Madrid, May 3 (IANS) FC Barcelona moved to the brink of the La Liga title with a tense 2-1 win away to Osasuna.The win means Barca are 14 points clear of Real Madrid, who travel to RCD Espanyol on Sunday. Should the Madrid fail to win that, Barca will be mathematically confirmed as champions. Should Madrid win, then Barca’s next chance to clinch the trophy will be next weekend, in nothing other than El Clasico.After struggling to break down a disciplined home side, Barca finally struck in the …
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London, April 30 (IANS) Arsenal have a chance to put more pressure on Manchester City in the Premier League title race when they play Fulham on Saturday. But coach Mikel Arteta has a tough job managing his squad because of matches in both the league and Europe.Arsenal returned to the top of the table after a narrow win over Newcastle United last weekend. They are now three points ahead of City, who were busy playing in the FA Cup. If Arsenal beat Fulham, they could go six points clear before Cit…
Madrid, April 28 (IANS) Atletico Madrid face Arsenal at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal, in a rematch of the league phase meeting that Arsenal won 4-0 in London in October.Since then, Arsenal’s imperious early-season form has dipped, with Mikel Arteta’s side now locked in a tight Premier League title race with Manchester City.Injuries have also taken a toll. Mikel Merino is a long-term absentee and is doubtful for the World Cup, Ju…
Zagreb, April 28 (IANS) Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic has backed captain Luka Modric to recover in time for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 after the veteran midfielder recently underwent surgery following a facial injury.“I’ve been talking to Luka and wished him a successful surgery and a quick recovery. I am convinced that he will do everything to be ready for the World Cup. We will give him full support, and I believe everything will go according to plan. As our captain, I am confident…
Madrid, April 27 (IANS) Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is sweating on the fitness of four players — Julian Alvarez, David Hancko, Ademola Lookman, and Jose Maria Gimenez, ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at home to Arsenal.With Atletico’s only remaining title chance this season lying in Europe after its Copa del Rey final defeat to Real Sociedad, Simeone’s side faces an Arsenal team that has dipped in form in recent weeks, with a place in what would be the club’s t…
Madrid, April 27 (IANS) Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has been diagnosed with a “semitendinosus muscle injury” in his left leg after he felt discomfort in his hamstrings during the 1-1 draw with Real Betis, the La Liga club confirmed on Monday.Mbappe felt discomfort in his hamstrings and asked to be substituted in the 35th minute of the second half. He was then replaced by Gonzalo Garcia in the 81st minute.The injury was identified after examinations conducted on Monday; however, the club has n…
Berlin April 27 (IANS) Second-placed Borussia Dortmund celebrated its 1,000th Bundesliga home match in style, sweeping aside a rotated Freiburg side to secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.Needing a response after consecutive league defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim, Niko Kovac’s team settled the contest early. Maximilian Beier opened the scoring in the eighth minute, running onto Ramy Bensebaini’s long pass before beating Noah Atubolu in his 100th Bundesliga appe…
Berlin, April 25 (IANS) RB Leipzig tightened their grip on a Champions League place with a controlled 3-1 home victory over Union Berlin as Max Finkgrafe, Romulo and Ridle Baku scored before Danilho Doekhi’s late consolation.Already assured of at least sixth place and a return to European competition after a one-year absence, Leipzig moved to 62 points in third. Ole Werner’s side began the round five points clear of fifth-placed TSG Hoffenheim and quickly showed why their momentum has put them o…
Liverpool, April 24 (IANS) English Football Club Liverpool’s boss Arne Slot has provided a fresh update on the recovery of their premier striker Hugo Ekitike, who has been ruled out of the whole season due to an Achilles injury. The forward ruptured his Achilles tendon during Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final second leg with Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield earlier this month.As a result, Ekitike is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines and will miss the rest of the season, along…
Berlin, April 23 (IANS) Bayern Munich reached the DFB Pokal final for the first time since 2020 after a 2-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen, keeping them on course to win three major trophies this season.Vincent Kompany’s side, which sealed the Bundesliga title with victory against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, took control early and stayed in command before Luis Diaz wrapped up the tie in stoppage time.Harry Kane put Bayern ahead in the 21st minute after a quickly taken throw-in sent play down the right. …