After a curtailed campaign and a mid-table finish, what better way to spice up pre-season training than alongside a legend of the game? That’s the situation players of League Two club Leyton Orient have found themselves in this week, with former Premier League and Champions League winner Yaya Toure linking up with the O’s.
Juventus won a record-extending ninth successive Serie A title as they defeated Sampdoria in Turin. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 31st league goal of the season from Miralem Pjanic’s short free-kick and Federico Bernardeschi sealed the victory.
English Premier League Final Day Results – 26 July, 2020.
Arsenal 3:2 Watford
Burnley 1:2 Brighton
Chlesea 2:0 Wolves
Crystal Palace 1:1 Tottenham
Everton 1:3 Bournemouth
Leicester 0:2 Manchester United
Manchester City 5:0 Norwich
Champions Liverpool finished on the second-highest points total in top-flight history as they came from behind to beat Newcastle on the final day of the season.
Managerless Watford were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang inspired Arsenal to victory. The Hornets, who dropped into the bottom three for the first time since 28 February in midweek, started the day level on points with 17th spot knowing a positive result could keep them up.
Bournemouth’s five-year stay in the Premier League came to an end despite beating Everton at Goodison Park as Aston Villa’s draw at West Ham meant they were relegated to the Championship. The Cherries needed a win, and for Watford and Aston Villa to both lose against Arsenal and the Hammers respectively, if they were to retain their top-flight status.
Paris St-Germain overcame an injury to Kylian Mbappe to beat 10-man Saint-Etienne and win the French Cup in a game for which some fans were allowed into the Stade de France.
Rangers have signed Nigeria centre-back Leon Balogun after the 32-year-old ended the season with Wigan Athletic. The Germany-born defender, who has 32 caps, has signed a one-year contract. Balogun had completed the season on a short-term contract with Wigan having spent time on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe suffered a “serious right ankle sprain” in his side’s French Cup final victory over Saint-Etienne on Friday. Mbappe, 21, left the pitch in tears after being fouled by Saint-Etienne defender Loic Perrin in the first half.
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will return to the boxing ring for an exhibition fight against ex-four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr. The bout is scheduled to take place on 12 September in Los Angeles. Tyson, 54, last fought professionally in 2005 when he was beaten by Irishman Kevin McBride in what was his sixth loss in 58 career contests.
Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been appointed as manager of La Liga side Villarreal on the three-year deal. The 48-year-old Spaniard succeeds Javi Calleja, who left the club despite a fifth-placed finish that secured a Europa League spot.
West Bromwich Albion won promotion back to the Premier League despite failing to beat QPR in their final Championship game of the season.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lifted the Premier League trophy on the Kop at a near-empty Anfield to mark the club’s first top-flight triumph for 30 years. Henderson received the trophy from Reds legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, who was manager when Liverpool last won it in 1990, during a spectacular ceremony after the champions beat Chelsea 5-3.
English Premier League Results – 22 July, 2020.
Manchester United 1:1 West Ham
Liverpool 5:3 Chelsea
English Premier League Results – 21 July, 2020.
Watford 0:4 Manchester City
Aston Villa 1:0 Arsenal
The Ballon d’Or, awarded annually to the world’s best footballer, will not be held in 2020 due to the “lack of a sufficiently level playing field” caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi won the trophy in the men’s category last year, while US striker Megan Rapinoe won the women’s category.
English Premier League Results – 20 July 2020.
Brighton 0:0 Newcastle
Sheffield United 0:1 Everton
Wolves 2:0 Crystal Palace
Trabzonspor fans say the sacking of Mikel Obi in March led to the team’s championship loss to Istanbul Başakşehir. The team were top of the table before the Turkish Super Lig and sporting activities were suspended in Turkey due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
The president of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF), Cesar Salinas, died Sunday after being hospitalized with COVID-19 earlier this month, officials said. The federation confirmed his death in a statement that highlighted his “dedication and commitment to national and international football.”
Former Bayern Munich and Croatia manager Niko Kovac has been named the new Monaco boss. Robert Moreno was sacked after only seven months in charge of the Ligue 1 club on Sunday.
Naija Sports Crib 