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Mason Greenwood took his Premier League tally to eight goals with a brace on Saturday and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has tipped the Manchester United youngster for a future England call-up. 

The 18-year-old produced clinical finishes in either half as United thrashed Bournemouth 5-2 to briefly move into the Premier League's top four. 

Only Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Robbie Fowler have scored more Premier League goals in a season while aged 18 or younger and that trio all went on to feature for England on multiple occasions. 

Bradford-born Greenwood has represented his country at various youth levels, debuting for England Under-21s last September, and Solskjaer believes he is on track to make the step up to Gareth Southgate's senior side. 

Asked if he was "a future England striker", Norwegian Solskjaer told BBC Radio 5 live: "Definitely, if he keeps on developing. 

"We'll do our best to develop him. I'm just worried about him playing for Man United, not England. 

"There might be some Norwegian blood in there, I don't know! I don't think so." 

Solskjaer added of Greenwood: "[He's a] great talent, great finisher and he's learning more and more, growing more and more, [making] better and better decisions on and off the pitch. 

"He's an exceptional finisher, he can score right foot, left foot. If he can learn how to head a ball he'll be the complete striker." 

United are now unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions, a streak that dates back to a home loss to Burnley on January 22. 

This latest victory saw United temporarily displace Chelsea in fourth only for the Blues to beat Watford later on to reclaim their spot with Solskjaer insisting there is still a long way to go in the race for Champions League qualification. 

"I don't think anyone worries or cares about that now, we've got so many games left," he said. 

"Five games left - we know we have to focus on every single one of them at one time because you can only beat the team you're playing against. 

"The next one is [Aston] Villa, we'll have a good look at them tomorrow and recover and prepare for that one." 

Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick said Robert Lewandowski can win the Ballon d'Or after taking his season tally to 51 goals after the German champions won the DFB-Pokal title.

Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern eased past Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 on Saturday to retain their DFB-Pokal crown and wrap up a domestic double for the second successive season.

After David Alaba and Serge Gnabry put Bayern ahead, Lewandowski took centre stage in the second half with goals in the 59th and 89th minutes behind closed doors in Berlin.

It continued Lewandowski's red-hot form in 2019-20 after the Poland international star exceeded half a century of goals across all competitions this term.

Lewandowski topped the Bundesliga charts with 34 goals to lead Bayern to an eighth consecutive title, while he has netted 11 in the Champions League as Europe's premier club competition prepares to return next month.

And Flick backed Lewandowski for Ballon d'Or glory post-match, telling reporters: "Fifty-one goals are already very strong. The first goal Lewy scored, the third goal we scored, was already excellent.

"The way he takes the ball down there and the way he locks up. Of course, he's had a bit of luck with that as well. But that's what distinguishes him, that he has this confidence in his quality.

"If I measure for goals now and I see that he has scored 34 goals in the Bundesliga this year, then you can think about how a player from the Bundesliga can become the Ballon d'Or winner. So why not? He has laid all the groundwork with this achievement this year and I would wish him well."

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or in 2019, edging Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo.The last Bayern player to receive the individual honour was Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.

Lewandowski's season isn't yet over either with the Polish striker set to be in action again in August when the Champions League resumes. 

Bayern beat Chelsea 3-0 in the first leg of their last-16 clash in February and are in the box seat to progress to the quarter-finals. 

Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard wants his players to embrace the pressure of trying to qualify for the Champions League in their Premier League battle with in-form Manchester United.

Lampard's Chelsea moved back into the top four with a 3-0 win over Watford after United had briefly leapfrogged them following a 5-2 thrashing of Bournemouth earlier on Saturday.

Chelsea are fourth in the table, two points clear of United with five matches remaining in the Premier League, as the top-four race goes down to the wire.

And Lampard told his players to ignore United, who have gone 16 matches without defeat across all competitions, after bouncing back from Wednesday's shock 3-2 loss at West Ham.

"I think every game is going to be pressure now," Lampard told reporters. "West Ham was pressure because we knew we could go third. It's a different kind of pressure but it's still the same in how you focus on the game and job at hand.

"You cannot get too caught up in what everyone does at the moment. We did that tonight. There was no nonsense. The mentality was right. We started brightly and we carried on and got the small details of the game right at both ends of the pitch, which I was happy with."

"It is not a comparison to get too caught up in," Lampard said of Manchester United. "They are a very good team; we know that. The individuals that they have, the squad, the coaches that they have. We can only respect that.

"I watched their game early and with the individual quality when you look across their frontline you see two players on 20 goals and Mason Greenwood doing what he is doing scoring regularly.

"[Bruno] Fernandes and [Paul] Pogba in midfield, the signing of Harry Maguire. They are a really strong outfit. We know that and the fact we are two points ahead we have to be happy about.

"We know it is going to be contested right until the end of the season with the form that they are in. With respect to Manchester United and the teams around us, we have to focus on ourselves and try to keep picking up results. That will be the main importance to us."

Olivier Giroud, Willian and Ross Barkley were on target for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. However, midfielder N'Golo Kante suffered a hamstring injury in the win after he was withdrawn with 12 minutes remaining in London.

Lampard, who insisted Jorginho remains part of his plans despite finding himself out of the line-up, added: "N'Golo has got a small hamstring [injury] which we'll have to scan tomorrow [Sunday] and see how bad it is.

"We hope it's small, that's what I've been told so far. After the scan we'll know but I'm guessing it'll be a problem for [Crystal] Palace on Tuesday."

Lampard also heaped praise on goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has been linked with a return to La Liga, after the former Athletic Club star produced an agile save to thwart Danny Welbeck.

"I am pleased for him and the back four in front of him as well because I thought we defended pretty well when we needed to," Lampard said. "But the moment when we slipped and they got in; he made a really good save.

"That's what you want from your goalkeeper, you want them to make those saves and stay alert. It will be good for his confidence along with the clean sheet as well."

Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick is hoping to convince Thiago Alcantara to remain with the German champions amid growing links to Liverpool.

Thiago is contracted until the end of 2020-21 but the Spain international is reportedly on the verge of leaving for Premier League champions Liverpool as Bayern brace for his exit.

The 29-year-old came off the bench with three minutes remaining in Bayern's 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Saturday's DFB-Pokal final.

However, Flick has not given up on keeping star Thiago – who arrived from Barcelona in 2013 and has since won seven successive Bundesliga crowns among other honours.

"The thing is, I always have hope. I'm actually always very positive about things," Flick told reporters following the Berlin triumph.

"I also know, of course, that when you're at a certain age and you've already played in the Spanish league with Barcelona and in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, you feel the need to experience another big league. That is quite normal and that is also human.

"I'm trying my best to make sure Thiago stays here and that you can convince him to stay. But that's one thing that time will show.

"We still have the Champions League ahead of us now and we have a lot of plans, also together with him."

Flick was also asked about Bayern's transfer plans after prising Germany international Leroy Sane from Manchester City.

Bayern have been linked to Leverkusen star Kai Havertz, who scored a late consolidation goal on Saturday, but Flick seemed to suggest the German giants won't be rushing back into the transfer market. 

"We all know that of course the time with coronavirus has changed a lot," Flick added. "This means that many clubs, including FC Bayern Munich, can no longer spend money so easily. That's why we have to proceed cautiously.

"For now, Leroy Sane's commitment was important for the club and also for the team, which are taking the next step. Hasan Salihamidzic did a very good job of staying on the ball. I think a lot is developing and we have to see that we are a bit more broadly based."

Willian was on target again as Chelsea beat struggling Watford 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to move back into fourth place in the Premier League.

The Blues suffered a midweek defeat at West Ham and slipped out of the Champions League positions when Manchester United hammered Bournemouth on Saturday. 

Chelsea responded later in the day, Olivier Giroud marking his return to the starting line-up with the opener before Willian scored his sixth goal in his last seven games from the penalty spot late in the first half. 

Ross Barkley added a third in stoppage time as Frank Lampard's side moved two points clear of United, and just one behind third-place Leicester City, a year to the day since the former England international was appointed. 

Watford are just one point and a place above the relegation zone with five matches to play.

Willian fired straight at Ben Foster with Chelsea's first sight of goal and the Watford goalkeeper kept out a Giroud effort before the France striker opened the scoring after 28 minutes.  

The impressive Barkley was the architect, his clever reverse pass giving the former Arsenal frontman the chance to drill into the far corner with his left foot from 10 yards out.  

Chelsea looked increasingly dangerous and were two up just before the break, Willian sending Foster the wrong way after Etienne Capoue needlessly upended the lively Christian Pulisic. 

The busy Foster again denied Giroud after the break, while he also tipped a measured Willian shot around the post as Lampard's men remained on the front foot. 

Kepa Arrizabalaga produced an agile stop to prevent Danny Welbeck from halving the deficit as Watford showed more of a threat, but Barkley rifled home his first league since October 2018 after Pulisic had been denied a penalty as Chelsea cruised to victory. 

What does it mean? Chelsea back on track, Hornets remain in the mire

After a setback at the London Stadium, Chelsea provided just the response Lampard would have been looking for.

They had too much quality for a Watford team that were unable to contain the Blues, who caused the strugglers all sorts of problems as they fizzed the ball around on a slick surface with a swagger. 

Pulisic goes from strength to strength 

Pulisic was a constant menace to Nigel Pearson's side, drifting into pockets of space and gliding away from defenders with great skill and pace in another eye-catching performance. The big-money signing from Borussia Dortmund took time to settle in English football but he now looks very much at home. 

Outing to forget for Capoue  

Midfielder Capoue most definitely did not have the impact Pearson would have had in mind, going into the book before conceding the penalty and being hauled off early in the second half. 

Key Opta facts

- Chelsea have won four successive Premier League games at Stamford Bridge for the first time since winning seven in a row at home under Antonio Conte between October-December 2017. 
- The Blues have scored two or more goals in nine of their last 10 Premier League games, only failing to do so in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United in February. 
- Watford have lost four consecutive Premier League away games in a row for the first time since the final six on the road in the 2017-18 season under Javi Gracia. 
- Olivier Giroud has scored four goals in his last seven league games for Chelsea, more than he had netted in his previous 38 appearances (3). 
- Willian is the first ever Chelsea player to score a penalty in three consecutive Premier League games and the sixth different player to do it in the competition. 

What's next? 

Chelsea face a short trip to Selhurst Park for a London derby with Crystal Palace on Tuesday, while the Hornets host bottom side Norwich City on the same day. 

Jeremie Boga continued his brilliant form in front of goal in Sassuolo’s 4-2 win against Lecce in Saturday’s Serie A game.

On the back of his five-star performance against Fiorentina, where he scored his first career hat-trick to help the Black and Greens bounce back to winning ways after a three-game winless run, the winger shone against Fabio Liverani’s men.

The 23-year-old forward found the back of the net in the encounter to take his tally to 10 goals in this campaign after he was handed a starting role.

Sassuolo hit the ground running when Francesco Caputo opened the scoring with only seven minutes into the game.

The visitors levelled through Fabio Lucioni and moment after the hour mark Domenico Berardi restored the lead to the Black and Greens, converting from the penalty spot.

Marco Mancosu then brought his side back into contention, dispatching his effort from the spot before Boga handed his side the lead while Mert Muldur sealed the victory.

The Ivory Coast international featured for 84 minutes before making way for Francesco Magnanelli while his teammate and compatriot Hamed Traore was replaced in the 46th minute.  

Senegalese striker Khouma Babacar, who led Lecce attack featured for the duration of the game but could not help his side avoid defeat.

Boga has been in fine form since leaving Premier League club Chelsea in 2018 to join the Italian side, having scored 13 league goals in 52 appearances.

In this campaign, he has found the back of the net 10 times and provided four assists in 29 appearances across all competitions.

The winger has been linked to a number of European clubs including Inter Milan and Juventus following his fine displays. 

He will hope to continue his five showings when Sassuolo take on Bologna in their next league game on Wednesday.

Former Orlando Pirates winger Thabo Rakhale is still not sure where he will be playing next season following his departure from Chippa United. 

However, the 30-year-old said all he wants to is to play football even if it means going abroad. 

"I don't know yet what the future holds but one thing I want to do is to play football. It doesn't matter where I play," Rakhale told Daily Sun.  

"If an overseas offer comes, I will have a look and if I am happy, I will go," he said.   

Rakhale also opened up about how his departure from the Sea Robbers to Chippa United affected him mentally and emotionally. 

He admits he was frustrated with his lack of game time months before he was released to the Port Elizabeth-based outfit. 

"When I left Pirates to join Chippa, I wasn't myself mentally and emotionally, hence my performance took a knock and dropped. 

"You know when you're a player and not playing, everything just stops. I had to leave Pirates because I wanted to play and Chippa chairman Siviwe Mpengesi welcomed me," he revealed.   

Furthermore, the Vanderbijlpark-born attacker addressed rumours he is on his way to Kaizer Chiefs, saying nobody contacted him from Naturena.  

As things stand, Amakhosi are still not allowed to sign new players but they have written to Fifa's appeal committee to give them permission to do so as they await their hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on September 9.  

"I know of that rumour. It has been making the rounds for some time now but honestly speaking, it's not true. I don't know anything about that. They have never approached me. 

In 2018, Rakhale went to Turkey for a month-long trial with Istanbulspor, and while he believes he did well to earn a contract, he still doesn't know why the club didn't sign him. 

"I thought everything went well during the trial with that team. I was there for a month and played four out of five matches. 

"They were impressed but I am not sure what happened and why I did not get a contract with them," concluded Rakhale.

Rakhale featured 68 times for the Chilli Boys, found the back of the net five times and recorded 10 assists. 

Alanyaspor secured a 4-1 away victory over Ankaragucu in Saturday’s Turkish Super Lig clash, with Papiss Cisse finding the net.

Erol Bulut’s side came into the game on the back of their 3-3 away draw against Goztepe - where the ex-Senegal international got a brace.

In the five-goal thriller, the relegation-threatened side fluffed a chance to take the lead as their Jamaican import Dever Orgill missed from the penalty spot with a minute into the half-time break.

However, it was the visitors who broke the duck through Cisse in the 64th minute after profiting from Fabrice NSakala’s assist to fire past goalkeeper Ricardo Friedrich.

Onur Bulut made it 2-0 for Alanyaspor with NSakala providing yet another assist.

The hosts’ comeback ambition faded into thin air after Tasos Bakasetas converted from the penalty mark in the 77th minute, with substitute Gelmin Rivas tucking home a Tiago Pinto pass to reduce the deficit four minutes later.

In the closing stages of the game, Bulut’s side completed the rout through substitute Junior Fernandes.

The 35-year-old who has now scored seven goals in his last four games across all competitions was substituted in the 85th minute for Umut Gunes.

Cisse has now scored 20 goals in 28 league appearances for the Bahcesehir Okulları Stadium outfit – four better than his tally in his maiden season.

Victory for Alanyaspor see them remain seventh in the log having accrued 48 points from 30 games. Ankaragucu stay at the base of the log with 25 points from the same number of matches.

They host fourth-placed Galatasaray in their next outing on Wednesday.

Before joining the Turkish side on August 31, 2018, Cisse had played for French Ligue 1 team Metz before joining German Bundesliga side Freiburg in 2009 for a fee of €1.62 million after loan spells at Cherbourg and Chateauroux.

Three seasons later, he linked up with compatriot Demba Ba at Newcastle United for an estimated fee in the region of £9.3 million, linking up with fellow Senegal striker Demba Ba in the process.

He left the Magpies in 2016 for a move to Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng.

Pep Guardiola believes the way Manchester City beat Liverpool shows they are capable of winning the Champions League.

City thrashed the new Premier League champions 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night and, while the domestic title has gone this season, they can still add the FA Cup and Champions League to the Carabao Cup they won in March.

Guardiola described Jurgen Klopp’s side as “maybe the best team in the world” after beating them and City's hopes of success are boosted by the fact that last season’s Champions League winners have already been knocked out ahead of the August mini-tournament in Portugal.

“Every game is different to the other one but I cannot deny that beating Liverpool the way we did gives us… football is feelings, it’s moments,” he said.

“Sometimes your mood is up, sometimes it’s down. We beat maybe the best team in the world right now and we can do it.

“But every game will be different because Arsenal play a different way to Madrid so we have to adjust to their qualities. What I want is to arrive in the best condition as possible for these games and after have the best mentality on the pitch.

“These games are not won by tactics or ideas, it’s desire. We want to do it and when one team wants to do it - they can be beaten - but it will not be easy for the opponent.”

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League will be made on Friday but City still have to get past La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who they beat 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in February.

A decision on where the second leg will be played will also be made this week with the possibility that it also could be switched from the Etihad Stadium to Portugal.

“We would love to play here, but we will play wherever UEFA decides,” Guardiola said. “We are incredibly excited to play against Madrid, to face the kings of this competition in the second leg.

“We would love to play here, obviously without fans, but in our city and to feel close to our people. But if we have to go to Portugal we will go there.”

City are also waiting on a further outcome regarding the Champions League with a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision due over their two-year ban handed out by UEFA over breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations.

The decision is due on July 13 and CEO Ferran Soriano has said he is confident that the club will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

“I have a lot of confidence and trust with the people that we will be able to play in the Champions League because we want, during these years, to be there,” Guardiola said.

“On July 13 we will know the resolution and hopefully for the club, the workers, the players, everyone, we can continue to grow as a club in the next years.”

Jurgen Klopp believes Manchester City and Bayern Munich are the favourites to win this season’s Champions League – and admits he would love to see a shootout between two of his biggest rivals. 

Klopp’s Liverpool won the competition last season, but were eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the last 16 just before the world went into lockdown in March due to the coronavirus crisis.

The tournament will resume next month, with the remaining last-16 ties, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all to be played within the space of 16 days. 

Bayern all-but-secured a quarter-final spot by winning 3-0 at Chelsea back in February, while City hold a 2-1 advantage following their first-leg win over Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu. 

And for Klopp, the winner is likely to come from those two.

He told reporters: “For me, the two big favourites left in the competition are Bayern and Man City. That would be an interesting game! I don’t know exactly if it could happen, if they will meet in the semi-final or whatever.

“Bayern obviously played a very impressive season in Germany, before and after lockdown. After Hansi Flick took over it was really impressive what they did. 

“They are obviously the two favourites.

“The competition will be really interesting, as it’s completely new. But when you see Man City, you see the squad they have…

“Everyone needs luck, but like I always said; if you want to win the Champions League, you should have your best line-up ready for the final. 

“It’s not that the other teams have no chance, but I really think that these two teams are the favourites.”

Klopp added: “But even in the game [against Liverpool] on Thursday, which City won deservedly, we should have scored three goals. Don’t forget that. We should have and would have on a normal day.

“They have so much quality, but no team in the world is perfect. City is not, Bayern is not and we are not, but you need to be nearly perfect in order to win the Champions League. 

“I will watch it, the little tournament. It’s really interesting, but unfortunately we have no part to play in it this year.”

Spanish Primera Iberdrola side Madrid CFF has announced the departure of Marie Awona following the expiration of her contract this summer ahead of her possible return to France.

The Cameroon international joined the Spanish outfit from French side Dijon in February this year and became the third African in the team after Nigeria duo Chidinma Okeke and Rita Chikwelu.

During her short spell, she made five outings in all events, including the three Iberdrola games in the 2019-20 season before the campaign was abruptly concluded by the coronavirus pandemic.

After the league cancellation in May, Oscar Fernandez's side ended in 12th position - with 19 points from 21 matches and the club have parted ways with 11 players, including Awona.

Ana Catala, Ana Martinez, Laura Fernández, Marta Turmo, Bruna Tavares, Jang Sel Gi, Ingrid Moe Wold, Raquel Poza, Cristina Portomene and Mari  García-Uceda were affected in the clear out.

"The club makes it official that Ana María Catalá, Ana Lucía Martínez, Laura Fernández, Marta Turmo, Bruna Tavares, Jang Sel Gi, Ingrid Moe Wold, Marie Aurelle Awona, Raquel Poza, Cristina Portomeñe and Mari Carmen García-Uceda will not be part of the squad of the first team next season," the club announced via its website.

"The Madrid Club de Futbol, ​​although they will not be in the project for the 2020-21 season, wants to thank everyone for their commitment to this shirt, this badge and wish them the best in the future. Thank you!"

Awona, who was born in Cameroon but raised in France represented the Indomitable Lionesses at the 2019 Women's World Cup, starring in four matches as they reached the Round of 16.

And before her move to Madrid during the winter, the 27-year-old played for French side Dijon for 18-months, featuring in 23 matches.

The defender began her professional career at Le Mens in 2011 before joining AJC Soyaux, where she played for six years. Then she teamed up with Dijon before leaving for Spain.

In Spain, the former Le Mens and AJC Soyaux defender became the fourth Cameroonian woman to ply her trade there after Gaelle Enganmiout, Rassia Feudjio and Michaela Abam.

Having parted ways with Madrid, Goal understands a possible return to France is currently on the horizon for the Cameroonian star, although her potential destination still remains undisclosed. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on target again as Milan beat Lazio 3-0 at Stadio Olimpico to derail their opponents' Scudetto hopes.

Juve moved seven points clear at the Serie A summit with a 4-1 win over rivals Torino earlier on Saturday and Lazio were unable to close the gap in their game in hand.

Lazio had not lost in 16 home games since May 2019 but were two down at half-time - Ibrahimovic scoring a penalty after setting up Hakan Calhanoglu for the opener.

Ante Rebic added a third for Europe-chasing Milan in the second half as Lazio, without leading goalscorer Ciro Immobile, fell to just a second loss in 25 league matches.

Calhanoglu continued his good form since the restart by opening the scoring after 23 minutes, the midfielder's strike deflecting off Marco Parolo to help it over Thomas Strakosha.

Ibrahimovic had a goal ruled out for offside but did not have to wait long to score from the penalty spot after Alexis Saelemaekers' cross struck Stefan Radu's hand.

Strakosha got a hand to the spot-kick 11 minutes before the break but it squirmed under his body to leave Lazio, who recovered from a goal down to beat Fiorentina in midweek, with a big mountain to climb.

Manuel Lazzari thought that he had started a second-half comeback when he drilled home, only for the offside flag to deny him, and further misery followed when Rebic added a third goal.

The Croatia international took Giacomo Bonaventura's pass in his stride just before the hour mark and swept past Strakosha for his ninth league goal of the season.

Milan should have added a fourth late on but Theo Hernandez missed a sitter, having earlier been denied by Strakosha following an impressive run.
 

What does it mean? Lazio's Scudetto hopes all but over

Lazio's slim Scudetto hopes are surely all over as this loss leaves them seven points adrift of leaders Juventus with eight games to go.

As for Milan, they now have 10 points from a possible 12 since the restart - the exception being a disappointing 2-2 draw with SPAL last time out - and are in sixth place.

Zlat is back

Ibrahimovic now has two goals in two starts since recovering from an injury during the lockdown that many feared would bring a premature end to his career.

He may have got a bit of luck with the penalty - Strakosha really should have kept it out - but he made his presence felt and also teed up Calhanoglu's opener.

Immobile absence is felt

Lazio were without Immobile for the first time in Serie A this season, while fellow forward Felipe Caicedo was also suspended.

Joaquin Correa and Luis Alberto had nowhere the same impact, managing just one shot on target between them.

Key Opta Stats: Rebic is rampant

- Lazio have lost a Serie A match with a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since October 2018 against Inter.
- Milan have won a Serie A game at Stadio Olimpico against Lazio with a 3+ goals margin for the first time since February 2009, when Kaka, Alexandre Pato and Massimo Ambrosini were the scorers.
- Ibrahimovic and Real Betis star Joaquin are the only two players from the top-five European leagues who were born after 1/1/1981 and have scored at least four goals this season.
- Lazio have conceded a penalty in the last two Serie A games - they had conceded only three across the first 28 Serie A matches.
- Calhanoglu has been directly involved in four goals (2 goals, 2 assists) in his last four Serie A appearances, while Rebic has scored nine times in his last 11 top-flight outings.

What's next?

Milan host league leaders Juventus on Tuesday, the same day that Lazio, who will hope Stefano Pioli's men can do them a favour, travel to relegation-threatened Lecce.

Christian Pulisic is not interested in emulating Eden Hazard's heroics with Chelsea, with the United States international looking to make a name in his own right at Stamford Bridge. 

Pulisic, 21, joined up with the Blues last summer after completing a transfer worth £58 million ($72m) the previous January from Borussia Dortmund. 

He made a positive start to life in the Premier League before injury interrupted his adaptation, missing more than two months of action prior to the top flight shutting down due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Two goals in his first two matches back after the break, though, proved that the youngster had regained fighting fitness, and he has established himself as a key part of Frank Lampard's attack - although he is reluctant to compare his role with that of the current Real Madrid star. 

"Eden was an incredible player for Chelsea and he is word class. I'm not trying to compare to him, I'm just trying to be my own player," he explained to  Sky Sports  following Chelsea's 3-0 defeat of Watford on Saturday, a result that keeps the club in fourth place in the Premier League standings while atoning for a shock loss in midweek at the hands of West Ham.

"We needed that one today. We came out with a lot of energy and we needed a huge result, especially after dropping points in the last game.

"There was a bit of extra energy because of that loss and we wanted to prove a point.

"[The top four] is going to be close and come down to the end. We are excited and confident we can do it."

Having gone ahead via Olivier Giroud's strike, Chelsea had Pulisic to thank in part for their second of the evening as he drew a foul from Etienne Capoue to win his side a penalty. 

Willian duly dispatched the kick and Ross Barkley rounded off an emphatic victory in the final minutes, leaving the former Dortmund star delighted with his contribution.  

"I got fouled for the second one as well and I thought it might be overturned but it is what it is," he added.

"I feel confident in my game right now and I feel like I can help the team."

Thomas Muller conceded Bayern Munich's win in the DFB Pokal final "hurt a little bit" as the German giants claimed their second major trophy of the season. 

Hansi Flick's side claimed a 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the cup decider on Saturday with a second-half double from Robert Lewandowksi wrapping up the result.

Early goals from David Alaba and Serge Gnabry set Bayern on their way, with the reigning Bundesliga champions claiming a 17th straight win in all competitions. 

Muller, who played until the 88th minute, was in a reflective mood post-match and conceded the club's success would have been even sweeter if fans were in attendance. 

"It's a bit of a sad moment. When the fans are missing at a cup final like this, it's not the same," Muller told ARD. "We did well for most of the way, but it hurts a little bit too."

While German football was one of the first to resume amidst the coronavirus pandemic, games have continued to be played without crowds.  

Though Muller's joy was twinged with some sadness, Bayern coach Flick was thrilled with what he saw from his side as they now turn their attention to the Champions League. 

"We leave the stadium proud that we have achieved this. What the team has achieved in the last few weeks is sensational," Flick told Sky post-game.

"The attitude is simply fantastic. I am very, very happy. The way the team performs is extraordinary. Today there is only joy."

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer believes Bayern's continued success in the face of interruptions caused by the pandemic is a sign of the club's strong mentality with a treble now in their sights. 

"We have experienced in the last few weeks how motivated and hungry FC Bayern is," Neuer told Sky.

"What we have achieved is something very special. The attitude was sensational. We have a little break now, and then we'll prepare ourselves at the top and of course try to bring in the treble."

Bayern's hopes of securing a treble will next be tested in early August when they face Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. 

Flick's men claimed a 3-0 win in the first leg to put them in the box seat to progress to the quarter-finals, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recently declaring Bayern as one of the favourites for the competition. 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he will not dwell on the 4-0 loss to Manchester City and is so used to suffering setbacks that he is able to process them better these days.

Klopp was visibly irritated as he faced the media in the immediate aftermath of the heavy defeat to Pep Guardiola's side on Thursday, the champions' first match since winning the Premier League.

The German insists nights like that one never stop hurting, but his preference is to use them as fuel for the challenges to come rather than shouting wildly at his players.

"I've had so many setbacks, so I have for sure needed more than a night, but not much longer," he said about coping with the City defeat ahead of Sunday's return to top-flight action at home to Aston Villa.

"I decided a long time ago that things I cannot change, I'm not bothered [about], and I cannot change the [City] result. I can only use it for the next game. 

"But you cannot stop feeling and a defeat feels really, really average. It needs time, but sometimes human beings give themselves too much time to suffer from something that didn't work out, in my understanding. 

"I'm not 'self-pity'; I'm not talented in that. I'm very self-critical and give myself stick for stuff that I don't like, but I was not a lot of time self-pitying because as long as I'm healthy, I can be influential on my situation. 

"Do I have problems with people who see differently? I'm not sure. I don't know a lot of people in these moments.

"Who do you meet after a defeat? My players listen to me and a little bit my mood, if I'm right, so if I come in shouting like crazy then we can suffer longer. 

"If you focus on the facts, then you can see, 'Okay, it's done, the boss is obviously not 100 per cent happy but we work already on a solution, so let's carry on'. 

"I don't expect from other people that they're like me, as I don't expect that I'm like other people."

With six games to go, Liverpool are still in with a chance of beating the single-season points record held by City, who recorded 100 in 2017-18.

The Reds have 86 points, with Brighton and Burnley their next two opponents after facing Villa.

Pep Guardiola believes Gabriel Jesus should be valued in his own right at Manchester City and not compared unfavourably to the club's record goalscorer Sergio Aguero.

A knee injury to Aguero has afforded Jesus his latest chance for an extended run as first-choice striker at City, although the opportunity has arrived with the Brazil international enduring a barren run in front of goal.

Since scoring a vital winner at Leicester City and heading in the equaliser in City's 2-1 Champions League win at Real Madrid in February, the 23-year-old has gone eight matches without adding to his season tally of 18.

As his attacking colleagues dazzled in Thursday's 4-0 win over Premier League champions Liverpool, Jesus endured another evening of personal frustration and missed the opportunity for a statement performance with the 32-year-old Aguero into the final year of his contract.

Ahead of Sunday's trip to face Southampton at St Mary's – where Jesus enjoyed one of the highlights of his City career two years ago, scoring decisively in stoppage time to seal a 100-point season in 2017-18 – Guardiola offered his backing, citing the forward's "unique" selfless qualities.

"No one can compare to Sergio, what he has done in his career – first because he is older than Gabriel," he said.

"It is perfect for us because they are complimentary. What one guy has the other one maybe struggles with.

"Gabriel has something that is unique in the world. He helps us to be more aggressive. He is a fighter. I remember how many goals we have scored the last three or four or five games thanks to him.

"Gabriel is something special for us. It is unfair to compare players. Every player is different. We have to adapt his qualities for the benefit of him and the team."

By contrast, there are no notable questions over the talents of midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne at present.

The playmaker turned in another swashbuckling showing to down Liverpool, opening the scoring with his fourth consecutive penalty conversion before having a hand in all of the other goals.

De Bruyne wore the captain's armband last time out and, a year on from long-time skipper Vincent Kompany leaving City and with club captain David Silva heading for the exit door, Guardiola praised the 29-year-old's growing leadership qualities.

"Yes [he is a leader], for the role he takes in the locker room and takes responsibility on the pitch," the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss added.

"When he is captain, he wants to be captain. He wants to help, he wants to play a part and put the club and the team in front of himself.

"For sure [I see increased maturity]. Myself, I am not the same person I was when I was 25. I changed in many things. Kevin, for sure."

Mikel Arteta has called on Bukayo Saka to continue pushing himself after the youngster scored his maiden Premier League goal for Arsenal in a 2-0 win over Wolves.

Saka opened the scoring 43 minutes into Saturday's top-flight clash at Molineux, sending a half-volley beyond Rui Patricio, with Alexandre Lacazette subsequently wrapping up a win which greatly boosts Arsenal's European hopes.

The 18-year-old's goal caps a week in which he signed a new contract with the Gunners, and though Arteta has urged the winger to improve his game, he has been greatly impressed by Saka's attitude.

"He has a lot of things to improve, that's my message," Arteta told Arsenal Digital. "He struggled in some moments in the game today in the first half.

"I [played him] in a different position because I believe that he could hurt the opponent in there and he scored a really good goal.

"But what I like is that when things weren’t going for him, how he reacted and the personality to try and get the ball and fight for every ball and keep trying. He got rewarded."

At the other end of the pitch, Arsenal's defence – which has looked shaky all season – kept Wolves at bay, much to the delight of Arteta, who deployed a back three with wing-backs.

"I'm very pleased," he said. "They’re playing in a little bit different positions from what they are used to and it's a formation that we haven't used much or trained much, but the effort and attention and everything they are trying to do, that's when it brings the focus and then the results.

"I think they are really happy and that they are enjoying playing with each other in the way that they are training and the way that they are behaving. Hopefully we can continue.

"It's a long process but the hardest thing is that continuity all the time and that we don't come back to where we were and go back to bad habits. If we do that then we will compete every game."

Arsenal now sit seventh in the Premier League, eight points shy of fourth-place Chelsea, with Arteta's side next in action against Leicester City on Tuesday. 

Maurizio Sarri said the only suitable way to hail Gianluigi Buffon is with applause after the veteran goalkeeper set a new Serie A record on Saturday.

Buffon made his 648th appearance in Italy's top flight as Juve cruised to a 4-1 victory over Torino in the Turin derby, breaking the record previously set by his former Italy team-mate Paolo Maldini.

Juve's victory and Lazio's subsequent defeat to AC Milan means Sarri's side are now seven points clear at the top of Serie A with eight matches remaining.

But when asked to describe Buffon, who signed a one-year extension with Juve in June, Sarri said the 42-year-old can only be applauded, with his legendary status already assured.

"Everyone can just congratulate with Buffon for what he did during his career," Sarri said in a news conference.

"He's a legend. No words needed, just applause. That's how we welcomed him in the changing room today, no words needed. Look at his numbers, he is a legend."

One player who will be leaving Juve at the end of the season is Miralem Pjanic, the midfielder heading to Barcelona with Artur coming the other way.

Pjanic was taken off shortly after half-time in the derby, but Sarri insisted it was not to do with his performance, but instead related to a booking the playmaker had received towards the end of the first half, with Torino then pulling one back to make it 2-1 in stoppage time.

"Pjanic received the yellow card and he was one I was the most nervous on the pitch because the penalty given to Torino," Sarri added.

"That's why I decided to change him, I didn't want to risk [a sending off]."

Juventus, who have now won seven straight Serie A games, are next in action against AC Milan on Tuesday. 

Sarri's side have scored an impressive 13 goals across their past four league games and have conceded just twice in the process as they close in on another Serie A title.