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Where to find Chelsea vs. Fulham on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Chelsea vs. Fulham on US TV in the Premier League, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Chelsea vs. Fulham will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Chelsea vs. Fulham Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30pm ET Looking to watch Chelsea vs. Fulham online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Chelsea vs. Fulham What: Premier League When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Saturday, May 1, 2021 Where: Live on NBC, fuboTV, Hulu Live and Sling Blue (free trial) With fuboTV, you can watch Chelsea vs. Fulham and tons more Premier League games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, RAI Italia, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia and YES. Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers. The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle. Here are the steps to take to watch the Chelsea vs. Fulham game with your free fuboTV trial: 1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial. 2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below) 3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below) 4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below) 5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the Chelsea vs. Fulham game (see screengrab below) 6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include NBC featuring Chelsea vs. Fulham (see screengrab below) SEE MORE: Schedule of Premier League games on US TV and streaming Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming.

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Chelsea vs. Fulham on US TV in the Premier League, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Chelsea vs. Fulham will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Chelsea vs. Fulham Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30pm ET Looking to watch Chelsea vs. Fulham online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Chelsea vs. Fulham What: Premier League When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Saturday, May 1, 2021 Where: Live on NBC, fuboTV , Hulu Live and Sling Blue (free trial) With fuboTV , you can watch Chelsea vs. Fulham and tons more Premier League games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or ho

Chelsea face uphill task in bid for historic final Paris (AFP) – Chelsea are gunning to become just the second English team to reach the final of the Women’s Champions League but face a battle to overhaul Bayern Munich in Sunday’s semi-final second leg. Emma Hayes’ team are well-placed to retain their domestic Women’s Super League title after having only lost one game so far this season, but after establishing domestic prominence the Blues are aiming to become a continental powerhouse. Only Arsenal have reached the biggest match in European women’s club football, when they won the competition in 2007. Chelsea will have their work cut out for them against Bayern, who are the competition’s leading scorers and are 2-1 ahead in the tie after last week’s first leg in Germany, following which Hayes said she would “make sure the team puts in the performance of their lives next week”. Hayes seemed aware of the tough task awaiting her side when speaking to reporters on Friday, lamenting the poor finishing and “sloppy” goals conceded in the first leg which leave Chelsea with work to do. “I think the realities are if we’re going to progress, we’re probably going to have to score more than one goal,” said Hayes. “We’re going to take the game to Bayern Munich. We’re at home and I think we’ve got to trust in the belief that we’re in the position because we deserve to be here, but if you want to go to the next level you have to produce something you didn’t produce before. “I want an inspired performance from the team but I’m accustomed to getting that from them, so I trust them.” Hayes’ hope that Chelsea cut out the mistakes could be rocked by the possible absence of centre-back and captain Magda Eriksson because of a calf problem. They will also be without any fans to cheer them on at Kingsmeadow in south-west London with the match taking place behind closed doors. “It’s disappointing we couldn’t be a test event … It would have been great to have the fans there. But I understand it’s Covid and it’s not to be,” said Hayes. In Sunday’s other semi-final, Barcelona are expecting 1,000 fans to be able to attend their second leg with Paris Saint-Germain, which is level at 1-1. Barca have the advantage going into the match at the Johan Cruyff Stadium thanks to an away goal in Paris from the competition’s leading scorer Jenni Hermoso, whose opener last week took her tally to six. PSG will be confident however after ending Lyon’s five-year run as the queens of Europe by knocking out a team ravaged by Covid-19 cases in the quarter-finals. The Parisians will be hoping for the return of explosive attacker Kadidiatou Diani as they bid to reach their third final.

Paris (AFP) – Chelsea are gunning to become just the second English team to reach the final of the Women’s Champions League but face a battle to overhaul Bayern Munich in Sunday’s semi-final second leg. Emma Hayes’ team are well-placed to retain their domestic Women’s Super League title after having only lost one game so far this season, but after establishing domestic prominence the Blues are aiming to become a continental powerhouse. Only Arsenal have reached the biggest match in European women’s club football, when they won the competition in 2007. Chelsea will have their work cut out for them against Bayern, who are the competition’s leading scorers and are 2-1 ahead in the tie after last week’s first leg in Germany, following which Hayes said she would “make sure the team puts in the performance of their lives next week”. Hayes seemed aware of the tough task awaiting her side when speaking to reporters on Friday, lamenting the poor finishing and “sloppy” goals conceded in the

Spanish football chiefs to dismiss Diakhaby racism claim for lack of evidence Madrid (AFP) – The investigating judge of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is set to dismiss allegations of racism which prompted Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby to walk off the pitch in a La Liga game with Cadiz due to lack of evidence. “In an eight-page ruling, Juan Antonio Landaberea Unzueta concludes that the racist insult Cala allegedly directed at Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby could not be proven,” said Cadiz in a statement. “The presumption of innocence must apply if, after an unbiased appraisal of the evidence, it cannot be established with absolute certainty that the offence was committed. This certainty is absent in this case.” A furious Diakhaby walked off the field after being involved in a heated exchange with Cala and claimed the Spanish player had used a racist slur towards him in the first half of Valencia’s game in Cadiz three weeks ago. Valencia’s players left the pitch in solidarity, becoming the first top-flight Spanish team to make such a protest. The players later resumed the match without Diakhaby, with the club claiming they were told they would be punished if they refused to return. Valencia said Friday “they regret this proposal and hope that the Competition Committee (the disciplinary body of the Spanish federation) will succeed in clarifying the matter”. Investigators employed lip-reading experts to try and clarify what was said between the two players. Diakhaby, a 24-year-old former Lyon player who has been at Valencia since 2018, insisted that he had been racially insulted, adding: “That is intolerable, I cannot allow that and you have all seen my reaction.” Cala, a 31-year-old defender, said he had been a victim of a “circus” and a “witch-hunt” and he was “astonished and embarrassed” when Valencia left the pitch. Spanish radio station Cope said microphones picked up Cala telling Diakhaby “Damn it, leave me alone”, then apologising by saying: “Sorry, don’t get angry.”

Madrid (AFP) – The investigating judge of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is set to dismiss allegations of racism which prompted Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby to walk off the pitch in a La Liga game with Cadiz due to lack of evidence. “In an eight-page ruling, Juan Antonio Landaberea Unzueta concludes that the racist insult Cala allegedly directed at Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby could not be proven,” said Cadiz in a statement. “The presumption of innocence must apply if, after an unbiased appraisal of the evidence, it cannot be established with absolute certainty that the offence was committed. This certainty is absent in this case.” A furious Diakhaby walked off the field after being involved in a heated exchange with Cala and claimed the Spanish player had used a racist slur towards him in the first half of Valencia’s game in Cadiz three weeks ago. Valencia’s players left the pitch in solidarity, becoming the first top-flight Spanish team to make such a protest

Lazio boss suspension increased to 12 months for Covid-19 breaches Milan (AFP) – Lazio president Claudio Lotito’s suspension has been increased to 12 months and the club fined 200,000 euros ($240,000) for Covid-19 breaches, the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) court of appeal ruled on Friday. Lazio had appealed the FIGC’s seven-month suspension of Lotito and a 150,000-euro fine imposed on the club on March 26. Club doctors Ivo Pulcini and Fabio Rodia’s original 12-month bans were both confirmed by the FIGC court of appeal. The penalties follow an FIGC investigation of positive tests at the Roman club in October and November. Lazio were accused of failing to alert local health authorities when eight staff tested positive late October, on the eve of a Champions League match in Bruges, and then in November, before another Champions League match in St Petersburg. UEFA requires players and staff to undergo tests before European matches. At least one Lazio player was positive in UEFA tests but negative in Serie A tests in the same period. The federation had also criticised Lazio for “not having prevented” three players from taking part in a squad training session on November 3, despite a positive test the day before. Lazio are also said to have fielded players in Serie A who should have been in “a period of compulsory isolation, in the absence of symptoms, of at least 10 days”.

Milan (AFP) – Lazio president Claudio Lotito’s suspension has been increased to 12 months and the club fined 200,000 euros ($240,000) for Covid-19 breaches, the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) court of appeal ruled on Friday. Lazio had appealed the FIGC’s seven-month suspension of Lotito and a 150,000-euro fine imposed on the club on March 26. Club doctors Ivo Pulcini and Fabio Rodia’s original 12-month bans were both confirmed by the FIGC court of appeal. The penalties follow an FIGC investigation of positive tests at the Roman club in October and November. Lazio were accused of failing to alert local health authorities when eight staff tested positive late October, on the eve of a Champions League match in Bruges, and then in November, before another Champions League match in St Petersburg. UEFA requires players and staff to undergo tests before European matches. At least one Lazio player was positive in UEFA tests but negative in Serie A tests in the same period. The f

Guardiola expects Man Utd to keep City waiting for Premier League title London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola is fully expecting Manchester United to force Manchester City to keep the champagne on ice as they close in on their third Premier League title in four years. City, 10 points clear of second-placed United with five games to go, will be crowned champions if they beat Crystal Palace on Saturday and second-placed United lose to Liverpool the following day. Asked if he was thinking about potential success this weekend, City manager Guardiola said he first wanted to focus on the match against Palace. “Let me travel to London this afternoon, try to wake up good tomorrow and try to win the game,” he said on Friday. “The rest we cannot control. It is a tough job. Crystal Palace has always been so difficult for us. I don’t remember an easy game when we play against them. “United are an extraordinary team. They’ve arrived in their best form of the season in the last two months. “We need five points to be champions. Tomorrow (Saturday) we have an incredible opportunity to make this next step. Once we win this game, if it happens, we will think about what will happen.” City go into the early kick-off on the back of a memorable, but draining, victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Guardiola said his side were tired after five away games in a row. “We play at 12:30 (1130 GMT), we have no extra time to recover from the Paris game,” he said. “We have to focus on what we have to do to achieve an important victory to be closer than ever to being champions in the Premier League, a competition we played for for 10 months, day by day. This is my only concern.” Guardiola feels City’s game-by-game approach, when combined with the quality of their squad, has enabled them to enjoy such a successful season in circumstances made difficult by the coronavirus pandemic. “The success of the season so far is (based on) the humanity and quality of players — this is the first thing,” said the City boss, whose side won the League Cup for the fourth consecutive time last week. “The second (thing) is don’t think much about what we have in front of our eyes — just the next game. We did that.”

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola is fully expecting Manchester United to force Manchester City to keep the champagne on ice as they close in on their third Premier League title in four years. City, 10 points clear of second-placed United with five games to go, will be crowned champions if they beat Crystal Palace on Saturday and second-placed United lose to Liverpool the following day. Asked if he was thinking about potential success this weekend, City manager Guardiola said he first wanted to focus on the match against Palace. “Let me travel to London this afternoon, try to wake up good tomorrow and try to win the game,” he said on Friday. “The rest we cannot control. It is a tough job. Crystal Palace has always been so difficult for us. I don’t remember an easy game when we play against them. “United are an extraordinary team. They’ve arrived in their best form of the season in the last two months. “We need five points to be champions. Tomorrow (Saturday) we have an incredible opp

EPL commentator assignments on NBC Sports, gameweek 34 Second-place Manchester United host Liverpool this Sunday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Telemundo, and Christian Pulisic and fourth-place Chelsea host Fulham this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Universo, highlighting Premier League action across NBC Sports this weekend. Manchester United have won five of their past six league matches after drawing Leeds United, 0-0, last weekend. Liverpool, who drew Newcastle, 1-1, last weekend, sit in sixth place with 54 points and are four points behind fourth-place Chelsea as the chase for a top-four finish heats up. Arlo White and former Premier League player Lee Dixon will call the match live from Old Trafford. Chelsea topped fifth-place West Ham, 1-0, last Saturday behind a Timo Werner goal to move three points clear of the Hammers. Fulham drew Arsenal, 1-1, on Apr. 18 as they look to stave off relegation. White and former Premier League player Graeme Le Saux will call the action live from Stamford Bridge. On Tuesday, Pulisic scored in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, becoming the first American men’s player to score in a UEFA Champions League Semi-Final. This weekend’s coverage begins Friday, April 30 at 2 p.m. ET with Premier League Live on Peacock, followed by Southampton-Leicester City at 3 p.m. ET as Peacock presents the match in both English and Spanish. Rebecca Lowe hosts this weekend’s Premier League Mornings, Premier League Live and Goal Zone shows alongside former Jamaica National Team player Robbie Earle and former Premier League player Robbie Mustoe Saturday and Sunday, and Earle and former Premier League player Danny Higginbotham Monday. Liam McHugh hosts Friday’s coverage with Earle and Higginbotham. Saturday’s coverage begins at 7 a.m. ET on NBCSN with Premier League Mornings, followed by Crystal Palace-Manchester City at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo. If Manchester City win Saturday and Manchester United lose to Liverpool Sunday, City would clinch their third Premier League title in the past four seasons. At 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, Leeds United visit Brighton & Hove Albion on NBCSN and Universo. Following Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. ET Chelsea-Fulham match (NBC and Universo), Everton host Aston Villa at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock. On Sunday, match coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET with Arsenal visiting Newcastle on NBCSN, followed by Manchester United-Liverpool at 11:30 a.m. ET (NBCSN, Telemundo). At 2:15 p.m. ET, Tottenham host Sheffield United on NBCSN. The weekend’s coverage concludes Monday, May 3 on Peacock as West Brom host Wolverhampton Wanderers at 1 p.m. ET, followed by Burnley-West Ham at 3:15 p.m. ET and Goal Zone at 5:15 p.m. ET. Here’s the schedule of soccer commentators for this weekend’s Premier League matches (all times Eastern): Friday, April 30 Southampton vs. Leicester City, 3pm, Peacock Premium — Chris Wise and Efan Ekoku Saturday, May 1 Crystal Palace vs. Man City, 7:30am, NBCSN, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and Hulu + Live TV — Gary Taphouse and Rob Green Brighton vs. Leeds, 10am, NBCSN, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and Hulu + Live TV — Jim Proudfoot and Matt Holland Chelsea vs. Fulham, 12:30pm, NBC, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and Hulu + Live TV — Arlo White and Graeme Le Saux Everton vs. Aston Villa, 3pm, Peacock Premium — Tony Jones and Jim Beglin Sunday, May 2 Newcastle United vs. Arsenal, 9am, NBCSN, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and Hulu + Live TV — Seb Hutchinson and David Prutton Man United vs. Liverpool, 11:30am, NBCSN, Telemundo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and Hulu + Live TV — Arlo White and Lee Dixon Spurs vs. Sheffield United, 2:15pm, NBCSN, fuboTV, Sling Blue and Hulu + Live TV — Jim Proudfoot and Matthew Upson Monday, May 3 West Bromwich Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 1pm, Peacock Premium — Bill Leslie and Andy Townsend Burnley vs. West Ham, 3:15pm, Peacock Premium — Martin Tyler and Leon Osman

Second-place Manchester United host Liverpool this Sunday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and Telemundo, and Christian Pulisic and fourth-place Chelsea host Fulham this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Universo, highlighting Premier League action across NBC Sports this weekend. Manchester United have won five of their past six league matches after drawing Leeds United, 0-0, last weekend. Liverpool, who drew Newcastle, 1-1, last weekend, sit in sixth place with 54 points and are four points behind fourth-place Chelsea as the chase for a top-four finish heats up. Arlo White and former Premier League player Lee Dixon will call the match live from Old Trafford. Chelsea topped fifth-place West Ham, 1-0, last Saturday behind a Timo Werner goal to move three points clear of the Hammers. Fulham drew Arsenal, 1-1, on Apr. 18 as they look to stave off relegation. White and former Premier League player Graeme Le Saux will call the action live from Stamford Bridge. On Tuesday, Pulisic scor

Orlando Pirates face rampant Raja in Confederation Cup last eight Johannesburg (AFP) – South African club Orlando Pirates were paired with Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca when the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals draw was made in Cairo Friday. Raja excelled in the group stage, winning all six matches, scoring 13 goals, conceding none, and sending a warning to future opponents by trouncing 2020 runners-up Pyramids 3-0 in Egypt. From goalkeeper Anas Zniti to forward Soufiane Rahimi, Raja boast a star-stacked multi-national team full of experienced African campaigners. They won the Confederation Cup in 2018 and are favourites to do so again and bring to Morocco for a sixth time a trophy awarded to the winners of the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League. Pirates were runners-up in 2015 and while scoring only 10 goals in nine matches en route to the knockout stage must concern German coach Josef Zinnbauer, the Buccaneers’ defence conceded just two. Enyimba will take good home and poor away form into a showdown with Pyramids as they seek to become the first Nigerian winners of the competition. A midweek win over Pirates made it four wins from four home Confederation Cup matches this season, but the club based in southeastern city Aba have lost all four away games. Expensively assembled Pyramids boast a number of foreign stars, including Uruguayan Diego Rolan, Ghanaian John Antwi, Burkinabe Eric Traore and Palestinian Mahmoud Wadi. Record three-time Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia will face JS Kabylie of Algeria in an intriguing north African showdown. The line-up is completed by a match-up between Coton Sport of Cameroon and Jaraaf of Senegal, clubs who exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout stage. Draws Quarter-finals CS Sfaxien (TUN) v JS Kabylie (ALG) Orlando Pirates (RSA) v Raja Casablanca (MAR) Pyramids (EGY) v Enyimba (NGR) Coton Sport (CMR) v Jaraaf (SEN) First legs: May 16, second legs: May 23 Semi-finals Pyramids or Enyimba v Pirates or Raja Coton or Jaraaf v Sfaxien or Kabylie First legs: June 20, second legs: June 27 Note: Single-match final will be played on July 10

Johannesburg (AFP) – South African club Orlando Pirates were paired with Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca when the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals draw was made in Cairo Friday. Raja excelled in the group stage, winning all six matches, scoring 13 goals, conceding none, and sending a warning to future opponents by trouncing 2020 runners-up Pyramids 3-0 in Egypt. From goalkeeper Anas Zniti to forward Soufiane Rahimi, Raja boast a star-stacked multi-national team full of experienced African campaigners. They won the Confederation Cup in 2018 and are favourites to do so again and bring to Morocco for a sixth time a trophy awarded to the winners of the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League. Pirates were runners-up in 2015 and while scoring only 10 goals in nine matches en route to the knockout stage must concern German coach Josef Zinnbauer, the Buccaneers’ defence conceded just two. Enyimba will take good home and poor away form into a showdown with Pyramids as they seek

Prince William joins social media sports boycott to tackle abuse London (AFP) – Britain’s Prince William has joined a boycott of social media channels launched on Friday by football clubs, players and sporting bodies aimed at tackling online abuse. A number of football organisations including the English Football Association and Premier League revealed they would not post on their platforms this weekend and the campaign has snowballed. European football’s governing body UEFA is also observing the blackout, which will last from 1400 GMT on Friday until 2259 GMT on Monday. In a statement released before the boycott began, the Premier League said social media companies must do more to stamp out online abuse. A number of high-profile players including Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Chelsea full-back Reece James have been racially abused in recent months. “The Premier League and our clubs stand alongside football in staging this boycott to highlight the urgent need for social media companies to do more in eliminating racial hatred,” said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters. Prince William, who is president of the English Football Association, threw his weight behind the campaign. “As President of the FA I join the entire football community in the social media boycott this weekend,” he tweeted. In January William hit out at racist abuse in football, describing it as “despicable” and saying it must stop after several black players were targeted online. A number of players posted statements shortly before the protest began on Friday, while football clubs changed their Twitter logos to show their support for the campaign. – Escalating abuse – Earlier, Manchester United said their own analysis had shown that online abuse aimed at their players had increased by 350 percent since 2019. “The analysis has found that since September 2019, there has been a 350 percent increase in abuse directed towards the club’s players,” United said in a statement. “By taking part in this boycott this weekend, we, alongside the rest of English football, want to shine a light on the issue,” said United’s group managing director Richard Arnold. The Premier League club also said they had banned six fans alleged to have abused Tottenham’s South Korean forward Son Heung-min on social media. Chelsea said they had banned a supporter for posting anti-Semitic messages online. “Following the conclusion of court proceedings in February, the club conducted our own investigation into the matter and has taken the decision to ban the individual from Chelsea FC for a period of 10 years,” said a statement from the club. A wide range of sporting organisations including England Rugby, British Cycling, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Tennis Federation are supporting the blackout. Formula One is not taking part but world champion Lewis Hamilton said he was ready to join the boycott on the weekend of the Portuguese Grand Prix. Wolverhampton boss Nuno Espirito Santo believes it will need to be repeated in the push for change. “Not everyone on social media uses it badly, you have to balance, and we can’t compromise our freedom but at the moment I think it’s a good measure,” he said. “Will we have to repeat it again? Probably so, it takes time for people to understand the right message.”

London (AFP) – Britain’s Prince William has joined a boycott of social media channels launched on Friday by football clubs, players and sporting bodies aimed at tackling online abuse. A number of football organisations including the English Football Association and Premier League revealed they would not post on their platforms this weekend and the campaign has snowballed. European football’s governing body UEFA is also observing the blackout, which will last from 1400 GMT on Friday until 2259 GMT on Monday. In a statement released before the boycott began, the Premier League said social media companies must do more to stamp out online abuse. A number of high-profile players including Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Chelsea full-back Reece James have been racially abused in recent months. “The Premier League and our clubs stand alongside football in staging this boycott to highlight the urgent need for social media companies to do more in eliminating racial hatred,”

Klopp says Champions League won’t affect Liverpool’s transfer plans London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Friday that he is confident that failure to qualify for the Champions League would not have a major impact on his transfer plans. Klopp was already resigned to having a reduced budget because of the financial impact of the coronavirus, regardless of where the champions finished in this season’s Premier League. Accounts published this week showed the Anfield club made a pre-tax loss of £46 million in the year ending May 2020 and there will be more financial pain to come. While there will be some financial impact if six-time European champions Liverpool fail to finish in the top four, Klopp believes it will not make a huge difference to his plans. “I don’t think so, really,” he said. “Playing Champions League obviously is massive, especially from a financial point of view for the club so it’s really important.” The German added: “If we cannot make that, then that’s not good. Definitely not. I don’t think it will change anything because the situation was difficult before and it is difficult after. “Football is in a difficult situation. I don’t think it will change a lot.” Liverpool are away to arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday, with Klopp bidding for his first win as a manager at Old Trafford. The Merseyside club are four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and Klopp is well aware of just how important a first Liverpool win at Old Trafford in seven years would be to his side’s hopes of Champions League qualification. “More than 100 percent,” he said. “Even then if the others all win nothing changes for us. But without winning football games we will not end up in any kind of European competition, so for us everything is clear.”

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Friday that he is confident that failure to qualify for the Champions League would not have a major impact on his transfer plans. Klopp was already resigned to having a reduced budget because of the financial impact of the coronavirus, regardless of where the champions finished in this season’s Premier League. Accounts published this week showed the Anfield club made a pre-tax loss of £46 million in the year ending May 2020 and there will be more financial pain to come. While there will be some financial impact if six-time European champions Liverpool fail to finish in the top four, Klopp believes it will not make a huge difference to his plans. “I don’t think so, really,” he said. “Playing Champions League obviously is massive, especially from a financial point of view for the club so it’s really important.” The German added: “If we cannot make that, then that’s not good. Definitely not. I don’t think it will change anything bec

Ahly coach Mosimane to face former club Sundowns in African Champions League Johannesburg (AFP) – Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane will face former club Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals after the Egyptian and South African giants were paired at the draw in Cairo on Friday. It is the third consecutive season in which the Cairo and Pretoria outfits have been drawn together at the last-eight stage of the marquee African club competition. Sundowns won 5-1 on aggregate in 2019 and Ahly exacted revenge one season later with a 3-1 overall victory. On both occasions the team hosting the first leg triumphed. Mosimane left South Africa last September to become the first black African coach of Ahly since the club was formed in 1907, and guided them to third place at the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup. His only Champions League defeat with Ahly came away to Simba of Tanzania, a loss that cost the Cairo Red Devils first place in Group A. As runners-up, they will host Sundowns in the first leg on May 14 or 15 with the return match the following weekend. While Mosimane sits in the Ahly dugout his former assistants, Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena, will be a couple of metres away plotting his downfall. Ahly have won the Champions League a record nine times while Sundowns conquered Africa just once, in 2016. South Africa have two quarter-finalists for the first time and Kaizer Chiefs were drawn against Simba, the surprise side of the 2021 edition. After five failed attempts, Chiefs have reached the knockout stage for the first time despite poor domestic form with only two victories in 13 home league matches. Simba are coached by France-born Didier Gomes da Rosa and often field a team composed of players from up to eight African nations, including star Mozambican winger Luis Miquissone. The other two quarter-finals are north African affairs with Mouloudia Alger facing Wydad Casablanca of Morocco and fellow Algerians Chabab Belouizdad meeting Esperance of Tunisia. Esperance have won the Champions League four times, Wydad twice and Mouloudia once while Belouizdad have gone beyond the group stage for the first time. Draws Quarter-finals Al Ahly (EGY, holders) v Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) Mouloudia Alger (ALG) v Wydad Casablanca (MAR) Chabab Belouizdad (ALG) v Esperance (TUN) Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) v Simba (TAN) First legs: May 14-15, second legs: May 21-22 Semi-finals Mouloudia or Wydad v Chiefs or Simba Belouizdad or Esperance v Ahly or Sundowns First legs: June 18-19, second legs: June 25-26 Note: Single-match final will be played on July 17

Johannesburg (AFP) – Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane will face former club Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals after the Egyptian and South African giants were paired at the draw in Cairo on Friday. It is the third consecutive season in which the Cairo and Pretoria outfits have been drawn together at the last-eight stage of the marquee African club competition. Sundowns won 5-1 on aggregate in 2019 and Ahly exacted revenge one season later with a 3-1 overall victory. On both occasions the team hosting the first leg triumphed. Mosimane left South Africa last September to become the first black African coach of Ahly since the club was formed in 1907, and guided them to third place at the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup. His only Champions League defeat with Ahly came away to Simba of Tanzania, a loss that cost the Cairo Red Devils first place in Group A. As runners-up, they will host Sundowns in the first leg on May 14 or 15 with the return match the following wee

Spurs can keep Kane without Champions League football, says interim boss London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur interim manager Ryan Mason said Friday that Harry Kane’s future at the club does not hinge on whether they qualify for next season’s Champions League. The England captain’s career has been the subject of intense speculation after he said “we’ll see where we go” following the upcoming European Championship and comments this week about his desire to win trophies. Missing out on the top four, which currently looks likely, will be another blow for Spurs in keeping their star man happy but Mason does not think it will be a decisive factor. “I don’t think so,” he said ahead of Sunday’s clash with already relegated Sheffield United. “Harry Kane loves this football club. That’s been proven over the last seven or eight years. He’s one of the best strikers in the world. “Everyone knows that, we know that and I’d like to think Harry knows that as well. “The most important thing right now, and our attention right now, is this weekend. We can’t disrespect any opponent and we can’t be investing our energy into anything else.” Mason and Kane, 27, are close friends off the pitch but the former Spurs midfielder said he had not spoken with the striker about his future. “He’s one of the most professional guys I’ve ever met in my life so Harry Kane has been training excellently this week,” said Mason. “He’ll be training excellently tomorrow, I know that, and he’ll be ready for the weekend.” Tottenham last won a major trophy when they lifted the 2008 League Cup but the north London club insist Kane is not for sale. And, with three years left on his contract, it would take an eye-watering figure for them to change their mind — something that does not look likely in the cash-strapped coronavirus era. Finishing in the top four would help appease Kane, but that is going to be tough as Spurs are five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with five games to play. Meanwhile, Spurs have been dealt another blow in their search for a new manager after Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag committed his future to the Dutch club. The 51-year-old was understood to have been on the shortlist to replace Jose Mourinho, who was sacked last week, but he will be staying in Amsterdam after signing a contract extension until 2023. Another leading candidate, Julian Nagelsmann, opted to join Bayern Munich this week, while Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has also distanced himself from the role.

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur interim manager Ryan Mason said Friday that Harry Kane’s future at the club does not hinge on whether they qualify for next season’s Champions League. The England captain’s career has been the subject of intense speculation after he said “we’ll see where we go” following the upcoming European Championship and comments this week about his desire to win trophies. Missing out on the top four, which currently looks likely, will be another blow for Spurs in keeping their star man happy but Mason does not think it will be a decisive factor. “I don’t think so,” he said ahead of Sunday’s clash with already relegated Sheffield United. “Harry Kane loves this football club. That’s been proven over the last seven or eight years. He’s one of the best strikers in the world. “Everyone knows that, we know that and I’d like to think Harry knows that as well. “The most important thing right now, and our attention right now, is this weekend. We can’t disrespect any

Conte keen to avoid ‘nasty surprises’ at Crotone as Inter eye title Milan (AFP) – Antonio Conte has warned Inter Milan to avoid creating any “nasty surprises” as his side look to wrap up the Serie A title this weekend at Crotone. Saturday’s match in Italy’s deep south pits the Serie A leaders, close to their first league crown since 2010, against the bottom team who will be relegated if they lose. “I warned the team, we will need hunger and competitive malice to avoid nasty surprises,” Conte told a pre-match press conference on Friday. If Inter win and second-placed Atalanta fail to claim all three points at Sassuolo on Sunday, Inter will claim their 19th Serie A title with four games to go. “We want to finish this season in the best possible way, which would be a work of art,” said the 51-year-old, who is looking to end the nine-year reign of his former team Juventus. “We have had an extraordinary journey and now we are ready to conquer something historic. “We must have the utmost respect for Crotone, they will want to show that they deserve to stay in Serie A and there is no better opportunity to do it than against the team first in the standings.” Before leaving for Crotone, the club’s Chinese president Steven Zhang met the team. “There was a simple greeting since we hadn’t seen each other for some time,” said Conte. “He wished us good luck also because the president knows very well that we have not yet achieved anything. “When you approach a goal it is inevitable that waiting becomes something that you have to know how to manage. “In this sense I say that Inter will have to play Inter tomorrow. “In any case, everyone here knows that something extraordinary is about to be achieved this year.” Inter’s most recent clash against Crotone was a 6-2 win earlier this season, with a Lautaro Martinez hat-trick and goals from Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi.

Milan (AFP) – Antonio Conte has warned Inter Milan to avoid creating any “nasty surprises” as his side look to wrap up the Serie A title this weekend at Crotone. Saturday’s match in Italy’s deep south pits the Serie A leaders, close to their first league crown since 2010, against the bottom team who will be relegated if they lose. “I warned the team, we will need hunger and competitive malice to avoid nasty surprises,” Conte told a pre-match press conference on Friday. If Inter win and second-placed Atalanta fail to claim all three points at Sassuolo on Sunday, Inter will claim their 19th Serie A title with four games to go. “We want to finish this season in the best possible way, which would be a work of art,” said the 51-year-old, who is looking to end the nine-year reign of his former team Juventus. “We have had an extraordinary journey and now we are ready to conquer something historic. “We must have the utmost respect for Crotone, they will want to show that they deserve

Barca’s Koeman to miss crucial title clashes after two-match ban for referee ‘disrespect’ Madrid (AFP) – Ronald Koeman will miss crucial matches in Barcelona’s bid to win La Liga after the Spanish Football Federation on Friday banned him for two games after the Dutchman was sent off during his team’s 2-1 defeat at Granada. The 58-year-old was handed the ban after being shown a red card in the 66th minute of Thursday’s loss, which has left the La Liga title race wide open, for “disparaging or disrespectful attitudes towards referees, officials or sports authorities”. Koeman will be banned from the bench for Barca’s matches at Valencia on Sunday and at home to lead leaders Atletico Madrid the following weekend as the Catalan giants try to snatch the title from current champions Real Madrid. Barca currently sit third in La Liga as the Spanish top flight heads into its final five fixtures with four teams in with a shout of the title. Koeman’s side are two points behind Atletico and level on 71 points with second-placed Madrid, while form team Sevilla are a further point back in fourth after having won their last five matches.

Madrid (AFP) – Ronald Koeman will miss crucial matches in Barcelona’s bid to win La Liga after the Spanish Football Federation on Friday banned him for two games after the Dutchman was sent off during his team’s 2-1 defeat at Granada. The 58-year-old was handed the ban after being shown a red card in the 66th minute of Thursday’s loss, which has left the La Liga title race wide open, for “disparaging or disrespectful attitudes towards referees, officials or sports authorities”. Koeman will be banned from the bench for Barca’s matches at Valencia on Sunday and at home to lead leaders Atletico Madrid the following weekend as the Catalan giants try to snatch the title from current champions Real Madrid. Barca currently sit third in La Liga as the Spanish top flight heads into its final five fixtures with four teams in with a shout of the title. Koeman’s side are two points behind Atletico and level on 71 points with second-placed Madrid, while form team Sevilla are a further point ba

Madagascar suspend French coach who plotted downfall of Nigeria Johannesburg (AFP) – Madagascar have suspended Nicolas Dupuis, the French coach who plotted a stunning victory over Nigeria when they debuted in the Africa Cup of Nations two years ago. A national football federation statement said the 53-year-old “is suspended until further notice and will not be paid during the period of suspension”. France-born former Paris Saint-Germain captain Eric Rabesandratana has been named caretaker coach as Madagascar prepare for 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Tanzania in June. The statement accused Dupuis of “engagement with several other entities without prior authorisation from the federation… and interference in the selection process of the national team equipment supplier”. Dupuis sprang to international prominence by guiding minnows Madagascar to victories over Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 2019 Cup of Nations before losing to Tunisia in the quarter-finals. Madagascar needed a victory over Niger last month to secure a second successive appearance at the Cup of Nations, but could only draw 0-0 at home and missed out.

Johannesburg (AFP) – Madagascar have suspended Nicolas Dupuis, the French coach who plotted a stunning victory over Nigeria when they debuted in the Africa Cup of Nations two years ago. A national football federation statement said the 53-year-old “is suspended until further notice and will not be paid during the period of suspension”. France-born former Paris Saint-Germain captain Eric Rabesandratana has been named caretaker coach as Madagascar prepare for 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Tanzania in June. The statement accused Dupuis of “engagement with several other entities without prior authorisation from the federation… and interference in the selection process of the national team equipment supplier”. Dupuis sprang to international prominence by guiding minnows Madagascar to victories over Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 2019 Cup of Nations before losing to Tunisia in the quarter-finals. Madagascar needed a victory over Niger last month to se

Ten Hag extends Ajax contract to scotch Tottenham rumours The Hague (AFP) – Ajax coach Erik ten Hag has extended his contract until 2023, the Dutch club announced on Friday, pouring cold water on rumours that he was about to leave. Ten Hag, 51, who has been in charge at Ajax since December 2017, had been linked in recent weeks with a move to the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund or to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, who sacked Jose Mourinho last week. “I am very happy in Amsterdam,” Ten Hag said on the club’s website. “The objective for the next few seasons will be to compete with the best European clubs.” Since Ten Hag arrived at Ajax the Amsterdam club have won a league title and the Dutch Cup. In 2019, he led a young team to the semi-finals of the Champions League where they were beaten by Tottenham. This season, the Amsterdam team is on the verge of achieving the domestic double, having already beaten Vitesse Arnhem in the Dutch Cup final and needing just a draw at home to FC Emmen on Sunday to secure their 35th Eredivisie title. According to the ANP news agency, Ten Hag has received assurances from the club that he can keep his current squad for next season and even strengthen it.

The Hague (AFP) – Ajax coach Erik ten Hag has extended his contract until 2023, the Dutch club announced on Friday, pouring cold water on rumours that he was about to leave. Ten Hag, 51, who has been in charge at Ajax since December 2017, had been linked in recent weeks with a move to the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund or to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, who sacked Jose Mourinho last week. “I am very happy in Amsterdam,” Ten Hag said on the club’s website. “The objective for the next few seasons will be to compete with the best European clubs.” Since Ten Hag arrived at Ajax the Amsterdam club have won a league title and the Dutch Cup. In 2019, he led a young team to the semi-finals of the Champions League where they were beaten by Tottenham. This season, the Amsterdam team is on the verge of achieving the domestic double, having already beaten Vitesse Arnhem in the Dutch Cup final and needing just a draw at home to FC Emmen on Sunday to secure their 35th Eredivisie tit

Top 5 must-see soccer games on TV this weekend After omitting some of the biggest names in European football last weekend, it’s time to check in on the progress of a few this week as things start to get serious across the continent. The title race in France is gripping, so it’s no surprise that two games from Ligue 1 make this weekend’s cut. There’s also a clash from La Liga, where there’s a four-team fight for top spot, as well as games from the Premier League and Bundesliga, where Champions League places are still up for grabs. All kick offs are in Eastern time. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the games! Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lens Saturday, May 1, 11 a.m. ET, beIN SPORTS Connect, Fanatiz, fuboTV and Sling World Sports The Champions League feels like it’s been the focus for PSG in the latter weeks of the campaign, but they approach this game with Lens facing the prospect of winning neither the European Cup nor the Ligue 1 title. On Wednesday, PSG were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, meaning they have a mountain to climb to keep their chances alive. It’ll be intriguing to see how Mauricio Pochettino’s team react to that setback and what changes are made to the team on Saturday with the second leg in mind. PSG can’t afford to take too many chances with their lineup though, as anything other than a win here would leave their hopes of another Ligue 1 title in tatters. Lille remain a point clear of the Parisians with four games to play; they are in action against Nice later in the evening. A win for PSG would heap the pressure on the current leaders, but getting over the line against Lens will not be straightforward. The visitors sit in fifth this season after a campaign of encouragement under Franck Haise and will want to consolidate their place as the best of the rest in the final four matches. Borussia Dortmund vs. RB Leipzig Saturday, May 1, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+ Borussia Dortmund will be out to continue their recent revival in a crucial game on Saturday, with second-place RB Leipzig the visitors to the Westfalenstadion. BVB were able to get the better of Wolfsburg last weekend, putting them within touching distance of the top four again. They are in fifth, but just two points behind last week’s opponents who are in third and one off Eintracht Frankfurt, who also lost in their previous outing to put their hopes of Champions League qualification in some jeopardy. Dortmund deserve credit for the way in which they’ve managed to thrust themselves back into the race for fourth, with four wins in succession in the Bundesliga. After a recent lean spell, Erling Haaland is back among the goals too, with four scored in the last three games. It’ll be intriguing to see what kind of opposition Leipzig pose to Dortmund, as they are pretty secure in second place. The club have also had a significant week, with confirmation coming that their current manager Julian Nagelsmann will take over as Bayern Munich manager at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Manchester United vs. Liverpool Sunday, May 2, 11:30 a.m. ET, NBCSN, Telemundo, fuboTV, Hulu Live and Sling Blue Liverpool’s hopes of finishing in the top four have suffered a couple of significant blows lately, making this trip to Manchester United on Sunday crucial for Jurgen Klopp’s team. The Reds were stunned by Newcastle United last weekend, with Joe Willock’s stoppage-time equalizer earning the visitors a point at Anfield. The likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota were far too profligate with their opportunities and the defending Premier League champions paid a harsh price. The draw with Newcastle and another tie against Leeds in similar circumstances have left the Reds as outsiders in the fight for the top four. Should Chelsea beat Fulham on Saturday, Klopp’s team will be seven points back on a Champions League place ahead of their trip to Old Trafford. United will want to add to the misery of their north-west rivals. However, given they are comfortable in second spot and this game is sandwiched by two legs of their Europa League semi-final against Roma, Liverpool may feel as though they are playing the Red Devils at an opportune time, that despite their six-goal mauling of the Italians on Thursday. Monaco vs. Lyon Sunday, May 2, 3 p.m. ET, beIN SPORTS XTRA, Fanatiz and fuboTV Although Lille and PSG lead the way in Ligue 1, Monaco are not out of the fight for the title yet, while their opponents on Sunday are clinging on to the coattails of the top three. Lyon supporters will head into this game feeling immense regret. Last weekend their team appeared poised to surge into a strong position, as they were 2-0 up against Lille. However, a collapse from Rudi Garcia’s men saw the leaders roar back and win, leaving Lyon trailing the summit by six points. Meanwhile, Monaco are keeping themselves in the hunt, with just two points separating them and Lille. They are the most in-form team in France at the moment, winning their last five in succession and putting themselves in a position to pounce if either of the top two slip up in the remaining weeks. With Lyon secure in fourth, they should approach this game in an attacking mindset and an open contest should follow. Given Monaco’s array of firepower, that kind of approach might make this the standout game on the continent this weekend. Valencia vs. Barcelona Sunday, May 2, 3 p.m. ET, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, Fanatiz, fuboTV and Sling World Sports It was anticipated that Barcelona would be in the driving seat in the La Liga title scrap by the time they took the field against Valencia on Sunday, but this remarkable race took another twist ahead of a crucial round of matches. Barcelona needed to beat Granada on Thursday to jump to the top of the table ahead of Atletico Madrid and they appeared on course for a comfortable win when Lionel Messi put them in front in the first period. But Granada responded magnificently after the break and fought back to win 2-1, leaving the Blaugrana in third spot. The frustration on the night clearly got the better of Ronald Koeman, who was dismissed from the dugout for his protestations. After such a huge blow to their title chances, it’s going to be a big challenge to get the players prepared for their trip to the Mestalla on Sunday night. Valencia are in 14th and have had a campaign to forget, with relegation still technically a possibility with five games to go.

After omitting some of the biggest names in European football last weekend, it’s time to check in on the progress of a few this week as things start to get serious across the continent. The title race in France is gripping, so it’s no surprise that two games from Ligue 1 make this weekend’s cut. There’s also a clash from La Liga, where there’s a four-team fight for top spot, as well as games from the Premier League and Bundesliga, where Champions League places are still up for grabs. All kick offs are in Eastern time. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the games! Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lens Saturday, May 1, 11 a.m. ET, beIN SPORTS Connect, Fanatiz , fuboTV and Sling World Sports The Champions League feels like it’s been the focus for PSG in the latter weeks of the campaign, but they approach this game with Lens facing the prospect of winning neither the European Cup nor the Ligue 1 title. On Wednesday, PSG were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions Lea

Man Utd don’t want Super League revival, says Woodward London (AFP) – Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward promised the club “do not seek” any revival of the European Super League as fans vented their fury at the planned breakaway during an emergency meeting on Friday. The Old Trafford giants were one of 12 clubs that announced this month they were joining the new continental competition, only for it to collapse under intense pressure within 48 hours. It was announced that Woodward would be leaving his role shortly before United officially withdrew from the Super League, of which United co-chairman Joel Glazer was named vice-chairman. Glazer has admitted “we got it wrong” but it was left to Woodward to apologise for the botched plan during his opening remarks on Friday. “You will all have read Joel’s open letter to fans last week apologising for the Super League decision and I would like to add my personal apology to this forum,” he said. “I know that you will feel angry and let down by the lack of consultation and by the way the proposal failed to recognise the vital principle of open competition. Proper discussion would have helped us avoid the mistake we made.” He added: “I can assure you that we have learnt our lesson from the events of the past week and we do not seek any revival of the Super League plans.” But Woodward’s comments will do little to placate furious supporters, with a letter signed by the vast majority of fan forum members read out to him during the meeting demanding change and rejecting co-chairman Glazer’s apology. “We are disgusted, embarrassed and angry at the owner’s actions in relation to the planning, formation and announcement of the European Super League,” the letter read. “Once again this clearly demonstrates that the club’s owners are only interested in maximising their own profits and do not care about or respect the views of Manchester United fans.” The fan forum members said the proposal “betrayed” United’s history, which has “been undermined by an abhorrent plan designed purely to make more money for the self-perceived ‘big clubs’.” The supporters set out a five-point plan, including a call for the club to openly engage in a UK government-initiated fan-led review of football and for the appointment of independent directors to the board. United fans last week breached security at the club’s training ground as they protested against the Glazer family for their role in the Super League plot. The club have been under the American family’s ownership since they completed their controversial takeover in 2005.

London (AFP) – Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward promised the club “do not seek” any revival of the European Super League as fans vented their fury at the planned breakaway during an emergency meeting on Friday. The Old Trafford giants were one of 12 clubs that announced this month they were joining the new continental competition, only for it to collapse under intense pressure within 48 hours. It was announced that Woodward would be leaving his role shortly before United officially withdrew from the Super League, of which United co-chairman Joel Glazer was named vice-chairman. Glazer has admitted “we got it wrong” but it was left to Woodward to apologise for the botched plan during his opening remarks on Friday. “You will all have read Joel’s open letter to fans last week apologising for the Super League decision and I would like to add my personal apology to this forum,” he said. “I know that you will feel angry and let down by the lack of consultation and b

Man Utd highlight online abuse ahead of social media boycott London (AFP) – Manchester United announced on Friday that online abuse aimed at their players had increased by 350 percent since 2019 ahead of the start of a widespread sports social media boycott to highlight the issue. A coalition of football organisations including the English Football Association and Premier League revealed they would not post on their channels this weekend and the campaign has grown, with other sports bodies, sponsors and broadcasters joining in. On Thursday, European football’s governing body UEFA said it would also be observing the blackout, which will last from 1400 GMT on Friday until 2259 GMT on Monday. Manchester United, who said they would switch off all their official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, added that they had conducted their own research into online abuse. “The analysis has found that since September 2019, there has been a 350 percent increase in abuse directed towards the club’s players,” United said in a statement. United added their study had found that 86 percent of the abusive posts were racist, while eight percent were homophobic or transphobic, with the activity peaking in January 2021. “By taking part in this boycott this weekend, we, alongside the rest of English football, want to shine a light on the issue,” said United’s group managing director Richard Arnold. “It will generate debate and discussion and will raise awareness of the levels of abuse our players and our fans receive.” The Premier League club also said they had taken action against six people alleged to have abused Tottenham’s South Korean forward Son Heung-min on social media. “Regretfully, suspensions have been issued, subject to appeal, to three season ticket holders, two official members and one individual on the season-ticket waiting list,” the club said. “This disciplinary action demonstrates the club’s commitment to the fight against discrimination on many fronts.” Chelsea said on Friday they had banned a supporter for posting anti-Semitic messages online. “Following the conclusion of court proceedings in February, the club conducted our own investigation into the matter and has taken the decision to ban the individual from Chelsea FC for a period of 10 years,” said a statement from the club. A wide range of sporting organisations including England Rugby, British Cycling, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Tennis Federation are supporting the blackout. Formula One is not taking part but world champion Lewis Hamilton said he was ready to join the boycott on the weekend of the Portuguese Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion, who has 22 million followers on Instagram and more than six million on Twitter, said: “I am fully supportive of the initiative. “And if me also doing it helps put pressure on those platforms in order to help fight against it then, for sure, I am happy to do so.”

London (AFP) – Manchester United announced on Friday that online abuse aimed at their players had increased by 350 percent since 2019 ahead of the start of a widespread sports social media boycott to highlight the issue. A coalition of football organisations including the English Football Association and Premier League revealed they would not post on their channels this weekend and the campaign has grown, with other sports bodies, sponsors and broadcasters joining in. On Thursday, European football’s governing body UEFA said it would also be observing the blackout, which will last from 1400 GMT on Friday until 2259 GMT on Monday. Manchester United, who said they would switch off all their official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, added that they had conducted their own research into online abuse. “The analysis has found that since September 2019, there has been a 350 percent increase in abuse directed towards the club’s players,” United said in a statement. United added

China football ‘legend’ dead after 48th birthday celebrations Shanghai (AFP) – China’s former international football captain Zhang Enhua, who became a cult hero during a spell with unfashionable Grimsby Town in England, has died of heart problems after his 48th birthday celebrations, reports said Friday. Zhang reportedly fell ill after enjoying his birthday on Wednesday with friends, the Global Times and other state media said. A central defender, Zhang was part of the China squad at the 2002 World Cup — the only time the country has competed on football’s biggest stage. Zhang spent most of his career in Dalian, the northeast city where he was born, and won seven league titles with his hometown club. Xinhua news agency mourned him as a “Chinese soccer legend” and Soccer News said that he was “a fighter” on the pitch, but warm and easy-going off it. Zhang’s death also made headlines in Grimsby, a fishing town on England’s northeast coast where he spent part of the 2000-2001 season following a surprise three-month loan move. Zhang was flown over from China to solve a defensive crisis as the club fought for survival in England’s second tier. He soon became a fan favourite, making 17 appearances and scoring three goals for Grimsby, before returning to China to prepare for their World Cup campaign. He had a son born in Grimsby and called him Gary.

Shanghai (AFP) – China’s former international football captain Zhang Enhua, who became a cult hero during a spell with unfashionable Grimsby Town in England, has died of heart problems after his 48th birthday celebrations, reports said Friday. Zhang reportedly fell ill after enjoying his birthday on Wednesday with friends, the Global Times and other state media said. A central defender, Zhang was part of the China squad at the 2002 World Cup — the only time the country has competed on football’s biggest stage. Zhang spent most of his career in Dalian, the northeast city where he was born, and won seven league titles with his hometown club. Xinhua news agency mourned him as a “Chinese soccer legend” and Soccer News said that he was “a fighter” on the pitch, but warm and easy-going off it. Zhang’s death also made headlines in Grimsby, a fishing town on England’s northeast coast where he spent part of the 2000-2001 season following a surprise three-month loan move. Zhang was flown

Inter on brink of Serie A title as Juve battle for Champions League spot Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan are on the brink of the Serie A title which they could claim for the first time in over a decade this weekend while Juventus scramble for a Champions League spot. Antonio Conte’s Inter travel south to basement club Crotone on Saturday where a win would allow them to put one hand on a trophy they last won in 2010. If Inter win and second-placed Atalanta, who are 11 points off top spot, fail to claim all three points at Sassuolo on Sunday, Inter will lift their 19th Serie A crown with four games to go. Inter could also be crowned champions with a draw if Atalanta lose, but other results would have to go the league leaders’ way. Inter’s Chinese president Steven Zhang returned to Milan this week for the run-in to the title celebrations. And despite the pressure midfielder Nicolo Barella said the team were in a “calm frame of mind” having come close last season. Inter finished one point behind Juventus last year, having also lost the Europa League final in 2020 to Sevilla. “We had the same objective last season. We lost a final and this galvanised us,” said Barella. “We transformed the experience into something positive. This year, we’re in the position we wanted to be in. “We’re a well-balanced side that has found an identity.” Barella scored in Inter’s 2-0 win over Juventus in the San Siro in January, “the match that made us aware of our strength,” the Italian said. “Beating the team that had dominated for years was important.” Top Inter scorers Romelu Lukaku (21) and Lautaro Martínez (15) will be eager to find the net having both failed to score in the past four games. Crotone, meanwhile, can count on Nigerian forward Simy, the third top scorer in Serie A with 19 goals this campaign, who scored last weekend in a win over Parma to delay relegation. Juventus are fourth with coach Andrea Pirlo under increasing pressure as they travel to Udinese fighting not to slip out of the top four. Juve lost their last trip to Udine back in July, and have been shaky on the road this campaign, dropping points in 10 away games. They are equal on points with third-placed Napoli and AC Milan, in fifth, with Lazio lurking five points off fourth place with a game in hand. AC Milan host 18th-placed Benevento at the San Siro with Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to return as the side come off back-to-back defeats. Milan have struggled at home this campaign, while five of Benevento’s seven wins have been away. Lazio host Genoa looking for a club record 11 straight wins at home, as city rivals Roma, six points behind, travel to Sampdoria, smarting from a 6-2 mauling at the hands of Manchester United in the Europa League, semi-final, first leg on Thursday. At the bottom of the table, relegation rivals Torino and Parma go head-to-head on Monday. One to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo has cut an increasingly frustrated figure despite leading the Serie A scorers’ chart with 25 goals in 29 games. The 36-year-old has failed to score in Juventus’s last three league games. “Success happens when your dreams are bigger than your excuses,” said the Portuguese forward on social media, targeting the top scorer honour for the first time since arriving in Turin in 2018. Key stats: 17 – Inter’s unbeaten league run 11 – Inter’s advantage on second-placed Atalanta 7 – AC Milan’s points from the last five games 7 – Atalanta’s winning league run against Sassuolo 6 – Juve’s wins away in 16 league games 3 – Udinese have lost their last three home games Fixtures (all times GMT): Saturday Hellas Verona v Spezia (1300), Crotone v Inter Milan (1600), AC Milan v Benevento (1845) Sunday Lazio v Genoa (1030), Bologna v Fiorentina, Napoli v Cagliari, Sassuolo v Atalanta (all 1300), Udinese v Juventus (1600), Sampdoria v Roma (1845) Monday Torino v Parma (1845)

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan are on the brink of the Serie A title which they could claim for the first time in over a decade this weekend while Juventus scramble for a Champions League spot. Antonio Conte’s Inter travel south to basement club Crotone on Saturday where a win would allow them to put one hand on a trophy they last won in 2010. If Inter win and second-placed Atalanta, who are 11 points off top spot, fail to claim all three points at Sassuolo on Sunday, Inter will lift their 19th Serie A crown with four games to go. Inter could also be crowned champions with a draw if Atalanta lose, but other results would have to go the league leaders’ way. Inter’s Chinese president Steven Zhang returned to Milan this week for the run-in to the title celebrations. And despite the pressure midfielder Nicolo Barella said the team were in a “calm frame of mind” having come close last season. Inter finished one point behind Juventus last year, having also lost the Europa League final in 2

Inter coronation, Lille obstacle and German Cup – what to watch in Europe Paris (AFP) – Inter Milan can clinch a first Serie A crown in over a decade, Lille look to stay in control of the Ligue 1 title race and Borussia Dortmund have their sights set on the German Cup final. AFP Sport selects some of the standout action in Europe this weekend: Inter on cusp of Italian title Crotone v Inter Milan, Saturday 1600 GMT Inter Milan could secure a first Serie A crown since Jose Mourinho led the club to the treble in 2010 if they win and Atalanta drop points at Sassuolo on Sunday. The Nerazzurri are on the cusp of a 19th Scudetto, which would move them one ahead of city rivals AC Milan but still a distance behind Juventus’ record of 36. Antonio Conte’s side have drawn two of their past three games but are unbeaten in 17 and will be expected to see off a Crotone outfit all but condemned to relegation at the foot of the table. Nice roadblock the next threat to Lille Lille v Nice, Saturday 1900 GMT Having battled back from two goals to beat Lyon, Lille will need to rewrite the recent form guide against Nice, a club the Ligue 1 leaders have beaten just once in the past 16 attempts. Burak Yilmaz is the man of the moment for Christophe Galtier’s side, netting 12 goals in 24 games during his first season in one of Europe’s top five leagues, at the age of 35. Lille have performed better as the hunter rather than hunted but could find themselves in second place come kick-off, if Paris Saint-Germain beat Lens earlier in the day. Barcelona seek response after Granada setback Valencia v Barcelona, Sunday 1900 GMT Barcelona’s shock home loss to Granada means Ronald Koeman’s team no longer have their destiny in their own hands, with the top four in Spain separated by three points with five games to play. Two defeats in four have stalled Barca’s title charge and handed back the initiative to Atletico Madrid, the visitors to Camp Nou next weekend. Real Madrid, like Barca, are two points adrift with Sevilla another point further behind. Valencia have won just eight matches this term and are just six points clear of the relegation places but did hold Barcelona to a 2-2 draw in December. Dortmund full of respect for underdogs Kiel Borussia Dortmund v Holstein Kiel, Saturday 1830 GMT The Bundesliga takes a step back as the German Cup resumes with second-tier Holstein Kiel, the conquerors of defending champions Bayern Munich, aiming to continue their surprise run against Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals. While Erling Braut Haaland and Dortmund are bidding to win the cup for the fifth time, and first since 2017, promotion-chasing Kiel will be making just a second appearance in the final four. Julian Nagelsmann begins his RB Leipzig farewell when the 2019 runners-up visit Werder Bremen in Friday’s first semi-final. The 33-year-old will leave to take over at Bayern in the summer. Ajax set to complete Dutch double Ajax v FC Emmen, Sunday 1230 GMT The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year denied Ajax the chance at another Eredivisie title, but the Amsterdam giants have shaken off that disappointment thanks to a top-flight run of 19 games without defeat. Erik ten Hag’s men sit 12 points clear of PSV Eindhoven heading into the final four rounds of the campaign. Their far superior goal difference effectively guarantees they cannot be caught, but a point against Emmen will confirm them as champions. Earlier this month Ajax hoisted the Dutch Cup for the 20th time as David Neres scored a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Vitesse Arnhem.

Paris (AFP) – Inter Milan can clinch a first Serie A crown in over a decade, Lille look to stay in control of the Ligue 1 title race and Borussia Dortmund have their sights set on the German Cup final. AFP Sport selects some of the standout action in Europe this weekend: Inter on cusp of Italian title Crotone v Inter Milan, Saturday 1600 GMT Inter Milan could secure a first Serie A crown since Jose Mourinho led the club to the treble in 2010 if they win and Atalanta drop points at Sassuolo on Sunday. The Nerazzurri are on the cusp of a 19th Scudetto, which would move them one ahead of city rivals AC Milan but still a distance behind Juventus’ record of 36. Antonio Conte’s side have drawn two of their past three games but are unbeaten in 17 and will be expected to see off a Crotone outfit all but condemned to relegation at the foot of the table. Nice roadblock the next threat to Lille Lille v Nice, Saturday 1900 GMT Having battled back from two goals to beat Lyon, Lille will n

Atletico still in front as La Liga’s thrilling title race hots up Madrid (AFP) – Three points separate La Liga’s top four with five games left to play as Europe’s most exciting title race approaches its climax. Here, AFP Sport takes a look at Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla, to assess who might be crowned champions in May. – Atletico Madrid – Points: 73 Fixtures: Elche (A), Barcelona (A), Real Sociedad (H), Osasuna (H), Real Valladolid (A) Form: Atletico were 10 points clear at the start of February but six wins in 14 games since then have seen that lead reduced to two. Consecutive victories over struggling Eibar and Huesca this month sparked hope of a revival but defeat by Athletic Bilbao last weekend came as a hammer blow. Condition: Atletico have been hit hard by coronavirus cases this season while recent injuries to Luis Suarez and Joao Felix were also tough to take. But coach Diego Simeone has his best options available again for the run-in. The real question is whether Atletico can recover psychologically after a disappointing few weeks. Strength: If Suarez can rediscover his early-season form in the last five games, which includes a trip to Barcelona’s Camp Nou, Atletico have a chance. And despite everything, they are still in the lead. Chances: Atletico have the title in their hands after being let off the hook by Barcelona and Real Madrid, who have both dropped points in the past week. But they will need to find form fast to hold them off. – Real Madrid – Points: 71 Fixtures: Osasuna (H), Sevilla (H), Granada (A), Athletic Bilbao (A), Villarreal (H) Form: Two weeks ago Real Madrid were flying, after beating Barcelona and knocking Liverpool out of the Champions League. But two goalless draws against Getafe and Real Betis have checked Madrid’s momentum and given ammunition to those that believe a long list of injuries has finally caught up with them. Condition: Zidane said after Madrid beat Barca his squad was at its “physical limit”. The absences — among them Sergio Ramos, who has hardly kicked a ball this year — have hurt, but the strain has also been put on players like Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, who have been denied the rest they need. Strength: Ten consecutive wins at the end of last season launched Real Madrid to the title and if there is a team that has the mentality to deliver under pressure, it is them. They also have Karim Benzema, who is in the form of his life. Chances: It is hard to shake the feeling Madrid are now crawling over the line but they might just have the kindest run-in, especially if Villarreal are resting players for the Europa League final on the last day. They also have superior head-to-head records over Barcelona and Atletico. – Barcelona – Points: 71 Fixtures: Valencia (A), Atletico Madrid (H), Levante (A), Celta Vigo (H), Eibar (A) Form: Barca’s defeat by Granada on Thursday came out of the blue, given they had lost only once before then since December, to Real Madid. A strong run of form appeared to have put the Catalans in the driving seat and the question now is how they react. They cannot afford any more blips. Condition: Barcelona’s biggest concern is suspensions, with Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong and Oscar Mingueza all one yellow card away from a ban. Ronald Koeman could leave them out against Valencia on Sunday to ensure availability against Atletico, but it would be a brave call to rotate at Mestalla. Strength: Whether Messi is chasing his last La Liga title with Barcelona remains to be seen but he is certainly playing like it. He has 11 goals in his last 11 games and sits five clear at the top of the league’s scoring charts. In this form, he can win any match on his own. Chances: The performance against Granada showed Barcelona are still prone to lapses of concentration, and how will their youngsters handle the pressure over the next month? They may now have to beat Atletico and hope Sevilla can take points off Real Madrid. – Sevilla – Points: 70 Fixtures: Athletic Bilbao (H), Real Madrid (A), Valencia (H), Villarreal (A), Alaves (H) Form: Sevilla are the form team, having taken 22 points from the last 24 available and won their last five matches in a row. That run included a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid and has put them right in the mix for the title. Condition: None of the top four has played more than Sevilla’s 49 games so far this season but they are showing few signs of fatigue. Julen Lopetegui’s side are unbeaten since the start of March, when a poor run of results appear to have cut them adrift in the race at the top. Strength: With Champions League qualification already secured, Sevilla have nothing to lose. There is not the expectation that weighs heavy on Barcelona and Real Madrid, nor the pressure at Atletico after spending so long in the lead. For Sevilla, a late run would take everyone by surprise. Chances: Sevilla are not far behind but to win the title they have to overtake three teams and they will probably have to beat Real Madrid to do it. A victory at Valdebebas next week really would make people sit up and take notice.

Madrid (AFP) – Three points separate La Liga’s top four with five games left to play as Europe’s most exciting title race approaches its climax. Here, AFP Sport takes a look at Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla, to assess who might be crowned champions in May. – Atletico Madrid – Points: 73 Fixtures: Elche (A), Barcelona (A), Real Sociedad (H), Osasuna (H), Real Valladolid (A) Form: Atletico were 10 points clear at the start of February but six wins in 14 games since then have seen that lead reduced to two. Consecutive victories over struggling Eibar and Huesca this month sparked hope of a revival but defeat by Athletic Bilbao last weekend came as a hammer blow. Condition: Atletico have been hit hard by coronavirus cases this season while recent injuries to Luis Suarez and Joao Felix were also tough to take. But coach Diego Simeone has his best options available again for the run-in. The real question is whether Atletico can recover psychologically after a d

Grenfell Athletic: a symbol of hope after blaze trauma London (AFP) – The Grenfell Athletic badge is, for founder Rupert Taylor, a symbol of what “a community had and lost” when a blaze ripped through a London tower block four years ago, killing scores of residents. Britain’s deadliest domestic fire since World War II left 72 people dead, with an official report blaming highly combustible cladding fixed to the 24-storey block as the principal reason the inferno spread. The badge used by the team, set up shortly after the June 2017 tragedy, depicts a dragon curling its way around a tower. “The purpose of a dragon, if you look up its history, is protecting precious items or treasures,” Taylor told AFP. “Our community is a treasure and we must look after it.” Taylor created the team just five weeks after the blaze, building it around a “young survivor” whose mental health he feared for. The team’s raison d’etre was “to repair a strand of what we lost”. The 20 or so players who turn up for a training session in Paddington, west London, on a cold Thursday evening are put through their paces first by Taylor and then Dave Kitson, who played in the Premier League for Reading and Stoke. “Rubbish, does not count, get rid of it,” says Taylor to the players while Kitson is unforgiving. “Liven up all of you,” he barks. The training regime is similar to that of any other club, but this is no ordinary Sunday league team. “We are playing for somebody (the victims and those who survived),” says Taylor’s 23-year-old stepson, Dillon Reilly. “Every goal we score, every pass we make is for them.” The players are a tight-knit group. Many of them grew up together playing football on all-weather pitches in the shadow of the tower. Reilly talks about a friend who did not make it out. Yasin el-Wahabi could have survived but the 20-year-old went back into the tower to try to save his family on the 21st floor — he died along with his parents and two younger siblings. “It had a crazy impact on me, he was a huge loss,” said Reilly. “I grew up with him and I wished he was still around. You just don’t realise the gap in one’s life till they are gone.” – ‘A way of life’ – Kailume Backer, an eye-catching presence on the wing, had to take time off work because his route as a garbage collector took him past the smouldering ruins of the tower. He says, though, that playing for the team has helped him. “We are more of a family than a football team,” he said. “It (football) helps take our minds off things, although it is also good to think about it (the tragedy).” Kwasi Frempong sees the group as a family. He is a childhood friend of Taylor and, at 39, is the veteran on the pitch. He describes the sense of powerlessness he felt — he stood there “frozen not gawping, frozen” as the tower burned. “You envisage it in a movie but you do not think it would happen on your doorstep,” he said. Frempong said he had no hesitation when Taylor rang him and asked if he would like to play for the team. “The team has big plans in place to have a long-lasting legacy and I want to be part of it even as old as I am,” he said. Taylor hopes Grenfell, with its unique history as more than just a football club, will eventually become everyone’s favourite team. “How it (the team) was forged is extremely powerful and for that reason the fact of putting on the badge, I feel like a superhero,” he said. “I believe it is the same for all the players when they put the shirt on. It is much more than just a Sunday league football team — actually this is a way of life.” The softly spoken Taylor sees it as normal to give back to the neighbourhood he adores and where he has lived his whole life. “I don’t believe in pride, it is one of the seven deadly sins,” said the 34-year-old. “I had a calling at a young age to give the community the best of me and while I have broad shoulders and two feet they will get the best of me.” pi/jw/bsp

London (AFP) – The Grenfell Athletic badge is, for founder Rupert Taylor, a symbol of what “a community had and lost” when a blaze ripped through a London tower block four years ago, killing scores of residents. Britain’s deadliest domestic fire since World War II left 72 people dead, with an official report blaming highly combustible cladding fixed to the 24-storey block as the principal reason the inferno spread. The badge used by the team, set up shortly after the June 2017 tragedy, depicts a dragon curling its way around a tower. “The purpose of a dragon, if you look up its history, is protecting precious items or treasures,” Taylor told AFP. “Our community is a treasure and we must look after it.” Taylor created the team just five weeks after the blaze, building it around a “young survivor” whose mental health he feared for. The team’s raison d’etre was “to repair a strand of what we lost”. The 20 or so players who turn up for a training session in Paddington, west London,

PSG unable to take eye off ball in Ligue 1 before Man City return Paris (AFP) – Locked in what is now a three-way fight for the Ligue 1 title with four games remaining, Paris Saint-Germain cannot afford to relax this weekend ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City. Mauricio Pochettino’s side go to Manchester on Tuesday needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in order to reach a second consecutive Champions League final. However, while conquering Europe is the dream for the Qatar-owned club, the Ligue 1 title that has been theirs in seven of the last eight seasons is in danger of slipping away. AFP Sport looks at the state of play in the French title race going into the final weeks of the campaign. – Lille: First, 73 points – Lille showcased their remarkable resilience by coming from two goals down to win 3-2 at Lyon last weekend, effectively knocking their opponents out of the title race in the process. Had they lost, Lille would have slipped to fourth, but instead a Burak Yilmaz-inspired comeback allowed them to hold first place, a point ahead of PSG and two clear of Monaco. Now Christophe Galtier’s side host mid-table Nice knowing a first title since 2011 is in reach, but while their away form has been superb their home form has been mediocre, with just one win in five. “We are in front, the players are holding onto something and they have to do everything to make sure nobody takes it off them,” said Galtier on Thursday. “Like a dog with a bone in its mouth. They have it. Nobody can come and take it from them. That is what they need to have in mind.” – Paris Saint-Germain: Second, 72 points – Given their phenomenal resources, it is incredible that PSG have already lost eight times in Ligue 1 this season, including five defeats at home. Title rivals Lille, Monaco and Lyon have all won at the Parc des Princes, as have Marseille. Now they face Lens, who are in form and on course to qualify for Europe. Lens also beat PSG at home in September and will hope to catch the Parisians off guard with this match coming just 72 hours before the Manchester City return. Another slip-up for Pochettino’s side could be disastrous. – Monaco: Third, 71 points – Monaco have been the best team in Ligue 1 in 2021, with 44 points from a possible 51 propelling Niko Kovac’s side towards the summit. They could still win a domestic double having knocked out Lyon in the French Cup quarter-finals, but securing a top-three place and Champions League qualification remains the priority as they face Lyon again on Sunday. A win over Lyon at the Stade Louis II would leave them seven points ahead of their fourth-placed opponents with only nine to play for, thereby all but confirming that Champions League berth. Player to watch: Memphis Depay Lyon could do with a big performance from their Dutch captain as they try to rescue their season. They need a win in Monaco just to keep alive their hopes of Champions League qualification, before Depay departs at the end of the campaign when his contract expires. It is a scenario reminiscent of the final day in 2017/18, when Lyon needed to win their last match against Nice to finish in the top three and duly came from behind to do so thanks to Depay’s hat-trick. Another big performance from the ex-Manchester United man on the Cote d’Azur would revive OL’s top-three bid. Key stats 13 – Lens are unbeaten in 13 games 12 – The number of Ligue 1 goals scored by Lille’s 35-year-old Turkish striker Yilmaz 15 – Lyon are unbeaten in 15 away league games Fixtures (GMT) Friday Marseille v Strasbourg (1900) Saturday Paris Saint-Germain v Lens (1500), Lille v Nice (1900) Sunday Bordeaux v Rennes (1100), Brest v Nantes, Dijon v Metz, Lorient v Angers, Nimes v Reims (all 1300), Montpellier v Saint-Etienne (1505), Monaco v Lyon (1900)

Paris (AFP) – Locked in what is now a three-way fight for the Ligue 1 title with four games remaining, Paris Saint-Germain cannot afford to relax this weekend ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City. Mauricio Pochettino’s side go to Manchester on Tuesday needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in order to reach a second consecutive Champions League final. However, while conquering Europe is the dream for the Qatar-owned club, the Ligue 1 title that has been theirs in seven of the last eight seasons is in danger of slipping away. AFP Sport looks at the state of play in the French title race going into the final weeks of the campaign. – Lille: First, 73 points – Lille showcased their remarkable resilience by coming from two goals down to win 3-2 at Lyon last weekend, effectively knocking their opponents out of the title race in the process. Had they lost, Lille would have slipped to fourth, but instead a Burak Yilmaz-inspired comeback allo