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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
AFP
Sports
EPL: Chelsea Set To Sanction First Summer Transfer Under Alonso

Chelsea are set to sanction their first summer transfer under their new manager, Xabi Alonso.
According to the BBC Sport, the Blues are ‘open’ to selling Filip Jorgensen this summer after the goalkeeper indicated his desire to leave Stamford Bridge.
Jorgensen joined the Premier League west London club two seasons ago from Villarreal.
READ ALSO:EPL: Maresca Signs Three-year Contract To Replace Guardiola At Man City
The 24-year-old shot-stopper was expected to compete for the number one position with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but he made just 11 Premier League appearances over the two seasons.
However, while the arrival of Alonso to Stamford Bridge could lead to a change in fortunes for Jorgensen, the report added that the Danish star has already expressed his desire to leave Chelsea this summer to get more regular playing game-time elsewhere.
Chelsea had blocked a potential exit for Jorgensen in the January transfer window, but the Premier League west London club are now open to a sale, with European and English clubs expected to explore a deal for the goalkeeper.
Sports
EPL: ‘Go For Alvarez’ – Paul Merson Hands Arsenal Two Signings To Make

Arsenal legend, Paul Merson, has handed his old club two signings to make in the summer.
Merson wants Arsenal to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez and a new midfielder.
“I would get a centre forward this summer, I would go for Julian Alvarez,” Merson said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
READ ALSO: EPL: Why I Rejected €200m Offer To Leave Man Utd – Bruno Fernandes
“I am a big fan. If they could get him, I would. I still think they probably need another midfield player as well.”
Arsenal is expected to bolster its squad in the summer after winning the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City this season.
Sports
EPL: Wayne Rooney Picks Most Improved Player This Season

Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney, has picked the Red Devils defender Luke Shaw as the most improved player in the Premier League following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney said, “I think, for me, Luke Shaw. I think Luke Shaw has been the most improved player this season.
“I know he is an experienced player now, but I think his level this season has been much better than it has been in recent seasons.
READ ALSO: EPL: Why I Rejected €200m Offer To Leave Man Utd – Bruno Fernandes
“People might look at Kobbie Mainoo but I don’t think he’s improved. It was just the fact he wasn’t playing under the former manager so it wasn’t good or bad.”
Shaw enjoyed one of his most consistent seasons at Man United and started all of Man United’s Premier League games.
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