Germany international Mario Gomez and Europa League semi-finalists AC Fiorentina suffered a blow in their quest to qualify for next season’s Europa League campaign. Fiorentina lost 3-1 to relegation candidates Cagliari Calcio and have dropped to sixth place. Gomez was brought off in the 76th minute.
World Champion Shkodran Mustafi and FC Valencia got back to winning ways
Toni Kroos and Real Madrid secured a vital win in their quest for the title
Goal scorers James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos celebrate together
Mesut Özil and Arsenal played out a goalless draw against Chelsea
Germany international Per Mertesacker battling here with Didier Drogba
Miroslav Klose scored in Lazio's 1-1 draw with Verona
The goal was Klose's eleventh of the season
World Champion Mustafi and Valencia win comfortably
World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi and FC Valencia are back to winning ways in Spain’s Primera Division. After losing 2-0 to leaders FC Barcelona last week and after only one win from their last four games, the Blanquinegros turned things around on matchday 33 with a comfortable 4-0 win over relegation threatened FC Granada.
23-year-old Mustafi played in his usual position at centre back and put in a solid performance. Javi Fuego (26’) and a Daniel Parejo (40’) penalty gave the hosts a commanding half time lead at the Mestalla before Algeria international Sofiane Feghouli (85’) and Alvaro Negredo (88’) rounded off the scoring in the closing stages. The win puts Valencia on 68 points and sees them regain fourth place from Sevilla FC (66 points). Third placed Atletico Madrid are only four points ahead of the six time Spanish champions with five games remaining.
Toni Kroos scores in Real win
Toni Kroos’ second goal of the season helped Spanish record holders Real Madrid keep their hopes of winning the title alive. The reigning champions of Europe beat Celta Vigo 4-2 on Sunday evening and cut the gap on leaders FC Barcelona to two points. Barca won their derby with local rivals Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday.
Kroos scored in the 16th minute to level the score at 1-1 after former Barca striker Nolito (9’) had put Celta in front. Javier Hernandez then put Real 2-1 in front (24’) before Santi Mina (28’) restored parity for the hosts. However, further goals from James Rodriguez (43’) and a second for Hernandez (69’), who scored the only goal in Real’s Champions League quarter-final win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, handed the favourites the win.
Arsenal’s crunch match involving Özil and Mertesacker ends goalless
After a 0-0 draw against Arsenal, for whom World Champions Per Mertesacker and Mesut Özil both played 90 minutes, José Mourinho’s Chelsea are closing in on their fifth title. The Blues currently have a 10 points cushion over Manchester City and Arsenal with only four games remaining.
Arsenal dropped down to third place following their sixth draw of the season but defending champions Manchester City, who beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Saturday, are only ahead of them on goal difference, with Arsenal also having a game in hand.
Klose scores for Lazio
Despite a goal from World Champion Miroslav Klose, Lazio failed to pick up an important win in their fight for Champions League qualification. Klose scored his 11th goal of the season (45’) but the club from the capital had to settle for a point against Chievo Verona following their 1-1 draw in Serie A.
Lazio currently lie in second place and are one point ahead of AS Roma (58), who lost 2-1 to Lukas Podolski and Inter Milan on Saturday.
Germany international Mario Gomez and Europa League semi-finalists AC Fiorentina suffered a blow in their quest to qualify for next season’s Europa League campaign. Fiorentina lost 3-1 to relegation candidates Cagliari Calcio and have dropped to sixth place. Gomez was brought off in the 76th minute.