Sports

Real Madrid Vs Barcelona: Xavi Confident Of Retaining Super Cup In Sunday’s El Clasico

Published

2 years ago

January 14, 2024

Barcelona coach Xavi admitted that “hungry” Real Madrid are in better form but insisted his side can retain the Spanish Super Cup.

The Spanish giants do battle in Sunday’s Clasico final in Saudi Arabia, a repeat of last year’s showdown in which the Catalans excelled to lift the first trophy of Xavi’s reign.

Barcelona went on to win La Liga and although his team trail leaders Madrid by seven points this season, the coach insisted he has a “winning project”.

“We will try to dominate the game, impose our personality, our way of playing and dominate the ball,” Xavi told a news conference in Riyadh on Saturday.

“We arrive in little less form than Real Madrid, but when the ball is rolling there will be no favourites.”

Record 14-time Super Cup champions Barcelona are third in La Liga and suffered surprise defeats by Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp in the Champions League, although they qualified for the knock-out phase top of their group regardless.

Xavi insisted he is calm about the situation after the success Barcelona achieved last season.

“A trophy is at stake, I arrive in a much more comfortable position than last season — we have won, we’ve shown this is a winning project, I’m calmer,” continued Xavi.

“Real Madrid are always hungry (and) this is a strong Barca, we’re on a stage which is ideal, it gives me so much motivation and we will give everything.”

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said defender Dani Carvajal was fit to play despite not training with his team-mates on Friday ahead of the clash against Barcelona.

The coach would not reveal whether Kepa Arrizabalaga or Andriy Lunin would start in goal.

“I don’t want to give away any clues,” explained Ancelotti ahead of Barcelona clash.

“At the moment I don’t feel like I can pick one to be starter and one to be substitute, and I think both of them understand that.”

Ancelotti has the chance to match Zinedine Zidane as Madrid’s second most successful coach ever with victory in the final to bring him an 11th trophy at the helm of Los Blancos.

Miguel Munoz won 14 as Real Madrid manager between 1960-1974, including nine La Liga titles and two European Cups.

Ancelotti said he was pleased at the chance to level Zidane but he was always looking forward, hunting for more.

“Trophies stay in the cupboard, you look at them now and again, they are memories, but the important thing is the next day,” added the coach.

Related Topics:Barcelona Chelsea Real Madrid

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Liverpool Confirm Nunez’s £46.2M Move To Al-Hilal

Published

14 hours ago

August 9, 2025

Editor

Liverpool sold striker Darwin Nunez to Saudi side Al-Hilal, both clubs confirmed on Saturday, in a move that could allow the Premier League champions to make a fresh bid for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.

Nunez joined the Reds for an initial 75 million euros ($87 million, £65 million) from Benfica three years ago but has failed to live up to that price tag.

The Uruguayan scored 40 goals in 143 appearances but slipped down the pecking order at Anfield under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot.

According to reports in the British media, Al-Hilal will pay an initial 53 million euros for the 26-year-old.

“Al-Hilal Club Company is pleased to announce the signing of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool FC on a three-year contract,” Al-Hilal said in a statement.

Nunez was likely to play even less this season after Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz as part of a 300 million euro spending spree that also includes full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.

However, the club could still break the British transfer record by signing Isak.

Liverpool reportedly had a first bid of £110 million rejected, with Newcastle demanding a fee of up to £150 million for the Swedish striker.

The sale of Nunez would take Liverpool’s income for transfer sales this window to nearly 200 million euros after the departures of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Tyler Morton.

Nunez is the latest big name to join Al-Hilal, who shocked Manchester City to reach the quarter-finals of the recent Club World Cup.

Coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, the Saudi club’s squad includes Portuguese internationals Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo, Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, and former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

AFP

Sports

Messi Ruled Out Of Miami’s MLS Clash With Orlando

Published

15 hours ago

August 9, 2025

Editor

Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami’s Major League soccer clash with Florida rivals, Orlando, on Sunday as he continues to recover from a “minor” muscle injury, coach Javier Mascherano said Saturday.

“No, Leo will not be available tomorrow,” Mascherano said. “He is fine, but obviously it would be crazy to risk taking him to Orlando because of all that is ahead.

“We are optimistic that he will soon return with us.”

After the Florida Derby clash with Orlando, Inter will host the LA Galaxy on August 16 and three days later they play a Leagues Cup quarter-final against Mexico’s Tigres UANL.

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, missed the club’s last Leagues Cup group stage match after suffering the “minor muscle injury” in his upper right leg in Miami’s win over Necaxa on August 2.

Inter are currently fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference, eight points behind leaders Philadelphia and a point ahead of Orlando with three matches in hand.

Despite the setback for Messi, Miami have been buoyed by the arrival of his Argentine compatriot Rodrigo De Paul, who scored his first goal for the Herons in a 3-1 victory over Pumas UNAM that clinched their Leagues Cup quarter-final berth.

AFP

Sports

PSG Complete Signing Of French Goalkeeper Chevalier For $46.6m

Published

15 hours ago

August 9, 2025

Editor

Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday signed French goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from Lille for a reported 40 million euros ($46.6 million).

“Paris Saint-Germain are delighted to welcome Lucas Chevalier into our family,” club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on the club’s website, which added that the 23-year-old had signed until 2030.

“I’m a kid who is living his dream,” Chevalier said.

Chevalier has been a member of several France squads but has yet to win a senior cap.

He shone as Lille reached the last 16 of last season’s Champions League, particularly in a 1-0 win at home over Real Madrid and a 3-1 victory away to Atletico Madrid.

PSG, meanwhile, won the Champions League, Ligue 1 and French Cup with Italian star Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, backed up by Russian Matvey Safonov and Spaniard Arnau Tenas who are still in the squad.

Chevalier is the second goalkeeper the club have signed this summer, after Italian-Brazilian teenager Renato Marin.

Sources close to the club said PSG sporting director Luis Campos had assured Chevalier he would be first-choice goalkeeper.

Chevalier is expected to be available as early as Wednesday when PSG face Tottenham in the European Super Cup in Udine, Italy.

AFP