Spanish Clubs

Are the stars aligning for a Messi return to Barcelona?

Before the 2022 World Cup, the idea of Lionel Messi extending his contract with French multi-champion PSG seemed a safe bet. Back from Qatar, however, that certainty has started to crumble and the leading narrative around the player's future is pointing to a sensational return to Barcelona. 

Is Messi returning to Barcelona?

Of course, there are a lot of rumors going around, but the blaugranas fans are feeling optimistic after the club's vice-president Rafa Yuste and coach Xavi spoke on Friday about how much they wish for Messi's return to the team. 

Mapi León's 25-yard missile fires Barcelona into Champions League semifinals

Barcelona vs. Roma was the biggest mismatch of the Women's Champions League quarterfinals on paper, and so it proved over two legs as Barça stormed to a 6-1 aggregate victory over the Italian side.

After winning 1-0 in Rome last week, Barcelona scored five at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night through Fridolina Rolfö's brace and further goals from Mapi León, Asisat Oshoala and Patri Guijarro. 

Italy international Annamaria Serturini was able to score one for La Lupa in Catalonia. 

Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas returns to Barça training after long-term knee injury

Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas completed part of the training session with her Barcelona women's teammates on Monday as she continues to recover from a knee injury.

The Spain midfielder injured her knee in July before the women's European Championship.

"I'm glad to move on to the next phase of rehabilitation. I'm happy to be back training with the team," Putellas said on Monday. "It's a matter of patience, of continuing to work progressively with the team and getting back into shape."

Player tries to return to game seconds after being resuscitated from cardiac arrest

Dragisa Gudelj is in stable condition.

A picture of Gudelj on Instagram, with two thumbs up and a big wide smile in his hospital room, is proof of his speedy recovery after the cardiac arrest he suffered on Saturday during a game between Córdoba and Racing Ferrol in the Spanish third division. 

Dragisa Gudelj cardiac arrest

The 25-year-old defender collapsed on the pitch in the 11th minute at El Arcángel Stadium. 

Mesut Özil announces his retirement at 34 years old

Germany's World Cup-winning midfielder Mesut Özil announced his retirement from football at the age of 34 on Wednesday.

The former Real Madrid and Arsenal player was a key member of Germany's World Cup-winning side in Brazil in 2014.

He retired from the squad in 2018 amid a political debate in Germany about an influx of migrants and after backlash over a photograph taken with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, saying he faced "racism and disrespect" over his Turkish ancestry.

The Americans to watch in this week's Women's Champions League quarterfinals

The UEFA Women's Champions League resumes Tuesday with the quarterfinal first legs, and don't forget that all the action is available to watch for free through the DAZN UWCL YouTube channel.

Action begins Tuesday with Bayern Munich hosting Arsenal at Allianz Arena (1:45 p.m. ET) and continues at the Stadio Olimpico as Roma takes on Barcelona (4:00 p.m. ET). Wednesday features Lyon vs. Chelsea at Groupama Stadium (1:45 p.m. ET) followed by PSG against Wolfsburg at the Parc des Princes (4:00 p.m. ET).

Weekend review: The major talking points from European soccer

Talking points from the weekend in European soccer leagues:

BARCELONA TAKE HUGE STEP TOWARDS LALIGA TITLE

Barcelona have tightened their grip at the top of the LaLiga standings after an electric 2-1 comeback win in an El Clásico against bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.

Franck Kessié's stunner in added time gave Barça a well-earned victory that left second-placed Real trailing the leaders by 12 points with only 12 games to be played.

Champions League quarterfinal draw will see unlikely team guaranteed to make final

NYON — Holders Real Madrid will play 2021 winners Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals while Manchester City's Pep Guardiola will visit his former club Bayern Munich after the teams were drawn together on Friday.

Reigning Serie A champions AC Milan will face this season's runaway leaders Napoli in an all-Italian clash while Inter Milan play Portuguese side Benfica.

Marcus Rashford makes a 25-yard screamer look as simple as a tap-in

The year of Marcus Rashford continued Thursday as the Manchester United forward scored the lone goal against Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarín, giving the Red Devils a 5-1 aggregate victory and easy passage to the Europa League quarterfinals.

Before the World Cup, Rashford had a total of eight goals in 19 appearances across all competitions. Since the tournament in Qatar, the 25-year-old has found the back of the net 18 times in 24 games. The total of 26 from 43 is already a career best and the Red Devils are still competing on three fronts.

Gavi makes history by attempting two head tackles in one game

There are all sorts of stats and accolades that illustrate how talented Gavi is — the Golden Boy award, Spain's youngest goalscorer, the youngest World Cup scorer since Pelé — but he's a phenomenon best experienced live.

The sky might be falling on Barcelona (littered with fake cash featuring the word "MAFIA"), but Gavi's willing to take on that duel. "Lost cause" is not in the 18-year-old's lexicon. 

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