tag

Thursday, March 26, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "La Liga" (14 articles)

Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski (L) reacts to missing a penalty kick during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on Sunday. AFP
Sport

Sevilla rout 'horrendous' Barca in Liga thrashing

Spanish champions Barcelona collapsed in a shock 4-1 demolition at Sevilla in La Liga, with Alexis Sanchez scoring against his former side and Robert Lewandowski missing a penalty for the visitors.The Catalans sit second in the table after their first defeat of the campaign, two points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid following Los Blancos' victory over Villarreal on Saturday, while Sevilla rise provisionally to fourth. Veteran Chilean winger Sanchez sent Sevilla ahead from the penalty spot early on and Isaac Romero doubled the hosts' lead after having already missed two good chances.Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back for Barcelona before half-time, but Lewandowski fired wide from the spot to spurn his team's best chance of an equaliser. Jose Carmona and Akor Adams wrapped up Sevilla's emphatic win in the final stages, as Hansi Flick's side fell to an unusually heavy defeat. "The team's first 45 minutes were horrendous, I think we've not played a game as bad as that and we must be self-critical," Barca midfielder Pedri Gonzalez said.Flick defended his team despite their loss, saying he was pleased with their reaction in the second half. "I know that we have to analyse (everything), especially in the first half... but in the second, for me to see the reaction of the team and them fighting was good to see," Flick told reporters. "It's one match and we lost it, and we have to keep going on."Barcelona were still licking their wounds after Paris Saint-Germain beat them late on in the Champions League on Wednesday, and were without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal. The Catalans were sluggish and although Sevilla have a weaker squad compared to their peak years in the early part of this century, the hosts' energy was enough to pull Flick's disorganised team apart. "In the first half we didn't know how to defend well or attack well," Pedri said.It started when Ronald Araujo clumsily grappled with Romero in the box and a penalty was awarded as the striker gratefully hit the deck. Sanchez dispatched it, with the 36-year-old sending Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way to fire Matias Almeyda's side ahead. Romero missed two big chances, first denied by Szczesny and then skewing wide after Lucien Agoume's neat cross set him up.The striker made no mistake next time though, sweeping into the bottom corner from Ruben Vargas' cutback as Barca were opened up again. Rashford was the first Barcelona player to awake from their slumber, forcing a save at his near post from Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. The England international pulled the champions back into the game deep in first-half stoppage time, volleying home Pedri's cross for his first La Liga goal. Flick took off Araujo and Gerard Martin for Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde at the interval, trying to shake up his team after their poor first-half display.Szczesny made a fine save with his legs to thwart Djibril Sow early in the second half as Sevilla continued to take the initiative. However, having won just one league game at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in 2025 before Barcelona's visit, the hosts' nerves began to shake. Sevilla substitute Adnan Januzaj conceded a penalty for felling Balde as he flew into the box, granting Barca a golden chance to level.Veteran Polish striker Lewandowski stuttered twice in his run-up before firing wide of the post. Youngster Roony Bardghji could have equalised but fired straight at the goalkeeper after Lewandowski's flick-on sent him in on goal, while Rashford was also ready to pounce if the winger had passed.Sevilla wrapped up their win late on through full-back Carmona, who drilled a low effort past Szczesny and into the far corner, and Adams. "I'm very happy for the victory, we needed to win at home," said Sevilla coach Almeyda. "We couldn't give them a metre of space... we knew what we had to do and we're on a good path."

Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez celebrates with David Hancko after scoring their fourth goal from a free kick. REUTERS
Sport

Atletico thrash Liga leaders Real Madrid in gripping derby

Alvarez struck twice to earn Atletico Madrid an emphatic 5-2 derby victory over La Liga leaders Real Madrid Saturday, ending their rivals' perfect start to the season.Xabi Alonso's side had won all six of their games but Diego Simeone's Atletico overran them at the Metropolitano stadium. The hosts took the lead through Robin Le Normand.Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler netted to put Real Madrid in front but Alexander Sorloth levelled for Atletico at the end of a thrilling first half. Alvarez fired in from the penalty spot and then bent home a free-kick.Antoine Griezmann grabbed the fifth late on to seal an important win after a shaky start to the campaign. Atletico rose provisionally to fourth. "There are no excuses, we're hurting, it's a derby and a deserved defeat," said Alonso, after his side conceded five against their rivals for the first time since 1950.Atletico's joy was evident, with Simeone visibly emotional on the sideline as his team racked up the scoreline. "There's a lot of emotions... we've had a troubled start to the season," said Simeone. "From the start of the game we knew where we could hurt them... today was a very, very good (performance)."Led by a flying Mbappe, Real came into Alonso's first derby at the helm as the only side in the league with a 100 percent record. Although the French superstar scored again to reach eight league goals for the season, Atletico attacked relentlessly and deserved their victory.Real Madrid started Jude Bellingham for the first time since his shoulder surgery in the summer, but the England international struggled to make an impact. Giuliano Simeone, coach Diego Simeone's son, took advantage of slack Madrid defending to whip in a cross which Le Normand headed home after 14 minutes to open the scoring.The visitors reacted well. Mbappe levelled with a crisp finish after breaking in down the right. Atletico were taking the game to Real Madrid, with Alonso's side content to spring forward on the counter, trying to use the pace of Vinicius Junior and Mbappe.The Brazilian winger created Madrid's second goal, turning brilliantly in the box to break away from Marcos Llorente and Le Normand, before crossing for Guler to strike. Alvarez, who netted a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano in midweek, curled a shot around Thibaut Courtois but against the post as Atletico continued pushing.Atletico defender Clement Lenglet put the ball in the net but the Frenchman used his forearm to deflect it home. In first-half stoppage time, Atletico pulled level. Sorloth, lurking behind Dean Huijsen, planted a header beyond Courtois.The Norwegian striker celebrated with Atletico fans, who embraced him – a risky move when already on a yellow card, but he was not dismissed. Atletico moved in front for the second time when Guler gave away a penalty for a high boot, catching Nico Gonzalez's head.Alvarez, who had a penalty controversially disallowed in a Champions League shoot-out the last time the sides met, beat Courtois from the spot, even though the Belgian went the right way. "Each penalty is a new penalty, a new game, a new chance," said Alvarez.Courtois saved from Sorloth but despite getting a hand to Alvarez's free-kick, he could not keep it out as Atletico pushed two goals clear. On as a substitute, Atletico talisman Griezmann wrapped up a superb victory, rolling the ball past Courtois as the home fans rocked in delight.The players did a lap of honour, after only their third league win of the season, but it was a vital one. "It's a very special day, we knew how important this game was, being a derby of course but also because we needed the three points," Alvarez said.Real Madrid's defeat means champions Barcelona have the chance to move top, if they beat Real Sociedad today. "Few words can console us, but tomorrow the sun will come out and we will work harder than ever," pledged Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal.