Raphinha leads Barcelona past Las Palmas to stay in touch with Real Madrid

Raphinha leads Barcelona past Las Palmas to stay in touch with Real Madrid
Barcelona's Raphinha heads the ball to scores his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Las Palmas at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona on March 30, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 31 March 2024
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Raphinha leads Barcelona past Las Palmas to stay in touch with Real Madrid

Raphinha leads Barcelona past Las Palmas to stay in touch with Real Madrid
  • Raphinha said after Saturday’s game that the turnaround was due to the players “talking about things internally and about what we needed to do to get wins”
  • Sevilla’s 1-0 win at Getafe was marred by racist insults by fans targeting Sevilla defender Marcos Acuña and coach Quique Sanchez Flores

BARCELONA, Spain: Raphinha helped to reduce Las Palmas to 10 men before scoring to lead Barcelona to a 1-0 victory in the Spanish league on Saturday.

The Brazil winger was racing clear behind the defensive line when Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles raced out of his area and crashed into him, earning a direct red card in the 24th minute.

Las Palmas bunkered down in their area until Raphinha broke through in the 59th when he headed in a perfectly floated pass by substitute Joao Felix.

“These are three important points. We will keep fighting until the end and won’t give up until the league is over,” Raphinha said about the defending champion’s chances of overtaking Real Madrid.

Second-placed Barcelona closed to within five points of leader Real Madrid before they host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. The Spanish powerhouses will meet in the capital in three weeks after the Champions League quarterfinals, where Barcelona face Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid face Manchester City.

Felix had a great chance to add to the lead when Jules Kounde found him all alone at the far post, only for the Portugal forward to send his shot off the crossbar.

Despite being down a man, Alberto Moleiro almost equalized for the Canary Islands club in the final minutes when he hit the side netting.

“We have done our homework today and got the three points we needed to stay in the fight,” coach Xavi Hernández said after watching the game from the stands while he serves a two-game suspension for protesting.

Since Xavi said he would not continue next season after a series of painful losses, Barcelona have improved — above all in defense — and gone unbeaten in 11 straight across all competitions.

Xavi said he hoped the decision would spark a reaction in his team. Raphinha said after Saturday’s game that the turnaround was due to the players “talking about things internally and about what we needed to do to get wins.”

Xavi and his players have 11 days to prepare for PSG.

With the league taking a break next weekend for the Copa del Rey final, Barcelona won’t play again until the opening leg of its matchup against PSG on April 10.

Barcelona’s Ferran Torres returned as a second-half substitute for his first minutes since he injured his right thigh in late January.

BUDIMIR CATCHES JUDE

Osasuna striker Ante Budimir scored his 16th league goal of the season to pull level with Madrid’s Jude Bellingham as the competition leading scorers. Budimir helped to secure a 3-0 win at last-placed Almeria.

The Croatia international made it 2-0 for Osasuna after an error by Almeria goalkeeper Luis Maximiano. The goalie tried to impede the concession of a corner kick when he slid to stop the ball from crossing the endline, only to inadvertently pass it to an Osasuna player who easily set up Budimir to score into an open net.

Budimir is having the best season of his career and has netted six times in his last seven games. He next best season was for Mallorca in 2019-20 when he scored 13 times.

Bellingham returns on Sunday from a two-game suspension.

RACIST INSULTS

Sevilla’s 1-0 win at Getafe was marred by racist insults by fans targeting Sevilla defender Marcos Acuña and coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

Referee Javier Iglesias halted the game briefly when Acuña was insulted by fans in the 68th. Sánchez Flores, who has coached Getafe at three different times, said after the match his Roma heritage was insulted.

“We are workers who come here to work in peace and be respected,” Sánchez Flores said. “It is an aberration that in these times when we are advancing in so many ways that (these individuals) grab us and pull us backwards.”

Sergio Ramos scored the fifth-minute winner.

MALLORCA PREPARES FINAL

Mallorca drew at Valencia 0-0 a week before they face Athletic in the Copa del Rey final.

Javier Aguirre’s side, which relies on its defense, has kept three clean sheets in its last four games.


Man Utd lose to Palace, Spurs ease pressure on Postecoglou

Man Utd lose to Palace, Spurs ease pressure on Postecoglou
Updated 4 min 11 sec ago
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Man Utd lose to Palace, Spurs ease pressure on Postecoglou

Man Utd lose to Palace, Spurs ease pressure on Postecoglou
  • Victory takes the Eagles above the Red Devils in the table as Oliver Glasner’s side climb to 12th

MANCHESTER: Manchester United slumped to another meek home defeat as Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, while Tottenham eased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou by beating Brentford 2-0.

Jean Philippe-Mateta was Palace’s hero with both goals in the second half as United suffered a fifth defeat in their last six home league games.

Victory takes the Eagles above the Red Devils in the table as Oliver Glasner’s side climb to 12th.

Three consecutive wins for United had lifted the mood around Old Trafford but it was back to square one for Ruben Amorim after another home display lacking in creativity and riddled with defensive lapses.

Amorim’s decision to start without a natural striker backfired with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee left on the bench.

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started in a center-forward role after scoring in a 2-0 victory over Romanian side FCSB in midweek.

The England international’s scuffed strike came back off the post in United’s best effort of a bright opening before their attacking threat fizzled out.

Palace have lost just one of their last seven league games to recover from a miserable start to the season.

The visitors missed the creative spark offered by Eberechi Eze for the first hour as an injury meant he was only fit enough for a cameo appearance off the bench.

But Eze made an instant impact as from his free kick Maxence Lacroix’s header came back off the bar and into Mateta’s path to fire home.

Worse was to follow for United as Lisandro Martinez had to be stretchered off with what appeared a serious knee injury.

Palace showed no mercy to secure the three points when Daniel Munoz charged through the middle of the home side’s defense and unselfishly squared for Mateta to knock in his sixth goal in five games.

Spurs eased fears they could be dragged into a relegation battle as Postecoglou’s injury-ravaged side kept a rare clean sheet to see off Brentford.


Real Madrid’s winning run surprisingly ends in loss at Espanyol

Real Madrid’s winning run surprisingly ends in loss at Espanyol
Updated 02 February 2025
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Real Madrid’s winning run surprisingly ends in loss at Espanyol

Real Madrid’s winning run surprisingly ends in loss at Espanyol
  • Espanyol inched two points clear of the drop zone, while Madrid’s lead was cut to one point after Atletico Madrid beat Mallorca 2-0 earlier

MADRID: Real Madrid’s winning run ended in stunning fashion after losing at relegation-threatened Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday in La Liga.
Defender Carlos Romero’s late goal beat the La Liga leader and moved Espanyol out of the bottom three.
Espanyol inched two points clear of the drop zone, while Madrid’s lead was cut to one point after Atletico Madrid beat Mallorca 2-0 earlier.
Madrid, which found out on Friday that it will face Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoff round, traveled to Espanyol with 10 victories in its last 11 matches in all competitions.
It dominated and Vinícius Júnior thought he gave the visitors the lead in the 21st minute but it was ruled out due to a foul by Kylian Mbappé on Espanyol midfielder Pol Lozano.
Madrid was made to pay for its missed opportunities five minutes from time when Romero volleyed in Omar El Hilali’s cross, much to the home fans’ raucous — and surprised — delight.
Back to winning ways
Atletico went into its match against seventh-placed Mallorca having lost both of its last two league matches and with only two wins in its last four games after a run of 15 consecutive victories.
It took the lead in the 26th minute when Giuliano Simeone sprinted down the right before rolling the ball across the edge of the area for Samuel Lino to fire into the bottom right corner.
Rodrigo Riquelme hit the crossbar with a free kick two minutes from time and provided the through ball for substitute Antoine Griezmann to run onto and delightfully chip the goalkeeper and seal the match in stoppages.
Fifth-placed Villarreal crushed bottom club Real Valladolid 5-1 and Getafe drew with Sevilla 0-0.


In-form Dembele hits hat-trick again as PSG thump Brest

In-form Dembele hits hat-trick again as PSG thump Brest
Updated 01 February 2025
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In-form Dembele hits hat-trick again as PSG thump Brest

In-form Dembele hits hat-trick again as PSG thump Brest
  • Luis Enrique’s side are still unbeaten domestically this season and now sit 13 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table

PARIS: Ousmane Dembele scored a hat-trick for the second time in four days as Paris Saint-Germain hammered Brest 5-2 on Saturday in a dress rehearsal of the upcoming Champions League clash between the two sides.
Dembele followed up his three-goal haul in Wednesday’s 4-1 win at VfB Stuttgart which saw PSG secure a place in the knockout phase play-offs of Europe’s elite club competition.
The France winger opened the scoring in the first half, and netted two more after Romain Del Castillo had briefly brought Brest level.
Ludovic Ajorque pulled another one back for the home side to set up a grandstand finale, but substitute Goncalo Ramos wrapped up the win for PSG with a late double.
Luis Enrique’s side are still unbeaten domestically this season and now sit 13 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
Marseille, who are second, can narrow that gap a little when they host Lyon on Sunday, but PSG are cruising to their 11th French league title in 13 years.
Dembele, meanwhile, is loving playing in a central attacking role rather than his traditional position wide on the right.
He has now scored 14 goals in his last nine games in all competitions, and is Ligue 1’s leading marksman with 14 for the season.
“I am well positioned in the number nine role. I owe it to myself to score goals,” Dembele told broadcaster beIN Sports.
“It was important to win today to keep our good run going and now we will see what happens in the Champions League.”
PSG’s record against domestic opponents this season means Brest will surely be dreading having to face Luis Enrique’s side again over two legs in the Champions League.
The teams will meet in the first leg on February 11 in Guingamp, where Brest are having to host Champions League games this season as their own Stade Francis-Le Ble does not meet UEFA requirements.
They were in their usual home stadium for this game, but they could not stop PSG making it 14 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Bradley Barcola raced onto a through ball before squaring for Dembele to open the scoring just before the half-hour mark.
Brest, who lost 3-0 against Real Madrid in midweek, came out fighting after the break and drew level five minutes into the second half thanks to a lovely low strike by Del Castillo from the edge of the box.
However, the visitors were back ahead before the hour mark as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was denied in the box but the ball broke for Dembele to score.
He then completed his hat-trick soon after, having been picked out by a superb Lee Kang-in pass.
Ajorque’s terrific hit made it 3-2, but Ramos came on for Dembele and made it 4-2 on 89 minutes at the end of a counterattack led by Desire Doue, who had replaced Kvaratskhelia.
Ramos, the Portugal striker, then scored again deep in injury time, his eighth goal of the season coming as he tried to set up a teammate but saw the ball break back to him.
Brest are eighth, four points outside the European places for next season.
Monaco play Auxerre and Lille host Saint-Etienne in Saturday’s other matches.


Al-Ittihad fight back to keep pace with Al-Hilal in Saudi Pro League

Al-Ittihad fight back to keep pace with Al-Hilal in Saudi Pro League
Updated 01 February 2025
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Al-Ittihad fight back to keep pace with Al-Hilal in Saudi Pro League

Al-Ittihad fight back to keep pace with Al-Hilal in Saudi Pro League
  • Win puts Al-Ittihad on 46 points, behind leaders Al-Hilal
  • Title-chasing Tigers recover from 2-goal deficit to grab win

EDDAH: Al-Ittihad had to work hard to defeat Al-Kholood 4-3 on Saturday and stay within striking distance of Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal.
Two goals down early on, the Jeddah giants fought back for a win that puts them on 46 points, behind Al-Hilal only on goal difference.
The title-chasing Tigers had a terrible start, however, with William Troost-Ekong putting the visitors ahead after 15 minutes, and Myziane Maolida adding a second eight minutes later.
The hosts soon responded, with Abdulrahman Al-Oboud, a player in fine form, scoring within the half-hour. All the work was done by Houssem Aouar, who turned outside the box and dribbled through the defense only for his shot to be blocked. But his team-mate was there to bundle home.


Then, nine minutes into added first-half time, Steven Bergwijn scored from the spot after Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti was brought down in the area to ensure that the teams went in level at the break.
Almost immediately after the restart, Al-Ittihad were ahead for the first time thanks to Hassan Kadesh, who volleyed home a N’Golo Kante cross from close range to the delight of the home fans.
The victory was sealed just after the hour as Bergwijn got his second, scoring from a rebound off a Karim Benzema shot that was initially saved.
Al-Kholood made it 4-3 inside injury time as Maolida got his second, but Al-Ittihad took the win.
Al-Qadsiah, the league’s in-form team, were shocked to be held to a 1-1 draw at bottom club Al-Fateh. The easterners, who had won nine of the last 10, took the lead after just two minutes, with Julian Quinones scoring.
Two minutes after the restart, however, Matheus Machado scored to earn Al-Fateh a share of the spoils and ensure that Al-Qadsiah, newly promoted, stay in fourth on 38 points — behind Al-Nassr on goal difference.


Bayern survive late Kiel fightback to go nine points clear

Bayern survive late Kiel fightback to go nine points clear
Updated 01 February 2025
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Bayern survive late Kiel fightback to go nine points clear

Bayern survive late Kiel fightback to go nine points clear
  • The full-time whistle was met with relief around the Allianz Arena
  • “None of us are happy that we won 4-3 here,” Jamal Musiala, scorer of Bayern’s first goal, told Sky Sport

BERLIN: Bayern Munich stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to nine points on Saturday with an extraordinary 4-3 victory over Holstein Kiel.
Bayern led 4-0 as Harry Kane scored twice, but Finn Porath replied for Kiel before Steven Skrzybski’s stoppage-time double threatened to steal an unlikely point.
The full-time whistle was met with relief around the Allianz Arena.
“None of us are happy that we won 4-3 here,” Jamal Musiala, scorer of Bayern’s first goal, told Sky Sport. “We have to have the mentality to work for 90 minutes and avoid conceding goals.”
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was also irritated with the manner in which his team ended the game.
“It was a pretty complete game until the 80th minute. But we also played against a team that was fighting for every moment,” Kompany told reporters.
“I thought we started the second half really well, but in terms of how we finished the game, that’s something we’ll have to review with the players.”
With Bayern’s closest title rivals, Bayer Leverkusen, hosting Hoffenheim on Sunday, Kompany’s side took their chance to widen the gap between them and the champions.
The Bavarians went ahead in the 19th minute when Musiala finished a beautiful team goal that involved a quick interchange of passes between Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olize and then Musiala, who steered in his 10th league goal of the season.
Kiel had almost made it to half-time just a goal behind but with less than a minute of stoppage time to go, Bayern struck a killer blow.
Kingsley Coman beat his man on the left and lofted a cross onto the head of Kane, who couldn’t miss from close range. Kane scored another in the first minute of the second half, heading home Raphael Guerreiro’s pinpoint cross.
It was Kane’s 55th league goal in 50 appearances, another Bundesliga goalscoring record for the England captain.
“To have 55 in 50 is obviously a proud feeling but as always with me it’s about the next 50 games and seeing how many more I can get,” said Kane.
Serge Gnabry joined the party with a fine goal, bringing a high ball under his spell with his right foot and volleying in with his left.
Kiel struck back with a beautifully-executed strike by Porath which seemed little more than a consolation, even after the fourth official indicated five additional minutes.
Skrzybski’s late brace nearly embarrassed Bayern but the hosts limped over the line as wounded victors.
Borussia Dortmund picked up a slim 2-1 victory at struggling Heidenheim in their final game before Niko Kovac takes charge, following the recent sacking of coach Nuri Sahin.
Dortmund went in front as Heidenheim couldn’t clear a corner and Serhou Guirassy scored from close range.
It was the Guinean striker’s fifth goal in his last four games and followed a double in the Champions League in midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Heidenheim came into the contest without a win in their previous 14 league games and occupying the relegation play-off position.
The game remained tight until the hour when Ramy Bensebaini drilled a low cross in from the left and substitute Max Beier made a difficult finish look easy.
Dortmund became their own worst enemies, conceding 18 seconds after the restart as Mathias Honsak cut their lead in half.
But Dortmund held firm and weathered some late pressure to pick up a first league win since December 22, snapping a four-game winless streak in the Bundesliga.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Germany international Tim Kleindienst scored a late winner for Borussia Moenchengladbach in a 2-1 victory at Stuttgart.
Gladbach led when Nathan N’Goumou rifled into the roof of the net but a Nico Elvedi own goal soon after the break levelled the contest.
But a slick Gladbach counter-attack saw Lukas Ullrich pick out Kleindienst, who tapped in the winner.
Freiburg picked up a 1-0 win at bottom-placed Bochum, with Kiliann Sildillia nodding in his first Bundesliga goal.
St. Pauli were denied victory when Augsburg teenager Mert Komur struck late to ensure a 1-1 draw.
RB Leipzig moved back into the top four despite being held 0-0 at struggling Union Berlin.