..::Football IV::..

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Ancelotti's Bayern future not discussed – Rummenigge

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists there is no need to discuss the future of coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti's men are eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, but they have hit a rough run of form which has left them without a win in five games.Included in that run have been Champions League and DFB-Pokal exits, leading to some pressure on the Italian.

However, Rummenigge dismissed any suggestions that Ancelotti is under threat, telling Sport Bild: "Carlo is a very good and experienced coach."His contract term is known [until 2019] and this is not discussed."

Bayern were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals by Real Madrid before Wednesday's DFB-Pokal loss to Borussia Dortmund.It means they are likely to have to settle for the league title and DFL-Supercup double this season.

 

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Thiago Alcantara signs new Bayern deal

Bayern Munich have announced that midfielder Thiago Alcantara has signed a new contract.

The 26-year-old has agreed to a two-year extension of his deal, which will now run until June 2021.

Thiago joined Bayern from Barcelona in 2013 and has established himself as a key member of the first team thanks to excellent form during the current campaign, having previously been hindered by fitness problems.The Spain international has made 39 appearances in all competitions this term, scoring eight times and registering nine assists.

"Thiago is one of the best and therefore most popular midfielders in Europe," chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Bayern's official website."We are very happy that we have been able to tie this outstanding professional to the club for the long term."

Thiago added: "My family and I feel very comfortable in Munich. Everything suits us here. I want to win many trophies with Bayern in the future."His renewal comes after Bayern confirmed that they had signed winger Kingsley Coman from Juventus on a permanent three-year deal for a total fee of €35million.

It is another welcome piece of positive news for Bayern during a difficult spell for the Bundesliga leaders.

A run of five games without a win has seen them exit the Champions League in controversial fashion to Real Madrid and surrender the defence of the DFB-Pokal, with Borussia Dortmund having come from 2-1 down to win Wednesday's semi-final 3-2.

Consecutive draws in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz have seen their lead at the top of the table cut to eight points, although they remain firm favourites to claim the title with just four games remaining.

 

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Atalanta 2 Juventus 2: Last-gasp Buffon error proves costly

Remo Freuler capitalised on a rare error from Gianluigi Buffon to salvage a hard-fought 2-2 draw for Serie A's surprise package Atalanta in a dramatic encounter with league leaders Juventus.

Dani Alves' header appeared to have given Massimiliano Allegri's men a hard-fought three points at Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, as Juve fought back from a 1-0 half-time deficit.

However, Freuler was on hand to claim a deserved point for the hosts, who remain unbeaten at home since December, in the 89th minute and perhaps offer slim hope to Juve's nearest rivals Roma in the title race.

The late drama came at the culmination of an end-to-end clash on Friday, with Juve having pulled level through Leonardo Spinazzola's own-goal after Andrea Conti had put Gian Piero Gasperini's side ahead on the stroke of half-time.

Atalanta goalkeeper Etrit Berisha was on top form throughout and he pulled off a string of excellent saves to deny Gonzalo Higuain and Sami Khedira respectively, although bizarre officiating had denied Juve a penalty midway through the second half.

And it was Berisha's counterpart Buffon that was left embarrassed in the end as, despite another stately performance from the Juve veteran, his fumble allowed Freuler to equalise for an Atalanta side that remain fifth.

For Juve, a draw takes them nine points clear of second-placed Roma, who face local rivals Lazio on Sunday, and Allegri's men will now switch their focus to the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Monaco.

In spite of Allegri's warnings against complacency in the pre-match build up, an unusually tepid Juve failed to stamp any authority on proceedings in a scrappy opening.Juve's inept display should have been punished on the half-hour mark, but Buffon showed his quality with a superb one-on-one save to deny Andrea Masiello.

Juan Cuadrado could have made Atalanta pay for Masiello's miss soon after, only for the Colombia winger to volley wide after connecting with Giorgio Chiellini's diagonal pass.However, the hosts did have their deserved lead soon after.
Alejandro Gomes was the architect with a perfectly-weighted dink to the back post where Conti was on hand to bundle home.

But for all their first-half promise, Atalanta's lead was cut short in the 50th minute.
Miralem Pjanic delivered an exquisite free-kick that, under pressure from Leonardo Bonucci, Spinazzola could only turn into his own net.

After Higuain had tested Berisha, Juve should have been given a penalty when Rafael Toloi handled in the area, but the referee - despite initially pointing to the spot - awarded the free-kick Atalanta's way due to Mario Mandzukic having strayed offside.Berisha was on top form again with just over 20 minutes remaining, denying Higuain after instinctively keeping out two efforts from Khedira.

But the Albania international could do nothing to prevent Alves heading in what appeared to be Juve's winner in the 83rd minute.Pjanic was again the provider with a wonderful cross and the former Barcelona man headed in unmarked at the far post.

The drama was not over, though, as Atalanta rallied. Frueler unleashed a shot that Buffon could only parry back into the danger zone and the Swiss midfielder followed up to tuck home the rebound.

 

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Mourinho: Pogba out of Swansea clash but I could play centre-back!

Jose Mourinho says Paul Pogba will miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Swansea City at Old Trafford, but should be back to face Celta Vigo in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday.

Pogba limped off just before full-time in the 2-0 league win at Burnley last Sunday with a hamstring injury and was an absentee for Thursday’s 0-0 draw with local rivals Manchester City as a result.

And Mourinho has confirmed that the French midfielder will not be available for selection when Paul Clement’s relegation-threatened side visit the Theatre of Dreams at the weekend.

“[Paul will be back] for Celta,” Mourinho told reporters. “The only thing we can say is we are very unlucky and the small injuries, the Pogba one, Antonio Valencia last week, are the injuries of fatigue; the accumulation of matches which is normal.”

United face a hectic final few weeks of the season, with their Europa League campaign and top-four tilt combining to give them a potential eight-game run-in in the space of 24 days. And Mourinho has been left cursing his luck after a string of injuries has left his team short of centre-backs in particular, joking that he might even have to play himself at some stage, with only Eric Bailly, Daley Blind and Axel Tuanzebe available to play at the heart of defence.

“In this moment it’s the only option we have, Axel and Eric and Daley. I think Eric and Daley they played again absolutely amazing [against Man City]. I have to speak with them and see how they are and see how they feel. I am also training hard in the gym so I can be an option also: Mourinho and Tuanzebe!”

The Portuguese boss insists that the departures of midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger in early 2017 were consequences of a competitive squad and their current difficulties with injuries simply couldn’t have been foreseen.

“They were our decision. To have lots of players without playing is also something that the players they don’t want,” he explained. “We didn’t tell Morgan we want to sell him, Morgan asked ‘Please sell me, I want to go, I want to play every game’ so sometimes there is this dilemma of keeping a bigger squad but the players don’t want to stay.

“We arrive into an extreme situation where it must be unique in football that two cruciate ligament injuries happen in the same match. In my career I had one in 17 years… one cruciate in 17 years. And now against Anderlecht I have two in one match [Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo]. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones was in the English national team training.

 

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I am also training hard in the gym so I can be an option

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Ronaldo so good he could play anywhere - Zidane

Zinedine Zidane claims Cristiano Ronaldo is so good "he could play anywhere".

The Real Madrid superstar has had to adapt his game in the past couple of seasons, gradually morphing into a more traditional number nine after spending his earlier years at Sporting CP, Manchester United and Madrid as a marauding winger with a keen eye for goal.

The 32-year-old has not scored for four LaLiga games but was the inspiration behind Madrid's Champions League quarter-final win over Bayern Munich with five goals across the two legs.

And, speaking ahead of Saturday's visit of Valencia to Santiago Bernabeu, Zidane was full of praise for Ronaldo.He said: "Ronaldo has always played on the wing but he has the quality to play in several positions. He could play as an out-and-out striker as he's a great player.

"And almost 400 goals as a winger... that's something we can't forget. It's an amazing achievement but he's so good he could play anywhere."

Zidane has several selection problems to solve before the weekend with Gareth Bale injured and Isco, Marco Asensio, James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata all vying to fill the void.

The Frenchman must also consider the fact Madrid play city rivals Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.He added: "I don't have a set idea [on how to replace Bale], there are lots of options.

"I have to look at the opponents for example, how they play, what's the best option for us but I know I have lots of options because all my players are good and have versatility."Zidane offered a fitness update on central defender Pepe, who has not played since suffering a rib injury against Atletico on April 8.


"I don't know anything about his future," Zidane said of the 34-year-old, whose contract expires in June. "But there's a pain in his ribs. He is in better shape and hopefully he'll be back before the end of the season."

 

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Man Utd 'miss belief' but Mourinho gunning for top honours next season

Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United will be better prepared to challenge for "big things" next season but insists he has no problems with the squad he inherited from Louis van Gaal.

United held out for a 0-0 draw at Manchester City on Thursday, despite a late red card for Marouane Fellaini, and remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

They will secure a return to Europe's premier competition irrespective of their domestic finish if they can claim Europa League glory, with the first leg of a semi-final at Celta Vigo on the agenda next week.

However, United have been distant from the Premier League title race and, even allowing for an ongoing 24-match unbeaten run in the top flight, Mourinho feels his players are short of resilience and belief.

"The group was a nice group, honestly. Good people, good boys – committed people," he said."I think Mr Van Gaal left here a good group of boys with very good relations."I think they miss happiness, they miss trust, they miss belief. They miss this extra bit that brings you resilience, brings you fight.

"When we meet again on July 9 for next season it will be a stronger group. The new players, when they arrive, will find a group more ready to go for big things."But the reality is that we are fighting to win the Europa League and we are fighting to finish fourth. So, let's go."

United will do so while grappling with an extensive injury list.Top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury against Anderlecht last week, as did Marcos Rojo in the same game, to join fellow defenders Chris Smalling (knee), Phil Jones (broken toe) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (dislocated shoulder) on the sidelines.

Paul Pogba missed the Manchester derby due to a hamstring problem and he will remain out when Swansea City visit Old Trafford on Sunday, with Fellaini's ban further compromising Mourinho's midfield options.

Before facing City, Mourinho seemingly questioned Smalling and Jones' commitment due to them being unwilling to play through their injuries but he feels the collective ordeal could be character-building for his players."We arrive into an extreme situation where I think it must be unique in football – two cruciate ligaments in the same match," he said.

"In my career I had one [of my players suffer this injury] in 17 years and now against Anderlecht I have two in one match. We are very unlucky, that is the only thing I can say.

"Then the other injuries – the Pogba one, Antonio Valencia last week – are the injuries of fatigue, from an accumulation of matches. That is normal."Smalling and Jones were in the English national team, training."Maybe it is an opportunity to make the team mentally stronger. Maybe it is a blessing. So, let's see if they can come back."


Mourinho could be boosted by Juan Mata returning from a hernia operation ahead of schedule. The Spanish playmaker had been expected to miss the rest of the season.

 

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"But the reality is that we are fighting to win the Europa League and we are fighting to finish fourth. So, let's go."

 

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Griezmann not good enough to get in Real Madrid's team, says Jese

Real Madrid do not need Antoine Griezmann because they have better players than him already, Jese Rodriguez has said.

The Atletico Madrid star continues to be linked with a possible move to the European champions and Manchester United despite repeatedly stressing he is happy at Vicente Calderon.But Jese, who was sold by Madrid to Paris Saint-Germain for a reported €25million last August, does not believe Griezmann would improve his old side.

Asked if they should pursue the France forward's signature, he told Sportium: "No, because there are a lot of better players than him in the team."Jese, now with Las Palmas, is set to face Atletico in Gran Canaria on Saturday.

The 24-year-old says he finds it difficult to imagine joining Diego Simeone's side if the opportunity arose in future, such is his loyalty to his old club."In football, you never really know where you might end up but in my case, I don't think so," he said. "I've always been a Real Madrid fan, I developed as a player there, it's the club which gave me everything and for whom I have 100 per cent respect.

Jese also said that he does not believe he should be likened to Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo."I don't like comparing myself with anyone, I think every player has qualities of their own, different characteristics and not all players are the same," he added.


"Obviously, it is very nice to be compared to someone like Cristiano, I'm not going to deny it, but I don't really like being compared to other footballers."

 

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Man City goalkeeper Bravo ruled out for rest of the season

Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has been effectively ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a calf injury during Thursday's Manchester derby, Goal understands.The Chilean was taken off on a stretcher in the second half of the goalless draw between City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

Tests on Friday have highlighted that the goalkeeper has suffered tear measuring around one centimetre in his left calf, ruling him out for three weeks.That would have him back in training only very shortly before City's final game of the Premier League season, against Watford Sunday May 21.

More tests are scheduled in the coming days but City are resigned to the fact that he will not play again this season.It marks the end of a disappointing debut campaign in English football for Bravo.

The 34-year-old has struggled to win around City supporters who were unhappy with Blues boss Pep Guardiola's decision to let Joe Hart leave on loan.

Bravo looked shaky at times during his debut, in the first Manchester derby of the season, and was sent off at Barcelona in the Champions League in October, high-profile low points in an otherwise steady start to life at the club.But a dramatic dip in form throughout December and into January led to Guardiola dropping the goalkeeper for more than two months.

Since being reintroduced to the team Bravo has been ironically cheered by a section of the City support whenever he has made a save or a catch.Indeed, he was loudly applauded after he successfully claimed a corner on Thursday evening, only to fall to the ground immediately with the injury which means he will not play for the club again until next season.

As revealed by Goal earlier in April, Bravo has no intention of leaving City this summer, despite the prospect of a new goalkeeper arriving in pre-season, and has rejected offers from across Europe.

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.04.29

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.04.29

Southampton Vs Hull City

Stoke City Vs West Ham

Sunderland Vs Bournemouth

WBA Vs Leicester City

Crystal Palace Vs Burnley

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LA Liga Fixtures 2017.04.29

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.04.29

Real Sociedad Vs Granada

Real Madrid Vs Valencia

Las Palmas Vs Atletico Madrid

Espanyol Vs Barcelona​

 

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Serie A Fixture 2017.04.29

Serie A Fixture 2017.04.29

Torino Vs Sampdoria​

 

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Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.04.29

Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.04.29

Dortmund Vs Cologne

Mainz Vs Monchengladbach

Leipzig Vs Ingolstadt

Darmstadt Vs Freiburg

Werder Bremen Vs Hertha Berlin

Wolfsburg Vs Bayern​

 

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Chelsea's Stamford Bridge tribute to Terry

Chelsea will pay tribute to outgoing captain John Terry by removing all non-Terry banners from two stands at Stamford Bridge.The 36-year-old is due to leave the club at the end of his contract in the summer, having spent all his senior career with the Blues.

Since his debut in 1998, Terry has played over 700 games for the London-based club, winning four Premier League trophies as well as the Champions League and Europa League.

Terry's loyalty to the club has seen him become an extremely popular figure with supporters, and the fans have decided to honour their captain by only displaying Terry banners in the Matthew or Shed Ends of the stadium for the rest of this season.

Other flags will be displayed in the rest of the stadium, while there is no restrictions on Chelsea's away matches.
Terry has been linked with a number of clubs, with Bournemouth's Harry Arter saying he would love to have him at Dean Court."If John is interested in coming here then I have no doubt the club would love to bring him in," Arter told reporters.


"I am sure he will have plenty of people interested in him -- but if it is something both parties want to do, then hopefully it will happen."

 

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Man Utd and Chelsea target Belotti unperturbed by €100 million price tag

Torino striker Andrea Belotti has claimed he is not concerned by his €100million price tag, adding that he harbours ambitions of playing in the world's elite competitions.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a stellar campaign so far, netting 25 goals to join Roma forward Edin Dzeko at the top of the Serie A scoring charts.

Belotti's current deal - signed in December 2016 - runs until June 2021, though it includes a €100million buy-out clause for teams outside of Serie A.

However, Belotti, who looks set to lead Italy's line heading into the 2018 World Cup, is adamant that he thinks little of the transfer rumours - despite his wish to play in the Champions League."The World Cup is the dream for any player, just like the Champions League," Belotti told Sky Sport Italia.

"I never stopped to think about the weight of that €100m tag, because I always thought I should prove my worth on the pitch and those performances would ultimately set my value."In today's world you hear about excessive transfer fees. Clubs pay €70m-€80m or even €100m for a single player.

"The level of the market has been raised so much in recent years and you hear excessive figures being bandied about."

While Belotti has shown no signs of wanting to leave Torino as of yet, club president Urbano Cairo has acknowledged that it will be tough to keep hold of their star player once the season ends.

 

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Borussia Dortmund 0 Cologne 0: Stoger brings BVB back to earth

Borussia Dortmund were brought back down to earth on Saturday as they followed up securing a place in the DFB-Pokal final with a goalless draw against Cologne in a Bundesliga clash at Signal Iduna Park.

A 3-2 comeback victory over Bayern Munich in the Pokal semi-final at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday will have raised spirits in the Dortmund camp, but Peter Stoger made it six games against BVB unbeaten as Cologne earned a share of the spoils.

Although failure to win means third-placed Dortmund could be overtaken by Hoffenheim, who entertain Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, BVB are guaranteed Champions League qualification as a result of Hertha Berlin's 2-0 defeat at Werder Bremen.

Ousmane Dembele scored one and assisted another in the win at Bayern but was dropped to the bench as one of four changes from Thomas Tuchel, but Dortmund still created enough for a win.

A moment of madness from Marco Reus saw him poke Gonzalo Castro's goal-bound header home from an offside position, while Marcel Schmelzer's shot from the edge of the box looked destined for the net until Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn got his hand to it.

Dembele was sent on by Tuchel in the second half but, with Cologne content to dig in and hold out for a point, there was no breakthrough, adding greater importance to Dortmund's meeting with Hoffenheim next Saturday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang thought he had given Dortmund the lead when he turned home Shinji Kagawa's cross at the back post in the 14th minute, only to see a flag raised for offside against the Japanese.

Neven Subotic, on loan at Cologne from Dortmund, almost inadvertently found the back of his own net when intercepting Reus' pass for Aubameyang, but Frederik Sorensen spared his blushes with a goal-line clearance.

The hosts continued to control proceedings and Reus fired over from just outside the six-yard box after Aubameyang raced down the left and cut back to the Germany international.

Cologne almost made them rue that missed chance, but a pair of former Dortmund players let them off the hook. Milos Jojic latched onto Artjoms Rudnevs' backheel and dragged wide, before Leonardo Bittencourt scuffed his shot at the end of a scintillating solo run into the box.

Tuchel's team would have gone into half-time ahead had it not been for a lapse in concentration from Reus, who needlessly interfered after Castro beat Horn to the ball to head on target.

Horn was forced into action by Reus within a minute of the restart and the Cologne goalkeeper produced an excellent save to push Schmelzer's 20-yard strike away from the top-left corner.

Tuchel introduced Dembele and Raphael Guerreiro for Reus and Kagawa, and the Frenchman galvanised the ailing Dortmund. His scoop over the defence was cushioned down for Aubameyang by Castro, but that touch was just behind the striker, who shot wide.

Dortmund switched to a back three with Lukasz Piszczek replacing Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Guerreiro was denied a stoppage-time winner as Horn got down to parry his header, with BVB shut out for the first time in the Bundesliga since a goalless draw with Schalke on October 29.

 

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Sunderland 0 Bournemouth 1: Late King goal confirms hosts' relegation

Sunderland became the first team to be relegated from the Premier League this season after Joshua King's late goal consigned David Moyes' men to a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Hull's 0-0 draw at Southampton looked to have provided the hosts with a stay of execution, but King rounded off a rapid Bournemouth break to send Sunderland into the Championship.

After 10 years in the Premier League and a series of close shaves in recent seasons, Sunderland drop out of the top flight with fans chanting angrily against Moyes and owner Ellis Short at the full-time whistle.

King went closest to breaking the deadlock in an end-to-end first half, but the Norway international saw his floated effort clip the crossbar and post when it looked like curling in.

Jermain Defoe missed a series of chances for Sunderland as his dry spell continued and, despite their increasingly desperate efforts, the hosts could not find the goal that would have prolonged their slim hopes of survival.

ournemouth laid siege to the Sunderland goal in the early minutes, with Steve Cook denied a tap-in by a crucial defensive block before King shot tamely at Jordan Pickford.

Fabio Borini's swerving strike was then beaten away by Artur Boruc at the other end and Defoe could not adjust his body to turn in the rebound in a lively opening at the Stadium of Light.

Defoe wasted another decent opening by blasting over the top after 18 minutes, then King's curling effort somehow hit the angle of post and bar before bouncing into the arms of a grateful Pickford.

Defoe's goal touch has deserted him in recent weeks - the England international has not scored in the Premier League since February 4 - and he ought to have done better after 28 minutes than volley straight at Boruc after a concerted spell of Sunderland pressure.

Bournemouth remained a threat on the break, however, and Donald Love was forced to clear a King shot off the line before Benik Afobe had two powerful strikes blocked.

Marc Pugh bent an effort just wide at the start of the second period before Boruc made a vital save by blocking Borini's shot after Defoe had sent the Italian through on goal.Boruc was again the key man for the visitors when he parried substitute George Honeyman's effort after 65 minutes, then Pugh headed an Adam Smith cross over the bar.

Tensions boiled over with 15 minutes to go after Borini's poor challenge on Lewis Cook, but while Sunderland's players showed plenty of fight in the closing stages they could not find a way past Boruc, who saved again from Borini.And the goalkeeper's heroics proved vital as Bournemouth snatched all three points with a breakaway goal with just two minutes to go.

Substitute Lys Mousset led the counter and slipped Ryan Fraser into the box, with the winger pulling the ball back for King to tap home from close range.

 

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Sunderland relegated after 10 years in the Premier League

Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League following a 1-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.Joshua King netted a late winner to send the Wearsiders down and end their 10-year stint in the top flight.

Neither side had been able to find the breakthrough at the Stadium of Light, with Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc making a string of fine saves and Jermain Defoe wasting several presentable opportunities for David Moyes' men.

Hull's 0-0 draw at Southampton looked to have prolonged Sunderland's stay - for another week at least - but King finished off a clinical Bournemouth break to send the hosts down to the Championship.

Sunderland have won just five games all season and, unlike in recent seasons when miraculous fightbacks late in the campaign saved the club from the drop, this time they were left with too much to do.

An 11-game wait for their first victory of the season set the tone, with Bournemouth ironically the first team they beat, a 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium in November thanks to a Defoe penalty.

Victor Anichebe then struck twice in a 3-0 win over Hull in Sunderland's next game, swiftly followed by a 2-1 victory against Leicester City, and it appeared Moyes' men had turned a corner.

When Patrick van Aanholt scored the only goal of the game to earn a 1-0 win over Watford on December 17, Sunderland had won four of their last seven matches but they did not taste victory again until February.

An incredible 4-0 demolition of Crystal Palace - managed by Sam Allardyce, who led Sunderland to safety last season - proved to be a false dawn as Moyes' side then failed to score in seven straight Premier League matches.

The drought was eventually ended with a 2-2 home draw against West Ham United, but by then Sunderland's fate was virtually sealed and a 1-0 loss at Middlesbrough left them on the precipice.

King's goal pushed Sunderland over the edge and with the club's fans angry at the poor leadership of Moyes and Short, there is no guarantee they will bounce back.

 

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Real Madrid 2 Valencia 1: Marcelo the hero after Ronaldo misses penalty

Marcelo proved the unlikely hero as Real Madrid snatched a dramatic 2-1 win over Valencia at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

The full-back fired home with four minutes of normal time remaining after Dani Parejo had cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo's 20th LaLiga goal of the season.The result puts Madrid back to the top of the table, three points above champions Barcelona ahead of their derby match with Espanyol later on Saturday.

Zinedine Zidane's side were beaten 2-1 in the reverse fixture at Mestalla in February and almost found themselves a goal down inside the first minute, with Santi Mina hitting the post from inside the area.

Madrid began to settle and Ronaldo turned the ball in from Dani Carvajal's cross midway through the first half – his first goal in the top flight since March 12.

The home side missed chances to double their lead, with Ronaldo seeing a spot-kick saved by Diego Alves for the third time in four attempts, and their profligacy was punished eight minutes from time as Parejo swept in a sublime free-kick.

But Marcelo's brilliant solo goal salvaged a second win in a row since Madrid's Clasico defeat and ensured that the title race remains firmly in their hands.

Madrid were ahead in the first minute of their 6-2 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna, but they nearly went behind with less than 60 seconds on the clock here, with Keylor Navas denying Mina from close range before the forward smacked the outside of the post with the rebound.

It was a sluggish opening 20 minutes from the home side, with Karim Benzema's turn and low shot the only moment that had Valencia goalkeeper Alves troubled in any way.

James Rodriguez – starting on the right of the attack – and Ronaldo both sent free-kicks narrowly over the crossbar, but Madrid's increasing pressure told on 27 minutes.Carvajal bent a fine cross towards the edge of the six-yard box from the right, where Ronaldo rose highest to glance a header low past Alves.

Benzema skipped away from Ezequiel Garay before rattling the post from just inside the area, as Madrid stepped up their pursuit of a second goal just after half-time.

Parejo handed Madrid the chance to double the lead from the penalty spot when he was penalised for pulling back Luka Modric, but Alves guessed right and saved Ronaldo's effort low to his left.

Madrid began to sit deeper to safeguard their slender advantage, although substitute Alvaro Morata wasted a good chance on the break, completely missing the ball after being teed up by Ronaldo.

The Portugal captain collided with the post 12 minutes from time, having somehow failed to turn the ball over the bar from point-blank range before clattering into the upright under pressure from youngster Toni Lato.

Valencia had done little to threaten Navas' goal, but they seemingly snatched a point in the 82nd minute, Parejo curling a brilliant free-kick into the top-left corner from 25 yards out to stun the Bernabeu.

However, four minutes later, Marcelo picked up a loose ball to the left of the Valencia box, cut inside onto his right foot and drilled low past Alves to salvage what could prove a critical win.