Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Aston Villa came within inches of a historic UEFA Champions League semi-final berth on Tuesday night, staging a breathtaking comeback against Paris St-Germain before bowing out 5-4 on aggregate in a pulsating quarter-final second leg at Villa Park. Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in Paris, Villa’s hopes took a hammer blow as Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes put PSG 2-0 up within the opening 30 minutes, capitalizing on early defensive lapses. Emiliano Martinez’s misjudged pass gifted Hakimi the opener, before Mendes doubled the visitors’ lead with a clinical finish assisted by Ousmane Dembélé. Villa, however, refused to lie down.…

Newcastle United delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, with Harvey Barnes starring in the win by scoring twice, alongside goals from Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. The result, marking their first league double over United since the 1930-31 season, was a significant boost in their push for a Champions League spot. However, there was one notable absentee from the celebrations – manager Eddie Howe. Howe, who has been absent since Friday due to a health issue, was in hospital, leaving assistant managers Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones to lead the team. Despite his absence, the players…

Liverpool’s march toward their second Premier League title of the Premier League era was propelled by Mohamed Salah’s dazzling performance against West Ham on Sunday. Salah’s goal and assist made history, setting a new record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League season with 45 (27 goals, 18 assists), surpassing Thierry Henry’s 2002-03 record. Salah’s assist for Luis Diaz’s opening goal demonstrated his extraordinary vision, with the Egyptian’s pass with the outside of his boot leading to Diaz’s strike in the 18th minute. Salah’s contributions helped Liverpool secure a 2-1 win, bringing them within six points of…

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim faces a crucial decision after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s disappointing debut in United’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle. With regular first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana dropped for the game, Amorim’s gamble backfired as Bayindir’s errors contributed to United’s heavy loss. The Turkish goalkeeper’s mistake leading to Newcastle’s fourth goal, a poor pass intercepted by Joelinton, further exacerbated the situation. Bayindir, who joined from Fenerbahce in 2023, was making his Premier League debut, but his lack of control over the game and his inability to cope with crosses or complete passes left much to be desired. His poor distribution,…

Matias Soule’s stunning second-half strike earned Roma a hard-fought 1-1 draw in a fiery Rome derby against Lazio, stretching their unbeaten Serie A run to 16 matches. In a pulsating clash at the Stadio Olimpico, boyhood Lazio supporter Alessio Romagnoli opened the scoring for the hosts just after the break. But Soule responded with a moment of brilliance, curling home an equaliser that kept Roma’s European hopes alive. The opening 45 minutes belonged to Lazio, who pressed relentlessly. Roma keeper Mile Svilar was called into action early, denying Romagnoli and Gustav Isaksen with impressive reflex saves. Lazio’s persistence finally paid…

Tottenham Hotspur’s season lurched further into crisis on Sunday as a shambolic defensive display saw them fall to a 4-2 defeat against Wolves, intensifying pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou ahead of a pivotal Europa League tie. While the Australian tactician recently lamented a mole leaking inside information at the club, it’s Spurs’ porous backline that remains his most dangerous saboteur. Individual errors, poor organisation, and a comical own goal from Djed Spence all contributed to a 17th Premier League defeat—Tottenham’s worst tally in two decades. Wolves struck inside two minutes through Rayan Ait-Nouri before Spence inadvertently bundled in a second.…

Chelsea came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge, with Jadon Sancho delivering a moment of magic to keep the Blues’ Champions League hopes alive. Ipswich stunned the home crowd by racing into a 2-0 lead in the first half. Julio Enciso opened the scoring in the 19th minute, slotting home from Ben Johnson’s low cross to notch his first goal for the club. Twelve minutes later, roles reversed as Enciso chipped a perfectly-weighted pass to the back post, where Johnson powered in a header to double the lead. Chelsea responded…

Kylian Mbappe’s night ended in frustration as the French superstar received his first red card in a Real Madrid shirt, but a resolute display from Los Blancos saw them secure a narrow 1-0 win over Deportivo Alaves at Estadio de Mendizorroza. Eduardo Camavinga’s stunning first-half strike proved to be the difference in a tense encounter marred by two red cards and a flurry of missed chances. Camavinga, starting in place of rested midfield regulars, broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a curling left-footed effort from just outside the area. The goal, assisted by Federico Valverde, showcased the young…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that Jack Grealish and Phil Foden are still reeling from unpleasant incidents involving fans during last weekend’s Manchester derby — but stressed the issue goes beyond football. Grealish, who came on as a second-half substitute during the goalless draw at Old Trafford, was allegedly slapped by a spectator while walking into the players’ tunnel. A 20-year-old man has since been charged with assault. Meanwhile, Foden was subjected to offensive chants aimed at his mother from sections of the Manchester United crowd during the first half — a moment Guardiola later criticised as showing…

In a dramatic twist ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Lyon, ex-Red Devils midfielder Nemanja Matic launched a scathing verbal attack on United goalkeeper André Onana — a move that some now believe may have influenced the Cameroonian’s error-strewn performance. Matic, now at Lyon, didn’t mince words in Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, branding Onana “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history” following the keeper’s confident claims that United were “way better” than their French opponents. Fast forward 24 hours and Onana was at fault for both Lyon goals in a 2-2 draw, sparking speculation that the…