BARCELONA: Barcelona thrashed 10-man Real Betis 4-0 on Saturday to move a step closer to winning La Liga for the first time since 2019.
Real Madrid beat Almeria 4-2 to cut the gap to eight points earlier on but Barcelona triumphed to restore their 11 point advantage.
Andreas Christensen, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha struck for Barca at Camp Nou with Guido Rodriguez netting a late own goal to round off the rout.
Edgar Gonzalez’s early dismissal made it an easy night for Xavi Hernandez’s side to protect their lead with six games remaining.
With his side comfortably winning, Xavi brought on 15-year-old forward Lamine Yamal to become the club’s youngest ever player to debut in La Liga.
Betis also brought on veteran Joaquin Sanchez, 41, for his final appearance at Camp Nou before he retires at the end of the season, and he was afforded a standing ovation by Barcelona supporters.
The Catalans bounced back from a 2-1 defeat by Rayo Vallecano in midweek.
“We generated a reaction,” said Xavi. “We improved a lot, it was a very good reaction from the whole team.
“We went 1-0 up and after the red card, it was in our favor.”
Xavi brought Christensen into the starting line-up after injury and he made a quick impact on his return.
Raphinha whipped in a vicious ball which Ronald Araujo narrowly missed but Christensen followed in behind to power a header home.
Betis were set back further when defender Edgar was dismissed for two bookings after half-an-hour.
Lewandowski pounced soon after to net his 19th league goal of the season after Jules Kounde set him up with a low cross.
The Pole, La Liga’s top scorer, reacted after Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema earlier netted a hat-trick to move within one of his tally.
Three minutes later Raphinha struck the third, making a clever run in behind the defense and finishing from Sergio Busquets’ chipped pass.
Xavi brought on Ousmane Dembele with little over 15 minutes to go, with Camp Nou delighted to see the winger back.
Rodriguez deflected in Ansu Fati’s cross as Barcelona added a fourth goal in the 82nd minute.
Almost 90,000 home supporters were also treated to 15-year-old Yamal’s debut in the final stages, and the winger came close to scoring with a shot repelled by Rui Silva.
“We were talking about this on the bench, when I was at 15 I think I was playing for my neighborhood team,” added Raphinha.
“And seeing him come on in this stadium, with all these people, is incredible.”
Benzema climbed to 17 goals in La Liga this season with his treble, now two behind Lewandowski.
Benzema netted his treble in the first half and Rodrygo added the fourth early in the second for Madrid, while Lazaro and Lucas Robertone struck for the visitors, 15th.
Almeria coach Rubi made several changes to his regular side, clearly unconvinced his team could take points from the Santiago Bernabeu — the visit of Elche on Tuesday should be more profitable in their survival bid.
Madrid played with freedom in attack during an entertaining game, albeit one low on tension with their hopes of retaining the title minimal.
“In attack the team is very dangerous, with the quality of Karim, Vini, Rodrygo, with the ball we play very well,” coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
“There are games where the offensive level looks very good, like today.”
Vinicius Junior teed up Benzema for a tap-in to break the deadlock early on.
Rodrygo’s assist for Benzema’s second goal was one of the highlights of the game, with the forward backheeling the ball to himself to escape Samuel Costa.
“I think it was a pass to myself, I didn’t have anywhere to go, it was a nice pass to myself with my heel,” Rodrygo told DAZN.
The 35-year-old Benzema completed his hat-trick after 42 minutes from the penalty spot after Largie Ramazani clumsily fouled Lucas Vazquez.
Benzema’s strikes helped him move two goals ahead of former Madrid attacker Hugo Sanchez to become the fourth top scorer in La Liga of all time, on 236 goals.
Vinicius made way in the final stages after taking a knock but Ancelotti said the winger would be fit to play in the Copa del Rey final next weekend.
Bottom side Elche survived relegation for the time being with a 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, who were reduced to 10 men in the first half.
Barca thrash Betis to stay ahead of rampant Madrid
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Barca thrash Betis to stay ahead of rampant Madrid
- Edgar Gonzalez’s early dismissal made it an easy night for Xavi Hernandez’s side to protect their lead with six games remaining
Raphinha bags hat-trick as Barca trounce Valladolid in La Liga
- Raphinha opened the scoring for Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium on 20 minutes as he chested down a pass from Pau Cubarsi and flicked elegantly into the far corner with the outside of his left boot
BARCELONA: Brazil winger Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday to make it four wins from four in La Liga under new coach Hansi Flick.
While bitter rivals Real Madrid have stumbled early following the much-trumpeted arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Barcelona are off to a flying start despite their continued financial difficulties.
They are also missing Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo but have a maximum 12 points heading into the international break, leaving them seven clear of Madrid who face Real Betis on Sunday.
“We’re growing as a team. I think it’s a very good start to the season,” said Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
“I’m proud of how things are going... hopefully we can continue like that in the next weeks.”
Barcelona’s best start to a La Liga campaign came in 2013-14 when they started the season with eight straight wins, although they were pipped to the title that year by Atletico Madrid.
Raphinha opened the scoring for Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium on 20 minutes as he chested down a pass from Pau Cubarsi and flicked elegantly into the far corner with the outside of his left boot.
Robert Lewandowski soon doubled the lead when he latched onto a ball through from Lamine Yamal and squeezed a shot past Valladolid goalkeeper Karl Hein, on loan from Arsenal.
Jules Kounde made it three before half-time when a corner dropped to the France defender inside the area and he stabbed into the top corner while off-balance.
Raphinha had a simple tap-in from close range just past the hour, with Lewandowski and Yamal involved before the ball broke kindly for the Brazilian.
He completed his treble on 72 minutes following a brilliant burst forward from Yamal, who then slid through a delightful pass for Raphinha to stroke home.
Dani Olmo, who got the winner midweek at Rayo Vallecano, on his debut, struck with his final touch after twice hitting the post and having a goal disallowed for offside.
The Spain international danced past a series of defenders and rolled in Barcelona’s sixth. He missed Barcelona’s first two games this term with the club unable to register him as they struggled to meet La Liga’s strict financial rules.
Raphinha rounded off a glittering performance with the assist for Ferran Torres as Barcelona hit a seventh, fizzing in a cross from the left for the substitute to steer home in clinical fashion.
Atletico snatched a 1-0 victory away to Athletic Bilbao as Angel Correa scored in stoppage time to send Diego Simeone’s side up to second, four points adrift of Barcelona.
Espanyol came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Rayo Vallecano with Tottenham loanee Alejo Veliz striking in the sixth minute of added time.
Ayoze Perez’s equalizer ensured Villarreal remained unbeaten, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against a Valencia side that had lost each of their first three games.
Mallorca picked up their first win of the season by beating Leganes 1-0.
Dyche stunned by Everton’s late collapse against Cherries
- Everton have conceded 10 goals in their opening three Premier League matches and sit bottom of the table
LIVERPOOL: Sean Dyche branded Everton’s astonishing 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth as the most frustrating result of his career after they conceded three times in the closing minutes at shell-shocked Goodison Park.
Heading into the 87th minute, Everton led through goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
But Antoine Semenyo scored with what was then only Bournemouth’s second shot on target in the 87th minute, sparking an embarrassing Everton collapse.
Stoppage-time goals from Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra completed a turnaround that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola admitted his side did not deserve.
Never in Dyche’s long managerial career with Watford, Burnley and Everton had he experienced just a devastating meltdown.
“I’ve had a few defeats down my years as a player, coach, manager, but this is the most frustrating because to dominate a game for so long and come out of it without something at least is incredibly frustrating,” he said.
“These are ones that as a manager you scratch your head at.”
Everton have conceded 10 goals in their opening three Premier League matches and sit bottom of the table.
They were booed off at the final whistle by their furious fans and once again face a relegation battle after a terrible start to their final season at Goodison before moving into a new stadium.
“I speak to the players all the time and that’s been my biggest frustration since I walked in here. Unfortunately taking chances has been a challenge,” Dyche said.
“For whatever reason they score a goal and we’re just looking at each other, ‘Who’s going to win a challenge, who’s going to win a race, who’s going to win a header?’ We’re waiting for someone else to make a difference.
“After the first goal I could smell it in the air. Not necessarily not winning but I could smell it, ‘This ain’t right’, and I’m screaming at them to get their shape and do the ugly side of the game. We didn’t and they get a win out of nowhere.”
Erling Haaland hits another hat-trick at West Ham to send City top
- The English champions are the only side so far to win all three of their opening fixtures
LONDON: Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a second consecutive hat-trick in a 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday.
The Norwegian put Ipswich to the sword last weekend and followed up with another treble to take his tally to 70 goals in 69 Premier League games since joining City from Borussia Dortmund.
City have started the defense of their title in ominous fashion for those looking to depose Pep Guardiola’s men after winning the league for four consecutive seasons.
The English champions are the only side so far to win all three of their opening fixtures before an upcoming international break, helped in no small part by Haaland’s electric start.
Guardiola could again afford the luxury of leaving Rodri, John Stones and Kyle Walker on the bench after their exertions in reaching the final of Euro 2024, while Phil Foden missed out for the second successive game through illness.
In contrast to most of his team-mates who were in action at the Euros and Copa America, Haaland had the summer off from international duty and looks as refreshed as he has been ruthless.
After scoring in the opening weekend win at Chelsea and hitting his 10th City hat-trick against Ipswich, Haaland is now up to a Premier League record seven goals in the first three games of a season.
West Ham only had themselves to blame for the opener as they coughed up possession deep inside their own half and Bernardo Silva picked out Haaland to coolly slot beyond Alphonse Areola.
City looked set to put the game to bed in the opening stages as Areola denied Kevin De Bruyne before the Belgian smashed a shot off the crossbar.
But with West Ham’s first purposeful attack they were level thanks to a helping hand from the visitors.
Julen Lopetegui has promised a more attractive style of football after the Hammers fans grew tired of David Moyes’ reign despite impressive results.
At the end of an impressive move from one end to the other, Jarrod Bowen drove into the City box and his low cross was turned into his own net by Ruben Dias.
City quickly restored their grip on proceedings and restored their lead with an intricate move of their own that ended with a resounding finish.
Rico Lewis’ pass found Haaland, who then picked his spot and smashed the ball high past Areola.
Haaland should also have had an assist before the break as Lewis fired over from his deft lay-off.
City left the door open in the second half as they failed to find the killer third goal and could have been punished.
A lightning counter-attack saw Bowen play in Mohammed Kudus, who cannoned a powerful effort back off the post.
Haaland, though, fittingly had the final say to seal the three points.
The 24-year-old was played in by Matheus Nunes and confidently scooped the ball over substitute ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
And the veteran Polish stopper was called into action to deny Haaland a fourth in stoppage time.
A second defeat in three games for West Ham leaves Lopetegui’s men down in 14th.
Arsenal pay price for Rice red card, Villa too good for Leicester
- The England midfielder was deemed to have kicked the ball away as Joel Veltman shaped up to take a Brighton free-kick
- Villa bounced back from their defeat to Arsenal last weekend to secure their second win in three games
LONDON: Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge hit its first stumbling block in a 1-1 draw with Brighton after Declan Rice was sent-off on Saturday, while Aston Villa won 2-1 away at Leicester.
Both Arsenal and Brighton had maximum points from their opening two games and the Gunners looked set for another victory when Kai Havertz pounced on a Lewis Dunk error to lob in the opening goal.
However, the game turned just seconds into the second half when Rice controversially received the first red card of his career.
The England midfielder was deemed to have kicked the ball away as Joel Veltman shaped up to take a Brighton free-kick and was shown a second yellow card.
“I was amazed, amazed, amazed!” an outraged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. “Amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be.
“In the first half, there are two incidents and nothing happens. Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan, he turns around, he doesn’t see the player coming and he touches the ball.”
Brighton quickly made their man advantage count as Joao Pedro swept home the rebound after David Raya denied Yankuba Minteh.
Both sides had chances to win it as Bart Verbruggen denied Havertz and Georginio Rutter headed off target late on for the visitors.
But Arsenal had to settle for a point that could see them cede early ground in the title race.
Defending champions Manchester City can go top when the visit West Ham in Saturday’s 1630GMT kick-off.
Villa bounced back from their defeat to Arsenal last weekend to secure their second win in three games.
Amadou Onana stretched to turn in Jacob Ramsey’s cross from a well-worked free-kick to open the scoring.
Ollie Watkins is yet to find the net this season after helping England to the Euro 2024 final, but his understudy Jhon Duran has started the campaign in fine form.
The Colombian’s towering header just two minutes after replacing Watkins gave Villa the breathing space they needed.
Facundo Buonanotte pulled a goal back, but the Foxes remain winless on their return to the Premier League.
Southampton have found the jump up to the top flight just as hard.
Brentford eased past the Saints 3-1 with Bryan Mbeumo scoring twice.
Everton suffered another gut punch on their final season at Goodison Park as Bournemouth came from 2-0 down after 87 minutes to win 3-2.
Two quickfire goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin early in the second half had put the Toffees in control.
But Antoine Semenyo gave Bournemouth life before Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra ensured Everton remain without a point this season.
Ipswich got their first Premier League point in 22 years in a 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Liam Delap put the home side in front at Portman Road but Adama Traore secured a draw for Fulham.
Honours were also even in a 1-1 draw between Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
Manchester United host Liverpool in the blockbuster fixture of the weekend at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Why Ivan Toney’s move to Al-Ahli is one of Saudi Pro League’s biggest statements yet
- The England international was wanted by several Premier League clubs but will now form a formidable forward line with Riyadh Mahrez and Roberto Firmino in Jeddah
LONDON: The future of Ivan Toney has been one of the talking points of the summer. It has now been settled. The England striker has signed for Al-Ahli in a deal that is meaningful both on and off the pitch for the player, the club, and the Saudi Pro League.
A front-line of Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Toney is one that no defense in the world would relish facing, but it is one that the 17 other SPL teams will have to deal with in the coming season. The Jeddah giants swooped for Toney on Friday, doing a deal with Brentford that will keep the forward, who scored 72 goals in 141 appearances for the club, in Jeddah until 2028.
The 28-year-old is not the biggest name to head to Saudi Arabia since Cristiano Ronaldo shocked the world by joining Al-Nassr in December 2022. Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Neymar have won some of the biggest prizes in the game, and all play in the SPL. Mahrez joined Al-Ahli from Manchester City, who were European champions at the time; Benzema was the Ballon D’Or holder when he headed to Al-Ittihad from Real Madrid; and Kante is a World Cup winner. Toney joins Al-Ahli from Brentford, a mid-level — at best — English Premier League team.
Brentford may not be title challengers, but there were teams who are — such as Arsenal — who were very interested in Toney. The Gunners may regret missing out. Brentford are also sure to be happier selling their star forward to a club in a different league and not having to put their fans through the painful experience of Toney coming back to West London to do what he does best: score goals.
What will please Al-Ahli fans is that this is a star player, in demand, moving from the English Premier League at what should be the peak of his career. Toney has already shown that he is a force to be reckoned with, scoring against some of the best defenses in the world while playing for one of the league’s smaller teams that had, until just over three years ago, never played in the Premier League. In the 2022-23 season, only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane scored more.
Last season wasn’t so memorable for the Northampton-born striker who worked his way up through the lower leagues to reach the top. He was banned for most of it for gambling offences.
The inactivity perhaps cost him time with the national team but he still played a part as England reached the final of the European championships, and his no-look penalty in the shootout win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals made headlines around the world.
His prowess from the spot (he has scored 30 out of 32 in non-shootout situations) is just one reason why fans will be excited. Toney is not just a recognized talent but one with something to prove. He still wants to show whoever the new permanent England boss is going to be that he deserves to be starting for his country.
The SPL was well-represented at the Euros and Toney will have seen first-hand how solid Al-Nassr’s Aymeric Laporte was as the defender impressed in the final when Spain defeated England 2-1.
Toney will have a chance to make up for that disappointment with trophies. Al-Ahli finished third last season, a good showing on their return to the top tier after a surprise relegation. The platform is there for a genuine challenge for their first championship since 2016 and there is also the AFC Champions League to look forward to. The forward line is not just mouthwatering on paper, but should spell danger for defenses around across Asia.
Mahrez recorded more assists than any other player in the league last season. The two should relish playing together. Then there is Firmino, now looking fully settled into life in Jeddah. Toney is not only great in the air and a deadly finisher, but can play as a single striker or part of a pair. A potential partnership with Firas Al-Buraikan, the top-scoring Saudi striker last season with an impressive 17 goals, will have Al-Ahli’s famous green army of fans rubbing their hands in anticipation.
They, as well as Toney, could be in for quite a season.
