GM football fans. It’s Monday, May. 26 - the Premier League season concludes, Arsenal Women make history, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURES
League Two Play-Off Final, 15:01 / 10:01. AFC Wimbledon vs Walsall. Walsall were unbeaten across their two meetings with Wimbledon this season, having lost three consecutive matches prior to the Dons. However, before the play-offs, Walsall won just three of their last 21 games of the League Two campaign. Opta’s prediction model has AFC Wimbledon as the 52.6% favourites, with the possibility of extra-time and potentially penalties at 26.6%.
TV Channels: Sky Sports (UK) | Paramount+ (US) | Canada (DAZN)
Results…
Premier League (Results)
League One Play-off Final: Charlton Athletic 1 - 0 Leyton Orient
TOP TALKING POINTS
Premier League Concludes
Following the 2024-25 Premier League season's conclusion (see results), the European qualification spots have been confirmed. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League. Aston Villa miss out on the final Champions League spot on goal difference to Newcastle. Tottenham Hotspur also qualified after their Europa League victory last week. See the final table standings here.
Having scored in the last game of the season against Crystal Palace, Salah has tied for the most goal contributions (47) in a Premier League season–matching Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s record, who both achieved this feat in a 42-game season.
Next season, Sunderland join Leeds United and Burnley in promotion to the English top-flight following their 2-1 play-off final victory over Sheffield United with a 95th-minute winner. It was the first time in 15 years that a team had come from behind to win a Championship play-off final. See how much the win is worth here and watch the highlights here (US readers).
Arsenal Make History
Arsenal Women have won the Uefa Women’s Champions League for the second time, beating title-holders Barcelona Femeni 1-0 in the final. They become the first women’s English team to win multiple continental titles. Watch the highlights here (US link) or read the match report here.
After 18 years, Renee Slegers’ side reached the final for the second time in their history to face the best-ranked team in Europe. Despite entering the tie as underdogs, Arsenal foiled Barcelona's attempt at three consecutive Champions League titles. It is also the first time since 2015, when Eintracht Frankfurt lifted the trophy, that a team other than Lyon or Barcelona has won the competition.
Arsenal’s route to the final included coming from behind in the quarter-finals to beat Real Madrid and again in the semi-finals, where they knocked out record eight-time winners Lyon.
Amorim Confirms Stay
Ruben Amorim has informed his Manchester United squad that he will remain in charge next season, inside sources have revealed. Following their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last week, the Portuguese head coach offered to walk away from his role “without any conversation about compensation.”
Reports suggest that he has also told Alejandro Garnacho to search for another club, after the Argentine winger hinted at frustrations with his coach for only playing 20 minutes during the Europa League final.
In the same week, reports revealed that Man United told around 200 staff working at their Carrington training ground that they would lose their jobs. At the week's close, the club’s shares dropped 7.8%, around £160m in value.
POLL
Do you think your club has had a successful season–and why?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Sunderland have been promoted to the Premier League after beating Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final (More)
> Aberdeen denied Celtic a historic treble and secured its first Scottish Cup in 35 years in a 4-3 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw (More)
> Napoli secured their second Serie A title in three seasons after edging Inter Milan thanks to a 2-0 home victory over Cagliari (More) | Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly close to signing with Napoli from Manchester City (More)
> Paris Saint-Germain won the Coupe de France with a 3-0 win over Reims, completing the domestic double (More)
Americas
> Inter Miami drew 3-3 to Philadelphia, making Javier Mascherano’s side winless in four MLS games (More); Watch Lionel Messi’s late free-kick (Watch) | Vancouver Whitecaps remain top of the MLS Western Conference and unbeaten in 14 matches following a 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake (More) | See MLS conference standings (More)
> Club America and Tolua played out a nil-nil draw in the first leg of the Liga MX Clausura final; the result of the second leg will be decided shortly after publication (More)
> Barba Banda has scored the fastest hat-trick in NWSL history, scoring three goals in the first 38 minutes of play against the Utah Royals (More) | NWSL results (More) and standings (More)
> Charleston Battery have won their seventh consecutive match and remain USL Eastern Conference leaders after a 3-1 win over Detroit City; New Mexico United continue to lead the Western Conference following a 1-0 win over Miami FC (More)
Rest of the World
> Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City have booked their place in the A-League Grand Final; the final is set for Saturday (May 31) (More)
> Wuhan Jiangda beat Melbourne City in the AFC Women’s Champions League on penalties after playing out a 1-1 draw (More)
> Fifa president Gianni Infantino has said “there are discussions” for Cristiano Ronaldo to play at next month’s Club World Cup (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Friday’s Poll: Which match are you most looking forward to–and where are you watching it?
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🌍 Women's Champions League... (13%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🔝 Championship Play-off Final... (21%)
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🇮🇹 Serie A title deciders... (14%)
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🏴 Premier League final matchday... (46%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other… (4%)
Your punditry takes:
🌍 G.R (UWCL Final): “I’m going to the game with my youngest granddaughter, and my daughter. My granddaughter has only seen Arsenal lose once, so she is like a good luck charm for Saturday’s game.”
🔝 S.R (Play-off Final): “It is the ultimate play-off game with promotion to the Premier League for the winner of this ‘winner-take-all’ game. Nicknamed the ‘most expensive game in football!! Watch it every year.”
🇮🇹 W.T (Serie A): “It's Serie A for me. The race between Napoli and Inter has been entertaining, and there's an interesting element now with Inter in the Champions League Final. It will take major concentration to put in a top performance today with so much on the line in this final stretch of the season.”
🏴 T.V (Premier League): “To see my team get the trophy, and see who finishes in Champions League and Europa League next season.”
EXTRA TIME
Modric bids farewell to the Santiago Bernabeu.
… and Trent gives his farewell speech to his teammates.
Did you know the Golden Shoe is awarded based on points?
Thomas Tuchel selects his England team for June.
Charleston Battery release Palmetto Kit.
Pepe Reina’s standing ovation after being sent off in his final game.
Prince William shows off his football skills.
Do promoted teams struggle in other European leagues?
GAME FACE ON
Question: Which club is the only one to have started the final day at the bottom of the Premier League table and finished it above the relegation zone?
Clue: 2004-05.
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
League Two Play-off Final
Wimbledon vs Walsall (15:01)
Scottish Premiership Play-off Final
Ross County vs Livingston (Agg 1-1) (20:00)
Bundesliga Play-off Final
Elversberg vs Heidenheim (Agg 2-2) (19:30)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
West Brom. Read more on their ‘Great Escape’ here.
Want more? Try our daily football Wordle – guess the name of a current or former player in six tries. Play it here.
I’m not saying don’t be disappointed, but don’t forget what [Trent Alexander-Arnold] has done for this club.
