Barcelona secured their place in the Supercopa de España final with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club in their semi-final clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After a challenging winless run in La Liga since early December, Barcelona bounced back in 2025 with a Copa del Rey win over lower-league Barbastro, followed by a commanding performance against Athletic Club. Gavi opened the scoring in the first quarter of the match, finishing off a well-worked team move by tapping in a cutback from Alejandro Balde. Though both teams had additional opportunities, it was in the early stages of the second half that…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Barcelona has secured temporary permission to re-register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the second half of the season after appealing to Spain’s national sports council (CSD). During the first half of the campaign, Barcelona was able to meet La Liga’s salary regulations through a temporary loophole related to Andreas Christensen’s injury absence. However, this was never a permanent solution, and the registrations for Olmo and Victor expired on December 31, 2024. Barcelona had raised €100m (£83m) by selling VIP boxes in the ongoing Camp Nou renovations, which would have allowed them to return to 1:1 spending rules for the…
Anfield witnessed a thrilling encounter on Sunday afternoon as Liverpool and a resurgent Manchester United battled to a frenetic 2-2 draw. Despite entering the contest in contrasting forms, with Liverpool flying high and United struggling for consistency, the visitors defied expectations by delivering a disciplined and energetic performance. While many anticipated a Liverpool dominance, United showed no signs of the frailty that plagued them against Newcastle, producing a strong first-half display. United nullified the raucous Anfield crowd early and settled quickly into the game. Though Liverpool had their moments—Cody Gakpo coming closest in the opening half-hour—United consistently threatened down Liverpool’s…
Arne Slot dismisses speculation that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Manchester United was influenced by growing interest from Real Madrid. The 26-year-old, whose contract with Liverpool expires at the end of the season, has yet to agree to new terms alongside teammates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Reports suggest Alexander-Arnold is open to a move to Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants expressing interest in the versatile full-back. Madrid is rumored to have approached Liverpool regarding a potential January transfer, aiming to secure his services for a fee rather than risk losing him for free in the summer. On the…
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana reportedly holds a much more optimistic outlook on his recovery from a hamstring injury than his manager, Enzo Maresca. Fofana sustained the injury during Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa on December 1, exiting the game after an hour. Initially, the Frenchman downplayed the issue, calling it “a slight muscle warning” and “nothing serious.” Maresca initially predicted a recovery timeline of three to five weeks, but over a month later, Fofana remains sidelined, with Maresca suggesting the centre-back “could be out for the season.” According to L’Equipe, Fofana strongly disagrees with this grim prognosis. The report…
Dominik Szoboszlai was a surprise omission from Liverpool’s squad for Sunday’s clash against Manchester United, despite being available following his suspension. The midfielder was expected to start the 4:30 pm kickoff at Anfield, but his absence from the teamsheet raised eyebrows. Instead, manager Arne Slot opted for an unchanged midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Curtis Jones, with Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott available as substitutes. Reports, including from journalist David Lynch, revealed that Szoboszlai was ruled out due to illness. This comes shortly after Federico Chiesa missed a match for the same reason. Slot had addressed…
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was notably absent from a prestigious ceremony at the White House on Sunday, where he was scheduled to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. The ceremony, which celebrated individuals for their significant contributions to society, included Hollywood icons like Denzel Washington and Michael J. Fox among the honorees. However, Messi’s absence raised questions, as neither he nor a representative attended to accept the award. A statement issued on Messi’s behalf explained, “The White House informed FIFA, which then notified the club at the end of December that…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has admitted that his players are “afraid on the pitch” ahead of their Premier League match against Liverpool on Sunday. The Red Devils have endured a poor run of form, losing their last four matches, including three consecutive league defeats, with no goals scored. Amorim acknowledged that this slump is creating “anxiety” within the squad. “They [the players] are anxious, and sometimes afraid on the pitch,” he said. “We have to cope with that. We need the leaders to step up and help the others, and I’m the most responsible person here to improve the…
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim expressed frustration with his team’s inconsistency, despite their impressive performance in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield. The Red Devils delivered a composed and confident display, with Bruno Fernandes standing out in midfield, showcasing improved decision-making and leadership. Central midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo also impressed with arguably their best performances of the season, complementing Fernandes’ effort. United had a chance to snatch victory late on, but Harry Maguire squandered the opportunity, sending Joshua Zirkzee’s cutback over the crossbar. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Amorim admitted he was pleased with…
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly eager to make a move to the Premier League in January, with Manchester United showing strong interest in the Nigerian forward. Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray on loan in September 2024 after failed transfer deadline day moves to Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League, could see his situation reassessed in the upcoming transfer window. Reports suggest that Galatasaray could receive around €10 million in compensation if the loan agreement is terminated early. Sources indicate that Osimhen is determined to join Manchester United, with initial steps already taken to finalize the deal. Napoli is said to…