Happy Friday! The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals concluded dramatically on Wednesday. Although the Champions League is on hold, the excitement continues as teams vie for European titles in the final weeks of the season. Here`s your weekend football update.
โฝ The Forward Line
๐ช๐บ And then there were four
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The Champions League semifinals are set! Arsenal triumphed over reigning champions Real Madrid with a dominant 5-1 aggregate victory, and Inter Milan secured their spot in the final four, defeating Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate.
Arsenal`s victory started with drama as Thibaut Courtois saved Bukayo Saka`s penalty. A lengthy VAR review also overturned a Real Madrid penalty. However, Arsenal controlled the game, and a late goal surge sealed their win. Saka opened the scoring in the 66th minute, and although Vinicius Junior responded for Real Madrid a minute later, it wasn`t enough to overcome the aggregate deficit. Gabriel Martinelli`s goal in stoppage time confirmed Arsenal`s place in the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009. James Benge highlights that this win validates manager Mikel Arteta`s team-focused approach, contrasting it with Real Madrid`s reliance on individual stars.
- Benge: `This victory was about system triumphing over individual brilliance. Mikel Arteta has spent five years building a team that defends collectively and effectively. The idea of a comeback never seemed to faze them. They had a plan to defeat Madrid and executed it perfectly. Arsenal comfortably dropped into a 4-4-2 formation, conceding space on the wings but trusting Jurrien Timber and [Myles] Lewis-Skelly in one-on-one situations. When Madrid lost possession, which happened frequently, Gabriel Martinelli was ready to exploit the openings.`
Inter`s matchup against Bayern was closely contested, but the Italian team secured their second semifinal appearance in three years, reinforcing their ambition for the title. Francesco Porzio notes that Inter`s continued European success under Simone Inzaghi since 2021 demonstrates his successful leadership, similar to how Arsenal`s win reflects Arteta`s vision.
- Porzio: `Despite financial challenges that led to player sales like Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi, Inter has shown a distinct character in European competitions. โฆ Inzaghi`s tenure at Inter has already yielded one Serie A title, two Coppa Italia titles, and three Supercoppa Italiana titles in three years. However, winning the Champions League would undoubtedly be his greatest achievement.`
In the Champions League semifinals, Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter will play Barcelona. The Europa League semifinals will feature Tottenham Hotspur against Bodo/Glimt and Athletic Club versus Manchester United. In the Conference League, Chelsea will play Djurgarden, and Real Betis will face Fiorentina.
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๐ Title chase continues across Europe
With just a few weeks remaining in the European season, several title races are reaching their climax. Champions League semifinalists Barcelona, Inter, and Paris Saint-Germain are still in contention for a treble.
PSG has already secured the French domestic title, becoming the first team in Europe`s top five leagues to do so. Liverpool could potentially join them as league champions as early as Sunday. The Reds hold a 13-point lead over second-place Arsenal with six games remaining, making their title victory seem inevitable. While Liverpool could mathematically clinch the title this weekend, it`s unlikely. Arsenal would need to lose to relegation-threatened Ipswich Town, and Liverpool would need to defeat bottom-of-the-league Leicester City.
In Spain and Germany, Barcelona and Bayern Munich can solidify their strong positions in their respective domestic leagues. Barcelona leads Real Madrid by four points and is expected to maintain this lead when they play Celta Vigo on Saturday. Bayern Munich, with a six-point advantage over Bayer Leverkusen, is likely to secure three points against relegation-battling Heidenheim. Neither Barcelona nor Bayern is guaranteed the title yet, but they are in a commanding position and need to perform this weekend to keep their challengers at bay.
Italy`s title race remains the most competitive in Europe with six games left. Inter Milan currently leads Napoli by a narrow three points. This weekend could be crucial. Napoli is expected to win comfortably against last-place Monza, but Inter faces a tougher challenge against fifth-place Bologna, who have impressed under manager Vincenzo Italiano. This match comes between Inter`s 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich on Wednesday and the second leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal against AC Milan, with the aggregate score tied at 1-1. Inter manager Simone Inzaghi faces significant team selection decisions, especially as the team aims for a treble.
๐ Top Stories
๐ฌ๐ฆ RIP Aaron Boupendza: Former FC Cincinnati player Aaron Boupendza tragically passed away at 28 after falling from a building in China, where he played for Zhejiang FC.
๐ช๐บ UCL rewind: With the quarterfinals concluded, check out the updated power rankings for the remaining Champions League teams and potential final matchups.
๐ฎ Real Madrid`s future: Carlo Ancelotti`s future at Real Madrid is uncertain, and their defeat to Arsenal has highlighted their need for players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is rumored to be a summer target.
๐ฌ Beckham on Arsenal: David Beckham praised Arsenal after their Champions League victory over Real Madrid but admitted he won`t be supporting them against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.
๐ด Van Dijk stays: Virgil van Dijk signed a new contract with Liverpool shortly after Mohamed Salah, ensuring the club retains its key veterans for the coming years.
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Championship preview: Get a preview of this weekend`s Championship action, where several teams are competing for promotion to the Premier League.
๐ Open Cup draw: The U.S. Open Cup round of 32 is set, with Sacramento Republic`s game against the San Jose Earthquakes being the highlight.
๐ฐ The Back Line
๐ต Best bets
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Premier League: Everton vs. Manchester City, Saturday, 10 a.m.
๐ฐ THE PICK: Everton and Manchester City to tie 1-1 (+600) โ While England may gain an extra Champions League spot next season, the race for the top five remains tight. Manchester City, currently fifth, hasn`t secured their Champions League qualification yet. Without Erling Haaland, a challenging game at Goodison Park is anticipated. Expect a 1-1 draw, a result potentially crucial for the top-five race. -
Premier League: Fulham vs. Chelsea, Sunday, 9 a.m.
๐ฐ THE PICK: Fulham and Chelsea to tie 1-1 (+550) โ If City drops points, Chelsea has a chance to break into the top five, starting the weekend just one point behind City. However, this Premier League season has seen inconsistency across many teams, including Chelsea, who have won only five of their last 15 league games. Fulham is competitive and could challenge Chelsea, suggesting the top-five situation may remain unchanged this weekend.
For more expert betting tips and news, visit CBSSports.com`s betting section.
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โฝ Call it What You Want (Monday and Thursday): A weekly podcast covering USMNT and US soccer with Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola. Live streams on YouTube Mondays at 1 p.m. ET and Thursdays at 6 p.m. ET.
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