MADRID: Xavi’s rejigged Barcelona side thrashed Getafe 4-0 on Saturday to climb to second in La Liga with recalled duo Joao Felix and Raphinha getting on the scoresheet. The defending champions climbed above Girona and have 57 points from 26 games. Leaders Real Madrid have 62 points and play their game in hand at home … Read more
Saudi Arabia talent should be ‘playing in Europe’: Future Falcons technical director It has been another AFC Asian Cup disappointment for Saudi Arabia. It has now been 17 long years since the Green Falcons last made it to the quarterfinals of the tournament, and by the time the Kingdom hosts the next edition in 2027, … Read more
Meet Petar Segrt: The coach who has transformed Tajikistan into shock Asian Cup contenders Petar Segrt is a man who is not easily shaken. From deciding to remain as Georgia national team coach when Russian tanks rolled into the country in 2008, to coaching in Afghanistan, Segrt loves a challenge. His latest endeavor is arguably … Read more
BARCELONA: Barcelona’s title defense was derailed as Villarreal romped to a sensational 5-3 victory in La Liga on Saturday with three late goals. After Real Madrid moved two points clear of Girona at the top of the league with a win at Las Palmas, the pressure was firmly on Xavi Hernandez’s defending champions in third. … Read more
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has launched Falcon’s Nest, an exclusive interactive fan zone in which supporters can enjoy an unforgettable experience while in Qatar for the AFC Asian Cup. Falcon’s Nest is located in Doha’s Katara Cultural Village, one of five host cities where group and knockout stage matches are played, and takes … Read more
NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom: Pep Guardiola said Manchester City showed the heart of champions to fight back to beat Newcastle 3-2 on Saturday thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne masterclass on his return to Premier League action.The Belgian came off the bench to score and set up Oscar Bobb’s stoppage-time winner to announce his comeback from … Read more
Bento’s UAE look to finally step out of shadow of Golden Generation at AFC Asian Cup Abu Dhabi: An Asian Cup imbued with tantalizing, yet fragile, hope lies ahead for Paulo Bento’s blossoming UAE. Pained memories of a tortured World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign were assuaged in a six-match winning run upon the ex-Portugal and … Read more
RIYADH: Mohamed Saleh has won the big prizes for his club, leading Liverpool to the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the English Premier League a year later. Add the Club World Cup and a few other trophies and personal awards and the list is impressive. There is something missing however, as everyone in Egypt … Read more
How Sevilla’s data-driven methodology can help Saudi and regional clubs punch above their weight Few clubs in world football have punched above their weight in the last two decades quite like Sevilla FC. In a landscape that includes arguably the world’s two biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the likes of Atletico … Read more
MADRID: It was yet another lackluster performance by Barcelona, drawing jeers from the home fans upset with the team’s struggles against the only winless team in the Spanish league so far. Some of the jeers came even after Barcelona found a way to beat last-place Almeria 3-2 on Wednesday, a much-needed hard-fought victory that ended … Read more