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BENZEMA SCORES BRACE AS REAL MADRID BEAT CADIZ

Real Madrid enjoyed a temporary respite from their European Super League humiliation by thrashing Cadiz 3-0 on Wednesday to keep the pressure on Atletico Madrid at the top of LaLiga.

Three goals in 10 minutes towards the end of the first half helped Madrid go top of the table on head-to-head, above Atletico Madrid, who play at home to Huesca on Thursday.

Karim Benzema scored twice and set up another for Alvaro Odriozola to head in at the Ramon de Carranza stadium, where any suggestion Madrid’s players might be destabilised after a hugely controversial few days was dismissed.

Madrid president Florentino Perez was the only owner from the European Super League’s 12 founding clubs to speak publicly about the competition following its remarkable launch on Sunday night.

And despite 10 of the 12 clubs pulling out in the face of anger and opposition from all sides of the game, Real Madrid was still officially part of the breakaway tournament when the players kicked off on Wednesday night.

LaLiga sought to capitalise on the momentum towards reform, with the slogan ‘Earn it! On the pitch’ projected for television viewers across the stand where the virtual fans would usually be.

Cadiz players wore t-shirts in the warm-up that read ‘Super League? Football is for everyone’.

Cadiz, who drop to 13th in the table, are a shining example of what sporting merit looks like, back in the top flight for the first time in 15 years and probably already safe, with nine points between them and the bottom three.

They even beat Real Madrid away from home in October.

But with the trophies in sight, Madrid are a different proposition now, this their 16th game unbeaten and returning the team to winning ways after Sunday’s goalless draw away at Getafe.

Casemiro and Nacho Fernandez were both suspended for that game and Zinedine Zidane welcomed the duo back into a side that remains depleted by injuries, with the 20-year-old Antonio Blanco thrown into Madrid’s midfield.

Benzema, though, led from the front, his pass into Vinicius Junior creating the penalty after Iza dangled out a leg in front of the striker.

Benzema buried the spot-kick into the bottom corner.

The second came three minutes later, Iza at fault again as he gave the ball away under pressure from Marcelo and Benzema crossed to the back post, where Odriozola nodded in.

In the 40th minute, it was three. Casemiro’s pass for Vinicius was cleared but only straight back to the midfielder, who this time chipped the ball up for Benzema to add his second, Madrid’s third.

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SON, BALE HANDS MASON WINNING START AS SPURS RETURNS FOCUS TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Tottenham took the first steps of moving on from their European Super League shame as they began life after Jose Mourinho with a late 2-1 Premier League win over Southampton.

It has been a tumultuous 72 hours for Spurs as since they last played at Everton on Friday night they joined the ESL, sacked Mourinho, appointed 29-year-old Ryan Mason as interim head coach and then, after much derision, buckled under the weight of extreme resistance to the breakaway plans and quit.

After fans protested before the game against chairman Daniel Levy and owners ENIC, things did not look like they were going to get better in the wake of Mourinho’s exit as Danny Ings gave Southampton a first-half lead.

But Gareth Bale, back in the side after being frozen out under Mourinho, levelled and then minutes after VAR had ruled out a Son Heung-min goal, the decision-review system awarded Spurs a penalty at the death, which Son struck home.

It was just the tonic the beleaguered club needed going into Sunday’s Carabao Cup final and they move back into the top six, just two points off the top four.

It was also a fairy-tale evening for Mason, who joined Spurs as an eight-year-old and was cruelly forced to retire as a player aged just 26, beginning what could be a seven-game reign with a win.

Southampton, who lost in the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend, have not enjoyed life in the Premier League in 2021 and are still not out of relegation danger, sitting just six points above the drop zone.

The stadium announcer began his pre-match address by saying “it has been an intriguing few days” and that does not quite do it justice.

Fans were not going to let Spurs forget their part in the much derided breakaway plans and a number of them gathered outside the ground to protest.

Events off the pitch had provided distraction from just how dismal it has been for Spurs on it recently, but once the action got under way it was soon back front and centre of everyone’s minds.

Southampton arrived with just three Premier League wins this year but should have gone ahead inside the first five minutes as goalkeeper Hugo Lloris produced a fine double save.

First he did brilliantly to palm away Mohammed Salisu’s header and then recovered superbly to keep out Che Adams’ follow-up with his legs.

Mourinho may no longer be in the building but the same defensive problems exist and Saints took a deserved lead after 30 minutes.

Ings got in front of Serge Aurier from a corner and sent a glancing header in off a post for his 12th goal of the season.

Mason had vowed to send his side out to be brave and aggressive, but, robbed of star man Harry Kane, it was a lifeless performance in the opening 45 minutes.

However, they should have gone in level at half-time as Lucas Moura missed a great chance as he blazed over at the far post.

It did not take much, but there was a big improvement after the break and Bale was at the forefront of it.

A lovely flick teed-up Son, whose shot was blocked, and then a trademark swerving effort from distance tested the handling of Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

The deserved equaliser came on the hour and it was a moment of class from Bale.

Tottenham’s best move of the game saw Tanguy Ndombele, Son and Moura combine, with the latter’s blocked shot falling to the Welshman at the far post and he sent a delicious curling effort in off the far post.

Spurs thought they had scored the winner 16 minutes from time with what looked like a lovely goal.

Giovani Lo Celso played in Sergio Reguilon, whose pull-back to Son was arrowed into the bottom corner. However, VAR spotted Moura in an offside position in McCarthy’s line of sight, even though the goalkeeper had no chance of saving it.

But VAR paid them back in the 89th minute as, after a free-kick was initially awarded by referee David Coote for a foul by Moussa Djenepo, replays showed it took place on the line of the 18-yard box and was ruled as a penalty.

Son stepped up to strike home the spot-kick and give Spurs fresh impetus.

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MAURIZIO SARRI LINKED TO TOTTEHAM MANAGER ROLE

Maurizio Sarri, the former Chelsea manager who most recently was at Juventus, has been linked with the vacant hot seat at Tottenham, reports the Daily Mail.

The paper says Spurs have been in touch with the Italian to offer the job from the start of next season.

It comes after Jose Mourinho was sacked this week, with the Portuguese said to be in the running to be named Celtic manager, according to the Sun. The Scottish side have been without a manager since Neil Lennon resigned in February.

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LIVERPOOL OWNER JOHN W HENRY APOLOGISES TO FANS OVER EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE

Liverpool’s principal owner John W Henry has apologised for his part in the proposed European Super League.

Henry said in a video posted by the club on Twitter that the breakaway project would only have worked with fans’ full support.

“I want to apologise to all the fans and supporters of Liverpool Football Club for the disruption I caused over the last 48 hours,” he said.

“It goes without saying but should be said, the project put forward was never going to stand without the support of the fans.

“No-one ever thought differently in England. Over these 48 hours you were very clear that it would not stand. We heard you. I heard you.”

Henry spoke of the “hurt” being felt and also apologised to manager Jurgen Klopp, his staff and players “and to everyone who works so hard at LFC to make our fans proud”.

“They have absolutely no responsibility for this disruption,” Henry said. “They were the most disrupted and unfairly so. This is what hurts most.

“They love your club and work to make you proud every single day. I know the entire LFC team has the expertise and passion necessary to rebuild trust and help us move forward.

“More than a decade ago when we signed up for the challenges associated with football we dreamed of what you dreamed of and we’ve worked hard to improve your club.

“Our work isn’t done and I hope you understand that even when we make mistakes, we’re trying to work in your club’s best interests.”

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NORWICH CITY TITLE CELEBRATIONS ON HOLD AFTER DEFEAT TO WATFORD

Norwich City’s Championship title celebrations were put on ice as they lost 1-0 at home to second-placed Watford on Tuesday.

Dan Gosling’s 57th-minute goal earned the visitors the points to put them on the verge of joining already-promoted Norwich back in the top flight after one season.

Norwich have 90 points to Watford’s 85 with three games left.

Lyndon Dykes scored in the 89th minute with his sixth goal in seven games to send QPR eighth.

Fourth-placed Brentford’s slim automatic promotion hopes were all but dashed as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Cardiff City to continue their slump in form.

The Bees, who suffered a late season collapse before losing to Fulham in the playoff final last season, have 75 points with four games to play, with Bournemouth on 74 and Barnsley on 71.

At the bottom, last-but-one Sheffield Wednesday staved off relegation for another day after beating Blackburn 1-0 while Wayne Rooney’s Derby County remained in danger after a 3-0 hammering at Preston.

Derby are on the edge of the drop zone, four points clear of Rotherham United — who have three games in hand — and Wednesday, whose hopes were kept alive by Josh Windass’s deflected winner.

Wycombe Wanderers are bottom, five points behind Wednesday.

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EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE TO ‘RESHAPE PROJECT’ AFTER PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS’ WITHDRAWAL

Organisers of the European Super League say they plan to “reshape” the controversial project after being hit by the withdrawals of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham were all announced as being among the 12 founder members of the breakaway competition on Sunday, but on Tuesday night all of those clubs announced in quick succession that they were enacting protocol to pull out following fan protests and a huge backlash from players, managers, football authorities, leagues, pundits and governments alike.

The Super League responded to those withdrawals with a statement released in the early hours of Wednesday morning in which they reiterated their belief that the existing European football structure is not fit for purpose and said that the English clubs had been “forced” to withdraw as a result of the significant pressure applied from those opposing the proposals.

They added that they plan to now take the “most appropriate steps to reshape the project” moving forward.

“The European Super League is convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change,” the statement read

“We are proposing a new European competition because the existing system does not work.

“Our proposal is aimed at allowing the sport to evolve while generating resources and stability for the full football pyramid, including helping to overcome the financial difficulties experienced by the entire football community as a result of the pandemic.

“It would also provide materially enhanced solidarity payments to all football stakeholders.

“Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure put on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations as was demonstrated today by a court decision to protect the Super League from third party actions.

“Given the current circumstances, we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always having in mind our goals of offering fans the best experience possible while enhancing solidarity payments for the entire football community.”

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REPORT: DAVID ALABA SET TO SIGN FIVE YEAR DEAL WITH REAL MADRID

Amid all the chaos today of the proposed (and completely and utterly failed) Super League, a report from Sky broke that David Alaba has agreed to a five-year contract with Real Madrid that would see him join Los Blancos this summer, and remain with the club until 2026.

The same report also stated that the versatile Austrian defender is no longer interested in joining FC Barcelona.

Real Madrid have a history of leaking or announcing deals right after a bad situation, in order to provide fans with a distraction to other problems. This may or may not be that. Either way, it’s not much of a distraction from the real embarrassment the club suffered publicly as the Super League fell apart.

Should Alaba sign, it will be interesting to see what happens with the Sergio Ramos contract negotiations as a domino of this move. Will Ramos and Nacho both stay with the club?

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SCHALKE RELEGATED FROM THE BUNDESLIGA AFTER 30 YEARS OF STAY

Bottom side Schalke had their relegation confirmed by a 1-0 defeat at Arminia Bielefeld after 30 consecutive years in Germany’s top flight.

Earlier, RB Leipzig crashed to a 2-1 defeat at second-from-bottom Cologne, whose captain Jonas Hector scored the first Bundesliga brace of his career to end a miserable run of nine league games without a win.

“Cologne fought and showed passion,” admitted Leipzig attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg.

“We had a few chances, but unfortunately we aren’t taking advantage of them at the moment and, of course, we are disappointed about that.”

After a goalless first-half in Cologne, the match burst into life after the break.

Germany international Hector headed his side into the lead just 56 seconds into the second half with the visitors’ defence napping.

Leipzig hit back on 59 minutes when Malian midfielder Amadou Haidara was left unmarked to launch his shot from the edge of the area past Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn.

Just 100 seconds after Cologne conceded the equaliser, Hector struck again when he collected a flick just outside the box, held off his marker and fired into the bottom corner.

“Today, everyone did everything for the win— that is crucial for the coming weeks,” added Jonas Hector with Cologne still in one of the automatic relegation places.

The result boosts Cologne’s survival hopes with games against mid-table sides Augsburg and Freiburg to come before facing strugglers Hertha Berlin away on the last day of the season.

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BAYERN SET FOR NINTH STRAIGHT TITLE AFTER BEATING BAYER LEVERKUSEN

Bayern Munich can be crowned Bundesliga champions this weekend after taking a 10-point lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 win at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.

Bayern seized control at the Allianz Arena with early goals by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Joshua Kimmich after second-placed RB Leipzig had earlier suffered a shock defeat at relegation-threatened Cologne.

With just four games to go, club world champions Bayern will be guaranteed a ninth German league title in a row with a win at Mainz on Saturday.

“I told the team before the game, that we could take a huge step towards the title, which we have done. We want to now also win in Mainz,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick.

Off the field, Bayern are in disarray since Flick dropped a bombshell on Saturday by saying he wants to be released from his contract at the end of the season.

Bayern’s senior bosses responded by saying it “disapproves of the one-sided communication by Hansi Flick” and wants to focus on this week’s games.

The Bavarian giants were also adamant on Tuesday that they will not join the breakaway Super League.

On the pitch, it was business as usual as Bayern quickly dominated Leverkusen and scored from their first attack.

When Thomas Mueller’s shot was saved, Choupo-Moting was on hand to tap home the rebound on seven minutes.

Kimmich added Bayern’s second goal on 14 minutes when David Alaba’s cross only went as far as the Germany midfielder who fired home from the edge of the area.

Leverkusen raised their game after the break with Leon Bailey firing past Manuel Neuer, but his goal was ruled offside.

Choupo-Moting had the ball in the Leverkusen net for the second time with 25 minutes left but his effort was ruled offside.

Bailey’s cross across the six-yard box was then fired off the crossbar by Karim Bellarabi on 69 minutes.

Eintracht Frankfurt moved up to third with a 2-0 home win over Augsburg thanks to goals by midfielder Martin Hinteregger and striker Andre Silva, who claimed his 24th league goal this season.

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ED WOODWARD RESIGNS AS MAN UNITED’S EXECUTIVE VICE-CHAIRMAN

Ed Woodward has resigned as Manchester United executive vice-chairman and will leave at the end of the year.

The 49-year-old joined the club in 2005 and becomes the first high-profile departure since plans for the now stuttering Super League were unveiled on Sunday evening.

Woodward’s exit is understood to be amicable with the owners, the Glazer family, and he will continue in his role until the end of 2021.

“I am extremely proud to have served United and it has been an honour to work for the world’s greatest football club for the past 16 years,” the outgoing executive vice-chairman said.

“The club is well positioned for the future and it will be difficult to walk away at the end of the year.

“I will treasure the memories from my time at Old Trafford, during a period when we won the Europa League, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

“I am proud of the regeneration of the club’s culture and our return to the Manchester United way of playing.

“We have invested more than £1billion in the squad during my time here and I am particularly delighted with the progress the players have made under the astute leadership of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his coaching team in the last two years.

“I am sure that with the changes we have made on-field and to the coaching and football staff in recent years this great club will soon be lifting silverware again. It deserves to.

“I desperately wanted the club to win the Premier League during my tenure and I am certain that the foundations are in place for us to win it back for our passionate fans.”

Concluding a lengthy statement, Woodward said: “I would like to thank United’s passionate fans for their support during the good and bad times.

“I know this has been a challenging period in our history, but your support for the team has never, ever been in doubt.

“Finally, it has been a pleasure to work with so many magnificent, talented and hard-working people.”

Woodward made no mention of the Super League in his comments and it is reported that his exit his unrelated to the controversial plans.

The 49-year-old played a key role in the newfangled competition and was singled out for criticism by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

News of the breakaway league has been met by intense and relentless criticism, with the Old Trafford giants among six Premier League clubs to join the 12-strong breakaway European competition.

United co-chairman Joel Glazer was named as vice-chairman of the Super League, hailing it as a “new chapter” amid a storm of condemnation.

In a statement confirming Woodward’s departure, Glazer said: “Ed Woodward has served the club with great distinction. On behalf of everyone at United I would like to place on record our sincere thanks for his tireless work and dedication.

“His contribution to the club has been massive, and he will always be welcome at Old Trafford as a part of the Manchester United family.”

A significant figure in the Glazers’ controversial takeover in 2005, he took responsibility of United’s commercial and media operations two years later.

Promoted to executive vice-chairman in 2012, he took over the responsibilities of departing chief executive David Gill on July 1, 2013 and proved an unpopular figure with fans.

Big-money signings brought precious little success during his time calling the shots.

Woodward wielded the axe on Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor David Moyes towards the end of a poor first season.

Louis Van Gaal came in and had a topsy-turvy time in charge, with the Dutchman sacked just days after winning the FA Cup in 2016 – the club’s first major trophy since Ferguson retired.

Jose Mourinho arrived, winning the EFL Cup and Europa League in his first term as United boss and leading them to the second in the Premier League in 2017/18.

But things unravelled and he was dismissed in December 2018, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought in on an interim basis and impressing enough to get the job permanently.

The Norwegian has led United through to this season’s Europa League semi-finals and second in the Premier League, putting them on course for back-to-back top-four finishes for the first time since Ferguson stepped down.