The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Barcelona

  • Messi leads Stylish Barcelona to war against Eindhoven

     

    Stylish football on the pitch, stylish outfits off the field – that looks to be the unofficial motto of Barcelona football club.

    They jetted off from Spain on Tuesday afternoon ahead of their Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven in Holland on Wednesday.

    The Barca players flew out in matching grey suits, complete with cardigans and warm woolly scarves.

    Barcelona have donned the fashionable – and expensive – gear before, wearing identical grey suits for their European away day against Tottenham last month.

    The outfit is designed by Thom Browne tailors, one of their global sponsors, which, including the white shirt with an Oxford tie, a 4-bar jacket vest and black shoes of grain leather of pebbles, comes to a grand total of £4,200.

    With 20 players in Barcelona’s travelling party, plus the manager, that’s around £100,000 worth of just travel gear.

    The Barca players will wear Thom Browne suits for the next three seasons for their trips to away Champions League matches.

    Lionel Messi looked particularly snug, his scarf wrapped tightly around his neck, adding to the insulation already provided by his impressive beard.

    Gerard Pique looked to be feeling the chill a little less, his scarf hanging open around his collar, while fellow centre back Samuel Umtiti chose to forgo his scarf altogether.

    Whatever their garments, Barca are home and cosy in Champions League Group B, securing qualification for the knockouts with two games to spare.

    Barca sit on 10 points at the summit of Group B, three points clear of Inter Milan. They will guarantee top spot if they beat winless PSV.

    They will however have to attain those crucial three points without striker Luis Suarez, who has been sidelined for two weeks with a knee injury.

  • Barcelona vs Real Madrid: 10 Facts You Should Know about El-Clasico

    The historic rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona needs a little introduction. El Clasico, as meetings between the two clubs have become famously known, is always one of the biggest and fiercest match-ups in football history.  On Sunday 28 October, football fans are in for another thrilling spectacle for the first time this LaLiga season as Barcelona hosts Real Madrid at the Camp Nou.

    In anticipation this intense match, here are 10 facts you probably didn’t know about the El Clasico:

    1.     A rivalry of 115 years of history: The first match between Real Madrid and Barcelona was in May 13, 1902, a Coronation Cup match that Barcelona won 3-1. Real Madrid won the first league Clasico, on February 17, 1929, by 2-1.

    2.     Messi leads with 21 goals to his belt. With 21 goals, Lionel Messi leads the list of top goal scorers in El Clasico. He is followed by Di Stefano (18), Cristiano Ronaldo (16), and Raul (15). Messi is also the player with the most assists (13) and hat-tricks (2) in the competition’s history.

    3.     End of an era. Lionel Messi’s legendary rivalry with Portuguese international, Cristiano Ronaldo comes to a screeching halt following Ronaldo’s move to Juventus.  In addition, for the first time since 2007, Messi will not play due to an arm injury.

    4.     The Di Stefano Transfer: The Alfredo Di Stefano transfer is one of the contributing factors which resulted in infuriating the rivalry between the two sides. Originally supposed to sign for Barcelona, Stefano moved permanently to Real Madrid and became an integral part of the success achieved by Real Madrid. Stefano even scored twice in his first game against Barcelona and won five European titles with the Madrid side.    

    5.     No player knows the Clasico better than Manuel Sanchis who made 43 appearances in the game during his time at Real Madrid.

    6.     No 0-0 draws for 15 Years. The last 0-0 draw came on November 23, 2002, and it happened in the Camp Nou.

    7.     Ronaldo Nazario is the only player to have scored for both teams in the El Clasico.

    8.     In 228 competitive meetings between the sides, Real Madrid has won 91 to Barcelona’s 88.

    9.     Barcelona’s huge loss: A crucial moment in this fantastic sporting rivalry occurred in 1943, when Real Madrid beat Barcelona 11–1 at home in the second leg of a semi-final of the Copa del Rey.

    10.  There has been six goalless draws involving these two teams in history.

    Enjoy the action of Spain’s biggest football rivalry this Sunday on DStv LIVE and in HD on SuperSport 7 (ch 227) and on GOtv SuperSport Select 4 ( ch 34)

  • Messi eats at his own table- Alba

    Lionel Messi’s mesmeric display in Barcelona’s 4-2 Champions League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, proved yet again, that he is a class above the world’s other top players, team mate Jordi Alba, has said.

    Messi ran amok at Wembley Stadium, slicing Spurs apart with incisive passes from deep, such as the one that allowed Philippe Coutinho to open the scoring.

    He was as dangerous as ever in front of goal, firing in the Catalan side’s final two goals to end their winless run of three games.

    “Messi eats at his own table; he plays on another level to the rest.

    “When Leo goes on a run, all the rest of us can do is grit our teeth. He is the best in the world and he makes all of us a little bit better,” Barca defender Alba told reporters.

    Messi was a surprise absentee from the three nominees at FIFA’s The Best awards ceremony last week in London, where Real Madrid’s Luka Modric was crowned Player of the Year ahead of Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo.

    “For me `The Best’ is a lie,” said Alba.

    Rakitic, the scorer of Barca’s second goal, said Messi was one of a kind.

    Read Also: 2018 FIFA Best Award: Modric wins to end Ronaldo, Messi dominance

    “With respect to the other players, Messi is unique. Sometimes a player has a great season like Modric did, but we all know Messi is different,” he added.

    Wembley is a happy hunting ground for Barcelona, who won their first European Cup there in 1992.

    They also beat Manchester United 3-1 at the venue in the Champions League final in 2011.

    “If we played like this every day then we’d win every competition every year.

    “If we do things in the right way and work as a team, it’s very difficult to beat us. If we all fight for the same objective the results will come,” said Alba

    The victory keeps Barca joint top of Champions’ League Group B with Inter Milan, who they play next, and saw them snap a run of four Champions League away games without a win.

    “There are some games you look forward to a lot and this was one of those and we’re very happy with how the players responded,” added Coach Ernesto Valverde, who had faced heavy criticism in the media in the build up to the game.

    “I hope the fans are too,” he said.

  • Isco leaves hospital after appendicitis surgery

    Real Madrid playmaker Isco has left hospital after successfully undergoing an operation to treat appendicitis, the European champions said on Wednesday.

    “Our player Isco has been discharged from hospital.

    “He will start his recovery process now under the supervision of the Real Madrid medical services,” said a statement from the club which did not state how long Isco was expected to be out for.

    Reports in the Spanish media, however, said the Spain international would be unable to play for around a month and was targeting a return in time for Real’s crunch match away to arch-rivals Barcelona on Oct. 28 in La Liga.

    Read Also: Live Update! Real Madrid Win Champions League

    Isco was taken to hospital on Tuesday after arriving at training complaining of stomach pains.

    He is set to miss a total of six games for Real, including Wednesday’s testing league trip to Sevilla and Saturday’s city derby against Atletico Madrid.

    He will also have to sit out Champions League games against CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen, as well as Spain’s friendly against Wales and their UEFA Nations League game with England.

  • Spanish federation delays approval of Girona-Barca match

    La Liga’s plans to move Girona’s fixture with Barcelona on Jan. 26 to Miami hang in the balance, after the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) declined to authorise the move until it received more information on the game.

    “We have received a letter from the RFEF requesting more information about our proposal to play a La Liga competition match in the USA.

    “We will provide that information,” La Liga’s head of communications Joris Evers told Reuters on Tuesday.

    According to world governing body FIFA’s statutes, any domestic competition played outside the league’s usual home must be approved by the home federation.

    The approval of European governing body UEFA, the federation where the game is taking place, and the regional confederation – in this case the United States Soccer Federation and CONCACAF would be required.

    “They are not saying no, they are asking for more documentation. “Evidently, they are not very keen on it, but I’m still optimistic,” La Liga president Javier Tebas told reporters gathered outside the organisation’s headquarters on Friday.

    In August the Spanish federation took the Spanish Super Cup outside of Spain for the first time, as Barcelona met Sevilla in Tangier, Morocco.

    “The federation may not like the idea of us playing this game.

    “But the president of the RFEF has to resolve this legally, with the precedent of having taken a game to Tangier after everything that has been said about adulterating the competition,” Tebas added.

    Read Also: Tebas: 90 percent chance Girona against Barcelona in U.S

    “The game (in Miami) is still alive, without a doubt. We believe we are in the right and we will respond to all the doubts expressed in the letter.

    “This isn’t about us wanting to play a game in Miami, it’s a strategic plan to promote our brand amid the relentless competition for broadcasting rights,” he said.

    Girona and Barcelona declined requests from Reuters to comment.

    In August, La Liga announced a landmark 15-year promotion deal with U.S. Entertainment Company Relevent, the organiser of the annual International Champions Cup tournament played across the United States, Asia and Europe.

    The agreement included plans to play one game a year stateside.

    The plans were initially rejected by the Spanish Footballer’s Union, the AFE, who said they were prepared to go on strike in order to prevent the match from going ahead.

    Earlier this month, Barca spokesman Josep Vives said the club supported the idea of playing abroad, but would only do so if all parties in Spanish football agreed.

    “We’re interested in playing in the United States because it’s a strategic market, but we want it to be done consensually, in agreement and in harmony with the players and the Spanish soccer federation,” he said.

    Last week Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui said he was opposed to the idea, telling a news conference: “I don’t agree with this game, all the teams should play in the same stadiums.”

  • Tebas: 90 percent chance Girona against Barcelona in U.S

    La Liga Chief Javier Tebas has said there is a 90 per cent chance the first Spanish top flight game in the U.S. will be Girona’s ‘home’ match against Barcelona in January.

    He revealed the league will earn 200 million euros ($232.80 million) for playing games in North America.

    Tebas added that Girona’s joint majority shareholders Manchester City had encouraged the Catalan side to get involved in the initiative.

    Part of a 15-year deal the league signed with U.S. entertainment company Relevent last month, while stating that no club was obliged to play games in the U.S.

    “Girona-Barcelona will 90 percent be played in the United States, but the agreement is not about just one game.
    “It’s about a process which is much bigger,” “We held a bidding process and various companies got involved.

    “There’s no obligation for teams to play one game a year in the United States, only the clubs who volunteer to go will go.

    “But this is much more than a game, it’s about strategy and sponsorship,” Tebas said in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero broadcast on Friday.

    Read Also: El Classico, a global spectacle

    The game will deprive Girona of a home fixture with Tebas confirming reports that the club’s fans will be offered free flights to the game set to take place at the Miami Dolphins’ 65,000-capacity Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.

    The News men was awaiting a response from Manchester City and Girona after Tebas confirmed the Premier League champions had encouraged the club to get involved in the first U.S. match.
    “The game is designed to help teams that don’t have a very big fan base.

    “Girona are partly owned by City and together with (Miami Dolphins owner) Stephen Ross, they told us Girona were interested in playing this game.

    “Now several teams with a similar profile to Girona have shown interest because they see it as an opportunity.

    “Season ticket holders will be compensated and there is an opportunity to travel to Miami. Relevent will pay the costs,” Tebas added.

    Girona, who were promoted to the top flight for the first time in 2017, said they had received the offer to play the game against Barcelona but it had yet to be officially confirmed.

    “The club has accepted this offer, understanding that it is a great possibility to expand and grow, not only for the club but also for our city and our territory.

    “Three years ago, the club was fighting against going out of business and now our objective is to consolidate ourselves in La Liga.

    “This action would be another step in competing in football’s elite after all the efforts we have made and which has led to us being promoted to the top flight,” a statement on the official Girona website said.

  • Barcelona fan sheds tears of joy for Messi

    A young Barcelona fan was left in tears as he finally got the chance to meet his idol, Lionel Messi.

    The club posted a video of the Argentine superstar stopping to pose for photos with fans at the airport following Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid.

    And one supporter was unable to contain his excitement, bursting in to tears as Messi approached him and signed his shirt.

    The youngster looked overwhelmed as he watched his fellow fans receive their autographs before getting one of his own.

    Barcelona’s talisman acknowledged the show of support, rubbing the child’s head before moving on to greet the rest of the club’s loyal followers.

    The Catalan outfit have made a solid start to the season with Saturday’s victory making it two wins in two in La Liga.

    Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal as the reigning La Liga champions survived a late VAR scare to claim a hard-fought win at the  Estadio Jose Zorrilla

    Dembele struck just before the hour after spurning several chances but the hosts would not lie down and almost snatched a last-gasp point.

    Keko thought he had equalised in added time but his header was eventually ruled out for offside after intervention by the video assistant referee.

    The child looked overwhelmed after meeting his idol following Barcelona’s La Liga victory.

    Messi who failed in his desire to lead Argentina beyond the group of 16 in Russia, has regained his super form for his club as they eye addition to their 25 league titles already in the kitty.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ronaldo hospitalised in Ibiza with pneumonia

    Former Brazil and Real Madrid great Ronaldo Nazario is currently in hospital in Ibiza recovering from pneumonia, local media said on Sunday.

    Newspaper Diario de Ibiza said the two-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2002 World Cup Golden Boot winner is currently in the intensive care unit at the private Policlinica Nuestra Senora del Rosario hospital.

    Sources told Diario de Ibiza that Ronaldo was recovering well.

    The hospital could not immediately be reached by Reuters for comment.

    Ronaldo, who was on holiday in Ibiza when he was taken ill, retired from football in 2011 following a hugely successful career.

    He featured stints at PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Brazilian sides Corinthians and Cruzeiro as well as Real Madrid, where he is a club ambassador.

    He won two La Liga titles with Real, the UEFA Cup with Inter and lifted the World Cup in 1994 and 2002 with Brazil, also reaching the tournament’s final in 1998.

    He picked up the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world in 1997 and 2002.

  • LaLiga leads the way as France top the world

    …11 LaLiga players were involved in Sunday’s World Cup final in Moscow, more than from any other league

     

    LaLiga’s huge influence on this summer’s World Cup continued right through to Sunday’s final, with MVP Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid scoring one and setting up two as France topped Croatia 4-2. Meanwhile, Real Madrid midfielder and Croatia captain Luka Modric was voted player of the tournament despite his country falling just short at the final hurdle.

    11 LaLiga players were involved in the decider at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium, more than any other league. Griezmann clinched his third MVP award of the tournament with an impressive performance. It was his free-kick that was knocked into the net for the game’s opening goal, his penalty which put France 2-1 up and his assist which led to France’s third.

    Atletico defender Lucas Hernandez laid on France’s fourth and final goal, with his fellow defenders Samuel Umtiti of Barcelona and Raphael Varane of Real Madrid also impressing, while Sevilla’s Steven N’Zonzi was a second half substitute as Les Bleus saw out their victory.

    Modric shone albeit in defeat and was awarded the 2018 ‘Golden Ball’ for his contribution over the month in Russia. This included a penalty in the opening game victory over Nigeria, a tremendous 20-yard strike in the unforgettable 3-0 victory over Argentina and shoot-out spot-kicks converted against Denmark and Russia during the knock-out stages.

    Croatia also had Barça’s Ivan Rakitic in midfield in Sunday’s final along with Atletico’s Sime Vrsaljko at right-back, while Mateo Kovacic was on the bench. New Atletico signing Thomas Lemar and Barça’s Ousmane Dembele were unused subs for France.

    It was a fitting end to a tournament at which LaLiga stars have been prominent throughout, right from the opening game when Villarreal’s Denis Cheryshev scored twice for Russia in the hosts’ 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. The following month of games then saw 24 different LaLiga players from ten different Spanish clubs score 40 goals in total. LaLiga stars were named MVP in 21 of the 64 games as 81 players from across LaLiga Santander and LaLiga 1l2l3 represented their countries.

    Among the standout stars was Barça’s Philippe Coutinho, who provided two goals and two assists as his team were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Belgium, for whom Real Sociedad’s Adnan Januzaj got on the score sheet in the group stages.

    There were countless other memorable moments involving LaLiga stars, including Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos’s sensational last-gasp strike for Germany against Sweden, Atletico centre-forward Diego Costa’s three goals for Spain and Lionel Messi’s superb solo effort in their victory over Nigeria. Camp Nou teammates Luis Suarez and Yerry Mina hit the net twice and three times for Uruguay and Colombia respectively.

    Other LaLiga interventions during the group stages included Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas and Malaga striker Youssef En-Nesyri both scoring as late substitutes in Spain and Morocco’s 2-2 draw. Japan midfielder Takashi Inui, who has just completed his move to Real Betis from Eibar, scored against both Senegal and Belgium while Saudi Arabia’s match winner in their final group game against Egypt was Villarreal’s Salem Al-Dawsari.

    This summer’s World Cup has truly showcased the breadth of LaLiga’s quality, talent and its true international reach, leaving fans worldwide to eagerly await the start of the 2018/19 Spanish season next month.

  • Luis Enrique appointed Spain coach

    Spanish Football Federation has appointed Luis Enrique as Spain’s new national team coach, the president of the federation Luis Rubiales said during a press conference on Monday.

    Read Also: Luis Enrique: I won’t be Barcelona coach next season

    A former midfielder for Sporting Gijon, Real Madrid and Barcelona, Luis Enrique won two Liga titles, one Champions League and three King’s Cups as Barca coach between 2014 and 2017.

    He also coached Celta Vigo and Barca’s reserve team and has spent the past year on sabbatical since leaving the Nou Camp in May 2017.