NOTTINGHAM, Britain: Alexander Isak said Newcastle believe they will seal a place in next season’s Champions League after the Swede scored twice, including a stoppage time penalty, to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 on Friday.
Victory lifts the Magpies to within one point of fourth-placed Tottenham and with a game in hand to come on Spurs.
“We believe and we know that we have it in our own hands and have a good chance,” said Isak after Newcastle signed off for the international break with back-to-back wins.
“It is important we have gone into this break with a good feeling with two wins from two games.”
Defeat was Forest’s first at home in the league since September and leaves Steve Cooper’s men still two points above the relegation zone.
“It’s always the worst way to lose, in the last couple of minutes, having fought in the game,” said Cooper. “We made some poor football decisions around the build-up to the goals and that’s something we can only blame ourselves for.”
Newcastle ended a near two-month wait for a Premier League win last weekend in beating Wolves and came flying out the blocks at the City Ground.
But the closest the visitors came to turning their early dominance into a lead was when Renan Lodi turned Isak’s cross onto his own crossbar.
Instead it was Forest who went in front completely against the run of play thanks to a howler from Sven Botman.
The Dutch center-back has been a major factor in Newcastle’s success this season but his attempted pass back to goalkeeper Nick Pope was intercepted by Emmanuel Dennis, who produced a stunning chipped finish for just his second Forest goal.
The crossbar came to the home side’s rescue again when Sean Longstaff’s deflected strike from the edge of the box came back off the woodwork.
Newcastle finally got their reward in first half stoppage time when the club’s record signing Isak acrobatically flicked in Joe Willock’s cross off the post.
The pattern of play continued after the break as the Magpies laid siege to the Forest goal.
Former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas had to be at his best to turn over powerful drives from Elliot Anderson and Bruno Guimaraes.
Anderson then thought he had his first senior goal when he headed in Isak’s cross at the back post.
However, the goal was controversially disallowed after a VAR check for offside against Longstaff in the build-up despite the ball breaking to the midfielder off a Forest player.
Just when Forest looked set to hold out for a precious point in their battle to beat the drop, Moussa Niakhate needlessly put his hand up to block Isak’s tame header.
The Swedish international’s debut season in England has been blighted by injury, but he showed his class by keeping his head to slot past Navas and spark wild scenes of celebration among the away support.
“It’s a massive win and I thought we deserved it,” said Howe.
“To come back is always a great way to win and the character shown in the group is very pleasing.”
Isak fires Newcastle to within sight of Premier League top four
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Isak fires Newcastle to within sight of Premier League top four
- Newcastle ended a near two-month wait for a Premier League win last weekend in beating Wolves and came flying out the blocks at the City Ground
Inter beat Empoli to keep pressure on Serie A leaders Napoli
MILAN: Inter Milan kept in touch with Napoli after seeing off struggling Empoli 3-1 on Sunday and going three points behind the Serie A leaders.
Goals in the second half from Lautaro Martinez, Denzel Dumfries and Marcus Thuram ensured a hard-fought win for champions Inter at the San Siro without their suspended coach Simone Inzaghi.
Napoli have become the team to beat thanks to their thrilling 3-2 win at Atalanta, who are seven points off the pace in third, on Saturday but Inter also have a game in hand.
However, Inter have a packed schedule due to their Champions League commitments while Napoli have no European football after their disastrous title defense last season.
As well as their final two league phase fixtures in the Champions League — against Sparta Prague and Monaco in consecutive weeks — Simone Inzaghi’s team have the Milan derby and trips to Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta between now and mid-March.
“We barely have time to think because we’re always playing,” said Inzaghi’s assistant Massimiliano Farris to DAZN.
“We’ve won 12 times and drawn three in our last 15 league matches and we’re in with a great chance of getting to the last 16 of the Champions League without having to go through the play-offs.”
Captain Martinez’s distance effort in the 55th minute took his league total to eight goals from 18 appearances, some way off the 24 he racked up on the way to guiding Inter to their 20th league title last term.
The Argentina striker hadn’t scored at home since early November before Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Bologna but his goal against Empoli was his second in as many matches at the San Siro.
Dumfries’ thumping header, from Kristjan Asllani’s 79th-minute corner, was key as Inter were far from their best and once Inter loanee Sebastiano Esposito halved the deficit for 14th-placed Empoli in the 83rd minute a wave of worry swept the stadium.
Fans breathed a collective sign of relief six minutes later when Thuram swept in his 13th league goal of the campaign to seal the points and keep Inter’s title defense rolling on.
Earlier, Lazio stayed in Serie A’s Champions League places after thumping struggling Verona 3-0.
Marco Baroni’s Lazio went ahead with just a minute on the clock through Samuel Gigot, and further strikes from Boulaye Dia and captain Mattia Zaccagni put them fourth, two points above Juventus who beat AC Milan on Saturday.
Sunday’s success ended a three-match winless streak for Lazio, which included derby defeat to rivals Roma, and left Verona in the relegation zone.
Verona slumped to their 14th defeat in 21 league fixtures in front of new chairman Italo Zanzi following the club’s acquisition by American private equity firm Presidio Investors on Wednesday.
The new owners have a job on their hands at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi as Verona are deep in the fight against the drop, sitting in 18th place and separated by goal difference from Como who are just outside the bottom three and host Udinese on Monday.
Verona are in the drop zone due to Cagliari’s 4-1 thumping of fellow strugglers Lecce which moved the Sardinian outfit up to 13th.
Just two points separate Cagliari and Verona, with Lecce, Parma — who drew 1-1 with second-from-bottom Venezia — and Empoli all on 20 points.
Verona, who finished the match with 10 men following Ondrej Duda’s late sending-off, make the short trip to regional rivals Venezia next week.
Barcelona’s Balde complains of racist abuse in Getafe draw
- Earlier Saturday, in Spain’s second division, Elche player Bambo Diaby also faced racist abuse in a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon
MADRID: Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde complained of racist abuse aimed at him from Getafe supporters in a 1-1 draw in La Liga on Saturday.
After Hansi Flick’s side were dealt another set-back in the title race at Getafe’s Coliseum stadium Balde reported the abuse in a post-match interview.
“I received various racist insults from some fans today, and I think that’s something I should say here. I think it’s something that should not keep happening,” Balde told Movistar.
The defender said he informed the referee during the game, who activated Spain’s racism protocol — leading to a public announcement to supporters in the stadium to desist.
Flick said those shouting racist abuse should not come to matches.
“There’s no space for this in football or in life, this is unbelievable, in the time (we live in now) it’s totally wrong,” Flick told reporters.
“They have to stay at home. Not go to the match, they have to stay at home.
“I think we have to fight against them, it’s the best thing, and the people around them can also do something... I think everyone can do it.”
Earlier Saturday, in Spain’s second division, Elche player Bambo Diaby also faced racist abuse in a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon.
There have been numerous instances of racism in Spanish football stadiums in recent years, with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior often targeted for abuse.
In November three fans were arrested after racist abuse was aimed at Balde and his Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal in the Clasico against Real Madrid.
Arsenal’s title bid rocked by Villa fightback
- Mikel Arteta’s side were on course to keep pace with leaders Liverpool after goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz
- There was an agonizing finale for Arsenal as Mikel Merino’s late winner was disallowed for handball by Havertz
LONDON: Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered a major setback as they blew a two-goal lead in a damaging 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side were on course to keep pace with leaders Liverpool after goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz put them in control at the Emirates Stadium.
But the Gunners collapsed midway through the second half as Youri Tielemans’ first league goal this season handed Villa a lifeline before Ollie Watkins bagged the equalizer.
Boyhood Arsenal fan Watkins was about to be replaced by Jhon Duran before his 10th league goal this season put a huge dent in the north Londoners’ hopes of catching Liverpool.
There was an agonizing finale for Arsenal as Mikel Merino’s late winner was disallowed for handball by Havertz.
Second-placed Arsenal are now six points behind Liverpool as their bid for a first title since 2004 continues to splutter.
Darwin’s Nunez’s stoppage-time double for Liverpool sealed a 2-0 win at Brentford just half an hour before Arsenal kicked off, with groans audible from the stands as the result reached fans at the Emirates.
And with Liverpool holding a game in hand on Arsenal, Arne Slot’s men are firmly in control of the title race.
Arsenal’s 2-1 win against north London rivals Tottenham on Wednesday had ended a damaging run of three games without a win in all competitions.
That frustrating streak included the FA Cup exit against 10-man Manchester United and a League Cup semifinal first leg loss to Newcastle.
There was a pre-match blow for Arsenal as French defender William Saliba was ruled out with a “minor issue” and Villa eventually exploited his absence.
Villa had ruined Arsenal’s title bid last term, beating them twice in the league including a crucial 2-0 victory in north London in April.
Despite partially avenging those losses with a win at Villa earlier this season, Arsenal found themselves frustrated by their former boss Unai Emery again.
Despite being penned deep inside their own half for most of the opening 10 minutes, Villa should have taken the lead when Ian Maatsen’s fierce strike from 12 yards forced a fine save from David Raya.
Arsenal’s pressure was rewarded in the 35th minute as Leandro Trossard whipped a cross into the six-yard box and Martinelli got in front of Maatsen to stab past Martinez, whose save couldn’t quite stop the ball crossing the line before he clawed it out.
Havertz headed over from Martin Odegaard’s free-kick, but the much-maligned German finally ended his recent struggles to double Arsenal’s lead in the 55th minute.
Trossard cleverly shifted the ball away from Villa defender Matty Cash and whipped a low cross toward Havertz, whose close-range finish eluded Martinez’s weak attempted save.
The 25-year-old’s first goal in four games took him to 13 in 29 matches in all competitions this season, but he would still finish as the villain.
Tielemans led Villa’s instant fightback, getting in front of Merino to meet Lucas Digne’s cross with a diving header from six yards in the 60th minute.
Arsenal were rocking and Tielemans nearly equalized 90 seconds later with a snap-shot that smacked back off the post.
Martinelli volleyed wide from Gabriel’s lofted pass, foreshadowing the pain to come for Arsenal in the 68th minute.
Cash’s cross arrowed into the Arsenal area and Havertz couldn’t head clear, giving Watkins the chance to guide a clinical finish into the roof of the net from close-range.
Merino briefly thought he had spared Arsenal’s blushes but his strike from the edge of the area was disallowed for the clear contact with Havertz’s arm.
In a thrilling finale, Merino hit the post before Martinez made a superb save to repel Trossard’s effort from the rebound as Arteta held his head in disbelief.
Kane calls on Bayern to extend with pal Dier
- Kane said he hoped the club would extend Dier’s 2025-expiring deal
- “He’s come in the last couple of games and done really, really well, and got two clean sheets”
MUNICH: Harry Kane called on Bayern Munich to extend Eric Dier’s deal at the club, saying he would “love” to continue playing with his former Spurs and England team-mate.
Dier was a surprise signing when he arrived from Spurs in January 2024 but has gone on to play 31 games for the German giants.
The 31-year-old center-back has started three of his past four league games for Bayern despite competition from central defenders Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae.
Speaking to AFP and other media after Bayern’s 3-2 home win over Wolfsburg on Saturday, Kane said he hoped the club would extend Dier’s 2025-expiring deal.
“Eric’s been great, he’s been waiting patiently, obviously Upa (Upamecano) and Min-jae have been fantastic this season, so Eric’s just had to bide his time.
“He’s come in the last couple of games and done really, really well, and got two clean sheets, so, yeah, of course I’d love Eric to stay.
“I guess that’s between him and the club, I haven’t had any conversations with him, so we’ll have to see.”
Including matches for Bayern, Tottenham and England at junior and senior level, the duo have played 386 games together.
Bayern went trophyless for the first time in 11 seasons in 2023-24, continuing Kane’s run of never having won a team trophy, but the England captain backed Bayern to break through this year.
“Last year there were games where we were struggling but we just found a way to win.
“It’s been a bit different this year... we’ve been dominating every game we’ve played.
“We’re becoming a really dominant team in Germany and in Europe.”
Leganes snap Liga leaders Atletico’s winning streak
- Matija Nastasic nodded Leganes ahead early in the second half
- “We didn’t get into the game well enough, I thought we were low on energy, it wasn’t enough from us,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak told DAZN
MADRID: Antoine Griezmann missed a late penalty as La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid stumbled to a shock 1-0 defeat at Leganes on Saturday, ending a club record run of 15 consecutive victories.
Matija Nastasic nodded Leganes ahead early in the second half, with Griezmann dragging a poor penalty wide in the final stages to consign Atletico to a second defeat of the league season.
Diego Simeone’s side’s superb form toward the end of 2024 took them above rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona at the halfway point, but their poor display against Leganes opened the door to Spain’s big two.
Real Madrid have the chance to move top of the table on Sunday when they host Las Palmas, while Barcelona can cut down the six-point gap on Atletico later Saturday at Getafe.
“We didn’t get into the game well enough, I thought we were low on energy, it wasn’t enough from us,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak told DAZN.
“We’ll keep our head up after (winning) 15 games, we lost this one and we have to keep going forward... unfortunately the streak is over.”
The goalkeeper said Atletico would keep battling to win the title for the first time since 2021.
“The league is long, there are a lot of games until the end and it’s clear that it doesn’t end in January,” added Oblak.
Madrid minnows Leganes, 15th, battled well in defense to keep Atletico at bay in the first half.
Rojiblancos striker Julian Alvarez hit the woodwork and had another effort blocked, while Griezmann struck the post and Marko Dmitrovic batted away his second effort from the rebound.
At the other end Juan Cruz threatened on a rare forray forward for the hosts but Oblak reacted well to keep out his cross-shot.
Early in the second half, Serbian defender Nastasic headed Leganes in front from a corner, and they protected their advantage without much stress until controversially conceding a penalty for a debatable handball by Sergio Gonzalez.
Griezmann took responsibility from the penalty spot, but rolled his 90th-minute effort wide of the goal.
Substitute Angel Correa had a final chance to level for Atletico but Dmitrovic bravely blocked his effort from close range to secure Leganes’ victory.
Leganes also beat Barcelona in December and Dmitrovic said their shock wins come down to elbow grease.
“There’s nothing special (about the team), there’s work behind every game, the whole week,” said Dmitrovic.
“Yes, we were capable of beating two of the three biggest sides in La Liga, now there’s no excuses — what we did against Barca and Atletico we have to repeat in other games.
“You can’t guarantee you’ll win games in this league, but the same effort, desire, hope and work, we have to repeat.”
Atletico must now bounce back in the Champions League, where they are aiming to reach the knock-out rounds, against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
“They were 15 extraordinary games, I feel enormously proud at having set the (consecutive) winning record in Atletico’s history,” Simeone told DAZN.
“Their goal gave them the strength to keep working hard in defense, and it’s a strength to defend as well as Leganes did...
“We have to accept that defeat is part of the game and prepare ourselves for Tuesday.”
