Category sport-news

As Liverpool suffered a hangover from the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Chelsea increased their chances of making it to the Champions League with a 3-1 victory.

Through Enzo Fernandez’s early strike at Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca’s side took the lead.

Virgil van Dijk’s late reply for Liverpool came after Jarell Quansah’s own goal in the second half.

The champions only suffered their third league defeat of the season when Cole Palmer scored in stoppage-time.

After winning a record-equalling 20th English title last weekend with a 5-1 victory over Tottenham, lacklustre Liverpool had little to play for. Chelsea had every motivation to win a priceless three points.

The Blues are currently in fifth place, one point ahead of fourth-placed Newcastle, who hope to reclaim the Champions League with a top-five finish after drawing at Brighton 1-1 earlier on Sunday.

If they defeat Crystal Palace on Monday, Nottingham Forest will share the lead with 63 points with Chelsea and Newcastle.

With three games to go, the top five rivalry will have a thrilling conclusion, leaving Manchester City, who are currently third, one point clear of Chelsea.

Chelsea return to action on Thursday in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League semifinal against Djurgardens, with a 4-1 lead over Djurgardens expected to bring them to the final of Maresca’s tenure.

Read more about Former Liverpool star Firmino’s “Proud” After More Champions League History at READ ALSO:

Liverpool’s only other victories in a merry-making league season came against Fulham in April and Nottingham Forest in September.

Arne Slot’s men played as though the title party had rendered them groggy on yet another unsuccessful trip to west London.

When the Reds entered the pitch before kick-off, Chelsea’s players gathered to give Liverpool a guard of honor.

Lethargic Liverpool

Large sections of the Chelsea fanbase booed as Liverpool made their entrance, but the gesture of respect didn’t go down well with them.

After Slot rested Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Andrew Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate, a much-changed lineup emerged through the divisive welcome.

Liverpool supporters chanted “champions” and waved banners with references to their 20 titles in one Stamford Bridge corner as they celebrated their new status.

Chelsea opened the scoring in just three minutes when Fernandez was picked out by Pedro Neto’s cross and the unmarked Argentine midfielder slotted home from eight yards with Liverpool’s defense disorganized.

Moments later, when Noni Madueke danced through the Reds back four with ease and was inches away from double-dotting Chelsea’s advantage, he scuffed his shot just wide of the far post.

After a risky raid, Neto fired narrowly wide after Nicolas Jackson’s cross slammed off the crossbar.

In the 56th minute, Maresca’s men struck once more in an odd manner.

Palmer slammed past Madueke for a low cross before the Liverpool goalkeeper.

Van Dijk quickly made a clearance that smacked into Quansah and rebounded into the net during the subsequent scramble.

Before Palmer hit the post as Chelsea turned the screw, Alisson Becker made a good save from Jadon Sancho.

Robert Sanchez was gifted a header in the 85th minute by Van Dijk.

With the penalty converted by Palmer for his first goal since January, Quansah tripped Moises Caicedo, who had already lost in a close game.

Real Madrid defeated Celta Vigo 3-2 to move within sight of La Liga’s top two teams, Kylian Mbappe, twice.

Madrid held on to a late Celta fightback to maintain the four-point lead over the Catalans ahead of the Clasico game on Sunday after the Catalans lost to Valladolid on Saturday.

Second-placed leaders Real Madrid were forced to hold on to a seventh-placed Celta side in Santiago Bernabeu, hoping to win the next season in European competition.

Los Blancos are still hopeful of beating Hansi Flick’s side in La Liga despite Los Blancos’ failed Champions League defense and Los Blancos’ failed Copa del Rey final against Barcelona last week.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side faced a string of defensive injuries before Carlo Ancelotti’s side took control with Turkish 20-year-old Arda Guler pulling the strings after riding out a first wave of Celta chances.

Rodrygo started in his place and made the most of Rodrygo’s illness when he went out with him.

READ ALSO: Former Liverpool star Firmino is “Proud” of his continued success in the Champions League.

In the opening moments, Guler showed that his ambition has no limits with a spectacular overhead effort that was directed wide of the intended target.

As a threat to Celta, former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso headed just over before forcing a fine save from Thibaut Courtois.

As Madrid stifled the visitors, Aurelien Tchouameni headed over when he was in a better position at the other end.

After 33 minutes, Guler skillfully created some space in the box before brilliantly curled a strike past Vicente Guaita. Madrid opened the scoring.

At the close of a quick breakaway, Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead after 39 minutes.

When Bellingham set Mbappe free down the right, Courtois successfully saved from Borja Iglesias and Madrid immediately moved forward.

The French superstar ruthlessly flew inside Guaita from within the area.

Mbappe scored his 24th league goal of the year just three minutes into the second half, putting him one point ahead of Robert Lewandowski, the top scorer for Barcelona.

Guler created the ball by playing in the striker with a perfectly-weighted ball, and Mbappe finished low with a left bootstroke.

After a corner was mistakenly given to Celta, it appeared as though Madrid had won the match, but Javier Rodriguez reclaimed control with a close finish.

Rodriguez was present to stop Pablo Duran’s backheeled effort on the line, but Lucas Vazquez blocked it.

The Galicians immediately had more attacking momentum when Iago Aspas was called off the bench and sent Williot Swedberg to score a superb pass to slot a second past Courtois.

The Belgian goalkeeper was heartbroken moments later when Duran’s shot slipped out of his hands and had potential to have squirmed across the line behind him if it hadn’t come to a stop on the grass.

With a win over Clasico, Barcelona would have won the title next weekend if Madrid had conceded more points.

Aryna Sabalenka won her third Madrid Open title against Coco Gauff on Saturday, falling 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

The American, who was ranked fourth last year, defeated the runner-up in the first set before winning in a tie-break and sealing victory with a double fault.

Sabalenka won the WTA 1000 trophy in Brisbane and Miami, adding to her tour-leading 31st victories on Madrid clay.

She reached the final six times in a row at Madrid this year, and it was her 37th of her career.

Iga Swiatek, who Gauff thrashed in the semi-final on Thursday, defeated Sabalenka in the showpiece last year.

READ MORE:   Arsenal Suffers A Bournemouth Demise Prior To PSG Showdown

Before addressing the crowd, Sabalenka told the crowd, “I’m pretty sure we’re going to play many more times in the finals — although I hope I’m going to get all (the wins).”

“I’m always so excited to play in front of you, and I’m so happy to win this year.”

Gauff managed an initial hold, but the three-time Grand Slam champion waded through the first set.

As Gauff struggled to deal with her immense power, Sabalenka racked up a 4-1 lead with breaks in the third and fifth games and won the next 17 points.

The American, who won the US Open in 2023, was able to stifle the 2021 and 2023 Madrid champion with her own break.

With her second set point, Gauff sliced wide, Sabalenka broke once more to tie the match in 35 minutes.

The American consolidated for a 3-1 lead in the second set by upping her serve and securing a break in the third game.

In the sixth game, Sabalenka put in a lot of pressure on Gauff, who held on for a 4-2 lead.

Gauff twice double faulted her opponent, giving her opponent three break points, when she was 5-4 up and serving the set.

As Gauff saved all three of those, Sabalenka dropped her racquet in a comical moment during a rally on the second, the Belarusian gazing at the crowd in disbelief.

Gauff saved a further break point after a wasteful set point, but Sabalenka won the game for good at the fifth time without asking.

The world number one fought through a difficult tie-break with 6-5 but was denied a championship point by Gauff.

Before Gauff’s serve-assisted mini-break, Sabalenka secured two more points before he fought back, but the 26-year-old eventually took control and won three more championship points.

Gauff handed victory to the Australian Open’s runner-up this year with a double fault.

With a 5-5 lead over Gauff, Sabalenka equaled Petra Kvitova’s winning streak for three women’s Madrid Open titles.

Despite losing, Gauff thanked her team and the Madrid Open organizers, saying, “I think this is a step in the right direction.”

Arsenal lost 2-1 to Bournemouth against a goalless draw on Saturday, but Michael Arteta challenged them to use the “rage and anger” from that defeat to inspire their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

Declan Rice’s opener, his 100th appearance for the club, gave Arteta’s side the lead.

However, in the second half, Dean Huijsen scored the equalizer for Bournemouth, and Evanilson made it 2-0.

Arsenal will need a much-improved performance in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal match on Wednesday after being defeated by PSG 1-0 in the first leg of the competition.

Read more:   England Defender Dier To Leave Bayern At The End Of Season  

“We should have ended the game,” he said. Additionally, Arteta added, “You’re in big trouble if you defend your box in two set-pieces in the manner we’ve done,” he said.

“It didn’t live up to the standards that we have.” We didn’t want to create the momentum and a strong vibe for today.

“Frustration, rage, and anger are what we have produced.” Make sure to use Wednesday with that.

Six points, a top five finish in the Premier League, and the second-placed Gunners are also necessary for Champions League qualification for the following season.

Arteta acknowledged this week that watching Liverpool celebrate their Premier League title last weekend was “very painful.”

The Champions League is their last chance to win a trophy this season, and the Gunners finished last behind Manchester City for the previous two years.

Arteta is still awaiting the outcome of his six-year Arsenal reign, with the 2020 FA Cup being his final silverware.

Never having won the Champions League final, Arsenal reached it in 2006.

It was intriguing to see Arteta select a full-strength side for a largely meaningless game against Bournemouth because there was so much at stake in the Parc des Princes the following week.

Key players Rice, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and William Saliba made their debuts for Arsenal instead of resting.

The notable absentees for Arsenal were Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino, with Arteta revealing that the former would need to take a fitness test to assess his suitability for the PSG game.

Sucker punch, &nbsp

With a chance to advance to Europe, Bournemouth had already defeated Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in October.

Evanilson made his debut for Bournemouth after being redone against Manchester United.

When Jakub Kiwior slipped while clearing Milos Kerkez’s cross, the Brazilian forward wasted a golden opportunity.

Leandro Trossard made a good save from Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Arsenal forward met Martinelli’s cross with a header that forced a good save from the opener.

In the 34th minute, Rice made the breakthrough by grabbing Odegaard’s precise pass and rounding Kepa to slot into the empty net before exchanging a bow to the crowd.

After the Arsenal keeper miscued a pass to the striker, Evanilson nearly threw a lob from 40 yards.

After the interval, Saka should have sprinted head-tamely toward Kepa from Martinelli’s cross.

Saka retreated a short while later, cutting nimbly inside for a curler that fizzed past the far post.

The failure, which had a significant impact on their title race surrender, saw Arsenal fail to win nine league games this season in which they held the lead.

And yet again, Arteta’s side was shook by a sucker punch as Bournemouth scored with their opening goal goal in the 67th minute.

When Huijsen climbed to loop a header over Raya from six yards, Antoine Semenyo launched a long throw into the Arsenal area.

In the 75th minute, Evanilson paid the price for the Gunners’ lack of resolve.

After a VAR check for a potential handball, Bournemouth finally had time to celebrate when Marcus Tavernier flicked the ball in the direction of the far post and Evanilson poked home.