European club soccer is back after an exciting international break!
Sunday saw Liverpool move into first place in the Premier League with a comeback win over Brighton. Liverpool’s time alone at the top could’ve been short-lived, but a 0-0 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal later on Sunday meant neither side caught up. Arsenal were clearly happy with the draw, but it may not be time for Man City to worry, either.
Also on Sunday, Chelsea faltered to Arsenal in the Continental Cup, meaning manager Emma Hayes won’t be finishing her run at the Blues with a quadruple. Meanwhile, in LaLiga, Real Madrid cruised past Athletic Bilbao with a Rodrygo brace.
On Saturday, Manchester City thumped Liverpool in the Women’s Super League to extend their lead at the top of the table. In the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen’s late comeback win and Bayern Munich’s loss to Borussia Dortmund has the title race all but sealed.
Meanwhile, Tyler Adams made a much-anticipated return to the Premier League with Bournemouth, and in LaLiga, Barcelona clinched a win over 10-man Las Palmas.
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SUNDAY REVIEW
The lead: Liverpool are now in control of the Premier League’s three-way title race
Mohamed Salah kept Liverpool on course for the Premier League title by sealing a nervy 2-1 win against Brighton at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s team went into the game knowing they had to beat the Seagulls to have any hope of ending the day as league leaders due to Manchester City and Arsenal meeting at the Etihad Stadium an hour after the end of Liverpool’s Anfield clash.
But with former Arsenal forward Arsenal in the Continental Cup. Real Madrid in the summer. Sources confirmed to ESPN in February that Mbappé had decided to join Madrid in the summer after his contract with PSG runs out. Asked if the fact that it will be Mbappé’s final chance to play in Le Classique would influence his starting lineup, Luis Enrique said: “Why will it be his final derby? Me, I’ve always remained hopeful that Kylian could change his mind — he hasn’t said anything for now. He could change his mind.”
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino accused his players of lacking the hunger needed to compete in the Premier League after his side were held to a 2-2 draw at home by 10-man Burnley on Saturday. Despite Cole Palmer’s brace, struggling Burnley came from behind twice and Dara O’Shea equalised late at Stamford Bridge. “Today we didn’t show the capacity, the energy, the hunger that is the minimum to compete in the Premier League,” Pochettino said in his post-match news conference. “In the defensive phase we conceded too much. That is why I am so upset and disappointed.”
Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel said the Bundesliga title race was “obviously” over after his side’s loss to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday left them 13 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen with seven games remaining. “After today’s game there is no more need to count points. How many is it now? Congratulations to Leverkusen.”
And finally, on Saturday …
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen left it late once again to clinch a stoppage-time winner against Hoffenheim. After trailing 1-0 for most of the game, Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich (88th minute) and Patrik Schick (91st minute) came to the rescue and led their side to a dramatic victory.
To further illustrate how amazing the Bundesliga leaders have been this season, they’ve scored seven times in stoppage time in 2024, meanwhile Schick scored his 5th goal in his last five games. The Leverkusen train is showing no signs of slowing down as they march towards a maiden league title in extraordinary fashion. — Atif
