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Barcelona beaten by Athletic Bilbao’s Aduriz thunderous strike

La Liga

Bilbao (Spain), Aug. 16, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Champions Barcelona fell to a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao in their opening La Liga game of the season thanks to a sensational late overhead kick from veteran striker Aritz Aduriz.

The 38-year-old came off the bench late in the game and soon made Barca pay for squandering several chances by acrobatically lashing an unstoppable shot into the net in the 89th minute.

The Catalans were without injured captain Lionel Messi but lined up with 200 million euros of new talent in France forward Antoine Griezmann and Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

However, they lacked sparkle against an energetic Bilbao side.

Luis Suarez struck the near post in the first half when presented with a terrible back pass from Athletic’s Unai Lopez.

However, he was soon forced off with a calf injury, while substitute Rafinha rattled the crossbar after coming on. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/MUYI/AFA
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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Felix Ajide

 

Sport

Messi hat-trick fires Barcelona to victory over PSV

Champions League
Barcelona (Spain), Sept. 18, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick as Barcelona kickstarted their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win at home to Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

However, their victory was marred by defender Samuel Umtiti sent off in the second half.

Barca’s all-time top scorer Messi broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute at the Nou Camp with an immaculately struck free kick.

It was his second free kick goal in three home games this season.

Coached by former Barca and Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel, PSV had produced an admirable performance in their first visit to the Nou Camp in 21 years.
But they began to tire late in the second half.

In the first period they successfully shut down most of Barca’s attacks and also plotted several dangerous breaks.

The Spanish champions began to demonstrate the gulf in class as the second half progressed and they doubled their lead in the 75th minute.

It was a lovely curling strike from in-form French forward Ousmane Dembele, who scored a fifth goal from sixth games in all competitions this season.

Messi got his second and Barca’s third goal two minutes later, turning Ivan Rakitic’s dinked pass into the near corner with one flick of his boot.

He then completed his treble in the 87th by receiving another chipped pass, this time from Luis Suarez, and ruthlessly smashing home.

The mood was briefly dampened when France defender Umtiti was dismissed in the 79th minute for a second yellow card.

He is therefore ruled out of Barca’s next Champions League game away to Tottenham Hotspur on Oct. 3.

Barca lead Champions League Group B on goal difference after Inter Milan beat Tottenham 2-1. (Reuters/NAN)
KIA/AFA

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Edited by Felix Ajide

 

Sport

Pique welcomes Barca’s one-off Super Cup duel with Sevilla

Pique welcomes Barca’s one-off Super Cup duel with Sevilla

Super Cup

Barcelona (Spain), Aug. 11, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Barcelona defender Gerard Pique reckons making the Spanish Super Cup a one-off game rather than a two-legged contest is a welcome development – but his coach, Ernesto Valverde, is not so sure.

The Spanish Football Federation has settled on the single-game format for Sunday’s encounter between Liga champions and Copa del Rey holders Barca and cup runners-up Sevilla.

It will also be played outside the country for the first time.

It says the change was a result of a lack of available dates because of Sevilla’s involvement in Europa League qualifiers — but it has been fiercely criticised by Sevilla’s president Jose Castro.

Pique welcomed the prospect of fewer games — although he conceded that playing the game in Tangier, Morocco, was not ideal.

“Anything that shortens the schedule is good for the players,” Pique told a news conference ahead of the game.

“There are many players who haven’t played even a friendly game because if (they had) we would have had no holidays.

“Every year there are more and more games, especially in World Cup years, so playing one game rather than two is much better,” said Pique.

He admitted: “Playing in Tangier means the conditions will not be the best but we will adapt.”

Valverde believes this year’s format will make the Super Cup harder to win for his side.

“Playing one game makes it more open, as with a second leg you can correct things,” he said. “Now we only have 90 minutes and it levels the playing field.”

He added: “Sevilla have the advantage that they have been competing for two or three weeks, so they will be more up to speed.

“We’ve come back from a pre-season tour and some players have returned a little late, while there are also some new faces. So we have to adjust a bit.

“But we are still excited about the opportunity of winning our first trophy of the season.”

Barca beat Sevilla 5-0 on aggregate in the 2016 Spanish Super Cup but crashed 5-1 to Real Madrid in last year’s competition.

Sevilla also lost 5-0 to Barca in last season’s Copa del Rey final and finished 35 points adrift of the Catalans in La Liga.

New coach Pablo Machin is under no illusions as to who the favourites are in Sunday’s game.

“It’s obvious that Barca are a super team and specialists in winning finals, and they have many of the best players in the world,” said Machin.

“But football is one of the few games in which an inferior team can beat a superior one — and we have a chance.” (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

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Sport

Barcelona sign defender Lenglet from Sevilla

Signing
Barcelona (Spain), July 12, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Barcelona have signed French defender Clement Lenglet from Sevilla for 35.9 million euros (31.76 million pounds) on a five-year deal after paying his release clause, the La Liga champions said on Thursday.

“The player will sign a contract with the club for the next five seasons, until June 2023, with a buy-out clause of 300 million euros,” Barca said in a statement.

Lenglet, 23, joined Sevilla from French side Nancy in January 2017. He has played for France at under-21 level but has never been called up to the first team.

Lenglet is Barca’s second signing of the close season after midfielder Arthur Melo.

The deal means Barca now have five centre backs on the books in Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Yerry Mina and Thomas Vermaelen. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Felix Ajide

Sport

Spanish Super Cup to be decided over one game – federation

Super Cup
Madrid, July 9, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) The Spanish Super Cup game between Barcelona and Sevilla will be contested over one match at a neutral venue on August 12.

This is a departure from the traditional two-leg home and away format, Spain’s football federation (RFEF) said on Monday.

According to reports in the Spanish media, the federation plans to have the game played outside Spain, in the Moroccan city of Tangier.

The federation did not say where the game would take place and did not respond to requests for comment.

Sevilla’s participation in the Europa League qualifying rounds, is reported to be behind the move to a one-game competition due to a lack of available dates before the Liga season kicks off on August 18.

The move is likely to anger Sevilla, who released a statement on their official Twitter account on Sunday declaring their opposition to playing the competition in one game.

Playing the contest at a neutral venue deprives each team of ticket revenue for the game that would otherwise be held at their home stadium.

“Sevilla have not changed their position, the Super Cup is scheduled for two games as it is stated in the calendar and that’s how Sevilla want it to be played.

“The club has not accepted any other proposal,” said the statement.

Barcelona were not immediately available for comment. (Reuters/NAN)
KIA/ERO/AFA
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Felix Ajide

Sport

Barca clinch title in style as Messi treble downs Deportivo

La Liga

Coruna (Spain), April 29, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona clinched a 25th Liga title on Sunday after winning 4-2 at Deportivo La Coruna.

The victory came despite throwing away a two-goal lead in a thrilling game which also confirmed Depor’s relegation.

Barca only needed a draw to seal the title and they made a perfect start when record signing Philippe Coutinho scored with a stylishly chipped shot in the seventh minute.

Messi doubled their lead in the 38th by volleying home an outrageous cross by Luis Suarez.

Deportivo had been unlucky to go two goals down and they deservedly pulled one back through Lucas Perez five minutes before halftime and Turkish midfielder Emre Colak equalised in the 68th.

Clarence Seedorf’s side needed victory to survive in the top flight for another week and they came close to finding a third goal and becoming the first team to beat Barca in the league this season.

But the runaway leaders kept coming back at them on the counter-attack and it was top scorer and talisman Messi who restored their lead.

The Argentine struck from close range in the 82nd minute after being teed up by Suarez.

Messi claimed his 32nd league goal of the season with the help of another pass from Suarez to round off the victory and give Barca a seventh Liga title in 10 years.

It completed a fourth domestic double in that same period after beating Sevilla 5-0 in the King’s Cup final last week.

Ernesto Valverde’s unbeaten side have 86 points after 34 games, second-placed Atletico have 75 from 35 and third-placed Real Madrid 71 from 35.

Deportivo are 18th on 28th, 12 points adrift of 17th-placed Levante with three games left. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/MZA

Sport

Barcelona thrash Sevilla to win King’s Cup again

Trophy

Madrid, April 21, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Unstoppable duo Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi helped Barcelona thrash Sevilla 5-0 to win the King’s Cup final for the fourth consecutive season on Saturday.

Luis Suarez struck twice in the first half for the Catalans as they won the competition for a record 30th time.

However, it was Iniesta and Messi who pulled all the strings as Barca blew away Vincenzo Montella’s stunned side.

Philippe Coutinho set up Suarez for the opening goal in the 14th minute and Barcelona dominated the rest of the game.

The result goes some way to make up for their humiliating Champions League quarter-final elimination by AS Roma earlier in April as Barca completed the first step of a league and cup double.

Messi slammed home the second after good work from Jordi Alba with Suarez adding another, before Iniesta netted from a tight angle.

Suarez produced a composed low finish to make it 3-0 before the interval.

Barca refused to ease off in the second half, Iniesta finishing off another sublime move for the fourth goal after rounding keeper David Soria.

Coutinho completed the rout from the penalty spot after defender Clement Lenglet had handled inside his area.

Barcelona could complete the domestic double on Sunday if second-placed Atletico Madrid lose to Real Betis.

But Sevilla have not won since knocking Manchester United out of the Champions League on 13 March. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/MZA