Dries Merten's double lifts Napoli over Roma 2-1

BY DANIELLA MATAR Associated Press LINKEDIN GOOGLE+ PINTEREST REDDIT PRINT ORDER REPRINT OF THIS STORY MILAN 

Napoli got back on track by beating nearest rival Roma 2-1, leaving Serie A leader Juventus with the biggest smile on Saturday. Napoli remained third but closed the gap to second-placed Roma to two points. Juventus can stretch its advantage to 10 points with a win at struggling Udinese on Sunday. 

"We must be realistic, the title race was very difficult before, now it's almost impossible," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "It will depend what Juventus do, but it's very hard. "When you lose these head-to-head games, your spirit also sinks." 

Napoli was all but out of the Champions League and Italian Cup after 3-1 defeats to Real Madrid and Juventus in the first legs. Alongside a home loss to Atalanta last weekend, Napoli's season threatened to implode. The match with Roma was billed not only as a fight for an automatic Champions League spot, but also a fight between two contenders for league top-scorer: Dries Mertens and Edin Dzeko. 

Mertens came out on top with two goals. He broke the deadlock in the first half, springing the offside trap to run onto a delightful through ball from Marek Hamsik and dink it over Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Mertens celebrated in unusual fashion, by getting down on all fours, cocking his leg, and pretending to urinate on the corner flag. A second score before halftime was ruled out for his push on Federico Fazio. 

His second came five minutes after the break, when he rushed in at the back post to tap in Lorenzo Inisgne's cross. His 18th league goal moved him within one of Dzeko, Torino's Andrea Belotti, and Juventus forward — and former Napoli star — Gonzalo Higuain. 

It was almost worse for Roma as Daniele de Rossi was lucky not to receive a second yellow card 20 minutes from time when he kicked Pepe Reina in the back of the leg from the ground following a collision with the Napoli goalkeeper. 

It was not spotted by officials but Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri was sent to the stands for dissent. Mohamed Salah hit the left post and Roma finally scored in the 89th as Diego Perotti burst down the left and pulled back for Kevin Strootman to drive into the bottom right corner. 

In five minutes of stoppage time, Roma was denied an equalizer by Reina's incredible save of Perotti's deflected loop, which he somehow finger-tipped onto the crossbar. 

AC MILAN 3, CHIEVO VERONA 1 Carlos Bacca scored two goals and missed a penalty as AC Milan moved back into the European qualifying positions. Milan moved level on points with fifth-placed Lazio, which visits Bologna on Sunday. Inter Milan can go back above its city rival with a win at Cagliari. Chievo started the brighter but Milan took the lead against the run of play when Bacca ran on to Gerard Deulofeu's through ball, cut inside, and his effort was deflected in off Stefano Sorrentino's foot. Chievo leveled four minutes later through a contentious penalty. Mattia De Sciglio was adjudged to have pulled down Serge Gakpe. Milan was awarded a penalty of its own in first-half stoppage time for a Bostjan Cesar handball but Bacca blazed his spot kick over the bar. Bacca doubled his tally in the second half, and Gianluca Lapadula knocked in another penalty eight minutes from time. 

SAMPDORIA 3 PESCARA 1 Zdenek Zeman's 1,000th match as coach was bittersweet as his Pescara team lost. It was honors even at the break after Alberto Cerri cancelled out Bruno Fernandes's opener for Sampdoria. But Fabio Quagliarella restored Samp's lead just before the hour mark and substitute Patrik Schick scored six minutes after being sent in Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/world-soccer/article136437613.html#storylink=cpy

Liverpool add Arsenal woes 3-1

If you leave out your best player and top scorer, the one whose contract runs out in 16 months and who has the biggest clubs in Europe wooing him, then generally you have to be right; even if you do have 20 years of credit on which to fall back. 

Arsene Wenger’s decision to start without Alexis Sanchez looked bizarre even before kick-off. Ten minutes into this game it looked utterly incomprehensible. 

Arsenal were as lame and lax as they can be at their worst and they have recently tested the low-water mark of those kind of performances. 

Without Mesut Ozil as well, as a potential vision of a future Arsenal it was decidedly disconcerting. And once Sanchez did come on at half-time and Arsenal improved immeasurably, Wenger’s selection just looked ever-more perplexing. 

Not only will it have angered Sanchez, who looked like a schoolboy in detention on the bench, but it damaged the team and the fight for the top four, perhaps decisively. 

For Liverpool’s win took them back into the Champions League positions and above Arsenal. Wenger has been in worse positions and recovered and has a game in hand. But still, you fear for the reception this team might receive if they repeat this first-half performance against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. That might be enough to convince Wenger his time is up. Impatience is turning into hostility among some Arsenal fans. 

And even though the team were much improved in the second half and at times looked like grabbing an unlikely point, ultimately they were well beaten. 

Wenger knew what was coming. ‘I have no special regrets,’ he said. ‘The only regret is to have lost the game. The thinking was that we had to go more direct. We wanted to play two players who are strong in the air because we decided to go more direct. ‘After that, to bring Alexis on in the second half. Everybody will come to the same conclusion but I’m strong enough and lucid enough to analyse the impact. I don’t deny he is a great player. 

A decision like that is not easy to make but you always have to stand up.’ Wenger essentially argued that it was a poor collective performance which undid them in the first half and a good collective performance which lifted them in the second. But that ignores the catalyst effect Sanchez has on all around him: Danny Welbeck came alive; Alex Iwobi seemed a yard quicker; Olivier Giroud a yard taller. 

For Jurgen Klopp, different challenges are to be confronted. Liverpool, lambs at Leciester, were yet again lions against major opposition at Anfield, which is no way to earn credentials as a proper team, though habit appears to be deeply ingrained into their psyche. ‘I don’t like the fact that inconsistency is part of the deal in development,’ said Klopp. ‘But usually you lose against the big teams. Obviously we have chosen another way. But it’s still part of the deal. We had a really hard week. Directly after the Leicester game I found a few words and I was not asking for friendship. 'The next day we analysed, which was nothing to enjoy, for me or the boys. But there was a point in the week where we had to finish the Leicester game. And only if you are really silly do you let the bad things have more influence than the good things.’ They clearly heeded that part of the lesson. 

Arsenal were bad but Liverpool were also excellent. Adam Lallana and Sadio Mané stood out but there were plenty more contributing. That said, Arsenal folded at the slightest sign of pressure. The opening goal typified them. They put together a neat passing sequence in which Liverpool couldn’t get close to the ball. You might have convinced yourself they had the upper hand, though it ended with Granit Xhaka over-hitting a pass for Nacho Monreal. And then, from the resulting goal kick, Laurent Koscielny failed to win a header and Lallana flicked on to Sadio Mané. His cross should have been cleared but Hector Bellerin comically let it through his legs, so that Roberto Firmino had time and space to score. He took a touch which almost killed the chance but did eventually decisively put Liverpool in the lead. 

The trouble with Arsenal is, even after nine minutes, you never feel there is any coming back from such a setback. There was brief moment when Oxlade-Chamberlain shimmied inside and hung a cross in with which Olivier Giroud almost connected. 

But that wasn’t representative. Petr Cech saved them when Philipe Coutinho hit a great striker for the edge of the box on 29 minutes but they weren’t going to hold out: that much was clear. The ease with which James Milner drifted forwards unchallenged on 39 minutes, found Emre Can who swept the ball onto Roberto Firmino was embarrassing. The Brazilian found Mané on the edge of the box and he provided the perfect finale to the move with a clinical finish. Even then, it needed Cech again to bock Coutinho on the stroke of half time to prevent further humiliation. 

Then came Sanchez and having one of the world’s best players on the pitch somehow lifted Arsenal. On 49 minutes Monreal sent in a cross which Giroud headed goalwards and Simon Mignolet got a touch onto the cross bar. But it was at least a sign off fresh hope for Arsenal. For once, it wasn’t unfounded. Sanchez’s aggressive intent found an outlet on 57 minutes when he played in Danny Welbeck. The angle was tight and Mignolet was fast approaching but with a deft chip, Welbeck lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. Arsenal were by no means looking secure. 

When Coutinho crossed on the hour, it took a fine interception from Shokdran Mustafi to prevent Firmino tapping in. But they were at least better. And they should have been playing against ten on 78 minutes, when Can managed to hack down Theo Walcott and somehow avoid a second yellow card. 

Still, this brittle Arsenal side never truly convince. When Adam Lallana swept a ball to Divock Origi in injury time and the Belgian sprinted away down the left to provide a perfect cross for Georginio Wijnaldum to add the third, it made the scoreline as decisive as much of the performance had been.

Karim Benzema brace set Real Madrid win over Eibar 4-1

Eibar 1-4 Real Madrid: James Rodriguez and Marco Asensio add to Karim Benzema brace as visitors return to La Liga summit with win in Basque Country

Every dog has its day, or every cat in Karim Benzema's case. The player once dubbed a pussy cat by Jose Mourinho scored twice as Real Madrid comfortably beat Eibar without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Benzema has always had his critics at Madrid and he came into this game not having scored in his last seven League games. The morning papers ran a list of 35 players who had scored more than the French international in the league. But without having to service Ronaldo and Bale, Benzema was free to be the protagonist and he scored two and set-up one as Madrid scored twice in 15 minutes to wrap up this victory before the half-hour mark. 

Benzema needed two attempts to beat Eibar keeper Yoel Rodriguez who saved his first shot but could do nothing about the well-struck rebound.

It was Benzema's first goal in the league since January 9 and his sixth league goal of the season; number seven was not long in coming.

James Rodriguez whipped in a free-kick and Benzema arrived on-side to steer the ball home.

Modric didn't run to the goalscorer Benzema to celebrate, he ran to James Rodriguez instead – it was a great assist and soon Rodriguez would join Benzema on the scoresheet.

This time it was the Frenchman who provided the assist and the Colombian who applied the finish. 

It was turning into a great afternoon for the two players who tend to receive the most criticism at Real Madrid.

With what was Rodriguez's second goal of the season in the league – his first since September – the points were wrapped up.

Mateo Kovacic, Isco and Mariano Diaz all warmed up at the start of the second half. Zidane was clearly already thinking about taking off players he will need fresh on Tuesday against Napoli in the Champions League. 

Benzema clearly wanted to stay on and he hit the pass of the game with a lofted ball over the top of Eibar's defence to send Marco Asensio down the left. 

He unselfishly squared for Rodriguez and when Rodriguez hit the post, Asensio scored from the rebound to make it 4-0.

Spain manager Julen Lopetegui was among the 6,200 spectators watching this game; there is no question that 21-year-old Asensio will play many games for the national side. 

This was the eighth goal of what is his debut season at Real Madrid and he has only started seven matches.

Benzema was taken off after the fourth goal and Luka Modric was the next to go. No sooner had he been replaced by Mateo Kovacic than Eibar scored. 

Ruben Pena had never scored in the first division but he turned in a cross from Pedro Leon with his hip to give Eibar a consolation goal.

Madrid were back on top of La Liga, albeit pending Barcelona's home fixture with Celta Vigo later on Saturday. 

They had delivered one of their more convincing performances of the season and they had done so with out Bale, Ronaldo, Marcelo and Toni Kroos.

Benzema had stepped-up when his team had needed him most. This was the perfect way to prepare for Napoli on Tuesday.

Barcelona thumps Celta Vigo 5-0, keeps La Liga lead

 

Barcelona 5-0 Celta Vigo: Lionel Messi scores brace as Luis Enrique's side romp to victory and leapfrog Real Madrid to the top of La Liga

Lionel Messi scored the first goal on 24 minutes and then mimicked making a telephone call as part of his goal celebration – perhaps he was calling UEFA. Last week the game's European governing body gave Barca a 0% chance of progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals. It's true that no-one has ever overturned a 4-0 first leg defecit and Barcelona have a mountain to climb against Paris Saint-Germain, but they have Messi and with Messi anything is possible. The supporters certainly think so, they were singing: 'Yes we can' by the time the fifth goal went in. This 5-0 win was special from Messi and special from Barcelona who have now scored 11 goals in four days and sit back on top of the Spanish first division albeit having played a game more than Real Madrid.

The rout could easily have started earlier when both Suarez and Messi hit the post in the space of seconds on 18 minutes.

Suarez surged past Gustavo Cabral and hit the foot of the right upright. And from a more difficult angle as the ball came back out to him, Messi hit the same spot on the same post.

Barcelona should then have had a penalty three minutes later when Neymar was chopped down by Hugo Mallo. The spot-kick wasn't given but it didn't matter because Messi was about to conjure the first goal.

He picked the ball up midway inside Celta's half. Not content with starting his run from there he carried the ball back the edge of the centre-circle then turned and went for the Celta juglular wriggling through the centre of their defence. With Cabral and Sergi Gomez left flailing, he curled a shot inside Sergio Alvarez' far post.

It was his 37th goal of the season in just 37 games but it was only the beginning.

It should have been two when Rafinha cut in from the right but he failed to beat Alvarez. When he looked up he had Messi, Neymar and Suarez all staring him down having been in space for a pass – an image he might take some time to wipe from his memory.

The second goal was not long in coming. And it was every bit as special as the first. Messi fed Rakitic and he returned the pass. Messi then played an angled pass into Neymar's path and the Brazilian applied the most delicate of touches to chip it over the head of Alvarez and send it curling with one bounce over the line. 

No one does artistic impression better than Neymar and he was at it again 13 minutes into the second half when he set up Rakitic for the third.

The Brazilian crossed from the left, Rafinha got a touch in the area and Rakitic sent a low drive through the goalkeeper's legs.

Umtiti was the next on the scoresheet poking the ball home from inside the six-yard box from a Messi cross. It was his first goal for the club and his Barcelona team-mates queued up to congratulate him – of the raft of summer signings he is the one who has made a first team place his own.

Messi got his second with Barcelona's next attack. He carried the ball down the right, cut inside, and despite the best efforts of Facundo Roncaglia and Cabral drilled his shot through the legs of the latter and past Alvarez.

With 20 minutes left Iniesta came on – as if Celta hadn't suffered enough - but the captain did not exert himself. The three points were won and all attention now turns to Wednesday. 

Messi and company are in the mood to either go through with a miraculous comeback, or at least go out of the Champions League making everyone wish they were not.

Luis Enrique is leaving Barcelona

After Barcelona’s convincing 6-1 win against Sporting Gijón on Wednesday, Luis Enrique put an end to months of speculation and announced he will step down as Barça boss in the summer. 

He told the press that he “won’t be Barcelona coach next season” and “needs to rest”. Enrique has been under enormous criticism all season for the Blaugrana's poor performances, and after two very successful campaigns, he hopes to end his third season on a high note. Club President Josep Bartomeu said on Enrique’s departure: "We accept Luis Enrique's decision. He has been a great a coach. Now is it time to end his spell in the best possible way". 

The search for a new manager will start. Ronald Koeman (Everton), Jorge Sampaoli (Sevilla) and Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspur) have been the names speculated the most over the last few weeks. The board is expected to announce the new manager in the near future.

The 46-year-old coach's decision to make the announcement now, is being seen as an attempt to galvanise his players for what remains of this campaign.

He said: 'I will finish this press conference in a different way; I want to announce I will not be continuing as Barcelona coach.

'I want to thank the club for all the faith they have shown in me. These have been three unforgettable years.

'You don't get a lot of rest in this job and I need to rest. 'Hopefully we have three very exciting months left and if the stars align we can come back in the Champions League, and if not we still have the league and the cup.'

The search will now begin for his successor and Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde and Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli are the favourites with Lionel Messi understood to favour the latter.

But Everton's Koeman and Dortmund's Thomas Tuchel are among those coaches that the Barca board will consider, with Koeman having impressed at Everton this season.  

Enrique took over in 2014 and looked on his way out at the halfway point of that first season, having got on the wrong side of Messi.

But he turned things around and ended up winning the treble. He finished the second season having won as many trophies in his first two campaigns as Pep Guardiola.

Like his friend and predecessor in the hotseat he has decided he needs a break from one of the most demanding jobs in football. There were whistles when his name was song by some supporters following Barcelona's disastrous 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Paris.

On Wednesday, supporters seemed to have turned because when his name was sung by the Camp Nou's singing section there was no adverse reaction. 

Those supporters now know they will have a new coach next season.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4272864/Luis-Enrique-leave-Barcelona-end-season.html#ixzz4aBxfdFEi
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Barcelona dominates Sporting Gijon 6-1, grabs La Liga lead

 Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all score as Barca go top of La Liga with impressive victory

First came the six goals from his team and then bang - Luis Enrique hit the back of the net himself dropping the bombshell that he is leaving the club at the end of the season.

Few expected the 46-year-old coach to renew his contract that runs out this summer, especially after that 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain two weeks ago.

Yet he still stunned a crowded press room at the Nou Camp, finishing his press conference following his team's 6-1 win by saying he had one more thing to say – he was off.

The decision to make the early announcement is being seen as a move to galvanise his squad for the run-in and although he admitted to only having told his players after this win, they already look in the mood to send him off with a rousing finish to the campaign.

They thrashed struggling Sporting and only needed a 45-minute shift from Luis Suarez, and an hour from Lionel Messi to do so.

It was 3-1 and game over by half-time as they played some of their best football and the out-going coach's name was sung with no whistles from dissenting fans.

In a week's time Paris Saint-Germain will be in town and a 6-1 result will see Barcelona through. The French champions are unlikely to defend as Sporting did here but this was still a very positive performance – a riot of good football and great finishing.

The first goal was an all-Argentina production. There is a crossroads in the Northern Argentine City of Tucamen where the streets are named after Messi and Javier Mascherano – the pair were definitely on the same GPS on nine minutes when Mascherano found himself in the right back position and dinked a pass over the top of Sporting's defence for Messi to finish.

The visitors were attempting to play offside but Barcelona's No 10 just jogged between the two centre backs and, barely needing to jump, nodded the ball over the advancing Sporting keeper Ivan Cuellar. It was his 21st league goal of the season and surely his easiest.

When the second goal went in it was Neymar's pass and Suarez springing Sporting's shocking excuse for an offside trap. The ball was diverted over the line by Juan Rodriguez and is likely to be credited to the defender but Suarez took the plaudits from his team-mates.

Sporting had not won here in 30 years and this was a terrible start but they were buoyed on 21 minutes when they pulled it back to 2-1. 

This time the through ball was from Burgui and when Sergio Alvarez's shot came back off a post Carlos Castro reacted more quickly than Umtiti to send it over the line.

The two-goal deficit was quickly restored. Sporting were defending like a team who are one off the bottom and had only won once away all season. Jean-Sylvian Babin headed the ball up instead of away and Suarez was unchallenged to thunder it past Cuellar on the volley.

Suarez did not reappear to torment Sporting further after the break. He will be needed at the weekend against Celta Vigo and then next week in the Champions League. Alcacer came on in his place. No one has played fewer minutes so far this season and no one needed a confidence-boosting goal more and it came for him in just four minutes.

Babin gift-wrapped another ball in the area, this time to Messi and he found Alcacer who scored his second goal of the season. 

The singing section behind the goal was now loudly sing Enrique's name and the rest of the stadium respectfully observed. When they tried that a week ago the chants were whistled down. Time heals even 4-0 defeats to PSG.

Such was the mood that Messi took an early cut, substituted on the hour with Barcelona in total control of the game.

So no Suarez and no Messi – what could possibly go wrong for Sporting now? Neymar curled a picture-book free-kick past Cuellar, leaving the keeper tangled up in his own net, and it was five. Ivan Rakitic smashed the sixth goal in as the clock ran down and Barcelona left the field as leaders.

We thought the show was over but the drama had only just begun. Within the next couple of hours the coach would quit and Real Madrid would draw with Gareth Bale sent off to leave Barcelona top of the table.

Real Madrid in a thrilling draw with Las Palmas 3-3 after Gareth Bale send off

Real Madrid 3 Las Palmas 3: Gareth Bale sent off as Los Blancos complete another miraculous comeback

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the final four minutes as Real Madrid fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Las Palmas, despite Gareth Bale's dismissal. Real had Bale sent off for kicking and then pushing Jonathan Viera at 1-1 and they were trailing until Ronaldo scored with an 86th-minute penalty and an 89th-minute header. 

Barca earlier beat Sporting Gijon 6-1 before their boss Luis Enrique announced he would not be in charge next season. 

Real had opportunities and three times had the ball in their opponents' net, only for the strikes to be ruled out for offside. Las Palmas' goals came from Tana, Viera and Kevin-Prince Boateng. 

Barca's two-point lead was expected to last a matter of hours. However, there was no routine Real win despite the hosts taking an early lead at the Bernabeu. 

Isco breached the offside trap and rolled the ball in past Javi Varas for the opening goal. But two minutes later the visitors were level as Tana fired a sweet shot past Keylor Navas. Real had chances to restore their lead before the interval, but they were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Bale's temper got the better of him. 

Bale repeatedly swiped at Viera as he surged away from him and the Las Palmas captain reacted with a minor push after being awarded a foul. Wales forward Bale then placed two hands in his opponent's chest, shoving him away in front of referee David Fernandez Borbalan. Having already received one yellow card, another followed immediately and out came the red. 

Madrid's woes deepened soon afterwards when Sergio Ramos conceded a penalty. After a fine tackle on Boateng, the Real captain handed a goalbound shot from David Simon. Viera took the resulting spot kick, sending Navas the wrong way. The goalkeeper got a foot to it, but it was not enough to prevent Las Palmas' lead being restored.  

Three minutes later it was 3-1. Boateng reached a Viera pass ahead of the advancing Navas to poke it in. 

Las Palmas appeared to be nearing victory, but four minutes from time Dani Castellano was penalised for handball in the area. Ronaldo stuck the spot-kick into the top corner. Real pressed for an equaliser and Ronaldo claimed it, heading in James Rodriguez's cross following a corner. 

Real are second in the standings on 56 points, one behind Barcelona who thrashed Sporting Gijon 6-1 on Wednesday, but Zinedine Zidane's side have a game in hand on their arch-rivals as they seek a first league title since 2012.

Leicester City beats Liverpool 3-1 four days after Ranieri sacking

Leicester City 3-1 Liverpool: Jamie Vardy brace and Danny Drinkwater stunner seals Foxes' first league win of 2017 four days after Claudio Ranieri's sacking

Jamie Vardy overhit his cross and Riyad Mahrez chased it all the way to the corner in a way that seemed strangely unfamiliar. 

Christian Fuchs arrived at pace and the pair exchanged quick, urgent passes. Fuchs centred, perfectly, and there was Vardy to head Leicester's third.

'Leicester City,' sang the fans, 'we know what we are.' Indeed we do; but the players would get very upset if we said it. For this was a performance that bore as much resemblance to what we have seen from these players as Leicester 2015-16 does to the campaign so far. 

Bar this game. For here were Leicester back to their best. Claudio's away, and now the mice will play. Leicester defeated Liverpool by an even greater margin than in this fixture last year — 3-1 instead of 2-0 — and it could have been more. 

Vardy looked one of the best goalscorers in the Premier League again, the defence were forceful and tight, even Mahrez put in a shift. Kasper Schmeichel made several good saves — from Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana — and Coutinho pulled one back for Liverpool after 68 minutes, but there was only going to be one winner here.

As they were last year, Leicester are simply better at Liverpool's greatest strength. The pace and effort Jurgen Klopp seeks in his own men pales beside Leicester on a good day. They were ferocious again, closing the red shirts down, harrying, hustling. 

Liverpool could not handle them, could not cope with the absence of time, the speed with which everything had to be done. Klopp's team have not lost a game this season with more than a week to prepare, and they had a fortnight to ready themselves for this.

But they weren't ready for Leicester – not for a team that now appears revitalised having rid themselves of the coach who engineered the greatest campaign in English football history. 

In the 65th minute – Claudio Ranieri's age – the fans sang his name, but who knows if he was even watching. If he was, it may have been with pursed lips. Here were his boys, back to their best, but considering what had gone before, it was hardly edifying. 

The fact is, Leicester played the first half like champions. Champion chisellers.

There was nothing in this display to convince us that Ranieri had been anything but the victim of a dressing-room coup.

This was a different Leicester. Not a new Leicester, because we have seen it before, but a Leicester that had not been sighted since May last year and the title run-in.

They snapped into Liverpool with a ferocity and desire that has simply been missing. They played it fast, played it furious, played with the intensity Klopp seeks from his men. And just as they had in this fixture last season, that relentlessness just blew Liverpool away.

It is just over a year since these teams met at the King Power Stadium, a Leicester win that confirmed their seriousness as title contenders and served as a prelude to the win Ranieri was proudest of all season — away at Manchester City. 

It is hard to believe the coach that masterminded the greatest title-winning season of them all is gone less than a year later, but here we are. There were handmade signs, a hired hearse outside with a blue-and-white floral display reading RIP FOOTBALL, but once the action began Ranieri's name was not mentioned again.

The locals were too busy cheering on the team who had suddenly reappeared and attempting to ingratiate themselves with caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare. 'Shakey, give us a wave,' they sang — and naturally he obliged.

Others had a darker take. 'Leicester has Shakespeare in charge tonight,' tweeted Gary Lineker. 'In the words of his Claudio, "Done to death by slanderous tongues was the hero that here lies".' 

Much Ado About Nothing, act five, scene three, if you're interested. The fans were not. This was a night to get behind the team, they had decided, as long as the team were worth getting behind.

And it was. The moment Vardy left a mark on Sadio Mane with less than a minute gone, we knew. Liverpool were playing a different team to the one that surrendered so meekly at Swansea. 

So it proved. Liverpool had been on one of those mid-winter warm-weather training trips that worked so well for Stoke at the weekend, but Leicester looked twice as fast. Maybe taking the first six months of the season off is as beneficial as a week in La Manga.

Leicester exposed Liverpool just as they had a year ago. Quick ball in to Vardy, long throws into the box by Fuchs. The first of those after five minutes found Robert Huth, whose header was kept out by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Just two minutes later, a repeat projectile was half-cleared and fired back in by Vardy, the ball bouncing up off the turf and steered on by Shinji Okazaki's head. Again Mignolet saved.

Huth was causing plenty of problems from set-pieces and in the 15th minute he headed a Marc Albrighton header over. The pressure was building, though, and Lucas Leiva in particular was struggling to cope with Vardy.

After 20 minutes, Schmeichel hit a simple long ball down the middle which Vardy plucked out of the air as if his boots were coated in adhesive. He took it down, took it past Lucas, but failed to get a true connection on his shot, which Mignolet saved. Nathaniel Clyne dived full length to head the loose ball out for a corner. 

Liverpool could not hold, though, and with 28 minutes gone, Leicester scored their first league goal in nearly 11 hours of football. 

A game of head tennis in the centre of the pitch went horribly wrong for Liverpool, Albrighton played the finest of through-passes first time and Vardy was on to it, as he would have been a year ago — if not a month — outstripping Liverpool's defence and finishing first time past Mignolet at the near post.

The Liverpool goalkeeper was forced to save again from Wilfred Ndidi after 34 minutes, but shortly before half-time, Leicester made it two. Albrighton's cross was half-cleared by James Milner, falling to Danny Drinkwater, who struck it first time from 25 yards out low into the corner. 

The King Power erupted and maybe somewhere in Rome, a very decent man reached for his remote control and, with a little sigh, changed the channel.

Real Madrid clawed back wins 3-2 over Villareal, keeps La Liga lead

Villarreal 2-3 Real Madrid: Last gasp Alvaro Morata header keeps Los Blancos top of La Liga

Real Madrid scored three goals in 19 minutes to over-turn a 2-0 deficit against Villarreal and go back to the top of La Liga.

Barcelona had overtaken them in their afternoon kick-off against Atletico Madrid but Barça’s gain was wiped out just five hours later by a Real Madrid team who dozed through the first hour of this match, conceding twice, but still won with Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata all scoring.

Manu Trigueros scored the first goal of the game on 50 minutes and it was no more than Villarreal deserved.

Samu Castillejos is a featherweight forward but he still overpowered Marcelo at the back post to head down towards Tirgueros who lashed his shot past Keylor Navas before Sergio Ramos – who was the closest defender to him – could react.

Madrid fans might have thought it would be a wake-up call but Zinedine Zidanes’s side kept on snoozing and when Bruno threaded the ball through to Cedric Bakumbu he ran clear of Ramos and curled his shot around Navas and inside the post to make it 2-0.

Zidane sent on Isco and he got Madrid moving down the right in a move that ended with a Bale cross and a Ronaldo volley that came back off the post – a reaction at last, but would it be too late?

It was September, 14 2013 when Bale scored on his debut on this ground. He’s won two Champions League since and they’ve changed the name of the Stadium but just as with three years ago he converted from close range for his team – this time powering Dani Carvajal’s cross with a fine header.

Then came a moment of controversy, and the equaliser. Bruno handled in the area but it looked completely unintentional as the ball bounced off a team-mate in a crowded penalty box.

La Liga rule changes at the start of the season made it clear that if the ball hits a player having cannoned off another player then it's not a penalty. Fran Escriba was furious on the bench and the Villarreal coach was sent off before Ronaldo slammed in the spot-kick – his 57th penalty in the league. No one has scored more in the history of the competition.

Villarreal looked broken. They had worked so hard to get two goals in front but then frozen at the prospect of beating Real Madrid.

They were in Europa League action in midweek but rested the entire team because they were already all-but out of the competition at the hands of Roma, so there was no real excuse. Now they were playing if they had all walked back from Rome.

Madrid in contrast were full of life and pushed for the winner.

It came on 83 minutes when Isco and Toni Kroos won the ball in midfield, Marcelo charged down the left and crossed for substitute Alvaro Morata to nod past Aitor Fernandez.

The substitute goalkeeper could have done better, allowing the ball to squirm under his dive on the line. This game might have gone differently had Villarreal not lost keeper Sergio Asenjo in the first half.

No goalkeeper has conceded fewer goals in the Spanish first division this season coming into the game but Asenjo is also the most injury-prone keeper in Spain and he needed treatment after making a fine block from a Benzema chance.

At first he looked fit to carry on but the keeper went to ground again moments later and had to be replaced ten minutes before the break. Three torn cruciate ligament injuries in his career have made the Spain international more cautious than most keepers and he was taken to hospital for tests with Fernandez coming on.

With Fernandez on Villarreal still got themselves two goals in front but it was like poking the beast with a stick. Madrid reacted and with three second half goals turned the game on its head and moved back to the top of La Liga.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads Manchester United to EFL Championship

 

Manchester United 3-2 Southampton: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the Red Devils' Wembley hero as he scores a brace in EFL Cup triumph over plucky SaintsRead more: 

Southampton had the better final, Manchester United the better player. The one, the only, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. This was his cup, even more than theirs. It was a fine game and Southampton had the best of it. Yet they were never in front and there was always the danger it would end in tears. Why? That man. There was no significant period of the game in which United dominated, but nor was there a moment when Ibrahimovic did not look capable of being the deciding factor. What a player he is. For all his achievements across Europe, it has taken this, a season in the twilight of his career, to convince the sceptics here of his career, to convince the sceptics here of his greatness. 

It is more than just his 26 goals. It is occasions like this when Ibrahimovic commands the stage as only a giant of the game can. It does not matter how well his team are playing. It is irrelevant who deserves what. Zlatan decides.

On Sunday he decided the first major trophy of the season should go to United.

He decided the Community Shield should be theirs in August, too — and Jose Mourinho counts that. He bought him to make the difference and he has not disappointed. Mourinho always knew what United were getting in Ibrahimovic; now the rest of the country does, too.

He is great, make no mistake. He scored a great free-kick to put United ahead against the run of play and his goal that won the match — after Southampton had fought back — was great, too.

Started by Ibrahimovic, finished by him as well.

He is a target man in the truest sense of the term, always showing, always offering the out ball when his team-mates are pressed. A leader, too. It was noticeable when Jesse Lingard scored United's second — another beauty, by the way — he immediately shared the joy with Ibrahimovic. It is as if he has become the father figure for the younger United players, the way Eric Cantona was to a previous generation.

Yet it would be harsh to make it so much about one man when Southampton were a huge part of this game. Arguably, they deserved to win. Southampton endured a trio of setbacks in the first half that would have crushed a lesser side. Instead, from 2-0 down, and having had a good goal disallowed, they stood level on 48 minutes. 

Southampton had the best of the play, but trailed as a result of two moments of sublime individual finishing from United.

In addition, they would have opened the scoring were it not for a flag which, we now know, denied striker Manolo Gabbiadini a hat-trick.

These are bad breaks that any team can ill-afford against opponents as well-equipped as United; on such a big occasion, it must have been doubly hard to take.

Credit coach Claude Puel, too, for taking the game to United from the start. There were just two minutes on the clock when Dusan Tadic whipped the ball across the face of goal, unfortunate not to find a team-mate to administer the vital touch. A similar move, getting in behind United, but this time from the opposite flank, should have given Southampton the lead on 11 minutes.

It was Cedric on the right, hitting a low cross which was turned in by Gabbiadini. A flag was up. Ryan Bertrand was in an offside position, but he did not play the ball. Gabbiadini did, and he came from behind United's defenders. It should have stood. 

As so often happens in these circumstances, United made the most of their good fortune. In the 18th minute, Oriol Romeu was booked for a foul on Ander Herrera 25 yards from goal. Ibrahimovic stood over it, having scored four goals in his last four finals for Paris Saint-Germain. There was only going to be one taker and Ibrahimovic took full advantage of Southampton's little errors.

Juan Mata stepped out of the wall and left an inviting gap, captain Steven Davis was distracted and did not jump to block at the vital moment, goalkeeper Fraser Forster seemed slow to react. He was beaten to his right.

Still, Southampton pressed. David de Gea saved from James Ward-Prowse and Tadic, and then it happened again. United's second was against the run of play, too, but it is hard to say they got lucky with a goal so sweetly taken.

Anthony Martial and Mata were involved before Marcos Rojo slipped the ball to Lingard in a central position. He finished beautifully, passing the ball into the corner through Southampton legs. And that should have been it. Southampton could have easily surrendered, cup final or 

not.

Instead, 10 minutes later they were level, and might even have been ahead. The last meaningful attack of the first half got them back in it.

 He appeared to be talking him through instructions when Ibrahimovic had the last word. United cleared and broke. Ibrahimovic took the ball, knocked it some way ahead to gain distance, but knew he could not win the foot race. So, he laid it off.

Did he then sprint into the box? No, he's too smart for that. He watched United build the pressure. Martial held on to the ball and made progress, gamely. He laid it out to Herrera.

Now Ibrahimovic was interested, as was Mourinho on the touchline. The striker had started his run into the box moments earlier, timing the arrival to perfection to meet a cross with a header that left Forster no chance.

Mourinho told Rooney to sit down. Ibrahimovic stayed on and Mourinho collected his 11th cup win in 13 finals.

'Zlatan gave us the cup,' he said, as his players cavorted with the trophy. Southampton might not have deserved to lose, but Ibrahimovic deserved to win. And, special player that he is, he was happy to carry United along with him.