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  • UEFA Europa League: Champions League royalty Barcelona and Manchester United conflict in playoff first leg

    The new era of soccer followers tuning into the Europa League blockbuster playoff between conventional European powerhouses Manchester United and Barcelona could also be excused in the event that they discover it tough to consider that these two golf equipment fought for the Champions League title within the 2009 and 2011 finals. Since then, United haven’t reached one other UCL remaining whereas Barcelona claimed its final crown in 2015 towards Juventus. Since then, it has all been downhill for each golf equipment.

    The fall from grace has been gradual with United failing to win a trophy since 2017 – which satirically was the Europa League itself – and although Barcelona gained the Spanish league in 2018-19, their latest type in Europe leaves loads to be desired.

    HIGHLIGHTS | Pedri, Barça declare all three factors at Villarreal!#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/yHeDiJXPUm

    — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 14, 2023

    Since successful the UCL in 2015, Barcelona’s Champions League type has gone from dangerous to worse. In the following three editions, they have been eradicated within the quarterfinals. In the 2018/19 season, they misplaced 0-4 at Anfield within the second leg of the semifinals having gained the first leg at Camp Nou 3-0.

    The subsequent season can be one of many darkest reminiscences for any Barcelona fan once they have been demolished 8-2 by Bayern Munich in a single match. After that, they’ve misplaced to PSG within the Round of 16 and within the final two editions, didn’t even cross the group phases.

    United have been in freefall for the reason that legendary supervisor Alex Ferguson left in 2012 after successful them their twentieth and until now, their final Premier League title. They couldn’t even qualify for the Champions league this season. Since Ferguson left, United have reached the quarterfinals twice, been eradicated on the last-16 stage twice and didn’t make it out of the group on two events.

    Ready for an additional week of graft 👊#MUFC pic.twitter.com/B0S242sV6D

    — Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 14, 2023

    However, a ray of hope for followers of each golf equipment is their latest home type. After working by way of a revolving door of coaches, United appear to have lastly settled on Dutchman Erik ten Hag, who after a moderately shaky begin to the season with losses to Brentford and Brighton, has actually turned United round. They even have an out of doors likelihood of creating the Premier League title race a triple menace, sitting in third place, simply 5 factors off league leaders Arsenal.

    Their star striker Marcus Rashford is lastly fulfilling his potential having a sizzling run of type for the reason that World Cup break. Against Barcelona, anticipate ten Hag to deploy Rashford up entrance in an effort to exploit the chinks within the Catalan outfit’s defensive armour. They will, nonetheless, miss their trusty defender Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer resulting from suspensions. Casemiro, who is aware of a factor or two about going through Barca, shall be hoping to search out holes in a Barcelona midfield bereft of Sergio Busquets. However, United will miss the providers of the injured Christian Eriksen in midfield.

    Red-hot type

    Barcelona, in the meantime, are on a 11-match unbeaten streak, with their 1-1 draw towards Espanyol in December the one match they’d didn’t win. They have opened up an 11-point hole on the prime of the league desk on Real Madrid after the latest 1-0 win towards Villarreal, courtesy of a Pedri purpose. With the Spanish wonderkid combining expertly with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, United defenders and midfielders can have their arms full. Frenkie de Jong, who used to play for United supervisor ten Hag in Ajax, can even have a reunion together with his former gaffer, having turned down the possibility to affix him at Manchester United in the summertime. Barca have saved 16 clear sheets in 21 league matches this season with Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araújo and Alejandro Balde in distinctive type.

    A conflict of titans awaits us this Thursday evening as the 2 European heavyweights combat for the early benefit within the 1st leg at Camp Nou.

  • La Liga: Barcelona attain deal to increase Ousmane Dembele’s contract till 2024

    Barcelona introduced on Thursday that they’ve reached an settlement for the extension of Ousmane Dembele’s contract on the membership.

    Dembele has prolonged his contract till 2024 (Courtesy: Reuters)

    HIGHLIGHTSDembele has prolonged his contract till 2024The French ahead initially joined the membership in 2017In 5 years on the membership, Dembele has made 150 appearances

    Barcelona on Thursday confirmed that they’ve prolonged Ousmane Dembele’s contract till 2024.

    The French ahead joined the membership in the summertime of 2017 from Borussia Dortmund and made his debut in opposition to Espanyol. He assisted within the 5-0 win on that day. However, accidents have hampered Dembele’s Barcelona profession and the ahead hasn’t been in a position to hit his full stride.

    In his 5 seasons on the membership, the French ahead has performed 150 matches and has scored 32 targets and supplied 34 assists. During final season’s La Liga, Dembele notched up 13 assists and topped the charts.

    Despite this, there have been main doubts about his profession at Barcelona as he was within the final 12 months of his earlier contract. While there was reportedly curiosity within the providers of the French ahead, Barca have determined to increase his deal for 2 extra years.

    2022
    2024

    , ! pic.twitter.com/Exv7olDDwc

    — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 14, 2022

    In an announcement launched on the official web site, the Catalan membership confirmed that that they had reached an settlement with the 25-year-old ahead for the extension of his contract till 2024.

    “FC Barcelona and the player Ousmane Dembélé have reached an agreement for a contract until 30 June 2024,” stated the assertion.

    Dembele can have a personal contract signing on the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper after which a public one on the Tito Vilanova pitch on Thursday.

    The extension of the French ahead’s may very well be a big step as Xavi Hernandez begins to rebuild the Catalan membership. The World Cup winner was in a position to revive Barca’s fortunes final 12 months and helped them end second.

    Barcelona have additionally added to their ranks throughout the summer time switch window with three signings already made. The Catalan membership first wrapped up offers to signal Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen on free transfers from AC Milan and Chelsea respectively.

    This was adopted by bringing in Raphinha from Leeds United and the Brazilian would supply competitors for Dembele on the best aspect of the pitch.

    — ENDS —

  • Barcelona loses to Betis 1-0 earlier than essential Bayern journey

    Barcelona misplaced its first match beneath Xavi Hernández on Saturday when it fell to Real Betis 1-0 at dwelling simply earlier than its essential journey to Bayern Munich.
    Striker Juanmi Jiménez completed off a well-orchestrated counterattack to take Betis’ winner within the 79th minute at Camp Nou.
    Barcelona had received twice and drawn as soon as since Xavi took over as coach from Ronald Koeman. The defeat left the group in seventh place and in peril of falling even additional behind chief Real Madrid, which performed at Real Sociedad later.

    🎩✨😍
    Te quiero, @SergioCanales.#DíaDeBetis #BarçaRealBetis pic.twitter.com/ktcUExxzUM
    — Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) December 4, 2021
    Barcelona visits Bayern on Wednesday needing a win to make sure its place within the Champions League spherical of 16. Bayern, which is already certified because the group winner, beat Barcelona 3-0 of their first assembly this season.
    If it loses, Barcelona would want Benfica to not beat Dynamo Kyiv to keep away from elimination.
    The excessive level of the day for Barcelona’s followers got here earlier than kickoff, when Barcelona participant Alexia Putellas offered to the 65,000-plus followers her Ballón d’Or for the world’s finest ladies’s participant.

    💚🍍💚
    Puede que tengáis problemas para descargaros la imagen por las toneladas de calidad que tienen todos los que aparecen en ella. 𝐌𝐈 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐏𝐎.#DíaDeBetis #BarçaRealBetis pic.twitter.com/zkhV4D1GzW
    — Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) December 4, 2021
    Otherwise, it was extra frustration.
    “It hurts because we should have at least taken a point today,” Xavi mentioned. “Of course I am worried, I don’t like losing. But I don’t think we deserved to lose.”
    Betis’ purpose got here simply when Barcelona was enjoying at its finest after Ousmane Dembelé went on as an alternative choice to the ultimate half hour.
    The winger, which the membership needs to signal a brand new contract earlier than his present one expires on the finish of the season, ignited Barcelona’s assault. Three occasions he shot simply by the put up earlier than Betis caught Barcelona on a three-versus-two breakaway.
    Sergio Canales coolly drew in Barcelona’s final two defenders and handed for Cristian Tello, who fed the now unmarked Juanmi to fit the ball previous Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
    “Canales had the patience to create those spaces,” mentioned Juanmi, whose 9 objectives are second within the league solely to Karim Benzema’s 12 with Madrid.
    “We have to stop those counterattacks,” Xavi mentioned. “We had practiced just that, about when you have to make a tactical foul.”

    ❝We do not should lose immediately, however that is soccer.❞
    — Xavi reacts to #BarçaBetis pic.twitter.com/9gKE6hfou5
    — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 4, 2021
    Barcelona misplaced teen expertise Gavi Páez within the thirty fourth when he wanted to be carted off after apparently feeling dizzy following the highly effective impression of a ball to his head.
    Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis rose into third place, proper behind crosstown rival Sevilla, which beat Villarreal 1-0 because of a purpose from Lucas Ocampos.
    Sevilla and Villareal even have key Champions League matches this week. Sevilla should win at Salzburg to maneuver on, whereas Villarreal performs Atalanta needing a draw to advance.

  • Barcelona negotiates with Al-Sadd for coach Xavi Hernández

    Barcelona is in negotiations with Qatari membership Al-Sadd to hunt Xavi Hernandez’s launch in order that the previous star can return to Camp Nou as its new coach.

    “The two clubs are in conversations and we don’t know how it will end,” Xavi instructed a crew of Catalan public tv station TV3 that had deployed to Qatar on Wednesday. “It is very exciting, I don’t know what will happen.”

    The former Spain midfielder acknowledged that teaching Barcelona can be “an exciting step” in his profession.

    “We are all very eager,” he stated. “It would be spectacular.”

    Al-Sadd seems not as desperate to let him go.

    In a press release, Xavi’s present employer stated it “welcomed the visit of the administrative delegation” from Barcelona. But Al-Sadd CEO Turki Al-Ali added: “The club’s position is clear from the beginning – we are committed to keeping our coach Xavi with us and we cannot have him leave at this sensitive time of the season.”

    Al-Sadd leads the Qatari league by three factors after 9 video games performed.

    Barcelona has performed two video games below caretaker coach Sergi Barjuan, who took over following the firing of Ronald Koeman with the group struggling each within the Spanish league and the Champions League.

    Barcelona’s subsequent recreation is Saturday at Celta Vigo.

    The 41-year-old Xavi left Barcelona in 2015 after serving to it win 25 titles in 17 seasons, together with 4 European Cups. He was additionally key to Spain successful the 2010 World Cup and European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

    Since then, he has been at Al-Sadd, first as a participant after which as its coach.

  • Messi nets two as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 4-0 to win Copa del Rey

    If Lionel Messi isn’t pleased at Barcelona, it was not possible to inform on Saturday when he scored two objectives in one other masterful efficiency to brush apart Athletic Bilbao and win the Copa del Rey.
    Messi climbed into the tribune after main the 4-0 win and lifted the trophy excessive above his head and turned to his crew on the pitch beneath.
    For his teammates, coach, and tens of millions of anxious followers, it was simple to learn a lot into that broad grin, that vigorous shake of the large cup.

    Was Messi lastly seeing the folly of ever pondering he may discover a higher residence?
    Or was the membership’s all-time main scorer relieved that he may give Barcelona not less than yet another title earlier than saying goodbye?
    Messi didn’t point out his future after he acquired the trophy from Spain’s King Felipe VI, one of many few dignitaries together with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in attendance at a stadium closed to followers as a result of coronavirus restrictions.
    Instead, Messi targeted on those that weren’t capable of share within the celebration.
    “This is a very special cup for me to lift,” Messi mentioned. “It is too bad we cannot celebrate it with our family and fans. But that is the situation we have to accept.”
    Even although Messi prevented the burning query of his plans, his nice recreation will increase hopes for Barcelona followers of the soccer nice staying at Camp Nou.
    And for Joan Laporta, who returned to the membership’s presidency final month, Messi ought to have a straightforward selection forward of him.
    “Leo is the best player in the world, Leo has deep roots in this club, and I am convinced that he wants to stay,” Laporta mentioned. “We will do all we can for him to stay with us. That is what we most want. And today Messi gave a master class of soccer while being supported by a great team.”
    Barcelona’s file thirty first cup comes at a vital junction for Messi and Barcelona. Barcelona has seen its funds badly broken by the pandemic and its former president Josep Bartomeu was pressured to resign after the crew’s poor efficiency final season when it did not win a title and alleged administrative irregularities. Bartomeu has denied any wrongdoing.
    But the height of the membership’s disaster got here final summer season when Messi mentioned that he needed to place an finish to his extremely profitable twenty years with Barcelona. Since then, he has solely mentioned he’ll decide when his contract is up on the finish of this season.
    The cup, nonetheless, places an finish to a title drought since Barcelona received the 2019 Spanish league.
    “It has been a difficult year, but like in life, sometimes you fall down and just have to get back up,” mentioned Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, who excelled in shutting down Bilbao’s counterattack.
    “This is like starting anew, a reset . I think we have turned this around.”
    Bilbao has now misplaced two Copa del Rey finals this month at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville. Bilbao misplaced 1-0 to Real Sociedad simply two weeks in the past once they met within the 2020 closing that had been postponed because of the pandemic. Sociedad’s reign as Copa champion lasted all of 14 days.
    “We were far from our best,” mentioned Bilbao coach Marcelino Garcia Toral. “And even playing our your best it is tough to beat Barca.”
    Only some tenacious defending in its space saved Bilbao within the match till Barcelona erupted with 4 objectives between the sixtieth and 72nd minutes.
    The bombardment began within the fifth when Messi arrange Frenkie de Jong, who performed an ideal aide to Messi all through the match, to hit the submit.
    The second half continued with Messi dictating the tempo, and now Unai Simon needed to save Bilbao.
    But the Spain goalkeeper may do nothing to disclaim Antoine Griezmann within the sixtieth minute. Griezmann’s sliced in a one-touch strike off De Jong’s cross from the correct after Messi had once more taken the ball and compelled Bilbao to scramble again into its field.
    With Bilbao reeling, Barcelona struck once more within the 63rd _ this time from the left. Messi additionally performed a delicate half on this objective, making a dummy run to open area for De Jong to push ahead and head in Jordi Alba’s cross.
    De Jong then helped Messi slalom via Bilbao from close to the center of the sector into the center of the world by exchanging two fast passing combos with the star. Messi capped the transfer by dribbling previous the final defender earlier than slotting in his crew’s third objective within the 68th.
    Messi rounded off his stellar efficiency that earned him a thirty fifth profession title for Barcelona when he fired in a move from Alba.
    Messi had once more confirmed, at age 33, that he can nonetheless utterly dominate a closing.
    But hanging over the cup was what it really meant to the inscrutable Argentine.
    For coach Ronald Koeman, along with his crew additionally within the league title race, nothing has modified. It is as much as Messi to resolve, whereas Koeman crosses his fingers.
    “Messi showed he is a born winner,” Koeman mentioned after claiming his first title because the former defender returned to teach the membership final summer season.
    “We hope this is not Messi’s last Copa. We want him to stay with us.”

  • Former Barcelona president Bartomeu detained by police in search operation

    Image Source : AP File picture of Josep Maria Bartomeu.
    Catalan police arrested 4 folks — together with former president Josep Maria Bartomeu — after raiding Barcelona’s stadium on Monday in a search and seizure operation, including to the membership’s turmoil lower than per week earlier than it holds presidential elections.
    The operation was associated to final yr’s “Barçagate,” by which membership officers had been accused of launching a smear marketing campaign in opposition to present and former gamers who had been essential of the membership and then-president Bartomeu.

    Police didn’t say who had been taken into custody however presidential candidate Joan Laporta confirmed Spanish media studies that Bartomeu was amongst these detained.
    “Facing what happened today with the raids at the club’s headquarters and the detentions of Barça’s ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu and other executives of the club, our team want to express our utmost respect towards the actions conducted by the judiciary and police authorities as well as utmost respect towards the principle of presumption of innocence,” Laporta mentioned. “We are deeply saddened by these events that cause enormous harm to the image of our club.”
    Members of the police’s monetary crimes division performed the operation in 5 totally different areas, together with “some specific departments of the FC Barcelona offices.” They mentioned they had been investigating “alleged crimes related to property and socio-economic order.”
    Among these the Spanish media claimed had been detained had been membership CEO Óscar Grau and authorized division chief Román Gómez Ponti. Jaume Masferrer, Bartomeu’s former chief of workers, additionally was allegedly detained. They had been taken to a police station for interrogation, Spanish media mentioned, and police additionally went to Bartomeu’s home looking for proof.
    Authorities spent a number of hours on the group headquarters looking paperwork and speaking to staff.
    “We want to highlight the attitude and collaboration of the FC Barcelona in the records that have been made today and during the course of the investigation,” the police mentioned in an announcement. “The investigation, which has been going on for almost a year, is still ongoing.”
    The membership, mired in debt of greater than 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 billion), mentioned it provided “full collaboration to the legal and police authorities to help make clear facts which are subject to investigation.” It added the case was associated “to the contacting of monitoring providers on social networks.”
    “The information and documentation requested by the judicial police force relate strictly to the facts relative to this case. FC Barcelona (expresses) its utmost respect for the judicial process in place and for the principle of presumed innocence for the people affected within the remit of this investigation.”

    The membership didn’t point out Bartomeu. A textual content message despatched to Bartomeu was not instantly answered.
    Laporta, one of many three presidential candidates in elections on Sunday, advised Lleida Radio that what occurred on Monday “was a consequence of the bad management by the previous administration.” He mentioned the information of Bartomeu’s detention was “shocking” and “not good” for the club, but stressed that the former president deserved the “presumption of innocence.”
    Laporta was Barcelona’s president a decade in the past and, like Bartomeu, additionally confronted a no-confidence vote throughout his time in cost.
    Barcelona had denied accusations that it employed — and overpaid — an organization to make destructive feedback about its personal gamers and opponents on social media in an effort to enhance the picture of senior membership officers.
    The firm was accused of utilizing pretend social media accounts to discredit opposition figures after they expressed views that went in opposition to the membership. Some of the figures supposedly included gamers such Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué, in addition to former coach Pep Guardiola.
    The membership later launched an unbiased audit report exhibiting that there was no wrongdoing.
    Bartomeu and his board of administrators resigned final yr amid fallout from the controversy surrounding Messi. The membership has been mired in political turmoil and debt prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.
    The membership has been managed by a caretaker board since Bartomeu left in October whereas dealing with a no-confidence movement supported by 1000’s of membership members livid on the group’s poor performances and the membership’s monetary scenario.
    The membership’s struggles started to floor after the group’s embarrassing 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich within the quarterfinals of the Champions League final season, which was the primary with out a title for the Spanish membership since 2007-08.
    Bartomeu was loudly criticized by Messi, particularly after the previous president denied the participant’s request to depart the membership on the finish of final season. Messi’s contract ends this season and the Argentine nice has but to say whether or not he’ll keep or go.
    Barcelona is 5 factors off the Spanish league lead. It misplaced at residence to Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 within the first leg of the spherical of 16 of the Champions League and was crushed by Sevilla 2-0 within the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.

  • La Liga: Real Madrid slip to 3rd behind Barcelona after late draw towards Real Sociedad

    Image Source : AP Real Sociedad’s Portu (centre) celebrates with teammate David Silva after scoring a purpose towards Real Madrid in Madrid on Monday evening.
    It was a tactical change that did not final greater than quarter-hour, nevertheless it was simply lengthy sufficient to price Real Madrid an opportunity to battle for the Spanish league lead within the derby towards Atlético Madrid subsequent weekend.
    Coach Zinedine Zidane’s try and push Madrid ahead by switching formations halfway via the sport towards Real Sociedad backfired on Monday, resulting in a 1-1 residence draw that stored the defending champions from getting inside vary of the town rival going into the derby at Atlético’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday.

    Madrid conceded after Zidane modified a 4-3-3 formation to 3-5-2 at halftime, leaving Madrid extra uncovered defensively. It wanted an 89th-minute equaliser by Vinícius Júnior to salvage the draw.
    “We changed to three defenders because I didn’t like how we were pressing forward, but then we changed it back quickly,” Zidane mentioned. “Maybe it hurt us. I was trying to change the dynamic of the game.”
    The draw halted Madrid’s four-game successful streak within the league and left the membership 5 factors from its metropolis rival, which has a recreation in hand. Madrid has the identical factors complete as second-placed Barcelona however trails on purpose distinction.
    A win would have moved Madrid inside three factors of Atlético getting into the derby.
    “We had our chances but couldn’t capitalize on them and in the end we lost two points at home,” Zidane mentioned. “We can’t forget that we were up against a great rival and it played very well.”
    Sociedad, which had gained three in a row within the league, stayed in fifth place, six factors from fourth-placed Sevilla within the remaining Champions League place.

    “We leave with a bad taste in our mouth,” Sociedad ahead Cristian Portu mentioned. “We deserved more. Usually an away draw against Real Madrid is a good thing, but not with the way that the game developed.”
    Madrid, nonetheless with out injured gamers akin to Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos, struggled towards Sociedad’s well-organized crew at Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.
    Portu opened the scoring for the guests with a header into the highest nook within the fifty fifth minute, profiting from some comfortable defending by Madrid left again Ferland Mendy.
    “There was some disconnection after the change to three defenders,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois mentioned. “We were a bit lost and they had more space. In the end, Mendy couldn’t get to the cross in time and they scored a great goal.”
    Zidane mentioned he made the tactical change as a result of he wasn’t proud of how the crew had been enjoying.
    “It was only for about 10 or 15 minutes and then I changed it back to a 4-3-3 formation and we played better,” he mentioned.
    Vinícius Júnior, in his a hundredth match with Madrid, equalized with a shot from inside the realm.
    Madrid ahead Mariano Díaz got here shut by hitting the crossbar earlier within the recreation, and midfielder Casemiro additionally wasted a few good alternatives with second-half headers that flew large.
    It was Madrid’s first draw at residence within the league, including to 3 losses.

  • Watch: Sevilla gatecrash Lionel Messi’s occasion with Copa del Rey semis 1st leg win over Barcelona

    Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Lionel Messi seems dejected after Barcelona concede first aim towards Sevilla at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville.

    This time, in his 900th match, Lionel Messi did not have a solution for Sevilla.

    Messi had a quiet efficiency in his milestone match towards the group he punished essentially the most in his profession, and Barcelona misplaced 2-0 in Seville within the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday.

    Messi has scored extra targets towards Sevilla than towards every other group — 37 in 41 video games — however the Argentine nice squandered a few possibilities as Sevilla received its eighth consecutive match in all competitions. Jules Koundé scored within the first half and former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic added the second close to the top.

    The second leg can be on Feb. 27 on the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona. Athletic Bilbao hosts Levante on Thursday within the first leg of the opposite semifinal.

    “There is still hope,” Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman stated. “It will be complicated, but this team is capable of anything.”

    Sevilla and Barcelona entered the semis as the most well liked groups in Spain. The Catalan membership was coming off six straight wins in all competitions.

    “We are at halftime of a match of 180 minutes,” Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui stated. “There will be a lot happening before we go to Barcelona, but we know how difficult it will be for us. The hardest part is still to come.”

    The groups performed within the Copa last in 2016 and 2018, with Barcelona popping out on high each occasions. The Catalan membership is attempting to make it to its ninth last in 11 years. It made it to the final 4 9 straight occasions earlier than being eradicated by Athletic within the quarterfinals final season.

    Barcelona managed possession nevertheless it struggled to create many important possibilities on the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium, with Sevilla goalkeeper Bono stopping the few efforts he confronted. Sevilla continually threatened on counterattacks, particularly after opening the scoring within the first half.

    Messi, making his 758th look with Barcelona so as to add to his 142 with Argentina, commanded the assault however didn’t capitalize on his possibilities, together with one with solely Bono to beat within the eleventh minute. He practically scored with a stoppage-time free kick that once more was stopped by Bono.

    Messi had been rested within the Spanish league sport towards Real Betis on Sunday, when he got here off the bench within the second half to steer the group to a come-from-behind victory.

    Koundé put Sevilla forward within the twenty fifth with a pleasant run that culminated with him slipping the ball in between the legs of Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti earlier than taking pictures into the online from inside the realm.

    Rakitic sealed the victory in an Eighty fifth-minute breakaway, beating goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen with a shot into the highest of the online. The midfielder did not have a good time the aim towards his former membership.

    Koeman was with out three gamers due to accidents — Martin Braithwaite, Sergiño Dest and Miralem Pjanic. Lopetegui was with out injured gamers Lucas Ocampos and Jesús Navas.

    (Inputs from AP.)

  • Real Madrid, Barcelona stay quiet on deadline day of switch window

    Image Source : GETTY IMAGES File picture of Barcelona gamers
    Another switch window in Spain handed quietly on Monday as not one of the high groups made massive signings whereas they proceed to really feel financially smashed by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Barcelona has been hit the toughest and can be with out gamers that coach Ronaldo Koeman wished so as to add, together with defender Eric García and ahead Memphis Depay. The membership can be mired in political turmoil, being led by a caretaker board that may’t make many selections relating to transfers.

    Real Madrid did not make any important signings, both, with ahead Luka Jovic and midfielder Martin Odegaard leaving on loans to Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal, respectively. The membership additionally despatched younger Japanese ahead Takefusa Kubo from Villarreal to Getafe on a mortgage.

    Barcelona and Real Madrid are 10 factors behind Atlético Madrid, which introduced in French ahead Moussa Dembélé from Lyon to switch Diego Costa, who left the membership a couple of weeks in the past.

    Sevilla added Papu Gómez from Atalanta, whereas Real Sociedad moved Willian José to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

    Valencia, additionally attempting to get better from a gradual begin to its season, reached a deal for the return of proper again Cristiano Piccini from Atalanta. It additionally signed defender Ferro from Benfica and ahead Patrick Cutrone from Wolverhampton.

  • Watch: Lionel Messi’s mesmerising free-kick in Barcelona’s win over Athletic Bilbao

    Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Lionel Messi (far left) scores a free-kick objective towards Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou on Sunday evening.

    Lionel Messi confirmed his value but once more, scoring on a stupendous free kick to guide Barcelona to a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao within the Spanish league on Sunday.

    The 650th objective in his Barcelona profession got here amid the noise prompted by Spanish newspaper El Mundo’s report that his contract is value 555 million euros ($673 million) over 4 seasons. The Catalan membership, mired in debt and political turmoil, needed to rapidly deny its involvement within the leak.
    Watch match highlights under: 

    Antoine Griezmann additionally scored for Barcelona, which received its fifth in a row within the league and moved into second place for the primary time this season. It has the identical 40 factors as Real Madrid however is forward on objective distinction. Atlético earlier opened a 10-point lead after profitable 4-2 at Cádiz with a pair of objectives by Luis Suárez.

    Messi, who had his request to depart Barcelona denied by the membership final season, appeared unaffected by the leak Sunday of his contract particulars. He performed nicely from the beginning and was decisive once more on the Camp Nou Stadium. The Argentine nice opened the scoring within the twentieth minute with a free kick shot that curled over the wall and located the highest nook for his twelfth league objective.
    “Messi has done a lot for this club and today he scored a great free kick goal,” Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman mentioned. “We have to respect him. It seems there is bad intention and a desire to hurt him. Without Messi you can’t aspire too much.”
    Athletic equalized with an own-goal by Jordi Alba because the defender tried to clear a cross by Raúl García within the forty ninth, and Griezmann put Barcelona forward once more, finishing a cross by Óscar Mingueza within the seventy fifth.
    It was the third assembly between Barcelona and Athletic this month, with the Catalan membership profitable a postponed league sport and dropping the Spanish Super Cup closing.
    Athletic was making an attempt to win its sixth consecutive match in all competitions. The loss was solely its second since coach Marcelino García Toral was signed to start with of the 12 months — the primary additionally was towards Barcelona.
    It was Barcelona’s first residence match in 2021. It had performed eight consecutive video games away from the Camp Nou, together with within the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.