LaLiga

Barca’s 4-3 El Clásico Thriller, Inspired By Raphinha And Yamal, Nears Them La Liga Glory

Barcelona produced a stunning comeback at Montjuic on Saturday to beat Real Madrid for the fourth time this season in all competitions and move seven points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of the table in Spain.

FIRST HALF

Barcelona made the worst possible start to the game when Wojciech Szczęsny brought down Kylian Mbappe and conceded a penalty. Mbappe duly converted the spot-kick to make it 1-0 after just three minutes.

Another goal wasn’t too far away. Lamine Yamal claimed to have been fouled after losing the ball but Madrid simply played on and worked the ball through to Mbappe to make it 2-0 with only 14 minutes on the clock.

Barcelona were in all sorts of trouble at that point but roared back in spectacular style. Eric Garcia gave the hosts hope when he headed in a corner, before Yamal curled home an exquisite shot to level it up.

And then it was over to Raphinha. Barca’s brilliant Brazilian was sent through on goal and slotted home comfortably to put the hosts ahead for the first time in the match. He then pounced on a mistake to make it 4-2 just before half-time to extend Barca’s lead.

SECOND HALF

Unsurprisingly the second half wasn’t quite as dramatic as the opening 45 minutes. Barca did get the ball in the back of the net early on when Raphinha squared for Yamal, but the effort was ruled out as the Brazilian was just offside in the build-up.

Instead it was Real Madrid who managed to score next. A quick break saw Vinicius Jr square for Mbappe to knock the ball home to reduce the deficit to just one goal and complete his hat-trick.

Yet Raphinha should have had a hat-trick, too. Yamal produced a brilliant outside-of-the-boot cross for the Brazilian to meet at the far post but he somehow managed to miss the target.

Barcelona then appealed for a penalty after a Ferran Torres shot was blocked in the penalty area by Aurélien Tchouaméni’s arm. There was a long wait as VAR had a look at it before deciding not to award a spot-kick.

Real Madrid did have chances in the dying minutes. Substitute Victor Munoz somehow managed to miss after being sent clear through, while Mbappe had an effort saved and then had a goal ruled out due to offside.

Barca thought they had scored again in stoppage time when substitute Fermin Lopez smashed home a fifth, only to see it ruled out for an apparent handball.

Yet it didn’t matter as seconds later the final whistle blew to confirm a magnificent victory that leaves Barca on the brink of the title.

Barcelona: Szczesny; Eric (Fort), Cubarsi (Christensen), Iñigo, Martín (Balde); De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo (Fermin), Raphinha; Ferran (Gavi)

Goals: Garcia 19’, Yamal 32’, Raphinha 34’, 45’

Real Madrid: Courtois; Vázquez, Tchouameni, Asencio, García; Güler, Ceballos, Valverde, Bellingham; Mbappé, Vinicius

Goals: Mbappe 3’, 14’, 69’

Barcablaugranes.com

Related Topics:Barcelona El Clasico Featured Real Madrid

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LaLiga

Balde, Fermin, Yamal Praise Raphinha

Barcelona players have been showing plenty of love for Raphinha during the post-season as they enjoy their holidays.

Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal have all been spotted wearing Raphinha’s iconic Brazil No. 11 shirt while enjoying their time off.

It’s a massive compliment to Raphinha who enjoyed a stellar campaign last time out as Hansi Flick’s side won the double.

Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal et Fermin Lopez avec le maillot de Raphinha. pic.twitter.com/tlVsiQB8aI

Raphinha scored 34 goals and bagged 22 assists in all competitions last season and was also named La Liga’s Player of the Season.

The Brazilian’s form ensured that Barcelona handed him a new contract at the end of the season which will ensure he remains at the club until 2028.

Raphinha was in Brazil action after the domestic season ended in World Cup qualifying but is now also enjoying some time off before Barcelona are due to return to action next month for pre-season.

Barcablaugranes.com

LaLiga

Cazorla, 40, Seals Oviedo’s La Liga Promotion With Goal

Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla kick-started a dramatic comeback as Real Oviedo won the La Liga 2 play-off final to return to the Spanish top flight after a 24-year absence.

40-year-old Cazorla – who returned to his boyhood club in 2023 – converted a penalty late in the first half of Saturday’s second leg with his side 2-0 down on aggregate to CD Mirandes.

Oviedo levelled the tie in the second half through Ilyas Chaira before Francisco Portillo scored a stunning winner in extra-time to secure promotion.

Cazorla claimed the decisive goal in the play-off semi-final tie against Almeria, coming off the bench to convert a free-kick and secure a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Cazorla was a product of Oviedo’s academy, but was forced to leave the club in 2003 when financial issues decimated the club’s youth system and saw the first team re-enter in the third tier.

When Oviedo faced another crisis a decade later, Cazorla was one of thousands of fans and former players who purchased shares in the club to keep it alive.

A two-time European champion with Spain, the midfielder spent six years at Arsenal and made 180 appearances before leaving in 2018.

He suffered an Achilles injury in October 2016, going on to have 11 operations to cure the problem.

One of the operations led to gangrene with doctors telling Cazorla he should be satisfied to walk again, never mind play.

Bbc.com

LaLiga

“I Want To Retire At Real Madrid,” Says Courtois

He spoke ahead of the Club World Cup game against Pachuca

Speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina, before facing Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois addressed speculation surrounding his future by saying, “I hope I can renew. I’m very happy at Real Madrid, playing here is a dream and every year that passes is another dream. I’m at the club’s complete disposal, they know I want to stay here… and hopefully retire here. But now it’s time to prove myself on the pitch. The rest will be easy to resolve.”

Courtois on how long the team needs to gel
“I can’t give an exact date or number of days. But we’ve been at it for a week now and we’re getting closer and closer to what the coach wants. We’re watching videos, having meetings… and there’s no choice but to go through trial and error, trial and error. Normally, there’s a pre-season with three, four or five matches, but here it’s the opposite. This is starting and we’re already in a tournament. That’s what Xabi said: we have to go out there to win, give it our all and wait.”

Courtois on his comments about Ancelotti’s influence still showing
“I didn’t say it as a criticism. Not at all. We’ve won so much in the last four years! I just meant that now it’s a bit different. But it’s not a criticism, it’s just that there comes a time when you have to adapt to something different, get closer to that style. It’s not a criticism of the last four years, it’s just something different.”

Courtois on his relationship with Dean Huijsen
“We almost always speak Dutch, it just comes naturally. He’s a great centre-back… Also huge in size! You have to get used to playing with him. The first game went well, but all these processes take time. He’s a smart guy and he’ll do well.”

Courtois on Pachuca
“Of course, we played them in December! They’re a great team and they’ve signed Kennedy, who I played with at Chelsea. They’re a great team and they’ll make it difficult.”

Managingmadrid.com