11/04/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | APR 11, 2026

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OLIVE R GLA S NE R could feel “some thing special” at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace secured a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their Conference League quarterfinal. Jean-Philippe Mateta, making his first start since January, set Palace on their way with a first-half penalty, Tyrick Mitchell doubled the Eagles’ lead before the break, and Ismaila Sarr’s header on the stroke of full-time ensured Palace will carry a comfort able advantage into next week’s sec ond leg. It was a more comfortable and confident Palace side that emerged yesterday in south London, where it felt like both players and supporters were aligned on a mission to raise the bar. “It’s a pleasure for everybody as long as the European journey lasts,” said Glasner. “Of course Fiorentina is a big name, Italian football is a big name, and so everybody expected a very tight game, whereas in the last games it felt like everybody expected a clear win. “The circumstances were different. I think all of this created a special atmosphere today, and I think this is the special atmosphere we needed always. “Playing a European competition is always something special, espe cially when you have it the first time in your club’s history. “Today I could feel that there was something special, and I think it was a special atmosphere and a special per formance.” Some sections of the Palace fan base were unhappy in January, when Mateta expressed a desire to leave but was prevented a desired move to AC Milan due to a knee issue. He was met with a mixed recep tion when he returned to action in mid-March, but yesterday was met with a warm ovation when he was subbed off late on. “I think that’s what JP deserves,” added Glasner. “He always gives 100% effort to the team, 100% effort for Crystal Palace, and he’s got so many important goals for us. “He had a tough period, he was six weeks he couldn’t hit the ball and train on the pitch and he was really working hard to get back. “I’m pleased for him, I’m pleased for Crystal Palace, because he’s a great player, a great striker, and we will need him. “I think he will need to rest against Newcastle, but then it’s great to have Jorgen Strand Larsen back. It looks quite good right now.” – The Independent Something special about Palace Ű BY RACHEL STEINBERG

Forest salvage draw after bizarre own goal

‘Fantastic’ win Emery hails Villans after Watkins’ brace shoots down Bologna

Ű BY SUNNY BADWAL

MA R TIM FE R NANDE S ’ freak own goal gifted Nottingham Forest a route to a first European semifinal in over 40 years. The Porto defender accidentally passed it into his own net from 45 yards with goalkeeper Diogo Gomes stranded, to cancel out William Gomes’ early opener. It gave Forest a way back in Portugal just as the hosts threatened to quickly take complete control of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg. “It’s part of the match, it’s part of the game. There was some pressure and some failure in their communi cation so we ended up scoring,” said Forest boss Vitor Pereira. Now, victory at the City Ground – where they have already beaten Porto this season – next week would send Forest into their first European semifinal since 1984. Aston Villa could be waiting for an all-English clash after their 3-1 win in Bologna put them in pole position to progress. Stefan Ortega had already denied Terem Moffi and Borja Sainz before Porto went ahead, William Gomes finishing at the far post, and he saved again from Moffi in first-half injury time. Igor Jesus had a goal disallowed after the break, having collided with the goalkeeper, while Ortega’s fine stop denied William Gomes a sec ond. It meant Forest boss Pereira, who won two titles with Porto, returned to Estadio do Dragao to claim a vital result after making nine changes – including starting Chris Wood, as the striker made his return after six months out. Forest remain in a Premier League relegation battle, sitting three points above the drop zone, with Pereira mindful of Sunday’s top-flight visit of Villa (9pm Malaysian time). “We changed some players, why? In two and a half days we are playing against Aston Villa and I have to think about it,” he said. “If we were certain in the Premier League we would be talking about another match, but I’m pleased with the result, the players gave it their best, they kept it open and we will see what we can do next week. “We are playing to stay in the Premier League and that has to be taken very seriously. I have to be responsible and we have to add points as quickly as possible to escape the last matches and remain in the Premier League.” – Agencies

Villa’s Ollie Watkins (left) scores the third goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg match against Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

A STON VILLA boss Unai Emery felt his side had a “fantastic” result if not performance in their 3-1 first-leg Europa League quarterfinal victory over Bologna. Villa weathered a first-half storm from Bologna, who had a goal ruled out for offside through Santiago Castro before Lewis Ferguson struck the crossbar, but the English side stood firm and Ezri Konsa nodded the visitors in front before the break. Ollie Watkins doubled Villa’s lead after the break, and Jonathan Rowe’s late strike looked to halve the deficit heading into next week’s second leg at Villa Park until Watkins’ stoppage time goal restored their two-goal advantage. Emery was happy with the result but knows his side lived a charmed life in the first period particularly. “Happy but getting balance in everything we played the first leg it is a fantastic result. How we did in 90 minutes more or less I can feel good for something but not good for another way,” he told TNT Sports . “In the first half we were a little bit shy. The result was better in the first half than the match we played, not bril liant. In the second half it was completely different. “We started fantastic, started to dominate more and controlling the game like we planned in the first half but didn’t do. “When we were feeling comfortable in the match they scored one goal but we reacted fantastic with the last cor including the Premier League and Champions League. He said that he would look back on “amazing memories” but still owed it to the fans to per form at his best when called on for the remain der of this campaign. The left-back has dropped down the pecking order this year following the summer arrival of Milos Kerkez but can help the Reds finish in the top four and secure Champions League football next year. “It’s never easy leaving a club like Liverpool.

ner and we scored. “Still a fantastic result but still the second leg to play and I know they are dangerous because how they are compet ing is fantastic. “The second leg they are going to try there to suppress us. Of course, my message in the dressing room is keep playing the second leg to plan, a new plan we will have but respecting them.” Watkins took his season tally in all competitions to 12 goals which gives Villa a realistic chance of making a sec ond European semifinal in their last three years. Bologna had 19 shots throughout the contest and enjoyed more possession, and the striker says they “got lucky” in the first half. He said: “It was massive. First half they put us under a lot of pressure and were dominating the game. We got lucky, at half time I said to the boys we got lucky and need to wake up. “They had a disallowed goal and if that turned and stayed 1-0 it would have been a long way back because here they were playing tough today so we got lucky. “Back end of the season we are raring to go, I could play another 90 minutes now. I’m excited for the last few games. Next week against these as well, I’m hungry. “That goal at the end takes the sting out of the game and a 2-0 lead going back to Villa Park we are going to make it tough for them. We have to keep pushing, we are in a good spot.” – The Independent It’s been a huge part of mine, and my family’s, life for the last nine years,” Robertson said. “But, I know football moves on, I know teams move on and I think now’s the time, obviously, for me to move on. “I’ll always look back on amazing memories at this football club. I’ve put my heart and soul into the club for nine years and when I got my chance I just wanted to make the people within this club and the supporters proud of the left-back they’re seeing perform week in, week out. “I know my journeys coming to an end, I

Robertson to ‘give everything’ to Liverpool until exit

Ű BY MICHAEL JONES

know it’s been an incredible journey but I won’t let up. “This club means everything to me, the fans mean everything to me, the people connected to the club mean everything to me. I think I owe it to them still, until my very last day, I’ll give eve rything to this football club. “The time to have the emotional farewell and tell the fans what they mean to me, that will come closer to the end. I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet. It’s been a hell of a journey.” – The Independent

ANDY R O B E R T S ON will “give everything” from now until the end of the season in order to finish his Liverpool career on a high after it was con firmed that he will depart Anfield this summer. The club confirmed Robertson’s exit with a statement on their website and labelled the 32 year-old left-back as a “genuine Liverpool leg end”. Robertson reflected on his nine years at Liverpool where he won every possible trophy