European Football wrap: Best player, biggest upset & more

Sport360 staff 01:53 06/04/2017

Miss any of Wednesday night’s action?

Fear not, we’ve rounded up all of the key games across Europe in what was a goalfeast evening of football.

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LA LIGA

Alvaro Morata scored twice as Real Madrid maintained a two-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga by making light of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale’s absence in a 4-2 win at Leganes.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Lionel Messi’s double on his return from suspension and Luis Suarez’s stunning overhead kick helped Barcelona sweep aside Sevilla 3-0.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane gambled on the strength of his squad ahead of a mammoth 18 days which sees the European champions welcome Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabeu and also meet old foes Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

However, the Frenchman was rewarded as the likes of Marco Asensio, James Rodriguez and Morata took their chance to shine.

As well as their slender lead, Real also have a game in hand over Barcelona.

At the Nou Camp, Messi, who was banned for his last two outings for club and country, looked rested rather than rusty as he took his tally for the season to 43 goals in 41 games.

The Argentine also played his part in setting up Luis Suarez’s stunning overhead kick to open the scoring.

Defeat continues Sevilla’s slump and a sixth straight game without a win sees them remain three points behind Atletico Madrid in the battle for third place.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Eden Hazard fired Premier League leaders Chelsea to a crucial 2-1 win over Manchester City, but Tottenham are hot on their heels after a sensational fightback in their 3-1 victory at Swansea on Wednesday.

Chelsea remain seven points clear of second placed Tottenham with eight games to play, yet with just minutes left on a dramatic evening it seemed the Blues would have a much greater lead.

Rocked by Saturday’s shock 2-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side took only 10 minutes to take the lead through Hazard’s 12th goal of the season.

Hazard’s effort deflected off Vincent Kompany and beat Willy Caballero, whose weak attempted save drew a frustrated look from City boss Pep Guardiola as he contemplated the latest in a growing list of gaffes from his goalkeepers this season.

Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois was guilty of an even worse blunder, spilling David Silva’s shot to Sergio Aguero, who tapped in City’s 26th minute equaliser.

Conte’s team were back in front after 35 minutes when Fernandinho conceded a penalty with a foul on Pedro.

Hazard’s spot-kick was saved by Caballero, but the Belgian recovered quickly to finish off the rebound.

Kompany, back in the line-up for the first time since November, hit the crossbar with a second half header, but fourth placed City crashed to their first defeat in nine games, leaving them without a win in four, while Chelsea are still in pole position for the title.

At the Liberty Stadium, Tottenham fell behind in the 11th minute when Wayne Routledge turned in Jordan Ayew’s cross for Swansea.

But Tottenham staged an incredible finale as England midfielder Dele Alli equalised with an 88th minute tap-in.

A minute into stoppage-time, South Korea forward Son Heung-Min bagged his 16th goal of the season with a clinical finish and there was still time for Christian Eriksen’s strike to put the seal on Tottenham’s fifth successive win.

Arsenal eased the pressure on Arsene Wenger and climbed back into the race for Champions League qualification with a 3-0 win over West Ham.

Wenger had endured repeated calls for his resignation from frustrated fans in recent weeks, but the protests at the Emirates Stadium were more muted for once as Arsenal ended a three-match winless run with only their second victory in their last seven league games.

Mesut Ozil broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Theo Walcott bagged Arsenal’s second in the 68th minute and Olivier Giroud’s superb strike in the 83rd minute ensured his side moved above Manchester United into fifth place, four points behind Manchester City with a game in hand.

West Ham’s fifth successive defeat leaves them just three points above the relegation zone.

Liverpool were hit by a late sucker punch as Bournemouth snatched a 2-2 draw at Anfield.

Benik Afobe struck for Bournemouth in the seventh minute, but Philippe Coutinho bagged Liverpool’s equaliser with a typically cool 40th minute finish.

That made Coutinho the joint highest Brazilian scorer in Premier League history, alongside former Middlesbrough playmaker Juninho, with 29 goals.

Divock Origi put Liverpool in front in the 59th minute, but Josh King blasted his eighth goal in eight appearances to rescue Bournemouth in the 87th minute.

Liverpool’s latest slip against lowly opposition leaves Jurgen Klopp’s third placed side six points above fifth place in the race for the Champions League.

Hull climbed out of the relegation zone with a priceless 4-2 win over relegation rivals Middlesbrough at the KCOM Stadium.

Middlesbrough took a fifth minute lead through Alvaro Negredo, but Hull were level nine minutes later as Lazar Markovic drove in his first goal since arriving on loan from Liverpool.

Oumar Niasse, in the 27th minute, and Abel Hernandez, in the 33rd minute, put Hull in control before Middlesbrough’s Marten De Roon struck seconds before half-time.

Harry Maguire’s 70th minute goal ensured Hull would win for the third time in their last four games to move two points above the bottom three.

Second bottom Middlesbrough are seven points from safety after their winless run extended to 13 games.

Southampton defender Maya Yoshida’s first Premier League goal for 14 months inspired a 3-1 win over struggling Crystal Palace at St Mary’s.

Christian Benteke’s 31st minute strike put Palace ahead, but Nathan Redmond equalised on the stroke of half-time.

Japan’s Yoshida netted in the 84th minute and James Ward-Prowse got the third moments later.

COPPA ITALIA

Juventus reached their third consecutive domestic cup final with an aggregate win over rivals Napoli.

MOST DOMINATING WIN – BARCELONA

The Catalans were absolutely rampant.

BIGGEST UPSET – LIVERPOOL 2-2 BOURNEMOUTH

The Cherries halted Liverpool’s Champions League charge as Joshua King snatched a late leveller in a thrilling contest at Anfield.

BEST CONTEST – SWANSEA 1-3 TOTTENHAM

Three last-gasp goals in six second-half minutes completed a remarkable turnaround for the Whites as they kept the pressure firmly on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.

It was a truly stunning finale to the match and Spurs once again proved they are the real deal.

BEST GOAL – OLIVIER GIROUD

The Frenchman wrapped up the Gunners’ comfortable home victory over West Ham with a curling third goal.

PLAYER OF THE DAY – LIONEL MESSI

The Argentine delivered a masterclass for Barca and scored his 28th and 29th goals against Sevilla (in 30 appearances) – the team he has found the back of the net against more than any other opponent.

Messi very much picked up from where he left off before his suspension and is deservedly our player of the day.

BIGGEST BLUNDER – THIBAUT COURTOIS

On his 100th appearance for Chelsea, the Belgian’s poor kick to David Silva led to Manchester City’s equalising goal through Sergio Aguero.

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