Defending FA Cup champions Arsenal have booked a place in the final following a tough 2-1 victory after extra time against second-tier side Reading, with World Champions Mesut Özil and Per Mertesacker in the starting line-up.
It would be Arsenal's twelfth FA Cup triumph should they go on to lift the trophy, making them the record holders in the oldest club competition in the world. They will face the winner of Sunday's semi-final between Liverpool and Aston Villa on 30th May in Wembley. Arsenal's 3-2 victory (a.e.t.) against Hull City last year put them on eleven FA Cup titles, level with Manchester United.
Özil was a key figure in the hard-fought win, as the underdogs put in a passionate performance to give Arsenal a real run for their money. The Germany international assisted both goals for Chilean match-winner Alexis Sanchez. Garath McCleary scored the equaliser for Reading, while Mertesacker limped off the pitch with an injury after 63 minutes.
Klose and Lazio lose 2-0 in Turin
Miroslav Klose and Lazio are in danger of losing their grip on second place in the standings following a 2-0 defeat on the road against Serie A table toppers Juventus. Lazio, who were unbeaten in nine going into the game, are currently just one point ahead of city rivals AS Roma, who will play relegation candidates Atalanta at home on Sunday, where a victory would be enough to see them leapfrog their archrivals into a direct qualifying spot for the Champions League.
Carlos Tévez and Leonardo Bonucci scored first-half goals for the record champions, ending the contest and paving their way to a fourth straight Scudetto, as they currently hold a 15-point lead with just seven games left to play.
No joy for Mustafi against Barca
FC Barcelona have consolidated their position at the top of La Liga in Spain thanks to a 2-0 home victory against World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi’s Valencia CF side. The win puts Barca five points ahead of Real Madrid for the time being, in what was their eighth straight competitive win. Former World Player of the Year Lionel Messi scored his 400th competitive goal for the Catalan giants.
Three days ahead of their return leg against French champions Paris St. Germain, it was Uruguayan international Luis Suarez and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi who fired the hosts towards victory. It was Messi's 35th goal of the season.
Mustafi was unable to prevent the defeat, as Valencia lost their first game after a run of ten matches without a defeat. Marc-André ter Stegen was only a spectator on the Barca bench.
Victory for Kroos
Defending FA Cup champions Arsenal have booked a place in the final following a tough 2-1 victory after extra time against second-tier side Reading, with World Champions Mesut Özil and Per Mertesacker in the starting line-up.
It would be Arsenal's twelfth FA Cup triumph should they go on to lift the trophy, making them the record holders in the oldest club competition in the world. They will face the winner of Sunday's semi-final between Liverpool and Aston Villa on 30th May in Wembley. Arsenal's 3-2 victory (a.e.t.) against Hull City last year put them on eleven FA Cup titles, level with Manchester United.
Özil was a key figure in the hard-fought win, as the underdogs put in a passionate performance to give Arsenal a real run for their money. The Germany international assisted both goals for Chilean match-winner Alexis Sanchez. Garath McCleary scored the equaliser for Reading, while Mertesacker limped off the pitch with an injury after 63 minutes.
Klose and Lazio lose 2-0 in Turin
Miroslav Klose and Lazio are in danger of losing their grip on second place in the standings following a 2-0 defeat on the road against Serie A table toppers Juventus. Lazio, who were unbeaten in nine going into the game, are currently just one point ahead of city rivals AS Roma, who will play relegation candidates Atalanta at home on Sunday, where a victory would be enough to see them leapfrog their archrivals into a direct qualifying spot for the Champions League.
Carlos Tévez and Leonardo Bonucci scored first-half goals for the record champions, ending the contest and paving their way to a fourth straight Scudetto, as they currently hold a 15-point lead with just seven games left to play.
No joy for Mustafi against Barca
FC Barcelona have consolidated their position at the top of La Liga in Spain thanks to a 2-0 home victory against World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi’s Valencia CF side. The win puts Barca five points ahead of Real Madrid for the time being, in what was their eighth straight competitive win. Former World Player of the Year Lionel Messi scored his 400th competitive goal for the Catalan giants.
Three days ahead of their return leg against French champions Paris St. Germain, it was Uruguayan international Luis Suarez and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi who fired the hosts towards victory. It was Messi's 35th goal of the season.
Mustafi was unable to prevent the defeat, as Valencia lost their first game after a run of ten matches without a defeat. Marc-André ter Stegen was only a spectator on the Barca bench.
Victory for Kroos
Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured a 3-1 win over Malaga to warm up for the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal with city rivals Atletico (0-0 on aggregate). Toni Kroos started for Real as goals from Sergio Ramos, James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo fired the Germany international's side to victory, keeping them just points adrift of league leaders Barcelona.
