European Super Football

Celtic 6 - 2 St Mirren Celtic will face Dunfermline Athletic in next month’s Scottish Cup final after a breathless eight-goal encounter with St Mirren Author | Sean M Stadium | Hampden Park With the match poised at 2-2, four goals in six minutes overwhelmed the Paisley side, who had recovered from two down to force the additional period. In extra time, a rapid double from substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, first with a header and then a composed finish, alongside a strike from Luke McCowan, broke St Mirren’s resistance. Benjamin Nygren then added further gloss, the Sweden international guiding in his 20th goal of an impressive debut season. The result sets up a meeting between Martin O’Neill and his former midfield lieutenant Neil Lennon, echoing the 2007 final, when Dunfermline were beaten 1-0 in their last appearance in the showpiece. It was a harsh outcome on St Mirren, and particularly their 17-year-old goalkeeper, who had responded admirably after his side conceded in both the opening ...

Atletico Madrid 2 - 2 Real Sociedad (Real Sociedad won 4-2 on penalties) Real Sociedad beat Atletico Madrid on penalties to claim a fourth Copa del Rey title. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla Atletico twice fought back to force the final into extra time and then a shootout, but Unai Marrero saved two spot-kicks to earn Sociedad their first trophy since 2020. Sociedad had stunned Diego Simeone’s side with the fastest goal in a Copa del Rey final, Ander Barrenetxea glancing Goncalo Guedes’ cross into the corner after just 14 seconds. That lead was wiped out when Ademola Lookman slotted home low on 18 minutes, yet Mikel Oyarzabal restored Sociedad’s advantage from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after Juan Musso caught Guedes while attempting to punch clear. Watch | Pre match TIFO from the Sociedad stands Atletico carried the greater threat after the interval and were rewarded when Julian Alvarez struck brilliantly from the edge of the area into the...

Blackburn Rovers 1 - 1 Coventry City  A memorable night in the history of Coventry City Author | Peter Grainger Stadium | Ewood Park Bobby Thomas struck six minutes from time at Ewood Park to earn Coventry City a point at Blackburn and confirm their return to the Premier League after a 25-year absence, sparking scenes of celebration among the travelling support. The defender etched his name into Sky Blues folklore, rising to head home in front of the away end and set off jubilant scenes. His name rang around the ground as Coventry completed a journey that had once taken them as far down as League Two, with Frank Lampard guiding them back to the top flight. Thomas’s late intervention was harsh on Blackburn, who had led through Ryoya Morishita and were good value for it before the Championship leaders responded with the goal that secured the point required for promotion. For Rovers, the draw moved them five points clear of the relegation zone, albeit having played two games more th...

Aston Villa 4 - 0 Bologna (Villa won 7-1 on aggregate) Aston Villa set up an all-English Europa League semi-final with Nottingham Forest after completing a commanding victory against Bologna. Author | Peter Grainger  Stadium | Aston Villa Already 3-1 up from the first leg, tournament favourites Villa produced a statement display under four-time Europa League-winning manager Unai Emery to take another step closer to ending a 30-year trophy drought. Watch | Pre match vibes and atmosphere It only took the Premier League side 16 minutes to increase their advantage in the tie as Ollie Watkins - the star of the first leg - applied the finishing touch on a wonderful team move to score his 100th goal for the club in all competitions. Morgan Rogers then had his spot-kick saved by Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia after Martin Vitik's handball inside the box but Villa pulled away further 44 seconds later through Emiliano Buendia. With the Bologna defence switching off, Buendia latched on ...

Arsenal 0 - 0 Sporting (Arsenal won 1-0 on aggregate) Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals after a tense goalless draw with Sporting. Author | DJ Stadium | Emirates Stadium Holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, courtesy of Kai Havertz’s late strike in Portugal, Mikel Arteta’s side did enough to progress and book their spot in the last four. Watch | Pre match atmosphere Arsenal began on the front foot and saw plenty of the ball early on, but it was Sporting who created the clearer openings before the break. Francisco Trincao and Pedro Goncalves both threatened, while a misplaced pass from David Raya briefly invited danger. The closest moment arrived when Geny Catamo struck the post with a well-taken volley after being picked out by Maxi Araujo. There was an undercurrent of anxiety around the stadium as the contest wore on, with Arsenal protecting a narrow lead following their Premier League defeat by Bournemouth last weekend. Sporting continued to probe ...

Liverpool 0 - 2 (PSG won 4-0 on aggregate) Ousmane Dembele scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain overcame Liverpool to secure a place in the Champions League semi-finals Author | William G Stadium | Anfield PSG arrived at Anfield with a two-goal cushion but were pushed hard in a raucous atmosphere before Dembele struck in the 72nd minute with a superb left-footed finish. He added a second in stoppage time to seal the tie. Driven on by the crowd, Liverpool searched for another famous European comeback, but Arne Slot’s side could not find a way past the reigning European champions and, for the second successive season, were eliminated by PSG. Liverpool's players couldn't take advantage of a raucous Anfield atmosphere After a subdued display in Paris, where they lost 2-0, Liverpool were much improved at Anfield and posed more of a threat, though ultimately fell short. Slot handed Alexander Isak his first start since December and again left Mohamed Salah on the bench. Salah was intro...

Atletico Madrid 1 - 2 Barcelona (Atletico Madrid won 3-2 on aggregate) Atletico Madrid withstood a spirited Barcelona revival to reach the Champions League semi-finals Author | Jack L Stadium | Metropolitano Pre-match atmosphere Trailing 2-0 from the first meeting, Barcelona struck early. Lamine Yamal reduced the deficit inside five minutes, sliding his finish beneath Juan Musso after a loose touch from former Barcelona defender Clément Lenglet. The tie was level 19 minutes later. Ferran Torres collected Dani Olmo’s pass and sent a precise left-footed effort into the top corner, briefly silencing the home support. That quiet lasted only moments Marcos Llorente surged down the right and picked out Ademola Lookman, who finished to restore Atletico’s advantage on aggregate. Barcelona had earlier passed up the chance to extend their lead on the night, Musso reacting sharply to deny Fermín López from close range with an outstretched block. View from the away end Torres believed he had added...