Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
United thrash Roma for six; Villarreal lead Arsenal
MANCHESTER: Manchester United handed Roma another heavy beating at Old Trafford, winning 6-2 thanks to doubles from Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes to move in sight of the Europa League final.
Fourteen years after getting thrashed 7-1 in the Champions League quarter-finals, Roma imploded again at the home of the English team after leading 2-1 at half-time in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Cavani scored two of United’s five second-half goals, with Fernandes adding a penalty to his brilliantly taken first-half opener before Paul Pogba and substitute Mason Greenwood also netted. United now look set to end their struggles in the semi-finals of major competitions under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, having lost on four occasions in the past 16 months.
“I don’t feel the job is done,” Solskjaer said, “but it was a good job done.”
The other semi-final is more finely poised, with Villarreal leading Arsenal 2-1 heading into next week’s second legs. Both teams finished with 10 men.
Manu Trigueros and Raúl Albiol scored first-half goals to give the Spanish club the edge ahead of next week’s second leg in London. The English side pulled one closer with a penalty kick converted by Nicolas Pepe in the 73rd on Thursday.
“We played a good match,” Emery said after the game. “It’s a bit unfair that we didn’t get a better result, but it’s still a victory and we will try to finish the job in the second match.”
Arsenal got the important away goal while playing with 10 men as Dani Ceballos was sent off with a second yellow card in the 57th. Villarreal then had Etienne Capoue sent off with a second booking in the 80th.
Barca suffer shock loss as Koeman banned MADRID: Barcelona spurned the chance to go top of the table on Thursday as a shock 2-1 defeat by Granada added another twist to La Liga’s most unpredictable title race in years.
Barca could have taken control at the top by moving a point ahead of Atletico Madrid but Granada came from behind to snatch a win at Camp Nou, in what will be a huge boost to the other title contenders.
Lionel Messi scored his 33rd goal of the season to put Barcelona in front but they failed to put the result beyond doubt and Granada hit back, Darwin Machis driving in and Jorge Molina’s header completing a remarkable turnaround.
To make matters worse for Barca, coach Ronald Koeman has been hit with a two-game ban by the Spanish FA (RFEF) after being shown a red card in the defeat and will miss the visit of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid next Saturday.
Pep expects fight from Man United in title bid LONDON: Pep Guardiola is fully expecting Manchester United to force Manchester City to keep the champagne on ice as they close in on their third Premier League title in four years.
City, 10 points clear of second-placed United with five games to go, will be crowned champions if they beat Crystal Palace on Saturday and secondplaced United lose to Liverpool the following day.
“United are an extraordinary team. They’ve arrived in their best form of the season in the last two months,” he said. “We need five points to be champions. Tomorrow (Saturday) we have an incredible opportunity to make this next step.”
TV timings: Crystal Palace v Man City, 5pm, Brighton v Leeds, 7.30pm, Chelsea v Fulham, 10pm, Everton v Aston Villa, 12.30am (Sun); Live on
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Ramos out of Osasuna game despite being fit MADRID: Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos will once again be absent when they take on Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, despite returning to full training on Friday.
Coach Zinedine Zidane said earlier on Friday that Ramos was fit and available for selection after missing the last nine games through injury. But with Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea, it appears the club has decided not to risk him.