Latest news with #EuropeanChampionsLeague
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Luis Enrique's starlets finally deliver elusive Champions League success for PSG
On Saturday, 31 May, Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Inter Milan in one of the most one-sided finals in history, thereby completing a historic treble. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have finally arrived. That is the message France's best club sent to the world with an emphatic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the European Champions League final in Munich. PSG's youthful team ran riot against Inter's stalwarts, with teenage attacker Désiré Doué playing a starring role as he scored a brace. On 63 minutes, when Doué scored his second goal (PSG's third), he nailed shell-shocked Inter's coffin shut. If the final had been a boxing match, this is when the referee would have intervened and halted the contest. Instead, with this being a soccer match, PSG continued pummelling the Italians. By the time referee István Kovács blew his whistle just after 90 minutes, Inter were bruised, battered and embarrassed. Statement win The Parisians' remarkable victory is the biggest winning margin in a Champions League final. No team had won a Champions final by more than four goals before Inter were massacred in Munich. This is what the Paris-based club has longed for since 2011, when Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) seized control of the side. 'Our aim is to make the club an institution respected around the world. If we are going to make that happen, we have to win the Champions League… Any team that wins it is seen differently by everyone else,' PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said a few years ago. The club marginally survived relegation just three years before QSI took over. More than a decade and billions of euros later, this coveted title has been delivered, in just PSG's second Champions League final. Player of the match Doué – who also laid on Achraf Hakimi's opening goal – was speechless after his peerless performance. 'I have no words. That was just incredible for me, simply incredible,' the 19-year-old said. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had a day off in the final owing to Inter's toothless attack, but the shot stopper played a pivotal part in his team navigating the knockout stage in particular. 'We were almost out a few times during the season. Then we managed to progress and completed an extraordinary season. Our coach gave us freedom and kept us calm. This is his philosophy. He prepared the final in the best possible way, and we saw that,' Donnarumma raved. Excellent Enrique Luis Enrique does not always receive the plaudits he deserves as a manager. With the victory in Milan he joined an exclusive club — he and compatriot Pep Guardiola are the only coaches in European men's soccer to win two continental trebles. PSG came into the decider having already clinched the French league title, as well as securing the Cup. They added the pièce de résistance in dominant fashion. Guardiola guided Manchester City to their first Champions League success in similar style and authority in 2023 – adding to the treble he won with Barcelona in 2009. Enrique also completed his first treble with Barcelona, in 2015. Now he has added a second a decade later. This boosts the Spaniard's résumé significantly. 'I tried to keep the pressure down for a club that had never won the competition. Inter are a great side, but we were fantastic in our pressing. Every player improved this season and so did the team,' Enrique said. 'We prepared very well for this game to be at that level. The team was excellent; we pressed with high intensity. Ousmane Dembélé pressured their defenders and goalkeepers constantly,' the former midfielder continued. 'Since day one, I said I wanted to win important trophies and Paris had never won the Champions League. We did it for the first time. It's a great feeling to make many people happy.' Crushed Inter Juxtaposing PSG's unbridled elation is Inter's agony. The Milan club ended the season without a single major trophy. Bitter rivals Milan dumped them out of the Italian Cup semifinals, while Napoli pipped them to the league title by a single point. Therefore, the Champions League was the last hope for Simone Inzaghi's side to salvage their season. Then PSG ruthlessly snuffed it out. 'Paris deserved to win this game and the trophy. We're disappointed, but the path to this point was great. As a coach, I am proud of my players. The game, of course, wasn't good enough on our part. We're disappointed, sad. The players gave their all,' Inzaghi stated. While Inter lick their wounds, PSG have made a statement. Perennially peerless in France, they have finally arrived on the big stage. With the young and famished team at Enrique's disposal, it feels as though the French outfit can finally transfer their domestic dominance to the continental stage. New breed PSG's young team achieved what the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé could not do in their colours as they became only the second French side to win the trophy after Olympique de Marseille in 1993. 'Making history was a goal from the start of last season,' Enrique said. 'I really felt a connection with the players and the fans, a very strong connection that we saw throughout the season. We were able to handle the tension and excitement in the best possible way.' PSG put on a masterclass which the more experienced Inter team had no answer to, scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes through former Inter defender Achraf Hakimi and Doué. Doué was on target again in the 63rd minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored 10 minutes later and substitute Senny Mayulu netted three minutes from time to complete the rout in Munich. Before kick-off the Italian fans sang 'There's Only Inter', the club's anthem, but on the pitch their side went missing and PSG ran riot to secure a richly deserved win. PSG bossed the game from the start, maintaining possession with slick passing, every player constantly searching for an opening, which they found in the 12th minute when Vitinha played a pass to Doué in the box. Inter defenders appealed for offside but Federico Dimarco played the PSG man onside and the youngster kept his cool to roll the ball across goal and hand Hakimi the simplest of tap-ins. 'We have made history, we have written our names in the history of this club,' Hakimi said. 'For a long time this club deserved it, we are very happy. We have created a great family.' The second came eight minutes later from a quick PSG counter which found Ousmane Dembele on the left wing. Dembele drove forward before floating the ball to the far side and Doué had time to control the ball on his chest and his shot took a deflection off Dimarco to beat the wrong-footed Yann Sommer. Game over Inter had to try to attack in the second half but PSG killed off the game with a third goal when Vitinha slid the ball through to Doué in the area and the 19-year-old coolly slipped the ball past Sommer. Inter were shell-shocked, but things only got worse. Dembele's defence-splitting pass from his own half sent Kvaratskhelia haring away before he beat Sommer at his near post, a goal that brought the PSG bench, including Enrqiue, onto the pitch. 'He is the man who has changed everything at PSG. Since he came here, he has changed the way football is seen. He is a loyal man, he deserves it more than anyone else,' Hakimi said of Enrique. PSG still had time for a fifth as Mayulu fired past Sommer from close range after a pass from substitute Bradley Barcola, and the final whistle was greeted with huge roars from the French fans who had been singing loudly throughout the game. Inter had high hopes of making up for their defeat two years ago by Manchester City in Istanbul, but finished the season trophy-less. 'It absolutely didn't feel like my Inter out there, and the players are the first to know it, but I'm proud of the journey we've taken,' Inzaghi said. Enrique, visibly emotional after the final whistle and wearing a T-shirt with a tribute to his daughter Xana, who died in 2019, has turned PSG from a side of superstars into a group of humble players finally playing as a team. DM
Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
PSG primed for maiden Champions League title in tight tussle with Inter Milan
Inter Milan are out to stop Paris Saint-Germain from becoming the latest club to win the European Champions League for the first time. This year's European Champions League finalists – Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Inter Milan – stand at opposite ends of the soccer spectrum. While the French side is seeking its first ever Champions League title, the Italians have won it three times. Under their Spanish manager Luis Enrique, PSG exude youthful exuberance. The likes of teenage forward Désiré Doué, João Neves, Bradley Barcola and Willian Pacho have stepped up under the no-nonsense Enrique. This despite their inexperience playing in Europe's premier club competition. Players such as fleet-footed forward Ousmane Dembélé, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Vitinha provide some experience to balance things out. Nevertheless, they are far from being veterans. Inter, by contrast, is a team stacked with battle-hardened and streetsmart soldiers, from their goalkeeper Yann Sommer to midfielders Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Çalhanoğlu — plus enigmatic forward Marko Arnautović. However, their talisman is undoubtedly Lautaro Martínez. Battle-scarred Inter While PSG's 3-1 semifinal win over Arsenal was not a walkover, Inter head into the final having come out as 7-6 victors during a titanic last-four clash against Barcelona. Inter's frailties were exposed by a relentless Barcelona attack, but so was their fighting spirit. What will inspire some confidence for the Parisians is the fact that since their success over Arsenal, they have continued winning. A week ago, they brushed aside Reims 3-0 to be crowned French Cup champions. They also clinched the 13th French league title of their history. This means PSG are on the brink of an historic treble should they cast aside Inter on Saturday, 31 May 2025, in Munich. Inter, on the other hand, enter the final nursing heartbreak after being pipped to the 2024/25 Serie A league crown by Napoli. Only one point separated the two teams after all matches had been played. 'The league championship that just concluded left us with something to remember,' Inter manager Simone Inzaghi said. 'There is a lot of suffering in myself and in the players, it's pointless denying it.' Not be trifled with The team can numb this pain by clinching their fourth overall Champions League victory in history. The last time the Italian outfit ascended to the summit of European soccer was in 2010 — under Jose Mourinho. That Mourinho side had a similar profile to this Inter, with its unwavering willpower and tenacity. 'It's Inter's second final in three years. They're ready. They've not made too many changes to their side. It's a team that dominates from set pieces. It's up to us to go into the final in the right frame of mind,' said PSG boss Enrique. 'We've grown a lot this season and the players have progressed a lot. The strength of the team is the most important thing. You learn something every day after many years of experience as a coach, and I'm improving all the time with this group.' The Spanish tactician is not in unfamiliar territory. He reached and won the Champions League final as Barcelona manager in 2015. It is the reason he was brought to PSG in the first place. New era After PSG's strategy of reeling in soccer's superstars failed to pay dividends, only delivering one Champions League final (which they lost to Bayern Munich in 2020), there has been a change of philosophy within the club. The enormous egos of influential figures such as Kylian Mbappe and Neymar (who PSG made the two most expensive players in the world) have been replaced by the earlier-mentioned youthful vigour and humility of the current crop. Whereas in the past the authority of PSG managers in the dressing room may have been questioned, Enrique is the clear conductor of this Parisian orchestra. They have one more major performance this season. If they are to succeed where numerous other PSG teams have failed since the 2011 takeover of the club by Qatar Sports Investments, Saturday's match will have to be the most melodic display of what has been a memorable season for them. The mandate is clear. 'Our aim is to make the club an institution respected around the world. If we are going to make that happen, we have to win the Champions League… Any team that wins it is seen differently by everyone else,' PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has previously said of the club's ambitions. Over the past 25 years, Chelsea and Manchester City became first-time winners of Europe's most coveted piece of silverware. PSG will be looking to become the latest newcomers to this exclusive club. It's what they've worked towards since 2011. DM
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Wuhan's Asian WCL triumph is much more than a moment of glitter
Continental club competitions present opportunities like no other. A precious yet highly elusive chance to test one's mettle against unknown opposition amid unfamiliar surroundings. For players, coaches and their respective clubs alike, this is where many believe true growth occurs. And it wasn't just Lisbon that played host to these virtues this past weekend as a new dawn for women's football arose in Asia. The final of the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League took place in China with host club, Wuhan Jiangda, edging out Melbourne City after a nerve-racking penalty shootout following a tight, and often physical, 120 minutes of playing time with the score tied at 1-1. The Wuhan manager, Chang Weiwei, could not have been prouder, lauding his side's efforts after the game: 'I have to thank the whole team for believing in the coaching staff and for emerging victories after a difficult journey,' the 47-year-old said. In the opposing dugout Michael Matricciani was magnanimous in defeat: 'We love football for exactly these moments, sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't,' he said. 'I think we played extremely well for 120 minutes, especially towards the end.' The decisive save from the Wuhan goalkeeper Chen Chen sparked joyous celebrations as the hosts, who enjoyed home advantage thanks to the AFC's decision to select their stadium as the venue for the semi-finals and final, took to the podium to lift the trophy against a backdrop of confetti and jubilant faces. The triumph, however, is much more than just a moment of glamour and glitter because the occasion signals a new and promising era for the women's game in Asia. As continental champions Wuhan's participation in next year's Women's Champions Cup is now confirmed. They are also expected to be assigned one of three AFC berths for the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in 2028 that was announced by the global governing body this year. Until now, cross-confederation competitions have been in all too short supply with teams having little means of testing their strength against clubs of vastly different football cultures. Fifa's efforts to enhance global interconnectivity will surely go some way in bridging this gap. The prize money offered by the Asian Football Confederation for the Asian Women's Champions League is equally significant. An eye-watering $1.3m (£960,000) was awarded to the winners, Wuhan, with each group-stage participant receiving $100,000. Incremental amounts are added to the team's total purse as they progress through the competition until elimination. This is at a similar level to the $1.36m Arsenal received for winning the European Champions League, so the ambition Asia's governing body has for its shiny new women's club football competition is clear. Putting this into further perspective, Japan's WE League awarded its champions, Tokyo Verdy Beleza, $140,000 this season. In the Champions League this amount would be surpassed once a team secures group-stage qualification to go into the quarter-finals with the eventual winners taking home nearly 10 times that of the champions of one of Asia's top leagues. However, it remains to be seen how these funds are used as it is discretional. The notion is that it is to aid the development and sustainability of women's football at local level, but there is seemingly no framework in place to ensure the trickle-down effect runs its course. As a spectacle the event went some way in serving as a showcase tournament for women's club football in Asia. A record crowd of 18,715 attended the final with 4,977 out for the host club's semi against Ho Chi Minh City. The non-centralised quarter-finals also saw 3,243 fans turn out at the Kumagaya Athletic Stadium, just north of Tokyo, as Urawa Reds Ladies also fell victim to Wuhan's penalty kick prowess. Naturally the numbers are not as impressive at the start of the tournament but overall they do stack up respectably when compared with other continental competitions. Meanwhile, the present reality of women's football on the Asian continent must be viewed with a balanced lens. The majority of domestic competitions fall into the category of what many would class as 'developing leagues' with issues such as player welfare and commercial viability paling in comparison to the top leagues of Europe and North America. The latest Fifa women's football benchmarking report finds that benefits such as financial compensation and pregnancy support are little to nonexistent while commercial items such as match broadcasting and the offering of season tickets take an equally primitive form. All this is to say that this competition should be considered a first, but notably progressive, step on a long road towards greater things. But for now the AFC's efforts are to be commended. The commitment shown, both financial and otherwise, appear to be of a chicken-before-egg nature as it makes the necessary investments to enable a prosperous and sustainable future. If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email This is an extract from our free weekly email, Moving the Goalposts. To get the full edition, . Moving the Goalposts is back in to its twice-weekly format, delivered to your inboxes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Wuhan's Asian WCL triumph is much more than a moment of glitter
Continental club competitions present opportunities like no other. A precious yet highly elusive chance to test one's mettle against unknown opposition amid unfamiliar surroundings. For players, coaches and their respective clubs alike, this is where many believe true growth occurs. And it wasn't just Lisbon that played host to these virtues this past weekend as a new dawn for women's football arose in Asia. The final of the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League took place in China with host club, Wuhan Jiangda, edging out Melbourne City after a nerve-racking penalty shootout following a tight, and often physical, 120 minutes of playing time with the score tied at 1-1. Advertisement The Wuhan manager, Chang Weiwei, could not have been prouder, lauding his side's efforts after the game: 'I have to thank the whole team for believing in the coaching staff and for emerging victories after a difficult journey,' the 47-year-old said. In the opposing dugout Michael Matricciani was magnanimous in defeat: 'We love football for exactly these moments, sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't,' he said. 'I think we played extremely well for 120 minutes, especially towards the end.' The decisive save from the Wuhan goalkeeper Chen Chen sparked joyous celebrations as the hosts, who enjoyed home advantage thanks to the AFC's decision to select their stadium as the venue for the semi-finals and final, took to the podium to lift the trophy against a backdrop of confetti and jubilant faces. The triumph, however, is much more than just a moment of glamour and glitter because the occasion signals a new and promising era for the women's game in Asia. Advertisement As continental champions Wuhan's participation in next year's Women's Champions Cup is now confirmed. They are also expected to be assigned one of three AFC berths for the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in 2028 that was announced by the global governing body this year. Until now, cross-confederation competitions have been in all too short supply with teams having little means of testing their strength against clubs of vastly different football cultures. Fifa's efforts to enhance global interconnectivity will surely go some way in bridging this gap. The prize money offered by the Asian Football Confederation for the Asian Women's Champions League is equally significant. An eye-watering $1.3m (£960,000) was awarded to the winners, Wuhan, with each group-stage participant receiving $100,000. Incremental amounts are added to the team's total purse as they progress through the competition until elimination. This is at a similar level to the $1.36m Arsenal received for winning the European Champions League, so the ambition Asia's governing body has for its shiny new women's club football competition is clear. Putting this into further perspective, Japan's WE League awarded its champions, Tokyo Verdy Beleza, $140,000 this season. In the Champions League this amount would be surpassed once a team secures group-stage qualification to go into the quarter-finals with the eventual winners taking home nearly 10 times that of the champions of one of Asia's top leagues. Advertisement However, it remains to be seen how these funds are used as it is discretional. The notion is that it is to aid the development and sustainability of women's football at local level, but there is seemingly no framework in place to ensure the trickle-down effect runs its course. As a spectacle the event went some way in serving as a showcase tournament for women's club football in Asia. A record crowd of 18,715 attended the final with 4,977 out for the host club's semi against Ho Chi Minh City. The non-centralised quarter-finals also saw 3,243 fans turn out at the Kumagaya Athletic Stadium, just north of Tokyo, as Urawa Reds Ladies also fell victim to Wuhan's penalty kick prowess. Naturally the numbers are not as impressive at the start of the tournament but overall they do stack up respectably when compared with other continental competitions. Meanwhile, the present reality of women's football on the Asian continent must be viewed with a balanced lens. The majority of domestic competitions fall into the category of what many would class as 'developing leagues' with issues such as player welfare and commercial viability paling in comparison to the top leagues of Europe and North America. The latest Fifa women's football benchmarking report finds that benefits such as financial compensation and pregnancy support are little to nonexistent while commercial items such as match broadcasting and the offering of season tickets take an equally primitive form. All this is to say that this competition should be considered a first, but notably progressive, step on a long road towards greater things. Advertisement But for now the AFC's efforts are to be commended. The commitment shown, both financial and otherwise, appear to be of a chicken-before-egg nature as it makes the necessary investments to enable a prosperous and sustainable future. Gunners' glory in Lisbon Arsenal beat Barcelona 1-0 in the European Champions League final, collecting their first European silverware since 2007. Here is the match report from Suzanne Wrack. Jonathan Liew wrote about how the unexpected triumph will redefine how Arsenal see themselves. The Arsenal head coach, Renée Slegers, talked of her pride at the team's performance, while Tom Garry gave only one player on the pitch a rating of nine out of 10 – but who was it? The Arsenal celebration party included a Jess Glynne concert and a passionate speech by Josh Kroenke, among other things. It has been a rollercoaster season for Chloe Kelly; before Christmas she was struggling to get playing time at Manchester City, but now she's ended the season as a European champion. And here's how the Gunners continued the party back in north London. Quote of the day There's something extra special about Champions League football, we're here with Asia's best and we're looking forward to giving it our best. To have this tournament is not only important to showcase the best of women's football in Asia, but also to inspire the next generation of boys and girls to play the game' – Melbourne City's captain, Rebekah Stott, highlights the importance of Champions League football for the wider game. Talking points Earps quits international football: The England goalkeeper Mary Earps has announced her retirement from the international game with immediate effect. Earps broke the news on Tuesday morning. 'I've spent a long time making this decision and it's not one I've made lightly,' she said. 'For me, ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive. Winning the Euros in 2022 was the best day of my life, and I'm rooting for the girls to do it again this summer.' Advertisement A first for Suárez: Japan's domestic leagues have proven to be notoriously difficult for overseas talent to establish themselves in but the Spanish forward Carlota Suárez has broken the mould by becoming the WE League's top scorer – the first foreigner to achieve that feat – this season with 13 goals for INAC Kobe, hinting at a shift in the country's football landscape. Gotham success: In a weekend of continental club football firsts the NWSL side Gotham FC defeated UANL Tigres 1-0 in front of a 17,264 crowd in Monterrey, Mexico. Esther González's follow-up rebound after a botched penalty effort secured the 1-0 win for the American side. Howat the hero: Kirsty Howat scored twice as Rangers beat Glasgow City 3-0 in the Scottish Cup final on Sunday. Mia McAulay was also on target as Glasgow finished the game with 10 players, Samantha van Diemen having been sent off late on. The win completed a cup double for Rangers this season. Recommended viewing This season's WE League MVP, Yuzuki Yamamoto, played an instrumental role in the 3-0 win against JEF United Chiba Ladies that sealed the title for Tokyo Verdy Beleza, scoring twice from outside the box. The wide attacker is renowned for her long-range efforts and the big leagues are sure to be watching with a keen eye. Recommended listening The latest Women's Football Weekly podcast will be out later on Tuesday. You'll be able to find it here or wherever you get your pods. Still want more? The Scotland captain, Rachel Corsie, has revealed she has battled through chronic pain to ensure she could end her career with the dream scenario of playing for her country. The 35-year-old will retire after the forthcoming Nations League matches against Austria and the Netherlands. Advertisement The France coach, Laurent Bonadei, has taken the brave decision to drop the captain Wendie Renard, the vice-captain Eugénie Le Sommer and the experienced midfielder Kenza Dali for the upcoming Nations League games. It is hard seeing them return for the Euros now. And the Guardian exclusively revealed that Disney+ is to enter the women's football market after winning the Champions League rights for the four next seasons.
Daily Maverick
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
English top-flight race for Champions League participation down to the wire on final weekend
Five Premier League teams are vying for the three remaining Champions League spots. The race for Premier League glory was a one-sided affair. Liverpool left all its challengers scrambling for scraps after cantering to overall league victory — but the race for the European Champions League rages on. There is just one more game week remaining in what has been an interesting season. Dethroned champions Manchester City, as well as Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, are vying for the three remaining Champions League qualification spots. Liverpool and perennial underachievers Arsenal have already sealed their spots in next season's edition of Europe's premier club competition. Tottenham Hotspur are also in next season's Champions League by virtue of beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday night. Traditionally, only four English teams qualify for the flagship competition of European soccer. However, due to England securing a 'European Performance Spot' based on their Union of European Football Associations coefficient ranking this season, the Premier League will have five direct qualification spots for next season's Champions League. For various reasons, all five teams still in with a chance will be desperate to qualify for the continental showpiece. This includes earning a share of the £2.06-billion (about R48-billion) total prize money for all participating teams. The contenders It's been a season to forget for Pep Guardiola and his men. On the back of a record-setting fourth Premier League title in a row, no one could have predicted that City would find itself in such a position. But the Manchester side's horrible title defence, which saw them suffer a significant slump between November and December in particular, has thrown them into this situation. A nine-match unbeaten run has seen City somewhat salvage their season and take control of their own destiny in the race for Champions League qualification. In November and December last year, City played 10 matches. They lost six of those, winning twice and drawing just as many times. They face Fulham in their final match, against whom a win or draw would secure City elite Europe soccer next season. After the season the club has had, finishing third would be a great consolation prize. 'I have been in the Champions League in the past 15 years or so… I don't remember. If we are not, then we don't deserve it. We'll play in the Europa League; it is what it is,' Guardiola said. Then there is Newcastle United, on 66 points and trailing City by just two points. For them as well, the equation is simple: win against Everton and qualify for the Champions League. The Saudis who own the majority stake of the club would be elated with a return to Europe after missing out last season. Success against Everton would seal this triumph, in a season in which they also won the Carabao Cup. Not far behind Newcastle is Chelsea — also on 66 points (but trailing on goal difference). The two-time European champions have struggled for consistency this season. An unbeaten run of nine matches a quarter of the way into the season had the London side being touted as a title challenger — a notion the club's head coach Enzo Maresca dismissed. 'It's not about how many games we win. It's about being realistic,' said Marseca in December. 'There are things we have to do better. That's why I say we are not ready (to challenge for the league).' Regardless, a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023 would be most welcome for Maresca and his youthful squad as they continue to grow. The fifth-placed Blues face Nottingham Forest, a direct rival in the scramble for Champions League participation. Both sides know that a win for either of them would secure their place in the European club showpiece. A draw would leave them hoping that sixth-placed Aston Villa do not get a positive result versus Manchester United. All the Premier Leagues final matches will be played on Sunday, 25 May. Kick-off is 5pm. DM
