Hello! Europe`s football season is reaching a climax with the Serie A title chase going down to the wire and the Europa League final approaching. Here`s an update on the key developments.
The Forward Line
Serie A Title Race Will Go Down to the Final Day
The second-to-last weekend of Serie A action delivered significant drama as the title race saw multiple shifts on Sunday, setting the stage for the final round of matches with the Scudetto still undecided.
Napoli started the day one point ahead of Inter Milan and maintained that advantage by day`s end, but not without a tense series of events in Milan and Parma. Inter initially took the lead against Lazio in first-half stoppage time through Yann Aurel Bisseck, a goal that temporarily put them atop the table while Napoli were in a goalless match at Parma. Lazio equalized in the 72nd minute courtesy of Pedro, restoring Napoli`s one-point lead. Seven minutes later, Inter again moved into first place when Denzel Dumfries scored, but in the 90th minute, Inter dropped back to second after Pedro converted a penalty for Lazio.
With much of the excitement concluding in Milan, the focus shifted to Parma where Napoli earned a penalty in stoppage time while the score remained 0-0. Converting this spot-kick would have given Napoli a three-point lead going into the final match, making them heavy favorites for the title. However, a lengthy VAR review led the referee to cancel the penalty due to an earlier foul in the build-up, and the game finished 0-0.
The title will likely be decided on Friday, with Napoli hosting Cagliari and Inter visiting Como in crucial simultaneous fixtures. Both contenders face mid-table opposition and are expected to win, but Napoli holds the advantage on the final day. A victory over 14th-place Cagliari is the most straightforward path to their first Serie A title in two years, while Inter needs Napoli to drop points even if they secure a win against Como. A dramatic scenario remains possible: if Napoli loses and Inter draws, they would finish tied on points, requiring a one-game playoff at a neutral venue to determine the champion.
Midfield Link Play
Spurs, United Head to Bilbao for Europa League Final
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are heading to Bilbao, Spain, for Wednesday`s UEFA Europa League final. This final is arguably the most unexpected among the European club finals this season. The teams finishing 16th and 17th in England`s Premier League will compete for major silverware and a coveted spot in next season`s UEFA Champions League.
The circumstances are remarkably similar for these two Premier League underperformers, who were not title contenders but significantly fell short of expectations. The Europa League presents an unexpected opportunity for redemption for both clubs at the end of challenging campaigns. Their struggles throughout the season raise a key question: How will either team manage to perform at their best when it matters most?
Despite the parallels in their seasons, the answer differs for each side. For Spurs, success on Wednesday heavily depends on player fitness, a persistent issue this season. The team has rarely been at full strength and will not be for the final – James Maddison was ruled out weeks ago with a knee injury, and Dejan Kulusevski recently had surgery for a similar issue. Manager Ange Postecoglou may need innovative tactics to compensate for the midfield absences, though he will have key defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven available. The stakes are also high for Postecoglou personally, as rumors about a potential replacement have continued for months, even leading up to the final, suggesting his future at the club might be uncertain regardless of the outcome.
For Manchester United, the initial months under manager Ruben Amorim could conclude positively with the Europa League trophy, but the journey has been difficult. These early months have shown that the current squad isn`t an ideal fit for Amorim`s tactical preferences. The manager even reportedly described this as the `worst` version of the team historically, and captain Bruno Fernandes used his Player of the Year acceptance speech to urge teammates to improve. Their performance on Wednesday is viewed within the context of being just the beginning of Amorim`s project, but how they overcome the effects of years of poor player recruitment is a significant challenge that will become clearer during the summer transfer window.
Top Stories
- Real Madrid`s new defender: Los Blancos have completed the signing of highly-rated Bournemouth center back Dean Huijsen. What are Real Madrid getting in the Netherlands-born Spain international?
- Have they won it before?: As we approach the Champions League final, just how many times have Inter and PSG won the competition?
- Crystal Palace`s golden day: For the first time in club history, Crystal Palace have won a major trophy, beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
- European qualification: Here`s a look at how teams in the Premier League can qualify for Europe ahead of the final matchday of the season.
- A missed opportunity: USMNT star Christian Pulisic won`t be playing European soccer next season after AC Milan`s campaign saw them miss out on qualification.
- Finally home: Savy King of Angel City FC was released from the hospital following heart surgery after collapsing on the pitch on May 9.
- It was a great weekend for the American boys at PSV as they lifted the Eredivisie title with their win on Sunday.
The Back Line
Best Bets
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Premier League: Manchester City vs. Bournemouth, Tuesday, 3 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Manchester City to win 2-1 (+700) – After losing in the FA Cup final, Manchester City will likely aim for a strong response in their second-to-last Premier League match, particularly as they are currently outside the UEFA Champions League spots, trailing Aston Villa by one point but with a game in hand. While the margin might be narrow against a capable Bournemouth side, Pep Guardiola`s team has significant motivation, unlike their opposition. Expect a victory for the hosts in their final home match of the season, which would elevate them to third place and set up a dramatic conclusion on the final day.
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