Tag: La Liga

Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha struck twice each as Barcelona romped to a 5-1 win at Villarreal on Sunday in a wild match to maintain their perfect start to La Liga.

The leaders’ sixth straight league triumph was marred by a potentially serious knee injury to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who was taken off on a stretcher.

Lewandowski netted Barcelona’s first two goals and later missed a penalty in a thoroughly entertaining battle on Spain’s east coast at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica.

Ayoze Perez pulled his team back into the game shortly before half-time and the hosts had two goals disallowed, with Pablo Torre and Raphinha’s strikes cementing Barcelona’s victory.

After second-placed Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday the Catalans were able to restore a four-point lead on the champions.

“It’s very important for us that we played a game away from home, we scored five goals and in the end we have three points,” said Lewandowski.

“In the end, it doesn’t matter how, as long as we win that’s perfect.”

Flick gave Eric Garcia another start in defensive midfield despite his early red card against Monaco in the Champions League midweek.

The German coach also started reserve team players Gerard Martin and Sergi Dominguez, as well as playmaker Torre in place of the injured Dani Olmo.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal hit the post early on before Lewandowski slotted home in the 20th minute after Torre slipped him in.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Conde did well to keep out a bundled effort from the Polish striker but Lewandowski pounced after 35 minutes for his second.

Conde saved Garcia’s header well but the former Bayern Munich hitman converted the rebound with an acrobatic finish from close range.

It was his sixth La Liga goal of the season, taking him two clear of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in Spain’s Golden Boot race.

Villarreal were frequently threatening on the counter and Perez gave them a lifeline after the electric Nicolas Pepe set him up.

Ter Stegen thwarted Pepe with a sensational save one-on-one before half-time but the German was soon stricken as he fell badly after catching a corner before the break and was replaced by Inaki Pena.

Pepe finished brilliantly early in the second half but his effort was disallowed for a marginal offside call, and Yeremy Pino hit the bar with a header as Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side drove Barcelona back.

Torre extended Barca’s lead with a deflected strike from the edge of the box, a killer blow given Villarreal’s momentum.

Lewandowski hit the post from the spot after Eric Bailly scythed down Yamal and Villarreal’s Thierno Barry had a goal ruled out for offside.

Raphinha ended any hopes of a home comeback, first with a deflected shot and then finishing after a superb Yamal pass left him with just Conde to beat.

Despite the emphatic victory and 100 percent start, if Ter Stegen’s injury proves to be severe it could dent Barcelona’s title hopes.

READ: Iftikhar Ahmed acknowledges need for Pakistan to adopt attacking mindset

Teenage star Lamine Yamal struck twice to help table-toppers Barcelona thrash Girona 4-1 in the La Liga clash at Montilivi on Sunday.

Hansi Flick’s side have now won all five of their opening matches and avenged two humiliating Catalan derby defeats by Girona last season with an emphatic victory.

Yamal’s first-half double sent Barcelona on their way with Dani Olmo and Pedri Gonzalez adding further goals after the break.

Cristhian Stuani pulled one back for the hosts, last season’s surprise package who finished third in only their fourth season in the top flight.

Girona lost several key players in the summer with coach Michel Sanchez forced to rebuild.

Barcelona have new momentum under former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Flick and produced their best performance of his reign to date.

“I think you can see the confidence we have, and when we have the ball, we have the quality to play and to create chances,” Flick told reporters.

“I think today we had a lot of chances to score one or two goals more, but in the end I’m very happy with the performance of the team.”

Lamine Yamal and striker Robert Lewandowski came close in the opening exchanges before the teenage star, who led Spain to Euro 2024 victory in the summer, broke the deadlock.

The winger picked the pocket of David Lopez as he tried to bring the ball out of defence, before finishing with aplomb past Paulo Gazzaniga after 30 minutes.

“We started very concentrated, very focussed, we pressed them — we know when we give them the space they need for combinations we get in trouble,” said Flick.

“You saw the first goal, it was unbelievably good (pressing) from Lamine.”

Lamine Yamal grabbed his second before the break with a fine guided finish from the edge of the box after a free-kick was cleared into his path.

Bryan Gil fired straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen from close range at the other end, before Girona were awarded a penalty when Inigo Martinez handled the ball.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

However after a VAR referral the referee annulled his decision, seeing that it had bounced on to Martinez’s arm off team-mate Alejandro Balde.

Olmo expanded Barcelona’s lead early in the second half with a sublime finish from a tight angle, leaving the new arrival from RB Leipzig on three goals from three La Liga matches.

Gazzaniga denied Lewandowski as he ran through on goal and tried to finish with a dink, as Barcelona maintained control.

Their fourth came through Pedri when midfielder Marc Casado cleverly played him through and the Canary Islander took his time to sidestep Gazzaniga and finish.

“We had to start (the season) well, other years we didn’t start it as we would have liked, above all the coach told us that,” Pedri told Movistar.

“(He told us) that from the first game we should push, that the league is won above all in these first games if you keep building the distance up, let’s continue in the same way.”

Former Espanyol striker Stuani finished from close range with 10 minutes remaining to give Girona a consolation, before Barcelona substitute Ferran Torres was sent off for a high tackle on Yaser Asprilla.

They were the only blots on Barcelona’s otherwise pristine copybook as they maintained their 100 percent record at the start of the campaign.

On Saturday champions Real Madrid earned a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad to move second, four points behind Flick’s side.

Girona are seventh after the defeat, with their next match a Champions League debut away at Paris Saint-Germain.

“It feels bad, it was a tough defeat today, for how we were preparing for the game and the excitement of facing Barca again at home,” Stuani told Movistar.

“We have to try and forget about it as quickly as possible, this week we have a very special game, we have to face that with as much excitement as possible because for us it’s an historic match.

“We have to turn the page on today and try to compete in the best way (we can).”

Later Sunday Atletico Madrid host Valencia and Athletic Bilbao visit Las Palmas.

READ: Harry Brook to lead England against Australia as Jos Buttler ruled out

Kylian Mbappe answered his critics in style as he opened his La Liga account with two goals to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win over Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday which sends them second in the table.

Since scoring in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta, new signing Mbappe had failed to find the back of the net in Madrid’s opening three games in La Liga, prompting criticism in the Spanish press.

Kylian Mbappe was made to wait for his goals as he squandered a series of chances, finally finding the back of the net in the 67th minute, sweeping the ball past the Betis goalkeeper with his left foot after a well-timed back-heel from Fede Valverde.

Eight minutes later the France captain added a second from the penalty spot and was cheered off the field when he was replaced by Luka Modric in the 84th minute.

The smile on Mbappe’s face was in contrast to the concern that had been shown since scoring his first goal and winning his first trophy in Warsaw on August 14.

On Saturday, coach Carlo Ancelotti hit back at the criticism, insisting that his star recruit was settling in well.

“It’s true that he hasn’t scored but he’s playing very well and has been very dangerous every time. I don’t think he has any problems adapting,” said Ancelotti, pointing instead to his team’s lack of balance.

Madrid’s 2-0 win takes them second in the table with eight points, four behind early leaders Barcelona who eviscerated Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday to make it four wins from four in La Liga under new coach Hansi Flick.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Atletico Madrid are third after a late victory in Bilbao on Saturday while Villarreal are fourth, both of them also on eight points.

Girona are fifth after picking up their second win of the season in Seville.

Ivan Martin put Girona ahead in the 41st minute with Abel Ruiz wrapping up a 2-0 win over Sevilla with a penalty in the 73rd minute.

Goals from Carlos Vicente and Luka Romero gave Alaves a 2-0 win over Las Palmas while Osasuna are in seventh after an exciting 3-2 win at home against Celta Vigo.

Ante Budimir teed up Flavien Boyomo to put the home side ahead after 21 minutes but the lead was short-lived as Borja Iglesias levelled for Celta.

A Carlos Dominguez own goal just before the break put Osasuna back in front with Abel Bretones adding a third just after the hour.

Celta were reduced to 10 men when Alfonso Gonzalez was sent off four minutes from time but an own goal from Moi Gomez was a small consolation in the last minute.

READ: Gus Atkinson stars as England wrap up Sri Lanka series win

Brazil winger Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday to make it four wins from four in La Liga under new coach Hansi Flick.

While bitter rivals Real Madrid have stumbled early following the much-trumpeted arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Barcelona are off to a flying start despite their continued financial difficulties.

They are also missing Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo but have a maximum 12 points heading into the international break, leaving them seven clear of Madrid who face Real Betis on Sunday.

“We’re growing as a team. I think it’s a very good start to the season,” said Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

“I’m proud of how things are going… hopefully we can continue like that in the next weeks.”

Barcelona’s best start to a La Liga campaign came in 2013-14 when they started the season with eight straight wins, although they were pipped to the title that year by Atletico Madrid.

Raphinha opened the scoring for Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium on 20 minutes as he chested down a pass from Pau Cubarsi and flicked elegantly into the far corner with the outside of his left boot.

Robert Lewandowski soon doubled the lead when he latched onto a ball through from Lamine Yamal and squeezed a shot past Valladolid goalkeeper Karl Hein, on loan from Arsenal.

Jules Kounde made it three before half-time when a corner dropped to the France defender inside the area and he stabbed into the top corner while off-balance.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Raphinha had a simple tap-in from close range just past the hour, with Lewandowski and Yamal involved before the ball broke kindly for the Brazilian.

He completed his treble on 72 minutes following a brilliant burst forward from Yamal, who then slid through a delightful pass for Raphinha to stroke home.

Dani Olmo, who got the winner midweek at Rayo Vallecano, on his debut, struck with his final touch after twice hitting the post and having a goal disallowed for offside.

The Spain international danced past a series of defenders and rolled in Barcelona’s sixth. He missed Barcelona’s first two games this term with the club unable to register him as they struggled to meet La Liga’s strict financial rules.

Raphinha rounded off a glittering performance with an assist for Ferran Torres as Barcelona hit a seventh, fizzing in a cross from the left for the substitute to steer home in clinical fashion.

Atletico snatched a 1-0 victory away to Athletic Bilbao as Angel Correa scored in stoppage time to send Diego Simeone’s side up to second, four points adrift of Barcelona.

Espanyol came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Rayo Vallecano with Tottenham loanee Alejo Veliz striking in the sixth minute of added time.

Ayoze Perez’s equaliser ensured Villarreal remained unbeaten, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against a Valencia side that had lost each of their first three games.

Mallorca picked up their first win of the season by beating Leganes 1-0.

READ: Dwayne Bravo set to retire from CPL after 2024 season

Kylian Mbappe is set to make his first home appearance for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday against promoted side Real Valladolid, owned by former Madrid forward and Brazil great Ronaldo.

The French superstar striker’s La Liga debut for Real Madrid did not go as planned as Los Blancos drew at Mallorca last weekend, with coach Carlo Ancelotti believing the Spanish champions lacked “balance”.

Mbappe is on course to enjoy a similarly sizable legacy in football but is hoping to make a far greater impact at Madrid than Ronaldo was able to, during the club’s ‘galactico’ era.

Ronaldo won just one La Liga title and failed to lift the Champions League during five seasons in the Spanish capital between 2002-07.

One of the biggest problems during that period was a top-heavy side which boasted several superstar attackers but lost lynchpin Claude Makelele.

Ancelotti has lined up with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Jude Bellingham in the 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta and the 1-1 Mallorca draw, but criticised his team’s balance after both matches

“We just had to do better, with more attitude, you can learn from these games – it’s clear where the problem is,” Ancelotti told reporters last week. “We need to defend better, we need more balance.”

One issue for Madrid is that Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo all prefer to be shifted towards the left flank.

Another is that by playing all three forwards, Bellingham is pushed back into a midfield role when it seems after last season’s superb debut campaign where he helped Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League, he is most content contributing in attacking areas.

“(Balance) is found by all players thinking the same thing – when it comes to getting the ball back we all have to think about it together,” continued the Italian coach.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“It’s a team problem that they didn’t understand was a key aspect in this game, Mallorca played a great game in a defensive sense, better than us.”

While visitors Real Valladolid, who beat fellow promoted side Espanyol in their first match, do not pose too much threat to Madrid on paper, the sooner Ancelotti can get his team firing on all cylinders the happier he will be.

After years of links to Madrid, Kylian Mbappe completed his dream move this summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

The forward clinically struck against Atalanta in Warsaw but was shut out by Mallorca and their goalkeeper Dominik Greif.

Mbappe will hope to mark his first Bernabeu appearance for Madrid with a goal, weeks after he was greeted there by over 80,000 fans at his presentation.

Once Madrid’s forwards are on song, they will be difficult for any side to stop.

“When I saw them running towards me, I just prayed to God and asked myself — ‘what am I doing here?'” admitted Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo.

Madrid’s remarkable firepower could prove a double-edged sword with teams rising to the challenge of stopping the attacking quartet dubbed the “fantastic four”.

“We’re going to face the best team in the world, with one of the best coaches in history and the best attack in the world today,” said Valladolid coach Paulo Pezzolano.

“We know what we’re going to face, but we’re going there convinced that we’re going to compete and bring something back home, knowing that it’s difficult, but that we can do it.”

READ: Smith edges England ahead in first Test against Sri Lanka

VALENCIA: Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona to deliver a battling 2-1 win against the home team in their La Liga 2024-25 opener at Mestalla Stadium on Saturday.

The German coach celebrated his first competitive match at the helm with three points as Barcelona came from behind against Ruben Baraja’s solid Valencia side.

Hugo Duro sent the hosts ahead after 44 minutes but veteran Polish striker Lewandowski levelled from close range before the break and netted a penalty early in the second half.

With champions Real Madrid, led by new superstar Kylian Mbappe, in action on Sunday at Real Mallorca, Barcelona started their bid to steal the crown with an impressive result at Valencia’s rowdy Mestalla stadium.

Barca were without key players, including Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo and Flick selected three 17-year-olds in his starting line-up.

They were Spain’s Euro 2024 star Lamine Yamal, whose father was stabbed earlier this week in a violent attack, Pau Cubarsi and midfielder Marc Bernal, the latter making his debut.

“In the second half I think we played much better and with three or four very young players — I think this match is very important, to win at the beginning of the season, especially at this stadium in Valencia, it’s very difficult,” Robert Lewandowski told Movistar.

“My aim is always to score goals, I don’t know how many goals by the end of the season, but it is very important for me that as today was the first game, (I got) goals for confidence.”

Barcelona’s summer signing Dani Olmo is not yet registered to play and Flick said the playmaker still needs to get up to speed in terms of fitness.

The coach was happier with his team’s second-half display than their performance before the break.

“The second half was much better than the first half (where) we made a lot of mistakes,” Flick told Movistar.

“We came back at the end of the first half and in the second half, we did much better.”

An even first half burst into life as the break beckoned after the teams managed to create few clear chances in the first 40 minutes.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Duro nodded the best of them over the bar from a corner, while Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved a fierce Raphinha drive.

Valencia took the lead in the 44th minute, with Duro nodding home Diego Lopez’s cross after losing Inigo Martinez, who played him onside.

Los Che should have doubled their lead but Cubarsi hacked Duro’s effort to safety off the line after Marc-Andre ter Stegen gave the ball away.

Robert Lewandowski grabbed the leveller in stoppage time, turning home from close range after Yamal diverted Alejandro Balde’s cross back into the danger area.

Barcelona moved ahead soon after the break when Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera felled Raphinha in the area.

Lewandowski, who turns 36 next week, hammered the resulting penalty into the top corner with aplomb.

Barcelona kept Valencia at arm’s length for most of the second half, ensuring the pace of the game was slow.

The Catalans had the better chances to score again with Ferran Torres sending a weak effort straight at Mamardashvili when through, while midfielder Marc Casado fired wide when well placed late on.

Lewandowski had a chance to complete his hat-trick in stoppage time but rifled over the bar.

“In the final stages we had this match under control,” added the former Bayern Munich striker, who played under Flick in Germany.

“We took the first step on the first match day, and now we have three games (coming up in La Liga) that are very important.”

Yamal was applauded after being substituted by some Valencia fans for his performances with Spain as they won the Euros.

“Lamine is a great player and I think everyone loves to see him playing football… I think you can say all the world likes to see him play,” added Flick.

Barcelona will host Copa del Rey winners Athletic Bilbao next Saturday in their second La Liga clash.

READ: Pakistan to use Kookaburra balls for home Test fixtures

Teenage star Lamine Yamal is carrying the weight of expectations as Hansi Flick’s Barcelona face the unenviable challenge of dethroning a fearsome Real Madrid side as Spanish champions this season.

The German coach replaced club legend Xavi Hernandez at the helm and welcomed new arrival Dani Olmo last week, but last season’s La Liga winners Madrid signed superstar French striker Kylian Mbappe earlier this summer.

The forward joins Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and other star names to ensure Barcelona begin the season as firm underdogs to Los Blancos.

The Catalan giants won nothing last season and surrendered their Spanish crown in a deeply disappointing campaign, but 17-year-old Yamal’s emergence shows there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Along with Olympic gold medal-winning centre-back Pau Cubarsi, financially-hampered Barcelona will rely on their young stars to try and compete with the might of Carlo Ancelotti’s Champions League winners.

Many believe Barcelona need a left winger and a deep-lying midfielder to put themselves in a position to fight for silverware but the club’s economic struggles make those dreams unlikely after Olmo’s arrival.

Flick’s side beat Madrid in pre-season during a tour of the United States but were brought crashing down to earth on Monday by Monaco, who enjoyed a 3-0 win in the traditional Joan Gamper Trophy curtain-raiser at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium in their final friendly.

“We didn’t play with our normal speed or normal combinations, we lost a lot of balls,” said Flick after the chastening defeat.

“But in the end, it is pre-season. I know the team can play much better than today.

“We have five days more now and will prepare them well for the next match against Valencia (Barca’s La Liga opener).”

The German coach is hoping to transform the club’s pressing game but with pivotal striker Robert Lewandowski soon turning 36, there are doubts over whether he can achieve it.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Flick is further set back by injuries to midfielders Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, as well as centre-back Ronald Araujo, which means he starts the season with depleted ranks.

Barcelona are planning to return to their renovated Camp Nou stadium midway through the season if building works stay on track which will be a welcome boost for demoralised fans.

Although a club of Barcelona’s size is always aiming to compete for silverware, expectations seem lower than usual in Catalonia.

Gone are the days when stellar names like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar gave Barcelona the most fearsome attacking line in world football.

Instead, it was youngster Lamine Yamal who fans cheered for against Monaco, with Barcelona supporters’ biggest roar of the night reserved for the moment the winger jogged down the touchline to warm up.

Yamal, who made his Barca debut at 15, was a vital figure in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph this season and has taken to elite football like a duck to water.

No challenge has appeared too daunting thus far for Barcelona academy starlet Yamal, leading to inevitable comparisons with Messi.

With Sergi Roberto departing after 14 years in the first-team squad, Marc-Andre ter Stegen takes the armband as Barcelona captain.

“I hope the fans are with us all year because many good things are ahead of us,” said the goalkeeper after the Monaco defeat.

“Let’s hope (that) was an accident… it’s a good warning, and let’s hope that in a few days, we’ll be better.”

If Barcelona are to be able to compete with Madrid this season, that needs to be the case.

READ: Mbappe to make Real Madrid debut as starter in UEFA Super Cup

Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga will miss the start of the season after the Spanish club confirmed Wednesday he suffered a knee ligament sprain.

Spanish reports suggest the France international will be sidelined for up to seven weeks, potentially missing Madrid’s first matches in the Champions League in September and October.

“After tests conducted today our player Eduardo Camavinga has been diagnosed with a ligament sprain in his left knee,” said Madrid in a statement.

Camavinga suffered the injury on Tuesday during a training session when he slipped and collided with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni.

Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos retired from football this summer and Camavinga’s injury leaves the reigning Spanish and European champions thin in midfield ahead of the new season.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Champions League holders Madrid face Europa League winners Atalanta on Wednesday in the European Super Cup before their La Liga campaign kicks off on Sunday at Real Mallorca.

Camavinga’s French compatriot Kylian Mbappe is poised to make his long-awaited Madrid debut against Atalanta in Warsaw.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s high-profile signing French captain Kylian Mbappe is set to finally make his debut for the European champions against Europa League winners Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw later on Wednesday.

After years of trying to secure the services of Mbappe, the Spanish giants got their man when he signed a five-year deal at the Santiago Bernabeu in June as a free agent after ending his association with Paris Saint-Germain.

READ: Morne Morkel named as bowling coach of India

Jude Bellingham’s first year at Real Madrid began unbelievably amid a flurry of goals, but the ending could be even more incredible with the upcoming Champions League final.

With the Spanish title in the bag, Madrid are aiming for a fifth La Liga and Champions League double, against Bellingham’s former team Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s Wembley final.

“It’s such a big game, my first Champions League final, back home in England against my old team — it’s a crazy one, I couldn’t have dreamed it any better,” Jude Bellingham told reporters this week.

The 20-year-old midfielder was voted La Liga’s Player of the Season on Wednesday. Bellingham scored 19 league goals and four in Europe on the way to the final.

Arriving at Real Madrid last summer, he revealed his love of former midfield great Zinedine Zidane and even took the Frenchman’s number five shirt in homage.

However, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti had other plans for Bellingham, a classy centre-midfielder at Dortmund, putting him straight into the space vacated by striker Karim Benzema’s departure.

It paid instant dividends, with 13 goals in his first 13 games, getting him off to a flying start with Madrid’s fans, quick to serenade him with the Beatles song ‘Hey Jude’.

Bellingham struck twice, including a 91st-minute winner, in his first Clasico to snatch victory over then-champions Barcelona on Catalan soil.

Did he anticipate this kind of impact? “I came here expecting to win,” admitted Bellingham.

“I came here because I wanted to win, and to expect it, it’s a bit greedy almost, but you have to be confident when you’re playing with so many great players.”

With another late winner in the second league Clasico and three goals in two matches against shock title challengers Girona, Bellingham delivered in key moments.

His goalscoring slowed as Ancelotti tasked him with more defensive responsibility, chastened by a loss against Atletico Madrid — their only defeat in La Liga. In the Champions League Madrid are unbeaten.

“What you’ve seen from me this year is a lot of different kinds of roles and positions,” said Bellingham.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

There were some concerns about his fitness towards the end of the season following an ankle injury, but he says he feels “very close” to 100 per cent after resting once Madrid claimed the title.

Bellingham joined Dortmund from Birmingham City at the age of 17. He was the English side’s youngest ever player and they retired his number 22 shirt in tribute to him.

Initially outshone by team-mates Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland, Bellingham still managed to establish himself as a regular starter in his first season in Germany.

Dortmund coach Edin Terzic praised Bellingham’s maturity, saying he could “hardly believe that he’s only 17”.

Before his final season at Dortmund, Bellingham was included in the captaincy group alongside skipper Marco Reus and Mats Hummels.

He led them out against Cologne in October 2022, aged just 19, becoming the youngest captain in Bundesliga history.

“You have the feeling he’s got three kids at home -– he’s going places,” marvelled Dortmund centre-back Niklas Suele, a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich.

Bellingham established himself as a world-class talent at the 2022 World Cup, driving England to the quarter-finals.

Bellingham and Dortmund took the 2022-23 title race to the wire but lost out to Bayern on the final day, with the midfielder named Bundesliga player of the season.

A fortnight later Bellingham joined Madrid for 103 million euros ($112 million).

“He plays very grown-up football, even though he’s so young,” said Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi this week.

“I’m very happy for Jude, he played a great season,” added Emre Can. “But on the pitch we think just about winning for our club.”

Record 14-time champions Madrid are firm favourites though, and if they win, what is next for Bellingham?

“Hopefully the European Championship,” he said. “I just talked about being greedy… I’m focused on the final.”

READ: All-round Nat Sciver-Brunt powers England to series win over Pakistan

Barcelona appointed Hansi Flick as coach on Wednesday on a deal until June 30, 2026, after sacking Xavi Hernandez last week.

“FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick have reached an agreement for the German to become men’s first team football coach until 30 June 2026,” said the club in a statement.

“The new coach has signed a contract at the Club’s offices accompanied by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta.”

Flick, who led German giants Bayern Munich to a historic sextuple in 2020, became the first coach ever to be sacked by the German national team in September 2023 after a string of bad results.

The 59-year-old occasionally watched Barcelona matches this season from the presidential box and was linked with the job after Xavi said in January he would depart at the end of the campaign.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Barcelona and Xavi decided jointly he would stay for next season after all in April but then Laporta changed his mind and sacked the former midfield great last week.

“It won’t be easy at all — they will suffer and they will need patience because it’s a really difficult job,” Xavi warned his successor last week after winning his final match in charge against Sevilla in La Liga.

“The only thing that can save them is winning, whether they have been part of the club or not.”

Barcelona finished second in La Liga this season and were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain.

Spanish media said Laporta was enraged by Xavi’s comments earlier in May when he highlighted the economic difficulties Barca had when competing against Spanish champions Real Madrid and other European elite.

READ: T20 World Cup warm-up: Australia forced to field coach, selector against Namibia