Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea controls Lille to clinch UCL knockout round berth
By Nicholas MendolaDec 10, 2019, 4:58 PM EST
Chelsea advanced to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds as the second team out of Group H after a 2-1 defeat of Lille at Stamford Bridge that flattered the visitors.
[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ]
Tammy Abraham and Cesar Azpilicueta scored for Chelsea on a rain-splattered night in London, with Lille scoring via the Blues' old friend Loic Remy.
Valencia beat Ajax in the other Group H match to send last season's semifinalists to the Europa League.
Three things we learned
1. Uneven finishing almost undoes Blues: Make no mistake about the fact that Chelsea was in total control of this match right up until the point they looked at the scoreboard following Loic Remy's 78th minute strike. Chelsea's two goals came from a remarkable nine shots on target, and this could've been over long before any lone concession put the result in jeopardy. It happens to youngish teams, sure, but jeopardy came out of almost nothing, truly.
2. All roads lead to Abraham: You can read more about Pulisic's strong day here, but he was one of three or even four players who drove Chelsea to so many of the above chances. Pulisic's chemistry with Kovacic is a very real, but both joined Willian and N'Golo Kante in bamboozling the Lille backs.
3. Well, give the keeper some credit: Mike Maignan was Lille's captain at age 24 in a Champions League match, and nothing he did made the arm band anything other than fitting. Six saves — four from inside the box — joined a clearance, a high claim, and two aerial duels won in making for an impressive afternoon.
Man of the Match: Kovacic, who won nearly duel he entered and barely put a pass wrong.
The match started under heavy rain, both sides adapting to the slick ball and pitch.
Tammy Abraham couldn't find Pulisic with an early flick, and the American winger spun a left-footed shot wide of the far post in the 10th minute.
Emerson Palmeiri ripped wide of the goal and then Abraham did the same after an N'Golo Kante shot was blocked into his path.
Pulisic played a big role in Chelsea's breakthrough, dribbling across the 18 before finding Willian, who drove the touch line and cut back for Abraham's tap-in.
[ MORE: Premier League stats ]
It was 2-0 before long, Azpilicueta darting to the front post to turn a header home off a corner kick.
Great header, bad defense here:
Things are looking good for @ChelseaFCinUSA 🙌
Stream 🆓: https://t.co/n5pGZJZOqg pic.twitter.com/k2T1DGsjpV
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) December 10, 2019
The Blues were superior in nearly every moment of the match, with Willian and Pulisic very much at the forefront. Lille did a decent job of keeping them from truly dangerous positions, and Abraham had a little trouble finding his finish when the duo found him.
Jonathan Bamba cued up Remy's 78th minute goal, as Frank Lampard and his men suddenly had a match to play.
Azpilicueta probably lost his Man of the Match nod when he allowed the Bamba cross to get through, though it was admittedly clever work.
Chelsea not safe yet 👀 A Lille goal keeps every scenario alive in Group H
Stream FREE ➡️ https://t.co/n5pGZJZOqg pic.twitter.com/nvkWAPOar8
Follow @NicholasMendola
Tags: Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea, Christian Pulisic, Lille, Mateo Kovačić, Mike Maignan, Premier League, Tammy Abraham, UEFA Champions League, Ba, Cesar, Emerson, Frank Lampard, Nathan, Stam, Tammy Abraham, Willian
PL Sunday Preview: Leicester travel to Burnley; Liverpool put perfect record on the line against Man Utd
By Joel SoriaJan 19, 2020, 12:09 AM EST
With eight Premier League fixtures on Saturday, two more remain in Matchweek 23.
Burnley v. Leicester City — 9 a.m. ET, on NBCSN and NBCSports.com
Burnley are free falling and there doesn't seem to be a safety net in sight.
The Clarets, who are two points removed from the relegation zone, head into a tough three-match window without striker Ashley Barnes. Recuperating from a hernia surgery, the 30-year-old is set to miss bouts against Leicester, Manchester United and Arsenal – to name some.
But quite possibly more alarming than that is the team's recent form. Losing seven out of their last nine, just two points divide Burnley from the drop zone. Sean Dyche's team are clueless in the box, scoring one goal in four league bouts. Trouble looms over Turf Moor.
But even then, Dyche, who has made Burnley a force to be reckoned with in the past, believes his side are still a threat.
"They are a good side," Dyche said about Leicester. "We are on a tough run of form, but I don't think they are naive enough to think it is turn up and get the business done. We are not a million miles away."
Can Burnley pull a Southampton and stun a top-four bound Leicester?
"We weren't at our best [against Southampton] and we didn't have the energy and intensity that we would have liked," Brendan Rodgers said ahead of Sunday's early match.
"We work twice as hard and that's what we've done after every setback. We still have a lot to improve on."
The Foxes had a rare full week to train, so one can bet that Rodgers is serious about his word.
INJURIES: Burnley — OUT: Barnes (hernia), Gudmundsson (hamstring) | Leicester City — OUT: Ndidi (knee), Amartey (ankle), James (match fitness)
Liverpool v. Manchester United — 11:30 a.m. ET, on NBCSN and NBCSports.com
Manchester United are a part of the exclusive anti-Liverpool club for more than the obvious reason.
Yes, the North West Derby is one of the league's most heated rivalries, with countless flashbacks in its 203 meetings during its over 100 years of history.
But these two, star-studded squads led by Jurgen Klopp and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, respectively, also have a permeating rivalry of their own. The Reds, who have yet to taste defeat this season, have dropped points to only United.
It can be argued that Sunday's bout may be Liverpool's most complicated and least favorable, despite maintaining an immaculate record at home. This is the "big one" that many didn't particularly circle on the calendar.
"It's a very, very important football game," Klopp said. "Very important. We have to learn how to deal with games like this in the right manner. We haven't done bad in the past but we can still improve.
"Old Trafford [a 1-1 draw in October] was a good example, [we were] not at our best because of their quality. We have to make it more likely we're at our best."
Solskjaer had his tactics in place last time around; a small injection of final quality and the team would have crushed Liverpool's aspirations of matching the Iinvincibles or Manchester City's points record.
"The last two performances [against Liverpool] at Old Trafford we have drawn twice and been close to winning both games, so we've got some games to look back at and that will give us loads of belief… if we perform to our best we have a chance to win," Solskjaer said.
Sunday presents itself as the final chance for United to pull the upset, and reaffirm why they're a part of the exclusive club to begin with. But Liverpool are slowing becoming invincible themselves.
INJURIES: Liverpool — OUT: Lovren (hamstring), Clyne (knee), Keïta (groin), Milner (hamstring) | Manchester United — OUT: Tuanzebe (hamstring), McTominay (knee), Pogba (ankle)
Tags: Brendan Rodgers, Jurgen Klopp, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, sean dyche, Ashley Barnes, Ba, Brendan Rodgers, Jurgen Klopp, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Sean Dyche
Serie A roundup: Immobile nets hat-trick, Lazio runs over Sampdoria (video)
By Joel SoriaJan 18, 2020, 10:22 PM EST
Lazio's record-extending 11th straight Serie A win highlights Saturday's Serie A action.
Like Lazio's season, Ciro Immobile continues to make strides with each passing day.
The 29-year-old's hat-trick powered Simone Inzaghi's side past Sampdoria 5-1, extending his goal count to 23, nine more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaka.
Lazio, who are three points behind top-of-the-table Juventus and one behind second-place Inter Milan, were up three goals by the 20-minute mark. By the 65th minute, Immobile reached the three goal mark, converting from the spot.
"We would need too much time to count his records," coach Simone Inzaghi said on Immobile's magnificent run of form. "We are talking about an extraordinary team player. He has shown that so many times. Immobile has been doing extraordinary things for four years, I'm not surprised."
Full of confidence, Lazio turn one of the most challenging corners of the season, as they take on rivals AS Roma defend the Italian Cup against Napoli.
"We'll enjoy this 11th win but we have to already be thinking about the next matches," Inzaghi said. "We know what a derby means but I can't allow myself to think about Roma.
"We play Napoli on Tuesday, we know what the Italian Cup means for us, what it meant last year, we have it on our shirts and we will fight for it again."
When it comes to Sampdoria, things are going from bad to ugly, quick.
"Tonight I'll add salt and pepper and I'll eat them alive," Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri said of his players.
"Lazio was too good for us, you could clearly see the difference between the two teams, but it was without doubt the worst Samp performance since I've been here."
Tags: Claudio Ranieri, Sampdoria, Simone Inzaghi, SS Lazio, Ba, Ciro Immobile, Claudio Ranieri, Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku
La Liga roundup: Casemiro's brace earns injury-riddled Real Madrid win (video)
By Joel SoriaJan 18, 2020, 8:58 PM EST
Casemiro's heroic performance against Sevilla highlights La Liga's Saturday action.
[ FOLLOW: PST's La Liga coverage ]
Real Madrid's goalscoring hero on Saturday wasn't Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, or even Sergio Ramos.
With two crucial goals in the second half, Casemiro single-handedly earned three points at the Santiago Bernabeu, days removed from cathartic Spanish Super Cup win against arch rivals Atletico Madrid.
With Bale, Hazard, Ramos injured, Benzema on the bench far from match-fit, and Federico Valverde suspended, Los Blancos were in dire need of someone to lead the way, and place pressure on struggling co-leaders Barcelona, who are now under Quique Setien's tutelage.
By the time the first 45 minutes came to a close, the overall impression was that it would take a miracle for the home side to earn much-needed three points.
That all quickly changed in the second half as the Brazilian midfielder chipped Tomas Vaclik after a picture-perfect backheel from Luka Jovic. Madrid were edging Julen Lopetegui's side, and Casemiro foreshadowed what was to come.
With the score level, the Brazilian leaped inside the box and headed home a lofting ball from the right flank, catching Sevilla's defense completely off guard.
Casemiro's brace came just five minutes after Luuk De Jong's left-footed goal in the 64th minute.
League leaders with 43 points, Madrid prepares for their Copa del Rey bout against third-division side Unionistas midweek. Sevilla, on the other hand, host Levante in the same tournament.
Elsewhere in La Liga
Eibar 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Osasuna 0-0 Real Valladolid
Levante 0-1 Alaves
Tags: Casemiro, Julen Lopetegui, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Ba, Casemiro, Eden Hazard, Eder, Federico Valverde, Gareth Bale, Iago, Karim Benzema, Luuk De Jong, Sergio Ramos
16-year-old Cherki scores 2 as Lyon advances in French Cup
PARIS (AP) Two goals and two assists from 16-year-old forward Rayan Cherki helped Lyon win 4-3 at Nantes and reach the last 16 of the French Cup on Saturday.
But the run of Reunion Islanders JS Saint-Pierroise ended with a 1-0 loss away to Epinal, which scored deep into extra time.
Cherki put Lyon ahead in the first minute, deftly rounding goalkeeper Alban Lafont and then clipping the ball beyond a defender. He made it 2-0 in the ninth, slotting the ball through Lafont's legs after being set up by right winger Bertrand Traore.
New signing Renaud Emond headed in Moses Simon's cross from the left to pull a goal back for Nantes in the 16th. Cherki then showed great awareness to release forward Martin Terrier with a fine pass from midfield in the 37th for 3-1.
Cherki shaved the crossbar with a shot in the 60th and won a penalty in the 67th after robbing the ball off Thomas Basila. He generously allowed striker Moussa Dembele to take it, but Lafont saved Dembele's attempt.
Two minuter later, Cherki threaded the ball down the right to Dembele, who slotted in, and the irrepressible Cherki set up another chance for Terrier.
Lyon's defense remains vulnerable and Simon set up Imran Louza's goal before heading in late on to ensure a tense finish.
Saint-Pierroise had caused an upset in the previous round by knocking out second-division Niort and the players again traveled 6,000 miles (around 9,700 kilometers) from the small island in the Indian Ocean, located off the east coast of Africa.
Saint-Pierroise, the former club of France midfielder Dimitri Payet, was looking to become the first club from the Reunion Islands to reach the last 16 and almost forced a penalty shootout, despite having forward Jean-Michel Fontaine sent off in the 15th minute.
But substitute Adel Berkane rifled home a half-volley for fourth-tier Epinal with two minutes left in extra time.
Also, there were wins for first-division sides Nice, Lille, Saint-Etienne and Strasbourg.
Lille won 2-0 at fifth-division Gonfreville thanks to goals from forwards Loic Remy and Victor Osimhen, while coach Patrick Vieira's Nice side held on to beat third-tier Red Star 2-1.
Saint-Etienne won 3-2 at Paris FC, a team fighting relegation in the second division.
Paris FC led 2-1 with goals from former Paris Saint-Germain forward Jeremy Menez and ex-Rennes winger Jonathan Pitroipa. Teen forward Charles Abi equalized for Saint-Etienne with 20 minutes left before veteran right back Mathieu Debuchy netted the winner.
Strasbourg won 5-1 at fourth-tier Angouleme.
On Sunday, Rennes plays at fifth-tier Athletico Marseille and PSG travels to face second division league leader Lorient.
Rennes beats PSG in last year's final.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
Tags: FC Nantes, Lyon, Rayan Cherki, Ba, Bertrand Traore, Dimitri Payet, Martin, Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Dembele, Nathan, Rayan Cherki
PL Sunday Preview: Leicester travel to Burnley; Liverpool put perfect record on the line against Man Utd January 19, 2020 12:09 am Serie A roundup: Immobile nets hat-trick, Lazio runs over Sampdoria (video) January 18, 2020 10:22 pm La Liga roundup: Casemiro's brace earns injury-riddled Real Madrid win (video) January 18, 2020 8:58 pm 16-year-old Cherki scores 2 as Lyon advances in French Cup January 18, 2020 7:50 pm 'I'm very happy for this': Jimenez becomes Wolves all-time leading PL goalscorer January 18, 2020 6:42 pm Lampard calls for Chelsea to finish chances: 'We know where we need to strengthen' January 18, 2020 4:24 pm Bundesliga wrap: Adams, Leipzig star as Leipzig pads lead January 18, 2020 3:49 pm Newcastle not apologizing after smash-and-grab win January 18, 2020 3:07 pm Newcastle stuns misfiring Chelsea January 18, 2020 2:39 pm Nuno proud of Wolves comeback; Hasenhuttl fumes at VAR January 18, 2020 1:53 pm U.S. teen Vassilev makes Premier League debut for Villa January 18, 2020 1:43 pm Favre reacts to Dortmund debuts for Haaland, U.S. prospect Reyna January 18, 2020 1:21 pm Aston Villa grab vital point at Brighton January 18, 2020 12:37 pm Pukki leads 10-man Norwich City win over 10-man Bournemouth January 18, 2020 12:28 pm Jimenez leads stunning Wolves comeback January 18, 2020 12:20 pm Holgate, Pickford save Everton in draw with West Ham January 18, 2020 12:15 pm Late drama galore as Palace hold Man City January 18, 2020 12:07 pm Fleck artistry gets Sheffield United point at Arsenal January 18, 2020 12:02 pm VIDEO: Haaland scores 20-minute debut hat trick January 18, 2020 11:36 am Watch Live: Newcastle United v. Chelsea January 18, 2020 11:34 am Transfer rumor roundup: Moses reunited with Conte, Lazaro to Newcastle January 18, 2020 11:10 am PL AT HALF: Goals, goals everywhere as Arsenal leads, Man City trails January 18, 2020 10:54 am Mourinho slams "very bad" VAR decisions January 18, 2020 10:14 am Watch Live: Six Premier League games at 10am January 18, 2020 9:44 am Watford, Tottenham in stalemate January 18, 2020 9:35 am Klopp hits out at Man United's style of play January 18, 2020 8:35 am Watch Live: Watford v. Tottenham January 18, 2020 7:30 am Pearson: 'I was semi-retired' before Watford came calling January 17, 2020 10:10 pm USWNT: Olympic qualifying roster minus five from World Cup team January 17, 2020 9:25 pm Bundesliga: Schalke spoils Gladbach's chance to go top January 17, 2020 8:15 pm Chelsea's Lampard prepared to go without January signings January 17, 2020 7:14 pm Guardiola: 'Unless they sack me, I am staying, 100 percent' January 17, 2020 6:17 pm Mourinho gives update on Eriksen saga, Kane replacement January 17, 2020 4:55 pm Ashley Young leaves Man United to join Inter Milan January 17, 2020 3:38 pm Sebastian Berhalter signs Homegrown deal with Columbus Crew January 17, 2020 2:23 pm Manchester United triggers Bailly contract extension January 17, 2020 1:33 pm Report: Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United after Lisbon Derby January 17, 2020 12:42 pm Liverpool's Klopp rips AFCON move, says FIFA needs to step in but won't January 17, 2020 11:54 am Premier League tells referees to view replays for red cards January 17, 2020 11:10 am Premier League Preview: Watford v. Tottenham Hotspur January 17, 2020 10:22 am