THE SOCCER REPORT
Ronaldo, Messi take the spotlight before international break
Mar 19, 2019, 9:31 am
FC Cincinnati defeated the Portland Timbers in front of 32,250 present for their first MLS home match. Courtesy: FC Cincinnati.
Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick performance against Atletico Madrid to help Juventus advane to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and Lionel Messi's hat-trick in league play against Real Betis where the performances that stood out this week. Leagues around the world will now take a break for the International fixtures that will feature matches like USA vs. Chile next Tuesday in Houston.
UEFA Champions League
The Round of 16 concluded in Europe with no lead safe as Atletico Madrid became another side that fell apart in the second leg, much like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the previous week. In the two series where everything was left to play for, it was Liverpool and FC Barcelona who prevailed at FC Bayern Munich and vs. Lyon, respectively.
Round of 16 - second leg results (updated):
- Real Madrid 1-4 Ajax (3-5 agg.)
- Dortmund 0-1 Tottenham (0-4 agg.)
- Porto 3-1 Roma (4-3 agg.)
- Paris 1-3 Manchester United (3-3 agg., Man Utd advance on away goals)
- Manchester City 7-0 Schalke 04 (10-2 agg.)
- Juventus 3-0 Atletico Madrid (3-2 agg.)
- Bayern Munich 1-3 Liverpool (1-3 agg.)
- FC Barcelona 5-1 Lyon (5-1 agg.)
The quarter-final draw happened on Friday, setting up the next round of matchups with Manchester United vs. FC Barcelona leading the headlines.
đ The quarter-final draw đ đ€ Most exciting tie? #UCLdraw https://t.co/bpkwkVKvdHâ UEFA Champions League (@UEFA Champions League) 1552648731.0
UEFA Europa League
Extra time was needed as Czech side Slavia Prague outlasted a potential Sevilla comeback to win their Round of 16 series at home. Besides that upset, Arsenal found it's way back from a 1-3 deficit against French side Rennes as the rest of the "favorites" march on to the next round.
đ€© The quarter-finals draw in full đ€© Most exciting game? đ€ #UEL | #UELdraw https://t.co/W3OBTlHM3Uâ UEFA Europa League (@UEFA Europa League) 1552652281.0
English Premier League
Every goal from Premier League Matchweek 31 | NBC Sportswww.youtube.com
Liverpool are back to the top of the standings, at least momentarily, as they pick up three points against Fulham. Manchester City did not feature in league play this week, instead advancing in the FA Cup with a 3-2 quater-final win against Swansea City. Mexican National Team star Javier Hernandez also took headlines this week with a brace to help West Ham to a 4-3 win over Huddersfield.
Top six: 1. Liverpool (76), 2. Manchester City (74), 3. Tottenham (61), 4. Arsenal (60), 5. Manchester United (58), 6. Chelsea (57)
Scoring leader: 18 - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Assists leader: 11 - Eden Hazard (Chelsea FC)
Spain's La Liga
Highlights Real Betis vs FC Barcelona (1-4)www.youtube.com
FC Barcelona continue plowing through their La Liga competition as Messi put up three in the 4-1 win at Real Betis. The Argentine superstar commanded an ovation from the home fans thanks to his must-see goal in the hat-trick performance. Second-place Atletico Madrid lost 0-2 at Athletic Bilbao while Zidane's Real Madrid picked up a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo in the French Manager's comeback.
Top six: 1. FC Barcelona (66), 2. Atlético Madrid (56), 3. Real Madrid (54), 4. Getafe (46), 5. Alaves (44), 6. Sevilla (43)
Scoring leader: 29 - Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Assists leader: 12 - Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
German Bundesliga
Top six: 1. Bayern Munich (60), 2. Dortmund (60), 3. RB Leipzig (49), 4. Monchengladbach (47), 5. Eintracht Frankfurt (46), 6. Bayer Leverkusen (42)
Scoring leader: 18 - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Assists leader: 12 - Jadon Sancho (Dortumund)
Italian Serie A
Top six: 1. Juventus (75), 2. Napoli (60), 3. Inter Milan (53), 4. A.C. Milan (51), 5. Roma (47), 6. Lazio (45)
Scoring leader: 21- Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria)
Assists leader: 9 - Dries Mertens (Napoli)
French Ligue 1
Top six: 1. PSG (77), 2. Lille (57), 3. Lyon (53), 4. Marseille (47), 5. Saint-Ătienne (46), 6. Stade Reims (46)
Scoring leader: 24 - Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
Assists leader: 10 - Angel Di Maria (PSG)
Dutch Eredivisie
Top three: 1. PSV Eindhoven (67), 2. Ajax (62), 3. Feyenoord (47)
Belgian First Division A
Top three: 1. Genk (63), 2. Club Brugge (56), 3. Standard Liege (53)
Portuguese Primeira Liga
Top three: 1. Benfica (63), 2. Porto (63), 3. Braga (58)
Scottish Premier League
Top three: 1. Celtic (70), 2. Rangers (60), 3. Aberdeen (52)
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Concacaf Champions League
Only four teams remain in the Concacaf Champions League, three from Mexico and one lone USA team.
Quarterfinals - second leg results:
- Santos Laguna 4-2 NY Red Bulls (6-2 agg.)
- Tigres UANL 1-0 Houston Dynamo (3-0 agg.)
- Atlanta United 1-0 Monterrey (1-3 agg.)
- Sporting KC 3-0 Independiente (4-2 agg.)
Major League Soccer
Still buzzing. #CINvPOR https://t.co/3XX8PRuBxbâ FC Cincinnati (@FC Cincinnati) 1552956498.0
The story of Week 3 in MLS will be the first-ever home opener for new club FC Cincinatti, which drew a capacity crowd of 32,250 to Nippert Stadium. The home team sent fans happy with a 3-0 win over the Portland Timbers. Wayne Rooney had a hat-trick performance of his own this week to propel D.C. United to a 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake and Alberth Elis took Team of the Week honors with Rooney after helping Houston Dynamo to a 3-2 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
East top seven: 1. D.C. United (7), 2. Columbus Crew (7), 3. Toronto (6), 4. Montreal (6), 5. NY Red Bulls (4), 6. Cincinatti (4), 7. NYCFC (3)
West top seven: 1. Seattle (9), 2. LAFC (7), 3. Houston (7), 4. Minnesota (6), 5. LA Galaxy (6), 6. Sporting KC (4), 7. FC Dallas (4)
Liga MX
The two biggest teams in Mexico faced off twice, in cup and league play, as Club America took both victories over rivals Chivas of Guadalajara. Leon continues top of the table, separated from Tigres UANL only on goal difference.
Top eight: 1. Leon (26), 2. Tigres UANL (26), 3. Monterrey (22), 4. Club America (19), 5. Club Tijuana (19), 6. Necaxa (18), 7. Cruz Azul (18), 8. Pachuca (17)
Scoring leader: 9 - Angel Mena (Leon) / Brian Fernandez (Necaxa)
Assists leader: 8 - Angel Mena (Leon)
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Copa Libertadores
This week's #CONMEBOLLibertadores action is complete! https://t.co/ZAmu2SzbTjâ CONMEBOL Libertadores (@CONMEBOL Libertadores) 1552623118.0
Superliga Argentina
Top four: 1. Racing Club (55), 2. Defensa y Justicia (51), 3. Boca Juniors (47), 4. River Plate (42)
Scoring leader: 17 - Lisandro Lopez (Racing)
Assists leader: 9 - Walter Montillo (Tigre)
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Upcoming Matches (All Times CT):
Wednesday, Mar. 20
2:45 p.m. - [International Friendly] Germany vs. Serbia (ESPN3, Univision Deportes)
2:45 p.m. - [International Friendly] Wales vs. Trinidad & Tobago (ESPN3)
Thursday, Mar. 21
10:00 a.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Kazakhstan vs. Scotland (ESPN3)
1:00 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Kosovo vs. Denmark (ESPN3)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Belgium vs. Russia (ESPN2, Univision Deportes)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Netherlands vs. Belarus (ESPN3)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Croatia vs. Azerbaijan (ESPN3)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Austria vs. Poland (ESPN3)
7:00 p.m. - [International Friendly] U.S. Men's National Team vs. Ecuador (ESPN2/UniMas)
Friday, Mar. 22
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] England vs. Czech Republic (ESPNews)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Albania vs. Turkey (ESPN3)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Moldova vs. France (ESPN+)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Portugal vs. Ukraine (UniMas, Univision Deportes)
3:30 p.m. - [International Friendly] Argentina vs. Venezuela (beIN Sports)
9:00 p.m. - [International Friendly] Mexico Men's National Team vs. Chile (UniMas, Univision Deportes)
Saturday, Mar. 23
12:00 p.m. - [International Friendly] Brazil vs. Panama (beIN Sports en Espanol)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Spain vs. Norway (ESPNews)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Italy vs. Finland (ESPN+)
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The Houston Astros didnât just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Philliesâ lineup and showing the kind of dominance thatâs become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow â an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasnât a series filled with offensive fireworks, but thatâs exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astrosâ inconsistent offense mightâve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, theyâre 17-7 in one-run games, and theyâre playing with the kind of rhythm thatâs defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last yearâs uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team thatâs rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach â particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority â is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, heâs thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value theyâve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. Thatâs exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros donât just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold âStros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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