Latest news with #CatalanClub
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Barcelona kickoff title defence at Mallorca
Who: Mallorca vs Barcelona What: Spanish La Liga Where: Estadi Mallorca Son Moix in Mallorca, Spain When: Saturday at 7:30pm (17:30 GMT) How to follow: We'll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 4:30pm (15:30 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream. Barcelona begin their defence of their La Liga title on Saturday after flying to the island of Mallorca. The Catalan club disposed of their fierce rivals and winners of the previous year's title, Real Madrid, on all fronts last season. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the first major match of the new La Liga season and what clues there may be as to whether Barca will give Real a glimpse of hope in the title race this time around. How dominant were Barcelona last season? The Catalan club is coming off one of its best seasons in years, having won the league, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. It also went deep in the Champions League, reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2019. How big a role will Marcus Rashford play at Barcelona? In its second year under coach Hansi Flick, the Catalan club will try to add to its success from last season by boosting its squad with Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United. He will be teaming up with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski in an attacking front that was one of the best in Europe last season. It led the scoring charts both in the Spanish league – with more than 100 goals – and in the Champions League. With Lewandowski set to miss the start of the new season, Rashford will vie with Ferran Torres for a place in Barca's attack. After Rashford fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford, his move to Barcelona presents a huge chance to rebuild his career. What other changes have Barcelona made? Leaving the team are veteran defender Inigo Martínez, who has signed with Saudi club Al-Nassr, and Ansu Fati, who went on loan to Monaco after not playing much last season. How many La Liga titles have Barcelona won? Last season's title was Barcelona's 28th trophy lift in La Liga. Real Madrid are the record winners with 36 victories to their name. Has Mallorca ever beaten Barcelona? Yes. The Spanish islanders have won 17 of their 75 meetings. Barca, however, have won 44 of the encounters. Where did Mallorca finish last season? Mallorca squeezed into the top half of La Liga last season with a 10th-placed finish. Only one team had a worse home record among the top 12 teams last season after Mallorca recorded only seven wins in 19 league matches in front of their own crowd. Six of those games resulted in defeats. What happened the last time Barcelona met Mallorca? Barca narrowly beat Mallorca 1-0 at home in their last meeting in April. Dani Olmo scored the only goal in the first minute of the second half to settle the La Liga match. The corresponding fixture resulted in a 5-1 win for Barca with Raphinha netting twice. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick's prematch thoughts 'We are working hard to face this new season. Winning three titles last year is not the end – it's a continuation. We will give everything this year. 'Lamine Yamal still has room to improve. I like what I'm seeing. He's training very well, with and without the ball, defending and pressing.' Head-to-head Mallorca have not defeated Barcelona since May 2009 – a 2-1 home win in an end-of-season affair in La Liga. Barca, meanwhile, have won 14 of their last 15 matches against Mallorca in all competitions. Mallorca team news Pablo Maffeo will be heavily missed in defence due to a hamstring injury. Pablo Torre is set to start against his former side, having joined from Barcelona in the summer window. Spain Under-21 international Mateo Joseph is also in line to feature, having joined on loan from Leeds United. Omar Mascarell has a suspension hanging over from last season after his booking in the final game of the last La Liga campaign. Barcelona team news The Catalan club starts the season without veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen because of surgery for lower back problems. The goalkeeper was at odds with the club about his recovery time. He was provisionally stripped of his captaincy for refusing to sign a medical report about the injury, but he and the club eventually reached an agreement that restored his role as captain. Veteran striker Lewandowski also isn't expected to play early in the new campaign because of a muscle issue. Rashford's registration after his loan from Manchester United has proved problematic, similar to the financial issues that held up Dani Olmo's participation last season. Mallorca predicted starting lineup Greif; Morey, Lopez, Raillo, Lato; Sanchez, Costa, Torre, Darder; Muriqi, Joseph Barcelona predicted starting lineup Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde; de Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Torres, Raphinha
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Barcelona kickoff title defence at home to Mallorca
Who: Mallorca vs Barcelona What: Spanish La Liga Where: Estadi Mallorca Son Moix in Mallorca, Spain When: Saturday at 7:30pm (17:30 GMT) How to follow: We'll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 4:30pm (15:30 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream. Barcelona begin their defence of their La Liga title on Saturday after flying to the island of Mallorca. The Catalan club disposed of their fierce rivals and winners of the previous year's title, Real Madrid, on all fronts last season. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the first major match of the new La Liga season and what clues there may be as to whether Barca will give Real a glimpse of hope in the title race this time around. How dominant were Barcelona last season? The Catalan club is coming off one of its best seasons in years, having won the league, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. It also went deep in the Champions League, reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2019. How big a role will Marcus Rashford play at Barcelona? In its second year under coach Hansi Flick, the Catalan club will try to add to its success from last season by boosting its squad with Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United. He will be teaming up with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski in an attacking front that was one of the best in Europe last season. It led the scoring charts both in the Spanish league – with more than 100 goals – and in the Champions League. With Lewandowski set to miss the start of the new season, Rashford will vie with Ferran Torres for a place in Barca's attack. After Rashford fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford, his move to Barcelona presents a huge chance to rebuild his career. What other changes have Barcelona made? Leaving the team are veteran defender Inigo Martínez, who has signed with Saudi club Al-Nassr, and Ansu Fati, who went on loan to Monaco after not playing much last season. How many La Liga titles have Barcelona won? Last season's title was Barcelona's 28th trophy lift in La Liga. Real Madrid are the record winners with 36 victories to their name. Has Mallorca ever beaten Barcelona? Yes. The Spanish islanders have won 17 of their 75 meetings. Barca, however, have won 44 of the encounters. Where did Mallorca finish last season? Mallorca squeezed into the top half of La Liga last season with a 10th-placed finish. Only one team had a worse home record among the top 12 teams last season after Mallorca recorded only seven wins in 19 league matches in front of their own crowd. Six of those games resulted in defeats. What happened the last time Barcelona met Mallorca? Barca narrowly beat Mallorca 1-0 at home in their last meeting in April. Dani Olmo scored the only goal in the first minute of the second half to settle the La Liga match. The corresponding fixture resulted in a 5-1 win for Barca with Raphinha netting twice. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick's prematch thoughts 'We are working hard to face this new season. Winning three titles last year is not the end – it's a continuation. We will give everything this year. 'Lamine Yamal still has room to improve. I like what I'm seeing. He's training very well, with and without the ball, defending and pressing.' Head-to-head Mallorca have not defeated Barcelona since May 2009 – a 2-1 home win in an end-of-season affair in La Liga. Barca, meanwhile, have won 14 of their last 15 matches against Mallorca in all competitions. Mallorca team news Pablo Maffeo will be heavily missed in defence due to a hamstring injury. Pablo Torre is set to start against his former side, having joined from Barcelona in the summer window. Spain Under-21 international Mateo Joseph is also in line to feature, having joined on loan from Leeds United. Omar Mascarell has a suspension hanging over from last season after his booking in the final game of the last La Liga campaign. Barcelona team news The Catalan club starts the season without veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen because of surgery for lower back problems. The goalkeeper was at odds with the club about his recovery time. He was provisionally stripped of his captaincy for refusing to sign a medical report about the injury, but he and the club eventually reached an agreement that restored his role as captain. Veteran striker Lewandowski also isn't expected to play early in the new campaign because of a muscle issue. Rashford's registration after his loan from Manchester United has proved problematic, similar to the financial issues that held up Dani Olmo's participation last season. Mallorca predicted starting lineup Greif; Morey, Lopez, Raillo, Lato; Sanchez, Costa, Torre, Darder; Muriqi, Joseph Barcelona predicted starting lineup Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde; de Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Torres, Raphinha
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tottenham Hotspur Are Eyeing A Move For This Barcelona Talent: Should Frank Snap Him Up?
In a recent report, Fichajes mentioned that Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move for Barcelona talent Dani Olmo. It has been stated that Spurs are facing competition from Saudi Pro League clubs in pursuit of the Spanish attacker this summer. Olmo's Impressive Numbers In Spanish Football Olmo managed to impress at times with his performances for Barcelona in La Liga last season. The Spanish playmaker scored 12 times and picked up seven assists in 39 matches for the Catalan club in the previous campaign across multiple competitions. The 27-year-old was a consistent performer in the final third as he averaged 2.97 shots per 90 minutes in La Liga. He kept 37.5% of his attempts on target. Olmo was even careful when interchanging possession with his teammates in the opponent's half, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 81.1% in the Spanish top tier (stats via Olmo is under contract at the Nou Camp until the summer of 2030, which could make it tough for Spurs to sign him on a cut-price deal in this transfer window. BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 25: Dani Olmo of FC Barcelona scores his team's third goal from the penalty spot during the LaLiga match between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona at Estadio de San Mames on May 25, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel) Should Tottenham Hotspur Boss Thomas Frank Snap Olmo Up This Summer? Olmo is a decent dribbler with the ball at his feet and can make a few driving runs with it in the opponent's half. He has got the vision to create some meaningful openings for his teammates to find the back of the net. The Spaniard can shoot the ball with power from long range and can contribute by scoring and creating his fair share of goals up top. Olmo is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also play as a left-sided wide player if told to do so. However, it remains to be seen whether he can make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League. We can expect Olmo to add more firepower to Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank's attack. He has what it takes to fight for a regular first-team spot at the North London club this season. Olmo would also serve as an ideal replacement for James Maddison, who suffered a serious injury in pre-season. At 27, he is about to enter his prime, which makes him a worthy target for Tottenham to consider in this transfer window. All in all, Frank should focus on snapping him up this summer.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona Are In Talks To Recruit This Atletico Madrid Youngster: One For The Future?
In a recent report, mentioned that Barcelona are in talks to recruit Atletico Madrid youngster Geronimo Spina this summer. It has been claimed that the Catalan club are eager to get a deal done for the Argentine talent this off-season. Spina's Impressive Rise In Spanish Football Spina has caught the eye with his performances for Atletico Madrid's reserve team. However, he has still not made a senior appearance for the Madrid club. The 20-year-old is currently among the best young defenders in Spanish football. Therefore, Barcelona would do well to lure him to the Nou Camp in this transfer period. Spina is under contract at the Madrid club until the summer of 2027, which could make it difficult for the Catalan club to land him on the cheap this off-season. SEVILLE, SPAIN – APRIL 25: Hansi Flick, manager of FC Barcelona speaks during a press conference before the Copa del Rey Final Match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja on April 25, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by) Barcelona Are In Talks To Recruit Spina: Is He A Prospect For The Future? Spina is a solid tackler of the ball and can sense the danger well to secure the ball back for his team on the defensive end of the field. He usually puts his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the front foot and can play his way out from the back. Standing at 1.87m, the Argentine whizkid is a strong presence in the air and can win his fair share of 50-50 aerial duels inside his half. However, he is still quite raw and would need time before he is ready to be a regular starter in top-flight football. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of signing a defender of his potential. We can expect Spina to enhance the quality of Barcelona boss Hansi Flick's defence in the long run. He has the potential to be a success story at the Nou Camp as long as he continues to improve with each season. At 20, the Argentine sensation is undoubtedly a prospect to watch out for in the future. Therefore, Flick would be wise to try everything in his power to lure Spina to the Catalan club before the end of this summer transfer window. However, the Barca boss needs to be patient with his progress before he can get the best out of the talented centre-back.
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Marcus Rashford's Barcelona move is no-win scenario for Manchester United
It was only two years ago that Manchester United were of the view that they had a £100m asset on their hands in Marcus Rashford. With the forward's stock at an all-time high after a 34-goal season for United and England, there were some at Old Trafford who felt privately that it might be a good time to cash in on the academy graduate. But the decision was ultimately taken to award Rashford with a new five-year contract worth around £325,000 a week and what has unfolded since has been little short of a mess. Indeed, it comes to something when a player who was among Europe's best attackers not too long ago is now being pushed out of a club that finished 15th in the Premier League last term and could not hit a barn door to join the free-scoring Spanish champions and their array of glittering stars on loan. There are two potential big winners from Rashford's imminent season-long loan move to Barcelona and United are not one of them. Barcelona, who won the Spanish league and cup double last season and came close to making it a treble, are poised to land a very talented player on the cheap and if it does not work out they can send him back, no strings attached. On the flip side, if Rashford flourishes in Spain the Catalan club have the option to sign him permanently for around €30m (£26m) next summer, which could look a steal in the circumstances. Any scenario where Rashford excels in Spain will not reflect well on Ruben Amorim and United and with the World Cup finals at the end of the season the 27-year-old is unlikely to be short of added motivation as he bids to make himself indispensable to England manager Thomas Tuchel. Equally, if Rashford struggles at Barcelona, United will be left with a player still on their books and of declining value. United will enjoy salary savings of around £12.75m on Rashford this season with Barcelona covering his entire wages, which is not insignificant. But a fee would have been a considerable boon, particularly as Rashford's status as an academy graduate means it would have effectively represented pure profit on the books. Amorim would argue that he only wants players fully in tune and on board with his plans and Rashford being out of the picture is a help not a hindrance. But United are taking a huge leap of faith in their Portuguese coach by backing him so unequivocally in his ruthless stance on Rashford and the rest of United's 'bomb squad', who have been omitted from the club's pre-season tour of the US. Rashford played just six games under Amorim before being frozen out and loaned to Aston Villa in January. Amorim's decisions are costing club There is little doubt that Rashford's form and application had faltered in the last couple of seasons and there were growing concerns at the club about his lifestyle. But it is easy to forget now that the message when Amorim arrived last November was that he would be tasked with maximising the untapped potential in the squad and getting the best from what he had at his disposal. Amorim seemed to resolve very quickly that Rashford was not for him and his 3-4-2-1 system and suddenly United find themselves in a position where they are having to take huge financial hits on players whose valuations have plummeted, in part because the manager has made their positions untenable. Stripping Rashford of the No 10 shirt merely reinforced that. In turn, £133.5m has been spent on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo already this summer trying to repurpose the squad to better fit Amorim's formation and there are a series of glaring weaknesses in the team to address. There are four wide forwards United want shot of this summer, of which Rashford is to be the first out of the door, if only temporarily. Alejandro Garnacho was valued at up to £70m at one stage and the subject of bids from Chelsea and Napoli in January but the Argentina forward could now leave for a knock-down fee closer to £40m with potential suitors alive to United's need to meet Amorim's wishes. Sancho, a £73m signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, does not have a future under Amorim and, like Rashford, seems most likely to leave on loan. The one-time England forward is out of contract next summer. Similarly, Amorim made his mind up very swiftly on Antony, who impressed on loan at Real Betis during the second half of last season but whose initial €45m (£39m) price tag has so far deterred the Brazil forward's suitors. The growing likelihood is of United having to accept a lower fee on a player for whom they paid £85.5m unless they agree to a loan with an obligation to buy, which they have so far resisted given the need to raise money now to reinvest. United's show of faith in Amorim and his system is huge and will only increase the pressure on the manager and the team heading into a season when they have been afforded one of the toughest starts of any Premier League side. Rashford, of course, will be 850 miles away in Barcelona, after a move from which he has far more to gain than United.
