JUVENTUS CONSOLIDATED second place in Serie A with Sunday’s 2-0 win over sinking Cremonese, while yet another injury forced Paul Pogba out of his first competitive start in over a year.
Nicolo Fagioli and Gleison Bremer netted the crucial goals which moved Juve three points ahead of third-placed Inter Milan and strengthed their hopes of Champions League football next season.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side are eight points ahead of AC Milan in fifth but their top four ambitions hinge on a tribunal ruling on alleged illicit transfer activity later this month.
Last month Juve had a 15-point deduction inflicted in January revoked, with Italy’s top sporting court asking the Italian Football Federation’s court of appeal to revise their original decision.
There is the serious risk of a new points punishment which could knock them out of the top four.
It has been a turbulent season for Juve and no-one has more personified that more than Pogba, who was substituted 23 minutes into Sunday’s match in Turin and left the field with his jersey covering his face to hide his dismay.
He had pulled up in agony after putting in a routine cross before sinking to the turf and getting on-pitch treatment on his left thigh.
“We’re all disappointed, not least because he was playing quite well. It’s said because he’s made a lot of sacrifices to come back,” said Allegri to DAZN.
“Paul is a man… he has big enough shoulders. There’s always a risk when you’ve gone a year without playing, more so when you start the match.”
Pogba has missed a huge chunk of the season following his return from Manchester United last summer after suffering a serious injury to his right knee pre-season.
He initially elected to not to go under the knife in a bid to make the World Cup in Qatar.
However, despite later changing his mind, Pogba didn’t recover in time to play for France who lost their crown as world champions in a thrilling final with Argentina.
- Poor Pogba -
He returned to action at the end of February and has made a series of appearances as a substitute as he tried to recover full fitness, with a right thigh injury in March slowing his progress.
Pogba’s previous competitive start had been in United’s 4-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool in April last year, when he went off injured early in the first half and did not play again that season.
Cremonese have three games to earn survival but have their work cut out as they are six points behind Spezia who are just outside the drop zone.
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Monza claimed another big scalp in their dream debut Serie A season with their 2-0 win over newly-crowned champions Napoli.
Goals in each half from Dany Mota and former Napoli striker Andrea Petagna were enough for Monza to add Luciano Spalletti’s side to a list of beaten teams which also includes Juve and Inter Milan.
Their fourth win in an unbeaten run of seven matches has Monza ninth, level on 49 points with Fiorentina who beat Udinese 2-0.
Defeat makes little difference to Napoli as they already sealed their first league title since 1990 earlier this month.
Torino are also on 49 points in 10th after beating Verona 1-0 in the day’s early match and sending their opponents into the relegation zone.
Earlier Roma’s chances of Champions League football faded with a 0-0 draw at Bologna ahead of their Europa League semi-final return with Leverkusen on Thursday.
Roma, who are six points off the top four in Italy, lead 1-0 from the first leg as Jose Mourinho aims to reach his second straight European final after winning the Europa Conference League last season.
Elsewhere, Barcelona won La Liga for the first time since 2019 by thrashing Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday, wrestling the title back from rivals Real Madrid.
The Catalan giants clinched their 27th Spanish championship at the home of their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full time as celebrating Barcelona players were chased from the field by pitch invaders.
Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona, along with goals for Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde, while Javi Puado and Joselu pulled two back late on for the hosts.
Barcelona have endured a troubled period on and off the pitch in recent years but their triumph signals significant improvement, with coach Xavi Hernandez winning his first major trophy since taking over in November 2021.
President Joan Laporta’s rebuild was widely criticised last summer in light of the club’s perilous financial situation.
Early Champions League elimination was a blow, but the club won the Spanish Super Cup in January, before sealing La Liga glory with four games to spare.
“It’s a magnificent feeling, (of) work well done,” Xavi told Movistar.
“10 months of work and sacrifice. The fans deserve it, the club, it gives us stability and security that things are being done well.
“We sealed La Liga with a fantastic game, we were brilliant.”
Xavi did not spring any surprises with his line-up and Barcelona’s first team took to the pitch with one goal firmly in mind, the end finally in sight.
They conjured an electric display, one of their finest this season, to seal their triumph and leave their city rivals 19th, four points from safety with four matches remaining.
Barcelona broke the deadlock after 11 minutes with a well-worked goal, finished off by Lewandowski for his 20th of the season in La Liga.
Ronald Araujo played an inch perfect long pass for left-back Balde, who blazed past Espanyol defender Oscar Gil and crossed for Lewandowski to bundle home from close range.
Gil was beaten by Balde again for the second goal, this time scored by the young left-back after Pedri darted to the byline and scooped an inviting cross to the back post.
It was Balde’s first goal for Barcelona, capping a superb breakthrough season for the youngster, who has phased veteran defender Jordi Alba out of the side.
Espanyol goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco tipped away a Lewandowski effort as Barcelona poured forward, with the hosts battling not to be blown away.
- ‘Can’t lack respect’ -
It worked for a while, but visitors grabbed the third before half-time when Raphinha put the ball on a plate for Lewandowski to roll home.
The Polish striker’s arrival from Bayern Munich was a key part of last summer’s rebuild and despite a dip in the second half of the season, has paid the Catalans back in goals.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a sublime save to deny former team-mate Martin Braithwaite from close range in stoppage time at the end of the first period.
Kounde headed home the fourth early in the second half from Frenkie de Jong’s perfect chipped pass as Espanyol’s defence crumbled yet again.
Some Espanyol fans headed for the exits early while others demanded the board resign, including aiming one unsavoury chant at the club’s Chinese owners.
Ter Stegen denied Puado when through on goal, determined to earn a La Liga record-equalling 26th clean sheet of the season in the top flight.
However, moments later the Espanyol forward found himself through on goal once more and this time scored with a sublime lob — small consolation in the face of Espanyol’s defeat and Barcelona’s glory.
Joselu pulled another goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.
Xavi’s side celebrated at full-time, to the anger of Espanyol fans, who invaded the pitch, with Barcelona players sprinting down the tunnel to escape.
“The celebration is normal, but I know we’re not at home and we can’t lack respect,” added Xavi.
“I know it’s difficult to control but I told them the best thing would be to get inside now.”
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Tearful Pogba injured in first start for over a year, Barca win title amid ugly scenes
Updated at 22.39
JUVENTUS CONSOLIDATED second place in Serie A with Sunday’s 2-0 win over sinking Cremonese, while yet another injury forced Paul Pogba out of his first competitive start in over a year.
Nicolo Fagioli and Gleison Bremer netted the crucial goals which moved Juve three points ahead of third-placed Inter Milan and strengthed their hopes of Champions League football next season.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side are eight points ahead of AC Milan in fifth but their top four ambitions hinge on a tribunal ruling on alleged illicit transfer activity later this month.
Last month Juve had a 15-point deduction inflicted in January revoked, with Italy’s top sporting court asking the Italian Football Federation’s court of appeal to revise their original decision.
There is the serious risk of a new points punishment which could knock them out of the top four.
It has been a turbulent season for Juve and no-one has more personified that more than Pogba, who was substituted 23 minutes into Sunday’s match in Turin and left the field with his jersey covering his face to hide his dismay.
He had pulled up in agony after putting in a routine cross before sinking to the turf and getting on-pitch treatment on his left thigh.
“We’re all disappointed, not least because he was playing quite well. It’s said because he’s made a lot of sacrifices to come back,” said Allegri to DAZN.
“Paul is a man… he has big enough shoulders. There’s always a risk when you’ve gone a year without playing, more so when you start the match.”
Pogba has missed a huge chunk of the season following his return from Manchester United last summer after suffering a serious injury to his right knee pre-season.
He initially elected to not to go under the knife in a bid to make the World Cup in Qatar.
However, despite later changing his mind, Pogba didn’t recover in time to play for France who lost their crown as world champions in a thrilling final with Argentina.
- Poor Pogba -
He returned to action at the end of February and has made a series of appearances as a substitute as he tried to recover full fitness, with a right thigh injury in March slowing his progress.
Pogba’s previous competitive start had been in United’s 4-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool in April last year, when he went off injured early in the first half and did not play again that season.
Cremonese have three games to earn survival but have their work cut out as they are six points behind Spezia who are just outside the drop zone.
Monza claimed another big scalp in their dream debut Serie A season with their 2-0 win over newly-crowned champions Napoli.
Goals in each half from Dany Mota and former Napoli striker Andrea Petagna were enough for Monza to add Luciano Spalletti’s side to a list of beaten teams which also includes Juve and Inter Milan.
Their fourth win in an unbeaten run of seven matches has Monza ninth, level on 49 points with Fiorentina who beat Udinese 2-0.
Defeat makes little difference to Napoli as they already sealed their first league title since 1990 earlier this month.
Torino are also on 49 points in 10th after beating Verona 1-0 in the day’s early match and sending their opponents into the relegation zone.
Earlier Roma’s chances of Champions League football faded with a 0-0 draw at Bologna ahead of their Europa League semi-final return with Leverkusen on Thursday.
Roma, who are six points off the top four in Italy, lead 1-0 from the first leg as Jose Mourinho aims to reach his second straight European final after winning the Europa Conference League last season.
Elsewhere, Barcelona won La Liga for the first time since 2019 by thrashing Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday, wrestling the title back from rivals Real Madrid.
The Catalan giants clinched their 27th Spanish championship at the home of their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full time as celebrating Barcelona players were chased from the field by pitch invaders.
Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona, along with goals for Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde, while Javi Puado and Joselu pulled two back late on for the hosts.
Barcelona have endured a troubled period on and off the pitch in recent years but their triumph signals significant improvement, with coach Xavi Hernandez winning his first major trophy since taking over in November 2021.
President Joan Laporta’s rebuild was widely criticised last summer in light of the club’s perilous financial situation.
Early Champions League elimination was a blow, but the club won the Spanish Super Cup in January, before sealing La Liga glory with four games to spare.
“It’s a magnificent feeling, (of) work well done,” Xavi told Movistar.
“10 months of work and sacrifice. The fans deserve it, the club, it gives us stability and security that things are being done well.
“We sealed La Liga with a fantastic game, we were brilliant.”
Xavi did not spring any surprises with his line-up and Barcelona’s first team took to the pitch with one goal firmly in mind, the end finally in sight.
They conjured an electric display, one of their finest this season, to seal their triumph and leave their city rivals 19th, four points from safety with four matches remaining.
Barcelona broke the deadlock after 11 minutes with a well-worked goal, finished off by Lewandowski for his 20th of the season in La Liga.
Ronald Araujo played an inch perfect long pass for left-back Balde, who blazed past Espanyol defender Oscar Gil and crossed for Lewandowski to bundle home from close range.
Gil was beaten by Balde again for the second goal, this time scored by the young left-back after Pedri darted to the byline and scooped an inviting cross to the back post.
It was Balde’s first goal for Barcelona, capping a superb breakthrough season for the youngster, who has phased veteran defender Jordi Alba out of the side.
Espanyol goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco tipped away a Lewandowski effort as Barcelona poured forward, with the hosts battling not to be blown away.
- ‘Can’t lack respect’ -
It worked for a while, but visitors grabbed the third before half-time when Raphinha put the ball on a plate for Lewandowski to roll home.
The Polish striker’s arrival from Bayern Munich was a key part of last summer’s rebuild and despite a dip in the second half of the season, has paid the Catalans back in goals.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a sublime save to deny former team-mate Martin Braithwaite from close range in stoppage time at the end of the first period.
Kounde headed home the fourth early in the second half from Frenkie de Jong’s perfect chipped pass as Espanyol’s defence crumbled yet again.
Some Espanyol fans headed for the exits early while others demanded the board resign, including aiming one unsavoury chant at the club’s Chinese owners.
Ter Stegen denied Puado when through on goal, determined to earn a La Liga record-equalling 26th clean sheet of the season in the top flight.
However, moments later the Espanyol forward found himself through on goal once more and this time scored with a sublime lob — small consolation in the face of Espanyol’s defeat and Barcelona’s glory.
Joselu pulled another goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.
Xavi’s side celebrated at full-time, to the anger of Espanyol fans, who invaded the pitch, with Barcelona players sprinting down the tunnel to escape.
“The celebration is normal, but I know we’re not at home and we can’t lack respect,” added Xavi.
“I know it’s difficult to control but I told them the best thing would be to get inside now.”
– © AFP 2023
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