LALIGA – Page 49 – Football Flame

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Hazard ‘annoyed’ with latest injury setback – Zidane

Manager Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid CF gives instructions during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid and Real Valladolid CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 30, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard is annoyed after having yet another injury setback with a muscle injury but is remaining in high spirits as he will not be out for long, coach Zinedine Zidane said after the 1-0 win over Real Valladolid on Wednesday. Hazard was set to make his first appearance of the season against Valladolid after missing a chunk of pre-season and earlier fixtures with Real Sociedad and Real Betis due to fitness struggles. But his hopes were dashed by a muscle injury to his right leg sustained in the final training session before the match, which Spanish media re...
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Messi seeks to draw line under Barca departure saga

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona tie the laces of his boots during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Camp Nou on September 27, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. FC Barcelona (Barca) captain Lionel Messi has said he wishes to move on from his recent bid to walk out of the club and his recent attacks on the board of directors, calling for everyone to pull together to help the team have a successful season. Messi handed Barca an official notice in August of his desire to terminate his contract before eventually deciding to stay for the coming season, the last on his current deal, because he did not want to face a legal battle with the club. After rowing back on his decision to leave, Messi continued to attack club president Josep Maria Bartomeu in a September in...
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Fati vows to ‘make the best’ of every chance he gets

Anssumane Fati of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Camp Nou on September 27, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Ansu Fati says he’ll continue to try and make the most of every opportunity he’s given after starting the season with two goals in Barcelona’s 4-0 victory over Villarreal. The 17-year-old also won a penalty in another superb performance and offered his thoughts about the game and how he’s feeling after the full-time whistle. “Every opportunity I get I try to make the best of it,” he said. “When a striker scores goals he always wants more. Alba’s pass has been very good and I just had to accompany him. We really want to keep improving, especially in the first half, it’s the way t...
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Luis Suarez scores twice and assists on Atletico Madrid debut in thumping win over Granada

Suarez of Atletico Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v Granada at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on September 27, 2020 in Madrid Spain. Luis Suarez scored twice and assisted on his Atletico Madrid debut as he helped his new side to a comprehensive win over in-form Granada on Sunday. The Uruguayan only had a 20-minute cameo for Diego Simeone’s side but he enjoyed an action-packed period on the pitch, as he also won a penalty in that timeframe which was overturned by VAR. Atleti were in control of the game throughout and they opened the scoring in the ninth minute through a Diego Costa header but they were denied a second as Saul Niguez’s penalty was stopped by visiting goalkeeper Rui Silva. However, the floodgates opened in the second half with Ang...
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Real Madrid rally to edge Betis

Antonio Sanabria of Real Betis competes for the ball with Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santader match between Real Betis and Real Madrid at Estadio Benito Villamarin on September 26, 2020 in Seville, Spain. Real Madrid edged Real Betis 3-2 in an eventful game for their first win of the Liga season on Saturday, thanks to a late Sergio Ramos penalty that was furiously protested by the hosts. Madrid captain Ramos again showed nerves of steel to chip the ball into the net from the spot after a VAR review for a handball by defender Marc Bartra, who appeared to have been pushed by visiting forward Borja Mayoral. Earlier in the second half, Betis defender Emerson was shown a straight red card for a foul on Luka Jovic following a VAR review, while Madrid's equalizer, given...
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Real Sociedad cruise to victory, uninspiring Valencia held by Huesca

Roberto Lopez of Real Sociedad controls the ball during the La Liga Santader match between Elche CF and Real Sociedad at Estadio Martinez Valero on September 26, 2020 in Elche, Spain. Real Sociedad eased to a 3-0 win away to Elche in La Liga on Saturday, with Mikel Merino pulling the strings in their first victory of the season. Sociedad were dominant against an Elche side playing their first top-flight game for five years. But they only broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when Spain international Merino produced a sumptuous threaded pass to Portu, who fired into the far corner from a tight angle. They extended their lead in the 77th when Adnan Januzaj scored from the spot after winning a penalty, and Roberto Lopez adorned a stylish win by blasting into the top corner in added tim...
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Suarez responds to Messi’s farewell message

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Barcelona forward Luis Suarez arrive with Barcelona team in Lisbon for the Champions League at Humberto Delgado Airport on August 13, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Lionel Messi made headlines again on Friday with an explosive goodbye message to friend and strike partner Luis Suarez that also included another blast at Barcelona. The Argentine has let fly at the club a couple of times recently, and his latest missive criticised Barca for the way they’ve handled Suarez’s exit. Suarez responded to Messi’s Instagram outburst with a message of thanks. “Thank you, friend, for your words, but thank you for being the way you are, for what you were from the first day with me and my family,” he wrote. “I will always be grateful to Messi the human - funny an...
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Zidane not interested in new Real Madrid transfers

Head coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga Santander match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at Estadio Anoeta on September 20, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he does not want to sign any more players before the transfer window shuts, even after his side looked short on firepower in their 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad in last week's season opener, according to Reuters. Real have been unusually quiet in the transfer window since winning La Liga in July, making no new signings despite parting ways with Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Reguilon. Their only new arrivals were Borja Mayoral, Alvaro Odriozola and Martin Odegaard who all returned from loan spells. Madrid's squad was so light against Re...
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Luis Suarez Wants Atletico Madrid To Sign Midfielder

Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona looks on during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at Camp Nou on June 30, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Luis Suarez hasn't been an Atletico Madrid player long but he's already recommended his new team buy a new player to go along with his signing. On Wednesday Atleti agreed a reported £5.5 million fee to sign Suarez from Barcelona and the Uruguay striker completed the move on Thursday, tearing up as he said goodbye to his now former club. He's already made himself feel comfortable with Diego Simeone's side and is hoping the manager will follow his 'endorsement' of another transfer. According to AS, Suarez has asked the club to sign Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira, with his fellow countryman already on Atletico's wanted list....
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Luis Suarez joins Atletico Madrid from Barcelona

Manuel Neuer of FC Bayern Munich is challenged by Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Atletico Madrid have signed striker Luis Suarez from Barcelona, the Spanish clubs said on Wednesday, bringing an end to his six-year stint at the Camp Nou. Barca's statement said Atletico will pay the Catalans six million euros (6.99 million U.S. dollars) in bonus payments to sign the 33-year-old. The Uruguay striker, who is Barca's third all-time top scorer with 198 goals in all competitions, had a year left on his contract with the club. "Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Luis Suarez, subject to a...
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Betis chief says ‘it’s impossible’ for Barca to sign Emerson now

Emerson Royal of Real Betis and Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the La Liga match between Real Betis and Real Madrid at Benito Villamarin Stadium on March 8, 2020 in Sevilla, Spain. Real Betis sporting director Antonio Cordon appears to have ruled out Barcelona trying to bring Emerson to the Camp Nou ahead of schedule. The Catalan giants are about to be in the market for a right-back as Nelson Semedo is reportedly close to joining Premier League side Wolves. Barca have an option to sign Emerson next year and Cordon reckons it would be “impossible” for Ronald Koeman’s side to try and bring any potential move forward. “Emerson’s position is that he is a Betis player,” he said. “We do not consider anything at all. Like any club in the world, we would look at an extraordinar...
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Real Madrid toil in goalless opening draw at Sociedad

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid misses a chance during the La Liga Santander match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at Estadio Anoeta on September 20, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. Real Madrid began the defense of their La Liga title with a 0-0 draw away to Real Sociedad on Sunday night in a game they controlled for long stretches but created few clear-cut chances. Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was without Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio and Isco, but he produced a surprise by including Martin Odegaard, who spent last season on loan in San Sebastian, in his starting 11 and leaving Casemiro on the subs bench. Zidane's men controlled most of the ball in the first half, but it was a sterile domination with their only clear chance coming thanks to Karim Benzema after an error by home k...
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Barcelona President Bartomeu opens up about Messi transfer saga for the first time

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF on September 19, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. It's more than two weeks since Lionel Messi slammed Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu for reneging on an agreement and refusing to allow him to leave Camp Nou. The under-fire chief finally broke his silence on Saturday and explained his decision to keep the club's leading all-time scorer against his will. "As president, I will not enter into any conflict with Messi," Bartomeu told Catalan television network TV3. "Messi is our captain, the leader. We have seen him in recent days and does his talking on the field as we have seen. The issue is parked. What has been said has been said." "I couldn't allow, like anyone on the boar...
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Zidane: “I don’t think Bale stayed too long, I never had a problem with him”

French former football player and today Real Madrid's head coach Zinedine Zidane speaks to journalists during the presentation of a sports and educational program called "Zidane Five Club" (ZFC), in Aix-en-Provence, southern France, on August 19, 2020. Zinedine Zidane has had his first press conference of the 2020/21 season and the discussion centred around the transfers of Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon to Tottenham, the return of Martin Ødegaard and Sunday night’s match away at Real Sociedad. On Bale, Zidane was asked if he felt the Welshman had stayed for one season too long. “No, I don’t think so,” he said in response.  “If he stayed then it was for something. The most important thing is what he wants to do. Things have to be done together, a balance between the club and t...
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Ronald Koeman tells Riqui Puig he’s not part of his plans – report

Riqui Puig of Barcelona controls the ball during the Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Mendizorroza on July 19, 2020 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has reportedly told Riqui Puig he’s not part of his plans for next season and can leave the club. It had been expected the 21-year-old would be officially promoted to the first-team for 2020-21, but his future now seems to be in serious doubt, according to RAC1. Puig has not been included in the Barcelona squad for Saturday’s Joan Gamper Trophy clash against Elche and there’s been no explanation from the club as to why. The youngster has featured in Barca’s first two pre-season friendlies against Nastic and Girona, and done well, but we won’t see him at the Camp Nou today. I...
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Koeman: No conflict with Lionel Messi

Ronald Koeman, Head Coach of FC Barcelona speaks with his team during the during the pre-season friendly match between FC Barcelona and Gimnastic de Tarragona at Estadi Johan Cruyff on September 12, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Ronald Koeman insists there are no problems between himself and Lionel Messi, as the troubles the Argentine had were with the club, not him. A few weeks ago, Messi sent shockwaves through European football when he sent a fax to Barcelona requesting the termination of his contract, allowing him to move to another club on a free transfer. The Blaugrana hierarchy refused the request, and pointed to his €700m release clause that would have to be triggered for him to leave. Messi has become disillusioned with life at the Camp Nou both on and off the pitch, as in t...
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Report: Spurs in talks to re-sign Bale

Gareth Bale of Wales looks on during his warm up prior to the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Wales and Bulgaria at Cardiff City Stadium on September 06, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Real Madrid over re-signing Wales winger Gareth Bale, according to multiple reports. Bale, 31, joined Real from Spurs in 2013 for a then world-record £85.1 million. In recent years, Bale has become an increasingly peripheral figure at the Bernabeu under manager Zinedine Zidane. The Cardiff native appeared in only 20 matches across all competitions during the 2019-2020 season. Bale appears more than receptive to a return to the club that signed him from Southampton in 2007. "Gareth still loves Spurs," Jonathan Barnett, his agent, told BBC Sport W...
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‘I could never see Messi in another shirt’ – new Barcelona signing Miralem Pjanic

New Barcelona signing Miralem Pjanic said he could never imagine Lionel Messi playing for another club. Pjanic, whose move from Juventus was confirmed in June, was officially unveiled on Tuesday and said he always wanted to play with the Argentine. Messi claimed earlier this month he had been forced to stay at Barca after he and the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu disagreed over his contract. Manchester City were favourites to capitalise and it's still possible Messi will leave next summer, when his contract expires and he can go for free. "I could never see Messi playing in another shirt," said Pjanic. "For me it was impossible and I always thought everything would eventually work out. "My hope was to play with him. I met Messi two or three days ago but I haven't yet ...
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Madrid without Bale and Hazard ahead of league opener

Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale walks to the stands before the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, on July 16, 2020. Real Madrid is getting ready for the start of the Spanish league without Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard. Neither player was summoned for Tuesday's training match against Getafe, the last for Madrid before its league opener on Sunday. Hazard was out as he tries to regain his fitness, while Bale didn´t play as he awaits a possible transfer. Madrid won the match but gave no information on scorers. Spanish media said the final score was 6-0 for Madrid, with Karim Benzema scoring four goals.  The game was played at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium i...
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Barcelona agree fee with Lyon for Memphis

Memphis Depay of Holland during the UEFA Nations league match between Holland v Italy at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on September 7, 2020 in Amsterdam Netherlands. Barcelona have agreed a fee of around €25m with Lyon for the purchase ofMemphis Depay. Last week, Memphis indicated that he was aware of interest from Barca, but at that point negotiations were still in their infancy. On Tuesday, talks developed to the point where a fee has now been agreed, according to De Telegraaf. Ronald Koeman recently took over as Barcelona boss following the 2019/20 campaign which saw the Blaugrana fail to win a trophy for the first time in 12 years. The Dutchman was selected to replace Quique Setien, with one of his main tasks in this summer to revitalise an ageing squad. Ivan Rakitic has alre...
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