SUPER TEN FROM EUROPEAN FOOTBALL THIS WEEK (Game Week 34)
As the race to the end of the season approaches, consolidation, the fight for glory, survival, and the agony of relegation loom as teams race to the finish line across all leagues in Europe.
Drama in France, Bayern edge closer to glory, Liverpool win their 20th League title, Inter Milan keep slipping away and a five goal thriller in the Copa Del Rey final as we draw ever closer to the end of the footballing season in Europe.
1. Nice end PSG unbeaten run with the race for UCL spots getting slimmer.
Paris Saint-Germain’s run for a perfect Ligue 1 season was shattered as Nice delivered a 3–1 shock victory at the Parc des Princes on Friday.
Despite fielding a strong lineup ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, the newly crowned champions were undone by clinical finishing from Nice. Morgan Sanson’s brace and a Youssouf Ndayishimiye header secured the points for the visitors, despite Fabian Ruiz briefly leveling for PSG.
Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka’s inspired performance further frustrated the home side, who dominated possession but lacked sharpness in front of goal. The unexpected win significantly boosts Nice’s Champions League qualification hopes, propelling them to fourth in the table.
In the race for the UCL, Lyon , Monaco, Lille and Strasbourg all won their games with less than four points seperating everyone as the battle for UCL spots.
2. Jackson’s Strike propels Chelsea to Victory Over Everton in the race to UCL Qualification as Ipswich journey in the EPL ends
A first-half goal from Nicolas Jackson secured a crucial 1–0 victory for Chelsea against Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, significantly bolstering their aspirations for Champions League qualification.
Jackson’s decisive strike came in the 27th minute. Capitalizing on a costly error by Everton’s Beto in his own half, Enzo Fernandez teed up Jackson just outside the box, and the Chelsea forward drilled a low shot into the net.
This lone goal proved sufficient for Chelsea to capitalize on the absence of Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa due to FA Cup commitments. However, they had to withstand a spirited second-half fightback from Everton.
Ultimately, Jackson’s first goal since December proved to be the difference and the 1–0 win lifts Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea to fourth in the Premier League table, trailing Manchester City by a single point and ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference as they play the FA Cup semifinal
Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League proved short-lived as their relegation was stamped on Saturday following a decisive 3–0 defeat away to a dominant Newcastle United side. The ten-man Tractor Boys struggled against a Magpies side that climbed to third in the table with the victory.
A pivotal moment arrived in the first half when Ben Johnson received two yellow cards, the second for a clear dive, leaving Ipswich at a disadvantage. Despite initially holding Newcastle to limited opportunities, including Sandro Tonali’s long-range strike that hit the bar, Johnson’s dismissal in the 37th minute shifted the momentum immediately.
Newcastle capitalized on the numerical advantage, pinning Ipswich back and earning a penalty in first-half stoppage time after a VAR review penalized Julio Enciso for a pull on Jacob Murphy. Alexander Isak calmly converted the spot-kick, opening the scoring.
The second half saw Newcastle maintain relentless pressure. In the 56th minute, Dan Burn headed in Kieran Trippier’s cross to extend their lead and substitute William Osula sealed the win with a header from a Trippier corner ten minutes from time, marking his first Premier League goal.
The result mathematically confirms Ipswich’s relegation as they remain 15 points adrift of 17th-placed West Ham, who also lost on Saturday. For Newcastle, the victory propels them back into the Champions League qualification spots, sitting just two points ahead of Nottingham Forest.
3. Crystal Palace advance to the FA Cup final
Crystal Palace delivered a commanding performance at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, securing their place in the FA Cup final for the first time since 2016 with a resounding 3–0 victory over Aston Villa. This triumph marks their fourth consecutive win against Villa across all competitions this season.
The Eagles’ victory was illuminated by a stunning opening goal from Eberechi Eze, who curled a beautiful first-time strike into the net just after the half-hour mark. Ismaila Sarr then sealed Palace’s passage to the final with a second-half brace.
Despite a bright start from Aston Villa, who saw early chances fall to Boubacar Kamara and Morgan Rogers, it was Palace who drew first blood. Although Jean-Philippe Mateta had a goal disallowed for a foul, Eze’s moment of brilliance soon followed. Tyrick Mitchell then missed an opportunity to extend Palace’s lead before the break.
Villa emerged with renewed vigor in the second half, forcing two excellent saves from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. However, Palace were presented with a chance to double their advantage when Kamara fouled Eze in the box, but Mateta’s penalty struck the post.
Palace then extended their lead in the 58th minute. Adam Wharton’s interception led to the ball finding Sarr, who expertly put the ball into the bottom corner from distance. Villa substitute Leon Bailey saw his close-range effort blocked by his own teammate before Henderson denied him again. Sarr then headed narrowly wide for Palace.
In the dying moments, a mistake in the Villa defense allowed Palace substitute Eddie Nketiah to win the ball and set up Sarr for his second goal, putting the final nail in Villa’s coffin. Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace will now return to Wembley on May 17th to face either Nottingham Forest or Manchester City in the FA Cup final showpiece.
4. Bayern a step closer to Bundesliga glory
Bayern Munich delivered a comfortable 3–0 victory against Mainz on Saturday, yet their Bundesliga title celebrations remain on hold. While the Bavarians secured the three points, Bayer Leverkusen’s simultaneous 2–0 win prevented them from clinching the championship this weekend.
Mainz had an early opportunity to take the lead when Jonathan Burkardt missed a clear chance in the fifth minute, firing over the bar after eluding Kim Min-Jae. Bayern responded, with Josip Stanisic also missing the target before finally breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute. Konrad Laimer provided the assist, setting up Leroy Sane to slot the ball into the far corner.
Just before halftime, Michael Olise extended Bayern’s advantage with a brilliant solo goal, finding the net from a difficult angle with an excellent finish.
Sane was unlucky not to add to the score in the second half, twice hitting the woodwork. His dinked attempt struck the post after an hour, and he later rattled the frame with a half-volley.
Bayern eventually added a third goal in the 84th minute when Eric Dier headed home from an Olise corner, shortly after Thomas Muller marked his 500th Bundesliga appearance.
However, the victory was tempered by the news that top scorer Harry Kane will be suspended for next week’s crucial match against RB Leipzig after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season. Bayern will now need to win in Leipzig to guarantee their 34th Bundesliga title next week.
5. Milan edge past Venezia to salvage a disaapointing season
AC Milan secured a crucial 2–0 away win against Venezia in Serie A with goals from Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez. The victory bolsters Milan’s aspirations for European qualification while simultaneously intensifying Venezia’s battle against relegation.
Pulisic swiftly put Milan ahead in the fifth minute, capitalizing on a defensive miscue from the home side. Despite Venezia’s dominance and numerous opportunities throughout the remainder of the first half, they couldn’t find the back of the net although they had a goal disallowed for offside.
Milan sealed their victory in stoppage time of the second half when Gimenez calmly finished a sublime free-kick pass delivered by Tijjani Reijnders.
With this result, Milan stays on 54 points, trailing the top seven by a mere three points, although their rivals are yet to play their Sunday fixtures. For Venezia, the situation grows more precarious as they remain second from bottom with 25 points, just one point shy of 17th-placed Lecce, who sit precariously outside the relegation zone with Atalanta to face.
6. Five goal thriller in the Copa Del Rey final as Barcelona beat Real Madrid again
A dramatic Clasico unfolded in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday, with Jules Kounde emerging as the hero for Barcelona. His powerful strike deep into extra time secured a 3–2 victory over Real Madrid, keeping Hansi Flick’s side’s treble aspirations alive.
Barcelona took the lead in the 28th minute through the excellent Pedri, but Real Madrid fought back after the break. Substitute Kylian Mbappe leveled the score with a bullet free-kick, and Aurelien Tchouameni headed in from a corner to put Madrid ahead.
However, Barcelona responded late in normal time when Ferran Torres capitalized on a defensive lapse to restore parity. The drama continued into stoppage time as a penalty awarded to Barcelona was overturned by VAR for a perceived dive.
In extra time, after a close chance for Torres, it was Kounde who decisively intervened. Intercepting a loose pass by Modric, he unleashed a low drive into the net in the 116th minute.
The tension spilled over as full-time approached, with Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger sent off from the bench for his reaction to a Barcelona free-kick. Lucas Vazquez also saw red after the final whistle.
Despite the setback, Real Madrid must quickly regroup as they face Barcelona again on May 11 in a potentially crucial LaLiga encounter that may also decide the La Liga title race.
7. Liverpool destroy Tottenham to win their 20th EPL title
Liverpool emphatically secured their 20th League title on Sunday, delivering a resounding 5–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at a jubilant Anfield. Having only needed a single point from their remaining five matches after Arsenal’s midweek draw, Arne Slot’s side wasted no time in sealing the championship in style.
Despite an early scare when Dominic Solanke headed Tottenham into a 12th-minute lead, Liverpool responded with impressive speed and quality. Luis Diaz leveled the score just four minutes later, converting Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross after a VAR review overturned an initial offside call.
The Reds then took the lead in the 24th minute through a stunning strike from Alexis Mac Allister, who unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from 20 yards, Cody Gakpo extended Liverpool’s advantage before the break, capitalizing on Tottenham’s failure to clear a set-piece to slot home before half time.
Mohamed Salah added his name to the scoresheet in the 63rd minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack. The scoring was completed six minutes later when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross was inadvertently turned into the net by Destiny Udogie.
The final whistle ignited scenes of celebration at Anfield as Liverpool moved to an insurmountable 15-point lead at the top of the table with only four games remaining and gives Arne Slot credence to a campaign that has gone beyond expectations following the exit of Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds lift their heads up high, but more work needs to be done to build on this and start an era of dominance in the coming years.
For Tottenham, the heavy defeat leaves them languishing in 16th place, with their hopes now pinned on their first leg Europa League semi-final clash against Bodo/Glimt.
8. Roma stuns Inter Milan in a hellish week for the Nerazzuri as Napoli take advantage of slip
Inter Milan’s pursuit of the Serie A title suffered a significant setback on Sunday as they succumbed to a 1–0 home defeat against a resilient Roma side. This loss presents a golden opportunity for Napoli as the title race goes down to the wire.
The defeat compounds a difficult week for the reigning champions, who were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia by AC Milan mid-week, threatening to derail their hopes of a treble this season. Currently second in the league, level on 71 points with Napoli, Inter now face the added pressure of their upcoming Champions League semi-final first leg against high flying Barcelona on Wednesday. Roma, meanwhile, climb to fifth place with 60 points in a season turnaround that has been one for the movies.
Inter started brightly, with an early Davide Frattesi goal disallowed for offside. The setback was compounded by an injury to defender Benjamin Pavard, adding to their worries ahead of the Barcelona clash. While Inter initially pressed, Roma gradually gained control of the match.
The deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute when Matìas Soulè capitalized on a blocked Lorenzo Pellegrini shot to slot the ball home from close range. Roma had further opportunities to extend their lead before halftime, but Bryan Cristante missed a close-range effort, and Carlos Augusto made a crucial sliding clearance to deny Eldor Shomurodov.
Despite a determined push in the second half, Inter struggled to find a breakthrough. Hakan Çalhanoglu and Nicolò Barella both fired wide from promising positions, and a Denzel Dumfries header was saved by Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
Roma, having absorbed Inter’s pressure, also had chances to increase their advantage, with Niccolò Pisilli and Artem Dovbyk both failing to convert. Ultimately, Roma held firm to secure a valuable victory, extending their unbeaten league run to 18 games. For Inter, this marks their second consecutive league defeat following their loss to Bologna last week, leaving their title and season aspirations hanging in the balance.
Napoli on the other hand capitalised on Inter Milan’s blip as they breezed past Torino with Scott Mc Tominay the difference once again against Torino in a dominant first half.
The former Manchester United man immediately got on the scoresheet in the 7th minute before adding another in the 41st minute as Conte’s men made sure that they took maximum points and move top of the Serie A table. The Scot also found the net against Torino on matchday 14 as they ran out 1–0 winners
With four games to go, the momentum now shifts to Conte’s men as they will need to get positive results in those games with one eye on Inter Milan who trail behind them in a Serie A title race filled with drama and suspense until the final whistle.\
9. City breeze past Forest to book a place in the FA Cup final
Manchester City secured their spot in the FA Cup final for the third consecutive year with a comfortable 2–0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday. securing a final place against Crystal Palace.
The Citizens made a blistering start, with Rico Lewis putting them ahead within the opening two minutes. The young midfielder cleverly turned and dispatched a precise shot into the bottom corner. Despite a few promising moments, Forest struggled to cope with City’s dominance in the first half.
The second half saw Forest emerge with more intent, and they should have leveled when substitute Anthony Elanga squandered a golden opportunity from close range. City immediately punished this miss. Following a goal-line clearance and handball appeals, Josko Gvardiol headed home from a corner to double City’s advantage.
Forest threatened a comeback, hitting the woodwork twice through Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi with City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega making crucial saves to deny Gibbs-White on two occasions. In the end, City’s early lead and second-half strike proved enough to see them through to another FA Cup final in a disappointing campaign by their high standards.
10. Hojlund scores to salvage a point for United in horrible season
A stoppage-time goal from Rasmus Hojlund secured a 1–1 draw for Manchester United against ten-man Bournemouth side at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday. The late equalizer by Hojlund salvaged a point for the visitors who had struggled to break down the Cherries despite their numerical advantage in the final stages.
Bournemouth had taken the lead in the 23rd minute through a powerful strike from Antoine Semenyo, who beat Andre Onana at his near post. Semenyo threatened again early in the second half, and Dango Ouattara later struck the post with a clever free-kick, highlighting Bournemouth’s strong performance.
However, the game shifted in the 70th minute when Evanilson was sent off for a challenge on Noussair Mazraoui following a VAR review. With a man advantage, Manchester United pressed for an equalizer, with Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes both going close. Their persistence finally paid off in the dying moments as Hojlund netted his fourth Premier League goal of the season.
The draw leaves Bournemouth in 10th place, missing an opportunity to climb higher in the league standings. Meanwhile, Manchester United move up to 14th after snatching a late point on the road in a horrible season.
