La Liga
BARCELONA COACH, VALVERDE, SLAMS OFFSHORE SPANISH SUPER CUP
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, whose team has been eliminated from the final of the Spanish Super Cup, has countered Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales’ assertion that the Spanish Super Cup “has taken a big step forward” after moving to Saudi Arabia.
Traditionalists have been fuming since the competition – which in the past pitted the La Liga champions against the Copa del Rey winners – was expanded to a four-team format this season.
And not only has the date been moved from its traditional August slot, the venue has been moved outside of Spain. Last year, the final was hosted in Tangier, Morocco.
Expressing his concerns with the three-year deal worth €40 million (S$60 million) annually to stage the Cup in Saudi Arabia, Valverde, whose team are in the Gulf kingdom along with Real Madrid, Valencia and Atletico Madrid, felt that “football these days is an industry”.
He said yesterday: “I know there have been rumblings… The reason why we are here and Morocco is because the authorities are looking for more sources of income.”
He also questioned the participation of Atletico and Real after both finished empty-handed last term, whereas Barcelona and Valencia are the La Liga and Copa del Rey winners respectively.
“For me, it’s strange to play the Super Cup with two guest teams,” he said. “It’s clear that these games are exciting for the crowd, but there is only one league champion and there is only one cup winner.”
Rubiales, however, believes his revamp has made the Super Cup “the most important short tournament in the world”.
Speaking after Real beat Valencia 3-1 to qualify for Sunday’s final, he said: “When we planned the changes last year, we didn’t know which teams would be playing. But by betting on this format, we knew we would turn a low-key summer event into a huge competition.”
Rejecting the backlash from human rights groups who have accused Saudi Arabia of trying to “sports wash” its questionable record, he claimed the Cup could be a catalyst for change.
Noting that Wednesday was the first time local women attended a match without restrictions – previously they had to sit in a special “family” section – he added: “Football can open up doors and I feel very positive today after seeing women and girls in the crowd.”
The Cup is the latest push by the Saudis to boost their image through the hosting of big sporting events.
The Dakar Rally kicked off on Sunday, just a month after the big-money heavyweight boxing bout between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. The inaugural Saudi Cup, the world’s richest horse race, will be staged next month.
-Reuters
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
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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
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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
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