International Football Thread

[ghazi52]

Arsenal regain EPL top spot​

AFP

Arteta's side are three points clear of second-placed Manchester City

​

 

[ghazi52]

Barcelona on brink of La Liga triumph​

Lopez and Rashford scored in Barca’s 2-0 triumph over Getafe

AFP
April 26, 2026

GETAFE: Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford's goals took Barcelona to the brink of the La Liga title with a 2-0 win at Getafe on Saturday.

Later on Atletico Madrid edged Athletic Bilbao 3-2 to build confidence before their Champions League semi-final battle with Arsenal.

Defending Spanish champions Barca moved 11 points clear of second place Real Madrid, who drew at Real Betis on Friday to dent their hopes of finishing the season with a trophy.

Hansi Flick's side can win their second consecutive Spanish title if they overcome Osasuna next weekend and Real Madrid fail to beat Espanyol.

"It's not done, we have five more games and we're only focused on the next one," Flick told reporters.

 

[ghazi52]

Arsenal reclaim top spot as Tottenham and West Ham both win​

• Liverpool climbed above Aston Villa into fourth in the ⁠table on 58 points with their 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace

By Reuters
April 26, 2026



Photo: Reuters

WOLVERHAMPTON: Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League on Saturday after scrapping their way to a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, easing concerns over their dip in form.

The win ended a run of back‑to‑back league defeats against Bournemouth and Manchester City ‌that had cost Mikel Arteta’s side their grip on first place for the first time since October, with Eberechi Eze’s early strike enough to secure a hard‑fought three points.

At the other end of the table, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United earned vital wins in their relegation fight, Spurs edging bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 as Joao Palhinha struck late to end a long winless streak and West Ham beating Everton 2-1.

Palhinha’s goal in the 82nd minute lifted Spurs to 34 points, but 17th-placed West Ham ensured the pressure remained firmly on their London rivals, moving to 36 points with four games remaining, leaving Tottenham still in the drop zone, one place behind them.

Liverpool climbed above Aston Villa into fourth in the ⁠table on 58 points with their 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace to help solidify their bid for a Champions League spot next season.

 

[ghazi52]

Fernandez sends Chelsea into FA Cup final​

The Blues will face Manchester City following a 1-0 victory

AFP
April 27, 2026

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez (2R) headed the winner against Leeds. Photo: AFP

Enzo Fernandez fired Chelsea into the FA Cup final against Manchester City as the Argentine sealed a 1-0 win against Leeds in the Blues' first match after Liam Rosenior's sacking.

Fernandez's first-half header in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley was an ironic twist after another farcical chapter in Chelsea's turbulent recent history.

The 25-year-old midfielder emerged as a divisive figure towards the end of Rosenior's brief reign after he was dropped for two games for hinting in an interview that he was considering leaving at the end of the season.

Rosenior's handling of the incident undermined his already-fragile relationship with his squad as Chelsea's form spiralled out of control.

He was sacked on Wednesday after a woeful run of five successive defeats without scoring -- the club's worst streak since 1912 -- climaxed with Tuesday's 3-0 hammering at Brighton.

Rosenior, who lasted only 106 days after arriving from Strasbourg, had sealed his fate by criticising the players' desire and spirit against Brighton.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

​

Man Utd beat Brentford to close on UCL berth​

AFP

Casemiro scored in 2-1 victory




......................................................................................

Atletico face Arsenal challenge in UCL​

AFP
Diego Simeone’s men have never won Europe's premier competition

 

[ghazi52]

Barcelona on verge of Liga title​

AFP
Lewandowski and Torres strike late to secure a 2–1 win at Osasuna

​

..............................​

PSG held by Lorient​

AFP

Goals from both sides end in a 2–2 draw in Paris

​

 

[ghazi52]

Arsenal go six points clear of Man City​

AFP
Arteta's side demolished Fulham with a three-goal first half blitz

​

.................................​

Napoli frustrate Como in Serie A stalemate​

AFP
Draw helps Inter extend a nine-point lead

 

[ghazi52]

Late goal by Mainoo lifts United to win over Liverpool​

Agencies
May 4, 2026



Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring their third goal against Liverpool in Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain on May 3, 2026. —AFP

MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo struck late to seal a dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over rivals Liverpool on Sunday as the home side secured their return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo had hauled Liverpool level in the second half after costly United errors, but Mainoo had the final say with a strike from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 77th minute to send Old Trafford into raptures.

“I’ve not been around the goals too much but I’m happy to be around it on such a massive occasion,” Mainoo said.

The win moved third-placed United onto 64 points with three games remaining, while fourth-placed Liverpool still have work to do to clinch a place among Europe’s elite next season and are level on 58 points with fifth-placed Aston Villa, who have a game in hand.

United got off to a great start, with Matheus Cunha scoring in the sixth minute and Benjamin Sesko doubling their lead eight minutes later.

Szoboszlai pulled one back in the 47th minute after Amad Diallo gave the ball away on the halfway line, and Gakpo levelled nine minutes later when Senne Lammens passed the ball straight to Alexis Mac Allister, and Gakpo slotted into the open net, setting up a nervy ending punctuated by Mainoo’s heroics.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot acknowledged he is annoyed his team has yet to secure Champions League qualification.

 

[ghazi52]

Simeone, Atletico at crossroads​

AFP

They suffered a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Champions League semifinal

​

​

Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices​

AFP

FIFA has faced searing criticism over the cost of World Cup tickets

​

.........................................​

​

Injured Mbappe faces backlash​

AFP

Sardinia trip sparks fan outrage, deepening tensions around his role

 

[ghazi52]

Inter Milan win Italian Cup​

This is their second title this season

AFP
May 14, 2026

Photo: AFP

MILAN: Inter Milan won the Italian Cup on Wednesday after beating Lazio 2-0 and completing a domestic double alongside their 21st Serie A title.

An Adam Marusic own goal and Lautaro Martinez's tap-in, both in the first half, gave Inter both a comfortable victory in Rome and a 10th Cup triumph.

Just with the 3-0 stuffing dished out to Lazio on the same ground at the weekend, Inter cruised through the 90 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio barely laid a glove on Inter and from the moment Marcus Thuram's poorly timed header -- from Federico Dimarco's corner -- flicked home off Marusic in the 14th minute there only looked like being one winner.

Their fate was as good as sealed 20 minutes later when Nuno Tavares dawdled near the edge of own area and allowed Denzel Dumfries to pinch the ball and roll across to the awaiting Martinez.
Argentina strike Martinez, who has missed large chunks of this season with injuries, gobbled up the chance to push in his 22nd goal in all competitions this term.

An already one-sided final settled into a torpid pace in the second half as Inter easily held Lazio at bay, Luis Henrique missing a great chance to make it three with 20 minutes remaining when he flashed wide from close range Dimarco's volleyed low cross.

 

[ghazi52]

Kubo vows to lead Japan at World Cup​

AFP

Winger Mitoma was left out of Japan's squad after injury

​

........................................​

​

S Korea coach backs Son to shine at World Cup​

AFP

Captain Son has struggled for goals since swapping Spurs

 

[ghazi52]

Lewandowski to leave Barcelona​

AFP

He scored 119 goals for Barcelona in 191 games

​

.............................................................................................

Messi and Ronaldo get ready for sixth and final World Cup​

AFP

This will be the last dance for the football icons

 

[ghazi52]

Man City beat Chelsea to win FA Cup final​

Semenyo’s brilliant back-heel sealed a dramatic win over Chelsea at Wembley

AFP
May 17, 2026

Antoine Semenyo scored the winner for Man City in the FA Cup final. Photo: AFP

LONDON: Antoine Semenyo produced one of the great FA Cup final goals with an audacious back-flick that sealed Manchester City's 1-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.

Semenyo illuminated a largely scrappy final late in the second half as he improvised a sublime finish to caress Erling Haaland's cross into the net.

The Ghana winger's moment of magic was enough to clinch City's eighth FA Cup triumph and their second piece of silverware this season after the League Cup final win over Arsenal in March.

Semenyo joins Ricky Villa, Michael Owen, Roberto Di Matteo and Steven Gerrard among the ranks of iconic FA Cup final goalscorers.

Ironically, the 26-year-old -- an inspired signing from Bournemouth in the January window -- was born just a stone's throw from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge home in west London.

The third FA Cup success of Guardiola's reign ended City's run of two successive defeats in the final against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

Guardiola, who also lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2019, has now won 20 trophies in his glittering decade as City manager.

 

[ghazi52]

Arsenal on the brink of EPL title after nervy Burnley win​

Kai Havertz headed in the only goal in the game

AFP
May 19, 2026

Kai Havertz headed Arsenal to the brink of the Premier League title. Photo: AFP

LONDON: Arsenal are on the brink of ending a 22-year wait to win the Premier League after beating Burnley 1-0 on Monday to open up a five-point lead at the top.

Kai Havertz headed in the only goal but was also lucky to avoid a second-half red card that could have swung the title race back in Manchester City's favour.

The Gunners could be crowned champions as early as Tuesday should City fail to win at Bournemouth.

Even if City do end the Cherries' 16-game unbeaten run and beat Aston Villa, Arsenal will secure the title with victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

"One more to go," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

"We have done our job, what is in our hands. We have to wait and see what is going to happen tomorrow and then it's time to prepare for the Palace game."

However, the narrow margin of victory against a Burnley side that have long since been relegated does offer City hope.