HAALAND DOMINATES SPOTLIGHT WHILE MANCHESTER CITY GRIND OUT RESILIENT VICTORY
Erling Haaland extends his scoring streak to 12 games, netting his 53rd UCL goal as Manchester City secure a comfortable 2-0 away win at Villarreal. Bernardo Silva adds a second in a solid Champions League performance.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City increased his incredible scoring run to 12 games in a row as his team easily defeated Villarreal 2-0.
Before halftime, captain Bernardo Silva followed up the Norwegian's early effort with a strong header, putting him on target at the Estadio De La Ceramica as well.
A second league-phase victory did not appear to be in doubt, despite City's lack of fluency and some unpleasant moments from their Spanish hosts, especially in the second half.
With his goal in the 16th minute, Haaland extended his goal-scoring streak to 12 games and scored his 24th goal in 14 club and national team appearances this season.
At the young age of 25, it was also his 53rd Champions League goal, moving him up to 10th place all-time.
Although the Spain international was still the centre of attention when City visited his first professional club, his prolific play is undoubtedly hiding the absence of injured midfield linchpin Rodri.
The 29-year-old, who was returning to his old haunt for the first time since winning the Ballon d'Or the previous year, was given a presentation before the match.
Even though the home crowd was not able to watch him play, he received a warm welcome as he bounces back from his most recent loss.
City, which had lost all five of its previous road games in the competition, did not miss him this time.
They got off to a good start, and it looked like the sequence would conclude.
Haaland's header went wide, while Jeremy Doku's poor effort at keeper Luiz Junior could have opened the score within the first minute.
After Georges Mikautadze was taken down after a challenge by Matheus Nunes, Villarreal requested a penalty, but nothing was awarded, and City took a well-earned lead sixteen minutes later.
Rico Lewis swivelled smartly in the area after Savinho's wonderful ball to set up Haaland for a straightforward tap-in.
Villarreal responded well, and Pape Gueye had a strong long-range left-footed attempt that went just wide.
Five minutes before halftime, Silva headed home a forceful header at the near post after Savinho whipped in a cross to increase City's lead.
After the interval, Savinho had a chance after a strong run into the area, but Luiz stopped his attempt.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was not put to the test during Villarreal's next promising spell until Gueye summoned him to action in the 70th minute with a thundering drive from just inside the area. Soon, the Senegalese headed wide.
In short succession, Haaland forced two stops from Luiz, nearly matching his total for the evening twice.
When Nicolas Pépé headed against the post in the final minute, it nearly set up a nerve-wracking conclusion, but City won.
MARTIN ODEGAARD AND KAI HAVERTZ MISS FINAL TRAINING; CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HOPES FADING
Arsenal's Champions League hopes are in doubt as Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz miss final training ahead of the Atletico tie.
Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz didn’t show up for Arsenal’s open training on Monday, just a day before the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. Both missed Saturday’s comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham because of injuries: Odegaard with his knee and Havertz with a muscular problem.
Odegaard hurt his knee in last week’s draw with Atletico, while Havertz hasn’t played since picking up an issue against Newcastle. After beating Fulham, Mikel Arteta sounded confident they’d be ready for Atletico, but on Monday neither player was seen with the first team. That’s a big hint they won’t be involved at the Emirates.
Arteta is set to speak to the media soon, though don’t expect him to spill much; he’s known for keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes to team news.
There were a couple more missing faces at London Colney. Jurrien Timber (groin) and Mikel Merino (foot) were also absent. Timber hasn’t featured since before the international break, and it’s unclear when he’ll return, but Arsenal hope it’s before the end of the season. Merino’s been out nearly three months since foot surgery. He might not play again this month.
On the upside, Bukayo Saka was back in training after getting subbed at halftime against Fulham, where he started his first Premier League game since mid-March.
Now, Arsenal really have a headache. Odegaard, who scored 15 goals last season, just hasn’t looked the same. Staff are increasingly worried about him; he’s missed 25 games in all competitions this year, thanks to a pileup of injuries: two freak shoulder issues, two muscular injuries, and the recurring knee problem. When he’s fit, Odegaard can still make magic happen; just look at his four assists across six games in January, but right now, his body keeps letting him down.
Havertz’s story isn’t much brighter. He’s managed only 20 appearances this season, mostly because of a serious knee injury in the summer and more muscle problems afterward. He’s Arsenal’s top earner at £280,000 a week, while Odegaard sits fourth at £240,000. Having two high-paid players sidelined so often is not ideal, and Arsenal need answers.
To try to sort out this ongoing injury crisis, Arteta has reportedly brought in a trusted expert from the medical field to lead an investigation. Arsenal hope this move finally sheds some light on their troubled injury record.
DECLAN RICE ACCUSES REFEREE OF CRUMBLING UNDER PRESSURE IN MADRID PENALTY DRAMA
Arsenal head to the Emirates with a 1-1 draw, but Declan Rice is fuming over the officiating standards in the Champions League.
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Declan Rice didn’t hold back after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw in Madrid, backing Mikel Arteta’s outrage and insisting the team deserved a “clear” penalty. He even went so far as to say that Atlético Madrid’s fans pushed the referee, Danny Makkelie, into changing his mind.
Arteta was livid. Late in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal, Makkelie first pointed to the spot for Arsenal after Eberechi Eze went down. But surrounded by Diego Simeone’s wild sideline antics and the roar of 70,000 Atleti supporters, Makkelie stared at the replay 13 times, then flipped his call and waved play on.
Looking back on it, Rice couldn’t believe it. “It’s a clear penalty,” he said. “I don't know how that's not been given. I think the fans got to him and changed his mind. UEFA is just a different world. In both boxes, you have to be so careful because referees call everything.”
Arsenal ran into trouble with VAR twice. First, the ref ruled Ben White handled a Llorente volley, and Julián Álvarez buried the resulting penalty, cancelling out Viktor Gyökeres’ earlier spot-kick. Rice felt for White. Talking with Stan Sport, he said, “If that happens in the Premier League, it doesn’t get given. The ball’s hardly off the ground, and it’s not even on target. But in the Champions League, the refs make these snap calls and whistle for everything. It’s just more strict. But whatever, we move on. We want to beat them next week.”
Despite the drama, Arsenal is still in a solid spot. They’ll head back to London, hoping the home crowd can push them into their first Champions League final since 2006. Bukayo Saka, freshly back from an Achilles injury, is counting on it. “We’d have liked to win, but we’ll take the draw. It’s halftime, and we’re full of confidence going back to the Emirates,” he said. “I’m sure the atmosphere will be even bigger, and that will give us a real boost.”
Before that return leg, Arsenal face Fulham at home on Saturday. They could put more heat on Manchester City by stretching their Premier League lead, though City still has games in hand and plays Everton next. The race is on.
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