Luis Enrique was divisive, but Spain won't be the same without him
DOHA, Qatar -- Luis Enrique doesn't like cheese.He does like eggs.He really, really likes eggs.In fact, he eats five or six a day, every day.And if you think that's weird, he thinks it's much worse that you eat all those Petit Suisse.Don't put onions in his tortilla, he says; and in Spain, where with or without onions are a question of state, it's quite a ... well ... statement.
Atletico Madrid have stepped up their interest in Barcelona forward Memphis Depay as they look to replace Joao Felix and Matheus Cunha, multiple sources have told ESPN.Memphis, 28, is out of contract in the summer and has made just four appearances in all competitions this season, with Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres all preferred by Barca coach Xavi Hernandez.
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 45m ago 45m ago Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature I genuinely think if Real win this game, they have every chance of coming back and winning the league, writes Arhaan Sayed.I definitely hope that is NOT the case, as we Barca fans have not tasted the league title since 2019.
Barcelona are nine points clear at the top of La Liga after beating struggling Valencia.Raphinha put Xavi's side into the lead with a header from Sergio Busquets' dinked ball over the top.They looked set to take control of the game when they won a penalty in the second half but Ferran Torres hit the post against his old team.
English clubs dominate 2022 international spending
English clubs spent £1.78bn- more than three times that of any other country - on men's international transfers in 2022, according to data from Fifa.Italian clubs were second on the list, having spent a total of £543m.The top 10 most expensive moves accounted for 12.5% of the total £5.24bn
Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga after a goal from Spain international Pedri proved enough to seal victory at home to Getafe.Xavi's side were without suspended forwards Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres and struggled to put away the relegation-threatened visitors.But Pedri's well-worked fifth goal of the season sealed a 14th league win.
Manchester City duo Aymeric Laporte and Rodri are included in Spain's World Cup squad, but Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea miss out.De Gea, who has 45 caps, has not made an international appearance for two years, while Thiago earned the last of his 46 caps at Euro 2020 last year.
La Liga president gives Barcelona renewed hope over Lionel Messi return
La Liga president Javier Tebas has given Barcelona renewed hope that they can bring back Lionel Messi this summer after it was reported this week that a transfer is unlikely.It was widely reported on Wednesday that the World Cup winner will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season and many expect Barcelona to be the destination where the Argentine ends up.
Japan stage dramatic rally to reach round of 16, but are Spain fine with result?
AL RAYYAN, Qatar -- Japan staged a heroic comeback against Spain to win 2-1 and book their place in the round of 16 at the World Cup.Spain led through Alvaro Morata's early goal but Japan, who couldn't manage a shot on target in the first half, turned the game around shortly after the break with two goals during a frantic three-minute spell thanks to halftime substitute Ritsu Doan and then Ao Tanaka.
Barcelona vs. Cadiz - Football Match Report - February 19, 2023 - ESPN
Barcelona's Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski struck just before half-time to give the league leaders a 2-0 home win over lowly Cadiz on Sunday in their pursuit of a 27th Spanish title.Unbeaten in their last 18 matches in all competitions, Barcelona extended their LaLiga winning streak to seven games, piling pressure on rivals Real Madrid, who won 2-0 at Osasuna on Saturday.
Xavi Hernandez bemoaned Barcelona's inability to kill of games as they returned to winning ways in LaLiga by beating Valencia 1-0 on Sunday.Raphinha's first-half header opened the scoring at Camp Nou, but Barca were forced to hold on at the end after Ferran Torres missed a penalty and Ronald Araujo was sent off.
Former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski blames Ansu Fati for costing FC Barcelona the equalizer vs Man United
When Robert Lewandowski chose to leave Bayern Munich for FC Barcelona last summer, he said he did it to find a new challenge.Well, he probably didn't think it would be this challenging.According to a report from Diario AS, the striker was frustrated and upset after the loss to Manchester United, which ended Barca's pathetically short Europa League campaign.
Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso has extended his contract at Camp Nou until 2024 with the option of an additional year, the Catalan club confirmed on Friday.Alonso, 32, joined Barca on an initial one-year deal as a free agent from Chelsea last summer after his contract with the Premier League side was terminated.
Atletico Madrid have signed forward Memphis Depay from Barcelona, the LaLiga club announced on Friday.Sources have told ESPN the fee for Memphis could rise to over €4 million.- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "Memphis Depay is a new Atletico de Madrid player following the agreement reached with FC Barcelona for the transfer of the Dutch striker to our club, signing for the remainder of the season and two more seasons," said a club statement.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona - Supercopa de Espana final: TV channel, team news, lineups and prediction
Jan 14, 2023 Real Madrid won the first Clasico of the season 3-1 in October / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in the final of the Supercopa de Espana held in Saudi Arabia on Sunday night.Once the equivalent of England's curtain-raising, semi-friendly Community Shield, the Spanish Super Cup has been expanded and exported in the last four years.
Barcelona XI vs Manchester United: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Europa League today
A number of injury concerns limited the Catalans' selection for the play-off second leg, with the tie poised at 2-2 following last week's game in Spain.Sergi Roberto comes into the XI to bolster Barcelona's midfield while Alejandro Balde gets the nod at left-back.CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW MAN UNITED VS BARCELONA LIVE! Star midfield duo Pedri and Gavi are both missing through injury and suspension respectively, while Ousmane Dembele is out due to a hamstring problem.
Manchester United vs Barcelona: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds
Last week's 2-2 draw was the sort of European under-the-lights thriller usually reserved for much later in the season as these two giants battle over a spot in the last-16 of the continent's secondary club competition.Another high quality affair is being predicted when they reconvene in a tie that has all the hallmarks of going the distance.
Transfer Talk: Busquets, Alba to leave Barca in LaLiga-enforced fire sale
The January transfer window might have closed around Europe, but there's plenty of gossip swirling around as clubs prepare to make moves in the summer.Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals.TOP STORY: Busquets, Alba to lead Barca exodus Barcelona could be forced to move on up to four first-team players this summer in order to meet LaLiga's financial fair play rules, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Fabrizio Romano confirms Raphinha and Ferran Torres' stance amid Arsenal links
Fabrizio Romano has addressed rumours linking Arsenal with Barcelona duo Ferran Torres and Raphinha.Romano confirmed to CaughtOffside via his Substack column over the last few weeks that Arsenal were pushing heavily for Mykhaylo Mudryk and a move was close to completion before Chelsea swooped in.It's no secret that Arsenal are in the market for a new winger, and Romano has now addressed rumours linking Arsenal to both Raphinha and Torres, and confirmed the Barcelona duo's stance on leaving the Spanish club.
Arsenal told possible transfer of Ferran Torres 'could be interesting'
Yohan Djourou says Arsenal's rumoured transfer interest in Barcelona forward, Ferran Torres, is 'interesting', as Mikel Arteta aims to bring in cover for the injured Gabriel Jesus during the January transfer window.The former Arsenal player did raise doubt that Torres, who worked with Arteta at Manchester City prior to moving to the Nou Camp last January, hasn't really cut it at Barcelona, nor did he show much during his time in the Premier League, as he told talkSPORT.
World Cup Watch: Spain boss Luis Enrique sends a massive warning to Ferran Torres
When Spain obliterated Costa Rica 7-0, former Manchester City and current FC Barcelona winger Ferran Torres helped himself to a couple of goals.Celebrations are of course part of the game, but Spain coach Luis Enrique has a bone to pick with Ferran if he does a certain celebration.Ferran did an "S" celebration with his hands against Keylor Navas' team, but he should be glad that it's not any other which you'll find out in a bit.
Arsenal target could be made available, his club hope he has a good World Cup to boost transfer interest
Arsenal could do with more options up front, so if Torres is made available for a reasonable price, it could be worth gambling on him.Torres is also likely to be a target for the likes of Atletico Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad, according to the report, but it remains to be seen if Arsenal will definitely go back in for him again.Barcelona could reportedly made Ferran Torres available for transfer soon, with the Catalan giants hopeful that he'll have a good World Cup in order to boost their chances of selling him this winter.
Football (soccer) greatest goals and highlights | 101 Great Goals
Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.Day-by-day TV listings - Full coverage details
Whatever England can do, Spain can do better... but does thrashing hapless opposition in your opening game really turn anyone into instant World Cup contenders?
Match awards from Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over FC Barcelona
Jersey Swap: Ferran Torres When else will we ever be able to give Robert Lewandowski an award again?Sadly, this won't be the time to do it, either.Lewy made some flashy plays but couldn't pull the attack together on his own, and faded into anonymity for large swathes of the action.He would eventually be substituted in the 80th minute in a waving of the white flag from coach Xavi Hernández.
Thomas Muller relishing the chance for Bayern Munich to square off against FC Barcelona again
Bayern Munich got off to an excellent start in the Champions League with a convincing 2-0 win over Inter Milan at the San Siro on the back end of two relatively disappointing 1-1 draws in the Bundesliga against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Union Berlin.