The Gunners progressed on aggregate, having secured a 1-0 first-leg advantage courtesy of Kai Havertz’s decisive strike in Lisbon.

Sporting threatened early, with Geny Catamo hitting the post, but Arsenal held firm to book a last-four encounter with Atlético Madrid.

Pre-match statistics favoured Arsenal, as Sporting had failed to win in their last 10 matches in England and away knockout ties since 1970.

Despite the advantage, Arsenal laboured throughout, drawing relief rather than celebration from home fans at the final whistle.

The performance may not intimidate Manchester City ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League title clash.

Nevertheless, Arsenal reached their second consecutive Champions League semi-final for the first time in club history.

They travel to Spain for the first leg on April 29, before hosting the return fixture in London.

Manager Mikel Arteta had demanded a response after defeat to Bournemouth, but Sporting quickly disrupted Arsenal’s rhythm.

A misplaced pass by William Saliba gifted Francisco Trincão an early chance, though he fired wide.

Arsenal struggled creatively, while Sporting’s Pedro Gonçalves missed a key opportunity after capitalising on a loose pass.

Catamo later struck the post again, underlining Sporting’s growing confidence before halftime.

Arsenal returned early for the second half, but Maxi Araujo soon tested David Raya, narrowly missing target.

Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke all attempted efforts, but lacked cutting edge.

The loudest ovation greeted 16-year-old Max Dowman’s introduction after Madueke exited injured.

Sporting appealed for a penalty after Araujo fell in the box, but the referee waved play on.

Arteta showed visible frustration on the touchline, earning a booking during the tense encounter.

Dowman made impact, delivering a corner that Leandro Trossard headed onto the post.

Arsenal eventually saw out the match comfortably to secure progression.

They will now face Atlético Madrid, whom they defeated 4-0 in the group stage earlier this season.

Focus shifts to the Premier League, where Arsenal face a decisive clash against Manchester City.

Source: NAN

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The post UCL: Arsenal edge Sporting, set up Atlético Madrid semi-final clash appeared first on Frontpageng.

Sky Bet League One strugglers Port Vale will travel to Chelsea in another quarterfinal clash of the competition.

Port Vale reached the stage after a shock victory over Sunderland on Sunday, in spite of sitting eight points adrift at the bottom of the League One table.

The club is the lowest-ranked team remaining and has reached the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954.

Chelsea had to come from behind twice before securing a 4–2 extra-time victory over 10-man Wrexham at the Stok Cae Ras stadium.

Premier League leaders Arsenal will travel to championship side Southampton after overcoming Mansfield in the previous round.

Southampton advanced with a 1–0 win over Fulham, secured by Ross Stewart’s injury-time penalty.

The winners of Monday night’s tie between West Ham and Brentford will host Leeds United in the quarterfinals.

Leeds booked their place in the last eight with a comfortable 3–0 victory over Norwich City on Sunday.

The FA Cup quarterfinal matches are scheduled to be played around the weekend of April 4.

Source: NAN

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The post FA Cup: Man City to face Liverpool in quarterfinal clash appeared first on Frontpageng.

City arrived in Norway as overwhelming favourites but were stunned 3-1 by Bodo/Glimt in freezing conditions at the Aspmyra Stadion, north of the Arctic Circle.

A first-half brace by Kasper Hogh in the 22nd and 24th minutes as well as a second-half strike from Jens Petter Hauge in the 58th minute sealed a famous win for the hosts, despite a late response from Rayan Cherki in the 60th minute.

City’s woes deepened when Rodri was sent off for two bookings in the 62nd minute, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side in disarray and facing a damaging defeat.

In Lisbon, PSG lost 2-1 to Sporting after Luis Suarez scored twice in the 74th minute, including a 90th-minute header, to punish late defensive lapses.

Substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had earlier equalised for PSG in the 79th minute, but the French champions dropped to fifth and must now fight for direct qualification.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid produced an attacking masterclass under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa to thrash Monaco and surge to second place behind Arsenal.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice against his former club in the 5th and 26th minute, while Vinicius Junior added a stunning goal in the 63rd minute to lift the 15-time champions’ campaign.

Goals from Franco Mastantuono in the 51st minute and an own goal by Thilo Kehrer in the 55th minute, followed by Jude Bellingham’s late strike in the 80th, sealed the rout at the Bernabeu, inspite of Jordan Teze’s 72nd-minute consolation goal for Monaco.

Tottenham eased pressure on coach Thomas Frank with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund to move into automatic qualification spots.

Copenhagen drew 1-1 with Napoli, Olympiacos beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0, Ajax edged Villarreal 2-1, while Club Brugge thrashed bottom side Kairat Almaty 4-1.

Matchday seven concludes on Wednesday, with all eyes on the race for top-eight places ahead of a dramatic final round next week.

Source: NAN

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The post UCL: Man City shocked in Norway as holders PSG slips appeared first on Frontpageng.

Captain Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal into a second-minute lead and City were finished off in ruthless fashion after the break with teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri both on target for the rampant Gunners.

Erling Haaland’s 55th-minute equaliser, his 250th senior career goal, had briefly raised City’s hopes, but they could have no complaints as any lingering chance of winning a fifth successive title surely disappeared into the north London night.

Arsenal are now 14 games unbeaten in the league and have 50 points from 24 games with leaders Liverpool on 56 from 23.

Manchester City are a distant fourth with 41.

Arsenal have been accused of being over-reliant on set-piece goals this season but on Sunday they played with fluency and flare to rack up their biggest home win of the league season.

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“It was a top game, a top performance and with the fans and the atmosphere it can’t be better, so very happy.

“In the end, I think we got what we deserved,” Odegaard said.

City, whose six-game unbeaten run in the league had suggested they were returning to form, were generally second-best apart from a lively spell before halftime when Arsenal keeper David Raya was forced into a couple of crucial saves.

“It is difficult. I think all of us don’t take losing well,” City defender John Stones said.

“It is hard to put into words straight after a game like that.

“How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable.”

Sloppy City gifted Arsenal the lead when Manuel Akanji was put in trouble by teammate John Stones and was dispossessed before Kai Havertz calmly set up Odegaard to sweep home from close range despite an attempted block by Stones.

With City at sixes and sevens, Arsenal thought they had made it 2-0 shortly afterwards when Gabriel Martinelli lifted a shot past Stefan Ortega but was adjudged to be offside.

City were spared further punishment when they again lost the ball playing out from the back and Havertz, with the whole goal to aim at, somehow dragged his shot wide.

Haaland touched the ball only six times in the first half but came alive in the 55th minute to head in Savinho’s cross.

For a moment it looked as though Arsenal’s earlier misses might haunt them but 38 seconds after the restart Phil Foden gave the ball away and Thomas Partey’s shot deflected off Stones to leave Ortega with no chance.

With their tails up, Arsenal looked to rub City’s noses in the dirt and Lewis-Skelly took a pass from Declan Rice before sending a right-footed shot past the diving Ortega.

Havertz made up for his earlier miss with a clinical finish from Gabriel Martinelli’s pass after a counter-attack.

The party was already in full swing when substitute Nwaneri left Ortega for dead with a sublime curling finish after a long passing move.

Arsenal will now try to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit in Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final at Newcastle United.

While City will have to dust themselves down as a seismic Champions League playoff against Real Madrid looms.

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Arsenal crush Manchester City to stay in title hunt appeared first on Frontpageng.

Savinho’s first-half goal and an Erling Haaland header after the break earned a much-needed three points for the faltering champions at the King Power Stadium.

It was just their second Premier League victory since the end of October, but the frailties of the last two months – where they lost nine of their previous 13 matches – were still on show.

Leicester provided a stern test and might feel they could have got something out of the match as Facundo Buonanotte hit the post and Jamie Vardy missed a key chance at 1-0 down.

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While their title challenge is probably over, sitting 11 points behind leaders Liverpool who play later on Sunday.

City moved back in touch with the top four and will hope this can be a stepping stone to a full revival.

The Foxes have now lost four in a row and their bounce under new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was restricted to two games as they remain in the relegation zone.

Source: dpa/NAN

The post Guardiola celebrates landmark with Manchester City win over Leicester appeared first on Frontpageng.

This was after late goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley handed the champions their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.

The defeat marks the first time City coach Pep Guardiola has lost four in a row in his managerial career.

The result kept his side second in the league standings on 23 points from 11 matches.

Brighton climbed to fourth on 19 points.

City looked poised to end their ugly run after Erling Haaland scored in the 23rd minute when Mateo Kovacic threaded a long pass between Brighton’s two centre backs, and the Norwegian striker booted in his own rebound to extend his league scoring lead to 12 goals.

Brighton improved after the break and Pedro drew the hosts level in the 78th minute when City could not clear the ball and the Brazilian pounced to lash it past Ederson.

“Last season we dropped too many points and the gaffer told us to believe in ourselves this season and we are doing well this season against the big teams,” Pedro told Sky Sports.

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O’Riley made his Premier League debut a memorable one when he secured the well-earned victory five minutes later, latching onto Pedro’s through ball and slotting home from close range past Ederson’s outstretched arm.

Guardiola will rue City’s squandered first-half chances, including a couple from Haaland in the span of a few minutes that on a different night could have seen the Norwegian celebrating a hat-trick.

The first chance saw goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen dive to stop a blistering Haaland shot with his right ankle at the near post.

Haaland then headed just over the bar.

While Brighton had only 39.5% possession, it felt like a goal was coming in the second half.

The hosts had a terrific chance soon after the break when Jack Hinshelwood leapt high to head down a looping cross from Pervis Estupinan that an alert Ederson swatted away.

City have been hit by injuries with Nathan Ake, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Ruben Dias missing on Saturday, alongside longer-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.

Their previous three defeats were a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur that eliminated them from the League Cup.

A shock 2-1 league loss at Bournemouth, and a 4-1 Champions League thrashing by Sporting that had midfielder Bernardo Silva saying City were in a “dark place”.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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The build-up to the second successive all-Manchester showpiece was dominated by the Dutchman’s future, after a report on Friday claimed he would be sacked regardless of the outcome at Wembley.

But United impressively parked talk that Saturday could be Ten Hag’s last match as teenage stars Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo struck, with the side digging deep to triumph 2-1 after substitute Jeremy Doku’s late effort.

It is the Red Devils boss’ second piece of silverware in as many seasons, but time will tell whether the trophy and Europa League qualification satisfies ambitious Ineos after limping home eighth in the league.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was joined by Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer at Wembley, where United’s co-owners could not fail to have been impressed by Ten Hag’s game plan and his side’s output.

Most predicted City would become the first English side to win back-to-back domestic doubles fresh from sealing an unprecedented fourth straight top-flight title, but there appeared to be a hangover.

United, by contrast, were well-drilled and determined from the outset, with Garnacho capitalising on a defensive error to put Ten Hag’s side into a shock lead on the half-hour mark.

City manager Pep Guardiola said of that incident: “It can happen. Many things happen in a final. They scored two goals and we could not score more.”

Mainoo coolly extended their advantage at the end of a fine team move before half-time, which City responded to strongly as Erling Haaland hit the bar during a period of pressure.

There was late tension as the otherwise impressive Andre Onana let in a late Doku strike.

But the Red Devils were not to be denied as they ended a poor, injury-hit campaign with a win for Ten Hag, who will be hoping to avoid being sacked after winning the FA Cup like Louis van Gaal was in 2016.

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Ten Hag admitted he does not know what his Manchester United future holds following the FA Cup final.

When asked by the BBC if he had been unfairly treated by the media, Ten Hag said: “I think so. The team, me as well, it’s not right.

“We did not have the players. We have seen the same things, it has not always been good football so we had to compromise and we can’t play the football we want to play.

“In two years since I have been here we’ve had the full squad two, three or four times.

“It was about us to prove a point after a year with so many setbacks, injuries and all the times we had to survive. The team showed so much resilience and I am proud of them.”

Regarding his future at Old Trafford, Ten Hag said: “I don’t know. The only thing I’m doing is preparing my team, developing my team, progressing my team and individual players.

“To me this is a project. When I came here it was a mess, we know better but we are by far not where we want to be.”

Source: dpa/NAN

The post Man-U claim shock victory over Man-City in FA Cup final appeared first on Frontpageng.

There were few signs of last-day nerves from Pep Guardiola’s dominant side, although a spectacular effort from Mohammed Kudus just before half-time at the Etihad Stadium did give rivals Arsenal brief hope.

Yet that was soon extinguished as Rodri drove home City’s third to complete their sixth league success in seven seasons under the inspirational Pep Guardiola on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The victory ensured they could not be caught by the second-placed Gunners regardless of their result against Everton.

Foden told Sky Sports: “It’s so hard to put into words what we’ve done today. I think now we’ve put ourselves in the history books.

“No team’s ever done it and you see what it means to the fans and what it means to us. We’ve been working all year for this moment. It’s such a special feeling today.

“You never get bored of it. I want this feeling every time. When you win something there’s no better feeling. I just want to keep winning as much as I can.”

Foden scored his first goal inside two minutes and he believes the experience of City’s players in such situations played a part as they held off Arsenal, who beat Everton 2-1 later on.

“All the lads have played in important games over the years, we’ve played this scenario a couple of times as well so I think it helps with the nerves,” he said.

“I thought today we looked confident and just played our football and in the end it paid off.”

Arsenal’s Kai Havertz promised the club’s fans their side “will be even better” next season after failing in their bid to win the title.

Havertz told TNT Sports: “I feel sorry for all the Arsenal fans, for us, we gave our best, but it wasn’t enough.

“Maybe in two or three months we can say ‘it was a good fight’, but right now, I feel like we deserved more. It wasn’t enough in the end, but we go again next year.

“Sometimes, it’s not fair in football, but we have to accept it. Football is hard, but hopefully we can go again next year and give the Arsenal fans what they need and what they’re all here for.

“It’s frustrating. When you see all the fans here it’s tough, but I can tell them next year we’re going to be an even better team and we’re going to give everything again. That’s all I can say.”

Source: dpa/NAN

The post Manchester City claim record fourth straight EPL title appeared first on Frontpageng.

This was after the enthralling game ended 1-1 following 90 minutes of play at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens, Greece.

The first nine penalty kicks of the shootout were all converted.

But Serbian defender Nemanja Gudelj struck his kick against the crossbar to hand victory to Manchester City, who lost on penalty kicks to Arsenal in England’s Community Shield 10 days ago.

Youssef En-Nesyri had given Europa League winners Sevilla the lead with a towering header in the 25th minute.

But Manchester City equalised through a header from 21-year-old Cole Palmer in the 63rd minute.

It was an exciting match played in scorching heat and humidity as Sevilla caused many problems for a Manchester City defence which was often exposed.

Sevilla made last season’s UEFA Champions League winners uncomfortable with aggressive high pressing and En-Nesyri wasted several opportunities before he scored following a counter-attack.

Marcos Acuna lifted in a brilliant cross from the left to the Morocco striker who climbed higher than Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol to unleash a powerful header past goalkeeper Ederson.

Erik Lamela wasted another good Sevilla chance before Manchester City started to take control of the match, finishing the first half strongly.

This was as Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic just failed to convert crosses from Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.

Sevilla started the second half strongly, however, and En- Nesyri missed a sitter following a brilliant counter-attack led by Lucas Ocampos.

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The Morocco striker wasted another glorious opportunity before Rodri found Palmer ghosting in behind the defence.

He produced a clinical header which arched over goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the net.

Nathan Ake could have won it for Manchester City in added time, but his stooping header from five yards was brilliantly saved by Bounou.

The Sevilla goalkeeper also almost stopped Kyle Walker’s penalty kick in the shootout before Gudelj hit the bar.

“It was always going to be a tough game. The lads put in a good performance. We have to be more clinical, but we got the job done,” Manchester City captain Walker told reporters.

“If anyone played with me they know I don’t like taking penalty kicks, because I don’t like letting people down if I miss.

“Pep put me in at five. (I wanted to) show leadership. Luckily it went in and was the winning one.”

Source: Reuters/NAN

The post Man-City beat Sevilla after penalty shootout to win first Super Cup appeared first on Frontpageng.

The 32-year-old Algeria international has consequently been given permission to miss the treble winners’ pre-season tour of Asia.

Mahrez is now set to discuss terms ahead of a potential move to the Jeddah-based Saudi Pro League outfit.

Reports have suggested he has been offered a three-year contract.

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The former Leicester City winger was not included in the 25-man Manchester City squad due to leave for Japan and South Korea on Wednesday.

Mahrez had two years remaining on a contract which he extended last summer but had reportedly been frustrated with a lack of game time in the treble-winning 2022/2023 campaign.

He made just 22 English Premier League (EPL) starts last term and was an unused substitute in the final matches of both the English FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

The Algerian joined Manchester City in a 60-million pounds deal from Leicester City in 2018, having helped the Foxes to win the EPL two years previously.

He went on to win the title four more times with Pep Guardiola’s side.

Source: dpa/NAN

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