Swansea City's Jonjo Shelvey hits wonder goal as Aston Villa wobble

Swansea's Premier League place is safe for another year after achieving back-to-back wins for the first time since December 2012 but Villa remain embroiled in the relegation battle to the dismay of their supporters, who derided the fifth defeat in the last six games with choruses of "We want Lambert out" and demanded to know what was going on.
Paul Lambert has seen his team take just one point from those last six matches. For the moment a cushion of four points separates them from the bottom three, but they do need to win their last home game, against Hull next Saturday. After that

Manchester United give Ryan Giggs fine start with Norwich demolition

"The Story Continues" was the banner headline on Manchester United's match-day programme alongside a picture of Ryan Giggs, the club attempting to put some positive spin on a week of turmoil.
The worry for United supporters is how long the story will continue, with Sir Alex Ferguson giving his backing to Giggs even as rumours spread through Manchester that Louis van Gaal is now the chosen one and that a deal with the Holland coach may already have been agreed. At least this was a positive chapter, with Giggs receiving a tremendous ovation from the crowd as he made the touchline walk in club suit and tie. There was even a chant of "Attack, attack, attack" from the Stretford End as the game kicked off as if in anticipation of the

Arsène Wenger: I have given Arsenal my word I will sign new contract

Arsène Wenger has promised Arsenal he will sign a new deal to stay on as manager beyond this season, he revealed on Friday.
The Frenchman's contract runs out in the summer and an extension has remained unsigned as Arsenal's Premier League title challenge has unravelled in recent months, leading to suggestions Wenger might be ready to leave after 18 seasons in charge.
However, the 64-year-old now looks certain to

Manchester United refuse to deny reports of deal for Louis van Gaal

Manchester United have refused to deny a report that Louis van Gaal will be the club's next permanent manager.
According to De Telegraaf, a leading Dutch newspaper, a deal has been agreed in principle with the Holland coach for him to take over United once the national side are eliminated from the World Cup.

Reacting to the story on Saturday morning, United said:

'Your fight is our strength' a fitting legacy to Tito Vilanova at Barcelona

On the eve of Tito Vilanova's first season in charge of Barcelona, he stood in the middle of the Camp Nou pitch with a microphone in hand. Tradition dictates that the new campaign is welcomed with the Gamper Trophy and the manager always has a message to deliver. This time, in August 2012, it carried a special emotive power. "I'm so happy that you're here with us," Vilanova turned to tell the French defender Eric Abidal. "Your fight is our strength."
Abidal had undergone a liver transplant in April of that year after suffering cancer and Vilanova knew something of what the Frenchman was going through: in November 2011 he had been diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland in the throat while assistant manager to Pep Guardiola. The following May it was formally announced that he had fully overcome the illness and he looked forward to a future as the manager of the club. His club. Abidal was

Sevilla's Stéphane Mbia sets up win over Valencia with backheeled goal

Stéphane Mbia and Carlos Bacca were on target for Sevilla as they took a big step towards reaching the Europa League final with a 2-0 victory over Valencia.
After a frantic start to the game Mbia backheeled Ivan Rakitic's free-kick over the Valencia goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita, to put the Andalusian side in front on the half-hour mark.
Bacca added another four minutes later when he used his pace to get clear before finishing clinically.
Valencia came close to reducing the arrears when an Edu Vargas shot curled just wide of the post midway through the second half and then in the final moments he also the same player the crossbar, but they now have it all to do in the second leg at the Mestalla.
Sevilla's victory continued a run of good form which has seen them win nine of their last 10 La Liga games.

Lima gives Benfica narrow lead after Juventus's Carlos Tevez ends drought

A brilliantly-worked Lima goal gave last year's runners-up Benfica a 2-1 win at home to Juventus in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Ezequiel Garay headed the recently-crowned Portuguese champions in front early on and were resolute in defence for 73 minutes until Carlos Tevez waltzed through the defence to score a fine equaliser.
The Argentinian ended a European goal-drought stretching back to April 2009 to give the visitors a priceless away goal, but the smiles were wiped off Juventus faces with a flash of Lima's right boot late on.
The forward arrived late in the penalty area to drill the ball into the top corner and put the hosts ahead in the tie . Benfica still needed a brilliant save by goalkeeper Artur from Claudio Marchisio to take a slender but valuable lead to Turin for next Thursday's second leg.