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Sport

Suarez brace downs Real Madrid, sends FC Barcelona into another Copa del Rey final

Brace

Madrid, Feb. 27, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) A clinical Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-0 away in an intense Copa del Rey semi-final, second leg on Wednesday as a Luis Suarez double helped them secure a 4-1 aggregate victory.

The victory means that Barcelona have yet again booked a spot in the final for the sixth straight season.

A dominant yet wasteful Real ravaged their rivals in the first half while spurning a string of clear chances at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Yet Barca went ahead against the run of play in the 50th minute as Ousmane Dembele led a counter-attack and Suarez slotted his pass into the net.

Spearheaded by the pace and confidence of Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr, Madrid continued to fly forward but failed to find the target.

Barca effectively killed off the tie when Raphael Varane bundled the ball into his own net as he tried to prevent Suarez reaching another cross from Dembele.

Suarez then earned a penalty and further humiliated Madrid by converting with an audacious ‘Panenka’, deceiving goalkeeper Keylor Navas by chipping the ball into the net.

La Liga leaders Barca will visit Real again in the league on Saturday.

The Catalans, who are bidding to win the trophy for a record fifth consecutive year, will play either Real Betis or Valencia in the final on May 25 at Betis’ Benito Villamarin stadium.

Valencia host Betis in their second leg on Thursday, having drawn 2-2 in the first leg. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Felix Ajide

 

Sport

Uncertainty about Messi does not affect Real Madrid’s `Clasico’ plans, Solari says

Messi
Madrid, Feb. 5, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari hopes FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is fit to face his side in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg for the good of the game.

But he added that the Argentine’s presence would not affect his game plan.

It is unclear whether Messi, the all-time top goalscorer in Spanish football, as well as in the ‘Clasico’, will be fit for the game.

He had ended Barca’s 2-2 draw with Valencia on Saturday with a knock.

His club have not given an injury update on him.

“It’s always good when the best players get to play every game, but whether or not he plays will not influence the way we prepare for the game at all,” Solari told a news conference on Tuesday.

Messi was out with a broken arm the last time Spain’s two biggest clubs met back in October.

But Barca barely missed their talismanic forward, thrashing Real Madrid 5-1 in what proved to be Julen Lopetegui’s last game in charge before Solari took over.

Real Madrid are third in the La Liga standings, but they cut their gap behind leaders Barca to eight points after beating Alaves on Sunday.

Now, they are looking to end FC Barcelona’s run of four consecutive Copa del Rey triumphs.

The capital city club reached the final of the competition for the first time since 2014 when they beat the Catalans 2-1.

Barca’s French forward Ousmane Dembele is unlikely to be fit for the game, as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Solari meanwhile has practically a full squad at his disposal, with only little-used defender Jesus Vallejo unavailable.

“It’s harder to pick a team when everyone is available, but the important thing is that every player puts their talent, ability and effort at the service of the team,” added the coach.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

FC Barcelona demolish Sevilla with spectacular 6-1 Cup comeback

Demolition
Barcelona (Spain), Jan. 31, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Philippe Coutinho struck twice as FC Barcelona mounted a comeback to thrash Sevilla 6-1 and sweep into the Copa del Rey semi-finals 6-3 on aggregate on Wednesday.
After a 2-0 defeat in Seville last week in which they rested key players, the Catalans broke the deadlock in the 13th minute.
That was when Coutinho slotted home from the penalty kick spot after Quincy Promes’s foul on Lionel Messi.

Messi handed Coutinho the ball and the Brazilian playmaker converted the spot kick, ending a run of poor form.

Sevilla nearly equalised but goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen produced a brilliant save from Andre Silva’s backheel, before the Dutch goalkeeper palmed away Ever Banega’s penalty kick

Gerrard Pique fouled Roque Mesa and after a long delay while the incident was checked by VAR, Argentina midfielder Banega fired to the goalkeeper’s left.

But Cillessen flew across to keep the ball out.

FC Barcelona pulled the game level on aggregate in the 32nd minute when Ivan Rakitic nudged the ball past Juan Soriano with the faintest of touches after a sensational pass from Arthur.

Two goals in a two-minute spell after the break helped FC arcelona race ahead, with Coutinho heading in from Luis Suarez’s cross and Sergi Roberto tucking home a ball from Messi.

Guilherme Arana pulled a goal back for Sevilla with a powerful drive after the otherwise impressive Cillessen gave the ball away.

But Pablo Machin’s side were finally sunk when Suarez struck on the break and Messi added a late sixth.

Earlier Real Betis, whose Benito Villamarin stadium will host the final in May, beat Espanyol 3-1 at home after extra-time to progress 4-1 on aggregate.

Leo Baptistao headed Espanyol in front after 33 minutes but Giovani Lo Celso equalised in the 76th minute before Marc Roca was dismissed for the visitors.

Betis capitalised on their numerical advantage in extra time, with Sergio Leon and Aissa Mandi’s strikes earning them a semi-final spot.(Reuters/NAN)

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)
Sport

Dembele, Messi see off Levante but Barca Copa hopes in doubt

Cup
Barcelona (Spain), Jan. 18, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) FC Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi were on target as the Copa del Rey holders thrashed Levante 3-0 for a 4-2 aggregate win to reach the quarter-finals.

However, Barca’s status in a competition they have won for the last four years is unclear.

This was after Levante said before the game that they would file a complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Friday about the Catalan club.

Levante claim that FC Barcelona’s teenage defender Chumi Brandariz, who played in the first leg, was ineligible to take part in the match because he was suspended.

If the RFEF ruled against the Catalan club, the 30-times Copa del Rey winners would be thrown out, with Levante given a bye and taking their place in the last eight.

With Barca trailing 2-1 from the first leg, coach Ernesto Valverde made five changes at the Nou Camp on Thursday.

He recalled the club’s all-time top scorer Messi as well as Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic to the team, while starting without first-choice striker Luis Suarez.

FC Barcelona made a flying start and, after numerous forays into the visitors’ area, took the lead on the half hour when Dembele latched onto a Messi through ball.

He chipped the ball into the net with the help of a deflection off a defender.

The France forward struck again less than a minute later, receiving another Messi pass and rounding goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez to double Barca’s advantage.

Philippe Coutinho looked to have struck early in the second half but his effort was ruled out for offside following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Messi wrapped up the win in the 54th minute.

But the Catalans will not know their fate in the competition until the federation rules on Levante’s planned complaint over Chumi. (Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

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)

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Sport

FC Barcelona eye domestic Cup win to help heal UEFA Champions League wounds

Healing
Barcelona (Spain), April 19, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Spanish giants FC Barcelona will target a record-extending 30th King’s Cup triumph when they face Sevilla in Saturday’s final.

A victory would also virtually assure them of a second domestic double in three seasons, reinforcing their dominance in Spain.

Also, victory for Barca in the first final at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid has something else to look forward to.

It will also go some way towards healing the wounds from their catastrophic failure in the 2017/2018 UEFA Champions League.

The team’s rampant run towards a 25th Liga title, while staying unbeaten, has been overshadowed by their devastating 3-0 defeat to AS Roma in the continental competition.

The defeat saw them exit Europe’s top competition on away goals rule after blowing a 4-1 lead from the first leg.

It has also harmed coach Ernesto Valverde’s reputation in an otherwise impeccable first season in charge.

Valverde was even criticised in some sections of the Catalan press in the aftermath of their European exit for taking the King’s Cup too seriously.

Some blamed his team’s embarrassment in Rome on his reluctance to rotate his squad.

Barca’s third successive European failure will be all the harder to swallow should Real Madrid go on to win the UEFA Champions League for a third season in a row.

This does not take away the Catalans’ domestic achievements, which are impressive in their own right.

If Barca beat Sevilla, they will become the first team since the Spanish Civil War started to win the Cup four years in a row.

This will thereby almost certainly seal the club’s eighth domestic double.

Standing in their way are a hugely unpredictable Sevilla side who have endured a series of humiliating defeats in the league under coach Vincenzo Montella.

However, they tend to come into their own on the biggest of occasions.

Sevilla knocked Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League and dumped Atletico Madrid out of the King’s Cup.

They also came within a minute of beating Barca in the league before the Catalans fought back from two goals down.

“We don’t have any fear.

“We’ll try and use our weapons as best as we can and ensure that they don’t feel comfortable at all in any stage of the game,” Sevilla midfielder Pablo Sarabia told reporters ahead of the final.

“We have to be as aggressive as we can. It’s a beautiful chance for us to win a trophy. We have to remind ourselves of the good things we’ve done this season.

“We have not been consistent in the league but in the UEFA Champions League we made history and in the Cup we have a chance to lift a trophy.”

There is an outside chance FC Barcelona could be crowned Liga champions the day after the final.

This is if second-placed Atletico Madrid lose to Real Sociedad on Thursday and are beaten at home by Real Betis on Sunday.

Third-placed Real Madrid were due to face Sevilla this weekend but the game has been postponed because of the King’s Cup final, while fourth-placed Valencia visit Celta Vigo on Saturday.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Real Madrid suffer humiliating Copa del Rey exit

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Humiliation
Abuja, Jan. 25, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Real Madrid suffered a humiliating 2-1 home defeat by Leganes on Wednesday to exit the King’s Cup at the quarter-final stage on away goals.

A much-changed Real side, missing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, held a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.

But their troubled season hit a new low as they were outplayed by a team lying 13th in La Liga.

Leganes started brightly and Claudio Beauvue sent a free kick against the post in the opening exchanges, and the visitors were deservedly level on aggregate after half an hour.

A mishap between Achraf Hakimi and Nacho allowed Javier Eraso the space to produce a stunning finish from outside the box.

Beauvue sent a volley into the side netting on the stroke of half-time as a shell-shocked Real were jeered off the pitch at the break.

That appeared to bring about a reaction from the home side and Karim Benzema produced a neat finish from an acute angle immediately after the restart.

This put Zinedine Zidane’s men ahead on aggregate.

Leganes centre-back Dimitris Siovas missed a gilt-edged chance as he headed back across the six-yard box with the goal gaping.

But moments later Gabriel Pires made no mistake as he thumped home a header to put Leganes through on away goals.

They joined Valencia, who defeated last season’s finalists Alaves on penalties earlier on Wednesday, and Sevilla, who knocked out Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, in the draw for the last four.

League leaders FC Barcelona host Espanyol on Thursday, trailing 1-0 from the first leg in the last quarter-final fixture.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)