asmawand-8

[asmawand-8]

AsmawandMatchAnalysis: Japan X Indonesia

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Prologue

Looking at the starting XI fielded by Indonesia in their away match against Japan, I have to admit I was surprised by the lineup Kluivert chose.

Nearly 50% different compared to the starting XI against China a few days ago. True, this match was "no longer" crucial for either side. But for Indonesia, making as many as five changes was still a bold move.

What is Kluivert planning? Will that plan work in this match? It’ll be interesting to see.

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First Half

Five minutes into the match, Japan had no trouble taking control of possession. Their attacking combinations flowed smoothly, whether from the left or right side of Indonesia’s defense.

How did Indonesia respond? The visitors tried to limit Japan’s attacking combinations by maintaining compact defensive lines.

The result? Japan only managed their first chance in the 11th minute through Machino—off target, sailing over Audero’s goal. In the 15th minute, the hosts finally registered their first on-target attempt.

Unfortunately for Indonesia, Kamada’s headed effort found the back of the net. The score changed to 1-0.

The misfortune continued for the visitors. Four minutes later, they conceded again, this time from an individual effort by Kubo. In less than 20 minutes, the hosts were already leading 2-0.

Trailing by two goals forced Indonesia to push forward. Did their efforts pay off? Not yet.

The main issue for Indonesia was their midfield-to-attack transition. At best, their reactions only improved in the build-up phase, never progressing to off- or on-target attempts.

Otherwise, Japan remained firmly in control. By the 28th minute, the hosts’ possession dominance had reached 74% to 26%.

What happened in the next 17 minutes? The match became flat and uneventful. Only two more big chances were created by the hosts—one from Kubo (off target) and another from Kamada’s composure. He accelerated, fooled Mess and Idzes, before slotting a chip past Audero.

The first half ended with Japan comfortably ahead, 3-0.

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Second Half

What were the immediate reactions from both teams in the second half? Both made substitutions—Nakamura for Japan, Kambuaya for Indonesia.

Additionally, Indonesia came out attacking aggressively. They had no choice but to chase the game.

Kambuaya’s introduction added dynamism to Indonesia’s attack in the RWF position for the first 10 minutes, but after that, the hosts regained control.

Within four minutes (55’ and 58’), Japan produced two on-target attempts—both resulting in goals. One from Morishita’s volley, the other from Machino’s tap-in. The visitors were now trailing heavily, 5-0.

Did Japan ease up? No. Until the 70th minute, the hosts remained stable in possession and dominant in chance creation.

Proof? In the 70th minute alone, Audero had to scramble to save three on-target attempts and block two off-target ones. The climax came in the 80th minute when Hosoya poked in Japan’s sixth.

From the 70th minute onward, Indonesia’s defense became increasingly porous. Why? Exhaustion was the main issue.

Fortunately, this match no longer held significance for either team. If we had to find a silver lining in this chaotic game, it’s that Indonesia faced a strong opponent capable of exposing their weaknesses in every aspect.

What weaknesses? Build-up play easily disrupted, frequent misplaced passes, inability to sustain possession, pressing easily bypassed, and sporadic attacks—mostly long balls from defense to attack.

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Epilogue

It must be admitted, Indonesia’s performance in this match was abysmal. Not only were they crushed 6-0, but they were also utterly ineffective in constructing attacks.

In fact, across 90 minutes, they failed to create a single on- or off-target opportunity. That’s Indonesia’s worst statistical performance in the third round of the 2026 Asian WCQ.

In summary, congratulations to Japan for qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, and of course, congratulations to Indonesia for advancing to the fourth round of Asian WCQ. Although… there’s still much work to be done.

There’s still time before the fourth round begins. Use that time wisely to improve.

[asmawand-8]

AsmawandMatchAnalysis: Portugal vs Spain

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Prologue

With their goal contributions, Cristiano Ronaldo & Lamine Yamal played a huge role in bringing Portugal & Spain to the 2025 UEFA Nations League final.

And as is typical in finals, there will be a champion by the end of the match. Interestingly, this clash between the two teams takes place at Bayern’s home ground again, the same venue where the PSG vs Inter final was held just a few days ago.

This means the stadium will host another championship celebration, twice within a span of 10 days—no matter who lifts the trophy in the end.

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First Half

This opening paragraph is a bit trivial. Before the kick-off whistle blew, my attention was oddly fixated on the two managers standing on the sidelines.

Whether it’s De La Fuente or Roberto Martinez, both are completely bald. Not meant as an insult, but I’ve always admired men with bald heads. Why? Because they exude high self-confidence.

That’s all—back to the action. In the first 10 minutes, I thought Joao Neves’ positioning as a RB in Portugal’s 4-2-3-1 formation was meant to transform him into an inverted wing-back. Turns out, no. Neves stayed static in that role.

The result? On the positive side, Neves created Portugal’s first big chance in the 5th minute—a big chance, but off target. The downside? Neves looked awkward. He’s not used to that position. In fact, four or five of Spain’s attacks in the first 10 minutes originated from Neves’ RB spot.

The gap in Neves’ position continued in the following minutes. In the 15th minute, Spain’s first big chance came from Pedri’s off-target attempt, which started from that same spot. Two minutes later, Spain got their second big chance—again, from Nico Williams exploiting Neves’ side.

That defensive hole kept reopening within just the first 18 minutes of the match.

Beyond that, which team was more dominant? Spain. Their dominance earned them a third big chance via a counterattack. The result? Zubimendi clinically finished it in the 21st minute. Spain led 0-1.

Portugal responded with an effective attack. In the 26th minute, Mendes’ low-driven shot became Portugal’s equalizer. That was their first on-target attempt—and it resulted in their first goal.

After the 1-1 scoreline, by the 30th minute, I’d already lost count of how many Spanish attacks were built from Neves’ side.

Perhaps because of this, from the 30th minute onward, Neves was finally "allowed" to play as an inverted wing-back. He gradually shifted inward, focusing on the midfield while remaining a RB when Portugal defended.

In the remaining 15 minutes, Spain’s dominance produced a second goal in the 45th minute. The scorer? Oyarzabal. That slow, precise finish closed the first half with a 1-2 lead for La Furia Roja.

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Second Half

Portugal tried to build momentum to chase the deficit. Besides playing more offensively, they also subbed out Neves early in the second half, replacing him with Semedo, a natural RB.

The momentum they sought came quickly—just four minutes into the half. Bruno scored in the 49th minute, leveling the score at 2-2. But before that goal, Neto was caught offside. So, the goal was disallowed, and the 2-2 score reverted to 1-2.

In the following minutes, Portugal grew more aggressive in attack. How did Spain respond? They played more relaxed—focusing on ball possession and controlling the tempo.

In one or two moments that could’ve been counterattacking opportunities, Spain’s players casually recycled possession. Was that by instruction? I’m not sure. If so, it was strange. I don’t believe it was intentional.

This pattern continued until the 60th minute. A minute later, Portugal’s attacking efficiency resurfaced. Their second on-target attempt became their second goal. Starting with Mendes’ acceleration and finished by Ronaldo’s strike. 2-2.

The equalizer immediately spurred Spain into action. They increased their attacking intensity and got a big chance through Pedri in the 63rd minute, but his shot toward Diogo Costa was blocked by Mendes.

By the 80th minute, Spain not only dominated but also registered one off-target and one on-target attempt via Nico Williams and Yamal in the 69th and 77th minutes.

Not stopping there, Isco "added" to Spain’s on-target count with a long-range effort in the 83rd minute. But Diogo Costa’s crucial save kept Portugal’s net untouched.

By the end of the second half, Isco’s chance also marked the "last" opportunity for both teams. The score remained 2-2.

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Extra Time

Portugal immediately seized momentum with a big chance from Semedo in the 92nd minute. The result? Still wide, missing Unai Simon’s right post.

Spain only managed to respond with an off-target attempt from Cucurella in the 98th minute and an on-target strike from Yamal in the 105th. Neither forced Diogo Costa into a difficult save.

From the 105th to the 120th minute, Spain reclaimed total dominance. They controlled play, creating chances through Porro’s long-range shot and Pino’s header in the 108th and 113th minutes—both off target.

Portugal, who had been "dry" of chances, suddenly got a big opportunity in the 120th minute. Unfortunately, Jota’s header in front of Spain’s goal also went off target.

Two halves in regular time and two halves of extra time couldn’t "decide" a winner. The match went to penalties.

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Epilogue

The result? Morata was the only one who failed, Ronaldo cried, and Portugal emerged victorious in the end. They claimed the UEFA Nations League title for the second time. Congratulations.

[asmawand-8]

Asmawand Match Analysis: Indonesia X China

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Prologue

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The 9th match of the Asian zone WCQ was crucial for both Indonesia and China, as the two teams faced off at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Thursday night (6/5).

Their mission was the same: securing a ticket to the fourth round, and a victory would smooth the path for either team. Unfortunately, if there had to be a winner, only one team could claim it.

Who would it be? The answer would unfold over the next 90 minutes.

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First Half

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For the first time in this third round of WCQ, four players from Liga 1 were included in Indonesia’s starting XI. Who were they? Ridho, Yakob, Kambuaya, and Egy. This was truly a rare moment.

On the field, China tried to take the initiative in ball possession first. However, that didn’t last long—less than two minutes. A minute later, in the 3rd minute, Indonesia got the first chance through Kambuaya, though it ended off target.

In the following minutes, Indonesia took more control. But during that period, a Chinese counterattack nearly threatened the home team’s goal. Unfortunately, Wang Yudong’s shot also ended off target.

That was the flow of the game in the first five minutes. Ten minutes later, Indonesia still dominated possession while controlling the tempo. The result? Still "only" dominating the ball, not yet reaching the level of dominating chances.

Between the 15th and 20th minute, Indonesia’s attacking combinations through Kambuaya, Egy, Romeny, and Yakob started to show promise. A few attempts were made, though Romeny’s shot in the 21st minute again went off target.

Off-target shots seemed to be a "trend" in this match. China had three—a header from Pengfei Han, a strike from Zhang Yuning, and a shot from Hu Hetao in the 22nd, 29th, and 33rd minutes.

Indonesia? They had one off-target attempt from Romeny in the 25th minute and one on-target—the first of the match—also from Romeny in the 29th minute.

One of China’s most dangerous situations came from corners. In three attempts, their players crowded Audero, making it difficult for him to claim the ball in the air.

Otherwise, the urgency to secure three points pushed both teams to play openly. They traded attacks, but the momentum began shifting toward Indonesia, especially in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

The climax came in the 43rd minute when Rustam Lutfullin, Uzbek referee awarded a penalty. Romeny stepped up and successfully converted, putting Indonesia ahead 1-0 by the 45th minute.

Beyond the lead, credit was due to Kambuaya and Haye, who put in a tireless shift until the first half ended.

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Second Half

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Aside from making two immediate substitutions, China also pressed Indonesia hard in the opening minutes of the second half. The result? They earned a corner and a sharp on-target shot, which fortunately was saved brilliantly by Audero.

In their efforts, China left gaps at the back, one of which nearly led to Indonesia doubling their lead.

Did it work? No. Why? Because Yakob lacked composure when finishing the chance he got in front of Wang Dalei’s goal. That golden opportunity failed to even register as on or off target.

By the 60th minute, there was only one more off-target attempt in the match, from Egy. Otherwise, chances were scarce, with much of the play bogged down in midfield.

After the 60th minute, the stamina of both teams dropped drastically. As a result, ball circulation slowed, chances dwindled, and the home team’s defense was nearly breached a few times.

Starting in the 73rd minute, the introduction of Beckham and Diks was Kluivert’s attempt to refresh the team’s intensity. In total, China had made four substitutions, Indonesia two. What was the impact?

For China, the changes helped them dominate possession—but only in that aspect. In terms of chances, they remained limited, as their depleted stamina hampered attacking creativity.

For Indonesia, they got two consecutive chances—one on and off target from Diks in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, both opportunities in front of China’s goal remained just that—chances. Nothing more, nothing less.

In the remaining time, China attacked as much as they could. Blunt in creativity, they relied on aerial duels. Indonesia? They focused on keeping the tempo slow and waiting for counter opportunities.

Which approach was more effective? Indonesia’s.

They still managed a few threatening chances. The best came from Sananta in stoppage time. Sadly, in that crucial one-on-one sprint against Tyias Browning, Chinese defender, he failed to convert it into a golden opportunity.

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Epilogue

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Why couldn’t China break through? Because the trio of Ridho, Jay, and Hubner stood firm, neutralizing the visitors' threats.

Whether it was player combinations, corners, set-pieces, or aerial duels, the three of them consistently neutralized every danger that came their way.

Until the final whistle, their ultimate goal was to keep a clean sheet for Audero’s goal—and they succeeded.

The 1-0 scoreline held until the end. Indonesia won and secured their place in the fourth round of the Asian zone WCQ.

[asmawand-8]

Asmawand Match Analysis: PSG X Inter

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Prologue

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A rocky path has been traversed by PSG and Inter before reaching this season's Champions League final. PSG 'slew' the best teams from the English Premier League, while Inter toppled other giants like Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.

And in this final, one side will be left stunned while the other lifts the trophy. The question—and the reason we’re watching this match—is: which side will raise the (Champions League) trophy when the story ends?

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First Half

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An intriguing moment emerged right from the first second. PSG’s kick-off began with Vitinha deliberately passing the ball not to a teammate but kicking it out to the sideline near Inter’s defensive area. The goal? To force a throw-in for Inter.

So, when Dumfries went to take the throw-in, eight PSG players were already pressing high in Inter’s half. That was Vitinha’s intention—a clear signal that the Parisian side would play openly from the start.

And sure enough, after that moment, PSG immediately dominated the game, as many football fans predicted. Another interesting detail came in the 7th minute, when PSG’s pressing with seven players activated as soon as Inter began their build-up from Sommer.

The first chance of the match also came from PSG, created by an individual effort from Dembélé, resulting in an on-target attempt in the 11th minute. Dangerous? Not really—still slow and easy to handle.

In the 12th minute, Vitinha’s intelligence spotted Doué’s movement into an empty space in Inter’s penalty box. Fortunately, the young Frenchman chose not to be selfish, passing to Hakimi, who was left unmarked. The result? The opening goal for PSG.

By the 16th minute, PSG’s dominance was evident in the stats. Aside from leading 1-0, they also held 63% possession compared to Inter’s 37%.

Inter’s initiative to respond only appeared after conceding. But their attacks were haunted by danger—because attacking PSG meant leaving themselves vulnerable to Les Parisiens’ lethal counters. Why? Because PSG’s intense pressing was the root of all the danger.

Proof? Two examples. First, a counter in the 18th minute led to an off-target attempt by Kvaratskhelia. Second, it set the stage for Inter’s impending disaster.

Through another counter, PSG exploited Inter’s 'loose' defense via Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé, culminating in a pass to Doué. One feint, a finish, a deflection—and the second goal was born.

After Dembélé’s on-target attempt in the 11th minute, PSG scored two goals from two on-target shots. The score: 2-0 by the 20th minute.

Inter was rattled and tried to strike back immediately. Their first real chance came in the 23rd minute, starting from a corner and ending with an off-target header from Acerbi. Beyond that, they attacked cautiously.

PSG’s response? Launching quick counters whenever space opened up, or controlling possession to neutralize Inter’s growing aggression.

What was PSG’s passing accuracy? This stat is always fascinating when watching Les Parisiens. By the 36th minute, their accuracy stood at 92%, compared to Inter’s 81%.

In the last 10 minutes of the half, Inter managed another off-target effort via Thuram’s header in the 37th minute. Otherwise, PSG dominated through counters, pressing, and possession. The score remained 2-0 at halftime.

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Second Half

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PSG opened the second half with an off-target attempt from Kvaratskhelia, narrowly missing Sommer’s right post in the 46th minute. In the 50th minute, Kvaratskhelia created another chance—this time a big one—but his link-up with Ruiz again went just wide of the same post.

Another intriguing detail emerged when Inter restarted their build-up: Dembélé repeatedly crouched like a sprinter at the starting line, eager to press Sommer immediately. Not once or twice—but repeatedly.

Dembélé seemed 'addicted' to pressing. Was this instructed? Judging by PSG’s patterns in previous matches, yes—that’s Enrique’s directive.

Back to the match. From the 50th to the 60th minute, PSG’s dominance continued, with another off-target attempt from Dembélé in the 52nd minute. Inter finally responded with their first chance of the half—an off-target shot from Barella in the 59th.

For Inter, despite being outplayed, they fought back. How? By the 63rd minute, they had subbed in four fresh players—a clear tactical shift from Inzaghi.

But then, a slight 'anomaly' occurred in the 63rd minute. As PSG built up, Inter pressed with seven players—something unseen earlier in the match.

This signaled Inter’s increased risk-taking to chase the game. PSG exploited it perfectly, launching a counter that led to their third goal—once again, Doué was the protagonist.

Now, he had propelled his team to a 3-0 lead. Before being subbed off by Enrique in the 66th minute, Doué had tallied two goals and an assist in this match alone.

In the 70th minute, another big chance fell to PSG, this time through Barcola, who had replaced Doué. The result? Another off-target effort over Sommer’s bar.

Passing accuracy? By the 72nd minute, PSG still held 90%, while Inter trailed at 82%.

In the 73rd minute, a repeat of the third goal’s scenario unfolded for PSG’s fourth. Inter’s seven-man pressing during PSG’s build-up left gaps, and Kvaratskhelia capitalized, making it 4-0.

What happened to Inter’s defense? Nothing unusual. After going 2-0 down, they opted for a high-pressing, high-line approach—attacking while tightening their defensive spacing. The goal? To cut the deficit. But before they could reap any rewards, they suffered consecutive setbacks.

By the 80th minute, Inter created a few chances from this new approach, but their defense grew increasingly vulnerable to counters. PSG had two more big chances through Barcola in the 81st and 83rd minutes—both still off-target.

Another interesting note: PSG still had time to rest key players, with Enrique bringing on youngsters for experience.

Who was subbed off? Doué, Mendez, Kvaratskhelia, Neves, and Ruiz. The result? More success. In the 86th minute, PSG scored their fifth through a Barcola-Mayulu combination.

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Epilogue

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Honestly, it’s always hard for me to write a brief analysis when the match involves PSG in this season’s Champions League. Their performances are too vibrant to be confined to a short written version.

If you think this write-up is too long, well, my apologies.

And in this crucial match—the Champions League final—PSG threw a party. Initially, they had never won this competition, relying mostly on young players. But in the end, they went berserk, crushing Inter 5-0 without reply. When was the last time a final in this competition ended so brutally? Who knows? It’s unreal.

A truly historic season for PSG. Four trophies secured. Congratulations.

[asmawand-8]

The meme of Chelsea & Betis logos with added 'poultry' icons has been spreading widely on social media in recent days.

This is a 'joking' response from both teams because, out of the four trophies officially won by the English club, all four are related to poultry.

Which teams are meant? There’s Liverpool, Newcastle, Palace, and the most recent: Spurs. But... it’s just a joke.

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First Half

Badiashile’s inclusion in Chelsea’s starting XI is a bit concerning for me. The Frenchman has rarely been fielded by Maresca. So, the worry lies in his coordination with Chalobah over the next 90 minutes.

Moreover, this is the final that determines the champion. But... hopefully, my concerns don’t come true.

On the field, both teams immediately played openly from the start. Betis created the first chance through Antony’s off-target header in the 5th minute. Chelsea responded a minute later with Palmer’s on-target attempt.

Aside from those two chances, both teams seemed determined. Before even 10 minutes had passed, Ez Abde surprised Chelsea with a left-footed strike that became Betis’ opening goal.

The score is now 1-0.

In the 13th minute, a big chance for Betis almost became their second goal if Bartra’s shot hadn’t been saved by Jorgensen.

How did Chelsea respond? They kept pressing and tightly intercepting in midfield. But by the 20th minute, that approach didn’t help them create many chances.

Instead, Betis got another big chance in the 21st minute, but Johnny’s shot ended up off target.

From then on, Chelsea dominated possession starting around the 20th minute. But their first real chance only came in the 35th minute through Neto, which also ended off target.

In the remaining 10 minutes, Chelsea remained dominant. By the 43rd minute, they had 66% possession compared to Betis’ 34%.

How many chances did they create? Just one off-target attempt from Enzo. The score remained 1-0 until the end of the first half.

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Second Half

Chelsea took the initiative early in the second half, partly due to James’ introduction. This choice strengthened their defense while also bolstering the midfield in attack.

Aside from a more stable midfield, one of James’ crosses almost became a big chance for Chelsea, but no one could connect with the well-placed cross in Betis’ penalty box.

In the 56th minute, James again added to his team’s chances, but it ended off target as his shot was blocked by Betis’ defense. By the 60th minute, the goal The Blues were searching for still hadn’t arrived.

After the 60th minute, Chelsea intensified their pressure on Betis. Five minutes later, the goal they had been waiting for finally came through Enzo’s header. The score was now 1-1.

The equalizer further fired up Chelsea’s attacking spirit. Just like the first goal orchestrated by Palmer, this time the young Englishman played another crucial role in the 70th minute.

His acceleration led to an assist as his cross was headed in by Jackson, successfully becoming a goal for The Blues. Chelsea scored their second, Palmer registered his second assist.

The reversed score of 1-2 forced Betis to attack more. Risky? Yes. In the 76th minute, Betis almost conceded again if Jackson & Sancho’s counter had been more effective in that crucial moment. Unfortunately, it wasn’t, and the score stayed 1-2.

The risk of playing openly eventually backfired for Betis. Sancho, who had just come on in the second half, contributed to Chelsea’s third goal in the 83rd minute. They extended their lead, now 1-3.

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Final Result

In the remaining time, Chelsea mostly controlled the tempo. And in one moment, Antony, who had little impact throughout the match, also lost his temper. The result? A yellow card.

Just as the game seemed to be killed off at 1-3, in the 90+1st minute, Chelsea scored their fourth goal through a counter, this time from Caicedo’s long-range strike.

That fourth goal truly killed the game this time. Chelsea won and officially became champions of this edition of the Conference League.

This achievement solidifies Chelsea as the first team in Europe to win all 'genres' of European trophies.

[asmawand-8]

Chelsea actually face two challenges in the final week of the English League. First, they must win to secure a Champions League ticket. Second, the effort to steal three points must be done at Forest's home ground, a direct competitor in the race for a top-five finish in the league standings.

But if Chelsea can overcome this, such pressure could make them more mature and solidify their status as a top team year after year.

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First Half

There were no truly significant chances from either team in the first ten minutes of the match. Their efforts were still stuck in the 'trying to build an attack' phase.

Who was more dominant? So far, Forest. The hosts appeared just as determined to secure three points in this match. This was evident in several quick counterattacks and crossing attempts that threatened The Blues' defense multiple times.

By the 12th minute, the hosts led in ball possession. The ratio was 63% to 37% for Chelsea.

After that minute, Chelsea began focusing on taking control of the game through possession and dictating the tempo. It worked a few times, but for the most part, Forest remained more dominant.

However... this dominance wasn’t reflected in the number of chances created. Even by the 30th minute, Forest had yet to register a shot on or off target. What about Chelsea? The same.

Chelsea's frontline failed to show attacking effectiveness in their attempts. Fortunately, The Blues' defense remained solid in blocking the hosts' attacking combinations, which had dominated for nearly half an hour of play.

For neutral spectators hoping for end-to-end action, this was a boring match.

Who finally created the first chance? Chelsea. They had one off-target attempt through Neto’s volley in the 30th minute.

In the last 15 minutes, the number of chances didn’t change much. Statistically, by the 39th minute, Forest had managed 2 attempts compared to 1 from the visitors.

Forest had another chance through Wood’s close-range volley, but the attempt in the 43rd minute sailed just over Sanchez’s crossbar. That was the first big chance for the hosts.

For the rest of the half, both teams kept trying to counterattack, but by the time the whistle blew, the score remained 0-0.

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Second Half

Situations like the first half have often been experienced by Chelsea in the Conference League. Stalemate in one half, but able to turn things around in the next. Will it happen again in this match? Let’s see.

Five minutes into the second half, Chelsea managed to take over dominance. The result? In the 50th minute, Colwill changed the game with a close-range right-footed tap-in into an empty net.

The first on-target attempt became the first goal for Chelsea. A quick goal that immediately shifted the momentum. The visitors now led 0-1.

The introduction of Odoi in the 57th minute was Forest’s response to chasing the deficit. Their initial 4-3-1-2 formation, focused on dominating midfield, shifted to a 4-2-3-1, the hosts' preferred setup.

Chelsea’s response was to pull Cucurella back from the inverted wing-back role to his original left-back position. The space left by Cucurella was filled by Lavia, who came on in the 62nd minute. Formation? From 4-2-3-1 to 5-4-1.

This was uncharacteristic of Maresca. From that minute onward, Chelsea played it safe, prioritizing defense.

In terms of chances, the match remained dull. Forest, already lacking in attacking creativity, were "forced" by Chelsea to keep attacking. The hosts relied mostly on crosses as their primary attacking method.

The result wasn’t much different. By the 80th minute, Forest had only created one big chance. Which one? Wood’s off-target tap-in in the first half. That was the hosts' only clear big chance.

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Final Result

In the remaining time, Forest pushed for an equalizer with attacking dominance and the introduction of more offensive-minded players. What was the best impact they could muster? None, as it turned out.

Forest did create 6 chances by the 88th minute, but only Wood’s earlier opportunity was truly threatening.

Until the end of regulation time plus 8 minutes of added time, despite all their efforts—including Wood’s second big chance in the 90+4th minute—no goal came for the hosts.

The 0-1 scoreline held until the final whistle.

[asmawand-8]

The draw Ajax obtained in Week 33 turned into a blessing for PSV. Their 4-1 victory over Heracles became extremely important. Because of those two results, the Eindhoven team managed to dethrone Ajax from the top of the Eredivisie's temporary standings.

For PSV, the league title is now in their own hands. If they win in Week 34, they will be confirmed as champions. If they lose, they might even fail to claim the title.

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First Half

Being accustomed to watching big teams made me "used to" seeing high-quality matches. But in this Sparta vs. PSV game, I had to reset my expectations.

Why? Because until the 5th minute, the match seemed uninteresting. After that, there was a crucial moment in the 6th minute. Perišić’s volley was on target and became PSV’s first big chance, but it was still blocked by Sparta’s defender.

A truly neat attacking combination from PSV only appeared in the 11th minute. It didn’t result in a goal, only a corner kick.

Three minutes later, another tidy attack led to an on-target shot from Saibari. That opportunity was the first moment where Olij, Sparta’s goalkeeper, had to make a save.

After that moment, PSV started heating up. They created several attacking combinations. One of them resulted in a big chance through Tillman’s chip shot in the 18th minute, but Olij was quick to parry it away.

PSV’s dominance continued. They steadily pinned Sparta back, denying the hosts any chance to counter. Then, in the 27th minute, the goal PSV had been searching for finally arrived through Perišić’s header.

After taking the lead, PSV kept Sparta trapped with a high defensive line. One of the best moments came from chances by Perišić and De Jong in the 32nd and 33rd minutes. Olij once again made crucial saves to deny those on-target attempts.

In the remaining time, both teams exchanged attacks. The visitors created an opportunity through Lang’s on-target shot in the 35th minute. There were also two consecutive chances from Perišić and De Jong in the 40th minute.

For Sparta, Lauritsen’s header in the 38th minute was the first real chance they managed to create. And toward the end of the half, they got two more on-target attempts from Hlynsson and Lauritsen in the 44th and 45th minutes.

But out of all the chances created, aside from Perišić’s goal, no more goals were scored in the entire first half.

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Second Half

PSV got a "golden opportunity" when they were awarded a penalty early in the second half. Unfortunately, after the referee checked VAR, the decision was overturned. That was the first surprise.

The second surprise came in the 52nd minute. Through a well-organized attacking move, Zerrouki, left unmarked in PSV’s penalty box, converted the chance into an equalizer for the hosts. The score became 1-1.

That leveler provoked an angry reaction from Boscagli and silenced the PSV supporters.

Why? Because at the same time, Ajax had taken a 1-0 lead over Twente. By the 56th minute, Ajax even extended their lead to 2-0. If both scores held until the end, the visitors could fail to win the title.

But back to this match—by the 58th minute, PSV’s champion mentality began to show. They regained the lead when De Jong successfully turned a scramble in front of Sparta’s goal into PSV’s second goal.

Leading 2-1, PSV was back "on top" of the temporary standings. The title would be decided in the next 30-odd minutes.

During that 30-minute period, Sparta grew bolder in possession, trying to attack PSV through build-up play from the back.

That approach, though it didn’t produce an equalizer for the hosts, was effective in stifling the visitors’ attacks.

One of Sparta’s best moments came in the 76th minute when Lauritsen’s precise cross found Zerrouki, but the second goal didn’t materialize as Zerrouki’s header missed the ball.

After that, PSV regained control of the match. But this time, they did so while slowing down the tempo. Since they were already ahead, that choice was understandable.

Their dominance at least produced two more on-target attempts—from Veerman and Tillman in the 78th and 84th minutes. Tillman’s chance ended up being PSV’s third goal in this match. A goal to kill the game.

---

Final Result

After the third goal, PSV supporters loudly sang in unison for the remaining time. They were absolutely certain their team would win this match.

Three minutes of added time—and judging by Sparta’s approach—it seemed impossible for PSV to fail to secure the three points and their title in this game. And sure enough, until the final whistle blew, the 1-3 scoreline held until the end.

[asmawand-8]

Performing very poorly in the Premier League this season has made Manchester United and Spurs even more determined to win the Europa League final.

At the very least, a victory would not only secure them a trophy but also provide a 'shortcut' to qualifying for next season's Champions League.

---

First Half

By the 5th minute, both teams were playing quite openly. Each had one attacking attempt, though neither resulted in an end product—be it a big chance, on or off target.

One of the most critical moments for Manchester United—and a crucial one for Spurs—came when Vicario misjudged the trajectory of the ball and Hojlund's dribbling movement. Fortunately for Spurs, this blunder didn’t lead to an early concession.

In the 11th minute, Spurs created their first real threat against Onana. There were two attempts: first, Johnson’s shot was parried by Onana, and second, Sarr’s volley was blocked by Maguire.

Manchester United had a chance to counter in the 15th minute with a right-footed volley from Amad. It was powerful but went off target to the right of Vicario’s goal.

After Amad’s chance, the two teams were evenly matched in possession. As a result, the ball spent much of the time in midfield.

By the 30th minute, the game’s tempo remained unchanged, and the scoreboard still read 0-0. What about the next 15 minutes? Honestly, I was getting sleepy watching it.

There were no truly significant moments in the remainder of the half. But just as I was losing enthusiasm and resigning myself to a goalless first half, a crucial tap-in from Johnson in the 42nd minute changed everything.

A goal was scored, the Spurs players celebrated, and by the time the first half ended, the score remained 1-0 for The Lilywhite.

---

Second Half

An interesting combination play early in the second half involved Bruno, Mazraoui, and Amad. However, Amad’s cross at the end of the move was met with a poor header from Hojlund.

What started as a well-built attack ended in anticlimax.

Aside from Hojlund’s poor performance, another Manchester United player who had little impact was Mount.

His contributions in the attacking third were almost nonexistent, paling in comparison to Amad, who stood out in the first half. Even by the time Mount was substituted for Amorim in the 71st minute, he had made zero impact.

How was the game progressing in this half? More of the same. By the 60th minute, the ball was still mostly stuck in midfield. Both Manchester United and Spurs played at a slow tempo, with few chances—on or off target, let alone big opportunities.

In the 61st minute, Manchester United had a great chance to equalize if Amad had reacted quicker to the ball at his feet. A minute later, Spurs also had a golden opportunity if Solanke’s ball control had been more precise. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. That one-on-one chance with Onana simply vanished.

After a long wait, a big chance finally came for Manchester United in the 68th minute—not just one, but two in quick succession. First, Hojlund’s header was heroically cleared by Van de Ven, and then Yoro’s volley was blocked by Romero.

In the remaining 20 minutes, Manchester United had no choice but to push forward more aggressively. Amorim brought on Zirkzee and Garnacho, hoping for an immediate impact.

There was an instant effect. In the 74th minute, Garnacho’s burst of speed ended with a powerful on-target shot that Vicario still managed to save.

By the 79th minute, Manchester United’s changes forced Ange to get pragmatic. He opted to strengthen the defense for the final 10 minutes. How? By bringing on Danso and taking off Johnson. The initial 4-3-3 formation shifted to a 5-4-1.

Did it work? The answer: yes. Manchester United dominated possession but struggled even more to break down Spurs’ defense.

---

Final Result

Manchester United’s struggles continue. Their attacking efforts persisted, but they kept hitting a wall.

One example was Maguire’s frustration. The center-back, who had been pushed up as a makeshift striker, spent more time arguing with Romero than creating chances for Manchester United.

And by the final whistle, the deadlock remained unbroken for Manchester United. They lost 0-1 and had to watch Spurs lift the trophy in their championship celebration.

[asmawand-8]

Crucial points are being contested by the top teams in these final weeks of the Premier League season.

In matchweek 37, Newcastle who currently sit in third position can secure Champions League qualification if they manage to steal all three points from Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

Not an easy task, but they'll try to do it.

---

First Half

In the opening five minutes, both teams struggled to penetrate each other's defenses. Arsenal dominated through their build-up play while Newcastle responded with a seven-man pressing system.

By the 6th minute, the first chance finally came from two consecutive on-target attempts by Newcastle. Guimarães did it twice, but Raya & Kiwior successfully thwarted both opportunities.

For the remainder, the home team's dominance was continuously challenged by Newcastle's pressing and compact defensive organization.

While Arsenal still struggled to create any chances, Newcastle managed their third on-target attempt in the 11th minute through Livramento's effort. The attempt was still weak and easily saved by Raya.

After persistent trying, in the 14th minute Arsenal finally created a chance through Trossard. It was still off-target, but better late than never.

That same minute, from two corners, the home team got two consecutive chances. One from Partey which was on-target and another through Ødegaard's long-range off-target shot.

Newcastle's stubbornness to steal all points from this match remained evident. The proof? There was a big chance from Barnes' acceleration that became on-target in the 16th minute, plus two consecutive on-target attempts from Burn & Botman in the 17th minute, and Burn's off-target in the 22nd minute.

By the 24th minute, The Gunners did 'win' in possession with 62% compared to Newcastle's 38%. But in terms of chances, the visitors created 8 attempts compared to 4, and 5 on-target compared to 1.

How did Arsenal fight back? Despite controlling possession, they could only respond with one long-range on-target attempt from Rice in the 28th minute.

In the final 17 minutes, the battle occurred in midfield. There were attacking attempts from both teams, but most 'only' resulted in attempts. When the first half ended, the scoreboard remained unchanged at 0-0.

---

Second Half

Arsenal immediately 'stung' Newcastle at the start of the second half.

Besides being able to pin down the visitors in those first 10 minutes, the home team also capped off their attacking wave with a long-range on-target strike from Rice.

The result? A beautiful opening goal for the home team. They now led 1-0 in the 55th minute.

After that goal, Arsenal's attacks didn't relent. In the 59th minute, they got another 'on-target' from Saka towards Pope had Botman not blocked it with his head.

In the 61st minute, a genuine on-target came again from the same player: Saka. Unfortunately his shot was weak and easily saved by Pope.

The visitors reacted by bringing on three young players simultaneously in the 64th minute. Who were they? Miley, Osula & Krafth.

After one narrowly off-target attempt from Ben White in the 68th minute, Newcastle began to counter Arsenal's attacks. Of their several attempts, one resulted in an off-target in the 75th minute through Barnes' shot.

Additionally, Newcastle still had one free-kick that hit the wall and an off-target left-footed attempt from Willock in the 78th and 82nd minutes.

---

Final Result

As the match approached the final minutes, the visitors kept trying to attack. It wasn't easy, but they persisted. What was the result? Unfortunately nothing.

When the 5 minutes of added time ended and the final whistle was blown by Simon Hooper, the score remained the same at 1-0.

With this result, Arsenal officially secured second place in the final season standings, while for Newcastle, this defeat 'forced' them to fight again in matchweek 38 to secure European competition qualification for next season.

[asmawand-8]

Compared to previous seasons, City's performance this season appears to have declined significantly. However, as much as City have declined, they still managed to hold onto third place in the English League & in the FA Cup, they also reached the final.

By making it to the final, they could still end this season with one trophy. The condition? City must defeat Palace at Wembley Stadium.

---

First Half

The inclusion of Doku, Marmoush, and Savinho indicates that Pep wanted quick acceleration in City's attacking line.

These three 'runners' were expected to skillfully navigate Palace's tight defense, create space for Haaland, and deliver sharp counterattacks.

Ten minutes into the match, City's 4-2-3-1 formation frequently shifted into a 3-3-4. During this period, City's ball possession consistently trapped Palace in their own defensive area.

How dominant were City in this match? By the 12th minute, statistics showed they had 87% possession compared to Palace's 13%. The Citizens also completed 94 successful passes against The Eagles' 9.

This dominance 'helped' City create their first big chance through Haaland in the 6th minute and an on-target header from Gvardiol in the 12th minute.

However, from these two key moments, Henderson made brilliant saves to keep his goal secure.

By the 16th minute, could Palace put up a fight against City? Surprisingly, yes. Aside from defending solidly, just one counterattack led to an on-target attempt from Eze that resulted in a goal. It was their first attempt, instantly changing the score to 1-0.

Not just once. In the 20th minute, from a similar situation, Palace created another on-target chance through Sarr's flick, but this time, Ortega managed to block it.

By the 30th minute, Palace had fought back with those two counters. For the rest, their defense remained solid, successfully minimizing City's chances.

In the 32nd minute, City had a chance to equalize from a penalty. Marmoush’s strike in the 36th minute was sharp toward the right side of Palace’s goal, but once again, Henderson saved it.

The score remained 1-0.

Even by the 39th minute, City’s dominance was evident with 80% possession compared to Palace’s 20%. However, by the end of the first half, they only managed one on-target and one off-target attempt, both failing to beat Henderson.

---

Second Half

Two quick bursts from Savinho in two minutes and an off-target attempt from Doku in the 49th minute were City’s efforts to quickly catch up.

That was in the first five minutes. Ten minutes later, The Citizens continued to pin Palace down. One of City’s most crucial chances came from Bernardo, but his shot was blocked by Kamada.

The rest? There was an on-target attempt from Palace via Eze, also blocked by Akanji in the 50th minute, and an off-target shot from Haaland in the 56th minute.

A surprise came in the 58th minute when two consecutive on-target attempts from Munoz resulted in a second goal for The Eagles. Palace led 2-0.

Unfortunately, when the referee checked with VAR, the goal was disallowed because Munoz’s shot deflected off Sarr, who was caught offside earlier.

The score reverted to 1-0.

By the 80th minute, despite constant pressure from City, Palace managed an off-target attempt from Kamada’s long-range shot. City responded with a long-range strike from De Bruyne and an off-target attempt from Marmoush.

In the last 10 minutes, City tried to sharpen their attack by bringing in Foden, Echeverri, and Gundogan. The result?

In terms of possession, no question—they remained dominant. But in terms of chances, City only created two more attempts: an off-target header from Haaland and an on-target shot from Echeverri.

---

Final Result

Entering added time, the referee awarded 10 extra minutes—a significant amount. In this critical period, City’s deadlock still couldn’t be broken.

Two off-target attempts from De Bruyne and Doku, plus two more from Echeverri, were the best efforts City could muster before the second half ended.

Any last-minute changes to the scoreboard? None. Palace emerged as champions with a narrow 1-0 victory.

[asmawand-8]

As the season nears its end, the situation is becoming increasingly complicated for Chelsea. After a 0-2 defeat to Newcastle, the point gap between Chelsea in fifth place and Villa & Forest in sixth and seventh has narrowed.

Once again, if they still want to qualify for next season's Champions League, they must win their two remaining matches. Who are their opponents? There’s Manchester United this week and Forest next week, in matchweeks 37 and 38 of the English League.

---

First Half

Jackson's absence due to a red card suspension led to George being deployed as a CF in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Given this situation, the forward line, which has often been blunt, risks repeating its struggles in this match.

On the pitch, after five minutes, the biggest chance for the home team came from Madueke. Unfortunately, Palmer’s well-timed through ball was met with an imperfect tap-in from Madueke. That big chance ended up off target.

After that moment, until the 13th minute, what was evident was Chelsea struggling to build up play smoothly due to United’s effective pressing.

That was the first surprise from the visitors. In the 16th minute, United delivered a second surprise with a tap-in goal from Maguire, who received a beautiful cross from Bruno. Unfortunately, after a VAR check, the goal was disallowed due to a very tight offside.

By the 22nd minute, despite not registering a single shot on target (aside from the offside goal), United’s attacks were far more threatening than the home team’s.

It wasn’t until the 24th minute that Chelsea created their first big chance, with James’ long-range strike hitting the post of Onana’s goal.

That was the best opportunity from either side. The rest of the match was dull. By the 27th minute, the home team had only managed two attempts compared to United’s one.

After James’ chance, Chelsea began to attack more. The Blues had another off-target attempt from Palmer in the 28th minute and an on-target shot from Enzo blocked by Hojlund in the 29th minute.

There were also two crosses from Neto that were on target in the 33rd and 36th minutes.

After that, the match returned to being uneventful. By the end of the first half, there was only one more on-target attempt from Chelsea, courtesy of Palmer in the 45th minute.

---

Second Half

The first five minutes of the second half remained dull. There was one free-kick opportunity for Chelsea during this period, but James’ shot only hit Bruno.

What do I mean by dull? Both teams lacked chances and frequently misplaced passes in the final third of their attacks.

In the 52nd minute, a counterattack from United nearly resulted in a goal, but Mount’s flick was slightly off target, failing to trouble Sánchez.

Three minutes later, another counterattack saw United threaten again, this time with a long-range shot from Bruno, which also ended up off target.

An hour into the match, my "prediction" at the start of this piece came true. Playing George as a CF did little to help Chelsea’s forward line.

The Blues’ attack, which has often been blunt, remained ineffective in this match.

George didn’t have a single moment to threaten United’s goal. Was it entirely his fault? Not really. He’s still too young, and CF isn’t his natural position.

By the 70th minute, the situation hadn’t changed. A lack of creativity and misplaced passes continued to plague the home team’s attack.

But a minute later, Chelsea’s deadlock was finally broken. James’ cross was met with an on-target header from Cucurella. A goal was scored, and Chelsea took a temporary 1-0 lead.

In the 73rd minute, the home team had another big chance. It started with a good first touch from Madueke, but his finish lacked precision and went off target.

By the 80th minute, both teams exchanged attacks. It began with a weak on-target shot from Neto in the 78th minute. A minute later, United responded with a burst of speed from Diallo, capped off with an on-target strike—their first on-target attempt in 79 minutes.

---

Final Result

In the last 10 minutes, with the lead secured, Chelsea focused more on controlling the tempo. The introduction of Lavia was part of the plan to solidify this approach.

The result? In those 10 minutes, plus seven minutes of added time, United failed to create another on- or off-target chance.

By the end of the second half, the scoreboard remained unchanged. Chelsea held on for a narrow 1-0 victory.

[asmawand-8]

Newcastle and Chelsea both have 63 points after 35 Premier League matches. Separated only by goal difference, their league positions are neck-and-neck: Newcastle 4th, Chelsea 5th.

In this 36th matchweek, the two sides clash at St. James' Park. With such tight standings and the season nearing its end, the winner here gains crucial advantage in the Champions League qualification race.

---

First Half

Newcastle started brightly. Murphy's exquisite cross met Tonali's equally brilliant diving header in the 2nd minute - an early 1-0 lead for the hosts.

After the goal, Newcastle controlled proceedings. By the 10th minute, they'd completely nullified Chelsea's attacking threat.

This dominance continued until the 16th minute. Statistics showed Newcastle edging possession (54%-44%) and attempts (3-0).

Isak registered another on-target attempt in the 19th minute - weak and easily saved by Sánchez. Chelsea's first responses came in the 20th and 24th minutes, but Palmer and Caicedo's shots drifted off-target.

After 31 minutes, Newcastle led 6-3 in attempts and 3-0 in on-target efforts, including Barnes' tame 26th-minute shot comfortably handled by Sánchez.

Chelsea's attacking creativity looked blunt. With Palmer ineffective, their attacks relied entirely on the wingers.

Their situation worsened in the 36th minute when Jackson received a straight red for elbowing Botman in an aerial duel.

In the final 10 minutes with 10 men, Chelsea looked increasingly lost in attack. Their only chance came in added time (45+3') through Neto's off-target effort after a rapid break.

Meanwhile, Newcastle created two more opportunities: Barnes' 43rd-minute shot blocked by Chalobah and Burn's 44th-minute on-target header.

These were the half's clearest chances.

---

Second Half

Facing adversity, Maresca's response was telling - replacing Madueke with James, shifting James to RCB and pushing Cucurella to LW.

Chelsea's first on-target attempt finally came in the 48th minute through Palmer, still comfortably saved by Pope.

For ten minutes (45'-55'), Chelsea dominated possession (80%-20%) but only created Palmer's chance, mostly circulating the ball in midfield without penetration.

The next five minutes followed the same pattern. Chelsea's best opportunity came in the 62nd minute through Cucurella's low on-target drive.

After sustained pressure, Newcastle finally responded with Guimarães' off-target effort in the 70th minute.

Maresca's 73rd-minute substitutions (Gusto and Sancho) aimed to sharpen attacks. With Gusto and Cucurella as CBs, Chelsea sought quicker ball progression to accelerate attacks.

Did it work? The tactical changes achieved faster ball movement, but limited bench options restricted Maresca's choices.

Enzo's 83rd-minute on-target shot and James' 88th-minute off-target header represented Chelsea's best late chances, still insufficient for an equalizer.

---

Final Result

As Chelsea chased the game, Newcastle delivered the killer blow. Guimarães' deflected shot became their first second-half on-target attempt - a symbolic 'kill the game' moment.

The match ended 2-0. This result lifts Newcastle to third (66 points), significantly boosting their Champions League qualification hopes.

[asmawand-8]

Barcelona couldn't dwell too long on their Champions League elimination. LaLiga remains within their grasp.

And in this Matchday 35, Barcelona hosted a crucial clash against their eternal rivals, Real Madrid. Victory was essential for both sides to keep their title hopes alive.

---

First Half

Cubarsí's misplaced pass proved disastrous for the hosts. The wayward ball fell to Mbappé, who found himself one-on-one with Szczęsny before being fouled by Cubarsí - prompting the referee to award a penalty.

Mbappé stepped up and converted calmly. Madrid took an early 0-1 lead in the 5th minute.

After the goal, Barcelona pinned Madrid back and nearly equalized in the 8th minute, but Éric García's shot was blocked by Courtois.

That was the first chance. During Barcelona's next attacking phase, I noticed Madrid's defensive line-up: a four-man backline of Fran García, Tchouaméni, Asensio, and Vázquez.

Far from reassuring.

Despite this, Madrid's attack looked sharper early on. By the 14th minute, their second on-target attempt became a second goal through Mbappé's clinical finish.

Trailing by two, Barcelona intensified their onslaught. In the 17th minute, Yamal's volley - though off-target - was still parried by Courtois.

A minute later, Ceballos' clearance nearly resulted in an own goal. Then in the 19th minute, Gerard Martin's long-range strike was saved again by Courtois.

Three rapid-fire chances for Barcelona. The fourth attempt, also in the 19th minute, saw Éric García head home to make it 1-2.

A golden opportunity arrived in the 22nd minute when Ferran found space for a tap-in, but he fluffed his lines.

Ten minutes later, Barcelona completed their comeback. Yamal's curling strike leveled it 2-2 in the 32nd minute. Two minutes after that, the hosts turned the game around entirely.

A miscommunication between Mbappé and Ceballos allowed Pedri to steal possession and find Raphinha, whose shot beat Courtois. 3-2.

Barcelona kept pressing, creating two more off-target chances via Cubarsí and Raphinha. Then in the 45th minute, Raphinha struck again to complete his brace and make it 4-2.

Their relentless attacking also stifled Madrid's offense. Apart from the two on-target efforts that became goals, Madrid failed to register a single shot (on or off target) in the entire first half.

---

Second Half

What plagued Madrid in the first half? Perhaps their disjointed midfield or second-string defense. But for me, their attacking coordination stood out as the biggest issue.

Vinícius was anonymous. Güler, playing at RW, fared even worse - his touches led to misplaced passes, interceptions, and dangerous backpasses. Otherwise, the Turkish youngster offered nothing.

Ancelotti noticed. His response was substituting Güler for Modrić early in the second half, aiming to solidify midfield and spark a comeback.

Did it help? Yes. Did it transform the game? No.

Barcelona remained dominant, with Yamal (49') and Olmo (54') going off-target. But Madrid began posing more threat on the counter.

Mbappé's off-target attempt in the 56th minute initiated a flurry of counters between minutes 56-66.

The breakthrough came in the 70th minute. A rapid counter, started by Modrić's incisive pass, ended with Mbappé completing his hat-trick via Vinícius' cross. 4-3.

Barcelona sought an immediate response. Yamal forced a sharp save from Courtois in the 73rd minute, then set up Raphinha for a point-blank chance that went off-target.

The final 15 minutes saw end-to-end action. Madrid created chances through Fran García (off-target), Vinícius (on-target), and big opportunities for Muñoz and Mbappé (89', 90+2').

Barcelona had Yamal's on-target effort, two off-target attempts from Raphinha, and a Fermín goal disallowed by VAR in the 95th minute.

---

Final Result

Barcelona's dominance was staggering - 74% possession to Madrid's 26% by the 86th minute.

That control translated into chances and the final scoreline. The match ended 4-3, securing three vital points in this El Clásico edition.

The gap now stands at seven points. With three matches left, Barcelona need just three more points to clinch the LaLiga title.

[asmawand-8]

Let me share an interesting fact with you. In this Conference League campaign, from the first match until the first leg of the semifinals, Chelsea has never once fielded their main starting lineup.

Chelsea always played with a starting XI mostly filled with backup players. The results? Perfect. 100% win rate. And in this second leg, the situation remains the same.

For this second leg against Djurgarden, Chelsea only fielded four first-team players. Who are they? Cucurella, Sancho, James, and Gusto. The rest were all backup players.

---

First Half

It started with Acheampong's blunder, giving Djurgarden a big chance in the 2nd minute, but Tokmac's shot lacked direction. The wayward effort was easily collected by Jorgensen.

That was the first notable moment. Another consistent feature in Chelsea's matches is their fluid 4-2-3-1 formation that constantly morphs during games - including this one.

The formation keeps evolving minute by minute - sometimes becoming 3-4-2-1, 3-2-4-1, or more attacking variants like 3-5-2 or 3-3-4.

In this match, the 4-2-3-1 shifted more towards 3-4-2-1. Chelsea's first attacking response came in the 12th minute through Badiashile's off-target header.

Apart from Badiashile's chance, by the 16th minute, the hosts maintained 71% possession dominance against the visitors' 29%.

That's regarding possession. But in terms of attacking fluidity or creativity, with mostly backup players like in this match... well, don't expect Chelsea's game to be exciting to watch.

By the 22nd minute, young players like Acheampong, Walsh, and George often appeared awkward in decision-making. The trio struggled with finding space, timing their runs/interceptions, and maintaining passing accuracy.

But for me, that's not a big issue. Maresca's intention to give these youngsters playing time deserves appreciation.

Back to the match. Chelsea's first dangerous chance only came in the 28th minute from George's play, finished by Dewsbury-Hall's on-target shot that Rinne saved.

In the 38th minute, Dewsbury-Hall's dribbling led to an on-target shot that found the net. The Blues now led 1-0.

Djurgarden got their on-target chance in the 43rd minute through Kosugi, but Jorgensen handled it comfortably. Chelsea responded with Dewsbury-Hall's off-target attempt in the 45th minute - the last chances before halftime.

---

Second Half

Djurgarden tried to attack more aggressively in the second half, resulting in end-to-end action.

But the hosts got the first on-target chance through Dewsbury-Hall's header in the 54th minute.

Another notable moment was the introduction of new young players - Mhueka and Antwi (aged 17 and 18).

For context, Mhueka's style resembles MU's RB Dorgu. But in this match specifically, neither youngster showed anything special.

Between minutes 54-80, Djurgarden had off-target attempts from Gulliksen (65' and 80') and an on-target effort from Stensson (71'). Chelsea had off-target shots from Dewsbury-Hall and Acheampong (67' and 77').

The final 10 minutes saw little change - Chelsea kept dominating while the visitors occasionally countered.

There were a few more chances - Walsh's off-target (84') and Gusto's powerful on-target strike in added time (90+1').

---

Final Result

Gusto's late attempt became the last chance. The match ended 1-0 to Chelsea after referee Joao Pinheiro's final whistle.

Another memorable moment? The incredible atmosphere from Djurgarden's fans. Around the 60th minute, their loud chanting provoked a positive reaction from home supporters - both sets of fans engaged in a beautiful, competitive cheering battle. Truly wonderful to witness.

[asmawand-8]

The 3-0 advantage from the first leg lightened Manchester United's steps as they approached the second leg against Bilbao at their home ground, Old Trafford.

However, unlike Chelsea in the parallel competition who fielded their second-string team in the second leg, United remained cautious of Bilbao and fielded their strongest starting XI.

---

First Half

No chances materialized in the opening five minutes. Why? Because play mostly congested in midfield. Who dominated proceedings? Neither side - it was evenly balanced.

During this period, what stood out was Bilbao's intense pressing in United's defensive third. Ultimately, the visitors created the first chance in the 9th minute, though... it only resulted in an off-target attempt.

By the 15th minute, United still hadn't created a single opportunity. The hosts opted for a reactive approach, only attacking through counters. Why? The 3-0 aggregate likely provided the answer.

A minute later, United finally got a chance through Garnacho. But his one-on-one with Bilbao's keeper Agirrezabala was poorly executed, comfortably saved.

Thereafter, Bilbao pushed relentlessly to score and reduce the deficit. They created several chances including an off-target Berenguer attempt and dangerous crosses, also from Berenguer.

At the 30-minute mark, the recurring pattern saw Bilbao controlling possession with a high defensive line, while United countered sporadically. This scenario repeated multiple times.

A minute later, Bilbao's desired breakthrough came through Jauregizar's long-range strike - their first on-target attempt of the match. Bilbao led 0-1 in the 31st minute.

Following this well-taken goal, the visitors pressed consistently for a second. United remained reactive, still unwilling to commit numbers forward.

In the 43rd minute, a counterattack produced a big chance for United, but once again Garnacho's one-on-one with Agirrezabala only resulted in an off-target effort.

The first half concluded with Bilbao's 0-1 advantage intact.

---

Second Half

The second half continued similarly - Bilbao offensive, United reactive. Even when United attempted to attack, by the 60th minute the pattern persisted, with United constantly under Bilbao's pressure.

Responding to the match dynamics, Amorim made his move. The Portuguese manager introduced three substitutes simultaneously in the 61st minute: Mount, Shaw and Amad.

These changes injected aggression into United, while Bilbao - already attacking - struggled with their attacking efficiency.

How inefficient were Bilbao? Their single on-target attempt (the first-half goal) by the 70th minute told the story. Otherwise? Several off-target attempts and many broken attacks. United fared worse - zero on-target attempts until the 70th minute.

But Amorim's triple substitution proved transformative. In the 72nd minute, United's first on-target attempt became their equalizer through Mount's strike. 1-1, extending their aggregate lead to 4-1.

In the remaining 18 minutes, United demonstrated the clinical edge Bilbao desperately lacked.

The evidence? In the 80th minute, United's second on-target attempt became their second goal via Casemiro's header. By the 85th minute, their fourth and fifth on-target attempts translated into third and fourth goals from Hojlund and Mount respectively.

---

Final Result

Ruthless indeed. Bilbao dominated 70 minutes but only scored once. United only competed properly in the final 20 minutes yet produced four goals.

The match ended 4-1. While thoroughly beaten on aggregate (7-1), Bilbao's performance wasn't as poor as the scoreline suggests.

This comprehensive victory sends United to the final against Spurs. The venue? Ironically, Bilbao's home ground.

[asmawand-8]

Actually, in this season, after being confirmed to have failed to win the English League, Arsenal can only win the Champions League. That’s the only remaining competition The Gunners are still 'in' as of today.

However, considering they also lost in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal need extra motivation to win the match at Parc des Princes against the hosts, PSG.

That is, if Arsenal want to win the Champions League. If not, well... losing or drawing doesn’t matter.

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First Half

Partey’s appearance in this crucial match brought great hope for Arsenal. Through the combination of the trio Partey, Odegaard & Rice in midfield, the London-based team should have been able to put up a tough fight against PSG. That’s how it should have been.

Additionally, Arsenal also fielded a full-strength team, with the CF position once again filled by Merino. Meanwhile, the hosts couldn’t deploy their full strength as Dembele was injured before this important match.

On the pitch, Arsenal’s determination to win was evident in the early minutes. They dominated the game. And when without the ball, the visitors were serious about pressing, even opting for a high defensive line to support their pressing.

With this approach, Arsenal managed to dominate the early stages of the match. Donnarumma was forced to work hard at least in the first 10 minutes. What threats came his way?

In the 3rd minute, the visitors had an off-target opportunity through Rice’s header. In the 4th and 8th minutes, Martinelli’s tap-in and Odegaard’s powerful strike went straight at Donnarumma’s goal. But the GK reacted with quick reflexes to deny both on-target attempts.

The Gunners’ attacking intensity remained high after the first 10 minutes. By the 16th minute, they dominated possession with 69% compared to 31% and led in total attempts with 4 to 0.

But from the 16th minute onward, PSG began to fight back. They had one chance from Kvaratskhelia’s flick in the 17th minute, unfortunately still hitting Raya’s post. There was also a counter that resulted in an on-target attempt from Doue in the 23rd minute.

For the rest, aside from continuing to dominate the game and denying PSG time to control the tempo, Arsenal also made it difficult for the hosts to execute their usual neat and fluid build-up play.

Although able to limit PSG’s movement, Arsenal weren’t entirely solid in this match. From the 20th minute onward, the visitors often lost possession. There were moments of lost balls at the feet of Saka, Rice, and several times from Lewis-Skelly.

Unfortunately, in the case of Rice losing the ball, it led to a free kick for PSG. That moment initiated the hosts’ on-target chance, resulting in a goal from Ruiz’s left-footed strike in the 27th minute.

The score became 1-0 for PSG.

In the 30th minute, from a misplaced pass by Lewis-Skelly, PSG got another counter opportunity, on target, but this time Raya was still alert to block Barcola’s shot.

In the last 15 minutes, Arsenal continued to push forward and dominate the game, while PSG mostly responded through pressing, interceptions, and counters.

Until the first half ended, in the remaining minutes, neither team could create many chances, and the score remained 1-0.

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Second Half

In this half, if they wanted to reach the final, the visitors had only one choice: commit to an all-out attack. Did they do it? Yes. Arsenal kept at it. They kept trying. Were their attacks effective? No. That was the source of the problem.

The Gunners only managed their first off-target attempt in the 57th minute. Their first on-target attempt came in the 58th minute.

After 62 minutes of play, PSG managed to catch up in possession stats. The hosts were only slightly behind at 48% to 52%. But in terms of chances, PSG were 'heavily outmatched'.

From total attempts, PSG had 6 compared to Arsenal’s 13, while on-target attempts were only 1 compared to the visitors’ 5.

A big chance also came for Arsenal in the 64th minute through Saka’s curling shot. But not to be outdone, Donnarumma also made a 'big save' to deny the threat.

During Arsenal’s possession dominance, PSG also created an on-target chance through Hakimi in the 64th minute via a counter. Two minutes later, from this situation, after the referee reviewed the replay via VAR, a penalty was awarded to PSG.

In that moment, Vitinha, who was assigned as the taker, failed to deliver. Arsenal were 'saved' by Raya’s calm save in goal. By the 69th minute, the score remained 1-0.

Unfortunately, three minutes later, precisely in the 72nd minute, the second goal finally came for PSG through Hakimi’s strike. The Moroccan RB celebrated, the home fans cheered, and the Arsenal players stood stunned.

The score was now 2-0.

In the 76th minute, though late, the goal Arsenal hoped for finally arrived through Saka. Additionally, another big chance came for Saka in the 80th minute with a tap-in in front of an open goal, but he failed to direct it toward Donnarumma’s net.

Saka stood stunned and regretful after letting such a crucial big chance slip away.

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Final Result

In the last 10 minutes, both teams continued to exchange attacks. PSG had an on-target attempt from Dembele and an off-target one from Hakimi. Meanwhile, Arsenal only managed an off-target header from Merino.

By the time the second half ended, the score stood at 2-1 for PSG. With this result, the aggregate became 3-1, and the hosts officially booked their place to face Inter in the Champions League final on May 31.

[asmawand-8]

For this match, Inter fielded the exact same team as in the first leg. With a 3-5-2 formation, Lautaro & Thuram once again served as the primary strike duo.

On the other side, Barca 'lost' another player for this match. Besides not starting Lewandowski, Kounde was also absent due to a hamstring injury.

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First Half

The first five minutes were tough for both teams. They struggled to build up attacks neatly. Why? Because both teams were focused on breaking down each other's attacks.

Even until the 10th minute, Barca's usually imaginative attacks hadn't materialized. What dominated those first 10 minutes? Interceptions.

Barca's high defensive line nearly 'hurt' them in the 13th minute. Thuram broke through for a one-on-one with Szczesny. Fortunately it didn't result in a goal, and even if it had, Thuram was already offside.

From that moment, Inter kept trying to find gaps through through balls to penetrate Barca's high defensive line.

Meanwhile for the visitors, their first clear chance came in the 15th minute through an on-target attempt by Yamal. But it was weak and too easily saved by Sommer.

Inter responded with an attack that produced three consecutive corners. But none of the attempts threatened Szczesny from those three corners.

Barella's action in Barca's penalty box in the 20th minute became Inter's first on-target attempt. One minute later, Inter finally exposed the visitors' high defensive line. The first goal came through cooperation between the two CFs, finished by Lautaro's tap-in.

The hosts successfully led 1-0 in the 21st minute.

After conceding, Barca's attacking imagination began to reappear. Not yet as fluid as usual, but continuous attacks became crucial for Barca to chase the deficit.

They had a chance to equalize in the 28th minute when Olmo found space behind Inter's defense. Unfortunately the momentum was lost because Olmo wasn't quick enough to turn it into a big chance for Barca.

By the 36th minute, statistics showed Inter with 4 attempts compared to Barca's 6. On target: Inter 2, Barca 1.

In the remaining 10 minutes, both teams exchanged attacks. Barca had an off-target attempt through Yamal, Inter also had off-target attempts through Mkhitaryan & Calhanoglu.

Inter successfully penetrated Barca's high defensive line again in the 44th minute. In the end, Cubarsi fouled Lautaro in the penalty box. After checking VAR, referee Szymon Marciniak awarded a penalty to Inter. Calhanoglu as the executioner successfully completed his task.

When the first half ended, the scoreboard showed 2-0 for Inter's lead.

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Second Half

Barca didn't change that high defensive line in the second half. They had no choice but to use the same approach to support their attacking intensity.

With that choice, the 'miniature' of the second half was already visible in the first five minutes. Barca kept attacking, Inter focused on defense & counters.

But with defense & counters, Inter even managed to score a third goal through Acerbi's header, but the referee ruled it out for offside.

Meanwhile for the visitors, the goal they'd been waiting for finally came in the 54th minute through Eric Garcia's half-volley tap-in. Game on for Barca.

After that goal, both teams had on-target chances. One from Barella for Inter, another from Eric Garcia that became a big chance for Barca. Unfortunately his shot in front of goal was still denied by Sommer's brilliant reaction.

Barca's comeback finally happened in the 60th minute. Gerard Martin's cross was converted by Olmo into a second goal through a header.

Barca, consistently attacking, managed to keep Inter pinned in their own half. They created several chances, including an on-target attempt by Yamal in the 77th minute that was again magnificently saved by Sommer.

Ten minutes later, Barca's comeback seemed complete when Raphinha's goal in the 88th minute made it 2-3. This goal-filled drama appeared to be ending in the visitors' favor.

But as it turned out, Inter could still extend the drama. In five minutes of added time, minute 90+4, Inter surprised again with their third goal through Acerbi.

Unbelievable. When the second half ended, the aggregate was 6-6. The match had to go to extra time.

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First Half of Extra Time

In the first four minutes, the hosts twice penetrated Barca's high defensive line. Though not resulting in on or off-target attempts, it served as a danger alarm if the visitors didn't want to concede again.

But that's been Barca's nature this season. Rather than focusing on defense, they chose to create as many chances as possible and dominate possession.

The goal-trading drama from both teams across these two legs was truly amazing, including in this match.

In the 99th minute, Inter took the lead again through Frattesi's left-footed curler. The score became 4-3 and remained until the first half of extra time ended.

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Second Half of Extra Time

Yamal's forced acceleration resulted in a big chance when his cross found Lewandowski for a header in the 107th minute. Unfortunately it still went over Sommer's goal.

Inter responded two minutes later through an on-target attempt by Frattesi. Barca countered with another chance by Yamal in the 114th minute that once again nearly equalized, but Sommer once again managed to deny it.

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Final Result

In the remaining match, there was still one more on-target chance from Barca through Yamal, but it wasn't enough for Barca to overcome their deficit. When the second half of extra time ended, no more goals were scored.

Inter won with a final score of 4-3 and 7-6 on aggregate.

An incredible result from Inter and Barca across these two legs ultimately sent Inter through to the Champions League final. Now, Inter just awaits the result of PSG vs Arsenal to prepare facing one of them at Allianz Arena on May 31st.