July 30: Barcelona continued their pre-season tour of the USA with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid in Arlington, Texas.
Ousmane Dembele's early goal was followed up by late strikes from Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres.
New signing Jude Bellin
RIYADH, Jan. 16: Young Barcelona midfielder Gavi starred as FC Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-1 to win the final of the Spanish Supercup in Riyadh on Sunday night.
The 18-year-old gave two assists and scored one of Barca's three goals in a complete display in the King Fahd Sta
MADRID, Jan. 12: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona play the second "Clasico" of the season when they meet in the first semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh on Wednesday night.
Both teams flew out on Monday, with Barcelona duo Ferran Torres and Pedri set to join their team-mates later after having to wait for the results of a PCR test for COVID-19.
The first semifinal of the Super Cup pits the winners of last season's Copa del Rey (Barca) against the side that finished second in La Liga (Madrid), with Real Madrid clear favorites to progress to the final after winning 2-1 in the Camp Nou earlier this season.
Carlo Ancelotti's men travel to Riyadh with a five-point lead at the top of La Liga, while they have a 17-point gap over Barca after last weekend's results that saw Madrid beat Valencia 1-1, while Barca was held 1-1 in Granada.
In theory, Barca coach Xavi Hernandez will be able to welcome back Pedri and Ansu Fati on Wednesday night, although neither is likely to start after struggling with injuries all season. Ferran Torres could also make his Barca debut after some financial maneuvering saw Samuel Umtiti sign a new contract on lower wages on Monday, lowering the club's wage ceiling to allow Torres to be registered.
However, with the Spain international only just recovering from an ankle injury that has sidelined him since October, he too is unlikely to start.
Xavi is definitely without Eric Garcia, Sergi Roberto and Martin Braithwaite through injury, while Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo have both traveled but are doubts after picking up injuries last week in the Copa del Rey. Araujo has trained, but was shown with his arm in a sling after needing an operation on two broken bones in his hand.
Real Madrid has no such problems, although Gareth Bale's back injury has prevented him from traveling, and Ancelotti will be at full strength for Wednesday night, with Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema (who have 30 goals between them in La Liga) leading their attack.
The winner on Wednesday will play either Atletico Madrid or Athletic Bilbao, who meet on Thursday, although Athletic midfielder Raul Garcia on Monday made his thoughts clear about playing the tournament thousands of miles from home.
"I can't see any reason to play a competition from our country over there. There is nothing more to say, people don't think about the fans anymore," commented the veteran in a press conference.
MADRID, Oct. 25: Goals from David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez gave Real Madrid a 2-1 win in El Clasico away to FC Barcelona on Sunday afternoon.
Madrid won the game by being organized at the back and taking their chances on the break. Sergio Aguero scored in the 97th minute for a Barcelona side that otherwise failed to test Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Both sides lined up more or less as expected with Jordi Alba passed fit to accompany Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia and Oscar Mingueza in defense, while Memphis Depay partnered Ansu Fati in attack for Barca.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded experienced trio Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro in midfield, with the pace of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo partnering Karim Benzema in attack.
The game began with both teams looking to press high up the field, with the result that there was a lot of tension, but that both keepers were virtual spectators.
Vinicius was looking dangerous for Real Madrid, causing Mingueza problems with his pace and dribbling ability, and the Brazilian had a penalty appeal turned down after turning the defender and then going down after slight contact.
He then had a shot blocked after turning Marc-Andre Ter Stegen inside out, although a late offside flag spared his blushes.
At the other end, Sergino Dest should have scored when Fati's dummy left him with just Courtois to beat, but the American blazed over the bar as the game opened up.
Real Madrid made Barca pay for Dest's miss in the 32nd minute when Alaba thumped home from the edge of the area to finish a counter-attack that he had started deep in his own half. After taking a pass from Vinicius, the defender hit his shot across Ter Stegen into the far corner of the net.
The Austrian then blocked Fati's effort in the last minute of the half as Barca looked to react.
Koeman ended Mingueza's misery at half-time, replacing him with Philippe Coutinho and dropping Dest back into defense, and Coutinho was quickly into action with a shot blocked by the Madrid defense, before Courtois saved from Fati.
Barca were pressing without really calling Courtois into action, while at the other end Dest almost gifted Vinicius a second for Madrid with a weak backpass, but recovered in time to frustrate the winger, before Benzema shot tamely at Ter Stegen after great work from Modric.
Madrid's attacks always looked slightly sharper than Barca's, and with 15 minutes left to play, Aguero replaced the tiring Fati, while Sergi Roberto replaced the disappointing Frenkie de Jong.
Aguero saw a header loop over the bar as Barca tried to make something happen, with Madrid packing their box and slowing the game down when they had the ball.
Courtois went down holding his knee in the last minute of normal time, but was able to continue just before Madrid scored their second of the game.
Coutinho failed to take a chance in the Madrid area, and after a scramble in their area, the visitors broke with the ball falling to Marco Asensio, and although Ter Stegen saved his shot, Vazquez was on hand to put the ball into the empty net.
Aguero pulled a goal back after good work from Dest, but it was too late for Barca.
MADRID, Oct. 4: Both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona go into the international break with problems after they both suffered defeats in La Liga over the weekend.
Recently promoted Espanyol - for whom Chinese striker Wu Lei played the last 25 minutes - stunned Real Madrid 2-1 on Sunday afternoon, highlighting Los Blancos' defensive problems.
Raul de Tomas' near-post finish and Aleix Vidal's excellent individual goal put Espanyol 2-0 up. Karim Benzema gave Madrid hope with his ninth goal of the season in the 71st minute but there were to be no further goals.
The defeat follows a goalless draw against Villarreal and a shock Champions League loss to Sheriff Tiraspol, and means Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a difficult couple of weeks.
Ronald Koeman is clinging on to his job at FC Barcelona after his side suffered a painful defeat away to Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
Former Barca striker Luis Suarez was Koeman's tormenter-in-chief, setting up Thomas Lemar for Atletico's opener midway through the first half and then doubling their lead just before half-time as Barca made significant errors in defense.
Barca never really looked like getting back on level terms, despite Ansu Fati being brought into the action midway through the second half, although surprise declarations from Barca president Joan Laporta look to have assured Koeman's short-term future when many expected him to be sacked.
Villarreal's season continues to build thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Real Betis thanks to two goals from Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma, who put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time and confirmed the win with his second of the game with 20 minutes left to play.
Real Sociedad are third in the table, level on points with Atletico and Real Madrid, but missed the chance to go top after drawing 1-1 at home to Getafe, who took their first point of the season thanks to Sandro Ramirez's first-half goal, which was canceled out by Mikel Oyarzabal's 68th minute goal.
Sevilla missed the chance to move level with Real Madrid, Atletico and Real Sociedad when they lost 1-0 away to struggling Granada. Ruben Rochina's powerful 24th minute shot and a series of saves from Granada keeper Luis Maximiano helped Robert Moreno's side to their first win of the season and probably saved the coach's job, at least for the short term.
Sevilla ended up with 10 men after Diego Carlos was sent off for using his elbow on Granada striker Luis Suarez.
Manu Sanchez's diving header in injury-time gave Osasuna a 1-0 win at home to Rayo Vallecano to end the visitors' five-game unbeaten run.
Angel's 74th minute goal got Real Mallorca back to winning ways at the expense of Levante, who have still to win this campaign.
Cadiz coach Alvaro Cervera left out seven first-team players who had gone partying after last weekend's defeat to Rayo Vallecano, and his much-changed side held on for a 0-0 draw at home to Valencia.
Valencia dominated the game with 68 percent possession and 16 shots against just two from Cadiz, but were unable to stop their run of games without a win extending to four.
Bernadetto's goal early in the second half got Elche back on track with a 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo, who saw how Iago Aspas's goal in the last minute ruled out for handball.
Friday night saw Raul Garcia's 44th minute header gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win at home to Alaves on a night that saw Athletic striker Inaki Williams make a record 203rd consecutive La Liga appearance.
Garcia had earlier seen a penalty saved, but was in the right place to nod home Inigo Lekue's header on the stroke of half-time.
MADRID, Oct. 4: Both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona go into the international break with problems after they both suffered defeats in La Liga over the weekend.
Recently promoted Espanyol - for whom Chinese striker Wu Lei played the last 25 minutes - stunned Real Madrid 2-1 on Sunday afternoon, highlighting Los Blancos' defensive problems.
Raul de Tomas' near-post finish and Aleix Vidal's excellent individual goal put Espanyol 2-0 up. Karim Benzema gave Madrid hope with his ninth goal of the season in the 71st minute but there were to be no further goals.
The defeat follows a goalless draw against Villarreal and a shock Champions League loss to Sheriff Tiraspol, and means Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a difficult couple of weeks.
Ronald Koeman is clinging on to his job at FC Barcelona after his side suffered a painful defeat away to Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
Former Barca striker Luis Suarez was Koeman's tormenter-in-chief, setting up Thomas Lemar for Atletico's opener midway through the first half and then doubling their lead just before half-time as Barca made significant errors in defense.
Barca never really looked like getting back on level terms, despite Ansu Fati being brought into the action midway through the second half, although surprise declarations from Barca president Joan Laporta look to have assured Koeman's short-term future when many expected him to be sacked.
Villarreal's season continues to build thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Real Betis thanks to two goals from Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma, who put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time and confirmed the win with his second of the game with 20 minutes left to play.
Real Sociedad are third in the table, level on points with Atletico and Real Madrid, but missed the chance to go top after drawing 1-1 at home to Getafe, who took their first point of the season thanks to Sandro Ramirez's first-half goal, which was canceled out by Mikel Oyarzabal's 68th minute goal.
Sevilla missed the chance to move level with Real Madrid, Atletico and Real Sociedad when they lost 1-0 away to struggling Granada. Ruben Rochina's powerful 24th minute shot and a series of saves from Granada keeper Luis Maximiano helped Robert Moreno's side to their first win of the season and probably saved the coach's job, at least for the short term.
Sevilla ended up with 10 men after Diego Carlos was sent off for using his elbow on Granada striker Luis Suarez.
Manu Sanchez's diving header in injury-time gave Osasuna a 1-0 win at home to Rayo Vallecano to end the visitors' five-game unbeaten run.
Angel's 74th minute goal got Real Mallorca back to winning ways at the expense of Levante, who have still to win this campaign.
Cadiz coach Alvaro Cervera left out seven first-team players who had gone partying after last weekend's defeat to Rayo Vallecano, and his much-changed side held on for a 0-0 draw at home to Valencia.
Valencia dominated the game with 68 percent possession and 16 shots against just two from Cadiz, but were unable to stop their run of games without a win extending to four.
Bernadetto's goal early in the second half got Elche back on track with a 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo, who saw how Iago Aspas's goal in the last minute ruled out for handball.
Friday night saw Raul Garcia's 44th minute header gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win at home to Alaves on a night that saw Athletic striker Inaki Williams make a record 203rd consecutive La Liga appearance.
Garcia had earlier seen a penalty saved, but was in the right place to nod home Inigo Lekue's header on the stroke of half-time.
1640006871_1200.jpeg)
