European Super Football

Wolves v Everton preview The home side are currently five points clear of the relegation zone and will be hoping for a win against Everton to ease any concerns Author - Sarah W It’s been a mixed few weeks for Wolves, who ended February with two wins and two defeats in the Premier League, along with contrasting fortunes in the FA Cup.  Narrow 2-1 losses in the Premier League against Liverpool and Fulham have kept them looking nervously over their shoulders. However, with a more favourable run of fixtures on the horizon, and having seen their FA Cup campaign brought to an end by Bournemouth last weekend, Wolves can now turn their full attention to securing Premier League survival. Sitting five points clear of the drop zone, they will be eager to add more points to their tally and avoid being dragged back into danger. Everton, on the other hand, have found a new lease of life under returning manager David Moyes. The former Toffees boss, who was reappointed in January following Se...

AZ Alkmaar 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur Lucas Bergvall's unfortunate own goal condemned Tottenham to a flat and uninspiring defeat in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against AZ Alkmaar. Author - Greg S Stadium - AFAS Stadion Ange Postecoglou's side offered little in attack, failing to muster a shot on target until the closing stages, and only managing two touches inside AZ's box all evening. The decisive moment came from teenage midfielder Bergvall, who inadvertently diverted Troy Parrott's cross into his own net as he attempted to clear the danger. Spurs had goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to thank for keeping them in the tie, producing three crucial saves. This included one to deny former Tottenham striker Parrott, who joined AZ for £6.7m last summer. However, Tottenham's hopes of progression took another blow with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur now suspended for next week's return leg after picking up his third booking of the competition. Postecogl...

FC Copenhagen 1 - 2 Chelsea Chelsea took a significant step towards the Europa Conference League quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Copenhagen in Denmark. Author - Lauren W Stadium - Parken Enzo Maresca’s side were uninspiring in the first half, failing to register a shot on target, but they burst into life immediately after the break. Marc Cucurella, introduced at half-time for the injured Malo Gusto, made an instant impact by surging down the left and cutting the ball back for captain Reece James, who lashed a superb low drive into the bottom corner from 30 yards out. Copenhagen came agonisingly close to an equaliser moments later when Viktor Claesson’s angled strike cannoned off the inside of the post and fell kindly into the hands of relieved Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The Blues made their hosts pay for that missed opportunity in the 65th minute. Cucurella, once again influential, won possession high up the pitch before Christopher Nkunku played in T...

Real Sociedad 1 - 1 Manchester United Joshua Zirkzee netted his first European goal for Manchester United, but his side had to settle for a draw against Real Sociedad, leaving their Europa League last-16 tie finely poised. Author - Liam C Stadium - Anoeta Stadium Zirkzee broke the deadlock 12 minutes into the second half, firing a low shot from the edge of the box that caught goalkeeper Alex Remiro off guard. However, Real Sociedad levelled the score through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty, awarded after a VAR review spotted a handball by Bruno Fernandes. United will feel frustrated not to have taken a win after dominating for nearly an hour, with Andre Onana untested before Sociedad were awarded their penalty. Fernandes saw a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Aritz Elustondo in the first half, while the United skipper also sent a free-kick narrowly wide. The equaliser seemed to unsettle United and Onana was forced into action, diving to his right to keep out Brais Méndez’s cur...

PSV Eindhoven 1 - 7 Arsenal Arsenal put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals with a ruthless demolition of PSV. They can still finish this season with a trophy. Author - DJ Stadium - Philips Stadion Mikel Arteta’s side were in complete control from the outset, racing into a three-goal lead before half-time before adding four more in a dominant second-half display. With a trip to Madrid now looming, progression to the next stage looks all but secured. PSV had an early glimmer of hope when Ismael Saibari struck the crossbar, but Arsenal quickly took charge. Jurrien Timber opened the scoring in the 18th minute, and within moments, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri doubled the lead, finishing emphatically after a sharp cutback from Myles Lewis-Skelly. There was a moment of fortune for Lewis-Skelly, who had already been booked, when he escaped further punishment for a foul on Richard Ledezma. Sensing the risk, Arteta swiftly withdrew him, bringing on Riccardo Calafiori before the bre...

Club Brugge 1 - 3 Aston Villa Aston Villa took control of their Champions League last-16 tie with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge, capitalising on a late collapse from the Belgian side to gain an advantage ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg. Author - Jamie P Stadium - Jan Breydelstadion Pictures from the away end Brugge had looked the more composed team for much of the contest but were left to rue their own mistakes after conceding twice in the closing stages against an underwhelming Villa. The hosts’ downfall began when Brandon Mechele inadvertently turned Morgan Rogers’ cross into his own net. Just five minutes later, a careless challenge from Christos Tzolis on Matty Cash gifted Villa a penalty, which Marco Asensio confidently dispatched. The three-time Champions League winner has now scored three goals in his last two appearances for the club. How the match unfolded Leon Bailey gave Villa the perfect start, volleying home inside three minutes to put the visitors in front. ...

Liverpool are considering an approach for AC Milan’s Rafael Leao It has been reported that AC Milan set an enticing price tag for him. Author - William G Leao at Milan. Source | AC Milan YouTube  Back in December, AC Milan received one official approach from a major European side, believed to be Barcelona, that communicated a desore to open negotiations with Leao for the summer. With AC Milan’s hopes of Champions League football fading, the club are looking at offloading key players to fund their summer transfer business. As previously reported, Theo Hernández is expected to move on, with Manchester City , Real Madrid, and several Premier League clubs showing interest. But he might not be the only big name heading for the exit. Milan’s need to generate funds could also see them consider selling Rafael Leão. Despite a €175m release clause coming into effect this summer, the Rossoneri are reportedly willing to listen to offers in the region of €100m for the Portuguese forward. B...

Nottingham Forest 1 - 1 Ipswich Town (Nottingham Forest won 5 - 4 on penalties) Nottingham Forest secured their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ipswich Town, setting up a trip to Brighton in the last eight. Author - Josh T Stadium - City Ground Goalkeeper Matz Sels was the hero, saving Jack Taylor’s low effort as Forest triumphed 5-4 on penalties after Ryan Yates’ second-half equaliser had forced extra time. The visitors had taken the lead through George Hirst, but ultimately fell short on a night of fine margins at the City Ground. Watching from the stands was England manager Thomas Tuchel, who is preparing to name his first squad next week ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. However, with the game slow to ignite until the second half, the new Three Lions boss may not have taken much away from the contest. Click here for more FA Cup news and stories from European Super Football Taylor’s missed spot-kick proved ...

Manchester United 1 - 1 Fulham (Fulham won 4-3 penalties) Bernd Leno was the penalty shootout hero as Fulham knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup, with the German keeper making two vital saves to send the Cottagers into the quarter-finals. Author - Olivia T Stadium - Old Trafford After both sides converted their first three spot-kicks, Leno denied Victor Lindelöf before Fulham captain Antonee Robinson kept his side’s perfect record intact. That set the stage for Leno to produce another big moment, stopping Joshua Zirkzee’s effort and sparking wild celebrations from the travelling fans. Marco Silva’s men had taken the lead just before half-time when Calvin Bassey was left unmarked at the far post to nod home from close range after Rodrigo Muniz flicked on a corner. United responded through the Portuguese playmaker. He levelled the scores in style, rifling a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after being picked out by Diogo Dalot. Both sides had chances t...

St. Mirren 2 - 5 Celtic Celtic are now just three wins away from retaining their Scottish Premiership title Author - Sean M Stadium - The SMISA Stadium If Celtic can secure victories in their next two league fixtures against second-placed Rangers and Heart of Midlothian, they will head to Perth in early April knowing that a win over St Johnstone would seal a fourth consecutive league title. Celtic were pushed all the way by a determined St Mirren side, who twice pegged them back before Yang Hyun-jun struck twice late on, either side of a superb finish from Daizen Maeda, to secure the points. Japan forward Maeda has now scored 13 goals in his last 12 matches, while South Korean winger Yang – who set him up with a fine assist – is looking like a player transformed. His two-goal cameo may well give Rodgers a selection headache ahead of the next game. Substitutes make the difference as Celtic close in Watch the highlights from the SPFL YouTube It was another commanding performa...

Crystal Palace 3 - 1 Millwall Crystal Palace have reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after a comfortable win over 10-man Millwall.  Author - Ajay Stadium - Selhurst Park The game's turning point came in the eighth minute when Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off. Roberts came charging out of his goal and kicked Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in the head. After a short VAR intervention, he was off and Millwall had a huge job on their hands. Palace then dominated possession, and they eventually made the most of their numerical advantage and took the lead in the 33rd minute when Japhet Tanganga headed a curling Will Hughes cross into his own net. The home side then doubled their lead when Daniel Munoz poked the ball into the net from close range when it fell into his path after bouncing off Tanganga. Millwall looked to be out of the game but Wes Harding gave them a lifeline when he scored from inside the area just before the break. Eddie Nketiah ensured...

Aston Villa 2 - 0 Cardiff City Marco Asensio was the star of the show for Aston Villa again as he helped them secure a deserved 2-0 win over Championship strugglers Cardiff City in the FA Cup. Author - Jamie P Stadium - Villa Park The hosts maintained control throughout the match but faced a strong performance from visiting goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, who made several crucial saves to keep Cardiff competitive. In a clash of attack versus defense, the hosts struggled to break down Cardiff's low block. However, they eventually found the breakthrough when Marco Asensio scored from a precise cross by Marcus Rashford. Asensio secured the win in the 80th minute with another clinical finish, converting a cross from Leon Bailey. This was his fourth goal since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January. This could still be a landmark year for Aston Villa This year for Villa could yet be one for the history books, with Unai Emery’s side still in the hunt for silverware on two fron...

Sunderland 1 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday Sunderland reignited automatic promotion chances with a crucial win at Sheffield Wednesday, thanks to a brace from Eliezer Mayenda. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Hillsborough After back-to-back defeats against Leeds United and Hull City, the Black Cats desperately needed three points. They took the lead in controversial fashion during the first half, as Mayenda appeared to control the ball with his arm before slotting home. Wednesday hit back early in the second half through Callum Paterson’s header, but 19-year-old Spanish forward Mayenda, starting in place of top scorer Wilson Isidor, nodded in the winner to secure a vital victory. Sunderland remain fourth in the Championship, five points behind second-placed Sheffield United, though they have played a game more. For Sheffield Wednesday, it was a third consecutive defeat, leaving them 13th in the table, six points adrift of the play-off spots. Their hopes of breaking into the top six are n...