European Super Football

Barcelona 4 - 0 Borussia Dortmund Raphinha matched Lionel Messi’s long-standing club record for goal involvements in a single Champions League season as Barcelona dismantled Borussia Dortmund to seize control of their quarter-final tie. Author - Paul Woods Stadium - Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys The Brazilian winger was instrumental throughout, scoring once and providing two assists to bring his tally to 19 goal involvements in this season’s competition, equalling the mark set by Messi during the 2011–12 campaign. Barcelona took a deserved lead midway through the first half, with Raphinha on hand to finish from close range after Pau Cubarsí’s effort squirmed past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. The 27-year-old’s 12th goal in Europe this season came after a chaotic set-piece that began with Karim Adeyemi conceding a free-kick for pulling Jules Koundé’s hair. Robert Lewandowski extended Barça’s advantage early in the second half, converting Raphinha’s header from a yard out after a sweeping...

Preston North End 0 - 3 Aston Villa Marcus Rashford broke his four-month scoring drought to send Aston Villa into the FA Cup semi-finals with victory over Preston at Deepdale. Author - Paul Woods Stadium - Deepdale After a few missed chances against the competition's last remaining Championship team, Rashford finally scored by tapping in Lucas Digne's cutback in the 58th minute. Five minutes later Rashford kept his nerve to send David Cornell the wrong way with his penalty after Morgan Rogers had been fouled by Andrew Hughes. These were Rashford's first goals since his double against Everton on December 1st   and they kept Villa's hopes alive of winning the FA Cup for the first time since 1957.  Preston battled hard but a clear gulf in class was only underlined by the absence through injury of first-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and on-loan defender Kaine Kasler-Hayden, who was unable to play against his parent club. Once in front, Villa tightened their grip and...

Sweden 5 - 1 Northern Ireland Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak delivered a standout performance, scoring one goal and setting up another as Sweden cruised to a 5-1 victory over a young Northern Ireland side in Stockholm. Author - Paul Woods Stadium - Strawberry Arena Isak teed up Emil Holm for the opener in the seventh minute before Benjamin Nygren doubled the lead midway through the first half. Northern Ireland showed more fight after the break, but Sweden struck again when Ken Sema smashed in a rebound after Nygren’s flicked effort came back off the post. Isak then added his name to the scoresheet with a stunning strike from 25 yards into the top corner, before substitute Anthony Elanga tucked home a fifth at the back post. Northern Ireland did manage a late consolation when Isaac Price’s deflected strike from the edge of the box found the top corner, but it was little more than that. Attention now turns to June’s double-header before World Cup qualifying begins in Septemb...

Spain 3 - 3 Netherlands The match finished 5-5 on aggregate. Spain won 5-4 on penalties Author - Paul Woods Stadium - Estadio de Mestalla Spain had twice taken the lead in normal time, both courtesy of Real Sociedad striker Mikel Oyarzabal. But Memphis Depay marked his 100th Netherlands cap with a penalty early in the second half, before debutant Ian Maatsen’s thunderous strike forced extra time. Yamal restored Spain’s lead with a stunning solo effort, curling a beauty into the far corner, but Xavi Simons hit back with another Dutch penalty after Simón had brought him down in the box. The shootout saw Lang rattle the crossbar before Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen kept out Yamal. However, Simón produced the crucial stop from Malen, allowing Pedri to send Spain through to a last-four clash with France. The victory extends Spain’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 matches, and they haven’t lost in the Nations League since a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland in September 2022. A...

Valencia 1 - 2 Barcelona A win over Valencia kicked off Barcelona's La Liga campaign under new manager Hansi Flick. Author - Paul Woods Former Germany boss Flick's team had to come from behind after Hugo Duro scored from a Diego Lopez cross past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The first half started slowly, but Duro opened the scoring in the 44th minute, sparking the match into life. Duro had a chance cleared off the line, but Robert Lewandowski then equalized from a Lamine Yamal pass. Valencia had a strong first half, but Barcelona showed their superiority in the second half, taking the lead through veteran striker Lewandowski's penalty in the 49th minute after Raphinha was fouled in the box. Yamal was a constant threat with his dribbling on the wings, causing problems for Valencia. Despite Valencia's strong counter-attacks and Barcelona's midfield errors, Flick's team ultimately proved to be of a higher class, managing the game well and neutralizing Valencia's...

England 1 - 1 Switzerland England win 5-3 on penalties Trent Alexander-Arnold fired home the winning penalty after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Ivan Toney had all kept their composure.  Jordan Pickford had previously set the tone by saving Switzerland's first penalty from Akanji, securing a tense shoot-out victory. England, who will now face the Netherlands in the semi-finals on Wednesday, had been at risk of a premature exit from the tournament in normal time. Breel Embolo had put Switzerland ahead in the 75th minute, sneaking past Kyle Walker to tap in Dan Ndoye's deflected cross from close range. Saka equalised shortly afterwards with a superb curling finish in off the post from outside the box, marking England's first shot on target. Gareth Southgate's side struggled during extra-time, enduring nerve-wracking moments as Xherdan Shaqiri hit the woodwork directly from a corner and Zeki Amdouni's shot was parried. The Three Lions find a way ag...

Spain 2 - 1 Germany Spain kept their dreams of a fourth European Championship alive with a dramatic 119th-minute goal from Mikel Merino, sending them into the semi-finals and knocking out hosts Germany in a thrilling match at Stuttgart Arena. This eagerly anticipated clash saw a resurgent Germany face off against one of the most exciting teams in Spain. It did not disappoint. From the moment Dani Olmo put Spain ahead six minutes into the second half, the match was a relentless spectacle of aggression, tension, and drama. Olmo side-footed in a cross from 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who notched his third assist of the Euros, breaking the deadlock in a previously cautious game. Germany nearly responded through substitute Niclas Fullkrug, who hit the post, but they found their equaliser in the final minute of regular time when Florian Wirtz’s powerful shot went in off the post, sending the home fans into raptures. Euro 2024 news and stories (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Time...