It’s a crossover worthy of a summer Saturday afternoon, on the Autoroute du Soleil. This season, in England, the football championship has already seen thirteen changes of leader, after the first 33 days – out of 38. Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are within two points at the start of the final sprint. This Saturday April 14 and Sunday April 15 could be a real turning point, with the home defeats of the last two cities.
At the top of the standings at the start of the weekend, Arsenal lost on home soil against Aston Villa (0-2) on Sunday. After a balanced first act, where each of the two teams had a big chance in front of the net, the Gunners fans heaved a big sigh of relief when Youri Tielemans’ shot bounced successively under the crossbar, then to the base of the post. An alert which preceded two goals – signed by Jamaican Léon Bailey and Englishman Ollie Watkins – and an ultimately logical victory for the Birmingham club. Stoppage for the Londoners.
A week after a frustrating draw at Manchester United (2-2) and three days after a rout in the Europa League against Atalanta Bergamo (3-0 home defeat), Liverpool faltered again at Anfield stadium. . This 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace, an opponent ranked at the bottom of the table, could cost them dearly at the end of the season. On Sunday, the Reds attempted more than twenty shots, in vain, colliding with the crossbar and goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
These results do business for Manchester City. The day before, the new leader had improved his goal difference by winning 5-1 against relegated Luton Town. For this meeting placed between two rounds of the Champions League against Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola took advantage of his plethoric squad to give some breathing space to the usual starters (Rodri, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, etc.). The Belgian Jérémy Doku took the opportunity to shine by scoring a goal after a slalom in the defense and causing a penalty.
The top of the rankings as of Sunday April 14
- Manchester City 73 points (+44 on goal difference)
- Arsenal 71 points (+49)
- Liverpool 71 points (+41)
- Aston Villa 63 points (+19), but with one more match
- Tottenham 60 points (+16)
- Newcastle 50 points (+17)
- Manchester United 50 points (-1)
…
The full ranking can be found here.
Focus on these three competitors.
Arsenal, twenty years after the “Invincibles”
After retiring as a player in 2016, Mikel Arteta became Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach at Manchester City. For three and a half years, the Spaniard learned the trade in the shadow of his compatriot. Until the call from his former club, Arsenal. A formation then in gradual decline season after season.
It took time, but the big comeback came last season. After a “great” start which allowed them to be in the lead for several months, the team from north London ended up being overtaken… by the Citizens in the home straight of the championship. This season, the student Arteta hopes to surpass the master Guardiola.
Like Manchester City, his team is careful not to get rid of the ball. It relies on wingers in “false feet”, that is to say side players who have the profile to attack the inside of the game rather than spilling out along the touchline.
Gunners supporters have been waiting for this championship title for twenty years and the coronation of the “Invincibles”, the nickname of Thierry Henry and his teammates, who made history by going through the 2003-2004 financial year without losing a single match.
Their upcoming schedule: Wolverhampton away, Chelsea at home, Tottenham away, Bournemouth at home, Manchester United away and Everton at home.
They are also in the race… in the Champions League.
Liverpool, for one last Klopp
One day, perhaps, he will be made a statue, like his illustrious predecessors Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. In the annals of Liverpool FC, Jurgen Klopp has written a successful chapter, the final page of which remains to be blackened.
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The coach who has won almost everything with the Reds since 2015 (including a Champions League in 2019) will pass the baton at the end of the season. “I’m running out of energy”he announced in a serious tone, in front of the club camera, in January.
Behind the trophies, the German will also leave the imprint of his style: the « gegenpressing », counter-pressing in French. Or when a team turns into a swarm of bees on the ball carrier in the seconds following his loss; the goal being to recover the leather quickly and then catch the opponent by surprise before he has time to reorganize defensively.
In 2020, Liverpool won an English championship title which had eluded them since 1990, but the popular celebration was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. A consecration this year could have a better flavor.
Their upcoming schedule: Fulham, Everton and West Ham away, Tottenham at home, Aston Villa away and Wolverhampton at home.
They are also in the race… in the Europa League.
Manchester City, in continuity
Gone are the days when Manchester City fans suffered from comparison to their neighbors United. Bought in 2008 by the Emirati billionaire, Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the sky and white club attracted Pep Guardiola to its bench in 2015. Colossal financial resources were available, but they still had to be leveraged in the championship of the biggest clubs. more fortunate. Mission accomplished.
Champions of England in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Skyblues are still candidates for their succession, always with the Guardiola style: combined play on the ground and attacks patiently constructed from the eleventh outfield player who is their goalkeeper. This team has found its last missing link in the person of Erling Haaland, pivot in the penalty area and serial scorer.
“They have raised the bar to levels never seen before in football”, observed Mikel Arteta a few weeks ago about the training of his mentor. However, he added, “we have gotten closer to them over the last two or three years”.
Their upcoming schedule: Brighton and Nottingham Forest away, Wolverhampton at home, Fulham and Tottenham away and West Ham at home.
They are also in the race… in the Champions League and the FA Cup.
Florian Lefèvre
Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool neck and neck for the title of champion of England
AFL Round-Up: Carlton lose a tight contest, Brisbane breaks their MCG hoodoo and Fremantle heartbroken in Adelaide again
#AFL #RoundUp #Carlton #lose #tight #contest #Brisbane #breaks #MCG #hoodoo #Fremantle #heartbroken #Adelaide
Round five produced the unexpected with an undefeated team losing to a winless side, a premiership contender silencing doubt around its history at the MCG, and several games keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Here are the biggest talking points from every game of round five.
1. Brisbane finally get a home-and-away win at the MCG
No matter how well the Brisbane Lions have played over the past few years, the lingering doubt over the inability to win at the MCG has haunted them.
Despite defeating the Demons at the ‘G in a 2022 semi-final, the Lions still had not recorded a home-and-away win there since 2014.
Cam Rayner of the Lions (right) celebrates after teammate Eric Hipwood during Brisbane’s win at the MCG.(AAP: James Ross)
Staring down the barrel of a 1-4 start to the season, the Lions smothered Melbourne on Thursday night in what was easily their best performance through five rounds.
While the focus was on two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale in his 250th game, it was Cam Rayner who got plenty of the plaudits.
Moved into the midfield from the start of the contest, Rayner’s work from stoppages gave Brisbane platforms to launch attacks into the forward 50.
He had nine clearances for the match, a career-high, with six of them coming in the first term.
He combined that with 25 disposals, four tackles and two goal assists to produce a starring performance.
It would be hard for Brisbane coach Chris Fagen not to keep Rayner in the middle this Saturday against the Cats, but the suspension of Charlie Cameron may force him to keep Rayner forward.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Cam Rayner (Brisbane)
2. Josh Dunkley (Brisbane)
1. Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
2. Good dogs, bad Dogs
The Western Bulldogs have two wins and three losses this season — reflective of their inconsistency.
Marcus Bontempelli and the Bulldogs look dejected after defeat to Essendon.(AFL Photos via Getty Images: Michae Wilson)
Coming off a valiant loss to Geelong in Gather Round where they matched it with one of the season’s early pace setters, the Bulldogs were expected to beat an Essendon side that had won nine of their last 10 against.
But their frailties — which have been coupled with patches of excellence in 2024 — were on display at Docklands.
They were well beaten in the stoppage, losing out 27-35 in clearances against the Bombers. They lost hit-outs 35-23, while conceding 44 points from stoppage.
Set shots were another area in need of improvement, with the Bulldogs creating too many opportunities to only come away with 9.13.
Luke Beveridge, under fire for some interesting team selection and tactical decisions, needs a quick turnaround ahead of their clash with St Kilda on Thursday night.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Sam Durham (Essendon)
2. Kyle Langford (Essendon)
1. Zach Merrett (Essendon)
3. Giants count the cost of victory
At one point in the final quarter, GWS held a 35-point lead over St Kilda.
They had been brilliant all day but nearly let it slip as the Saints kicked six-straight goals to come within a point of the ladder leaders.
Stephen Coniglio of the Giants is carried off the ground during the round five AFL match against St Kilda.(Getty Images: Morgan Hancock)
GWS looked stuck in the mud in the final minutes and much of it was understandable.
The Giants had to activate their sub in the first quarter after fullback Sam Taylor was left motionless following a head collision with St Kilda’s Jack Steele.
Stephen Coniglio was then carried off the field with the best part of 12 minutes remaining in the final quarter — while the Giants still held a 28-point lead.
He is expected to miss two weeks with an MCL injury.
Josh Kelly also spent time on the bench in the final quarter with a rib issue, although was able to return.
Coach Adam Kingsley may be missing some star power but will be hoping to have Callan Ward available, who has not played since Opening Round against Collingwood.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Rowan Marshall (Saints)
2. Lachie Whitfield (Giants)
1. Lachie Ash (Giants)
4. Carlton finally lose a close one
The Crows looked gone for all money when the Blues led by 16 points with less than 10 minutes to go, before closing out the game with three straight majors, including Sam Berry’s winner inside the final two minutes.
After being masters of close games in the last 12 months, Michael Voss will be ruing a bunch of missed opportunities from his players in their attempts to close this one out.
Patrick Cripps and Carlton could rue their late collapse against Adelaide as they prepare to face a gruelling month of football.(AAP: Joel Carrett)
Voss will be particularly perturbed by the defensive miscommunication that led to Brayden Cook’s goal in the final quarter.
A hack kick inside 50 by Adelaide looked sure to be intercepted before two Carlton defenders got their wires crossed, allowing the Crows to centre the ball to Cook, who took a mark and duly slotted a goal to give his side hope.
While Carlton is currently sitting pretty with a 4-1 record after five matches, dropping this one may be something that hurts them down the line as they prepare to run through the gauntlet of matches against the Giants, Cats, Magpies and Demons over the next four weeks.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Sam Walsh (Blues)
2. Taylor Walker (Crows)
1. Izak Rankine (Crows)
5. Fremantle cruelled by another late collapse
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir must be wondering just what his side has to do to close out a nailbiter.
Longmuir’s Dockers were mighty impressive for the second time in two weeks against a fellow finals contender, only to come away with zero premiership points.
Andrew Brayshaw looked to have sealed the four points for the Dockers when his final quarter goal extended Freo’s lead to nine points with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
Justin Longmuir’s Fremantle side has coughed up late leads in the last two weeks.(AAP: Michael Errey)
Fremantle seemed set to secure the upset win when they still led by two kicks inside the final five minutes, before copping goals to Charlie Dixon and Jason Horne-Francis in a matter of minutes to steal defeat from the jaws of victory.
It’s one thing being competitive against some of the more talented teams in the competition, but it’s an entirely other thing being able to close them out when victory is in sight.
That step seems to be a little too far beyond Longmuir’s young Fremantle side, and it’s soured what would’ve otherwise been a very positive start to the season.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Ollie Wines (Power)
2. Caleb Serong (Dockers)
1. Ivan Soldo (Power)
6. Suns showcase ruthless side in demolition job of Hawks
Damien Hardwick has ushered in a ruthless era at the Gold Coast after arriving at the perennial battlers.
Hardwick rung the changes after two straight losses and was rewarded with a complete performance from his charges.
The Suns kicked the first three goals of this contest and never looked back, even as the Hawks managed to somehow stay in the match in the first half.
Matt Rowell and the Gold Coast Suns flexed their muscles against Jack Ginnivan’s Hawthorn side on Saturday night(AAP: Jason O’Brien)
Gold Coast has been blessed with an abundance of top picks over the last half decade and the kids are finally starting to take over as they become bona fide stars of the competition.
The Suns’ new-found star power was on full display against the winless Hawks, as the top two picks from the 2019 draft, Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, ran riot, while the number six pick from the 2018 draft, Ben King, briefly threatened to outscore the Hawks by himself.
Having amassed a host of young stars through the draft in recent years, there can be no excuses for Hardwick’s men this season. The assignment is simple: it’s finals or bust.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Noah Anderson (Suns)
2. Mac Andrew (Suns)
1. Touk Miller (Suns)
7. Big Cat rests as Roos’ struggles continue
In a weekend of surprises, Geelong offered nothing to those hoping for another upset.
North Melbourne young gun Colby McKercher was taken to hospital during the Kangaroos’ loss to Geelong.(AFL Photos via Getty Images: Michael Willson)
The Cats remained undefeated with a 75-point victory over the winless Kangaroos.
And they did it without Tom Hawkins, who was left out of the side as part of workload management, according to the club.
There was also no urgency to try to rush Patrick Dangerfield into the line-up on Sunday.
That is a luxury for coach Chris Scott, who knows his ambitions of a second flag in three years could hinge on the fitness of his superstars at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, the Kangaroos remain winless and may be sweating on the fitness of last year’s number two draft pick, Colby McKercher.
McKercher injured his ribs after coming together with Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron.
The hit was forceful enough for the 19-year-old to be taken to hospital for assessment.
It is another concern for coach Alastair Clarkson, who watched his side concede points too easily on Sunday afternoon.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
2. Max Holmes (Geelong)
1. Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne)
8. Old heads help Eagles open account
West Coast finally won its first game of the 2024 season with a convincing performance against a Richmond side that was severely undermanned.
While much of the talk surrounding anything Eagles this season has been centred around last year’s number one pick Harley Reid, it was some of his more experienced teammates who spearheaded this win.
Elliot Yeo’s career has been ravaged by injuries in the last four seasons, but the 30-year-old turned in a vintage performance to help the Eagles gain the ascendancy.
Elliot Yeo was at his absolute best in the clinches as West Coast opened its account with an impressive win over Richmond.(AAP: Gary Day)
Yeo was once one of the AFL’s most dominant clearance players, and wound back the clock against a young Tigers on-ball brigade, racking up 15 clearances in the win.
The two-time All-Australian combined well in the middle with Tim Kelly (29 disposals) and Reid, who was electric right from the outset in a much-heralded match-up with Richmond star Dustin Martin.
The Eagles were mighty impressive in a loss to Sydney last week, and the positive momentum from this victory comes at the best possible time for Adam Simpson’s charges with next weekend’s derby against Fremantle looming.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Elliot Yeo (West Coast)
2. Jake Waterman (West Coast)
1. Harley Reid (West Coast)
Barça will wear Karol G’s logo on its shirt against Real Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen mathematically achieved its first German soccer league championship title, this Sunday on the 29th matchday, ending with the help of its Spanish coach Xabi Alonso the hegemony of Bayern Munich, winner of the eleven previous editions.
Without yet losing a game so far this season, in any of the competitions, Leverkusen has flown towards the title and, after beating Werder Bremen 5-0 this Sunday in their BayArena, they have 16 points over Bayern Munich (2nd ) and Stuttgart (3rd), who can no longer catch up.
#CRONIO Xabi Alonso’s Bayer 04 Leverkusen became champions by winning the Bundesliga title for the first time in its 119-year history, coming back 5-0 at home to Werder Bremen on matchday 29.
This achievement ends the reign of Bayern Munich, champion… pic.twitter.com/HS6Y4vhFkH
— Cronio Digital Newspaper (@croniosv) April 14, 2024
Bayer Leverkusen depended on itself to be champion this Sunday, in front of its audience, and did not let this first match ball escape, unleashing the party in its stadium, where the fans invaded the field of play even in the last moments of the match , before the match ended, unleashing scenes of chaos due to the problems of stadium employees to contain the joy so that the clash could end.
Florian Wirtz’s goals in the 83rd and 90th minutes led to massive invasions of the pitch. The last moments of the match were also played in the middle of a red haze due to the smoke from the flares that the Leverkusen ultras lit in one of the backgrounds.
Before, Wirtz had scored another goal (68) in this match, in which Bayer Leverkusen’s first goals were scored by the Nigerian Victor Boniface (25 from a penalty) and by the Swiss Granit Xhaka (60).
It was the 43rd match without losing this season for Bayer Leverkusen, which has spectacular figures of 38 wins and 5 draws.
The harvest of the Werskelf (‘Factory Eleven’, nickname of a team founded by the chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer in 1904) may continue in the coming weeks. In the Europa League they will face West Ham on Thursday in London in the second leg of the quarterfinals, after getting the tie back on track with a 2-0 victory in Germany. In the German Cup, Leverkusen will be the big favorite in the final on May 25 in Berlin against Kaiserlautern, a team from the second division.
That Cup final will be played three days after the Europa League final in Dublin, in what could be the finishing touch to an unforgettable season.
There’s no holding back! 😭🥹😍🥰🖤❤️#ForOurDream #Winnerkusen #DeutscherMeisterSVB
#B04SVW 5:0 | #Bayer04 | #Werkself pic.twitter.com/oUTiPV3uz3
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) April 14, 2024
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Barça will wear Karol G’s logo on its shirt against Real Madrid