Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[JGibson]

Big win for Arsenal today, as they defeat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal is now level with Tottenham Hotspur at 57 points for the fourth and final Champions League spot in England, trailing Tottenham by goal differential. Tottenham travels to Brentford on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Coppa Italia will have a Derby D'Italia match for the final, as Juventus will face Inter on May 11.

Arsenal's Top 4 hopes are back up and running, as they beat Chelsea 4-2. An epic clash with Manchester United waits on Saturday, with the winner likely favored to have a shot at usurping Sp*rs out of Top 4.

[NewYorkExpress]

Tomorrow gives a couple of really important or exciting matches.

We have Arsenal vs Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium with a Champions League spot on the line, as both teams are within striking distance of Tottenham Hotspur for the fourth and final spot in the UEFA Champions League. Tottenham will travel to Brentford on Saturday.

Also on the docket is what will likely be Erling Haaland's final Der Klassiker derby, as Borussia Dortmund heads to Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich, and AS Roma traveling to Inter with their Europa League qualification hopes hanging by a thread, as Roma sits in fifth place in Serie A, two points ahead of Lazio (who is at home against AC Milan on Sunday) and Fiorentina (who travels to Salernitana on Sunday).

[NewYorkExpress]

Following the failure to qualify for the World Cup, Reinaldo Rueda has been sacked as manager of Colombia.

[JGibson]

Combined with Arsenal's 3-1 win over Manchester United and Tottenham drawing nil-nil against Brentford, the Gunners are back in 4th.

In the Bundesliga, Bayern won their 10th title in a row.

[Mike88]

PSG wins the French Championship Ligue 1.

[NewYorkExpress]

So, in addition to the wins by Bayern Munich and Arsenal, and PSG clinching Ligue 1 with their draw against Lens, Inter Milan defeated Roma 3-1, and Real Betis claimed Spain's Copa Del Rey, defeating Valencia on penalties.

Later today, we have Lazio/AC Milan, which is very important for both sides, as AC Milan needs the win if they want to win Serie A, and Lazio needs the win if they want a Europa League berth. Because Inter won yesterday, AC Milan cannot clinch today, regardless of the result.

In the Premier League, West Ham heads to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea, in a derby game that is a must win for both teams. Chelsea needs the win to maintain their Champions League place, as they remain two points ahead of Arsenal for fourth, and four points ahead Tottenham Hotspur for fifth. West Ham needs to win, earn a place in Europe altogether, as they currently are in seventh, two points behind Manchester United for a guaranteed spot in Europe.

Meanwhile, the Merseyside Derby is also taking place today, with Everton traveling to Liverpool, and for Liverpool, four points behind Manchester City, a win is needed to keep pace. Everton, sitting just a point away from being relegated, and with relegation rivals Burnley playing at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers today as well, needs to avoid dropping points, and needs a win if at all possible.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I think today was the single most unbearable game to witness in almost 15 years as a Napoli fan. A loss to Empoli to be elimated, fine, they have some talent despite their poor form, tough place to play, weather game.

To lose like that, inexcusable. Cannot happen. Fireable offense.

https://twitter.com/footitalia1/status/1518239450702172161?s=20&t=waVl0MBssa...

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Salernitana is on fire, defeating red hot Fiorentina with 28 percent possession 😂😂 3 victories in a row, and it should have been 4, if they didn't blow the late lead against Roma.

One of the most undeserving Serie A clubs in recent memory is now just 3 points shy of getting out of the relegation spot, with a game in hand and a game remaining against 17th place Cagliari. Who'd a thunk it. Luck took the short train ride south across Campania.

[NewYorkExpress]

Chelsea with a massive 1-0 victory over West Ham United at Stamford Bridge today thanks to a late goal by Captain America himself, Christian Pulisic.

Next up, a massive trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Thursday.

[NewYorkExpress]

Not a lot going on today, but tomorrow we have Manchester City/Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Semifinals.

[NewYorkExpress]

Next summer's transfer window begins in earnest, as Real Madrid agrees to terms with Chelsea Center-Back Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

[Santander]

That Man City-Real Madrid game... Wow. Wow, wow, wow.

[NewYorkExpress]

Lots of scoring and no defense in the Manchester City/Real Madrid game in the Champions League semifinal's first leg ,with Manchester City winning 4-3.

Tomorrow, Villarreal looks to go 3-3 against the top sides in Europe as they head to Anfield to take on Liverpool in leg one of their semifinal.

In addition, the CONCACAF Champions League finals begin tomorrow with the first leg between Pumas U.N.A.M (Liga MX) and the Seattle Sounders (MLS) taking place in Mexico City.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Napoli being the butt of all Serie A jokes lasted three days as Inter literally throws away at least one point, if not all three, in the COVID make-up game against Bologna with one of the worst attempted clears you will ever see. Both Napoli and Inter showing how difficult it is to play with your unpracticed reserve in net.

Milan has a very difficult schedule yet, but now there is a little breathing room should they draw once.

https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1519409809107263488?s=20&t=6lcddR...

[NewYorkExpress]

Villarreal's fairy tale Champions League ride looks to be at an end, as the Yellow Submarine lost 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield today.

[Lechasseur]

Villarreal's fairy tale Champions League ride looks to be at an end, as the Yellow Submarine lost 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield today.

Sad!

Eh well I'll be pulling for whoever wins that fixture in the final, and Man City are my last choice

[NewYorkExpress]

First off, the CONCACAF Champions League Finals are all square after one leg between Pumas U.N.A.M and the Seattle Sounders, following their 2-2 draw in Mexico City last night.

Next, Jurgen Klopp has signed a contract extension with Liverpool that will keep him at Anfield until 2026.

Today we have the first legs of the Europa League Semifinals (RB Leipzig/Rangers and West Ham United/Eintracht Frankfurt) and Europa Conference League Semifinals (Feyernood Rotterdam/Marseille and Leicester City/AS Roma), as well as a massive English Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea, which is a must-win match for Manchester United if they wish to be playing in Europe next year.

[Santander]

Napoli being the butt of all Serie A jokes lasted three days as Inter literally throws away at least one point, if not all three, in the COVID make-up game against Bologna with one of the worst attempted clears you will ever see. Both Napoli and Inter showing how difficult it is to play with your unpracticed reserve in net.

Milan has a very difficult schedule yet, but now there is a little breathing room should they draw once.

https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1519409809107263488?s=20&t=6lcddR...

Terrible mistake, but if you cannot put away a very mediocre Bologna team with the quality of players Inter had on the pitch, you don't deserve much from the match anyway.

[NewYorkExpress]

In the Europa League Semifinals, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt lead after one leg, with victories over Rangers (1-0) and West Ham United (2-1).

In the Europa Conference League Semifinals, Feyernood Rotterdam holds a 3-2 lead against Marseilles after one leg, while Roma and Leicester City are even at 1-1 after one leg.

Meanwhile in the English Premier League, Manchester United's chances at playing in Europe at all, are hanging by a thread following a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford. Manchester United is currently in sixth, three points ahead of West Ham, which plays Arsenal this weekend. Manchester United meanwhile, has a much easier matchup against Brentford, but the way they have been playing, no match is easy.

[Lechasseur]

In the Europa League Semifinals, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt lead after one leg, with victories over Rangers (1-0) and West Ham United (2-1).

In the Europa Conference League Semifinals, Feyernood Rotterdam holds a 3-2 lead against Marseilles after one leg, while Roma and Leicester City are even at 1-1 after one leg.

Meanwhile in the English Premier League, Manchester United's chances at playing in Europe at all, are hanging by a thread following a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford. Manchester United is currently in sixth, three points ahead of West Ham, which plays Arsenal this weekend. Manchester United meanwhile, has a much easier matchup against Brentford, but the way they have been playing, no match is easy.

Always great to see Marseille lose!

The parisian-lyonnais in me just can't pull for Marseille lol

[NewYorkExpress]

Ralf Rangnick is heading from Manchester United to being the head coach of the Austrian National Team, and his contract will run through the European Championship.

[Lechasseur]

At this point leaving Man United for the Austria national team is a promotion lol

[Santander]

At this point leaving Man United for the Austria national team is a promotion lol

He's keeping his consulting gig at Man Utd anyway. Presumably, get paid to give advice that'll go in one ear, out the other. And maybe another spell as interim manager when Ten Hag gets inevitably sacked.

[Santander]

Obese parasite Mino Raiola in the world has died.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12602593/mino-raiola-super-agent-who-represented-the-likes-of-erling-haaland-and-paul-pogba-dies-aged-54

[Mike88]

Real Madrid "crushes" Espanyol 4-0 and becomes champion of La Liga, their 35th title.