European Super Football

Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Manchester City  Crystal Palace claimed the first major trophy in their 119-year history with a stunning 1-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Author - James L Stadium - Wembley Stadium Eberechi Eze scored the decisive goal after just 16 minutes, finishing off a rapid counter-attack with a composed strike from Daniel Muñoz’s low cross. It was a moment of brilliance that ultimately proved enough to see off the defending champions. For City, it was a day of deep frustration. Pep Guardiola’s side end the season without silverware for the first time since his debut campaign in 2016–17.  Their mood soured further after a controversial incident in the first half, when Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson escaped a red card despite handling outside his area under pressure from Erling Haaland. VAR ruled that Haaland was moving away from goal and had not been denied a clear scoring opportunity. Henderson’s influence only grew from there. He saved a pena...

Chelsea 1 - 0 Manchester United Chelsea have strengthened their chances of securing a Champions League place next season after Marc Cucurella’s second-half header clinched a hard-fought victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Author - Lauren W Stadium - Stamford Bridge The Spanish full-back met Reece James’s superb delivery from the right to nod in what proved to be the winner, lifting Chelsea into fourth in the Premier League with just one round of fixtures remaining. They went into the match knowing that victory was crucial to keep control of their own European fate. They are now level on points with Aston Villa but edge ahead on goal difference, and sit one point clear of sixth-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Despite a looming Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday , United manager Rúben Amorim fielded a strong side in west London. His decision nearly paid off when Harry Maguire volleyed home midway through the first half, only for the goa...

Real Madrid have announced the signing of defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. The deal has been completed in time for Huijsen to play in the Club World Cup after the Spanish giants activated his £50m release clause. Author - Ed The 20-year-old has signed a five-year deal that allows him to debut at the newly expanded tournament in the United States. Both clubs confirmed the move with Madrid saying that one-time Spain international Huijsen will officially join on 1 June. Their first match of the Club World Cup is against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on 18 June. The fee will be paid in three instalments, with Huijsen's two former clubs set to receive a slice of the fee. Juventus are due 10% and Malaga 5%. Huijsen had as many as seven offers on the table, and had attracted interest from Premier League clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle. Huijsen has chosen Real and will return to Spain where he grew up, playing for Costa Unida CF academy in Marbella and Malaga's yo...

Everton v Southampton preview It promises to be an emotional day as Everton's first team prepare for their final game at Goodison Park. Author - Sarah W The club recently shared the details of its plans for what will be a momentous final home game of the season, as the club and supporters prepare to end an era at Goodison Park. Plans for the historic visit of Southampton on Sunday 18 May include pre-match activity in and around the ground, and a post-match ceremony that will bring together current players and Blues greats to celebrate 133 years of the Grand Old Lady. Before kick-off, the fan group known as 'The 1878s' will stage a special coach welcome with the aim of creating a vibrant atmosphere as the players arrive at the stadium. The atmosphere has been amazing at the stadium this season. Following the final whistle, Evertonians will be asked to remain in their seats for a special on-pitch celebration that will include guest presenters, appearances from current...

Crystal Palace v Manchester City FA Cup Final. Fans preview.  Crystal Palace have a golden opportunity to finally put the heartbreak of their previous FA Cup Final defeats behind them.  Author - Ryan Thompson Editor - Jamie P The memories of 1990, when they were narrowly beaten by Manchester United after a replay, and the 2016 final, which ended in extra-time disappointment against the same opponents, still linger for us all.  Now, with a new generation of players, we have the chance to write a new chapter in the club’s history and bring silverware to Selhurst Park. How can Palace win? To lift the Cup, we will need to show belief, bravery and composure. The team standing in the way is one shaped by years of success, guided by a manager of rare brilliance and driven on by the emotion surrounding one of Kevin De Bruyne’s final appearances. However, they have shown a lot of weaknesses this season. Their poor run of form earlier in the campaign a sign that we can beat the...

As we preview the 2025 FA Cup final... Let's explore what happened in the early stages of this season’s competition  Author - Macca 4th Qualifying Round This stage of the competition is so important for many Non League clubs as the financial rewards for progressing to the first round proper are incredible. This season, it was heartbreak for teams like Bury FC, Eastleigh and Bath City. Harborough Town 1 - 0 Bury FC It was heartbreak for fans of Bury in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Despite this, many of their fans will be glad to just have a team to support now after all their problems.  Eastleigh 0 - 1 Southend United Southend United secured a dramatic Emirates FA Cup win against Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium, with Aribim Pepple’s late goal, just two minutes from time, sending the Shrimpers into the first round proper. Aldershot Town 2 - 1 Bath City A last-minute goal from Maxwell Mullins ensured the Shots' advancement to the First Round of the Emirates...

Hearts 2 - 1 St Johnstone St Johnstone’s 16-year tenure in the Scottish Premiership came to a heartbreaking end on Wednesday night, undone by a late Ross County equaliser in Dundee and their own defeat in a breathless encounter at Tynecastle. Author - Josh T Stadium - Tynecastle The Perth club had flirted with relegation for months, and despite a glimmer of hope as events elsewhere briefly swung in their favour, the night ultimately ended in despair. Simo Valakari’s side, who have languished at the foot of the table since just before Christmas, are now four points adrift with one match to play — their fate sealed before the final weekend. It was a night that veered between agony and faint optimism. Trailing 2-0 in Edinburgh while County and Dundee remained level, St Johnstone seemed destined for the drop. But when Dundee took the lead late on, hope flickered again. That was extinguished in stoppage time as County struck from the spot, leaving the Perth side beyond reach. At Tynecas...

Sunderland 1 - 1 Coventry City (Sunderland won 3-2 on aggregate) Sunderland booked their place in the Championship play-off final after Dan Ballard’s dramatic late goal in extra time sealed victory over Coventry City. Author - Lewis W Stadium - Stadium of Light Ballard’s header, which struck the underside of the bar before crossing the line, came in the final moments of stoppage time and secured a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 aggregate win for the Black Cats. It was a fittingly tense conclusion to a gripping evening at the Stadium of Light. Ephron Mason-Clark had earlier levelled the tie with a 76th-minute strike to send the match into extra time. Sunderland will now face Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday 24 May, with a place in the Premier League at stake. READ MORE: News and stories from the play-offs  In a contest between the sides who finished fourth and fifth in the regular season, the Wearside club now have the chance to end an eight-year absence from the top fli...

Manchester United 0 - 2 West Ham United It was another disappointing afternoon in the Premier League for the Europa League finalists. Author - Olivia T Stadium - Old Trafford Tomas Soucek and captain Jarrod Bowen were on target as West Ham ended a run of eight Premier League matches without a win, easing to victory over a Manchester United side whose preparations for the Europa League final appear increasingly uncertain. United named a starting XI featuring five players expected to line up against Tottenham in Bilbao on 21 May, but the match brought more questions than answers. Most troubling for Rúben Amorim was the injury to Leny Yoro, who left the pitch visibly distressed after sustaining a foot problem and headed straight down the tunnel. The setback prompted the immediate withdrawal of Luke Shaw, a potential option in the back three for the final in Spain. The defeat means United have now matched their longest winless run in the Premier League since 1992. On that occasion, the...

Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach Bayern Munich came out victorious on their final home match of the season to crown their title celebrations.  Author - Ed Stadium - Allianz Arena Harry Kane put Bayern in front after the half-hour and Michael Olise rounded off the scoreline in the closing stages.  A closer look at what happened in the 90 minutes  Bayern saw more of the ball in the early stages, but it was Manuel Neuer who found himself the busier of the two goalkeepers. Back in the side, he reacted sharply to deny Stefan Lainer, before a clever chip from Kimmich narrowly missed picking out Guerreiro at the other end. Neuer was called into action again when a corner took an awkward deflection off Eric Dier, producing another solid stop. Munich began to apply more sustained pressure. Coman dragged a shot wide and Kimmich tested the keeper from distance. Then came the breakthrough. Michael Olise weaved past two defenders and struck from range, with Harry Kane ap...

Bournemouth 0 - 1 Aston Villa  Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer after his first-half strike secured a hard-fought victory over Bournemouth and kept Unai Emery’s side firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification. Author - Ajay Stadium - Vitality Stadium Watkins’ composed finish, delicately steering Morgan Rogers’ low cross into the far corner, was his 75th league goal for Villa, nudging him past Gabby Agbonlahor to claim the record outright. The result guarantees Villa a top-seven finish and European football next season, at the very least in the form of a UEFA Conference League spot. Yet the ambitions at Villa Park are now clearly aimed higher.  A closer look at what happened Until the winner, there had been few clearcut chances. Marco Asensio hit the post with the game’s first notable effort on 43 minutes and then Arrizabalaga saved well from Boubacar Kamara and Cash.  The home side struggled to test the Villa ke...

Celtic 3 - 1 Hibernian Celtic fought back from a goal down to stretch Hibernian's winless run at Parkhead to 22 games. Author - Sean M Stadium - Celtic Park Traveling to face the Scottish Premiership champions during a stunning run of form that included a victory over Celtic at Easter Road in February, third-place Hibs opened the scoring when Martin Boyle took advantage of Auston Trusty's poor defending. Celtic always appeared dangerous in attack and equalized when Nicolas Kuhn received a ball played in behind, rounded goalkeeper Jordan Smith and finished. You never felt that Hibernian were going to win at that point. Ultimately, it would be very comfortable for Celtic.  READ MORE: Celtic news and stories from European Super Football Four minutes later, German winger Kuhn set up striker Adam Idah with a delightful chip over the Hibs defense, putting Rodgers' side ahead at halftime. Despite a strong start to the second half, with Rocky Bushiri narrowly heading wide from ...

Wolves 0 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion Brighton kept their European ambitions alive with a 2-0 victory over Wolves, thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck and Brajan Gruda. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Molineux Welbeck opened the scoring from the penalty spot shortly before the interval, while Gruda, a second-half substitute, sealed the win with his first goal for the club in the closing stages. Wolves came closest through Matheus Cunha, whose acrobatic effort drew an excellent save from Bart Verbruggen. Despite a lively spell after the break, particularly following a triple change by head coach Vítor Pereira, the home side were unable to convert their chances. The result lifts Brighton to ninth in the Premier League, level on points with Brentford who sit just above them. With two matches remaining, the Seagulls remain in contention for a second successive European campaign, although much still hinges on other results. READ MORE:  Premier League: 2024/2025 season Welbeck’s g...

Manchester United 4 - 1 Athletic Club (Manchester United won 7-1 on aggregate) Mason Mount brought an end to a frustrating 20-month spell with a superb second-half brace as Manchester United set up an all-English Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao on 21 May. Author - Olivia T Stadium - Old Trafford The former Chelsea midfielder delivered at just the right moment. Hampered by a succession of injuries since his £55m move from Stamford Bridge in 2023, Mount had made only 10 Premier League starts for United prior to Thursday night. He had barely been on the pitch for 10 minutes when he collected Leny Yoro’s  pass inside the area and finished with composure. It was only his third goal for United, but unquestionably his most significant. The strike extinguished any remaining concerns that Athletic Club might become the first side in 134 attempts to overturn a three-goal first-leg deficit away from home in European competition. READ MORE: Europa League news and stories Th...