Sports
Napoli claim 1-0 win at strugglers Union Berlin with Raspadori goal
Napoli claim 1-0 win at strugglers Union Berlin with Raspadori goal
NAPOLI’s Giacomo Raspadori scored a second half goal to secure a 1-0 victory at Union Berlin in their Champions League Group C match on Tuesday.
The result meant Napoli stretched their opponents’ losing run to nine straight games in all competitions.
In a match that had few highlights, the Germans enjoyed the better chances in the first half.
But it was a run by Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down the left that decided the game as he set up Raspadori to fire home the winner in the 65th minute.
The result kept Napoli in second place on six points, three behind Real Madrid who won 2-1 at Sporting Braga.
Braga are on three while struggling Union are still without a point in their first season in the competition.
“It wasn’t our best game technically, but winning this kind of game is important,” scorer Raspadori said.
“They were well organised and had prepared for the match very well.
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“We knew it would be difficult and we saw it on the pitch. I believe we could have done better.
“But an away win like this in the Champions League is always good. Playing in the Champions League and scoring is fantastic,” he said.
Napoli initially had most possession but Union, desperate to end their losing streak, tried to hit the Italians on the break in the first half through Brenden Aaronson and David Fofana.
The latter, who had an effort saved, also put the ball in the net in the 24th but was ruled offside.
The visitors, without injured striker Victor Osimhen, struggled to break through a solid backline until the Germans repeatedly failed to clear the ball in the 65th.
Kvaratskhelia got possession, turned on the turbo to charge into the box from the left and cut the ball back for Raspadori, who had no trouble beating goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow.
Union, who have now lost their last six league and three Champions League matches on the trot, had no comeback in them despite coming close with a Robin Knoche header in the 81st.
“The first half was courageous and very good from us,” said Union captain Christopher Trimmel.
“It was a good step in the right direction. Yes we lost but overall delivered a good game.”
The frustration of a third straight loss in the competition was evident, however, when Fofana was substituted but refused to shake the hand of coach Urs Fischer, who is under mounting pressure.
Napoli claim 1-0 win at strugglers Union Berlin with Raspadori goal
(Reuters/NAN)
Sports
La Liga President confirms Mbappe to Real Madrid move
La Liga President confirms Mbappe to Real Madrid move
La Liga president Javier Tebas says Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe will join Real Madrid next season.
“He’s Madrid’s next season, yes,” Tebas told Argentine daily sports newspaper Ole on Monday. “If they’ve signed a five-year deal, he has five seasons of opportunity (to win the Champions League).”
Mbappe is set to join a star-studded Madrid team led by Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and England international Jude Bellingham.
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Los Blancos strolled to the Spanish title and are in the Champions League final at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund on June 1.
”(Mbappe) is one of the best players in the world, but Vinicius and Bellingham are there too, Madrid will have a great squad,” continued Tebas. “But that does not guarantee you will win leagues.”
Mbappe is PSG’s all-time record scorer with 256 goals, having joined the club from Monaco in 2017 for 180 million euros ($194 million).
With PSG he won six French league titles but failed to earn Champions League glory, finishing as runners-up to Bayern Munich in 2020.
By joining record 14-time winners Real Madrid, Mbappe would increase his chances of finally earning club football’s most prestigious trophy.
La Liga President confirms Mbappe to Real Madrid move
Sports
Juventus beat Atalanta to win Coppa Italia
Juventus beat Atalanta to win Coppa Italia
Juventus won their first major trophy in three years as they beat Atalanta 1-0 to lift a record-extending 15th Coppa Italia.
Dusan Vlahovic scored the only goal in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico after just four minutes when he received Andrea Cambiaso’s pass before finishing from 12 yards out.
The Serbia striker later had a goal disallowed for offside.
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Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and Juve’s Fabio Miretti hit the woodwork late on.
Under-pressure Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri, who has won a record five Coppas Italia, was sent off towards the end of the game for dissent.
Atalanta’s wait to win a first trophy since the 1963 Coppa Italia goes on – but they have another chance to end that drought next week with the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin.
Juventus beat Atalanta to win Coppa Italia
Sports
Palmer scores as Chelsea beat Brighton to go sixth
Palmer scores as Chelsea beat Brighton to go sixth
Cole Palmer’s brilliant season with Chelsea continued as his goal helped the Blues boost their European qualification hopes with a win at Brighton in the Premier League.
Palmer netted his 22nd league strike of the season, meeting Marc Cucurella’s cross with a looping header into the far corner in the 34th minute.
And the visitors added a second 14 minutes after the restart when Christopher Nkunku coolly dispatched Malo Gusto’s cutback.
Having been so dominant Chelsea gifted Brighton a way back into the game when substitute Reece James – playing just his second match in 2024 after coming back from a long-term injury – was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Joao Pedro.
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In the 97th-minute Danny Welbeck netted to halve the deficit, tapping in a Pedro cross, but the visitors held on.
Chelsea moved up to sixth in the table and currently sit in a Europa League spot.
They will guarantee a place in Europe next season if they claim a point at home to Bournemouth on the final day.
Brighton fell to a seventh defeat in ninth matches but remain in 10th place.
Palmer scores as Chelsea beat Brighton to go sixth
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