Scott Murray's Blog, page 79

May 12, 2021

The Fiver | Manchester City, Manchester United and the tale of the daddy long-legs. Again

Your happy-clappy, hippy-dippy Fiver is a lover of all God’s living creatures, with the one exception of people, who are the worst. Imagine, then, how thrilled we were on Tuesday morning to see that the daddy long-legs, previously reported missing on manoeuvres behind Granny Fiver’s signed picture of Steve Ogrizovic, presumed dead, was back! Up he popped, repeatedly flying into a closed window, a relentless four-to-the-floor beat, stuck in a loop. Sadly, The Fiver’s brief pang of existential joy quickly curdled into garden-variety misery, as we suddenly realised what you’re already thinking. Also, what if it’s not the same daddy long-legs, but a different one, also resigned to joylessly going through the motions, every day the same, until it drops? Is that better or worse? It won’t be good news, that much we know.

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Published on May 12, 2021 08:02

May 8, 2021

Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened

City blew their chance to secure the title early, Sergio Aguero’s botched Panenka allowing Chelsea to storm back in the second half

11.51pm BST

7.57pm BST

David Hytner was at the Etihad, where the title celebrations have been put on hold. Here’s his report. Click to enjoy ... and don’t forget Barry Glendenning is currently at the helm of the Liverpool-Southampton MBM. Thanks for reading this one!

7.55pm BST

Pep, simmering gently, talks to Sky. “We played really good. We miss our chance in the last minute of the first half with the penalty, and we were playing better. It was Aguero’s decision [to Panenka the penalty]. He decided to do it his way. Nothing to add. We were really good but at the end they scored.” As for the Zouma-Sterling incident? “It’s a penalty. It’s a penalty, that’s all. It’s a penalty, that’s all! That’s football, it happened. Try the next time to score our penalty. My opinion of the officials, they know it. Sometimes we make mistakes, maybe [the officials] believe they don’t make a mistake. What can I say? In 21 days we are going to face them again, we are going to try to learn from that, and now we try to win the three points we need to be champion.”

7.49pm BST

Thomas Tuchel speaks to Sky Sports. “What a performance in the second half. It was more or less an equal first half, but in the last five minutes we almost gave it away completely. If they scored a penalty it was over before it really starts. If it was 2-0 we would have had no chance to come back. But it was 1-0 and we had one injured player, and I am absolutely impressed by the reaction, we deserved to win the second half. You need a bit of luck, momentum and decisions for the referee, but we had many chances, so big congratulations to the team. In the second half we had better control and were more confident. It was a physical battle and we never stepped back. Timo Werner was working like a dog, really working hard, it was so important he gave them a hard time, he had them pretty exhausted so I have no complaints. We know well that this result will not change the final, but we arrive with the knowledge that we are capable of beating them. This will not change.” No word on the gravity of Andreas Christensen’s hamstring injury yet.

7.42pm BST

The more Sky replay Zouma’s challenge on Sterling, the more it looks like a penalty. Zouma makes contact three times from behind, admittedly gently, Sterling going down easily. But the City winger had the right to do so, and to expect to see the referee pointing at the spot. Here’s Sterling’s view! “It’s a difficult one to take. We had chances to finish the game off, we didn’t, and we got punished. For me, I couldn’t get a shot off because he’s put his knee on the back of my hamstring. I don’t know how it’s not a penalty, I don’t know how it’s not been reviewed properly. I knew it was a penalty. I thought VAR was here to help. The referee said to me it’s been checked and cleared, but for me it’s a sure penalty. We thought it was going to be the day we’d get over the line, but we didn’t take our chances.” He briefly flashes a knowing smile when asked whether Sergio Aguero had said anything to him about his goal. “Was he OK?! I was in the box, it was a bad first touch, it went in the back of the net, that was the most important thing.”

7.34pm BST

Raheem Sterling was quietly seething as he left the field of play. Did he mutter the words “effing embarrassing” there? He could have been referring to the referee’s unwillingness to award a late penalty for City, Zouma making contact from behind, or ... but let’s not riff on Sergio Aguero’s pain again. Either way, City trudged off glumly, while Chelsea cavorted in glee. Ostensibly, Chelsea will be celebrating the three points that consolidates their lead in the race for a top-four finish, though of course this victory carries a little more significance than that, given that City will think about very little else for the next three weeks.

7.27pm BST

Manchester City remain on 80 points, still three shy of winning the Premier League. Chelsea move up into third on 64, leapfrogging Leicester, who went down at home to Newcastle last night. A huge result in so many ways for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who have City’s number right now. What a boost that will give them for the Champions League final. City will still win the title, but a few seeds of doubt will have be planted ahead of the big showdown in Istanbul.

7.24pm BST

Chelsea put down a huge marker ahead of the Champions League final! They deny City the chance to secure the Premier League title today ... and nudge ever closer to the Champions League insurance policy that is a top-four finish!

7.22pm BST

90 min +3: That’s nothing more than Chelsea deserve for their second-half performance. It’s also no more than Sergio Aguero deserves, for his egregious Panenka penalty before half-time.

7.21pm BST

Chelsea work their way down the right yet again. Werner enters the box, reaches the byline and cuts back for Alonso, who opens his body up and shovels the ball into the top left!

7.20pm BST

90 min +1: Space for Hudson-Odoi down the right. He looks for Werner at the near post. Mendy snaffles. On the touchline, Pep has been remonstrating with the fourth official regarding the Sterling-Zouma penalty shout.

7.19pm BST

90 min: Pulisic, in full flight down the left, is brought crashing to ground by Jesus, who is booked. There will be three minutes for City to find the winner that would secure the title.

7.18pm BST

88 min: Alonso has a chance to chip goalwards from a tight angle on the left with Ederson on walkabout, but his effort is well off target.

7.17pm BST

87 min: Both teams are looking for the winner, a draw ideal for neither, the play going back and forth. Gundogan whiffs a shot. Werner can’t quite tear clear down the left. Zouma looks to have clanked into the back of Sterling, just inside the box. The referee isn’t interested. VAR has a look, but decides there’s no obvious enough contact to overturn the original decision. Knee did meet buttock, though.

7.14pm BST

85 min: Gundogan makes good down the left and clips a pass infield for Foden, at the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. Foden attempts a first-time flick across Mendy and towards the bottom right. Always heading wide, though it was a hellishly difficult chance.

7.13pm BST

84 min: City probe down both flanks, but can’t prise Chelsea open. Eventually Cancelo, coming in from the right, gets fed up and tries an ambitious curler towards the top left. Nope.

7.11pm BST

82 min: VAR double checks, and the original decision stands. City go up the other end, Sterling momentarily clear down the inside-right channel. He’s about to shoot when Zouma slides in to block. A perfectly timed tackle! Anything else would have been another penalty kick.

7.09pm BST

81 min: Chelsea have the ball in City’s net again! The ball’s worked wide right to James, who rolls another dangerous cross into the centre again. Hudson-Odoi slams home ... but the flag goes up for offside. VAR will double check.

7.08pm BST

79 min: Jorginho fires a pass down the middle for Werner, who races free, rounds Ederson, and rolls home. But once again, Werner has dozily wandered offside. There was no need for that. A huge hole in the middle of City’s defence there.

7.06pm BST

78 min: Jesus

, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey
cuts in from the right and looks for the bottom left. Always going wide.

7.05pm BST

76 min: Ziyech is replaced by Hudson-Odoi. “Pep looks like the suspect who finally breaks under interrogation by the Line of Duty trio,” suggests

Jesus,
Mary Waltz

and Joseph and the wee donkey
.

7.03pm BST

74 min: Chelsea smell a little blood, you sense. Pulisic dribbles with great purpose down the middle, before laying off to Ziyech on the right. He looks for Werner at the far post. Werner somehow clears the ball rather than heading it goalwards.

7.01pm BST

73 min: James tears past Mendy down the right. He curls a tempting low cross through the six-yard box, but Werner, at full stretch, can’t quite connect. Anything on that, and he’d have bundled home.

7.00pm BST

71 min: City can’t do any better with the second take of the corner.

6.59pm BST

70 min: Another corner for City on the right. Before we find out whether they can do any better this time, City make a double sub. Foden replaces Torres, while Gundogan comes on as Aguero’s dignity-free evening comes to an end.

6.58pm BST

69 min: The City corner leads to a Chelsea counter, Ziyech embarking on a 60-yard dribble before sending Werner into space down the left. Cancelo comes across and blocks, Werner attempting to buy a free kick for obstruction, the referee not interested. City were horribly exposed for a minute there.

6.56pm BST

68 min: Laporte and Jesus combine down the right, forcing Alonso into sliding out for a corner. Before that can be taken, Jorginho comes on for Kante.

6.55pm BST

66 min: In the City dugout, Pep has his head in his hands, ranting to himself. He is fuming. Subs ahoy, I’ll be bound.

6.54pm BST

65 min: James dinks down the right for Kante, who finds more space on this flank. Kante pulls back for Gilmour, who chests down in the hope of replicating Ziyech’s goal ... but just as he prepares to shoot, a City toe pokes the ball away from harm. City are rocking here.

6.52pm BST

This had been coming, sort of. Rodri is stripped of possession by Azpilicueta, who one-twos with Pulisic. Space down the right. He thinks about crossing low for Werner, in the box, but instead pulls back fo Ziyech, who takes a touch and whistles a lovely low drive into the bottom right! Penny for the thoughts of Guardiola and Aguero right now.

6.50pm BST

61 min: Aguero and Pulisic take turns to go down dramatically under non-existent challenges. The referee shows no interest in acknowledging either of them.

6.49pm BST

60 min: Werner makes a nuisance of himself out on the left. The ball breaks back to James, whose shot isn’t up to much. City only half clear, and Chelsea come again. There’s a little bit of space and time for Pulisic on the edge of the D, but his attempt to curl into the top right is high and wide.

6.47pm BST

59 min: Chelsea pass and probe, but do little to pull the City defence out of shape. They’re seeing more of the ball in opposition territory, though.

6.46pm BST

57 min: A long pass down the City right, intended for Jesus, flies harmlessly out of play. There’s not much going on, to be honest.

6.45pm BST

55 min: Pulisic dribbles down the right and hopes to play in Werner, but the striker isn’t looking along the line. He’s clearly well offside, even though he keeps demanding the ball. Pulisic waits and waits for his team-mate to catch on, but eventually runs out of time and the chance is gone. That’s poor play from Werner, who would have been sent clear easily had he looked around and delayed his run.

6.42pm BST

53 min: Azpilicueta and Sterling tussle, the former’s hand slapping the latter’s face as he shepherds a ball out of play. It all looks accidental enough, and the Chelsea captain offers a hand of apology, but Sterling’s not convinced and doesn’t accept it. Views are exchanged.

6.41pm BST

51 min: A long City pass down the middle. Torres heads down into the path of Aguero, who meets the dropping ball, 25 yards out. As the world writes headlines of fairytale redemption, he sends an apologetic bobbler towards Mendy, who claims easily. It was probably harder to gather than the penalty, even so.

6.38pm BST

50 min: A little bit of space for Werner, sent clear by Alonso. He shoots from a tight angle, into the side netting. The flag goes up for offside.

6.37pm BST

49 min: Chelsea stroke it around the middle without much in the way of direction.

6.37pm BST

47 min: On the touchline, Pep still has the air of a man indulging in a turbo-seethe over Aguero’s scuffed Panenka, glaring out darkly towards the field of play. Probably best that sort of thing happens today and not in three weeks’ time.

6.34pm BST

City get the ball rolling for the second half. Aguero is still on, perhaps having been told he owes his team-mates one. Chelsea meanwhile have finally got Zouma onto the pitch in place of the stricken Christensen.

6.32pm BST

However, let’s keep everything in perspective, because despite that fiasco, City are still winning. They’re 45 minutes away from title number seven. News of any potential half-time punishment-substitutions soon!

6.29pm BST

That was a dismal couple of minutes for Sergio Aguero. The heavy touch that nearly cost the opening goal, then the botched Panenka ... and Sky have now shown footage of his berating Sterling for arriving on the scene to batter home the opening goal. He’s got some cheek, given how badly he miscontrolled the pass from Jesus with the goal gaping. As both Jamie Redknapp and Micah Richards point out on Sky, his team-mate got him out of jail with that one; Sterling should be receiving thanks, not a hot-faced lecture.

6.23pm BST

Half-time entertainment.

6.21pm BST

Aguero has plenty of moral credit in the bank when it comes to title-clinching matches for City, but he’s used a wee bit of it up there. I wouldn’t fancy being in his shoes when he gets to the dressing room, Guardiola having stormed down the tunnel in high dudgeon. Tuchel isn’t best pleased, either, having been unable to bring Zouma on when Christensen limped off. A largely uneventful half ends with a bang.

6.19pm BST

45 min +3: Aguero attempts a Panenka. Mendy doesn’t commit to a dive right, and is able to stand up again and catch casually. Oh dear. On the touchline, Pep is fuming.

6.17pm BST

45 min +2: One minute of injury time. As the clock ticks over, City enter the Chelsea box en masse. Gilmour crashes into the back of Jesus, and Chelsea have fallen apart here in double-quick time!

6.16pm BST

45 min: A double blow for Chelsea, who have lost Christensen to injury. He was feeling his hamstring.

6.15pm BST

A long ball down the right. Christensen should deal with it, but swishes fresh air, allowing Jesus to race into the box. Jesus, drawing Mendy, unselfishly rolls across to Aguero, who takes an uncharacteristically heavy touch in front of an unguarded net. The ball breaks left, the chance looks gone ... but in comes Sterling to bash home!

6.14pm BST

43 min: Gilmour injects some pace into a Chelsea ramble, pinging the ball forward for Ziyech, who strides into space and curls towards the top left. Ederson pushes clear at full stretch. Chelsea come again, Rudiger blazing over wildly. City then go up the other end, and ...

6.11pm BST

41 min: Since the half-hour mark, City have enjoyed 68 percent of possession. It’s fair to say they haven’t done much with it, but everyone seems content enough at the moment.

6.09pm BST

39 min: Sterling’s cute backheel releases Mendy down the left again. Mendy clumps an awful cross through the box and out for a throw on the other side. “This somehow still feels like it has 0-0 written all over it,” writes Grant Tennille. “Even with so much ostensibly at stake, the dominant vibe is more ‘two international heavyweights meeting in the early stages of a tournament qualification campaign’ than make-or-break, ‘sharp end of the season’ electricity.”

6.08pm BST

38 min: ... nothing. Nix. Bupkis. Nada.

6.07pm BST

37 min: A little space for Mendy down the left. He whips low and hard towards the near post, forcing Christensen to hoick behind for a corner. From which ...

6.05pm BST

35 min: Sterling skitters down the left wing at speed. He cuts infield and wonders where Aguero is. He overruns the ball a little, allowing Kante to make half a block. Sterling barges through the challenge and takes an instinctive shot from 25 yards. It’s heading into the bottom left, but not at any particular speed, and Mendy flops on it without drama.

6.04pm BST

33 min: Gilmour sends Werner scampering down the left. Werner reaches the edge fo the box and, using Ake as cover, tries to curl into the top right. It’s always heading wide and high, and it turns out he would have been offside earlier in the move anyway.

6.03pm BST

32 min: James, by the right-hand edge of the City D, drives low and hard. The ball’s going miles wide left, but Werner diverts it neatly into the top right with a flick of his boot. He doesn’t bother celebrating, though, as he knows he’s miles offside. The flag goes up.

6.00pm BST

30 min: Both teams are threatening to score an opener. Pulisic and Ziyech combine down the middle and nearly tee up Werner; then up the other end, Jesus has two goes at releasing Aguero down the middle, but can’t get his pass right on either occasion. Yep, intriguing rather than exciting.

5.58pm BST

28 min: Werner takes on Laporte down the left. Just as he’s about to skip past, Laporte steps on his toe. A large cry of pain. No free kick, though. Werner’s soon back up after a worrying 20-second period of rolling about. Any player who stays down between now and 29 May will have Chelsea and City fans’ hearts in mouths.

5.56pm BST

26 min: City stroke it around the middle of the park, without too much urgency.

5.54pm BST

24 min: Christensen’s miscue and Aguero’s industry leads to a City corner on the left. Torres whips to the near post. Alonso is forced to eyebrow out. Take two. Mendy claims the second one from the middle of a crowded six-yard box.

5.52pm BST

22 min: Another free kick out on the Chelsea right. They load the City box. Ziyech takes. Ake clears. This has been intriguing rather than exciting so far, which is better than nothing.

5.50pm BST

20 min: Both of these clubs have kept 31 clean sheets in all competitions this season. Next best is Manchester United with 24. So here we are.

5.48pm BST

18 min: Some space for Werner down the left. He teases Ake, pushing him back and further back, then rolls across for Gilmour. His strike is blocked the second it leaves his boot, Mendy doing the brave work.

5.47pm BST

17 min: Aguero spins in the middle of the park, finding space to launch an attack. Sterling and Jesus assist, the ball eventually laid off for Rodri, whose low drive deflects wide left for a corner. Nothing much happens at the set piece.

5.45pm BST

15 min: Chelsea are growing into this now. James is sent scampering down the right by Gilmour. His low cross is easy meat for Ederson. A poor delivery, given Werner and Pulisic were up with play.

5.44pm BST

14 min: The resulting free kick is useless.

5.43pm BST

13 min: VAR decides yellow will suffice. Sterling put studs on ankle there, and he didn’t look totally in control. He’s a lucky chap.

5.42pm BST

12 min: A little bit of possession in the midfield for Chelsea. Rudiger has the chance to release Werner down the inside left, but misplaces the pass. Cancelo intercepts. Then Chelsea come again. Werner is about to receive possession to the right of the D. Sterling slides in. Foul. Yellow. But is it more? VAR is going to check.

5.40pm BST

10 min: City look dangerous every time they move forward ... until they reach the final third. So far Chelsea have held their shape, and there’s no way through. A pattern may have been set.

5.38pm BST

8 min: Sterling and Jesus combine well down the inside-left channel, advancing at speed. The ball breaks left to Mendy, who hares in from the wing and hits a first-time drive across the face of goal and well wide right.

5.36pm BST

6 min: Chelsea haven’t seen much of the ball yet. They’re unlikely to be overly concerned. Their possession percentage against Real Madrid was somewhere in the 30s, if memory serves, yet they carved out a plethora of chances.

5.34pm BST

4 min: A simple long ball down the City right. Christensen misreads the bounce, allowing Torres to race off. Torres has Aguero in the middle, but opts for the sensational, looking for the top right from the edge of the box. An early chance spurned.

5.32pm BST

2 min: A long ball down the right evades Werner. Other than that, it’s been a nondescript start.

5.31pm BST

1 min: According to Gary Neville on Sky, City are playing 5-1-4.

5.30pm BST

Chelsea get the ball rolling ... but only after everyone takes a knee. There’s no room for racism. Challenge it. Report it. Change it. Kick it out.

5.27pm BST

The blues are out! City in sky, Chelsea in royal. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!

5.15pm BST

Sky ask Thomas Tuchel if the Real Madrid game had a bearing on his selection tonight. “It was a huge effort, not only physically but mentally. We had one day less to recover, we had travel to do. You could see in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley what one day can do, we did not have to travel, they had after Dortmund, so we needed to do some changes. Also to prove we have trust in our whole squad, which is what we have. Game is on.”

5.07pm BST

Sky ask an extremely relaxed Pep Guardiola what he discussed with Thomas Tuchel when the pair met moments earlier. “He gave me the tactics for the final of the Champions League. Now I know it. Everything! No, we have a long relationship, when I was in Munich he was in Dortmund and Mainz, he’s a good guy. His is a tough side. Always. Game on!”

4.56pm BST

As is de rigueur these days, a large crowd gathered outside the Etihad to wish Manchester City well upon their arrival. Just as they did for the Champions League semi-final against PSG, hundreds of fans lined the street leading up to the ground, giving it plenty as the team bus drove past slowly. It was the usual heady mix of blue flares, fireworks, people spilling into the road, peelers keeping order, and not much in the way of social distancing. The title may be clinched tonight in an empty stadium, but the champions-elect know they’ve made their people happy.

4.40pm BST

Manchester City make nine changes to the XI sent out to beat PSG on Tuesday evening. Ederson and Ruben Dias are the only players to keep their places. Sergio Aguero is handed a start, nine years on from that title-clinching goal.

Chelsea are stable by comparison, making just five changes to the team named for the schooling of Real Madrid on Wednesday. Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Billy Gilmour, Reece James and Marcos Alonso replace Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Jorginho, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell.

4.34pm BST

Manchester City: Ederson, Ake, Dias, Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, Mendy, Torres, Aguero, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus.
Subs: Walker, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Steffen, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Foden, Garcia.

Chelsea: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Kante, James, Ziyech, Gilmour, Alonso, Pulisic, Werner.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Jorginho, Abraham, Zouma, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz, Emerson Palmieri, Livramento.

3.17pm BST

It’s a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final … and so much more. For a start, there’s the not insignificant fact that Manchester City can secure their seventh English league championship this evening. Three points tonight, and they’ll be uncatchable at the top of the Premier League table. How they’d love to get the job done and freewheel towards their date with destiny in Istanbul.

Chelsea won’t be in the mood to faff about either. They need a top-four finish, to guarantee Champions League football next season, whatever their fate in Turkey, and that’s yet to be secured. Defeat today would give West Ham,

Spurs
and Liverpool the chance to make up some ground, with tricky fixtures against Arsenal, Leicester and Aston Villa to come, and that’s before considering the FA Cup final.

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Published on May 08, 2021 11:57

Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – as it happened

Leeds dominated Tottenham, whose Champions League hopes are now hanging by a very thin thread

2.56pm BST

Richard Jolly was at Elland Road for this one. His report has landed, so get clicking below. Thanks for reading this MBM.

2.55pm BST

On BT Sport, Rio Ferdinand explodes in glorious righteous indignation, having spotted Erik Lamela attempting a crossfield rabona pass when 3-1 down with minutes remaining. It flew out of play. Ferdinand suggests that, had somebody tried that during his days at Manchester United, “there would have been people in a queue trying to get at the person who done it ... there would have been a conversation after ... some people might look at this saying ‘he’s only tried a rabona’, but it’s what that means, what that signals to the opposing team. They’re not serious. They ain’t serious about this. They’re little moments that shape the way the team is seen and how it feels, how it’s perceived. You gotta look right.”

2.47pm BST

A bitterly disappointed Ryan Mason talks to BT Sport. “We had moments, opportunities, but we were not clinical enough at times. They started bright, got in the lead, but we got a goal back and at 1-1 there was an offside decision ... I’m shocked, I can’t believe it’s been given offside to be perfectly honest. I don’t think people understand the shift in momentum decisions like that can have in a game of football. 2-1 is a completely different game. Second half we had opportunities and big moments that didn’t go in for us, and we were chasing the game and they got one on the counter. My first, second and tenth look is that it’s not an offside decision. In my opinion they got that one wrong. It’s a disappointing result that hurts. We will focus on the next game.”

2.31pm BST

A word with Patrick Bamford, who scored his 15th goal of the season today. “The first half was definitely stronger for us than the second, they came back into it a little bit. But we stood strong and they’re a top team with top players. We had to be fully concentrated all the time. That goal at the end settled a few nerves, I think. The last few games, for some reason, we’ve shored up at the back a little bit, we’re not shipping as many chances, but we’ve barely created any in the last four or five games. So it’s been frustrating for me, but obviously it’s nice today that we got the balance right. Our wingers were brilliant. They put the ball in the right position, they were difficult goals to defend. I didn’t set myself a figure at the start of the season, I thought double figures would be respectable, but since I’ve pushed past ten, I’ve been trying to get as many as I can. It’s nice to get on the scoresheet.”

2.25pm BST

After that thoroughly deserved, comprehensive, impressive win, Leeds United rise to ninth place in the Premier League table with 50 points. Tottenham remain in sixth on 56, five points off fourth-placed Chelsea, who have a game in hand. If third-placed Leicester win one more game, and Chelsea win two, Spurs can’t qualify for the Champions League, even if they win their remaining three fixtures.

2.22pm BST

Leeds are on course for a top-half finish. Tottenham’s dreams of qualifying for the Champions League look a pipe dream now.

2.21pm BST

90 min +3: The BT cameras pick out Daniel Levy in the stand, miserable behind his mask. “The reason Spurs are in this position is because Levy should never have fired Poch,” begins Adam Levine. “Then he should never have appointed Mourinho. Then he fired Mourinho which was entirely financially motivated and was probably the wrong thing to do at this time of the season. Then he appoints Ryan Mason only because he is available and cheap. There is no other walk of life where someone would fail so publicly and so consistently and still be in the job. Except politics obviously.”

2.19pm BST

90 min +2: Lamela tries to put a sheen on the scoreline with an effort from a tight angle on the left, but it’s no good.

2.19pm BST

90 min +1: Dallas aims a curler towards the top right. Lloris saves well to avoid the score becoming slightly embarrassing for Spurs.

2.18pm BST

90 min: There will be four added minutes. Spurs just want to go home.

2.18pm BST

89 min: Klich makes way for Phillips. A reminder that Leeds have been sensational today despite the absence of their star midfielder. What a team Bielsa has built, like that’s breaking news.

2.16pm BST

88 min: Leeds, Leeds, Leeds continue to press, press, press. Spurs are forced into giving up possession again, and Rodrigo surges down the inside right. He can’t quite dribble his way through the Spurs defence, but gives it a good go.

2.14pm BST

86 min: Unless Spurs can conjure up three goals in the last three minutes plus stoppages, their hopes of a top-four finish, already slim before kick-off, are kaput.

2.12pm BST

85 min: There’s a VAR check, but Raphinha was played onside by Dier.

2.12pm BST

Raphinha is sent scampering down the left by Klich. He’s in acres. He crosses towards Rodrigo, on the penalty spot. Rodrigo meets the ball first time and sweeps it into the bottom left. What a lovely, smooth, clinical break!

2.10pm BST

82 min: Klick is inches away from curling into the top right from 25 yards. Not sure Lloris was getting to that.

2.09pm BST

81 min: It’s great end-to-end stuff. Dier whistles a cross in from the left. Alioski volleys clear. Leeds counter, Raphinha crossing deep from his left flank. Reguilon heads confidently back to Lloris.

2.07pm BST

80 min: Spurs respond by replacing Lo Celso with Ndombele.

2.06pm BST

79 min: Leeds make their second change. Rodrigo comes on for Bamford.

2.05pm BST

77 min: Kane and Lo Celso exchange passes down the inside-left channel. Lo Celso takes a whack from a tight angle. Meslier sticks a leg out to block. This game continues to breathlessly entertain.

2.04pm BST

76 min: Raphinha, Bamford, Klich, Bamford, Harrison, Bamford and Harrison combine, painting pretty triangles, left to right across the face of the Spurs box. Eventually Harrison launches over the bar from ten yards. And yes, there does appear to be a couple of Harrisons and three Bamfords on the pitch right now. Leeds are like that when in full flight.

2.02pm BST

75 min: Lo Celso dribble with purpose down the left. He dinks into a crowded six-yard box. With Kane winding his neck back, preparing to head home, Alioski eyebrows out for a corner, from which nothing happens.

2.01pm BST

73 min: Spurs having come so close to equalising, Leeds now romp upfield and nearly make it 3-1. Raphinha dribbles down the left and rolls infield for Klich, who looks to have a free shot from ten yards. He shoots, but suddenly Alderweireld appears from nowhere, sliding in to block. That’s some mighty fine last-ditch defending.

1.59pm BST

72 min: From the corner, Harrison tries to counter, but hauls back Reguilon by the shoulder and it’s a free kick, just to the left of the D. Kane’s eyes light up. He takes, and aims a curler towards the top right. It hits the top of the bar. Meslier probably had that covered had it been on target.

1.58pm BST

71 min: Lucas works his way down the right and sends a surprise shot towards the top right when everyone was expecting a cross. A big deflection off Alioski, too. Meslier does extremely well to adjust and tip over the bar. Fine reaction save.

1.57pm BST

70 min: Lamela slips, allowing Koch to make off with the ball. He’s got Bamford up with him, Spurs light at the back, but the pair get their wires crossed and Koch passes into a big fat wide open space.

1.56pm BST

68 min: Alioski hassles Lucas from behind, irritating the sub into swinging an arm. It connects with his face. Just a yellow card.

1.54pm BST

67 min: Spurs make a double change. Alli, who has faded since the break, is replaced by Lamela, while Bale makes way for Lucas Moura, who two years ago to the day did this:

1.53pm BST

66 min: Son takes the set piece himself. Bamford clears.

1.52pm BST

65 min: Harrison nudges Son to the ground out on the left wing. Free kick. A chance for Spurs to load the box.

1.51pm BST

63 min: Alioski crosses from a deep position on the left, surprising the Spurs defence and nearly finding Bamford free. The ball’s half cleared. Harrison then grooves down the right. He pulls back for Klich, who sends a rising snapshot towards the top right. Lloris parries brilliantly. What a save! Dallas picks up the rebound and earns a free kick near the left-hand corner flag, but the resulting set piece is a waste of time.

1.48pm BST

61 min: Reguilon goes into the book for an extremely soft brush on Raphinha’s ankle.

1.47pm BST

60 min: Kane slips a pass in from the left. Son takes a whack from the edge of the D. Struijk gets across to block, deflecting out for a corner that leads to nowt.

1.46pm BST

59 min: Raphinha takes up his position on the left. Harrison ambles over to the opposite flank, shoving Dallas infield.

1.45pm BST

58 min: Dier strokes a long pass down the left for Kane, who nearly worms his way into the Leeds box. Not quite, but it’s yet another example of Tottenham’s growing confidence, and Marcelo Bielsa has decided to shake things up. Roberts is replaced by Raphinha.

1.43pm BST

56 min: Lo Celso intercepts a Leeds attack and slips a pass down the inside-left channel for Son, who enters the box and lashes into the side netting. That was a decent chance; you’d expect Son to be more clinical there. But Spurs are getting back into this.

1.42pm BST

55 min: Kane mooches in from the left. No options. He decides to get a shot away, but drags it wide left.

1.40pm BST

53 min: A little bit of space for Roberts, 25 yards out. He screws a poor shot wide left and claims a free kick, having been clipped from behind by Bale, but the referee isn’t interested.

1.38pm BST

51 min: Harrison crosses from the left to win a Leeds corner. Dallas takes. Lloris flaps it away at the far post, allowing Son to break. Koch cynically trips him, and it’s the first yellow card of the afternoon.

1.37pm BST

49 min: Kane has the ball in the net again, and up pops the flag once more. There’s no need for the old VAR rulers here, as he’s sent free down the left channel, six yards off, and he rounds Meslier before whipping home just for practice.

1.35pm BST

48 min: Son drops a shoulder and gets the better of Dallas down the left, but nearly runs the ball out for a goal kick, and his desperate last-ditch cross is easily snaffled by Meslier.

1.33pm BST

46 min: Spurs ship possession with indecent haste, allowing Alioski to scamper down the left yet again. Dier deals with the resulting cross, but that’s not exactly the statement start to the second half by the visitors, who need a couple of goals if they’re to keep their top-four dream alive.

1.32pm BST

Spurs get the second half underway. No changes.

1.20pm BST

Half-time entertainment.

1.18pm BST

The hosts deservedly lead at the break, though Dele Alli has done his best to keep the visitors on terms. It’s been great fun. Tottenham’s slim hopes of a top-four finish are in a little bit of jeopardy right now.

1.16pm BST

45 min: There will be one added minute. This game has barely stopped.

1.15pm BST

44 min: Leeds, for the first time since the get-go, slow things down a little, with half time in sight.

1.14pm BST

43 min: All three goals, for differing reasons, have been right out of the top drawer. This has been a wonderfully entertaining half of football. More, please!

1.13pm BST

This is such a lovely team goal. Dallas picks up a loose Dier header down the right and drives infield. Roberts gets involved as Dallas is clipped. The referee waves play on. Harrison slips Alioski into space down the left. Alioski crosses low, and Bamford can’t miss from six yards.

1.11pm BST

40 min: Harrison and Alioski combine smoothly down the left. Harrison caresses a cross with the outside of his boot. It’s only a couple of inches over Bamford’s head. Goal kick.

1.09pm BST

38 min: Alli snaffles a loose ball and launches another charge, laying off for Son, who finds Kane. The England captain over-elaborates and the move fizzles out, but at the risk of belabouring the point, this is really impressive stuff from Alli.

1.07pm BST

36 min: Alli is here, there and everywhere, offering Tottenham’s otherwise ponderous midfield some much-needed energy. One superb assist already, plus a millimetre away from another. He looks bang on top of his game again, which is lovely to see.

1.05pm BST

34 min: So now it’s a corner on the left. Koch aims a header towards the top left. The ball skims off Bale’s noggin, and out for another corner, which Spurs make a meal of clearing, but do so eventually.

1.03pm BST

33 min: This is a great game. Dallas fizzes one in from the right. Roberts misses the chance to trundle it home by inches, then the ball clanks off Aurier before being cleared in the hectic style.

1.03pm BST

32 min: VAR checks, and though Kane looked yards offside to the naked eye - and Spurs don’t complain - it’s very close indeed. The decision stands, but only by a millimetre or two.

1.01pm BST

31 min: A lovely move by Spurs here, as Son and Alli combine down the inside-right channel. Alli flicks deliciously inside to release Kane, who flicks insouciantly over Meslier and into the bottom right. The flag goes up immediately for offside.

1.00pm BST

30 min: Koch heads the corner harmlessly behind. But this has been a fine response from Leeds to the shock of conceding an equaliser against the run of play.

12.59pm BST

29 min: The corner leads to a long game of pinball. Eventually the ball breaks to Koch, who drives from 25 yards. His effort is deflected out for another corner.

12.58pm BST

28 min: Leeds gather themselves, Harrison working his way down the left again. He cuts inside and looks for the top right. His shot is heading in, but Lloris gets a fingertip to it. Fine save, and it’s a corner.

12.57pm BST

27 min: Spurs had achieved nothing up until that point. That’ll be a huge blow to Leeds, who had appeared comfortable, in control, and the most likely to get the next goal. But now look.

12.56pm BST

Out of nothing, Spurs level. This is a sensational run by Alli, who sashays down the middle, draws a couple of white shirts, and dinks a little pass down the inside-right channel to release Son. He’s clear on goal, and never doing anything except slotting into the bottom right. Lovely finish, but what an assist by Alli!

12.55pm BST

24 min: Alioski nearly releases Bamford down the left. Bamford can’t quite get the better of Aurier. Spurs go up the other end, and ...

12.53pm BST

23 min: Roberts and Bamford are both caught offside, needlessly so, as Leeds build an attack down the left. As the flag pops up, so does Bielsa, beside himself with fury at his players’ carelessness. That’ll be mentioned at half time, I’ll be bound.

12.52pm BST

21 min: Lo Celso drops deep to help out his defenders. He intercepts, then drives down the middle of the park, eating up 60 yards, before slipping a pass down the left channel in the hope of releasing Kane. Koch is wise to the caper, and slides in to toe-poke the pass away. Great play all round.

12.49pm BST

19 min: It’s been lovely and level in terms of possession: 49 to 51 so far.

12.48pm BST

18 min: Bale, Son and Alli combine neatly down the inside-right channel. They can’t quite open Leeds up this time, but they weren’t far off making space for a shot, and that’ll give the visitors succour.

12.47pm BST

17 min: Leeds push Spurs back. A free kick is launched into the mixer from the left. Then a throw. Some minor bedlam. The hosts clearly fancy their chances down this flank, having already hit paydirt.

12.46pm BST

15 min: Harrison’s cross was all but impossible to defend. Stunning. Spurs look to respond immediately, winning a corner down the left. Son delivers, Bale flicks on, but there’s nobody in green lurking and Struijk hammers clear.

12.45pm BST

A bit of space out on the left for Harrison, who whips a stunning low cross through the six-yard box. Dier swipes and misses. Reguilon hangs out a leg and connects. The ball flies towards the bottom right. Lloris reacts magnificently to parry, saving the own goal, but Dallas is lurking and roofs the rebound from close range!

12.42pm BST

12 min: Roberts has a speculative dig from distance. The ball deflects high into the air and it’s easy pickings for Lloris.

12.42pm BST

10 min: Had that chance fell to Bamford, you’d expect the net to have billowed like billy-o. On the touchline, Bielsa sits on his bucket, oblivious to the rain hammering his head.

12.40pm BST

8 min: The corner on the right leads to another on the left. That second one’s hit long. Harrison turns it back at the far post, the ball falling to Struijk, six yards out. The defender connects well, pivoting as he shoots, but leans back and sends it over the bar.

12.38pm BST

7 min: Leeds have yet to put anything together that remotely an attack ... and just as I type those words, Harrison slips Bamford into space down the inside-left channel. He steps into the box and swivels, hitting a crisp shot towards the bottom right. Lloris does extremely well to turn it around the post for a corner.

12.36pm BST

6 min: The resulting corner, hit flat by Lo Celso, is a fails-to-beat-first-man atrocity.

12.35pm BST

5 min: A little bit of space for Kane out on the right. He crosses, looking for Son, but Llorente steps in to head behind for the game’s first corner.

12.34pm BST

4 min: Other than that, it’s been a fairly nondescript, albeit high-paced, bordering on frantic, start.

12.33pm BST

2 min: The rain has been tipping down all morning, so it’ll be interesting to see how the pitch holds up. According to Steve McManaman on BT co-comms, the ground staff have been attacking it with all manner of garden tools. The ball seems to be rolling just fine right now, so it’s a good job done.

12.30pm BST

Leeds get the ball rolling ... but only after everyone takes a knee. There’s no room for racism. Challenge it. Report it. Change it. Kick it out.

12.29pm BST

The teams are out! Leeds are in their famous clobber, as selected by Real Madrid fan Don Revie, forcing fellow white fetishists Spurs into second-choice green. It’s a rainy day at Elland Road. We’ll be off in a couple of sodden minutes.

12.20pm BST

Ryan Mason’s turn in front of the BT cameras. “Winning matches breeds confidence. It was important we bounced back from the cup final defeat last weekend. It’s another difficult match today but we’re going to be ready and hopefully put in a positive performance. Everyone around the club is aware that this is a big game for us.”

To further illustrate this, captain Harry Kane adds, upon being asked about Champions League qualification: “From our point of view we have to win all four games to have any chance, really. Obviously it starts here today, it’s going to be a tough game. But we’re looking forward to it. We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’s a chance for us to finish the season strong and put a little positive note on it.”

12.12pm BST

Bielsa bonus. He also reports that “Liam Cooper has a small knock in his gluteus and that’s why he’s not here today.”

12.12pm BST

Marcelo Bielsa, talking to BT Sport, analyses the difference in Spurs since Jose Mourinho chipped off and Ryan Mason took over. “There are changes in the way they play. Spurs are a team who push more into the opponent’s half and try to manage more of the ball. In any case, given the level of the players, they still generate worry.”

11.40am BST

Both teams are unchanged. Leeds name the same XI that lost at Brighton, though both Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha return from injury to take up places on the bench. Liam Cooper misses out with a knock. Spurs, having stuck four past Sheffield United, stick with their all-new kitchen-sink approach to attack. Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dele Alli and Gareth Bale will give this top-four tilt all they’ve got.

11.33am BST

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Alioski, Koch, Dallas, Klich, Roberts, Harrison, Bamford.
Subs: Poveda, Casilla, Raphinha, Hernandez, Rodrigo, Phillips, Davis, Berardi, Shackleton.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Lo Celso, Hojbjerg, Bale, Alli, Son, Kane.
Subs: Doherty, Sanchez, Winks, Lamela, Hart, Sissoko, Bergwijn, Lucas Moura, Ndombele.

11.13am BST

Leeds, it’s Tottenham. They beat you fairly comprehensively in January, 3-0, and are on a two-game winning run in the Premier League as they keep their faint hopes of snatching a top-four place alive. You, on the other hand, are comfortable in mid-table and are almost impossible to read, having recently deservedly won at Manchester City and lost limply at Brighton.

Will your wise old boss Marcelo Bielsa do a tactical number on his wet-behind-the-ears counterpart Ryan Mason, the pair separated by 36 years and 710 games of experience? Or will Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and Son Heung-min prove too much for you, given you’ve lost seven of the past eight games without Kalvin Phillips, who is likely to be missing this afternoon? It’s all very much in the balance. It’s also very much on. You’re on!

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Published on May 08, 2021 06:56

May 5, 2021

Chelsea 2-0 Real Madrid (3-1 agg): Champions League semi-final – as it happened

Timo Werner and Mason Mount scored the goals as Chelsea booked their ticket for Istanbul and a final showdown with Manchester City

12.06am BST

10.21pm BST

Congratulations to Chelsea, then. They thoroughly deserved to progress to the final, having proved themselves better than Real Madrid in both legs, and by quite some distance tonight. They’ve set up an all-English final against Manchester City on 29 May. No doubt you’ll be hearing about that soon. In the meantime, thanks for reading this MBM. Stay safe. Nighty night!

10.18pm BST

A delighted Thomas Tuchel speaks to BT Sport. “We deserved to win. The first half was difficult, they had a lot of possession and made us suffer, but every ball from us was dangerous. We were dangerous with counter attacks. We never lost the hunger, the desire to defend. In the second half, it was an even better structure to defend. We could have scored so much earlier, so much more to be safe, but now is no time for criticism. It is a fantastic achievement and big congratulations to the team. To hang in there, even if you miss big chances, you never lose focus. It was a huge performance. I am very happy that we achieved this. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to live my life in football. This passion as a profession, I am more than grateful. It is not done yet, we want to go all the way, we arrive in Istanbul to win!”

10.10pm BST

A word with Thomas Tuchel is surely in the pipeline ... but while we wait, David Hytner’s report has landed. Clickity click!

10.09pm BST

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, his smile sparkling, speaks to BT. “It was a massive performance for the team. We knew we had a tough opponent but we performed really well and could have scored more goals. In the second half we were clearly better. We had to suffer but we fought really hard. We have one more step, we want to go to the final to try to win it. For me, this is massive, we have plenty of things to fight for with some massive weeks coming up. We have played Manchester City a lot of times, but we believe in ourselves and are ready for it!”

10.01pm BST

Glass-half-empty dept. “This creates a bit of a headache for Tuchel at the weekend now, doesn’t it (not that he’ll worry about that this evening)?” begins David Wall, with reference to the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and City. “He’ll not want to give City a psychological advantage in the head to head (especially after their home result), and can’t afford to ease up in the chase for a top-four finish. But on the other hand, will he want to mothball some of his better players in case of injury before the final?”

9.59pm BST

A delighted Mason Mount talks to BT. “I can’t put it into words at the moment. It was a great performance. We should have had about five, but the most important thing is that we won. To get that goal late on, you could see by the celebrations how massive it was, giving us breathing space in the last five minutes. We gave it everything, we had that desire, we wanted to win. I haven’t won anything yet, but we have two massive cup finals, and hopefully we can win. The final is going to be a stunning game.”

9.57pm BST

Chelsea gambol around Stamford Bridge as One Step Beyond blares out of the PA. They were certainly quite a few steps ahead of Real Madrid tonight, who were as impotent as Chelsea were superb. Sure, the hosts passed up quite a few gilt-edged chances, but at least they made them in the first place, and in a more clinical mood they could easily have thrashed the 13-time champions of Europe by five or six. Two will do, though. A second all-English final in three years is on!

9.53pm BST

Chelsea can book their tickets to Istanbul! They’ll face Manchester City at the Ataturk Stadium on May 29 in the 2021 Champions League final!

9.52pm BST

90 min +4: Giroud comes on for the excellent Havertz.

9.52pm BST

90 min +3: Chelsea have been sensational tonight. A 6-0 scoreline wouldn’t have flattered them. James tries to make it three with a low drive that sails just wide left.

9.51pm BST

90 min +2: What a job Tuchel has done! A penny for Frank Lampard’s thoughts. Should Chelsea win the Champions League, he’ll become the Andre Villas-Boas de nos jours.

9.50pm BST

90 min +1: Thomas Tuchel will become the first manager to contest back-to-back European Cup finals with different clubs, having taken PSG there last season.

9.49pm BST

90 min: Valverde is booked for a frustrated trundle into the back of Pulisic. There will be four added minutes, though this is all over.

9.48pm BST

89 min: Eden Hazard won’t have enjoyed his return to Stamford Bridge. He trudges off, to be replaced by Mariano Diaz.

9.47pm BST

88 min: Mount is sensibly replaced by Ziyech - nobody wants to see him red-carded and suspended for the final - while James comes on for Azpilicueta.

9.46pm BST

87 min: Chelsea celebrated that clincher in the expressive style. Joy abounds. Mount, still high on life, is booked for an over-enthusiastic lunge on Militao.

9.45pm BST

Kante wins the ball in the Real half and drives down the inside-right channel. He slips Pulisic into the box. Pulisic considers shooting from a tight angle, but draws Courtois instead, executes a dragback, and rolls into the centre for Mount, who slams home from six yards! If any goal had ever been coming, it was this one. Istanbul ahoy!

9.43pm BST

84 min: “Barring an absolute howler I think Per can relax,” writes Mary Waltz. “Chelsea is constantly threatening, even when Real begins an attack Chelsea calmly nicks the ball back and goes to attack. Real is completely undone.” Mary knows what she’s talking about, too, because ...

9.42pm BST

83 min: Asensio probes down the left but can’t get the better of Azpilicueta, who knocks out for a throw. From that, Nacho whips to the far post, where Rodrygo lurks. He competes for a header, but is never going to beat Rudiger. And yet that’s the closest Real have come for quite some time.

9.39pm BST

81 min: Pulisic has been a complete menace since coming on. He’s slipped into space down the right by Kante, then swivels and pulls a shot across the face of goal and wide left. Just a half-chance, that one, but they keep on coming.

9.39pm BST

79 min: A long ball down the middle nearly opens up Chelsea, as Benzema traps and turns elegantly into space, only to lose control of his own feet just as a chance to shoot beckoned. A reminder that, while this should have been over a long time ago, it isn’t quite yet.

9.37pm BST

77 min: Pulisic causes more bother down the right and whistles a peach of a ball along the corridor of uncertainty. Mount can’t bundle home. The sheer number of chances Chelsea have created, and passed up, is quite astonishing, and you can understand their fans beginning to worry. “Is it only me that’s getting STRONG whiffs of THAT semifinal against Barca 2009?” wonders a concerned Per Vestlund. “For each clear chance we spurn it’s getting closer and closer to that. Oh, the humanity!”

9.35pm BST

76 min: Zidane has to roll the dice now, and he makes an attacking change, replacing the holding midfielder Casemiro with the young Brazilian winger Rodrygo.

9.34pm BST

75 min: Courtois shanks a simple clearance out of play for a throw. Real have shown very little composure in this second half.

9.32pm BST

73 min: Pulisic shimmies down the right and wins a corner off Nacho. Mount takes. Silva wins a header, six yards out, but glances it wide left. On target, and Courtois was beaten all ends up. How on earth have Chelsea not scored a second goal?

9.31pm BST

72 min: Kroos goes in the book for a crude whack on Pulisic.

9.30pm BST

71 min: Pulisic turns on the jets to zip past Casemiro. He reaches the byline on the right and cuts back. Nobody’s kept up with him and Courtois claims easily. Once again, though, the Real defence was broken through with absurd ease.

9.29pm BST

69 min: Chelsea slow things down a little, the clock their friend. Real have done very little to worry the hosts. They’ve been staggeringly impotent so far.

9.27pm BST

67 min: A shot of Tuchel responding to that latest miss. I’m no lip-reader, but it looked like he was effing and jeffing in the grand style. And so Chelsea make their first change. Werner is replaced by the hero of the first leg, Pulisic.

9.25pm BST

66 min: ... miss another huge chance! Werner drives at the Real back line before slipping wide left for Kante, who enters the box and slams straight into Courtois. The opportunities Chelsea have wasted! If Real do manage to score, these misses are going to eat away at them.

9.24pm BST

65 min: Nothing happens at the corner, but Werner clips Nacho down the right and it’s a free kick. Kroos takes. Azpilicueta clears. Chelsea fly up the other end and ...

9.23pm BST

64 min: Real mix it up, replacing Mendy and Vinicius Junior with Asensio and Valverde. Immediately things start to happen, Asensio driving hard from a tight angle to instigate some pinball in the Chelsea box. Corner.

9.22pm BST

62 min: Nacho and Havertz wrestle on the ground. No rug or fireplace. Nacho takes Havertz by the collar, in the old why-I-oughta style. He’s risking a red, but the referee just shows yellow. Not entirely sure why that threatened to escalate so quickly, it started as a garden-variety tussle.

9.20pm BST

61 min: Vinicius diddles Chilwell down the right with an exquisite spin and burst of speed. His dinked cross is easily cleared by Chelsea, but that’s better from Real. Some proper attacking intent at last.

9.19pm BST

59 min: Chelsea spurn another huge chance. A simple ball over the top down the middle, and Havertz is clean through! He looks to sidefoot into the bottom left, and is denied by Courtois, who hacks away brilliantly. He shouldn’t have been given the chance, though. Havertz was unlucky upon hitting the bar twice, but that’s a bad miss.

9.17pm BST

58 min: Casemiro tries to up the tempo a bit, barging down the middle only to be denied by Rudiger’s sliding tackle, then crossing from the right, his cross plucked from the sky calmly by Mendy. It’s an improvement, but it’s been a low bar.

9.16pm BST

57 min: Chelsea look extremely comfortable. Real are finding it very difficult to get passes to stick in Chelsea’s half.

9.14pm BST

55 min: At the moment, Real are a shapeless, low-energy rabble. You wouldn’t put it past them to snap into gear spectacularly, but they’ll have to get their gamefaces on quicksmart if that’s to happen.

9.13pm BST

53 min: The centre of Real’s defence opens obligingly, allowing Werner to flick Mount into acres of space. He romps into the box and should dink the ball over Courtois and into the net ... but opts for power instead, and blooters deep into the Matthew Harding Stand. That’s a huge opportunity spurned.

9.11pm BST

52 min: The free kick’s whipped in. Thiago Silva rises highest, on the penalty spot, but can’t keep his header down. The ball sails harmlessly over the bar. Chelsea will be more than pleased, though; they’ve been the better team since the restart, with Real showing no signs of applying any pressure and seeing if they can exploit any Chelsea nerves.

9.09pm BST

51 min: Chilwell drifts in from the left and is clipped by a frustrated Vinicius Junior. A free kick in a dangerous position, and a chance to load the box. Chilwell to get up and take it himself.

9.08pm BST

50 min: Real stroke it about, but Chelsea hold their shape. “This is where Tuchel’s defensive mind should excel,” writes Arnav Salu. “Could say he was hired for these moments alone.”

9.07pm BST

48 min: You have to say Havertz has already more than justified his selection over Pulisic, having hit the bar twice now. A matter of inches away from his second two-goal haul in five days.

9.06pm BST

47 min: Azpilicueta is given all the time he needs to size up a cross from the right. He finds Havertz on the penalty spot. Havertz steers a fine header towards the top right, the ball pinging off the top of the bar and out for a goal kick. So close to making life extremely difficult for Real Madrid!

9.03pm BST

Chelsea get the second half underway, having been kept waiting awhile by their tardy guests. No changes by either side.

8.51pm BST

Half-time entertainment. Why not take a look back at PSG’s quite spectacular collective meltdown in Manchester in the other semi-final last night? The usual think-of-the-kids caveats apply, naturally, though of course we all enjoyed it very much.

8.47pm BST

There’s no added time, and so no time to take the corner. Both teams walk off with this tie still very much in the balance ... but it’s currently advantage Chelsea, who are 45 minutes away from an Istanbul meeting with Manchester City!

8.46pm BST

45 min: Havertz tears down the right at speed, Real light at the back. He’s got Werner and Chilwell free in the middle, but puts his head down, enters the box, and shoots himself. It’s deflected out for a corner, but that was a glorious opportunity to set up a team-mate for Chelsea’s second.

8.44pm BST

43 min: Mount dribbles in from the left and works a little bit of space for a shot. His effort is deflected into the air. Werner tries to scoop it further goalwards, but it’s an easy claim for Courtois. Chelsea are enjoying the run of this left flank.

8.42pm BST

41 min: Madrid, not for the first time this evening, make a meal of playing out from the back. Chelsea’s high press is causing them all sorts of bother.

8.41pm BST

39 min: Christensen goes in the book, as he should have done in the early exchanges, for a late clip on Ferland Mendy. A fair chance that this match won’t end with 22 players.

8.40pm BST

38 min: A slight sense that Real are getting agitated. There’s no need for them to panic yet, not least because, despite their defensive travails, they’re getting a few efforts on target, with Mendy having made a couple of big saves.

8.38pm BST

36 min: ... and now he goes into the book after tangling with Azpilicueta at a Real corner and hauling him to the ground. A pointless loss of noggin, that came seconds after Benzema forced Mendy into tipping over the bar with a flashed header from close range. Sandip Vyas’s mate (17 min) was only six minutes out.

8.36pm BST

34 min: Ramos purchases a cheap foul from Havertz, and goes over in spectacular style, his leg stretching and boot connecting with the Chelsea player on the back. Not entirely sure there was any need for that, but it’s all priced into the Ramos Experience.

8.33pm BST

32 min: Rudiger wins a scrap in the centre circle and feeds Werner, who makes off down the left. Rudiger keeps going at warp speed, demanding the return pass. Werner tries to deliver it, but plays the ball behind his team-mate. Rudiger would have been clear in the box. Real are living on the edge here.

8.30pm BST

30 min: In some respects, that changes nothing for Real, who needed a goal tonight, and still need a goal. But if they score it, now they’d only force extra time. Another Chelsea goal, and they’d be in a whole world of bother.

8.29pm BST

Kante one-twos in a tight spot with Werner, who spins and makes off down the middle. Kante slips the ball wide to Havertz, who enters the box down the left channel and draws Courtois, before chipping delicately over the keeper. Not quite delicate enough, because the ball pings off the crossbar, but Werner, having kept going, is on hand to meet the dropping ball and tap a header into the unguarded net!

8.28pm BST

27 min: The corner is a waste of time. Chelsea sweep up the other end, and ...

8.27pm BST

26 min: So with grinding predictability, having just said that, Benzema nearly opens the scoring. Benzema picks up possession 25 yards out, and sends a powerful low curler towards the bottom right. It’s heading in, but Mendy extends himself to fingertip around the post. What a stunning shot ... and an even better save!

8.26pm BST

25 min: Chelsea will be happy enough with the way this has gone so far. Real Madrid haven’t come anywhere near to scoring the goal they need.

8.24pm BST

23 min: Vinicius Junior sends a deep cross in from the right. At the far post, Benzema falls over, the slapstick result of a non-existent barge from Azpilicueta, who was standing behind him doing nothing. The referee doesn’t buy into the grift and tells him to get up.

8.23pm BST

22 min: Chilwell and Vinicius Junior fall out in the wake of a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge. The referee comes across to remind them that, while they’re both still young, they’re also fully grown men.

8.21pm BST

20 min: Werner will be annoyed at himself for that wholly avoidable offside. Irritating, but on the other hand, Chelsea now know this Real defence isn’t the strongest.

8.19pm BST

18 min: Werner slams the ball into the Madrid net, getting onto Chilwell’s low left-wing cross and roofing home from six yards. As simple as that. Too easy, it turns out, as the flag goes up, correctly, for offside. Werner was looking straight along the line, and had no need to go early. He admonishes himself accordingly.

8.18pm BST

17 min: A bit of space for Modric in the middle of the Chelsea half. He strides towards the box and slightly scuffs his shot, which bobbles harmlessly towards Mendy. Meanwhile here’s some more disciplinary-related analysis, this time from Sandip Vyas: “One of these teams is going to lose men before the final whistle. And with Ramos being back on the pitch, me mate’s already whooping for him going in the book before the half hour mark.”

8.17pm BST

16 min: Werner and Chilwell are finding some joy down this left flank. They combine crisply, Werner then crossing low for Havertz, who barges into Militao. Free kick, but Chelsea are getting into this game now, after their slow start.

8.15pm BST

14 min: Chilwell takes the set piece himself, looping it long. Casemiro makes up for giving the free kick away by heading clear. As Real look to break upfield, Jorginho is booked for clipping Hazard. That punishment had been coming. “Even as a Chelsea fan, that might well have been three yellows and a possible red,” admits Julian Menz, of his team’s earlier spree.

8.13pm BST

13 min: ... and so Chelsea stay on the attack, Chilwell clipped by Casemiro out on the left. Chelsea load the box.

8.13pm BST

12 min: Now it’s Chelsea’s turn to have a dig from distance. Rudiger, of all people, tries his luck from the best part of 30 yards. It’s swerving all over the shop, and Courtois can only punch away.

8.11pm BST

11 min: The first shot in anger of the evening is taken by Kroos, who sends a speculative low drive towards the bottom left from distance. Mendy has it covered all the way.

8.10pm BST

10 min: Real go back to stroking it around. They’ve enjoyed the lion’s share of possession so far.

8.10pm BST

8 min: Werner turns on the jets and storms past Ramos down the left. Well, nearly. Ramos just about keeps up and brazenly shoves him off the ball, allowing Courtois to claim. Werner ends up draped over the advertising hoardings. That barge was just on the right side of legal. You’ve got to hand it to him. Sergio Ramos, everyone!

8.08pm BST

6 min: Now Havertz slides in on Nacho, who goes down screaming. There’s not so much in that one, but Chelsea need to watch themselves here. You sense that one more mistimed challenge by the hosts will result in the game’s first yellow.

8.05pm BST

5 min: Christensen comes through the back of Hazard, then Kante steps across Kroos. Both of those challenges could have led to a booking, but the referee decides to keep his cards in his pocket for now. Christensen in particular can count himself very fortunate.

8.04pm BST

3 min: Chilwell dinks a pass down the left to release Werner. The flag goes up for offside and the whistle goes, though Werner looked just on. That’ll give Chelsea some early encouragement.

8.02pm BST

2 min: Real begin proceedings by stroking the ball around the back in a not particularly comfortable fashion. Eventually they hoick it upfield and let Chelsea have a go.

8.01pm BST

Real Madrid get the ball rolling. Chelsea are kicking towards the Shed End in this first half.

7.58pm BST

The teams are out! Chelsea in royal blue, Real in meringue white. A classic look. The rain has eased off, the tension has ramped up. We’ll soon find out who’ll face Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes, once pennants have been swapped, coins tossed, and Zadok the Priest mangled. It’s on!

7.49pm BST

Thomas Tuchel has also been speaking to BT. “I don’t think we need a miracle or any crazy stuff. We need our best level of performance. We have trust in ourselves, we arrive self-confident, the best way to arrive. We face a difficult team with a lot of quality and you need a little bit of luck, momentum, little decisions, little situations can decide matches like this. We want a performance on the highest level. I am pretty sure we will need more than 11 players to sneak through today, so it is good for us to have Christian Pulisic on the bench. The challenge is on!”

7.45pm BST

Chelsea have already got to one Champions League final this season, of course. The Blues will face Barcelona a week on Sunday in the Women’s Champions League final in Gothenburg, and manager Emma Hayes hope it’s a harbinger of things to come for the men. Speaking after her side beat Spurs 2-0 this evening, to inch ever closer to the WSL title, she told BT Sport: “I desperately hope we make it, and I don’t see why not, they played so well in the first leg, so I hope the boys do it tonight. This is this football club, this place is a dream to work at, winning is in the bones of everybody. It would be no surprise to me if they were to make it.”

7.26pm BST

Weather report. It wasn’t quite the raging storm of last night in Manchester, but there’s been hail in west London tonight as well. That’s since morphed into rain, and the forecast suggests things will dry out later. Whatever happens, we should have a nice greasy pitch for some fast knockabout fun.

7.12pm BST

Welcome to Stamford Bridge. Fans have congregated outside the ground to wish the home heroes all the best as they arrive for work. They’re gonna make it a blue day, as one of the many Chelsea-approved ska musicians once sang.

7.01pm BST

Kai Havertz is rewarded for his two goals against Fulham at the weekend. He replaces the hero of the first leg, Christian Pulisic, who drops to the bench. That’s the only change to the starting XI from last week.

Real Madrid make three changes to the team sent out for the first leg. The aforementioned Sergio Ramos comes back to take the place of, and the captain’s armband from, Marcelo. One-time Chelsea star Eden Hazard and Ferland Mendy step in for injured pair Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane.

6.52pm BST

Chelsea: Mendy, Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Werner, Havertz.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Abraham, Pulisic, Caballero, Zouma, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Gilmour, James, Emerson Palmieri.

Real Madrid: Courtois, Nacho, Eder Militao, Sergio Ramos, Mendy, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Hazard, Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
Subs: Asensio, Marcelo, Lunin, Valverde, Odriozola, Isco, Mariano, Rodrygo, Altube, Arribas, Blanco, Gutierrez.

6.44pm BST

The big news for Real Madrid ... as expected, Sergio Ramos is back.

✅ Our starting XI @ChelseaFC!#UCL pic.twitter.com/0YaXclD4vD

3.44pm BST

History suggests it will be Chelsea who play Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final on 29 May. Not the history that has Real Madrid winning 13 European Cups to Chelsea’s one; the history in which Real have played Chelsea four times, drawing two and losing two. The Blues, it would seem, have the grand old Spanish club’s number.

They drew with Real in the 1971 Cup Winners Cup final, then beat them in the replay, John Dempsey and Peter Osgood the goalscoring heroes. Gus Poyet decided the 1998 Super Cup final. And last Tuesday, Chelsea were the better team in a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, Christian Pulisic becoming the first USA international to score in a Champions League semi. Thomas Tuchel’s side are in form and confident. The final is within their grasp.

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Published on May 05, 2021 14:21

The Fiver | PSG looking for trouble in the trademark Scrappy-Doo style

Mauricio Pochettino has been here before. Five years ago, almost to the day, his Tottenham side went to Stamford Bridge searching for the win that would keep them alive in the race for their first title since 1961. They ended up shipping a two-goal lead, then whipping up one of those comic-book dust clouds covered with words like OOF and WHACK and BAM and OOYAFUCINBASA and with fists and boots sticking out of it. If The Fiver’s memory serves, the cloud, and all those contained within, was last seen sailing gracefully down the players’ tunnel, leaving several loose ends trailing ambiguously in its wake, like the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or, as everyone’s contractually obliged to reference these days, that last episode of Line of Duty.

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Published on May 05, 2021 07:56

May 4, 2021

Manchester City 2-0 PSG (agg: 4-1): Champions League semi-final, second leg – as it happened

Riyad Mahrez scored twice to book City’s trip to Istanbul

11.53pm BST

Guardiola reacts.

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Ronay on Mahrez.

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Player ratings.

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Congratulations to Manchester City, then, for reaching their very first European Cup final. They’ll play either Real Madrid or Chelsea on 29 May. David Hytner was at the Etihad this evening to witness a little bit of history. Click below for his report. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

10.32pm BST

Kyle Walker is also a very content man. “For a boy from Sheffield, it’s what you dream about. It’s a dream come true. Against top-quality players, we needed to put in a shift. We controlled the game well considering the amount of talent they have. It’s a team game, we all go and celebrate a goal, but for us as defenders the main thing is keeping clean sheets. So blocking a shot is just like scoring a goal for me. We’re human, we feel nerves just like the fans, and it was about controlling that.”

10.23pm BST

An extremely happy Pep speaks to BT. “It is definitely a huge step forward for the club. I am incredibly proud. My first thought is for the players who didn’t play today. I know for them it is so tough, they deserved to play, and everyone has made his contribution in this Champions League season. We have one step to the Premier League, then two or three weeks to prepare for the final. PSG put a lot of players in the middle, and we struggled a lot to make the high press, but in the second half was fantastic. An aggregate 4-1 against a team that knocked out Barcelona and Bayern Munich, so that means a lot to us. PSG are huge competitors, they fought until the end, but we were so composed. We suffered together, and we did it. We are in the final of the Champions League and those are nice words!”

10.10pm BST

Some post-match managerial chit-chat coming up, but in the meantime, David Hytner’s report has landed. Be about your business!

10.01pm BST

Riyad Mahrez speaks to BT! “It was a very good game. We didn’t start good again. We didn’t have a very good first half but we scored the goal. In the second half we played very good and could have scored more. They lost their nerves and started kicking us. After the red card it was more comfortable for us. We were good in the counter, and that’s how the two goals were. It is something we work on all the time, and today it worked good. Everyone had to contribute defensively, and that’s what we did. We didn’t concede much, and now we’re in the final. We have a game on Saturday we have to win to be champions, and then we can concentrate on the final. Ah, finally!”

9.59pm BST

On May 29, Manchester City will face either Chelsea or Real Madrid in the 2021 Champions League final! Oleksandr Zinchenko is close to tears, though everyone else remains reasonably calm, the enormity of what they’ve achieved perhaps yet to sink in. Or perhaps they’re just tired. Ah hold on, here’s the birthday boy Fernandinho, 36 years young today, smiling widely. He was immense this evening, one of many City heroes. Phil Foden, Ruben Dias and the two-goal Riyad Mahrez are also worthy of citation. Pep congratulates his men ... as does his opposite number Poch, with the good grace that some of his charges lacked towards the end of the game.

9.55pm BST

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Fernandinho, happy birthday to you!

9.54pm BST

90 min +2: Neymar aims for the top right, but the free kick is nowhere near. Not his night, huh.

9.53pm BST

90 min +1: Neymar is bundled over, 25 yards out. Chance for a consolation.

9.53pm BST

90 min: In 120 seconds, Manchester City will be celebrating their first Champions League final.

9.52pm BST

89 min: PSG are a pitiful rabble now. Danilo attacks Jesus from behind, his studs catching the striker’s knee. PSG should be down to eight, and Walker standing on Neymar’s foot earlier in the move offers no mitigation.

9.50pm BST

87 min: Kimpembe is booked for one of Zach Neeley’s 1970s scythes on Jesus. He really should be walking, but Jesus did him a favour by jumping out of the way and not complaining too much. Just a yellow, which is preposterous really. Had Jesus’ leg been planted, that could have been very ugly.

9.49pm BST

86 min: Sterling nearly zips clear down the middle, but loses his footing. He somehow manages to keep chasing the ball for a good 20 yards before the inevitable happens and he falls over. Some good slapstick styling there.

9.48pm BST

85 min: The astonishing Foden is replaced by the equally amazing Aguero.

9.47pm BST

84 min: A couple of City corners. Nothing happens, but no matter. This has long been over. “In the old days, a leg breaker might be coming from PSG,” notes Zach Neeley, not inaccurately. “There are some upsides to the modern mercenary game.”

9.45pm BST

82 min: The only worry for City now is whether anyone foolishly gets themselves suspended for the final. With this in mind, Guardiola hooks De Bruyne, on a yellow, and Silva. On come Sterling and Jesus. PSG meanwhile switch Diallo for Bakker.

9.44pm BST

81 min: With nine minutes remaining, City have one foot and four toes in the Istanbul final. On the touchline, Pep is still gesticulating like a man attempting to bring six planes in to land at once. Of course his is.

9.42pm BST

80 min: Foden has yet another go from distance. Navas denies him. The young man has done everything but score. Maybe he’s saving the fairytale for the final.

9.41pm BST

79 min: PSG have actually had more attempts in this match, 12 to 11. Only problem is, none of them have been on target. City have had four.

9.40pm BST

77 min: Foden spins into space down the left before gazzaing his way down the flank and pearling a low diagonal shot off the base of the right-hand post. Exclusive breaking news: this kid is quite the talent.

9.39pm BST

76 min: PSG replace Florenzi and Paredes with Danilo and Dagba, then nearly put the tin lid on everything as Navas just escapes De Bruyne’s press while playing out from the back. Once again, this has been a quite spectacular unravelling by the Parisians.

9.37pm BST

74 min: Mahrez sails in from the right and nearly completes a hat-trick with a curl into the bottom left. Blocked. The loose ball is shuttled away by Paredes, who is blocked by De Bruyne. The City man goes in the book, though remember, despite having been yellow-carded in the first leg, he won’t miss the final, as you need to accumulate three yellows to earn a suspension.

9.35pm BST

72 min: Zinchenko eventually calms down. Verratti not so much, as he flies into another stupid challenge. PSG have totally misplaced the collective noggin. They’ll do well to end the match with ten men.

9.35pm BST

71 min: Verratti clatters into the back of Foden, the head gone. Just a yellow. Zinchenko loses the plot completely as Paredes flicks the ball off the prone Foden’s head. Verratti is booked, and so is Zinchenko, who also cops a bollocking off his captain Fernandinho. The old boy doesn’t want to see his team-mate talk himself out of the final.

9.33pm BST

69 min: It was always bound to happen. Di Maria and Fernandinho tussle over a throw. Fernandinho cheekily nudges the ball away. Di Maria flashes a kick at the Brazilian, clipping him. The referee has no option. Fernandinho perhaps went over easily, but he’s played his opponent there. So stupid from Di Maria.

9.30pm BST

68 min: PSG win a corner down the left. Di Maria takes. Who’s there to clear? Dias, naturally. This is getting old!

9.29pm BST

66 min: Draxler drives down the inside-right channel before reaching the box and creaming a shot goalwards. Dias flings himself in the road. Another heroic block. What a defender.

9.27pm BST

64 min: PSG now need three goals in 26 minutes. Not impossible, but it’d be peak old-school City if they somehow make it. And they’re not playing peak old-school City. The Champions League final is with touching distance now!

9.26pm BST

... City break quickly, Foden and De Bruyne one-twoing down the left. Foden into space. He rolls crisply across the face of goal. Mahrez, coming in from the right, roofs home fro six yards. Simple as that, but so lethal. Istanbul ahoy!

9.25pm BST

62 min: PSG make their big move, swapping Herrera and Icardi for Kean and Draxler. But it could all be in vain, because ...

9.24pm BST

61 min: So having said that, PSG finally cause some bother in the final third. Di Maria crosses from the right; Stones hoicks clear as Icardi was shaping to shoot from six yards. Di Maria’s cross is then half-cleared, falling to Herrera, whose scissor volley is taken full in the face by the brave Dias. What fine last-gasp defending!

9.23pm BST

60 min: PSG have enjoyed nearly 60 percent possession in this second half ... but as yet, Ederson has had nothing to do. City are doing a proper number on the French champions right now.

9.22pm BST

59 min: Mahrez hands off Herrera. Free kick, though the PSG midfielder holds his mouth before gesticulating towards the referee, who isn’t much interested. The visitors getting a little frustrated, as they struggle to bust out of the City press, which is forcing them deep.

9.20pm BST

57 min: There’s a heightened atmosphere now. PSG are beginning to throw more bodies forward as the clock ticks on, leaving City opportunities on the break.

9.18pm BST

55 min: Neymar embarks on a George Best style diagonal dribble, left to right. He nearly works enough space for a shot ... only for his effort to be blocked brilliantly by Zinchenko, who then celebrates with Dias like he’s just scored a last-minute winner in the final! If you didn’t already know how important this is to City, you’ll be aware now.

9.16pm BST

54 min: De Bruyne releases Foden down the inside-left channel with a peach of a pass. Foden is clear ... but his eventual shot is smothered by Navas. The flag goes up anyway, but City come again, Foden having another whack from distance. Navas parries this one well, too.

9.15pm BST

52 min: Neymar slips a pass down the left for Verratti, who earns a corner off Walker. Di Maria takes. Fernandinho heads out for an action replay. Di Maria takes again ... and the referee spots some Parisian shoving in the middle, blowing up for a City free kick. Mind you, Dias shoved Paredes in the back there, taking quite a risk because you’ve seen penalties given for less.

9.13pm BST

51 min: It’s all a bit slow right now, which suits City perfectly. Time is already conspiring against PSG.

9.11pm BST

49 min: Verratti dribbles neatly down the left before slipping the ball inside for Di Maria, whose shot is calmly blocked by Stones.

9.09pm BST

47 min: It’s still raining, though.

9.08pm BST

46 min: The groundstaff have cleared most of the snow from the pitch. There are still patches, but the pitch no longer looks like a cheap Christmas card. City are quickly on the front foot, but De Bruyne’s effort squirts through to Navas, who claims easily enough.

9.07pm BST

City get the second half underway. No changes ... so that means no Mbappe. Yet. City are so close to the final of the Champions League at long, long, long last. PSG need ... well, not a miracle, but they’ve got quite a job on here. “Like a Pochettino-coached team is going to score three times in the second half of a Champions League match away from home,” tuts James Maslen.

8.56pm BST

Half-time postbag. “No matter who scores the next goal, it’s going to be interesting. If PSG score, game on. If City score, let the PSG full-on meltdown begin” - Rob Coughlin

“I love how Ruben Dias has added a swagger to City’s defending nowadays, even in a semi-final, as exemplified by that sliding headed block of the cross. What a stud” - Nas Iqbal

8.51pm BST

... that’s the end of the first half. Wow, that flew by. PSG have played more of the football, on balance, but have achieved nothing in the final third. City by contrast have looked solid and calm at the back, and occasionally dangerous up front, with Riyad Mahrez scoring that precious, nerve-settling goal. Manchester City are 45 minutes away from their first-ever European Cup / Champions League final! PSG need two goals to take the tie into extra time.

8.49pm BST

45 min +3: Mahrez has another crack from the spot where he scored the goal. It’s blocked. Silva latches onto the rebound and tries a curler towards the top left. That’s deflected out for a corner. One corner leads to another, and ...

8.48pm BST

45 min +1: Marquinhos should clear a long ball down the City left, but allows De Bruyne to nick the ball away. Fortunately for the visitors, he recovers the situation just in time, before De Bruyne can skitter free.

8.46pm BST

45 min: PSG continue to hog the ball, but City’s shape is solid and there’s no way through. There will be three added first-half minutes.

8.45pm BST

43 min: Di Maria feeds Neymar, 20 yards out. His shot is blocked. The ball breaks right to Paredes, whose low drive into the six-yard box is spectacularly blocked and headed out for a corner by Dias. For a split second there, a PSG tap-in looked the most likely outcome. What a block! Nothing comes of the corner.

8.43pm BST

41 min: A little bit of space down the left for Foden. He feeds Mahrez, who attempts a snapshot from a tight angle. The ball breaks up into the air, allowing Navas to claim.

8.41pm BST

39 min: Silva clips the ankle of Neymar, and is slightly fortunate not to go in the referee’s notebook. Neymar isn’t impressed and briefly goes nose to nose with the City midfielder. The ref places himself in between the pair, and everyone calms down quickly enough. But there remains a sense that PSG are combustable, and it might not take too much more for everything to spark, if things don’t start going their way soon.

8.39pm BST

37 min: A free kick for City out on the right. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Paris box. De Bruyne’s delivery is uncharacteristically poor, failing to beat first man Diallo, and the danger is cleared. “Am finding almost nothing to latch onto here in terms of drama or tension,” writes the jaded Ian Copestake, who may not find too many City fans in agreement. “Am not even feeling any spiteful pleasure at watching millionaires forced to play out in the May snow.”

8.37pm BST

36 min: Di Maria and Diallo cause a few problems down the left, and the ball breaks to Herrera, who creams a first-time shot towards the top-left corner from the edge of the box. Just wide; just over. A fine effort, though Ederson almost certainly had it covered.

8.36pm BST

35 min: It’s PSG’s turn to ping it around in a sterile fashion. City’s press keeps them on their toes, and they go nowhere in particular.

8.34pm BST

33 min: Some room for Di Maria down the middle. He’s got Neymar and Icardi to his left, but hesitates, allowing City’s defence to funnel back and get into position. Eventually a high ball’s flung into a crowded box and easily claimed by Ederson.

8.33pm BST

31 min: De Bruyne has a look from distance. Nope, though Navas scrambles after it in the manner of someone who knows another City goal would almost certainly be terminal for the visitors.

8.32pm BST

29 min: Nothing much comes of the City corner. A free kick is eventually awarded ... just in time for PSG, too, because Herrera was arriving to get involved, and would surely have escalated a garden-variety minor tangle into an international incident had the whistle not gone. He really does need to take it down a notch. Someone should press a ball of lovely cool snow onto his brow, or the nape of his neck.

8.29pm BST

28 min: Foden gets out his shovel in the snow, and dinks a pass down the inside-left channel. He’s this close from releasing De Bruyne. Florenzi toe-pokes out for a corner, just in time.

8.28pm BST

27 min: Di Maria dinks a cross in from the left. Too long for Herrera, who at least seems to have calmed down a bit since his four-minute tantrum. Goal kick.

8.27pm BST

26 min: Everyone’s been getting a little over-heated, despite the weather, so City calm things down with some sterile possession in midfield. “I’m watching on Univison in the US, where the Spanish-language commentators are almost as loud as the piped-in ‘stadium noises’,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “And with all that white on the pitch, I’m having flashbacks to the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. I expect Pochettino to start chain-smoking any minute now.”

8.25pm BST

24 min: Di Maria tries to release Neymar down the middle, but there’s too much weight on the pass and it sails through to Ederson. PSG have enjoyed 55 percent of possession so far.

8.24pm BST

22 min: Herrera is now asking Gundogan for a square go, after being harshly penalised for a 50-50 challenge with Silva. His over-reaction earns the first yellow card of the game. It’s a bit early for PSG to enter into meltdown, surely? “As PSG’s chances go downhill on the snowy piste, I expect that we will see an increasing number of slalom runs by Neymar,” quips Peter Oh, because somebody had to.

8.21pm BST

20 min: Kimpembe is down, getting some treatment having copped an accidental slap in the mush from Stones. Then, before you know it, he’s up and good to continue.

8.21pm BST

19 min: Ederson rolls the ball out to Gundogan, who is immediately stripped of possession by Di Maria. The goal is unguarded, but Di Maria flashes his shot inches wide of the right-hand post. City were so close to gifting PSG a precious away goal.

8.19pm BST

18 min: A hand-ball decision goes against Foden. Herrera gets up in his grille and there’s a bit of shoving. Both referee and the nearby Pochettino both step in to calm things down.

8.18pm BST

16 min: Neymar takes, looking for the top left. It’s not a particularly good effort, but Fernandinho eyebrows it into the air anyway, and it’s the first corner of the game. From that, PSG faff about on the left. Then suddenly Di Maria crosses, Marquinhos rising highest in the middle to meet the ball. He guides a header across Ederson and off the top of the crossbar! City hurry to clear. What a breathless start to this game!

8.16pm BST

15 min: Neymar sashays in from the left at full tilt. Gundogan nibbles at his ankle and he goes down, just outside the D, in a central position. Di Maria and Neymar’s eyes light up.

8.15pm BST

14 min: PSG continue to attack with purpose, though. Diallo crosses low from the left but there’s nobody in dark blue making a run. Ederson gathers in his snow-flecked six-yard box.

8.14pm BST

13 min: What a nerve-settler! City started this match very gingerly, but that superbly clinical move has changed the mood entirely! The task isn’t much different for PSG as things stand - they still need to score twice - but now City have an extra insurance policy. Kuipers pointed to the spot six minutes ago; it already seems like six years!

8.12pm BST

... but it’s City who break through first! Ederson launches a long pass down the left for Zinchenko. He pulls back to De Bruyne, who shoots. Blocked. The ball breaks to the right, and Mahrez gets to it first, driving across Navas and into the bottom left! City edge ever closer to Istanbul!

8.11pm BST

9 min: City will nevertheless reflect that they’ve been second best so far, having started slowly. Walker in particular will be thankful the penalty decision was overturned; during the build-up to the incident, he was robbed easily by Icardi near the left-hand corner flag.

8.09pm BST

7-8 min: Drama as the ball is crossed into the City mixer from the left. Neymar misses a header. The ball clips off Zinchenko’s shoulder, but the referee points to the spot! Zinchenko loses the place completely, understandably so, but no worries: the referee keeps calm, goes over to the VAR monitor, and admits his mistake. We play on, and City breathe again.

8.07pm BST

6 min: Di Maria dribbles down the left before falling theatrically as he enters the City box. He screams for a penalty he’s never going to get.

8.06pm BST

5 min: The first shot in anger is taken by Neymar, just inside the City box on the left. Stones blocks. This is a confident start by the visitors.

8.05pm BST

4 min: It’s slightly surreal to see a pitch for a Champions League semi covered in snow. Of the two teams, PSG seem to have acclimatised the quicker, but there’s a fair bit of slipping going on, and the ball leaves a white trail as it rolls this way and that.

8.03pm BST

2 min: The birthday boy Fernandinho, 36, slides in late on Di Maria. Just a foul, but he’s already on a warning from the referee.

8.02pm BST

20 secs: Foden stands on Florenzi’s toe. Welcome to Manchester.

8.01pm BST

PSG get the ball rolling ... but only after everyone takes a knee. There’s no room for racism. Challenge it. Report it. Change it. Kick it out.

8.00pm BST

Here come the teams! City in their famous sky blue, PSG in their first-choice dark blue with red vertical stripe. It’s a chilly night in Manchester, the groundstaff forced to run a broom over the lines to clear them of the light dusting of snow that carpets the Etihad. It’s the fourth of May! The old adversaries Pep and Poch hug. We’ll be off in a minute. “Everything points to a City win,” begins Mary Waltz. “I think they are the better side. But if PSG scores an early first goal will City start to see the Ghosts of previous CL failures? I doubt it but the mind is a powerful thing, for bad and for good.”

7.49pm BST

Pep Guardiola - relaxed, if slightly bedraggled under Mancunian skies - speaks to BT Sport. “Don’t worry, now the sun rises! We will try to win the game. We don’t think about the result from one week ago, or the consequences. Play to win the game.” He’s asked about his team selection. “It is Fernandinho’s birthday, it is my present,” he jokes, his veteran captain turning 36 today. “Everyone is able to play, I don’t know, I decide for these guys.”

7.41pm BST

Some pre-match reading.

7.22pm BST

Disciplinary matters. “Kevin De Bruyne got a yellow last week,” begins a worried Richard Birtles. “If he gets one tonight, is he out of the final?” You’ll be pleased to hear that De Bruyne would only be suspended for the final, should City qualify, if he gets himself sent off tonight. A yellow would be fine. All yellow cards expired on completion of the quarters, and players are now only suspended for the next competition match after totting up three cautions. As a result, nobody is walking this particular tightrope this evening, though Idrissa Gueye is suspended tonight after getting himself sent off for that ill-mannered lunge on Ilkay Gundogan last week ... and won’t be available for selection if PSG make it to Istanbul either, his red-card punishment being two games.

7.07pm BST

From April in Paris to May in Manchester. It’s raining. Torrential rain. Hailstones too. And hold on ... that’s not ... that’s not snow, is it?! None of that’s going to put off any Mancunian worth their salt, though, and so the City bus was greeted upon its arrival by a large group of fans lending the support they dearly wish they could give inside later on.

7.00pm BST

First up, the big news: Kylian Mbappe isn’t fit to start for Paris Saint-Germain ... but despite his calf injury, he’s named as a substitute. He’s one of three changes to the starting XI Mauricio Pochettino named last week at the Parc des Princes. Mitchel Bakker also drops to the bench, while Idrissa Gueye is suspended. Up step Mauro Icardi, Ander Herrera and Abdou Diallo.

As expected, Manchester City recall nine of the big guns rested at Crystal Palace on Saturday. More pertinently, Pep Guardiola has made just two changes to the side he sent out in Paris last week. Fernandinho replaces Rodri in midfield, while Oleksandr Zinchenko comes in for Joao Cancelo. The demoted pair take up seats on the bench.

6.51pm BST

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden.
Subs: Ake, Sterling, Jesus, Aguero, Steffen, Laporte, Rodri, Torres, Mendy, Cancelo, Carson.

Paris Saint-Germain: Navas, Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo, Herrera, Paredes, Di Maria, Verratti, Neymar, Icardi.
Subs: Kehrer, Mbappe, Rafinha, Pereira, Rico, Kean, Sarabia, Kurzawa, Draxler, Bakker, Dagba, Randriamamy.

3.12pm BST

After last Wednesday’s masterful second-half performance in Paris, Manchester City are on the brink of their first European Cup final. It’ll end a quest that started 53 years ago, when Malcolm Allison promised to attack like peak-era Real Madrid, only to come a cropper against Fenerbahce in the first round. Three quarter-finals and one other semi-final appearance later, this is the closest they’ve got. A draw tonight, even a 1-0 loss, and they’ll be off to Istanbul to face either Chelsea or Real Madrid.

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Published on May 04, 2021 14:40

The Fiver | Structural problems that don’t seem to be making anyone in football happy

Last weekend proved to be the most productive yet in The Fiver’s ongoing campaign to STOP FOOTBALL. On Friday afternoon, the punditocracy downed social-media-disgrace tools for 81 hours, the resulting peace and quiet acting as a form of cyberdouche, cleaning hot takes from every nook and cranny of the internet, a polemic irrigation. Ah, silent bliss, and bacteria-free too. Then on Sunday, Old Trafford fell to protesters good and true, this being long past the time when The Man has needed telt. So for two glorious, righteous, truth-bringing hours, FOOTBALL was STOPPED. The Fiver’s work, in the sense that we ourselves had contributed absolutely nothing, was done. ¡No pasarán!

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Published on May 04, 2021 08:02

May 1, 2021

Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: Premier League – as it happened

Kai Havertz scored twice as Chelsea consolidated their place in the top four, nudging neighbours Fulham closer to the drop

8.05pm BST

That’s your lot, then. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

8.05pm BST

Thomas Tuchel talks. “It was a very important win. I am very proud. Between two big semi-finals it is so hard to be full on, and we knew that Fulham gives everybody a hard time. They make you under-perform, work hard and suffer, and you can not get confused by the table. That’s why I have the highest respect for what we did today. It was a tough one, but a very important win, and the best situation to arrive before Wednesday. We were spot on. We had no lack of concentration and that was the key point. Kai Havertz scored two decisive goals for us and was involved with Timo Werner. A very good performance and that’s the way he should be. I was happy with Billy Gilmour, he does not need to convince me, he did very well and has the quality to play for us.” He also relays some good news: he expects to have a full squad to pick from on Wednesday night.

7.53pm BST

Scott Parker talks to Sky, and categorically refuses to throw in the towel. “We’ve not got a positive result, but I got attitude, desire and a performance as well. We managed to put our stamp on the game. My team were front-foot, they were aggressive and showed quality, but just fell short in certain moments. I always felt we were in the game. We had energy and bravery. I was very pleased. Four wins, it can be done if we perform like that. For sure I believe. That’s what we have to do. We have a chance of beating Burnley. We have a chance of beating Southampton. We have a chance of beating Man United and then Newcastle. I think we can do it. This is the challenge of the Premier League for a team like us. I understand the numbers and how everyone may see it, but anyone watching that game will have seen a dynamic team trying to win the game. I know we can win four games. We have to win four games. Everyone will be laughing at their screens listening to me talk, thinking I am living in cuckoo land. Maybe I am, I get that. But until that curtain comes down, let’s see.”

7.43pm BST

Some managerial patter to come ... but in the meantime, here’s David Hytner’s match report.

7.38pm BST

The excellent Kai Havertz, who has given Thomas Tuchel a decision to make for the second leg of their Champions League semi against Real Madrid, talks to Sky. “We have to come in the top four, that is our goal, and this win is crucial. Now on Wednesday we have another tough game, but we are very happy with the win. For me it is always good to score and I am very happy to help the team with the goals. I hope I can continue on Wednesday like this. We have a lot of quality players. I am very lucky that they help me today. It is very hard, you have to concentrate every three days on another game, another competition, we have been going for nine months now. But that’s the reason we are professionals, and we have to be professional. It’s hard but we are very happy to play in these competitions, it’s fun. I am always desperate to start games, but I know we have a lot of quality players and the other players in the last few matches did very good.”

7.25pm BST

Nothing comes of the free kick, but it doesn’t really matter. The whistle goes. Chelsea haven’t yet secured Champions League football for next season, but it’s very close. Fulham haven’t been relegated yet ... but that’s very close as well. Scott Parker shakes Thomas Tuchel’s hand with the air of a man who knows the jig is up.

7.24pm BST

90 min +4: Werner drives down the middle of the park. As he reaches the box, Aina cynically clips him to the ground. A yellow card, as there were covering defenders, and it’s just outside the area, so it’s only a free kick. Werner, who has played well today, deserved a better fate.

7.22pm BST

90 min +3: Fulham ping a few triangles, but don’t really go anywhere.

7.21pm BST

90 min +2: Mendy is fine to continue.

7.21pm BST

90 min +1: Young Carvalho latches onto a loose ball on the edge of the Chelsea box, and nearly jinks into space for a shot. He overruns it, allowing Mendy to smother. Mendy takes a whack on the head for his trouble, and is down getting attention.

7.19pm BST

90 min: There will be four extra minutes. Fulham are cutting it fine for this three-goal salvo.

7.17pm BST

88 min: Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith gives Kai Havertz the man-of-the-match award.

7.16pm BST

87 min: Robinson forced Mendy into tipping over early doors. Late on, he tries to work the keeper again, but this long-distance shot flies harmlessly over the bar.

7.14pm BST

85 min: Another Fulham corner, another non-event, Mitrovic and Adarabioyo getting in each other’s way.

7.14pm BST

83 min: A late three-goal salvo for Fulham would be quite the story, not least because, as mentioned earlier, they haven’t won here since a 2-1 victory in March 1964, with Bobby Robson in their team. “That was the only time they have ever won at the Bridge in the top flight,” writes Peter Nockolds. “It was the first game I ever saw. Talking of Bobby Robson, he once said: ‘What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes. It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.’ I was only nine. Fortunately for me, my schoolmate and his father were Chelsea fans, so I became one too.”

7.11pm BST

81 min: Chilwell is replaced by Alonso, while Maja makes way for Mitrovic.

7.09pm BST

79 min: Fulham make a double change, replacing Cavaleiro and Lemina with Onomah and 18-year-old winger Fabio Carvalho, making his debut.

7.08pm BST

77 min: There’s not too much going on. An advert for a chain of hotels pops up. “Get the Chelsea treatment.” But what is Chelsea treatment? Do they give you a sticky bun? A smile? Is this some sort of threat?

7.05pm BST

75 min: Mount is replaced by Abraham, making a rare appearance under Tuchel.

7.03pm BST

73 min: Zouma beckenbauers his way down the middle, then finds Mount, who combines crisply with Havertz down the right to release James into the box. James reaches the byline and looks for Werner in the middle. He can’t quite find him, and Areola smothers. Lovely move, though.

7.00pm BST

71 min: Mount is up and about again after some care and attention. Lemina offers an apology, which is gracefully accepted.

6.59pm BST

69 min: Lemina nudges into Mount as he rises for a header. Mount lands awkwardly. He’s either winded himself, or taken a whack on the coccyx. Better than a whack on the front tail, but painful nonetheless.

6.56pm BST

67 min: Lookman undercooks yet another corner. Fulham have had their chances to apply some pressure to Chelsea, only to pass up pretty much every single one.

6.56pm BST

66 min: Nobody is within 20 yards of Ziyech. He falls over and kicks the ball out of play in one smooth slapstick move. What a way to end his day’s work, because when he gets up, he spots his number on the board. He trudges off sadly, Kante coming on to take his place.

6.53pm BST

64 min: Chelsea continue to stroke it around.

6.52pm BST

62 min: Havertz brings Chilwell’s long ball down gracefully and enters the box. He can’t quite get his shot away, and the flag goes up for offside in any case. Had he scored, I’d say there was a fair chance the goal would have stood, because he didn’t look offside. Then again, what good is the naked eye when it’s up against VAR’s amazing rulers of pedantry?

6.50pm BST

61 min: Fulham win another corner. Fulham waste another corner. Mendy plucks Lookman’s high hoick out of the sky.

6.49pm BST

60 min: Werner sashays in from the left and nearly releases Havertz. Fine build-up play, though the door quickly slams shut. No chance to complete that hat-trick yet.

6.48pm BST

58 min: Fulham are giving it their best, though. Robinson works his way down the left and tries to release Decordova-Reid with a cute flick down the channel ... but his team-mate checks his run and the ball dribbles through to Mendy.

6.47pm BST

57 min: Maja wins Fulham’s fifth corner of the evening. Can they make it count? They populate Chelsea’s six-yard box with extreme prejudice ... then Lookman fails to beat the first man.

6.45pm BST

56 min: A chance for Lemina to cream a shot goalwards from 25 yards. He opts instead to slip a pass forward for Cavaleiro. The chance is gone, and the move fizzles out.

6.43pm BST

54 min: Chelsea ping it around methodically, just because they can.

6.42pm BST

52 min: Fulham, who haven’t won at Stamford Bridge in the top flight since the days of Bedford Jezzard and Bobby Robson, are really up against it now. They won’t be relegated today, but their margin for error is so small that defeat here will feel like the penultimate nail in the coffin.

6.40pm BST

50 min: VAR has obviously been designed to ruin everything, and there’s a tedious pause as The Man tries to find fault with the goal. Anything to spoil anyone’s fun. A marginal offside earlier in the move? Nope, as it turns out. The goal stands.

6.39pm BST

Chilwell creams a pass down the right for Havertz, who spins, passes inside for Werner, and keeps on running. Werner slips a lovely return pass between Adarabioyo and Anderson, and Havertz flicks into the bottom right. That’s another lovely finish, and a fine assist from Werner too.

6.37pm BST

48 min: Robinson tries to get Fulham on the attack with a determined run down the left, but he runs out of road. No options for him.

6.36pm BST

46 min: Christensen strides forward again. Much improved under Tuchel, he’s clearly in an ambitious mood today. His leggy run sets up Werner, who one-twos down the inside-right channel with Ziyech but can’t quite get a shot away.

6.34pm BST

Fulham get the second half underway. No changes.

6.27pm BST

Richard Hirst’s half-time report. “Four corners to one, six shots to two, must be winning comfor...... ach damn!”

6.22pm BST

Half-time reading. While it’s looking increasingly grim for Fulham, the team one place above them in the Premier League table are beginning to enjoy life again. Louise Taylor reports.

6.19pm BST

Fulham nearly equalise with the last kick of the half! Aina chests down and shoots from the edge of the D. His drive, meant for the bottom left, takes a deflection off James and nearly wrong-foots Mendy. The keeper adjusts magnificently to palm clear of danger. And there goes the whistle. As things stand, Chelsea will consolidate third place and close in on Leicester in second, with Fulham edging ever closer to the drop.

6.16pm BST

45 min: Christensen and Mount combine smoothly down the right. Suddenly the defender is in the Fulham box with the ball at his feet. Cue nose bleed.

6.14pm BST

43 min: Lookman drives down the right and crosses low. Maja tries to tee up Cavaleiro on the edge of the box, but the pass is poor and Chelsea clear their lines. Just for a second, the hosts were exposed there.

6.12pm BST

41 min: Zouma is booked for an agricultural lunge on Anguissa.

6.11pm BST

40 min: Werner races into the box from the left, this time, and his low shot is smothered by Areola.

6.11pm BST

39 min: Anguissa’s loose touch allows Mount to launch a break. He slips Werner away down the right. Werner is entitled to shoot, upon reaching the box, but spots Ziyech totally unmarked on the penalty spot. He unselfishly rolls infield. Ziyech sidefoots towards the bottom left, but Areola blocks brilliantly.

6.08pm BST

37 min: All that energy was wasted, as it turns out. Mount fails to beat the first man and Fulham clear the corner with ease.

6.07pm BST

36 min: Werner keeps on moving, and his energy down the right wins Chelsea’s first corner of the evening.

6.06pm BST

34 min: Andersen takes a heavy touch while playing out from the back and is extremely fortunate to see the ball squirt away when Werner block-tackles him. A more friendly bounce of the ball would have seen Werner scamper free.

6.04pm BST

32 min: Mount releases Havertz down the inside-right channel. Up goes the offside flag again. Mount certainly has his eye in this evening; one assist already, with a couple of other cute passes thrown in.

6.02pm BST

31 min: Chelsea re-establish some order with a period of sterile possession in the middle of the park.

6.00pm BST

29 min: Fulham have enjoyed 68 percent possession during the last ten minutes. “What must be going through poor Frank’s head?” worries Mary Waltz. “He sees Tuchel take the exact same team he managed and turns them from average into champion status. Well, at least he can take comfort that his old rival Rooney is leading Derby to possible relegation.”

5.59pm BST

27 min: Lookman crosses from the left. Chilwell and Cavaleiro clash in the middle, the pair falling to the turf. Fulham want a penalty, but they’re not getting one. It didn’t look like a foul, to be fair.

5.57pm BST

26 min: Fulham nearly open Chelsea up down the left, Lookman and Robinson combining, but hesitate and eventually get themselves into a tangle. Lemina eventually hoicks the ball out for a goal kick. Still, these last few minutes will have given Fulham succour. They’ve regrouped well.

5.56pm BST

25 min: Fulham have recovered their early poise. They were rocking for a wee bit there. Now it’s their turn to hog the ball in the middle of the park.

5.54pm BST

23 min: Chelsea only half-clear the corner, and Lookman, just inside the box on the right, whistles a low drive towards the bottom left. Mendy does extremely well to keep an excellent shot out with a strong arm, and nothing comes of the resulting corner.

5.53pm BST

22 min: Silva and Gilmour over-elaborate when playing out from the back. Maja intercepts and rolls Decordova-Reid into the box down the right. Silva makes up for his mistake by blocking the shot and turning the ball out for a corner.

5.51pm BST

20 min: Aina glides in from the right and looks for the top-left corner. An overly ambitious effort sails deep into the stand.

5.51pm BST

19 min: Anguissa strides down the right. He eventually runs out of road, but the sortie is blessed relief for Fulham, who otherwise have been chasing shadows since the goal.

5.49pm BST

17 min: Mount bustles in from the left and clips a pass into the centre for Havertz, who sorts his feet out on the penalty spot before extravagantly flicking home. One hell of a finish, but it won’t count; he’s miles offside.

5.47pm BST

16 min: Chelsea continue to hog the ball. Fulham’s early verve is all but gone.

5.46pm BST

14 min: Chelsea have found their groove now. They’re stroking it around with the confidence of ... well ... potential European champions. The job Thomas Tuchel has done since taking over in January is nothing short of remarkable. Incidentally, Frank Lampard is currently the bookies favourite to take over at Crystal Palace should Roy Hodgson retire.

5.43pm BST

12 min: So much for Fulham’s fast start. The Cottagers have conceded first on 15 occasions this season. They’ve gone on to lose 14 of those, and draw the other. God speed, Fulham.

5.42pm BST

This is beautiful. A long ball down the middle of the park is pulled down elegantly by Mount, who draws two defenders and rolls a pass between them, releasing Havertz into the box down the inside-left channel. Havertz takes a touch and dinks the ball across Areola and into the bottom right. So simple!

5.40pm BST

9 min: Chelsea are fond of a high press, too, and pin Fulham back for a bit. The visitors refuse to buckle.

5.38pm BST

7 min: The small flaw in the Fulham plan is exposed when Chelsea beat the high press. Havertz drives down the middle and feeds Mount on the left. Mount fizzes a low cross through the Fulham box, Werner a toenail away from poking home.

5.36pm BST

5 min: But Fulham are in a positive mood, and come straight back at Chelsea, Robinson sending a screamer towards the top right. Mendy is forced to fingertip over the bar. The resulting corner ends up at the feet of Andersen, 30 yards out. He takes a whack as well. Miles over, but it’s clear Fulham have decided to give this a proper go.

5.35pm BST

4 min: Lookman takes. Christensen flicks clear. Cavaleiro tries to return the ball but only manages to run the ball out for a goal kick.

5.34pm BST

3 min: Fulham are pressing Chelsea fast and hard, high up the field. They swarm Mendy into a poor clearance, and the interception leads to the first corner of the game, out on the right. Fulham load the six-yard box.

5.33pm BST

2 min: Chelsea are kicking towards the Shed in this first half. Lemina crunches Werner, while Christensen lets Lookman know he’s here. A couple of nice early challenges. Well, it is a derby after all.

5.31pm BST

Chelsea get the ball rolling ... but only after everyone takes a knee. There’s no room for racism. Challenge it. Report it. Change it. Kick it out.

5.29pm BST

The teams are out! Chelsea are in their royal blue, while Fulham sport first-choice white and black. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes. In the meantime, Mary Waltz gives Richard Hirst a pre-match pep talk: “I saw the pilot for Citizen Smith and when Wolfie wanted to prove that he understood suffering, he proclaimed: ‘I root for Fulham.’ So Mr. Hirst don’t give up hope. ‘Power to the People, Freedom for Tooting.’”

5.17pm BST

Scott Parker reflects on Fulham’s recent wins at Liverpool and Everton, and draw at Arsenal. “Those results give us belief. Those fixtures are tough places to go and get three points, and we’ve managed to do that. We’re playing a top side so will have to be near-perfect today, but that gives us confidence. We will stick to our principles and try to give Chelsea some problems. We have belief, it’s been a long journey this season, we’ve been a little bit inconsistent. But I believe, and the players believe. We need to win games. We will try to win the game.”

5.09pm BST

Thomas Tuchel talks to Sky Sports. “Hopefully Billy Gilmour does what he does in training, because that’s why he deserves to start. It is also because of the fact we give Jorginho and N’Golo Kante a well-deserved rest. But this is how it is as a young player, you wait for your opportunity. He waited long and worked hard for this, so I don’t want him to overdo stuff, I hope he can show what he shows in training. We do not want to send the message, or even give the slightest impression, that we judge Wednesday’s game over this game here. On the other hand, there were some clear signals for Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante that we have a risk of injury that we will never take. So we trust our group and the quality of the guys. We want to prove it is possible to play a high-intensity game even if it is between two semi-finals.”

5.03pm BST

Fulham fan Richard Hirst reacts to Brighton’s win by cracking wise. “Glad you’ve pointed out that Fulham are playing ersatz Fulham (also known as Walham Green). That is probably the only satisfaction we’re going to get today, or indeed this season, given that Brighton beat Leeds. Still, there’s always that mystical cold night in Stoke to look forward to!”

4.59pm BST

Fulham’s hopes of staying up have taken a big knock. Brighton & Hove Albion have beaten Leeds United 2-0, Fabian Gross and Danny Welbeck with the goals at the Amex. That moves them from 17th to 14th, on 37 points, and means the gap between Fulham and safety is now nine points. With five games remaining, escape’s not yet impossible, but becoming increasingly improbable.

4.38pm BST

Chelsea make five changes to the team sent out to face Real Madrid last Tuesday. Kurt Zouma, Hakim Ziyech, Reece James, Kai Havertz and Billy Gilmour come in, the latter making his first start of the Premier League season. Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Christian Pulisic drop to the bench, while Antonio Rudiger is injured.

Fulham, who came so close to winning at Arsenal two weeks ago, name the same XI. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible.

4.32pm BST

Chelsea: Mendy, Christensen, Thiago Silva, Zouma, James, Gilmour, Mount, Chilwell, Ziyech, Werner, Havertz.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Abraham, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Anjorin.

Fulham: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson, Reid, Zambo, Lemina, Lookman, Maja, Ivan Cavaleiro.
Subs: Tete, Hector, Odoi, Mitrovic, Rodak, Ream, Bryan, Onomah, Carvalho.

10.53am BST

Welcome to our live coverage of the Fulham derby between Fulham-based Chelsea and Fulham. You can see why this one usually gets bundled under the indistinct West London derby umbrella that also covers QPR and Brentford. It’s surely only a matter of time before somebody commissions a creative brand agency to sort this mess out. But here we are and this is it.

You’d expect Chelsea to win this one easily enough. They’re looking to consolidate the fourth spot that would secure Champions League football next season, while Fulham are six pints down in the last-chance saloon, seven shy of safety with the barman about to call lasties.

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Published on May 01, 2021 12:05

Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened

City scored twice in 84 seconds to move within touching distance of the title

2.48pm BST

Ed Aarons was at Selhurst Park this afternoon. His verdict has landed. You know what to do. Thanks for reading this MBM!

2.47pm BST

Roy Hodgson talks. “It hurts to come away with nothing, but you’re playing a team with so much technical ability, that’s the problem. You have to work so hard to keep them at bay. The first goal isn’t because we have defended really badly, it’s a fantastic pass, control and shot. As a result they could take their foot off the gas a bit. The goalkeeper and back four were very good. Tyrick Mitchell can be very pleased with his performance.” He goes on to report that Wilfried Zaha is carrying a groin injury, while deflecting all talk of his personal plans for next season.

2.43pm BST

Pep speaks to BT. “I am absolutely delighted. After Champions League it is always tough. The players that didn’t play in Paris spoke on the green, and did it perfectly. The quality of the players made the difference. In the first half we struggled a little bit but that is normal, in the second half they were perfect. Sergio Aguero, what a goal. I am in love with him as a person, what a guy! What a goal! Of course he is ready. We can start to think about putting the champagne in the fridge. Not yet, but we put it in the fridge. I will check on the game tomorrow. The Premier League is already there. We need one more victory. Then we will give absolutely everything to reach the final.”

2.34pm BST

Sergio Aguero talks to BT. “The goal is good because maybe we can win the Premier League now. We wait for tomorrow. I don’t know [if I will watch the game] but I will see tomorrow. If Liverpool win, it’s better, no?!”

2.25pm BST

You couldn’t say that was a classic City performance ... and yet they still scored two magnificent goals and could have had several more. The mark of champions, right there. They wander off, all smiles. They’re 13 points clear of Manchester United, who need to avoid defeat tomorrow at home to Liverpool if they’re to keep their very faint title hopes alive. Palace meanwhile remain in 13th spot.

2.20pm BST

Two goals in 84 seconds settled it. City are one win away from the Premier League title. They will be crowned champions tomorrow afternoon if Liverpool win at Manchester United.

2.19pm BST

90 min +2: Everyone wanders about, just waiting for the final whistle.

2.17pm BST

90 min: Like the title race, this match is very nearly over. There will be three additional minutes.

2.16pm BST

88 min: BT Sport co-commentator Glenn Hoddle names Sergio Aguero as man of the match. Aguero provides proof of a good decision by bursting into the Palace box and nearly scoring from a tight angle on the right. Guaita blocks well.

2.13pm BST

86 min: A free kick for Palace out on the right. The hosts load City’s box. Eze’s delivery is woeful, failing to beat the first man.

2.11pm BST

85 min: A little space for Zaha, released down the inside-left channel by Eze. Zaha has time to shoot, but hesitates, allowing Ake to slide in and concede a corner. The set piece is no good.

2.10pm BST

83 min: It’s Palace’s final change, Townsend making way for Ayew. The game restarts, and Sterling whips a low diagonal shot inches wide of the bottom right.

2.08pm BST

82 min: Sterling hoicks it over the bar.

2.08pm BST

81 min: Kouyate is booked for felling an in-flight Sterling. A free kick, 25 yards out.

2.07pm BST

80 min: Cancelo rolls a low diagonal pass towards Sterling in the box. Guaita reads the danger well and smothers just in time. Palace break, Milivojevic curling a shot goalwards from 25 yards. It’s an easy claim for Ederson.

2.05pm BST

78 min: Aguero buzzes down the left and finds Sterling in the box. Sterling drops a shoulder to evade Dann, but can’t get a shot away because Kouyate arrives to close him down.

2.03pm BST

76 min: Sterling and Aguero one two down the left. Aguero’s return pass is a little bit heavy, allowing Guaita to come out and smother. A better ball and that would have been three.

2.02pm BST

74 min: City break three on three. Sterling runs down the middle and feeds Torres down the inside right. Torres enters the box but instead of shooting, rolls the ball backwards for Cancelo, rushing in at great speed. Cancelo aims a first-time curler towards the top left. It flies inches wide. What a picture that goal would have been.

1.59pm BST

72 min: Zinchenko sends a volley towards Sainsbury’s.

1.58pm BST

71 min: Schlupp sends a speculative effort goalwards. Easy for Ederson.

1.57pm BST

70 min: Laporte sends Jesus skittering down the inside-right channel. Jesus enters the box and shapes to shoot, but he’s denied by Mitchell’s sliding block. Mitchell has had a fine game.

1.54pm BST

68 min: ... and now Palace make their second, Mateta coming on for Benteke.

1.53pm BST

67 min: City make their first change, replacing Fernandinho with Zinchenko.

1.52pm BST

65 min: The corner leads to absolute bedlam in the Palace six-yard box. The ball squirts to Laporte, who attempts to fire home from close range. Benteke denies him with an outstanding block. Another corner; this one’s dealt with in a much less dramatic style.

1.51pm BST

64 min: Corner for City out left. It’s hit long for Rodri, who is denied a simple header by Ward’s last-ditch flick. Another corner coming in, this time from the right.

1.50pm BST

62 min: Having looked uncharacteristically impotent for the best part of an hour, City are now threatening with every attack. Sterling turns on the jets to make good down the inside left, then creams a low drive off the base of the left-hand post.

1.49pm BST

61 min: As things stand, City will go 13 points clear of second-placed Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. Should they hold on, and Liverpool win at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon, City will be crowned champions.

1.47pm BST

60 min: Roy Hodgson has the huff on. So much for his defensive masterplan. Schlupp comes on for Riedewald.

1.47pm BST

Like the proverbial London bus ... Jesus, Torres and Sterling take turns to bundle the ball down the middle. Football’s version of a rolling maul. Torres enters a pocket of space on the edge of the box and sidefoots into the bottom left. A mere 84 seconds between the goals!

1.45pm BST

Well, this was worth waiting for! Mendy, hugging the left touchline, fires infield for Aguero, who takes a touch, strides into the box down the channel, and lashes a rising half-volley into the top left! Guaita had no chance! What a strike!

1.43pm BST

55 min: Zaha is manhandled by Sterling, then Fernandinho. He gets the foul, but he’s furious that his opponents aren’t booked. He gives the referee some beneficial advice. He’s sailing close to a booking.

1.41pm BST

53 min: Fernandinho scoops a diagonal pass towards Torres on the right-hand corner of the Palace six-yard box. Torres chests down but doesn’t shoot, opting to dink a cross towards Jesus. Dann steps in to head over, a brilliant last-ditch intervention. Nothing occurs at the resulting corner. Brilliant defending, though you wonder why Torres didn’t shoot.

1.38pm BST

51 min: You’re not missing much.

1.36pm BST

49 min: Eze is stripped by Torres, who bombs down the middle. Milivojevic steps across him and picks up the first booking of the afternoon.

1.35pm BST

48 min: Fernandinho launches long down the middle. Sterling for a second looks like bringing the ball down and scooting clear, but Dann and Kouyate are on his case.

1.34pm BST

47 min: Changes in attitude are not immediately apparent.

1.32pm BST

City get the second half underway. No changes in personnel. Changes in attitude, perhaps?

1.18pm BST

Half-time entertainment, courtesy of Mac Millings. “For no good reason, here’s a Manchester City anagram XI. ‘Enjoy’.

1.16pm BST

You’ll have seen better. Palace will be happy enough with this, City not so much. Here’s to some second-half improvements.

1.15pm BST

45 min: There will be one additional first-half minute. Sweet mercy.

1.14pm BST

44 min: Sterling dribbles into the Palace box, but there’s no room for him to fashion a shot.

1.13pm BST

43 min: A free kick for Palace out on the left, and another chance for the hosts to cause a bit of bedlam in the City box. Townsend curls it in. Sadly for Palace, he does so uselessly. Ederson claims with a yawn.

1.12pm BST

42 min: Mendy finds a yard down the left and tries to find Sterling at the near post. No. Rodri then hoicks a cross straight out for a goal kick. In the dugout, Pep looks slightly agitated.

1.11pm BST

40 min: Space now for Torres out on the right. He larrups a cross-cum-shot through the six-yard box. Nobody in City paisley is on hand to bundle home.

1.10pm BST

39 min: Palace respond through Eze, who jinks into space down the inside-left channel before whistling a low diagonal shot inches wide of the right-hand post. It’s not been much of a match so far, but things are picking up.

1.09pm BST

38 min: Mendy fires a low pass upfield for Jesus, who lays off to Aguero. The striker rolls Cancelo into space on the right, and picks up the instant return. The ball’s not quite right for Aguero, and under pressure from Mitchell, he scoops wide right from ten yards. For a second there, Palace were exposed.

1.07pm BST

36 min: So having established that, Fernandinho wedges into the box from a deep position on the right, finding Jesus in the middle, six yards out. Jesus opens his body and roofs a shot past Guaita, but the flag immediately goes up for offside. It’s the correct decision, and Palace’s clean sheet remains in tact.

1.05pm BST

35 min: Aguero launches a couple of sorties down the left, with the assistance of Sterling. On both occasions, he’s force to turn tail. Palace are holding firm.

1.03pm BST

33 min: City haven’t had a shot on target yet. Palace have managed two. Neither goalkeeper has been seriously tested. This is hard work.

1.02pm BST

32 min: City re-establish control in the middle of the park.

1.00pm BST

30 min: The ball’s pumped high into the penalty box. Benteke wins a game of head tennis, then Riedewald attempts the spectacular from the edge of the D. Nope. Goal kick.

12.59pm BST

29 min: Nothing comes of the corner, but City only half clear and Jesus fouls, so it’s a free kick out on the left and a chance to load the City box.

12.59pm BST

28 min: ... and suddenly they spring into life, Townsend slipping the overlapping Ward into space down the right. Ward reaches the byline and cuts back for Benteke, who tries to bundle home from close range but settles instead for a corner.

12.58pm BST

27 min: Palace ping it around for a bit. They go nowhere, but that’s not really the point.

12.55pm BST

25 min: Jesus probes down the right but is eased off the ball by Mitchell, who has had a very solid game so far.

12.54pm BST

23 min: Zaha thinks he’s away down the left, but he’s pulled up for clipping Cancelo. He briefly gives the referee what for, but doesn’t push it too far.

12.52pm BST

21 min: City nearly score a very simple, but gorgeous, high-speed goal. Mendy drives down the left and fires a low cross towards Jesus, who immediately flicks the ball down the channel for Aguero. Instead of opening his body and sidefooting into the bottom right, he opts to cut back for Jesus, allowing Dann to intercept. Shame, that would have been a peach.

12.50pm BST

20 min: City stroke it around elegantly. It’s as natural as breathing in and out.

12.49pm BST

18 min: In the dugout, Pep reacts. He holds his head in his hands, a study in despair.

12.48pm BST

17 min: Laporte rakes a long pass down the left. Sterling tears into space. He drops a shoulder to fend off Kouyate, takes a touch infield, should shoot, doesn’t shoot, eventually shoots, and allows Mitchell to pressure him into bundling the ball wide right. He should have scored.

12.47pm BST

16 min: So having said that, things stop happening. Pulitzer, please!

12.45pm BST

15 min: Benteke has a lash from distance. It flies straight down Ederson’s throat. After a slow start, things are beginning to happen.

12.44pm BST

14 min: Fernandinho robs Eze in the centre circle and City stream forward. Sterling cuts in from the left and looks to plant a spectacular one into the top right. No good. He had Torres in space on the right too. He grimaces accordingly.

12.43pm BST

13 min: City have enjoyed 75 percent of possession so far, though Guaita hasn’t had a thing to do. There’s time.

12.42pm BST

12 min: Benteke is such a strange player. He’s got it all going on, but somehow manages to find myriad ways to waste his talent.

12.41pm BST

10 min: City do nothing with the corner, and Palace break. The hosts should be leading, too, because Townsend dribbles down the right and floats a cross towards Benteke, six yards out. He’s surely got to score, but mistimes his jump, under pressure from the nearby Fernandinho, and sends a weak header wide left and high.

12.39pm BST

9 min: City finally put something together, Aguero slipping Mendy into space down the left. Mendy crosses long for Torres, whose sidefooted volley clips Mitchell and flies out for a corner.

12.38pm BST

8 min: This is very scrappy. Palace will be absolutely fine with that.

12.36pm BST

6 min: Cancelo miscontrols a simple pass, letting the ball fly out for a throw. It can happen to the best of them. There’s not a great deal happening, to be fair.

12.35pm BST

4 min: Zaha slaps his hand into Cancelo’s face and feigns affront when the ref pulls him up on it. A free kick out on the right, and a chance for City to load the Palace box. Ward clears the set piece, and takes a whack in the back from Rodri while doing so.

12.32pm BST

2 min: A nice slow start.

12.30pm BST

Palace get the ball rolling ... but only after everyone takes a knee, or a stand. There’s no room for racism. Challenge it. Report it. Change it. Kick it out.

12.26pm BST

The teams are out! Palace wear their red and blue stripes, City their third-choice squiggles, and the officials ask for a little respect. We’ll be off in a minute or two, after a quick blast of Glad All Over.

12.17pm BST

Pep talks. “We played in Paris three days ago. We travelled. Some players are exhausted, some players are fresh and with a lot of confidence, because they are all good players. The players we have today have different skills and talents so we have to adapt. We put them in positions where they feel comfortable. Palace have an experienced manager and a lot of personality. We need two games to be champions so winning today would be a good step forward, definitely.”

11.57am BST

Positivity’s Roy Hodgson speaks to BT Sport. “I used the word trepidation in a press interview, it’s the word that most sums up one’s feelings. They’ve been so good for a long period, but this season in particular they seem to be climaxing and playing even better still. That performance the other night against PSG is about as close to perfection as you can get. So of course we’re concerned about that. But I could be sitting at home watching them play, not having a team to play against them, and Crystal Palace could be nowhere near the Premier League and dreaming of the day when they once again can play against Manchester City. So you can see things in that light and that’s the most important light for us to see it in today.”

11.38am BST

Palace make two changes from the team named ahead of last weekend’s loss at Leicester. Patrick van Aanholt and Jordan Ayew drop to the bench, Tyrick Mitchell and Andros Townsend taking their places.

City, who are looking for their 19th consecutive away win, make eight changes to the team that won in Paris on Wednesday night. Ederson, Joao Cancelo and Rodri are the only players to keep their shirts. John Stones is suspended, while Pep Guardiola names not one, but two strikers in Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.

11.31am BST

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Kouyate, Dann, Mitchell, Riedewald, Milivojevic, Eze, Townsend, Benteke, Zaha.
Subs: Butland, van Aanholt, Ayew, Mateta, Schlupp, McCarthy, Batshuayi, Cahill, Kelly.

Manchester City: Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Laporte, Ake, Mendy, Torres, Rodri, Fernandinho, Sterling, Aguero, Gabriel Jesus.
Subs: Walker, Dias, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Steffen, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Foden.

10.48am BST

Manchester City have won 31 of their last 34 matches in all competitions, a run that’s seen them win the League Cup, place one foot in the Champions League final, and inch towards the Premier League title. You’d expect the required two wins to become one in a couple of hours, once they’ve played opponents seen off 4-0 at the Etihad in January.

But nobody’s perfect. While Crystal Palace have been given some frightful chasings on their own patch this season – 3-0 by Burnley, 4-1 by Chelsea, 7-0 by Liverpool – and have only picked up nine points from their last ten games, they’ve caused City more problems recently than many. A 2-2 draw at the Etihad last year, for example, and a 3-2 win there the season before that.

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Published on May 01, 2021 06:48

April 30, 2021

Southampton 1-1 Leicester City: Premier League – as it happened

Ten-man Saints earned a deserved point despite Jannik Vestergaard’s controversial early dismissal

10.31pm BST

Ben Fisher was at St Mary’s, and his report has landed. Time to get clicking, folks. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night and sleep tight everyone.

10.30pm BST

An equally frustrated but defiant Ralph Hasenhuttl talks to Sky. “We deserve big credit. We can discuss about the red card, but for me how we bounced back was amazing. We tried to defend everything. They had 80 minutes to score against us. The goal we conceded was the one time we didn’t have pressure on the cross, but the rest was really well defended. The way the red card happened meant for me it was deserved that we got something today. Vestergaard has a bad touch but then he plays the ball back to the goalkeeper, he plays the ball, simple, pass. The official explanation was that it was a 100 percent goal chance. For me, Vardy never had the ball and also he would never get it. Maybe a foul because he hit him after he played the ball, but never a red card. Vardy never had control of the ball in the situation. It’s a VAR decision and we have had a few interesting decisions against us, and I don’t want to discuss it any more. I had a very good feeling before the game, and thought we had a very good start today, but then the red card changed everything. Defensively it was one of our best games.”

10.23pm BST

Brendan Rodgers speaks to Sky. “I’m a little frustrated. We didn’t do enough to win the game to be honest. It was a great opportunity, playing against ten men, and normally in that type of game we’re very good. But we didn’t really pick up the tempo until we went a goal behind. But give credit to Southampton, who defended deep, compact, and made it difficult for us. But yes, we’re disappointed. Our game was too slow. I haven’t seen the [red card] back, I’d need to see it again. We had a couple of really good chances, but not enough. We always want to win, we’ve shown this season that we’ll do anything we can to win, but tonight it just wasn’t enough. When we get back in on Monday, it’s another point towards where we want to go. We’ve got four games to go, we’re in a brilliant position, we showed a good mentality to get back into the game. We’ll have a good week to recover and get ready for next Friday [against Newcastle].”

10.16pm BST

James Maddison cuts a frustrated figure. “It was two points dropped. We had chances to win the game, especially after playing against ten men for so long, we should be winning the game, so it’s disappointing. They played in a low block and we had to work hard to break them down. We created chances, though, to be honest. We’re actually very good in situations against ten men, and coming from behind, we’ve scored a lot of late goals. So I still had hope right up until the last whistle, but it wasn’t to be. It’s tough when you get into a couple of good opportunities to score. We just didn’t have that cutting edge we’ve had for most of the season. I heard on the Sky Sports News on the coach coming in that Leicester have a chance to secure their Champions League spot. It’s not that simple! There’s so much football to be played, so much to happen. We can’t get caught up in that.”

10.07pm BST

Alex McCarthy, who had a fine game in Southampton’s goal, stopping nine on-target efforts, speaks to Sky Sports. “The point is massive. Obviously results haven’t been great for us, but to come away with a point after going down to ten men early on is an unbelievable effort from all the lads. Everyone’s done unbelievable. A top effort from the lads. I’m buzzing for them.” As for Vestergaard’s red card? “From where I was it looked like he got the ball first but followed through afterwards. I thought it was a little bit harsh. I thought he was getting to the ball, so I don’t know about that [the decision to send him off for denying a goalscoring opportunity]. You’d like to think 37 points is enough, but obviously we want to finish as high as possible, so we’ll keep trying to push up the table.”

9.58pm BST

It’s a big point for Saints, in more ways than one. They showed real moxie after going down, some would say controversially, to ten men. An 80-minute stand, during which they only shipped one goal and even took the lead, has brought them up to 14th position, ten points clear of the dropzone on 37 points. They’re surely safe ... and that staunch performance will go a long way to consigning last season’s capitulation to the past. It’s a damaging draw for Leicester, though; they remain third on 63, four shy of Manchester United and five clear of Chelsea, but they’ve now played a game more than everyone around them, and still have to travel to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge. Everyone down to Everton in eighth will be boosted a little by this result, while Leicester wouldn’t be human if they didn’t occasionally think about last season’s late collapse. They should still be good for a top-four finish ... but the final three weeks of this year’s Premier League are going to be one heck of a ride.

9.52pm BST

That’s a magnificent point for the hosts, who played with ten men for 80 minutes. Compare and contrast: when they went down to ten in this fixture last year, they ended up shipping nine.

9.51pm BST

90 min +3: Leicester press, but lose control, allowing Ward-Prowse to pounce and win a free kick from the lunging Perez.

9.51pm BST

90 min +2: Maddison crosses from the right, hoping to find Vardy. McCarthy comes out to claim comfortably this time.

9.50pm BST

90 min +1: Adams is replaced by N’Lundulu.

9.50pm BST

90 min: Tielemans crosses long from a deep position on the right. The ball drops over Walker-Peters and finds Castagne, rushing in from the left, six yards out. He sidefoots left of goal, wildly so. Leicester’s last chance? They’ve got three extra minutes in which to fashion another.

9.48pm BST

89 min: Albrighton curls powerfully in from the right. McCarthy comes out and flaps, under pressure from Iheanacho. The ball clanks off the back of the keeper’s head and nearly flies into the top left! Just a corner, which is dealt with after a fashion by the home defence.

9.46pm BST

87 min: Vardy dances down the left, thinks about shooting, then pulls back for Ndidi, just to the left of the D. Ndidi meets the ball first time, but drags his low drive wide left.

9.44pm BST

86 min: He doesn’t take it very well. The ball pinballs around, hitting Evans on the back of the head, and Ndidi is caught offside anyway.

9.44pm BST

85 min: Perez spins into some space down the right and is bundled over by Armstrong. This is a free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the side of the Southampton box. Tielemans to take.

9.42pm BST

83 min: Vardy enters the box down the left, dropping a shoulder to send Walker-Peters off to the shops, and suddenly he’s one on one with McCarthy! But he slams his shot straight at the keeper, who kicks away from danger.

9.41pm BST

82 min: Leicester continue to pass and probe, probe and pass. Saints are boxed in. But they’re thrown a lifeline when Soyuncu loses patience and tries to force things with a cross towards nobody in particular. Goal kick.

9.40pm BST

80 min: Albrighton drops a shoulder down the right before whipping towards the far post. Vardy is preparing to head home from close range, but he’s beaten to it by Walker-Peters, who not only clears but wins a free kick. Walker-Peters takes his time in getting up; the ten men of Saints can see the finishing line now, a street-fighting point now a very real opportunity.

9.38pm BST

79 min: The ball drops from the sky. Ndidi shapes to volley from the edge of the Saints box ... but Tielemans has the same idea and gets in his way. Both men hesitate and the chance is gone.

9.37pm BST

78 min: No team in the Premier League has scored more goals in the final quarter-hour of matches this season than Leicester City with 20. A 21st would be so precious in the pursuit of Champions League football.

9.34pm BST

76 min: The ineffective Minamino is replaced by Diallo.

9.32pm BST

74 min: Iheanacho busies himself down the left and wins a corner. For the nth time this evening, they take it short and overplay.

9.31pm BST

72 min: Armstrong is bundled over on the halfway line. Saints send everyone upfield and task Ward-Prowse with delivering something dangerous. He finds Stephens on the right. Stephens crosses, causing a minor kerfuffle in the Leicester box. The visitors eventually clear, but there’s a reminder from the home side that a Leicester win is not inevitable.

9.30pm BST

71 min: That was a highly impressive period of pressure from Leicester, who kept coming at Saints from all angles. The hosts eventually buckled. And this could be a long last 20 minutes, as Perez nearly wriggles his way through the middle, and Maddison has a shot that’s blocked.

9.28pm BST

69 min: Leicester want the win, and so on comes Albrighton in place of Thomas.

9.28pm BST

The corner is only half cleared. Iheanacho makes up for the penalty by curling in from the right, teeing up Evans for a header, six yards out. Evans flashes it home and the Foxes are level! That had been coming.

9.26pm BST

67 min: Evans nearly meets the corner with a header, six yards out. He doesn’t quite make it. The ball is worked back to Maddison, whose rising screamer is tipped over by McCarthy. And from that second set piece, Perez curls excellently towards the top right from the edge of the box. It’s heading in, but the keeper fingertips spectacularly around the post.

9.24pm BST

66 min: Ah, better signs for Leicester as Maddison begins to move freely again, winning a corner on the right with his cross-cum-shot.

9.24pm BST

64 min: Maddison is limping a little, having overstretched while chasing a lost cause down the Leicester left. Brendan Rodgers will be holding his breath.

9.22pm BST

63 min: It’s far too early to get frustrated, though. Someone should tell Maddison, who welts an overly ambitious effort towards the Solent from 25 yards.

9.21pm BST

62 min: Suddenly Saints look a new team. Redmond is sent scurrying down the inside-left channel and nearly finds Adams in the middle with a cutback. Not quite, and Thomas is able to hack clear, but Champions League chasing Leicester have been rattled here.

9.20pm BST

After an interminable VAR check, the penalty is confirmed. Ward-Prowse plants it into the bottom left. Schmeichel went the right way, but couldn’t reach a crisply driven effort. The ten men lead!

9.18pm BST

59 min: Ward-Prowse pulls back for Armstrong, who shoots from 12 yards. The ball is heading miles over the bar, but Iheanacho meets it with both arms in the air. Clang! The referee thinks about it, before making the correct decision and pointing to the spot.

9.17pm BST

58 min: Ward-Prowse shows a little ambition by dropping a shoulder and nearly beating Castagne down the left. He’s about to whip in from the corner when he’s barged over illegally. A free kick that is effectively a corner.

9.16pm BST

57 min: Castagne crosses long from the right. Thomas rises at the far post but can only waft a header into the arms of McCarthy. Then another phase of play, with Castagne curling low from the same wing, the keeper getting down to smother. A little better from Leicester, who have been huffing and puffing a little against the ten men.

9.13pm BST

55 min: Leicester knock it around hither and yon, but Saints are still refusing to buckle.

9.12pm BST

53 min: Corner for Leicester down the right. They decide to play this one short, and to be honest it’s no better than any of the others. Castagne falls over in the general environs of Minamino, but he’s not getting the penalty he’s looking for.

9.10pm BST

51 min: Minamino goes in the book for a clip on Thomas, a second or two late as he tries to close his man down. It’s a free kick for sure, but a slightly harsh booking. Ward-Prowse makes his feeling known to the referee yet again. Nothing comes of the resulting free kick, which is hoicked into the box and easily plucked from the sky by McCarthy.

9.08pm BST

49 min: Or maybe not. Saints spend a bit of time in the Leicester half. They don’t go anywhere in particular, but it’s a whole lot easier than chasing the visitors around. The clock ticks on.

9.06pm BST

47 min: Leicester are on the front foot early doors, having been clearly ordered to pick up the tempo. Saints meanwhile are sitting back, all compact; when McCarthy claims the ball, he ostentatiously flops to the floor in the classic clock-management style. A pattern could be set.

9.04pm BST

Leicester get the second half underway. Brendan Rodgers has made an attacking substitution, sacrificing one of his three centre-backs, Fofana, and throwing on Perez.

9.03pm BST

More half-time entertainment, courtesy of Peter Oh. “Next month will mark the 32nd anniversary of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s first goal scored on national team duty, in a 4-0 Austria win at Hungary in 1988. He is wearing the No15 shirt and scores the second goal, a fairly straightforward header from the edge of the six-yard box. Southampton could sure use a simple goal like that today.”

8.58pm BST

Half-time reading. It’s the back of referee Robert Jones’ warm-up shirt, publicising the Don’t X The Line campaign promoting respect for officials.

8.50pm BST

The ten men of Saints make it to the break without conceding. Ward-Prowse has a chat with the referee as everyone leaves the field, perhaps wondering why Vestergaard was sent packing for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity - he definitely poked the ball away from Vardy - as opposed to serious foul play - he also definitely plants his studs on Vardy’s leg, bending it just above the ankle. Right answer, wrong working?

8.47pm BST

45 min +2: A long Southampton free kick is pumped into the Leicester box. Adams wins the first header, but there’s to be no sucker punch landed by the hosts at the end of the half.

8.46pm BST

45 min +1: The first of three added minutes passes without incident.

8.45pm BST

45 min: Maddison tries to release Castagne down the right, but the Saints back line moves up and the Leicester man is flagged offside. Then Stephens takes his time over a throw, and Leicester betray their general frustration by attempting to chivvy him along. Stephens pushing some buttons there.

8.43pm BST

43 min: Iheanacho nearly gets the better of Salisu down the left, but has to settle for a corner. Tielemans takes. Bednarek beats Fofana in an aerial challenge and executes a booming clearance.

8.42pm BST

42 min: All very scrappy. Southampton have been impressively dogged since going down to ten.

8.40pm BST

40 min: Leicester win - and waste - another corner on the left. The Foxes have only scored four times from corners this season, and so far it shows.

8.39pm BST

38 min: A rare sortie upfield for Southampton, as Adams wriggles down the right, draws a few blue shirts, and lays off for Armstrong, whose low drive is blocked by his own man Minamino.

8.37pm BST

37 min: McCarthy is beginning to earn his corn now. Tielemans is sprung into the area down the right by Iheanacho, firing low and hard towards the bottom right. McCarthy kicks away, not in a particularly convincing manner, but job done.

8.36pm BST

36 min: Now Maddison has a go, after jinking his way into a little pocket of space, 30 yards out. He catches it well, but the sheer distance does for him, and it’s another easy claim for McCarthy.

8.34pm BST

34 min: Iheanacho sends a shot goalwards from 25 yards. It’s their first effort on target, and easily claimed by McCarthy.

8.33pm BST

33 min: Iheanacho, Maddison and Tielemans flick some pretty triangles along the face of the Saints box. But they over-elaborate and go nowhere. Bednarek is able to get in the road and purchase a cheap foul to relieve the pressure.

8.31pm BST

31 min: The game restarts, though nothing much happens. Southampton, one man short, will be more than happy for this match to fizzle out.

8.30pm BST

29 min: Play is paused so Fofana, who is observing Ramadan, can take on food and liquid now that the sun has gone down. During Ramadan, fasting during daylight hours is obligatory for some Muslims.

8.27pm BST

27 min: Leicester continue to stroke it around. Southampton hold their shape. Finally there’s a little bit of room for Castagne down the right, but he lumps his cross behind for a goal kick.

8.26pm BST

25 min: Ralph Hasenhuttl prowls the touchline, wearing the look of a worried man. But his side are holding firm for now. Leicester are pressing them back, but McCarthy hasn’t had a save to make yet.

8.23pm BST

23 min: Vardy grooves his way down the left and earns another Leicester corner. Tielemans takes. Bednarek half-clears. Tielemans sends it in again. Stephens heads clear this time.

8.21pm BST

21 min: Castagne works his way down the right and earns a corner off Stephens. Tielemans takes, pulling the ball back for Maddison on the edge of the box. We can conclude that this particular caper is more difficult than David Beckham and Paul Scholes made it look.

8.19pm BST

19 min: So it turns out that Vestergaard was sent packing for denying Vardy a goalscoring opportunity, and nowt to do with the follow-through. Strange, because it looked as though he got the ball before catching the player. Who’d be a referee, huh.

8.18pm BST

18 min: Walker-Peters sashays in from the right, evading three challenges before slipping the ball infield to Redmond, who sends a swerving drive goalwards. Schmeichel parries, but not with any great conviction. The ten men of Southampton may conclude that the best form of defence this evening is attack.

8.16pm BST

16 min: Vardy appears to be moving freely again. He shapes to make off down the left, but Maddison’s pass hits his heel. Then he nearly breaks clear down the middle, only for Bednarek to block. Saints, understandably, are rocking a wee bit.

8.15pm BST

15 min: Saints make their enforced defensive reshuffle, replacing Tella with Salisu, who takes his place in the centre of defence. Stephens shifts over to left-back.

8.14pm BST

14 min: ... sends the ball inches wide of the right-hand post. Not sure McCarthy was getting there had it been on target.

8.13pm BST

13 min: More faffing, as the referee spends some time ensuring the Southampton wall is ten yards back. Eventually Maddison takes the free kick and ...

8.13pm BST

12 min: Vardy felt that challenge, and he’s taken quite a while to get back up. When he eventually does, he limps gingerly. But for now he’s good to continue.

8.12pm BST

11 min: Saints fans won’t need reminding that they went down to ten men early doors in this fixture last year, and at Old Trafford earlier this season, and look what happened on both occasions. Surely a third 9-0 reverse isn’t on the cards ... but you never know in football.

8.11pm BST

10 min: Disaster for Saints! Vestergaard miscontrols on the edge of his own box. He stretches a leg to ensure Vardy doesn’t rush in on goal. He gets the ball ... but his follow-through studs Vardy above the ankle. The referee flashes red.

8.09pm BST

9 min: On Sky, commentator Martin Tyler is already into double figures with references to the 9-0.

8.08pm BST

8 min: But Saints continue to press hard, Minamino stripping Soyuncu and teeing up Tella on the edge of the box. Tella has more time than he thinks, and scuffs a weak shot straight at Schmeichel. A bright start by the hosts.

8.07pm BST

6 min: Tella is brought down by Fofana, out on the left, the Leicester man fortunate not to go into the book. Play is waved on, Adams and Redmond nearly opening the visitors up down the same wing. Not quite.

8.06pm BST

5 min: Redmond is good to continue. The game restarts and Fofana sprays a diagonal pass towards Thomas on the left wing. Thomas gets the leap on Minamino, but achieves nothing other than sending the ball out for a goal kick. What a pass by Fofana, though.

8.04pm BST

4 min: Saints continue their confident start by stroking the ball around. Then the game stops so Redmond can get some treatment, having been accidentally nutted on the back of the head by Evans.

8.03pm BST

2 min: A fairly nondescript start as both sides take turns to familiarise themselves with the ball. Then suddenly Vestergaard suddenly rakes a long pass down the middle to release Walker-Peters! The full back strides clear, opens his body, and sidefoots powerfully into the top right. But he’s gone too early, and there goes an early sensation.

8.00pm BST

Saints get the ball rolling ... but only after everyone takes a knee of love, solidarity, fairness and respect. There’s no room for racism. Challenge it. Report it. Change it. Kick it out.

7.58pm BST

The teams are out! Southampton in their red shirts with white sash, Leicester in the usual blue. We’ll be off in a minute.

7.50pm BST

Brendan Rodgers takes his turn. “The game tonight is an important game. We are really excited about it. It’s about looking up: we are five points behind Manchester United, and we will do everything we can to catch them. The players have been amazing in their approach from the very first game of the season. We do not dwell on the past. The players have matured and improved and collectively have been very strong. It’s all about concentration at this stage of the season. The players have really good fitness levels.” He then goes on to enthuse about the in-form Kelechi Iheanacho at length, concluding that “he sees finishes of all different types ... we are all delighted for him but he knows he needs to continue with it.”

7.45pm BST

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl speaks to Sky. “We must try to bring tight games on our side. This is something we have missed during the second half of the season. The guys know we have played better football in the first half, and now we must bring this quality back. We have shown it in short moments in the past weeks, but not always enough for winning, so this is the goal. We must do the good things for a little bit longer. We need more than one good result, there is still a chance to climb to 12th, this is the goal for me, there are six games left.”

7.42pm BST

In the interests of balance, here’s one of Southampton’s better designs down the years. In an ideal world I’d post the jazzier Admiral number from the late 70s, one of the genuinely all-time great shirts, but there aren’t any photos of that in our archive, so this will have to do.

7.32pm BST

One of the great Leicester City kits in that video. Here it is in closer detail, sported by that promising young lad who nearly outstripped Mark Wright on the wing. A classic late-era Admiral design; also the strutting fox of modernism should be more iconic than he is. One of the great forgotten badges.

7.22pm BST

It Never Gets Old dept. Never mind the 0-9, this is the definitive rain-soaked rumble between these two clubs.

7.08pm BST

Southampton make three changes to the side named for the last-minute defeat at Tottenham Hotspur last Wednesday. Nathan Redmond stands in for the injured Danny Ings, while Takumi Minamino and Jack Stephens replace Theo Walcott and Mohammed Salisu, both of whom drop to the bench.

Leicester have won their two Premier League games since knocking Saints out of the FA Cup. On something of a roll, Brendan Rodgers names the same starting XI for the third match in a row.

7.03pm BST

Southampton: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Stephens, Tella, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Minamino, Adams, Redmond.
Subs: Djenepo, Salisu, Diallo, Ramsay, Walcott, N’Lundulu, Forster, Ferry, Jankewitz.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Fofana, Evans, Soyuncu, Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas, Maddison, Iheanacho, Vardy.
Subs: Albrighton, Ward, Perez, Amartey, Under, Choudhury, Ricardo Pereira, Mendy, Praet.

4.53pm BST

It’s fair to say Leicester City have enjoyed the upper hand over Southampton recently. There’s the FA Cup semi-final of a fortnight ago, a run-of-the-mill 2-0 victory at the King Power back in January, and the small matter of that 9-0 last season, the goals raining and pouring on a trippy, slippy, head-flippy Friday night in October 2019.

If that wasn’t enough, Leicester also emerged victorious from their two previous visits to St Mary’s, 2-1 in August 2018, 4-1 in December 2017. We’re beginning to go back a ways, with players such as Harry Maguire and Riyad Mahrez in royal blue, but a three-match 15-2 aggregate scoreline is a three-match 15-2 aggregate scoreline, whichever way you spin it.

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Published on April 30, 2021 14:31

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