SOCCER FOOTBALL 24H

Sevilla stayed on course for a third straight Europa League title by claiming a 2-2 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine in the first leg of their semi-final. Unai Emery's side are looking to become the first to win a major European competition three years in a row since Bayern Munich 40 years ago. They had to come from behind after Vitolo's early goal was cancelled out by Marlos and Taras Stepanenko, with Kevin Gameiro's late penalty giving them two vital away goals. And, given their superb home record, Sevilla will fancy their chances of reaching yet another final. The contrast between Emery's team at home and away is remarkable, with Sevilla managing just one win on their travels in Europe and none in the Primera Division. But it took only six minutes for the Spaniards to take the lead in Lviv. Gameiro released Vitolo and he was allowed to turn inside by Yaroslav Rakitskiy before finding the net.

A fortnight after an added-time winner put Liverpool into the last four of the Europa League, a similar fate befell them as they lost their semi-final first leg 1-0 in Villarreal. The match appeared to be heading for a stalemate until substitute Adrian Lopez poked home two minutes into injury time. It was less dramatic than Dejan Lovren's header against Borussia Dortmund two weeks previously - Jurgen Klopp's side still have the home leg to come - but frustrating nonetheless as they had appeared to have ground out a draw. Going to the El Madrigal, where the hosts have now won all seven Europa League ties this season and are unbeaten in the competition since matchday one on September 17, was always going to be tough - but the Reds seemed to have done the hard work until a momentary lapse in concentration cost them.

Former Colombia midfielder Carlos Valderrama says Real Madrid boss does not like James Rodriguez and the 2014 World Cup top scorer is in a difficult situation at the moment. The 24-year-old, a 75-million-euro signing from Monaco following an outstanding showing at the tournament in Brazil two years ago, has found himself isolated from the team in recent weeks. He has made just one appearance in Real’s last five games and the less experienced Lucas Vazquez was picked ahead of him to replaced the injured Cristiano Ronaldo in the first leg of the Champions League semi final against Manchester City on Tuesday. James has four years to run on his contract but has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer with Manchester United and Chelsea both rumoured to be interested in the player.

Manchester United are believed to be closing in on the signing of Benfica's Renato Sanches. Multiple news outlets are reporting that Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira arrived in Manchester on Thursday to finalise the £46million transfer. According to the Daily Mail, 18-year-old Portuguese ace Sanches will cost United an up-front fee of £31m, with a further £15m to be paid in add-ons. Sanches' agent, Jorge Mendes, has also been spotted in Manchester this week adding further fuel to the fire that a deal is set to be completed. The box-to-box midfielder is rated as the most promising player from his country since Cristiano Ronaldo and is expected to sign a long-term deal with the Red Devils in the coming days.

Birmingham v Middlesbrough Friday, 19:45 Match Odds Boro are just  1.57  to win this with the home side still available at a whopping  7.20 , having been as big as  8.00  earlier in the week, and the draw priced at  4.20 . As my colleague Mike Norman noted in  his preview  of last Saturday's 3pm games, at this stage of the season sides  are often over-bet  and consequently too short when it's deemed they 'need' to win a match. He was bang on the money about Boro and Hull against Ipswich and Leeds respectively and this game fits into that category for me too. Over/Under 2.5 Goals Unders is  1.85  here with Overs  2.12  and I'm surprised that we can get that big a price about Under 2.5 Goals. At this stage of the season I can't see it being anything other than a  very tight game  and under Rowett the Blues' have always been solid enough at the back, while they have only managed 50 goals this season -...

Saul Niguez's first-half solo strike proved enough to hand Atletico Madrid a narrow 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Vicente Calderon. The Spain Under-21 international's early wonder goal handed the Spanish side the edge ahead of next week's second leg at the Allianz Arena. Arturo Vidal came closest to netting an equaliser for Pep Guardiola's side but the home defence worked hard to keep his and his team-mates' efforts out as they recorded their fifth consecutive clean sheet. Diego Simeone's hosts began to press from the start and Fernando Torres came close to opening the scoring in the first five minutes but his drilled shot from 20 yards out was blocked by David Alaba.

La Liga leaders Barcelona have a first-option clause in the contract of Atletico Madrid's rising star Saul Niguez, according to Sport. The 21-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough year at the Vicente Calderon this term and scored the only goal of the game with a sublime solo effort in his side's 1-0 win over Champions League semi-final opponents Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The clause was inserted into the midfielder's terms back in 2013 when David Villa joined Atletico from Camp Nou. Saul's current deal reportedly runs until 2020 and includes a €60 million release clause. Should Atletico receive a bid from an opposing club, Barca will have the option to equal or raise it.

Juventus are pondering a move for one of the Premier League’s best strikers, Arsenal have been linked with a bid to sign a Bayern Munich star, while Theo Walcott could be heading to Serie A, according to Wednesday’s transfer rumours.

Manchester United will wear their away kit in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 21, it has been confirmed. A coin toss was made, due to the club's kits clashing, and United lost, meaning they will wear white, in a repeat of the 1990 final between the two clubs. United drew with Palace 3-3 on that occasion at Wembley, with the Red Devils going on to win the replay 1-0. That trophy proved to be the first of Sir Alex Ferguson's incredible 26-year reign and Louis van Gaal will hope to stage a repeat next month. The Dutchman has come in for criticism for his management thus far this term, with Jose Mourinho heavily tipped to replace him this summer, but may well secure the FA Cup for the first time since 2004.

Villarreal v Liverpool Thursday April 28, 20:05 Match Odds Liverpool are  3.15 , so you could back them  Draw No Bet  at  2.20 , but there are other markets to pursue. Over/Under 2.5 Goals Given Villarreal's defensive record in this competition, and the fact that ten of Liverpool's 12 UEL games have featured fewer than three goals, Under 2.5 Goals looks fairly priced at  1.66 . However, I'm quite tempted to back  Both Teams To Score  at  2.02 . Recommended Bet Back Both Teams To Score at   2.02 Back Cedric Bakambu   2.68  and Philippe Coutinho  3.70  to score  (half a point each)

Shakhtar Donetsk v Sevilla Thursday April 28, 20:05 Sevilla coach  Unai Emery  is a master of the two-legged tie, and he has a glut of quality players, but this is a huge test for a team that just isn't performing as well as it can on the road. In all competitions Sevilla have played 27 away games, and they have won a grand total of four matches. 12 of those matches have been lost, including three of the last four. The Match Odds market is split down the middle, but I fancy Shakhtar to get a result against a Sevilla side that is coming up short on the road time and time again. We can back the hosts Draw No Bet at  1.97 , which sees our stake returned if the match ends in stalemate. Recommended Bet Back Shakhtar Donetsk Draw No Bet at   1.97

Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci remains non-committal over his long-term future at Juventus after failing to confirm whether or not he would be interested in a move to Chelsea. The 28-year-old Italy international has emerged as one of the Blues primary transfer targets in the summer as Antonio Conte looks to bolster his backline with an experienced international class defender. Conte has worked alongside Bonucci for the past five years – between 2011-14 with Juventus and with the Italian national team in the last two years – and is known to be a big admirer of his talents. Although Chelsea, unlike Juventus, will not play Champions League football next season, Bonucci refused to deny whether or not he would be staying put in Turin.

Manchester City survived a late onslaught from a Real Madrid side lacking Cristiano Ronaldo to draw the first leg of their Champions League semi-final 0-0. Manuel Pellegrini's men came under heavy pressure in the second half at the Etihad Stadium as a previously subdued Real finally found their teeth. City goalkeeper Joe Hart again proved their saviour, producing fine reflex stops from Casemiro and Pepe, while Jese also hit the bar as the visitors upped the tempo in the latter stages. City held on to give themselves a fighting chance heading into next week's second leg at the Bernabeu although the watching Ronaldo, who unexpectedly failed a fitness test, will hope to feature. The occasion was a tense one, although there was some amusement on the touchline as Real coach Zinedine Zidane split his trousers.

Atletico Madrid  3.05  v Bayern Munich  2.70 ; The Draw  3.25 Wednesday, 19:45 Match Odds In 2013/14, his Bayern squad, who he inherited as tournament holders, were humbled 5-0 on aggregate by Real Madrid. They lost another first leg in Spain last year 3-0 to Barcelona, so 3.05   is a tasty price on Atletico Madrid completing a hat-trick. Atletico Madrid Win to Nil On first reading, this looks like  one of the bravest   4.60  bets imaginable, yet once you start studying the statistics, you can't help suddenly becoming swelled with courage. Recommended Bet: Back Atletico Madrid to win @   3.05

Juventus were finally able to celebrate winning their fifth straight Serie A title after nearest challengers Napoli lost 1-0 at Roma on Monday afternoon. Ever since the Bianconeri, who have won 24 of their last 25 games, replaced Napoli as league leaders back in February the destination of the Scudetto has appeared to be Turin, and indeed Juve had pulled 12 points clear at the top by beating Fiorentina in Tuscany 18 hours earlier. Massimiliano Allegri and many of his players watched from the comfort of their Vinovo training base as a late goal from Roma's Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan at the Stadio Olimpico irrevocably ended Napoli's dream of landing a first Italian championship since 1990. When the festivities die down in Piedmont, Juve can resume their empire building as head coach Allegri is set to sign a new contract with the club he took to the Champions League final last year.

Leicester will be crowned Barclays Premier League champions with a win next weekend after Craig Dawson's header held Tottenham to a 1-1 draw against West Brom. Spurs' surprise slip-up at White Hart Lane means Leicester are seven points clear with three games remaining and the Foxes' fairytale will be complete if they beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Mauricio Pochettino's men looked on course for another comfortable victory when Dawson bundled in a first-half own-goal but the defender redeemed himself, heading home with 18 minutes left to leave Tottenham's title hopes hanging by a thread. A disappointing night for Spurs could become worse too as Eric Dier was forced to leave the field following a clash of heads with Dawson in the second half, while Dele Alli may face a retrospective ban for appearing to punch West Brom's Claudio Yacob. Alli began the night collecting his PFA Young Player of the Year award in front of the Tottenham suppor...

Iago Aspas netted twice as Celta Vigo beat strugglers Granada 2-1 at home to move up to fifth place in the Primera Division. Aspas converted a 16th-minute penalty to put Celta ahead, then added a fine strike in the 76th, seven minutes after the visitors had levelled when substitute Fran Rico's shot went in via a touch off Youssef El Arabi. The result sees Eduardo Berizzo's men leapfrog Athletic Bilbao into fifth, while Granada remain 17th, a point clear of the relegation zone, with three rounds of matches to go. A lively opening to the game saw Celta forward John Guidetti's shot saved by Andres Fernandez, seconds before Isaac Cuenca sent a delivery across the home box just inches from the goal-line, with no one there to finish.

Man City  3.00  v Real Madrid  2.54 ; The Draw  3.60 Tuesday, 19:45 Match Odds Real Madrid have won more of their last dozen games than any other club still in the Champions League, getting the job done on 11 occasions, although it can't be ignored that their sole screw-up in that sequence came in the  away first leg  of their quarter-final against Wolfsburg. To Score Sergio Aguero is once more proving that he is a man for a run-in by firing five times in his latest three appearances. Whereas his  fondness for springtime  has been somewhat wasted this year and last in the Premier League as Man City compete for consolation prizes, this Champions League challenge presents him with an opportunity to maximise his gift like it's the final day of 2011/12 all over again. Recommended Bet: Back Aguero to score @  2.40

Juventus could be crowned Serie A champions for the fifth year in a row on Monday after emerging victorious from a gritty encounter with Fiorentina. A 2-1 victory at the Stadio Artemio Franchi pushed Juve 12 points clear ahead of second-placed Napoli, who must triumph at Roma to retain any mathematical chance of catching the leaders, although this Scudetto is realistically beyond their grasp. Gianluigi Buffon once again played the role of saviour for the Bianconeri with a double save from Nikola Kalinic's last-gasp penalty to secure all three points. Juve were certainly made to battle hard for the vital win - Kalinic had responded to Mario Mandzukic's opening rocket before substitute Alvaro Morata managed to stab home the winner. Professionalism will forbid Juve from celebrating yet another title win on Sunday evening, but come mid-afternoon on Liberation Day there will almost certainly be exuberant festivities on the streets of Turin. Determined to avoid suffering t...

Leicester are a step closer to making their dream a reality after Claudio Ranieri's men swatted aside Swansea to tighten their grip on the Premier League title. Supposed relegation fodder and considered a 5,000-1 shot for the title, the Foxes edged towards a first ever top-flight crown to the tune of the King Power Stadium's thunderous roar on Sunday. Riyad Mahrez's opener was complemented by a Leonardo Ulloa brace and a Marc Albrighton strike as Swansea were beaten as soundly as a 4-0 scoreline suggests, moving City eight points clear of Tottenham ahead of the second-placed side's clash with West Brom on Monday. Anything but a home victory at White Hart Lane could see the Foxes clinch the title at Manchester United next weekend, wrapping up one of the most remarkable triumphs in sporting history - never mind football.