For Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, the Estadio de la Ceramica is one of those places where he has always been at his best. For Barcelona's number 10, it has become a familiar theatre, one where he has repeatedly turned promise into performance. This Sunday, Barcelona return to Villarreal, and memories from recent visits inevitably point in one direction. Yamal's first official appearance at La Ceramica came in August 2023, in a chaotic and unforgettable 4-3 win.
More than anticipated, it is special. I spent almost 15 years at Barça, it is the club where I was practically my entire life. I have many friends there and countless memories,
Copenhagen continued their unlikely tilt for the knockout stages of the Champions League by beating Villarreal 3-2 at El Madrigal on Wednesday. Villarreal are still winless, just as Copenhagen had been through their first four matches of the league phase before following up a win against Kairat Almaty last time out with this victory. Copenhagen led after just 71 seconds as Mohamed Elyounoussi volleyed in a left-wing cross, and they protected that advantage until half-time.
Matias Almeyda's tenure in Seville began with consecutive defeats to Athletic Club and Getafe, results that raised doubts about the Argentine's first steps as a La Liga manager. Yet his side have found a measure of stability since, stringing together a sequence of positive results that has lifted them into mid-table and closer to the European places. After a lively 2-2 home draw with Elche, Sevilla went on to record back-to-back away wins, defeating Girona and most recently Alaves.