Sports
Real Madrid win 36th La Liga title as Girona beat Barcelona
Real Madrid win 36th La Liga title as Girona beat Barcelona
Real Madrid won La Liga on Saturday after beating Cadiz 3-0 before Girona defeated last year’s champions Barcelona 4-2 to seal Los Blancos’ triumph.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side did their homework against the Andalucian stragglers to virtually guarantee a record-extending 36th Spanish title, confirmed when Barcelona dropped points at Montilivi.
Girona’s dramatic victory saw the Catalan minnows qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Brahim Diaz netted in the 51st minute to put Madrid ahead and then set up Jude Bellingham for the second, with Joselu tapping home a third to leave Madrid on the cusp of the title.
“We leave our skins out there on the pitch to live moments like today’s, we are so close to the league,” Joselu told Real Madrid TV.
“There are young players who are very hungry for titles, veterans who are delighted to be here… and these are special moments.”
Ancelotti played a heavily rotated side ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The coach selected only captain Nacho Fernandez from the starting line-up that earned a 2-2 draw in Bavaria this week.
Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois started for the first time after a nine-month lay off after a knee injury and kept a clean sheet.
Madrid midfielder Luka Modric became the oldest player to appear for the club in La Liga, at 38 years and 238 days, breaking late Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas’ record from 1965 by five days.
Madrid striker Joselu came close to reaching a dangerous cross and Chris Ramos fired off target for the visitors in an otherwise slow start at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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Ruben Sobrino barged his way past Eder Militao on the counter-attack after half an hour but Nacho slid in well to thwart him as he prepared to shoot.
The visitors, 18th and still battling to stay up, shaded the first half, although Dani Ceballos had a shot blocked after Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma went walkabout at a corner.
– ‘Waiting for this day’ –
Courtois made a superb save to deny Ramos early in the second half and his team took the lead immediately afterwards.
The Cadiz striker shook free of Nacho and ran in on goal but Courtois produced a superb save.
Moments later Diaz sent Madrid ahead, receiving from the evergreen Modric on the edge of the area, turning slickly and curling an effort into the top corner.
“Thibaut is the best in the world, he’s had a terrible season and we were waiting for this day to come,” added Joselu.
Bellingham, on as a substitute for Turkish teenager Arda Guler, added the second soon after entering the fray.
It was the England international’s 18th league goal of the season, keeping him in contention to finish as the top scorer.
Madrid put the cherry on their cake after a superb run by Nacho.
Poised to depart at the end of the season, the Spaniard was hailed by the Bernabeu after setting up Joselu for a simple finish in stoppage time.
Los Blancos could celebrate after Girona came from behind twice to defeat Barcelona for the second time this season in a thrilling derby.
Barcelona took the lead through Andreas Christensen but La Liga’s top scorer Artem Dovbyk levelled with his 20th goal of the campaign.
Robert Lewandowski’s penalty sent Barcelona ahead but substitute Portu made a huge impact in the second half for Girona.
The winger netted the equaliser and then set up Miguel Gutierrez to put Girona ahead.
Portu sensationally volleyed home the fourth to ignite Girona’s tiny Montilivi stadium and get the party started.
Real Madrid win 36th La Liga title as Girona beat Barcelona
Sports
EPL: Aaron Ramsdale to join Arsenal’s rival, agrees deal
EPL: Aaron Ramsdale to join Arsenal’s rival, agrees deal
Barring any last minute changes, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, will leave the club after three years.
Ramsdale, who has fallen down the pecking order at the north London’s club, will be plying his trade with Arsenal’s rival, Newcastle United, next season.
Ramsdale, who joined Arsenal from Sheffield United for £24 million in 2021, is poised to join Newcastle during the summer transfer window.
He established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, making 78 appearances over his first two seasons.
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However, his position came under threat following David Raya’s loan arrival from Brentford.
This season, Ramsdale has had little playing time, featuring in just six Premier League games under Mikel Arteta.
With Raya expected to secure a permanent move to Arsenal, the club is reportedly open to offers for Ramsdale, who still has two years left on his contract.
Newcastle have emerged as the frontrunners to secure Ramsdale’s services.
According to Sky Sports’ James Green, the 25-year-old goalkeeper has agreed to a deal that will see him move to St James’ Park.
EPL: Aaron Ramsdale to join Arsenal’s rival, agrees deal
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
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