News

Trapp crowned Ligue 1 champion, Arsenal's FA Cup dream over

It’s only March, but goalkeeper Kevin Trapp has already helped Paris St. Germain wrap up the Ligue 1 title in France in record time. The former Eintracht Frankfurt player was part of a 9-0 win over bottom club ESTAC Troyes that confirmed PSG’s place in the history books. Second-placed AS Monaco opened the door to the opportunity on Friday with a 2-2 draw against Stade Reims.

Goals from Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot had the Champions League quarterfinalists 3-0 up at the break. The game was not to go without the influence of top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who netted four goals in the second half to go along with another Cavani strike and a Matthieu Saunier own goal as Paris recorded their highest ever league victory.

PSG number one Trapp, who has missed just one game, had little to do between the sticks, as has often been the case this season. Now crowned French champions for a fourth successive campaign, Paris set a new record by going unbeaten in 36 straight Ligue 1 matches over multiple seasons earlier this year, before losing 2-1 to Lyon in late February – their only defeat to date in 2015/16.

Arsenal out of the FA Cup

Record FA Cup champions Arsenal’s dreams of a third successive title have come to an end. World Cup winners Per Mertesacker and Mesut Özil started as the Gunners were beaten 2-1 at home by Watford in the quarterfinals, meaning the trophy will have a different name on it this season for the first time since Wigan in 2013.

Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura put the underdog visitors into a surprise lead in the second half, before a Danny Welbeck goal, set up by Özil, pulled Arsenal back into contention with two minutes to play. However, Welbeck missed a golden opportunity to force a replay soon after and the London club’s hopes of a third successive FA Cup, something that hasn’t been done since Blackburn Rovers in 1886, came to an end.

Mustafi’s Valencia lose local derby

Shkodran Mustafi’s Valencia CF might well have to wave goodbye to their European qualifying hopes in Spain’s Primera Division. The Germany international was part of a 1-0 loss to local rivals UD Levante, leaving Valencia twelfth in the table.

January signing Giuseppe Rossi gave last-placed Levante hope in the relegation battle with his third goal of the campaign. The Italian also hit the post in the first half.

Following their 3-0 win earlier in the season, Valencia missed the chance to do the double in the Derbi del Túria for the first time in their history. Mustafi played the full 90 minutes, but was unable to provide the necessary stability to the away side’s defence.

Roma tighten grip on third place



It’s only March, but goalkeeper Kevin Trapp has already helped Paris St. Germain wrap up the Ligue 1 title in France in record time. The former Eintracht Frankfurt player was part of a 9-0 win over bottom club ESTAC Troyes that confirmed PSG’s place in the history books. Second-placed AS Monaco opened the door to the opportunity on Friday with a 2-2 draw against Stade Reims.

Goals from Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot had the Champions League quarterfinalists 3-0 up at the break. The game was not to go without the influence of top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who netted four goals in the second half to go along with another Cavani strike and a Matthieu Saunier own goal as Paris recorded their highest ever league victory.

PSG number one Trapp, who has missed just one game, had little to do between the sticks, as has often been the case this season. Now crowned French champions for a fourth successive campaign, Paris set a new record by going unbeaten in 36 straight Ligue 1 matches over multiple seasons earlier this year, before losing 2-1 to Lyon in late February – their only defeat to date in 2015/16.

Arsenal out of the FA Cup

Record FA Cup champions Arsenal’s dreams of a third successive title have come to an end. World Cup winners Per Mertesacker and Mesut Özil started as the Gunners were beaten 2-1 at home by Watford in the quarterfinals, meaning the trophy will have a different name on it this season for the first time since Wigan in 2013.

Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura put the underdog visitors into a surprise lead in the second half, before a Danny Welbeck goal, set up by Özil, pulled Arsenal back into contention with two minutes to play. However, Welbeck missed a golden opportunity to force a replay soon after and the London club’s hopes of a third successive FA Cup, something that hasn’t been done since Blackburn Rovers in 1886, came to an end.

Mustafi’s Valencia lose local derby

Shkodran Mustafi’s Valencia CF might well have to wave goodbye to their European qualifying hopes in Spain’s Primera Division. The Germany international was part of a 1-0 loss to local rivals UD Levante, leaving Valencia twelfth in the table.

January signing Giuseppe Rossi gave last-placed Levante hope in the relegation battle with his third goal of the campaign. The Italian also hit the post in the first half.

Following their 3-0 win earlier in the season, Valencia missed the chance to do the double in the Derbi del Túria for the first time in their history. Mustafi played the full 90 minutes, but was unable to provide the necessary stability to the away side’s defence.

Roma tighten grip on third place

Despite being without injured Germany international Antonio Rüdiger, AS Roma secured an important win in Serie A as they look to secure qualification for next season’s Champions League. The club from the Italian capital were 2-1 winners away to Udinese on Sunday, ensuring they moved five points clear of fourth-placed AC Fiorentina, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Hellas Verona.