Football

Erling Haaland's resurgence has propelled Manchester City back into the Premier League title race, with the Norwegian striker scoring seven goals in four league matches since the end of March.After a frustrating draw against Arsenal in late March, City had failed to score at home in the league for the first time since October 2021. Haaland had also endured a three-match goal drought, leading to criticism from former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.However, City has since won four consecutive league games, leaving them one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. Haaland has been central to this resurgence, bagging a hat-trick in a 5-1 rout of Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.Haaland's four goals against Wolves made him the third player in Premier League history to score two first-half hat-tricks, after Andrew Cole and Michael Owen. He converted from the penalty spot twice and scored a stunning header from Rodri's cross."That's a beautiful goal. My father [Alf-Inge Haaland, who played for City] is going to be happy with that one," Haaland said. "A nice celebration, I enjoyed that one. We keep going."Haaland's goalscoring exploits have silenced his critics, who had questioned his form this season. Despite missing nearly two months with a foot injury, he has now scored 36 goals in all competitions, including six in the Champions League."Twenty-five goals [in the league] is not bad," said Haaland. "We've got a not-so-bad manager who pushes me. I try to develop every day. I had some problems [this season] but let's not focus on them."Haaland's partnership with Kevin De Bruyne has been crucial to City's success. "I try to do the same runs with everyone, but with him I know I'm going to get it perfect. I know the ball is going to come," said Haaland.Guardiola has often spoken about the difference between players who "help you play better" and those "who win games." Haaland and De Bruyne belong to the latter category."It's simple. They are players that win games by themselves. When one player scores 60 goals, you win games," said Guardiola. "When a player makes a thousand million assists and goals, it helps you to win games. You don't have to study at Harvard or Yale to understand that."With three more wins required, City is on course for an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League crown. As Haaland put it, "We've got four finals [three league games and the FA Cup final] left for our season. We're on a mission. Now focus on the next one."

The Super League Kerala (SLK), a highly anticipated football league, has unveiled its six franchises at a grand event in Kochi. The league boasts an impressive roster of owners, including prominent figures from the sports, business, and royal circles.Among the notable owners is Mahesh Bhupathi, the tennis legend and CEO of SGSE, the sports and entertainment arm of the APL Apollo Group. Bhupathi is the owner of Kochi Pipers FC. Another prominent owner is Kaz Patafta, the former Benfica player and current chairman of Australian A-League club Brisbane Roar FC. Patafta is among the owners of Thrissur Roar FC.The Travancore Princess Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and Dr. Mohamed Ilyas Sahadulla, CMD of KIMS Hospital, are the co-owners of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC. M.P. Hassan Kunhi, Director of Kannur International Airport, is among the owners of Kannur Squad FC. V.A. Ajmal Bismi, MD of Bismi Group, is the owner of Malappuram FC. V.K. Mathews, tech entrepreneur and Chairman of IBS Group, is the owner of Calicut FC.The SLK will feature six clubs: Kochi Pipers FC, Thrissur Roar FC, Malappuram FC, Calicut FC, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, and Kannur Squad FC. The inaugural edition of the league will commence in September.The league will be played at three venues: Kochi's Nehru Stadium, Kozhikode's EMS Corporation Stadium, and Malappuram's Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri. The Kerala Football Association (KFA) and Scoreline Sports, the organizers of the SLK, are working to secure three additional stadiums so that each team can have its own home ground.Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has assured that the Government will offer all Government-owned grounds for tournaments organized by the KFA. KFA president Navas Meeran expressed optimism that the league will provide a platform for Kerala's talented footballers to showcase their skills and potentially secure opportunities to play for foreign clubs.

The CAF Confederation Cup final is set to kick off on Sunday with a highly anticipated clash between Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane and Egyptian giants Zamalek. However, the buildup to the match has been marred by off-field drama that threatens to overshadow the sporting spectacle.At the heart of the controversy lies a dispute over the inclusion of a map of Western Sahara on Berkane's shirts. Algerian side USMA, who forfeited both legs of their semi-final against Berkane due to the map issue, have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the decisions. They also seek a postponement of the first leg of the final.The map controversy erupted when Algerian customs officials seized Berkane's kit before the first leg of the semi-final on April 21. The map included Western Sahara, a territory controlled by Morocco but claimed by the Polisario Front, which seeks independence. Algeria supports the Polisario Front and opposes Moroccan rule.CAF ordered the Algerian authorities to return the confiscated kit, but they failed to do so. As a result, Berkane refused to play and were awarded a 3-0 walkover. USMA argued that the shirts contained a political message that violated CAF and FIFA regulations.Morocco countered that shirts with the map had been worn in several other countries during the tournament without objection. USMA traveled to Morocco for the return match but again refused to play, reportedly due to the presence of the map on Berkane's shirts. This led to another 3-0 walkover for Berkane.Meanwhile, Zamalek have expressed concerns over the choice of Tunisian VAR officials for the first leg, citing the Tunisian nationality of Berkane's coach, Mouin Chaabani. The Cairo club believes this violates CAF's principles of equality and impartiality.Despite the off-field distractions, both Berkane and Zamalek will be eager to focus on the sporting aspect of the final. Berkane have a formidable home record in the competition, while Zamalek have impressed in their away matches.The first leg of the final will be played at the Stade Municipal in Berkane on Sunday, May 15, with the return leg scheduled for May 19 in Cairo.

Arsenal's Premier League title hopes hang precariously as they approach the final stretch of the season. With just two matches remaining, the Gunners cling to a one-point lead over Manchester City, who have a crucial game in hand.Arsenal's fate could be determined this weekend when City visit Fulham. The London side has never beaten City in 21 previous encounters, casting doubt on Arsenal's chances of a slip-up from their rivals.Meanwhile, Arsenal face a daunting trip to Manchester United, who are desperate to secure European football next season. However, United's recent form has been dismal, and Arsenal will be confident of securing a victory.Another key battle this weekend is the race for European qualification. Newcastle and Chelsea are both in contention for a Europa League or UEFA Conference League spot. Newcastle, currently in sixth place, host Brighton and have won five of their last seven league games.Chelsea, under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, have also found form in recent weeks. They travel to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, knowing that a win will keep their European hopes alive.Forest, despite a four-point penalty for breaching financial rules, are on the brink of securing Premier League safety. They need only match Luton's result against West Ham to avoid the drop.

Olympiakos FC, the Greek football powerhouse, has etched its name in history by reaching the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Their remarkable journey culminated in a resounding 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in the second leg of the semi-final, securing a 6-2 aggregate triumph.The Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus erupted in a symphony of cheers as Ayoub El Kaabi, the tormentor-in-chief for Villa, struck twice to seal the deal. The Moroccan forward, who had already netted a hat-trick in the first leg, proved unstoppable once again.Olympiakos's triumph marks a watershed moment for Greek football. They become only the second Greek club to reach a major European final, following in the footsteps of Panathinaikos, who lost to Ajax in the 1971 European Cup final.The significance of this achievement is amplified by the fact that Olympiakos will face Italian giants Fiorentina in the final on May 29 at the AEK Arena, a mere 10 miles from their own stadium. The symbolism of this local derby adds an extra layer of excitement to the occasion.Jose Luis Mendilibar, who took charge of Olympiakos in February, has quickly become a legend at the club. The Spaniard, who was sacked by Sevilla in October, has masterminded a monumental achievement for Greek football.Owned by Evangelos Marinakis, who also runs Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest, Olympiakos had a dismal record in European competitions before this season, failing to progress beyond the group stage 14 times in 16 attempts.If Olympiakos can lift the first European trophy in their 99-year history, it would be a feat to rival Greece's shock Euro 2004 triumph. It would also be a fitting reward for their Under-19 team, who won the UEFA Youth League final against AC Milan in April.Villa's exit from the competition was a bitter blow to their hopes of reaching a first European final since 1982. Unai Emery's side must now refocus on their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League.

David Beckham, a legendary Manchester United player, has expressed his disappointment with the team's recent performances and urged the players to demonstrate their commitment to the club. Beckham, who was a key member of United's treble-winning team in 1999, believes that the players must take responsibility for their poor results."You'd hope that the manager doesn't have to do much," Beckham said. "I think that's the whole point of being a Manchester United player and playing in these big games - you should be motivated."United manager Erik ten Hag is facing immense pressure after the team's embarrassing 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday. The defeat left United languishing in eighth place in the Premier League, and Ten Hag's future at the club is in doubt.Beckham believes that the players must step up and prove their worth, especially in the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City. "When you're a professional footballer and you're doing the job you love and you're at the club you love, when you're playing in any game, whether it's a regular season game or whether it's an FA Cup final against your rivals, that should be enough motivation," he said."And, if it's not, then you're in the wrong team and you're playing the wrong sport. We went into every game, whether it was a youth cup game, a friendly game, off-season or a European Cup final, with the same mentality and the same drive."Beckham, who won six Premier League titles and one Champions League with United, admitted that he has been disappointed by the club's struggles since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. "Obviously it's been a tough five, 10, 15 years at United and we all know that but it was never going to be easy when the boss left, (Roy) Keane left, Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) left, Gary (Neville) left," he said."All of these important players and personalities and characters all left United, it was always going to be a difficult time. We want the lads to feel - from this documentary - the inspiration of being this successful."

Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten streak continued in dramatic fashion as they secured a 2-2 draw against Roma in the Europa League semifinals, advancing to the final with a 4-2 aggregate victory.Despite trailing 2-0 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate after two Leandro Paredes penalties, Leverkusen refused to give up. An own goal by Roma defender Gianluca Mancini in the 82nd minute gave them hope, and substitute Josip Stanišić's equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time sealed their place in the final.Leverkusen's unbeaten run now stands at 49 matches, an incredible feat for Xabi Alonso's team. They have already won the Bundesliga title and reached the German Cup final, making them contenders for a historic treble.Roma, who were without injured star Paulo Dybala, had taken the lead through Paredes' first penalty in the 45th minute. Paredes converted another spot-kick in the 66th minute, putting Roma on the verge of a comeback.However, Leverkusen's resilience shone through as they fought back to preserve their unbeaten record and reach the Europa League final for the first time since 1988. They will face another Italian team, Atalanta, who defeated Marseille 3-0 to advance 4-1 on aggregate.Atalanta's victory marked their first European final appearance, while Olympiakos also made history by becoming only the second Greek team to reach a major European competition final. They will face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Athens on May 29.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is excited about the team's offseason acquisitions, which include veteran wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. Levis believes these additions will significantly improve the offense and foster a competitive environment.Head coach Brian Callahan has emphasized a more pass-oriented approach, and Levis is eager to embrace this change. He has been working diligently with new quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree to master the new offensive scheme.Levis has already established a rapport with Ridley, who is expected to be a key target in the passing game. He is also looking forward to working with Boyd, who has a proven track record of success with Callahan in Cincinnati.The Titans' offense ranked near the bottom of the league last season, but Levis is confident that the new additions will help them improve. He believes that the competition for playing time will push everyone to perform at their best.Callahan has praised Levis's work ethic and dedication to learning the new offense. He believes that Levis has the potential to be a successful quarterback in the NFL.With the addition of Ridley, Boyd, and other offensive weapons, the Titans are hoping to make a significant leap forward in 2023. Levis is eager to lead the charge and prove that he can be a franchise quarterback.

Kylian Mbappe's illustrious seven-year tenure at Paris Saint-Germain is drawing to a close, with the French superstar set to depart the club at the end of the season. Mbappe's final home game for PSG will be against Toulouse on Sunday, a bittersweet occasion following the team's disappointing exit from the Champions League.Despite PSG's dominance in domestic competitions, winning 10 Ligue 1 titles in the past 12 seasons, European glory has eluded them. Mbappe's departure will mark the end of an era for the club, as he has been a key figure in their recent successes.Mbappe's decision to leave PSG was made known to the club in February, but the 25-year-old has remained tight-lipped about his future destination. Real Madrid is widely believed to be his next stop, but no official confirmation has been made.In the meantime, Mbappe and PSG will aim to finish the season on a high note. They have already secured the Ligue 1 title and will receive the trophy after Sunday's game against Toulouse. The French Cup final against Lyon on May 25 remains their last chance for silverware this season.Despite PSG's Champions League disappointment, Mbappe has had a stellar campaign, scoring 43 goals in all competitions. He is on track to finish as Ligue 1's top scorer for the sixth consecutive year, a testament to his exceptional talent.Mbappe's departure will leave a significant void in PSG's attack, but the club will hope to build a new era of success without their star player. The French Cup final will be an opportunity for Mbappe to bid farewell to the PSG faithful and leave a lasting legacy at the club.