Arsenal is not having a good start to the month of December. As if the men’s team hasn’t provided enough gut-punches to fans this season, the month began with back-to-back, one-goal losses to Manchester United and Everton. But the Arsenal women have managed to disappoint even more, capped by another comprehensive defeat to Barcelona.
After a decade-plus of domination by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, fans expected Ballon d'Or voting to bring some different results in 2021.
The obvious choice was Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who was coming off a record-breaking 41-goal campaign in the Bundesliga.
Instead it was Messi — seemingly entering the twilight of his career — who won the award for the seventh time. "Surely something must be done," the people exclaimed at this perceived injustice. "He still can't be the best player in the world."
En su cuarto partido como técnico del Barcelona, Xavi conoció la derrota. Después de triunfos sobre el Espanyol y el Villarreal, además de un empate en Champions League ante el Benfica, los catalanes no pudieron defender su casa y terminaron perdiendo por la cuenta mínima ante el Betis de Andrés Guardado y Diego Lainez.
Lainez se quedó todo el partido en la banca de suplentes, pero Guardado jugó los 90 minutos, llevó la jineta de capitán e incluso inició la jugada que significaría el gol de la victoria para el conjunto verdiblanco.
BARCELONA — Barcelona were stunned by Juanmi's late goal for Real Betis that secured a 1-0 win in LaLiga on Saturday and ended home coach Xavi Hernandez's honeymoon at the club as he suffered his first defeat since coming back to the Camp Nou three weeks ago.
Juanmi gives Real Betis a 1-0 lead over Barcelona! pic.twitter.com/NeSyDS53ch
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 4, 2021
HONG KONG - Beijing Guoan posted a farewell message to Cédric Bakambu on their social media account on Tuesday, with the Congolese striker becoming the latest high-profile foreign player to leave the Chinese Super League.
Bakambu, who has been linked with a January move to Barcelona, has been with the club since signing from Villarreal before the start of the 2018 CSL campaign.
The 30-year-old France-born forward's contract is due to expire at the end of the year.
Lionel Messi edged Robert Lewandowski for the men’s 2021 Ballon d’Or, the Argentine’s record-extending seventh trophy as the best men’s player in the world. But Cristiano Ronaldo, who didn’t even attend the award show in Paris, still managed to make it all about him.
Messi, who this year helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América and Barcelona win the Copa del Rey (lol), was also named the world’s best men’s player in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019.
HERE IS THE WINNER!
Xavi’s managerial reign at Barcelona began with a 1-0 victory over Espanyol on Saturday, and it’s clear he’s already injected some much-needed life into the club.
On the pitch, there was a debut for 17-year-old winger Ilias Akhomach while 17-year-old Gavi and 19-year-old Nico González also made the starting XI — even Riqui Puig made an appearance!
BARCELONA - After a nerve-wracking last World Cup qualifier for Spain as they booked their place at next year's finals by beating Sweden 1-0, LaLiga returns this weekend with all eyes on Barcelona.
New manager Xavi Hernández will take charge of the team in the Catalonia derby against Espanyol on Saturday and three days later Barca host Benfica in a game that could secure their place in the Champions League last 16.
Defending UEFA Women’s Champions League winner Barcelona booked its place in the quarterfinals with a 5-0 away destruction of Hoffenheim on Wednesday, bringing the team’s group-stage record to played four, won four, scored 15 and conceded one (remember that the group also contains WSL power Arsenal).
Back on Oct. 5 on the competition’s opening matchday, a 4-1 victory over the Gunners highlighted the unmatched style and quality of the Blaugranes’ play, and Wednesday was another reminder of the club’s current superiority over the rest of Europe.
The Christian Pulisic Barcelona rumors have been gaining steam with reports from Spanish media claiming that the American is on the LaLiga giants’ radar.
One Spanish newspaper, Sport, makes the claim that Barcelona is eyeing up three Chelsea players for potential loan moves. The three Blues in question are Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech.