6 h. ago Chelsea frustrated by Bournemouth to lose further ground on title rivals

Any momentum Chelsea had picked up in the final week of November, through outclassing Barcelona and matching Arsenal with 10 men, appears to have been stunted in December. After Wednesday’s defeat at Leeds, a point against Bournemouth is no disaster but, with Arsenal’s earlier loss to Aston Villa, it is a chance missed. Eight points separate Enzo Maresca’s side and the top of the Premier League.Bournemouth took a leaf out of Leeds’ book and hounded Chelsea from the start. The visitors, behind within six minutes at Elland Road, were let off the hook twice early on. Antoine Semenyo thought he had given Bournemouth the lead when he pounced on a loose ball inside the area, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to intervene because Evanilson was marginally offside from Alex Scott’s incisive pass into the box. Continue reading...

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6 h. ago Chelsea frustrated by Bournemouth as they miss chance to close on Arsenal

The Blues were left to rue the lack of a decisive final ball to cut through the hosts.

Sport

2 w. ago WSL talking points: Miedema proves doubters wrong and Chelsea stumble again

Chelsea lose ground in title race at Liverpool while Arsenal struggle to find their shooting bootsWhen Alyssa Thompson fired in a superb ninth-minute opener, Chelsea looked on course for another routine win. However, Liverpool’s defence held firm and the Reds levelled in the 33rd minute and held out until half-time. The Chelsea manager, Sonia Bompastor, introduced further attacking options in the second half, including Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones, but a solid defensive display from Liverpool ensured Chelsea were unable to find a winner as the hosts earned their second point of the season. Although the result did mean Chelsea set a record of 34 successive unbeaten WSL games, clearly all is not well with the defending champions. Last season they had 27 points after nine games and led the way, this campaign they have eight fewer and are three points behind Manchester City. Réshma RaoMatch report: Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago European football: Inter beat Lazio and leapfrog Roma to go top of Serie A

Martínez and Bonny score in 2-0 home victoryReal Madrid held to goalless draw by Rayo VallecanoInter moved to the top of Serie A with a 2-0 home win against Lazio on Sunday, sealed by goals from Lautaro Martínez early in the first half and Ange-Yoan Bonny after the interval. The result lifted Inter to the summit, level on 24 points with second placed Roma. Behind them are Milan and Napoli, both with 22 points while Bologna are fifth with 21.It took three minutes for Martínez to give Inter the lead, receiving the ball inside the box, the captain angled it with the outside of his foot into the far corner. Inter doubled their lead and sent the home crowd into a frenzy in the 62nd minute. Federico Dimarco’s low ball across the face of goal found Bonny free at the back post, leaving him with a simple tap-in. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago European football: Roma take top spot in Serie A with defeat of Udinese

Pellegrini and Celik score in 2-0 victoryReal Madrid held to goalless draw by Rayo VallecanoRoma went top of Serie A with a 2-0 home win against Udinese on Sunday, thanks to goals from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Zeki Celik. They now sit alone at the summit on 24 points. Milan and Napoli are two points adrift, while Inter are fourth on 21.After a mostly even contest, Roma gained the advantage three minutes before the break when Udinese’s Hassane Kamara handled the ball inside the box, allowing Pellegrini to convert from the spot. Celik doubled the hosts’ lead in the 61st minute. Having first played Gianluca Mancini into space inside the box, Celik received the return pass and finished calmly. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago European football: Napoli lose ground in title race after defeat at Bologna

Antonio Conte’s side slip to 2-0 lossReal Madrid held to goalless draw by Rayo VallecanoNapoli suffered a 2-0 defeat at Bologna on Sunday, with goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jhon Lucumí keeping the Serie A title race wide open.Napoli are second in the standings on 22 points, level with the leaders, Milan. Bologna join Inter and Roma, who play later in the evening, on 21 points. Continue reading...

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