Chelsea have won the Europa League after trouncing fellow Premier League side Arsenal 4-1 at the Baku Olympic Stadium.

After a goalless first half, the Blues found the breakthrough with a diving header by their French forward Olivier Giroud in the 49th minute.

Pedro then slotted into the right corner on the hour mark to double Chelsea’s lead.
 
Five minutes later, Eden Hazard put Maurizio Sarri’s men out of sight from the penalty spot after Giroud was brought down in the area.

Alex Iwobi gave the Gunners a glimmer of hope in the 69th minute with a sublime volley from outside the box.
 
But Hazard promptly crushed any aspirations of an Arsenal comeback after sweeping the ball home from close range to give Chelsea their 3rd European title in seven years.

MANCHESTER UNITED have failed in a bid for Ajax keeper Andre Onana, it has been claimed.

United are said to have seen an offer of £35million knocked back by the Dutch giants for the Cameroon international.

The Daily Record claims the Old Trafford club made their move amid ongoing concerns over the future of David De Gea at the club.

And it remains to be seen if they will return with an improved bid as the major overhaul at United starts to begin kicking into gear.

Onana, 25,  has been an impressive performer for club and country over the past few years, leading to him catching the eye of Red Devils scouts.

But the fact the club have gone as far as making an offer suggests there is huge doubt over the long-term prospects for De Gea.

The Spanish international is about to enter the final year of his existing deal with the club who are desperate for him to commit his future there.

STALLED

But talks over a new £350,000-a-week deal have stalled in recent months, at the same time De Gea lost his form and made a series of high-profile mistakes.

There were even calls for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to drop the 28-year-old as his errors played a part in the exit from the Champions League and then the fall down to sixth in the Premier League.

United only qualifying for the Europa League next season, and Solskjaer admitting the club need a miracle to be challenging for the title next year, will also have been noted by De Gea who wants to be playing at the top level now he is in the peak years of his career.

Paris Saint-Germain have been monitoring his progress closely and United know they face a decision over whether to sell him this summer while they can still command a fee of risk losing him on a free transfer in 12 months.

Onana is regarded as a top class keeper who has been watched by a number of sides across Europe, and crucially he is still relatively young and has plenty of his best years ahead of him.

That means he fits the mould of the type of player Solskjaer and the United board want to sign as they try to build a new-look side of young players with promise.

Source: The Sun UK

The African stars were on parade at Feyenoord Stadium as the Sons of Gods lifted their ninth Cup title on Sunday

Morocco duo Hakim Ziyech, Noussair Mazraoui and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana helped Ajax win the Dutch Cup with a 4-0 win over Willem II.

Ziyech provided an assist for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to double Ajax’s lead a minute after Daley Blind opened the scoring in the 38th minute.

After the restart, Huntelaar bagged his brace in the 67th minute before Mazraoui assisted Rasmus Kristensen for the fourth goal in the 76th minute.

Ziyech was later replaced by David Neres in the 58th minute as Onana kept a clean sheet for the Amsterdam outfit.

The trio will hope to maintain their fine form when Ajax host Tottenham Hotspur for the return fixture of their Uefa Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

Ziyech and Mazraoui are expected to play a part in Morocco’s campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Atlas Lions have dates set against Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Namibia in Group D while Onana’s Cameroon have been drawn against Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and Benin in Group F.

Source: Goal.com

Lionel Messi left Liverpool needing a miracle to reach their second Champions League final in as many years as his brace helped Barcelona win a pulsating Champions League semi-final first leg 3-0 on Wednesday.

Barca have one foot in next month’s final ahead of Tuesday’s second leg at Anfield after former Reds striker Luis Suarez gave Barca the lead during a breathless opening 45 minutes before Messi struck twice late on, the second a stunning free-kick and his 600th Barca goal.

Jurgen Klopp could only smile after Messi’s curling shot nestled in the top corner but this result was harsh on his side.

They matched Barcelona in the first half, dominated them early in the second and could still have left with an away goal after Messi’s deadly double, only for Mohamed Salah to hit the post.

But Messi and Suarez did what they have done all season, their tallies now at 47 and 27 goals respectively in all competitions.

It had been a breathtaking contest befitting two of Europe’s most exhilarating teams. The first half was electric, a reel of chances, breaks and blocks, while the second was tense, a tactical battle where Barca dared Liverpool to over-exert.

The comeback will be even tougher for them given Barcelona, with La Liga wrapped up, will surely rest a host of players against Celta Vigo this weekend while Liverpool, a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, will have to be at full throttle again away at Newcastle on Saturday.

Scintillating

Messi was already fresh, after playing just over half the La Liga minutes he could have done in April, and he looked sharp early on, weaving through the centre while for Liverpool, the sensational Sadio Mane raced down the left.

The attacks were scintillating but the defending was good too. Andy Robertson scrambled across to block Messi’s finish from six yards and moments later it was Sergi Roberto on the slide, preventing Mane from racing clear.

Messi wanted a penalty when the ball jumped up on Joel Matip and Naby Keita went off injured in the 25th minute, replaced by Jordan Henderson.

A minute later came the goal. Arturo Vidal sprayed the ball left to Philippe Coutinho, who cushioned back for Jordi Alba. Alba shaped to cross but instead curved a perfectly weighted pass to the near post, where Suarez nipped in.

Liverpool came again. Mane scampered in behind then flicked the ball round Sergio Busquets. He should have scored too, Henderson’s cross finding him free from eight yards but the shot flew over.

Barca took control just as Suarez began to lose it, irked by James Milner barging Messi into the sideboards after the Argentinian had danced past Robertson.

But Liverpool were re-energised at the start of the second half. Marc-Andre ter Stegen pushed away shots from Milner and Mohamed Salah, then held a Milner drive.

Then Messi took the wind out of Liverpool’s sails, striking twice in seven minutes. His own run started the first, setting Sergi free to square to Suarez. Off balance, Suarez could only volley against the crossbar but the ball came back for Messi, who chested and finished into an open net.

Two was hard on Liverpool but Messi was not done. The free-kick was central, 30 yards out, and he whipped it over the wall and into the top corner.

Barca were delirious but Liverpool almost grabbed an away goal when a clearance on the line fell kindly for Salah, who hammered against the post and left Liverpool with little hope of making the Madrid final.

(AFP)

The impressive performance by the Cameroonian against the English team impressed football fans on social media on Tuesday night

Andre Onana amazed the continent in the form of a clean slate, as Ajax stunned Tottenham 1-0 in England.

Donny van de Beek’s early strike earned the Dutch side a first-leg advantage ahead of the return leg in Amsterdam.

The 23-year-old put in a good shift as he made crucial saves to deny Mauricio Pochettino’s men any chance to bounce back.

It was the type of performance that left football fans on Twitter salivating for more.

AFC Ajax✔@AFCAjax · 9h

90+3. Intense first chapter! #UCL #totaja

Keith R.@keith_rich

What a perfect name for a goalkeeper. Andre Onana. Everytime a player tries to score a goal. Onana, not this time. Good try tho.411:11 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Keith R.’s other TweetsView image on Twitter

Mesfouf & Koshary@MesfoufKoshary

André Onana with a clean sheet on the road in the Champions League semi-finals, the 23-year old was very reassuring in net all game long, excellent showing by the Samuel Eto’o Academy product 210:42 PM – Apr 30, 2019See Mesfouf & Koshary’s other TweetsTwitter Ads info and privacy

Denzil@KingOfTooting

Andre Onana was superb tonight and I wish more keepers would dominate their box like that. Takes so much pressure off the defence. As for the time wasting, if it was your keeper what would you think?10:25 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Denzil’s other Tweets

Dan @TheDanAlden

Fairly certain Andre Onana is now my favourite keeper ever. How livid he made the Tottenham fans with some outrageous time wasting. Hero10:00 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Dan ‘s other Tweets

ADAMU MUFTAWU@muftymufty15

My money on Andre Onana for Cameroon number 1 to 2019 AFCON.59:48 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee ADAMU MUFTAWU’s other Tweets

Nico “Oyabin”@NicoSulky

Andre Onana is the keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga thinks he is. #AFC #CFC210:00 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Nico “Oyabin”‘s other Tweets

Muhammad sir_Larm@sirlarm

Andre Onana of Ajax is better than David De gea9:27 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Muhammad sir_Larm’s other Tweets

Conor@ConorM67_

Andre Onana is now my new fave keeper for no other reason than just how much he gets Jermaine Jenas raging.199:49 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Conor’s other Tweets

Dela Michael@Delraiser

Thomas N’kono, Joseph-Antoine Bell, Jacques Songo’o, Carlos Kameni. Boy!!! Cameroon has produced some very fine goalkeepers in the past. André Onana has got some tough acts to follow but he’s on track.29:03 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Dela Michael’s other Tweets

Petyr Okurut@okurutsimp94

Andre Onana the last African goal keeper still standing tall in Europe’s top leagues taking over from the great Kameni #totaja #ajax58:44 PM – Apr 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Petyr Okurut’s other Tweets

Rocksteady@ShardGooner

Andre Onana 8:42 PM – Apr 30, 2019

Source: Goal.com

The interruption of the Dijon-Amiens Ligue 1 match on Friday after visiting captain Prince Gouano was the target of monkey chants adds to a string of recent racist incidents across Europe.ADVERTISING

It comes after rising Italy star Moise Kean was targeted by racist abuse in Cagliari in Serie A earlier in the month.

Monkey chants were aimed at England players during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Montenegro and there have been a series of episodes involving London clubs.

“Racism exists in the stadiums in France, but we cannot put the situation on the same level as in Eastern European countries or Italy,” football sociologist Nicolas Hourcade, a professor at the Central School of Lyon, told AFP.

The goalless draw in Dijon was halted in the 78th minute as players from both sides stopped playing and headed towards the touchline after Gouano said he heard insults.

“It’s over,” Gouano said. “We’re not playing on. I’m taking off my team-mates.”

Players, including Gouano went to remonstrate with fans.

Referee Karim Abed also asked the stadium announcer to “get the message across, if it happens again, we stop.”

Following discussions between players, coaches and officials, play then resumed.

“In Dijon, we saw that it was an isolated supporter who could be identified and arrested,” Hourcade said. “In other countries, there are collective demonstrations where a whole section of the ground, or a good part of one, can shout monkey chants or racist slogans.”

After the game, the French league (LFP) said it would investigate and also announced that Dijon had identified the culprit. The club said they intended to press charges.

“These disgusting shouts are contrary to the values conveyed by sport, they insult our Republic, and I welcome the rapid reaction of the LFP: racism will never have a place in France,” responded Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.

Anti-racism campaigners urge abandoning matches.

“We do not tackle the subject of racism as we should,” former France captain Lilian Thuram told AFP in 2018, after Blaise Matuidi suffered abuse when Juventus played at Cagliari.

“Why didn’t the referee stop the match, why didn’t the white players leave the field?”

“If there is no deal with the problem, it will be the same thing in 20 years,” he said.

Yet the same thing did happen when Juventus played at Cagliari on April 2. Kean, along with Matuidi and Brazilian Alex Sandro, were targeted by monkey noises and jeers throughout the match.

‘Openly fascist’

Instead of denouncing their fans, Cagliari’s leadership blamed Kean for celebrating his late winner by standing motionless and silent with arms spread in front of the hostile stand.

“Italy is a case apart for two reasons,” Hourcade said. “The historical strength of the extreme right, and the presence of openly fascist fan organisations.”

But in England too, there have been numerous recent incidents at all levels of football.

On Thursday, half a dozen Chelsea fans posted a video on social media in which they sang that Liverpool’s Egyptian star, Mohamed Salah, was a “bomber”. Chelsea identified and barred three of the fans.

Arsenal are attempting to identify a fan who was caught on video shouting racist abuse at Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli in a Europa League game on Thursday.

In December, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling was the target of insults at Chelsea and a Tottenham fan threw a banana in the direction of Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

One of the major issues is “to identify the perpetrators of these acts to punish them,” said Hourcade.

Spurs’ England defender Danny Rose has blasted the game’s rulers for failing to rein in racism, calling their efforts “a farce”.

(AFP)

Marseille’s sudden recent revival has coincided with the arrival of Mario Balotelli, and they take on Paris Saint-Germain this weekend hoping for a long overdue victory against their old foes.

PSG have not lost any of their last 18 meetings with Marseille in all competitions since a 3-0 defeat at the Velodrome back in November 2011, the first game between the teams following the Qatari takeover in Paris.

The fixture has lost some of its lustre as a result, with Marseille only managing three draws in the ‘Classique’ in all that time.

Most recently, PSG won 2-0 in Marseille in October, a result which came at the start of a dreadful run of form for Rudi Garcia’s team as they won just three times in 18 games in all competitions, a slump that saw them dumped out of both domestic cups and the Europa League.

But then Balotelli arrived, and OM quickly started winning again — five wins and a draw in their last six games have seen Marseille move back to within three points of the top three in Ligue 1.

Finishing on the podium, and returning to the Champions League, is seen as essential for the southern giants — still the only French side ever to have won the European Cup — and their American owner Frank McCourt.

Since signing from Nice on a short-term deal at the end of January, Balotelli has scored five times in seven games, his last two goals being followed by memorable celebrations — a group selfie immediately posted to Instagram, and then a game of rock-paper-scissors.

The former Manchester City striker’s impact on his teammates has been considerable.

“The mentality, the mindset on the pitch are different now,” midfielder Kevin Strootman, who ironically has lost his place in the side in recent weeks, told sports daily L’Equipe.

“If we want to keep fighting for a top-three place, and get into the Champions League, we have to show that we are capable of winning the big matches.”

– What welcome for PSG? –

There could be a tense atmosphere at the Parc des Princes, with PSG facing their home support for the first time since the crushing disappointment of their Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United.

Thomas Tuchel’s side faced verbal abuse and taunts from angry fans when they returned to training last weekend, before winning 4-0 at struggling Dijon in a rearranged game on Tuesday.

The fall-out from their European debacle continues, and outcast midfielder Adrien Rabiot — who has been sidelined after refusing to sign a new contract — has now been suspended.

According to L’Equipe, Rabiot was punished for a nightclub visit in the wake of the United game, and for ‘liking’ a video posted on social media by former United player Patrice Evra celebrating the result in the stands at the Parc des Princes.

PSG remain untouchable in France — they are 17 points clear of second-placed Lille at the top of the table with a game in hand and have won all 14 of their home fixtures.

Elsewhere, Lyon will look to bounce back from their Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona as they host Montpellier on Sunday.

After being eliminated from the Europa League in the last 16 by Arsenal, Rennes go to Bordeaux, who will be playing their first match under new coach Paulo Sousa.

“We have to congratulate the players for their remarkable run,” said Rennes coach Julien Stephan after a 3-0 defeat in London saw them go out 4-3 on aggregate.

“We don’t have the experience or the power of Arsenal, but we have learnt a lot, even if the experience ended in a painful manner.”

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Nice v Toulouse (1800), Lille v Monaco (1945)

Saturday

Angers v Amiens, Caen v Saint-Etienne, Guingamp v Dijon, Nimes v Strasbourg (all 1900)

Sunday

Lyon v Montpellier (1330), Reims v Nantes (1400), Bordeaux v Rennes (1600), Paris Saint-Germain v Marseille (2000)

AFP