Apr 13, 2025, 04:34 PM ET
Some other weekend, any other defeat for Tottenham Hotspur. How for much longer will Ange Postecoglou stay in command of the north London membership?
The identify race in LaLiga is not somewhat over but, as Actual Madrid showcased some grit to eke out a slim win on Sunday.
And within the Bundesliga, Saturday marked the 137th league version of Der Klassiker, however it wasn’t an instance that both Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund will bear in mind in particular fondly.
All that and extra on this version of Weekend Overview as Julien Laurens, Alex Kirkland and Constantin Eckner glance throughout Europe for the massive takeaways and highlights from the weekend.
Best takeaway: Europa League hope conserving Ange in Spurs activity
Editor’s Selections
2 Similar
After all, there may be nonetheless the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal 2d leg at Eintracht Frankfurt to come back on, however Postecoglou’s 2d season in command of Tottenham is popping into an absolute nightmare. He and his avid gamers embarrassed themselves and humiliated the membership and their lovers of their seventeenth league defeat of the season, falling 4-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. It used to be a pathetic show marred through person errors, clueless control and unacceptable attitudes.
Since April 13, 2024, Spurs have misplaced 22 Premier League video games, greater than someone else a number of the groups provide over the 2 seasons.
Whilst there is no doubt that the north London membership persisted an damage disaster previous within the marketing campaign, Postecoglou cannot even blame his aspect’s malaise on that anymore as all his avid gamers at the moment are have compatibility. He is frequently messing up his groups and his substitutions, getting his recreation plans incorrect. The avid gamers have misplaced religion in him, the lovers too, and the membership is already searching for who will come subsequent.
Handiest the Europa League is conserving him within the activity, however that might trade once Thursday.
Easiest fit: Guy Town 5-2 Crystal Palace
Manchester Town aren’t what they was once and nor is Kevin De Bruyne, however there may be nonetheless a bit of of existence and genius within the previous Premier League champions and of their soon-to-be-former playmaker. From 2-0 down at house, Town rallied to a excellent 5-2 victory that includes 5 other target scorers, with De Bruyne on the center of the entirety. It used to be similar to the great ol’ days.
play
1:59
Would a Champions League spot and FA Cup win ‘save’ Guy Town’s season?
Janusz Michalik takes a better have a look at Manchester Town’s run-in and discusses whether or not or now not we will be able to see them enjoying within the Champions League subsequent season.
Easiest target: Jadon Sancho vs. Ipswich The town
In spite of an encouraging begin to his mortgage spell at Chelsea, Sancho isn’t having a just right season. Sooner than Sunday, the final time he scored used to be Dec. 8 — a drought that lasted 21 video games. His glorious roller into the highest nook used to be well worth the wait, salvaging a draw and a very important level for Chelsea of their determined and precarious quest to qualify for subsequent season’s UEFA Champions League.
MVP (and LVP) of the weekend: Joao Pedro, Brighton & Hove Albion (Marco Asensio, Aston Villa)
For this week, and this week simplest, let’s modify this class rather and identify our MVP and our LVP (least treasured participant) as they’re related. Pedro scored two consequences in Brighton’s 2-2 draw with Leicester Town, one to his proper and one to his left, whilst Asensio overlooked two in Villa’s 3-0 win over Southampton, hitting them each to his proper and into the clutches of Aaron Ramsdale. — Laurens
Best takeaway: Madrid triumph over Mbappé crimson to stick in identify race
Kylian Mbappé’s crimson card towards Alavés used to be inexplicable. The ahead’s problem on midfielder Antonio Blanco used to be wild, reckless — leaping into the take on, studs first, and connecting smartly up Blanco’s shin — and used to be simplest ever going to lead to a sending off. Blanco used to be fortunate to steer clear of severe damage. Trainer Davide Ancelotti, status in for his suspended father Carlo, blamed “all of the little fouls” Mbappé had suffered till that Thirty eighth-minute dismissal, however there used to be no excusing the unforgivable.
Thankfully for Mbappé, Madrid had been already 1-0 up, due to a phenomenal long-range strike from Eduardo Camavinga. Then, halfway via the second one 1/2, Alavés’ Manu Sánchez used to be despatched off to degree the enjoying box. Madrid were given the 1-0 win, making sure they continue to be 4 issues in the back of leaders Barcelona, who had crushed Leganés through the similar scoreline on Saturday. The one query now could be what number of video games Mbappé will omit via suspension.
play
1:40
Burley slams Mbappe for ‘disgraceful’ crimson card problem
Craig Burley expects Kylian Mbappe to stand serious punishment for the problem that earned him a crimson card in Actual Madrid’s win vs. Alaves.
The referee’s record mentioned that his problem got here “whilst disputing the ball.” That implies a ban of between one and 3 video games, in step with RFEF rules. The punishment would simplest follow to competitions rather than LaLiga — for instance, Madrid’s Copa del Rey ultimate towards Barcelona on April 26 — if it prolonged to 4 suits or extra, so Mbappé’s involvement within the cup ultimate should not be doubtful.
However, it is a blow to Madrid’s identify aspirations to be with out their famous person ahead for upcoming league video games towards two awkward warring parties, Athletic Membership and Getafe.
Easiest fit: Betis 1-2 Villarreal
Actual Betis vs. Villarreal pitted two groups struggling with for 5th position towards each and every different and, with a fifth-placed end now virtually assured to imply Champions League qualification, that made for top stakes. Guests Villarreal got here out on most sensible, due to a surprising winner from Ayoze Pérez, a Betis participant till final season. Villarreal signed him for simply €4 million, and his targets — now 13 in LaLiga — glance prone to hearth them into Europe’s most sensible pageant.
Easiest target: Oli McBurnie at Getafe
All 3 of Las Palmas’ targets of their 3-1 win at Getafe had been particular — both of Fábio Silva’s moves will have been a goal-of-the-weekend contender — however McBurnie’s 3rd, within the 61st minute, used to be pick out of the bunch, the 28-year-old former Scotland world making use of the final touch to a flowing, passing transfer.
play
1:09
Oliver McBurnie will get at the scoresheet for Las Palmas
Oliver McBurnie will get at the scoresheet for Las Palmas
MVP of the weekend: Javi Guerra, Valencia
Friday evening’s Valencia vs. Sevilla fixture used to be a conflict of 2 nice golf equipment, fallen on arduous instances. Valencia’s 1-0 win took them one step nearer to survival — they are now 8 issues above the relegation zone — and showed the destiny of Sevilla trainer Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta, who used to be later fired. The important thing guy for Valencia: all-action midfielder Guerra, who starred all the way through, and scored the sport’s simplest target with a groovy, tricky end seconds earlier than half-time. — Kirkland
Best takeaway: Klassiker eases Champions League heartache
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund met for the 137th time on Saturday, and even if the 2 powerhouses of German soccer are worlds aside within the standings, the sport nonetheless created various pleasure.
Fanatics sought after to peer how each would soar again from their respective losses within the Champions League quarterfinals a couple of days previous, and it used to be to begin with Bayern who seemed motivated through the midweek defeat as Dortmund settled in a defensive position simply as they did at Barcelona on Wednesday. This time, although, they gave the impression keen to be the reactive aspect.
play
1:48
Moreno: Dortmund uncovered Bayern’s defensive vulnerabilities
Alejandro Moreno breaks down Bayern Munich’s defensive weaknesses as Dortmund come from in the back of to earn 2-2 draw.
For some time it gave the impression of Bayern may eliminate their arch-rivals somewhat simply, however Vincent Kompany’s aspect used to be wasteful with their possibilities and thus invited Dortmund to strike first in a while after the period. Raphaël Guerreiro and Serge Gnabry grew to become the scoreline with two targets, but Bayern weren’t in a position to steer clear of any other setback, as Waldemar Anton scored following a nook kick and an inventive transfer through Serhou Guirassy.
After Bayer Leverkusen may simplest organize a draw with Union Berlin previous on Saturday, Bayern had the danger to drag away within the standings and necessarily seal their thirty fourth German championship win. After the Klassiker led to a 2-2 draw, the space between the highest two groups within the Bundesliga stays six issues, which leaves the door a tad open for Leverkusen to stay the identify race alive till the top of the season.
As for Dortmund, they’ve to have a look at the outcome as a small good fortune, but their probabilities of qualifying for subsequent yr’s Champions League grow to be slimmer and slimmer. It is not abnormal that they’ve one in all their higher showings of a season towards Bayern, however the truth that this Klassiker used to be now not a part of a championship struggle between the 2 groups is especially damning for BVB.
LIVE ON ESPN+ (SELECTED GAMES)
The pretty recreation lives right here. Move most sensible leagues, tournaments and groups.
Join ESPN+
SATURDAY, APRIL 19 (all instances ET)
• West Ham vs. Guy United (WSL) (6:55 a.m.)
• Heidenheim vs. Bayern (9:20 a.m.)
• RB Leipzig vs. Holstein Kiel (9:20 a.m.)
• Barcelona vs. Celta Vigo (10:05 a.m.)
• Las Palmas vs. Atlético (2:50 p.m.)
SUNDAY, APRIL 20 (all instances ET)
• Dortmund vs. Gladbach (11:20 a.m.)
• St. Pauli vs. Leverkusen (1:20 p.m.)
• Actual Madrid vs. Athletic (2:50 p.m.)
Easiest fit: VfL Wolfsburg 2-3 RB Leipzig
Those two opened the matchday on Friday, with Leipzig’s assault operating roughshod over Wolfsburg within the first 50 or so mins. It gave the impression of a relaxed win for period in-between supervisor Zsolt Lőw, just for Wolfsburg to get again into the sport with two targets, however sooner or later the Volkswagen-backed membership suffered their fourth consecutive loss.
Easiest target: Waldemar Anton at Bayern Munich
Sure, Anton scored the target, however what made it so impressive used to be Guirassy’s talent to shield the ball from Eric Dier following a nook kick. He shielded the ball together with his again to Dier and the target, earlier than then launching a shot that goalkeeper Jonas Urbig controlled to repel, just for Anton to brush within the rebound.
MVP of the weekend: Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig
Now not simplest did the Netherlands midfielder ranking two times towards Wolfsburg, however he additionally creaated numerous possibilities for his group. “He has taken an enormous step; his efficiency used to be completely very best lately,” Lőw stated. The one factor Simons will have to have have shyed away from used to be getting booked for complaining, this means that he’s suspended for Leipzig’s subsequent recreation. — Eckner
What else you overlooked this weekend
Championship promotion races takes any other sudden flip
Just a week in the past, it gave the impression of Leeds United would lose out at the two most sensible spots that grant automated promotion to the Premier League, as they had been held to their 3rd consecutive draw. With two wins over Middlesbrough and Preston North Finish within the span of 5 days, although, Leeds are again on most sensible of the Championship. They beat Preston 2-1 at house on Saturday in a one-sided recreation during which all 3 targets had been scored throughout the opening quarter of an hour. It has helped Leeds that supervisor Daniel Farke not too long ago determined to switch error-prone goalkeeper Illan Meslier with Wales world Karl Darlow.
In the meantime, Sheffield United, prior to now most sensible of the desk, have misplaced 3 in a row, together with a 2-1 loss at Plymouth Argyle, the last-placed group, on Saturday. Only some weeks in the past, Chris Wilder’s group gave the impression a protected guess for one of the crucial two promotion spots, however in any case, it will in fact be Leeds and Burnley getting at once promoted and Sheffield, who had been deducted two issues because of defaulted bills to different golf equipment two years in the past, having to play the promotion playoffs. — Eckner
