Real Madrid players observed a minute’s silence before training on Monday as tributes poured in from across La Liga after the death of football-mad Pope Francis at 88.
“Real Madrid wishes to express its condolences to the whole Catholic community in the face of the loss of a historic and universal figure,” the club said in a statement.
“During his papacy, marked by the scale of his great legacy, Pope Francis represented an enormous spirit of solidarity and support for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people. ”
READ ALSO: World Leaders Mourn Pope Francis
The reigning Spanish and European champions posted a picture of the squad and coaching staff standing in a circle at the club training ground to hold a minute’s silence.
Minute’s silence at Real Madrid City.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were also among a slew of top-flight clubs joining La Liga in expressing their condolences for Francis.
The Argentine pope was a passionate follower of Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo and viewed football as a vehicle to educate and spread peace, receiving legends including Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 1-1 draw at St Pauli on Sunday, leaving Bayern Munich needing just five points from their remaining four games to win the Bundesliga title.
Leverkusen took the lead when Alex Grimaldo floated in a free kick, and Patrik Schick did the rest, jumping high to score after 32 minutes.
The visitors, however, shut up shop in the second half, allowing Pauli to grab hold of the match, laying siege to Leverkusen’s goal.
Morgan Guilavogui’s 74th-minute strike looked to have levelled things up, but it was chalked off for handball. The hosts kept pushing and scored just three minutes later, Carlo Boukhalfa tapping in after Lukas Hradecky spilt a corner.
The result leaves Bayern eight clear of Leverkusen, with four games remaining. Bayern need just five points and can wrap things up as early as next week, if they win and Leverkusen lose.
Leverkusen also have other concerns, with reports that manager Xabi Alonso, who took the club to their first-ever German title last season, could be on his way to Real Madrid in the summer.
Despite their lowly league position, St Pauli’s success this season has been built on a sturdy defence, with only Bayern and Leverkusen conceding fewer goals.
– Guirassy fires Dortmund –
St Pauli players celebrate after the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC St Pauli and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Hamburg, northern Germany on April 20, 2025. (Photo by FRANK MOLTER / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO
Borussia Dortmund came from a goal down to beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-2, keeping alive their slim hopes of reaching the top four.
Serhou Guirassy, who scored a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Barcelona, was again key, scoring one and setting up another for Dortmund.
“We’re much more secure and much more stable — that’s extremely important,” Pascal Gross told DAZN. “We’ve got four ‘finals’ to go”.
After a testy opening, Ko Itakura put Gladbach ahead after 24 minutes, playing a simple one-two with Kevin Stoeger to unlock the Dortmund defence.
Dortmund hit back with three goals in nine minutes before half-time.
Chelsea loanee Carney Chukwuemeka threaded the ball to Pascal Gross whose lateral pass found Guirassy, who swept home.
Chukwuemeka again started the move down the right flank, his pass reaching Yan Couto who, in turn, found Felix Nmecha who scored a carbon copy of the opener.
Dortmund turned the screw with Daniel Svensson heading in a rebound from a Guirassy shot just before half-time.
The visitors hit back when Germany striker Tim Kleindienst was felled in the box by Nmecha, with Stoeger making no mistake from the spot.
Dortmund snuffed out the comeback, however and now sit in seventh, four points off fourth place, having been as low as 11th.
Earlier on Sunday, an exhausted Eintracht Frankfurt fought to a scoreless draw at Augsburg, days after their Europa League quarter-final loss to Tottenham.
Nigerian chess champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has set a 64-Hour chess marathon world record.
The new record set by Onakoya and his chess partner, Shawn Martinez, at Times Square, New York, broke the 61-hour record achieved by the chess marathon record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds, set by two Norwegian players, Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, in June 2024.
The four-day non-stop gameplay, which originally targeted 70 hours, started on April 17.
READ ALSO: 70-Hour Chess marathon: Tunde Onakoya Breaks Record Set by Norwegians
In a post on his X handle, where he shared photos of his new feat, he said, “It is possible to do great things from a small place”.
The official certificate from Guinness World Records shared by Onakoya and confirming the new record read, “The longest chess marathon was achieved by Tunde Onakoya (Nigeria) and Shawn Martinez (Puerto Rico) in Times Square, New York, New York, USA from 17 to 20 April 2025. ”
Onakoya with his GWR certificate confirming his new record of 64 hours Credit: X/Tunde_OD
More Than Personal Feat
Onakoya, 30, who gained global recognition in April 2024 for completing a 60-hour chess marathon with Martinez, a US chess master, had earlier revealed that his upcoming attempt was not just about records.
“We’re not just doing this for ourselves—we’re doing it for a million dreams. We want to build the biggest preschool in Africa for homeless children.
“The hardest part isn’t staying awake for three days—because a million dreams will do that. But now, more than ever, we need everyone’s support. If you’re in New York, show up at Times Square. Come support us. Help us inspire the world and show the world that it is indeed possible to do great things from a small place.
“My dream is to inspire the world and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria,” he added.
Music star, Davido, watches on during Onakoya’s 60-hour chess marathon in 2024
During his record-setting performance in 2024, the Nigerian community in New York turned out in a show of support, offering traditional meals like jollof rice and music. Nigerian superstar, Davido, also publicly supported him and presented him with a 30BG chain.
Back in Nigeria, Vice President Kashim Shettima commended him, stating that his feat was a symbol of “excellence and resilience that distinguishes Nigerians both locally and internationally. ”
Similarly, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, highlighted that the attempt was “a strong testimony to how greatness can come from anywhere. ”
That initial effort, which doubled as a $1 million fundraising campaign, helped elevate Onakoya’s Chess in Slums Africa initiative — a movement he says has provided education and lifelong scholarships to over 200 children across Nigeria. The funds raised were also used to distribute one million chess sets to impoverished communities, in partnership with The Gift of Chess.
In a January 2024 interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Onakoya said growing up in poverty taught him empathy because the real pain wasn’t just lacking money, but being cut off from things like education and justice. He said this experience drives his passion to help others, adding that he wants to be the kind of person he needed when he was younger.
A self-taught chess master, Onakoya learnt the game in a barber’s shop. Raised in modest circumstances by a mother who worked as a cleaner to support his education, he went on to study computer science at Yaba College of Technology.
Throughout his journey, the Lagos-born chess champion has received national and international acclaim. Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, appointed him in April 2024 as the state’s sports ambassador and likened his cause to that of millions of youths in Nigeria who are struggling to make something out of their lives.
Leicester City were relegated from the Premier League as Liverpool moved to within one win of the title on Sunday with a 1-0 victory at the King Power.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score the only goal 14 minutes from time as the Reds moved to the brink of a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
Liverpool could be crowned champions on Wednesday should Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace.
READ ALSO: Man Utd ‘Lack A Lot Of Things’ To Win Games, Says Amorim
If the Gunners avoid defeat, Arne Slot’s men have the chance to seal the deal when Tottenham visit Anfield next Sunday.
Leicester have not scored a single goal at home since December as nine consecutive defeats at the King Power have taken Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men down.
A Liverpool cruise seemed in store when Mohamed Salah hit both posts with a glorious chance inside the first two minutes.
But after storming clear of the chasing pack in Slot’s early months in charge to build a near-unassailable lead, Liverpool have slowed in recent weeks as the finish line approaches.
Leicester City’s English striker #09 Jamie Vardy leaves the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on April 20, 2025. Leicester were relegated from the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Wilfred Ndidi came close to ending Leicester’s barren run with a low strike that came back off the post.
Liverpool struggled to create from open play in what remained of the first half.
Ibrahima Konate came closest to breaking the deadlock when Ndidi hooked clear his goalbound header from a corner.
The visitors upped the tempo at the start of the second period.
Kostas Tsimikas should have done better when he fired straight at Mads Hermansen.
At the other end Leicester did finally have the ball in the net but Patson Daka had fouled Alisson Becker before Connor Coady headed into an unguarded net.
– Woodwork –
Liverpool’s English defender #66 Trent Alexander-Arnold (2R) celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Slot introduced Alexander-Arnold for the final 20 minutes on his return from a five-week absence due to an ankle injury.
The right-back took just five minutes to score his 23rd and potentially last goal for his boyhood club.
Salah and Diogo Jota somehow contrived to hit the woodwork rather than the net from point-blank range as Leicester struggled to clear a corner.
The loose ball broke to Alexander-Arnold, whose shot went straight through the grasp of Hermansen.
Alexander-Arnold ripped off his shirt in a wild celebration in front of the Liverpool fans.
Unlike Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk, who have signed new contracts to remain at Liverpool for the next two years, the England international still seems set to depart after reportedly agreeing terms of a free transfer move to Real Madrid.
Leicester City’s Dutch manager Ruud van Nistelrooy (R) consoles Leicester City’s English midfielder #93 Jeremy Monga (L) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on April 20, 2025. Leicester were relegated from the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Leicester still had a chance to snatch an unlikely point.
But Facundo Buonanotte’s wasteful finish with just Alisson to beat summed up their season to forget.
Champions of England just nine years ago, the Foxes have found life back in the top-flight far too much of a step up in class after romping to the Championship title last season.
They join Southampton, whose relegation was confirmed with a record seven games to go, in an immediate return to the second tier.
Manchester United boss, Ruben Amorim, has admitted his side lacks several critical elements to win games and be considered title contenders in the Premier League.
Amorim’s statement is coming after United suffered its 15th Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford.
”I will tell the fans the truth that we lack a lot of things in our team, that we have missed a lot of chances and that if we don’t score goals, we are not going to win. We have a lot to do,’ the United boss said in a post-match conference when asked if his side has what it takes to be considered a good team.
“We create a lot of chances, we had a game, we control the game, we blocked some good players from the opponent, and one set piece changes the game, and that’s it. It’s really frustrating to end the game like this. ”
Amorim said he was frustrated with the outcome of the match and his side deserved better.
“If you look at the game, we were the better team, but in the end, it doesn’t matter because if we don’t score goals, nothing matters. In the end, what counts is the result, especially in these kinds of moments. ”
Manchester United’s Danish striker #09 Rasmus Hojlund (L) shoots wide during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Rasmus Hojlund has faced criticism for his underperformance, managing only one goal in 28 games and registering in six of his 45 appearances for the club this season.
Despite calls from various quarters to search for better options, with Joshua Zirkzee suffering an injury, the Portuguese has indicated that he is not prepared to leave out Hojlund, as the problems are team-based
“I think again it’s a team thing. Of course, we have an idea of what this team needs, but also the guys we play with, at least three guys in front, they can score goals. We play with midfielders who can reach, and you see it today in the game.
“All the team needs to score more goals, and you have opportunities with the midfielders, with the striker, we need to improve as a team. If you do not score goals in this league, it is impossible to win games.
Amorim was, however, optimistic that things would soon turn around for the club, stating that the fans should expect a better outing in the coming games.
Arsenal made Liverpool wait to be crowned Premier League champions as Leandro Trossard inspired a 4-0 win that pushed Ipswich to the brink of relegation on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side cruised to their first victory in three league games thanks to Trossard’s double and goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri at Portman Road.
Ipswich played more than half the match with 10 men after Leif Davis was sent off for a crude lunge on Bukayo Saka.
Second-placed Arsenal are 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, who need six points from their remaining six games to be crowned English champions for a record-equalling 20th time.
Liverpool could have won the title at Leicester on Sunday if Arsenal had lost to Ipswich, but while it is only a matter of time before Arne Slot’s men lift the trophy, the Gunners have their own holy grail to chase.
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 have reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009, booking a clash with Paris Saint-Germain after eliminating holders Real Madrid in the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Their 5-1 aggregate triumph against the most successful club in Champions League history was a significant statement as they look to win the tournament for the first time.
The north Londoners, whose only Champions League final appearance ended in defeat against Barcelona in 2006, are bidding to win their first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.
After finishing as runners-up to Manchester City for the last two seasons, Arteta’s team are likely to end in second place once again.
They effectively gifted the title to Liverpool with a dismal run of two wins from their previous seven league games before arriving at Portman Road.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna had acknowledged that relegation was already inevitable, just 12 months after their unexpected promotion to the top-flight for the first time in 22 years.
Third-bottom Ipswich are now all but down, sitting 15 points from safety with only five games left and a vastly inferior goal difference to fourth-bottom West Ham.
Trossard makes his point
Arsenal’s Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road in Ipswich, eastern England on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
Ipswich had lost all six of their home league games in 2025 and Arsenal preyed on their myriad weaknesses by monopolising 89 percent of the early possession.
It was no surprise when the Gunners took the lead with an immaculately crafted move in the 14th minute.
Martin Odegaard injected urgency into the attack with a burst from midfield, passing to Saka, whose low cross reached Trossard as the Belgian forward prodded a low finish into the far corner from 10 yards.
Arsenal’s English midfielder #53 Ethan Nwaneri (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road in Ipswich, eastern England on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
Arsenal didn’t have to wait long for a second goal as Martinelli struck in the 28th minute.
Underlining how much Arsenal missed him during his long injury absence this season, Saka was the catalyst with a typically incisive surge past Jacob Greaves.
Saka’s pass was deftly back-heeled by Mikel Merino into Martinelli’s path and the Brazilian drilled emphatically past Alex Palmer.
Saka was proving unplayable and Davis responded with an ugly foul that left the England winger writhing in pain and triggered the defender’s 32nd minute dismissal.
Saka eased Arsenal’s fears as he hopped to his feet and resumed with a curler that whistled just wide.
With Arsenal in total control, Arteta replaced Saka in the second half to keep him fresh for bigger challenges ahead.
Arsenal barely needed to get out of first gear such was their superiority, but Trossard is playing for a place against PSG and he made his point to Arteta in the 69th minute.
Declan Rice found Trossard in the area and he shifted into space before guiding a clinical finish into the far corner.
Nwaneri capped Arsenal’s commanding performance in 88th minute, the young striker punishing Ipswich’s woeful marking with a shot that deflected past Palmer from inside the area.
