Captain America did it again as his goal vs Inter Milan help AC Milan advance to the Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico on May 14 where a win would insure a Europa League spot during this disappointing 9th place season. Word is he’ll sign on till 2029 with a new contract and a hefty raise soon. Chris Richards anchored the 3 man defense for Crystal Palace in 3-0 thumping of Aston Villa Highlights in their FA Cup Semi and will face Man City in the FA Cup Finals at Wembley Sat, May 17 with a Champions League spot on the line. Both American’s play Monday. Awesome Call on Wrexham Final Goal as they become 1st team to win back to back to back promotions. Also cool to see Eric Dick a former Carmel High, CDC, & Butler Goalkeeper will be on TV Wed night on CBS Sports Network as his Pittsburgh Riverhounds host MLS NYCFC at 7 pm in US Open Cup play. Sunday we get NWSL action Gotham FC vs Chicago Stars on CBS at 1 pm. Oh and Good Luck everyone playing in the Challenge Cup this weekend at Grand Park – I will be reffing all day Saturday on F12.

Champions League Tues/Wed, Europa Thurs

Wow do I love Champions League football – no my favorite teams are not alive, and there are no American’s in this year’s final 4 – but the excitement of the World’s Top Club competition is exhilarating! Arsenal is down 1-0 to PSG on the way to Paris Wed, while Barcelona and 17 year old Messi like Yamal will host Inter Milan Wed on Para+ after a spectacular 3-3 tie highlights in Milan on Wed. In Europa action the 3 English teams rolled at home looks to be an all English final with a Champions League spot on the line, while the lone American still playing Johnny Cordosa & Real Bettis take a 2-1 lead to Fiorentina. (see some fantastic saves in both Competitions in the GK section below) Buckle up this week folks – gonna be a doozy Tues/Wed.

Tues Champions League

Inter Milan vs Barcelona (3-3) on Para+, Univision
Wed Champions League
PSG vs Arsenal (1-0) on CBS & Para+ 3 pm
Thurs 3 pm Europa League on Para+
Man United vs Athletic Club
Bode vs Tottenham CBSSN
Djurgarden vs Chelsea
Fiorentina vs Real Bettis (Cordosa) (1-2)

MLS Miami falls to Vancouver in Champions Cup to face Mexico’s Cruz Azul in Final

Its was prime time MLS viewing on Wed night as Miami and Messi returned home down 2-0 to the hottest team in MLS the Vancouver Whitecaps. After scoring early everyone of course assumed Miami would come back like always and close out the series – everyone but Vancouver. Behind goals from Brian White and Sebatian Berhalter (yes GB’s son) the Caps – capped Miami 3-1 to win 5-1 on aggregate setting up the final with Mexico’s Cruz Azul on June 1st. On TV Sat struggling Atlanta will host Nashville winners of 2 straight at 2:45 pm on Fox, while you can check out San Diego’s new stadium vs Dallas at 9:15 on FS1 Sat. Meanwhile word is Man City’s Kevin DeBruyne is in talks with Chicago Fire while Paul Pogba seems to be leaning away from DC United.

Indy 11 home vs Detroit City 7 pm Mental Health Awareness Night on TV8.

The Indy Eleven made its USL Jägermeister Cup debut in impressive fashion with a 4-0 victory at Forward Madison FC to take an early lead in the Group 3 standings with three points, followed by One Knoxville SC with two.  Those two teams will meet on May 24 at Knoxville in the second of four Group Stage games.
Join us for a meaningful and impactful evening as Indy Eleven hosts Mental Health Awareness Night—a special event dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting mental health initiatives in our community. Together, we’ll shine a light on the importance of mental well-being while the Boys in Blue take on Detroit City FC on the field.  Discounted Tickets: For the first 500 fans, tickets start at just $12 exclusively via This Link!  They play at the Philly Union Wed night May 7th in US Open Cup on Paramount+.

June 16th: 9-4 / June 17th: 8-3 12383 Cyntheanne Rd, Fishers, IN $595 Register

TV Games

Fr, May 2

2:45 pm Para+            Torino vs Venzia (Busio)

3 pm Peacock              Man City vs Wolverhampton

8 pm Amazon Prime   Washington Spirit vcs ACFC NWSL

10:30 pm Gola, Para   Seattle vs KC   NWSL

Sat, May 3

7:30 am USA               Villa vs Fulham (Robinson)

10 am Peaccok            Everton vs Ipswich Town

12:30 pm NBC            Arsenal vs Bournmouth (Tyler Adams) 

2:45 pm Golazo, Para Inter Milan vs Hellas Verona

3 pm ESPN+                 Barcelona vs Real Valladolid

2:45 pm Fox                Atlanta United vs Nashville SC MLS

7:30 pm Ion                 Portland Thorns vs Orlando Pride (Marta)  NWSL

7:30 pm TV? Indy 11 vs Detroit City @ the Mike

9 pm FS1                     San Diego vs Dallas  MLS   

10 pm Ion                    Utah Royals vs NC Courage NWSL

Sun, May 4

10 am CBSSN              Monza vs Atalanta  

11:30 pm Peacock      Chelsea vs Liverpool  

1 pm CBS                    Gothan FC vs Chicago Stars (Naher) NWSL

2:45 pm Para+,           Juventus (Mckinney, Weah) vs Bologna 

7 pm Apple TV            Sporting KC vs LA Galaxy

8 pm Golazo, Para+    San Diego Wave vs Bay City NWSL

Mon, May 5

2:45 pm Para+, FoxD Genoa vs AC Milan (Pulisic)

3 pm USA Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Nottingham Forest

Tues, May 6                Champions League

3  pm CBS, Uni         Inter Milan vs Barcelona

Weds, May 7              Champions League

3  pm CBS, Par+       PSG (1-0) vs Arsenal

7 pm CBSSN                Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Dick) vs NYC USL  

7:30 pm Para+            Philly Union vs Indy 11   US Open Cup

Thurs, May 8    Europa

3 pm CBSSN               Bodo vs Tottenham  

3 pm Para+, Uni         Man United vs Athletic Club

3 pm para+                 Real Bettis (Cordosa) vs Fiorentina

3 pm para+                 Chelsea vs Djurgarden

Sat, May 17

ESPN+?                       Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Man City FA Cup Final
Wed, May 21

Paramount Plus             Europa League Final in Balboa, Spain

Wed, May 28

Paramount Plus             Europa Conference League Final in Poland

Sat, May 31

CBS 3 pm                     UEFA Champions League Final in Munich, Germany

5 pm TBS                     US Women vs China

Sun, June 1

Fox Sport 1                  Cruz Azul vs Vancouver Whitecaps  CC Champions Cup Final

Tues, June 3

TNT, Max, Peacock       US Women vs Jamaica

Wed, June 4

2:45 pm Fox                Germany vs Portugal – Nations League Semi

Thurs, June 5

2:45 pm Fox                Spain vs France– Nations League Semi

Sat, June 7

3:30 pm TNT, Tele      US Men vs Turkey  

Sun, June 8

2:45 pm Fox                Nations League Finals

Tues, June 10

8 pm TNT, Peacock    US Men vs Switzerland

June 13 – 29               GOLD CUP MEN

Sun, June 15

6 pm FS1                     US Men vs Trinidad   Gold Cup

Thur, June 19

6 pm FS1                     US Men vs KSA  Gold Cup

Sun, June 22

7 pm FS1                     US Men vs Haiti Gold Cup

Sun, June 26

TBS, Peacock             US Women vs Ireland

Sun, June 29^th

TNT, Peacock             US Women vs Ireland in Cincy

USA

Opinion: Bruce Arena and the weary take of staggering frailty on Mauricio Pochettino’s nationality
Christian Pulisic hits consecutive double-digit scoring seasons in 2-0 win over Venezia
Christian Pulisic’s decade-long European streak still alive as AC Milan advance to Coppa Italia final
USMNT weekend highlights: Puli goal, Luna brace, Sargent TOTS
SSFC Spotlight: Alex Freeman lighting up MLS
Poch will only select ‘right characters’ for USMNT
Marsch banned 2 games after red card vs. USMNT

Netflix to release “The 99ers” film on 1999 USWNT World Cup triumph
Atlanta a likely host for 2031 Women’s World Cup hints FIFA president Gianni Infantino
USWNT and Angel City FC superstar: A brief analysis on Alyssa Thompson
FIFA-funded study to begin research into possible menstrual cycle link to women’s knee injurie

Champions League

Breaking down European semifinals: Arsenal vs. PSG, Barcelona vs. Inter predictions
Barça, Inter, Yamal deliver perfect Champions League night
How Yamal’s first 100 games compare to other phenoms’: Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé
Inzaghi: Phenoms like Yamal ‘born every 50 years’
Thuram and Dumfries fuel return of ‘real Inter’
Sources: Barça’s Kounde to miss Inter 2nd leg
Barça battle back for draw in goalfest with Inter
Inter’s Martínez plays down Yamal-Messi links
PSG’s Dembélé shows Arsenal what they’re missing: a clinical forward
Arteta: Arsenal need ‘something special’ in Paris
The fatal errors that cost Arsenal against PSG
On a day when Messi and Ronaldo faded, Lamine Yamal filled the void

Europa League continues to offer Man United a lifeline for this season
Wins put Man Utd, Spurs on brink of unlikely final
Tottenham’s confusing season could still end with Europa League glory
How Premier League teams can qualify for Champions League, Europe this season
The secret behind Arctic Circle club Bodo/Glimt’s red-hot Europa League run
Where are the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League finals?

MLS

Inter Miami and an aging Messi ousted from CONCACAF Champions Cup
Lionel Messi continues to set attendance records during 2025 — here’s the full list
BREAKING: Club América and LAFC set to play Club World Cup playoff; Infantino ‘confirms’ FIFA plan
Inter Miami has little to show for Messi and its star-studded roster
Sources: Pogba eyeing Europe despite D.C. talks
Cruz Azul dispatch Tigres to reach the CONCACAF Champions Cup FinalOneFootball

EPL

Taking Palace to FA Cup final, Eze looks ready for next step
Chris Richards

World

Men’s soccer rivalries to know: El Clásico, Manchester Derby
Antonio Rüdiger could serve up to a 12-match ban after red card in Copa del Rey final
Cristiano Ronaldo fights back tears as Al-Nassr set to end season without a trophy

OFFICIAL: Jamie Vardy announces he’s leaving Leicester City after 13 seasons

NWSL & World

If parity is NWSL’s ‘superpower’ vs. Europe competition, is expansion its kryptonite?
Last-place Chicago Stars fire coach Donaldson
NWSL seeks to launch second division in 2026
NWSL MVP Tracker: Thompson leads USWNT in ranking, but other internationals dominate
How ruthless Chelsea romped to a sixth consecutive WSL title
Chelsea left ‘sad and frustrated’ after UWCL exit
Wrexham women lose cup final but take another step forward

Indy 11

Indy Eleven at MLS Philadelphia Union in Open Cup
Blake, Amoh Earn USL Jägermeister Cup Team of the Round Honors
Recap-MAD 0:4 IND
Indy Eleven Academy wins 3 National Championships!
Recap-IND 1:3 CHS
Foster repeats on USLC “Team of the Week”

Goalkeeping

Great Saves Donnarumma & Szczesny
Champs League Great Saves Wed  
Europa League Semi Final Great Saves
Cortious Saves vs Arsenal last round
Not Cool by Gigi Donnarumma fake falldown on Corner
Goal Kick Technique
How to Throw the Ball Properly  

Reffing

Copa del Rey final referee breaks down in tears after Real Madrid TV releases video bashing him
Real Madrid’s running battle with referees: How did it start? When will it end?
Did the VAR slip up with Evanilson’s red card vs. Man United?
Not Cool by Gigi Donnarumma

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This Week in the NWSL Records Fall and Rookies RiseThis past game weekend was perhaps the most action-packed weekend of the season so far, with dramatic comeback winners, rookie breakthroughs, and lots and lots of goals. Week 6 introduced 8 new goal-scorers to the books, with the NWSL now nearing 500 unique goal scorers in league history. The 40 club is also growing with the Spirit’s Aubrey Kingsbury and Houston’s Jane Campbell becoming the fourth and fifth goalies to have 40 career shutouts in the last two game weekends respectively. Casey Murphy needs one more shutout to add this milestone to her career.  The search for record-breaking continues as Lynn Biyendolo is only one assist away from the most regular season assists in league history. Catch Lynn at home with the Reign as the Current joins them in a high-stakes match, where the Current seeks to extend their league record for consecutive multi-goal games.

NC Courage complete historic stoppage-time comeback to beat undefeated KC Current The North Carolina Courage delivered the upset of last Saturday night, storming back in the final minutes to stun the 5-0-0 Kansas City Current. This made the Courage the first team since 2017 to score both a game-tying and game-winning goal in the 90th minute or later.  Read More      San Diego Wave’s U-17 players make history The Wave made history on Saturday night, all coming from their youth. For the first time in NWSL history, three 17-year olds started the same regular season match, and all three were U.S U-17 Youth National Team standouts. Read More Must Watch: Gotham FC vs. Chicago Stars this Sunday With Esther González leading the Golden Boot race, she will be a force to be reckoned with, although historically Chicago has the edge in this match up. On the Chicago side, Alyssa Naeher needs one more shutout for her 50 career shutout milestone. Watch this Sunday on CBS at 1PM ET.    Read More Esther González scores another brace Esther González scored a first-half brace shortly after her teammate and rookie Sarah Schupansky scored within 3 minutes of kick off. This proves to be the third brace in her last four matches, making her a forward to fear this season.   Read More

USMNT Player Tracker: Pulisic saves Milan (again), Richards gets real, and Paredes setback

By Greg O’Keeffe April 28, 2025 The Athletic

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Across the Atlantic this week, the USMNT’s overseas contingent has savored titles (and tangerines) in Scotland and enjoyed the magic of the FA Cup at Wembley. But some things don’t change: once again, Christian Pulisic gave Milan something to cling to. Elsewhere, Johnny Cardoso and Paxten Aaronson turned heads in La Liga and the Eredivisie, but Wolfsburg’s Kevin Parades suffered a blow as he continues his return from a foot injury. Read on as this week’s USMNT Player Tracker brings you all the ups and downs of the players national head coach Mauricio Pochettino will turn to this summer.

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Pulisic keeps Milan’s fading hopes alive

Pulisic’s nerves of steel meant Milan clung onto their hopes of Champions League football next season.The USMNT star was unflappable when presented with an early unexpected chance to score against Venezia on Sunday, on what manager Sergio Conceicao said was a small, dry pitch that wasn’t easy for his players.An error from the hosts at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, when they gave the ball away cheaply in their own half, allowed Milan’s Youssouf Fofana to seize possession and play in Pulisic at close range. Of course, the 26-year-old stayed cool and put it in the back of the net, giving the Rossoneri a major boost after just five minutes.That was it for another agonizing 91 minutes, as Milan had to fight against the relegation-battling Venetians before Santiago Gimenez made it 2-0 in stoppage time at the end. Pulisic’s big moment earned him the nod from Milan fans as man of the match, and he also put himself in elite statistical company. According to Opta, the goal meant he is now only one of the three Serie A players to have been directly involved in at least 50 goals (31 goals and 19 assists) in the last two seasons in all competitions, alongside Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman (50) and Lautaro Martinez (54) of Inter. In terms of what it means for his club, they are still eight points away from the Champions League qualifying spots with four league games remaining. It will be a tall order to drag themselves ahead of the teams above them, not least Weston McKennie’s Juventus, who are currently fourth and also won on Sunday. But after springing something of a surprise win over rivals Inter last week to reach the final of the Coppa Italia, then winning in Venice, at least Pulisic and co are developing upward momentum in the closing stages of what remains a below-par season.

Jeff Rueter’s graphic of the weekend

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Champ Carter-Vickers sets Rangers record straight

It was an altogether more decisive win for Pulisic’s international team-mates in Scotland on Saturday.

But USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers probably did not envisage spending a few minutes picking tangerines off the field before later celebrating his team being crowned champions. Celtic’s 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United earned the 27-year-old a fourth title medal with Celtic in a game that was interrupted during the first half when Celtic fans threw the fruit onto the field as a protest against their opponents’ ticketing prices for the game. Around the 12-minute mark, the supporters in the away section threw the tangerines and unfurled a banner reading “£njoy th£ fruits of our labour”.

Staff clear tangerines from the Tannardice turf (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

That aside, it was easy work for Carter-Vickers and his team, who have now won the Scottish top flight 13 times in the past 14 seasons.

Carter-Vickers was a happy man, then, but he disagreed when asked afterwards whether Celtic had to set the record straight in their next game, which happens to be against rivals Rangers, who have dented an otherwise glittering season by beating them twice.

“Yes. I mean, some people might say set the record (straight),” he told the Daily Record. “I wouldn’t personally use that kind of language because for me, it’s not just like one or two games in the season, but the whole 38.“And I think we’ve shown over the 38 games that we are the best team. But, yeah, we definitely want to win the game next weekend and put in a strong performance because, at the end of the day, we know it’s something that the fans care about and we care about also.“Of course we want to win. We want to win every game we play. And that’s no different for who it is.”It might have been a less perfect afternoon for Carter-Vickers’ U.S. team-mate Auston Trusty, who was benched and did not make it onto the field in the game that confirmed their title. Trusty, who recently became a new father, has not featured in three of his team’s four most recent games. On Saturday, manager Brendan Rodgers preferred Republic of Ireland defender Liam Scales ahead of him. But he did not let that spoil the fun for him and was on the fruit-free pitch to enjoy the post-match celebrations.

Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Jeffrey Schlupp and Arne Engels celebrate on a fruit-free field (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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Straight from the horse’s mouth

The Champagne wasn’t quite uncorked yet for another USMNT defender on Saturday, but it could be on ice. Chris Richards took his usual place in Crystal Palace’s indomitable back three at Wembley in their hugely impressive 3-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa. The south London club will now face Manchester City in the final on May 17, after Pep Guardiola’s side beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the other semi on Sunday. Before Palace’s big win, Richards did the media rounds and chatted with Men in Blazers, who asked him about the USMNT’s woeful performances in March’s Concacaf Nations League semi-final and third-place games.

“I think the best adjective for what happened in the last camp was we got Concacaf’d,” he said. “We’re going to have to put this show pony-ness away.”

Richards and Ben Chilwell helped Palace shut out Aston Villa (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Then asked why the U.S. players haven’t always been able to translate successful club form onto the international scene, he added: “One of the reasons I think that everyone has been so successful at their clubs is you’re in that environment every day. “I know it’s hard to emulate that when it comes to national team, but I think that’s why guys seemed so much more in tune or sharper — you’re playing with these guys every single day and when you’re coming to national team, these are guys you only train with, depending on flights, depending on times, maybe two days leading up to a game.

“I understand that’s what every national team is doing, so there’s no excuse, but we needed to be more competitive in the last camp and I think going forward, not just from the players’ aspect but from the coaching aspect… we kind of had a coming-to-Jesus meeting after the last game and we can’t let something like the last camp happen again — especially leading up to a World Cup.”What You Should Read NextChris Richards on USMNT and Crystal Palace ambition: ‘It would go berserk if we won a trophy’The defender from Birmingham, Alabama is part of a tight-knit group at Selhurst Park whose faith has strengthened team unity

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How did other U.S. players get on?

Name: Ethan Horvath
Club: Cardiff City
Position: Goalkeeper
Appearances (all competitions): 18

Horvath experienced the low of relegation with his Welsh club on Saturday when their 0-0 draw with U.S.-owned West Brom sealed their EFL Championship fate.

It meant Cardiff will be in League One, England’s third-tier, next term, but the 29-year-old, who joined the Bluebirds in the winter transfer window, still made some excellent saves on a difficult afternoon.

Name: Kevin Paredes
Club: Wolfsburg
Position: Midfielder/wing-back
Appearances: 2

Paredes was so impressive on his return from long-term injury last time out, creating a goal in the 2-2 draw with Mainz, that he kept his place for Wolfsburg’s game against Freiburg on Saturday.

However, it was a difficult afternoon for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, who were reduced to 10 men after just 26 minutes and ended up losing 1-0. Despite the result, Paredes looked sharp again until he was forced off just past the hour with a hamstring problem.

That is believed to be a minor strain and while he is likely to miss the next game against Gio Reyna’s Borussia Dortmund, he should be back in contention for Wolfsburg’s final two fixtures of the Bundesliga campaign.

Paredes grabs Freiburg’s Patrick Osterhage (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Perhaps Paredes will have the words of the national coach in his mind after Pochettino said last week that the USMNT needs players to “fight for the people that would love to be in your position” and “the right characters to be really competitive”.

The 21-year-old, who fell to his knees and sobbed when his young U.S. side were knocked out of the men’s soccer tournament during last summer’s Olympics, is hoping that his will to win (and electric talent) catches Pochettino’s eye. Now he must end the season with Wolfsburg strongly and earn a chance to feature in the USMNT’s summer friendlies or Gold Cup campaign.

Name: Paxten Aaronsen
Club: FC Utrecht
Position: Midfielder
Appearances: 35

The 21-year-old is another young prospect hoping to gain more senior USMNT exposure this summer on the back of a strong season.

He grabbed an assist as Utrecht won 4-0 away at RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie. They’re now fourth in the table and level on points with Feyenoord in third. Aaronson has been a key part of this push for Champions League football, with seven league goals to his name so far and having created four more.

His success means the Dutch club, who loaned him for the season from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, want to borrow the American again next season.

“We are in talks with Frankfurt,” said Utrecht coach Ron Jans recently. “We hope we can keep him for another year. It will take a few weeks before it is clear whether it will work.”

Whether Frankfurt are inclined to oblige remains to be seen.

Een jongensdroom die uit is gekomen voor Paxten Aaronson 💭

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) April 24, 2025

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What’s coming up?

(All Eastern Time)

Johnny Cardoso is having a fine old time with his club Real Betis. They’re sixth in La Liga, on course for Europa League qualification and only six points off the Champions League qualification places.

Last Thursday, they thumped Valladolid 5-1, meaning they head into their Europa Conference League semi-final against Fiorentina on Thursday in fine fettle.

Cardoso’s performances have caught the eye and he has been praised by former USMNT player Charlie Davies.

“Johnny Cardoso: we have to talk about him now, at the moment,” Davies said on CBS Sports Golazo America. “(He’s) 23 years old, killing it at Real Betis, another massive goal for him at the club, and he was near perfect on the ball (in Betis’ previous win over Girona). I think he’s really found a good role within this team and Isco is the guy that makes this team tick, but in terms of being an outlet and being able to shuttle the ball across, he has great positioning.”

Watch them in that semi-final on Thursday (3pm, Paramount+).

Cardoso is enjoying his time with Real Betis (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

By Saturday, we will know if Antonee Robinson has recovered from the knee pain that has plagued him lately to face Aston Villa in the Premier League (7:30am, Peacock Premium).

Given the load on him this season for club and country and the possibility of further football in the summer’s Gold Cup, it will be vital that the left-back’s minutes are managed carefully to prevent his knee issue becoming worse going into the World Cup year.

Also on Saturday, Bournemouth and Tyler Adams are charged with trying to end their season on a high after their promise stalled, leaving them in mid-table. They travel to second-placed Arsenal (12:30pm, Peacock Premium).

Finally, next Monday, see if Pulisic and Milan’s belated mini-revival can keep going when they take on Genoa (2:45pm, Paramount+).(Top photos: Getty Images)

Barcelona are the world’s most fun team to watch – because they are flawed

By Pol Ballús May 1, 2025

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“I am extremely proud of the performance my squad has put in, because tonight we faced one of the most offensive and beautiful teams in the world.”

Those were the words of Inter manager, Simone Inzaghi, after the first leg of a thrilling tie in the Champions League semi-finals. Six goals, an endless carousel of highlights and arguably the best game in the competition this season.

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Among all the things we learned on Wednesday night was the reassurance that Barcelona are the world’s most entertaining team — which does not mean the best.

How Lamine Yamal carried his team in a mind-blowing exhibition, the fact they scored three goals against a team that had only conceded four in 12 games in the Champions League this season, and the mentality the squad showed in coming back from a two-goal deficit, and then 3-2 down, were a treat to witness. But all of this happened because the Catalans were imperfect, as they have been throughout the whole season.

Since Hansi Flick took charge last summer, Barca’s approach in games has been enthralling but self-destructive. They are defined by a high defensive line, which they combine with a relentless counter-press. Flick’s system has been generally well adjusted during the season, and his squad’s offensive firepower has brought them to where they are right now — in sight of a remarkable treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey (which they won in similarly ridiculous fashion last weekend).

But their football is a high-wire act, and it feels like every play in a game has only two potential outcomes: Barcelona suffocates their opponent and destroys them, or as soon as a team slides through their first line of pressure, they find a vulnerable defence to capitalise on.

That was perfectly exposed in the Inter game. Barca registered 19 shots against Inter. They scored three goals and hit the woodwork two more times. Meanwhile, Inter had seven shots, three of them on target which resulted in goals, and had a fourth one disallowed because Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s toe was somehow in an offside position.

This is the price Flick has to pay in order to play like Barca do. The most extreme example is probably Yamal, a precocious talent who makes the difference like nobody else in the offensive end. However, that attacking output is offset by the knowledge that he will be less active in off-the-ball pressing or defending.

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Frenkie de Jong is similar. He is a luxury of a holding midfielder, a gifted technician that does not lose a ball, can split pressing lines driving the ball and is in the best form of his Barca career. However, as soon as he is not in possession, you will see him struggling to fill the gaps in defence, being as aggressive on duels as he should be and, therefore, making the team more vulnerable.

“We are not going to back down on our plan — in fact, I’d say the opposite,” said a source in Barcelona’s backroom staff — who prefers to remain anonymous in order to protect their position — in the build-up to the Inter game. “We’ll double our trust in the approach we have to the game. We’ll keep playing as radical as you’ve seen.”

Yamal is a genius on the ball but offers little protection (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)

Inter manager Simone Inzaghi went on the same line while speaking to Italian broadcasters after the game. “Barcelona’s strategy is very risky, but it pays off,” he said. “They’ve scored over 150 goals, have already won two titles, and are still competing for two more.”

What happened in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals is not news to Barcelona. They arrived at the game after Saturday’s fascinating Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, when they won 3-2 with a comeback sealed in extra-time.

A week earlier, they came back from 3-1 down against Celta Vigo to claim another injury-time win in La Liga. Over the last five games Barca played across all competitions, they have conceded 11 goals.

There might be an explanation behind this recent tendency, though: Barca players are exhausted, and some are injured.

Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde were not available for the first leg, with backups Ferran Torres and Gerard Martin replacing them. Jules Kounde is very likely to miss the second leg through a hamstring injury suffered against Inter. Meanwhile, Pedri, arguably their most influential player, has spent so long on the pitch this season that he can hardly complete 90 minutes.

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“It’s not easy, when you play every three days, to train things as you’d want,” said Flick during his post-match media duties. “This is the situation. Kounde’s injury is also about playing every three days. It happens.”

It all comes at a time when Barca are facing some of the best squads in Europe as they pursue the treble. But the dressing room is not worried by that.

“It’s good to see what we do because we like to play attacking football, control the game and score goals,” said De Jong after the game. “We take some risks with that, but I think we also obtain many good things, so we will keep having the same mentality.”

De Jong says Barcelona will not sacrifice their principles (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“We wanted more,” added Yamal. “I believe we could have won the game. I’m happy to help the team but I always want to win and that’s why I ended the game a bit bitter.

“But we will go again like we did today. We are focused on the second leg, and we’ll go right after them.”

Hold on tight: next Tuesday’s decider in Milan promises to be a must-watch.

(Top photo: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Lamine Yamal’s first press conference: Messi comparisons, hair dye and silencing the critics

Lamine Yamal on Lionel Messi parallels: ‘I don’t want to compare me with anyone’

Barcelona’s Jules Kounde likely to miss Champions League semi-final second leg with injury

Inter Miami has little to show for Messi, star-studded roster

• Lizzy Becherano ESPN May 1, 2025, 01:40 AM ET

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Chase Stadium was vibrating just moments ahead of the first whistle as supporters filled every seat, with chants echoing throughout the stands and pink Inter Miami CF flags waving in the air. By the 72nd minute, however, the Vancouver Whitecaps managed to completely silence the once lively cauldron with a fierce attack as the large scoreboard read MIA: 1, VAN: 3. The life that once coursed through the rows of Chase Stadium in the moments prior to the goals felt like a distant memory as fans succumbed to the disappointment of an elimination in the knockout round of yet another tournament. Once the referee blew the final whistle, those still left in the stands clapped, but the players ignored those efforts, choosing to exit the pitch with haste. Lionel Messi rushed into the tunnel with his head down, stepping into the darkness of Chase Stadium’s infrastructure to leave everything about this series behind him on the pitch.

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Inter Miami knew they faced an enormous challenge when entering the match with a 2-0 deficit from the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal first leg, but no one expected the final 5-1 aggregate scoreline.

When signing the Barcelona boys, Inter Miami co-owner Mas vowed continuous success would enthrall spectators at Chase Stadium and fans all over the world. Though the club saw immediate results when winning the inaugural Leagues Cup trophy, in 2023, Inter Miami could not keep up with expectations. With each passing season, the club finds new ways to strengthen the playing squad and provide Messi with the necessary tools to thrive in the final third in a bid to keep that initial promise of trophies. But efforts continue to fall short, paving the way for the same, tired concern: where is the silverware for this star-studded roster?

Just over a year ago, on April 11, Inter Miami fell 5-2 on aggregate to CF Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Former head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino blamed MLS roster rules, insisting the constraints of the American system held the team back from competing against Liga MX giants who overspend on every position. Despite the initial declarations, Inter Miami vowed to come back stronger in 2025.This year felt different for supporters as the club made several changes to the roster in hopes of finding success after the 2024 disappointments. The team incorporated players like Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende and Maximiliano Falcón into the starting XI, while making necessary additions to the bench for depth. At the helm, Miami found new leadership to steer the club to triumph. Mesmerized by his football philosophy, Mas insisted Javier Mascherano would be the one to untap international stardom and guide the historic leap into the semifinals.”There is pressure here to win, and that pressure is going to continue. We expect it of ourselves, our coaches and players,” Mas said when introducing Mascherano as head coach in November 2024.To which the new coach reaffirmed: “I am convinced I can do it. I have no doubt.”But instead, history repeated itself as the team fell short and Inter Miami was once again eliminated just shy of the final.Inter Miami started the second leg strongly, kicking off the match with the energy of a team that needed a miracle to advance. Players chased every ball, won those 50-50 challenges that felt impossible in Canada, and connected well on the attack.By the ninth minute, Messi danced his way to the final third to find Luis Suárez and initiate the first goal-scoring play of the night. The pass from Messi to his former Barcelona teammate and current attacking partner ignited Suárez to connect with Jordi Alba — another Barça alum — for the left-back to fire truly home.

The goal made its way through the fantastic four, starting from Sergio Busquets, coming through Messi and Suarez before Alba found the net. But the magic fizzled out in the second half, after suddenly two defensive errors cost Miami two goals in the span of three minutes and ultimately the series. Those two goals dismantled the hope of a comeback for Inter Miami and, with that, the game plan Mascherano set out to complete through his players vanished.Instead, flashbacks of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals match against Monterrey began to crop up. On April 11, 2024, the team entered the second leg at a disadvantage, needing two goals or more to secure a positive result. Though players arrived at the BBVA Stadium in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, anxious to live up to the expectations that the coach, squad and team executives set for fans, efforts disappointed. When Monterrey gained the lead, the Herons took an anemic hit and began unraveling.

Herculez Gomez and Cristina Alexander debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

This time around, the game felt no different.

After the 53rd minute, when Brian White and Pedro Vite scored within four minutes of each other, desperation became the leading contributor to decision-making. The deep concentration and man-to-man marking that defender Maximiliano Falcon discussed during the pre-match conference could no longer be seen on the field.Players resulted to shoving and physical tactics over technique, while Mascherano made rash decisions from the sidelines. The two goals forced the Miami boss to make key changes to the line-up, incorporating Allen Obando for Segovia, and Gonzalo Luján to replace Falcon for the first time since signing those players in pre-season.On the field, those in the attack began to sporadically shoot in the direction of the goal in hope of finding the back of the net. Even Messi, who knows how to read the field with precision to perfectly plan his next move, began involving himself in every aspect of the game with angst. The player who naturally prioritizes calculated plays over impulsive actions could not hold back from attacking every opportunity with frustration. He didn’t wait for players to find him in the final third for the determining goal-scoring opportunity, instead he went out of his way to find the ball himself across the entire pitch.

With patience, smarter decisions could’ve been made to connect passes and dance through defenders to beat the goalkeeper, as the team has done countless times this season.

Gomez: More important Inter Miami win Champions Cup than MLS

Herculez Gomez speaks ahead of Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal second leg vs. Vancouver.”In the span of three to four minutes they decided the series. We wanted to play a longer game, without rushing and with calm,” said Mascherano after the match. “We were one goal away from tying the series and what we pretended to do is have a long game.”The hardest part was done, which was to score the first goal. But this is football, especially in a semifinal. Two or three errors against a good opponent, obviously good because they reached the semifinal, but they end up hurting you and end up sentencing with the series.”The game plan dissipated and no amount of star power on the roster could save the club from elimination. Inter Miami have come to know this reality all too well. Mascherano couldn’t even rely on Tata Martino’s former excuse as the team played against three MLS teams and stood as one of the highest-valued rosters on this side of the bracket.After Wednesday’s match, Busquets vowed that Miami would come back stronger, like the team did in 2024.”We keep getting further and further every year,” he said. “But with that consolation although today it’s not much. We think ahead.”The difference this time around, however, is that time is running out, and the clock continues to wind down on the careers of Miami’s fantastic four. By 2026, the Herons may look wildly different as the contracts of Suárez, Messi, Alba and Busquets run through the end of the 2025 MLS campaign.Rumors continue to swirl, and talks remain ongoing about extending the contract of Messi, but his supporting cast may choose to retire come December, or play somewhere else, and Inter Miami will have little to show for their time in South Florida.One Leagues Cup trophy and a Supporters’ Shield is not the decorated silverware that Mas promised at the presentation of these players in 2023. Breaking the MLS record for most points scored in single season will not be enough for Inter Miami at the end of this star-studded chapter.Inter Miami still have three opportunities to win a trophy this season: MLS, the Leagues Cup and the Club World Cup. Wednesday night’s elimination has never made it more clear: this side has precious few chances left to win the silverware it so desperately craves.

Sebastian Berhalter’s arrival makes for a unique North American soccer plot twist

By Jeff Rueter pril 30, 2025 The Athletic

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Study Sebastian Berhalter’s rapidly burgeoning goal catalog, and the majority of any clip’s duration leaves him out of the frame entirely.A breakout star on the Vancouver Whitecaps, currently the hottest team in North America, Berhalter is a regular starter as a right-sided central midfielder. He’s a vital part of the Whitecaps’ build-up, an increasingly expert progressive passer who rates among MLS’s best in the current season. Once the ball is among the forwards, he carefully picks his moment to arrive near the box. It’s a facet of his game that he’s been relishing in this year.Minnesota United was just the latest to learn about Berhalter’s late-arriving quality to open the scoring in their Sunday matinee.It’s perhaps a fitting calling card given Berhalter’s gradual rise as a player. Just shy of his 24th birthday, he was touted as a player to watch as a future MLS contributor but was often overshadowed. He didn’t break out before turning 20, as peers like Aidan Morris and Caden Clark may have, and he wasn’t a regular starter until landing with his third team in the league, joining Vancouver ahead of the 2022 season.These days, the son of former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter is making a name all his own, among the headliners of a Whitecaps side entering the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal second leg against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in pole position.

“It’s kind of been a steady incline, and I think that’s something that’s kind of been consistent in my life,” Berhalter told The Athletic. “It’s never come for me all at once. I’ve had to work really hard to be where I’m at, so it’s kind of like — I don’t want to say it’s what I’m expecting, but it’s something that I have the confidence that if I just keep doing what I’m going to do, then eventually it’s going to come.”

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The 2020 season was poised to be the dawn of Berhalter’s MLS career. He had just signed a homegrown contract with the Columbus Crew and was projected to earn MLS minutes. When the COVID-19 pandemic put the country into lockdown, however, his development went in an entirely different direction.

With the world displaying an abundance of caution, the sport stood still for clubs and countries alike. There were no games, no training sessions for young players to get their reps and be ready for a return to play. Sebastian headed to Chicago, joining his father and working under Gregg to refine his game as his professional career was just kicking off.Look beyond the family ties, and this was a rare chance for a still-developing young midfielder to get one-on-one guidance from an active national team coach. Throughout his upbringing, Sebastian had been told he’d need to forge his own path to reach his professional dreams.“That’s probably, when I look back at it, one of the most important times in my life, in terms of as a soccer player and as a person,” the younger Berhalter said of those sessions at a field beside Lane Tech High School.“He knows how to kind of keep me in check, how to push my buttons. It was fun, man. Looking back on it, that’s exactly what I needed. I needed to kind of be broken down a little bit, and that’s what he did.”Admittedly, Sebastian didn’t always “love it all the time.” There was no corner to cut, no eased expectations to keep the peace at that night’s dinner. These sessions were tailored specifically to bolster the young player’s chances of enjoying a successful career.

Former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter now runs the Chicago Fire in MLS. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)

Among the most important takeaways from these sessions was helping Sebastian adjust his game to “physically, actually just grow into my body.” Speed was at the top of the list, recalibrating his stride and explosiveness to get as much from him as he could.“He did a great job, and I’m thankful for that,” Sebastian said, “because it was one of the only times in my life he’s really trained with me. He was super hands off (when I was) growing up. It was always, like, ‘You’ve got to do it by yourself.’ It kind of instilled that into me, my work ethic — ‘OK, if I want this, I’m gonna have to go get it.’”While he didn’t immediately parlay those lessons into a starting role, making nine league appearances as the Crew went on to win MLS Cup 2020, it was a vital crash course that provided a sturdy bedrock upon which to build out his technical skillset and mental acumen.When talking about those training sessions, Berhalter calls himself “one of the luckiest guys in the world.” If he feels he needs a keen observer to provide a tip or some advice, he’s able to pick the brain of the USMNT coach with the best winning percentage of anyone who has held the job on a permanent basis.There were times, however, when that status as a national team manager put Gregg and his family in a bright, if unwanted, spotlight — perhaps at no time more than after the 2022 World Cup.

Sebastian was in Qatar throughout the USMNT’s run, seeing his dad’s team advance from its group before falling to the Netherlands in the round of 16. Soon after, news broke that midfield star Gio Reyna — whose lack of utilization was a common talking point during the team’s run — had frustrated his teammates with a lack of effort in training before the opening match against Wales. Reyna apologized to the team later during the group stage, and the matter seemed resolved.

Public interest around Reyna’s situation sustained into early 2023, when Gregg Berhalter’s comments at a leadership symposium went public. He referenced the situation (omitting any player’s name) in what he said was supposed to be an off-record session. News also broke that Reyna’s parents, Claudio and Danielle, had called U.S. Soccer to bring up a domestic incident between Gregg and his now-wife, Rosalind, while the two were in college — a perceived attempt at blackmail against a coach who didn’t start their child at a World Cup.That the two families were close and had shared deep ties with each other made for, without a doubt, one of the ugliest off-field scandals in program history. Berhalter was ultimately re-hired for a second tenure after an independent investigation, and his dynamic with Gio Reyna was a frequent point of discussion through the rest of his tenure, which ended after the 2024 Copa América. While it was undeniably a difficult moment, Sebastian felt it ultimately strengthened the Berhalters’ bond.“I think it definitely brought our family closer together, everyone,” Sebastian said. “Because of that, we’re closer together than we were before, which is cool, just to see everyone have each other’s backs. Now we know that we’re a tight-knit family.”Berhalter unequivocally said he’s proud of his father’s work with the USMNT, adding that he took cues from how Gregg handled media scrutiny.“It just never affected him. It doesn’t matter what anyone says, you’re doing your job. It’s something that I definitely take with me,” he said.Given their similar ages and parents’ friendship, Sebastian and Gio (who is roughly 18 months younger) grew up as friends. When asked if he and Gio have spoken about the saga, or if their relationship is in a better place, Sebastian simply said “no,” not displaying a desire to elaborate.

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Sebastian Berhalter has had plenty to celebrate in 2025. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)

To further Berhalter’s development after its 2020 MLS Cup title, Columbus sent him on loan to Austin FC for their inaugural season in 2021. Coached by Josh Wolff, a former assistant of Gregg’s with the Crew and USMNT, Sebastian Berhalter admitted he “got beat down a little bit,” but quickly assessed that it was what he needed to make it at the game’s highest level.

When Austin, whose sporting director at the time was Claudio Reyna, turned down the purchase option at the end of his loan, Berhalter was traded by Columbus to Vancouver for just $50,000 of allocation money — the lowest amount MLS allows teams to trade — with an additional $50,000 of performance metrics. Even when assuming he cleared those benchmarks, it’s among the best bargain acquisitions in recent memory.

Since joining the Whitecaps, Berhalter’s minutes have increased with each successive season, and he’s on track to eclipse his 2024 ledger of 2,021 in MLS competition. He has evolved into the archetypal box-to-box midfielder, a late-arriving number 8 who can keep the team moving towards goal while having an eagerness to track back and defend if possession changes hands. He’s part of an established core that have been together for multiple seasons, making movement patterns easier as many starters can dependably trust each other’s instincts.

“I think you see that when we play,” Berhalter said. “You can see it’s a group that’s been together for three to four years, and everyone trusts each other. Everyone believes in each other. We know each other so well. It’s nice to see that everything’s coming together.”

Goals like the opener on Sunday are also a byproduct of how the Whitecaps have had to adjust in the young season. Since 2021, Scotland international Ryan Gauld has been at the heart of Vancouver’s attack, among the best playmakers in MLS. However, Gauld picked up a knee injury in the team’s third game of the regular season, leaving reason to wonder if the club could maintain its form without its most important facilitator.Berhalter has picked up some of that responsibility, also benefitting from new coach Jesper Sørensen’s field-tilt machine that keeps more of Vancouver’s touches in the final third. As of April 29, he averages 37.4 pass attempts in the opponent’s half per 90 minutes, up from roughly 26 per 90 in each of the last three seasons. Despite the massive uptick in volume, he’s also displayed career-best accuracy, completing 87.9% of his attacking half passes and 79% of those attempted in the final third.

“It’s something I think I can do as a player, and it’s been fun,” Berhalter said of his increased utilization near the box. “I like arriving. I feel like when I arrive, I can still get back, so it’s not a big issue for me. I want to score, I want to assist, I want to help the team win games. I think that’s the most important thing, whatever role it is.”

“Arriving” is a word Berhalter uses often when talking about his progression over the past year or two, using movement to unsettle a defense as it establishes itself against an attack. Two players he studies closely in regards to arriving are Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and Barcelona attacking midfielder Pedri.

“I think those two are ones that are a little bit different in ways,” Berhalter said. “But they both have that almost defining characteristic of having their specialties. With Tonali, it’s just powerful, being able to arrive (despite contact). Pedri, it’s the way he can take the ball anywhere and also still being able to arrive.”

He’s also a key figure on a team that’s often overlooked in the broader MLS landscape. Vancouver props up the upper-left corner of the league’s geography, some distance from other Canadian clubs in Toronto and Montreal while being overshadowed in the Pacific Northwest by a historic rivalry between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers. This year has even more weight to it for Vancouver, as the club is actively up for sale.

Berhalter stops short of branding his team an underdog, even as it squares off with the superteam on the opposite corner of MLS’s map. He said Vancouver “doesn’t need the media attention,” and has gotten used to not getting much over the past three seasons. When bringing a 2-0 advantage from the first leg to Miami, it’s highly unlikely that the moment will phase the Whitecaps.

“Yeah, it’s one game at a time,” Berhalter said. “That’s probably been the biggest thing, because when you have that many games, you can’t look too far ahead. Especially with opponents like Miami, you can tend to look ahead and be like, ‘Oh, we’re playing this guy, playing that guy.’ It’s been good. It’s honestly been impressive with this group, how we’ve handled this. I think just internally, everyone’s been really driven, really focused, and everyone knows what they need to do to get the job done.”

Sebastian Berhalter marks Lionel Messi in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. (Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images)

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The Berhalter family has never been more present in MLS, with Sebastian starring for an MLS Cup contender and Gregg attempting to rebuild the Chicago Fire as head coach and director of football. And we may again see a member of the family back with the USMNT given Sebastian’s play. Few midfielders in the U.S. pool are in as fine of form, and his two-way play and emergence stand in sharp contrast to the criticism U.S. players received after a shocking showing in March’s Nations League finals.

As of April 28, Berhalter said he hasn’t heard from manager Mauricio Pochettino or his staff about whether he’s being eyed for a possible call-up at this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. Then again, these things move quickly — Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang hadn’t heard from the federation either until just before his debut in January. While Berhalter is level-headed as always with his answer, it’s clear how much it would mean for him to represent his country.

“It’s been my dream since I’ve been a kid, but I think it’s something that I’m just taking one game at a time,” Berhalter said. “Being around the national team so much — I think I’ve watched every recent game more than probably anyone else has (laughing) — but yeah, it’s not something I’m thinking about. I just worry about winning games here and performing well.”

Those wins keep coming for Vancouver, which sits atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings at the end of April. Goal contributions and good team results are providing plenty of highlights and moments to bookmark. So, too, did the team’s sole defeat to date in league play.

On March 22, with the Whitecaps among many teams carrying depleted rosters during the international window, Vancouver welcomed Chicago to BC Place. For the first time, Sebastian lined up against a team coached by his father. The Fire won 3-1.

Nevertheless, it was an unforgettable instance for a player who has earned his starting spot. Regardless of whether he breaks through with the U.S. before the World Cup, or at all, his form since becoming a regular in the Whitecaps’ lineup last year has cemented his arrival.

“I went to him before the game,” Sebastian said of Gregg, “and right after everyone shook hands, he just came over and said he’s proud of me. That was probably one of the coolest moments in my career, where you have your dad on the sideline telling you he’s proud of you.

“It was a cool moment. That gave me the confidence to just go have fun and enjoy it; you know, you’ve earned this.”

The prospect of a Man Utd vs Spurs Europa League final feels wrong – but is it really a shock?

By Elias Burke ay 2, 2025Updated 5:28 am EDT

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After Paris Saint-Germain burst Arsenal’s post-Real Madrid bubble in the Champions League on Tuesday, Thursday was England’s day in Europe.

In the UEFA Conference League, a heavily rotated Chelsea side hammered Djurgarden 4-1 on artificial turf in Sweden. In the Europa League, Manchester United produced one of the shocks of the competition, putting their five-game Premier League winless run behind them to beat Athletic Club 3-0 in Bilbao.

n the other side of the bracket, Tottenham Hotspur took care of business in north London, beating Norway’s Bodo/Glimt 3-1. Glimt are excellent at home, and the Arctic conditions and plastic pitch at the Aspmyra Stadion will act as a leveller in the second leg, but Spurs’ two-goal advantage makes them firm favourites to reach the final.

It won’t be the first time a Premier League club has come close to European glory in unusual circumstances — England has produced a few unlikely Europa League finalists over the years. In 2005-06, when the tournament was named the UEFA Cup, Middlesbrough reached the final while toiling in the league’s bottom half, finishing 14th. They knocked out Roma and Basel, among others, before losing 4-0 to Sevilla in the final.

Fulham’s run to the final in 2009-10 was arguably even more impressive, eliminating Italian giants Juventus 5-4 on aggregate in the last 16 despite only finishing 12th in the league.

United and Tottenham’s status and financial strength meant they were both among the strong favourites to win the tournament before it started, but if they both make it to Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium on May 21, given their domestic struggles, it will rank among the Premier League’s most prominent displays of strength on the European stage.

Ruben Amorim’s domestic struggles have been forgotten in Europe (Ander Gillenea/AFP via Getty Images)

Both sides are on course for historically poor Premier League seasons. After taking a 5-1 battering away to Liverpool on Sunday, Tottenham can no longer mathematically finish in the top half — the first time they’ll finish outside the top 10 since 2008 (also, coincidentally, the last year they won a major trophy, the League Cup).

Since breaking the top four in 2009-10, Spurs have established themselves as a near-perennial top-six club, but having already lost 19 times in the league (a club Premier League record), the prospect of restoring pride in the league is gone and winning the Europa League is the only way to save their season.Much of this narrative also applies to United, perhaps even unlikelier Europa League finalists. After a second-half collapse at Old Trafford in the quarter-final against Lyon, allowing the French club to come back from 2-0 down to lead 4-2 in extra time, United produced a fightback that was improbable even by their illustrious standards, scoring three times in seven minutes to win 5-4 on aggregate. Against all logic, both clubs, under the guidance of under-pressure head coaches, have displayed an ability to leave their weekend woes behind to step up on Thursday nights.

Should we be that surprised, though? The obvious caveat to any narrative regarding the “magic” of their European journeys, and the shock at seeing two teams who have struggled so badly in the Premier League stand on the cusp of a major trophy, is that Tottenham and United were the obvious favourites to reach this point given their financial strength.

The figures show that English top-flight clubs, particularly those in the ‘Big Six’, operate far above their Europa League competitors in terms of their transfer kitty and salary budget. Indeed, their resources dwarf many of the continent’s most prominent “legacy clubs”.

Tottenham have a vast stadium – and resources (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

According to the Deloitte Money League, United’s revenue in the 2023-24 season of £655million (€770million; £$870m) made them the fourth richest club in the world. Tottenham, whose revenues totalled £523m are ninth. The next club from this season’s Europa League in this table are 20th-placed Lyon, with revenues of £224m.

This is also the first season under the new 36-club format where third-placed clubs from the Champions League have not dropped to UEFA’s secondary tournament, eliminating the chance of facing clubs who started in Europe’s premier club competition and may come closer to financial parity.

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None of that will matter to the players or their coaches, both of whom have been under intense scrutiny given their Premier League records. The prospect of reaching a European final will also not be lost on the supporters, many of whom have travelled the country watching their clubs fail on a weekly basis. Irrespective of how likely their chances of reaching the final were before the first ball was kicked in September, the fact they’re on their way to one is remarkable given the wider context of their seasons.

Those at Old Trafford for the quarter-final second leg will be reluctant to assume the final is a formality, as will the Spurs fans who watched Glimt beat Lazio 2-0 in the quarter-final first leg in freezing temperatures Ange Postecoglou’s players are not accustomed to.

But if they meet in Spain on May 21 and Chelsea join one of them in lifting a European trophy in Poland a week later, this unlikely-ish meeting will perhaps be the most convincing display yet of the depth of quality in England’s top tier.

(Top photos: Casemiro, left, and James Maddison; Getty Images)

Is Lamine Yamal already the best footballer in Europe? And if not, who is?

By Oliver Kay, Stuart James and more

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May 2, 2025 12:10 am EDT

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“Lamine is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years,” said Simone Inzaghi after watching the 17-year-old Yamal shine against his Inter team during a breathless 3-3 Champions League semi-final first leg draw in Barcelona.

“One thing that amazes me in football is you always think that there is nobody better than Ronaldo and Messi, (Ruud) Gullit, (Diego) Maradona, a lot of people, and then Lamine Yamal arrives,” said Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal and Barcelona forward working for U.S. broadcaster CBS.

In the afterglow of a wonderful performance, in which he scored one beautiful goal, glided across the pitch, turned defenders inside out and showed off his range of tricks, there was no shortage of praise for Yamal.

Yamal bends in a beautiful Champions League goal against Inter (Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The draw with Inter was his 100th appearance and brought his 22nd goal (along with 33 assists). At the same age, Cristiano Ronaldo had made 19 appearances (featuring five goals and four assists) and Lionel Messi had made nine, scoring once.

All of which makes it easy to conclude that he is already the best player in Europe. Or as the former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand put it: “As a pure football talent, I’m going as far as to say I think Lamine Yamal is on another level to any player playing the game in the top five leagues in world football.”

Excitement has long surrounded Yamal, from his moment of perfection at the Euro 2024, to the comparisons with Messi he is keen to avoid.

But is he already the best footballer in Europe? And if he isn’t, who is?

We asked our writers.

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‘It is when, not if, he wins the Ballon d’Or’

If I could watch anyone play right now, it would be Lamine Yamal. Every time Yamal got the ball against Inter, you expected something to happen — and that something could be anything because of his incredible talent and the fact that he plays with so much freedom. His goal was breathtaking — a sinuous run and then a shot that was not just beautifully placed but executed in a way (taken early, minimal backlift) that left Yann Sommer, the Inter goalkeeper, rooted.

I actually enjoyed Yamal’s run a few minutes later even more. Poor Federico Dimcarco, who went sliding on by (totally off the pitch) as Yamal, the master of the chop, expertly dragged the ball back inside the wing-back. But for Sommer’s fingertips, we would be talking about another exceptional goal.

To say that Yamal is the best in the world right now, at the age of 17, feels like a big claim. There’s an argument that he needs to score more prolifically – he’s averaging close to one every three this season in all competitions (six goals in 30 appearances in La Liga), and for that reason, I’d put him behind someone like Mohamed Salah, whose numbers are astonishing. But Yamal is a genius and it’s a matter of when, not if, he wins the Ballon d’Or.

Stuart James

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‘I’ve never seen a better 17-year-old footballer… but…’

He’s phenomenal and I love watching him. I would go so far as to say — with caveats to follow — that I’ve never seen a better 17-year-old footballer.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were incredibly talented, but they were not influencing games at the highest level at 17. What Yamal is doing is almost unheard of, but a word of caution: what Ansu Fati was doing at 17 was also extraordinary. Progression is rarely linear.

The Messi/Ronaldo period has created what is an unrealistic perception of what greatness is. In the 1990s and 2000s, “best in the world” was always a fairly fluid debate; back then, it was arguably Rivaldo or (original) Ronaldo or Zinedine Zidane or Paolo Maldini or Luis Figo or Ronaldinho or Kaka or, indeed, Thierry Henry at various points.

Messi and Ronaldo shifted expectations, but Yamal is doing things beyond them at 17 (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)

I expect the post-Messi era will be similar, with “best in the world” status more transient. This season has brought arguments, at various points, for Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior — not forgetting Rodri, the deserving winner of last year’s Ballon d’Or. It’s wonderful to think a 17-year-old might be part of that conversation for years to come if he continues to develop.

Oliver Kay

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‘I’d still put Salah ahead of him’

He’s the player I most enjoy watching at the moment and to turn a Champions League semi-final in the way that he did, against players of that calibre, clearly describes ability that should terrify everyone.

But the best? I would still put Mohamed Salah ahead of him, just on numbers and the consistency of his output. And longevity. Salah is still dominating opponents at 32, having been studied and strategised against for years, which is a hard value to quantify but clearly worth something.

It’s extremely close, though, and if you ask me again in a year, I will probably have changed my mind.

Seb Stafford-Bloor

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‘Yamal is uniting generations’

My 10-year-old nephew Flynn is in his football mad era. Last year, he asked me who Steven Gerrard was, which made me feel extremely old. He never needed to ask me who Lamine Yamal was, though. If anything, he’s the one telling me all about him. This 17-year-old kid is uniting generations with his talent.

On Saturday, my nephew, who spent the afternoon watching his beloved Tranmere Rovers secure League Two status after a dismal season, asked if we could watch the Copa del Rey final. Who was the player he most wanted to watch? You guessed it. The magic.

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When we grow up, the vividness of imagination that we enjoy during childhood fades, but when watching a player like Yamal, we are all back in time and feel capable of anything. He’s the best right now and will be high up on that list for a long time to come.

Caoimhe O’Neill

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‘Mbappe is still the man’

At the top of his game, there’s no better footballer in Europe than Kylian Mbappe.

Not since Cristiano Ronaldo’s early days in Madrid have we seen a player more capable of dominating defences with an equally potent blend of skill and physicality. Whether it’s done by a shifty stepover or brute force and world-class pace, he has more tools to find a yard of space in a crowded box than anyone. Twenty-two goals in 29 league appearances in his debut La Liga season is an excellent return, but such is his quality that we expect much more in the future.

Mbappe has done it on the biggest stages (David Ramos/Getty Images)

When he inspired France to World Cup glory as a teenager, it appeared he was the immediate successor to Messi at the top. At 26, he’s yet to win a Ballon D’Or. Still, while the crown is not undisputed, Mbappe is the man in European football in my eyes.

Elias Burke

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‘Clearly Barcelona’s most important player’

Yamal’s tremendous solo goal in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg between Barcelona and Inter showcased the teenager’s tremendous dribbling ability and outstanding shooting prowess.

Barca’s youngest player is already their on-pitch leader — his goal against Inter was the game’s key moment, coming with his team reeling at 2-0 down.

Over the 90 minutes, he had the most shots (6), most crosses (10), and most dribbles (6) of any player on the pitch. Only midfield colleagues Pedri and Frenkie De Jong had more interventions than his 102.

A superb fingertip save from Sommer denied him a second wonder-goal. He set up chances for team-mates Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo, his dummy distracted the defence for Raphinha’s 3-3 goal, and he hit the crossbar with a late cross-shot.

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You keep having to remind yourself that he does not turn 18 for another few months. But he is already clearly Barcelona’s most important player, nothing seems to faze him at all, and the really scary part is that he can still get a lot better.

Dermot Corrigan

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‘Let’s not forget Rodri’

Please, let’s not allow injury to make us forget Rodri’s existence. The Manchester City midfielder was Spain’s key player in their European Championship win last summer and is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner.

If we’re talking about right now with the blinkered definition of a player who has literally kicked a ball in the last 48 hours, then it’s Yamal, sure. If we extend it to a player who has graced the pitch in the past week, it’s Salah.

Rodri has been absent from the pitch and maybe our minds? (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

But if we take a step back and ask who the best player currently operating is, the understated Rodri is that man. He may not play in the most heralded of positions, slaloming through and curving shots off the post, but his job is to play the position of two men. He does that at an elite level.

Only this week, he returned to Manchester City training and could return before the end of the season. Rodri, I remember you, and look forward to seeing you soon.

Jacob Whitehead

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‘Is he better than Vinicius Jr at full tilt?’

In the maelstrom around Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or no-show and banners mocking him this season, it seems we might all have forgotten just how good Vinicius Jr really is.

When he is on top form, nobody comes close — in a very literal sense. Just look at the host of right-backs the winger has left in his wake while racking up 105 goals for Madrid.

That puts him ahead of Ronaldo Nazario as the top-scoring Brazilian in Madrid’s history and is even more impressive given how much he struggled to find the target at the start of his time in the Spanish capital.

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Vinicius Jr was unplayable in the first half of this campaign, best summed up by his devastating hat-trick in a 5-2 Champions League comeback win against Borussia Dortmund.

It seemed the 24-year-old was on a mission to claim the Ballon d’Or, so perhaps it is no surprise he has failed to hit those heights since missing out on football’s most prestigious individual award to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri in October (although he did win FIFA’s The Best award in December). The fallout did him and Madrid no favours.

Having another galactico alongside him in Mbappe has also taken some of the shine off his role for his club. Even so, there are few other players who can terrify an opposition defence in the way he does. When Vinicius Jr is at full tilt, you know something special is about to happen.

Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero

(Top image: Getty Images)