Barcelona

Lewandowski secures Barca win over Athletic

25Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Lewandowski secures Barca win over Athletic

Robert Lewandowski shrugged off a string of missed opportunities to earn Barcelona a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in La Liga. The 36-year-old striker twice hit the woodwork, among other wasted chances, but kept his cool to slot home a 75th-minute winner for the Catalan giants. Teenage starlet Lamine Yamal put Barcelona ahead with a deflected effort but Oihan Sancet pulled Athletic level from the penalty spot before half-time. Lewandowski’s strike earned Barcelona their second win from two league matches under new coach Hansi Flick. “Especially in the first half he could have scored one or two goals... but in the end this is a goal getter, a striker, who scores goals,” Flick told reporters. “The second goal was the winner, three points, perfect.” The former Germany and Bayern...

Flick backs Kounde to ‘take care’ of Nico Williams

24Aug

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Flick backs Kounde to ‘take care’ of Nico Williams

Hansi Flick is backing Jules Kounde to “take care” of Nico Williams when Barcelona come up against Athletic Club on Saturday in La Liga. Barca spent the summer trying to sign Nico but appear to have given up on their efforts to land the Spain star. The Catalans will now have to find a way to stop the forward on Saturday night, with Flick confident Kounde can do the business at Montjuic. “On this side we have an experienced player, so I can say that Jules will take care of him,” he told reporters. “To speak about him is not my job because he’s not our player. The focus is more how we play him because he’s a good player, so I think Jules will make a good job.” Athletic Club started the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Getafe. Williams came off the bench in that game but is expected to ...

Sporting want Barcelona’s Hector Fort on loan

23Aug

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

TRANSFERS

Sporting want Barcelona’s Hector Fort on loan

Barcelona defender Hector Fort is wanted on loan by Portuguese side Sporting, according to multiple reports. The youngster broke into the first team last season and will be hoping to be part of Hansi Flick’s squad this season. Marca are reporting that he’s determined to stay at Barca, despite Sporting’s interest, and is keen to battle for minutes. Fort only signed a contract extension earlier this summer and knows there’s a path into the first-team at present. Joao Cancelo has returned to Manchester City after his loan, while Julian Araujo has been sold to Bournemouth. Jules Kounde has started the season at right-back but has long made it clear his favored position is in the middle of the defence. Barcelona are currently being linked with a move for Marc Pubill but signing the Olympi...

Gundogan’s exit still not enough for Barca to register Olmo

21Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Gundogan’s exit still not enough for Barca to register Olmo

Ilkay Gundogan is leaving Barcelona after just one year to sign for Manchester City but his departure is reportedly still not enough to register Dani Olmo. It’s been widely reported that one of the key reasons for Gundogan’s exit is for Barcelona to free up some space on the wage bill for their new signing. However, COPE are reporting that Gundogan’s departure is not enough and another exit is needed by the Catalan giants. A new Nike kit deal might also be enought but there’s no word on that, even though Joan Laporta claimed he’d have news shortly just about a month ago.Barcelona are finalising Vitor Roque’s exit to Real Betis at the moment, but the Brazilian isn’t registered for the new season yet either. Mikayil Faye is another player expected to move on, while Clement Lengle...

Balde offers positive update after Barca beat Valencia

18Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Balde offers positive update after Barca beat Valencia

Alejandro Balde has offered a positive fitness update after being taken off during Barcelona’s win over Valencia on Saturday at Mestalla. The left-back was back in the starting XI after a long spell out through injury but had to go off in the second half after seemingly picking up a problem. However, Balde has moved to ease injury fears after the game by posting a message on social media. He wrote on Instagram Stories: “It was only a knock, I’m alright.” The news will be a boost to Hansi Flick who doesn’t have too many options at left-back for the new 2024-25 season. Gerard Martin replaced Balde at Mestalla and made his La Liga debut for Barcelona. The 22-year-old looks like he may get plenty more opportunities this season too. Barcelona how have a week to recover before they return t...

13Aug

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Flick and Baby Barca get a dose of reality at just the right time

No one said wins would come easy for Hansi Flick and his young Barcelona players. What made them special throughout the preseason was completely absent on Monday night. No intensity. No fight. That being said, Monaco had a very different tactical approach than Manchester City, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. In this game, this Barcelona team, for the first time, were the favorites. They were playing at home, and although they fielded some young and inexperienced players, namely Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, Pablo Torre, and Pau Víctor, they were expected to come out on top. After all, it’s been over a decade since Barcelona last lost their inaugural Joan Gamper match. In the end, it was naivete that lost them the game. One bad touch from Marc Bernal in front of goal was all it took to sink the ...

12Aug

By Silver Emmanuel4 Comments

LALIGA

Barcelona confirm goodbye ceremony to be held for Sergi Roberto

Sergi Roberto has confirmed he’s leaving Barcelona this summer and will say a proper goodbye to the club next week. The versatile veteran announced on Instagram that he’s moving on after his contract with the Catalan giants expired. Barcelona have now confirmed a farewell ceremony will take place on Tuesday, August 13 at the club, with president Joan Laporta in attendance. It’s a chance for the club, players and fans to pay tribute to the outgoing captain and for Roberto to say a proper farewell. It’s not clear yet where Roberto plans to continue his career, but it’s thought he has plenty of offers and fancies a move to the Premier League. Roberto had openly admitted he wanted to stay on at Barcelona past the end of his most recent contract but he has not been granted his wish and wil...

9Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Coman offered to Barça as Nico Williams alternative

Barcelona have not yet given up on their chase of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, but they are still looking for alternatives to add more depth to the flanks in Hansi Flick’s squad. And a new name has been included in the list, one that the new boss knows well. That’s according to Kerry Hau of Sky Germany, who reports Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman has been offered to the Blaugrana by the player’s agents, who are looking for a new club for the French winger who doesn’t appear to be part of the plans for new Bayern manager Vincent Kompany. Coman has already been linked with Barça in the past, but this new round of rumors makes more sense now that Coman isn’t as untouchable within the Bayern ranks as he once was and given his familiarity with Hansi Flick, who was Coman’s coach i...