Game Recaps

Nine goals. Nine. Four goals for Inter, five for Fiorentina. I think it’s fair to say that no one expected that. Elsewhere, Juventus demolished Genoa with four goals and no reply. Expected. Lazio rumbled right over Palermo, going five-nil up in thirty minutes and finishing the game six to one. Expected. Napoli drew two apiece away at Sassuolo. Not that expected, to be honest, but not that shocking. But Fiorentina five, Inter four? That’s a result that makes you sit up and take notice.

Carli Lloyd’s Champions League ambitions may soon be at an end after Alex Morgan’s Lyon defeated Manchester City 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. City will now need to travel to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on April 29 to overturn the large deficit.

City and Lloyd got off to the worst possible start in the opening minutes. An attempted Lyon cross was blocked in the box by Lloyd’s elbow, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. 

Lionel Messi's 500th Barcelona goal was scored in the 91st minute of El Clasico to defeat Real Madrid, 3-2. 

First, a note about the losers: Real Madrid were the better side for most of the game. They were more organized and more aggressive, even snatching an equalizer while playing with 10 men. It looked like Real would win it for a bit there, as they were entirely on the front foot in the latter stages of the game. But Real Madrid did not win this game. They did not win this game because they do not have Lionel Messi, and Barcelona do.

Chelsea await the winner of Sunday’s match between Arsenal and Manchester City to contest the 2017 FA Cup Final after defeating Tottenham 4-2 in the semis. Two first half goals by Willian were canceled out by Harry Kane and Dele Alli, but Eden Hazard scored Chelsea’s match-winner in the 75th minute. Five minutes later, Nemanja Matic secured the victory with one of the best goals you’ll ever see.

The Serbian defensive midfielder hadn’t scored a single goal this year, but his maiden strike was an absolute banger.

Last night Chivas defeated Monarcas de Morelia in a penalty shootout in the Copa MX final.

Highlights of the shootout are below. Come for the penalty shootout, stay for the goalkeeper shenanigans from Miguel Jimenez and Sebastian Sosa. Sosa in particular is hilarious, if mostly ineffective.

For all the talk regarding what it would take for Barcelona to, once again, turn around a seemingly insurmountable lead, the difference between this return leg and the one against PSG was made immediately evident upon kickoff. Juventus played higher up the pitch, they made Barcelona entirely uncomfortable, they were sophisticatedly physical and they were capable of stringing passes together.

In the first extra time, Sergio Ramos crossed a ball in from the left side of the box, finding a wide open Cristiano Ronaldo. It appeared that he was offside, but that won't change the way Real Madrid fans feel about it.

Before Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough, Arsene Wenger announced a formation change, which proved to be effective. Wenger chose to use a 3-4-3 formation, letting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain roam to an offensive position while playing right wing-back to try to create going forward.

In previous matches, Arsenal players have been jogging back into their final third while defending, but this was far from the case in this match. Arsenal finally showed signs of life, holding the ball the majority of the game.       

In the end, somehow, one team won but the other team didn't lose. At least that's what Diego Simeone and Craig Shakespeare will be saying after Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg between two identical teams. In the end, everyone was happy, because, in the end, Leicester City and Atletico Madrid are the same thing.

Arturo Vidal had a pretty good game for Bayern Munich. He scored from a corner and was lively in central midfield. That said, he'll want his penalty back.

Similarly, Javi Martinez will want his sliding challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo back. Vidal's miss opened the door for Real Madrid to tie the game, 1-1, and Martinez's second yellow gave Los Blancos the chance to win.