Atlético threatens Real, Roma on the podium, Arsenal held back

In France, Marseille again lost points in the race for the Champions League in Lorient (0-0), like Monaco in Nantes (2-2). In Spain, Atlético Madrid won the derby against Rayo Vallecano (2-1). In Italy, Lazio Rome consolidated its 2nd place in Serie A by beating Juventus (2-1), ahead of AS Roma, which climbed on the podium. In England, Liverpool managed to snatch a draw (2-2) against Arsenal, hampered in their quest for a first title in 20 years.

Marseille in slow motion, Monaco slowed down and Lyon resumes its journey

Marseille again lost points in the race for the Champions League, Sunday April 9, in Lorient (0-0), like Monaco in Nantes (2-2) during a 30^e day of Ligue 1 marked by the victory of Lyon in front of Rennes (3-1), which maintains the hopes of the OL.

At the end of the weekend, only two top 5 teams can smile : Paris SG, still the leader with a 6-point lead after their victory on Saturday in Nice (2-0), and RC Lens, now only second in the standings after their success on Friday against Strasbourg (2-1).

The capital club and its runner-up will face off next Saturday at the Parc des Princes for the match at the top of the 31^e daytime.

For the other candidates for the Champions League, the rhythm is difficult to keep up. OM are the first to suffer, with this second draw in a row which makes them fall two lengths behind the Sang et Or.

In Brittany, the Marseillais did not find the fault during a meeting without revolt. They could even have given in, especially on an attempt by their former striker Bamba Dieng, repelled by Pau Lopez (63^e).

Pablo Longoria’s club therefore remains on the bottom step of the podium, even if it retains its three-point lead over Monaco, which did not keep up the pace at La Beaujoire despite a two-goal lead at half-time. .

On the heels of their qualification for the final of the Coupe de France, Wednesday against Lyon (1-0), the Canaries and their public regained the upper hand in the second half, and the inevitable Ludovic Blas ended up equalizing in the 78^e minute to give FC Nantes five points ahead of the red zone.

Desperate for elimination in the semi-finals of the Cup, Lyon can rub their hands in front of these results, after having signed a second success in a row in Ligue 1. After PSG (1-0), OL dominated the Stade Rennes after a stunning second period, and advanced at the end of the weekend to 7^e rank, with chances still intact of snagging the 5^e place, synonymous with qualification for the Europa League Conference.

Atlético outclass Rayo and threaten Real

Atlético Madrid won the derby against Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Sunday night in the 28^e day of La Liga and approach two points behind Real Madrid, second with 59 points but defeated 3-2 by Villarreal on Saturday evening.

The Colchoneros materialized their first two chances of the game : Nahuel Molina opened the scoring in the 22^e minute, then went straight to his bench to brandish an Angel Correa jersey, absent due to the recent death of his mother, three minutes before Mario Hermoso doubled the lead with a header from a corner (25^e).

Atlético saw their end of the match facilitated by the exclusion on a direct red card (after video viewing) of French central defender Florian Lejeune for a foul in the position of last defender on Alvaro Morata shortly after the hour mark (64^e). That didn’t stop the Spain international from incomprehensibly missing the 3-0 goal in the 69^e minute, alone against the goalkeeper.

In the final, Fran Garcia nevertheless reduced the gap to 85^e minute of a ball catapulted from the left into Jan Oblak’s net from 25 meters.

With this victory, Antoine Griezmann’s teammates confirm their excellent pass : the Rojiblancos have not lost in La Liga since January 8 against FC Barcelona (1-0), a total of nine wins and three draws in three months. Eliminated from all other competitions, they now pursue the objective of worrying Real, clinging to its second place since the World Cup.

FC Barcelona, ​​in the lead with twelve points ahead of Real, receives Girona on Monday (21 h) at Camp Nou with the opportunity to widen the gap to fifteen points.

Thanks to De Ligt, Bayern win and retain the lead in the Bundesliga

Thanks to a superb strike from central defender Matthijs De Ligt, Bayern Munich won on Saturday afternoon on the lawn of Freiburg 1-0 and maintained their two-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

Four days after their elimination in the quarter-finals of the German Cup by Freiburg (2-1), Thomas Tuchel’s men took their revenge in the league and now have 58 points, two more than Borussia Dortmund at seven matches of the end.

Because at the same time, Edin Terzic’s men managed to reverse their negative trend of the last seven days (defeat at the Allianz Arena against Bayern 4-2 and elimination in Leipzig in the quarter-finals of the Cup) by winning over their Westfalenstadion lawn against Union Berlin (2-1).

Three days before traveling to Manchester to face City there in the first leg of the Champions League, the reigning ten-time German champions Bayern Munich were a little reassured, even if offensively they lacked realism.

In Dortmund, Borussia showed character, because after leading in the score thanks to Donyell Malen (28^e), they saw Union Berlin equalize on their only chance through Kevin Behrens (61^e).

Far from being discouraged, the teammates of Marco Reus, replacing at the start of the game, snatched three precious points thanks to Youssoufa Moukoko at the start of the last ten minutes (79^e), a success that allows them to stay in the title race against Bayern.

Eliminated from the Champions League by Chelsea in the round of 16 and from the German Cup three days ago by Leipzig, Edin Terzic’s men only have to focus until the end of May on the Bundesliga. To try to end Munich’s hegemonic decade (2012/22), Borussia will have to win their last seven matches and rely on at least one, if not two missteps from Bayern in the final sprint.

Lazio defends its 2^e place, Roma on the podium

Behind the inaccessible Naples, Lazio Rome consolidated the 2^e place in Serie A by beating Juventus (2-1) on Saturday, ahead of AS Roma, which climbed the podium by taking advantage of the points lost by AC Milan and Inter Milan.

If they have no chance of joining Naples, leader with 16 margin points, the Biancocelesti confirm their claims to one of the four qualifying tickets for the Champions League, with five points ahead of Roma (3^e), six on Milan (4^e) and seven on Inter (5^e).

Juve remain seventh, 14 points behind Lazio, or within one point of their 15-point penalty for accounting fraud.

Roma did not miss the opportunity to invite themselves to the podium after the missteps on Friday of AC Milan (0-0 against Empoli) and Inter Milan (1-1 at Salernitana) , winning at Torino (1-0).

Roma took the opportunity to put Atalanta Bergamo to five points (6^e), beaten at home by the seductive Bologna of Thiago Motta, who himself returned to five points (8^e) of the “Dea”, maintaining its European hopes.

Arsenal held back by Liverpool, City unwinds, Manchester United and Newcastle win

Despite a missed penalty by Mohamed Salah and after being down 2-0, Liverpool managed to snatch a courageous draw (2-2) against Arsenal, hampered in their quest for a first title in 20 years, Sunday, for the 30^e Premier League day.

For the Gunners, who are now six points clear of Manchester City but with one game more and a trip to the Etihad in 17 days, this match will remain a turning point in the title race, whatever the outcome.

Liverpool is still stuck in the 11^e place 12 lengths from the qualifying places for the Champions League but showed its ability to rise to its best level by passing very close to a sensational victory.

For the first time in a long time, Arsenal have looked a vulnerable leader in their title race against City, a regular at knifepoint epilogues.

Manchester City, precisely, dispatched current affairs by crushing Southampton (4-1), with a double from Erling Haaland. The Saints held their own for 45 minutes but, three days before a quarter-final first leg of C1 against Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola had released the big team and City rolled out in the second half.

With a goal from Anthony Martial, but losing Marcus Rashford to injury, Manchester United enjoyed a bittersweet victory against Everton. The Red Devils, 4^eremain level on points with Newcastle (3^e) and stay three steps ahead of Tottenham who have one game more.

With AFP