..::Football IV::..

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Serie A Fixtures 2017.05.06

Serie A Fixtures 2017.05.06

Napoli Vs Cagliari

Juventus Vs Torino​

 

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Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.05.06

Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.05.06

Bayern Vs Darmstadt

Dortmund Vs Hoffenheim

Frankfurt Vs Wolfsburg

Ingolstadt Vs Leverkusen

Monchengladbach Vs Augsburg

Hertha Berlin Vs Leipzig
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Maldini: I will absolutely not take AC Milan role

Paolo Maldini says there is no chance of him returning to AC Milan to take up a role on the board despite new owners arriving.

Li Yonghong succeeded Silvio Berlusconi as president last month after his consortium bought the club from the former Italy prime minister's company Fininvest.

Maldini rejected the chance to take over as the club's technical director in October, expressing his dismay at organisation of the club.Following the transfer of ownership, the legendary defender was asked if he may reconsider taking up the role, but he insists nothing has changed.

"Absolutely not,” he told Sky when asked if he could return soon.“I made my decision a long time ago and I think it was right and well considered. I spoke to them in October, the deal was closed a month ago, my doubts remained.

"Of course my love for the team always remains, even sadness due to the end of the Berlusconi era that led players and fans to incredible experiences.

"There was a meeting but it was not successful. I was lucky enough to be able to express what I thought without being tied to anything that would make me change my mind."I can be right or wrong but independence of thought is the most satisfying thing in my career and I do not want to change that."

Maldini spent his entire career at Milan, joining the youth system at the age of 10 before spending an incredible 15 years in the first-team, winning seven Serie A titles and five European Cups, while he finished runner-up in both the World Cup and European Championship with Italy.

 

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'We are Manchester United and we can do this' - Pogba issues top-four rallying cry

Paul Pogba insists Manchester United are “young and fresh” and have unwavering confidence in their ability to secure a top-four finish.The Red Devils have spent almost the entire 2016-17 campaign on the fringes of the Champions League places.They remain on the outside looking in at present, despite having pieced together a 25-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Pogba believes that Jose Mourinho’s side are capable of staging one last push – starting at Arsenal on Sunday – while complementing their domestic efforts with Europa League success.The £89 million midfielder told MUTV: "Of course, we have to believe.

"Obviously, we want to do it and we can. Of course we're strong enough, we are Manchester United and we can do this.“To be in the top four, our mind has to go there, and we also want to win the Europa League.

“We have to keep our heads on the challenge and the big objective; we want to achieve the big goals, not the small ones. We're confident of that. We're young and fresh.”

United will head into a crunch clash with Arsenal coming off the back of a 1-0 victory away at Celta Vigo in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.Pogba is delighted to have seen momentum and confidence maintained in Spain, with the big games continuing to come thick and fast.

He added: "It was a good result for us against Celta, and a very important goal."We now need to focus on the second leg and have another big game coming up too, against Arsenal. We have to get our head into this game, and then we can think about the second leg.

"I feel good, but you have to be careful as well. It's not finished, we won 1-0 in Spain and the team did a good job, but we'll have to be focused for the next game. “It's the objective for us, and it would be great to win the competition. As I said, we're not there yet, we have to keep going and be focused on the next game."

United take on Arsenal sat fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind arch-rivals Manchester City and four adrift of Liverpool with a game in hand on the Reds.

 

[inspiron]

elA

 

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Buffon: Juventus lost a great talent in Morata - I loved him a lot

Gianluigi Buffon says Juventus lost a "great talent", while he lost a team-mate he has "great affection for" when Alvaro Morata left to join Real Madrid.

The Spanish forward joined Juventus from Real Madrid in 2014 after failing to break into the first-team in the Spanish capital. The €20 million signing became a big hit at Juventus, scoring 15 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions in his first campaign as Juve won Serie A, the Coppa Italia and reached the Champions League final. His success prompted links to a move to Chelsea, but it was Madrid who snapped him up after his second season for €30m.

Although Juventus are again certain to win the Italian top flight and are close to reaching another European final, Buffon admits he misses the 24-year-old striker and feels he could have been a star in Turin. "Alvaro had negative thoughts in his last period at Juve," Buffon told Real Madrid TV.

"We talked a bit about it because he I was sorry for him. He was a guy I loved a lot and wanted to help him, to give him security. He deserved the help of a companion and I have great affection for him."His move to Real for me it was a disappointment because we lost a great talent of an age that would allow him to mature and finally to devote himself .

"He could be the best man for Juventus."Morata's 18 goals in all competitions this term tops each of his tallies in Italy, but he is not a regular starter for Zinedine Zidane's side.

With Los Blancos holding a 3-0 lead heading into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Atletico and Juve leading 2-0 against Monaco in the other tie, Buffon and Morata will likely be reunited in the final in Cardiff.

 

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Manchester City 5 Crystal Palace 0: Five-star showing as Pep's men totally dominant

Manchester City were totally dominant as they strengthened their case for a top-four finish with a 5-0 Premier League battering of Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Goals from David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi were no more than City deserved as they outclassed their visitors at the Etihad Stadium.

Silva put City in front inside two minutes despite only returning to training on Thursday, but Pep Guardiola had to wait until the early stages of the second half for Kompany to double his side's advantage with his second goal in four matches.

The three points were in the bag when De Bruyne slotted home just short of the hour mark, with Palace's best chance having fallen to Christian Benteke late in the opening period – Willy Caballero on hand to deny the striker with an excellent save.

Sterling added further gloss to the scoreline with his first Premier League goal since February, before Otamendi completed the rout by heading home a fifth in second-half stoppage time.

The result lifts City above Liverpool into third on goal difference, with Jurgen Klopp's men hosting Southampton on Sunday, while Manchester United are four points back in fifth ahead of their trip to Arsenal.Palace remain six points clear of the relegation zone but would be reeled closer to danger by wins for Hull City and Swansea City later on Saturday.

Silva's inclusion in the City starting XI was something of a surprise following Guardiola's pessimistic assessment of his fitness on Friday, but he started and finished the move that put the hosts ahead.

A ball over the top to Raheem Sterling was lifted back across goal by the England international, and Martin Kelly's poor defensive header landed kindly for Silva to get City off to a flying start with a low drive into the bottom-right corner – his 50th goal for the club.

City had their tails up and were on the attack again shortly after. An apologetic Michael Oliver thwarted them on that occasion, the referee prematurely blowing for a free-kick when the advantage should have been played.

Crystal Palace's unfamiliar defence, featuring Jeff Schlupp at centre-back, was being given a thorough examination by a hungry City attack, led alone by Gabriel Jesus in the absence of the injured Sergio Aguero, and Fernandinho's strike from distance stung the palms of goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey after 10 minutes.

Silva was everywhere for City, showing no lingering symptoms of the injury that has kept him sidelined for two weeks, and the only frustration for Guardiola will have been that his team were unable score the second goal their first-half dominance merited – Sane twice denied by Hennessey.

Palace did show signs of life before the interval, but Wilfried Zaha's tame cross from space on the left halted a promising move, before Willy Caballero got down brilliantly to keep out Benteke's header.

City's second arrived just four minutes into the second half, though, when Kompany hammered an effort into the top-right corner after being found by De Bruyne in space inside the Palace box.

De Bruyne himself clipped the top of the crossbar with a free-kick soon after before netting the goal that killed off the game with 30 minutes still to play.

A move that started with a Palace throw-in ended with Jesus touching the ball on to De Bruyne on the edge of the box, and the Belgian picked his spot in the bottom-right corner. Hennessey got a hand to the shot but was unable to keep it out.

City made it 4-0 eight minutes from time, when Sterling fired in a left-footed half-volley from the centre of the penalty area amid non-existent Palace defending, and Otamendi headed City's fifth in injury time - a fair reflection on the gulf in quality between the two sides on the day.

 

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Borussia Dortmund 2 Hoffenheim 1: Tuchel's men steal a march in race for third

Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were on target as Borussia Dortmund beat Hoffenheim 2-1 in a dramatic encounter to steal a march on their rivals in the race for automatic Champions League qualification.

The two sides have been jostling over third place in the Bundesliga, which guarantees entry into the Champions League group stages, for much of the season and this was a typically action-packed affair at Signal Iduna Park.

Reus was involved in much of the drama, breaking the deadlock in contentious circumstances, while also picking up a booking that could have been red and winning a first-half penalty that Aubameyang scuffed poorly wide.

Aubameyang made amends with what proved to be a crucial second goal in the 82nd minute to derail Hoffenheim's momentum, although the hosts withstood a nervy ending when Julian Nagelsmann's men hit back through Andrej Kramaric's spot-kick.However, Hoffenheim, this season's surprise package, could not complete the comeback and now sit two points below Dortmund in fourth position with two matches remaining.

It means Hoffenheim require a favour from either Augsburg or Werder Bremen - opponents for both Dortmund and Hoffenheim - if they are to avoid going into the Champions League play-off round.

It took just four minutes for Reus to fire Dortmund in front, the Germany international running in behind on the left - setting off from a seemingly offside position - and sliding a finish through Oliver Baumann's legs.

Reus, who was sent off in the reverse fixture in December, was then perhaps fortunate to only see yellow as he lashed out at Steven Zuber near the right-hand touchline.

Hoffenheim's frustration with the officials was heightened after 13 minutes as referee Felix Brych pointed to the spot after Reus' cross from the left struck Pavel Kaderabek's arm, but Aubameyang screwed the penalty horribly wide.

With the profligacy of the home forward keeping Hoffenheim in an already hot-tempered affair, Nagelsmann's side sought a swift response and Sandro Wagner nodded straight at Roman Burki.

However, the game's frantic start soon gave way to a more measured spell, reaching half-time without further major incident as both sides lacked fluency in the final third.

Hoffenheim started the second period on the front foot and Kerem Demirbay forced Burki into an unorthodox save with a strike from distance, but the visitors' attacking intent left space at the back for Dortmund to exploit.Only a smart reaction stop from Baumann denied Reus a second with a fine left-footed volley, before Matthias Ginter drilled an effort over the top.

Reus also lacked accuracy from a good position inside the area, but Dortmund did double their lead with eight minutes remaining when Raphael Guerreiro toe-poked Lukasz Piszczek's centre against the post and Aubameyang was unmarked to turn the rebound into the net and atone for his earlier miss.

But, just as Dortmund looked set to cruise through the remaining minutes, Ginter dragged Wagner to the ground in the box and handed Kramaric an opportunity that he, unlike Aubameyang, would not pass up.Dortmund saw out the final stages safely, though, as Hoffenheim were unable to spoil the day for Thomas Tuchel's side.

 

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Bayern Munich 1 Darmstadt 0: Starke penalty save confirms visitors' relegation

Tom Starke marked his first Bayern Munich start since March 2014 with a penalty save as Carlo Ancelotti's side celebrated their fifth successive Bundesliga title triumph with a 1-0 victory that consigned Darmstadt to relegation.

With Sven Ulreich having joined Manuel Neuer on Bayern's injury list, third-choice goalkeeper Starke was called upon for Saturday's clash at the Allianz Arena and proved his quality to deny former Bayern man Hamit Altintop from the spot late on.

Having won the league in style with a resounding 6-0 thrashing of Wolfsburg last time out, Bayern had little to play for, though Juan Bernat's 18th-minute effort all-but ended Darmstadt's slim hopes of survival.

A rather disjointed Bayern performance was reflected by some wasteful finishing from Ancelotti's men, and their bluntness in front of goal looked set to be punished when Bernat fouled Sven Schipplock with five minutes remaining.It was Starke who proved to be the hero, though, his save finally confirming Darmstadt's relegation to the second tier.

Starke's counterpart Michael Esser was the busier of the two goalkeepers early on, the 29-year-old doing well to deny David Alaba and Rafinha respectively before Bernat put the hosts in control.

Esser had no chance as - after fine play from Franck Ribery - the former Valencia full-back prodded home from close range at the end of a slaloming run through Darmstadt's ramshackle defence.

Darmstadt had Esser to thank once again as Bayern threatened to run riot, Thomas Muller twice denied by two excellent stops from Darmstadt's goalkeeper.

Muller almost had an assist to his name with a neat lay-off into Douglas Costa's path, but the winger's venomous first-time effort was deflected inches wide of the left-hand upright.

Bayern's leading scorer Robert Lewandowski had his first opportunity moments after the restart, his diving header from Rafinha's cross glancing wide off the woodwork.

Starke was finally called into action just after the hour, the veteran getting down well to parry away Patrick Banggaard's goal-bound header.Substitute Schipplock thought he had levelled proceedings minutes later, only for the linesman's raised offside flag to cut short Darmstadt's celebrations.

Lewandowski had another opportunity to extend his lead at the top of the Bundesliga scoring chart soon after, but Esser was out quickly to deflect the Poland striker's header over.

Bernat's clumsy foul handed the visitors a lifeline in the closing stages, but Altintop could not apply the finish from 12 yards as Darmstadt's two-year stay in the Bundesliga came to an end.

 

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Leicester City 3 Watford 0: Centurion Mahrez on target as champions move into top half

Riyad Mahrez scored on his 100th Premier League appearance to help Leicester City to a comfortable 3-0 win over Watford that moved the champions into the top half of the table.

Despite a miserable start to the season, Leicester can still finish as high as eighth under Craig Sheakespeare – who replaced sacked title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri – and victory at the King Power Stadium leaves them ninth and also mathematically ensures they cannot be relegated.

Leicester went in front seven minutes before the break when Wilfred Ndidi lashed home his second goal since he joined the club for £17 million from Belgian side Genk in January.

Mahrez then doubled Leicester's advantage in the second half, while Marc Albrighton added a third in second-half injury time as the Foxes condemned the struggling Hornets to a fourth defeat in their last five games.

Walter Mazzarri's side had chances to score in either half, but Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel made a pair of vital saves before defensive errors allowed Ndidi and Mahrez easy opportunities to score.

With the win, Leicester move into ninth, although they face a tough task to stay there with matches against Manchester City and Tottenham to come in their last three games, while Watford are 14th but eight points above the drop and all but certain to stay up.

A poor throw by Kasper Schmeichel allowed Watford the chance to open the scoring after 12 minutes but Tom Cleverley wastefully side-footed the ball well wide of the target.Five minutes later, Mahrez rolled a precise free-kick into the box where Jamie Vardy's first-time shot was turned onto the post by Adrian Mariappa.

Leicester continued to have the better of the early chances and Christian Fuchs' cross from the left might have found the net via the head of Watford's Christian Kabasele had Heurelho Gomes not made a diving fingertip save.

Watford found more space in attack as the first half went on and Schmeichel made good saves from Stefano Okaka and Cleverley.But it was Ndidi that gave the Foxes the lead after 38 minutes.A short corner teed up Danny Drinkwater for a cross that Etienne Capoue should have cleared but he fumbled the ball to Ndidi, who lashed it high into the roof of the net.

Vardy broke clear four minutes into the second half when Shinji Okazaki picked him out with a throughball and the England striker hit a low drive that was well saved by Gomes low to his left.

Just as Watford started to get numbers forward in search of an equaliser, Mariappa failed to control a high ball and Mahrez pounced on the mistake, sprinting into the box before sliding the ball between Gomes' legs to make it 2-0.

Gomes kept the Hornets in the game eight minutes later when he saved Vardy's low shot after the striker was allowed to run into the box unchallenged, and there were more heroics from Schmeichel at the other end as he tipped Cleverley's dipping drive over the crossbar.

And there was time for a third for the hosts. Vardy was allowed a free run down the left flank in stoppage time and he squared to Albrighton, who rattled in a spectacular effort that was no less than Leicester deserved for a dominant performance.

 

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Hull City 0 Sunderland 2: Relegated Black Cats impact survival scrap

Though Sunderland's hopes of Premier League survival have evaporated, they had their say in the battle to beat the drop by securing a 2-0 win at Hull City on Saturday.

The Black Cats were relegated in defeat to Bournemouth last week, but they played with the renewed vigour often associated with teams put out of their misery as goals from Billy Jones and Jermain Defoe backed up Jordan Pickford's heroics to secure just a sixth win of the season for David Moyes' men.

Marco Silva had overseen six wins and a draw in seven matches at the KCOM Stadium as Tigers head coach, but the Portuguese's first home defeat since 2014 leaves Hull looking over their shoulder.

Kicking off before third-bottom Swansea City's fixture against Everton later in the day, Hull could have gone five points clear of the Welsh club, but a change in formation from Silva ultimately backfired.

Alfred N'Diaye wasted the hosts' most gilt-edged chance, while Pickford made superb stops to deny Sam Clucas, Lazar Markovic and Abel Hernandez. At the other end, Defoe wasted three excellent opportunities and passed 1000 minutes without a Premier League goal before a stoppage-time strike made the scoreline more emphatic for the Wearsiders.

In an odd twist of fate, the Tigers will now hope Sunderland can continue their winning run when they host Swansea next weekend with Hull visiting fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.

Silva's attacking intentions were laid bare as Hernandez made his 100th City appearance alongside Oumar Niasse in attack, but the visitors had the better of a cagey opening and George Honeyman headed wide when his run into the box went unchecked.

Clucas drew a plunging save from Pickford after Hernandez nodded down Kamil Grosicki's cross and Harry Maguire lashed wide from 25 yards a minute later, but the hosts could not maintain momentum as Sunderland's extra man in midfield forced Hull wide, where Grosicki and Markovic were full of endeavour but lacking end product.

Hernandez produced a fine individual moment eight minutes from the break, drifting past two defenders from the right flank, but the Uruguayan's singular approach let City down as he ignored Grosicki and Clucas in the area before curling beyond the far post.

Second-half surges have become something of a hallmark for Silva's City at the KCOM and the game burst into life right after the restart as Eldin Jakupovic denied Defoe one-on-one before former Sunderland midfielder N'Diaye somehow scuffed wide from three yards out after more electric work down the left by Grosicki.

Defoe blasted another chance wide and Markovic's header was repelled by a flying Pickford before John O'Shea's brave block denied Hernandez as a breakneck contest rattled on.

And Hull's wasted chances came back to haunt them as slack marking allowed O'Shea's flick-on from a Honeyman corner to find a stooping Jones and he headed home the opener.

The hosts immediately drove at the Sunderland backline but Pickford made a stunning reflex save from Hernandez's near-post shot and, as desperation sapped Hull's composure in the closing stages, Defoe stole in to convert Sebastian Larsson's free-kick and shatter Silva's air of home-field invincibility.

 

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Atletico Madrid 1 Eibar 0: Saul the saviour for Simeone

Saul Niguez all but secured a top-three LaLiga finish for Atletico Madrid in a 1-0 victory over Eibar on Saturday.

Following Tuesday's 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, focus switched back to ensuring automatic progression to next season's competition.

Leading fourth-placed Sevilla by two points heading into the penultimate league fixture to be staged at the Vicente Calderon, the hosts knew victory would leave Jorge Sampaoli's men praying for a miracle in their own bid to break into the top three following a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad on Friday.

And, after a poor first-half showing in which they failed to register a shot on target, Atleti did eventually make the breakthrough to clinch all three points, Saul making up for an earlier miss with an accomplished finish after 69 minutes.

Atleti, who had Diego Godin sent off for two quickfire yellow cards in the closing stages, now sit five points clear of Sevilla with only two games remaining for both clubs.
Takashi Inui tested Jan Oblak with an early attempt on goal, but a lack of composure in the final third saw Eibar unable to capitalise on their possession in the opening minutes.

Atleti soon settled and Koke drilled the hosts' first effort just wide of the left-hand post, after the ball had ricocheted out to him off the legs of defender Florian Lejeune.

Penalty appeals fell on deaf ears when Ivan Ramis handled the ball six yards from goal on the half-hour mark – intentional or not, the ball was heading into a dangerous area until Ramis' intervention.Ramis then slipped to allow Yannick Carrasco a free shot at goal, but the Belgian winger scooped his effort over the crossbar.

Saul then got in on the act by firing high and wide from a Thomas Partey pull-back, squandering another golden opportunity for Atleti to open the scoring.

Pedro Leon sent a left-footed effort whistling over early in the second half as Eibar started brightly, before Filipe Luis drew a save from Yoel Rodriguez with Atleti's first shot on target.The former Chelsea full-back – already booked – was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch after catching Sergi Enrich with a high boot.

Antoine Griezmann shot straight at Yoel with an hour on the clock as Atleti's urgency to break the deadlock grew, and it was Saul who eventually netted the decisive goal.A low cross from Godin on the left found Saul at the edge of the box, and the midfielder swept a wonderful effort into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Gonzalo Escalante's diving header was directed too close to Oblak as Eibar came close to an equaliser, but Atleti did enough to hold on to a victory that almost certainly spares them a European play-off, despite Godin's late dismissal.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 5 Bastia 0: Controversial Verratti strike sets up PSG rout

Paris Saint-Germain kept their faint hopes of a fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title alive with a 5-0 win over bottom club Bastia.Lucas Moura and Marco Verratti were on target within the space of three minutes after the half hour, although the Italy midfielder's long-range effort arrived in controversial circumstances.

Bastia goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca had been tending to the injured PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi and appeared to be obstructed by an offside Julian Draxler when Verratti let fly to effectively end the game as a contest.Edinson Cavani had two goals chalked off, and scored two either side of seeing a penalty saved that he won in a personally eventful second half.

Marquinhos netted in between Cavani's efforts and Unai Emery's men drew level on points with Monaco ahead of the leaders' trip to Nancy later on Saturday. Leonardo Jardim's side boast a further game in hand.

Nancy are a point and a place above Bastia in 19th and there were only three points separating the basement boys and 16th-place Lorient before the day's later games got underway.Thiago Silva headed narrowly wide a Lucas corner and the centre-back's countryman almost found a spectacular 20th-minute opener.

Lucas embarked upon a driving run towards a backpedalling Bastia defence and unleashed a rising effort from 25 yards that clipped the top of the post with Leca a spectator.

His 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season arrived in more routine fashion after 32 minutes as Draxler played Matuidi into the box to slot a pass across the face of goal for Lucas to tap in, but controversy reigned as PSG swiftly doubled their advantage.

The hosts had strong penalty shouts rejected when Abdelhamid El Kaoutari untidily challenged Matuidi. They scrambled the ball clear but the France midfielder stayed down inside the six-yard box.

As PSG took the subsequent throw-in, Leca tended to the prone Matuidi and returned to his goal just as Verratti rattled a brilliant, if opportunistic, strike into his top left corner.Draxler was standing in front of the keeper in an offside position for good measure but the goal stood.

Leca protested extensively to referee Francois Letexier and smashed the ball away in frustration to earn a booking but regained his composure enough to twice deny Verratti at close quarters before the interval.

Cavani twice thought he had his 46th goal of the season in all competitions but was correctly flagged offside when he converted Draxler's clever flick from Matuidi's cross, while the latter handled to set up the Uruguayan for a 72st-minute finish.

After those false alarms, Cavani did make it 32 in Ligue 1 this term – Draxler and substitute Goncalo Guedes combining to create a tap-in.He should have scored again having been unceremoniously hacked down by Alexander Djiku but Leca plunged right to save the penalty.

Leca could not bask in the acclaim for long as PSG's forgotten man Giovani Lo Celso skipped into the area and chipped delicately across goal for Marquinhos to finish.

January signing Lo Celso then rattled the bar with a venomous strike, hinting towards greater involvement next season on his second Ligue 1 appearance since joining from Rosario, while Cavani streamed clear of a flagging defence to emphatically have the final word a minute from time.

 

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Barcelona 4 Villarreal 1: MSN pass 100 for season in routine win

Barcelona kept the heat on Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga as their MSN frontline passed 100 goals for the season in a clinical 4-1 win over Villarreal.

Fran Escriba's men came into the game having conceded just 10 goals on their travels all season, fewer than any side in LaLiga.And fittingly, it was Barca's best that settled the contest as Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez each netted.

Cedric Bakambu had briefly caused concern with an equaliser that exposed the defensive flaws that have hampered Luis Enrique's men all season.

But the first of Messi's two strikes brought up a century of goals between himself, Suarez and Neymar - the Argentina star having scored 51 of them in another season of mesmerising brilliance after following up a first-half strike with a late penalty.

Playing before Madrid's trip to relegated Granada, Barca kept up their end of the bargain to go three points clear of their fierce rivals, but it is a fixture that ought not to hold fear for Zinedine's Zidane men - who also hold another game in hand over the Catalans.

Each of the goals indicated exactly what Barcelona will need in the run-in - Neymar's quick feet, Messi's dazzling dribbling and Suarez's brute power - and Luis Enrique's stony insistence that Barca will give their all to overhaul Madrid was boosted by an 11th home win in a row - their best sequence in LaLiga under his stewardship.

Villarreal refused to be drawn into Barcelona's trap early on and the hosts' sedate pace of play was summed up when Messi wafted a 20-yard free-kick into Andres Fernandez's arms, but they raised the tempo to take the lead a minute later.

Messi worked half a yard in the area and his deflected shot fell kindly for Neymar - perhaps inches offside - and the Brazilian smartly prodded home his 10th league goal of the season.

Bakambu was guilty of killing a Villarreal chance when his pass to Roberto Soldado was too heavy but the striker kept his cool shortly after when Barca's risky positioning on halfway was split by a single pass and the DR Congo international raced clear to finish.

Barca's attack had renewed sharpness after conceding and Messi dragged across the face of goal before skinning Roberto Soriano and crossing for Gerard Pique, who could only nod wide on the stretch, but Villarreal retained a threat on the break and Soldado headed a similar opening off-target.

But the hosts did take a lead into the interval with a goal typical of Messi, the Argentina captain skirting around Villarreal's defensive line before clipping a shot across Fernandez and in - aided by a deflection off Mario.

Messi saw a right-footed blast punched clear by Fernandez but he was powerless to keep out Suarez when the Uruguayan surged down the right channel and blasted a shot through the goalkeeper's grasp.

Cruising to victory, Barca put the cherry on top with a goal oozing with class as Neymar scooped the ball over Mario before crossing to Suarez, whose shot was handled by Jaume Costa and Messi delicately dinked a Panenka down the middle to cap a satisfying outing.

 

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Second place is Roma's Scudetto, Spalletti claims

The coup of hiring Monchi as sporting director demonstrates the extent of Roma's ambition, according to coach Luciano Spalletti, who claimed finishing second will be like winning the Scudetto.

Monchi has been appointed at Stadio Olimpico after ending his long association with Sevilla, a club the former goalkeeper transformed into a genuine LaLiga and European force during his 17 years behind the scenes.

Addressing the media ahead of a crunch Serie A showdown with AC Milan on Sunday, Spalletti praised Roma's chairman for snaring one of the game's most sought-after administrators.

"[James] Pallotta went to get the best, this makes his intentions clear," he said."What he [Monchi] said about us is pleasing, a clean vision that comes from the outside, not sullied by what people say around us. He looked around and said: 'It seems to me that, all told, Roma are doing a good job.'

"Clearly there are things we try to improve, but he expressed a positive opinion and that is how they see us from the outside. I am glad to work with Monchi, he's the best director out there."

Roma, second in the table, lost the derby 3-1 to Lazio last weekend and are now just one point ahead of third-placed Napoli, as the two clubs battle to secure automatic qualification to the Champions League group stage, behind runaway leader Juventus.

"Try asking... the seven or eight teams behind us whether finishing third is a failure," Spalletti said of the prospect of having to settle for a spot in play-offs."Juventus have made it clear that nobody can get near first place... we are fighting it out with Napoli, who many say are one of the strongest sides in Europe.

"They had this position last season, they are the reigning holders of second place. If we are threatening their spot, it means we have done well."We are not afraid to come up against Milan or Juventus, so that is what makes the difference. We reached this point with our own hard work.

"If we finish second, it'll be like winning the Scudetto. Finishing third means we've done a great job. We continue working to give Roma and its fans an international visibility. Third place is a noble position."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Final table will affect future of Arsenal target Tuchel, admits Watzke

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has underlined the importance of the club finishing at least third in the Bundesliga as he prepares to enter contract talks with head coach Thomas Tuchel.

Dortmund were fourth ahead of Saturday's crucial home game against third-placed Hoffenheim, after which Tuchel's side have just two more games to ensure they finish in the top three and qualify automatically for next season's Champions League.

Watzke said Tuchel's response to the attack on the team bus ahead of the first leg of Dortmund's Champions League quarter-final against Monaco would also figure in the discussions over an extension of his contract, which expires in June 2018."As always with talks, things are not only about the sporting aspect, but also about strategy, communication and trust," Watzke told reporters.

"The final table is like a testimony, and the score is certainly better if you are third, instead of fourth.

"I will also assess everything relating to the terrorist attack, of course, against the background of what we have discussed intimately with each other and what was possible."

Tuchel was critical of UEFA's decision to reschedule Dortmund's game against Monaco for the following day without consulting the club's management or playing staff, but Watzke said he didn't share the coach's view of the situation.
When asked whether there was a disagreement between the two men over the way the matter was handled, Watzke said: "That's the way it is, yes."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Guardiola: I hope Manchester United win Europa League!

Goodwill is normally in short supply across Manchester's footballing divide but City manager Pep Guardiola hopes his old foe Jose Mourinho wins the Europa League with United.

City strengthened their claim for a top-four spot in the Premier League with a 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday – goals from David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi sending them above Liverpool into third on goal difference.

United are four points further back in fifth ahead of their trip to sixth-placed Arsenal on Sunday, with Mourinho set to ring the changes as the match falls in the middle of his team's Europa League semi-final with Celta Vigo.

Marcus Rashford's free-kick ensured United returned from Vigo with a 1-0 advantage on Thursday and, although Guardiola might have understandably selfish reasons to want Mourinho's focus to lie elsewhere, he has talked up the benefits of the Premier League having its Champions League representation bolstered for next season."We have four teams fighting for two places," he told a post-match news conference.

"Hopefully United can focus on the Europa League and next season we shall see five English teams in Europe which would be amazing."If City can retain the form that brought the Eagles to earth they should not require any favours from other teams.

Guardiola has regularly complained of his team failing to take their chances over the course of seven draws at home this term and, after seeing a more clinical side to their work, he again wondered what might have been in a season where he will finish trophyless for the first time in his coaching career."Tottenham [in a 2-0 win at White Hart Lane last October] is the only team I can think of who created more chances than us [in a game]," he said.

"We are the best team in the league when it comes to creating chances - there is no competition."Our problem is finishing these chances - this is the most difficult thing in football. Against United [a 0-0 draw in City's previous home game] we created 19 chances - no goals."

Silva returned from a hamstring injury sustained during City's FA Cup semi-final defeat last month to open the scoring and turn in a virtuoso display, while De Bruyne took centre stage after the break with assists for centre-backs Kompany and Otamendi either side of a strike of this own.

"The teams with the top quality players don't lose the ball in the opposition area. David is one of these players," Guardiola added."He rarely loses the ball. Kevin was also excellent and he was unlucky hitting the post again - I think that’s his 10th this season."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Nancy 0 Monaco 3: Silva on target as Mbappe is rested

Monaco took a giant step towards the Ligue 1 title by beating relegation-threatened Nancy 3-0 at Stade Marcel Picot on Saturday.

Leonardo Jardim's league leaders are three points clear of Paris Saint-Germain with a game in hand and a far superior goal difference, meaning a victory in one of their remaining three games will all-but secure the club its first title in 17 years.

Nancy went into the game on a dreadful run of form and they went behind after just three minutes when Tobias Badila put the ball past his own goalkeeper and Bernardo Silva doubled Monaco's lead with a headed goal five minutes before half-time.

Thomas Lemar made it 3-0 in the 86th minute to complete the rout.Nancy were outclassed but could still save their season if coach Pablo Correa can guide them to victory in their next game against fellow strugglers Dijon, and get something from the visit of Saint-Etienne on the final day.

Monaco, meanwhile, have the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Juventus to navigate this week, but Jardim will be glad to have picked up three points while giving star striker Kylian Mbappe a much-needed rest.

Mbappe was among the substitutes as Monaco went on the attack from kick-off and they led after three minutes when Nabil Dirar's pass allowed Valere Germain to break down the right flank.

The striker's cross-cum-shot was turned into the net by Badila, whose attempted block sent the ball through the gap between goalkeeper Guy N'Dy Assembe and his near post.Badila had a chance to make amends from close range 10 minutes later but he failed to get a shot away before Danijel Subasic charged out to smother the ball.

Subasic impressed further after 18 minutes when Antony Robic volleyed towards goal from the edge of the box and the Monaco goalkeeper made a good diving save, before Youssouf Hadji fired the rebound over the crossbar.

Monaco defender Jemerson made a last-ditch tackle to deny Faitout Maouassa a chance from close range after 38 minutes before the Brazilian had a hand in the second goal two minutes later.

After Jemerson headed Amine Bassi's long ball clear of danger, Fabinho's subsequent pass allowed Lemar the chance to burst clear of the Nancy defence and his cross was headed into the net at the far post by Silva.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Granada 0 Real Madrid 4: James and Morata at the double as Madrid ease to win

James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata scored two apiece as Real Madrid stayed on track to be LaLiga champions with a 4-0 win at relegated Granada.James' brace came inside the first 11 minutes, with Zinedine Zidane's men barely breaking sweat against wholly overmatched opponents.

Morata's double was also the fruit of a quickfire effort after the half-hour, from which point Madrid were able to take their foot off the gas with far more testing assignments ahead.

Atletico are up next in midweek, with the European champions' 3-0 advantage from the first leg of the all-Madrid Champions League semi-final likely to be ample insurance.

Madrid remain behind Barcelona in LaLiga by virtue of an inferior head-to-head record, but have a game in hand, meaning matches at home to Sevilla and away at Celta Vigo – both teams who have beaten Zidane's men this season – are likely to be pivotal to the outcome of the title race.

Barcelona were 4-1 winners against Villarreal earlier on Saturday and their rivals went ahead within three minutes at Nuevo Los Carmenes, picking the hosts apart with inevitable ease.

Morata threaded a pass through an inviting gap on the left-hand side of the Granada backline and Lucas Vazquez charged into the box.Lucas fired across goal and James wheeled away in celebration, although the decisive touch arguably came off Granada centre-back Sverrir Ingason.

There were no doubts over James' claims to Madrid's second eight minutes later.
Vazquez overhit a cross but Fabio Coentrao was allowed to retrieve the ball on the left and send it back towards the area, where the Colombia playmaker was given similarly ample room to head home.

The dire start persuaded Granada boss Tony Adams to make a tactical switch in the 18th minute, with defensive midfielder Uche replacing winger and fellow Watford loanee Aly Malle.

That stemmed the tide to an extend but Morata got himself on the scoresheet with half an hour played, crashing in via the underside of the crossbar after full-back Danilo streamed clear down the right flank.

It was two in five minutes for the Spain striker – Marco Asensio sauntering towards the Granada area to find his team-mate in the box, where Morata twisted Martin Hongla to distraction before blasting past Guillermo Ochoa.

Lucas cut in from the right to fire against the top of the crossbar in the 42nd minute and forced a one-on-one stop from Ochoa, with Casemiro lifting the rebound over.

Despite that relative damage limitation, Granada departed to predictable boos at the interval.Adams sent out his players with relatively renewed purpose after the break, Lucas firing into the side netting as his quest for a goal continued.

Karim Benzema was introduced in place of Asensio before the hour and he almost scored on the end of Vazquez's return pass in the 61st minute, with Danilo drilling the rebound against the base of the post.

Madrid captain Sergio Ramos was denied by Guillermo from a James corner and prodded wide at the near post in the 66th minute after Lucas again shot goalwards in vain.

Martin Hongla blazed over 10 minutes from time and on-loan Borussia Dortmund forward Adrian Ramos forced Kiko Casilla into a rare save at his near post as Granada sought consolation on a night in keeping with a shambolic season on and off the field.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus 1 Torino 1: Last-gasp Higuain strike cancels out Ljajic stunner

Gonzalo Higuain's 92nd-minute strike dealt a cruel blow to 10-man Torino as Juventus claimed a 1-1 draw in a thrilling Derby della Mole in Serie A.

In a frantic encounter at Juventus Stadium, Adem Ljajic's exquisite free-kick had looked set to seal a first away league victory for Torino - who also had head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic sent to the stands - against Juventus since April 1995.

However, a moment of brilliance from substitute Higuain - whose double against Monaco last time out put Juve in pole position to reach the Champions League final - salvaged a point to nudge Massimiliano Allegri's side closer to retaining the title.

Paulo Dybala, Medhi Benatia and Mario Mandzukic were all guilty of wasting golden opportunities as Juve dominated prior to Ljajic's opener, though Afriyie Acquah's harsh dismissal 57 minutes in looked set to scupper Torino's chances.

Torino fought valiantly, though, and it was not until Higuain spun his marker to unleash a venomous drive past Joe Hart that their hopes were shattered.

The draw ensures that Juve, who lead second-placed Napoli by eight points, extend their remarkable unbeaten home run in Serie A to 34 matches and moves them a step closer to a sixth straight Scudetto crown.

A much-changed Juve started brightly, with Dybala's brilliant set-pieces causing havoc for Torino's defence.Indeed, it was from a corner that Juve went close to opening the scoring as Benatia headed Dybala's wicked delivery against the woodwork - Leonardo Bonucci unable to convert on the rebound.

Restored to a more familiar central role in place of Higuain, Mandzukic was the next to go close, the Croatia striker unable to direct Juan Cuadrado's terrific cross on target.

For all Juve's dominance, Hart was not truly tested until just prior to half-time, the Manchester City loanee charging out to deny Dybala after the Argentine had combined excellently with Mandzukic.Despite Juve's attacking prowess, though, Allegri's side found themselves behind seven minutes into the second half.

Iago Falque drew a clumsy foul from Kwadwo Asamoah 25 yards out and Ljajic made Juve pay with a sublime free-kick that nestled into the top-left corner, leaving stand-in goalkeeper Neto stranded to the spot.

Mandzukic looked set to restore parity almost immediately, only for the former Atletico Madrid man to skew his effort wide after getting one-on-one with Hart.

Juve were handed a lifeline minutes later though, Acquah picking up a second yellow card for what seemed a perfectly timed challenge on Mandzukic - with Torino boss Mihajlovic also receiving his marching orders for his reaction to the decision.Allegri's side quickly looked to make their numerical advantage count, but both Tomas Rincon and Sami Khedira failed to hit the target from gilt-edged chances.

Juve's persistence finally paid dividends in stoppage time though, Higuain engineering space for himself on the edge of the area with a clever turn before drilling a blistering strike into the bottom-left corner to earn Allegri's side a share of the spoils