Match Reports
Messi brace gives Barcelona three points in entertaining victory over Getafe
Barcelona picked up three more points in their title challenge, defeating Getafe 5-2 at the Camp Nou. It was a lively start from the home side, who came within inches of opening the scoring in the third minute. Lionel Messi struck from just outside the box, seeing his near-perfect shot crash back off the underside of the crossbar. But it was not long before the Argentine was on the scoresheet. Sergio Busquets found him with a brilliant through ball, and he did the rest, finding the far corner via David Soria’s glove. However, this lead did not last long. La Masia graduate Marc Cucurella whipped in a low cross towards Angel. The striker deflected the cross onto the body of Clement Lenglet, who diverted the ball into his own net. In the 28th minute, Getafe returned the favour, putting La Bla...
Barcelona win Copa del Rey after sensational second half performance
Barcelona have won the Copa del Rey after putting on an incredible second half performance against Athletic Bilbao to win 4-0. Barcelona made a lively start to the game, and nearly took the lead in the fifth minute. Sergio Busquets floated a ball over the top to Lionel Messi, who cut back for Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman placed his first time shot off the far post. A few minutes later, Athletic Bilbao hit back with a chance of their own. Alex Berenguer swung in an excellent free kick to Inigo Martinez, but the Spaniard couldn’t direct his effort on target. After that, La Blaugrana continued to dominate the first half. Messi had two shots blocked, while Sergino Dest scuffed a shot wide. They ended the half with 86% possession and seven shots to Athletic Bilbao’s one, but the score remained...
Bayern Munich eliminated despite victory against PSG
Paris Saint-Germain have progressed to the Champions League semi-finals for the second year in a row after beating holders Bayern Munich on away goals. The Bundesliga giants went into the second leg at the Parc des Princes needing to score at least two goals, having lost the home fixture 3-2. Both sides had chances in the opening stages. Neymar was denied three times by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, while Leroy Sane and Joshua Kimmich both fired wide from outside the box down the other end. Neymar, who put in a stellar performance last time out, was looking lively once again, and twice came within inches of putting PSG in front. On the first instance, he pulled out a beautiful piece of skill to beat Kingsley Coman, then curled a fantastic effort onto the crossbar. The second occasion, however, ...
Real Madrid complete El Clasico double to go top of La Liga
Real Madrid defeated Barcelona for the second time this season to climb to the top of the La Liga table. It was a lively start to the game, with the visitors having the first sight of goal. Lionel Messi slipped a ball through to Jordi Alba, who tried to find Ousmane Dembele with a low cross but was denied by the left hand of Thibaut Courtois. But it was not long before Los Blancos launched their first attack, and with that came the opening goal. Lucas Vazquez was fed the ball after some brilliant work from Federico Valverde, and the Spaniard’s low cross was expertly flicked in at the near post by Karim Benzema. Not long later, Zinedine Zidane’s men doubled their lead through a slice of luck. Toni Kroos’ free kick took a huge deflection off Sergino Dest, and Alba was unable to head the ball...
Advantage PSG as Les Parisiens defeat Bayern Munich in thrilling quarter-final
A clinical Paris Saint-Germain came away from the Allianz Arena with a one-goal advantage in an enthralling Champions League quarter-final first leg. It was an electrifying start to game. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, standing in for the injured Robert Lewandowski, saw his second-minute header strike the crossbar from Joshua Kimmich’s corner. It was a miss that proved costly, as the visitors took the lead just a minute later. Neymar picked up the ball in the middle, drove forward, and slipped it through to Kylian Mbappe. The young Frenchman slammed into the back of the net, although goalkeeper Manuel Neuer would have been disappointed to let it go through him. Bayern Munich responded well to the goal, and really should’ve equalised on the tenth minute, but Thomas Muller struck straight at Keyl...
Vinicius Junior hits brace as Real Madrid take commanding lead in first leg
Real Madrid enjoyed a fine evening in the Champions League quarter-finals, winning their first leg tie over Liverpool 3-1. It was a tough first half for the visitors. Karim Benzema fired an early warning shot straight at Alisson, while Vinicius Junior headed wide after some good work down the left from Ferland Mendy. On the 27th minute, Vinicius gave Real Madrid the lead with a real moment of quality. Toni Kroos found the Brazilian with a pinpoint 50-yard pass. The winger immaculately brought the ball down on his chest and fired into the bottom corner with his right foot. Ten minutes later, Los Blancos doubled their lead. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s interception from Kroos’ pass went straight to Marco Asensio, who lifted the ball over Alisson and tapped in from no further than a yard out. It ...
Barcelona scrape to a narrow win against 10-man Real Valladolid to go within a point of the top
Ousmane Dembele struck a crucial late winner for Barcelona against Real Valladolid for their sixth league win in a row. It was a really quiet first half for the home side, who suffered an early scare when Saidy Janko’s cross was headed onto the crossbar by Kenan Kodro. That was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock until first half injury time. Youngster Pedri struck a low shot towards the bottom corner, only for Jordi Masip to reach out a hand and turn it onto the post. The second half picked up where the first left off, with very little in the way of goalmouth action. Lucas Olaza had the visitors’ best chance after the break, hitting the side netting after a solo run. Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann both had glorious chances to give Barcelona the lead on the hour ma...
Calvert-Lewin scores twice as England breeze past San Marino
In Gareth Southgate’s 50th game in charge, England beat San Marino 5-0 at Wembley to kick start their hunt for 2022 World Cup qualification. Goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin (2), James Ward-Prowse, Raheem Sterling and Ollie Watkins ensured a comfortable evening for the Three Lions against a country with the worst FIFA ranking in the world. Manager Southgate named a very different looking side for the game than the one that we have become accustomed to recently. He became the first person to manage and play for England 50 times and made 10 changes to his starting 11 from the last international run-out, a 4-0 triumph over Iceland in the Nations League last November. Injuries to current number one goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish kept the pair out of this round of in...
Ziyech and Emerson strike as Chelsea knock out Atletico Madrid
Chelsea have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League following a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge. It was a quiet beginning to the game, with neither side posing much threat on goal. The first talking point of the match came in the 26th minute. Cesar Azpilicueta miscalculated his back pass, almost allowing Yannick Carrasco through on goal. The Chelsea defender subsequently put his arm across the Belgian, who went down under the challenge. Controversially, no penalty or red card was awarded. Not long after, Thomas Tuchel’s men took the lead with a goal created and finished by three summer arrivals. Kai Haverts fed the ball into Timo Werner out on the left, who rolled across to Hakim Ziyech, who slotted underneath Jan Oblak with his weaker right foot...
Manchester City cruise to the Champions League quarter-finals after Borussia Monchengladbach tie
Manchester City have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, comfortably seeing off Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 on aggregate. The Bundesliga side came into the game needing an astonishing comeback, having lost the first leg 2-0. It was almost the perfect start for Pep Guardiola’s side, who went close in the seventh minute through Phil Foden. Joao Cancelo floated a ball over the top for the youngster, but his poked effort was saved by Yann Sommer. Five minutes later, Man City found the breakthrough in spectacular fashion. Riyad Mahrez laid off for Kevin De Bruyne, who unleashed an unstoppable left footed strike in off the crossbar. Not long afterwards, it was 2-0. Foden weaved a through ball to Ilkay Gundogan, who slotted home for his 15th goal of the season. For the rema...
Lionel Messi shines on landmark occasion as Barcelona cruise to victory over Huesca
Barcelona comfortably saw off bottom of the table Huesca to crank up the pressure on Atletico Madrid in a tense title race. It was a perfect start for Lionel Messi, who was making his record-equalling 767th Barcelona appearance. The Argentine marked the occasion with a beautiful opener, touching the ball past the defender before curling a strike in off the crossbar. Both sides threatened to find the next goal. Pablo Maffeo saw his low strike saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen following a mazy solo run, while Jordi Alba struck the crossbar from Messi’s through ball. But it wasn’t long before the hosts doubled their lead in equally brilliant fashion. This time it was Antoine Griezmann, who hammered a 25-yard shot into the top corner. It was the Frenchman’s first goal in ten games in all competit...
Manchester United edge West Ham 1-0 at Old Trafford
Manchester United beat West Ham United 1-0 at Old Trafford courtesy of a second-half Craig Dawson own goal to reclaim the second spot in the Premier League table. Dawson inadvertently glanced the ball into his own net from a United corner in the 62nd minute, and the Hammers were unable to find a way back into the game. Coming into the match, United had slipped to third in the league table following an impressive 5-0 victory for Leicester at home to managerless Sheffield United earlier on in the day. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made four changes to his starting line-up from Thursday night’s Europa League draw against AC Milan. The Norwegian opted to bring in Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelöf and Fred along with Marcus Rashford, who sat out Thursday’s game through a minor injury. Anthony Mar...
