VILA-Real: Barcelona wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal guided the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal on Sunday.&nbsp;Brazil international Raphinha won and converted an early penalty before Villarreal&#39;s Renato Veiga was sent off before half-time for a late lunge on teenager Yamal.&nbsp;The 18-year-old slotted home Barca&#39;s second midway through the second half, as Hansi Flick&#39;s side restored their advantage on Real Madrid, second, and won an eighth consecutive league game.&nbsp;Villarreal are fourth after Atletico Madrid moved ahead of them with a 3-0 win at Girona earlier on.&nbsp;Flick launched into an impassioned defence of Raphinha on Saturday after he was not included in FIFA&#39;s &#39;The Best&#39; team of the year earlier in the week, and the winger quickly repaid his coach.&nbsp;Raphinha produced an all-action display at Villarreal&#39;s Estadio de la Ceramica, where the match was played instead of in Miami, after La Liga&#39;s plans to take this game to the United States were scrapped in October.&nbsp;Barca were poor defensively and struggled in their build-up play, but the quality of wingers Raphinha and Yamal and their goalkeeper Joan Garcia&#39;s outstanding performance decided an entertaining encounter.&nbsp;Jules Kounde blocked Villarreal striker Ayoze Perez&#39;s shot before Raphinha drew a foul from Santi Comesana to win a penalty at the other end.&nbsp;The winger dispatched it confidently and nearly added the second with a superb effort from distance which crashed back off the bar.&nbsp;Kounde deflected a cross into his own net as Villarreal fought back, but the goal was disallowed for offside in the build-up.&nbsp;Barca stopper Joan Garcia saved from Tajon Buchanan after an Alejandro Balde mistake as Villarreal almost levelled.&nbsp;The visitors&#39; job was made easier by Veiga&#39;s needless red card for an ugly, late lunge on Yamal before the interval.&nbsp;The champions got their second goal after a scramble in the box, with Frenkie de Jong teeing up Yamal to fire home after 63 minutes.&nbsp;Joan Garcia made stunning saves to deny Rafa Marin and Georges Mikautadze to help Barca end 2026 with three points and a third clean sheet in their last three games across all competitions.&nbsp;Kounde went off hurt before the end, potentially adding to Flick&#39;s problems at the back following Andreas Christensen being diagnosed with a partially torn knee ligament.&nbsp;Barca finish the year in better shape than rivals Real Madrid, who beat Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday, but still with plenty of their own concerns to worry about.

Football

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal powered Barcelona to a 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal, moving four points clear atop La Liga, extending an eight-game winning run as Flick’s side overcame defensive struggles with late Yamal goal.

Barca's Raphinha, Yamal strike in Villarreal win

MADRID: Jude Bellingham&#39;s goal helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to win a tense Clasico and move five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of La Liga on Sunday. Champions Barcelona won all four times the teams were pitted against each other last season but in his first Clasico as Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso snapped that run. Kylian Mbappe, who later missed a penalty, fired Madrid in front, and although Fermin Lopez levelled for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham netted a second for the hosts before half-time, which proved decisive. Barca playmaker Pedri was sent off in the final stages for a second yellow card as tensions spilt over in the Spanish capital. Madrid&#39;s victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games, and Alonso&#39;s side proved against Barca that they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid in September. &quot;Against Atletico we didn&#39;t play how we wanted, and today we had another chance to show what we can do, and we have to continue like this,&quot; said Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. Alonso said his team &quot;needed this feeling of being able to win a big game&quot; after last season&#39;s struggles against Barca. The Spaniard&#39;s counterpart on the touchline was Hansi Flick&#39;s assistant Marcus Sorg, as the German coach was suspended following a red card last weekend as they scraped a victory over relegation-battling Girona. &quot;The season is long, we have 28 more games and we&#39;re not scared about the situation now,&quot; said Sorg after the defeat. Barcelona were without several regular starters, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo among others, while Lamine Yamal still does not appear fully fit after a groin injury but started. The teenager wound up Madrid fans in the week by claiming Los Blancos &quot;steal&quot; and &quot;complain&quot; and his name was greeted with a chorus of jeers when read out before kick-off. Barcelona had more of the ball in the first half but it was largely sterile possession and Madrid created the most dangerous opportunities. The hosts were awarded an early penalty when Yamal clashed with Vinicius Junior, but it was cancelled after a VAR review. Madrid fans&#39; ire at the officials grew when Mbappe blasted home from outside the area, but the goal was ruled out for a millimetric offside against the French superstar. Mbappe did not have long to wait before he could celebrate in earnest, after fine movement and a perfect pass by Bellingham sent him through on goal. The forward, the division&#39;s top goalscorer, netted his 11th league goal of the campaign with a lethal low finish past Wojciech Szczesny. The Polish goalkeeper made several more saves, and it was against the run of play when Barcelona equalized. Arda Guler gave away possession in a dangerous area and Marcus Rashford, playing in his first Clasico, crossed for Lopez to blast the visitors level in the 38th minute. Bellingham deciderBellingham struck Madrid&#39;s second five minutes later to give Los Blancos a deserved advantage at the interval. The England international, who scored his first goal at the Bernabeu since April in midweek against Juventus, gleefully tapped home after Eder Militao nodded Vinicius&#39;s cross back into his path. Madrid should have extended their lead at the start of the second half, but Szczesny made a fine save to push out Mbappe&#39;s penalty, after Eric Garcia was penalized for handball. Yamal, frustrated and struggling to make an impact on the game, sent a long-range shot high over the bar as Madrid closed ranks and kept the Catalans at a safe distance from their goal. Sorg sent defender Ronald Araujo up front during nine minutes of stoppage time in desperation, but unlike last weekend it did not pay off. Pedri was sent off in the final seconds for a second yellow card for a late foul on Tchouameni, sparking a brief sideline shoving match, while players from both sides rowed after the final whistle. &quot;(Yamal) needs more rhythm, more games, on the highest level, it&#39;s normal (after injury). He&#39;s 18, we have to help him, and we will do it all together,&quot; added Sorg, after the winger was nullified by Madrid. &quot;They defended well, Real. We have to accept this.&quot;

Madrid's victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games, and Alonso's side proved against Barca that they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid in September.

Bellingham claims Liga leaders Real Madrid Clasico win over Barca

BARCELONA: &nbsp;Substitute Ronald Ara&uacute;jo snatched Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Girona in stoppage time in La Liga on Saturday and ended a mini losing streak before the clasico at Real Madrid next week.&nbsp;The central defender made the move of a striker when he slid in front of his marker as they raced to the near post and skilfully redirected a low pass from Frenkie de Jong and ignited the home crowd.&nbsp;Ara&uacute;jo&#39;s last-gasp goal came moments after Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was sent off with two quick yellow cards, apparently for complaining that the referee had not added more than four minutes of injury time.&nbsp;The sending off means Flick won&rsquo;t be on the sideline for the first clasico of the season.&nbsp;With his team stymied in attack and scorers Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Ferran Torres unavailable because of injury, Flick sent on Ara&uacute;jo in the 82nd and ordered him to join the attack in their desperate search for a winner.&nbsp;&ldquo;I am really happy for Ronald because he always plays with his whole heart for this team,&rdquo; Flick said. &ldquo;I spoke to him to ask if it was possible for him to play at this position.&quot;&nbsp;Before the international break, Barcelona lost to Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the Champions League and was stunned at Sevilla 4-1 in La Liga.&nbsp;Barcelona moved into the league lead with a one-point advantage over Madrid before it plays Getafe on Sunday. Before the trip to the capital, Barcelona hosts Olympiakos on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Substitute Ronald Araújo scored a stoppage-time winner as Barcelona beat Girona 2-1 in La Liga. Coach Hansi Flick was sent off and will miss next week’s clasico against Real Madrid.

Araujo strikes late as Barca snatch win over Girona

BARCELONA: Lamine Yamal is fit again and ready to play a week before the first clasico of the season, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Friday.&nbsp;Yamal and midfielder Ferm&iacute;n L&oacute;pez have both recovered from injuries and could play at least part of Barcelona&rsquo;s La Liga game against Girona on Saturday.&nbsp;&ldquo;They&rsquo;re back, but they can&rsquo;t yet play the full 90 minutes,&rdquo; Flick said.&nbsp;After Girona, Barcelona hosts Olympiakos on Tuesday in the Champions League and then visits Real Madrid on October 26, in the Spanish league.&nbsp;Yamal has been affected by a groin injury for weeks.&nbsp;The 18-year-old star missed four games for Barcelona before he returned for two appearances, only to aggravate the injury in a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on October 1.&nbsp; That ruled him out of a game at Sevilla, which Barcelona lost 4-1, and then two World Cup qualifiers for Spain, which his national team won without him.&nbsp;Ferm&iacute;n has missed four games for Barcelona and was ruled out of Spain&rsquo;s qualifiers with a left-leg muscle injury.&nbsp;Flick said he hoped Brazil forward Raphinha will have recovered from a hamstring injury in time for the Madrid match.&nbsp;Barcelona&rsquo;s injury list still includes strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, midfielders Dani Olmo and Gavi P&aacute;ez and goalkeeper Joan Garc&iacute;a.&nbsp;Second-placed Barcelona trails Madrid by two points at the top of the Spanish league.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Fermín López have recovered from injuries and could feature against Girona, coach Hansi Flick said. Yamal’s return boosts Barcelona before the October 26 clasico against leaders Real Madrid.

Yamal returns from injury ahead of Barcelona’s crucial Madrid clash

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and his players are not pleased at having to travel 4,500 miles to play a regular season La Liga match near Miami in December.&nbsp;Replying to a question at a press conference on Friday, Flick made his feelings clear.&nbsp;&ldquo;My players are not happy, I am not happy, but La Liga decided that we will play this game,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The December 20 match will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, home of the NFL&rsquo;s Miami Dolphins.&nbsp;Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended the Spanish league game by saying it represents the opportunity to further push into the American sports market.&nbsp;But for Flick and his players, it represents added travel before a short winter break. Barcelona will also travel to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup starting January 7.&nbsp;Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has criticized playing the game in the US, saying players are already overloaded with travel and a packed playing calendar.&nbsp;Like Barcelona, Villarreal is also playing in the Champions League this season.&nbsp;La Liga president Javier Tebas has said that the league plans to make an international soccer match an annual event. The league has chartered planes to bring to Florida what it estimates will be 2,000 to 3,000 fans from Villarreal, which is the home team.&nbsp;Barcelona plays Girona in the Spanish league on Saturday.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and his players voiced frustration over La Liga’s decision to stage a December 20 match in Miami, citing excessive travel before their winter break and upcoming Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Barcelona coach and his players are 'not happy' with Miami match

BARCELONA:&nbsp;Barcelona rejected a request from an Israeli basketball team to train at their facilities next week, a club source confirmed to AFP on Wednesday. The Catalan club said it was for logistical and public order reasons that they would not allow Hapoel Jerusalem to train on their Palau Blaugrana court before a match against Baxi Manresa on October 15 in the EuroCup competition. &quot;We don&#39;t want to have any problems,&quot; explained the club source, after an increase in protests against Israel because of the Gaza war. The source said on that day preparations would also begin for a Barca handball match in the Champions League, and that Manresa were obliged to allow their opponents use of their court. Valencia Basket are due to face Hapoel Tel Aviv, another Israeli team, in the EuroLeague competition on the same day. The pro-Palestinian BDS movement, calling for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, has called for that match to be cancelled. Spain&#39;s government has labelled Israel&#39;s actions a &quot;genocide&quot; and prime minister Pedro Sanchez in September called for Israeli teams to be excluded from international sport. Israel&#39;s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,183 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.

Barcelona denied Hapoel Jerusalem training access due to protests and logistics, amid rising calls in Spain to boycott Israeli sports over the Gaza conflict and violence.

 Barcelona reject Israeli team training facility request

Reuters

BENGALURU: Barcelona said their request for a permit to return to the Camp Nou for Sunday&#39;s LaLiga match against Real Sociedad has been denied, with the city council highlighting safety and security issues with the revamped venue.&nbsp;Barca had been hoping to return to a reduced-capacity Camp Nou with 27,000 spectators,but have failed to obtain the necessary permits from Barcelona City Council.&nbsp;Barca will instead host the match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuic, where they played during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons with renovations at Camp Nou now nine months behind schedule.&nbsp;&quot;We have spotted different elements that need to be fixed and have an impact in the safety and security of the stadium,&quot; chief of civil protection Sebastia Massague said at a city council meeting.&nbsp;Barca had to begin their LaLiga home campaign at the Estadi Johan Cruyff in their own training complex, where only 6,000 fans attended their match against Valencia on September 14, after a Post Malone concert left the Lluis Companys pitch in poor condition.&nbsp;&quot;The club is currently working on the new amendments that the council has shared today,&quot; Barca said in a statement.&nbsp;On Friday, the Catalan club also announced that their Champions&rsquo; League group stage match against Paris St Germain on October 1 would also take place at the Lluis Companys.&nbsp;Barca are second in LaLiga, trailing leaders Real Madrid by five points but having played a game fewer.

Barcelona’s request to return to Camp Nou was rejected by city officials over safety concerns. The club will instead host Real Sociedad and PSG at Lluis Companys Stadium while renovations remain delayed.

Barcelona denied Camp Nou return, will host games at Lluis Companys

MADRID: Dani Olmo scored and set up one of Ferran Torres&#39; two goals with a neat backheel flick as Barcelona beat Getafe 3-0 in the Spanish league on Sunday. It was the second straight game for Barcelona at its training facility as the newly renovated Camp Nou Stadium lacks the required permits. Olmo&#39;s clever flick inside the area led to Torres scoring for Barcelona in the 15th minute, and Raphinha&#39;s assist to Torres in the 34th allowed the Catalan club to increase its first-half advantage. Olmo then closed the scoring with a shot from near the penalty spot in the 62nd after a setup by substitute Marcus Rashford. A man carrying a Palestinian flag entered the field just before Olmo scored but did not affect the goal. The man was taken away by security. &ldquo;We had to focus on our own performance,&quot; Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. &quot;We controlled the match. It&rsquo;s never easy to score three against Getafe.&rdquo; The victory moved defending champion Barcelona within two points of leader Real Madrid, which defeated Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday. &ldquo;It was important to come away with the three points,&rdquo; Torres said. The match was played at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, which typically hosts the Barcelona women&rsquo;s team and men&rsquo;s reserve and youth squads. The club had already played there in its home opener &mdash; a 6-0 rout of Valencia on Sept. 14. Getafe, which had won three of its first four matches, dropped to eighth place. Atletico&#39;s woes Atletico Madrid&#39;s early-season struggles continued with a 1-1 draw at Mallorca, giving the club its worst league start under coach Diego Simeone after five matches. Juli&aacute;n Alvarez missed a first-half penalty kick and Atletico conceded a late equalizer as it failed to win for the fourth time in five league matches. Atletico&#39;s only win so far was 2-0 against Villarreal last weekend. It has six points, its lowest points total after five matches since 2009-10 (three points), just before Simeone took over as coach. &ldquo;We are trying to build a new team,&rdquo; Simeone said. &ldquo;Several players arrived and we knew that something like this could happen. We knew we would have to go through this process.&quot; Atletico had also drawn 1-1 against both Elche and at Alaves after opening with a 2-1 loss at Espanyol. It was coming off a 3-2 loss at Liverpool in its Champions League opener on Wednesday. Forward Alvarez had his 14th-minute penalty kick saved by Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Rom&aacute;n, and striker Alexander Sorloth was sent off for a hard foul in the 72nd after video review. Sorloth had replaced Alvarez about 10 minutes before being sent off. Alvarez did not hide his frustration at being substituted but Simeone later downplayed the player&#39;s reaction. Atletico, which has conceded eight goals in six matches across all competitions so far, went ahead with a shot from inside the area by Conor Gallagher in the 79th, but Vedat Muriqi equalized for the hosts with a header in the 85th. Mallorca remains winless with only two points. Earlier Sunday, Celta Vigo drew 1-1 at Rayo Vallecano, while Elche beat Oviedo 1-0 at home with a ninth-minute goal by Andr&eacute; Silva in a match between promoted clubs.

Dani Olmo starred as Barcelona beat Getafe 3-0, while Atletico Madrid’s struggles continued with a 1-1 draw at Mallorca.

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