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Tag: Barcelona

  • Cruyff claims Barcelona’s ‘special’ Man United tie will come too soon

    Jordi Cruyff is relishing a “special” Europa League tie between Barcelona and Manchester United but thinks it is a shame they will not meet later in the competition.

    Barca finished behind Bayern Munich and Inter in Champions League Group C, plunging them into the Europa League for a second consecutive season.

    Monday’s knockout round play-off draw handed the Catalan giants a heavyweight clash with United, which Xavi lamented as the “most difficult” assignment possible.

    Blaugrana sporting director Cruyff, who represented both clubs during his playing days, would like such a mouthwatering tie to have taken place in the latter stages of the Europa League.

    “I think it’s a draw that both teams would have preferred to have further down the line, not so quick, but that’s the beauty of football, you never know what’s going to come,” Cruyff said.

    “It came now, and it’s probably going to be a tough match for both, but also very special as these are two historic football clubs.

    “Barcelona is a club where the pressure is always at the max, everything you start, you always need to win. That’s the pressure that these sorts of clubs have, the same that United will have.

    “For us, it’s a motivation and the fact that we get a team like this so quickly means that this competition isn’t easy at all. It’s difficult, but you know that we’re motivated.”

    Barca have fond memories of their recent fixtures against United, having beaten the Red Devils in four successive meetings – including Champions League final triumphs in 2009 and 2011.


    Source: Livescore

     

  • Xavi laments ‘most difficult’ draw as Barcelona paired with Man Utd in Europa League

    Xavi said Barcelona had been handed the toughest possible draw after they were paired with Manchester United in the Europa League’s knockout round play-offs.

    Barca will compete in the Europa League after the turn of the year as a result of their failure to advance from a Champions League group containing Bayern Munich and Inter.

    The Blaugrana have now suffered successive group-stage eliminations from the Champions League for just the second time, having also done so under Louis van Gaal in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 campaigns.

    Barca were beaten by eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the last eight of the Europa League last term, and Xavi said they had been unfortunate once again following Monday’s draw.

    “We will have to compete, going to Manchester against a really tough rival,” Xavi said ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Osasuna in LaLiga.

    “It’s a historic rival that has grown a lot with the arrival of Erik ten Hag, with great individual players. We have been given the most difficult rival, yet again, in the Europa League.

    “There is always a rival who also has the obligation to win, like ourselves. To compete, we have to analyse Manchester. We will try, this club has never won the Europa League.

    “It’s a massive challenge for us, our players will probably be more motivated against a strong team.”

    Barca’s next European tie will see them reunited with their old foe Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 20 goals in 34 games against the Blaugrana, netting against them in LaLiga (nine), the Champions League (two), the Copa del Rey (five) and the Supercopa de Espana (four).

    Xavi refuted suggestions the United striker is in decline despite his struggles this season, adding: “He seems to me to be a great player who has marked an era, and he can still make a difference.

    “I like to win, I hate to lose, whoever is in front of me. I want to win and be competitive.”

    Barca have won their last four games against United, including Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011, having won just one of the sides’ previous eight meetings in European competitions (D4 L3).

    Source: Livescore

  • Xavi says Pique’s retirement won’t change much in Barca

    Barcelona boss Xavi says “not much is going to change” following Gerard Pique’s retirement, with the Blaugrana squad prepared to play their part in filling the void left behind by the defender.

    The veteran centre-back abruptly announced his retirement from the professional game last week, before bowing out on a winning note with a 2-0 victory in LaLiga over Almeria.

    Pique departed in the 84th minute to a standing ovation, bringing the curtain down on a near-decade-and-a-half stay with the club, where he originally began as a junior before moving to Manchester United.

    Asked how Barca intended to alter their side following his exit, Xavi was adamant there would be little difference within the team, noting they will pull together to counter his absence.

    “Not much is going to change,” he stated. “Everyone has their leading role in the team.

    “We’re going to miss Gerard but [the departure of long-term players] has always happened. When somebody has left, the rest have been relocated.”

    Elsewhere, Xavi further touched on the form of Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele, two wingers with contrasting fortunes this term at Camp Nou.

    The Brazilian, signed from Leeds United ahead of the campaign, has yielded only one goal in a dozen LaLiga appearances, while the Frenchman looks to have rediscovered his form with four in 13 top-flight games, along with five assists.

    On Raphinha, Xavi added: “He has total confidence on our part. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way you want, but you have to keep working. We believe in him a lot, and I’m sure the goals will come.

    “As for Dembele, he’s making a difference. His numbers have changed. He is being important, and he is feeling that way too.

    “He is happy, and he has grown a lot. He lacks consistency, but because of his talent and skill, he has everything to be the best in the world.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • The facts behind Barcelona legend’s Pique retirement

    Gerard Pique’s retirement brings one of the most distinguished careers in Barcelona and Spain footballing history to a conclusion.

    Pique won eight LaLiga titles and the Champions League three times with Barca, while helping his national team lift their first World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship two years later.

    The Los Cules great has decided to call it quits at the age of 35 after Barca’s next match, against Almeria on Saturday, having turned out for his hometown club over 600 times.

    A number of high-profile names have hailed Pique since the announcement, including the likes of Patrick Kluivert and Fabio Cannavaro, while former centre-back partner Carles Puyol called it a “privilege” to play alongside him.

    A Barca legend

    Pique will retire as a Camp Nou legend, with only four players featuring more times for Barca than his (614), those being Lionel Messi (778), Xavi (767), Sergio Busquets (694) and Andres Iniesta (674) – all of whom helped form part of the dominant Barca team in the 2010s alongside Pique.

    Pique started in Barca’s youth ranks but left for Manchester United in 2004, where he won the Premier League and Champions League in the 2007-08 season.

    However, Pique returned to Barca in 2008 and has won 422 of his 614 games in all competitions since.

    He lifted 30 titles with the club in what was the most successful period in Barca’s history.

    A rock for his national team

    Pique also made his mark at international level, earning 102 caps for Spain between 2009 and 2018 and becoming one of just 13 players to feature 100 or more times for La Roja.

    Pique played every minute of the final as they overcame the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time to lift their first World Cup in 2010, before Spain went on to win the 2012 Euros by routing Italy 4-0 in the final.

    He scored five goals for Spain, all against different opponents, including three in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

    European great

    Only Sergio Ramos (135) made more Champions League appearances as a defender than Pique (128), while he scored the joint-most goals for a defender in the competition with Roberto Carlos (16).

    Perhaps his best Champions League season was the 2008-09 campaign when he finished with the most ball recoveries (90), while only Xavi (967) completed more passes than him (695).

    There are just four players with more Champions League titles, Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo, all of whom are on five.

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Puyol salutes Pique as Barca star announces decision to retire

    Carles Puyol paid tribute to former Barcelona and Spain team-mate Gerard Pique, stating “few have defended the Barca shirt like you” after the centre-back announced he is to retire.

    Pique will call time on his glittering playing career after Saturday’s LaLiga clash with Almeria at Camp Nou, with his envious list of honours including eight domestic titles and three Champions Leagues crowns.

    He endured a somewhat sour ending to his lengthy association with the Blaugrana, though, after falling down the pecking order under Xavi, while he was booed by home fans during the recent win over Villarreal.

    Puyol partnered Pique in the heart of defence during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, including the treble-winning season of 2008-09, as well as Spain’s World Cup glory in 2010.

    The former Barca captain wrote on Twitter: “Thank you for everything, Geri. I am in shock. Many have been unfair to you, few have defended the Barca shirt like you.

    “I can always say that I played alongside you, it was a privilege. I love you friend.”

    Pique has racked up a whopping 615 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions, with his tally only bettered by Lionel Messi (778), Xavi (767), Sergio Busquets (694) and Andres Iniesta (674).

    The World Cup and European Championship winner also earned 102 international caps, making him one of just 13 players to reach triple figures for Spain.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Arteta ‘proud’ to be at Arsenal amid Barcelona links

    Mikel Arteta insists he is “extremely happy and proud” to lead Arsenal despite reports linking him with Barcelona as he praised Xavi’s “phenomenal” work at Camp Nou.

    Arsenal have won 10 of their 12 Premier League games this season to lead Manchester City by two points at the summit, and they will top their Europa League group if they beat Zurich on Thursday.

    The Gunners’ excellent form has seen Arteta linked with a move to Barcelona, where Xavi is facing mounting pressure after failing to lead the Blaugrana to the Champions League’s last 16.

    However, Arteta remains fully focused on his current role, saying: “What I can say is I am extremely proud and happy to be where I am now. I think Barcelona are on a really good path now.

    “I think they have a phenomenal coach, a coach who has been an absolute legend at that club and has lifted the whole place, and you have to be very respectful of that.”

    Despite Arsenal’s strong results, some onlookers have expressed worries about the form of Gabriel Jesus, who has not scored since a 3-1 derby win over Tottenham at the start of last month.

    However, Jesus claimed two assists in Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest, as well as playing a key role in the first of Reiss Nelson’s two goals, and Arteta sees no cause for concern.

    “If he makes three assists in a game, I don’t think he has to make many adjustments,” Arteta said. “I will be really happy if he is able to do that every game.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Spanish prosecutors drop fraud and corruption charges against Neymar

    Prosecutors in Spain have dropped corruption and fraud charges against Neymar.

    The Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil star was one of several people accused of the charges in a trial relating to his move from Santos to Barcelona in 2013.

    Other defendants in the case included Neymar’s parents, the two clubs involved in the deal, former Barcelona presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, along with ex-Santos president Odilio Rodrigues.

    The prosecution had been seeking jail time of two years for Neymar, in addition to a fine of €10million, but withdrew all charges on Friday.

    Investment firm DIS, which owned 40 per cent of the Brazilian’s rights when he was still at Santos, alleged it had missed out on money from the deal as the value had been understated.

    Barcelona agreed a deal with Neymar in 2011 to sign him two years later for an overall fee of €57.1m, with €40m of that going to the player and his family, meaning DIS only received a percentage of the remaining €17.1m that went to Santos as the selling club.

    DIS argued the deal was undervalued, with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appearing as a witness in court via videolink and revealing Madrid had made offers of €45m in 2011 and €36m in 2013 to sign Neymar, but he chose to join Barca.

    The alleged offence which Neymar and his family was accused of is not punishable in Brazil.

    Neymar had always denied the allegations, stating last week he had not been a part of negotiations regarding his transfer to the LaLiga giants.

    Source: Livescore

  • LaLiga Matchday 12: Barca face Mestalla meeting with Valencia

    Barcelona’s Champions League campaign ended in failure — but they continue to impress in LaLiga.

    The Blaugrana exited Europe’s elite competition in midweek, after Inter Milan swatted Viktoria Plzen aside to secure knockout qualification.

    However, they will be chasing a third consecutive league win at Valencia this weekend, following their 4-0 demolition of Athletic Bilbao on Matchday 11.

    Elsewhere, leaders Real Madrid host Girona on Sunday, top-four hopefuls Real Sociedad and Real Betis go head-to-head and Atletico Madrid will hope to bounce back from their continental elimination by beating Cadiz.

    Game of the week: Valencia vs Barcelona (Saturday, 8pm)

    A trip to Valencia could be the perfect tonic for Barcelona’s European woes.

    The Catalan giants have only lost one of their previous 15 league visits to the Mestalla (won seven, drawn seven) and have picked up maximum points from their last three meetings with Los Che.

    Xavi’s men will certainly be confident about not conceding — they have kept nine clean sheets in their 11 LaLiga games this season, which is more than any other team in the competition’s history at this stage of the campaign.

    And Barca have also been in sublime form at the other end of the pitch, with Robert Lewandowski netting a remarkable 12 goals in 11 league fixtures.

    Real Madrid vs Girona (Sunday, 3.15pm)

    Real Madrid will be flying the flag for Spain in 2023 — they are the only LaLiga team to have reached the Champions League knockout rounds.

    Los Blancos are also leading the way domestically too, though Carlo Ancelotti’s side will need to watch out for a potential banana skin this weekend.

    The table-toppers have lost two of their four league meetings with Girona, which is their highest losing percentage in the competition (50%).

    However, the visitors are yet to record a win on the road in 2022-23 and the capital has not been a happy hunting ground for them in recent times — they have lost all of their last three visits to Madrid.

    Federico Valverde has been remarkably lethal from distance this season
    Federico Valverde has been remarkably lethal from distance this season

    Real Sociedad vs Real Betis (Sunday, 8pm)

    Both these sides suffered defeat on Matchday 11 — but Real Sociedad will fancy their chances against inconsistent Real Betis.

    Los Verdiblancos have won just one of their last five LaLiga fixtures (drawn two, lost two), while the hosts’ loss at Real Valladolid last Saturday snapped a run of eight consecutive victories in all competitions.

    Betis are unbeaten in their last five encounters with Imanol Alguacil’s men though, not conceding in any of their last three meetings.

    But they will need to watch out for Sociedad’s creator-in-chief Mikel Merino. He has conjured four assists in the competition this term, with only Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele (five) managing more.

    Cadiz vs Atletico Madrid (Saturday, 3.15pm)

    Antoine Griezmann struck twice against Real Betis on Matchday 11
    Antoine Griezmann struck twice against Real Betis on Matchday 11

    Atletico Madrid will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Saturday, after their continental hopes were crushed in dramatic fashion.

    Yannick Carrasco missed a stoppage-time penalty in midweek, as a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen sent Atleti tumbling out of the Champions League.

    However, they should have a good chance of bouncing back against Cadiz, who have failed to win any of their last seven home league games against the Colchoneros (drawn three, lost four).

    And Diego Simeone’s unit have been imperious on the road in LaLiga, collecting a sensational 16 points from the 18 available in 2022-23 (won five, drawn one).

    Athletic Bilbao vs Villarreal (Sunday, 5.30pm)

    The last meeting between Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal was a close-fought contest that ended in a 1-1 draw
    The last meeting between Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal was a close-fought contest that ended in a 1-1 draw

    It has been a tumultuous week for Villarreal, with manager Unai Emery leaving the Yellow Submarine to join Premier League outfit Aston Villa.

    He has been replaced in the dugout by former Barcelona boss Quique Setien, who will be hoping to compound Athletic Bilbao’s poor run of form.

    The Basque club are without a win in four games but have a solid record against Sunday’s visitors.

    Los Leones have avoided defeat in their most recent seven meetings with Villarreal (won two, drawn five), while the Castellon club have struggled on the road this season — failing to win or score during their last five away LaLiga matches (drawn two, lost three).

    The weekend’s other games

    Mallorca vs Espanyol (Friday, 8pm)

    Almeria vs Celta Vigo (Saturday, 1pm)

    Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano (Saturday, 5.30pm)

    Osasuna vs Real Valladolid (Sunday, 1pm)

    Elche vs Getafe (Monday, 8pm)

    Source: Livescore

  • Xavi to ‘turn the page’ on Champions League and still foresees ‘great season’

    Xavi has called on Barcelona to “turn the page” after their Champions League disappointment as he still believes they can deliver a “great season”.

    The Blaugrana were eliminated from Europe’s elite club competition in midweek, with Inter’s victory over Viktoria Plzen sealing their fate even before a 3-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich.

    Barca paid the price for taking only a point from their double-header against Inter, who followed Bayern into the last 16.

    The Catalan giants had invested heavily in the transfer market – despite their financial difficulties – to try to ensure there would be no repeat of last season’s group-stage exit, but Xavi’s side still fell short.

    However, sitting second in LaLiga and only three points behind leaders, champions and rivals Real Madrid, the Barca coach is ready to retrain his focus on a successful domestic campaign.

    “In the Champions League, we have made our assessments, [about] what we have lacked but also that we had it in our hands,” Xavi said before Saturday’s game against Valencia.

    “Now it’s time to turn the page. Tomorrow is one of those moments in the season to react.”

    He added: “I’m still positive. It’s been a blow, but we can have a great season. There are many titles left.

    “In LaLiga, we are in a good dynamic against strong rivals. It is another test to show a reaction and pride.”

    With Barca already certain to fall into the Europa League before the Bayern match, Xavi suggested “the psychological part weighed a lot”.

    Failure in Europe will surely increase pressure on the coach’s position, but he confirmed he had spoken to president Joan Laporta to analyse what had gone wrong.

    “With the president, we talk continuously, practically for every game,” Xavi said. “We see each other after the games. The diagnosis is clear: there are things that have not depended on us, and we must improve those things that do depend on us.”

    He added: “I think in Munich we saw a good Barca, this one also against Villarreal, Athletic, Real Sociedad, Sevilla; I think you are seeing things.

    “I want to believe that we are on the way. I’ve experienced it as a footballer: we can’t get off track. And if we don’t arrive [at the best level], another coach will come.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Iniesta says Xavi will enjoy a ‘remarkable’ career despite mounting pressure

    Xavi has been backed to enjoy a “remarkable” coaching career by former team-mate Andres Iniesta, despite Barcelona’s Champions League exit on Wednesday.

    Barca trail Real Madrid by just three points at the top of LaLiga after winning nine of their first 11 games this season, but have received heavy criticism following another European failure.

    Inter’s 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen put Barca out of contention for a top-two finish in Group C on Wednesday, and the Blaugrana failed to salvage any pride in a subsequent 3-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich – their sixth consecutive Champions League loss to the Bavarians.

    Iniesta, however, believes Xavi will recover from that setback, telling Corriere dello Sport it brings him “so much joy” to see his former midfield partner in the Camp Nou dugout.

    “He is a friend and he will have a remarkable career,” Iniesta said. “He is prepared, he has studied and had Barcelona as his guide.”

    Iniesta now captains Japanese side Vissel Kobe, and while the 38-year-old acknowledges his own career is drawing to a close, he is unsure whether he will follow Xavi into coaching.

    “I know that when I have to quit, it won’t be a great day,” he added. “I will think back to when my dad used to take me to play, I will regret many things.

    “Then I will also think about the future, I don’t know yet if I will be a coach or a sporting director. I still don’t have clear ideas.”

    Iniesta and Xavi formed one of the most iconic midfield partnerships in football history, contributing to four Champions League triumphs between 2005-06 and 2014-15 during a golden age for Barca.

    Young midfielders Pedri and Gavi have earned comparisons to that duo after emerging as key players in Xavi’s side, and Iniesta hopes they can replicate their achievements.

    “They said to me that I resembled [Pep] Guardiola, then there was Xavi,” Iniesta said. “Now it is up to Pedri and Gavi. Football works in cycles.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • ‘Welcome to the Europa League’ – Social media users mock Barcelona after UCL disappointment

    Following Barcelona’s early exit from the UEFA Champions League, some football fans on social media have mocked the Spanish giant, who have dropped into the Europa League.

    Barcelona were relegated to the second-tier UEFA European competition after Inter beat Victoria Plezn on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, to go 6 points above the Catalans with a game to spare.

    Inter’s win came in a kick-off with Barcelona’s scheduled for a late kick-off against Bayern Munich.

    Bayern deepened Barcelona‘s woes, thumping them 3-0 at the Sportify Camp Nou.

    After their exit and yet another defeat at the hands of their nemesis, Bayern Munich, rival fans have teased Barcelona, who spent heavily in the 2022 summer transfer but failed to advance beyond the group stages.

    Below are some reactions:

    Barcelona getting dragged to Europa League second year in a row after activating 7 levers, selling half their assets & spending €600m in one transfer window: pic.twitter.com/wuZ9i95tty

    — PhD Ilkay ???????? ¹⁴ (@DrNacho_RM) October 26, 2022

    Barcelona and Manchester United recreating the 2009 UCL finals in the Europa League next year will be the most hilarious thing to happen in soccer this century. Finished clubs!

    — Kofi Denzel 14???????????????? (@StvrDenzel) October 27, 2022

    When you’re feeling stupid just remember Barcelona sold their stadium to a music application just for them to play Europa league.

    — Ghana Yesu ☦️ (@Ghana_Yesu_) October 27, 2022

    In 2016 Real Madrid were in crisis, they signed their legend Zidane as a Manager and he went on to win the UCL after 6 months

    Fast forward to 2021 Barcelona tried to copy Real and Appointed their legend Xavi as a Manager, Now they’re in Europa league for the second ssn in a row

    — WelBeast (@WelBeast) October 27, 2022

    Xavi has already lost 5 European games as the Barcelona manager. Zidane three-peated the UCL before his 5th defeat. pic.twitter.com/DZ6GKZMnUU

    — TC (@totalcristiano) October 26, 2022

    Barcelona hijacked us just to hear the Europa League anthem again pic.twitter.com/SLvcuoUlGQ

    — Dubois (@CFCDUBois) October 26, 2022

    The cedi dey perform pass Barcelona

    — KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) October 26, 2022

    We have to appreciate Bayern more for consistently bringing us Barcelona tears, we love you ????❤️

    — Trey (@UTDTrey) October 26, 2022

    Real Madrid fans seeing Barcelona and Atletico Madrid head to the Europa League ???? pic.twitter.com/Ntostaf4Uy

    — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 26, 2022

    Welcome to the Europa League @FCBarcelona . Vamos

    — Mempeasem President (@AsieduMends) October 26, 2022

    Welcome back Barcelona!#UCLpic.twitter.com/N4iPqqsVcY

    — Rana Fatih The 12th Harbinger (@rfjr20586) October 27, 2022

    Welcome back @FCBarcelona ????

    — UEFA Europa League ???? (@Differential_PL) October 26, 2022

  • Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich: Humiliated Barca fail to progress

    Bayern Munich eased to a 3-0 win to compound a miserable day for Barcelona as they were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage for a second successive season.

    Inter’s 4-0 win against Viktoria Plzen earlier on Wednesday had already sealed Barca’s fate, which led to a sombre mood from the first whistle at Camp Nou.

    First-half goals from Sadio Mane and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting were followed by a Benjamin Pavard strike with the last kick of the game.

    Bayern were already through from Group C but confirmed themselves as group winners ahead of Inter with this win, with Barca dropping into the Europa League.

    It took just 10 minutes for Bayern to strike after Serge Gnabry played a ball through to Mane, who outpaced Hector Bellerin before calmly dinking the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

    The second also came thanks to an assured pass from Gnabry as Bayern countered and Choupo-Moting was slipped in on the right of the penalty area, firing his shot through the legs of Ter Stegen just after the half-hour mark.

    The hosts thought they had a penalty just before half-time when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot after Robert Lewandowski was felled by Matthijs de Ligt, but a VAR check revealed the Dutch centre-back got a touch on the ball before any contact was made with the former Bayern man.

    Gnabry had the ball in the net with a terrific left-foot finish to Ter Stegen’s right 10 minutes into the second half, yet his effort was ruled out for offside.

    A game that had the feeling of a dead rubber fizzled out, with Lewandowski and Co. never looking like getting back into the game before Gnabry had his third assist of the night as his volley from a corner found Pavard at the far post for a tap-in.

    What does it mean? Another season of Champions League heartache for Blaugrana

    It was a somewhat eerie night at Camp Nou, with their relegation to the Europa League confirmed before a ball had been kicked.

    That coupled with the early goal from Mane seemed to put the writing on the wall, with a number of Barca fans seemingly leaving the stadium at half-time as their team failed to land a single shot on target compared to the visitors’ eight.

    This was the first time Barca have been dumped out of the Champions League group stage in back-to-back seasons since the 1997-98 and 1998-99 campaigns under Louis van Gaal.

    Bogey boys Bayern beat Barca… again

    Barca and Bayern seem to face each other on a regular basis on Europe’s biggest stage, which has been pretty bad news for the Catalan giants.

    This was just the fifth time they have been beaten twice by the same team in a Champions League campaign, with Bayern responsible for four of those (also 1998-99, 2012-13 and 2021-22) — Dynamo Kyiv being the only other side to manage it (1997-98).

    No happy reunion for Lewandowski

    It was the obvious story when these two were drawn together in Group C following Lewandowski’s high-profile transfer from Munich to Barcelona at the end of last season.

    Having failed to score in the first game at the Allianz Arena despite a series of chances, the Polish striker was anonymous here, having just 34 touches in his 82 minutes on the pitch, as well as two shots and a passing accuracy of only 61.9 per cent (13 of 21).

    What’s next?

    Barcelona travel to Valencia in LaLiga action on Saturday, while it is back to the Bundesliga for Bayern as they host Mainz on the same day.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Laporta philosophical after Barcelona’s premature Champions League exit

    Barcelona president Joan Laporta concedes his side’s premature Champions League exit is a shame but was philosophical about their “young project” under Xavi.

    The Blaugrana were officially eliminated and consigned to the Europa League following Inter’s 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen earlier on Wednesday, before producing a limp home display in a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich.

    Barcelona have been condemned to a group-stage exit for the second straight season, while that comes almost 12 months since Xavi’s appointment to replace Ronald Koeman.

    The five-time Champions League winners spent significantly in Xavi’s first off-season at the helm, bringing in Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Hector Bellerin, Franck Kessie, Marcos Alonso and Raphinha.

    Barca’s failure to reach the Champions League knockout stages will have a financial impact on the club, but Laporta was philosophical.

    “It’s a shame, but you can’t blame the players or the coach for anything,” Laporta told Barca TV. “We have to look forward, because we have LaLiga and other competitions left.

    “This is a young project in which from the beginning we knew we were going to have ups and downs. The league remains and we have to show that we continue.”

    The Blaugrana are second in LaLiga after a strong start to the campaign with 28 points from 11 games, three points behind Real Madrid, whose El Clasico victory earlier this month put them top.

    “LaLiga is very important and we have it close,” Laporta said. “The message is to look forward. This has already happened.”

    Barca’s 3-0 home loss to the German champions marked the sixth straight defeat against Bayern, including the 8-2 Champions League quarter-final rout in 2020.

    “Bayern is a consolidated and powerful team, one of the best in Europe and they did not play anything, they left relaxed,” Laporta added.

    “For us it was very complicated and the [Inter] game against Plzen was torture, but we still have faith.”

    Barca midfielder Pedri was more forthright in his assessment of the side’s elimination.

    “For me it’s a failure,” he told Movistar. “We don’t deserve to be in the Champions League, we’ve shown it in games. But we have many competitions to face and give joy to the fans who have been with us at all times.”

    This was the first time Barca have been eliminated from the Champions League group stage in back-to-back seasons since the 1997-98 and 1998-99 campaigns under Louis van Gaal.

    Madrid will be Spain’s only team in the last 16 with Sevilla, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid all out with a game to spare. The last season Spain only had one team in the knockout rounds was 1998-99, also Los Blancos.

    Source: Livescore

  • Klopp reaches Rafa’s Reds record and Barca are up against it

    Liverpool can seal progression to the Champions League last 16 when they play on Wednesday, but Barcelona could see their exit confirmed from Europe’s top competition.

    Jurgen Klopp’s Reds make the trip to face Ajax in Group A knowing they are guaranteed a spot in the Europa League at the very least – and simply avoiding defeat would guarantee their place in the Champions League knockout stages.

    It is a more dicey affair for Xavi’s Barca, however, as they welcome Bayern Munich to Camp Nou in Group C knowing a loss would spell the end of their journey. Even a win will not be enough if Inter defeat Viktoria Plzen.

    Tottenham will hope to keep their noses in front in Group D, with Marseille and Sporting CP just a point behind, while Atletico Madrid have work to do in Group B.

    We preview Wednesday’s eight matches by picking through the Opta data.

    Ajax v Liverpool

    Ajax have made for generous opponents for Liverpool of late, losing their last three against the Reds in the Champions League. Only Juventus (four, 1997-2004) and Real Madrid (seven, 2010-2019) have previously won four in a row against Ajax in the European Cup or Champions League.

    Yet Ajax remain the last Dutch side to achieve a home win against Liverpool, albeit that was back in 1966, with the Premier League side unbeaten in seven subsequent trips to the Netherlands.

    Liverpool’s countrymen have also made hay, as Ajax have won just one of their last eight home European matches against English teams, beating Manchester City in October 2012.

    With or without another strong result, this will be an historic occasion for Liverpool and Klopp, who will match Rafael Benitez’s 62 Champions League matches in charge of the Reds, who bring up 150 games in the competition.

    Barcelona v Bayern Munich

    Needing a win, Barca might have hoped to face any team but Bayern, who have a record three Champions League away wins at the Blaugrana. Along with Juventus and Real Madrid, they are one of three teams to have won more matches at Barca than they have lost.

    Home and away, Barca have lost nine of their 12 Champions League matches against Bayern, including the past five in a row.

    In fact, if Bayern win again, they will match Madrid’s record of 10 wins against a single opponent in the competition – Madrid’s dominance coming against Bayern.

    Although Bayern are already through, they are seeking a fourth home-and-away double against Barca in a Champions League season (also 1998-99, 2012-13 and 2021-22). Dynamo Kyiv (in 1997-98) are the only other team to beat Barca twice in the same campaign even once.

    Tottenham Hotspur v Sporting CP

    Sporting won 2-0 against Tottenham in Portugal in what was the sides’ first meeting, but they have a dismal record in England, with two victories in 15 attempts away to English sides.

    Spurs have won six of their seven home European matches against Portuguese opposition, only losing to Benfica in the 2013-14 Europa League.

    Both of Tottenham’s wins in this campaign have come at home, where Antonio Conte is bidding to become just the second Spurs coach to win each of his first three at home in the Champions League – after Harry Redknapp.

    He and Tottenham will know they must keep their focus early and late; Sporting’s last three Champions League goals have come in either the first or last minutes of the match, netting twice in second-half stoppage time in the reverse fixture.

    Atletico Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen

    Atletico have not lost at home to Leverkusen in their prior four such matches, winning two and drawing two, but the Bundesliga team have started to turn the tide, winning two in a row against them in the Champions League.

    That strong home record applies whenever Atletico face German opposition, though, as Borussia Dortmund were the last Bundesliga visitors to win there in 1996. Atleti are unbeaten in 11 since.

    Diego Simeone needs his team to rediscover their scoring touch, having gone three without a goal in the Champions League.

    That is their worst run under Simeone. Only once in the competition have Atletico gone four without netting, back in 2009 under Abel Resino.

    Other fixtures:

    Club Brugge v Porto

    21 – Club Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has saved all 21 of the shots on target he has faced in the Champions League this season. He has prevented a competition-leading 4.9 goals, according to expected goals on target data.

    4 – Four of Porto’s last seven Champions League goals have come from the penalty spot.

    Inter v Viktoria Plzen

    12 – Inter have scored 12 of their last 14 Champions League goals in the second halves of matches. All three against Barca last time out came after the interval – only the third time an away team has netted three second-half goals at Camp Nou in this competition.

    28 – Plzen have averaged just 28 per cent of the possession in the Champions League this season, the lowest average by a team in a single season since Opta data collection began in 2003-04.

    Napoli v Rangers

    4 – Napoli have won all four of their matches in the Champions League this season and could become the first Italian side to win their opening five games in a single campaign since Juventus in 2004-05.

    12 – No goalkeeper has faced more shots on target (29) or conceded more goals (12) than Rangers’ Allan McGregor in the Champions League this season. Indeed, he has only kept four clean sheets in 21 appearances in the competition overall.

    Eintracht Frankfurt v Marseille

    50 – Eintracht Frankfurt’s Mario Gotze could make his 50th start in the Champions League in this match. He has been involved in 25 goals in his previous 65 appearances, including 21 in his 49 starts.

    3 – Marseille have won their last two games in the Champions League – both against Sporting CP – and will be looking to win three in a row for the first time since October-December 2010, when they won four on the spin under Didier Deschamps.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Xavi hails difference-maker Dembele following creative masterclass

    Xavi credited Ousmane Dembele’s willingness to take risks after the France winger starred in Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou.

    Barca moved back to within three points of Real Madrid on the LaLiga table by putting Athletic to the sword on Sunday, with Dembele opening the scoring before recording three assists.

    By laying on goals for Robert Lewandowski, Sergi Roberto and Ferran Torres, Dembele recorded four goal involvements in a single game for Barca for the first time, in what was his 165th Blaugrana appearance.

    Dembele’s tally of five assists in LaLiga is the best in the competition this season, and Xavi described the 25-year-old as a difference-maker following Barca’s victory.

    “He was in the spotlight because he takes risks and it’s like a flip of a coin. He was especially motivated,” Xavi told Movistar.

    “He understood everything well. He’s here to make a difference and he’s capable of doing these things.”

    Barca raced into a three-goal lead within 22 minutes as Athletic collapsed, before controlling possession as Pedri repeatedly drifted inside from an unfamiliar left-wing role.

    “We thought it was a game of intensity and rhythm, we understood that they were going to put a lot of pressure on us,” Xavi said of Barca’s approach.

    “We put one more midfielder in and we attacked inside. We found the superiority and we matched their intensity, those were the keys. We showed solidarity and it was a complete game.”

    Barca endured a run of just one win in four matches earlier this month, losing to Clasico rivals Madrid and failing to beat Inter in two Champions League meetings, leading captain Sergio Busquets to emphasise the importance of their response.

    “We came from a difficult week after losing against Madrid, but we have remade ourselves with two good games and we continue to fight for the top positions here,” Busquets said.

    “We came out very strong, because we knew that they are a very intense team and we wanted to match that intensity.

    “We had ten minutes of great success in front of goal and that made it easy for us to break up the match.”

    Source: Livescore

  • Lenglet says Kane is to Tottenham what Messi is to Barcelona

    Harry Kane’s importance to Tottenham is as significant as the impact Lionel Messi had during his career at Barcelona, according to Clement Lenglet.

    France defender Lenglet is well known to Messi having played alongside him at Camp Nou and also against the Argentina great during his time at Sevilla.

    Messi had been a one-club man until the start of the 2021-22 season when Barca’s perilous financial situation saw him depart for Paris Saint-Germain.

    The superstar forward became the club’s all-time leading scorer and a record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner at Barca, while he counts 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions League medals among a plethora of honours won with Los Cules.

    While Kane has yet to win a medal with Spurs, Lenglet – who joined Tottenham from Barca on loan in the last transfer window – talked up the impact he has on the club.

    In quotes reported by the Daily Mail, Lenglet said: “When you stay a long time in the same place and you achieve so many good things with the club it means you become a part of this club.

    “Your face is connected to the club. For me, Messi is always a Barca player.

    “For Harry it’s the same. It’s difficult to think of Harry in another country or playing for another team. Tottenham is a big club, Harry is a big player and Harry is a big part of Tottenham.

    “We speak a lot about the player and that’s important because we are players but I give the same importance to what he is like as a guy. He is an amazing example for all his team-mates.”

    Describing what it is like to be play with and against Messi, Lenglet added: “You play with the greatest player in the world in my opinion.

    “He helps you improve every day. I played with him [for Barca] and against him for Sevilla – it’s better with him!”

    Lenglet has made just three Premier League starts for Spurs this season but said it only required a short conversation with boss Antonio Conte to persuade him to make the move to north London, where he is still adjusting to a new way of life.

    “We spoke about a lot of things. He [Conte] told me if I came here I would improve because the league is so competitive, you have to be ready and focused every game,” Lenglet said.

    “He said if I came here I would be happy because I would progress as a football player and it has been a good decision.

    “It’s a different culture, a different way to work. I was in Spain for six years. You work one way, you think one way, the football is the same. Now, you come to England – a different league, different intensity, different way to work. It’s a good way to improve.”

    Tottenham sit third in the Premier League and are out to rebound from defeat against Manchester United when they face Newcastle United on Sunday.

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • It is a privilege to be linked with Barca, Neves says

    Wolves captain Ruben Neves said it is a “privilege” to be linked with Barcelona as any player in the world would want to join the Catalan giants.

    Neves is reportedly a target for Barca after catching the eye with some outstanding displays for Wolves and Portugal.

    The midfielder has been a revelation since arriving at Molineux from Porto in 2017, helping the club win promotion and establish themselves in the Premier League.

    Neves, who is under contract until 2024, expressed his pride that the Blaugrana could be keen to lure him to Camp Nou.

    He told Portuguese broadcaster Canal 11: “Who wouldn’t want to try Barcelona? I think it’s a common question for all players.

    “It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. Of course, it’s always a privilege for me to be associated with clubs of this calibre.”

    However, the 25-year-old says he is focused on turning Wolves’ fortunes around after a poor start to the season resulted in head coach Bruno Lage being sacked this month.

    He added: “I’m going to do my job here and I’m sure I have people working with me. I trust these people a lot for these situations.

    “I have to focus as much as I can on Wolves. Having a good time here, things will come naturally.”

    Source: Livescore

  • Gavi wins Golden Boy award after securing Kopa Trophy

    Barcelona’s Gavi has won the Golden Boy award briefly after securing the Kopa Trophy earlier this week.

    The Golden Boy award is given to the best player in the world under the age of 21.

    Winning both prizes in the same year, he follows in the footsteps of team-mate Pedri.

    The 18-year-old saw off competition from the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham to land the Kopa Trophy.

    Gavi has become the third player to win the Golden Boy award while representing Barcelona, after Lionel Messi in 2005 and Pedri in 2021.

    At a press conference in Palermo on Friday, it was revealed that Gavi had beaten another 19 nominees – including that aforementioned trio – to land the Golden Boy prize, which follows similar rules to the Kopa Trophy.

    The teenager has been a revelation since breaking into the Blaugrana’s first team, scoring twice and providing six assists as he made 34 appearances in LaLiga last season.

    That form has seen the diminutive midfielder win 12 caps for Spain after becoming the youngest player to represent La Roja’s senior side in October last year.

    Barcelona had four players shortlisted for the award, with Ansu Fati and Nico Gonzalez – who is currently on loan at Valencia – joining Gavi and Pedri among the final 20 nominees.


  • Lewandowski becomes inspirational in Barca’s routine win

    Robert Lewandowski scored two stunning goals as Barcelona beat Villarreal 3-0 at Camp Nou to bounce back from El Clasico disappointment.

    Barca lost their first clash with bitter rivals Real Madrid this season on Sunday, but they quickly shook off that defeat as Villarreal were swept aside on Thursday.

    Three first-half goals in a seven-minute spell left the Yellow Submarine all at sea, with Lewandowski netting a couple of brilliant efforts before Ansu Fati ensured it was essentially game over before the break.

    Villarreal never threatened any kind of turnaround, as Xavi’s side eased the pressure that had started to build following a run of just one win in four games.

    After a frustrating opening half-hour, a moment of magic brought about the first goal with 31 minutes on the clock.

    Pedri’s wonderful pass released Jordi Alba and his subsequent low cross found Lewandowski, whose backheeled first touch took three Villarreal players out of the game and set up a simple finish.

    A few moments later, Lewandowski did the damage from further out, curling his 25-yard effort beyond Geronimo Rulli’s reach.

    There was a bit more fortune about Fati’s goal, though.

    After a brilliant Ferran Torres run and cut-back, Fati should have tapped in, but his scuffed attempt came back off the post and allowed him to backheel over the line.

    Chances largely dried up in an uneventful second half, but Raphinha should have made it 4-0 when guiding Ousmane Dembele’s cross wide from close range.

    The Brazilian’s miss ultimately counted for nought, however, as Barca saw the second half out comfortably.

    What does it mean? – Business as usual for Barca

    October has been a chastening month for Xavi and Barca, who took just one point from two Champions League clashes with Inter before suffering a 3-1 defeat in the Clasico.

    That spell even led to talk about Xavi’s future, with the coach acknowledging he will not keep his job for long if the Blaugrana are not successful.

    However, they made light work of Villarreal, and impressively so given Unai Emery’s side had only conceded three times in their previous seven games across all competitions.

    Lethal Lewandowski

    Three shots, three shots on target, two goals – that is pretty efficient. That description probably fails to do Lewandowski justice, however. The Poland striker’s first-half brace was sensational and showcased his range of abilities wonderfully.

    Anonymous Danjuma

    If Villarreal were going to leave Camp Nou with a result, they would likely have needed their forwards to be lively.

    However, the Yellow Submarine’s attackers struggled throughout. Arnaut Danjuma only managed one shot and 12 touches before his half-time withdrawal.

    Key Opta facts

    – Barcelona have won their last four LaLiga home games without conceding – they won four straight games at home in the competition without conceding in June 2020 under Quique Setien.
    – Villarreal have conceded three or more goals more times in a single game against Barcelona in LaLiga (19) than against any other team in the competition (15 v Real Madrid).
    – Villarreal have not won any of their last five LaLiga away games (D2 L3), failing to score in all of them, having won in their previous four trips in the competition. Indeed, the last time they went five away games without scoring in the top-flight was in September 2011 (D2 L3).
    – Robert Lewandowski has scored two goals from outside the box this season in all competitions (14 games), as many as in his previous whole campaign for Bayern Munich (2 in 46 games).
    – Frenkie de Jong won 10 duels against Villarreal (10/10), more than any other player in a single game in LaLiga with a 100 per cent success rate this season.

    What’s next?

    Barcelona welcome Ernesto Valverde – now in charge of Athletic Bilbao again – back to Camp Nou on Sunday, while Villarreal host Almeria the same day.

    Source: Livescore

  • Barcelona ‘had to react’, says Xavi after Villarreal win

    Barcelona boss Xavi believes his side answered their critics with their emphatic 3-0 win over Villarreal in LaLiga, stating that they “had to react” after their mixed recent form.

    The Blaugrana ran rampant in a seven-minute stretch just after the half-hour mark, as Robert Lewandowski seized a quickfire double and Ansu Fati added a third at Camp Nou.

    Victory means Barca trail league leaders Real Madrid by three points after defeat in El Clasico over the weekend, but also snaps a two-game winless streak to get them back on top.

    With just one win in their previous four before Thursday’s win, Xavi acknowledged his side needed to answer their critics, and was delighted that they did so in such impressive fashion.

    “We played a great game,” he stated. “It was our turn [to win] – we had to reach. It wasn’t easy, because a lot was expected of us after poor results.

    “There are many expectations placed upon us this season. But we showed our true face, we showed character. It is a good feeling in general.”

    Barca rung the changes following their capitulation in El Clasico, with Fati leading one of five swaps to the starting XI, with Frenkie de Jong handed the nod in midfield and Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele dropped.

    Xavi suggested his rotations were pre-planned rather than as a result of defeat to Madrid, adding: “On Sunday, there will be changes again.

    “We have fatigue among our players. We need intensity and we need rhythm. Players must be plugged in, for the minutes they play.”

    Source: Livescore

  • Xavi accepts pressure but amused by reaction to Clasico loss

    Xavi knows he must deliver success at Barcelona to keep his job but insists: “I’m not going to hide.”

    The Blaugrana have endured a miserable week, drawing 3-3 with Inter in the Champions League and then losing 3-1 at Real Madrid in the Clasico.

    Barca are now relying on favours to advance in Europe and have been knocked off top spot in LaLiga.

    Still, coach Xavi is not changing his outlook, reiterating on Wednesday “the goal is to win titles”.

    That is the expectation within the club, and Xavi knows the consequences for failure – although he was amused by the number of messages he received after Sunday’s result.

    “I think we’ve made a team to win titles,” he said ahead of Thursday’s game against Villarreal.

    “I am excited, people give me encouragement. I have a mobile with so many messages that it seems like a family member has died.

    “The transition was in the last half season. If we don’t succeed, as the president said, there will be consequences, especially for me.

    “I’m here to solve problems, and if we don’t win, another coach will come. I’m not going to hide.”

    Asked when he might lose his job, Xavi replied: “Anytime, tomorrow. On the street, people raise their fists at me. But I am positive.

    “We have lost at Madrid, and we can be knocked out in Europe. Well, I will keep fighting.”

    There was at least success on an individual level on Monday, as Gavi scooped the Kopa Trophy, Robert Lewandowski the Muller Trophy and Alexia Putellas the Ballon d’Or Feminin.

    But Xavi wants to build on those “exciting” triumphs by repeating them as a team.

    “For me, [Gavi’s] award is more than deserved,” the coach said. “I take this opportunity to congratulate Alexia and Robert Lewandowski.

    “These awards mean that Barca is more alive than ever. It’s exciting to see our players win individual prizes. Now the collective prizes are missing.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Transfer Talk: Premier League midfield trio on Barca’s radar

    Barcelona want to bolster their midfield in January — with the Premier League trio of Ruben Neves, Youri Tielemans and Jorginho topping their shortlist.

    The Catalan giants spent big in the summer but find themselves on the verge of a Champions League group stage exit, having won just one of their opening four clashes.

    And though Xavi’s men have been much improved in LaLiga, a 3-1 defeat at the Bernabeu last Sunday saw them slip three points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid in the title race.

    Club chiefs are ready to back their 42-year-old coach with further reinforcements in the winter window and Mundo Deportivo suggest a deep-lying midfielder is his priority position.

    Neves, 25, was expected to leave Wolves last summer and remains keen to test himself at one of Europe’s elite clubs.

    Though his contract runs until 2024, his agent Jorge Mendes has supposedly told Barca a January deal is plausible, prompting the Blaugrana to assess the Portuguese international’s suitability.

    Alternatively, Tielemans and Jorginho are both out of contract at the end of the current campaign, meaning cut-price deals could be on the cards.

    Belgian international Tielemans, 25, scored the winning goal to help Leicester lift a maiden FA Cup in May 2021 but has become unsettled amid the Foxes’ recent struggles.

    Meanwhile, experienced Italian Jorginho, 30, is struggling to agree an extension with Chelsea and could prove a perfect fit for Xavi’s possession-based approach.

    Youri Tielemans and Jorginho are both being monitored by Barcelona
    Youri Tielemans and Jorginho are both being monitored by Barcelona

    In other news

    Chelsea are set to cut short the loan of Swiss international midfielder Denis Zakaria according to The Express, with the 25-year-old yet to play a single minute for the Blues since his summer move.

    Erik ten Hag admits he has still not made a decision over the future of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, report The Mirror.

    Italian media say Juventus are ready to secure a loan move for Atletico Madrid’s Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, 28, in January.

    Source: Livescore

  • Battle of the number nines as Real host Barcelona

    Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowsk will face each other for the first time in El Clasico

    As Karim Benzema went on a goalscoring flurry that helped Real Madrid to a Champions League and La Liga double last season, rivals Barcelona were putting their own plans in place to fight firepower with firepower, prolific forward with prolific forward.

    Benzema netted 44 times in 46 appearances in all competitions at a rate of 0.96 goals per game to make himself the frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

    So Barcelona moved for another of this generation’s most renowned number nines in Robert Lewandowski, a player who reached half a century of goals in a Bayern Munich shirt last term at a rate of 1.09 per game.

    For the first time on Sunday, when Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Bernabeu, Benzema and Lewandowski look set to lead the line against each other in El Clasico.

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    The unbeaten rivals sit level at the summit of La Liga, with Barcelona top on goal difference and 34-year-old Lewandowksi leading the scoring charts with nine goals in eight games.

    “Robert Lewandowski has been very influential this season for Barcelona,” former Barcelona and Spain defender Albert Ferrer tells BBC Sport.

    “Lewandowski just does something to the team that they didn’t have. Apart from scoring goals and being in the box most of the time, he is very important – his movement, how he talks to players, how he tells them what space to occupy.

    “He is basically for 90 minutes helping players, moving and creating spaces and telling players where they have to be and what they have to do. His influence is massive, not only because of the goals.”

    Barcelona may be on the verge of exiting the Champions League at the group stages, but in Spain’s top flight they have conceded only once and Poland international Lewandowski has benefited from manager Xavi’s more direct approach and the supply from wingers such as Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha.

    “They are very good at the offensive transitions, the counter-attacks, putting crosses into the box. Now they have a real finisher with Lewandowksi,” says Ferrer, who leads La Liga TV’s tactical analysis and will be covering the game in Madrid.

    “In midfield they don’t spend as much time as they did, so they are pretty direct. Direct doesn’t mean long balls, but Gavi and Pedri getting the ball and straight away looking forward instead of sideways. They have become more vertical, more direct.”

    Football Focus: Barcelona’s big gamble – what is going on?

    Carlo Ancelotti’s Real were cantering towards the title when they lost 4-0 to a resurgent Barcelona in this fixture last season, without talisman Benzema.

    “It was a disaster,” says Ferrer. “They changed their tactics and they changed everything. I don’t think that will happen this season.”

    Two of Barcelona’s goals were scored by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during his brief stint at the club – before moving to Chelsea once he was effectively replaced by Lewandowski in the summer.

    “Aubameyang is a great player in terms of finishing – he is always in the box,” says Ferrer. “But Lewandowski does more. He is able to drop to the midfield and create spaces, to link with players, hold the ball with his body.

    “He can do more than just finish; he is more influential in more parts of the game than Aubameyang. He is in that sense more of a complete striker and he is perfect for Barcelona.”

    Battle of the forwardsMinutes playedGoalsMinutes per goalChances createdTouches in opp. boxKarim Benzema45031501346Robert Lewandowski6299701248

    Benzema returned after the rout by Barcelona last season, which was more a dent to Real’s pride than their position, to play a key role in their domestic and Champions League success.

    This campaign also began with the Frenchman scoring in the Uefa Super Cup final win and become the club’s second highest all-time scorer, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, but things have since stalled for 34-year-old Benzema because of injury.

    The captain missed two league games, including the Madrid derby against Atletico, with a thigh problem, then picked up a knock that ruled him out of Real’s victory over Getafe last week.

    Benzema has scored three times in five La Liga games this term but, while his goalscoring exploits are the headline in the clamour for him to claim a maiden Ballon d’Or, he offers an all-round package.

    Despite playing fewer games than Lewandowski, he has created more chances in La Liga (13 to 12) and is averaging 2.3 more touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes.

    “Lewandowski has a lot of good things, mainly finishing, but all the other movements he does, he does without the ball,” says Ferrer.

    “Benzema can score goals, but when he drops, when he links with midfielders, when he drops to the left to link with Vinicius Jr, he is very technical with the ball at his feet. He can create by himself.

    “That is the main difference. With the ball, Benzema can do more things possibly than Lewandowski. Without the ball, Lewandowski is possibly better.”

    Albert Ferrer (right) won five La Liga titles and a European Cup during his time at Barcelona

    Benzema’s influence on the squad is vital and he has facilitated the progress of some of the club’s young stars, such as Vinicius, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde, as well as France midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.

    “Karim has something peculiar,” says Ferrer. “The past two or three seasons he was the best player on the pitch, but he showed two huge players how to grow – one before the other, which is Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo.

    “This year he is possibly not as influential or important as Lewandowski is for Barcelona, but all the players grew alongside Benzema. They have hugely improved so they have made Benzema not as influential as last season.

    “This season didn’t start as expected – everyone expected him to be fighting with Lewandowski in terms of the Pichichi (awarded to La Liga’s top goalscorer). At the moment he is too far from him.

    “I am sure he will bounce back. The past few seasons Benzema has been possibly the best striker in Europe.”

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    Source: bbc.com

  • Barca president Laporta tells fans to ‘keep believing’ ahead of El Clasico

    Joan Laporta has told Barcelona fans to “keep believing” as they head into El Clasico on Sunday looking to hit back from a midweek Champions League disappointment.

    A 3-3 draw with Inter on Wednesday was a blow to Barca’s hopes of reaching the round of 16, but a win against Real Madrid in one of the most anticipated fixtures in world football would be a perfect response.

    The fierce rivals head into the match level on points, with the Catalan giants top of LaLiga by virtue of their superior goal difference.

    Barca president Laporta urged supporters to maintain their faith in Xavi and his players, telling BarcaTV: “Keep believing. We have a very competitive team, with very good players who are going to bring you a lot of joy.

    “Stick behind Xavi, he needs your warmth and confidence. That’s what we will give him and we hope the fans do too.

    “I have my full faith in Xavi and his staff, and also with the players. We have a great squad and I’m sure they’ll bring us a lot of joy. We have a team to compete against anyone in Europe.

    “We’ll get through this. We won’t ever stop working for what we want. This club has had all kinds of ups and downs over the years, but we have always bounced back. And we can still do that, from every part of the club.”

    Laporta acknowledged just how important Sunday’s fixture could be in the title race, adding: “We’re top of the league and there’s a big game on the way at the Bernabeu.

    “El Clasico is very important, whoever wins get a huge injection of morale and the loser takes a mighty blow. It’s the kind of game you want to see. We’ll go there with our heads held high. We have a team to do things there.

    “I hope the players will defend the Barca shirt with the right spirit, because whenever you get knocked down, you have to pick yourself up again. We want to show how good we are and that we can win the league.”

    Laporta spoke of his frustration at not securing a win over Inter that would have put their chances of progressing in their own hands.

    “It was a big game for us and I am sad and angry that we didn’t win despite scoring three goals,” Laporta said.

    “It was always going to be a difficult group. We should have got a better result in Munich because we were the better team.

    “And the refereeing in Milan was scandalous. We shouldn’t play the victims card, but we were very unhappy with the match officials, and I spoke to UEFA about it afterwards.

    “Financially, missing out on the latter stages of the Champions League is a big blow.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • ‘Not possible’ to match Messi’s achievements, says Pedri ahead of El Clasico

    Pedri says it is “not possible” to emulate Barcelona legend’s Lionel Messi’s achievements as he prepares to face fierce rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico.

    Barca teenager Pedri has emerged as one of world football’s most talented prospects, showing maturity way beyond his years with majestic performances in the middle of the park.

    The 19-year-old Spain midfielder looks set for a long, successful career and Xavi will be expecting him to step up on the big stage again when the Blaugrana face LaLiga champions Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

    Pedri has high hopes for what he can achieve, but believes it is too much to ask that he will emulate the feats of the mercurial seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.

    “I hope so,” Pedri replied when asked if he would like to be named the best player in the world as many times as Messi has. “I know how hard I need to work to try to do something like that.

    “There is only one Messi, however, and I think to repeat what he did is not possible.”

    Pedri is relishing the challenge of facing Madrid, with Barca above Carlo Ancelotti’s side on goal difference at the top of the table.

    “It’s a match where a lot of people watch from around the world,” he said. “It’s a match that I always try to enjoy and hope all the people watching enjoy too. This is why we play football – to entertain everyone and to have fun.

    “I used to go to watch the games [against Madrid] with my parents and a lot of Barcelona fans. We used to be very lucky in that we won a lot of times. That’s why we enjoyed it even more with each other.”

    – Pedri was speaking as a global brand ambassador for TCL.

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Drake logo to appear on Barcelona jerseys in El Clasico

    Barcelona will wear a limited-edition jersey donning the logo of rapper and singer Drake during Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid.

    The idea stems from Barca’s relationship with audio streaming subscription service Spotify, whose branding usually appears on the front of the Blaugrana’s shirts and who own the naming rights to Camp Nou.

    But rather than Spotify branding on jerseys this weekend, Barca will instead sport Drake’s ‘OVO Sound’ logo – essentially the silhouette of an owl.

    It is a move designed to celebrate Drake becoming the first artist to break the 50 billion streams barrier on Spotify.

    The four-time Grammy winner’s achievement was not recent, however, with the Canadian reaching the 50 billion mark in January 2021.

    In addition to his logo featuring on Barca jerseys throughout the game, Xavi’s team will also wear a special version during their warm-up, with ‘DRAKE 50’ on the back – the usual Spotify brand will appear on the front of this shirt.

    Barcelona travel to the Santiago Bernabeu as LaLiga leaders, but they are only ahead of bitter rivals Madrid on goal difference after both teams won seven and drew the other in their first eight games of the season.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Transfer Talk: De Jong plotting January exit as Barca frustrations grow

    Frenkie de Jong is growing frustrated with his lack of game time at Barcelona this season.

    The Dutchman, 25, has only played 90 minutes twice in LaLiga so far this term and the is now said to be considering his future at the club.

    De Jong — a 44-cap international — was part of a transfer saga in the summer with former Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag trying to bring his former charge to Manchester United.

    A move never materialised due to a difference in personal terms but the United boss has not ruled out a future deal being struck.

    Catalonia has not been a happy home for the midfield maestro with Xavi often opting for the likes of Sergio Busquets or Gavi in important games.

    And with El Clasico taking place on Sunday, De Jong’s future could be plunged into further doubt if he were to warm the bench again.

    Xavi’s men are on the brink of Champions League elimination and an early exit would heighten their financial problems.

    A move to offload their No21 would become more favourable should Barca need to raise funds quickly and with United lurking once more, we could see movement in January.

    In other news

    Bruno Guimaraes is proving to be a coup for Newcastle
    Bruno Guimaraes is proving to be a coup for Newcastle

    Real Madrid have been monitoring Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes but the Magpies are set to block any attempts at a transfer, report The Daily Star.

    According to Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan have offered Rafael Leao a new contract to fend off interest from Chelsea.

    The Blues, meanwhile, are prepared to pay upwards of £80million for Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jude Bellingham, say Bild.

    Source: Livescore

  • LaLiga Matchday 9: Real and Barca meet in El Clasico showdown

    El Clasico takes centre stage in Spain this weekend — and the stakes could not be higher.

    Real Madrid and Barcelona are level on points at LaLiga’s summit, with only goal difference separating the division’s fiercest rivals.

    Elsewhere, top-four contenders Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid go head-to-head, with fellow European hopefuls Real Betis and Valencia in action against Almeria and Elche respectively.

    At the opposite end of the table, struggling Sevilla will be desperate to get their season up and running when they travel to Mallorca on Saturday.

    Game of the week: Real Madrid vs Barcelona (Sunday, 3.15pm)

    Barcelona’s Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread after their midweek draw with Inter Milan — but they remain top of the pile in LaLiga.

    Real will fancy their chances of leapfrogging the Catalans though, having won five of their last six meetings in all competitions.

    However, their previous encounter saw Barca secure a sensational 4-0 victory, so Blaugrana supporters will be hoping for consecutive Clasico triumphs for the first time since March 2019.

    Both teams’ centre forwards could have a decisive impact on this match.

    Karim Benzema has scored 20 times in 38 appearances for Los Blancos against Barcelona, while Robert Lewandowski has netted six times in eight games against the Madrid outfit.

    Star strikers Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski will be looking to add to their respective goal tallies in El Clasico
    Star strikers Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski will be looking to add to their respective goal tallies in El Clasico

    Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid (Saturday, 8pm)

    LaLiga’s top-four battle is fiercer than ever, so Athletic and Atleti will be desperate for all three points at San Mames.

    But the visitors have a tough task on their hands this Saturday. Bilbao are unbeaten at home in 2022-23 and have only lost one game all season — that is their lowest number of defeats at this stage of the campaign in the 21st century.

    Despite that impressive record, the omens could be in Atleti’s favour. Current Los Leones boss Ernesto Valverde has suffered six defeats when facing opposite number Diego Simeone — his second-worst record against any manager.

    Colchoneros striker Antoine Griezmann has also been a constant thorn in the hosts’ side, having been directly involved in 15 LaLiga goals against Bilbao (nine goals, six assists).

    Both of Antoine Griezmann's league goals this season have come from outside the box
    Both of Antoine Griezmann’s league goals this season have come from outside the box

    Mallorca vs Sevilla (Saturday, 5.30pm)

    Sevilla’s startling decline saw Jorge Sampaoli replace Julen Lopetegui in the dugout earlier this month — and he will be targeting a first victory in Mallorca.

    However, a point apiece is the more likely outcome if history is anything to go by, with these sides playing out a remarkable 19 LaLiga draws.

    Mallorca have failed to win in their last four encounters with Los Nervionenses (drawn two, lost two), though Sevilla are considerably weaker than in previous campaigns.

    This is just the second time this century that the visitors have only won a solitary match from their first eight league fixtures.

    Valencia vs Elche (Saturday, 3.15pm)

    Valencia’s upcoming game against Elche will have repercussions at both ends of the table.

    Los Che are firmly in the hunt for European football next season, while their opponents are propping up the division with just two points on the board.

    And the hosts’ record against Los Franjiverdes is exemplary, having won their last three encounters and only lost once in 23 home meetings (won 16, drawn six).

    Elche’s hopes of success may rest with forward Roger Marti, who has previously scored six times in eight LaLiga appearances against Valencia — more than any other side he has faced.

    Valencia secured a narrow 1-0 victory when they last faced Elche
    Valencia secured a narrow 1-0 victory when they last faced Elche

    Real Betis vs Almeria (Sunday, 8pm)

    Betis are only outside of the top four on goal difference — but will need to get back to winning ways after dropping points in their last two matches.

    Los Verdiblancos seem to have misplaced their shooting boots in recent LaLiga fixtures. After netting seven times from their first 13 shots on target this season, they have scored just three from their last 16.

    Luckily for Betis, they are facing an Almeria side who have allowed 118 shots against them — the third most in the division.

    Manuel Pellegrini has also never lost any of his home meetings with La Union across his managerial career (won three, drawn one), so will be full of confidence ahead of Sunday evening’s match-up.

    The weekend’s other games

    Rayo Vallecano vs Getafe (Friday, 8pm)

    Girona vs Cadiz (Saturday, 1pm)

    Celta Vigo vs Real Sociedad (Sunday, 1pm)

    Espanyol vs Real Valladolid (Sunday, 5.30pm)

    Villarreal vs Osasuna (Monday, 8pm)

    Source: Livescore

  • Mourinho goads Barca and Juve as ‘failed sharks of Champions League’

    Roma head coach Jose Mourinho mocked clubs qualifying for the Europa League knockout stages via the backdoor as ‘the failed sharks of the Champions League’.

    Mourinho’s side are in a battle to reach the knockout stages via Group C after a 1-1 draw at Real Betis left them third on four points, behind the Spaniards (10) and Ludogorets (seven). Roma will still hope to overhaul Ludogorets and advance with two games to play in the group.

    The draw, however, meant Betis were assured of reaching the next stage and Mourinho was asked if they were the Europa League favourites, leading him to implicitly goad teams like Barcelona and Juventus.

    “I see them [Betis] as candidates, but the failed sharks of the Champions League will arrive, and they will come in hard,” Mourinho said, referring to sides who drop into the Europa League after finishing third in their Champions League groups.

    “They shouldn’t come but it’s the reality. It’s going to be fun. The failures of the Champions League.”

    Among the clubs currently third in Champions League groups are Barcelona, Juventus, Ajax, Atletico Madrid and Milan.

    Should Roma fail to finish in the top two in Group C, they will qualify for the Conference League where they will defend the title they won under Mourinho last season.

    The Portuguese added: “We want to go through and finish second, but if we finish third, we’ll become candidates to retain the Conference League.”


    Source: Livescore

  • Inzaghi harbours regrets after Barca draw but hails Inter showing

    Simone Inzaghi admitted he left Camp Nou feeling regretful but hailed Inter Milan’s performance at Barcelona as the Nerazzurri took a significant step to the Champions League knockout stages.

    Robin Gosens seemed to have secured qualification for Inzaghi’s visitors on Wednesday, scoring to make it 3-2 in the 89th minute, only for Robert Lewandowski to equalise three minutes later.

    It was not the first time Inter had squandered the lead, though, having been pegged back earlier by Lewandowski after second-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez followed Ousmane Dembele’s 40th-minute opener.

    Despite twice relinquishing the advantage, Inter need just one win from their last two games to progress from Group C, though Inzaghi wishes his side could have sealed qualification with victory in Spain.

    “There is regret, for what we have created and for the last chance, with a victory we would have qualified with two games to spare,” the Inter head coach said.

    “But we have played two games of great application against Barcelona. In my opinion, they are a very, very strong team.”

    While Inter ultimately settled for sharing the spoils in a thrilling 3-3 draw, the stalemate proved a marked improvement as it ended a five-game losing streak at Barcelona in the Champions League.

    With just one win needed against either Viktoria Plzen or Bayern Munich, who have already progressed, Inzaghi aims to deliver qualification for the second season in a row to appease the Nerazzurri faithful.

    Asked whether the result at Barca could prove a turning point for Inter’s somewhat underwhelming season thus far, Inzaghi responded: “Maybe, but as I said before we miss the last step.

    “We have to give the qualification to our fans as we did last year after eleven years, it would be the second year in a row. We missed the last step.”

    Inter caught Barca cold with three second-half goals, the Blaugrana conceding three or more times in a single half of Champions League football for just the fourth time in their history.

    Inzaghi acknowledged his plan was to attack by starting with Edin Dzeko and Martinez, while he suggested another strong performance against a European heavyweight will help his side to improve.

    “Yes, we played it openly, I thought about whether to play the two forwards because they have been playing for the last three games,” Inzaghi added.

    “Instead, Dzeko and Lautaro were very good together and played a very good match against an opponent that we have managed to limit.

    “We have faced Real Madrid and Liverpool. Now we have faced Barcelona twice in two very good matches, which have put us in a very good position. Now it is up to us to grow.”

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Xavi is ‘self-critical’ after limp Barcelona win

    Barcelona head coach Xavi has admitted that he must seriously analyse his side’s recent drop in quality.

    “I have to be very self-critical today,” he told DAZN. “The first half was good. In the second half, we stopped applying pressure; psychologically, we dropped off.

    “It is important to take three points when you are not good though. We have won seven games in a row. You have to see the positives. Until an excellent performance arrives, you have to save these matches.”

    He however insists they will “see the positives” after victory over Celta Vigo.

    A poached first-half finish from Pedri was enough for a 1-0 win for the Blaugrana to extend their winning run in LaLiga to seven consecutive games and take them back to the summit on goal difference ahead of Real Madrid.

    Yet between their latest result and a similar narrow triumph against Mallorca, Barca appear to be fading away from their early bullish intensity, with a loss to Inter in the Champions League further compounding matters.

     

    With El Clasico looming for likely control of the title race, Xavi seemed less pressed about concerns over form though, suggesting the all-encompassing nature of the fixture balances out both Madrid and themselves.

    “El Clasico, it is unpredictable,” he added. “Last year, we arrived on the back of a bad run of form, and yet we won 4-0. We will try to win and show personality, like we did last time.”

  • Xavi indicates ‘100 per cent’ De Jong could start in defence on Barca return

    Xavi revealed Frenkie de Jong could start in defence on his return from injury when Barcelona welcome Celta Vigo in LaLiga.

    The Blaugrana are aiming to remain at the LaLiga summit as they seek a response from the midweek Champions League defeat by Inter.

    De Jong is back in the squad having missed his side’s last two matches after sustaining a thigh injury while on international duty with the Netherlands last month.

    Though he did not confirm the midfielder would start at Camp Nou, Xavi indicated he could fill in at centre-half in the absence of the likes of Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen.

    When asked about De Jong at his pre-match press conference, the head coach said: “He’s 100 per cent. We’ll see what we decide tomorrow.

    “Frenkie can play centre-back, we’ve already tried it. He is powerful and fast, but there are other alternatives. There is versatility in the dressing room.”

    One of those alternatives could be 19-year-old Chadi Riad, who would make his senior Barca debut should he feature against Vigo.

    “We know him from last year and the pre-season,” Xavi said. “He is aggressive, with good output … he has a future. We follow him. He can prove things, he can become important.”

    Xavi also urged his players to lend leading marksman Robert Lewandowski a hand on the goalscoring front.

    The Poland skipper has scored nine of their 19 goals in LaLiga this term, with his nearest challengers Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele both netting just twice apiece thus far.

    “We have to improve the goals without him,” the head coach observed. “And also improve fouls, shoot from outside the area… everyone must contribute goals. We have to improve the scoring ability of those at the top.

    “We need to shoot more when we have the ball, find that final pass, find the right solutions. We must improve and be more competitive. You have to be more optimistic in front of goal.”

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Messi return to Barca possible hints VP

    Lionel Messi could return to Barcelona, claims vice-president Eduard Romeu, stating the club knows “how to perform miracles” after they announced a profit.

    The forward left last year when Barcelona were prevented from re-signing him after his contract expired because their financial struggles led to a massively reduced salary limit in LaLiga.

    He then signed a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, though the relatively short-term nature of that deal meant speculation has frequently linked the veteran Argentinian with a homecoming at Camp Nou.

    Romeu suggested any decision to bring Messi back to the club is a matter for the sporting side of Barcelona, but he hinted they could make any move work financially.

    “He is an asset to the club and our doors are open,” he said. “We have shown that we know how to perform miracles.”

    His comments came as Barca posted a €98million profit after tax for the 2021-22 financial year, following several seasons of serious economic woe.

    President Joan Laporta’s activated what he called financial “levers” during the off-season to help ease their strife in the short-term. His measures included selling off 25 per cent of their LaLiga TV rights for the next 25 years.

    While critics accused Laporta of mortgaging the club’s future, they were able to build a squad that is expected to be competing for the biggest prizes in football once again, with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha arriving at Camp Nou.

    Laporta’s gamble is also reflected in the club’s latest statement of profit, though whether they have enough manoeuvrability to put together a package for Messi’s return remains theoretical.

    Source:livescore.com

  • Henry stunned by contentious call in Barca’s loss to Inter

    Thierry Henry questioned why Barcelona were not awarded a penalty in their contentious 1-0 loss to Inter Milan, despite “20 billion cameras” spotting Denzel Dumfries’ handball.

    Inter claimed a valuable victory at San Siro in Tuesday’s Champions League tie through Hakan Calhanoglu’s brilliant first-half strike.

    But Barca were left furious after a Pedri equaliser was ruled out by VAR for handball against Ansu Fati in the build-up, before having a late penalty call rejected.

    A cross towards Fati was cut out by the hand of Dumfries, but Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic and his officials decided against awarding the visitors a stoppage-time penalty.

    It is a decision that left Xavi furious, with the Barca boss already on a yellow card for protesting the disallowed goal, and one the Catalans will reportedly formally complain about.

    Speaking alongside referee consultant Christina Unkel, who was trying to defend the decision, former Barcelona striker Henry ridiculed VAR’s inability to spot the handball.

    “[Dumfries] takes the ball away from Ansu Fati,” he told CBS. “I usually never say anything about disallowed goals.

    “But Christina, do you, the referees, have the right to sometimes say that you were wrong? Are you ever taught to say you were wrong?

    “He was wrong, bye. There is nothing to explain. He was wrong. It happens. It happened to me, it happens to many people. He was wrong.

    “The guy in the truck [VAR official] didn’t call the ref. I don’t know what experience he has, but even my son could have seen there was a hand.

    “He would have seen it. He saw it, he even texted me to say, ‘There’s a hand’. You’ve got 20 billion cameras and you can’t see it? Please! It happens but it was wrong.”

    The defeat could be damaging for Barca as they now trail second-placed Inter by three points at the halfway stage in Group C, with leaders Bayern Munich six points better off.

    Xavi, who became the first Barca coach to lose his first three away Champions League games, was “outraged” by the display of the match officials.

    “First they explain to us that Ansu handled but another team-mate scored, then with the other incident, it is not clear what happened,” he said at his post-match press conference.

    “It is my opinion. I would have liked to speak to the referee, because he did not blow the whistle. At the moment, I am outraged, it is an injustice and it makes no sense.

    “Now we still have three finals left, we have already lost in Munich and we start again. But there is indignation.

    “In general, it was a great injustice. The referee should give explanations, instead he goes away and nothing happens. He has to come here and explain.”

    Barcelona welcome Inter to Camp Nou next week before concluding their group-stage campaign with a home match against Bayern and a trip to bottom side Viktoria Plzen.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Xavi ‘outraged’ after refereeing ‘injustice’ in Inter defeat

    Xavi was “outraged” as his Barcelona side saw a goal disallowed and a stoppage-time penalty not given in their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.

    After Hakan Calhanoglu put the Nerazzurri in front in first-half stoppage time at San Siro, Barcelona thought they had levelled when Pedri turned home from close range in the 66th minute.

    However, the goal was disallowed after replays showed Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana had tipped Ousmane Dembele’s cross onto Ansu Fati’s arm before Pedri tapped in.

    Inter were again fortunate late on, when VAR initiated a penalty check after the ball appeared to strike Denzel Dumfries’ arm in the box. Much to Barcelona’s anger, a spot-kick was not awarded.

    The hosts held on to claim three points, making Xavi the first Barca coach to lose his first three Champions League away games in charge of the club.

    Yet all of his frustration was saved for the officials, with Xavi telling reporters: “I am outraged.

    “First they explain to us that Ansu Fati handled but another team-mate scored, then with the other incident, it is not clear what happened.

    “It is my opinion, I would have liked to speak to the referee, because he did not blow the whistle. At the moment, I am outraged, it is an injustice and it makes no sense.

    “Now we still have three finals left, we have already lost in Munich and we start again. But there is indignation.

    “In general, it was a great injustice. I can’t hide and say I’m not outraged, it’s a great injustice. The referee should give explanations, instead he goes away and nothing happens. He has to come here and explain.”

    Despite what he perceived as poor refereeing from Slavko Vincic, Xavi acknowledged that officiating alone was not to blame for the defeat.

    “We struggled in rhythm, in the circulation of the ball and in the last half hour we played better, we found good areas on the wing,” he added.

    “We tried, we want to attack and we paid for the first half, we lacked a bit of rhythm. We need to be self-critical, beyond referee decisions.

    “The first half was not up to the Champions League. We talked about it at half-time, we needed more rhythm in the exchange of the ball and I think the second half was positive.”

    Source: Livescore

  • Barcelona confirm Christensen ankle ligament sprain in Inter defeat

    Barcelona’s injury woes have worsened with defender Andreas Christensen suffering a ligament sprain in his ankle in Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.

    Christensen was substituted out of the game in the 58th minute after struggling for a few minutes with the issue and Barcelona have since confirmed the left ankle injury.

    The club said further tests would be carried out on Wednesday to ascertain the full extent of the injury.

    Christensen’s injury comes ahead of tough games, taking on Celta Vigo in La Liga this weekend, before the reverse fixture with Inter on October 12 and the Clasico against Real Madrid on October 16. The Blaugrana take on Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga after that.

    The ex-Chelsea defender was replaced by veteran Gerard Pique, who will likely come into starting calculations.

    Christensen has started three LaLiga matches and all three of Barcelona’s Champions League matches this term.

    The 26-year Denmark international joins Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, Hector Bellerin, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo on the sidelines at Camp Nou due to injury.


    Source: Livescore

  • Xavi not looking for Inter revenge in ‘very important’ San Siro showdown

    Xavi will not be on a revenge mission when Barcelona face Inter in a “very important” Champions League showdown at San Siro on Tuesday.

    Head coach Xavi was in the Barca side knocked out of the Champions League by Inter at the semi-final stage in 2010.

    The Blaugrana were beaten 3-1 in the first leg in Milan and failed to overturn that deficit, crashing out after winning 1-0 at Camp Nou against Jose Mourinho’s men, who went on to lift the trophy.

    Xavi returns to San Siro with the two sides both having picked up three points from their opening two Group C games, with Barca beaten 2-0 at leaders Bayern Munich last month.

    And the former Spain midfielder is motivated by the prospect of qualifying for the last 16 rather than having a score to settle.

    He said: “I have no feeling of [wanting] revenge. I come here as a coach this time. I remember that we had to travel by bus [to Milan] because of the volcano, but they were a great team.

    “It was difficult for us in the first leg. We lost it here. It was a controversial tie, but this is how it is. It’s a bitter memory for us, unfortunately.”

    Inter boss Simone Inzaghi is under pressure with his side ninth in Serie A following back-to-back defeats to Udinese and Roma.

    But Xavi is not reading anything into the Nerazzurri’s poor form, as he knows they have the quality to turn things around.

    “It’s not significant,” he said. “It’s Inter, a very strong team. They have a different system to anything we’ve come across so far.

    “They play with two strikers, something you don’t see too much in Spain. They’re a tough opponent, with good dynamics, but that has to be shown.”

    Xavi added: “I have it quite clear. Despite the size of the rival, we are clear that we want to dominate. It is an important rival. It is the Champions League. It is not a definitive match, but it is very important for the future of the group.”

    Inter have won just two of their 14 European matches against Barcelona, a 2-1 victory in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in January 1970 and that 3-1 Champions League triumph in April 2010.

    However, Barca’s only two away wins against the Nerazzurri came 60 years apart, winning 4-2 in the Fairs Cup in September 1959 and 2-1 in the Champions League in December 2019.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Liverpool and Rangers set for historic battle of Britain, Barca face Inter

    Liverpool face Rangers in a battle of Britain and Barcelona will attempt to apply more pressure on Inter boss Simone Inzaghi with a Champions League victory on Tuesday.

    An army of Gers fans will travel south of the border to descend on Merseyside for a Group A clash that will give them another opportunity to secure a first point, with the Reds in second spot behind Napoli.

    Barca moved top of La Liga last weekend and Xavi’s side will start their third Group C game level on points with out-of-sorts Inter after losing 2-0 to leaders Bayern Munich last month.

    Bayern will be expected to maintain their 100 per cent record at the expense of Viktoria Plzen, and Serie A table-toppers Napoli travel to Ajax looking to continue their brilliant start to the season.

    Ahead of another mouthwatering set of matches, Stats Perform trawls through the Opta data to highlight the most noteworthy facts for each contest.

    Liverpool v Rangers

    This will be the first European meeting between Liverpool and the Glasgow giants in a European competition.

    The Gers have only won one of their seven away games in England, that being a 2-1 Champions League victory at Leeds United in November 1992 courtesy of goals from Mark Hateley and Ally McCoist. They have suffered six defeats and drawn twice.

    Liverpool’s last meeting with Scottish opponents in the European Cup was back in the 1980-81 campaign, winning 5-0 on aggregate against Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen (1-0 away, 4-0 home). The Reds went on to win the competition that year.

    Jurgen Klopp’s side have won 13 of their past 15 home Champions League group stage matches (D1 L1), scoring 36 goals in process. Their solitary defeat was against Atalanta in November 2020

    Rangers have failed to score in their two group games so far. Indeed, only Plzen (2) and Sevilla (3) have had fewer shots on target than the Scottish club (4) in this season’s first two matchdays.

    Inter v Barcelona

    Inter have won just two of their 14 European matches against Barcelona (D4 L8), a 2-1 victory in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in January 1970 and 3-1 Champions League triumph in April 2010.

    Barca’s two away wins against the Nerazzurri came 60 years apart, winning 4-2 in the Fairs Cup in September 1959 and 2-1 in the Champions League in December 2019.

    Inter have lost six UEFA Champions League matches against the Catalan giants, their most against a single opponent. Barca have only beaten Celtic (8) more times in the competition.

    Barca have lost three of their past four away Champions League group stage matches (W1), as many as in their previous 25 matches on their travels in the competition (W15 D7). Xavi is only the second manager to lose his first two away Champions League matches in charge of Barcelona, along with Louis van Gaal in 1997.

    Inter have lost their past two Champions League games at San Siro (0-2 v Liverpool and Bayern). Only once previously have they suffered three consecutive home defeats in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League (a run of three between February-September 2011).

    Bayern Munich v Viktoria Plzen

    Bayern have won all four of their European matches against Plzen, beating them twice in the 1971-72 Cup Winners’ Cup and the Champions League in 2013-14.

    Plzen’s two away European matches against Bayern have seen them concede at least five goals on each occasion, losing 6-1 in September 1971 in the Cup Winners’ Cup and 5-0 in the Champions League nine years ago.

    Bayern are out to record three wins at the start of a Champions League campaign for a fourth consecutive season. In their opening three games in the previous three seasons and their two games this year, they have won all 11 matches by an aggregate score of 41-7.

    Plzen have conceded seven goals in their two Champions League games this season and only kept one clean sheet in their 20 matches in the competition.

    Leroy Sane has been directly involved in 14 goals in his past 11 Champions League starts for Bayern (8 goals, 6 assists). The winger could become only the second player to score in Bayern’s first three Champions League games in a season, with Robert Lewandowski (in 2019-20 and 2021-22) being the other.

    Ajax v Napoli

    Napoli have never won away from home in the Netherlands (D2 L3) in any European competition.

    Ajax have failed to win any of their past 11 home European matches against Italian opposition (D6 L5) since winning 2-1 against Roma in this competition in December 2002.

    Napoli will be looking to win their first three Champions League group stage games for the first time. They are unbeaten in eight matches in the group stage of the competition (W5 D3).

    Ajax have won their past four home games in the group stage of the Champions League, scoring four goals in each of the previous three (4-0 v Borussia Dortmund, 4-2 v Sporting CP and 4-0 v Rangers).

    Napoli are the top scoring side in the Champions League this season with seven goals. Luciano Spalletti’s side have had more shots (43) and shots on target (19) than any other team.

    Other fixtures:

    Marseille v Sporting CP

    6 – Marseille have lost six of their eight European Cup/Champions League matches against Portuguese opponents (W1 D1).

    16 – Marseille have lost 16 of their past 17 Champions League matches (W1), failing to score in 11 matches in this run, including both games this season.

    Porto v Bayer Leverkusen

    7 – Porto have won seven of their eight home Champions League games against German opposition (D1), winning five in a row.

    2 – Leverkusen have only won two of their past 13 away matches in the Champions League (D5 L6), with three of the previous four ending in defeats without scoring.

    Club Brugge v Atletico Madrid

    3 – Brugge are unbeaten in all three home meetings with Atleti in European competition (W2 D1).

    7 – Atleti have never won a European match against a Belgium club in seven attempts (five away, two neutral). They have played more major European games on Belgian soil without winning than in any other country.

    Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham

    4 – Tottenham have lost their past four Champions League matches against German opposition by an aggregate score of 14-3, losing twice to Bayern Munich (2-7 and 1-3) and twice to RB Leipzig (0-1 and 0-3).

    3 – Eintracht have won three consecutive European games against English teams (one versus Arsenal, two v West Ham), as many as in their first 14.

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Lewandowski salutes Barcelona teenage rampagers as mature beyond their years

    Robert Lewandowski has been blown away by Barcelona’s flood of teenage talent and believes there is no better place for young footballers to blossom.

    The 34-year-old Poland captain was brought in from Bayern Munich to provide a quick fix and give Barcelona a reliable goalscorer in the short term.

    But there is long-term vision at Barcelona too, with the likes of Pedri, Gavi, Ansu Fati and Alejandro Balde all emerging as first-team players while still in their teens.

    Pedri arrived from Las Palmas in 2020 and was quickly assimilated into the senior set-up, bypassing the system at La Masia, the Barcelona academy, because he was considered so advanced already.

    Most have come through years of training in the academy system, however, which is churning out top-class footballers at a rapid rate.

    Lewandowski counts on such players as team-mates now, and says their style of play, having been training to follow Barcelona principles, is “noticeably distinct” to other youngsters in the game.

    “I’m impressed by the fact of how at that age one could be so mature in football,” Lewandowski said, speaking to Polish online sport channel Kanal Sportowy.

    “I don’t mean mature mentally. I meant if they thought differently about football. I wouldn’t even compare it, if there are any differences there.

    “A man can’t change his age. People abroad who are 18 years old can’t think as it they were 26. People here live and grow in the same way. However, thanks to these academies it’s much easier for them.

    “Being well trained at the age of 18 and really talented, they may reach a higher level. Additionally, they’re really familiar with the world of football which Polish players miss.”

    Lewandowski opened up on a host of themes in the interview, and said he intended to stay involved in sport once his playing days are over.

    He might find a coaching role one day, and his experiences in Barcelona should stand him in good stead.

    “It’s the best possibility for a young player, to be able to observe experienced football players in order to become one of them in the future,” said Lewandowski.

    Such players also point to a bright future for the Spain national team, with the emergence of a possible new golden generation.

    At first-team level, Barcelona are attempting to knock Real Madrid off their perch.

    Madrid won last season’s LaLiga title and added the Champions League to boot, while Xavi’s mid-season arrival began to turn around a Barcelona team who made a rocky start under former head coach Ronald Koeman.

    Xavi’s Barcelona are level on 19 points with Madrid through the first seven rounds of this campaign, and the two current co-leaders will face off at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 16 in the season’s first Clasico.

    Lewandowski hit the only goal at Real Mallorca on Saturday, with a hard-fought 1-0 win showing Barcelona have tenacity to complement their more obvious flair.

    The close-season recruit said he was “positively astonished” with how intense his early training experiences had been at Barcelona, after last season’s “tough” experience for the club.

    Lewandowski is confident Xavi has a firm grip on what needs to be done to turn Barcelona into trophy winners again.

    “He’s aware of what went wrong in the last season, in contrary to what he dreamed of, and I see that he wants to make it better,” Lewandowski said.

    “Mentally they were really focused, but their bodies couldn’t manage. I think that with every week and every match, we’ll be growing, and I strongly believe that with time it’ll get better.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song gifts his wife multimillion mansion on her birthday

    Former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder, Alex Song has gifted his wife, Olivia Song a huge mansion as she marks another milestone in her life.

    The mansion is part of his ‘Nokay 17 Residences’ company located in Yaounde, Cameroon.

    Song revealed on Instagram that the apartment is in memory of a ‘small house’ they lived in London, while also recalling a ‘cheap’ bag he bought Olivia as her first birthday gift after they married.

    “Happy birthday to my best friend the love of my life the most wonderful mother, you are my source of motivation, thank you for all the support you give me for so many years. I remember in 2006 in London when we lived in a small two-bedroom apartment, the first time I gave you a gift for your birthday, I went to a shop called tkmax, and from there I bought you a purse that had not cost me much thing. that day you were so happy to receive it, your eyes were shining, you had thanked me a thousand times while this bag had only cost me 250 €. you took it every time we went out and it touched me so much to the point where I asked you the question:[ what can I offer you that will please you if I have the means] and you answered me saying:[ if you have the mo yens I wish that you offer me a Hermès bag] and I had asked you the price, you had told me: [it’s expensive it’s not our level because it costs about €3000] and exactly I had told you that day that: [I would never buy a bag at this price ????????????????]. but thanks to God I have offered you several bags over the years, I am so proud of the journey we have traveled together.”

    In his emotional message to celebrate her wife, Song who currently plays for AS Arta/Solar7 in Djibouti stated that gifting her the mansion is a dream.

    “Thank God it was not easy for me to do this project without you knowing who is the instigator. I had to make you understand that this building located in the middle of the golf just 50m from the US Embassy in Yaounde is in the continuation of NOKAY17, and I knew you could never doubt it, that in fact, this building is for you Tinted. It was my dream to offer you this gift olibooboooooo apartments in memory of our small apartment in London, in a building where it was not obvious to us, here’s how I was able to realize this dream today, and I am proud of it. You are everything to me, MY ONLY ONE LOVE FOR LIFE. make this building what you want, you have no account to report to anyone, neither me nor your children, eat, spend, run, jump, it’s up to you, make yourself happy, make this what you want, part even to Baden Baden with or even to tcholéré, in short, it’s you to do this How good does it look to you. @olibooboosong.”

    Alexander Song had a staller career in England and is highly regarded at Arsenal as one of the best midfielders the club has ever had. However, a move to Barcelona in 2012 did not turn out to be what he envisaged as it cause the decline of his career.

     

     

  • Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song gifts his wife multimillion mansion on her birthday

    Alex Song, a former footballer for Barcelona and Arsenal, gave his wife Olivia Song a sizable mansion as she reached yet another significant life milestone.

    The mansion is a part of his Yaounde, Cameroon-based “Nokay 17 Residences” business.

    Song explained on Instagram that the space was inspired by the “little house” they once shared in London, as well as the “cheap” bag he gave Olivia for her first birthday after they got married.

    “Happy birthday to my best friend the love of my life the most wonderful mother, you are my source of motivation, thank you for all the support you give me for so many years. I remember in 2006 in London when we lived in a small two-bedroom apartment, the first time I gave you a gift for your birthday, I went to a shop called tkmax, and from there I bought you a purse that had not cost me much thing. that day you were so happy to receive it, your eyes were shining, you had thanked me a thousand times while this bag had only cost me 250 €. you took it every time we went out and it touched me so much to the point where I asked you the question:[ what can I offer you that will please you if I have the means] and you answered me saying:[ if you have the mo yens I wish that you offer me a Hermès bag] and I had asked you the price, you had told me: [it’s expensive it’s not our level because it costs about €3000] and exactly I had told you that day that: [I would never buy a bag at this price ????????????????]. but thanks to God I have offered you several bags over the years, I am so proud of the journey we have traveled together.”

    In his emotional message to celebrate her wife, Song who currently plays for AS Arta/Solar7 in Djibouti stated that gifting her the mansion is a dream.

    “Thank God it was not easy for me to do this project without you knowing who is the instigator. I had to make you understand that this building located in the middle of the golf just 50m from the US Embassy in Yaounde is in the continuation of NOKAY17, and I knew you could never doubt it, that in fact, this building is for you Tinted. It was my dream to offer you this gift olibooboooooo apartments in memory of our small apartment in London, in a building where it was not obvious to us, here’s how I was able to realize this dream today, and I am proud of it. You are everything to me, MY ONLY ONE LOVE FOR LIFE. make this building what you want, you have no account to report to anyone, neither me nor your children, eat, spend, run, jump, it’s up to you, make yourself happy, make this what you want, part even to Baden Baden with or even to tcholéré, in short, it’s you to do this How good does it look to you. @olibooboosong.”

    Alexander Song had a staller career in England and is highly regarded at Arsenal as one of the best midfielders the club has ever had. However, a move to Barcelona in 2012 did not turn out to be what he envisaged as it cause the decline of his career.

  • Barcelona board approve over €1.2bn as operating income budget for 2022-23

    A colossal amount of €1.255billion has been approved by Barcelona’s board as the club’s operating income budget for the 2022-23 season.

    Barca’s board also decided the club’s general assembly of delegate members would be held virtually on October 9. Xavi’s team host Celta Vigo at Camp Nou on the same day.

    In a subsequent statement, Barca announced the tender process for the project management of the redevelopment of the Gol Sur section of their stadium had been finalised, with contracts signed with Catalan companies Enginyeria i Arquitectura Torrella and Ingenieros JG.

    According to Barca, the tender process for the construction work has not yet finished. The forecasted profit for the next financial year is much greater, at €274m.

    The LaLiga giants have encountered financial difficulties over the course of several seasons. President Joan Laporta aims to steady the ship, though it has not stopped them from spending big in the transfer market.

    Though Lionel Messi left the club in 2021, Barca this year signed Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha for big money, while also adding Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso on low-cost deals. Ousmane Dembele was handed a new contract, too.

    Barca sold 25 per cent of their TV revenue for the next 25 years to private equity group Sixth Street in two separate deals in June and July, while they have also turned to streaming platform Spotify as their new stadium and shirt sponsor.

    On Monday, a club statement outlined a €1.255billion budget for the 2022-23 season, as well as confirming the previous financial year’s turnover of €1.017billion, €98million of which is said to have been profit.

     

     

     

  • Xavi influenced my move to Barca – Kounde reveals

    Jules Kounde has revealed that his decision to move to Barcelona and not Chelsea was as a result of Xavi’s speech.

    Kounde revealed that although Tuchel tried to convince him to join The Blues, Xavi’s words were unmatched.

    “First, I have come to a huge club, which has known good times and which, lately, has had less,” he said.

    “I come to a project that I would not call reconstruction, because we already have a competitive team, but rather, being upturned.

    “I was interested in being part of this new wave, in search of titles, and to put Barca back where it has always been, among the best clubs.

    “Then there was the conversation with the coach. We talked about football. I felt a real confidence from him, that he had a real knowledge of myself, my game and my qualities.

    “I spoke with Tuchel and I also felt that he wanted me to come, but I simply preferred Xavi’s speech,” he let out in an interview with French outlet L’Equipe.

    The France international had looked set to sign for Chelsea during the most recent transfer window, only to put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Camp Nou.

    Sevilla director of football Monchi suggested at the time that Barca pounced for Kounde after Chelsea had withdrawn their offer due to “having doubts”.

    Chelsea have made a slow start to the 2022-23 season and recently brought an end to Tuchel’s 20-month tenure.

    Despite their high-profile financial issues, meanwhile, Barca have made a strong start to their campaign and are two points off LaLiga leaders Real Madrid after six matches.

    Kounde was registered by Barcelona at the end of August, a month after joining, and has helped the Catalan giants to four clean sheets in his five appearances.

    Indeed, the five clean sheets Barca have kept in their opening six league matches is a tally they did not reach until 21 games played last season.

    And Kounde, one of two defenders alongside team-mate Alejandro Balde to have provided two assists in a single LaLiga match this term, believes he is well suited to Xavi’s style.

    “When I talked to Xavi he told me that my qualities correspond to his game plan, starting from the back, playing high, using my qualities of speed and anticipation,” Kounde said.

    “He also wants an aggressive team – we are one of the teams that presses high.

    “He saw me in this system and I too saw myself in this team that I saw make a pretty crazy rise in the table last season.

    “With Sevilla we were 15 points ahead of them in the middle of the season. Xavi arrived and I saw the changes he made and what direction he was going in. I liked it.”

  • Lewandowski nets again but emergency halts play late on

    Robert Lewandowski continued his brilliant start to life in LaLiga to help seal a 4-0 win for Barcelona at lowly Cadiz, though a medical emergency in the crowd marred Saturday’s match.

    Introduced by Xavi just after Frenkie de Jong’s first goal of the season had put Barca ahead in Andalusia, Lewandowski slid in to wrap up the points.

    It marked Lewandowski’s sixth LaLiga goal in his fifth appearance in the competition, with no player having managed as many goals in their first five games in Spain’s top flight in the 21st century.

    Yet a routine win was soured in the closing stages, with play halted and the players taken off the field following a medical emergency in the stands.

    When the match eventually resumed after a 40-minute delay, Lewandowski turned provider for Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele scored as Barca saw out a rout that moves them top of LaLiga with four wins from their five games.

    Cadiz relied on the woodwork coming to their rescue in the 10th minute, when Raphinha’s low effort hit the right-hand post.

    Raphinha blazed over from Barca’s next chance, with Memphis Depay showing a similar lack of composure after connecting with Ronald Araujo’s knockdown.

    De Jong tried a cheeky lob early in the second half, but it never came close to testing Jeremias Ledesma. Yet after a warning shot from Fede San Emeterio at the other end, the Barca midfielder was presented with a simple chance.

    It was one he took, thumping a first-time finish into a gaping net after Ledesma had parried Gavi’s cutback.

    On from the bench, Lewandowski needed just eight minutes to put the game to bed the 34-year-old’s poacher’s instincts on show as he tucked in a loose ball from a yard out.

    The match was already over as a contest, but Barca added two more after the restart, with Lewandowski squaring for Fati to tap in before Dembele’s shot squirmed home.

  • Barca’s spending cap up by almost €800m

    Barcelona‘s spending cap for the season has increased by almost €800 million to €656.5m following the sale of club assets this summer, LaLiga confirmed on Friday.

    Barca sold 25% of their domestic television rights for the next 25 years and a 49% stake in Barca Studios for over €700m in total after receiving permission from the club’s members to do so.

    That allowed them to spend more than €150m on new signings Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde in the transfer window, while Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso all arrived on free transfers.

    It marks a remarkable turnaround from last summer, when the club could not afford to keep Lionel Messi and LaLiga brought their spending limit down to €96m. By January, that cap had been further reduced to -€144m, the only negative limit in the league.

     

    Real Madrid still have the largest spending cap in LaLiga, though. Madrid are allowed to spend up to €683.5m annually on the running of their squad.

    Atletico Madrid have the third highest limit, but it is around €300m less than Madrid and Barca’s at €341m. Sevilla (€200m) and Villarreal (€151m) complete the top five, while Elche and newly promoted Girona have the lowest caps at just over €42m.

    LaLiga’s spending limit accounts for the maximum amount clubs can spend on wages, bonuses and amortisation payments on transfers across a season, not how much they are necessarily spending.

    As Barca have previously been over their limit, they have only been permitted to spend at a ratio of 1:4 — 25% of anything they saved in wages or raised in fees could go on new signings or new contracts — but LaLiga confirmed to ESPN earlier in the summer they are now working at a 1:1 ration once again.

    Source: espn.co.uk

  • Transfer Talk: Barcelona mull legal action against Atletico over Griezmann?

    Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has long been a target for Barcelona. Lynne Cameron – Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images

    The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

    Barcelona have not given up on signing Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, according to Sport.

    The Portugal international told ESPN’s Rob Dawson last month that his future at the Premier League champions was uncertain amid interest from Barca and Paris Saint-Germain, but he ended up staying at the Etihad stadium on deadline day.

    “The truth is there have been no offers from Spain, so I’m staying in Manchester and I’m happy,” Silva said shortly before the transfer window closed. “That’s all, that’s my choice.”

    However, Sport reports that Barcelona would have made a concerted bid to sign the 28-year-old in the summer were it not for the difficulties they had in registering their other new signings due to their financial constraints, and the Spanish giants plan to renew their efforts to bring him to Camp Nou as soon as they are able.

    Silva has been at the Etihad Stadium since 2017 and is under contract until 2025.

     

    Rodrygo and Eder Militao are set to follow Vinicius Junior in receiving Spanish passports early in 2023, sources told ESPN’s Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez, opening up the possibility of Real Madrid moving to sign more top talents from Brazil and other non-European countries.

    LaLiga clubs are allowed to include three players from countries outside the European Union in their first-team squads. In Madrid’s case, those spots have been occupied by Vinicius, Rodrygo and Militao. Madrid confirmed earlier this week that Vinicius, 22, had been granted Spanish nationality, having begun the process — which was delayed by the pandemic — back in 2020. Sources told ESPN that Rodrygo and Militao are set to receive theirs early in next year, meaning the club could now target non-European players to improve the first team squad in the January window and again next summer.

    Real Madrid were contacted about the possibility of signing Gabriel Jesus before he joined Arsenal, sources told ESPN, but the idea was dismissed because his Brazilian passport made such a deal impossible at the time.

    In February, ESPN reported that Madrid were tracking the development of Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick, 16, although a move for him would have to wait until he turns 18 in 2024.

    Madrid opted not to strengthen their forward line for this season, relying on the form and fitness of Karim Benzema, 34, and allowing the out-of-favour Luka Jovic to join Fiorentina. Benzema was injured this week during the Champions League win against Celtic and is now set to spend a month on the sidelines recovering.

     

     Jordi Alba says he remains 100% committed to Barcelona despite losing his place in the team and being linked with a move to Italian side Inter Milan.

    Alba has been on the bench for Barca’s last three LaLiga games, with 18-year-old Alejandro Balde picked ahead of him. Barca have also signed Marcos Alonso from Chelsea, who will add further competition for the left-back position.

    “It’s not about if it seems fair or not to me, the situation is what it is,” Alba told reporters at an Adidas event on Thursday when asked if he was annoyed by Barca’s negotiations with Inter.

    “Everyone acts as they see fit. I am someone who likes it to be told as it is, I am like that with everyone. Not everyone likes it, but that’s how I am. I can’t say anything else. Nothing surprises me anymore in football with what I have seen.

    “My thoughts have always focused around staying at Barcelona. I feel capable of staying here for the rest of my contract [until 2024]. I am 100% committed.

    “I have been at the club for years and there have been moments when I have not played, but I always try to give my best. Right now, I am not getting [as many] minutes, but I try to help the team however I can.”

    Chelsea are aiming to appoint a sporting director before the World Cup in November and new head coach Graham Potter will be involved in the selection process, sources have told ESPN’s James Olley.

    Blues co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have met with several potential candidates and are keen to make an announcement before the mid-season domestic break to allow their new appointment time to influence planning for the January transfer window.

    Sources have told ESPN that former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards informed the club last month he did not wish to be considered for the role, although it is unclear how he would react to a fresh approach.

    Former head coach Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked on Wednesday, had previously expressed his relief at not being asked for his advice on the position but, in what represents a shift in philosophy from the new owners, Potter’s opinion will be taken into account before a final decision is made.

    Potter’s appointment on a five-year contract was confirmed on Thursday afternoon and sources told ESPN his style of play and ability to improve players through coaching ranked as key reasons why they chose the 47-year-old.

    Boehly appointed himself as interim sporting director following the departures of lead negotiator and club director Marina Granovskaia and technical and performance adviser Petr Cech, both leaving after Roman Abramovich’s sale of the club at the end of May.

    Alongside Eghbali with input from Tuchel, Boehly oversaw Chelsea’s record spend in a single transfer window, committing more than £250m on nine new players including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly.

    Galatasaray announced the signing of former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata on Thursday on a one-year deal, with the option to extend a further year.

    Mata, 34, moved to United from Chelsea in January 2014 and made 285 appearances, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during an eight-year spell. A skilful playmaker, he managed 51 goals and 47 assists for United.

    The Turkish side also announced that they have taken Argentina striker Mauro Icardi from Paris Saint-Germain on loan for the 2022-2023 season.

    Galatasaray also signed Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira last month on a four-year contract from Arsenal.

    Former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has passed his medical ahead of his proposed move to Wolves, according to The Times.

    Costa, 33, had his initial application for a UK work permit rejected on Tuesday, but that was overturned on appeal. He has since arrived in England complete his transfer on a one-year contract.

    Wolves have been left short of strikers in their squad after summer signing Sasa Kalajdzic sustained a knee ligament injury during his debut on Saturday, while Raul Jimenez missed the opening two games of the season with a knee injury.

    Spain international Costa had been without a club since leaving Atletico Mineiro in January after five months at the club, during which he scored four goals in 15 games and lifted the Brazilian league title.

    Costa previously helped Atletico Madrid to the LaLiga title in 2014 before embarking on a successful three-year spell at Chelsea, where he scored 59 goals in 120 games in all competitions and won two Premier League titles in 2015 and 2017, as well as the League Cup in 2015. He left to return to Atletico in 2017 and helped the club to another LaLiga title in 2021, but left to return to his native Brazil last summer and join Atletico Mineiro.

    PAPER GOSSIP (by Abbie Ingham)

    – Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has signed a short-term contract with Newcastle United, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 29-year-old German had not made any appearances for Liverpool since 2018, and had loan stints at Union Berlin and Besiktas since then.

    – Leicester City have blocked Caglar Soyuncu‘s return to Turkey, reports Football Insider. Both Besiktas and Galatasaray were looking to sign the 26-year-old defender before the end of the Turkish transfer window, but following the departure of Wesley Fofana to Chelsea, Foxes coach Brendan Rogers wants to keep Soyuncu at the struggling side.

    - Hatem Ben Arfa could be forced into retirement, according to Media Foot. The 35-year-old is still without a club, after leaving Lille this summer. The Ligue 1 side was the France international’s fifth club in five years, and his 10th transfer of his career. It is reported that the former Paris Saint-Germain star’s salary demands has left him with viable options.

    – Following a bruising 4-0 defeat to Udinese at the weekend, AS Roma boss Jose Mourinho is searching search for a centre-back in the free agent market. According to Rudy Galetti, among the considerations are Jason Denayer, Dan-Axel Zagaduo and Nikola Maksimovic, but the Giallorossi may have to wait until the January transfer window to find a suitable addition for central defence.

    - Agustin Rossi is set to leave Boca Juniors after rejecting their latest contract offer, which would have kept the goalkeeper at La Bombonera until December 2026. Cesar Luis Merlo reports that after failed negotiations, the 27-year-old shot-stopper will not sign a new deal with the Argentian side. With his contract set to expire in 2023, the Argentina international’s will likely depart the Buenos Aires club in the next transfer window, or he will leave on a free transfer in June.

    Source: espn.co.uk

  • Lewandowski hits Barca hat-trick before Bayern return

    Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday scored a magnificent hat-trick in Barcelona’s crushing Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen.

    This is to help him warm up for next week’s meeting with former club Bayern Munich.

    The 34-year-old Poland forward demonstrated his value by making it eight goals in five games since leaving Bayern in July.

    Lewandowski marked his first Champions League appearance for Barca with a clinical finish which doubled the lead after Franck Kessie had headed the hosts ahead.

    He then made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time with a header after Ousmane Dembele did well to win back possession before producing a fine cross.

    Viktoria Plzen had briefly given their travelling fans from the Czech Republic something to cheer when Jan Sykora headed past Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but Barca – and Lewandowski – proved far too strong.

    Lewandowski completed his hat-trick after 67 minutes following an assist by former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres, who added the fifth.

    “Lewandowski showed his class tonight. He is rightly considered one of the best forwards in the world,” said Viktoria Plzen boss Michal Bilek.

    Robert Lewandowski was handed the match ball after scoring a hat-trick for Barcelona against Viktoria Plzen
    Robert Lewandowski was handed the match ball at the end after his 33-minute hat-trick

    Lewandowski is the first player to score a Champions League hat-trick for three different teams – Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

    He has now scored 32 goals in his last 20 Champions League group stage matches.

    This result was the perfect start to Group C for Barcelona, who face Bayern - 2-0 winners at Inter Milan – next Tuesday (20:00 BST).

    Lewandowski joined Bayern on a free transfer in 2014 after his departure from Borussia Dortmund and scored 50 goals in 46 games last season as he helped Bayern win a 10th straight Bundesliga title.

    He scored 344 times in 374 games for Bayern and is their second-highest scorer of all time behind Gerd Muller.

    He also helped Bayern win the competition in 2019-2020.

  • Barcelona sign Keira Walsh for world-record fee

    Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Keira Walsh from Manchester City on a three-year deal, the club announced on Wednesday.

    The deal is reported to be in excess of £350,000, the highest fee ever paid in women’s football.

    The previous record was set in 2020, when Chelsea signed Pernille Harder from Wolfsburg for a fee reported to be in excess of £250,000.


    The Spanish giants had two previous bids for Walsh rejected, but stepped up their efforts to sign the midfielder in the final days of the transfer window.

    The 25-year-old, who started every game for England in their victorious Euros campaign in July, had one year remaining on her contract at City.

    The departure of Walsh follows several other City players who have left the club, including Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway, Caroline Weir and Janine Beckie, while Ellen White, Jill Scott and Karen Bardsley have retired.

    She will join her England and former City teammate Bronze, who joined Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.

    Barcelona were looking to strengthen their midfield after a serious injury to Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.

    Walsh, who was named MVP of the Euros final against Germany, will travel to Barcelona in the coming days.

    Source: espn.co.uk

  • Keira Walsh completes world-record move to Barcelona from Man City

    Barcelona has signed a world-record deal with England midfielder Keira Walsh, who leaves Manchester City.

    The fee, £400,000, breaks the previous record for a female player set by Chelsea, who paid more than £250,000 for Pernille Harder in 2020.

    The 25-year-old follows fellow England international Lucy Bronze in swapping Manchester for Barcelona.

    Defensive midfielder Walsh, who has signed a three-year-deal with Barca, played an influential role in England’s Euro 2022 triumph.

    She won the Player of the Match award in the 2-1 extra-time final win over Germany at Wembley.

    City had turned down previous bids made by the Catalan club, who won their third successive Primera Division title last season.

    Barcelona are currently without Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Alexia Putellas, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament while training with Spain in July before the Euros.

    Walsh has been ever-present for City since making her debut in 2014, making 211 appearances and winning eight major trophies with her childhood club.

    She played 18 times for Gareth Taylor’s side in the Women’s Super League last season, scoring once and registering nine assists.

    Since earning her first cap for England in 2017, Walsh has made 50 appearances for the Lionesses.

    City have also lost England midfielder Georgia Stanway to Bayern Munich and Scotland’s Caroline Weir to Real Madrid this summer, while both Ellen White and Jill Scott announced their retirement from football last month.

  • I have unfinished business – Chelsea sign Aubameyang

    Chelsea have signed forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a £10.3m deal from Barcelona and Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria on loan.

    Gabon striker Aubameyang, 33, scored 13 goals in 24 appearances for Barca after joining the Spanish club in February from Arsenal.

    Left-back Marcos Alonso has left Chelsea by mutual consent and is expected to sign for Barcelona.

    Chelsea have the option to sign Zakaria on a permanent deal.

    The 25-year-old Switzerland international only joined Juve from Borussia Monchengladbach in January.

    When Aubameyang signed for Barca he had a buyout clause of 100m euros (£83.4m) in his contract, but has only played eight minutes this season. Barcelona have been looking to offload players after spending almost £200m on new arrivals despite being more than £1bn in debt.

    The deal for Aubameyang means Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly has spent £255.3m in his first transfer window since buying the club from Roman Abramovich – the highest amount any English club has spent in a single transfer window.

    Aubameyang said: ‘I’m really happy. It’s an honour to be part of this team and I can’t wait to start. I have some unfinished business with the Premier League so it’s good to be back and really exciting.’

    He scored 92 goals in 163 games in all competitions for Arsenal, but left on a free transfer after falling out with manager Mikel Arteta.

    That departure played a big part in the Gunners documentary All or Nothing.

    Only four players have scored more Premier League goals than Aubameyang’s total of 68 in the period since 31 January 2018 – the date he joined Arsenal.

    Aubameyang played under Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund between 2015 and 2017.

    He scored 79 goals in 95 games in that time, 38 more than under any other manager.

    Denis Zakaria
    Denis Zakaria, like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, had only joined his team earlier this year

    This summer the Blues have brought in nine players, including Leicester’s French defender Wesley Fofana for a fee in the region of £70m, Spain left-back Marc Cucurella from Brighton for £62m, England forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City for £50m, Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for £34m and English midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa for £20m.

    Boehly said: ‘Pierre-Emerick is an elite striker with a proven track record in the Premier League and his arrival strengthens our squad, giving us new attacking options. We are thrilled to have Pierre-Emerick on board with us in the new era at Chelsea and we’re really looking forward to working with him.’

    Source: BBC