Norwich clinch Championship title as relegation fight goes to last day

London (AFP) – Norwich secured their second English Championship title in three seasons with a 4-1 win at home to Reading on Saturday as the battle to avoid relegation went all the way to the last day of the regular season.

Already assured of one of the two automatic promotion spots to the Premier League, Norwich fell behind to Josh Laurent’s 12th-minute goal.

But they were level by half-time following the first of Kieran Dowell’s two goals.

Dowell put Norwich ahead at Carrow Road just after the hour mark before further goals from Xavi Quintilla and Teemu Pukki – his 26th of the season — sealed victory.

Second-placed Watford’s 2-0 defeat by Brentford would have given Norwich the title in any event, but Daniel Farke’s men seized control of thir own destiny to go an unassailable eight points clear at the top with just one game remaining.

Watford had already secured their place alongside the Canaries in the top flight.

Brentford will play in the play-offs, with Bournemouth, Swansea and Barnsley.

At the other end of the table, no side has been relegated.

A goalless draw between Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s early kick-off meant the Owls would have dropped into the third tier if Derby had managed at least a point against Swansea.

But instead, Wayne Rooney’s side slumped to a 2-1 defeat, their sixth in a row, to set up a key clash between the Rams and Wednesday at Pride Park — a match the visitors must win if they are to beat the drop.

Derby led through Tom Lawrence’s 48th-minute header but Morgan Whittaker equalised just after the hour mark and Connor Roberts scored Swansea’s winner three minutes later.

Rotherham boosted their own survival hopes thanks to Lewis Wing’s late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Blackburn.

The result means Rotherham need at least three points from their last two away games at Luton and Cardiff if they are to have a chance of staying up.

Bottom-of-the-table Wycombe maintained their slim hopes of avoiding relegation with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth thanks to Uche Ikpeazu’s fourth-minute goal, although they still need an extraordinary combination of results to remain in the Championship.

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Neymar on target as PSG warm up for Man City with crucial victory

Paris (AFP) – Neymar scored one goal and laid on the other as Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Manchester City with a vital 2-1 win over Lens in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Neymar netted on 33 minutes and his corner was headed home by Marquinhos just prior to the hour mark at the Parc des Princes, with Cameroonian forward Ignatius Ganago pulling a goal back for Lens.

It was a huge three points for PSG in their attempt to retain the Ligue 1 title, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side move provisionally two points clear of Lille at the top of the table.

However Lille can return to the summit by beating Nice at home later on Saturday, while third-placed Monaco will return to within a single point of PSG if they defeat Lyon on Sunday.

PSG are looking to win their eighth Ligue 1 title in nine years and, given how close the title race is in France this season, they could not afford to take it easy in between the two legs of their Champions League tie against City.

Last season’s Champions League runners-up are up against it after losing 2-1 at home to Pep Guardiola’s side in the first leg, with the return in Manchester on Tuesday.

With that match in mind, Kylian Mbappe was rested against Lens as he nurses a calf knock, and Pochettino made six changes to his line-up in total. Angel Di Maria was also left out of the starting XI.

Lens had beaten the Parisians at home back in September and travelled to the capital on a run of 13 games unbeaten that saw them come into the weekend in fifth, just ahead of Marseille in the fight for France’s last European qualifying berth.

However PSG went ahead when Argentine defender Facundo Medina tried to play the ball back towards his own goal under pressure and only succeeded in teeing up Neymar, who took a touch and scored just his seventh Ligue 1 goal of the season.

Pablo Sarabia came close to adding to PSG’s lead before the break but they went 2-0 up on 59 minutes.

Marquinhos had scored with a header from a corner against City and he repeated the trick here, heading in Neymar’s delivery from the edge of the six-yard box.

Lens got one back straight from the restart as Arnaud Kalimuendo’s attempted overhead kick from a Jonathan Clauss cross turned into a perfect assist for Ganago to score.

However, Lens could not find an equaliser and PSG thought they had a late third goal when Mauro Icardi turned in substitute Marco Verratti’s low centre.

However, an offside flag against Verratti cut short the celebrations.

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Atletico scrape nervy win after Elche miss late penalty

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid were given a huge let-off on Saturday as Elche missed a 91st-minute penalty, allowing the La Liga leaders to escape with a 1-0 win and go five points clear at the top of the table.

Elche’s Fidel Chaves struck the post with his injury-time spot-kick in what could prove a pivotal moment in Spain’s thrilling title race, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla all still in the hunt to be crowned champions.

Marcos Llorente gave Atleti the lead at the Estadio Martinez Valero but they failed to make the result secure and Elche twice could have equalised in the final minutes.

First, Antonio Barragan volleyed over from close range and then Llorente’s handball gave Fidel a golden opportunity from the spot but he too squandered the chance.

Diego Simeone leapt into the air when the ball came back off the post, his side pulling further clear and putting pressure on the others, with Real Madrid at home to Osasuna later on Saturday before Barcelona travel to Valencia on Sunday.

Sevilla, who are now six points behind, play their game in hand on Monday against Athletic Bilbao.

After a frantic week that saw Real Madrid draw at home to Real Betis, Atletico lose against Athletic and Barcelona defeated by Granada, any victory, even one as marginal as this, will be welcome for Atleti.

They are now guaranteed to be ahead of Barca when they kick off at Camp Nou next Saturday, the only question now how significant their advantage will be.

Real Madrid also face Sevilla at Valdebebas a day later in a crunch weekend at the top but the resistance of 18th-placed Elche against La Liga’s frontrunners suggests the race may well go to the final day.

– VAR denies Atletico in first half –

Simeone’s side were denied three times in the first half, Luis Suarez missing a golden chance before they had a goal and a penalty ruled out by VAR.

Suarez’s chance came early, the Uruguayan stepping over Mario Hermoso’s pass and then latching onto Angel Correa’s backheel only to fire wide from eight yards.

When he did score shortly after, Suarez saw the goal chalked off, VAR showing he was just offside when slotting home Llorente’s pass across.

Finally, Atletico broke through, with Yannick Carrasco weaving through down the left before picking out the arriving Llorente, whose shot deflected off Josema Sanchez on its way in.

Atletico thought they had a penalty on the stroke of half-time for a handball by Diego Gonzalez but that was also scrubbed off by referee Melero Lopez.

The pulse of the game slowed in the second half, although Elche wanted a penalty of their own when Geoffrey Kondogbia nudged Pere Milla in the back.

Joao Felix, on as a substitute, might have grabbed a second for Atletico but hesitated in the box and instead Saul Niguez’s shot was blocked.

One was never enough to feel comfortable and Barragan should have equalised with five minutes left when the ball was headed back to him six yards out but somehow he volleyed over.

There was still more drama to come as Victor Rodriguez’s cross struck the hand of the leaping Llorente in the box and Fidel stepped up to snatch a draw. Instead, he found the outside of the post.

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Man City on brink of title, Brighton set for survival

London (AFP) – Manchester City are on the brink of clinching the Premier League title after a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace, while Brighton virtually assured their survival with victory over Leeds on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side moved 13 points clear at the top thanks to second-half goals from Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres at Selhurst Park.

City will be crowned English champions for the third time in four seasons if second-placed Manchester United lose at home to Liverpool on Sunday.

If United avoid defeat, City can seal the title with a victory against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium next Saturday.

It is a matter of when, not if, City regain the title they surrendered to Liverpool last season.

They shook off a tepid first half in south London and put Palace to the sword with two goals in the space of 84 seconds.

Aguero, making only his sixth league start in an injury-plagued season, broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when he ran onto Benjamin Mendy’s long pass and slammed a half-volley into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

It was only Aguero’s fourth goal of what will be his final season with City after the club’s record scorer announced he will leave in the close-season.

City hope Torres will be part of a new generation of stars capable of building on the foundations laid by the likes of Aguero.

The Spanish forward gave a glimpse of his potential when he fired home from the edge of the area after a flowing City attack in the 59th minute.

That was enough to seal an 11th successive away victory in the Premier League, equalling the English top-flight record.

City were languishing in 14th place in late November but a blistering run since then has carried them to the brink of a third title in four seasons.

– ‘Put it in the fridge’ –

The treble chasers could also add the Champions League to that haul.

On Tuesday, City will attempt to reach their first ever Champions League final when they defend a 2-1 lead in the semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

“We can start to think about it and put it in the fridge. The Premier League is already there, it is in our hands. We need one more victory,” Guardiola said.

“I’m absolutely delighted with that after the Champions League. We could not play with much rhythm. We struggled a little bit but in the second half we deserved it.

“I will check on the Liverpool game. It’s in our hands and now we will give everything to beat PSG.”

At the Amex Stadium, Brighton broke a three-game goal drought when they took the lead through Pascal Gross’s 14th minute penalty.

Ezgjan Alioski was penalised for bringing down Danny Welbeck and Gross found the bottom corner with the resulting spot-kick.

Graham Potter’s side struck again through Danny Welbeck’s excellent solo effort in the 79th minute to seal a 2-0 win.

Brighton are now 10 points clear of the relegation zone with four games left.

Later on Saturday, Chelsea can cement their hold on fourth place and push Fulham closer to relegation with a win in the west London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Everton, pushing for European qualification, host Aston Villa in Saturday’s final match.

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Guardiola will watch Man Utd’s Liverpool clash as title triumph looms

London (AFP) – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will tune into Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday as he counts down to a third Premier League title in four seasons.

Guardiola’s side moved 13 points clear at the top with a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday and will be crowned champions if second placed United lose to Liverpool at Old Trafford. 

If City don’t get a helping hand from Liverpool, they still have four games left to earn the one victory required to seal the trophy, starting at the Etihad Stadium against Chelsea next Saturday.

After second-half goals from Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres saw off Palace, Guardiola was asked if he would rather win the title on home turf.

“No, as soon as possible,” he said. “I will take a look at the Manchester United game and what happens, happens, but the most important thing is the fact we do not need them to be champions.

“Again it is in our hands. If we don’t win it tomorrow, we try to do it next week, if not next week, the next week. We have four games to be champions.”

Aguero’s superb strike was key to City’s success after Palace had been able to frustrate the visitors in the first half.

Aguero, City’s record goalscorer, will depart at the end of the season, following a difficult year where he has struggled with injuries.

Guardiola was quick to pay tribute to the Argentine striker after his 258th City goal.

“He is an absolutely top, legend, extraordinary player behaving as the most humble and nicest human being and it is not easy to find that,” Guardiola said.

“That’s why I love him as a man, another player in his situation and what he has done could create conflict and a difficult situation.

“When one guy is beloved like he is for all our fans, it is not just for scoring a thousand million goals. It is because he is something that the people realise, that you cannot hide away as a person.

“This season we took a decision, a difficult one, one of the toughest ones I took especially because he was injured for a long time and this club next season needs to make another step to maintain this level for a longer time.”

City remain on track for a treble and turn their focus to Tuesday’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, where they could progress to a first ever Champions League final.

Guardiola’s team hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg in Paris and having Aguero firing on all cylinders would be a welcome boost for the crucial second leg.

“What he has done in this club will remain forever and we want to finish the best way possible,” Guardiola said.

“And he is going to help us in the Champions League and going to help us in the Premier League to finish it.”

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Man City on brink of title glory after beating Palace

London (AFP) – Manchester City are within touching distance of the Premier League title after Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres sealed a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side sit 13 points clear at the top and will be crowned champions if second-placed Manchester United lose against Liverpool on Sunday.

After a tepid first half in south London, it was fitting that Aguero — the architect of so many big moments in City’s history — should open the scoring with a typically lethal finish.

Torres killed off Palace two minutes later as City eased to an 11th successive away victory in the Premier League, equalling the English top-flight record.

Even if United do not slip up against Liverpool at Old Trafford, City have four matches left to secure the one win they need to clinch the title, starting with next Saturday’s home game against Chelsea.

It is a matter of when not if City add the Premier League to the League Cup they won against Tottenham in April.

City were languishing in 14th place in late November but a blistering run since then has carried them to the brink of a third title in four seasons.

The treble chasers could also add the Champions League to that haul.

On Tuesday, City will attempt to reach their first ever Champions League final when they defend a 2-1 lead in the semi-final second leg against Paris Saint Germain.

This was City’s sixth successive game away from the Etihad Stadium and by the time they return to Manchester to play PSG, they will have clocked up more than 3,500 miles on the road in just three weeks.

Guardiola believes that gruelling schedule has made City’s success this season “extra special” and this win was another tribute to their tenacious attitude.

– Guardiola joy –

The City boss made eight changes from the midweek win in Paris, with only Ederson, Rodri and Joao Cancelo keeping their places as Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling came in.

Aguero was making only his sixth league start of an injury-plagued season for City’s record goalscorer, who has announced he will leave in the summer.

All the changes left City looking disjointed in a scrappy first half.

Torres met Benjamin Mendy’s cross with a deflected effort that looped over the bar.

Sterling’s poor form has been hidden by City’s march towards the title and the England winger was guilty of taking one touch too many after bursting into the Palace six-yard box as a good chance went begging.

Ederson had to make a superb save to keep City level when he stretched to block Christian Benteke’s close-range effort with his legs.

Aguero couldn’t hit the target from 10 yards before Jesus was correctly ruled offside after he volleyed home from Fernandinho’s cross.

It was the first time in 21 games that City had failed to have a shot on target in the first half.

But City are too potent to be subdued for long and they played with far more intensity after the interval.

Aguero had been anonymous for long periods, but he rolled back the years to break the deadlock in the 57th minute.

Running onto Mendy’s pass, Aguero took a touch inside the Palace area before smashing a half-volley into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Aguero’s fourth goal of the season — his 258th for the club — put City back in their groove and Torres doubled the lead 84 seconds later.

Aguero, Jesus and Sterling exchanged a flurry of passes, teeing up Torres for a fine low finish from the edge of the area.

Guardiola’s joyous fist-pumping celebration underlined the magnitude of the moment as City closed in on their latest title triumph.

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Juventus coach Pirlo ‘calm about job’ as title slips away

Milan (AFP) – Andrea Pirlo insisted Saturday he was calm about his job as Juventus coach as the Italian champions’ nine-year reign nears its end.

Inter Milan are set to deny Juve a 10th consecutive crown with the Turin giants now battling for a Champions League spot.

“I’m calm concerning my work,” the 41-year-old former Italy World Cup winner told a press conference before Sunday’s league game at Udinese.

Inter can seal the ‘Scudetto’ this weekend, with Juventus sitting fourth, 13 points behind the leaders, with five games to play.

According to Italian press reports former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is set to return two years after being sacked.

A visit by John Elkann, CEO of Exor, the holding company of the Agnelli family which owns Juventus, to the team’s training ground this week fuelled speculation of changes.

“I talked to the owners the other day,” revealed Pirlo who took over last summer.

“It’s not the first time they’ve come, it has already happened three or four times and we’ve talked about everything.

“I’m calm about my job, about what I have to do.

“I am not influenced by all these rumours.

“I’m focused on what I have to do and I have to bring the team to the Champions League and try to win the Italian Cup.” 

Meanwhile, Pirlo revealed his teenage son Niccolo had been a victim of on-line abuse, as sports bodies boycotted social media this weekend.

“I know what it means to be a public figure, I find nothing new in the insults from people hiding behind a keyboard,” he said.

“I’m sorry for my son, because he has nothing to do with this. I also explained to him to ignore it. This is a social problem which we need to stamp out.”

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