♛⚽️ European Football Leagues 2023-24 ( EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1......) ⚽️♛

[BangaloreaN]

Inter Milan crowned Serie A champions for 20th time after derby win against AC Milan



Inter

Inter Milan secured the Serie A title on Monday with a thrilling 2-1 victory over rivals AC Milan, marking their sixth consecutive derby triumph and establishing an insurmountable lead at the top of the league.
Goals from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram led Inter to a commanding 17-point lead over closest contenders Milan, clinching their 20th league crown with five matches still remaining in the season.


Manager Simone Inzaghi celebrated his first league title as a coach amidst a cold, drenched evening at the San Siro, where jubilant Inter supporters, including a contingent of "away" fans, erupted with joy at the final whistle.
Despite Milan's late surge, sparked by Fikayo Tomori's goal in the closing minutes, Inter held firm to commence their championship celebrations in style.
The victory not only solidified Inter's dominance but also marked them as only the second team in Serie A history to claim 20 league titles, joining Juventus, who lead with 36 championships.
Inzaghi's squad showcased their superiority throughout the season, notably by clinching the title with a derby triumph, a feat never before achieved in Serie A history.
Inter's path to glory was paved by their exceptional form, leaving previous champions Napoli and early contenders Milan trailing in their wake, particularly as Inter surged ahead at the turn of the year.

While their Champions League campaign ended prematurely with a defeat to Atletico Madrid in March, Inter's domestic success remained unparalleled.
Looking ahead, Inter's prospects appear promising, with plans to extend contracts for key figures like Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella, alongside strategic signings such as Piotr Zielinski and Medhi Taremi.
Off the field, Inter's president, Steven Zhang, navigates financial challenges, seeking to prevent investment fund Oaktree from assuming control of the club through non-repayment of an emergency loan.
Zhang's efforts include negotiating a new loan with fellow US fund Pimco, ensuring Inter's financial stability and independence, a crucial step in preserving the club's legacy and success.

[BangaloreaN]

PSG win record-extending 12th French league title in Mbappe's likely final season

Paris St Germain (PSG) clinched their 12th Ligue 1 title, marking their third consecutive championship. The victory was confirmed after AS Monaco's defeat at Olympique Lyonnais.


PSG win record-extending 12th French league title in Mbappe's likely final season

Paris St Germain were crowned Ligue 1 champions for a record-extending 12th time on Sunday, as their third straight title was wrapped up following another dominant domestic campaign when second-placed AS Monaco lost 3-2 at Olympique Lyonnais. PSG, who missed the chance to secure the title on Saturday when they drew 3-3 draw with Le Havre, have 70 points, 12 ahead of Monaco with three games remaining. "Winning the league is fantastic, but winning Ligue 1 for the twelfth time is even more special for everyone connected to Paris Saint-Germain," PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on the club website. "We're going to enjoy this moment as a family. And also keep working hard, game after game, until the last moment of the season."

Monaco were the only side left who could prevent PSG lifting the title, but their faint hopes were extinguished in Lyon as they fell to their first defeat in nine games, despite taking an early lead. The visitors scored with a little over 20 seconds on the clock, with Wissam Ben Yedder tapping home Takumi Minamino's cross at the back post, but Monaco were 2-1 down within 25 minutes through goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Said Benrahma. Ben Yedder brought the sides level again on the hour mark, heading home a floated ball into the box by Youssouf Fofana, but it was Lyon who found a winner six minutes from time with Malick Fofana scoring from outside the area.

Paris Saint-Germain are CHAMPIONS OF FRANCE for the 12th time in our history!

After Saturday's draw which kept the champagne on ice, PSG manager Luis Enrique was unconcerned, safe in the knowledge that their far superior goal difference meant the title was all but assured. "We're champions. I don't care if there's a party or not," the coach said. "We have a goal difference of plus 29 on the second place, I already feel like champions. Even if we don't score any more points, we'll be champions." The Spaniard, who took over at PSG at the end of last season, was proved right, as they secured their 10th title in 12 seasons without having to play another game.



The champions have suffered just one league defeat this season, against Nice in September and while they made a slow start to their campaign, once they took top spot after matchday 12, they never looked back. PSG went 3-1 down to relegation battling Le Havre, but a Goncalo Ramos goal late in added time salvaged a point, and extended their unbeaten league run to 26 games, but the manager said that didn't concern him. "I don't care if I'm undefeated. That goal gave us the title," Luis Enrique said.

"That, and for the rage I had because we didn't play much. We're missing two titles, we're going to do everything we can to get them." PSG are still involved in the Champions League, and they also have the Coupe de France final against Lyon to come, in what could turn out to be the club's finest ever season.

Striker Kylian Mbappe is leaving at the end of the campaign, and would love to bow out on a high, and this season is already his best in terms of goals scored, netting 43 times in all competitions. It has long been PSG's goal to win the Champions League, but few expected it in the manager's first season. Now that the league title is secured, the treble-bid is on, beginning on Wednesday with the semi-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund.

[BangaloreaN]

Real Madrid crowned champions after Barca's defeat at Girona



Image caption,Carlo Ancelotti has won league titles in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England


Real Madrid were crowned champions of La Liga for the 36th time after Barcelona suffered a 4-2 defeat by Girona.

Carlo Ancelotti's side eased to a 3-0 win over Cadiz earlier on Saturday, which meant the Catalan club had to win at the Estadi Montilivi.
Barcelona led 2-1 at half-time, but three second-half goals from Girona left Real with an unassailable lead at the summit with four matches of the season remaining.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham has been a key figure in Real's success, having scored 18 goals in 26 La Liga games in his first season with the club.
Bellingham posted on X, external "CAMPEONES!!! HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS!!!" which translates as "Champions!!! Go Madrid and nothing more!!!".

The 20-year-old joins Laurie Cunningham (1979–80), Steve McManaman (2000–01 and 2002–03), David Beckham (2006-07) and Kieran Trippier (2020-21) as Englishmen to win La Liga.
Los Blancos have lost just one league game this season and could potentially finish the campaign with 99 points, which would be their second-highest total ever.
It is Ancelotti's second La Liga title as Real coach, having previously won it in 2021-22.
Real have now won nine more titles than the 27 held by Barcelona.

[BangaloreaN]

Ipswich Town promoted to Premier League for first time in 22 years

Ipswich Town became just the fourth side in the Premier League era to gain consecutive promotions from the third tier to the top tier. read more


Ipswich Town have been promoted to the English Premier League after finishing second in the points table.


Ipswich Town returned to England’s top division, the Premier League, for the first time in 22 years after beating Huddersfield 2-0 to secure promotion from the Championship.
Goals from Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson ensured the Tractor Boys became just the fourth side in the Premier League era to gain consecutive promotions from the third tier to the top tier.
Leeds United, needing an Ipswich defeat coupled with victory over Southampton to leap into the top two, were beaten 2-1 by Southampton at Elland Road. It means they will play Norwich in the playoff semi-finals.
Ipswich’s most famous fan Ed Sheeran, who sponsors the club’s shirts, was not in attendance for wild scenes of celebration at Portman Road as fans poured on to the pitch and lit blue flares at full-time.

The Suffolk club, which was sold to American investors for just £40 million ($50 million), will now pocket at least £200 million in TV revenue in the coming years.
Ipswich’s rise was masterminded by boss Kieran McKenna, who has earned rave reviews in his first managerial role.

Kieran McKenna becomes the first manager to win consecutive promotions from the English third tier to the first, in their first two full seasons as a head coach.

He has also won the most points in England's top four divisions since becoming Ipswich manager... 🚜💙#ITFC pic.twitter.com/Ma2uhCReeR
— The Coaches' Voice (@CoachesVoice) May 4, 2024

McKenna failed to make the grade as a Tottenham player due to a serious hip injury. But the 37-year-old thrived as a youth academy coach with Tottenham and then Manchester United.
He was promoted to help coach United’s first-team by Jose Mourinho and retained that role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford before joining Ipswich in 2021.
“It means a lot, mostly seeing how much it means to everyone, the players, the supporters. To be one of the leaders of that is absolutely massive,” McKenna said.
“It’s a wonderful day, I’m very proud of everyone involved. It’s what we’ve done all year. It’s an incredible amount of effort.”

‘A great challenge’

What a couple of seasons @IPSwichTown have had! 📈

They join an exclusive list of clubs to reach the Premier League through back-to-back promotions! pic.twitter.com/s0FcAjmm2r
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 4, 2024

Huddersfield had already been realistically relegated prior to Saturday due to their poor goal difference compared to their rivals at the bottom.
Burns settled any nerves among the home support when he fired low into the bottom corner on 27 minutes.

On-loan Chelsea winger Hutchinson has been one of the stars of Ipswich’s season and made sure McKenna’s men could relax by smashing home a second just three minutes into the second half.
Ipswich could face a fight just to hold on to the highly-rated McKenna, who has been linked with a move to Brighton should Roberto De Zerbi leave the Seagulls.
“I’m sure it’ll sink in in a couple of days. There’s a lot of work to do. It’ll start in a couple of days time,” McKenna said.

“The Premier League will be a great challenge and one that I’m really looking forward to.”
West Brom beat Preston 3-0 to secure their playoff place and will face Southampton.
There was also drama at the bottom of the table as Birmingham were relegated in their first season with NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority owner of the club. A 1-0 win over Norwich was not enough to save the Blues.

[BangaloreaN]

Manchester City wins historic fourth straight Premier League title, edging Arsenal with a final day victory over West Ham



Seventy-nine seconds. That’s how long Arsenal had hope for.
In the end, the drama and tension of the final day of the Premier League season lasted little longer than a minute, as Phil Foden’s stunning early strike set Manchester City on course for a comfortable 3-1 win over West Ham that ensured a historic fourth straight title for the club.
Two points ahead going into the last day, City knew only a win would guarantee it retained the title ahead of Arsenal, while the Gunners needed to win and hope that Pep Guardiola’s side either drew or lost.
Foden’s goal meant that what was happening 200 miles south in North London mattered little, though Arsenal took the fight to the bitter end with a 2-1 win at home to Everton to finish two agonizing points behind City.
“We’ve got ourselves in the history books, no team has ever done it,” Foden, who was also recently crowned the Premier League Player of the Season, told Sky Sports.
“You can see what it means to fans, to us. This Premier League title was a bit more [special] because no team had done it before, now we’re the first team to have done it. I’m lost for words. I’m shattered.
“We played this scenario a couple of times before and I think it helped with the nerves, I thought today we looked confident. We played our own football and it paid off.”



Still only 23 years old, Foden has now won a remarkable six Premier League titles. It’s a feeling he certainly isn’t taking for granted.
“I never get bored of it,” he added. “I want this feeling every time. When you win something there’s no better feeling. I just want to keep winning as much as I can.”


City’s stroll in the sun

Foden’s opening goal, a left-foot rocket into the top corner, settled any early nerves – if there were any at all - at a raucous Etihad Stadium. The remaining 88 minutes and 49 seconds were little more than an early trophy celebration as City’s fans and players basked in the Manchester sun.
The Englishman, a Manchester City boy born and bred, was living the dream, scoring the goal that clinched the league title for his hometown club – and it only got better from there.
Just 15 minutes later, Jeremy Doku’s pinpoint cross somehow made its way through three West Ham players and found Foden, who coolly side-footed the ball into the back of the net.
West Ham midfielder Mohammed Kudus, who has enjoyed a superb first season in the Premier League, briefly made matters interesting after his outrageous bicycle kick halved City’s lead just before half time.



Back in north London, Everton took a shock lead five minutes before the interval but Arsenal hit back almost immediately to ensure the teams went into the break level.
However, any concerns City had about West Ham spoiling the party were banished just over 10 minutes into the second half, as Rodri’s low shot from the edge of the area squirmed under the hand of West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and into the net.

Now there was no doubt. The Premier League trophy was staying in Manchester.
The party had now well and truly started and City passed the ball around for the remainder of the match with a calmness and control that belied the enormity of the occasion, seeing out the final 35 minutes as though it was a training session.

As the match entered its final stages, Manchester City fans began celebrating with “the Poznań,” joining arms and jumping up and down with their backs to the pitch.
Back down in London, Arsenal did eventually get a winner against Everton in the 89^th minute thanks to Kai Havertz, but it was the most meager of consolations.
Blue Moon, City’s club anthem, echoed around the Etihad as the referee blew the full-time whistle to a deafening roar from the home fans. Hundreds of supporters ran onto the pitch to celebrate, filling the air with blue smoke set off from flares.

Guardiola has built one of, if not the greatest team, in Premier League history.
Manchester City has now gone where no team in English football has gone before – and it will likely take a monumental effort from Arsenal, or perhaps Liverpool post-Jurgen Klopp, to dethrone this juggernaut next season.

[BangaloreaN]

Manchester United finally win something, earning local bragging rights with 2-1 pipping of Man City in FA Cup final



The match was a repeat of the final from last year which was won by City 2-1 with Sunday's victory acting as sweet revenge for United coach Erik Ten Hag whose future is still up in the air at Old Trafford.


Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. (Reuters)

Manchester United pulled off an almighty upset on Saturday when they defeated a clearly exhausted Manchester City side 2-1 to win their 13th FA Cup in Wembley.
The first goal was scored in the 30th minute by Alejandro Garnacho who capitalised on a mistake by Josko Gvardiol and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and the second one was by rising star Kobbie Mainoo in the 39th minute.
City, who last week for the Premier League title for the 4th year running, looked to be out of sorts in the match with chances they would normally put away getting wasted. Erling Haaland came the closest in the 2nd half as he hit the bar and then Kyle Walker’s swirling effort was saved by United goalie Andre Onana.
In the end, they managed to pull one back through Jeremy Doku who scored in the 87th minute but it was too little too late for the reigning champions.
The match was a repeat of the final from last year which was won by City 2-1 with Sunday’s victory acting as sweet revenge for United coach Erik Ten Hag whose future is still up in the air at Old Trafford.

YOU COULDN'T WRITE IT 🤯
Academy graduate, Kobbie Mainoo scores in the #EmiratesFACup Final for @manutd 😱 pic.twitter.com/d68cAKvaE8
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 25, 2024

Earlier, Manchester United midfielder Casemiro was named on the bench and was then withdrawn because of a “late injury issue.” The Brazil international and five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid was a surprise exclusion from Erik ten Hag’s starting line-up.
United said Casemiro, who has been heavily criticized for his performances this season, was not 100% going into the match at Wembley. It did not expand on the nature of the injury.

GARNACHOOO 🫨
The @manutd man capitalises on a mistake to strike first at Wembley! 🔴#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/olfFq43HG8
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 25, 2024

He was replaced on the bench by defender Willy Kambwala.
Rasmus Hojlund was another high-profile exclusion from the starting lineup. He joined the club after a USD 82 million move from Atalanta in the offseason.
Marcus Rashford started in attack, with on-loan Sofyan Amrabat also playing.
City manager Pep Guardiola named Jack Grealish and Ruben Dias on the bench as he looked to complete back-to-back Premier League and FA Cup doubles.
John Stones was picked to start for the first time since City’s win against Chelsea in the semi-final on April 20.
City beat United 2-1 in last year’s final.

[BangaloreaN]

Bayer Leverkusen lift DFB Pokal 2023-24 trophy; Xabi Alonso's side end domestic season as invincibles




Leverkusen won two trophies in the 2023-24 season

Bayer Leverkusen won their second DFB Pokal crown after a narrow 1-0 win over FC Kaiserslautern. Xabi Alonso and his team won their second trophy, bringing an end to this exciting season.
The German champions remained unbeaten in all domestic competitions and created a huge history. Granit Xhaka scored the only goal of the night.
Bayer Leverkusen headed into this match after suffering a loss in the UEFA Europa League Final. Atalanta ended their 51-match unbeaten run in all competitions with a thumping 3-0 win. Leverkusen performed below par in that match.
Xabi Alonso named a strong starting 11. Lukas Hradecky returned to goal and was guarded by Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Odilon Kossounou. Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong played as the full-backs. Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich sat in the midfield for the German champions. Florian Wirtz and Jonas Hofmann supported Patrick Schick in the attack.
FC Kaiserslautern defeated the likes of FC Koln and Hertha Berlin on their run to the final. They had a huge task in hand against Leverkusen. The team played in a 4-1-4-1 formation.


Leverkusen dominated the possession right from the first whistle. Granit Xhaka scored the opening goal of the night in the 17th minute. He found the top corner of the net to give his side the lead. Things were going positively for the German champions but things changed a bit in favour of the underdogs right towards the end of the half. Odilon Kossounou, who was booked in the third minute got his second booking of the night and Leverkusen were down to 10 men.
Alonso’s men were not backing off and tried to stay on the front foot. They kept their discipline to defend the goal. Kaiserslautern were unable to keep hold of the ball for long. The score remained 1-0 at the end of the match.

[BangaloreaN]

Espanyol earn promotion to LaLiga with playoff win over Oviedo



Espanyol beat Real Oviedo 2-0 in the second leg of the LaLiga promotion playoffs on Sunday to seal their return to the Spanish top flight next season.
A quickfire double by captain Javi Puado just before halftime earned Espanyol a 2-0 home victory after forward Alexandre Alemao's first-half strike gave Oviedo a 1-0 win in the first leg last week.
Their aggregate 2-1 win secured Espanyol's comeback to LaLiga after one season, following their relegation at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

It was Espanyol's second promotion in three years after they had returned to the top tier in 2021 as Segunda Division winners.
Espanyol join Leganes and Valladolid, who won automatic promotion after finishing first and second respectively in the second tier last season.