SportsNews
La Liga: Barca secure 2-1 win at Valladolid to preserve title charge
Barcelona survived a scare as they came from behind to beat already-relegated Real Valladolid 2-1 on Saturday to extend their La Liga lead and move one step closer to the title.
The Catalan giants heavily rotated with Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final clash at Inter Milan in mind and fell behind to Ivan Sanchez’s early deflected goal.
However, second-half strikes by Raphinha and Fermin Lopez helped Barca climb seven points clear of second-place champions Real Madrid, who host Celta Vigo on Sunday ahead of the Clasico on May 11.
Barca coach Hansi Flick kept just two players who started the blockbuster 3-3 first leg draw with Inter on Wednesday in his side — Pedri Gonzalez and Gerard Martin.
Flick brought in his German compatriot Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal, after a long injury lay-off, for his first appearance since September.
Within six minutes, Ter Stegen was picking the ball out of his net.
Martin’s shot from the right of the area deflected off Ronald Araujo and looped past Ter Stegen into the far top corner.
Despite going ahead against the league leaders, home fans protested against Valladolid majority owner and president Ronaldo, the former Brazil great, by throwing around fake banknotes with his face on them and chanting for him to leave.
Valladolid goalkeeper Andre Ferreira tipped over Pau Victor’s header after Fermin Lopez picked out the forward with a curling cross and saved well from Ansu Fati.
Barca debutant Dani Rodriguez suffered a shoulder injury that needed heavy bandaging, and Flick took the midfielder off for teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old shone against Inter in midweek and despite the coach initially hoping he could rest at the Jose Zorilla stadium, with Barca behind Flick was glad to bring him on.
The coach also took off Pedri and Ansu at half-time, sending on Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong to shake up his side.
After Yamal was fouled early in the second half Raphinha tested Ferreira with a free-kick from a wide angle which he pushed behind.
Barca’s two wingers were involved again as the Catalans levelled, with Yamal’s dangerous cross pushed to the edge of the box by Ferreira.
Raphinha picked up the loose ball and slid home his 16th league goal of the campaign.
Seven minutes later, Barca took the lead, with Martin sliding the ball across for Lopez to finish from just inside the area.
Hector Fort came close to netting the third after Yamal found him with a backheel, turning skillfully in the box before firing against the post.
Ferreira pushed out a Dani Olmo free-kick in the final stages, with Barca unable to add to their lead.
Araujo made a vital interception in his area in stoppage time to keep the bottom side at bay, with Barca relieved to clinch three vital points.
At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.
FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.
Full list of players confirmed
Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).
Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).
Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).
Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).
Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).
Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).
Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),
West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)
Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).
Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).
Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)
Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)
The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.
The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.
Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.
Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.
The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.
The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).
Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.
EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.
Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.
Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.
Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.
The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.
Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.
The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.
Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.
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