Emma Hayes: Chelsea will learn from Women’s Champions League final loss
News and reactions from the world of sport, including Leicester’s FA Cup triumph and Nadal’s 57th ‘Big Title’
1. Brilliant Barcelona blow Chelsea away in Gothenburg final
Football
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was gracious in defeat after her side were beaten 4-0 by Barcelona in the Uefa Women’s Champions League final last night. The Spaniards opened the scoring after just 33 seconds and were 4-0 up inside 36 minutes in Gothenburg.
After winning the FA Women’s Super League and League Cup, Chelsea were looking to add a third trophy this season, but Barca’s quickfire start meant the final “was over before it began”, said Hayes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“It’s been a wonderful season for us, today was difficult because the game was over before it began and that’s what is so difficult to reflect on,” she told BT Sport. “Congratulations to Barcelona, they’re worthy winners, deserving of their title and it’s something we will learn from because this is the next step up. We showed some naivety at times in situations.”
The victory means Barcelona have become the first club to win both the men’s and women’s Champions League.
2. ‘Awesome’ Tielemans secures Leicester’s first FA Cup
Football
It was also a tough weekend for Chelsea’s men’s team as they were beaten 1-0 by Leicester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday. Leicester won their first ever FA Cup thanks to a magnificent long-range strike by Youri Tielemans in the 63rd minute.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Man-of-the-match Tielemans worked tirelessly in the midfield and his goal will go down as an “all-time classic”, said The Guardian’s Paul Doyle. “The goal encapsulated Tielemans’ qualities: awesome power, impeccably dispensed”.
In the race for Champions League qualification, third-placed Leicester travel to four-placed Chelsea in the Premier League tomorrow night (8.15pm).
3. Perfect ten for Nadal in Italy
Tennis
Rafael Nadal secured his tenth Italian Open title with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 victory over world No.1 Novak Djokovic yesterday. The win in Rome was Nadal’s 57th “Big Title” and moves him within two of Djokovic’s record of 59.
“It’s a very satisfying [victory],” said Nadal. “It’s amazing [to] have the trophy with me again one more time here in Rome. The tenth, I really wanted this tenth here in Rome. It was one of the first important titles that I won in my career. After achieving ten in Roland Garros, ten in Monte-Carlo, ten in Barcelona, I really wanted this one.”
Defending champion Nadal will be aiming for a 14th career title at the French Open in Paris. The clay-court grand slam begins on 30 May at Roland Garros.
Djokovic vs. Nadal vs. Federer: career grand slams and big titles
4. Lions fixtures confirmed for South Africa tour
Rugby union
The new schedule for the British & Irish Lions’s summer tour of South Africa has been confirmed. Warren Gatland’s squad will play five warm-up matches before taking on the Springboks in three Tests.
All eight games will be played in Gauteng or Cape Town and this is to “minimise the risks of disruption that could be caused by the Covid-19 pandemic”. SA Rugby will organise all scheduled tour games “on the basis they will take place behind closed doors”, a statement said.
Before travelling to South Africa the Lions will take on Japan in the Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup at BT Murrayfield Stadium on 26 June.
Fixtures: Lions tour of South Africa 2021
- Saturday 3 July: Emirates Lions vs. British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg; 5pm BST)
- Wednesday 7 July: Cell C Sharks vs. British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg; 7pm BST)
- Saturday 10 July: Vodacom Bulls vs. British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria; 5pm BST)
- Wednesday 14 July: South Africa ‘A’ vs. British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town; 7pm BST)
- Saturday 17 July: DHL Stormers vs. British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town; 5pm BST)
- Saturday 24 July: 1st Test - Springboks vs. British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town; 5pm BST)
- Saturday 31 July: 2nd Test - Springboks vs. British & Irish Lions (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg; 5pm BST)
- Saturday 7 August: 3rd Test - Springboks vs. British & Irish Lions (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg; 5pm BST)
5. ‘Massive news’: Fury announces Joshua date
Boxing
Tyson Fury has announced some “massive news” on Twitter - his all-British heavyweight bout against Anthony Joshua will take place on 14 August in Saudi Arabia.
In a video the 32-year-old said: “I have just got off the phone with Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia and he told me this fight is 100% on August 14. I cannot wait, I repeat, cannot wait to smash Anthony Joshua on the biggest stage of all-time. This is going to be the biggest sporting event ever to grace the planet Earth. Do not miss it.”
For the first time in the history of boxing all four heavyweight belts will be up for grabs. Fury holds the WBC belt while Joshua is the WBA, WBO and IBF champion.
Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.
-
The clown car cabinet
Opinion Even 'Little Marco' towers above his fellow nominees
By Mark Gimein Published
-
Ed Park's 6 favorite works about self reflection and human connection
Feature The Pulitzer Prize finalist recommends works by Jason Rekulak, Gillian Linden, and more
By The Week US Published
-
6 fantastic homes in Columbus, Ohio
Feature Featuring a 1915 redbrick Victorian in German Village and a modern farmhouse in Woodland Park
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sent packing: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Benitez and England’s cricket team
feature A look at the sporting weekend’s big winners and losers
By Mike Starling Published
-
Tennis world divided after Naomi Osaka’s French Open withdrawal
feature News and reactions from the world of sport, including England’s 26-man squad for Euro 2020
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Porto will host the Uefa Champions League final between Man City and Chelsea
feature News and reactions from the world of sport, including Conor McGregor topping the Forbes rich list
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City boss Pep Guardiola: this Premier League title win was the ‘hardest one’
feature News and reactions from the world of sport, including Serena Williams’s 1,000th match milestone and the latest on Joshua vs. Fury
By Mike Starling Published
-
Conor McGregor could do ‘big things’ if he were to buy Man Utd or Celtic
feature News and reactions from the world of sport, including Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation at Mercedes
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City vs. Chelsea Champions League final ‘set to move from Istanbul to Wembley’
feature News and reactions from the world of sport, including Chelsea women targeting a trophy quadruple
By Mike Starling Published
-
Team GB will make Olympic history with male and female flag bearers
feature News and reactions from the world of sport, including English cricket and rugby joining the social media boycott
By Mike Starling Published
-
Ryan Giggs denies charges of assaulting two women
feature News and reactions from the world of sport, including heartbreak for George North, and Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul
By Mike Starling Published