Barcelona showed that it’s recent great form hasn’t been a fluke. Helped by forward Raphinha’s brace, the Catalan giants secured a 3-2 comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.

Barca, who hasn’t lost a single game since head coach Xavi announced in late January that he’ll step down at the end of the season, opened the scoring in the 37th minute. Raphinha collected a deflected ball in the penalty area after a poor intervention by PSG’s goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma and found the net with a well-placed shot.

After the second half ended with Barca in front, PSG dialed up their attacking efforts in the second half. Ousmane Dembélé delivered an equalizer almost immediately, scoring against his former club in the 47th minute, before midfielder Vitinha got the French club in front just three minutes later.

In the 62nd minute, Raphinha escaped PSG’s offside trap to come face-to-face with Donnarumma and welcomed Pedri’s cross with a volley to make it 2-2. Fifteen minutes later, defender Andreas Christensen got Barca in the lead again with a scoring header from a corner kick.

This time, Barcelona held onto its lead to celebrate an important win. It will be now up to PSG to chase a one-goal deficit at Camp Nou next week.

“It’s a big win. We did really well, especially in defense. Everyone worked for the team and, tactically, we did really well,” said Xavi after the match.

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Barcelona is yet to start looking for a successor to manager Xavi Hernandez, who previously announced his departure from the club at the end of the 2023-24 season. This was confirmed by the club’s sporting director, Deco, in a recent interview with Catalunya Radio.

Multiple reports in recent days indicated that Barca’s search for a new manager is already underway and that the La Liga giants have compiled a list of candidates that includes Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto de Zerbi, and Thomas Tuchel.

However, Deco stated that the reports were false and that “it’s not the time” to start looking for Xavi’s replacement. 

“We don’t talk about that because we are not looking for a coach, it is not the time,” Deco said. “The season is not over. There is a lot we have ahead of us …. when the time comes we will make the right decision. It’s not the time.”

Xavi announced his intention to step down from his role as Barcelona’s manager in late January. At the time, Barca was going through a rough stretch, and there was increasing uncertainty about his future with the club.

Since then, Barcelona has been undefeated in six games while also recording four wins. They are currently sitting third in La Liga standings, two points behind second-placed Girona.

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La Liga powerhouse Barcelona will have to look for a new manager in the summer. Barca’s current manager and legend, Xavi, announced he will step down from his position at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Xavi announced the news following Barcelona’s unexpected 5-3 loss to Villarreal on Saturday, which increased their gap behind league leaders Real Madrid.

“I would like to announce that I will not remain Barça manager beyond the end of this season,” Xavi said. “I had decided to leave a few days ago, but I think now is the right time to announce it to help reduce the tension that exists around the club. A change of dynamic is needed.”

Xavi added that he believes his decision is in the best interest of the club.

“No one is bigger than the club, and I am a supporter above all. I love this club,” he concluded.

Xavi took over his boyhood club midway through the 2021-22 campaign during a challenging period for the club. He managed to get the club from No. 9 to No. 2 on the standings by the end of the season and followed that up with a La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup trophy in 2022-23.

However, things didn’t go as planned this season for Xavi and Barcelona. The club has been in a crisis in recent months and has already been eliminated from Supercopa and Copa del Rey. Barca is sitting in third place in La Liga, with 10 points behind Real and eight points behind second-placed Girona.

The only hope for a successful season seems to be the UEFA Champions League, where Barca is through to the knockout stage and facing Napoli in the round of 16.

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FC Barcelona continues to support manager Xavi Hernandez amid calls for a change in management, a club source revealed on Wednesday. Frustration at the club escalated after the Catalan giants’ shock 1-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

This account of the club’s faith in Xavi correlates with the accounts of sources close to the manager who claimed that any questions about his future were “out of place” given his track record at the club. Last season, Xavi guided Barca to the La Liga title, and while the loss to Donetsk is a difficult pill to swallow, the team remains on top of their Champions League group.

Gerard Pique, Xavi’s former Barca teammate, called for “patience” with Xavi, explaining: “You should only sack the manager when you don’t see solutions. Xavi knows the place, he’s been there for many years. He grew up with the style of play. I can’t see anyone better than him to take this forward.”

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Barcelona are monitoring Mexico and Feyenoord striker Santiago Giménez. According to a source familiar with the matter, the La Liga giants are aware that Giménez is in high demand and that Feyenoord will likely command a steep transfer fee for the player.

The 22-year-old player has attracted attention from numerous clubs as a result of his fine form this season. Giménezhas scored 13 goals in just 10 games for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie. He also grabbed two goals in his only UEFA Champions League match to date; a 3-1 win over Lazio.

Since Giménez joined Feyenoord from Cruz Azul in 2022, Barca has sent scouts to monitor the player. The Catalan club is expected to continue monitoring the striker over the coming months, with the anonymous source claiming that they are currently considering him for the future.

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It is no secret that La Liga powerhouse Barcelona is having serious financial struggles. But despite this, the Catalan club isn’t willing to cash in on their best players.

Speaking on Saturday during a general assembly, club’s president Joan Laporta revealed that Barca rejected an offer of €100 million for Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

“We cannot improve sportingly if we do not do our homework economically,” Laporta said during his speech. “We have had the opportunity to sell Frenkie de Jong for €100 million, and we did not want to do it so as not to lose our ability to be competitive.”

It is unclear which club sent in the offer, but de Jong has had plenty of suitors in the past who would be willing to make such a hefty bid. He was the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia clubs, while Premier League’s Chelsea and Manchester United also have the 26-year-old on their radar. Man United reportedly even had a bid of €85 million accepted by Barca at one point, but the player wasn’t interested in leaving Spain.

Frenkie de Jong became a key player for Barcelona since arriving at Camp Nou in 2019 in a €75 million transfer from Ajax. He played a total of 190 games for the club and helped them win the La Liga title in 2022–23.

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FC Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-0 in their El Clasico showdown in Dallas, Texas as part of both teams’ preseason tours of the United States.

Ousmane Dembele put Barca ahead in the 15th minute after capitalizing on a pass from central midfielder Pedri. While Madrid hit back with a series of attempts on goal, the Blaugranes doubled their lead five minutes from the final whistle when substitute Fermín López scored from long-range. Ferran Torres added a third goal for the Catalan giants one minute into stoppage time.

“It was a good game that we played, with and without the ball, we pressed them, we had chances, a lot of mobility,” Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti stated after the game. “The bad thing is the result. At the end we were too attacking, with not enough balance. The result hurts, but I’ll focus on the good things we did. Overall the team played well, we had a lot of opportunities.”

This is the third time that Barcelona and Real Madrid have taken their El Clasico rivalry to the United States. To date, Barca have won all three encounters.

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La Liga powerhouse Barcelona completed the transfer of Brazilian forward Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense. The transfer could reportedly be worth up to €61 million.

Barca will initially pay €30 million for Roque, with another $31 million potentially going to Athletico in bonuses and add-ons. The 18-year-old player will ink a deal through the 2030-31 season and will have a €500 million buyout clause in his contract.

Roque won’t be able to join Barcelona this summer due to the club’s failure to fall under La Liga’s spending limit. As a result, the Brazilian international will remain with Athletico Paranaense for the time being and might have to wait until the 2024-25 season to make his Barca debut.

“Culers, I’m very happy to sign with Barça. It’s a dream come true,” said Roque after the deal was announced. “Tigrinho is coming to Barcelona. See you soon. Força Barça!”

Vitor Roque has long been dubbed as the next big Brazilian star. He made his professional debut in 2021 as a 16-year-old with Cruzeiro, and his great performances prompted Athletico Paranaense to make him the club’s most-expensive signing in history just one year later. 

Roque played a total of 66 games for Athletico so far, scoring 22 goals and dishing nine assists. He also made his debut for the Brazilian senior team back in March.

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Inter Miami has signaled its interest in signing veteran leftback Jordi Alba this summer. Alba reached an agreement to terminate his contract with FC Barcelona, leaving him available as a free agent.

The MLS club will face stern competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and several clubs in Saudi Arabia, all of which have explored the option of signing the 34-year-old player. According to reports, the Spanish defender has not yet dismissed any of the options that have been presented to him.

Reports linking Alba with Inter Miami have increased since it was announced last week that former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi would be joining the MLS club from PSG. Sources have also confirmed that Sergio Busquets, who also recently left Barcelona, has engaged in talks with Inter Miami as well.

Currently, Alba is not deliberating his future, instead choosing to focus on the upcoming UEFA Nations League competition, where he will represent Spain against Italy in the semifinal on Thursday. Alba is expected to discuss his options with his family after the Nations League’s conclusion. His wife is due to give birth to the couple’s third child.

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Barcelona are La Liga champions once again. The Catalan club won the domestic league after a 4-2 win over their cross-town rivals Espanyol on Sunday.

Barca climbed to 85 points on the standings with the win and is 14 points ahead of second-place Real Madrid with four games left to be played. This is their 27th overall La Liga title and the first since 2018-19.

“It is a magnificent feeling, one of getting the job done well,” Barcelona’s head coach Xavi said. “This started in July. It is 10 months of hard work and sacrifice. It felt like the moment tonight … I am very happy, very proud to win the league title. “

Barcelona dominated La Liga for the better part of the past decade, winning seven titles between 2009-10 and 2018-19. However, the club has struggled in the past three seasons due to poor transfer decisions and financial struggles. The latter also caused Barca’s talisman Lionel Messi to leave on a free transfer and join Paris Saint-Germain.

This past season, Barca finally returned to the right path, making key additions in Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde while giving more room to their academy talents like Pedri and Gavi. This immediately gave positive results and eventually won them the title.

Barcelona was less convincing in European competitions, being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League earlier than expected. The club’s focus on the next season will likely be making a bigger impact in UCL while retaining their dominance in the domestic league.

The post Barcelona Wins First La Liga Title Since 2018-19 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Barcelona showed that it’s recent great form hasn’t been a fluke. Helped by forward Raphinha’s brace, the Catalan giants secured a 3-2 comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.

Barca, who hasn’t lost a single game since head coach Xavi announced in late January that he’ll step down at the end of the season, opened the scoring in the 37th minute. Raphinha collected a deflected ball in the penalty area after a poor intervention by PSG’s goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma and found the net with a well-placed shot.

After the second half ended with Barca in front, PSG dialed up their attacking efforts in the second half. Ousmane Dembélé delivered an equalizer almost immediately, scoring against his former club in the 47th minute, before midfielder Vitinha got the French club in front just three minutes later.

In the 62nd minute, Raphinha escaped PSG’s offside trap to come face-to-face with Donnarumma and welcomed Pedri’s cross with a volley to make it 2-2. Fifteen minutes later, defender Andreas Christensen got Barca in the lead again with a scoring header from a corner kick.

This time, Barcelona held onto its lead to celebrate an important win. It will be now up to PSG to chase a one-goal deficit at Camp Nou next week.

“It’s a big win. We did really well, especially in defense. Everyone worked for the team and, tactically, we did really well,” said Xavi after the match.

The post Raphinha’s Brace Propels Barca to 3-2 Comeback Win Against PSG in UCL Quarterfinals appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Barcelona is yet to start looking for a successor to manager Xavi Hernandez, who previously announced his departure from the club at the end of the 2023-24 season. This was confirmed by the club’s sporting director, Deco, in a recent interview with Catalunya Radio.

Multiple reports in recent days indicated that Barca’s search for a new manager is already underway and that the La Liga giants have compiled a list of candidates that includes Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto de Zerbi, and Thomas Tuchel.

However, Deco stated that the reports were false and that “it’s not the time” to start looking for Xavi’s replacement. 

“We don’t talk about that because we are not looking for a coach, it is not the time,” Deco said. “The season is not over. There is a lot we have ahead of us …. when the time comes we will make the right decision. It’s not the time.”

Xavi announced his intention to step down from his role as Barcelona’s manager in late January. At the time, Barca was going through a rough stretch, and there was increasing uncertainty about his future with the club.

Since then, Barcelona has been undefeated in six games while also recording four wins. They are currently sitting third in La Liga standings, two points behind second-placed Girona.

The post Barcelona’s Search for a New Manager Hasn’t Started Yet Says Sporting Director Deco appeared first on SportzBonanza.

La Liga powerhouse Barcelona will have to look for a new manager in the summer. Barca’s current manager and legend, Xavi, announced he will step down from his position at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Xavi announced the news following Barcelona’s unexpected 5-3 loss to Villarreal on Saturday, which increased their gap behind league leaders Real Madrid.

“I would like to announce that I will not remain Barça manager beyond the end of this season,” Xavi said. “I had decided to leave a few days ago, but I think now is the right time to announce it to help reduce the tension that exists around the club. A change of dynamic is needed.”

Xavi added that he believes his decision is in the best interest of the club.

“No one is bigger than the club, and I am a supporter above all. I love this club,” he concluded.

Xavi took over his boyhood club midway through the 2021-22 campaign during a challenging period for the club. He managed to get the club from No. 9 to No. 2 on the standings by the end of the season and followed that up with a La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup trophy in 2022-23.

However, things didn’t go as planned this season for Xavi and Barcelona. The club has been in a crisis in recent months and has already been eliminated from Supercopa and Copa del Rey. Barca is sitting in third place in La Liga, with 10 points behind Real and eight points behind second-placed Girona.

The only hope for a successful season seems to be the UEFA Champions League, where Barca is through to the knockout stage and facing Napoli in the round of 16.

The post Xavi Announces He’ll Step Down as Barcelona Manager at the End of the Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

FC Barcelona continues to support manager Xavi Hernandez amid calls for a change in management, a club source revealed on Wednesday. Frustration at the club escalated after the Catalan giants’ shock 1-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

This account of the club’s faith in Xavi correlates with the accounts of sources close to the manager who claimed that any questions about his future were “out of place” given his track record at the club. Last season, Xavi guided Barca to the La Liga title, and while the loss to Donetsk is a difficult pill to swallow, the team remains on top of their Champions League group.

Gerard Pique, Xavi’s former Barca teammate, called for “patience” with Xavi, explaining: “You should only sack the manager when you don’t see solutions. Xavi knows the place, he’s been there for many years. He grew up with the style of play. I can’t see anyone better than him to take this forward.”

The post Barca Back Xavi Amid Calls for Dismissal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Barcelona are monitoring Mexico and Feyenoord striker Santiago Giménez. According to a source familiar with the matter, the La Liga giants are aware that Giménez is in high demand and that Feyenoord will likely command a steep transfer fee for the player.

The 22-year-old player has attracted attention from numerous clubs as a result of his fine form this season. Giménezhas scored 13 goals in just 10 games for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie. He also grabbed two goals in his only UEFA Champions League match to date; a 3-1 win over Lazio.

Since Giménez joined Feyenoord from Cruz Azul in 2022, Barca has sent scouts to monitor the player. The Catalan club is expected to continue monitoring the striker over the coming months, with the anonymous source claiming that they are currently considering him for the future.

The post Barce Monitoring Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It is no secret that La Liga powerhouse Barcelona is having serious financial struggles. But despite this, the Catalan club isn’t willing to cash in on their best players.

Speaking on Saturday during a general assembly, club’s president Joan Laporta revealed that Barca rejected an offer of €100 million for Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

“We cannot improve sportingly if we do not do our homework economically,” Laporta said during his speech. “We have had the opportunity to sell Frenkie de Jong for €100 million, and we did not want to do it so as not to lose our ability to be competitive.”

It is unclear which club sent in the offer, but de Jong has had plenty of suitors in the past who would be willing to make such a hefty bid. He was the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia clubs, while Premier League’s Chelsea and Manchester United also have the 26-year-old on their radar. Man United reportedly even had a bid of €85 million accepted by Barca at one point, but the player wasn’t interested in leaving Spain.

Frenkie de Jong became a key player for Barcelona since arriving at Camp Nou in 2019 in a €75 million transfer from Ajax. He played a total of 190 games for the club and helped them win the La Liga title in 2022–23.

The post Barca Rejected €100 Million Offer for Dutch Midfielder Frenkie de Jong appeared first on SportzBonanza.

FC Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-0 in their El Clasico showdown in Dallas, Texas as part of both teams’ preseason tours of the United States.

Ousmane Dembele put Barca ahead in the 15th minute after capitalizing on a pass from central midfielder Pedri. While Madrid hit back with a series of attempts on goal, the Blaugranes doubled their lead five minutes from the final whistle when substitute Fermín López scored from long-range. Ferran Torres added a third goal for the Catalan giants one minute into stoppage time.

“It was a good game that we played, with and without the ball, we pressed them, we had chances, a lot of mobility,” Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti stated after the game. “The bad thing is the result. At the end we were too attacking, with not enough balance. The result hurts, but I’ll focus on the good things we did. Overall the team played well, we had a lot of opportunities.”

This is the third time that Barcelona and Real Madrid have taken their El Clasico rivalry to the United States. To date, Barca have won all three encounters.

The post Barcelona Defeat Real Madrid in Preseason USA Tour appeared first on SportzBonanza.

La Liga powerhouse Barcelona completed the transfer of Brazilian forward Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense. The transfer could reportedly be worth up to €61 million.

Barca will initially pay €30 million for Roque, with another $31 million potentially going to Athletico in bonuses and add-ons. The 18-year-old player will ink a deal through the 2030-31 season and will have a €500 million buyout clause in his contract.

Roque won’t be able to join Barcelona this summer due to the club’s failure to fall under La Liga’s spending limit. As a result, the Brazilian international will remain with Athletico Paranaense for the time being and might have to wait until the 2024-25 season to make his Barca debut.

“Culers, I’m very happy to sign with Barça. It’s a dream come true,” said Roque after the deal was announced. “Tigrinho is coming to Barcelona. See you soon. Força Barça!”

Vitor Roque has long been dubbed as the next big Brazilian star. He made his professional debut in 2021 as a 16-year-old with Cruzeiro, and his great performances prompted Athletico Paranaense to make him the club’s most-expensive signing in history just one year later. 

Roque played a total of 66 games for Athletico so far, scoring 22 goals and dishing nine assists. He also made his debut for the Brazilian senior team back in March.

The post Barcelona Completes Transfer of Brazilian Starlet Vitor Roque appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Inter Miami has signaled its interest in signing veteran leftback Jordi Alba this summer. Alba reached an agreement to terminate his contract with FC Barcelona, leaving him available as a free agent.

The MLS club will face stern competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and several clubs in Saudi Arabia, all of which have explored the option of signing the 34-year-old player. According to reports, the Spanish defender has not yet dismissed any of the options that have been presented to him.

Reports linking Alba with Inter Miami have increased since it was announced last week that former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi would be joining the MLS club from PSG. Sources have also confirmed that Sergio Busquets, who also recently left Barcelona, has engaged in talks with Inter Miami as well.

Currently, Alba is not deliberating his future, instead choosing to focus on the upcoming UEFA Nations League competition, where he will represent Spain against Italy in the semifinal on Thursday. Alba is expected to discuss his options with his family after the Nations League’s conclusion. His wife is due to give birth to the couple’s third child.

The post Inter Miami Approaches Barcelona’s Jordi Alba appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Barcelona are La Liga champions once again. The Catalan club won the domestic league after a 4-2 win over their cross-town rivals Espanyol on Sunday.

Barca climbed to 85 points on the standings with the win and is 14 points ahead of second-place Real Madrid with four games left to be played. This is their 27th overall La Liga title and the first since 2018-19.

“It is a magnificent feeling, one of getting the job done well,” Barcelona’s head coach Xavi said. “This started in July. It is 10 months of hard work and sacrifice. It felt like the moment tonight … I am very happy, very proud to win the league title. “

Barcelona dominated La Liga for the better part of the past decade, winning seven titles between 2009-10 and 2018-19. However, the club has struggled in the past three seasons due to poor transfer decisions and financial struggles. The latter also caused Barca’s talisman Lionel Messi to leave on a free transfer and join Paris Saint-Germain.

This past season, Barca finally returned to the right path, making key additions in Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde while giving more room to their academy talents like Pedri and Gavi. This immediately gave positive results and eventually won them the title.

Barcelona was less convincing in European competitions, being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League earlier than expected. The club’s focus on the next season will likely be making a bigger impact in UCL while retaining their dominance in the domestic league.

The post Barcelona Wins First La Liga Title Since 2018-19 appeared first on SportzBonanza.