Cristiano Ronaldo scores 600th career goal to ensure Juventus share spoils with Inter Milan (Match Report)

Inter Milan midfielder Radja Nainggolan’s rocket of a volley was cancelled out by Cristiano Ronaldo’s daisy-cutter which marked the Portuguese 600th career goal.

With that spectacular goal Ronaldo has now scored his 27th goal for Juventus after five for Sporting Lisbon, 118 at Manchester United and 450 for Real Madrid.

His 600th career club goal came on the same day as Lionel Messi scored his 598th Barcelona goal, during their match against Levante.

The Bianconeri had already won the Scudetto and came to San Siro missing numerous players.

Inter have not beaten Juve since a 2-1 home result in September 2016, now managing only two draws and three defeats. They took the opportunity to openly mock the Bianconeri for their quarter-final exit to Ajax, as the entire Curva Nord was a huge choreography depicting the Champions League trophy with the words: ‘Game Over.’

It was the perfect start for the hosts, because just seven minutes in a corner came out to 25-30 metres for the most extraordinary Nainggolan right-foot volley that swerved viciously in the air, so that when Wojciech Szczesny did get an arm to it, the ball bounced back off it and into the net.

Inter kept pushing, as Szczesny palmed an Icardi strike over from a tight angle, then on the resulting corner blocked Stefan de Vrij’s header on the line.

Federico Bernardeschi’s ferocious effort skimmed the bar with Samir Handanovic stranded, while Blaise Matuidi used his body to charge down an Icardi effort from point-blank range on a corner.

First Ronaldo’s strike from close range was charged down by De Vrij, almost without the defender’s knowledge, then moments later CR7 completed a give-and-go with Miralem Pjanic’s back-heel flick to hit a left-foot daisy-cutter into the near bottom corner from the edge of the box. It was unstoppable and got Juventus back on level terms.

Kwadwo Asamoah risked an own goal with his chest back to Handanovic, while Perisic seemed as if he had to score, but blasted from close range and Szczesny got his fingertips to it.

Juve increasingly pinned Inter back and Handanovic did well to keep a Pjanic volley under control, as it went through a sea of legs. Emre Can then smashed his strike inches over the crossbar, while substitute Joao Mario stung Szczesny’s gloves within a minute of coming off the bench.

Matheus Pereira made his Serie A debut and almost scored the winner in the final minute, as Ronaldo’s cross went over after a double ricochet in the six-yard box.

Photo Credit: juventusfc.com

Luis Suarez fires first shot at former club Liverpool ahead of Champions League clash at Nou Camp

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has ruled out any possibility of friendship on the field as his club face Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final clash at the Nou Camp during the week.

Suarez faces his former side for the first time since he left Anfield in 2014 but he will be firmly focused on the task of pushing Barcelona to a first Champions League final since 2015.

“I am massively grateful to Liverpool and they gave me a lot, he told an interview with UK newspaper the Daily Mail

“But on the pitch, there are no friendships.

“It is always nice to talk about these things, but that will not be on my mind when I step onto the pitch.”

Photo Credit: fcbarcelona.com

Antonio Conte opens up on €9.5m salary offered to him to handle Serie A club as his assistant coach at Chelsea joins talks

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has reacted to reports that AS Roma has offered him €9.5m salary to join them in the summer.

The Coach will be free of his ties to Chelsea this summer and said he is interested in a return to Italy, with Juventus, Inter and Roma known to be considering his services.

According to Football Italia, the gaffer said: “We’ll see, we’ll see…”

A Roma fan, who also happened to work with laroma24 website, asked Conte for a photograph when they met on the beach in Porto Cesareo.

She asked specifically if he was coming to Roma and he did not rule it out. “We’ll see, we’ll see…”

He also laughed when told that Rome is after all a nicer place to live than London.

La Repubblica newspaper also claims Roma are in negotiations to bring in Paolo Bertelli, the fitness coach who worked with Conte for Italy and Chelsea.

West Ham put dent on Tottenham Top Four charge after beating Pochettino’s team (Match Report)

Tottenham suffered setback in their top four aspiration after West Ham United became the first team to beat them at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday by 1-0.

There was only one goal in the game, scored by Michail Antonio in the 67th minute, but both sides created plenty of chances throughout the game, although Tottenham’s were not as clear-cut as the visitors’, who could have won by a bigger margin were it not for some good saves in the second half from Hugo Lloris when the game was getting stretched.

At the other end, Lukasz Fabianski kept out first-half efforts from Heung-Min Son and Christian Eriksen, while we almost snatched a point right at the end, only for substitute Vincent Janssen’s far post effort to be cleared off the line by Fabian Balbuena.

Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena were colossal at the back for West Ham, repelling everything that came their way, while Felipe Anderson and Antonio’s speed out wide kept Tottenham honest.

Antonio’s strike was one of real quality too, as he took the ball down on his chest before lashing high into the net, to give his team three points that the 3,000 travelling fans would celebrate wildly.

As it has been in four of the hosts’ five games at the new stadium this season, it was goalless at half-time and it needed a good block from Alderweireld to keep it that way two minutes after the restart, as a shot from Tottemham’s former full-back Fredericks cannoned off him and over the bar. Marko Arnautovic then drove straight at Lloris as the visitors opened the half brightly.

The game really started to open up with both sides having good attacking opportunities without making the best of them, the final pass on so many occasions not finding its intended target. But when Arnautovic picked up the ball out wide on the right, he certainly did find his target with an excellent pass in to Antonio in the area, the Hammers’ forward controlling the ball on his chest before volleying past Lloris from eight yards mid-way through the second half.

The Hammers went close to extending their lead late on, with Antonio denied a second by Lloris before Issa Diop had his low shot tipped past the post.

Spurs substitute Vincent Janssen almost levelled deep into stoppage time but Fabian Balbuena cleared his header off the line.

After the defeat, Tottenham Hotspur remain in third position with 70 points, three points above fourth-placed Chelsea.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

UEFA YOUTH LEAGUE: Chelsea qualify for final, beat Barcelona on penalties (5-4) (Match Report)

Chelsea progress after defeating the defending champions Barcelona through penalty shoot-out having played 2-2 draw.

Outclassed by the Catalans in last year’s final, Chelsea showed the bloody-minded resilience that had been absent that day to twice come from behind before sending the reigning champions crashing out.

Barcelona will rue missed opportunities – twice in normal time they had the lead and twice the Blues hit back.

Anssumane Fati scored in both halves to put the holders in front but the Blues fought bravely to the end.

McCormick made it 1-1 and Brown fired into the roof of the net to make it 2-2 before Karlo Ziger provided the heroics again to save in the shoot-out.

The Blaugrana had the shootout advantage, too, after Gallagher’s early miss, but Gonzalez shot over before Ziger repelled Miranda’s effort.

It was a nerve-racking shoot-out for the Blues, with Gallagher missing first, but his team-mates were flawless from 12 yards and Ziger saved in sudden death to avenge last year’s defeat and send the Stamford Bridge club to the final.

The Blues will take on Porto in the final in Switzerland on Monday next week as they aim to win the trophy for a record third time.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Karlo Ziger; Joseph Colley, Marc Guehi, Ian Maatsen; Tariq Lamptey, Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, Juan Castillo; Luke McCormick (c) (Tino Anjorin 72), George McEachran; Daishawn Redan (Charlie Brown 78)

Unused Subs: Nicolas Tie, George Nunn, Henry Lawrence, Marcel Lavinier, Jon Russell, Clinton Mola
Scorers McCormick 66; Brown 85
Booked Redan, Castillo

Barcelona (4-3-3): Arnau Tenas; Guillem Jaime, Oscar Mingueza, Mika Medina, Juan Miranda; Antonio Jesus, Jandro Orellana, Monchu (c) (Lucas de Vega 80); Konrad De La Fuente (Peque 83), Alejandro Marques, Anssumane Fati

Unused Subs: Sergi Rosanas, Pol Tristan Jimenez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Jose Martinez Marsa, Nils Mortimer
Scorer Fati 20, 69
Booked Antonio Jesus, Monchu, Miranda

Referee Denis Silva Puig

Photo Credit: uefa.com

Half-Time Report: Liverpool 3-0 Huddersfield… Keita, Mane, Salah on the scoresheet

Liverpool are in a comfortable lead over Huddersfield before the break as the Reds scored three goals.

Naby Keita scored what may turn out to be Liverpool’s quickest of all-time as the midfielder set Huddersfield on the back foot by netting the opener just 14 seconds into the contest.

Stankovic was dispossessed on the edge of his own box by Keita, he played it to Salah, who returned the favour and the Liverpool midfielder knocked it in off the post.

And Klopp’s men have enjoyed serene progress since then. Virgil van Dijk got his side going for the second goal, charging forward with the ball at his feet before spreading out to Andy Robertson.

The Scot did what he’s been doing all season, putting it right onto Sadio Mane’s head, the Senegalese making no mistake for his 19th Premier League goal of the season.

The Reds saved their best goal of the half just before the break. Mo Salah stuck his hand out to signal where he wanted it, Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped it over the top, Salah took a touch and looped it over the onrushing Jonas Lossl.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Solskjaer reveals his decision on David De Gea as tension grips Manchester United dressing room

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed his decision on blundering goalkeeper David de Gea.

The Spain international has not kept a clean sheet in 12 matches with the Red Devils conceding more goals than in any other season

The United manager is insisting he has no plans to take out-of-form keeper De Gea out of the firing line.

The Spain star, 28, continued his torrid run of form when he failed to keep out Leroy Sane’s goal in Wednesday’s Manchester derby defeat.

United’s goals-against column is their worst in Premier League history and there are still three matches to play.

Now, the Sun reports, ex-United stopper Gary Bailey believes it is time for De Gea to be given a rest and let Sergio Romero have a go.

Asked if that was possible, Solskjaer said: “No. Not at all. Because I trust David.

“For me, he’s been the best player United have had last six or seven years, absolutely outstanding.

“Going through tough patches is part of a footballer’s career and David will be fine.”

Some have wondered if his contract issue with United is starting to affect his form.

The long-serving keeper is being linked with Real Madrid again after months of negotiations have failed to reach a conclusion.

But Solskjaer said: “That’s something you have to deal with as a footballer.

“You don’t always have a lot of years on your contract. But David’s coming in every single day doing what he should be doing.”

Photo Credit: Daily Express

Paris Saint-Germain hunt for former Chelsea striker, propose another star in exchange

According to reports in Spain, Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.

Additional reports also state that the La Liga club are equally willing to sell the striker

Mundo Deportivo claims the former Chelsea striker is set to leave Diego Simeone’s side for a second time after suspension ended his season early.

Costa, 30, was handed an eight-match ban by La Liga authorities after verbally abusing the referee during the 2-0 defeat to Barcelona earlier this month.

Atletico chiefs were furious with Costa’s vile antics and revealed they would be punishing him internally.

That didn’t go down well with the fiery forward, who was expecting to be defended by his club.

Costa quickly refused to take part in training with his teammates.

The Spain international has netted just five goals in 21 matches for Los Rojiblancos this season.

Cadena Cope claims that the Lique 1 champions are willing to offer Edinson Cavani in exchange for the former Chelsea striker.

Cavani’s contract in the French capital expires next summer and he has scored 192 goals across six seasons at the French giants.

The Sun adds that although Simeone would prefer to keep the ace at the Wanda Metropolitano, he respects Atletico’s decision and agrees the squad could benefit from having a calmer presence next season.

REVEALED: Why Paul Pogba’s agent cancelled new contract talks with Manchester United

Fresh information has emerged over the reason Mino Raiola reportedly cancelled a meeting with Manchester United over a new contract for Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman has been linked with move to Juventus and Real Madrid lately as he is disenchanted with developments in the Old Trafford club.

The Sun writes Pogba is ‘so determined’ to leave United, and that is ‘tearing the dressing room apart’.

The midfielder was included in the PFA Team of the Year after a career-best 16 goals and 11 assists in 2018-19, but he has ‘his heart set’ on a transfer.

According to the newspaper, he is unhappy with the club’s lack of progress since first leaving Old Trafford seven years ago and ‘is not convinced’ by Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Described as a figure who ‘runs’ the dressing room, the 26-year-old’s teammates ‘know’ he wants to move on and ‘fear’ Solskjaer cannot handle him.

It comes after a report in Friday’s Tuttosport, which claimed Pogba had told United that he would leave Manchester in June.

“A return to Turin is the priority, but Perez and Zidane are prepared to play the Bale card to snatch him away from the Bianconeri,” it goes on to explain, as quoted by Football Italia.

Chelsea close in on Barcelona star despite transfer ban

There are reports in Spain that Chelsea are keeping tabs on the situation of Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho with a view to a summer deal.

Coutinho, who moved to the Nou Camp from Liverpool in January 2018 for an initial €120m fee, has not established himself as a consistent starter under Coach Ernesto Valverde – with just 35 La Liga starts in 15 months.

El Confidencial report follows on directly from a report in Diario Sport which claimed the Brazilian will replace the outgoing Eden Hazard, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

The former Liverpool playmaker has cut a frustrated figure for the Catalan club this season, finding starting opportunities limited at the club and struggling to find consistent form.

Football Espana adds that the Blaugrana are keen to shift on the player for any bids upwards of €100m, as they want to clear his €14m annual wage in order to add to their own squad.

Chelsea will need to find a replacement for Hazard but are under a FIFA-imposed transfer ban for the next two windows, which the club are currently appealing – the report claims the move is now ‘in FIFA’s hands’.

The player was recently booed by sections of Barca’s support in their 3-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano and appeared to cup his ears to fans after scoring against Manchester United in the Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United have also been linked to the player, who is hoping to retain his place in Barca’s side ahead of the returning Ousmane Dembele.