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 [April 17, 2023]
(Reuters) -Talking points from the weekend in European soccer
leagues:
SERIE A FAVOURITES STRUGGLE AFTER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION
Three Serie A sides will continue their Champions League campaigns
in the quarter-finals next week but things did not go to plan for
any of them in domestic action over the weekend.
AC Milan and Napoli were held to disappointing draws against Bologna
and Hellas Verona respectively, while Inter Milan suffered a shock
loss at home to promoted side Monza.
It was Inter's fourth defeat in their last five league outings as
they failed to get back into the top four, while they also lost
three consecutive home games in Serie A without scoring for the
first time ever.
Runaway leaders Napoli, meanwhile, managed to convert their lion's
share of possession against Verona into just one shot on target,
ending the game goalless.
All three teams will play their deciding European clashes next week,
with Milan defending a one-goal advantage at Napoli while Inter have
a two-goal lead at home to Benfica.
BAYERN AND DORTMUND BOTH SLIP UP IN TENSE TITLE RACE
Two points still separate Bundesliga title rivals Bayern Munich and
Borussia Dortmund after both sides failed to win.
Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim.
Thomas Tuchel's side were sluggish without the suspended Sadio Mane,
which will be a cause for concern as they look to overhaul a 3-0
deficit in the Champions League quarter-finals versus Manchester
City in the return leg in Munich on Wednesday.
But Bayern were allowed to breathe easier when Dortmund shot
themselves in the foot by squandering a 2-0 lead and conceding a
97th-minute equaliser to draw 3-3 with 10-man VfB Stuttgart.
A win would have seen Dortmund go level with Bayern but their draw
left coach Edin Terzic frustrated.
"We thought we had already experienced dumb things this season, but
this tops everything," he said.
BARCELONA STUCK IN A RUT AHEAD OF ATLETICO VISIT
Barcelona have had one hand on the LaLiga title for quite some time
but two consecutive 0-0 draws will have Xavi's side looking
nervously over their shoulder despite their 11-point lead over Real
Madrid with nine games to go.
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Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico
Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 8,
2023 FC Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele reacts REUTERS/Juan Medina
The goalless draw at Getafe on Sunday marked the
first time Barcelona had two consecutive 0-0 results since September
1993, with Xavi blaming the dry pitch conditions and even the fact
that they had to play in bright sunshine for their failings.
Without the injured Pedri and Ousmane Dembele, Barca are struggling
to get the best out of LaLiga top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who has
one goal in his last six league games.
Up next are high-flying Atletico Madrid, who won 2-1 at home to
Almeria on Sunday for a sixth straight victory and their 13th league
game in a row unbeaten.
Barca have by far the best defensive record in LaLiga, having
conceded only nine timess, but Xavi knows stopping third-placed
Atletico from scoring will be no mean feat even though they were the
last team to deny them a goal in January.
MARSEILLE, LENS, MONACO IN SPRINT FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTS
With Paris St Germain closing in on the Ligue 1 title, the main
point of interest at the end of the season will be the three-way
battle for the Champions League spots.
PSG beat RC Lens 3-1 on Saturday, meaning the Sang et Or slipped to
third behind Olympique de Marseille, who beat Troyes 3-1.
There are now three teams within four points with Marseille (64),
Lens (63) and Monaco (61) all with a fair shot at finishing in
second place.
The runners-up in the standings will qualify for the Champions
League group stage while the team ending up third will have to play
the third qualifying round.
PSG have 72 points with seven games remaining.
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska, Rohith Nair and Julien Pretot;
Editing by Ken Ferris)
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