Sports
Mbappe On The Mark As Real Madrid Sink Alaves
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Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior scored as Real Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 on Tuesday to cling on to their slim hopes of catching Barcelona in La Liga.
Mbappe struck his league-leading 24th goal, but first since early February, with a deflected shot on the half hour at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Vinicius lashed in a second from distance early in the second half, which proved crucial as Alaves pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Toni Martinez.
The victory ended a two-match winless run in La Liga for Madrid and moved them back to within six points of leaders Barcelona, who host Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
“We have six matches coming up, the next one in three days. The aim is to win those matches – that’s the goal we’ve set ourselves as a team,” said Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, whose position is under increasing scrutiny.
“I don’t care much about what’s at stake for me personally. What matters to me is what’s at stake for Real Madrid.”
Madrid are staring down the barrel of a second consecutive season without a major trophy following last week’s Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Mbappe scored in both legs of that 6-4 aggregate defeat but a barren patch in La Liga, in part because of a knee injury, coincided with arch-rivals Barcelona streaking clear at the top.
Madrid faced early pressure from relegation-threatened Alaves, who were unbeaten in four matches.
Angel Perez broke in behind the home defence before strangely opting to pass instead of shooting with just Andriy Lunin blocking his path to goal. Martinez then tested the Real ‘keeper after finding a pocket of space.
Mbappe put Madrid ahead when his effort from just outside the box clipped a defender and wrong-footed Antonio Sivera.
The France captain then had an attempt beaten away by Sivera and Eder Militao clipped the crossbar, injuring himself in the process and having to go off before the break.
Martinez nearly levelled for Alaves when he poked a cross against the post, with his follow-up strike clawed out by Lunin.
Vinicius hammered in from 25 yards to give Madrid breathing space, and Brahim Diaz was denied by a brilliant headed clearance off the goalline.
Alaves continued to toil away as Victor Parada’s diving header hit the upright. Martinez netted a consolation with an inventive flick in stoppage time before loud jeers greeted the final whistle in Madrid.
Elsewhere, Real Betis came from behind to triumph 3-2 at Girona as Rodrigo Riquelme bagged the winner 10 minutes from time.
Gorka Guruzeta’s first-half goal lifted Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 home win over Osasuna, while Mallorca and Valencia drew 1-1.
Sports
Just in: Celebration as Arsenal win premier league title after 22 years
Arsenal celebrated their Premier League title triumph with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the final day.
The Gunners, confirmed as champions for the first time in 22 years on Tuesday, finished a historic campaign on a high thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke either side of half-time.
Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled a goal back for the Eagles but Arsenal held on to finish on 85 points, seven clear of Manchester City, who were beaten by Aston Villa in Pep Guardiola’s final game.
Both Mikel Arteta and Oliver Glasner named rotated teams at Selhurst Park ahead of their upcoming European finals, with Max Dowman one of nine Arsenal changes as he became the youngest starter in Premier League history aged 16 and 144 days.
Dowman had a hand in Arsenal’s opener when his first-time flick allowed Gabriel Martinelli to play in Jesus, who finished clinically at Dean Henderson’s near post having missed earlier chances.
Arsenal’s second goal was Arsenal’s 19th of the season to come from a corner as substitute Kai Havertz headed a corner back across goal for Madueke to volley home through a crowd of bodies.
Crystal Palace thought they had salvaged a draw late on when Yeremy Pino fired home having crossed for Mateta’s goal moments earlier, but it was ruled out due to an offside against Evann Guessand, allowing the visitors to continue their celebrations before the attention of both clubs turns to Europe.
Sports
Iheanacho’s strike helps Celtic win Scottish Cup, clinch double triumph
Celtic won the Scottish Cup with a 3-1 victory over Dunfermline on Saturday, sealing the double seven days after their dramatic title triumph.
Martin O’Neill’s side swept into a two-goal lead before half-time thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels at Hampden Park.
Kelechi Iheanacho struck after the interval to put the result beyond doubt, making Josh Cooper’s late reply little consolation for out-classed Dunfermline.
It was a ninth consecutive win in all competitions for Celtic, who have timed their best run of form perfectly after being galvanised by interim boss O’Neill.
Celtic’s 43rd Scottish Cup success capped an incredible end to the season for O’Neill.
The 74-year-old now has nine major honours as a Celtic manager stretching over 26 years.
It was Celtic’s 14th top-flight and Scottish Cup double.
O’Neill is in his second spell as caretaker boss of the Glasgow club this season and is yet to agree to return next term.
So it was fitting that O’Neill’s potential farewell came in against Dunfermline boss Neil Lennon, who was a key member of O’Neill’s Celtic and Leicester teams earlier in his managerial career.
Asked if he could be persuaded to stay, O’Neill said: “Next week I might get to speak to the owner. Dermot Desmond brought me back in the first place, I owe him a great deal otherwise I wouldn’t be here.
“If the season was to start tomorrow, I couldn’t do it. But the season doesn’t start tomorrow. The Scottish season does start quickly though, and I’m getting old.
“What I have is a passion for the game. I don’t think that will ever leave me, even in my final days. That’s always been me. I have a desire to win.”
Celtic pipped Hearts to the Scottish Premiership title last weekend, coming from behind to win 3-1 against the Edinburgh club on the final day of the season.
The Hoops needed late goals from Maeda and Callum Osmand to finish two points above Derek McInnes’ side, who had led the table for months.
Hearts were furious that Celtic had stayed in the title race with a helping hand from a debatable penalty that clinched a win at Motherwell in their penultimate game.
There was, however, no need for any contentious drama in the final.
Celtic took the lead in the 19th minute as Alistair Johnston’s ball reached Maeda and he lobbed it over the stranded Aston Oxborough.
They doubled their advantage in the 36th minute when Engels hit a powerful strike from 25 yards that left Oxborough flat-footed.
Iheanacho latched on to Benjamin Nygren’s through ball and showed tremendous footwork to evade three defenders before slotting home in the 72nd minute.
Cooper scored on the rebound after Charlie Gilmour’s shot had been blocked in the 79th minute, but Celtic were never in danger of surrendering their lead.
Sports
AFCON: Morocco’s King Pardons Jailed Senegal Football Fans For ‘Humanitarian Reasons’
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has pardoned the Senegalese football supporters jailed after violence at the 2025 AFCON final in Rabat for “humanitarian reasons”, a royal court statement said on Saturday.
It said that in view “of the age-old fraternal ties” between the two countries “and on the occasion of the advent of Eid al-Adha”, the king has “granted, on humanitarian grounds, his royal pardon to the Senegalese supporters”.
The Muslim holiday will be celebrated on Wednesday in Morocco.
Senegal won the chaotic January 18 AFCON final 1-0, but the match was later awarded on appeal to hosts Morocco.
After a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time of the second half, just after a Senegal goal was disallowed, Senegalese fans tried to storm the pitch and hurled projectiles.
In February, Moroccan courts sentenced the 18 Senegalese supporters held in Morocco since the final to prison terms ranging from three months to a year.
Three were released from jail in mid-April after completing their three-month sentence.
Following that release, another 15 Senegalese fans remained incarcerated after receiving sentences ranging from six months to one year.
The royal pardon is expected to apply to those 15.
Lawyer Patrick Kabou, who represented a large number of the Senegalese, told AFP they were expected to be released late Saturday.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the Moroccan king’s decision in a post on X.
“Our compatriots detained in Morocco following the incidents that occurred on the sidelines of the Africa Cup of Nations are free. They will soon be reunited with their loved ones,” he wrote.
Faye thanked King Mohammed VI for a decision “imbued with clemency and humanity”.
According to the Moroccan public prosecutor’s office, the charges against the 18 football supporters were based mainly on footage from cameras at Rabat’s Moulay Abdellah Stadium, and on medical certificates for injured law enforcement officers and stewards.
Material damage from the violence was estimated at more than 370,000 euros (around $430,000).
At the end of January, the Confederation of African Football imposed disciplinary sanctions on both national federations for unsporting conduct and violations of the principles of fair play.
After the Confederation decided on March 17 to award the 2025 AFCON to Morocco by administrative ruling, Senegal appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The two countries have a history of cooperation in sectors including tourism and energy, and share strong religious ties.
Senegalese make up the largest foreign community living in Morocco.
AFP
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