Latest news with #LaCopaMola
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hansi Flick gives Barcelona star warning over performance against Atletico Madrid
One of the main talking points ahead of Barcelona's 4-4 draw with Atletico Madrid was the absence of Marc Casado. The 21-year-old revelation was a fixture earlier in the season, but it confirmed the ascension of Frenkie de Jong to the starting XI. The Dutchman's stock has been on the rise in recent weeks, and since the turn of the year, de Jong has been given more and more game time. Manager Hansi Flick has praised the 27-year-old, and backed it up with performances in several games. Official: Andreas Christensen has received the medical green light. @FCBarcelona — barcacentre (@barcacentre) February 26, 2025 In some corners he was also praised for his contributions against Atletico, in which he helped to circulate the ball well, and played an important role in their comeback from two goals down. MD were one outlet that did so, and cite his impressive numbers from the clash: 99 passes (the most completed of any player), 33 passes in the final third (second-most) and eight balls recovered (second behind only Pedri). However Flick on this occasion was less enamoured. According to Marca, Flick took responsibility for the changes, and acknowledges that they might not have been the ideal introductions. However was more centred on the errors from the players on the pitch, and de Jong was one of the players that came under the microscope during his analysis. 📺 RESUMEN #CopadelReyMAPFRE 🆚 @FCBarcelona_es | 4-4 | @Atleti ⚽ 0-1 | J. Alvarez (1')⚽ 0-2 | Griezmann (6')⚽ 1-2 | Pedri (19')⚽ 2-2 | Cubarsí (21')⚽ 3-2 | I. Martinez (41')⚽ 4-2 | Lewandowski (74')⚽ 4-3 | M. Llorente (84')⚽ 4-4 | Sorloth (90+3')#LaCopaMola 🏆 — RFEF (@rfef) February 26, 2025 Since the match on Tuesday, Flick has asked de Jong to be stronger in his defensive efforts, despite being content with his offering on the ball. This is especially true when forming a pair with Pedri in midfield. During Atletico's second goal, there was a point where de Jong could have fouled Julian Alvarez in the build-up. In their third goal, Flick also felt de Jong could have gotten closer to Angel Correa, having neither cut off the passing lane nor won the ball. Reports in the local press say that Flick has been one of the backers of de Jong within Can Barca, and seemingly believes the club should look to renew his deal. De Jong has been heavily criticised in recent seasons, and there is plenty of doubt surrounding his future.
New York Times
07-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Barcelona's Pedri and the passes that show why he is different
Barcelona really like playing against Valencia. For the second time in two weeks they swept them aside to book a place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. They followed the 7-1 home win in La Liga on January 26 with a 5-0 win at the Mestalla and it could have been more. Ferran Torres tore his boyhood club apart with a first-half hat-trick — as Hansi Flick's team raced into a 4-0 lead after half an hour. Fermin Lopez made the most of another start with a goal and Frenkie de Jong showed another convincing version of himself as a holding midfielder. Lamine Yamal's second-half strike felt like an afterthought. Advertisement But we need to talk about Pedri. The 22-year-old's two passes for Barcelona's second and third goals will live long in the memory — two deliveries of genius. Ferran Torres scored the second of the game, capitalizing on a loose ball inside the box after a shot by Yamal hit the post, but chaos was unleashed by Barca's No 8. Pedri received the ball from Pau Cubarsi on the left hand-side of midfield, quite deep. Valencia players let him turn, his position apparently harmless, until the midfielder did his thing and pulled a trick: an outside of the boot pass that broke two pressing lines and sent Raphinha on a path to goal. ⚽️ ¡¡𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗟!! 🦈 Vuelve a marcar Ferran Torres. El VAR valida el gol del delantero del Barça. 🆚 @valenciacf – @FCBarcelona_es I 0-2 I 17′ 📺 @La1_tve#LaCopaMola🏆 I #CopadelReyMAPFRE — RFEF (@rfef) February 6, 2025 Valencia did not learn the lesson and for the third goal, Pedri was like an NFL quarter-back in disguise. Pedri received the ball from Cubarsi in the exact deep midfield area again and had to turn around, again. After a quick glance to scan the pitch he spotted Fermin, operating as a roaming No 10, making a run-in-behind the defence. Pedri's dinked pass allowed Fermin to dribble past goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and score the third goal after 29 minutes. That was enough for Valencia fans to leave, game over. ⚽️ ¡¡𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗟!! 🪄 Pedri sacó la varita y Fermín definió con calidad para poner el tercer tanto del conjunto culé. 🆚 @valenciacf – @FCBarcelona_es I 0-3 I 22′ 📺 @La1_tve#LaCopaMola🏆 I #CopadelReyMAPFRE — RFEF (@rfef) February 6, 2025 His pass in the build-up for Ferran Torres' hat-trick — Barca's fourth — wasn't bad either… ⚽️ ¡¡𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗟!! Hat-trick de Ferran Torres en Mestalla. El cuarto del Barça en media hora de eliminatoria. 🆚 @valenciacf – @FCBarcelona_es I 0-4 I 30′ 📺 @La1_tve#LaCopaMola🏆 I #CopadelReyMAPFRE — RFEF (@rfef) February 6, 2025 Pedri was subbed off after 64 minutes, having registered 81 touches, one assist, 60 completed passes from 65 attempts, nine ground duels won out of 10, two interceptions and four tackles. Barcelona have the top goalscoring frontline among the top five European leagues in Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Yamal. But nobody sets the tempo, orchestrates and measures the brilliance of Flick's team more than Pedri, who signed a contract extension until 2030 last week. Advertisement 'I don't want to compare him with other footballers I've managed, but he's unbelievable,' Flick said in his press conference. 'In this position, he is one of the best in the world. In any position he finds himself on the pitch, he just wants the ball — even under pressure. I am very happy Pedri is here to stay for a long time.' At the start of the season, the Spain international's career was at a crossroads. He had just won the Euros with the national team, despite being injured in the quarter-finals against Germany and missing the crunch games. The dark clouds of the last three seasons at Barca, defined by constant muscular injuries that saw him miss 85 games, loomed over. There were doubts of his long-term reliability but the sporting direction, led by Deco, declared him an untouchable member of the squad last summer — and talks over a contract extension had begun. Barcelona requested an extensive analysis on his muscle fibres to get to the bottom of the recent injury record. Results identified Pedri needed to undergo more strength work in the gym. This has been a top priority for the newly-assembled fitness team, led by physiotherapist Julio Tous. A lot of credit needs to be given to Flick too. The German manager unleashed the best version of Pedri, operating in a new deeper position to the No 10 Xavi Hernandez wanted. In 2023, after scoring in a 4-1 win against Valencia, Xavi said they wanted Pedri to add more goals into his game. 'We demand Pedri to do those things on the pitch,' he said. 'He shoots really well, and he can also take free-kicks. He is still very young and may be a bit shy sometimes, but the skillset he has… is not for everyone. He is not a normal player. His talent is superlative, there are a few like Pedri'. After a win away to Villarreal, Xavi highlighted how he wanted Pedri operating in the final third. 'It is his natural position. He had many situations where he could attack the opponent's defence and make the last pass.' Advertisement The German manager wants Pedri to get on the ball as much as possible, be a free spirit and roam to the areas of the pitch where he feels he is most needed. Pedri is the calm in the storm of Flick's Barcelona. The 'pausa' the team requires when they move forward too quickly. The best version of himself — a player who must be back in every discussion about the best midfielders in Europe.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WATCH: Ferran Torres nets 27-minute hat-trick as Barcelona extend lead to 4-0
Barcelona are hoping to be the final team to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals, and they are on course to do as they've gone 4-0 up against Valencia in their quarter-final tie at the Mestalla. Hansi Flick opted to bring in Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres to the side that defeated Alaves last weekend, and it was the latter that broke the deadlock against his former club inside the opening three minutes. A quarter of an hour later, he got his and Barcelona's second, and Fermin Lopez would get in on the act soon after to make it 3-0. Now, Ferran has fired home his third of the evening to complete a first half hat-trick. ⚽️ ¡¡𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗟!! Hat-trick de Ferran Torres en Mestalla. El cuarto del Barça en media hora de eliminatoria. 🆚 @valenciacf – @FCBarcelona_es I 0-4 I 30' 📺 @La1_tve#LaCopaMola🏆 I #CopadelReyMAPFRE — RFEF (@rfef) February 6, 2025 Ferran hace el gol con una facilidad que — Black (@BlxckNews) February 6, 2025 UNREAL!! A HAT TRICK IN UNDER 30 MINUTES FOR FERRAN TORRES! He ran over to the bench to celebrate with Dani Olmo after scoring ❤️ What a game he's having 👏 — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 6, 2025 It has been a quite incredible opening half hour from Barcelona, who have now scored 11 goals against Valencia in 120 minutes of football over the last 11 days. They will certainly be taking their place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals alongside Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🏆 Date Set for Copa del Rey Semi-Final Draw
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. The semi-final draw for the Copa del Rey, heading to La Cartuja, will take place next Wednesday, February Madrid has already secured their spot in the semi-finals, with two more spots to be decided today and the remaining one tomorrow. Everyone wants to be in a draw that now has a set date. 📆 El miércoles 12 de febrero se sortearán las semifinales de la #CopadelReyMAPFRE.🕐 13:00 H📍 Salón de actos Luis Aragonés📺 𝗘𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢 | @teledeporte, @vamos, y @RFEF.ℹ️ — RFEF (@rfef) February 5, 2025 On Wednesday, February 12, the final Copa del Rey draw will take place, determining the two semi-finals leading up to the grand final at La Cartuja. Will there be surprises? 📸 Fran Santiago - 2024 Getty Images
