Related items

• Red Bulls win New York derby as Seattle knock out Los Angeles FC

  Goals from Felipe Carballo and Dante Vanzeir settled the New York derby as New York Red Bulls defeated New York City 2-0 at the Citi Field to enter the Eastern Conference final of the MLS Cup. 

  Uruguayan Carballo blasted an effort into the top corner in the 16th minute to give the visitors the breakthrough in the 16th minute before Vanzeir drilled an Emil Forsberg corner in off the post nine minutes later.

  City probed for a way back into the game as they enjoyed about 70% of possession and attempted 25 shots. But failing to produce a goal despite an xG of 2.8, the 2021 champions crashed out. 

  Meanwhile, it was a clinical and well-organised display from the Red Bulls, who generated an xG of 0.88 with nine shots and were happy to sit back and protect their two-goal advantage for the majority of the game. 

  "It's a big win today, but in the end, it’s the next step. We have to continue this hard work and next week take the next step,” said Red Bulls boss Sandro Schwarz after the game. 

• Michel delighted with Girona's return to form after injury boosts

  Michel puts Girona's rediscovered form down to the energy of the returning players from injury after they thrashed Espanyol in LaLiga on Saturday.

  Girona had endured a shaky start to the season but moved up to fifth in the standings on 21 points after a superb home victory featuring a Bojan Miovski brace and goals by Bryan Gil and Ladislav Krejci.

  Michel's side have now won their last three LaLiga matches, going on their best such run since between April and May 2024, the last time they recorded three victories on the bounce.

  "Today's victory, which is our third [in a row], it's due to the fact we got people back, because we've rested, because we've had a very good week of training and because that energy today was noticeable," Michel told a press conference.

  "The only thing I hope is that we continue to recover people, that we continue to have the necessary minutes for everyone and that, as we have very tough games coming up every three days, we need everyone to be at 100%; we'll see if we can achieve this without any problems."

  Yaser Asprilla and Krejci, back from injury, combined for the fourth goal, but it was the pairing of Miovski and Gil who made the night with lethal attacks for the second and third goals.

  "I am very happy for Miovski, he is a player who gives everything in training," Michel added. "I was worried because he wasn't scoring goals.

  "He always tries to do his best for the team, he needs time. I am happy for him.

  "Bryan is a very important player for everyone, his best version is yet to come. Right now, the process with him is what we all expect."

  Last season's surprise package Girona face Austrian side Sturm Graz in the Champions League on Wednesday and the manager hopes they can repeat Saturday's performance in the European game.

  "This is the Girona I want, 100%. We started the game very well, that's the reality," Michel added.

  "The first half hour was spectacular, with and without the ball... We had a presence up front. The first half hour is what we want to do this season." 

• Guardiola acknowledges Man City 'are fragile' after fifth straight defeat

  Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that he is in new territory following their 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday, which was their fifth on the bounce.

  But despite that, he was not going to hit the panic button, with his side second in the Premier League table and five points behind leaders Liverpool.

  "We are fragile at the moment, we could not defend properly. We started well, struggled to score and then conceded. Then the situation is more difficult," he told Sky Sports after the match.

  "I've been here as a player, maybe not as a manager, first three games at Barcelona we lost. [In the] last eight years, the results have been there, it would be a mistake to change the approach.

  "There are no fairytales in life and sport, sometimes you have to live through these situations. You have to accept it. You can't blame each other, stay together, continue to do what we have done.

  "Run away? Absolutely not, we have to stand up more than ever. What will define us is when we fail, we stand up and face it."

  Guardiola is by some distance City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies at the club, including each of the last four Premier League titles.

  His side visit league leaders Liverpool next week and could trail them by eight points by the time kick-off comes, with Arne Slot's side playing a day after City this weekend.

  "I don't know what will happen this season, but not for one second will I not believe in these players," said Guardiola.

  "There is no team in the world that can sustain success for eight, nine, 10 years in a row.

  "Of course, everything is not fine, but what we try to do is analyse it, let's go to next game and see what happens."

  On the individual performances of his players, Guardiola lamented the fitness issues that his side has faced in recent weeks.

  "Chances were there. The moment they create the chances, the build-up, we couldn't handle the duels like normal. Now we're struggling a little bit," he told BBC Sport.

  "It cannot happen. When you play top level teams, we can concede chances but it's part of process. In our situation, it's a bit tougher.

  "The players came back late [from international duty]. There were a few reasons we're not able to be consistent.

  "Of course, Rodri is important, but we knew that for many months. But [John] Stones can only play 45 minutes, Jack [Grealish] has been injured many times, Kevin [de Bruyne] two months and five months.

  "We have to come back and freshen our minds. The season is so long, many things can happen."