Football

Xavi Hernandez's tenure as Barcelona coach came to an end with a bittersweet 2-1 victory at Sevilla on Sunday, marking the conclusion of the La Liga season. Despite finishing second, the Catalans ended the campaign trophyless, but they managed to secure a triumph in Xavi's final match before his departure.Xavi's departure was announced by club president Joan Laporta on Friday, just weeks after Barcelona had declared that he would remain for the following season. The coach had previously stated in January that he intended to resign in the summer.Appointed in November 2021, Xavi led Barcelona to the Spanish title last season. However, this year, his team finished 10 points behind bitter rivals and champions Real Madrid. German coach Hansi Flick is expected to be named as Xavi's successor next week.Xavi acknowledged the challenges that await his replacement. "They should be aware that they are entering a difficult situation because Barca is a demanding club, and there is also an unfavorable financial situation – it will not be easy at all," he told DAZN."I believe that the work we have done has not been sufficiently valued given the difficult circumstances we inherited. When we arrived, Barca was ninth in the table, and we finished second... (then) we won a double, and this year we fell short due to four crucial games."Barcelona suffered defeats in both matches against Real Madrid in La Liga, as well as against third-place neighbors Girona and Villarreal. They ended on a positive note, however, with a victory at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium.Robert Lewandowski gave Barcelona an early lead, but Youssef En-Nesyri equalized for Sevilla, whose coach Quique Sanchez Flores is also leaving at the end of the season.One of Xavi's accomplishments during his tenure has been the promotion of young players, including starlets Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, as well as midfielder Fermin Lopez. The 21-year-old put Barcelona back in front in the second half with a low strike from outside the area. Lopez celebrated his goal by embracing Xavi."As a professional, he has given us so much; he worked tirelessly every day for our success," Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen told DAZN. "We are extremely grateful for his time here. We wish him the best – on a personal level, he has been a friend for many years, and it is never easy to see him go."Before the game, some Sevilla fans protested against the board, wearing black and entering the game 10 minutes late, following another disappointing campaign in which the Andalusians finished 14th.

Real Madrid's legendary midfielder Toni Kroos bid farewell to the Santiago Bernabeu in his final La Liga appearance for the club on Saturday, as the Spanish champions played out a 0-0 draw against Real Betis.Kroos, 34, announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2024, and his departure from Real Madrid marks the end of an illustrious 10-year spell at the Bernabeu. The German maestro has been an integral part of Real Madrid's success in recent years, winning five Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, and numerous other trophies."It's not easy, I can only say thanks to Madrid, the club, my team-mates, to the stadium, I've always felt at home here in these 10 years, I can't ask for more, they've been 10 unforgettable years," said an emotional Kroos after the match.The draw against Betis was a fitting end to a triumphant campaign for Real Madrid, who have already secured the La Liga title. Carlo Ancelotti fielded a strong side, but with nothing at stake, the players did not push themselves too hard.Madrid finished the season with only one league defeat and were unbeaten at the Bernabeu. Atletico Madrid, fourth, finished their campaign with a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad, while Athletic Bilbao beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0.Relegated Almeria earned only their third win of the season to move off the bottom of the table, thrashing Cadiz 6-1. Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth limped off injured in his team's 1-1 draw against Osasuna, leaving the golden boot in the hands of Girona striker Artem Dovbyk, who scored a hat-trick on Friday to move to 24 goals, one ahead of the Norwegian.

Girona capped off their historic La Liga campaign with a resounding 7-0 victory over relegated Granada on Friday, securing third place and a spot in the Champions League for the first time.Artem Dovbyk, on loan from Dnipro-1, stole the show with a hat-trick, reclaiming the lead in the league's goalscoring charts. The Ukrainian striker's treble propelled him to 24 goals for the season, one ahead of Villarreal's Alexander Sorloth.Michel's side, already assured of a top-three finish, dominated the match from the outset. Eric Garcia, on loan from Barcelona, opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, followed by goals from Viktor Tsygankov and Dovbyk's first-half penalty.Tsygankov extended Girona's lead nine minutes into the second half, before Dovbyk and Cristhian Stuani added to Granada's misery. Manchester United loanee Facundo Pellistri was sent off for two yellow cards, compounding Granada's woes.Dovbyk sealed his hat-trick with a second penalty in the 90th minute, securing his place as La Liga's top scorer. Girona's victory was a fitting end to a remarkable season, which saw them qualify for Europe's elite club competition for the first time in their history.

Barcelona has parted ways with coach Xavi Hernandez after a disappointing season that saw the Catalan giants fail to win a single trophy. Xavi will oversee the team's final La Liga match on Sunday at Sevilla before departing.The decision to sack Xavi was made by Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who informed the coach that he would not continue in his role for the 2024-25 season. Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is the frontrunner to replace Xavi.Xavi's departure marks a swift reversal from his earlier commitment to stay with Barcelona for the next campaign. In April, he and Laporta agreed to extend his contract, which was set to expire in June 2025. However, the situation changed abruptly after Xavi's comments suggesting that Barcelona's financial struggles made it difficult to compete with elite European clubs.Barcelona expressed gratitude for Xavi's contributions as coach, acknowledging his legendary status as a player and captain. The club wished him well in his future endeavors and announced that the new coaching structure for the first team staff would be revealed soon.Despite winning La Liga last season, Barcelona failed to defend their title this campaign. They were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, suffered a humiliating defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, and lost to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey.Xavi's departure leaves Barcelona facing a crucial period of transition. The club must now find a suitable replacement who can restore their competitiveness and guide them back to trophy-winning ways.

Barcelona's young midfielder Fermin Lopez emerged as the hero on Thursday, scoring a brace to secure a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Almeria in La Liga. The 21-year-old's goals propelled him to 10 for the season, a remarkable achievement in his breakthrough campaign.Despite Barcelona's struggles throughout the match, Lopez's timely interventions proved decisive. In the 14th minute, he capitalized on Hector Fort's cross to head home the opening goal. Almeria's Leo Baptistao squandered a golden opportunity to equalize, firing wide when well-positioned.Barcelona's dominance continued in the second half, with Lamine Yamal and Sergi Roberto threatening Almeria's defense. Lopez sealed the victory in the 67th minute, finishing off Roberto's cut-back with aplomb.The win keeps Barcelona in contention for second place, four points ahead of Girona. However, the Catalans' performance against the already-relegated Almeria was far from convincing.Prior to the match, Spanish media reported that Barcelona president Joan Laporta had skipped the trip to Almeria due to his dissatisfaction with coach Xavi Hernandez's pre-match comments. Xavi had highlighted the club's financial difficulties in comparison to Real Madrid's strength.Despite the off-field distractions, Barcelona managed to secure the three points. Lopez's goalscoring exploits have been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Catalans.

Antoine Griezmann's hat-trick propelled Atletico Madrid to a 3-0 victory over Getafe, securing their place in the Champions League for the 12th consecutive season. The triumph at Getafe's Coliseum Alfonso Perez ensured Diego Simeone's side will finish in the top four of La Liga.Griezmann, inspired by his recent performances for France, led the Rojiblancos to a dominant victory in the Madrid suburbs. The 33-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 27th minute, running onto Rodrigo De Paul's pass and beating Getafe goalkeeper David Soria with a low effort.Before halftime, Griezmann converted his second goal from Angel Correa's low pass across the area, which was confirmed after a VAR review. The former Real Sociedad striker completed his hat-trick after the break, finishing a sharp Atletico move with a prodded effort at the near post.Griezmann's goalscoring exploits have been a welcome sight for Atletico, who have endured a challenging season. Despite a strong start and becoming the only side in Spain to defeat Real Madrid this season, their campaign began to unravel with exits in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.However, the victory over Getafe has guaranteed their return to Europe's top competition next season. "It's been a lot of years getting into the Champions League, which is something to value," Griezmann said. "But with the team we have and the talent we have, and the coach we have, it's something we have to do."Celta Vigo's 2-1 comeback win over Athletic Bilbao has left Cadiz's hopes of survival hanging by a thread. Williot Swedberg and Hugo Alvarez's goals helped Celta triumph at Balaidos, moving them five points clear of the drop zone. Sergio Guardiola's 96th-minute winner for Cadiz means they are four points from safety with two matches remaining.

Real Madrid's relentless march towards the Champions League final continued with a resounding 5-0 victory over Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu. Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior were the stars of the show, inspiring Carlo Ancelotti's side to a comprehensive demolition of their Basque visitors.Bellingham opened the scoring with a fortunate goal, directing Toni Kroos' cross towards the far post where Dani Carvajal was running in, but the ball sank directly into the net. The England international then played a pivotal role in Madrid's next three goals, threading a pass through for Eduardo Camavinga to set up Vinicius for a tap-in.Fede Valverde rattled home the third in first-half stoppage time after Bellingham played him in, hammering a strike into the top corner at the near post. Vinicius extended Madrid's lead after Bellingham played him in, lashing home his second of the night with a fine finish.Turkish teenager Arda Guler added a late fifth to put the cherry on Madrid's cake, moving them 17 points clear of second-place Barcelona. The victory was Madrid's 30th consecutive league game unbeaten, a testament to their defensive solidity."We've had just one defeat in the league and I think that a big part of the success is because of (the defence)," Ancelotti said after the match.Despite celebrating their title with an open-top bus parade on Sunday, Madrid remain focused on the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 28. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made a fine double save from Samu Omorodion in the opening minutes, is hoping for a start in the final and boasts three clean sheets in three matches since his return from injury."I knew I'd come back strongly -- I'm the same Courtois, or even better," said the goalkeeper.Alaves, who have enjoyed a strong season and are safely ensconced in mid-table, were dismantled with consummate ease by Madrid. Coach Luis Garcia Plaza lamented, "Every time a small team comes here, it's a torment."

Barcelona's resurgence continued on Monday as they secured a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad, propelling them to second place in La Liga, just a point ahead of Girona. The win dealt a blow to Real Sociedad's Europa League aspirations, leaving them seventh in the standings.Despite having nothing but pride to play for in the final weeks of the season, Barcelona displayed a determined performance, eager to finish above their Catalan rivals. Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old winger, opened the scoring in the 40th minute, showcasing his impressive skills. Raphinha sealed the victory with a late penalty, ensuring Barcelona's second-place finish.Barcelona coach Xavi praised his team's performance, highlighting their control of the game and the importance of the victory. He also acknowledged the need to finish above Girona, a testament to the club's desire to salvage some pride from a disappointing campaign.Real Sociedad, on the other hand, were left frustrated by the result, which hindered their chances of securing European football next season. Midfielder Benat Turrientes expressed his disappointment, lamenting the missed opportunities that could have changed the outcome of the match.Barcelona's victory was marred by Robert Lewandowski's visible frustration after being substituted with 15 minutes remaining. The Polish striker, who is vying for the La Liga top scorer award, was visibly upset by the decision. However, Xavi defended his choice, emphasizing the need for fresh legs and energy to maintain their lead.Barcelona will face Almeria on Thursday and Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in their final two matches of the season, aiming to secure their second-place finish. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, will look to bounce back and secure a Europa League berth in their remaining fixtures.

Rodrigo De Paul's stunning volley propelled Atletico Madrid to a crucial 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday, solidifying their position in the Champions League qualification race. With just three games remaining in La Liga, Diego Simeone's side now holds an eight-point advantage over fifth-place Athletic Bilbao.Atletico's dominance throughout the match was evident, but they faced a formidable challenge in Celta's goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita. The former Crystal Palace shot-stopper made several impressive saves, denying Angel Correa, Rodrigo Riquelme, and Marcos Llorente.However, De Paul's moment of brilliance in the 84th minute broke the deadlock. Controlling a clearance on the edge of the box, the Argentine unleashed a powerful volley that soared into the top corner, sending the Metropolitano stadium into raptures.The victory marked Atletico's 16th home win in 18 La Liga matches this season. It also represented Diego Simeone's 400th victory as coach across all competitions. Despite their success in securing Champions League football, Atletico's season has been marred by disappointment in other competitions. They were eliminated in the Copa del Rey semi-finals by Athletic and fell short against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals."We have generated those expectations and they are welcome," said Simeone. "I know what I want, what I'm looking for, and I am convinced of where the path is. I will continue pushing until the last day I am here."Celta Vigo's defeat leaves them in 17th place, five points above the relegation zone. Rayo Vallecano moved a point ahead of Celta with a 0-0 draw at Valencia, while Granada's 4-0 home loss to Real Madrid confirmed their relegation to the second tier.In other La Liga action, Barcelona can overtake second-place Girona with a win against Real Sociedad on Monday. Betis rose to sixth place with a 3-2 victory over Almeria, inspired by the playmaking brilliance of Isco.