PARIS, France, Apr 8 – The title race is now effectively over in Spain after Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid on Saturday, but it’s back on in Germany while Paris Saint-Germain contrived to squander the chance to clinch the French crown.

AFP Sport takes a look back at some of the main talking points from across the continent:

– All over for Atletico –

Any lingering hopes Atletico Madrid had of turning the final seven games of La Liga into a title race were dashed as Barcelona beat them 2-0 to move 11 points clear at the top of the table.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone had admitted winning at the Camp Nou was the “only option” to revive their stuttering challenge but the task was made harder after Diego Costa was sent off in the 28th minute for insulting referee Gil Manzano.

Even with 10 men, Atleti almost held on for a point, only for Luis Suarez to break their resistance with five minutes left, a brilliant curling shot nestling in the corner. Lionel Messi added a second a minute later to round off the victory, and leave Barca with one hand on the league trophy.

– Choupo-Moting will go down in PSG legend –

A surprise signing back in August destined to be a back-up to Paris Saint-Germain’s all-star attack, injuries have given Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting a run in the team.

The Cameroon international has become something of a cult hero at the Parc des Princes and put his side ahead in Sunday’s game against Strasbourg with his third league goal of the season.

But his extraordinary miss later on, turning a net-bound Christopher Nkunku shot onto the post while standing on the line, saw jaws hit the floor in the stadium.

It proved crucial in denying PSG the chance to wrap up the Ligue 1 title. The score was 1-1 at the time, and Thomas Tuchel’s side — needing a win to be crowned champions — ended up drawing 2-2.

“Sorry about that,” Choupo-Moting said later.

One thing is for sure though — Choupo-Moting will now never be forgotten in Paris.

– Kovac can jump for joy –

Bayern Munich’s bombastic return to the top of the Bundesliga table had coach Niko Kovac understandably jumping for joy on Saturday.

Kovac has been under pressure in recent weeks, but is now back on course to win the title in his first season after Bayern thrashed title rivals Borussia Dortmund 5-0.

Usually a cool character, Kovac could not hide his relief. He celebrated Bayern’s third goal by leaping into the air on the touchline, earning him comparisons with both Michael Jordan and Jurgen Klopp.

“I had no idea Niko Kovac could jump that high,” Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told Sky the following day.

Despite Bayern’s thumping win, the Bundesliga title race remains on a knife-edge, with just a single point separating the two teams.

– Ancelotti alarm before Arsenal –

Carlo Ancelotti said he was alarmed by the performance of his Napoli side in a 1-1 draw against Genoa before their Europa League quarter-final, first-leg trip to Arsenal.

The draw against Genoa, who played for an hour a man down, came days after a 2-1 defeat against lowly Empoli.

Ancelotti insisted his side were not neglecting Serie A with the focus on their only chance of a trophy in the Europa League.

“I don’t think the players were distracted, because we haven’t talked about Arsenal at all,” he said.

“It’s an alarm bell, certainly, because if we play like this in London, then we’re in trouble.”

– ‘Scudetto’ might be slipping away from Milan –

Gennaro Gattuso believes AC Milan are still on track to achieve a Champions League return for the first time since 2013/14 despite his side falling to their third defeat in four games in a 2-1 loss against Juventus.

“We have to achieve our Scudetto, which is Champions League qualification, at any cost,” said coach Gattuso, who won the trophy twice with Milan as a player.

Milan occupy the final Champions League spot of fourth place, but Atalanta, Roma, Lazio and Torino are all within touching distance.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Cheserek equals 5km W. Record in Carlsbad

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Arsenal lacked fight in Everton defeat, admits Sokratisrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Five things we learned in European football this weekendrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Sarri questions ‘strange’ Chelsea fixture listrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 6 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Kenyans secure doubles across the globern

rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn 10 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Kenyans break records in weekend road racesrn

rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn 10 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Warriors clinch top seed in West, Rockets set record for threesrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 11 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenya Sevens land Sh14mn shirt sponsorshiprn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Oktay Set to rotate with RS Berkane in mindrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Chipu upsets Namibia to lift Barthes Cuprn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenya down two places in latest FIFA rankingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Shujaa come short against Fiji in Hong Kongrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Kenyans break records in weekend road racesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Weakened Gor baying for RS Berkane bloodrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Stars players to earn hefty AFCON allowancesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Brazil cut down Lionesses core status dreamrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Arsenal lacked fight in Everton defeat, admits Sokratis

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Five things we learned in European football this weekend

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Sarri questions ‘strange’ Chelsea fixture list

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Kenyans secure doubles across the globe

rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Warriors clinch top seed in West, Rockets set record for threes

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Mane steps out from Salah’s shadow to lead Liverpool charge

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Napoli draw puts Juventus coronation on hold

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Choupo-Moting goal-line howler as PSG miss French title

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Pele to stay in Paris hospital for extra night: advisor

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

‘Not a world I want my children to see’: Matuidi blasts racism

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn IAAFrn Cheserek equals 5km W. Record in Carlsbadrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn AFC Leopards re-sign winger Paul Werern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Arsenal lacked fight in Everton defeat, admits Sokratisrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Five things we learned in European football this weekendrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn My job has been made difficult; Oktay lamentsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tKenya Sevens land Sh14mn shirt sponsorshiprn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 5th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tOktay Set to rotate with RS Berkane in mindrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 3rd Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChipu upsets Namibia to lift Barthes Cuprn

rn Rugbyrn rn Sunday, 7th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenya down two places in latest FIFA rankingrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 4th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tShujaa come short against Fiji in Hong Kongrn

rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 5th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenyans break records in weekend road racesrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWeakened Gor baying for RS Berkane bloodrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 6th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStars players to earn hefty AFCON allowancesrn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn t

rn tBrazil cut down Lionesses core status dreamrn

rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 5th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn IAAFrn Cheserek equals 5km W. Record in Carlsbadrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn AFC Leopards re-sign winger Paul Werern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Arsenal lacked fight in Everton defeat, admits Sokratisrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Five things we learned in European football this weekendrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn My job has been made difficult; Oktay lamentsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 8th Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */