Football: Rakitic gives Barca second 'Clasico' win in four days at Real

MADRID - La Liga leaders Barcelona won a tight and tense 'Clasico' 1-0 at Real Madrid on Saturday, beating their great rivals at their Bernabeu home for the second time in four days and moving a staggering 12 points clear of them in the standings.

Croatia international Ivan Rakitic struck the only goal of the game midway through the first half, delivering an ice-cool finish over Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois after being played in by a clever pass by Sergi Roberto.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were largely kept quiet in a shy display from the champions in which their defenders Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet were the heroes instead, bravely putting their bodies in the way to snuff out Madrid.

The victory, which followed Barca's 3-0 win over Real in a Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday, gave them a 10-point lead at the top over Atletico Madrid, who visit Real Sociedad on Sunday, and effectively ended third-placed Real's title hopes.

"We are all going to enjoy this night as not many teams can say they have won twice in four days at the Bernabeu," match winner Rakitic told reporters.

"We worked very hard for this victory and we deserve it. You have to fight, you have to stick your leg in and we are very happy.

"Every game is different, we did our homework well after the last game. We created a bit of danger in this first half, then played on the counter in the second, but winning here is always perfect."

The win also took Barca ahead of Real in the history books, with 96 wins in the 'Clasico' to their rivals' 95, while they recorded four consecutive league wins away to Real for the first time.

Real were left to reflect on a third consecutive home defeat in all competitions for the first time since 2004 and now have only one realistic objective for this season -- retaining the Champions League which they have monopolised since 2016.

Winning Europe's biggest prize again could also be the last chance coach Santiago Solari has of keeping his job as even though his side played well here and in the Cup defeat, losing to Barca twice and falling 12 points behind them is not something Real Madrid tend to tolerate.

"Both games were very intense and we gave a huge effort in both. We had chances, but when you cannot find a goal things slip away from you," said Real captain Sergio Ramos.

"It's obviously a huge step for Barca, and unfortunately the title is getting out of our reach, but we'll keep fighting until the end."

WAYWARD SHOOTING

Madrid were less buccaneering than in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat in the cup semi-final second leg and Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr was their most dangerous threat once again but was again let down by his wayward shooting.

Vinicius tore down Barca's left side early on as Real took the game to Barca but when the ball fell to Luka Modric, Pique quickly delivered a block to kill the danger, something that became a familiar sight as the game progressed.

Barca could have taken the lead when Messi latched onto a pass and was clean through on goal, albeit with a difficult angle, but his shot drifted wide.

Rakitic found himself in a similar position soon afterwards but he kept his nerve, calmly chipping over Courtois to score.

Barca were left fuming at halftime when Real captain Sergio Ramos appeared to strike Messi in the face after winning a tackle but the Spaniard escaped a booking, although he was shown a yellow card later in the game.

It was a rare moment of needle in an unusually uneventful game between Spain's two biggest clubs.

(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Ian Chadband and Clare Fallon)

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LA LIGA: Suarez double keeps Barca top, Marcelo rescues Real

BARCELONA - Barcelona came through a testing local derby at Espanyol, winning 3-0 to cling to their slender lead at the top of La Liga after rivals Real Madrid had set the challenge by beating Valencia 2-1 in the earlier kick-off.

Barca triumphed thanks to two clinical finishes from Luis Suarez and a strike from Ivan Rakitic following a vintage slalom run by Lionel Messi.

Suarez pounced on a disastrous backpass from Jose Manuel Jurado to break the deadlock in the 50th minute and Rakitic sealed the win in the 76th by side-footing home Messi's cutback after the Argentine had torn through the home defence.

Suarez, who had failed to score in his previous five games in all competitions, took advantage of another calamitous error by the otherwise impressive Espanyol backline and rifled in Barca's third from close range in the 87th minute.

The pressure was on Barca after Real Madrid had beaten Valencia 2-1 earlier in the day to provisionally lead the standings, and the champions got an early fright when Jurado eased into their area but fired wide of the far post.

Espanyol's good organisation then went to waste when Jurado gifted the ball to Suarez, who knocked it past former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez with an effortless flick of the outside of his right boot to send the champions on their way.

"I think we deserved the win because we gave a serious performance," said Barca coach Luis Enrique. "We knew that in the second half their high pressing would allow us to create more up front. We wore out the opposition."

Barca top the standings on 81 points due to their superior head-to-head record over Real, who also have 81 and have a game in hand.

Marcelo came to Real Madrid's rescue four minutes after his side had conceded a potentially crucial Valencia equaliser, from Dani Parejo, that could have seriously dented their hopes of landing a first title since 2012.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal in five league games to put Real ahead in the 27th minute but in the second half had a penalty saved by Diego Alves, who turned away a league-record sixth spot kick of the campaign.

Valencia had given Real a scare when Santi Mina hit the woodwork in the opening minute and the visitors pulled level in the 82nd minute with a thumping free kick from Parejo, the former Real academy player, who had fouled Luka Modric for the penalty.

Marcelo promptly grabbed the winner, cutting inside from the left-hand side of the area and curling the ball under Alves with his right foot, as Real's title bid benefited from yet another crucial late goal.

"I can't explain how we keep on scoring late goals. All I know is it's exciting, it's beautiful," coach Zinedine Zidane told reporters.

Atletico Madrid warmed up for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Real by hammering Las Palmas 5-0 away with two goals from Kevin Gameiro and strikes from Saul Niguez, Thomas Partey and Fernando Torres.

It was not all plain sailing for Diego Simeone's side, however, as they lost Jose Gimenez to injury, adding to the absences of fellow defenders Juanfran and Sime Vrsaljko for Tuesday's short trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Granada's run of six consecutive seasons in La Liga ended following a 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad, leaving Tony Adams's side 10 points adrift of safety with three games left. They join basement club Osasuna in the Segunda Division next season.

Levante sealed their return to the top flight 11 months after being relegated by beating Real Oviedo 1-0 at home.

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar, Clare Fallon and Neville Dalton)

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LA LIGA: Magnificent Messi stars as Barca rout Celta

BARCELONA - Lionel Messi was in inspired form as champions Barcelona hammered Celta Vigo 5-0 on Saturday, recording a fourth straight league victory which keeps them top of La Liga after Real Madrid had put the pressure on the Catalans with a 4-1 win at Eibar.

Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute after a stunning solo run and then laid on a pass for Neymar to double the lead in the 40th with an irresistible chip.

Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti added to the scoring in the second half, the latter netting for the first time for the club, as Barca produced one of their best performances of the season in their first game since Luis Enrique revealed he would not be continuing as coach after the summer.

Messi then capped his virtuoso display with a darting run forward into the box past two defenders and a classy low finish, scoring an eighth goal in six league games and rounding off a rampant Barca display reminiscent of their 6-1 thrashing of Celta last year.

By the end of the game the words "Yes we can" echoed round the cavernous Nou Camp stadium as Barca's fans began to dare to believe they could replicate this stunning display against Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, when they need to overturn a four-goal deficit from the last 16 first leg, something no team has done in the competition's history.

"It was a very complete performance, everyone was enjoying themselves. Everyone shone, everyone played at the top of their game and when that happens you're able to score five goals and maybe we could have got more," Luis Enrique told reporters.

"The PSG game will be nothing like today's as the teams are so different but confidence is everything. It looks like a lost cause but if we do things well who knows what could happen? We're going to keep trying until the last minute."

Barca top the La Liga standings on 60 points, one ahead of Real, while third-placed Sevilla, on 55, visit Alaves on Monday.

REAL LIFT CONFIDENCE

Real Madrid overcame the absence of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo to romp to victory at Eibar, recording their biggest win since beating Real Sociedad 3-0 in January, lifting their confidence after dropping five points in three games.

Karim Benzema was the focal point in Real's attack without the suspended Bale and injured Ronaldo and fired the visitors ahead in the 14th minute, following up his own shot on the rebound, before stretching their advantage in the 25th.

James Rodriguez provided the cross for Benzema's second goal and the Frenchman returned the favour for his Colombian team mate to net his first league goal since September in the 29th minute.

Marco Asensio hit the fourth on the hour with a rebound after James had struck the post, although Ruben Pena bundled in a consolation goal for Eibar in the 72nd minute.

"It was a very good reaction, we scored three times in the space of half an hour. We knew it was a difficult ground to go to but we scored early and gave a serious display," Zidane told reporters.

"All sorts of things happen during a season and a team can't always play well, but we did very well today and played with a lot of intensity. We made a flying start and that was very important. We know that there's still a long way to go."

(Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Tom Hayward and Neil Robinson)

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LA LIGA: Messi out for three weeks as Atletico hold Barca

BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi will miss the next three weeks after suffering the recurrence of a groin injury as Atletico Madrid came from behind to hold Barcelona 1-1 at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Ivan Rakitic headed Barca into the lead just before half-time, but Angel Correa slotted home on the hour mark just seconds after Messi limped off to hand Atletico a deserved point.

Earlier, Real Madrid's record-equalling 16-game La Liga win streak came to an end as Villarreal drew 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid continue to lead Barca by three points at the top of the table with Atletico a further point back in fourth.

Sevilla, who beat Real Betis on Tuesday, remain in second place.

"To lose Lionel Messi means football loses and we lose," said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

"Now we have to look for other solutions. With Leo we are much stronger, but without him we are still a strong team."

Messi is set to miss Barca's next three games at Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo in La Liga and Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League, as well as Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Paraguay.

The five-time World Player of the Year missed Argentina's last qualifier in Venezuela earlier this month due to a similar injury.

Barca's stellar front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar had struck 10 times in their last two games, but were kept largely quiet by Atletico's typically rock-solid defence.

Messi had the first effort on goal, but his fierce effort was comfortably handled by Jan Oblak in the Atletico goal.

The hosts had to wait until four minutes before the break to seriously threaten again when they took the lead.

Atletico momentarily switched off as a corner from the left was played short to Andres Iniesta and his cross was powered home by the late arriving Rakitic.

However, Barca's joy was short-lived, first by a double injury blow and then Correa's leveller.

Sergio Busquets was first forced off due to illness before Messi went down to the consternation of the Camp Nou.

The Argentine's replacement Arda Turan had barely taken up his position when Atletico levelled as Correa coolly slotted home after Javier Mascherano's slip offered him a clear path to goal.

Barca came closest to finding a winner in the final half hour as a fierce drive from Neymar was repelled by Oblak, whilst Jordi Alba and Rakitic fired off target.

However, in the end both settled for a point which keeps them within touch of Real.

At the Bernabeu, the European champions were looking to surpass the Liga mark of 16 wins first set by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in 2010/11, but were made to pay for a sluggish first-half display.

"We lacked intensity in the first-half," said Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

"The second-half was great from everyone, but you can't always win the three points at the end.

"We know we have to work hard and change things, above all how we start the game."

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale returned to the Madrid side that won 2-0 at Espanyol on Sunday.

However, Villarreal were the better side in the first-half and got their reward just before half-time when Sergio Ramos handled Manu Trigueros's shot and referee Jose Luis Gonzalez pointed to the spot.

Captain Bruno Soriano stepped up and coolly chipped the ball down the middle of the goal past Casilla.

Ramos made amends right at the start of the second-half when he rose highest to head home James Rodriguez's corner.

Ronaldo was then inches away from turning home Dani Carvajal's low cross and Bale curled just wide as the pressure increased from Madrid.

However, their frustration spilled over when Ronaldo earned a yellow card for kicking out at Bruno.

The off-colour Bale was then replaced by Lucas Vazquez, whilst Karim Benzema made way for Alvaro Morata in the search for a winner.

Morata's header from Vazquez's cross was brilliantly turned over by Asenjo and when Ronaldo fired straight at the Villarreal stopper in the final minute, Real's shot at history was gone.

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LA LIGA: Title rivals Barca, Atletico and Real all win

BARCELONA - La Liga leaders Barcelona moved closer to retaining their crown with a lacklustre 2-0 away win over 10-man Real Betis thanks to goals from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid kept pace as substitute Antoine Griezmann fired them to a 1-0 home win over struggling Rayo Vallecano, while Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scored in a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad that leaves them still a point behind.

Barcelona remain at the summit on 85 points, level with Atletico but having a superior head-to-head record, while Real are third with 84 points and two games of the season left.

Betis had centre-back Heiko Westermann sent off in the 35th minute for a second booking and Ivan Rakitic pounced on a defensive mishap to put Barca five minutes after the break.

Luis Suarez then scored his 35th goal of the La Liga season to finish Betis off in the 81st, meaning Barca can guarantee a 24th league title with wins at home to Espanyol and away to Granada.

Barcelona struggled to break down Betis even after Westermann was dismissed but a misunderstanding between defender German Pezzella and goalkeeper Antonio Adan allowed Rakitic to tap in from close range and break the deadlock.

Suarez then made up for missing a clear chance earlier in the second half by finishing off Lionel Messi's low pass from inside the area.

Barca manager Luis Enrique reacted angrily to suggestions his team had underperformed against Betis.

"What's the problem, if you don't win 8-0 does it not count?" he told a news conference."

"This is a very competitive league with three teams fighting for the title. Looking at the results I don't think any of the three teams are going to slip up and it's in our own hands."

BALE DELIVERS

Bale, who scored twice as Madrid came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Rayo Vallecano last weekend, again delivered when it mattered, nodding in Lucas Vazquez's cross in the 80th minute.

It was the Welshman's ninth headed goal in the league this season, more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues, and earned Madrid the points despite a frustrating afternoon against the side who beat Barcelona earlier this month.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema injured, it was again up to Bale to lead the line, with coach Zinedine Zidane making five changes after the 0-0 at Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final in midweek.

Bale missed several chances before finally breaking the deadlock with 10 minutes remaining, leaping at the near post to glance Vazquez's cross into the top corner for his 19th goal of the league campaign.

With top scorers Ronaldo and Benzema facing a race against time to be fit for Wednesday's second leg against City, Zidane was pleased Bale delivered again.

"It was great to see a player of his importance score a goal ahead of Wednesday," Zidane told a news conference.

"We had to suffer and that's what the players did. We were up against a difficult opponent but I'm happy with the work we did and to pick up the points."

SEVEN CHANGES

Atletico coach Diego Simeone made seven changes to the team that beat Bayern Munich 1-0 on Wednesday to edge closer to the Champions League final, with only keeper Jan Oblak, Jose Gimenez, Gabi and Juanfran keeping their places.

Simeone was serving the first of a three-game touchline ban and watched his side struggle to break down Rayo.

The hosts created only one clear chance before the break, a low shot from Angel Correa that was superbly tipped away by Rayo goalkeeper Juan Carlos.

Atletico's top scorer Griezmann was brought on along with Fernando Torres in the 54th minute and needed less than 60 seconds to have an impact.

The France striker pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area and, with his next touch, smashed it high into the net past Juan Carlos, his first goal in five games in all competitions.

Torres squandered a chance to seal the win and Rayo nearly punished Atletico, who were relieved to see striker Javi Guerra head over the bar after appearing unmarked in the box.

(Writing by Richard Martin, editing by Ken Ferris and Ian Chadband)

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LA LIGA: Suarez hits four in 8-0 rout, Ronaldo injured

MADRID, Spain -- Barcelona bounced back from their worst run of La Liga defeats for 13 years in emphatic fashion as Luis Suarez scored four in an 8-0 thrashing of Deportivo la Coruna on Wednesday.

Ivan Rakitic, Lionel Messi, Marc Bartra and Neymar were also on target as Barca reasserted their control on the Spanish title race.

Barca's superior head-to-head record keeps them ahead of Atletico Madrid at the top of the table with four games remaining as Fernando Torres's hot-streak continued with the winner in a 1-0 success at Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid remain a point behind in third as goals from Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric ensured a 3-0 win over Villarreal.

However, victory came at a cost as Cristiano Ronaldo limped off holding his right hamstring a few minutes from time.

"He got a frIght, but I don't think it is anything serious," said Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, whose side face Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals next week.

"I am calmer now than when I saw him leave the pitch."

Barca's sensational return to form came after having taken just one point from their last possible 12 in the league.

"We are human, we aren't machines and we can all commit errors or have a bad game," Suarez told Spanish TV station Movistar+.

- Suarez on song -

"Today is a demonstration that the group is more united than ever and desperate to win the league. It is still in our hands."

Suarez settled the visitors' nerves after just 11 minutes when he outmuscled Sidnei to volley home.

Celso Borges then missed two huge chances to bring Deportivo level as he was denied by Claudio Bravo and a last-ditch block by Bartra before Suarez gave Barca a cushion when he latched onto Messi's sumptuous through-ball to slot low past Manu.

Suarez turned provider for Barca's third just after the break when his cross to the back post was volleyed home emphatically by Rakitic.

Messi created the fourth with another defence splitting pass and Suarez kept his composure to seal his sixth hat-trick of a prolific season.

Suarez was gifted his fourth of the night from Neymar's unselfish cross for his 49th goal of the season.

The former Liverpool striker then added a second assist to his four-goal haul as his cut-back was gratefully tapped home by Messi.

- Terrific Torres -

Bartra joined the party as he galloped forward from his own half before firing into the far corner.

And Neymar completed a perfect night for the Spanish champions when he tapped home at the far post for his first goal in six games from Suarez's third assist of a spectacular display.

Torres kept Atletico in the race as he scored for the fifth consecutive game with a towering header from Antoine Griezmann's cross seven minutes before half-time in Bilbao.

"I am happy because the goals have helped the team win the points that bring us closer to our objectives," said Torres.

Victory also came at a cost for Atletico as inspirational defender Diego Godin limped off with a hamstring injury that is likely to see him miss at least the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.

Real knew they had to win to remain realistically in the race as they kicked off two hours after Barca, but impressed again in racking up an eighth consecutive La Liga win.

Benzema headed home his 27th goal of the season four minutes before half-time after Sergio Asenjo could only parry Ronaldo's fierce effort.

Vazquez was handed a rare start by Gareth Bale's absence through injury, but took full advantage as he raced onto Benzema's layoff before firing low past Asenjo 21 minutes from time.

Modric volleyed home Danilo's cross in sensational style six minutes later to make it 3-0.

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LA LIGA: Wasteful Barca held 2-2 at Villarreal, Real down Sevilla

BARCELONA - Barcelona squandered the chance to go 11 points clear in La Liga on Sunday after blowing a two-goal lead in the space of six minutes in a 2-2 draw at Villarreal that was overshadowed by a controversial penalty.

A 62nd minute own goal by Barcelona substitute Jeremy Mathieu, who turned a corner into his own net, ended Barca's hopes of a 13th successive La Liga win after Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu reduced the deficit.

Ivan Rakitic gave Barca the lead after 20 minutes from close range and Neymar made it 2-0 in the 41st with a chipped penalty as goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, who looked to have touched the ball before felling Neymar in the box, went the wrong way.

Barcelona are nine points clear of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, who suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Sporting Gijon on Saturday. Third-placed Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-0 to stand 10 points off the pace and one behind their city rivals.

"It's a positive day for us as we're one point closer to our objective," Barca coach Luis Enrique told a news conference. "Every point we gain on our rivals is fantastic."

Fourth-placed Villarreal had coach Marcelino dismissed from the dugout just after Rakitic's goal when he protested at the referee's decision not to give a second yellow card to Barcelona defender Gerard Pique following a handball.

Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez's decision not to book Pique for the handball was controversial, as the defender would have been suspended for Barca's next league game against arch rivals Real Madrid had he been dismissed.

The official further enraged the home supporters before the break when he awarded the penalty when Asenjo appeared to reach the ball before sending Neymar over.

POTENT TRIDENT

Real Madrid's attacking trident of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo were all on target in a 4-0 win over Sevilla that took Zinedine Zidane's side within a point of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Bale converted from close range for the third and his 43rd league goal for Madrid, surpassing ex-Barca forward Gary Lineker to become the all-time top scoring British player in La Liga.

Welshman Bale, who also hit the woodwork against Sevilla and had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside in the first half, needed 75 games to eclipse former England striker Lineker, who hit 42 goals in 103 games for Barcelona from 1986 to 1989.

Benzema opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a brilliant half-volley while Keylor Navas preserved the lead by saving Kevin Gameiro's penalty before the break, the third spot kick the Real goalkeeper has stopped this season.

Ronaldo also missed a penalty -- for the third time this season -- in the second half before Gameiro had an effort harshly ruled out for offside.

Ronaldo pounced from close range after 64 minutes to wrap up the points and made a gesture of apology to the home fans, while Bale netted two minutes later and substitute Jese added a late fourth for a scoreline that somewhat flattered the home side.

Celta Vigo moved into the top six after beating Valencia 2-0 thanks to late goals from John Guidetti and Hugo Mallo.

The home fans turned their anger towards coach Gary Neville, chanting "Gary go now" after a third consecutive league defeat left the club 14th, six points above the relegation zone.

The Galicians capitalised on Athletic Bilbao's 2-1 defeat at Espanyol earlier on Sunday to move ahead of the Basques, who dropped to seventh.

Javier Eraso's first half goal put Ernesto Valverde's men in charge but quick strikes from Pape Diop and substitute Felipe Caicedo in the second half turned the game in Espanyol's favour.

They moved up to 12th, seven points above the drop zone.

(Reporting by Richard Martin, Editing by Alan Baldwin and Ken Ferris)

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FOOTBALL: Messi hat-trick helps Barca to record 35-match unbeaten run

Barcelona set a Spanish record of 35 matches unbeaten in all competitions with a thumping 5-1 win at nine-man Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Thursday after goal-machine Lionel Messi scored his 35th hat-trick.

Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring, Messi caught up with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo on 35 trebles in all competitions and Arda Turan completed the rout, with Turkey's captain scoring his first goal for the club since joining from Atletico Madrid.

Barca's victory, which saw them beat the undefeated record Real Madrid had held since the 1988/89 season, restored an eight-point lead at the top over Atletico with 11 matches to go.

Atletico beat visiting Real Sociedad 3-0 on Tuesday, while third-placed Real Madrid are again 12 points off the pace after a 3-1 win at Levante on Wednesday.

Barca were helped by the fact that Rayo lost defender Diego Llorente to a red card three minutes before halftime for a foul on Rakitic before Manuel Iturra was also sent off in the 67th for bringing down Sergio Busquets in the area.

Busquets was felled from behind going for the rebound after a Messi free kick came back off the bar but Luis Suarez's penalty was saved by Juan Carlos, Barcelona's ninth miss from 18 penalties in all competitions this season.

Liverpool owners admit to underrating gravity of rebuild
The former general counsel for Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Edward Weiss, revealed they had 'underestimated' how poor the squad actually was and were 'overconfident' about rebuilding the club they purchased in 2010.

The admissions came during a Supreme Court hearing in New York this week relating to a long-running legal dispute with Mill Financial, an American company, suing the club's former co-owner George Gillett Jr and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

"You know, I think we underestimated how poor the playing quality of the (Liverpool) squad was, and frankly, we underestimated how difficult it was going to be to stabilise the asset," Weiss said.

"We were overconfident in assuming that many of the things that we had done in Boston at Fenway (with the baseball franchise Boston Red Sox) would translate naturally to the Premier League, and they just didn't all translate."

At the time of the take over, the Liverpool squad included club icons Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher but Weiss suggested they inherited a team with a few players past the peak of their careers.

"What we came to know was that the playing squad was poor. While we had a few top players like Steven Gerrard, other players like Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina were probably beyond their prime," Weiss said.

Since FSG took over the club, Liverpool won the League Cup in 2012 but only finished in the top four of the Premier League once, when they came second in 2014. (Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien)

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