La Liga
REAL MADRID DEMANDS GUARD OF HONOUR FROM BARCELONA
Like it was last season, the El Classico in the La Liga is coinciding with Real Madrid returning home with the Club World Cup. The World champions are on Saturday due to face their local rivals, FC Barcelona in what is often tagged the El Classico – the clash of the two biggest teams in the Spanish La Liga.
But will the world champions be honoured at home by their rivals? This is to be found out when they meet on Saturday with Real Madrid hoping to see their local rivals honouring them. Last season, when Real Madrid returned from Japan with the Club World Cup trophy, Barcelona decided not to mount a guard of honour.
In addition, Barcelona also made no such salute to recognise Real’s UEFA Super Cup win as they faced off in the Supernova de Span in August. Valencia produced a guard of honour for Madrid in January of 2015 with Real Betas doing likewise for Barcelona the season after.
But if the information gathered from a Spanish radio programme, Carrousel Depurative is anything to believe, Barcelona will not mount a guard of honour for their rivals.
According to popular Spanish publication, Marca, Madrid is hoping Saturday will be different from that of last season. Cristiano Ronaldo said, after wins over Al Jazira and Gremio: ‘I would like Barcelona to give us a guard of honour’.
La Liga
Barcelona seal 29th LaLiga title with 2-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid

Barcelona turned the Clasico into a coronation on Sunday, swatting aside Real Madrid 2-0 at a roaring Camp Nou to claim their 29th LaLiga title.
Hansi Flick’s side moved to an unassailable 91 points, 14 clear of second-placed Real with three games remaining.
The triumph capped a dominant campaign in which they lost only four league matches. Villarreal are third on 69 points.
Real arrived needing victory to keep their wafer-thin title hopes alive, but Marcus Rashford crushed those aspirations just nine minutes into the game.
Antonio Rudiger fouled Ferran Torres just outside the box, and Rashford bent a superb free kick into Thibaut Courtois’ top-left corner, giving Barcelona the early lead and sending the home crowd into raptures.
Nine minutes later, Barcelona doubled the lead. Fermin Lopez crossed into the area, and Dani Olmo produced a clever backheel that sent the ball into the path of Torres, who rifled a fierce strike into the top corner.
The win completed back-to-back league titles for Flick, who also delivered the LaLiga and Copa del Rey double in his first season last year.
Both sides were heavily depleted. Barcelona were without Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Jules Kounde from the starting lineup.
Real’s list of missing players was longer, with Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Arda Guler and Rodrygo all absent. Federico Valverde also missed out after suffering a head injury following a midweek changing-room fight with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, with both players fined 500,000 euros over the incident.
Kylian Mbappe did not travel because of a leg muscle injury, forcing manager Alvaro Arbeloa to start Vinicius Jr alongside academy striker Gonzalo, with Jude Bellingham and Brahim Diaz pushing forward in support.
Real threatened through Vinicius and Gonzalo before halftime, but Barcelona carried the greater menace. Courtois kept the visitors alive with fine saves from Torres and Rashford before the interval.
Barcelona continued to press after the break, Rashford repeatedly tormenting left back Fran Garcia down the right, while Courtois produced another sharp stop with his left foot to deny Torres from point-blank range in the 56th minute.
Bellingham had a goal ruled out for offside in the 62nd minute, and Joan Garcia was quick to deny Vinicius in a one-on-one, preventing the Brazilian from lifting the ball over him.
Real kept probing late on, but there was little bite in their attack, and Barcelona calmly saw out the win before the title celebrations began.
“This title is even more special because we won it at home against Real Madrid. Now it’s time to enjoy it with the fans,” Frenkie de Jong told Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus.
“Every title has to be celebrated in style. Especially LaLiga, which is a year-long competition. We’ve clearly been the best in Spain.”
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
La Liga
Two goalkeepers sent off for stoppage-time punching brawl in Spanish derby

Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada was sent off for punching Huesca captain Jorge Pulido in a fiery Spanish second division clash on Sunday that descended into a mass brawl, with Huesca keeper Dani Jimenez dismissed for punching Andrada.
Zaragoza’s Dani Tasende was also dismissed after a VAR review of the brawl.
With tensions simmering in a relegation scrap, Argentine Andrada lost his composure moments before the final whistle. Ignoring the run of play, he approached Pulido and struck him in the face with his right hand, sparking chaotic scenes eight minutes into stoppage time.
It was an ugly flashpoint in a match already short on finesse and heavy on nerves, and could carry serious consequences for the goalkeeper.
Huesca manager Jose Luis did not attempt to defend the scenes.
“It’s hard to explain; I think it’s a complete loss of control. I can put myself in their shoes, given what was at stake and all. But it’s unjustifiable. It’s just that I don’t know what to do or how to stop it; a brawl breaks out,” he said.
“It’s ugly; this was supposed to be a celebration of Aragonese football. I’d like people to talk about the match, even though it was ugly, with little play but a lot of hard work.”
Oscar Sielva’s goal secured a 1-0 win for Huesca, lifting them to 36 points in 19th place, while Zaragoza remain second-bottom on 35.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
La Liga
Laporta re-elected as Barcelona president

Joan Laporta has been re-elected as Barcelona president after winning over 68 percent of the vote and will begin his second consecutive term, and fourth overall, from July 1, the club said on Sunday.
The 63-year-old took office in March 2021 and stepped down last month in line with club statutes in order to seek re-election.
Laporta described the election as a “celebration of democracy and civic responsibility” and said the tasks ahead included finishing work on the Camp Nou and strengthening the men’s team.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
-
World Cup1 week agoWhat a Load of Rubbish! How Senegal Threw Away a World Cup Dream
-
World Cup4 days agoBizarre! FIFA makes U-turn to clear Balogun for US v Belgium World Cup clash following call from Trump
-
World Cup1 week agoCelebrating a Decade of World Cup Coverage: A Tribute to Kunle Solaja
-
World Cup3 days agoThe Handwritten Note That Changed My Life: Remembering MKO Abiola, The Patron Saint of Nigerian Sports
-
World Cup6 days agoPharaohs End World Cup Knockout Hoodoo, Beat Australia on Penalties to Reach Last 16
-
World Cup1 week agoCry for Africa, My Beloved Continent: How four decades of World Cup heartbreak continue to haunt African football
-
World Cup1 week agoMbappe Double Fires France into Last 16 as Sweden Swept Aside
-
World Cup4 days agoArticle 27: The Little-Known FIFA Rule Behind Balogun’s World Cup Reprieve