Benfica deny Sporting to take Portuguese title race to wire
Benfica held Sporting Lisbon to a tense 1-1 Lisbon derby draw on Saturday to take the Portuguese title race down to the final day.
Both sides are tied on 79 points with one match remaining, with reigning champions Sporting set to triumph if they finish level, boasting a superior head-to-head record.
Benfica and Sporting both had the chance to clinch the title on Saturday at the Estadio da Luz but their draw means the fate of the Primeira Liga will be decided on May 17.
Trincao put Rui Borges' Sporting ahead in the fourth minute, but Kerem Akturkoglu levelled after 63 minutes after a brilliant run from Vangelis Pavlidis.
Bruno Lage's Benfica visit Braga on the final day, while Sporting host Vitoria and will retain their crown should they equal or better their title rival's result.
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Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Washington Post
Cristiano Ronaldo by the numbers as he auditions for the Club World Cup
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Associated Press
16 hours ago
- Associated Press
Yamal outshines Ballon d'Or contenders as Spain beats France 5-4 in Nations League semifinal
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New York Times
16 hours ago
- New York Times
Spain 5 France 4 – Genius Yamal, sublime team goal and Cherki wonderstrike in nine-goal thriller
Lamine Yamal was the star as Spain beat France in a nine-goal thriller in Stuttgart to set up a Nations League final against Portugal on Sunday. The game was billed as a battle of the Ballon d'Or contenders and featured some of the brightest names in European football, including Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Nico Williams, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele. Advertisement Williams, the Athletic Club forward, who is on the shortlist of many clubs this summer, put Spain in front before Arsenal midfielder-come-forward Mikel Merino doubled the lead. Martin Zubimendi, who is in the final stages of a move to Arsenal this summer, was the provider for Merino. After the break, Yamal calmly put away a penalty before Pedri finished off a brilliant team goal. A Kylian Mbappe penalty brought hope for France until Yamal, just 17, again showed his brilliance when he scored Spain's fifth. Rayan Cherki, another in-demand player, then topped his France senior debut with a brilliant finish to make it 5-2 before a late own goal and Randal Kolo Muani header made it 5-4. Here, Stuart James, Dermot Corrigan and Thom Harris break down the action from Stuttgart. This was another stellar night for Yamal in a Spain shirt, and once again France were on the receiving end. Eleven months on from his wonder strike in the European Championship semi-finals, Yamal inflicted more pain on France with an outstanding performance that featured two goals, the first from the penalty spot and the second finished with such coolness and confidence that you have to keep reminding yourself he's still only 17 years old. He was, quite simply, unplayable. With 10 minutes remaining, Theo Hernandez decided enough was enough as Yamal wriggled away from him in the centre of the pitch after producing another piece of superb skill. The France full-back wrapped both arms around Yamal, almost like a rugby tackle. He may as well have thrown in a towel too. There is something truly joyous about watching Yamal play. Absolutely fearless and blessed with the most extraordinary talent, he is a genuine superstar already. And he doesn't turn 18 for another month. Stuart James When Nico Williams thrashed an unstoppable 12-yard shot high to the net, it was another reminder of the tendency of the Basque to make an impact on the biggest stages. His last three international goals have come against England in last summer's Euro 2024 final, versus the Netherlands in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, and now a crucial strike against France in the competition's semi-final. Advertisement The goal was a welcome boost for Williams, who last month suffered the disappointment of losing with Athletic to Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals. The 22-year-old looked fine tonight, and his 'camera' goal celebration and hug with young Spain defender Dean Huijsen was also noticeable. Huijsen has just joined Real Madrid, who activated his £50m release clause at Bournemouth. Williams himself has a release clause of around €60m. Arsenal are also long-term admirers of Williams, while Barcelona were interested in him after last summer's Euros. But he has always so far decided to stay at Athletic, who have qualified for next season's Champions League. Athletic Club sporting director Mikel Gonzalez suggested earlier on Thursday that there was 'constant contact' with Williams' camp about extending a contract which still has two years left to run. Tonight's display was another reminder that, as long as that clause remains around €60m, Williams will continue to have suitors among Europe's richest clubs. Dermot Corrigan Spain's fourth goal was just tremendous — even at 3-0 ahead, De la Fuente's team were still pushing up the pitch to get another. When right-back Pedro Porro took a throw-in just inside the France half, Pedri came short to play a one-two. The Tottenham defender played a direct low ball towards centre-forward Mikel Oyarzabal, but marker Ibrahima Konate came out ahead of him to try and intercept. When the ball spun up in the air, Pedri was the quickest to react, throwing up his right boot to connect with a sublime first touch. That set him up perfectly to immediately spread the ball wide with his left foot to Nico Williams on the far wing. Nico ran at his defender, but was really just waiting for Pedri to arrive in the box, and he threaded the ball through to the fast-arriving midfielder. The pass was just behind him, but Pedri produced another fantasy first touch to bring the ball under control and into his path. Then, all in the same movement, he was able to deftly lift the ball over the outstretched leg of France keeper Mike Maignan to the net. You could tell from Pedri's celebration, with his tongue out and a huge smile spread across his face, that the Canary Islander knew he had just scored a really special goal. He had been involved three times, needing just five touches to start and finish the move. What made it all the more amazing was that Pedri is right-footed. He does not score many goals — this was his third in his 31st cap – but this was tremendous. Dermot Corrigan This doesn't happen often to France — it's the first time they have conceded five goals in a game for over 56 years — on the receiving end of Ole's from the crowd with 15 minutes to play. But for all the mistakes, the lapses in concentration in build-up, the wastefulness in front of goal, there were some outrageous moments of quality on show, particularly as Les Bleus looked to mount an unlikely comeback in the closing moments. Advertisement There were flashes of technical brilliance from Mbappe, Doue, Dembele in the first half, thwarted by a number of excellent saves from Unai Simon, but things were turned up a notch when Cherki entered the fray. He played a number of splitting passes before his wonderful goal, volleying past Simon after a wonderful piece of control, his mix of technique and nonchalance so pleasing on the eye. Combined with the electricity of Bradley Barcola from the bench, there were some exciting glimpses into the future. It feels odd to say after what could have been an embarrassing defeat — France crumbled in 12 second-half minutes, injuries to key defensive players not helping confidence in that torrid spell — but as the game verged upon lunacy towards the end, there was a reminder of the incredible attacking quality that this team holds. Thom Harris Zubimendi seemed to cool suggestions that a summer move to Arsenal was nearing completion this week, but this was still a great opportunity to see the much-discussed midfielder in action. As The Athletic reported in the Dealsheet on Tuesday, the transfer is effectively agreed, pending a medical. The 26-year-old rarely catches the eye, by no means the flashiest player in a star-studded side. But watching how he moves when his teammates have the ball helps to explain the clamour around him; constantly dropping into pockets of space, recognising when others are under pressure and becoming the spare man to help them escape. If the ball does come his way, the next pass is often quick, snappy and secure — still careful but slightly more adventurous when he's given time to amble forward with it at his feet. Steady if unspectacular, smooth in possession, he is everything you expect a classic Spanish pivote to be. Defensively, Zubimendi was dragged around more than he usually likes to be in the first half, tasked with following Manu Kone and sometimes Michael Olise further up the pitch when Spain looked to press high. But while he committed two cynical fouls in the opening 15 minutes, he timed his tackle perfectly to dispossess Kylian Mbappe in the moments leading up to Spain's second goal, eventually dropping between the two centre-backs and firing a crisp pass into Mikel Merino between the lines. That took six players out of the game, allowing the Arsenal midfielder to link up with Mikel Oyarzabal and finish past Mike Maignan. Advertisement There was another delightful pass in the second half too, releasing Pedro Porro with a spinning, sand-wedged ball that led directly to Spain's fifth. Though rarely in the final third himself, Zubimendi is so often the one to set his talented teammates on their way. This was classic Zubimendi — understated, generally safe, but finding a handful of moments — two crucial — to pick up the pace. Thom Harris We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match news conference. We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match news conference. Sunday, June 8: Portugal; Nations League third-place play-off (Stuttgart), 2pm UK, 9am ET or final (Munich), 8pm UK, 3pm ET Sunday, June 8: Germany; Nations League third-place play-off (Stuttgart), 2pm UK, 9am ET or final (Munich), 8pm UK, 3pm ET