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Persistent Lewandowski Secures Barca Win Over Athletic

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Robert Lewandowski shrugged off a string of missed opportunities to earn Barcelona a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in La Liga.

The 36-year-old striker twice hit the woodwork, among other wasted chances, but kept his cool to slot home a 75th-minute winner for the Catalan giants.

Teenage starlet Lamine Yamal put Barcelona ahead with a deflected effort but Oihan Sancet pulled Athletic level from the penalty spot before half-time.

Lewandowski’s strike earned Barcelona their second win from two league matches under new coach Hansi Flick.

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“Especially in the first half he could have scored one or two goals… but in the end this is a goal getter, a striker, who scores goals,” Flick told reporters.

“The second goal was the winner, three points, perfect.”

The former Germany and Bayern Munich boss had hoped to utilise new arrival Dani Olmo but with Barcelona unable to register him because of their financial difficulties, the former RB Leipzig playmaker could only watch from the stands.

Pedri started in midfield after injury, along with 17-year-old Spain star Yamal, who shared a joke with his compatriot Nico Williams, a Barcelona target this summer.

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The winger is set to stay with Athletic this season and some Barcelona fans whistled him during his engaging battle with Jules Kounde.

Barcelona drew first blood, with Yamal’s effort from the edge of the box deflecting home off Inigo Lekue’s head.

“I’m very happy for the win, it’s important to win at home,” Yamal told DAZN.

“(For my goal) I saw a bit of space, I saw Nico coming, who is not very intense when it comes to defending, and when I found the space, I shot.”

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Williams whipped a dangerous cross inches wide of the far post at the other end as Athletic threatened.

Barca striker Lewandowski, who netted twice at Valencia in their La Liga opener, struck the post after more good work by Yamal and Raphinha.

Athletic pulled level shortly before the break when young centre-back Pau Cubarsi clumsily fouled Alejandro Berenguer in the area.

Sancet sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way from the penalty spot to send the teams in tied at the break.

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Polish veteran Lewandowski hit the woodwork a second time, heading Raphinha’s free-kick against the far post from point-blank range.

The Brazilian teed up the forward again with an inviting cross but Athletic goalkeeper Alex Padilla made a superb save.

Barcelona were turning the screw and got their reward when Lewandowski fired home his third goal of the campaign in the 75th minute.

Raphinha played in Pedri, whose cross was palmed out by Padilla into Lewandowski’s path and this time he made no mistake.

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‘You always suffer’

Barcelona’s victory against Ernesto Valverde’s Copa del Rey winners is another morale boost after their opening day win at Valencia.

Champions Real Madrid are widely expected to defend their crown after signing Kylian Mbappe but Flick’s Barcelona have made a perfect start in their bid to snatch it back, despite various injury problems.

Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo are among those who will return later in the season for Barcelona, while Olmo is waiting for his chance too.

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“These are things we have to accept because we cannot change it,” continued Flick.

“We knew when we signed for Barca (the financial situation) is not easy, (so I) don’t think about that. Today we wanted three points and we got it.”

Athletic have just one point from their first two matches.

“You always suffer when you come here, you know they will take the initiative,” said former Barca coach Valverde.

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“In the second half they were stronger in pressing after losing the ball and they didn’t let us get out, I think that was the key.”

AFP

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Haaland signs 10-year contract with Manchester City

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2034, the club announced on Friday.

The 24-year-old Norwegian, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, has been a pivotal figure in the club’s recent successes.

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His initial contract was set to expire in 2027, but the new deal reflects the club’s confidence in Haaland’s importance to their future.

“Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year Manchester City contract, keeping him at the Club until the summer of 2034,” the statement said.

Reflecting on the new contract, Haaland expressed his delight at extending his stay.

“I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club.

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“Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters, and it’s the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody,” he said.

Haaland thanked his teammates, manager Pep Guardiola, and the City staff, stating, “They have made this such a special place to be, and now I am City no matter what. I want to keep developing, keep working to get better, and help us achieve more success going forward.”

Since his arrival, Haaland’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. In his debut 2022/23 season, he scored 52 goals across all competitions, the highest-ever tally by a Premier League player in a single season, breaking the previous league record of 36 goals.

His goals were instrumental in City’s historic treble-winning campaign, which included the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.

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In addition to collective success, Haaland garnered numerous individual accolades in his debut season, including the PFA Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year awards.

Despite an injury that sidelined him for nearly two months during the 2023/24 season, Haaland continued his prolific form, scoring 38 goals in 45 appearances, including 27 in the Premier League, securing a second consecutive Golden Boot.

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SAD: Footballer slumps, dies during match in Osun

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

Osun State Police Command has confirmed the death of Adeyemi Adewale, a football player for the Ilesa West Local Government Area team, who slumped during a match in Osogbo, the state capital.

Adewale, 29, was participating in the Adeleke Memorial Cup Final match at the Ataoja School of Science on Thursday when he collapsed on the field.

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Efforts to save him proved futile as he was rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed him dead upon arrival.

Spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident in a statement, adding that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death have commenced.

“Today, (Thursday) while the Adeleke Memorial Cup Final match was going on at Ataoja School of Science, one Adeyemi Adewale ‘M’ 29yrs, a player of Ilesa West Football team, slumped on the pitch.

“He was rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead by a doctor,” the statement said.

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The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the teaching hospital’s morgue.

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Remarkable Comeback As Amad Diallo 12 Minute Hat-trick Seals Victory For Manchester United Vs Southampton

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Three late goals from Amad Diallo dragged a below-par Manchester United to a 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Amad Diallo proved the saviour for Manchester United once again as they came from behind to sneak a late win against basement club Southampton.

United will have fancied their chances of getting back to winning ways against bottom of the table Southampton, but the hosts were second best from the off, deservedly falling behind to a Manuel Ugarte own goal just before halftime.

Staring down the barrel of another home defeat, United upped the ante after the break, getting back on level terms through Diallo eight minutes from time, before the Ivorian completed the turnaround in the 90th minute.

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Amad Diallo is the hero for the hosts, his hat-trick getting them out of a huge hole against a Southampton team who deserved more than they got from the game.

An absorbing and entertaining game ends in a home victory.

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have Amad Diallo to thank for saving their blushes.

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