Category European club football

Atlético’s ‘great season’ sticks in throat as La Liga short of storylines | La Liga

“Football is so capricious that when Sunday comes possibly he’ll make us completely satisfied,” Javi Rey stated. For the primary time ever, Membership Deportivo Arenteiro, the group from O Carballiño that had been enjoying within the Galician regional league six years in the past that he now manages, had been heading to Riazor, twice the dimensions of their city, to face Deportivo de La Coruña. With out a goalkeeper. Diego Garcia and Manu Figueroa had been injured; Pablo Brea is on mortgage from their opponents, who had utilized a kind of clauses; and the emergency signing, Pablo Picon, fell via, leaving them no alternative however to stay the goalie coach in nets, an surprising hero ready to occur. Diego Rivas was born in Coruña province and dreamed of entering into purpose at Riazor, if not like this, given the possibility after it was purported to be throughout. He performed for Deportivo’s B group in the beginning of his profession, Lugo, Eibar and Auckland Metropolis amongst nearly a dozen golf equipment he joined earlier than ending it with promotion at close by Racing Ferrol. A fan nonetheless, he had cried when Depor had been relegated. Now,…

Read MoreAtlético’s ‘great season’ sticks in throat as La Liga short of storylines | La Liga

Xavi Hernández to stay on as Barcelona head coach in dramatic U-turn | Barcelona

Xavi Hernández has reversed his determination to go away Barcelona on the finish of the season and can keep on as head coach after talks with the membership president, Joan Laporta, and board members on Wednesday. “Xavi will keep, he’s actually completely satisfied,” confirmed the Barcelona vice-president, Rafa Yuste. “We’ve by no means opened talks for another coach. [Barça director] Deco trusts Xavi, it’s assured”. Xavi met face-to-face with Deco earlier on Wednesday, with Laporta pushing to maintain the top coach on board past the summer time. The 44-year-old had previously announced his departure after a 5-3 residence defeat to Villarreal in January. Regardless of being underneath contract till the top of subsequent season, Xavi had been anticipated to go away the Camp Nou earlier than the top of June this 12 months – however has now made a dramatic U-turn. The membership are anticipated to make a proper announcement quickly to verify that Xavi will stay in cost subsequent season, persevering with within the publish he has held since November 2021. It’s not clear at this stage whether or not his contract shall be prolonged past its present finish date of June 2025. The…

Read MoreXavi Hernández to stay on as Barcelona head coach in dramatic U-turn | Barcelona

Thank you, Metz: ‘King Georges’ grateful for second chance in Ligue 1 | Ligue 1

In Ligue 1’s maiden season with 18 groups, one had the sensation that some had little likelihood of staying up. Fewer groups theoretically initiatives to the next common normal, however it additionally means sides missing in high quality are more likely to be came upon. That axiom has usually held true — by the course of the season, most sides, even within the backside half, have been capable of name on a participant who’s superlative of their place, or at the very least able to conjuring one thing out of nothing. Le Havre could also be an exception owing to the hard-driving ethos put in place by Luka Elsner however Nantes (Moses Simon), Montpellier (Téji Savanier) and Toulouse (Thijs Dallinga) all have gamers with a little bit of magic. Even Clermont have had goalkeeper Mory Diaw in high kind in lots of matches, whereas Lorient acquired a lift with the arrival of Mohamed Bamba within the January window — the Ivorian scored six targets on his arrival and if Les Merlus find yourself avoiding the drop, their sturdy run of kind following his arrival could have made the distinction. Each group, that was, besides Metz.…

Read MoreThank you, Metz: ‘King Georges’ grateful for second chance in Ligue 1 | Ligue 1

‘They’re going to demand a lot’: Barça’s Xavi braced for PSG second leg | Champions League

Barcelona are prepared for a battle in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain within the return leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Xavi Hernández mentioned on Monday, including that his gamers are prepared to endure as a way to advance. Barça beat PSG 3-2 in the first leg in France final week however Xavi mentioned his aspect would have to be almost flawless to achieve the semi-finals for the primary time in 5 years. “It’s going to be a significant soccer warfare,” Xavi mentioned on Monday. “We aren’t a crew that speculates; we are going to need to take the ball away from PSG and win the sport. Hopefully we’ll be at our greatest. They’re going to demand rather a lot from us.” The victory in Paris was Barça’s first win within the Champions League knockout stage in 4 years and left them stuffed with confidence as they reached six consecutive victories in all competitions. They’re unbeaten for the reason that 5-3 defeat at dwelling to Villarreal in La Liga in January that led to Xavi announcing he was stepping down as manager on the finish of what then regarded like a tough season. 13 aggressive video…

Read More‘They’re going to demand a lot’: Barça’s Xavi braced for PSG second leg | Champions League

European football: Roma’s Ndicka ‘in good spirits’ after collapsing | European club football

The Roma defender Evan Ndicka is recovering in hospital after collapsing on the pitch throughout Sunday’s Serie A assembly with Udinese. The sport on the Bluenergy Stadium was deserted after 72 minutes with the rating at 1-1 after the 24-year-old Ivory Coast worldwide went down off the ball. Ndicka was carried off on a stretcher after present process remedy on the pitch, however Roma later confirmed that the participant was “feeling higher” and “in good spirits” after being taken to hospital for checks. A press release on Roma’s official X account learn: “The squad went to go to Ndicka on the hospital. Evan is feeling higher and is in good spirits. He’ll stay within the hospital for additional observations. Forza Evan!” Medics rushed to Ndicka’s help after his collapse and the choice was taken to not resume the fixture as he headed for hospital. Roberto Pereyra had given the house aspect the lead earlier than the break however Romelu Lukaku made it 1-1 with 64 minutes gone. 🚨 AS Roma defender Evan Ndicka is presently protected and out of hazard after his coronary heart scare. He’s feeling properly and in good spirits. Ndicka collapsed on…

Read MoreEuropean football: Roma’s Ndicka ‘in good spirits’ after collapsing | European club football

European football: Bayern sink Cologne to delay Leverkusen’s coronation | European club football

Bayern Munich struck twice within the second half to earn a 2-0 win over Cologne and bounce again from two straight league losses, delaying Bayer Leverkusen the title for twenty-four hours at the very least. Xabi Alonso’s aspect are 13 factors forward and poised to wrap up their first championship with a win over Werder Bremen on Sunday. Bayern’s solely hope of silverware this season rests with the Champions League they usually host Arsenal on Wednesday of their quarter-final second leg, after the 2-2 draw in London final Tuesday. They suffered a severe harm blow in opposition to Cologne, nonetheless, with the winger Kingsley Coman taken off within the fiftieth minute and dominated out for a number of weeks with an adductor muscle harm. “The harm of Kingsley is extraordinarily bitter with him beginning a sport right now after a really very long time,” Thomas Tuchel, the Bayern coach, stated. “It regarded extraordinarily painful on TV and it definitely received’t be sufficient for Wednesday. In quarter-final you need to have the selection choices. Perhaps it’s good to play 120 minutes. It’s a giant blow for us.” Bayern broke the impasse by Raphaël Guerreiro’s excellent curling…

Read MoreEuropean football: Bayern sink Cologne to delay Leverkusen’s coronation | European club football

European football: Ajax’s season hits new low after 6-0 Feyenoord thrashing | European club football

Ajax’s disastrous season hit a brand new low on Sunday after they suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to bitter rivals Feyenoord in Rotterdam, their largest ever loss in De Klassieker and the joint-fifth largest defeat within the membership’s historical past. Ajax have been hit by points on and off the pitch this marketing campaign however whereas they have been depleted by harm, few would have foreseen their capitulation as they managed one shot at purpose in comparison with 30 for his or her hosts at De Kuip. Igor Paixao and Yankuba Minteh grabbed a brace every for the house facet to go along with targets for David Hancko and Quinten Timber, who made his Netherlands debut final month. “It was powerful, unhealthy,” the Ajax coach, John van ‘t Schip, informed ESPN. “We have been inferior on all fronts – bodily, on the ball. Feyenoord have been a lot stronger by way of depth from minute one. We didn’t get into the sport. This can be a blow that all of us have to simply accept.” The win consolidates second place for Feyenoord, who’ve 69 factors from 29 video games, 9 factors behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.…

Read MoreEuropean football: Ajax’s season hits new low after 6-0 Feyenoord thrashing | European club football

Thilo Kehrer: ‘At West Ham we wrote history. It’s no longer the same club’ | Monaco

“Wherever I’ve gone, the target is successful titles,” says Thilo Kehrer. Having lifted silverware at PSG and West Ham, he now desires to do the identical at Monaco. Success was anticipated when he joined PSG in 2018 nevertheless it was much less foreseeable at West Ham. “For thus a few years, West Ham went with no title. And for therefore a few years, the membership was so distant from even fascinated by a title,” says the Germany worldwide. That modified final 12 months. Kehrer was a central determine within the facet that clinched the Europa Convention League. Having began the matches main as much as the ultimate, Kehrer – who had earlier expertise in European finals, having began for PSG in opposition to Bayern Munich within the Champions League in 2020 – dropped to the bench in opposition to Fiorentina in Prague. Nonetheless, he performed an essential function within the recreation, approaching with half-hour to go and serving to the crew win 2-1. “It was an enormous disappointment in not beginning within the remaining however I managed to vary my emotion from frustration and disappointment into one thing constructive. Even when there was disappointment earlier…

Read MoreThilo Kehrer: ‘At West Ham we wrote history. It’s no longer the same club’ | Monaco

Giant-killers Saarbrücken ready for ‘game of the century’ in German cup | Football

“We’re calling it the Jahrhundertspiel,” Kai Brünker says over the cellphone from Saarbrücken. “The sport of the century. A giant sport, a derby, and it’s in a cup semi‑last. Everyone is talking about it. You go to the bakery, individuals are talking about it. You go into the town, you go for a stroll, and individuals are saying: ‘It’s a must to win in opposition to ’Slautern!’”For the Saarbrücken coach, Rüdiger Ziehl, the reminder that that is no odd week comes with the fixed pinging of his cellphone from pals and informal acquaintances pestering him for a ticket. On Tuesday night time the third-division aspect from the very west of Germany, pinned proper up in opposition to the French border, will write the subsequent chapter in one of the vital exceptional tales anyplace in European soccer this season. The continent rejoiced in unison when Saarbrücken knocked out Bayern Munich within the second spherical of the DFB-Pokal in November. However just about no one anticipated what occurred subsequent: a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt within the final 16, earlier than Borussia Mönchengladbach were beaten by a 93rd-minute winner from Brünker this month. Now comes a semi-final in…

Read MoreGiant-killers Saarbrücken ready for ‘game of the century’ in German cup | Football

European football: Harry Kane breaks goalscoring record but suffers injury | European club football

Harry Kane bagged a record-breaking thirty first league objective and Jamal Musiala scored twice in Bayern Munich’s 5-2 demolition of Darmstadt that moved the champions to inside seven factors of the Bundesliga leaders, Bayer Leverkusen. Kane put Bayern, who face Arsenal within the Champions League quarter-finals subsequent month, 2-1 up in first-half stoppage time to take his tally to 31, greater than any participant has scored of their first Bundesliga season. Additionally it is a private league finest for the England captain – the Bundesliga’s most costly switch at €100m – however the gloss was partly taken off the achievement when he limped off injured after sliding right into a put up late within the sport and twisting an ankle. Kane was named within the England squad this week for upcoming friendlies towards Brazil and Belgium and the Bayern coach, Thomas Tuchel, says it’s too early to say whether or not he will probably be match sufficient to function. “He stumbled and fell within the web and twisted his ankle,” stated Tuchel. “He’s cooling it now with ice. There isn’t any analysis but. We have now to attend and see and hope it’s only a…

Read MoreEuropean football: Harry Kane breaks goalscoring record but suffers injury | European club football