..::Football IV::..

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Juventus 3 Crotone 0: Bianconeri make it six in a row

Juventus wrapped up a domestic double after clinching their sixth successive Serie A title with a 3-0 thrashing of Crotone on Sunday.

Juve's 3-1 defeat at Roma last weekend and Crotone's excellent recent form suggested it may be a tricky afternoon for Massimiliano Allegri's men, but it turned into a stroll in the Turin sunshine for the Bianconeri.

Mario Mandzukic celebrated his 31st birthday by putting Juve in front and a stunning free-kick from Paulo Dybala made it 2-0 at the break. Alex Sandro capped a wonderful afternoon with a late third.

While Juve can now turn their focus towards the Champions League final against Real Madrid on June 3, Crotone will go into the final weekend with their Serie A status still uncertain.

Davide Nicola's men - unbeaten in seven prior to today - host Lazio next weekend but will start matchday 38 a point adrift of fourth-bottom Empoli.Victories against Pescara and Udinese in their last two outings had given the Calabrian club renewed hope, but there was never any realistic chance of them stunning the champions, who bossed proceedings from the outset.

Miralem Pjanic fired a 25-yard free-kick over the top after seven minutes before the party atmosphere moved up a notch when Mandzukic put the home side in front five minutes later.

Juan Cuadrado found space down the right and his teasing cross eluded Gonzalo Higuain but not Mandzukic, who got across his marker Aleandro Rosi and fired high into the net.

Crotone offered fleeting glimpses of attacking threat with Juve dominating the ball and only stout defending from the visitors prevented Higuain from doubling the hosts' advantage on two occasions.The pressure eventually told six minutes before the break as Dybala curled home a wonderful, left-footed free-kick for his 10th Serie A goal of another hugely impressive season.

Crotone's best chance came in first-half injury time as Diego Falcinelli's shot struck the back of Leonardo Bonucci and flew inches wide of Gianluigi Buffon's right-hand post with the Italy goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

The second half was quiet in comparison with Juve content to sit on their lead and Crotone lacking the ambition or ability to threaten a comeback.Cuadrado tested Alex Cordaz at his near post after 46 minutes, while Dybala had an effort correctly ruled out for offside 10 minutes later.

Pjanic fired high and wide when well placed as Juve hunted a third goal that duly arrived with seven minutes to go, Alex Sandro's powerful header hitting the crossbar with goal-line technology confirming the ball had crossed the line.

Mandzukic almost added a spectacular fourth late on before the party got into full swing at the final whistle.

 

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Congratulations Juventus!

Serie A Champions 2016/17​

 

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AC Milan 3 Bologna 0: Deulofeu, Honda and late Lapadula goals clinch Europa League spot

AC Milan beat Bologna 3-0 at San Siro on Sunday to clinch sixth place in Serie A and Europa League football for next season.

Goals from Gerard Deulofeu, Keisuke Honda and Gianluca Lapadula secured victory for Milan, who are back in Europe after spending this season without continental commitments.

Vincenzo Montella insisted ahead of the match that Europa League qualification was Milan's main goal this term and the team celebrated joyously at the final whistle, hoisting their coach in the air in a scene usually reserved for title winners.
The Rossoneri were in charge right from the off, but initially struggled somewhat going forward as Lapadula wasted a number of chances.

It eventually mattered little, though, as Deulofeu and Honda made the difference after the break, before Lapadula bundled home in stoppage time after 90 minutes of toil.

The striker was never far away from the action, but it had not looked like being his day for large parts and he ought to have opened the scoring when the ball somewhat fortunately fell to his feet after an attack involving Deulofeu and Carlos Bacca, but the Italian attacker somehow fired wide from 10 yards out.

Lapadula continued to cause the Bologna trouble with clever runs in behind and he got another chance to break the deadlock at the half-hour mark, blasting a shot over the crossbar after being set up by Leonel Vangioni.

The home side remained well on top after the break and Alessio Romagnoli was next to try his luck as Milan went in search of the opener, firing a powerful shot high and wide.

Montella introduced Honda for Bacca in an attempt to add some more creativity to his midfield and the Japan international nearly rewarded his coach, forcing goalkeeper Antonio Mirante into a low save.

Lapadula thought he had handed Milan the lead at last when he poked a shot past Mirante in the 67th minute, but the striker rightly saw his goal disallowed for offside.

Milan would go a goal up after all in the 69th minute, though, as Deulofeu found the net with a superb finish, guiding a half-volley into the net after a clever ball over the top from Fernandez.The home side did not give their opponents any time to recover and Honda made it two just minutes later, curling a fantastic free kick past Mirante.


An Lapadula had the final say well into additional time, slamming home from close range to begin the party at a sparsely populated San Siro.

 

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Liverpool 3 Middlesbrough 0: Reds rout seals Champions League return

Liverpool secured a Champions League return with a 3-0 final-day win over already relegated Middlesbrough to claim fourth place in the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp's side will regain a seat at Europe's top table – albeit initially in the qualifying play-off round – after sitting out the competition this season, Sunday's ultimately convincing triumph ensuring Arsenal's result against Everton proved immaterial in the race for a top-four spot.

The Reds' only two home league losses this term came against lowly Swansea City and Crystal Palace, but despite Boro frustrating them for most of the first half, the north-east side succumbed to Georginio Wijnaldum's thunderbolt on the brink of half-time.

Philippe Coutinho curled home a superb set-piece strike early in the second half to give Liverpool breathing space that was increased by Adam Lallana against a visiting side who are now winless in 22 top-flight trips to Anfield.

With an instant return to the Championship already assured, Steve Agnew's men offered little in response to Liverpool's onslaught as their dismal campaign concluded with a league-low five wins to their name.

Knowing victory would guarantee only their second top-four finish in eight seasons, Liverpool – winless in their previous three home league games – started brightly and the returning Roberto Firmino tested Brad Guzan's handling with an early drive.Calum Chambers had to be alert to clear Coutinho's cross with Daniel Sturridge lurking, as the England striker made his first start at Anfield since September.

Nathaniel Clyne blasted wide from 12 yards and news filtered through soon after that the Gunners were ahead, putting Liverpool down to fifth and adding to the tension among the expectant crowd.

Still Klopp's side continued to press, with Emre Can shooting narrowly over the target from 20 yards, but Boro had strong shouts for a penalty waved away in the 21st minute when Patrick Bamford took a tumble under pressure from Dejan Lovren.

Despite dominating possession, the home side had failed to truly threaten Guzan – making his last Boro appearance before departing for Atlanta United – until Wijnaldum made the breakthrough a minute into first-half stoppage time.

Clyne picked out Firmino who in turn expertly laid the ball into the Dutchman's path and he composed himself before blasting beyond Guzan at his near post, sparking wild celebrations from Klopp that were mirrored in the stands.

Liverpool secured a two-goal cushion just six minutes into the second half, Coutinho firing in his 13th Premier League goal of the season with a fine 20-yard free-kick.And from there it was a stroll for the Merseysiders, who capped a swift counter-attack with Lallana's close-range finish to dismiss any notion of a last-day collapse.

The sense that Liverpool's work was done became evident in the lack of urgency that characterised the final 20 minutes, the most notable moment of that spell being the substitution of Sturridge for what could yet prove his final Reds outing.

Whatever his future holds, a Champions League campaign will provide fresh challenges for Klopp, whose team finished 17 points adrift of champions Chelsea, despite adding 16 to the tally they managed last season.

 

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Watford 0 Manchester City 5: Aguero at the double for five-star City

Manchester City emphatically made sure of their place in the group stages of the Champions League next season by thrashing Watford 5-0 at Vicarage Road.

Pep Guardiola's side made the most of an abject showing from their hosts, with the home crowd making it clear that departing head coach Walter Mazzarri will not be missed.

City's grip on third place ahead of Liverpool was rarely in doubt after captain Vincent Kompany headed a fifth-minute opener and Sergio Aguero's first-half brace took him to 33 goals in all competitions this term.

The goalscoring emphasis then shifted from Argentina to Brazil, with Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus – the latter making it seven goals in eight Premier League starts – completing the scoring.It meant City answered their manager's call to be more clinical in front of goal as he contemplates the first campaign of his coaching career without a major honour.

A lapse from Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes almost handed City an opener inside the opening minute but a heavy touch from Aguero let him off the hook before Jesus' header was cleared off the line by Jose Holebas.The hosts’ early charity saw them punished though when Kompany was allowed ample room to plant a header beyond Gomes from Kevin De Bruyne's corner.

Aguero was then denied by a fine reaction save from Gomes and wildly lashed a volley over on the rebound but netted his 32nd goal of the season midway through the first half.

Not for the first time, Watford were exposed on the break and De Bruyne threaded through a measured pass for the striker to clip a finish into the bottom left corner.

City produced a goal to delight their manager in the 36th minute – the move starting with goalkeeper Willy Caballero before, several passes later, David Silva released Leroy Sane down the Watford right to lay on a left-footed finish for Aguero.Daryl Janmaat lunged in vain to try to halt Sane by any means necessary and succeeded only in injuring himself.

It meant the dubious pleasure of a debut for 19-year-old defender Andrew Eleftheriou against rampant opponents, who were 4-0 up at the interval when Fernandinho bustled his way on to a return pass from Jesus to prod home.

Watford made a better fist of things early in the second period as Caballero needed a strong wrist to repel a rasping strike from Stefano Okaka before M'Baye Niang blasted into the side netting.

The home fans chanting "off, off, off" when a complaining Mazzarri was given a dressing down by referee Jon Moss did little for the departing head coach's mood before Aguero passed up a gilt-edged chance for his hat-trick on the end of another Sane cross.

City's top scorer turned provider in the 58th minute, with Jesus controlling a bouncing ball, shrugging off Tom Cleverley and lifting a finish beyond Gomes and Eleftheriou's attempts to clear on the goalline.

Gomes was not ready to hoist the white flag as he twice denied Aguero the matchball before the Argentinian concluded his most prolific season in City colours by making way for Kelechi Iheanacho.

By that stage, Jesus Navas and Bacary Sagna had joined the similarly out-of-contract Caballero and Gael Clichy on the field for City, Yaya Toure having departed with an embrace from his manager.

Guardiola's side could look somewhat different come August but he will hope to retain such attacking verve when they aim to banish the memory of trophyless season.

 

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Arsenal 3 Everton 1: Gunners miss out on top four with Sanchez an FA Cup final doubt

Arsenal's 3-1 win over Everton was not enough to secure Champions League qualification and, to make matters worse, Arsene Wenger faces a potential selection crisis ahead of the FA Cup final.

Alexis Sanchez, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel could all miss Saturday's Wembley clash with Premier League champions Chelsea following a desperately disappointing day for the Gunners at Emirates Stadium, despite their victory.

Following Hector Bellerin's early opener, Koscielny was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge on Enner Valencia and, after Sanchez had doubled the lead, Gabriel was taken off on a stretcher with a left knee injury after an awkward fall.
Sanchez then hobbled off midway through the second half, in what may yet prove a further blow to Arsenal's hopes of salvaging something from their season.

Aaron Ramsey's superb 91st-minute strike at least enabled Wenger's men to finish their league campaign on a stylish note, after Romelu Lukaku had halved Everton's two-goal deficit with a penalty - the Belgian's 25th Premier League strike of the season.

However, after taking their place at European club football's top table in each of the past 19 seasons, Arsenal end 2016-17 in fifth after Liverpool overcame Middlesbrough 3-0 to seal the all-important fourth place. Everton finish seventh in Ronald Koeman's first campaign in charge.

Arsenal were hanging on prior to their third goal, but began the match brightly and were ahead as Mesut Ozil combined with Ramsey and found space on the left byline, where he squared for Danny Welbeck.

The striker somehow contrived to send the ball away from goal from three yards, but his blushes were spared as it fell perfectly for Bellerin to rifle home into the unguarded net.The Gunners suffered a setback just six minutes later, though, with Koscielny dismissed for his reckless challenge as Valencia raced away down the right.

Koeman introduced Ross Barkley in place of Tom Davies to exploit the extra space available, but within two minutes Arsenal doubled their advantage with another touch of fortune.

Sanchez's shot from outside the box struck Welbeck and, as the Everton defence appeared to stop, the forward had time to tee up Sanchez to tap home with Joel Robles stranded.

Everton looked more dangerous as the interval approached - four players going close in a mad scramble in the 38th minute before Petr Cech made an excellent save to keep out Lukaku's header.

The Belgian sent a weak header straight at Cech soon after the resumption, before Robles excelled with a double save to deny Welbeck and Ozil.Gabriel then departed on a stretcher to deepen Arsenal's defensive crisis, Per Mertesacker entering the fray for his first action of the season. His first start could well come against Chelsea at Wembley in six days.

Arsenal felt the numbers should have been evened up when Ashley Williams - already booked - escaped a second yellow for a trip on Welbeck and Everton were soon back in it when Rob Holding inexplicably handled Leighton Baines' harmless cross and Lukaku clinically converted the resulting penalty.

Robles denied Ozil and substitute Alex Iwobi but he could do nothing about Ramsey's sublime curling effort in stoppage time as a troubling day for Wenger at least ended on a positive note.

 

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Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 0: Dream debut for Harrop as Mourinho's men triumph

Josh Harrop scored on his debut as the youngest Manchester United side in the club's Premier League history defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 at Old Trafford.

Three days before the Europa League final against Ajax, Jose Mourinho made nine changes on his 250th game as a manager in England's top flight, with Demetri Mitchell, Harrop and substitute Angel Gomes given United debuts.And United impressed in a first-half performance that proved enough to secure a comfortable victory prior to their season-defining trip to Stockholm.

Harrop relished opening the scoring with a fine finish after being set up by Paul Pogba, who then quickly doubled United's lead on his return from compassionate leave following the death of his father.

Pogba and Jesse Lingard were both substituted before half-time as Mourinho took no chances ahead of an Ajax match that could give them a second major trophy of the season and seal a place in next season's Champions League.

Palace edged a quiet second half, Christian Benteke hitting the post with a header as they failed to find a way back into the game. The hosts finish the season sixth in the table on 69 points, while Palace drop to 14th on 41.

United created the first chance when debutant Mitchell floated a pass into Wayne Rooney's path and the captain's chip over Wayne Hennessey only just cleared the crossbar.But the hosts did not have to wait long for an opener, Harrop enjoying a moment he will never forget after just 15 minutes.

It was Pogba's throughball that created the opportunity, but Harrop still had plenty to do before cutting inside past Martin Kelly and unleashing a fine finish into the far corner, the Old Trafford crowd erupting in celebration.

And it was two for United within four minutes, a fast counterattack capped when Lingard's pass found its way to Pogba after a mistake from Joel Ward, allowing the France international to fire a low left-footed finish beyond Hennessey.

Benteke failed to connect with corner from close range with Joel Pereira stuck to his line at the other end as Palace went into the break two goals behind, Mourinho having made two changes prior to the half-time whistle with Pogba and Lingard replaced by Michael Carrick and Anthony Martial.

Eric Bailly, already suspended for the Europa League final, limped off with an injury for United early in the second half, having landed awkwardly after an aerial challenge with Benteke.

Benteke came close to getting a goal back for Palace when he thundered a header off the post from Wilfried Zaha's left-wing cross And Luka Milivojevic then had a free-kick saved by a stretching Pereira on his Premier League debut as United held on to a clean sheet.

Rooney received a generous ovation from the United support as he came off in the closing minutes on what could be his final appearance at Old Trafford, 16-year-old prospect Gomes coming on in his place to round off a positive day for Mourinho's men.

 

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Chelsea 5 Sunderland 1: Terry bids emotional farewell as champions cruise

John Terry bid an emotional farewell to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, the Chelsea captain substituted on 26 minutes in his final appearance at the stadium as they capped off a title-winning Premier League campaign with a 5-1 win over relegated Sunderland.

The curtain on Terry's Chelsea career will come down at next weekend's FA Cup final with Arsenal, and his send-off in his last game at the London club's home received top billing, the action on the pitch reduced to the role of an eventful sideshow.

After Chelsea called for his withdrawal on minute 26 - the number he wears on his shirt - Terry was embraced by his team-mates in the middle of the field, taking in a standing ovation from the crowd and receiving a guard of honour as he left the field.

A Sunderland opener will not have been in the script for Chelsea's final-day party, but Javier Manquillo's third-minute effort will be remembered as little more than a footnote after Chelsea fought back to win comfortably against the league's bottom club.

Willian equalised in the eighth minute and, after Chelsea spurned a host of chances to make it 2-1, Eden Hazard finally did so with a fine finish in the 61st minute.

The Wearsiders had performed relatively well, but a piece of abysmal defending from Joleon Lescott allowed Pedro to add gloss to the scoreline, the former Barcelona man then turning provider for Michy Batshuayi for the first of the substitute's late double as the champions ended the season on 93 points.

Sunderland fans will be pleased to see the back of a tortuous campaign, but they were given something to celebrate in the third minute when Manquillo lashed in after Sebastian Larsson had seen his free-kick blocked.However, Sunderland's surprise lead lasted just five minutes, with another free-kick eventually leading to Chelsea's leveller.

Marcos Alonso's set-piece aim was markedly better than that of Larsson and, though he was denied by the crossbar, the visitors failed to clear their lines and Willian fired in at the near post.

Chelsea would have completed a quick turnaround had Hazard been able to make contact with Diego Costa's pull back with the goal at his mercy.Alonso had an effort parried by Jordan Pickford before Costa fired wide after being picked out by David Luiz as Chelsea's onslaught continued.

An entertaining game then gave way to Terry's early exit, the long-time skipper visibly emotional as he left the field to be replaced by Gary Cahill.Willian continued to have a heavy influence on proceedings once the contest resumed, his curling effort deflected narrowly wide by Billy Jones.

For all Chelsea's dominance and the focus on Terry, Sunderland did carry a threat to spoil the party and only a lack of direction on a close-range John O'Shea effort prevented them from retaking the lead.

Jack Rodwell's header six minutes after the restart had Thibaut Courtois scrambling to preserve parity, yet it was Pickford who was the far busier goalkeeper and he would have been picking the ball out of the net if David Luiz had been able to get a touch on Victor Moses' fizzed cross.

Chelsea did complete the comeback in fine style just after the hour through Hazard, who collected a lay off from Costa and arrowed a strike across goal and into the bottom-right corner to cap a fast counter-attack.

Pedro had a more simple task to make it 3-1, Lescott heading a long ball forward over the head of Pickford and into the path of the Spaniard to nod in before he played in Batshuayi to slide in a fourth.

Batshuayi scored the goal that clinched the title at West Brom and it was he who had the final say by cutting in from the right to power an impressive finish into the bottom-left corner.

 

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Chelsea break Premier League record for wins in a season

With the Premier League title already in hand, Chelsea could have taken it easy in the final week of the season.

Instead, the Blues went for a little bit of history, securing their 30th win of the season thanks to a 5-1 rout of cellar dwellars Sunderland on Sunday. The victory set a new record for most wins by a club in a single Premier League campaign, which should satisfy manager Antonio Conte's plea earlier this week that his players not relax despite having already secured the title.

With the victory, Chelsea become the third team in top-flight history to win 30 or more games in a season, and the first since Liverpool did so in the pre-Premier League era in May 1979.

 

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Arsenal miss out on Champions League spot for first time in 21 years

Arsenal have failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since Arsene Wenger took over as manager in 1996.

The Gunners beat Everton 3-1 on the final day of the Premier League season at Emirates Stadium, despite having captain Laurent Koscielny sent off, but it was not enough to lift them into the top four.

Manchester City's 5-0 win at Watford and Liverpool's 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough ensured they claimed the final two Champions League spots, behind champions Chelsea and second-place Tottenham.

Next season will be Arsenal's first outside Europe's top competition since 1996-97, which was Wenger's first in English football, and they must instead take part in the Europa League.
Protests against Wenger are likely to increase following the disappointment, with a number of fans having called on the 67-year-old not to be given a contract extension following frustrating results this term.Wenger said he will make an announcement on his future following the FA Cup final on May 27.

 

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Manchester United teenager Angel Gomes creates Premier League history as first player born in 2000

Manchester United teenager Angel Gomes made Premier League history on the last day of the season, becoming the first Premier League player to be born in the 2000s.The 16-year-old replaced Wayne Rooney with two minutes left in United's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace to enter his name in the record books.

Gomes follows up his selection in the NxGn list of the world's best young players by making his Red Devils debut, and was also given the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award at the club - the youngest ever recipient of the trophy.

The teenager has captained England at both Under-16 and Under-17 level, and joined United at age 13 after growing up in Salford. His father is Portuguese and is related to former Manchester United attacker Nani.
United academy coach Nicky Butt has expressed his appreciation of the 16-year-old, claiming he stands out even in a talent group of young Red Devils."It's ridiculous," Butt told the club's official website last year. "I look at the kids and they're miles better than I was at their age - technically."We've got some unbelievable players. Angel Gomes is a young talented player we've massive hopes for."

 

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Mourinho seals winning record on 250th Premier League game

Jose Mourinho has won more matches than any other manager to reach 250 Premier League games after Manchester United's success over Crystal Palace took his tally of victories to 158.

United boss Mourinho reached the milestone of games in England's top flight on Sunday and his side marked the occasion by recording a 2-0 win over Palace at Old Trafford.

A total of 22 managers have reached 250 games in the Premier League and the former Chelsea boss has more victories than anyone else.

Of the others, former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is second in the list. He won 152 of his first 250 Premier League games, six fewer than Mourinho.Sunday's match saw goals from debutant Josh Harrop and Paul Pogba give a much-changed United side victory three days before their Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm.

The team picked by Mourinho was the youngest United side in their Premier League history, while he also gave a late debut to Angel Gomes, who became the first player born in 2000 to play in the top flight.

Mourinho was able to relax after reaching the milestone, coping with relatively few inquiries from the press. He only spoke to MUTV for 17 seconds, saying: "Don't ask me too many things because now I am in the final. "Let me go home – I am in the final now. I know [my team], but let me go – I am in the final now!" He also appeared for his post-match media conference during the players' lap of honour when most journalists were still outside, promptly walking out when he did not receive any questions.

 

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Leicester City 1 Bournemouth 1: Vardy ensures Foxes end champions season with a draw

Leicester City's season as Premier League champions went out in nostalgic fashion as Jamie Vardy got the goal to seal a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.

In a match that had all the hallmarks of a typical end-of-season affair amid bright skies at the King Power Stadium it was the visitors that went in front inside the first minute.Junior Stanislas was the beneficiary of some slack Leicester defending to slot home a third goal in as many games.

The home fans may have feared a repeat of the midweek 6-1 capitulation against Tottenham when Kasper Schmeichel had to brilliantly claw away Dan Gosling's fierce strike. But Vardy, whose 13 league goals pale in comparison the crucial 24 he netted last season, scored a scrappy second-half leveller to earn a draw.

Vardy saw another goal ruled out for offside and Islam Slimani missed a gilt-edged chance late on, but a 12th-place finish will be a huge relief to Leicester in a season that for long periods had threatened to end in relegation, although it represents the worst defence to a Premier League title.

For Bournemouth, Eddie Howe and his team can reflect on a job well done after ensuring a top-half finish in just their second season in the top flight, pipping West Brom for ninth.

Among a clutch of clubs who chased eighth into the final day, ultimately topped by Southampton, Bournemouth struck first, taking less than a minute to find the opener.

Lys Mousset made a nuisance of himself down the left and from there a combination of shoddy Leicester defending and lucky bounces left Stanislas with a simple eight-yard finish under Schmeichel.

On several occasions the visitors had chances to double their lead, but lacked composure in the final third, although Gosling was unlucky that his 20-yard thunderbolt was denied by a brilliant one-handed Schmeichel save.

Leicester finished the opening half strongly, though, and Yohan Benalouane saw a close-range effort deflected wide, while great defending by Steve Cook and Charlie Daniels denied Riyad Mahrez and Vardy respectively.And the Foxes were level six minutes after the restart.

Ben Chilwell's deep cross from the left was headed back across goal by Slimani and Vardy was on hand to bundle home.

The England striker thought he had scored again on the hour. Vardy showed great spirit to hold off two challenges and find Slimani, before receiving the ball back and slotting into the goal - only to be harshly adjudged offside.Vardy was now a constant menace and, after being slipped in by Mahrez, forced a fingertip save from Ryan Allsop.

Bournemouth's third-choice goalkeeper made another decent stop to tip Vardy's reaction header over the top as Leicester pressed for a winner.

It was Slimani that squandered the best chance in the closing stages, though, the Algeria international heading wide unmarked from Mahrez's teasing free-kick.

 

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Atletico Madrid 3 Athletic Bilbao 1: Torres at the double in Vicente Calderon farewell

Fernando Torres scored twice in the opening 11 minutes to help Atletico Madrid to a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in their last LaLiga match at the Vicente Calderon.

Antoine Griezmann set up Torres for an eighth-minute opener with a clever header, before Koke was on hand three minutes later to tee up the experienced striker's second.Inaki Williams found the net after the break but it was not enough to unsettle the home side, who pulled further clear a minute from time through Angel Correa.

It was always going to be an emotional afternoon for Atletico and their fans as they said farewell to the Calderon, with the Rojiblancos moving to their brand new Wanda Metropolitano home ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

Atletico were determined to end their time at the famous ground on a high and club icon Torres ensured they did just that with two well-taken goals, while Correa's effort made sure of the win.

Sunday's defeat could prove costly for Athletic Bilbao in the race for Europa League football, with Ernesto Valverde's men dropping to seventh place in the table and now reliant on the outcome of the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Alaves.

Atletico made a fine start to the game and drew first blood when Torres found the net after just eight minutes, the former Liverpool and Chelsea attacker tucking home from six yards to open the scoring following some good work from Griezmann.

Diego Simeone's men did not give their opponents any time to breathe after the early opener and Torres struck again in the 11th minute, doing well to lift the ball over goalkeeper Kepa after a headed assist from Koke.

The visitors nearly pulled one back early in the second half when Aymeric Laporte beat his marker in the air after Benat Etxebarria's cross, Jan Oblak only just able to push the ball over the crossbar.

Torres came close to making it three when he rounded the goalkeeper after a ball over the top from Saul Niguez, only to see his attempt blocked on the line, with Griezmann's goal from the rebound chalked off for offside.

The Basque side refused to give up and Williams did reduce the deficit with 20 minutes left on the clock, beating Oblak with a low shot that took a deflection off Stefan Savic.

There would not be an equaliser, though, as substitute Correa – on for the departing Tiago - restored Atletico's two-goal lead in the dying minutes, firing home the rebound after Griezmann struck the post.

 

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Harry Kane wins Premier League Golden Boot

Harry Kane has won the Premier League Golden Boot for the second time, having netted 29 goals for Tottenham this season.

Kane, 23, overtook Everton’s Romelu Lukaku in the final week of the campaign thanks to a spectacular four-strike haul against Leicester in midweek and became the first player since Manchester United attacker Robin van Persie in 2012-13 to retain the prize.

The Tottenham attacker’s form has been particularly deadly since the turn of the year, as he has scored 21 times in just 17 appearances, including four hat-tricks.

The England international's final treble of the campaign arrived on the last day when he fired home a hat-trick in Spurs' 7-1 thrashing of Hull City to ensure he beat Lukaku by four goals in the race for the Golden Boot.
Only six players had previously claimed the award more than once since the inception of the Premier League in 1992-93 and, in doing so, Kane is following in the footsteps of Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Van Persie.

Despite the forward’s efforts, which were complicated by two spells out with ankle problems, forcing him to miss eight fixtures, Tottenham could only finish runners-up in the Premier League behind Chelsea.

 

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Courtois wins Premier League Golden Glove award

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been confirmed as the winner of the Premier League Golden Glove award.

The Belgium international has kept 16 clean sheets in the top-flight as the Blues romped to the their second title in three seasons.

Former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper Courtois beat off stiff competition from Tottenham's Hugo Lloris, who finished with 15 clean sheets.

Manchester United's David de Gea, Southampton's Fraser Forster and Arsenal's Petr Cech round out the top five.
Despite Antonio Conte's side going on a run of 11 matches without a shutout during the second half of the campaign, Courtois's superb form in the earlier part of the season has seen him secure the award.

He has also benefited from a setttled defence in front of him, with Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill all excelling under Conte's tutelage.

 

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De Bruyne finishes with most Premier League assists

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has finished the season with the most assists in the Premier League.The Belgium international has laid on 18 goals this campaign, which is also a record for a City player in the Premier League era.

Former Chelsea and Wolfsburg star De Bruyne's creative abilities have helped Pep Guardiola's side qualify for the Champions League in his first season in charge.

He beat off competition from Tottenham's Christian Eriksen and Swansea City's Gylfi Sigurdsson, who finished with 15 and 13 assists respectively.Chelsea playmaker Cesc Fabregas and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez round out the top five as they both registered double-figure totals.

 

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Congratulations for all!

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Simeone: I will stay at Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone confirmed he will stay on as Atletico Madrid head coach after the club bode farewell to the Vicente Calderon with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

Simeone's future with Atleti, who he has led with considerable success since 2012, has been a matter of speculation throughout the season after he negotiated a reduction in the length of his contract following last year's penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

His deal now expires next June after having two years trimmed off but the 2013-14 La Liga title winner intends to be in the dugout when Atleti open the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium next term.

"I am staying here," he told a post-match news conference after a brace from Fernando Torres and a late Angel Correa effort sealed the points."I am going to stay because this club has a future and the future is all of us together."

Earlier this week, Simeone said he would meet with club president Miguel Angel Gil Martin and sporting director Andrea Berta for post-season talks.

"We are finishing the season now, and for sure on Monday we will meet with Miguel, Andrea, to discuss what could be waiting for us in the future.

"Obviously we will look for the best for the club and for everyone. We will speak about the growth for our future. The base is there, solid, with six years competing in an extraordinary way. The tremendous stadium we enter in September will make further demands, we all need to take another step to match it."

 

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Malaga 0 Real Madrid 2: Ronaldo and Benzema on target to clinch title

Real Madrid clinched the LaLiga title for the first time since 2012 with a 2-0 win over Malaga courtesy of goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, rendering Barcelona's comeback victory against Eibar irrelevant.

Ronaldo continued his remarkable run of form, scoring his 25th league goal of the season in the second minute at La Rosaleda to take his tally to 14 in his last nine games in all competitions.

Benzema doubled Madrid's lead with his 11th league goal of the season to make it 2-0 after 55 minutes and Zinedine Zidane's side, who needed just a point to be crowned champions, had extra cause for celebration by becoming the first in the club's history to score in every La Liga game of the season.

The result keeps Madrid on course for a league and European double and, with Ronaldo playing his best football for some time, Zidane's men will be confident of beating Juventus in the Champions League final.Malaga tested Madrid's resolve and forced a number of good saves from goalkeeper Keylor Navas, but lacked the quality to cause an upset.

The hosts made the worst possible start when Luis Hernandez clumsily played the ball to Isco and the Madrid midfielder instantly slotted an immaculate throughball to Ronaldo, who skipped around Carlos Kameni and rolled into an empty net.

Sandro Ramirez had the chance to equalise for the home side after 12 minutes, but his low shot was saved by Navas at his near post when there were Malaga players crying out for a cross.

Navas risked injury to save a blistering free-kick from Sandro after 20 minutes, turning the ball around the post with a one-handed block before colliding with the frame of the goal and taking a blow to the ribs.

Kameni made a brilliant stop to prevent Ronaldo from scoring a second goal after 33 minutes, when Benzema's cross was allowed to run by Mikel Villanueva, and the Malaga goalkeeper blocked a low drive from Toni Kroos moments later.Madrid's slender lead remained intact at the break, but only after Keko Gontan looped a header just over the crossbar from Jony Rodriguez's pinpoint cross.

The second half almost started in disaster for Madrid when Ronaldo went down holding his knee after a challenge from Malaga's Federico Ricca, but he opted to stay on the field.

Madrid doubled their lead after 10 minutes of the second half when Kroos' corner found Sergio Ramos and, after the defender's shot was saved by Kameni, the rebound hit Raphael Varane on its way into the path of Benzema, who appeared to be in an offside position before his bundled the ball into the net.

Navas made a diving save to prevent Ignacio Camacho from pulling a goal back moments later, and Benzema had the ball in the net again after 70 minutes but the offside flag was correctly raised.

Zidane substituted Isco, Casemiro and Benzema in the closing stages and Malaga substitute Gonzalo Castro hit the crossbar in injury time as the champions elect began to lose focus, but their full attention soon turned to celebrating a first title in five years when the final whistle blew.