Al-Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder, said on Saturday he had tested positive for COVID-19 but was asymptomatic.
Xavi, who renewed his contract with the Qatari club on July 5, said he will self-isolate as his team prepares for its first match on Saturday after the Qatar Stars League (QSL) was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goalkeeper is a frequently criticized but rarely praised position. Everyone wants to see acrobatic, top-corner dives and flashy one-on-one saves, when in truth those moments are just a fraction of what actually defines a goalkeeper. The modern goalkeeper must be able to play with their feet, organize their backline and play sweeper, while also executing their traditional shot-stopping duties.
Therefore, it is crucial to utilize all of these categories when ranking goalkeepers in order to paint a complete picture of a goalkeeper's abilities.
Barcelona’s LaLiga title defense came to a sputtering end last Thursday following a 2-1 loss to Osasuna, a defeat that Lionel Messi called a microcosm of Barça’s “erratic and weak” 2019-20 team. That inconsistency was again highlighted in Sunday’s final league match of the season as the Blaugrana raced to a 3-0 halftime lead against Alavés en route to a 5-0 win.
With the team trying to stay sharp ahead of its rescheduled Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Napoli on Aug. 8, Ernesto Valverde named a strong starting XI against 15th-place Alavés.
BARCELONA — Lionel Messi has rarely been known for speaking out but he could not help himself when analysing what has been a disastrous season finale for Barcelona and did not hold back after Thursday's limp 2-1 LaLiga defeat at home by Osasuna.
Calling his side "weak," "inconsistent" and "very easy to score against," the club captain called for urgent changes after surrendering the league title to Real Madrid, saying it was no good to use their rivals' relentless form as an excuse.
"Messi explodes," ran the cover of newspaper Mundo Deportivo.
Having a beverage while watching sports is a tradition unlike any other. The performance of the team you’re supporting can be a large factor for what and how much you’re drinking. This list covers some of the top teams in Europe and what you’ve been drinking for the past several months based on who you support.
Add another one to Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane’s trophy cabinet — Los Blancos are the champions of Spain.
Karim Benzeman scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Villarreal 3-1 in the club’s penultimate LaLiga match on Thursday at the Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium. The victory meant Barcelona could not catch its archrival regardless of what it accomplished the remainder of the season, awarding Real Madrid its 34th league title. All this despite a maddeningly perfect free kick from Lionel Messi in Barcelona’s shock 2-1 defeat to Osasuna.
Given the club’s unique blaugrana colors, Barcelona has sported some of the most iconic jerseys in world football. The release of the home Barcelona kit 2020-21 on Tuesday was an attempt to tap into some of those legendary shirts. An attempt.
It’s been a long time coming but the Real Madrid Femenino team has finally arrived, and there’s some North American representation in the form of Mexican defender Kenti Robles.
Previously known as Club Deportivo Tacón, Real Madrid officially announced the absorption of the team back in June of 2019 following its promotion to the Primera División. The club spent the 2019-20 season as Tacón, finishing in 10th with a record of six wins, five draws and 10 defeats in a season that was brought to a premature end by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With a player as legendary as Lionel Messi, someone who break records seemingly every week, it’s easy to take for granted the history he’s making. But this latest Lionel Messi assist record set on Saturday is just another reminder that we’re watching one of the greatest players of all time, something no one should take for granted.