By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 20, 2019) US Soccer Players – This is the time of year for crowning champions. In Europe, domestic cup tournaments typically close out the long club season. The continent’s biggest trophies, the UEFA Champions League and Europa League provide an appropriate end to the season. For the first time in history, both finals will feature only English clubs. The . . .
Europe’s elite and the Champions League
The soccer news starts with Bayern Munich winning the 2018-19 Bundesliga title. It's not lost on anybody that this is the season for defending champions retaining their status, with Bayern joining Manchester City, Juventus, PSG, and Barcelona in successful defenses. It's an interesting situation for Europe, where none of those teams are playing for the Champions League title later this month. All . . .
Manchester City and UEFA’s Champions League
Wednesday's soccer news starts with the latest issue for UEFA and its Champions League. The NY Times has spent two days reporting on Manchester City's financial compliance issues, with the potential for UEFA to ban the Premier League champions from the Champions League. This comes at a time when the format of the Champions League itself is in question, with Europe's super clubs pushing for what . . .
The Premier League’s expected result
Monday's soccer news starts with Manchester City doing as expected and winning yet another Premier League game to take the title. City put together a 14-game winning streak to make Liverpool's unlikely title challenge impossible. Losing three out of seven games in December was the only time City looked vulnerable. A final day slip at Brighton never seemed like the end to their 2018-19 Premier . . .
The importance of the second-leg
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (May 10, 2019) US Soccer Players - On Tuesday, Liverpool executed a comeback for the ages against Lionel Messi and Barcelona. Anfield pulsated from the opening whistle to the moment Divock Origi side-footed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s smart quick corner in the net, then erupted in celebration at full time. On Wednesday, Tottenham Hotspur fell behind by two goals . . .
The Premier League moves on
It's been quite the week for Premier League clubs in European competitions. English clubs now have both finalist spots in the Champions League and Europa League, something few if anybody predicted at the start of the season. That was bad news for Timmy Chandler's Eintracht, exiting on penalties to Chelsea in the Europa League semifinals. With Chandler on the bench at Stamford Bridge and the . . .
Spurs’ unlikely comeback
Another day, another Champions League final comeback. This time it was Spurs falling behind 3-0 on aggregate at Ajax only to finish 3-3 and advance on the away goals tiebreaker. Spurs will play Liverpool at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 1 in an all-Premier League final. Leading 1-0 from the opening leg, Matthijs de Light made it 2-0 Spurs in the 5th with Hakim Ziyech scoring in . . .
Liverpool’s unlikely upset
The soccer news starts with Liverpool coming back from 3-0 down to knock Barcelona out of the Champions League 4-3 on aggregate. All it took was a four-goal second-leg along with an unlikely shutout that required stopping Lionel Messi. Two goals each from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum opens up the tournament at the semifinal stage. "How can you be sure before a game?," Liverpool manager . . .
Another season of change for the Champions League
The soccer news starts with more rumors of changes to the Champions League. The European domestic leagues are trying to make sure that the path to Europe's top tournament continues to run through them. The club lobby may have other plans. As always, any tweaks to Europe's top tournament are about making sure the top teams stay involved. With the ever present threat of a breakaway, the elite clubs . . .
Sunderland’s position in League One
The soccer news starts with Lynden Gooch's Sunderland losing 2-1 at Fleetwood Town in League One. Lee Cattermole put Sunderland up in the 29th minute. Fleetwood Town equalized in the 73rd and scored their winner five minutes into stoppage time. With a game left in the season, Sunderland is in 4th-place tied on points with 5th-place Charlton Athletic at 85 and two points behind 3rd-place . . .
