Tag: La Liga

PAMPLONA: The 92nd edition of the renowned Spanish league – La Liga is set to embark on August 13 as Osasuna and Sevilla will lock horns in the curtain raiser.

This year’s edition of the Spanish league is set to roll into action on Saturday (August 13) after the previous edition concluded with Real Madrid lifting the title for the record 35th time.

The year-long tournament will feature 20 teams and will be conducted on a round-robin basis – meaning each team will play at least 38 matches. Whereas, 380 matches will be played overall in the major football league.

Osasuna will face off with Sevilla in a curtain-raiser on August 13, while Celta Ligo will take on Espanyol, whereas, Valladolid will lock horns with Villareal in the remaining two matches on the opening day.

Here's the schedule for 13th August of the teams that will give it their all in #Laliga2022to2023

Watch the biggest event in Spanish football LIVE in HD on:
📺: #ASportsHD
🖥️: #ARYZAP#LaLiga #FootballLeague #Season2022to2023 #ASportsHD #PakistansFirstHDSportsChannel #ARYZap pic.twitter.com/12yuQNZWrY

— ASports (@asportstvpk) August 12, 2022

 

The defending champions Real Madrid, on the other hand, will start their campaign against Almeria on August 15, while their arch-rival Barcelona compete against Rayo Vallecano on August 14.

The action-filled tournament will be telecasted live on Pakistan’s first HD Sports channel – A Sports and will be simultaneously streamed on the digital platform of ARY Digital Network – ARY ZAP in crystal clear HD quality.

ARY has acquired TV and DIGITAL RIGHTS in PAKISTAN for 2 seasons of LA LIGA 2022-23 and 2023-24

You can watch the first season on 📺 #ASports +📱#ARYZAP for the first time in HD, kicks off on the 13th of August 2022.#ASportsHD #LaLiga #Football pic.twitter.com/MitqyvJhpf

— ASports (@asportstvpk) August 3, 2022

 

READ: ARY Digital Network acquires TV and Digital Rights for La Liga

MADRID: The 2022 La Liga winners Real Madrid cruised to a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Levante at the back of Vinicius Junior, here on Friday.

In a clash between the top and the bottom, Madrid made sure that their standings’ difference remained evident on the field as the already crowned championship hammered Levante and tested the side’s defences, which was reflected in the scoreline as well.

The hosts took an early lead in just the ninth minute of the game as Ferland Mendy surged forward to slot the ball home.

The Madrid skipper Benzema, who is back into the side after being rested for the La Liga derby against Atletico Madrid, soon found himself amongst the goals, getting on the end of a Vinicius cross at the back post.

Madrid then walked in their third goal before the half-time as Rodrygo combined with Luka Modric before the youngster tapped in from close range.

Modric then again provided the assist, this time to Vinicius, who tucked home from a tight angle.

The second half was all about Vinicius, who netted twice more to complete his hat-trick – first for the Madrid.

He scored his second in the 67th minute following a close assist from Benzema, who danced around the goalkeeper before passing to him. The final blow came in the 83rd minute when he took advantage of a Luka Jovic pass before netting the ball away with his left foot.

It is pertinent to mention here that with his 19th-minute goal against Levante, Benzema has equalled Raul’s record of the second-most goals (323) for the club, with only Cristiano Ronaldo (450) scoring more.

READ: Djokovic thumps Auger-Aliassaime, storms into the Italian Open semi-finals 

MADRID: Atletico Madrid sealed an important 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the La Liga derby for the first time in six years, here on Tuesday.

Atletico, up against the weakened Real Madrid made the most of the situation as the prior defeated the current La Liga champions 1-0 to consolidate their fourth spot in the league’s standings.

The important victory against the weak Real Madrid has put Atletico on the brink of securing the Champions League Qualification.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, which recently made an astonishing comeback in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City, took the field without their key players like Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Thibaut Courtois.

The first-half penalty from Yannick Carrasco proved enough for Atletico to edge past Real Madrid in the derby. The side, however, missed a string of chances which may be a matter of concern for the side in the upcoming fixtures.

Atletico, which currently sit at fourth, are six points clear of Real Betis in the fifth place, with three games to play. Atletico’s better head-to-head record over Betis, however, guarantees the side to finish among the top-four if Betis fails to win against Valencia on Tuesday.

If Betis defeat Valencia, Atletico then can still secure a spot in the top-four by beating Elche in Thursday’s fixture.

It’s worth mentioning that Atletico could not beat Real Madrid in La Liga since 2016, and at home since 2015, with two goals and no victory in their last eight meetings against their city rivals in all competitions.

READ: Cricket South Africa withdraws racism charges from Mark Boucher

BARCELONA: The home side Barcelona took a big step towards securing a place in next season’s Champions League as a 2-1 victory over Real Mallorca on Sunday saw them reclaim the second spot in La Liga from Sevilla.

Goals in either half from Memphis Depay and Sergio Busquets put Xavi Hernandez’s men in control and they took the three points despite Antonio Raillo’s effort for their relegation-threatened opponents at the Camp Nou.

The Catalan giants move two points ahead of Sevilla and nine clear of fifth-placed Real Betis, who have a game in hand, with four matches to play this season.

Barca took the lead in the 25th minute as Memphis Depay made a clever run to collect Jordi Alba’s pass before thumping a fine half-volley into the bottom corner.

The Dutchman has scored 11 league goals since joining Barcelona from Lyon last summer, despite having struggled for a regular starting spot since the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal in January.

The hosts doubled their advantage nine minutes after the break as Sergio Busquets drove a low shot from the edge of the box into the net to score for the third time this season in all competitions, equalling his previous best goalscoring campaign.

Barca thought they had added a third in the 73rd minute, but Ferran Torres’ effort after a desperate goalmouth scramble was ruled out for an offside earlier in the move.

There was more to cheer for the home fans shortly afterwards as Ansu Fati came off the bench to make his first appearance after suffering a hamstring injury in January.

Mallorca ensured that their opponents would at least endure a nervy finale to the match, as Antonio Raillo pulled one back with 11 minutes remaining.

But Barcelona held on, leaving Mallorca only one point ahead of 18th-placed Granada, who drew 1-1 with Celta Vigo, in the fight to beat the drop.

Earlier, Real Sociedad suffered a blow in their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League, as Radamel Falcao grabbed Rayo Vallecano a 1-1 draw.

La Real looked set to move within three points of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid with four matches remaining when Alexander Sorloth gave them a first-half lead.

But Colombian veteran Falcao came off the bench in the 77th minute and scored less than a minute later to leave Sociedad five points off the top-four pace.

It was Falcao’s sixth league goal of an injury-hit season as the 36-year-old made his first appearance for Rayo since February.

Visitors Sociedad remain in sixth place after a third straight game without a win.

Real Betis can cut the gap to Atletico down to a single point on Monday when they travel to Getafe.

Real Madrid wrapped up the title on Saturday, ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City in midweek.

READ: Fokina thrashes Harris to advance into the Madrid Open second round

MADRID: The home side Real Madrid put on a show as they hand a crushing 4-0 defeat to Espanyol and lift their 35th La Liga title, here on Sunday.

The home side Madrid, which just needed one point from their last five games secured two goals as Rodrygo Silva netted the ball twice and put the side close to the glory.

Espanyol pushed hard to cut the gap but Madrid’s Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema bettered the lead to 4-0 with a strike each in the 55th and 81st minutes.

With a convincing 4-0 victory, the home side moved 17 points clear of the second-ranked Sevilla and four matches to play. Barcelona, on the other hand, have a game in hand but are 18 points shy.

With La Liga’s conclusion, Madrid will turn their attention to the second leg of their semi-final against Manchester City in the Champions League, where the La Liga champions will have to overturn a 4-3 defeat in the first leg to make their way into the final.

Furthermore, Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti, on the other hand, has become the first coach to win all five major European titles. He has also won the Premier League with Chelsea, Serie A with AC Milan, Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

READ: ‘I Bowled Two Balls More Than 160 kph, but they were not counted’ Sami

BARCELONA: The home side Barcelona suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, handing Real Madrid the chance to win La Liga if they draw at home to Espanyol next weekend.

Barca’s place in the top four is still not secure either after a third consecutive defeat at Camp Nou continued their late-season wobble and saw them squander the chance to pull away in the race for Champions League qualification.

Madrid remain 15 points clear with five games left to play and while Barcelona have a better head-to-head, Carlo Ancelotti’s side know they will be uncatchable if they take just a point from Espanyol on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barcelona should still have enough for the top four given they sit six points clear of Real Betis in fifth, with five games left to play, but winning this game in hand against an out-of-form Rayo side would certainly have made the run-in more comfortable.

Instead, their form, as much as their position, will be a real concern for coach Xavi, whose team have now won only twice in their last six matches.

This loss comes after they were beaten at home by Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals and then defeated by Cadiz in La Liga, also 1-0.

Xavi talked on Saturday about “recovering the sensations” of a few weeks ago when a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu looked set to place Barcelona even as favourites in La Liga next season.

BARCELONA: Barcelona’s place in La Liga’s top four looks much less secure after they suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to relegation-battling Cadiz on Monday.

Lucas Perez’s close-range finish early in the second half condemned Barca to a second consecutive defeat, on the back of their shock exit at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday.

Barcelona stayed second but are level on points with both Sevilla in third and Atletico Madrid in fourth while Real Betis in fifth are only three points behind. Xavi Hernandez’s team do have a game in hand over the trio below them.

But the loss means Barca have won only one of their last four matches, that victory coming via an injury-time winner against 19th-placed Levante.

Any hopes they had of making leaders Real Madrid feel uncomfortable are surely over, with Madrid 15 points clear at the top, having played a game more.

Cadiz climb out of the relegation zone to 16th, two points clear of the bottom three.

The defeat by Frankfurt on Thursday was a particularly bitter pill to swallow, given the Catalans effectively ceded their home advantage by allowing more than 20,000 away fans into Camp Nou.

Xavi said on Saturday Barca had felt “robbed in their own home” and one of the club’s prominent fan groups boycotted the Cadiz game in protest, with the section behind the goal at one end empty.

Controversy surrounded Gerard Pique on Monday too, after a report by El Confidencial said the defender’s company, Kosmos, are to receive 24 million euros for their part in moving the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. Pique was not involved against Cadiz as he had a hamstring injury.

As well as issues around the Frankfurt fans and Pique, Xavi finds himself confronting the team’s first real dip since he was appointed in November.

Barcelona can ill-afford to miss out on Champions League qualification, with the club’s debts at the start of the season amounting to more than a billion euros.

Cadiz should have been in front at half-time but Perez shot wide after being given a simple finish by Ruben Sobrino.

Ousmane Dembele had Barcelona’s best chance but the Frenchman was unable to finish off a driving run, his shot straight at Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma.

Cadiz continued to create the better chances and two minutes into the second half, they took the lead. Jordi Alba lost the ball in midfield and Alex’s cross found Sobrino, whose header was parried by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, only for Perez to follow in.

Alex should have put Barca out of sight but fired wide from Ivan Alejo’s pull-back before Barcelona’s Luuk de Jong, on as a substitute, headed straight at Ledesma.

Sergio Busquets tested Ledesma with a late strike from a distance before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang volleyed straight at the goalkeeper late on, Gavi unable to reach the rebound.

READ: New Zealand to face Costa Rica for FIFA World Cup spot on June 14 

SEVILLE: Karim Benzema completed another incredible Real Madrid comeback on Sunday as they fought from two goals down to defeat Sevilla 3-2 in La Liga.

After trailing Chelsea 3-0 on Tuesday only to secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals, Madrid stunned Sevilla to seal the victory that has surely won them La Liga.

Defeat would have given fresh hope to the chasing pack, with Sevilla and Barcelona both beginning the day 12 points behind, Barca with two games in hand.

Instead, goals in the second half from Rodrygo, Nacho Fernandez and Benzema in the 92nd minute mean Madrid extend their advantage to 15 points with six games left to play.

An Ivan Rakitic free-kick and Erik Lamela’s smart finish had put Sevilla two up at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Benzema’s goal finished Chelsea off on Tuesday after Rodrygo had forced extra-time at the Santiago Bernabeu and those two, along with Vinicius Junior, were crucial again.

Benzema now has 44 goals in 46 appearances this season and 15 in his last 10.

Rakitic gave Sevilla the lead in the 25th minute, curling a free-kick into the corner after Luka Modric had brought down Papu Gomez.

Lamela doubled the advantage four minutes later, slotting after Tecatito drew out Thibaut Courtois and left the net open.

But a superb Vinicius backheel for Dani Carvajal allowed Rodrygo to pull a goal back in the 50th minute.

Vinicius thought he had made it 2-2 in the 74th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out, the referee deciding the Brazilian had controlled with his arm and not his chest.

Madrid though were undeterred as Rakitic headed away a corner, only for Carvajal to drive to the line and pull back for Nacho to finish.

And then in the 92nd minute, Benzema completed another remarkable revival, collecting Rodrygo’s pass, controlling and firing past three Sevilla defenders on the line.

Ten-man Atletico Madrid left it late too as Yannick Carrasco scored the winning penalty with the last kick of the game for a 2-1 win over Espanyol.

Atletico looked set to drop another two points at the Wanda Metropolitano when Geoffrey Kondogbia was sent off in the second half and then three minutes later Raul de Tomas cancelled out Carrasco’s opener, his free-kick squirming through the fingers of Jan Oblak.

But De Tomas handballed deep into added time, the referee awarding the spot-kick after a long consultation with VAR before Carrasco held his nerve. The ball hit the net with the clock approaching 100 minutes.

Atletico stay three points clear of Real Betis in fifth and level on points with third-placed Sevilla.

After losing away at Mallorca last weekend and then being knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester City in midweek, Diego Simeone’s side could ill-afford another dent to their morale.

The significance of the win was demonstrated by the Argentinian celebrating Carrasco’s winning penalty by sprinting down the touchline, before joining his relieved players in the corner.

Atletico cut Espanyol open in the 52nd minute as Matheus Cunha, on at half-time, slipped in Carrasco, who turned inside and drove through Diego Lopez at the near post.

But the game turned in Espanyol’s favour in the 71st minute when Kondogbia was shown a second yellow card for blocking Sergi Darder’s shot with his hand and then from the resulting free-kick, De Tomas equalised.

The usually reliable Oblak was at fault as the goalkeeper fumbled a simple save, the ball hitting the post and dribbling in.

With a man extra, Espanyol wanted a winner but Atletico found a way back.

In the 95th minute, De Tomas went to clear Antoine Griezmann’s flicked header but got his angles wrong and instead the ball caught his elbow. In the 100th minute, Carrasco made no mistake.

READ: Hasan Ali shines with five wickets on County cricket debut

VALENCIA: Luuk de Jong headed in a 92nd-minute winner on Sunday as Barcelona prevailed in a five-goal thriller against Levante to return to second in La Liga.

De Jong’s late goal, his sixth in the league for Barca, proved the decisive moment in a 3-2 victory in Valencia but it was the introduction of the 19-year-old Pedri off the bench that turned the momentum of the contest.

Asked if the team are too reliant on Pedri, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said: “I wouldn’t put it like that but he is an extraordinary player. I don’t hold back any praise, he is a player who excites people and makes a difference.”

A frantic 11 minutes early in the second half saw Levante score one penalty in the 52nd minute through Jose Luis Morales before missing a second in the 55th, this time Roger Marti stepping up, only to be denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Pedri came off the bench in the 56th minute and three minutes later Barcelona equalised, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heading in Ousmane Dembele’s cross to score his 10th goal for his new club.

Then in the 63rd minute, Pedri fired Barca in front with a first-time finish into the corner, only for Levante to level again after being awarded a third penalty, Gonzalo Melero this time making no mistake.

Levante looked set to claim a point but De Jong snatched the win, meeting Jordi Alba’s cross and heading in at the near post.

Barca climb back above Sevilla into second, still, 12 points behind Real Madrid, who eased to a 2-0 victory over Getafe on Saturday.

Xavi’s side has a game in hand over Real Madrid, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, with Atletico three points behind in fourth after losing on Saturday away at Mallorca.

Pedri scored a brilliant winner against Sevilla last weekend and while the midfielder was initially rested against Levante, Barcelona were transformed after he came on.

Aubameyang, meanwhile, continued his own rich vein of form since leaving Arsenal in January. The Gabon striker now has 10 goals in 14 games for his new club.

Levante were all over Barcelona early on and Morales was thwarted by an excellent, goal-line clearance by Eric Garcia after his finish at the end of a weaving run that looked to be spinning in. Garcia scrambled back to hook away.

Ferran Torres twice went close but the mayhem began shortly after half-time when Dani Alves leant into Son to prevent him from retrieving a one-two and Morales scored from the spot.

Three minutes later, Levante had another penalty after the ball cruelly dropped down onto the arm of Garcia. Morales left this spot-kick to Roger but his low shot to the left was palmed away by Ter Stegen.

Levante knew an opportunity had been squandered and Barca played quicker with Pedri on the pitch, the teenager playing the key pass out to Dembele, who crossed in for Aubameyang to nod in.

Five minutes later, Barcelona were in front as Gavi nipped between two Levante defenders and squared for Pedri, who bent the ball the first time into the far corner.

Levante, though, came again and when Melero fired in their third penalty of the night after Dani Gomez was clipped by Clement Lenglet, they looked to have secured a point.

De Jong, on for Aubameyang, had other ideas, dashing into the area in the 92nd minute and Alba’s curving cross finding him. De Jong headed the ball inside the post.

SEVILLE: Rafa Mir and Papu Gomez struck late as Sevilla bounced back from last week’s defeat to Barcelona with a 4-2 win over Granada on Friday to go second in La Liga.

Julen Lopetegui’s side had looked ready to settle for a point after Granada captain Victor Diaz levelled 2-2 for the visitors with two minutes to go in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

But in a late flurry, Mir grabbed his team’s third goal three minutes into injury time with Gomez adding a fourth six minutes later.

After losing last weekend to their direct rivals Barca, Sevilla now have 60 points, three ahead of both the Catalans who have played two games fewer and Atletico Madrid.

On Friday, Granada started brightly with Darwin Machis scoring after 23 minutes as his side looked to move clear of the relegation zone.

But Diego Carlos pulled Sevilla back eight minutes later getting his head to a Jesus Navas cross.

Lucas Ocampos bundled in for the hosts after 66 minutes following a poor clearance from Granada keeper Luis Maximiano.

Mir had a goal ruled out after a VAR review before Diaz rekindled Granada’s hopes with a powerful header off a corner.

Sevilla made the most of nine minutes of time added on with Ivan Rakitic setting up Mir, unmarked at the far post, for the key third goal.

Sevilla achieved just their third win in their last 11 games and move nine points behind leaders Real Madrid.

READ: Wahab Riaz turns down reports of being deported from United Kingdom