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Real Madrid end Title winning season with a draw

Champions Real Madrid drew their final La Liga game which relegated opponents Leganes to the second division.

Celta Vigo’s goalless draw at Espanyol was enough to keep them up by a single point at the expense of Leganes.

Captain Sergio Ramos netted his 12th goal of the season by heading in from Isco’s cross for Real, who had wrapped up the title in their previous game.

Bryan Gil and Roger Assale netted either side of Marco Asensio’s strike but it was not enough for the visitors.

Leganes needed to find a late goal to leap out of the bottom three and Oscar broke forward in the 96th minute, but lashed his effort over from the edge of the area.

Zinedine Zidane’s side will look to overturn a 2-1 first-leg loss against Manchester City in the Champions League last 16 when they return to action in August.

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Messi breaks Xavi record as Barcelona win


Lionel Messi won his seventh La Liga golden boot – and his fourth in a row – after scoring twice in Barcelona’s win over Alaves on the final day.

The Barca captain finished on 25 goals, four clear of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

The game was not of importance as Real clinched the La Liga title on Thursday.

Messi rounded the keeper to make it 2-0 and swept in a fifth – with teenager Ansu Fati, Luis Suarez and Nelson Semedo scoring the other goals.

Riqui Puig, Messi and Arturo Vidal all hit the woodwork before Fati opened the scoring.

This is the first time La Liga’s top scorer has managed fewer than 30 goals since Mallorca’s Daniel Guiza 12 years ago.

Barca, who only named five out of a possible 12 substitutes, host Napoli in the Champions League last-16 second leg on 8 August, having drawn 1-1 in Italy.

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ARSENAL DEFEAT MAN CITY

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta outmanoeuvred his mentor Pep Guardiola as the Gunners reached the FA Cup final with victory at Wembley.

Arteta, who left his job as Manchester City assistant manager to succeed Unai Emery at Arsenal in December, now has a chance to mark his first season in charge with major silverware when they face Chelsea or Manchester United in the final on 1 August.

The match-winner was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the world-class striker Arsenal are desperate to secure on a new long-term contract, as he ruthlessly exposed City’s defensive deficiencies.

Aubameyang had already shot straight at Ederson with one clear chance but there was no escape for City after 19 minutes when he showed great technique to steer home Nicolas Pepe’s cross with the outside of his foot at the far post.

City dominated possession after the break but squandered their opportunities and Aubameyang made them pay once more in the 71st minute when he raced away on the angle to slide a composed finish under the keeper.

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Bielsa has street named after him in leeds

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa is set to have a street named after him after he led the club to Premier League promotion.

The Yorkshire side have endured a 16-year long exodus from the English topflight after suffering relegation back in 2004.

Bielsa’s side secured promotion and the Championship title without kicking a ball as West Brom’s shock defeat to Huddersfield and Brentford loss to Stoke City left them at the summit of the second division and crowned champions of the league.

According to the Athletic, the Argentinian manager will be honoured in Leeds by having a street named after him.

A street close to Leeds’ Trinity centre in the heart of the city is now set to be named ‘Marcelo Bielsa Way’ and a mock-up sign has been doing the rounds on social media.

There was more good news for Bielsa, as it was revealed that their promotion to the topflight will earn them a £200million windfall.

That influx of cash will allow him to spend enough to attract some big names to Elland Road as they prepare to rub shoulders with the countries best.

Dr Rob Wilson, a football finance expert, told reporters that promotion ‘should bring up to £140m in the first season for the club’.

If Leeds are then immediately relegated, they will still be set to receive £70million in ‘parachute payments’, guaranteeing the club over £200m.

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Bale left out of squad for Madrid last game

Gareth Bale has been omitted from Real Madrid’s 22-man squad for their final La Liga game of the season against Leganes on Sunday.

Bale was an unused substitute in the game which secured Real’s 34th Spanish league triumph, a 2-1 win over Villarreal on Thursday night.

The Welshman has made two appearances in Madrid’s 10 matches since the season restarted after lockdown in June.

Eden Hazard also misses out on Zinedine Zidane’s squad.

Bale has made headlines in recent weeks for his actions while sitting alongside fellow substitutes during matches, and he appeared to be on the fringes once more as Zidane’s team celebrated the title.

The forward, who turned 31 on the day his side won the league, was pictured standing at a distance with arms folded as manager Zidane was thrown in the air by some of the Real players.

Bale has made only 16 La Liga appearances all season, starting 12 matches.

Hosts Leganes are 18th in the table, a point behind Celta Vigo, and must beat the newly crowned champions to avoid relegation from the Spanish top flight.

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Ole defends his players

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his Manchester United players are not divers and “none of them try to con the referee at all”.

Before Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final Chelsea boss Frank Lampard suggested that United have “got a few decisions in their favour” in recent weeks.

Solskjaer said: “I’ll defend my players 100%.

“Some ankles could have been broken this season. I just want them to be protected.”

United are unbeaten in 19 games in all competitions and opponents have been angered by some recent decisions.

In midweek Crystal Palace were furious that they were denied a penalty when Wilfried Zaha tangled with Victor Lindelof, and then had a potential equaliser from Jordan Ayew ruled out by VAR for a very marginal offside.

And Bruno Fernandes won a penalty at Villa Park earlier this month which Villa boss Dean Smith called a “disgraceful decision”.

Referring to that decision, Lampard said this week: “Fernandes is very clever in his movement. We saw that at Aston Villa to make something feel like a penalty where maybe it even isn’t.

“As a player we can talk about VAR decisions and whether they’re right or wrong. But if a player is going to dangle a leg and not move their feet then you obviously do leave yourself open to penalties, VAR or no VAR.’

Solskjaer, speaking before his side meet Chelsea at Wembley, said: “If you’ve got quick feet like Dan James, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood you’ll get tackled outside and inside the box,” said Solskjaer.

“We’ve earned our right to any decision this season. We’ve had decisions overturned from being against us to being for us which means the initial decision was against us.

“It’s up to the referee but there’s too many people talking and trying to influence people, I don’t want to. VAR is there to help get more correct decisions.

“I’ve always said a factual decision is a fact so 1cm or 1m offside you’re offside that’s just how it is in football now.”

United are aiming to win the FA Cup for a record-equalling 13th time this season and Solskjaer – who won the trophy twice as a player for the club – knows the importance of adding more silverware to the Old Trafford cabinets.

“When you are at United, yes, you need to win trophies,” he said.

“That’s what we’ve done in our history, and we want to win trophies playing the right way.

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QUIQUE SETIEN WON’T RESIGN DESPITE MESSI OUTBURST.

Beleaguered Barcelona coach Quique Setien has said he did not feel criticised by Lionel Messi’s outburst after Thursday’s shock 2-1 defeat to Osasuna and insists he has not thought about resigning.


Messi branded Barca “inconsistent” and “weak” in an angry postmatch interview after Real Madrid were crowned La Liga champions for the first time since 2017.


The forward also said performances since January had been especially bad. That comment was interpreted by many as a dig at Setien, who replaced former coach Ernesto Valverde in the Camp Nou dugout at the turn of the year with the team top of the table at the time.


“No, not at all,” Setien said in a news conference on Saturday when asked if he felt singled out by Messi. “I think in certain moments we all say things that are interpreted badly. It’s the fruit of a moment of frustration.”


Messi went on to say that if drastic changes are not made then Barca would lose to Napoli in the Champions League next month as the club face the prospect of a first trophy-less season since 2007-08.


“Some things we agree on and other things we don’t,” Setien added. “[Messi] is right to say that if we play as badly as we have done in some games, we won’t win anything.


“But we have also played well in other games and, playing like that, we could win things. We have to be more consistent. If we manage to play as we did against Villarreal, we could win the Champions League.”


Sources close to the club say after Barca’s draw with Celta Vigo in June that Setien’s relationship with his players was strained. He admits it has been challenging to control a dressing room that has enjoyed so much success.
“The players here have been winning everything for the last 15 years and the management of these players is totally different to other teams,” he said. “There have been some situations that have been difficult to resolve, but I don’t think anything out of the ordinary in a dressing room like this one.”

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Andre schurrle retires from Football

World Cup winner Andre Schurrle says he doesn’t “need the applause any more” after announcing his retirement at 29.

The Germany forward had a year left on his deal with Borussia Dortmund but the two parties agreed to cancel it.

Schurrle, who helped his country win the 2014 World Cup, had a spell at Chelsea and was on loan at Fulham.

“The decision matured in me for a long time,” he told German newspaper Der Speigel. “The depths became deeper and the highlights less and less.”

Schurrle played for Chelsea from 2013-15 and won a Premier League winners medal in 2015 despite leaving the club for Wolfsburg part-way through the season.

“I want to let you know that I’m stepping away from playing professional football,” added on social media.

“On behalf of myself and my family I want to thank everybody who was a part of these phenomenal years.

“The support and love you shared with me was unbelievable and more I could have ever asked for. Now I’m ready and open for all the beautiful possibilities that are coming towards me.”

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Fans will soon be allowed in Stadiums

Fans could be able to return to stadiums in England from October, says Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Pilots will take place from 1 August but any stadium reopenings would be subject to coronavirus guidelines.

Some sports, including football and cricket, have resumed behind closed doors after the Covid-19 lockdown.

“We will pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn,” said Johnson on Friday.

“From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadiums.

“Again, these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.”

The pilot projects will be held at:

  • Two men’s county cricket friendly matches – including Surrey v Middlesex at The Oval on 26-27 July;
  • The World Snooker Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre from 31 July;
  • The Goodwood horse racing festival – known as Glorious Goodwood – on 1 August.

The Racecourse Association said the Goodwood event has been designed for up to 5,000 people, plus participants.

“For months, millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event,” said Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston.

“So I am pleased that we are now able to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans.

“I recognise that not every sport, team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue, and it is often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which helps keep them going. By working closely with sports and medical experts, these pilots will help ensure the safe return of fans to stadiums.

“Although it will remain some time before venues are full to capacity, this is a major step in the right direction for the resumption of live spectator sport across the country.”

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport also said further pilot events are likely to be held in other sports.

In order for fans to return to stadiums, the government has outlined operating guidelines that state:

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Manchester United still in fight for Champions league space

Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in south London on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United have “earned the right” to challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League after a “fantastic” spell of post-lockdown form, says boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United maintained their relentless pursuit of a place in the Champions League with a hard-fought win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Solskjaer’s side were under pressure after Leicester City’s earlier victory over Sheffield United and responded with a victory that keeps them in fifth place, level on points with the Foxes but with an inferior goal difference.

It extended United’s unbeaten run to 19 games in all competitions, and Solskjaer believes United, who are still in the FA Cup and Europa League, have set themselves up for a thrilling end to the season.

“No-one thought in January that we would be in with a shout for top four,” he said.

“We have done fantastic since the restart. These are the games that matter. That is the thing at Manchester United, you have to step up and show your personality.”

United were made to work for their victory, Marcus Rashford breaking the deadlock with a stylish finish in first-half stoppage time before playing his part in a sweet move involving Bruno Fernandes that was rounded off by Anthony Martial in the 78th minute.

Palace felt a real sense of injustice, furious that they were denied a penalty just before United took the lead when Wilfried Zaha tangled with Victor Lindelof, and then seeing a potential 55th-minute equaliser from Jordan Ayew ruled out by VAR for a very marginal offside.

It meant Roy Hodgson’s side slumped to their sixth consecutive league loss and their night was made worse when defender Patrick van Aanholt suffered a dislocated shoulder after trying to prevent Martial scoring United’s second.