Manchester United survived a dramatic Coventry comeback to book a FA Cup final berth, while Jude Bellingham again decided an entertaining El Clasico clash.
Dismal Reds squeak past Coventry to ensure another all-Manchester cup final
Manchester United averted disaster yesterday, narrowly edging out Coventry City on penalties to set up a second successive all-Mancunian cup final. It really speaks to wear United find themselves that progression to a cup final almost feels tainted. They somehow surrendered a 3-0 lead to the Championship side in what looked like a cleverly planned act of self-sabotage. Honestly, are these guys actively trying to get Ten Hag fired?
Murmurs of dressing room discontent have been doing the rounds and it showed on the pitch. Harry Maguire was once again a standout performer, producing a high-quality centre-half performance that harkened back to his glory days at Leicester (goal included). Bruno was similarly industrious but the rest of the side ranged from bang average to awful. Rasmus Hojlund hasn’t looked like the same player since returning from injury while Marcus Rashford remains anonymous. They are going to need to be more defensively organized if they stand any chance against a relentless City side.
🔴 Securing our place in a record-breaking 22nd #FACup final.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/sipddZl1yB
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 21, 2024
Bernardo Silva the hero for Man City against Chelsea
City recovered from their heartbreaking European exit with a workmanlike victory over bogey-team Chelsea. They were visibly lethargic in the first half but slowly started to wrestle back control of the match. The criminally underrated Bernardo Silva kept their double dreams alive with an opportunistic far-post finish that helped alleviate some of City’s Real gloom. Chelsea beat City’s absurdly high-line on a few occasions and really should have capitalized on their chances. Nicolas Jackson is as enigmatic as Darwin Nunez, causing chaos throughout the game but lacking the clinical edge needed to put City to bed.
City really came to life when Doku was introduced on that left-hand side. They finally had pace to threaten in behind and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Doku start next time out. I honestly don’t see how United take down this machine. You can pick up smash-and-grab results against Klopp’s ‘heavy-metal’ brand of football. I just don’t see them having the concentration to withstand City’s relentless forward probing.
We will take on United in the #FACup final on Saturday May 25th at Wembley 💪🩵#ManCity pic.twitter.com/kJeTXywVXT
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 21, 2024
Arsenal and Liverpool keep their title ambitions alive with sturdy away victories
Arsenal broke their three-game winless streak with a workmanlike victory at Wolves. They weren’t at their kinetic best, probably still smarting from their ignominious European exit at the Allianz Arena. But they looked defensively solid and David Raya actually stepped up to the plate with a couple of crucial saves. Has the Spaniard justified Arteta’s decision to alienate Aaron Ramsdale? I’m still not sure about that. In any event, Leandro Trossard gave them a deserved lead before Odegaard gave the scoreline some polish in the dying moments of the match. It was a brave performance that augers well for their title run-in.
Similarly, Liverpool needed some impetus following some disappointing results and they duly delivered, with Alexander Arnold shining on his return to first-team action. The English fullback can divide opinion, with rival fans quick to signal out his defensive limitations. But tell me how many right-backs in world football can offer what he offers? His free-kick underscored a dynamic performance that may have reignited some belief amongst the Anfield faithful.
Together until the end ❤️ pic.twitter.com/BvDAw8UyKJ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 21, 2024
Leverkusen keep dream of immortality alive with another stunning late strike
This side is made of something else. Honestly, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen may be one of the most clutch sides in European football history. Josip Stanislas’ last-gasp header rescued a 1-1 draw at Dortmund, extending their unbeaten run to 45 matches (they are only four games away from matching Benfica’s European record of 49 consecutive matches without defeat). Incredibly, Leverkusen have now scored 14 Bundesliga goals in the last ten minutes of matches this season.
People talk nostalgically (and perhaps cynically) about Fergie time. That has nothing on the feats that Alonso’s men have pulled off this season. It almost feels like Alonso has somehow managed to nick the time-turner from Hermoine Granger. Bayern Munich looked in celebratory mood this weekend, romping to a 5-1 win at Union Berlin. Muller scored a brace while goal-scoring extraordinaire Harry Kane now has 40 goals in all competitions this season. It will be interesting to see how history remembers the Tuchel era if he somehow manages to claim that European title.
💬 #Alonso with @DAZN_DE: "We just don't want to lose. The goal was very emotional, celebrating with the fans was very nice, it means a lot to all of us"#BVBB04 | #Bayer04 #Werkself@XabiAlonso pic.twitter.com/9kFt8zumL9
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 21, 2024
Juventus’ European spot in jeopardy after desperate draw
Inter Milan will win the Scudetto with victory in tonight’s Derby della Madonnia. But let’s just focus a touch on another giant of Italian football: Juventus. I have been decrying Allegri’s desperately out-of-touch managerial style for weeks. They look like they may actually surrender their Champions League spot after an uninspired 2-2 draw at Caligari. To give them some credit, Allegri’s men showed some gumption to salvage a 2-2 draw after trailing 2-0 at half-time. Juventus currently sit in 3rd place with a five-point lead over Bologna and a nine-point lead over Roma.
However, they have played one more game than Bologna and two more than Roma. More importantly, the Bianconeri still have to play the trio of Milan, Lazio and Bologna in their run-in. I honestly think it could be a blessing in disguise if they somehow blow their top-four chances. They have a strangely filial devotion to Allegri and perhaps the ignominy of missing out on the Champions League will finally convince them to sever that toxic relationship.
FT | ⌛️ | It finishes all square in Sardinia.#CagliariJuve pic.twitter.com/TbKBej0nwH
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) April 19, 2024
Bellingham nets late winner in thrilling Clasico
Real Madrid have had a week that dreams are made of. They defended resolutely against City on Wednesday night, progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League to avenge last year’s defeat. And they effectively ended the La Liga title race with a breathless 3-2 win over Barcelona. Ancelotti’s men started quite slowly, clearly feeling the pinch after that committed defensive performance against the Citizens. Christensen gave Barca an early lead before Vini Jr slotted home a penalty. Fermin then shocked the Bernabeu by giving the Blaugrana a second-half lead.
But Real rallied, with improvised right-back Lucas Vasquez scoring to leave the match delicately poised at 2-2. Enter stage left: Jude Bellingham. The English midfield maestro rifled home a late winner to send the Real faithful into rapture. The City matches largely bypassed Bellingham but this was yet another sign of his enormous BMT.
The Santiago Bernabeu chanting Jude Bellingham’s name after his winner. 🤩🤍pic.twitter.com/4WIotaaFoF
— JBZ (@JBellinghamZone) April 22, 2024
Player of the Week- Jude Bellingham
The term ‘generational talent’ is bandied out a bit too liberally these days. But if there’s any young player currently operating who deserves that moniker: it’s Jude Bellingham. He was brilliant against Barca, giving another exceptional box-to-box performance in this potentially Ballon d’Or winning campaign. The way he manipulates space with the slightest shimmy reminds me of Real legend Zinedine Zidane. Irresistible.
𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 21, 2024
▪️ 90+2’ winner in El Clásico
𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
▪️ 90+1’ winner in El Clásico
Jude Bellingham is inevitable 🙌 pic.twitter.com/85vBBAUwp6
