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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Rob Smyth

Rangers go unbeaten, Southampton 3-1 Fulham and more: clockwatch – as it happened

Nathan Tella bags his first senior goal for the Saints.
Nathan Tella bags his first senior goal for the Saints. Photograph: Matt Watson/Southampton FC/Getty Images

That’s it for an eventful clockwatch. A match report from St Mary’s will appear here shortly, as if by magic. And you can follow the FA Cup bloody final with Scott Murray, the noo. Thanks for your company and emails, goodnight!

Full time: Southampton 3-1 Fulham

Peep peep! Goals from Che Adams, Nathan Tella and Theo Walcott give Southampton a comfortable win at St Mary’s. The teenager Fabio Carvalho, making his full debut, scored for Fulham.

Southampton 3-1 Fulham A few minutes left at St Mary’s. If it stays like this, Southampton will above Crystal Palace into 13th, at least until tomorrow lunchtime.

GOAL! Southampton 3-1 Fulham (Walcott 83)

Another goal from a Southampton substitute. Theo Walcott has sealed victory (probably), running onto Tella’s smart backheel to strike a deflected shot that loops over Areola.

Theo Walcott with the third goal for Southampton.
Theo Walcott with the third goal for Southampton. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Reuters

Updated

The team news is in for the FA Cup final, which kicks off at 5.15pm. James Maddison has been left on the Leicester bench.

GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Fulham (Carvalho 75)

About that Fulham cutting edge. The teenager Fabio Carvalho, making his full debut, has slammed the ball in off the underside of the bar to bring Fulham back into the match.

Fabio Carvalho gets one back for the Cottagers.
Fabio Carvalho gets one back for the Cottagers. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

The final scores in our featured games (except Southampton v Fulham, which has just over 15 minutes remaining)

Premier League

Scottish Premier League

  • Hibernian 0-0 Celtic
  • Rangers 4-0 Aberdeen

Bundesliga

  • Arminia Bielefeld 1-1 1899 Hoffenheim
  • FC Augsburg 2-0 Werder Bremen
  • FC Schalke 04 4-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
  • SC Freiburg 2-2 Bayern Munich
  • Hertha Berlin 0-0 Cologne

Serie A

  • Genoa 3-4 Atalanta

Southampton 2-0 Fulham The home side are cruising to victory at St Mary’s. It’s been a typical Fulham performance - plenty of pretty football, no cutting edge.

The Bundesliga relegation battle

Augsburg and Hertha Berlin are safe, so it will come down to three teams next Sunday. One will stay up, one will go down and one will go into a relegation playoff.

  • Bielefeld 32 points (Stuttgart away)
  • Bremen 31 (Gladbach home)
  • Cologne 30 (Schalke home)

I would be very worried if I was a Bremen fan.

Full time: Augsburg 2-0 Bremen

Peeep peep! A brilliant win for Augsburg, who have ensured they will play in the Bundesliga next season.

Full time: Schalke 4-3 Frankfurt Peep peep! A disastrous day for Frankfurt, who now need a minor miracle to qualify for the Champions League.

Full time: Hertha Berlin 0-0 Cologne It has finished goalless in Berlin. That means Hertha are safe, and while Cologne stay in the automatic relegation places, they have the bottom club Schalke at home next week. If they win that they could leapfrog Bremen and/or Bielefeld.

Full times: Bielefeld 1-1 Hoffenheim; Freiburg 2-2 Bayern Peep peep! That’s a vital point for Arminia Bielefeld, which moves them out of the relegation places.

GOAL! Augsburg 2-0 Bremen (Caligiuri 89 pen)

Augsburg will be playing in the Bundesliga next season! Daniel Caligiuri’s penalty has put them 2-0 up against relegation rivals Bremen, who are now in serious trouble.

GOAL! Southampton 2-0 Fulham (Tella 60)

Nathan Tella gets his first goal in senior football! He’s only been on the field a couple of minutes. It was an excellent move from Southampton, who have stepped it up in the second half. Armstrong and Minamino combined nicely to find Walker-Peters on the right. He slid a superb low cross to the far post, where Tella swept the ball past Areola from seven yards.

Nathan Tella strikes for the Saints.
Nathan Tella strikes for the Saints. Photograph: Getty Images

Updated

Schalke 4-3 Frankfurt Schalke still lead in the game of the day. It would be some twist if they gave their great rivals Dortmund the opportunity to clinch a Champions League place at Mainz tomorrow. Before today Schalke had won only two league games all season.

Updated

Southampton 1-0 Fulham Southampton are in control at St Mary’s. It’s only 1-0 but they have been much the better team in the second half.

James Ward-Prowse feels the challenge from Fulham’s Josh Onomah.
James Ward-Prowse feels the challenge from Fulham’s Josh Onomah. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/PA

Updated

GOAL! Freiburg 2-2 Bayern (Gunter 82)

Freiburg have equalised for the second time, this time through Christian Gunter. There’s nothing much riding on it for Freiburg except pride, good old male pride.

Here’s the Bundesliga table as things stand. Bremen - who have spent more time in the Bundesliga than any other team, including Bayern - could be facing another relegation play-off, or worse.

Updated

“Even if Frankfurt lose they are still the away bankers,” says Ian Copestake. “That one goes out to all who know that Frankfurt is the main financial hub of Germany. Try the pork loin.”

GOAL! Schalke 4-3 Frankfurt (Silva 72)

Andre Silva’s second goal has given Eintracht Frankfurt a snifter of hope against the bottom club. But even a draw isn’t much good to them.

“Spare a thought for the Torino coach,” says Kelvin. Lost 7-0 to AC Milan midweek after resting players for today’s game versus Spezia. The result? A 4-1 defeat.”

Spezia 4-1 Torino was the score in the other Serie A game. That means Spezia will enjoy a second season in Serie A. They are safe; Torino are anything but.

Updated

The latest scores in our featured games

Premier League

Scottish Premier League

  • Hibernian 0-0 Celtic (FT)
  • Rangers 4-0 Aberdeen (FT)

Bundesliga (all 2.30pm)

  • Arminia Bielefeld 1-1 1899 Hoffenheim
  • FC Augsburg 1-0 Werder Bremen (both teams down to 10 men)
  • FC Schalke 04 4-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
  • SC Freiburg 1-2 Bayern Munich
  • Hertha Berlin 0-0 Cologne

Serie A

  • Genoa 3-4 Atalanta (FT)

You can follow all the other goals as they go in by clicking this thing.

Updated

GOAL! Schalke 4-2 Frankfurt (Hoppe 64)

Oh, Frankfurt.

Full time: Genoa 3-4 Atalanta

Peep peep! Atalanta have qualified for the Champions League with a game to spare, though they were given a scare by Genoa. It was a madcap game: Atalanta led 3-0 and then 4-1 but ended the game hanging on desperately.

Half time: Southampton 1-0 Fulham

Peep peep! Che Adams’ goal has put Southampton ahead against relegated Fulham. It was a low-key first half, between two teams with little to play for, and I still don’t know what else to tell you.

GOAL! Schalke 3-2 Frankfurt (Flick 60)

Schalke lead again! Frankfurt are making an almighty mess of what looked like an away banker.

GOAL! Augsburg 1-0 Bremen (Khedira 57)

A huge goal for Augsburg! A corner led to a game of head tennis, and eventually Rani Khedira dragged the ball into the net from close range. If it stays like this, Augsburg will be safe. I think.

“Christian Gross leaving Bremen’s game early? Think he’ll take the tube home?” chuckles Matt ‘Living In The 90’s’ Dony.

GOAL! Genoa 3-4 Atalanta (Shomurodov 85)

Oh my. Eldor Shomurodov has scored his second, finishing expertly after being put through by Goran Pandev, and Atalanta are in danger of blowing a 4-1 lead.

GOAL! Freiburg 1-2 Bayern (Sane 54)

Leroy Sane has put the champions back in front at Freiburg.

GOALS! Schalke 2-2 Frankfurt (Idrizi 52; N'Dicka 51)

Frankfurt took the lead against Schalke, but only for a minute. Meanwhile...

RED CARD! Augsburg 0-0 Bremen

It’s ten-a-side in Augsburg, where Bremen’s Christian Gross has been given a second yellow card. That could change everything at the bottom of the table - Bremen were unable to score despite having a man advantage for over half an hour, and now they’ve lost that advantage.

Southampton 1-0 Fulham Ward-Prowse’s free-kick is punched away by Areola, diving to his right.

Peep peep! The second halves are under way in Germany. Peep peep!

“You could tell us,” says Ian Copestake, “that Minamino will indeed form a Premiership-winning midfield partnership with Naby Keita next season.”

Red Bull Salzburg are joining the Premiership? People are still calling it the Premiership?

GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Fulham (Adams 27)

Che Adams gives Southampton the lead, pinging the ball over Areola from four yards after a wicked free-kick from James Ward-Prowse.

Che Adams opens the scoring for the Saints.
Che Adams opens the scoring for the Saints. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Updated

Southampton 0-0 Fulham It’s hooning down at St Mary’s, which if nothing else is bad news for Scott Parker’s cardigan.

Updated

GOAL! Genoa 2-4 Atalanta (Pandev 67 pen)

Another quiet night at the library for Atalanta. We’ve had six goals now, with Goran Pandev sweeping home a penalty to give Genoa a sniff of an unlikely draw.

“Mr Hirst (3.14pm), consider this horrible thought,” says Mary Waltz. “Now that it will do no good, think of the pain of Fulham having an offensive explosion. As an Everton fan mourning my squad’s lost opportunity, my mind goes to these dark places.”

‘Offensive explosion’ is my new favourite phrase.

Southampton 0-0 Fulham There have beenm no shots on target in the first 22 minutes at St Mary’s, and I don’t know what else to tell you.

It’s half-time in the Bundesliga games, and it’s as you were at the bottom of the table. These are the scores in our featured matches.

  • Arminia Bielefeld 1-1 1899 Hoffenheim
  • FC Augsburg 0-0 Werder Bremen (Augsburg down to 10 men)
  • FC Schalke 04 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
  • SC Freiburg 1-1 Bayern Munich
  • Hertha Berlin 0-0 Cologne

“I think Mr Arthur (3.03pm) has gone beyond the bounds of acceptable sarcasm,” says Richard Hirst. “(Either that or he’s been asleep all season.)”

GOAL! Genoa 1-4 Atalanta (Pasilic 52)

The substitute Mario Pasilic, who has only been on four minutes, has scored Atalanta’s fourth. It was a cool finish, similiar to Jermain Defoe’s at Ibrox in the way he dummied a couple of defenders before slapping the ball intop the net.

The latest scores in our featured games

Premier League

Scottish Premier League

  • Hibernian 0-0 Celtic (FT)
  • Rangers 4-0 Aberdeen (FT)

Bundesliga (all 2.30pm)

  • Arminia Bielefeld 1-1 1899 Hoffenheim
  • FC Augsburg 0-0 Werder Bremen (Augsburg down to 10 men)
  • FC Schalke 04 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
  • SC Freiburg 1-1 Bayern Munich
  • Hertha Berlin 0-0 Cologne

Serie A

  • Genoa 1-3 Atalanta (2pm)

You can follow all the goals as they go in by clicking this thing.

GOAL! Genoa 1-3 Atalanta (Shomurodov 49) Eldor Shomurodov has got one back for the home side.

Updated

Southampton 0-0 Fulham Nothing to report at St Mary’s, though Fulham have started quite brightly.

Fulham make a bright start in bright yellow.
Fulham make a bright start in bright yellow. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AP

Updated

The FA Cup final kicks off at 5.15pm. You can follow the build up, team news and the rest with Scott Murray.

Ach, now this really is a shame

He’ll just have to hang around the World Cup.

“Proper football(ing ignorance) question here,” says Ian Copestake. “Has Bielsa committed himself to Leeds next season? Not that I’m thinking Gerrard could fill his boots if not.”

Not yet, though all reports suggest he’s staying, and journalism is always correct and truthful.

“In each of the last three PL fixtures, the away team has scored four goals,” says Ric Arthur. “Over to you, Fulham!”

GOAL! Schalke 1-1 Frankfurt (Andre Silva 29)

Andre Silva has headed Frankfurt level. Realistically, they need a win today if they are going to qualify for the Champions League.

GOAL! Freiburg 1-1 Bayern (Gulde 29)

An immediate equaliser for Freiburg. Meanwhile...

“Hi Rob,” says Richard Hirst. “I should be excited by Burnley losing 4-0, but we blew it on Monday (oh yes, and the other 387 times this season). And you look at the ‘strike force’ we’ve put out today - what is Scott playing at? We might as well at least try to go out with a bang rather than a series of diminishing whimpers. Ah well, roll on Stoke.”

I’m quite excited to see Fabio Carvalho on his full debut.

GOAL! Freiburg 0-1 Bayern (Lewandowski 26 pen)

A landmark goal for Robert Lewandowski! That’s his 40th of the league season, equalling the record set by the astonishing Gerd Muller in 1971-72.

Lewandowski scores for the spot to equal Der Bomber’s goalscoring record.
Lewandowski scores for the spot to equal Der Bomber’s goalscoring record. Photograph: Thomas Kienzle/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

GOAL! Bielefeld 1-1 Hoffenheim (Voglsammer 25)

A storming free-kick from Andreas Voglsammer has brought Bielefeld level. It’s getting very tight at the bottom.

Half time: Genoa 0-3 Atalanta

A comfortable afternoon for Atalanta in Genoa. In the other Serie A game, Spezia lead Torino 2-0.

GOAL! Genoa 0-3 Atalanta (Gosens 44)

Atalanta are at it again: Robin Gosens has put them 3-0 up at half-time. That’s their 89th goal in Serie A this season.

GOAL! Schalke 1-0 Frankfurt (Huntelaar 15)

Frankfurt’s Champions League hopes are fading apace. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has put the bottom club Schalke ahead, tapping in after his penalty was saved.

Red card: Augsburg 0-0 Bremen The home side are down to 10 men! Ruben Vargas has been sent off after 15 minutes after booting somebody off the ball. Utterly stupid. To complete a less than distinguished performance, he complained bitterly about the decision and then wept as he left the field.

Updated

Genoa 0-2 Atalanta While I was away Atalanta scored a second through Ruslan Malinovsky. It looks like they will be playing Champions League football again next season.

Updated

GOAL! Arminia Bielefeld 0-1 Hoffenheim (Kramaric 5)

An early blow for relegation-threatened Bielfeld. Here’s the table as things stand.

I’m going to take a quick coffee break before Southampton v Fulham, but you can get all the latest scores here. And some more news …

Updated

Full time: Burnley 0-4 Leeds

Marcelo Bielsa, football adores you.

“Some invincibles are more invincible than others,” says Ian Copestake. “Wenger’s shower drew twice as many games and only won 26. Cancel them.”

This is Sir Alex Ferguson’s genius - he was cancelling people even before cancel culture was a thing. “Arsenal accumulated most points last season so they won the title fairly enough,” said the old boy in 2004, “but they didn’t display championship form. They had too many draws.”

To prove the point, his United team only drew six times to Arsenal’s 12. The fact United also lost nine games to Arsenal’s none is neither here nor there.

Updated

Full time: Hibernian 0-0 Celtic

A tame end to a desperate season for Celtic, who finish 25 points behind the champions. Their total of 77 points is their lowest since 1999-2000, when they were truly atrocious.

Steven Gerrard gently fistbumps the Aberdeen staff and then strolls onto the field, a gentle smile breaking out before he embraces his players. Whatever he achieves in his coaching career, and you suspect it will be plenty, he’ll do well to top this. It’s a lovely scene, missing only 50,000 disciples, and even Alfredo Morelos is threatening to break into a smile. He hasn’t quite managed it yet, but he’s doing his best.

Full time: Rangers 4-0 Aberdeen

You win some, you draw some: Rangers have joined the list of football invincibles!

P38 W32 D6 L0 F92 A13 Pts 102.

GOAL! Rangers 4-0 Aberdeen (Defoe 88)

A lovely finish from the substitute Jermain Defoe, who dummies two defenders in the area and slaps the ball past Joe Lewis. Steven Gerrard punches the air in the delight and then smiles. I don’t think I’ve ever seen his teeth before, which definitely sets him apart from Brendan Rodgers. If he can’t smile today, he never will: to win the league would have been more than enough, but to go unbeaten and get 102 points is astounding.

Updated

GOAL! Genoa 0-1 Atalanta (Zapata 9)

An early goal at Stadio Luigi Ferraris. I’ve no idea what happened because I’m watching the Rangers game, but I do know Duvan Zapata scored the goal for Atalanta. You’re welcome!

GOALS! Burnley 0-4 Leeds (Rodrigo 77, 79)

God bless Marcelo Bielsa.

Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen There are seven minutes left at Ibrox, where Rangers are having the time of their lives.

Southampton v Fulham team news

Southampton (4-4-2) McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Stephens, Salisu; Minamino, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Redmond; Ings, Adams.
Substitutes: Forster, Ramsay, Djenepo, Diallo, Ferry, Tella, Obafemi, Walcott, N’Lundulu.

Fulham (4-2-3-1) Areola; Tete, Andersen, Tosin, Aina; Anguissa, Reed; Decordova-Reid Onomah, Carvalho; Cavaleiro.
Substitutes: Rodak, Hector, Odoi, Ream, Bryan, Loftus-Cheek, Mitrovic, Lookman, Maja.

Updated

It’s still Hibernian 0-0 Celtic. If it stays like that, Celtic will finish 25 (T-W-Etc) points behind Rangers.

“It is a little known fact that Steven Gerrard’s managerial career is geared around following then erasing all of Brendan Rodgers’ achievements,” says Ian Copestake. “And all because he was benched for that 2014 Real Madrid match.”

What’s really impressive is that his subconscious knew about the plan even before the Madrid game, and made him do the slip so that he wouldn’t have a Rodgers Premier League title to erase.

GOAL! Burnley 0-2 Leeds (Harrison 60)

Jack Harrison has scored a second for Leeds, but WHO GOT THE ASSIST FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE MAN. Find out with John Brewin.

GOAL! Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen (Roofe 60)

A goal was coming - but it has arrived at the other end. Ianis Hagi did well to intercept a pass forward and poke the ball through to Roofe, who curled it emphatically past Lewis with his left foot. That was ruthless from Rangers, wno barely had a kick in the first 14 minutes of the second half.

Kemar Roofe scores the third for ‘Gers.
Kemar Roofe scores the third for ‘Gers. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Updated

Rangers 2-0 Aberdeen And now Lewis Ferguson has missed an open goal! Aberdeen have been brilliant in the first ten minutes of the second half and could easily be level. Hornby was played through on goal in the inside-left channel. He drew McGregor and then squared the ball to Ferguson, who slammed it off the underside of the bar from seven yards. That’s a shocking miss.

Rangers 2-0 Aberdeen Fraser Hornby has just missed a great chance to get Aberdeen back in the match, volleying wide on the stretch from four yards. Aberdeen have made a really lively start to the second half.

Rangers 2-0 Aberdeen As expected, Rangers have been too hot for Aberdeen to handle at Ibrox. They took the lead after five minutes thanks to a farcical own goal from the keeper Joe Lewis, and Kemar Roofe got the second from close range.

There’s a mass party going on outside Ibrox, which hasn’t thrilled everybody.

Updated

Preamble

Hello. The Rangers team of 2020-21 are already immortal; in the next hour, they should become Invincibles. Steven Gerrard’s team are 2-0 up at home to Aberdeen, and barring a second-half fiasco they will become the first Rangers side since 1899 to stay unbeaten throughout a league season. It would be a helluva way to complete their nine-year ascent from rock bottom.

Rangers v Aberdeen, which kicked off at 12.30pm, is one of the highlights of a clockwatch that is almost entirely England-free. There are a couple of Premier League games, though both Burnley v Leeds and Southampton v Fulham are only really of interest to the partisan and the Fantasy League addicts. There’s nothing much riding on either.

There’s plenty at stake in Bavaria, where FC Augsburg face Werder Bremen in a crucial match at the bottom of the Bundesliga. Arminia Bielefeld, who are currently in the relegation play-off position, are also in action. And in Italy, Atalanta will hope to consolidate second place - and clinch a Champions League place - by beating Genoa.

These are our featured games:

Premier League

Scottish Premier League (both 12.30pm)

  • Hibernian 0-0 Celtic
  • Rangers 2-0 Aberdeen

Bundesliga (all 2.30pm)

  • Arminia Bielefeld v 1899 Hoffenheim
  • FC Augsburg v Werder Bremen
  • FC Schalke 04 v Eintracht Frankfurt
  • SC Freiburg v Bayern Munich

Serie A

  • Genoa v Atalanta (2pm)

Updated

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