BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa thumped top-five rivals Newcastle United 4-1 at Villa Park to keep themselves in the thick of the race for Champions League qualification on Saturday.
Five days after being knocked out of Europe’s top club competition by Paris St. Germain in a thriller, Villa returned to Premier League action in emphatic fashion with the recalled Ollie Watkins opening the scoring inside the first minute.
Fabian Schar equalized for third-placed Newcastle with a header before halftime but Villa blazed clear after the break with Ian Maatsen restoring their lead before a Dan Burn own goal and substitute Amadou Onana’s superb finish sealed the points.
Victory lifted Villa three points above Chelsea into sixth place with 57 points from 33 games, level with Nottingham Forest who play on Monday.
Newcastle have 59 points, one more than fourth-placed Manchester City, in what is turning into a fierce battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The top five in the Premier League will all qualify.
Newcastle had won five successive Premier League games and the League Cup final but were brought crashing back down to earth by a superb Villa side who could have scored far more.
Watkins was twice denied by the woodwork in the first half as the England forward produced a dazzling display having been left out of the starting line-up in recent games.
Unai Emery’s Villa go to Manchester City on Tuesday when victory would send them into the top four.
Newcastle, again with manager Eddie Howe absent as he recovers from pneumonia, were rocked after 33 minutes when Youri Tielemans slid a pass to Watkins whose shot took a big deflection off Schar to wrong-foot goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Watkins thumped a left-footer against the post soon after and then saw a header rebound off the woodwork as Villa buzzed around a listless Newcastle.
The visitors did improve though and when Harvey Barnes sent over a cross, Schar arrived at the back post and his header went in off Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.
Villa looked the more threatening after the break and took the lead when a surging Maatsen was played in by Watkins and he rifled a shot across Pope and in.
Emery sent on Jacob Ramsey and Onana with little under 20 minutes left and both made an immediate impact.
Ramsey’s low cross was turned in by Burn and then Onana put the icing on the cake with a powerful finish from the edge of the penalty area after incessant Villa pressure.
Vibrant Villa crush Newcastle to close in on top five
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Vibrant Villa crush Newcastle to close in on top five
- Villa returned to Premier League action in emphatic fashion
- Victory lifted Villa three points above Chelsea into sixth place
Haaland eyes FA Cup to save face after Man City’s ‘horrific’ season
- Erling Haaland said Manchester City must deliver in the FA Cup final on Saturday to salvage something from a “horrific” season that saw them deposed as English champions
MANCHESTER: Erling Haaland said Manchester City must deliver in the FA Cup final on Saturday to salvage something from a “horrific” season that saw them deposed as English champions for the first time in five years.
City face Crystal Palace at Wembley aiming to avoid a first trophyless campaign since Pep Guardiola’s debut season in charge in 2016/17.
Guardiola’s men sit fourth in the Premier League, 18 points adrift of champions Liverpool, and in a battle just to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football next season in their final two league matches.
City were also dumped out of the Champions League before the last 16 for the first time in 12 years by Real Madrid in the play-off round.
“This season has been tough,” Haaland told the BBC. “It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun. That’s why we need to finish well and get a trophy.
“It is a good habit to reach Wembley and always important to win trophies. We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this.”
Haaland is set to start the final after making his comeback from a six-week injury layoff in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Southampton.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has missed most of the season with a serious knee injury, while City have been beset by fitness troubles for a series of key defenders.
But Haaland said that should offer no excuses to a club with the resources at City’s disposal.
“Of course, we have had injuries throughout the season. But we should not search for excuses,” added the Norwegian.
“Every single one of us hasn’t been good enough and we haven’t been at our best, so when you are not at your best you aren’t going to win games in this country because it’s so hard.”
Ben Sulayem drives major improvements to FIA’s international Sporting Code
- New guidance to significantly reduce maximum penalties for drivers by 50%
DUBAI: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, has announced that it is to make major improvements to Appendix B of its International Sporting Code following an extensive review commissioned by FIA’s President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The latest version of Appendix B of the ISC was introduced in January 2025, aligning the FIA with other global sporting organizations such as FIFA, the National Football League, and World Rugby, all of which have strong codes of conduct to protect the integrity of their respective sports.
Sulayem said: “As a former rally driver I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition. I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA world championships, FIA member clubs and other motor sports organizations.
“The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute. The FIA will always be committed to ensuring motor sport is accessible for all our sporting family.”
The ISC provides the stewards with the necessary regulatory tools to ensure they have all relevant information regarding the range of penalties that may be imposed and the procedures to be followed. This enables them to apply penalties in a consistent and transparent manner.
The review was carried out in collaboration with the FIA Drivers’ Committee and Ronan Morgan, its president, as well as the FIA Formula One steward chairs. Input was also received from FIA members clubs and other motor sport organizations across the seven FIA world championships.
The main changes to Appendix B are: The base maximum penalty has been reduced generally from €10,000 to €5,000. This is a reduction of 50 percent. However, for FIA world championships, where multipliers are involved, the reductions will be even more significant.
Stewards will have the option to fully suspend a penalty for certain types of breach, provided it is the first offense by the driver or team.
Following approval via e-vote by the WMSC (World Motor Sport Council), the amended Appendix B will allow stewards to differentiate between controlled and non-controlled environments, effectively recognizing the difference between language used in “uncontrolled” and “controlled” environments. Controlled environments include settings such as press conferences, while uncontrolled environments refer to spontaneous comments made by drivers or teams when on track or during a rally stage.
Mitigating circumstances will continue to be considered, with additional guidance available to promote consistency and fairness for all parties in the application of Appendix B.
Abuse of officials will now result in sporting penalties rather than fines, aligning motor sport with other major global sports organizations.
Racial and discriminatory comments will continue to be addressed firmly.
Stewards will retain the supreme authority to decide which penalty to impose in the event of a breach of the ISC.
Morgan said: “Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are rightly seen as ambassadors for the wider world of motor sport. How they act really does matter, but it is important to recognize that there is a difference between what is said during a race and in a press conference.
“Today’s changes further strengthen the FIA’s International Sporting Code, supporting our drivers by understanding the pressures they face during the heat of competition.”
Al-Ain to host 6th IMMAF Youth World Championships in July
- Tournament will be held at the Al-Ain Convention Center with more than 1,000 male and female athletes from 60 countries taking part
ABU DHABI: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation has announced that the sixth IMMAF Youth World Championships will be held in Al-Ain Region for the first time from July 21-27.
The tournament will be staged at the Al-Ain Convention Center with more than 1,000 male and female athletes from 60 countries competing in the championship’s largest event to date.
The championship, organized by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, or IMMAF, and hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation for the fourth year in a row, serves as a global platform to discover emerging talents in mixed martial arts and to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading international sports destination.
The championship is the culmination of a long-standing collaboration between IMMAF and the UAEJJF, with a prior agreement extended last year to continue hosting the event in Abu Dhabi for three more years, from 2025 to 2027.
Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al-Dhaheri, UAE Jiu-Jitsu and IMMAF board member, said: “We are committed to delivering an exceptional edition of the championship and take pride in hosting top emerging talents from around the world.
“This underlines the UAE’s strong position as a prime platform for organizing and hosting big international competitions and a desirable destination for athletes worldwide. This tournament builds on the nation’s successful sporting events, which have received considerable international praise. It also plays an important role in our attempts to expand the sport within the country by motivating our athletes to excel and earn top honors.
“The selection of Al-Ain Region is due to its historical significance, rich cultural heritage, tourist attractions and natural landscapes, which complement the championship’s dynamic atmosphere to offer an unprecedented experience for participants and spectators,” he added.
Kerrith Brown, IMMAF president, said: “The IMMAF Youth World Championships continue to set the global benchmark for youth development in mixed martial arts, and we’re proud to see the event grow year after year. This year, we’re honored to bring the championships to the world-class Al-Ain Convention Center in collaboration with the UAE MMA Federation, marking an exciting new chapter for IMMAF.
“With over 1,000 youth athletes expected to compete, the 2025 edition will be our largest yet. It’s a powerful statement about the future of MMA, and I look forward to witnessing the next generation of stars take center stage.”
Pedersen makes it 3 wins out of 5 at Giro d’Italia to extend his overall lead
- The 29-year-old Pedersen also won two of the three opening stages in Albania to take the leader’s pink jersey back to Italy
- With the bonus seconds Pedersen picked up, the Danish cyclist extended his lead over pre-race favorite Primoz Roglic to 17 seconds
MATERA, Italy: Overall leader Mads Pedersen made it three wins out of five at this year’s Giro d’Italia as he won a bunch sprint at the end of the fifth stage on Wednesday.
Pedersen just managed to edge out Edoardo Zambanini in a finish that was so close the Lidl-Trek rider had to ask a teammate: “Did I win? Are you sure?”
Tom Pidcock was third at the end of the 151-kilometer (94-mile) route from Ceglie Messapica to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Matera, which is renowned for its “Sassi,” or ancient cave dwellings.
The 29-year-old Pedersen also won two of the three opening stages in Albania to take the leader’s pink jersey back to Italy.
“Now it’s really incredible and to win in this jersey as well, it’s insane and it’s way more than I ever dreamt about,” Pedersen said. “What a Giro we have and what a team I have around me.”
With the bonus seconds Pedersen picked up, the Danish cyclist extended his lead over pre-race favorite Primoz Roglic to 17 seconds, with Mathias Vacek another seven seconds back.
With a kilometer to go, Pedersen appeared too far back but he managed to get up to the front before a late corner and then got a great lead out from Vacek.
Pedersen then launched his final sprint early and just barely held off Zambanini, who almost managed to beat him after coming up along the barriers.
“I used a lot of energy to move back up on Vacek’s wheel,” Pedersen said. “I had to spend energy to come back to at least fight for the win. Then luckily I had enough for the last sprint. So that was a really tough one.”
Prior to this year’s race, Pedersen had only won one stage in the Giro, two years ago in Naples — where Thursday’s sixth stage also ends.
“Every day we try to win as as much as possible and we try again tomorrow,” he said.
The stage is the longest leg of the three-week race and has two categorized climbs on the 227-kilometer route from Potenza.
The Giro ends in Rome on June 1.
Bologna end 51-year wait for a major trophy by beating AC Milan to win Italian Cup
- It was coach Vincenzo Italiano’s first win in a final, having lost back-to-back Europa Conference League title matches while in charge of Fiorentina
- The result secured Bologna a spot in next season’s Europa League and left Milan with the very real likelihood of missing out on European competition
ROME: Bologna ended a 51-year wait for a major trophy when it beat AC Milan 1-0 to win the Italian Cup on Wednesday.
Dan Ndoye returned from injury to score the only goal and help Bologna to their first Italian Cup since 1974. The club, which is owned by Canadian Joey Saputo, has only won two second-division titles in between.
It was also coach Vincenzo Italiano’s first win in a final, having lost back-to-back Europa Conference League title matches while in charge of Fiorentina and finishing runner-up in the 2023 Italian Cup.
“They were three hefty disappointments,” Italiano told broadcaster Mediaset. “I didn’t think I could immediately come back and get my own back. But we succeeded and I’m happy.
“I add an important trophy to my mantlepiece and I truly dedicate it to the guys, who were extraordinary.”
Italiano had been flung in the air by his players in celebration immediately after the final whistle. Many of them were in tears of joy, much like some of the thousands of Bologna fans in the stands.
And the 47-year-old coach was eager to get back to the festivities.
“Now let me go and celebrate, because this is something really incredible,” Italiano said with a smile at the end of his television interview.
It is Italiano’s first season at Bologna after replacing Thiago Motta, who left to Juventus after steering the team to their first-ever Champions League qualification. Motta was fired by Juventus earlier this season.
The result secured Bologna a spot in next season’s Europa League and left Milan with the very real likelihood of missing out on European competition.
It could spell the end of Sérgio Conceiçao’s short stint in charge of the Rossoneri, with Milan eighth in Serie A after a disappointing season.
Both teams came to Rome looking to end an Italian Cup drought, as Milan last lifted the trophy 22 years ago — losing two finals in the intervening years.
The match was played at a high tempo from the start and both goalkeepers were called into making impressive saves in the opening 10 minutes.
Tension threatened to boil over toward the end of the first half and Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson was left bloodied with what looked like a broken nose after a sliding tackle on Rafael Leão, who caught him on the face with his leg as he was upended.
Bologna broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half. Riccardo Orsolini was tackled by Theo Hernández in the area but the ball fell to Ndoye, who carved out some space before curling into the right side of the net.
The 24-year-old Switzerland international had missed Bologna’s previous three matches with a thigh injury.
Milan had fought back from a goal down to beat Bologna 3-1 in the Italian league on Friday, but there was to be no such comeback in Rome.
