All Games All stakes / home win, draw, and away win predictions for games played today and tonight
MADRID — Levante defeated Sevilla 2-1 in the Spanish league on Friday, practically securing its spot in the first division next season.
Levante opened a 12-point gap to the first team inside the relegation zone, Clarence Seedorf’s Deportivo La Coruna, which hosts leader Barcelona on Sunday.
There will be three matches left after this weekend’s matches.
Roger and Jose Luis Morales each scored to give Levante its fourth win in five matches.
Sevilla, which stayed in seventh place and in danger of missing on a Europa League spot next season, got on the board with Carlos Fernandez.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – So close. So achingly, so agonizingly, so painfully, so heartbreakingly close.
Plagued by a major injury crisis, and forced to play their captain out of position, Toronto FC came up with one of the best performances in franchise history, but it still wasn’t enough to get the better of Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara in Wednesday’s decisive second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Down 2-1 after losing last week’s first leg at home, the MLS Cup champions tied the two-game series 3-3 on aggregate by taking a 2-1 lead after 90 minutes of regulation. With no extra time, Wednesday’s game went straight to a penalty shootout, where Chivas scored on all four of their attempts, while Canadian Jonathan Osorio hit the crossbar and captain Michael Bradley skied his shot over the net for TFC.
Teams from Mexico’s Liga MX have won every CONCACAF Champions League since the inaugural tournament in 2008-09. All but two of the previous finals have been all-Mexican affairs: Real Salt Lake (2011) and the Montreal Impact (2015) made it to the final before TFC joined the exclusive club this year.
Having dispatched Tigres and Club America, two of Mexico’s best teams, in the earlier rounds, TFC battled a third Mexican giant step for step on Wednesday night. The Reds were the better team on the balance of play, but in the end, that wasn’t good enough, and MLS’s pursuit of CONCACAF glory continues on.
“I have no complaints from my team. We worked hard. This tournament has been a grind, and we battled all the way until the end. Congratulations to Chivas, they won the game, and I have nothing to say to my guys except that I’m proud of them and they worked hard,” TFC coach Greg Vanney said.
Bradley was philosophical about the loss, heralding his teammates for playing with “bravery and pride.”
“Disappointed, but very, very, very proud. [This is a] team full of warriors that spilled their guts on the field tonight. It would have been so easy to make excuses. So many other teams would have lost their way. But throughout the entire tournament, we just kept going, we kept competing, we kept playing, we were fearless, and in the biggest moments we f—— went for it. That’s all you can ask for,” Bradley said.
It was a sentiment echoed by goalkeeper Alex Bono.
“We wanted to come here and be the first [MLS team] to lift the CONCACAF Champions League trophy. We failed in that goal, and that’s massively disappointing. But I’m really proud of the guys for the run that we’ve made and for the effort we put in over the two legs of every series we’ve played in,” Bono said.
Incredibly, Toronto didn’t have a single central defender who was healthy for this match. Chris Mavinga and Nick Hagglund (both hamstring) were unavailable, while Drew Moor (quad strain), and Jason Hernandez (match fitness) did not make the 18-man roster. Eriq Zavaleta was on the substitute’s bench, but even he was dealing with a quad problem. Also missing for Toronto was full-back Justin Morrow (calf).
With so many absentees, Vanney had to go with a makeshift defence, moving Bradley from midfield into the centre of the back line to play alongside Gregory van der Wiel, with Auro and Canadian Ashtone Morgan out wide.
On the positive side, influential playmaker Victor Vazquez returned to TFC’s starting lineup after being sidelined for several weeks with a nerve issue in his back.
“Our guys do whatever they have to do. We had zero healthy centre backs coming into this game,” Vanney said. “I thought our guys competed. We tried to play. … [But] I go back to the first leg; we can’t give up two goals in Toronto. That was the difference in the series.”
All of Estadio Akron’s 46,232 seats were not occupied on this night, but those who did show up produced a loud and intimidating atmosphere inside Chivas’ home venue. The locals loudly jeered every touch by a TFC player, and sang songs and chanted while Chivas was in possession. Ultras in one end of the stadium collectively pounded out a deafening rhythm on their drums the entire game.
Chivas took the lead off a TFC mistake. Jozy Altidore played a pass behind Osorio near the centre of the field, and Rodolfo Pizarro was there to pick it off and launch a counterattack. Pizarro quickly broke down the left side, and played a defence-splitting pass into the box for Orbelin Pineda who slotted it past Bono.
Altidore drew TFC level minutes later. With TFC pressing, Chivas couldn’t clear their lines inside their penalty area, while Nico Hasler showed off some fancy footwork to keep the play alive while being surrounded by defenders. He eventually worked his way to the end-line and centred a pass for Altidore who hammered it home.
Toronto took the lead and tied the series 3-3 on aggregate just before halftime. Moments after earning a yellow card for complaining to the referee, Sebastian Giovinco took a pass from Marky Delgado and caught Chivas goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota cheating and leaving his near post exposed. The Italian stuck a hard shot that snuck by Cota to stun the crowd into silence.
Tensions nearly boiled over between the two sides early in the second half when Giovinco was punched in the chest by Chivas’ Michael Perez off the ball, a clear red card infraction that the referee missed. Soon after, Vanney subbed off Hasler for Canadian forward Jordan Hamilton, switching to a 4-3-3 formation with the clear intention of going for it. Jose Godinez nearly tied things up for Chivas, but even though his low drive beat Bono, it smacked the post.
Canadian Jay Chapman came on for a gassed Vazquez in the 71st minute. Vanney was forced into making another big change with five minutes left in regulation when Altidore limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring problem. He was replaced by Ager Aketxe.
Delgado had a chance to win it in injury time for TFC. Giovinco scampered down the left and played a cross into the middle of the box for an unmarked Delgado. The young midfielder had all kinds of time, but he rushed his shot, ballooning it over the crossbar.
“I’m not a big believer in luck, I’m a believer in execution. That ball fell very nicely for Marky. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to hit the target. … It’s unfortunate that we didn’t execute in the moment. I don’t think it’s about luck for Chivas. We have to make them pay in that moment, and we didn’t,” Vanney offered.
That set the stage for an epic shootout, with Chivas holding their nerve as the Estadio Akron heaved with every successful penalty kick from the home side. Bradley’s miss sealed the result, sending the home fans into a state of delirium.
“We’re gutted. We thought we were good enough to win it. … Today it didn’t go our way,” Bono said.
“This is the way the game goes. It’s unjust sometimes. It feels like our hearts have been ripped for our chests.”
LIVERPOOL, England— The similarities between Juergen Klopp and Eusebio Di Francesco go far beyond their facial hair, designer glasses, and quirky humor. In terms of tactics, passion, mentality and their route taken in coaching, the managers of Liverpool and Roma appear to be cut from the same cloth, creating a fascinating subplot ahead of the […]
The post Champions League: Underdog spirit drives Klopp, Di Francesco appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
MADRID — Atletico Madrid lost 3-0 at Real Sociedad on Thursday, leaving Barcelona one victory away from clinching the Spanish league title. Barcelona, which drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo on Tuesday without most of its regular starters, can secure its 25th crown at Deportivo La Coruna on April 29. The Catalan club faces Sevilla in […]
The post Atletico defeat leaves Barcelona on brink of title appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
Get the beers in, it’s 57 days away.
While all the managers are focused on how they can kidnap Lionel Messi on the streets of Moscow and how to say man-mark in Russian there are a few modern legends of the game staking their claim for a place in those first class plane seats.
There are a number over-thirties banging them in across the world and international managers need to listen up and make one more space in their squad list for these stars in their twilight.
The last person to look him directly in the eye turned to stoneAFP or licensors
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, making the MLS great again.
Ibra has gone to LA Galaxy for a late-career swansong and no doubt bucket loads of goals – he’s already banged in three in three.
And why shouldn’t he go to the World Cup?
He’s Sweden’s record goalscorer with 62 goals, he continues to score in club football and there’s barely an inch of fat on his tank of a body.
His country love him, he even has his own entry in the Swedish dictionary and on top of that He’s told the world he is going to the World Cup.
Who is Janne Andersson to say no?
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Point to the person you think should go to the World CupGetty Images - Getty
Argentina might be blessed with one of the best players to walk the planet and a delectable selection of back up strikers but there’s one man you have forgotten about.
Carlos Tevez returned to Argentina for his third spell at Boca Juniors and is proving that class is permanent and age is just a number.
Three goals in five games this season is enough to rival Paulo Dybala, isn’t it?
Well Jorge Sampaoli isn’t ruling out adding a few more caps to Tevez’s tally of 75.
And there’s no-one out there that wouldn’t love to see that beautiful FIFA combination of Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi one last time.
Doesn’t look a day over 34EPA
If there is one man who truly does deserve a call up to the World Cup it is Benfica’s Jonas.
He’s currently the top scorer in the Primeira Liga with 33 goals in 27 games and at 34 he is finding a whole new level to his game.
Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino are Tite’s strikers one and two but surely there’s room for a red hot plan C?
Jonas could be just what Brazil need when they’re struggling to breakdown Serbia’s rock solid backline.
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They say his neck muscles most represent that of an oxGetty Images - Getty
OK so France don’t really need any more strikers but how can you say no to Andre-Pierre Gignac.
Yes, Kylian Mbappe could win the Golden Boot, yes Antoine Griezmann is one of the best strikers in the world right and yes they’ve got perfect back-up options in Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud.
But Gignac is a beat and if you can hack it in the crazy world of Liga MX then you’ve definitely still got it.
He played in the Euros and I’m starting the petition for Gignac to the World Cup right now.
As all survivalists know, use the terrain to your advantagePA:Press Association
Lo and behold Harry Kane were to get injured between now and the World Cup but Gareth Southgate has to plan for these things.
And that is why he should seriously be considering calling on the unlimited talents of beanpole extraordinaire Peter Crouch.
His goal against West Ham, expertly nicking the ball out of Joe Hart’s grasp and slotting home was pure finishing instinct.
In scoring that one he became Stoke’s record Premier League goal scorer.
Need I continue?
Fine. If there has ever been a more Crouchy site than him using the defender’s dreadlocks to get a boost in the air and nod in a header then let me know.
READ MORE WORLD CUP GOODNESS:
Germany’s midfield options are completely stacked ahead of the 2018 World Cup Egypt are the World Cup dark horse everyone should be talking about Why Pep Guardiola could be the reason Argentina win the 2018 World Cup
TORONTO — From the outset of its 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League final, it was apparent that C.D. Guadalajara was much more prepared for its Canadian counterparts compared to previous opponents.
Fellow Mexican outfits Tigres U.A.N.L. and Club America were dispatched in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, and they shared a common trait. Both teams allowed TFC’s midfielders to dictate the game, be it in possession or on the counter without much fuss.
Guadalajara coach Matias Almeyda clearly did his homework and set up his side to hone in on Michael Bradley, Marky Delgado and Jonathan Osorio with a man-to-man press when the Reds midfielders had possession in the defensive third.
Bradley and Delgado were hounded by Rodolfo Pizarro and Michael Perez upon receiving the ball. That, in turn, forced the duo to look for the long pass, which was not very effective.
“We knew what the game was going to look like,” TFC head coach Greg Vanney said in his post-match press conference. “But I guess until you really experience a straight-up man-to-man game, then you take some things away from it.”
The attack didn’t really suffer, as TFC mustered seven attempts on target. Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore left the Chivas defence in tatters with some of their clever one-touch passing at the top of the box, only to shoot straight at goalkeeper Miguel Jimenez.
It was when those attacks broke down that TFC had a real dilemma. With Toronto’s midfield pushed up high into the final third, Pizarro, Orbelin Pineda, Alan Pulido and Jose Godinez were able to sweep forward on the counter into acres of open space.
Chivas never profited with a goal off of those counter-attacks. But the Mexican side did its job effectively. The TFC midfield was more rushed than usual and was disconnected from the forwards. That prompted Vanney to switch to a diamond with Auro Jr. bombing down the right in an advanced position against Guadalajara’s inexperienced full-back Alejandro Mayorga.
It also allowed TFC to mirror Chivas’ tactics.
“I thought that when we pushed Auro a little higher and played more like 4-4-2, it gave us one more guy in the attacking part of the field to press a little bit quicker,” said TFC captain Michael Bradley. “It meant that we covered the width of the field in the midfield a little better and between Auro and [Osorio], they could get to their outside backs a little bit quicker and we were able to spread the press a little bit higher up the field. That part was positive.”
Some of the midfield fluidity returned after Vanney’s mid-game tweak. Chivas eventually retreated and let Toronto own possession in the second half. Still, whenever TFC tried to build any attack through the midfield, there was a striped shirt right on Bradley’s heels.
One way to counter this in the second leg is letting the defenders build from the back. Chris Mavinga – who checked out after halftime due to cramps – is a capable ball-playing defender. Even Drew Moor had opportunities to pick out a pass.
“A lot of room in front me,” said Moor. “I was able to roll balls into our forwards fairly easily. Again, when you play man-to-man like they did a lot on the field, that’s going to happen. We’ll look to continue to do that and maybe just bring a little more quality out of each other and see if we can build off of it and how we can break them down a little bit better in the second leg.”
With Toronto down 2-1 after conceding two vital away goals, the Reds have to go on the front foot in the second leg on April 25. They won’t be devoid of opportunities, as Giovinco and Altidore proved. Chivas will likely deploy a similar strategy for the return match. The MLS Cup winners just have to be more clinical in front of goal.
“They’re going to be aggressive,” said Bradley. “But they’re going to be aggressive in a very man-to-man type way. If you can move quickly, if you can play forward, if you can move on the other side of things, then there is space. They get pulled around, they get dragged around, and I like our chances.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is no longer the joint fastest player on FIFA 18 – as EA Sports has made Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah quicker.
The Egyptian was once again named as the Premier League Player of the Month, and received his eighth upgraded card on FIFA 18.
His new card bumps the winger up to 93 overall – eight points higher than his base version.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won’t be too happy about thisRex Features
Notably, he now has 99 pace – making him one point faster than the 29-year-old Gabon and Arsenal speedster, who’s top card is rated at 98.
Salah’s latest card is also faster than Team of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, who boasts a stunning 98 pace and was the joint fastest in the game with Aubameyang.
The Egyptian ace, 25, has had a remarkable season with the Reds – and is the first player to ever win the PoTM award three times in one season.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Salah needs to score just six more goals in his remaining five games to break Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s record of most goals in a Premier League season. He’s currently netted 29.
Earlier this month, Salah came top of the list of players fans wanted to see on the FIFA 19 cover.
Remember, you can you keep up with all FIFA 19 news by following our detailed FIFA 19 explainer here.
By now you should know about Dream Team Weekender… possibly the most compelling new fantasy football game around.
What’s that? Oh, you haven’t heard about it? Well where have you been hiding for the last year or so?
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Salah has been the finest fantasy football favourite around this seasonNews Group Newspapers Ltd
Because hundreds of thousands of you have already given Weekender a go this season – and it’s easy to see why.
So what’s it all about?
Well, all you need to do is pick SEVEN players from the upcoming Saturday and Sunday games, with no transfer budget and no limit to the number of players you can pick from one club.
Could these 7 players steer you to glory?
It’s completely free to enter and there’s even a rather snazzy £5k jackpot to be won this weekend.
But how do you go about actually getting your hands on the tasty prizepot? Well here’s three very handy tips.
Don’t say we don’t spoil you…
1 Back one defence to shine
Getty Images - Getty The Spurs defence has been mighty impressive this season[/caption]
What’s better than one clean sheet? Well, three clean sheets of course.
While picking a goalkeeper and two defenders from the same side is a gamble, it certainly reaps the rewards if they all fire one weekend.
That way you’re guaranteed 15 points before you’ve even got to your goalscoring players.
2 Do your research
Ian Walton Pesky injuries can prove deadly[/caption]
That wasn’t meant to be patronising, but there really is nothing worse than picking an injured or suspended player.
In a traditional Season game it’s annoying but in Weekender that’s an almost terminal error.
Read up well in advance, check our handy tips and go for players firing on all cylinders.
3 Back a wildcard option
Getty - Contributor Arnautovic has shone in recent weeks[/caption]
It’s all very well and good picking the usual suspects – your Mo Salahs, your Harry Kanes of this world – but how are you going to stand out from the rest of the crowd?
That’s where a joker in the pack comes in handy.
Previous Weekender winners have been those who have placed their faith in someone a little different to do the business.
The likes of Marko Arnautovic and Glenn Murray have both scored highly this season.
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The Philippines takes the first of two cracks at a Women’s World Cup berth when the Malditas battle a powerhouse China side on Monday night in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup at Amman International Stadium in Jordan. Coming off a stunning 2-1 win over Jordan on Saturday, the Malditas are looking to clinch a semifinal […]
The post In-form Malditas go for World Cup berth appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
It’s time to catch your breath, folks.
Because the Manchester derby was everything we love about football and more.
Comebacks, great goals, drama, hard-tackles, heroes, villains and Alex Sanchez.
Where do we start?
REUTERS Game of the season? We think so[/caption]
Well, City went in at half-time 2-0 up and we all thought it’d be plain-sailing to the Premier League title from there.
But Jose Mourinho and his players had something else in mind and we can only imagine what he said in the dressing room at the break.
REUTERS Pogba grabbed United’s first of the second-half to spark the comeback[/caption]
Paul Pogba, whose name made the headlines on Friday when Pep Guardiola admitted his agent Mino Raiola offered him to City in January, grabbed a surprise goal on the 53rd minute.
And he only went and got the equaliser as well, with the Frenchman linking up with Alexis Sanchez who clipped the ball into the box for Pogba to rise high and powerfully head downwards past Ederson.
AFP or licensors The second was lovely[/caption]
But who would’ve expected a three goal turnaround, courtesy of Chris Smalling?
Smalling was undoubtedly at fault for Vincent Kompany’s opener, but full-on redeemed himself when he met with Sanchez’s free-kick into the box with a clean strike on the 69th minute.
Unbelievable scenes.
Someone put the champagne on ice… Man United have crashed the party 
#ManchesterDerby pic.twitter.com/gKBZVBjCbG
— Dream Team (@dreamteamfc) April 7, 2018
We went into this one thinking Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Man City in January was the game of the season, but this one trumps it thanks to the non-stop minute-to-minute drama.
AFP or licensors Smalling completed the turnaround[/caption]
Pogba and Sanchez each pulled off their best performances in a United shirt to date, while City went into full meltdown as their title win slipped through their fingers.
Fernandinho, Sergio Aguero, Danilo, Gabriel Jesus and Vincent Kompany each received bookings, as tempers flared between the two sets of players.
News Group Newspapers Ltd It all got very heated[/caption]
City will feel rightly aggrieved by some of the decisions by referee Martin Aktinson, especially being denied two clear penalties, which included a nasty challenge by Ashley Young on Aguero.
As if that wasn’t enough, David De Gea did what he does best by pulling off a sensational save in the 89th minute to deny Aguero a late equaliser.
AFP or licensors De Gea’s 89th minute save was world class[/caption]
So what next?
City cannot secure the title next week at Wembley when they face Spurs, with Guardiola’s side now needing two wins to mathematically get their hands on the Premier League trophy.
For what it’s worth, here’s what the best of Twitter had to say about today’s game.
City quite rightly lauded for how they play but the praise at times has been ludicrous. United and Liverpool have shown they're not unbeatable. And they're a damn long way away from being "The Greatest Premier League Side Ever
'
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) April 7, 2018
Quite plainly, everything we thought we knew about football this season has been called into question, with Mourinho’s side playing some stunning football while City looked well and truly shell-shocked.
What’s going on with Guardiola’s side?
PLAY DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER Pick seven players to win £10k!READ MORE:
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