European soccer news: Man City close gap, Bayern stay alive

It’s not fairly spring but, however Europe’s high leagues have been heating up because the title races stay tight and the video games are getting that rather more intense.

Saturday noticed Arsenal precise revenge on Newcastle after shedding to them earlier within the season and Manchester United misplaced to Fulham, elevating recent questions on Erik ten Hag’s management. In different Premier League motion, Manchester City beat Bournemouth with a defense-first method, and U.S. males’s nationwide group defender Chris Richards scored his first Premier League objective in Crystal Palace’s win over Burnley.

In the remainder of Europe, Barcelona appeared like their former selves in a thrashing of Getafe whereas Bayern Munich nonetheless did not appear like their former selves in a win over RB Leipzig.

There’s a lot to get to speak about, so let’s get to it.

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SATURDAY REVIEW

The Saturday lead: Defensive-first win helps Man City slender hole with Liverpool

After solely two clear sheets in 14 Premier League video games, Manchester City have now gone two matches in a row with out conceding a objective, and their 1-0 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday introduced them again only a level behind Liverpool having performed the identical variety of video games now.

For Man City to win Premier League once more for the fourth time in a row, amid an exciting title race with Liverpool and Arsenal, it could come right down to defence. Goals will all the time come for City, however defences are what win trophies. So for supervisor Pep Guardiola, getting defensive solidity out of his males would be the key.

To that finish, the presence and health of John Stones has been necessary. This was solely his ninth begin of the season in league play, and he confirmed how indispensable he’s for this group, taking part in as a centre again and a central midfielder, like he did within the second half of final season on the way in which to the treble.

On the opposite finish, Phil Foden scored the one objective of the sport and can rightly get many of the plaudits. The 23-year-old was excellent once more in a central place for City, within the absence of Kevin De Bruyne who was left on the bench by Guardiola. Whether KDB is just not absolutely match or Foden merely retains him out of the group would not matter a lot — the very fact is that Foden is clearly taking one other dimension this season.

Saturday’s objective was Foden’s sixteenth of the season in all competitions (9 within the Premier League), already equalling his finest scoring tally season from 2020-2021, and we’re solely in February. Unless one thing dramatic occurs, he’ll smash his report. Foden additionally has 10 assists in all competitions to date on this marketing campaign, only one in need of his season better of 11 from 2021-2022.

When Stones is out there and at his finest, when Foden is in this type of type — like we noticed on Saturday — then the present champions are even tougher to play in opposition to. And they maintain the keys to their success, as a lot as anybody else, like Erling Haaland, Éderson or De Bruyne. — Julien Laurens

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Why Man City have struggled just lately

Steve Nicol and Craig Burley react to Manchester City’s slender win over Bournemouth.

Saturday speaking factors round Europe’s leagues

Last-gasp Kane winner over Leipzig retains Bayern title hopes alive

Four days after the announcement that supervisor Thomas Tuchel will depart Bayern Munich on the finish of this season, the report German champions discovered themselves with their backs in opposition to the wall. Bayer Leverkusen edged previous Mainz on Friday, that means Bayern trailed the league leaders by 11 factors on the desk going into their conflict with RB Leipzig.

Bayern Munich discovered the much-needed 2-1 win on Saturday over Leipzig, which closes the hole between them and first-placed Leverkusen to eight factors.

Tuchel’s facet took the lead after Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager did not clear the ball in opposition to Jamal Musiala and as a substitute the ball was directed in direction of Harry Kane, who opened the scoring. Leipzig, nevertheless, began to be extra proactive and levelled within the seventieth minute because of skipper Willi Orbán making an look within the last third and aiding Dani Olmo and Benjamin Šeško. The Slovenian striker’s shot would in all probability haven’t examined Manuel Neuer, however Leon Goretzka deflected the try previous his goalkeeper.

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Harry Kane scores two as Bayern Munich see off RB Leipzig

Harry Kane scores certainly one of his two targets within the 91st minute as Bayern Munich seize a 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig.

Once once more, following a fantastic help by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, it was the prolific Kane who fired into the again of the online within the first minute of added time.

Even although Bayern have been dealing with the fifth-placed group, the sport proved one-way visitors for lengthy durations as Leipzig sat deep inside their very own half, defending with admirable self-discipline. The guests have been apparently striving to take the air out of Munich’s Allianz Arena — and have been fairly profitable in doing so.

After halftime, Tuchel took out a metallic tools field and positioned it in entrance of his dugout to take a seat nearer to the motion. The 50-year-old coach had determined to make use of Joshua Kimmich at right-back due to ongoing harm woes which have considerably weakened Bayern’s choices. While Kimmich dislikes taking part in on the correct facet as a substitute of central midfield, Tuchel is not afraid to harm anybody’s emotions, as he indicated throughout his first press convention following the revelation of his departure.

Although they appear far off the tempo for the time being, Bayern do stay in competition for the title and so they might handle a comeback just like final season — it is simply that they hardly ever safe victories as convincingly as they used to. — Constantin Eckner

Barça lastly look the a part of LaLiga contenders — however is it too late?

Barcelona cruised previous Getafe on the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, profitable 4-0 to maneuver inside 5 factors of LaLiga leaders Real Madrid and maintain their faint title hopes alive. Raphinha opened the scoring earlier than the break, with João Félix, Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López all on track within the second half as Barça delivered their finest efficiency of 2024.

Barça have been far too good for a cussed Getafe facet, who’ve induced them issues in recent times, together with within the first week of the season when the assembly between the 2 groups ended goalless. Raphinha was despatched off in that match, however he gained some revenge right here, ending brilliantly to open the scoring after latching on to Jules Koundé‘s lengthy ball.

Xavi Hernández’s facet continued to seek out pleasure with lengthy passes, discovering Raphinha repeatedly in behind Getafe’s excessive line. The Brazilian blazed one probability over the bar and undercooked a cross for Felix on one other event. Those misses might have made for a nervy second half, however Barça have been far more medical after the break.

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Barcelona maintain strain on Real Madrid with 4-0 win vs. Getafe

Barcelona ease previous Getafe to close the hole to Real Madrid on the high of LaLiga.

Felix struck the second from a fantastic cross from Andreas Christensen, as soon as once more taking part in in midfield, and De Jong added the third. Substitute López accomplished the scoring after Vitor Roque‘s shot was saved.

It was a show that might foster a lot wanted confidence for the remainder of the season. Barça are nonetheless alive within the Champions League after drawing 1-1 at Napoli within the first leg of their round-of-16 tie in midweek, whereas in LaLiga, having performed a recreation extra, they’re now second, forward of Girona and simply 5 behind Madrid, who play Sevilla on Sunday.

“We still have time,” Xavi mentioned when requested if this efficiency arrived too late to resuscitate Barça’s up-and-down marketing campaign. “The Champions League is open. We are in the fight for LaLiga. We have time — not in the [Spanish] Supercopa or the Copa del Rey — but in the other competitions.

“I’ve mentioned we can’t throw within the towel. That’s 13 factors from 15 in LaLiga now, we’re in good type. Until it is mathematically unattainable, we’ll maintain attempting to place strain on Girona and Madrid. To try this, we have now to do our job, which is to win like we have now completed at the moment. We wanted an enormous efficiency like this.” — Sam Marsden

Americans Abroad: Richards’ scores first Premier League goal; Reyna watch continues

An American scored has scored his first goal in the Premier League — sound the USMNT klaxon!

Chris Richards, the 23-year-old centerback from Alabama, nodded the ball into the back of the net for Crystal Palace, scoring what will technically go down as the game-winner against Burnley.

It was a 3-0 rout for Palace after Burnley suffered an early red card before the goals started. Burnley’s Josh Brownhill saw straight red in the 35th minute for a takedown on an obvious goal-scoring opportunity off a poor back-pass in front of goal, before Richards found a breakthrough in the 68th minute.

AMERICAN CHRIS RICHARDS COMES UP BIG FOR CRYSTAL PALACE. 🇺🇸

The Alabama native heads home at the back post to give the Eagles a crucial lead! pic.twitter.com/lWaMQW8mY1

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 24, 2024

This goal comes at a pretty great time for Richards — it was the first match for new manager Oliver Glasner, and Richards’ goal undoubtedly made a strong first impression. Richards has yet to establish himself as a lock for the national team — he featured in just six of the USMNT’s 18 matches in 2023, but is widely seen as an important prospect for the future.

Richards wasn’t the only USMNT player who had a good Saturday:

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Jordan Pefok finds the back of the net for Borussia Monchengladbach

Jordan Pefok finds the back of the net for Borussia Monchengladbach

Meanwhile, “Gio Reyna watch” continues — as in, let’s watch and see if he actually plays for new his club, Nottingham Forest. He did play on Saturday, but only as an 81st-minute substitute who didn’t impact the game at all.

Reyna will have another chance to make his first Forest start in the FA Cup on Wednesday when Forest host Manchester United (stream it live on ESPN+, U.S. only). — Caitlin Murray

News of the day

And lastly …

Queens Park Rangers confirmed late on Saturday that membership icon and former England worldwide Stan Bowles has handed away, aged 75.

Known as “Stan the Man,” Bowles grew to become a cult determine within the Nineteen Seventies for his maverick tendencies each on and off the pitch. A Manchester City graduate, Bowles joined QPR in 1972 and went on to make 315 league appearances for the membership, scoring 97 targets, and narrowly lacking out on profitable the previous First Division in 1975-76, ending runners-up to Liverpool.

Once implored by then QPR supervisor Tommy Docherty to “Trust me, Stan!” Bowles famously quipped: “I’d rather trust my chickens with Colonel Sanders.”

Always an individualist, Bowles as soon as signed sponsorship offers with two totally different boot corporations for a similar match and proceeded to put on certainly one of every.

Capped 5 instances by England, Bowles’ well being deteriorated in his later years after being identified Alzheimer’s illness in 2015. QPR have mentioned they’re planning a “fitting tribute” to “a darling of the Loftus Road terraces [and] undoubtedly one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on the famous blue and white hoops.” — Mike Wise

Stan Bowles.

Gone however by no means, ever to be forgotten.

The final Loft legend 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/knhPJI6K1A

— QPR FC (@QPR) February 24, 2024