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Tag: La Liga

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France striker Benzema joins Saudi side Al Ittihad

Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has joined Al Ittihad as a free agent on a three-year deal, the Saudi Arabian champions said on Tuesday, after the French striker’s departure from Real Madrid. According to media reports, the contract is estimated to be worth more than 100 million euros ($106.89 million). “I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country. I have been fortunate to achieve amazing things in my career and achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe,” the 35-year-old Benzema said. “It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project … I am looking forward to joining my new team mates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels.” Al-Ittihad last month clinched the Saudi Pro League title for...
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Watch: Karim Benzema scores in final game with Real Madrid

Karim Benzema converted his penalty kick and received a standing ovation from fans before being substituted at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, bringing an end to his memorable career with Real Madrid on Sunday. Benzema was replaced after scoring the 72nd-minute equalizer in Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao in his final game with the Spanish powerhouse after 14 seasons. Madrid had announced earlier Sunday that the French striker would not return next season. The last round of the Spanish league also saw Vinícius Júnior’s return to action for the first time since he was racially abused in a league match against Valencia two weeks ago, as well as Valladolid’s relegation. Vinícius hadn’t played in the last two Madrid games following the latest incident of racist insults targeted at...
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Eden Hazard to leave Real Madrid after dismal four-year spell

Eden Hazard will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after agreeing to terminate his contract a year early, the club said on Saturday, with the winger enduring a dismal four years in LaLiga since his move from Chelsea. The former Belgium international, 32, joined Real in 2019 and became the Spanish club’s most expensive signing in history, but he has been restricted by several injury problems and struggled to settle at the Santiago Bernabeu. Hazard, who made only six league appearances this season and 10 in all competitions, won eight trophies with Real, including the Champions League and two league titles. “Real Madrid C. F. and Eden Hazard have reached an agreement whereby the player is disassociated from the club as of June 30, 2023,” the club said. “Real Madrid wants to expre...
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Barcelona see off Camp Nou, Busquets and Alba with easy Mallorca win | Football News – Times of India

BARCELONA: La Liga champions Barcelona enjoyed a series of emotional goodbyes in their final match at Camp Nou before the stadium is rebuilt, thrashing Real Mallorca 3-0 on Sunday.Captain Sergio Busquets and defender Jordi Alba also played at home for the last time, in the club's penultimate league match of the season, and were awarded warm farewells by the sell-out crowd.Ansu Fati struck twice in the first half and Gavi added one after the break as the Catalans triumphed in style.Marc-Andre ter Stegen earned his 26th clean sheet of the season, equalling the all-time record in the division, set by Deportivo La Coruna's Francisco Liano in the 1993-94 campaign.The only bad news for Barcelona came when defender Alejandro Balde was taken off injured in the first half.The left-back was lunge...
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With section of stadium closed after racist abuse against Vinicius, Valencia held at home

Playing its first home game with a section of Mestalla Stadium closed as punishment for the racist abuse against Vinícius Júnior, Valencia moved closer to avoiding relegation from the Spanish league thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Espanyol. Valencia had the first of three matches with a small section of Mestalla closed behind one of the goals where the abuse targeting Vinícius took place in a match against Real Madrid a week ago. Valencia was initially ordered to close the section for five matches but the punishment was reduced on appeal. The club’s initial fine of 45,000 euros ($48,200) was also reduced to 27,000 euros ($28,900). The draw was enough to relegate Espanyol for the second time in three seasons. Espanyol was set to take its fight against relegatio...
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Replacing Sergio Busquets is key to Barca success next season: Xavi | Football News – Times of India

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said Saturday it was key for his side to replace the departing Sergio Busquets if they want to compete for silverware next season.The 34-year-old pivot is leaving at the end of the season after making over 700 appearances for the club, winning three Champions Leagues and nine La Liga titles."We have to find this piece, if we want to compete well next year, we have to find it," Xavi told reporters ahead of Busquets' final home game, on Sunday against Real Mallorca in La Liga."For me it's fundamental as a coach. Busquets has been fundamental for us, and very important in winning the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga this year."A player who has been so important for us, on and off the pitch, is leaving, so we have to find a very important player to rep...
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La Liga chief apologises for rant about Vinicius Jr’s racism complaint

La Liga president Javier Tebas apologised on Wednesday for Sunday’s online rant at Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr after the Brazilian took to social media to complain about racist insults he suffered and the Spanish soccer league’s inaction. “Well, it seems that the result has not been very good, right?” Tebas told Reuters in an interview, referring to his much-criticised comments on Twitter in which he suggested that Vinicius find out more about what the league is doing to combat racism “before you criticise and slander LaLiga”. “I mean, to all those who have understood that this was an error due to the form, due to the time…I have to apologise,” he said, adding that it was not his intention to attack Vinicius and blaming “the heat of the moment”. “I apologise to Vinicius and to anyone...
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Jordi Alba leaving Barcelona after 11 years | Football News – Times of India

Jordi Alba, the long-serving defender of Barcelona, is set to depart the club at the conclusion of the season after 11 remarkable years. The announcement was made by Barcelona on Wednesday, confirming the agreement reached between the club and Alba to terminate his contract, which was initially set to run until the end of the 2023-24 season.Expressing their appreciation, Barcelona stated, "Barcelona publicly expresses its gratitude to Jordi Alba for the professionalism, commitment, dedication, and always positive and warm treatment he has always shown towards everything that makes up the Barcelona family."Having joined Barcelona from Valencia in 2012, Alba enjoyed immense success, securing six La Liga titles and one Champions League triumph, among a total of 19 trophies won during his t...
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Barca will ‘do everything possible’ to sign Lionel Messi: Joan Laporta | Football News – Times of India

BARCELONA: Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Monday the club will "do everything possible" to bring Argentine superstar Lionel Messi back in the close season.The Paris Saint-Germain forward is set to leave in the summer when his contract expires and new La Liga champions Barcelona are hoping to lure their all-time top goalscorer back, despite strong interest from Saudi Arabia.Messi has had two lacklustre seasons in Paris after a glorious era at Barcelona where he won four Champions League and 10 La Liga titles, and is still worshipped by the fans there.Laporta said he has spoken with Messi to try and rebuild the relationship between them, which was damaged when he left in 2021.Messi wanted to stay at Barcelona but the club could not afford to keep him because of debt of over one ...
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How Barcelona won first La Liga title since Messi’s traumatic exit | Football News – Times of India

BARCELONA: Barcelona’s risky bet to mortgage the club’s future paid off Sunday — in the short term at least — when a team led by newcomer Robert Lewandowski clinched its first La Liga title in four years.Barcelona won their 27th league title, second to Real Madrid’s 35, with four rounds remaining after a 4-2 win at Espanyol with a pair of goals by Lewandowski.Now the club can finally start a new chapter after winning its first major title since the painful exit of Lionel Messi two years ago.Here is how Barcelona led the league since the 13th round, brushing aside an arguably more talented Real Madrid side and giving Atletico Madrid no chance of catching up.WIN NOW, PAY LATER?When club president Joan Laporta, the man who first hired Pep Guardiola nearly 15 years ago, returned for a secon...
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Barcelona thrash Real Betis to get closer to La Liga title, Real Madrid beat Almeria with Benzema hat-trick | Football News – Times of India

BARCELONA: Barcelona thrashed 10-man Real Betis 4-0 on Saturday to move a step closer to winning La Liga for the first time since 2019. Real Madrid beat Almeria 4-2 to cut the gap to eight points earlier, on but Barcelona triumphed to restore their 11 point advantage.Andreas Christensen, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha struck for Barca at Camp Nou with Guido Rodriguez netting a late own goal to round off the rout.Edgar Gonzalez's early dismissal made it an easy night for Xavi Hernandez's side to protect their lead with six games remaining.With his side comfortably winning, Xavi brought on 15-year-old forward Lamine Yamal to become the club's youngest ever player to debut in La Liga.Betis also brought on veteran Joaquin Sanchez, 41, for his final appearance at Camp Nou before he retires ...
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I hope to play with Messi next season at Barcelona: Lewandowski | Football News – Times of India

BARCELONA: Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski said he would love Lionel Messi to return to the Catalan club from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, speaking at a charity event on Tuesday.The 35-year-old Argentine World Cup winner left Barca in 2021 when the club could not afford to renew his contract and his PSG deal expires in June.Amid whistles from PSG supporters who see Messi as a symbol of the club's mistakes in chasing star signings instead of building a competitive team, Barcelona are openly courting the forward."Messi belongs to Barca and if he returns it would be something incredible," said Lewandowski."We know that his place is here, in Barcelona. I don't know what will happen, but I hope that next season we can play together."Messi is the club's all-time top goalscorer and ma...
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Late Angel Correa goal earns Atletico Madrid win to extend unbeaten run | Football News – Times of India

MADRID: A late goal from Angel Correa earned Atletico Madrid a fourth straight win as they beat Real Betis 1-0 on Sunday, extending their unbeaten streak in La Liga to 11 games.Diego Simeone's side are third on 54 points, six ahead of Real Sociedad and five behind Real Madrid, close to securing Champions League football next season.Betis are fifth on 45 points.Correa came off the bench and scored the winner five minutes from the end with a brilliant run, leaving several defenders in his wake, to shoot from the middle of the box into the bottom left corner for his sixth league goal of the season.Atletico face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, while Betis host relegation-threatened Cadiz.!(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) { window.TimesApps = window.TimesApps || {}; const { TimesApps } = win...
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La Liga: Benzema nets a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrash Real Valladolid 6-0 | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Karim Benzema scored a stunning seven-minute hat-trick on Sunday to help Real Madrid thrashed Real Valladolid 6-0 in their La Liga match.Despite the big win, champions Madrid are at the second position in Spain, 12 points behind league leaders FC Barcelona, who defeated Elche on Saturday, with 11 games remaining each in the season.Carlo Ancelotti's side warmed up for their Copa del Rey semi-final clash on Wednesday with their arch-rivals in style by dismantling the helpless visitors, 16th and a point above the drop zone.Rodrygo Goes opened the scoring early on, before Benzema's hat-trick, including a spectacular acrobatic effort, with Marco Asensio netting the fifth in the second half and Lucas Vazquez adding another late on.Rodrygo had another goal ruled out for handball by ...
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José Luis Mendilibar replaces Jorge Sampaoli as Sevilla FC coach

La Liga side Sevilla FC named Jose Luis Mendilibar as their new coach until the end of the season, replacing Jorge Sampaoli in the dugout at the Ramon Sánchez-Pizjuán. Sampaoli, who only took over from Julen Lopetegui back in October 2022, was relieved of his duties on Monday with the Andalusians sitting 14th in the league, just two points clear of the relegation zone with 12 matches left. “Following the defeat at Getafe, which leaves the side just above the relegation zone, the club has decided to part ways with the Argentine coach ahead of the international break,” Sevilla had said in a statement. “The image shown by the team in these last matches has led the club to make this decision, in hopes that it can recover in the last 12 rounds of the Spanish league.” Mendilibar coached SD E...
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Ten-man Atletico hold Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Ten-man Atletico Madrid held the defending champions Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Saturday. Real are second in the LaLiga standings on 52 points, seven behind leaders Barcelona. If Barcelona, who will face Almeria on Sunday, manage a win, they could extend their lead to 10 points. Atletico are fourth on 42 points."I see (winning) the league as a very difficult task. It was before today's game and now it's got even tougher," Real manager Carlo Ancelotti told DAZN."Today we lacked a bit of mental freshness, more than physical. Especially when they were down to 10 men, we allowed them to score and struggled to reposition ourselves."In the first half we had good control but the intensity was not high. Then we didn't take advantage of the extra m...
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Real Madrid legend nicknamed ‘The Magician’, Amancio Amaro dies at 83

Former Real Madrid player Amancio Amaro and current honorary president Amancio Amaro passed away on Tuesday at the age of 83. Amaro, who featured for the Spanish and European giants as a winger from 1962 to 1976, played 471 matches for Los Blancos and scored 155 goals for them during the same time period and was nicknamed El Brujo (The Magician). Real Madrid confirmed his death in a statement on their website, which read: “Amancio Amaro has passed away at the age of 83. He will be remembered by all Madridistas and by all football fans as one of the great legends of this sport. Real Madrid extends its condolences to all Real Madrid fans.” Rest in peace, Amancio Amaro. pic.twitter.com/YsOlsVEUcp — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 21, 2023 Born on 16 October 1939 in La Corun...
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Antoine Griezmann gives Atletico Madrid 1-0 win against Athletic Bilbao | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Antoine Griezmann's late goal claimed a 1-0 win for Atletico Madrid against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. With this win, Atletico strengthened their grip on fourth place in La Liga. Atletico have 41 points from 22 games, two behind third-placed Real Sociedad and four above Real Betis in fifth. Atletico were the better side for large parts of the game but were left to rue a flurry of missed chances until Griezmann broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute.The forward slotted home a low shot inside the box to cap a fine individual effort that started from a combination with substitute Memphis Depay who set his team mate free with a back-heel before the Frenchman sprinted between two defenders.Barcelona, who visit lowly Cadiz in the late game, are top on 56 points ahead of Real Madrid ...
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UEFA Europa League: Champions League royalty Barcelona and Manchester United clash in playoff first leg

The new generation of football fans tuning into the Europa League blockbuster playoff between traditional European powerhouses Manchester United and Barcelona may be excused if they find it difficult to believe that these two clubs fought for the Champions League title in the 2009 and 2011 finals. Since then, United have not reached another UCL final while Barcelona claimed its last crown in 2015 against Juventus. Since then, it has all been downhill for both clubs. The fall from grace has been gradual with United failing to win a trophy since 2017 – which ironically was the Europa League itself – and though Barcelona won the Spanish league in 2018-19, their recent form in Europe leaves a lot to be desired. HIGHLIGHTS | Pedri, Barça claim all three points at Villarreal!#LaLigaHighlight...
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Pedri leads win at Girona in 100th game for Barcelona

Pedri marked his 100th Barcelona appearance by scoring to squeeze past Girona 1-0 and increase their lead of the Spanish league on Saturday. The 20-year-old Pedri started on the bench as Xavi rotated his lineup ahead of a busy week, but the playmaker replaced the injured Ousmane Dembélé in the 25th minute. Girona stymied the league front-runner until Pedri’s fellow substitute, Jordi Alba, found him with a low cross at close range in the 61st. Pedri, who won the 2021 Golden Boy for the continent’s most promising under-21 player, is considered one of the pillars of Barcelona’s post-Messi rebuild. The Spain midfielder has scored six times this season. FINAL #GironaBarça 0-1 ✨ ¡@Pedri 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 el 𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗶! ✨#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/ToIPu5ymQJ — LaLiga (@LaLiga) January 28, 2023 Xavi’s ...