manager, Hansi Flick, confirmed.
The 36-year-old Polish international, who has scored 40 goals for Barcelona in all competitions this season, had been sidelined for his club’s last four games. After sustaining the injury during Barça’s 4-3 victory against Celta Vigo on 19 April, he missed the Copa del Rey final victory against Real Madrid and the first leg of the semi against Inter.
Continue reading...Why Premier League position is a focus for only eight teams right now
In a freakish season at the top and bottom of the league, competing incentives for the rest are unusually fractured
As Eddie Howe delivered his post-match press conference after Newcastle’s draw against Brighton on Sunday, Chelsea, his club’s rivals for Champions League qualification, took an early lead against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Howe gave a wry smile and was immediately asked whether it annoyed him that Liverpool had made six changes to their lineup from the side that had sealed the league title against Tottenham last week. Being Howe, and therefore both unflappable and impossibly earnest, he replied that team selection was their business: “Liverpool have got to do what Liverpool have got to do for them. I’m not involved in their football club, so I’ve got no opinion on that.”
And of course he was right to say so, partly because it’s true and partly because criticising other managers’ team selections is a slippery slope. All clubs have their own priorities and their job is to do what is right for them, with all due nods to the integrity of the league and satisfying those who have paid for tickets or broadcast rights. Liverpool have won the title early: giving fringe players a run out is a prerogative they have earned, and it’s not their concern how that affects other sides. But at the same time, Chelsea were given an easier game than they probably would have been had they met Liverpool a week or two earlier before the league title was wrapped up.
Continue reading...‘The real Inter’ prepare for Champions League showdown with Barcelona | Nicky Bandini
Simone Inzaghi dreamed of a quadruple but European success is now the Nerazzurri’s best chance of silverware
The Inter team that lined up to face Verona on Saturday was so heavily rotated it even included a backup manager. OK, their first-choice boss Simone Inzaghi was technically suspended, but seeing his assistant Massimiliano Farris trot out for the pre-game interview only reinforced a feeling that we were not about to watch the real thing.
For months, Inter had tried to compete at full focus on every front, Inzaghi speaking of the ambition to win a quadruple. Then they lost three games in a week, falling behind Napoli at the top of Serie A and suffering elimination from the Coppa Italia by neighbours Milan. Suddenly their most ambitious target, the Champions League, looked like it might be their most realistic shot at claiming any silverware.
Continue reading...Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action
Jamie Vardy targets double century, Jérémy Doku makes his mark and Arsenal rue the absence of Gabriel Magalhães
There is rarely an opportunity for champions to show a sentimental side. It is such hard work to win a title over a 38-game season, with the race often going down to the wire. Arne Slot had four matches to spare and used the trip to Stamford Bridge to give first league starts of the season to Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott. The former has been used frequently as a late sub while the latter is often brought on to make an attacking impact, but the form of their teammates and Elliott’s long-term injury have limited chances under Slot. Jarell Quansah was given a rare start and Federico Chiesa was permitted a fifth league game which qualifies him for a medal. The four have rarely let Liverpool down; no one can blame Quansah for the own goal but he looked understandably rusty and tired when he gave away the penalty. They will have to decide if they want to be bit-part players at a title-winning club or drop down to be key men elsewhere. Will Unwin
Match report: Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool
Match report: Brentford 4-3 Manchester United
Match report: Leicester 2-0 Southampton
Match report: Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
Match report: Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
Continue reading...European football: Mbappé double helps Real Madrid keep Barcelona in sights
- Real beat Celta Viga to move four points behind leaders
- Solskjær’s Besiktas win against Mourinho’s Fenerbahce
Kylian Mbappé scored twice as Real Madrid fought off a late comeback attempt from Celta Vigo to secure a 3-2 win on Sunday and stay within four points of the La Liga leaders Barcelona, whom they visit in next weekend’s Clásico.
Real’s fourth win in succession kept their title dream alive with four matches to go in the Spanish top flight, while Celta Vigo remained seventh after their third loss in four league games. “The most important thing was the win. We played a good first half, but then we fell apart … they are a great team and they put us in trouble,” midfielder Federico Valverde told Real Madrid TV.
Continue reading...Atalanta fan stabbed to death in clashes with Inter supporters, police confirm
- Male in his late teens arrested over incident, say police
- Violence ‘must never happen again’, says Gasperini
A 26-year-old fan of Serie A side Atalanta was stabbed to death during clashes between Atalanta and Inter supporters in the northern city of Bergamo, Italy’s police said.
The groups of supporters clashed in a pub in Bergamo on Saturday night after one of the Inter supporters chanted provocatively, the head of the carabinieri office in Bergamo, Carmelo Beringheli, said.
Continue reading...European football: Kane’s Bayern Bundesliga title party delayed again
- RB Leipzig’s Poulsen strikes in injury time to seal 3-3 draw
- Bayern can still be crowned champions on Sunday
RB Leipzig’s Yussuf Poulsen scored a stoppage-time goal to snatch a 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich on Saturday and delay the Bundesliga leaders’ title celebrations by at least a day. Poulsen struck seconds before the end to leave Bayern on 76 points, nine ahead of Leverkusen, who travel to Freiburg on Sunday. Bayern, with two games left to play, will secure their 34th league crown should Leverkusen fail to win.
It was supposed to be triumphant afternoon for Bayern, but they found themselves on the back foot from the start with the hosts piling on early pressure. Leipzig had two big chances before Benjamin Sesko completed a quick break with a superbly curled shot past Jonas Urbig in the 11th minute.
Continue reading...Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth: Premier League – as it happened
Andoni Iraola’s side came from behind to boost their European hopes with victory at the Emirates
Bournemouth get the ball rolling. Zabarnyi goes long down the right, looking for Tavernier. Too long. Goal kick.
The teams are out! Arsenal in their famous red shirts with white sleeves, Bournemouth in a third kit which [MBM reporter squints, adjusts pince-nez] “draws its inspiration from our seaside roots, finished in deep lagoon green with an aquatic themed design on the front featuring subtle seashells and waves.” We’ll kick off after a verse or two of North London Forever.
Continue reading...Hirst caps Ipswich fightback to spoil Everton’s Goodison farewell party
The penultimate game at Goodison Park proved an occasion for relegated Ipswich to savour far more than their obliging hosts. Everton were two goals up and cruising towards a second win in 10 games when Julio Enciso changed the complexion of the contest with a stunning finish.
Substitute George Hirst completed the fightback by Kieran McKenna’s spirited side with a late header. This was a big opportunity squandered by David Moyes’ team. Everton’s energy and composure declined markedly after taking a two goal lead and Ipswich’s punishment, and point, was merited.
Continue reading...Vardy ends Leicester’s home drought to keep Southampton stuck on 11 points
Jamie Vardy ended Leicester’s long wait for a home goal in the Premier League as they defeated Southampton 2-0 in a clash between two already-relegated teams.
Vardy’s opener at the King Power Stadium was the 38-year-old’s 199th goal in a Leicester shirt and set Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side on their way to a first win since January. Jordan Ayew added a second before half-time for the Foxes to leave Southampton still needing one more point to avoid a share of the competition’s lowest-ever total – Derby’s 11 from 2007-08.
Continue reading...Championship final day: Leeds win title as Luton are relegated again – as it happened
- Solomon goal takes Leeds past Burnley to clinch top spot
- Live scores | Tables | Roundup: Leeds win title, Luton down
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1) Killip; Devlin, Shaughnessy, Atkinson, Ogilvie; Potts, Lang; Blair, Pack, Murphy; Bishop.
Subs: Schmid, Poole, Bramall, Dozzell, Hayden, Gordon, Ritchie, Saydee, O’Mahony.
Hull (4-2-3-1) Pandur; Lewie Coyle, Egan, Hughes, McLoughlin; Crooks, Puerta; Kamara, Gelhardt, Joseph; Joao Pedro.
Subs: Lo-Tutala, Jones, Lincoln, Burns, Alzate, Drameh, Amrabat, Palmer, Burstow.
Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham: Premier League – as it happened
Youri Tielemans scored to boost Aston Villa’s European hopes and damage Fulham’s
Richard Hirst, time-honoured Cottager, gets in touch: “Fulham need to bring Cairney on early then we can channel the 2018 play off final: Sessegnon to Cairney, 1-0. Although there won’t be the added delight of the pass beating John Terry.”
Unai Emery spoke to TNT ahead of the game: “We’re so focused to try to get Europe. Europe is the highest ambition we can dream of, and to play Champions League again.
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