For the third season in a row, it looks like Manchester City’s journey in the Women’s Champions League will reach its end at the hands of Spanish opposition. But after being beaten by Atlético Madrid the last two editions, this time it was Barcelona’s turn to put the hurt on City, winning 3-0 in their quarterfinal fist leg at the U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy on Wednesday afternoon.
After grinding out a win against Costa Rica last Thursday, the United States U-23s took care of business on Sunday night by beating the Dominican Republic 4-0 in Olympic qualifying at Estadio Akron. If Mexico beats or ties Costa Rica in Sunday’s later game, the U.S. is through to the semifinals. If Costa Rica wins, Wednesday’s group finale against Mexico takes on meaning again.
With 10 matches remaining, it’s as you were in LaLiga with the three top sides all winning over the weekend.
On Saturday, Karim Benzema’s brace lifted Real Madrid over Celta Vigo. On Sunday afternoon, Luis Suárez’s 500th career goal gave Atlético a nervy win over Alavés. On Sunday evening, Barcelona decimated fifth-place Real Sociedad 6-1 for a fifth straight league win.
After seeing its lead at the top of the table reduced because of a goalless draw with Getafe and following that up with a Champions League elimination at the hands of Chelsea, Atlético Madrid entered Sunday’s LaLiga match against Alavés in a precarious position.
Real Madrid defeated Celta Vigo 3-1 on Saturday to momentarily close the gap at the top to just three points, while Barcelona could apply even more pressure later on Sunday against Real Sociedad by recording its fifth straight league win.
LONDON - Alexandre Lacazette's late header completed a stunning Arsenal comeback as they recovered from a nightmarish start to grab an unlikely 3-3 draw away to West Ham United in a rip-roaring Premier League derby on Sunday.
In the end a point was no more than Arsenal deserved even though they had looked on course for a humiliating drubbing when they conceded three times in the opening 32 minutes.
A relegation six-pointer in Ligue 1 produced a serious Puskás Award candidate on Sunday as Lorient’s Armand Laurienté struck a 40-yard free kick that both salvaged a draw for his side and kept them out of the relegation zone at the expense of Nantes.
Randal Kolo Muani had given Nantes an early lead, and it looked as though they’d secure the three points which would push them up to 17th while dropping Lorient into 18th (the relegation playoff place).
Chelsea advanced to the semifinals of the FA Cup with a narrow 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. An Oliver Norwood own goal opened the scoring for the Blues, but the Blades came close to equalizing on a number of occasions before Hakim Ziyech’s insurance strike in second half stoppage time put Thomas Tuchel’s side through.
Following a corner kick, it was Ben Chilwell’s hopeful hit back into the area that forced Norwood to turn it beyond Aaron Ramsdale.
Goalkeeper Bono was Sevilla's unlikely hero as they snatched a 1-1 draw at struggling Real Valladolid in LaLiga on Saturday thanks to his strike deep in stoppage time.
Chilean midfielder Fabián Orellana put the hosts in charge with a 44th minute penalty after forward Shon Weissman had been barged over by Sevilla defenders Diego Carlos and Karim Rekik.
There are few things in life that irk me more than men who say they won’t watch women’s sports because they think they aren’t as good as men’s sports. Anyone who makes such naïve comments clearly has never taken the time to actually watch women’s sports and probably has some deep-rooted misogyny they need to work out. Just look at this Roma Women bicycle kick from Marija Banušić, which proved to be the winner in a 4-3 thriller against Inter Milan on Saturday.