Celta Vigo 2-4 Real Madrid: Hernandez the hero again

http://www.goal.com/en/match/celta-de-vigo-vs-real-madrid/1821993/report

The Mexico striker scored the winner in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg victory over Atletico Madrid and scored twice on Sunday night in La Liga.

Javier Hernandez was Real Madrid's hero for the second time in a week as his two goals helped Carlo Ancelotti's side come from behind to beat Celta Vigo 4-2.

The Mexico striker netted the crucial winner in Real's 1-0 defeat over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday and was decisive again on Sunday night.

Former Barca winger Nolito opened the scoring for Celta with a fine individual effort early on, though any 

celebrations in the Catalan capital will have been short-lived as Toni Kroos quickly equalised.

Hernandez, again playing in place of the injured Karim Benzema, put the visitors ahead, but their risky high defensive line allowed Santi Mina to score his fifth goal in three games before the half-hour mark.

James Rodriguez's deflected effort just before the break gave Real the lead once again, though the second half proved a serious assessment of their credentials, as the visiting defence withstood periods of intense pressure.

Nevertheless, Hernandez coolly stroked home the winner with 21 minutes to go, sparing Ancelotti's blushes once again as Madrid avoided a repeat of last season's crucial slip-up at Balaidos which ended their title hopes.

A repeat of that result had been on the cards as Celta's positive start was rewarded with just nine minutes played. Nolito brilliantly slalomed between Dani Carvajal and Asier Illarramendi before cutting in from the left flank and tucking a shot just inside the left-hand post.

But the visitors' reply was swift as they restored parity just seven minutes later.

Cristiano Ronaldo caused havoc in the Celta backline with a darting run into the right side of the area and Kroos was on hand to steer home in emphatic fashion from 12 yards despite Hugo Mallo's initial interception.

Hernandez completed the turnaround in the 24th minute, placing a cool finish under Sergio Alvarez after combining with Rodriguez down the right to devastating effect.

But Celta rallied and hit back within a few moments, as Mina raced beyond the Madrid defence and finished at the second attempt after hitting the post when running in on Iker Casillas' goal.

Ancelotti's side's chances of retaking the lead before the break seemed to end with Ronaldo striking the post in the 40th minute, but luck was on their side with their next attack when Rodriguez found the net from 20 yards via a deflection off Andreu Fontas.

Celta enjoyed victory at Barcelona in November and showed no sign of holding back. And their attacking endeavour could well have been rewarded with a penalty shortly before the hour mark when Kroos tripped Fabian Orellana in the box.

However, Madrid were happy to hit the hosts on the counter and Sergio Ramos' exquisite chipped pass released Hernandez to clinically beat Alvarez to cap a fine week individually and seal a result which keeps their hopes of winning La Liga alive.

Arsenal deny Chelsea but José Mourinho’s side edge closer to title

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/26/arsenal-chelsea-premier-league-match-report

By the end, there was the unmistakable feeling that all Arsenal were doing was delaying the inevitable. The earliest Chelsea can win the title now is at home to Crystal Palace next Sunday and, if not then, the following week against Liverpool. The only question is when the coronation happens but the real detail is that the victory parade has already been arranged for 25 May – and there was nothing Arsenal could do here to make that feel even the slightest bit premature.

Instead, we had the result that everybody could probably have predicted when they saw José Mourinho had started with a team devoid of an orthodox centre-forward. Chelsea, once again, showed their qualities of structure and defensive organisation and it is now five games since Arsenal last managed a goal against them. Arsène Wenger has still not beaten Mourinho in 13 attempts and Chelsea stubbornly refused to be drawn into the kind of match that would suit their opponents.

“Boring, boring Chelsea,” Arsenal’s supporters taunted. Mourinho came prepared into his press conference. “Boring?” he asked. “Ten years without a title – that’s boring.”

As put-downs go, it was one of his better ones. Yet he could hardly deny Chelsea’s conservatism. The tactic was to keep at least half a dozen players behind the ball and insure themselves against the counterattack, Wenger’s weapon of choice. Chelsea are grinding their way to glory but, boy, they are good at these smothering techniques.

John Terry made it seem implausible he was not even on the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award, leading Mourinho to describe it as the greatest performance he had seen from his captain. César Azpilicueta excelled at left-back and at the final whistle the fist-pumping told its own story. Branislav Ivanovic launched himself into the air. Terry let out a cry of pent-up emotion. Gary Cahill embraced Azpilicueta. That sturdy quartet of thou-shall-not-pass defenders punched the sky and screamed their delight in a collective appreciation of their own work.

Did Chelsea come for the scoreless draw? No, Mourinho always wants to win but the priority was certainly to hold the fort – and there is no better team in England when it comes to subduing high-calibre opponents. It is the first time Wenger’s team have dropped points at home since November and we have to go back to the previous February to find the last occasion they did not score a league goal at home. Mesut Özil, Alexis Sánchez and their other danger men had lots of the ball but there was always that formidable bank of blue shirts ahead of them.

The paradox, perhaps, is that Chelsea could also reflect the game might have turned out very differently but for the moment, a quarter of an hour in, that provided the game’s biggest controversy. David Ospina, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, was certainly fortunate not to be punished after charging from his goalline, missing the ball and clattering into Oscar. Héctor Bellerín prevented Oscar’s looping effort from bouncing into the goal and Chelsea had every right to argue it should have been a penalty.

Wenger admitted afterwards his team had been lucky but Chelsea lose an element of sympathy because of the other occasions they resorted to deceptions to try to win a penalty. Oscar can just about be given the benefit of the doubt after an optimistic fall in front of Bellerín but Cesc Fàbregas deserved all the condemnation that came his way when he wafted his leg in the direction of Santi Cazorla, then plopped to the ground in the vain hope that the referee, Michael Oliver, might be conned. All of Mourinho’s grievances will be undermined as long as his players try it on this way.

Arsenal had complaints of their own bearing in mind the incident later in the first half when Cahill’s left arm blocked Cazorla’s goal-bound shot inside the penalty area. Özil was Arsenal’s greatest threat in the first half. Aaron Ramsey’s link-up play with the overlapping Bellerín was another feature but, with less of the ball, Mourinho’s team still created the best chances of that period. Fàbregas’s pass for Oscar’s opportunity was the outstanding moment and, seven minutes before the interval, Ramires ought to have done better after Willian’s pass.

Oscar had to go off at half-time, taken to hospital and still suffering the effects of the collision with Ospina, and Didier Drogba took over as their centre-forward to give the team a more orthodox look.

Fàbregas took up a more attacking position and Willian switched to the right, with Ramires dropping inside to partner Nemanja Matic. Yet their tactics rarely deviated. At one point Willian led a promising break and there was only Drogba and Fàbregas who showed the faintest interest in supporting their colleague. The rest hung back.

Fàbregas had a mixed afternoon on his first game back at his old club. A lot of passes were misplaced and, in the worst moments, it felt as if the protective mask he is wearing to protect a broken nose must be hampering his vision.

Fàbregas eventually removed it after one lapse. There were boos every time he touched the ball and, unforgivably, one Arsenal supporter decided the minute’s silence for the forthcoming 30th anniversary of the Bradford City fire was an appropriate time to abuse an old favourite. Equally, many applauded him when the Spaniard was substituted late on.

The more important matter for Chelsea was that they had edged another point closer to where they want to be. The substitute Danny Welbeck could not adjust his feet quickly enough with a stoppage-time chance and Chelsea’s celebrations at the end were so jubilant it said one thing: they knew.

Man of the match John Terry (Chelsea)

Neymar and Messi help 10-man Barca beat Espanyol

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-neymar-messi-help-10-man-barca-beat-165353808--sow.html

By Tim Hanlon

BARCELONA, April 25 (Reuters) - Neymar scored the opener to continue his rich vein of form as 10-man Barcelona won a one-sided La Liga derby against Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday while Antoine Griezmann's double helped Atletico Madrid beat Elche 3-0.

Brazil's Neymar followed his two goals against Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday by slotting home after Luis Suarez dummied a cross after 17 minutes.

With Barca picking holes in Espanyol's defence, Lionel Messi doubled the lead from a tight angle after 25 minutes before Jordi Alba was sent off early in the second half.

The defender was shown two yellow cards in succession after 53 minutes for a lengthy protest with the referee but Espanyol failed to apply any concerted pressure on Barca in the remainder of the match.

Xavi came on for the final three minutes for his 500th La Liga appearance for Barca who have moved five points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Deep in stoppage time Espanyol's Hector Moreno was also sent off after being given a second yellow card.

Griezmann's two goals helped Atletico put their Champions League exit behind them in order to concentrate on winning third-place in La Liga.

The Frenchman now has 22 league goals in an impressive debut season at the Calderon after heading Atletico into the lead 10 minutes into the second half and then slotting home from close range 14 minutes from the end.

In between a Raul Garcia shot from distance sneaked past the dive of keeper Przemyslaw Tytonand into the corner after 63 minutes.

Diego Simeone's side have 72 points, seven more than fourth-placed Valencia who play Granada on Monday. Elche are 14th on 34 points.

Barca lead La Liga with 81 points, five more than Real Madrid who play Celta Vigo on Sunday.

COMPLETE GAME

"It was a complete game from us ... to win a derby you have to play like that," Barca midfielderAndres Iniesta told reporters.

"The best part of the season is still to come and the hard bit as well. They are all finals from here and there won't be much between the teams."

Espanyol's defence was cut open from the start with Neymar having a shot from a tight angle saved by keeper Kiko Casilla after just two minutes.

Suarez had a header from close range parried by Casilla and then Neymar flicked a ball by Messi past the keeper but also over the crossbar.

It appeared only a matter of time before Barca scored and the goal was expertly executed, demonstrating the superb understanding between their fearsome frontline with Suarez leaving the ball for Neymar to finish.

Suarez was involved in the second goal as he played a ball across the area to Messi who finished clinically past Casilla with little angle to aim at.

Further chances fell to Barca in the second half, notably a shot by Messi that hit a post, and the result never appeared in doubt.

Tottenham remain point above Southampton

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32363003

Tottenham twice came from behind to earn a valuable point at Southampton in the battle to secure European football.

Graziano Pelle gave the hosts the lead after seizing on a defensive lapse to prod home before Erik Lamela diverted the ball home via his arm for 1-1.

Pelle again put the Saints in front with a powerful header, but their lead lasted just five minutes.

Nacer Chadli latched on to Eric Dier's through ball and converted from close range to secure a point.

The result means Spurs remain sixth, a point ahead of Saints and level with fifth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

outhampton fans renamed the match Ronald Koeman Day in support of their Dutch manager and arrived at the game dressed in orange as former boss Mauricio Pochettino made his first return to St Mary's since his acrimonious departure to Spurs last summer.

Morgan Schneiderlin forced Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris into the first save of the game before the opener arrived in the 30th minute.

Sadio Mane did the damage, splitting the Spurs defence with a searing run into the box and, with the ball at his feet and facing his own goal, Spurs left-back Ben Davies hesitated and Pelle nipped in to prod home from close range.

St Mary's was stunned into silence before the break with Lamela appearing to deflect the ball into the net with his arm as he attempted a header from Dier's cross for the equaliser.

Bayern Munich 6-1 Porto (agg 7-4): Robert Lewandowski scores two in six-goal rout as Pep Guardiola's side overturn first leg deficit

The next time Pep Guardiola feels the need to justify his continued presence in Bavaria – and that time will come – he has some useful numbers to roll out. As of Tuesday night, the most pertinent one available to him is 115.

That is the number of goals Guardiola's Bayern team have scored so far this season, a number plenty enough to take them in to the last four of the Champions League, the final of the German Cup and to the cusp of successive Bundesliga titles.

It's a funny game, football isn't it? People can grow restless, unhappy even, pretty quickly. As Guardiola himself said on the eve of this undressing of porous Porto, people are only happy here if Bayern win the treble. 

Well, despite the horrors of the 3-1 first leg defeat in Portugal last week, that remains very much on and the statistics show that Guardiola and his players have indulged in a fair amount of self-expression along the way.

Guardiola won't remember all the season's goals. He won't remember all of the seven Bayern scored against Roma and against Shakhtar, the eight they plundered at home to Hamburg or the six they put past SC Paderborn.

The Spaniard will remember the half dozen his team scored here on Tuesday night, though.

He will remember them - especially the five that came in a brutal, spellbinding opening half - because they will be set against the background of last week's defeat and the disgruntlement that followed. Questions were asked about his own future, Bayern's club doctor walked out, slamming the door behind him.

By half-time, though, those matters seemed rather distant already and that is what brilliant football does. It makes people forget the small details. That, in a way, is the whole point of sport.

Certain Bayern's rather entitled supporters will have seen little better than this over the years. Not just because of the quality of the football but because of the context and because of the sheer hunger and monotonous forward drive of this team.

'I knew my players could do this,' said Guardiola afterwards.

'But this was not perfect. We can still improve.'

Having started so badly in the first leg last week – Bayern were two down early– they needed to reverse things quickly. After 23 minutes they were two goals up and, from that point on, the contest was no longer valid.

Lewandowski had already struck the post when Bayern took the lead, left-back Juan Bernat crossing to the near post for Thiago Alcantara to thump in a header.

The goal served to break the tension a little and as Porto failed to settle, Bayern began a hypnotic and relentless journey through the gears.

A shot from Thomas Muller was saved by Fabiano soon after but that proved a rare moment of competence for the Porto goalkeeper. He had a poor night and was beaten for the second time midway through the half when Jerome Boateng glanced a header in by the post after a corner.

At this point, Bayern were already mathematically through. Porto needed to score to maintain an interest but they were too skittish, too panicked and too intent in arguing with referee Martin Atkinson to ever get a foothold in a game that quickly galloped away from them. 

The third goal arrived soon after – Lewandowski finishing first time after Philipp Lahm had set him up beautifully – and it was at this point a massacre seemed in the offing.

A drive from Muller from distance then struck defender Casemiro and span through Fabiano's flapping legs in the 36th minute and, after a rare Porto attack culminated in a dive by, and a booking for, Jackson Martinez, Lewandowski struck again, teasing two defenders before arrowing a perfect shot in to the corner with his right foot. Half-time found the Portuguese on their knees and they crawled to the dressing room. Beyond that, Bayern lost some momentum and Porto even scored a goal, Martinez heading in. 

Barça waltz into semifinals

http://www.marca.com/en/2015/04/21/en/football/barcelona/1429649028.html

Barcelona waltzed into the Champions League semifinals with a 2-0 victory in their quarterfinal second leg over Paris Saint-Germainon Tuesday nightat the Camp Nou.

Neymar scored a first half brace to send the hosts on their way to a 5-1 victory on aggregate, thus sending the four-time European champions back to the Champions League semifinals after last year's absence.

Manager Luis Enrique took no risks with his starting XI by fielding his strongest possible squad with the usual trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar up top. In midfield it was Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic, while in the back goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen return to the fold and was shielded by Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba.

Any thoughts of a good start for the French champions were put to bed very early when Barcelona burst out to a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. It was all down to some genius playmaking from Iniesta, who started form his own half and knifed through nearly the entire PSG team before dishing to Neymar, who had an easy sweep into net to open the scoring.

Ten minutes later Barcelona had two very good looks at goal when Alves' long-range effort forced a deflection from PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu which gave Neymar a follow-up header, but the Brazilian was unable to convert. But in the 34th minute Neymar would launch a header goalward that was not going to be missed, as he was amazingly left unmarked between David Luiz and Gregory van der Wiel and easily nodded a header past Sirigu off an Alves cross to put Barcelona up 2-0 in the match and 5-1 on aggregate.

With the tie all but decided by halftime, the second half was simply a victory procession for the Catalonians, who were content to keep their defensive shape while playing their possession-based football.

Outside a Marco Verratti shot in the 59th minute that skipped wide and a 73rd minute shot from Zlatan Ibrahimovic that forced Ter Stegen to go low to save, the German stopper enjoyed a trouble-free evening.

Messi nearly put the icing on the cake with a shot in the final seconds, but his left-footed effort sailed just wide to complete the contest.

Barcelona will now return to La Liga action on Saturday as they face city rivals Espanyol.

Read more:Barça waltz into semifinals - MARCA.com (English version)

Sevilla 2-2 Barcelona: Lionel Messi and Neymar strike but hosts recover to blow title race wide open

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/sevilla-2-2-barcelona-lionel-messi-5502866

Luis Enrique's side started with a bang at the Sanchez Pizjuan but Ever Banega and Kevin Gameiro salvaged a point in a thrilling game.

Barcelona's advantage at the top of La Liga was cut to two points as the Catalans threw away a two-goal lead against Sevilla on Saturday night.

Having seen Real Madrid see off Eibar at the Bernabeu earlier in the afternoon, Luis Enrique's side knew that a win was essential for their peace of mind ahead of the Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.

And the Catalans came flying out of the traps, dominating possession early on and going ahead within the opening 15 minutes through Lionel Messi. The Argentine combined with Neymar before clipping a shot into the far corner of Sergio Rico's net.

1-0 became 2-0 soon after, Neymar bending a devilish free-kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net to end a 55-day La Liga goal drought.

The floodgates appeared to be opening but Sevilla rallied in front of their own fans and pulled one back before the interval. There appeared to be little on when Argentine midfielder Ever Banega picked the ball up 25 yards from goal, but his effort snuck past Claudio Bravo in the Barcelona goal.

A hard-fought second half ensued for the Blaugrana, with Sevilla pressing forward in search of a point. The feeling of unease seemed to get to Luis Suarez, who had a change to settle nerves but contrived to blaze over with the goal at his mercy.

There was frustration from Neymar when he was withdrawn in favour of veteran midfielder Xavi, and the groans from the away end would only grow louder as Sevilla found an equaliser.

Jose Antonio Reyes picked out a fine pass for Aleix Vidal, whose cross from the right was tucked home by Kevin Gameiro, a second-half substitute for Carlos Bacca.

Next up for Barcelona in the league are Valencia.