Champions League

Champions League rolling: 25 April

UEFA.com's team of reporters bring you the latest from Gelsenkirchen and Madrid ahead of this week's semi-final first legs, with Manchester United FC's press conference due at 18.00CET.

 

A ball boy in the 2004 final in Gelsenkirchen, FC Schalke 04's Manuel Neuer is relishing the chance to face a Manchester United FC side in which "the team is the star" on Tuesday

The Germany No1 will take centre stage on Tuesday, however, when FC Schalke 04 entertain Manchester United FC in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
So much has happened to Neuer in the last seven years, it would be understandable if the 25-year-old struggled to recall the details of Porto's big night in the Ruhr region, but the experience remain etched in his mind. "I was standing right on the pitch," Neuer told UEFA.com. "Back then it was a dream for me to be able to be at that match. Now it's a dream for me to be playing in the semi-finals."
Inspiring your hometown club to a place in the last four for the first time is indeed the stuff of fairy tales. Yet there was nothing tender about the ruthless manner in which Schalke eliminated holders FC Internazionale Milano in the quarter-finals, winning 5-2 away before securing a 2-1 home victory.

English Premier League

Arsenal left reeling after last-gasp Bolton loss

Arsenal FC's Premier League title hopes suffered another major blow after Tamir Cohen struck in the final minute to condemn the Gunners to a 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers FC

Arsenal FC are nine points adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester United FC with only four games remaining after losing 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers FC.
Bolton took the lead seven minutes before half-time as on-loan striker Daniel Sturridge followed up Gary Cahill's blocked effort to register his seventh goal in nine games for the club. The Gunners nearly engineered a swift riposte, but Cesc Fàbregas's long-range shot struck a post.
Thankful for Wojciech Szczęsny's save from a Kevin Davies penalty moments after half-time, Arsène Wenger's side drew level on 48 minutes. Captain Fàbregas was this time the provider, teeing up Robin van Persie to fire in.

German Bundesliga

Wolfsburg sink Köln to boost survival bid

VfL Wolfsburg gave their chances of avoiding relegation a shot in the arm with a 4-1 defeat of 1. FC Köln, while 1. FSV Mainz 05 maintained their grip on fifth spot against 1. FC Nürnberg.

 

VfL Wolfsburg improved their Bundesliga survival chances with a 4-1 victory against fellow strugglers 1. FC Köln, lifting themselves to within two points of safety with three games remaining.
Third-bottom Wolfsburg had taken maximum points in just one of their 11 matches previous to Sunday's encounter, but they were quickly on the front foot against Köln as Mario Mandžukić (14, 39) gave them a 2-0 lead. Sebastian Freis responded seconds later for the visitors, yet Felix Magath's men were not to be denied and left their opponents three points from danger after Ashkan Dejagah (58, 88) added a second-half double.

English Premier League

Hernández header sinks resolute Everton

Manchester United FC require seven points from their final four matches to win a record 19th English top-flight crown after Javier Hernández scored the only goal against Everton FC.

 

A late header from Javier Hernández broke the resistance of Everton FC and kept Manchester United FC six points clear at the top of the Premier League, after Chelsea FC also won.
United were frustrated for long periods by a combination of saves from their former goalkeeper, Tim Howard, and a defence ably marshalled by Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka. However, with six minutes left, Hernández − as he has done on several occasions this season − popped up with the winner, heading in Antonio Valencia's deflected cross to the far post.
The result means Sir Alex Ferguson's team need seven points from their last four games to be assured of a record 19th English top-flight title. Chelsea, in second, trimmed United's lead by defeating lowly West Ham United FC 3-0. Frank Lampard (44), Fernando Torres – his first goal for the Blues (84) – and Florent Malouda's (90+3) effort sealed a seventh win in eight league matches for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Italian SerieA

Robinho moves Milan closer to Scudetto

Robinho's winner against Brescia Calcio helped AC Milan stretch their advantage to eight points after SSC Napoli lost 2-1 to US Città

AC Milan edged closer to their first Scudetto in seven years after Robinho scored the winner with eight minutes remaining at Brescia Calcio.
The Brazilian international had missed several chances before finally taking his opportunity to seal a 1-0 victory and propel the Rossoneri eight points clear at the top of Serie A, following SSC Napoli's 2-1 reverse at US Città di Palermo. The Partenopei were leapfrogged into second place by FC Internazionale Milano, who overcame S.S. Lazio by the same scoreline.

 di Palermo and FC Internazionale Milano beat S.S. Lazio

German Bundesliga

Defeat for Dortmund gives Leverkusen hope

Bottom at kick-off, VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach caused one of the shocks of the season by beating Borussia Dortmund 1-0 after Bayer 04 Leverkusen had kept their challenge alive.

 

Borussia Dortmund remain firm favourites to win the Bundesliga despite suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat by relegation-threatened VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach after Bayer 04 Leverkusen had won earlier in the day.
The leaders are five points clear of Leverkusen with three matches remaining. Dortmund were unable to respond to Mohamadou Idrissou's strike (35) on the counterattack for a Mönchengladbach side which started the game bottom of the table.
Dortmund could have won the title on Saturday, though that initially depended on Leverkusen slipping up against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Having fallen behind to Gylfi Thor Sigurdsson (28), Leverkusen regrouped, with Michal Kadlec (40) and Arturo Vidal (51) scoring the goals which keeps their challenge alive for another week.

Spanish Soccer

Higuaín hits hat-trick as Madrid crush Valencia

Gonzalo Higuaín hit a hat-trick as Real Madrid CF defeated Valencia CF 6-3 before Lionel Messi scored his 50th club goal this term in a 2-0 victory for FC Barcelona against CA Osasuna.

Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona warmed up for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg with comfortable but differing victories.
Gonzalo Higuaín scored a hat-trick (31, 42, 53) as Copa del Rey winners Madrid gave notice of their form by overwhelming third-placed Valencia CF 6-3. The Azulgrana responded with a 2-0 defeat of CA Osasuna at the Camp Nou. The Liga rivals showed wholesale changes to the teams which started their cup final meeting three days earlier, with a debut for defender Nacho and the inclusion of Higuaín being two of nine alterations to the Madrid lineup.
Higuaín, who returned from a back problem earlier this month which had kept him out since November, was involved in two of the other goals as Karim Benzema (23) and Kaká (39, 62) also got in on the act. The hosts responded through Roberto Soldado (60), Jonas (80) and Jordi Alba (85).
Only four of the Barcelona XI which lost 1-0 to Madrid on Wednesday kept their places, with one of the survivors, David Villa, giving the hosts the lead (24) against Osasuna. On as a substitute for Villa, Lionel Messi scored his 50th club goal of the season three minutes from time as Josep Guardiola's side restored their eight-point cushion at the top.