Sports

Barcelona edge closer to title after 4-3 win over Madrid

Published

11 months ago

May 12, 2025

Barcelona edge closer to title after 4-3 win over Madrid

Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona overcame a two-goal deficit to secure a crucial 4-3 home victory against rivals Real Madrid in a pulsating Clasico, edging them closer to the LaLiga title.

The victory extends Barcelona’s lead at the top of the standings to seven points over second-placed Real Madrid and with three matches remaining, one more victory will clinch a 28^th Spanish league title for the Catalans.

Barca earned a fourth consecutive victory over Real in all competitions this season, and their second in less than a month, in a chaotic match in which both sides showed their usual defensive weaknesses.

However, Barca seemed a much stronger and well organised team overall, dominating possession and creating several chances that were denied by an inspired keeper Thibaut Courtois who prevented Real’s loss from being by a larger margin.

Barcelona can secure the LaLiga title as early as Wednesday, should Real Madrid fail to win at Mallorca. However, regardless of Real’s result, a Barcelona victory in their city derby against Espanyol on Thursday would guarantee the championship for the Catalans.

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Real made a blistering start at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium, with a brace from Kylian Mbappe giving them a two-goal advantage.

He opened the scoring from the penalty spot after he was fouled inside the box by keeper Wojciech Szczesny in the fifth minute and extended their lead with a quick counter nine minutes later from an assist by Vinicius Jr.

However, Barcelona responded swiftly with Eric Garcia, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha all finding the net within 15 minutes to overturn the deficit.

Garcia headed home from a corner in the 19th minute, while Yamal scored the equaliser in the 32nd with another brilliant display of technique as he curled a superb shot from the right corner of the box just outside Courtois’ reach and inside the far post.

Two minutes later, a bad mistake by Mbappe in the midfield gifted Barca the ball, with Raphinha launching a quick counter and giving his side the lead with a tidy finish past a helpless Courtois.

Real thought they had earned a second penalty in the 43rd minute but it was overturned due to an offside in the build-up and, one minute later, a costly error by captain Lucas Vazquez gifted Raphinha the goal that extended Barca’s lead.

Barcelona came back strongly in the second half and had several chances denied by a string of stunning saves by Courtois.

They were shocked, however, when Mbappe reduced the deficit in the 70th minute after a quick counter attack by Vinicius, who ran up the right and put it on a plate for the France forward to complete his hat-trick.

Yet last year’s champions could not recover, leaving them on the brink of a season without silverware.

“It was obviously very important to win today. It’s great to have this game after the Champions League, I think it’s already forgotten,” Yamal told Movistar Plus after they were knocked out of Europe in the semi-finals in a heartbreaking midweek loss to Inter Milan.

Barcelona edge closer to title after 4-3 win over Madrid

Sports

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Published

15 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Lamine Yamal has sparked widespread conversation after condemning the act of mocking religion, describing it as both ignorant and racist.

The FC Barcelona youngster issued the strong warning while reacting to offensive remarks targeting his beliefs, stressing that respect for religion and cultural differences should never be compromised.

According to Yamal, ridiculing someone’s faith goes beyond humor or free speech, and instead reflects a deeper problem of intolerance and lack of understanding in society.

He said acts of religious mockery contribute to division and hostility, especially in a world where diversity continues to grow across communities, sports, and online spaces.

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The teenage football star urged fans and social media users to embrace tolerance, respect, and inclusivity, rather than spreading hate or engaging in abusive behavior.

His comments come amid rising concerns over online abuse in football, where players increasingly face attacks related to race, religion, and personal identity.

Yamal’s stance has drawn praise from supporters and observers who see his response as a bold step in addressing racism in sports and promoting unity among fans worldwide.

As conversations around freedom of expression vs hate speech continue globally, the young star’s message highlights the importance of mutual respect in maintaining harmony both on and off the pitch.

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Sports

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

Published

21 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the Iran national football team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and play its group stage matches in the United States as originally scheduled, dismissing doubts raised amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Infantino made the announcement on Tuesday during Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Antalya, Turkey, saying, “Iran will be at the World Cup. The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.” He stressed that there is no alternative plan to relocate the games, affirming FIFA’s commitment to keeping the tournament on course.

Iran had previously announced it was negotiating with FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico due to security concerns linked to the ongoing US-Israeli-Iran conflict. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had expressed willingness to host the games if necessary, but FIFA confirmed all three fixtures will remain in the U.S., ensuring compliance with the official tournament draw.

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The Iranian squad is drawn in Group G, alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Their matches are scheduled as follows:

Iran vs New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, June 15, 2026
Iran vs Belgium – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, June 21, 2026
Iran vs Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle, June 26, 2026

Infantino, who attended the friendly match in Turkey, praised the Iranian team as “very, very strong” and confirmed that players and coaches are well-prepared for the tournament. He highlighted FIFA’s principle that all qualified teams must compete according to the official schedule, unaffected by political disputes.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, Vice President of the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI), affirmed Iran’s commitment to FIFA’s regulations, stating: “Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honor them.” He said the meeting with Infantino during the friendly gave the team reassurance and a morale boost ahead of the World Cup.

Earlier, some Iranian officials, including Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, had expressed concerns over participation due to safety issues. There were even suggestions that the country might withdraw, but FIFA’s firm stance ensures Iran will compete on U.S. soil as planned.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring 48 teams across multiple North American cities. Iran’s participation guarantees that Group G matches will proceed as drawn, offering fans clarity and ensuring the integrity of the tournament.

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

Sports

Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List

The highest-paid African footballers in 2026 continue to earn staggering wages, with stars in the Saudi Pro League dominating the rankings due to lucrative contracts. From Riyad Mahrez to Mohamed Salah, African players remain among the top earners in global football, earning hundreds of thousands of pounds weekly.

Leading the list is Riyad Mahrez, who earns an estimated £827,000–£886,000 per week at Al-Ahli, making him the highest-paid African footballer. He is followed by Sadio Mané, who earns around £630,000–£680,000 weekly at Al-Nassr.

Defender Kalidou Koulibaly earns about £550,000–£590,000 weekly at Al-Hilal, making him the highest-paid African defender. In Europe, Mohamed Salah continues to command massive wages of £350,000–£400,000 per week at Liverpool FC.

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Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen earns between £250,000–£318,000 weekly at Galatasaray, making him one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers.

Midfielder Franck Kessié and defender Achraf Hakimi both earn just over £220,000 per week, playing for Al-Ahli and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy earns up to £200,000 weekly, while Iñaki Williams takes home about £180,000 per week at Athletic Bilbao. Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes the list with weekly earnings of £150,000–£160,000 at Al-Qadsiah.

Top 10 Highest-Paid African Footballers (2026) – Weekly Salaries

Rank	Player	Club	Weekly Salary
1	Riyad Mahrez	Al-Ahli	£827,000 – £886,000
2	Sadio Mané	Al-Nassr	£630,000 – £680,000
3	Kalidou Koulibaly	Al-Hilal	£550,000 – £590,000
4	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool FC	£350,000 – £400,000
5	Victor Osimhen	Galatasaray	£250,000 – £318,000
6	Franck Kessié	Al-Ahli	£220,000 – £233,000
7	Achraf Hakimi	Paris Saint-Germain	£220,000 – £227,000
8	Edouard Mendy	Al-Ahli	£170,000 – £200,000
9	Iñaki Williams	Athletic Bilbao	~£180,000
10	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Al-Qadsiah	£150,000 – £160,000

The rankings underline the growing dominance of the Saudi Pro League, which now offers significantly higher wages than most European leagues, attracting top African talent. Only a few players, such as Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, remain among the top earners in Europe.