Spanish club Barcelona have sacked manager Xavi with former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick set to replace him. Xavi will take charge of Barcelona for the final time on Sunday, when they host Sevilla in their last La Liga match of the season. The former Spain midfielder was informed of the club’s decision during a meeting with club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco on Friday. This comes just a month after Laporta convinced him to stay on in the role; the Spaniard announced in January of his desire to leave the club at the end of the season but…
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Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman scored a sensational hat-trick for Atalanta as they defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to win the UEFA Europa League final. The win at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin ended Atalanta’s 61-year trophy drought, while Bayer Leverkusen’s dream of an unbeaten season in the Europa League has been shattered. Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen had not lost in 51 games this season and were only two matches from perfection. They simply ran out of steam after a phenomenal season with Lookman running them ragged, opening the scoring with a back-post finish in the 12th minute. 14 minutes later, the Super Eagles player doubled the advantage…
Chelsea have confirmed that the club and Mauricio Pochettino have mutually agreed to part ways after the Argentine led the Blues to a sixth place Premier League finish this season. The club announced the departure on its official website on Tuesday evening. Sporting Directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.” Jesus Perez, Miguel d’Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano…
Liverpool have announced Feyenoord boss Arne Slot as Liverpool as their new manager. The Reds agreed a compensation deal worth £9.4m with the Dutch club in April after the 45-year-old was identified as the man to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Klopp, who had been in charge of Liverpool since October 2015, left the club following their final game of the season against Wolves on Sunday. Klopp’s right-hand men Peter Krawietz and Pep Lijnders have also departed the club, with the latter becoming manager of Red Bull Salzburg. Elite development coach Vitor Matos will follow Lijnders to Austria, with several other backroom staffers departing.…
In Germany, Victor Boniface was on target as Bayer Leverkusen defeated visiting Augsburg 2-1 in their final league game on Saturday, as Leverkusen became the first club in history to win the German Bundesliga unbeaten. The Nigerian striker opened the scoring in the 12 minute to end the league season with 14 goals and eight assists. His compatriot Nathan Tella who was an unused substitute in the game. He scored five goals with two assists in 24 league games. In another venue, Kevin Akpoguma put up a fine display as Hoffenheim defeated Bayern Munich 4-2 in their final Bundesliga clash…
Manchester City defeated West Ham 3-1 at Etihad Stadium on Sunday to become the first team to win the English league title four seasons in a row. With Pep Guardiola’s side needing a win to be sure of holding off Arsenal, who started the final day two points behind but with a better goal difference, Phil Foden put City ahead after just two minutes. And in the 18th minute, the Premier League player of the season added another. Mohammed Kudus pulled one back for West Ham three minutes before the break, but midfielder Rodri restored the home side’s two-goal cushion…
Bayer Leverkusen became the first Bundesliga team to finish a league season unbeaten after a 2-1 win over Augsburg on Saturday, as their dream of an ‘invincible treble’ remained alive. Having wrapped up the title several weeks ago, the final league match of the season was always set to be a joyous occasion for Xabi Alonso’s men in front of their home fans, and they did not disappoint. In a party-style atmosphere at the BayArena, the hosts took the lead through Victor Boniface inside 12 minutes and then doubled their advantage 15 minutes later thanks to Robert Andrich. Augsburg briefly…
Chelsea secured their fifth successive Women’s Super League title with an emphatic 6-0 victory at Manchester United on the final day of the season at Old Trafford. Emma Hayes’ side beat Manchester City to the title on goal difference as the 47-year-old manager signed off her reign with a seventh WSL title as Chelsea manager. Chelsea, who began the day level on points but two clear of City on goal difference, cruised to victory with a double from Mayra Ramirez and goals from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nusken, Melanie Leupolz and the departing Fran Kirby. However, City won 2-1 at…
Italian giant Juventus have sacked Massimiliano Allegri two days after he led the club to the Italian Cup. The Turin side beat Atalanta 1-0 in Rome, but Allegri was sent off late on for ranting at match officials and waving away sporting director during the celebrations. The Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal has launched an investigation into Allegri. And on Friday, Juventus confirmed he was no longer their boss. “The dismissal follows certain behaviors during and after the Italian Cup final which the club deemed incompatible with the values of Juventus and with the behavior that those who represent it…
Southampton will lock horns with Leeds United in the Championship play-off final after beating West Bromwich Albion 3-1 at the Saint Mary’s Stadium on Friday. After a goalless first leg, Saints midfielder Will Smallbone opened the scoring four minutes after the break, striking from an angle into the top right corner from just inside the box. Adam Armstrong doubled Saints’ lead in the 78th minute, and scored his second form the spot in the 86th minute to trigger a party atmosphere inside the ground. Cedric Kipre then scored an injury time header for the visitors, which was a mere consolation.…