Latest news with #BarcelonaSC
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 River Plate secure critical Copa Libertadores win at Barcelona SC
Argentine giants River Plate were made to work on their travels tonight but still were capable of coming away with a hard-fought 3-2 win at Barcelona Rivero 15', Quarta 49' (OG); Driussi 7', Colidio 26', Mastantuono 48' Marcelo Gallardo's Los Millonarios outfit got off to the perfect start on the night when Sebastián Driussi opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a calm finish inside the area. Barcelona drew level on the scoresheet eight minutes later through an inch-perfect glancing header from 16 yards out by veteran Uruguayan forward Octavio Rivero. Former Argentina youth international Facundo Colidio would restore order in the 26th minute, however, with a finish that mirrored Driussi's earlier strike to put River back into the lead. The night would go from bad to worse for Toreros, who would be forced into an early substitution, replacing first-choice shot-stopper José Contreras with Ignacio de Arruabarrena due to injury. River would extend their lead by a two-goal margin through Argentine starlet Franco Mastantuono who only needed to apply a simple tap-in from inside six yards after a fine ball across the face of an open goal from substitute Miguel Borja. But the home side would pull a goal back instantly in near-identical fashion, with the close-range finish being credited as an own goal by Lucas Martínez Quarta. Despite 40 minutes remaining on the match clock, River hung on to their one-goal lead to take a commanding lead in Group B, with a chance to seal progression next time out when they lock horns with Independiente del Valle. 📸 MARCOS PIN - AFP or licensors
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 River Plate secure critical Copa Libertadores win at Barcelona SC
Argentine giants River Plate were made to work on their travels tonight but still were capable of coming away with a hard-fought 3-2 win at Barcelona SC. Scorers: Rivero 15', Quarta 49' (OG); Driussi 7', Colidio 26', Mastantuono 48' Advertisement Marcelo Gallardo's Los Millonarios outfit got off to the perfect start on the night when Sebastián Driussi opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a calm finish inside the area. Barcelona drew level on the scoresheet eight minutes later through an inch-perfect glancing header from 16 yards out by veteran Uruguayan forward Octavio Rivero. Former Argentina youth international Facundo Colidio would restore order in the 26th minute, however, with a finish that mirrored Driussi's earlier strike to put River back into the lead. The night would go from bad to worse for Toreros, who would be forced into an early substitution, replacing first-choice shot-stopper José Contreras with Ignacio de Arruabarrena due to injury. Advertisement River would extend their lead by a two-goal margin through Argentine starlet Franco Mastantuono who only needed to apply a simple tap-in from inside six yards after a fine ball across the face of an open goal from substitute Miguel Borja. But the home side would pull a goal back instantly in near-identical fashion, with the close-range finish being credited as an own goal by Lucas Martínez Quarta. Despite 40 minutes remaining on the match clock, River hung on to their one-goal lead to take a commanding lead in Group B, with a chance to seal progression next time out when they lock horns with Independiente del Valle. 📸 MARCOS PIN - AFP or licensors
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🏆 Two pieces of good news for River ahead of the Cup
🏆 Two pieces of good news for River ahead of the Cup This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. While the Millionaire is focused on the match in Ecuador against Barcelona SC, Marcelo Gallardo has received two great pieces of news. After completing the recovery period for his tear, Paulo Díaz is now fit to return and has already joined the team. On the other hand, the other key player that the Doll recovers is Gonzalo Montiel, who has overcome his muscle injury, suffered against Boca, and has already trained with the group. 📸 Daniel Jayo - 2025 Getty Images
New York Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Is Segundo Castillo – manager of the other Barcelona – football's most fashionable coach?
It was a look more associated with the Met Gala or the Oscars red carpet than the dugout of a professional football game. But when managing his Ecuadorian top-flight club Barcelona SC, Segundo Castillo dresses to impress. The 42-year-old went viral in March after wearing striking tuxedos on the touchline for two of his team's high-profile games in the Copa Libertadores, South America's version of Europe's UEFA Champions League. Advertisement Castillo, a former midfielder for Ecuador who also had club spells on loan at Premier League sides Everton and Wolves, chose white for the 3-0 win over Brazilian team Corinthians last month, then bright pink for a 0-0 draw with Argentinian side River Plate on April 9. Earlier this season, he wore a tight-fitted waistcoat and flat cap, and another ensemble that matched shiny silver shoes with his tie. Although Castillo's fashion sense has made global headlines, it has not proven a distraction for his players. The club, named after Spain's Barcelona, have made a fine start to the new season and are level on points with Independiente del Valle at the top of the league, having won seven of their nine games so far. 'Ecuador is still a conservative environment,' says Esteban Avila, a journalist for La Radio Redonda and Marca90, who is based in the capital, Quito. 'But Castillo has imposed his personality. His tendency to wear such striking clothing has revolutionised Ecuadorian football.' Castillo has said his sartorial choices are chiefly to make his players smile and relieve tension ahead of big games in the club's centennial season. But his refined ensembles have won approval far beyond the Barcelona players and fans. 'A look so elegant and out of the ordinary — no coach had ever shown off such a suit in the history of football,' wrote Giacomo Arico in Vogue Italia last month. 'It captured the eyes not only of the spectators at the stadium but of the entire world, with the shots of his suit that are currently doing the rounds on the web. 'A style choice that coincides perfectly with the 'Black Dandy' theme of the next Met Gala 2025.' Whether or not Castillo intended to match the Met's forthcoming theme or not, his psychological motivation could be effective. Sarah Collins, a senior lecturer in fashion design at Manchester Metropolitan University, believes seeing the manager so dazzlingly turned out could have the intended impact on his team. Advertisement 'The clothes we select and wear form part of our overall identity along with things like hairstyle, accessories and tattoos,' she says. 'It is a curatorial process about that outward projection of identity, which he speaks to when referencing dressing for his team: to make them smile. 'Of course, you can make people smile with clothing in different ways; he could have dressed as a clown. The fact that he has chosen a tux, which is normally considered formal-occasion wear, is interesting too. 'It's not exactly the working-class roots of football, but it carries an air of authority. He says the players know they are being looked after when they see him in these suits, and maybe he means they see that he is taking everything seriously — right up to dressing so formally as opposed to turning up in a tracksuit. 'If he appears as someone who takes his clothing seriously and with pride, by extension, he takes his job seriously. He is clearly confident and comfortable enough to do that. He has made himself stand apart from other managers.' Castillo's love of fashion was also influenced by his time as a player in Europe, where he first played for Serbia's Crvena Zvezda before loan moves in England. In an interview with Forbes Ecuador, Castillo recalled team-mates with Louis Vuitton luggage and how players could be 'extravagant' with 'the financial means to buy them'. Day to day, Castillo prefers shorts or casual wear most of the time; the weather in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city where Barcelona are based, can reach highs of 32C (89.6F) in April and is warm and humid throughout the year. But on the big stage, Castillo brings out the big looks. 'I try to look good at LigaPro games,' Castillo told Forbes. 'When I played in England, at Everton and Wolverhampton, we had a lot of activities with the team owners and we always had to be well-dressed or wear the suits the club made us for special events or matches. It's a culture I developed. 'Here, for us, the Libertadores is our Champions League. So, I think you have to live up to the tournament you're playing in, and also to the club and my players. I have to give them that presence and make them feel like their coach is OK. Advertisement 'That's important to relieve them of some of the tension, of what a player always wants to conquer, which is to win every game. 'I didn't do it with the intention of it becoming so popular.' Collins is not surprised that the manager's style has been popular with his players. 'I don't know whether there's an element of in-joking within the club, but the team clearly respects him,' she says. 'It's not like they're thinking: 'What on earth is the manager wearing?' 'When he wears the pink tux, it's showing he will express himself freely and doesn't feel he needs to conform to the norm. Maybe that's also the message he wants to give his players on the pitch.' Football is Ecuador's most popular sport, and its top clubs command huge followings. As in many other places, the game can be a welcome distraction from daily life. The rise of criminal gangs has made the country one of the most violent in South America. In January, 781 people were murdered. Earlier this month, its president Daniel Noboa won the run-off round of the nation's election on a ticket to continue his tough military crackdown on the gangs. It was a divisive election, with Noboa's rival Luisa Gonzalez subsequently refusing to recognise his victory. Castillo's star turn has made positive headlines, especially with the manager already a national hero from his playing days. 'As a central midfielder (Castillo's nickname was 'El Mortero', or the mortar, for his power), Segundo was one of the best in Ecuadorian football history,' says Avila. 'He embodies the identity of Ecuadorian football with his physical strength, endurance and clear vision. 'It's too early to evaluate him as a manager. But his team are practical with a strong emphasis on the physical conditioning of players, which is typical in Ecuadorian football. Advertisement 'He faces a challenging path because Barcelona is his first coaching role, and Ecuadorian professionals often have limited opportunities. There has been a preference for foreign coaches.' Barcelona might be glad they bucked the trend. The club are selling T-shirts based on the manager's suits, designed to incorporate the silhouette of a tuxedo with the tagline 'Calle Pero Elegante', meaning 'street but elegant'. Vístete como 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 😎🔥 📍Estadio Banco Pichincha #BSCStore #BarcelonaSomosTodos — BSCstore (@BSCSTOREoficial) March 31, 2025 Castillo has another nickname, 'Sir Second Castle', based on the translation of his surname, and Avila says his willingness to embrace the attention has only 'amplified' the attention Barcelona receives as Ecuador's biggest club. It is also a boost for the retailers of Guayaquil. Castillo told Forbes his white tuxedo was made by a tailor from the city's Sauces 8 neighbourhood and cost US$400 (£151). While his closet features designer names such as Gucci, Armani and Hugo Boss, he is not wedded to big-money labels. 'I don't have a specific brand,' he said. 'If I like Zara or Calvin Klein, I'll buy it.' The man Avila describes as 'cordial' and 'respectful' and who, unable to afford boots, played barefoot during his childhood in the port town of San Lorenzo, is happiest that his clothes give Barcelona's players joy. Barcelona are next in Copa Libertadores action on Thursday night against River Plate. Third in group B, they remain hopeful of progressing to the knockout phase. Should they go even further, Castillo's wardrobe will continue to match the occasion.
Miami Herald
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Messi gains two new Inter Miami teammates. Who they are, what they had to say
Inter Miami is about to embark on arguably the toughest back-to-back road trips in club history and Lionel Messi will have two newly signed teammates along for the journey, 18-year-old Ecuadorean forward Allen Obando and 21-year-old Argentine midfielder Baltasar Rodriguez. Obando is on loan from Barcelona SC of Guayaquil and represented his country at the 2024 Pre-Olympic tournament and the 2025 South American U20 Championship. Rodriguez is on loan from Argentine club Racing and played for Argentina's U-23 national team at the Pre-Olympic Tournament under the management of current Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. Their young legs could prove valuable as Inter Miami faces league game against Eastern Conference leader Columbus Crew on Saturday followed by a Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, who sit atop the standings in the West. Messi, two months shy of his 38th birthday, enters this challenging stretch back to full fitness. He played 90-plus minutes each of the past four games, and scored three goals during that stretch, after missing the FIFA international break in mid-late March with an upper leg injury. For both Obando and Rodriguez, the opportunity to play alongside Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Buquets and Jordi Alba were critical in their decision to join MLS. Spanish La Liga club Atletico Madrid was in preliminary talks with Obando, but he and his family decided a move to Inter Miami was better at this time. 'Mainly, I am here to learn a lot from the elite players on this team,' Obando said. 'In just a few weeks, I have already seen their humility. That was surprising because you don't know what to expect. But in person they are nice people and have welcomed me warmly.' Mascherano said the addition of Obando will offer him a chance to learn under the tutelage of Suarez, one of the best center forwards of this generation, and also will allow 38-year-old Suarez to get some rest every now and then. Obando, who is 6-2, is also known for his aerial game. Obando grew up in Esmeraldas, a northwestern coastal providence of Ecuador, and moved to Guayaquil at a young age to pursue his soccer career. His father, Carlos, played in the Ecuadorean second division. His mother, Monserrat, worked as an engineer and is now focused on Allen's career. She accompanied him to South Florida as he gets acclimated to his new home. He liked basketball, but soccer was Obando's first love. He is looking forward to attending his first Heat game. Obando got his debut in the 1-1 tie against Toronto two weeks ago. He said it was an emotional moment. Playing on the same field as Messi was a privilege for the Ecuadorean forward, who was not even born when Messi signed his first pro contract. 'It is very impressive because seeing him on T.V. for so long and then seeing him in person, it's amazing what he does at his age,' Obando said of Messi. 'For most people that would be impossible, but he has that competitive spirit and that is what impressed me most. The hunger he still has is inspiring.' Rodriguez, a right-sided midfielder who also plays in the middle, is looking forward to his debut, which could come during one of the next two games. He said he plans to travel to Columbus. He hopes to get more minutes with Miami than he did at Racing and said having Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba as teammates provides extra motivation. Having former Racing teammate Toto Aviles on the squad, as well as other young players he knows such as Fede Redondo, Gonzalo Lujan, Rocco Rios Novo and Telasco Segovia has made for a smooth transition. It also helps that he is familiar with Mascherano and his coaching staff. 'I am very happy to be here after a difficult month while I waited for the paperwork to go through,' he said. 'I know Javier from the national team, and we have spoken a lot since I arrived. I am eager to start playing. To play with Messi and the other stars will be really great. I am here to win and win titles for Inter Miami.' Aviles on avoiding yellow cards Aviles ranked second in MLS with 12 yellow cards last season, a stat he was not particularly proud of. He has worked on reducing that number and has just one card through six games and 308 minutes this season. 'This year I am managing that well, and it's more a personal matter than a team matter,' he said. 'It also helps a lot that we brought in more experienced players and also realizing that those cards were unnecessary. We have also worked hard to be more coordinated defensively, so we are less susceptible to yellow cards.' Inter Miami hosts Make-A-Wish children Messi and his teammates, along with Royal Caribbean, spent Tuesday hosting 22 Make-a-Wish children from all over the country and a few from outside the United States, participating in drills with them, posing for photos, and three players (Yannick Bright, Fafa Picault, Maxi Falcon) held in a mock press conference with the children. 'It was a beautiful experience overall, so many things in life are much bigger than futbol,' Picault said. 'It was a powerful event, we know we have two important games coming up, but this day was for those kids and making them happy,' Bright said. Falcon added: 'This was a jolt of reality for us, a reminder that there are more important things, especially family and good health. This gives us more motivation to go forward because we are playing for all these beautiful children.' Richard Kelly, Chief Operation Officer of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, said the 22 children were all soccer fans, most of them big Messi fans, and they came from all over the United States and a few from out of the country. 'You can see the smiles on their faces, the things they got to experience, it's magical, life changing and very impactful,' Kelly said. 'This type of experience you just can't replicate.'
