European Super Football

It all comes down to this Three Championship teams remain in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League. Author | Thomas J After 45 matches and many twists and turns, it all comes down to the final-day to see who can go the distance to finish as runners-up and go up along with champions Coventry City. For Ipswich Town, who occupy second spot before the last game on Saturday, 2 May, this is familiar territory as the Tractor Boys seek an instant return to the top flight. Third-placed Millwall could be returning to the promised land for the first time in 36 years. Middlesbrough, who are currently fourth, are looking to end a nine-year Premier League hiatus. Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town earlier in the season Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has found himself in this position before On two previous occasions, his Ipswich side have approached the final Saturday at Portman Road knowing that victory would seal promotion, and the scenario is unchanged this weekend. Once again, a rous...

Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Aston Villa Chris Wood handed Nottingham Forest a valuable lead in their Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa. Author | Kieran M Stadium | The City Ground The striker converted from the spot in the 71st minute, after a costly handball from Lucas Digne, to give Vitor Pereira’s side a narrow advantage to defend in next week’s second leg at Villa Park. It marked the 200th goal of Wood’s career, a notable milestone in what has otherwise been a disrupted season following six months out with a knee injury. A closer look at what happened Forest might have been in front earlier but for a superb intervention from Emi Martinez, who clawed Igor Jesus’s effort off the line after 33 minutes. Villa, who won 3-1 at Villa Park in the Premier League in January, now face the task of overturning the deficit as Unai Emery pursues a fifth Europa League title. Stefan Ortega produced a series of saves before the break, denying both Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, and he rem...

Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal and Atletico Madrid scored a penalty each in a first-leg draw that leaves their Champions League semi-final in the balance Author | DJ Stadium | Metropolitano Viktor Gyokeres won and converted a spot-kick for the visitors a minute before the break after going down under a challenge from David Hancko. But Julian Alvarez levelled 11 minutes into the second half, scoring from the spot after a video assistant referee review. Substitute Eberechi Eze thought he had won Arsenal a second penalty late on when he appeared to beat Hancko to the ball inside the area, but the decision was overturned following another VAR check. Both sides looked quietly content at full-time with all still to play for next week.  The game began as a cagey affair Neither side was looking to concede an early advantage. It was very different to the previous night's match between PSG and Bayern.  PSG and Bayern play out an all-time classic eurosuperfootball.blogsp...

PSG 5 - 4 Bayern Munich Paris Saint-Germain edged a nine-goal thriller against Bayern Munich in Paris to take a narrow advantage in their Champions League semi-final. Author | Jack L Stadium |  Parc des Princes Five goals arrived in a breathless first half and the drama continued after the interval as the holders stretched into a three-goal lead. Bayern, already crowned Bundesliga champions and chasing a Treble, reduced the deficit to one to leave the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg in Munich. With the competition’s two most prolific sides meeting, it felt appropriate that a lively crowd witnessed such a high-quality, attack-minded contest. A closer analysis of what happened Having fallen behind to Harry Kane’s penalty after Luis Diaz was fouled by William Pacho, PSG responded with authority. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cut in from the left and guided a fine effort into the far corner before Joao Neves headed the hosts in front. Bayern replied through a moment of individual br...

Chelsea 1 - 0 Leeds United  Enzo Fernández’s first-half header proved decisive in a scrappy FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley Author | Lauren W Stadium | Wembley Stadium Following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, Calum McFarlane has been placed in interim charge until the end of the season and will now lead Chelsea into a final against Manchester City on Saturday 16 May. Leeds, chasing a first FA Cup final appearance since their 1973 defeat by Sunderland, were left to rue missed opportunities that might have shifted the balance of a tight contest. Watch | Key moments of the match from Emirates FA Cup YouTube account Daniel Farke’s side carved out the first clear chance when Brenden Aaronson broke through from Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s touch, only for Robert Sánchez to deny him with an important save low to his legs. That miss quickly proved costly for Leeds Chelsea took the lead after 23 minutes when Fernández met Pedro Neto’s cross with a firm header that gave Lucas P...

Getafe 0 - 2 Barcelona Marcus Rashford was on target as Barcelona tightened their grip on a second successive La Liga title with victory over Getafe. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio Coliseum The on-loan Manchester United forward finished a sweeping counterattack in the second half, with Hansi Flick’s side capitalising on Real Madrid’s surprise 1-1 draw with Real Betis on Friday night. Barcelona are now 11 points clear of their rivals with five games remaining as they close in on a 29th title. A closer analysis of what happened Fermin Lopez had given them the lead just before the interval, the masked attacking midfielder played through by an incisive pass from Pedri. Watch | Highlights from Barcelona YouTube channel They were without Lamine Yamal after the teenager’s season was ended by a hamstring injury sustained in the midweek win over Celta Vigo, and Rashford began on the bench before replacing Roony Bardghji on the hour. Getafe, chasing a European place, committed bodies forw...

Rochdale 1 - 1 York City  York have sealed a return to the EFL in extraordinary fashion, scoring in the 13th minute of stoppage time to snatch a draw at Rochdale. Author | Alex W Stadium | Spotland The National League’s top two sides had amassed a combined 212 points going into this final-day meeting, with York knowing they simply needed to avoid defeat to secure promotion to League Two. It appeared Emmanuel Dieseruwe had written himself into Rochdale folklore, rising at the back post to head home in the fifth minute of added time.  The cross into the box was amazing and there was absolute mayhem all over the ground. Supporters spilled on to the pitch in celebration, convinced they had witnessed a promotion-winning moment. After a lengthy delay, play eventually resumed and York committed everyone forward. From the ensuing scramble, Josh Stones drove the ball goalwards. A defender produced a desperate block on the line, but the assistant referee signalled that the ball had cros...