Today, ESPN published a Lionel Messi story by Sam Borden that’s scheduled to appear in ESPN The Magazine’s June 8 World Fame issue. The long-form article mainly concerns Messi’s off-field demeanor — he’s quiet, reclusive and prefers to express himself on the pitch.
Another summer transfer season approaches. It’s another opportunity, yet again, for Antoine Griezmann to be linked with a move away from Atletico Madrid. Although, it seems Atletico won’t let Griezmann go without a fight.
The hype surrounding 20-year-old French winger Ousmane Dembele was largely quelled this season after a pair of injuries kept the kid sidelined for 27 games between September and February, but it was only a matter of fitness until the train’s wheels started rolling again.
Barcelona has already clinched the LaLiga title. Lionel Messi and his cohorts are unbeaten in league play and in the process of one of the greatest LaLiga campaigns ever. So it makes sense Barça opponents are paying homage to the Catalan club in the final matches of the season. The reverence shown in the Villarreal guard of honor on Wednesday was a fine example of sportsmanship at its best.
A remarkably contentious — almost hilariously so — El Clasico ended 2-2, a result that won’t particularly bother Real Madrid but one that sees Barcelona extend this season’s unbeaten league run to 35 matches. If you’re a Real Madrid fan, Barcelona got away with murder; if you’re a Barcelona fan, Real Madrid got special treatment. So just another El Clasico, really.
It’s never a proper El Clasico without a bit of blood and thunder (coupled with some extremely cringeworthy theatrics), but a brilliant opening 15 minutes has been followed by some pretty pathetic (but extremely entertaining) bickering from both sides, culminating in a straight red card to Sergi Roberto just before the halftime whistle.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise but El Clasico is lit. Barcelona began the match on the front foot with Lionel Messi getting on the ball in some dangerous areas for the champions-elect.
However, the opening goal was started and finished by Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan releasing Sergi Roberto on the wing before expertly finishing the Spanish full back’s immaculate cross in the 10th minute.
Roberto’s final ball was spectacular, but this is just brilliant forward play from Suarez.
Although Barcelona has already celebrated its La Liga title, the stakes are as high as ever ahead of this spring's edition of El Clasico. Real Madrid will almost certainly finish the season in second or third, but they'll be plenty motivated to keep Barcelona from joining the ranks of invincible soccer teams.