Football

Mohun Bagan, the Kolkata giants, stand on the cusp of history as they prepare to face Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) final on Saturday. The Mariners have already secured the Durand Cup and the League Winners Shield this season, and a victory in the ISL would complete a historic treble.The match will be played at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium, which is expected to be packed with 62,000 partisan Mohun Bagan fans. The atmosphere is sure to be electric as the Mariners look to cap off their fairytale season with a memorable triumph.Mohun Bagan's journey to the final has been a remarkable one. After a disappointing start to the season, they appointed Antonio Habas as their head coach, and the Spaniard has transformed the team's fortunes. Under Habas, the Mariners have played with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, and they have been virtually unstoppable in recent months.Mumbai City FC, on the other hand, will be looking to spoil Mohun Bagan's party. The Islanders have been one of the most consistent teams in the ISL, and they will be confident of their chances of winning the title. Mumbai City FC have already defeated Mohun Bagan once this season, in the ISL semi-finals, and they will be hoping to repeat that performance in the final.The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair. Both teams have quality players in their ranks, and they will be desperate to win the ISL title. Mohun Bagan will be buoyed by the support of their home crowd, but Mumbai City FC will be determined to prove that they are the best team in the league.

Real Madrid, the current leaders of La Liga, have a chance to secure their 36th Spanish title this weekend. However, they need a helping hand from Girona, this season's surprise challengers.Madrid will host Cadiz on Saturday, and if they win, they will need Girona to take points off Barcelona, the defending champions, in the following match. If both conditions are met, Los Blancos will extend their record-breaking title count.Girona, in their fourth season in La Liga, have been a revelation this season. They were Madrid's main rivals for the top spot for much of the campaign, but their momentum stalled after a 4-0 defeat to Ancelotti's side in February.Despite the setback, Girona have regrouped and are now on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history. A victory over Barcelona in the Catalan derby would not only secure their place in the top four but also make club history.Even though the title could be within their grasp this weekend, Madrid's focus is divided as they prepare for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich. Los Blancos earned a creditable 2-2 draw in Munich and will host the German giants on Wednesday.Ancelotti is likely to rotate his squad, as he did in their narrow win over Real Sociedad last week. The likes of Luka Modric, Joselu, Nacho, and Lucas Vazquez have proven to be reliable options when called upon.Aurelien Tchouameni is set to miss the game with a knock, while Thibaut Courtois could make his first appearance of the season. Ancelotti has indicated that the Belgian goalkeeper is ready to return after two knee injuries kept him sidelined since pre-season.Jude Bellingham, Madrid's top scorer, may also be rested as he has struggled with various physical issues in the second half of the season. "He hasn't been at his best, but he'll be back very soon and by Wednesday he'll be at 100 percent," said Ancelotti.Cadiz travel to the Bernabeu with slim hopes of survival. The Andalucians are 18th, five points from safety behind Celta Vigo. "The situation is very tricky and I understand the tension... but there are five games to go," said Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma.

Marseille and Atalanta played to a thrilling 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, setting up an intriguing second leg in Bergamo next Thursday.Atalanta, who stunned Liverpool in the quarter-finals, took an early lead through Gianluca Scamacca, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire past Pau Lopez. However, Marseille responded swiftly, with Chancel Mbemba unleashing a stunning strike from outside the box to level the scores.The draw leaves the tie finely poised, with Atalanta holding a slight advantage as they seek to reach their first European final. The Italian side has been impressive in this season's competition, showcasing their attacking prowess and resilience.Marseille, on the other hand, have been formidable at home, with Paris Saint-Germain being the only visiting team to defeat them at the Velodrome in 90 minutes this season. However, their struggles on the road have been evident, making their semi-final appearance a commendable achievement.Despite the draw, Marseille coach Jean-Louis Gasset expressed some disappointment, believing his team had chances to secure a victory. "I am not completely satisfied because we had two or three chances to win the match 2-1," he said. "But it is only half-time in the tie, and we are going to go and give everything in Italy."Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was pleased with his team's performance, acknowledging Marseille's strength. "It is a very positive result for us because Marseille were strong," he said. "They have only lost once here all season, and we found out why that is tonight."The second leg in Bergamo promises to be a captivating affair, with both teams aiming to secure a place in the final in Dublin later this month. Atalanta will be favored, but Marseille will be determined to overcome their travel woes and make history.

Olympiakos stunned Aston Villa 4-2 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final, putting themselves in a commanding position ahead of the return fixture in Athens.Despite being in their first European semi-final in over four decades, Olympiakos showed no signs of nerves. Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a VAR-assisted offside check. The Moroccan striker doubled his tally just before the half-hour mark, exploiting Villa's defensive frailties.Villa, who were favorites to lift the trophy, managed to pull one back through Ollie Watkins in stoppage time. However, their hopes of a comeback were short-lived as El Kaabi completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 55th minute. Santiago Hezze's deflected strike further extended Olympiakos' lead.Villa's misery was compounded by Douglas Luiz's missed penalty in the 84th minute. The Brazilian's effort hit the post, leaving Unai Emery's side with a mountain to climb in the second leg.In the other semi-final, Fiorentina secured a narrow 3-2 victory over 10-man Club Brugge. Riccardo Sottil's early goal was canceled out by Hans Vanaken's penalty, but Andrea Belotti restored Fiorentina's lead before halftime.Raphael Onyedika's red card for two quickfire yellow cards gave Brugge an uphill battle. However, Igor Thiago equalized for the Belgians, only for M'Bala Nzola to snatch a late winner for Fiorentina.

Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday dealt a significant blow to the latter's Champions League aspirations. Trevoh Chalobah's first goal since March 2022 gave Chelsea the lead in the first half, while Nicolas Jackson sealed the win in the closing stages.Tottenham's third consecutive defeat leaves them seven points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa with four games remaining. The north Londoners are now considered outsiders to finish in the Premier League's top four.Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou expressed disappointment with his team's performance, citing a lack of belief and conviction. "We are not playing with the mindset we need," he said.Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed a second win over his former club this season. "The first half was fantastic," he said. "All credit to the players. They really showed the way we want to build this."Chelsea's victory keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for Europe, while Tottenham's defeat further damages their Champions League ambitions.

Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten streak continued with a resounding 2-0 victory over Roma in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals. The German club, fresh from their Bundesliga triumph, silenced the Stadio Olimpico crowd with a clinical performance that extended their unbeaten run to 47 matches across all competitions.Leverkusen's dominance was evident from the outset, as they soaked up Roma's early pressure and struck on the counterattack. A failed back pass from Rick Karsdorp allowed Alex Grimaldo to set up Florian Wirtz for the opening goal in the 13th minute.Roma threatened sporadically, but Leverkusen's defense held firm. In the 73rd minute, Robert Andrich sealed the victory with a long-range strike, capitalizing on a moment of hesitation from the Roma defense.The result marked a measure of revenge for Leverkusen, who had been eliminated by Roma at the same stage last season. It also extended their unbeaten streak to a record-breaking length among Europe's top five leagues."We take things game by game and we are not thinking about being unbeaten," said Leverkusen midfielder Amine Adli. "We are not thinking about making history or things like that — that's why we are playing like this and the team is strong. We just want to enjoy ourselves."In the other semifinal, Atalanta and Marseille played out a 1-1 draw in France. Gianluca Scamacca gave Atalanta the lead, but Chancel Mbemba equalized for Marseille.The second legs of both semifinals will be held next Thursday, with the final scheduled for May 22 in Dublin. Leverkusen will be confident of reaching the final, having maintained their unbeaten record throughout the season.

Byron Murphy II's journey to the NFL has been marked by unexpected twists and turns. Initially reluctant to switch from linebacker to defensive line in high school, Murphy's parents were initially skeptical. However, his decision proved to be a game-changer, culminating in his selection as the second defensive player in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.Murphy's versatility and athleticism caught the eye of Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who saw him as the perfect fit for his defensive scheme. Despite Seattle's initial doubts about Murphy's availability at the 16th pick, they were thrilled to secure his services.Murphy's arrival in Seattle marks the completion of a formidable defensive line that includes Leonard Williams, Dre'Mont Jones, and Jarran Reed. His immediate impact is expected, with Macdonald planning to rotate players along the line.Growing up in the Dallas area, Murphy was an avid Seahawks fan, drawn to the "Legion of Boom" era. He now has the opportunity to emulate his childhood heroes and contribute to the team's success.Murphy's journey is a testament to the importance of embracing change and pursuing one's dreams. His willingness to adapt and his unwavering determination have led him to the pinnacle of professional football.

Paris Saint-Germain's hopes of reaching the Champions League final remain alive despite a 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their semi-final tie. Coach Luis Enrique expressed optimism, stating that the game was evenly matched and that PSG has a strong chance of overturning the deficit in the second leg.PSG dominated possession and created more scoring opportunities, but their finishing let them down. Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi both hit the woodwork in the second half, highlighting their misfortune. Enrique acknowledged the difficulty of the semi-finals but emphasized that his team has the quality to advance."We had one chance where we hit both posts," Enrique said. "You have to say this is an exceptional stadium, but I am sure we will be very strong in Paris and we have nothing to lose."PSG's only other defeat this season came in the Coupe de France, and it is the first time they have failed to score under Enrique. However, they have a history of overcoming first-leg deficits in the Champions League, having knocked out Barcelona in the quarter-finals and Dortmund in the last 16 in previous seasons.Captain Marquinhos echoed Enrique's confidence, stating that PSG will need to convert their chances in the second leg. "We had lots of good chances, especially in the second half, clear chances that we can't afford to miss if we want to get to the final," he said.Meanwhile, Enrique expressed concern over the injury to defender Lucas Hernandez, who was forced off in the first half. "It doesn't look at all positive," he said.

Columbus Crew's historic run in the CONCACAF Champions Cup continued on Wednesday as they secured a spot in the final for the first time ever. After a 2-1 victory in the first leg at home, the Crew traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, and emerged with a stunning 3-1 triumph, sealing a 5-2 aggregate victory.Monterrey, seeking their sixth Champions Cup title, started brightly and took the lead through an own goal by Columbus defender Yevhen Cheberko. However, the Crew refused to be disheartened and equalized in dramatic fashion just before halftime. Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada's poor clearance was intercepted by Aidan Morris, who slotted home to level the scores.After the break, Columbus took control of the game. Diego Rossi fired them into the lead with a clinical finish, and the Crew held firm despite Monterrey's desperate attempts to equalize. Substitute Jacen Russell-Rowe put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute, securing a memorable victory for the MLS champions.Columbus's victory marks a significant milestone for the club and the MLS as a whole. They are now just one step away from becoming the fourth MLS team to be crowned champions of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The Crew will face Mexican club Pachuca in the final, with the winner earning a place at next year's expanded FIFA Club World Cup.