Talking points from European soccer
April 30 (Reuters) - Talking points from the weekend in European soccer leagues:
SCHALKE DRAMA
Schalke 04 are offering their fans plenty of drama in the last weeks of the season, with the Royal Blues snatching a last-gasp comeback win over Werder Bremen that kept them alive in their battle to stay up.
With four games remaining, Schalke, who were promoted last season after a year in the second division, must dig even deeper to move off 17th place and into the safety zone.
"This win can give us new power for the final sprint of the season," said coach Thomas Reis.
Schalke, who have won two of their last three league matches, have 27 points, one point behind the playoff spot occupied by VfL Bochum and 15th-plaved VfB Stuttgart. Schalke next play European hopefuls Mainz 05.
TEENAGER LAMINE YAMAL MAKES HISTORY AT BARCELONA
Barcelona fans are already preparing to celebrate winning the LaLiga title as they are leading the standings with 79 points. They hold an 11-point advantage over second-placed Real Madrid with only six games remaining.
During their easy 4-0 romp over Real Betis on Saturday, Barca fans were introduced to their latest La Masia youth academy gem, Lamine Yama. Aged 15 years and nine months, he became the club's youngest ever debutant when he came on a substitute in the 83rd minute. Yamal broke a club record that had lasted since 1941, when Vicenc Martinez played his first professional match for Barcelona at the age of 16 years and 10 months.
La Masia is regarded as one of the best youth academies in the world having developed players such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol and many others.
NAPOLI OKAY TO DELAY TITLE JOY
Leaders Napoli were minutes away from celebrating the club's first Serie A title since the Diego Maradona era but Salernitana spoiled their party on Sunday with a late Boulaye Dia goal, extending the wait for Luciano Spalletti's side.
"I'm not angry," Spalletti told a news conference. "There is a bit of regret here, but if we think about the future it will be a pleasure anyway.
"Tomorrow we will all be together again, it becomes a delay of the enjoyment. It's like when you kiss: the longer you are together, the better it feels."
A draw at 13th-placed Udinese will be enough for Napoli to seal the championship on Thursday.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, Fernando Kallas and Anita Kobylinska, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
