Tag: Barcelona

Barcelona confirmed the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United on Friday, for a fee that could rise to 80 million euros ($93 million).

Gordon will sign for “the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031,” Barcelona said in a brief statement.

The 25-year-old left winger netted 17 goals for Newcastle this season, 10 of those in the Champions League, and was the club’s top scorer.

“As a kid, to play for Barcelona is the biggest dream possible, it’s the biggest club on the planet,” Gordon told reporters.

“I know it comes with a lot of responsibility, but like I said, I’m ready for this kind of challenge, ready for that responsibility.

“I know everybody, the players in the past who’ve worn the shirt, it holds a lot of weight, but I’m ready. I’m excited for the challenge.”

Gordon, part of England’s World Cup squad, bolsters a Barcelona attack losing Polish veteran striker Robert Lewandowski at the end of his contract, and possibly Marcus Rashford after his loan spell from Manchester United.

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La Liga champions Barcelona still hope to strengthen further in the coming weeks, with Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez linked with a switch to Catalonia, while the club have not ruled out a new move to keep Rashford.

After three years of reduced expenditure and with their partially rebuilt Camp Nou stadium reopened, Barca have more economic breathing room within La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules than previously.

Lewandowski’s departure and the end of Rashford’s loan give Barcelona margin to spend, while other players, including Roony Bardghji, Ansu Fati and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, may also leave.

Gordon’s transfer is Newcastle’s second-largest sale in their history after Liverpool paid £125m ($168m) for Alexander Isak last summer.

The Premier League side may move for Real Betis winger Ez Abde as a replacement, according to reports.

Anthony Gordon joined Newcastle from Everton for £45m in 2023, with the Merseyside club set to receive 15 percent of the profit from the winger’s departure from St James’s Park.

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Newly-crowned Spanish champions Barcelona suffered a 1-0 defeat by Alaves on Wednesday, ending their bid to match the all-time La Liga record points total of 100.

Hansi Flick’s side needed to win their remaining three matches to reach that figure, but fell at the first hurdle in Vitoria.

Ibrahim Diabate’s goal in first-half stoppage time earned Alaves a vital victory in their battle against relegation, taking Quique Sanchez Flores’s team out of the drop zone and up to 15th.

Barca coach Flick gave 21-year-old centre-back Alvaro Cortes his debut, among several changes to the side that won the Clasico on Sunday to clinch back-to-back league titles.

The Catalans celebrated winning La Liga on Monday with an open-top bus parade, and their performance reflected that to some extent.

Barca had plenty of the ball and winger Marcus Rashford offered energy, but Alaves dug deep to keep the visitors at arm’s length.

Just before the break, Diabate fired past Wojciech Szczesny, after Antonio Blanco headed a corner back towards goal, with Barca defenders not reacting quickly.

Szczesny pushed away a Diabate strike early in the second half as Alaves tried to double their lead.

Barcelona struggled to create any clear chances, and the hosts came close through Jon Guridi, who beat Szczesny but struck the post with a drive across goal.

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Earlier, Sevilla produced a sensational comeback from two goals down to beat Villarreal 3-2 and climb towards safety.

The Andalusian side have been struggling towards the bottom in recent months but secured their third consecutive victory to rise up to 10th provisionally, four points clear of the drop zone.

Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze fired hosts Villarreal, third, into a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes.

However, Oso and Kike Salas pulled Sevilla level before the break, and Akor Adams struck in the 72nd minute to seal Sevilla’s win.

This came in a week where their former defender, Sergio Ramos, is reported to be close to completing a takeover of the club alongside an investment firm.

“It’s an indescribable feeling, giving back to the fans all the love they give us,” said Sevilla defender Salas.

Espanyol defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home to win their first match in 2026, ending an 18-game run without a victory.

Pere Milla and Kike Garcia’s second-half goals helped the Catalan side, 14th, move three points clear of the bottom three.

“It’s been one of the worst experiences of my professional and personal life,” said Espanyol coach Manolo Gonzalez of his team’s winless run.

The coach had tears in his eyes after Garcia struck late on to guarantee his team victory at long last.

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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick confirmed on Tuesday that he has signed a new two-year contract with the club, with an option for a third season.

The 61-year-old German secured a second consecutive La Liga title with the Catalan club on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid.

“Obviously I’m very happy; it gives me the confidence to keep working for another year or two,” Flick said at the press conference ahead of Wednesday’s league visit to Alaves.

“I think many coaches would be very happy to sign a three, four or five-year contract, but in this case, with Barca, I think it’s good to keep it limited and I appreciate that.

“We’ll continue until 2028. If all goes well, we’ll decide to carry on. I have the right to stop, and so does the club.”

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Flick joined Barcelona in the summer of 2024 and, in two seasons at the club, has won two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups.

The Champions League, which Flick won in 2020 with former club Bayern Munich, has eluded him since arriving in Catalonia, however.

Barcelona were edged out by Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals this season, after last year going down 7-6 on aggregate to Inter Milan in the last four.

“It’s also a commitment on our part to work even harder than we did this season, if that’s possible, and to continue reaching the highest possible level with the team, achieving new goals and winning new titles,” Flick said.

“This is important for Barca, because everyone has this dream of winning the Champions League. We’ve tried, we’ll try again, and that’s all I can say.”

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FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi congratulated his former club on social media after the Catalans defeated arch-rivals Real Madrid 2-0 in El Clasico to secure the La Liga title at a packed Camp Nou.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres in the first half guided Hansi Flick’s side to their 29th league crown and a second consecutive La Liga triumph.

The victory moved Barcelona 14 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid with only three matches remaining, confirming the title and condemning Los Blancos to a trophyless campaign.

Shortly after the final whistle, Messi shared his reaction on Instagram, posting a story with the words “Champion” and “Visca Barca,” meaning “Long live Barcelona.”

The Argentine icon spent 18 remarkable years at Barcelona and remains the club’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances.

Messi won every major trophy during his legendary spell at Camp Nou before leaving the club in 2021 in emotional circumstances to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He later moved to Inter Miami, where he guided the MLS side to the 2025 MLS Cup title.

Barcelona entered the Clasico needing only to avoid defeat to secure the title, but the Catalans showed attacking intent from the start in front of a jubilant 62,000-strong crowd at Camp Nou.

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It marked the first Clasico at the stadium since its reopening, and the hosts responded with a dominant first-half display.

Rashford opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick from around 20 yards out, curling the ball into the top-left corner to spark wild celebrations.

Torres then doubled Barcelona’s advantage before halftime to put the champions firmly in control.

The match also carried historical significance as it was only the second time a La Liga title had been decided directly through the result of an El Clasico.

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BARCELONA: Defending champions Barcelona secured their 29th La Liga title after beating arch-rivals Real Madrid 2-0 in the Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres struck in the first half to help Hansi Flick’s side clinch La Liga in consecutive years, while consigning Madrid to a trophyless season.

Barcelona moved an unassailable 14 points clear of second-place Los Blancos with three matches remaining.

This was only the second time the outcome of La Liga has been decided directly by the result of a Clasico, with record 36-time champions Real Madrid winning their first title in 1932 after a draw with Barcelona.

Flick’s team were disappointed to be knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals by Atletico Madrid in April, but were still determined to celebrate in style.

“This title is more special for winning it at home against Madrid, now we have to enjoy it with the fans,” Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong told Movistar.

“We have been the best team in Spain, of course, we (also) want to win the Champions League, that’s the objective. Next year we will have another opportunity.”

Real Madrid arrived at the match embroiled in chaos, after midfielder Fede Valverde was ruled out with a head injury following a training ground scuffle with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, who started.

Barca coach Flick received bad news before the game, with his father passing away, but took his place on the touchline regardless, to oversee his side’s comfortable triumph.

The German opted for the energetic Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, on the right wing in place of the injured teenage star Lamine Yamal.

The Catalans, who only needed to avoid defeat, came out with their eyes firmly locked on the prize, racing into a two-goal lead inside 18 minutes.

Rashford opened the scoring with a superb free-kick, whipping the ball into the top left corner from a position 20 yards out, right of centre.

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Torres doubled the hosts’ advantage at a jubilant Camp Nou, the 62,000-strong crowd enjoying the first Clasico back there since the stadium was reopened.

Dani Olmo produced a clever backheel to allow Torres to burst into the box and ram past Thibaut Courtois.

Gonzalo Garcia, playing in place of injured Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe, prodded narrowly wide after racing in behind Barca’s high defensive line.

Urged on by coach Alvaro Arbeloa on the touchline, unlikely to be at the helm next season, Real Madrid battled to stem the bleeding.

Rashford could have added a third before the break but fired wide, with Fermin Lopez unmarked and well placed to finish.

Torres should have struck early in the second half, but Courtois saved from the Spain international as he ran through.

Jude Bellingham put the ball in Barcelona’s net, but the goal was ruled out for offside, while Joan Garcia thwarted Vinicius Junior as Madrid threatened.

Barcelona fans batted inflatable beach balls around to taunt the Brazilian over his unfulfilled Ballon d’Or ambitions, and lapped up the party atmosphere.

Courtois was saved from substitutes Raphinha, back after injury, and Robert Lewandowski as Madrid saw out the remainder of the match without taking further damage.

Flick’s side remain on course to match the record of 100 points in a league season and can win all their home matches if they defeat Real Betis in the one remaining.

Meanwhile, Madrid finish a second consecutive season without a major trophy, staring down the barrel of a summer reshuffle, including former coach Jose Mourinho being linked with a potential return.

What is clear is that, for now, president Florentino Perez cannot seem to find the solution to end Flick’s Barca’s domestic domination.

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With the sting of Champions League disappointment fading but still felt, Barcelona aim to secure consecutive La Liga titles on Sunday when they host bitter rivals Real Madrid for El Clasico.

Leading by 11 points, Hansi Flick’s side only need a draw in the Clasico to be crowned champions again, although a victory against a Los Blancos team in crisis would keep them on course to make history — and celebrate in style.

If Barcelona win their last four league games this season, starting with the battle against Alvaro Arbeloa’s fracturing Madrid, they will match the all-time league record of 100 points.

That was first achieved by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the 2011-12 season and followed by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona the season after.

Barca’s 29 wins so far this season are the most of any side at this point, and if they win their last four games, they will break the record of 32 victories in a season, shared by the Mourinho and Vilanova sides.

Should Barcelona beat Madrid and also Real Betis the following weekend, they will become the first team to win all their home matches in a 38-game La Liga season.

However, they are without teenage star Lamine Yamal, who is out for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury.

Brazilian winger Raphinha returned to the bench last weekend after injury but did not appear in the win at Osasuna, which moved Barca to the brink of the title.

“I see the team in great shape, very focused, we’re all really looking forward to playing the Clasico,” said Barca defender Jules Kounde this week. “We can win La Liga with a draw, but a win would be the best.”

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This is the first Clasico at the partially rebuilt Camp Nou in over three years.

In March 2023, Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona snatched a late victory with Franck Kessié’s goal, which helped them open up a 12-point lead on Madrid and made them virtually assured of the title.

Only once before in Clasico history has the title actually been decided by the result of the game, as could happen again this Sunday.

Real Madrid won the first of their record 36 leagues by drawing 2-2 against Barcelona in the 1931-32 season to clinch the title.

Barca are aiming to seal their 29th this weekend, with Madrid keen to postpone those celebrations by scoring a second victory over Flick’s team this season.

They are waiting to see if top goalscorer Kylian Mbappe can be involved after a thigh injury, while Vinicius Junior is expected to lead the line for Los Blancos.

“He’s the player who has given me the most problems,” said Kounde of the Brazil international. “He’s a great player, very fast, and he changes direction constantly.”

Madrid face the Clasico in the midst of internal chaos, with Federico Valverde reportedly needing stitches after a training ground bust-up with Aurelien Tchouameni, one of a spate of such incidents.

There is great tension around Arbeloa’s side, about to finish a second consecutive season without a major trophy.

Still, for Flick’s young side, wounded in Europe but dominant domestically, beating Los Blancos to claim the title would help them finish the season on a high note.

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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick celebrated the return of winger Raphinha from injury on Friday as the Catalans close in on the Spanish title.

Flick’s team are 11 points clear of second-place Real Madrid and can win a second successive La Liga title this weekend if they beat Osasuna on Saturday and Los Blancos drop points at out of form Espanyol the following day.

Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Brazil in March, which left him sidelined as Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Barca face Real Madrid on May 10 in a Clasico which could seal their title defence if they do not clinch it this weekend, and are still in with a chance of matching the all-time record of 100 points in a Spanish league campaign.

“Rapha is a player who always gives us 100 percent, when he’s on the pitch or in training,” Flick told reporters.

“His mentality, his attitude, is always 100 percent and that helps us a lot. This season he has… had to suffer (from injury) so for us it’s important to have him back.

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“He will also travel with us and we’ll see what happens tomorrow… I think also for the team it’s great to have him back, because he’s one of our captains, he’s positive and can give us these things that we need.”

Barca are without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Flick saying the 18-year-old is recovering well from the hamstring problem which will keep him out until the end of the season.

“He’s doing good, so the evolution is good, I think we will see him in the World Cup,” said Flick.

“He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants.”

If Barca win their remaining five league matches they will reach the 100-point record first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and then matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona side in 2013.

“We are only focussed on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,” said Flick.

“For me it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also we have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training.

“So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality.”

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Barcelona moved a step closer to winning La Liga with a tight 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Wednesday, but lost their goalscorer Lamine Yamal to an apparent hamstring injury.

The teenage Spanish star won and converted a penalty to clinch a narrow triumph, but hurt himself as he took it and was replaced before half-time.

Joao Cancelo also went off injured for a Barca team who moved nine points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table with six matches remaining, including a Clasico on May 10.

“We have to win every game and seal La Liga as soon as possible. It was important to win today,” Pedri told Movistar.

“I hope (Lamine’s injury) is for as few weeks as possible. Tomorrow he’ll be tested, and we’ll see what it is. I wish him the best of luck, and he should stay calm — he’s young and will surely recover well.”

Hansi Flick’s side, playing for the first time since their Champions League quarter-final elimination by Atletico Madrid last week, lacked their usual attacking spark.

Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia saved well from Pablo Duran and Ferran Jutgla in the opening exchanges at Camp Nou.

With little between the teams, it came down to Yamal’s fleet footwork to help Barca open the door.

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The forward skipped into the box, exchanging passes with Dani Olmo, and was felled by Yoel Lago as he tried to evade the Celta defender.

Lamine Yamal beat Ionut Radu with a low penalty, with the goalkeeper diving the right way. However, he pulled up hurt immediately, calling for treatment and lying on the turf as his teammates came over to celebrate.

The match was delayed for over 15 minutes because of a medical incident in the stands at the same time, and when Celta kicked off again, Yamal had been replaced by Roony Bardghji.

Barca battled through the second half without creating much until Ferran Torres lashed home with a volley from Pedri’s pass.

The Catalans’ joy was short-lived, though, as the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside call against the Spanish forward.

Former Barca defender Marcos Alonso smashed a free-kick into the wall as the hosts held on to claim three potentially vital points.

Defeat left Celta seventh and still hoping to qualify for European football next season.

“We were very good in the first half, we had chances and they didn’t have so many… but individual talent made the difference,” said Jutgla. “La Liga is very competitive and we will fight until the end.”

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Atletico Madrid sent 10-man Barcelona crashing out of the Champions League and reached the final four with a 3-2 aggregate victory despite Tuesday’s 2-1 quarter-final second leg defeat.

Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres fired visitors Barcelona ahead inside 24 minutes, but Ademola Lookman’s strike gave Atletico the edge in the gripping all-Spanish tie once again after their 2-0 win in the first leg.

Diego Simeone’s side returned to the semi-finals for the first time since 2017 by holding on against the La Liga champions in a compelling and bloody battle.

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia was sent off for bringing down Alexander Sorloth as he ran in on goal in the final stages, hampering their chances of finding a third goal to force extra time.

Atletico Madrid, who have never won the competition and lost the 2014 and 2016 finals with Simeone at the helm, will face Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.

Barcelona last won the Champions League in 2015, and their wait for a sixth crown continues, but midfielder Frenkie de Jong said that the club was on the right path despite their elimination.

Barca coach Hansi Flick benched forwards Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski for workhorses Torres and Gavi, looking to press Atletico relentlessly in the sixth match between these sides this season.

Goalkeeper Juan Musso tipped a Yamal effort around his post after just 32 seconds, with Barca roaring out of the blocks in a fiery atmosphere at the Metropolitano stadium.

The teenage winger fired the visitors ahead after just four minutes when he harried Clement Lenglet into giving the ball away.

Torres nudged it back to Yamal, who slipped a low shot through Musso’s legs to hush the home fans and ignite Barca’s attempted comeback bid.

Dani Olmo nearly grabbed a second, but Musso was able to reach his attempted lob as Barca continued to dominate.

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Antoine Griezmann had a shot deflected wide as Atletico Madrid showed occasional flashes, mostly through enterprising winger Lookman, who gave Jules Kounde a difficult night.

Barcelona doubled their lead in the 24th minute to level the tie on aggregate when Torres left Lenglet trailing, reached Olmo’s pass and fired across Musso into the top corner.

Fermin Lopez could have notched Barca’s third, but Musso clawed out his header and left the midfielder bleeding after his boot caught the Spaniard in the face.

Atletico pulled their way back into the game in the 31st minute after Barca switched off defensively for the first time.

Marcos Llorente charged down the right behind the Catalans’ high defensive line and crossed for Lookman to convert.

Barcelona were frustrated early in the second half when Torres volleyed home, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Flick sent on Rashford and Lewandowski with around 20 minutes remaining to find the goal that last season’s semi-finalists needed.

Barca stopper Joan Garcia made a fine save with his leg to thwart Robin Le Normand from close range as Atletico almost pulled level on the night.

Matteo Ruggieri was left with blood streaming down his face after Gavi caught him with an elbow, with tensions rising.

The game spun away from Barca when Eric Garcia was sent off for clipping Sorloth’s heels as he ran through on goal, similar to Pau Cubarsi’s red card in the first leg.

Flick threw centre-back Ronald Araujo up front for the final stages, but there was no way back, and Atletico gritted their teeth through eight minutes of stoppage time before the celebrations could begin.

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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was furious at the decision not to review a strange handball incident in his team’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat by Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Atletico defender Marc Pubill touched a ball passed to him by goalkeeper Juan Musso with his hand, to set it still in order to take the goal-kick himself, which Flick said should have been a red card and a penalty.

In the first half, VAR intervened to get referee Istvan Kovacs to review an incident involving Barca defender Pau Cubarsi, who was booked for fouling Giuliano Simeone as he ran through on goal.

After the review, Barcelona defender Cubarsi was sent off, leaving the Catalans with 10 men for the second half.

“The VAR was very focused today for Atletico, he’s a German guy, so thanks Germany,” former German national team coach Flick told reporters. “It’s for me a clear red card.”

In 2024, Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings was punished for a similar infringement in a Champions League defeat against Club Brugge.

Flick said the VAR officials should have asked Kovacs to review the incident.

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“For my perspective, it’s clear, he has to call and say okay come on, look at this, the same like before. I don’t understand,” added Flick.

“I haven’t spoken with the referee. I think it was better not to speak with him. We have to accept it, and focus in the match next Tuesday in Atletico. We have the quality, the players who can decide (this game), and we have to fight.”

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo said it was “absurd but a clear penalty”.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone said the officials were correct not to intervene.

“There’s common sense,” said the Argentine. “If Marc, who was supposedly receiving a pass to start the play, interpreted it the way he did, and the referee interpreted it the same way Marc did, it’s because there is only common sense about the play.”

Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth’s goals earned Atletico a significant advantage ahead of the second leg next Tuesday in the Spanish capital.

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