Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski was diagnosed with a hamstring injury on Sunday and is set to miss the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semi-final according to Spanish media reports.
The 36-year-old Polish forward, Barcelona’s top goalscorer with 40 goals across all competitions, came off during his team’s 4-3 La Liga win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.
“Tests carried out on Sunday have confirmed that first-team player Robert Lewandowski has a semitendinosus injury in his left thigh,” said Barcelona in a statement, without specifying how long he would be sidelined for.
Spanish media reported Lewandowski could be out for three weeks, meaning he would not be available next Saturday as Barcelona face Real Madrid in the Copa final in Seville.
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The La Liga leaders also host Inter Milan on April 30 in the Champions League semi-final first leg, and visit the Italians on May 6.
Lewandowski is set to miss league games against Mallorca on Tuesday and Valladolid on May 3, with a potential return against Real Madrid on May 11, a match which could decide the title race.
Barcelona, who won the Spanish Super Cup in January, are chasing a potential quadruple and are in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019.
Coach Hansi Flick has used Ferran Torres through the middle as a replacement for Lewandowski before, and has also experimented with Dani Olmo operating as a false nine.
Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he was “a bit surprised” to be told his glittering Manchester City career will finish at the end of this season.
De Bruyne recently announced he will leave the Etihad Stadium once the current campaign is over, bringing the curtain down on a memorable era in Manchester for the Belgian midfielder.
The 33-year-old arrived from German club Wolfsburg in 2015 and has been instrumental in City’s incredible success during boss Pep Guardiola’s reign.
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De Bruyne has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and the 2023 Champions League — which capped an incredible treble-winning season.
Guardiola hinted it was his decision to end De Bruyne’s stay after the playmaker’s struggles with injuries and inconsistent form over the last two seasons.
City have dipped dramatically this term, surrendering their four-year spell as champions and were reduced to focussing on the battle to qualify for the Champions League.
But De Bruyne admitted he was shocked not to receive a new contract offer because he believes he can still shine at the highest level.
“I have not had any offer the whole year, they just took a decision,” he said after City’s 2-0 win at Everton on Saturday.
“Obviously, I was a bit surprised but I just have to accept it. Honestly I still think I can perform at this level like I’m showing but I understand clubs have to make decisions.
“Maybe if the team didn’t struggle and I came back like I did this year and bedded in like normal then maybe they take another decision. ”
De Bruyne said he has not made any decisions about his future as he is concentrating on the race to secure a top-five spot to extend City’s run in the Champions League into a 15th successive season.
He has already been linked with moves to Major League Soccer in the United States but he hasn’t ruled out staying in the Premier League or joining a major European club.
“I feel like I still have a lot to give. Obviously I know I’m not 25 any more but I still feel like I can do my job,” he said.
“I’m open for anything. I have to look at the whole picture. I’m looking at sporting, family, everything together, what makes the most sense for me and my family.
“I like to compete. That’s what I feel so I can’t say that I want to quit because I still feel that whenever I’m in training I want to beat the guys.
“I feel like I’m doing really well and that’s why I’ve also played a lot lately. ”
De Bruyne applauded off at Goodison Park after Saturday’s win, with his performance a bright spot in another spluttering City display.
“It’s something really rare to come out and get an applause from another team so I just want to say thank you to them. I think they appreciate the way that I play,” he said.
Paris Saint-Germain stayed on course to complete the Ligue 1 season without losing a game as the Champions League semi-finalists beat struggling Le Havre 2-1 on Saturday.
Desire Doue and Goncalo Ramos scored the goals for PSG either side of half-time at the Parc des Princes, as coach Luis Enrique changed almost his entire starting line-up following the midweek European clash with Aston Villa.
PSG had already secured a fourth successive Ligue 1 title before this game, and their 10th consecutive league win leaves them on 77 points with five matches remaining.
No side has ever completed an entire French top-flight campaign unbeaten.
“We knew this game was a potential banana skin for us after a Champions League match which sucked out all our energy and left us feeling tired,” Luis Enrique said.
“All the ingredients were there for this to be a difficult game against a side who were in need of points. ”
TOPSHOT – Paris Saint-Germain’s Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (2L) reacts from a challenge from Le Havre’s French defender #04 Gautier Lloris (L) during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Le Havre AC at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on April 19, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Achraf Hakimi and Bradley Barcola were the only players to keep their place in the PSG line-up at kick-off, following the 3-2 defeat away to Aston Villa which saw them edge through to the last four of the Champions League and a tie against Arsenal.
Doue gave PSG the lead inside eight minutes, and Ramos made the most of his chance in the starting line-up by making it 2-0 shortly after half-time with his 15th goal this season.
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Issa Soumare pulled one back for Le Havre, but the result leaves the Normandy side still in third-bottom spot, the relegation play-off place.
– Battle for Europe –
If the title race in France is already over, the fight for European qualification behind PSG is intense, with the next six teams separated by only six points.
Second-placed Monaco drew 0-0 at home to Strasbourg, who are three points behind them in fifth, on a blustery evening in the principality.
Monaco were looking for a seventh successive home win in Ligue 1, but leading scorer Mika Biereth had a goal disallowed for a tight offside call in first-half stoppage time.
They had most of the chances, but Strasbourg had the ball in the net late on too, only for Emanuel Emegha’s effort from close range to also be ruled out for offside.
Liam Rosenior’s Strasbourg are now unbeaten in 10 games and remain hopeful of qualifying for the Champions League — a level the Alsace outfit have not played at since the 1979/80 European Cup.
“I have a group of players who believe they can do it, and I believe they can do it as well,” said Englishman Rosenior, whose side are undefeated since early February.
“Nobody said that this team would be able to do this at the start of the season.
“Ten games unbeaten, and the players are disappointed not to win against Nice (a 2-2 draw last week) and now Monaco, which shows how far we have come in a short space of time. ”
Marseille have the chance to move back above Monaco into second with a win at home to doomed bottom side Montpellier later.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille are under pressure on a run of five defeats in their last seven matches, a sequence which has left them at risk of missing out on a return to the Champions League.
Lyon, in fourth, go to derby rivals Saint-Etienne on Sunday looking to bounce back from their agonising Europa League loss to Manchester United on Thursday.
Lille and Nice, who are now sixth and seventh respectively, also play key games in the fight for Europe on Sunday.
The top three qualify automatically for the Champions League, with fourth going into the preliminary rounds.
Fifth place qualifies for the Europa League and sixth for the Conference League, although there will be an extra Europa League place available via the league should PSG beat Reims in the French Cup final next month.
Ollie Watkins inspired Aston Villa’s 4-1 rout of Newcastle on Saturday, reviving their bid to qualify for the Champions League just days after they bowed out of this season’s tournament.
Villa’s Champions League adventure came to an end on Tuesday after they narrowly failed to complete a spectacular comeback in the quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
But Unai Emery’s side had no intention of feeling sorry for themselves as they chase a return to Europe’s elite club competition next season.
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Aston Villa’s Belgian defender #24 Amadou Onana (C) celebrates scoring the team’s fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 19, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Newcastle arrived at Villa Park after five successive wins, only to be blown away by the inspired Watkins.
He put Villa ahead in the first minute and set up Ian Maatsen to restore the hosts’ advantage after Fabian Schar’s equaliser.
Dan Burn’s own goal and Amadou Onana’s blistering strike put the seal on Villa’s emphatic victory as they climbed to sixth in the Premier League.
Villa, winners of their last five league games, are just two points behind third-placed Newcastle in a gripping battle to secure one of the top five positions that guarantee Champions League qualification.
With a crucial trip to fourth-placed Manchester City looming on Tuesday, Emery’s men sit level on points with fifth-placed Nottingham Forest, who visit Tottenham for their game in hand on Monday.
Jason Tindall remained in charge of League Cup winners Newcastle in the absence of Eddie Howe, who was still absent after suffering from pneumonia.
After winning their first two games without Howe, the Magpies came back down to earth with a bump.
Emery had urged Villa fans to provide a spark of electricity with an atmosphere the equal of the PSG tie.
The decibel levels around Villa Park reached ear-splitting volume after just 33 seconds.
Sandro Tonali’s miscued clearance went straight to Youri Tielemans and his pass sent Watkins through for a drive that deflected in off Schar.
Newcastle United’s English defender #33 Dan Burn (L) scores an own goal, Villa’s third goal, during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 19, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Rampant Villa
It was Villa’s fastest goal in the league season and Watkins, replaced by Marcus Rashford in the starting line-up against PSG, was playing with a point to prove.
The England striker went close to netting again moments later with a ferocious strike that smacked back off the underside of the crossbar with Newcastle keeper Nick Pope rooted to the spot.
Schar hauled Newcastle level in the 18th minute, the Swiss international rising at the far post to meet Harvey Barnes’ cross with a header that went through the legs of Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.
Villa were unfazed. Watkins met Marco Asensio’s free-kick with a header that thumped against the post from 10 yards.
Aston Villa’s English striker #11 Ollie Watkins (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 19, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Tonali’s long-range blast forced Martinez to scramble as the Argentine saved at full stretch.
Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers had acres of space for a thunderous shot that was repelled by Pope.
Youri Tielemans’ glancing header from Asensio’s corner was cleared off the line by Tonali early in the second half.
Villa’s pressure was finally rewarded in eye-catching style in the 64th minute.
Asensio’s sweeping crossfield pass and Watkins’ astute ball into the Newcastle area teed up Maatsen, who capped his lung-bursting run with a composed finish past Pope from 12 yards.
Villa struck again in the 73rd minute when Jacob Ramsey’s cross towards Tielemans was turned into his own net by Burn.
Emery’s men were rampant. Onana put the seal on their dynamic display two minutes later when he blasted into the top corner from the edge of the area.
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.
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.
