‘No Problem’ If Real Madrid Replace Me – Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti accepted Real Madrid may look to replace him as coach after Arsenal knocked out the Champions League holders in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The Italian oversaw a 2-1 home defeat with the Gunners progressing 5-1 on aggregate to the semi-finals.

Real Madrid suffered their 12th defeat of the season, by contrast to just two across the whole of the previous campaign.

“It could be that the club decide to change (coach), it could be this year — or the next when my contract expires, there’s no problem,” Ancelotti told reporters.

READ ALSO: Arsenal Knock Out Holders Real Madrid To Reach Champions League Semis

“The day that I leave here I can only thank the club.

“It could be tomorrow, in 10 days, in a month or a year, but all I can do will be to thank the club — if my contract’s up or not, I don’t care. ”

Madrid have been linked with Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, who played for Los Blancos, and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

Ancelotti said his team were still in the fight for La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup this summer.

“The team gave everything in terms of attitude, but we weren’t able to do it,” said Ancelotti after the Arsenal defeat.

“To be honest Arsenal defended very well, we found it hard to find space, in terms of intensity we were better but it was not enough. ”

Inter Hold Off Bayern To Reach Champions League Last Four

Inter Milan reached the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday after drawing 2-2 with Bayern Munich to win a pulsating last-eight tie 4-3 on aggregate.

Italian champions Inter will face Barcelona in the semis after goals in the space of three minutes from captain Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard cancelled out a Harry Kane strike for Bayern which levelled the tie in the 52nd minute.

Eric Dier’s looping header in the 75th minute earned Bayern a draw on the night in soaking and blustery Milan but that wasn’t enough for Vincent Kompany’s side to continue their bid to be crowned Kings of Europe for a seventh time.

Inter Milan’s Argentine forward #10 Lautaro Martinez celebrates with teammates Inter Milan’s Italian defender #32 Federico Dimarco and Inter Milan’s Italian midfielder #23 Nicolo Barella at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)

Simone Inzaghi’s side came through in awful conditions at the San Siro where a combination of heavy rain and driving winds affected both teams’ ability to play their best football, but added uncertainty and tension to an already highly-charged occasion.

Inter are still on for a repeat of the Serie A, Champions League and Italian Cup treble won under Jose Mourinho in 2010, as they are also three points ahead of Napoli in Italy’s top flight and face AC Milan in the semi-finals of the domestic cup.

READ ALSO: Arsenal Knock Out Holders Real Madrid To Reach Champions League Semis

And Wednesday’s win showed that Inter are more than capable or reaching the final of Europe’s elite club competition, as they did two years ago when they were narrowly beaten by Manchester City.

Bayern Munich’s Portuguese defender #22 Raphael Guerreiro reacts at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Bayern had won all three of their previous Champions League away matches at Inter, but after Pavard crashed home his first goal for the club in the 61st minute there was no way back for the injury-hit Bundesliga leaders.

Inter will also benefit from playing the second leg of their showdown with Barca, who they beat in the semi-finals on their way to victory in Madrid 15 years ago, at the San Siro.

– Treble dream –
The hosts didn’t come alive until their fans, who had been sat and stood in silence for the first 20 minutes in protest at ticket prices, burst loudly in song.

Bayern Munich’s South Korean defender #03 Kim Min-Jae (L) and Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane react at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

By that time the wind had picked up so much that one Inter cross almost swung back out of the penalty box, but even with the wind in their faces the hosts were on the up.

Thuram just failed to get a touch on Francesco Acerbi’s scuffed finish in the 29th minute, and moments later Hakan Calhanoglu crashed powerful shot just wide of the upright.

Bayern reacted and pushed Inter back into their own area for the final minutes of the opening half, but a combination of the conditions, desperate defending and poor finishing kept the match scoreless at the break.

Inter Milan’s Argentine forward #10 Lautaro Martinez celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Inter started the second half the stronger but Kane levelled the tie with a brilliantly taken goal, shifting onto his right and drilling a low shot through Federico Dimarco’s leg’s and past Yann Sommer.

Just moments before Kane had rookie Bayern goalkeeper to thank for stopping him scoring an own goal, but not long afterwards Martinez re-established Inter’s advantage when he controlled Dimarco’s corner and lashed home.

And Pavard decided the tie three minutes later with a bullet header against his former club from another corner, sending the San Siro wild with delight.

That wasn’t it though as Dier moved Bayern back to within a goal of extra-time, but when Sommer smothered Kane’s header in stoppage time Inter’s treble dream was kept alive.

Inter Hold Off Bayern To Reach Champions League Last Four

Inter Milan reached the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday after drawing 2-2 with Bayern Munich to win a pulsating last-eight tie 4-3 on aggregate.

Italian champions Inter will face Barcelona in the semis after goals in the space of three minutes from captain Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard cancelled out a Harry Kane strike for Bayern which levelled the tie in the 52nd minute.

Eric Dier’s looping header in the 75th minute earned Bayern a draw on the night in soaking and blustery Milan but that wasn’t enough for Vincent Kompany’s side to continue their bid to be crowned Kings of Europe for a seventh time.

Inter Milan’s Argentine forward #10 Lautaro Martinez celebrates with teammates Inter Milan’s Italian defender #32 Federico Dimarco and Inter Milan’s Italian midfielder #23 Nicolo Barella at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)

Simone Inzaghi’s side came through in awful conditions at the San Siro where a combination of heavy rain and driving winds affected both teams’ ability to play their best football, but added uncertainty and tension to an already highly-charged occasion.

Inter are still on for a repeat of the Serie A, Champions League and Italian Cup treble won under Jose Mourinho in 2010, as they are also three points ahead of Napoli in Italy’s top flight and face AC Milan in the semi-finals of the domestic cup.

READ ALSO: Arsenal Knock Out Holders Real Madrid To Reach Champions League Semis

And Wednesday’s win showed that Inter are more than capable or reaching the final of Europe’s elite club competition, as they did two years ago when they were narrowly beaten by Manchester City.

Bayern Munich’s Portuguese defender #22 Raphael Guerreiro reacts at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Bayern had won all three of their previous Champions League away matches at Inter, but after Pavard crashed home his first goal for the club in the 61st minute there was no way back for the injury-hit Bundesliga leaders.

Inter will also benefit from playing the second leg of their showdown with Barca, who they beat in the semi-finals on their way to victory in Madrid 15 years ago, at the San Siro.

– Treble dream –
The hosts didn’t come alive until their fans, who had been sat and stood in silence for the first 20 minutes in protest at ticket prices, burst loudly in song.

Bayern Munich’s South Korean defender #03 Kim Min-Jae (L) and Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane react at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

By that time the wind had picked up so much that one Inter cross almost swung back out of the penalty box, but even with the wind in their faces the hosts were on the up.

Thuram just failed to get a touch on Francesco Acerbi’s scuffed finish in the 29th minute, and moments later Hakan Calhanoglu crashed powerful shot just wide of the upright.

Bayern reacted and pushed Inter back into their own area for the final minutes of the opening half, but a combination of the conditions, desperate defending and poor finishing kept the match scoreless at the break.

Inter Milan’s Argentine forward #10 Lautaro Martinez celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium in Milan on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Inter started the second half the stronger but Kane levelled the tie with a brilliantly taken goal, shifting onto his right and drilling a low shot through Federico Dimarco’s leg’s and past Yann Sommer.

Just moments before Kane had rookie Bayern goalkeeper to thank for stopping him scoring an own goal, but not long afterwards Martinez re-established Inter’s advantage when he controlled Dimarco’s corner and lashed home.

And Pavard decided the tie three minutes later with a bullet header against his former club from another corner, sending the San Siro wild with delight.

That wasn’t it though as Dier moved Bayern back to within a goal of extra-time, but when Sommer smothered Kane’s header in stoppage time Inter’s treble dream was kept alive.

Arsenal Knock Out Holders Real Madrid To Reach Champions League Semis

Arsenal staved off Champions League holders Real Madrid’s superstars and rich history of unlikely comebacks to snatch a 2-1 victory on Wednesday and reach the semi-finals with a superb 5-1 aggregate triumph.

The Gunners’ 3-0 quarter-final first leg triumph last week gave them a vital cushion in the Spanish capital as they made the final four for the first time since 2009, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain.

Bukayo Saka, who missed a first-half penalty, sent Arsenal ahead and although Vinicius Junior levelled the 15-time winners were never close to making up the deficit.

Gabriel Martinelli rubbed salt in their wounds with a stoppage-time winner for Arsenal, who have never lifted the Champions League trophy.

Arsenal’s players celebrate victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham reacts at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Arsenal’s players celebrate their win at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham (L) reacts to missing goal opportunity while Arsenal’s Spanish goalkeeper #22 David Raya holds the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)

“We knew we were going to suffer but we knew we were going to win,” Declan Rice, who netted two stunning free-kicks in the first leg, told TNT Sports.

“It’s such a special night for this club, it’s a historic night for this club… we want to win this competition.”

Los Blancos, far more brittle than when they won a Champions League and La Liga double last season, were convinced they could turn the game around but created too little against Arsenal’s tight defence.

The Premier League side held their nerve to reach the semi-finals for only the third time in their history.

“It’s a difficult moment… it was a difficult game, we didn’t have all the chances we would have liked,” Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez told Movistar.

“We needed a bit more with the ball, maybe a bit more patience to be able to break through a very well organised defence — they did their job.”

Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois stops the ball as Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka shoots from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham reacts to Arsenal’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham reacts at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)

Kylian Mbappe chested home in the opening stages but was clearly offside, with the forward gesturing to the crowd to turn up the volume to create the fabled aura which helps Madrid pull off near-impossible feats at the Santiago Bernabeu.

David Alaba was booked for hacking down Saka as Madrid tried to add the grit they badly lacked in their first leg demolition in London, and the Arsenal winger also had a drive fielded well by Thibaut Courtois.

Arsenal were awarded a penalty seemingly out of the blue when the VAR booth instructed French referee Francois Letexier to review an incident from an earlier corner.

Raul Asencio pulled back Arsenal forward Mikel Merino in the area and Letexier pointed to the spot, to the bemusement of the home crowd.

Arsenal’s Spanish coach Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s English midfielder #49 Myles Lewis-Skelly (R) celebrate victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)

Saka penalty saved

Saka stepped up to take it but his poorly-executed Panenka, skewing off to the left, was saved by Courtois.

It spurred Real Madrid on and soon they had a penalty of their own, when Mbappe hit the turf after Rice tussled with him.

However after a lengthy VAR review Letexier was called to take a second look and he then decided Arsenal’s two-goal first leg hero Rice had not fouled the French superstar.

The breaks in play, along with Arsenal’s dallying at every opportunity, disrupted Madrid’s momentum and they struggled to threaten Gunners stopper David Raya.

For all of Madrid’s bluster the goalkeeper did not need to make a save in the first half.

Martin Odegaard, facing his former employers whom he joined as a ‘wonderkid’ a decade ago, helped forge Arsenal’s opening goal after 65 minutes.

The Norwegian linked with Merino, who slipped Saka in behind and the Englishman made amends for his penalty blunder with an ice-cool dinked finish.

Real Madrid’s French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe (R) and Arsenal’s English midfielder #41 Declan Rice vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Arsenal’s Brazilian midfielder #11 Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with Arsenal’s English midfielder #41 Declan Rice scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Arsenal’s English midfielder #49 Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal’s Polish defender #15 Jakub Kiwior, Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward #16 Endrick and Arsenal’s French defender #02 William Saliba vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
French referee Francois Letexier shows a yellow card to Arsenal’s Ghanaian midfielder #05 Thomas Partey during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)

Four goals ahead in the tie Arsenal thought their work was done, with defender William Saliba not concentrating on the edge of his box in possession.

Vinicius stole the ball away from him and beat the out-of-position Raya to level, two minutes after Saka’s opener.

Arsenal Knock Out Holders Real Madrid To Reach Champions League Semis

Arsenal staved off Champions League holders Real Madrid’s superstars and rich history of unlikely comebacks to snatch a 2-1 victory on Wednesday and reach the semi-finals with a superb 5-1 aggregate triumph.

The Gunners’ 3-0 quarter-final first leg triumph last week gave them a vital cushion in the Spanish capital as they made the final four for the first time since 2009, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain.

Bukayo Saka, who missed a first-half penalty, sent Arsenal ahead and although Vinicius Junior levelled the 15-time winners were never close to making up the deficit.

Gabriel Martinelli rubbed salt in their wounds with a stoppage-time winner for Arsenal, who have never lifted the Champions League trophy.

Arsenal’s players celebrate victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham reacts at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Arsenal’s players celebrate their win at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham (L) reacts to missing goal opportunity while Arsenal’s Spanish goalkeeper #22 David Raya holds the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)

“We knew we were going to suffer but we knew we were going to win,” Declan Rice, who netted two stunning free-kicks in the first leg, told TNT Sports.

“It’s such a special night for this club, it’s a historic night for this club… we want to win this competition.”

Los Blancos, far more brittle than when they won a Champions League and La Liga double last season, were convinced they could turn the game around but created too little against Arsenal’s tight defence.

The Premier League side held their nerve to reach the semi-finals for only the third time in their history.

“It’s a difficult moment… it was a difficult game, we didn’t have all the chances we would have liked,” Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez told Movistar.

“We needed a bit more with the ball, maybe a bit more patience to be able to break through a very well organised defence — they did their job.”

Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois stops the ball as Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka shoots from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham reacts to Arsenal’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham reacts at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)

Kylian Mbappe chested home in the opening stages but was clearly offside, with the forward gesturing to the crowd to turn up the volume to create the fabled aura which helps Madrid pull off near-impossible feats at the Santiago Bernabeu.

David Alaba was booked for hacking down Saka as Madrid tried to add the grit they badly lacked in their first leg demolition in London, and the Arsenal winger also had a drive fielded well by Thibaut Courtois.

Arsenal were awarded a penalty seemingly out of the blue when the VAR booth instructed French referee Francois Letexier to review an incident from an earlier corner.

Raul Asencio pulled back Arsenal forward Mikel Merino in the area and Letexier pointed to the spot, to the bemusement of the home crowd.

Arsenal’s Spanish coach Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s English midfielder #49 Myles Lewis-Skelly (R) celebrate victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)

Saka penalty saved

Saka stepped up to take it but his poorly-executed Panenka, skewing off to the left, was saved by Courtois.

It spurred Real Madrid on and soon they had a penalty of their own, when Mbappe hit the turf after Rice tussled with him.

However after a lengthy VAR review Letexier was called to take a second look and he then decided Arsenal’s two-goal first leg hero Rice had not fouled the French superstar.

The breaks in play, along with Arsenal’s dallying at every opportunity, disrupted Madrid’s momentum and they struggled to threaten Gunners stopper David Raya.

For all of Madrid’s bluster the goalkeeper did not need to make a save in the first half.

Martin Odegaard, facing his former employers whom he joined as a ‘wonderkid’ a decade ago, helped forge Arsenal’s opening goal after 65 minutes.

The Norwegian linked with Merino, who slipped Saka in behind and the Englishman made amends for his penalty blunder with an ice-cool dinked finish.

Real Madrid’s French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe (R) and Arsenal’s English midfielder #41 Declan Rice vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Arsenal’s Brazilian midfielder #11 Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with Arsenal’s English midfielder #41 Declan Rice scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Arsenal’s English midfielder #49 Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal’s Polish defender #15 Jakub Kiwior, Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward #16 Endrick and Arsenal’s French defender #02 William Saliba vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
French referee Francois Letexier shows a yellow card to Arsenal’s Ghanaian midfielder #05 Thomas Partey during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 16, 2025. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)

Four goals ahead in the tie Arsenal thought their work was done, with defender William Saliba not concentrating on the edge of his box in possession.

Vinicius stole the ball away from him and beat the out-of-position Raya to level, two minutes after Saka’s opener.

Newcastle Thrash Crystal Palace To Go Third In Premier League

Newcastle soared into third in the Premier League with a 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace to close in on a return to the Champions League next season.

Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Fabian Schar and Alexander Isak were on target for the Magpies, with Marc Guehi also scoring an own goal, as Newcastle made light of the absence of manager Eddie Howe due to pneumonia.

A sixth consecutive victory in all competitions opens up a five-point lead for Newcastle over sixth-placed Chelsea, with a place in the top five good enough for Champions League qualification.

Palace remain down in 12th with their season now fully focused on an FA Cup semi-final date with Aston Villa later this month.

Newcastle United’s Swedish striker #14 Alexander Isak (2nd R) celebrates after scoring his team fifth goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
(From L) Crystal Palace’s Colombian defender #12 Daniel Munoz, Newcastle United’s English defender #33 Dan Burn, Crystal Palace’s English striker #09 Eddie Nketiah and Crystal Palace’s Senegalese midfielder #07 Ismaila Sarr fight for the ball during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Newcastle United’s Swiss defender #05 Fabian Schar (L) heads the ball to score his team fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

Newcastle travel to Villa on Saturday in a huge clash in the battle for European places.

But the League Cup winners are pulling away from the chasing pack for a top-five finish, buoyed by ending their 70-year wait for domestic silverware last month.

Isak wasted two big early chances to open the scoring when he was firstly denied by a fine Dean Henderson save and then headed over from Murphy’s enticing cross.

Newcastle United’s English midfielder #11 Harvey Barnes celebrates with teammates after scoring his team third goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Newcastle United’s English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (L) fights for the ball with Crystal Palace’s Colombian defender #12 Daniel Munoz during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

Newcastle only had to wait until the 14th minute to open the scoring when Murphy blasted in a remarkable finish from a narrow angle.

Palace were gifted the chance to get back into the game when goalkeeper Nick Pope rushed off his line and wiped out Chris Richards in his attempt to punch the ball clear.

After a lengthy VAR check, a penalty was finally awarded.

However, Eberechi Eze’s lackadaisical spot-kick was easily collected by the relieved Pope.

Within a minute, Newcastle had doubled their lead when Guehi turned into his own net as he attempted to block Barnes’ cross towards Isak.

The England defender has been regularly linked with a move to Tyneside and has now scored an own goal in each of Palace’s two meetings with Newcastle this season.

It went from bad to worse for the visitors as Barnes continued his fine form with a composed finish for his fourth goal in three games.

Murphy’s free-kick was then flicked in by Schar to make it 4-0 before the break.

Newcastle United’s English midfielder #23 Jacob Murphy celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Newcastle United’s English midfielder #23 Jacob Murphy celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Newcastle United’s Swedish striker #14 Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring his team fifth goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Newcastle United’s players celebrate the own goal scored by Crystal Palace’s English defender #06 Marc Guehi during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Newcastle United supporter waves a team flag during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Newcastle United’s assistant coach Jason Tindall (L) congratulates Newcastle United’s Brazilian midfielder #39 Bruno Guimaraes at the end of the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 16, 2025. Newcastle United wins 5 – 0 against Crystal Palace. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

The normally lethal Isak continued to be frustrated in front of goal as Henderson spread himself to deny another effort from point-blank range early in the second half.