It was a enjoyable Saturday throughout European soccer, with speaking factors galore within the Bundesliga title race, LaLiga, Ladies’s Tremendous League, English Premier League and Ligue 1. Bayer Leverkusen clinched a 2-1 win to additional their lead on the high of the desk, Barcelona edged Celta Vigo with a stoppage-time penalty and Manchester United vs. Arsenal broke the WSL attendance report.
In the meantime, days after informing Paris Saint-Germain that he’ll go away this summer time, Kylian Mbappé was benched for his or her match in opposition to Nantes, and got here on within the 62nd minute to attain.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)
Right here is your look again at yet one more roller-coaster weekend in European soccer.
SATURDAY REVIEW
The lead: Leverkusen sustain title cost with yet one more win
Following their magnificent win in opposition to nearest challengers Bayern Munich final weekend, Bayer Leverkusen saved up their title cost by beating minnows Heidenheim 2-1 on Saturday. The Bundesliga newcomers had remained unbeaten for eight video games earlier than internet hosting Leverkusen on Saturday, and whereas Heidenheim defended commendably in opposition to Leverkusen’s onslaught, they finally needed to concede in opposition to top-of-the-line groups in Europe at the moment.
Leverkusen scored their go-ahead objective in first-half stoppage time when Amine Adli, who has been a revelation in current weeks, assisted Jeremie Frimpong inside Heidenheim’s field. Frimpong’s shot flew previous goalkeeper Kevin Müller due to a deflection from Jonas Föhrenbach’s physique.
32 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen are unbeaten of their final 32 consecutive aggressive matches (W28 D4), equalling the report by a Bundesliga group, beforehand solely achieved by Bayern Munich from 2019 to 2020 below Hansi Flick. Invincible. pic.twitter.com/tUWRX4ucY9
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 17, 2024
After the interval, Xabi Alonso’s facet needed to face a extra intense press by the hosts, who have been supported by a vociferous 15,000 followers contained in the packed Voith-Area. However regardless of struggling at instances to interrupt that press and create promising goal-scoring alternatives within the early phases of the second half, Leverkusen remained in management with relative ease and have been by no means at risk of giving the win away. Finally, they put a stamp on the sport due to an Adli objective 9 minutes earlier than the tip.
Getting previous one other difficult problem implies that Leverkusen are, for now, eight factors forward of Bayern Munich within the Bundesliga standings, as Bayern will face VfL Bochum on Sunday. What’s extra, Leverkusen are unbeaten for 32 video games at this level, equalling a report Bayern set between December 2019 and September 2020. It’s really a historic season for Alonso, his gamers and Leverkusen as an entire.
Whereas there may be nonetheless lots of soccer to be performed, the reward for this group can’t be excessive sufficient. — Constantin Eckner
Saturday speaking factors across the leagues
Lewandowski finds kind for Champions League?
A Robert Lewandowski brace, together with a twice-taken stoppage-time penalty, helped Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 2-1 on Saturday at Balaídos as they returned to profitable methods forward of Wednesday’s crunch Champions League assembly with Napoli.
Lewandowski’s 97th-minute spot kick was initially saved by Vicente Guaita, however he was handed one other probability when VAR dominated the Celta goalkeeper had superior off his line too quickly. The Polish striker made no mistake together with his second probability, incomes Barça a confidence-boosting three factors after final week’s horror present in opposition to Granada, once they drew 3-3. Lewandowski had earlier damaged the impasse with a well-taken end earlier than the break. Iago Aspas drew Celta stage early within the second half, however Rafa Benitez’s facet couldn’t maintain on and stays simply three factors above the relegation zones.
Barça coach Xavi Hernandez insisted the efficiency represented a “step ahead” forward of the midweek journey to Napoli for his or her Champions League spherical of 16 first leg. Nonetheless, this was one other gray show from the Catalans, though Lewandowski’s improved numbers do present some optimism.
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Lewandowski smashes Barca forward vs. Celta Vigo
Lamine Yamal units up Robert Lewandowski for a nice Barcelona objective in LaLiga.
He has now scored 4 targets in his previous three appearances and 17 in all competitions this season. His profitable objective in Vigo was his fiftieth for Barça since his 2022 switch from Bayern Munich, and he seems to be refinding his goal-scoring contact simply in time for the return of the Champions League.
“The targets are arriving as a result of he’s enjoying higher for the group,” Xavi defined. “Positionally he’s higher. He’s not leaving his space a lot, he’s enjoying higher and the targets are coming. There isn’t a massive secret.”
Barça, in the meantime, have now taken 10 factors from 12 within the league since Xavi introduced he’ll step down in the summertime. Saturday’s win strikes them inside two factors of second-placed Girona and 7 of leaders Actual Madrid, with each groups resulting from play later this weekend. — Sam Marsden
First-half errors show expensive for United on the Emirates
A Geyse Tenth-minute personal objective set the tone as Arsenal clashed with Manchester United in entrance of a report crowd of 60,160 on the Emirates on Saturday.
It was, on steadiness, a wierd recreation that ended 3-1 to the Gunners. United had began the stronger, however after the personal objective, ended up uncovered twice extra earlier than the break. After Cloe Lacasse had been left unmarked to nod residence on the again stick, Kim Little tucked a penalty away after Beth Mead had been fouled by Gemma Evans. Three targets to the nice on the break, having had solely two photographs on the right track, Arsenal have been cruising, however the recreation had lacked substance, devolving to a bitty, transitional affair.
The second half was extra of the identical: Arsenal the higher group going ahead, however fairly than having fun with the rub of the inexperienced, the hosts persistently discovered their efforts blocked by a mixture of our bodies, Mary Earps’ gloves and the woodwork. United, to their credit score, managed to truly put one thing on the right track and even grabbed a stoppage-time comfort objective via Lucía García, however as the sport wore on, the guests seemed even much less of a cohesive unit.
The sport, regardless of the targets and crowd, was a little bit of a non-event, the context of the outcome to maintain Arsenal inside three factors of the highest two, with a seven-point drop to United in fourth the necessary final result for the hosts. For United, who had come away with a snatch-and-grab win on their journey to the Emirates (en path to ending above Arsenal) final season, this match wasn’t only a dent of their top-three hopes for this marketing campaign however spoke to a deeper regression and solely furthers the stress on supervisor Marc Skinner. — Sophie Lawson
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How Arsenal held off stress to be in contact of Chelsea, Man Metropolis
Sophie Lawson breaks down Arsenal’s 3-1 victory in opposition to Manchester United in entrance of a Ladies’s Tremendous League report crowd.
Mbappé benched then secured one other PSG win
Kylian Mbappé was on the bench when PSG kicked off their Ligue 1 recreation at Nantes on Saturday night. 4 days after telling his membership that he can be leaving on the finish of the season, this wasn’t a punishment, just a few relaxation time given by coach Luis Enrique. The France captain did not appear blissful when he bought off the bus earlier than the sport, however he got here on within the second half, simply after Paris’ first objective scored by Lucas Hernández after a deflection, with a giant smile on his face.
Mbappé was cheered by the PSG ultras who travelled to Nantes within the first public response from the followers after the large announcement. And when he scored his group’s second objective, his twenty first within the league this season, on a penalty, all of the celebrations appeared real.
Ousmane Dembélé was additionally neglected of the beginning lineup earlier than making his entrance concurrently Mbappé. With out their two greatest gamers, the French champions have been as soon as once more open defensively, conceding alternatives that Nantes did not take. The result may have been a lot completely different had the hosts been extra medical, and now PSG are working away with the title.
They’re 14 factors away from Good in second place and 15 on Lille and Monaco (who’ve a recreation in hand). PSG are nonetheless unbeaten away from residence in Ligue 1 this season and have misplaced solely as soon as, in opposition to Good on the Parc des Princes again on September. — Julien Laurens
People overseas: Aaronson scores winner, Sargent on a sizzling streak
On mortgage from Leeds United, Brenden Aaronson scored his first Bundesliga objective for Union Berlin after 18 appearances, and what a objective it was. Goalless till the 84th minute, the 23-year-old stepped as much as present a medical end in an excellent counter-attack in opposition to Hoffenheim. Union Berlin now sit in twelfth place, and Aaronson will hope it is the primary of many targets to keep away from the relegation zone and maintain in kind forward of this summer time’s Copa América.
Josh Sargent’s brace for Norwich Metropolis in opposition to Cardiff takes his objective tally to 10 for the season, his second greatest throughout his profession in Europe after scoring 13 instances final marketing campaign. What’s extra, the 23-year-old has discovered the online in 4 straight video games for the Canaries, who sit in seventh place within the Championship desk. Will we see the identical Sargent for the USMNT this summer time?
Elsewhere, each Giovanni Reyna and Matt Turner have been left on the bench for Nottingham Forest of their 2-0 win over West Ham. With Turner now the No. 2 goalkeeper and Reyna having made the mortgage transfer from Dortmund, each are in want of enjoying minutes to remain sharp.
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Brenden Aaronson strikes late to win it for Union Berlin
Brenden Aaronson comes off the bench to attain the profitable objective in Union Berlin’s 1-0 win over Hoffenheim.
Information of the day
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Liverpool suffered a trio of accidents in Saturday’s 4-1 victory at Brentford, with Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota dealing with probably vital accidents whereas striker Darwin Núñez was substituted with a “small” challenge at half-time. The win cements their place on the high of the Premier League for no less than the rest of the weekend. Nonetheless, Jurgen Klopp’s facet should now do with out key gamers Jones and Jota, whereas Núñez’s challenge just isn’t but recognized. Klopp confirmed that Jones was utilizing crutches after the match. They be part of an harm listing that already included Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak, Joël Matip, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alisson.
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The Skilled Soccer Referees Affiliation (PSRA), the union that represents officers working in MLS, the NWSL and the USL, rejected a proposed new collective bargaining settlement (CBA) put earlier than it by the union’s govt board, and negotiated with the Skilled Referees Group (PRO), the referees’ employer. The vote passed off over Thursday and Friday, and in response, PRO is now saying it would lock out the referees beginning at midnight ET on Saturday and start the season with substitute officers.
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Pep Guardiola has insisted Erling Haaland was to not blame for Manchester Metropolis dropping factors in opposition to Chelsea regardless of having 9 photographs with out scoring. Metropolis and Chelsea drew 1-1 on the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to slide behind Liverpool and Arsenal — who each gained earlier within the day — within the Premier League title race. “It is good to have 9 photographs and subsequent time he will rating,” mentioned Guardiola. “I used to be a soccer participant for 11 years and scored 11 targets. I am not a correct man to present recommendation to strikers. We create the probabilities, he had the probabilities and subsequent time he will rating. I do not blame him. It is soccer, it is human beings.”
And at last on Saturday …
After netting his first objective of 2024 and 18th for the season, Serhou Guirassy turned the primary Stuttgart participant to attain so many targets after 22 matchdays. The final participant to be so prolific for the membership in a single season was Mario Gómez, who scored 24 in 2008-09. Guirassy is now in second place behind Harry Kane (24) for many targets within the Bundesliga this marketing campaign, and his membership trails Bayern Munich by 4 factors. If the 27-year-old Guinean continues to ship, high golf equipment throughout Europe can be clamoring for his signature come the summer time switch window.
Purpose machine @Guirassy_19 again up and working! 🎯#VfB | #SVDVfB | 0-1 pic.twitter.com/xg6F9EVMz9
— VfB Stuttgart_int (@VfB_int) February 17, 2024
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