Juventus 2 Monaco 1 (4-1 agg): Alves leads serene charge into Champions League final

Juventus secured simple passage to their second Champions League final in three years as a 2-1 win over Monaco secured a 4-1 aggregate win.

Dani Alves orchestrated another brilliant Juventus performance in this season's Champions League as a 2-1 win over Monaco on home turf secured a 4-1 aggregate triumph and a place in the final.

Juventus' half-decade dominance of Serie A is yet to translate into success on the continental stage, but the Bianconeri have never looked better placed to win a third European crown than Massimiliano Allegri's current crop do.

Along with Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic, Alves is one of just three players in this squad to have won the big trophy and the Brazilian followed up two assists at Stade Louis II with another star turn, helping Mandzukic to the nerve-settling opener before blasting in before the break to allow 45 minutes of joyous celebrating and frantic seeking of hostelries in Cardiff.

Kylian Mbappe's zip and zeal was rewarded with a second-half goal that rounds off a stunning debut season for the 18-year-old.

Though Monaco's brilliant babes will not share a European crown before they are sold off to the highest bidder, they are tantalisingly close to the Ligue 1 crown, and surely the likes of Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar and Mbappe will have greater tales to tell in this competition over the next decade.

But those prodigies and their wise old figurehead Radamel Falcao barely laid a glove on Juve over two legs and the determined, drilled - and occasionally dastardly - trio of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will relish a showpiece battles of 'BBC' line-ups, with Real Madrid - of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano - 3-0 up on neighbours Atletico in the other semi-final.

The Juve defence is still to be breached from open play in this season's competition and, having played the underdog to Barcelona two years ago, Allegri's stronger, slicker side may well head to the Welsh capital as favourites this time around.

Defiance rumbled down from the stands pre-match as the home fans bellowed 'CHAMPIONS' amid the pre-match anthem and a 'Time for Cardiff' banner greeted the players out of the tunnel and a nervy opening was ridden out in typically stubborn fashion.

Gianluigi Buffon stretched out a tweaked back in the warm-up and flapped at an early cross before Mbappe beat him to a high ball and struck a post amid the raising of an offside flag and there were further signs of danger for Juve when Khedira twanged a hamstring and had to be replaced by Claudio Marchisio.

But as the storm passed, Juventus thundered back into the contest, Kamil Glik and Danijel Subasic desperately denying Gonzalo Higuain and Mandzukic before the Croatian striker finally found a way through.

As in the first leg, Alves found the key to unlock Monaco, his pin-perfect cross finding Mandzukic, who lashed high into the net after Subasic brilliantly denied his initial header.

Juve smelled blood and Higuain was denied a goal by the assistant's flag before Chiellini celebrated a geometrically thrilling goalline clearance as if he had scored - soon the stadium would do so again.

Subasic denied Paulo Dybala one-on-one but was left flailing when he punched the resulting corner onto Alves' right boot and the three-time Champions League winner returned with interest, smashing a laser-guided volley into the net.

Buffon was beginning to look unbeatable as he sprawled to deny Mbappe one-on-one but the teenager would have his goal soon after as he turned in from inches after Joao Moutinho got to the byline from a short corner.

Higuain was left enraged after collecting some war wounds from former Torino defender Glik as the visitors grew tetchy in the closing stages, but the Argentine will recover for another assault on a major final where he will look to improve on a desperate record with Argentina.

Poorer omens follow in Juve last beating Monaco at this stage of the Champions League before losing to Real Madrid in the 1998 final, but Allegri's vintage are made of the stern stuff required to turn history on its head.

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Vidal claims rules are different for Messi after ban appeal win

The Chilean says it is "good" for Argentina to have the Barca star available, but lamented his ability to have a ban overturned

Lionel Messi having an international ban overturned by FIFA is evidence of an imbalanced playing field in football, says Chile star Arturo Vidal.

Messi was handed a four-match ban after abusing a match official during the 1-0 victory over Chile in March, ruling him out of the 2-0 loss at Bolivia and their next three 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

However, the Barcelona star is free to play in the remainder of Argentina's campaign after the sanction was wiped out on appeal.

Argentina are currently fifth in the CONMEBOL standings, a position that would send them into an inter-continental play-off against a side from Oceania.

Chile sit a point and a place above La Albiceleste and Vidal was less than impressed to see their rivals regain their captain and talisman.

"That's a difficult issue," Vidal is quoted as saying by AND Radio. "I wish all the rules were the same for everybody. 

"It's good for Argentina, for Messi and for football. It's always nice to watch Messi playing for the national team because he always gives everything, so good for him, but I wish all the rules were the same everybody."

Chile's frustrations may be exacerbated, having seen their midfielder Gary Medel handed the same ban as Messi for a similar offence and only having one game struck off on>

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MAN UTD EYE REUS

Jose Mourinho wants to bring Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus to Manchester United, according to  Don Balon .

The United boss wants the Germany international to replace Wayne Rooney, who is set to leave Old Trafford for China this summer.

The Red Devils are likely to face competition for Reus from Atletico Madrid, with Diego Simeone unhappy with the performances of Yannick Carrasco this season.

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Atletico starlet Theo Hernandez completes Real Madrid medical

The 19-year-old defender, currently on loan at Alaves, had been coveted by Barcelona but will finally sign terms with the Merengue

Atletico Madrid starlet Theo Hernandez is on the verge of joining city rivals Real Madrid after completing a medical with the Liga giants.

Hernandez had also attracted interest from Barcelona but is set to play at the Santiago Bernabeu next season after Madrid won the battle for the talented youngster. 

The Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital was the site for Hernandez's medical, as he completed the formalities required prior to making the switch official. 

Theo, brother of Atletico starter Lucas Hernandez, has won rave reviews this season at the Basques, and previously stated his desire to stay in La Liga as rumours over a transfer grew.

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Chelsea become third team to win 300 Premier League home games

Goals from Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic sealed a landmark win for the Blues at Stamford Bridge to send Boro to the Championship

Chelsea recorded their 300th home win of the Premier League era as they beat Middlesbrough 3-0 on Monday to move a step closer to title glory.

Diego Costa gave the hosts the lead after 23 minutes at Stamford Bridge, recording his 20th league goal of the season.

Marcos Alonso soon doubled Chelsea's advantage and Nemanja Matic completed the scoring after the interval to wrap up a comprehensive victory, relegating Middlesbrough in the process.

Chelsea will now be crowned champions for the second time in three seasons if they win at West Brom on Friday after picking up a maximum three points for the 15th time at home this season.

Manchester United lead the way with 347 victories at home in the Premier League, while Arsenal are in second after beating United 2-0 on Sunday to move on to 306 home Premier League wins.

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Who cares if Wenger finally won?! Mourinho was right to play reserves against Arsenal

The Portuguese's unbeaten run against the Arsenal boss is over, but the main target is clearly Europa League glory

It may be no consolation for the 3,000 or so Manchester United fans who paid good money to travel to north London for the clash with Arsenal on Sunday, but Jose Mourinho’s warning that he was set to play a weakened side made his very first league loss to Arsene Wenger something of an inevitability.

The 2-0 reverse turned out to be no great surprise as a much-changed United XI went about their task well without ever really looking likely to return to Manchester with the three points. Yet in the context of United’s season this was no great setback.

Arsenal improve to beat Man Utd

Compared to the 3-0 caning Louis van Gaal’s United received in the corresponding fixture last season - at a time when the Red Devils arrived as league leaders - this was an inconsequential defeat in everything but the record books. United’s 25-game unbeaten run in the Premier League is over as well as Mourinho’s hold over Wenger, but the main focus for the season was simply underlined by the events of Sunday afternoon.

In making eight changes and handing league debuts to Axel Tuanzebe and Scott McTominay, Mourinho made good on his promise of prioritising the Europa League push for honours. With a string of key games in both the league and Europe having been negotiated in recent weeks and a packed schedule still to come, the Portuguese had little choice but to send out the reserves against Arsenal.

Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Juan Mata had played a total of four minutes’ football between them since March, while Tuanzebe was thrown in for his full debut at right-back and the increasingly peripheral Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial were also given starts.

Coming less than 72 hours after their 1-0 semi-final first-leg win away to Celta Vigo on Thursday, this was the right thing to do. Mourinho has been accused of failing to grasp the essence of being a Manchester United manager at times since his arrival last summer but his decision to prioritise silverware over the supposed achievement of finishing fourth in the Premier League is to be lauded.

Finishing the season with three trophies and a spot in the Champions League beats ending a campaign with some supposed moral victory at being the fourth-best team in the country, whether that also delivers a Champions League spot or not.

From the moment Granit Xhaka’s speculative effort from distance spun off Ander Herrera’s back and looped over David de Gea there was an inevitability about Arsenal wrapping up the win with a little to spare, but Mourinho will be forgiven for not being too concerned about the defeat.

With Tottenham, Southampton and Crystal Palace to negotiate in the final seven days of the Premier League season the chance of finishing fourth was always going to be slim anyway. At least in ensuring the likes of Eric Bailly and Paul Pogba were not taxed at the Emirates, Mourinho has increased United’s chances of succeeding in the Europa League.

There is no guarantee they will go on to win in Stockholm on May 24, but the calculated risk was one worth taking. A 2-0 loss to Arsenal will not define their season, however much Mourinho’s bragging rights have disappeared.

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Wenger finally ends Mourinho hoodoo after Arsenal beat Man Utd in the Premier League

Goals from Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck secured a belated victory for the Frenchman to keep his team in the hunt for a top-four finish

After almost 13 years, Arsene Wenger finally got the better of Jose Mourinho in the Premier League after Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger had endured countless frustration in his previous battles with his Portuguese nemesis, but goals from Granit Xhaka and former United striker Danny Welbeck ended his hoodoo against Mourinho.

In 12 previous Premier League games against Mourinho the Arsenal boss had been unable to mastermind a victory, suffering five defeats and picking up seven draws.

The closest Wenger had previously come to beating Mourinho was in December 2006 when Michael Essien scored an 84th minute equaliser for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho also inflicted a 6-0 mauling on Wenger during his second spell as Chelsea manager in March 2014 before he took over as United boss in the summer of 2016.

Olivier Giroud’s 89th minute goal spared Wenger defeat against his old foe at Old Trafford earlier this season before he finally had cause to celebrate a win in a key game in the race for Champions League qualification.

Xhaka’s deflected strike on 54 minutes broke the deadlock and, just three minutes later, the unmarked Welbeck headed home to breathe life into Arsenal’s quest to finish in the top four.

In addition to getting one over Mourinho for the first time, Wenger’s side’s victory also ended United’s 25-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

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