Europe

Incoming United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes sent shockwaves through the women’s soccer world on Saturday as her Chelsea side defeated Barcelona 1-0 on the road in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League semifinal.

The defending Champions League winners were undefeated at home in the previous FIVE YEARS. Hayes’ side limited Barcelona, who had scored 33 goals in eight Champions League games this season, to just one shot on target.

The result is also Barcelona’s first defeat of the season.

LONDON — Holders Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 with a late Bernardo Silva goal on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final after an absorbing end-to-end Wembley semi-final.

Silva sidefooted the ball home in the 84th minute after Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic parried a shot from former Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

BERNARDO SILVA PUTS CITY AHEAD OF CHELSEA LATE IN THE FA CUP SEMIFINAL!!! pic.twitter.com/E6vvWnt23J

Former Germany and Bayern Munich striker Mario Gómez provided fans with a scorching hot take and interesting debate. 

Appearing on the podcast “Phrasenmäher”, Gómez made the argument that Manuel Neuer’s legacy is just as important to the sport as Lionel Messi’s.

"I would put Manuel Neuer on the same level as Messi in terms of importance in football history," Gómez said. "I don't know if we're all aware of what we experienced with a goalkeeper who revolutionized the game! We'll only understand this 20 years from now."

Does Gómez have a point?

Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem have been given an 18-point deduction due to licensing issues on Friday and will be relegated, ending 35 years of uninterrupted play in the top flight Eredivisie.

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) independent licensing committee imposed the deduction, placing the club at the bottom of the standings with minus one point with four matches remaining.

Vitesse point deduction

| Dutch club Vitesse have been deducted 18 POINTS! ❌

The Bernardo Silva penalty vs Real Madrid during Manchester City’s shootout defeat in Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal was one of the most discussed points of the game.

After a brilliant game that ended 1-1 (4-4 on aggregate) it went to a penalty shootout. Silva stepped up to take City’s second penalty and stunned fans when he shot it right up the middle into the grateful hands of Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Silva received hefty criticism online for his penalty. 

What if we told you, it wasn’t a bad kick but instead a genius bit of goalkeeping?

MUNICH — Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich powered in a 63rd-minute header to give the Germans a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday and send them through to the semi-finals for the first time in four years with a 3-2 aggregate win.

Germany international Kimmich timed his run into the box perfectly to connect with a Raphael Guerreiro cross and put Bayern, who had earlier hit the woodwork twice from a double chance, in the driving seat following a 2-2 first-leg draw.

BARCELONA — Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez berated the referee and said his performance cost Barcelona a chance to fight for a place in the Champions League semi-finals after they lost 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday.

Ousmane Dembele cemented himself as one of Barcelona’s biggest villains on Tuesday during Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-1 victory (winning 6-4 on aggregate) to send the Catalan side out of the Champions League.

The Frenchman and former Barcelona player scored one of PSG’s four goals, drew a penalty and won man of the match to send his previous club packing. He was undoubtedly the most booed and hated player inside the Estadi Olimpic in Barcelona.

Ousmane Dembélé: “Barcelona is a great club. I love it!”.