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Dortmund Rues Missed Penalty in 1-1 Draw with Lowly Mainz

Moussa Niakhate of Mainz, left, in a duel with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. (AP)
Moussa Niakhate of Mainz, left, in a duel with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. (AP)
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Dortmund Rues Missed Penalty in 1-1 Draw with Lowly Mainz

Moussa Niakhate of Mainz, left, in a duel with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. (AP)
Moussa Niakhate of Mainz, left, in a duel with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. (AP)

Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw with lowly Mainz while Leipzig again missed the chance to move to the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Leipzig, which was denied top spot in losing to Dortmund 3-1 last weekend, could manage only 2-2 at Wolfsburg and it remains a point behind league leader Bayern Munich. Bayern hosts Freiburg on Sunday.

Dortmund was looking for its fourth win in five league games under new coach Edin Terzić but was frustrated by a committed performance from Mainz in Bo Svensson’s second game in charge.

The draw was enough for Mainz to move off the bottom on goal difference from Schalke, which visits Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

Dortmund got off to a fine start with Erling Haaland firing inside the left post in the second minute. But the goal was ruled out through VAR as Thomas Meunier was offside in the buildup.

Jude Bellingham struck the post toward the end of the half and it was as close as Dortmund came to scoring before the break.

Mainz defended doggedly and took its chance in the 57th when Levin Öztunali eluded Mats Hummels with a back-heel trick and let fly from 20 meters inside the top right corner.

The visitors almost grabbed another shortly afterward when Alexander Hack struck the crossbar with a header.

The 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko had just gone on for Dortmund and he played a decisive role for his side’s equalizer in the 73rd, keeping the ball in play before sending in a cross that was cleared by Mainz defender Phillipp Mwene – only as far as Meunier, who fired back in to equalize.

Meunier was then fouled in the penalty area by Hack, giving Reus a chance to score from the spot. The Dortmund captain sent his kick outside of the left post.

It could have been worse for Reus’ team as Mainz captain Danny Latza hit the post late on. Dortmund remained fourth, four points behind Bayern, which has a game in hand.

Werder Bremen scored late to beat Augsburg 2-0 at home, Cologne drew with Hertha Berlin 0-0, and Hoffenheim vs. Arminia Bielefeld also ended scoreless.

Stuttgart hosted Borussia Mönchengladbach in the late game.

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Sports

Salah Scores as Liverpool Beats Tottenham 4-2 in Premier League

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 5, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Carl Recine
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 5, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Carl Recine
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Salah Scores as Liverpool Beats Tottenham 4-2 in Premier League

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 5, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Carl Recine
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 5, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Carl Recine

Mohamed Salah quickly put last week's sideline spat with Jurgen Klopp behind him by scoring first in Liverpool's 4-2 win against Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.
The sight of Salah arguing with his departing manager late on in Liverpool's 2-2 draw at West Ham last week dominated debate in the following days.
But the Egyptian was back in the starting lineup and back on the score sheet to set his team on course for victory against Spurs at Anfield, The Associated Press reported.
Salah had already come close to scoring by the time he rose at the far post in the 16th minute to head in Cody Gakpo's cross from the left.
Tottenham had been given hope in its pursuit of Champions League qualification after fourth-place Aston Villa had a surprise 1-0 loss at Brighton. But Ange Postecoglou's team never looked capable of taking advantage of that result after being outclassed by Liverpool.
The home team went 2-0 up in the 45th after Salah's shot was saved by Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Andy Robertson converted from the rebound.
It was the least Liverpool deserved after dominating the chances in the first half and forcing Vicario into a host of desperate saves.
The title may be all but beyond Klopp's team, but Liverpool still looks intent on ending the season on a high for the German, who is stepping down as manager.
Gakpo scored Liverpool's third goal five minutes after the break when heading low at the far post following Harvey Elliott's curling left-foot cross.
Nine minutes later it was Elliott's turn to score with a moment of individual brilliance that brought the home fans to their feet and a beaming grin to Klopp's face.
Collecting the ball on the right, Elliott needed one touch to get away from Rodrigo Bentancur. Then, from around 20 yards (meters), he curled an unstoppable left-foot shot into the top corner and beyond the dive of Vicario.
Postecoglou sent on Richarlison in the hope of salvaging something and the Brazil international quickly made an impact by turning home Brennan Johnson's cross in the 72nd.
He then turned provider to tee up Son Heung-min to fire in from close range five minutes later.
Richarlison forced Alisson into a low save when racing through late on, which led to Joe Gomez producing a flying clearance to stop Johnson from converting the rebound.

Sports

Champions League: Bayern and Dortmund Could Stop Mbappe's Showdown with Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 10, 2024. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 10, 2024. (AFP)
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Champions League: Bayern and Dortmund Could Stop Mbappe's Showdown with Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 10, 2024. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 10, 2024. (AFP)

Real Madrid needs fortress Bernabeu to live up to its reputation.

Paris Saint-Germain could do with some magic from the departing Kylian Mbappé.

Otherwise we could be set for a repeat of the 2013 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who both showed in the first legs of the semifinals that they could yet block a Madrid vs. Mbappé showdown at Wembley Stadium, according to The AP.

That has felt like an ideal finale with Mbappé widely expected to move to the Spanish giant when he leaves PSG as a free agent at the end of the season.

But based on the first legs, Bayern and Dortmund haven’t read that script.

Bayern dominated Madrid for long periods at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday before Vinicius Junior’s late penalty secured a 2-2 draw for the record 14-time European Cup winner.

A day later, Germany striker Niclas Füllkrug struck the only goal of the game at the Westfalenstadion to give Dortmund a 1-0 advantage over PSG.

With such fine margins, there is all to play for in the second legs when Madrid and PSG will both have home advantage.

Madrid is unbeaten at home all season and targeting a record-extending 18th European Cup final - and a ninth in the Champions League era, which is also a record.

While six-time winner Bayern showed its credentials in the first leg, it has endured a troubled season in which its 11-year reign as German champion was ended by Bayer Leverkusen.

PSG’s dominance in France shows no sign of stopping after winning a record-extending 12th league title. But it has not been able to transfer that form to the Champions League despite signing some of the world’s greatest players — including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mbappé.

Messi and Neymar have departed and Mbappé is set to leave. Which is why it would be the perfect send-off for the forward to finally end the Qatar-backed club’s search for European club soccer’s elite trophy.

Defeat at Dortmund has cast doubt over that, but PSG already produced a comeback to beat Barcelona in the second leg of the quarterfinals and Mbappé will be desperate to avoid an anticlimactic end to the season.

- PSG vs. DORTMUND (TUESDAY)

PSG coach Luis Enrique has to rethink his plans in defense with Lucas Hernandez facing a long spell out after rupturing his left knee ACL in the first leg. He successfully underwent an operation on Saturday.

Hernandez was in good form and had also formed a solid central defensive partnership with Marquinhos, helping the Brazilian recapture his best form recently.

Enrique must decide who to select between Lucas Beraldo, utility player Danilo or Milan Skriniar.

The 20-year-old is Beraldo is inexperienced at the highest level, Danilo is reliable and good in the air but lacks pace and mobility, while Skriniar has only recently returned from a three-month injury layoff following ankle surgery.

Skriniar has played only one full game since then and Enrique may not risk him against a physical striker like Füllkrug, who poses a threat with his strong running and direct style of play.

Losing a player of Hernandez’s quaity is a headache Enrique really didn’t need, especially with his side having to score and more likely exposed to counter-attacks.

Enrique will also look for an improved performance from Kylian Mbappé, who failed to impress last week.

Dortmund counterpart Edin Terzić was able to rest his entire team with the exception of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as his B-side ran out 5-1 winners over Augsburg on Saturday.

- MADRID vs. BAYERN (WEDNESDAY)

Madrid will face Bayern as the newly crowned Spanish league champions after clinching the title on Saturday. With the domestic title all but assured, Carlo Ancelotti rotated his lineup. Defender Nacho Fernández was the only player to start both at Bayern and in its 3-0 win over Cadiz on Saturday.

The club is delaying the traditional celebration of its 36th league title with players and fans in downtown Madrid until Saturday to keep its focus on the Bayern game.

Madrid arrives to the second leg without any critical injuries and with all its scorers clicking. Jude Bellingham scored his 22nd goal overall in the win over Cadiz, while backups Brahim Díaz and Joselu Mato also found the net. Thibaut Courtois is expected to be in the squad, while Ancelotti has said that Andriy Lunin will again be in goal.

Bayern’s preparations were far from ideal with a 3-1 loss at Stuttgart and injury to Raphaël Guerreiro, who had made a good impact after coming on at half time in the first leg against Madrid. Bayern confirmed Sunday he will miss Wednesday’s match.

Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt missed the first leg with injury but rejoined team training on Sunday.

Sports

Messi Has Record-Setting Game With a Goal, 5 Assists in Inter Miami’s 6-2 Win Over Red Bulls

Soccer Football - Friendly - Argentina v Australia - Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China - June 15, 2023 Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
Soccer Football - Friendly - Argentina v Australia - Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China - June 15, 2023 Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
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Messi Has Record-Setting Game With a Goal, 5 Assists in Inter Miami’s 6-2 Win Over Red Bulls

Soccer Football - Friendly - Argentina v Australia - Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China - June 15, 2023 Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
Soccer Football - Friendly - Argentina v Australia - Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China - June 15, 2023 Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

Lionel Messi had a record-setting night for Inter Miami. He scored a goal and had five assists as Inter Miami trounced the New York Red Bulls 6-2— with the Argentine great and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as the game’s best player setting no fewer than three Major League Soccer records.

The six goal contributions, five assists and five assists in a half were all MLS records.

Messi, who earned the MLS Player of the Month Award for April, has now scored and assisted in six consecutive league matches.

“It has become redundant but it appears that he is always making history,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said. “If something was missing, it was this — to contribute in six goals.”

Luis Suárez had three goals and Matias Rojas scored twice as Inter Miami got six unanswered goals to come back from a 1-0 halftime deficit. Messi and Suárez now have a league-leading 10 goals each, helping keep Inter Miami (7-2-3, 24 points) atop the Eastern Conference.

The win extended Miami’s unbeaten string to six. The streak began after a 4-0 loss at New York on April 20, in which Messi did not play because of an injury, according to The AP.

“When he is not available, obviously, the team feels it,” Martino said.

Miami began the rout with Rojas’ equalizer in the 48th minute. Messi centered a pass to Rojas whose left-footed shot landed under the crossbar.

Suárez then fed a charging Messi with a touch pass and he beat New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel with a shot from 15 yards.

Rojas made it 3-1 with his second goal in the 62nd minute on an assist from Messi. The 28-year-old Rojas joined Inter Miami on April 23 and entered the match to start the second half.

“This is the ultimate satisfaction for a goal scorer,” Rojas said. “It makes it even more special because we accomplished it at home.”

Messi then contributed on former Barcelona teammate Suárez’s first goal in the 69th minute.

“Leo makes it easier for all of us,” Suárez said. “We know each other long enough. When we are on the pitch, we know how to spot each other without looking.”

Suárez also struck in the 75th and 81st minutes before the Red Bulls (4-2-5, 17 points) closed the scoring on Emil Forsberg’s penalty kick in stoppage time.

“We have many players that are capable of scoring,” Martino said. “At some points in the match we are going to find favorable moments. The issue is how we limit the unfavorable moments.”

New York controlled possession early and eventually capitalized on a Miami defensive breakdown that resulted in Dante Vanzeir’s goal in the 30th minute. José Carmona ran deep into the right wing of the large area and blasted a shot that bounced off the far post. An unmarked Vanzeir retrieved the deflection and converted from 15 yards.

Messi had his only scoring opportunity of the first half in the 24th minute, when Coronel stopped his shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba missed his third straight game because of a hamstring injury.

Both clubs will continue MLS play next Saturday. Inter Miami visits CF Montreal while the Red Bulls play host to New England.

Sports

Enhanced Games Chief: '50 to 100' Paris Olympians Ready to Sign Up

The headquarters of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, Canada. AFP
The headquarters of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, Canada. AFP
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Enhanced Games Chief: '50 to 100' Paris Olympians Ready to Sign Up

The headquarters of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, Canada. AFP
The headquarters of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, Canada. AFP

Between 50 and 100 athletes set to compete at the Paris Olympics are "in the sign-up process" for the inaugural Enhanced Games, where doping will be allowed, the event's chief claims.

Aron D'Souza, who founded the Enhanced Games in 2023 to boost athletes' incomes, made the declaration to News Corp newspapers in Australia on Sunday.

"We have a great many who are in the sign-up process at the moment, who are competing at (the) Paris (Olympics)," said D'Souza of his maiden Games, which are slated for 2025 with venue and broadcast negotiations "well-advanced".

"I would hope 50-100 is (the number) of Paris Olympic alumni who would be competing at the first Games," he added, without specifying whether the sign-up process was a written contract or simply verbal interest.

"You will see at the Paris Olympics, some athletes are going to be very open about the Enhanced Games concept. We have quite a plan for the Paris Olympics."

Agence France Presse said the Olympians would come from across the Enhanced Games' five core disciplines -- swimming and diving, track and field, weightlifting, combat sports and gymnastics.

Under its model, athletes would get a base salary with million-dollar bounties for world records.

They would not be subject to World Anti-Doping Agency rules with competitors able to use performance-enhancing drugs to achieve the feat -- a concept met with disdain by the Olympic movement.

WADA has dubbed the Games "dangerous and irresponsible" while World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said anyone "moronic enough" to take part faced being banned "for a long time".

Former Australian champion swimmer James Magnussen, who won 100m freestyle world titles in 2011 and 2013, is the highest profile athlete so far to publically voice support.

D'Souza said he was not at liberty to name any of the 50 to 100 Olympic competitors, but claimed 1,500 athletes had formally applied to take part in the Enhanced Games since he first put the call out.

He said there had been "great traction" among swimmers and strength sports like powerlifting, but admitted to finding it "a bit more challenging in sprint distance track and field".

"Our perfect candidate is not the 19-year-old who is going to their Olympics for the first time," added the London-based Australian businessman, who has backing from some high-profile venture capitalists including American billionaire Peter Thiel.

"It's the 28-year-old who has gone to the Olympics twice and won a silver medal and they're like, 'I don't want to become a personal trainer'.

"They feel like they have got a little bit more in them before their 'retirement' and put out to pasture at age 30 in elite sports."

Sports

Real Madrid Wins its Record-extending 36th Spanish League

Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles Square in Madrid after their team clinched the La Liga title, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles Square in Madrid after their team clinched the La Liga title, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Real Madrid Wins its Record-extending 36th Spanish League

Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles Square in Madrid after their team clinched the La Liga title, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid supporters celebrate in Cibeles Square in Madrid after their team clinched the La Liga title, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid put its Spanish rivals out of their misery by clinching the league title on Saturday with four games remaining, just in time to turn its full focus to its Champions League semifinal with Bayern Munich.
Madrid did the expected and beat relegation-threatened Cadiz 3-0 even though it was mostly with bench players. Barcelona then lost 4-2 at Girona with a collapse that coach Xavi Hernández admitted was typical of his team's trophyless season.
That combination of results secured Madrid its record-extending 36th Spanish league title with Girona, which leapfrogged Barcelona into second place, facing an insurmountable 13-point deficit with only a maximum 12 points left in play.
Only a victory by Barcelona at Girona would have stopped Madrid from celebrating the title on Saturday, The Associated Press reported.
Madrid now has a chance to add to its unequaled 14 European Cups. Madrid hosts Bayern on Wednesday with their Champions League semifinal evenly balanced after a 2-2 first-leg draw in Germany. Either Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund will await the winner in the June 1 final.
The club said that it will hold off on the traditional celebration of titles in downtown Madrid until next Saturday with its important game against Bayern coming first.
“We deserved this league title in every way," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said after guiding his team to the second league title and 12th trophy overall in his two stints with Madrid.
“We would like to celebrate with all the fans, but they understand because on Wednesday we have a very important challenge. We want to prepare well to make the fans happy and we will celebrate the title together on Saturday.”
At the start of the season, Madrid appeared set to again play chaser to defending champion Barcelona after Karim Benzema left in the summer and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defenders David Alaba and Eder Militao sustained serious leg injuries.
But Jude Bellingham blossomed into a scorer on arrival from Borussia Dortmund. His goals, and leadership in midfield, combined with the dribbling, speed and goals of Vinícius Júnior. put Madrid well ahead of the rest.
Madrid has only lost once in 34 rounds so far, beat Barcelona in both league “clasico” matches, and dealt Girona a pair of lopsided losses in their two meetings.

Sports

Swiatek Saves 3 Match Points to Beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open Final

Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland poses with her trophy after winning the women's singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, 04 May 2024. EPA/CHEMA MOYA
Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland poses with her trophy after winning the women's singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, 04 May 2024. EPA/CHEMA MOYA
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Swiatek Saves 3 Match Points to Beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open Final

Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland poses with her trophy after winning the women's singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, 04 May 2024. EPA/CHEMA MOYA
Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland poses with her trophy after winning the women's singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, 04 May 2024. EPA/CHEMA MOYA

Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open on Saturday after a third-set tiebreaker.
The top-ranked Swiatek beat No. 2 Sabalenka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7) for her third title of the season. The 22-year-old Polish player became the youngest player to reach 20 titles since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012, The Associated Press reported.
Swiatek faced two match points when she was struggling with her serve at 5-6 in the third set. But she held on to force the tiebreaker, where she saved a third match point.
Swiatek collapsed on the red clay after Sabalenka hit long to end a match that lasted 3 hours, 11 minutes, the longest WTA final so far in 2024. Each player broke serve five times.
“Who is going to say that women’s tennis is boring now?” Swiatek said. “Congrats as well to Aryna because we both had an amazing effort today.”
Swiatek will seek her fourth French Open title later this month as the two-time defending champion at Roland Garros.
Swiatek improved her head-to-head record with Sabalenka to 7-3. She has won her last seven finals, since her loss to Sabalenka here in 2023.
Sabalenka got the better of Swiatek last year at Madrid in three sets for the first win over her rival on clay. The two-time Australian Open champion was seeking a record-tying third title in Madrid.
“I had my opportunities,” Sabalenka said. “I wouldn’t say that I kind of missed them or lost them. It was just incredible play from her, and I think that’s the lesson I have to learn.”
Madrid was the only European clay-court tournament at the WTA 500 level or above that Swiatek had yet to win. Now her collection is complete.

Sports

Bologna Draws at Torino and Misses Chance to Go Third in Italy

Torino's Ivan Ilic (R) takes a shot on goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match Torino FC vs Bologna FC at the Olimpico Grande Torino Stadium in Turin, Italy, 03 May 2024. (EPA)
Torino's Ivan Ilic (R) takes a shot on goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match Torino FC vs Bologna FC at the Olimpico Grande Torino Stadium in Turin, Italy, 03 May 2024. (EPA)
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Bologna Draws at Torino and Misses Chance to Go Third in Italy

Torino's Ivan Ilic (R) takes a shot on goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match Torino FC vs Bologna FC at the Olimpico Grande Torino Stadium in Turin, Italy, 03 May 2024. (EPA)
Torino's Ivan Ilic (R) takes a shot on goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match Torino FC vs Bologna FC at the Olimpico Grande Torino Stadium in Turin, Italy, 03 May 2024. (EPA)

Bologna missed a chance to leapfrog Juventus and move into third place in Serie A after a lackluster 0-0 draw at Torino on Friday.

A win would have taken Bologna, one of the surprises of the league, to one point ahead of Juve.

Instead, it remained in fourth, a point behind the Turin club and having played a game more. Juventus is at Roma on Sunday.

The best chances of Friday’s game fell to Torino. Antonio Sanabria and Duvan Zapata came close and Lukasz Skorupski made a string of good saves for the visitor.

Bologna was stuck with a fourth draw in its last five matches.

The result left Torino in 10th place.

Sports

Luton Gains Valuable Point from Home Draw with Everton

Luton Town's Welsh manager Rob Edwards applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Luton Town and Everton at Kenilworth Road in Luton, north of London on May 3, 2024. (AFP)
Luton Town's Welsh manager Rob Edwards applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Luton Town and Everton at Kenilworth Road in Luton, north of London on May 3, 2024. (AFP)
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Luton Gains Valuable Point from Home Draw with Everton

Luton Town's Welsh manager Rob Edwards applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Luton Town and Everton at Kenilworth Road in Luton, north of London on May 3, 2024. (AFP)
Luton Town's Welsh manager Rob Edwards applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Luton Town and Everton at Kenilworth Road in Luton, north of London on May 3, 2024. (AFP)

Luton got a valuable point in its fight to avoid relegation after a hard-fought 1-1 draw with visiting Everton in the English Premier League on Friday.

Will it be too little, too late?

Luton remained third to last, below 17th-placed Nottingham Forest only on goal difference. Luton has two games left. Everton has already guaranteed its survival.

Everton took the initiative when Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored from the penalty spot after 24 minutes.

A video review ruled Teden Mengi held Jarrad Branthwaite, and Calvert-Lewin notched his fourth goal in his last five appearances.

Luton bounced back quickly thanks to Elijan Adebayo. The striker scored five in five games before he was injured in February, and almost three months out did not seem to have affected his eye for goal. In his first start since returning, Adebayo collected his 10th goal of the season.

Luton substitute Andros Townsend saw his shot blocked on the line in the dying seconds as the home side pushed men forward in a desperate bid for a winner that could save its season.

“We threw everything at it,” Luton coach Rob Edwards told the BBC. “We were pushing until the end and that is us. We’ve been like that all season.

“We threw everything at it, so I am disappointed right now. But I can’t fault the players. The players gave it absolutely everything, so did the supporters.

“We’re still in the mix and the fight, we’ve got to keep believing.”

Sports

Spurs Need Changes in Summer, Says Postecoglou

Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP)
Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP)
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Spurs Need Changes in Summer, Says Postecoglou

Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP)
Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP)

Tottenham Hotspur's squad needs a reset as the Premier League club looks to move into a "whole different direction", manager Ange Postecoglou said.

Since taking charge of Spurs last year, Postecoglou has attempted to implement an attacking style of play at the club, with the squad witnessing a significant amount of upheaval within their ranks to allow for this shift in philosophy.

The club has brought in a number of new players, while some long-serving players like Hugo Lloris and Eric Dier have departed.

Spurs began the season in promising fashion, but back-to-back defeats in the past week to rivals Arsenal and Chelsea have derailed their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League and have laid bare some of the gaps that still exist in the squad.

Asked about the club's personnel, Postecoglou told reporters: "We need change. Change has to happen."

The Australian, speaking ahead of Spurs' trip to Liverpool, said it was impossible for the club to make alterations to their style without some degree of change to the squad.

"We're pivoting to a whole different direction, expecting the same people are going to be on that," added Postecoglou.

"It's just not going to happen. We've had two windows and we've had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we've still got a long way to go, that's what I'm talking about.

"We can't be there yet because it's impossible to say you're going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey... whether it's Liverpool or Arsenal, by the time they win the competition or have success, the team's almost unrecognizable."

Tottenham, who are fifth in the standings, travel to face third-placed Liverpool in a league clash on Sunday.

Sports

Man City Boss Guardiola Tips England for Euro Success

Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - April 25, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - April 25, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola before the match. (Reuters)
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Man City Boss Guardiola Tips England for Euro Success

Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - April 25, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - April 25, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola before the match. (Reuters)

England can win this year's European Championship and put an end to their series of near misses in major competitions, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said.

Under Gareth Southgate, England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, as well as making it to the Euro 2020 final, where they lost to Italy.

Guardiola said England's performances mirrored Manchester City's showings in the Champions League, which they won for the first time last season after years of close misses.

"The national team? Really good. But it's not just the talent of the strikers, it's the whole package, the whole group. Gareth knows perfectly what he has to do," Guardiola told reporters ahead of his side's Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"I have the feeling, everyone has the feeling, that the England national team, in the last events, the World Cup and European Championships, they made steps. They are on the verge, they are really close. They lost a final and got to a semi-final.

"When you arrive at these stages every two years, it's going to happen. It's quite similar to us - we were close and, in the end, we lifted it. Just believe it. If they believe it they can do it, believe it and they can do it."

England are grouped with Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia at Euro 2024 in Germany, which begins on June 14.