FC Barcelona News: 14 April 2025
Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Alejandro Balde injury news - FC Barcelona
Tests carried out on Sunday morning on the first team player Alejandro Balde confirm that he has a distal injury to his left hamstring. His return to action with the first team will depend on his recovery.
Advertisement
When and where to watch Borussia Dortmund v FC Barcelona - FC Barcelona
All the info you need to follow the second leg of the Champions League quarter final in Germany.
FC Barcelona v Real Madrid league fixture date and kickoff time confirmed - FC Barcelona
The wait is over, LaLiga has announced that the matchday 35 fixture between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid is set to be played on May 11, kickoff 4.15pm CEST. A date for the diary when the football world comes to a standstill.
Barça Women 6-0 Atlético Madrid: No let up - FC Barcelona
Complete performance in the Estadi Johan Cruyff with a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Atlético Madrid at the beginning of an important week of the 2024/25 season. Six goals from six different players, Pere Romeu's team look on good form ahead of fixtures at home against Sevilla on Wednesday and Chelsea on Sunday.
Advertisement
Barça Atlètic 2-0 Sestao River: More than just a win - FC Barcelona
Another step forward, as Barça Atlètic came away with a very important win as they seek to avoid the drop. Aleix Garrido and Jan Virgili scored the goals, and Ander Astralaga also played a key role in goal against Sestao River, who are now only four points ahead and one place above the relegation places.
Dani Olmo, cleared for Dortmund - Mundo Deportivo
The Spanish midfielder will be available for Hansi Flick for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Special treatment for Raphinha and Araujo after the win at Leganés - Mundo Deportivo
Barça carried out the usual recovery training at the Ciutat Esportiva and the players who ended up injured at Butarque received specific treatment.
Barça and Madrid's path to the Clásico that could decide LaLiga - Mundo Deportivo
After resolving both of their Matchday 31 commitments with hard-fought victories, the Blaugrana maintain a four-point advantage over Los Blancos.
Advertisement
30 goals ruled out for offside against Barça's opponents - Mundo Deportivo
Leganés was also a victim of Barça's high line and scored an offside goal. Dani Raba put the ball in the back of the net in the 69th minute but his goal was disallowed for being ahead of the Barça defensive line.
De Burgos Bengoechea is the favorite to referee the Barça-Madrid Cup Final - Mundo Deportivo
It is the logical consequence of Soto Grado's appointment for Real Madrid's league match against Alavés.
In Dortmund, they believe in "the greatest football miracle" against Barça - Mundo Deportivo
The reaction against Bayern, with a draw at the Allianz Arena, encourages Kovac, the players and the German club ahead of the second leg against Barça.
Barça Atlètic have life at the expense of Sestao - Mundo Deportivo
The reserve team won again at home and closed the gap on the relegation zone after beating a direct rival. They have six 'finals' ahead of them to maintain their status, a feat that is expected to be difficult but not impossible.
Advertisement
More from barcablaugranes.com:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Jose Ochoa 'cried a lot' after debut loss, promises to beat Cody Durden at UFC on ESPN 69
Jose Ochoa 'cried a lot' after debut loss, promises to beat Cody Durden at UFC on ESPN 69 Jose Ochoa can't wait to get his hand raised inside the octagon. ATLANTA – Despite not being under the best circumstances, Jose Ochoa feels excitement, not pressure, ahead of his UFC return. The Peruvian prospect is set to take on veteran Cody Durden on the preliminary card of UFC on ESPN 69 (ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at State Farm Arena. Ochoa (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) debuted for the promotion last November, losing a decision to Lone'er Kavanagh, which marked his first professional defeat. It was a tough pill to swallow but one that provided Ochoa valuable lessons. "The truth is that the loss was very tough to deal with," Ochoa told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. "It was my first loss, and it happened in the UFC. I took it calmly, but I did cry a lot, and then I just focused on what I need to improve, and I'm going to show everything I worked in my camp this Saturday against Cody Durden." Taking on a veteran like Durden (17-7-1 MMA, 6-5-1 UFC) and coming off a defeat, one would think Ochoa would be feeling pressure ahead of UFC on ESPN 69. But that's not the case. "No, it doesn't pressure me," Ochoa explained. "It actually gives me confidence. It gives me more confidence because it got me to work on what I needed to work, and I'm going to what's needed to get the victory this time around." Ochoa is aiming to stop Durden this Saturday, but knows how durable his foe is. He's going to go for the finish or put on a war Chute-Box style. "I want to finish the fight by KO, TKO or even submission, which would be ideal, but I'm also prepared for 15 minutes of war," Ochoa said. "I'm ready to give and take damage. Nobody is untouchable in fighting. Like we say in Chute Box, 'They can hit us, but let's see if they can take it back.'"
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Frank faces pressure to make instant impact at Spurs
Thomas Frank was hired as Tottenham's new manager on Thursday as the Dane accepted the daunting task of solving the club's famed inconsistency. Frank arrives in north London with a reputation for tactically astute game-plans and deft man-management skills after an impressive seven-year reign at Brentford. Advertisement The 51-year-old will need those qualities and more to transform a team that won the Europa League under his predecessor Ange Postecoglou, but also endured their worst top-flight campaign since 1976-77. Here, AFP Sport looks at three key issues facing Frank at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: Make an immediate impact After spending much of his two-year spell at Tottenham battling to silence his critics, Postecoglou left with many bemoaning his ruthless dismissal just 16 days after beating Manchester United in the Europa League final. That success in Bilbao ended Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought and brought the club their first major European prize since 1984. Advertisement It wasn't enough for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who ruthlessly axed the Australian following a dismal 17th-placed finish in the Premier League that included 22 defeats in 38 games. Postecoglou had publicly asked for a third season in charge during the team's trophy parade and many Tottenham fans backed his plea. Against that backdrop, Frank will have to hit the ground running next season. Tottenham haven't played in the Champions League since 2022-23 and the return to Europe's elite club competition must be Frank's first goal. Frank will be well aware he made slow starts in his previous two jobs, requiring nine games to achieve a maiden win in charge of Brondby and losing eight of his first 10 with Brentford. Advertisement If Frank can guide Tottenham to a UEFA Super Cup triumph over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in his first game in charge on August 13, he would earn instant credibility among players and fans alike. Get recruitment right Levy insisted in March that Tottenham "cannot spend what we do not have" after being criticised for failing to invest enough money in new signings. That was interpreted as a message that players will have to be sold to help fund new signings, but Tottenham's lucrative qualification for the Champions League via Europa League victory was a major boost to their recruitment plans. Advertisement Getting the right blend of players into a talented but underperforming squad will be crucial for Frank. He has to make a big call regarding Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, who is entering the final 12 months of his deal with interest from Saudi Pro League clubs. Cristian Romero has been tracked by several La Liga teams and the combative defender dropped a cryptic message on Instagram after Frank's appointment that showed his loyalty to Postecoglou and hinted at issues in the corridors of power. "Ange, thank you for these two incredible seasons. From day one you paved the way despite the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist," he said. Advertisement Frank will take comfort from working with Tottenham technical director Johan Lange, an old colleague from their time at Lyngby. He can also look to develop the youngsters who emerged under Postecoglou, with Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Djed Spence all featuring this season. Take the next step Frank established Brentford as Premier League regulars despite one of the lower budgets in the top flight, but now he must prove he can work on a grander scale under intense scrutiny. During the 2024-25 campaign, Brentford recorded their best tally of top-flight wins (16) and goals (66) to secure a 10th-placed finish. Advertisement The pre-season loss of England striker Ivan Toney to Al-Ahli last year failed to halt Brentford's momentum. Frank has always been adaptable, clinching promotion with a Championship play-off final success in 2021 despite the departures of Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma. While those achievements are admirable, a host of managers with more impressive feats on their CVs, -- including serial winners Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte -- have found it impossible to succeed at Tottenham. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said it was "just a question of time" before Frank was hired by one of the elite. Now the Dane has the opportunity to show he is ready to make the step up. smg/jc
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Scouting Club World Cup opponents of Inter Miami, Messi: Al Ahly, Porto, Palmeiras
The casual sports fan may assume that Lionel Messi and his high-profile Inter Miami teammates are locks to advance from a Club World Cup group that includes Al Ahly of Egypt, Porto of Portugal and Palmeiras of Brazil. But soccer fans who follow the international game are fully aware that although Messi's No. 10 pink shirt is the best selling in the world, his team is the underdog against three Group A opponents that have far more history and trophies than a 6-year-old MLS club. Inter Miami kicks off the $1 billion tournament on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium against Al Ahly, the highest-ranked African team in the world, a team that won that region's Champions League three of the past four years and has racked up 155 trophies over its 118-year history. Next up for the Miami is 30-time Portuguese champion Porto in Atlanta on June 19 and the final group game is June 23 back at Hard Rock Stadium against Brazilian power Palmeiras, the Sao Paulo side that won Brazil's Serie A in 2022 and 2023, the Copa do Brasil in 2020 and two successive Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021. Among the top players on Palmeiras' roster is 18-year-old phenom Estavao, who is headed to Chelsea for a $68 million transfer fee. According to the Opta Power Rankings, Porto is No. 56 in the world, Palmeiras No. 76, Al Ahly No. 98 and Inter Miami No. 146. Let's take a closer look at who Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will be facing over the next few weeks… Al Ahly steeped in history Spanish coach Jose Riveiro makes his Al Ahly debut in the Club World Cup opener, and he will be under pressure from the passionate and demanding Red Devils fans, who are used to winning and pack 75,000-seat Cairo International Stadium for home matches. Al Ahly has won 45 Egyptian Premier League titles, 39 Egypt Cup titles and 15 Egyptian Super Cups, making it the most successful club in Africa. The club's Instagram account has 12 million followers, and most of its players have more than a million followers, led by Trezeguet by 9.7 million. 'When you are in a Club World Cup, you are going to see the best teams in the world, and we landed a group that maybe in the names of the clubs is not as intimidating as others, but I can tell you that based on performance, it is a difficult group,' said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. 'I have seen Al Ahly in the Intercontinental Cup, Porto and Palmeiras we know much better because we have seen them often. Our goal is to arrive at the tournament in the best form possible and try to win the first game.' Inter Miami features former Barcelona teammates Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, who is injured and questionable for Saturday's game. Al Ahly also boasts elite players such as ex-Aston Villa forward Mahmoud Trézéguet, Emam Ashour, Wessam Abou Ali, and Momamad Hanu. The Egyptian team has been in South Florida for more than a week, training at Nova Southeastern University and tuned up for the Club World Cup with a friendly against Mexican team Pachuca on Sunday, losing 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 tie. Porto seeks redemption The Club World Cup is redemption time for Porto, an opportunity to save face after finishing the Primeira Liga in third place for the second year in a row. The Dragons finished nine points behind second-place Benfica and 11 points behind winner Sporting. The last time they finished below top two in successive seasons was in 1976 and 1977. Porto, a historic club that was founded in 1893 and has never been relegated, was eliminated by Roma in the first knockout round of the Europa League this year, and lost in the Round of 32 of the Taca de Portugal (Portugal's FA Cup) against Moreirense and the semi-finals of the Taca da Liga (League Cup). Coach Martin Anselmi, who was previously at Mexican club Cruz Azul, leads a team that features talented goalkeeper Diogo Costa and Spanish striker in Samu Aghehowa, who scored 25 goals this season. Other players to watch include forward Pepe and midfielder Stephen Eustaquio. Porto is the most decorated Portuguese team in international competitions, with seven trophies. They won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League in 1987 and 2004, the UEFA Cup/Europa League in 2003 and 2011, the UEFA Super Cup in 1987, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1987 and 2004. Palmeiras teen Estavao takes center stage One of the most exciting young players in the world is 18-year-old Brazilian winger Estevao, so it is no surprise that Inter Miami's game against Palmeiras was drawing higher ticket prices than the opener against Al Ahly. South Florida's large Brazilian community will get a chance to see the teen phenom in person before he heads to England to play for Chelsea, which reportedly paid a $39.3 million transfer fee with another $26.6 million in performance-based incentives. He made his club debut at age 16 and last season scored 13 goals with nine assists. Asked about the opportunity to face Messi, Estevao said in a interview: 'I am very excited. I'll be playing against one of the greatest football players in history, so being on the pitch with him will be an incredible and unforgettable experience for me. 'It's a great feeling to be playing in a tournament like this and to know that Palmeiras is among the best clubs in the world. It's great not only for me, but for everyone playing. Expectations are high, and the tournament will also be a great learning experience since we'll be facing not just South American clubs, but also European ones.' Other Palmeiras players to watch include forward Vitor Roque, midfielder Raphael Veiga, midfielder Richard Ríos and forward Facundo Torres. Palmeiras is Brazil's most successful domestic club with a record 12 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, four Copas do Brasil, one Copa dos Campeões, and one Supercopa do Brasil. The Brazilian Serie A season kicked off in March and ends in December. Palmeiras is currently in fourth place and advanced to the Copa Libertadores Round of 16, where it will play Unversitario of Peru in August.
