Madrid, Spain | Xinhua | FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez admitted that he would miss hearing the Champions League theme when his side hosts Napoli in the Europa League knockout round play-off on Thursday evening. Barca play the Europa League for the first time in their history after finishing third …
Read More »Barca’s Guardiola chases Champions League vindication
London, United Kingdom | AFP | After a series of painful Champions League failures, Pep Guardiola is on a mission to seal his Manchester City legacy by finally getting his hands on the trophy again. City start their latest bid to win the club’s first European Cup with a trip …
Read More »Messi’s free-kick magic keeps Barca top
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi stole the show with two free-kick goals in a blistering display as Barcelona maintained their lead at the top of La Liga with a thumping 4-0 derby win over Catalan rivals Espanyol. The Argentine superstar curled home two sensational set-pieces and set up …
Read More »Dembele shines as Barca go top with win over Villarreal
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Ousmane Dembele took another step on the road to redemption as Barcelona eased past Villarreal on Sunday to move back to the top of La Liga. Dembele, dropped last month by coach Ernesto Valverde, was making his second consecutive start and repaid the faith by teeing …
Read More »Barca stunned by Betis to suffer first league home defeat in two years
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona lost at home in La Liga for the first time in more than two years as Real Betis pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory on Sunday, despite Lionel Messi scoring twice on his return from injury. Barca last endured a league defeat at the …
Read More »Teenager gives new Real boss first Liga win, Barca shine in late show
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Santiago Solari tasted victory in his first La Liga match in charge of Real Madrid but he had 18-year-old Vinicius Junior to thank for their 2-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday. Solari threw Vinicius on with the score goalless and tension building at the …
Read More »Barca set new La Liga record after 39 games unbeaten
2414, Spain | AFP | Barcelona set a new La Liga record by extending their unbeaten run to 39 games with a 2-1 victory over Valencia on Saturday. Luis Suarez and Samuel Umtiti were both on target as Barca passed the 38 matches Real Sociedad managed without defeat between 1979 …
Read More »Messi rescues unbeaten Barca as Bale double propels Real
Seville, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi rescued Barcelona’s unbeaten season on Saturday as the La Liga leaders scored twice in the last three minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw at Sevilla. Messi came off the bench with his team two goals down at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as Luis …
Read More »Suarez, Paulinho move Barca 11 clear of Real
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Barcelona opened up an 11-point La Liga lead over Real Madrid ahead of next weekend’s Clasico between the Spanish giants as Luis Suarez and Paulinho each scored twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Deportivo la Coruna on Sunday. Lionel Messi also saw a penalty saved …
Read More »Barca, Chelsea reach last 16 as Man Utd lose
Paris, France | AFP | Barcelona and Chelsea progressed to the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, but Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United must wait to seal their spot after a last-gasp 1-0 defeat in Basel. Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde rested Argentina star Lionel Messi in Turin, later introducing him as …
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