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Saturday European Rewind: Chelsea clinches title, Bayern stuns RB Leipzig, and more

Following a disappointing 2015-16, Chelsea clinched their sixth top-flight title on Friday, defeating West Bromwich Albion 1-0 at the Hawthorns.

As it looked the Blues would have to wait a little while longer to lift the crown, Michy Batshuayi had other ideas, scoring after 82 minutes to give Chelsea the win. The substitute striker got on the end of Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross to beat Ben Foster from close range. It was the Belgian international’s sixth goal across all competitions, and his first league goal since Aug. 20. West Brom created two shots on goal, while Chelsea had five. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte became the fourth Italian manager to lift the Premier League trophy.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich fought back for a dramatic victory at RB Leipzig, while Borussia Dortmund drew at Augsburg. In Italy, Fiorentina earned an important victory against Lazio, while Valencia defeated Espanyol in Spain. Arsenal and Manchester City boosted their chances for a top-four finish, while Swansea City moved clearer of the relegation zone.

Here is a rundown of all Friday and Saturday’s European matches:

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City continued their quest for a top-four finish on Saturday, defeating Leicester City, 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s men led 2-0 after the half-hour mark, thanks to goals from David Silva and Gabriel Jesus. Winger Leroy Sane was involved in both City goals, assisting on the opening and drawing the penalty just seven minutes later. Shinji Okazaki pulled Leicester to within one in the 42nd minute, finishing off Marc Albrighton’s cross from close range. Manchester City were certainty let off the hook in the second-half as Riyad Mahrez’s 77th-minute penalty was ruled off after the Algerian slipped and fell before shooting the shot. In the end, the hosts held on for their second straight win which moved them into third place. Leicester saw a two-match winning streak snapped in the defeat.

Arsenal moved to one point behind the top four after a 4-1 road win at Stoke City. A brace from Olivier Giroud led the way for Arsene Wenger’s Gunners, while Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil also were on the scoresheet. Giroud’s close-range finish in the 42nd minute put Arsenal ahead 1-0 before halftime. Ozil doubled the lead after 55 minutes with a beautifully taken strike from inside the box. Peter Crouch pulled Stoke to within one in the 67th minute, but that was the closest the Potters got. Alexis Sanchez made it 3-1 after 76 minutes before Giroud got on the end of Aaron Ramsey’s cross for Arsenal’s fourth. Arsenal moved up to fifth, while Stoke stays in 13th.

Swansea City took a huge step towards top-flight survival with a 2-0 victory at Sunderland. Paul Clement’s side used a pair of first-half goals to move four points clear of the relegation zone. Fernando Llorente’s ninth-minute header opened the scoring before Kyle Naughton doubled the visitors lead before halftime. Despite holding the edge in shots on goal, already relegated Sunderland slumped to their 24th league loss of the season. Swansea is unbeaten in their ots four matches, and know a Hull defeat on Sunday guarantees their safety.

Here are all of Friday and Saturday’s Premier League results:

Everton 1 – Watford 0

West Bromwich Albion 0 – Chelsea 1

Manchester City 2 – Leicester City 1

AFC Bournemouth 2 – Burnley 1

Middlesbrough 1 – Southampton 2

Sunderland 0 – Swansea City 2

Stoke City 1 – Arsenal 4

SPANISH LA LIGA

Valencia made it back-to-back victories after a 1-0 road win at Espanyol on Saturday. A 75th-minute match winner from Jose Gaya was all Salvador Gonzalez’s team needed to earn all three points. Following a scoreless first half, Gaya’s left-footed effort broke the deadlock as the shot found the bottom right corner. Each side had created three shots on goal, with Valencia making the most of theirs. Espanyol fell for the second time in their last three matches, which keeps them in ninth for now. Valencia moved up to 11th after the road win.

In a battle of the bottom two sides in Spain’s top-flight, Osasuna defeated Granada 2-1 at the Reyno de Navarra. A 75th-minute winner from Kenan Kodro proved to be the difference between the already relegated sides. The hosts led 1-0 after 24 minutes thanks to a right-footed goal from Jhon Steven Mondragon. However, Granada drew level right before halftime as Adrian Ramos headed home his fourth goal of the season. Kodro’s close-range finish came on a rebound after Nikola Vujadinovic prior effort was saved. Granada remained in 20th after the defeat, while Osasuna sit two points higher in 19th.

Espanyol 0 – Valencia 1

Osasuna 2 – Granada 1

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

In a wild nine goal thriller at Red Bull Arena, Bayern Munich ran out 5-4 winners against RB Leipzig. A 95th-minute from Arjen Robben sealed the points for Carlo Ancelotti’s side after the visitors were down 4-2 after the hour mark. David Alaba’s 91st-minute free kick pulled Bayern level right after the sides headed into stoppage time.

Marcel Sabitzer headed Leipzig in front 1-0 after two minutes before Robert Lewandowski drew Bayern level from the penalty spot. Timo Werner put Leipzig back ahead 2-1 after a 29th-minute penalty kick. Yussuf Poulsen extended Leipzig’s lead to 3-1 in the 47th minute finishing off Emil Forsberg’s assist. Thiago Alcantara’s 60th minute header made it 3-2, prior to Werner’s second goal of the day five minutes later before the Bayern comeback began. Leipzig fell to their first defeat since Mar. 18th, while Bayern made it three straight victories.

In their battle for a third-place finish, Borussia Dortmund could only earn a point at FC Augsburg. A 32nd-minute finish from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang drew Thomas Tuchel’s side level in the first-half, after Augsburg had opened the scoring four minutes prior. Dortmund created five shots on goal, but could not earn all three points against an Augsburg side who looked to inch away from the bottom three. Augsburg remained two points clear of the relegation playoff spot, while Dortmund stay in third due to goal differential.

In their fight to claw away from the relegation playoff spot, Hamburg received a late point at Schalke on Saturday. A 92nd-minute equalizer from Michel Lasogga earned the visitors a point at the VELTINS-Arena. Guido Burgstaller headed Schalke in front after 25 minutes, scoring his 12th goal in all competitions. Klass-Jan Huntelaar easily could have doubled Schalke’s lead minutes later, after his header went off the left post. Despite leading four-to-one in the shots on goal category, Hamburg saved the best for last as Lasogga rescued a point. Hamburg remains in 15th, but know a win over Wolfsburg next weekend would see them escape the relegation playoff round. Schalke sits in 10th after drawing their second out of their last four matches.

Here are all of Saturday’s Bundesliga results:

Bayer Leverkusen 2 – FC Koln 2

Schalke 04 1 – Hamburg SV 1

FSV Mainz 4 – Eintracht Frankfurt 2

VfL Wolfsburg 1 – Borussia Monchengladbach 1

FC Augsburg 1 – Borussia Dortmund 1

Werder Bremen 3 – 1899 Hoffenheim 5

SV Darmstadt 0 – Hertha Berlin 2

SC Freiburg 1 – Ingolstadt 1

RB Leipzig 4 – Bayern Munich 5

ITALIAN SERIE A

Saturday’s opening match of the day saw Fiorentina hold off Lazio for a 3-2 victory. An own-goal off of Lazio’s Cristiano Lombardi sealed the deal for Fiorentina who made it back-to-back matches unbeaten. Following a scoreless first-half, Lazio broke the deadlock after 55 minutes. Keita’s right-footed finish made it 1-0 to the visitors at the Artemio Franchi. Khouma Babacar headed Fiorentina level in the 67th-minute before Nikola Kalinic extended the hosts lead to 2-1. The own-goal in the 76th-minute made it 3-1 to Fiorentina, who held on for the three points. Despite an 81st-minute header from Alessandro Murgia, Lazio fell for the first time since Apr. 9th. Lazio remain in fourth, but can only finish as high as that after the defeat. Fiorentina move up to seventh and could finish the season as high as sixth.

Here are all of Saturday’s Serie A results:

Fiorentina 3 – Lazio 2

Atalanta  1 – 1 AC Milan

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