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Lamine Yamal slid to his back, his hands covering his face. The 19-year-old Barcelona phenom is so used to winning, and playing so spectacularly well, that he seemed the most awestruck of all the 60,000-plus at Camp Nou when he missed a chance like few others against Real Madrid on Sunday. Yamal's close-range miss late in the first half summed up a frustrating clasico for Barcelona, which ended in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid. Kylian Mbappe scored twice for Madrid to give Jose Mourinho a victory in his first game at Camp Nou since returning to coach Barcelona's fiercest rival. Mbappe and Yamal are two of the favorites for the Ballon d'Or award to be announced in London on Monday. While voting for the world's top player last season ended a month ago, Mbappe upstaged Yamal on the field this time. First goal Madrid had fortune on its side in the 41st minute when Mbappe's first goal was part chance, part being in the right place. Barcelona defender Gerard Martin tried to
Paris Saint-Germain was too powerful for even Lamine Yamal's magic as it ended Barcelona's 11-game winning run to top the Champions League table. A thrilling end to the game with four goals in the last 20 minutes delivered a statement win for PSG, which is joined Liverpool as the only teams with three victories after Alexis Mac Allister led a rousing 4-3 comeback triumph over Villarreal on Tuesday. Yamal had just displayed stunning skill to level the score at 2-2 from a narrow angle when PSG took the lead again through Vitinha, before Fabian Ruiz added another for a 4-2 victory. "We never feel like we're powerless, or that we're beaten in any way," PSG forward Desire Doue said. "We always know there's an opportunity as long as the final whistle hasn't gone," Injuries to stars Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia took some of the shine off the win for PSG, which could now face having to cope without two of its biggest difference-makers in attack. Barcelona needs to bounce back
In a test for both teams and the strained French police, Paris Saint-Germain hosts Barcelona in a Champions League showcase against the backdrop of violent unrest across France. PSG and Barcelona head the standings, though Liverpool or even surprising Stuttgart could end Tuesday on top of the table. The game, which will need a robust security presence, takes place in a very different context to when PSG beat Manchester City 4-2 away last week. What began in France as protests against school conditions has expanded to include a wide range of other groups and causes. There have been violent clashes, fires and looting. An emergency meeting with top government officials on Monday confirmed PSG-Barcelona and other soccer games in European competitions can go ahead after the possibility of calling off games and other big events was discussed. Liverpool could go top with a win over Villarreal if PSG and Barcelona draw, or on goal difference if Andoni Iraola's team can rout its Spanish ..
Paris Saint-Germain left back Nuno Mendes faces several weeks out after suffering a tear in his left thigh, the French champion said Sunday. The Portugal international came off in the 53rd minute of Saturday's 3-1 win at Strasbourg in Ligue 1. The injury is also a blow for PSG coach Luis Enrique, given that Mendes would likely have marked Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal in their Champions League game on Tuesday. Yamal operates from the right flank and often cuts inside. The 19-year-old Yamal has scored nine goals overall this season for Barcelona, which has won all its 11 games so far in La Liga and Champions League, and has also been in terrific form for Spain. Veteran France left back Lucas Digne will likely start the game at Parc des Princes in Paris.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been banned for four league matches, including the "clasico" against Barcelona, after pulling the hair of an opponent in Saturday's 1-0 win over Villarreal. Vinicius was shown a straight red card in the 73rd minute for having tugged hard on the hair of Villarreal's Nathan Saliba when they were sprinting down the field, moments before the Madrid player scored a goal. The goal was also ruled out. The Spanish soccer federation's disciplinary committee announced the four-match suspension shortly before Madrid's Champions League match at Roma on Wednesday. Madrid came from two goals down to snatch a 4-3 win in the Italian capital and coach Jose Mourinho slammed the timing of the announcement afterwards. "Do you think it's normal for a player from a Spanish team, preparing for an important match that's also crucial for Spanish soccer, to find out about his four-match suspension just two hours before kickoff?" Mourinho said. "Couldn't they have ...
Barcelona survived a scare against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday. But Bayern Munich was stunned by a late equaliser from Viking in a 3-3 draw in Norway. Arsenal rolled over Lille and it was more misery for Manchester United. Barcelona's 100 per cent start to the season was under threat down 1-0 to Galatasaray in Istanbul, but the Spanish champion rallied to a 4-1 win. Bayern was in even more trouble against Viking, trailing 2-0 at halftime before Harry Kane turned the game around with two goals after the break. Luis Diaz looked to have completed the comeback, but a red card for Michael Olise and a 90th minute goal from Herman Haugen provided another twist. Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win at home over Lille and Atletico Madrid piled more pressure on United coach Michael Carrick with a 2-0 win at the Metropolitano. Inter Milan fell to a surprise 4-3 home loss to Club Brugge, and Villarreal beat Napoli 3-1. 10 out of 10 for Barcelona ================ It's 10 straigh
Raphinha scored a hat trick as Barcelona earned yet another big win, routing Racing Santander 7-2 for its best-ever start to a season. The Catalan club had never won seven games in a row. It has won six straight in the league and another in the Champions League. Gabriel Jesus and Lamine Yamal also found the net for Barcelona, which has scored at least five goals in five of its seven matches across all competitions this season. In the English League Cup, Manchester United was stunned 3-2 by Brighton after squandering a two-goal lead to crash out in round three. In the Europa League, Benfica beat AC Milan 2-0 on the road in the first round of the league stage. Barcelona and Raphinha stay red-hot in Spain With his hat trick, Raphinha took his league-leading tally to nine goals in six matches. The Brazil forward has scored a goal in all but one game this season. "Happy for the goals and for the victory, which is the most important thing," Raphinha said. "The players have the hunger
Barcelona's renovated Camp Nou was picked over Wembley Stadium in London to host the 2029 Champions League final, UEFA said Tuesday. The choice gives Barcelona a marquee game one year before Spain co-hosts the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco. Staging that final is a contest between Real Madrid's renovated Santiago Bernabeu home and the 115,000-seat stadium being built in Casablanca. UEFA's executive committee also confirmed the 2028 Champions League final will return to Bayern Munich's stadium, which was the only bidder, just three years after the 2025 edition. The much-delayed rebuild of a 105,000-seat Camp Nou is ongoing with the upper tier and roof still under construction. Barcelona last hosted the Champions League final in 1999, when Manchester United's two stoppage-time goals stunned a dominant Bayern team. Wembley has hosted three times since then - in 2011, 2013 and 2024 - and eight times in total since the European Cup started 71 years ago. This season's Champio
Barcelona stayed perfect in the Spanish league by cruising to a 5-0 win at Valencia, with Lamine Yamal scoring another brace for the Catalan club. Arsenal rallied to beat Chelsea 2-1 in the Premier League, while Manchester United was stunned in added time to draw 2-2 at Everton on Sunday. Federico Gatti scored two minutes into stoppage time as Juventus drew 1-1 with AC Milan in Serie A. Augsburg moved to the top of the Bundesliga by winning 4-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt, and American midfielder Giovanni Reyna scored in Strasbourg's 6-2 rout of Troyes in France. Barcelona keeps winning in Spain ===================== Barcelona won its fourth game in a row at the start of the Spanish league and is the only team with a perfect record after four rounds. Yamal scored a goal in each half following his first two goals of the season in the win against Rayo Vallecano in the previous round. "I think we played a fantastic game," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. "We controlled the game, we we
Gabriel Jesus completed a transfer deadline day move from Arsenal to Barcelona on Tuesday on a three-year contract. The 29-year-old Brazil striker was part of Arsenal's Premier League title-winning squad last season after lifting four league crowns with Manchester City. He joins Spanish champion Barcelona following the departure of Robert Lewandowski at the end of last season. Jesus joined Arsenal in 2022 after six trophy-laden seasons at City. Despite enduring an injury-disrupted time at the Emirates Stadium, he was part of the squad that ended the London club's 22-year wait to be crowned English champion. Jesus is the latest arrival in a busy transfer window for Barcelona, following deals for Anthony Gordon, Rodri, Joao Cancelo, Karim Adeyemi and Dominik Livakovic.
Barcelona made official the signing of Spain captain Rodri on Tuesday, adding the World Cup's best player to a squad already filled with world champions. The midfielder who helped Spain secure its second World Cup title transferred from Manchester City to join international teammates such as Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi and Pedri. The 30-year-old Rodri's contract will run to 2030, Barcelona said. The announcement was made after the midfielder underwent a medical and the clubs finalized transfer details. Barcelona agreed to a transfer worth 76.5 million euros ($88.5 million), according to a person with knowledge of the transaction confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details of the deal have not been made public. Rodri, who had one year left on his City contract, said upon arriving in Barcelona on Monday that it was "a dream to play" for the Catalan club. "Very happy to arrive," he told reporters brief
Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo believes he has made an "ideal move" to Liverpool after his season-long loan from Barcelona was confirmed on Monday. The 27-year-old Araujo has taken a pay cut to facilitate the move. Liverpool has an option to buy him for a pre-agreed price - reportedly 47 million pounds ($63 million) - should the move prove successful. "It was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. It was a move that was necessary for me to take," Araujo told the club website. "As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly. I'm super happy to be here and excited to get started." Defense was an area which needed strengthening following the departure of Ibrahima Konate at the conclusion of his contract and the ongoing injury issues at right back. Liverpool believe Araujo's experience - he was named Barcelona captain in January - is important and, significantly, he is up to speed having been involved in the Catalans' ...