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Mehdi Zerkane was on target as Bordeaux defeated Lens 3-0 in Sunday’s Ligue 1 outing.

The Algeria international was introduced for French left-back of Cameroonian descent Maxime Poundje in the 85th minute. Four minutes later, he justified his inclusion by scoring his team’s third goal of the day.

In the keenly contested affair played at the Matmut Atlantique, South Korean forward Ui-Jo Hwang put Jean-Louis Gasset’s men ahead in the 32nd minute from the penalty spot.

A minute to full time, Senegalese right-back Youssouf Sabaly guaranteed victory for the hosts; with Sekou Mara providing the assist.

Defeat for Lens is a massive setback to their chances of booking a place in next season’s Europa League.

At the Stade Gaston Gerard, FC Nantes did their battle against relegation a lot of good by securing a 4-0 away triumph over already-relegated Dijon.

A brace from Randal Kolo Muani led Antoine Kombouare’s men past the Owls, while Mali forward Kalifa Coulibaly and Ludovic Blas completed the rout.

With this result, the Canaries are a point behind FC Lorient, Brest and Strasbourg heading into the last day of the season.

Elsewhere, Yoane Wissa inspired Lorient to a 2-1 victory over Metz at the Stade du Moustoir.

In the 31st minute, Congolese forward Wissa’s strike from the penalty mark gave Christophe Pelissier’s team a 1-0 lead heading into the half-time break.

However, his effort was cancelled out by Boubacar Traore in the 72nd minute. Two minutes later, the Merlucciidaes claimed all points at stake courtesy of Jerome Hergault.

Lorient now occupy the 17th position in Ligue 1 having accrued 41 points from 37 outings, while Metz are 10th with five points more.

In another encounter, Ludovic Ajorque was Strasbourg’s hero as they saw off Nice 2-0 away from home.

The French forward of Malagasy descent scored in each half as the Racers moved out of the relegation waters.

Strasbourg will retain their topflight status if they subdue Lorient in their last fixture of the 2020-21 campaign.

Lastly, Moussa Kone netted twice as Nimes were blown apart 5-2 by Olympique Lyon.

Lyon travelled to the Stade des Costieres knowing that anything short of victory would end their hopes of a top-three finish.

Kone put Nimes ahead in the fifth minute, but the visiting side bounced back from their slumber to record an impressive away win.

For Algeria’s Islam Slimani, he replaced Karl Toko Ekambi in the 76th minute. He completed the Crocodiles’ impressive away win with an 87th-minute effort after being teed up by Rayan Cherki.

Borussia Dortmund have reiterated their transfer stance on Erling Haaland: he will not leave the club this summer.

Linked with a string of big clubs around Europe, speculation has mounted as to what the future might hold for the Norway international forward.

However, in the aftermath of Dortmund securing Champions League football next season, sporting director Michael Zorc has once again stated that Haaland is not for sale.

What was said?

Speaking to Sky, Zorc simply said: “He will play for us next season.”

The bigger picture

Haaland is arguably the most wanted player in the world currently. Indeed, agent Mino Raiola has previously said that there are 10 big clubs around Europe interested in him.

The 20-year-old Norway international has, indeed, enjoyed a remarkable season. In 40 matches in all competitions, he has scored 39 goals and created another 12.

Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona are just some of the clubs reported to be monitoring his situation. Man City and Bayern Munich have ruled themselves out of the immediate running for the forward, meanwhile, citing fears that he will simply cost too much money at the present time.

It is likely to take an astronomical offer for Borussia Dortmund to accept any deal this summer, but in a year, Haaland has a release clause of an unknown value that will kick in and potentially make him more affordable.

Further reading

Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman has said it is “impossible” for Barcelona to play without Lionel Messi after what might have been the star’s final match at Camp Nou.

Out of contract at the end of the season, uncertainty still hangs over Messi’s future, and more so after Barca’s frustrating conclusion to the season.

Although the Copa de Rey was claimed, Barca can finish at best third in La Liga, having won only one of their last five matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Messi opened the scoring in that match, but it may have been his last goal in Blaugrana colours at Camp Nou.

What was said?

Speaking after the defeat, Koeman said: “He has scored 30 goals in La Liga and has given us many points in La Liga. It's a question for Leo. For my part and the club, let's hope he stays with us.

“Because if Leo's not here, we have a doubt who's going to score the goals.”

Jordi Alba’s opinion

The left-back is also uncertain over Messi’s future.

“Let's hope not, although it's a decision [Messi] has to make,” he said.

The bigger picture

Messi has made it clear that he wants to play for a club with a strong sporting project, and both Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain hold an interest in him.

Barcelona, meanwhile, currently lack the consistency to challenge at the top in Spain, while they do not have the finances to bolster the squad in a manner that would suggest they could win the Champions League next season.

Further reading

Orlando Pirates were hoping to emulate their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs by securing a first-leg advantage when they faced Raja Casablanca in the Caf Confederation Cup quarter-final game on Sunday.

Chiefs had thumped Tanzanian giants Simba SC 4-0 in their Caf Champions League quarter-final first-leg at FNB Stadium on Saturday night, but Pirates were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco's Raja Casablanca at Orlando Stadium.

Vincent Pule's first-half goal handed Pirates the lead, but his teammate Ntsikelelo Nyauza made a costly mistake which led to a Raja equalizer with Ben Malango grabbing the visitors' crucial away goal.

Fans took to social media to share their views on the match with some criticizing Nyauza and Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer, while some praised Chiefs, who put one foot in the semi-finals with an emphatic win over Simba.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Pirates' draw against Raja: 

Zinnbauer and Davids must go.

☠️.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane continued their fine combination to help Liverpool secure a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion in Sunday’s Premier League game.

West Brom’s aim to end the season with pride suffered a blow as the Reds extended their unbeaten run to seven games across all competitions.

Hal Robson-Kanu opened the scoring for Sam Allardyce’s men in the 15th minute of the encounter after receiving an assist from Matheus Pereira.

Mane then found Salah with a fine assist in the 33rd minute and the Egypt forward wasted no time to tuck home his effort.

The duo have now combined for a goal for the 22nd time for Liverpool across all competitions under Jurgen Klopp.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker then scored the match-winning goal moments before the end of the game, powering a fine header into the back of the net from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner kick.

The victory brightened Liverpool’s hopes of clinching a Champions League spot at the end of the season after accruing 63 points from 36 games to be placed fifth on the table.

Salah has racked up 30 goals, including 21 in the Premier League, this season and provided five assists in 47 appearances.

The forward has been turning heads since teaming up with the Reds in the summer of 2017 from AS Roma, scoring a number of goals.

Mane has also been playing a key role for Liverpool since his arrival at the club and has forged a productive partnership with Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Mane, who has managed 14 goals and provided eight assists, recently stated that the 2020-21 season remains the worst in his career.

The African stars inspired the Reds to win the Champions League, Premier League, which had eluded them for about 30 years.

Salah and Mane will be expected to continue their partnership when Liverpool take on Burnley in their next league game on May 19.

The attackers are also key members of their national teams and recently helped Senegal and Egypt qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Asisat Oshoala has become the first Nigerian as well as the first African to win the Uefa Women’s Champions League.

The 26-year-old striker was introduced in the 71st minute as Barcelona defeated Chelsea 4-0 in the final of the 2020-21 edition.

Lluis Cortes’ women had taken a first-minute lead at the Gamla Ullevi after Melanie Leupolz turned the ball into her own net.

In the goal-laden first half, Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen also fired past goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to end the ambitions of Emma Hayes’ Blues.

Oshoala was introduced for Spanish midfielder Jennifer Hermoso in the 71st minute as Barcelona craved more goals.

She added a fifth goal in the closing stages of the game, albeit, her effort was chalked off for being in an offside position.

Before the game in Gothenburg, the four-time African Women's Player of the Year claimed that Barca had learned from their final defeat to Lyon in 2019.

“Now, we have the experience of how European football is and also how a top game like this is played,” she told the media.

“I think we're going to be better with our tactics this year, how we go out and play and everything.

"For us, it was good. We played in the final 2019, we lost and then we picked up corrections from there.

“Come May 16, against Chelsea, I don't think we're going to make the same mistakes again, because we already learned from the past. We are a better team now than we were two years ago."

Chelsea boss Hayes expressed her disappointment as her team leaked two unfortunate goals.

Even at that, she revealed that the players will improve for the experience.

“Today was difficult because the game was over before it began,” she told media per the Chelsea website.

“That is what is so difficult to reflect on. To concede so early, and then we had two good chances, then they got the second from a penalty.

“Ann hasn’t had a save to make the whole game, yet we’ve lost the game 4-0. The damage was done.

“I’m proud of the second-half performance. The players gave it everything. Congratulations to Barcelona, they are worthy winners and deserving of their title.”

Zinedine Zidane has denied telling Real Madrid players this past week that he would leave the club, claiming he "would never, ever say that to my players".

Multiple publications, including Goal, have confirmed that Zidane has announced his departure to the squad behind closed doors, with speculation that the coach's physical and mental fatigue were possible reasons for his stepping down.

Despite beating Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, Zidane's men are in danger of finishing 2020-21 without a trophy, as they remain two points behind Atletico Madrid in La Liga with one match to go. The leaders earned a last-gasp victory over Osasuna this weekend in a blow to Real Madrid's ambitions.

What has been said?

"How could I tell the players I'm leaving now? We're giving our everything for the title and I just say 'by the way, I'm off'?," Zidane told reporters. 

"People outside the club can say whatever they like, but I would never, ever say that to my players."

What needs to happen to catch Atletico?

Real Madrid must win next weekend and see Atletico Madrid lose in order to claim the league title.

They face Villarreal, while Atletico will visit a Valladolid side fighting to avoid relegation.

Further reading

Riyad Mahrez says that given the opportunity, he will finish his career at Manchester City.

Mahrez made his name at Leicester, who he joined from Le Havre in France’s second tier in 2014. After winning the Premier League with the Foxes, he moved to Man City and has become an important member of their squad – even if that means he is often a substitute.

For the Algeria international, though, that is no problem.

What has he said?

“My future? I feel very good at Man City. There is no desire to look elsewhere,” he told RMC. “I don't know yet what my situation will be. But I'm happy in city and that's where I want to be.

Asked if he thinks about ending his career at Marseille, he added: “No, that’s not something I tell myself. I want to end my career in England and Manchester City. So that’s not something that I am considering.”

Mahrez’s personal targets

Asked if he seeks that Ballon d’Or, he said: “No, I wouldn't go so far as to say that. I will stay focused on this Champions League final. I am not here to believe myself to be a future Ballon d'Or. We will play the matches, try to make a difference with the team and then we will see.”

On the Premier League title

When asked which of his three Premier League title wins he enjoyed the most, he said: “The Leicester title was the very first one I won and with a team not at all expected to achieve that. It will always remain a special memory. Now, with City, it's really not easy to win the league. Every year, the competitions pushes us. When Liverpool took our title from us, we weren't happy. And that motivated us. So this title is also very special.”

Further Reading

Former Real Madrid and Nigeria star Mutiu Adepoju alongside several Africans have taken to social media to celebrate Asisat Oshoala after her Women’s Champions League triumph with Barcelona.

A commanding first-half saw the Spaniards demolish Chelsea 4-0 in Gothenburg’s Gamla Ullevi with Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen finding the net.

Oshoala was introduced in the 71st minute for Jennifer Hermoso as Emma Hayes’ Blues failed in their quest to emerge as European queens.

Having in mind that the Super Falcon was on the scoresheet as the Catalan side lost to Lyon in 2019 final, her compatriots, as well as fans across the continent, have taken to Twitter to applaud her recent feat.

Simy Nwankwo has revealed he is happy at Crotone despite their relegation from Serie A and described the 2020-21 season as his best.

The 29-year-old scored his 20th league goal of the season for the Pythagoreans in their 1-1 draw against Benevento on Sunday.

The impressive goalscoring performances of the Nigeria international were, however, not enough to help Serse Cosmi’s men avoid relegation.

Simy’s current contract with the Pythagoreans will expire in the summer of 2022 and the forward has hinted he could continue his stay with the club.

“I’ve been in Italy for five years, the toughest league in the world for a striker,” Simy told Sky Sport Italia, as per Football Italia.

“Crotone is a fantastic place, the people and club have given me everything and this is the best moment of my career. I think now the time has come to give even more.”

The Super Eagles forward is delighted with his side’s comeback draw against the Sorcerers at Stadio Ezio Scida.

“There is always motivation. It might’ve been different, as Benevento were seeking safety, but we are professionals and must never let anything go,” he continued.

“We didn’t take our foot off the gas in training and we won’t do it in the game either. We never stopped believing today and continued looking for a goal to the very end.”

“What I can assure the fans is that this team never put their feet up, never shirked responsibility.

“In football, the result isn’t always what you want, but in the end, we take responsibility for everything and know that if we’re in the bottom three, that is also partly our own fault.”

Simy will be excepted to continue his fine performances for Crortone when they take on Fiorentina in their last game of the season.

The forward’s eye-catching displays recently earned him a call-up from Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr for their international friendly against Cameroon in June.

Simy has made four appearances since his debut for the three-time African champions against DR Congo in 2018.

Simeon Nwankwo becomes the fourth player in Serie A history to score at least 20 goals for a relegated side in a single season.

The Nigeria international achieved this feat having found the net as 10-man Crotone played a 1-1 draw with Benevento at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito.

Gianluca Lapadula had put the hosts ahead in the 13th minute, albeit, the lanky strike ensured Serse Cosmi’s side settle for a point.

His late minute strike was his 20th of the 2020-21 Italian elite division campaign – and in the process joined Lorenzo Bettini, David Trezeguet and Igor Protti in hallowed Serie A ranks.

During the 1954-55 season Bettini found the net on 20 occasions – seven short of AC Milan’s Gunnar Nordahl – nonetheless, Udinese got demoted to Serie B.

Although the White and Blacks finished in the second position after amassing 44 points from 34 games – they were relegated to the second tier by the Italian Football Federation for a corruption case.

41 years later, Bari’s Protti equalled the mark as the Cockerels got relegated alongside Padova, Cremonese and Torino.

That season, Protti shared the Golden Boot with Lazio star Giuseppe Signori as they found the net 24 times.

It was the turn of Trezeguet to attain this exploit in 2005-06. Despite finding the net on 23 times, that did not prevent the Frenchman and Juventus from going down.

The Turin based outfit were originally the champions but were placed at the base of the league table owing to the Calciopoli scandal.

Calciopoli was a match-fixing scandal in Italy's top professional football league, Serie A, and to a lesser extent Serie B.

The scandal was uncovered in May 2006, when a number of telephone interferences showed relations between team managers and referee organisations during the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, being accused of selecting favourable match officials.

For Nwankwo who is next to Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Luis Muriel (Atalanta) and Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina) on the topscorer’s chart, he would be hoping to end the season on a high when his team welcomes Fiorentina to the Stadio Ezio Scida on May 22.

Orlando Pirates winger Vincent Pule rued their missed chances following their clash with Raja Casablanca on Sunday afternoon.

The Buccaneers let a lead slip in their 1-1 draw with the Moroccan champions in the Caf Confederation Cup quarter-final first-leg match at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Pule opened the scoring for Pirates, who dominated the match, but the visitors grabbed the equalizing goal through Ben Malango after the restart of the second half.

Bafana Bafana international Pule feels that it was going to be a different match had they converted their goalscoring opportunities against the Green Devils.

"I think it was a very difficult game, tactically they are very good, they shift very well," Pule told the club's social media platforms. 

"We got our chances and I think if we had buried our chances, it was going to be a different game." 

Pirates will now travel to the Stade Mohamed V where they are scheduled to take on Raja in the second-leg encounter on May 23. 

Pule is anticipating a difficult match against the Green Devils in Casablanca and he stressed the importance of taking their chances against the three-time Caf Champions League winners.

"You know the away [match] will [be] very difficult. We just have to go there fight, fight as a team," he added. 

"Even today we fought hard because we managed to limit their chances and we got our chances. We have to bury our chances.

"[The] away [match] is going to be difficult as well, I think if we get the chances we have to have to punish them." 

The permutations for Pirates' advancement to the semi-finals are simple - a win over Raja will see them reach the Confederation Cup's two-legged semi-finals for the second time in the club's history.

While a 2-2 or higher scoring draw would also see the Buccaneers book their place in the last four on the away goals rule. 

The winner on aggregate between Pirates and Raja will take on either Egyptian big spenders Pyramids or Nigerian giants Enyimba in a semi-final tie next month.

Simba SC spokesperson Haji Manara has claimed they are going to shock Africa and the world by qualifying for the Caf Champions League semi-final.

Simba stumbled on Saturday against South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs when they suffered a 4-0 defeat at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in their quarter-final first leg.

Manara is, however, adamant they will give a huge response in the second leg against Amakhosi and progress to the penultimate stage of the continental competition.

“I will be the last person to believe that this squad [Simba SC] has been eliminated from the Champions League. This Simba is going to shock Africa and the world,” Manara wrote on his Facebook page.

“We will be back at home with a resounding and an earthquake-like response and a big shock will hit those who are laughing at us now. Prepare psychologically for this early. 

“Simba will qualify for the Champions League's semi-final.”

The 4-0 loss is the biggest Simba have suffered in the recent past despite facing big sides. In the group stage, Simba picked up surprising wins against Al Ahly and AS Vita and finished as the winners of the group.

At home, they drew 1-1 against Yanga SC in the first Mainland Premier League meeting in Dar es Salaam. The second meeting had to be postponed after disagreement emerged following the change of kick-off time.

Earlier, Manara had conceded Wekundu wa Msimbazi lost to Chiefs who were better than them on the day.

“We have lost to a team who were the best of the day,” Manara said. “We have played a very poor game and did not deserve to get anything from the game.

“We committed very many silly mistakes which deserved the humiliation we have received in Johannesburg but life must go on, we also have another 90 minutes to decide the destiny of the game in the return leg.”

Meanwhile, the club’s CEO Barbara Gonzalez asked for patience from their fans after the stumble in South Africa.

“I am asking for fans’ patience, if they [Chiefs] won 4-0 at home, we can also turn the tables at home, football is unpredictable, we only need to believe in ourselves and know we can do it, let us meet next week," she said.

Simba will host Amakhosi at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam next weekend.

Jurgen Klopp was left in awe of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson after he scored the winning goal against West Brom on Sunday.

The Brazil international headed in a corner in the 95th minute to make it 2-1 at the Hawthorns to keep his side's hopes of securing a place in the Champions League alive.

Alisson is the first goalkeeper to net a competitive goal for the Reds and Klopp was stunned by the way he popped up to make the difference in the crucial match.

What did Klopp say?

"Wow, is a pretty good word. It was spectacular and a good game," he told BBC Sport. "What a moment! That is so far the highlight. I hope we have time for another highlight [this season]. It was a tricky game. Winning that way is really special. I couldn't be happier in the moment.

"It's the best goal I've ever seen scored by a goalkeeper! Striker's score like that. If Olivier Giroud scores like that you say it's a worldie. It's a worldie! Wow!

"[Alisson's] our player, our boy and our brother. When he is suffering we are all suffering. It's hard in these moments. There are more important things than football but when football can deliver moments like this for him, and all the boys, and our fans, then football is the best thing for a few seconds than anything else out there."

He added to Sky Sports: "It's an unbelievable header, I've never seen anything like that, good technique. I wasn't sure what I was seeing."

Can the Reds finish in the top four? 

Liverpool are in fifth place and a point behind Chelsea with two games left to play. The Anfield side, who are now on a three-game winning streak, visit Burnley on Wednesday before they finish off the campaign next Sunday when they host Crystal Palace.

"We are not even halfway through. We have to win going to Turf Moor. We have to win. There will be a proper atmosphere and will not be a friendly game," Klopp said as his side look to maintain their fight for a spot in the group stage of next season's Champions League.

"West Brom fought really hard. I heard Sam Allardyce asked for professionalism before the game and he got that proper answer. In the situation we are in the only thing we have to do is keep pressure on our competitors around us. We recover and go again.

"I saw it plenty of times that players lose the plot [late on in games]. None of us did that. We were calm but full of desire. Three of the best chances we had were in the last five minutes. In these moments it was really good. It's not easy to stay calm in moments like this but we did and we got the rewards."

Further reading