Archive April 19, 2025

‘Incredible’ Mbeumo & Wissa among best striker pairs

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Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

The Premier League has been littered with deadly strike partnerships over the years.

But you can add another duo to the long list of double acts: Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.

The pair both scored in Brentford’s 4-2 win against Brighton, with Mbeumo scoring two before Wissa added the Bees’ third.

It was the seventh time they have both got on the scoresheet in the same game this season.

Mbeumo and Wissa chase Premier League record

With five matches left this season, Mbeumo and Wissa’s chances of breaking a Premier League record are still alive.

The seven matches the pair have both scored in this season is a campaign-high, ahead of the six that Liverpool’s Salah and Cody Gakpo have both netted in.

But the Brentford duo will have their eyes on matching – or even beating – the Premier League record, jointly-held by Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, Mane and Salah (twice).

Salah and Firmino both scored in 10 matches in the 2017-18 campaign, while the Egyptian equalled his own record with Senegal winger Mane in the 2021-22 season.

Son & Kane lead the way

Their goals against Brighton meant Mbeumo and Wissa have scored in the same match for the 18th time during their Brentford careers.

Only seven pairings in Premier League history have a better overall record.

“That’s an incredible achievement from the two of them,” said manager Frank after the win against Brighton.

“When you consistently over the past six seasons have produced top scorers, that must be something we’re doing right.

“I’m happy that Mbeumo is shining and is the main man now for us. But I think it’s a duo.

“Wissa is fantastic. He has scored actually more open-play goals than Brian. But Brian is the penalty taker, unbelievable at penalties, assists, work ethic, an unbelievable player. “

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Mctominay Fires Napoli Level With Inter As Conte Fuels Exit Rumours

Scott McTominay headed Napoli level on points with Inter Milan at the top of Serie A with the only goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Monza, but coach Antonio Conte lashed out at owner Aurelio De Laurentiis with angry post-match comments.

Scotland midfielder McTominay nodded home his 10th goal in all competitions this season from Giacomo Raspadori’s cross in the 72nd minute to save Napoli’s blushes after a drab display in northern Italy.

McTominay’s third goal in a week boosted Napoli’s bid for a second league title in three seasons and piled pressure on reigning champions Inter who are at high-flying Bologna on Easter Sunday.

Beyond that goal, Antonio Conte’s team created little against the division’s worst team in Monza, who are 12 points from safety with five matches remaining and set to be relegated.

Napoli’s Italian forward #81 Giacomo Raspadori (C) celebrates at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between Monza and Napoli at the Brianteo Stadium in Monza, Italy on April 19, 2025. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)

“It’s a match that seems like it should be easy but the prize up for grabs is so important that there is a lot of pressure,” said Conte.

“A lot of these boys are in a head-to-head (for a league title) for the first time. And it’s an unexpected head-to-head… Just to be there is unexpected and extraordinary. ”

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Conte continued to fuel rumours of his departure at the end of his first season as Napoli coach after raising eyebrows on Friday with his open frustration at the January sale of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

– ‘Not stupid’ –

De Laurentiis then said that he should have waited until the end of the season before making those comments, causing a visibly irritated Conte to hit back while talking to broadcaster DAZN.

Napoli’s Belgian forward #11 Romelu Lukaku acknowledges fans at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between Monza and Napoli at the Brianteo Stadium in Monza, Italy on April 19, 2025. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)

“You have to live in the present… the people want to win and are ambitious. I’m open to everything, but we need to see where we are,” said Conte when asked about his future.

“I’m happy in Naples and I’m working for fans who give me something emotionally. That’s very important. But you know that whoever hires me knows that I bring with me expectations.

“People hire me and think ‘you have to finish first or second, even if you finished 10th the year before, and you have to fight for the title, qualifying for Europe isn’t enough’.

“I can handle all of that, but I’m not stupid if there aren’t the resources in place to achieve that. ”

Conte also complained about the pitches at Napoli’s Castel Volturno training ground, saying that they were supposed to be relaid and suggesting the club’s failure to do so was behind recent calf injuries — the latest for Kvaratskhelia’s replacement David Neres.

Regardless of where Conte is next season, he and Napoli have a great chance to win the Scudetto as after Easter they face only one team in the top half of the table — 10th-placed Torino — and have no other commitments.

– Como eye safety –

Meanwhile, Inter have a packed schedule, with the second leg of their Italian Cup semi-final with AC Milan coming up on Wednesday, while Barcelona await in the last four of the Champions League.

Inter will lead Napoli on goal difference even if they lose at Bologna, who are chasing Champions League qualification, but should the pair finish the season level on points the title will be decided by a play-off.

Earlier, Assane Diao fired Como towards safety with a brace in his team’s impressive 3-0 win at struggling Lecce who are one place and two points above the relegation zone.

Como are 13th on 39 points, 15 above the bottom three with five fixtures remaining in their first Serie A season in over two decades.

Diao has been one of the key reasons for the club’s near-certain top-flight survival, scoring eight times since arriving from Real Betis in January, when Como invested heavily in new players in order to avoid the drop.

Later Roma take on Verona hoping to move to within two points of Juventus who sit fourth and are at Parma on Monday.

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club: LaLiga – team news, how to follow, stream

Who: Real Madrid vs Athletic Club

What: Spanish LaLiga
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
When: Sunday at 9pm (19:00 GMT)

Follow Al Jazeera Sport‘s live text and photo commentary stream.

Defending champions Real Madrid are in desperate need of all three points as they entertain Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga.

The Spanish giants’ defence of their Champions League title ended with a defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday.

And with Barcelona moving seven points clear at the top of LaLiga with their 4-3 comeback win against Celta Vigo on Saturday, Los Blancos can ill afford to drop points against a team that are proving tough to topple.

What is the latest on Ancelotti’s future?

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti has refused to speak about his future with the club after recent reports again linked him with a move to Brazil’s national team.

The veteran Italian manager was asked several times by reporters on Saturday at a pre-game news conference if he would leave the Spanish giant this summer, and each time he responded that he didn’t want to speak about it.

“At the end of the season, we will speak about this with the club,” he said more than once.

The 65-year-old is under contract with Madrid through June 2026.

What has happened to Real Madrid’s season?

Speculation regarding Ancelotti’s career plans once again spiked after Madrid’s exit from the Champions League.

Besides the Copa del Rey, Madrid is still in the fight to defend its LaLiga title and will also play in the Club World Cup this summer.

Brazil have reportedly been after Ancelotti since last year as they seek an elite coach for the 2026 World Cup.

The South Americans fired Dorival Junior as coach last month.

What is Ancelotti’s record as a manager?

Ancelotti is the only coach to have won the Champions League five times — three times with Madrid (2014, 2022, 2024) and twice with AC Milan (2003, 2007).

He is also the only coach to have steered teams to domestic league titles in Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France.

Who is reportedly lined up to replace Ancelotti?

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso are both considered top candidates to replace Ancelotti should he leave Madrid.

Klopp, however, is “very happy” in his current post at Red Bull despite rumours linking him to a return to management with Real Madrid, his agent said on Friday.

The German became Red Bull’s global head of football in January, taking care of a stable of clubs, including RB Leipzig, the New York Red Bulls and Bragantino in Brazil.

Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen’s coach, on Friday refused to shut down speculation he could be set for a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

“It’s not a good time to discuss the future. We’re at a very important moment in the season,” Alonso said.

Leverkusen are six points behind league leaders Bayern Munich with five games remaining.

How are Athletic Club fairing in LaLiga?

Athletic hold fourth spot in the Spanish top flight with 15 wins from 31 games.

No team have lost fewer games than the Bilboa-based club, who have suffered defeat on only four occasions.

Real Madrid team news

Kylian Mbappe is serving a one-game suspension after his red card against Alaves.

Eduardo Camavinga returns from the suspension that ruled him out of the defeat by Arsenal.

Ferland Mendy and Andriy Lunin have a chance of returning from knocks, but Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are out with knee injuries.

Athletic Club team news

Inaki Williams is likely to remain a sub due to an adductor injury.

This match has probably come too soon for Yuri Berchiche to return from a muscular problem.

Hat-trick for Makinson as Catalans thrash Salford

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Betfred Super League

Catalans (16) 38

Tries: Makinson (3), Sims, Bousquet, Satae, Laguerre Goals: Aispuro-Bichet (5)

Salford (0) 10

Tommy Makinson broke his duck for Catalans Dragons with a hat-trick as they overpowered hapless Salford Red Devils at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Paul Rowley’s troubled Super League outfit, beset by financial troubles and having suffered a player exodus, conceded three tries in a torrid opening 17 minutes.

Makinson was a serial try-scorer in 13 years at St Helens, but had drawn a blank in eight games for the French side going into the game.

He opened the scoring, and with Tariq Sims, Julian Bousquet, Chris Satae and Matthieu Laguerre also going over, Salford’s only aim in the second half was to avoid a huge defeat and the prospect of being nilled in a second consecutive game for the first time in 70 years.

They managed that as Jonny Vaughan and Tiaki Chan went over in the last 11 minutes before Makinson wrapped it all up with his third try.

Those consolation tries ended a run of nearly five hours without a Super League try, and took Salford’s tally for the season to nine in eight games.

Catalans began strongly as they sought their third win on the bounce, and Makinson latched on to Luke Keary’s kick over the top to score, before Keary’s sharp pass sent Sims over. Bousquet added another before Salford had even managed to hold the ball outside their own half.

Rowley has had to piece together a squad from a mix of inexperienced youngsters, loan signings, and the handful of remaining senior professionals, and it showed as their defence was repeatedly poor in that opening spell.

They have also shown plenty of spirit in adversity and rallied again by preventing the Dragons from scoring again in the first half.

The second half threatened to start in the same way as the first as Satae celebrated his 150th career appearance with a try, before Makinson picked the ball up from a scrum and scored after an arcing run round the defence. Minutes later, Laguerre cut through a flagging rearguard.

Salford were staring an unwanted statistic in the face after losing 29-0 at home to Leeds Rhinos last time out, but they showed character to keep going to the end with former Catalans player Chan masterminding Vaughan’s try and adding one of his own before Makinson completed his hat-trick in the closing minute.

Catalans: Aispuro-Bichet; Makinson, Laguerre, Yaha, Darrelatour; Keary, Fages; Pangai Jr, Garcia, Bousquet, Sims, Sironen, Partington.

Interchanges: Da Costa, Satae, Navarrete, Seguier.

Salford: Brierley. Connell, Marsters, Vaughan, Thewlis. Nikorima, Morgan. Ormondroyd, Mellor, Chan, Hellewell, Foster, Wilson.

Interchanges: Shorrocks, Sangare, Makin, G Hill.

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England thrash Scotland to set up Grand Slam decider

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Women’s Six Nations

England (42) 59

Tries: Clifford, Packer, Aldcroft, MacDonald 2, Ward, Davies, Dow 2 Cons: Aitchison 7

Scotland (0) 7

England scored nine tries to hammer Scotland in Leicester and set up a Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France at Allianz Stadium next Saturday.

The victory extends the Red Roses’ winning run to 24 games before a home Rugby World Cup that starts in August.

Prop Kelsey Clifford grabbed the first of six first-half tries, with John Mitchell’s side in complete control right from the opening whistle.

Flanker Marlie Packer was next to cross, followed by captain Zoe Aldcroft, wing Claudia MacDonald and lock Abbie Ward.

Lark Atkin-Davies’s try ensured a 42-0 lead at half-time, a vastly improved margin from last Saturday’s win in Ireland, when England led 7-5 at the break.

Player of the match MacDonald raced clear down the wing for her second try early in the second half, before Lisa Thomson finally got Scotland on the board with a try from a rolling maul.

Wing Abby Dow capped off the scoring, in front of a crowd of 15,530, with a brilliant solo try, before a simple finish in the corner.

The Red Roses are chasing a fourth successive Grand Slam and a seventh Six Nations title in a row.

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England defeated Scotland 46-0 in Edinburgh last year to extend their winning run in the Six Nations over their visitors to 23 games.

Without a win over the Red Roses since 1999 an upset seemed unlikely, especially with Bryan Easson’s side coming into the fixture off the back of a disappointing 25-17 home defeat by Italy.

Clifford, who grabbed her first international try last week, was on hand to power over from close range in a dominant opening period for the hosts.

Mitchell made nine changes from the side that won in Cork, one of which was former England captain Packer, who had not featured since the opening-round win over Italy in York.

She was given a chance to respond to impressive performances from Sadia Kabeya in the seven jersey and did just that, scoring the second try of the match – her 50th for the Red Roses – following a powerful carry from number eight Maddie Feaunati.

Aldcroft replaced Packer as England skipper in January and is the only player to start every game this campaign. The blind-side flanker showed no sign of fatigue as she intercepted Helen Nelson’s pass and galloped clear for her side’s third try.

MacDonald was another player who had not featured since the opening round and after a bright start, the elusive wing cut through the Scotland defence for a deserved try.

MacDonald puts hand up before decider

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MacDonald, who featured in the World Cup final in 2022, missed last year’s Women’s Six Nations after suffering a second neck injury in February 2024.

Saracens’ Jess Breach nailed down the left wing spot in her absence, but MacDonald went up another gear from her return in York, with her high work-rate and footwork causing Scotland problems throughout the game, and was rewarded with a second try.

Dow then paid a reminder to the class on the opposite wing, as she showed terrific strength and balance to run half the pitch and finish off the try of the game.

Scotland’s second-half performance will please Easson after his side managed a first try against England since 2023 and held the hosts to only three scores – two of which came in the closing stages.

Flanker Evie Gallagher, who came into the game with the most turnovers (five) in the competition, was at the heart of slowing down England’s breakdown, producing the kind of display that made the 24-year-old a contender for player of the match.

Three debutants also appeared off the bench as Easson continued to look at new talent before the World Cup.

France’s victory in Italy earlier on Saturday, despite being behind at half-time, meant the slim chance of England winning the title in Leicester evaporated prior to kick-off.

Line-ups

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Shekells, MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Galligan, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), M Packer, Feaunati.

Replacements: Campbell, Botterman, Muir, Talling, Matthews, Hunt, Rowland, Scarratt.

Scotland: Rollie; Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie; Nelson (capt), Mattison; Young, Skeldon, Clarke, Bonar, Boyd, Gallagher, McLachlan, Konkel.

Replacements: Martin, Bartlett, Poolman, Ferrie, Bell, Clarke, Phillips Scott.

Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)

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Bayern Close In On Bundesliga Title With Heidenheim Thumping

Harry Kane scored his 24th league goal of the season as Bayern Munich romped to a 4-0 win at Heidenheim on Saturday, moving the German giants ever closer to the Bundesliga title.

Kane joined Konrad Laimer, Kingsley Coman and Joshua Kimmich on the scoresheet.

The victory took Bayern nine points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who play at St Pauli on Sunday.

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Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammate German midfielder #45 Aleksandar Pavlovic during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Heidenheim and Bayern Munich in Heidenheim, southern Germany on April 19, 2025. (Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP)

“It was a very important step towards the title,” Kimmich told Sky Germany.

“We’re now nine points ahead — and Leverkusen have to win. But we’re not really looking at them. We have to win at least two more games to secure the title. ”

Stung by Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final elimination at Inter Milan, Bayern were ruthless. Kane, still seeking a first team trophy of his career, took the ball on the turn and lashed home with 12 minutes gone.

The England captain, who joined Bayern in the summer of 2023, now has 60 goals in his first 60 Bundesliga games.

Seven minutes later, Laimer latched onto a clever Serge Gnabry pass and clipped the ball past Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Mueller.

Coman was on hand to tap in after Mueller saved a shot from Raphael Guerreiro on 36 minutes. Kimmich then cut the ball into the corner from a Guerreiro pass with 56 minutes gone, sealing the result with just his second goal in his 46th game for Bayern this season.

Bayern could clinch what would be their 34th German title as early as next week if results go their way.

Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane (L) and Heidenheim’s German midfielder #05 Benedikt Gimber vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Heidenheim and Bayern Munich in Heidenheim, southern Germany on April 19, 2025. (Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP)

Eight-goal thriller in Berlin

In Saturday’s late game, Union Berlin guaranteed first-division football for next season in a 4-4 home draw against Stuttgart.

All eight goals were scored in the opening half, the first time in Bundesliga history so many goals had been scored before the break.

Union went two goals up when Andrej Ilic and Diogo Leite scored from set-pieces, but Stuttgart hit back to level at 2-2 through Deniz Undav and Enzo Millot.

Union again hit the lead thanks to a stunning long-range strike from Leopold Querfeld, before Stuttgart’s Jeff Chabot and Chris Fuehrich scored two in three minutes and Ilic struck again in first-half stoppage time to level the scores.

No goals were scored after half-time, meaning the all-time German record of 12 goals in one game remained intact.

RB Leipzig’s top-four hopes took a hit with a 1-1 home draw against last-placed Holstein Kiel.

Japanese striker Shuto Machino put the visitors in front a minute before half-time, with Leipzig equalising from the spot through Benjamin Sesko with 74 minutes gone when Lois Openda was felled in the box.

Openda looked to have scored with a curling, long-range effort with 13 minutes remaining, but the Belgian was flagged for offside.

Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi collided with Kiel’s Steven Skrzybski midway through the second half and was stretchered from the field.

Leipzig’s Malian midfielder #08 Amadou Haidara (C) checks on Leipzig’s Hungarian goalkeeper #01 Peter Gulacsi who is stretchered off after sustaining an injury during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and Holstein Kiel in Leipzig, eastern Germany on April 19, 2025. (Photo by RONNY HARTMANN / AFP)

Mainz however failed to take advantage of Leipzig’s struggles, drawing 2-2 at home against Wolfsburg despite leading for most of the match.

Wolfsburg veteran Maximilian Arnold gave his side the lead after just three minutes but Mainz wrestled control back with two goals in four first-half minutes through Lee Jae-sung and Dominik Kohr.

Denis Vavro headed Wolfsburg level in the final minute, denting Mainz’s chance of a first-ever Champions League qualification in their history.

Freiburg also boosted their European hopes with a 3-2 win over Hoffenheim, with Lucas Hoeler scoring a brace.

Freiburg sit fifth, a point behind Leipzig and one ahead of Mainz, in sixth.

Werder Bremen beat Bochum 1-0 thanks to a goal from Mitchell Weiser, helping their own European chances while deepening their opponents’ relegation woes.

Bochum, who have beaten Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund this season, sit second to last and are nine points from safety with four games remaining.