Category: Football

Vinicius Junior scored a sensational goal to earn Real Madrid a 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg victory at Benfica on Tuesday, although the match was marred by apparent racist abuse aimed at the Brazilian.

Having curled a stunning shot into the top corner in the 50th minute, Vinicius argued with Gianluca Prestianni, after which he complained to French referee Francois Letexier, who halted the match for more than 10 minutes as he applied the racism protocol.

Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said Vinicius told his team-mates that Prestianni called him a “monkey”.

“Vini is doing good, calm,” Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa told Movistar. “(What happened) is something that nobody likes, you have to ask the Benfica player what he said.

“(Racism) is something we have to eradicate from the world of football and if the players don’t fix it then this is very complicated.”

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho was sent off in the final stages of a spiky game for complaining too vociferously, meaning he will miss the second leg against his former team at the Santiago Bernabeu next week.

Arbeloa’s Madrid earned a narrow and nervy victory at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon to take an advantage into that clash, as well as avenging their dramatic 4-2 defeat by Benfica in the league phase.

That collapse dragged the record 15-time champions down into the play-off round while helping Mourinho’s side reach it by the skin of their teeth.

However, this was a far different affair, with Arbeloa’s Madrid much sturdier than a few weeks ago.

They were bolstered by French superstar Kylian Mbappe’s return after he sat out of their last game because of knee discomfort.

Vinicius, back to his vibrant best since Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso at the helm in January, dragged the first good chance of the game inches wide of the far post.

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Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a fine save to keep out Fredrik Aursnes’s deflected effort from distance as Benfica held their own.

Madrid’s quality began to shine through before the interval, with Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, who scored a stunning late goal when the teams met in January, denying Mbappe and Arda Guler.

The Ukrainian stopper could do nothing, though, about Vinicius’s sensational strike after 50 minutes.

On the left of the area, with nothing else on, Vinicius curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner to put Madrid ahead.

The Brazilian was booked for his dancing celebration in front of Benfica’s supporters.

That sparked an exchange with Prestianni, who pulled his shirt over his mouth before seeming to say something to Vinicius.

The Brazilian then ran over to Letexier and, pointing at Prestianni, said that he had been called “mono”, the Spanish word for monkey.

“Vini told us that the guy called him a ‘monkey’ with his shirt (raised over his mouth),” Tchouameni told Movistar later.

The official activated the racism protocol, and Vinicius sat in Madrid’s dug-out, with the game on hold for several minutes.

When the game eventually resumed, Vinicius was jeered by Benfica supporters and was denied three times by Trubin in the minutes that followed.

Mourinho was sent off in the 85th minute as he appealed for a second yellow card for Vinicius, costing him a spot on the bench back at his old hunting ground, where he led Madrid between 2010 and 2013.

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Benfica coach Jose Mourinho insisted he is capable of saying no to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as he played down rumours of a return to the Spanish giants on Monday.

Mourinho’s Benfica host Real Madrid in a Champions League play-off round clash on Tuesday, before the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu next week.

The 63-year-old Portuguese coach, who led Madrid between 2010 and 2013, has a clause in his contract with Benfica which would allow him to depart the club, fuelling rumours Perez may turn to him again next season.

Mourinho guided Benfica to a 4-2 victory over Alvaro Arbeloa’s Real Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League in January, leading both teams to face each other again in the two-legged play-off round.

“Can you say no? Yes,” Mourinho told reporters when asked if he could reject an approach from the Madrid chief. “Yes, you can.”

Mourinho admitted he has a “great friendship” with Perez and a permanent connection with Madrid, but said the break clause was agreed because of the Benfica presidential elections, which were approaching in November 2025, a few weeks after he signed his contract.

“I gave everything to Real Madrid, everything that I had, I did good things, I did bad things, but I gave absolutely everything, and that’s all,” said Mourinho.

“When (someone) leaves a club with those type of feelings, I think a connection always exists… the fans think highly of me, and that is fantastic, but with this, I don’t want to encourage stories that don’t exist…

“The only thing that exists is that I have another year on my contract with Benfica. It’s a special contract because it was signed in an electoral period.”

Mourinho said the deal was signed to protect a hypothetical new president, although in the end, Rui Costa was re-elected.

“There is a clause that is very easy for both me and Benfica to break the contract, but the only thing that exists is the contract with Benfica, and there is nothing with Real Madrid,” said Mourinho.

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“I would very much like to eliminate Real Madrid (from the Champions League), but I would like Alvaro to win La Liga and for Alvaro to stay at Madrid for many years.

“I think he’s a coach with a lot of capability and a boy who has Madrid within him, and with the personality to coach Madrid, which isn’t something anyone can do.”

Mourinho said he expected a different game to the one his side dominated in Lisbon against Madrid in January, and highlighted the power of Arbeloa’s side, record 15-time champions.

“The Real Madrid I expect tomorrow is the Real Madrid who are number one favourites to win the Champions League,” added Mourinho.

Arbeloa said, despite his good relationship with Mourinho, he was determined to reach the last 16.

“My objective is to eliminate Benfica, and after that he can win everything else, after that I wish him the best,” explained Arbeloa.

The coach would not reveal whether French superstar Kylian Mbappe was ready to start the game, after knee discomfort kept him on the bench last weekend in the win over Real Sociedad.

“Kylian came with us, he will train and tomorrow you will see if he plays or doesn’t,” said Arbeloa.

Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga said Los Blancos were out for revenge at the Estadio da Luz.

“I think we have to change our mentality (from the league phase game), we’re better on that front now, we have to attack and defend together,” Camavinga told reporters.

“We want to play a great game, because losing a game like that was tough for our fans… we want to win tomorrow with the spirit of revenge.”

READ: Barcelona suffer title defence blow in Girona derby defeat

Spanish champions Barcelona fell to a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona on Monday to leave them trailing Real Madrid by two points at the top of La Liga.

Los Blancos beat Real Sociedad on Saturday to overtake the Catalans, and Hansi Flick’s side could not defeat Girona in a gripping derby clash to reclaim the lead.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal missed a penalty for Barcelona, who took the lead through defender Pau Cubarsi just before the hour mark.

However, goals from Thomas Lemar and Fran Beltran helped Girona, 12th, mount an impressive comeback.

“In the end, Girona deserved it; they had a lot of chances, we defended very badly,” admitted Flick.

“We are not in a good mood, not in a good moment. I gave the team two days off because I think it’s important they reset.

“There’s a long way (to go), we’re now in second, now we have to fight for first place in the table.”

Barcelona were still licking their wounds after a heavy 4-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey first-leg semi-final last week, and this defeat made things even worse.

“We have to improve because they can’t score these two goals against us,” Cubarsi told DAZN.

“We have to be self-critical; we didn’t play a great game, we have to improve, but now we have to rest and charge our batteries.”

Both sides were attacking with abandon in a very open first half, and it was remarkable that they went in goalless at the break.

Raphinha whipped a shot narrowly wide, and Yamal fired straight at Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga when through on goal.

At the other end, Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat missed a slew of presentable opportunities.

Ferran Torres fired a good chance wide for Barcelona, and Raphinha drove against the upright as Flick’s side pushed for the opener.

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They should have got it when Dani Olmo was clumsily felled in the box by Daley Blind, but Yamal hit the post from the spot.

Barcelona eventually took the lead through Pau Cubarsi’s header from Jules Kounde’s cross after 59 minutes, but Girona swiftly pulled level.

Thomas Lemar slipped away from Eric Garcia and turned home Vanat’s pass from close range.

It shifted the momentum in Girona’s favour, and Barcelona were left relying on some stunning saves from goalkeeper Joan Garcia to keep them afloat.

The stopper denied Ivan Martin and Vanat with a remarkable double save, and then thwarted Joel Roca with his leg.

Barcelona could not stem the tide and Girona forced their way in front after 87 minutes, with Fran Beltran stroking home from the edge of the area.

The visitors, who last week made an official complaint to the Spanish football federation over perceived refereeing inconsistencies, were left fuming after Kounde was fouled by Claudio Echeverri in the build-up and it went unpunished.

“It seemed like a foul (on Kounde) to me, but we shouldn’t focus on decisions we can’t control,” said Barca defender Gerard Martin.

Flick said “everyone saw” what happened, and it was a “clear” foul, but he would not complain about it too much because Barca had a lot to improve on themselves.

“I would speak about that if we played well, but we didn’t play well, so it looks like an excuse and complaining,” said Flick.

“The (officials) do their job, sometimes it’s not a good job, but they are on the same level as we played, so it’s maybe not a good level.”

Girona ended the game with 10 men when Roca scythed down Yamal to cut short a desperate Barca attack deep in stoppage time.

It did the job, and the hosts celebrated wildly at the end with their jubilant fans at Montilivi, as Flick demanded explanations from the referee.

“Three points against Barca are more than three points, normally they beat almost all teams,” said happy Girona coach Michel Sanchez.

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Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set for a spell on the sidelines after tearing his calf muscle, the Bundesliga club announced on Sunday.

Neuer, 39, was subbed off at half-time in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Werder Bremen which helped Bayern restore their six-point lead over Borussia Dortmund atop the Bundesliga table.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl initially said Neuer’s substitution was a “precautionary measure” and the injury was “nothing dramatic”.

A scan on Sunday, however, showed the tear was more serious than initially expected.

“Bayern Munich will have to do without Manuel Neuer for the time being,” the league leaders said in a statement without indicating how long their captain would be out.

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German media reported Neuer was in doubt for Bayern’s trip to Dortmund at the end of February and would miss next Saturday’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.

The veteran goalkeeper turns 40 in March and has been plagued by calf problems recently, missing 10 matches last season with a similar injury.

Bayern were 11 points clear in the German league at Christmas but Dortmund have drawn six points behind the leaders after a six-match winning run.

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MADRID: Vinicius Junior won and converted two penalties as Real Madrid thumped Real Sociedad 4-1 on Saturday to move provisionally top of La Liga.

An impressive performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold on his first start in two-and-a-half months also helped Los Blancos move two points clear of champions Barcelona, who visit Girona on Monday.

Madrid’s convincing display inflicted a first defeat for visiting American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, in his 10th match at the helm of Real Sociedad.

Young striker Gonzalo Garcia and Fede Valverde were also on target for Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid, who face an important Champions League play-off match against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on Tuesday in Lisbon.

“We did great work in attack and in defence… you could tell that we were defending as a team during the whole game,” Valverde told Real Madrid TV.

“We’ve had long weeks where we’ve been preparing a lot, and now we will fight for La Liga and the Champions League.”

Fit to start his first game since early December after a thigh injury, it did not take Alexander-Arnold long to make an impact.

The England defender’s cross was met with a delicate finish by Garcia, starting in place of French superstar Kylian Mbappe, who was feeling some knee discomfort.

“Trent is a very intelligent boy, who understands the game very well, and has quickly understood what we want from him,” Arbeloa told reporters.

“We’re lucky to have a player like this, who can play inside or outside… at set-pieces, with his kick, he can set us off on the counter-attack very well, he’s a great player.”

Real Sociedad pulled level after 21 minutes when Yangel Herrera was clumsily felled by Dean Huijsen in Madrid’s box.

Mikel Oyarzabal powered the spot-kick down the middle, but La Real’s joy was short-lived.

Vinicius won a penalty of his own at the other end when Jon Aramburu tripped him in the area, and the Brazilian sent Alex Remiro the wrong way.

Madrid were rampant, and Valverde netted a fine third in the 31st minute, moving into space on the edge of the box and curling into the top corner.

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Matarrazzo sent on Goncalo Guedes at half-time, hoping his team could mount a comeback, but Aramburu conceded another penalty early in the second half.

It was Vinicius running at him once more which provoked it, with the winger nutmegging Aramburu and then eagerly hitting the deck as the right-back slid in.

Vinicius went for the bottom left corner this time, switching directions, and Remiro could not reach his strike.

With Jude Bellingham out injured and Mbappe sitting on the bench, Vinicius seemed to have more freedom to roam and revelled in being the key attacking figure.

“Since I’ve arrived, he’s had games at a really high level… he’s a player who goes beyond the statistics, how he can change a game, condition opponents, the number of players he can attract”, said Arbeloa.

“(Vinicius is) one of the best in the world, I’m lucky to coach him, he’s a great kid with a big heart.”

Garcia came close to a second but Real Sociedad defender Jon Martin, who performed well individually despite his team’s heavy defeat, cleared his effort off the line.

Vinicius was denied a hat-trick by the linesman’s flag as he used his shoulder to convert Arda Guler’s crossed free-kick, but had strayed just offside.

“The first half was tough, we weren’t comfortable… and in general we did badly,” Oyarzabal told Movistar after his team’s unbeaten run was brought to an end.

“We came here in a good dynamic and doing well, a bad game doesn’t have to spoil that.”

Earlier, Villarreal fell to a 2-1 defeat at Getafe in a blow to their hopes of a top-four finish.

The Yellow Submarine, currently sitting fourth, were far from their best, and Mauro Arambarri sent the hosts ahead from the penalty spot shortly before the break.

Martin Satriano extended Getafe’s lead early in the second half, with Georges Mikautadze pulling one back for Villarreal, but Marcelino Garcia Toral’s team could not find an equaliser.

Real Betis, fifth, could move within four points of Villarreal if they beat Mallorca on Sunday.

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Croatian veteran Luka Modric struck in the 85th minute as AC Milan eked out a 2-1 victory at Serie A’s bottom club Pisa on Friday to cement their grip on second place.

The victory means Milan will gain ground on a weekend when the four other teams in the top five meet.

In an often cagey game, Pisa left Ruben Loftus-Cheek alone near the penalty spot when Zachary Athekame swung in a cross from the right in the 39th minute. The towering English midfielder leant into the ball to head into the far corner.

After Niclas Fuellkrug, who had replaced Christopher Nkunku in the Milan attack at half time, hit the post with a 56th-minute penalty, the visitors sat back.

They were punished in the 71st minute when Felipe Loyola pounced on a loose ball to curl in his first goal since arriving in Pisa on loan from Independiente in Argentina in January.

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Milan roused themselves. Fuellkrug brushed the post from close range before Luka Modric won the game with five minutes left.

The 40-year-old midfielder, Luke Modric, slid the ball to Samuele Ricci on the penalty spot and scampered after his pass. The falling Ricci scuffed a pass to the surging Modric, who lifted the ball into the goal.

In added time, Milan’s French International Adrien Rabiot picked up a yellow card for a foul on the edge of the box and an instant second for protesting. Ten-man Milan held off a late flurry of Pisan pressure.

The victory left Milan still five points behind leaders Inter, but put them four points ahead of champions Napoli.

Inter host fourth-placed Juventus on Saturday, and Napoli entertain fifth-placed Roma on Sunday.

READ: Peshawar Zalmi sign Shahnawaz Dahani for PSL 11

Peshawar Zalmi has signed fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, set to begin on March 26.

The signing was announced on the franchise’s social media accounts with an animated image.

“Fresh pace, right-arm variety, and plenty of promise. ShahnawazDahani
is set to electrify the #YellowStorm with his signature celebration,” the caption wrote.

“Welcome to your new home,” it added.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Peshawar Zalmi (@peshawarzalmipk)

Shahnawaz Dahani went unsold at the PSL Player Auction on February 10 at the Expo Centre Lahore.

The right-arm pacer was listed for a base price of 1.1 crore. However, none of the eight teams showed interest in bidding for the pacer.

Dahani has previously represented Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans, now rebranded as Rawalpindi. In 27 matches between 2021 and 2024, the pacer has claimed 39 wickets at an average of 20.84.

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Overall, he has played 62 T20s and has scalped 81 wickets, including a five-wicket haul.

With the addition of Dahani, the Peshawar Zalmi squad has now expanded to 16 members.

The squad includes notable players, with ace batter Babar Azam leading the side in PSL 11.

For the unversed, the auction was the first of its kind in the league’s history, replacing the draft—a player selection process—that had been used for the first 10 editions since it started in 2016.

The change to the player selection model followed the expansion, which added two new franchises: Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen.

Peshawar Zalmi Squad for PSL 11

Babar Azam, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Shahnawaz Dahani and Mirza Tahir Baig.

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Arsenal missed the chance to extend their Premier League lead to six points as Brentford rattled the Gunners in a 1-1 draw on Thursday to give Manchester City hope in the title race.

Noni Madueke headed the leaders in front on the hour mark, but the Bees were well worthy of at least a point and levelled through Keane Lewis-Potter.

Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table now stands at four points as they aim for a first league title in 22 years.

But Mikel Arteta’s men still have to travel to second-placed City in the remaining 12 games of the season.

A point boosted Brentford’s bid to qualify for European football for the first time as they remain in seventh.

Keith Andrews’ side have only been beaten twice at home all season, and Arsenal can count themselves fortunate not to have suffered just a fourth league defeat of the campaign.

David Raya foiled his former club with a stunning save to claw away Igor Thiago’s powerful header with the best chance of the first half.

Arsenal were missing William Saliba and Kai Havertz through illness and injury, respectively, but were boosted by the return of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka on the bench.

Arteta sent for Odegaard at half-time to turn the tide, and the visitors started the second period with far more intent.

Arsenal’s pressure had its reward when Madueke rose highest at the back post to head Piero Hincapie’s cross back across Caoimhin Kelleher.

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However, the visitors were guilty of trying to hold onto their advantage rather than continuing to take the game to Brentford.

Thiago stung the palms of Raya once more as the home side grew in confidence.

Lewis Potter should have levelled earlier when he headed wide from a corner when completely unmarked.

Arsenal’s strength from set-pieces has played a huge role in putting them in pole position for the title.

But they struggled to cope with Brentford’s own prowess from dead balls.

The equaliser arrived from one of Michael Kayode’s long-throws propellled into the box, Sepp van den Berg won the flick-on, and Lewis Potter stole in ahead of Odegaard to head in.

Brentford were the far more likely winners in the final 20 minutes.

Cristhian Mosquera made a vital last-ditch tackle to deny Thiago.

The Brazilian’s best chance for an 18th Premier League goal of the season came in stoppage time, but he smashed inches over.

But Arsenal also had a chance to snatch victory at the death when Kelleher raced off his line to save from Gabriel Martinelli.

READ: Atletico Madrid rout Barcelona in Copa del Rey semi-final first leg

Atletico Madrid hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their semi-final.

After an Eric Garcia own goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by half-time.

Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.

Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off in the final stages.

Atletico were able to preserve their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.

“In the first 45 minutes, we got a great lesson for us. Sometimes it’s good to get (that) in the right moment, maybe today is the right moment,” Flick told reporters.

“The second half was much better, and we have one game more, and we will fight (to win) that.”

Well off the pace in La Liga and not showing the quality of a side likely to go deep in the Champions League, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico’s best chance of silverware this season.

With that motivation in mind, the Rojiblancos conjured the best football of their season to completely dismantle the Spanish champions in the first half, as the fans lapped it up.

“I think our fans need these games, they’ve been coming for years, pushing, they’re always there, they need big matches,” said Simeone.

“We had a great first half, reading the game very well, we were very efficient and calm in the final third.”

The hosts took the lead after seven minutes when Garcia’s pass, on the uneven Metropolitano stadium pitch, bobbled towards Joan Garcia and then under the goalkeeper’s foot and into the net.

Former Barcelona striker Griezmann slid home the second as Atletico breached the Catalans’ high defensive line repeatedly, leaning on the pace of Giuliano Simeone and Lookman.

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Fermin Lopez hit the crossbar for Barcelona, but it was one-way traffic, and Atletico nearly got a third when Alvarez’s effort was cleared off the line by Jules Kounde.

Eventually, Nigeria international Lookman steered home the third at the end of a fine team move, with overjoyed Atletico coach Simeone racing down the touchline in celebration.

Having spent much of the season demanding his team take their chances more clinically, all of the Argentine’s dreams came true at once.

Alvarez, who had failed to score in his last 11 matches, ended his drought for Atletico’s fourth, ramming home from just inside the area.

“We all know how important Julian is for us; he showed it last season,” said Atletico midfielder Marcos Llorente.

“I’m really happy for his goal, I’m sure it will take a bit of the weight off.”

Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso saved well from Lopez to keep his clean sheet at the interval.

Barcelona thought they had pulled one back in the second half when Pau Cubarsi netted, but it was controversially disallowed after a long VAR review for an apparent offside.

“I want to have the reason why it was offside,” Flick told Movistar. “I don’t know what they saw.”

With a few minutes remaining, the league leaders’ night got even worse when Eric Garcia was sent off for a foul on Alex Baena as he ran through.

Ferran Torres’s poor pass sold his team-mate short, and he clumsily felled the Atletico playmaker.

Alexander Sorloth and Torres spurned further chances at each end as the game kept its frantic pace until the end.

On Wednesday, Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in the first leg of the other semi-final clash.

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Villarreal beat Espanyol 4-1 in La Liga on Monday at Estadio de la Cerámica, drawing them level on points with third-placed Atletico Madrid.

Goals by Georges Mikautadze, Nicolas Pepe and Alberto Moleiro, bolstered by an own goal by Jose Salinas, brought the Yellow Submarine to 45 points.

But Leandro Cabrera’s late consolation goal for the visitors stopped Villarreal from leapfrogging Atletico into third place.

Atletico lost to Real Betis on Sunday, offering Villarreal the chance to close the gap.

The Rojiblancos remain third with a superior goal difference of just one over Villarreal’s; however, the chasers boast a game in hand on Diego Simeone’s side.

A fourth consecutive defeat for Espanyol meant the Catalans trail fifth-placed Betis by four points but are still in position to qualify for the UEFA Conference League, albeit with just a one-point lead on chasing Celta Vigo.

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Georgian forward Mikautadze opened the scoring on 35 minutes with an acrobatic swivelling volley from close range after Tajon Buchanan’s knock-down.

Villarreal doubled their lead three minutes before the break as Salinas turned Moleiro’s square ball into his own net.

Pepe made it three less than five minutes into the second half when he danced past a challenge on the edge of the box and rifled low across the goalkeeper with his left foot.

Moleiro then got in on the act in the 55th minute with a fine curling finish after he found himself in acres of space in the Espanyol box at the end of a swift break forward.

Cabrera pulled one back for Espanyol in the 88th minute with a glancing header from a corner, but it was too little, too late as Manolo Gonzalez’s side continued to flounder.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo set for Al Nassr return after resolving dispute: sources