Latest news with #Spaniards'
Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Barcelona's defensive frailty costs them European dream
Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Inter Milan v FC Barcelona - San Siro, Milan, Italy - May 6, 2025 FC Barcelona's Pau Victor looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Inter Milan v FC Barcelona - San Siro, Milan, Italy - May 6, 2025 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Inter Milan v FC Barcelona - San Siro, Milan, Italy - May 6, 2025 General view of the score board in extra time REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo BARCELONA - Barcelona's dreams of a Champions League, Copa del Rey and LaLiga treble have vanished after Inter Milan roared back from the brink of elimination to grab a phenomenal 7-6 aggregate win and end the Spaniards' European campaign in the semi-final. Another show of attacking genius by teenager Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri had put Hansi Flick's side within touching distance of their first Champions League final in a decade - before they succumbed to the same defensive flaws they have been getting away with for most of the season. Barcelona are an attacking juggernaut with 163 goals in 56 games this season: 43 of those in 14 Champions League games. But they have also been playing with fire at the back, conceding 24 goals in Europe's top-flight competition including four to Benfica, three to Borussia Dortmund and seven to Inter in the semi-final games. Barca's thrilling season has included eight fightback wins in all competitions, including against Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Celta Vigo and a couple against bitter rivals Real Madrid. But defeat in Milan showed they have to add some defensive steel to their swashbuckling attack. After conceding 16 goals in their last seven matches, Barca's young squad has learned a painful lesson against a veteran Inter side chasing a fourth Champions League title and their first in 15 years after losing to Manchester City in the final two years ago. Over both games, Inter scored seven goals in only 10 shots on target - ruthlessly illustrating Barcelona's vulnerability. The Italians withstood a storm thanks to their fantastic goalkeeper Yann Sommer who made 14 saves over both legs of the semi-final. Barca lost Germany keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen early in the season and resorted to veteran Wojciech Szczesny, who came out from retirement but could not make the necessary impact in two close games in Barcelona and Milan. LALIGA NOW THE PRIORITY The five-times European winners cannot spend long licking their wounds: they must quickly turn their attention to LaLiga, where they top the table and on Sunday host rivals Real Madrid, who trail them by four points with four games to go. Unbeaten domestically since late December, Barcelona will try to grab a fourth consecutive victory over Real this season and a second in less than a month after a win in extra time that earned them the Copa del Rey title a few days ago. "It's very cruel. It's true that the team gave everything and deserved to be in the final, but we're young and we have to learn from this and next year we'll give even more of a fight," Pedri told reporters on Tuesday. "Now we're hurt, but we have to focus on Real Madrid because on Sunday the league is at stake for us." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Barcelona's defensive frailty costs them European dream
Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Inter Milan v FC Barcelona - San Siro, Milan, Italy - May 6, 2025 General view of the score board in extra time REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo BARCELONA (Reuters) -Barcelona's dreams of a Champions League, Copa del Rey and LaLiga treble have vanished after Inter Milan roared back from the brink of elimination to grab a phenomenal 7-6 aggregate win and end the Spaniards' European campaign in the semi-final. Another show of attacking genius by teenager Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri had put Hansi Flick's side within touching distance of their first Champions League final in a decade - before they succumbed to the same defensive flaws they have been getting away with for most of the season. Barcelona are an attacking juggernaut with 163 goals in 56 games this season: 43 of those in 14 Champions League games. But they have also been playing with fire at the back, conceding 24 goals in Europe's top-flight competition including four to Benfica, three to Borussia Dortmund and seven to Inter in the semi-final games. Barca's thrilling season has included eight fightback wins in all competitions, including against Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Celta Vigo and a couple against bitter rivals Real Madrid. But defeat in Milan showed they have to add some defensive steel to their swashbuckling attack. After conceding 16 goals in their last seven matches, Barca's young squad has learned a painful lesson against a veteran Inter side chasing a fourth Champions League title and their first in 15 years after losing to Manchester City in the final two years ago. Over both games, Inter scored seven goals in only 10 shots on target - ruthlessly illustrating Barcelona's vulnerability. The Italians withstood a storm thanks to their fantastic goalkeeper Yann Sommer who made 14 saves over both legs of the semi-final. Barca lost Germany keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen early in the season and resorted to veteran Wojciech Szczesny, who came out from retirement but could not make the necessary impact in two close games in Barcelona and Milan. LALIGA NOW THE PRIORITY The five-times European winners cannot spend long licking their wounds: they must quickly turn their attention to LaLiga, where they top the table and on Sunday host rivals Real Madrid, who trail them by four points with four games to go. Unbeaten domestically since late December, Barcelona will try to grab a fourth consecutive victory over Real this season and a second in less than a month after a win in extra time that earned them the Copa del Rey title a few days ago. "It's very cruel. It's true that the team gave everything and deserved to be in the final, but we're young and we have to learn from this and next year we'll give even more of a fight," Pedri told reporters on Tuesday. "Now we're hurt, but we have to focus on Real Madrid because on Sunday the league is at stake for us." (Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Watch Antony score goal so good even opposition pay their respect as Man Utd loanee stars against Fiorentina
Brazilian winger eyes Conference League final shot at Chelsea after thunderbolt DEVIL OF A FINISH Watch Antony score goal so good even opposition pay their respect as Man Utd loanee stars against Fiorentina Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANTONY continued to mock his Manchester United plight with a real belter for Real Betis - and even the opposition agreed. The revitalised Betis loanee is scenting a Conference League final with Chelsea after his half-volley humdinger against Fiorentina. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Antony lasered home an unstoppable goal The Brazil winger added to a thunderbolt opener from Abde Ezzalzouli to double the Spaniards' lead. Luca Ranieri gave Fiorentina hope for the return leg in Italy by slamming a 73rd-minute reply. But the Serie A club were so awed by Antony's strike that they made their feelings official! Fiorentina's media team posted a picture of the 25-year-old celebrating and added: "A great goal by Antony." READ MORE ON MAN UTD MAN UTD FILES Omar Berrada grilled by staff at Carrington as mood hits new low Fans loved that response almost as much as they appreciated the former Ajax hero's net-buster. One said: "This is how sport should look like." Another wrote: "Respect between clubs is underrated. That was a great goal, no denying it." And a third posted: "When you recognize greatness." 2 Betis team-mates rushed to mob scorer Antony Credit: EPA BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK A fourth added: "Such a beautiful moment." And one viewer even suggested that Antony's form, since switching from Old Trafford, is up there with the best players in the world. He commented: "No breathing space for Vini, Mbappe, and Lamine." Meanwhile, fans of his current team are hoping he stays permanently. One posted: "He is at home, Betis make a good offer." Antony will hope to end the season by showing Prem stars what they might be missing - by reaching the Conference League final. Chelsea seem assured of reaching that stage after outclassing Djurgarden 4-1 during Thursday's first leg in Sweden. But Antony and Co have a far tougher task, taking just a 2-1 lead to Florence next week.
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Watch Antony score goal so good even opposition pay their respect as Man Utd loanee stars against Fiorentina
ANTONY continued to mock his Manchester United plight with a real belter for Real Betis - and even the opposition agreed. The revitalised 2 Antony lasered home an unstoppable goal The Brazil winger added to a thunderbolt opener from Abde Ezzalzouli to double the Spaniards' lead. Luca Ranieri gave Fiorentina hope for the return leg in Italy by slamming a 73rd-minute reply. But the Serie A club were so awed by Fiorentina's media team posted a picture of the 25-year-old celebrating and added: "A great goal by Antony." READ MORE ON MAN UTD Fans loved that response almost as much as they appreciated the former Ajax hero's net-buster. One said: "This is how sport should look like." Another wrote: "Respect between clubs is underrated. That was a great goal, no denying it." And a third posted: "When you recognize greatness." Most read in Football 2 Betis team-mates rushed to mob scorer Antony Credit: EPA BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK A fourth added: "Such a beautiful moment." And one viewer even suggested that Antony's form, since switching from Old Trafford, is up there with the best players in the world. He commented: "No breathing space for Vini, Mbappe, and Lamine." Meanwhile, fans of his current team are hoping he stays permanently. One posted: "He is at home, Betis make a good offer." Antony will hope to end the season by showing Prem stars what they might be missing - by reaching the Conference League final. Chelsea seem assured of reaching that stage after outclassing Djurgarden 4-1 during Thursday's first leg in Sweden. But Antony and Co have a far tougher task, taking just a 2-1 lead to Florence next week.
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Watch Antony score goal so good even opposition pay their respect as Man Utd loanee stars against Fiorentina
ANTONY continued to mock his Manchester United plight with a real belter for Real Betis - and even the opposition agreed. The revitalised Betis loanee is now scenting a Conference League final with Chelsea after a half-volley humdinger against Fiorentina. The Brazil winger added to a thunderbolt opener from Abde Ezzalzouli to double the Spaniards' lead. Luca Ranieri gave the Italian visitors hope for the return leg by slamming a 73rd-minute reply. But Fiorentina were so awed by Antony 's strike that they made their feelings official. The Serie A club's media team posted a picture of the 25-year-old celebrating and added: "A great goal by Antony." Fans loved that response almost as much as they appreciated the former Ajax hero's net-buster. One said:" This is how sport should look like." And a third posted: "When you recognize greatness." 2 A fourth added: "Such a beautiful moment." And one viewer even suggested that Antony's form, since switching from Old Trafford, is up there with the best players in the world. He commented: "No breathing space for Vini, Mbappe, and Lamine." Meanwhile, fans of his current team are hoping he stays permanently. One posted: "He is at home, Betis make a good offer." Antony will hope to show Prem stars what they might be missing in the Conference League final. But Antony and Co have a far tougher task, taking just a 2-1 lead to Florence.
