Barcelona preparing to freshen referendum hangover with win against Atletico Madrid

MADRID, Oct 13: Barcelona, who travels to Madrid this week, fresh from the recent referendum they contested on October 1, and will play Atletico Madrid on Saturday at the new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, in the eighth round of fixtures of the La Liga Santander 2017-18.

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Barcelona crush Betis to go top

Sep 17: Barcelona thumped Real Betis to go top of La Liga and extend their unbeaten run to five matches. Portugal forward Joao Felix, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid, scored his first Barcelona goal in an impressive display at the Nou Camp.

Rayo stun Barca, Atletico Madrid win in La Liga

MADRID, April 27: La Liga leaders FC Barcelona suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night after another lackluster display from Xavi Hernandez's team. Although Real Madrid's loss in Girona on Tuesday ensured that Barca would end the round of matches

Barcelona and Real Madrid to kick off Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia

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.

Real Madrid, Barcelona stunned in La Liga

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.

Real Madrid, Barcelona stunned in La Liga

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.

Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona, Suarez scores

Atlético Madrid dealt Barcelona another harsh helping of life without Lionel Messi when Diego Simeone’s well-honed team easily won 2-0

There is more than meets the eye for Barcelona as it takes on Leganes

BARCELONA, Nov 18: Barcelona on Saturday travels to the Estadio Butarque Stadium to take on Leganes in the 12th round of match in La Liga. Having won 10 matches and drawn one, Barcelona would want to win this match and put extra pressure on its arch-rivals Real Madrid, who will play against Atletico Madrid later the same day.

Barcelona has one eye on the knockout rounds

BARCELONA, Oct 17: Barcelona lost their first points of the 2017-18 La Liga season away at the Wanda Metropolitano in Atletico Madrid with a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Now, they hope to continue winning in the UEFA Champions League Group D to make it to the knockout phases, when they face Greek champions Olympiacos at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.