Chelsea advanced to the final of the UEFA Conference League after a 1-0 win over Swedish side Djurgarden on Thursday sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory in their last-four tie.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck the only goal at Stamford Bridge late in the first half on a night 16-year-old Reggie Walsh became the youngest player to start a European game for Chelsea.
The Blues can become the first club to win all three of UEFA’s current competitions if they beat either two-time runners-up Fiorentina or Real Betis in Wroclaw on May 28.
Defender Marc Cucurella was the only player retained from the team that beat Liverpool in the Premier League last weekend as manager Enzo Maresca made sweeping changes to his line-up with an eye on Sunday’s crucial game at Newcastle.
The Italian has been criticised for his cautious tactics but he has fifth-placed Chelsea on course to qualify for the Champions League via a top-five finish in England.
Teenage midfielder Walsh made his debut off the bench in the 4-1 win in Stockholm a week ago as Chelsea seized control of the tie, but that result didn’t deter some 6,000 Djurgarden fans from making the trip to London for the second leg.
Dewsbury-Hall and Tyrique George forced saves from Djurgarden goalkeeper Jacob Rinne before the two Chelsea players combined to put the hosts in front in the 38th minute.
George threaded a pass through for Dewsbury-Hall who accelerated past a couple of defenders before sweeping in a crisp finish via the base of the post.
That goal killed off any remote hopes for Djurgarden, the first Swedish club to appear in a European semi-final since Gothenburg won the 1986-87 UEFA Cup.
Dewsbury-Hall had a chance to double his tally when he headed Malo Gusto’s cross straight at Rinne, but the visitors rarely threatened with the exception of a long-range shot from Daniel Stensson that was tipped over by Filip Jorgensen.
Chelsea haven’t won a major trophy since the 2021 Champions League, but they will be strong favourites to win their first silverware since Todd Boehly’s consortium took over from Roman Abramovich three years ago.
Manchester United beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the Europa League on Thursday to complete an emphatic 7-1 aggregate semi-final victory, setting up a mouthwatering showpiece against Tottenham.
Fireworks crackled and red smoke filled an expectant Old Trafford following an impressive 3-0 win against 10-man Athletic in northern Spain last week.
But the air of excitement was tinged by the knowledge that Ruben Amorim’s United have shown a startling ability to implode during a horrendous Premier League season.
Amorim reverted to the team that started in the first leg, making eight changes following Sunday’s 4-3 defeat against Brentford.
Dani Vivian was suspended after his red card last week and coach Ernesto Valverde was also hamstrung by the absence of brothers Nico and Inaki Williams as well as top-scorer Oihan Sancet.
Mikel Jauregizar silenced the home fans and gave the visitors hope on the night with a stunning strike in the 31st minute.
For long periods of the match the visitors looked more dangerous but substitute Mason Mount settled the home supporters’ nerves with 18 minutes to go.
The match totally changed complexion as Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Mount again scored.
It means United have kept alive their hopes of eking something out of a terrible season.
Winning Europe’s second-tier club trophy crucially guarantees a place in the Champions League, which would boost United’s chances of attracting top talent as Amorim attempts a monumental rebuild.
United were heavy favourites to complete the job on home turf but injury-hit Athletic nursed a grievance after defender Vivian was sent off in Spain.
They enjoyed the bulk of the early possession but struggled to fashion clear-cut chances and looked nervous when the visitors attacked.
Athletic midfielder Alex Berenguer had a good early opportunity after the home side failed to clear but his curling shot sailed over the bar as he aimed for the top corner.
The midfielder created another chance after a surging run midway through the half but fired wide of Andre Onana’s post from just outside the area.
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United nerves
Manchester United’s English midfielder #07 Mason Mount (C) celebrates with Manchester United’s English defender #41 Harry Amass (R) and Manchester United’s English midfielder #37 Kobbie Mainoo (L) after scoring Manchester United’s fourth goal during the UEFA Europa League semi final second leg football match between Manchester United and Athletic Club Bilbao at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 8, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
But the visitors broke the deadlock in sensational style after half an hour to give themselves hope when Jauregizar picked his spot from outside the box and curled past Onana.
The goal came after some sloppy work from United’s defence. Harry Maguire played a ball across the box and Alvaro Djalo smashed a shot against Leny Yoro.
The ball fell to Jauregizar, who could not have hit the ball more sweetly.
United struggled for attacking rhythm but should have been level shortly before half-time.
The stadium held its breath as Alejandro Garnacho was put through by the lively Patrick Dorgu but his attempted dink over the goalkeeper went wide.
United offered little going forward in the early stages of the second half as Athletic made the running, forcing United to hack clear on multiple occasions.
Both teams made a triple change just after the hour mark. Shortly afterwards Unai Gomez headed the ball across the goal and it bounced just wide of the post.
Injury-hit Mount has been a peripheral figure in his two seasons at Old Trafford but produced a fine finish, swivelling and curling the ball into the far corner in the 72nd minute.
Casemiro scored a second with his head from a Bruno Fernandes cross as United’s earlier nerves were completely forgotten.
Hojlund poked home in the 85th minute before Mount scored an outrageous second from near the halfway line after Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala came out of his box and made a poor clearance.
United will face Tottenham in the final in Bilbao on May 21.
French police arrested 47 people in the capital and three others were injured by a car after football club Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal to reach the Champions League final, authorities said Thursday.
Raucous celebrations erupted in Paris after PSG beat their English rivals 2-1 Wednesday night to advance to the May 31 final and a shot at the club’s first Champions League title.
Three people were injured when a Mercedes crashed into a group of pedestrians near the capital’s iconic Champs-Elysees avenue as PSG fans celebrated, police said, adding the “circumstances… remain unclear at this stage”.
READ ALSO:  , PSG Crush Arsenal’s Hopes, Storm Into Champions League Final
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) supporters set off flares and fireworks as they block the highway near the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on May 7, 2025, while they celebrate their team’s victory in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match against Arsenal. (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)
One of those injured, a minor, was in critical condition in hospital, prosecutors said.
They said they had opened an investigation for assault, fleeing the scene and failure to assist a person in danger.
Police said the driver tried to flee in the car, but was unable to get through the dense crowd of supporters.
The driver and a passenger then ran away on foot, “abandoning their car to the fury of the crowd. It was burned and completely destroyed”, police said.
Rowdy groups clashed with officers, pelting them with objects, police said.
Four vehicles were reported damaged.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) supporters run after police used tear gas to disperse them after a group of supporters blocked the highway near the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on May 7, 2025, while they celebrated their team’s victory in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match against Arsenal. (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)
AFP journalists saw two burned-out vehicles near the Champs-Elysees.
Paris had deployed more than 2, 000 police and emergency workers for the match, which fell the day before a public holiday to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Thousands of fans without tickets massed outside the Parc des Princes stadium during the match.
Police intervened to restore the flow of traffic after rowdy celebrations erupted, but reported “no major incidents” outside the stadium.
In the nearby town of Fontainebleau, police said they had used tear gas to break up an unruly crowd of around 500 people.
Paris Saint-Germain clinched a place in the Champions League final as goals by Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave them a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their last-four tie on Wednesday, securing a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
Ruiz crashed in a shot from the edge of the area in the 27th minute at the Parc des Princes to leave PSG firmly in the driving seat after they had withstood an early bombardment from the visitors.
Already leading in the tie after Ousmane Dembele’s goal in last week’s first leg, PSG then saw Vitinha have a second-half penalty saved.
However, Hakimi put the tie beyond Arsenal when he scored in the 72nd minute, even if Bukayo Saka did then pull one back for the visitors.
PSG advance to a showdown in Munich on May 31 against Inter Milan, and it will be the second Champions League final in their history, five years after a defeat by Bayern Munich in Lisbon.
Arsenal’s Belgian forward #19 Leandro Trossard (C) and Arsenal’s Polish defender #15 Jakub Kiwior (R) react after Paris Saint-Germain’s won the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Arsenal at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP)
Arsenal, meanwhile, saw their European dream come to an end as they fell short of reaching what would have been their second final, 19 years after losing to Barcelona in Paris.
Still without a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, all that is left to play for now for Mikel Arteta’s side is securing a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League.
There was an electric atmosphere all evening in Paris, and PSG were able to celebrate getting to a final in front of their fans for the first time, after their victory against RB Leipzig in the last four in 2020 was played behind closed doors during the pandemic.
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There was a feverish mood in and around the ground pre-match, but PSG have tripped up in big Champions League ties plenty of times over the last decade.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Spanish coach Luis Enrique (L) celebrates with his team’s player Paris Saint-Germain’s Spanish midfielder #08 Fabian Ruiz after scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Arsenal at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
In addition, their top scorer, Dembele, was not in the starting line-up, having come off with a hamstring problem in the first leg.
Gunners Bombardment
Arsenal, with Thomas Partey back in midfield after missing the first leg through suspension, did their best to silence the raucous home support by throwing everything at the Parisians right from the off.
Declan Rice headed just wide, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Gabriel Martinelli from close range before producing a stunning save low to his left to keep out a Martin Odegaard shot, all inside the opening eight minutes.
PSG did eventually settle, and they almost went ahead on 17 minutes when Desire Doue teed up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose curling shot hit the far post.
Then Doue wasted a great chance, shooting straight at David Raya in the Arsenal goal after Bradley Barcola had intercepted a loose ball.
But PSG did score before the half-hour mark, the goal coming in the wake of a free-kick awarded for a Rice foul on Kvaratskhelia.
Vitinha’s delivery was headed out by Partey but fell to Ruiz on the edge of the box, and he controlled before smashing in a left-foot shot as the ball bounced back up.
It was the ideal moment for the 29-year-old Spaniard to score his first Champions League goal.
Barcola failed to convert a good chance for the hosts to score again moments later, and Arsenal still had some hope going into the second half.
Only another stunning Donnarumma save with his fingertips prevented Saka from pulling one back on 64 minutes, before PSG were awarded a spot-kick.
German referee Felix Zwayer gave the penalty after being summoned to the pitchside monitor when a shot by Hakimi brushed the outstretched hand of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
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Arteta was furious at the decision, yet Vitinha’s kick was turned away by Raya diving to his left.
Arsenal’s Spanish coach Mikel Arteta looks on during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Arsenal at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
Nevertheless, PSG made it 2-0 on the night when Dembele, on from the bench, teed up Hakimi to finish in style.
This being PSG, however, there was a wobble as Saka quickly pulled one back from close range after Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard had got the better of Marquinhos on the wing.
Saka then somehow blazed over with an open goal gaping from Riccardo Calafiori’s cross, ensuring that there would be no miracle Arsenal comeback, and it would be PSG’s night.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son, Cristiano dos Santos, was first called up to the Portugal Under-15 squad on Tuesday.
The 14-year-old has also had connections with Ronaldo’s former clubs Manchester United and Juventus, like his father, who plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
At the Vlatko Markovic youth tournament in Croatia on May 13 and 18, the Selecao Under-15s will face Japan, Greece, and England.
Despite Saudi interest, Amorim is steadfast in keeping Fernandes.
At age 40, Ronaldo, the all-time top goal scorer for Real Madrid and still a Portugal international, has five children.
Although he suffered a foot injury in the opening match of the Euro 2016 final against France, the striker helped his nation win their first major trophy.
Ruben Amorim has insisted he wants to keep Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes despite interest from Saudi Arabia, labelling the Portugal international “one of the top players in the world”.
The 30-year-old playmaker has been a key figure at Old Trafford since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2020 and scored two goals in last week’s 3-0 Europa League semi-final first-leg win at Athletic Bilbao.
But the build-up to Thursday’s return fixture in Manchester has been dominated by talk that Saudi club Al-Hilal are poised to make a big-money offer for Fernandes.
But Amorim, who said March he told Fernandes he was “not going anywhere” following links to Real Madrid, was similarly defiant amid talk of a post-season move to Saudi Arabia.
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“I think it is easy to understand (his importance) — not just because of the numbers but the way he plays, the importance that he has during his five years here”, United head coach Amorim told a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“He is a top player, we need top players. He is a leader, he’s the captain, so he’s really important. It’s normal that a lot of clubs want a player like Bruno, like (Alejandro) Garnacho, like others.
” But we want to keep the best players and Bruno is clearly one of the top players in the world, so our idea didn’t change. We want Bruno here. “
Garnacho, meanwhile, says he is happy at Old Trafford as speculation intensifies over his future.
The 20-year-old United academy product has scored 26 goals in 140 appearances for the Red Devils, including during last May’s FA Cup final win over local rivals Manchester City.
But Garnacho’s future is uncertain as United look to rebuild amid profit and sustainability restrictions, with Chelsea and Napoli expressing interest during the winter transfer window.
” Obviously as a footballer you are always going to read and listen to some rumours about the future, “Argentina international Garnacho, speaking alongside Amorim, said Wednesday.
” But I have a contract here until 2028, so I’m happy here. “
United are well-placed in their last chance to win a trophy at the end of a disappointing season where the fallen kings of English football are currently a lowly 15th in the Premier League table after Portuguese boss Amorim replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.
Not only are they 3-0 up after the first leg in Spain, with Fernandes ‘ double following Casemiro’s opening goal, but Bilbao also had Dani Vivian sent off.
United’s Matthijs de Ligt, however, looks set to miss the second leg after sitting out training on the eve of Thursday’s semi-final.
The Netherlands international returned from a month out as a second-half substitute in Spain and went on to start in Sunday’s 4-3 loss away to Brentford, only to limp off after 35 minutes.
Christian Eriksen is expected to return to work on Thursday even though he missed Wednesday’s training session.
