Weekend Review: Borussia Dortmund dazzle, Odegaard MVP

There was no LaLiga motion this weekend because of Saturday’s Copa del Rey remaining, however the European weekend delivered a lot to speak about throughout the most important leagues, with Manchester City staying on track for the Premier League title regardless of Martin Odegaard’s huge sport for Arsenal. Elsewhere, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund each received to maintain the Bundesliga race alive for an additional week.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

ESPN correspondents Rob Dawson, Julien Laurens, Sam Marsden, James Olley and James Tyler break down probably the most attention-grabbing and essential stuff you might want to know in regards to the weekend.

Talking factors

Dortmund, Bellingham get it accomplished in fashion

Tyler: Regardless of the place the Bundesliga title finally ends up this season, credit score to Borussia Dortmund for regaining some momentum and conserving it tight on the high with simply three rounds of matches remaining. Sunday’s 6-0 shellacking of Wolfsburg means BVB are one level behind league leaders Bayern Munich and closed the hole (barely) on aim distinction because of a fluid, potent show of their attacking prowess towards an opponent with little or no to play for.

– Watch replay: Dortmund 6-0 Wolfsburg (ESPN+, U.S. solely)

Jude Bellingham (two targets), Karim Adeyemi (aim, two assists), Sebastien Haller (aim, help) and Julian Brandt (three assists) placed on a present at a jam-packed Signal Iduna Park in what’s going to doubtless be certainly one of Bellingham’s remaining residence video games in black and yellow. Wolfsburg merely had no response for Dortmund’s proactive, relentless extensive play. Adeyemi nodded residence a Brandt cross after 14 minutes, then turned supplier with a surge down the left and low cross for a straightforward Haller end. Donyell Malen had a equally straightforward conversion from Brandt’s low cross to make it 3-0 earlier than half-time, and it simply continued from there.

Bellingham had arguably one of the best aim of all, thumping a long-range shot that Koen Casteels palmed up onto the bar, the ricochet spinning over the road in hilarious style to make it 4-0. Adeyemi and Bellingham added the ending touches for what was a surprisingly comfy afternoon over a Wolfsburg facet that had conceded the fourth-fewest targets within the Bundesliga previous to this weekend.

In phrases of the title, Bayern have a one-point edge however a a lot more durable run-in, with their sport towards RB Leipzig on May 20 a possible lure. Dortmund have regained some type of late, successful three and drawing two of their previous 5, however they will must be good from right here on out and hope Bayern have yet another wobble left in them to interrupt the Bavarians’ exceptional run of 10 straight league titles.

Gundogan’s miss sours a great day for Man City

Dawson: Ilkay Gundogan’s double received the sport for Manchester City towards Leeds United on Saturday, however the veteran midfielder will nonetheless have walked off the pitch on the Etihad with some offended phrases from Pep Guardiola ringing in his ears.

Guardiola was irritated that Gundogan — slightly than Erling Haaland or Riyad Mahrez — had taken and missed a penalty that will have put City 3-0 in entrance earlier than Leeds went down the opposite finish and scored to make for a nervous finale. Fortunately for Gundogan, the City supervisor had calmed down by the point he walked into the media room for his postmatch information convention and slightly than berate the 32-year-old, he spoke solely of his admiration.

Gundogan is out of contract in the summertime and is but to resolve the place he needs to play subsequent season. Barcelona have an interest, however requested whether or not he would need to hold Gundogan at City, Guardiola replied: “The club knows my opinion on that.”

City imagine Gundogan has earned the fitting to resolve his personal future, however plans to revamp the midfield have been difficult by Real Madrid’s aggressive pursuit of Bellingham. If Bellingham chooses the Bernabeu — and, crucially, if Real Madrid can agree a charge with Borussia Dortmund — then Guardiola might have Gundogan to remain somewhat longer.

Captains cleared the path in Ligue 1

Laurens: It has been an unforgettable weekend in French soccer, particularly if you’re a membership captain.

On Saturday, Seko Fofana, the Paris-born chief of Lens, opened the scoring with a marvel strike within the big conflict towards Marseille on the Stade Bollaert. It was third vs. second in Ligue 1 and the house facet’s victory put them (and Fofana) within the driving seat for direct qualification into the Champions League subsequent season. Lens are actually two factors away from Marseille with a barely higher aim distinction (+31 towards +28). With 4 video games remaining, they’re dreaming of a return to one of the best membership competitors on the planet.

Lyon and their captain Alexandre Lacazette can not end within the high three this season, however they’re nonetheless combating to complete within the high 5. For that, they needed to beat Montpellier at residence on Sunday and so they did it in probably the most dramatic manner. After being 4-1 down after 55 minutes because of a exceptional 4 targets from Elye Wahi for the guests, Lyon got here again to win 5-4 because of a quadruple from Laca, together with a penalty within the a centesimal minute. The Groupama stadium exploded and the victory brings Lyon degree on factors with Rennes in sixth, and simply three factors behind Lille in fifth.

With two quadruples in the identical sport, a loopy state of affairs and a captain on fireplace for the house facet, this Lyon-Montpellier match will go down in Ligue 1 historical past.

Mexico’s Gimenez on kind for Feyenoord, Celtic clinch the Scottish title

Marsden: Mexico worldwide Santiago Gimenez struck twice this weekend to maneuver Dutch facet Feyenoord inside touching distance of their first Eredivisie title since 2017. Gimenez’s brace — which took his tally in his debut season in Europe to 22 in all competitions — sealed a 2-0 win within the Rotterdam Derby towards Excelsior, leaving Feyenoord eight factors away from PSV Eindhoven with simply three video games to go.

Arne Slot’s facet have accomplished remarkably nicely in current weeks to carry off the specter of PSV, who’ve strung collectively a 13-game unbeaten streak that now appears in useless. Feyenoord have accomplished so by dropping simply as soon as in 31 league video games all season and by taking part in some enticing soccer. As is usually the case, although, their success might see Slot and Gimenez targetted by greater European golf equipment in the summertime.

Elsewhere exterior of Europe’s Big Five leagues, Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic wrapped up the Scottish Premiership on Sunday with 4 video games to spare by beating Hearts 2-0. Kyogo Furuhashi and Oh Hyun-Gyu bought the targets because the Hoops made it 11 league titles in 12 years to reassert their dominance over Rangers, whose 2021 triumph beneath Steven Gerrard now feels a very long time in the past.

Goals

Kane on music for Spurs

Dawson: Guardiola as soon as referred to Tottenham Hotspur as “the Harry Kane team” and now greater than ever, you’ll be able to see why. The England striker seems to be the one factor between Spurs and outright collapse and it was becoming that it was his aim that received the sport towards Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Tottenham are nonetheless by some means nonetheless within the combine to qualify for Europe subsequent season, however they might be nowhere close to it with out Kane’s 26 Premier League targets. Either manner, his season could be getting way more consideration if it wasn’t for Haaland’s record-breaking marketing campaign.

Kane’s aim towards Palace — a medical back-post header — noticed him surpass Wayne Rooney because the Premier League’s second all-time aim scorer behind Alan Shearer and additional cement his place as an excellent of English soccer.

It’s what he does! 🤩

🎬 @MonsterEnergy pic.twitter.com/5iFOjRMxwr

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 7, 2023

Theo’s masterclass on level for AC Milan

Laurens: It isn’t like if Lazio did not know what may very well be coming once they confronted Milan’s Theo Hernandez this weekend. Whoever analyses the sport of the France worldwide would see that if there may be one factor he loves and is excellent at, it is operating ahead at tempo with the ball earlier than taking a shot; he scored a aim like that towards Atalanta on the finish of final season, operating the size of the pitch with the ball earlier than hitting it low within the backside nook throughout aim.

And, on Saturday, he did it once more as Lazio let him run 80 yards earlier than smashing the ball within the high nook this time. It was a wonderful aim and exhibits simply what he’s able to.

In what was an enormous sport within the race for the highest 4 in Serie A, Theo delivered. Last season’s champions are nonetheless fifth within the desk, however have closed the hole with Lazio in third to a few factors. As nicely as being among the finest targets of the season in Italy, this Theo strike might nicely go down as probably the most essential.

THEO HERNÁNDEZ RAN THE LENGTH OF THE PITCH AND HAD A FINISH TO MATCH. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kgpy5Av0VQ

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 6, 2023

A peach for Werder Bremen in defeat

Tyler: Bayern Munich held on for a 2-1 win at Bremen to stay absolutely engaged within the Bundesliga title chase with Borussia Dortmund, however how about this stunning long-range strike by Nicklas Schmidt?

UNBELIEVABLE GOAL FROM WERDER BREMEN TO PULL ONE BACK AGAINST BAYERN! 😮 pic.twitter.com/FIErTbiwJ3

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 6, 2023

That’s the sort of aim you inform your grandchildren about as Schmidt collected the ball from Milos Veljkovic and swung his leg by way of it from absolutely 30 yards, leaving Bayern keeper Yann Sommer pawing at skinny air. At Weekend Review, we prefer to rejoice cool targets in addition to consequential ones.

Teams in bother

Leeds United

Olley: “Big Sam” Allardyce might contemplate himself Pep Guardiola’s equal in relation to teaching, however he could not keep away from defeat to Manchester City in his first match as Leeds supervisor on Saturday.

Halting the City juggernaut was at all times going to be a tall order, with Guardiola’s facet successful their tenth Premier League sport in a row to maneuver 4 factors clear on the high. Allardyce solely had three coaching periods to work along with his new gamers, however took a daring name in dropping goalkeeper Illan Meslier for Joel Robles and there have been at the very least some positives the 68-year-old might take from the second half when Rodrigo’s Eighty fifth-minute aim left City taking part in out time to finish a 2-1 win.

“When you see Manchester City running down the clock for four minutes at the end, you know you have given yourself a chance,” he mentioned afterwards, although time actually is towards Leeds now. They hover above the relegation locations on aim distinction having performed a sport greater than the three groups beneath them, all of whom are in motion on Monday.

Leeds face high-flying Newcastle at residence, West Ham away after which Tottenham at Elland Road on the ultimate day of the season. At least one win will doubtless be required for Big Sam to tug off one other certainly one of his trademark escapes.

Spare a thought for Malaga

Marsden: The Copa del Rey remaining — that noticed Real Madrid beat Osasuna 2-1 on Saturday to win the competitors for the primary time since 2014 — introduced larger give attention to Spain’s second division this weekend, with no LaLiga fixtures happening. Malaga is not going to have been grateful for the eye.

It has solely been 10 years since Malaga got here agonisingly near a Champions League semifinal, dropping to eventual runners-up Borussia Dortmund in dramatic circumstances, however this weekend their relegation to the third tier of Spanish soccer was all however confirmed with a 2-0 defeat at Ponferradina, who’re additionally heading down. A current flurry of 4 wins in 5 video games had impressed perception that the good escape was potential, however a goalless draw at residence to Huesca on Monday and Sunday’s loss to Ponferradina has left them eight factors adrift of security with simply three matches to be performed.

A sobering thought: simply 5 years have handed since Malaga had been taking part in Madrid and Barcelona; subsequent yr, their first group will doubtless be on the similar degree as these giants’ reserve groups as an alternative.

Weekend MVP

Odegaard comes up huge for Arsenal

Olley: Martin Odegaard stored Arsenal within the hunt for the Premier League title with a man-of-the-match show in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Newcastle. The Gunners wanted guile and graft in equal measure at a raucous St James’ Park, the place the house facet had solely misplaced one sport all season, and the 24-year-old embodied each qualities with an all-action show.

Odegaard’s 14th-minute opener would swing the sport decisively within the guests’ favour, arrowing a shot into the underside left-hand nook of Nick Pope’s aim from 20 yards. It was a pivotal second, quietening the house crowd and giving Arsenal a foothold within the match. Odegaard additionally scored twice within the midweek win over Chelsea and backed that up with one other influential show right here; he has now bought on the scoresheet 15 occasions within the Premier League this season with 9 non-penalty targets away from residence, the latter being the best tally for an Arsenal participant in six years.

Arsenal reduce City’s lead on the high to at least one level — having performed a sport extra — and Odegaard is doing his greatest to assist guarantee Pep Guardiola’s facet should hold successful proper to the wire.