Sports
Barcelona dismantle Valladolid to keep up perfect La Liga start
Barcelona maintained their 100% winning start to the La Liga season as they delivered a 7-0 thumping to newly-promoted Real Valladolid – a result that extends their unbeaten run in home league head-to-heads, which stretches back to November 1997.
Fresh from scoring the winner on his Barcelona debut, Dani Olmo was handed a first start here and he was at the forefront of the action in the early stages. Lamine Yamal’s delicate cross to the back post could only be dragged across goal by Robert Lewandowski and into the path of Olmo, but his close-range effort rattled the post.
He had the ball in the net on 10 minutes only to be denied by the offside flag, though there was a growing sense that an opening goal was only a matter of time for the Blaugrana.
And so it proved, with Raphinha the man to get it, finishing with aplomb after being released in behind the Valladolid defence by an exquisite ball from Pau Cubarsí.
The Valladolid defensive line was penetrated again just four minutes later, with Yamal the architect this time, releasing Lewandowski to rifle home Barcelona’s second. It already looked a long way back for the visitors, though some heart could be taken from the fact that Barça had scored exactly twice in eight of their previous 10 league matches.
Hansi Flick’s men were showing no mercy, however, adding a third in first-half stoppage time when Jules Koundé pounced on a loose ball in the box to fire in with the assistance of the post.
Damage limitation was all Valladolid could realistically hope for after the break, but Barcelona continued to cut through at will. First, Olmo scuffed a gilt-edged chance at the back post before Yamal was denied by Karl Hein and Lewandowski followed his new teammate in smashing an effort against the post.
Los Blanquivioletas would not continue to escape though, falling four behind just beyond the hour mark. A low cross created a chaotic scene in the box, and Lewandowski showed all his experience to scoop the ball to the back post for Raphinha to convert into an empty net. The Brazilian had his hat-trick before long, sliding underneath Hein after being slotted through by Yamal.
Not content with five, Olmo got in on the action to score for a second successive appearance, bursting through the Valladolid defence before curling into the far corner.
The rout continued into the closing stages, with Ferran Torres getting in on the act by directing Raphinha’s cross in at the near post.
Mercifully for the visitors, seven is where the scoring stopped with Barcelona content with the ominous message they’ve sent to their La Liga rivals, most notably Real Madrid who’ve already dropped four points after three rounds.
Victor Osimhen delivered a stunning performance on Wednesday as his brace secured Galatasaray a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahce in the final stage of the Turkish Cup, eliminating José Mourinho’s side from the competition.
Osimhen opened the scoring in the 10th minute, putting Galatasaray ahead with a well-taken shot from the edge of the box.
The Nigerian striker then doubled his tally in the 27th minute from the penalty spot, giving his team a comfortable 2-0 lead before halftime.
Fenerbahce managed to pull one back just before the break, with Sebastian Szymański finding the net in first-half stoppage time (45+1’), but it was not enough to turn the tide.
Despite late attempts to equalize, including substitutions involving Mert Yandaş and Kerem Demirbay in the 90+2 minute, Mourinho’s side fell short as Galatasaray held on for the win.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has underscored the pivotal significance of securing a victory against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa to keep Nigeria’s hopes alive for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
The much-anticipated World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa is set to take place in September, marking the eighth matchday of the qualification series. With only four rounds of matches remaining, the stakes are incredibly high for the Super Eagles as they aim to close the gap in Group C standings.
Currently, Bafana Bafana, under the guidance of coach Hugo Broos, lead the group with 13 points from six matches, holding a commanding six-point advantage over the Super Eagles. This scenario makes the upcoming fixtures even more crucial for Nigeria’s qualification ambitions.
Coach Eric Chelle acknowledged the pressing need for his team to secure maximum points from their remaining matches to stay in contention for a World Cup berth. Speaking to SCORENigeria, he emphasized the importance of an away victory against South Africa but also cautioned against looking too far ahead.
“We must triumph in South Africa; however, our immediate focus must be on the match against Rwanda in Uyo,” Chelle stated, reinforcing the necessity of taking each game step by step.
Recognizing the strengths of the South African team, Chelle admitted that the Super Eagles must be tactically disciplined to prevent their opponents from gaining control of the game. “While they are a formidable side, we cannot afford to let them dictate the pace of the game,” he noted.
However, before shifting full focus to the challenge posed by Bafana Bafana, Chelle stressed the importance of first securing victory against Rwanda at home. A win in Uyo would boost the team’s morale and position them strongly ahead of their crucial away encounter in South Africa.
As the qualification race intensifies, the Super Eagles will need to demonstrate resilience, strategic discipline, and attacking efficiency to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Nigerian football fans eagerly await how the team will rise to the challenge in these decisive fixtures.
Bukayo Saka marked his return from injury with a goal as Arsenal defeated Fulham 2-1 on Tuesday, cutting the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to nine points.
The England international, who had been sidelined for 101 days, came off the bench to head in Arsenal’s second goal on his first appearance since December 21. Mikel Merino had earlier given the Gunners the lead with a deflected first-half effort.
Despite the win, Arsenal suffered a setback as key defender Gabriel Magalhães limped off with an injury.
Jurrien Timber also left the pitch late on with a knee problem, adding to Mikel Arteta’s injury concerns ahead of next week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid.
“(We are) worried because he never wants to come off, and he had to,” Arteta said about Gabriel. “He felt he could not continue.”
Saka’s return was met with a rousing ovation from the Emirates crowd.
“It was a good opportunity to see how much people love him and missed him,” Arteta said. “The reception he got was magnificent. He lifts the stadium, and I am so happy for him because he fully deserves it.”
Rodrigo Muniz scored a stoppage-time goal for Fulham, but the defeat dents their hopes of qualifying for European football next season. The Cottagers remain eighth, three points behind a top-five finish that could secure a Champions League spot next season.
While Liverpool remain in control of the title race, Arsenal’s top-five finish looks assured, as they now sit 14 points clear of sixth-placed Newcastle.
Arteta’s side are on course for a second consecutive runners-up finish, but with Saka back in action, they will hope to push Liverpool until the end—and make a deep run in Europe’s elite competition.
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