Uefa Europa League Final

Last night the Amsterdam Arena hosted the Europa League final between Chelsea and Benfica here is your result and what happened:

Chelsea FC 2-1 SL Benfica.

Rafael Benitez's reign as Chelsea's interim manager will end in triumph after Branislav Ivanovic's injury-time header won the Europa League final against Benfica in Amsterdam.

Benitez has proved an unpopular appointment with Chelsea's supporters but they were celebrating wildly in the Amsterdam Arena as they added this trophy to the Champions League won last season.
Fernando Torres scored against the run of play to put Chelsea ahead on the hour but Oscar Cardozo's penalty deservedly drew Benfica level.

Benitez joins multiple winners

Chelsea's triumph means Rafael Benitez becomes only the fourth manager to win the Uefa Cup/Europa League more than once. Others to have achieved that feat are:

• Giovanni Trapattoni: 1977 (Juventus); 1991 (Inter); 1993 (Juventus)
• Luis Molowny: 1985 & 1986 (Real Madrid)
• Juande Ramos: 2006 & 2007 (Sevilla)

Blues keeper Petr Cech saved superbly from Cardozo and Frank Lampard struck the woodwork in a dramatic conclusion before Ivanovic - suspended for last year's Champions League final - rose to meet Juan Mata's corner deep into stoppage time to prompt a subdued clenched-fist celebration from Benitez.

It was a night when Chelsea rode their luck for periods against their Portuguese opponents but the sheer grit and resilience shown in grinding out this win in their 68th game of the season is a tribute to their reserves of character.
As for Benitez, he will leave Stamford Bridge following Sunday's final Premier League game against Everton a satisfied - and probably in-demand - manager after guiding the west Londoners into next season's Champions League and claiming a major trophy after succeeding Roberto Di Matteo in November.
Benfica, with their greatest ever player Eusebio watching from the stands, were attempting to lift their European curse and end a 51-year barren sequence but have now lost seven successive European finals, many of their players slumping to the turf in tears at the final whistle.
Chelsea, with Eden Hazard already out with a hamstring injury, also had to do without captain John Terry for a second successive European final after he failed to recover from the ankle problem he sustained at Aston Villa.

Barclays Premier League results

Hre are the results of Tuesday's Premier League games which could decide the table:
Reading 0-2 Man City.

Manchester City started the post-Roberto Mancini era with a dominant win at Reading to secure second place in the Premier League.

Brian Kidd was tasked with lifting City following Mancini's departure and he oversaw a fine display by the visitors.
Sergio Aguero opened the scoring in the first half, despatching a low effort into the corner.
Substitute Edin Dzeko sealed victory late on, latching on to David Silva's ball to score from close range.
The margin of victory could have been greater but for a number of fine saves from Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
The hosts had a couple of chances themselves, with Adrian Mariappa's header cleared off the line by Carlos Tevez, while Joe Hart saved well from Jem Karacan, but ultimately they could have few complaints with the scoreline.

Arsenal 4-1 Wigan.

Wigan's eight-season tenure in the Premier League came to an end as they were hammered at Arsenal, who moved back into the Champions League places.

Lukas Podolski headed the Gunners in front early on before Shaun Maloney's free-kick levelled the game.
Realistically Wigan had to win to keep their survival hopes alive.
But Theo Walcott's low strike, a lobbed second from Podolski and Aaron Ramsey's angled strike ensured Wigan will be playing in the Championship next term.

Arsenal are now fourth - a point ahead of Tottenham with one game to go and the Gunners know a win at Newcastle on Sunday will guarantee a place in next season's Champions League.

Wigan's defeat also means that Sunderland and Aston Villa can now also rest easy heading into the final weekend.

1000 pageviews

I would like to thank everyone who was been tuning into Shane's Soccer Updates since i started in February. I have achieved my first goal by recieving 1000 pageviews from people around the world. Just to let you know i will be going more global and i will be exploring the likes of Russia, United States of America, Scotland, Portugal and Brazil. I hope your enjoying my blog as i do my daily and weekly updates about the top news in the Football world.

Yours sincerely, Shane.

Bundesliga news

De Bruyne: "Happy to be safe"

Bremen - With one game remaining at the end of a long and difficult campaign, Werder Bremen can finally breathe easy. A 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, coupled with results elsewhere going their way on Matchday 33, leaves the Green-Whites on 34 points, four clear of the relegation play-off berth and assured of their place in the Bundesliga next season.
Bremen were fortunate in that their three relegation rivals - FC Augsburg, Fortuna Düsseldorf and 1899 Hoffenheim - were all on the end of defeats on Saturday, but at the end of the day all that matters is that their top-flight status is secure.

Bayern celebrated 22nd shield in style.

 

Munich - FC Bayern Munich celebrated lifting the Bundesliga shield for a record 22nd time with an ultimately comprehensive 3-0 victory at home to relegation strugglers FC Augsburg.
The league leaders, who sewed up the title with six games to spare back on Matchday 28, warmed their fans up for the official post-match party with a patient but deserved win, secured thanks to second-half goals from Thomas Müller and substitutes Xherdan Shaqiri and Luiz Gustavo.

Legends out in force

The merriment commenced well before kick-off with a Bavarian brass band entertaining the crowd before 22 Bayern legends, from Franz Beckenbauer through Lothar Matthäus to Giovane Elber, were introduced to commemorate each of Bayern's Bundesliga titles. The biggest cheer of all, however, was reserved for coach Jupp Heynckes, who stepped out for his final game in charge at the Allianz Arena before leaving for pastures new at the end of the campaign.

La Liga news

Messi out of action  for up to three weeks.

Barcelona have received some disappointing news from the treatment table as they will have to make do without the services of star player Lionel Messi in the next two to three weeks due to a muscular problem.

The Argentina international picked up a thigh problem in Barca's 2-1 Liga win over Atletico Madrid at the weekend and limped off the pitch halfway through the second half.

Messi underwent further examination on Tuesday to determined the extent of the knock and Barcelona have now announced that the prolific attacker will be sidelined for at least two weeks.

Ronaldinho: i didn't leave Barcelona because of Guardiola.

Ronaldinho has dismissed the suggestion that he was forced out of Barcelona by Pep Guardiola when the Spaniard took charge of the Catalans in the summer of 2008.

The Brazilian's departure from AC Milan coincided with Guardiola's arrival as coach, but the Atletico Mineiro playmaker insists that there was no clash of personalities, revealing that he enjoys an excellent rapport with the the former Blaugrana boss, who is now poised to take charge of Bayern Munich.

"I didn't leave because of Guardiola," Ronaldinho told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Every time that we meet, I feel a tremendous joy. 

"He is a great coach, who will definitely prompt a real boost in quality at Bayern."

Ronaldinho admitted, though, that he enjoyed an even better special relationship with Guardiola's predecessor, Frank Rijkaard.

Serie A news

Prandelli urges Balotelli to keep calm.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has urged AC Milan star Mario Balotelli to maintain his focus when faced with provocation from opponents.

The striker's career to date has been marred by displays of indiscipline on and off the field, with opposition players often targeting the striker's short temper.
But since arriving at San Siro from Manchester City in January, Balotelli has scored 11 goals in 12 games and allowed his football to do the talking.Prandelli is eager for him to continue in that vein, and offered his backing to his teammate Stephan El Shaarawy.
"I am convinced that the leaders of Milan and (Massimiliano) Allegri have talked to him about this," he then told Tuttosport.

Chiellini wants Diamanti at Juve.

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini said he would be "delighted" if his club sign Bologna attacker Alessandro Diamanti. 

The 30-year-old has enjoyed a good season in the Serie A, scoring seven goals from 33 appearances.

His form has seen him linked with a move to Turin, with La Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that Juventus were keen on signing the Italy international.

And Chiellini would be pleased if his side can secure the former Brescia, Livorno and West Ham United player, who is also his close friend and international team-mate.

"I'd be delighted," Chiellini told Sky Sport Italia.

Poor Relationships Cost Mancini The Job

Roberto Mancini was sacked as Manchester City manager for his poor communication and relationships with players and executives.

The Italian's failure to pay enough attention to developing young players was also behind his exit, reports BBC sports editor David Bond.
City's preferred candidate to take over is Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini, although no deal has been done.

Roberto Mancini record

	W	D	L	W%
Premier League	82	27	24	61.65
All competitions	115	39	40	59.28
Champions League	3	4	5	25

Source: Opta

Assistant manager Brian Kidd will take temporary charge of the first team.

He will be at the helm for the final two league games of the season - against Reading on Tuesday and Norwich on Sunday - as well as a post-season tour to the United States at the end of May, which gives City some breathing space to bring in Mancini's successor.
Mancini's last game in charge at the club was the FA Cup final defeat by Wigan at Wembley. The 48-year-old Italian was dismissed on Monday - a year to the day after steering City to the league title.