Man Utd secure Champions League spot; Mbappe creates a stir at Real Madrid.
HAGL defeated SLNA at Vinh Stadium; Man Utd officially secured a place in next season's Champions League... these are some of the prominent sports news stories from the past 24 hours.
Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien's outstanding performance helped HAGL secure a thrilling victory against SLNA.
In a high-pressure match at Vinh Stadium, HAGL secured a 1-0 victory against SLNA, with goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien playing a key role.
The outstanding performance of the young goalkeeper was the key factor in helping the team from Pleiku overcome their frustrating jinx at Vinh Stadium.
The highlight came in the eighth minute of added time, when Trung Kien made two consecutive crucial saves, blocking two close-range shots from SLNA players. These incredible saves secured the victory for HAGL, much to the ecstatic joy of his teammates.
The 1-0 victory gives HAGL 22 points and moves them up to 10th place in the standings, creating a safe 9-point gap from the bottom group. But more than the points, this match affirmed the value of Tran Trung Kien, who had a near-perfect performance.
Mbappe is causing a stir at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid were missing nearly a third of their squad for the match against Espanyol on the morning of May 4th, while images of Kylian Mbappe resting amidst the team's crisis further fueled controversy.
Mbappe is causing controversy. The French striker is recovering from a hamstring injury, but he went on vacation with his girlfriend in Italy. The images have displeased fans, especially given the team's current crisis. Even within the club, there is growing dissatisfaction with Mbappe's behavior.
Furthermore, Dani Ceballos continues to be left out due to professional decisions, amidst unresolved internal conflicts. The midfielder is virtually out of the team's plans and is likely to leave after the season.
With a depleted squad and numerous off-field issues, Real Madrid faced a risky away trip. With nearly a third of their team unavailable, the challenge at Cornella-El Prat became immense. If they failed to beat Espanyol, Real would likely see Barcelona crowned champions in this round.
Real Madrid hasn't let Barcelona win the championship yet.
In the early hours of May 4th, Vinicius shone with a brace of goals, helping Real Madrid defeat Espanyol 2-0 in the 34th round of La Liga.
The first half ended goalless. The turning point came after the break when Vinicius combined with Gonzalo Garcia before calmly finishing to open the scoring. Espanyol tried to respond but lacked sharpness. They paid the price when Vinicius completed his brace with a beautiful finish from a Jude Bellingham assist in the 66th minute.
The victory helped Real Madrid end their disappointing away run and put pressure on Barcelona ahead of their direct clash on the morning of May 11th. Meanwhile, Espanyol continues to sink deeper into crisis, remaining winless in 2026 and facing the risk of a relegation battle.
Dramatic English derby, Man Utd secure Champions League spot.
Manchester United officially secured their place in next season's Champions League after defeating Liverpool 3-2 in the 35th round of the Premier League on May 4th (Hanoi time).
Just eight minutes later, striker Benjamin Sesko doubled the lead for the home side at Old Trafford. This was the Slovenian forward's 11th Premier League goal of the season, with nine of them coming since the beginning of 2026.
Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai capitalized on a careless cross from Amad Diallo. The Hungarian star then fired a low shot through Diogo Dalot's legs into the far corner, reducing the deficit to 1-2 for visiting Liverpool in the 47th minute.
In the 56th minute, goalkeeper Senne Lammens passed the ball directly to Alexis Mac Allister just outside the penalty area. The Argentinian midfielder took a touch to Szoboszlai, before the Hungarian player set up Cody Gakpo to tap the ball into the empty net.
When the match seemed destined for a draw, midfielder Mainoo, who had just received a 500% pay raise, made the difference with the winning goal in the 77th minute, securing a 3-2 victory.
The 3-2 victory officially secured Man Utd's place in next season's Champions League, with three games to spare. This also marks the first time they have completed a double win against Liverpool in the Premier League, a feat they achieved exactly 10 years ago.
