ON THE PITCH
Soccer Recap: Barça win Copa del Rey, Serie A title race heats up, Wenger to step down
Apr 24, 2018, 9:37 am
Houston Culés, the official supporters group of FC Barcelona in the Bayou City, celebrated their teams Copa del Rey win at their watch party at Richmond Arms. Courtesy photo
Despite the European schedule winding down, there is plenty happening in the football - or “soccer" - world. On this side of the pond, a new winner of the Concacaf Champions League will be decided on Wednesday while the playoff race comes to a close in Mexico. By the way, the 2018 FIFA World Cup is only 51 days away.
Premier League
Fourteen clubs took part in league action this weekend as top teams continue to fight for the coveted UEFA Champions League spots and bottom table clubs look to fight off relegation to the Championship.
The biggest shock came off the field on Friday as Arsenal released a statement revealing that Manager Arsene Wenger would be stepping down after 22 years with the London club. Immediately, personalities around the soccer world (including the Dynamo's Philippe Senderos who played at Arsenal during the 2000s) filled Twitter with their well wishes and messages of gratitude. On Sunday, the team responded with a dominant 4-1 win over crosstown rivals West Ham United.
Liverpool drew 2-2 at West Brom as Mohamed Salah scored his 31st league goal this season - tying Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez as the only players to hit the mark in a 38-match season. Salah was also awarded the Player's Player of the Year Award this weekend. Man City boss Pep Guardiola disagreed with that result and stated City’s Kevin De Bruyne should've been the winner. By the way, City demolished Swansea in a 5-0 win. Everton picked up a 1-0 win over Newcastle on Monday
Four Premier League clubs took part in the FA Cup semifinals. Manchester United came back to flip the score against Tottenham - who have been playing their home matches at Wembley, the stage of the semifinals - and advanced with a 2-1 win. Mourinho’s Men will face “The Special One’s" former club as Chelsea also advanced thanks to a 2-0 win over Southampton.
Top 5: Manchester City* (90), Manchester United (74), Liverpool (71), Tottenham (68), Chelsea (63)
La Liga
Not featuring in league play this weekend, FC Barcelona and Sevilla faced off in Madrid to decide the Spanish Cup champion. Barça demolished fellow Champions League quarterfinalist Sevilla with a 5-0 win. The victory featured a special moment as club legend Andres Iniesta scored and lifted his final trophy with the club ahead of his departure this coming offseason.
The league title is also one match away from being clinched, as without playing in a league match, Barcelona benefited from Atletico Madrid’s scoreless draw with Betis. The Catalans can clinch their 25th league trophy with a draw next week.
Top 5: FC Barcelona (83), Atletico Madrid (72), Real Madrid (68), Valencia (66), Real Betis (56)
Bundesliga
FC Bayern Munich continues to demolish opponents despite having already secured the league title. A 3-0 win over at Hannover 96 kept the Bavarians sharp ahead of their upcoming Champions League semifinal meeting with Real Madrid. Dortmund also enjoyed a big win, 4-0 over Bayer Leverkusen. Leipzig was upset at home in a 2-5 loss to Hoffenheim while Cologne and Schalke played to a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Top 5: FC Bayern Munich* (78), Schalke 04 (56), Dortmund (54), Bayer Leverkusen (51), Hoffenheim (49)
Serie A
Last week, Juventus looked solid at the top of the table. This week, they're sweating the league title as Napoli has lowered the gap to one point. This was made possible by the head-to-head encounter between the top two sides that ended with a 90th minute goal by Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly. Roma, who play at Liverpool in the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday, picked up a 3-0 win at SPAL while Lazio kept pace with a 4-0 win over Sampdoria. Inter also picked up three points to stay in fifth while A.C. Milan lost at home to Benevento to stay at seventh.
Top 5: Juventus (85), Napoli (84), Roma (67), Lazio (67), Inter Milan (66)
Ligue 1
Already champion PSG picked up another three points while giving reserves minutes in a 1-0 win at Bordeaux. Last year's champions Monaco lost 3-1 at Guingamp, one week after surrendering the league at PSG in a humiliating 7-1 affair. Lyon and Marseille both scored five goals as they picked up big wins. Lille and Metz continue to stare at relegation.
Top 5: Paris Saint-Germain* (90), Monaco (70), Lyon (69), Marseille (69), Nice (50)
------------------------
Concacaf Champions League
Toronto FC are staring down the barrel with everything they've worked for on the line. To win would be to make history and become the first MLS team to play in the FIFA Club World Club. To lose would mean “close, but no cigar,” having sacrificed their early stretch of the MLS season for this trophy.
Chivas, on their end, are looking to salvage their season with a continental title. Rightfully so, they qualified to this Champions League by being winners of Liga MX in the Clausura 2017 season but their mediocre form the last couple of seasons have left much to be desired from one of Mexico’s soccer giants. On top of that, the second leg will be at their place and their entire squad built of Mexican citizens - a nationalistic approach that forms part of their brand - carry the pressure of not wanting to lose to an MLS team. To choke the 2-1 lead earned on a snowy Toronto night would be an embarrassment for this proud club.
The winner will be decided on Wednesday night and SportsMap will be present at the final. Additionally, you can hear an exclusive interview with Toronto FC (also Toronto Argonauts) President Bill Manning on the April 16 episode of Soccer Matters over at PodcastArena.com.
Major League Soccer
New York City looked unbeatable but a West Coast trip to Portland proved to be their undoing. The Timbers dropped City with a 3-0 win and their second at home this season. Portland's rival, the Seattle Sounders, also got right with a 3-1 win over Minnesota. Atlanta, meanwhile, survived a trip West with a 2-0 dominant win at the LA Galaxy where they held Zlatan Ibrahimovic in check for the entire game. LAFC continues to impress early, winning a 5-3 thriller in a long trip East to Montreal. LA will debut their new stadium next week. Sporting KC delivered the week 8 jaw-dropping result with a 6-0 thumping of Vancouver.
In Houston, the Dynamo redeemed themselves with a 5-1 win vs. Toronto FC. No, this wasn't the best presentation of the MLS Cup Champion as all of the starters where already in Guadalajara focusing on game two of the Concacaf Champions League final. Yes, however, this was the a result the club needed to boost confidence, break a slump and maybe start getting on a roll. Romell Quioto had arguably his best game for the club, playing a part in all five goals. The Dynamo train in Houston until Friday before flying up to Minneapolis to face Minnesota United on Saturday night.
East Top 6: NYCFC (17), Atlanta United (16), Orlando City (13), New England Revolution (11), Columbus Crew SC (11), NY Red Bulls (9)
West Top 6: Sporting KC (17), LAFC (12), FC Dallas (12), LA Galaxy (10), Real Salt Lake (10), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10)
Liga MX
It's pressure time in Liga MX as only one matchday remains. Clubs at the top want to assure a higher seed in the playoffs, teams on the bubble want a chance to play for the trophy. Puebla shocked Club America with a 3-1 win, Toluca stayed top of the table with a 3-0 win over Veracruz and second place Santos lost 2-1 at home to Pumas. Monterrey picked up a 4-0 win over Lobos BUAP, Cruz Azul a 2-1 win over Monarcas while Tigres and Necaxa tied in a battle of the defending Liga MX and Copa MX champions.
Some will wonder if Saturday's matches will happen after the newly formed Players Union threatened to strike on this date a few weeks ago due to concerns around players rights. The Mexican Association of Footballers - the official name of this organization - met with team owners in the past days but reports indicate there was no agreement that came from the meeting.
Top 5: Toluca (36), Santos Laguna (29), Monterrey (28), Tigres UANL (27), Club America (26)
------------------------------------------------
National Women’s Soccer League
Undefeated in league play and top of the league in goals, North Carolina Courage picked up a draw and a win to stay at the top of the NWSL standings. The Chicago Red Stars built on their win last week at Utah by picking up four more points this week while Portland and Seattle follow behind in the table.
The Houston Dash continue to look for their first win - both of the season and under their first year coach Vera Pauw - after losing both matches of their two-game road trip. Houston lost 3-0 at the Red Stars in a match where they conceded an own goal in the 7th minute followed by another goal in the 11th on a rainy Wednesday night in Chicago. They would lose by the narrowest of margins in a 1-0 meeting at Orlando Pride on Sunday. The biggest positive was the return of forward Kealia Ohai, back on the pitch against Orlando after being sidelined with an ACL injury midway through last season. The Dash face a tough test Saturday vs. NC Courage.
Top 4: North Carolina Courage (13), Chicago Red Stars (8), Portland Thorns (7), Seattle Reign (6)
Upcoming matches (All Times CT):
Tuesday, Apr. 24:
1:45 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Liverpool vs. Roma (FS1/ESPN Deportes)
Wednesday, Apr. 25:
1:45 p.m. - [UEFA Champions League] Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (FS1/ESPN Deportes)
8:30 p.m. - [Concacaf Champions League] Chivas Guadalajara vs. Toronto FC (go90 app & go90.com /Univision Deportes)
Thursday, Apr. 26:
2:05 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Arsenal vs. Atletico Madrid (FS1/ESPN Deportes)
2:05 p.m. - [UEFA Europa League] Marseille vs. Salzburg (FS2)
Friday, Apr. 27:
1:30 p.m. - [Bundesliga] Hoffenheim vs. Hannover 96 (FS2)
Saturday, Apr. 28:
6:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Liverpool vs. Stoke City (NBC Sports)
8:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (FS2)
11:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Swansea vs. Chelsea (NBC Sports)
11:30 a.m. - [La Liga] Real Madrid vs. Leganes (beIN Sports)
2:30 p.m. - [MLS] Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United (Twitter/Univision Deportes)
2:30 p.m. - [NWSL] Houston Dash vs. North Carolina Courage (Lifetime)
7 p.m. - [MLS] Minnesota United vs. Houston Dynamo (KUBE 57 in Houston / ESPN+ in other markets)
Sunday, Apr. 29:
8:15 a.m. - [Premier League] West Ham vs. Manchester City (NBC Sports)
10:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Manchester United vs. Arsenal (NBC Sports)
1:45 p.m. - [La Liga] Deportivo vs. Barcelona (beIN Sports)
3 p.m. - [MLS] Colorado Rapids vs. Orlando City SC (ESPN)
8 p.m. - [MLS] LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders FC (FS1)
Monday, Apr. 30:
2 p.m. - [Premier League] Spurs vs. Watford (NBC Sports)
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.