Juventus near final, as is Real Madrid
It could be a momentous week for Juventus. And a big one for Real Madrid, too.
Two of Europe’s grandest teams will be defending big leads this week in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals.
Juventus will face Monaco on Tuesday in its quest to reach the final for the second time in three seasons and clinch an unprecedented sixth Serie A title. The Italian champ seeks its first Champions League title in more than two decades. It lost to Barcelona in 2015.
Juventus beat Monaco 2-0 in the first leg last week.
Real Madrid faces cross-city rival Atlético Madrid on Wednesday. It defeated Atlético 3-0 last week in the first leg.
Real will look to become the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles. It won the title in 2014 and 2016, both times against Atlético.
Juventus drew with Torino 1-1 on Saturday.
“First, we have to recover some energy and then we will focus on Monaco,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said after the draw, which left the club in position to secure the title when it visits second-place Roma on Sunday.
Atlético Madrid’s muchhyped defense failed in the first leg against Real Madrid, and now it’s up to the offense to try to get the team back on its feet.
Forwards Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro will need to regain their best form and come up with outstanding performances on Wednesday if Atlético is to overturn the threegoal deficit from the first leg.
The two Frenchmen have struggled recently, scoring only three goals between them in their past six games. Griezmann, the team’s top player, hasn’t scored in four matches.
No team has ever reversed a two-goal loss in the Champions League semifinals.
“This is probably impossible for many, but not for us,” Atlético coach Diego Simeone said.
The second leg will mark the final European game at the Vicente Calderon Stadium before Atlético moves into a new venue next season. Chelsea close to title: Chelsea is one win from taking the English Premier League title after beating Middlesbrough 3-0.
The Blues have the chance to claim their second league title in three seasons when they face West Bromwich on Friday. They all but consigned Middlesbrough to relegation. Another honor for Kante: N’Golo Kante’s impact in guiding Chelsea to the brink of the Premier League title was rewarded when he was voted the 2017 Footballer of the Year by soccer writers. The France international topped the poll weeks after being voted Player of the Year by players.
ELSEWHERE
North Korea to host qualifier: North Korea has been approved to host a 2019 Asian Cup qualifying match against Malaysia, following political tensions between the countries.
Diplomatic tensions escalated amid investigations into the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s estranged halfbrother in Kuala Lumpur. North America bid moves forward: An accelerated process to hand North America the 2026 World Cup is set to be approved by soccer leaders this week, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino hoping for a “bulletproof ” process to avoid past voting scandals.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are seeking an unchallenged path to co-hosting rights for the tournament.