Chelsea's Cole Palmer scores their fifth goal from the penalty spot past Everton's Jordan Pickford during their Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London.
LONDON-- Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer scored four goals, including a hat-trick in the first 30 minutes, as his side hammered Everton 6-0 on Monday to maintain their push for a European spot and leave the visitors still hovering above the relegation zone. The 21-year-old Palmer underlined his England credentials with a classic left foot, header, right foot treble and then added a second-half penalty as Chelsea ran riot. Nicolas Jackson and substitute Alfie Gilchrist were also on target as Chelsea remain ninth on 47 points but with games in hand on all the teams above them. It was a sobering night for Sean Dyche's visitors, however, as the heavy defeat leaves Everton 16th on 27, two places and two points above the relegation zone. Everton actually had the first good chance but Beto blasted over from point-blank range after 10 minutes and it was downhill from then on. Palmer got things moving after 13 minutes when he nutmegged Jarrad Branthwaite, played a one-two with Jackson and instantly clipped a shot from the edge of the box beyond the diving Jordan Pickford. Five minutes later more intricate passing – albeit alongside some tentative Everton defending – set up the second as Pickford parried a Jackson shot straight to Palmer, who nodded it into the empty net. Pickford also handed Palmer his third but it was an entirely different situation as the midfielder intercepted a poor clearance 30 metres out and, with his weaker right foot, chipped brilliantly over the retreating keeper after 29 minutes. Jackson made it 4-0 just before the break when he brought down Marc Cucurella’s cross and spun neatly to fire a low shot just inside the post. Palmer’s fourth came from the penalty spot but only after captain Conor Gallagher had to intervene to shove away Jackson and Noni Madueke after the latter was brought down in the box and they wrestled with the ball. Gallagher eventually gave the ball to regular taker Palmer who stroked it home 64 minutes. That took him alongside Manchester City's Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 20 and his tally in all competitions to 23 as he became the first Chelsea player to reach the 20 mark since Eden Hazard in 2018/19. Young substitute Gilchrist smashed home the sixth goal in the final minute, his first for the west London club, moments after coming on as yet another Pickford parry, to keep out a Ben Chilwell shot, fell straight to the 20-year-old. Chelsea's good, if inconsistent, run of form has lifted them into contention for the minor European competitions – not the aspirations of the 2021 Champions League winners but some sort of progress after they were becalmed in mid-table two months ago - and their fans were delighted with Monday's show. Everton, however, remain in dire danger of a first relegation since 1951 and face a massive showdown with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Sunday having seen their goal difference, as well as their confidence, take a hammering.
MILAN-- Runaway leaders Inter Milan will hope to clinch their 20th Italian league title in the Milan derby despite being held to a late 2-2 draw by struggling Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday. With six games left Inter, who have 83 points from 32 games, hold a 14-point advantage over second-placed AC Milan, who drew 3-3 at relegation-threatened Sassuolo earlier on Sunday.
LONDON-- Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane returned to north London to score his customary goal against Arsenal as the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie ended 2-2 on Tuesday. The former Tottenham Hotspur player, so often Arsenal's nemesis in north London derbies, stroked home a penalty in the 32nd minute as the Bundesliga side hit back to lead 2-1. Premier League leaders Arsenal, playing in their first Champions League quarter-final for 14 years, had gone in front early on with a clinical Bukayo Saka strike. But Bayern, whose reign as German champions is as good as over as they trail Bayer Leverkusen by 16 points, showed they remain a European force to be reckoned with. Arsenal were stunned as their former striker Serge Gnabry levelled six minutes later and Kane rolled home his 39th goal of an incredible first season for Bayern after Leroy Sane was brought down by William Saliba in the box. Mikel Arteta's side ensured they will head to Bavaria next Wednesday full of hope as substitute Leandro Trossard equalised in the 76th minute to leave the tie hanging in the balance. The return of Kane, who scored a record 14 goals for Tottenham in the north London derby, to one of his favourite haunts was the big pre-match talking point. And he duly silenced the Arsenal jeers. "It wasn't an easy game," Kane said. "Arsenal are a really good team. They're top of the Premier League right now so we had to dig deep at times but it's a good result and hopefully we can make the difference at home." Predictably, Kane was booed every time he touched the ball although the England captain was hardly involved in the early exchanges as Arsenal seized the initiative. Six-time champions Bayern, seeking salvation in Europe after a poor domestic season, were handicapped by having no fans inside the Emirates Stadium as punishment for their supporters throwing fireworks in the previous round. They went behind in the 12th minute when Ben White played the ball inside to Saka who picked his spot and curled a low left-footed shot beyond Manuel Neuer. White should have made it 2-0 soon afterwards but shot straight at Neuer and then Arsenal's defence, so impregnable in the Premier League of late, suddenly went missing. They carelessly lost possession in the 18th minute and Bayern punished them as Leon Goretzka fed a perfect pass to Gnabry who clipped a finish past the on-rushing David Raya. Sane was than allowed to run and run from deep before being toppled by Saliba and referee Glenn Nyberg had the simplest decision to point to the penalty spot. Ice-Cool Kane Up stepped an ice-cool Kane, and despite the whistles no one expected him to miss as he sent Raya the wrong way. The 60,000 crowd suddenly went quiet as memories of heavy European defeats by Bayern, notably a 10-2 aggregate defeat in the last 16 in 2017, flooded back and it would have got worse but for a goal-saving tackle by White on Sane. Bayern, with another former Spurs player Eric Dier impressive in defence, looked comfortable after the break. Arteta sent on Trossard and Gabriel Jesus just past the midway point of the second half. They combined in the 76th minute as Jesus fed Trossard to slot a low shot inside the post. A frantic ending saw Bayern substitute Kingsley Coman strike the post from close range while the game ended with Arsenal screaming for a penalty after Saka went down in the area claiming he was fouled by Neuer. "We've got a draw so the situation is clear, the winner moves on," Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel said. "We need the same devotion, passion and quality as we had tonight – and we'll get through." Security was stepped up ahead of the game after Islamic State threatened drone attacks on Europe's top club tournament but thankfully the game passed off without incident.
PARIS--Brazil forward Raphinha scored twice to help Barcelona secure a 3-2 win at Paris St Germain in a lively Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, earning the Spanish side their first win in the knockout stage in four years.
UDINE, Italy-- Inter Milan took another step towards the Serie A title as a stoppage-time goal from Davide Frattesi secured a 2-1 come-from-behind win at Udinese on Monday. Five minutes into added time, Lautaro Martinez unleashed a low shot that Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye managed to tip onto the post but Frattesi pounced to slot home the rebound. Udinese had stunned the visitors with a soft goal by Lazar Samardzic before the break but Inter were soon level when Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty 10 minutes into the second half. Runaway leaders Inter are 14 points clear of second-placed AC Milan, boasting 82 points with seven rounds remaining. For relegation-threatened Udinese, the late goal was like a dagger to the heart of their hard-working defence with the side in 15th place with 28 points, two points above the drop zone. Udinese's defeat after a valiant defensive effort brought sympathy from Inter manager Simone Inzaghi. "I would like to congratulate Udinese, they played a great match and losing like this is annoying. But I think they can be saved with their organisation," Inzaghi told Sky Sports Italia. "How the game ended really hurts," Samardzic said. "The point would have mattered a lot but we must look forward with our heads held high and do better in our coming games." Inzaghi emphasised that his side needed to stay focused on winning a 20th Scudetto and a coveted second star, which is awarded for each 10 titles and is almost within reach. "We respected the opponent but we put our heart into, also driven by our fans. We believed and never gave up," he added. "We have achieved 26 victories in 31 games. A great run. Now we have to stay clear. There is great harmony, everyone helps each other. Eight points to go." Inter Miscommunication Inter assumed control early in the match but seemed to take their time in the build-up, looking for weaknesses in Udinese's rearguard, and did not create many opportunities. The visitors got their best chance of the first half when Hakan Calhanoglu sent a rocket towards goal on the half-hour mark but Okoye made an impressive reaction save to deny him. Udinese took a shock lead five minutes before halftime when poor communication between Inter's defence and static keeper Yann Sommer allowed a weak deflected cross from Samardzic to somehow find its way into the bottom corner of the net. Inter tried to respond immediately but Okoye made a diving save to keep out Lautaro Martinez's low header. Inter started the second period with a vengeance and dominated possession in the opening stages, Carlos Augusto scoring with a free-kick only to be denied by the offside flag. Calhanoglu then did level with a spot kick after Okoye collided with Marcus Thuram in an aerial challenge. Inter's aggression began to influence the match, albeit with its intensity seemingly waning before Frattesi's decider sparked a frenzy of celebration on the visiting bench. Inter next host lowly Cagliari on Sunday before facing Milan in a crunch game on April 22.
