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Barca display solid defence

Barca display solid defence

MADRID • There was little sign of Barcelona's swashbuckling attacking play in their 1-0 LaLiga win at Real Madrid on Saturday as the team renowned for goalscoring produced a rare masterclass in defending, led by Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique.
Ivan Rakitic scored the decisive goal in a cagey Clasico that lacked the drama associated with the fixture, sending the table-toppers 12 points clear of third-placed Real.
The victory, coming hot on the heels of last week's 3-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg of their King's Cup semi-final, was mostly down to the steeliness of their central defensive pair, who blocked seven shots between them, forming a human shield in front of goal.
"Every time Madrid attacked us, Pique or Lenglet cleared the danger, I had very little work to do because of them," said Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
"We fought and suffered in the last half-hour, (but) we defended as a team. You always suffer a bit at the Bernabeu, but we know we have a great team and we fought hard for the victory.
"The last few years have been very good here, we've had a lot of success here and I hope it stays that way."
Rakitic added: "We worked very hard for this victory and we deserve it. Sometimes, you have to fight, you have to stick your leg in and we are very happy."
Pique led jubilant celebrations in the middle of the pitch after the full-time whistle, but later warned that the league title was not in the bag despite "having made a real statement".
The former Spain international told reporters: "We knew how to suffer. We weren't celebrating the league title because Atletico (Madrid) are still there.
"It's been a perfect week and we should celebrate it, but we haven't won the league yet, not at all, it's not definitive."
However, his manager Ernesto Valverde all but wrote off Real's title ambitions after Barcelona overtook them in their head-to-head record for the first time in 87 years, with 96 victories to 95.
The Spaniard claimed his side had "delivered our best and inflicted damage on our rival".
Real No. 1 Thibaut Courtois also conceded they "lacked accuracy" in the two games against the Spanish champions.
The Belgium goalkeeper said: "To win games, you need to score goals and we didn't do that. We couldn't play the final pass and they saved themselves a couple of times, the ball just didn't want to go in."
His coach Santiago Solari was equally despondent after Real slumped to their third straight home loss for the first time since 2004, admitting "sometimes, everything doesn't go for you".
And former Real manager Jose Mourinho predicted things would get worse for the European champions as they "are (now) on a low".
He told beIN Sports: "It was not a happy performance. It was not the performance of a happy team. It was not the performance of a team with great belief and self-esteem.
"It's just a soft performance... against the top teams, you have to do much more than this if you want to win."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS


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Barca display solid defence. Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic beating Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Sergio Ramos to score the winning goal on Saturday. PHOTO: EPA-EFE.
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(L-R) Barcelona's French defender Samuel Umtiti, Barcelona's Spanish defender Gerard Pique and Barcelona's Spanish defender Jordi Alba celebrate after their team won the Spanish league football match against Deportivo Coruna and claimed their 25th La Liga at the Riazor stadium in Coruna on April 29, 2018.
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Football: Shellshocked Real Madrid knocked out of Champions League by brilliant Ajax

Football: Shellshocked Real Madrid knocked out of Champions League by brilliant Ajax

MADRID (REUTERS) - Holders Real Madrid were sensationally knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday (March 5) after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstanding Ajax Amsterdam who overturned a first-leg deficit to reach the quarter-finals 5-3 on aggregate.
Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech fired Ajax into a shock seventh-minute lead after a lay off from the outstanding Dusan Tadic, who also provided the pass for David Neres to double the Dutch side's advantage in the 18th.
Madrid, who were missing inspirational captain Sergio Ramos through suspension and hit the woodwork twice in the first half, came out stronger after the interval but were dealt a fatal blow when Serbia international Tadic crowned his sensational display by hammering into the top corner in the 62nd minute.
Substitute Marco Asensio gave Madrid a glimmer of hope by striking back but it was quickly extinguished by a breathtaking free kick from Lasse Schone, condemning Real to a fourth consecutive home defeat in all competitions.
Things got worse for the hosts, who had won the last three Champions League titles in a row, when Nacho was sent off in stoppage time for two bookings.
Ajax, who have won the trophy four times, most recently in 1995, reached the last eight of Europe's top competition for the first time since 2003.
Thirteen-times winners Madrid, who have lifted the trophy in four of the last five years, and had reached at least the semi-finals for the last eight seasons, suffered their earliest elimination since 2010.
Madrid, who had suffered consecutive home defeats to Barcelona in the run up to the game and are an embarrassing 12 points behind the Catalans in La Liga, endured rotten fortune throughout the game, losing Lucas Vazquez and livewire Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior to injury in the first half.
The night could have gone very differently had Madrid defender Raphael Varane headed under the crossbar instead of against it in the fifth minute, moments before Ziyech scored.
Ajax had Madrid on the ropes after the second goal and should have further increased their advantage, as Neres chipped wide when clean through against Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois.
The Belgian later leapt across his goal to parry a shot from Ziyech, and used his body to thwart Tadic.
He made some more impressive saves in the second half but was powerless to stop Tadic's thunderbolt and was caught out by Schone's free kick, which looked to be a cross but went straight in.
Real substitute Gareth Bale blasted against the near post in the first half and suffered a painful end to the match. The Wales forward was forced to stay on the pitch after appearing to injure his ankle late on as coach Santiago Solari had used all three substitutes.


MADRID (REUTERS) - Holders Real Madrid were sensationally knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday (March 5) after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstanding Ajax Amsterdam who overturned
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Anfield is 'worst stadium' to visit for Bayern star Robben

Anfield is 'worst stadium' to visit for Bayern star Robben

MUNICH • When their Champions League last-16 fixture was announced in December, Arjen Robben called it "the worst possible draw" for Bayern Munich.
He was at Liverpool's Anfield when, in the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons, Chelsea fell maddeningly short in the semi-finals.
The first was decided by Luis Garcia's "ghost goal", and Robben prefers to leave it at "we'll never know" when asked if it went in.
The second was settled on penalties, one of which he sent too close to Pepe Reina, and proved to be his penultimate match for the club.
He remembers that as an "emotional game" and, both times, Chelsea were repelled by a formidable defensive blockade.
"At that time, they were really capable of being this cup-fighter team, also in the FA Cup," he said.
"In one or two games, they could really live up to it and perform. Just not the whole season, which was maybe too much. That was their biggest quality, they were there at the moment they needed to be there.

NO FOND MEMORIES
If you ask me what's the worst stadium for me, it's probably Liverpool. You always have your favourite opponent and there always has to be a negative one.
ARJEN ROBBEN, Bayern Munich winger, who has lost at Anfield with Chelsea and Real Madrid.

"Now it's changed and they (have) developed really well. The manager (Jurgen Klopp) has done a great job.
"Last year, they were in the Champions League final and, at the moment, they are top (of the Premier League). It's a long, long time ago that they won the league and that's the one they're dreaming of."
Recalling how he also suffered heartbreak as part of a Real Madrid side that were thrashed 4-0 by the Reds in 2009, he sounded a warning about Anfield to his teammates.
"If you ask me what's the worst stadium for me, it's probably Liverpool," the former Netherlands forward admitted. "You always have your favourite opponent and there always has to be a negative one."
The 35-year-old also believes the "atmosphere is probably one of the best you can imagine in Europe".
Naming Liverpool as among the favourites to win this term's Champions League, he added: "It's (the crowd) always like a big boost to them. But we're used to playing in big stadiums, so we just have to focus on ourselves.
"We know their qualities. In these top games there are not a lot of secrets. It's about the little details."
While Robben will play no part in tomorrow's first leg, having been out since November with a thigh injury, he feels Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk's one-game suspension will be a weak point the German champions have to exploit.
He said of his former national colleague: "He is a key player at a gigantic club, and he is the captain of the Netherlands team. He deserves all the compliments."
THE TIMES, LONDON, THE GUARDIAN



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St Gabriel's overcome the odds

St Gabriel's overcome the odds

With a key defender suspended and their captain struggling with an injury, St Gabriel's Secondary School's football teacher-in-charge Laura Huang was hardly confident ahead of the Schools National B Division boys' League Three final against Spectra Secondary School yesterday.
To make things worse, St Gabriel's winger Joshua Joseph suffered a cut to his face in the 21st minute and his replacement Aryan Menon was sent off nine minutes later for arguing with the referee.
However, Spectra were also reduced to 10 men in the 37th minutes when Muhammad Ryan Tsaqif received his second yellow card.
St Gabriel's regained the initiative to score through centre-back Gideon Tai (40th minute) and striker Aiman Yazid (76th) for a 2-0 win at Our Tampines Hub.
Said Huang: "The result was definitely better than what I had expected.
"Our main defender was serving a suspension and our captain sustained an injury during the semi-finals so he was limping throughout this match.
"We didn't expect to come so far, but we just kept telling ourselves to try our best.


  • 1


    St Gabriel's Secondary centre-back Gideon Tai's goal in the final was his first for the school in four years.


"Even when the situation was not advantageous to us, we did not let it get to us.
"We fought on, we never thought about giving up."
The two red cards dominated the early proceedings before Gideon curled in a superb free kick to give his team the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Spectra went in search of an equaliser in the second half, but Aiman dashed their hopes of a comeback with the second goal.
Man of the match Gideon said: "I was so excited and happy after I scored because it was almost half-time and it was my first goal for the school in four years.
"Before the game, I told my teammates that I will work as hard as I can to get the goal so I'm very happy that I scored."
Despite the loss, Spectra coach Ashraf Ariffin was proud of his team's performance.
"We started off very well, but we didn't finish our chances and then when we lost a man, the boys lost a bit of focus," he said.
"After we conceded the goal late in the first half, it was quite hard to get back into the game in the second half.
"They did all that they could and gave their best and that is all that we can ask."
Yesterday's League Three final was the first of five finals in the boys' football tournament this year.
In the preliminary rounds, all schools are split into 16 groups with five to six schools per group.
The teams are then placed in five leagues - from League One to Five - based on the positions they finished in their groups.


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Football: Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo

Football: Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo

MADRID (REUTERS) - Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award, saying their decision was unfair to fellow players and voters.
Croatian captain Modric, who broke Messi and Ronaldo's decade-long stranglehold on the prestigious prize last month, said in a newspaper interview on Saturday (Dec 15) the pair's absence from the gala in Paris on Dec 3 did not make sense.
"I cannot speak about why someone didn't turn up at an award ceremony, it's their choice. It doesn't make sense, does it? It seems these votes and awards are only significant when they win," the Real Madrid midfielder told Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti.
"It's unfair to fellow players and voters who have nominated them in the past 10 years, as well as to football and the fans. However, people will act the way they think they should."
Juventus forward Ronaldo came second in the 2018 Ballon d'Or vote behind his old Real team mate Modric, while Messi was fifth, a ranking met with some consternation at both the Argentine's club Barcelona and in the Catalan media.
Modric, who lifted a third successive Champions League title with Real last season and led Croatia to a first-ever World Cup final, said Ronaldo and Messi were still the best two players around but added that it did not mean they should always be named best player each season.
"In my opinion, things are very simple: Ronaldo and Messi are phenomenons who have been dominant in the past 10 years or so. They've been in a league of their own," Modric said.

 
 
"But we are talking about a season's accomplishments here and I guess it means something that votes by national team coaches, managers, football legends, journalists and fellow players have produced the same results."
The Croatian also offered the sarcastic suggestion: "If the debate is going to be about how good a particular player is, the only course of action is to award all trophies to Messi and Ronaldo until they retire and scrap the voting."


Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award, saying their decision was unfair to
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Luka Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award, saying their decision was unfair to fellow players and voters.
Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo

Luka Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Lionel Messi


Luka Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Ada Hegerberg's Ballon d'Or award tarnished by 'twerk' request Luka Modric is the first player to win the Ballon D'Or outside of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi since Brazilian great Kaka in 2007.
Modric criticises Messi, Ronaldo for Ballon d'Or gala snub


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Home » News » Sports » Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo. Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo. as well as to football and the fans. However
Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo


Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo. Croatian captain Modric broke Messi and Ronaldo's decade-long stranglehold on the prestigious prize last month. as well as to
Modric criticises Messi, Ronaldo for Ballon d'Or gala snub


Juventus forward Ronaldo came second in the 2018 Ballon d'Or vote behind his old Real team mate Modric, while Messi was fifth, a ranking met with some consternation at both the Argentine's
Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo


Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award. Modric criticises Ronaldo


Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award. Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo - P.M. News
Modric criticises Ballon d'Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo

Football: Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could face former team Manchester United at ICC Singapore in July

Football: Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could face former team Manchester United at ICC Singapore in July

SINGAPORE - In the space of nine months, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for his third reunion with his former club Manchester United.
After their Champions League meetings last October and November, the latest encounter could take place when the International Champions Cup (ICC) swings by Singapore in July.
This year's ICC in Singapore is set to take place at the National Stadium over the July 19-21 weekend and will feature four teams - one more than in the last two years - and two games instead of three like in previous years.
Sources tell The Straits Times that English giants Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all but confirmed to visit the Republic.
United will play two games in Perth on July 13 and 17 first, while Spurs will announce their tour of Asia next week.
When ST was at White Hart Lane last month, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said: "We are looking to try... It is an option we like a lot and we would love to go. I think the percentage is high to be (in Asia) and meet you there."
It is understood that negotiations are ongoing to add Italy's Juventus and Inter Milan to the line-up.
The first edition in 2017 saw Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Inter grace the pitch of the National Stadium. Last year, it was Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.
Although the fixtures will only be confirmed on March 27, the new arrangement means that the four teams do not need to take a break between matches and the weekend scheduling should attract more fans to the stadium here.
With the absence of a World Cup or European Championship this summer, it is hoped that top stars such as United's David de Gea, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford, Tottenham's Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Inter's Ivan Perisic and Juventus' Ronaldo will join their teams here.
Alan Chua, a 35-year-old businessman who supports United and idolises Ronaldo, said: "I went to watch United beat a Singapore selection side 8-1 at the old National Stadium as a teenager in 2001. It would be a dream come true if both the Red Devils and Ronaldo come back this year."
While Ronaldo has never played in Singapore, he is no stranger to the Republic, having visited in 2013 and 2017.
Tottenham were last here in 1995, when they beat Singapore 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, while Juventus beat a Singapore selection side 5-0 in the first football match held at the new National Stadium in 2014.
James Walton, sports business group leader at Deloitte Singapore and South-east Asia, said: "Realistically, the two EPL clubs that can really sell out the National Stadium are Manchester United and Liverpool.
"United would be far and away the biggest draw and a real coup for the ICC if they can get them here.
"Pre-season tours are often determined by factors like where the clubs' marketing emphasis is. In recent years, United, Spurs and Manchester City spent most of their pre-season in the United States, while Arsenal and Chelsea have been more willing to go to Asia.
"The ICC format varies from location to location. In the US, for example, it is a league format and, in Singapore, it was a mini league before. In some cases, it is one-off games. It varies depending on the availability of the stadium, the travel plans and requirements of the teams and what they are willing and available to do.
"Having four teams instead of three, with some of the names on the table, is quite interesting. In previous years, there is always one game with a slightly weaker attendance, and it is usually the one without an EPL team,
"Hopefully, if we can have an exciting EPL team in each game, like United and Tottenham with their well-known players who will attract a fan base, combined with big European teams like Inter or Juventus or PSG, I believe both games will see significant attendances.
"From that point of view and in terms of experience, one fewer game need not be a bad thing."
A spokesman for organisers Relevent could only confirm that the ICC matches here will take place in July and more information will be announced in March.
She added: "We are excited about the progress we are making in the planning of 2019 ICC Singapore, which will feature some of biggest and most successful clubs in the world."


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We're not favourites against Germany: Van Dijk

We're not favourites against Germany: Van Dijk

AMSTERDAM • The Netherlands will not be lulled into a false sense of security when they face a struggling, new-look Germany in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Amsterdam today, Virgil van Dijk has said.
The Dutch beat the Germans 3-0 at home last October and came from behind with two late goals to force a 2-2 draw away in Gelsenkirchen one month later to win a place in June's Nations League Finals.
Germany, meanwhile, were relegated from the top division of that competition.
The contrast in form continued when the Netherlands beat Belarus 4-0 in Rotterdam on Thursday in their opening Group C qualifier, a day after Germany proved unconvincing in a 1-1 draw at home to Serbia in a warm-up international friendly.
"It does look like the Germans are still in a building phase but don't forget that the Dutch side is also going through the same process," defender van Dijk said on the eve of the game at the Amsterdam Arena.
"The Germans still have fantastic players, even if they might be talking over there (in Germany) about a crisis. We also had a spell like that, where things did not go for us," added the 27-year-old, referring to his team's failure to reach the 2016 European Championship in France and last year's World Cup in Russia.
"That was not a good phase. But we must worry about ourselves and not Germany.
"I don't think we are favourites."
The Dutch are, however, in confident mood after Thursday's win.
"At times we played really good football but it can, and it must be, a lot better on Sunday," said van Dijk.
By dumping three World Cup winners in Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller, Germany coach Joachim Low is following the process undertaken by the Netherlands since their third-place finish at the World Cup in 2014.
The Dutch failed to reach the subsequent two major tournaments, so a number of new names are now in Ronald Koeman's squad.
Low is trying something similar with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz, 19 and Paris Saint-Germain's Thilo Kehrer, 22.
But the draw with Serbia shows they are still a work in progress with the passing and missed chances remaining a problem.
"The Dutch are obviously in better form," said Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.
REUTERS, DPA


Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk. The Dutch beat the Germans 3-0 at home last October and came from behind with two late goals to force a 2-2 draw away in Gelsenkirchen
Van Dijk: Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany | IOL


"At times we played really good football but it can, and it must be, a lot better on Sunday," said Van Dijk. "There were times where we did not put enough pressure on them and were sloppy and lost the ball. "Against Germany we can expect a completely different game and we all realise that. We know what we are capable of."
Soccer: Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van


"That was not a superb section. However we should fear about ourselves and never Germany. "I don't think we are favourites." The Dutch are, nonetheless, in assured temper after Thursday's win. "At times we played really good football but it can, and it must be, a lot better on Sunday," stated van Dijk.
Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk


"At times we played really good football but it can, and it must be, a lot better on Sunday," said Van Dijk. "There were times where we did not put enough pressure on them and were sloppy and lost the ball. "Against Germany we can expect a completely different game and we all realise that. We know what we are capable of."


The Netherlands will not be lulled into a false sense of security when they face a struggling, new-look Germany in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Amsterdam on Sunday, captain Virgil van Dijk has said.
Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk


But we must worry about ourselves and not Germany. I don't think we are favourites but that is up to you members of the media to decide." Van Dijk. "There were times where we did not put
We're not favourites towards Germany: Van Dijk - Latest News


The Netherlands will not be lulled into a false sense of security when they face a struggling, new-look Germany in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Amsterdam on Sunday, captain Virgil van Dijk has said.
Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk


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Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk

We're not favourites against Germany: Van Dijk


"That was not a good phase. But we must worry about ourselves and not Germany. "I don't think we are favourites." The Dutch are, however, in confident mood after Thursday's win. "At times we played really good football but it can, and it must be, a lot better on Sunday," said van Dijk.
Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk


AMSTERDAM, March 23 (Reuters) - The Netherlands will not be lulled into a false sense of security when they face a struggling, new-look Germany in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Amsterdam on Sunday, captain Virgil van Dijk has said. The Dutch beat the Germans 3-0 at home last October and came from
Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk