GM football fans. It’s Monday, May. 05 - Matches abroad hit a roadblock, Al-Ahli win the AFC Champions League, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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KEY FIXTURES

Premier League: Crystal Palace vs. Nottingham Forest, 20:00 / 15:00. Forest have never lost in nine Premier League meetings with Palace, but they have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions. Meanwhile, although Palace are winless in four league matches, they are unbeaten in their past four home games. See every Premier League Matchday 35 result here.

Results…

• Premier League: Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool (Report) | Brentford 4-3 Man Utd (Report) | Brighton 1-1 Newcastle | West Ham 1-1 Spurs (Table)

• La Liga: Valladolid 1-2 Barcelona | Real Madrid 3-2 Celta Vigo (Table)

• Bundesliga: Leipzig 3-3 Bayern | Freiburg 2-2 Leverkusen (Table)

• Serie A: Lecce 0-1 Napoli | Inter 1-0 Verona (Table)

• Scottish Premiership: Rangers 1-1 Celtic (Report)

• WSL: Liverpool 0-2 Everton | Man Utd 2-2 Man City | Palace 2-2 Leicester | Spurs 0-1 Chelsea | West Ham 2-3 Aston Villa (Table)

• MLS (results) | NWSL (results)

TOP TALKING POINTS

Matches Abroad Roadblock

The UK government is reportedly preparing to add provisions to the Football Governance Bill that would explicitly block Premier League and EFL matches from being staged abroad. This move comes as Fifa prepares to lift regulations that have prevented domestic league matches from being played overseas.

The government is concerned that a clause in the bill stating that clubs must seek the regulator’s permission “to move home games elsewhere” isn’t strong enough. MPs are expected to submit an amendment banning matches abroad outright.

Elsewhere, domestic fixtures on foreign soil appear to be edging closer. American promoter Relevent, which argued that Fifa’s refusal to sanction overseas games was anti-competitive, is working with La Liga to stage matches in the United States. Meanwhile, Serie A is reportedly set to become the first major European league to stage a match abroad, with Perth, Australia, the likely destination.

Al-Ahli Lift Champions League 

Saudi club Al-Ahli won the AFC Champions League for the first time, becoming the third Saudi side to lift the trophy. They beat Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale 2-0, who had eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the semi-finals.

Former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino was named the AFC Champions League MVP and assisted both goals in the final. Ivan Toney, with 26 goals and five assists in 39 appearances, and Riyad Mahrez also featured in the victory.

Al-Ahli were relegated from the Saudi Pro League three years ago but were taken over by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)—which also owns Newcastle United—in 2023. The win qualifies Al-Ahli for both the Fifa Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup.

Learn about the AFC Champions League’s unique finals format here.

Ligue 1 Settles Dispute

Ligue 1 and broadcast platform DAZN have settled their broadcast rights dispute, ending several months of negotiations. The French football league can now look for other broadcasters or launch its own direct-to-consumer streaming service.

The relationship broke down after DAZN withheld funds, citing disappointment over subscriber uptake and accusing the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) of failing to adequately combat piracy.

While the LFP can negotiate with new broadcast partners, interest remains limited. The league is now reportedly prioritising the creation of its own streaming platform—a move that has previously sparked tension on a video call between PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Lyon owner John Textor (watch here).

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Bayern Munich have won the German league title after Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 with SC Freiburg (More); Bayern were initially denied the title in their game on Saturday after RB Leipzig scored in the fifth minute of injury time in a 3-3 draw (Highlights)

> Kylian Mbappe scored twice to keep Real Madrid’s (3-2 vs Celta Vigo) La Liga title hopes alive, though Barcelona sit four points clear with four matches remaining (More)

> Napoli (vs Lecce) and Inter (vs Verona) both won 1-0 to keep the three-point distance at the top of the Serie A (More)

> Paris FC will return to the French top flight next season following an absence of 46 years after they secured promotion to Ligue 1 (More)

> Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry, and Bristol City have qualified for the Championship play-offs, which are played between 8 - 13 May, with the final on 24 May (More) | Manor Solomon scored in the final minute to win Leeds the Championship title (Watch)

Americas

> Vancouver Whitecaps lead the MLS Western Conference by seven points and are unbeaten in 10 following their 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake (More) | Columbus have a two-point lead in the Eastern Conference after a 4-2 win over Charlotte (More) | MLS standings (More)

> KK Ream of the Utah Royals has broken an NWSL record, becoming the youngest player to ever start a match at 15 years and 9 months (More) | Third-place Portland Thorns beat second-place Orlando Pride 1-0 to close the gap at the top of the NWSL table (Report / League Table)

> Palmeiras goes to the top of the Brazil Serie A table following a 1-0 away win over Vasco de Gama (Table); See full results (More)

> The first professional women’s football team in Montreal played at the first stadium dedicated to women’s football in Canada–Montreal Roses beat Ottawa Rapid 2-1 (More)

Rest of the World

> In the Women’s A-League semi-finals, Melbourne City played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg against Central Coast Mariners (More); Melbourne Victory will go into the second leg with the advantage after beating Adelaide United 3-1 (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Friday’s Poll: Do you think Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world right now, despite being just 17?

🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🌎 Absolutely... (33%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅‍♂️ Nope... (64%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (2.9%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🌎 L.K: “Yes, and I don't even feel it's close. He's very young and sees the game as if he were playing FIFA at home. His stats won't reflect it for a couple more years, but he is special, even in the ‘touch me and it's a foul’ La Liga.”

• 🙅‍♂️ M.G: “He has definitely placed himself in the conversation. But that title should not be given based on a short period. It requires sustained success and skill.”

• ✍️ L.Z: “It’s hard to pick just one footballer. But Lamine - he’s only 17 and already doing things on the pitch that make you forget his age entirely. It’s insane. How far can he go? The sky doesn’t even seem like the limit.”

• ✍️ N.G: “I am 76, have heard about all the superstars. It’s too early to say that someone comes along and takes his Achilles out, he will no longer be the best. He is very good, no doubt, and a joy to watch.”

EXTRA TIME

Welsh club start cup final with 10 men after lineup mix-up.

How Kane won his first trophy.

… and Kane celebrating with his Bayern teammates.

What would Team EU look like?

PSG and Paris FC stadiums are only 40 meters apart.

Eberechi Eze wins a chess tournament in style.

Doue nutmegs his older brother.

Vardy blows the ref’s whistle mid-game.

Burnley celebrate promotion with Natasha Bedingfield.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Which goalkeeper became the first to score in the Premier League era in Aston Villa's 3-2 defeat to Everton in October 2001?

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Premier League

• Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest (20:00)

Women’s Super League

• Brighton vs Arsenal (16:00)

La Liga

• Girona vs Mallorca (20:00)

Serie A

• Genoa vs AC Milan (19:45)

*All time in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.

Answer

Peter Schmeichel​. Watch the goal here.

Want more? Try our daily football Wordle – guess the name of a current or former player in six tries. Play it here.