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Lionel Messi suffered the heaviest defeat of his MLS career as Inter Miami crashed to a 4-1 loss against Minnesota United on Saturday.

The Argentine scored in the second half but Miami’s defence was once again exposed as they fell to a fourth defeat in their last five games in all competitions — a run which has seen them concede 14 goals.

With Luis Suarez injured, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano opted to play without a recognised target striker with Messi floating in front of a five-man midfield.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane fired Minnesota ahead in the 32nd minute after Miami’s defence was exposed by a clever pass from Joaquín Pereyra to Carlos Harvey, who picked out the South African international striker in the box.

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Messi provided the first real reminder of his presence six minutes later when he worked some space in a crowded area but his low right-foot shot was harmless.

Minnesota doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when a long throw from Michael Boxall was headed on by Nicolas Romero and Anthony Markanich nodded home at the back post.

Messi struck three minutes after the interval when he was found in the box by Jordi Alba and provided his characteristic killer first touch and deadly finish to reduce the deficit.

But Minnesota responded magnificently — Tani Oluwaseyi headed a corner goalwards and Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt headed into his own net.

Then the excellent Oluwaseyi held off Noah Allen before slipping the ball inside to Robin Lod and the Finnish midfielder made no mistake with a perfect side-foot finish from the edge of the box.

Former Barcelona and Argentina midfielder Mascherano, who said his plans had to been impacted by stand-in forward Fafa Picault suffering a migraine before the game, was disappointed with the way his team had failed to react to a threat they had been ready for.

“It’s a tough loss for us. We knew Minnesota could hurt us in this way, in transitions, on set pieces, and they hurt us in (exactly) the way we had prepared for the game and that’s what worries me the most,” he said.

“If the players drop their levels, clearly the responsibility falls on me. All on me. If the coach does not convince them or transmit what he is looking for, all the responsibility falls on the coach.”

 Red Bulls hammer Galaxy

The New York Red Bulls gained revenge over the Los Angeles Galaxy for beating them in last season’s MLS Cup final in extraordinarily emphatic fashion as they hammered the champions 7-0.

The Galaxy look nothing like champions and remain bottom of the Western Conference without a win and with just three points from 12 games.

Greg Vanney’s side, robbed of star midfielder Riqui Puig due to long term injury, were also without wingers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil but their problems were at the other end of the field.

German forward Eric Choupa-Moting scored twice and Swedish midfielder Emil Forsberg added a brace, including a superb curling free-kick, as the Red Bulls rampaged over the hapless Galaxy defence.

Local-born teenager Frankie Westfield looked to have given the Philadelphia Union a big win over the Columbus Crew with a 64th minute thunderbolt, his first goal in MLS.

But the Crew grabbed a stoppage time leveller from Sean Zawadski for a 2-2 draw, which maintains their unbeaten record on the road.

The Crew are second in the Eastern Conference with the Union third and Miami in fourth spot.

Cincinnati remain top of the East after a 2-1 win over Austin.

San Diego continued their impressive start to life in MLS with a 2-1 win at St. Louis with goals from Milan Iloski and Danish winger Anders Dreyer.

Nashville’s strong season continued with a 2-1 win over Charlotte thanks to a volley from Hany Mukhtar and a powerfully driven 54th-minute winner from Canadian winger Jacob Shaffelburg.

It is another rollercoaster week. Depending on the teams and games, for some, the past seven days were the most eventful. But for others, perhaps, Arsenal fans, the last few days were heartbreaking as the club went trophyless for yet another season – the fifth in a row since Mikel Arteta took over! 

On FIRST 11 – the recap of some of the most talked about issues in sports over the past seven days – the action-packed Champions League semi-final games, the U-20 AFCON games, the diplomatic ruffle between Nigeria and China over the World Relays, and many more will be on the menu!

Inter, PSG Set for UCL Fireworks

The road to Munich is now clearer! The boys have been separated from the men. After months of mouth-watering games and battles on the pitch, only two teams are left in this season’s UEFA Champions League: Inter Milan and PSG.

To get to this point, Inter Milan saw off Barcelona in one of the games that would go down as a classic in the UEFA Champions League. While aiming to get to their second final in the competition, Arsenal slumped against PSG, losing in France to add to Mikel Arteta’s misery.

On May 31, PSG and Inter will now battle to find out the winner of this season’s competition.

An All-English Europa League Final

Although no English team made the final of the Champions League, Premier League fans will take solace in the Europa League, the second-tier club football competition where Manchester United and Tottenham face off on May 21.

Both sides, enduring a torrid form on the domestic scene, will be hoping to land the trophy to salvage a miserable season that has seen them out of European places. The winner of the competition will get an automatic slot for next season’s Champions League.

Meanwhile, Chelsea also booked a place in the Conference League final and will play Real Betis on May 28.

Nigeria’s World Relays Dreams Scuttled

In athletics, Nigeria withdrew from the World Relays following visa issuance delays by Chinese authorities. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says visas for the country’s contingent came “far too late for meaningful participation” in the competition, a move which dampens the diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Asian country. Nigeria’s 18-person team – including hurdle star Tobi Amusan – was to participate in the men’s, women’s, and mixed 4x100m, and mixed 4x400m.

Flying Eagles Soar To Quarters

Flying Eagles through to the Quarterfinals pic.twitter.com/QC4cvGagvR

The tracks may not have given Nigerians something to cheer about, but the football pitch is bringing joy to millions of football fans. That’s because the Flying Eagles are now in the last eight of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after battling to a 2-2 draw against Kenya in their last group match. With five points to boot, the Flying Eagles square off against West African rivals and defending champions Senegal in the quarter-final of the event. That game is on Monday. Other matches in the last eight are: Ghana vs Egypt; Morocco vs Sierra Leone, and South Africa vs DR Congo.

Nnadozie’s Heroics Push Paris FC to Glory

CHAMPIONS OF FRANCE THE JOURNEY WAS TOUGH BUT THE TROPHY WORTH IT. A DREAM COME TRUE. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED . I GIVE GOD THE GLORY ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gL4zTumtcu

In the meantime, the Super Falcons’ pair of safe hands, Chiamaka Nnadozie, was the heroine late Saturday as her club Paris FC clinched the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine, the side’s first major trophy in nearly two decades. The Nigerian saved two decisive penalties in the shoot-out after the game ended barren, earning her accolades from footballers, pundits, and fans alike.

The French club last won that crown in 2005 and only celebrated a silverware when they scooped the 2006 Division 1 Féminine title.

The Drought is Over! Kane Has A Title!

We are the Champions!! pic.twitter.com/YYHC7k6ldU

Talking about trophies and silverware may be new to England captain Harry Kane. But that narrative changed for good on Sunday when Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, earning Kane his first-ever major career silverware.

The forward, who joined the German side last season after years with Tottenham Hotspur, where he never won a trophy despite his impressive goal-scoring record, had a great first term with the Bavarians. He, however, did not crown that display with a title as Bayern lost the league, Champions League and DFB-Pokal.

Alonso to Leave Leverkusen

Leverkusen, who won the Bundesliga in Kane’s first season in Germany, will now be without their title-winning coach, Xabi Alonso, next campaign. This is because the Spaniard has a bigger fish to fry: he will be Real Madrid’s manager!

The 43-year-old has already agreed to join Real and will link up with the Spanish giants after the Club World Cup, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, with a compensation payment of around 12 million euros ($13.5 million) to be paid to Leverkusen. Taking over in October 2022, Alonso guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double in 2023-24, the first Bundesliga title in the club’s history.

Ronaldo’s Son Stepping into Father’s Shoes

From Spain and Germany to Portugal, the country that has called up Cristiano dos Santos, the eldest son of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, to their Under-15 squad.

This is a first time call for the 14-year-old, who, like his father, plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and also had spells with Ronaldo’s former clubs Manchester United and Juventus.

The Selecao Under-15s will face Japan, Greece, and England at the Vlatko Markovic youth tournament in Croatia between May 13-18.

Yamal Promises UCL Crown After Agonising Defeat

Moving back to club football! While Barcelona have crashed out of the Champions League, one of their players is not giving up hope of bringing the trophy to the Nou Camp! Lamine Yamal, the teenage sensation, is promising Barcelona fans of better days ahead despite an agonising defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro.

The Spaniard says he and his teammates will continue to put in the fight until the UEFA Champions League returns to the Blaugrana, who last won the trophy in 2015 under Luis Enrique, now coach at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Swiatek’s Rome Title Defence Ends Early

Finally, in tennis, Iga Swiatek was dumped out of the Italian Open on Saturday after the reigning Rome champion suffered a shock 6-1, 7-5 defeat at the hands of Danielle Collins, as Jannik Sinner prepares for his return to action from a contested doping ban.

Hansi Flick called on his Barcelona players to brush off their Champions League semi-final elimination and bounce back strongly against Real Madrid on Sunday in a vital La Liga Clasico.

Barca lead the Spanish top flight by four points ahead of rivals and defending champions Real Madrid with four matches remaining.

The Catalans were ousted in Europe on Tuesday by Inter Milan, ending dreams of a potential quadruple.

“We spoke about what they (the players) are thinking, what they are feeling, it’s important in a group that we speak about that,” Flick told a news conference Saturday.

“Everyone knows that in a Clasico you have to be on your highest level, that’s what we have to do.

“We want to be active, we want to see the team (play) with intensity on the pitch, dominant as normal, and we know it’s a really fantastic team from Real (against us).”

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Barcelona have beaten Real Madrid in all three Clasicos played this season, beginning with a 4-0 win in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.

The Catalans then thrashed Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January and edged them 3-2 in extra time in the Copa del Rey final in April.

Even if Barcelona lost, they would still be top of the table by a point, but Flick said his team was out to defeat Los Blancos again.

“We always go into the match to win the match, doesn’t matter about the table,” he added.

“(We’ll) focus on this match, give everything to get three points…

“The Clasico is important for our fans, everyone, for Barca, for the players, for me, my coaching staff, it’s great to play against them and compete against them.”

Barcelona were handed a boost as Alejandro Balde and Marc Casado were passed fit to play on Saturday after injury.

Midfielder Casado has been missing for almost two months after a knee ligament injury, while Balde missed the last month with a hamstring problem.

Robert Lewandowski returned from injury to play as a substitute against Inter on Tuesday.

Flick said all three players were more likely to be on the bench on Sunday than to be selected as starters.

“After this match, we have three more matches,” noted the coach.

Iga Swiatek suffered a shock elimination from the Italian Open on Saturday as the reigning Rome champion was dumped out by Danielle Collins 6-1, 7-5.

World number two Swiatek was hunting a fourth title at the Foro Italico but failed to get past the third round of the last major tournament before the French Open.

Collins will now face one of Elina Svitolina or fellow American Hailey Baptiste in the last 16 as the world number 35 hunts an unlikely second WTA 1000 title after winning in Miami last year.

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Swiatek’s early exit is a major shock for the Pole who usually dominates her rivals on clay and has a hugely impressive record in the Italian capital.

The manner of her defeat is another worrying sign ahead of Roland Garros as she was also thrashed in straight sets by Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open earlier this month.

Swiatek was barely recognisable from the player who has won four French Open titles, being broken four times in the first set and failing to impose herself at all on Collins, against whom she had previously won eight of nine meetings.

Later men’s world number one Jannik Sinner makes his return to action against Argentina’s Mariano Navone following a contested three-month doping ban.

Manchester City were held to a shock goalless draw by relegated Southampton on Saturday, slowing their charge for a Champions League spot as Brentford and Brighton kept up their push for European qualification.

Pep Guardiola’s men were expected to waltz to three points on England’s south coast and pull level with second-placed Arsenal on 67 points.

But although they dominated possession, they could not break the deadlock, despite the return to action of Erling Haaland.

The point for Southampton takes them to 12 for the season, meaning they have avoided the tag of being the joint-worst team in Premier League history.

They are now one point clear of Derby’s tally of 11 in the 2007/08 campaign.

Despite the draw, third-placed City remain well-placed to finish in the top five, which would secure qualification for the Champions League next season.

With two games to play they are four points clear of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, though their rivals all have a game in hand.

City’s title defence came off the rails in November and December during a season that Guardiola has admitted has been the toughest of his 16-year managerial career.

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The away side dominated possession at St Mary’s Stadium and had 26 shots but managed just five on target during a frustrating afternoon.

Saints had picked up just two points out of a possible 33 in their previous 11 games and were given little chance of getting anything from the match.

Brentford beat already relegated Ipswich 1-0 for their fourth straight win, climbing to eighth in the table, which may be enough for European football next season.

Kevin Schade headed home from Bryan Mbeumo’s corner in the 18th minute for his 11th Premier League goal of the season.

Brighton, also chasing European football, beat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux and are behind Brentford only on goal difference.

Danny Welbeck scored a first-half penalty and Brajan Gruda added a second in the 85th minute to secure the three points.

Everton went into their match on a poor run of form following a sharp uptick when David Moyes returned to manage the club but they have long reached safety in the top flight.

Raul Jimenez put mid-table Fulham ahead at Craven Cottage but Vitalii Mykolenko levelled on the stroke of half-time.

Two second-half goals in three minutes from Michael Keane and Beto made it 3-1.

Aston Villa travel to Bournemouth in the Saturday evening kick-off, still dreaming of securing a Champions League spot for next season.

Fourth-placed Newcastle host Chelsea, a place below them, on Sunday, with Forest in action against relegated Leicester.

Champions Liverpool play Arsenal, who are not yet certain of finishing in the top five despite being the closest challengers to Arne Slot’s men this season.