Football
PSG Secure 10th Ligue 1 Trophy Courtesy of Lionel Messi's Amazing Strike
Lionel Messi scored his fourth league goal of the season on Saturday, earning PSG a point against Lens and securing their 10th Ligue 1 title. Paris Saint-Germain have won the title with four games to spare, thanks to a 16-point lead over second-placed Marseille. PSG's 2021–2022 season finished with only one silverware since they have no chance of winning any more competitions. The match between PSG and Lens, as well as the overall performance of Paris Saint-Germain in the league, are discussed in this article.
PSG vs Lens 2022: Match Report
The match was staged at the Parc des Princes in Paris. As a result, PSG had the benefit of playing at home, and they controlled the whole game. In the first half, PSG had a number of chances, but their finishing was poor. Furthermore, the Lens defense was tight and compact, preventing the PSG attacking line from scoring.
Read English Premier League 2021-22: Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United Race for Top Four
The hosts continued to push the opposition quarter in the second half, but they had continued to fail. It seemed that a brilliant effort was necessary to eventually break the deadlock. Lionel Messi of Argentina, who hasn't been in his usual form this season, stepped up and scored a stunning long-range goal. Leo fired a long-range shot from the outside of the D-BOX that curled into the right corner of the net. Messi's goal was his fourth in Ligue 1 this season, and it gave PSG a 1-0 lead in the match.
PSG had hoped to complete the game with a 1-0 win as the game neared its end, but Lens replacement Corentin Jean's late equalizer crushed their hopes. PSG players made a defensive blunder. Corentin, who was at the corner of the right goalpost, merely put the ball in the back of the net after collecting a pass from the left side.
Read Argentina vs Brazil 2022: MCG to host a SuperClasico match in June
Even though the match finished in a 1-1 draw, PSG went on to win their 10th Ligue 1 title. PSG were the dominant side in this contest. They had 18 shots on goal, while Lens only had 8. PSG had control of the ball for 66% of the time, while Lens had control for 34%. Paris Saint-Germain made 734 passes against Lens' 373. However, PSG had a poor performance in terms of disciplinary issues. Four yellow cards were given to the Parisians, but none to Lens.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Performance in the 2021-2022 Ligue 1 Season
Despite winning the league, PSG will still have to play four more games. In the 34 games that Paris Saint-Germain has played thus far, they have won 24, lost 4, and drawn 6. PSG's biggest win this season came against Clermont (6-1). Kylian Mbappe has 22 goals for the club this season, while Neymar has 11.
Read Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
Bottom Line
PSG have won their tenth Ligue title, equaling them with Saint-Etienne for the most titles in the league. However, Saint-Etienne haven't won a French league title since 1981, meaning they haven't won a trophy in 41 years. On the other hand, PSG have won eight of their ten league titles in the past decade, indicating their current supremacy in French club football.
PSG started their 2021–2022 campaign with the aim of winning the Champions League trophy. That is why, in the summer of 2021, they signed the experienced Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and a few other quality players. However, PSG once again failed to perform well in the UEFA Champions League and were knocked out by Real Madrid in the Round of 16. So, there is a sense of dissatisfaction among the PSG players and management. It’s understandable that they will be even more charged up for the next season to win European club football’s most elusive trophy, but before that, they should cherish their 10th Ligue 1 triumph.
Read Favourites to reach the UEFA Champions League 2022 Finals
Ronaldo scores on return to United team after death of son
Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his return to the Manchester United team on Saturday after missing a game while grieving the death of his newborn son.
The Portugal star raised his left arm and pointed to the sky in a subdued celebration of his 100th Premier League goal, coming in the first half at Arsenal after the home fans had risen to applaud United’s No. 7 when the clock hit the seventh minute in a show of solidarity.
Read: English Premier League 2021-22: Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United Race for Top Four
Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez announced on Monday that one of their newborn twins had died. He was left out of the squad that lost 4-0 at Liverpool on Tuesday.
His goal at the Emirates Stadium came in the 34th minute to trim Arsenal’s lead to 2-1 but the north London club went on to win 3-1. With four games remaining, Ronaldo has 16 Premier League goals this season since rejoining from Real Madrid, on top of the 84 goals in his first spell at United from 2003 to 2009.
BPL Football: Kings to play Swadhinata KS in 2nd phase opener Sunday
Holders Bashundhara Kings to play newcomers Swadhinata KS in one of the two 2nd phase opener of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football'2022 at 3:30 pm on Sunday at Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi.
Last two times BPL champions and star studded Bashundhara Kings made a frustrating start in the country's most prestigious soccer league BPL losing to Swadhinata KS by 1-2 goal in the league opener in February last.
Bashundhara Kings, which dominated the league comfortably after the eleven- match first phase, now have a good opportunity to take revenge of their shocking defeat against currently bottom-ranked Swadhinata KS in Rajshahi on Sunday.
Also read: 2nd phase of BPL Football begins Sunday
In the other 2nd phase opening match on Sunday, Sheikh Jamal DC will play Uttar Baridhara Club, also at 3:30 pm at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
On the following day (Monday), four matches will be held in Dhaka and other regional venues.
Six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will meet Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in Gopalganj while Saif SC will face Bangladesh Police FC in Rajshahi, both will kick-off at 3:30 pm.
In Monday's other matches, Chittagong Abahani will play Rahmatganj MFS at Sylhet District Stadium while Dhaka Mohammedan SC will encounter Sheikh Russel KC at Bashundhara Sports Complex in Dhaka, both will kick-off at 3:30 pm.
Also read: AFC Cup: Williams guides Mohun Bagan to group stage eliminating Abahani
After the eleven- round first phase matches, last two times champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably maintained their solo lead in the league table securing 26 points while Dhaka Abahani Ltd followed them distantly with 22 points.
Two teams-- Sheikh Jamal DC and Chittagong Abahani Ltd --were in the 3rd slot securing 21 points each.
Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Swadhinata KS are struggling at the bottom places securing seven and six points respectively.
English Premier League 2021-22: Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United Race for Top Four
Arsenal will play Manchester United in a Premier League encounter at Emirates Stadium on Saturday (April 23). The game is crucial for both teams in their quest to finish in the top four. Whoever wins the contest will have a big advantage over the other sides in terms of finishing ahead of them at the end of the current season. Besides, the Spurs also have a chance to finish fourth in the standings. Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester United are all battling for a Champions League berth with a few games remaining before the season ends.
Tottenham’s Chance to Qualify for the Champions League Next Season
London-based club Tottenham Hotspur may be in a solid position to finish in the top four. Spurs are presently in fourth place with 57 points, with six games remaining in the current season. Most importantly, Tottenham have a more favourable schedule than their opponents, giving them an advantage in achieving their goal. Tottenham's forthcoming fixtures include matches against Liverpool and Arsenal. The Arsenal match might determine who finish in the top four this season. If Tottenham's team remains injury-free for the rest of the season, they will almost likely finish fourth in the Premier League.
Read Argentina vs Brazil 2022: MCG to host a SuperClasico match in June
Tottenham’s Remaining Fixtures
Opponent
Date
Time (BDT)
Brentford
April 23
10.30 p.m.
Leicester City
May 1
7 p.m.
Liverpool
May 8
12.45 a.m.
Arsenal
May 13
12.45 a.m
Burnley
May 15
5.00 p.m
Norwich City
May 22
9.00 p.m.
Source: https://www.premierleague.com/
Arsenal’s Quest for a Top-Four Finish in the Premier League
Arsenal's chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season have strengthened after a 4-2 victory over arch-rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their most recent Premier League match. Arsenal will need to win all six of their remaining games this season to achieve their target. The Gunners are now in fifth place in the league with 57 points. The Spurs are ahead of them due to their better goal differential of 8. This goal differential might prove crucial at the end of the season. Arsenal have two big matches left, against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. These two games will have a major impact on Arsenal's Premier League standings this season.
Also Read: Man United hires Erik ten Hag as 5th manager in 9 years
Arsenal’s Remaining Fixtures
Opponent
Date
Time (BDT)
Manchester United
April 23
5.30 p.m.
West Ham United
May 1
9.30 p.m.
Leeds United
May 8
7.00 p.m.
Tottenham Hotspur
May 13
12.45 a.m.
Newcastle United
May 17
1.00 a.m
Everton
May 22
9.00 p.m.
Source: https://www.premierleague.com/
Manchester United’s Possibility to Qualify for the Champions League
Manchester United are in the weakest position in contrast to Tottenham and Arsenal in their pursuit of the top four in the league. The Red Devils are in sixth place with 54 points. Besides, they have one fewer encounter left in their schedule than Spurs and Arsenal. Therefore, Man United will have to rely on the results of their opponents for the remainder of the season in addition to winning their matches. However, they must win their remaining fixtures in order to stay firm in the top four race. The Red Devils will have to fight hard against Arsenal and Chelsea, but the rest of the games will be easier.
Manchester United’s Remaining Fixtures
Opponent
Date
Time (BDT)
Arsenal
April 23
5.30 p.m
Chelsea
April 29
12.45 a.m
Brentford
May 3
1.00 a.m.
Brighton
May 7
10.30 p.m.
Crystal Palace
May 22
9.00 p.m.
Source: https://www.premierleague.com/
Verdict
The top four sides in the Premier League standings are automatically qualified for the Champions League the following season. As a result, all of the big teams aimed at finishing in the top four spots in the Premier League points table at the start of the season. Manchester City and Liverpool are vying for the Premier League title this season, while Chelsea's third-place finish is all but assured.
Also Read: Injured Pogba might have played last game for Man United
Meanwhile, the race for a top-four finish has heated up, with three teams vying for the berth. Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Manchester United are all in contention for fourth place. Whoever displays true battling spirit and a desire to climb the Premier League standings this season will almost certainly earn a spot in the Champions League next season.
Injured Pogba might have played last game for Man United
Paul Pogba might have played his last game for Manchester United.
The France midfielder, who is out of contract at the end of the season, came off injured in the 4-0 loss to Liverpool on Tuesday and will take at least four weeks to recover, United manager Ralf Rangnick said Friday.
Read: DPL Super League: Sheikh Jamal secure top spot, Abahani suffer 2nd defeat
“I don’t think it is very likely that he will be able to play again (this season),” Rangnick said.
Pogba joined United in 2016 for a second spell at a club where he came through the academy, before moving to Juventus in 2012.
He has struggled to reproduce the form he delivers on a more consistent basis for the French national team.
Man United hires Erik ten Hag as 5th manager in 9 years
Once a model of coaching stability in Alex Ferguson’s long trophy-filled tenure, Manchester United hired a fifth full-time manager in nine years since his retirement by bringing in Erik ten Hag from Ajax.
Ten Hag’s arrival was announced by United on Thursday, with the 52-year-old Dutchman joining at the end of the season to 2025. He is tasked with awakening a fallen superpower in European soccer that is enduring its longest trophy drought in nearly 40 years.
“I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead,” ten Hag said. “I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.”
Adopting the attacking philosophy of the great Johan Cruyff, ten Hag succeeded in bringing the good times back to Ajax, leading the biggest team in the Netherlands to two Eredivisie titles — it could be three in a few weeks — as well as the Champions League semifinals in entertaining style in 2019.
Read: Juventus to Face Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia Final 2022
Returning United to its former heights is set to be an even bigger job, given the team won the last of its record 20 English titles in 2013 — Ferguson’s final season of his 26-year reign — and hasn’t won a trophy since beating Ajax in the Europa League final in 2017. United hasn’t endured such a trophy drought since the early 1980s and has slipped way behind rivals Manchester City and Liverpool despite continuing to spend heavily on players.
Nowhere was this decline more evident than this week, when United was thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool to go along with its rival’s 5-0 win at Old Trafford in October.
The three-time European champion might not even return to the Champions League next season. United is three points out of the Premier League top four with five games remaining and is already assured of ending a season without a trophy for the fifth straight year.
“In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that,” said John Murtough, United’s football director.
United has been led by interim managers Michael Carrick and currently Ralf Rangnick since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired in November. The club has been speaking to candidates over recent weeks — Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly also on the shortlist — but it settled on ten Hag, who might be the biggest managerial gamble in United’s turbulent post-Ferguson era.
Aside from a two-year spell with Bayern Munich’s reserve team (in 2013-15, when Pep Guardiola was in charge of the first team), ten Hag has coached only in the Netherlands — with Go Ahead Eagles, Utrecht and most recently Ajax since 2017.
As such, he is untested in the Premier League and in handling the egos of some of the biggest players in world soccer — and United has some of them in Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes.
Read: Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Pogba is, however, out of contract at the end of the season and is set to leave as part of what could be a major shake-up of a playing squad that needs rebuilding and strengthening in key areas like central midfield and up front.
An advocate of the 4-3-3 formation that is so popular in the Netherlands, ten Hag tries to play attractive, attacking football in the manner of the teams coached by Cruyff, whose shadow and philosophy hangs over the club like Ferguson’s does at Old Trafford.
Since Ferguson’s departure, United has gone with the man he hand-picked as a successor, David Moyes, and then managers with bigger profiles in Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. None of them worked out and nor did Solskjaer, although he at least got United to a second-place finish last season.
Ten Hag joins with United now at perhaps its lowest ebb since Ferguson’s retirement and his first big decision might be what to do with Ronaldo, a striker who keeps scoring goals — with 15, he is third on Premier League scoring list — but whose work rate and mobility is not at the level of forwards at other big clubs.
Can he get the best out of United’s younger forwards, such as Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, and bring through youth players like he has at Ajax?
“Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe,” Murtough said, “renowned for his team’s attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth.”
Before all that, ten Hag will look to sign off at Ajax with another Dutch league title. With five games remaining, Ajax leads second-place PSV Eindhoven by four points.
“I’m happy that it has been finalized and that it has been officially announced,” he said. “That clarity is important. But I only have one interest now and that’s these last five games. I want to finish my time here on a positive note, by winning the league.”
Juventus to Face Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia Final 2022
The Coppa Italia 2022 final will be held on May 11, which means there are still three weeks left for the championship match. The availability of major players will decide who will start as favourites in this contest. Therefore, injuries could change the overall scenario before the all-important final. With the present situation in Serie A, Juventus' only hope is to win the Coppa Italia. On the other hand, Inter Milan are playing for a double as they are in pole position to win Serie A. The squad strength of both Juventus and Inter Milan is discussed in this article.
The ideal Juventus formation and squad
Last summer, the Juventus team lost some of their key players, including Cristiano Ronaldo. They also replaced Andrea Pirlo with Massimiliano Allegri as manager. Allegri's team has struggled to compete for the title all season, and their main goal now is to finish in the top four in order to qualify for next season's Champions League. However, an opportunity arises for Juventus to finish the season with a trophy. They beat Fiorentina 2-0 at home on Wednesday (April 20) and advanced to the final on a 3-0 aggregate.
Read Argentina vs Brazil 2022: MCG to host a SuperClasico match in June
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri’s ideal formation is a traditional 4-4-2, which can be switched to a 4-33 style. He started to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation as the season progressed. Against Inter Milan, Allegri may go with his squad strength to take the game deep. Let’s take a glance at the Juventus squad.
Goalkeepers:
Wojciech Szczęsny is Juventus' No. 1 goalkeeper since legend Gianluigi Buffon left the club in the summer of 2017. Szczęsny has done well as a keeper for the Turin side. Mattia Perin is the second-choice keeper for Juventus.
Defenders:
Juventus have some world-class defenders such as captain Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Matthijs de Ligt, Juan Cuadrado, Alex Sandro and Danilo. With these kinds of options, Allegri should feel confident with his defense.
Read Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Midfields:
They have some quality midfielders but don’t have many options. Arthur, Denis Zakaria, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Federico Chiesa, and Federico Bernardeschi are Juventus' first-team midfielders.
Forwards:
In the January transfer window, Juventus signed the highly talented Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina to strengthen their forward line. He, along with Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata, and Moise Kean, will be the options for Juventus' forward line.
Inter Milan's squad and preferred style of play
Inter Milan let Romelu Lukaku go to Chelsea during the 2021 summer transfer window. This decision hasn’t affected much in their quest for a Serie A title. However, Inter Milan’s dream of showing commanding performance in the UEFA Champions League was dashed as they were knocked out by Liverpool in the round of 16 phase. Inter’s 2021–2022 season will still be regarded as very successful if they can win the domestic double. Inter Milan beat their arch-rivals AC Milan 3-0 at home on Wednesday and secured a place in the Coppa Italia 2022 final.
Read Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
Inter Milan won the 2020–2021 Serie A title with Antonio Conte’s defensive style of play. However, things started to change when Simone Inzaghi was appointed as the new head coach. He prefers an attacking style of play and uses his defense and forward-line players for more versatility up front. Inzaghi’s ideal formation is 3-5-2, and he even deploys a 2-3-3-2 formation for quick press.
Goalkeeper:
Inter's captain Samir Handanovic, is one of the best goalkeepers in the Italian Serie A. Alex Cordaz and Ionut Radu are the other two goalkeeping options for Inter Milan.
Defenders:
Aleksandar Kolarov, Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij, Andrea Ranocchia, and Danilo D'Ambrosio are some of the main players in Inter’s defense. This defense unit has looked solid for their team.
Read PSG beat Marseille 2-1 to close in on title; Nice wins
Midfields:
Inter Milan have several midfield options, including Roberto Gagliardini, Matias Vecino, Ivan Perisic, Hakan alhanoglu, Arturo Vidal, and Nicolo Barella. These players have implemented coach Simone’s plan on the field.
Forwards:
Inter Milan's Alexis Sanchez, Edin Dzeko, and Lautaro Martinez have all performed well for the team. In particular, Lautaro Martinez is in fine form and is leading the attacking half for Inter Milan.
Bottom Line
The Coppa Italia 2022 final match between Juventus and Inter Milan will be a huge tactical duel. Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus will most likely use a traditional 4-4-2 formation. Oppositely, Simone Inzaghi may use as many as multiple midfielders to seize control of the midfield. The game is also significant for both teams because these two teams will meet in a domestic cup final match for the first time in 57 years. The last time they faced in a Coppa Italia final was in 1965. Juventus won the Italian Cup that year by a solitary goal. Which team will have the last laugh on May 11 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome?
Read Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title
Argentina vs Brazil 2022: MCG to host a SuperClasico match in June
The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia will host a match between Argentina and Brazil, famously known as SuperClasico, on June 11 this year. This will be considered a friendly contest between the arch-rivals. As the five teams, including an inter-confederation playoff, confirmed last March, this Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match reportedly will not replace the suspended World Cup qualifier. This is expected to be a multi-million-dollar contest. The match details and squad information of Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match are discussed in this article.
Was there ever a match between Brazil and Argentina at the MCG?
Argentina and Brazil previously played a SuperClasico match at the MCG arena back in June 2017. The match was held on June 9 at the packed MCG stadium. The estimated crowd attendance was 95,579. This indicates how popular both Argentina and Brazil’s football teams are around the globe. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the local crowds regarding this fixture. Fans from other countries also visited Australia just to watch the showdown between the two heavyweight football nations. Tickets for this Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match will be up for grabs from April 21 (Thursday).
Read Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Argentina beat Brazil in that match by a solitary goal. In the 45th minute, defender Gabriel Mercado scored the winning goal. Argentine sensation Lionel Messi did participate in the match, but Neymar was absent. Both Messi and Neymar are expected to play in the match, which will serve as a warm-up for their participation in the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
With this fixture, the Australian government is expected to generate the same kind of enthusiasm among football lovers in that territory. They also expect this match will boost their economy as there were strict health restrictions in Victoria State during the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Read 2nd phase of BPL Football begins Sunday
Argentina vs Brazil: Head-to-Head Record
Both sides have met each other on 109 occasions, in which Brazil have led head-to-head contests with 43 wins. On the other hand, Argentina have won 40 matches and 26 of them ended in a draw. Argentina scored 162 goals, while Brazil have netted 166 times against their arch-rivals.
Brazil and Argentina have met four times in the FIFA World Cup, where Brazil have won twice, Argentina have won once, and the other match ended in a draw. However, in Copa America, Argentina have won 16 times and Brazil have won 10 times in 34 meetings between them.
Read AFC Cup: Williams guides Mohun Bagan to group stage eliminating Abahani
Argentina vs. Brazil 2022: Squad Information
Both sides will be looking to put their best XI together in order to dominate the contest. Coaches will also give chances to certain players who are not confirmed for the World Cup 2022. So, this will be a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents against quality opposition. Let’s take a look at the probable starting XI for both teams.
Argentina (possible XI)
Emiliano Martinez (GK); Nahuel Molina (RB), Nicolas Tagliafico (LB), Cristian Romero (CB), Nicolas Otamendi (CB); Rodrigo De Paul (MF), Leandro Paredes (MF), Giovani Lo Celso (MF), Angel Di Maria (MF), Lautaro Martínez (FW), Lionel Messi (FW).
Read Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation
Brazil (Possible XI)
Alisson Becker (GK); Danilo (RB), Marquinhos (CB), Thiago Silva (CB), Alex Telles (LB); Casemiro (MF), Bruno Guimaraes (MF), Fabinho (MF), Vinicius Junior (FW), Rodrygo (FW), Neymar (FW).
Verdict
The forthcoming Argentina vs Brazil 2022 football match at the MCG in Melbourne will be a real showdown for football lovers. This match promises to be tightly contested as Brazil will be eagerly waiting to take revenge for their defeat to Argentina in the Copa America 2021 final at the Maracana Stadium.
Oppositely, Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina team are currently on a 31-match unbeaten streak and they need to remain undefeated for seven more games in order to surpass Italy’s 37-match unbeaten record. Overall, the MCG in Melbourne is a perfect venue to host a mega contest between two of the giants of football.
Read Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Not even an off-day for Karim Benzema was enough to keep Real Madrid from moving closer to clinching the Spanish league title.
Benzema missed two penalty kicks seven minutes apart in the second half but Madrid went on to earn a 3-1 win at Osasuna Wednesday to open a 17-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid, which can no longer catch its rival as both teams have five games left to play. Barcelona is 18 points back but has seven games left to play, meaning it still has a theoretical chance to catch Madrid.
Also read:Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title
“It was another small step toward reaching our objective,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said. “It was a difficult first half but we corrected our mistakes and finished playing well.”
Benzema went scoreless for only the second time in the last 11 games in all competitions. Both of his penalty kicks were saved by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera in the 52nd and 59th minutes. He targeted both of his shots to the same side, with Herrera diving to his right to make the saves.
“It’s not a big deal,” Valverde said. “It can happen. He has scored many goals for us but today it wasn’t meant to be. We know that he will still score a lot in the remaining matches this season.”
Benzema is the league’s leading scorer with 25 goals and has netted 15 times in the last 10 matches in all competitions. The French striker scored hat tricks and decisive goals to help Madrid reach the Champions League semifinals.
Madrid defender David Alaba opened the scoring in the 12th minute after an assist by Benzema, and forward Marco Asensio added to the lead in the 45th after the hosts had equalized through Ante Budimir in the 13th. Lucas Vázquez sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Osasuna, sitting in ninth place and coming off two straight victories, had a goal disallowed for offside in the 32nd.
Alaba had to be substituted at halftime because of an injury, creating a concern ahead of Madrid’s first leg against Manchester City in the semifinals of the Champions League next week.
ATLÉTICO STALLS
Atlético Madrid’s struggles in attack continued in a 0-0 draw at home against relegation-threatened Granada.
It was the fourth time in the last five matches that Atlético failed to score. It had been winless in three games in a row before a last-minute 2-1 win against Espanyol on Sunday.
The result left Diego Simeone’s team in second place, one point ahead of both Barcelona and Sevilla. The Catalan club visits sixth-place Real Sociedad on Thursday, while Sevilla plays at second-to-last place Levante.
Also read:Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation
Atlético opened a four-point cushion over fifth-place Real Betis, the first team outside the Champions League qualification places. Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis lost 1-0 to Elche at home on Tuesday.
Granada had lost two in a row and had conceded 12 goals in its last four matches, but Atlético managed only one shot on target from 22 total attempts at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Granada coach Aitor Karanka made his debut. The team stayed in the relegation zone despite the draw, one point from safety in 18th place.
Atlético has only 11 points of 30 possible against the bottom five clubs in the standings — Mallorca, Cádiz, Granada, Levante and Alavés.
GETAFE MOVES UP
Getafe moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at Celta Vigo, with Borja Mayoral scoring a goal in each half.
It was the first away win for Getafe after 16 consecutive matches without a road victory, dating to last season.
Sitting in 14th place, Getafe is unbeaten in four straight league games.
Celta, in 11th place, lost its second in a row at home.
2nd phase of BPL Football begins Sunday
The 2nd phase of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, the country's most prestigious soccer league, begins on Sunday in Rajshahi and Gopalganj.
In the 2nd phase opener, newcomers Swadhinata KS will play defending champions Bashundhara Kings at 3:30 pm at Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi.
Also read: BPL Football: Sk Russel beat Swadhinata KS 2-1
In the day's other match, Sheikh Jamal DC will play Uttar Baridhara Club, also at 3:30 pm at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
On the following day (Monday), four matches will be held in Dhaka and other regional venues.
Six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will meet Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in Gopalganj while Saif SC will face Bangladesh Police FC in Rajshahi, both will kick off at 3:30 pm.
.In Monday's other matches, Chittagong Abahani will play Rahmatganj MFS at Sylhet District Stadium while Dhaka Mohammedan SC will encounter Sheikh Russel KC at Bashundhara Sports Complex in Dhaka, both will kick-off at 3:30 pm.
After the eleven- round first phase matches, last two times champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably maintained their solo lead in the league table securing 26 points while Dhaka Abahani Ltd followed them distantly with 22 points.
Also read:BPL Football: Kings play 3-3 draw with Sk Jamal; Dhaka Abahani beat Uttar Baridhara 5-2
Two teams-- Sheikh Jamal DC and Chittagong Abahani Ltd --were in the 3rd slot securing 21 points each.
Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Swadhinata KS are struggling at the bottom places securing seven and six points respectively.