Monday MLS Breakdown: Undefeated Crew Still Trying To Find Rhythm

Columbus may be one of only two teams left in MLS without a loss, but the Crew hasn't hit its stride yet in 2010. Kyle McCarthy explains in the Monday MLS Breakdown.

Tom Adams: Premier League Team of the Season

The first of our end of season awards, in association with Castrol Rankings, is the Premier League Team of the Season. The 4-4-2 formation may be as fashionable as Rafael Benitez right now, but the official PFA Team of the Year is lined up in such a way so we will do the same with our version, shunning the 4-2-3-1 that is in vogue amongst many of the top-flight clubs.

The Mill +

Monday's Rumours



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Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Review

Bayern Munich wrapped up the Bundesliga title with a 3-1 victory over already-relegated Hertha Berlin at the Olympic Stadium.

Review

Italy: Serie A Weekend Review

Two late goals from Francesco Totti enabled Roma to take the race for the Serie A title to the final weekend.

With leaders Inter Milan edging out Chievo 4-3, Roma had to beat Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico to prolong the battle for the Scudetto.

Review

Spain: La Liga Weekend Review

Barcelona survived a dramatic Sevilla fightback to win 3-2 and keep their La Liga title defence in their own hands.

Real Madrid were 5-1 victors at home to Athletic Bilbao. There is one round of matches to go next weekend.

Review

Five things we learned from watching football this weekend

Liverpool could be nervously looking over their shoulder, Sam Allardyce deserves more credit and Leeds aren't chokers after all.

Five

Robbo's End of Season's Greetings

The words 'congratulations' and 'Chelsea' are as comfortable a pair of bedfellows as 'Cameron' and 'Clegg'.

I can see a coalition government coming up, with Dave as PM and Nick as deputy - and neither of them telling us owt... the Clam years. Clegg n Brown'd be the Clown years I suppose.

Any road, Chelsea. I was kind of expecting a nervy 1-0 with United thumping Stoke. But no such jangle for west London nerves.

Here's what I predicted at the start of the season, with final places in brackets:

1. Chelsea (1)
2. Manchester United (2)
3. Liverpool (7)
4. Tottenham Hotspur (4)
5. Arsenal (3)
6. Aston Villa (6)
7. Everton (8)
8. Manchester City (5)
9. West Ham United (17)
10. Fulham (12)
11. Sunderland (13)
12. Blackburn Rovers (10)
13. Bolton Wanderers (14)
14. Stoke City (11)
15. Wolves (15)
16. Wigan (16)
17. Burnley (18)
18. Portsmouth (20)
19. Birmingham City (9)

Ancelotti the toast of Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti's glass of red wine - barely touched and described in terms that suggests his grasp of the English language is almost complete - contained the only clouds on his horizon. Relaxing against the cushion of Chelsea's Premier League title triumph, the Italian let that inscrutable mask slip just a little as he reflected on the scale of his achievements in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

"Just easy questions please because my level of wine is high," he demanded after ditching his traditional suit for Chelsea colours and a blue and white scarf.

England: Chelsea Claim Premier League Title

Chelsea crushed 10-man Wigan 8-0 at Stamford Bridge to secure the Premier League title, ending Manchester United's three-year grip on the trophy. The Blues romped to a completely one-sided success against the Latics, who fell behind after just six minutes and were a man down and a further goal behind at the break, before utterly capitulating following the interval. Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils kept up their end of the bargain as they saw off Stoke at Old Trafford, but ended the day as they had started, one point adrift of the new champions. Arsenal thrashed Fulham at Emirates Stadium to ensure they held off Tottenham's late charge for third and book their place in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, with Spurs beaten by relegated Burnley at Turf Moor.

Chelsea 8 - 0 Wigan Athletic
Phil McNulty at Stamford Bridge
Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge

Kevin Palmer: Lampard shines
Richard Williams: Carlo buries ghost of Jose

Manchester United 4 - 0 Stoke City
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford

May 10, 2010	P	Pts
Chelsea	38	86
Manchester United	38	85
Arsenal	38	75
Tottenham Hotspur	38	70
Manchester City	38	67
Aston Villa	38	64
Liverpool	38	63
Everton	38	61
Birmingham	38	50
Blackburn Rovers	38	50
Stoke City	38	47
Fulham	38	46
Sunderland	38	44
Bolton Wanderers	38	39
Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	38
Wigan Athletic	38	36
West Ham United	38	35
Burnley	38	30
Hull City	38	30
Portsmouth	38	19

The Joy of Six: Political Footballs

From Hitler to Mussolini, via a Cup final assassination and a terrifying Keegan/Hughes/Thatcher coalition.

Gareth Barry injury throws his World Cup summer into doubt

England may have to tear up their World Cup plans after news that the vital holding midfielder Gareth Barry is in danger of missing the competition.

Early this afternoon Barry's club manager, Roberto Mancini, confirmed that Barry's sprained ankle is "not good" and that he may be out for four weeks.

2010 World Cup: The Ghana Squad

Ghana were the only African side to make it into the second of the 2006 World Cup in Germany where they lost to Brazil.

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan, England) Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions) , Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle, Switzerland), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germnay) Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany), John Pantsil (Fulham, England), Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland)

Midfielders: Dede Ayew (Arlese Avignon, France) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy) Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy) Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway) Haminu Dramani (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy) Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd, Qatar), Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain) Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios, Greece) , Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth, England)

Strikers: Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland)

England: Premier League Weekend Previews, Predictions & Table

With fourth place now decided, all eyes are on where the top-flight crown is destined. League leaders Chelsea host Wigan Athletic while Manchester United welcome Stoke City to Old Trafford.

Elsewhere, Arsenal must avoid defeat against Fulham if they are to fend off UEFA Champions League-bound Tottenham Hotspur who are hungry for third, while Hull City, Burnley and Portsmouth play their final Premier League fixtures for at least another campaign.

Preview I
Preview II

Burnley vs. Tottenham: Preview

Lawro's Predictions

Chelsea	37	83
Manchester United	37	82
Arsenal	37	72
Tottenham Hotspur	37	70
Manchester City	37	66
Aston Villa	37	64
Liverpool	37	62
Everton	37	58
Birmingham	37	50
Stoke City	37	47
Blackburn Rovers	37	47
Fulham	37	46
Sunderland	37	44
Bolton Wanderers	37	36
Wigan Athletic	37	36
Wolverhampton Wanderers	37	35
West Ham United	37	34
Hull City	37	29
Burnley	37	27
Portsmouth	37	19

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview + Table

Mourinho hopes that Inter can carry their momentum into the final two Serie A games and hang on to their two-point lead over Roma. Inter face little threat in the final two Serie A games against Chievo on Sunday and Siena the following weekend.Roma play Cagliari and Chievo and would win the title if they finish even on points because they drew and beat Inter in the direct league clashes.A charged game takes place in the island of Sicily, where Palermo welcome Sampdoria, holding a two-point lead in the race for the last of four Champions League berths.

Preview

CLUB	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Internazionale	36	22	10	4	39	76
AS Roma	36	22	8	6	24	74
AC Milan	36	19	10	7	19	67
Sampdoria	36	18	9	9	7	63
Palermo	36	17	10	9	11	61
Napoli	36	14	14	8	6	56
Juventus	36	16	7	13	3	55
Genoa	36	13	9	14	-4	48
Fiorentina	36	13	7	16	3	46
Bari	36	12	10	14	-2	46
Parma	36	12	10	14	-9	46
Chievo Verona	36	12	8	16	-2	44
Cagliari	36	11	10	15	-1	43
Udinese	36	11	10	15	-3	43
Catania	36	9	14	13	-2	41
Lazio	36	9	13	14	-7	40
Bologna	36	10	10	16	-13	40
Atalanta	36	9	8	19	-13	35
Siena	36	7	9	20	-26	30
Livorno	36	7	8	21	-30	29

Spain: La Liga Weekend Previews + Table

There is still all to play for in the La Liga title race heading into the penultimate round of fixtures after rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid both claimed 4-1 wins this midweek. Barca, who face second-bottom Real Valladolid in their final match, have a tough trip to fourth-placed Sevilla, while Madrid are at home to eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao before finishing their campaign at struggling Malaga.

Preview

Eduardo Alvarez's Previews

CLUB	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Barcelona	36	29	6	1	69	93
Real Madrid	36	30	2	4	63	92
Valencia	36	20	8	8	20	68
Sevilla FC	36	18	6	12	16	60
Mallorca	36	17	8	11	14	59
Getafe	36	15	7	14	6	52
Villarreal	36	15	7	14	-1	52
Athletic Bilbao	36	14	9	13	-1	51
Atlético Madrid	36	13	7	16	-1	46
Deportivo La Coruña	36	12	8	16	-13	44
Osasuna	36	11	9	16	-8	42
Espanyol	36	10	11	15	-16	41
Almeria	36	10	11	15	-11	41
Real Zaragoza	36	10	10	16	-17	40
Sporting Gijon	36	9	12	15	-13	39
Málaga	36	7	15	14	-5	36
Racing Santander	36	8	12	16	-18	36
Tenerife	36	9	8	19	-33	35
Valladolid	36	6	15	15	-22	33
Xerez	36	7	9	20	-29	30

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Preview + Table

Nuernberg – Koeln
Hertha Berlin – Bayern Munich
Wolfsburg – Eintracht Frankfurt
Borussia M’gladbach – Bayer Leverkusen
Mainz – Schalke
Bochum – Hannover
Hoffenheim – Stuttgart
Freiburg – Borussia Dortmund
Werder Bremen – Hamburg

The Final Weekend

CLUB	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Bayern Munich	33	19	10	4	39	67
Schalke 04	33	19	7	7	22	64
Werder Bremen	33	17	9	7	31	60
Bayer Leverkusen	33	15	13	5	27	58
Borussia Dortmund	33	16	9	8	14	57
VfB Stuttgart	33	15	9	9	10	54
Hamburg SV	33	13	12	8	15	51
VfL Wolfsburg	33	13	8	12	4	47
Eintracht Frankfurt	33	12	10	11	-5	46
Mainz	33	12	10	11	-6	46
TSG Hoffenheim	33	11	8	14	2	41
FC Cologne	33	9	11	13	-8	38
Borussia Monchengladbach	33	10	8	15	-17	38
SC Freiburg	33	8	8	17	-26	32
Hannover 96	33	8	6	19	-27	30
Nurnberg	33	7	7	19	-27	28
VfL Bochum	33	6	10	17	-28	28
Hertha Berlin	33	5	9	19	-20	24

Friday MLS Forecast

The Forecast lauds Montreal's MLS arrival before discussing its Week 7 choices.

Sam Kelly in Argentina

"One of the greatest players in the history of Argentine football," was how one TV pundit described him a few weeks ago. It's a huge epithet to bestow on any player, but in the case of Juan Roman Riquelme, it might be justified.

The Week That Was

This was the week that Snoop Dogg teaches David Beckham to rap, Louis Vuitton design a man-bag for the World Cup trophy, Wayne Rooney reveals Coco Pops are the key to his success and Francesco Totti takes down Mario Balotelli with an unmissable 'tackle'.