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La Liga: Barca Beat Real Sociedad 2-1 As Yamal Returns

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Lamine Yamal returned from injury to help Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-1 on Sunday and move to the top of La Liga by one point.

After Real Madrid were thrashed 5-2 by rivals Atletico Madrid in a derby on Saturday, Hansi Flick’s side had the chance to claim pole position above Xabi Alonso’s side.

Alvaro Odriozola gave Real Sociedad the lead against the run of play in the first half, but Jules Kounde headed the Spanish champions level.

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Yamal, who missed the last four games with a groin injury, created the winner for Robert Lewandowski just moments after coming on as a second-half substitute.

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Barcelona held the game at the Olympic Stadium, where they have played for the last two seasons, after the city council refused them a permit to reopen their Camp Nou home earlier in the week.

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Flick handed 17-year-old attacking midfielder Dro Fernandez his debut, also starting Roony Bardghji on the right wing and bringing in veteran Wojciech Szczesny for injured goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

Barcelona dominated the ball in the first half but found it hard to beat Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro.

The Spain international made a fine save to deny Marcus Rashford in the early stages.

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READ ALSO:LaLiga: Mourinho Speaks On Replacing Ancelotti At Real Madrid

On loan from Manchester United, Rashford is finding his footing at Barca and played a superb through ball for Robert Lewandowski, who fired across the face of goal from a tight angle.

Real Sociedad hit Barca with a sharp counter-attack to open the scoring after 31 minutes.

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Former Real Madrid defender Alvaro Odriozola applied the finishing touch to Ander Barrenetxea’s cross.

Barcelona stepped up a gear and found Remiro in their way again, with the goalkeeper superbly palming away a Kounde cross which was deflected towards his goal.

Remiro also tipped a Bardghji effort away for a corner, which led to Barcelona’s equaliser.

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READ ALSO:EPL: Arsenal Snatch Late 2-1 Win Against Newcastle

Rashford, who provided an assist from a corner against Real Oviedo in midweek, whipped it to the near post, where Kounde powered home a header.

Yamal’s return

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Flick replaced Dro with Dani Olmo at half-time and also brought on Yamal before the hour mark, after the teenager recovered from his groin issue.

Voted second best player in the world at the Ballon d’Or gala on Monday, Yamal made an instant impact.

The 18-year-old burst into the box and crossed for Lewandowski to head home off the post, just over a minute after his introduction.

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READ ALSO:LaLiga: Real Madrid Miss Chance To Go Top After Villarreal Defeat

Szczesny made a good save from Oyarzabal as La Real gave Barcelona a couple of scares, while Remiro denied Rashford and Olmo with two more good saves.

The game grew increasingly chaotic, and both sides hit the crossbar in quick succession.

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Kounde, daydreaming in midfield, was robbed and Real Sociedad worked the ball to Takefusa Kubo, who crashed a shot against the woodwork.

Then Barcelona broke away and Ferran Torres teed up Lewandowski, who battered the crossbar when well placed to put the game to bed, but the hosts were not punished.

Barcelona host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, also at the Olympic Stadium.

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UCL, EPL: Petr Cech Advises Chelsea On How To Win Trophies

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Chelsea legend, Petr Cech, has advised his old club on how to win the UEFA Champions League or the English Premier League.

Chelsea are already out of the Premier League title race this season, and they are at risk of missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification for next season because they are currently not in the ninth position on the Premier League table.

Speaking to The Athletic about Chelsea, Cech said that the Blues need to change their philosophy of signing only young players if they want to win the Premier League or Champions League.

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READ ALSO:EPL: Guardiola Reveals Only Chance Man City Will Win Title Ahead Of Arsenal

According to the former goalkeeper, the Premier League west London club needs to add experienced players to mentor the young players in the squad.

“You have to look at what you want to achieve. You can have young, talented players, and you can win, but it’s very rare that you manage to do that,” he said.

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If you want to win every season and compete every season, that does not go together.

READ ALSO:EPL: Arsenal In Shock Move To Sign Kvaratskhelia From PSG

You have to change your philosophy. Certain things don’t go together because, in order to win a Champions League or a Premier League… these are really tough competitions, and you have to be consistent.

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“You need to have a strong core of the team. And then you can bring young, talented players who will grow faster and then will be held by the experienced players to help navigate them through difficult times when they come.”

Currently, Chelsea have just one player, Tosin Adarabioyo, who is over 28 this season, and the defender has not been playing regularly.

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Enabulele Lauds Okpebholo’s Bold Reforms As Edo Sports Witnesses Revival

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The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for what he described as a bold and transformative approach to sports development.

Speaking on efforts to reposition sports in the state, Enabulele noted that with Okpebholo’s visionary leadership, the sector has witnessed renewed growth.

In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, the Edo Sports Commission boss attributed the progress to the governor’s strategic policies and sustained commitment to youth development, which he said have laid the foundation for a more structured and results-driven system.

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His Excellency has demonstrated clear vision and genuine commitment to sports development. The level of support we are receiving has significantly repositioned Edo as a competitive force in national sporting events,” he said.

READ ALSO:Grassroots To Global Podium: Edo Sports Commission Marks Enabulele’s First Year In Office

He explained that targeted investments in grassroots development are already producing results, with a growing number of young talents being identified and nurtured across multiple disciplines.

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We are deliberately building from the grassroots. A large percentage of our athletes today are homegrown, which speaks to the sustainability of our development model,” Enabulele added.

The Commission, he noted, is also shifting away from an over-reliance on football to a broader multi-sport focus.

Edo State, he said, is now recording improved performances in athletics, combat sports, and other emerging areas.

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READ ALSO:2025 NYG: Be Determined, Enabulele Charges Team Edo, As Screening Commences In A’Ibom

Our goal is to strengthen all sports. The results are beginning to show across different disciplines, and this is only the start,” he said.

Enabulele further pointed to ongoing improvements in sports infrastructure and athlete welfare as critical factors in sustaining performance and encouraging wider participation among young people.

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We are building a system that will endure. With the continued support of the governor, Edo is on course to becoming a dominant force in sports at both national and international levels,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that the current momentum would translate into greater achievements for Edo athletes, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to excellence, discipline, and long-term development.

 

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EPL: Chelsea Winger, Mudryk Banned For Four Years After Failing Drug Test 

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The Football Association, FA, on Wednesday imposed a four-year ban on Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk over anti-doping violations, the Daily Mail reports.

This is the maximum punishment for the breach.

Mudryk had decided to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS.

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READ ALSO:EPL: Diego Simeone Tipped To Replace Liam Rosenior At Chelsea

The 25-year-old submitted his appeal on February 25. It is understood a hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Mudryk has not featured for the Blues since November 28, 2024.

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The Ukraine international arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £88m move from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023.

He is under contract until 2030.

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