Sports
Chelsea, Arsenal, Valencia, Eintracht Frankfurt Seek Europa League Final Spot
Chelsea host Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final, as they look to secure their first piece of silverware under Maurizio Sarri.
Following a 1-1 draw at the Commerzbank Arena, the Blues have a slight advantage going into the second leg, as Pedro’s goal on the stroke of half time cancelled out Luka Jovic’s opener.
Sarri has never won a trophy in his managerial career and will be desperate to go one step towards doing so at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. After their place in the top four was sealed at the weekend, Chelsea can now pay all their attention to their Europa League campaign.
Standing in their way are one of the dark horses of the competition in the shape of Frankfurt. The German club have surpassed all expectations this season, as they sit in fourth spot in the Bundesliga and are in prime position to play in next season’s Champions League.
Frankfurt have been just as consistent on the road this season as they have been at home, meaning the Londoners cannot afford to underestimate the away side.
In the other fixture, Arsenal’s place in next season’s Champions League now solely resides on winning the Europa League as they take on Valencia in the semi-final second leg.
Arsenal’s top four hopes ended with a disappointing draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at home. The result meant Arsenal will no longer be able to finish among the Champions League places when the season ends, meaning their hopes for entry into Europe’s top competition relies on winning the Europa League this season.
The Gunners, however, can take confidence into the second leg tie with Valencia after convincingly beating the La Liga side 3-1 at home. A brace from Alexandre Lacazette and a late strike from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Arsenal the advantage, although the one goal scored by Valencia has surely given them some hope heading into this tie.
Valencia, unlike Arsenal, are still in the hunt to finish within Champions League places through their league finish. Additionally, they are still not out of the running to reach the Europa League final, although to achieve both they need to finish strongly in the next three games, starting with the one against Arsenal at the Mestalla.
Domestically they suffered a set back-to-back defeats to Atletico Madrid and Eibar before they faced Arsenal at the Emirates. However, in the last matchday, they secured a thumping 6-2 victory over Huesca at home. They can take confidence from the way they have replied to their first loss to Arsenal and can now believe they could achieve the difficult task of making a comeback in the second leg.
Jude Bellingham has reportedly reached an agreement with Real Madrid over a new contract at the club.
Still only 23, Bellingham has been a remarkable success at Real Madrid, with 49 goals and 34 assists in his 150 games for the club.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Bellingham and Madrid have finalized an agreement to extend his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until the summer of 2031.
The midfielder initially joined the club from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023 on a deal running through to 2029.
It’s understood that Bellingham will be handed a much improved salary, reflecting his importance on the pitch for the side.
Michael Carrick said that Manchester United had “moved on” from Lisandro Martinez’s outburst aimed at the club’s hierarchy, stressing it was “really not a drama for us as a group”.
Argentina defender Martinez criticised the United hierarchy following their 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, saying Carrick had been left with an under-strength squad.
The centre-back criticised technical director Jason Wilcox, saying he had “100 percent” expected more investment during the summer transfer window after United finished third in the Premier League last season.
It is understood Martinez, who issued an apology on Thursday, has been fined for his outburst.
United manager Carrick confirmed during a pre-match press conference on Friday that Martinez would be in his squad for their Premier League match at bitter rivals Leeds on Sunday.
Carrick, under intense pressure after a terrible start to the season, was asked by reporters about Martinez’s comments and subsequent developments.
“We’ve moved on from that; it was one of those things,” he said. “I think Licha (Martinez) has come out and acknowledged the situation, and as a group we’ve moved on.
“It’s really not a drama for us as a group; I think the boys have trained really well. This morning there was a really good feeling around the squad.”
Martinez, 28, said in a statement he had held positive talks with the club’s leadership and Carrick.
“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity,” he said in a post on Instagram.
“The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.”
Former United captain Roy Keane has branded the situation at his former club “a bit of a circus”.
Carrick was pressed by reporters on the nature of the apology from Martinez, which did not mention Wilcox by name.
“I think he (Martinez) has released his statement and he’s realised he’s made a mistake,” said the United boss. “I think that’s enough for all of us to move on with.”
“I understand the emotion at times. We ask for passion, we ask for emotion, we ask for fire, and we ask for players to care.
“There’s a way of doing that, and that’s already been acknowledged. We need to carry that. We need to carry that intensity and that willingness and that togetherness and that spirit and everything,” he added.
United have made their worst start to a league season in 40 years.
They are 13th in the Premier League, with just one win from six matches, but Carrick, a former United and England midfielder, deflected a question about the pressure on him personally.
“I don’t need results; we all need results,” he said. “It’s not about me. Manchester United is a lot bigger than any individual, bigger than me.
“Bigger than any player, anyone else who works at this football club. It always has been, and it’s not about me.”
Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly identified Barcelona defender Eric Garcia as their top transfer target for summer 2027.
According to Le Parisien, Luis Enrique is eager to reunite with the versatile Spaniard, who can operate centrally or in wide defensive positions.
The French champions are reportedly considering a €70 million offer to persuade Blaugrana to sell the 25-year-old.
García, whose contract runs until 2031, has become an important figure under Hansi Flick, making 51 appearances across all competitions last season, including 47 starts.
The 2026 World Cup winner has maintained his impressive form this term, starting all eight matches in which he has featured.
A Barcelona academy graduate, Garcia joined Manchester City in 2017 before returning to the Catalan giants four years later.
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