Tag: La Liga

Barcelona are poised to sack coach Xavi Hernandez just weeks after he made a U-turn and decided to stay at the club, Spanish media reported Friday.

Catalan radio station RAC-1 said president Joan Laporta had decided to sack Xavi, with daily newspaper Sport confirming the news, while AS said Barcelona were already deciding who would replace the coach.

In January, Xavi said he would leave at the end of the season but, after a run of strong form, in April he and president Joan Laporta agreed the coach would stay for the next campaign, with his contract expiring in June 2025.

However, Laporta did not travel with the team for their 2-0 win at Almeria in La Liga on Thursday, with Spanish media reporting he was angry with Xavi’s pre-match comments.

The coach had highlighted Barcelona’s financial difficulties in comparison to the strength of new Spanish champions Real Madrid and other European giants.

“Barcelona fans have to understand, we’re not in the same situation (as those clubs),” said Xavi on Wednesday.

The coach stood by his words on Thursday when he was asked about Laporta not attending the Almeria match.

“They haven’t told me anything personally… We travelled with the sporting vice-president, more directors, all normally,” Xavi told reporters late Thursday.

“I said what I think is real, that we will fight for all the trophies, with a lot of hope, with ambition, but that the situation is not easy.

“We are working very well, the club most of all, to change this situation.”

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Barcelona won La Liga last season but were not able to defend the title. They went out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and will end the season trophyless.

Real Madrid thrashed Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final while Athletic Bilbao eliminated them in the Copa del Rey.

In April, Xavi, 44, said he was “full of hope” and that fans, players and “above all the confidence of the president and (sporting director) Deco” was what convinced him to stay.

Laporta said at the time that he was glad Xavi would remain at the helm and that it was good for the stability of the club.

“It’s great news that Xavi is staying,” the president told a news conference. “The team we have, that is (still) consolidating, with very young players, needs that stability.

“Xavi is a reference for young players and we can see that — today I’m especially pleased, and the board have unanimously supported this decision.”

Laporta appointed Xavi, one of Barcelona’s greatest-ever midfielders, to replace Ronald Koeman in November 2021.

As a player, Xavi made 767 appearances for Barcelona, winning four Champions Leagues and eight La Liga titles, as well as the World Cup with Spain.

During his time as Barcelona coach, he lifted the Spanish Super Cup last season, along with the league title.

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ALMERIA: Midfielder Fermin Lopez struck twice to power Barcelona to a solid 2-0 victory over bottom-ranked Almeria during the ongoing La Liga 2023-24 at Power Horse Stadium on Thursday.

Almeria, who only managed two victories in the current season and are already relegated, challenged the second-positioned Barcelona. However, the Catalans proved too strong for the home side.

Barcelona are now four points ahead of the third-ranked Girona.

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Lopez opened the scoring for the visitors in the 14th minute with a brilliant header from a very close range. This was 6th La Liga goal for the midfielder this season.

Almeria’s Leo Baptistao had an opportunity to equalize eight minutes later when he found Anthony Lozano, but he missed a wide shot, squandering their chance for a comeback.

Lopez then doubled Barcelona’s lead after 67 minutes after meeting Sergi Roberto’s cross at the centre of the box and hitting home safely.

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“I’m happy to help the team with goals but above all for the win,” Fermin Lopez told Movistar after the game. “We will fight for second until the end, it’s our objective now.”

Later, in another La Liga match at Reale Arena, Real Sociedad edged past Valencia, courtesy of a third-minute header by André Silva.

With the victory Real Sociedad jumped into sixth place, a point ahead of Betis, seventh, with the sides meeting in Seville on Sunday in a crunch clash.

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Sevilla captain and record appearance-maker Jesus Navas will leave at the end of the season, the La Liga club said Thursday.

The 38-year-old full-back has won eight trophies during two long spells covering 17 seasons at the team where he started his career.

He will play his last game with Sevilla on May 25 against Barcelona during the ongoing La Liga 2023-24 season.

“Navas will leave Sevilla at the end of the 2023/24 season… the captain told the club, his team-mates and the coaching staff at the training session this morning,” said Sevilla in a statement.

“The club would like to wish Jesús Navas the best as embarks on a new professional chapter, as well as thank him for his commitment, professionalism and honesty with which he has shown throughout his career and for which he is one of our all-time greatest symbols.

“The club will always open its door to Jesús Navas at any time in the future and Sevilla will continue to always be his home.”

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Navas has played 688 games for Sevilla across all competitions, making his 500th appearance in La Liga for the Andalucian side in midweek.

The Spaniard has scored 39 goals and provided 119 assists in his time at Sevilla, starting his career as a winger and later playing at right-back.

Navas has earned four Europa League titles, two Copa del Rey triumphs, the European Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup during his time at the club.

In 2013 Navas departed for Manchester City, where he won the Premier League and two League Cups, later returning to Sevilla in 2017.

Navas has won more trophies and played more matches for Sevilla than any other player in the club’s history.

With Spain the defender won the World Cup in 2010, the European Championship in 2012 and the Nations League in 2023.

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FIFA is to consider allowing domestic leagues to play matches overseas, opening the door to money-spinning English Premier League or Spanish La Liga clashes being staged in the United States of America (USA), the Middle East or Asia.

Football’s world governing body on Wednesday agreed to set up a 10-15 strong working group to examine the idea and make recommendations.

The Premier League and La Liga, with their vast global followings, have long mooted the idea of playing matches outside their home territories.

The new FIFA committee will “gather further information and issue recommendations to the Council regarding potential amendments to the FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches (FRGIM)”, the body said in a statement.

The council — FIFA’s regular decision-making body — said the group would consider 10 aspects of hosting overseas games.

These include the impact on fans, how it would affect the balance of the competition, whether the games would be one-offs or a regular feature, and the impact on football.

Top European clubs regularly play lucrative friendlies around the world such as Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United’s clash in Melbourne next Wednesday, just three days after the end of the Premier League season.

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US broadcasters in particular are keen to cash in on the booming popularity of the English top flight by hosting competitive matches.

La Liga has said it aims to play matches in North America as early as 2025.

Up to now, dreams of a mouthwatering Arsenal v Manchester City or Real Madrid v Barcelona clash stateside have been thwarted by FIFA rules that say competitive league games must be played in their home country.

Much-discussed plans for a Premier League “39th game” overseas were dropped in 2008 following opposition from supporters’ groups, FIFA and UEFA.

But a legal challenge in the United States last month prompted FIFA to reconsider their long-held opposition to out-of-territory matches.

The move came as delegates gather in Bangkok for FIFA’s annual congress on Friday, where the host of the next Women’s World Cup will be decided.

After the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand lifted the profile of the women’s game to new heights, FIFA will decide whether to award the 2027 edition to Brazil or a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

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MADRID: Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior inspired runaway La Liga champions Real Madrid to a 5-0 rout of Alaves on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side continued warming up for the Champions League final with a comprehensive demolition of their Basque visitors.

Bellingham scored the opener and played a part in Madrid’s next three goals, two scored by Vinicius, finding his best form at the business end of the season.

Turkish teenager Arda Guler added a late fifth to put the cherry on Madrid’s cake, moving them 17 points clear of second-place Barcelona.

“We’ve had just one defeat in the league and I think that a big part of the success is because of (the defence),” Ancelotti told reporters after his side’s 30th consecutive league game unbeaten.

Madrid celebrated their title with an open-top bus parade on Sunday but with the Wembley final a little over a fortnight away, nobody is letting their concentration slip.

Least of all Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, made a fine double save from Samu Omorodion in the opening minutes.

After missing most of the season with a severe knee injury, Courtois is hoping for a Champions League final start and boasts three clean sheets in three matches since his return.

“I knew I’d come back strongly — I’m the same Courtois, or even better,” said the goalkeeper.

Ancelotti selected the vast majority of his first choice line-up after resting them at the weekend, and Madrid’s usual suspect opened the scoring. It was Bellingham, with his 19th league goal and perhaps his luckiest.

The England international directed Toni Kroos’ cross towards the far post where Dani Carvajal was running in, but the ball sank directly into the net.

Bellingham trails La Liga’s top scorer, Girona’s Artem Dovbyk, by one goal.

Madrid doubled their lead after Bellingham threaded a pass-through for Eduardo Camavinga.

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The French midfielder burst forward in the box and unselfishly squared for Vinicius to tap home when other players might have taken the chance to shoot.

Alaves midfielder Ianis Hagi, son of legendary Romanian playmaker Gheorghe Hagi, stung the palms of Courtois with a fierce drive at the other end.

The visitors have enjoyed a strong season and are safely ensconced in mid-table, avoiding the stress of a relegation battle.

However, Madrid dismantled them with consummate ease and Fede Valverde rattled home the third in first-half stoppage time after Bellingham played him in.

The Uruguayan midfielder hammered a strike into the top corner at the near post for his second league goal of the season, far fewer than his tally of seven last year due to his deeper role.

Courtois denied Omorodion and Hagi again in the second half as he continued stating his case to Ancelotti, and he ended up making nine saves altogether.

Vinicius extended Madrid’s lead after Bellingham played him in, lashing home his second of the night with a fine finish.

“I’m at my best,” said Vinicius. “Now we’ve got time to train and that lets us stay calm, do good work and arrive better than ever at Wembley.”

Rodrygo should have added the fifth but goalkeeper Jesus Owono denied him from close range after Vinicius teed him up, and so it was Guler instead after a deflected effort fell his way in the box.

“Every time a small team comes here, it’s a torment,” lamented Alaves coach Luis Garcia Plaza.

Eder Militao and Carvajal ended the game with apparent physical issues, but they turned out to be nothing serious.

“What happened with the knee is nothing,” Militao said after the game, while Ancelotti confirmed the Spanish defender was also fine.

Elsewhere high-flying Girona, third, fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Villarreal — Barcelona can move four points clear if they win at Almeria on Thursday.

Mallorca, 15th, rescued a 1-1 draw at Osasuna to add one more point in their battle for survival. The Copa del Rey runners-up are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

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Real Madrid defeated Cadiz 3-0, while Girona registered a stunning 4-2 victory over defending La Liga champions Barcelona to seal a record-extending 36th title for Los Blancos on Saturday.

Real Madrid’s comfortable win over Cadiz sent them 14 points clear of third-placed Barcelona in the La Liga points table with only 12 left to play.

Meanwhile, Girona is trailing Real Madrid by 13 points in second position after their second 4-2 win over Barcelona.

Cadiz showed resistance against Real Madrid in the initial phase of the game, however, Los Blancos nullified their attempts at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

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Brahim Diaz opened the scoring for the hosts after the first half, followed by a brilliant goal by Jude Bellingham 17 minutes later to extend the lead.

Joselu ensured that the home side ended the match on high with the third goal to seal the dominant victory.

“We’ve had a spectacular Liga campaign,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters after the victory. “We’ve made few errors and the advantage is deserved.”

“We leave our skins out there on the pitch to live moments like today’s,” Madrid striker Joselu said.

“There are young players who are very hungry for titles, veterans who are delighted to be here… and these are special moments.”

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Barcelona needed the victory in their clash against Girona to keep title hopes alive and Andreas Christensen sent them ahead in the third minute.

However, Girona bounced back a minute later as Artem Dovbyk levelled the score.

Both teams fought hard to get the lead before Barcelona were awarded a penalty at the stroke of half-time, which Robert Lewandowski converted.

Girona came back strongly in the second half with Portu and Miguel Gutiérrez scoring two goals in three minutes to take the home team ahead in 67 minutes.

Portu scored another one in the 74th minute to further extend Girona’s lead, which remained intact until the final whistle.

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BARCELONA: Polish striker Robert Lewandowski struck a hat-trick to power the home team to a dominant 4-2 victory over Valencia during their La Liga clash at Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys on Monday.

Barcelona earned three points and edged past Girona to reach second position, only behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Mid-fielder Fermin Lopez earned the advantage for the home team in 22 minutes as he sent a header into the top corner of the net from near the penalty spot.

However, Valencia’s Hugo Duro levelled the scores four minutes later after an error from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

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Barcelona made another error in the next ten minutes when Ronald Araujo brought down a Valencia forward and conceded a foul.

Valencia earned the penalty and Pepelu successfully converted to put the visitors ahead.

But Valencia lost their goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili after he was shown a red card, prompting the visiting team to reshuffle their lineup on the stroke of the first half.

This proved costly as Lewandowski hit the equalizer for Barcelona five minutes into the second half after finding Ilkay Gundogan’s corner. The Polish star hit another header in the 82nd minute to end the stalemate.

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Lewandowski completed his hat trick during injury-time with a free-kick into the top left corner.

“I think the team did well… we lacked calmness, tranquillity, but I’m satisfied with the team’s attitude,” Barcelona boss Xavi said after the match.

Barcelona will play their next La Liga match against third-ranked Girona on 4 May.

Girona are chasing Champions League qualification which they could secure with a victory, which could also hand Madrid the title.

“It’ll be a great game, two teams looking to go on the attack,” said Xavi, whose side lost 4-2 at home against Girona in December.

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MADRID: Jude Bellingham scored an injury-time winner and lifted Real Madrid to edge arch-rivals Barcelona 3-2 in an enthralling La Liga El Clasico at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium here on Sunday.

The highly-anticipated clash got off to a contrasting start as Andres Christensen opened the scoring for Barcelona just six minutes into the game.

Christensen scored a header from Raphinha’s corner after Andriy Lunin failed to clear the ball from his six-yard box.

Barcelona must dust themselves down after the Champions League defeat to try and slow Real Madrid’s steady march towards the La Liga title in Sunday’s El Clasico.

The Spanish champions can make a last stand by reeling Madrid’s lead into five points at the Santiago Bernabeu, even if overhauling their arch-rivals with seven matches remaining to defend the trophy is a tough task.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) brought Barcelona’s European adventure to an end in painful fashion on Tuesday, overhauling the Catalans’ two-goal lead in the tie.

Picking up his squad emotionally after that defeat will not be an easy task for Xavi Hernandez, with some Spanish reports saying the coach may leave his post after the game with reserve team coach Rafael Marquez a possible replacement.

Xavi said in January he would depart at the end of the season and despite a strong run of form since leading to a clamour for him to stay, has not changed his mind.

Defeat by PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals may have ended any chance of that happening, beyond a miracle comeback in La Liga.

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If that is to happen it must begin in the capital against a Madrid side exhausted but jubilant after they beat treble-winners Manchester City on penalties on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals.

Xavi’s first job is to calm any potential tension within his squad after midfielder Ilkay Gundogan criticised defender Ronald Araujo for his early red card which cost Barcelona against PSG.

“I’ll keep what I think to myself, I have codes and values that I think have to be respected,” Araujo told reporters.

The Uruguayan centre-back, who was also sent off against Real Madrid in January in Barcelona’s painful 4-1 hammering in the Spanish Super Cup final, said his team would not throw in the towel in La Liga.

“Madrid are our biggest rival and we have to change our mindset — we’ll go all out on Sunday,” continued Araujo.

“We mathematically have a chance still and we have to fight for La Liga until the end.”

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Barcelona have not lost away from home in La Liga this season, while goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has gone 583 minutes without conceding in the top flight — 53 short of his best record in the competition.

With Madrid having defended for their lives against City over 120 minutes of high-intensity football, Barcelona may be able to capitalise.

“On Sunday we’ll compete again, we’re not throwing in the towel in La Liga,” said Xavi. “Let’s see if we can put ourselves within five points (of Madrid).”

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team were “very tired” but would find the strength to continue their title tilt.

“The Clasico is crucial for the league,” said the Italian, who has won La Liga on one occasion, with Madrid in 2022.

As well as their Spanish Super Cup triumph over Barca, Madrid also won the first Clasico of the season at the Olympic Stadium in October and are looking to make it a hat-trick.

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PAMPLONA: Croatian striker Ante Budimir missed a crucial last-minute penalty, resulting in Osasuna losing against Valencia during their La Liga clash at El Sadar Stadium on Monday.

Valencia were on the cusp of a comfortable 1-0 victory when the home team earned a penalty in the dying minutes of the game to level the scores.

Budimir was entrusted with the responsibility to take the crucial strike, however, he blew the chance with a disastrous effort.

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He started a stuttered run-up and took a weak shot which went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Both teams entered the game carrying momentum from victories in their last games.

Within the first ten minutes, Osasuna nearly scored, but Moi Gomez’s shot was blocked, causing the home team to miss their chance at taking the lead.

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However, Andre Almeida took the visitors ahead after he found Diego Lopez in the 17th minute and hit the bottom left corner of the net to score the only goal of the match.

Valencia will play their next La Liga match against Real Betis on 20 April, while Osasuna will face Rayo Vallecano on the same day.

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