السبت، 30 أبريل 2016

Real Bétis 0-2 Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: 3 Things We Learned

Barcelona stays firm at the top of the La Liga table after a key road victory against Real Bétis on Saturday, and the Catalans are favorites to take home the trophy again after three straight league wins. Here's a few lessons from what we saw in Seville:

1. Lionel Messi will be a fantastic midfielder

During the Pep Guardiola Era, Messi was the best (false) striker on the planet. He scored goals at an absurd rate, and while he did many more than just find the back of the net, his numbers were off the charts, unmatched in world football. After a couple of down years, Messi went back to world domination, but he did as the best winger on the planet. Yes, he was more than just that, but it was that change of position to create the 'MSN' trio that made Leo a Ballon d'Or winner again.

And then, as we saw against Bétis, Messi will probably win another Golden Ball as a midfielder. He played as the distributor on Saturday, and boy was he awesome. He had two assists, and his second to Luis Suárez was unbelievable. Number Ten Leo is just as amazing as Striker Leo or Winger Leo. If he does decide to drop deep into a midfield role, there needs to be a tactical change, since Barça will need a proper winger on the right side. Having the full-back overlap all the time is dangerous defensively, but if Enrique or the next coach does use Messi as a creator, we could see some variation of a 4-2-3-1, a formation Lucho did use this season.

Messi behind the striker is something very dangerous, and if used right, could be a new position in which Leo would continue to dominate football. Saturday was certainly a sign.

2. Sergio Busquets is back

Busi dropped in form when the whole team went through a mini-collapse in the beginning of April, but now he's back to normal. Barça's whole system depends on Sergio's best version, since he's the guy who begins plays and recovers balls in a position where the team could quickly take advantage or simply regain possession. He was a little inaccurate with his passing and a little slow and out of position during the bad stretch, but he was superb against Bétis. He had the highest passing accuracy rate of the match, and he attempted almost 100 passes and helped the Blaugrana dominate possession and the majority of the game. Good to see you again, Real Busi.

3. Neymar is (almost) back

The Brazilian is slowly rebounding from the bad form. Unlike Busquets, Messi and Suárez, who returned to their best quickly, Ney is still struggling a little bit. Ironically, he did score in the two previous matches when he wasn't so good, but on Saturday, one of his best performances in a while, he couldn't find a goal. Especially in the first half, we saw the good old Neymar, taking people on and beating them with his skills, moving well and linking up with his teammates, running into space and taking shots on goal. Messi took over in the second half, but Ney was still important and looking to contribute. He's not back to his best just yet, but that shouldn't take long to happen. Hopefully we can see it again this season with two league games and a Cup final left.



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Real Bétis 0-2 Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: Match Review

A recap of Barça's win on Saturday night over Real Betis.

Barcelona equaled the results of the two Madrid-based title contenders with a hard-fought win against Real Betis. Led by Lionel Messi who supplied both assists, Barcelona scored twice in the second half to see off a brave Betis side who fought through a large part of the match while a man down, but Messi’s assist to Ivan Rakitić and Luis Suarez were too much for the hosts.


Real Betis
Barcelona
Possession 23% 77%
Total Shots 2 11
Shots on Target 1 4
Corners 2
4
Fouls 9 11
Offsides 2
3
Yellow Cards 5
3
Red Cards 1
0

With Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid edging their opponents by the score of 1-0, Barcelona needed to win at the Benito Villamarin to go into Match-Day 37 as leaders. Betis, on the other hand, had nothing to play for as they were safe from relegation and could not win a place in Europe either -€” but they could play spoiler to Barcelona's title hopes.

From the opening whistle Barcelona allowed acres of space for Betis' counter attacks, and even before Barcelona could threaten for the first time, the hosts fired their first shots. A turnover in midfield led to a 3-2 for Betis, but after Ruben Castro poorly controlled the pass, the Spaniard was forced to take a long shot that Javier Mascherano headed wide of target. From the ensuing corner kick, Betis threatened again but Bruno González's header was saved by Claudio Bravo.

Barcelona found it difficult in the early stages of the game to control the ball and put Betis' defense under constant pressure, but slowly that started to change and the Catalans forced the hosts to defend in numbers -€” something they were happy to do. And they did a good job, keeping Barcelona on the perimeter with only a handful of decent looks on goal. In fact, Barcelona didn't take their first shot until the 16th minute when Jordi Alba, probably, sent such a poor cross to the middle that it threatened Antonio Adan. Two minutes later, Neymar received the ball on the left wing and after dribbling past Bruno sent a very useful ball to the edge but Andres Iniesta couldn't direct the shot on target.

Barcelona continued to press forward but Betis' defense was well organized and they dealt with Barcelona's threats excellently. They did, however, pick up quite a few yellow cards in the early going in their efforts to stop Barcelona's attacks. But eventually every defense will give up chances when the opponents spends this much time in the attacking zone. A good opportunity came for Barcelona in the 27th minute when Dani Alves sent a rare useful cross in but an uncovered Neymar couldn't head the ball on target. Two minutes later Alba found Neymar in space, but the Brazilian's shot was too central to really threaten Adan.

In the 35th minute Betis' chances of spoiling Barcelona's title hopes took a big blow as Heiko Westermann, one of those players to pick up an early yellow card, was shown a second yellow card, for a late tackle on Rakitić, and was sent to the dressing room. But despite the man advantage, Barcelona struggled to get into good scoring areas. In fact, the Catalans didn't create one noteworthy chance before the halftime whistle.

After the break, during which neither team made any changes, Barcelona quickly started camping in Betis' third and they were quickly rewarded. First though, in the 47th minute, Neymar found Suarez in space but the Uruguayan missed the target from a good position. But three minutes later, Barcelona were able to celebrate the lead. Lionel Messi sent a dangerous ball to the middle where Germán Pezzella and Adan both missed the clearance, with the ball finding its way right to the waiting Rakitić. With no goalkeeper in goal the Croatian was left with a simple tap into the wide open net.

Despite being a goal down, Betis didn't make any tactical changes to turn the score around. Even the substitutions were like-for-like as first Charly Musonda replaced Joaquín and later Francisco Portillo took the place of Dani Ceballos. While Betis remained defensive, Barcelona, after a promising start to the half, continued to find it difficult to break through the back-line and wouldn't have their next good look on goal until the 73rd minute. Then a steal by Suarez and Alves on the right wing started the attack, and after Messi found Neymar near the far post with a cross it appeared the Brazilian would easily find the open Suarez in front, but Adan left his line just in time to intercept the pass.

The following minute Barcelona had their best scoring chance of the match. Messi and Suarez were left all alone in front of goal and Messi made the unselfish play to find Suarez who powered the ball from point blank but it went right at Adan. Immediately after the miss Luis Enrique made his first change of the match, taking off Alves and replacing him with Sergi Roberto

With the game still close, Betis brought some fresh legs to the attack, taking off Castro and replacing him with Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who just moments after coming on the pitch had a chance to shockingly tie the game up, but Bravo left the line to head the ball out of danger. Barcelona put all doubts to rest the following attack with Messi providing more magic, supplying a stunning through ball to Suarez who this time made no mistake, sending the ball over Adan's right leg and into the back of the net.

Shortly after the goal, Lucho made his second substitution, replacing Rakitić with Arda Turan. Moments later, Bravo appeared to be struggling with an apparent calf injury and he was taken off as a precaution. On his birthday, Marc-Andre ter Stegen took Bravo's place, seeing his first La Liga action since 26 September. During his short time on the pitch he wasn't called into action and Barcelona ran out deserved winners, dedicating the win to long-time Camp Nou announcer Manel Vich who passed away, retaking the league lead with two games left to play, the next one coming on Sunday against Espanyol.

Roll Call:

Roll Call Info
Total comments 381
Total commenters 37
Commenter list Anders Thomassen, Anthony_Stark, AraibKarim, Artemis11, Delano Heerkens, Eddie Pundell, FZBoy, JordanBelfort, Mufti Yoga, My Name Is Dennis, NamesTroyResideInTheDMV, Opensesame, Prcho, Sawban Busquets :D, Som-i-Serem, Steven Cordero, TheGodfather21, ZTAhmad, asherdgreat1, chrisolin65, culegun, darthvader17, el_uruguayo, feeya7, godnkls, hacastillot, highbee, istiaque, ledhe, mickael2, navjot4664, purpleheart81, saltylures, semperty, somunequip, sunnyleaone55, syredeathtrooper
Story URLs
# Commenter # Comments
1 purpleheart81 57
2 Som-i-Serem 43
3 Anders Thomassen 42
4 Artemis11 39
5 chrisolin65 37
6 Anthony_Stark 22
7 AraibKarim 21
8 syredeathtrooper 20
9 JordanBelfort 15
10 semperty 14
11 My Name Is Dennis 10
12 sunnyleaone55 5
13 navjot4664 5
14 darthvader17 5
15 hacastillot 4
16 Steven Cordero 4
17 FZBoy 4
18 istiaque 3
19 godnkls 3
20 NamesTroyResideInTheDMV 3
21 Prcho 3
22 somunequip 2
23 highbee 2
24 mickael2 2
25 el_uruguayo 2
26 Delano Heerkens 2
27 Eddie Pundell 2
28 Sawban Busquets :D 1
29 ledhe 1
30 saltylures 1
31 ZTAhmad 1
32 Opensesame 1
33 TheGodfather21 1
34 feeya7 1
35 asherdgreat1 1
36 culegun 1
37 Mufti Yoga 1
# Recs Commenter Comment Link
3 syredeathtrooper Dani Alves gets a yellow for dribbling a player
2 Som-i-Serem Time for the Legendary Trident to fire tonight!
2 syredeathtrooper The same asshole who said "I want to win so that Real Madrid can win La Liga" fucked up so bad
2 chrisolin65 He'll be like
2 Anders Thomassen "it seems every opponent runs more than us"
2 navjot4664 You have to admit, the name is pretty raunchy.
2 godnkls you don't know what he said
2 AraibKarim THIS IS A BIRTHDAY GIFT!! LOL
2 Prcho Is there a player in the world that can make such a pass as Messi can?
1 AraibKarim lol he said that??
1 Som-i-Serem Yeah. Xavi was NEVER incredibly quiet.
1 FZBoy I have to say this, but, MESSI IS THE BEST MIDFIELDER EVER. EVER.
1 Som-i-Serem In Mourinho's words...
1 purpleheart81 We should have one for the fans too
1 syredeathtrooper Lmao
1 Som-i-Serem I know the mods will delete this, so I'll say what I really want.
1 Som-i-Serem Lahoz going YOLO.
1 feeya7 We're up a man
1 Artemis11 Balague is born in barcelona
1 semperty You can't say that.
1 AraibKarim he wasn't incredibly quiet


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Real Bétis vs Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: Final Score 0-2 as Barça remain atop La Liga

Barcelona remain leaders of La Liga after a tough road trip to Real Bétis on Saturday, with the Blaugranes leaving Seville with a narrow 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suárez. In a tricky match against a disciplined defensive side, the Catalans showed patience and their talents came through in the second period, enough to secure a win to stay at the top of the table. It wasn't easy, but the job is done away from home.

FIRST HALF

The match had a dangerous start for Barça, with Bétis defending well and quickly igniting a few counter-attacks that caught the Blaugrana defenders off guard. But the visitors solved that problem with better passing, and slowly started to dominate the actions and pin Bétis into their own box. Neymar was active, always looking to win individual duels with his skills and coming close to scoring with a good shot that was stopped by Ádan.

Bétis' defense was very compact and difficult to break down, but then center-back Westermann was sent off for two very dumb yellow cards. The Verdiblancos had to give up attacking to park the bus even more, and they had success keeping a clean sheet in the initial period, thanks in part to Barça's inability to find an accurate final pass before hitting the target.

At halftime, a good Barça performance, but the need of second half goals to secure a victory and climb back to the top of the table.

SECOND HALF

Barça needed an early goal to avoid desperation and to stop Bétis from getting any sort of confidence to go forward and trouble the Catalan defense, and that's what happened. After a great buildup, Messi played a beautiful ball to the box, and thanks to a mistake by the Bétis goalkeeper, Rakitic was alone in front of the goal and easily scored the opener.

After getting their much desired goal, the Blaugrana continued to dominate possession and create chances, needed one more goal to secure a victory. And it came after another moment of genius by Messi, who delivered a spectacular, perfect through ball to Suárez, who finally beat the keeper and doubled Barça's lead.

In the end, a much needed victory with a dominant performance despite facing a tough defense. Perfect.

Bétis: Ádan | Bruno, Prezzella, Westermann, Montoya | Petros, N'Diaye | Cejudo, Joaquin (Musonda), Ceballos (Portillo) | Castro (van Wolfswinkel)

Barcelona: Bravo (Ter Stegen) | Alves (Roberto), Piqué, Mascherano, Alba | Busquets, Rakitic (Arda), Iniesta | Messi, Suárez, Neymar

Goals: Rakitic (50'), Suárez (81')



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Luis Suarez's 35th goal of the La Liga season is a masterpiece

via r/Soccer

Barcelona have a 2-0 lead later in their match against Real Betis. They are headed back up to the top of the La Liga table with two matches remaining. Luis Suarez latched onto a perfect Lionel Messi throughball and finished superbly. It's the Uruguayan's 35th goal of the season extending his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo in the Pichichi race to four.



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Hilarious defensive gaffe gifts Ivan Rakitic Barcelona's opener vs. Real Betis

via r/Soccer

Some goals make the hair on your arms stand up from excitement. Barcelona's opening goal in today's huge league match away at Real Betis is likely not one of them. Granted, Lionel Messi deserves credit for a dangerous ball into the box, Betis' defender and goalkeeper made a meal out of it and it fell to an open Rakitic. The Croatian did his job and put it into the empty net to give Barcelona the lead and put them on track to the top of the La Liga table.



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Real Betis vs Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: Confirmed Lineups, Live Game Thread

Live game thread with confirmed lineups for Barcelona's La Liga match against Real Betis

La Liga: Jornada 36
Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain
Kickoff: Saturday, 30 April 2016, 20:30 CET
Referee: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz

Lineups:

Real Betis (4-2-3-1): 13. Antonio Adán | 4. Bruno González, 20. Germán Pezzella, 17. Heiko Westermann, 3. Martín Montoya | 18. Alfred N'Diaye, 25. Petros | 16. Álvaro Cejudo, 10. Dani Ceballos, 7. Joaquín | 24. Rubén Castro

Substitutes: 1. Dani Giménez, 6. Francisco Varela, 14. Xavi Torres, 5. Foued Kadir, 22. Francisco Portillo, 8. Charly Musonda, 9. Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Coach: Juan Merino

*****

FC Barcelona (4-3-3): 13. Claudio Bravo, | 6. Dani Alves, 3. Gerard Pique, 14. Javier Mascherano, 18. Jordi Alba | 5. Sergio Busquets, 4. Ivan Rakitić, 8. Andrés Iniesta | 10. Lionel Messi, 9. Luis Suárez, 11. Neymar

Substitutes: 1. Marc-André ter Stegen, 22. Aleix Vidal, 15. Marc Bartra, 20. Sergi Roberto, 7. Arda Turan, 12. Rafinha Alcantara 17. Munir El Haddadi

Coach: Luis Enrique



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Real Bétis vs Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: Start time, TV listings, live stream

Heaven or hell is just 270 minutes away.

Barcelona's season could be filled with glory and trophies or end in disaster in just three games. The Catalan giants have lost a 10-point advantage at the top of La Liga, and they have one obligation: to win all of the remaining matches. Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid are involved in their difficult Champions League semifinals, but they will not let Barça go away again.

The pressure and responsibility is to win the league. It's a mission to accomplish after such incredible months of domination and a 39-game unbeaten streak, and is the only acceptable end to what looked like a historic campaign. But the form dropped rapidly, the Champions League went away painfully and La Liga is still wide open. After two impressive wins by a combined score of 14-0 in the last couple of games, the Blaugrana look favorites to take the domestic trophy again, but they have to confirm that status by winning.

The first 90 minutes of the trio of finals is against Real Bétis on the road. The opponents are in the middle of the table with absolutely nothing to fight for, but are a historically difficult matchup for Barça in their stadium. But Luis Suárez is in divine form, Lionel Messi is back to doing his thing and Neymar is slowly coming back as well.

So, the 'MSN' trio will play, Barça needs to win and the game promises to be difficult with the stars needing to come up big. Yes, this is must-watch television. Do not miss it.

Match Info

Date/Time: Saturday, April 30, 2016, 8:30pm local time, 7:30pm BST (UK), 2:30pm ET, 11:30am PT, 12:00am IST (India, next day)

Venue: Benito Villamarín Stadium, Seville, Spain

Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz

How to Watch

TVbeIN SPORTS (US & Canada), beIN SPORTS En Español (US & Canada - Spanish), Sky Sports 2 (UK), Sony ESPN (India), Movistar TV Fútbol, Canal+ Partidazo, Abono Fútbol (Spain), more

Online: beIN SPORTS CONNECT (US & Canada), FuboTV (US), Sky GO (UK), more

(Listings via LiveSoccerTV)

Note: you might have noticed FuboTV among the online stream listings. This is a great site that provides legal, high-quality live streaming service of football channels, including beIN SPORTS. If you can't find that channel in your cable provider or you're not near your TV to watch Barcelona games, you can still do it in HD with FuboTV for just $9.99 per month! Don't wait, click here now to sign up!



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Barcelona announce squad for La Liga match against Real Bétis

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana have a difficult trip to Seville to face Real Bétis this Saturday, and coach Luis Enrique has picked his squad for the game.

It's a list with no surprises from the manager, who is expected to name his best starting eleven. But there's one pleasant surprise: full-back Aleix Vidal returns to the list after almost a month out of action because of personal issues. He seems to have regained the trust from the coaching staff and is now back in the squad, although he's not likely to start. Vidal's return means Douglas Pereira is out of the list again per coach's decision, along with Jordi Masip, Adriano Correia and Thomas Vermaelen. Jérémy Mathieu and Sandro Ramírez are injured and will not feature as well.

These are the eighteen men called up by Enrique for Saturday:

Goalkeepers: 1. Marc-André ter Stegen, 13. Claudio Bravo

Defenders: 3. Gerard Piqué, 6. Dani Alves, 14. Javier Mascherano, 15. Marc Bartra, 18. Jordi Alba, 22. Aleix Vidal

Midfielders: 4. Ivan Rakitic, 5. Sergio Busquets, 7. Arda Turan, 8. Andrés Iniesta, 12. Rafinha Alcântara, 20. Sergi Roberto

Forwards: 9. Luis Suárez, 10. Lionel Messi, 11. Neymar Jr., 17. Munir El-Haddadi

Projected Starting Lineup (4-3-3):

Bravo; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez, Neymar

The match starts at 20:30 CET, and you can join us to follow and comment all the action.

VISCA EL BARÇA!



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Real Bétis vs Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: Predict the Score

Luis Suárez is not human.

Barcelona's rebirth this season after a terrible three-week stretch has a lot to do with the sensational moment the Uruguayan is enjoying. He scored four times in two consecutive league matches, the first player in La Liga history to achieve such mark. He was directly involved in eleven of Barça's last fourteen goals in domestic competition, which is simply unfathomable.

Barça is close to its best again, and the league trophy is once again a real possibility. The leaders will rest while their title opponents are in the middle of the Champions League semifinals, and will play the last three league matches of the season in great physical condition.

More than just their fitness, the Catalans have their confidence back, and are ready to win every game and secure the title. The first of three finals is a historically tough trip to Seville to face Real Bétis, and the in-form Luis Suárez is ready to do some damage again.

Will Luisito have a good night? Will Barça win? Use the comment section below to predict the final score of tonight's match. Good luck!



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FC Barcelona News: 30 April 2016; 18 Make Real Betis Trip, Manel Vich, Stadium Announcer, Passes Away

FC Barcelona mourns loss of Manel Vich, the voice of the Camp Nou | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona is in mourning following the death of Manel Vich, the stadium announcer at the Camp Nou for almost sixty years. Because of his delicate health, the 78-year-old was unable to perform his regular duties for the last game at the Camp Nou, against Sporting, and on Friday 29 April, he sadly passed away.

Eighteen man squad for Benito Villamarín visit | FC Barcelona
Luis Enrique announced his 18-man squad for the match which is as follows: Ter Stegen, Bravo, Piqué, I. Rakitic, Sergio, Dani Alves, Arda, A. Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Neymar Jr, Rafinha, Mascherano, Bartra, Munir, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Aleix Vidal. The manager will be without the injured Vermaelen, Mathieu and Sandro while Masip, Douglas and Adriano did not make the cut.

Match preview: Real Betis v FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona are top of the league with just three games to go. But with Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid hot on their trail, they can’t afford any more setbacks. Next week, Espanyol are at the Camp Nou for the derby, and then they travel to Granada on the final day. But before any of that, there’s a tricky trip to Betis to deal with on Saturday night at 8.30pm CET.

FC Barcelona hold final training session ahead of Saturday's match at Real Betis | FC Barcelona
On Friday morning at the Ciutat Esportiva, FC Barcelona made their final preparations for their third-to-last La Liga game of the season, a clash that will see them square off with Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín Stadium in Seville, Spain, on Saturday night at 8.30pm CET. (See our global guide to worldwide kick-off times and TV listings.)

Luis Enrique buoyant in the face of three must-win games | FC Barcelona
The Catalans and the Colchoneros are now dead even on points, with Barça holding an all too tenuous tie-breaking edge based on superior head-to-head goal differential, a vital statistical lifeline stemming from 2–1 wins over Atlético this season, both at the Calderón, back in early September, and at Camp Nou, back in late January.

Betis a similar bet, both away and at home | FC Barcelona
With 41 points — nine above the relegation zone —and just three league games to play, Betis will be back in the First Division one year after having returned to the top flight. Betis host Barça on Saturday at 8.30pm CET in a Match Day 36 duel with the Catalans competing for the title with Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. Betis, however, have virtually nothing to play for, thanks in large part to consistent play both at home, and on the road.

Suarez Mk II: Denis can take burden off MSN at Barca in 2016-17 - Goal.com
If one thing is clear from the recent slump at Barcelona, it is that they need another forward. As Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez returned tired from the international break in late March, everything went wrong. But there is a solution for next season - and his name is Denis Suarez.

Luis Suarez headlines Uruguay's Copa America squad - Goal.com
Suarez will take centre stage for the 15-time Copa champions in the United States - starting June 3 - having made his return to competitive international football during World Cup qualifying in March. The 29-year-old has 53 goals in all competitions for Barcelona this season, while he scored in his competitive international return against Brazil last month.

Barcelona news: Neymar buys new jet for $9.1 million - Goal.com
Barcelona forward Neymar spent $9.1 million (£6.2 million) on a new jet last year, according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo, meaning that his goalscoring statistics are not the only thing taking off! A document shows that the Brazil international purchased the Cessna 680 aircraft in August 2015 through his company Neymar Sport and Marketing.



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La Liga News: 30 April 2016; Sporting Gijon Move Out of Relegation Zone, Michael Krohn-Dehli Breaks Knee

Why are La Liga teams dominating Champions League and Europa League - ESPN FC
The half-time scores are in and Spain's in the lead again. Two home wins, two away draws, no defeats. Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Sevilla, Manchester City 0-0 Real Madrid, Villarreal 1-0 Liverpool, Atlético Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich: Spain 4, everybody else 0?

Ronaldo out again for Real Madrid clash at Real Socieded - Eurosport
Cristiano Ronaldo is once again out of action for Real Madrid as they prepare to play Real Sociedad this weekend. Karim Benzema is also injured, having limped off earlier this week in the match against Manchester City - a match Ronaldo had missed. But manager Zinedine Zidane said that Gareth Bale should be fit to play the Liga clash.

Ronaldo still working out despite injury problems - Goal.com
Cristiano Ronaldo may be currently sidelined with a hamstring complaint but the Portuguese is certainly not taking things easy during his time off. The Real Madrid star was forced to miss his side's 0-0 draw with Manchester City in midweek in the Champions League and has been ruled out of los Blancos' clash with Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Real Madrid-Ajax charity game thrills Edwin van der Sar - ESPN FC
The Corazon Classic Match 2016 between a team of Real Madrid Legends and Ajax Legends takes place on Sunday, June 5, at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu -- and will also serve as a tribute to recently deceased Netherlands and Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff.

'Isco and James are important' - but Zidane doesn't trust them when it matters most - Goal.com
Rafe Benitez left both players on the bench in his final match, a 2-2 draw at Valencia in early January, and the two were expected to feature much more prominently when Zinedine Zidane took over. Several months down the line, however, and the Frenchman seems to have come to the same conclusion as his predecessor.

Atletico: Simeone confident Saul will stay - Goal.com
Saul Niguez's stock may have risen further after his stunning solo goal to give Atletico Madrid victory over Bayern Munich in midweek, but Diego Simeone is confident of keeping him at Vicente Calderon. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a productive season, scoring nine times in all competitions as they challenge for La Liga and Champions League glory.

Atletico Madrid call Branca? | Football Italia
There are reports ex-Inter director Marco Branca could be working for Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid next season. According to Tuttomercatoweb, the two former teammates will be reunited after playing together for Inter in 1997-98. The Italian would be part of Simeone’s staff in Madrid, working on transfers.

Sevilla's Michael Krohn-Dehli out at least seven months with broken knee - ESPN FC
Sevilla midfielder Michael Krohn-Dehli will be sidelined for at least seven months after undergoing surgery on a broken left knee. The Denmark midfielder suffered the gruesome injury on Thursday during the 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League semifinals.

Sporting Gijón 2-0 Eibar - ESPN FC
Jony Rodriguez scored one and set up a second as Sporting Gijon climbed out of the Primera Division's relegation zone with a vital 2-0 win over Eibar. The Rojiblancos moved above Granada and ahead of Rayo Vallecano on goal difference, with Jony the central figure.



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What will happen with Barcelona's loanees next season?

Barcelona is no Chelsea when it comes to loans, but there are those who play for other clubs while still under contract with the Blaugrana. Barça's Loan Army is comprised of four players, and with the season coming to a close, we look at their contract situations and Barça's plans for them in the summer.

Alen Halilovic (Sporting Gijón)

The Croatian wonderkid is certainly the most exciting of Barça's loanees. The 19-year-old made his Camp Nou debut when he faced Barça with Gijón last week, and he is about to finish a very productive debut season in La Liga. He was loaned to Sporting with a request from the Catalans to give him a fair amount of minutes. but Halilovic went on to become a team star and a fan-favorite, showcasing his amazing talent and potential.

But coach Luis Enrique and other Barça higher-ups have indicated they want to see Alen play one more season in the league on a bigger Spanish club before joining his parent club for good. Teams like Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal have already made contact about bringing in the player either on a season-long loan or a transfer with a buy-back clause, and Halilovic looks set to be on one of those three teams next season.

Cristian Tello (FC Porto, Fiorentina)

Tello came through the academy during Pep Guardiola's days and had some good moments as a backup attacker, but was unable to establish himself under the multiple coaches who took over after Guardiola's departure. He wasn't part of Luis Enrique's plans and was sent on a two-season loan to FC Porto. He had an impressive first season, but struggled to earn playing time in the current campaign, and had his loan terminated by the Portuguese club.

Barça then agreed a deal with Serie A's Fiorentina, a place where Tello found a home. The 24-year-old is an important player off the bench for the Viola, and could even become a starter next season if starting strikers Ilicic and Kalinic are indeed leaving the club as the latest rumors suggest. Tello has an €8 million release clause on his current contract, and Fiorentina is willing to pay that fee to sign the forward on a permanent deal.

Alex Song (West Ham)

PRAISE THE LORD!!! After a successful first season on loan at West Ham United, the midfielder went back to the Hammers once again on loan, but unlike his debut campaign, he was not able to make any meaningful contribution under new coach Slaven Bilic, who has already told the Cameroon international he is not part of the plans for next season.

Song still has one year left on his Barça contract (somehow) and will definitely not return to Catalonia for the final 365 days of his deal. There is a small possibility his contract will be terminated, but Premier League clubs like Watford and Crystal Palace are interested in signing Song on a permanent deal, and he could stay in England after all.

Martín Montoya (Inter Milan, Real Bétis)

One of the hottest prospects coming out of La Masia had a tough time in the first team, struggling to become a viable option to Dani Alves, and after three seasons as a backup, he was sent away on loan this season. He was supposed to run out his Barça contract at Inter Milan, but failed to impress coach Roberto Mancini and was sent back to the Catalan club, who immediately found him a new team, Real Bétis. And for the first time, Montoya has found a home. He has had a constant run of games, and could even face Barça this Saturday. Bétis have already contacted Barça about extending the loan deal for another campaign, and that should happen with no issues.



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Rumor Roundup (April 30, 2016): Alen Halilovic's future, Toni Kroos leaving Real Madrid, Juventus wants Bayern star, more!

Talking about rumors surrounding football is a fun activity for many fans, maybe only second to actually watching football. In this new daily column, we'll take a look at the latest rumors floating around the rumor mill.

Key reminder: Rumors are just that -- rumors. None of this has been confirmed as legitimate news or fact, it's just circulating around the rumor mill. Remember, take it all with a grain of salt. And please don't yell at us. We're just reporting.

Rumors for the Day:

  • Barcelona loanee Alen Halilovic is once again set to leave on either a loan or a transfer with Barça holding a buy-back clause. The biggest suitors in La Liga are Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal.
  • Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos could be on his way out of Spain, with Manchester United set to make strong bids for the World Cup winner this summer.
  • With Mats Hummels' move to Bayern Munich now imminent, backup center-back Mehdi Benatia is already looking to leave the German club this summer for more minutes elsewhere. Serie A champions Juventus, who are looking for a defender, are reportedly interested in signing the 29-year-old.
  • In other La Liga news, Atlético Madrid are keen on signing Sassuolo full-back Sime Vrsaljko, a breakout Serie A star this season. The Croatian international would serve as Juanfran's backup in the Colchonero squad.
  • Shkodran Mustafi, one of La Liga's best defenders, could be moving away from Valencia this summer, as Liverpool officials have already met with the German's agents to negotiate a transfer for next season.
If you have heard of any rumors that you'd like to add, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Just remember they are only rumors and not facts, so please take them as such. Have fun!


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الجمعة، 29 أبريل 2016

Desperate Cristiano Ronaldo reaches out to Barcelona to heal injury

Cristiano Ronaldo is running out of time as he tries to return from injury and face Manchester City next Tuesday. And he has done something you won't believe to recover.

The Real Madrid superstar missed the last two matches, including the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, because of a hamstring injury suffered in the final minutes of a La Liga game two weeks ago. He was expected to face the Citizens, but wasn't fit enough even for the bench.

Latest reports indicate that there is very little evolution on his recovery, and he is doubtful for the decisive encounter at Santiago Bernabéu. Ronaldo is apparently unhappy with Madrid's medical team's effort, and is consulting different people to get a second opinion and maybe even figure out a way to be healed in time to face City.

In fact, the desperation is so big that Ronaldo has done the unbelievable. I'll let this Diario Sport report take it from here:

Cristiano Ronaldo is desperate. So much so, in fact, that the Real Madrid forward has given the thumbs up for one of the people treating his injury to get in touch with FC Barcelona for a second opinion. Ronaldo is aware of the professionalism with which the Blaugrana medical services work with and approved the consultation from the very first moment it was suggested.

However, the situation can't get much worse, as it is already clear that Ronaldo does not have any faith in the medical services at Real Madrid. After he was mis-diagnosed after the game against Villarreal, things have gone from bad to worse for the Portuguese. First of all, he suffered an injury relapse during training ahead of the Manchester City game. He has since had a scan in Manchester, where he used to play for Manchester United, and then another in Madrid, at the Ruber Hospital. The degree of absurdity reached new levels when he left the car park at the Ruber Clinic hiding in the trunk of his car - evidently as it was behind Real Madrid's back.

If this has in fact happened, it's an incredible story. Just for fun, Blaugranes: which treatment would you recommend to Ronaldo if you were a Barça doctor?



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Barcelona defender rejects China transfer as Juventus submit formal bid

Javier Mascherano is enjoying perhaps his best season in a Barcelona shirt yet. The Argentinean is an integral piece of Luis Enrique's scheme, and only the 'MSN' trio has more minutes than The Sheriff under the Asturian manager.

Mascherano's ability to become a truly world-class central defender when he transitioned from a midfield role after arriving at the Catalan club is truly remarkable, and Javier is right there among the very best center-backs on the planet, without a doubt. Interestingly enough, the 31-year-old has never been truly pursued by other teams in the transfer market. Until now.

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona and Mascherano have just turned down a huge €50 million transfer offer from a Chinese Super League club this week, with the player clearly stating he wants to stay in Europe and does not plan a big-money move to a lower league in the peak of his career.

That doesn't mean Masche is guaranteed to stay at Barça. More reports claim that Serie A champions Juventus have submitted a formal bid to the Catalan club last week, and that is one offer that all parties are considering, sources say.

There are only three choices for Mascherano's future: staying at Barça, coming back to River Plate in Argentina or a move to Italy. He does not want a return to England despite interest from Premier League clubs, but Juventus might be a club he would be tempted to join.

Mascherano has two years left in his Barça contract with a player option for an extra year, but there are no plans to sign an extension in the near future. Juve's offer is a big one, and the Catalan club wouldn't mind selling if that's what the player wants. Luis Enrique obviously is against one of his biggest assets leaving, and Javier seems adamant that he wants to be a Blaugrana next season.

But with Barcelona's public chase of defenders reaching a happy ending with the imminent signing of Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos, we never know if Mascherano would feel uncertain about his minutes and look to play for the Italian powerhouse.

As of now, Masche is going nowhere, but Juventus is officially interested.



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Real Bétis vs Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: Team News, Match Preview

A look ahead to Barcelona's Saturday evening clash with Real Betis

FC Barcelona will be looking to move one step closer to retaining their La Liga title tomorrow when they travel to Andalusia to take on Real Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarin. Of the three games remaining on our schedule, many would consider tomorrow evening’s showdown with Los Verdiblancos to be the most difficult – Betis after all are the highest ranked of our three remaining foes and boast a relatively respectable home record.

However, be that as it may, Betis also have the least to play for. They are eight points clear of the relegation zone in 13th place and based on the remaining fixtures to be played, that’s enough to keep them safe from the drop. Given how congested it is at mid-table, it is true that Betis could harbour quite realistic hopes of finishing as high as eighth – but their recent performances have been laboured and inconsistent.

Our hosts for tomorrow’s match continue to boast the most lethargic offense in La Liga; with just 31 goals to their name through 35 matches, there is not a single club that has scored fewer goals this season, while Luis Suarez alone has bagged 34. While I understand that Betis can be quite good at home, it seems unlikely that they will have the firepower or defensive discipline to stop a Barcelona team that has scored 14 goals in its last two matches.

So yes, while there may be a chance that the Blaugrana could be as low as third in the standings by the time they kick off with both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in action in Saturday’s afternoon schedule, I wouldn’t bank on them ending the Jornada that low. Who knows, this might even be the week that we pull away from the chasing pack once again.

TEAM NEWS

BARCELONA

Luis Enrique primarily made the headlines this afternoon for his comments regarding Francesco Totti, rather than for what he said about tomorrow’s match against Betis. For Lucho, it was business as usual in front of the press; he answered their questions in an honest fashion – reminding them that he never declared the title race to be over before, but that he was looking forward to the final three games and seeing what his side can produce now that the margin for error is non-existent.

Certainly, we will have the tools to produce results with very few injury concerns to note ahead of the trip to Seville. Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen are both sidelined through injury, and will probably miss the remainder of the La Liga campaign at least, but leaving that aside, there are no real injuries to speak of to any regular members of the first team.

And disappointed though we may be with watching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals on the television like everyone else, there’s a sense that our elimination might have some positive impacts after all. The squad were given two days off training at the start of the week for instance, and we’ve seen what this team is capable of producing when they’re fit and firing – players like Neymar especially look set to benefit immensely from a short break in action.

It also means that Enrique is largely free to select his strongest team, or perhaps more pertinently, make the selections he feels are required to contend with an opponent like Real Betis.

Claudio Bravo will start in goal looking to keep his third consecutive clean sheet after pitching shut-outs against Sporting Gijon and Deportivo La Coruna, where he was ably assisted by strong performances from all the Barcelona defenders. Dani Alves and Sergi Roberto both performed effectively in sharing the right-back berth, while Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano and Marc Bartra have all been outstanding for one reason or another. Heck, even Jordi Alba has looked okay in the past couple of games.

I figure that we’ll see a return for Alves tomorrow, with Piqué, Mascherano and Alba completing the backline. If they can figure out how to stop Ruben Castro between them, I like their chances at keeping another clean sheet.

In midfield, the triumvirate of Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitić and Andrés Iniesta is likely to fend off competition from the likes of Arda Turan and Rafinha Alcântara to get the start tomorrow, and we will need them to be at their best if we are to secure a result. Real Betis like to play quite a scrappy brand of football, and of course, if we allow them to dictate their style, then we aren’t going to get the best out of our frontline.

Speaking of our attack, it’s been Luis Suarez who has been capturing our attentions the most in the past couple of games; while he struggled in that three game losing streak, he’s bounced back in quite emphatic fashion with eight goals in his past two appearances. As a result he’s leapfrogged the injured Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Pichichi and just generally, he’s managed to steal the headlines away from the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi.

Will the Uruguayan continue his hot streak tomorrow, or will Betis manage to frustrate the MSN trident?

REAL BETIS

Predictably, Real Betis didn’t manage to secure a result on their trip to the Ramon Sánchez Pizjuan last weekend; Sevilla boast a home record as impressive as any in La Liga this season and comfortably cruised to a 2-0 win in the Seville derby. In spite of this, Juan Merino makes just one changes to the squad that slumped to defeat that night, as Algerian midfielder Foued Kadir replaces the young Fabian Ruiz, who came on as a late substitute in the loss.

All the focus therefore will remain on their key players to deliver; Joaquin can be dangerous, Antonio Adan will be motivated to put in a good performance for his previous employer, Real Madrid, while we all know about Ruben Castro. The veteran striker has scored six goals in 11 appearances against the Blaugrana, even if he is waiting for his first win against the Catalans.

FORM GUIDE

Barcelona: DLLLWW

Real Betis: LLWDWL

LAST MEETING

FC Barcelona 4-0 Real Betis – 30th December 2015 – La Liga

The Catalans returned from their FIFA Club World Cup triumph to dismantle Betis as a brace from Luis Suarez sealed an emphatic win after first half goals from Lionel Messi and Heiko Westermann (OG).

LIKELY LINE-UPS

Barcelona (4-3-3): Bravo; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitić, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar

Betis (4-2-3-1): Adan; Bruno, Westermann, Pezzella, Montoya;  Petros, N’Diaye; Cejudo, Joaquin, Ceballos; Castro

MATCH PREDICTION

The first half will be a struggle, but quality shines through in the end. 3-1 Barça.



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Real Bétis vs Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: Projected Lineups

Barcelona's latest stop in the La Liga title chase is at the Benito Villamarín Stadium for a difficult away match against mid-table side Real Bétis; Barça will play after both Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, and if both title challengers win, the Catalans will begin the game in third place with the pressure to get a victory and return to the top.

After three very good performances in a row and two straight wins with a combined score of 14-0, coach Luis Enrique is once again satisfied with his squad. Injuries and a bad stretch in the beginning of April forced Enrique to suspend his rotation system and field the Gala XI with very few alterations in basically every match.

The interesting thing here is, now that the form is back to normal, there is no need to change the lineup, especially after two days off and a full week in between matches. The entire squad has finally gotten a chance to recover, and the best eleven players in the group are certainly fit and healthy to play the final three games of the season.

There is no need to rotate the starting group, especially with the obligation to win every match. But the regained squad depth combined with the improvement allows the coach to make substitutions and maintain the level. Sergi Roberto, Arda Turan, Rafinha Alcântara and others deserve playing time, just not as starters since they're not needed as starters right now.

So expect the Liga Gala, with Claudio Bravo in goal and the other ten you already know:

Bravo

Alves - Piqué - Mascherano - Alba

Rakitic - Busquets - Iniesta

Messi - Suárez - Neymar

Agree with the lineup, Blaugranes? Would you make any changes?



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FC Barcelona News: 29 April 2016; Gerard Pique Talks La Liga, Javier Mascherano Turns Down China Deal

Barcelona and Luis Enrique must beware Real Betis in La Liga title race - ESPN FC
While Real and Atletico Madrid require results elsewhere to go in their favour, the Catalans remain the only title challenger that depends solely on its own results, and when combined with the extra rest they have thanks to a lack of European football, Luis Enrique's side must be considered favourites to come out first from the final sprint, starting with Real Betis on Saturday.

Training sessions continue at Ciutat Esportiva | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona continued preparations for yet another big league match coming up against Betis on the weekend with a training session on Thursday morning. Luis Enrique called up Kaptoum, Borja López and Juan Cámara from Barça B, plus Rafa Mujica from the U19s to train with the first team.

Pique: Losing La Liga would be a failure - Goal.com
Gerard Pique admitted that Barcelona's season would be a failure if they did the seemingly impossible and lost their La Liga title. Pique has seen his team surrender a comfortable lead at the top of the La Liga table, following a 2-1 loss in the El Clasico against Real Madrid early in April.

Luis Suárez shows his caring side in support of PKU sufferers | FC Barcelona
Luis Suárez is man who cares and last weekend we witnessed a further example of that. The Uruguayan responded to a request from Candela, a child with phenylketonuria (PKU), who asked him at the recent presentation of the charity book ‘Relats Solidaris’ to show a shirt in support of sufferers of the condition after he scored a goal.

Javier Mascherano turns down £39m deal in Chinese Super League to stay at Barcelona | Daily Mail Online
Mundo Deportivo have reported that the Argentinian midfielder, who arrived in Catalonia from Liverpool in 2010, has been tabled a £39million deal to make the switch to the Chinese Super League. However, Mascherano turned down the offer and will continue to add to the 243 appearances he has made for the Catalan club.

Confident Claudio Bravo enjoying the moment | FC Barcelona
The Barça goalkeeper and Chile captain adds that "I try to live football normally. I treat it as something that satisfies me, that I enjoy, rather than something that creates tension or additional pressure. When we started playing as kids, we did it for fun. And I try to keep having fun today."

Chelsea target Turan planning Barcelona stay
According to the Spanish outlet Marca, Turan has vowed to remain a Barca player for at least one more term. The Turkish international move to Barcelona from Atletico Madrid at the start of the season €37 million Turan was unable to play first team football for the first six months of the season due to the transfer ban imposed on Barcelona.



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La Liga News: 29 April 2016; Villarreal Edge Liverpool, Sevilla Fight Back to Earn Away Draw

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema set to miss Real Sociedad clash - ESPN FC
Benzema was substituted in the Champions League semifinal draw against Manchester City on Tuesday with a hip problem, but Spanish media reports say the injury was not a recurrence of the muscle injury that forced him out of the 3-2 La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano the previous weekend as was initially feared.

Can Real Madrid keep pace in La Liga title race without Ronaldo and Benzema? - ESPN FC
To borrow half a line from the Bard, when sorrows come they come not as single spies but in threes of hamstring twangs and a knock to the hip. At precisely the wrong moment for Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Jese are all in the treatment room with various niggles and all three forwards are unlikely to feature in the La Liga match on Saturday against Real Sociedad at Anoeta.

Atletico Madrid on brink of glory... and also of another historic disaster - Eurosport
There are two historical precedents for next week’s Champions League second leg between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. One is that just as in 1974 the Germans snatch victory from the jaws of defeat; the other is that Pep Guardiola’s team go chasing the game as they did against Real Madrid two years ago and are marmalised on the counter attack in the process.

Atletico Madrid fate hinges on next two matches - Fernando Torres - ESPN FC
Atletico Madrid scored a narrow 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday and now face a similarly tight game for next Tuesday's second leg at Allianz Arena in Munich.

RFEF dismisses Diego Simeone's appeal against three-match ban - ESPN FC
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is set to serve this three-match touchline ban after the Spanish football association dismissed his appeal on Thursday. Simeone was sent to the stands during Saturday's 1-0 victory over Malaga after a second ball was thrown onto the field.

Villarreal strike late to thwart Liverpool - UEFA.com
Substitute Adrián López won it at the death for Villarreal, turning in Denis Suárez's selfless cross to end Liverpool's unbeaten run in this season's UEFA Europa League. Deep into added time, Bruno Soriano fed Suárez who sped past the exposed Kolo Touré and, as the goal opened up, squared for López to pass into the net.

Spot-on Sevilla fight back for Shakhtar draw - UEFA.com
Kevin Gameiro blasted in a penalty eight minutes from time as Sevilla claimed a 2-2 draw away to Shakhtar and edged closer to another UEFA Europa League final. The Ukrainian outfit were set to take a lead to Spain next week after goals from Marlos and Taras Stepanenko turned the game on its head following Vitolo's early strike. Sevilla, though, always seem to do just enough. Gameiro passed up two fine chances to equalise but made no mistake when Facundo Ferreyra brought down Vitolo.

Krohn-Dehli suffers ‘horrific’ injury | Football Espana
Krohn-Dehli appeared as a 59th-minute substitute during Sevilla’s 2-2 draw at Shakhtar in the Europa League semi-finals but was stretchered off just 13 minutes later after a clash with Facundo Ferreyra resulted in his left knee buckling and AS describing the incident in the aforementioned light.

Valencia step up Borja, Halilovic chase | Football Espana
Valencia are stepping up interest in Barcelona’s Alen Halilovic and Atletico Madrid striker Borja Baston, on loan at Eibar. AS reports sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch has been given the go-ahead by owner Peter Lim to open talks with the respective parties, Borja having been prolific while on loan at Ipurua this season and Halilovic having impressed at Sporting Gijon.



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Rumor Roundup (April 29, 2016): Barcelona targeting Ligue 1 strikers, Jose Mourinho's new club, Riyad Mahrez future, more!

Talking about rumors surrounding football is a fun activity for many fans, maybe only second to actually watching football. In this new daily column, we'll take a look at the latest rumors floating around the rumor mill.

Key reminder: Rumors are just that -- rumors. None of this has been confirmed as legitimate news or fact, it's just circulating around the rumor mill. Remember, take it all with a grain of salt. And please don't yell at us. We're just reporting.

Rumors for the Day:

  • Barcelona continue to search for a backup to the 'MSN' trio, and the Catalans have been linked with two strikers from the French league: France international Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) and Belgian prospect Michy Batshuayi (Marseille). Tottenham and Liverpool from the Premier League are also interested in both players.
  • Jose Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes was seen in Manchester this week, most likely to close a deal with Man United for his client, and the controversial Portuguese manager will indeed coach the Red Devils next season.
  • Riyad Mahrez is set to leave Leicester City this summer, and one club in particular is very interested in the best player in the Premier League: Arsenal have reportedly made the Algerian their transfer priority, and plan to outbid the competition to secure the midfielder's signing..
  • Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be heading to the Premier League next season, and now a few clubs are interested in his signing: London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal are prepared to battle for the midfielder in the summer.
  • Another Dortmund player, American rising star Christian Pulisic, is already on the radar of some European giants: Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool are all interested in signing the Bundesliga sensation.
If you have heard of any rumors that you'd like to add, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Just remember they are only rumors and not facts, so please take them as such. Have fun!


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الخميس، 28 أبريل 2016

Barcelona target Mats Hummels makes formal request to join Bayern Munich

Barcelona is set to miss out on one of their transfer targets.

Borussia Dortmund star defender Mats Hummels has formally handed out a transfer request to his current club, specifically asking to be sold to Bayern Munich in the summer. The 27-year-old was one of the hottest properties in the market next season, with a number of clubs, including Barça, set to make bids for the German international.

Hummels came through the Bayern academy before joining Die Borussien, and is now all but set to come back to the Bavarians.

"Defender Mats Hummels has informed the club that he wishes to leave in the summer and join domestic league rivals Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund’s business directors have decided that the feasibility of such a transfer will depend on Bayern Munich paying Borussia Dortmund an appropriate fee for a player of his incredibly high standard. At time of going to press, Bayern Munich had made no offer.

As a cautionary measure, it has been made publicly known that no release clause was negotiated with Mats Hummels -- as with all other players currently at Borussia Dortmund -- as part of his contract, and that the player is contractually beholden to the club until 30 June 2017."

Source: BVB.de

Now picture this: when the transfer is confirmed, new Bayern manager Carlo Ancelotti, one of the best defensive tacticians in the world, will arrive at the Bavarian club and be in charge of a back four comprised of Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and David Alaba. Yeah, that's good.

So you can cross Hummels off the list of Barça's new signings.



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Real Bétis vs Barcelona, La Liga Team News: Neymar and Messi fully fit, Vermaelen and Vidal to return?

Barcelona's road to the La Liga trophy stops in Seville on Saturday, when the Blaugrana face Real Bétis with the added pressure of playing after their title challengers and already knowing which result will keep the Catalans at the top.

Visiting Bétis is never easy or pleasant, and thankfully for coach Luis Enrique, he has a very healthy squad. Only Jérémy Mathieu and Sandro Ramírez are officially out because of injury, but the Frenchman is already back in training and could return to the pitch next week.

Thomas Vermaelen is yet to be cleared from a calf injury, but reports from Catalonia claim the Belgian defender is fit and should get the medical green light soon, maybe even in time to be ready for Bétis. Another possible addition to the squad list is full-back Aleix Vidal, who has struggled to even be part of the matchday squad list lately, but hopes to regain his coach's trust and make a comeback.

Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. benefited from a whole week of rest and training to fully recover from their physical issues. Messi had a muscle problem, while his Brazilian friend was struggling with ankle knocks. They're now 100% fit, training well with their teammates, and will surely start this Saturday.

So apart from the two injured backups, Enrique's team is at full strength. Good news.



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Real Bétis vs Barcelona, 2016 La Liga: All Updates

Barcelona's road to the La Liga trophy stops in Seville on Saturday, when the Blaugrana face Real Bétis with the added pressure of playing after their title challengers and already knowing which result will keep the Catalans at the top.

Visiting Bétis is never easy or pleasant, and thankfully for coach Luis Enrique, he has a very healthy squad. Only Jérémy Mathieu and Sandro Ramírez are officially out because of injury, but the Frenchman is already back in training and could return to the pitch next week.

Thomas Vermaelen is yet to be cleared from a calf injury, but reports from Catalonia claim the Belgian defender is fit and should get the medical green light soon, maybe even in time to be ready for Bétis. Another possible addition to the squad list is full-back Aleix Vidal, who has struggled to even be part of the matchday squad list lately, but hopes to regain his coach's trust and make a comeback.

Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. benefited from a whole week of rest and training to fully recover from their physical issues. Messi had a muscle problem, while his Brazilian friend was struggling with ankle knocks. They're now 100% fit, training well with their teammates, and will surely start this Saturday.

So apart from the two injured backups, Enrique's team is at full strength. Good news.



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FC Barcelona News: 28 April 2016; Juliano Belletti Praises MSN, Preparations Continue for Real Betis Match

FC Barcelona return to training ahead of trip to Betis | FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona first team got back to work on Wednesday morning after two days of rest. In surprisingly chilly temperatures for this time of year, around 15º, all of the available players took to the training ground at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, where Luis Enrique also called on the services of three members of the Barça B squad: Borja López, Rafa Mujica and Juan Cámara.

When and where to watch Betis v FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona visit the Benito Villamarín on Saturday to take on Real Betis, looking to tick another win off the list with the season drawing to a close.We also have live commentary in English here on Radio Barça - just follow the link on the homepage a few minutes before the game starts. And all of our social networks will be providing regular updates of all the news as it happens.

Luis Enrique's hat-trick against Betis | FC Barcelona
Next up for Barça in La Liga is a trip to Betis, a side that Luis Enrique punished severely in his playing days with three goals on 19 January 1997, when the Catalans won 4-2 at the Benito Villamarín. In fact, Barça were 2-1 down at half-time. After the break, the current coach unleashed his full force with his only ever hat-trick for the team on the road, although he did score others in front of the home fans at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona have full squad for Real Betis clash - ESPN FC
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is set to have his full squad available for Saturday's La Liga game at Real Betis. Barca are currently top of the table, leading Atletico Madrid on head-to-head record and Real Madrid by one point, after recovering from a four-match winless run to secure big victories over Deportivo La Coruna and Sporting Gijon.

Barcelona's Messi, Suarez & Neymar 'best trio in history' - Belletti - ESPN FC
Ex-Barcelona defender Juliano Belletti has spoken of the strength of the relationship between the Blaugrana front three as they have helped each other through recent "bad moments". Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez were lauded through much of the season as they lead their side towards what had seemed a likely 'double treble' in retaining the La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey trophies.

Five more golden goals from the FC Barcelona academy | FC Barcelona
In this week’s collection of gems from the Barça academy, we start with Juan Cámara and his goal for Barça B in the 2-1 win away to the Valencia reserves. He’s followed by U10 player Mateo Sciancalepore and a terrific piece of football against Damm.



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La Liga News: 28 April 2016; Atletico Madrid Edge Bayern Munich, Diego Simeone Given Three Game Ban

Slick Atlético inflict more Spain pain on Bayern - UEFA.com
The home side tore up the pre-match predictions as they burst out of the blocks and took the lead on 11 minutes in majestic fashion. The intensity did not relent until the second half when Bayern were finally allowed to find their rhythm, yet David Alaba's shot off the underside of the bar was as close as they came and Fernando Torres so nearly made it 2-0 late on.

Diego Simeone given three-game touchline ban in La Liga | Sky Sports
The Atleti manager will be on the touchline when his side take on Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday night. But the Spanish Football Federation have confirmed he will have to watch the final three league games of the season from the stands with Atletico locked in a three-way battle for the title.

Cristiano Ronaldo a major doubt for Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Manchester City after suffering muscle tear - Goal.com
Cristiano Ronaldo could miss Real Madrid’s Champions League decider against Manchester City next week after tests confirmed that they forward has suffered a muscle tear, Goal understands. Before Tuesday's goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium, Ronaldo underwent an MRI scan which subsequently confirmed that he had suffered a tear in his hamstring.

Real Madrid news: Zidane does not like James, claims Valderrama - Goal.com
Former Colombia international Carlos Valderrama claims countryman James Rodriguez is not liked by Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. James has found game time hard to come by in 2015-16 after suffering a muscle injury early in the season and has started just one of Madrid's last five games.



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Barcelona's sporting director will attend Europa League semifinal to watch Villarreal, Liverpool transfer targets

The cool part about being a Barcelona sporting director is that you can watch great football and work at the same time.

Blaugrana official Robert Fernández will attend the UEFA Europa League semifinal first leg between Villarreal and Liverpool on Tuesday at  the El Madrigal Stadium, home of the Yellow Submarine. Robert will be there to watch what promises to be a fantastic match, for sure, but he's doing his job as well.

According to reports from Spain, Robert and some of his scouts will watch Villarreal youngsters Denis Suárez and Eric Bailly, as well as Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool's Brazilian playmaker. All three players are reportedly shortlisted as potential signings for the upcoming transfer window, and seeing them live in the same stadium is definitely a great opportunity for the Blaugrana director.

Another player linked with Barça present in this match is Villarreal striker Cédric Bakambu, who is also strongly rumored to be closing in on a deal with Atlético Madrid. Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp is also reportedly interested in Bakambu and Bailly, which means there will be plenty of scouting going on this Thursday.



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Rumor Roundup (April 28, 2016): PSG's insane transfer offer for Busquets, Ibrahimovic to Arsenal, Juventus plans, more!

Talking about rumors surrounding football is a fun activity for many fans, maybe only second to actually watching football. In this new daily column, we'll take a look at the latest rumors floating around the rumor mill.

Key reminder: Rumors are just that -- rumors. None of this has been confirmed as legitimate news or fact, it's just circulating around the rumor mill. Remember, take it all with a grain of salt. And please don't yell at us. We're just reporting.

Rumors for the Day:

  • Paris Saint-Germain are rumored to have made an insane €100 million transfer offer to sign Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. Neither the player or the club are interested in starting any talks.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is running out of contract and will leave PSG this summer, could be joining Arsenal, who finally plan to add a world-class striker for next season.
  • Juventus are planning a big signing for next season's Champions League run, and they appear to be targeting Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, one of the hottest players in the market.
  • Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be heading to the Premier League next season, as Chelsea new manager Antonio Conte is reportedly keen on bringing the Bundesliga star to the Blues this summer.
  • Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed his interest in Olympique Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, and the Belgian prospect is already being discussed as a new Spurs player in French media.
If you have heard of any rumors that you'd like to add, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Just remember they are only rumors and not facts, so please take them as such. Have fun!


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الأربعاء، 27 أبريل 2016

Report: Barcelona plan to exercise transfer priority on Atlético Madrid midfielder

Atlético Madrid midfielder Saúl Ñíguez did THIS to win the first leg of the Champions League semifinal on Wednesday:

(via r/Soccer)

And that might get him a new team.

According to reports from Catalan media, the 21-year-old is on Barcelona's transfer list for the upcoming summer window. The Blaugrana have watched the Spaniard closely all season and scouts have been impressed by his quick development into a key member of Diego Simeone's scheme.

In fact, the reason Simeone let Arda Turan move to Barça last summer was to give Saúl more playing time and a better chance to grow. It clearly paid off, and that amazing goal could mean a place in the Champions League Final. But if Barça are interested in the player, do they have a real chance of signing him?

The answer is YES. Back in 2013, when the Catalans sold David Villa to the Colchoneros, the two teams agreed that Barça would have the priority on the signing of a certain youngster who was growing into a star in Atleti's academy. The youngster's name? Saúl Ñíguez. The Blaugrana can match any offer from other clubs for the player, and because of the good business relationship between Barça and Atleti, Saúl would go to Catalonia on a lower fee than the €45 million release clause on the midfielder's contract.

Saúl is already a great midfielder in Simeone's system. His defensive qualities obviously stand out, but he is good enough on the ball to easily fit into Barça's scheme. Unlike Arda Turan, Saúl is a natural central midfielder, and if his passing improves, he could become a reliable piece of the Blaugrana midfield.

And as the goal he scored in a Champions League semifinal against Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich clearly shows, the kid is not afraid of the big lights and is tremendously talented. Sounds like a Barça player to me.

What about you, Blaugranes?



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