Sports
Barcelona thrash Real Madrid 4-0 in El Clasico encouter
Barcelona thrash Real Madrid 4-0 in El Clasico encouter
Robert Lewandowski’s brace helped Barcelona move six points clear at the top of La Liga with a chastening 4-0 win over Real Madrid, whose 42-match unbeaten league run came to an abrupt end at the Bernabeu.
There were sub-plots aplenty heading into this intriguing first El Clasico of the season – the first for Kylian Mbappe and Hansi Flick on either side of the divide in Spanish football’s biggest rivalry.
Mbappe was striving to make an early impression, and Barcelona had their blushes twice spared by the linesman’s flag, as the Frenchman saw an effort skim the side netting before he teed up Jude Bellingham with a close-range effort which was clawed away by Inaki Pena in the opening exchanges.
The France captain also reacted to a Pau Cubarsí error with a long-range shot that just cleared the crossbar.
Flick had plenty of ammunition at his disposal too though, and La Masia prodigy Lamine Yamal was denied by Andriy Lunin in a one-on-one chance. This heavyweight clash continued to see both sides traded early blows, and Ballon d’Or favourite Vinicius Junior should have hit the target after weaving his way into the box before firing wide.
It looked like Mbappe had given Los Blancos the lead with a wonderful dinked finish just past the half-hour mark, but Barcelona’s high defensive line reaped dividends and was ruled out for offside.
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However, to say it was all one-way traffic would be a disservice to Flick’s men, as Lunin parried away Pedri’s awkward long-range effort.
It was Barcelona who struck first courtesy of mercurial marksman Robert Lewandowski. The lethal Polish frontman was expertly spotted by Marc Casado and timed his run perfectly before he coolly dispatched a right-footed strike past Lunin in the 54th minute.
Lewandowski would stun the Bernabeu again a mere two minutes later with a superb header to meet Alejandro Balde’s excellent delivery, leaving Los Blancos on the canvas at 2-0 down.
The 36-year-old spurned two golden opportunities in quick succession to complete his hat-trick, as he firstly hit the post from Raphinha’s cut-back, before blazing an attempt over the bar from Yamal’s cross.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side huffed and puffed in a bid to gain a foothold in the match with another chance for Mbappe, but the contest was effectively over when Yamal added a third in the 77th minute. The 17-year-old ended a devastating break forward with a ferocious angled finish from Raphinha’s pass.
But the damage was not done there, and Raphinha added a fourth with a sublimed dinked finish over Lunin seven minutes later. Ancelotti rarely gives much away with his poker-face demeanour, but one suspects the Italian was seething at the ease in which his defence was repeatedly torn to shreds by Flick’s ruthless forward line, as his side succumbed to a first home defeat since April 2023 – a run stretching back 40 games.
Meanwhile, this is Barcelona’s 14th win in their last 15 league games, ending a sobering run of five consecutive head-to-head defeats to their fiercest rivals.
Barcelona thrash Real Madrid 4-0 in El Clasico encouter
Sports
Arsenal climb to second in EPL with 1-0 win over Ipswich
Arsenal climb to second in EPL with 1-0 win over Ipswich
LONDON: Arsenal moved up to second place in the Premier League with a 1-0 home win against Ipswich on Friday.
Mikel Arteta’s side is six points behind leader Liverpool, which has a game in hand.
Second-bottom Ipswich had won two of its last three away games but was up against it from the start at the Emirates.
The visitors did not have one touch in the Gunners’ box during the first 45 minutes and, although Ipswich showed signs of life after the break, it was Arsenal which continued to dominate the game, marshaled by Declan Rice in midfield.
Kai Havertz got the only goal midway through the first half when he knocked in a cross from Leandro Trossard.
Havertz, Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus all had chances but none of them could add to Arsenal’s tally.
“It’s so tough, every team is tough to break down,” Havertz said. “They fight for each other and at the end we’re very proud for the win.”
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Arsenal is a point above third-place Chelsea and two points clear of season surprise team Nottingham Forest in fourth.
Seagulls and Bees share the points on south coast
Brighton had most of the chances but could not find the net in a 0-0 draw with Brentford that extended the south coast club’s winless run to six league games.
It was a frustrating night for the home side and especially Julio Enciso. The Paraguay striker had a host of opportunities to score but couldn’t make them count.
Along with Southampton, Brentford has the worst away record in the league with seven losses and two draws and it was easy to see why in this toothless performance.
Brentford had an early goal from Yoane Wissa ruled out for offside and, although it came a bit more into the game in the second half, it failed to pressure Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, who made his Premier League debut eight minutes before halftime when Mark Flekken went off with a thigh injury.
One bright spot for the home side was the return of winger Solly March. He came on as a late substitute to make his first appearance for Brighton since injuring a knee against Manchester City 14 months ago.
The result leaves Brighton in 10th place with 26 points, one spot and two points ahead of the Bees.
Arsenal climb to second in EPL with 1-0 win over Ipswich
Sports
Ronaldo, Vinicius, Yamal win big at 2024 Globe Soccer Awards [Full list of winners]
Ronaldo, Vinicius, Yamal win big at 2024 Globe Soccer Awards [Full list of winners]
The winners of the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards were unveiled Friday evening in Dubai, celebrating outstanding achievements in football over the past year.
The event honored players, managers, and clubs across various categories.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior stole the spotlight, clinching both the Best Player and Best Forward of the Year awards, reinforcing his status as one of the world’s finest talents.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Al Nassr captain, added another accolade to his storied career by securing the Best Middle Eastern Player Award, while Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was recognized as the Best Emerging Player of the Year.
Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti was awarded Best Coach of the Year, and Jorge Mendes received the Best Football Agent Award, further cementing their influence in the football world.
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2024 Globe Soccer Award categories and winners
Alongside the standout men’s and women’s categories, here is a rundown of the other winners:
Best Men’s player (18 finalists): Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Best Midfielder (11 nominees): Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Best Forward (10 nominees): Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Best Women’s player (12 finalists): Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Best Men’s club (10 finalists): Real Madrid
Best Women’s club (4 finalists): Barcelona
Best Coach (7 finalists, all in men’s football): Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
Best Emerging player (7 finalists, all men): Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Best Agent (7 nominees): Jorge Mendes
Best Sporting Director (6 nominees): Piero Ausilio (Inter Milan)
Best Middle Eastern player (5 finalists): Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
Best Middle Eastern coach: Jorge Jesus (Al Hilal)
Best Middle Eastern club (4 finalists): Al Ain
Revelation award: Olympiacos
Maradona Award: Jude Bellingham
Ronaldo, Vinicius, Yamal win big at 2024 Globe Soccer Awards [Full list of winners]
Sports
Vinicius should have won Ballon d’Or, not Rodri – Ronaldo
Vinicius should have won Ballon d’Or, not Rodri – Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited controversy surrounding the 2024 Ballon d’Or, accusing the organisers of unfairly denying Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior the prestigious honour.
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Friday, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner openly criticised the decision to crown Manchester City’s Rodri as the year’s top player.
“In my opinion, he [Vinícius] deserved to win the golden ball [Ballon d’Or award],” Ronaldo declared on stage.
“It was unfair in my opinion. I say here in front of everybody. They give it to Rodri, he deserved it too, but they should have given it to Vinícius because he won the Champions League and scored in the final.”
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Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win, attributed to his pivotal role in Manchester City’s historic treble-winning season, has sparked ongoing debates.
Ronaldo’s remarks have added weight to criticisms that the award often overlooks key performances in favour of broader narratives.
Vinicius’ absence from the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris this October, along with his Real Madrid teammates, was widely interpreted as a silent protest against perceived biases in the voting process.
Despite missing out on the Ballon d’Or, Vinícius has enjoyed an exceptional year.
The 24-year-old Brazilian winger was crowned FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player earlier this year and was recently named the Best Men’s Player at the Globe Soccer Awards.
His consistent performances, including his decisive goal in the Champions League final, have cemented his reputation as one of football’s most dynamic players.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who received the Best Middle East Player Award during the ceremony, praised the Globe Soccer Awards for their fairness and transparency.
Vinicius should have won Ballon d’Or, not Rodri – Ronaldo
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