The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Barca’

  • Barca handed Copa final rematch with Sevilla, Real Madrid face Girona in quarter-finals

    Copa del Rey holders FC Barcelona were paired with Sevilla in Friday’s quarter-final draw, setting up a re-run of last year’s final match, while Real Madrid will face Girona.

    Barca, who thrashed Sevilla 5-0 in the 2018 final match, escaped a potential expulsion from the competition moments before the draw was made.

    The Spanish football federation (RFEF) announced on Friday it had rejected Levante’s complaint that the 30-times Copa winners fielded an ineligible player in their last 16 first leg game.

    Barcelona break billion dollar revenue barrier

    Barca overcame a 2-1 deficit from the first leg against Levante by winning the second leg 3-0 for a 4-2 aggregate victory.

    Real Madrid, who beat Leganes 3-1 on aggregate, will have to get past Girona.

    Girona knocked out 10-times winners Atletico Madrid on away goals rule following a thrilling 3-3 draw in their last 16 second leg that resulted in a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

    Getafe will play against Valencia, and Real Betis will face Espanyol in the other ties in the round.

    The first leg games will take place from Jan. 23, with the deciding fixtures being played from Jan. 30.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Barca held by Celta, Messi ends goal drought

    La Liga leaders FC Barcelona were held to a 2-2 home draw by Celta Vigo on Saturday as their former assistant coach Juan Carlos Unzue dented their title hopes.

    The Catalans dropped points for the second game in a row for the first time this campaign.

    Celta striker Iago Aspas silenced the Nou Camp by putting the visitors ahead in the 20th minute.

    He knocked in on the rebound after splitting the home defence with a darting run through the middle.

    Lionel Messi quickly replied at the other end, finishing off a sweeping team move two minutes later to score.

    He was scoring for the first time in six games in all competitions and was netting his 13th league goal of the season.

    Suarez had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside before the break, the second time Barca have cursed their luck with referees in a week.

    Messi had been denied a clear goal in the 1-1 draw at Valencia when his shot had clearly gone over the goal-line.

    The Argentine helped set up what looked to be the winning goal for Luis Suarez in the 62nd minute as the striker thrashed home a Jordi Alba cutback.

    But Barca were denied victory by another Uruguayan striker in Maxi Gomez.

    He slotted in from close range after another searing run by Aspas, who capitalised on defender Samuel Umtiti injuring his hamstring as he tried to keep up with the Spanish forward.

    The France international is in danger of missing the “Clasico” against champions Real Madrid on Dec. 23 after Valverde said he believed the player had torn the muscle.

    “The injury cost us the goal, it was an accumulation of catastrophes, because of the draw and the injury,” the coach told a news conference.

    “Losing Samuel right now is a big loss, he was in excellent form.”

    Gerard Pique missed a gilt-edged chance to hit the winner but struck the near post from close range.

    Messi, who also hit the woodwork earlier in the game, sent a free kick deep in stoppage time just wide of the post.

    “We kept trying to win the game and had chances to do that. We have dropped two points but this is nothing that hasn’t happened before,” Valverde added.

    Barca still lead the standings with 36 points but second-placed Valencia can cut their deficit on the leaders down to two if they beat Getafe on Sunday.

    Later on Saturday Atletico Madrid, third on 27 points, host Real Sociedad while champions Real Madrid, also on 27, visit struggling Athletic Bilbao.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Full Time: Barcelona 3-0 Las Palmas

    Sergio Busquets and  Lionel Messi were on the score sheet in the Barcelona match against  Las Palmas on Sunday. But, Lionel Messi scored brace at amp Nou.
    Busquest scored the first goal of the match in the 45th minutes and Messi made it second in the 71st minute and added another in the 77th minute.
    It was a stalemate in the match that have been played earlier in the La Liga  league today as Real Betis played 4-4 Real Sociedad.
    The Valencia versus Athletic Bilbao match will start by 5;30 pm. Villarreal versus Eibar will also start at the same time. The last match of the league is between Real Madrid and Espanyol. The game will start by 7:45 pm.
  • No MSN miracle as Juve hits Semi-final

    No MSN miracle as Juve hits Semi-final

    Juventus defensive masterclass dumps Barcelona out of the Champions League

    An expert defensive performance – from back to front – was enough frustrate Barcelona and send Juventus into the Champions League last four.

    Though Barcelona had plenty of the ball, they only created two proper chances over the course of 90 minutes, and could have no complaints that they were not beaten by the better team.

    Juventus actually started the brighter, unwilling to allow their hosts time in possession and first to loose and second balls.

    Eventually, though Barcelona took over with Neymar particularly influential.

    Unusually, Lionel Messi was quiet, but then on 19 minutes he spread play wide to Jordi Alba and continued into the box, except when the cross came over, he drilled wide from eight yards.

    That was as good as it got for the home side, who became increasingly tetchy as the night developed. Juvem meanwhile, could count on Giorgio Chiellini, the best player on the pitch, and Leonardo Bonucci, while Juan Cuadrado and Mario Mandzukic gave excellent support to Dani Alves and Alex Sandro.

    Perhaps the most significant compliment one might pay Juventus is that the game, a Champions League quarter-final second leg, at Camp Nou, was a complete non-event.

    Never did they panic; never were they even flustered. It is true that Sami Khedira picked up a booking, so will miss the first leg of the semi, but otherwise, it was another perfect night for the Old Lady.

    TALKING POINT

    Can Juventus win the Champions League? They will certainly be asked more questions by Monaco and Real Madrid, who attack with greater fluency than Barcelona, while Atletico Madrid defend at least as well. Which is to say that of the remaining four clubs, they are the outsiders – but none of the other three will relish playing them.

    MAN OF THE MATCH

    Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus) A more or less perfect defensive display, giving away very little to some of the best players in the world and whose commanding presence inspired his teammates.

    KEY STAT

    Tonight was the first time under Luis Enrique that Barcelona have failed to win a Champions League home game

    In ten Champions League games so far this season, Juventus have conceded just two goals.

    PLAYER RATINGS

    Barcelona: Ter Stegen 6, Sergi Roberto 6, Pique 6, Umtiti 6, Jordi Alba 6, Busquets 5, Rakitic 5, Iniesta 4, Messi 5, Suarez 4, Neymar 7. Subs: Alcacer 5, Mascherano 5.

    Juventus: Buffon 6, Dani Alves 7, Bonucci 8, Chiellini 9, Alex Sandro 6, Khedira 8, Pjanic 6, Cuadrado 7, Dybala 6, Mandzukic 6, Higuain 5. Subs: Barzagli 6, Lemina 6, Asamoah 6.

    KEY MOMENTS

    15 – Lovely ball from Pjanic setting Cuadrado away down the right and Dybala’s in the middle, but Pique slides in to block superbly. Immediately, Barca break with Neymar, and the move ends with Rakitic’s shot from the edge of the box which flies over.

    18’ – We’ve seen this before! For the first time, Messi finds himself in space outside the box and lifts a pass into it for Jordi Alba. On the slide, he can’t quite arrive in time, shinning over the bar.

    19’ – Barca have taken over these last few minutes, and here’s Messi! He spreads wide to Alba, makes his way into the box, and when the ball does too, Suarez tees him up … except, arriving onto it, he drags wide from eight yards!

    49’ – Dybala robs Iniesta and finds Higuain, who slides right for Cuardrado … his low drive scuttles just wide, though he insists it’s a corner not the goalkick which is what’s given. Ter Stegen might’ve got a touch, but I’d say not.

    56’ – Lovely from Rakitic, snapping a square pass to Messi from out on the right. Messi takes it beautifully too, moving it into his stride to shoot from 20. But Chiellini stretches every fibre of his being to narrow the angle, and the low left-footed curler is accordingly a foot wide of the far stick.

    67’ – Barca win a corner, Buffon comes, misses, and Suarez clips the loose ball back for Messi! But it’s a little high and on his right foot, so though he leaps well, he can only guide yet another shot off target.

    80’ – Chance for Barca! Clip over the top from Neymar, and there’s Mascherano in the six-yard box, without a goal in 300-odd appearances for the club, getting a feather when all it needed was a tickle! Dear oh dear.

  • CL: Barca needs fresh miracle to reach semis

    CL: Barca needs fresh miracle to reach semis

    Juv 3-0 Barca
    Barcelona need another miracle after Juventus star Paulo Dybala destroys Catalans in Turin

    The Argentine forward struck twice inside the opening 22 minutes as the Old Lady tore the visitors to shreds with a super-charged start.

    Luis Enrique‘s men had plenty of possession with Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez going close, but their defensive deficiencies were cruelly exposed again in the second half when Giorgio Chiellini headed home a corner.

    It was a perfect recipe combining ruthless attack and stubborn rearguard from the Old Lady as they deservedly maintained their unbeaten record on home turf this season. It leaves the Catalan giants needing another Nou Camp miracle to keep their dream of a lifting sixth European Cup alive.

    Indeed, Barcelona appear to be doing it the hard way in this year’s competition after they were forced to overturn a 4-0 deficit at home to Paris Saint Germain to make the quarter finals for the 10th straight campaign.

    They face another mammoth task in the second leg on April 19 and will need the MSN to be firing on all cylinders to reach the semi finals against a Bianconeri rearguard who have conceded just two goals in the Champions League this term.

    TALKING POINT.

    Can lightning strike twice? The obituaries were already written ahead of the second leg at home to Paris Saint Germain and despite their defensive deficiencies, the Catalans have so much firepower that they are capable of destroying the very best defences on their day. There is still hope but there’s no doubt Juventus are heavy favourites to make the last four now. If Luis Enrique’s men do go on to lift the trophy this season, they will have done it via a real rollercoaster of emotions and in the most difficult way possible.

    MAN OF THE MATCH

    Paulo Dybala (Juventus). Two sublime finishes capped an eye-catching display from the Argentine. Faded slightly in the second period as Barca pressed, but made the all-important match-winning contributions to put his side in control of the tie.

    PLAYER RATINGS

    JUVENTUS: Buffon 8, Dani Alves 8, Alex Sandro 8, Chiellini 8, Bonucci 8, Cuadrado 7, Khedira 8, Pjanić 8, Dybala 9, Mandžukić 7, Higuaín 7. Subs: Lemina 6, Rincon n/a, Barzagli n/a.

    BARCELONA: Ter Stegen 6, S.Roberto 5, Umtiti 5, Piqué 5, Mathieu 5, Mascherano 5, Rakitic 6, Iniesta 7, Suárez 6, Messi 7, Neymar 6. Sub: Gomes 5.

  • NPFL hotshot Odey rejects Barca deal, opts for Belgium

    NPFL hotshot Odey rejects Barca deal, opts for Belgium

    SCORENigeria can  exclusively reveal that NPFL leading scorer Stephen Odey has turned down a chance to try out with mighty Barcelona as he has already agreed to join a Belgian club (name withheld).

    This season, the 19-year-old Odey has taken the Nigeria league by storm with 13 goals so far to spark off a flurry of interests from top European clubs including mighty Barcelona.

    The Barcelona proposal was for both Odey and his agent to visit the Catalan giants to see things for themselves.

    Contacts were made to both the player and his representatives, but the representatives turned down the proposal on the basis that they are already committed to a Belgian club.

    “Barcelona are interested, but his agent said they are already committed to a club in Belgium,” atop source informed only SCORENigeria.

    Odey’s camp have long rejected Russian club Rostov as several other European clubs have continued to show interest in the striker.

    The highly promising striker scored nine goals last season in his first season in the NPFL after he led his secondary school at the Principals Cup in Lagos.

  • Barca train for third day at St George’s Park

    Barca train for third day at St George’s Park

    Barcelona took part  in their third training session at St George’s Park, on Wednesday morning, ahead of Saturday’s International Champions Cup against Celtic in Dublin on Saturday.

    Luis Enrique’s side are based at England’s training HQ for their ICC preparations until Friday and have hosted several partially open training sessions featuring first team stars including Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

    The Catalan giants took part in some light training drills and even brought out the famed ‘rondo’ which Barcelona have become synonymous with over the years.

    Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane was in the stands to watch Barcelona in their third day of training at St George’s Park on Wednesday.

    Keane, who recently helped guide the Irish to the last 16 of Euro 2016 in France, witnessed Europe’s elite preparing for their International Champions Cup opener where they will face Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side in Dublin on Saturday.

  • Barca maul Atletico 2-1

    Barca maul Atletico 2-1

    La Liga Giants, Barcelona FC, on Tuesday thrashed bitter rivals Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

     

    Atletico Madrid took the lead in the 25th minutes of first half, courtesy of Fernando Torres following an assist from Koke

     

    Torres was sent off on the 35th minutes of the game following a second booking but the 10-men of Diego Simeone could not hold for too long as the pressure gets tougher.

     

    Hence,  Barcelona took advantage of Atletico Madrid’s 10-men with an opener from Luis Suarez in the 63rd minute.

     

    Suarez later converted a cross from Dani Alves on the 74th minutes of the game as Barca dominated and took control of the match in the second half.

     

    The second leg is set to take place next week Wednesday.

     

  • Barca offer Osimhen N211.85m

    Barca offer Osimhen N211.85m

    Sportinglife can reveal exclusively today that Golden Eaglets’ goals’ merchant, Victor Osimhen has been offered one million Euros (about N211,851,907:50) by UEFA Champions League defending champions, FC Barcelona.

    Sportinglife scooped further that Barcelona FC chiefs are willing to storm Nigeria to perfect the signing of Osimhen’s contract documents, with word rife that the Spanish side are ready to outbid whatever offer any Euroepan side throws on the table for the current FIFA U-17 World Cup winner and the competition’s highest goal scorer with 10 goals.

    Indeed Sportinglife gathered that Osimhen’s agent, Shera Yusuf is favourably disposed to the enticing offer from Barcelona and the prospect of his ward training with soccer greats such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luiz Suarez et al.

    Interestingly, those who should know at Osimhen’s amateur side told Sportinglife that Barcelona’s youth scout Ryan Hartsfield, a FIFA licensed agent, is willing to come to Lagos to begin negotiating the deal, even as it has been confirmed that Hartsfield has been authorised not to allow Osimhen slip through Barcelona’s talent-hunt net.

     

  • Barca accused of tax fraud in Neymar Signing

    Barca accused of tax fraud in Neymar Signing

    The prosecutors believe that Neymar cost in excess of the 57 million euros ($64.3 million, £42.7 million) declared to the Spanish tax man.

    Spanish public prosecutors have asked for Barcelona and their former president Sandro Rosell to be tried for two charges of tax fraud committed in the signing of Brazilian star Neymar.

    Meanwhile, prosecutors have also asked for the investigation of current Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the club on an extra tax charge in 2014, which could rise to 2.85 million euros.

    In a judicial file released on Monday, prosecutor Jose Perals Calleja suggests that Rosell and Barca declared an inferior fee to that which they paid for Neymar in 2013.

    The prosecutors believe that Neymar cost in excess of the 57 million euros ($64.3 million, £42.7 million) declared to the Spanish tax man.

    They cite the figure at a cost of 82,743,485 euros divided into sperate contracts that secured the signing.

    According to the calculations of the Spanish tax authorities, Barcelona owe a total of 12,148,696 million euros in tax on the deal, which would see the overall cost of the operation rise to 94.8 million euros.

    Rosell resigned as president over the affair just over a year ago when a complaint brought by one of the club’s members for misappropriation of funds was taken to court.

    In his testimony before a judge on the case in July of 2004, Rosell insisted that Neymar cost the club 57 million euros, 17 of which went to his former club Santos and 40 million paid to N&N, a company owned by the player’s father.

    However, following Rosell’s resignation, Barcelona also confirmed a number of extra agreements including a 10 million euro signing bonus for the player and scouting and collaborative agreements between the two clubs taking the total to 86.2 million euros.

    In February of last year, the club announced that they had made a voluntary payment of 13.5 million euros to the Spanish tax authorities regarding the transfer.