Month: May 2019

After three years at Porto, the Brazilian defender confirmed he is leaving, with the Spanish capital expected to be his next destination

Felipe has confirmed his impending exit from Porto ahead of an expected move to Atletico Madrid.

The 30-year-old centre-back joined Porto from Corinthians in 2016 and swiftly established himself as a key player, featuring 93 times in the Primeira Liga in his three years.

A Brazil international, Felipe has been linked with a move away from the club for the last few months.

He is widely expected to be joining Atletico as Diego Godin’s replacement, with the Uruguayan’s exit already confirmed.

Although Felipe did not reveal his next destination, he did send a parting message to Porto fans.

Writing on his official Instagram account, he said: “It was three years of living intensely blue and white with a new family that I built, and that will be remembered for the rest of my life!

“I just have to thank all the staff of the club, the board, the president, the coaches and team-mates with whom I lived in this period.

“I have a great affection for all the fans who are here and those who wait for hours at the door of the training ground or stadium. My thanks for the recognition and for everything you do for me!

“Porto made me feel at home and live great emotions, with achievements, goals, the Champions League, a lot of overcoming and delivering on the field.

“It became the club that I represented the most in my professional career and I was able to return to be called to the Brazilian national team and debut representing my country. There are no words to describe how much I have learned and evolved as a person.

“I wish the best of luck in the future for those who stay. I’ll be in the crowd and I’ll be forever grateful! Thank you!”

The Derby boss refused to be drawn on his immediate future following his play-off final defeat, but will meet the club’s owner this week for talks

Derby County boss Frank Lampard has distanced himself from speculation linking him with a return to Chelsea, but admits his future is up for discussion following his club’s play-off final defeat to Aston Villa.

Goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn with only Martyn Waghorn’s reply consigned the Rams to defeat at Wembley, denying the club a return to the Premier League.

Despite the disappointment, Lampard earned plaudits in his debut season as Derby boss, and has seen his name linked back to his old club Chelsea, where Maurizio Sarri’s future remains uncertain.

However, the 40-year-old former Blues midfielder was keen to deflect talk of any possible exit from Pride Park speaking to media following the defeat. 

Derby owner Mel Morris had previously stated that the club had not been approached regarding his manager’s services, but in an interview with Sky Sports, Lampard did confirm that talks regarding his future will take place “in the next few days”.

“I’m not interested in the speculation,” he said. “What is likely is I’ll speak to Mel Morris, the owner, in the next few days when the dust settles and then we’ll see how it goes.

“I’ve got a two-year contract and I love working at this place. The fans giving the players an ovation…. we’ll see.”

“Whether the loan players go back, they’ve been influential for us this year. We’ve got players out of contract so its work for us to put right.

“It’s important we start the work really quickly [for next season] because the squad is very thin now for next year. It’s a shame because they’re great characters in there, but this is football.”

Following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Villa, Lampard described his players as “gutted”, but insisted he is proud of what his squad have achieved since he joined the club in May last year.

“They’re gutted because they wanted it so much, as you should,” he said. “But when a group get on as well as they did and when a group have dragged themselves through with youth and players in the last year of their contracts you’ve got a real mixture.

“They’ve managed to get this far and I’m just proud.”

 

The attacking midfielder was delighted to captain his side back to the Premier League even though he came close to leaving at the start of the season

Jack Grealish says the season turned out perfectly after captaining Aston Villa to a Championship play-off final win less than a year after he came close to leaving the club.

Villa beat Derby 2-1 at Wembley on Monday to seal their return to the Premier League, ending their three-year absence from the top-flight and putting to rest their heartbreak from a year ago, when they fell to Fulham at the same stage. 

Grealish, 23, has been a key player for the club he joined at the age of six, scoring six goals and setting up another seven in 34 league games – all career bests.

The campaign could have gone in a different direction for Grealish and Villa as the England Under-21 international flirted with a move to the Premier League to join Tottenham, though he remained and signed a new deal with the club.

It appeared to set up for disappointment, however, as Villa struggled early in the season, leading to manager Steve Bruce being sacked in October.

Yet they bounced back under new boss Dean Smith, who made Grealish captain after his return from injury in March.

Grealish’s comeback coincided with Villa’s best form as they clawed their way into the playoffs after a 10-game winning run which included a narrow win over fierce rivals Birmingham City. 

And the player was elated to guide his team to the top division so soon after he considered moving away.

“I’m speechless, I really am. I can’t even explain to you how happy I am. It means the world, we all know where this club belongs,” he told Sky Sports.

“I thought I was going, 10 months later I’m here now and I’ve led my boyhood club back to the Premier League as captain and scored against the Blues twice – perfect season.”

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Despite helping the club stake their place in the Premier League next season, Grealish continues to be linked with a move away from Villa Park, with Tottenham reportedly still interested. 

But he remains contracted to the club until 2023 and Smith said he will cost “a hell of a lot” for any club that wants to snap him up this summer.

The PSV winger suffered a knee injury late in his club’s season and despite hopes he would be ready, will miss the regional championship for El Tri

Hirving Lozano will miss this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup with a knee injury, Mexico has confirmed. 

The 23-year-old winger picked up the injury on April 25 while featuring for Eredivisie giants PSV in a match against Willem II after falling awkwardly under a challenge from Freek Heerkens.

Initial fears were of severe damage to the cruciate ligaments in the knee, which would have likely required a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Those fears proved unfounded and Lozano was offered hope to participate in the Gold Cup for Mexico, as he was included on El Tri’s preliminary roster.

However, Lozano’s hopes have now been dashed, as the federation have revealed their star man will be unable to participate as Mexico look to reclaim the regional crown from the United States.

“The directors of the national teams inform that the player, Hirving Lozano, will require more time in his recovery,” a statement from the federation read. “The player came into camp Monday at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento (Mexico’s training center), where the partial rupture of his MCL in right leg he showed was thoroughly evaluated.

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“To establish his recovery time, they analyzed all the studies done both in Mexico as well as those PSV’s medical staff performed as well as his external doctors. The conclusion was arrived at that to be at 100 percent, he needs more time than he could have to participate in the Gold Cup, which forces him out of the Mexico national team squad.”

Mexico boss Tata Martino already is dealing with a weakened attack for the regional championship.

Los Angeles FC star Carlos Vela, who leads MLS in goals and assists, elected to stay with his club team for personal reasons.

Porto winger Jesus “Tecatito” Corona was selected for a pair of March friendly matches, the team’s first games under Martino, but did not travel to North American to join the squad. That sparked a debate between manager and player that is yet to be resolved.

West Ham United forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez requested not to be selected as he awaits the birth of his child.

Real Betis winger Diego Lainez is in Poland with the Mexico U-20 team.

Martino does have Monterrey attacker Rodolfo Pizarro in the squad, but the former Chivas star has not excelled as a true winger. On the other wing, 20-year-old Roberto Alvarado may be called into action. The Cruz Azul youngster also has played as an interior midfielder at club level, but El Tri are strong there with options like Real Betis’ Andres Guardado, PSV’s Erick Gutierrez, Monterrey’s Carlos Rodriguez and the LA Galaxy’s Jonathan dos Santos – though Porto midfielder Hector Herrera is skipping the tournament as he awaits a summer transfer.

Monterrey’s Jesus Gallardo also can play on the left wing, though his services may be needed at left back with Miguel Layun out of the tournament because of a renal issue. 

Martino can begin to put his lineup together today, with most of his Gold Cup squad beginning training sessions at the CAR. The team will contest a pair of preparation matches, facing Venezuela in Atlanta and Ecuador in Texas, before kicking off Gold Cup group play June 15 at the Rose Bowl in Southern California.

The Flying Eagles can deal a serious blow to the Americans, who are hurting after their opening-day loss

The U.S national team will hope to keep their Under-20 World Cup ambitions alive by securing a positive result against Nigeria in Bielsko-Biala on Monday.

Tab Ramos’ side lost their opening match against Ukraine, losing 2-1, and they will be desperate to pick up three points, knowing that defeat would severely impact their chances of progression.

As a team expected to mount a serious challenge for glory, Nigeria will certainly provide a stern test for the Americans and they come into the game brimming with confidence.

The Flying Eagles made light work of Qatar in their opener, inflicting a crushing 4-0 defeat on the Arab nation, and they will be eager to take a step closer to the knockout stage with a another win.

Game	USA U-20s vs Nigeria U-20s
Date	Monday, May 27
Time	7:30pm BST / 2:30pm ET
Stream (US Only)	fuboTV (7-day free trial)

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TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

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In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

US TV channel	Online stream
Fox Sports 1 / Universo	fuboTV (7-day free trial)

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on FreeSports.

UK TV channel	Online stream
FreeSports	FreeSports online

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Squads & Team News

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Position	United States U-20 squad
Goalkeepers	Scott, Ochoa, Dos Santos
Defenders	Dest, Gloster, McKenzie, Richards, Araujo, Keita, Real
Midfielders	Durkin, Mendez, Pomykal, Cerrillo, Servania, Ledezma
Forwards	Weah, Soto, De la Fuente, Llanez Jr., Rennicks

Ramos has no fresh injury concerns heading into the game against Nigeria, but he may consider making some tactical changes to deal with Nigeria’s clear attacking prowess.

However, the coach will still rely heavily on the influence of Paris Saint-Germain’s Timothy Weah, Barcelona prospect Konrad de la Fuente and team leader Paxton Pomykal.

Confirmed USMNT U-20 starting XI: Scott; Dest, Richards, Keita, Gloster; Durkin, Mendez, Pomykal; Weah, De la Fuente, Soto.

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Position	Nigeria U-20 squad
Goalkeepers	Ogundare, Oremade, Zaccala
Defenders	Rabiu, Utin, Salawudeen, Ozornwafor, Igoh
Midfielders	Eletu, Sor, Dele-Bashiru, Okon, Ofoborh, Michael, Makanjuola, Effiom
Forwards	Adams, Offia, Emeka, Tijani

Nigeria head coach Paul Aigbogun could fault very little in his side’s win over Qatar and is unlikely to tinker too much with his starting team.

Manchester City youngster Tom Dele-Bashiru will assume responsibility for dictating play in the middle and captain Ikouwem Utin will be expected to provide more inspiration from the back.

Confirmed Nigeria U-20 starting XI: Oremade; Utin, Ozornwafor, Aliyu, Rabiu; Dele-Bashiru, Michael, Muhammad; Effiom, Offia, Adams.

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Betting & Match Odds

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Nigeria are narrow favourites to win the match at 27/20 on bet365, while the USA can be backed at 19/10. A draw is priced at 12/5.

For both teams to score, half time/full time and other markets click here

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Match Preview

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Prior to the tournament, U.S. U-20s coach Ramos heralded his current crop as the most talented he has been in charge of, but they couldn’t quite manage to get into gear against Ukraine.

They arrived in Poland on the crest of a wave, flawlessly sweeping to glory in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship and, having lost their opening match, will take to the field on Monday with a point to prove.

However, in Nigeria – two-time runners-up in the competition – they are encountering a team that is considered among the favourites to lift the trophy.

The hefty scoreline in their win over Qatar served as a statement of intent and head coach Aigbogun says that they will continue to deploy an attacking approach against the U.S.

“We had a great game against Qatar and we want to stay in that spirit all through the championship,” Aigbogun said, per The Punch.

“We will not make the mistake of underrating any team; our approach remains taking it one game at a time. We go in there and fulfil our game-plan of achieving victory.”

Mike Ashley’s days as Newcastle owner appear to be coming to an end, as Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan edges towards a takeover at St. James’ Park

The takeover of Newcastle United is nearing completion after the Bin Zayed Group confirmed an agreement has been reached for the sale of the Premier League club. 

Reports of the Dubai-based billionaire’s interest in Newcastle emerged on Sunday night, with rumours suggesting Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the relative of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, had tabled a bid of £350 million ($444m) to take the club off current owner Mike Ashley’s hands.

Those reports of takeover talks have now been confirmed as managing director of the group, Midhat Kidwai, said in a statement they are working closely with Ashley “to complete the transaction at the earliest opportunity”.

In a statement released to media, including ChronicleLive, Newcastle’s local regional title, the Bin Zayed Group said: “We can confirm the representatives of his Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan are in discussions with Mike Ashley and his team about the proposed acquisition of Newcastle United Football Club.

“We view it as an honour to have the opportunity to build on the strong support, history and tradition of the club.

“We have agreed terms and are working hard to complete the transaction at the earliest opportunity.

“Best Regards, Midhat Kidwai, Group Managing Director, Bin Zayed Group.”

On Twitter, Dubai TV presenter Hamed Alharthi backed up news of the sale by posting: “Welcome to the Premier League” alongside an image of the Sheikh and a Newcastle United club crest.

A member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, Sheikh Khaled made headlines in the UK last year following his failed attempt to takeover at Champions League finalists Liverpool for a reported £2bn.

Should the deal go through, one of the first pieces of business to attend to at St. James’ Park will be to tie manager Rafa Benitez down to a new contract.

The Spaniard’s current deal expires this summer, and despite ongoing talks between Benitez and the club’s owner, he is yet to sign on the dotted line.

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Despite long-running questions over the future of the club, Benitez guided the Magpies to safety this season with 45 points and a 13th place finish. 

The Argentine is adamant that talk over his future should not detract from his side’s preparations for the European decider against Liverpool

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says it would be “embarrassing” to talk about his own future before Saturday’s Champions League final against Liverpool.

Pochettino suggested ahead of his side’s second-leg win over Ajax in the semi-finals that he would consider quitting the club if his players pulled off a “miracle” and lifted the trophy.

The Argentinian has been linked with the Juventus job following Massimiliano Allegri’s surprise departure, but he is refusing to discuss his future until after the clash against their Premier League rivals in Madrid.

“Today, nothing is more important than what lies ahead,” he told a media conference.

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“We can make history. We can write our history and provide our fans and family with the best happiness in football.

“To think about individual things is a bit embarrassing and a shame. I am not important. We have bigger things ahead.

“Rumours are rumours and they are there. Our focus is 200 per cent on the final. After the final, we will have time to talk.”

Tottenham lost both their Premier League games with Liverpool this season, most recently at Anfield in March, but Pochettino insists those results will have no bearing on Saturday’s clash.

“It’s going to be a completely different game,” he added. “We cannot prepare for the Champions League final looking back months ago. It’s a situation in a competition where we’ve never faced each other before.

“We know each other very well but we haven’t prepared thinking about the games at Wembley or Anfield. That would be a massive mistake in these different circumstances.”

Spurs made history by reaching the Champions League final in 2018-19 and they will attempt to use that achievement as a launchpad in 2019-20

Tottenham may have reached the Champions League final in 2018-19, but their Premier League finish was a disappointment and they will be plotting improvement in 2019-20.

Having kept pace with Manchester City and Liverpool for much of the season, Mauricio Pochettino’s side stumbled in the final third of the campaign and finished fourth in the division.

They reached the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, losing to Chelsea, and their FA Cup run was much shorter as they bowed out at the fourth round to Crystal Palace.

Ahead of the upcoming campaign, Goal takes a look at Spurs’ pre-season friendly schedule, the club’s transfer activity and when their Premier League push begins again.

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Tottenham pre-season fixtures

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Date	Match	Time (UK / US ET)	Venue
Jul 21	Juventus*	12:30pm / 7:30am	Singapore National Stadium, Kallang
Jul 25	Manchester United*	12:30pm / 7:30am	Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
Jul 30	Real Madrid	4pm / 11am	Allianz Arena, Munich
Aug 4	Inter*	3pm / 10am	Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

*Part of the 2019 International Champions Cup

Tottenham kick off their 2019-20 pre-season preparations in Asia this summer, with games taking place in Singapore and China, before returning home to London via Germany.

Their first friendly match is against Juventus on July 21, meaning a potential encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo, and it is part of their International Champions Cup (ICC) commitments.

A Premier League derby follows on July 25, as Spurs take on Manchester United in Shanghai, and they then make their way to Germany for a clash with Real Madrid on July 30.

Inter are the final warm-up game for the North London side and that match takes place on August 4 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Tottenham 2019-20 transfer activity

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Tottenham have been noticeably quiet in recent transfer windows, but the club are expected to be more active this summer, particularly with Pochettino potentially losing patience with the lack of recruitment.

They have been linked with a number of players, including Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, Roma star Nicola Zaniolo and Fulham prospect Ryan Sessegnon, as well as a blockbuster move for Gareth Bale.

It remains to be seen if any of those links will develop into more than just chatter, however.

The club also faces a fight to hold on to some of its best players, with Christian Eriksen linked with Real Madrid and Barcelona, while Pochettino himself has also been touted for an exit.

Fernando Llorente and Michel Vorm are set to leave the club when their contracts expire.

Transfer activity in

Position	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Date
–	–	–	–	–

Transfer activity out

Position	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Date
–	–	–	–	–

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Tottenham 2019-20 Premier League fixtures

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Tottenham will discover their Premier League schedule on the morning of June 13, when the 2019-20 season fixtures are released.

Games will kick off on August 10 and it could be a busy opening month as Pochettino’s men could potentially find themselves in UEFA Super Cup action should they win the Champions League.

Victory against Liverpool in Madrid would see Spurs face off in a London derby against either Arsenal or Chelsea in the continental curtain-raiser on August 14.

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The striker has declared himself ready to face Liverpool in Saturday’s final, but admits the decision to play him is out of his hands

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has handed the club a huge boost by declaring himself fit to play against Liverpool in Saturday’s Champions League final, some just five days out from the fixture.

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The England skipper injured his ankle against Manchester City on April 9, and has played no part in any of the club’s nine matches since.

The 25-year-old watched from the stands as his side overturned a three-goal deficit against Ajax in spectacular fashion in the semi-finals.

And in a timely boost to the North Londoners, the England ace now appears ready to make a welcome return in time for Saturday’s clash at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kane said: “I could play if the Champions League final was today.”

“I trained Friday, and I trained Saturday. I’ll train this week and I feel good,” he added.

“But, of course, all those decisions come down to the manager and who he wants to pick, who he feels is fit and ready to play.

“From my point of view I feel good, so we’ll just see how this week goes and go from there.”

As preparations for the Madrid showcase heat up, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is the man who ultimately needs to be convinced.

And though Pochettino admitted Kane is progressing, he refused to make any promises regarding the striker’s status for the final. 

However, optimism is growing around Kane as England boss Gareth Southgate recently named him in a preliminary squad for next month’s Nations League Finals.

The first fixture against the Netherlands falls on Wednesday, June 5 – just four days after the all-Premier League clash in the Champions League, while the final or third/fourth place play-off against Portugal or Switzerland is scheduled on Sunday, June 9.

Kane’s last competitive goal in any competition was in the national team’s 5-1 victory over Montenegro in March. 

Prior to his injury against Manchester City in the Champions League in April, the forward was in a rich vein of form, netting in five consecutive fixtures for club and country between late February and late March.

This season’s play-offs race has reached a conclusion, with the Villains returning to the Premier League thanks to a hard-earned win over the Rams

The Championship play-offs are among the most keenly contested and rewarding games in the English football calendar.

A place in the Premier League, with its subsequent financial benefits and accompanying prestige, is the prize on offer, but only one team stands to benefit.

Four teams enter the decisive phase and the number of those involved has now been narrowed down to just two.

With the latest race now won, Goal brings you everything you need to know about the 2019 Championship play-offs.

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What are the Championship play-offs?

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While the top two teams in the Championship secure automatic promotion to the Premier League, the final place is determined by a series of games known as play-offs.

The teams which finish the season in third, fourth, fifth and sixth place earn the right to compete for a place in England’s top division.

Third place plays sixth place in one semi-final and fourth place plays fifth place in the other semi-final.

The semi-finals are played over two legs, with home and away ties, and the away goals rule does not apply.

Winners of the semi-finals then progress to the play-off final, which is a winner-takes-all tie.

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Which teams qualified for the Championship play-offs?

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Norwich City secured promotion to the Premier League and Sheffield United will join them in automatically moving up to the Premier League.

The Blades’ promotion became official following Leeds United’s controversial 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on April 28. Leeds went ahead in the closing stages of the match, but Mateusz Klich’s goal came after the hosts refused to put the ball out of play for the injured Jonathan Kodjia.

Victory would have kept Leeds’ hopes of automatic promotion alive, but, incredibly, Marcelo Bielsa instructed his players to allow Villa to score unhindered in order to restore parity in the wake of the perceived injustice and the game finished a draw.

Championship table

Pos	Team	MP	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Norwich City (P)	46	27	13	6	+36	94
2	Sheffield United (P)	46	26	11	9	+37	89
3	Leeds United (Q)	46	25	8	13	+23	83
4	West Brom (Q)	46	23	11	12	+25	80
5	Aston Villa (Q)	46	20	16	10	+21	76
6	Derby County (Q)	46	20	14	12	+15	74
7	Middlesbrough	46	20	13	13	+8	73
8	Bristol City	46	19	13	13	+6	70

Last updated: May 5, 2019.

Key: (P) – secured promotion | (Q) – qualified for play-offs

Below Leeds and West Brom were assured of their place in the mini-tournament going into the final day of the season, as were Aston Villa, who lost in the final of last year’s edition.

The final play-off spot was eventually taken by Frank Lampard’s Derby County after they beat West Brom 3-1 to deny Middlesbrough a place in the top six.

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When were the Championship 2019 play-offs?

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Championship play-off final

Date	Team	Result	Team	Kick off time (BST)
May 27	Aston Villa	2-1	Derby County	3pm

Derby County faced off against Aston Villa – who were appearing in the final for the second season in a row – on Monday, May 27.

Villa came out on top on this occasion, however, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn. Derby stated a comeback late in the game by pulling a goal back through Jack Marriott, but it was too little, too late for Frank Lampard’s side.

Championship play-off semi-finals

Team	Agg.	Team	1st Leg	2nd Leg
Aston Villa	2-2 (4-3 pens.)	West Brom	2-1	0-1
Derby County	4-3	Leeds United	0-1	4-2

The first legs of the semi-final games were played on May 11, with the second legs played on May 14 and May 15.

Results, fixtures and kick-off times can be seen above.

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When & where was the 2019 Championship play-off final?

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The 2019 Championship play-off final is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 27 and, as is tradition, Wembley Stadium in London will be the venue for the decider.

The game will kick off at 3pm BST (10am EST).

Wembley’s capacity is 90,000 and Championship play-off deciders regularly draw in bumper crowds, with the 2018 final between Aston Villa and Fulham attracting 85,243 spectators.

The ‘Home of Football’ has not always been the venue for play-off deciders, however, with Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium temporarily housing such games from 2001 until 2006.

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Championship play-offs TV channel & live stream

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Sky Sports has exclusive broadcasting rights for the Championship in the UK and so the games will be shown live on Sky Sports Football . Sky Go is the channel’s online streaming service.

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In the US games EFL games have been available to stream live online using ESPN+ .

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Who won last year’s Championship play-offs?

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Fulham were the winners of the 2018 edition of the Championship play-offs as they defeated Aston Villa 1-0 in the final.

Club captain Tom Cairney scored the decisive goal for the Cottagers, who played the final part of the game with 10 men after Denis Odoi was sent off.

Fulham had finished third in the table, meaning they faced sixth-place Derby County in the play-off semi-finals and they overcame the Rams with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

They subsequently joined Championship winners Wolves and runners-up Cardiff City in booking their place in the 2018-19 Premier League.