Napoli dropped rare points in their quest for the Serie A title as Luciano Spalletti's leaders were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Hellas Verona at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
With Spalletti managing his squad ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Milan, fit-again striker Victor Osimhen began on the bench alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Napoli lacked inspiration in a low-key affair and went closest after the late introduction of their star duo, Osimhen rattling the crossbar with a terrific volley.
While Napoli's first Scudetto since 1990 appears a formality with their lead at the summit standing at 14 points, Spalletti will demand far better with their European dreams on the line next time out.
Napoli thought they had the lead when Matteo Politano's drive deflected in after 20 minutes, but the goal was ruled out due to the offside Mathias Olivera interfering with the play.
Alex Meret was forced to push a rasping long-range strike from Kevin Lasagna away as the break approached, with the depleted hosts struggling to create during a flat opening period.
Napoli skipper Giovanni Di Lorenzo nodded narrowly wide from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's cross 56 minutes in, before Giacomo Raspadori sent a prodded effort off-target.
Spalletti introduced Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen – the latter for his first club appearance in almost a month – as Napoli grew more desperate, but the relegation-threatened visitors continued to stand firm.
Osimhen almost enjoyed a dream return when he struck a fierce volley from the edge of the area with eight minutes left, but his strike crashed off the woodwork and away as Verona held on – even missing a glorious chance to snatch the win when Cyril Ngonge shot wide from a rapid break.
Frank Lampard was left “disappointed on every level” following Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Blues suffered their third successive loss under caretaker boss Lampard after the high-flying Seagulls came from behind to take the spoils at Stamford Bridge.
Danny Welbeck cancelled out Conor Gallagher’s deflected effort, before Julio Enciso's 30-yard thunderbolt moved Brighton to within four points of fifth-placed Tottenham.
The hosts, who remain 11th, were very much second best as they registered just eight shots to their opponents' 26, and Lampard did not hold back in the criticism of his players.
"I'm disappointed on every level," he said. “The better team won. They could have won by more. They played like a team. They've been together a long time.
"[We were] not good enough. All the basic parts of football - to fight, to run - we were short on. [It's] not a question of commitment as such.
"Some players physically couldn't be able to play Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday. Some of those changes were forced and some were opportunities. In a modern day squad, you have to be ready to come in.
"As a team, we were short today. Where can we get better quickly? For me, it's the football basics.”
Those must come to fruition on Tuesday, when Chelsea host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
The Blues must overturn a 2-0 deficit against the reigning champions if they are to progress to the semi-finals, and Lampard has urged his players to produce a response for the supporters.
"There's no point being too down, but we have to understand why today went the way it did," he continued.
"In football, a story can change very quickly. Real Madrid in the Champions League is the pinnacle of football. There's things I'll say to the players that I'll keep in house.
"Chelsea fans will be coming on Tuesday to see a team give everything to turn it round, and that's what we have to do."
Arnaut Danjuma believes Tottenham must "come to terms" quickly with their dramatic 3-2 loss against Bournemouth as they chase a top-four finish.
Spurs were on the wrong side of a five-goal Premier League thriller on Saturday, after Dango Ouattara's 95th-minute strike sealed victory for the Cherries.
Danjuma had equalised at the end of normal time to seemingly rescue a point after Matias Vina and Dominic Solanke had cancelled out Son Heung-min's opener.
As a result, fifth-placed Spurs missed the chance to move level on points with Manchester United and third-placed Newcastle United, who suffered a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa.
"We have to come to terms with it," he told BBC Match of the Day. "I think we did our best to pursue an extra goal. If you are Spurs, you should always try to go for the win.
"Inevitably, you leave some space for Bournemouth to counter-attack. It is a bit quiet [in the dressing room] but as quiet as it is, we are still excited about upcoming games.
"We saw Newcastle dropped points. The game has not been good for us, but we go back to the drawing board and work hard in training."
Danjuma, who is on loan at Spurs from Villarreal, previously spent two seasons with Bournemouth and was the club's player of the year during their 2020-21 Championship campaign.
Reflecting on finding the net against his former team, he acknowledged his mixed emotions, adding: "It is always a bit dubious scoring against your old club.
"I have nothing but love for Bournemouth. They treated me well and gave me a very good three years. Football is a business, though. I am at Spurs now, and I give my all for the club."
Spurs next play top-four rivals Newcastle a week on Sunday, before a subsequent clash against United in what is a decisive stretch for their Champions League ambitions.
Milan midfielder Tomasso Pobega bemoaned a missed opportunity in Serie A against Bologna.
Stefano Pioli's side fell behind with just 33 seconds played, with Pobega equalising five minutes before the break with a thunderous strike.
Despite dominating proceedings, Milan were unable to find a winner in the game and dropping points opens the door to rivals Inter and Atalanta in the hunt for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
Having been held to a draw, Milan could end the weekend outside of the top four and have testing fixtures to finish the season – including a trip to face Juventus on the final day.
While there has been plenty of attention on the two recent victories over Napoli, domestic form is a huge concern with Milan having just a solitary victory in their last six Serie A games.
Pobega is aware that Milan need to fare better in the coming weeks, though he is unsure as to why the side is struggling.
"We paid for the approach with the game, we made a mistake at the beginning," he told DAZN.
"It's too bad, we threw away points and it's not the first time. It hurts. We are preparing for the games as best we can, we have to start strong and score goals.
"We all train well, all strong, we wanted to make an impression today, and it's a shame. We needed to be more precise and incisive."
However, Pobega refuted the suggestion that Milan paid too much attention to Tuesday's second leg in the Champions League against Napoli.
"I don't think so, we were focused on this game. We gave so much today, we just have to look where we went wrong," he replied when asked if that was the case.
Dango Ouattara's dramatic late strike snatched a 3-2 win for Bournemouth over Tottenham in a Premier League thriller on Saturday.
Arnaut Danjuma looked to have salvaged a point for Spurs with an 89th-minute equaliser after goals from Matias Vina and Dominic Solanke put the Cherries in front following Son Heung-min's opener.
But Ouattara had the final say with a superbly composed finish in the fifth minute of stoppage time to hand Gary O'Neil's side three precious points in their battle to stay in the top flight.
Defeat is the latest setback for Spurs in their quest to qualify for the Champions League, with key clashes against rivals Newcastle United and Manchester United to come.
Julio Enciso hit a sensational winner as Brighton and Hove Albion boosted their European qualification hopes with a 2-1 victory at Chelsea in the Premier League.
Paraguayan teenager Enciso's 30-yard strike in the 69th minute completed a turnaround as the Seagulls claimed their first league win at Stamford Bridge and moved within four points of fifth-placed Tottenham.
The hosts had led through Conor Gallagher's wickedly deflected effort, but that was cancelled out by substitute Danny Welbeck before half-time.
Despite ending a three-game scoreless streak, Chelsea remain 11th in the table under caretaker boss Frank Lampard and are now without a win in six matches.
Brighton carried the greater threat early on. Alexis Mac Allister twice shot wide from close range, while Evan Ferguson's 20-yard effort rattled the crossbar.
After weathering the early storm, Chelsea broke through in the 13th minute following a sweeping move that saw Mykhailo Mudryk feed Gallagher, whose first-time shot looped in via Lewis Dunk.
The visitors threatened to level with Kepa Arrizabalaga producing smart reflex saves to thwart Ferguson and Kaoru Mitoma. But the equaliser eventually arrived three minutes before the break when Welbeck headed in a deep cross from Pascal Gross.
Chelsea almost regained their advantage in stoppage time, but the woodwork kept out Christian Pulisic's fierce header.
Brighton were the more positive of the two sides again after the break. They almost nudged ahead on the hour mark, with the persistent Enciso hitting the post before Welbeck sent the rebound over, while Mudryk called Robert Sanchez into action at the other end.
But the Seagulls edged their noses ahead in emphatic fashion with what proved to be the winning goal, Enciso unleashing a thunderbolt that left Kepa grasping at thin air.
Bayern Munich's eventful week took another turn on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 Bundesliga draw at home by lowly Hoffenheim.
Thomas Tuchel's side suffered a 3-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City in midweek, with more headlines made after the match when Sadio Mane allegedly punched team-mate Leroy Sane in the dressing room, leading to a fine and suspension for the Senegal international.
There were no signs of disharmony in the early stages at the Allianz Arena, though, as Benjamin Pavard put Bayern ahead with a simple finish.
Yet Andrej Kramaric's 71st-minute free-kick restored parity and, with Pavard having a would-be-winner disallowed for offside, though Borussia Dortmund's failure to beat Stuttgart ensured the defending champions retained a two-point lead.
Bayern's early dominance was rewarded in the 17th minute when Pavard controlled Kingsley Coman's skewed shot and poked past Oliver Baumann from eight yards.
The hosts continued to look comfortable after that, yet the only chance of note they created before the interval was Serge Ganbry's powerful drive from outside the penalty area that fizzed past Baumann's right-hand post.
Coman tested Baumann from distance soon after the restart, while the Hoffenheim goalkeeper tipped Joao Cancelo's strike around the upright shortly after the hour mark.
Baumann's excellence set the stage for Kramaric to steal a point for the visitors, the Croatia international's 25-yard free-kick proving too precise for Yann Sommer to keep out.
Pavard thought he had restored Bayern's lead moments later, yet his back-post finish was ruled out, as Bayern's indifferent start to life under Tuchel continued.
A weakened Milan side were held to a 1-1 draw in Serie A by Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
With their focus clearly on the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie with Napoli, Stefano Pioli's side made 10 changes and fell behind to a Nicola Sansone strike inside the opening minute.
The early goal sparked some life into Milan's understudies, with Tomasso Pobega's fierce strike levelling the scores before the break.
Neither side could find a winning goal in the second half, with honours even and a result Bologna will be happier with.
Milan heavily rotated from the opening leg win against Napoli, only Mike Maignan retaining his spot between the posts, and he was picking the ball out the back of the net after just 33 seconds when Sansone met Stefan Posch's low cross and smashed home.
The visitors responded strongly, dominating possession, with Ante Rebic heading straight at Lukasz Skorupski before the Bologna shot stopper was forced into a diving save from Alessandro Florenzi's curling free-kick.
Milan's equaliser came five minutes before the break, Bologna unable to clear their lines properly and Pobega unleashing a fierce shot that cannoned off the inside of the left-hand post and into the back of the net.
A much quieter second half saw limited clear-cut opportunities for both sides, with Milan's attempts to pepper Skorupski's goal seeing a number of efforts fail to provide any sort of threat to the Polish keeper.
Rebic came closest to an equaliser, though not through skill as the chance instead saw an attempted clearance strike his head but fly wide of the mark, much to the relief of the home side.
Delhi Capitals suffered their fifth successive Indian Premier League defeat as their batting order was decimated by Royal Challengers Bangalore, who took a 23-run win at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Bottom-of-the-table Delhi looked to be in contention for their first win of the season when they limited RCB to 174-6, but they lost four wickets within the first six overs of a dire run chase, Manish Pandey's half-century only serving to salvage some pride.
Virat Kohli's 50 off 34 deliveries put RCB in a decent position after they were put in by Delhi skipper David Warner, but their momentum was stunted when he was caught in the deep off Lalit Yadav's bowling in the 11th over.
Faf du Plessis (22) and Mahipal Lomror (26) supported Kohli ably before both were caught off the bowling of Mitchell Marsh, whose figures of 2-18 helped Delhi keep RCB within range.
Delhi, however, made a dismal start to their run chase, losing three wickets before the end of the third over and two more by the close of the ninth.
A superb piece of fielding from Anuj Rawat accounted for the first as Prithvi Shaw was run out, before Marsh handed Kohli a routine catch to join his team-mate in being dismissed for nought.
Having watched the wickets tumble around him, Warner (19) gave Vyshak Vijaykumar a maiden IPL wicket when he was caught by Kohli at midwicket, and Vyshak went on to scalp two more on a fine debut.
Pandey restored some respectability with 50 off 38 balls, but any hopes of a Delhi fightback were extinguished when he was bowled lbw by Wanindu Hasaranga in the 14th, allowing RCB to cruise to their second win of the season.
Kohli knock decisive
Kohli took 33 balls to deliver the 47th half-century of his IPL career, and while the RCB opener was dismissed with the next delivery, his excellent knock ultimately proved decisive.
He slammed six fours and one six to guide his side to a respectable tally, one his team-mates struggled to build on after his exit.
Fortunately for RCB, their attack was in scintillating form as Delhi never looked likely to complete the chase.
Debutant Vyshak on song
Vyshak's IPL debut was one to remember as he had Warner caught for his maiden wicket before adding the scalps of Axar Patel and Yadav.
He took 3-20 across four overs while Mohammed Siraj added 2-23 on a day for the bowlers in Bangalore.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said he was "not really looking for positives" but instead "for a response" after his side's 3-0 loss at Aston Villa.
OIlie Watkins continued his superb form for Villa as Unai Emery's team claimed a fifth straight Premier League win on Saturday.
Third-placed Newcastle were second-best throughout at Villa Park, with Villa leading the way in shots (15 to eight), attempts on target (six to two) and expected goals (1.87 to 0.57). Indeed, the hosts also hit the woodwork twice and had a goal disallowed.
It snapped a five-game winning streak for Newcastle, who suffered their heaviest defeat in the league since losing 5-0 to Manchester City in May of last year.
With a home game against top-four rivals Tottenham next up, Howe wants a reaction.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Howe said: "We were off our best levels right from the start. Aston Villa are a good team and we never got going.
"We've been consistently excellent this season, this is the first dip we've had; it can happen and we have to react.
"We were just off it in every respect. We've got a massive game next week. I'm not really looking for positives, I'm looking for a response."
Villa, meanwhile, have won five Premier League games on the bounce for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.
The win moved them onto 50 points from 31 games, which is the earliest they have reached this total since the 2009-10 season, when they finished sixth, the position they will occupy for at least another week, just six points off the Champions League places.
Watkins was again their main man, netting a second-half double after teeing up Jacob Ramsey's opener. Since the restart following the World Cup, the former Brentford striker has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other player (15).
"We are on a great run at the moment we are playing good football," Watkins told BT Sport.
"Newcastle are a great side so it shows the levels we are at. We are enjoying it at the moment.
"[We are] trusting team-mates in tight areas and if we make mistakes we go again. Real togetherness in the team and looking forward to games to come."
Antonio Cassano slammed Juventus' season under Massimiliano Allegri, insisting it "would be suicide" if his former coach remains in charge of the Bianconeri next term.
Juve are eight points adrift of Serie A's top four with nine matches remaining, though their situation could look very different should the appeal they lodged against their 15-point penalty for transfer fee irregularities earlier in the campaign be successful.
Nevertheless, the Bianconeri would still trail runaway leaders Napoli by 15 points, while they exited the Champions League at the group stage.
Juve could still finish the season with silverware as they are in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and Europa League quarter-finals.
However Cassano, who played under Allegri at Milan during the 2011-12 season, is far from impressed by their achievements this term, and believes the club should seek a replacement for his former boss ahead of 2023-24.
The former Italy striker told Gazzetta dello Sport: "In July, Allegri said: in March-April, we have to be in everything. [The] result: he went out in the Champions League group in a shameful way; in November, he was out of the championship fight.
"The Coppa Italia and Europa League save nothing; Juve must fight for the Scudetto.
"The squad has been devalued: [Dusan] Vlahovic above all. [Angel] Di Maria, who remains a genius, is misused 50 metres from the goal.
"[Allegri] has 20 internationals and plays horrendously. The team are always behind the ball, everyone in defence.
"Starting again with Allegri next year would be suicide: the mistake was to give him a long contract. But if making mistakes is human, persevering is diabolical."
Lisandro Martinez aims to come back "stronger" after suffering a season-ending injury in Manchester United's Europa League clash with Sevilla on Thursday.
Martinez was carried from the field by Sevilla's Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel – his Argentina team-mates – after going down unchallenged in the closing stages of the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils on Friday confirmed centre-back Martinez will not feature again in the 2022-23 campaign after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot.
They added that the former Ajax defender, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of next season.
Writing on Instagram, Martinez said: "Not the way I imagined what's been a very special season would end, but sometimes we face obstacles along the way that we have to overcome to make us stronger and we learn from them.
"I know that I'll be back very soon to go for more. In the meantime, I'll continue to support all my team-mates to achieve our objectives.
"The number of messages and support I've received has been amazing, they're giving me strength and encouragement at this moment.
"Many, many thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart."
United are next in action on Sunday when they visit Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Girlz took an early lead in Group E of the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship qualifying thanks to a dominant 6-0 win over Anguilla at the Estadio Nacional De Futbol in Nicaragua on Friday.
Jamaica were up 5-0 at halftime though goals from Davia Richards (1’), Dannique Wilson (15’), Destiny Powell (27’), Natoya Atkinson (29’) and Tiny Seaton (43’). They added one in the second half to complete the scoring.
Elsewhere in Group E, Honduras secured a comfortable 6-1 win over Bermuda at the same venue.
Group A leaders Canada were the biggest winners of the day with a mammoth 15-0 win over Martinique at Estadio Panamericano. El Salvador beat Cuba 2-1 in the day’s other Group A game.
All group winners will advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championship in The Dominican Republic from May 24-June 3.
Liverpool have "nothing to lose" as they look to end a dire run of form against Premier League strugglers Leeds United at Elland Road, so says Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds travel to Yorkshire having gone five games without a win across all competitions (D2 L3), a run which saw Klopp's men begin the weekend 12 points adrift of the top four.
Green shoots of recovery were visible as Liverpool fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a draw against leaders Arsenal last time out, but Klopp knows the Reds must make changes to get back to their best.
"We have nothing to lose really. We are in a position where we don't want to be in the table, that means we have to act a little bit like this," he said.
"We had a long training week and now we have to make sure that we do the right stuff and bring it on the pitch. All the things are on the table, everything is clear.
"Our home record is not as bad as the away record but we play away. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the game and it's a tough one."
Leeds looked to be pulling clear of danger prior to last week's 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, when Javi Gracia's side capitulated after Patrick Bamford gave them a first-half lead.
"We know how difficult it will be, the next game against Liverpool," Gracia said.
"They are a very good team. In this moment we have no time to think about whether it is better or worse to play against this team or another.
"What I can tell you is that all of the players have worked hard this week and tried to pay attention to the little details.
"They worked very well this week and I am sure we will learn from our mistakes."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leeds United – Patrick Bamford
Bamford scored his 50th goal for Leeds in all competitions during last week's 5-1 defeat to Palace, becoming the first player to hit that figure for the club since Ross McCormack in 2014.
He is looking to score in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since May 2021 as Leeds bid to pull away from the relegation zone.
Liverpool – Roberto Firmino
Having netted Liverpool's equaliser against Arsenal last time out, Firmino has averaged a goal or assist every 87 minutes in the Premier League this season (nine goals, four assists in 1,129 minutes).
Of all players to play at least 500 minutes in the competition this term, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland (one every 62 mins) boasts a better such ratio.
MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN
After claiming a memorable 2-1 win at Anfield in October, Leeds are chasing just their second Premier League double over Liverpool, previously achieving that feat in the 2000-01 campaign under David O'Leary.
While Liverpool are averaging just 0.87 points-per-game away from home in the Premier League this season – their lowest in a single campaign since 1992-93 (0.76) – the Reds have not lost on any of their last five league trips to Elland Road (W3 D2), last tasting defeat there in November 2000.
Leeds will have to tighten up to have any chance of a result, having shipped 10 goals in their three league games in April – the most in the top flight – and kept just five clean sheets in their last 35 league matches.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Leeds United – 15.9 per cent
Liverpool – 61.2 per cent
Draw – 22.9 per cent
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