Hello! The Serie A title race is still full of surprises, and the first European club final of the season, the Europa League final, is coming up on Wednesday. As teams across Europe continue to compete for trophies, here`s the latest news.
The Serie A Title Race Goes Down to the Final Day
The second-to-last weekend of Serie A provided plenty of drama, with the title race seeing several twists and turns on Sunday, meaning it will go down to the final round of matches. Napoli started the day one point ahead of Inter and finished with the same advantage, but only after a thrilling sequence of games in Milan and Parma.
Inter temporarily took the lead in the standings several times during their match against Lazio, but Lazio kept fighting back. Meanwhile, Napoli`s match at Parma was goalless until stoppage time. Napoli were initially awarded a penalty that would have put them three points clear and almost guaranteed the title, but it was controversially overturned by VAR, leaving the game 0-0.
The title will likely be decided on Friday when Napoli host Cagliari and Inter visit Como simultaneously. Both top teams face mid-table opponents and are expected to win. Napoli hold the advantage: a win against 14th-placed Cagliari secures their first Scudetto in two years. Inter need Napoli to drop points, even if Inter win. The most dramatic scenario is still possible: if Napoli lose and Inter draw, they would finish level on points, requiring a one-off playoff match at a neutral venue to decide the champion.
Europa League Final: Tottenham vs. Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are heading to Bilbao, Spain for Wednesday`s UEFA Europa League final. This is perhaps one of the more unexpected European finals this year. England`s 16th and 17th placed teams will compete for a major trophy and a spot in next season`s UEFA Champions League.
The stakes are surprisingly similar for these two Premier League teams who finished near the bottom of the table after underperforming significantly this season. The Europa League offers an unexpected silver lining for both after a difficult campaign, but their struggles raise a key question: how will either team manage to perform at their best on the day?
The answer is different for each club despite their similar seasons. For Spurs, much depends on player fitness, which has been a persistent issue. The team has rarely been fully fit this season and won`t be for the final – James Maddison was ruled out weeks ago, and Dejan Kulusevski recently had knee surgery. Manager Ange Postecoglou may need tactical creativity to compensate for midfield absences, although key center-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will be available. The final is also personally significant for Postecoglou, as rumors about a potential new Spurs manager have continued for months, suggesting his future might be uncertain regardless of the result.
For Manchester United, their first few months under Ruben Amorim could end on a high note with the Europa League trophy, but it`s been a tough journey. These initial months have shown the squad isn`t ideally suited to Amorim`s tactical approach; he even called this the `worst` version of the team in its history. Captain Bruno Fernandes publicly urged his teammates to `step up` recently. Their performance on Wednesday will come with the understanding that this is just the beginning of Amorim`s project. A big question is how they will overcome the effects of years of poor player recruitment – the final will highlight how much work needs to be done this summer.
More Top Football Stories
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- Ahead of the Champions League final, how many times have Inter and PSG won the competition?
- Crystal Palace wins its first major trophy by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
- A look at how Premier League teams can qualify for European competitions before the final matchday.
- USMNT star Christian Pulisic won`t be playing European soccer next season after a poor campaign with AC Milan.
- Angel City FC`s Savy King released from hospital after heart surgery following a pitch collapse.
- American players celebrated winning the Eredivisie title with PSV on Sunday.
Betting Tip
- Premier League: Manchester City vs. Bournemouth
- Pick: Manchester City to win 2-1 (+700)
Reasoning: After their FA Cup final loss, Manchester City will seek a strong reaction in their second-to-last Premier League game, especially as they are currently outside the Champions League spots, one point behind Aston Villa but with a game in hand. The match might be tight against a competitive Bournemouth, but City has much more to play for. Expect a win for the home team in their final match at the Etihad this season, which would move them up to third place and set up a dramatic finish on the final day.
What to Watch on CBS Sports Golazo Network
Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m. ET): The network`s main morning show providing highlights, interviews, and key soccer stories. Also available as a podcast form.
Attacking Third (Tuesday, Thursday): A live studio show covering women`s soccer, including the NWSL, USWNT, and European leagues. Streams live on YouTube on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. ET, with a Sunday wrap-up after the last NWSL match.
Call it What You Want (Monday and Thursday): A weekly podcast with Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola discussing the USMNT and soccer in the U.S. Streams live on YouTube every Monday at 1 p.m. ET and Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.
Scoreline (Daily): The newest show for catching up on global football news, results, highlights, and goals, airing seven days a week.
How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel dedicated to top soccer coverage. You can stream it for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and Paramount+.
