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La Liga: Barca secure 2-1 win at Valladolid to preserve title charge

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Barcelona's Dutch midfielder #21 Frenkie De Jong and Barcelona's Spanish midfielder #06 Pablo Gavi celebrate their victory at the end of the Spanish league football match between Real Valladolid FC and FC Barcelona at the Jose Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid on May 3, 2025. (Photo by Cesar Manso / AFP)

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.

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Chelsea mathematically out of title race after 3-0 defeat to Everton

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Chelsea are now mathematically out of the Premier League title race.

This follows their 3-0 drubbing in the hands of Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday night.

Liam Rosenior’s men came into the match with 48 points, looking to keep pace with the teams in front of them.

However, Beto opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half, before adding a second after the break.

Chelsea barely threatened Everton and looked flat for most of the game, before Iliman Ndiaye added a third.

The result means the Blues cannot match the 70 points that league leaders Arsenal currently have with seven matches left.

Champions Liverpool are also on the verge of being mathematically ruled out, as they have 49 points.

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Super Eagles player bounced me from Iheanacho’s room — Osimhen

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Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, has claimed that a senior member of the Super Eagles squad in 2017 sent him away from a hotel room during his first call-up to the national team.

According to the 27-year-old, it was Kelechi Iheanacho who intervened and welcomed him inside.

Osimhen revealed this while appearing on a Twitch livestream with comedian, Carter Efe in the early hours of Saturday.

He said: “When I came, I met Iheanacho. And I told him, ‘ah, see me, I’m gonna carry your boots.’ So he said I should come to his room so, he gave me his room number.

“So, as I got to his room — I don’t just want to mention the name — he had a roommate. So, as I knocked on the door, the roommate opened the door. So, he like bounced me out of the room.”

Osimhen refused to reveal the identity of the player who sent him away.

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AFCON 2025; Drama as Senegal Reportedly Relocates Trophy To Military Base After CAF Decision (Video)

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Drama as Senegal reportedly relocates AFCON trophy to military base after Confederation of African Football (CAF) viral decision.

‎It would be recalled that CAF stripped Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding it to Morocco instead.

This decision came after Morocco appealed the result of the January 18 final, where Senegal won 1-0 in extra time.

‎ According to the CAF Appeal Board, Senegal had forfeited the match due to their players walking off the pitch in protest of a penalty awarded to Morocco, citing Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.

The controversy surrounds the AFCON final, where Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco.

In a clip circulating on the microblogging platform, X (formerly Twitter), a young man with glasses is seen holding the AFCON trophy surrounded by military personnel.

The clip captures the military personnel’s excitement as they support the trophy, with an officer recording the moment.

In a recent development, Senegal has announced plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with some officials and players expressing outrage and disappointment.

The Senegalese government has also called for an international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF.

Watch video below……

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