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Raphinha leads Barcelona’s thrilling 4-3 comeback over Celta in La Liga

Raphinha leads Barcelona’s thrilling 4-3 comeback over Celta in La Liga
FC Barcelona’s Raphinha celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo during their LaLiga match against Celta Vigo at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Apr. 19, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 19 April 2025

Raphinha leads Barcelona’s thrilling 4-3 comeback over Celta in La Liga

Raphinha leads Barcelona’s thrilling 4-3 comeback over Celta in La Liga
  • The Brazil forward deserved being singled out for extra praise from Barcelona’s coach
  • He had just led a thrilling 4-3 fightback over Celta Vigo by scoring two late goals

BARCELONA: Hansi Flick ran onto the field on the final whistle and lifted Raphinha off his feet in a bear hug.
The Brazil forward deserved being singled out for extra praise from Barcelona’s coach. He had just led a thrilling 4-3 fightback over Celta Vigo by scoring two late goals including a clutch penalty for an injury-time winner.
Barcelona remained on pace for the Spanish league title as they opened up a seven-point gap over Real Madrid before the defending champion host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
“It was amazing to see at this stage how this team gives everything to never give up,” Flick said. He added that at halftime he told Raphinha he needed him “as a leader” on the field.
Raphinha’s double let him reach 30 goals in all competitions this season, the best of his career.
Lewandowski injury worry ahead of big games
The loss might come at a price, however. Barcelona top scorer Robert Lewandowski asked to be substituted in the final minutes while touching his left thigh.
“We have to wait until tomorrow,” Flick said.
There is no let up for Barcelona with three titles in play.
Barcelona face Mallorca in the league on Tuesday and Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final next weekend. Four days after that they will start their Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan.
Raphinha and Olmo spoil Iglesias treble
It looked like another easy win for Barcelona when Ferran Torres fired the hosts ahead early.
But Celta striker Borja Iglesias started his spectacular three-goal performance just three minutes later, scoring on the break after Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny failed to reach a low cross.
Iglesias stunned the home fans again by scoring twice more in the 59th and 62nd from passes from Celta’s own area that were poorly defended by Barcelona.
Iglesias got his second goal after Frenkie De Jong let a long goal kick that looked harmless bounce past him, apparently thinking a teammate would control it. Instead, Iglesias pounced on the ball and drilled a shot inside the far post. Iglesias made it a hat trick when Barcelona’s defense let him run onto a long ball and dink his shot past Szczesny.
Barcelona looked done but Flick’s side quickly rallied behind Raphinha — with some help from substitutes Olmo and Lamine Yamal.
Raphinha slipped a ball through for Olmo to take Barcelona’s second goal. He then rose up to thump in Yamal’s cross with a powerful header. And with Lewandowski on the bench, Raphinha beat goalkeeper Vincente Guaita from the high-pressure penalty deep in injury time after a video review convinced the referee to penalize a foul by Celta defender Yoel Lago on Olmo.
Celta, which held Barcelona to 2-2 in their other meeting this season, fell into eighth place.
Mallorca moved into seventh after a 0-0 draw with Leganes.
Also, Umar Sadiq struck to help Valencia rally for 1-1 at Rayo Vallecano.


Real Madrid sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool

Updated 25 sec ago

Real Madrid sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool

Real Madrid sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool
  • Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday
MADRID: Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday.
The 26-year-old England international’s contract at Anfield was drawing to an end but Madrid paid a fee to bring him in earlier so he can play in the Club World Cup.
Right-back Alexander-Arnold, who has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, came through the academy of his boyhood club and won the Champions League in 2019.
He also won the Premier League in 2020 and 352 appearances for the club.
The defender joins former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with the Spaniard appointed as their new coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Alexander-Arnold’s close connections to Liverpool meant that his announcement that he was leaving the club was viewed with disgust by some supporters and he was booed in the penultimate match of the season.
But after club figures including former manager Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah urged fans to remember the contribution he has made to Liverpool’s success over the last six years, he was roundly cheered when he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday.
The defender joins a Real Madrid side which failed to win a major trophy this season.
Alexander-Arnold has been criticized for his defensive concentration at times but brings supreme passing vision and attacking edge down the right flank.
Real Madrid have struggled at right-back this season with Dani Carvajal recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time there out of position.
Alexander-Arnold could make his Real Madrid debut when they face Ƶn side Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup match on June 18 in Miami.
Real Madrid have also signed Spanish center-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as they look to bolster a back-line which was ravaged by injury this season.

De Bruyne is Manchester City’s ‘greatest player’ says club chairman as Guardiola prepares team for Club World Cup

De Bruyne is Manchester City’s ‘greatest player’ says club chairman as Guardiola prepares team for Club World Cup
Updated 33 min 40 sec ago

De Bruyne is Manchester City’s ‘greatest player’ says club chairman as Guardiola prepares team for Club World Cup

De Bruyne is Manchester City’s ‘greatest player’ says club chairman as Guardiola prepares team for Club World Cup
  • In Part 1 of his review of the 2024-2025 season, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak looks back on the challenges faced by the team and confirms his confidence that they will be back to winning ways

ABU DHABI: Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has provided his annual review of the season to the club’s official online channel. In Part 1 of the interview he discussed the challenges of the 2024-2025 campaign, the departure of a club legend and his trust in manager Pep Guardiola. Here are some of the highlights.

On City improving next season …

We will be back. This season is a season that’s now behind us. And we will take all the good things and the not-so-good things from this season and learn from it and improve from it and get better.

I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve and that we know, we will achieve. If there’s one thing I’d like right now, it’s to turn that page from last season and just immediately start focusing on next season.

All the players, everyone I saw yesterday after the Fulham game, all the players, they’re excited, they’re excited about coming back. Nobody feels good about how we finished the season. They want to come back and they want to come back hungry. And I can see the hunger.

And that’s exactly why you see me so positive. We’re going to come back strong, with a lot of positivity.

On City’s summer transfer strategy …

We have clearly identified who exactly are the targets, in what positions, and we have our clear No.1 option, our clear No.2 option. And we’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift.

Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.

 

 

On Kevin De Bruyne …

In my view, he is the greatest player to play for this club. His accomplishments speak for themselves. His accomplishments for the club in terms of trophies — that tally, number of Premier Leagues, the Champions League, FA Cups, Community Shields, Carabao Cups. It’s an unbelievable tally, the highest of any player who has ever played for this club.

He's been a captain. He’s been a leader. He’s been a teammate. He’s been everything you would hope from your most important player.

Kevin really transcends this team and I’m so proud of what he has accomplished. It’s one of the best decisions we ever took – the day we took the decision to invest in Kevin and bring him from Wolfsburg. I remember some people thought we overpaid.

On Pep Guardiola …

One thing we have with Pep, which is so fundamental, is one word: trust.

We have trust, and it goes both ways. I think he trusts us. He trusts me. He trusts the organisation. He trusts the club, and we trust him.

And that trust is what, in the good times, allows you to keep winning. And in the tough times, that’s where that trust really shows up.

And we’ve gone through all these ups and downs, and we’ve always stood together as a team. And inevitably it’s always shown to be the foundation of our success.

 


Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with overtime win against seven-time champions

Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with overtime win against seven-time champions
Updated 43 min 18 sec ago

Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with overtime win against seven-time champions

Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with overtime win against seven-time champions
  • Home team edges Partizan Mozzart Bet 100-95 at Coca-Cola Arena in ABA League semi-finals

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball edged out seven-time ABA League champions Partizan Mozzart Bet in Game 2 of the semi-finals — winning the pivotal clash 100-95 in the final five minutes of overtime to square the series.

Dubai welcomed Serbian powerhouse Partizan Mozzart Bet to Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday night after a shock loss in Belgrade in the first leg of the semi-final. Needing a win to keep their league ambitions alive, Dubai Basketball were set for what would be one of their best games this season.

In a stark contrast from the first game of the semis, Dubai Basketball kept Partizan on edge with unrelenting momentum and strong defensive tactics. Praising Dubai’s response, Partizan coach Zeljko Obradovic spoke about the intensity of playing Dubai at home.

“We knew they would try to be aggressive here (in Dubai), and they were,” he said.

Dubai’s physicality and determination were evident from the start of the first quarter. Holding a narrow three-point lead in the second quarter, the team gained confidence as they landed crucial three-pointers, pushing ahead into the second half. However, Partizan quickly retaliated, with American guard Carlik Jones and Belgian international Frank Ntilikina making an early impact and keeping the contest tight.

Leading by example for Dubai was captain and Man of the Match Klemen Prepelic. The Slovenian shooting guard has often been praised for his role in the debutant team, but his performance on Thursday night outshone his previous milestones for the team.

Prepelic, the night’s top scorer, contributed 30 points, three rebounds and one assist. Only one other Dubai Basketball member came close to these stats, with Nate Mason’s perfectly executed free throws in the last 14 seconds of regulation time leveling the score and forcing Partizan into overtime.

Praising the team’s resilience, Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac said: “I’m very proud. We didn’t surrender; we didn’t give up. You could see it in the players — the emotions in their eyes. We didn’t want the season to end, and that was obvious.”

With more than 7,000 fans in attendance, Dubai looked more confident than ever in the extra period. Spurred on by the home crowd, they secured the final points of the night and sealed a crucial win to force a deciding third game in Belgrade on Sunday.

“Our defence was unbelievable today,” Golemac added. “I had the feeling there were 10,000 people inside — breathing and playing the game with us. They wanted to succeed just like we did.”

Dubai Basketball now head to Serbia for the semi-final showdown, one step away from a place in the ABA League finals — marking an already historic debut season for the team with a second home win against one of Europe’s most decorated clubs.


Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief

Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief
Updated 30 May 2025

Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief

Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief
  • Speculation over the 40-year-old Portuguese forward’s future intensified
  • Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in back-to-back Saudi Pro League seasons

RIYADH: Al-Nassr are negotiating with Cristiano Ronaldo over a contract extension but face competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d’Or winner, the Saudi side’s sporting director Fernando Hierro said on Thursday.

Speculation over the 40-year-old Portuguese forward’s future intensified after Al-Nassr’s season-ending match at Al-Fateh on Monday, with Ronaldo posting on social media: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.”

“Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr runs until June 30. We will work to renew his contract so he can continue with us, and there are many clubs interested in signing him,” Hierro told a news conference.

Despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify for the Club World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States.

FIFA has created a special transfer window for clubs to sign players for the event, and while Wydad Casablanca had been linked with a move for Ronaldo a source close to the Moroccan side said last week they were not in talks to sign him.

Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in back-to-back Saudi Pro League seasons and Hierro described him as a trailblazer for Saudi football.

“Ronaldo’s presence from the beginning is a national project,” Hierro said.

“Cristiano has opened up soccer in this country to the world. It’s phenomenal that he had the courage to come here, stay here, and open up the Ƶn league to the world.”


Brunson, Towns keep Knicks alive in Pacers rout

Brunson, Towns keep Knicks alive in Pacers rout
Updated 30 May 2025

Brunson, Towns keep Knicks alive in Pacers rout

Brunson, Towns keep Knicks alive in Pacers rout
  • Trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks roar back to life
  • Pacers coach Rick Carlisle blamed his team’s failure to threaten the Knicks on their sluggish start

NEW YORK: Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 56 points as the New York Knicks kept their NBA playoff campaign alive with a 111-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

Trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks roared back to life in front of a star-studded Madison Square Garden crowd with a wire-to-wire win that sets up a Game 6 in Indianapolis on Saturday.

Knicks talisman Brunson was once again the standout performer for New York, finishing with 32 points including four three-pointers.

Towns, whose presence in the New York lineup was only confirmed shortly before tip-off following a left knee injury in Game 4, was also a pivotal figure with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

“We were just able to get stops early and we would convert. We just found a way,” Brunson told TNT television.

“I just felt like we played better. We played to our standards. Give them credit for the way they played, but we played Knicks basketball tonight.”

Towns said there was never any chance of him not lining up.

“It was do or die – nothing was going to stop me from playing this game,” Towns said.

Brunson set the tone from the get-go, rattling in 14 points as the Knicks sprinted into an early 23-13 lead in the first quarter.

Although Indiana came back to cut the lead to 27-23 at the end of the first, the Knicks continued to control possession, unsettling Indiana with the speed of their fast break offense and neutralizing Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.

New York led 56-45 at half time with Haliburton scoring just four points in the first half. Haliburton would go on to finish with a series-low eight points, shooting just two-of-seven from the field.

The Pacers had staged an epic comeback to take the opening game of the series in New York last week, overturning a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Knicks.

There was a hint that another fightback might be in the offing when Indiana slashed a 20-point New York lead to just 10 points in the third quarter.

But the Knicks regrouped and stretched their lead once more before closing out the win to keep the series alive.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle blamed his team’s failure to threaten the Knicks – it was the first time in the series Indiana had been restricted to less than 100 points – on their sluggish start.

“We didn’t play with the level of force that we needed to,” Carlisle said. “We lost the rebound battle, we lost the turnover battle and we didn’t shoot well.

“They had a lot to do with that, so give them credit, but we’re going to have to play much better.

“To start the game we didn’t have the right level of attitude necessary in this environment. It was a bad start. We never had a lead in the game. There were a multitude of things that were going wrong.

“There were little stretches where we got traction, but it was never enough.”