Football

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has vehemently criticized La Liga for its lack of goal-line technology after his team's 3-2 Clasico defeat to Real Madrid on Sunday. The controversial incident occurred when Lamine Yamal's shot appeared to cross the line, but VAR officials were unable to conclusively prove it.Xavi expressed his outrage, stating, "It's a disgrace. If we want to be the best league in the world, we have to advance in this sense. You have to put in the technology." Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen echoed his coach's sentiments, calling the situation "shameful for football."The absence of goal-line technology has been a contentious issue in La Liga, with many arguing that it is essential for ensuring fair and accurate results. The technology is currently used in other top leagues, including the Premier League, and its implementation in La Liga has been repeatedly called for.Despite the setback, Xavi praised his team's performance, saying, "We competed very well, I think we deserved the three points." However, he acknowledged Real Madrid's impressive season, admitting, "They have had an extraordinary league, they have lost just one game, they've almost wrapped it up."Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his delight with his team's performance, particularly after their victory over Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals. He said, "I'm very proud, because they were two very demanding games. Now we have to prepare for the final part of the season, but we are very well positioned."The Clasico defeat leaves Barcelona 11 points behind Real Madrid with six matches remaining. The title race appears to be slipping away from the Catalan giants, but Xavi remains optimistic, saying, "We have to keep fighting until the end."

Jude Bellingham's arrival at Real Madrid has been nothing short of spectacular. The English midfielder has already etched his name into the club's history books by becoming the first player to score in his first two Clasicos since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2007.Bellingham's impact was evident in Real Madrid's thrilling 3-2 victory over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. After Andreas Christensen gave Barcelona an early lead, Bellingham's fellow countryman Vinicius Junior equalized from the penalty spot.In the second half, Fermin Lopez put Barcelona back in front, but Real Madrid responded with a swift equalizer from Lucas Vazquez. With the game seemingly destined for a draw, Bellingham emerged as the hero.In the 91st minute, Vazquez sent a teasing cross towards the far post, which Bellingham met with a clinical left-footed strike. The Bernabeu erupted in a chorus of "Hey Jude," as Bellingham sealed the victory for Real Madrid.Bellingham's performance was all the more impressive considering the absence of key players like Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos. The 19-year-old showed maturity beyond his years, dictating the tempo of the game and creating chances for his teammates.Barcelona's defeat was a major setback in their pursuit of the La Liga title. The Catalan giants are now 11 points behind Real Madrid with just 15 games remaining. Xavi Hernandez, who is stepping down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season, expressed his frustration with the lack of goal-line technology in La Liga.Despite the defeat, Xavi praised Bellingham's performance. "He's a special player," Xavi said. "He has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world."Bellingham's rise to prominence has been meteoric. After impressing at Borussia Dortmund, he joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of €100 million. In his first season at the Bernabeu, he has already established himself as a key player for Carlo Ancelotti's side.With his exceptional talent and unwavering determination, Jude Bellingham is poised to become a legend at Real Madrid. The future looks bright for the English star and the Spanish giants.

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez believes that a victory in the upcoming El Clasico is crucial for his team's hopes of challenging Real Madrid for the La Liga title. The Catalan giants trail their arch-rivals by eight points with just seven games remaining in the season.Real Madrid have been in impressive form this season, winning 24 of their 31 league matches and reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona, on the other hand, have struggled to keep pace, losing their second leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.Xavi is aware of the importance of the El Clasico and knows that a win would give his team a much-needed boost in their title bid. "We have to win the Clasico," Xavi said. "It's the only way we can stay in the title race."Real Madrid will be looking to extend their winning streak to five matches in La Liga when they host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. The hosts have not lost in their last 16 league games and will be confident of maintaining their dominance over their rivals.Barcelona, however, have a strong record at the Bernabeu, having won 17 of their last 38 meetings there. They will also be buoyed by the return of Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 13 goals in La Liga this season.The El Clasico is one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in world football and is sure to be a thrilling encounter. Barcelona will be desperate to win to keep their title hopes alive, while Real Madrid will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Real Madrid maintained their commanding lead in La Liga with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mallorca on Saturday. Aurelien Tchouameni's long-range strike in the second half proved decisive, extending Madrid's unbeaten league run to 25 games.Despite resting key attackers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City, Madrid controlled the match. Jude Bellingham came close for Mallorca in the first half, but his effort rattled the crossbar.Tchouameni broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half with a deflected drive from outside the area. Brahim Diaz and Fede Valverde had chances to extend Madrid's lead, but their attempts were denied by Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.Vinicius entered the fray in the final 30 minutes, but Madrid failed to add to their tally. Sergi Darder's spectacular shot forced a fine save from Andriy Lunin, but Madrid held on for the victory.Barcelona kept pace with Madrid by securing a 1-0 win at Cadiz. Joao Felix's clever overhead kick in the first half proved to be the difference. Xavi Hernandez made several changes to his team, but they still managed to extend their clean sheet streak in the league to six games.Atletico Madrid continued their resurgence with a 3-1 victory over Girona. Antoine Griezmann scored twice, including a penalty, to help Diego Simeone's men move within four points of their opponents. Angel Correa also found the net for Atletico, who are now firmly in the race for Champions League qualification.Rayo Vallecano and Getafe played out a goalless draw in the other La Liga fixture on Saturday.

Real Madrid face a crucial test of their title credentials when they visit Real Mallorca on Saturday, as they seek to maintain their focus on La Liga amidst their captivating Champions League battle with Manchester City.Carlo Ancelotti's side, holding an eight-point lead at the summit, must navigate a delicate balancing act ahead of the second leg at the Etihad next Wednesday, following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg. However, taking their eye off the domestic prize could prove costly, with the Clasico against Barcelona looming on April 21.Resurgent Barcelona, currently second, will be desperate to close the gap when they visit the Santiago Bernabeu, eager to defend their crown. Copa del Rey runners-up Mallorca have enjoyed a strong season, and despite falling short in their bid for their first cup triumph since 2003, they will receive a rousing reception at their Son Moix stadium.Javier Aguirre's team, sitting 15th, must swiftly shift their attention back to La Liga, as they remain only six points clear of the relegation zone with eight matches remaining. If Ancelotti opts to rotate his squad to preserve players for the Champions League, Mallorca could capitalize, although the Italian has ample quality in reserve.Brahim Diaz, Joselu, and veteran Luka Modric could all feature, while defender Eder Militao may make his first start since recovering from a long-term knee injury. Ancelotti has praised his forwards, including leading scorer Jude Bellingham and Brazilian duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, for their tireless efforts against City.However, there is a history of animosity between Mallorca defenders and Vinicius. Last season, full-back Pablo Maffeo mocked the Brazilian, prompting a social media backlash from Real Madrid fans. Maffeo has since deleted his Twitter account due to the abuse he received.If Ancelotti decides to field Vinicius, their individual duel will be a captivating subplot. Aguirre believes Mallorca's Copa del Rey defeat will motivate his players in La Liga.

La Liga's title race is heating up as leaders Real Madrid prepare to host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Madrid holds an eight-point advantage over Barcelona with nine matches remaining, but Athletic, currently fourth in the standings, will pose a significant challenge at the Santiago Bernabeu.Athletic, under the guidance of Ernesto Valverde, is vying for a top-four finish and a return to Champions League football. They are just a point ahead of Atletico Madrid, who face Villarreal on Monday.Madrid's comfortable lead means they can focus on securing the title, while Barcelona, despite their recent resurgence, faces an uphill battle. The Catalans have won 10 consecutive matches but trail Madrid by a significant margin."All the players are giving their best and are at their best level," said Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez. "Now we're at our best moment of the season, it's a moment to dream."Real Madrid is expected to welcome back defender Eder Militao from injury, while top goalscorer Jude Bellingham returns from suspension. However, both players have minor fitness concerns after international duty.Despite Madrid's injury woes, coach Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic about their chances of silverware. "We have to be excited for the games to come, we have to be happy, satisfied, and hopeful," he said.Girona, seven points clear of Atletico, should secure a top-four spot, but their recent form has been poor. They host Real Betis on Sunday before visiting Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid extended their lead atop La Liga to seven points on Sunday with a comfortable 4-0 home victory over Celta Vigo, aided by two own goals.Vinicius Junior opened the scoring in the first half, tapping in a rebound from Antonio Rudiger's header. Rudiger's subsequent header struck the crossbar and bounced off Celta goalkeeper Vicente Guaita into the net, effectively sealing the win for Madrid.Guaita's miscommunication with Carlos Dominguez led to another own goal, as the defender inadvertently bundled Vinicius' cross into his own net. Arda Guler, making his first appearance since returning from injury, added a fourth goal in stoppage time.Despite the absence of suspended Jude Bellingham, Madrid controlled the match and played with greater intensity than in their recent 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig in the Champions League.Vinicius, who was booked in that game for a confrontation, was again involved in a heated exchange with Oscar Mingueza on Sunday. Manager Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the incident but emphasized that it was a result of frustration and that he would continue to address the issue with Vinicius.Madrid's victory extends their unbeaten streak in La Liga to 22 games and puts them eight points clear of reigning champions Barcelona. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone, just two points above the bottom three.In other La Liga action, Athletic Bilbao boosted their Champions League hopes with a 2-0 win at Las Palmas, while Villarreal came from behind twice to defeat Real Betis 3-2. Alaves edged out Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the early game.

Girona's resurgence continued on Saturday as they secured a 2-0 victory over Osasuna, propelling them back into second place in La Liga. The triumph came at the expense of Atletico Madrid, who suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat at Cadiz, further denting their hopes of a top-three finish.Girona's dominance was evident from the outset, and they were rewarded with a goal from Cristian Portu just 13 minutes into the match. Viktor Tsygankov's incisive pass found Portu in the box, and the Spaniard's clinical finish gave Girona the early advantage.Despite Girona's dominance, Osasuna remained a threat, and Tsygankov nearly provided a second assist for Artem Dovbyk, but the Ukrainian forward failed to convert. Daley Blind also came close to doubling Girona's lead, but his effort was blocked by the Osasuna defense.Girona's persistence paid off in the 85th minute when Savinho found the net. However, the goal was initially ruled out for a foul, but the Brazilian's disappointment was short-lived as he struck again two minutes later. Miguel Gutierrez's pass found Aleix Garcia, whose backheel set up Savinho for a left-footed finish that sealed the victory.Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid's struggles continued with a disappointing defeat at Cadiz. Juanmi's brace either side of half-time condemned Diego Simeone's men to their seventh defeat of the season.The first half was marred by fouls, and Cadiz took the lead through Juanmi's unmarked header midway through the period. Simeone made changes at half-time, but Juanmi struck again just after the hour mark, securing the victory for the Andalusian side.The result leaves Atletico four points behind Girona in third, while Cadiz moved closer to safety, provisionally moving within two points of 17th place.In other La Liga action, Real Sociedad came from behind to win 3-2 at Granada, while Valencia climbed to eighth with a 1-0 victory over Getafe.

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham has been handed a two-match suspension by La Liga for his actions following the 2-2 draw with Valencia on Saturday. The England international was shown a red card after the final whistle for showing contempt towards the referee, Jesus Gil Manzano.According to the referee's report, Bellingham displayed an "aggressive attitude" as he disputed Manzano's decision to blow the whistle when he headed Brahim Diaz's cross into the net in the ninth minute of added time. The goal would have given Real Madrid a dramatic victory.Bellingham's suspension means he will miss Sunday's home game against Celta Vigo and the trip to Osasuna on March 16. The 20-year-old is the leading scorer in La Liga with 16 goals in his first season at the club.Despite the suspension, Bellingham will be available for Real Madrid's Champions League last-16 second leg against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Spanish giants hold a 5-2 advantage from the first leg.Real Madrid are seven points clear of Girona at the top of La Liga. They will be looking to extend their lead when they face Celta Vigo on Sunday.