Football: Neymar loses lawsuit with Barcelona over bonus

BARCELONA--Paris St Germain and Brazil forward Neymar has been ordered to pay his former club Barcelona 6.7 million euros ($7.51 million) after losing a lawsuit over an unpaid bonus, the Spanish champions said in a statement on Friday.

Neymar moved from Barca to PSG for a world record fee of 222 million euros in 2017 but took the La Liga side to court over the terms of the last contract he signed with them a year earlier, claiming he was entitled to 43.6 million euros.

"Barcelona expresses its satisfaction with the verdict announced today in relation to the lawsuit involving FC Barcelona and the player Neymar Jr regarding the amount of the signing bonus in the final renewal of the player’s contract," said the club's statement.

"The ruling has fully dismissed the player’s claim for payment of 43.6 million euros, and has accepted a large part of the defence presented by FC Barcelona, as a result of which the player must return 6.7 million euros to the club.

"Since the player’s representative is entitled to appeal this decision, the club shall continue to fervently defend its legitimate interests."

Neymar's representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

Despite their long-running legal dispute, Barca tried to sign Neymar last year and the player even stopped training with PSG in order to try and force through the move, prompting angry protests from the French side's supporters.

The move eventually broke down, with PSG's sporting director Leonardo claiming Barca failed to meet their asking price for the forward, who formed a world-beating attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez between 2014 and 2017. ($1 = 0.8919 euros) (Reporting by Richard Martin Editing by Christian Radnedge)

-reuters-

Barcelona top global sports pay league, says report

Barcelona are the best-paid team in global sport and the first to have average basic annual pay of more than $12.8 million according to a global survey published on Monday.

The Spanish giants return to the top of the pay rankings in the ninth edition of Sporting Intelligence's Global Sports Salaries Survey (GSSS) for the first time since 2012.

The average annual basic first-team salary at the Camp Nou was more than $13.39 million in late November of the 2018-19 season, the British-based researchers said.

Barcelona are well clear at the top of this year’s list but domestic rivals Real Madrid have climbed to second place. Average basic pay at the Bernabeu is just over $10.25 million per year.

In third place are last year's No. 1 team, basketball’s Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA ($10.06 million).

The metric used by the GSSS is average first-team pay. It looks solely at earnings for playing sport, not for endorsements or other extra-curricular activities.

"In last year's list, Barcelona were the world’s best-paid football team but it has still taken an extraordinary combination of new contracts and signings to lift their average basic pay this time above £10m from £6.6m a year ago," the report said.

"Foremost among those contracts was the biggest pay deal in Barcelona’s history awarded to (Lionel) Messi, widely regarded now as the best footballer of all time. His gross basic (pre-tax) annual Barca pay tops £50m per year, including guaranteed image rights fees."

Six of the top 10 payers in this year’s GSSS are NBA teams – an ongoing consequence of a huge new TV deal in the NBA that kicked in before the 2016-17 season, the report said.

As recently as the 2015 GSSS, there were eight football teams in the top 10 but there are just four this year -- Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United.

The NBA has extended its lead as the best-paying league by average salary ($7.56 million), ahead of the Indian Premier League cricket competition ($4.87 million when weekly pay is annualized) and MLB (baseball).

The Premier League remains the world’s best-paying football league. Average pay in the 2018-19 season in England’s top division is nearly $3.84 million a year.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Messi hits four as Barca maintain perfect start

MADRID, Spain -- Lionel Messi added four more goals to his soaring early season tally as a much-changed Barcelona maintained their 100 percent start to La Liga by routing Eibar 6-1 on Tuesday.

Paulinho and Denis Suarez also netted for the second consecutive game as Barca stretched their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points over Real Madrid, who host Real Betis on Wednesday.


"That Messi scored four goals now isn't news," said Barca boss Ernesto Valverde after the Argentine's 43rd career hat-trick.

"He has done it so many nights, in so many games. To keep repeating it is the most difficult thing.

"He is an extraordinary player. I have run out of words for him."

Messi played in a more central role as Valverde heavily rotated his side for the first time since taking charge with Luis Suarez dropping to the bench among six changes from Saturday's hard-fought 2-1 win at Getafe.

And contrary to their fortunes last season, Barca's back-ups proved Valverde can take the luxury of resting some of his star names with Paulinho particularly impressive on his first start.

Messi opened the scoring in nonchalant fashion from the penalty spot on 21 minutes after Nelson Semedo had been felled by an ungainly challenge from Alejandro Galvez.

Paulinho's 40-million-euro ($48 million) signing from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande was one of a series of moves that drew stinging criticism for Barca's board following Neymar's world-record departure for Paris Saint-Germain.

However, after coming off the bench to score the winner at Getafe, Paulinho powered home his second Barca goal from Denis Suarez's corner seven minutes before half-time.

Paulinho also played his part in Barca's third with a cute dummy that freed Messi and, when his shot was parried by Marko Dmitrovic, Denis Suarez fired home the rebound.

Sergi Enrich reduced the arrears when he capitalised on some sloppy Barca defending to slot home David Junca's cross.

However, Messi quickly restored Barca's three-goal lead with a lovely measured finish from the edge of the box.

The five-time world player of the year completed his hat-trick just after the hour mark by prodding through Dmitrovic's legs from Paulinho's pass.

And he added his 12th goal in just eight games this season three minutes from time after a neat one-two with Aleix Vidal.

- Anger fuels Zaza -

Barca lead second-placed Sevilla, who host Las Palmas on Wednesday, by five points with Valencia now just a point further adrift as they moved up to third thanks to Simone Zaza's seven-minute hat-trick in a 5-0 thrashing of Malaga.

By contrast, a fifth straight defeat to start the season sees Malaga slip to bottom of the table and plunges coach Michel into further danger of becoming the second La Liga boss to be sacked this term.

"I am tremendously proud of the performance of the players. It is a joy to be able to enjoy it with our fans," said Valencia coach Marcelino.

Santi Mina got the rout started after just 17 minutes with a neat header from Carles Soler's cross.

Zaza then completed his first ever hat-trick with three clinical close-range finishes between the 55th and 62nd minute before substitute Rodrigo rounded off the scoring.

And the former Juventus striker shrugged off a bust-up with Marcelino after being dropped for Saturday's 1-1 draw at Levante.

"I didn't have anything to prove," Zaza told BeIN Sports Spain.

"What happened on Saturday is already forgotten, I think it is normal that a player is angry when he doesn't play."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Neymar tells Barcelona he is leaving

MADRID - Neymar's record-breaking 222 million euros ($263 million) transfer to French side Paris Saint-Germain moved a step closer on Wednesday when Barcelona said he had informed them of his intention to leave.

His move to PSG has been heavily flagged in European media but has yet to be completed.

"The player Neymar Jr, accompanied by his father and agent, has informed FC Barcelona this morning of his decision to leave the club in a meeting held at the club’s offices," Barcelona said in a statement.

"The club refer to the buy-out clause of his existing contract which as of 1 July totals 222 million euros."


Earlier the 25-year-old arrived at the club's training ground to tell team mates he was moving to Paris, Catalan radio RAC1 reported. The Brazilian striker left the training area minutes later, it said, with the club confirming on Twitter that he had been given permission not to train.

In October, the player signed a new Barcelona contract until 2021 in which his buy-out clause was raised to more than double the biggest transfer fee in soccer history.

In an interview published on Wednesday, the president of the national football league, Javier Tebas, said the league would not accept payment by PSG to trigger the release clause. It would potentially be in breach of Uefa Financial Fair Play rules, he told Spanish sports newspaper AS.

However, UEFA told Reuters on Wednesday that no complaint had been received, adding that European football's governing body would not block any potential deal in advance.

"UEFA will look into the details of this transfer in due course to ensure PSG are compliant with FFP requirements," the UEFA statement said.

"The transfer of Neymar to PSG will have an effect on the club finances over several years but the impact of such an operation cannot be judged in advance, notably as PSG could well sell several players for a significant amount.

"We shall therefore only make calculations at the end and make sure that they respect the rules."

PSG are one of the world's richest clubs following their 2012 takeover by Qatar Sports Investments, an arm of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, which has transformed their fortunes.

Under the fair play rules - which Andrea Traverso, Uefa's FFP project leader, was last week quoted by Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport as saying PSG were currently following - a club's wage bill must not exceed 70 percent of its revenue.

PSG's 2015/16 revenue came to 521 million euros, according to Deloitte's Football Money League report issued in January.

550,000 EUROS A WEEK?

Media sources across Europe reported that Neymar will now head to Paris to continue negotiations on a potential six-year deal worth more than 550,000 euros a week. The striker only arrived back in Spain on Tuesday after trips to China and the Middle East.

Neymar has been active on social media, sharing an excerpt from the New Testament (Philippians 4:11) on Instagram which said "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content ...whether living in plenty or in want."

A PSG spokesman declined to comment.

Neymar signed for Barcelona from Brazilian side Santos for 57.1 million euros in 2013, although it was later revealed the cost was closer to 100 million euros.

($1 = 0.8432 euros, 0.7563 pounds)

(Reporting by Blanca Rodriguez; Writing by Paul Day; Editing by Tomas Cobos and Hugh Lawson)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Luis Enrique to leave Barcelona at end of season

BARCELONA - Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is leaving the Spanish La Liga champions at the end of the season when his contract expires after three trophy-laden seasons at the club.

Luis Enrique made the announcement at a news conference after Barca thrashed Sporting Gijon 6-1 at the Nou Camp on Wednesday to keep up their bid for a third league title under the management of their former midfielder.

"I would like to thank the club for the confidence they have shown in me, it's been three unforgettable years," said Luis Enrique, who has won two Liga titles, two King's Cups and the 2015 Champions League since succeeding Gerardo Martino in 2014.

Luis Enrique said he had met with Barca directors Albert Soler and Robert Fernandez before this season to discuss the possibility of not renewing his contract.

"They told me there was no hurry to make a decision, but now that moment has arrived," he added.

"This is a very difficult decision for me which I have thought about for a very long time but I think I have to be loyal and do what I think is right."

Barca top the standings on 57 points, one ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid who have played one game fewer.

Luis Enrique has also led his team to the King's Cup final but suffered heavy criticism after Barcelona were crushed 4-0 by Paris St Germain in their Champions League last 16 first-leg game two weeks ago.

Luis Enrique followed in the footsteps of former team mate Pep Guardiola in leading Barca to the treble in his first season in charge, although his reign has also witnessed turbulent moments.

The coach was reported to be on the brink of dismissal in January 2015 due to his rocky relationship with Lionel Messi after leaving the Argentine talisman out of the starting line-up.

SPECTACULAR FOOTBALL

While he has overseen spectacular football, fired by the prolific attacking partnership of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, Luis Enrique has been criticised for abandoning the team's style of play perfected by Guardiola which was geared around controlled possession in midfield.

He bore the brunt of criticism for the harrowing defeat by PSG which has left Barca on the brink of their earliest elimination from the Champions League in a decade.

Luis Enrique said he had become exhausted from the constant pressure that comes with the Barca job and needed time out to recover, echoing Guardiola's words when he stepped down in 2012.

"In my work I am constantly looking for solutions and that means I get no time to rest, I need to rest and that's my main motive for leaving," he said.

Guardiola paid tribute to his former team mate.

"With Luis Enrique's farewell, fans lose someone who was the perfect coach for Barcelona. The football in the last three years has been incredible," the Manchester City manager said on Twitter.

Midfielder Ivan Rakitic said he and the rest of the Barca squad were taken aback when Luis Enrique revealed the news to them in the dressing-room.

"We knew nothing about it," Rakitic told Croatian media. "First he told the team about his decision We were left stunned and at a loss for words. We want to end the season successfully and enjoy what is left."

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu also praised the departing coach.

"We're very happy with the work he has done up to now and we have to accept his decision and support him. Luis Enrique will leave in the summer and we've had a super coach for the last three years," he said.

(Reporting by Richard Martin, Editing by Ed Osmond)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Neymar's nerves of steel hand Brazil first football gold

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Neymar struck the winning penalty as Brazil claimed a first ever Olympic football gold medal with victory over Germany on penalties at Rio's Maracana on Saturday.

The 5-4 shoot-out win exacted revenge for a humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany two years ago.

Olympic gold was the only major title to have escaped five-time world champions Brazil in their history.

But Barcelona star Neymar righted that historical wrong as he fired the winning penalty into the top corner before breaking into tears.

In front of the biggest crowd of Rio's Games, including nine-time Jamaican gold medalist Usain Bolt, Neymar's brilliant free-kick handed Brazil a first-half lead.

In honor of the retiring sprinting great, Neymar even adopted the "lightning bolt" celebration, whilst chants of "ole, ole, ole, Neymar" rang around Rio's most iconic arena.

However, Germany captain Max Meyer enjoyed a special celebration of his own as he taunted the raucous 78,000 crowd at the Maracana by kissing the number seven on his shirt when he swept home Jeremy Toljan's cross just before the hour mark.

The first eight penalties in the shootout were all successful before Brazil goalkeeper Weverton stopped Nils Petersen's effort to set the stage for Neymar.

And he didn't disappoint as, with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, he rifled the ball into the top corner.

In stark contrast to the empty seats on show across the Games, even at times when Bolt has been running, there wasn't a seat to be had at the Maracana -- where Germany won the World Cup against Lionel Messi's Argentina two years ago.

However, it was for the 7-1 mauling in Belo Horizonte five days previously that Brazil were seeking revenge.

None of the players that took to the field that day started on Saturday.

Neymar missed the darkest day in Brazil's football history due to two broken bones in his back suffered during a bruising quarter-final win over Colombia.

Yet, the good fortune that escaped Brazil on home soil two years ago was certainly with them in the first-half as Germany were desperately unlucky to go in behind at the break.

Julian Brandt's fine curling effort came back off the bar, whilst Sven Bender also hit the woodwork from close range.

In between times, Neymar had opened the scoring via the bar with a sumptuous dipping effort from 25 yards for his third goal of the tournament.

Weverton made a fine save from Meyer and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos was fortunate when his mishit clearance flew inches over his own crossbar.

However, Weverton was beaten for the first time in the competition just before the hour mark when Meyer swept home Toljan's low cross.

Brazil piled on the pressure in the final half hour of normal time as Gabriel Jesus turned Renato Augusto's dangerous cross just wide, substitute Felipe Anderson fluffed his lines and Neymar's effort from distance flew just off target.

The hosts had the better chances in extra-time too as Luan burst clear only to see his shot blocked before Anderson was denied when one-on-one with Horn.

Thankfully for Rogerio Micale's men they were far more clinical from the spot as Augusto, Marquinhos, Rafinha and Luan all netted to hand Neymar the chance to live up to his billing as the host's poster boy for the Games.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

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)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: Messi undergoes tests for kidney problems

Messi undergoes tests for kidney problems

Reuters

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is expected to play in Wednesday's King's Cup semi-final against Valencia despite missing training on Monday to have tests on his kidneys, the La Liga club said.

"Barcelona striker Lionel Messi will undergo several tests on Monday and Tuesday to assess the evolution of the kidney problems he suffered last December," Barcelona said in a statement on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com)

"Messi will return to his normal duties with the first team on Wednesday."

 ------------------------------------------

Chelsea's Zouma faces six months out after knee surgery

Reuters

Chelsea's French defender Kurt Zouma will be out for six months after surgery on a knee injury suffered at the weekend, the Premier League champions said on Monday.

The prognosis means the 21-year-old is ruled out for the rest of the season and will also miss the European championship finals in his home country, which open with France playing Romania in Paris on June 10.

The injury came just as Chelsea, whose hopes of retaining their domestic title are effectively over after a poor campaign, prepare to play Paris St Germain next week in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Chelsea said the centre back, who has made a big impression this season, injured his anterior cruciate ligament when he fell awkwardly in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

------------------------------------------

Derrick and Montagliani launch bids for CONCACAF top job

Simon Evans, Reuters

Caribbean Football Union president Gordon Derrick and Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani both announced on Monday that they will be candidates for president of the troubled regional confederation CONCACAF.

CONCACAF, which governs soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has had its last three presidents all indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of their wide-ranging investigation of FIFA that has seen 41 individuals and entities indicted.

CONCACAF has been without a leader since December and will vote for a new president in May.

------------------------------------------

Allegri urged to fill Mourinho's Chelsea shoes

Justin DAVIS, Agence France-Presse
Massimiliano Allegri has been urged to "walk to Chelsea" and take up the "fantastic offer" that has been tabled for the Juventus coach by the Premier league giants.

Both Allegri and his predecessor at Juventus, Italy coach Antonio Conte, have been linked with the Chelsea manager's job currently being filled on a caretaker basis by Dutchman Guus Hiddink following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

Allegri's contract in Turin expires in 2017 and he says he is "happy where I am".

But Giovanni Galeone, who coached Allegri at several clubs during his playing career and is described as his mentor, believes the Juve boss will capitulate and quit the Turin giants to take over at Chelsea in time for next season.

------------------------------------------

Russia says Blatter, Platini to be invited to World Cup

Reuters

Disgraced world soccer president Sepp Blatter and the sport's European head, Michel Platini, will be invited to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Monday.

Blatter and Platini, the two men at the top of the world's most popular sport, were banned by soccer governing body FIFA for eight years in December over a spate of corruption scandals on their watch that, among other things, raised questions about Russia's right to host the tournament.

Mutko told Russia's R-Sport news agency on Sunday that Blatter and Platini were appealing against their bans and still permitted to attend soccer events.

"Formally, the suspension prohibits them from any position in football. But on the other hand, how is that an outstanding player like Michel Platini can't go to the football?" Mutko was quoted as saying. "We will invite them, I see no problems with the events we are hosting."

------------------------------------------

Ronaldo committed to seeing out Real contract

Agence France-Presse

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at Real Madrid for at least another two years, the forward said on Monday.

The 31-year-old three-time Ballon d'Or winner was picking up an award as top scorer in Spain for last season from Spanish daily Marca when he made the comments.

In a light-hearted interview he dampened incessant transfer rumours linking him with a switch to either big-spending Paris Saint-Germain or former club Manchester United.

"I'm still under contract for another two years. After that, we'll see," said Ronaldo.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

KING'S CUP: Suarez scores four as Barca rout Valencia 7-0

BARCELONA - Luis Suarez scored four goals and Lionel Messi grabbed a hat-trick as Barcelona all but wrapped up their King's Cup semi-final by crushing Valencia 7-0 in the first leg at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Barely seven minutes had elapsed when Neymar stole the ball from a careless Andre Gomes in midfield, raced forward and passed to Suarez who rifled a shot across goal past Matthew Ryan.

Barca went two up when Sergio Busquets sent a long ball down the right which Aleix Vidal pulled back for Suarez to blast past Ryan.

"Great result which puts us closer to the objective," Suarez told Movistar. "There'd have to be a catastrophe to not play the final."

Valencia struggled to contain a Barca side with Neymar, Messi and Suarez creating danger almost at will.

Gary Neville's side rarely got near goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen as Barcelona produced one of their best performances of the season with Andres Iniesta and Messi playing in their ninth King's Cup semi-final in 10 seasons.

Messi scored the third after a neat backheel from Neymar.

On the stroke of halftime Barcelona were awarded a penalty when Shkodran Mustafi brought Messi down and was sent off but Neymar hit the post to leave the score 3-0 at the interval.

Russian Denis Cheryshev came on as a substitute for his Valencia debut just before Messi scored Barca's fourth in the 59th minute, taking a backheel from Suarez and weaving past two defenders.

Valencia had the ball in the net in the 69th minute after Cheryshev laid on for Rodrigo but it was ruled out for offside and Messi soon completed his hat-trick.

"I couldn't imagine a debut like this. I know it's Barcelona but we can't give such an image (of ourselves)," Cheryshev, on loan from Real Madrid, said. "Like this we won't go anywhere."

Suarez scored twice in the last seven minutes, a header from Adriano's cross and a shot from Arda Turan's square ball taking the Uruguayan's tally to nine goals in five matches and 35 for the season.

The second leg, in which Barcelona can afford to rest leading players, should be a mere formality in Valencia next Wednesday.

(Writing by Rex Gowar, editing by Ed Osmond and Pritha Sarkar)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: Improved United draw with Chelsea, Arsenal go top

Improved United draw with Chelsea, Arsenal go top

Justin Palmer, Reuters
Manchester United's winless run continued but they gave under-fire coach Louis van Gaal crumbs of cheer with a committed display in an entertaining 0-0 draw with Chelsea while Arsenal went top of the table on Monday.

Arsenal beat Bournemouth 2-0 with goals from Gabriel and Mesut Ozil to move on to 39 points from 19 Premier League games, one ahead of Leicester City who are at home to Manchester City, in fourth, on Tuesday.

Champions Chelsea, who were minus the suspended Diego Costa and played without a recognised striker, are 14th with 20 points.

Tottenham Hotspur rose to third after Son Heung-Min netted a late goal in a 2-1 victory at 10-man Watford.

Spurs went ahead through Erik Lamela at Vicarage Road. In-form Odion Ighalo levelled with his 14th league goal of the season before South Korean Son flicked the ball past former Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes in the final minute.

---------------------------------------

I won't quit, says defiant Van Gaal after United draw

Reuters
Under-fire manager Louis van Gaal said he would not quit after Manchester United extended their run without a victory to eight games in all competitions with a 0-0 draw with champions Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday.

Sixth-placed United produced an improved display at Old Trafford, having limped to a 2-0 defeat at Stoke City on Saturday, enjoying two-thirds of the possession without being able to break down Chelsea's defence.

Asked about the constant media speculation over his job, Van Gaal told BT Sport: "I cannot have any influence on that. I can only work with my players and you have seen my players are fighting for me and they have given a good performance.

"Even after this result, the fans were applauding so I cannot say I am very much concerned but in this football world you never know.

"I have full confidence in the board and in my players. When the players can give such a performance under this pressure, then it is not any reason to resign for me. Maybe the media wants that but I shall not do that," added Van Gaal.

Hiddink pleased with striker-less Chelsea's point

Reuters
Interim manager Guus Hiddink was satisfied with Chelsea's 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Monday, especially as the Premier League champions played without a recognised striker.

Diego Costa was suspended after being booked in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Watford while fellow attackers Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao were sidelined by injury, forcing winger Eden Hazard to occupy the unfamiliar position of centre forward.

"Tactically it was okay, defensively we were well organised," Hiddink told reporters at Old Trafford.

"We didn't have full power to hurt United ... we have some problems in the striker position due to suspension and injuries so we had to think how to solve that problem.

"Hazard has done it before and he is capable of doing it because he's a very versatile player," added Hiddink who took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho earlier this month.

"I'm pleased because we had some good opportunities in the second half."

---------------------------------------

Real Madrid's expulsion from King's Cup confirmed

Reuters
Real Madrid's expulsion from the King's Cup for fielding an ineligible player was upheld on Monday by the Spanish government's Disciplinary Committee for Sports (TAD) following an appeal by the 10-times European champions.

Real included Denis Cheryshev in their starting lineup in a last-32, first-leg game at third-tier Cadiz in early December when he should have been serving a one-match ban. The Russia forward opened the scoring in a 3-1 victory.

The TAD, which had already turned down attempts by Real Madrid to get their expulsion temporarily suspended, said in a written ruling it had rejected the appeal and that the decision was final.

---------------------------------------

Hired, fired in same day - Barcelona sack 'insulting' player

Agence France-Presse

Diehard Real Madrid fan Sergi Guardiola's decision to write offensive tweets aimed at Barcelona came back to haunt him Monday when he was hired and fired by the Spanish giants on the same day.

The 24-year-old striker penned a deal with Barca's B team but was sacked just a few hours later when angry fans of the Catalan club made officials aware of Guardiola's Twitter tirade from 2013, www.lequipe.fr reported.

"FC Barcelona has decided to terminate the contract signed with Sergi Guardiola, after finding that he had published offensive tweets about the club and Catalonia," said a Barcelona statement.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: Real crush Rayo, Barcelona win Club World Cup

Real hit 10 past nine-man Rayo, Atletico lose

Reuters

Real Madrid closed to within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona after demolishing nine-man Rayo Vallecano 10-2 on Sunday while Atletico Madrid missed a chance to seize top spot outright by losing 1-0 at Malaga.

Gareth Bale landed the first four-goal haul of his career as Real bounced back in style from last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Villarreal, with Karim Benzema netting a hat-trick and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.

Atletico had captain Gabi sent off 11 minutes into the second half at the Rosaleda and Malaga made the breakthrough three minutes from time when a Charles volley deflected into the net off Diego Godin.

Barca and Atletico are on 35 points, with the Spanish and European champions having played one game fewer. Real are third on 33.




Panathinaikos slip up as Olympiakos race 14 points clear

Graham Wood, Reuters

It was a case of one step forward and two steps back for Panathinaikos as they lost 1-0 at lowly Panthrakikos on Sunday, allowing arch-rivals Olympiakos Piraeus to march 14 points clear at the top of the Super League.

Andrea Stramaccioni's Panathinaikos went into the match on the back of two successive victories but they were undone in the Northern city of Komotini by Rogerio Martins' 28th-minute goal.

Olympiakos powered to their 14th win in 14 league matches on Saturday, defeating bottom club Kalloni 2-0 thanks to a double from Kostas Fortounis.

Marco Silva's league leaders now head into the Christmas break well clear at the top.

---------------------------------------

Watford shock Liverpool, goal-shy West Ham held

Steve Tongue, Reuters

Nigerian international Odion Ighalo scored twice as a buoyant Watford won 3-0 at home to Liverpool on Sunday to consolidate seventh position in the Premier League, only one point behind the top four.

The lacklustre defeat by Watford was a bad blow for Juergen Klopp's side, who would have overtaken them with a win but remained ninth, having taken only one point from three games.

Not since April 1987 have Watford, promoted to the top flight this season, won four successive games at this level of English football.

"It was an amazing victory against an amazing team," Quique Sanchez Flores, Watford's manager, told the BBC.

In the day's other game, West Ham United stayed eighth after a fourth successive draw -- the last three of them goalless -- when they were held by managerless Swansea City, who are still in the bottom three.

---------------------------------------

Barca sweep to another title in one-sided contest

Brian Homewood, Reuters

Barcelona swept to the Club World Cup title by outclassing South American champions River Plate 3-0 on Sunday, with Luis Suarez scoring twice after Lionel Messi had broken the deadlock in a one-sided contest.

There was a hint of handball about Messi's goal, although it did not appear to be intentional, as the Argentine brought down Neymar's pass and cleverly flicked the ball past Marcelo Barovero.

Uruguay forward Suarez took his tally in the tournament to five goals after his hat-trick in the semi-final win over Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande, and 24 goals in as many games this season.

The European champions, fielding six South American players, were especially dominant in the second half when they repeatedly sliced through the River defence looking as if they could score with almost every attack.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: Real and Barca triumph again, Liverpool down Chelsea

Victorious Real, Barca pull clear at the top

Reuters

Real Madrid and Barcelona surged three points clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday when Real beat promoted Las Palmas 3-1 at home and the champions won 2-0 at Getafe.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his eighth goal of the campaign, between strikes from Isco and Jese, in a comfortable win for a depleted Real at the Bernabeu, though they did concede at home for the first time this term in Spain's top flight.

At Getafe, Neymar stayed ahead of Ronaldo atop the scoring chart with his ninth, a superb volley to make it 2-0 after Luis Suarez hit his eighth of 2015-16 as the South American pair kept Barca motoring in the absence of injured talisman Lionel Messi.

Real and Barca each have 24 points from 10 matches, with Real ahead on goal difference.


 --------------------------------

More misery for Mourinho, City and Arsenal win

Martyn Herman, Reuters

Jose Mourinho's future as Chelsea manager looked increasingly insecure after a 3-1 defeat by Liverpool on Saturday, Philippe Coutinho scoring twice at Stamford Bridge as the champions lost a sixth Premier League game in 11.

Chelsea's third home league reverse of the season left them in 15th place in the table with 11 points from 11 games -- the worst ever start to a season by the reigning champions.

They are already 14 points behind Manchester City who needed a last-gasp Yaya Toure penalty to beat Norwich City 2-1 and retain top spot on goal difference from Arsenal who won 3-0 at Swansea.

Toure's spot kick spared the blushes of City keeper Joe Hart who fumbled a routine catch to gift Norwich a late equaliser.

All Arsenal's goals came after the break as they made it five league wins in succession -- Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell all on target.

Leicester City are up to third thanks to a 3-2 victory at West Bromwich Albion where they trailed, with Jamie Vardy scoring for the eighth league match in a row.

Manchester United dropped to fourth after a 0-0 stalemate at Crystal Palace, their second successive goalless league draw.

---------------------------------

Dortmund close on Bayern with Reus double at Bremen

Karolos Grohmann, Reuters

Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus scored twice in a 3-1 victory at Werder Bremen on Saturday to put them within five points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich while Borussia Moenchengladbach continued their sensational winning run with a 4-1 demolition of Hertha Berlin.

Reus, back in top form after an injury-hit start to the season, netted a double for the second consecutive week to take his league goal tally to seven.

Dortmund are in second place on 26 points, five behind Bayern, who dropped their first points of the season after 10 straight wins with a goalless draw at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.

---------------------------------

Inter beat Roma to take top spot, Juve down Torino

Reuters

Inter Milan beat AS Roma 1-0 to replace them atop Serie A thanks to a Gary Medel strike while Juventus returned to winning ways with a last-gasp Juan Cuadrado goal securing a 2-1 triumph over local rivals Torino on Saturday.

Stevan Jovetic set up Medel who hit a low drive from outside the area after 31 minutes to give Inter the lead.

Roma's Mohamed Salah and Edin Dzeko missed chances and the visitors' miserable night continued when Miralem Pjanic handled after 73 minutes and was dismissed for a second yellow card.

The defeat ended Roma's five-game winning streak, leaving them in second place on 23 points, one behind Inter who recorded their seventh clean sheet of the campaign.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: City and United draw, Liverpool held

Man City top after bore draw, Klopp still awaits win

Steve Tongue, Reuters

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League after a 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Sunday but the much-hyped meeting proved far less eventful than the day's other derby.

Man City have 22 points from 10 games, the same as Arsenal, while United are in fourth place with 20 points.

United manager Louis van Gaal claimed his team had "controlled the game" at Old Trafford but it was only in the last few minutes of a dismal game that they looked like scoring.

Jesse Lingard hit the bar from a clever chip by Anthony Martial and Chris Smalling forced Joe Hart into his one significant save.

---------------------------------

Suarez treble gives Barca comeback win over Eibar

Reuters

Barcelona needed Luis Suarez to be at his clinical best with a hat-trick in a 3-1 comeback win at home to modest Eibar on Sunday which put the champions level on 21 points with arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Atletico Madrid, the only other team apart from Spain's Big Two to win the league in more than a decade, stayed firmly in the hunt when Yannick Carrasco scored the pick of the goals in a 2-1 victory at home to Valencia.

Real, who host Barca in the first of the season's two La Liga 'Clasicos' on Nov. 21, lead on goal difference with nine matches played after they secured a nervy 3-1 win at 10-man Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Atletico, the 2014 champions, are third on 19 points, one ahead of fourth-placed Celta, who are a point clear of Villarreal in fifth after they drew 0-0 at promoted Las Palmas on Sunday.

---------------------------------

Klopp denied first win, says Liverpool lack belief

Reuters

Juergen Klopp said his Liverpool side lacked self-belief after they were held 1-1 at home by Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, leaving the German coach still without a win from his three games in charge.

Christian Benteke's majestic 77th-minute header looked like giving Liverpool the win, but Sadio Mane equalised for the visitors to frustrate the Anfield crowd.

Klopp's arrival, following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, was greeted with great expectation but three consecutive draws have served as a reality check.

"There was still 10 minutes to go when Southampton equalised," Klopp told reporters. "We didn't give up physically, it's not that we stopped our game physically, but we didn't believe any more that we could turn the game around."

---------------------------------

Olympiakos equal club record with eighth win in a row

Graham Wood, Reuters

Spanish defender Alberto Botia was twice on target as Olympiakos Piraeus equalled a 39-year-old club record by chalking up their eighth league win in a row with a 2-1 success at Atromitos on Sunday.

Marco Silva's Greek league leaders have been in unstoppable form since the start of the season, and their 100 percent record was maintained courtesy of Botia's double.

After heading home a 59th-minute corner, Botia escaped the hosts' defenders again four minutes later to head a second.

---------------------------------

PSG march past St Etienne, Marseille end winless streak

Reuters

Paris St Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 after a routine 4-1 win over St Etienne on Sunday, while Marseille ended a seven-game winless streak with a 2-1 triumph at Lille.

Monaco won 1-0 away at Reims and Olympique Lyonnais overcame Toulouse 3-0 at home on Friday.

With second-placed Angers only managing a 0-0 home draw against Guingamp on Saturday, reigning champions PSG went seven points clear at the top of the table.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL WRAP: Ronaldo sets new record, United and City win

Record Ronaldo goal helps put Real top of La Liga

Real Madrid opened a two-point lead over Villarreal at the top of La Liga when Cristiano Ronaldo set a club scoring record in a 3-0 stroll at home to Levante on Saturday.

Marcelo fired Real ahead in the 27th minute at the Bernabeu when he exchanged passes with Ronaldo and blasted the ball past Ruben in the Levante goal.

Ronaldo made it 2-0 three minutes later when he cracked a long-range effort into the corner, his 324th Real goal putting him one clear of former Spain striker Raul.

It ended a rare four-match goal drought in Spain's top flight for the Portugal captain, his joint-worst run since he joined Real in 2009. -- Reuters

-----------------------

Barca's four-goal Neymar coy on secret of success

Neymar was delighted after netting his first four-goal haul, including two penalties, for Barcelona on Saturday but the Brazil forward was not about to give away any clues to the secret of his success.

It was one of the 23-year-old's best performances since joining Barca in 2013 as the Spanish and European champions fought back from 1-0 down to beat a spirited Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at the Nou Camp.

After they fell behind in the 15th minute, Neymar won and converted a pair of spot kicks and added two more goals in the second period before teeing up Luis Suarez to score a fifth for the home side late on.

He is the first Barca player other than Lionel Messi to score four in a match since Samuel Eto'o in 2008 and his eight goals in La Liga this term are helping offset the impact of Messi's absence through injury. -- Reuters

Goals rained in for Manchester City and Manchester United but Juergen Klopp's first game as Liverpool manager was solid rather than spectacular as they drew 0-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday.

Raheem Sterling's hat-trick and a Wilfried Bony double helped leaders City to a 5-1 home win against Bournemouth while a few miles down the motorway United thumped Everton 3-0 with Wayne Rooney scoring his first away league goal for 11 months.

City have a two-point lead over United and Arsenal, who moved up to second with a 3-0 win at Watford. West Ham United, who won 3-1 at Crystal Palace, are a further two points adrift.

Liverpool's sixth draw in seven matches in all competitions left them down in 10th place but there was reason for optimism for Klopp who replaced the sacked Brendan Rodgers this month. -- Martyn Herman, Reuters

-----------------------

Unstoppable Bayern beat Werder for record league start

Bayern Munich edged past struggling Werder Bremen 1-0 on Saturday courtesy of Thomas Mueller's first half goal to set a Bundesliga record for the best start to a season with their ninth consecutive victory.

Germany international Mueller, in sensational form this season, was left unmarked in the box to latch onto a superb Thiago Alcantara chip and tap in from close range in the 23rd minute for his ninth league goal as Bayern improved the record they had set themselves in the 2012/13 season.

Unbeaten Bayern, who did not need to hit top form and eased off late in the game granting Werder more space, have a maximum 27 points, seven more than second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who won 2-0 at Mainz 05 on Friday. Bayern face Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday. --Reuters

-----------------------

Mourinho lauds Chelsea discipline after win without Hazard

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the struggling English champions will stick to their back-to-basics approach after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday in which Eden Hazard started on the bench.

He added that the Belgium winger, Chelsea's stand-out player in last season's title-winning team, was among the substitutes as part of a revamp to end his side's miserable run of form.

"I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals, we need to defend better, we need our midfield players to be just in the central area of the pitch," Mourinho told reporters.

"When, for example, a central midfielder has to be worried about providing cover to one of the sides, it's like a blanket, you pull this side, you have your feet in the cold, you know?"

Hazard, the Premier League's player of the year last season, had previously started every league game for Chelsea this season but only came on as an 83rd minute substitute on Saturday.

By then, the game was effectively over, thanks to a first-half goal by Spain striker Diego Costa and a 53rd minute own-goal by Alan Hutton who deflected in a strike by Costa. -- William Schomberg, Reuters

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Holders Barca begin defense at Roma

PARIS, France -- Champions Barcelona begin their bid to become the first side since AC Milan in 1990 to retain Europe's premier club trophy away to Roma while faltering Chelsea host Israelis Maccabi Tel Aviv on the second day of the opening round of Champions League matches.

AFP Sport runs the rule over the eight matches from groups E, F, G and H to be played on Wednesday:



Group E

Bayer Leverkusen (GER) v BATE Borisov (BLR)
Bayer Leverkusen and BATE Borisov meet for the first time in their opening Champions League Group E fixture at the BayArena. Leverkusen, who reached the round of 16 last season, advanced to the group stage following a 3-1 aggregate play-off win over Lazio. Difficult to break down on their home ground, Roger Schmidt's side have won five of their last six home fixtures in Europe, and conceded just two goals in their last 12 homes matches. BATE advanced through three qualifying rounds to reach the group stage. It is their fifth group stage appearance but they have never gotten past this round, conceding 24 goals in last year's campaign. BATE's veteran midfielder Aleksandr Hleb knows the German side well however having played them 11 times with German clubs Stuttgart and Wolfsburg.



Roma (ITA) v Barcelona (ESP)

Lionel Messi-powered Barcelona open their title defence in Rome's Stadio Olimpico as they bid to become the first team since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990 to win back-to-back titles. The Spaniards arrive at the former club of coach Luis Enrique buoyed by a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Atletico Madrid in which Messi came off the bench to score the winner to keep their perfect start to the La Liga season at the weekend. No team has ever retained the European Cup in the UEFA Champions League era but Enrique will be looking to get off to a strong start at the club he managed in the 2011-2012 season. Roma warmed up for the tie with a 2-0 win away to Serie A new boys Frosinone at the weekend. The Italians will be looking to put behind them last season's 7-1 home whipping by Bayern Munich at home on their return to the competition after three years.



Group F

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Arsenal (ENG)

Dinamo are on a 15-game winless run in the Champions League, failing to make it out of the group stage in four attempts. The Croatian champions came up against Arsenal in the third qualifying round in 2006/2007, losing 5-1 on aggregate to the Premier League giants. Dinamo have found goals hard to come by, mustering only four in their last dozen group outings. Wenger says his side, sitting fourth in the league, need to find the right balance between "urgency and confidence" in Zagreb. Theo Walcott, who scored against Stoke at the weekend, is set to once again be deployed as a central striker rather than in his more usual role as a winger.



Olympiakos (GRE) v Bayern Munich (GER)

Olympiakos, under recently appointed coach Marco Silva, are making their fifth successive appearance in the competition, and have proved tough to dismantle at their Piraeus HQ. The Greeks are on an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Bayern, five-time European champions, welcome back Mario Goetze, the Germany international who is fit after missing Saturday's 2-1 come-from-behind Bundesliga win over Augsburg. But longterm sickbay residents Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are absent. Coach Pep Guardiola has told his players they must raise their game from their weekend performance to avoid slipping up in Greece. The two sides' only previous encounter dates back to 1980/81 in the European Champion Clubs' Cup with Bayern coming out on top.



Group G

Dynamo Kiev (UKR) v Porto (POR)
Returning to the Champions League after missing out for the last two years, Dynamo Kiev aim to defeat a Porto side who are unbeaten in their six visits to Ukraine. Ukrainian double winners Dynamo are competing in the group stage for the 15th time, but manager Seri Rebrov is in charge of a team in the tournament for the first time. Porto, whose manager Julen Lopetegui serves a touchline ban, are looking to improve on last season's run to the quarter-finals where they were defeated by Bayern Munich.



Chelsea (ENG) v Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)

With their defence of the Premier League title already in turmoil after three defeats in their first five matches, Chelsea kick off their European campaign hoping for a morale-boosting victory over a Maccabi Tel-Aviv team returning to the competition after a 10-year absence. Condemned to a disappointing Champions League last 16 exit by Paris Saint Germain last season, the west Londoners, reeling after Saturday's 3-1 loss at Everton, will be facing Maccabi for the first time in a competitive fixture, although there are a couple of familiar faces at the Israeli club. Maccabi manager Slavisa Jokanovic, who led Watford to promotion to the Premier League last season, is a former Chelsea midfielder, while defender Tal Ben Haim spent the 2007-08 season at Stamford Bridge.



Group H

Valencia (ESP) v Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)

The omens are not good for Zenit in a match that sees two Portuguese former colleagues lead their sides into battle. Valencia's Nuno and Andre Villas-Boas of Zenit worked together under Jose Mourinho in their Porto days when the former was a reserve goalkeeper and the latter a coach. Nuno leads Valencia back into the Champions League after a two-year absence against a side that have lost every time they've played in Spain. Valencia also have four wins and a draw form their home matches against Russian outfits.



Ghent (BEL) v Lyon (FRA)

Hein Vanhaezebrouck's Ghent are perhaps unique in the Champions League as they would have preferred a tougher group. Denied the chance to take on a Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Manchester United, their debut in the competition sees them tackle it with limited ambitions. Managing director Michel Louwagiue says they simply want to get as many points as possible in the group stages to earn as much money as possible. Lyon, semi-finalists in 2010, will be expecting to take three points to boost their chances of a place in the knock-out rounds, although they are missing injured forward Nabil Fekir.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Messi lifts Barca, five for record-breaker Ronaldo

MADRID - Lionel Messi came off the bench to earn Barcelona a 2-1 victory at Atletico Madrid on Saturday while Cristiano Ronaldo hit five goals in a 6-0 romp at Espanyol to become Real Madrid's record La Liga scorer.

Champions Barca, who started with talisman Messi as a substitute following the birth of his second son on Friday, fell behind after a tight first half at the Calderon when Fernando Torres sped clear to score in the 51st minute.

Neymar levelled four minutes later when he curled a sumptuous free kick into the top corner and the Brazil forward should have made it 2-1 in the 67th when his point-blank shot was cleared off the line by Diego Godin.

Neymar was also involved in the winner before the ball fell to Luis Suarez, who had struck the crossbar in the first half, and he slipped a pass into space for Messi to dink it past goalkeeper Jan Oblak with 13 minutes remaining.

The victory preserved Barca's perfect start to the season and they lead on a maximum nine points from three matches, three ahead of 2013-14 champions Atletico who are fifth.

"We played very well after going behind and we're very happy," Neymar told Spanish television.

"Messi is the best player in the world and when he comes on to the pitch everyone plays better."

Real have seven points in second place after Ronaldo, who like great rival Messi had drawn a blank in the opening two games, ended his early-season drought in emphatic style.

The Portugal captain turned in a blistering performance that took his tally in Spain's top flight to 230, overtaking former Real striker Raul's total of 228.

The 30-year-old FIFA Ballon d'Or winner scored in the seventh, 17th (penalty), 20th, 61st and 81st minutes while Karim Benzema struck in the 28th as Real put a hapless Espanyol to the sword.

Ronaldo, who hit five against Granada in La Liga last season, raced clear and finished calmly to set Real on their way before converting a penalty won by Gareth Bale.

Bale's centre from the left set up Ronaldo to volley in his third, equalling Messi's Spanish record of 32 hat-tricks, before he turned provider by crossing for Benzema to make it 4-0 inside half an hour.

Wales playmaker Bale set Ronaldo up again after a swift counter attack and substitute Lucas Vazquez made the assist for the former Manchester United man's fifth and Real's sixth.

"They (Espanyol) have a good team but when Cristiano has his day it's impossible," said Real's Portugal defender Pepe.

Spain forward Paco Alcacer scored in added time to give Valencia an unconvincing 1-0 triumph at promoted Sporting Gijon, a first win of the campaign lifting them to sixth place on five points. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Clare Lovell)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Neymar double as Brazil thrash USA

Barcelona superstar Neymar scored twice as Brazil thrashed the United States 4-1 to equal the Americans' heaviest margin of defeat under manager Jurgen Klinsmann in a friendly international.

The USA, looking for an encouraging display as they prepare for a crucial Confederations Cup play-off against Mexico next month, were run ragged as Brazil turned on the style at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

The scoreline matched the worst ever suffered by the Americans under Klinsmann, who were beaten 4-1 by Brazil in 2012 and 4-1 by Ireland in 2014.

Brazil, who face a daunting opening to their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign away to Chile next month, were always in control.

Veteran striker Hulk and youngster Rafinha scored the five-time world champion's other goals.
Substitute Danny Williams scored a late consolation for the Americans, lashing home a 30-yard screamer in the 90th minute.

The South Americans dominated a one-sided first half, threatening to run riot against an experimental United States formation featuring Alejandro Bedoya playing in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role.





The Braxilians swept forward confidently and did not have long to wait until their early superiority was rewarded with the first goal.

Chelsea star Willian burst clear of two American defenders down the right flank and curled a looping cross beyond US keeper Brad Guzan.


As the Aston Villa goalkeeper dithered, the ball rebounded off the inside of the upright and fell kindly to Hulk, who cut back towards goal to wrong-foot defender DeAndre Yedlin to bludgeon home for 1-0.

The USA's lone attack of the first half came shortly afterwards when Yedlin, the Tottenham player currently on loan at Sunderland, surged down the flank and crossed for Jozy Altidore, whose shot on the run was blocked.


Klinsmann acknowledged the Bedoya experiment had left the Americans exposed and swiftly replaced him with Williams on 36 minutes.

Yet Brazil almost doubled their lead three minutes before the break when Marcelo thumped a ferocious angled shot towards the top corner that Guzan did well to parry away.

- Enter Neymar -

Dunga brought Neymar on at half-time and the Barcelona superstar, who will be suspended for the Selecao's clash with Chile next month, made an instant impact.

David Luiz released Neymar into acres of space down the right and the number 10 cut back inside only to have Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron sweep his legs from beneath him for a cast-iron penalty.


Neymar duly stepped up to rifle home the spot-kick -- his 45th international goal -- to make it 2-0.

Rafinha was the next to find the target, deftly finishing after an exquisite pass from Lucas Moura for Brazil's third goal in the 64th minute.


Another superb ball by Paris Saint-Germain's Moura set up Neymar to make it 4-0 in the 67th minute, the Barcelona player shooting low through a crowd of USA defenders to beat Guzan once more.

It could have been worse if Rafinha had not dragged a shot wide with the goal begging in the 70th minute.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Barca facing tough task to retain La Liga title

MADRID - Champions Barcelona begin their bid for a sixth La Liga title in eight years at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday knowing that fellow heavyweights Real Madrid could, unusually, be just one of several challengers for their crown.

Under new coach Rafa Benitez, Real are desperate to recover from a 2014-15 season when they failed to win major silverware and will be looking to FIFA Ballon d'Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo to break more scoring records and hoping world record signing Gareth Bale can rediscover his best form.

Atletico Madrid proved they are genuine contenders by winning Spain's top flight in 2013-14 and inspirational Argentine coach Diego Simeone has overseen some canny business in the latest transfer window, including luring Colombia striker Jackson Martinez from Porto.

And it would be no great surprise if Valencia, flush with cash following last year's takeover by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim, and Europa League champions Sevilla, who gave Barca a mighty scare in this month's European Super Cup, are in the mix at the top of the table come May.

"In Spain we don't just have Barcelona," Benitez told daily El Pais this week.

"There is Atletico, Valencia, Sevilla, who are all performing very well," added the much-travelled 55-year-old, who began his coaching career in Real's academy after his nascent playing career was ended by injury.

"But it's true that Barcelona are the champions and the reference point."

Bilbao showed Barca are vulnerable when they thrashed them 4-0 in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup last week, going on to seal a 5-1 aggregate success in the return on Monday, and the pressure on the Catalan club to match last term's haul of Champions League, La Liga and King's Cup titles will be immense.

Much will depend on the form of talismanic forward Lionel Messi, who with strike partners Neymar and Luis Suarez rattled in a Spanish record 122 goals in all competitions last term.

Andalusian rivals Sevilla and Malaga get the new season under way on Friday when they clash at the Rosaleda (1830 GMT), before Atletico host promoted Las Palmas (1830) and Valencia play at Rayo Vallecano (2030) on Saturday.

After Barca play at Bilbao on Sunday (1630), Real are at another promoted side, Sporting Gijon (1830), and second-division champions Real Betis host Villarreal (2030). (Editing by Martyn Herman)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Messi headbutt as tempers flare in Barca win

BARCELONA -- Lionel Messi was at the center of a headbutting controversy on Wednesday as Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 victory over Serie A side Roma in a pre-season friendly at the Camp Nou.

The Argentinian superstar, renowned for rarely losing his cool despite regularly being the target of brutal tackling, reacted angrily during a confrontation with Roma's French international Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Footage of the first half incident showed Messi aiming a headbutt at Yanga-Mbiwa's after the Roma defender appeared to nod his head in the direction of the diminutive South American star.

A furious Messi grabbed Yanga-Mbiwa by the throat after clashing with the defender before other players rushed over to intervene.

Messi escaped a red card for the incident however, receiving only a caution from referee Javier Estrada Fernandez. Yanga-Mbiwa was also booked.

The flashpoint represented a rare loss of cool for Messi. The Argentine has never been sent off for Barcelona and has only ever been red-carded once -- on his international debut as a teenager in 2005.

Messi's anger soon subsided however as moments after the incident, he doubled Barcelona's lead, making it 2-0 following a superb flowing move involving Luis Suarez, Dani Alves and Neymar, who had scored Barca's first.

Ivan Rakitic made it 3-0 in the second half with a long range strike as Barcelona completed a routine win.

Barcelona kicks off the defense of their Spanish league crown against Athletic Bilbao on August 23.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Barca cap great season with fifth European Cup win

BERLIN - Barcelona were crowned kings of Europe for the fifth time after beating Juventus 3-1 in a pulsating Champions League final at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, capping their magnificent season with a title treble.

The Spaniards lived up to their tag as favourites and added the European Cup to their La Liga and King's Cup triumphs as coach Luis Enrique celebrated his first season in memorable fashion.

Goals from Croatian Ivan Rakitic in the fourth minute, Uruguayan Luis Suarez in the 68th and Brazilian Neymar with the last kick of the game sealed Barca's second treble, matching their 2009 feat.

"It's incredible, a dream, something unique," Suarez told reporters. "To win these competitions you have to suffer, if not it's not worth it, and today we had to suffer to win the match."

Barca's South American trio of Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi, known collectively as 'MSN', showed spectacular form all season and Saturday's goals took their tally to an amazing 122 in all competitions as the game proved the perfect antidote for the corruption scandal engulfing soccer's governing body FIFA.

Juve, however, became the first team in the history of the competition to get beaten in six finals and the Italian giants have now lost their last four.

"I would like to thank the team for the wonderful season they have had," said Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri who landed the domestic double in his first season in charge.

"We played a great game tonight...unfortunately when you play against great players you think you have things under control but then they get you."

SUBLIME GOAL

Barca shrugged off a nervous start by scoring a sublime fourth-minute goal.

All 10 outfield players touched the ball in a 16-pass move that ended when Neymar fed Andres Iniesta and he picked out Rakitic to slot the fourth fastest goal in a European Cup final.

Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon, who won the World Cup with Italy at the Olympic Stadium in 2006 but is still waiting to capture his first European Cup crown, denied Barca a second goal in the 13th minute with a superb one-handed save keeping out a Dani Alves shot.

Alvaro Morata twice went close for the Italians but Barca's pressure in the first half was relentless and Suarez twice almost netted.

The 37-year-old Buffon again came to the rescue three minutes after the restart and then Juve struck against the run of play with former Real Madrid striker Morata tapping the ball in after keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had saved from Carlos Tevez.

The Italians looked to be taking control of the game but their joy was short-lived. Argentine Messi took matters into his own hands, charging past three defenders and unleashing a low drive that Buffon could only parry to Suarez.

It was the most crucial goal of the 28-year-old Uruguayan's career and it came a year after he was branded a villain for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini, who missed Saturday's final through injury, at the World Cup in Brazil.

Neymar had a goal disallowed after his header bounced off his own hand to deceive the diving Buffon, much to the forward's frustration.

Juve, who had an average age of 30 and were the second oldest team to play in a Champions League final, fought bravely but ran out of steam.

Neymar netted deep into stoppage time to provide a fitting farewell for midfielder Xavi who is leaving Barca after collecting 25 trophies in more than two decades with the club he joined at the age of 11.

Along with team mates Iniesta, Messi and Gerard Pique, Xavi also equalled former Netherlands midfielder Clarence Seedorf's record of four Champions League triumphs. (Editing by Tony Jimenez)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com