Football in Spain | GlobalPost

Barcelona comes from behind to beat Real Betis 4-2

Agencia EFEMay 5, 2013 19:15

Barcelona, May 5 (EFE).- Barcelona came from behind to beat an impressive Real Betis squad 4-2 on Sunday, with Leo Messi scoring two goals within 16 minutes in the second period. Barcelona thus reestablished an 11-point advantage over second-placed Real Madrid with four games remaining in the tourney and might just win the Spanish soccer championship next Wednesday without even playing, depending on the result of the Real Madrid-Malaga match.

Football: Supersub Messi edges Barcelona closer to title

Agence France-PresseMay 5, 2013 18:15

Lionel Messi came off the bench to move Barcelona within two points of clinching the La Liga title with a 4-2 win over Real Betis at Camp Nou on Sunday. Dorlan Pabon and Ruben Perez had twice given the visitors the lead in the first-half either side of Alexis Sanchez's equaliser. However, after David Villa had once again levelled the scores, it was unsurprisingly left to Messi to decide matters as within three minutes of coming on he fired in a wonderful free-kick and then was on hand to tap home at the end of a flowing move involving Sanchez and Andres Iniesta.

Football: Supersub Messi edges Barcelona closer to title

Agence France-PresseMay 5, 2013 18:01

Lionel Messi came off the bench to move Barcelona to within two points of clinching the La Liga title with a 4-2 win over Real Betis at Camp Nou on Sunday. Dorlan Pabon and Ruben Perez had twice given the visitors the lead in the first-half either side of Alexis Sanchez's equaliser. However, after David Villa had once again levelled the scores, it was unsurprisingly left to Messi to decide matters as within three minutes of coming on he fired in a wonderful free-kick and then was on hand to tap home at the end of a flowing move involving Sanchez and Andres Iniesta.

Football: Mourinho should respect Casillas - Pepe

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 21:45

Real Madrid defender Pepe has called on manager Jose Mourinho to have more respect for club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas in another sign of friction at the Spanish giants. Casillas broke his hand in January and was replaced by Diego Lopez. Mourinho said on Friday that he wished he had been able to sign Lopez in 2011. However, Pepe said after Saturday's 4-3 win over Valladolid that the dressing room is united behind Casillas and Mourinho ought to show more support towards the 31-year-old.

Football: Real edge seven-goal thriller, keep Barca waiting

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 17:00

Real Madrid forced Barcelona to delay their title celebrations as two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo helped them to a 4-3 win over Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. The result cut Barcelona's lead at the top to eight points and although they can't now mathematically seal the title with a win over Real Betis on Sunday, they can restore their 11-point lead with just four games remaining. The visitors had taken a shock lead early on as Oscar Gonzalez slotted past Diego Lopez from a narrow angle.

Football: Real edge seven-goal thriller, keep Barca waiting

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 16:30

Real Madrid forced Barcelona to delay their title celebrations as two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo helped them to a 4-3 win over Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. The result cut Barcelona's lead at the top to eight points, although they can restore their advantage to 11 points with victory over Real Betis on Sunday. The visitors had taken a shock lead early on as Oscar Gonzalez slotted past Diego Lopez from a narrow angle.

Football: No need for wholesale changes - Vilanova

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 09:15

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has repeated his belief that the Catalans do not need to make wholesale changes to their squad at the end of the season despite suffering their worst ever European defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final. The Germans' 7-0 aggregate win has led many to believe that, after a phenomenally successful period over the last five years, Barca are coming towards the end of an era and need to bring in a number of new faces when the transfer market reopens at the end of the campaign.

Football: Messi returns to training, Valdes injured

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 08:15

Barcelona were able to welcome back Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets to training on Saturday morning after they missed the 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in midweek, but Victor Valdes has been ruled out of Sunday's match with Real Betis due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. "Leo Messi and Sergio Busquets, who weren't able to train at the same rhythm as their teammates in the last few sessions, have trained normally," said a statement on the club's website.

Football: Title the tonic for Bayern beating - Iniesta

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 21:00

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta believes wrapping up the La Liga title as soon as possible will be the perfect antidote to their Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich in midweek. The Germans' ruthless 3-0 win at the Camp Nou on Wednesday saw them inflict Barca's worst ever European defeat 7-0 on aggregate and Iniesta admitted that after so much success in recent years it was a bitter pill to swallow. "Both legs have been hard games for the result and for the feelings," he told Barca TV.

Football: Benitez banks on Europa League final boost

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 20:31

Interim manager Rafael Benitez said he hoped Chelsea's fans would show him some appreciation after he guided the club into the Europa League final for the first time in their history following victory over FC Basel. The Spaniard has struggled to win over Chelsea's supporters ever since replacing Roberto Di Matteo in November, but he will bow out as a winner if his side overcome Benfica in the final in Amsterdam on May 15.