Luis Enrique takes blame for shock Barcelona loss

http://i0.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/fa3053f9ba3b6d2f6367861d90e92ea8ade98d41.jpg?fit=640%2C426

Barcelona (AFP) – Barca boss Luis Enrique admitted he must take responsibility for the Spanish champions’ shock home defeat to newly promoted Alaves after starting Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the bench.

Enrique made seven changes on Saturday after many of his squad returned to club duty after taking part in World Cup qualifiers around the world in the past week, whilst Messi was also struggling with a minor groin injury.

“I am the one ultimately responsible for all the bad things that happen,” said the Barca boss after suffering just his fifth home league defeat in three seasons in charge at the Camp Nou.

“Many of the changes came from the circumstances surrounding us, but we have 22 players and we are going to use everyone this season.”

As well as leaving out Messi and Suarez, Enrique changed his entire back four, whilst goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and striker Paco Alcacer made their debuts.

Deyverson beat Cillessen from close range to hand Alaves a surprise lead before half-time, but Jeremy Mathieu brought Barca back into the game when he headed home Neymar’s corner a minute into the second-half.

Mathieu somehow then blasted wide when it seemed easier to score from another set-piece before Barca’s makeshift defence was caught out once more when Ibai Gomez slotted home the winner.

Enrique called upon Messi, Suarez and Andres Iniesta from the bench, but even they couldn’t break Alaves’s resistance as Messi fired wide deep into stoppage time.

“We lacked fluidity, precision and we were fragile in defence, which is one of the things that normally makes us strong,” added Enrique.

“The one positive is it is a time to reflect on what this team has won over the years. Everyone makes us favourites for everything, but it is not easy to win any game.”

Enrique is expected to revert back to his strongest line-up for Celtic’s visit to the Camp Nou to start their Champions League campaign.

The Scottish club will be high on confidence after thrashing old rivals Rangers 5-1 on Saturday.

“It’s clear it wasn’t our best game, they didn’t have many chances but they were very effective,” said midfielder Sergio Busquets.

“We lacked a spark, we lacked a lot of things. It is hard to say it is a deserved defeat because they also didn’t create a lot.

“Now we have to think about Celtic because the season rolls on.”

And Iniesta insisted Barca will have licked their wounds and learned the lesson in time for the visit of the Scottish champions.

“We have to do better in the next game in a different competition,” added the Spanish international. “As always when there is a defeat, we have to analyse it and correct it for the next game.”

The post Luis Enrique takes blame for shock Barcelona loss appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://wp.me/p59zQO-8KB
#Barcelona, #Blame, #Enrique, #Loss, #Luis, #Shock, #Takes - #Soccer

Where to find Barcelona vs. Real Betis on US TV and streaming

http://i0.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barcelona-real-betis-600x284.jpg?fit=600%2C284

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Barcelona vs. Real Betis, you’ve come to the right place.

Barcelona returns to league action in their race to win the 2016/17 La Liga title. The entire Barcelona squad except for Neymar is expected to be available for selection including Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar scored a total of 90 goals in La Liga last season!

For soccer fans in the United States, the match will be shown live on US TV and streaming.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Barcelona vs. Real Betis
What: La Liga, opening weekend, gameweek 1
When: Game kicks off at 12:15pm ET / 9:15am PT; Saturday, August 20, 2016
Where: Live on beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español and fuboTV (free 24-hour trial)

With fuboTV, you can watch Barcelona vs. Real Betis and tons of other La Liga games with a free 24-hour trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast or Roku.

Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Liga MX, MLS, Primeira Liga, Serie A, Ligue Un, Capital One Cup, Brasileirao, Championship, CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, NASL, Copa Argentina, 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2019 Copa America.

The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Barcelona games on US TV and streaming

The post Where to find Barcelona vs. Real Betis on US TV and streaming appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://po.st/PiHCqb
#Barcelona, #Betis, #Find, #Real, #Streaming - #Soccer

Mane sparkles as Liverpool crush Barcelona

http://i0.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/63241d14d673bb3f6fd66010a09cfa5e94c3e8cc.jpg?fit=640%2C462

London (AFP) – New signing Sadio Mane scored one goal and made another as Liverpool slickly defeated Barcelona 4-0 in a one-sided friendly match at a sun-soaked Wembley on Sunday.

A 34 million pounds ($ 44.5 million, 40.1 million euros) capture from Southampton, Mane struck a 15th-minute opener and then supplied the cross from which ex-Liverpool player Javier Mascherano scored an own goal.

Divock Origi added a third seconds later and substitute Marko Grujic chipped in with a stoppage-time header as Jurgen Klopp’s side registered their sixth win in eight pre-season games.

They play Mainz, one of Klopp’s former clubs, in a friendly in Germany on Sunday before tackling Arsenal in their Premier League opener next weekend.

Barcelona’s defeat meant that Paris Saint-Germain won the International Champions Cup friendly tournament for the second year running.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was missing Neymar, who is on duty with hosts Brazil at the Olympics, but fielded both former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, who hit the post in the first half.

Barca play Sampdoria at the Camp Nou in their final pre-season friendly on Wednesday and face Sevilla in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on August 14.

The glamour tie drew 89,845 spectators to Wembley — the stadium’s second-highest attendance — and it was Liverpool’s fans, comfortably in the majority, who went home with smiles on their faces.

With seven friendly games behind them to Barcelona’s two, Liverpool were the sharper team and they took the lead with a slick goal.

After winning possession on halfway, Adam Lallana surged forward and exchanged passes with Roberto Firmino before teeing up Mane, whose rising shot beat goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Klopp reacted with a flurry of fist pumps, but his side had to weather a succession of Barcelona chances before half-time.

Suarez, facing his former club for the first time, teed up Messi to roll a shot against the right-hand post, while Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet saved from Arda Turan and Suarez.

James Milner, who announced his England retirement on Friday, was again deployed at left-back for Liverpool, but had to give way to Alberto Moreno before half-time.

Within three minutes of kick-off in the second half, the game was as good as over.

In the 47th minute, Origi’s flick released Mane and his low cross from the right was bundled into the net by Mascherano.

Barely a minute later, Kevin Stewart caught Jeremy Mathieu dawdling on the ball and freed fellow half-time substitute Origi, who coolly beat Barcelona replacement goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Grujic, a January recruit from Red Star Belgrade, put the cherry on the cake in added time, meeting fellow Serbian Lazar Markovic’s scooped pass with a fine header that looped over Bravo.

The post Mane sparkles as Liverpool crush Barcelona appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://po.st/T4NezU
#Barcelona, #Crush, #Liverpool, #Mane, #Sparkles - #Soccer

Tigres say wouldn’t stop Gignac move to Barcelona

http://i2.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/c10edcfa0e222df35e21f379f42d534fe05710dc.jpg?fit=640%2C443

Monterrey (Mexico) (AFP) – Mexican club Tigres of Monterrey denied on Monday that Barcelona has approached them to sign Andre-Pierre Gignac but said it would let the French striker move there if he wishes.

Gignac, 30, gave his career a boost since his surprise move from Marseille to the northern Mexican club last year, earning him a return to the French national team that finished runner-up against Portugal at the Euro 2016 in July.

The Spanish sports publication Mundo Deportivo reported on Monday that Gignac is one of the options Barcelona are considering as a backup to its attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

A Barcelona official has talked to Gignac and his entourage to get information about his situation and see if he is interested in joining the Catalan club, Mundo Deportivo reported, adding however that other players are under consideration.

But Tigres coach Ricardo Ferretti said there has been no discussions between executives of both teams about Gignac, who was elected as the Mexican league’s top player last season.

“There’s a clause (in his contract) and if Barcelona comes and pays, and Andre wishes to leave, we will wish him success,” the Brazilian coach told a news conference after practice.

“It gives us great pleasure that he is on the list of one of the biggest (clubs) in the world. Andre has declared that he would like to go to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern (Munich), Manchester United,” he said.

Tigres sporting director Miguel Angel Garza told local television that there was no formal offer for the forward but he also said that “if Andre wants to go to Barcelona, we couldn’t take away this opportunity from him.”

The post Tigres say wouldn’t stop Gignac move to Barcelona appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://po.st/GUfyo9
#Barcelona, #Gignac, #Move, #Stop, #Tigres, #WouldnT - #Soccer

Messi quiet but Barcelona stroll past Celtic

http://i0.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/e428a9349ed3549ec5164fedfd9e2f48a70182a9-768x582.jpg?fit=640%2C485

Dublin (AFP) – A blond-haired Lionel Messi failed to get on the scoresheet but it hardly mattered as under-strength Barcelona taught Celtic a footballing lesson in a Dublin friendly on Saturday.

Strikes by Arda Turan and Munir El Haddadi, and an own goal by Efe Ambrose — all before the break — were enough to earn a 3-1 victory for Luis Garcia’s men in what was their first game back after the summer.

Leigh Griffiths had replied to Turan’s opener, but boss Brendan Rodgers will be concerned with how vulnerable his defence looked once again, ahead of Celtic’s crucial Champions League third qualifying round clash with Astana on Wednesday.

The tie is delicately balanced at 1-1 ahead of the second leg at Parkhead.

Barcelona came to Dublin without Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano, Claudio Bravo and Jordi Alba, who aren’t back in training until tomorrow, while Neymar is preparing for the Olympics in Brazil.

But there was more than a sprinkling of quality with Messi and Luis Suarez bringing enough star power to help fill over 47,000 seats at Lansdowne Road.

Rodgers made four changes to the side that drew at Astana last Wednesday, but new signing Kolo Toure did not travel.

Things had looked good for Celtic early on and they almost opened the scoring after just 13 seconds when Patrick Roberts capitalised on a Jeremy Mathieu slip, cut inside -– Messi-style -– but sent his curling effort inches wide of Jordi Masip’s goal.

With Roberts a constant threat, Celtic had the bulk of the early chances, but when the opening goal came it was from the Spanish champions, Turan firing home powerfully from the edge of the box.

Roberts continued to get the fans on their feet, delivering some of the slalom runs many would have come to see Messi perform.

But when Celtic scored the assist came from a Barcelona error, handing Griffiths a tap-in from five yards out.

Ambrose and keeper Craig Gordon then conspired to concede a howler, with the centre-half stretching to intercept a harmless cross and sending it beyond the hapless Gordon.

Barcelona added a third before the break as Celtic’s defence collapsed again, with Suarez nipping behind all too easily, before nutmegging Ambrose and squaring to Munir, who was all alone to slot home.

Both sides swapped their entire starting 11s as the second half passed, with a quiet Messi — sporting his new peroxide blond hair — going off at the break.

The post Messi quiet but Barcelona stroll past Celtic appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://po.st/Zd4iyt
#Barcelona, #Celtic, #Messi, #Past, #Quiet, #Stroll - #Soccer

Celtic’s Rodgers upbeat despite Barcelona defeat

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/d0818e35b2236eada7bec72c7ceb08d39f957f7f.jpg?fit=640%2C413

Dublin (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers remains optimistic about Celtic’s Champions League hopes even after seeing his side beaten 3-1 by Spanish giants Barcelona in a Dublin friendly.

Luis Enrique’s side scored three first-half goals through Arda Turan, Munir El Haddadi and an Efe Ambrose own-goal, to cancel out Leigh Griffiths’s 29th-minute strike.

Rodgers had one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League third qualifying round second leg tie with Astana at Celtic Park, and despite some poor defensive play, expressed his happiness with what was a challenging 90 minutes against the La Liga champions.

“It was an excellent workout, it’s always a great education when playing Barcelona in terms of how they play, but I was really proud of the players coming back off a long trip during the week,” said Rodgers, whose side were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Kazakhstan.

“They had one day to recover and then out there to face a team who test you and your organisation. 

“I thought we were good in terms of some of our pressing, our goal comes from our ability to press and be up the field. I thought we had some really good passages of play. 

“Our only negative was the injury to Nir Bitton, it looks a nasty one but we’ll assess that over the next 24 hours,” the Northern Irishman added.

– ‘Unlucky’ Ambrose –

Former Liverpool manager Rodgers revealed he was looking to sign four more players during the transfer window, and following another slip-up by Ambrose, the Nigerian international defender, defence will be an area he is keen to strengthen.

The Celtic boss refused to confirm or deny a possible move for Manchester United youngster Paddy McNair, but gave his support to Ambrose, whose substitution appeared to be cheered by some Celtic fans.

“I think he’s an unlucky guy, bless him,” Rodgers said.

“I think a striker would have been proud of that goal. He was so unfortunate. The ball is whipped in, there is no real danger and for it to come off his leg that far outside the post and to go in the far corner is disappointing, especially after us getting back into the game as well. 

“Look, sometimes these things happen, but overall he did okay.”

Aston Villa midfielder Scott Sinclair could yet join the Rodgers revolution, following Moussa Dembele and Kolo Toure, who have already signed for Celtic.

Rodgers said saw plenty of positives in the 3-1 defeat, but accepted the side had plenty of work ahead of them.

“We’re still a long way away from where I want to be, but what I can’t deny is the mental fitness of the players, and physically how they’re pushing themselves, we showed some good moments in the game in terms of where we want to be, but the reality is other players will be coming in, and obviously we’ll have more work on the training ground,” he said.

Meanwhile Barcelona manager Enrique was pleased with his side’s first pre-season game, with 20 players getting a run out.

“It was great to be back, to have the team back, quite happy with a good result, we played a good game,” he said.

“It was a good test. Celtic have a second game in the Champions League to come, and they are working hard under the new coach.”

Enrique had special praise for Hoops winger Patrick Roberts, who models his game on Lionel Messi.

“He’s a great player, he has a great future in the team, he has great quality and I think he can bring good things to the team,” Enrique said.

The post Celtic’s Rodgers upbeat despite Barcelona defeat appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://www.truesportsfan.com/celtics-rodgers-upbeat-despite-barcelona-defeat/
#Barcelona, #Celtics, #Defeat, #Despite, #Rodgers, #Upbeat - #Soccer