Playing today
AC Milan vs Bologna
Serie A | Fri 9 May 2025 | 18:45 UTC
The air in Milan crackles with anticipation as AC Milan prepares to welcome Bologna to the San Siro. This league clash is just the first act of a compelling double feature, with the two sides also set to lock horns in the Coppa Italia final next week.
Having snatched a morale-boosting 2-1 victory away at Genoa, the Rossoneri seem to have found some rhythm, securing three wins in their last four Serie A outings. However, their fortress at the San Siro has been somewhat breached recently, with only one victory in their last four home league matches.
They'll be looking to buck that trend against a Bologna side proving to be a tough nut to crack, having tasted defeat just once in their last ten league encounters.
Milan can take some solace in their defensive solidity at home, boasting a clean sheet in 41% of their Serie A home games this season, a figure comfortably above the league average of 30%. However, they'll need to be alert from the first whistle, as Bologna have a habit of starting strong on their travels, drawing first blood in 53% of their away league matches, compared to the average of 43%.
The stakes are incredibly high for both teams. Bologna arrive in seventh place, a mere point adrift of the coveted Champions League spots, highlighting the intense battle for top-four qualification in Serie A.
For AC Milan, the path to European football next season is steeper. Sitting six points below sixth position with only three games remaining, they know that nothing less than a victory will suffice to keep their hopes alive.
This encounter promises to be a fascinating tactical battle with significant implications for both sides' European aspirations.
Las Palmas vs Rayo Vallecano
LaLiga | Fri 9 May 2025 | 19:00 UTC
For Las Palmas, the Estadio Gran Canaria is becoming an increasingly difficult place to find joy. The recent 2-3 defeat at the hands of Valencia marked their second successive La Liga loss, a bitter pill to swallow in front of their own supporters.
Worryingly, they've only tasted victory once in their last eight league outings on home turf. The defensive frailties are also a major concern, having conceded at least once in 14 of their 17 home fixtures this season.
Languishing in 18th place, the reality of the relegation zone is biting hard. Every match now feels like a desperate scramble for survival, with the team sitting just three points shy of escaping the drop. Points at home are crucial if they are to claw their way out of this predicament, making the upcoming clash against Rayo Vallecano a pivotal one.
Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano will travel to the Canary Islands with renewed confidence after snapping a four-game winless streak with a narrow 1-0 victory over Getafe. However, their away form has been a cause for concern, with four defeats in their last five league matches on the road.
Despite this, the incentive for Rayo is significant. Sitting comfortably in 7th place, a coveted European spot is within reach. They are just two points behind Celta Vigo in 6th, which would grant them access to the Europa League.
Even the 7th spot offers a place in the Conference League, but with five teams separated by a mere two points, Rayo know they will need to fight tooth and nail to secure their place in continental competition.
Played yesterday
Manchester Utd vs Athletic Bilbao
Europa League | Thu 8 May 2025 | 19:00 UTC
Manchester United travel back to Old Trafford with one foot firmly planted in the UEFA Europa League final, following their commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg at San Mamés a stadium they know will host the final and to which they are undoubtedly eager to return.
However, despite the significant advantage, the Red Devils will be wary of writing off an Athletic Bilbao side left frustrated in the first encounter by the early dismissal of a key player, a pivotal moment from which the Basque team struggled to recover.
Domestically, Manchester United's struggles continued this past weekend with a 4-3 defeat away to Brentford, extending their winless run in the Premier League to six matches.
This domestic form, however, should not overshadow their impressive and undefeated journey in the Europa League this season. To secure their passage to the final, Manchester United will need to refocus on the strengths they have demonstrated throughout this European campaign.
They can expect a determined Athletic Bilbao to throw everything at this second leg, despite the daunting three-goal deficit. The added motivation of potentially playing the final in their own San Mamés stadium will undoubtedly fuel the Basque side's intensity and desire.
It's worth noting that Athletic Bilbao have been a formidable force in La Liga, suffering only two defeats in their last 25 league games both narrow 1-0 losses away to Spanish giants Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid.
While a three-goal cushion provides a substantial advantage, Manchester United will be acutely aware of the potential for rapid goal swings in this competition. Their recent experience in the previous round, where they conceded four consecutive goals at home against Lyon before dramatically scoring three of their own to snatch qualification, will serve as a stark reminder.
That turnaround happened on the very same Old Trafford pitch, ensuring the Red Devils will approach this second leg with a healthy dose of caution as they fiercely pursue European glory to salvage their season.
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