Gimenez scores as AC Milan close on UCL spots BY Reuters Sat Feb 15 2025 22:48:41 - Santiago Gimenez - 75' Santi Gimenez scores as AC Milan close on Champions League spots A wasteful AC Milan breathed a sigh of relief as they secured a narrow 1-0 Serie A win at home against Hellas Verona on Saturday, courtesy of a late Santiago Gimenez goal. The gloom that had set in at the San Siro lifted in the 75th minute when Gimenez headed home after a ball into the box was cleverly directed into his path by Rafael Leão. The result put Milan in seventh place with 41 points, five behind Lazio in fourth, the last qualifying spot for next season's Champions League. Verona are 15th. Milan dominated possession and created chances in the first half, but could not open the scoring against a defensive Verona, leading to growing frustration among both supporters and players. The hosts carved out a big chance early in the match when Tijjani Reijnders unleashed a low drive from distance, but Verona keeper Lorenzo Montipò reacted sharply, diving down swiftly to push it away from danger. Minutes later, Milan went dangerously close again when what looked like a cross from João Félix sailed over everyone, forcing a surprised Montipo into a desperate diving save to keep it out. Gimenez had a goal ruled out just after the half-hour mark, as he was a fraction offside before slotting the ball into the net, with the growing frustration evident for the home team, who had the majority of both chances and possession, rarely allowing Verona to get beyond their midfield. The second half was a largely dull affair with few chances until Gimenez's goal lifted the spirits, with jubilant cheers echoing around the stadium as the hosts rode out the final minutes. Leao had a late chance to double the lead as he stormed into the Verona box, but the opportunity went begging as Verona cleared to the sound of the final whistle. Game Information - Referees: - Francesco Fourneau Link to the original article PSG beat Toulouse; remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 BY Reuters Sat Feb 15 2025 22:48:41 - Fabián Ruiz - 52' PSG remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 with win at Toulouse Fabián Ruiz's second-half strike secured a 1-0 win for Paris Saint-Germain at Toulouse on Saturday, extending the visitors' unbeaten run as well as their lead at the top of Ligue 1. PSG, who have not lost in the league all season, top the table with 56 points from 22 games, 10 ahead of second-placed Marseille. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in, Désiré Doué and Lucas Hernández all had chances to break the deadlock in the first half as Toulouse struggled to find their rhythm. The visitors finally found the net seven minutes after the break when Willian Pacho's header hit the crossbar and the rebound fell to Fabian Ruiz, who slotted home from close range. PSG, who won the first leg of their Champions League tie against Brest 3-0 on Tuesday, will meet their French opponents again on Wednesday in the return. Game Information - Referees: - Willy Delajod Link to the original article Ancelotti: 'There's a problem' with LaLiga refs BY Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez Sat Feb 15 2025 22:02:51 Carlo Ancelotti said that "there's a problem" with LaLiga referees after Jude Bellingham was sent off in Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday. Madrid were leading 1-0 after Kylian Mbappé's opener when Bellingham was sent off in the 39th minute at El Sadar, with Ancelotti blaming a translation error from the referee for the midfielder's dismissal. The hosts then levelled in the second half, thanks to a Ante Budimir penalty awarded after a VAR check on Eduardo Camavinga's challenge on the forward, as Madrid dropped two more points in the title race. "In a football sense, we started well and ended well, with one player fewer," Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference. "In our last three games, things have happened that everybody has seen. But I don't want to say anything more about that, because I want to be sat on the bench for the next match." Madrid's draw at Osasuna follows a